Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber Promotes Deb Milone to President

Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Deborah Milone has been promoted to President by the chamber's Board of Directors at its most recent board meeting.

“The Board wanted to recognize Deb's efforts and bring her title in line with the leadership she has shown and the accomplishments she has made over the last eight years,” said Kish Melwani, Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ServiceByte.

Milone was selected to serve as Executive Director of the chamber in 2010, after a stellar career in marketing, sales and community service. Milone served as writer/producer at CBS, as Vice President of Marketing for Guide Communications, and District Sales Manager at Yellowbook USA, until she joined the chamber.

Under Milone's direction, the chamber has seen explosive and historic growth in membership from 320 to more than 500 members. In addition, Milone, along with Board Member Ben Green, has spearheaded the launch of AIM along with the board of directors, bringing together the region's creative businesses in art, industry and media.

“I am delighted that the Board has recognized my efforts as we continue to build our chamber into a formidable powerhouse representing the needs of the business community. To balance an economy that benefits businesses and residents alike, we must work together on prudent legislation, streamline government processes, and remove barriers to entry for aspiring entrepreneurs,” said Milone.

Under Milone's leadership, the Chamber was selected by the Business Council of New York State as the “Chamber of Year” in 2015.

“Ms. Milone has transformed a small area chamber of commerce into a forceful voice representing the interests of the Northern Westchester business community. She makes sure the interests of our chamber members are represented in local, county, state and federal decision-making,” said Marianne Oros, Vice Chair of the Board of Directors.

Milone is closely monitoring the closure of the Entergy nuclear power plants, making sure that the business community's interests are being heard at the state level and that the economic impact on the community is mitigated as much as possible. She has testified at public hearings, conducted and attended public information meetings and has met with elected officials at all levels of government. Milone even traveled to other communities where nuclear plants have closed to see firsthand the impact of the closures.

Additionally, the chamber was one of the first to decry the Coast Guard's plan to allow barge anchorages along the Hudson River—something, that if allowed, could wreak havoc on the river's delicate ecosystem, tourism and recreational opportunities.

The chamber has also partnered with the Business Council of Westchester on legislative initiatives and concerns, including the Coalition for Westchester Airport, and recently hired former Westchester County Economic Development Director George Oros as a consultant to improve economic development in the region and work with businesses in their dealings with government. Milone currently serves on the Government Action Committee of the Business Council of Westchester and the Advisory Board of New York Area Energy Alliance.

In addition, Milone has served on the Board of Directors of the Peekskill Business Improvement District, as Vice Chairof the Zoning Board of Appeals for the City of Peekskill, and as Past President of the Peekskill Rotary Club, Paul Harris Fellow. Milone is a magna cum laude graduate from New York Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree and has lived in Peekskill for 28 years with her husband, John, and two dogs.