Business leaders celebrate, address times

Business leaders from across the county gathered for the 25th annual Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce Breakfast on Oct. 16 at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, an event that was co-sponsored by Herald Community Newspapers.

While the theme of the breakfast was to celebrate and honor the people who make Nassau’s business communities tick, it was also a time to reflect on what has been a tumultuous economic year.

Keynote speaker Lorraine Cortes Vasquez, New York’s secretary of state, spoke about the challenges that face the state. The organization, led by President E. Christopher Murray, also unveiled its new Web site.

Issues discussed during the breakfast included the MTA payroll tax, an added burden for business owners that goes into effect in November. Each local Chamber of Commerce nominated a member as its Small Businessperson of the Year. In East Meadow, it was Christopher Hackert, immediate past president of its Chamber.

After buying the East Meadow Florist in 1996, Christopher Hackert began to get involved in the East Meadow community, joining both the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Club.

In the 13 years that Hackert has owned the florist, he has managed to continually give back to the East Meadow community. He served as president of both the Kiwanis and the Chamber. Currently, he is chairman of the Chamber’s Board of Directors.

Hackert has served on countless committees for both organizations as well the chairing several fundraisers. He has also become involved with the schools, serving as a community representative on a committee and spends time each year to read to students.

As the owner of East Meadow Florist, Hackert has donated time, money and products to just about every organization in town. Hackert currently lives in North Babylon with his wife, Joanne, a speechpathologist.

- Mike Caputo