Brooklyn's Progress
July 2004

By Darryl Hollon

Dianne Gartelman, with the support of Robert Vivo, both First Vice Presidents, Regional Managers of Independence Community Bank, rallied 20 branch managers from across the borough, kicking off the first leg of the Brooklyn Chamber’s 2004 Membership Drive Corporate Challenge, signing up an impressive 21 new Brooklyn Chamber Members. 

“We’re not finished,” Ms. Gartelman said.  “Each branch manager includes information about the Brooklyn Chamber in their portfolio when they are meeting with customers so they can share with them the benefits of joining the Chamber. The Chamber’s new membership levels were really helpful to the businesses my Branch Managers signed up.” 

Darryl Hollon, Brooklyn Chamber Director of Membership added, “This is fantastic.  We can’t wait to find out which Independence branch will bring in the most new members and award the exciting prizes.”

The stage was set on June 19 when Darryl and Chamber President Kenneth Adams met with Ms. Gartelman and the Independence team at their Bay Ridge branch on Fifth Ave. and 88th St.  Branch Managers were presented with talking points and learned about the new membership packages that included a range of ways to promote one’s business and to get connected with new customers.

The Membership Committee, lead by Co-chairs Loretta Mathushek of HSBC and Dan Vaccaro of Epic Adventure Cruises, got the idea to change the trademark membership drive phone campaign to a monthly corporate challenge when Ms. Gartelman suggested that she would be willing to do an in-house Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Membership Drive involving branch managers from Independence branches across the borough. Ms. Gartelman was last year’s “Best Member Getter” signing up 16 new Members during the Chamber’s 2003 Membership Drive Phone Campaign, which earned her the top prize – a trip to Las Vegas.

The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce invites its Members to take part in the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Corporate Challenge 2004 – all businesses are welcome from large to small, just contact Darryl Hollon at 718-875-1000 ext.131, or at dhollon@brooklynchamber.com.