FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM JANUARY 11, 2018 • THE QUEENS COURIER 25
MARVELOUS MAYRA
Queens Chamber of Commerce Chairperson DiRico is an energetic champion for the borough’s businesses
BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI
smonteverdi@qns.com / @smont76
An Astoria native, fi nance powerhouse
and business leader is Th e Queens
Courier’s 2018 Person of the Year.
Mayra DiRico, who was born in Cuba,
was brought to the United States as an
infant by her parents for a chance at a
better life.
Aft er spending her formative years
in Astoria, DiRico attended New York
University, where she graduated with a
degree in marketing and international
business, summa cum laude. She later
attended the University of Virginia, where
she earned a master’s degree in banking.
DiRico, who currently lives in Astoria
with her mother, husband and two children,
has nearly 30 years of experience
in consumer and commercial banking.
She served as executive vice president
of HSBC’s Northeast Region, where
she oversaw full operations of over 180
branches throughout New York City,
Long Island, Westchester, Connecticut
and New Jersey, until 2013. It was then
she joined Astoria Bank as senior vice
president of retail banking.
Following Astoria Bank’s October 2017
merger with Sterling Bancorp, DiRico
now serves Sterling National Bank as the
executive director of consumer strategy
and segment management.
“Mayra’s high energy, client-centric
approach and results-oriented
skill set is an invaluable asset to the
Consumer Banking Group,” said Brian
Edwards, consumer banking president
at Sterling National Bank. “As we continue
to strengthen our focus on serving
as our clients’ trusted fi nancial adviser
throughout our Financial Center network
and across multiple delivery channels,
Mayra’s leadership and track record
throughout the many diverse communities
we serve in this market will contribute
greatly to Sterling National Bank’s continued
growth and success.”
DiRico also serves as the face of the
borough’s numerous businesses, large
and small. In 2015, she became the fi rst
foreign-born, female chairperson of the
Queens Chamber of Commerce.
In her role, the leader makes sure the
organization is furthering its mission of
educating and connecting local business
owners, developing helpful programs and
advocating for small businesses.
Tom Grech, executive director at the
chamber, has known DiRico since he
joined the chamber in 2015.
“Mayra is very much a hands-on,
consumer-focused and business-based
leader in her day job, and that transfers
very well to the work she does at
the chamber,” Grech said. “She’s steadfast,
and maybe the most organized person
I’ve ever had the pleasure of working
with.”
Established in 1911, the
chamber has advocated
for the borough’s businesses
for over 100 years.
In concert with DiRico,
Grech said, the chamber
has worked to recognize
the diversity of Queens
and have that diversity
refl ected on the chamber’s
board. Membership
has grown “greatly” in
recent years.
“Sometimes in life timing
is everything, and as
we began to recognize
the diversity of Queens
County, Mayra came
on the scene fi rst treasurer,
then as president,
and now as chairperson,”
Grech said. “We’ve
worked really hard as
group, as an organization,
and as a team to increase
the transparency and
diversity of the Queens
Chamber of Commerce.”
Al Pennisi, who previously
held the president
position at the chamber,
also spoke positively of
the new leader’s ability to
lead.
“Mayra’s leadership
is proven in her ability
to work tirelessly for the
chamber, making it successful
and inclusive of
the many businesses in
Queens,” Pennisi said.
Chamber treasurer
Henry Wan added that
DiRico is “a professional
working to bring the
chamber on solid footing.”
Sal Crifasi, who has
been a member of the
chamber since 1986 and
has been a board member
for two years, called
DiRico a “fi recracker.”
“As soon as Mayra
walks in the room, the room lights up,”
Crifasi said. “She’s such a motivator. She
gets everybody’s attention. And when she
speaks, we all listen.”
Under DiRico’s direction, the chamber
recently implemented a “Vision 2020
Strategic Plan,” which seeks to double the
organization’s current membership and
visibility borough-wide.
According to Crifasi, owner of Crifasi
Real Estate, the plan is working.
“Mayra is very dedicated, and she’s
created and executed a plan that’s really
increased membership in the chamber of
commerce. Everyone gets involved,” the
businessman said. “When I see the work
she’s doing with the chamber, I think
she’s one of the best presidents they’ve
ever had.”
DiRico has also served as a board member
for Flushing Town Hall and been
the recipient of many awards and recognitions
over the years, including Th e
Courier’s Top Women in Business for
2015, Crain’s New York’s 40 Under 40,
Class of 2000 and the “Top Five Queens
Business Infl uencers to Know” by City
and State.
Th e local leader was also honored as a
“Woman of Distinction” in 2000 by the
Girl Scouts of Greater New York and
received the Flushing Town Hall Award
for her commitment to developing the
borough’s cultural community.
Howard Graf, vice president at the
Queens Chamber of Commerce, said
DiRico is “the most hardworking,
dependable person” he’s ever met. Th e
leader “brings out the best in everyone.”
“She treats everyone with respect and
values everyone’s opinion,” Graf said.
“And that just helps all of Queens.”
Person of the Year
Photos courtesy of Sterling National Bank