Brooklyn's Progress
February/March 2008

BY KHADIJA BATUTA

The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the following staff appointments:

Business Services: On Jan. 14, Kelvin Collins joined the Chamber as director of the Brooklyn Business Solutions Center, a mayoral initiative that brings the services of the NYC Department of Small Business Services to every borough.  A former business consultant at the Center, Mr. Collins will provide programmatic oversight for its day-to-day operations, including small business financing, business plan development, legal and franchising assistance, and government procurement.  Mr. Collins, who holds a B.A. in Marketing from Midwestern State University in Texas, previously served as partner coordinator for community and strategic partnerships for the Queens Workforce1 Career Center, and as business counselor at the Queens Business Solutions Center.  He is located at 9 Bond St., and may be reached at 718-246-5219 ext. 2023, or at kcollins@brooklynchamber.com.

Economic Development: Rick Russo was named vice president of economic development and strategic partnerships at the Chamber as of Jan. 2.  Formerly vice president of business services at the Chamber as well as director of the Brooklyn Business Solutions Center from its inception in 2003 through the end of 2007, Mr. Russo will provide support to merchant associations, BIDs and LDCs across the borough through the Chamber’s Brooklyn Shops neighborhood retail assistance program and other economic development initiatives.  Mr. Russo is located at the Chamber’s 25 Elm Place office and may be reached at 718-875-1000 ext. 148, or at rrusso@brooklynchamber.com.

Special Events: Yankie Lopez-Baptiste, a graduate of Medgar Evers College with a B.A. in Psychology, joined the Chamber as its administrative assistant for special events and membership on Nov. 26, 2007.  Ms. Baptiste may be reached at 718-875-1000 ext. 127, or ybaptiste@brooklynchamber.com.

Administration: Veronica Harris joined the Chamber as its Human Resources Administrator and Office Manager on Jan. 9.  Ms. Harris, who has an extensive background in HR management, including executive level positions with Songwriters Guild of America and Riverside General Hospital, assumes this role from Klara Carames, who left the Chamber on Feb. 1 after seven years (she also supported the president’s office for 6 ½ years) to devote her full attention to her professional organizing business, Klarify Inc.  Ms. Harris may be reached at 718-875-1000 ext. 109, or at vharris@brooklynchamber.com.