The East Meadow Chamber of Commerce toasted a year of business growth, community partnerships and new ventures on Jan. 23, celebrating its 70th anniversary while ushering in a new era of leadership.
The milestone event took place during its annual installation of officers and directors at the Coral House in Baldwin, where the chamber recognized some of the community’s most dedicated contributors.
Richie Krug Jr., a past president of the chamber, was honored as its 2026 Man of the Year. Krug, a real estate associate broker with the RTK Realty Group at Coldwell Banker American Homes, is a lifelong East Meadow resident and longtime community advocate.
The chamber also formally welcomed Ross Schiller as its president for 2026, while reflecting on seven decades of advocacy for East Meadow’s business community.
“This is our 70th year, which is a true milestone,” said Schiller, of Ross L. Schiller & Associates P.C., a local real estate, trust and asset protection legal practice. “The chamber not only looks to the past for guidance, but we look to the future and to all the events the chamber runs throughout the year, and our history really helps define who we are.”
Schiller, who has been a chamber member for seven years, is also involved in several local organizations, including the East Meadow Kiwanis Club. He said the year ahead will focus on strengthening ties between businesses and the community.
“It’s going to be a nice year for the chamber,” he said. “We’re looking to do many new things, and one of the important things that I want to do is (focus) on helping our small businesses and helping our local communities. I want to bring that. I want to do even more to bring that all together.”
Among the priorities Schiller outlined are expanded networking opportunities and practical strategies to help businesses survive and thrive in 2026.
“We’re encouraging people to get more involved, and if they need the chamber’s help, to reach out to us,” he said. “I’m trying to model our chamber in a way that we can provide for businesses the things that they need, whether it’s going to be brand new training on technology or AI, introducing people to insurance programs, operating lines of credit, different things that can really help a business.”
In addition to Schiller, this year’s executive board of directors includes Ryan Parkman, first vice president; Maureen Pye, second vice president; Taleen Krug, treasurer; John Priest, secretary; and Roxanne Rose, chairman of the board and outgoing president.
The chamber’s board comprises Kardim Brown, Diane Krug, Mark Papagani, Lawrence Rutigliano, Lyndsey Gallagher, Josh Malament, Kenneth Rosner and Mitchell Skoller.
James Skinner Sr., a past president of the chamber and owner of A&C Pest Management in East Meadow, also addressed the importance of chamber involvement. Skinner, who served as president in 2001, urged more local businesses to join the organization.
“Not every business in East Meadow belongs to the chamber of commerce,” he told the Herald. “It’s unfortunate because they really should … One of the biggest things that I’ve gotten at the chamber of commerce was mentors.
“I had other business members in the community who became longtime friends, who would sit there and be able to ask them a question,” Skinner added. “I think that’s where a lot of people miss out.”
As the Man of the Year honoree, Krug said his involvement with the chamber is rooted in ensuring East Meadow remains a strong place to live and work for future generations.
“I live here, I work here, and I give back here,” he said. “I was born and raised in East Meadow, and I chose to continue to raise my family here. My children are 10 and 8, Christian and Mackenzie — they walk the same elementary school hallways that my wife and I walked as children as well.”
Krug went on to praise the longevity of the East Meadow business group and its newly installed president.
“Seventy years, holy moly, I’ve only been alive for 38 of them, but that’s a big deal and a true testament to how the community continues to work together to better itself year after year,” he said. “To have Ross at the helm for year number 70, I couldn’t think of a better person … Listening to Ross over the course of the last few months, the ideas that he has coming down the pipeline are certainly going to bring that to the next level.”
Friends for a Beautiful East Meadow recently honored Krug with a $5,000 grant as part of its Long Island Board of REALTORS, Inc. Spirit Award, with the funds directed to a charity of his choosing.
For more information about the chamber, visit EastMeadowChamber.com.
