Executive suite: Karin M. Caro, Bohemia
She is the mother of four children and a partner with her husband in running five businesses. As such, Karin M. Caro is familiar not so much with juggling work-life needs, but with blending them together.
Early on, she says, her children, now 8, 10, 11 and 12, came to the office where they witnessed problems and got involved in discussions. "You could probably talk business with every one of my kids at some level," says Caro, 34.
Her oldest son is now helping to develop BluKidz, a site to help area children get involved in charity.
Caro launched Blu Chip Marketing a year and a half ago as a spinoff from her marketing development work with the other businesses she and her husband, A.J., run. They include Knights Protection, Arrow Security and Strategic Nurse Staffing.
With a degree in child psychology, Caro said she got her first taste of business while teaching ballroom dance at a dance franchise in St. James.
Four children. Five businesses. How do you manage it all?
"Everybody's asking me that almost daily." Her answer, she says, has to do with blending, which includes having her kids in the office as often as possible. "Within this one office we have five businesses, including Blu Chip Marketing . . . Each business and all the staff and all the partners and all my kids are always feeding off each other and are all integrated with each other. There are not a lot of boundaries. And it's a big, open floor plan."
What's your biggest headache?
"It's a good challenge to have an overabundance of [job] applicants. We can get an unbelievable staff at a very low rate." The downside is that "I want to give everyone a job, and I just can't. I come across amazing people for all the businesses. It's hard to say no. I feel you can't overspend, and you can't overhire."
What book or film has carried important lessons for you and your business?
"I live my life by 'The Secret,' by Rhonda Byrne. Caro says she has her kids watch the video version while they're in the car. The theme is about "creating good energy. People are attracted to our energy."
What do you look for in a job candidate?
"Personality is key." She hired an employee on the spot, one of 60 respondents to a Blu Chip ad on Craigslist. "It was her energy," her saying, "I want to be part of a team, to create a difference. I want to be in a positive atmosphere."
What's best about being the boss?
"The freedom to do what you want. Any business owner would put that in their top three [perks] -- being your own boss."
If there were a fire alarm, what in your office would you grab first?
"I love my iPad. Everything is on it."
Corporate snapshot
Name. Karin M. Caro, founder and president
Company. Blu Chip Marketing Llc, Bohemia
What it does. "We will do whatever it takes to help a charity or get a business noticed. We are helping and creating positive energy and enthusiasm."
Employees. 13 full-time, six part-time, in roles such as Web development, social media, search-engine optimization, sales, advertising, graphic design
Revenue. $1.5 million expected this year.
Yankees pushed to brink, game 3 wrap ... Queens County Farm ... Get the latest news and more great videos at NewsdayTV