Viewpoints

Jennifer Maher

PUTNAM POSTING: Latest CFA Process Stresses Downtown Development, Community Involvement

May 2016

Through the New York State Consolidated Funding Application (CFA), a single application for multiple sources of state funding, New York State is soliciting grant applications for projects that advance the priorities of the Regional Economic Development Councils (REDC). Governor Andrew Cuomo has emphasized infrastructure in his budget message and a CFA priority this year seems…

Read More

Marcene Hedayati

PRESIDENT'S CORNER: Enhancing the Member Experience

April 2016

As I continue with my quest to use this forum as a means to highlight the initiatives of each of HGAR's councils and committees, I think it is only fitting to examine the efforts of the Member Experience Committee. Two years ago, the Association decided to retain the services of August Partners, a firm that…

Read More

Richard Haggerty

GATEWAY PERSPECTIVES: Constant Vigilance

April 2016

Usually I cover one topic for my monthly Article in Real Estate In-Depth but this month I’m going to break that rule and cover several topics. In several of the Harry Potter books there is a character named Mad Eye Moody who preaches “constant vigilance” against the dark arts. I’m going to steal his mantra…

Read More

Jennifer Maher

PUTNAM POSTING: Mixed Perspectives on the New York State Budget

April 2016

New York State adopted its budget this month, and, predictably, the level of enthusiasm for its contents varied depending on political perspective. The New York State Executive Chamber extolled the virtues of having come “together as New Yorkers, Democrats and Republicans alike, to make our state stronger, safer and fairer now and for years to…

Read More

Marcene Hedayati

PRESIDENT'S CORNER: Elevating Your Game

March 2016

In any given profession, there is one critical component to our work ethic that, if not applied, can make or break us. We must realize that without continued education we are not only putting our future careers at risk, but we are allowing our industry to fall short in the services and expertise we are…

Read More

Richard Haggerty

GATEWAY PERSPECTIVES: The Odyssey

March 2016

During the summer of 1984, I “temped” at the then Westchester County Board of Realtors located at 59 South Broadway in White Plains. I had been temping for about four months as I looked for a permanent position in the publishing field in the city. By October of that year my predecessor, Gil Mercurio, offered…

Read More

Jennifer Maher

PUTNAM POSTING: It’s Time for Less Talk, More Action on Business Concerns

March 2016

Prior to the recent Trailblazer Alumni Networking party on Feb. 25, Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell and I were collaborating on new business strategies while she was teeing up her State of the County speech, which was scheduled on March 10th at the Putnam County Golf Course. She plans to announce that this year’s focus…

Read More

Marcene Hedayati

PRESIDENT'S CORNER: ‘Work Hard, Play Hard’

February 2016

For those of you who were unable to attend our Centennial and Installation Celebration on Jan. 21st, you would have been proud and amazed at the style with which we commemorated our past accomplishments and how capable we are of facing the challenges ahead. I would venture to say that the old adage, “Work hard,…

Read More

Richard Haggerty

GATEWAY PERSPECTIVES: Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

February 2016

‘And Number 19 Goes to…’ Some people’s glasses are half full, other’s half empty. Mine? Well let’s just say I’m more worried about the expiration date. It’s easy for us to just stay in our comfort zones. However, by following our regular patterns and customs, we sometimes eliminate other possibilities. A couple of weekends ago…

Read More

Jennifer Maher

PUTNAM POSTING: Putnam County’s IDA Needs A Reboot

February 2016

The board of the Putnam County Industrial Development Agency resigned en masse on Tuesday evening, Jan. 12, 2016 over a situation that has been building for some time. IDAs are local municipal (county, city, village) entities organized under the mandates and regulations of New York State. As government entities, they differ from economic development corporations…

Read More

Marcene Hedayati

PRESIDENT'S CORNER: Change is the Law of Life

January 2016

This year we are celebrating, through various special events, our association’s 100th year anniversary In fact, by the time this issue is unveiled, we will have already concluded our Annual Installation, the first of many special events planned. I would like to take a moment to thank our remarkable staff for planning the Gala, as…

Read More

Richard Haggerty

GATEWAY PERSPECTIVES: Happy Birthday HGAR!

January 2016

You don’t turn 100 every year, and 2016 is the year the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors celebrates its 100th Anniversary. The following is an excerpt from the National Real Estate Journal dated May 15, 1916: “The first regular meeting of the Westchester County Realty Board was held Tuesday afternoon, May 9th, in the Lecture…

Read More

Drew Kessler

PRESIDENT'S CORNER: A Heartfelt Thank You

December 2015

I would like to finish the year as I started it by saying thank you. Thank you for giving me the honor and opportunity to lead this organization. Looking back on the year we established three main priorities and together we set out to do some amazing things. As an organization we strive to set…

Read More

Richard Haggerty

GATEWAY PERSPECTIVES: True Confessions

December 2015

OK, I’ll admit it. I confess. I’m a Christmas junkie. The transformation actually starts the day of Thanksgiving. As soon as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade concludes with the appearance of Santa, the Christmas music goes on and plays non-stop through the Feast of the Epiphany. The Christmas tree, which is purchased from the same…

Read More

Jennifer Maher

Shopping Small and Local for the Holidays and Beyond

December 2015

For Small Business Saturday, Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell and I did some shopping as we usually do, visiting small businesses throughout the area and enjoying the experience of supporting our neighborhood shops, which mean so much to the local economy. Spending time in the businesses gave us an opportunity to see how things were…

Read More

Drew Kessler

PRESIDENT'S CORNER: One Last Ask

November 2015

Over the past year I have used my column to inform the membership of our organization’s activities along with using this venue to put my hand out with an ask. Sticking with the precedent I have set forth, below you will find my final ask of the year. A key priority this year was to…

Read More

Richard Haggerty

GATEWAY PERSPECTIVES:
The Longest Day

November 2015

On October 19th the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors conducted its Annual Member’s Day at the DoubleTree Hotel in Tarrytown. I’m always amazed by the amount of planning and work that goes into the preparation of that day. This year the Communications Council, co-chaired by Deb Budetti and Kathy Milich, decided to pull out all…

Read More

Jennifer Maher

PUTNAM POSTINGS: Industry Cluster Effort Paying Off for Hudson Valley Region

November 2015

A few short years ago the concept of industry clusters in our area was a very foreign one, indeed. We simply didn’t recognize the impact that attracting groups of similar businesses might have on Putnam County’s economic future. More recently, however, the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corp led by Larry Gottlieb and the work done…

Read More