Chamber To Honor Scott Masterson

Scott Masterson On Friday evening, May 1, at its annual Pineapple Ball to be held at the Garden City Hotel, 7 p.m. until midnight, the Garden City Chamber of Commerce will honor Scott Masterson as Garden City's "Citizen of the Year" for 2009. Scott will be feted as the 38th recipient of this prestigious award established by the Chamber in 1970 to recognize volunteerism and outstanding service to the Village of Garden City and beyond.

A resident of Garden City, Scott Masterson currently serves as National Vice President for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. He is a director of the Garden City Men's Club, an organization that raises money for high school and middle school athletic programs. He is co-chairman of Holy Cross High School Alumni Golf Outing and serves as a director of the Garden City Country Club. Formerly, Mr. Masterson was a director of the Merrill Lynch Turkey Trot, a five-mile road race here in Garden City for the benefit of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. His past services have also included that of director and coach in the Garden City Centennial Youth Soccer Program; director of the Garden City Estates Property Owners' Association for which he also served as a member of its 15-Member Nominating Committee. Scott had also served as a past president of the Garden City Jaycees.

Said Stephen Matteini, long-time friend of Scott Masterson's who will present him at the Pineapple Ball, "During the thirty years I've known Scott, the attribute that has always struck me the most about him is his unwavering loyalty and true dedication to his friends. Scott is the first one to come to our aid and the last to ask any for himself."

Professionally, Scott Masterson is Senior Vice President and General Manager of Forbes Inc. He is also the former president of the company's American Heritage division. Mr. Masterson's primary responsibilities cover a broad range of the company's activities. Among them are: Information Technology, where he recently directed an ambitious rebuilding of Forbes' technical infrastructure; Human Resources and Project Management, two departments which he inaugurated; Manufacturing and Distribution, which he restructured; Circulation for all the company's publications; and General Services, Security and World Wide Facilities. Also under his charge are Forbes' 151-foot yacht, "The Highlander; Chateau de Balleroy in France; and Old Battersea House in London.

Scott Masterson attended Holy Cross High School, Flushing, New York, and graduated from Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York (BBA Accounting) in 1977. He lives in Garden City, New York with his wife, Donna, and their three daughters - Katie, a graduate of Loyola University in Maryland; Krista, a graduate of the University of Miami in Florida; and Sarah, a senior at the Garden City High School who will be attending the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts.

Scott Masterson will share honors at the Pineapple Ball with Dr. Robert Feirsen, recipient of the "Community Achievement Award," and Russell Ciolli, "Business Person of the Year." Also to be presented with the Chamber Foundation's "Excellence in Business Education Scholarship Award" will be Thomas Buonincontri, a senior at Garden City High School. The Chamber acknowledges with appreciation event sponsors: Albanese Organization, Inc. and the Garden City Hotel (Gold , $5000); Quebecor World (Silver, $3,000); Armao, Costa & Ricciardi CPAs, P.C., Coach Realtors, Community National Bank, New York Racing Association, Inc., and SMPL Technologies (Leadership, $1,500); also, Bee Ready Fishbein Hatter & Donovan, Feldis Florists, Jones and Jones, Law Offices of Peter J. Tomao, and Pittoni, Bonchonsky & Zaino, LLP (Friend of the Chamber, $600).

For reservations, sponsorship or Journal ad information, please call Tracey Gittere at Legendary Events (516.222.0550) or visit the Chamber website at www.GardenCityChamber.org.