The Cabinet was created in an effort to groom local business leaders to eventually become SIEDC Board Members. SIEDC Cabinet Members have an active role in SIEDC policy, meet with developers seeking to relocate or expand on Staten Island and make recommendations to the SIEDC Executive Committee regarding long-term SIEDC initiatives.
Ram Cherukuri was born April 12, 1952 in a small village called Reaghudenapuram, Andhraprepesh, located in Southern India. Ram longed for new horizons, a better education and to not only improve his outlook for a bright future but to improve his standard of living, and in the early 1970's he requested to leave his home in India to study abroad in America. In 1976, Ram's friends and family convinced him to take a position with a company in the cosmetics industry. At Ross Cosmetics, Ram was learning the ins and outs of the perfume, fragrance and cosmetic industry; he was at the beginning of a career that would not only "pay off" but make him realize the stuff that dreams are made of is hard work and perseverance. Within ten years, under the tutelage of Ross Freitas, Ram had made strides in the perfume/cosmetics industry. Traveling heavily to cosmetic shows across the country and around the world.
After his mentor Ross Freitas retired in 1986, Ram Cherukuri started his own company, New York Fragrance Inc, not long after that he opened a office with a warehouse on Port Richmond Avenue. Today, New York Fragrance distributes over 1200 fragrance products from perfume to cologne to gift sets to hair and skin products. Now in 2011, Ram is still traveling around the world showing off new products and widening his network to places like England, Spain, Europe and Singapore. With a new facility opening soon and an ever present entrepreneurial spirit, for Ram Cherukuri, the sky is the limit and the future is bright.
Walter received his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from St. John’s University. His years of service in public accounting include diversified experience with large and mid-size CPA firms, where he worked with Fortune 500, mid and small size clientele. He is the founder and managing shareholder of Daszkowski, Tompkins & Weg, PC, a full service Certified Public Accounting Firm. He is a former Executive Board Member of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants.
He is also the former President of the Staten Island / Brooklyn Chapter of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants. He is an independent Registered Representative and an Investment Adviser Representative with Genworth Financial Securities Corporation and Genworth Financial Advisers Corporation, respectively. He also maintains his life and health insurance producer license. He frequently speaks at tax and investment planning seminars in the tri-state area.
A resident of Staten Island, Phil received his B.A. in Banking and Finance from Hunter College, before completing a continuing education program on Real Estate and Commercial Bank Lending at New York University. Entering the field as a customer service representative and teller with Hamilton Federal Savings FA, Phil went on to hold such positions as Assistant Branch Manger, Assistant Vice President/Mortgage Officer, Vice President and Branch Administrator/Lending Administrator during his 21 year tenure. After leaving Hamilton Federal Savings Phil went on to serve as Vice President/Loan Origination at Home Federal Savings Bank, and Senior Vice President/Chief Lending Officer with The Yonkers SLA, FA. Phil then served as President/COO of Atlantic States Mortgage Corp., and was responsible for all facets of mortgage banking.
In early 2004, Phil orchestrated the association of Atlantic States Mortgage Corp. with Empire State Bank, NA as part of organizing a national bank to primarily service the communities in and around Orange County, Ulster County and Richmond County, New York. On June 28th, 2004 Empire State Bank, NA commenced operations and acquired Atlantic States Mortgage Corporation. The activity of Atlantic States Mortgage Corporation was incorporated into Empire State Bank, NA’s lending operations. Phil currently serves as the President and Co-CEO of Empire State Bank.
David Rampulla founded Ferry Ads in 1987. You can afford Ferry Boat Advertising...in fact; you can't afford to ignore it! If you do business in the NY Metro Area, statistics show that Staten Islanders who commute into Manhattan have the largest per capita income of the city! Staten Island is the fastest growing borough in NYC! Staten Islanders tend to have more automobiles per household, & are better educated. In short, S.I. Ferry commuters have buying power! When you compare the number of advertising impressions, the number & length of time these impressions are seen, S.I. Ferry Advertising gives you the most bang for your advertising dollar.
William Spiezia has been with Rogers Surveying for over twenty-three years. Bill is Managing Partner and Director of Topographic Operations and Managing Partner of RS Engineering, a subsidiary of Rogers Surveying, which provides civil engineering. Most recently, Bill and his staff contributed to the development of "The Tides of Charleston", a 190-unit residential development, on the southwest shore of Staten Island. Rogers has also been selected for multi-year professional contracts with the Port Authority of NY & NJ, the U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers, Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc., Keyspan and the New York City Department of Design and Construction. Additionally, Field Operations selected Rogers to provide all surveying services including aerial mapping for the new, 3000 acre, Fresh Kills Park for Department of Parks & Recreation and the Arker Companies selected Rogers for the new Markham Home Development, a 105-affordable housing unit project on Broadway and Richmond Terrace.
Over the past three (3) years especially, Bill and his staff have been active in the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, The Downtown Staten Island Council, the SIEDC and it's Ambassador Program, the Friends of Abandoned Cemeteries and the Building Industry Association of New York City (BIANYC). This year he has added two more organizations to the Rogers network: SIBOR and the West Brighton LDC. He has also served as a member of the Membership and Golf Committees for the BIANYC.
Anthony Tucci
Law Office of Anthony Tucci
718-980-2373
Anthony Tucci received his Bachelor’s degree, cum laude, in Finance from St. John’s University, and received his law degree, cum laude, from Seton Hall University Law School. Anthony received his LL.M. degree in Taxation from New York University Graduate Law School.
Anthony is a tax attorney and a certified public accountant, in practice for more than twenty years. Anthony maintains a private practice on Staten Island, counseling clients including business owners and developers, in obtaining valuable state and city tax incentives. Anthony’s law firm also concentrates in estate tax planning and probate matters.
Anthony is currently an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Graduate Program at Wagner College and previously taught taxation and business law as an Adjunct Professor in the Graduate Program at St. John’s University. Anthony is the executive director of the Autism Awareness & Support Foundation, a not for profit organization which seeks to promote the awareness and the effective implementation of research based instruction methodologies to assist children with autism.
