The 26th Annual Louis R. Miller Awards: Honoring the Best of Staten Island's Business Community

Demonstrating strong leadership skills, a savvy business sense, and unwavering commitment to the community is no laughing matter.

However, on Thursday, February 13 at the Chamber’s 26th Annual Louis R. Miller Business Leadership Awards Breakfast, eleven of the borough’s distinguished business professionals were honored - and roasted - for their contributions making Staten Island a great place to live and work.

The packed crowd of over 300 people gathered at at LiGreci’s Staaten and shared laughs at the honorees’ expense as presenters kept up with tradition with comedic routines to honor the individuals.

Tom Scarangello (SCARAN) was the presenter for Doreen Cugno and Luanne Sorrentino (St. George Theatre) and Mike Bloomfield (Tekie Geek) while Frank Besignano (Signature Bank) handled the duties for Genevieve Benoit and Diane Buglioli (A Very Special Place Inc.) and Mark Lauria (Mark Lauria Associates, Inc.). Jon Salmon (Salmon Real Estate) toasted DB Lampman and Scott Van Campen (MakerSpace NYC) and Sean White (Against Da Grain barbershop) while Christine DeHart (Salmon Real Estate) brought the laughs for Frank Wilkinson (Rab’s Country Lanes). Al Lambert (Al Lambert Associates) presented Art Lauter (New Millennium Training Center).

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 back to his neighbors and repaying his community for the love of America he found after immigrating to the country from Russia.

Scarangello, a 2002 honoree, shared his personal experience with Miller and said one of his great strengths was realizing that different business owners have different needs. As such, he made sure to tailor his mentorship towards assisting them in the business issues they faced.  

The Selection Committee chose the 11 honorees from nominations submitted throughout 2019. This committee was co-chaired by Solomon Chemo (Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, Richmond Wealth Management) and Janet Langton-Magnuson (SCARAN/AAA Thrifty Exterminating). The committee members were Tatiana Arguello (United Activities Unlimited), John J. Amodio (SCORE Staten Island), Donna Long (Crossroads Unlimited, Inc.), MaryLee Montalvo (MLM Public Relations), and Jon Salmon (Salmon Real Estate).

Benoit and Buglioli, Cugno and Sorrentino, and Lampman and Van Campen were honored in the Not-for-Profit category. Bloomfield, Lauria, and White were saluted in the Established Businessperson category, and Lauter and Wilkinson were saluted in the Master Businessperson category. Since the event started in 1994, over 250 people have received Lou Miller Awards.

Lambert kicked off the event with a stellar rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

To read all eight profiles of the Lou Miller Award honorees, visit https://bit.ly/37iqvav

Photos by Steve White, Staten Arts Photography.