{"id":109151,"date":"2026-01-22T23:01:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-22T23:01:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/109151\/"},"modified":"2026-01-22T23:01:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T23:01:12","slug":"bronx-chamber-of-commerce-inducts-new-members-to-board-of-directors-amid-record-growth-bronx-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/109151\/","title":{"rendered":"Bronx Chamber of Commerce inducts new members to Board of Directors amid record growth \u2013 Bronx Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

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New members of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce board of directors were sworn in on Jan. 22, 2026 at Manhattan University. <\/p>\n

Photo by Emily Swanson <\/p>\n

New and returning members of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce board of directors took their oath of office on Jan. 22, as representatives of the borough\u2019s expanding business landscape.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In an event at Manhattan University, Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz administered the oath, which in part said: \u201cI will act in the best interests of the organization, uphold its mission and values, exercise my responsibilities with integrity and care, and support the Chamber\u2019s role as a trusted voice for the Bronx business community.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Six board members were appointed for the first time, including Kenny Burgos, president and CEO of the New York Apartment Association; Susan L. Parish, president of Mercy University; Mike Nunez, a JPMorgan Chase executive; Paul Ramirez, managing partner of Mainland Media and Bronx Beer Hall; Kathleen Kearns of Montefiore Einstein and Cleon Chung of Optimum.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Returning to the board were Joanna Simone of Simone Development; Dr. Susan Burns, president of the University of Mount Saint Vincent; Eve Colavito, CEO of The Dream School; Joseph Gallitto of D&J Ambulette Services; April Horton of Verizon; Gilbert Vega of TD Bank and Anthony Mormile of Orange Bank & Trust Company.<\/p>\n

The Chamber is growing rapidly, with more than 100 new business members in 2025, according to its annual report. These included familiar brick and mortar names such as the Kingsbridge Heights Community Center, Shake Shack, Wells Fargo, the White Plains Road Business Improvement District and Airbnb. The Chamber also has many longstanding members, including the New York Yankees, Bay Plaza Mall and BronxWorks.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cOur membership has reached new heights, our events have seen record engagement, and the momentum across our network continues to grow,\u201d said President Lisa Sorin in the annual report.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Members swore the oath of office and received a pin appointing them to the board of directors.Photo by Emily Swanson<\/p>\n

Speaking to the new board members, Sorin said the formal ceremony was about \u201csetting a tone for transparency, for seriousness of purpose and for collective responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cToo often, board service happens quietly, behind the scenes,\u201d she said. \u201cToday is about making that responsibility visible, both to recognize those who serve and to affirm the standards of leadership we expect.\u201d<\/p>\n

Several elected officials were on hand to congratulate the board: Council Members Amanda Farias and Justin Sanchez, Assembly Members Yudelka Tapia and John Zaccaro Jr. and State Senators Robert Jackson and Nathalia Fernandez.<\/p>\n

Sanchez, a new council member representing the South Bronx, encouraged business leaders to set up shop in his district, which includes the neighborhoods of Mott Haven, Hunts Point, Longwood and Melrose.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As the newly-appointed chair of the Committee on Sanitation, he promised that business owners, residents and everyone else will experience \u201cthe cleanest streets that you have ever seen in the history of our borough,\u201d in his district and throughout the Bronx.<\/p>\n

Phillip Grant, a Bronx Chamber executive vice president and chief operating officer of Armand Corporation<\/a>, delivered remarks on behalf of leadership.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Grant said the ceremony marked \u201ca moment to recommit ourselves to work that truly matters.\u201d In challenging economic times, he said the chamber has been a stabilizing force and facilitator of advocacy and fellowship for business leaders.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Chamber, together with elected officials, works to \u201censure that the Bronx continues to be seen not as an afterthought, but as a priority,\u201d Grant said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The swearing-in ceremony was especially exciting for those new to the board, including Paul Ramirez, owner of Mainland Media<\/a> since 2006.<\/p>\n

He said he was a social entrepreneur \u201cbefore this existed as a title,\u201d with a mission of representing the Bronx in a positive way.\n<\/p>\n

Ramirez said his business grew out of a concern that there was no visible way for people, especially youth, to rep the borough. \u201cHow do you instill pride and confidence in someone who\u2019s not proud of where they\u2019re from?\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In his work, Ramirez sought to overcome old narratives about the Bronx as a downtrodden borough. Before drones and Google Earth, Ramirez said he hired a helicopter to shoot aerial shots throughout the Bronx \u2014 literally offering a new perspective that most people wouldn\u2019t see.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He also created \u201cFrom The Bronx\u201d<\/a> merch and a social media presence, and opened the Bronx Beer Hall<\/a> in the Arthur Avenue Retail Market 13 years ago.<\/p>\n

Now, after 20 years in business and partnership with the Bronx Chamber, \u201cIt just felt right to make it official,\u201d Ramirez said.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

Reach Emily Swanson at\u00a0eswanson@schnepsmedia.com<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0(646) 717-0015<\/a>. For more coverage, subscribe to our\u00a0newsletter<\/a>\u00a0and follow us on\u00a0Twitter<\/a>,\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram<\/a>!<\/p>\n

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