Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Honored

Westfield, NJ - Congrats to Gene Jannotti, Executive Director of the Great Westfield Chamber of Commerce!

Jannotti was honored for his community service by the Boy Scouts of America, Patriots’ Path Council honored him and other local citizens at the annual Boy Scouts of America Union Lifetime Achievement Awards Dinner on June 8.

“The event recognizes these six outstanding citizens for their community service, as evidenced by their leadership and interests within the Union County community, and for their embodiment of the values of the century old Scout Oath and Law in their personal and professional lives,” the scouts stated.

“It’s great,” Jannotti of Garwood told Patch. “I have never received any type of recognition before.”

Jannotti currently serves as Executive Director of the Greater Westfield Area Chamber of Commerce (GWACC), which serves Fanwood, Garwood, Mountainside, Scotch Plains, and Westfield.

He joined the chamber in July 2014 and has since grown its members from 280 to 500 in that short time.

“I had been in the corporate life and retired twice already,” Jannotti said. “With this position I had the opportunity to give back to the community and area that I reside in and I wanted to make a conscious effort to do that.”

Along with expanding the chamber’s members, Jannotti helped form a professional women’s networking group and created a 501(c)(3) Foundation to provide scholarships to high school seniors as well as grants to local non-profit organizations.

“I enjoy mostly meeting and talking to business members and non members of the chamber,” Jannotti said. “Meeting with every single new member personally. I enjoy trying to help new members grow their business and enjoy being a part of the community.”

Jannotti also serves as the First VP of the World Country and Line DanceSport Federation, and has co-produced two “Dancing with the Stars” charity events for Children’s Specialized Hospital, raising omore than $80,000.

He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Union County Performing Art Center and the Trinitas Hospital Foundation.

Jannotti has been a member of the Livingston Masonic Lodge for 25 years and is the Chairman of their Board of Trustees.

Along with Jannotti, this year’s honorees are Christopher and Timothy Boyle, Sheriff Joseph Cryan, Sergeant Russell Gottlick, and Bill Nierstedt.

For more information on the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce visit http://www.gwaccnj.com/ or Facebook or call 908-233-3021 or email info@gwaccnj.com.