Staying close to the heart

Active International, Rockland’s biggest business success story, stays attached to its local roots, will not move out of town

A deal brokered through Empire State Development has ensured Active International, the global leader in corporate trade, will invest in modernizing its Rockland County operations and keep its global headquarters in New York State at Blue Hill Plaza in Pearl River. The company, which has offices and employees in locations around the world, considered relocating outside New York before making a strong commitment to continue doing business in the Empire State and retain more than 315 jobs.

“Active International’s decision to modernize its global headquarters in Rockland County, and remain in New York State, is a clear demonstration of the significant progress we’ve made to improve the state’s business climate under Governor Cuomo’s leadership,” said Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Kenneth Adams. “We look forward to their continued success and appreciate their investment in the local economy.”

Active International is a globally recognized provider of media, marketing, travel, retail marketing, shipping and other vital business services through the practice of corporate trade. Founded in 1984 by Alan Elkin and Arthur Wagner in Rockland County, Active International has grown from having one office in New York to having more than 500 employees around the world, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom. The company places more than $1.7 billion in media and other goods and services annually on behalf of its’ Fortune 1000 clients, and has restored more than $1 billion in value to its clients over the past 30 years.

Alan Elkin, Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder of Active International said, “Blue Hill Plaza has provided the opportunity for Active International to grow both as a business and a member of our community. We are pleased to have reached a progressive solution for our space needs that keeps us in Rockland County for the next 15 years and look forward to remaining an active member of the community.”

Elkin told the Rockland County Times he had no way to picture the growth of the company when it opened with a staff of four in 1984. “No,” he answered emphatically when asked if he envisioned the level of the company’s success in 1984. In addition to being a successful venture, Active has maintained an incredible loyalty to the community as one of the largest philanthropic organizations in Rockland.

Where does that concern come from. Elkin answered, “The heart, you have to feel.”