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February 7, 2007
Suozzi Spotlights Businesses Owned By Minorities and Women
Nassau County Salutes Minority and Women Business Leaders in First Awards Luncheon of Its Kind
2007 MWBE Trail Blazers Awardees
Baldwin, N.Y. – Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi will be honoring eight women and minority business leaders this week, including Yolanda Garner Hutcherson, the owner a Hempstead extermination business; Manuel F. Martinez, president of a home health agency based in Rockville Centre and Kings Park, and Noreen Carro who – along with her three sisters – has grown her family’s Valley Stream printing company into a multi-million dollar business.
The eight business leaders – chosen by a committee formed by Nassau County’s Office of Minority Affairs – will be honored Thursday, Feb. 8, at an awards luncheon at Baldwin’s Coral House. The 2007 Minority- and Women-owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) Trail Blazers Awards luncheon is the first of its kind.
“These business leaders prove that no matter what our background may be, we all have an equal claim on the American dream,” Suozzi said. “Their success stories show us that if you have a goal, and are willing to work hard, you can reach it here in Nassau County. We are committed to partnering with minorities and women and help open doors for them.”
Nassau County’s commitment is reflected in the increase in business it does with such companies. In 2005, the county did $12.2 million in business with minority- and women-owned firms; in 2006, the number rose to $16.3 million. This is in sharp contrast to the years between 1999 and 2002, when the county did an average of just $2.33 million a year in business with minority-and women-owned companies.
Suozzi urged minority and women owned businesses to register with the County to receive email notifications of upcoming contracting opportunities by visiting - https://eproc.nassaucountyny.gov/MainBidBoard
“Our Nassau County MWBE initiative can only be effective if diverse firms like those being honored participate in our county procurement opportunities,” Suozzi said.
Other luncheon honorees include Donna M. Gathard, who runs a Smithtown electrical contracting company that does business with Nassau County; Raj Mehta, chairman and CEO of an information technology company in Plainview, and Colin M. Ward, who is president and co-founder of a Freeport-based IT firm that specializes in everything from software development to securing data and buildings. (See bios below for more details.)
John F. Robinson, a New York City businessman and President of the National Minority Business Council, is scheduled to give the keynote address, and is also set to receive the 2007 MWBE Business Leadership Award. And the 2007 MWBE Best Practices Award will go to Laura M. Paehr, a manager at a Plainview-based contracting company that successfully recruits and manages women- and minority-owned vendors.
Noreen Carro
Vice President & Co-Owner
LMN Printing Co., Inc.
Noreen Carro, a native of Valley Stream is the Vice President and Co-Owner of LMN Printing Co., located at 23 W. Merrick Road, Valley Stream, NY for the past 35 years. LMN Printing Co. is a certified minority women owned company.
Along with her sisters, Nantet Amalfitano, Nora Aly, and Nancy Sherman (deceased 2000); they have successfully grown their printing company into a multi-million dollar operation. Ms. Carro has been the cornerstone of LMN Printing Company’s sales force. Through her expertise and determination she has acquired such clients as American Airlines, LIPA, Sandoz Pharmaceutical Labs, NYS Knights of Columbus, NYS Disabled American Veterans, Hilton, Sheraton and Wyndham Hotels.
For years Ms. Carro has been a single parent raising her sons Ricky and Michael, and managing LMN’s New York office. She is Past President of the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Past Co-Vice President for the Long Island Fund for Women and Girls. Due to her outspoken views and support for women’s issues and small businesses, she has been featured in numerous publications, including Printing News of Long Island, Hoy and Newsday. Newsday has recognized her as one of the Top 10 “Movers and Shakers” on Long Island.
Donna M. Gathard
President
All Service Electric Inc.
Donna Gathard is president of All Service Electric, located in Smithtown, NY. A family owned and operated electrical contracting company serving businesses, school districts and municipalities throughout Long Island from Great Neck to East Hampton.
Donna joined the family business in 1989 and has proven herself as a true leader in the construction industry. She is well known and respected among her peers, vendors and most of all with the clients of All Service Electric. Once they experience the individual friendly service, they are pleased to continue a most mutually beneficial relationship.
Taking the company from a residential and commercial business, Donna has further served All Service Electric as a leader in some high profile projects such as a new generator for the Nassau County 911 system which during the final stages of work performed an immediate task to energize the system on September 11th 2001 while our country was attacked. The company has also been involved in numerous projects in Nassau County at it’s new IT Center in Bethpage, and a new fire alarm system at Nassau County Museum of Art in Roslyn. Donna has also been involved in numerous projects in Suffolk County and again when called upon All Service Electric was able to turn over a new building within the correctional facility to meet time constraints.
From a service call to replace a receptacle to a multi million dollar project in a maximum security facility, you will find the finest electricians proudly representing All Service Electric and their leader Donna Gathard.
Yolanda Garner Hutcherson
President
Grand Central Exterminating
As the only girl in her family, it seems a little awkward to see her in the trenches exterminating what we consider everyday pests. She learned the business from her parents James Garner and Annette Glass Garner.
Yolanda Hutcherson was born and raised in Hempstead, Long Island. She attended both Catholic and public schools until she graduated from Uniondale High School in 1993. She then attended North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina where she received her Bachelors of Science Degree.
Today, she is now a part of the second generation and serves as the President of Grand Central Exterminating Company Inc., located in Hempstead, NY. Yolanda shares the company with her brother and business partner Darrell Garner. Her parents now serve as her professional mentors, to make sure that she continues on their vision. She is a licensed Pesticide Technician here in the state of New York. She loves managing her employees and her staff. She learned hard work and determination from her parents who started the company in 1975 from their basement.
Yolanda is a Board Member of the Hempstead Chamber of Commerce, a member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women of Long Island Chapter, Inc.; she is also a part of the Editorial Advisory Board of Pest Control Magazine. Yolanda is married to David P. Hutcherson and has a daughter, named Ashanti.
Manuel F. Martinez
President
Utopia Home Care, Inc.
Mr. Manuel F. Martinez was born and educated in New York City. He received his B.S. at Fordham University and his Masters Degree in business administration at Adelphi University. He also did two years in the U.S. Army. His expertise in management analysis and systems planning was obtained in a variety of firms. He also had a broad spectrum of experience in administrative responsibilities for the state and federal governments.
Since 1983 Mr. Martinez along with his wife Angelina, have been co-owners of Utopia Home Care, Inc., a family owned and operated home health agency. He is the President and CEO of the Agency. The success of the business and a measure of his abilities and expertise were recognized when in 1992, 1993 and 2001, the agency was also ranked on numerous lists compiled by KPMG Peat Marwick (Jericho) and the Hofstra University School of Business (Hempstead), as one of the 25 fastest-growing private companies on Long Island. Utopia Home Care, Inc. is located in Kings Park, NY.
Mr. Martinez received a leadership Award in 1996 from the National Association of Puerto Rican Hispanic Social Workers (NAPRHSW); in 1997 he was presented with the Hispanic Businessman of the Year Award from Adelante of Suffolk County; and was awarded first Latino Man of Distinction Award from the Latina Women’s Society for Social Change in 1999. Utopia Home Care has also been Long Island’s #1 ranking minority-owned firm for the last nine years consecutively.
Raj Mehta
Chairman and CEO
Infosys International Inc./Infosys Temp Services, Inc.
Mr. Raj Mehta’s career has spanned more than 25 years in the information technology industry. His experience includes information system design, development, reengineering and migration activities for Fortune 500 companies, local, state and federal government agencies as well as educational institutions and non-profit organizations.
In 1986, he founded Infosys International Inc., which has become one of the leading information technology companies in Long Island with his leadership. Infosys provides information technology consulting services and software products to commercial and government customers and contributes to Long Island’s economy and to the technological process in the area.
Mr. Metha led Infosys International to continuous growth. Infosys was honored as the “Fastest Growing Software Company of Long Island” twice in a row. Infosys was listed in the INC 500, which is a listing of the fastest growing companies in the United States. Today, Infosys International Inc. is headquartered in Plainview, Long Island, at its own 14,000 square-foot building.
Colin M. Ward
President & Co-Founder
ENI Systems, Inc.
Colin M. Ward is the president and Co-founder of Enterprise Integration Systems (ENI) located in Freeport, NY, provider of Portal, Service Oriented Architecture (SOA), Security, and Business Integration Solutions. Mr. Ward has over 25 years experience in Information Technology, Process Re-design, Systems Integration, and developing enterprise-wide technology solutions. Mr. Ward’s experience spans many industries, including government, and has successfully guided his company for the last five years, including leadership in the ACIN Project where his company is focused on Smart Card and Biometric Solutions.
Before starting ENI, Inc., Mr. Ward was part of IBM’s Global Services practice where he delivered comprehensive solutions for clients worldwide in the areas of Supply Chain Planning and Optimization, eBusiness, Strategic Sourcing, and Systems Integration.
Mr. Ward is committed to developing and deploying innovative solution, quality products and services for ENI’s Clients. Prior to ENI Systems, Mr. Ward held management positions with IBM Global Services, Ernst & Young LLP, KPMG Peat Marwick, and Bristol Myers Squibb Company where he managed teams of consultants on various systems integration and development initiatives. Mr. Ward has also lectured on emerging technologies in Chennai India, and is a frequent technology panelist.
Laura M. Paehr
MWBE Officer
James McCullagh Co., Inc.
2007 MWBE Best Practices Award
Laura M. Paehr has been with James McCullagh Co., Inc. since 2005. She is responsible for managing the company’s Minority and Women Business Enterprise program, recruiting and managing vendor-subcontractor relationships and is the company liaison to the various municipalities of the various contracts involving MWBE and EEO requirements.
James McCullagh Co., Inc. is a leading Plumbing and General Contractor that specializes in Wastewater Treatment Plant construction, as well as other large scale piping and mechanical construction projects throughout New York City and Long Island. The main office, located in Plainview, NY, consists of a Mechanical and General Construction Division.
John F. Robinson
President & CEO of the National Minority Business Council, Inc.
2007 MWBE Business Leadership Award
John F. Robinson is a graduate of Dartmouth College and Tuck Business School, Executive Management Program. His work experience includes Restoration Corporation, Director of Administration and Purchasing and Network Analysis, Inc., Director of Corporate Purchasing.
John’s organizational affiliation includes, President & CEO, NMBC, Inc, 1979 and one of 12 Founder – 1972, President of the Minority Business Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. –Dallas, TX.
Former President – First Church Community Urban Development Corporation, Elder – First Presbyterian Church, Jamaica, NY and Board of Advisors for St.John’s University, Peter J. Tobin School of Business. John has received the following awards; SBA Minority Advocacy, MBDA Minority Business Advocacy, N.Y.S. Minority Business Advocacy, Who’s Who in Business & Finance and Recipient of the President’s Private Sector Initiative Award – 1988.
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