2025 Businessperson of the Year

On behalf of the Board of the Syosset/Woodbury Chamber of Commerce, I want to congratulate Melesia DeChiaro for being named the 2025 Business Person of the Year.  Melesia has repeatedly stepped up and volunteered on behalf of the local community as a Board director and Secretary of the Chamber.  She is the chairwoman of the Holiday Lighting Spectacular, co-chair of the Women in Business, led the effort to beautify Memorial Park in coordination with the Gus Scutari VFW and PSEGLI, and donates her time to support the Syosset Street Fair.  Melesia is always available whenever I need her assistance, and is one of the warmest and most enthusiastic people I have ever met.  This volunteerism is happening while Melesia, the entrepreneur, oversees the business she founded, Lash Box by Mona Lisa.  Melesia will be presented with her 2025 Business Person of the Year plaque at our September 18^th general meeting at the Muttontown Club in East Norwich.

Congratulations to our other finalist, Board Director Ari Goldblatt.  Ari received substantial support from the membership and the Board, and was well deserving of consideration for this year’s honor.  A total of nine Chamber members, including six Board directors, received nominations.  This shows the extent the local business community comes out to support each other.  I want to acknowledge Board Directors Dr. Parul Makkar, Gregg Jaffee, Jared Sarney, and Mike Gallo, along with business leaders Rick Lewis, Anthony Carollo, and Dr. Michele Kaider-Alstodt, for being nominated by their fellow Chamber members.

I was honored to work with previous Business Person of the Year honorees, Vice President Tami Racaniello and Treasurer Kenya Zachary, in ensuring a fair and secure nominating and voting process.  Thank you to the Board for giving due consideration to our finalists when making a decision.  The Chamber also appreciates our past President, Ken Robinson, who assisted in the balloting and tabulation process.  Most of all, I want to thank all of the members who took the time to nominate your fellow business leaders.  It is because of the great membership of the Syosset/Woodbury Chamber of Commerce that allows me and the rest of the Board to help all of you thrive in the local community.

Russell P. Green

President, Syosset/Woodbury Chamber of Commerce