named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Queens Business Expo
Annual networking and business development event featuring over 140 exhibitors, panel discussions, and workshops to connect businesses across the borough.
Queens Chamber of Commerce Cyber Academy
Workforce development initiative preparing Queens residents for careers in the digital economy and enhancing cybersecurity capabilities for local businesses and government.
Queens Day in Albany
Annual advocacy event where business leaders meet with state lawmakers to discuss economic priorities and promote Queens' interests at the state capital.
Queens’ Best Craft Beer Competition
Public voting competition celebrating local breweries and craft beer establishments, part of the "Best of Queens" series to promote local food and beverage businesses.
Queens’ Best Soup Competition
Public nomination and voting competition highlighting local restaurants known for their soup offerings, part of the chamber's culinary recognition series.
Student Workforce Development Program
Workforce initiative preparing students for careers in the clean energy economy, supported by Hydro-Québec and culminating in internships with sustainability-focused companies.
activities · 9 groups
What they do
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Professional Networking Events 3 activities
- Business networking eventsHosts a variety of in-person networking events including rooftop cigar gatherings, golf outings, summer cruises, tailgating parties, and themed receptions featuring food and drinks to connect local business members and promote professional relationships.
- International and regional business excursionsOrganizes international business trips, including a planned 2027 excursion to Portugal, and hosts events like the “Taste of Queens” reception during advocacy visits to Albany to showcase local businesses and cultural organizations.
- Queens Business Expo and related eventsHosts the annual Queens Business Expo at Citi Field, bringing together thousands of business owners, entrepreneurs, and community leaders, featuring over 140 exhibitors and events such as the Taste of Queens Pavilion with food from more than 25 local eateries.
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Industry and Community Recognition Awards 2 activities
- Annual awards and recognition eventsHosts annual galas and award ceremonies including the Business Persons of the Year gala, Centennial Building Awards, and Holiday Reception to celebrate community members, recognize leadership, and foster professional connections.
- Local business recognition competitionsOrganizes annual “Best of Queens” food and beverage competitions, including the Queens’ Best Craft Beer Competition, which recognizes outstanding local businesses through public voting and awards prizes such as complimentary memberships and certificates.
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Small Business Technical Assistance 2 activities
- Direct business support programsProvides direct operational and administrative support to small businesses in Queens through the Small Business Resource Network and Chamber on the Go, a mobile service that brings free business assistance directly to entrepreneurs; supported 4,500 businesses since October 2020.
- Restaurant 311 programProvides operational and administrative support exclusively to food businesses in Queens, including 10 hours of complimentary business and marketing consulting per cycle to restaurant owners and food entrepreneurs.
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Business Community Advocacy 1 activity
- Advocacy for business interestsAdvocates for policy changes and economic priorities of Queens-based businesses through organized engagement with state lawmakers, including annual events at the New York State Capitol in Albany.
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MWBE Certification and Contract Access Support 1 activity
- Capacity-building workshops and educationConducts informational workshops on M/WBE certification, accessing NYC contracting opportunities, and practical AI applications for businesses, featuring city officials and industry experts to support professional development and business growth.
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Professional Association Capacity Building 1 activity
- Industry-specific support networksSupports diverse sectors including restaurants, tech startups, manufacturers, real estate, banking, and nonprofits by convening leaders, facilitating discussions, and providing resources tailored to industry challenges and opportunities in Queens.
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Professional Membership and Association Benefits 1 activity
- Membership benefits and engagementProvides advocacy, access to special programs, discounted event admission, priority referrals, and leadership opportunities such as steering committee roles for corporate and major corporate members.
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Startup Acceleration & Business Growth Support 1 activity
- Tech entrepreneurship and innovation supportOperates tech incubators and the Queens Innovation Fund to support tech startups; provides office space, resources, and AI workshops through the Queens Tech Council in partnership with Google.org.
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Student Career Readiness and Internship Placement 1 activity
- Workforce development and student programsImplements a student workforce development program in partnership with CUNY Queens College, offering workshops, site visits, and networking to prepare students for clean energy careers, with ten students placed into internships; includes a pilot student membership program.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$4.79M
Contributions & grants$4.76M99%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$31K
expenses
Total expenses$4.60M
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$2.48M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.81M
Cash$610K
Investments$0
Liabilities$1.75M
Net assets$1.06M
Liquid reserves1.6 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +31.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 6
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| THOMAS GRECH | PRESIDENT/CEO | 40 | $263K |
| JOANNE PERSAD | CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER | 40 | $170K |
| BRENDAN LEAVY | VP, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT | 40 | $149K |
| RICHARD J GREBINGER | CFO | 40 | $130K |
| RAE ANNA PERSAD | COO | 40 | $119K |
| ARLENE DIANGKINAY | FINANCIAL CONTROLLER | 40 | $106K |
board members · 19
- BERT LURCH — BOARD MEMBER
- CARL MATTONE — BOARD MEMBER
- CHARLES CALLAHAN — BOARD MEMBER
- DANIEL ZAUSNER — BOARD MEMBER
- DAVID DARAIO — BOARD MEMBER
- FRAN GROSS — BOARD MEMBER
- HENRY WAN — BOARD MEMBER
- HERSH PARKEH — BOARD MEMBER
- HOWARD GRAF — CHAIRMAN
- JEFFREY ROSENSTOCK — BOARD MEMBER
- JOHN MASCIALINO — BOARD MEMBER
- JOSEPH R FICALORA — BOARD MEMBER
- JUAN SANTIAGO — BOARD MEMBER
- KENNETH J BUETTNER — BOARD MEMBER
- KENNETH KOENIG — BOARD MEMBER
- LINDSAY HAGGERTY — BOARD MEMBER
- LORRAINE CHAMBERS LEWIS — BOARD MEMBER
- MARIA ODYSSEOS — BOARD MEMBER
- MARK SCHEINBERG — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 37
Who they work with
- Bourbon Street Rooftop Partner — Host venue for Chamber networking event in Bayside
- Bridge and Tunnel Brewery Partner — Participating brewery in the Queens' Best Craft Beer Competition.
- Bridge and Tunnel Brewery Partner — Recognized as winner of the Queens’ Best Craft Beer Competition and awarded complimentary membership to the Chamber.
- Citi Field Partner — Host venue for the Queens Business Expo and Tailgating Party.
- City of New York Government — Collaborated through city officials such as the Citywide Chief Business Diversity Officer to provide guidance on M/WBE certification and contracting opportunities.
- Con Edison Partner — Powers the Clean Energy Coalition, a collaborative effort to strengthen workforce pathways in the clean energy sector.
- Empire State Development Partner — Collaborated through participation in the MWBE panel discussion, with Jason Clark representing the Division for Minority & Women Business Development.
- Empire State Development Corp Funder — Provided a grant to fund the Restaurant 311 program for restaurant owners and food entrepreneurs in Queens.
- Evil Twin Brewing NYC Partner — Participating brewery in the Queens' Best Craft Beer Competition.
- Evil Twin Brewing NYC Partner — Recognized as second-place finisher in the Queens’ Best Craft Beer Competition.
- Fifth Hammer Brewing Company Partner — Participating brewery in the Queens' Best Craft Beer Competition.
- Fifth Hammer Brewing Company Partner — Recognized as third-place finisher in the Queens’ Best Craft Beer Competition.
- Finback Brewery Partner — Participating brewery in the Queens' Best Craft Beer Competition.
- Focal Point Beer Co Partner — Participating establishment in the Queens' Best Craft Beer Competition.
- Fogo De Chao Queens Partner — Host venue for Chamber networking event in Elmhurst
- Garden City Country Club Partner — Venue partner for the annual Golf Outing event.
- Google.org Partner — Supports the Queens Chamber of Commerce in delivering AI workshops to local businesses.
- Hydro Quebec Funder — Provided a grant for the student membership program at CUNY Queens College as part of the Champlain Hudson Power Express project.
- Hydro-Québec Funder — Provided grant funding to support the Student Workforce Development Program focused on clean energy careers.
- Hydro-Québec Partner — Provided grant funding to support the Student Workforce Development Program.
- Juan Vargas Partner — Business and Marketing Consultant for the Chamber
- MemberClicks Partner — Technology partner providing membership management platform.
- Murphy's Sports Bar Partner — Host venue for Chamber networking event in Astoria
- NYC Department of Small Business Services Partner — Partners with the Chamber on the Go mobile support program to connect small businesses with free services.
- Neil Wagner Partner — Business Service Program Manager
- New York City Mayor's Office (via Citywide Chief Business Diversity Officer) Partner — Participated in Expo workshops through Michael J. Garner, Citywide Chief Business Diversity Officer, providing guidance on M/WBE certification.
- Nicole Biscardi Partner — Restaurant & Hospitality Industry Specialist
- One Station Plaza Partner — Host venue for Chamber networking event in Bayside
- Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Partner — Represented on the MWBE panel by Deputy Chief Hersh Parekh, indicating engagement in supporting diverse businesses in the region.
- Queens College Partner — Hosted the culminating event for the Student Workforce Development Program, including certificate presentations and networking.
+ 7 more
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Direct Advocacy for Policy Influencemethodology: direct-advocacy-engagementBy engaging directly with elected officials through in-person advocacy, we advance economic priorities for Queens businesses because sustained, relationship-based engagement increases the likelihood of favorable policy outcomes.
- Integrated Business Support Modelmethodology: integrated business supportBy combining networking, advocacy, education, and targeted assistance into a unified support system, we strengthen Queens businesses because holistic services address multiple barriers to growth simultaneously and increase member engagement.
- Network-Driven Economic Developmentmethodology: networking-driven economic developmentBy convening businesses of all sizes through targeted networking and collaboration opportunities, we stimulate economic growth in Queens because strong professional connections lead to new business opportunities, increased visibility, and collective advocacy.
- Youth and Workforce Integration into Local Economymethodology: infrastructure-aligned workforce developmentBy creating workforce pathways aligned with emerging sectors and engaging students through mentorship and membership, we build long-term economic resilience because early integration into professional networks increases retention and aligns talent with regional economic needs.