By: Nick Buglione
Yet ever since Brandon Bloom, 27, joined the business organization in 1998, after deciding to enter the family printing business with his father Jack and older brother Evan, he-s been one its most active and dedicated members, developing an affinity for East Meadow that-s only grown with time.
As a political science major at SUNY Binghamton, however, Bloom never envisioned working at the family-s Sir Speedy Printing on Old Country Road in Westbury, just outside the East Meadow School District. It was the farthest thing from my mind, but it just worked out that way, said Bloom, who grew up in Baldwin and lives in Douglaston with his newlywed wife Amy. I can-t imagine doing anything else.
When he joined the family business, it had opened a new location on Hempstead Turnpike in East Meadow, and Bloom was put in charge of the sales and marketing departments of both offices.
Joining the local chamber of commerce was one of his first orders of business. As soon as I started working, I started going to chamber meetings, Bloom said. I got involved and I wanted to get more involved.
The chamber-s community mindedness made an impression on Bloom from the outset. It-s a great group of people, he said. It may not be the biggest, but it-s a very powerful group. If you talk to other [business organizations], they know the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce.
He knew three months into being a member that he wanted to become a chamber officer, and the enthusiastic 21-year-old approached then-President Mike Litzner with the idea.
The president advised him to remain an involved member and he-d eventually move up the ladder, Bloom said. And that-s exactly what he did.
Bloom branched out and joined a number of other business organizations. He served as president of the Long Island Entrepreneurs Group and was successful in doubling its membership during his tenure. There were only five members at my first meeting and 21 when I left office, he said. I-m proud that the Long Island Entrepreneurs Group is now a known group on Long Island.
He also became involved with the East Meadow Kiwanis, helping put together food baskets for people in need during the holiday season, and the New Cassel Business Association. He now sits on its board of directors.
Bloom is also with the Small Business Council of the Long Island Association, the Business Friends of Hillel, the Advancement for Commerce, Industry and Technology, and the American Business Associates.
He-s a very involved and very particular person, said John Tufarelli, chamber member from Century 21 American Homes in Levittown. He-s got everything under control and all his ideas in place.
Now, at 27, he-ll become the youngest president in East Meadow Chamber of Commerce history when he-s sworn in at the chamber-s 49th annual installation of officers and directors Friday, Jan. 30 at Westbury Manor.
Although Sir Speedy-s East Meadow location merged with the Westbury office this past summer, nothing in the chamber-s laws prohibits a businessman living and working outside the community from remaining a member or serving as president, and Bloom intends to do a great job.
It-s exciting more than anything. I-m proud of it, Bloom said, on being the youngest chamber president ever. It means I-ve accomplished a lot. I have a lot of challenges ahead.
During his one-year term, Bloom hopes to increase membership to 300 and build on outgoing President Alan Hodish-s leadership. I want to take the things he started and make them bigger and better, Bloom said. At this year-s day at the races, I want to make $15,000, and at the next culinary delights event, I want to make $10,000.
Hodish thinks Bloom has the makings of an excellent president. I think he brings that youthful exuberance and enthusiasm in all that he does, said Hodish, a Garden City-based lawyer. He-s always there, he-s full of ideas, and he has a good sense of networking.
