Chamber president profile: Merrick's Randy Shotland

Randy Shotland, financial service representative, New York Life and Annuity

Previous community involvement:

Vice president of chamber, assistant manager of Little League, Merrick Jewish Centre catering committee member

How many members are in your chamber?

More than 200

When was your chamber founded?

1935

How would you describe the business community?

Merrick has an active and thriving business community with five business districts and the main hub on Merrick Avenue.

Briefly, what are the main issues for the chamber?

To help our fellow members expand, educate and keep our residents shopping local. Also to foster relationships for members to do business with each other.

How has being involved in the chamber helped your business?

While promoting the chamber, it enables me to pitch what I do to others and provide credibility.

Ten years from now, how will things have changed?

Everything changes. We have to change with the times and better ourselves to compete in the business environment. Service is the key to survival. If you are looking for quality and service, hometown merchants can thrive in this area.

Tell us something no one knows about your community.

Merrick was an actors colony. There was a religious retreat on Camp Avenue. There was also Meroke Dairy. On Merrick Road, we had four mansions with weeping willows including the Hewlett Mansion and Lindenmere Mansion.

Tell us something no one knows about yourself.

While I do financial planning as a profession, I love to help individuals meet their long- and short-term goals. I love all kids and think they are our future and look to educate them to give back to their community.