Provides a forum to support the challenges, problems and opportunities in today's business environment - Rockland County and the surrounding areas.
Minutes from Small Business Council meeting June 28, 2007
Co Chair’s Lena Bodin and Paul Rafanello
Upcoming member spotlights:
- July 2007 Ann Zeilingold and Harvey Iwata
- August: Kurt Griffith
- September: Lance McGinnis
- October: Sara Tucker and David Ginsburg
- November: Terri Loso
Member spotlight
- Jim O'Connell - "Computer Plumber"
- Muriel Lyn Morgan - Massage Therapist
Topic: All issues relating to doing business in Rockland County
Divided into 4 groups. SWOT exercise
- S. Strength
- W. Weakness
- O. Opportunity
- T. Threats
Group 1: Strength
Representative: Sara Tucker
- Small Territory – easy to build a network
- Smaller size businesses- possible to get to know the decision maker
- Loyalty
- Family Oriented
- Advertising dollars have more impact
- Centrally Located – easy to reach more densely populated counties & Manhattan
- Can build relationships with colleagues
- Has a high median income
Group 2: Weakness
Representative: Ellen Silverman
- Lots of elderly people
- Pockets of ethnic groups that only deal with each other
- Small businesses – not much money
- Public Transportation – very limited
- Most people who live here don’t do business here
Group 3: Opportunity
Representative: Peter DeLisser
- Networking
- Ethnic groups – diversity of people creating niches that can develop business
- RBA – many opportunities that other like associations do not provide
- Economically more cost effective than our neighboring counties
- Quality of life
- Location close to large markets
Group 4: Threats
Representative: Kurt Griffith
- County not proactive in attracting businesses as those surrounding us
- Serious transportation issue
- Rapidly rising cost of living
- Young people leaving county
- Drain of talent – many work in NYC
- Perception that Rockland is non existent
- Residential development is high end serving commuters not local residents
- Tax structure is hurting us.
|
No charge
to participate
Monthly Meeting Minutes
May 2007
June 2007
Small Business Council Enters a New Era, May 21, 2007
|
