Ocean Township, NJ – The Greater Ocean Township Chamber of Commerce (GOTCC) held their Annual Awards & Installation Luncheon of Tuesday, March 18 at The Renaissance, Ocean Township. The event was attended by 140 guests including many local, county and state officials, scholarship winners and award-winning community leaders.
Four local students and eight community leaders were acknowledged for their achievements and contributions to the Greater Ocean Township Community.
High school seniors, Olivia Palutis, (MAST) and Adam Johnson, Kilsarys Diaz and Zoe Lazar were the 2025 recipients of the ‘Friends of the GOTCC scholarships.
Three new GOTCC board members were sworn in by County Clerk Christine Hanlon. GOTCC welcomed Melissa Ambrose, CEO Acorn 2 Oak Media Group, Dean White, President Bee-Gone Pest Control and Thomas Yacullo, Brookdale Community College to the 2025 Board of Trustees.
This year’s Community Ambassador Award was awarded to Assemblywoman Dr. Margie Donlon for all her contributions to Ocean Township, the County and the Chamber of Commerce.
GOTCC awarded the Longevity Award to Township of Ocean Historical Museum in honor of the outstanding efforts of their volunteers on their 40th anniversary. Thomas F. Hayes received a Lifetime Achievement Award and was recognized for his 35 years of community service during his tenure as Director, Community Relations with New Jersey Natural Gas.
Maurice Zekaria, Paramount Realty received the Economic Impact Award for the Ocean Commons development. The Educational Ambassador Award went to Denise Parlamas in appreciation of her 22 years of service to the Ocean Township Board of Education.
GOTCC Unsung Hero Awards were dedicated to Chief Brian Pemberton and Fire Inspector Nick Simon for their selfless, lifesaving actions at the Middlebrook Apartments fire in October.
The GOTCC Legacy Award for 2025 went to Frank Felice, founder of the Greater Ocean Township Chamber of Commerce, in recognition of his vision, dedication and commitment that laid the foundation for the GOTCC forty years ago.
For four decades, the Greater Ocean Township Chamber of Commerce (GOTCC), a member-based non-profit organization has promoted the business community in the Township of Ocean and surrounding towns; and given back to the community through a variety of outreach programs. For additional information contact GOTCC at [email protected] or call 732-660-1888.
