CEO Panel

Speakers

Barry Rosenberg
Chief Executive Officer at Econoco Corporation

Barry Rosenberg, 61, is the Chief Executive Officer at Econoco Corporation, a recognized leader in the store fixture and visual display industry in business since 1925.   The company is family owned and operated.

The company sells through an international network of store fixture distributors including major websites like Home Depot, Grainger, Uline, Amazon, Wayfair in addition to store fixture distributors, retail packaging distributors, store planners, architects and contractors. Additionally, the firm services the retail industry on a direct basis which includes major national department store chains, specialty stores, discount chains and general merchandise stores .

The company is headquartered in Hicksville NY and operates a 175,000 sq ft distribution center in Hazelton, Pa where over 2000 stock products are inventoried. The company has a subsidiary Mondo Mannequins that is one of the top mannequin manufacturers in the country. Econoco also maintains a division called Sellutions which specializes in custom fixture design. More recently, Econoco launched a new brand in 2018 called DisplayDispensary.com that is focused on the growing cannabis retail niche.

Barry grew up in Great Neck, Long Island and graduated from Union College in Schenectady NY in 1981. He received his MBA degree from Emory University in Atlanta in 1983 and has worked for Econoco for 38 years serving as CEO since 1994. He is married to Robin Bernstein also of Great Neck and have two children Jack, 23 who graduated from Lynn University in 2020 and started working for the company and Jennifer, 21 who is in her senior year at Tulane and hoping to pursue professional golf as a career.

The couple lives in Laurel Hollow, NY on the north shore of Long Island.

Barry has been involved in Young Presidents Organization (YPO) since 1997 and has held every position in the chapter leadership including four terms as Membership Chairman, Education Chair and Chapter Chairman at the Long Island Chapter. Barry and Robin maintain a membership at the Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury NY and love to play golf, ski, tennis and travel. He is a Board of Trustee member and past president for the Childrens Medical Fund of New York since 1989 which is the major donor to Cohen’s Childrens Hospital in Lake Success, NY.

James Giorgio, Jr., President / CEO
B&G Industries LTD, B&G Electrical Contractors of New York

James Giorgio Jr., Owner, President and Chief Executive Officer of B&G Industries LTD, B&G Electrical Contractors of New York, James oversees the overall performance and strategic direction of the enterprise. At the start of his career, James embraced every facet of B&G, where he devoted his time to engaging and mastering a multitude of processes involved at every level of the organization.  During this time and discovery era James successfully supported and cultivated best practices while strengthening his team and his direct management and leadership positions within the organization. Mr. Giorgio Jr. succeeded his father, James Giorgio Sr., as President and CEO in 2011, and today has cultivated B&G Industries LTD., as one of the top leading specialty contractors in New York and the industry as a whole.

Mr. James Giorgio drives key fundamental practices within the B&G firm.  His primary focus are in four key areas: the safety of all B&G employees; driving ‘excellence’ in the projects and services standards B&G provides to its clients; delivering financial results that allow for an investment in the future of B&G and conducting B&G’s business with the highest level of ethical standards within every facet of the now multi-unit enterprise.

James received his degree in Finance from Fort Lewis College. He holds electrical licenses in jurisdictions throughout the New York City metropolitan area. He is an active member, through B&G, of the National Electrical Contractors Association (N.E.C.A.) and the New York Electrical Contractors Association (N.Y.E.C.A.).

Derek Peterson
Soter Technologies

Derek Peterson is the Founder and CEO of the Soter Technologies, a rapidly growing environmental sensor and technology innovator headquartered in Ronkonkoma, New York. As a teen, Mr. Peterson was fascinated with computers and technology and has been developing software since high school. Today, he is a high energy and focused business leader and problem solver who leverages his knowledge and technological expertise to address complex social, business and community safety challenges.

As CEO of Soter Technologies, he is devoted to the practical application of technology to improve and save lives. The “Soter” name is inspired by the ancient Greek god of safety, deliverance and preservation from harm. Using advanced sensor and software technology, the company develops and delivers innovative solutions for environmental intelligence – to make the world a safer place.

Mr. Peterson’s inventions, products and software have received awards as well as national media attention. Soter’s SymptomSense has been featured on NBC’s Today Show, MSNBC, Inside Edition, Cheddar TV and many other regional and national media outlets. His FlySense vaping detection and anti-bullying sensor has also been featured in the national and local media, including ABC’s Good Morning America and NBC’s Today Show along with hundreds of other media outlets across the United States and abroad. Mr. Peterson is regularly interviewed by the media about technology, health and safety in the work place and schools, entrepreneurship and technology.

Moderator

Robert E. Grote
CPA Partner, Manufacturing & Distribution Practice Leader

Robert E. Grote is a partner at Grassi. He specializes in accounting, tax planning and management consulting. Rob consults with clients on profitability enhancement, employee benefit plan design, corporate structuring, inventory management, succession and estate planning, research and development tax credit utilization, corporate and individual tax planning and projections, and other methods to maximize his clients’ success. Since beginning his career in 1993, he has served clients in a variety of industries, including manufacturing and distribution, construction, and not-for-profit. Rob is the Manufacturing and Distribution Practice Leader at Grassi.

Rob has led many educational seminars and developed thought leadership on employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), corporate succession planning, lean concepts and lean inventory, operational reviews, and the utilization of IC-DISC. Rob takes a proactive, yet patient and team-focused approach with his clients as he develops strategies and applications to help them succeed.

Rob is active in numerous industry trade organizations, such as the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), where he is a Past President, and currently serves as the Chairman of the chapter’s Corporate Development Committee. In addition, he is a member of the New York State Society of CPAs (NYSSCPA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Rob was named to the Long Island Business News 40 Under 40 Class of 2008, recognizing his success and accomplishments.

Rob holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from St. John’s University, where he graduated magna cum laude.

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