QNE_p027

QC02022017

FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM FEBRUARY 2, 2017 • THE QUEENS COURIER 27 Photos by Allen Ngai and Joseph Swift Top businessmen and women under the age of 40 honored at Star Network event BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI smonteverdi@qns.com/@smont76 Th e best and the brightest young stars came together last week for a grand gala and networking event. On Jan. 26, close to 500 people gathered at Terrace on the Park to meet, greet and dine at the Stars Under Forty event hosted by Star Network. Th e gala event recognized 43 young professionals who exemplify outstanding leadership skills in both their chosen fi elds and in their communities. Joshua Schneps, CEO & co-publisher of Schneps Communications, welcomed the stars and their families and friends as they assembled in the grand dining room for the dinner and awards presentation. “Over the years, between Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island and Long Island, we’ve honored thousands of people,” Schneps said. “And I know myself, as a business owner, I’m always looking for mentors. And that’s one of the great advantages of being a part of the Star Network — to meet people that have that same passion and energy that you have.” Raffl es were sold throughout the event, with proceeds benefi ting the Carly Rose Foundation and Innovative Resources for Independence. Carly Rose Nieves, honoree and recipient of the New York Community Bank Inspiration Award, was recognized for her work at the Carly Rose Foundation. A two-time cancer survivor, Nieves founded the non-profi t foundation with her mother to help families with children suffering life-threatening illnesses. “My mom promised me that something good was going to come out of my illness,” Nieves said. “And then, together, we came up with the idea to help children who have been in my position: because who better to help these families than a family that has gone through it not just once, but twice.” Some of the honorees spoke with Th e Courier about the personal and professional signifi cance of being honored as an outstanding young professional and rising star. “I’m truly humbled and honored to have been nominated,” said Shanel Th omas, community outreach liaison for the LaGuardia Airport Redevelopment Program. “It’s always a joy to be honored for something that you love doing.” “It’s a wonderful opportunity,” said Manmeet Malik, breast surgeon at New York-Presbyterian of Queens. “Being someone young in Queens who has been working hard and taking care of our community, a lot of times when you’re starting your career, you’re a workhorse and you work and work. So it’s nice to be acknowledged for all the hard work you put in.” “It feels great to be honored,” said Lindsay Mesh, associate attorney at Forchelli, Curto, Deegan, Schwartz, Mineo & Terrana LLP. “I’m not even 30 yet, so to get my foot in the door and start getting my name and the fi rm’s name out there helps business.” Additional honorees included Michelle Abramov, Associate Broker Investment Sales & Advisory for Highcap Group; Dr. Christine Antoldi, President & CEO of Forest Hills Chiropractic & Wellness; Dr. Nicole Appello, Associate Executive of Programs at Human First Inc.; Carl Benn, Director/Coach/Mentor of Far Rockaway Youth Sports Initiative; Rhonda Binda, Executive Director of Jamaica Center Business Improvement District; Jairo Borja, Director, Business Development at Berkeley College; Lindsay Brienza, Coordinator of Development & Fundraising at Innovative Resources for Independence; Robert Briskin, Co-Owner, Maiella, and Owner, Alicia’s Jewelers; Noe Canales, Founder, Soccer Kids NYC; Evan Daniel, Executive Vice President of Modern Spaces; Justin L. Deebrah, Compliance Manager at Skanska USA; Priscilla Dolce, Event Concierge at Russo’s on the Bay; Chinyere Dunkley, Founder & CEO of RoyalChi Fashion Brand; Kerume Dunkley, Senior Billing Analyst at Casmir Care Services; Rui Fernandes, Financial Representative at Investors Financial Group/Investors Bank; Andrea Friedman, Esq., Partner at Friedman & Friedman; Karen Gamba, Founder and CEO of Ellipsis, LLC; Chrissy Grigoropoulos, Founding Partner of Grigoropoulos Law Group; Peter Gozzi, DJ/Producer/Remixer; Ahmed Hegazy, President & CEO of EIHAB Human Services; Dr. Zachary Hickman, Director of Neurosurgery at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst; Lester Hong, Logistics and Aft er Service Manager at Crystal Window & Door Systems, Ltd.; Dr. Rukiya A. Jeff ers, CEO of RJ Educators and Lavish Beauty; Christopher Krepcio, VP/Senior Project Manager of Merritt Engineering Consultants; Shobhna Lamba, President & CEO of Le Selfi e Photobooth; Dr. Hugh Lavery, Regional Director of Urology at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst/ Queens; Ya-Ting Liu, Executive Director of Friends of BQX; Angelena Lucheux, CEO of Tailormade For You Skincare; Manmeet Malik, DO, Breast Surgeon, New York-Presbyterian/Queens; LaQuana McNeil, Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker at Douglas Elliman Real Estate; Lindsay Mesh, Associate at Forchelli, Curto, Deegan, Schwartz, Mineo & Terrana LLP; Kaitlin D. Moody, Government Aff airs Specialist at Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP; Trisha Ocona, CEO of RealestateOCONA, LLC; Jovanni Ortiz, Real Estate Agent at Daniel Gale Sotheby’s/International Realty; Jenifer Rajkumar, Attorney at Sanford Heisler LLP and President, Asian-American Coalition of Queens; Dr. Vincent Rizzo, Associate Director of Medicine of NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens; Shaneil Samuels, Engineering Aide at Port Authority of NY & NJ; Jose Santiago, Branch Manager at Suff olk County National Bank – Suff olk-LIC Branch; Brett Swanson, Manager of Committee Development at Queens Chamber of Commerce; Tricia M. Taitt, Principal at Art & Money Matters, LLC; Amanda Talty, Vice President, Development, Tourette Association of America; and Shanel Th omas, Community Outreach Liaison/LGA Redevelopment Program. Th e event was sponsored by Investors Bank, New York Community Bank, National Grid, Modern Spaces, NYC Health and Hospitals Queens, and NYC Health and Hospitals Elmhurst, New York-Presbyterian Queens, Crystal Windows, Queens Chamber of Commerce, the Grigoropoulos Law Group, Soccer Kids NYC, Art & Money Matters, Broadway Stages, and Empire Promotions. Media sponsors included Th e Queens Courier, Best of the Boro and the Daily News. Visit the Star Network website, www. starnetwork.com for upcoming event and networking opportunities. This year’s honorees at the Star Network’s Stars Under 40 Awards & Networking event. stars under 40 NYCB “Inspiration Award” winner Carly Rose Nieves and Rosie Pagan of New York Community Bank


QC02022017
To see the actual publication please follow the link above