Linda M. Baran, President, and CEO of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce celebrates 30 years

 Linda Baran is celebrating her 30th anniversary at the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, including the past 12 years as the Chamber’s first woman president and chief executive officer.

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As for the future, “My passion now is the future of Staten Island’s workforce,’ Baran said. “We have to support our kids, provide them with real, meaningful training and get them work. This will keep them safe and help our business community stay strong.”

“It is incredible what the business community has gone through here – September 11th, the 2008 recession, Hurricane Sandy, and even the tremendous population growth the Island has experienced,” she said reflectively. “At every step of the way, our members have been a rock for the community and I have made so many great friends along the way.”

Three years ago, Baran launched the Chamber’s Young Entrepreneurs Academy to ensure the success of the next generation of business leaders. Going forward, Baran sees the Chamber taking a more active role in the area of workforce development.

In May 2004, Baran was elected by the Chamber’s Board of Directors as the first woman president and CEO of the organization, which was established in 1895. Prior to that, she served as the interim president for seven months and held the position of vice president of finance and resources. Baran has worked in many areas of the chamber, including Finance & Operations, Membership Development, Community Relations, Special Events as well as Government and Legislative Affairs. She serves on the board of the Chamber Alliance of New York State and plays an active role in the Five Borough Chamber of Commerce Coalition.

Outside of the Chamber, Baran serves on the board of Notre Dame Academy and is an advisory board member for the Small Business Development Center at the College of Staten Island. She is a Past President of the Staten Island Rotary Club. Baran has served on Governor Cuomo’s Community Rising Planning committee. She worked tirelessly in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy to provide resources and information to affected Staten Island businesses and continues to advocate on behalf of Sandy recovery and relief. Under Baran’s direction, the Chamber has undertaken the formation of the East Shore Local Development Corporation. Baran has also been an active member of New York City Planning’s East Shore Resilient Neighborhoods Advisory Committee and the Bay Street Corridor Advisory Committee.

Baran is a diligent advocate for improved transportation on Staten Island, including a strong proponent of a transit solution on the North Shore, and has met with numerous high-ranking officials from the Federal Transit Administration, Federal Highway Administration, Port Authority, MTA, and the NYS and NYC Departments of Transportation, among other transportation agencies.

In 2003, Baran received a Certificate in Nonprofit Organization Management from the U.S. Chamber Institute of Organization Management at Villanova University, Villanova, Pa. She has also received the following awards:

  • 50 Most Powerful People in Staten Island, City and State Magazine – September 2016
  • CSI Celestial Ball honoree – December 2014
  • 2014 Staten Island Top Woman in Business – Star Network
  • Soroptomist International of Staten Island – Ruby Award 2013
  • The Inter-Agency Council for Aging of Staten Island – Community Service Award 2012
  • U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Woman in Business Champion of the Year 2010
  • St. Roch’s Women in Business Award – October 2009
  • New Dorp High School Hall of Fame – inducted May 2008
  • St. John’s University “President’s Medal” – May 2007
  • World of Woman “Woman of Distinction” – March 2007
  • Woman in History Celebration March 2006 – honored by Councilman Michael McMahon
  • Richmond County Business & Professional Women’s Club – 2006 Business Woman of the Year
  • Salvation Army Community Service Award 2005
  • College of Staten Island College Award 2005

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About the Chamber

The Chamber is the largest business organization on Staten Island and is comprised of over 700 businesses with about 20,000 employees. Over 180 members have been with the Chamber more than 20 years, and new millennial business join each week. With 122 years of service, the Chamber provides more than 250,000 referrals each year The Chamber is a not-for-profit organization run by business owners for business owners with the mission to simply to help local businesses stay strong.