Entrepreneur, M.D. and NYCInv member Josh Gordon talks about business, giving back and his newly launched art gallery!
When and how did you become a member of www.nycinv.com? The moment I bumped into its creative founder at a party! Which would have been about 3 years ago.
We've heard that your company, Nios Spa, donates gift certificates for charity benefits, is this true? How can a charity become a recipient? We do indeed donate gift certificates to charities, either larger treatments for a few raffle winner or free mini treatments for gift bags for all of the event's participants. Any charity that is interested can contact us through our website.
Nios also has an art gallery in the works, when will that launch and what work will be featured?
We did indeed just launch Nios Art, where up-and-coming artists showcase their work at our space. We split all the sales equally between the artist and a non-profit. It's great working with the artists, and we're hoping that our clients agree and the project takes off.
How do you balance your career and giving back so successfully? I realized early on that as a business owner, the lines between personal and business life are very blurred. So there is nothing to balance since the two are not separate. I try to give as much as I can to charity in my personal life, so a corporate social responsibility program was an integral part of the business plan for
www.NiosSpa.com from the get-go. We’re giving relatively small amounts now, and our donations will grow as we grow.
How have your experiences with the charities you support changed your outlook on your own life?We are a for-profit business, but there’s nothing like supporting non-profits lift my – and my team’s -- spirits.
Who or what has been your greatest inspiration?There’s no one person. I just finished reading “Mountains Beyond Mountains,” which tells the story of Dr. Paul Farmer and his work in Haiti. It’s a good read.
Many people want to do their part for those in need, but don’t know the best way to go about it. What would your advice be to them?All the non-profits we’ve donated to happened to be ones in which I knew one of the employees personally; I’m assuming many people can dig into their contact list and reach out to those who work with non-profits and offer help. Or think what you like doing in your personal life and tie it in with non-profit work. I enjoy art, so created our most recent program around it: we showcase up-and-coming artists at our space and split the profit between the artist and a non-profit.
About Josh / Favorites:Favorite NYC charity event(s)? The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society always impresses me. Here’s a non-profit with the organizational capacity of a for-profit. Charity: water produces spectacular fundraisers; they are creative and think outside the box. Or bottle, in this case.
City?I live in NYC for a reason!
Travel Destination? I’m going to Haiti next week – should be “a bit” different than any other place I’ve been to. Turkey is always interesting as it’s caught between Europe and the Middle East. France for culture. Aruba for vacation.
Hotel? Ace Hotel. They do things differently.
Restaurant? Props to Gobo. My list of vegetarian friends has (unfortunately for my taste buds) been growing. Gobo is the only veggie-friendly place that keeps my meat craving instincts happy as well.
Museum or gallery? Can’t go wrong with the Met. Classic. Film? Social Network. That company has always fascinated me.
Book? Losing my Virginity. Takes you into the fun mind of Richard Branson.
Artist? A bit traditional, perhaps, but I’ve always liked impressionism, so Monet rules king.
Bar? Shalel. It’s where I took my significant other for the first date. It might be the only good date-place bar on the upper west side. It worked wonders for me.
