Julie Marchesella, the chamber's current president, was named Woman of the Year for all of her volunteer work on behalf of the chamber and several other organizations, including United Cerebral Palsy and Look Good, Feel Better, which helps female cancer patients with makeup and hair to raise their spirits.
As chamber president, Marchesella has played a lead role in founding such popular chamber events as the annual Kids Fest in the spring and the Fall Festival. And she has was instrumental in establishing the chamber's College Scholarship Fund. To date, the chamber has raised more than $20,000 for the fund.
Marchesella, who owns Queen of Hearts in downtown Merrick, attended Nassau Community College for fashion buying and merchandising.
Brian Fontanella, the chamber's Man of the Year, was born and raised in the Merricks. He now volunteers for many organizations.
Fontanella has coached soccer for the past seven years in Levittown's Soccer Club, in a division for children with special needs called the Soccer Stars. He has also coached for North Merrick/North Bellmore PAL soccer and managed the North Merrick/North Bellmore Little League for the past nine years.
Fontanella is also a member of the Knights of Columbus at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in North Merrick, and in this capacity, he organizes communion breakfasts and the hot lunch at the annual turkey shoot, as well as helps in the zeppole tent at the Festival by the Sea.
This year's chamber officers include: Julie Marchesella, Queen of Hearts; Patrick Rodgers, Esq., president-elect; Dr. Kathleen Meyer, O.D. and Salvatore Vassallo, Vassallo Insurance Agency, vice presidents; Linda Toscano, Merrick Life; Richard Dasch, CPA, treasurer; David McDonough, Graydon Associates, immediate past president.
This year's board of directors comprises: Joanne Bivona, Emerald City Hair Salon; Margaret Cincotta, North Merrick Library; Ilene Dixel, Merrick Herald; Sally Tilles, Curves; Marian Fraker-Gutin, PP, Mary Elmore Realty; Jay Helsinger, Custom South Shore Realty; June Irvin, Merrick Life; Carmela Lage, Sunshine Committee; Randy Shotland, New York Life; Richard Lawrence, Family Court judge; Mal Markowitz, Malmar Electric; Douglas Mills, PP, Printing Emporium; Ellen Firer, Merrick Library; Joseph Longo, Nationwide Satellite Systems; Lois Roos, Merrick Life; Connie Deckel, Kings Supermarkets; Margaret Mueller, R.S. Jones; Fran Guercio, Merrick Chorale; and Joseph Guidese, GreenPoint Bank.
