Chamber of Commerce News Web Page 2009
Grand Island, NY, Chamber of Commerce Website
President John L. Bonora
First Vice President Tony Brindisi
Second Vice President Diane Thompson
Treasurer Judy Schmidt
Secretary - Dr. Sherry Bradford
Click for "DIRECTORS 2008-2010"
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Chamber Office: 2257 Grand Island Blvd., Grand Island, NY 14072
Phone: (716)773-3651 Fax: (716)773-3316
This Chamber is organized for the purpose of advancing the economic, industrial, professional, cultural and civic welfare of Grand Island; to encourage the growth of existing industries and business, while giving all proper asssistance to any new firms or individuals seeking to locate in Grand Island; to support all these activities believed to be beneficial to the community and area, and in general to promote the welfare of all area citizens following always those policies intended to accomplish the greatest good for the greatest number of people.
Brochures, Maps, Videos and Post Cards (viewed on opening page of website) available through the Chamber
Office. Feel free to email us and we will forward your request to the Chamber Office or call (716)773-3651.
Thank you for your interest in Grand Island.
Chamber names Citizens of the Year,
Celebrates 44 years of honoring Grand Island’s finest – March 2010
The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the winners of the 2009 Citizen of the Year Award.
Life Technologies will be honored as the 2009 Business of the Year. Bonnie P. Sciuk, Owner and CEO of Brite Ideas Sales & Marketing, Inc. will be awarded the Business Person of the Year and East Park Garden Club will be given the Organization of the Year Award.Karen Figler and Roman “Rom” Figler III will be recognized for their contributions to the community and will be given Community Service and Civic Person Awards, and Beth Boron, a teacher at Sidway Elementary School, will be named Educator of the Year.
The 44th annual Citizen of the Year Award Banquet will be held on Thursday, April 29th at the Holiday Inn Grand Island Resort and Conference Center. Channel 4 News Anchor Jacquie Walker will be Master of Ceremonies to honor businesses and individuals who have made Grand Island a better place. The Chamber invites all to honor these outstanding citizens. Dinner tickets are now available at the chamber office or by calling 773-3651.
HSBC Bank and Life Technologies take Gold Sponsorships and Tops Market takes Silver Sponsorship – March 2010
The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that HSBC Bank and Life Technologies have signed on as Gold Sponsors along with Silver Sponsor Tops Market for the 44th annual Citizen of the Year Award.
This year’s event will be held at Holiday Inn Grand Island Resort and Conference Center on Thursday, April 29th and will honor businesses and individuals whose contributions have made our town a better place. Channel 4 News Anchor Jacquie Walker will be this year’s Master of Ceremonies.Platinum Sponsors to date include Niagara Frontier Publications and Grand Island Holiday Inn Resort and Conference Center. Bronze Sponsors are Aceti’s Wine & Spirits, Creative Leather Concepts, Rockwood Brothers Collision, Rose Liquor Store and Toshiba Business Solutions. For more information call the chamber office at 773-3651. Citizen of the Year Chair Beverly Kinney and Chamber President, John Bonora pictured with Mike Samland, Branch Manager at HSBC Bank on Grand Island. Event Co-Chairs Andy Beyer and Liz Wilbert with Bryan Airey of Life Technologies.
Chamber Offers License Plate Holders – March 2010
The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce announced this week that Grand Island license plate holders are in stock for purchase at the Chamber office. The holders are available for $2.75 each and come in Blue, Black, Red and Green. Call Laura at the Chamber office at (716) 773-3651 and get yours today. Other promotional items for sale are as follows: Grand Island Blankets ($14.00ea.) Baseball Hats ($10.00ea.) Grand Island shaped pins ($6.00ea.) Totebags ($12.00ea.) Aerial view postcards ($ .20ea.) and coming soon will be travel mugs with photos of Grand Island ($8.00ea.). See attached photo for picture of license plate holders.
LAST CHANCE
Chamber seeks nominations for Citizen of the Year – February 2010
The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce is currently accepting nominations for the 44th annual Citizen of the Year award. Suggested categories for nomination include business, businessperson, corporation, civic, education, community service, and senior citizen. Award winners will be honored at a dinner on Thursday, April 29th at the Holiday Inn Grand Island Resort and Conference Center. Nomination forms may be found in the 2010 Grand Island Chamber of Commerce Telephone Directory, on the Chamber website, www.gichamber.org or at the Chamber office, 2257 Grand Island Blvd. Deadline for nominations is March 1st. For more information call the Chamber office at 773-3651.
Chamber To Host Citizen of Year Award Banquet – February 2010
Jacquie Walker, Channel 4 News Anchor
The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that WIVB-TV Channel 4 News Anchor, Jacquie Walker, will be Master of Ceremonies for the 44th Annual Citizen of the Year Awards Banquet. This year’s event will be held at Holiday Inn Grand Island Resort and Conference Center on Thursday, April 29th and will honor businesses and individuals whose contributions have made our town a better place.
Jacquie Walker is anchor of the number one-rated News Four at 5, 6, and 11. She is currently marking her 26th year as a news anchor at WIVB-TV Channel 4, the only woman in Buffalo broadcasting who has celebrated this milestone at one television station. Jacquie’s work as a reporter has earned numerous journalism awards, Emmy nominations, and the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Communications. Her memorable assignments include reporting from the scene at the Federal Building bombing in Oklahoma City, interviewing State Supreme Court Justice Christopher Burns just after he sentenced the Bike Path Killer, anchoring eight hours of uninterrupted news coverage after the crash of Flight 3407, and covering fans at all four of the Buffalo Bills Superbowls.
Jacquie has made a strong commitment to serving the community. She has been honored by many charitable organizations for her dedication, including the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. In 2009, the Buffalo Chapter of the American Association of University Women presented a college scholarship in Jacquie’s name to honor her community service. Jacquie’s husband, Mike, is an internet consultant. They are the proud parents of two young men, a sophomore at the University of Rochester and a first year student at George Mason University School of Law in Arlington, Virginia.
CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD RECIPIENT
Each year the Grand Island Chamber Commerce selects those businesses and individuals whose contributions have made Grand Island a better place to live, work or play. As volunteers in our community they have gone the extra mile, taken the extra step, above and beyond their day to day responsibilities and jobs.
Volunteerism is the foundation of a good community. Our recipients are part of that foundation. Award recipients are nominated by letters from the community and selected by the Chamber's Citizen of the Year committee. Please join us in honoring this year’s awardees. The Chamber is currently accepting nominations for this year’s award. Suggested categories for nomination include business, businessperson, corporation, civic, education, community service, and senior citizen. Nomination forms may be found in the 2010 Chamber of Commerce phonebook, on the Chamber website, www.gichamber.org, or at the Chamber office, 2257 Grand Island Blvd. Deadline for nominations is March 1, 2010. For more information call the Chamber office at 773-3651.
Chamber Installation - January 2010
The following Executive Officers were sworn in by the Honorable Sybil Kennedy, from left to right:
1st Vice President Beverly Kinney, Treasurer Mike Trachimowicz, 2nd Vice President Diane Thompson and Secretary
Dr. Sherry Bradford.On January 19, 2009 the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce held an Installation Dinner at the Buffalo Launch Club, where the Honorable Sybil Kennedy did the swearing in of newly elected Officers and Directors. The newly elected Directors will each serve a term of three years; Sam Aceti, Aceti’s Wine & Spirits; Andy Beyer, Gross Contracting; Dawn Bonora, Mary Kay Cosmetics Beauty Consultant; Robert M. Ratajczak, Jr. P.C. with terms expiring end of 2012. Fran McMahon of McMahon’s Family Restaurant will serve out a two year term and newly elected Directors, Derek Ostrom of Ostom Enterprises and ToniMarie Antonelli of TMA & Son’s, Inc. (Adrian’s Custard & Beef) will serve out one year terms. The officers installed are as follows: Chamber President, John Bonora, FSC Securities; 1st Vice President, Beverly Kinney, Carol Ann’s Hair Fashions; 2nd Vice President, Diane Thompson, Emerson/Control Techniques; Treasurer, Mike Trachimowicz, First Niagara Bank and Secretary, Dr. Sherry Bradford of Oncology Research Therapeutics. Congratulations to all!
The following Directors were sworn in by the Honorable Sybil Kennedy: Fran McMahon, McMahon’s Family Restaurant, Toni Antonelli, Adrian’s Custard & Beef, Derek Ostrom, Ostrom Enterprises, Robert M. Ratajczak, Jr., P.C., and Dawn Bonora, Mary Kay Cosmetics Beauty Consultant; Sam Aceti and Andy Beyer.
Chamber President, John Bonora of FSC Securities also was sworn in to office by the Honorable Sybil Kennedy
