Chambers keep up the networking through downturn
 
From left, Ron Irrossi, president of the Beacon Business Association; Shirley Hot, owner of Main Street”™s Cup & Saucer Tea Room with her entry for Beacon”™s hat parade; and Neil Kaplan, executive director of the Bannerman Castle Trust.Â
Times may be tight, but local chambers of commerce are still out there encouraging members to network, whether it is to promote their own businesses or to help a colleague find a new position.
Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce held a tabletop expo at Fishkill”™s Holiday Inn on May 27 toward those ends and drew a healthy crowd.
More than 60 exhibitors had the opportunity to give their take on New York”™s money matters, all giving a big thumbs down to the proposed MTA mobility tax, which Charles North, the chamber president, calls a “business killer.” North isn”™t just speaking for Dutchess County, one of the “quarter-pounders” on the MTA board. “We voted ”˜no,”™ but with just one-quarter of a vote for four counties, do they really care if this is going to hurt business here in the mid-Hudson?” asked North.
Exhibitors were candid, so candid they did not want to use their names. “If you tell people you are having a hard time collecting, they worry that you might go out of business yourself,” said one of the participants. “So you just keep saying, ”˜Everything”™s fine,”™ but really, it”™s not. It”™s become the usual to see someone going 60-90 days without paying their bill. But you still have to make sure your own are on time. You don”™t want to scare away clients.”
Carol Davino, general manager and co-owner of Fishkill”™s Holiday Inn and Charles North, president of the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Eileen Contreras, an associate broker with Houlihan Lawrence in northern Dutchess, said homes are moving but the process is slow. “Many owners can”™t come to grips with the fact that their homes are not going to sell for what others did a few years ago, but most are realizing the market is adjusting itself. I think we”™ve seen the bottom. More people are coming out to look at what”™s out there, which is good, especially for the first-time homebuyer.”
For hotel owner Carol Davino, the loss of the Empire State Games this year was a “big blow to us and to many of our local businesses. Dutchess was one of the primary sponsors, and we had blocks of rooms held for the event, now it”™s off the table.”
Still, Davino is hopeful “staycationers” will take advantage of their own backyard this season. “The Hudson Valley”™s beautiful, and there”™s so much to do and see here. Hopefully, local people or those looking for day or weekend trips will help boost us up.”