HIA-LI, one of Long Island’s largest business associations, honored five of the region’s most outstanding businesses at the organization’s 29th Annual HIA-LI Business Achievement Awards ceremony held recently at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury.
An award selection committee evaluated competing firms and organizations based upon factors including corporate accomplishments, superior employee relations, and commitment to the overall Long Island community and beyond.
“Over the course of nearly 30 years, many today view the HIA-LI Business Achievement Awards as the Academy Awards of the Long Island business community,” said Terri Alessi-Miceli, President and CEO of HIA-LI. “These high-achieving companies have created unparalleled workplace environments, while also serving as first-class corporate citizens.”
“Our Business Achievement Award winners are the inspirational pacesetters for the Long Island economy as a whole,” said Carol A. Allen, Board Chair of HIA-LI and President and CEO of People’s Alliance Federal Credit Union. “HIA-LI encourages all businesses throughout our region to emulate the great examples set by these excellent firms.”
HIA-LI presented awards in the following categories:
The honoree in the “Large Business” category, comprising firms with a workforce of 100 or more, was Hauppauge-based Contract Pharmacal Corporation, a pharmaceutical manufacturer. The award was presented to Chief Operating Officer Jeff Reingold.
Other finalists in the “Large Business” category included Hauppauge-based Suffolk OTB; Woodbury-based Cameron Engineering; Bus Patrol, based in Hauppauge; and Citrin Cooperman, whose regional office is in Melville.
The second award category consisted of “Small Businesses” employing fewer than 100 workers. The award went to LGC Studios, a production studio based in Edgewood. The award was presented to President Jay Demetriou and CEO Greg Demetrious.
In the “Small Business” category, other finalists included Ronkonkoma-based Enviroscience Consultants; Amplitech Group of Bohemia; Melville-based Premier Benefit Plans; and Sasserath & Co., based in Ronkonkoma.
In the “Not-for-Profit” category, the recipient was the Huntington-based Family Service League, a social service agency providing support to children, individuals, and families. CEO Karen Boorshtein accepted the award on behalf of the organization. This is Family Service League’s second Business Achievement Award.
Other “Not-for-Profit” finalists included Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Long Island, based in Westbury; Riverhead-based Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk; the Commack-based Marty Lyons Foundation; and Nassau-Suffolk Law Services of Islandia.
In a category reserved for firms less than five years in age, HIA-LI also presented a “Rookie of the Year” Business Achievement Award to Patchogue-based Native Ceuticals, a “seed to shelf” producer and distributor of CBD-based products. Accepting the award was Founder/Owner Billy Hatzichristos.
In addition, HIA-LI presented a Business Achievement Award in the “Leadership” category to JP Morgan Chase & Co., whose regional office is in Melville. Long Island Market Team Lead Jennifer Marks accepted the award. They were chosen for their deep-rooted commitment to Long Island’s economic growth and community well-being. JP Morgan Chase has invested millions in initiatives like Ascend Long Island, alongside contributions exceeding $3.9 million to various nonprofit organizations in Suffolk and Nassau, focusing on financial health, community development, skill-building, and entrepreneurship.
Approximately 300 guests attended the gala event.
ABOUT HIA-LI
Now in its 45th year, HIA-LI is one of Long Island’s largest business advocacy organizations. It also represents the Long Island Innovation Park at Hauppauge, the largest industrial park in the Northeast. The park supports 55,000 jobs, produces $13 billion in goods and services each year, and accounts for eight percent of Long Island’s gross domestic product. For more information, go to www.HIA-LI.org or call (631) 543-5355.
