Building Knowledge

This episode of “Building Knowledge” covered what Building Owners and Managers, and Homeowners, should look for regarding their Windows and Doors as Spring and Summer approaches. Our guest was Michael Rosenberg, the president of M & R Windows, which is based in the Bronx in New York City. It was Michael Rosenberg’s second appearance on “Building Knowledge.” He was also a regular guest on the former radio shows of The Building and Realty Institute (BRI). Topics covered during the segment included: 1) When Building Owners and Managers, and Homeowners, should start evaluating the conditions of Windows in preparation for the warmer weather; 2) What a company such as M & R Windows specifically looks for while conducting evaluations of Windows after Winter; 3) As Spring approaches, the specific conditions of Windows that concern Michael Rosenberg the most; 4) The time periods involved in Window Repairs and Replacements; 5) What Window Products are currently popular in helping Building Owners and Managers, and Homeowners, achieve greater levels of Energy Conservation; 6) What M & R Windows looks for when evaluating Doors after the harsh Winter Weather; 7) The specific conditions of Doors that concern Michael Rosenberg the most as Winter comes to an end; 8) The effects of President Trump’s tariffs on the prices of Building Materials and Supplies; 9) The levels of building and remodeling activities in the New York metropolitan area in the early stages of 2025.

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Restoration Essentials For Building Owners, Managers and Homeowners” was the topic of this segment of “Building Knowledge.” Our guest was Lisa Scherrer, the Chief Executive Director of The New Crystal Restoration Enterprises, Inc., which is based in Port Chester in Westchester County in New York State. It was Lisa Scherrer’s second appearance on “Building Knowledge.” Topics discussed during the episode included: 1) The steps that Building Owners, Managers and Homeowners should take as a result of damages from fires and floods, and other disasters; 2) Steps that Building Owners and Managers, and Homeowners, can take in order to be ready for disastrous events, and the recent efforts of The New Crystal Restoration in stressing the importance of those Disaster Preparedness Steps; 3) The importance of the use of Green Restoration companies after a disaster; 4) The uses of Green Products by Building Owners and Managers, and Homeowners; 5) The help that is available for Special Needs Families when a disaster strikes a building, a home, or a complex; 6) How Building Owners and Managers need to monitor situations involving Mold; 7) Lisa Scherrer’s opinions on how representatives of the business community are feeling about the current business climate in the New York metro area.

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Episode 58 of “Building Knowledge With The Building and Realty Institute (BRI)” examined the Tariffs of President Trump and their possible effects on the U.S. economy. Dr. Robert Goodman, a well-known Economic Analyst, was our guest. Dr. Goodman was a regular contributor to the former radio shows of The Building and Realty Institute (BRI). He is a former Consultant for Putnam Investments. While with Putnam, he was a member of the company's Business Advisory Group, a panel of experts on Economic, Business and Personal Financial Topics. Dr. Goodman has appeared frequently on The Cable News Network (CNN) and has been a regular Guest Host on CNBC's "Squawk Box." Dr. Goodman was the Chief Economist with J&W Seligman & Co. between 1972 and 1989. He has also been an Economist at Citibank and the Federal Reserve Bank of N.Y. Topics discussed during the segment included: 1) Bob Goodman’s series of concerns about President’s Trumps Tariffs and their possible negative effects on the U.S. economy; 2) The comments of Bob Goodman regarding the opinions of some analysts who say that the negative effects of Tariffs can be short-lived, and that businesses can eventually make adjustments to help negate those negative effects; 3) How the Tariffs could affect the general business community, as well as Investors; 4) Bob Goodman’s advice to businesses regarding current economic conditions in the U.S.; 5) Factors that cause Bob Goodman to be upbeat about the U.S. economy; 6) Bob Goodman’s thoughts on the Fed and Interest Rates.

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Important Topics Affecting New York State Employers” was the topic of this segment of “Building Knowledge With The Building and Realty Institute (BRI).” Our guest was Matthew Persanis, Esq., who serves as Labor Counsel to The Building and Realty Institute (BRI). Matthew is an attorney with the well-known law firm of Elefante and Persanis, LLP, which is based in Eastchester in Westchester County in New York State. He is a regular guest on our series. Matthew was also a regular guest on the former radio shows of The Building and Realty Institute (BRI). He is regarded as an expert in Labor Relations. Topics examined during this episode included: 1) A bulletin sent out to Employers by Elefante and Persanis on January 28th, 2025 that reviewed the subject of Prenatal Care Leave. Matt Persanis thoroughly reviewed what the notice said (effective January 1st, 2025, New York State Labor Law § 196-b - New York State’s Paid Sick Leave Law - requires all New York Employers to provide 20 hours of Paid Prenatal Personal Leave per a 52-week period. Employees may use this paid leave to get health care services during their pregnancy, or related to such pregnancy, including physical examinations, medical procedures, monitoring and testing, and discussions with a health care provider related to the pregnancy; 2) If all New York State businesses are affected by the mandate; 3) How the leave can be taken; 4) How Employees will receive their Leave Pay; 5) President Trump’s firing of the General Counsel for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) - is the dismissal signaling a move away from the pro-union stance the Board has taken and possibly a more Employer friendly stance? 6) The continuing mandate that all New York State Employers must provide their Employees with Sexual Harassment Prevention Training on an annual basis; 7) The opinions of Matt Persanis regarding the biggest challenges currently facing New York State Employers.

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This segment of “Building Knowledge With The Building and Realty Institute (BRI)” examined the current real estate sales markets in the Hudson Valley Region of New York State. Our guest was Leah Caro, a member of the Board of Managers of One Key Multiple Listing Service. Leah Caro is a Past Chair of One Key Multiple Listing Service. She is also a Past President of The Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors (HGAR). Leah Caro is our show’s “go to source” regarding real estate sales data and real estate market conditions in the Hudson Valley Region of New York State. She was a regular guest on the former radio shows of The Building and Realty Institute (BRI). Leah Caro is the manager of the Bronxville office of Corcoran Legends Realty (the office is in Westchester County in New York State).

Topics discussed during the episode included: 1) A thorough analysis of the Jan. 30th sales reports and real estate data of The Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors (HGAR) and One Key Multiple Listing Service for the Hudson Valley Region of New York State in December of 2024 (the region being Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Orange and Sullivan counties, and the Bronx); 2) A general overview of the reports, including the fact that all six regions of the Lower Hudson Valley saw Double-Digit Increases in Single-Family Home Sales in December; 3) Leah Caro’s views on the current feelings of prospective buyers in the Hudson Valley Region of New York State, and if those feelings have changed in any ways now that the Presidential Election is over; 4) What Leah Caro sees happening in the Hudson Valley’s real estate markets for the remainder of 2025; 5) If Leah Caro feels legislators on the local and state levels in New York State are gaining a better understanding of the serious lack of Affordable and Workforce Housing throughout the state.

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What The Business Community Is Saying About President Trump’s Tariffs” and “Marketing Processes For Businesses As Spring Approaches” were the topics of this segment of “Building Knowledge With The Building and Realty Institute (BRI).” Michael Dardano, the principal of The Buzz Potential, was our guest. The Buzz Potential, which is based in Tuckahoe in Westchester County in New York State, is a well-known Public Relations, Marketing and Advertising company in the New York Metropolitan Area of New York State. Michael Dardano was an ideal guest for this episode of our series – he is very well-connected to representatives of the business sector in the New York Metropolitan Area. He has been a regular guest on “Building Knowledge” and was also a regular guest on the former radio shows of The Building and Realty Institute (BRI). He has also spoken at Membership Meetings of The Building and Realty Institute (BRI) in the past. Topics covered during the “What The Business Community Is Saying About President Trump’s Tariffs” segment included: 1) If representatives of the business community in the New York Metropolitan Area are expressing concerns over President’s Trump’s Tariff Efforts; 2) If the concerns of business representatives over President Trumps’s Tariffs come from all types of businesses; 3) If businesses in the New York Metropolitan Area are preparing for the possible effects of President Trump’s Tariffs and, if so, what those are businesses doing; 4) If there are different types of strategies in preparing for the possible effects of President Trump’s Tariffs; 5) What Michael Dardano sees happening in terms of the possible effects of President Trump’s Tariffs, those that have been implemented and those that are proposed. Topics examined during the “Marketing Processes For Businesses As Spring Approaches” segment included: 1) Where businesses should be regarding their Marketing and Advertising Processes for Spring (Linked In, Facebook, Instagram and other Social Media Outlets, etc.); 2) The use by businesses of TV, Radio and the Print Media as Advertising and Marketing Options for the Spring; 3) Businesses using You Tube Videos and Social Media Videos during the Spring for their Advertising and Marketing Processes; 4) If there areas of Marketing and Advertising that businesses, in the opinion of Michael Dardano, will be decreasing in the Spring due to concerns over President Trump’s Tariffs; 5) What business leaders in the New York Metropolitan Area are currently feeling regarding the business climate for the remainder of 2025.

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Building Knowledge With The Building and Realty Institute (BRI)” provided its listeners with a different type of format for this episode of the show’s series. “Building Knowledge” has covered a variety of topics affecting the building, realty and construction sectors - as well as the general business community - during the one-year run of our show. Prior to this episode, “Building Knowledge” has not done a program on The Building and Realty Institute (BRI) itself, and what the organization is all about. Accordingly, that is what was focused on during Episode 54. Our guests for this segment are the members of the BRI’s Leadership Team for 2025 – BRI President Michael Murphy, BRI Secretary Stacey Tompkins and BRI Treasurer Christine McCabe. Topics discussed during the episode were: 1) A historical review of the BRI; 2) Why members of the building, realty and construction sectors should join the BRI; 3) The services that the BRI offers; 4) The most important objectives for the BRI in 2025; 5) How the BRI is continuing its outreach efforts to other business groups in the Westchester and Mid-Hudson Region of New York State; 6) A review of how, in the last year, the BRI has significantly increased its outreach to women in the building and construction sectors as a result of its interactions with The Hudson Valley Women in Construction group; 7) The BRI’s efforts in recent years of significantly increasing its position as “the go-to-source” for issues affecting the building, realty and construction sectors; 8) How the BRI has reached its goal of “obtaining a seat at the table” regarding dialogues with business groups in New York State on the important issues that the business community is facing; 9) A summary from Christine McCabe, who also serves as Vice Chair of The Cooperative and Condominium Advisory Council (CCAC) of the BRI, on the activities and goals of the CCAC.

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A discussion on what is happening in the Building and Construction Sectors in the Westchester County and Mid-Hudson Region in New York State - as well as in the New York metropolitan area - is featured in this segment of “Building Knowledge With The Building and Realty Institute (BRI).” JD Summa, the Chief Executive Officer of Kings Capital Construction, and Victoria Bruno, the Business Development Manager for Kings Capital Construction, were the guests. Kings Capital Construction is based in Tarrytown in Westchester County in New York State. Kings Capital Construction is involved in General Contracting/Construction Management, and Sitework Development. Accordingly, JD Summa and Victoria Bruno offered the company’s views on the key issues currently affecting the Building and Construction Sectors in the New York metropolitan area. Topics discussed were: 1) The continuing Labor Shortages that the Building and Construction Sectors have been facing in recent years, as younger members of the workforce are not entering the Building and Construction Trades; 2) The costs of Building Materials; 3) If Supply Chain Shortages are still a problem for the Building, Construction and Remodeling Sectors; 4) Current business conditions in the New York metropolitan area for the Building, Construction and Site Development Sectors; 5)  The biggest challenges currently facing the Building, Construction and Site Development Sectors in the Westchester County and Mid-Hudson Region, as well as in the New York metropolitan area, and the best ways to deal with those challenges; 6) A review of some of the projects of Kings Capital Construction; 7)  An outlook by Kings Capital Construction on what could happen in the Building and Construction Sectors in the New York metropolitan area in the months ahead.

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This episode of “Building Knowledge With the Building and Realty Institute (BRI)” featured discussions on two issues - the effects of the Los Angeles Wildfires on the Insurance Sector and the key Insurance Subjects for members of the building, realty and construction industries in 2025. Our guest was Jason Schiciano, Co-President of Levitt-Fuirst Insurance. Levitt-Fuirst Insurance, which serves as the Insurance Manager for the Building and Realty Institute (BRI), is based in Tarrytown in Westchester County in New York State. Topics discussed during the segment included: 1) What the Los Angeles Wildfires mean to the Insurance Sector nationally, as well as in New York State; 2) If an event like the Los Angeles Wildfires affects all areas of the Insurance Sector, in addition to the Homeowner Insurance Component of the industry; 3) 

How soon after an event like the Los Angeles Wildfires will consumers see the effects of such a disaster, such as possible premium increases and changes in the language of policies; 4) The possible effects of the Los Angeles Wildfires on the national economy; 5) The key Insurance Issues affecting the Building and Construction Sectors in 2025; 6) The top Insurance Issues affecting the Realty Sector in the new year; 7) What Levitt-Fuirst Insurance sees at the top Insurance Issues for members of the General Business Sector in 2025.

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Navigating the Real Estate Development Lifecycle: Entitlements, Acquisitions, and Financing” was the topic of this segment of “Building Knowledge With The Building and Realty Institute (BRI).” Our guests were Lucia Chiocchio, a Partner at the law firm of Cuddy and Feder, and Amy Natsoulis, who is also a partner at Cuddy and Feder. Cuddy and Feder is based in White Plains in Westchester County in New York State. It is a well-known law firm throughout the New York metropolitan area. Lucia Chiocchio and Amy Natsoulis are two of Cuddy and Feder’s seasoned partners. They both have a wealth of experience in real estate development. Topics discussed during the segment included: 1) The Property Acquisition and Entitlement Process - when it comes to real estate development, acquiring the right property is key. Discussions on what goes into evaluating a property for development, as well as the primary considerations that Developers should keep in mind before making a purchase, were featured; 2) A review of some of the challenges, or complexities, that come up during property acquisitions; 3) Securing Entitlements, which can often be a complex and unpredictable process. A review of what the Entitlement Process entails, and why it’s such a crucial phase for Developers, was featured during the discussion on that topic; 4) How Zoning Regulations and Community Interests play a big role in Entitlements. Some of the common obstacles that Developers face, and how Cuddy and Feder helps them navigate those hurdles, was addressed; 5) How important it is for Developers to include contingencies in their Acquisition Contracts to account for the entitlement phase, and what role that plays in managing the overall timeline; 6) Financing Options - what types of options are typically available for Developers, and how Cuddy and Feder helps its clients navigate commercial lending, or more specialized options, like IDA financing; 7) How do economic conditions, like rising Interest Rates, affect financing strategies, and what advice Cuddy and Feder gives its clients in those situations; 8) Advice for Developers looking to streamline communications between the legal, regulatory, and financial aspects of a project; 9) What trends are currently being seen in real estate development.

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