Event Highlights Economic Growth and Collaboration with Community Partners

The Suffolk County Alliance of Chambers (SCAC) proudly held its second quarterly meeting of 2025 on Wednesday, July 2nd, bringing together local chamber of commerce organizations, business owners, nonprofit leaders and elected officials to discuss vital economic, legislative and community development issues impacting our region.

Discover Long Island sponsored this event hosted at the beautiful Suffolk Theater in Riverhead. The meeting served as a platform for networking, dialogue and strategic planning to bolster Suffolk County’s business environment. Attendees stood united in their mission to strengthen the voice and reach of small and mid-sized enterprises.

The meeting opened with welcoming remarks from Robert Fonti, Chairman of the Suffolk County Alliance of Chambers, as well as Gary Hygom, Executive Director of The Suffolk Theater, and continued with special recognition and member spotlights, acknowledging organizations for their outstanding community impact.

The robust agenda emphasized new grant opportunities, workforce training programs, and digital tools available to small businesses, and included presentations from: Eric Alexander, Founder of Long Island Main Street Alliance and Chairman of the SCAC Advisory Board; Jason Zove, Vice President of Standard Advisors Group; Stacy Black, Vice President of Strategy at Discover Long Island; Suffolk County Comptroller John M. Kennedy, Jr.; Rob Calarco, Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Relations for Long Island, Office of Governor Kathy Hochul; Sarah Lansdale, Commissioner, Suffolk County Department of Economic Development & Planning; Veronica Isaac, Manager, Customer & Community Relationships, and Doug Cahill, Senior Energy Consultant, PSEG Long Island; Kelly Murphy, Executive Director/CEO, Suffolk County IDA; David Fattizzo, Director of Business Development, Long Island Association; Monique McCray, Corrections Office Investigator, Office of Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr.; and Caitlyn Shea, Executive Director, Walt Whitman Birthplace Association.

The quarterly meetings of the Suffolk County Alliance of Chambers are opportunities to hear from and network with business leaders, and a place where strategy, support and shared vision come together.

“We are proud of the unity and progress among Suffolk’s business communities and look forward to continuing to serve as a collective voice and resource throughout the region, advocating for policies and programs that drive economic growth and support local enterprise,” said SCAC Chairman Robert Fonti. “Events like these and having support from our friends in government and partners like Discover Long Island, PSEG Long Island, the Long Island Association and local nonprofit organizations, are key to building strong relationships, sharing knowledge, and creating real momentum for the future of our regional economy.”

Mitch Pally, Interim President & CEO of Discover Long Island, echoed these sentiments and stressed the importance of working together to strengthen the economic vitality of Suffolk County.

“Discover Long Island strongly supports the Suffolk County Alliance of Chambers and its mission to empower local businesses,” said Pally. “Bringing together community leaders, entrepreneurs, and decision-makers over breakfast is more than a meal, it's a platform for collaboration and growth.”

About Suffolk County Alliance of Chambers

The Suffolk County Alliance of Chambers, Inc. (SCAC) is a ground-up regional business organization comprised of local chambers of commerce and other business alliances. The mission of SCAC is to communicate legislative and business agendas to various levels of government and other business groups via various types of media. For more information about SCAC or to register and become a member, please visit www.suffolkchambers.org.