Need inspiration? Find it in Valley Stream

Allow me to set the stage: In May of 1980 my partner John Malizio and I opened the doors of our new business venture, Classic Coffee Systems. As two young, ambitious, wide-eyed entrepreneurs, we had a coffee pot full of energy, hope and vision. We were hoping to build a successful business that would eventually be profitable enough to support our growing families. We had the sense that we may be living the “Great American Dream” but in those early years we didn’t fully understand the residual positive effects and benefits that a local business could have on our community and how many lives it would touch in the process.

The first 16 years we were located on Meacham Avenue in Elmont. However I resided in District 13 and with my sons in Valley Stream schools, I felt a strong connection and commitment to Valley Stream. When we moved Classic Coffee to 333 W. Merrick Road in Valley Stream in 1996, not only was my family flourishing in Valley Stream, so was my business. I naturally felt an obligation to give back to that community and throughout the years have found many ways to do just that — Valley Stream Little League, CYO and Valley Stream basketball, the PTA, Valley Stream Chamber of Commerce, the Central High School District Business Advisory Council to name a few.

At the risk of sounding like an old man, after 31 years in a service business where you have to be “on your game” each and every day and after dealing with the increased stress and unforeseen difficulties that the recession of 2008-09 brought, I had become tired, at times disenchanted and maybe even a little discouraged. It would have been easy to just cash in, shake my partner’s hand and say thanks for 31 years. But what I realize now and was clueless about in 1980, was that Classic Coffee, besides being a way to provide for my family, it had also become a place where co-workers had made a career and was counting on its success to feed their families as well.

Classic Coffee, being a local business, provides a service and we are also part of a local community. I had an obligation to many. So would I muster up the strength to “stay the course,” “keep the faith,” “fight the fight?” Yes. My commitment to my family, my co-workers, my partner, my community gave me a reason to face my task at hand but I needed inspiration, energy, fresh ideas and vision to deal with the new challenges and the evolving business environment. This was now 2011, not 1980.

Quite simply, I found it in the students in all three Valley Stream high schools and in the spirit and vision of two young entrepreneurs.

I have had the privilege on many occasions to speak with Valley Stream Central students about business and careers, about what it means to be an entrepreneur, about social networking, about building character. I am there under the guise of offering advice to these students… but I fooled them! They didn’t know I was learning as much as they were, maybe more. The brutally honest questions and the exuberant and youthful opinions of these students helped me to question myself and to reevaluate my direction and the ways that I conduct my business in this rapidly evolving world. Facebook? Twitter? Linkedin? Ecommerce? Classic Coffee is there.

I also found inspiration from the students of both North and South high schools who have worked as interns at Classic Coffee throughout the years. Their work ethics, their appreciation of an opportunity, their willingness to learn and to participate are a daily source of inspiration to me.

Want inspiration? How about growing up in Valley Stream, going to Valley Stream schools, volunteering time to civic organizations located in Valley Stream? How about recognizing social, civic and business needs here in Valley Stream and then having the entrepreneurial spirit to create solutions to those issues and needs? How about creating a business that will enhance the quality of life for the Valley Stream community and will also help in revitalizing Rockaway Avenue David Sabatino and Stephanie Pontillo, the owners of the newly opened Sip This, have done all of this. Another confession — I fooled them as well. Under the guise of helping them, I have used their vision, energy and commitment for inspiration.

So, you see, I have gained energy from the energy of young entrepreneurs who live and now work in Valley Stream, vision from those with younger eyes who see new and different ways to communicate and conduct business.

Here’s a little business tip for you — Fool everyone! Volunteer your time to the youth of Valley Stream, get involved in civic and community organizations, support local businesses ventures and see if you don’t find inspiration as well.

Charles T. Chiarello is vice president of Classic Coffee Systems
 at 333 W. Merrick Road, Suite 3, in Valley Stream. He can be reached at (888) 537-3300
or ctchiarello@classiccoffee.com. Visit his website, www.classiccoffee.com.