OLDEST IRISH AMERICAN NEWSPAPER IN USA, ESTABLISHED IN 1928

2012 Recipients

Ramona BrackenRamona-Bracken

Age: 34

Place of birth: Limerick

Business: Bracken Enterprises LLC

First established: December 2007, started trading Sept. 08

Employees: 5

Website: www.brackencleaningnyc.com

Where you live: Yonkers, New York

First job: Housekeeper/Babysitter

What it taught me: It taught me very early on, that to make even a small amount of pocket money I had to work hard. I was 14 years old doing this job, not long after I began I was handed a dust mask and a wire brush and my job that day was to scrub down a cast iron fireplace. I am almost positive that I earned less than 20 Irish Punts at the time for my day’s work!

Family: My parents are Austin & Bernadette Bracken from Castletown, Fortal, Birr, Co. Offaly. I am the oldest of 6 children, I have 3 sisters Nikola, Aimee & Sarah and 2 brothers, Jason & Steven. I was lucky enough to have been raised in a home with my parents and grandparents. They were Ned & Dolly King (both deceased RIP). It is fair to say no-one has had more impact on my life than they did, they have been my heroes and role models throughout my life!

Best advice anyone ever gave you: I have received much advice but ones that really spring to mind are from firstly my grandfather: “Love many, trust few, always paddle your own canoe and Do what you do well” and finally from my dear friend Marie Wrafter in Canada “Just Keep Going.” I cannot tell you the amount of times when really struggling over the past few years that this advice helped me out, no matter how stressed I’d be I’d just say to myself just keep going Ramona, and it got me through.

Best advice you could give someone starting out: Don’t get too caught up in the facade of owning your own business, be prepared for the challenges and sacrifices that you will HAVE to make to succeed! Have plenty of patience as it won’t happen overnight, and even though its hard sometimes to stay focused and believe in yourself, nothing good comes easy!

The most important thing for a business success is: Customer Service and Satisfaction has got to be number 1, and though they say it’s impossible to keep everyone happy you have to overcome the impossible and make that happen as unhappy customers equals no business! Being consistent and Reliable with your work, and make sure each day when heading for home that you are confident that both you and your team have turned out your best work!

Back in late 2007, a lady from Woodlawn was looking for someone to take over some Clients that she did cleaning for as she was giving it up. I was working as a Nurses Aide in Manhattan and had some free days so I took it over, I had 5 Clients all in the Woodlawn/ Yonkers area. I didn’t have a car, and was going from job to job in taxi’s carrying a Bloomingdales bag over my shoulder with cleaning products and a vacuum under my arm! All the Clients were all more or less once a month so it was easy to fit it in with my regular job, I never thought it would be anything more than a nixer but without even trying it grew and grew. So in December an old friend of mine contacted the Companies Corporation and Bracken Enterprises was formed. We didn’t start officially trading until the following September. I never thought it would be any more than a local residential cleaning service, but then thanks to two local ladies, Catherine Flood and the late Christine Moyles I got my first opportunity to bid for my first commercial job. It was for the offices of the prestigious Architect Howard L.Zimmerman, he knew we were a new start up but he gave us a chance to prove ourselves, and I will be forever grateful for that, and almost 3 years in we continue to work with Howard and grow as his office does! Since that time though we have struggled and stressed along the way Bracken Enterprises was on a slow but steady incline, the direction of the business changed as our Clients did, in 2010 we started doing post construction our first job being none other than “The Plaza Hotel” since then we have worked with Designers, Architects and General Contractors making Post Construction work our speciality! In 2011 we made our most radical changes to date, not only were we servicing all our residential Clients at this time varying between 15-20, we continued to progress with our Commercial Work and started doing retail and with this came our first maintenance contract being responsible for HVAC, Pest Control, Lighting & Glass and any other general maintenance needing to be done at the property. If anyone had told me 3.5 years ago we would be where we are today, I would never have believed it, the reputation of Bracken Enterprises has grown as has its business, and my expectations for this company were never higher than they are now, to me this is only the beginning, I intend to drive this business forward to the best of my ability. Since branching into the different areas I see the opportunities out there, and Contacts mean everything. You have to turn out good work, get known get your company known as people will only refer you if they know they can trust you to do the right thing! Trust and approval is also hard earned, that is one frustrating thing in this business, Cleaning is not counted as a respected profession so many think of us as “just the cleaners” and we are often considered uneducated just because this is the career we are in! I can honestly say though I have always worked hard and almost always had more than one job, since starting this company I have never worked harder! So to those of you who have said “is this all you do?” I say yes and I am so very proud of it! Even though we are “just cleaning” – there is a right way and a wrong way to do everything, and I have seen how far getting up close and personal with a few u-bends has gotten me! In 2011, Bracken Enterprises became a member of the Irish Business Organization and I became a member of the NAPW (National Association of Professional Women).

 

 


Elaine BrennanElaine-Brennan

Place of birth: Co.Clare

Business: Yeats Clinical

First established: 2011

Employees: 30

Website: www.yeatsclinical.com

Where you live: New York

First job: Elan Pharma (Athlone)

What it taught me: That I enjoyed seeking my education put to practical use in delivering healthcare products to patients

Family: Mom Teresa Brennan, Dad Sean Brennan, Son Cian O’Brien, 2 sisters Rena Whelan (husband Andrew Whelan) & Annmarie O’Mahony (husband Kieran O’Mahony), 1 brother Enda Brennan and 2 nieces (Mai and Rosa Whelan), 2 nephews (Sean Whelan and Michael O’Mahony)

Best advice anyone ever gave you: If someone is offering you something – take it (Nana Brennan).

Best advice you could give someone starting out: If someone tenured/successful is offering you advice – take it!

The most important thing for a business success is: The people.

Socrates Healthcare is doing business in the U.S. as Yeats Clinical. We are a successful player in the Irish market and are launching our U.S.- certified product here in the U.S. We have many MDs using the product and are about to go mass market. It is a great time to be in IT healthcare here in the U.S. and we have big expectations for the success of Yeats.

 


Niamh BushnellNiamh-Bushnell

Place of birth: Cork

Business: MarketSprint

First established: March 2006

Employees No fulltime employees (bar me)

Website: www.marketsprint.com

Where you live: Jersey City, New Jersey

First job: Frame Technology, Dublin

What it taught me: That positioning technology correctly to a target audience is fascinating and challenging.

Family: One Son, Seamus, almost 3 years old.

Best advice anyone ever gave you: “Think properly but not too much.”

Best advice you could give someone starting out: Take it slowly, step by step, everything takes time and perseverance.

The most important thing for a business success is: To be ahead of the market, but not so far ahead that you alienate clients and potential clients.

Niamh Bushnell is the CEO of MarketSprint, a boutique tech consulting company based in NYC. MarketSprint offers strategy, networks and capital advisory services to international companies entering the U.S. market. Niamh has been in the technology business for over 20 years. She was VP of Software at Enterprise Ireland New York from 1998 to 2004 and VP of Relationship Management at Irish payments company, Orbiscom, prior to its acquisition by MasterCard International. She successfully co-founded her first start-up Pan Research in Dublin in 1996 and has been leading her own consulting practice since 2006. Niamh is an investor and mentor at Entrepreneurs Roundtable, an NYC based tech accelerator. She is also a mentor for Dublin based Propeller Venture Fund and Arizona State University’s Edson Student Entrepreneur Initiative. Niamh has received a variety of awards and recognition for her work with Irish technology companies and is delighted to be included in the Irish Echo’s Small Business 50. In 2012, Niamh co-launches USACCEL, a new accelerator program for international companies entering the U.S. market. Her first product also goes live in Q1 2012, a platform of resources called TechResources.US sponsored by Enterprise Ireland.

 

 

 


Seamus ByrneSeamus-Bryne

Age: 47

Place of birth: Waterford

Business: Byrne Design LLC (Architecture & Interiors)

First established: January 1st, 2003

Employees: 5

Website: www.byrne-design.com

Where you live: Chicago, IL

First job: Swim Teacher

What it taught me: Kids are more intuitive than grown-ups.

Family: Wife, daughter, and anxious mess of a dog.

Best advice anyone ever gave you: Buckle up.

Best advice you could give someone starting out: Prepare for good times in bad, and vice versa.

The most important thing for a business success is: Belief in your product or service

Byrne Design LLC is a full-service architectural practice providing the highest quality architectural and interior design services to our clients, and specializing in the design of highly detailed environments. Our clients benefit from our commitment to excellence, our insistence on attention to detail, and our depth of experience in providing specialist expertise to complex challenges. Byrne Design’s tight-knit team structure assures highly focused implementation for our projects, and has invariably resulted in repeat assignments from our clients. Byrne Design’s driving forces are creativity and excellence, both sharply focused on implementing appropriate design solutions with attention to detail, budget and time-frame. Byrne Design’s studio is located on the Magnificent Mile in downtown Chicago and the firm serves clients nationwide, with projects completed in Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas and Washington DC. Client markets served: Corporate Entertainment Hospitality Retail Current Clients/Projects: American Girl Place Emerging Solutions LEGOLAND Discovery Center Northern Trust Prasino Restaurants Reynolds/Pactiv.

 

 


Edward J Can

Age: 71

Place of birth: New York City

Name of business: Riviera Imports

First established: 2004

Employees: 9

Website: www.rivieraimports.com

Where you live: Boca Raton, Florida

First job: A.S. Asch Market Research

What it taught me: Humility. Standing in hotel lobby’s asking busy consumers to stop and answer questions. Traveling around the country with a $6.00 per diem allowance.

Family: Wife, 2 sons and 5 grandchildren

Best advice anyone ever gave you: Follow your first instinct

Best advice you could give someone starting out: Be honest to yourself.

The most important thing for a business success is: Keep your word. Once you gain someone’s trust, do not disappoint them

Riviera Imports is a Wine, Spirit and Beer importer. We currently import products from Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico and Spain. Additionally, we handle wines and spirits for the U.S. Our products are sold in 35 U..S markets as well as China, The Czech Republic, Canada, Mexico and the UK.

 

 

 


Patrick Coleman

Place of birth: Dublin

Business: Food Ireland

First established: 1998

Employees:  20+

Website: FoodIrelandWholesale.com

Where you live: New York

First job: Westmeath Co-op, Mullingar

What it taught me: How to make butter.

Family: Married with two children

Best advice anyone ever gave you: Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

Best advice you could give someone starting out: Trust your instincts and your gut feeling. Don’t over analyze or you will achieve nothing and if you take on new business make sure you have a plan on how to deliver.

The most important thing for a business success is: Stay focused on your core business.

 


Elizabeth “Lily” CorcoranElizabeth-'Lily'-Corcoran

Age: 55

Place of birth: Tullamore, Co. Offaly

Business: Wedding and Event Planning

Website: www.unforgettablemomentsllc.com

First established: 2004

Employees: 3 in New York, 2 in Puerto Rico and 3 in Ireland

Where you live: New York

First job: Medical

What it taught me: To respect peoples’ wishes through happy times of being cured and being there through the tough times of death for the family

Family: Mother: Patricia Corcoran who lives with me 2 sons : Michael Gaafar, 31, and Robert Gaafar 29

Best advice anyone ever gave you: God gives you as much as you can hold on your shoulders. Going through life and business I have learned that there is no perfect roadway to the top. There are many boulders , rocks and road blocks along the way. You just have to figure out how to get past them and be successful at it. Never rely on others to get you by. Do it yourself

Best advice you could give someone starting out: Don’t expect to hit the top right at the start. You have to start at the bottom and build yourself and your companies reputation in order to reach the top. you will stumble a few times . The best way to learn is by the mistakes you yourself makes along the way

The most important thing for a business success is: Confidence and Trust in yourself. Have your mind set at what you want to do and go for it. again those road blocks will be there but with patience and perseverance you will figure out a way around them

I started this company because my own wedding was Murphy’s Law. If it could go wrong it did. I left the medical field after 27 years and decided I didn’t want this to happen to any other bride. I have had a full two page spread in Newsday written about me and destination weddings which I do a lot of. I was recognized by ABC (American Bridal Consultants) and given the title of registered Consultant immediately. I am the planner for the Ritz Carlton in Puerto Rico. I love doing this because with so much unhappiness in the world I am with a couple who have a dream and after months of planning that dream I see it come to a reality. For just a few short hours on the wedding or event day there is true happiness in the world. I love that feeling

 

 


Susan Ann DavisSusan-Ann-Davis

Place of birth: Wausau, Wisconsin

Business: Susan Davis International

First established: 1975

Employees: 25-30 full time, 10-50 or more part-time or consultants depending on client needs.

Website: www.susandavis.com

Where you live: Washington, D.C.

First job: Lifeguard

What it taught me: Leadership, responsibility and situational awareness, all character building qualities invaluable in life.

Family: Mother, four siblings, nine nieces and nephews and a huge number of extended family that don’t recognize they are only “extended”

Best advice anyone ever gave you: Whether you are selling a service, a product, an idea, a candidate or yourself, listen 90 percent of the time, and talk the other 10 percent.

Best advice you could give someone starting out: Be sure of your own value proposition, what is unique and valuable about your product or service that will allow you to compete in a challenging marketplace?

The most important thing for a business success is: it’s critical to build a strong support network of family, friends, colleagues and advisors to be there for you no matter the circumstance.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., Susan Davis International (SDI) is recognized as one of the nation’s premier full-service communications and public affairs firms. Recently named one of the “Top 5 Public Affairs Agencies” in the country; one of the top Small Business PR Agencies; and consistently awarded by industry peers for communications and public affairs campaigns,, SDI has 70 partner agencies in all major media markets throughout the world SDI provides strategic counsel, access, market information, public relations, crisis communications, government relations and targeted stakeholder outreach throughout the world to a diverse clientele including multinationals, trade associations, industry and business executives and NGOs. SDI’s government clients have included Germany, Egypt, Sweden, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Kuwait, Honduras, Cost Rica, Philippines, Turkish Cyprus, El Salvador, Panama, Guatemala, and Namibia. SDI also has an award-winning special events division which has executed the production of internationally recognized events such as the recent dedication of the Martin Luther King Memorial, the dedication of the WWII Memorial, the Bicentennial of the Library of Congress, and major U.S. public relations events for Germany, Sweden and Northern Ireland to name a few.

 

 

 


Kevin DenisKevin-Denis

Business: Professors Diner

Location: Kings Park, NY

Everyone knows when Kevin Denis is around. He is gregarious, a bit of an extrovert and not someone who would be known as the shy retiring type. It was Kings Park’s good fortune that almost 35 years ago, Kevin became a resident of the town. He was born and raised in West Islip. And when he met and married Linda Scavone in 1976, it was Kings Park where they decided to start their family and life together. Linda is a 1974 Kings Park High School graduate. They have four children: Joseph, Desarae, Michael, and Kevin, Jr.

Kevin has worked in many professions over the years, but when he came to the diner in 1979, it was there that he knew he wanted to stay.  He started as a cook in the kitchen and proved himself a very hard worker to the owner.  Within 10 years and a lot of dedication and hard work, he became the owner. He had to rebuild the diner after a fire that destroyed it in 1993. He and Linda rebuilt the diner to what it is now – a display of memorabilia, photographs of the entire community (from their early years to the present). It’s a meeting place for friends and family to laugh, cry, and enjoy each other’s company and have good food. Professor’s Diner is a landmark.

Kevin is a “hands on” owner and very involved in the community. He is a supporter of not only the Kings Park Central School District’s organizations and functions, but many other schools on Long Island and charities in the community. He is the President of the Kings Park St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which had its first annual parade on March 5, 2011. He was honored as Businessman of the Year in 2011.  He is a supporter of Angels Without Faces; he supports the senior citizens by bringing them food and bringing to them to doctor appointments; purchases toys for needy families during the Christmas season; supports the homeless; supports local charities such as Long Island Harvest by raising food and money; he supports the Airmid Theater Company; he served on the committee for the St. Joseph’s Church Golf Outing; and countless fund raisers and donations.  He is a member of the Board of the Kings Park Chamber of Commerce. Kevin was a major factor in the success of the Chamber’s weekly car show that holds Thursday sessions throughout the summer and into the fall. It’s not only his selfless giving of his time and money, but it’s his love of the community and his neighbors that drives him.  He was given The Dr. Robert Cody Award.  In 2008 he was given the Humanitarian Award through the Kings Park Chamber of Commerce for all of his achievements. He loves his country and it shows through his patriotism. He recently received a certificate from the United States Forces – Afghanistan, verifying that a flag was flown in Afghanistan on July 4, 2010 for his support.

It is because of Kevin’s spirit in giving that makes his community a better place. Kings Park is better because of him.

 

 

 

 

 

 


Jason DevittJason-Devitt

Age: 43

Place of birth: Dublin

Business: Mr. Number

First established: 2010

Employees: 10

Website: http://mrnumber.com

Where you live: San Francisco, CA

First job: Clerk in a video store

What it taught me: I got fired from my first job, which taught me that it’s much better to work for yourself.

Family: I have a brother and a big extended family still living in Dublin – my Dad was one of six. I am still taking my time.

Best advice anyone ever gave you: When you don’t know what you want to do with your life, take the highest paying job available. This led me to a career in investment banking, which allowed me to pay off all my student debts, work in London and New York, discover the opportunities available to entrepreneurs in the U.S., and save the stake money for my first company.

Best advice you could give someone starting out: This is the one time in your career when no one will judge you for knowing nothing, because everyone expects you to know nothing. So ask people for advice. Ask them how they got to where they are. Seek out mentors. It will pay off dramatically for the rest of your career.

The most important thing for a business success is: First-time entrepreneurs always make the same mistake: we all assume that building a product is

Mr. Number is an integrated messenger, dialer, and contact management app that helps users to manage their real social network- the people that they talk to every day. Millions of people use Mr. Number to organize their calls, texts, and contacts, to keep up to date with their friends, to identify unknown numbers, and to block people and companies that they don’t want to hear from again. Founded by Jason Devitt and Mike Wells, Mr. Number is backed by Menlo Ventures and based in Palo Alto, CA.

 

 

 

 

 


Joe DevoyJoe-Devoy

Age: 42

Place of birth: Waterford

Business: Tellus360

First established: 2010

Employees: 20

Website: www.tellus360.com

Where you live: Lancaster, PA

First job: Tierney’s Pig farm

What it taught me: To get a different job, pigs are smelly

Family: Sons Eoin and Aidan, Father Joe and Mother Teresa, Brothers Sean and Dave and Sister Mary; all sounds very religious.

Best advice anyone ever gave you: Never give anyone advice – my father.

Best advice you could give someone starting out: Love life and nothing else matters and never give anyone advice.

The most important thing for a business success is: Passion and belief.

We are off the wall, out of the box and a little crazy. We make reclaimed wood furniture, musical instruments, lighting, and kitchens. We sell Irish antiques and solar panels. We sell eco friendly, recycled, upcycled, fair trade products and we sell products that we believe in for various different reasons. We believe that together we can find a better way to live and as a whole we can make the world a better place.

 

 

 

 


Eddie DowlingEddie-Dowling

Business: The Padded Wagon

Eddie Dowling was born in Dublin in 1961. He went to Terenure College. After leaving college, he trained as a chartered accountant, and soon began to specialize in actuarial work.

In 1984, he married Aine Lennon from Wexford. They have four children, Conor, Erin, Kelly and Sinead.

In 1994, Eddie purchased The Padded Wagon Inc., expanding the company from a six-truck operation based on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, to a 100 plus fleet operating from cities all across the U.S.A and Ireland. In 1997, Dowling moved the Padded Wagon’s headquarters to the South Bronx, where he operates at present.

Eddie is committed to supporting the Irish community both in New York and in Ireland. He supports the Dublin Gaelic football team in NYC. He is also a major supporter and fundraiser for Maynooth College – the University in North Kildare that houses Ireland’s last remaining seminary – and The Ireland-US Council. He is a member of many various associations in New York City including The Knights of St. Patrick.

 


Brian FarleyBrain-Farley

Business Name: Hudson Elevator Group

Website: www.hudsonelevator.com

Established: 1993

Brian Farley is President and CEO of Hudson Elevator Group. Brian is married to his wife Susan for 19 years and they have four children, Sara, Michael, Sean and Lauren.

Brian has been active for many years with the U.A.M.E. Soup Kitchen, Snug Harbor Cultural Center, S.I.E.D.C. and is the co-chair of the Staten Island Film Festival. Brian was a recipient of the Snug Harbor Neptune Award, the Martin Luther King Award for community service and the Louis R. Miller Award. Presently Brian sits on the Board of Directors for the Staten Island Zoo as well as Camp Good Grief. In his spare time, Brian coaches his sons’ baseball and basketball teams.

Hudson Elevator Group is a full service elevator company serving the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area. Since 1993, Hudson Elevator Group has successfully completed more than $100,000,000 in elevator projects for various public agencies including New York School Construction Authority, New York Transit Authority, and the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York. Our services include: 24 Hour Maintenance and Repair, Inspections and Violations, Modernization and New Installation. Originally founded in 1993 as Action Elevator, the Hudson team has grown over the years to become experts in custom elevator installations and service.

As an owner operated, locally based company, Hudson Elevator Group has the ability and experience to make decisions and respond quickly to our customer’s needs. One phone call will put you in contact with a manager capable of directing our field technicians to address each customer’s concerns. The company’s on-staff engineering team utilizes local manufacturers and any issue that arises can be resolved quickly and professionally on the jobsite within hours.

 


Brendan P. Farrell, Jr.Brendan-P.-Farrell,-Jr.

Age: 48

Place of birth: New York

Business: XSP, global leader in automated end-to-end Corporate Actions solutions for the financial industry

First established: March 17, 1996

Employees: 78

Website: www.xsp.com

Where you live: Denville, NJ

First job: My first job was helping my father Brendan Sr. (R.I.P.) run the family business, O’Farrell’s Bar and Grocery, on Ballymahon Street in Longford Town at the ripe young age of four.

What it taught me: It gave me the entrepreneurial know-how to help pave the way in my future endeavors. It came to the fore once again when I joined forces with partners to develop a software solution that automates Corporate Actions – a process known to be amongst the most risky, complex and challenging within the financial services industry.

Family: I am thankful to have the support of my loving wife of 20 years, Christine, and my two teenage children – my 19-year old son Dylan who is an Engineering undergraduate at Drexel University in Philadelphia, and my 16-year old daughter, Brianna who is a junior at Morris Knolls High School in Rockaway, New Jersey.

Best advice anyone ever gave you: “Be very wary of making deals where you take all the risk upfront and only – if and when successful – reap the rewards on the backend. People can be greedy and have short memories thus you inevitably will lose out in these situations especially if you achieve everything you promised to achieve.” (Bob Sanders – my mentor and former boss)

Best advice you could give someone starting out: Ensure you have adequate funding to achieve your goals; pick your partners carefully as it is a long road to follow; and never, ever lose the faith. Surround yourself with excellence in your team.

The most important thing for a business success is: Motivation. So many things motivate me to succeed. I want my company, XSP, to be the absolute best Corporate Actions Automation Solution in the World. I want our staff to feel they are a part of something great that they can all believe in. I want them to enjoy coming to work every day. I want our clients to not only be satisfied customers of XSP, but also “Raving Fans.”

Brendan P. Farrell, Jr. is Chief Executive Officer of XSP, the global leader in end-to-end Corporate Actions automation. Brendan, a Founder of XSP, has almost 30 years of experience in financial services. He was Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Financial Information, Inc. and held various Officer-level management positions at The Bank of New York. His expertise includes retail management & sales; securities operations & market data management; development and implementation of complex systems; global enterprise technology solutions sales & marketing; executive management; Cloud Solutions, Social Network Collaboration and Mobile Applications and Serial Entrepreneur. Brendan founded IMMRAM, an informal network of Irish Diaspora encouraging social gatherings to help foster and build relationships. In 2011, IMMRAM and XSP hosted the “Fixin’ Alabama Shindig” that collected over $20,000 for The American Red Cross in support for victims of the devastating tornadoes in Alabama, where XSP’s corporate headquarters are based. On March 12, IMMRAM hosts The Wolfe Tones in New York City and in May 2012, IMMRAM and XSP will join local businesses to organize an event to benefit Self Help Africa. Brendan served as co-chair on a number of Dinner Committees including the American Irish Historical Society, American Ireland Fund and the Ninth Annual UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School Dinner. In 2011, Brendan was appointed as a Director to the Board of the American Friends of Athlone Institute of Technology, Inc. Foundation. Brendan’s numerous accolades include being named a Finalist for the Ernst & Young 2011 Entrepreneur Of The Year Award; Honoree in Irish America Magazine’s 2011 Business 100; and most recently a Nominee for the 2012 FTF News Technology Innovation Awards’ Person of the Year.

 

 

 


Sean Kavenaugh FaySean-Kavenaugh-Fay

Age: 42

Place of birth:

Hollywood, California

Business: Envision Response Inc.

First established: April 8, 2003

Employees: 7-15 depending on project load.

Website: www.envisiontv.com

Where you live: Seattle, Washington

First job: Video Store Clerk 15 Years old

What it taught me: To control your destiny you have to be the boss. I like working for Entrepreneurs. Customer Interactions are the most important thing of all.

Family: The Fay Family is from Greenville, Pennsylvania. My Great Grandfather Frank L. Fay owned the Greenville Steelcar company. We get together every two years at Pike Run Country Club. We’re proud of being Irish American. I am a single Father of three beautiful children Nicholas Kavenaugh Fay, 13, Aven Michael Fay, 11 and my daughter Shayne Kristine Fay 9. They live with me and they are wonderful kids and human beings.

Best advice anyone ever gave you: Be true to yourself.

Best advice you could give someone starting out: You have to believe it is possible. Most people give up before they get started. No matter who you are, where you came from, or your circumstances, you can achieve anything you want if you believe. The most successful people in the world are just like you, but they believed.

The most important thing for a business success is: Provide Value consistently and predictably. Pay attention to how you make money and how you spend money. Don’t abdicate and don’t micromanage. There is a difference between Leadership and Management. Try things quickly, and when you fail, fail fast and adapt.

Envision Response is a leading creative agency in the DRTV industry. Winner 2010 ERA Moxie Award ‘Best Infomercial of the year-Intellectual Property Category’ Envision. Create. Succeed. Founded in 2003, Envision Response Inc was started in a 300 square foot boathouse on Lake Union in Seattle, Washington by Sean K Fay, one of the most successful creative forces in the DRTV industry and producer of such platinum hits as George Foreman Grill (The most successful appliance ever introduced by infomercial), Oxiclean (sold to Church & Dwight in 2002) Foodsaver (current show is best performing in 10 years), and Space Bag (15 year DRTV & Retail Brand!). Today, the company occupies full service agency and production facilities on Lake Union including a vertically integrated Film & Video Production company, 3 HD Edit Bays and in house Graphics Production. Our passion is building world class brands using the power of Direct Response Marketing. We will help you develop the right strategy, creative approach and produce your winning short form or long form DRTV spot. Whether a product marketer looking to build a DRTV business or Fortune 100 company looking to soft launch your product or service before going mainstream, we can cost effectively help you with feasibility studies, strategy, operational set up including telemarketing, fulfillment, online marketing, DRTV Media. Our expert team of partners can help with Multi-channel e-retailing and e-commerce including Home Shopping, Catalog, Print, DR Radio and Retail Distribution. Our Creed We believe in accountable advertising. We believe that all advertising should have an ROI. We agree with David Ogilvy, that `it isn’t creative if it doesn’t sell’. We honor our commitments to our clients and each other. We tirelessly pursue excellence in everything we do. We are advocates of people, ideas and solutions inside and out of our business. We enjoy life and celebrate our individual and business victories. We believe that our success should follow the success of our clients. Mission: To provide accountable DRTV marketing services that generate ROI and dramatically reduce the cost of attracting, retaining and engaging customers.

 

 

 

 


Kevin P. Flood

Age: 48

Place of birth: Chicago, Il.

Business: The Astor Company

Website:WWW.ASTORCOMPANY.COM

Where you live: Chicago

First job: The Habitat Company

What it taught me: The training I received at the Habitat Co. shape me professionally as well as personally.

Family: I am one of nine children and have three children of my own, Caroline, Charlie and Patrick.

Best advice anyone ever gave you: Believe in yourself, invest in yourself, work hard and you will succeed.

Best advice you could give someone starting out: Believe in yourself, invest in yourself, work hard and you will succeed.

The most important thing for a business success is: Perseverance

 


Gentle Giant

Business: Removals and storage

Website: www.gentlegiant.com

First Establish: 1980

Employees: 350

Gentle Giant Moving Company, Inc. is a national moving company based in Somerville, Massachusetts. The company was founded in 1980 by Larry O’Toole. In its almost 30-year existence, it has expanded from a single truck business in Massachusetts to opening offices across the United States, including New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New York, Washington, D.C., North Carolina, Washington state, and its newest office in San Francisco, California under the name Great Giant. The company won the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year award in 2002. On July 1, 2008, Gentle Giant announced its further expansion by purchasing the Seattle-based residential moving company TempStore Moving Company.

 

 


A.J. GerritsonA.J.-Gerritson

Age: 35

Place of birth: Weymouth, MA

Business: 451 Marketing

First established: 2004

Employees: 30

Website: www.451marketing.com

Where you live: Hull, MA

First job: Shoveling snow for money (I was 10)

What it taught me: If you are motivated, likeable, offer something that people need, and not afraid or hard work, you can be very successful in life.

Family: Married to Meaghan Gerritson, and have a son named Jack.

Best advice anyone ever gave you: Always treat every person with respect unless the give you a reason to treat them otherwise.

Best advice you could give someone starting out: Making mistakes is not the end of the world when you are starting out. Just don’t make it a habit. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice.

The most important thing for a business success is: Drive and determination.

451 Marketing is an award-winning communications agency that specializes in public relations, social media marketing, and search marketing for consumer brands. Based in Boston, our 30 person agency works with companies to build awareness, engage customers, create fan loyalty, and drive business and sponsorship through a cutting-edge integrated communications approach. For the second consecutive year, 451 Marketing is proud to be honored as a 2012 Boston Business Journal Pacesetter-an award recognizing the 50 fastest growing private companies in Massachusetts.

 


Terry GreenanTerry-Greenan

Business: Greenan Business Products

Established: 1971

Employees: 15

Website: www.Greenan.com

 

Terry Greenan, born in Boyle, Co. Roscommon and immigrated to the United States in 1960. He proudly served in the United States Army from 1961 to 1964.

In 1967, Terry married Margie Murray from Co Leitrim. In 1975, Terry and Margie moved to Carmel in Putnam County NY to start a family.

In Carmel, Terry was one of the founding members of the West—Put Gaels Football Club; he served as Vice President from 1976 to 1978. In 1983, Terry and Margie moved to West Nyack in Rockland County NY with five children in tow.

It was there that Terry served as President of the Rockland GAA, became a member of both the Friendly Sons of St Patrick and the AOH  Div III of Pearl River. Terry has been honored for his notable volunteering and leadership with the Business Man of the Year award at the AOH Rockland County Emerald Ball in 1998 and as 2009 Grand Marshall of the Pearl River St. Patrick’s Day parade.

When Terry is not giving his time to associations he admires or spending time with his 8 grandchildren, he is running GREENAN Business Products, a company founded back in 1971. Since it’s early days the company has grown to become one of the premier independent dealerships in the New York area. The Greeenan team includes 15 hard-working and dedicated professionals. The Greenan offices are located in Rockland and Manhattan. As with his volunteer work, Terry runs a successful shop and its prestige within the tri-state area makes Greenan one of the largest

independent dealers for Xerox, Canon, Brother and HP for copiers, printers, scanners, wide format printers, faxes and multifunctional devices.

In 2004, Greenan acquired ECCO Business Systems and with that momentum has continued to grow as a reputable, committed company. With that acquisition Greenan gained strong talent and extended their capabilities to offer shredders,  paper cutters, folders and bindery equipment to their customer base. Greenan is now a multi-million dollar company.

Greenan is dedicated to serving local clients and being a top New York company. The team focus is building relationships and providing top service to customers. This local approach has converted nationally with the addition on online sales. Greenan’s website, www.Greenan.com has spread the word on the teams’ expertise and solid work ethic.

 

 

 


James F. HaggertyJames-F.-Haggerty

Age: 46

Place of birth: Brooklyn, NY

Business: PRCG/Strategic Communications

First established: 1999

Employees: 6

Website: www.prcg.com

Where you live: Staten Island

First job: Special Assistant to U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan

What it taught me: That there is no substitute for independent thought.

Family: Elyse DeMayo, Wife, Liam Haggerty, son (10 years old), Conall Haggerty (6 years old). Mother: Mary McGrory, from Moville, County Donegal (died 2006). Father: William J. Haggerty, whose parents were from Kilcar, County Donegal (died March 6, 2012).

Best advice anyone ever gave you: My father, who died recently, gave me three pieces of advice that will remain with me forever: (1) if everyone put their problems in the center of a room, you’d want yours back; and (2) without a degree, you have to prove you’re smart; with a degree, they have to prove you’re dumb; and (3) it’s not how hard they hit you that matters, but how quickly you get up.

Best advice you could give someone starting out: Really care about being the best at everything you do; be relentless and obsessive about it. Do the things you don’t like to do as well as the things you like to do. And no task is beneath you if it leads to success: don’t let ego stand in the way.

The most important thing for a business success is: The way to stay in business is to go to bed each night thinking you’re going out of business.

James F. (“Jim”) Haggerty is a nationally known attorney, writer and communications consultant. Jim has a broad background counseling corporate, nonprofit and individual clients on all manner of reputation management issues. In the area of litigation and other complex crisis communications matters, Jim is considered one of the foremost experts in the world. Over the years, he has been involved in numerous high-profile legal disputes – including some of the largest cases of their kind in history. Jim is the author of “In The Court Of Public Opinion: Winning Strategies for Litigation Communications” (ABA Publishing, 2009). Now in its second edition, In The Court Of Public Opinion is a groundbreaking look at the use of communications and public opinion strategies during lawsuits. Financial Times called In The Court of Public Opinion “…the perfect handbook for this age…” and the book was also positively featured in publications like The Boston Herald, The New York Law Journal, American Lawyer, the Washington Post and PR Week. Jim also writes an “In The Court of Public Opinion” column for American Lawyer’s Corporate Counsel magazine, and hosts a weekly “In The Court of Public Opinion” radio show on the VoiceAmerica Radio Network. Jim’s column was selected in 2012 as a finalist for a Neal Award, considered business-to-business journalism’s most prestigious honor. In addition to his legal and crisis communications work, Jim is also well known for his work on environmental and “green” business issues. He serves as a principal professional consultant to the Hugo Neu Corporation, which owns and manages innovative recycling, real estate and cleantech businesses. Jim holds a B.A. in Political Science and English Literature and Rhetoric from Binghamton University, and studied Law at Fordham and Stetson. He is admitted to practice Law in New York and Florida.

 

 


Gerry KellyGerry-Kelly

Age: 37

Place of birth: Dublin

Business: Sonas San Francisco aka Sonas Denim

First established: January 2011

Employees: 3+

Website: http://www.sonasdenim.com

Where you live: San Francisco.

First job: Washing & Waxing Cars (12 yrs old)

What it taught me: My first job at that young age of 12, taught me persistence because I had to keep knocking on doors.

Family: My family is back home in Ireland. My mother is one of 13 from Cavan and my father in one of 11 from Dublin City Center. I have two sisters who are married with children back in Dublin. I am married to an amazing woman!

Best advice anyone ever gave you: Whatever the mind can believe and conceive, the mind can achieve.

Best advice you could give someone starting out: If you believe in it, go for it! Never, never, never give up!

The most important thing for a business success is: Customers. If you don’t have any customers, you don’t have a business.

Sonas Denim was founded by Gerry Kelly an Irish born festival enthusiast living in San Francisco since 2000. He is an entrepreneur from Dublin, Ireland with a passion for fashion. Now enter, Christine Garcia, a vegan animal rights attorney whose passion is helping animals. Together, they’ve hatched a plan that will fuse their pursuits, bringing sexy jeans to the world while saving animals at the same time. While Christine carries on her pioneering work with animals and does the administrative behind the scenes for Sonas, Gerry has dedicated the past year of his life to launching Sonas Denim, a brand new fashion label at the cutting edge of the industry. Gerry has built a cruelty free sexy fashion line from humble beginnings. The Sonas legend began when Gerry would fashion his own handmade clothing for the festivals he’d attend. The clothing ranged broadly, but his patched jeans became his signature piece and everybody’s favorite! This was the beginning of his sexy free-spirited denim brand. To provide a little more detail about his background, Gerry came to San Francisco after traveling around the world for two years. He began bartending and then got into commercial real estate for a while. All the while, Gerry attended festivals and would create his own “festival gear” to wear only a few times a year. He always received many compliments on his patchwork denim at the festivals. One day, Christine, insisted that he wear his festival patchwork jeans on a night out in the City. They were a huge hit! So many people came up to Gerry smiling and telling him how much they “dug” his jeans. People wanted to know how they could get them and if he could make a pair for them. The path to perfecting the jean was a long one. He constructed numerous samples, patterns, fittings and shows. Sonas Denim was hitting the map. After one trade show, a 70 year old fashion veteran saw a photo of Gerry in his jeans beside an article about him (in California Apparel News) and he telephoned him and said he was on to something amazing. Together, with Gerry’s vision, and Allen Chevalier’s experience, they took Sonas Denim to a new level and intricacy. Sonas wanted to remain true to its core value and still does so. The brand was derived from the spirit of festivals and celebration and the grass roots message of Sonas Denim is to encourage people to live free, and share their happiness and enjoy life. We think the story of Gerry, a festival enthusiast with no fashion background, making it to the front lines of the industry with a new message is a great one =) Our new message is about being conscious and sexy at the same time! We eventually want to open an animal sanctuary up in Marin County just north of San Francisco.

 

 


Attracta LyndonAttracta-Lyndon

Age: 63

Place of birth: Dublin

Business: Dooley Car Rentals

First established: Over 50 years ago in Ireland, over 25 years ago in the U.S.

Employees: 65 employees

Website: www.dooleycarrentals.com

Where you live: Colonia, NJ

First job: Air Hostess for Aer Lingus

What it taught me: Because of the constant interaction with people, I learned how to communicate effectively and read people’s expressions and body language. It helped me realize that people are just that – people – and there’s no point in being shy or timid.

Family: I have 3 daughters in their 30s, and the family is growing rapidly! I have a teenage grandson from my oldest daughter Liz, a granddaughter on the way with my middle daughter Laura, and a brand new son-in-law with my youngest daughter Trish.

Best advice anyone ever gave you: Find an employer who will value your talents and constantly challenge you to improve. And also, make sure you look down at your feet before you leave the house. Nobody will take you seriously if you are wearing two different shoes.

Best advice you could give someone starting out: Make sure you believe in the product or service, and are proud to stand behind it. You can’t turn anything into a success unless you are passionate about what you are doing. Have integrity in your dealings with customers, suppliers and employees.

The most important thing for a business success is: Make your customers happy. You can spend thousands on advertising or gimmicks, but your best publicity is positive word of mouth and referrals. And it’s free! If you have a quality product backed by world class customer service, the rest is easy.

Dooley Car Rentals opened its doors over 50 years ago out of a small office in Limerick. Over the years, its business grew so rapidly that it had to open another office in the U.S. That is where I came in – I opened the office from the basement of my house and worked tirelessly to grow a customer base here. Through networking and the solid support system in the Irish community here, I’ve seen the company flourish and turn into one of the largest car rental agencies in Ireland, with over 65 employees and the largest fleet in the country. I’ve been with the company 27 years now and am proud of what I helped build!

 

 

 


Enda MaddenEnda-Madden

Age: 32

Place of birth: Carrigallen, County Leitrim

Business: Healthcare Software

First established: 2011

Employees: 6

Website: www.cara-health.com

Where you live: Chicago

First job: Farmer

What it taught me: Don’t leave the gate open.

Family: Single

Best advice anyone ever gave you: When you’re on your deathbed you’ll never regret you didn’t spend more hours in work.

Best advice you could give someone starting out: Develop your relationships with potential investors before you need investment and listen. The less you talk and spent listening to valuable feedback and suggestions the better.

The most important thing for a business success is: Passion and building a great team.

Emerging care management practices are at the forefront of strategies to reduce costs and improve the quality of healthcare. Cara Health has developed a proven patient-centered technology solution that provides a key building block for care management. Our algorithms are highly effective at identifying trends which lead to avoidable hospitalizations amongst the frail and elderly with multiple chronic conditions. This population accounts for the majority of spending in healthcare. We have achieved a 51 percent reduction in hospital admissions and a 98% patient satisfaction rating across 3 provider sites. The Cara Health system is a SaaS-based solution using smart listening technology to predict early deterioration in frail and elderly patients’ health. Our web front end guides care management staff through outbound telephone conversations. During the call the system identifies pre-acute trends from conversational features. The system generates real-time alerts prompting care management staff to make appropriate interventions to avert avoidable hospitalizations and emergency room visits. Care managers in Medical Home or ACO environments can review current risk stratification data for specific members and decide on the frequency of interaction with the member as appropriate. They can also use the system’s cumulative self-learning capability for population management and resource deployment. Cara Health is a unique solution delivering value to everyone in the care management equation – payers, providers, patients and their caregivers

 

 


Chris MaherChris-Maher

Age: 45

Place of birth: New York, NY

Business: House Party Inc.

First established: 2005

Employees: 60

Website: www.about.houseparty.com

Where you live: Darian, CT

First job: I mowed lawns

What it taught me: Hard work and an entrepreneurial spirit.

Family: Happily married for over 10 years and live in southern Connecticut with my beautiful wife and two daughters.

Best advice anyone ever gave you: Work hard and good things happen

Best advice you could give someone starting out: Work hard and never stop trying to get better.

The most important thing for a business success is: The people

Chris Maher is the CEO of House Party. He joined the company in September of 2011, eager to lead HP into the next phase of its continuing growth and success. A widely respected executive, Chris brings 15 years experience in management, operations and sales. Most recently, Chris served as CEO of eBureau, a venture-backed company specializing in predictive analytics and online ad targeting. Prior to that, he was President of Hitwise, an internet measurement firm, where he oversaw the company’s global operations and financial performance. Chris was a key member of the company’s executive team that led a $260M sale to Experian in June of 2007.  Before that, Chris was Vice President of Sales at Jupiter Media Metrix, a leading internet and technology research firm that went public in October of 1999. Chris received a BA from Dartmouth College and an MA from Boston College. He resides in Connecticut with his wife, Stephanie, and their two daughters.

 

 

 


Máire MurphyMaire-Murphy

Age: 48

Place of birth: Belfast

Business: CapaBunga and Rua. Wine and Wine Accessory Production

First established: 2009

Employees: 2

Website: www.capabunga.com www.ruared.com

Where you live: Sonoma County, Northern California (my personal heaven)

First job: Waitress at a Save The Children Fund Dinner at 14

What it taught me: That everyone should have to be a waiter at some time in their lives; you have to eat a lot of humble pie and people aren’t always pleasant when they’ve had a few too many. It definitely taught me humility and an ability to deal with difficult people.

Family: Husband and daughter

Best advice anyone ever gave you: When setting up our first business in 2001 our Accountant told us that because we were working together and were married my husband and I should have very defined roles. We should know what each other does but not overlap thereby reducing chances of conflict.

Best advice you could give someone starting out: Understand that if you’re working for yourself you will have to show dedication and determination like you’ve never known before. If you’re starting your first job as an employee realize that you have to put in your time to learn your craft. The old apprentice role still applies.

The most important thing for a business success is: Determination and belief in what you’re doing. Also constant learning about your chosen subject

After selling our first business in 2006 we started making wine from a terrific vineyard in Napa Valley farmed by a very lauded grape grower. In the process of deciding on the packaging for that wine, Rua (Irish for red) we invented CapaBunga, a reusable cap to reseal the wine after you remove the cork. Once we received our first prototype we quickly realized that we could sell these to other wineries, wine related business and ultimately any store that sells wine related gifts. Suddenly we had a second business on our hands. We also quickly became aware that this product was quite revolutionary and began the long process of patenting the idea. Initially we sold them to our own industry but now we are fully immersed in the wider retail business and attending Trade Shows for Housewares and Gifts – ironic after 2 careers spent solely in the wine business – the reception has been tremendous. Whilst CapaBunga has been exploding, Rua, the wine we originally set out to make has garnered some great reviews including a 91 from the Wine Enthusiast where the critic described our Merlot Cabernet Franc blend as ‘delicious’, a 90 from the Wine Spectator and a Gold Medal from one of the oldest wine competitions in the US – The Dallas Morning News. We only produce a meager 400 cases and have recently started showcasing our wine in a tasting room in Napa, California. We only sell the wine direct. CapaBunga is sold through a lot of retailers nationally and in the UK and Canada but can also be purchased directly from us.

 

 


Sha-Chelle Devlin Manning

Malibu IQ, with Sha-Chelle Devlin Manning as Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer, was founded by leading entrepreneurs focused on establishing a new model of innovation to solve domain challenges in the electronics, energy, life sciences, networking and communications markets.

Malibu IQ, LLC is an entrepreneurial private investment partnership consisting of Bravo Ventures, General Motors Holdings, Manti Ventures, Pioneer MPW, TomorrowVentures, and Winn Interests, co-located at HRL in Malibu, CA.Malibu IQ uses a new model for innovation-“Ideation”-to accelerate the commercialization of proven HRL inventions originally developed for the defense, aerospace and automotive industries. These proven inventions will be applied to rapidly solve domain challenges in new markets including electronics, energy, life sciences, networking and communications. Ideation, for the first time, brings together vast intellectual property assets and entrepreneurial business practices, alongside a pool of committed private capital to rapidly advance these disruptive technologies into new products, both domestically and globally.

 

 


Seamus McAteerSeamus-McAteer

Age: 43

Place of birth: Co. Cavan

Business: Churn Labs LLC

First established: 2010

Employees: 8

Website: http://www.churnlabs.com

Where you live: San Francisco, CA

First job: Analyst at Frost & Sullivan

What it taught me: I worked on a contract basis. It thought me the value of time. When you are not productive you are better off doing something you enjoy than trying to stay busy.

Family: One of 11 children myself — Eight sisters and two brothers.

Best advice anyone ever gave you: Find out what you are good at and do that.

Best advice you could give someone starting out: Life is short, do something you love and surround yourself with people you feel are smarter than you.

The most important thing for a business success is: A great team and minimal politics.

Churn Labs is a start-up factory. We are working on leading edge business ideas in the mobile technology and media sectors. I work with great engineers and designers to get their businesses established and funded. Separately I am working on my own business idea, Metaresolver, which will revolutionize how advertising on mobile devices will be acquired.

 

 

 

 


Brendan McCorkleBrendan-McCorkle

Age: 31

Place of birth: Boston, MA

Business: CloudMine

First established: 2011

Employees: 5

Website: www.cloudmine.me

Where you live: Philadelphia, PA

First job: Law School Library IT Support

What it taught me: The importance of Customer Service

Family: Original Irish roots in County Antrim, the McCorkle family came to the United States and settled in Virginia, eventually Texas. Brendan’s parents moved to the Northeast U.S., where Brendan was born and grew up outside Boston. Schooled at the University of Pennsylvania at the graduate level, Brendan now lives in Philadelphia where he started CloudMine.

Best advice anyone ever gave you: Surround yourself with people who are experts at the things you are lacking skills in.

Best advice you could give someone starting out: Continually challenge yourself to focus on the one thing that will prove your business the MOST in the next week or month. It is easy to try to do too much.

The most important thing for a business success is: Staying close to the customer. Build things that people want, not just to build them.

CloudMine offers a hosted backend-as-a-service platform for developers to build rich and interactive apps with full backend features without writing a single line of server code. The platform is currently live in public beta at http://cloudmine.me Virtually all serious mobile applications require a significant amount of backend work (hosting, server maintenance, provisioning, scaling, custom non-application server code). CloudMine eliminates the development and IT infrastructure overhead usually associated with application development, allowing developers to focus on making their (mobile) applications shine and to get products to market faster, cheaper, and with fewer headaches while still having the benefit of full backend support.

 


Conor MacCormackConor-MacCormack

Age: 41

Place of birth: Ardee, Co. Louth

Business: Mcor Technologies Ltd. 3D Printer Manufacturer

First established: 2004

Employees: 20

Website: www.mcortechnologies.com

Where you live: Ardee, Co Louth.

First job: Pauwels Trafo

What it taught me: How to design transformers on a drawing board using ink!

Family: Wife and 2 daughters

Best advice anyone ever gave you: Be yourself

Best advice you could give someone starting out: Ad Astra Per Aspera

The most important thing for a business success is: Passion and an understanding wife!

Dr. Conor MacCormack is co-founder and CEO of Mcor Technologies Ltd. Mcor have developed a revolutionary 3D printer, the Matrix 300, the only 3D printer in the world that uses A4 paper to make 3D objects – turning your ideas into rapid reality! This key technology breakthrough significantly reduces the costs involved in 3D printing, making it more accessible and democratizing the innovation process. The Matrix world’s lowest cost 3D printer to own and it has been termed the world’s most sustainable 3D printer by industry experts. The Matrix was launched in October 2008 – in the week of the launch the Mcor website received over 2 million hits and since then Mcor has received enquiries from around the world including companies such as, Nickelodeon, Boeing, IBM, Cambridge, Stanford, John Deere, Frog Design and Siemens to name just a few. In September 2011 Mcor launched ‘Free D’, a new business model that is set to revolutionize the 3D printing industry. In order to create easier access to the technology Mcor will now provide their 3D printer free of charge. Users will then choose from three different print service plans which will enable them to print unlimited parts for the duration of their plan. The print payment plan will also have maintenance built in so there will be no additional costs to the user. So for as little as £9,950 you could be printing to your heart’s content! Mcor was recipient of the 2008 Intertrade Ireland Seedcorn Emerging International Award, winners of the ‘Ulster Bank Business Achievers Awards in March 2009, runners up at the World Technology Awards in the IT Corporate Hardware section in July 2009 and runners up at the ITLG Innovation Awards in April 2011. Prior to co-founding Mcor Conor was a former site manager for a 5th Framework European project with Airbus working on the A380 and principle investigator with SPS Technologies in the U.S. in the aerospace sector. Conor has worked as a consultant with companies such as Boston Scientific, ABS Pumps, Aisle Master, Mantis Cranes, Tanco Autowrap, Keenan Systems and Dromone Engineering. Conor has a PhD in mechanical engineering from Trinity College Dublin and a Mechanical Engineering degree from Bolton Street Institute of Technology.

 

 

 


Claire McGovernClaire-McGovern

Age: 39

Place of birth: Dublin

Business: McGovern Design House

First established: 2002

Employees: 2

Website: www.mcgoverndesignhouse.com

Where you live: Brooklyn

First job: Temple Bar Gallery & Studios

What it taught me: The value of customer service

Family: Parents: Sean McGovern, Architect. Cecilia McGovern, Poet

Best advice anyone ever gave you: Get a focused post graduate degree

Best advice you could give someone starting out: Pursue your dreams, but only if you can ensure their financial viability and success. Never launch a business without consulting a public relations expert

The most important thing for a business success is: Perseverance

Interior designer Claire McGovern has brought her unique brand of environmentally aware Gesamtkunstwerk or “Total Design” to bear on projects from San Francisco to New York” Image Interiors, April 2010 McGovern Design House is a consulting studio offering a full range of services including interior design, architectural design and an art advisory program. Our mission is to create luxurious and timeless environments that exude perfect balance. Using a blend of sophistication, wit and original design detail, we specialize in interiors of aesthetic innovation that are elegant yet functional, often paying homage to classical symbols and motifs. Unlike typical design firms, we also bring an informed artistic knowledge and expertise to each project and advocate sustainable practices without compromising budget restrictions or the integrity of the design. Designer and Art Advisor Claire McGovern was introduced to architecture and interiors at an early age and has over twenty years of professional experience. She draws upon a keen European and Californian design sensibility. McGovern relocated from Dublin, Ireland to San Francisco in 1997. Following an initial career path as interior designer and art advisor, she launched a critically acclaimed art and design gallery in San Francisco in 2002. Opening an office in New York City in 2007, the company now services an international clientele.

 


Leo P. McGuireLeo-P.-McGuire

 

Age: 52

Place of birth: Paterson, NJ

Business: FML Technologies Ltd

Website: www.fml-tech.com

First established: 2012

Employees: 3-20 depending on projects

Where you live: Oakland, NJ

First job: Stock boy

What it taught me: Beginning at 8 years old, I began a life of working and improvement. Constantly seeking to enhance my education and ability to innovate and expand my network while providing for my family.

Family: Wife-Trish (Co. Cork), daughters Erin and Aileen Great, Great, Great Grandfather, George McGuire came over 1846 on an early famine ship through Liverpool from Mayo.

Best advice anyone ever gave you: Never Give Up, Never Ever Give Up

Best advice you could give someone starting out: Follow your passion, be optimistic, and every setback is a learning experience to help you move forward.

The most important thing for a business success is: To never be complacent, success comes through hard work, diligence and dedication but you must take time out for yourself and family.

FML Technologies has released their Pinnacle Platform, a bespoke interactive web-based training device designed to provide end users with a safe and secure learning environment in which they can familiarise themselves with the features, fitting and care of their equipment or other recurring training. Because Pinnacle allows users to train in their own time and at their own speed, they can train individually. There is no need to remove large numbers of individuals from work to attend training courses. Therefore, Pinnacle offers a significant saving in terms of man-hours and costs. Liability is reduced and all training is tracked and logged, providing easy reporting and accountability. Pinnacle allows you to Motivate-Accelerate-Monitor-Feedback-Reinforce your staff to reduce liability and increase comprehension of material. Businesses, and emergency responders alike will find Pinnacle the answer to their training needs in the most cost efficient and effective way.

 

 


Russell McHughRussell-McHugh

 

Age: 43

Place of birth: Mostrim, Co. Longford

Business: AVMC Inc. Wireless Consulting

First established: 2010

Employees: One

Website: www.avmc-inc.com

Where you live: San Diego

First job: Sales Engineer

What it taught me: Good sales people must understand their products really well to be truly effective at selling them

Family: Single

Best advice anyone ever gave you: Never over react to any situation – Mark McCormack, Founder IMG

Best advice you could give someone starting out: Always think positive, you will get the result you desire if the timing is right

The most important thing for a business success is: Having the right product at the right time.

AVMC is a consulting firm representing European suppliers in Southern California and dealing with all areas of wireless, mobile TV applications, healthcare apps for wireless devices, connected healthcare, unified communication, strategic business development for start-ups, venture funding in U.S. and assistance with IPR strategy.

 

 

 

 


Sean P. MoynihanSean-P.-Moynihan

 

Age: 41

Place of birth: Worcester, MA

Business: The Moynihan Group, LLC

First established: 2007

Employees: 1

Website: www.themoynihangroup.com

Where you live: Hingham, MA

First job: Newspaper delivery boy for the Worcester Telegram and Gazette

What it taught me: A job well done results in good tips!

Family: Wife Lynn, daughter Maeve (6) and son Declan (2)

Best advice anyone ever gave you: My mother taught me at a young age to treat others to way you would like to be treated

Best advice you could give someone starting out: Be true to who you are, rely on what you have learned, and do not allow others to discourage you.

The most important thing for a business success is: Patience and perseverance buoyed by a focused vision.

www.themoynihangroup.com

The Moynihan Group, LLC is a Boston based firm specializing in professional legal, government relations, and business development services to public, private, and non-profit entities. Our firm also works with Irish companies and organizations seeking to establish or expand operations in the United States and with American companies seeking to establish or expand operations into Ireland. Buoyed by over a decade of fostering strong relationships, the firm is well suited to assist organizations in need of relationship facilitation to effectuate their professional objectives. The Moynihan Group builds and executes strategies for companies and organizations. Our core services are legislative counsel, regulatory advocacy, procurement, and business development. We offer the opportunity for companies and organizations to facilitate much needed relationships in Massachusetts within the business, government, and academic arenas. We also assist companies with legal and compliance requirements as they establish an American presence. The Moynihan Group offers clients access to key government decision makers through a comprehensive, client specific strategic plan. Prior to establishing The Moynihan Group in 2007, founder and Principal Sean P. Moynihan served in several positions within the Massachusetts House of Representatives. As Counsel to the House Ways and Means Committee, he analyzed and made recommendations regarding myriad public policy matters including energy and the environment, life sciences/biotech, and education. In both this position and as Counsel to the House Majority Leader he developed an acute appreciation for the significant interaction between government and business. Moynihan is a licensed attorney and real estate broker in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He is a 1992 cum laude graduate of Providence College and a 2001 cum laude graduate of Suffolk University Law School’s evening division program. In 2009 Moynihan was named one of the Top 40 Under 40 by the Irish Echo newspaper and was 1 of 5 Outstanding Young Leader awardees. He serves as Vice President for Global Partnerships of the Boston Irish Business Association (BIBA), Vice Chairman of Irish Network Boston (IN Boston), and as a connector with Boston World Partnerships (BWP). Mr. Moynihan is a past member and Chairman of the Northborough Democratic Town Committee and volunteer for the Massachusetts Democratic Party. He has managed and worked on numerous municipal, state, and congressional campaigns.


Ronan Connlaoth MulhollandRonan-&--Connlaoth-Mulholland-

 

Age: 29 & 26

Place of birth: Ballycastle, N.Ireland

Business: Mulholland Electric

First established: June 2009

Employees: 4

Website: www.mulhollandelectric.com

Where you live: San Francisco, Ca

First job: Grocery Store worker

What it taught me: People skills

Family: Mother: Esther. Father: Paul. Sister: Sarah.

Best advice anyone ever gave you: You can achieve what you want if you put your mind to it. Persistence and consistency are the key.

Best advice you could give someone starting out: Set realistic goals and have a business plan of where you want your business to go.

The most important thing for a business success is: Making sure your customers are happy.

Brothers Ronan & Connlaoth Mulholland founded Mulholland Electric in June 2009 right as the U.S. economy was hitting rock bottom. They took their first job on the other side of the country in Watertown, New York, upgrading electrical in a 46-unit apartment building. It was a sizable project for a company just starting out, but that job gave them enough capital to begin their business venture in San Francisco. Today, Mulholland Electric installs electrical and lighting systems for numerous contractors and homeowners all over the San Francisco Bay Area. Mulholland Electric’s customers keep coming back because the brothers take pride in their work and customer satisfaction is their number one priority.

 

 


Michael MurphyMichael-Murphy

 

Place of birth:

Savannah, GA

Business: IMPACT NJ LLC

First established: 2004

Employees: 12

Website: www.impactnj.com

Where you live: Brielle, NJ

First job: Flipping burgers and frying taters.

What it taught me: There is no task that is so menial that you can’t learn from it.

Family: Two wonderful daughters.

Best advice anyone ever gave you: From Daniel Degnan, S.J.; “Be yourself”. From my father Gov. Richard J. Hughes; “Make your presence felt”.

Best advice you could give someone starting out: Work harder than your boss and make yourself invaluable.

The most important thing for a business success is: Be your own boss, even if you work for others. The most demanding person in the workplace is you…to yourself.

Formerly the Prosecutor of Morris County and a candidate for Governor of New Jersey, Michael Murphy has been involved in politics since the first gubernatorial campaign of his stepfather, two-term NJ Governor and Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard J. Hughes. An early adviser to President Barack Obama’s Democratic primary bid in New Jersey, Politicker has repeatedly identified Mr. Murphy on its annual Power List as one of New Jersey’s “100 most politically influential personalities,” and New Jersey Monthly has listed him in its “Power Issue” of the Garden State’s most influential people. In 2007, he served as Treasurer of the successful reelection campaign of his brother, Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes. During his run for Governor in the 1997 Democratic primary, Mr. Murphy’s candidacy defined and addressed issues of importance to voters throughout the state. He succeeded in winning 5 counties and placing second in 12. Mr. Murphy’s ability to communicate and articulate his analysis of issues was demonstrated during the televised debates. As a result, he has been called upon to appear as a guest commentator on Hardball with Chris Matthews and on CNBC, MSNBC, My 9, FOX, truTV, NJN, News 12 NJ, and other cable and radio outlets. As Morris County’s top law enforcement official, Mr. Murphy quickly established a reputation as a tough, honest, and effective leader. In 1992, he successfully prosecuted Arthur and Irene Seale for the nationally publicized kidnapping and murder of Exxon executive Sidney Reso. At the request of then-U.S. Attorney Michael Chertoff, Prosecutor Murphy was deputized as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Reso case. In 1994, he fought to secure the conviction of Mohammed Abequa, a Morris County resident who murdered his wife, kidnapped his children, and fled to his native Jordan to escape justice.

Working closely with the U.S. Department of State and the Jordanian government, Mr. Murphy traveled to Jordan to assist in Abequa’s trial and subsequent conviction. Mr. Murphy also began the Morris County Bias Crimes Unit and structured the county’s first Human Relations Commission. For his leadership on these issues, he received a “Good Guy Award” from the Women’s Political Caucus of New Jersey and the prestigious national Hannah G. Solomon award from the National Council of Jewish Women in recognition of his “outstanding faith and humanity in the community.” In addition, he served as President of the New Jersey Prosecutors Association and chaired the association’s Legislative Committee. He has testified before numerous state and federal legislative committees on a broad variety of issues. Mr. Murphy holds a bachelor’s from Georgetown University and a Juris Doctorate from Seton Hall Law School. He is also a graduate of the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. In his 35 years as a practicing attorney, Mr. Murphy has served as a municipal attorney, municipal prosecutor, county prosecutor, public defender, and in private practice, specializing in such areas as land use, corporate litigation, and products liability. He is admitted to practice law in the State of New Jersey (1975), the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey (1975), the U.S. Court of Military Appeals (1982), and the U.S. Supreme Court (1983). Mr. Murphy is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and remains a proud member of the National District Attorneys Association and Mercer County Bar Association. In addition, he is a Past Chairman of the Public Policy Center of New Jersey and serves as the President of the Richard J. Hughes Foundation. Mr. Murphy was appointed in 2005 by then-Governor Codey, and reappointed in 2009 by then-Governor Corzine, to the Garden State Preservation Trust. Mr. Murphy is currently a Visiting Associate at the Eagleton Institute of Politics.

 

 


Brian MurrayBrian-Murray

 

Age: 47

Place of birth: Ballina, Co. Mayo

Business: Construction/ Wood Floors

Website: highriseflooring@yahoo.com

Where you live: Yonkers, New York

First job: Downhill Hotel, Ballina

What it taught me: Working as a young man in the Downhill Hotel taught me a sense of responsibility . I was taught to take pride in every aspect of my work, no matter how menial or insignificant I thought it was.

Family: I am the proud father of two beautiful daughters, Olivia and Christine, and a wonderful son, Brendan.

Best advice anyone ever gave you: My first boss always told me to think outside the box. There is always a solution to every problem even though it sometimes means compromise.

Best advice you could give someone starting out: The exact advice I was given, and also to never let anyone tell you it can’t be done!

The most important thing for a business success is: It is important to maintain the business and personal relationships that you had at the start. You can only hope that these relationships can grow with you and be part of your success.

First established: 1989

Employees: Too many to mention but a very special Thank You to my office manager Bernadette Fullerton, who specializes in thinking outside the box.

The most important thing for a successful business:

High Rise Flooring is a family owned and operated business. We specialize in all aspects of installing, refinishing, and repairing hardwood and engineered wood flooring. Our primary demographic is New York City but we also serve, Westchester, Putnam, and Rockland Counties. Our company does residential and commercial work. High Rise Flooring has been fortunate enough to work on many of new construction high rises taking place throughout the city. We are very involved in many projects in the surrounding neighborhood of the World Trade Center and feel fortunate to witness the rebirth and growth of this area.

 

 


Gregory O’ConnellGregory-O'Connell

 

Age: 70

Place of birth: Brooklyn, NY

Business: The O’Connell Organization

Website: REDHOOKWATERFRONT.COM

Where you live: Brooklyn, NY

First job: NYC Police Detective

What it taught me: Treat everyone equally

Family: Wife, Elizabeth, sons Michael, Gregory and Thomas.

Best advice anyone ever gave you: (My father) Treat the poor unfortunate on the street and the judge on the bench the same.

Best advice you could give someone starting out: Work hard with a passion for what you are doing.

The most important thing for a business success is: Commitment

Greg O’Connell, the son of a teacher and a NYC police officer, graduated from SUNY Geneseo with a degree in education. He returned to NYC to live, teach and work as a NYC police detective in Brooklyn and Harlem. He bought and renovated residential buildings in Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens and watched the Red Hook area, cut off by another Robert Moses parkway, fall into decay and ruin. Inspired by Jane Jacob’s seminal work and book on the Death and Life of Great American Cities, Greg started investing in Red Hook waterfront properties and rebuilding commercial sites and apartments. His efforts have paid off and Red Hook is not a thriving urban community. Besides his work in real estate Greg has been an active member of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. He has been honored and received awards by numerous organizations, including The Municipal Art Society. Most recently he returned to upstate NY’s beautiful Genesee Valley and purchased 20 rundown and mostly abandoned buildings on Main Street in a small town called Mount Morris. Another success story is unfolding as Greg’s work is impacting people, businesses, families and communities in Upstate NY. Greg has never sold any of his property for a quick buck, but strives to be a community builder rather than a real estate developer. One person can make an amazing difference.

 

 


Barry O’DonovanBarry-O'Donovan

 

Age: 51

Place of birth: Dublin

Business: Kilkenny House-Restaurant & Pub

First established: September 2008

Employees: 23 employees

Website: www.thekilkennyhouse.com

Where you live: Cranford, New Jersey

First job: Busboy in Joyce’s, Midtown Manhattan

What it taught me: If they can do it, I can do it!

Family: Wife Peggy, sons Kevin and Tim, siblings: 3 brothers and 2 sisters (Declan, Ann, Gerard, Kevin and Claire)

Best advice anyone ever gave you: Work hard, believe in yourself and everything is possible.

Best advice you could give someone starting out: Don’t take shortcuts – be Honest and fair.

The most important thing for a business success is: Good customer service, quality and consistent product, understand and be about your business and yet but not least be friendly!

First established:

Barry O’Donovan’s firm handshake, eye contact and heartfelt greeting embodies everything the previous generations stood for and lived by. Described as a modern day businessman with solid roots in traditional beliefs he hails from Kilkenny City in the southeast of Ireland and being the 5th child out of six, he learned tenacity, persuasion and creativity from a young age especially with three older brothers. At 18, he arrived in New York for a summer and less than 12 months later landed again at JFK which started a 33 year relationship with the restaurant business. Joyce’s in Manhattan launched his career where he worked his way up the ladder from waiter to manager. The late 1980s saw Barry take up residence and make his mark in Brooklyn working between TJ Bentleys and Peggy O’Neills. October 1996 was a turning point for Barry – he became owner of his first pub – ” Judge and Jury” and on March 17, 2003 he accepted ownership of his next venture Henry Grattan’s During this decade, Barry also embarked on understanding the relationship between business and community and swiftly became part of the 68 Precinct Community board and collaborated on many successful initiatives and endeavors. Cranford, New Jersey is where his family – wife Peggy and sons Kevin and Tim moved to in 2002 and as he faced changing demographics and a customer base that was progressing towards suburban life Barry realized it was time for change again. As the world looked at the October 2008 Market dropping and spiraling into further recession, Cranford was looking at Barry O’Donovan who just opened Kilkenny House the previous month. Kilkenny House reached into Cranford life and became a firm fixture in the community and Barry received the Silver PBA award by the police department as an outstanding citizen. Last year with the 3rd year anniversary celebration planning underway and the end of the summer season wrapping up, Barry was forced to face the stark realization that Hurricane Irene had devastated the town and his business on August 28. Despite a submerged 11 foot basement and water penetrating his ground level, Barry did not waste time on a wake for material loss. After ensuring what he could do for others and seeing their loss poured out on the streets of Cranford, he knew he had to give them back their “local” where they could gather and have their own wake. A mere six weeks after Irene’s inscribed her name forever in Cranford history, Kilkenny House opened it’s doors once again. His heritage, genetic make up and self belief forced him to beat the odds. Barry re-established his business by treating it as a family, by being progressive, dependable, honest and consistent. He creates the perfect synergy with the Cranford community and it is no wonder that all that know him and enter Kilkenny House feel at home with his greeting “Welcome to my Living Room”.

 

 


Niall O’KellyNiall-O'Kelly

 

Age: 31

Place of birth: Limerick

Business: okellydesign

First established: June 2009

Employees: 1-5

Website: okellydesign.com

Where you live: Park Slope, Brooklyn

First job: Waiter in Bewley’s Café, Limerick, Summer and weekends at 16 years old.

What it taught me: It taught me an early lesson in good customer service, working a full day, and working with good products and maintaining the brand promise (though I didn’t think of it like that at the time).

Family: Parents, Miriam and Michael, and two sisters, Meabh and Aoife. Meabh is working as a teacher in Jeonu, South Korea. Aoife works as a multimedia coordinator at RTE in Dublin.

Best advice anyone ever gave you: “Don’t be afraid to ask someone for their business; if you don’t ask them then there’s no reason why they would just give it to you” – Sheila Lynott Hourican. A very New York attitude, but it applies to winning contracts everywhere.

Best advice you could give someone starting out: Work hard, find projects that you can be passionate about, and be nice to people.

The most important thing for a business success is: Do what you said you’d do, and do it better than someone else would have.

Established in June 2009, okellydesign is the multi-award-winning branding and interactive practice of Niall O’Kelly and his team. We work with all types of companies and industries, particularly those who are established but at a point where they need to rebrand to better match their current audience and offering, and to reposition themselves for better future growth. Niall’s background is in branding and print design. Following a 4-year BA in DIT he worked for XMI Design, then one of Ireland’s leading branding and print design studios. Whilst there he worked on such clients as Ireland West Airport, Knock, Nestlé, Bank of Ireland, GlaxosmithKline, the EU, Treasury Holdings and Edward Holdings. Niall then moved to New York, working initially for Empire Design on movie posters and campaigns, before settling in with MSDS, a leading branding, print and interactive design agency in SoHo. Whilst there, Niall worked up to become their Senior Designer, leading projects for Acumen Fund, the JDC, TIAA-CREF, SAFE and MetroSouth Hospital. Nialls practice has grown exponentially over the last year, and we count among our clients leading academic institutions such as ISPP and NYU, non-profit organizations such as SEIU 1199 and the LA Center for Disaster Preparedness Project, consumer oriented companies such as Li-Lac Chocolates, and Lily O’Briens, games companies such as MindSports Football (a Facebook game) and JammerUp (a boardgame) and professional services companies like Integrated Print & Graphics and Avani Parikh Architecture. We strive for a complete understanding of our clients audiences and messaging, and to communicate each to the other in the clearest and most interesting way possible. You can see a full range of our work on the website.

 


Cheryl Hughes ParabicoliCheryl-Hughes-Parabicoli

Age: 52

Place of birth: Massachusetts

Business: Irish Import Shop

First established: 1984

Employees: 5.

Website: www.tinkerscart.com

Where you live: Leominster, MA

First job: Retail

What it taught me: I loved stocking the store and displaying merchandise. I also liked the interaction with the customers.

Family: I am lucky to be part of a large family. My grandparents came from Ireland and my connections with family there is still strong. My step mother is from Waterford and now there are even more family connections to the Emerald Isle. I have 5 siblings and 5 step siblings. The light of my life is my 21 year old son Nick.

Best advice anyone ever gave you: Take time to stop and stare.

Best advice you could give someone starting out: Do something you love and be committed to doing your very best. Be fair and give back to your community. Treat customers and employees like you would like to be treated yourself.

The most important thing for a business success is: I can’t speak for all business but in mine it’s about offering quality products, excellent customer service, and making the shop a fun place to be. We evoke a sense of heritage and we’re much more than a retail shop. We are educators and promoters of Ireland.

Here at the Tinker’s Cart we pride ourselves on bringing you the finest goods the Emerald Isle has to offer. We have been importing quality Irish goods for over 20 years. It all began in 1986 when John and Janice Hughes wheeled a pushcart chock full of Irish wares into a mall in New Hampshire and the Tinker’s Cart was born. One pushcart turned into two and then three. The pushcarts gave way to kiosks and seasonal stores at a variety of New England malls. As well as a large array of Irish merchandise the Tinker’s Cart also offers a huge selection of clothing custom embroidered with Irish logos and designs. We have our own in-house embroidery business and can offer clothing with one of a kind designs that we have created ourselves. We welcome custom embroidery orders both large and small. Many of you know us from the numerous Irish festivals we have exhibited at over the years. We have maintained our Clinton location since 1999 where you’ll find a well stocked Irish emporium with friendly employees who will be glad to assist you. We’re easy to find and we offer the most complete array of Irish products you’ll find in central New England. You’ll find you’re always welcome at the Tinker’s Cart.


Mary Ann PierceMary-Ann-Pierce

 

Age: Old enough

Place of birth: Newark, New Jersey

Business: MAP Digital: MetaMeetings

First established: 2002

Employees Six employees,

“twenty perma-lancers”

(one in Belfast)

Website: www.mapdigital.com

Where you live: New York City and New Hope, PA

First job: Waitress at Stouffers

What it taught me: Listening skills, best practices like placing a coffee cup handle at 4 o’clock, and keeping to your right.

Family: I am the eldest of eight with a long time companion and a part-time stepmother of two.

Best advice anyone ever gave you: Where you look is where you will go, lady. (from a driving instructor).

Best advice you could give someone starting out: You got to love it. Hire the best people. A few good clients are all you need. The bad ones will waste your time, money and frustrate the staff. Stand up for your company. Get a good accountant.

The most important thing for a business success is: Offer a service or product that clients need and add value constantly.

Mary Ann Pierce is President of MAP Digital: MetaMeetings. She started out in film, worked for a direct marketing agency, was the marketing director of contemporary art museum, ran a theater company, was lured back to corporate communications until the Internet found her in 1997. Since then she has built integrated digital events J.P. Morgan, Deutsche Bank, Lehman Brothers, Morgan Stanley, Euro RSCG, Draftfcb, Novartis, Pfizer, and New York University, among others. For two years, she was an adjunct professor at New York University where she lectured on Internet solutions for the Meetings Industry. She is a frequent speaker at Industry conferences, and her most recent article for BizBash is: Best of 2011: is Using New Tools to Engage and Drive Business Goals. She uses the expertise she has learned and the software she has built for her corporate clients for good causes: Saving St. Brigid’s Church, One Young World, Women’s rights, and AIDs. She is a passionate Irish American who has promoted Irish Contemporary Art in the U.S., produced the inaugural Irish American Writers and Artist’s O’Neill Award Ceremony, and is looking to expand her software company to Ireland.


Brian E. Raftery

Brian-E.-Raftery

 

Age: 42

Place of birth: Brooklyn, New York

Business: Herrick, Feinstein LLP. Trusts & Estates Partner at the Law Firm of Herrick, Feinstein LLP

First established: 1928

Employees: 150 attorneys, plus support staff.

Website: www.herrick.com

Where you live: Westfield, New Jersey

First job: Newspaper carrier, age 11

What it taught me: Make sure you keep track of your receivables, because, if you don’t, you’ll get stiffed on the tip.

Family: Wife, Ruth Ann Flynn Raftery; children, Brigid Flynn Raftery (age 12); Megan Fleming Rafter (age 10); and Erin P. Raftery (age 7)

Best advice anyone ever gave you: “Marry that girl”, referring to Ruth Ann Flynn, who is now my wife.

Best advice you could give someone starting out: Listen, learn, be positive, and adapt.

The most important thing for a business success is: Relationships, relationships, and relationships.

Brian E. Raftery, a Trusts and Estates attorney and certified public accountant, is one of the youngest partners of the law firm of Herrick, Feinstein LLP, a 150 attorney full-service law firm with offices in New York and New Jersey. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Irish Business Association, a business networking group of Irish-American and Irish business people. Brian graduated from Msgr. Farrell High School in Staten Island in 1987. He earned his undergraduate degree in Accounting, with minors in Political Science and History, at the University of Scranton in 1991. He earned his law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law in 1997, where he was the Business Editor of the Seton Hall Constitutional Law Journal. Brian also obtain a Masters of Law degree in Taxation at New York University School of Law in 1999.

 

 

 

 


St. Patrick’s Day

Parade Committee

St.-Patrick's-Day--Parade-Committee

Age: 251 years

Place of birth: New York City

Business: Operating New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Established: March 17th 1762

Employees: None. All volunteers

Website: NYCStPatricksParade.Org

Where you live: NYC

The most important thing for a successful business: Explore new ideas and embrace new technologies to see where they will lead you; while at the same time, make sure they do not change the core values of the organization. This allows you to build efficiencies, while leading to more exposure and in turn revenue generation.

The New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is one of the city’s greatest and oldest traditions. The Parade marched for the first time fourteen Years before the establishment of the United States, this on March 17, 1762. Approximately $4.5 billion is spent on St Patrick’s Day in the U.S. according to research by BigInsight, and a quarter of that $4.5 billion is spent in Tri-State area, thanks to the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee who has organized the Parade for the past 250 years. The revenue generated by the Parade is so large that it is the second largest tax generation period for the City of New York after Back Friday and Cyber Monday. “The impact on New York is around $250 million in tax revenue, estimates Hilary Beirne, executive secretary of the parade”, in the article “The Real Cost of Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day” published March 14th 2012 on Bloomberg. This revenue is generated largely due to the efforts of the committee for the city, at no cost to the tax payers. Under the Chairmanship of John Dunleavy, this “not for profit” 501(c)(3) organization annually manages to raise the necessary funds from the general public (in excess of $800,000) for the Parade while receiving no public funding. On March 17th, in addition to running the logistics of the largest Parade in the world, the committee is responsible for the production of a four hour live television/webcast from Fifth Ave. During the year, the committee host many fund raising events including two receptions, a gala, and various press announcements. The Grand Marshal announcement is attended by over 500 annually; is one of the largest press announcement in New Year and a must to attend event in the calendar of prominent Irish Americans. In 2011 the committee published a book celebrating 250 years of Irish Heritage and Culture in New York City. The Parade is recognized by the New York Stock Exchange and the American Stock Exchange (now owned by NYSE) for the past 8 years for its endeavors and contribution towards the financial stability of the city and the employment it creates as a result of the influx of over 200,000 marching participants and two million spectators. The Grand Marshal and committee members ring the open bell at the Stock exchange the week of March 17th in reorganization of this and as the “kick off” to the celebrations at the exchange for St Patrick’s Day. The ring of the bell is watched world wide by 150 million daily. What is truly remarkable about this organization and warrants it recognition in “The Irish Small Business in that the organization is run by a small group of very dedicated volunteers from many different fields of endeavors. St. Patrick’s Day Parade Inc. OFFICERS John T. Dunleavy Chairman, Dr. John L. Lahey Vice Chairman, Hilary Beirne Executive/Corres. Sec’y, Catherine Mitchell Miceli Recording Secretary-,Francis McGreal Jr. Controller, Rosemary Lombard Treasurer, Michael H. Cassels Sergeant-At-Arms. DIRECTORS; John J. O’Connor – President, Timothy Ahern, Francis X. Comerford, John Fitzsimons, Thomas W. Gleason, Patrick Johnson, Denis P. Kelleher, Brian A. Leeney, Kevin G. Nelson, Timothy Rooney. TRUSTEES; Brian Andersson, LTC Jim Gonyo, Garrett Doyle, Paul Hurley, Lawrence King, James Lombard, Eugene McCarthy, James O’Connor, Tommy Smyth, Dennis Swanson.

 

 


Marcus SpillaneMarcus-Spillane

 

Age: 38

Place of birth: Cork, Ireland

Business: Deal Events, Inc.

First established: Summer 2011

Employees: 2

Website: http://www.dealevents.com

Where you live: Cork/Brooklyn

First job: Trainee Accountant

What it taught me: Great grounding in business, got to see many different types of industry and saw how it all fits together.

Family: Retired parents living in Ireland but traveling the world. One sister who lives in Australia – a doctor – hence my parents traveling!

Best advice anyone ever gave you: Don’t take life too seriously – enjoy it and remember that it is about the journey and not the destination.

Best advice you could give someone starting out: Surround yourself with people who support you. Not “Yes” men but people who are genuinely interested in helping you.

The most important thing for a business success is: Drive and Self Belief. Partnering with others. Very, very difficult to do something entirely on your own.

Marcus is co-founder of DealEvents.com a NY based Internet business in the daily deal space. He is a Chartered Accountant with 10 years experience in M&A. He is co-founder and director of Capstone Intelligent Solutions Limited – a unified communications solutions provider based in Dublin, Ireland. Marcus was co-founder and managing director of Mercier Private Equity, an Irish based investment firm focused on investments in owner managed and family owned businesses. He is a director (formerly with a hands-on management role as Group FD) of the McArdle Group, a UK heavy civil engineering business since its acquisition by Mercier Private Equity in 2008. He formerly worked in the M&A Group of Deloitte in New York.

 


Joseph StrazzaJoseph-Strazza

 

Place of birth: Verona, NJ

Business: WinMill Software, Inc.

First established: 1994

Employees: Approx. 65

Website: www.winmill.com

Where you live: NY, NY

First job: Selling pumpkins door to door by wagon

What it taught me: Identify a need and fill it. Distribution and convenience are viable commodities.

Family: Irish Catholic – mostly in New York. I am one of four (3rd). Two boys and two girls.

Best advice anyone ever gave you: When you get what you want stop talking and leave as fast as possible (or hang up).Best advice you could give someone starting out: Your four most important business relationships: attorney, banker, accountant, and insurance agent, in that order. Make sure they are good and do not skimp.

The most important thing for a business success is: Without question you must stay healthy. If you do not do that nothing else matters.

Since 1994, WinMill Software has been delivering technology solutions with unparalleled service. From strategic management consulting to high-end application development, from designing and deploying broadband wireless solutions to securing applications and networks, we have helped thousands of clients use technology to gain strategic advantage over their competitors. WinMill supports the entire technology lifecycle, from strategic planning through analysis, design, development, quality assurance, implementation, post-production support, auditing and risk management. Our commitment to knowledge transfer maximizes our clients’ existing skills and dramatically lowers the cost of ownership. Our associates are among the brightest and most qualified minds in the industry. Through rigorous training in technology, industry and professionalism, we focus their natural talent and passionate commitment to learning to devise creative solutions to your most challenging business problems. We are continually growing our skills by mastering new technologies to meet the ever evolving needs of our clients. Imagine world-class service, without the price tag. Renowned technical expertise, without the attitude. One-stop shopping for your technology needs, without the service dilution.

 

 


John TolandJohn-Toland

 

Business Name: DOT-Irish

Belfast native John Toland is no stranger to America, having forged a path across the United States with a series of exciting start-ups. His latest venture, Dot-Irish is set to transform Ireland’s impact on the world wide web by opening up the domain address Dot-Irish.

Backed by some of the most prominent names in Irish America, Dot-Irish will allow companies, organizations and individuals to promote brand Irish in everything they do.

Expect tourism.irish, sport.irish, hospitality.irish, hotels.irish and business.irish to be snapped up if the bid for authorization which goes before the world internet governing body, ICANN, this year is successful. However, some people aren’t content to wait until the new ‘Top Level Domain’ goes live: over 3,000 pre-registrations have already been made.

“Web addresses such as www.connect.irish, mail@yourname.irish or www.technology.irish can become innovative tools for the more than 75 million individuals and companies worldwide who identify themselves as Irish to communicate and connect with friends, family or customers,” says John.

You can find out more about dot-Irish at http://dotirish.com.

 

 

 

 

 


Peter WalshPeter-Walsh

 

Name of business: Coogan’s.

Website: www.coogans.com.

location: Washington Heights, Manhattan.

Peter Walsh is at the helm of a legendary New York watering hole which is also celebrated as a symbol of the renaissance of Washington Heights: Coogan’s.

“There was a huge crime rate up here in 1985 when we opened, but it was a place where Dominican families could come and be safe, and doctors and nurses from Columbia-Presbyterian hospital could come and unwind,” he told the New York Daily News last November as Coogan’s celebrated its 26th birthday. “But the Dominicans came and they made us.”

Central to the success of Coogan’s is Walsh himself. A dynamo, he encapsulates the best traditions of Irish bartending, lending a listening ear to patrons, a beaming smile and top-notch food and drink.

Among the many initiatives which have made the bar and restaurant the indisputable hub of Washington Heights is the annual Coogan’s Salza Blues and Shamrocks 5k which attracts thousands of runners.

“Here, even the décor and menu reflect the diversity in the neighborhood,” declares Coogan’s website. “Posters of President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy are hung side by side with pictures of Leonel Fernandez Reyna, President of the Dominican Republic.”

Teaming up with Tess O’Connor McDane and David Hunt, Walsh has made Coogan’s a must-visit New York institution.

“The contribution Peter Walsh and Coogan’s has made to the revitalization of Washington Heights can’t be overestimated,” says New York’s Small Business Services Commissioner, Rob Walsh.

Adds David Hunt: “What Coogan’s does is what Irish salons have always done. We are the political center, the social center and the help center. We no longer have an Irish clientele but we still do all these things.”

 


Mary WhiteMary-White

Age: 46

Place of birth: Limerick, Ireland

Business: Massage Muscle Therapy

First established: 1991

Employees: Myself

Website: www.mmtcenter.com

Where you live: Hyannis, Massachusetts

First job: Working in a hair dressing salon at the age of 12, sweeping up hair, washing hair and making tea for people while under the hair dryer.

What it taught me: Customer service. At the time I did not realize it, but this was my first lesson in customer service. Treating people with a little extra kindness by bringing them a cup of tea while under the hair dryer made them feel cared for. Even today in my practice I think about going the extra mile and how doing something extra that may be very small for my clients goes a long way in making them feel appreciated as a client.

Family: I have 4 sisters all older than me. 1 lives in London. 2 live in Limerick. 1 lives in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. Sadly my dad has passed on but my mum still resides in Limerick.

Best advice anyone ever gave you: Learn from other peoples mistakes because we never seem to learn from our own.

Best advice you could give someone starting out: Network, Network and Network. Get out into the community in a networking group. Create opportunities for yourself to talk about your business.

The most important thing for a business success is: Diligence. Give it all you have got and reinvest back into your own business repeatedly to insure the future of your business.

Mary White of “Massage Muscle Therapy…By the Sea” graduated from the New Hampshire Institute for Therapeutic Arts, in Hudson, New Hampshire in June 1991. Prior to her Massage Therapy education Mary earned a degree in Sports Management in Ireland where she grew up. Mary ran a successful practice for 15 years in Central Massachusetts before moving to Cape Cod in 2006 and has now established a practice in West Yarmouth. Her background is in Swedish Massage, Neuromuscular Therapy, Myofascial Therapy and Sports Massage. She successfully tested onto the National Sports Massage team in 1995 & in 1996 joined the John Hancock Sports Massage Team which provides Sports Massage for the elite field of the Boston Marathon annually. Mary is now the coordinator of the sports massage team to the elite athletes of the Boston Marathon. Mary works with many local athletes helping them achieve their fitness goals from marathoners to triathletes. Mary is also a Reiki 1 practitioner and is Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. As an active member of the American Massage Therapy Association which maintains strict membership standards she continues to expand on her knowledge & skills by taking continuing education courses in Massage Therapy & Body Work modalities fulfilling her continuing education requirement and upholding the AMTA code of Ethics. Mary is currently serving as President of the Mass Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association serving over 3,000 licensed massage therapists in Massachusetts. Mary has office hours in West Yarmouth working at Atlantic Coastal Wellness on Main Street (Rt 28), West Yarmouth. Additionally she works with local businesses to bring Massage Therapy into the workplace with Chair Massage, helping to educate people on the importance of stress reduction especially in the work place. Mary lives in Hyannis with her husband Chris and her dog Molly. Their passion is sailing the waters surrounding Cape Cod. When not sailing Mary can be seen running the roads of Cape Cod. She is an avid runner and has completed many local area races from 5K distances to 1/2 marathon distances.

 

 

 

 


Christopher J. KozickiChristopher-J.-Kozicki

Age: 45

Place of birth: Chicago, Il.

Business: Director for U.S. Government Affairs, VPS, the Vacant Property Specialists

First established: 1995

Employees: 1500 worldwide

Website: vpspecialists.com

Where you live: Chicago, Il.

First job: Dock worker loading trucks during college breaks.

What it taught me:  The value of hard work and learning from people who had different backgrounds than myself..

Family: Wife Siobhan and children Deirdre (13), Cormac (11), and Maeve (10).

Best advice anyone ever gave you:

My parents told me to work hard, value education, and treat others as you would want to be treated. I was also very lucky to start my career working for Commissioner John P. Daley who taught me so much.

Best advice you could give someone starting out: I would tell them to be a good listener, never stop learning and follow your passion.

The most important thing for a business success is: It helps to have a great product, surround yourself with bright and motivated people and set a vision and a plan to achieve it.

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