aboutperseverance features memberprofiles€¦ · take you to the land of afro-cuban culture, salsa...

NY-0000749852

SEPTEMBER 2015

About PerseveranceJennifer Tavares, CEcD, President

Member ProfilesIllumeProjects, LLC

Illume Projects, LLC, is an independent, locally operated,woman owned business formed in 2011 by co-founders andprincipal consultantsKellyWhite, PMP, andEthanAsh. Illume isa projectmanagement consulting group that helps organizationssave time and work more effectively, specializing in projectplanning and management, process improvement and actionplan development.

Chief ProjectOfficer at IllumeKellyWhite is a certifiedprojectmanagement professional from Project Management Institute(PMI) andaLeanSixSigmaGreenBelt. IllumeworkswithCEOs,nonprofit executive directors, boards, and their organizations onneeds-based project implementation,workshops and consultingas well as long-term retainers for ongoing organizational

development. “Our work ischoreography, stepping backto see the big picture andusing creativity tofit togetherthe various moving parts,”says White. “Organizationsface a common challenge —a limitednumberof resourcesto execute a list of ideas orprojects in need of attention.Illume can be involved withall stages of implementingprojects, from research,strategy and recommending

the best approach for managing a plan, all the way through theactual execution and evaluation.”

Illumehasworkedwith local nonprofits and small businesses,including Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County,Cayuga Medical Center, Wharton Studio Museum, andSinglebrookTechnology.This fall,White isworkingwithFingerLakesReUse on project planning related to a facility expansiononElmiraRoad, and is a business sponsor for the IthacaHealthAlliance and free clinic on W. Seneca Street. As a way to giveback to theChambermembership and the community, Illume isoffering $500 off new projects through the Chamber Advantageprogram (cfcuchamberadvantage.com).

Illume Projects, LLC398 Thomas Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850

(646) 248-1442 | illumeprojects.com

AGreatChoiceLawnCare&Landscaping,LLCA Great Choice Lawn Care and Landscaping, LLC, has

been serving residential and commercial clients since 1994,withover 50 years of combined education, experience and expertiseto help with landscape projects and property maintenance. AgreatChoiceLawnCare andLandscaping operates year-roundfor all outdoorneeds,making themacomplete property service.

AGreat Choice offers everything from a small plantings toretaining walls, patios, natural stone hardscapes or completeoutdoor living areas with all design work done in-house. In

addition, AGreat Choice LawnCare & Landscaping offerscomplete property care services,including spring and fall cleanups, pruning,mulch installation,tree trimming and weeklymowing services. Fertilizationand weed control programs,horticulture programs andvegetation control can benefit

both residential and commercial clients. All of the servicesoffered by A Great Choice Lawn Care and Landscapingare designed around the individual property, and alwaysenvironmentally sensitive.

A Great Choice Lawn Care & Landscaping LLC has beengrowing in the Binghamton area for over 2 decades and hasbecome one of the largest local landscaping and lawn carecompanies.Under theownershipof JohnSacco, their expansioninto Ithaca has seen rapid growth. Over the next few yearsthe company plans to continue our growth in Ithaca andsurrounding areas.

AGreat Choice LawnCare and Landscaping LLC478 Lower CreekRd., Suite E, Ithaca,NY14850

(607) 729-3451 |www.agreatchoice.com

IthacashUnveils Local CurrencyOn August 20, Ithacash unveiled a $5 alternative local

currency at Rev Startup Works on the Ithaca Commons. Theface of the $5 bill depicts Elizabeth W. Beebe, a social welfareactivist in Ithaca at the turnof the 20th century. Ithacash’s IthacaDollars (i$) is primarily online,working alongside conventionalmoney to benefit the regional economyand its people. The newcurrency is expected to be in circulation sometime this fall.Pictured L-R: Jennifer Tavares, president of the TompkinsCounty Chamber ofCommerce, AnissaSanford, Chamber ofCommerce directorof finance and HR,and members of thedowntown businesscommunity.

Ithacash - i$101 E. State St. #202, Ithaca,NY14850(607) 654-0807 |www.ithacash.com

Save the DatesWed 9/9 5p .................Sept. 2015 Business After Hours, at

Ithaca Tompkins Regional AirportThu 9/17 12noon.........Sept. 2015Networking at Noon, on the

Deck at the Chamber of CommerceThu 9/24 8:15a ...........Tompkins Trust Co. Small Biz, Think

BIG Series ‘How to Increase SalesWithout Selling’

Thu 9/24 5:30p ...........‘Cuba: The New Beginning’ Pre-TourBriefing, at the Chamber

More at business.tompkinschamber.org/events

FeaturesSeptember 2015 Business After Hours at Ithaca TompkinsRegional Airport

September 9, 2015, 5-7PM at Ithaca TompkinsRegional Airport, 1Culligan Drive, Ithaca.Business After Hoursguests will receive aparking pass at theevent. Fees: Chambermembers pre-registerfor $12. Walk-ins are

welcome for $20; non-members are $30. Register online:business.tompkinschamber.org/event

CUBA! Pre-Tour Briefing: Thursday, Sept. 24, 5:30PMCubawas the top pick of Chamber Travel clients in a recent

survey! “Cuba: The New Beginning” April 13 - 20, 2016willtake you to the land of Afro-Cuban culture, Salsa dance,rum and sugar cane, Caribbean beaches, vintage Americancars, and CheGuevara’s revolution. TheU.S. and Cuba havereopened embassies in both countries, travel restrictionshave relaxed, and thousands of Americans will travel toCuba in 2016 to learn more about the people, history, arts,and economy! Under U.S. embargo since 1960, vacationsto Cuba for most Americans are still forbidden by the U.S.government, but our Tour Partner, Central Holidays West,is among the U.S. tour operators licensed by U.S. officialsto offer “people-to-people” trips. Everything is included,from 1st class hotels and guided tours to required documentsand forms. Our tour is to the public, all ages. More at www.tompkinschamber.org/events. JoinusforaPre-TourBriefing,Presentation and Q&Awith a representative from CentralHolidays West, on Thursday, Sept. 24th, 5:30-6:30 PM, atthe Chamber, 904 East ShoreDr., IthacaNY14850. Registerat www.tompkinschamber.org/events. Pre-registration isappreciated.

Teen Action Program Educates Local Youth of ColorTeen Action is a program developed by Phoebe Brown of

the Cayuga Center for Healthy Living, and Susan Rauschof Camp Earth Connection, to educate teenagers of colorabout the historical influence of local activists of color.In collaboration with the Greater Ithaca Activities Centerof Ithaca, Teen Action received a grant from the ParkFoundation in June of 2015, to work with local teens. TeenAction students learned activism training and techniquesfrom local activists and community leaders; team buildingand leadership training from Camp Earth Connection;experiential teaching through leadership opportunities atVillage Camp (with younger members of their community);and how to organize around issues which they identify asessential to their community and personal well-being. TeenAction graduates are Lajean Boyd, Tidaysha Black, IsaiahHouse, Jaazonya Frison-Vazquez, KiyannaGeorge, Princeton(PJ) Rausch Moran, Naysa Spence-Milton, Nick Cooper,Alice Goddard, TieanaHarris, andKeylai Barnett. Formoreinformation visit www.campearthconnection.com; contactSusan Rausch at campearthconnection@gmail.com, (607)844-3178; or email Phoebe Brown at pbrown@cayugamed.org.

Ithaca is Gorges &MoreVisitIthaca.com is all new! The redesigned website providesvisitors with a complete interactive guide to local events,attractions, wine, parks, waterfalls, dining and the arts,plus the online store for authentic “Ithaca is Gorges”apparel and gear. visitithaca.com

The Ithaca / Tompkins County Convention and VisitorsBureau (CVB) reports strong first-half 2015 results.According to monthly Smith Travel Research reports,Tompkins County had positive hotel numbers thoughQ2 2015. Read the full six-month CVB report at: http://visitithaca.uberflip.com/i/549770-q2-6mo-cvb-final

About a year ago, we workedclosely with the DowntownIthaca Alliance and others tohost a “Commons Cash Mob.”The purpose of the event was todraw the support of a communitywhich had been avoiding theCommons, its businesses andrestaurants. The response wasgood, and over 100 people spentover $5,000 that afternoon, at atime when the Commons anddowntown really needed steadycustomer flow.

All year long (and for two years prior, I hear) we listenedto and read comments from locals who shared that they were“avoiding the Commons” or downtown. We (collectively)complained about and tripped over the construction asbusinesses felt the very real impact of the project and the lackof foot traffic. There was criticism for every single componentof the project the moment it was completed (the sign, thedécor, the play spaces, the catenary suspended lighting —“what are those, alien spacecraft?!”). The City andDowntownIthaca Alliance staffs are to be commended for, well, justabout everything they’ve endured.

We’re happy to say that last weekend, for at least twowholedays, we didn’t pay attention to any complaints about theCommons. The beautiful, incredible, finished Commons—a fantastic new highlight of all things Ithaca and TompkinsCounty — would never have been completed without thevision, tenacity, and drive ofMayor SvanteMyrick, his staff,local leaders, and support from numerous funding sourceswho believed in the project from day one.

At the Chamber, we’re also so ecstatic that last Sundaymarked the completion of the Cayuga Waterfront Trail. Afantastic Ribbon Cutting Celebration was held at the IthacaFarmer’sMarket, bookended bymusical accompaniment fromCass Park and Stewart Park as the community enjoyed thetrail beforehand, andWatermusic along the trail afterwards.While the Trail work impacted many along the way, a verygrateful community is already expressing glowing reviewsand sincere thanks for the ability to access Ithaca’s waterfrontas it never has before.

The Trail is another phenomenal example of municipalcollaborations, business and private donor support via theChamber’s Foundation, and the implementation of a projectheld dear for over a decade by a handful of community leadersand visionaries, most notably project coordinator RickManning and former Chamber president Jean McPheeters.The Chamber’s Foundation Trustees and its Board ofDirectors are so proud of the time and money invested overthe last 15 years to bring this quality of life enhancing projectto fruition for the community. Jean, Rick, and City of Ithacapartners— thank you!

Member NewsThe Shops at Ithaca Mall has announced construction of

two new stores. Auntie Anne’s Pretzels is underway in the foodcourt, and due to open November 1. Construction for SearsHometown Store has started in the space next to LOFT, andwill open in October. The Shops at Ithaca Mall is located atCatherwoodRoad, Ithaca. www.theshopsatithacamall.com

UnitedWay of Tompkins County holds its 2015 Stephen E.Garner Day of Caring on Wednesday, September 16, from9 AM to 4 PM at Stewart Park, Large Pavilion, kicking offthe annual UnitedWay Community Campaign. Individuals,groups, and businesses from across Tompkins County collectnon-perishable food, personal care items, and school suppliesprior to the event. On the Day of Caring, these items aredropped off, sorted, and distributed to schools, pantries,and non-profits. All donations stay in Tompkins County.In 2014, over 14,000 pounds of supplies were collected anddistributed. www.uwtc.org

CayugaMedical Center’sOrthopedics & SportsMedicineCommunity Lecture Series presents ‘Treatment andPrevention of Common Soccer Injuries,’ on Wednesday,September 16, 2015, 7 – 8 PM, at Physical Therapy atBrentwood, 10 Brentwood Drive, Ithaca. The lecture seriesis free and the public is welcome. Presenters: AmyMacQueen,MD; Rob Kaplan, PT, DPT, MTC. RSVP by email CLS@cayugamed.org, or call 607-252-3510. www.cayugamed.org

NewMembersFinger Lakes Xtreme Fitness: Tara Gross950 Danby Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850(607) 342-0568 | www.lakesxfit.comHealth Clubs/GymsJade Stone Engineering: Lenka Walldroff120 W. State St., Suite 304, Ithaca, NY 14850(315) 836-4062 | www.jstoneeng.comEngineersJourney Fitness Coaching: Jesse King15 Catherwood Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850(607) 735-0333 | www.journeyfitnesscoaching.comExercise & Physical Fitness ProgramsThe Shavery: Christine LamIthaca, NY 14850(607) 351-9673 | www.saigonkitchenshavery.comFood Truck / CateringVince Mazzarella LUTCF, Investments & FinancialPlanning Services: Vince Mazzarella132 Yaple Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850(607) 662-5264Financial Services - Consulting & PlanningWhitham Planning and Design: Scott Whitham123 S. Cayuga St., Ithaca, NY 14850(607) 379-9175 | whithamdesign.comArchitects

The Tompkins County Chamber of Commerceis a progressive, forward-thinking organizationlinking business and government, communityorganizations, residents and institutions,dedicated to making Tompkins County a greatplace to live, work, learn and play. Address:904 East Shore Drive, Ithaca, NY 14850.Telephone: (607) 273-7080; fax: (607) 272-7617. Email:info@tompkinschamber.org, www.tompkinschamber.org