When Ryan Schlotter first stepped into his role as president of the Oyster Bay–East Norwich Chamber of Commerce in 2019, he brought with him the perspective of a small business owner.
The 44-year-old co-founder of Oyster Bay Brewing Company is known locally for craft beers like Barn Rocker Ale and for the taproom that has become a fixture on Audrey Avenue since 2012. But for the past seven years, he has worked to expand the Chamber’s role into a year-round engine for local commerce.
From large-scale public events like Oyster Fest and Oyster Bay Day to weekly summer Cruise Nights staged outside his brewery, his leadership has centered on building momentum in a hamlet whose geography makes it difficult to draw foot traffic from neighboring towns.
“A Chamber of Commerce is fantastic and it gives you a really good platform and home base as far as relationship making and keeping goes,” Schlotter said. “But what you put into it reflects directly what you get out of it.”
Schlotter, who lives in Centerport with his wife and two sons, originally studied to become a teacher. After graduating in 2004 and struggling to find work in the field, he took a job at Rallye BMW in Westbury, where he met his business partner, Gabe Haim.
When the two began talking about opening a business of their own, they considered everything from bars to pizzerias before landing on the idea of a brewery after visiting a relative’s brewpub in Indiana.
After running the brewery alongside their full-time jobs for two years, the pair eventually left the car business and, in 2016, moved from their original 800-square-foot operation on South Street into a larger space on Audrey Avenue.
“The reality of the small business situation is the walls are always changing in the maze,” Schlotter said. “That versatility, that ability to pivot tomorrow, that’s what separates a small business from a very large company.”
Schlotter said he has always believed in “figuring it out” as he goes, leaning on the people around him and allowing ideas to evolve. As Chamber president, that has translated into a growing slate of events designed to keep local businesses active even during slower months.
In 2024, the Oyster Bay–East Norwich Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with the Town of Oyster Bay, took over operations of Oyster Fest. In their first year overseeing the event, Schlotter said it generated about $107,000 for local charities, while also expanding opportunities for downtown businesses to participate directly.
“With a town like this, it’s vital to have that event here,” he said. “It gets businesses through the winter. It gives businesses some leeway to grow.”
Local attorney and Chamber board member Robert Brusca said Schlotter’s approach has fundamentally changed how Oyster Fest functions for businesses.
“[Ryan] is as responsible as anyone for the tremendous success of the fest over the last two years, working tirelessly in partnership with the Town of Oyster Bay,” he said. “Not just drawing over 150,000 visitors, but in seeking to ensure that our local merchants are able to benefit from it, a marked shift from the past.”
Brusca said that over the past decade, organizations in Oyster Bay that once worked independently have increasingly collaborated across causes like historic preservation, environmental advocacy and local business development, a change he said Schlotter has actively pushed for.
“Like any really good leader, [Ryan’s] got a tremendous willingness to listen to others, even on matters he may not fully agree with,” he said. “He’s always willing to give a second or third thought to a matter, and to have his mind changed, always toward making the best decision under the circumstances. He’s exceptional.”
Beyond its major festivals, the Chamber has focused on building smaller, recurring community events. Cruise Night, a weekly summer car show held every Tuesday from Memorial Day through Labor Day, brings more than 250 cars to Audrey Avenue, drawing large crowds on what would otherwise be a slow weeknight. Oyster Bay Day, a street festival held in early May, serves a similar role, helping businesses recover from the slower winter months.
Amy Hanley, executive director of the Oyster Bay–East Norwich Chamber of Commerce, said the Chamber has shifted its programming to feel more community-centered. She emphasized the Chamber’s close partnership with the Town of Oyster Bay on events like Oyster Fest and Oyster Bay Day, and with fundraisers such as the Empire State Ride, which supports cancer research.
“It’s a very close-knit community with people, and it’s an even closer-knit community with businesses,” she said. “Everybody is very genuine in that they want to help each other out.”
The Chamber recently launched Lunch Mob, an initiative Hanley said was inspired by the idea of a flash mob. The program brings members and residents to a selected local restaurant for lunch, with the goal of boosting business.
“It’s not just a way to support the local businesses by giving them business,” she said. “It’s also a way for our members to engage with each other and get to know each other a little better.”
As small businesses navigate rising costs and seasonal slowdowns, Schlotter said his goal is for the Chamber to provide consistent support. He has pushed the organization to function as a resource center, connecting business owners with grant opportunities and extending assistance even to those who aren’t formal members.
“For a lot of people, it’s a labor of love,” he said. “You do it for yourself, you do it for your family, you do it for the community.”
