News (All)

Malafi Elected to Board of Directors of American Red Cross on Long Island

Posted: April 6th, 2018

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 peChristine Malafiople 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.

CMM Spotlight: Flexible Systems

Posted: April 5th, 2018

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.

Middleton’s Approach to Jury Selection Featured in “Tough Seats to Fill”

Posted: March 30th, 2018

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.

April 26 – Campolo’s Initiatives to Grow Hauppauge Industrial Park and Drive Local Economy Are Focus of HIA-LI Panel

Posted: March 27th, 2018

Event Date: April 26th, 2018

Hauppauge Industrial Park: Current & Future Growth

Hear about the growth of one of the largest industrial parks in the country! As Chair of the HIA-LI Board of Directors, Joe Campolo is spearheading initiatives to bring investment and growth to the Hauppauge Industrial Park. Join us to learn about these initiatives, the economic impact of the park on the Long Island economy, and the collaboration between HIA-LI and Stony Brook University to grow the second largest industrial park in the nation after Silicon Valley – right in our own backyard.

April 26, 2018, 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

IBEW Local 25, 370 Motor Parkway, Hauppauge, NY

Can you do more business here?

  • Over 55,000 employees and 1,300 companies
  • 1 in 20 jobs on Long Island is dependent on the HIP

Moderator: Joe Campolo, Managing Partner, Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, LLP

Invited Panelists:

Angie Carpenter – Town of Islip Supervisor

Jack Kulka – President & Founder, The Kulka Group

Kelly Morris – Deputy Executive Director, Suffolk County IDA

Mitch Pally – CEO, LIBI

Edward R. Wehrheim – Supervisor, Town of Smithtown

Register here. 

Hunger on Long Island featuring Randi Shubin Dresner of Island Harvest and the Future of Commercial Real Estate featuring Don Catalano of iOptimize Realty

Posted: March 20th, 2018

The first topic of this week’s episode was hunger on Long Island, and we were happy to have Randi Shubin DresnerIsland Harvest Food Bank’s President and CEO, with us to address this critical issue. While the statistics about hunger on Long Island are distressing and even shocking (it’s estimated that Island Harvest’s services touch one in 10 Long Islanders), Island Harvest delivers sustenance and hope. She talked about the organization’s focus on treating everyone with dignity, its efficiency (94 cents of every dollar raised goes directly to support their programs), and the insatiable philanthropic appetite of millennials.

Next, Don Catalano, President and CEO of iOptimize Realty, joined us to discuss the future of commercial real estate here on Long Island. Don explained the many ways his incredible military background in the U.S. Army Special Forces HALO (High Altitude – Low Opening Parachutist) and SCUBA translated into running a successful business. iOptimize is an exclusive tenant rep, working with national clients including Coca-Cola, Progressive, and Allstate. He explained how his unique approach in auditing the market and making landlords compete for a tenant’s business adds value – not to mention the amazing aerial shots he’s able to take for clients as an avid pilot and photographer.

April 17 – CMM Presents “Beyond #MeToo: Where We Go from Here” Featuring the Leading Authorities in the Corporate World, Law and Sociology Discussing Real-Life Solutions for Businesses to Move Forward

Posted: March 15th, 2018

Event Date: April 17th, 2018

The critical problem of sexual harassment in the workplace has undoubtedly received significant attention over the past several months. As women continue to share their experiences, many businesses are left wondering how to move forward and remain productive.

Join us to hear from the leading authorities in the business world, law, and sociology about what the business community needs to be focused on. CMM Managing Partner Joe Campolo will engage these thought leaders on real-life issues facing businesses. This isn’t just another panel focusing on everything businesses are doing wrong. We need to discuss practical approaches to keep moving forward.

Don’t miss this robust and lively discussion on the most critical issue facing the business world today! Register here.

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

8:00 – 8:30 a.m. – Registration, networking, and hot breakfast

8:30 – 10:00 a.m. – Panel discussion and Q&A

Crest Hollow Country Club, 8325 Jericho Turnpike, Woodbury, NY 11797

Panelists:

Judge A. Gail Prudenti – Dean and Executive Director of the Center for Children, Families and the Law, Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University; former Chief Administrative Judge of the Courts of New York State

Professor Michael Kimmel – SUNY Distinguished Professor of Sociology & Gender Studies at Stony Brook University and Executive Director, Center for the Study of Men & Masculinities

Carol A. Allen, President/CEO, People’s Alliance Federal Credit Union

Moderator:

Joe Campolo, Esq. – Managing Partner, Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, LLP

Sponsored by:

LIBN Coverage of Campolo’s “The Art of Negotiation”

Posted: March 15th, 2018

By Nick MusumeciLong Island Business News

More than a hundred business professionals crowded into the ballroom at the Radisson hotel in Hauppauge. Some took notes, others simply listened, all intent on learning how to get the best deal possible.

“We’re not playing to not lose; we’re playing to win,” said attorney Joe Campolo, the event’s speaker and coordinator. “You’re only trying to get the best deal possible.”

The seminar’s purpose was to help businesspeople become better negotiators, by using proven techniques designed to help control emotions and dictate direction of the negotiation.

Campolo, who is managing partner of Ronkonkoma-based Campolo Middleton & McCormick, drew upon his years of experience as a lawyer to advise his audience on how to act in certain situations. This is the third year the seminar has been offered.

“Joe is a great presenter, and in my business you need to negotiate,” said Patricia Sullivan, an attendee who works in staffing. “I got some good information.”

One of the key points that Campolo stressed was how to manage emotions and use them to one’s advantage in different situations. “Emotions can divert attention from substantive issues,” he said.

Campolo also talked about how to view one’s adversary. For instance, when negotiating with someone of a lower title or stature, it’s important to show that person respect and consider the successes he or she has had. Campolo mentioned how some colleagues get offended when they are sent to negotiate with an associate rather than a partner, instead of mutually respecting their adversary for graduating law school and getting to where they currently are.

“A little bit of courtesy goes a long way,” Campolo said.

While some lines of work don’t necessarily involve negotiating with other businesses or clients, nearly every business professional will, at one time or another, have to negotiate with their superiors about their own compensation. Getting a raise is never easy, even for some of the hardest working employees, and Campolo stressed the importance of keeping one’s cool and staying alert during a stressful salary negotiation.

“Negotiation is a proactive process; if you prepare for it, you’ll get a better deal,” Campolo said. He mentioned how doing one’s “homework” on both the person one is negotiating with and the situation one is in will usually lead to a more lucrative deal. Even something as simple as finding out what college the opposing negotiator went to, or finding out what their favorite sports teams, bands or movies are can go a long way, he said, stressing that finding common ground can both ease tension and build an emotional connection with the superior. If one’s boss can identify with a subordinate, the boss is more likely to give a beneficial deal, Campolo added.

When asked how to deal with people that are unable or unwilling to compromise, Campolo simply replied, “Walk away.”

It’s safe to say that many of the attendees walked away from the seminar feeling a little more confident in their ability to negotiate.

Read it on LIBN.

Campolo Selected as Speaker to Kick Off IMA Young Professionals Group

Posted: February 28th, 2018

Young Professional Event: Never Eat Alone: Put Your Network to Work
By James L. Smith, CPA – VP of Membership Committee and Marvin Rosen – VP of Student Activities

On February 13, 2018, IMA (the Institute of Management Accountants) hosted a Young Professional Committee’s event: Never Eat Alone – Put your Network to Work. This was a presentation given by Joe Campolo, Esq., who serves as the Managing Partner of Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, LLP. With over 50 young professionals and students in attendance it was an exciting and interesting night for all.

Joe Campolo spoke for about 45 minutes on the value of networking as well as how to network. In fascinating order, Joe explained his journey to success from the ground up. How he utilized the power of networking to start his own business and why networking was and is the most powerful tool he had at his disposal to get started. First of all, networking is not a passive activity. Joe was clear that proper networking begins with a plan, a structure and a goal(s).

Effective networking begins with picking the right venues. It is important to know what types of contacts will help you achieve your goal and by taking the time to select the best venues you can maximize the contacts that will help you in your journey. Second, good networking involves rules and protocols. For example, do not monopolize people’s time. You want to spend enough time to get to know someone lightly, get their information and leave a positive impression. Remember, these people are here to network too and both of you should want to meet several people. Also, show interest in the person you are talking to. By not making yourself the central topic you generate interest and make a personal connection. Finally, follow up! What is the point of networking if you do not follow up and stay in touch?

Joe explained that he likes to connect with about 5 people as this allows him to remember details of the person. He has made it a practice to write down a few items of the conversation on the person’s business card so that he can reference the conversation in his follow up communications. Nice idea!

After the presentation, the young professionals and students joined the networking hour to put what they had learned to work. It is always exciting for me to see these young individuals going out and meeting new people, making those first time connections and beginning or accelerating down the path to a more robust and exciting career.

Construction on Long Island featuring Alex Badalamenti of bld architecture and Jack Kulka of The Kulka Group

Posted: February 27th, 2018

In this construction-themed episode, Joe Campolo caught up with Alex Badalamenti, President and CEO of bld architecture. Badalamenti is an incredibly talented architect with a unique background in buildings of historic significance and landmark status. Topics ranged from the impact of the 2008 recession to strategies for attracting talent, as well as a discussion about the origins of today’s architect as a “master builder.”

Next, Joe chatted with Jack Kulka, Founder and President of the Kulka Group, about his experiences growing up in the Bronx, his career path from engineering to essentially founding “construction management” services on Long Island and completely changing the industry. Kulka shared details of his role in founding HIA-LI and how the organization has evolved over the years, as well as his company’s groundbreaking work on the Amneal Pharmaceuticals facility in Brookhaven.