O.C. Chamber of Commerce Installs Allegretto as President

By Maddy Vitale David Allegretto was installed for another one-year term as Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce president during an installation dinner for the officers and board of directors Wednesday night. “This is a very active board, at the forefront of the business community,” said Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Michele Gillian at the beginning of the program. “David has done a fabulous job.” She also told the crowd at the historic Flanders Hotel that Allegretto has had the foresight to lead the chamber well. “We thank him for all he is doing,” she said. Mayor Jay Gillian conducted the swearing-in ceremonies of Allegretto and the officers and chamber members. Mayor Jay Gillian swears in Chamber of Commerce President David Allegretto for a second, one-year term. Allegretto is a financial advisor at Fortress Financial. When Allegretto was sworn in, he thanked Michele Gillian and her team, saying it is easy to work with them. “They do a ton for Ocean City. They are the heroes. We really appreciate all you do,” Allegretto said to Gillian, who thanked him for his words. After the ceremonies, Gillian spoke about the exciting year ahead for the business community. She said there are many reasons why the business community should be pleased with how things are going in Ocean City. There is a lot, she said, the community should be proud of. Ocean City continues to attract visitors with all of its amenities, from the beaches to the bay, to retail shops in both the Boardwalk and the downtown, to rides and other activities, Gillian said. Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Michele Gillian speaks about 2019 goals for the business community, with Chamber of Commerce Marketing Director Shawnda McGinnis at left. In 2018, the city was voted “America’s Happiest Seaside Town” by Coastal Living magazine, and for a seventh year in a row by a state poll, “New Jersey’s Favorite Beach.” To add to the city's appeal, Gillian said, the business community continues to try and improve its offerings, including a cash-free app that will be discussed in more detail at a business summit next month. Gillian said the goal is to have all the businesses sign up to take advantage of the app and create an easy and new way for visitors to enjoy Ocean City. Whether it is used for amusement rides, retail transactions or dentist appointments, Gillian emphasized that it will make purchases more convenient for the visitors, residents and businesses. She also spoke of Girls Weekend and the annual fashion show that are planned in April. They are among exciting, upcoming events in Ocean City that will kickstart the 2019 tourism season, she noted. “Please be a part of shopping local,” Gillian stressed. “Ocean City is really a great place to live and invest. Really it is a special place, and it is all because of people like you.” The following individuals were installed as Chamber directors: At-Large Directors Three Year Term Heenan, Carol - Garden State Valuation Jessel, Gary - Fox Real Estate Board Members One Year Term Adams, Dean - Dean Adams Custom Builder Adams, Robert H. - Tidelines Management Services, Inc. Allegretto, Dave - Fortress Financial Aromando, Tom - Fitzpatrick, Bongiovanni & Kelly, CPA's Batastini, Jon - Loveland, Garrett & Batastini Becher, Bob - Beach to Bay Landscaping Birch, John (Jake) - Merrill Lynch Cates, Lynn - Sun Seekers Cesari, Brandie - Scarborough Inn Ciliberto, Tricia - OceanFirst Bank Corcoran, Kevin - Wet N Wild Waverunner Rentals Davidson, Kim - Economic Development Consultant Davis, Jane - Johnny B. Goode Ice Cream Parlor Dukeman, Michael - Hobby Horse Ice Cream Parlor Frank, Cricket - Magton, Inc. Friedel, Becky - 7th Street Surf Shop Galante, Janet - 13th Street Bathhouse & Bikes Gallelli, Pat - Tahiti Inn & Apartments Gill, Beverley - Island Beach Gear Gill, Patrick - Tackle Direct Halliday, Chris - Halliday Architects Heist, Thomas - Heist Insurance Agency Hennessy, Jim - Heritage Surf Shop Hohman, Walt - Ward's Pastry Johnson, Brett - Johnson's Appliance Jones, Barbara - Servpro of CMC Kennedy, Rebecca - Kennedy Custom Upholstery & Interior Design Lloyd, Michael - Sturdy Savings Bank McMahon III, William - McMahon Insurance Agency Madden, Peter - Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Fox & Roach Realtors Marotta, Nick - Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Fox & Roach Realtors McIntyre, Lynne - Yesterday's McGuckin, Mary - Shore Medical Center Piriano, Winnie - The Road to Living Well Price, Ryan - Price Brothers Construction Reich, Eric - Reich Asset Management Reimet, Mark - Ocean City Financial Group Schultz, Aimee - JASM Consulting Sedberry, Ken - Berger Realty Spadafora, Tina - Yoasis Talese, Patty - Jon & Patty's Coffee Bar & Bistro Teitler, Avery - Teitler & Teitler Law Tomlinson, Don - Gleeson's Audio Video Town, Ronnie - Atlantic City Electric Votta, Gloria - Remax at the Shore Williamson, Joan - Ocean City Coffee Company At-Large Directors were re-installed: Broadley, Brian - Broadley's Fasy, Drew - Long & Foster Halliday, Scott - Halliday-Leonard Wilson, Tony - Wilson Plumbing & Heating Organization Representatives One Year Term Bergman, Karen - Ocean City Tourism Bready, Damon - Ocean City Board of Realtors Davidson, John - Somers Point Business Association Denney, Ron - Exchange Club of Ocean City Gillian, Jay - City of Ocean City Hayes, E. Marie - CMC Freeholders Kazmarck, Wes - Boardwalk Merchants Loeper, John - Ocean City Historical Museum Mahar, Karen - Ocean City Free Public Library McGinnity, Bill - O.C. Restaurant Association McGuckin, Mary - Shore Medical Center Quirk, Caitlin - Downtown Merchants Association Reimer, Pastor Jay - Ocean City Tabernacle Reyes, Val - O.C. Hospitality Association Taylor, Kathleen - Ocean City Board of Education From left, Ocean City Special Events Coordinator Michael Hartman, Director of Community Services Michael Allegretto and Boardwalk Merchants Association President Wes Kazmarck enjoy the night. Organization Alternates Bergen, Doug - City of Ocean City Clarke, Leslie - Ocean City Free Public Library Desiderio, Leonard - CMC Freeholders DiGuglielmo, Kathleen - Ocean City Board of Realtors Gallelli-Keys, Cecilia - Ocean City Board of Education Giles, Jessica - Shore Medical Center Johnston, Marke - O.C. Hospitality Association Jordan, Ozzie - Exchange Club of Ocean City Lisicki, Dana - Somers Point Business Association Robinson, Wood - Downtown Merchants Association Weber, Virginia - Ocean City Tabernacle Westerman, Bill - Boardwalk Merchants Yoa, Andrew - OC Restaurant Association Chamber members Beverly and Frank McCall enjoy the night. Chamber of Commerce installation dinner draws a crowd. Executive Officers One Year Term President: Allegretto, Dave - Fortress Financial 1st Vice President: Frank, Cricket - Magton, Inc. 2nd Vice-President: Adams, Robert H. - Tidelines Management Services, Inc 2nd Vice-President: Aromando, Tom - Fitzpatrick, Bongiovanni & Kelly, CPA's 2nd Vice-President: Broadley, Brian - Broadley's MDI 2nd Vice-President: Gallelli, Pat - Tahiti Inn & Apartments 2nd Vice-President: Jessel, Gary - Fox Real Estate 2nd Vice-President: Halliday, Scott - Halliday-Leonard Contractors 2nd Vice-President: McMahon III, William - McMahon Insurance Agency 2nd Vice-President: Reimet, Mark - Ocean City Financial Group 2nd Vice-President: Sedberry, Ken - Berger Realty Secretary: Lloyd, Michael - Sturdy Savings Bank Treasurer: Birch, John (Jake) - Merrill Lynch Immediate Past President: Heenan, Carol - Garden State Valuation Chamber of Commerce members receive the oath of office from Mayor Jay Gillian.