20 THE QUEENS COURIER • RISING STARS • FEBRUARY 6, 2014 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com rising stars H FEBRUARY 13, 2014 H H H s H KLEBER SILVA Franchise Owner of Jamaica, Queens Rapid Realty Kleber Silva is one of the partners for Rapid Realty’s Jamaica Queens Franchise. A native of Ecuador, he came to the United States when he was 17 years old. In the course of eight years he managed to obtain a degree in accounting and fi nished the construction of his house in Ecuador, thereby creating a great fi nancial support for his mom. He then became a business owner. Silva showed interest in Rapid Realty in 2010 when he met up with Monique Nieves (owner of Rapid Realty DUMBO) for an interview to become a real estate salesperson. It was in August 2013, after talking several times with Adrian Cardona, a multi-franchise owner, that he decided to join his second family, the Rapid Realty family. Shortly after, an opportunity to own a franchise came along, and Silva didn’t let it pass by; he took it and embraced it with passion. After a few months in the business he is thinking in opening another franchise in J a c k s o n Heights. H STARS stars DANA FRANKEL Director of Economic Development, Planning & BID Services Long Island City Partnership Dana Frankel joined the Long Island City Partnership in November 2011, and currently serves as Director of Economic Development, Planning & BID Services. Frankel is thrilled to be working in Long Island City during this time of signifi cant economic growth and change. Her responsibilities at the Partnership include overseeing operations of the Long Island City Business Improvement District, which include daily supplemental sanitation services, nightly security patrols and maintenance of the recently completed $80 million capital improvements on Queens Plaza and Jackson Avenue. In addition, Frankel enjoys facilitating connections between LIC’s numerous and varying stakeholders to help build successful partnerships, place-making initiatives and events. Notable projects she’s developed or led while at the Partnership include the Partnership Perks discount program, WalkNYC signage, collaborations with LIC Arts Open to bring art exhibitions to vacant retail spaces, and a number of events including the First and Second Annual Celebrate LIC. Frankel was selected to participate in the 2014 Coro Neighborhood Leadership Program, a partnership between the Coro New York Leadership Center and the Department of Small Business Services, which supports leadership development for professionals working on commercial revitalization initiatives across the city. Prior to joining the Partnership, she worked for Bernheimer Architecture and Alloy Development in Dumbo, Brooklyn on marketing and administration. STAR OF STARS Borough President Melinda Katz Melinda Katz was elected on November 5, 2013 to serve as the 19th Queens Borough President. She has been a dedicated public servant for nearly 20 years, serving in key governmental positions on both the city and state level. Katz represented Forest Hills, Rego Park, Kew Gardens and parts of Maspeth, South Elmhurst and Richmond Hill as City Councilmember from 2002 to 2009. She rose to Chair the infl uential Land Use Committee which, under her leadership, secured private-sector partnerships that led to the creation of over 15,000 units of affordable housing. She championed zoning measures that paved the way for redevelopment projects in all fi ve boroughs, while safeguarding communities from overdevelopment. Prior to being elected to the Council, Katz served as Director of Community Boards for Queens Borough President Claire Shulman, helping to develop city budget priorities, plan economic development projects for Queens, and designate sites for city facilities. Katz also represented Forest Hills, Rego Park, Middle Village and Glendale in the State Assembly from 1994 to 1999. During her tenure, she authored and helped pass 16 laws, including requiring HMO’s to provide women with direct access to critical gynecological services. She served as Chair of the Urban Health Sub-committee, and was responsible for bills that increased penalties for various forms of domestic abuse. Melinda also sponsored and passed the historic Kendall’s Law, which helps prosecutors pursue cases of long-term, repeated child abuse. WYCLIFFE E. WILKINSON Associate Director of Development Catholic Foundation for Brooklyn and Queens and Futures In Education Wycliffe E. Wilkinson is Associate Director of Development for the Catholic Foundation for Brooklyn and Queens and Futures In Education. He is an artist, philanthropist, scientist, and youth advocate who believes that the lack of opportunity should never deny children from realizing their full potential. He has also served as Chief Development Offi cer for La Salle Academy, a college-preparatory high school on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, as well as Director of Development of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hudson County, where he has been recognized multiple times for his efforts as a professional and volunteer. H H
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