Brooklyn's Progress
October/November 2005

By Khadija Batuta

The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce recently added new talent to its roster to assist in providing business support services to Brooklyn businesses.

Carlos Russell is the new Business Services Counselor at the NYC Business Solutions Center at the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce located at 9 Bond St.  Carlos, who joined the staff on Aug. 3, is the first point of contact for the more than 150 business owners and entrepreneurs who seek business assistance each month at the Center.  With a broad menu of services offered such as financing, licensing, franchising, business planning, marketing assistance and more, Carlos assists Business Solutions Center clients in identifying needs and next steps.

“I’m delighted that Carlos has joined the Business Solutions team.  His expertise in small business planning and overall knowledge of the business world will serve our customers very well,” says NYC Business Solutions Center Director Rick Russo.

In fact, Carlos understands intimately the challenges of entrepreneurship.  He assisted his father in opening a dinner theater company and also owned and operated his own night club for five years.

"I learned firsthand how rough the business world can be, but I also learned that I love being in business and creating new businesses," says Carlos.

A tried and true Brooklynite, Carlos attended Midwood High School.  Upon graduation he studied business management at Brooklyn College, where he was a member of the football team, as well as at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Md.  Carlos may be reached at 718-875-3400, or at crussell@brooklynchamber.com.

Staffing & Employment
Also new to the Business Solutions Center is Tondalaya London who joined the Chamber on Aug. 29 as Workforce Development Specialist for Good Help, the Chamber's free employment program.  Tondalaya will be working with Good Help Director Mike Rosenthal and the rest of the team assisting businesses in Brooklyn with their staffing and human resource needs (see cover story).

Another born and bred Brooklynite from the Midwood section, Tondalaya previously worked as a Customer Service Supervisor at Carver Federal Savings Bank.  Tondalaya may be reached at 718-246-5219 ext. 2026, or at tlondon@brooklynchamber.com.

New Addition to the Chamber Family
The Brooklyn Chamber is celebrating the birth of Thelonious Tahir, the son of Special Events Director Maggie Lucien and her husband Moses.  Baby Thelonious was born at 11:24 a.m. on Sept. 19, weighing 6 pounds and was 19 inches long.  Both he and Maggie are doing fine.

Events & Networking Contact
During Maggie’s absence, the Chamber is pleased to have the services of Keith Carr, who comes to the Chamber by way of the Brooklyn Borough President’s office where he coordinated the Summer HEAT youth employment program.  Keith, who has 20 years experience in event planning and management as well as workforce and economic development, may be reached at 718-875-1000 ext. 105, or at kcarr@brooklynchamber.com.