Name: Marianne Garvin
Title: President & CEO
Company/Firm: Community Development Corporation of Long Island
Years with company/firm: 20
Years in field: 34
Years in real estate industry: 34
Telephone: 631-471-1215
Email: [email protected]
URL: www.cdcli.org
Real Estate Associations/Affiliations: Long Island Regional Economic Development Council
How do you and/or your firm use social media?
Community Development Corporation of Long Island is very active on Twitter, with over 1,700 followers. We use it to provide vital information to the public on issues related to housing and small business. Our facebook, you tube and and website are also important ways we communicate to the public. We find that people reach out to us in different ways, so we need to be active in multiple channels.
What is your biggest leadership challenge, other than the "glass ceiling"?
Recruiting appropriate skilled employees is a challenge. We do experience a mismatch between the specific skill set needed and the talent available on occasion. We all know that every person in an organization is vital to that organization's success. Therefore, finding the right person to hire is critical. Interestingly enough, we have used Twitter to recruit and have found that to be a very useful way to communicate and attract social media savvy individuals.
Which project, deal or transaction was the "game changer" in the advancement of your career?
When the economy fell off the cliff a few years back, I made a decision that my corporation had to step up in a big way to address the severe housing crisis that hit Long Island. We responded by making energy efficiency improvements in over 3,000 apartments; purchasing 35 real estate owned foreclosed properties, then rehabbing them and now renting them to low income families; assisted thousands of families threatened with foreclosure to a solution to their problem; and developed two housing complexes with 130 apartments. These results in a short time frame had a very major impact in the communities we serve and helped others to recognize what CDCLI could do with resources entrusted to us.
What do you consider to be the most successful way to increase referrals?
I try to help other people in my network to solve problems they may have, even if there is nothing in it for me or my corporation. I feel that is a great way to encourage economic activity on Long Island. Competition is essential to a healthy economy, but so is cooperation. Being open to collaboration with others to solve big, complex problems is the key to making positive change happen.
What is the BEST advice you have ever received?
Working hard is important, but achieving results is the measure of success. Keep in mind that activities are necessary to get to outcomes, but are nothing in and of themselves. Stay focused on the outcome you want to achieve.
What is your favorite tip for balanced living?
Doing work that is important to you makes life very satisfying, but if that's all you have it is not as sweet. So step away from work every day to enjoy other aspects of life and when you come back to work it will be vibrant and exciting.
Where would you like to be in 10 years?
My daughter just got married. In ten years I'd like to have a few grandchildren to spoil. Now that would make for a very interesting balanced life!


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