Anthony Colletti, CEO

What one factor is most important to success?

Persistence. Never give up no matter how bleak the situation may appear. The greatest heroes of our nation-George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy-failed at so many different times during their lives, yet ultimately they succeeded because they never stopped trying. Thomas Jefferson once said, ‘I am a true believer in good luck, and I find that the harder I work the more luck I seem to have.’

What do you look for in an employee?

A good attitude. Someone who comes in early and is not on personal phone calls and enjoys working hard. Most of the skills for any position can be taught on the job, but the right attitude cannot be.

What’s the best way to save money?

Do your homework, research everything-talk to your competitors, your staff and your customers. Consider all the input, and then make a decision.

What’s the best way to spend money?

On your most valuable resource: your employees. Have a budget and invest it in your people through their education and training, fringe benefits and bonuses. It will come back to you tenfold.

What’s your greatest pleasure?

Certainly being with and watching my family grow is. But more generically I love to see a child happy. No child should ever suffer, or be sick, or not enjoy their childhood. I have coached children ages 5 to 18, and it is truly a great pleasure and challenge.

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?

I take my dog for a walk in the park across the street from my house at around 6 a.m. every day. I enjoy the peacefulness and calm before the day begins. I usually plan out my whole day as I walk.

How do you deal with stress?

Not very well, I am afraid. I try exercise to relieve stress, and it does help. I find that physical activities help reduce stress. But deep down I worry about everything all the time. It may not be healthy, but it sure keeps you sharp.

What one lesson do you hope to pass on to your children?

To slow down and enjoy life more. Don’t be a slave to material things. Spend time with your family and friends. Tell them how much you love them and how important they are to you. You never can have enough time in this life, so make sure you do the important things first.

How do you bounce back from adversity?

I think by experiencing adversity you will be able to bounce back. You have to try, and sometimes fail, in order to appreciate success. Having supportive people around you couldn’t hurt either. You must stay the course even when you want to quit.

What’s your favorite thing about Queens?

The diversity and size of queen7 amazes me. You can shop in Astoria and then drive about 30 miles to Rockaway Beach. You can speak about 50 languages and find plenty of people to speak to. You can be exposed to 10 significantly different cultures by spending a day in one Public School.

Colletti first worked with Cord Meyer as an independent auditor. Ten years later, he became Cord Meyer’s Vice President of Finance. A Certified Public Accountant, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Fordham University, and lives in Middle Village with his wife and four children, Victor, Cassandra, Ashley and Katrina.