Business notebook: Renovations, appointments and jamming with clams

Warwick - Robert Knebel describes himself as a general contractor without many limits. “I keep expanding and seizing new opportunities,” he said. “That’s the key to my success.” Since 1981, Knebel, working at first from his home in Warwick, gained a reputation for completing jobs on schedule and with quality workmanship. In addition to building about five custom homes each year and, since 1986, a couple of subdivisions, Knebel earned a reputation for commercial achievements such as building and maintaining solariums for restaurants like Wendy’s and T.G.I.Friday’s. Knebel soon outgrew his home office and, most recently, his South Street Warwick office. Last year he purchased an historic building at 2 North Main St. in the Village of Florida. In an 1859 document, the corner building was listed as a hardware and tin shop. It later became a general grocery store, the forerunner of the post World War II Victory Market which evolved into the Big V Supermarket. In more recent times it served as an antique shop. Age, however, had taken its toll and the building was viewed my most as an eyesore in disrepair. Knebel decided to gut the building and give it a complete facelift from top to bottom. He renamed it “The Allison Brooke Building,” after his daughter. The superb renovation, now home to Knebel’s showroom, two retail shops and four upstairs apartments, has become a showplace for the downtown beautification program spearheaded by the Florida Chamber of Commerce. Today, Knebel builds custom homes, sunrooms and decks. He also remodels basements, kitchens and baths, and provides roofing and masonry. And to demonstrate the quality of his work and the materials he can purchase in quantity and offer at discount, Knebel now has a 2,750-sq. ft. showroom in his new building featuring a comfortable waiting room and office for his clients. “Every part of this showroom,” he said, “has an example of what we offer including flooring, paint, trim, materials, kitchens and sun rooms. Our customers only have to walk a few steps to see it and feel it.” Knebel is an authorized representative for Armstrong Kitchens and Sun Space SunRooms. His expertise with screen-rooms and glass enclosures is widely known and many homeowners with more deck space than they need are enclosing some of that space to build a mosquito free room that can serve as a porch, dining area or spa and hot tub. Robert Knebel General Contractor, Inc. can be reached at his previous Warwick number, 986-9669 or new Village of Florida office, 651-9669. Information is also available at: robertknebel.com. New executive director On Tuesday evening, July 10, the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce held the first in a series of “Meet and Greet” mixers at the Garage at the Eclectic Eye Antiques to introduce Michael Johndrow, its new executive director. Six months ago, Linda Glohs, who served as executive director for the past 10 years, informed the Board of Directors that she had decided to move on. The Executive Committee began interviewing candidates. “Many extremely qualified candidates applied for the position, making the selection process a difficult one,” said Bob Krahulik, president of the Chamber. “I would like to thank my committee members; Pam Arace, Joanne Graney, Garrett Durland and Lisa Montanaro for their help in making the best decision.” The new Executive Director, Michael Johndrow, and his wife, Jacqueline, moved from Sullivan County to Warwick about a year and a half ago. Their two adult children, Anthony and Nicole, live in New York City. Although Johndrow retired as superintendent of the Sullivan West Central School District where he brought about the successful merger of three separate school districts, his background also includes retail business management and supervising a major building renovation project along with passing budgets and developing new programs. “I’m anxious to gather new ideas and implement them in order to make this chamber the best it can be,” he said. Business owners and all those interested in the business community are encouraged to stop by at the Chamber’s “Caboose” office on South St. to say, “Hello.” Getting organized Professional Organizer Lisa Montanaro recently received the prestigious designation of Certified Professional Organizer (CPO) from the Board of Certification for Professional Organizers. Montanaro, a resident of Warwick and owner of LM Organizing Solutions, LLC, is one of only approximately 200 CPOs in the world. The designation involves completing a rigorous course of study in organizing and related topics, and passing the inaugural CPO examination. “The CPO designation,” she said, “is a formal acknowledgment of my dedication to professional organizing and how I aim to exemplify the best the industry has to offer.” LM Organizing Solutions, established in 2002, is a professional services firm offering organizing, business and life coaching, and motivational speaking to individuals, organizations, and corporations. For information call Lisa Montanaro at 988-0183 or e-mail: Lisa@LMOrganizingSolutions.com. Clam & Jam Pennings Farm Market, Route 94, Warwick, has announced the return of last year’s popular “Clam & Jam” series featuring free, live musical entertainment and a specially prepared menu by the Harvest Grill’s Executive Chef Frank Costintino. The first of four “Clam & Jams” for 2007 is scheduled this evening, Friday, July 20, between 6-9 p.m. More about this to follow.