5 New York based employers join IMAGE

NEW YORK — Five New York based employers have partnered with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New York on Wednesday, May 15 by joining the agency's employment compliance program IMAGE, or "ICE Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers."

Reinauer Transportation Companies, LLC (Reinauer) is a tugboat & marine services company, operating on the East Coast of the United States, as well as in Canada, the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean and the Great Lakes. Their corporate offices are located in Staten Island, New York. Founded in 1923 by Bert Reinauer, it is now entering its fourth generation of family management. The company operates 27 tugboats and 25 barges and employs 486 employees.

The Zumtobel Group is an international company with offices and facilities worldwide, that is headquartered in Austria. Zumtobel Lighting and Tridonic, Inc. are US subsidiary corporations of The Zumtobel Group, and both are headquartered in Highland, New York. Tridonic, Inc. is a subsidiary of Zumtobel Lighting. Zumtobel Lighting employs 120 US employees and Tridonic, Inc., which is a subsidiary of Zumtobel Lighting, employs 11 US employees.

AFC Industries, Inc. (AFC) is a company that manufactures ergonomically designed furniture and technology related products.  This company also holds and seeks GSA contracts, including contracts with the Department of Defense and the US Navy. AFC is located in College Point, New York. AFC was founded in 1994 and it employs 96 people at its facility.

Century Country Club (Century) was founded in 1898 and it is located in Purchase, New York. Century is a private golf club and it employs 110 individuals. Links Magazine ranked Century Country Club as one of the "100 Most Prestigious Private Golf Clubs in the World". Century is recognized as a Platinum Club of America and is also designated as a Distinguished Club of America."

To qualify for IMAGE certification, partners must agree to the following conditions:

• conduct a self-assessment of their hiring practices to uncover vulnerabilities that could be exploited by unauthorized workers;
• enroll in E-Verify, an employment eligibility verification program;
• train staff on IMAGE Best Employment Practices and the use of new screening tools; and
• undergo a Form I-9 audit by ICE.

Craig Reinauer, President of Reinauer, stated, "Reinauer Transportation Cos. is proud to be a participant of the IMAGE Program.  With the assistance of the IMAGE program, it is Reinauer's goal to continue to have a lawful and compliant workforce."

Ken Breitman, Director Human Resources – Americas, stated, "Zumtobel Lighting is committed to partnering with the Homeland Security IMAGE Program to insure that we hire eligible personnel for our company.  This partnership will make sure that Zumtobel Lighting is in full compliance with the program.  We encourage other companies to partner with the Homeland Security IMAGE Program."

Anat Rotlevi, Chief Executive Officer of AFC Industries stated, "AFC Industries, Inc. is a participant in E-Verify which gives us peace of mind with the hiring process to reduce unauthorized employment. Joining IMAGE is a proactive approach for our company, helping ensure we provide the best support to our customers and employees.  We are delighted to be partnering with IMAGE."

Burton War, General Manager stated, "Century Country Club recognizes the need to be proactive in our hiring practices.  The IMAGE program helps us to insure that the workers we hire are authorized to work in the United States.  It is every employer's responsibility to protect the integrity of the American workforce."

Undocumented workers create vulnerabilities in today's marketplace by presenting false documents to gain employment, completing applications for fraudulent benefits, and stealing identities of legal United States workers. To combat this, ICE initiated the IMAGE program in 2006.

All IMAGE members must participate in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) E-Verify employment eligibility verification program. Through this program, employers can verify that newly hired employees are eligible to work in the United States. This Internet-based system is available throughout the nation and is free to employers. It provides an automated link to the Social Security Administration database and DHS immigration records.

Upon enrollment in and commitment to the IMAGE Best Employment Practices, program participants are deemed "IMAGE certified," a distinction DHS and ICE believe will become an industry standard. IMAGE also provides free training to all employers on the provisions surrounding the Form I-9, fraudulent document detection, and building a solid immigration compliance model.

Companies interested in more information on the IMAGE program can visit www.ICE.gov/image.

nt compliance program IMAGE, or "ICE Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers."

Reinauer Transportation Companies, LLC (Reinauer) is a tugboat & marine services company, operating on the East Coast of the United States, as well as in Canada, the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean and the Great Lakes. Their corporate offices are located in Staten Island, New York. Founded in 1923 by Bert Reinauer, it is now entering its fourth generation of family management. The company operates 27 tugboats and 25 barges and employs 486 employees.

The Zumtobel Group is an international company with offices and facilities worldwide, that is headquartered in Austria. Zumtobel Lighting and Tridonic, Inc. are US subsidiary corporations of The Zumtobel Group, and both are headquartered in Highland, New York. Tridonic, Inc. is a subsidiary of Zumtobel Lighting. Zumtobel Lighting employs 120 US employees and Tridonic, Inc., which is a subsidiary of Zumtobel Lighting, employs 11 US employees.

AFC Industries, Inc. (AFC) is a company that manufactures ergonomically designed furniture and technology related products.  This company also holds and seeks GSA contracts, including contracts with the Department of Defense and the US Navy. AFC is located in College Point, New York. AFC was founded in 1994 and it employs 96 people at its facility.

Century Country Club (Century) was founded in 1898 and it is located in Purchase, New York. Century is a private golf club and it employs 110 individuals. Links Magazine ranked Century Country Club as one of the "100 Most Prestigious Private Golf Clubs in the World". Century is recognized as a Platinum Club of America and is also designated as a Distinguished Club of America."

To qualify for IMAGE certification, partners must agree to the following conditions:

• conduct a self-assessment of their hiring practices to uncover vulnerabilities that could be exploited by unauthorized workers;
• enroll in E-Verify, an employment eligibility verification program;
• train staff on IMAGE Best Employment Practices and the use of new screening tools; and
• undergo a Form I-9 audit by ICE.

"The decision for these companies to partner with IMAGE demonstrates their commitment to maintaining an authorized workforce," said Angel M. Melendez, special agent in charge for HSI New York.  "We welcome them all, and congratulate them for their commitment to adding to their already established compliance efforts and protect the integrity of their workforce."

Craig Reinauer, President of Reinauer, stated, "Reinauer Transportation Cos. is proud to be a participant of the IMAGE Program.  With the assistance of the IMAGE program, it is Reinauer's goal to continue to have a lawful and compliant workforce."

Ken Breitman, Director Human Resources – Americas, stated, "Zumtobel Lighting is committed to partnering with the Homeland Security IMAGE Program to insure that we hire eligible personnel for our company.  This partnership will make sure that Zumtobel Lighting is in full compliance with the program.  We encourage other companies to partner with the Homeland Security IMAGE Program."

Anat Rotlevi, Chief Executive Officer of AFC Industries stated, "AFC Industries, Inc. is a participant in E-Verify which gives us peace of mind with the hiring process to reduce unauthorized employment. Joining IMAGE is a proactive approach for our company, helping ensure we provide the best support to our customers and employees.  We are delighted to be partnering with IMAGE."

Burton War, General Manager stated, "Century Country Club recognizes the need to be proactive in our hiring practices.  The IMAGE program helps us to insure that the workers we hire are authorized to work in the United States.  It is every employer's responsibility to protect the integrity of the American workforce."

Undocumented workers create vulnerabilities in today's marketplace by presenting false documents to gain employment, completing applications for fraudulent benefits, and stealing identities of legal United States workers. To combat this, ICE initiated the IMAGE program in 2006.

All IMAGE members must participate in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) E-Verify employment eligibility verification program. Through this program, employers can verify that newly hired employees are eligible to work in the United States. This Internet-based system is available throughout the nation and is free to employers. It provides an automated link to the Social Security Administration database and DHS immigration records.

Upon enrollment in and commitment to the IMAGE Best Employment Practices, program participants are deemed "IMAGE certified," a distinction DHS and ICE believe will become an industry standard. IMAGE also provides free training to all employers on the provisions surrounding the Form I-9, fraudulent document detection, and building a solid immigration compliance model.