Born in the state of Georgia, Valerie Samuel lived most of her life in Huntington, Long Island, before moving to Guttenberg in 2000. Basically speaking, Ms. Samuel tells us that she was familiar with the North Hudson County area, that it was peaceful and quiet, and she just decided to make the move to Guttenberg, and has been very happy with her decision. A graduate of SUNY/Brockport Campus near Rochester, N.Y., with a bachelor’s degree in communications in 1987, she then went on to achieve a master’s degree in Information Systems from the University of Phoenix, whose main campus is in Arizona, and completed all her degree course-work this past March.
Her parents, Wallace and Ruth White, still live on Long Island, while her brothers John, Mike, Scotty, and Wallace, Jr., and her sisters Bergen and Shanae also all live out-of-state in other New York areas. Her husband is Vernon T. Samuel, and they have a son Jeremiah I. Samuel, who both love living in Guttenberg. Her husband is a financial advisor for a New York bank.
Ms. Samuel is a Business and Financial Broker/Author, and has created her own Small Businesses Thinking Big Seminar Series, which encourages entrepreneurs, stay at home mothers and single dads to learn how to earn more at the seminar series she produces. As an author she distributes her book entitled “The ABC’s of Starting a Business” to all attendees. She also distributes CD’s to all attendees.
Her business, Valerie Samuel.com, is a business and financial boutique firm specializing in creating entrepreneurship opportunities and writing self-improvement materials for “Do It Yourselfers,” in addition to being an adjunct professor for several New York City colleges. Thus, educating entrepreneurs about starting new businesses helps attendees explore new approaches to earning more income, as well as creating enjoyment for the attendees.
Ms. Samuel’s basic target group, however, is mothers, and she strives to bring women together who are mothers and have entrepreneurial ideas and/or inventions that will help other mothers. In other words: “Products for Mothers by Mothers!” Of course, the same idea is used for men who attend her seminars. Ms. Samuel is also a “Mommy Blogger,” and a product designer. She teaches people how to start their own companies, then holds regular seminars/classes for people to show them how to get started.
Ms. Samuel’s background as a Small Business Advisor with the Small Business Administration at CUNY/York College in Jamaica, N.Y. gave her the knowledge of entrepreneurship, which led her into her own business ideas and ideals. Following her achieved knowledge from 1990-1997, she became an author first, wrote books and How-To manuals on starting a new business; and also at the same time was teaching as a “traveling professor” at such schools as Hofstra University, Saint John’s University, and Hunter College, etc., in New York. Thus, the beginnings of her creation “MOM’S FOR PROFIT” which feature seminars/classes, products and services, and work-sites will be coming soon.
After many years of networking, she receives calls for her services from many of the professional people she has met and worked with over the years, and her expansion has heralded “keynote speakers” into her programs since 2005. Interested parties can also reach her by telephone at 1-(917) 686-3018, and at 1-(212) 292-5127.
During leisure time away from business, Ms. Samuel tells us that she likes camping and photography, and has traveled to Africa, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii. She likes jazz and contemporary music. Her religion is Southern Baptist and she worships every Sunday in Manhattan. Plus, she likes keeping time with family at home. When asked if she knew Guttenberg Mayor Gerald Drasheff, Ms. Samuel said that she had not met him yet, but is a fan of his, and likes the way the town is being run.
In the coming months, she will also be producing “Mommy Makeover Programs,” to be launched on May 7 at Doncaster Fashion Showrooms, 145 W. 57th St. in New York City. This will feature a select group of women entrepreneurs coming together to raise monies for other “women-in-need” to start their own businesses, and making the event a “stress-free” fun day for all attendees.
To Valerie Samuel and your continued efforts for others: All The Best!
Last month, MTV actor Paul Iacono of Secaucus was a guest on the Jimmy Kimmel Show, ABC-Channel 7, and the fun was amazing, as the two of them made the audience LOL! Kimmel told Iacono that they may even be related because the maternal side of Kimmel’s family is named Iacono. Paul’s mother Patricia of Secaucus is the legislative aide to State Assemblyman Vincent Prieto of Secaucus, and his father Anthony is the former Secaucus Town Administrator. Paul is also the grandson of former Weehawken Mayor Stanley Iacono and lovely wife Anna Marie, now retired and living in Ocean County, N.J. Paul is also the relative of Guy Iaconoof Weehawken, who conducts an actor’s group in Kearny, west Hudson County. It was a very entertaining night watching television last month, former Weehawken Mayor Iacono said he loved it all! Best wishes to the entire Iacono family!
Mirtha DeAza, Stefania Trelles, and Louis Vetter of Union City have been named to the Dean’s List at Fairleigh Dickinson University-College/Madison Campus. Leaders of Tomorrow, make us proud!
Erika Garcia, Natalie Murro, Darshika Patel, Ivonne Pereira, and Angel Rodriguez of North Bergen have all been named to the Dean’s List at Felician College in Lodi, N.J. Congrats to all!
Mailbox! Top Senior Advisor to West New York Mayor Silverio “Sal” Vega, none other than the sage himself, Neil Carroll, called to tell us that out of all of the islands of Hudson County, in a story a few columns back, I missed one. To the approximate southwest area off of Bayonne, and to the approximate northwest area off of Staten Island, lies an island called Shooter’s Island where the waterway of the Arthur Kill and the waterway of the Kill Van Kull meet to empty easterly into the Hudson River. The island is owned by New Jersey State-Union County/City of Elizabeth and Hudson County/City of Bayonne, with a third part of the island owned by Staten Island Borough/New York State. Mr. Carroll also proudly tells us that when the Bayonne Bridge was built and opened to traffic, above Shooter’s Island, his father was a motorcycle cop at the time, Neil Carroll, Sr., and led the parade procession, circa, 1927. Mr. Carroll, Sr. retired in 1962 as the Chief of Police for the City of Bayonne. Moreover, says Mr. Carroll who is also a former Hudson County Freeholder, his family has over 100 years of a family of fathers with the name of “Neil.” Mr. Carroll tells this columnist that his own son and grandson are also named “Neil!” Now who is this columnist to differ with such historical knowledge and longevity. However, I ask at least one question to Mr. Neil Carroll the “Carrolian” sage to West New York Mayor Sal Vega, and who I like as a person: “Do they have ferry service to Shooter’s Island!?!? And Away We Go!
And so it goes … until next time …see you around town …MATT
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