Business Briefs, April 10

New Salon Comes To Bridgehampton

A new salon, BLOW Hampton, designed exclusively for “blowouts,” will open this month in Bridgehampton. The state-of-the-art facility will offer custom servicing to women in search of a great blowout at an even greater price. BLOW will offer blowouts at just $40, making it a Hampton’s affordable luxury. Lila, owner and graduate of FIT, wants “women to feel they can be in and out within a half hour, or that they can hang and chat all day.” She added that her hope is to “create the coffee shop of hair salons.”

BLOW will also offer touch-ups at a reduced rate and at-home services.

BLOW will be open seven days a week, Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call (631) 537-8000 or visit www.blowhampton.com to book your first appointment today!

Hampton Coffee Launches Single Kups

The Southampton-based, Hampton Coffee Company, which has been locally owned for 20 years, launched its own line of Single Cups for use in K-cup compatible machines. Customers can now enjoy the wonderful Hampton Coffee Company taste from the comfort of their own home. Hampton Classic Blend single cups are now available at all Hampton Coffee Company locations, in addition to many King Kullen supermarkets. Customers can also order online, where they can receive a reduced rate if purchasing a case of 6, at hamptoncoffeecompany.com. Classic Decaf and Hazelnut varieties will be available in May.

The single serve cups are made in the USA with easy-to-recycle polypropylene #5 plastic. Hampton Coffee Roastmaster Dwight Amada said the company was “excited to be able to offer … hand-roasted single serve at a competitive price and in such an environmentally-friendly way to users of K-cup machines in homes and offices”

Limousine Service Receives Excellence Award

Red Tie Limousine Service, of Westhampton, NY, has received the Lancer Insurance Company’s Safety Excellence Award for the 2013 policy year. Lancer Insurance Company, which provides coverage to limousine companies in all 50 states, instituted the Safety Excellence Award program twenty years ago to recognize companies that demonstrated the highest commitment to safety of their customers and employees.

“We’re extremely pleased to recognize Red Tie Limousine Service for its achievement,” said Bob Crescenzo, Lancer vice president and director of safety and loss prevention. Mr. Crescenzo went on to emphasize how important public recognition was for these companies who performed their job above the expected level and exceeded industry standards.

New Location for Fitness Studio

Elements Fitness Studio will open a new location in East Hampton in May. Elements Fitness specializes in barre fitness, dance cardio and cardio boxing classes. In addition, Elements Fitness is known for its unique fusion of ballet conditioning classes, cardio sculpt, which combines dance cardio with strength training, and much more. The East Hampton location will offer a new, innovative cycle class featuring core stabilization and cardio conditioning exercises.

Elements Fitness Studio was founded by Andrea Fornarola Hunsberger, a professionally trained dancer and master fitness instructor. She has worked with many celebrities in New York and holds multiple nationally recognized fitness certifications.

Visit www.elementsfitnessstudio.com or call (917) 589-7319 for more information and to book classes.

Radio Show AddedCraig Ferrantino of Southampton will co-host a new radio show, along with Jenna Hudson, on LI News 103.9 FM on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m., called “It’s All About Retirement.”

Mr. Ferrantino is the president of the independent financial and retirement planning firm Craig James Financial Services, LLC. He and his co-host, Ms. Hudson, say they are hopeful that the new radio show will provide real tips that people can take away to help achieve and preserve the ultimate goal of retirement. Mr. Ferrantino will engage in dynamic discussions about retirement with hopes of bringing clarity to financial topics that are often portrayed as overcomplicated.

“I am excited about this opportunity and look forward to helping Long Islanders make their retirement goals a reality,” he said.

In addition, the Financial Planning Association of Long Island named Mr. Ferrantino chairman of the symposium planning committee. With more than 20 years of experience working in the financial services and retirement planning fields, he has held an active role on the committee in past years. Each year, the organization holds the symposium for financial professionals, featuring educational workshops and more to help them better serve their clients’ needs.

“I hope to organize a symposium that will allow financial professionals to walk away with knowledge and resources…to help their clients reach their financial and retirement planning goals” Mr. Ferrantino said.

Burkhardt Named ChairmanRon Burkhardt of Quogue has been named executive chairman of XA Inc., an event planning company with offices in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. In his new position, Mr. Burkhardt also will sit on the board of CMG Holdings, XA’s parent company, with the goal of increasing XA’s list of clients and acquisitions. Mr. Burkhardt has worked with clients including Merrill Lynch, BellSouth, Kodak, Minolta, Coke, Philips, and Olympus. He served as the branding and TV chair on the board of directors for the Miss America Organization, where he was key in implementing changes that increased the pageant’s TV ratings. Jeff Devlin, CEO of CMG Holdings, called Mr. Burkhardt “a high-powered, creative superstar and visionary with a rich history of making big things happen for his clients” and added that “the fusion of Burkhardt’s brilliant brand and business-building expertise with this cutting-edge experiential branding agency will be a potent force indeed.” XA has been ranked one of the “Top 50 Powerhouse Event Companies in the World” by Special Events Magazine.

New Members For ChamberAt a board meeting held on Thursday, January 16, the Southampton Chamber of Commerce elected new members to its Executive Board.

Micah Schlendorf of Suffolk County National Bank was elected president, Paul Conroy of The Press News Group and Tim Burke of 230 Elm Events and Catering and the Lobster Grille Inn were named vice presidents, and Liz Burns of Rogers Memorial Library was named treasurer.

The new board members join returning members Besim Cukaj of Besim’s Fine Cigars, Erin Hattrick-Meaney of Topiaire Flowers, Harry Nelson of South Fork Realty, John Wendt of the Southampton School District, and Jim Zuhusky of Despatch Storage.

In a statement, Mr. Schlendorf said he looks forward to working with the members of the board and Executive Director Karen Connolly to fulfill the chamber’s goals of promoting and developing a strong business community in Southampton.

Sag Harbor Chamber NewsThe Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce has announced that Cristina Tagliasacchi, Hayley Thorpe, David Brogna and Susan Borgita have been elected to its 2014 board of directors. Longstanding board members Lisa Field and Dr. Andrew Pepper have stepped down from their positions. Debbie Rudoy was elected the corresponding secretary.

MARVILfit Opens In HamptonsHigh-end indoor cycling and fitness company MARVILfit cycling and fitness opened on February 1 at 101-3 West Montauk Highway in the Hamlet Green shopping center in Hampton Bays. The company’s founder and president, Marisella Villano BS, MPS, CFT, brings more than 15 years of experience in personal training, spinning and group fitness to the new location, which boasts a club-like atmosphere and personalized services.

MARVILfit will be the first studio on Long Island to use Spinner Blade Ion bikes. The specialty bike has a generator built into its flywheel to power the computer console on the bike. The rider’s pedaling powers the bike and a computer system built in to the bikes are ANT+ compatible which allows the rider to download performance data to a smart phone.

The studio will also feature biodegradable equipment wipes, recycled rubber flooring (both made in the USA), LED lighting and energy star flat screens.

Visit www.marvilfit.com or call (631) 697-3823 to book classes and bike times.

Promotions At KFP
Premier certified public accounting and consulting firm Kandell, Farnworth & Pubins, CPA’s, P.C., with offices in East Hampton and Aquebogue, have announced that Peter B. McFarland of Stony Brook and Robert J. Skozlas of Mastic have been promoted to partners at the firm’s Aquebogue branch.

Mr. McFarland is a member of the firm’s small business practice, assisting his clients with accounting systems and controls, budgeting and planning, and guiding them through the compliance requirements of federal, state and other regulatory agencies. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accountancy from Long Island University at Southampton.

Mr. Skozlas specializes in the preparation of estate and trust returns and trust administration in addition to profitability consulting with small-business owners. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accountancy from Long Island University at C.W. Post College.

Both are members of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants.

“We are pleased to welcome Peter and Robert as members of the firm. Their dedication to their clients’ needs has contributed to successful growth of the firm,” said KFP’s managing partner David A. Kandell.

“We congratulate them on their new roles in our company and look forward to many more successful years together assisting our clients,” he said.