The gathered this past Thursday evening at to bid farewell to former leaders as well as welcome newly installed members for the start of the new term.
Gia Schembri of on 3887 Merrick Rd., Seaford was welcomed to the president's seat with open arms from her fellow trustees and immediate past president Ken Jacobsen. Serving the chamber since 2010, Jacobsen has strived to provide a strong communication base between local businesses and residents and is confident that Schembri will do the same.
"I want to thank everyone for the support I've received over the last few years," said Jacobsen, head financial advisor at Seaford office. "Gia is a great business person and a better individual and we're here for her across the board."
Schembri has been a member of the chamber for two years and hopes she can carry on and improve the organization's generous ways.
"I want to be able to continue all of the great service the chamber has done in Seaford," Schembri said. "I hope to create more and more community involvement so we can continue to increase the donations we give out."
In addition to a new president, the Seaford Chamber of Commerce installed Sergio Deciantis as a board trustee for 2012. Deciantis, owner of Seaford's and the chamber's Business Person of the Year for 2011, hopes he can contribute to the chamber's mission of union in Seaford.
"It's important to be apart of the community my business is in," said Deciantis, a New Hyde Park resident. "As a board member I'm going to be handling a lot of events and I've started planning a fundraising festival on the water. That's what Seaford is best known for and we've never done anything like that."
Hempstead Town Clerk Mark Bonilla joined the Seaford Chamber of Commerce with Nassau County Legis. Dennis Dunne, R-Levittown, to honor both those stepping down and new officers coming up. Bonilla spoke on the tight knit community that is Seaford, and how in the wake of a tragic shooting at that local ATF Agent John Capano, he learned a very important lesson that he hopes the chamber can spread through their work.
"We're all connected and I think that's important for us to remember," said Bonilla, a former Seaford resident. "I learned quickly that I coached Agent Capano's nephew. Whether we live or work in Seaford, we are all closely connected. Life is a gift and we need treasure that."
