Economic Impact of Gay Marriage as photographed by New York event photographer Jeffrey Holmes.

December 9, 2011 by Jeffrey Holmes

The Economics of Gay Marriage panel discussion presented by Manhattan Chamber of Commerce held at MetLife Conference Center in New York. (Jeffrey Holmes/JeffreyHolmes.com)

Christine Quinn, NYC Council Speaker and first openly gay NYC Council member, addresses The Economics of Gay Marriage Program. A panel discussion presented by Manhattan Chamber of Commerce held at MetLife Conference Center in New York.

The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce presented a panel discussion that focused on the role of the business community in pressuring the legislature to approve same-sex marriage.The event was held at the new Met Life Conference Center at 6th Avenue and 42nd Street. The event was photographed by event photographer new york, Jeffrey Holmes Photography for the MCC. The business community has a stake in this issue because of employee benefits, payroll taxes, talent retention and money will be made when tens of thousands of couples marry here in New York City rather than traveling to other states.

“Economic Impact of Gay Marriage” took place on Monday, March 14, 2011 and was organized by the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, hosted by MetLife and sponsored by Bloomingdale’s, Gay City News, Microsoft and the Riverside Church.T

People have figured out that when permitted to marry, the gay community will be more likely to hire a realtor, purchase a home, buy insurance, travel on a honeymoon and use the services of a caterer, wedding planner, florist, and all of the other services engaged by traditional couples getting married.

MetLife Conference Center in New York where the Economic Impact of Gay Marriange Program was held and photographed by Jeffrey Holmes, new york event photographer.

Panel members included Jeremiah Frei-Pearson, Straight Allies Coordinator, Marriage Equality New York; George Carrancho, National Sales & Marketing Manager for LGBT Community, American Airlines; M. V. Lee Badgett, Research Director, Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation Law & Public Policy at UCLA School of Law; Rachel B. Tiven, Executive Director, Immigration Equality; Paul Schindler (Moderator), Editor-in-Chief, Gay City News; Tracy Teofilo, President, Prestigious & Elegant Events, Inc; and, Jeffrey Hollander, JD, Assistant Vice President Advanced Markets Group, MetLife.

: MetLife Conference Center in New York where the Economic Impact of Gay Marriange Program was held and photographed by Jeffrey Holmes, new york event photographer.

Photographer Note on the venue: MetLife Conference Center is a great venue for medium size conferences. The lighting is ideal. The room features a large projection screen. While a the screen could have been positioned lower on the back wall, it d

oes provide for great viewing. The stage is lighted with with floods high above in the ceiling (perhaps a bit too much of an angle as to provide an uncomplimentary image) fill flash is a must. The venue provides a wonderful view of Bryant Park. Catering of the events is available.

Academy Award Nominated Ana Joanes, Producer-Director of FRESH, at Green Film Festival in New York.

March 3, 2011 by Jeffrey Holmes

Green Film Festival Ana Joanes, Producer/Director of FRESH photographed by Jeffrey Holmes, Event photographer New York

The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce Green Business Committee Retail and Hospitality sub-committee is presented the first ever MCC Green Film Festival. Segments of four films were shown. The films focused on green and sustainability issues in the food and restaurant industry, organic farming, urban farming, composting, and water and energy issues relating to agriculture. The films were Fresh, Food Inc, Flow and Gasland. Gasland was nominated for an 2011 Academy Award for Best Documentary. A panel discussion and then a networking cocktail party catered by GustOrganics.The event was photographed by Jeffrey Holmes Photography, event photographer New York.

Program speakers included Nancy Ploeger, President, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce; Dr. Robert J. Koenig, Associate Dean: School of Managements Student Advancement Programs, NYIT; David R. Pospisil, CEM, Manager, Commercial & Industrial Energy Efficiency Programs, Con Edison Company of New York; Keynote by David Bragdon, Director of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability, NYC.

The panel discussion was moderated by Marcel Van Ooyen, Executive Director of GrowNYC. Panel members included Ron Bergamini, CEO, The Action Environmental Group; Alberto Gonzalez, Founder and CEO, GustOrganics, Ana Joanes, Producer/Director of FRESH; Alan Someck, Project Director – Green Hospitality Initiative of New York State Restaurant Association Education Foundation.The event was sponsored by Green Hospitality Initiative (Sponsored by the New York State Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.)

Stephen Goldsmith, Deputy Mayor featured at Manhattan Chamber of Commerce

January 29, 2011 by Jeffrey Holmes

Stephen Goldsmith, Deputy Mayor of Operations was the featured speaker at Manhattan Chamber of Commerce’s Chairman’s Breakfast hosted by MetLife in their Sky Garden Auditorium in New York on January 28, 2011.

Manhattan Chamber of Commerce Chairman

The quarterly breakfast event is photographed by MCC Photographer, Jeffrey Holmes Photography. Jeffrey is a creative New York event photographer, he is the photographer for events and event photography New York. Great images and superb customer service.

Goldsmith spoke to the city’s goal of streamlining city operations, making the processes more expedited and customer friendly. Questions from the guests called to attention traffic/parking issues and coordination of non-profit efforts.

Here is more about Stephan Goldsmith from the New York City web site:

Stephen Goldsmith is the Deputy Mayor for Operations. Deputy Mayor Goldsmith is focused on creating a City government for the 21st Century that is smaller, more efficient, and more cost effective; uses fewer vehicles; consolidates back office functions and reduces redundancies across agencies; shares data, and uses technology to better serve the public.

From 1992-1999, Goldsmith served as Mayor of Indianapolis, where he earned a reputation as one of the country’s most innovative public officials. His transformative efforts to revitalize urban neighborhoods and to transfer real authority to community groups received national acclaim. Deputy Mayor Goldsmith served as a special advisor to President Bush on faith-based and nonprofit initiatives and served as the Chair of the Corporation for National and Community Service for eight years under President Bush and President Obama, where he helped lead efforts to expand and strengthen the government’s service agenda. Deputy Mayor Goldsmith was District Attorney for Marion County, Indiana from 1979 to 1990.

Manhattan Chamber of Commerce Chairman

Prior to his appointment as Deputy Mayor, Goldsmith was the Daniel Paul Professor of Government and the Director of the Innovations in American Government Program at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. He has authored a number of books, including The Power of Social Innovation: How Civic Entrepreneurs Ignite Community Networks for Good, Governing by Network: the New Shape of the Public Sector, Putting Faith in Neighborhoods: Making Cities Work through Grassroots Citizenship and The Twenty-First Century City: Resurrecting Urban America.