Chamber welcomes first woman president, CEO

Linda Baran, and 18-year veteran of the chamber, heads the nearly 1,000-member organization

Staten Island Advance - June 6, 2004

Linda Baran, 18-year veteran executive with the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, has been named the first woman president and chief executive officer of the nearly 1,000-member organization. Her salary is $75,000 per year.

The native Staten Islander is the second woman in the history of the chamber to hold a top leadership position in the organization. Margaret (Peggy) Sklenar was the first woman to chair the chamber’s board of the directors (1987-1988).

In a unanimous vote, the chamber’s board of directors on May 20 elected Ms. Baran, who held the title of interim president for the last seven months, to be the official president.

Prior to that, she held the position of vice president of finance and resources with the chamber. She has worked in many areas of the chamber, including finance and operations, membership development, community relations and special events.

TRANSPORTATION

Most recently she has played a more active role in government and legislative affairs. With regard to transportation problems, for instance, “we’ve tried to get all parties together, the Port Authority, Metropolitan Transit Authority, state and city Department of Transportation, and we’ve been working with City Planning officials,” Ms. Baran said.

“We want the chamber to be more active in the community,” she continued.

“We’ve been reaching out to Borough Hall and to individual community boards. We’re contacting all merchants associations to ask what problems they may be having and to help businesses with their problems.”

The chamber’s staff of seven employees wants “to put together a united effort to look at lots of projects that have merit, and that not everybody may be aware of, and come up with a prioritized list,” she said.

One plan includes reaching out to elected officials and inviting them to speak before the chamber at such events as the “Eggs ‘n Issues” breakfasts, she said.

“The last ones were on how real estate and sales taxes and insurance premiums are affecting businesses, and we’d like to focus on other things affecting business,” she said.

In addition to the chamber’s many programs, such as the Louis B. Miller Awards to prominent business people, and the Building Awards program, the chamber plans to re-institute Holiday Window Display awards this year, she said.

Chamber Chairman Bob Bentson, a principal in the Allen C. Bentson Agency, West Brighton, said regarding Ms. Baran, “Linda has great character, with great values and integrity.

“We value her 18 years of experience at the Chamber of Commerce, serving six presidents and the Staten Island community.”

“Linda adds tremendous value for the members, their businesses and organizations’ of Staten Island,” Bentson said. “She will be well-liked by all.”

Ms. Baran succeeds former chamber president and CEO Lawrence J. De Maria, who served from 1996 to 2003.

Among the achievements that have made her proud during her nearly two decades with the chamber are its roles in helping to secure the former Navy home port, the secession movement and the closing of the Fresh Kills landfill.

MEMBERSHIP GROWS

She fondly remembers the chamber’s big centennial celebration in 1995, and is “proud to see membership grow from a low of 750 to nearly 1,000 today.

“I’ve always worked very hard on the financial end and on developing membership,’’ she said.
“The job is interesting because you get to meet people from all walks of life, from elected officials to celebrities, to community leaders, to (mega-billionare) businessmen like Bill Gates.”
Ms. Baran was first hired by former chamber President Richard Irwin in 1986 and has worked with four presidents and two acting presidents over the years.

Ms. Baran is a lifelong Staten Islander, born in Midland Beach, who now resides with her family in Great Kills.

A graduate of New Dorp High School, she studied marketing, communications and business at the College of Staten Island.

She is a recent graduate of the U.S. Chamber Institute of Organization Management at the University of Villa Nova, Pa., where she received a certificate in Nonprofit Organization Management.

“It’s four consecutive years of weeklong programs that the chamber sent me to, focusing on leadership, management, financial skills , legislative affairs, and motivating staff,” Ms. Baran said.

In the future, “the chamber wants to take a more active role in bringing business to Staten Island,” said Ms. Baran, “and we’ve recently been attending’ meetings regarding happenings at the home port, and, most recently, the NASCAR proposal.”