Small businessperson of the year: Walter Skinner

Walter P. Skinner, center, has been a lifelong resident of East Meadow, where he lives with his wife, Kim, and two boys, Corey, 11 and Kyle, 8. 

Skinner opened an Allstate Insurance Agency on Front Street in East Meadow. He is the past president of the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce and a member of the East Meadow Kiwanis Club. Skinner is a fourth-degree knight and a member of the Pope Pius XII Council of Knights of Columbus. He is also a member of the East Meadow Board of Education and serves on the PMT committee at McVey Elementary School and Woodland Middle School. 

Skinner is a past den leader for Cub Pack No. 291 and currently is an assistant scoutmaster of Troop No. 291. He sponsors numerous activities for youth in the community, such as the East Meadow Soccer Club, East Meadow Little League, PAL lacrosse. He also volunteers as PAL basketball coach.