Kathy Tsao of Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate, Manhattan, discusses global commerce as attorney Eran D. Grossman, a specialist in international and commercial law, listens.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Scores of Realtors from the tri-state region gathered today at the Staten Island Board of Realtors (SIBOR) headquarters, Graniteville, seeking ways to expand the borders of their business. They obtained a wealth of information from a diverse panel of experts.

“The most significant accomplishment of the day was to bring the universe of Staten Island together, and tell Island Realtors that ‘you have to be out of the box to be in the box of global enterprise,” said Sari Kingsley, chairperson of the event. “You can far exceed your expectations by networking in your local area and extending your business practice abroad.”

The symposium featured prominent international-business experts, such as moderator Sharon K. Young, CEO of Sharon K. Young & Associates, who explained “How to Build an International Business Step-By-Step.”

VARIETY OF EXPERTS

Other guest speakers included: Tony Garcia of Marketology Inc. and Dil Gillani, CRS, of Gillani Homes Inc., who discussed how Realtors can identify “Opportunities Outside the Lower ’48;’ Robert Eychner of Eychner Associates Inc. provided an “International Perspective On Commercial Investing; Kathy Tsao of Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate conducted a lesson on “How to Bring a Foreign Business Successfully to the United States,” and attorney Eran D. Grossman, a specialist in international and commercial law, helped to clarify “The Agent’s Role in Helping the Foreign Buyer.” Grossman also pinpointed “The Lawyer’s Role and the Nuts and Bolts of the Transaction, Including Tax Implications.”

CULTURAL DIVERSITY

Licensed Real Estate Broker Frances Ottino said she was impressed by the cultural diversity of the symposium’s committee and its audience.
“It’s important to educate people about the correct etiquettes required for dealing with various cultures,” she said. “Everybody came to the symposium with a willingness to share.”

Event sponsors included GFI Mortgage Bankers, attorney Andrew Pappas, SignsCiti, Staten Island Multiple Listing Service Inc, Chinar On The Island, Mitoushi Sushi and Tri-Star Mortgage Corp.
Raffle prizes were donated by AVON, Compass Realty Central, Empire State Bank, Go Get Glasses.Com, New York Assurance Agency, Relevant Public Relations, Staten Island Advance, SI Bank & Trust, Samantha Lawrence/Bonne Jolie, and Leslie Whitfield, SRES. Proceeds from the raffle will be contributed to Hope & Heroes children’s cancer fund.