Jennifer Sammartino, Community Media of Staten Island
By Dominic Provenzano, Staten Island Chamber of Commerce
Jennifer Sammartino, Executive Director at Community Media of Staten Island, has developed a strong career steeped in service. Previously a Public Affairs Officer at the Department of Veterans Affairs, an Adjunct Professor at St. John’s University, and Deputy Chief of Staff to the former Borough President James Oddo, Sammartino serves her community day in and day out.
In her previous role as Deputy Chief of Staff, Sammartino and former Borough President James Oddo’s team oversaw the development of major projects, improvements, tourism programs, and partnerships within the borough. “I got to see how decisions were made and how things happen at Borough Hall,” recalls Sammartino. “It was rewarding to ask ourselves, ‘How do we get this project going in a way that will set the borough up for success not only now, but looking toward the future?’”
Following nearly eight years with the Office of the Borough President, Sammartino was ready to move on. “There comes a time when you want to do something different,” says Sammartino. “Personally, it was just time to go. I decided that I wanted to run a nonprofit.”
Enter Staten Island Community Television (CTV) – now named Community Media of Staten Island. The organization, founded in 1983, was seeking a new Executive Director. “I met with [CTV’s] Board Chair, Maria Esposito, who is an amazing person,” reminisces Sammartino. “I said, ‘I would do these ten things. If you let me do that, then I can work here, but I’m not somebody who is going to keep a seat warm and just keep the lights on. I’m here to work.”
And work Sammartino did. In just over two years as the organization’s Executive Director, Sammartino oversaw a top-to-bottom organization rebrand, the development and introduction of live broadcasting, and the launch of a massive video-on-demand and streaming service.
The organization’s transformation can be felt within the community at large. Last year, Community Media launched a robust internship program, as well as a program for young adults with autism. “We started an internship program at Borough Hall and saw the impact that it made, so it was kind of baffling to me that an internship program didn’t exist at CTV,” says Sammartino. “We started these programs and it has been amazing. We can’t get rid of them. They keep coming back.”
Community Media is also deeply engaged with the Chamber’s Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!). During the annual YEA! program, a cohort of high school students develop business plans, go on field trips, and learn from successful businesspeople. Sammartino’s team is present on day one of the cohort, interviewing students on their goals and their businesses. Since bringing Sammartino on board, Community Media has also bolstered its connections with other Staten Island-based institutions, including Richmond University Medical Center, CP Unlimited, and Children’s Aid– all of which have developed their own shows for the network.
While Community Media continues to serve the community as an organization, Sammartino works overtime as an individual. It is perhaps more difficult to list organizations that she is not involved with. Sammartino is a committee member Nonprofit Staten Island, the Alliance for Community Media, the Museum of Maritime Navigation and Communication, Emma’s Place, the DaVinci Society and Bridge Prep Charter School. She is also active on several event and gala committees, including the Chamber’s annual gala, Eden II, Historic Richmond Town’s Culture Crawl, and formerly Snug Harbor’s Neptune Ball.
“I love a good gala committee. Galas are a great way to engage the public, raise awareness, and raise funds so they can execute their missions,” says Sammartino. “I don’t over-promise and under-deliver. When I say ‘Yes, I’m going to do something,’ I’m going to do it. I’m not - and no disrespect to anyone else – someone who says, ‘Just go ahead and put my name on it.’ I’m going to show up to your meeting and I’m going to have an opinion. And, I’m not going to lie, I love a good party.”
All of Sammartino’s efforts to revitalize, modernize, and widen the reach of the treasured public access organization go back to her core goal of bettering Staten Island – a tenet that echoes through her previous roles as well.
“I grew up here on this island. I will most likely die on this island. I am a cheerleader for Staten Island if there ever was one,” emphasizes Sammartino. “Do I get frustrated by people’s driving? Of course, we all do; but this is home and I want to live here and work here. I think Community Media can be a launching pad for Staten Islanders looking to create something or just to make their voices heard.”