Marsala to take reins of Chamber of the Willistons

Richard Tedesco

John Marsala, office manager of the State Farm Insurance office in Williston Park, will succeed Bobby Shannon as president of the Chamber of Commerce of the Willistons in January.

Shannon had served for three years as president of the chamber and thanked the members for their support at the organization’s Nov. 27 meeting, where Marsala was elected by unanimous vote to replace him. 

“I very much enjoyed being the president of the Chamber of Commerce and I think this community has all the talent necessary to achieve anything,” Shannon said. John demonstrates that he recognizes the expertise the people in the community have.”

Marsala, who had served as vice president under Shannon, said he’s looking forward to serving as president of the organization.

“I’m excited. The people in the chamber all have one goal: to bring as much business as possible into this community. I felt with my background, I’d have a good impact,” Marsala said.

Marsala has been in charge of the State Farm office at 174 Hillside Ave. since 2007. He said he thrives on the variety of experiences the insurance business offers.

“It’s something different every day. You get to help people,” he said.

Marsala said he started in the office as a customer service representative in 2002 and went into sales for two years before assuming his current role. He holds two degrees from the American College, one as a Life Underwriting Training Council Fellow and a second as a financial service specialist.

But, Marsala said, insurance wasn’t his initial choice as a career. 

After growing up in Franklin Square, he attended Adelphi University, earning a bachelor’s degree in physical education and a master’s degree in health education. After college, he spent 10 years as a sports coach.

He started as a freshman baseball coach and Latin School baseball coach at Kellenberg High School in Uniondale. Then he moved on to Schreiber High School in Port Washington, where he was head coach of the varsity baseball team and assistant coach of the varsity basketball squad.

“I loved it. I had some great athletes but I just enjoyed being around the kids who wanted to play,” he said.

He married his wife, Maureen, a Williston Park native, in 2001 and decided to make a career switch.

“It was time for a change,” he said.       

Marsala said he was involved with the Chamber of Commerce of the Willistons before he became a member just over two years ago. Since then, he said, he has been more intensely involved in chamber activities. 

Marsala has also been a member of the Williston Park Rotary Club for the past five years. 

Nearly four years ago, he co-founded a free business networking group, Professionals of Long Island, which he maintains with a partner.

In his free time, he enjoys golfing and said he’s a “better than average” linkster.

When he’s not spending time with his wife and their two dogs, he’s also an avid sports fan who follows both the New York Giants and New York Mets.  

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