Lazar has been a member of the chamber for more than 30 years and has served on the board for nine. He succeeds Bill Davidson, an executive at the Long Island Power Authority.

Although the decision was made at the group's May 18 meeting, the chamber only made a formal announcement June 8.

President Dennis Sneden said that Lazar "has a great reputation and credibility within the corporate business community."

Lazar is founder and chairman of the chamber's Young Professionals Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the chamber's economic development committee.

The chamber, which has grown to more than 1,700 members in the tri-state area, also named six more people to the board and three board members retired, leaving the group with a 33-person board.