Diana Chan, Co-owner of Mama Chan’s in Northport, joins us this week on New York’s Business PodcastDiana always had a dream: open a restaurant inspired by her mom’s incredible home cooking. But when the opportunity came, she had no formal culinary training, no bartending experience, and no restaurant ownership background.So what did she do?She just started.With the help of her brother and mom, they hosted a few pop-ups, sold out every time, and realized there was a demand for the kind of food they grew up eating — clean, comforting, real Chinese-Taiwanese dishes made from scratch with love.In this episode, we talk about:🍜 Why she left her 10-year corporate job to follow her passion🍸 Her goal of creating a restaurant-bar hybrid where community and conversation thrive👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The highs and lows of running a family business📉 Lessons learned from zero experience in the restaurant industry📣 How she built a loyal customer base — and why you need to try their sesame chicken🥢 What it takes to build an elevated, home-style Chinese dining experience right here on Long IslandThis is a powerful story for anyone sitting on an idea but afraid to jump — Diana proves you can build something beautiful by starting before you’re ready.🎧 Listen to the full episode now — and then go grab a cocktail and a bite at Mama Chan’s in Northport. Trust me: the food is exceptional.

This week on New York’s Business Podcast, we sit down with Hilary de Roy, the vibrant founder of Royal Native, a one-of-a-kind fashion brand built from vintage towels, a strong sense of style, and even stronger business instincts.

After 25+ years in the fashion industry—styling, managing boutiques, and working for names like Diane von Furstenberg—Hilary took the leap to start her own label. What began with a single pair of shorts has grown into a boutique brand known for bold, nostalgic pieces and a fiercely loyal customer base.

🎧 In this episode, we cover:

• How she scaled her one-woman brand to selling 2,000+ unique jackets

• Why she chose to open a brick-and-mortar in a digital-first world

• The marketing philosophy behind never paying for ads

• Her pivot to direct-to-consumer and what “doing less, but better” really looks like

• The power of creating something people can’t stop talking about (literally—her jackets get stopped on the street!)

• The mindset shift that helped her tune out the competition and stay true to her vision

Hilary’s passion, resourcefulness, and authenticity are contagious—this is an episode for any business owner who's trying to build something meaningful and lasting.

Follow @theroyalnative and stop by her shop in Locust Valley if you’re on Long Island!

This week on New York's Business Podcast, I’m joined by Jenn Fasano — a dynamic entrepreneur and the founder of Babes in Business Long Island. With a background in branding, marketing, and leadership, Jenn has built a thriving community for women in business and brings unmatched insight into what it takes to grow sustainably and authentically.

In this episode, we discuss:• The rise of Babes in Business and the need for women-centric networking spaces
• The distinction between business coaching and consulting — and why Jenn chooses solutions over hand-holding
• Strategic pricing, growth plateaus, and the most common challenges she helps entrepreneurs navigate
• Her latest venture: Interflow, a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) platform designed to centralize operations for business owners overwhelmed by scattered tools
• The importance of authenticity, community, and showing up as yourself in business

Whether you're just starting out or looking to scale, Jenn offers tangible insights you can apply right away. Tune in now to hear her story and her strategy.

#NYBusinessPodcast #JennFasano #BabesInBusinessLI #WomenInBusiness #BusinessConsulting #Entrepreneurship #CRMSoftware #LeadershipMatters #AuthenticBranding #SmallBusinessTips #SupportLocalBusiness

Meet Jackie Cipolla, one of the powerhouses behind the Oyster Bay Main Street Association, the nonprofit organization working to preserve the historic charm and boost the vitality of downtown Oyster Bay.

In this episode of New York’s Business Podcast, Jackie walks us through:➡️ The mission of the association — from restoring historic storefronts to maintaining those iconic hanging flower baskets that brighten up the streets
➡️ How they support local businesses and attract foot traffic through thoughtful beautification and revitalization
➡️ Why investing in walkability, aesthetics, and community events makes a measurable impact on business and quality of life
➡️ Her own journey into community advocacy and what it takes to keep a historic downtown thriving in 2025

Whether you’re a business owner, town planner, or just love a great Long Island comeback story, this episode is for you. 🏘️🌿
#NewYorksBusinessPodcast #OysterBayNY #MainStreetRevival #SupportLocalNY #DowntownBeautification #CommunityBuilders

From Retired Influencer to CEO of a Children's Brand 👶📦
Meet Emma Nacewicz — founder of Poppy & Row, a bamboo pajama brand born from a mom’s determination to help her daughter with severe eczema. In this episode of New York’s Business Podcast, Emma opens up about:

✨ Her journey from full-time influencer to small business owner
🍼 Late-night feedings that doubled as R&D sessions
📦 Packaging orders from her guest bedroom
📈 How she leverages her influencer background to grow her brand
🎁 Why she believes micro-influencers are the secret weapon for marketing
🎄 And yes…family matching pajamas are coming soon 👀

This one is for every parent, every entrepreneur, and anyone wondering what it really takes to start a brand from scratch.

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts

On this episode of New York’s Business Podcast, we’re joined by Melanie McGovern, Director of Public Relations at the International Association of Better Business Bureaus—and trust us, this one is an absolute must-listen for any business owner.

We go deep into:

• How to respond to complaints and bad reviews (and why they’re actually opportunities)

• The truth about BBB accreditation and what it really means

• Online reputation management best practices

• How to avoid business scams and the rise of phishing attacks

• The power of responding to reviews—good or bad

• Why influencers and online businesses should seriously consider becoming BBB accredited

• How the BBB stays relevant in the world of AI, fake reviews, and scammy social media offers

Melanie also shares why most consumers care more about how you respond to a complaint than the complaint itself—and how small businesses can set themselves apart just by showing they care.

If you run a business, work with customers, or care about trust in the marketplace, this is one of those episodes that could literally save you time, money, and your reputation.

#NewYorkBusinessPodcast #BetterBusinessBureau #BBB #SmallBusinessTips #OnlineReputation #BusinessScams #CustomerService #BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #BusinessAdvice #LongIslandBusiness #NYBusiness #MelanieMcGovern #BusinessGrowth #ScamAwareness

On this week’s episode of New York’s Business Podcast, host Jacob Restituto sits down with Christine Cosentino, co-principal of Cosentino Property Management, for a candid conversation about navigating the challenges of a second-generation family business, wearing multiple hats on any given day, and the invaluable lessons learned from a father who built his company from the ground up.

Christine opens up about her father’s “figure it out” philosophy—going from limited resources to signing major tenants like Costco—and how that shaped a family-owned real estate portfolio now spanning two million square feet.

Key Takeaways:

- Family Dynamics: How Christine and her siblings handle multiple roles daily, and balance learning from a self-made father who still expects them to keep pushing forward.

- Business Resilience: Navigating challenges like a controller’s exit while maintaining confidence in a fast-moving industry.

- Supporting Local Economy: Why Christine believes strongly in helping mom-and-pop shops thrive, and the importance of modernizing Long Island’s downtowns without losing their local charm.

- Vision for the Future: Bridging tradition with new ideas, recruiting fresh talent, and encouraging younger generations to stay and invest in the region.

It’s an honest look into a multi-generational business that’s both proudly old-school and boldly future-focused. If you enjoy deep dives into family-driven entrepreneurship, community impact, and the nuts-and-bolts of commercial real estate, be sure to tune in wherever you get your podcasts.

This week on New York’s Business Podcast, we sit down with second-generation developer Peter Cosentino of Cosentino Companies. From his family’s asphalt and gravel roots to landing their first big-box tenant (Costco!) in the early ’90s, Peter shares how they’ve built and expanded a true Long Island legacy.

We dig into everything from zoning challenges and forging trust with municipalities, to balancing tradition and innovation in a thriving family business.

If you’ve ever wondered about the behind-the-scenes of commercial real estate—and how relationships and integrity drive success—this is the episode for you.

Listen now to hear Peter’s take on:

• Growing up in an entrepreneurial household

• Maintaining core values while scaling up

• The “promises made, promises kept” approach to business

• Striking the right balance between development and preserving what makes Long Island unique

Head to the link in bio to tune in and join the conversation!

Meet Katie Hart, the passionate visionary behind Kate’s Vintage Rose, a one-of-a-kind boutique in Stony Brook! This week on New York’s Business Podcast, we explore the heartfelt beginnings of her dreamy store—think mint green floral couches, gold sequin curtains, and her famous pink Jeep out front.

Katie shares how she’s built her small business with love, from vetting brand partnerships to crafting her own products, and how she’s staying true to her vision in the local community. If you’ve ever wanted to follow your own passions (or just love pastel colors and floral prints), this is the episode for you!

Tune in now via the link in our bio and get inspired by Katie’s story. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find the spark you need to pursue your own dreams!

#NewYorkBusinessPodcast #SmallBusiness #LocalBusiness #StonyBrook #KatesVintageRose #EntrepreneurLife #PodcastInterview #FollowYourPassion #VintageVibes

On the latest episode of New York’s Business Podcast, we speak with Lizzy “Snaps” Sullivan, a portrait photography whose fearless approach and sharp creative instincts have propelled her to remarkable heights.

Her extraordinary journey has taken Lizzy from working at the New York Post to hosting an online show for the Travel Channel and now, she runs two successful portrait studios.

In this inspiring conversation, Lizzy:Recounts the Freelance Hustle:

From pitching her work to top editors, to navigating the fast-paced world of newspaper photography.

Highlights Key Relationships: Discover how forging genuine connections and cultivating trust helped her land high-profile gigs.

Delves into Her Adoption Story: Hear how her personal background fuels her passion for capturing meaningful family moments.

Shares the Power of Taking Risks: Learn why bold leaps, coupled with unwavering determination, have been central to her success.

Tune in for an insider’s look at Lizzy’s evolution as a photographer—complete with tales of on-the-ground hustle, relatable triumphs, and heartfelt inspiration. Don’t miss this chance to learn how resilience, relationships, and risk-taking can lead to extraordinary opportunities in the creative world.

Contact Lizzy:www.brooklynfamilyportrait.com

www.lizzysullivan.com

Instagram @lizzysnapsSullivan

#NYBusinessPodcast #LizzySnapsSullivan #PortraitPhotography #PhotographyBusiness #PhotographyJourney #AdoptionStory #BehindTheLens #CreativeEntrepreneur #BusinessPodcast #PhotographyInspiration #PhotographerLife