
White Plains, NY To celebrate its 70th anniversary, the Building and Realty Institute of Westchester and the Mid-Hudson Region recently sponsored its first vendor showcase at the Crowne Plaza.
Nearly 40 companies and professional firms exhibited their services and products and150 people attended the event. Representing a wide range of industry experts, exhibitors included architects, remodelers, builders, developers, painting companies, insurance firms, interior designers, real estate management companies, legal firms, energy companies, a bank and a solar company.

“The great strength of this organization is our active, participating member companies,” said Margaret Collins, director of membership and advertising at the Building and Realty Institute. “As an advocate for our industry, we provided this forum to foster networking opportunities and help our members raise their business profile.”
This year, the Building and Realty Institute sponsored several events to celebrate the organization’s founding in 1946. “Concluding with a trade show that allowed our members to highlight their talents and skills served as the perfect capstone,” said Collins.
Institute members represent the entire spectrum of the residential and commercial real estate industry, including builders, developers, remodelers, suppliers, specialty subcontractors, property managers and professional management and service firms.

Salvatore Indiviglia, sales representative, Power Performance Industries; Margaret Collins, director of membership and advertising, Building & Realty Institute; Bill Demersky, inside service manager, Power Performance Industries;
and John Santacroce, president, Power Performance Industries.
The showcase featured several well-attended presentations:
• Your Best Investment: Foolproof Reasons to Hire an Architect, by Peter Gaito, founding partner, Peter F. Gaito & Associates.
• Your Emergency Power Solution, by John Santa Croce, president and CEO of Power Performance Industries.
• The ER for Your Property, by Lisa Cordasco, president of New Crystal Restoration.
Exhibitors and attendees praised the event. “The Building and Realty Institute did an incredible job getting this concept off the ground,” said Ken Fuirst, president, Levitt-Fuirst Associates. “This marks a huge success for the first year.”
Sally Farruggio, property manager at Montrose Management Associates said, “the Institute’s team is to be commended for hosting such a well-organized, informative and user-friendly showcase. I appreciate how much work and coordination goes into planning an event of this magnitude and I am impressed with how it unfolded seamlessly.”