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Join NYC Department of Veterans' Services Commissioner James Hendon, Council Member Vickie Paladino, representatives from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and leading procurement officers as they discuss public sector and private sector procurement opportunities and certifications for Veteran small business owners in Queens and New York City. This is a complimentary event that is open to all. Light refreshments will be served.
***Calling all procurement officers and agents!*** We are eager for Veteran small business owners to learn more about the procurement process and are looking for procurement officers to present. Please RSVP at ghadji@queenschamber.org or (718) 898-8500 if you are interested in helping out our vets!
Speakers
James Hendon is the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Veterans' Services. Previously, Hendon served as Director of the NYU Veterans Future Lab, a small business incubator for practicing and aspiring entrepreneurs who are US Military Veterans or Veterans' Spouses.
A Veteran entrepreneur himself, James was also the CEO of the Energy Economic Development Corporation, an organization that helps communities and small businesses take advantage of energy-related advancements. Prior to that, Hendon served as the COO for BlocPower, a Department of Energy-sponsored company that helps nonprofits, small businesses, and faith centers perform energy efficiency retrofits.
He previously worked as an Associate in the Real Estate Investment Banking Group at Deutsche Bank.
Before entering the civilian workforce, Hendon spent seven years in the US Army as an Active Duty Infantry Officer where he deployed as a Mortar Platoon Leader and Battalion Public Affairs Officer to Iraq (2005), worked as an Admissions Officer for West Point (2006-2007), and served as the Senior Advisor to the Afghan Border Police in Afghanistan (2007-2009).
Hendon is a 2002 graduate of West Point, a 2012 graduate of Harvard Kennedy School and Columbia Business School, and a 2015 graduate of the Earth Institute's Program in Conservation and Environmental Sustainability.
Hendon also served as a Mayoral appointee on the eleven member New York City Veterans Advisory Board. He has volunteered as a mentor for the Eagle Academy for Young Men in the Bronx since 2014. As a drilling US Army Reservist, Hendon, a Lieutenant Colonel, acts as the New York City Lead for the 75th Innovation Command.
Vickie Paladino represents District 19 of Northeast Queens, which includes Whitestone, College Point, Bayside, Little Neck, Douglaston, and parts of North Flushing. Elected in 2021 on a platform promising to deliver change and transparency to her district, Vickie works every single day to hold our leaders accountable and protect the interests of her constituents.
Tom Grech
President & Chief Executive Officer at Queens Chamber of Commerce
http://www.queenschamber.orgTom’s career has spanned the printing and publishing industries over the past 25 years with RR Donnelley & Sons Company, Merrill Corporation and SONY DADC. For the past five years, he has been involved in the energy industry. Most recently, Tom was Director of Sales for CCI Energy Solutions, Inc.
His other interests include investing in multi-family real estate, adviser to non-profit and for-profit boards.
Originally from Astoria, Tom lives in Malverne, NY with his wife and their daughter and son. He is a graduate of the University of Scranton, Scranton, PA with a BS in Accounting and received his MBA in International Business from Manhattan College, Riverdale, NY.
He has served as President & CEO of Queens Chamber of Commerce since July of 2015.
