Chambers of Commerce honor local merchants

Business owners throughout Nassau County celebrated each others’ successes earlier this month, selecting a local merchant or business professional as businessperson of the year for 2010, during the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce annual awards breakfast at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury.

The West Hempstead Chamber of Commerce chose Vita Zorbo, its secretary and a member of its board since 2007. Zorbo believes that giving back to the community is an integral part of doing business and she has made that her mission.

Zorbo, who owns and operates Lady of America Fitness for Women, supports local schools and organizations through a variety of fundraisers, including her annual Ab Crunch Challenge. The challenge, which is one hour of non-stop sit ups, has raised more than $40,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital throughout the last three years.

As part of her mission, Zorbo gives free summer gym memberships to local teenage girls, between the ages of 13 and 17, to help raise awareness of teenage obesity.

The Malverne Merchants & Professional Association chose Angela Stuiso and Frank Caiola as businesspeople of the year. Caiola, his late wife, Sylvia, and sister-in-law Stuiso began their venture into the business world in 1984, when they bought and renovated a small liquor shop in the Village of Malverne.

Upon opening their store, Caiola and Stuiso began attending wine shows and seminars, expanding their knowledge in the field and their wine selection. This led them to relocate and open End of The Vine wine shop. It also helped them grow as community merchants, and they became active members of the association, participating in local activities and village events.

Both Caiola and Stuiso are graduates of New York University, and Stuiso retired from teaching in June. Between their two families, they have 20 grandchildren.