BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP JANUARY 13 - JANUARY 19, 2017 21 Indeed, making connections is one of the key aspects of Scissura’s success. “It’s interesting that he is heading up a builders’ organization,” remarked Gentile, “because I always think of Carlo as a builder in a di erent sense, a builder of organizations, people, relationships. He puts things together, he puts people together and that is exactly what he has the skills to do at the Building Congress.” For Andrew Hoan, Scissura’s successor at the Chamber who began at Borough Hall at the same time as Scissura, Scissura’s sensitivity to and knowledge of the whole borough was a major key to the contributions he has made and continues to make. “Yes,” Hoan said, “there’s this crazy, exciting, new, hip world of Brooklyn, but there’s a bigger Brooklyn. It’s a very diverse borough, and he believed that the entire borough deserves the same attention. That was something that was inspiring.” Hoan also said he was inspired by Scissura’s “work ethic. He’s a fun guy but he works harder than anyone. He knows how to fi nd talent and he uses people to the best of their ability. And, he never does something he doesn’t love. He takes on a project because he believes in it and goes in with both feet. He has a passion for Brooklyn and public service. I don’t know where he gets the energy.” When he’s not out making connections and building bridges, Scissura is devoted to both his mother, Teresa, who raised him as a single mom a er his father died when he was young, and his daughter, Teresa Rose, nearly two. Being a parent, he averred, has been “The best, most exciting thing. I’m proud to have had a child through surrogacy. As a single dad, it’s been quite an experience. I can tell you that it takes a village. It’s been fun and challenging, as any parent will tell you.” He’s combined bringing up his little girl with being a support for his mother, who had a bad stroke back in 2012, though, he stresses, “She’s recovered pretty nicely since then.” What he has been able to do, as the child of immigrants – who, he added, “were here illegally at one point, and I’m not embarrassed to say so” – is a source of pride. “I think the great thing of all this is that, as a son of immigrants, I’ve been able to make it this far and build an incredible reputation as a civic leader, a community leader, an honest broker, respected by all, who never forgot his local roots,” Scissura said. “I’m going to be playing in a bigger league but I’ll never forget my beginnings in Bensonhurst. Immigrants today have to still know you can make it here, despite the rhetoric.” Carlo Scissura for all his hard work as president of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and much Success in the future www.broadway-stages.com
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