Neil A. Carousso produces and co-hosts WCBS Newsradio 880’s Small Business Spotlight series with Joe Connolly. Click here to watch the weekly video segments featuring advice for business owners on survival, recovery and growth opportunities.

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  • How to Win at Business featuring Mark Cuban: WCBS Virtual Business Breakfast LIVE, sponsored by Dime Community Bank

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    Wednesday October 12 – 10 AM EDT

    Streaming at WCBS880.com and @WCBS880 on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube

    By Joe Connolly and Neil A. Carousso

    NEW YORK (WCBS 880) – Join WCBS business reporter Joe Connolly LIVE for a discussion with Mark Cuban, the self-made billionaire entrepreneur and owner of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, on Wednesday, October 12 at 10 AM ET.

    You will learn how to capitalize on new opportunities no matter the economic climate. Cuban will also answer your business questions, which you can submit in real time by commenting during the livestream on our TwitterFacebook, and YouTube pages.

    Cuban will opine on what New York’s businesses must do to be competitive and thrive post-pandemic. We know the outspoken shark will be brutally honest when it comes to sales and marketing strategies and economic policy!

    Mark Cuban started his first business at 12 years old by selling garbage bags door-to-door in the Pittsburgh suburb where he was raised. He founded and sold a software company to CompuServe, a subsidiary of H&H Block, in 1990.

    Mark Cuban
    Mark Cuban Photo credit ABC/Christopher Willard

    His next venture was evolutionary. He helped launch one of the first sports streaming networks, Broadcast.com, where fans could listen to niche sporting events in other markets online. Cuban always believed streaming would surpass television and saw growing demand for those who wanted to watch games at their desks. The serial entrepreneur sold Broadcast.com to Yahoo! in 1999 for $5.7 billion.

    Forbes ranks the Mavericks owner #227 on the Forbes 400 Richest People in America list with an estimated net worth of $4.6 billion.

    Cuban is one of America’s best-known investors on ABC’s “Shark Tank” where he has inspired future generations to pursue entrepreneurship.

    Mark Cuban evaluates an investment opportunity on "Shark Tank."
    Mark Cuban evaluates an investment opportunity on “Shark Tank.” Photo credit ABC

    The shark recently founded Cost Plus Drugs to add transparency to the pharmaceutical industry by communicating drug costs to patients who pay a 15 percent markup on the manufacturing cost of their medications, plus a $3 pharmacy fee and $5 shipping charge. Cuban hopes it will help lower national drug prices of lifesaving medications. He even encourages competition to accomplish that larger goal.

    On the WCBS Virtual Business Breakfast, sponsored by Dime Community Bank, you’ll come away with inspiration and actionable ideas from Cuban to grow your business and pursue your entrepreneurial dreams.

    Don’t miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to participate in a conversation with one of America’s most popular entrepreneurs!

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  • Electric vehicles are coming soon. Here’s what it means for the future of driving.

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    By Joe Connolly and Neil A. Carousso

    DEEP RIVER, C.T. (WCBS 880) — The Biden Administration has set an aggressive target of 50% electric vehicle sales by 2030. That has car companies scrambling to meet demand and build the charging infrastructure necessary to handle this rapid adoption.

    Viking Equipment of Deep River, C.T. primarily serves car dealerships and repair shops. When it became clear EVs were the future of his industry, owner and president Joe Shomberg shifted his team’s focus to where business is heading.

    “Keep up or get out of business,” Shomberg said of his business philosophy on the WCBS Small Business Spotlight, sponsored by Dime Community Bank.

    “The same way it’s going to affect my customers’ business and that they’re not going to do oil changes anymore, I can’t sell them the equipment to do oil changes anymore. So, I need to grow where they’re going to grow and that’s my plan.”

    He estimates over 100 electric car models on the market by 2025.

    Viking Equipment is now installing three levels of EV chargers for homes, dealerships and gas stations across the country. Level one chargers, Shomberg explained, are 10 volt chargers for the home that are adequate for slow charging and local driving, but it could take days to fully charge an EV. Level two chargers are 220 volts and provide a full charge within hours. Level three chargers are D.C. power units for gas stations and rest stops where drivers can get a recharge within 10-20 minutes.

    “The vast majority of the charging is going to be at your house,” said Shomberg. “You’re going to come home at the end of the day, you’re going to plug your car in, and in the morning, it’s fully charged and ready to go.”

    He said level two chargers cost $400 to $500, but it will cost extra for an electrician to install the unit.

    “Depending on what state you live in, there are incentives both from the federal government and from your electric company to put these chargers in that can cover the cost either all of or part of the cost to purchase the charger, and all of or part of the cost to install the charger.”

    Shomberg said his company is also redesigning dealerships with new car lifts to accommodate EV chargers.

    He even purchased an electric vehicle for himself so he can experience the issues and limitations of EVs first-hand.

    “For the month of August, I drove it exclusively,” Shomberg told WCBS 880. “I had exactly one time that I visited a fast charger, a level three charger. Other than that, all of my charging was either at home or I have a charger at work and I charge it at work.”

    One week in September, he switched back to his gas-powered car and found himself at a gas station three times within the week.

    “A battery electric vehicle actually got (sic) a lot of advantages to your lifestyle,” said Shomberg.

    He believes EVs will likely replace hybrid cars in the future.

    “The biggest issue is this range anxiety that people need to overcome,” Shomberg said, affirming that a fully charged EV can travel from the New York Metropolitan Area to Maine without needing a boost.

    There are also mobile applications such as PlugShare, which has a map of more than 610,000 EV charging stations where you can plug-in. Other apps calculate the distance one can travel before needing a recharge.

    See more on the rapid adoption of electric vehicles, EV charging, and how life and business will change on the WCBS Small Business Spotlight video above.

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  • Mets Greats Piazza, Alfonzo Talk Possible 2000 World Series Rematch with Yankees

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    Executive Produced by Carousso Enterprises, LLC.

    Flushing, NY — The Mets and Yankees have been among Major League Baseball’s best this season. Some New York baseball fans have been eager for a 2000 World Series rematch in October.

    Mets legends Mike Piazza and Edgardo Alfonzo, who played for the ’00 team, see a possible collision course with the Yankees taking shape as the Amazins make a postseason run.

    “I think it would be great for the city,” Piazza told NY2C’s Rachel Luscher at Mets Old Timers’ Day. “They’re going to have to go through some very difficult ball clubs, but it would be fun to see. I would look forward to it.”

    See Luscher’s full report above.

    NY2C’s On The Call is executive produced by Carousso Enterprises, LLC.

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  • Mets Under Steve Cohen Embrace Amazin’ History

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    Executive Produced by Carousso Enterprises, LLC.

    Flushing, NY — Steve Cohen received a hero’s welcome from the Flushing faithful on Mets Old Timers’ Day. It was the first Old Timers’ Day since 1994, which the lifelong Mets fan brought back after buying the team.

    “I think the fans just want to know you care and want to know that ownership is listening and that’s all I’m trying to do,” Cohen told Carousso Enterprises and NY2C before the old timers ran out on the Citi Field diamond.

    See more with the Mets owner on the video above.

    NY2C’s On The Call is executive produced by Carousso Enterprises, LLC.

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  • Mets Celebrate 60-Year History with Old Timers’ Day

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    Executive Produced by Carousso Enterprises, LLC.

    Flushing, NY — The New York Mets celebrated their first Old Timers’ Day in 28 years on Saturday by paying homage to their 60-year history with players and coaches representing each decade of the franchise.

    Rachel Luscher talked to Mets legends Mike Piazza, Doc Gooden, Mookie Wilson, Darryl Strawberry, owner Steve Cohen and more at Old Timers’ Day at Citi Field. Watch her story above.

    NY2C’s On The Call is executive produced by Carousso Enterprises, LLC.

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