HIA-LI Recognizes Outstanding Long Island Firms For Leadership, Performance, And Commitment To The Community

LongIsland.com

BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS’ HONOR THE REGION’S EXEMPLARY BUSINESSES

Print Email

HIA-LI, one of Long Island’s largest business associations, saluted four of the region’s most outstanding businesses at the organization’s 26th Annual HIA-LI Business Achievement Awards ceremony held September 29.

An award selection committee evaluated competing firms and organizations based upon such factors as corporate accomplishments, exemplary employee relations, commitment to the overall Long Island community, and ability to innovate and persevere amid the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery period.

“In these unprecedented times, it’s more important than ever to celebrate excellence and achievement within our business community,” said Terri Alessi-Miceli, President and CEO of HIA-LI, speaking at the September 29 virtual ceremony. “In such a challenging period, our honorees serve as inspiring examples of innovation, dedication, and accomplishment. They’re role models for all Long Islanders.”

“We’ve come together at this award ceremony to celebrate our love of Long Island and our desire to see our region prosper and grow,” said Joe Campolo, Board Chair of HIA-LI and Managing Partner at Campolo Middleton & McCormick, LLP. “We should all take pride in our honorees’ accomplishments, their strength, and their resilience. These organizations are playing an instrumental role in helping to lead Long Island through this crisis.”

HIA-LI presented awards in the following categories:

The honoree in the “Large Business” category, comprising firms with a workforce of 100 or more, was Hauppauge-based American Diagnostic Corporation, one of America’s largest, privately held manufacturers of diagnostic medical equipment. The award was presented to company president and CEO Marc Blitstein and President and CFO Neal Weingart.

Other finalists in the “Large Business” category included Citrin Cooperman, an accounting and business advisory firm based in Melville; Custom Computer Specialists of Hauppauge; Mazars USA, LLP, an accounting and advisory company in Woodbury; and The Tiffen Company of Hauppauge, which manufactures award-winning equipment for Hollywood movies and other photography-related products.

The second award category consisted of “Small Businesses” employing fewer than 100 people. The award went to Central Business Systems, a Melville firm providing total document imaging and other IT-related professional services. The awardee was represented by Co-Owners Sean Infante and Mike Chambers.

In the “Small Business” category, other finalists included Valley Stream-based LMN Printing Company, Inc.; Summit Safety & Efficiency Solutions, a safety, quality and industrial engineering firm based in Miller Place; Techworks Consulting, Inc., a computer support and services company in Ronkonkoma; and Terwilliger & Bartone Properties of Farmingdale, a luxury residential developer.

An HIA-LI Business Achievement Award was also presented to a “Rookie of the Year” honoree representing firms in operation less than five years. The 2020 award was given to Hauppauge-based Connections4Hire, which assists client firms in the fields of business development, sales, marketing, and advertising. Accepting the award was Founder and “Master Connector” Adam Holtzer.

There were two additional “Rookie of the Year” finalists: 4G Professionals, a provider of facility decontamination services situated in Nesconset; and BLUZAP UV Disinfection Company, a Northport enterprise that provides ultraviolet disinfection services.

In the fourth and final “Not-for-Profit” category, The Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind – located in Smithtown – received the award. CEO John Miller was present to receive the award on behalf of an organization that trains and places guide and service dogs to provide increased independence and enhanced mobility to people who are blind, have low vision, or have other disabilities.

“Not-for-Profit” finalists included Blessings in a Backpack, Longwood Chapter, of Yaphank, which provides food for children from needy families; Family and Children's Association, an agency that provides a range of services for children, families, and seniors, in Mineola; The Islandia-based Pal-O-Mine Equestrian, whose therapeutic equine program helps to facilitate growth, learning, and healing; and Suffolk Habitat for Humanity, of Middle Island, a non-profit that builds communities by bringing people together to build homes.

HIA-LI honored Amneal Pharmaceuticals of Hauppauge and Yaphank, a “Major Sponsor” of the overall HIA-LI Business Achievement Award program. A past recipient of a “Large Business” achievement award, Amneal is one of America’s leading generic pharmaceutical companies.

Also honored with the “Industry Partnership Award” was the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Through this pandemic, the SBA approved more than 5.2 million loans worth $525 billion in emergency relief funding.  Added Alessi-Miceli, “The SBA has been a driving force of our economic stability and is leading the way to allow our region and our nation to rebound safely.”

Finally, HIA-LI presented an “Industry Leadership Award” to Northwell Health. The New Hyde Park company is the state’s largest integrated health care system and – with a workforce of more than 70,000 employees – is also the state’s largest private employer.