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Tag: hia-li

  • Long Island workforce summit seeks to strengthen career paths | Long Island Business News

    THE BLUEPRINT:

    • 300+ business, labor, and education leaders attended HIA-LI Workforce Summit.

    • Focus on connecting Long Island classrooms with employer needs and career pathways.

    • Emphasis on apprenticeships, micro-credentials and vocational opportunities.

    • Collaboration to expand technical training, internships and workforce readiness.

    More than 300 business, labor and education leaders came together at the Suffolk Y Jewish Community Center in Commack Tuesday for the inaugural HIA-LI Workforce Summit, exploring ways to connect Long Island classrooms with employer needs.

    Hosted with the Smithtown Central School District, the event centered on the theme “Pipeline: Education-to-Industry.” The theme was inspired by an earlier Workforce Development Institute study with HIA-LI and the Suffolk County Industrial Development Agency. The report emphasized aligning Long Island’s classrooms with employer needs to better prepare students for an evolving workforce.

    “This event was an unprecedented dialogue between business and education,” said Terri Alessi-Miceli, president and CEO of Hauppauge-based HIA-LI, said in a news release about the summit.

    “The energy in the room showed how much people want to work together,” she added. “Educators and business leaders alike told us they left with new ideas and a renewed sense of possibility.”

    State Sen. Mario Mattera shared that sentiment.

    “When we work together like this—business, labor, and education—we give our young people real opportunities and strengthen Long Island’s future,” he said in the news release.

    Attendees explored pathways to next-generation careers and stressed that closer collaboration between schools and employers is key to preparing students for the workforce.

    Employers are looking for graduates who are critical thinkers and strong collaborators, said Rich Humann, president and CEO of Melville-based H2M architects + engineers and co-chair of the HIA-LI’s Workforce Development Task Force.

    “Our challenge—and opportunity—is to help schools translate those expectations into classroom experiences that prepare students for success,” he said.

    Higher education must become more flexible and responsive, said Ed Bonahue, president of Suffolk County Community College, who co-chairs the HIA-LI’s Workforce Development Task Force.

    “We’re expanding micro-credentials and certificate programs so students can enter the workforce faster, equipped with the precise skills that employers need,” he said in the news release.

    Business leaders stressed three key priorities: early career exposure, breaking the stigma around vocational paths and promoting apprenticeships as a cost-effective alternative to traditional education.

    “You can earn while you learn and build a career that offers both security and pride,” Billy Haugland II, CEO of Melville-based Haugland Group, said in the news release.

    Manufacturing has shifted from manual labor to a technology‑ and precision‑driven industry, experts pointed out.

    “Modern manufacturing is high-tech, clean, and creative,” Robert Kufner, president and CEO of Hicksville-based Designatronics, said in the news release. “We need to show young people that it’s an exciting, well-paying field—and it’s right here on Long Island.”

    Medical careers offer a wide range of well-paying opportunities that many may not realize, experts said.

    “Young people often think healthcare means becoming a doctor, but doctors are just one part of the care team,” Dr. Lawrence Eisenstein, vice president and chief public and community health officer at Catholic Health, which is headquartered in Rockville Centre, said in the news release. “There are incredible opportunities as nurses, technologists, EMTs, and administrators. We need to make sure students understand that the healthcare industry welcomes a wide variety of skills and aspirations.”

    Keynote speakers included Michael Woods, director of the CTE Technical Assistance Center (CTE TAC) of New York, and Janine Lalia, Long Island/New York City regional field associate for CTE TAC.

    During breakout sessions, attendees looked at expanding school-industry advisory boards, strengthening apprenticeship programs and developing new models for technical training.

    “When educators and employers sit together, students gain greater options and better access to internships and training,” Phil Como, executive director of the Smithtown Industry Advisory Board, said in the news release. “That’s how we connect education to opportunity.”

    Attendees expected the collaboration to continue.

    “This summit was not an end but a beginning,” Alessi-Miceli said. “HIA-LI’s Workforce Development Task Force will continue to advance these partnerships, ensuring that Long Island students can learn, work, and build their futures right here at home.”

     


    Adina Genn

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  • Alessi-Miceli, Florio: Long Island business groups back housing, revitalization | Long Island Business News

    In Brief:
    • Business groups united to support responsible development in Huntington and Smithtown
    • Projects include Melville’s Town Center Overlay District and Kings Park revitalization
    • Coalition emphasized workforce housing, jobs and downtown renewal
    • Voters backed incumbents who stood for progress over fear-based opposition

    This past June, Republican primaries in the townships of Huntington and Smithtown offered more than a snapshot of political contests. They offered a lesson in what happens when Long Island’s business community speaks with one voice on issues that matter to working families.

    In both towns, the incumbents supported responsible development projects—Huntington’s Melville Town Center Overlay District and Smithtown’s Kings Park revitalization—designed to provide workforce housing and reinvigorate local downtowns. Their challengers opposed these plans, framing them as threats to “quality of life.” We all know that phrase. Too often, it’s used not to protect communities, but to stir fears and sow misinformation.

    For decades, the perception has been that business interests and community interests are at odds. That it’s “us versus them.” But these projects are not about profits over people. They are about repurposing already-developed land to serve middle-class families: Creating affordable housing options for young workers and empty nesters, bringing vibrancy back to local downtowns and generating jobs in the construction trades.

    That’s why a coalition of Long Island’s leading business organizations—the Long Island Builders Institute, HIA-LI, the Long Island Association, the Association for a Better Long Island, the Long Island Contractors Association and the Commercial Industrial Brokers Society of Long Island—joined together to advocate for these projects. In doing so, they helped differentiate the candidates for voters, clarifying who stood for progress and who relied on fear-based opposition.

    Our message was straightforward: Responsible development creates opportunity. It strengthens local economies, addresses Long Island’s pressing housing shortage and improves quality of life. In Kings Park, revitalization would breathe new life into a community that has struggled since the closure of the psychiatric center nearly three decades ago. In Melville, the overlay district would transform underused commercial space into a walkable hub of housing and business—exactly the kind of planning that younger residents and employers alike are asking for.

    In the end, voters listened. Huntington Supervisor Ed Smyth described the outcome as a “victory of truth over lies.” Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim emphasized his pride in continuing to make his town “a wonderful place to raise a family.” Their words captured what the results proved: When the conversation is grounded in real solutions rather than scare tactics, residents respond.

    The lesson here is larger than any one race. For too long, Long Island’s business groups have worked in parallel, each advancing important causes but not always in alignment. This time, we joined forces. And in doing so, we amplified our impact. Power in numbers is not a new idea—but in practice, it is too rarely used. The June primaries showed what can happen when we harness it.

    Looking ahead, Long Island still faces deep challenges: A shortage of workforce housing, an aging infrastructure and the need to retain young talent while supporting middle-class families. Meeting these challenges requires thoughtful planning and the political will to pursue it. It also requires continued collaboration among the business organizations that represent employers, developers, contractors and brokers.

    We’ve seen that when we put aside silos and unite around shared priorities, our voices carry further. More importantly, our communities benefit. The Huntington and Smithtown primaries remind us that voters, when given the facts, support progress. As business leaders, it’s our responsibility to keep working together—to advocate for policies that create housing, jobs, and opportunity—and to ensure that Long Island remains a place where the next generation can build their future.

     

    Terri Alessi-Miceli is president and CEO of HIA-LI.

    Mike Florio serves as CEO of the Long Island Builders Institute.


    Opinion

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  • Half of LI employers plan to expand workforce | Long Island Business News

    Half of LI employers plan to expand workforce | Long Island Business News

    Despite concerns over inflation, supply chain and employee recruitment and retention, half of Long Island employers plan to expand their workforce.

    That’s according to the Long Island Economic Survey, conducted by Adelphi University and Citrin Cooperman, an accounting firm. The results were released last week at the HIA-LI’s annual economic summit at the Hamlet Golf & Country Club in Commack.

    “From the HIA-LI standpoint, 2022 was a year of rebuilding for many of us,” Terri Alessi-Miceli, president and CEO of HIA-LI, said at the summit. “Our members tell me that they’re cautiously optimistic about the future, yet they still struggle with the availability of skilled workers.”

    The poll surveyed more than 200 executives during November and December. In the survey, executives were asked about the most important issues on Long Island. Inflation and taxes were each cited by 22% of the respondents. A third said workforce challenges is a top issue: 17% cited retention of young professionals and young families, and 17% cited the availability of workers with necessary skills.

    Still, 49% expect to increase their overall number of their employees this year. Thirty-one percent expect to augment their Long Island-based workforce, 4% will do more hiring outside Long Island, and 14% plan to expand hiring efforts both on and outside Long Island. Yet 43% do not expect to increase staff, and 8% were unsure.

    Executives were fairly optimistic about anticipated revenue and net profits for 2023. Thirty-nine percent expected revenue growth, while 50% expected level growth. Yet 10% expected a decline in revenues this year.

    And 38% expect to expand their Long Island-based businesses in 2023. Leaders in this category were healthcare, followed by restaurants and hospitality.

    When asked how concerned they were about inflation and its effect on their business, 62% were “very concerned.” Thirty-one percent were “somewhat concerned,” and 7% were “slightly concerned.”

    And 65% said they were affected by disruptions to the global supply chain. Most anticipated that supply chain issues would continue for another six months to two years.

    At the summit, Rep. Nick LaLota, pledged to work on behalf of the Long Island business community.

    “I know that government doesn’t always make it easy on you folks to make your payrolls and to ensure that you have a successful business,” LaLota said, “but I can tell you that we’re here to make it work for you.”

    “Inflation is a major concern for most businesses,” said Michael Sabatini, a partner with Citrin Cooperman who moderated the panel. “More than half of those surveyed said they’ve taken some action against inflation, taking such steps as raising prices, increasing labor costs, and looking at automation.”

    Panelist Kevin O’Connor, CEO of Dime Community Bank, said he had attended a speaking engagement the day before featuring John Williams, chairman of the New York Federal Reserve.

    “Some people are predicting that the Fed will be done with its rate increases or even start to let rates drop in the second half of this year,” O’Connor said. “But I don’t think anybody leaving that room yesterday was thinking that that’s really what’s going to happen.”

    Panelist Renee Daniel Flager, executive director of Girls Inc. of Long Island, said that inflation and economic uncertainty has impacted fundraising efforts of the non-profit sector.

    “Unfortunately, we are seeing less discretionary income and less funding from the business community, which is our biggest supporter, coming into the non-profit world,” Flager said. “They’re more cautious about giving.”

    “One big challenge has been the attraction and retention of young professionals,” said panelist Rich Humann, president and CEO of H2M architects + engineers. “To address this, we’ve been implementing strong flexibility programs, and trying to accommodate the needs of our staff and understand what they’re looking for in their career.”

    MaryAnne Hyland, dean of the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business at Adelphi University, addressed the need for higher education to help build sound career paths for students.

    “Many of our students are local residents and they want to remain here,” Hyland said. “So we have to look at the regional industries that are growing, such as healthcare. We’re developing degrees and programs in both the clinical and non-clinical spheres of that sector.”

    “We’re very much focused on attracting members of the community into the healthcare space,” said panelist Dr. Patrick O’Shaughnessy, president and CEO of Catholic Health Services. “So, over the last two years, we’ve invested more than $30 million into paying our staff fair and competitive wages. We also recognize that people want a career and not just a job, so we’re building careers for our employees.”

    A large majority of the survey’s respondents generate less than $100 million in revenue. More than three-quarters of the participants have been in operation 20 years or more. While respondents came from many industries, those with the largest representation were professional services (21%) and manufacturing, distribution and retail (17%). Most respondents (52%) were based in Suffolk County. Ten percent were situated in Nassau County, and 32 %were based in both counties.

    Adina Genn

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  • HIA-LI adds three to its board of directors | Long Island Business News

    HIA-LI adds three to its board of directors | Long Island Business News

    Business advocacy group HIA-LI has added three members to its board of directors. 

    Joining the HIA-LI board are Devin Kulka, CEO of The Kulka Group, Kelly Murphy, deputy executive director of the Suffolk County Industrial Development Agency and Michael Sabatini, managing partner of Citrin Cooperman. 

    “These three outstanding individuals each bring specialized expertise that will help HIA-LI achieve its organizational goals,” Terri Alessi-Miceli, president and CEO of HIA-LI, said in an organization statement. “We are confident that they will all make valuable contributions in helping to fortify our regional economy. I feel fortunate to work with such an outstanding team.” 

    Construction exec Kulka has been a prolific fundraiser for Northwell Health and founded The Nexus Pro Group, which raises money for local charities. He serves on the board of the Leukemia Lymphoma Society and the Long Island Builders Institute and co-chairs the Next Generation Committee for the Long Island Real Estate Group. 

    With her efforts for the Suffolk IDA, Murphy has helped close transactions generating more than $1.3 billion in private investment, creating or retaining more than 16,440 jobs. She previously served as assistant to Suffolk County’s deputy county executive and commissioner of Economic Development and Planning. 

    Sabatini is a certified public accountant primarily serving middle-market companies in a range of industries with varied ownership structures. He previously spent 17 years at a global accounting firm, most recently as a partner in both its New York City and Melville offices and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants. 

    In addition to its new board members, HIA-LI elected Carol Allen as chairperson, succeeding Rich Humann. Allen, a former first vice chairperson of the HIA-LI board, is president and CEO of People’s Alliance Federal Credit Union. 

    Four additional HIA-LI board members are assuming new responsibilities within the organization. Anthony Manetta, CEO of Standard Advisors Group, was elected first vice chairperson; Kevin O’Connor, CEO of Dime Community Bank, was elected second vice chairperson; Alan Sasserath, CEO of the accounting firm of Sasserath & Co., LLP, was elected as the organization’s treasurer; and Michael Voltz, director of Energy Efficiency and Renewables with PSEG Long Island, was elected recording secretary. 

    David Winzelberg

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