My day started out like most New York commuters, waiting in
line to go over the George Washington Bridge, sipping my morning coffee in
bumper to bumper traffic. As I made my way down the West Side Highway the sun
started to come out and the feeling of spring dawned upon me. The cold and
bitter winter is almost over! I couldn’t help but think of how alive New York
becomes in the spring. The energy of the New Yorker is revitalized; ready to
create from the inspiration conjured up during the winter. Despite being in traffic, it was a great day
to be in New York.
Walking down 14th street, I was delighted to find
the Con Edison building where the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce Award Breakfast
was being held very easily. As I rode in the elevator up to the ceremony, I
listened to the conversations around me. A young woman wearing imprinted lace
tights and rocking this amazing shabby coat was talking to another well dressed
man, both so intimidatingly fashionable that I started to doubt my outfit of
the day. To their right was another engaged couple discussing another Manhattan
Chamber of Commerce event that they had met at previously. Later, I found out
that the fashionable couple was Katia Beauchamp co-founder of BirchBox and her
husband. The other couple was a presenter and Manhattan Chamber of Commerce’s
New York of the Year Danny Meyer. You can imagine my excitement during the
ceremony as I pieced together who I rode the elevator with.
As I walked into the room filled with people networking, I
search for my table observing the beautiful décor and pastries. After finding
my table, I sat down next to one of the friendliest people I meet that morning
Marcus and his co-worker Andrew. We chatted as I waiting for Action’s CEO Ron
Bergamini to arrive. (Ron and I are both from New Jersey and commute to either
Newark or the Bronx everyday so I think rush hour in Manhattan was something neither
of us are quite used to.)
The award ceremony was wonderful. It was informative as well
as entertaining. Some of the winners included Jane Rosenthal, a famous Hollywood
producer from New York who co-founded Tribeca Film Festival with Robert De Niro
after September 11th to get people back downtown to restore the New York
spirit that we all love. And before I
stray from the subject of traffic, Sam Schwartz of Sam Schwartz Engineering was
presented with the Mid- Sized Business of the Year Award for his company’s effort
in transportation planning and engineering. And remember Marcus who was so
friendly? He won the award for Restaurant of the Year- Red Rooster!
Then came Action’s big moment of the morning, Ron Beragmini
was presented with the Green Business of the Year Award. Ron accepted the award
and explained why a garbage company was receiving a Green award. Action’s
innovative project of building an Optical Sorter that will use optic lens to
identify different grades of paper by their composition will make recycling more
efficient for New York. The goal is landfill less and recycle more. I am so
proud to be a part of Action, not only for the recognition Ron and the company received
today but rather because Action is trying to make a change taking one step at a
time. Changing our ways in the consumerist society we grew up in and live in is
hard! Action’s practical method of getting New York to recycle makes it easy
for the customers. I am so happy that Ron and Action were recognized.
The final award New Yorker of the Year went to Danny Meyer he
created Shake Shack! One of my personal favorites since my freshman year of college.
I remember having to travel all the way from downtown to the Upper West Side to
get one of their delicious burgers. Now they have international locations and a
new location about to open in CitiFeild (one of our customers!).
Every event that I have been to for the Manhattan Chamber of
Commerce has always gone above my expectations and today was no different. Not
only am I inspired by the great leaders that were present but honored to have
been able to be there today.
-Jenna DiBella
Marketing Analyst
Action Environmental Group
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