Chamber Hosts 2026 Annual Meeting
On October 14, 2026, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce welcomed members of the borough’s business community to the Hilton Garden Inn for its 2026 Annual Meeting and Member Meetup, sponsored by Amazon and JPMorgan Chase, an evening focused on connection, community, and the Chamber’s work on behalf of Staten Island businesses.
The event began with networking before the formal program, bringing together Chamber members, sponsors, business leaders, and community partners.
Chamber Board Chair Carol Decina of National Grid opened the program, welcoming attendees and recognizing the Chamber’s Board of Directors and event sponsors.
In addition to Presenting Sponsors Amazon and JPMorgan Chase, the event was also sponsored by Signature Sponsors Con Edison, PMI U.S., and Valley Bank, with National Grid, Northfield Bank, Northwell Staten Island University Hospital, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and TD Bank serving as Partner Sponsors.
Decina then welcomed Dwight Genias of JPMorgan Chase, who offered remarks on behalf of the Presenting Sponsor, before introducing a video highlighting the Chamber’s work and impact over the past year.
Chamber President & CEO Linda Baran followed with an update on the organization’s work throughout 2026. Baran highlighted a number of Chamber and Foundation initiatives, including Celebrate 250!, the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!), the Small Business Resource Network (SBRN), advocacy efforts, the Chamber’s billboard program, Downtown Staten Island initiatives, energy audits, and HR services.
The program also recognized eight longtime Chamber members for their continued commitment to Staten Island’s business community.
Seven businesses celebrated 25 years of Chamber membership: Corporate Benefit & Design Services LLC; Doreen M. Inserra CPA, P.C.; The GRACE Foundation; MassMutual Financial Group – Lee, Nolan & Koroghlian; Matthews, Panariello P.C.; Pastosa Ravioli of West Brighton; and Tony Signs.
RPM Insurance Agency – An Acrisure Partner received special recognition for an extraordinary milestone, celebrating 100 years of membership with the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce.
Representatives from several of the longtime member businesses joined the Chamber during the recognition, including Doreen Inserra; Kat Modena of The GRACE Foundation; Thomas Sotto of MassMutual; and Vinny D’Antuono of Pastosa Ravioli of West Brighton.
The formal program concluded with a keynote address from Paul Zuber, Executive Vice President of The Business Council of New York State. Zuber spoke to attendees about New York’s business climate and issues impacting employers and small businesses across the state.
Following the program, the event transitioned into the Chamber’s Member Meetup, giving attendees additional time to connect with fellow Chamber members and explore member businesses and organizations participating in the event. The Meetup included a cocktail hour, member tabling, a professional headshot station, and a Spotlight Station where members could record brief video interviews and promotional content for Chamber social media.
The event also featured performances by tumblers from the St. George Theatre’s Christmas Show, as well as a performance of Thriller from Mrs. Rosemary’s Dance Studio.
Guests were also invited to participate in the Chamber’s Community Pumpkin Patch, which collected donated goods to benefit local organizations and causes throughout Staten Island. Donations ranged from personal-care and children’s items to supplies supporting older adults, recreational programs, gardening, and other community needs.
The evening offered an opportunity not only to reflect on the Chamber’s work over the past year, but also to strengthen the relationships at the heart of Staten Island’s business community.
With longtime members, new connections, local businesses, and community partners all under one roof, the 2026 Annual Meeting and Member Meetup celebrated what continues to drive the Chamber forward: its members and the connections they build with one another.
Photos by Steve White, Staten Arts Photography
