Business News

Wantagh chamber president a familiar face

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The Wantagh Chamber of Commerce has a new president, but the learning curve won’t be steep for Chris Brown, who has held the post before. He comes in with an ambitious agenda to grow membership, promote local businesses and create partnerships with other Wantagh organizations.

Brown was officially selected as chamber president by the board of directors on Jan. 6, and took the reins that night. He will be formally sworn in at an installation dinner in late February.

Attorney Denise Langweber held the post for two years, succeeding Brown after his three-year presidency. “Denise was a great president,” Brown said, adding that he hopes to build on her successes.

Brown is the owner of Mid-Island Medical Supply on Wantagh Avenue, as well as sister businesses The Buff Shop and Doc Brown’s Books. He began working with those businesses 30 years ago, and took ownership 10 years later. He is also a special assistant to Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano.

Born in Rockville Centre, Brown grew up in Massapequa and lives in Wantagh, across the street from Mid-Island Medical Supply. He and his wife, Joan, have two children, Liam, 12, and Katie, 7.

Last fall, as the chamber sought nominations for its 2015 slate of officers, no one ran for president. Realizing that could put the future of the organization in jeopardy, Brown decided to step in. “You can’t let a Chamber of Commerce fold,” he said. “That affects all of the businesses.”

He said he welcomes the opportunity to strengthen the group. In between his presidencies, Brown brought a struggling Wantagh Kiwanis Club back to life. He took over the organization when it had all of 15 members and $28 in the bank, and turned it over to his successor as president, Heidi Felix, with 55 members and a bankroll of several thousand dollars.

Brown also served as a regional lieutenant governor of Kiwanis, overseeing 17 clubs. He also belongs to the Knights of Columbus, and is vice president of Squires Athletics. In 2013 he was a recipient of the Town of Hempstead’s Make A Difference award.

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