Louis R. Miller Awards: Honoring Business Leaders Committed to the Community
Every year, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce and Staten Island Advance present the Louis R. Miller Business Leadership Awards to honor professionals who demonstrate strong leadership skills, an unwavering commitment to the community, and savvy business sense.
Awards are presented in four categories: Emerging, Established, Master, and Not-For-Profit.
This year’s recipients are: Genevieve Benoit and Diane Buglioli (A Very Special Place Inc.); Mike Bloomfield (Tekie Geek); Doreen Cugno and Luanne Sorrentino (St. George Theatre); DB Lampman and Scott Van Campen (MakerSpace NYC); Mark Lauria (Mark Lauria Associates, Inc.); Art Lauter (New Millennium Training Center); Sean White (Against Da Grain); and Frank Wilkinson (Rab’s Country Lanes). By providing their knowledge, time, and effort, these 11 honorees continue to make Staten Island a great place to live and work
Lou Miller -- who passed away in 1994 at the age of 93 -- spent a great deal of time serving as a consultant and mentoring numerous small business owners. He was always there to guide and give advice to local entrepreneurs. He was a driving force in creating the Business Education Development Council in 1993 at the College of Staten Island, which has since evolved into the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Small Business Advisory Group.
Miller also knew it was important for businesses to succeed in order for them to then be able to give back to their community. Over the years, he supported many groups and causes, such as the Jewish Community Center, the Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences, the YMCA, the College of Staten Island and Doctors’ Hospital.
Similar to Miller, this year’s 11 honorees have shared their success by giving back to the local community.
The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce and the Staten Island Advance are pleased to introduce each of this year’s leaders, who exemplify the work of Lou Miller.
GENEVIEVE BENOIT AND DIANE BUGLIOLI
Genevieve Benoit and Diane Buglioli met at the former Willowbrook State School and were determined to provide a better and more humane way to treat individuals with special needs. The duo created A Very Special Place Inc., a not-for-profit corporation that provides services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A Very Special Place has grown to serve 1,200 people over two centers, six residences and five supportive apartments.
Mike Bloomfield has always been passionate about entrepreneurship, technology and computers. These three interests intersected in 2013 when he created his own IT support business, Tekie Geek. In just seven years, Tekie Geek has broken into a business IT division, providing managed IT services, business continuity solutions, network security, data security, IT infrastructure and consulting to small- and medium-sized businesses. As a fellow small business owner, Bloomfield has been assisting local businesses in solving their IT issues so they can become more profitable and successful.
DOREEN CUGNO AND LUANNE SORRENTINO
Doreen Cugno and Luanne Sorrentino, along with their mother Rosemary Cappozalo, started a not-for-profit organization in 2004 to save the historic St. George Theatre from being torn down. Since the facility largely remained dark and unused for over 30 years, there were plenty of needed repairs. Little by little, the sisters made the improvements and added beauty enhancements for the 90-year-old theatre to attract world-class entertainment. Since reopening, the St. George Theatre has attracted nearly 2 million patrons and has presented over 1,500 events.
DB LAMPMAN AND SCOTT VAN CAMPEN
DB Lampman and Scott Van Campen wanted to ensure that all individuals have the opportunity to showcase their creative side. That’s why the duo founded MakerSpace NYC, the Stapleton facility that provides tradespeople from every walk of life the space to make, invent and collaborate on their imaginative projects. Some of their eclectic workshops include women’s welding, ceramics, blacksmithing, and 3D printing. The husband-and-wife team also created Maker Park, an outdoor site across the street that is used for public art, events and workshops.
Mark Lauria has been involved in the insurance business for over five decades and has been on Staten Island for over 40 years. Realizing he was limited in the ways to help his clients, he decided to start his own company, Mark Lauria Associates Inc. in 1979. After years of hard work, the insurance broker achieved great success and was able to expand his staff and office space. In 2017, Mark Lauria Associates Inc. merged with World Insurance Associates LLC, which was recently ranked as one of the top 100 brokers in the country.
Art Lauter served in the U.S. Army and the Reserves for 17 years and gained extensive experience training hundreds of soldiers for medical jobs in the service. Lauter used this knowledge to open a home care agency, a certified home health aide training center, and then the New Millennium Training Center for certified medical and nursing assistants. Through this endeavor, Lauter has placed thousands of graduates into full-time jobs with benefits.
As a young boy, Sean White emulated his brother when he pretended to give haircuts. He received his first barber tools at 16 and began doing the real thing by giving his friends haircuts at his home. This was the beginning of his 27-year career as a barber, and his eventual ownership of Against Da Grain barbershop. In the years since the shop’s opening in 2000, White has become a fixture in the community while transforming his barbershop into a welcomed and safe haven for the neighborhood.
Frank Wilkinson decided to put his college and teaching dreams on hold and take a more active role running the day-to-day operations at the family-owned bowling center, Rab’s Country Lanes, when his father was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. While the number of bowling centers has dwindled across America over the years, Wilkinson has kept Rab’s Country Lanes thriving. The Dongan Hills facility boasts one of the biggest youth bowling programs in the country and teaches participants bowling basics, as well as countless life skills.
AWARDS BREAKFAST
All honorees will be recognized during the annual Louis R. Miller Business Leadership Awards Breakfast on Thursday, Feb. 13, at LiGreci’s Staaten. For tickets, visit www.sichamber.com or call the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce at 718-727-1900.