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.
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.
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
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
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
