‘Tis the season for business in Brooklyn!
The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual 2023 Winter Gala on Tuesday, Dec. 19. The star-studded affair took place at the El Caribe Country Club in Mill Basin, and included a trade expo and dinner that Chamber President and CEO Randy Peers said was focused on highlighting economic development in Brooklyn and beyond.
“This year’s 2023 Winter Gala and Expo was our biggest and best, thanks to all the economic growth and development we’ve seen in the past year,” Peers said in a statement. “It was inspiring to hear Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer provide the keynote and recognize all the progress that has been achieved across New York City. That’s also why we honored the four Chamber leaders in the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. We look forward to collaborating with them all for many years to come, especially as part of the Small Business Resource Network.”
The four business leaders — Bronx Chamber of Commerce President Lisa Sorin, Staten Island Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Linda Baran, Queens Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Thomas Grech and Manhattan Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Jessica Walker — worked closely and collaboratively with the Brooklyn chamber at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Peers said. Together, he and the other Big Apple chamber heads launched the Small Business Resource Network, the city’s signature business assistance program during COVID, which has collectively served over 30,000 small businesses citywide, mainly in communities of color.
That sense of togetherness is what it’s all about, said Springer, who serves as deputy mayor for housing, economic development, and workforce.
“It’s been a great year for New York City’s small business community, as we celebrate a full jobs recovery more than a year ahead of time as well as a major entrepreneurial boom in the city,” she said in a statement. “Our administration is grateful to all five chambers for being such strong partners as we work to drive more access to opportunity and prosperity to working people and small businesses across all five boroughs, and we look forward to working together in 2024.”
The gala concluded with a musical performance by Grammy-nominated rapper and singer Theophilus London. The music producer, well known for his work with megastars like Kanye West, was born in Trinidad & Tobago, but later moved to Flatbush, Brooklyn, where he spent a great deal of his childhood.
“WHAT a performance from Theophilus London!” Peers said. “His performance provided a perfect ending to a fantastic evening.”
