Thank you to everyone who was able to join us, to those watching at home and all of those who have been and will become a part of our journey.  We gathered to celebrate something truly remarkable, one hundred years of business, community, and progress.

A century ago, the business world looked very different.  There were no emails, no online storefronts, no instant transactions.  Business was conducted face to face, with a handshake, a ledger, and a reputation that traveled by word of mouth.  Success depended not only on what you sold, but on who you were, your integrity, your reliability, and your commitment to the community you served.

Over the past hundred years, we’ve seen extraordinary change.  We’ve lived through industrial revolutions, economic booms and downturns, world wars, technological breakthroughs, and the rise of a global economy.  Main streets expanded, supply chains stretched across continents, and innovation began moving at a pace our founders could never have imagined.  Yet, despite all of that change, something important has remained constant.  Business has always been about people.

It’s about the entrepreneurs willing to take risks, the workers who show up every day with pride, and the customers who place their trust in local businesses.  It’s about adapting when times are hard, growing when opportunities arise, and giving back to the community that supports you.

One hundred years ago, business leaders gathered with a shared purpose: to strengthen their local economy, support one another, and build a future that would last beyond any single generation.  That same purpose brought us together on Friday night.

As we honored the past, we also looked ahead.  The next hundred years will bring changes we can’t yet predict, but if history has taught us anything, it’s that success will continue to belong to those who innovate, collaborate, and stay rooted in community values.  We celebrate not just how far we’ve come, but the people past and present who made it possible.  As this year begins, we recommit ourselves to shaping a future that is just as meaningful, resilient, and inspiring as the century behind us.

On behalf of our entire Board of Directors, thank you for a being part of this moment and for helping write the next chapter of our shared story.

Sincerely,

Dr. Paul G. Amalfitano

Brigantine Beach Chamber of Commerce  2026

President:  Dr. Paul G. Amalfitano - NovaCare Rehabilitation

Vice President:  Alex Lukacher - Solar4SouthJersey - ARS Solar

Secretary:  Kim Schenck - IAI Insurance

Treasurer:  Barbara Rote - Haven Homes Builders

Past President:  Maria Sacco Handle - BHHS Fox & Roach Realtors

Michael Riordan:  Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Shore

Michael James:  Aloha Tiki Cruises - Super Screen Rental

Sari Carroll:  Green Whales Inc. - Brigantine Aquatic Center            

Christine Nese:  Dreams Come True Entertainment - Beauty by Christine Nese

Helen Ann Meehan:  Fit4Life with Helen Ann

Karen Santoroski:  Findings By Karen

William J. Stroby:  Murray & Becker, LLC

John A. DiJoseph:  Gravitymixx Entertainment