Long Island Business News

Long Island Ducks Score Early with Opening Day Ticket Sales

The Long Island Ducks ended last season with a heartbreaker, falling just one game short of their first play-off berth in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, but that shortcoming apparently hasn't dimmed the enthusiasm of group ticket buyers. More than 60,000 group tickets were sold on the opening day for group sales on Dec. 16 for the team's fifth season.

Barnstable Broadcasting Snaps Up Wlir Voices

In what is shaping up to be a pitched battle between Long Island radio rivals, Barnstable Broadcasting has snapped up two key staffers from The Morey Organization's WLIR 92.7 FM and is making a play for the station's listeners and advertisers. Jon Daniels, formerly the co-program director at WLIR, started as program director this week at Barnstable's WMJC (Island 94.3 FM), replacing Dan Binder, who left in November. And Rob Rush, formerly of WLIR, debuted Monday as a disk jockey at 94.3.

Ivy Equities to Enter Li with Heatherwood Portfolio

Montvale, N.J.-based Ivy Equities is in contract to acquire Heatherwood Communities' 13-building collection of properties at Exit 57 of the Long Island Expressway for an estimated $44 million, according to local real-estate sources. The portfolio, which includes Crossroads Executive Center on the south side of the LIE and Crossroads Corporate Centers on the north side, comprises a total of about 400,000 square feet of space. The portfolio would represent Ivy's entrance to the Long Island market.

Twinlab has New Vice Chairman

Twinlab may finally be getting an energy boost of its own. Anthony Robbins, a motivational speaker and vice chairman of Idea- Sphere, which bought Twinlab out of bankruptcy, is expected to bring his message of positive thinking to the company.

S&P May Upgrade Debt Outlook for Comverse Tech

Comverse Technology Inc. could be in line for a post-holiday gift courtesy of Standard & Poor's. If current trends continue, the company, whose current credit rating is BB-, could get a rating outlook revision from negative to stable, the credit-rating agency said in a global technology report card. The outlook provides insight into the expected direction of a change in credit rating, which could affect a company's cost of borrowing.

Edo Corp. Weighs Li Role in Pentagon Contract Production

Executives of EDO Corp., which faces a tight deadline on its up to $35 million Pentagon contract for Warlock electronic detonation devices, are debating whether to locate production on Long Island, officials said. The Army wants [the Warlocks] as soon as possible, said EDO Director of Investor Relations William Walkowiak, adding that the Long Island option is being actively considered right now.

Cpas: Bad Biz Climate Won't Pick Up Soon

The majority of accountants in the New York metropolitan area say current business conditions remain lousy and don't expect to see marked improvement for at least two to five years, according to a year-end survey. The poll, conducted by the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants, revealed that more than 80 percent of CPAs in the region ranked their local business conditions as fair or poor, with only 11.2 percent expecting these conditions to improve in the next year. Forty-th...

Manchester Technologies Announces Change to Board of Directors

In a roster move that's sure to cause a stir in Long Island's high-tech hot-stove league, Manchester Technologies Inc. has lost to free agency a brilliant, high-strung strategist who led the New York Mets to the World Series in 2000. But Manchester also gained an industry heavyweight with a web of big-league contacts in business and academia. Gone is Robert John Bobby Valentine, 52, the former baseball player and manager who resigned from Manchester's board after agreeing to manage the Lotte ...

Don't Bet On a Pay Raise This Year

Even though the economy is looking brighter, don't expect your paycheck to bring in the sunshine this year. The average mid-level, white-collar worker should expect a pay raise of 3 percent to 3.5 percent in 2004, according to Sibson Consulting, a human-resources firm that tracks employee wages.

Symbol Technologies Names New Ceo

The investigation into accounting practices at Symbol Technologies has reached into the corner office as acting Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Richard Bravman resigns after 17 months in the top job. President and Chief Operating Officer William Nuti was named chief executive, and lead independent director Salvatore Iannuzzi, 50, who joined the company just two weeks ago, became non-executive chairman.

Suffolk County Exec. Picks Stars for New Suffolk Lineup

The new Administration of Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy is off to a good and pragmatic start. Although Levy ran an aggressive campaign stressing the need for change and the importance of reforming the governmental structure, he has chosen two very experienced, very capable, longtime Suffolk officials to be part of his inner circle: Paul Sabatino as a chief deputy county executive and Fred Pollert as deputy county executive for finance and management. Sabatino has been the counsel to the...

Holistic Practices Find Strength in Clusters

They crop up in neighborhood clusters. Chiropractic groups partnering with licensed acupuncturists. Hypnotherapists sharing space with aromatherapists. They're practitioners of the wellness industry, and they're popping up with increasing frequency at professional offices and storefronts across Long Island.

Huntington Ymca Gains New Exec Director

Edward F. Moffett has been appointed executive director of the Huntington YMCA, where he will be responsible for a $5 million annual budget and a staff of more than 100 employees at the Y's 10- acre campus in Huntington Village. My greatest challenge here will be to expand and improve YMCA fitness centers, child care and other facilities, said Moffett. I look forward to serving the needs and interests of the Huntington community.

Spector Group Makes Project Designer an Associate

C.W. Post Campus of Li Univ. Appoints Exec. Director of Continuing Education

The C.W. Post campus of Long Island University in Brookville has appointed Cheryl A. Baldwin as executive director of Continuing Education and Professional Studies. In her new position, Baldwin will be responsible for overseeing curriculum and program development and for hiring CEPS faculty.

Environmental Awards Presented

Sarah Meyland has been named Environmentalist of the Year for 2003 by the Long Island chapter of the Sierra Club. Meyland received the award based on her contributions to the club as a scientist, attorney, professor and activist. Meyland is currently the executive director of both Citizens Campaign for the Environment and Citizens Environmental Research Institute.

Long Island American Water Names New Vice President

Long Island Medical Facilities Announce Staffing Changes: January 2, 2004

William P. Reed has been appointed chairman of the committee of approvals for the Commission of Cancer, American College of Surgeons. Reed, who is currently chairman of the Winthrop University Hospital department of surgery, will oversee the approval of cancer programs and play a leading role in the establishment of new standards used to approve such programs.

Bankers Life of New York Adds Claims Examiner to Staff

Liberty Moving & Storage Announces Staffing Changes

Liberty Moving & Storage announced the appointments of Anthony Federico to vice president of sales and Roberta Snair to assistant sales manager. Federico, a 20-year veteran of LMS, will work with outside sales consultants and the in-house design team to implement managerial policies that promote business development.