Brooklyn's Progress
October 2002

Members of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce elected Alan H. Fishman, President & CEO of Independence Community Bank Corp., as the organization's new chairman, along with a number of other officers and new board members. "I am honored and proud to have been chosen for this chairmanship," Fishman said. "Throughout my lifetime of living in Brooklyn and raising my children here, I have worked to enrich this great borough with art, culture, educational experiences and economic development. As the leader of the largest Bank in Brooklyn, Independence Community Bank, I am delighted to continue to share the mission of the Bank and the Chamber of Commerce to continue to make Brooklyn a great place for businesses, families and culture to prosper." Prior to joining Independence, Fishman founded Columbia Financial Partners, L.P., an investment firm specializing in financial services, in 1992. Fishman's career in the financial services industry began in 1969 when he enrolled in a training program at Chemical Bank. For the next 19 years Fishman rose rapidly through the corporation, serving in various capacities in a broad range of areas, including the retail bank and middle market and international banking. Fishman graduated from Brown University in 1967 with a bachelor's degree in economics and he received his master's in economics from Columbia University in 1969. Active in several Brooklyn based organizations, he serves as a board member of KeySpan Energy Corporation and he is chairman of the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Fishman succeeds David Manning, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs for KeySpan Corporation. As chairman, Fishman will help direct the Brooklyn Chamber's economic development programs to stimulate growth and development for the 1,200 Chamber members and the borough. The Chamber chairman's term is for two years. - more - Brooklyn Chamber Annual Meeting Page 2 "David Manning has done a fantastic job at leading the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce to new heights over the past two years," said Kenneth Adams, Brooklyn Chamber President. "We all welcome Alan Fishman and look forward to his leadership." During the Brooklyn Chamber's annual membership meeting and luncheon, Dominic Mascara, Health Plus, was elected as a vice chair and Fred Hugue, Citibank N.A., was elected as the Chamber Treasurer. The event was held on Monday, September 23 in The Palm House at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Gifford Miller, Speaker of the New York City Council gave the keynote address. Also during the meeting new board members were elected including: Eric Deutsch, Brooklyn Navy Yard; Daniel Fontaine, Washington Mutual Bank; Carolyn Fostel, Astoria Federal Savings; Mary Gelormino, Fleet Bank; Monique Greenwood, Akwaaba Mansion Bed & Breakfast and Café; Loretta Mathushek, HSBC; and Peter M. Meyer, Commerce Bank. These directors were elected to terms ending in 2005. Established in 1918, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce is the borough's leading economic development and business assistance organization. With over 1,200 Members representing neighborhoods all across the borough, the Brooklyn Chamber is the largest Chamber of Commerce in New York City and one of the fastest-growing business associations in the region. In recent years, the Chamber has strengthened its ties to all levels of government and become the leading voice of the Brooklyn business community. Independence Community Bank Corp. is the holding company for Independence Community Bank. The Bank, originally chartered in 1850, currently operates 72 full service branches located in the greater New York City metropolitan area, which includes the five boroughs of New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester Counties and northern New Jersey. The Bank has three key business divisions: Commercial Real Estate Lending, Consumer Banking, and Business Banking. The Bank maintains its community orientation by offering the ethnically diverse communities in which it operates a wide range of financial products and by emphasizing customer service, superior value and convenience. The Bank's Web site is www.MyIndependence.com. Editor's Note: A photo of new Brooklyn Chamber chairman, Alan H. Fishman, is available by e-mail. Call Karen Young, 718-875-1000 ext. 115, or e-mail her at kyoung@brooklynchamber.com.