Chamber Installs Members, Looks to 2020 Summer Season

By LESLEY GRAHAM The Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual installation of officers and board of directors event Thursday night in the ballroom at the historic Flanders Hotel. A diverse selection of business owners from realtors, to builders, surf shop owners and restaurateurs all took time away from their businesses to celebrate the newly installed Board of Directors for 2020. The Chamber hosted a pre-dinner networking event for local business owners in town to mingle, share stories and enjoy each other’s company for an evening. The event was followed by a dinner where the 2020 Board of Directors were sworn in for their term of service, including David Allegretto who was sworn in for his third one-year term as board president. Presiding over the event was Michele Gillian, the executive director of the Chamber of Commerce. Gillian spoke about the exciting spring that is soon approaching, when the Chamber of Commerce will be celebrating its 100th anniversary. Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Michele Gillian addresses the crowd, while Chamber President David Allegretto looks on. The official slogan of Ocean City, “America’s Greatest Family Resort,” will also be celebrated this spring by the Chamber. “There are so many things we work on to make sure Ocean City is well-represented and well-branded outside in the outer markets, but it wouldn’t be possible without every single person in this room,” Gillian told the audience. “Thank you for serving and for all the hard work that you do.” Drew Fasy, who represents OCNJDaily.com on the board, knows that without the strong work of the Chamber and all that it does representing businesses in town, Ocean City would not be the destination it is for visitors. “The Chamber of Commerce and the board work tirelessly to make Ocean City a top- notch destination and market the unique businesses we have to offer, not just in the summer but throughout the entire year,” Fasy said. Allegretto spoke of how Ocean City and its businesses create an enjoyable experience for locals and visitors alike. “The role of the Chamber is to bring people to Ocean City and promote all the businesses in town,” he noted. Mayor Jay Gillian swears in the officers. But it’s more than just getting people into the shops on the Boardwalk and downtown, Allegretto pointed out. “It’s always fun to hear how people are tied to Ocean City or when you see them outside of the area with their Ocean City T-shirt or hat on,” he said. He continued, "It’s a combination of our location and the memories that people create here with their families that last a lifetime. Those memories wouldn’t be possible without the great businesses that Ocean City has to offer.” The executive officers of the Chamber of Commerce. The following people will be installed as directors for a 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, CPAs  Batastini, Jon – Loveland, Garrett & Batastini  Broadley, Brian – Broadley’s MDI  Birch, John (Jake) – Merrill Lynch  Cantwell, Carmine – Liberty Flooring Inc.  Cesari, Brandie – Scarborough Inn  Ciliberto, Tricia – OceanFirst Bank  Corcoran, Kevin – Wet N Wild Waverunner Rentals  Davis, Jane – Johnny B. Goode Ice Cream Parlor  Dukeman, Michael – Hobby Horse Ice Cream Parlor  Fasy, Andrew – OCNJDaily.com  Frank, Cricket – Magton, Inc.  Friedel, Becky – 7th Street Surf Shop  Galante, Janet – 13th Street Bathhouse & Bikes  Gill, Beverley – Island Beach Gear  Gill, Patrick – Tackle Direct  Halliday, Chris – Halliday Architects  Halliday, Scott – Halliday-Leonard Contractors  Heenan, Carol – Garden State Valuation  Heist, Thomas – Heist Insurance Agency  Hennessy, Jim – Heritage Surf Shop  Hohman, Walt – Ward’s Pastry  Jessel, Gary – Fox Real Estate  Jones, Barbara – Servpro of CMC  Kennedy, Rebecca – Kennedy Custom Upholstery & Interior Design  Lloyd, Michael – Sturdy Savings Bank  McMahon, Patrick – McMahon Insurance Agency  McMahon III, William – McMahon Insurance Agency  Madden, Peter – Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Fox & Roach Realtors  Marotta, Nick – Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Fox & Roach Realtors  McGuckin, Mary – Shore Medical Center  McIntyre, Lynne – Yesterday’s  Piriano, Winnie – The Road to Living Well  Price, Ryan – Price Brothers Construction  Reich, Eric – Reich Asset Managment  Reimet, Mark – Ocean City Financial Group  Schultz, Aimee – JASM Consulting  Sedberry, Ken – Berger Realty  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  Wilson, Tony – Wilson Plumbing & Heating  Organization representatives for a one-year term:  Davidson, John – Somers Point Business Association  Denney, Ron – Exchange Club of Ocean City  Di Guglielmo, Kathleen – Ocean City Board of Realtors  Guerriero, Danielle – Downtown Merchants Association  Hayes, E. Marie – Cape May County Freeholders  Kazmarck, Wes – Boardwalk Merchants  Loeper, John – Ocean City Historical Museum  Losch, Glenn – Ocean City Hospitality Association  McGinnity, Bill – Ocean City Restaurant Association  Mahar, Karen – Ocean City Free Public Library  Quirk, Caitlin – Downtown Merchants Association  Reimer, Pastor Jay – Ocean City Tabernacle  Taylor, Dr. Kathleen – Ocean City Board of Education  Organization alternates:  Clarke, Leslie – Ocean City Free Public Library  Desiderio, Leonard – CMC Freeholders  Gallelli Keys, Cecilia – Ocean City Board of Education  Jordan, Ozzie – Exhchange Club of Ocean City  Lisicki, Dana – Somers Point Business Association  Orazi, Joseph – Ocean City Board of Realtors  Westerman, Bill – Boardwalk Merchants  Yoa, Andrew – Ocean City Restaurant Association  Executive officers for a one-year term:  President: Allegretto, Dave – Fortress Financial  1st Vice President: Galante, Janet – 13th Street Bathhouse & Bikes/Piccini’s  2nd Vice-President: Adams, Robert H. – Tidelines Management Services, Inc.  2nd Vice-President: Aromando, Tom – Fitzpatrick, Bongiovanni & Kelly, CPAs  2nd Vice-President: Broadley, Brian – Broadley’s MDI  2nd Vice-President: Frank, Cricket – Magton, Inc.  2nd Vice-President: Jessel, Gary – Fox Real Estate  2nd Vice-President: Halliday, Scott – Halliday-Leonard Contractors  2nd Vice-President: McMahon, Patrick – McMahon Insurance Agency  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