‘Buddy’ Mangini Sworn in for Second Term as EBCC President

Last Thursday night in front of a packed crowd at the Hilton Garden Inn,  Albert ‘Buddy’ Mangini took the oath of office for the second time as the East Boston Chamber of Commerce president.

Albert ‘Buddy’ Mangini is sworn in to his second term as Chamber President by Councilor Lydia Edwards.

Mangini, a longtime neighborhood business and civic leader, was administered the oath by Councilor Lydia Edwards to kick off his second term as Chamber president.

After taking the oath Mangini addressed Chamber members and business leaders present at the dinner.

“Our neighborhood will always be connected with the rest of the the city in a meaningful way,” Mangini began. “Perseverance, pride and strength are firmly planted in our genes. The mission of the East Boston Chamber of Commerce has been to inspire economic growth in East Boston by strengthening our neighborhood’s competitive position and facilitating investments that build capacity, generate prosperity and catalyze the economic vibrancy of the city as a whole.”

Mangini said that the strength of the Chamber lies with the business community and the Chamber’s board.

“Our board, which is comprised of some of the most dedicated, fierce and sincere business advocates you will ever meet, represents a cross-section of the diverse commercial landscape of East Boston,” said Mangini. “We are so fortunate to have them on our team. Thanks to the handwork, vision and uncompromising determination of this board the Chamber has firmly placed itself as one of the strongest, most viable, most aggressive and most influential economic development forces in our city.”

From Eastie’s retail, commercial and industrial development opportunities to its burgeoning cultural arts scene to its impressive waterfront with breathtaking city views to its expanded park system,  Mangini said there is a reason why many are discovering that ‘all roads lead to Eastie.’

This year, 2018 promises opportunities for you to innovate activate and collaborate with the networks we have established between the business community and the neighborhood,” Mangini told the neighborhood’s business community. “We invite you to become part of the extraordinary business renaissance underway in East Boston and help generate prosperity for our neighborhood.”

For decades, Mangini’s work with youth organizations, scholarship funds and a whole host of other philanthropic activities in Eastie has been unmatched. Mangini has in some way or another been active in nearly every event over the past several decades.

As a longtime face of the local Kiwanis Club of East Boston, Mangini has organized the club’s annual Senior Picnic, Bicycle Safety Day, Kiwanis One Day of Service, clean ups of the Belle Isle Marsh, the Reading Program at several elementary schools in Eastie, the Food Pantry Drive, and the special needs group holiday event.

The people that Mangini has helped over the years and the list of accomplishments in the community are both impressive and indicative of the type of community leader Mangini has become in Eastie. When listed, many are astonished by how many things Mangini contributes his time to in Eastie. Many residents, far younger than Mangini, have admitted on more than one occasion that they could not keep up with the feverish pace he has set in his own life.

In addition to his role in the planning of many Chamber activities, his accomplishments in Eastie community activities over the years are awe inspiring.  Among the many memberships and titles Mangini holds are: General Chairman of the Columbus Day Parade for the last 25 years, member of the East Boston Kiwanis since 1994, the East Boston Pride Day Committee, the Board of Directors of the Boys & Girls Club, the East Boston YMCA, and the Bay State Chapter of Freedoms Foundation.   Buddy is President of the Holy Name Society of the Sacred Heart Parish in East Boston, member of the Semper Avanti Lodge of the Sons of Italy, and Financial Secretary for the Saint Francis Council Knights of Columbus.

Board members sworn in by Edwards last Thursday were Joe Ruggiero, Jr. and Amanda Donis as the Chamber’s newest members to the Board of Directors.

Returning as Chamber officers were Jim Kearney from the Boston Public Schools as First Vice President; Kim Altschul  of East Boston Savings as Second Vice President; Veronica Robles of VROCC as Third Vice President; Marita Palavicini of Vilma’s Boutique as Kim Treasurer; and Joanna Cataldo of East Boston Neighborhood Health Center as Secretary.

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