HIA-LI Hosts Small Business Summit to Encourage and Support Long Island Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs; Wednesday, June 27, 8 AM to 4 PM; St. Joseph's College, O'Connor Hall, Patchogue, NY

    HAUPPAUGE, NY, June 12, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Long Island is home to numerous small businesses which later grew to become household names. To encourage and support small business growth, HIA-LI, the recognized voice for business on Long Island, is proud to host the Small Business Summit, a full-day conference and exhibit that will bring together Long Island business owners and ambitious young entrepreneurs, striving to make a mark on the local economy. Organized in collaboration with the well-respected St. Joseph's College, the summit draws business professionals from across Long Island to network, share their knowledge and learn about the building blocks of success in good times or bad. The summit will revolve around topics that directly impact small businesses and entrepreneurs of Long Island. The event will be held on Wednesday, June 27 from 8 AM to 4 PM, at St. Joseph's College, O'Connor Hall, Patchogue, NY. Additional information and registration can be found at http://hia-li.org/calendarDetails.cfm?eventID=1645.

"Without a doubt, small businesses are the job creators and the backbone of Long Island's economy," says Terri Alessi-Miceli, President of HIA-LI. "We truly admire the drive, initiative, and creativity that goes into building a successful business, especially in the current economic climate. We look forward to inspiring and educating our members, and providing all the crucial tools they need to grow their business."

The Small Business Summit will feature seminars and executive programming in addition to a small exhibit hall featuring local businesses from 8 am - 4 pm.

Seminar & Executive Program Information
Executive Breakfast (7:30 am- 10:00 am) This event will focus on financing strategies and various sources of capital for small businesses. "Business Financing Options: How to Find Capital to Start or Expand Your Business," is a panel discussion moderated by Joe Campolo, Managing Partner at Campolo, Middleton & McCormick with panelists including Ken Cerini, Managing Partner at Cerini & Associates; Susan Kiesel, Market Sales Executive at Capital One Bank; Peter Klein, Senior Vice President at UBS Financial Services; John Mallano, Lender Relations Specialist at the SBA; and Bruce Newman, Principal at Pipeline, LLC.

Executive Lunch (11:00 am -1:30 pm) This event will focus on teaching young entrepreneurs about stepping stones to success. The HIA-LI will also present its annual scholarship awards to local, Long Island college-bound senior high school students. "What it Takes to Make it in Business: A Look at the Business World Through Young Entrepreneurs Eyes" will be moderated by Dawn Strain, President of DJS Events and Founder of LI Elite and feature a panel of Young Entrepreneurs including Dominique Camacho-Moran, Farrell Fritz; Jonathan Jacobs, CMO, Digital Natives Group; Scott Martello, Suffolk County Rep. for Governor Cuomo; Jamie Minnick, President, E2 Systems; and Dr. David Pollack, CEO, Creating Wellness Center of Commack.

Job Fair (2:00 pm - 4:00 pm) Local employers, new job seekers and workers in transition will be able to come together during the conference to discuss opportunities.

"The event offers a terrific opportunity for young people to learn how to overcome economic challenges, achieve their full potential, and make a huge impact," says Alessi-Miceli. "It is a great way to celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship that will continue to thrive on Long Island."

The Small Business Summit sponsors include: St. Joseph's College; FactXback.com; NST; People's Alliance Federal Credit Union; and Stony Brook University.

About St. Joseph's College
Since 1916, St. Joseph's College has provided and affordable liberal arts education to a diverse group of students. Independent and coeducational, St. Joseph's prepares students for lives of integrity, social responsibility and service. For more information, please visit: http://www.sjcny.edu/

About HIA-LI
HIA-LI helps Long Island businesses prosper. For over 30 years, we have been the recognized voice for business on Long Island and a powerful force and economic engine for regional development. We provide a forum for business leaders to network, problem solve and obtain advice on critical issues facing their businesses. Our member companies represent tens of thousands of business professionals. We're headquartered in and support one of the largest industrial parks in the United States. HIA-LI programs and events promote strategic partnerships, targeted networking, and information sharing and business advocacy. Members benefit from our committees, educational programs, career resources, research capabilities, mentoring opportunities and business advisory services. For more information, visit http://www.hia-li.org or call 631-543-5355.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Angela Kambarian, Communication Strategy Group, 1-866-997-2424, [email protected]

TRADE SHOW CONTACTS:
Terri Alessi-Miceli, HIA-LI, 631-543-5355, [email protected]
Theresa Sciarrone, HIA-LI, 631-543-5355; [email protected]

# # #