The Sea Tow Foundation, created by Sea Tow Founder Captain Joe Frohnhoefer with the mission of promoting safe boating practices, is holding a month-long photo contest on Facebook.com. The contest hopes to encourage boaters to wear life jackets while having fun on or in the water.
Contestants can submit a photo via the Sea Tow Foundation’s Facebook page of themselves and/or their friends wearing life jackets. Photo entries will be accepted through Wednesday, October 31, with online voting held from November 1 through 30. Contestants must be at least 18 years of age and legal residents of the United States with a Facebook account. Additional rules are posted on the Sea Tow Foundation’s Facebook page. The winner will receive one of 30 Revere ComfortMax Manual inflatable life jackets, valued at $155 each, along with the grand prize of a one-year Sea Tow Gold Card Membership.
The contest also aims to make the public aware of the more than 100 life jacket loaner stands provided by The Sea Tow Foundation throughout the country where boaters can borrow a life jacket for free. The Sea Tow Foundation also is working with the U.S. Coast Guard to identify and catalog another 2,000 loaner stand sites around the country.
“For those people who forgot to pack their life jackets or decided at the last minute to invite a friend to go boating, our life jacket loaner programs are there to help out,” Sea Tow Foundation Executive Director Gail R. Kulp said in a press release issued by the foundation. “Everyone, including children, can find a life jacket that fits to wear for their day on the water, then return it for someone else to use the next day.”
To find the nearest life jacket loaner station, visit the Sea Tow Foundation website at boatingsafety.com.
In recognition of National Preparedness Month, Quogue-based Servpro of the East End and its owner Richard Fevola are urging residents to take basic readiness steps in the event of a natural disaster.
As a coalition member of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Ready Campaign, Servpro stresses the importance of having a basic “readiness kit” easily accessible in the event of an emergency. The kit should include a gallon of water per person/per day; a three-day supply of non-perishable food for both people and pets; a manual can opener; a battery-operated radio, preferably a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radio; a flashlight with extra batteries; and a first aid kit. It should also include a dust mask or bandana; local maps; important documents, such as copies of insurance policies, identification cards and bank account information; matches in a waterproof container and a safety whistle. In addition, it is recommended to have at least a three-day supply of all necessary medications for family members and pets.
“Of course, your family members may not all be home when a disaster strikes,” Mr. Fevola said in a statement issued by the company. “Another key component of your readiness planning is to set a place to meet and plan for contacting each other. Taking the time to prepare and plan now can make all the difference in the first few stressful hours after disaster strikes.”
For more information on disaster preparedness and recovery options provided by Servpro of the East End, call 653-9595 or visit servpro.com.
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner of Southampton Inn Dede Gotthelf was recently named Chief Financial Officer of The Year in the category for private companies with annual revenues under $50 million by Long Island Business News. The CFO of the Year program recognizes Long Island’s top financial officers for their outstanding fiscal leadership and asset management, contributions to company performance, professional commitment and community involvement.
Ms. Gotthelf, who splits her time with her family in Manhattan and East Quogue, has been with Southampton Inn since 1998. Under Ms. Gotthelf’s direction, Southampton Inn has earned numerous awards, including Best Inn, Best Hotel, Best Breakfast, Best Public Space, Best Wedding Location and Best New Restaurant for OSO.
Ms. Gotthelf explained that her philosophy for running a successful business was to also be dedicated to the success of fellow local businesses. Southampton Inn currently donates its six meeting rooms and its 3,000-square-foot ballroom to local organizations for fundraisers, networking and teaching. Ms. Gotthelf is committed to hiring from within the community and provides training and internships for local high school and returning college students.
“I founded ‘It Takes a Village,’ because many of us on the East End are small businesses owners. By combining our efforts we can make a greater impact on regional tourism than any one of us could by working on our own,” Ms. Gotthelf said. “We buy as much as possible from our local merchants whether it’s bedding and pillows or local farm produce, printers and equipment. Our philosophy is that the hotel should reflect its surrounding culture and should give back to the community that does such an amazing job of attracting guests and visitors to the area.”
In addition to the latest distinction, Ms. Gotthelf has earned honors as one of New York State’s “Women of Distinction,” and as one of the Association of Real Estate Women’s “Top 10 Real Estate Women of the 21st Century.” She has also been included in the Long Island Business News “Who’s Who in the Hospitality Industry.” Ms. Gotthelf’s personal and professional affiliations include the Southampton Chamber of Commerce, Greater New York Chamber of Commerce, Southampton Business Alliance, Young Men’s Real Estate Association, East End Women’s Network, Parrish Art Museum Business Counsel, Group for the East End, Southampton Yacht Club, LICVB, East End Tourism Alliance, MPI and Women of Williams College. She also serves on the Board of the HVC.
Beyond her role in the hospitality industry, since 1987, Gotthelf has closed more than $1.1 billion in consulting, construction and brokerage deals as president and owner of Catcove Corp. Ms. Gotthelf’s previous positions have included banker with Chase Manhattan; vice president at the New York State Urban Development Corp., for which she received a special achievement certificate from the governor of New York State; adjunct professor at New York University’s Real Estate Institute; and director of investment sales at Studley. She also graduated with honors from The Brearley School and Williams College.
The Retreat of East Hampton Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Critcher was named “CFO of the Year” by the Long Island Business News in an awards ceremony on Thursday, September 20, at Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury. Ms. Critcher was honored in the category of financial leadership of a small nonprofit organization.
Ms. Critcher has served at The Retreat, the East End’s only domestic violence shelter and comprehensive domestic violence services organization since 2000.
“I am especially appreciative that the Long Island Business News and our communities recognize the importance and contributions of nonprofit organizations alongside for-profit businesses in the Long Island economic landscape,” Ms. Critcher said in a statement. “It’s an honor to represent The Retreat—I am passionate about serving families impacted by violence—and working alongside a team dedicated to providing clients with support, options, resources and pathways to hope.”
The Long Island Business News annually names and honors a handful of financial professionals in its “CFO of the Year Awards.” Awards are made in several categories, to enable recognition based on different organizational types and sizes.
Insurance Companies To Merge
Insurance brokerages Cook, Hall & Hyde of East Hampton and Maran Corporate Risk Associates of Southampton intend to enter into a merger agreement. It is anticipated that the merger will be completed within 60 days of the companies signing into agreement.
The newly formed company Cook Maran & Associates will continue to service customers from eastern Long Island through southeastern Pennsylvania via its network of offices in East Hampton, Southampton and Melville as well as Fairlawn and Voorhees, New Jersey. Cook Maran & Associates will aim to provide a full range of personal and commercial insurance services, including life and individual insurance products, employee benefits, surety and credit risk solutions.
“Together, the resources of our combined organizations will enable us to provide clients with more of what they choose an insurance brokerage for—more products and services, more points of access and more leverage with leading carriers,” Cook, Hall & Hyde President Len Scioscia said in a statement posted on the company’s website.
Mr. Scioscia has been named chief executive officer of the new organization. “The merger of our two powerful organizations will provide the opportunity to leverage one another’s strengths and move more quickly toward our long-term goal of providing the best combination of insurance risk management solutions and highest quality of service to our customers,” he added.
Steve Maietta, the president of Maran Corporate Risk Associates will serve as commercial business leader for the merged firm.
“Our new team represents the same talented insurance professionals our clients have always counted on to deliver innovative insurance risk management strategies,” he said. “While the merger will bring greater opportunities and more benefits to our clients and our employees, our commitment to providing superior service to the local marketplace remains the same.”
The Panera Bread eateries in Bridgehampton and Hampton Bays will once again participate with other Panera Bread locations on Long Island and radio station WALK 97.5 to raise money for local breast cancer prevention, education, and support groups as part of the annual Pink Ribbon Bagel campaign. The campaign, now in its 11th year, has raised well over $100,000 to benefit organizations on Long Island.
During business hours on October 1, 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of Panera’s Pink Ribbon Bagels will benefit the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program, Prevention Is the Cure and the Breast Cancer Research Program at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory as part of Panera’s Power Of Pink Day. The Cherry Vanilla flavored bagels are made with brown-sugar and cranberry-cherry chips and are shaped into iconic “pink ribbons” as a symbol of hope in support of local breast cancer help organizations.
“The initiative continues to grow each year,” says Greg George, Vice President of Operations for Doherty Enterprises, Inc., franchisee for Panera Bread in a statement released by the company. “WALK 97.5 makes a big push in the fall to educate and inform listeners about breast cancer prevention, screening and treatment.” He adds, “WALK Radio brings awareness and Panera brings the funds to help sustain several critical groups here on Long Island.”
The Shinnecock Animal Hospital in Hampton Bays was recently accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association as having achieved the highest level of veterinary excellence. The accreditation came after a rigorous review of the animal hospital’s practice protocols, medical equipment, facility and client service.
The American Animal Hospital Association is currently the only organization in the United States and Canada that accredits companion animal hospitals based on standards that go above and beyond state regulations, according to a statement released by the practice. In order to achieve the high rank, the practice proved itself to have excelled in patient care and pain management, surgery, pharmacy, laboratory, exam facilities, medical records, cleanliness, emergency services, dental care, diagnostic imaging, anesthesiology and continuing education.
on Oct 2, 2012