Riverhead Chamber of Commerce welcomes new president

Connie Lassandro of Baiting Hollow has been installed as president of the Riverhead Chamber of Commerce.

A housing and development consultant, Lassandro previously worked as the director of the Nassau County Office of Housing and Homeless Services.

“There are so many exciting things going on right now in Riverhead,” Lassandro said in an interview earlier this month. “It’s a great time.”

Lassandro represents Georgica Green Ventures, which built Riverview Lofts on East Main Street and was just selected by the town board as a master developer for the Riverhead transit-oriented development project on Railroad Avenue.

The new Chamber president is enthusiastic about the future of Downtown Riverhead. “I really think when all is said and done, downtown will be identified with restaurants and entertainment,” Lassandro said.

Lassandro is equally enthusiastic about the Chamber of Commerce, which, along with the Riverhead Business Improvement District Management Association, just took occupancy of the storefront space next to Craft’d in a building recently purchased by the Town of Riverhead. The town intends to redevelop the building as part of its town square project, likely in partnership with a private developer.

The storefront location on Main Street will make the Chamber more visible and accessible to visitors, she said. “Hopefully people will come in to get information about our town or even to join the Chamber,” Lassandro said.

“It’s a real plus for the Chamber,” she said.

Lassandro succeeds Chamber of Commerce board president Robert Kern, who was elected to the Riverhead Town Board in November and stepped down earlier this year when he took public office.

Lassandro is also a longtime member and former chairperson of the Riverhead Town Anti-Bias Task Force.