Update Bio Information

During her career of almost 15 years in the trade show display industry, Maureen Borzacchiello has proven to be a skilled executive and visionary entrepreneur. Prior to starting Creative Display Solutions, Inc. in 2001, Maureen experienced success during her career with a leading international display manufacturer as a top sales person, Sales Manager and ultimately General Manager, running their multi-office organization. In her role as GM she was responsible for generating a double digit increase in sales revenue. Accomplishments include creating policy and procedure standards to streamline sales and production processes, implementing a CRM program and developing a formal training program.

As a business owner, Maureen has worked to develop and expand her company, with repeat business representing 52% of total sales annually. She believes that this is due to their commitment to the client’s goals and objectives, the product diversification in their offerings and stellar, reliable service. Maureen feels that her purpose, which she translated to the mission of Creative Display Solutions, is to create and build experiences that help their clients look great and feel amazing. She and her team accomplish that by taking a very open minded approach in listening to their clients’ needs and doing whatever it takes to find the right solution; from design and planning, to production of their trade show displays and event exhibits, to the storage, management and logistics of those assets. Creative Display Solutions also provides rental exhibits on a national scale, with emphasis on New York, Las Vegas, Orlando and Chicago on tradeshow displays ranging from pop up displays to large, two story exhibits (http://www.creativedisplaysolutions.com/pages/services/rentals.html)

An accomplished corporate strategist and marketer, her vision and expertise in business performance have driven notable growth. Maureen’s company, Creative Display Solutions almost tripled its revenue in 2006, and experienced a 55% increase for 2007. Additionally, they just relocated to a 12,000 square foot facility in Garden City, to continue to service their growing storage and asset management division.

Maureen shares her knowledge and experience within her community, as a speaker at various educational meetings and seminars. Additionally, she is a member of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, a Board Member and Chairperson of Programming and Education for the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Long Island and holds the highly recognized certification as a women owned business from WBENC, the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council. She is an award recipient of the Make Mine a $Million Business™ program, Long Island’s Top 50 Most Influential Women in Business award as well as the 40 Under 40 Award for 2008. Recently she was appointed to the Customer Advisory Council for OPEN from American Express®, and was elected to the Board of Directors of Count Me In – a not-for-profit organization focused on womens economic independence.
Her achievements and comments have been featured on NBC’s The Today Show and in Inc. Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Newsday, Long Island Business News, Business Week, TheStreet.com as well as other business media. Maureen resides in Long Island, New York with her husband and 5 year old son.

Updated Media Coverage

We were fortunate to have our story of hitting our first million picked up by Newsday here in New York. Here is the content from the article and a link:

February 19, 2007

Feeling like a million

Maureen Borzacchiello has hit the stratosphere.

Her company, Creative Display Solutions Inc., a 6-year-old Lynbrook company that specializes in custom graphics and displays, recently crossed the $1 million revenue line. That feat has vaulted her into rare company, indeed.

Less than 3 percent of the businesses owned by women generate $1 million or more in annual revenue, according to the Center for Women's Business Research in Washington, D.C. Creative Display reached that milestone on Dec. 22.

Borzacchiello, who founded the company, had been in training for the million-dollar marathon since 2005, when she was one of five local female entrepreneurs picked as winners of the Make Mine a $Million contest. That national competition is sponsored by the nonprofit microlender Count Me In and OPEN From American Express, its small-business division.

Her winnings included two free mentoring sessions, exposure for her business and eligibility for a $45,000 loan, which she later applied for and received.

She credits the mentoring with helping her to appreciate the art of strategizing. That skill enabled her, as president and chief executive, to pull back from the day-to-day operations of the business and focus on such things as branding and customer service. She said the company's staff of seven, which also includes her husband, Frank, Creative's chief operating officer, pulled together to make the million-dollar mark possible.

In fact, the company experienced spectacular growth last year, Borzacchiello said. Its revenue nearly tripled, to the $1 million. Its staff doubled. And because of the focus on customer service, 52 percent of Creative's revenue came from repeat and referral business.

"It just proves that if you ... focus your efforts on your vision and not just your day-to-day responsibilities, you can achieve whatever you want," she said.

- CARRIE MASON-DRAFFEN
Here is the link
http://www.newsday.com/business/ny-bzinside5100220feb19,0,764490.story

We Hit Our First $Million!

Here is a copy of our recent press release:

ENTREPRENEUR JOINS ELITE GROUP OF WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS
Lynbrook, NY January 29, 2007 - Creative Display Solutions, Inc., located in Lynbrook, NY, has just joined the elite group of woman-owned businesses that have earned $1 million or more in yearly revenue. Nearly 50% of all U.S. small business owners are women, but surprisingly only 3% of these female entrepreneurs generate more than $1 million in revenue each year.

Maureen Borzacchiello, owner of Creative Display Solutions, Inc. was a winner of the 2005 Make Mine a $Million Business®, a national movement inspiring one million women entrepreneurs to reach one million dollars in revenue by the year 2010. Count Me In and founding partner, OPEN from American Express® introduced the Make Mine a $Million Business program to help women entrepreneurs grow and build sustainable enterprises, create jobs, and develop innovative products and services.
Ms. Borzacchiello credits her success to her company’s team effort and dedicated focus on their goal of hitting their first million in sales. The journey to her million included systemizing procedures, increasing her staff and most importantly, getting more strategic. “I took a step back and started to work on the business rather than just in the business,” said Ms. Borzacchiello.

“Creative Display Solutions shares this achievement with our customers for enabling us to succeed by placing their trust in our people and our expertise. I am extremely proud of our team for their commitment, professionalism and winning attitude. This was not an individual accomplishment, it was a team effort, and the first of many milestones for Creative Display Solutions,” said Ms. Borzacchiello.

Creative Display Solutions, Inc. increased their revenue 197% in 2006 and their percentage of repeat and referral business was 52%.

The Make Mine a $Million Business program supports growing businesses with money, marketing, mentoring and technology tools which contributes towards helping them reach their goals sooner.

Ms. Borzacchiello reaches out to her community with her involvement in the National Association of Women Business Owners of Long Island (NAWBO/LI), local charities and by co-founding The Give Back Program. She is donating 10% of the proceeds on orders placed with her company (from participating companies) to Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence, a 501 ©3 not-for-profit organization. She is also a member of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce and recently received the highly respected and recognized certification as a women owned business from the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

Creative Display Solutions, Inc. specializes in trade show displays, graphics and event exhibits. As a nationwide company, it has expertise in every aspect of exhibiting, including design, budgeting, production, logistics, installation and dismantle services, storage, and asset management.

For more information on Creative Display Solutions, Inc. call (516) 825-5620 or visit www.CreativeDisplaySolutions.com.