Chamber’s Annual Lou Miller Award Ceremony Brings Laughs to a Sold-Out Crowd
By MICHAEL ANDERSON, Content Development Specialist
On Wednesday February 16, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce held its 28th Annual Louis R. Miller Business Leadership Awards Breakfast, sponsored by Gateway Arms Realty Corp., at LiGreci’s Staaten.
Following 2021’s virtual affair, the laughs were much louder. This year’s event returned to an in-person format and attracted a sold-out crowd that continued the strong tradition of honoring the borough’s top business professionals. Nearly 270 attendees saluted nine individuals for their strong leadership skills, savvy business sense, and unwavering commitment to the community.
The event honored John Amodio (SCORE), Linda Baran (the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce), Carol Bullock (The Pride Center of Staten Island), siblings Robert J. Fitzsimmons Jr. and Laura Volsario (Gateway Arms Realty), Billy Hanson (Reliable Office Solutions), Ettore Mazzei (Chez Vous Catering), and husband-and-wife Jeanine and John Tardy (JVN Restoration Inc.).
To read profiles stories on each of this year’s award honorees and view the event journal click here. A full photo gallery from the event, photographed by Steve White of Staten Arts Photography, can be found below.
Keeping up with the tradition with comedic routines to honor the individuals, Larry Anderson (Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden) was the presenter for Bullock, Glen. V Cutrona, AIA, (Cutrona Architecture PLLC) handled the duties for Hanson, and Tom Scarangello (SCARAN) was the presenter for the Tardys. Jon Salmon (Salmon Real Estate) toasted Baran and Amodio, Janet Warren Dugo (Downtown Staten Island district of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce) presented Mazzei, and Frank Wilkinson (Rab’s Country Lanes) brought the laughs for Fitzsimmons and Volsario.
The breakfast – which was presented by the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce and the Staten Island Advance – continues the legacy of Miller, a tireless community activist who viewed volunteering as a way of giving something back to his neighbors and repaying everyone for the love of America he found after immigrating to the country from Russia.
With the the 2022 class included, the Louis R. Miller Business Leadership Awards has now honored over 280 people.
Marcia Salton, Lou Miller’s daughter, recorded a video message that was played during the event. “He was known for his honesty, integrity, and caring disposition,” said Salton. “Congratulations to all of the honorees, and thank you for continuing to honor my father.”
The full video presentation can be found below.
The Selection Committee chose the nine honorees from nominations submitted throughout 2021. This committee was co-chaired by Solomon Chemo (Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, Richmond Wealth Management) and Janet Langton-Magnuson (Richmond Home Need Services, Inc./SCARAN). The committee members were John J. Amodio (SCORE Staten Island), Tatiana Arguello (United Activities Unlimited), Donna Long (Crossroads Unlimited, Inc.), and MaryLee Montalvo (MLM Public Relations).
Baran and Bullock were honored in the Not-for-Profit category, Fitzsimmons and Volsario, Mazzei, and Jeanine and John Tardy were saluted in the Established Businessperson category, and Hanson was selected in the Master Businessperson category. In addition, Amodio received the special “founder’s award” for bringing the event to fruition in 1994 and naming it the “Louis R. Miller Business Leadership Awards” after his mentor and friend passed away before the inaugural event. In the years since, Amodio has carried on Miller’s legacy by remaining a committee member of the awards since its inception.
Jack Furnari (Tunnel to Towers Foundation) kicked off the event with a stellar rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
To read all profiles of the Lou Miller Award honorees, visit sichamber.com/news.
