Nassau County Business Of The Month

Our January Employer Of The Month:

Healthplex In Uniondale

Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano today showcased Healthplex, Inc. - located in Uniondale - as the Nassau County “Employer of the Month.” County Executive Mangano joined Healthplex President Sharon Zelkind, as well as Co-Founders Dr. Martin Kane and Dr. Stephen Cuchel, at their headquarters in Uniondale. With a workforce of 600+ employees, Healthplex is the largest dental insurance administrator in the State of New York and has been awarded certification in Utilization Management and Credentialing Verification by the National Committee for Quality Assurance and an Honorable Mention Quality Summit Award by URAC for 2013.

“Employers like Healthplex are the heartbeat of our local economy,” said County Executive Mangano. “With local employers contributing to the economic base and connectivity of our local communities, we must help raise awareness of the role they play and promise a business-friendly Nassau that attracts suppliers and distributors in similar industries. The “Employer of the Month” designation is one way of bringing attention to their outstanding efforts and the jobs they provide residents in Nassau County.”

In March 2012, County Executive Mangano joined with Healthplex to sponsor a private-sector job fair at the Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building in Mineola. Healthplex has also taken part in Nassau County’s private-sector job fairs. Healthplex prides itself by providing the highest level of dental programs, benefits, and administrative services for companies, school districts, families, municipalities, welfare funds and businesses of all sizes. Healthplex covers over 3.5 million lives in the New York area. For more information on Healthplex, Inc., please visit www.healthplex.com

Our September Employer Of The Month:

Gourmet Glatt Emporium In Cedarhurst

As the Jewish High Holy Days approach, Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano today announced that Gourmet Glatt Emporium ofCedarhurst is Nassau County’s “Business of the Month” for September 2013. In less than a decade, Gourmet Glatt Emporium transformed itself froma simple neighborhood grocery store to the Five Towns’ kosher food superstore. Weathering the prolonged economic recession,a major fire, and losingnearly three quarters of a million dollars in perishables after Hurricane Sandy, Gourmet Glatt continues innovating, expanding, creating local jobs, andleading a local economic revival of Cedarhurst’s storied Central Avenue shopping district.

Our March Employer Of The Month:

Gold's Pure Food Products In Hempstead

March 20, 2013–Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano was joined by Rabbi Cohen and David Newman, Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council, as he cast a spotlight on Gold’s Pure Food Products Company as the county’s “Business of the Month” today at the Hempstead manufacturing plant and headquarters they have occupied since 1993.

Gold’s, whose horseradish is a staple in households everywhere, has a long and notable history which dates back to 1932. Family-owned and operated, the company has 65 employees and sales numbers for 2010 that are almost $12 million. Their products are sold locally as well as internationally.

Gold’s makes and distributes condiments including wasabi sauce, mustard, tartar sauce, ketchup, hot dog relish and salsa under the Gold’s name as well as Nathan’s, Uncle Dave’s and Chef Allen brands. All products are certified as kosher and are sold in glass jars as well as “squeeze me” packages in stores and on their website. Recipes, news items, product information, health tips and contests along with other consumer information are also featured online.

“For the last two decades Gold’s has been a visible and significant member of Nassau County’s business community,” said County Executive Mangano. “The business development strategies advanced by Gold’s have encouraged continued growth that benefits Nassau’s economy by employing its residents, generating tax revenue, and building a strong economic base.

The Gold’s tradition dates back five generations to the Great Depression when Tillie Gold, an entrepreneur who husband Hyman - out of work, started a small family-owned business in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn. In a walk-up apartment on Coney Island Avenue, Tillie began what would become a multi-million dollar business by using an old grinder to clean and grind raw horseradish roots and jar them, by hand, one jar at a time.

With a ready-made ethic, immigrant population in New York’s boroughs in place to purchase the horseradish, Tillie would deliver the jars by subway to areas throughout Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx. By the start of World War II, she had saved enough money to buy a car and deliver the product to neighborhood grocery stores. As the business grew, their two sons assisted with the business, which expanded into a handful of plants and warehouses throughout Brooklyn. Recognizing that the facilities could no longer accommodate the growth of the business, they moved to their modern plant in Hempstead. Today, Marc, Steven and Howard Gold, grandsons of Tillie and Hyman operate the business along with support from their fifth-generation family members; their children.

They now manufacture 50 condiment foods under the Gold’s label as well as supplying private label products for other businesses and co-packing house brands for supermarkets.

Our June Employer Of The Month:

Nathan's Famous In Jericho

June 6, 2012–Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano cast a spotlight on Nathan’s Famous as the Employer of the Month on Wednesday, June 6th by recognizing their efforts to employ local residents at their corporate and franchise operations in Nassau County. Nathan’s Famous President and Chief Operating Officer Wayne Norbitz joined the County Executive at the Oceanside landmark establishment – the second oldest Nathan’s Famous store in the nation. Nathan’s corporate headquarters is located in Jericho. The corporation and local franchises employ over 500 people.

“To have a business like Nathan’s Famous, which is a household name, located here in Nassau County is a tremendous boost to our region,” said County Executive Mangano. “People all over the world know of Nathan’s hot dogs. For more than half a century Nathan’s has been a contributor to the local economic base and built a reputation as a good corporate citizen among the Nassau County community.”

Nathan’s Famous was founded by Nathan Handwerker in Coney Island, Brooklyn in 1916. Nathan’s, surrounded by beach-goers and amusement park attendees, became known for its 5 cent frankfurters. In 1956, Handwerker and his wife Ida came east from Brooklyn to Lawrence, Long Island and opened the second Nathan’s on Long Beach Road in Oceanside. It became a well-known stop for sun-soaked locals traveling to and from the boardwalk and beach in Long Beach and today is the second oldest business establishment in Oceanside.

Nathan’s Famous President and Chief Operating Officer Wayne Norbitz stated, “The headquarters of Famous Nathan’s has been calling Nassau County home for over 23 years. We originally moved to Long Island because so many of our corporate employees lived on Long Island and it is a significant market for us in terms of our restaurant presence, as well as through the retail distribution of our products. We thank County Executive Mangano for honoring us as Nassau County’s Employer of the Month.”

Today, there are approximately 320 Nathan’s restaurants throughout the nation and Nathan’s hot dogs are served in more than 16,000 food service establishments nationwide. Nathan’s packaged hot dogs can be purchased in more than 32,000 supermarkets, grocery and club stores around the country and their products are featured in all 50 states as well as eight foreign countries.

Last year, more than 430 million Nathan’s hot dogs were sold in the United States. Each year, Nathan’s makes a donation of 100,000 hot dogs to food banks on July 4th, during the annual hot dog eating contest. In a tradition that started with Nathan Handwerker, Nathan’s gives back to the community by supporting many worthy charitable causes each year.

Our May Employer Of The Month:

AriZona Beverages In Woodbury

May 3, 2012–Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano (right) today showcased AriZona Beverages, makers of AriZona Iced Tea, as the Nassau County “Business of the Month” and toured their facility. Arizona Beverages is a homegrown New York company, and AriZona Beverage Co-Founder and Chairman, Don Vultaggio (left), wanted it to stay that way. AriZona Beverages has been headquartered in Nassau County since the 1990’s and has built a successful business that is now one of the largest independently owned beverage companies in the U.S., with a 36% share of the retail ready-to-drink tea market.

“Businesses like AriZona Beverages are the core of Nassau County’s economy,” said County Executive Mangano. “With local employers contributing to the economic base and connectivity of our local communities, we must help raise awareness of the role they play and promote a business-friendly Nassau that attracts suppliers and distributors in similar industries. AriZona has served as an anchor for Nassau County’s food and beverage industry, which has recently attracted investments by other big names such as Snapple and Kozy Shack.”

AriZona faced a major challenge when it outgrew its headquarters in Nassau County’s Lake Success in the mid-2000’s. Faced with pressure to move its headquarters to New Jersey to be near one of the company’s manufacturing plants, Don Vultaggio made a commitment to Nassau County’s economic future by working with Nassau County to maintain the company’s headquarters within the county.

“AriZona is a family company that believes in supporting the community -- and Nassau County is our community,” explains Vultaggio. “I wanted to make sure that AriZona was doing its part in creating jobs and helping to sustain Nassau’s economy.”

Nassau County worked with the AriZona leadership team to secure financing for the construction of a 100,000 square-foot office building in Woodbury as well as the installation of the necessary fixtures, machinery and computer equipment the company needed.

AriZona moved to the new headquarters in October 2009, under the pretense that the company would add 50-60 jobs in its first year in the new building and another 20-30 in its second. Since 2009, AriZona has added over 170 jobs. The County recently assisted with an additional improvement of its state of the art corporate conference center and headquarters that will continue to create new jobs for county residents. AriZona now employs more than 300 people in Nassau County, of its approximate 1,000 national employees.

In 1992, AriZona rocked the world with a super-flavorful and ever-affordable Iced Tea. To celebrate their 20th Anniversary, AriZona is in the midst of a social media-driven contest which invites fans to be a part of AriZona history and vote on AriZona’s next flavor, design the winning flavor can and enter to win limited prizes. More information can be found on www.arizona20years.com.

Our April Employer Of The Month:

Rechler Equity Partners LLC In Plainview

April 17, 2012–Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano today showcased Rechler Equity Partners LLC as the Nassau County “Employer of the Month.” County Executive Mangano joined Rechler Equity principals Gregg Rechler, and Mitchell at their development firm’s new headquarters in Plainview, which opened in February. The building was the only project on Long Island to be developed using Recovery Zone Facility Bonds, which were issued through the Nassau IDA. The firm previously was located in Melville.

“It gives me great pleasure to welcome Rechler Equity Partners to Nassau County and the presence here in our county of a strong local business is reason alone for me to designate Rechler Equity as Nassau’s Employer of the Month,” said Mangano. “This building is a symbol of the progress my administration, our Economic Development Department and the Nassau IDA are making in re-invigorating Nassau County’s economy and adding new jobs. We must bring companies like Rechler Equity to Nassau County, because so many jobs have been lost as a result of the stagnant economy.”

Rechler’s new headquarters replaced an obsolete, vacant industrial building that the Rechler’s constructed 53 years ago. The $7.7 million project brought 28 full-time well-paying to Nassau County, created 100 full-time equivalent construction jobs, and is expected to provide $11 million in economic benefits to the County. The Rechler Equity bond deal was the first action undertaken by a reconstituted IDA after the county executive took office.

The Nassau County Industrial Development Agency issued $5 million in tax-free federal Recovery Zone Facility Bonds that were used to finance construction of the 20,416-square-foot building. Rechler Equity is responsible for paying interest on the bonds and repaying the principal. The project was the only one on Long Island to tap recovery bond financing.

The IDA also provided an economic development compact that provided Rechler Equity with relief from mortgage recording taxes and sales and use taxes on materials and equipment and a payment in lieu of real estate taxes program.

“I am grateful that the IDA, the Town of Oyster Bay and the County Legislature all cooperated in making it possible to bring Rechler to Nassau County,” Mangano added. “Not only have they brought high-paying jobs to the county, but they also have replaced a blighted industrial property with a first-class office building that is highly visible from the Long Island Expressway.”

“If it wasn’t for the Nassau County administration this wouldn’t have happened,” said Gregg Rechler, noting that at the time Rechler Equity was considering constructing the building, banks were not making loans.

Our February Employer Of The Month:

Broadridge Financial Solutions In Lake Success

February 17, 2012– Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano today showcased Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. as the Nassau County “Employer of the Month.” Broadridge builds the infrastructure that underpins proxy services for over 90% of public companies and mutual funds in North America; processes over $4 trillion in fixed income and equity trades per day; and saves companies billions annually through its technology solutions. Broadridge employs 1,703 workers on Long Island and over 6,200 worldwide.

“Businesses like Broadridge are the heartbeat of our local economy,” said County Executive Mangano. “With local employers contributing to the economic base and connectivity of our local communities, we must help raise awareness of the role they play and promote a business-friendly Nassau that attracts suppliers and distributors in similar industries. The “Employer of the Month” designation is one way of bringing attention to their outstanding efforts and the jobs they provide residents in our County.”

Broadridge enables the Financial Services Industry to achieve superior levels of performance through their passion to deliver extraordinary value to their clients, shareholders and associates. Broadridge is now expanding their efforts to include a wider circle of stakeholders: all communities and the planet. Spun off from ADP in 2007, Broadridge is a technology-services company focused on global capital markets. Broadridge is the market leader enabling secure and accurate processing of information for communications and securities transactions among issuers, investors and financial intermediaries.

Recent and Planned Future Growth

Broadridge is involved with Pitney Bowes in a partnership relative to a product called VOLLY, which is a digital mailbox. Every individual is going to be able to get mail, just based on their address. It will be just like the mailbox in front of your house except it'll be electronic.

Broadridge also recently bought a company called Paladyne that is focused on serving hedge funds and those who manage money for other people. That segment has been growing substantially and we expect it to continue to grow. Paladyne will serve as the foundation for the expansion of Broadridge’s buy-side offering, enabling us to bring Paladyne’s unique solutions to hedge funds, our existing prime brokerage clients, asset managers, hedge fund administrators and other asset servicers.

Our December Employer Of The Month:

DealerTrack Holdings Inc. In Lake Success

December 14, 2011 –Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano (front right) today joined Mark O’Neil (front left), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DealerTrack Holdings Inc., a Lake Success-based business, in announcing that the company will add approximately 75 new jobs to its workforce in Nassau County in 2012. DealerTrack, a premier provider of technology solutions and services to the North American automotive retail market,is planning on creating 150 new jobs nationwide, of which nearly 50% of the new jobs will be located in Nassau County.

“Businesses like DealerTrack are the heartbeat of our local economy,” said County Executive Mangano. “I applaud DealerTrack for its commitment to employing residents and doing business in Nassau County. It is important for the community to know there are jobs available here on Long Island and we need to continue to bolster our efforts to promote our many economic strengths and opportunities. In light of DealerTrack’s initiative to create more jobs here in Nassau County, I am declaring DealerTrack Holdings, Inc. as ‘Employer of the Month’.”

“DealerTrack has been a proud part of the Long Island community since its inception in 2001,” saidO’Neil. “Over the years, Long Island has provided us with a wealth of talent and expertise. We look forward to continuing to grow as an organization right here in Nassau County.”

In an effort to support the business community, County Executive Mangano profiles a different company on the County website each month. Each of the companies that are featured each month represent a cross-section of industry and geographic location throughout the County and many of the companies have products and services that reach beyond Nassau County. County Executive Mangano tours the facility of each business that is profiled along with members of the County’s Office of Economic Development Business Development Unit, in order to demonstrate their commitment to understanding the needs of the small, mid-sized and large business community.

County Executive Mangano and the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) are working tirelessly to create local jobs and generate economic activity within Nassau County. In an effort to foster a more business-friendly environment on Long Island, County Executive Mangano has held the line on property taxes for two consecutive years and implemented reforms to Nassau’s broken property tax assessment system. With the assistance of the Nassau County IDA, Nassau County is continuing to create hundreds of new jobs, revitalize dilapidated properties and generate millions in revenue that helps hold the line on property taxes.

Our November Business Of The Month:

Sterling & Sterling Inc. In Woodbury

November 1, 2011 – Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano today showcased Sterling & Sterling, Inc. as the Nassau County “Business of the Month” and toured their facility. Since the company was founded in 1932, Sterling & Sterling, Inc. has been an independent and privately owned corporation, growing annual revenues to over $32 million in 2010.

Sterling & Sterling, Inc. employs over 170 insurance and risk management professionals to service its vast clientele. The firm is ranked among the nation’s top 100 insurance brokerages and has grown to become one of the largest in the United States, with premiums topping $300 million. At a time when too many companies are struggling, Sterling & Sterling has grown an additional 20.8% in the first nine months of 2011.

“Businesses like Sterling & Sterling are the heartbeat of our local economy,” said County Executive Mangano. “With local employers contributing to the economic base and connectivity of our local communities, we must help raise awareness of the role they play and promote a business-friendly Nassau that attracts suppliers and distributors in similar industries. The “Business of the Month” designation is one way of bringing attention to their outstanding efforts.”

This past August, Sterling & Sterling, Inc. partnered with Assura Group and Great American Insurance Company, to launch IncomeAssure, the first ever private unemployment insurance product that acts as a supplement to state unemployment benefits to replace up to 50 percent of a worker’s former wages in the event of involuntary job loss. Like disability insurance, IncomeAssure makes money available to policyholders to pay for personal expenses during unexpected periods of unemployment. IncomeAssure is the only product of its kind available in the United States.

Sterling & Sterling’s clients are regional, national, and international operations who benefit from such service offerings as: property and casualty insurance, employee benefits consulting, risk management, loss control, claims management, estate planning, and business succession planning. Much of the firm’s most significant growth has occurred in recent years, not through acquisitions, but through referrals from satisfied clients. At Sterling & Sterling, their expertise reaches far beyond the insurance marketplace and they know the businesses and industries that they serve, and the markets in which they operate.

New York-based Assura Group, Sterling & Sterling’s partner for the IncomeAssure program was founded in 2006 to address the millions of Americans who are inadequately covered by state unemployment benefits. An approved state unemployment benefit claim triggers eligibility for IncomeAssure payments for policyholders. Premiums are based on salary, industry, and state of employment and range from approximately 0.5% to 2.0% of wages. There is a six month waiting period for new policyholders to begin claiming benefits. Currently, IncomeAssure is available in 32 states across the country and the District of Columbia. Eventually, the policy will be offered in all states, upon approval of policy form and rate filings. Additionally, Assura Group was the sponsor of Nassau County’s summer concert series.

Our September Business Of The Month:

Air Stream Foods In Oceanside

September 29, 2011- Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano today showcased Air Stream Foods as the Nassau County “Business of the Month” and toured their facility. Since 1977, Air Stream Foods, an Oceanside company, has been engaged in the manufacture, production and wholesale distribution of food products that serve a number of industries including: the airline, restaurant, hospital and school industries.

“Businesses like Air Stream Foods are the heartbeat of our local economy,” said County Executive Mangano. “With local employers contributing to the economic base and connectivity of our local communities, we must help raise awareness of the role they play and promote a business-friendly Nassau that attracts suppliers and distributors in similar industries.”

In 2007, Air Stream Foods was certified in the Nassau County Empire Zone as a Regionally Significant Manufacturing Project, which required the company to create at least 50 net new jobs over a 5-year period. At the time of their application, the company projected an investment of $3.2 million in building construction, renovation, and the purchase of production machinery, equipment and furniture, with the projection of creating 65 new jobs. After only two years as an Empire Zone certified business, the company has exceeded their capital investment and job creation goals. As of year-end 2009, Air Stream Corp reported actual cumulative capital investment of $4.0 million and cumulative job creation of 75 jobs. The company is continuing to expand and is currently looking for a larger space for its operations.

Our June Business Of The Month:

EmPower Solar In Island Park

June 14, 2011-

Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano today showcased EmPower Solar as the Nassau County “Business of the Month” and toured their facility. EmPower Solar, an Island Park-based company, is a leading solar contracting corporation serving Long Island and New York City residential and commercial markets. EmPower Solar engineers and installs solar electric systems, in addition to installing solar charging stations for electric vehicles.

“Businesses like EmPower Solar are the heartbeat of our local economy,” said County Executive Mangano. “With local employers contributing to the economic base and connectivity of our local communities, we must help raise awareness of the role they play and promote a business-friendly Nassau that attracts suppliers and distributors in similar industries.”

Our April Business Of The Month:

Cox & Company In Plainview

April 21, 2011 - Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano recognized Cox & Company as the Nassau County “Business of the Month” and toured their operations in Plainview. Cox & Company is a 100% employee-owned company in operation for over 50 years and staffed with experts in the fields of thermal, mechanical and electrical engineering. The company is an industry leader in the design, test, manufacture and support of high quality customized temperature control and ice protection systems. Cox systems were on the Grumman/NASA Lunar Landing Module when man walked on the moon and continue to meet the demanding performance and environmental requirements of world-wide commercial, business and military aerospace applications. Today, all of the company’s products and services are produced exclusively in Nassau County at the company’s manufacturing facility in Plainview.