Coalition of Chambers names members of the year

The Brookhaven Coalition of Chambers Awards Night will be hosted on April 22 at the Meadow Club on Port Jefferson.

This year’s Chamber Members of the Year include Efrain Santos of The Mastic Shirley  Chamber; Russ Wiebelt of the Bellport Chamber, Michael Lauria of the Medford Chamber; and Beth Giacummo of the Patchogue Chamber.

Tickets are $65. The BCCC also offers grants; winners will be announced at the dinner.

This event is also an evening of networking with other chambers, celebrating outstanding members, and raffles.

MASTIC SHIRLEY

The Mastic and Shirley Chamber announced Efrain Santos as their 2026 Member of the Year.

Santos is the owner of Essential Painting Plus. He is married to his loving wife Ida and is a doting father and grandfather that loves to travel. 

“Mr. Santos is a well-respected member of our chamber and an easy choice as Member of the Year,” said Kim Swicicki, chamber president. “He is knowledgeable, helpful, and always goes above and beyond for the chamber and community as a whole.”

BELLPORT

The Bellport Chamber of Commerce announced Russ Wiebelt as their 2026 Member of the Year.

“The award is presented to a member who consistently gives back to the community and supports chamber events with unwavering dedication. Russ truly represents the spirit of Bellport,” chamber representatives said.

A proud member of the Bellport Fire Department, Wiebel has shown outstanding commitment, service, and heart for our community. His generosity of time and support of our local businesses and chamber initiatives exemplifies what it means to serve.

As Member of the Year, Wiebel will represent the Bellport Chamber of Commerce at the annual Brookhaven Coalition of Chambers of Commerce Installation Dinner, where he will also be eligible for the honor of Brookhaven Member of the Year.

“We are incredibly grateful for all that Russ does for Bellport and our chamber. Congratulations, Russ—this recognition is well deserved!” chamber president LuAnn Thompson said.

MEDFORD

The Medford Chamber announced Michael Lauria as their 2026 Chamber Member of the year.

Lauria is a 1997 graduate of PMHS and St. Joseph’s College Class of 2001. He has used his career as a highly successful restaurateur and manager to generously support not only the Patchogue-Medford School District, but also countless charitable organizations and causes throughout the community at large.

Lauria’s extremely popular Rudi’s Bar and Grill in Medford stands as a shrine to notable Patchogue-Medford alumni—and PM Hall of Fame inductees—such as Lt. Michael Murphy, Sgt. Keith Bishop and Marcus Stroman, as well as others. But even more important, Rudi’s has hosted many fundraisers, and throughout his career Lauria  has personally supported endless drives to raise money for such charitable organizations as the Make-a-Wish and St. Baldrick’s Foundations, Ronald McDonald House, Stick It to Cancer, the Jake Ritter Foundation, Contractors For Kids, and many others. 

Lauria  began his business career with the Kaufman Organization, rising quickly to a managerial position in the real estate firm, and went into food service with the McDonald’s Corporation. In 2004, he was selected to receive the company’s Ray Kroc Award, given annually to the top one percent of the nation’s McDonald’s restaurant managers, and in 2008 he became the first McDonald’s employee to win the Ray Kroc Award twice. 

In 2012, Lauria  seized an opportunity to become the owner of Rudi’s and since then he has been a member of the Greater Patchogue Chamber of Commerce and of the Greater Patchogue Historical Society. He has also been an invaluable friend and staunch supporter of the Patchogue-Medford Hall of Fame since its founding in 2015. In 2018, Lauria  was a recipient of the Hall of Fame’s Special Recognition Award. 

PATCHOGUE

The Patchogue Chamber announced Beth Giacummo as their 2026 Chamber Member of the year.

As executive director of the Patchogue Arts Council and Museum of Contemporary Art Long Island (MoCA L.I.), Giacummo  has played a transformative role in shaping Patchogue into one of Long Island’s most dynamic and distinctive cultural destinations. An accomplished artist, curator, educator, and arts administrator, she brings a rare synthesis of creative insight and strategic leadership—one that has not only elevated the profile of the organization she leads, but has also strengthened the identity of Patchogue itself as a place where arts and community thrive together.

Giacummo’s impact on the village is both visible and lasting. Through her leadership, Patchogue’s streetscape has been enriched by significant public murals and arts initiatives that have helped transform public space into a vibrant, accessible canvas for creativity and civic pride. She has also guided the growth of some of the region’s most celebrated cultural offerings, including the expansion of Arts on Terry and MoCA L.I.ghts, Long Island’s first and only projection art festival—recognized internationally. These signature events attract visitors from across the region, generate meaningful economic and cultural activity, and position Patchogue as a center for innovation, imagination, and public engagement.

Central to Giacummo’s legacy is her role as the catalyst behind PAC’s evolution toward a museum-centered future. With foresight, conviction, and deep curatorial sensibility, she has helped guide the organization’s mission toward a broader and more ambitious institutional vision—one grounded in contemporary art, public service, and cultural stewardship. Her leadership has been instrumental in laying the foundation for the emergence of MoCA L.I., advancing PAC’s trajectory from a respected local arts organization to a growing museum presence with regional significance.

Giacummo’s own accomplishments as an artist are equally distinguished. She holds a BFA from the School of Visual Arts and an MFA from Pratt Institute, and her work has been exhibited internationally, including in New York, Chile, Denmark, and Poland. Her artistic practice has been further enriched through immersive residencies in Romania, Spain, Austria, Italy, and beyond—experiences that reflect a deep and ongoing commitment to exploration, dialogue, and contemporary artistic exchange.

Beyond her own studio practice, Giacummo  has devoted her career to creating opportunities for others. She co-founded the New York Contemporary Art Symposium, helping to foster international residencies and cross-cultural collaborations for artists. Her professional leadership spans museum, academic, and curatorial settings. At the Islip Art Museum, where she served as curatorial director, she organized numerous major exhibitions that received recognition from the New York Times and other notable media. Her career in higher education has included teaching positions at Iona University, Dowling College, and Long Island University, as well as a full-time faculty appointment at Briarcliffe College. In addition to her work at PAC, she serves as gallery director of the Memorial Gallery at Farmingdale State College and curates exhibitions for Iona University.

Since 2016 under Giacummo’s leadership, the Patchogue Arts Council has secured numerous federal, regional, and local grants supporting arts education, public programming, exhibitions, and community-based cultural initiatives across Long Island. Her work has continually expanded access to the arts, championed artists, and demonstrated the power of culture as a force for civic vitality and shared belonging.

From founding member, to board president emeritus, to executive director, Giacummo has dedicated herself to building not only an organization, but a lasting cultural legacy. Her vision has helped define the artistic identity of Patchogue, her leadership has broadened the reach and relevance of the arts across the region, and her unwavering commitment to community has made a profound and lasting impact.

“Beth’s impact on the village is both visible and lasting. Through her leadership, Patchogue’s streetscape has been enriched by significant public murals and arts initiatives that have helped transform public space into a vibrant, accessible canvas for creativity and civic pride,” said chamber executive director Silvana Aloisio of the choice. “She has also guided the growth of some of the region’s most celebrated cultural offerings, including the expansion of Arts on Terry and MoCA L.I.ghts, Long Island’s first and only projection art festival—recognized internationally . These signature events attract visitors from across the region, generate meaningful economic and cultural activity, and position Patchogue as a center for innovation, imagination, and public engagement”