Ernesto Cury
Volunteer and Board Member,
Queens Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Jackson Heights& Bayside
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: In addition to his activities as a member of the executive board of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Queens, Ernesto Cury has served on the board of directors of Queens Borough Economic Corporation and up to a few weeks ago, was president of the 82nd Street Business Improvement District. He is still part of that board.
Cury also organizes and is member of the Corona Community Action Network Board and has been a representative of the Queens Borough President Helen Marshall Community Education Council for District 24.
For the last 10 years, with the exception of this year, he was part of the committee to celebrate the Dominican Heritage Month. “I can say I’ve been busy, because I like to be involved,” said Cury, who does everything voluntarily.
PERSONAL: Cury, 64, was born in the Dominican Republic in 1945 and came to the United States at the age of 11. He has lived in Queens since. Cury attended Long Island City High School, Queens College and Baruch College. He has been married for more than 25 years and has two daughters.
JOB: Upon graduation from college, he worked for about 20 years in the banking industry becoming a manager. He then became manager and president of a small bank in Upper Manhattan.
In 1985, he worked as the executive director of the Agency for Minority Business Development in Queens. “It was then that I realized our community needed some technical help and during that time I decided to get involved with this community, especially the Hispanic business community,” said Cury.
Once that contract was over, he opened his own business, Cury & Associates, where he offers help and advises on taxes.
PROUDEST MOMENT: “I would like to say my daughters, but honestly I have a lot of proud moments, like when I received reactions from others telling me that I’m doing the right thing,” said Cury.
FAVORITE MOMENT: “This is a hard question. I can’t pick just one…I’m very happy with what I’ve done,” said Cury.
BIGGEST CHALLENGE: “I think that ever since we started organizing the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Queens 12 years ago, making local small businesses understand the value of working together and united,” said Cury.
INSPIRATION: “I have a plenty of them. Besides seeing my daughters succeed in their careers, I would like to see them get involved around the community. I also would like to see the Chamber in its own building,” said Cury. – Claudia Cruz
