Brooklyn's Progress
June/July 2007

BY KHADIJA BATUTA

The membership department at the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce recently has undergone some changes.  In addition to adding new talent, its Director of Membership Tara Levin and Manager of Information Services Nancy Tibana left the organization to further their careers.

Tara Levin left the Chamber on May 11 to take a position as director of membership & sales with Empire Golf Management, a developer and manager of golf clubs.  In her new position, Tara will promote Empire’s Club Max corporate and private golf club memberships.

“I’d be happy to engage the Chamber’s golf-loving Members about Club Max and the value it can bring to them,” Tara said, already gearing up for her new role.

Undoubtedly, Tara honed her sales skills during her three years at the Chamber. After a brief period freelancing with Brooklyn HealthWorks, the Chamber’s affordable health insurance program, Tara joined the Chamber’s membership department as manager of Member services in Nov. 2004, and was promoted to director in mid-2005.  As director, Tara focused on Member acquisition and retention, connecting Members with Chamber benefits and services, as well as to other Members to maximize their business community network.

This latest position is yet another career shift for Tara.  After graduating summa cum laude from San Francisco State University with a Bachelors degree in Organizational Communications, Tara began her career in emergency medical services in San Francisco before moving to New York City and economic development at the Chamber.

“It has been a sincere honor to work with such a dedicated and uniquely talented staff.  The Chamber has been like a family to me and I will be maintaining my connection with the Chamber as a new Member!” said Tara.

Moving On
Nancy Tibana began the next chapter in her brief but varied career when she left the Chamber on Apr. 15, for a position as project manager at the NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development.  Nancy’s focus with HPD’s preservation finance team is to work with private firms and nonprofit organizations to develop foreclosed HPD properties across the city.

After graduating with a Bachelors degree in English from SUNY at Binghamton University, Nancy began her professional career at the Chamber in Sep. 2003, as project manager supporting then Vice President of Member Services Mark Kessler (now serving as interim president).  In this role, Nancy was staff liaison to the Chamber’s Small Business Seminar Committee.  With the help of the committee’s Member volunteers, Nancy produced monthly business seminars featuring Chamber Member presenters and covering such topics as effective networking strategies, a mock trial examination of hiring issues at Brooklyn Law School, and securing space with Two Trees Management.  Nancy also helped to revise the format of the Chamber’s bimonthly Member Orientations.

In April 2006, Nancy moved to the membership department at the Chamber where she was responsible for the strategic development and maintenance of Member data as its manager of information services.

“It has been an invaluable experience working for the Brooklyn Chamber, and I’m looking forward to new opportunities with HPD,” said Nancy.

“I am proud of and inspired by both these two women.  It is encouraging to see people work hard, develop their skills and be rewarded by new opportunities,” said Rosalie Rance, vice president of marketing & membership at the Chamber.  “It reinforces what I believe about the Chamber – it is an incubator for growth not only for its Members, but for the team serving them as well.  I know Nancy and Tara will both be successful.”

The membership team stands ready to assist Members.  To update your contact information send an email to memberinfo@brooklynchamber.com or call the membership department at 718-875-1000 ext. 111.  For questions about Member benefits and services, please call Member Information Coordinator Melissa Chapman at 718-875-1000 ext. 126.  You may also login at http://www.ibrooklyn.com/ and visit the “Members Only” section to access Member benefits online.