How to Grow and Scale Your Business with Banking, Accounting, Insurance, and Legal Insights

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Save the dateJune 27, 20249:00 AM - 11:00 AM (EDT) Add to Calendar

Venue Location

Queens Chamber of Commerce

75-20 Astoria Boulevard, Suite 140
Jackson Heights, New York

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Organizer

Organizer: Queens Chamber of Commerce

Phone: +1 7188988500

Contact Person: Shahriar Hossain

Email: shossain@queenschamber.org

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Unlock your business's potential at our BAIL Team Event! Join us for an insightful panel discussion featuring experts in banking, accounting, insurance, and law. Learn how to effectively leverage your BAIL (Banker, Accountant, Insurer, Lawyer) team to grow and scale your business. Our panelists will share essential tips on securing business loans, managing finances, mitigating risks, and navigating legal challenges. This is a unique opportunity to gain practical advice, network with professionals, and connect with fellow entrepreneurs. Don't miss out—reserve your spot today and take the next step towards business success!

Speakers

William "Bill" Cleare, LUTCF

Partner at New York Life Company

William "Bill" Cleare, LUTCF

Partner at New York Life Company

Bill Cleare is currently a 12-year Partner for New York Life's Queens General Office in Rego Park, with a designation of Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow from The America College, National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors. Since 2009 Bill as also a proud active member of The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. (NAIFA) He is a proven leader truly committed to attracting, developing, mentoring, and coaching inspiring future financial professionals.
Bill’s career mission and vision of his financial practice has been to educate communities about leveraging prudent financial contracts geared to exercise 3 key fundamental principles (Asset Preservation, Asset Accumulation and Lifetime / Legacy Income).
Bill and his team of well-trained seasoned financial professionals consults individuals to avoid or resolve common financial pitfalls and bridge their gaps in terms of managing debt, hedging inflation, retiring on track, maximizing returns and battle taxation. Knowing the importance of trust, Bill and his team, affectionately referred to as Team Cleare on a daily basis strive to establish and maintain long-term relationships based on sincerity, objectivity and honesty. Team Cleare is famously known for articulating unique, fun and creative financial solutions utilizing a variety of financial protection, asset accumulation lifetime/legacy strategies.
Bill has a Bachelor’s in Electro-Mechanical Engineering, minoring in Computer Science from City College of New York school of Engineering.

Kaitlyn Djakov

Vice President- SBA Business Development Officer at Valley National Bank

Kaitlyn Djakov

Vice President- SBA Business Development Officer at Valley National Bank

A leader in the Financial Services industry, with over 17 years of experience in Northeast market, Kaitlyn is committed to partnering with business owners as they start, grow, expand and scale their businesses by providing access to capital with a specialization in SBA lending. She possesses a genuine love for advising clients to create and achieve sustainable success by being their strategic financing partner. Kaitlyn is a creative problem solver and solution generator- consistently leveraging her expertise to help business owners achieve their dreams, build a legacy, and provide continual financial education.

As a strong advocate for Women, Kaitlyn is a New York State ambassador for Valley's Women in Business Program, an essential resource for female entrepreneurs looking to expand their network, connect with others in or out of their industry, and take advantage of unique program perks.

Kaitlyn lives in Long Island with her husband, and two children. She enjoys spending time deepening relationships with family, friends and her local community networks. During her free time, you can find her traveling, crafting, cooking and baking. She is actively engaged with her local PTA, FWA, WIFS. She prides herself as a community leader partnering with organizations in the communities she serves.

Jenny Kim

Attorney at Rha Kim Grossman & McIlwain, LLP

Jenny Kim

Attorney at Rha Kim Grossman & McIlwain, LLP

Megan Rha and D.Jenny Kim encountered each other more than 20 years ago
when they were the only Asian American prosecutors in the Nassau County
District Attorney’s Office in Long Island, where they were practicing law as
prosecutors handling felony level crimes.
After successfully handling thousands of cases and achieving outstanding
outcomes through investigation, negotiation and taking them to trials, Megan and
Jenny became business partners and established a private law firm based in
Queens, NY.
Since establishing the law firm in 2007, Megan and Jenny have been deeply
involved in the lives and businesses of New York City residents and helping them
figure out solutions to their complex situations, involving everything from
divorces, administrative and court hearings, wrongful arrests, discriminatory and
retaliatory cases, investigations by governmental authorities, starting, growing
and dissolving businesses- small and big, both here in NY as well as other parts
of the country and even across Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
Their firm, Rha Kim Grossman & McIlwain, LLP, has its main office in Manhattan,
right near Penn Station, and a second location in Queens. Their presentation and
sharing today come from their decades of experience in growing and running
their own business as well as assisting and advocating for individuals,
organizations and business owners.

Ryan Letts

Co-chair at Queens Chamber Entrepreneurship & Innovation committee

Ryan Letts

Co-chair at Queens Chamber Entrepreneurship & Innovation committee

https://www.cleonmaye.com

Dr. Ryan Letts, DBA is the founder of Cleonmaye Corp. Management Consulting & R+D, located in Jamaica, Queens. Dr. Letts is an immigrant from the island of Jamaica, a US military veteran, and has experience as an architect, electrical engineer, and business specialist under contract from the US Dept. of Defense and US Small Business Administration. Using skills from his technical and academic background, Dr. Letts has expertly guided senior executives, managers, and business owners in small to medium-sized companies to successfully resolve difficult management and financial issues. The breadth of Dr. Letts experience ranges from small family-owned businesses and medium-sized firms from the food industry to innovative technology startups.

Dr. Letts specializes in using proven management theories and strategies to help executive teams align and streamline their organization internally and externally. As the president of Cleonmaye Corp., Dr. Letts has continued to assist clients at a high level by leveraging the expertise and skills learned in the Federal arena. Cleonmaye Corp. actively works with government and public organizations through Public-Private Partnerships to deliver community-based programs to expand knowledge to underserved business communities about public programs that are available to them. The work that Dr. Letts does in the community is to foster business education to empower disadvantaged business owners.

From an early age, Dr. Letts was originally a naturally gifted artist who graduated to architecture, electrical engineering, and eventually business. Education has always been a core value for Dr. Letts and it a large contributor to his approach with clients. When our clients are knowledgeable, they get the right results faster, therefore saving time and avoid costly mistakes. Photography has been a recent hobby that Dr. Letts does in his free time, some other hobbies include bike riding, nature walks, reading and watching scientific studies, and exercising.

Megan Rha

Attorney at Rha Kim Grossman & McIlwain, LLP

Megan Rha

Attorney at Rha Kim Grossman & McIlwain, LLP

Edward Torres

CEO of Edward Torres, CPA PC

Edward Torres

CEO of Edward Torres, CPA PC

Edward Torres, CPA PC (ETCPA) is a well-established accounting firm located on 71st and Austin St. in Forest Hills. With over 30 years of experience, the firm has been headquartered in Forest Hills for more than 25 years. ETCPA offers a range of professional services to individuals and small to medium-sized businesses, including:

Accounting
Bookkeeping
Income Tax Preparation for businesses and individuals
Payroll services
Sales and Digital Tax Services
ETCPA assists clients in planning for success, whether they are starting a new business or managing an existing one. The firm provides entity formation services, files necessary documents, and offers accounting and financial services to help businesses become profitable and successful. They also cater to more mature businesses needing updated services to improve their bottom line.

The firm emphasizes the importance of proper accounting and tax practices to prevent revenue loss and maximize tax benefits. ETCPA customizes their services to ensure the health of clients' businesses while planning for their future.

Gloria Webb

Vice President/Business Banking at Valley National Bank

Gloria Webb

Vice President/Business Banking at Valley National Bank

With over 25 years Banking experience, Gloria Webb brings a wealth of knowledge to her position as a Business Banker at Valley Bank. As a banker, covering the New York Metro area and Long Island, Gloria works to foster relationships with business owners. And believes that understanding business needs and goals gives her the insight to recommend the best Banking solutions.

As a strong advocate for Women, Gloria is a New York State ambassador for Valley's Women in Business Program, an essential resource for female entrepreneurs looking to expand their network, connect with to others in or out of their industry, and take advantage of unique program perks.

Gloria is a member of the Queens Chamber of Commerce and LIC Partnership. She is on the Queens Chamber Banking and Law Committee, and a Board Member of Adelphi University Student Affairs Advisory Board.

Gloria loves to make a difference by giving back to the Communities she serves. She lives in Queens with her husband, and she enjoys spending time with family and friends. During her free time, you can find her traveling, biking, and hiking.

Sponsors and Partners

How to Grow and Scale Your Business with Banking, Accounting, Insurance, and Legal Insights

Queens Chamber Entrepreneurship & Innovation Committee presents:

William "Bill" Cleare, LUTCF

Partner at New York Life Company

Kaitlyn Djakov

Vice President- SBA Business Development Officer at Valley National Bank

Jenny Kim

Attorney at Rha Kim Grossman & McIlwain, LLP

Ryan Letts

Co-chair at Queens Chamber Entrepreneurship & Innovation committee

Megan Rha

Attorney at Rha Kim Grossman & McIlwain, LLP

Edward Torres

CEO of Edward Torres, CPA PC

Gloria Webb

Vice President/Business Banking at Valley National Bank

Organizer