Our Team

Linda Baran - President & CEO, lbaran@sichamber.com

Linda has worked at the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce for over 30 years. In 2004, Linda was elected by the Chamber’s Board of Directors as the first woman President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organization. Prior to that, she served as the Interim President for seven months and held the position of Vice President of Finance and Resources. She is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Chamber.  She works with the Board and Staff to develop and implement the Chamber’s vision and mission.

Tina Berbari - Controller, tberbari@sichamber.com

Tina is responsible for all financial related activities of the Chamber. She handles accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, grant paperwork, and financial reporting.

Dom Provenzano - Marketing, Communications, and Member Relationship Manager, dprovenzano@sichamber.com

Dom develops and manages all of the Chamber’s communications and marketing efforts, as well as its membership, events, workforce development, and foundation programs. He is responsible for the Chamber’s website, social media presence, newsletters and communication blasts, video productions, and graphic design, among others. In November 2022, Dom was named as one of the nation’s “40 Under 40 Emerging Chamber Leaders” by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE).

Michele Esposito - Program & Events Manager, mesposito@sichamber.com

Michele is responsible for planning the Chamber’s premiere events, informational programs, and networking gatherings. She also handles event fundraising as well as sponsor and donor relations.

Gabriella Pappalardo - Marketing & Outreach Assistant

Gabriella assists in the development, creation, and execution of marketing projects, including graphic design, member outreach, and social media communications.

Darlene Blanco - Head of Workforce & Talent Development, dblanco@sichamber.com

Darlene’s primary focus is helping businesses & institutions fulfill their workforce needs.  She manages the Chamber’s Private Industry Council (SIPIC), an employer-led initiative to transform how businesses, schools, and community organizations develop talent pipelines in Staten Island that will lead to creating a local talent pool from which employers could reliably recruit.  Darlene oversees the Chamber’s job board and coordinates internship placements, implements workforce development events & activities that promote job creation, and advocates for the interests of employers in relation to workforce and education. 

Sallyann Bartels - Membership Associate, sbartels@sichamber.com

Sallyann is dedicated to promoting the growth and success of local businesses. As the Membership Associate for the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, she utilizes her knowledge of the Chamber and the community to connect with entrepreneurs and convince them of the numerous benefits that come with Chamber membership.

Danielle Wiseman - Business Engagement Coordinator, dwiseman@sichamber.com

Danielle develops content for member highlights, resources, and conducts outreach to assess member and nonmember needs.

Jillian Baldassarre - Development, Advancement, and Program Coordinator, jbaldassarre@sichamber.com

Jillian is responsible for leading all development activities within the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce Foundation (SICCF) in effort to raise funding for organization talent, education, and business outreach programs.

Dina Shehadeh - Business Outreach Coordinator, dshehadeh@sichamber.com

Dina visits small businesses throughout the borough and connects them with free resources to help them thrive. She also answers questions and collects feedback on the challenges and opportunities facing the small business community.

Janet Dugo - Project Manager, Downtown Staten Island Commercial District, jdugo@sichamber.com

Janet works with merchants, property owners, residents and other stakeholders in St. George, Tompkinsville, and Stapleton to help revitalize the commercial district in Downtown Staten Island (DTSI).

Michael Anderson - Small Business Resource Network Supervisor, manderson@sichamber.com

Michael supervises the outreach to small businesses by providing one-on-one consultative support, connecting businesses to available resources, and assisting businesses complete relevant applications to secure services and funding. He also assists the Chamber with organizing commercial corridor walk-throughs with relevant elected and government officials.    

Dr. Janet Leslie - YEA! Program Instructor

Dr. Leslie is responsible for the instruction of our Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) classes. To learn more about YEA!, click here.