Brooklyn's Progress
December 2006/January 2007

BY MAGGIE BEAUTE-LUCIEN

More than 100 Chamber Members and friends headed to Brighton Beach’s Atlantic Oceana Restaurant on Oct. 26 for the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce's October Business After Hours networking event sponsored by the Brighton Beach Business Improvement District. Attendees enjoyed Russian delicacies and vodka, prizes and great networking.

Brooklyn Chamber Chairman Dan Holt, Courier-Life Publications and Interim Brooklyn Chamber President Mark Kessler warmly welcomed guests and thanked Yelena Makhnin, Executive Director, Brighton Beach BID, for her generous support and sponsorship of the evening’s event. 

"The Russian-American community in Brooklyn is alive, well and thriving, contributing to the growth of Brooklyn," said Mr. Holt.

Ms. Makhnin congratulated the evening’s door prizewinners who received beautiful gift baskets filled with products from local merchants in the Brighton Beach area. Winners included Gil Cygler, All Car Rent A Car; Stanley Kvitelman, Universal Communications Network Inc.; Ed Eisenberg, Community Activist; David Rowe, Mackoul & Associates, Inc.; Shaynaz Malleck, Philips International Associates Corp.; and Barbara Barbieri, Cablevision. Ms. Makhnin also awarded a number of quick thinking guests with bottles of white and red wine after they correctly answered some tough Russian trivia questions.

About the Sponsor
Brighton Beach District Improvement District was established in 1987 to provide services that enhance the Brighton Beach Avenue shopping strip from Ocean Parkway to Brighton 15th Street. Since its inception, the BID has been a key force in developing the businesses of Brighton Beach Avenue. The BID provides year-round sweeping services to the merchants of the Avenue. In addition, Brighton Beach BID runs several successful promotions each year and publishes brochures and shopping guides that are aggressively distributed through New York's major hotels, attractions and major corporations.

November BAH
The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce hosted its final networking event for 2006 at Aviator Sports & Recreation in Marine Park on Nov. 28.  It was a terrific event that was capped off by a tour of the facilities and the Chamber's door prize drawing, for which Aviator donated several gift certificates.  Winners included Peter Petino, Active Transport (Basketball Session for 4); Joe Stile, New York Community Hospital (Rock Climbing Session for 4); Donald Schwartz, Imagelink Productions (Public Skate Session for 4); Gary Heegan, EVQ (Hockey Session for 4); and Jennifer Stern Courier-Life Publications (Corporate Membership for 10).  We thank Aviator Sports for a great networking event and congratulate them on their recent partnership with Madison Square Garden (click here for story).

January BAH
The first networking event for 2007 is scheduled for Jan. 17 at Buffalo Wild Wings® Grill & Bar, the newest addition to the Atlantic Center Mall.  For more information about hosting or sponsoring a Business After Hours or other Chamber event, contact Special Events Director Maggie Beaute-Lucien at 718-875-1000 ext. 105, or at mlucien@brooklynchamber.com.