Every local business has a story worth sharing with the community. This series is as much about supporting companies as it is about celebrating the places and faces that make our community special.
Our spotlight today is on Jason and Amanda Goldberg.
Business: Accel Health & Safety
Owners: Jason Goldberg & Amanda Goldberg
Website: http://www.accelcpr.com
Address: No store front, but we live on the Mount Kisco side of New Castle
How did you come up with the name?
I own two businesses – I formed Accel Scuba as I was starting to teach private scuba refresher courses, and supporting open water and rescue courses through other dive shops. As I was coming up with possible names I tried to play on the words ‘accelerate’, and ‘excel’. The health and safety training was an organic extension of that business, and it made sense to maintain the Accel brand. I added Health & Safety since we don’t just teach ‘CPR’. We teach comprehensive layperson and professional health and safety courses covering CPR, AED, first aid, oxygen administration and more.
Why choose that location? Why start a business in this town?
Most importantly, we live here. We offer our services throughout Westchester, New York City, lower Putnam, and lower Connecticut. Most of our business is 'private' classes where we teach in homes or offices, so we really didn't need a store front. We partnered with the Saw Mill Club to offer classes to the public, and both of their locations are convenient to surrounding towns.
Briefly, what business are you in?
Health and safety training for laypersons and professionals
What's the most difficult moment or challenge you've faced as a business owner?
There are two: The first is advertising. People who take our courses enjoy them. We have built most of our business on referrals. Our limited advertising has been on targeted Facebook campaigns, and one direct mail campaign. Balancing spending money on incremental advertising/marketing and turning a profit is always a challenge! The second challenge is hiring additional trainers. People spend a lot of money on private training classes for family and friends. They deserve an instructor who is knowledgeable and respectful, with strong teaching skills and a good personality, who can adapt to the teaching situation. For example, can you relate well to both teenagers and grandparents in the same time? I'm being very careful in my search to find great instructors who can over-deliver, and build a relationship with our clients.
Were there any challenges that made you second guess your decision to be an entrepreneur?
I initially became certified as a CPR and first aid instructor as part of my scuba training, and I was asked to teach a class for a non-scuba diver. Then it expanded, and expanded. Chappaqua Moms (and other local Facebook pages) are a major force! After a few months I realized that there was a terrific opportunity in building this business. But I do need to balance my time with my full-time job, my wife and kids!
What's been your favorite moment or proudest achievement since opening?
Training one of Chappaqua's Girl Scout troupes. These young ladies were so incredibly enthusiastic! They wanted to know the 'why' and 'how' behind everything. I try to make my classes fun and interactive, but they got into it more than any other. They sent me the most wonderful thank you note after the class.
What's the most innovative idea your employees or customers have had that you put into practice?
We had a customer from a local organization ask for a group class -- without the certification. She asked whether we could come in during an event and 'just teach.' My idea for CPaRties was born. We come in to a dinner or brunch party and setup in the corner. While everyone is mingling and having fun, people can wander over and learn great skills in a relaxed environment. We bring a fantastic device that turns CPR into a video game -- it measures your compressions, rate and breaths and scores you. It's a lot of fun! If you like we even arrange the food, setup and cleanup for the party! CPaRties were born...
How do you deal with difficult customers?
I don't. Just kidding. You don't have to like all of your customers, nor the way some of them treat you. However, you have to respect all of them. I generally engage difficult customers with humor, and I try to build a rapport with them -- professionally, personally -- and that usually diffuses the difficult personality. I have had no-shows and last minute cancellations, which is money out of my pocket. I had to implement (and enforce) a cancellation policy. Always politely. My favorite story: I sent a direct mail campaign to certain professionals throughout the County. I received an irate call from a woman saying that my mailing went to her house, and she was sick of receiving mail from her ex-husband. After-all, he left her for another woman a year before. She wanted to be removed from the mailing list I purchased. But, she wouldn't give me her husband's name. I couldn't help her with that situation.
How does your business give back or get involved in the community?
Last year we were contacted by the Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce about offering some public classes in New Castle. This was a great partnership! We offered a few classes, and agreed to donate 10% of revenues to the Horace Greeley Scholarship Fund. We have also donated classes to the Girl Scouts and a special needs group affiliated with a local social work organization.
Business: Accel Health & Safety
Owners: Jason Goldberg & Amanda Goldberg
Website: http://www.accelcpr.com
Address: No store front, but we live on the Mount Kisco side of New Castle
How did you come up with the name?
I own two businesses – I formed Accel Scuba as I was starting to teach private scuba refresher courses, and supporting open water and rescue courses through other dive shops. As I was coming up with possible names I tried to play on the words ‘accelerate’, and ‘excel’. The health and safety training was an organic extension of that business, and it made sense to maintain the Accel brand. I added Health & Safety since we don’t just teach ‘CPR’. We teach comprehensive layperson and professional health and safety courses covering CPR, AED, first aid, oxygen administration and more.
Why choose that location? Why start a business in this town?
Most importantly, we live here. We offer our services throughout Westchester, New York City, lower Putnam, and lower Connecticut. Most of our business is 'private' classes where we teach in homes or offices, so we really didn't need a store front. We partnered with the Saw Mill Club to offer classes to the public, and both of their locations are convenient to surrounding towns.
Briefly, what business are you in?
Health and safety training for laypersons and professionals
What's the most difficult moment or challenge you've faced as a business owner?
There are two: The first is advertising. People who take our courses enjoy them. We have built most of our business on referrals. Our limited advertising has been on targeted Facebook campaigns, and one direct mail campaign. Balancing spending money on incremental advertising/marketing and turning a profit is always a challenge! The second challenge is hiring additional trainers. People spend a lot of money on private training classes for family and friends. They deserve an instructor who is knowledgeable and respectful, with strong teaching skills and a good personality, who can adapt to the teaching situation. For example, can you relate well to both teenagers and grandparents in the same time? I'm being very careful in my search to find great instructors who can over-deliver, and build a relationship with our clients.
Were there any challenges that made you second guess your decision to be an entrepreneur?
I initially became certified as a CPR and first aid instructor as part of my scuba training, and I was asked to teach a class for a non-scuba diver. Then it expanded, and expanded. Chappaqua Moms (and other local Facebook pages) are a major force! After a few months I realized that there was a terrific opportunity in building this business. But I do need to balance my time with my full-time job, my wife and kids!
What's been your favorite moment or proudest achievement since opening?
Training one of Chappaqua's Girl Scout troupes. These young ladies were so incredibly enthusiastic! They wanted to know the 'why' and 'how' behind everything. I try to make my classes fun and interactive, but they got into it more than any other. They sent me the most wonderful thank you note after the class.
What's the most innovative idea your employees or customers have had that you put into practice?
We had a customer from a local organization ask for a group class -- without the certification. She asked whether we could come in during an event and 'just teach.' My idea for CPaRties was born. We come in to a dinner or brunch party and setup in the corner. While everyone is mingling and having fun, people can wander over and learn great skills in a relaxed environment. We bring a fantastic device that turns CPR into a video game -- it measures your compressions, rate and breaths and scores you. It's a lot of fun! If you like we even arrange the food, setup and cleanup for the party! CPaRties were born...
How do you deal with difficult customers?
I don't. Just kidding. You don't have to like all of your customers, nor the way some of them treat you. However, you have to respect all of them. I generally engage difficult customers with humor, and I try to build a rapport with them -- professionally, personally -- and that usually diffuses the difficult personality. I have had no-shows and last minute cancellations, which is money out of my pocket. I had to implement (and enforce) a cancellation policy. Always politely. My favorite story: I sent a direct mail campaign to certain professionals throughout the County. I received an irate call from a woman saying that my mailing went to her house, and she was sick of receiving mail from her ex-husband. After-all, he left her for another woman a year before. She wanted to be removed from the mailing list I purchased. But, she wouldn't give me her husband's name. I couldn't help her with that situation.
How does your business give back or get involved in the community?
Last year we were contacted by the Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce about offering some public classes in New Castle. This was a great partnership! We offered a few classes, and agreed to donate 10% of revenues to the Horace Greeley Scholarship Fund. We have also donated classes to the Girl Scouts and a special needs group affiliated with a local social work organization.
The plan behind this series at Patch is to shine the spotlight on all our favorite local businesses, and to learn a little about the ones we may not know that well.
This is as much about supporting local businesses as it is about celebrating the places and faces that make our community special.
Find out what's happening in Chappaqua-Mount Kiscowith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Here's a simple form where local business owners can answer a few quick questions to be part of this ongoing feature.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here
