Faces & Places : Poughkeepsie chamber centennial gala lights up the sky

More than 450 people turned out Saturday evening, Feb. 3, to celebrate the Poughkeepsie Area Chamber of Commerce’s 100th anniversary and to acknowledge the chamber’s work in helping the local business community. The Board of Trade and Retail Merchants Association joined together, Nov. 20, 1907, to form the Poughkeepsie chamber.

Guests arriving at the new Grandview on the Hudson River waterfront were greeted by “Mr. Poughkeepsie” and treated to a vignette of photographs, old chamber bulletins and other memorabilia, which gala organizers put together to chronicle the chamber’s growth over the century.

Charles North, president of the 900-plus member chamber, thanked everyone on the gala centennial committee. Their efforts, he said, helped make the event a huge success.

Paintings by artist Seth Nadel were given to the Platinum sponsors for the 2007 Centennial year: Central Hudson and Health Quest. Commemorative plaques were given to charter members: Marshall & Sterling Insurance, Vail & Sutton, Zimmer Brothers, The Poughkeepsie Journal and Central Hudson.

To cap off the evening’s celebration, a fireworks display over the Hudson River was presented by Legion Fireworks. Its owner, Frank Coluccio, provided a special surprise for chamber president North — a replica of the Mid-Hudson Bridge complete with the chamber’s logo and “100 years” in lights.

Here are the revelers:

1. Dale and Donald Adams of Adams Fairacre Farms, which helps the local economy by selling products produced by Hudson Valley entrepreneurs in their stores, join in the evening’s festivities.

2. Audra Barton, chamber executive vice president and chief financial officer with Charles North, chamber president, welcome guests to the gala.

3. Joyce Minard (left), president of the New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce with her fiancée Brian Libby, DeSilva Co., Newburgh; Cathy Morales, Vail & Sutton Insurance with her husband Dan Morales of Central Hudson; and Paige Hogarth, owner of Collage Hair & Color in Poughkeepsie.

4. Singer and entertainer Vito Petroccitto, a member of Four Guys in Disguise, “Mr. Poughkeepsie 1907,” announces the guests as they arrive.

5. From left: Barbara Kram, Health Quest director of corporate marketing; Neil Eisenberg, Design Intervention Studios; Sandi Cassese, assistant vice president, Vassar Brothers Medical Center; Adil Ameer, Health Quest president and chief executive officer; Donna McGregor, Health Quest chief financial officer; and Carrie McGrath, assistant vice president, Vassar Medical Center.

6. Barbara Enny, chief operating officer, MD Imaging, Poughkeepsie with Steven Mayhew, president of Momentum Advertising in Hopewell Junction.

7. Dr. Cynthia Dozier (left), president of the Susie Reizod Foundation in New Paltz, which provides shoes to needy children is joined by Alan Seidman, Orange County legislator and his wife, Robin; and Dr. Rob Lunski, president of Gateway to Entrepreneurial Tomorrows, which provides free assistance to start-up businesses.

8. Floyd Holt, president and chief executive officer of Spaceship Discovery Science & Technology Center in Hyde Park with his wife, Evelyn.

9. Joseph Bonura (center), owner of The Grandview, is joined by his sons Michael and Joe Jr. in keeping everything running smoothly in the busy kitchen.

10. From left: George Munsterman, owner of Bumblebee Builders and Janice Ballard, president of Brinckherhoff & Neuville are pictured with company owner Mary Brinckherhoff and Susan Tucker of Sedore & Co.

11. From left: Brian and Judy Tarpey, D’Arcangelo CPAs; Scott Bradshaw, partner in D’Arcangelo and his wife Gretchen; and Ken and Barbara Kull, owners of KK Signs and Graphics.

12. From left: Tom Weddell, managing partner, Vanacore, DeBenedictus, DiGovanni & Weddell CPAs in Newburgh; Rick Lewis of Riverside Bank with his wife Barbara; and Mike Minogue of Riverside Bank.

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