MCC Guest Blogger: Football Fans are Getting Iced, but not how you think

By the Global Intellectual Property Center

West-coasters pilgrimaging to the Super Bowl this year may be left super cold. While acclimating to polar temperatures for hours in an outdoor stadium in New Jersey is bad enough, opportunistic counterfeiters are seeking to make it worse.

Knock-off memorabilia and apparel are destined to leave a chill on sports fans of all kinds. But you’re saying to yourself, what gives? A Bronco’s jersey is a jersey and a Seahawk’s sweatshirt is just a sweatshirt. That may be the case… unless it’s fake. Counterfeits, clothing included, are oftentimes made of inferior quality, making what appears to be a warm coat, mittens, etc to in fact be totally useless against the cold.

But 400,000 Super Bowl attendees and consumers aren’t the only ones getting iced. Businesses and local economies suffer from this growing epidemic, as evidenced by this week’s $20 million bust on game day fakes. In “Operation Team Player,” U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement teamed with the NFL to identify and prevent the profiteering from counterfeit merchandise and tickets from a variety of sources, like warehouses, flea markets, and online vendors.

David Hirschmann, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber's Global Intellectual Property Center was cited as saying: "Counterfeit goods cost the global economy an estimated $250 billion each year. More than 1.2 million jobs in New Jersey, 900,000 jobs in Colorado and 1.2 million in the state of Washington depend on IP intensive industries meaning counterfeits have a direct impact on the economy in the home states of both teams and the host of the Super Bowl."

Come this Sunday, somebody must win, and somebody must lose. But when criminal counterfeiters are off the streets and e-streets, everybody wins.

Time Warner Cable to Transform TV and Internet Experience in New York City

Today, Time Warner Cable announced customers in New York City and Los Angeles will be the first to benefit from major enhancements that will transform their services as they know it. The new experience includes best-in-class reliability, ultra-fast Internet speeds and state-of-the-art television services.

This new customer service experience, currently dubbed “TWC Maxx,” will have its own brand name at the time of launch later this year.

This elevated focus has three key components:
· Rock-solid network reliability
· Internet customers get big speed boost
· New TV experience with more content, better interfaces and navigation

Please click here to view the press release and/or check out our blog piece on Time Warner Cable Untangled.

Time Warner cable is committed to delivering the best quality products and services to its customers, and to help make our customers’ lives simpler and easier.

I hope you will share this exciting news with your constituents! As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions or feedback.

Sincerely,

Cathleen Sims

Cathleen Sims DeVito
Vice President
Northeast Government
Relations - NYC
cathleen.sims@twcable.com
212.379.5984

Hiring Our Heroes

March 27, 2014
This University of Phoenix-sponsored hiring event is being conducted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the New York National Guard, the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, the Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (DOL VETS), the New York Committee of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), the United States Army Reserve (USAR), the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, The American Legion, Goodwill Industries International, the NYS Department of Labor, NYC Department of Small Business Services, NBC News, and other local partners.

A workshop for veterans and other military job seekers that focuses on resume writing, tips for successfully navigating hiring fairs, military skill translation, and interviewing will start at 8:00 AM. To register for the Hiring Our Heroes Employment Workshop, visit hohworks.eventbrite.com/
For registration questions, please contact us at hiringourheroes@uschamber.com or call 202-463-5807.

EMPLOYERS
Must register for FREE at HiringOurHeroes.org
JOB SEEKERS
Register for FREE at HiringOurHeroes.org
to guarantee admission. Walk-ins welcome but space not guaranteed.
HIRING FAIR: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
EMPLOYMENT WORKSHOP: 8:00 AM

Download the free Hiring Our Heroes mobile app! All our powerful tools and resources at your fingertips.

Find Hiring Our Heroes online:

2014 Hiring Our Heroes Veterans Event – New York City
69th Regiment Lexington Avenue Armory
68 Lexington Avenue, Manhattan, New York, NY 10010

NYCEDC Announces RISE : NYC

This week NYCEDC announced RISE : NYC, Resiliency Innovations for a Stronger Economy, a competition to identify and deploy new technologies to help small businesses become more resilient to future storms, sea level rise and other effects of climate change.

Hurricane Sandy revealed significant vulnerabilities in New York City’s buildings and infrastructure networks. The storm displaced entire communities, stalled business activity and shut down critical utility networks for days. Businesses in the city’s affected areas experienced not only physical damage to their buildings, but lost significant amounts of inventory and business-critical equipment. After the storm, many impacted businesses exhausted their resources while making the most basic repairs to get back to work. Unfortunately, not having the means to invest in resiliency measures, they remain vulnerable to future storms and other extreme weather events.

Through RISE : NYC, up to $30 million is available to fund the installation of new and innovative resiliency technologies at small businesses impacted by Hurricane Sandy to enable them to better prepare for future storms. The competition is funded by the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program administered through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The competition seeks applications from a wide variety of businesses and organizations with innovative and scalable resiliency projects that will benefit small businesses by making their building systems, energy infrastructure and telecommunication networks better able to resist, adapt to, or bounce back from extreme weather events. RISE : NYC is also seeking project sites. Small businesses that suffered physical damage, were located in the inundation area, sustained a loss of power or utility connection, or are located in the revised 100-year floodplain can participate with an opportunity to receive a selected technology at no cost.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Visit the RISE : NYC website for more information and to find out how to apply.

SHARE THE OPPORTUNITY
Please share this funding opportunity with small businesses and technology providers in your community. If you have any questions or need additional information please reach out to info@rise-nyc.com or visit the RISE : NYC website.

Application due date: Friday, February 28th

NYCEDC information session:
When: Monday, February 3rd, 2014
Where: 110 William Street, New York, NY
Time: 10 am

Thank you for supporting a stronger, more resilient New York City.


LEARN MORE

6 Short-Term Goals for Long-Term Success

Posted on January 20, 2014 by Anthony Smith

Small businesses can create big success if they consistently set short-term, attainable goals. Whether your business is looking to expand into a new market, acquire new leads or make key new hires, these short-term goals will help you sustain momentum over the long term.

1. Make sales and marketing a priority.

Clearly, sales and marketing are key to success, but many small business owners don’t have expertise in these areas. Evaluate a few of the free or inexpensive cloud-based applications that can help you optimize for search engines and improve PPC campaign results, increase lead generation or make it easy to launch and maintain marketing campaigns. By getting a bit of help with these sales and marketing activities, you can increase market awareness about your product and allow your team to dedicate more time to improving it.

See more at: http://bit.ly/1mSQbfW

Ramon Ray
Editor & Technology Evangelist
Smallbiztechnology.com
ramon@smallbiztechnology.com

Tech & Biz Twitter Nuggets- http://www.twitter.com/ramonray
More Tech & Biz Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/smallbiztechnology

MCC Silver Partner Progressive Computing’s Robert Patterson Promoted to Director

New York, NY (January 23, 2014) – Progressive Computing (PCI) – a computer consulting and network installation, design and maintenance firm serving clients from offices in Manhattan and Westchester County, NY – has announced the promotion of Robert Patterson to Director of Sales and Marketing. A 13-year veteran of the IT industry, he has worked at Progressive Computing since 2011 as Business Development Manager.

In his role as Director of Sales and Marketing, Patterson will still establish new client relationships and work as an account manager, and is also in charge of marketing, advertising and promotion for Progressive. He will oversee publicity outreach initiatives, like newsletter publications and seminars, continue his active role in community and trade organizations, and seek more speaking opportunities like this recent roles as a panelist at the ChannelPro SMB Forum in New Jersey and panel moderator at the New York Expo and Business Conference in Manhattan. Patterson will also manage the PCI sales team in their efforts to expand the company’s client base in Westchester and Manhattan.

“I’m really excited about my new position at PCI, and the opportunity to shape our sales and marketing practices to help the company reach new levels of success,” said Patterson. “I am confident that we will form many fruitful relationships in 2014 and beyond.”

Robb Patterson is a leading technology consultant and advisor to businesses and community organizations, as well as a sought after speaker and writer, in the New York Metro Area. He began his career as a freelance web designer, and then became a system administrator for a 40-use not-for-profit organization where he developed and managed the logistics department in addition to their computer network.

In 2005, he founded the New York Small Business Server Group (NYSBS), which has grown into one of the largest SMB-focused technology peer groups in the world. With Patterson leading the way as its acting president, NYSBS’ 280+ members share industry best practices, collaborate to solve challenges, educate one another, and benefit from positive relationships with leading hardware and software vendors.

An active member of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, Patterson serves as Co-Chair of its Tech Committee, developing and supporting technology-related events, and its Mid-Market Committee, which will build the Chamber’s mid-size business membership. Since 2010, he has been on the steering committee for the New York Business Expo & Conference, an annual event that features 200 exhibitors and 40 seminars, and attracts more than 10,000 executives.

“Robb has been a critical part of our team since he joined PCI, managing our relationships and helping us grow our business in Manhattan,” said Progressive Computing CEO Robert Cioffi. “He’s always taken an active role in marketing and been very participative in community initiatives, so this promotion is not only well deserved but a logical extension of his natural talents.”

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 Microsoft Small Business Specialist,, 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. Westchester County Office Progressive Computing 35 East Grassy Sprain Road Yonkers, New York 10710 Tel: 914.375.3009

http://www.progressivecomputing.com/

Robert Patterson, Director of Sales and Marketing, Progressive Computing New York City Office Progressive Computing, Inc. 60 East 42nd Street Suite 1161 New York, NY 10165 Tel: 212.681.1212

Celebrate Super Bowl week at the 50 Yard Lounge!

The 50 Yard Lounge is the premier destination for hospitality during the biggest football week of the year in NYC. Curated like a food & wine festival collided with traditional football hospitality, the 50 Yard Lounge is a unique blend of food, football, and music, sure to be a once in a lifetime experience for guests. Crafted with the spirit of New York City in mind, 50YL will provide guests with a combination of the best bites of the city, an opportunity to meet football legends and celebrity chefs and the ultimate big game experience.

Located at One Penn Plaza, just a short walk from Times Square and in the shadows of MSG and Penn Station, the 50 Yard Lounge will open on Wednesday, January 29th and run through the game on Sunday, February 2nd. The 50 Yard Lounge will operate from 9 AM to 3 AM each day.

Daily programming will feature:

•Food from the best chefs and restaurants in NYC •Drinks from top mixologists, sommeliers, wine makers and brewmasters •Appearances by celebrity chefs, current & retired NFL legends, and celebrities from the entertainment world •Mash-ups that bring chefs and athletes together on-stage •Sounds of NYC, including live music and DJs throughout the day

Please see more at: http://www.50yardlounge.com/

MCC Green Business of the Year Awardee Ecologic Solutions raises $1.75M

By Brady Dale / CONTRIBUTOR

EcoLogic Solutions raised $1.75 million on an offered $2 million equity round,according to an SEC filing. The company makes more ecologically friendly cleaning products and offers green custodial consulting to companies.

Read more here: http://technical.ly/brooklyn/2014/01/22/122-startup-roundup/

Wells Fargo pushes NY expansion

BY AARON ELSTEIN
JANUARY 26, 2014 12:01 A.M.

Wells Fargo, the bank that's big just about everywhere except New York, has its eyes on the Big Apple.

Five years after gaining a toehold in the city when it acquired Wachovia at a fire-sale price, the San Francisco giant is starting to stir. It has hired dozens of bankers to cultivate relationships with small and midsize New York businesses, quietly assembled a formidable capital-markets operation and is experimenting with new kinds of smaller branches to maximize its retail presence in the city's tight spaces.

"We're committed to Manhattan and the region across all lines of business," said Joe Kirk, Wells Fargo's regional president for New York and Connecticut. "We're going to be wherever our customers want us."

It might be tempting to dismiss those words as so much chest-thumping, particularly since Wells Fargo is a relative bit player in a city already saturated with huge financial institutions and scores of community banks.

Yet Wells Fargo comes with some singular strengths: It is widely considered the country's best-run big bank, and about two years ago surpassed JPMorgan Chase as the nation's largest by market value, even though JPMorgan's balance sheet is nearly $1 trillion bigger.

Nor does Wells Fargo appear hobbled by the legal problems afflicting so many other big banks, having set aside less than $3 billion to resolve bubble-era litigation, according to Bloomberg, compared with more than $20 billion for JPMorgan and $19 billion for Bank of America. The bank's brand vies with American Express for the best reputation in finance .

"These guys stick to the basics; they don't get into businesses they don't understand, and they're better at selling to clients than anyone else," said Charles Wendel, president of Financial Institutions Consulting, which had Wells Fargo for a client in the past but doesn't now. "Now that they're here, they're not going away."

Still, Wells Fargo officials insist the bank will grow in the New York market slowly. That seems in keeping with an institution so cautious that it waited more than two years to replace Wachovia's signs because it wanted to make sure computer systems were seamlessly knit together.

"The reason Wells Fargo came out of the financial crisis in such strong fashion is the conservative approach it has taken for many years," Mr. Kirk said. "We're going to be very methodical."

Read More Here: http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20140126/FINANCE/301269976/wells-fargo-pushes-ny-expansion

MCC Corporate Member News: SBA and Yelp Present: Success With Online Reviews

The U.S. Small Business Administration and Yelp are partnering to provide America’s small businesses with the information they need to successfully engage with online reviewers and tips for monitoring their online reputation. This new partnership will include a series of free educational webinars and workshops around the country and instructional materials in an effort to help small businesses adjust to the new realities of online word-of-mouth and address the challenges and opportunities that come along with this change.

Read more here:http://www.sba.gov/onlinereviews

Changes to New York’s Minimum Wage Now Effective

© 2014 TANNENBAUM HELPERN SYRACUSE & HIRSCHTRITT LLP | 900 THIRD AVENUE, NEW YORK, NY 10022 | 212.508.6700 | WWW.THSH.COM

Follow us on Twitter: @THSHLAW for the firm or @THSH_Employment for the Employment Law Department.

This article is not legal advice and may constitute attorney advertising in some jurisdictions. Employment Notes January 2014

In accordance with legislation signed into law by Governor Cuomo in April 2013, New York’s minimum wage (formerly $7.25 per hour) increased to $8.00 per hour as of December 31, 2013. As a result, the effective minimum overtime rate has jumped to $12.00 per hour. These changes are the first of three staged increases in the State minimum wage, with the rates rising to $8.75 and $9.00 on December 31, 2014, and December 31, 2015, respectively.

The increase in the State’s minimum wage has additional implications for employers. For instance, companies that classify employees as exempt executive or administrative employees must be sure to raise such employees’ minimum weekly salary from $543.75 to $600.00 as of

December 31.

In a rare reprieve for employers in the hospitality industry, the New York State Department of Labor (DOL) has issued proposed regulations providing that food service workers (such as waiters, bartenders, and other employees primarily engaged in serving food or beverages to guests) may continue to receive a minimum direct wage of $5.00, meaning that an employer tip credit of $3.00 (up from $2.25) will now be permitted, so long as the tips actually received by the employee bring his or her total hourly compensation to at least $8.00. For other service employees regularly receiving tips, such as coat and bathroom attendants, the minimum direct wage will remain at $5.65, resulting in an increased permitted tip credit of $2.35 per hour (up from $1.60).

Subject to the DOL’s guidance and implementation requirements, numerous other New York regulations will be affected by the minimum wage increases, including rules relating to employee uniform maintenance pay, meal and lodging allowances, and the building services industry. In light of these changes (and similar 2014 minimum wage increases in other states, such as California, New Jersey, and Connecticut) employers should take the opportunity to review their wage and hour practices and consider whether any payroll adjustments will be required.

For more information on the topic discussed, contact:

Joel A Klarreich

212-508-6747

JAK@thsh.com : @staffing_lawyer

Andrew W. Singer

212-508-6723

singer@thsh.com : @employer_lawyer

Stacey A. Usiak

212-702-3158

usiak@thsh.com : @law4employers

Jason B. Klimpl

212-508-7529

klimpl@thsh.com : @HR_Attorney

Employment Notes, a newsletter produced by Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt LLP’s Employment Law Department, provides insights on recent employment caselaw, legislation and other legal developments impacting employer policies, human resource strategies and related best practices. To subscribe to the newsletter, email marketing@thsh.com.

About Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt LLP

Since 1978, Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt LLP has combined a powerful mix of insight, creativity, industry knowledge, senior talent and transaction expertise to successfully guide clients through periods of challenge and opportunity. Our mission is to deliver the highest quality legal services in a practical and efficient manner, bringing to bear the judgment, common sense and expertise of well trained, business minded lawyers. Through our commitment to service and successful results, Tannenbaum Helpern continues to earn the loyalty of our clients and a reputation for excellence. For more information, visit www.thsh.com. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter: @THSHLAW.

MCC Thanks December Renewing Members

Name	Company	Website
Anil Melwani	Armel Tax & Accounting Services	www.armeltax.com
Gary Matzelle	Branch Restoration, Inc.	www.branchrestorationinc.com
Deahna Penn	Department of Veterans Affairs
Theresa Slater	Empire Interpreting Service EIS	http://www.empireinterpreting.com/
Ashley Young	Fogo De Chao Holdings	www.fogo.com
Lynette Deiss	H&R Block	www.hrblock.com
David Brooks	Just Bulbs
Arthur Zilberman	LaptopMD+	www.laptopmd.com
Ronald Law	MetroPlus Health Plan
Patricia Ahaesy	P&V Enterprises
Jerry Arzu	Telsey Advisory Group	www.telseygroup.com
Stephanie Shalofsky	The Organizing Zone
Cathleen Sims	Time Warner Cable Business Class	www.timewarnercable.com
Tim Rowe	UPS Marketing	www.ups.com

MCC Welcomes December New Members

Company	Name	Website
RNWitt Inc	Royall Witt
New York Paralegal Online	Lydia Scoon	www.nypara.com
A PEACE OF MIND CARE, INC.	Adnan Lekic	www.apeaceofmindcare.com
Chick-fil-A	Brandon Hurst
Shared Value Media	Cal Zarin
Radical Leverage	Erin Hersey
Energy Efficient Lighting Design	marilyn sloan	www.eeldesign.com
New York Historical Society	Kathleen M. O'Connor	www.nyhistory.org
EcoLogic Solutions, Inc.	Anselm Doering	http://www.ecologicsolutions.com/
WSKQ-FM Mega 97.9 / WPAT-FM Amor 93.1	Juan Almanzar	www.lamega.com
TITAN	Eileen Crossin
Wildflower Brands LLC	Max Assoulin	www.rosieassoulin.com
Warby Parker	Ruthie Thier	www.warbyparker.com
Advantage Payroll Services	Robert Buckley	www.LIAdvantage.com
Dr Andrew Jacono	Andrew Jacono	http://www.newyorkfacialplasticsurgery.com
East Harlem Merchants Association	Raphael Benavides	www.ehmanyc.org
Diligex	Graham Caparulo
Law Offices of Stephen B. Kass, PC	Diana Revzin	http://www.sbkass.com
Yodle	Jasmine Teer	http://www.yodle.com/
Fogo De Chao Holdings	Ashley Young	www.fogo.com
Regus	Jerin Arifa	www.regus.com
Framing Change	Ellen Bayer	www.framingchange.com
Opal Advising	Meghan Carlson
Hungarian Consulate Investment&Trade Office NYC	Zsuzsanna PAPANEK
Miss Amazing Inc.	Jordan Somer	missamazingpageant.com
The Sixsisters Inc	Jules Bafoly
Corcoran	Florence Sommer
HILL-WASHINGTON JONES	Jennifer Jones	www.hillwashingtonjones.com