As appeared in January 5 th, 2004 edition of Hudson Valley Business Journal:

How can medical professionals succeed in real estate without really buying?

Recently -formed construction and development company in region has cure for the risk adverse. In an age of medical specialization, it's hardly any wonder that health care professionals prefer turning to specialists to handle their construction and real estate needs. But what exactly are those needs and to whom should they turn?

Most healthcare professionals are far too busy tending to the health of their patients to build wealth from their professional real estate, says James V. Giordano, a healthcare operations management executive who recently entered into partnership with Monroe-based Verticon, LTD to form Verticon Medical Construction and Development Solutions. “When it comes to investing where they work, health care professionals are often risk adverse--hesitant to make investments in their professional property so that it can be to them what their private property usually is—their most valuable asset.”

Giordano was CEO of St. Anthony Community Hospital in Warwick to become CEO at Good Samaritan Hospital , in Suffern before teaming up with Alan and Irving Zuckerman, principles of Verticon LTD. The Zuckerman brothers are the third generation in a family of builders responsible for numerous and various quality projects throughout the Hudson Valley region. The recently -formed affiliate company, Verticon Medical Construction and Development Solutions, is firmly focused on helping physicians and health systems succeed. The company offers clients various ways to handle their real estate, often without investing their time or money in the process.

There are numerous ways the company works with its clients, Giordano explains. Depending upon the client's expressed needs, we may build to suit, lease back, or joint venture with the health professional sometimes without requiring a financial investment.

On a larger scale, Verticon Construction and Development Solutions provides major medical centers help developing project financing strategies that will build better bottom lines. “Nothing is cookie cutter,” Zuckerman maintains. “We can provide any number of deal structure/partnership opportunities that facilitate realization of development projects.

According to Alan Zuckerman, medical construction is a fast growing niche in the construction/development industry. The strength of medical construction is especially impressive in the Mid-Hudson Valley where consumers demand for quality healthcare close to home is almost as strong as the demand for residential housing, he explains. “Working with physicians and health care systems as partners is allowing the company to tap the potential of this burgeoning segment in a creative and mutually beneficial manner,” he says.

The partners have extensive experience working with regional and local municipal leaders and financial institutions. Their reputation makes a difference at planning and zoning boards as well as at the bank. Alan Zuckerman points out that having a local, reputable firm's name on an application can be good as gold because it provides the financial institution assurance that their investment is in good hands.

Partnering with a regional firm also pays when it comes to fostering other important connections. “We can even help our clients and partners find others who provide synergistic services,” Irv Zuckerman explains. “For example we can help an orthopedist collocate with a radiologist, a physical therapist, a chiropractor a nutritionist or all of the above. That way they can team up to provide what consumers are looking for—one convenient, consumer- friendly stop for their health care needs.” Zuckerman emphasizes that it's a win/win/win proposition.

With construction, development and medical marketing expertise available from a company solidly entrenched in the communities it serves, Verticon Medical Construction and Development Solutions offers clients something new in the marketplace —a way to succeed in real estate without really buying.