SET NOVEMBER 20th IN WHITE PLAINS

NEWLY ELECTED WHITE PLAINS MAYOR ADAM BRADLEY

AND NYS SMALL BUSINESS TASK FORCE CHAIR BILL GRINKER

For Immediate Release November 9, 2009

Small Businesses across New York State are facing the most challenging economy in our history as revenues decline, the cost of health care increases, access to capital diminishes, and markets shrink.

BALCONY, the Business and Labor Coalition of New York, with its business partner Verizon, media partner WCBS Newsradio880, health care partner the American Cancer Society, and small business partner The Greater New York Chamber of Commerce together seek to provide valuable solutions for small business at the

BALCONY ACCESS for Small Business Forum

November 20th

beginning at 8 :00 am

at the Crowne Plaza Hotel

66 Hale Avenue

White Plains, NY

“This event will focus on what can be done to help the more than 100,000 New York small businesses survive and prosper during this current economic crisis,” states BALCONY Business Co-Chairman Bruce Ventimiglia, “Small Businesses are the backbone of our state’s economy which employ more than one million people.”

White Plains Mayor Elect Adam Bradley will deliver the keynote address, and Bill Grinker, Chairman of the New York State Small Business Task Force, will provide an update on the major recommendations of the Task Force which are to be released before the end of 2009.

Other featured speakers include: Chris Levendos, Verizon FIOS; Pravina Raghavan, SBA New York District Director; Troy Oeschner, Deputy Superintendent for Health of the New York State Insurance Department; Peter Slocum of the American Cancer Society; Jim Maleski of ActionCOACH of CT; and Rosemarie Klotz of H & R Block.

The forum will feature timely and informative workshop discussions with experts, advocates and governmental officials on how small businesses can survive during the current, uncertain economic times. Specifically we will focus on

• Access to Capital

• Access to Health Care

• Access to Technology

• Access to Business Development

8:30 – 9:20 AM

Technology Challenges Facing Small Business

Chris Levendos, Verizon FIOS

Michael Ridley, NYSTAR

Heather O’Donnell, WCBS Newsradio 880

Chris Zawacki, GreenHouse IT

Ron Koff, Astoria Graphics

9:20 – 9:30 AM

Coffee Break

9:30 – 10:00 AM

Assemblyman –White Plains Mayor Elect Adam Bradley

10:00 – 10:50 AM

Business Development Solutions

William Grinker, NYS Small Business Task Force

Jim Malski, ActionCOACH

Brian Moran, Moran Media

Barbara Weltman, Big Ideas for Small Business

Rosemarie Klotz, H & R Block

10:50 – 11:40 AM

Access to Capital for Small Business

Pravina Raghavan, SBA New York

Bruce Ventimiglia, Saratoga Capital Management

David Kornfeld, Financial Advisor

Paul Quintero, Accion New York

Louis Scarmardella, Small Business Development Center

11:40 – 12:30 PM

Access to Healthcare for Small Business

Troy Oechsner, NYS Dept. of Insurance

Ben Geyerhan, Small Business Majority

Ernie Vitolo, Atlantis Health Plan

Vincent Ashton, HealthPass

Peter Slocum, American Cancer Society

12:30 – 1:00 PM

Closing Networking Reception

To register for the conference contact Allison Hirsch or Christine Serrano Glassner at BALCONY (212) 219-7777

or visit the BALCONY Website www.balconynewyork.com

For More Information contact Balcony Director Lou Gordon (212) 219-7777;  e-mail:   loug@balconynewyork.com