Employee Spotlight - Liran Gross
Jan 27, 2021
In our first Employee Spotlight, Kristen S. from our Marketing Department spoke with Liran Gross, Senior Bank Officer & Branch Manager of our Ridgewood Branch. They discussed his involvement with the reactivation of the Fresh Pond Chamber of Commerce and he shared why community involvement matters to him.
Kristen: When did you begin working for Maspeth Federal Savings and why?
Liran: I began working for MFS in September 2018 and joined the Ridgewood Branch team as Branch Manager in January 2019. At the time MFS was focused on reimagining its branch experience and I was happy to join the team at such a pivotal time. The work we were doing to renovate the branch and launch new technology was exciting and created many opportunities. I was motivated to spend parts of my day visiting local businesses and built many wonderful relationships within the community – something that I personally enjoy.
Kristen: How did you become involved in the community?
Liran: Aside from it being something I love; volunteerism and community involvement are encouraged by the Bank. With their support, I joined the Kiwanis Club of Ridgewood to connect with local business owners and community leaders. I wanted to better understand the needs of my customers and work as a liaison between the Bank and the community. I soon recognized an opportunity to improve the merchant and consumer shopping experience on Fresh Pond Road and sought assistance from influencers & business leaders in the community. Together we created an action plan to reactivate the Fresh Pond Road Chamber of Commerce.
Kristen: What role did you and the Bank play in the development of the Chamber?
Liran: After initiating the revitalization of the Chamber I shifted my focus to membership. I worked to promote this new initiative by visiting with business owners to encourage membership. In the process I grew to better understand their goals and challenges. I was also able to leverage existing relationships and resources the Bank had to build great partnerships with other community organizations such as The Greater Ridgewood Youth Council, Community Board 5 and the Myrtle Ave Business Improvement District (BID). Ultimately, I was able to gain momentum and I built a solid group of business leaders who are all focused on making Fresh Pond Road a more vibrant place. It really is a great feeling – to have an impact.
Kristen: What is the mission of the Chamber?
Liran: The mission of the Chamber is to enhance the economic growth of Fresh Pond Road by identifying areas of opportunity. Members focus on small business advocacy and work together to find solutions to economic issues that impact their businesses. Additional goals include:
- strengthening the local economy
- providing networking opportunities
- representing the interest of local business owners through the development of relationships with community leaders
- driving business opportunities
- and more…
Kristen: Are there any specific projects you’re looking forward to this year?
Liran: While we continue to enhance our member programs, our focus remains on membership. Growth in our sponsorship, network and resources will allow us to create several new programs and provide additional resources.
A few of our recent programs include:
- Customer Referral Programs – The Chamber is looking to help members with business development by coordinating special offers and giveaways for loyal Fresh Pond Road shoppers.
- Block Captains – The Chamber appoints captains to provide each block with communication assistance and support with business issues. Captains also facilitate the collection of dues and share information as needed.
- Safe Havens - The Chamber’s Safe Haven program will create a network of SAFE HAVEN locations for children and seniors who may experience an emergency. This program is also sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Ridgewood and NY 3-2-1 in conjunction with the 104th Police Precinct.
Kristen: Why should businesses consider joining the Chamber? How can they get started?
Liran: From banks to local eateries, there are many great businesses on Fresh Pond Road that could benefit from the variety of resources and programs we provide. Given the impact of Covid-19 and the many challenges we are all facing, I encourage merchants to get involved and work together through the Chamber. To learn more, I encourage merchants on Fresh Pond Road to join the Chamber’s Facebook group called Fresh Pond Road Merchants or call me at the Branch (718) 497-4800.
Kristen: Thank you, Liran. This has been super insightful. You are a true representation of MFS and we are so lucky to have you on our team.
Liran: I’m lucky to work for such a great place.
That concludes our first Employee Spotlight. Stay tuned for next month’s feature!