HIA-LI Announces Finalists for Prominent 18th Annual Business Achievement Awards

    HAUPPAUGE, NY, August 01, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Want to know which companies are the best run and highest performing on Long Island? HIA-LI, the recognized voice for business on Long Island, has announced the finalists for its prestigious HIA-LI 18th Annual Business Achievement Awards recognition. Winning companies will be announced during a gala luncheon event and an anticipated crowd of over 400 area business leaders held at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, NY, 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM, Tuesday, September 12, 2012. More information about the awards event is available at: http://bit.ly/hia-li-baa-event-2012.

"The HIA-LI Business Achievement Awards were established nearly two decades ago to recognize those Long Island companies that demonstrated the greatest achievements in industry leadership, creativity, successful business operations, corporate vision, and other characteristics vital to developing and growing a winning organization," said Terri Alessi-Miceli, President of HIA-LI. "HIA-LI is proud to recognize more than a dozen finalists in five categories from among the dozens of companies nominated in this year's competition."

Finalists in the HIA-LI 18th Annual Business Achievement Awards competition in five separate business categories are:

Large Businesses (100 or more employees):
- A & Z Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - a leading global developer, manufacturer and supplier of a wide range of OTC pharmaceutical products and nutritional supplements
- Grassi & Company - a full-service tax, accounting, and business advisory firm
- Hess Corporation - an energy marketer-providing oil, natural gas and demand response

Small Businesses (less than 100 employees):
- Cerini & Associates - a full service accounting firm specializing in healthcare, nonprofit, education, and more
- Lorraine Gregory Communications Group - a complete direct mail marketing company
- The Kensington Company - a leading merger and acquisitions firm focusing on both middle-market and smaller business transactions

Rookie of the Year (companies that have been operating less than five years):
- Digital Natives Group - a digital agency
- GUZU Inc. - a comprehensive turnkey electronics recycling solution with free nationwide pick-up
- Joseph Gabriel AIA Architects - a full service architectural firm specializing in corporate interiors, adaptive reuse of existing structures, violation removal and residential projects
- New Millennium Technology Services - a provider of tech support, PC repair, data recovery, networking and computer services in and around Long Island

Not-for-profit Organizations:
- Habitat for Humanity of Long Island/ReStore - a non-profit builder of affordable homes
- Stony Brook University College of Business - a leading business school offering both undergraduate education and an MBA program
- United Way of Long Island - advancing the common good by investing in and developing programs that address Long Islander's critical needs in education, income/financial stability and health

Special Innovation Award
- St. Catherine's of Siena Medical Center - not-for-profit community hospital, senior housing facility and medical office facility

In choosing the finalists, the selection committee considered multiple factors. The award criteria include:
- Positive employer/employee relations
- Commitment to the growth or betterment of the Long Island business community
- Revenue and profitability trends over the last three years
- Three to five year vision for the company's future

Additional criteria that were considered include:
- Recent outstanding accomplishments
- Technical innovation or innovative processes
- Expansion into new markets
- Industry leadership
- Overcoming adversity

This year's show sponsor is Amneal Pharmaceuticals. Other award and event sponsors to date include: Business Asset Furniture, Bi-County Mailing, Communication Strategy Group, Crest Hollow Country Club, Design Audio Visual (DAV), Factxback.com Websites & Video, Farrell Fritz, H2M, Newsday, People's Alliance Federal Credit Union (PAFCU), and VAI.

Past winners and finalists include: Allstate Insurance; Amneal Pharmaceuticals; Clear Vision Optical; Community Development Corp.; EAC, Inc.; Fuoco Group; H2M; Island Pro Digital; mindSHIFT Technologies; Middle Country Public Library, Stalco Construction; VAI, Inc. and many others.

Those interested in attending the luncheon, or companies interested in becoming sponsors, should visit http://bit.ly/hia-li-baa-event-2012 or contact Alicia Figueras at HIA-LI at [email protected] or 631-543-5355.

About HIA-LI
HIA-LI helps Long Island businesses prosper. For over 30 years, we have been the recognized voice for business on Long Island and a powerful force and economic engine for regional development. We provide a forum for business leaders to network, problem solve and obtain advice on critical issues facing their businesses. Our member companies represent tens of thousands of business professionals. We're headquartered in and support one of the largest industrial parks in the United States. HIA-LI programs and events promote strategic partnerships, targeted networking, information sharing and business advocacy. Members benefit from our committees, educational programs, career resources, research capabilities, mentoring opportunities and business advisory services. For more information, visit http://www.hia-li.org or call 631-543-5355.

MEDIA CONTACT
Arthur Germain, Communication Strategy Group, for HIA-LI
1-866-997-2424; [email protected]

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