[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 6 (Monday, February 4, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E64]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO DEREK E. BROOMES, CPA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSE E. SERRANO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, February 4, 2002

  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Derek E. 
Broomes, CPA, an esteemed administrator and public policy expert who is 
being honored on February 1 by the Caribbean American Chamber of 
Commerce and Industry, Inc. (CACCI) and The Friends of Derek E. Broomes 
at a Special Black History Month Tribute program in the Bronx.
  Mr. Broomes is an influential leader in the Bronx's economic business 
development, particularly in the area of minority business. Since 1995, 
when he became the first Chief Financial Officer of the Bronx Overall 
Economic Development Corporation (BOEDC), Mr. Broomes has been the key 
component to the bolstering of economic development programs and small 
business initiatives for the Bronx. Among his many accomplishments is 
the role that he played in the establishment of the first SBA 504 
Certified Development Company in the Bronx, the Bronx Initiative 
Corporation (BIC). The revitalization of the Bronx is also 
significantly due to the organizational and financial structure that 
Mr. Broomes developed for the Bronx Empowerment Zone. The Bronx 
Empowerment Zone is one of approximately 9 such Zones in the United 
States. The Empowerment Zone initiative aims to bring communities 
together through public and private partnerships in order to attract 
the investment necessary for sustainable economic and community 
development. Mr. Broomes took this initiative and made it a reality in 
the Bronx. He helped Bronx leaders identify the specific problems that 
the community's businesses faced and acted as a consultant to the Bronx 
borough president to actively address and alleviate these problems.
  Mr. Speaker, Mr. Broomes has held myriad important positions 
throughout his illustrious career. He has served as the Deputy 
Commissioner and Chief Contracting Officer for the New York City Human 
Resources administration. He also held the position of Inspector 
General with the New York City's Department of Investigation. Beyond 
Mr. Broomes' extensive professional feats, he also possesses a 
distinguished list of honors and credentials. Originally from Guyana, 
Mr. Broomes spent his young adulthood being educated at London's 
esteemed institutions. He received a diploma in Economics and Finance 
from London's School of Economics and diplomas in Mathematics and 
Physics from the University of London. Mr. Broomes continued his 
education in the United States by earning a Masters of Science/CPA 
degree in Public Accounting and Finance from the Graduate School of the 
City University of New York and also attending New York University 
Graduate School of Business.
  In 2000, I presented Mr. Broomes with the Congressional Outstanding 
Achievement Award to commend and thank him for all that he has done to 
promote economic progress in the Bronx. I feel it necessary to honor 
him once again for all of the work that he has done in the past two 
years and for being recognized by the reputable CACCI, an organization 
that also elected him as Chairman of the Board in 2000. He was also 
recently appointed Finance Chairman for the Lehman Center for the 
Performing Arts of Lehman College of City University of New York.
  There is no question in my mind as to why Mr. Broomes is being 
honored by his colleagues and neighbors this February 1. I urge my 
esteemed colleagues to join me in commending Mr. Derek E. Broomes for 
his outstanding achievements and invaluable contributions to the Bronx.

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