Gary Slavin was recently named Small-business Person of the Year for Massapequa as part of the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce 16th annual small-business person awards program.

Slavin, a member of the Chamber of Commerce of the Massapequas, was chosen by his peers in the local merchants organization. One awardee was chosen by each of the member Chambers of Commerce in the Nassau Council.

A Massapequa resident and financial services representative with MetLife Financial Services - Garden City Financial Group, Slavin has been a member of the Chamber of Commerce of the Massapequas since the early 1990s. He is currently third vice-president of the organization, and in the past has served on the board of directors.

Slavin this week said that he was honored to receive the award, particularly because he was chosen for it by his colleagues in the Massapequa Chamber.

"When your peers nominate you, and they say that you're the businessman of the year, it's a real honor and a pleasure," he said.

Slavin is accomplished in both his community service and entrepreneurial endeavors.

Well-known for several years of work in the local community, he is the former president of the Nassau Shore Civic Association, as well as founder and former president of the Joint Council of Civic Associations of the Massapequas. In his support for the Chamber of Commerce, he has chaired the Massapequa Community Festival three times, and has served as chairman of the Business Improvement District. In addition, he has worked on several Chamber committees, including the Membership Food Drive committee, Installation Dinner committee, and Broadway Redevelopment Project committee. He has also done fund raising for the Massapequa School District's music and art programs, and has coached baseball for the Massapequa Coast Little League.

As for professional achievements, Slavin is the recipient of both the Metlife Financial Service's Triple Crown Award, and National Sales Award from the National Association of Life Underwriters. He is a member of both the Prestigious Million Dollars Round Table and the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. He is also studying to receive designation as a Certified Insurance Counselor and Certified Financial Planner. His success may be attributable to his business philosophy, which the commended small-business person describes as follows, "Deliver on all your promises to your customers. Always be responsive to their needs and concerns. I understand that, while the solutions for each of my clients may be different, the goal is always the same: to help provide the financial security and asset growth we all want to achieve."

Slavin has worked in the financial services industry for 21 years. Currently, as a financial services representative, he focuses on working with business owners and their employees, concentrating on foods services, exterminators, and non-profit organizations.