Brooklyn's Progress
December 2005/January 2006

BY HAROLD EGELN

Awards with praise aplenty, complimented by great food, music, friends and dancing, made the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce’s 88th Annual Dinner Dance a smashing success.

The celebration, held on Dec. 8 at the El Caribe Country Club in Mill Basin, highlighted three 2005 honorees; all top business leaders who have made a powerful impact on Brooklyn's economic success.

The program was opened by Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce President Kenneth Adams, with a presentation of colors by the Boy Scouts of Brooklyn.  Debbie Dangerfield, a Catz Entertainment recording artist, gave a rousing rendition of the National Anthem, which was followed by an invocation by Rabbi Jacob Goldstein, Community Board 9 Chairman and a U.S. Army chaplain.

Corporate Citizen of the Year, Philip Stenger, Commerce Bank; Business Leader of the Year, Steve Hindy, President/Co-Founder, The Brooklyn Brewery; and Leadership and Public Service Awardee Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, Ranking Democratic Member, House Small Business Committee, were the stars of a memorable evening.

"I felt very fortunate in my service as an officer of the Chamber," said Mr. Stenger, a former Board Chairman of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, who was introduced by former KeySpan Chairman Tom DiMartino.

Mr. Stenger’s banking career spanned 52 years; he is now a consultant in Commerce Bank's Brooklyn Commercial Market Group. He was honored for his work there supporting Brooklyn's economic, social and cultural vitality as well as his past and current partnerships with civic, community and cultural organizations to promote the borough.

"Brooklyn is the best place to live and work, and that's what it's all about," Mr. Stenger said.

The former chairman noted that he was on the 1995 search committee that hired Brooklyn Chamber President Kenneth Adams.

“Under his leadership for ten years, the Chamber has radiated into an outstanding organization," Mr. Stenger said referring to Mr. Adams.

"The Brooklyn Chamber is the most innovative of all Chambers and its programs are fantastic," said Mr. Hindy, as he accepted an award for Business Leader of the Year. "Ken Adams brought in the enterprising Brooklyn spirit and put it to work.”

Mr. Hindy's award honored his outstanding entrepreneurship, integrating business success with civic service, and helping the borough's economy by co-founding the Brooklyn Brewery.

A former journalist who covered the Middle East as a Correspondent for the Associated Press and a former foreign desk Editor for Newsweek in the U.S., Hindy co-authored a book with brewery co-founder Tom Potter. The book, entitled "Beer School: Bottling Success at The Brooklyn Brewery" tells the story of his now famous brewery.

The Chamber's current Chairman Dan Holt introduced Rep. Velazquez.

"Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez is a tremendous friend of the Chamber," said Mr. Holt. "She is a true asset to our businesses."

The Puerto Rican-born Congresswoman, first elected to the House of Representatives in 1992, was honored for her commitment and responsiveness to small business needs, helping them to grow and thrive, taking the role of a national leader in her efforts and successes.

"It's really small businesses that get the economy back on track,” said Rep. Velazquez. “You are the driver and the job creator of our economy. You should be proud. The Brooklyn Chamber is the greatest chamber in New York."

The Dinner Dance was underwritten by Commerce Bank, KeySpan and Maimonides Medical Center.  The Brooklyn Chamber thanks these Members as well as those who provided additional sponsorship and advertising support.