Brooklyn's Progress
June 2004

By Khadija Batuta

Several fresh new faces have recently joined the staff at the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce – Roy Monty, Shelia Smith-Parkinson, Connor Lacefield and Kirsten Lipinsky.

Roy assumed leadership of the marketing efforts for Brooklyn HealthWorks on June 7 as a consultant.  Brooklyn HealthWorks is the Chamber’s new health insurance product for small businesses in Northern Brooklyn.  Roy brings to the position more than 40 years of insurance marketing experience, including work for Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield, First ING Insurance Company of New York and the Hartford, Metropolitan and Provident Mutual Life Insurance Companies. Roy will be concentrating on building and managing an effective broker network to market Brooklyn HealthWorks.  Roy joins Marketing & Enrollment Specialist Michelle Matthews and Project Assistant James McTaggart in the Chamber’s effort to expand participation in this product. 

“I am excited about the potential of Brooklyn HealthWorks, and am pleased to have the opportunity to work with the Brooklyn HealthWorks and Chamber staffs to bring this new health plan to the eligible small businesses in northern Brooklyn,” Roy stated. 

As part of the Chamber’s commitment to providing real world learning opportunities for college students each summer, the organization hires interns to assist staff members in its various departments.  This summer three bright and talented people – two who were placed through the Chamber’s own Good Help program – joined the Chamber on May 24.

Shelia Smith-Parkinson, an Electrical Engineering student at New York City College of Technology/CUNY, joined the Brooklyn Chamber’s Membership department where she will be working closely with Special Events Manager Maggie Beaute-Lucien. A native New Yorker and Brooklyn resident, Shelia brings a breadth of experience, recently completing an internship with Una Clarke, Executive Director for the Brooklyn Community Access Network Office. Shelia joined the Membership Department at the right time – she hit the ground running, helping to prepare for the Brooklyn Business Trade Show and Luncheon featuring NYC Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg on June 3.

Connor Lacefield, a master’s candidate in the City and Regional Planning Program at the University of Pennsylvania, joined the Brooklyn Chamber’s Real Estate & Development department for the summer assisting Mack Tham, the department’s Director, and Randy Peers, the Chamber’s Vice President for Economic Development.  Connor’s assignments will include providing assistance with the 2004 Building Brooklyn Awards (scheduled for July 21 at the Brooklyn Museum) and with “Out in Front,” the Chamber’s new land use strategic planning project.  Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Connor graduated from New York University in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in urban design and architecture studies. 

Kirsten Lipinsky joined the NYC Business Solutions Center at the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce for the summer where she will be providing administrative support to Director Rick Russo and Manager Fred Graves.  Kirsten is currently a sophomore at Sweet Briar College situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia.  Kristen is pursuing a double major in English and Communications with a minor in Modern Dance.