Crains New York - July 23, 2012 - (Page 7)

PEOPLE DENISE MARI is looking to add to Organic Avenue’s roster of eight retail locations. BUSINESS of American workers think the president has a big impact on job creation Source: Korn/Ferry International 63% EXECUTIVE MOVES Real Estate Board of New York: Rob Speyer, 42, was elected chair of the organization, effective January 2013. He is president and cochief executive of GOTHAM GIGS Organic Avenue seeks to spread the vegan gospel A healthy $20M in revenue gives the firm some juice For dinner, Denise Mari feeds her 2-year-old son, Oliver, a bowl of vegetables—only vegetables. Recently, he slurped up broccoli soup with avocado. “I don’t think kids are born picky eaters,” Ms. Mari said. People become picky when fed a poor diet, she added. And so Ms. Mari’s 12-yearold vegan food company, Organic Avenue, not only sells fruit and vegetable juices and other produce-centric prepared foods, it also aims to educate adults on how to enjoy as many vegetables as Oliver apparently does. ¶ Though Ms. Mari, 38, is fully vegan, she describes many of her customers as “toe dippers”—New Yorkers who spend a few days on a juice cleanse or who incorporate her juices into their regular diet. On the menu as well are organic salads, raw falafel and nut milks, all made at a 15,000-square-foot kitchen in Long Island City, Queens, and delivered by refrigerated truck to one of Organic Avenue’s eight existing retail locations. The result is a healthy 100% compounded annual growth rate since 2006 and revenue of almost $20 million. ¶ To further educate the public, Ms. Mari is writing a cookbook, to be published by HarperCollins in 2013. And to bolster her company’s growth, she has sold a minority stake to Weld North, an investment firm whose chief executive is Jonathan Grayer, the former CEO of education giant Kaplan Inc. He’s now chairman of Organic Avenue. ¶ With the funds, Ms. Mari, who serves as executive director, and her CEO, Doug Evans, plan to open new retail locations— one in Roslyn, L.I., and one in Chelsea are already in the works—and develop new products. They plan to expand the website and ultimately bring Organic Avenue’s food and ethos to the rest of the world. “The vision,” she said, “has always —cara eisenpress been global.” Growing organically Tishman Speyer. Peter Braus, 43, was appointed chairman of its stores committee. He is managing principal of the New York office of Lee & Associates. Vidaris Inc.: Israel Berger, 59, joined the marketplace for specialty consultancies as chief executive, a newly created position. He was previously president of Israel Berger & Associates. Healthcare Association of New York State: Dennis Whalen, 59, was named president of the hospital and continuing-care association, effective in 2013. He is currently executive vice president and chief operating officer. NK Architects: Stephen Aluotto, 54, was promoted to president at the regional planning and design firm. He was previously principal. Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc.: Adir Katzav, 42, was promoted to chief financial officer. He was previously director of financial reporting. UM: Eileen Kiernan, 42, joined the marketing communications agency as global chief marketing officer, a newly created position. She was previously executive vice president of human experience strategy at MediaVest. Documentation and Conservation of Buildings, Sites and Neighborhoods of the Modern Movement: John Shreve Arbuckle, 48, was elected president of the conservation advocacy group for modern architecture’s New York/tristate chapter. He is New York business development manager at Hoffmann Architects Inc. Scholastic: Tara Welty, 32, was promoted to editor in chief at Scholastic Instructor magazine. She was previously editor of Scholastic Art magazine. Foundation for the National Institutes of Health: Jim Donovan, 45, was elected to the board of directors. He is a managing director at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. The Lightstone Group: Christian Gabrielsen, 50, joined the real estate developer as president of its securities division. He was previously executive vice president and national sales manager at Thompson National Properties. Dennis Freed, 54, joined as senior vice president of development and construction. He was previously principal at Lend Lease Corp. Greg McGowan, 49, joined as senior vice president of Eastern sales in the securities division. He was previously senior vice buck ennis See EXECUTIVE MOVES on Page 8 July 23, 2012 | Crain’s New York Business | 7

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Crains New York - July 23, 2012

Crains New York - July 23, 2012
Contents
In the Boroughs
In the Markets
The Insider
Business People
Small Business
Opinion
From Around the City
Report: Real Estate
Real Estate Deals
For the Record
Classifieds
New York, New York
Source Lunch
Out and About

Crains New York - July 23, 2012