Paul Pontieri

The Next Business Breakthrough Starts with a Conversation

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Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine gave stirring opening remarks about the need to improve our region’s infrastructure. Behind him are Joe Campolo, Managing Partner of Campolo, Middleton & McCormick LLP, Founder of STRATA Alliance, and HIA-LI Board Member, and Cara Longworth, Regional Director of Empire State Development.

One of my favorite stories about the power of the HIA-LI Trade Show goes back many years.

Before joining HIA-LI, I was exhibiting at this very trade show on behalf of my former employer when I struck up a conversation with a senior executive from Computer Associates. It was a chance encounter. One of the countless conversations that take place on a trade show floor each year. But that single conversation eventually led to one of the largest contracts in that company’s history.

It’s a reminder that you never know where your next opportunity, partnership, client, or breakthrough idea will come from.

That story was very much on my mind as more than 4,000 business professionals gathered at Suffolk Credit Union Arena at Suffolk County Community College for HIA-LI’s 38th Annual Business Trade Show & Conference.

Featuring more than 375 exhibitors, this year’s event embraced the theme, “The Next Business Breakthrough.” Judging by the energy on the trade show floor, the packed networking events, and the meaningful conversations taking place throughout the day, there were plenty of breakthroughs happening.

Connections That Create Opportunity

The event also received strong reviews from participants, with more than 70 percent of survey respondents rating their experience an eight or higher on a 10-point scale.

Denise Labosco of Suite AI Solutions, a first-time exhibitor, described the event as “extremely organized” and praised the quality of the attendees, noting that she walked away with “real conversations and real leads.”

Returning exhibitor Alice Thomson of Southampton Inn said she was glad her organization returned for a second year, citing the meaningful connections she expects will lead to future business opportunities.

Those comments reflect what has made the HIA-LI Trade Show such a valued annual tradition for nearly four decades. While the exhibitors, industries, and business challenges may evolve over time, the power of bringing people together remains unchanged.

More Than Networking: A Conversation About Long Island’s Future

While the trade show floor was buzzing throughout the day, one of the highlights was the Executive Luncheon, “Economic Development: Reshaping Long Island’s Landscape.”

Moderated by Marc Herbst, Executive Director of the Long Island Contractors’ Association, the luncheon featured a special welcome by video from Governor Kathy Hochul and opening remarks by Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine. The panel included Joe Campolo, Managing Partner of Campolo, Middleton & McCormick LLP, Founder of STRATA Alliance, and HIA-LI Board Member; Jim Coughlan, Co-Founder and Principal of TRITEC Real Estate and HIA-LI Board Member; Cara Longworth, Regional Director of Empire State Development; and Paul Pontieri, Mayor of the Village of Patchogue.

Although each panelist brought a different perspective, a common theme emerged throughout the discussion: Long Island’s future depends on our ability to create places where people can live, work, innovate, and build businesses.

The conversation touched on some of the most important issues facing our region, including workforce development, housing, innovation, infrastructure investment, downtown revitalization, and economic competitiveness.

Panelists discussed major projects already transforming Long Island, from transit-oriented development and downtown redevelopment initiatives to emerging innovation corridors designed to help turn research and new technologies into businesses and jobs. They emphasized that economic development is no longer about a single project or a single community. Success depends on collaboration among government, business, developers, educational institutions, and community leaders working toward a shared vision for the region.

Turning Ideas Into Action

One particularly important theme was the connection between housing and workforce development. Businesses cannot attract and retain talent if workers cannot afford to live where they work. Likewise, innovation cannot thrive if promising startups and skilled professionals leave the region in search of opportunities elsewhere.

The discussion also highlighted the importance of investing in quality-of-life initiatives that make Long Island an attractive place to live, raise a family, launch a business, and pursue a career.

What made the luncheon especially valuable was that it moved beyond identifying challenges. The panelists offered real-world examples of projects, partnerships, and strategies already producing results and creating momentum for the future.

That spirit of collaboration carried throughout the entire trade show.

Every year, the HIA-LI Trade Show brings together business leaders, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, government officials, educators, and innovators from across Long Island. It creates opportunities to share ideas, build relationships, and discover solutions to common challenges.

Most importantly, it reminds us that Long Island’s greatest asset is not a building, a development project, or even a business sector. It is the people willing to come together, exchange ideas, and work toward a stronger future.

And that is where the next business breakthrough often begins.

Big Ideas for Long Island’s Economic Future

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Pictured: HIA-LI Board Member Joe Campolo, Chair of HIA-LI’s Economic Development Task Force and Managing Partner of Campolo, Middleton & McCormick is also the founder of Strata Alliance, the co-host of the March 12, 2026 event.

Long Island’s economic future will not be determined by any single project or policy. It will be shaped by the ability of leaders across the region — in business, government, and community organizations — to work together to advance bold ideas that strengthen our economy and expand opportunity. That spirit of collaboration was on full display last week when HIA-LI hosted its Economic Development Task Force dinner at Mama Lombardi’s in Holbrook.

Co-hosted by Strata Alliance — founded by HIA-LI Board Member Joe Campolo, Chair of HIA-LI’s Economic Development Task Force and Managing Partner of the Ronkonkoma-based law firm Campolo, Middleton & McCormick — the event brought together about 50 regional leaders, including roughly a dozen elected officials. The evening began with networking before transitioning to a dinner and discussion focused on Long Island’s economic opportunities and the work still ahead to fully realize the region’s potential.

One topic that consistently underscores Long Island’s economic strength is the Long Island Innovation Park at Hauppauge.

The park — the second largest industrial park in the United States after Silicon Valley — is something of a hidden gem in the regional economy. It represents one of Long Island’s most important employment centers and a powerful driver of economic activity, supporting tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic output.

But the park’s true significance lies in the collaborative effort that continues to shape its future. Government leaders, economic development organizations, businesses, and community partners have worked together to position the park for continued growth and revitalization.

Town of Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim spoke about the town’s leadership in advancing the overlay district that allows for thoughtful redevelopment within the Innovation Park. The initiative is designed to support a more modern economic environment that could eventually include mixed-use development and a live-work-play atmosphere in appropriate areas. Wehrheim also noted that there are currently no hotels in the Town of Smithtown — a gap that has implications for tourism and business activity as Long Island continues to grow. He also discussed redevelopment efforts underway in Kings Park and the importance of strategic planning to help communities evolve and thrive.

Infrastructure investment emerged as another key theme of the evening.

Robert Calarco, Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs in the office of Governor Kathy Hochul, emphasized the governor’s strong commitment to Long Island and the team she has assembled to support the region’s economic development priorities. A major focus of that effort is investment in infrastructure, particularly sewer systems, which are often essential to unlocking new housing and economic development opportunities.

Without that infrastructure, growth can be constrained. With it, communities gain the ability to revitalize underutilized properties, attract new businesses, and support sustainable development.

The Suffolk County Industrial Development Agency also plays a key role in helping make those opportunities possible. Kelly Murphy, the agency’s Executive Director and CEO, spoke about the IDA’s ongoing work to support business growth and job creation throughout Suffolk County. Through financial assistance programs and strategic partnerships, the agency has helped facilitate hundreds of millions of dollars in private investment while supporting thousands of jobs for Long Island residents.

Regional tourism and economic opportunity were also part of the discussion.

Mitch Pally, Interim President and CEO of Discover Long Island, made a compelling case for the development of a convention center on Long Island. Despite having a population far larger than many cities across the country, the region lacks a facility capable of hosting major conventions and large-scale events.

Pally pointed out that New York State cities with smaller populations than Long Island — including Rochester, Syracuse, and Buffalo — all have convention centers capable of hosting conferences and large gatherings that generate significant economic activity. Without a similar facility, Long Island is missing opportunities to attract major events and the economic benefits that come with them.

He suggested that Ronkonkoma could be an ideal location for such a facility. The community has rapidly emerged as a transportation hub, anchored by Long Island MacArthur Airport, the Ronkonkoma Long Island Rail Road station, and major transit-oriented redevelopment. Projects such as Station Yards demonstrate how thoughtful planning and investment can transform communities.

That spirit of bold thinking is not new to Long Island.

Longtime Village of Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri, who was present at Thursday night’s dinner, is widely credited with leading one of Long Island’s most successful downtown revitalization efforts. When Patchogue faced empty storefronts and declining activity years ago, Pontieri and his team took bold steps to reimagine the village’s future. Through transit-oriented development, new housing, and a focus on creating a vibrant, walkable downtown near the Patchogue Long Island Rail Road station, the community was transformed into one of the region’s most dynamic destinations. Today, Patchogue is often cited as a model for other Long Island communities seeking to revitalize their downtowns and attract new investment.

At HIA-LI, fostering those partnerships has long been central to our mission. Through the Economic Development Task Force and our many initiatives across the region, we continue to bring together leaders who are committed to strengthening Long Island’s economy. The ideas discussed last week reinforce an important truth: Long Island’s future will be shaped not only by bold vision, but by continued collaboration among business, government, and community leaders. HIA-LI will remain a convener for those conversations and a catalyst for the partnerships that move our region forward.

Bi-Partisan Public-Private Cooperation Propels Long Island’s Economic Growth

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2019 Leg Recep Collage

On October 29th the HIA-LI once again gathered for our Annual Board Legislative Breakfast with the goal of reviewing our current initiatives and asking for continued support from our officials.

“Long Island is not only a national treasure, but we’re also a national model for how business and government should partner.”

When HIA-LI Chair Joe Campolo said this to the gathering his words rang true for me – and I think for just about every business executive and government official in the room.

Yes, there’s always going to be some disagreement between public officials and businesspeople. We won’t always see eye-to-eye.

But in Nassau and Suffolk counties, the relationship has been supported by a spirit of cooperation. Indeed, our own Long Island Innovation Park at Hauppauge (LI-IPH) could never have become America’s second-largest innovation park – trailing only Silicon Valley itself – without the kind of cooperation we are talking about.

We were privileged to be joined by Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim and Councilman Tom Lohmann; Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter; Suffolk County Presiding Officer DuWayne Gregory; Suffolk County Legislators Robert Calarco, Sarah Anker, Bill Lindsay, Susan Berland and Rob Trotta; State Senator John Flanagan; State Assembly Members Michael Fitzpatrick and Steve Stern; and Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri. Their presence helped to reinforce the symbiosis shared by the private and public sectors on Long Island.

All of LI-IPH’s past milestones – the childcare center, extra police protection, the exit off the Northern State Parkway, sewage improvements, and increases in permissible building height – required bi-partisan public sector cooperation.

Joe Campolo – Managing Partner at Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, LLP – praised the Suffolk County IDA for helping scores of our members firms expand – and for underwriting the LI-IPH’s 160-page “Opportunity Analysis” that charts a long-term economic revitalization strategy by fostering the growth of competitive, tradeable industries.

Rita DiStefano, HR Consulting Director with Portnoy Messinger Pearl & Associates – who chairs HIA-LI’s Small Business Task Force – told attendees that she recognizes government’s role in supporting small firms, which constitute four-fifths of our membership. Public sector engagement is critical in such areas as financial assistance for business, and workforce training and development.

And Scott Maskin – the CEO of SUNation and Co-Chair of HIA-LI’s Hauppauge Industrial Power Project with HIA-LI Lifetime Board Member Jack Kulka told attendees about the goal of placing solar installations on park rooftops by the end of 2020, helping to meet the Governor’s NY-SUN target of 100 percent renewables by 2040.

HIA-LI proudly facilitates public-private cooperation at all levels with the help of HIA-LI Board Members carrying out our initiatives. It’s a partnership that’s essential to Long Island’s future.