Cruzin' to Success in 2015County Executive Robert P. Astorino on Thursday welcomed more than 100 Westchester-based minority and women owned businesses to a series of contractor matchmaking events – the first entitled "Cruzin' to Success in 2015."

Businesses had a unique opportunity to meet with top executives from E.E. Cruz & Company, Inc., a New York City general contractor.

"This event brings together one of the region's largest construction and engineering companies with Westchester's small business owners," said Astorino. "Making these kinds of introductions is one reason why Westchester is the smart spot for doing business."

E.E. Cruz currently has numerous contracting opportunities that are available to Westchester's sub-contractor and vendor sector. Projects are located throughout Westchester County, New York City, New Jersey and Washington, DC.

Jonathan Saukin, E.E. Cruz Assistant Compliance Officer, provided details about available contracts and how to bid on them. E.E. Cruz is seeking to hire minority and women business enterprises in order to meet or exceed state and federal mandates. The sub-contract work includes construction trades such as plumbing, electrical, surveying, asbestos abatement and trucking as well as non-construction services such as photography, office cleaning, rodent control, office supplies and security guard services.

Jim Coleman, Westchester County Industrial Development Agency Executive Director, spoke on how to do business with Westchester County. "We're serious about getting more business for you so you can help us put all of our residents to work," Coleman told the audience. "We're doing everything we can to connect you to lucrative contracting opportunities to grow your business."

Many of those attending the event praised the county for bringing them together with E.E. Cruz:

  • "What Westchester County is doing is absolutely great. This is a fantastic opportunity for me to expand my services into commercial businesses," said Muffetta Krueger, owner of a cleaning company in Yonkers.
  • "This is an awesome opportunity for small businesses to secure contracts and expand their business," said Robin Finney-Granston, owner of RSFG Consulting Group in Mount Vernon.
  • "What a wonderful opportunity to meet their executives face to face. There's a lot of activity going on in my business which is renovation work," said LaQuon Burrows, president of Burrows Construction in Elmsford.\"I'm here to get more business and more procurement opportunities. This is a great way to get my foot in the door," said Sheila Mcqueen, president of Scrub Clean Maintenance Corp.

The "Cruzin' to Success in 2015" was co-hosted by Wiley Harrison, president of Business of Your Business, LLC in White Plains and Westchester County's Economic Development Department.

Photo (left to right): Jim Coleman, executive director, Westchester County IDA/LDC; County Executive Robert P. Astorino; Frank Spinozza, project manager, E.E. Cruz; Wiley Harrison, president, Business of Your Business; Deputy County Executive Kevin J. Plunkett; Jonathan Saukin, assistance compliance officer, E.E. Cruz; and Bill Mooney III, director, Westchester County Office of Economic Development.