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MCC Green Business Committee: Upcoming Meetings and Events

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June 6th: 9-10:30am MCC Green Design and Construction sub-committee meeting Meet at the Green Building Center and hear this month’s speaker, Susan Aiello of Interior Design Solutions (free for MCC members, $20 for non-members)

June 7th: 9-10:30am: MCC Green Finance sub-committee Meeting. Meet with other sustainability and finance professionals to hear the latest NYC updates and hear this month’s speaker Barry Korn, CEO of Barrett Capital (free for MCC members, $20 for non-members)

June 24th-June 28th: New York Energy Week (MCC co-sponsored event)

(Postponed: July date to be announced shortly) June 24th: 5:30-7:30PM: MCC Green Energy sub-committee meeting: Update on Renewable Legislation in Congress (free for MCC members, $20 for non-members)

Announcement from the Green Hospitality Initiative (new date)

The Green Hospitality Initiative (“GHI”), a program funded by the EPA and sponsored by the New York State Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, helps New York restaurants increase both their sustainability and profitability. Through free group and on-site trainings, the GHI assesses current operations and provides individualized reports, specifically for energy reduction, water conservation, and the transition from toxic to non-toxic cleaning chemicals. On Tuesday, June 18th, the GHI will be hosting a group training at the NYSRA offices (1001 Avenue of the Americas, 3rd floor) from 9am-11am, where they will introduce a new format. In addition to presenting on the program and describing it in more depth, they are looking for multiple companies with innovative “green” products and services for the hospitality industry to present to their clients. If you are interested in presenting or attending, or have any questions or concerns, please contact Casey Heil at cmh470@nyu.edu or 914.329.9840 or Alan Someck at asomeck@gmail.com or 516.448.1504.


MCC Thanks May New Members

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Company
Argus Merchant Services

Name
Ruslan Roytburd
Profile Website
Be A Hero-Hire A Hero

Noritza Perito

Buzzword PR

Eva Dilmanian

Central Park Bike Shop, Inc.

Savas Sevil

Collette Marie,LLC

Collette Stallone

Cori Lee L.Ac.

Cori Lee

Dworin Consulting

David Dworin

Educhora

Chris Choi

Eleanor Abraham Asian Art

Eleanor Abraham

ELoan Commercial Services LLC

Samoon Pal

Fiechter & Salva LLP

Salva Jorge

Ganer + Ganer, PLLC

Michael Goldberg

Korean American Chamber of Commerce in Greater NY

Peter Park

Legrand

Maureen Warnicke

Leslie M. Levine LCSW PC

Leslie Levine

Martha Gelnaw Consulting

Martha Gelnaw

NJL&C

Jamie Cohen

Pratt Institute Center for Cont. and Prof. Studies

Karen Adler Miletsky

Rodan + Fields Dermatologists

Leigh Spiteri

Royal Health Care Services

Phyllis Ettinger

Sabir, Richardson, and Weisberg Engineers PLLC

Orah Weisberg

The Renew Spa

Mary Brady

The Rinaldi Group, LLC

Frances Santos

TR-AC-NET Inc.

Peter Burgess

Trade Office of Ecuador in New York

Karina Amaluisa

VIP Support Inc

Fabrizio Moreira




MCC Thanks May Renewing Members

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Company
Name
Website
Business Growth Strategies
Tamar Gisis
Carbon Credit Capital LLC - WBE
Olivia Fussell
Colette Malouf Inc.
Colette Malouf 
Luxembourg-American Chamber of Commerce
Tatjana Schaefer
Madison Avenue BID
Matthew Bauer
Muscular Dystrophy Association
Kaylan Scagliola
Ohne Titel
Alexa Adams
Signature Tours, Inc.
Mary Stone
Silvestro Marketing LLC
Donna Silvestro
Tabor-Null Enterprises Corp.
Marcia Null
WeRecycle!
Lauren Dykes
West End Media Group
Len Hollie

New York STOPFakes Op-ed

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By Mark Elliot and Nancy Ploeger


Creative and innovative industries are the cornerstone to New York’s rich cultural and economic history, and also offer opportunities for a prosperous future.


New York’s creative spirit is its economic engine. According to a U.S. Chamber of Commerce study, over one-third of the private sector employment in the state depends on the products and economic activity generated by copyrights, patents, and trademarks belonging to New Yorkers. Those 2.8 million jobs generate 40% of New York’s gross state product.


New York is known for giving creators and entrepreneurs a shot at their dreams. This state attracts incredibly diverse, innovative and creation-friendly individuals, including budding Broadway stars to accomplished scientists. Intellectual property (IP) rights fuel the creative genius of New York’s homegrown talent, and attract businesses from around the country and the world to invest in our people.


New York is home to a wide array of entrepreneurial businesses and innovators, like health care, media, advertising, fashion designers, university researchers, gaming and software firms, and filmmakers, just to name a few.  All of these rely on the assurance of IP rights to continue to research, create jobs, and develop breakthrough technologies and products. Protecting and promoting IP rights is essential to keeping our economic momentum going.


IP theft is a major concern for businesses and industries of all sizes. Today, stealing creative products can be measured by clicks of the mouse, as well as patent and trademark infringement, like fake car parts, counterfeit sporting goods, or phony plastics. And this occurrence is all too common. With $650 billion lost annually to counterfeited products and pirated goods worldwide, it is imperative that we support the efforts of agencies like Customs and Border Protection and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement to help fight this bleed on our economy.


The downside to fake goods is not limited to the negative impact on a company’s bottom line. They also have the potential to hurt consumers. Overseas IP thieves are slapping trusted brand names onto dangerously deceptive fakes, from pirated music infected with computer malware, to counterfeit airbags that could fail to deploy when your family needs them most.


It’s not just practical, it’s good business sense to equip companies and industries with the know-how to identify and stave off the drain of IP theft. IP protections provide the incentive for innovators and creators to push the limits of human ingenuity to develop new products that improve our lives, whether they be a hit song, the newest tech gadget, or even a life-saving medicine.


With New York’s long history of creativity and innovation, defending IP rights and empowering the people who hold those rights, like artists, is essential to our economic vitality. After all, as Frank Sinatra famously crooned, “if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.”


Mark Elliot is the Executive Vice President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Intellectual Property Center.


Nancy Ploeger is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce

Barriers to Energy Efficiency --- Who’s to Blame and Who Can Help by MCC Guest Blogger Susan Aiello, LEED AP, ASID, CID

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http://www.idsny.com/susan_aiello.html

Sometimes it seems as though there are outside forces conspiring to prevent us from doing what we know is the right thing. It's particularly easy to find a villain when it comes to energy saving measures.
• Tenants can blame their landlords, who won't make building improvements that could result in energy savings.
• Building owners can blame their tenants, who use inefficient lighting and equipment in their individual spaces and then leave them turned on at night.
• Anyone undertaking a construction project can blame various state, local and federal entities for not making funding for sustainable initiatives easier.
• Anyone who needs a loan can blame the banks, not only because loans for green initiatives are difficult to get, but because borrowing money for building improvements can trigger mortgage defaults.
• The banks can blame the government, because allowing mortgagers to assume additional debt for properties that are already worth less than when the mortgages were written could violate banking regulations.
• The government can blame the financial institutions, who were largely responsible for the insane inflation and subsequent meltdown of the real estate market.


It appears that to find who’s to blame for the poor rate of adoption of energy saving measures, we should all be looking in the mirror. There are steps that we can each take to make things better, whether or not we get the cooperation and support that we would like from others.


Going green definitely has its challenges, and it can be easy to get discouraged when others are less helpful than we'd hoped. But waiting for a hero to come along on a white charger to save the day is not a viable alternative.

Climate change and the threat that dependence on foreign oil represents to our economy and our national security are such large problems that they can make us all feel helpless, but if we each address areas of energy use that are within our own control at least we'll be contributing to the solution instead of the problem.

• Tenants can turn off lights and equipment when they are not needed. It goes without saying that lights and equipment should not be left on overnight or in unoccupied rooms. Tenants can also think before turning lights on. For instance, little to no artificial light may be required during the day for work spaces close to windows or skylights. And the number of work areas that can benefit from daylight can be increased with space planning and furniture placement.
• Tenants can elect to purchase energy efficient lighting and equipment whenever a replacement is needed. New York City now requires that efficient lighting and controls be installed when lighting is replaced as part of a renovation project that is filed with the Department of Buildings, but tenants can take this a step further and make incremental improvements to lighting efficiency whenever the opportunity presents itself.
• Building owners can install efficient equipment, lighting and lighting controls in common spaces and ensure that building systems are working as they should. The payback period for professional retrocommissioning and implementing many of the resulting recommendations can be less than a year.
• While owners might wish to defer larger capital investments, they can ensure that when they do invest in major systems their choices are informed by the need for energy efficiency.
• Building owners and tenants can work together for their common benefit. Green leases can provide for equitable distribution of energy costs based on actual usage and reimbursement for capital improvements that result in energy savings.
• Banks and appraisers can consider energy efficiency in determining building asset value. And banks can loan money for building improvements that will save energy and increase asset value, or at least allow mortgagers to borrow the money elsewhere.
• State, local and federal entities can facilitate funding for sustainable initiatives, especially for those who do not have access to attorneys and financial advisers. But funding should be viewed as a benefit of, not a prerequisite for, sustainable initiatives.

There are steps that we can each take to make things better, whether or not we get the cooperation and support that we would like from others. And if we each focus on doing what we can, no matter how insignificant it may seem, we can all save a lot of energy…. and money.

Sidewalk Cafe Legislation Calls for Earlier Hours, Efficient Application Process

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CityLand at Center for New York City Law - New York Law School

Community boards fight City Council on shortened sidewalk cafe review period. On May 7, 2013, the City Council’s Committee on Consumer Affairs held a joint hearing with the Land Use Zoning & Franchises Subcommittee to discuss proposed amendments to sidewalk cafe regulations. Introductions 875-2012, 876-A-2012, and 1039-2013 seek to expand sidewalk cafe hours and streamline the sidewalk cafe licensing and registration process.

Sidewalk cafes are licensed and monitored by the City’sDepartment of Consumer Affairs. In order to operate a sidewalk cafe, owners must first submit various documentation and fees to the DCA. Certain public safety regulations must be met and documented at this time, such as whether the proposed cafe will be on a sidewalk that is at least 12 feet wide. Applicants go through a multi-step approval and review process in order to be granted a revocable consent before a sidewalk cafe license will be issued. DCA controls and facilitates the process, sending the revocable consent petition to various City entities for discrete review periods. The petition is first sent to the City’s Department of City Planning, Department of Environmental Protection, and the Landmarks Preservation Commission (if applicable). From there, the petition is sent to the local community board, then back to DCA, and then on to the City Council. Each entity is entitled to hold its own public hearing on the petition and recommend approval, approval with modifications, or denial. Finally, the petition is sent to the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services for review and approval. When a revocable consent is granted, DCA will issue the sidewalk cafe a license to operate.
Read More Here:http://www.citylandnyc.org/sidewalk-cafe-legislation-calls-for-earlier-hours-efficient-application-process/

Effective Negotiations Equal Higher Profits

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By MCC Guest Blogger Marty Finkle, CEO, Scotwork North America (www.scotworkusa.com)

From: Scotwork North America (www.scotworkusa.com)
For: Manhattan Chamber of Commerce blog

Contacts
Jack E. Appleman, 845.782.2419 (jackappleman@yahoo.com)
Marty Finkle, 973.428.1991 (marty.finkle@scotwork.com)

(about 305 words, including bio)

Effective negotiations equal higher profits

By Marty Finkle, CEO, Scotwork North America (www.scotworkusa.com)

If you think quivering about price and then splitting the difference means you’re negotiating, think again. Leave price haggling for the auction block, and learn the eight critical steps to successful negotiation.

8-step process
  1. Prepare: Clarify your objectives and your wish/concession lists. 
  2. Argue: Perfect your opening statement, ask the right questions, listen to the answers, and exchange information. 
  3. Signal: Help discover the other side’s true needs by paying attention to verbal and non-verbal signals. 
  4. Propose: Trade specific items of greater value for those of lesser value. 
  5. Package: Give them what they want—on your terms—and shape your proposal based on the unmet needs. 
  6. Bargain: Put your conditions before offers and make If you…then I… statements like this: “If you agree to sign a 3-year contract, we’ll cut prices an additional 10%.” 
  7. Close: Know when to bring a negotiation to a conclusion. 
  8. Agree: Confirm that both parties accept the terms of the agreement. 

Focus on value, not price

Don’t let price get in the way of a good deal. For example, if your vendor offers products for a 10% higher rate than you had wanted, but you get 18 months of free service, then you’ve gotten tremendous value—which probably outweighs that 10% price differential.

Bottom-line impact

Negotiation can be integrated into so many facets of your business. By mastering these techniques, you can bring more profits, higher value and more meaningful business relationships.

Contact Marty Finkle, author

Learn more by contacting the author, Marty Finkle, CPT, president of Scotwork North America (www.scotworkusa.com), which works with more than 100 companies in various industries. He is a renowned industry expert and sought-after speaker and one of fewer than 1,000 Certified Performance Technologists worldwide. marty.finkle@scotwork.com (973.428.1991).

Special MCC Announcement: MarketingWeekNYC™, July 15-19, 2013

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Dear MCC Members:

MCC is pleased to announce a special new initiativeMarketingWeekNYC™, to be held July 15-19, 2013. MarketingWeekNYC™ is a week-long event created by the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce to address the one of the most important small business needs: how to attract and keep customers. MarketingWeekNYC™ will include a number of seminars that address a variety of marketing issues. Attendees will learn tips to help them attract and retain customers in the following verticals
  • Marketing Strategic Planning
  • Social Media
  • Print, Radio and TV
  • Public Relations
  • Branding
MCC members are invited to attend the events, submit their own events related to these topics for consideration by MCC to add to the calendar and/or sponsor this initiative.

Please see www.marketingweeknyc.com for more info or contact Laura Bucko at laura@manhattancc.org with questions or to request an event submission application.


MarketingWeekNYC Sponsors



Gold Sponsor


Silver Sponsor 



Business for Skilled Worker Immigration

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“Business for Skilled Worker Immigration” is a broad-based coalition of 50 Chambers of Commerce to date from across the United States working together to strengthen job creation, innovation, and overall economic growth through improved across to international talent and the creation of pathways for more entrepreneurs to launch businesses in this country.

MCC Small Business Recovery Fund Grant to Carter Weiss

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MCC Small Business Recovery Fund Grant given to Carter Weiss whose business is located on Front Street at the South Street Seaport. His consulting business ground to a halt after Sandy due to flooding and no power, etc.

MCC Guest Blogger Gil Effron: Pick up the phone

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BY GIL EFFRON

I spent an afternoon last week catching up on paperwork. But as focused as I was, I continually glanced at my phone waiting for it to ring with important information from a vendor.

Finally, about 4:30, I came up for air and did what we all do when transitioning from one activity to the next: I checked email!

Great! An email from the vendor. I sighed a huge sigh of relief until I opened the email only to discover that the answer I was waiting for was incomplete. It did little more than open the door to more unanswered questions.

Call me an old fashioned guy when it comes to communication. But while emails are a great thing and I send and receive more than my share, somehow I don't think they can or will ever replace the efficiency of actually speaking directly with someone.

So I picked up the phone to call my vendor only to discover that his day had ended. I left a detailed message in which I asked two additional questions. Then I encouraged the vendor to call me as soon as he could. My hope was that that would be early next morning. Continue reading...




Best regards,

Gil Effron

Gil@GilEffron.com

GilEffron@TheGrowthTeam.org

MCC Grant Awardee – Repetorio Espanol

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by MCC Guest Blogger Nina Liebman

From the
REPERTORIO ESPANOL
(Spanish Theatre Repertory Company)
June 5, 2013

There are many hidden treasures right in the heart of Manhattan. I discovered one when I entered the Repertorio Theater on East 27th Street for the 45th anniversary celebration of this dynamic and important arts company. In this jewel of a theater—in the middle of a bustling Indian, Arabic and American business and residential community—sits this professional theater with state-of-the-art stage technology, including an electronic subtitles system at each seat for non-Spanish speakers.

Repertorio Espanol produces a repertoire of contemporary and classical plays from Spain, Latin America, and the Hispanic American community, providing Spanish speaking New Yorkers a theatrical resource. Rpertrorio also makes theater accessible to students and teachers in an active arts-in-education program throughout the year.

Getting Down to Business: How Business-Friendly is New York?

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MCC President Nancy Ploeger notes some of the challenges NYC business face in the following article:

Written by Adam Janos

“Challenging.”

“Cumbersome.”

“Hostile.”

From the Mohawk Valley to New York City, industry advocates agree: New York State isn’t the friendliest, or easiest, place to do business. The Tax Foundation’s 2013 State Business Tax Climate Index ranked New York as the most hostile business tax structure in the country, and Chief Executive magazine’s poll of top executives rated it 49 out of 50 on its scale of the best states for business. Only California received a worse grade. 
And yet the private sector in New York is growing. According to the Department of Labor, the New York State economy added 23,800 private sector jobs this April. Since the onset of Cuomo’s administration, the state has added 339,000 jobs in the private sector, and the 1.9 percent growth in private job creation from April 2012 to April 2013 is nearly identical to the 2 percent growth nationwide during the same period.

Special Offer for MCC Members from Time Warner Cable Business Class

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Date:6/17/2013
Category:Announcements
New!
Get a special offer from Time Warner Cable Business Class, just for Manhattan Chamber Members!
As a member of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce you’re eligible to take advantage of this great "members only” offer from Time Warner Cable Business Class:

Click Here to sign up!
Get Internet, Phone AND/OR Television and get a month FREE of each service! Minimum 1-year agreement.
Plus, combine that with other advertised offers from Time Warner Cable Business Class and save even more!
Visit twcbc.com/Manhattan-Chamber to order, review terms and conditions, and learn more!
You will need to complete the submission form so you can be contacted by a Time Warner Cable Business Class consultant to discuss your particular needs, and find the solution that's right for your business.
Offer expires 11/19/13.
Time Warner Cable Business Class takes the time to get to know your business, and then find the right mix of Internet, Business Class Phone and Television solutions for your unique needs.
High-speed Internet to keep your business connected.
Internet solutions offering fast, reliable connectivity so you can download large files, stream videos and easily manage e-mail.
Bandwidth speeds up to 50 Mbps—find the right solution for your business, so you only pay for what you need.
Dependable Voice solutions from an experienced provider.
Business Class Phone is more than just a reliable voice service. It includes Voice Manager, an online tool to manage and control your features, from anywhere at any time. Choose from available local, in-state long distance, and nationwide long distance calling plans. Television packages to enhance your business environment.
Programming options with up-to-the-minute news, sports, entertainment and music, plus exclusive local content.
A selection from over 300 channels and HDTV with easy-to-use interactive program guides.
INTERNET | VOICE | TELEVISION | NETWORK SERVICES | CLOUD SERVICES
Offer expires 11/19/13 and is available exclusively at www.twcbc.com/Manhattan-Chamber to new or existing customers. Free month will be applied as a bill credit to the second month’s bill and is equal to the monthly recurring rate paid for new services excluding taxes, fees, installation and applicable construction. Additional charges apply for equipment, taxes, fees, Directory Assistance, Operator Services, and installation and construction costs (if applicable). At the end of the term, regular rates in effect at the time will apply. Early termination fees may apply. All offers and services not available in all areas. Offers are not transferable and may be combined with any other offer. Subject to change without notice. Some restrictions apply. Local calling area boundaries may vary based upon subscriber-originating area code and phone number. Actual speeds may vary. Customer service satisfaction claim based on Time Warner Cable Business Class customer C+R Barometer study from September 2012. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Time Warner Cable Business Class is a trademark of Time Warner Inc. Used under license. ©2013 Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Updates on Skilled Worker Immigration

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Capitol Hill Updates

The Senate immigration bill and related amendments continue to be debated on the floor of the Senate, with progress being reported last night on one of the bill’s most closely watched issues. A bipartisan compromise to amend the bill’s border security provisions has reportedly been struck, with a formal announcement expected to take place today. This breakthrough could pave the way for additional Republican Senators to support the comprehensive legislation, potentially setting up a final vote on the bill before the July 4 Congressional recess. Our Coalition continues to urge Senators to support the key skilled worker provisions contained within the bill.

On the House side, Speaker Boehner reiterated his intention this week for the House to pass its own version of an immigration bill this summer, and for Congress to have a final compromise by year's end. The House’s work on this issue has followed two different paths. The House "Gang of Eight” is working to finalize a comprehensive immigration bill. The group announced a tentative agreement on such legislation earlier this month, and they are working to complete drafting legislative language. At the same time, the Judiciary Committee and Chairman Goodlatte continue to consider a series of smaller immigration bills leading up to the recess – including bills related to agriculture workers, employee verification, and border security. Later this summer, the committee is expected to take up other standalone immigration bills, including the SKILLS Visa Act, which includes provisions advancing each of our Coalition’s skilled worker reforms. 

CBO Report Details Economic, Budget Benefits of Immigration Reform

On Tuesday, the independent Congressional Budget Office released its score of the Senate’s bipartisan immigration bill. The CBO report details the estimated, long-term economic impact (increase real GDP by 3.3% in 2023, and 5.4% in 2033) and budgetary benefits (reducing federal deficits by nearly $900B over a 20-year period) that would accompany comprehensive immigration reform.

Supplied by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

MCC Member: Barrett Capital Corporation: CO-OP CITY CASE STUDY

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CHALLENGES

In 2011, Co-op City, located in the Bronx, and the largest cooperative housing development in the world with over 15,000 units and a population of 55,000, had the opportunity to save a significant amount of money on its electric bill as well as to reduce energy usage in its “city within a city” by replacing its existing light fixtures with energy efficient lighting in its 8 garages. The cost of the project was approximately $3 million.

Co-op City’s challenge was to locate a contractor that could undertake the project without requiring any capital contribution from Co-Op City. In order to provide for the energy efficient lighting at no up-front cost to Co-op City, Green Energy Management Services, Inc. (GEM), an energy management company, structured a shared savings contract in which the savings from the energy efficiency project itself covered the cost.

The challenge to GEM, which arranged for the replacement of the 6,100 light fixtures at Co-op City’s 8 parking garages, was how it could be paid up front, instead of having to receive payment over the 10 year term of the contract. Thus, a creative financing solution was needed to fund GEM, given the shared savings arrangement and variables within the garages. The process was complex and time consuming, but by selecting Barrett Capital to handle the financing, GEM secured a commitment to provide it with up front financing.

PROCESS & APPROACH

Barrett Capital developed and executed a financing plan, in line with its business model, which involved working closely with Co-op City, its excellent management team and advisors, and GEM to:

• Verify that the energy savings the originating energy services company projected would be realized despite the uncertainties at the Co-op City garages;

• Provide Co-op City with a meaningful financial incentive to achieve Co-op City board approval of the assignment of the contract to Barrett Capital;

• Arrange for the appropriate legal documentation that would be approved by New York State’s Division of Housing and Community Renewal (“DHCR”); and,

• Create a payment plan that would be simple and require minimal administration by Co-op City.

SOLUTION

Barrett Capital devised an innovative structure to finance the Shared Savings Plan, providing funding for almost $2 million, or 65% of the $2.9 million cost of the project. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) provided a $1 million grant to fund the other 35% of the cost. Barrett Capital entered into an Assignment, Assumption & Indemnity Agreement with GEM taking an assignment of the Co-op/GEM Energy Shared Savings Contract. Upon receipt of fully executed documents from the Co-op, Barrett Capital paid GEM its $993,000 upfront payment.

To induce Co-op City to acknowledge the assignment from GEM to Barrett Capital and consent to an agreed upon payment schedule, Barrett Capital provided a financial incentive for Co-op City. In accordance with the Assignment Agreement, all representations and warranties stayed with GEM. Barrett Capital assumed the credit risk of the repayment from the savings.

Barrett Capital’s business model calls for bringing in an independent engineer to verify the projected savings. Since Barrett Capital is being paid back from the savings, its interests are aligned with the client, Co-op City.

On its site visit, Barrett Capital’s engineer learned that there was a maintenance facility being operated in one of the garages and a radio tower being operated from another. Both generating substantial additional electricity. Despite not knowing of these variables at the time, Barrett Capital’s structure was able to deal with them to everyone’s satisfaction.

RESULTS

Barrett Capital’s financing of the Shared Savings Plan resulted in a rare WIN-WIN-WIN.

WIN for Co-op City: A massive energy efficiency upgrade at no out-of-pocket cost, an incremental financial windfall and with substantial immediate savings on its garage energy costs on the order of $300,000 per year.

WIN for GEM: An infusion of nearly $1 million in cash, allowing the company to pursue and fund additional energy efficiency projects, as well as a validation of its business model.

WIN for the Environment: The projected energy savings, over the 10 year period, are expected to be on the order of 2,300,000 MWh which is the equivalent of taking 338,000 cars off of the road.

Barry P. Korn

Managing Director

bkorn@barrettcapital.com

MCC Member NYU Awards More than $160K in Grant Monies to Lower Manhattan Non-Profit Organizations

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At an award ceremony early this summer, New York University’s Office of Civic Engagement awarded more than $160,000 in grants to 83 community-based non-profit organizations, with money raised through the NYU Combined Campaign, the T.G. White Fund, and Skirball Center for the Performing Arts.

“The grant funding comes not from the University itself, but from hundreds of NYU employees, each of whom believes in the important work being done by these organizations every day,” said Bill Pfeiffer, director of the Office of Civic Engagement. “As of this year, the NYU Community Fund celebrates its 30th year of operation, proud to have awarded more than 1,600 grants totaling more than $2.5M to community groups since the program’s inception.”

MCC Partner Progressive Computing’s Robert Cioffi Honored with HTG Spirit Award

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Commitment to Excellence Recognized by Worldwide Organization of Peers

YONKERS, NY (June 24, 2013) – Each year at its Annual Summit, HTG Peer Groups, a worldwide organization dedicated to helping IT professionals share best practices, recognizes the top participants among its membership. In 2013, Progressive Computing (PCI) Managing Partner Robert Cioffi was honored with The Spirit Award, as an HTG member who displays passion and dedication, goes the extra mile, and represents HTG in a positive manner. Cioffi was chosen by the HTG Advisory Council, based on observation and input from others.

Cioffi joined HTG in 2010 to take his company to the next level through regular quarterly meetings with peers to plan life, leadership and business growth goals, review performance, demand execution, enforce accountability and share best practices.

“My HTG peer group, made up of IT professionals from all over the country, acts as a Board of Directors for PCI, and has been an invaluable resource to me in many ways,” said Cioffi. “Most recently, they helped me navigate the purchase of a competitor and the resulting major expansion in my regional market.”

Out of an international membership of 300, HTG recognized about 50 of members in various categories, including Facilitator of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Excellence in Planning and Execution and Sponsor Engagement, as well as Group Leaders of the Year, among others.

"These award recipients are truly the cream of the crop," said Arlin Sorensen, founder and CEO of HTG Peer Groups. "Their dedication to learning and growth has benefited all of us in more ways than they can imagine. HTG Peer Groups would not be what it is today without the contributions of these outstanding leaders.

As a Microsoft Small Business Specialist, Cioffi has become a sought-after speaker and writer on small business technology topics and an official advisor to Microsoft. In addition, he recently gained the Apple Mobility Competency.

About Progressive Computing, Inc.

With offices in Westchester County, NY and Manhattan, Progressive Computing, Inc. is a leader in computer network installation, design and maintenance, offering professional, cost-effective IT services, computer consulting, technical support and computer repair to organizations since 1993. They are focused on providing cost-effective, reliable and right-sized solutions. As a member of the Microsoft Partner Network with 3 Silver Competencies, the PCI technicians and computer consultants are dedicated to delivering IT solutions that leverage a blend of both proven and cutting-edge technologies. Clients regard them as their "on-demand" information technology department, entrusting that their recommendations, services and products will help them save money, become more efficient, and grow their businesses. Progressive Computing can support any IT outsourcing needs in a variety of ways with services that can be tailored and combined with others to deliver a custom solution to meet clients’ exacting needs. These include:

ProManage: An all-inclusive fixed price contract to cover all technology needs.
ProHosting: Enterprise-class datacenter services to the SMB for mission critical applications.
ProAudit: Computer consulting services that scrutinize and appraise the strengths and weaknesses of existing computer networks and systems.
ProBackup: Disaster Recovery service plan subscription that uses a combination of an onsite backup appliance and secure offsite data storage.
General IT Services: Project or incident-based services with no contractual obligation.


New York City Office
Progressive Computing, Inc.
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 1161
New York, NY 10165
Tel: 212.681.1212
Fax: 212.972.4182

Westchester County Office
Progressive Computing
35 East Grassy Sprain Road,
Suite 301
Yonkers, New York 10710
Tel: 914.375.3009
Fax: 914.375.2550

http://www.progressivecomputing.com/

About HTG Peer Groups

Established in 2000 by Arlin Sorensen as a business and personal development community, today HTG Peer Groups is an international organization of leading IT solution providers. HTG has nearly 300 member companies throughout North America, the United Kingdom and Australia/New Zealand. Each peer group consists of 10-12 IT company executives who work together and share resources and information to formulate and meet business goals such as strategic planning, process improvement and tools, and life-work excellence. HTG offers Leadership Forums, vendor peer groups and other educational events, quarterly meetings, and an annual summit that attracts hundreds of attendees, vendor exhibitors and strategic partners. Visit www.htgpeergroups.com or call 712-794-7994 for more information.

CUNY Receives $25 Million from the Stella and Charles Guttman Foundation

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Foundation’s Largest Gift Endows Community College Programs and Transfer Scholarships

The City University of New York has received a $25 million gift from the Stella and Charles Guttman Foundation to support The New Community College at CUNY and two other community college initiatives to boost student retention and graduation rates. In honor of the gift, the foundation’s largest and the largest ever given to a New York State community college, the CUNY Board of Trustees passed a resolution to rename The New Community College the Stella and Charles Guttman Community College.

The Trustees on April 29 approved the naming of the college and of the Guttman Student Success and Engagement Fund, which will promote further development of the college’s innovative programs. The Board of the Guttman Foundation is committing half of its current assets to CUNY. The Guttman Board approved the gift on April 11, 2013.

To read the full press release, click here.

A Celebration to Honor the College’s New Name

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(New York, NY): On June 18 the College achieved another milestone in its short history by holding a reception to celebrate its new name. In honor of the $15 million endowment gift to the College from the Stella and Charles Guttman Foundation, the CUNY Board of Trustees on April 29 passed a resolution to rename The New Community College at CUNY Stella and Charles Guttman Community College. Read more about the Foundation’s momentous gift to CUNY.

College Founding President Scott E. Evenbeck moderated the event. Remarks were given by Chancellor Matthew Goldstein, Ernest Rubenstein, President, Guttman Foundation, Elizabeth Olofson, Executive Director, Guttman Foundation, and Stephen Icaza, President of the College’s Student Government Association.
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