Local minority business owner recognized as ‘Board Hero’ for her work on MBWA of Staten Island
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Jaclyn Tacoronte, a Staten Island minority businesswoman, has been recognized by Crain’s New York for her work to drive diversity initiatives within an organization.
The distinction qualifies her as a finalist in Crain’s New York Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Awards, to be announced on July 15.
Tacoronte is a founding member of the Minority Women in Business Association of Staten Island, has been named in the ‘Board Heroes’ category by Crain’s, an honor bestowed on individuals who serve on boards and use their position to expand inclusivity.
A New Brighton resident with her husband, Joe, and their two young children, Tacoronte is President and CEO of JMT Media, a marketing and public relations firm on Staten Island, perhaps best known for spearheading the PR efforts for the inaugural New York City Winter Lantern Festival and Winter Wonderland Staten Island Festival at Snug Harbor Cultural Center.
In 2017, JMT Media applied for certification as a minority and/or women-owned company and was denied. Tacoronte was befuddled and as to why NYC did not recognize Native Americans as a minority group. So she decided to do something about it.
With the help of Councilwoman Debi Rose, Tacoronte fought for the inclusion for Native Americans to be included and recognized. Two years later, the happy news arrived that she was successful in her bid to be included in the definition of minority groups, paving the way for not only JMT Media, but for others to bid on city contracts.
“Diversity is an area where employers make lots of mistakes,” said Crain’s editor Robert Hordt, in explaining the importance of the award. “The field is packed with land mines that managers need to navigate, from not having clear goals to ignoring inclusion after making minority hires.”
‘AMAZING HONOR’
“This is such an amazing honor to be considered a finalist representing the greenest borough, Staten Island,” said Tacoronte. After working diligently over 2.5 years with city agencies and elected officials, a new piece of legislation was passed to support Native Americans.
“Being the first Native-American MWBE in New York City history is significant, not for me but for my community and my children. I want to publicly thank my husband Joseph Tacoronte for constantly encouraging me to never give up on making something right.”
Tacoronte has been a frequent guest speaker/panelist for New York State Council for the Arts, Staten Island Not For Profit Association, Center for Non Profit Success, and Staten Island Partnership for Community Wellness.
For the past two years, Tacoronte has participated as a mentor for the Staten Island Advance’s Mentoring Monday, an event open to women only, providing them the opportunity to jump-start career ambitions with guidance from Staten Island women who’ve been there. The 2020 Mentoring Monday breakfast and networking opportunity was held at the Vanderbilt. In 2021 the event was virtual because of the pandemic.
ODDO-APPOINTED STATEN ISLAND REP TO PEP
In March 2021, Borough President James Oddo named Tacoronte as the Staten Island representative to the Panel for Educational Policy (PEP).
She currently serves as 2nd Vice Chair of the MWBA of Staten Island, Executive Women’s Council for the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation, the Marketing Chair for Colloquy Collective and Board Chair for Staten Island Makerspace.
In 2011 she was awarded TED Electrical Magazine’s Best-of-the-Best Marketing Excellence Award for Best Print Advertising Campaign. Recently, JMT Media was listed as an official 2018 Honoree for Stars Under 40, sponsored by Schnepps Communications.
In 2019, the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation listed Jaclyn Tacoronte as a “40 Under 40” Honoree and a nominee for the 2019 “Fastest Growing Small Business,” The 2020 U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA), New York District Office New York Small Business Champion of the Year.
