I met Vivian Meyers on-line. No, it's not what you might think!

Vivian receives my emails. She wrote me a note about six years ago, asking to set up a meeting. She owned property in Long Island City and wanted to learn a little more about the Queens Economic Development Corporation. And that, as Humphrey Bogart said at the end of the classic film Casablanca, was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Over time Vivian and I discovered we had many common interests: the development of Long Island City; our mutual love of New York City; and politics ─ liberal, of course! I learned that Vivian had taken over a real estate company founded by her mother, Gladys Mills. Gladys opened Gotham Realty in 1944 (which incidentally was just two years after Casablanca opened in the theaters). Currently Gotham Realty is operated by Vivian's daughter, Sarah Cohen. Three generations! Multi-generational businesses are unusual ─ whether owned by men or women. Gotham Realty has survived and prospered because Gladys set a standard that Vivian and Sarah continue: always seek opportunities while doing business in a fair and ethical way.

In seeking opportunities, one must take calculated and informed risks. I tell this to emerging entrepreneurs at our New Ideas to New Venture classes. I joke with them that if you are the type of person who tries on six scarves or eight ties each morning before deciding on one, then entrepreneurship might not be right for you. Making decisions at a rapid pace is crucial. Clearly we will not always make the right decision, and when we don't, we must figure out what went wrong, learn from it, and try not to repeat it.

In 2016, Vivian came to me with an idea. She had an empty storefront on Queens Plaza that she was willing to rent to us on a short-term basis. Internally, we had discussed opening a shop to profile and sell local, artisan products. We took a calculated risk, and in a few months, the Made in Queens (MiQ) concept became a reality. Our pop-up was temporary, but it was the catalyst for an innovative program. MiQ now works with several dozen clients who produce everything from jewelry to handmade cards to high-end chocolates that are sold at pop-ups and at the District Market at LaGuardia Airport's Terminal B.

March is Women's History Month. Our Women's Business Center wanted to honor a local women-owned business. It occurred to me that Gotham Realty and Vivian exemplify success and can inspire others who are starting a business. With that in mind, we are delighted to honor Vivian at our HSBC Bank-sponsored  Spring Networking event at the Museum of the Moving Image on March 25.

In addition to honoring Vivian, we'll announce the nine finalists for the StartUP! Business Plan Competition, which is sponsored by Resorts World Casino NYC in partnership with Queens Library. We'll also kick off the Astoria Worker Initiative with the Consortium for Worker Education. As part of the initiative, we'll offer "Ready for Business" ESL and Financial Literacy classes to emerging entrepreneurs in April.

Join us on March 25. Meet my friend Vivian. And, who knows, perhaps 75 years from now, when Gotham Realty is celebrating its 150th Anniversary, some of the StartUP!, Ready for Business, and Financial Literacy clients will be honored during our 2094 Women's History Month Networking Event! .