Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Laura Knecht is Your 'Connection' to Real Estate in Hoboken

We cordially invite you to meet Laura Ana Knecht
from Knecht Properties
www.knechtproperties.com
laura@knechtproperties.com

From the moment Laura stepped foot in Hoboken, she knew it was where she belonged.
Cool fact: Laura is originally a singer from Philadelphia and her love of music drew her to be as close to NYC as possible. In addition to the arts, Laura also had an appreciation for real estate that began early on in life as she watched her mother buy and renovate buildings most would not have touched with a ten foot pole! Laura’s mom followed her instincts and was successful at accomplishing real estate goals. In her footsteps, Laura is now making Hoboken a very exciting place to invest in a town that is minutes from Manhattan, walkable to many fine restaurants, parks, and local specialties, and a place you cannot find anywhere else. See her in action at Knecht Properties today!

In a personal interview, Laura took a few moments to talk to the Women in Business Council team about what inspires her in business. Listen in:

What strengths do you personally bring to the table when it comes to being an influential woman in business?

With parents consisting of an Olympic Gold Medalist and a Multi winning World Champion Rower, I have always believed that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. I have a fierce determination to achieve the goals that I set. I have zero tolerance for negativity and I’m not afraid to make changes and make eliminations. I continuously look for ways to maintain positivity in the people that I associate with and in my surroundings. I strive to lead my company and our associates in realizing their individual aspirations and growing as a team within the company.

What is the latest business obstacle you’ve overcome and how did you do it?

Starting a company from the ground up! It’s my job to prove to new clients that we are the best company to work with to service their needs. In an industry where there have been companies with brand names in business for decades, I discuss the benefits of working with my business that has a cutting edge approach by using the latest, most innovative tools and technology.  I ensure that ALL of our agents meet an exemplary standard of professionalism, knowledge and service so that we are of greater value to our clients. We also emphasize proven, newer techniques to getting homes sold in a challenging market. It is the ultimate compliment to be the real estate firm that they choose.

Wow! We’re sold. Tell us what’s so different about your business niche that makes you get up and go to work everyday and be your best?

I strive to set the bar high. At Knecht, we study the market statistics and know what is going on so we can deliver the facts and keep our clients informed so that they can make the best decisions with solid information. THIS is what makes my profession exciting, representing our clients needs and protecting their financial interest.

Your favorite part about your job is...

I love helping people accomplish their goals, knowing that we provide the best service out there to help them.

What are some cool new Knecht ideas that we can help promote to fans who are reading this?

You can notice our For Sale or For Rent signs that are displayed around town with QR codes. Once they are scanned, you will be taken to a customized website on that property with all the details, pictures and information you need. VERY cool!! We also offer a free and accurate market update to residents in Hudson County so they can monitor market activity and know the values in their area and not just be wondering.

Very, very cool. Dear Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Council fans and colleagues, this is Laura Knecht! We are so proud of her accomplishments. And even better yet, she’s a Hoboken fan.


Laura’s favorite restaurant in Hoboken is LaCucharamama. The food is to delicious and so are the drinks!

You may find her at her favorite hang out: The Hoboken Business Center:)

She loves all Frank Sinatra songs, especially “Fly Me to the Moon”.

And due to baseball creation in Hoboken, laura is a fan. In fact, her husband is a die-hard Yankees fan, so you can definitely find her watching a batter or two.

Do you need the low down on real estate in Hoboken? Surely you may have a friend that needs to find a new place. Send them to Laura for the best advice and personalized service we know of in town and celebrate the Women in Business Council by sharing today’s post.

Congratulations, Laura Knecht.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Ballet Miss Jamie Dances Her Way To Hoboken

Meet Ballet Miss Jamie
Ballet Teacher, Master Instructor and Professional Ballet Dancer
www.balletmissjamie.com
201.264.5181
balletmissjamie@yahoo.com

I recently moved to Hoboken and look forward to becoming a part of the local arts community here in the near future. It's a pleasure also to be part of the Women in Business Council and the Chamber of Commerce. I look forward to bringing ballet to the forefront in many ways that I can as a dance teacher and as an arts enthusiast.

Sharing my passion for ballet with my students and inspiring them to claim and make their mark in the industry is my greatest strength. I'm always reaching personal goals. I was lucky to be talented enough to attend the finest arts schools and conservatories from the time I was a child.  I had the fortune to be trained and mentored by some of the most influential and legendary dancers and choreographers of the 20th century. I would like to think my teaching style is a collective reflection of all the amazing teachers who touched my heart and influenced me not only as a dancer, but as a human being, so I try to honor their memories and work. 

Thinking about business obstacles... When I was dancing, I auditioned for a dance company, commercial, show etc. and either got the job or not and then went to the next audition. It is still the same today, but dancers and teachers have to market their skills much more. You're a product for sale. The industry is vast and while confident about my teaching abilities, there is a plethora of talent out there. I am not comfortable "talking my self up" agressively and tend to shy away from opportunities that require me to, so I rely on recommendations from colleagues for networking. After months of procrastination and knowing I needed a website to help promote my teaching, I finally gave the green light to friend and colleague Elizabeth Barry of EB&A to design and build it. I couldn't be happier and it opens up so many more opportunities for me to work and communicate with students and teachers all over the U.S.   

The thing that gets me up in the morning and going to work is that I'm in the arts. I am driven by my passion to teach and inspire future dancers and patrons of the industry.

My favorite part of my job is seeing the positive results of hard work, discipline and dedication from my students blooming before my eyes, and it's an honor to be a part of that process... a student's growth as a technician and artist.

Jamie's favorite restaurant in Hoboken is: Even though I don't get there often, I love Augustinos.

Ballet Miss Jamie's favorite Hoboken hang out is: The river front parks/piers. The view of Manhattan is spectacular day or night. Pack a picnic, find a bench, rock or a patch of grass and you've got the greatest seat and view in the world.

Her favorite Frank Sinatra song: Summer Wind

Being that Hoboken is famous for baseball, Jamie is a huge fan: "I am a Yankee fan... but of course!"

Jamie's theme for Hoboken the city is: "Hoboken, The Greatest City to view the Worlds Greatest City  from."

Have a daughter or son that's interested in intermediate or advanced private ballet lessons in Hoboken? Jamie teaches with the most esteemed studios in NYC as well including The Ailey School and Broadway Dance Center. If you're a fan of So You Think You Can Dance, Jamie is the instructor for Top 6 Finalist, Jess LeProtto of this past season's show. She's been working with him for years and you can find his raves about her teaching at www.balletmissjamie.com.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Dr. Kathia Roberts is Investing in Hoboken's Health

Meet Dr Kathia Roberts 
PhD. ND. D.Phyt. NIMH. CCI.
Seasonal Health Wellness Center and Apothecary
117 Washington Street, 2nd Floor, Hoboken, NJ, 07030
201-857-2562

I love working with Hoboken’s “service above self” community to achieve and inspire greater health and wellness. As an outsider, born in Paris, who grew up in South Africa and studied in London, I have been searching for a place where I belong. I finally found my haven in Sinatra’s old town.

My success stories range from providing successful wellness and weight-loss programs, inspiring individuals to make a diet and lifestyle change to achieve immense weight-loss and incredible health. Mike Novak, current Chamber of Commerce President is a client of mine who has seen results anad success first hand. Additionally, I work with Hoboken moms whom have tried every specialist, tests, steroid and medicine for their infant and children’s eczema, colic, allergies, dermatitis, yeast infections, bronchitis and constipation have expressed many heartfelt testimonials filled with gratitude and relief for the safe, holistic, preventative, hugely effective and natural options that I provide for all health issues and wellbeing.

I lead and inspire by example. I am a compassionate caring soul that can connect to and understand people’s suffering and dissonance largely because of the adversities and challenges that I have been through both health wise, academically, professionally and personally. I have been bullied and oppressed I have learned to overcome my fears and insecurities and help my clients do the same.
The latest business obstacle that I have learned to overcome is to not confuse making a wise business decision with the need to please people and keep everyone happy. I have learned to be assertive in standing my ground based on fair ethics and respecting and adhering to my boundaries of which time and resources are very valuable.

My niche, is that I am the only Naturopathic/Holistic Physician in town and that I have this special, fully equipped herbal/homeopathic pharmacy and a kitchen that is layed out for teaching cooking classes & home remedies. I also have a complete wellness center that offers health/nutrition workshops, meditation, qi-gong, natural child birthing, and various other health care practitioners that work alongside of me to better your health. I love the seasonal space that I have created that synchronizes well with my philosophy of life and healing based on the true biorhythms of nature.

My favorite part of my job is to be like an alchemist, a “creator of wellbeing” or so I feel when I am in my laboratory mixing my patients formulas to address their ailments. I truly have a way with herbs. It is a medical art form. My Herbal Pharmacy professor used to say that, in order to make well-balanced herbal remedy you need to be a great chef and enjoy life.

I would like to promote the concept of Seasonal Health, living healthy with each season of the year and of life. I created this concept after my medical internship in XiYang Hospital in Beijing, China where I observed centenarian practice of conducting every aspect of life as part of your health practice and I was changed forever and discovered the need to expand on this philosophy, modernize it and apply it to medicine.

Dr. Kathia's Favorite Hoboken Restaurant: It’s Greek to me; Baker the owner takes time to get to know his customers, all the waiters go out of their way to make you feel right at home. They are always generous, friendly, the food is fresh, healthy and reasonable.

Her Favorite hang out place is the Hoboken Rotary. The social gatherings is where she's learned "service above self" and how to give back to the community.

Her Favorite Frank Sinatra song: Frank Sinatra’s Song “New York, New York” has so much meaning to me, it was the song we opened our wedding dance to, as this was where we were heading for a better, safer life after I got married. Trust me the challenges I had to get settled here in business, truly fits the statement “If you can make it here, you can make it any where!”

Since Hoboken is the birthplace of baseball, Dr. Kathia watches Hoboken’s little league from time to time.

Kathia's theme for Hoboken, The City: Not quite city, not quite suburbs, it’s like a clean, shining pearl surrounded by a huge shell with the city skyline as a spectacular view and people that want to make you call Hoboken Home.

Got a question for Dr. Kathia? Are you inspired by her business? Want to make an appointment at Seasonal Health? Call her today at 201-857-2562. To become part of the Women in Business Blog, please contact Elizabeth Barry, Chamber member at 201.217.6608. All expose's are Chamber members. Join today at www.hobokenchamber.com.