The Floral Park Chamber Board of Directors has elected Interim President Marie Grant and Vice President Shane Parouse to lead the group until formal elections are held in the fall. This action comes after Chamber President Evan Peet was recently called back to his home country of Australia with his family.

Grant grew up in Queens and moved to Floral Park in 1986 after one of her sisters decided to relocate there. Now all four of her siblings as well as extended family members reside in Floral Park.

Grant has worked in real estate in Floral Park and has been a Chamber member since 2008. She is currently a realtor at Signature Premier Properties and the chairperson of the Membership Committee but is hoping to find someone else to take over the role of chairperson after being appointed interim president.

“I felt it was important to know about the community and know what’s going on,” said Grant in an interview. “We’ve had a lot of projects recently, the Long Island Rail Road, the new arena, and different housing developments, so I find the Chamber very helpful in terms of coming together with like-minded businesses.”

She added, “It really is a way to keep in touch because I don’t just sell houses here; I sell a community, so I find that the Chamber really has helped me over the years to keep my ear to the ground and know a lot of people.”

Parouse, who has served on the board previously for three years since moving to Floral Park 11 years ago, is a financial adviser and splits his time between working from home and working from his office in Sea Cliff.

“I think there’s a responsibility to put your hand up and do something to help out in a community like this, and this community is well known for that,” said Parouse in an interview. “My view is that almost everybody you meet around here, whether it’s the parents of one of your kids, soccer teammates, or real estate agents or whoever it is, almost everybody’s involved in something that helps contribute to the community, and I feel like that’s a theme around here. Everybody does a little bit, and you figure out what your thing is. Maybe it’s coaching basketball or maybe it’s helping out with the Chamber of Commerce.”

The Chamber is currently seeking three more board members to be nominated and elected in the fall. Some requirements for board members include attendance at monthly board meetings, service on one committee (Christmas Fair, Street Fair, Beautification, etc.), and membership in good standing for at least one year.

Those interested to become members can contact Chamber Past President Mike Jakob at 516-358-3612 or [email protected]

The Chamber is also looking for people to participate in its various committees.

For more information, contact the Floral Park Chamber Board of Directors at 516-641-1200, email [email protected], or visit www.floralparkchamber.org.