Cristina Chianese is stepping down as president of the Pelham Chamber of Commerce on Jan. 1 as are Vice Presidents Amy Platt and Miranda Bucciero, creating a critical need for new leaders at the volunteer organization as funds from a $250,000 grant are soon to be distributed to downtown businesses.
Over the past four years, Chianese said her role became a full-time—if unpaid—job with most of the work happening during evenings and on weekends. The heavy workload prevented her from spending time with family and was also draining alongside her actual full-time job, she said. The growth of the chamber also meant her position shifted to the more technical chores of running a nonprofit, rather than the hands-on involvement she enjoyed.
For all three, the decision to leave their posts came at the same time and was not planned, said Platt. “It just so happens that the demands outside of the chamber are hitting us all at the same time, so it felt like a natural moment for us all to transition,” she said.
Because of this, the three came to the mutual agreement that a totally new leadership team should take charge, said Bucciero.
All three women said they want to spend more time with loved ones. Bucciero is planning her wedding, and Chianese and Platt have children whom they want to prioritize.
Chianese said she believes this is the perfect time to bring in new officers at the top because the chamber of commerce and the Village of Pelham received $250,000 from Westchester County in the form of a downtown improvement grant, in June 2023 that will soon be used to provide funds to local business owners to improve their storefronts. Heading this, Chianese said, would be a great opportunity to get new leaders involved with the chamber and the community.
She said she wants Pelham’s business owners to become more involved in the chamber so that it can continue to flourish, a sentiment echoed by Bucciero.
“I love this town, and I’m so committed to making sure that the community we live in is the best community possible, and that’s not going to change,” said Chianese. “I’m grateful for the opportunity, and I am as dedicated to business owners as I have ever been.”
“We’re not going to grow unless people step up,” said Chianese.
The search for new officers has begun in the form of social media posts and private conversations, she said. While no one has volunteered yet, Chianese is hopeful that people will take the roles and said the hesitation to take the posts is likely due to the large time commitment. In announcing her resignation months in advance, she said her goal was was to provide ample time to find someone who is willing.
Without a business of her own and coming from a background in media, marketing and sales, Chianese volunteered to become chamber president during the Covid-19 pandemic in summer 2020 to fill her time and combat the isolation. From the beginning, she worked to create marketing programs and events to boost Pelham’s businesses during the crisis. The organization needed revitalization, with tasks ranging from updating the website to restoring its non-profit status, which Chianese worked on for two and a half years. In addition, she started programs like the MOMinate campaign for Mother’s Day and the now-annual Winter Wonderland.
During Covid, Chianese’s approach was personal and innovative. The owners of gift shop Richard’s Passport on Wolfs Lane were reluctant to open their doors because of the pandemic and their advanced age. They weren’t sure if they’d be able to continue owning the store. Chianese took over the store’s inventory, sold it in front of her house to customers found on the Moms of Pelham Facebook group and delivered packages to customers on weekends, equipped with a mask and gloves.
This year, the group won the Best of Westchester award for chamber of commerce.
Chianese said she was in a unique position when she started because she did not own a Pelham business. “I think that I speak a different language in some ways, but it’s been a blessing and a curse,” she said.
Chianese’s last corporate role was at NBC, and she now has her own consultancy, where she works with advertising and promotional agencies. While she wondered if she would have been more successful had she been more directly tied to a Pelham business, she said her insight as someone with experience working in Fortune 500 companies proved valuable. She found that she was able to bring a new perspective that helped the Pelham chamber grow.
Platt originally joined the chamber as events manager and moved up to a role in leadership.
Foster a Cohesive, Vibrant Community
Bucciero took a position with the organization after experiencing firsthand what the chamber would do for businesses. When a sinkhole opened up at Four Corners outside her bakery Flour Power, she said, the chamber raised nearly $18,000 through a GoFundMe campaign for her business. This support pushed her to join the board when Chianese asked the community for administrative support. After a few weeks in that position, Bucciero made the transition to vice president alongside Platt.
“The chamber not only supports the growth of individual businesses but also fosters a cohesive, vibrant community,” said Bucciero.
Bucciero was the only board member at the time who owned a physical business in Pelham, which allowed her to serve as a liaison to other businesses and provide insight into the needs of the other small companies, she said.
“Cristina, Amy and I are not the type to ‘do less,'” said Bucciero, which led to big time commitments with the chamber.
According to Platt, she knew she could not devote her efforts to the position forever, and as she enters her third year, she wants to balance her family’s needs with her work. She said she will become PTA president of Siwanoy Elementary School next school year, which will take up much of her time and attention.
Pelham’s small businesses “have held a very special place in my heart over the last few years, and I’ve made lifelong friendships within the business community that I’m incredibly thankful for,” said Platt.
