May 2015

12th Annual Pinnacle Awards Dinner a memorable event!

Pinnacle Awards
Al Samuels and Dr. Cliff Wood, Rockland Community College, accept Special Pinnacle Awards for their efforts representing Rockland County and the region on the Governor's Regional Economic
Development Council. Ralph Travaglini presented the awards on behalf of TD Bank, sponsor of the special recognitions.
The cocktail reception at the RBA's Annual Pinnacle Awards.

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Did you know? All about your RBA

 

Hundreds of businesses and organizations benefit from the power of the Rockland Business Association, known throughout the region as "The Voice of Business."

 

But did you know some of the history behind the great work we do on your behalf?

 

The RBA was founded Aug. 31, 1967 by 40 local business leaders concerned with assisting the county in its growth, both as a business community and in its cultural and social programs.

 

Since that time, the need for the organization's involvement has intensified as Rockland County grew from a parochial, semi-rural community into a critically important regional partner. In fact, the RBA is the most regional of all similar associations in the Hudson Valley, with 24 percent of its membership coming from outside of Rockland.

 

The RBA--- which has received numerous prestigious awards for its work --- is considered one of New York State's most influential public policy and economic development organizations. RBA President/CEO Al Samuels is one of only two Rocklanders serving as voting members of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council.

 

Among RBA's many significant contributions to local and regional communities is its 2012 White Paper, which changed both the elected and staff leadership that led Rockland in the seven year spiral that earned the county the title of "Most Fiscally Stressed County in NY." That document also changed the course of action regarding the financially drained Summit Park Hospital and County Pharmacy.

 

The RBA twice led successful campaigns to defeat the Living Wage Movement's attempt to impose arbitrary wage rates on our businesses. It also developed the strategy leading to the creation of Rockland's Empire Zone Task Force and brought the issue of broadband infrastructure to the public forum. That led to the creation of former County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef's Technology Leadership Council.

 

The RBA was the leading advocate for the new Tappan Zee Bridge and the prime motivator for the adoption of legislation for an executive form of government.  The RBA was also responsible for the Airmont Interchange on the New York State Thruway and for the formation of the Rockland Industrial Development Authority.


 
The RBA is pleased to be the champion of local and regional business entities and organizations. Through the RBA, businesses are able to work together achieving goals that could not be attained by working singularly.  


"End of Session Business Coalition" work continues

 

With only weeks left until the end of the 2015 legislative session, the "End of Session Business Coalition" is continuing its work to identify problem bills and put into place a mechanism to respond quickly and effectively to any bills of concern that might arise in the final weeks of the legislative session.

 

In particular, the Rockland Business Association --- the only Hudson Valley association invited to participate in this endeavor --- wants you to be aware of the following bills:

 

Nursing Staff Ratios

S.782 Hannon/A.1548 Gottfried  

Currently in Senate Health; in Assembly Ways & Means

 

The RBA strongly opposes S.782 / A.1548, which would mandate a hugely expensive and medically unnecessary nursing staff ratio on hospitals and nursing homes throughout the state.  The impositions of these ratios, which are not supported by most studies or embraced by 49 states, would cause a ripple effect of higher costs and greater shortages of nursing care, not the least of which is an increased cost to the health care system by between $2 and $3 billion annually.

The sponsors' justification for this bill states that the ratios specified in the bill are based on peer-reviewed academic research and evidence-based recommendations and the experiences in California, the only state to have experimented with statewide hospital ratios. The latest peer-reviewed studies on California's experience find no direct link between the mandated staffing ratios and improved patient outcomes.  

Several studies have identified far more effective methods to improve quality outcomes in hospitals and nursing homes.  These include the implementation of evidence-based practices to standardize care, the education and preparation of nurses and improved communications by health care teams. Patient outcomes are improved through better attention to individual patient care.  Since every patient is different, the needs of every hospital and nursing home are different; removing staffing flexibility from diverse providers will not result in better care.

This bill would require the hiring of more than 20,000 new nurses in hospitals alone.  With a limited number of nurses, under the mandates of this bill, New York State would experience severe nursing shortages in some hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient and ambulatory care facilities, undermining all reform efforts to shift care delivery and shift services from the inpatient to outpatient and community settings.

This bill represents an enormous unfunded health care mandate, which does nothing to improve patient care while driving already profoundly high health care costs remarkably higher. 

 

State monitor for East Ramapo School District

Carlucci S.3821 / A.5355 Jaffee & Zebrowski

 

The coalition is focusing bills that have statewide impact. But separately, another bill which has local impact and potential statewide impact is one requiring state oversight for the East Ramapo School District.

 

The Rockland-specific bill would allow the state education commissioner to appoint a monitor to oversee the district's financial and operational management to ensure the school district moves toward fiscal stability and academic excellence. It would also require the development of a five-year improvement plan for the district.

 

Advocates have said the bill is needed because of the district's unique circumstances. The district's 9,000 mostly black and Latino students attend public schools. But, approximately 24,000 students attend private schools, mostly in the fast-growing Hasidic and Ultra-Orthodox communities which holds control over the school board.

 

Supporters are pressing lawmakers to support the bill sponsored by local legislators Sen. David Carlucci and Assembly members Ellen Jaffee and Kenneth Zebrowski. The legislative session runs until June 17. 

 

The bill came from the recommendation of  State Fiscal Monitor Hank Greenberg, who recommended legislative action in a critical report on the district in November 2014.

 

"While the coalition is addressing bills that have a statewide impact, this issue could, in the future, affect other areas of the state," said Al Samuels, RBA president/CEO. "This proposed legislation would have a positive impact on the county. I encourage our members to take a look at it and understand its potential impact and ramifications." 

 

May 6 Business After Hours 

 

It was a beautiful night at Crestview Conference Center for the May 6th Business After Hours.

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Learn about bringing Chinese tourists 

to Rockland County on May 28


 
Hospitality and tourism-related RBA members are invited to an informational meeting on May 28 at 10 am at the Business Innovation Mall at the RCC campus in Haverstraw to kick off the county initiative "Attracting the Chinese Tourist to Rockland County."

 

Did you know, for example, that Chinese tourists are looking for travel and tourism "experiences" that involve farm-to-table dining, farm visits, wineries, shopping, visiting historical sites and opportunities that involve driving versus  traveling on a tour bus.

 

Speakers will be Guillermo Rosa, deputy county executive; Man-Li Lin, supervisor; and economic
development specialist for the U.S. Small Business Administration, and Lucy Redzeposki, Rockland County director of Economic Growth and Tourism.

 

"Support from stakeholders is necessary to making this program successful," said Al Samuels, RBA president and CEO.

To learn more or register, email Redzeposki at [email protected].


 

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June 9 is "the other RBA" collaboration luncheon


 
Former Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy, who is now president and CEO of the Rochester Business Alliance, will convene a group of select business leaders throughout New York State for a special luncheon on June 9.


 
Attendees will share ideas on how a high level of cooperation and collaboration needs to be in place between organizations like the RBAs and the business leaders, members and organizations that each serves.

 

"Oftentimes, companies are conducting business transactions or using vendors in other states and are overlooking businesses providing the same products and services in their own backyard," Duffy wrote in a letter. "As leaders, I believe we have a unique opportunity to encourage inter-regional collaboration and foster relationships among businesses in our communities."

 

The Rochester Business Alliance and the Rockland Business Association affectionately refer to  each other as "the other RBA," said Al Samuels, who supports Duffy's plan. 


 

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Protein Sciences' June 25 reception 

to celebrate licensing of Flublok vaccine

 

Protein Science Corp. was recently licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to commercially manufacture the Flublok influenza vaccine at its Pearl River facility. To mark the accomplishment, a press conference and reception will be held June 25 at its Pearl River campus.

 

Flublok is the world's first licensed influenza vaccine made using modern recombinant technology.

 

"The approval of our Pearl River facility accelerates the growth of Protein Sciences and Flublok," said Manon Cox, president and CEO. "We will be able to manufacture Flublok at four times the scale compared to our Connecticut facility. This milestone enables us to substantially increase the availability of Flublok this year and in the future."

 

Protein Sciences acquired their building on the Pfizer campus in Pearl River in 2012. 

 

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Welcome new RBA members!

 

The following is a list of our newest members. Welcome to the RBA!  We look forward to many productive and
successful years of working together.


 


 RBA April 16th General Membership Luncheon
"30 Ideas in 30 Minutes" 

 
 


 

Member ideas to improve Rockland and the RBA were exchanged at the General Membership Luncheon.  
RBA Board Member's judged the contest. Jan Degenshein; Sheldon Horowitz and Leonard Birbrower, Esq. choose Rosemarie Monaco of Group M Inc. for the best idea. As a result, Rosemarie won two tickets to the RBA Annual Dinner.

 

  


 

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