OurLIC Video CONVERSATION with Jack Friedman, Executive Director of The Queens Chamber of Commerce 4/11/2011

Having Jack Friedman as the Chief Champion and Advocate for Queens Businesses is a Good Thing!

Jack Friedman, Executive Director, Queens Chamber of Commerce   Queens Chamber of Commerce       Full video coverage and follow up Q&A are available in the left column in 1 segments of approximately three to five minutes each. OurLIC Video CONVERSATION with Jack Friedman, Executive Director of The Queens Chamber of Commerce4/11/2011

Long Island City, New York April 11, 2011 - This is the 100th Anniversary Year for one of the most important organization is Queens... The Queens Chamber of Commerce.  The Queens Chamber of Commerce plays an important and prominent role in advocating for, and assisting commercial enterprises on Queens. Jack Friedman is the Executive Director of The Queens Chamber of Commerce, and a recognized leader in the Borough.  He was recently honored at the  Samuel Field Y/Central Queens Y Community Business Partnership 1st Annual Breakfast .  OurLIC met with Jack to discuss QCC resources, its priorities for Queens business development, and to get his suggestions about how companies can best use the resources of the Queens Chamber of Commerce.  The meeting is particularly timely as QCC prepared for its Expo and Breakfast at Citi Field on May 24th. [ see Queens Chamber of Commerce set to Host the Annual "Queens Business Breakfast and EXPO 2011" at Citi Field May ] The Queens Chamber has approximately 1,200 members. Of that, about 150 are non-profit organizations. It is a cross section of businesses of all sizes.  There are mom and pop businesses, business with an average of 20 employees...right up to the giants in Queens borough. An OurLIC Video CONVERSATION with Jack Friedman appears with this article. Jack says, "No matter what the business is, the bottom line is still the same. Everyone is trying to get more business.  People don't know how to network.  There is a lot more to networking than simply going to a business card exchange.  It is 'what do you do after that busines card exchange'.   If there is one thing that I could teach my members more than anything else, it is....the "NOW WHAT" after the business card exchange. The importance of follow-up. The importance of finding out what a person's needs are." He feels that members and prospective members could look at the QCC events in a more strategic way.  One has to say "The person attending a meeting for a business topic is someone I want to reach."  He says it is "STRATEGY" that counts, not just looking at the events on the calendar. He wants people to look at all of the QCC events with an open mind and ask the question, "Who is going to be attending, what is the overall topic of that event, and how it fits intomy business model". The broad range of Chamber events attracts CEOs, HR people, Tech people, and others based on the topics of interest to them.   That is what is important.  Aligning with the events that appeal to the type of people you want to meet and do business with, is a smart way to network and become, as Jack says "..a home run for everybody". HIGHLIGHTS The Queens Chamber concentrates on three things: To Educate To  Advocate To  create Networking Opportunities for members Education is done through business seminars including all types of financial literacy topics and business topics.  Seminars are done in many languages and in the community. They teach businesses about all kinds of things from how to balance a checkbook, to how to access capital. There are many issues that affect businesses large and small, including dictates and mandates from the city, state and federal goverment.  The Queens Chamber has a very lengthly and complete legislative platform. It has been successful in defeating things that have not been good for the interests of the Queens business community.  Friedman cites example such as paid sick leave and congestion pricing.  There are issues coming up like "living wage" and "prevailing wage".  Businesses feel helpless on their own, and the Queens Chamber of Commerce is able to unite them and act as one very powerful voice in Washinton, Albany, and New York City. One of the most important parts of networking, Jack says, "...is getting people out of the four walls of their business to meet new people."  Trade shows, business card exchange, and breakfast meetings are effective to help people get to meet each other and talk about what each needs, wants, and what they do. Different businesses join for different reason. Between 5 and 50 employments is the sweet spot of membership. The bottom line is to get more business to be customers of your company. Businesses in Queens are fundamentally interested in growth and to increase sales.  The Queens Chamber stays focused on that for its programming. Chambers have to show value.  Jack wants people to see that a membership is an investment with a solid return in the growth of their business, and not just another bill. Jack would like to see more support from city and state for the development of Tourism is Queens. He discusses this in detail during the OurLIC CONVERSATION.  He wants to make the borough a center for business and have an Exposition and Conference Center in Queens. He says that Tourism is the biggest growth opportunity we have.  Friedman reflect on his recent trip to China. China does not have any type of sustainable energy policy.  He feels that there is great opportunity for the US to play a role. China has an area of concern: Taking care of their elderly and seniors. EXPO & BREAKFAST Jack discusses the EXPO and Business Breakfast. The Breakfast is new and will feature Mort Zuckerman.  There is also a connection with the Daily News.   There is estimated to be 125 vendors and 1,000 to 1,500 visitors during the day. There will also be a Green Expo that will be part of it. There will be a National Grid seminar on Green topics.  OurLIC was at the QCC Expo in 2010. The following article is available in our Archive:   Queens Chamber of Commerce hosts "Queens Business EXPO 2010"     Jack Friedman, Executive Director, Queens Chamber of Commerce Queens Chamber of Commerce

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