STATEN ISLAND VISIONARIES SHARE FAVORITE BEACH DESTINATIONS, NUMBER ONE SUMMER SONGS, AND THE MOST IMPORTANT TRAIT FOR SUCCEEDING IN BUSINESS
BY ERIK SCHONING AND ARCHANA AITHAL ROSE PHOTOS BY ALEX BARRETO AND ERIC COLEMAN
Susan Anderson
Executive Director of Marketing & PR, Bread & Butter Hospitality / thestonehousesi.com
Susan Anderson has worked in several areas of public relations and marketing, rst whetting her skills amid the frenetic energy of Wall Street before migrating to the medical eld for many years – a stint she called particularly rewarding. But it wasn’t until she entered the hospitality space that the PR pro truly found her calling. She spent 15 years with Lois and Richard Nicotra as director of marketing at the Hilton, and today she spearheads marketing for Peter Botros and his Bread & Butter Hospitality family of restaurants, including The Stone House At Clove Lakes, Chef ’s Loft, Violette’s Cellar, So a’s Taqueria, Guac Bar, Sally’s Southern, Rustic Pizza & Pasteria, and Bifulco’s Pickle Works. “I thrive on the exciting, adrenaline filled days and nights, table hopping and meeting guests, learning about their lives and creating connections and lasting relationships at all of our seven (and counting) restaurants,” she said. “It’s also very important to me to be part of a dynamic team that not only brings happiness to the plate, but supports our community with their philanthropic endeavors.”
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TRAIT FOR SUCCEEDING IN BUSINESS?
Teamwork and always going the extra mile; the road is never crowded.
WHAT IS YOUR ULTIMATE BEACH DESTINATION AND FAVORITE BEACH ACTIVITY?
The sea at Amalfi Coast and kayaking right here on Staten Island at Fort Wadsworth or Gateway.
WHAT IS THE NUMBER ONE SONG ON YOUR SUMMER PLAYLIST?
Groove Armada’s version of “At the River.”
Eddie Mattioli
Owner, IBO Construction / @iboconstructiongroup
This Brooklyn native came from a family of painters, and has been the owner of IBO Construction for more than 30 years. The company, which won an American Institute of Architects Award for building Armani Exchange’s new corporate offices in New York City, is primarily focused on projects in Monmouth and Ocean Counties in New Jersey today.
Mattioli specializes in restaurants and homes, having built high-end establishments like Gabriella’s Italian Steakhouse in Red Bank and Patricia’s of Holmdel. His latest project, the three-story Latin restaurant Centrada in Red Bank, opened in late April.
“Centrada was an extremely proud project for me,” he said, adding he takes pride in being close to clients. “My goal for the future is to continue having fun doing what I love to do, because what’s life if you’re not having fun?”
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TRAIT FOR SUCCEEDING IN BUSINESS?
Being adaptable is an absolute essential trait. There’s always a constant need to pivot when obstacles arise. In life, nothing ever goes as planned, but being adaptable allows you to efficiently and successfully get the job done.
WHAT IS YOUR ULTIMATE BEACH DESTINATION AND FAVORITE BEACH ACTIVITY?
Pozzallo, Sicily. As a first generation Italian American my fondest memories are the times that I spent on the beaches of Pozzallo. The sand is as soft as powder and the water is crystal clear. My favorite activity is boating. I love spending my summers boating with my family along the Jersey Shore.
WHAT IS THE NUMBER ONE SONG ON YOUR SUMMER PLAYLIST?
I don’t do playlists; whatever is on Pandora Classic Rock puts me in a good mood.
Sharon Covino
Attorney, The Law Office of Sharon K. Covino / covinolaw.com
Attorney Sharon Covino knows Staten Island well. Her family moved to the North Shore when she was ten years old, and she’s been laying down roots ever since, putting together a professional resume that includes degrees from Port Richmond High and St. John’s University, before sharpening her skills at the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office. Today she runs her own practice, the Law Office of Sharon K. Covino, prioritizing her clients while drawing on her knowledge of the community and its legal system.
“I’m always trying to help people,” Covino said. “I feel like everything’s come full circle for me. Serving this community is something I’ve done throughout my entire career.”
During her time as a public servant, Covino worked as a domestic violence prosecutor. That sparked a lasting interest in representing survivors and standing up for abused women and children. Covino has made that a cornerstone of her private practice, and it’s just another way she feels she can give back to the borough that shaped her. As she noted, “Staten Island is a small community. You don’t get far without trust.”
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TRAIT FOR SUCCEEDING IN BUSINESS?
I think drive is the most important because when you open up your own business, if you don’t have that drive, that hustle, that willingness to just dive into your business 100%, in my opinion, you’re either not going to succeed or you’re going to remain stagnant.
WHAT IS YOUR ULTIMATE BEACH DESTINATION AND FAVORITE BEACH ACTIVITY?
My ultimate beach destination is somewhere on the Amalfi Coast for sure. I like what everybody likes to do: tan, have a drink, talk with friends, the usual.
WHAT IS THE NUMBER ONE SONG ON YOUR SUMMER PLAYLIST?
I like “Cruise” by Florida Georgia Line.
David C. Egan, CPA, CGMA
Managing Partner, Goldenthal & Suss Consulting gosucpa.com
When Egan was a senior at Monsignor Farrell High School, he took an elective class in finance, where he was introduced to accounting. “I recalled a picture of my father with an accounting textbook from his youth,” recalled the Staten Island native. “It was then that I decided to pursue accounting as a career.” After receiving his BBA in accounting from Pace University’s NYC campus, Egan obtained his CPA license, then gained real-world experience, first as an auditor in the city and later as a manager at a firm in NJ before becoming managing partner at Goldenthal & Suss in his home borough. “The most challenging part of my job is time management,” he said. “As a local CPA, my office prides itself on providing professional and personal service to a wide array of clients both business and individual. Sometimes it can become quite challenging to schedule and arrange for times to meet our clients’ needs and expectations. With the ever-changing environment, virtual appointments and electronic lings have helped to accommodate this challenge.”
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TRAIT FOR SUCCEEDING IN BUSINESS?
Team development. It’s paramount to surround yourself with team members that possess complementary skills and work toward a shared goal for success.
WHAT IS YOUR ULTIMATE BEACH DESTINATION AND FAVORITE BEACH ACTIVITY?
My ultimate beach destination would be Hawaii. I’d love to take my kids snorkeling there.
WHAT IS THE NUMBER ONE SONG ON YOUR SUMMER PLAYLIST?
Jason Aldean’s “Dirt Road Anthem.”
Melissa Yih, Md
Reproductive Endocrinologist and Fertility Specialist, IRMS Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Science sbivf.com
IRMS, the renowned New Jersey-based reproductive medicine clinic, opened its first Staten Island office last winter in the heart of the island’s “Medical Mile.”
Spearheading the expansion is Dr. Melissa Yih, a 20-year veteran in her field and one of New Jersey’s top reproductive endocrinologists. Dr. Yih may be new to working in Staten Island, but she sees the new IRMS location as an opportunity to further the work she’s been doing her entire career: helping people build families on their own terms.
Dr. Yih’s professional achievements include an undergraduate degree from Wellesley College, a medical degree from the University of Vermont, and a clinical fellowship at New York-Presbyterian Weill Medical College of Cornell University. She specializes in fertility preservation, a rapidly evolving field that includes new technologies such as oocyte and embryo cryopreservation.
Dr. Yih heads up a state-of-the-art new office featuring a natural preserve with walking trails, outdoor work pods equipped with Wi-Fi, and an organic rooftop farm.
Outside of the office, Dr. Yih loves to stay active, prioritizing time outside with her family and dogs. You can find her on the ski slopes, on a hike, at the yoga studio, or volunteering in her community.
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TRAIT FOR SUCCEEDING IN BUSINESS?
The most important trait for succeeding in business is being a good listener and communicator.
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WHAT IS YOUR ULTIMATE BEACH DESTINATION AND FAVORITE BEACH ACTIVITY?
My ultimate beach destination is Long Beach Island and my favorite beach activity is just hanging out on the beach, reading a good book and listening to the sound of the waves.
WHAT IS THE NUMBER ONE SONG ON YOUR SUMMER PLAYLIST?
Anything Elton John. One of my favorites is “Bennie and the Jets.”