The tone was definitely a little quieter and crowd a little smaller at the latest Queens College Business Forum, reflective of the general attitude of the uncertainty surrounding the economy. However, those in attendance had the opportunity to hear an uplifting, success story of keynote speaker Elaine Tomassetti, Principal and Co-Founder of J&E Industries.
Tomassetti, who grew up working in her father’s Brooklyn construction company, now runs a 45-person, Belle Harbor-based supplier of steel reinforcing for numerous construction projects, including the new Freedom Tower that is going up at the site of Ground Zero in Manhattan.
“My business is successful, but like so many other companies, we are experiencing the economic crisis,” Tomassetti said during the business forum on Friday, February 27.
After her speech, which detailed her career in the business and how she started her own company, Tomassetti answered questions including one about the progress of the Freedom Tower project. She said that her company was supposed to begin work at the site in June of 2006 and finish by the first quarter of 2007, but they are still there now.
“The delays that we have had over there, some of them are absolutely ridiculous,” Tomassetti said. “The amount of money that is being spent and wasted is ridiculous.”
In addition, she also discussed what it was like to be a female business owner in a male-dominated field like construction, and she urged other women in the industry to hang tough and pursue their ambition.
“If you have the courage to start something, you have the courage to succeed at it,” Tomassetti said.
The Queens College Business Forum, which began in the fall of 2005, acts as a catalyst for business in Queens. It brings together members of the business community, local government and educators to discuss important matters.
“It really is a terrific vehicle for all of the businesses here in Queens,” said Queens Assemblymember Mark Weprin, who chairs the Assembly Small Business Committee and delivered the opening remarks during the breakfast. “The Queens Chamber has been doing a terrific job [promoting business].”
Weprin also said that the State Legislature was looking for ways to help with rising energy costs with a focus on renewable energy.
