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How do you transition from distributing paper products stored in your mother-in-law’s garage using an old van to owning a 150,000-square foot facility and becoming one of the leading distributors of general merchandise and food throughout the world? According to David Emrani, co-founder and president of Pride Products based in Ronkonkoma: “a lot of hard work.” An engineering background, comfort conducting business across the globe, and supportive colleagues who are also family don’t hurt, either.

Joe Campolo, Managing Partner of Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, recently sat down with CMM clients and friends David and Roya Emrani, the husband and wife team behind Pride Products, and their son Dustin, the company’s VP of Operations, to learn more about their unique American success story.

Today, Pride Products operates a major warehouse and showroom on Veterans Memorial Highway near MacArthur Airport, catering to over 5,000 stores nationwide and exporting to countries worldwide. But to follow the careers of the trailblazers behind the company, you’ll need to venture beyond Long Island.

Born in Tehran, Iran, David came to the United States at age 19 and earned a B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington and an M.S. from Southern Methodist University. He began his career at Texas Instruments designing and manufacturing airport surveillance radar systems. Feeling homesick, he eventually returned to Tehran and went on to serve as a Second Lieutenant in the Iranian army. But as relations between the U.S. and Iran soured as Ayatollah Khomeini came to power, David returned to his adopted country in 1979, this time to California. He worked as a senior engineer at Litton Industries in Los Angeles. One week after closing on his house in the Golden State, his cousin invited him to Long Island to work in paper manufacturing. David took the chance.

Meanwhile, Roya had emigrated from Iran in 1976 to enter 12^th grade in the U.S., and then studied medical technology at C.W. Post. She and David later met at a party. The couple didn’t have much capital, but after working with family in New York, their entrepreneurial nature led them to strike out on their own in 1983.

Out of Roya’s mother’s garage in Plainview, the couple started selling toilet paper and tissue to restaurant suppliers and eventually to retailers, which prompted them to add health and beauty products to the mix. By 1990, they were wholesaling to retailers nationwide – notably, becoming one of the earliest local businesses to establish a direct link to China – and operated six Dollar King stores on Long Island. But as David explains, expanding national chains eventually pushed many of the mom and pop dollar stores out of business.

The entrepreneurial Emranis therefore shifted their focus to supplying to those discount stores rather than operating them, as well as wholesaling to a wide range of grocery, variety, party, and gift stores. Today, Pride Products is the best friend that retailers can hope for – supplying the best quality products for the best price. They focus on good value, high quality paper and plastic disposables, health and beauty aids, home and office supplies, housewares and hardware, and seasonal products, offered to an ever-growing list of independent retailers at a good price. The Emranis currently employ 80 people, and David estimates that he has hired an astronomical 5,000 people in his lifetime.

That’s not to say there aren’t challenges. Trucking and freight costs are high, which David predicts will force many distributors to become regional rather than national. Even ten years after the recession, consumers are still very money-conscious. Government regulation and red tape also lead to delays and expense. But there are expansion plans in the works: Dustin is working on a new division of Pride focused on selling goods directly to consumers. And going against the tide, David predicts that online shopping for value priced consumer goods will actually decrease in popularity in the next five years, as people realize they are getting a better price at brick and mortar stores. Always seeking to diversify, the Emranis are also pursuing real estate investment opportunities.

Pride Products is a fitting name for an incredible operation that started out so unassumingly, and to describe the motivating force behind a family who came to America for its entrepreneurial promise. The American dream is thriving at Pride Products.

 

 

Family affair: Dustin, Roya, and David Emrani of Pride Products in their Ronkonkoma warehouse; David Emrani, president and co-founder of Pride Products, poses with CMM managing partner Joe Campolo in Emrani’s office on Vets Highway.

 

Merchandise lines the shelves of the 150,000-square foot facility. These products are destined for supermarkets, discount stores, drug stores, independent retail stores, and the shelves of your home. Originally operated with one van out of a Plainview garage, Pride Products now buys in bulk, providing customers with the highest quality merchandise at the most competitive prices.

 

Another look at the warehouse. David Emrani was one of the first business people from Long Island to establish a direct link to China. It’s not hard to imagine the job creation spurred by a warehouse this size. Pride Products currently employs 80 people, and Emrani estimates that he has hired an astronomical 5,000 people in his lifetime.

Left: Business owners Roya and David Emrani stand proudly by a sign showing the breadth of their product offerings. Right: Born in Tehran, David Emrani came to the United States at age 19 and earned electrical engineering degrees from the University of Texas and Southern Methodist University. He returned to Iran in the mid-1970s and served as a Second Lieutenant in the Iranian armed forces. Returning to the U.S. in 1979, Emrani settled in California. He came to New York in 1981 and worked in business ventures with extended family before starting Pride Products with his wife, Roya, in 1983.

Left: Roya Emrani emigrated from Iran in 1976. Right: A group of Long Island business leaders: David, Roya, and Dustin Emrani, with Joe Campolo.

 

Ronkonkoma, NY – Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, LLP, a premier law firm with offices in Ronkonkoma and Bridgehampton, is pleased to announce that partner Christine Malafi, Esq. has been elected to the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross on Long Island, the preeminent nonprofit organization providing no-cost emergency and disaster relief to those in need.

The American Red Cross on Long Island serves more than 2.8 million people in Nassau and Suffolk counties. The organization, which celebrated its centennial anniversary in 2017, responds to emergencies and disasters across the region—home fires, floods, building collapses—providing shelter, food, clothing, and emotional support. The Red Cross strives to prevent and relieve suffering in our community and around the world through five key service areas: disaster relief, supporting America’s military families, blood donation, health and safety services, and international services.

“We are so happy to welcome Christine to our team of leaders,” said Neela Mukherjee Lockel, Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross on Long Island.

Malafi’s credentials include chairing CMM’s Corporate department, one of the most robust teams in the New York region. Her practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and labor and employment matters, as well as municipal, insurance coverage, and fraud issues. She represents buyers and sellers in multimillion dollar transactions and serves in a general counsel role for many of CMM’s internationally-based clients.  Prior to joining CMM, Malafi made history as the first woman and youngest person to serve as Suffolk County Attorney.

In addition to her new role with the American Red Cross on Long Island, Malafi serves on the Boards of Family Service League, Girl Scouts of Suffolk County, and Natasha’s Justice Project, as well as the Board of Governors of Touro Law School.

What’s the sign of a successful day at Flexible Systems? When clients don’t call.

“Our goal is to service our clients so well that they don’t need to call us,” said Marty Schmitt, one of Flexible’s three founders and partners. “When they don’t have IT problems to call about, that’s how we know we’re doing our job.”

Flexible Systems is a longtime HIA-LI member and good friend of Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, LLP, collaborating with the firm on cybersecurity panels to educate the business community, as well as servicing mutual clients. Joe Campolo, CMM Managing Partner and HIA-LI Board Chairperson, recently spoke with Schmitt about Flexible’s story, the company’s vision for the future, and the decision to call the Hauppauge Industrial Park home.

Founded in 1984 by three friends who met at Stony Brook University, Flexible is an IT support and technology consulting powerhouse based in the Hauppauge Industrial Park. The company works with clients on Long Island and beyond to help them choose the best technologies for their unique needs. Flexible also offers world-class IT support to keep networks up and running and fix any issues that may arise, but it’s their role as their clients’ tech advisors that truly sets them apart.

“We’re not just responding and reacting to problems – we’re their IT partners,” Schmitt explained. “We strategize with them about which technologies are worth the investment and help them use technology to increase their efficiency.”

Today, as cyber criminals can take down the computer systems of entire cities and major organizations seemingly at the push of a button, Flexible Systems also offers critical cybersecurity services to help businesses of all sizes keep their data safe. They work with clients to reduce the risk of falling victim to cybercrime, and also help businesses with remediation if they’ve already experienced a breach.

Flexible business development executive Kevin Edwards added, “Even the savviest companies are not always aware of the many regulations that affect their businesses and how to remain compliant.” Therefore, as part of their information security compliance services, Flexible helps clients navigate the increasingly complex web of regulations, from the household names (HIPAA) to the lesser known (the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, which regulates how consumer data is shared and safeguarded). “For smaller clients that may not have an in-house compliance or privacy officer, Flexible fills that role,” Edwards explained. Edwards participated in CMM’s series of cybersecurity seminars for the business community co-presented last year by BNB Bank, and works regularly with CMM’s cybersecurity team on compliance and remediation issues.

An active member of HIA-LI, Flexible credits the organization for fostering critical relationships and building referral networks. Flexible also appreciates HIA-LI’s extraordinary focus on supporting the businesses in the Hauppauge Industrial Park (HIP). In the “good problem to have” category, Flexible, with over 125 employees, has now outgrown the Oser Avenue facility that it moved into in 2014. In need of more space, Flexible has worked with the Suffolk County IDA to purchase a 40,000-square foot facility on Motor Parkway – double the size of its current headquarters.

It was a no-brainer for Flexible to stay in the HIP, Schmitt said. “It just makes sense for us to be near like-minded businesses of similar size – there are a lot of synergies, not to mention that the park is centrally located.” This location has helped them attract top talent from Stony Brook University and Farmingdale State College, whose graduates have impressed Flexible’s leadership team.

For those occasions when clients do have to call Flexible, “our response needs to be immediate,” Schmitt said. The company therefore always has extra headcount and continues to bet on growth. It’s a business model that’s obviously working.

Learn more about Flexible Systems at https://www.flexiblesystems.com/.

A training session underway; co-founder and Rangers fan Marty Schmitt.

Flexible’s colors feature prominently in their logo and their hallways.

College friends and business partners Joe Saggio and Marty Schmitt (not pictured: co-founder Seth Belous); Joe Saggio, Marty Schmitt, and Joe Campolo.

Kevin Edwards, Joe Saggio, Marty Schmitt, Joe Campolo.

Flexible’s outdoor patio, pictured here in warmer weather. Employees enjoy barbecues and music outdoors on Fridays during the summer – a forward-thinking approach to recruit talent and show employees how much they’re valued.

Scott Middleton and Suffolk County Commissioner of Jurors Lawrence Voigtsberger. Photo by Judy Walker

 

By Adina Genn
Long Island Business News
March 30, 2018

In a pool full of prospective jurors, trial attorneys have lots to assess. Who’s biased? Who’s empathetic? Who can think for themselves? Those determinations can make or break a case, and mean the difference in a winning a case for a client.

That’s why prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges need to quickly evaluate jurors by studying body language and facial expressions to gain insights as to how they think.

They also consider the profession that jurors might align with, depending on the case and client. In a criminal case, for instance, an attorney might not want a juror who is related to someone in law enforcement, or in a medical malpractice case, someone related to a physician.

“I want six people who see things my way,” said Scott Middleton, a partner at Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, a law firm with headquarters in Ronkonkoma.

But, Middleton pointed out, “the other side is doing the same thing.”

Business lesson

A jury summons might spark dread for the recipient, but Suffolk Commissioner of Jurors Lawrence Voigtsberger pointed out that serving is a “civic duty.”

“It’s a constitutional right to have a trial by jury whether civil or criminal,” he noted. “Jury duty is mandatory, but it’s typically a very good learning process. Hopefully, no one gets involved in the court system as a victim, but at least you have an idea of what the process will be.”

And while businesses on Long Island may see jury duty as disruptive to their organizations, Voigtsberger said, most trials last two to three days, though “there are always exceptions.”

Jurors not only see the justice system up close, but also gain insights into the flaws of a contract that prompted litigation.

“All that is brought out in evidence,” Voigtsberger said.

Level playing field

Ultimately, Middleton noted, trial attorneys want jurors and alternates that are “impartial to listen to your case and decide what should occur at the end.”

That can mean understanding that the person on trial doesn’t have to testify – and a juror shouldn’t hold that against someone.

And to the untrained civilian, some of the questions might seem surprising.

Consider, for example, Judge Joan Azrack, who at federal court in Central Islip, reportedly asked about the favorite TV shows of potential jurors in the Ed Mangano, Linda Mangano and John Venditto trial.

That’s par the course, attorneys said. These kinds of questions garner “how analytical” a person is, and, for instance, in a case where the evidence may be complex, help an attorney understand who might quickly grasp the elements.

High profile cases

Experts say local jurors can be impartial, even when the case is a high profile one.

With the case against the Manganos and Venditto, for instance, attorneys said they would not necessarily second guess the ability of prospective jurors to serve even if they were unfamiliar with the case.

It’s not surprising that some potential jurors have not been paying attention to that case, experts said.

“Put yourself in the general population – a lot of people just don’t care,” Middleton said. “Even if they have an interest in politics, [people] going to work have real issues to deal with. The Mangano situation doesn’t really affect them at their level.” And a juror from say Queens, or Brooklyn, may have very little awareness of political leaders in Nassau County, he added.

Timing

Jury selection can take as little as one day, to about three days.

The time allotted for a jury selection is tied in with the time a judge offers.

And a group of prospects can be dismissed quickly.

The questions asked can scope out not only bias, but also whether people have a planned vacation, a medical issue, a language barrier and other concerns.

Once they’ve completed jury service, they can breathe easy, at least for a while.

“They won’t be summoned again for six years,” Voigtsberger said.

Quick decisions required when attorneys make their choices

Voir dire – Merriam-Webster defines this legal term as a “preliminary examination to determine the competency of a witness or juror” – takes a certain skill.

Experts say observing a prospective juror’s whole being come into play.

“What we try to do is think of what backgrounds, life experiences, cognitive styles, opinions, and values jurors might have that would make them less receptive to our case,” Jeffrey Reynolds, director of the jury research division of the National Legal Research Group, and author of “Mastering Voir Dire and Jury Selection” told the online publication MentalFloss.

And while body language, gender, lifestyle choices, race and even social media may seem to fall into play, that view may prove limited.

And while social media searches on jurors may offer insights into those sitting on a jury, not all states, courts and judges approve. The New York State Bar Association, for example, has cited ethics concerns. For instance, it states that attorneys conducting research on a juror cannot communicate with that individual without running into professional conduct conflicts.

And there may be no hard and fast rules, with each case having its own set of idiosyncrasies – for example, whether it’s a criminal or civil – or its venue.

And there may be instances where a prospective juror may not seem to like you. The person sits with arms folded, offers single-word replies, smiles or laughs at times. But these signals may have nothing to do with the attorney. Perhaps the person is nervous, or appears cross but is actually hungry.

So what’s an attorney to do?

One attorney put it this way: “Go with your gut, and try to get people who will be open, honest and fair, and will listen to the facts.”

Read the full article on LIBN.