Dozens of members and guests of the Greater New Hyde Park Chamber gathered on Thursday, Jan. 18, at the Inn at New Hyde Park to celebrate the installation of new officers and board members as part of the chamber’s Presidential Gala.
The gala’s unofficial theme was familiar; women advancing in leadership throughout Nassau County. Women now fill five of the six of the chamber’s executive board positions.
In keeping with the theme of the night, Senator Elaine Phillips conducted the swearing-in of Jeanette Frisina (Market Place Publications) as the chamber’s two-year president.
“We are all very excited about this as we are part of the growing trend in the advancement of women as community leaders,” said Frisina. “We have big shoes to fill and look forward to making a positive impact for our members and the community. Our board of directors and the executive team all do a terrific job for the Chamber and are tops in their professions as well,” she added.
The chamber’s outgoing president, Jerry Baldassaro, was honored, receiving proclamations, before passing the gavel to the newly installed Frisina.
New Hyde Park Mayor Larry Montreuil installed the chamber’s board of directors, welcoming three new members: Sheila McKeough (Roslyn Savings Bank), Jose Jacob (Douglas Elliman Real Estate) and Karen Casavecchia (Flushing Savings Bank); and reinstating Richard DeMartino (Signature Bank) and Ralph Ventura (Metropolitan Commercial Bank).
Judi Bosworth, Town of North Hempstead Supervisor, installed incoming board members: Reena Gulati (attorney) as vice president, Cheryl Fajardo (Pre-Paid Ventures) as 2nd vice president, Donna Pagano (Traveling With Donna) as 3rd vice president, Saveeta Barnes (banking professional) as secretary and Richard Guilfoyle (Scott and Guilfoyle CPAs) as treasurer.
The Greater New Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce is one of the largest and most active chambers in Nassau County with 265 members and growing, acknowledged by Phillips during her speech to the crowd.
Laura Curran, the first woman elected as Nassau County Executive, was among those in attendance and gave a fitting speech.
This nearly all-women executive board is a first for New Hyde Park. Twelve years ago when Frisina was installed as 4th vice president of the chamber she was the only woman on the board at that time. In recent years, more women have taken an active role and have been chosen to hold positions on the executive board, bringing it to where it is today.
