Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce winter gala honors past president and rings in the new

Chamber Salutes Carlo Scissura and Welcomes Andrew Hoan

December 16, 2016 By John Alexander Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Former Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz (left) with incoming BCC President Andrew Hoan. Eagle photos by Arthur De Gaeta

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The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce held its festive winter gala at El Caribe Restaurant on Thursday night, where elected officials and some of the city’s brightest stars came together to celebrate an organization that has demonstrated great leadership by successfully supporting the borough’s small and big businesses alike. The evening served as a well-deserved salute to out-going President Carlo Scissura and a warm welcome for new BCC President Andrew Hoan.

Political leaders and elected officials attending included Kings County Democratic Chairman Frank Seddio; Counsel to the Chairman Frank Carone; state Assemblymembers Peter Abbate, Pamela Harris, Joseph Lento and Jo Anne Simon; state Sen. Marty Golden; Councilmember Vincent Gentile; and former Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. Also in attendance was Lu-Shawn Thompson, wife of the late Kings County District Attorney Ken Thompson.

BCC Vice Chairman Lisa Bing welcomed guests on behalf of Chairman Denise Arbesu, who was unable to attend. Bing announced this year’s honoree, Brendan J. Dugan, president of St. Francis College. Dugan was unable to attend due to illness, and his award was accepted by his son, Patrick.

Bing said she was honored to work with both Scissura and Hoan. She said that Scissura, who will be heading the New York Building Congress, was a visionary business person who, during his 4 1/2 years as BCC president, has had a major influence on Brooklyn. She said that he built an infrastructure that resulted in a community of excellence, and that he’s leaving the BCC “greater than when he started.”

Regarding Hoan, she said that after working nine years with Scissura, he was “committed, talented and ready.” Hoan thanked Bing for her remarks and called Scissura his “unofficial godfather.”

The BCC paid special tribute to Anthony Nardella, who passed away on July 27. Nardella enjoyed a distinguished career in law enforcement before joining Muss Development LLC as director of security. Scissura said that “those who didn’t know him really missed out — he was a true Brooklynite.”

Lentol called the evening a milestone event and said that “Brooklyn has grown in leaps and bounds, from Greenpoint to Canarsie under Carlo.” He called Scissura’s leadership “nothing but miraculous” and said that with Hoan in charge, the BCC is left in “kind and able hands.”

Hoan introduced a video tribute to Scissura by saying, “This is your Brooklyn.”

Scissura thanked everyone for their support and reflected on the time he met Markowitz at the Bay Ridge Ragamuffin Parade in 2008. Markowitz immediately offered him a job as general counsel in his administration before he became chief of staff. Scissura worked five years with Markowitz and said, “I would not be here if it wasn’t for Marty Markowitz.”

Scissura thanked Hoan for his friendship and loyalty. He called himself “a kid from Milwaukee who’s embraced Brooklyn,” adding, “Brooklyn will always be who I am. I may now work in Manhattan, but I still live in Brooklyn.”