2023 Louis R. Miller Awards to Celebrate Ten Outstanding Business Leaders
On Thursday, February 16, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce and the Staten Island Advance will present the 2023 Louis R. Miller Business Leadership Awards. This annual award ceremony celebrates business leaders within the Staten Island community that make our borough a better place to live and work.
The event is sponsored by Signature Sponsors Empire State Bank, Gateway Arms Realty Corp., and Richmond County Savings Bank, as well as Partner Sponsors Comserv Connect, Lions Pride Leadership, and Rab’s Country Lanes.
Louis Miller, the namesake of our annual award ceremony, was a tireless community activist who mentored hundreds of entrepreneurs, business owners, and community leaders. Affectionately known as Lou by his colleagues and mentees, Miller viewed volunteering as a way of giving back to his neighbors.
Lou Miller passed away in 1994 at the age of 93. But more than 25 years later, his influence lives on. The annual Lou Miller Awards celebrate the best of Staten Island business and non-profit professionals, all of which carry forward the spirit of Lou Miller. Since its inception in 1994, the Louis R. Miller Business Leadership Awards has recognized nearly 300 honorees.
This year, the awards celebrate ten individuals who possess strong business acumen and fondness for our local community.
Sam Angiuli, partner of the Angiuli Group, has been surrounded by entrepreneurship his entire life. Born into a family of small business owners, Angiuli and his father formed the Angiuli Group in 2014, which actively prioritizes the development local small businesses. One of The Angiuli Group’s biggest projects is the revitalization of Minthorne Street, a previously vacant area in Tompkinsville, which houses several restaurants, a co-working space, Flagship Brewing Company, and Inspiration Plaza. In addition to their work on Minthorne Street, The Angiuli Group is also heavily involved in the evolution of the St. George, Tompkinsville, and Stapleton areas, also known as Downtown Staten Island. The company is invested in multiple projects along Bay Street, and they are crucial to the development of and to addressing needs in those neighborhoods.
Patrick Buono is a behind-the-scenes community leader, quietly and efficiently keeping Staten Island’s small businesses running through his very own technology network. Buono started working as a Senior Accountant for DeSantis, Kiefer, Shall, & Sarcone, LLP (DKSS), and soon created a Computer Consulting branch for the firm. In turn, Buono co-founded Aurora Computer Technology, Inc. alongside DKSS. Following success at DKSS, Buono purchased the rights to Aurora Computer Technology and began to run the company on his own. In the past decade, the company has experienced tremendous growth and has expanded their workforce, client base, and recognition within Staten Island, serving small businesses, service industries, and numerous other industries. In addition to all the work that Buono does for the Staten Island community through Aurora, he is also a member of the Italian Club of Staten Island Foundation, and the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce. Buono is also an active member of the Chamber’s Business Guild 3, constantly sponsoring events and brainstorming ways to uplift the community.
James & Maria Carrozza make Staten Island a little bit sweeter every day. This powerhouse husband-and-wife team owns and operates four of the borough’s most beloved bakeries: The Cake Chef, The Cake Chef’s Cookie Jar, Piece A Cake, and Cookie Jar New Dorp. In 1988, James signed the lease for his first bakery, The Cake Chef, alongside his at-the-time girlfriend, Maria, who had experience in the bakery business. The duo, who married in 1992, opened Cookie Jar in 2007, and Piece-A-Cake shortly after. The Carrozzas are involved in various community organizations throughout Staten Island. Maria is the Vice Chairwoman and one of the founders of the New Dorp Lane Business Improvement District (BID), an area where local stakeholders oversee and fund the maintenance, improvement, and promotion of their commercial district. Maria is also mentor for the Chamber’s Young Entrepreneur’s Academy, a program that transforms high school students into young entrepreneurs.
Amy Posner, Executive Director of Hillel at the College of Staten Island (CSI), is an incredible influence on the young people that she works with. When Amy joined Hillel in 2008, she completely transformed the organization. The mission of Hillel is to provide a safe space for college students to celebrate and participate in Jewish life among their peers. Posner entirely embodies this mission, and she works hard to maintain the community she has built. Posner has made it a priority to keep her door open to every student at CSI, offering herself and Hillel as a resource, somewhere to grab a snack between classes and meet new friends, and a comfortable space to be vulnerable with one another. And, since starting at Hillel, she has introduced five major programs, including a career counseling service and a grant-funded interfaith initiative, which have all uplifted the CSI community in unique ways.
Dr. Carolyn Powell had a vision to create a high-quality, affordable, and accessible optical center on the north shore of Staten Island, and she worked hard to bring that dream to fruition. Founded in 2000, Bay Street Optical Pavilion is a full-service vision care center providing professional eye care services to patients of all ages. The center offers a broad range of optical services, such as eye examinations, contact lens and glasses fittings, and low vision therapy for patients with macular degeneration. Dr. Powell makes it a priority to provide optical care to populations who typically face barriers in accessing healthcare, like individuals on a Medicaid Managed Care Plan. She ensures that Bay Street Optical Pavilion offers equitable service to all, regardless of ability to pay or access to insurance. Dr. Powell has gained the trust of not only her patients but also her fellow Bay Street merchants and residents, being recognized among community members as an invaluable healthcare provider.
Teresa Rampulla, Founder and CEO of She Media NY and Marketing Director and Advertising Sales Manager of Ferry Ads, was destined to be a Staten Island businesswoman. After founding her own PR and marketing firm in the 90’s, Rampulla joined Ferryads as a copyrighter and was quickly escalated to Marketing Director. In 2014, Rampulla started her own marketing and advertising firm, She Media NY. She Media NY offers a full range of advertising and marketing services, including media planning and buying; advertising, marketing, public relations, and business consulting; and traditional advertising. Rampulla could not be more connected to the Staten Island community. In addition to working with community members daily through her marketing work, Rampulla is also a member of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation, the National Organization of Italian American Women, the National Italian American Foundation, the Executive Women’s Council, and the National Association of Professional Women.
Joe and Paul Quattrocchi, identical twins and co-owners of Dependable Auto Body, are leaders in Staten Island’s automobile repair industry. Dependable Auto Body was founded in 1978 with a vision to provide Staten Islanders with friendly, professional, and efficient auto body care, especially in the face of an accident. Since then, the shop has grown to become one of the most popular and reliable automobile repair establishments across the island. As a result of its rapid growth, Dependable Auto Body moved down the block to 110 Rector Street, where clients come in morning until night looking for the help of the shop’s expert technicians, led by the talented Quattrocchi brothers. In addition to the tireless hours that the Quattrocchi brothers give to the community through Dependable Auto Body, they are also active members of various community organizations. Joseph is a member and former President of the Gateway Rotary, a Board member of the Grace Foundation, and a former Board member of Project Homefront. Paul is a member of the Gateway Rotary, and he is on the Board of Directors for the Dr. Theodore A. Atlas Foundation and Michael’s Cause. Dependable Auto Body has also been a member of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce for over thirty years. Joseph and Paul are also tremendous philanthropic supporters of numerous borough-focused organizations, such as Meals on Wheels, the Grace Foundation, and Michael’s Cause. The Quattrocchi brothers live by the community that they serve, and proudly give back to their community.
Dr. Henry Thompson is a true jack-of-all-trades, but his passion is caring for the people of Staten Island. Following jobs at Coca-Cola and health centers in Florida, Brooklyn and Upstate New York, Dr. Thompson became interim CEO at the Community Health Center of Richmond in 2008. Dr. Thompson officially became the full-time CEO of CHCR in March of 2010, solidifying his position and future home. The health center prides itself on inclusivity by taking all patients, regardless of age, immigration status, or ability to pay. CHCR ensures that their healthcare is high-quality, affordable, and accessible, offering a sliding fee scale based on family size and income. Over thirty languages are spoken between staff members, accommodating the extremely diverse population that CHCR serves, of which almost 90% are immigrants and people of color. CHCR also actively collaborates with other community organizations, such as the Central Family Life Center and Project Hospitality.
Due to the tireless work exhibited by these ten individuals, the Staten Island community is a better place.