Newsday (Nassau Edition) from Hempstead, New York • 48

BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY A48 Schein names first president Longtime executive to run the North American operations for the Melville health care company BY KATHLEEN KERR STAFF WRITER Henry Schein a distributor of health care services and products including flu vaccine, yesterday named James Breslawski president and chief operating officer of the company. Breslawski, in his newly created positions, will be responsible for Schein's North American dental, medical and technology businesses in addition to its global services. "I am extremely pleased and enthused by the confidence that my colleagues are placing in me and look forward to working with the team to continue to develop Henry Schein's North American business, our operational effectiveness and our unique Team Schein culture," Breslawski said. The new company president is a 25-year veteran of Schein, the largest distributor of health care products and services to office-based practitioners including dental practices, laboratories, physicians and veterinary clinics in North America and Europe. In 1990, Breslawski was named president of Schein's U.S.

dental business. He also has held the positions of chief financial officer, vice president of finance and administration, and controller. Breslawski will continue reporting to Stanley Bergman, the Melville-based company's chairman and chief executive. Breslawski also has served as executive vice president and has been a member of the board of directors since 1992. "Having had the pleasure of working closely with Jim over the past 30 years, I can say without question that he is the best person for this extremely important position at this exciting juncture in our company's history," Bergman said.

James Breslawski James Breslawski Viacom digs in at 44-story Bertelsmann tower REUTERS million, when it was about 75 between 45th and 46th streets. 15 years, a company representa- from its headquarters at 1515 percent occupied. Viacom, which owns the CBS tive said. Broadway, that would both acViacom Inc. has agreed to With Viacom's lease, the build- television network and Para- Scott Gottlieb and Michael commodate its immediate lease 305,000 square feet of ing will be more than 85 percent mount Pictures movie studio, is Laginestra of CB Richard Ellis expansion needs, as well as space, about 10 floors, in the Ber- leased, the company said in a expected to occupy five floors, Group and David William- address expiring leases," telsmann building in Times statement.

or 139,000 square feet by the end son of Viacom, represented the Laginestra said in a statement. Square, in one of the largest The building, at 1540 Broad- of the year and will take posses- tenant in the long-term leasing. Paramount Group, a privately deals in New York City this year, way, is 44 stories and comprises sion in early 2007 of another five "Scott and I found an oppor- held real estate firm, owns about the company said yesterday. 1.1 million square feet of office floors, which Bertelsmann now tunity for Viacom at 1540 10 million square feet of Class A Last year, Paramount Group and retail space. It occupies the occupies.

Broadway to develop a block of office buildings in midtown and purchased the building for $426 eastern block of Broadway The lease is expected to span space literally across the street downtown Manhattan. Despite gas prices, more to hit road during holiday BLOOMBERG NEWS A record 37.2 million Americans will take trips during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, an increase of 2.2 percent from last year, the American Automobile Association said in an annual forecast. About 31.1 million vacationers, or 84 percent of the total, will travel by motor vehicle, according to AAA, the largest U.S. travel organization. The holiday runs from Friday, May 27, through Monday, May 30.

The forecast comes as the average U.S. retail price for gasoline was $2.149 a gallon as of yesterday, 7.5 percent higher than a year ago. According to AAA's daily Fuel Gauge Report, the average price of a gallon of regular unleaded in Nassau and Suffolk counties was it was $2.380 in New York City. "Highest-ever holiday gas prices won't keep Americans from traveling," AAA travel vice $2 a gallon during the next week president Sandra Hughes said in amid lower crude-oil prices and a statement. "Gasoline remains a higher U.S.

inventories. relatively small part of most The organization's holiday travelers' vacation costs." forecast was based on a nationAnother 4.2 million travelers al survey of 1,300 adults by the are forecast to travel by airplane, Travel Industry Association of up 3.2 percent from the America. The not-for-profit Memorial Day holiday last year. AAA, formerly known as the A projected 1.9 million vaca- American Automobile Associationers will travel by other tion, has 48 million members. modes of transportation, in- Gasoline has tracked a rally cluding by train and bus, little in crude oil, which accounts for changed from a year ago.

about half the fuel's retail price. "We're booked solid," said Crude oil has dropped 14 perAngela Horn, a manager at cent from a record $58.28 on Eaglerider, which rents Harley- April 4 on the New York MerDavidson motorcycles in Las cantile Exchange. Gasoline fuVegas, whose customers come tures have tumbled 16 percent from as far away as Japan and since reaching a record $1.7491 as close as Southern California. a gallon the same day. However, some companies There's an average lag of that depend on tourists are con- about six weeks before wholecerned that visits may drop off sale prices are reflected at the rethis year because of fuel prices.

tail pump, Dave Costello, an In a separate statement yester- economist with the U.S. Energy day, AAA said the national aver- Department in Washington, said age gas price may drop closer to in an interview Monday. your most important investment from the damage that termite infestation can result in tens of thousands of dollars Be sure of SERVING the experience that you need: operator of Sentricon since 1995 of Dow AgroSciences advisory board for Sentricon PEST fully eliminates the colony, without drilling into or entering the premises monitored to protect against future infestations AUTHORIZED FIRM and insured Sentricon Experts in owned and operated Colony Elimination System Rodents Trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC 8 BOK MOVING NEWSDAY PHOTO, 2003 JIM PEPPLER Even with high gas prices, 37.2 million are expected to travel Memorial Day weekend. Above, the LIE on a holiday weekend. LONG ISLAND'S A TERMITE CONTROL SPECIALISTS Protect single Knockout has Authorized Member Treatment your home Property Licensed Long Island termites can cause.

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