Raluca Sandler - Success Magazine, Ltd.

business
Success Magazine: What is your profession?
Raluca Sandler: I am a dentist. I practice general
dentistry in Warrensburg, NY.
SM: Where did you study for your DDS?
RS: I graduated in 1982 from the
University of Medicine in Stomatology
and Pharmacology in Bucharest Romania,
and completed my studies at New York
University Dental School in 1986.
SM: What inspired you to come to the US?
RS: I married my first husband, who I met
in dental school, in Romania. He was an
American citizen, and after graduating
from the university in Romania, he moved
back to the United States. As his wife, I had
to follow him.
SM: When you came to the US where did
you live?
RS: In the fall of 1982 I arrived in New
York, USA—the land of opportunity. It
was love at the first site. I lived in Hillcrest,
New York where I owned a house.
SM: What did you do for income?
RS: When I first arrived to the states, I took
my first job as a dental assistant for an
endodontist in Forest Hills. After I received
my degree in dentistry from NYU, I
opened my own dental office in Rego Park,
NY and a second very large dental practice
in the Bronx.
SM: What made you move to
Warrensburg?
RS: My in-laws have a house in
Warrensburg, and through the years I
would come to ski at Gore Mountain,
hike the beautiful mountains of the
36 SUCCESS july 2008
Adirondacks, fish and swim in the crystal
clear lakes, and white water raft down the
rivers. I love nature. I love flowers, and
forests, and I love dogs. Upstate NY, and in
particular, the Town of Warrensburg, is a
place where I can enjoy all of these things.
It reminds me of my homeland, Romania.
SM: When did you purchase your
Warrensburg dental practice?
RS: When my decision was made to move
to Warrensburg. I sold the practices in
New York, and in 1989, I purchased my
dental office in Warrensburg, where I am
still practicing.
SM: You had many other businesses, what
were they?
RS: In early 1990, my parents and I
opened a patisserie called Lilly’s Place in
Warrensburg, offering some of my mom’s
delicious gourmet European foods. I then
founded and operated (together with
my husband and brother) Hollywood
Limousines of Warrensburg. This was a
company whose long stretch limousines
and corporate cars traveled all over
the country. In the late nineties another
business was born—Hollywood Auto
Sales Inc/ CDS Motor Group, a previously
owned car dealership, also in Warrensburg.
But that was not it… G and R Home
Estates LLC was founded—a company for
building beautiful homes. And the latest
arrival is Aloha Florist LLC. Through the
years we sold some of the businesses and
at the present I operate only my dental
practice, Raluca Sandler DDS Family
Practice, G and R Home Estates, and
Aloha Florist.
SM: Have you always had this
entrepreneurial spirit?
RS: I asked my mother if I always had
this entrepreneurial spirit, and her answer
was “yes.”
SM: What did you enjoy most about
Warrensburg when you first moved here?
RS: I fell in love with this small
Adirondack community.
SM: When did you open Aloha Florist?
RS: In the fall of 2005, Aloha Florist LLC
was born.
SM: Why “Aloha florist” as a name?
RS: My husband and I visited Hawaii
many times, and fell in love with the
islands of paradise. I thought it was only
fair to bring a little piece of it back to
Warrensburg.
SM: How many times have you been to
Hawaii?
RS: We’ve been to Hawaii 6 or7 times, and
actually we are going back in November.
SM: Who inspired you to go to Hawaii?
RS: Our dearest friend Kaena Peterson,
who is a Hawaiian native but lived more
than 30 years in Warrensburg, introduced
us to the Hawaiian culture and traditions.
business
SM: What makes Aloha different as
a florist?
RS: We are unique in that we have tropical
flowers shipped straight from the Big
Island of Hawaii each month. Another
difference is the creative design of our
arrangements. This small flower shop is
friendly, beautifully decorated, and run by
my flower designer John Cleveland. With
25 years experience in creating beauty, he
has received many awards for his designs.
My brother Zaharia Dinu is in charge,
and maintains the smooth operation of the
business.
SM: How many trees have you planted in
Warrensburg?
RS: In Warrensburg, my husband and I
have probably planted over 190 trees. I
have done some extensive landscaping
projects, and we personally dug every hole
for every tree.
SM: You purchased an estate that needed
much work. Why did you choose this
mansion?
RS: We purchased one of the several
mansions in Warrensburg, because we fell
in love with the property, the character, the
architecture, and the craftsmanship of the
home. The mansion actually didn’t need so
much work –the woodwork was in perfect
condition and in the original form. What
it needed was some TLC, and it got it. We
love and enjoy every inch of it, especially
after some grooming and landscaping
was done.
SM: How do you have the time to run a
dental office, a florist, refurbish a mansion,
and then plant a number of trees in the
area?
RS: I am a very energetic person, and I feel
that 24 hours in a day are not enough for
me accomplish what I have planned. My
mottos in life are, “never say you can’t,
always finish what you started, and you
must always give in order to get.” Most
important of all, are the words of wisdom
from my father, who also was a dentist.
“Make sure you are a human being,
respecting, loving, and trusting the people
around you.” All of my businesses are
run smoothly, and I have hard working,
dedicated, and trustworthy employees. I
have a beautiful home and a beautiful life,
because I teamed with the best husband
anybody could ask for, Gary Cooper, and
my mother, Viorica Dinu, who keeps us all
in line.
SM: I understand that you also had time
to remarry?
RS: Yes, I remarried 17 years ago. I am
now married to a man who understands
and accepts me for who and what I am,
and who has the same goals in life as I
have. We are a good team.
SM: Your mom lives with you and Gary
in your beautiful mansion. When did she
come to America?
RS: My parents came to the US in 1987,
to visit me. My father was a dentist in
Romania, and my mother a pharmacist.
When they both retired, they decided to
stay with me in the states (and what a
good decision… they are my best friends,
and wonderful moral support). My father
passed away in 1997, but my mom lives
with us, and we treasure her wisdom, and
all she does for us.
SM: Who has been your inspiration in life?
RS: My inspiration in my life were both
my mother and my father, hard working
professionals who were determined,
honest, and always made time to enjoy life.
SM: What one word best describes you?
RS: Optimistic and determined.
In 2004 I was presented with the
award of Physician of the year, by the
Physician Advisory Board of the National
Republican Congressional Committee.
In 2003 -2004 I was selected by the
Consumer’s Research Council to be one of
the America’s Top Dentists
I am a member of NBOA, NFIB,
American Dental Association, the District,
and New York State Dental Association
Besides all the above businesses and
achievements I have in my life, I think the
biggest is my son, Gary Cooper Jr. I am
very proud of him. In July of this year he
will finish his 6 years of serving for our
country in the United States Navy. That
mission of his is completed and he will
be embarking on another one. He will be
attending Buffalo University to become
a dentist. This will fulfill my dream to be
working with him shoulder to shoulder as
dentists, as mother and son, and as good
friends –the same way I worked with my
father years ago. I wish him good luck and
I have faith in him.
july 2008
june
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