Welcome to the New Year. Hopefully, 2016 will see Long Island and the 110 Corridor build on its success of 2015. As with every year, the region has seen its share of success and failure as well as scandal. However, it appears we are finally On the Road Again to substantial growth here on Long Island in almost all business sectors. 2015 saw industrial real estate values move in a positive direction, large public works projects are progressing, banks are lending more money, mergers and acquisitions are hot and we all seem to be just that much busier these days. Not bad, considering the seven year slump we have been in. As a result, we have also seen steady growth within the Chamber.

 Within our own Chamber in 2015, we have seen significant change. Sadly, we said goodbye to Mike DeLuise, our long time president, who certainly had his finger on the pulse of the Long Island business community for many years. Now however, we have welcomed our new president, David Gustin. A terrific choice as leader for the Melville Chamber. I have been the treasurer of the chamber for seven years and have watched the board evolve into a very professional and interactive group. We now have several active groups and committees within the chamber that will likely appeal to most of our members. Please take some time and review them on our website.

 

The Young Professionals Group has had terrific success with its events throughout the year and will certainly continue into the new-year with two events in January alone! Also, the Business Resource Roundtable and the W.O.M.E.N Group of the Chamber have events planned in January. Please check the Chamber's calendar of events page for dates and times of these and future events.

 

Also, the Chamber will be continuing its' well attended member events throughout the year. We will kick off the new-year with the Member Orientation on January 19 at the Huntington Hilton. That will be followed up with our annual Welcome to the New Year Celebration on January 28. We truly enjoy putting on these events, knowing that all of our members benefit from the networking and social interaction provided by the Chamber.

 

So, as we begin the new-year, I wish you good health and prosperity. Please continue to support the Melville Chamber with your participation in our events, join one of our member groups and perhaps even bring along a colleague to our next event. We are always looking for new members for the Chamber to help us support the 110 corridor business community and do our part to help continue the growth in the Long Island economy.

 

Best regards,

 

Jerome Hehir, CPA

Treasurer