Long Island's Best & Brightest Students Shine in Business Competition

[View large photo] [View large photo]

Huntington, NY, December 2, 2003 -- The Young Professionals Chamber of Commerce (“YPCC”), a program of The Chamber of Commerce Regional Business Partnership, hosted their First Annual Business Leadership Conference today at the Huntington Townhouse. Sixty-five high school students from Walt Whitman, Huntington, Commack, Harborfields, and Half Hollow Hills were invited to compete in categories such as Fashion Marketing, E-Commerce, Sports Management & Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Advertising & Graphics, Information Technology, Job Interviews & Life Skills, Hospitality Services and Real Estate.

“The intelligence, enthusiasm and ambition these students exhibit makes me proud to host an event that not only gives them an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge outside of standardized academic curriculum, but to also gain the visibility necessary to ensure their success,” said Linda Mitchell, Executive Director of the YPCC. “Since we started in October 2001, I have had the pleasure of helping some of the most talented students and young professionals gain the skills necessary to be successful in business.”

Representatives from prominent regional organizations were present to judge the competition, such as LI Radio Group, Astoria Federal Savings, Stony Brook University, Nixon-Peabody, Alegean, C.W. Post College of Management, Commerce Bank, Appliance World, Canon Business Solutions, Desktop Systems, State Bank of Long Island, Schacker Realty, Hillcrest Technologies, A.G. Edwards, Dowling College, LI Leadership Foundation, Walter Cameron Advertising, Dowling College, Briarcliffe College and Five Towns College.

“Once again our Chamber members have demonstrated their commitment to our young professionals as the future business leaders of Long Island,” said Dennis Sneden, CEO and President of The Chamber of Commerce Regional Business Partnership. “Our Chamber will continue to advance the initiatives and programs for our high school and college students — giving them every opportunity to experience first-hand the excellent business resources and career choices here on Long Island.”

The teams that placed First and Second-Place, respectively, in the competition were:

• Advertising & Graphics: Daniel Gerber (Half Hollow Hills), Samantha Eisenmann (Walt Whitman)
• E-Commerce: Pavan Reddy & Jason Jacobs (Half Hollow Hills), Megan Barone & Samantha Gallo (Walt Whitman)
• Entrepreneurship: Kevin Rauseo (Walt Whitman), Jackie Singer (Harborfields)
• Fashion Marketing: Kelley Rauseo & Jackie Simone (Walt Whitman), Sara Kravet & Jessica Fialkoff (Half Hollow Hills)
• Hospitality Services: Carissa Matthews & Sue Campise (Walt Whitman), Eddie Marcucci (Harborfields)
• Information Technology: James Crepea (Commack)
• Job Interview Life Skills: Dana Andersen (Huntington), Whitney Voyages (Huntington)
• Job Interviews: Cara Anastasio (Half Hollow Hills), Veronica Euler (Harborfields)
• Sports Management: Dillon Kois & Michael Scimeca (Huntington), Ori Oren & Jason Venezia-Walerstein (Half Harbor Hills)
• Sports Marketing: John Lentinello (Huntington), Megan Stewart (Walt Whitman)
• Real Estate: Kerri Anne Quimby & Lindsay Schmitz (Walt Whitman), Rachel Schacker & Derek Schacker (Harborfields)