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Eight Prominent Business Leaders Elected To Westchester County Association Board

WHITE PLAINS, NY (September 28, 2009) — The Westchester County Association (WCA) has announced the election of eight prominent business leaders to the organization’s Board of Directors. The new directors were approved via an electronic vote of the membership.

The new directors are:

• Andi Gray, President and founder of Strategy Leaders, Inc., a management and business consulting firm based in Chappaqua. Since 2004, Ms. Gray has authored a weekly business advice column, “Ask Andi”, for Westchester County Business Journal, Fairfield County Business Journal and HV Biz.
• Lew Hoff, President of Bartizan Connects, a developer of hardware and software used for electronic data collection, Yonkers. He is also the chairman of Addressograph Bartizan, the world’s largest manufacturer of credit card data recorders, based in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
• James A. Kirsch, President and CEO, Abigail Kirsch, Catering Relationship, Tappan Hill, Tarrytown. Since Mr. Kirsch became CEO and President of the family-owned business in 1994, the Company has more than quadrupled in size.
• Tara Meenan Lansen, founder, President and CEO of Compufit, Inc., an information technology services company in Pleasantville. Since Compufit’s founding in 1995, Ms. Lansen has directed the company’s growth to become one of the notable providers of end-to-end network solutions for many small-and medium–sized businesses in the region.
• Rick Rakow, President and CEO of Rakow Commercial Realty Group, Inc., White Plains. Since starting the company 25 years ago, Mr. Rakow has directed the company’s growth as one of the area’s leading, full-service commercial real estate firms, meeting the needs of more than 1,000 tenants, buyers and sellers.
• Linda Rey, Principal, Rey Insurance Agency, Inc., Sleepy Hollow. Ms. Rey joined the family business in 1985 to provide comprehensive insurance solutions primarily to family-owned and operated businesses. In 2005, she won the Business Woman of the Year Award by the Westchester Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
• Fenton N. Soliz, Home Mortgage Consultant, Corporate Specialist, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A./Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Division, White Plains. A mortgage professional for more than 25 years, Mr. Soliz formerly held the prestigious position as President of the New York State Association of Mortgage Brokers of which he was a founding member.
• George Strayton, President and CEO, Provident Bank, Montebello. Since he was named President and CEO in 1986, Mr. Strayton has led Provident Bank’s growth from six branches with $288 million to a public company with 33 branches and $2.8 billion in assets.

Alfred B. DelBello, WCA Chair and a partner with the law firm of DelBello Donnellan Weingarten Wise Wiederkehr, LLP, White Plains, said: “These new board directors continue a proud tradition of the WCA in consistently attracting the highest caliber individuals who are leaders in both their respective areas of business and in their communities. They also represent the changing dynamics of the county with its growth in professional and entrepreneurial companies. It is my pleasure to welcome them and to wish them great success in helping to continue fulfilling the WCA’s 60-year mission as Westchester’s voice of business.”

The Nominating Committee was chaired by Kenneth R. Theobalds, Entergy Nuclear. The committee members are: Nancy Gold, The Gold Standard; Sandra Miller, Consolidated Edison; John Ravitz, American Red Cross; Keith Safian, Phelps Memorial Hospital; Louise Valiquette, Law Office of Louise Valiquette

The Westchester County Association (www.westchester.org) is the preeminent business membership organization in Westchester County. The Association is committed to business advocacy, economic vitality and to providing a strong and clear voice for the interests of businesses on the regional, national and international levels. Its key objectives are: promoting positive economic development in the region; fostering business development; and providing its members with access and interaction with key public and private sector individuals, agencies and organizations.

Andi Gray Receives APEX Award For Excellence
From Westchester County Association

WHITE PLAINS, New York (November 24, 2008) --- Andi Gray, CEO of Strategy Leaders, Inc., a firm that consults with entrepreneurial enterprises, was recently honored by the Westchester County Association with their prestigious APEX Award for professional and business excellence.

In accepting the award, Gray spoke directly to the small business owners in the crowd of over 500 attendees. She said “Small business owners are entrepreneurial and opportunistic. Their names are Ed, Cory, Bob, Susan, Juilo, Reggie, Ling, Rich, Nancy, Jiao, Murshed, Terell, Isabel, and yes, even sometimes Joe. You own manufacturing companies, service businesses, wholesale, retail, construction, IT, real estate, import, export . . . You name it, you’re doing it.

“So what do small businesses have in common? 300. Each of you employs less than 300 workers. 50%. Together you already put 50% of our private sector workforce into jobs every day. #1. You are our #1 source of new jobs – and ladies and gentlemen, do we ever need those jobs need in these challenging times!

“What else do you have in common? You are passionate about what you do, and you are determined to succeed. You put your businesses on the line every day. You figure out how to pay your bills and you personally co-sign for your business loans.

“And at the end of the day, when you get ready to go home, you have made real profits, not paper profits. Then you go home and volunteer for Little League, soccer, hockey, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and charity events. You form small business clubs where you help each other stay in The Game.

“All of this makes you very important to our economy. And if we can get you the tools that you need to succeed now, you can be a major part of the toolkit that gets our economy back on track.

“Even more importantly, long term, small business is our last untapped economic engine. If we can teach you to stay in The Game a little longer, make a little more money while you’re in business, and exit more profitably when you’re ready to get out, you have the potential to fuel our economy for the next 100 years. Big numbers folks! This is important!

“And all of this is why I am privileged and committed to continuing to get to know you and your businesses, individually and in groups, as we team up: marrying what you are already good at, with what we know how to do, and teach you how to win at The Game of Business.

In closing her remarks, Gray thanked Dee Delbello of WestFair Inc. and all of the employees at the Business Journals for creating a voice for small business and for backing “Ask Andi,” her column that the Business Journals have published every week for the last four years.

She also thanked New Castle Community TV for taking “Ask Andi” onto cable television, and Dee Delbello, Bill Mooney of the WCA and Jerry Klein of Mahopac National Bank for helping get that project off the ground.

“And last, but never least, I tip my hat to the Westchester County Association. You honor my company, Strategy Leaders, our marketing brand Ask Andi, our employees, and our clients – the people who make us great. In recognizing us, the WCA sends a powerful message about the importance of small business to the present and future success of Westchester County.”

For more information about Strategy Leaders, go to www.StrategyLeaders.com or to www.AskAndi.com for an archive of Gray’s articles published by www.WestFairInc.com. To learn more about the Westchester County Association, go to www.westchester.org.

Andi Gray of Strategy Leaders, inc.

Trusted Advisor to America’s Entrepreneurial Enterprises

CHAPPAQUA, New York --- Andi Gray is president and founder of Strategy Leaders, Inc., a different kind of business consulting firm that is dedicated to working hands-on with owners of established, privately held companies. The firm is focused on the top five challenges faced by business owners: profitability, growth, predictability, stability, peace of mind.

Gray’s experience includes 20-plus years in corporate business development, sales, marketing and strategic planning, providing leadership in both field-based and corporate management positions. Working for leading companies such as Xerox, American Express, Contel and Carlson Companies, Gray produced results in manufacturing, distribution and service environments. Early career experience in family-owned computer software and construction businesses taught her about the joys and challenges of entrepreneurship.

Gray earned an MBA from the Executive Program at Columbia University. Her research for that degree convinced her that as corporate America embraces globalization, the health of the American economy becomes even more dependent on entrepreneurial enterprise. Learning that xx% of start-up businesses fail before year five, Gray became committed to the education of business owners, seeing them as the strongest economic foundation on which the U.S. can build.

Gray established Strategy Leaders, Inc., in 1998, with the intent of being a business consulting firm unlike any other. The proprietary process she has developed for use with clients includes planning, education, coaching, follow up, and reporting. The firm is known for installing forecasting and tracking tools, which give owners increased control, and show them how to turn plans into reality. The company offers short term, topic-specific programs as well as long term development curriculum. Work is conducted in small doses over time, making Strategy Leaders’ programs affordable for the small business owner and delivering results that last.

Teaching owners how to grow profits, exit the business or continue on their terms, are specialties of the firm. Strategy Leaders helps owners, employees and families work through issues, align diverse viewpoints, and focus on common outcomes. Strategy Leaders has carefully guided many clients through the challenges of ownership changes and multi-generational transfers. Over half the practice is devoted to supporting the growth and development of family-owned businesses and companies with multiple owners.

Strategy Leader’s well-documented processes produce consistent, high quality outcomes, well beyond the norm for the consulting industry. Coordinating with experts in accounting and finance, sales, operations, marketing and human resources, assures that Strategy Leaders is at the forefront of best practices. Proprietary programs make Strategy Leaders’ successful approach unique.

Each year the company takes on a group of new clients, in industries as diverse as computer and internet businesses; marketing and training firms; retail, wholesale, catalog, and custom product organizations; industrial and commercial manufacturing companies and military contractors; construction, real estate and related commercial and residential trades.

As co-author of the book, New Game, New Rules (Garland Publishing), Gray writes about how jobs, Corporate America, and the Information Age have intersected, resulting in tremendous change in our work and personal lives. Expertise on entrepreneurship has led to her being quoted in the media, including the Financial Times of London, and The New York Times. A 2004 publication, 10 Rules for Growing a Business in Turbulent Times, shared knowledge compiled by her company. (I don’t like this paragraph and don’t know how to fix it! N.)

Gray is the author of a weekly business advice column, Ask Andi, published in the Westchester County and Fairfield County Business Journals and Hudson Valley Business. Answering questions that are top-of-the mind for business owners, Gray provides timely information and practical advice for the entrepreneurial community.

To learn more about the work of Strategy Leaders, go to www.StrategyLeaders.com, or call 914-238-3500.

Download the PDF version Press Release here

Liz Benuscak Joins Strategy Leaders, inc.

CHAPPAQUA, New York --- Liz Benuscak, has recently joined Strategy Leaders as a business consultant.

Liz Benuscak has served as the Executive Director of Bi-Coastal, a full service professional development and career marketing firm specializing in working with Executives to advance their careers. She is distinguished as one of the top career experts in the country by McGraw-Hill Liz’s work is featured in the 101 Best Resume Series.

A Certified Professional Résumé Writer and Job Career Transition Counselor, Benuscak is a former Expert for TheLadders.com and iVillage.com. She has worked with hundreds of executive clients in Sales, Marketing, Information Technology, Hospitality, Construction Management and Finance on all aspects of career marketing and advancement.

Benuscak has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The LA Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Journal News and The Miami Sun Times. Additionally, Benuscak has appeared on national television as Career Expert for Better Homes and Gardens Magazine. In 2003, Benuscak was named one of Rockland County’s Forty under Forty as an emerging business leader to watch.

In 2006, Benuscak joined Lizanne Fiorentino as the co-host of Rockland World Radio’s Business Beat where she shares her experiences and opinions as a business owner/coach and interviews experts from around the globe on a myriad of business topics on rocklandworldradio.com

Strategy Leaders, Inc. is a business consulting firm that specializes in helping entrepreneurial firms plan to grow. For more information call (914) 238-3500 or go to www.strategyleaders.com.

Download the PDF version Press Release here