for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com may 2, 2013 • women in business The Queens Courier 41 ▶women in business ✴MAY 9, 2013 ✴ ✴ ✴ CON EDISON BIG HEART AWARD Betty Braton Chair Community Board 10 Betty Braton, who has served as the chair of Community Board 10 since 1990, is a lifelong resident of the borough who has been active in numerous Queens civic and community groups for more than 40 years. Braton served as the president of her neighborhood civic association and groups active in Jamaica Bay and aviation issues prior to joining Community Board 10 and has remained active in many groups on those, as well as other topics, since. Braton also was employed as a teacher for more than 30 years in P.S. 202, Brooklyn. Professionally, she was an active participant in numerous schoolbased initiatives by writing grant applications and serving as the chair of her school’s Leadership Team as well as other school-based committees. She also served as a U.F.T. Chapter Leader during her career. CLAIRE SHULMAN COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD Alexandra Rosa Chief of Staff Borough President Helen Marshall For the past 25 years, Alexandra Rosa has served as Chief of Staff to Queens Borough President Helen Marshall and former Borough President Claire Shuman. Rosa plays a key role in the Borough President’s efforts to obtain a fair share of city funding for Queens. As senior policy advisor, she works with the Borough President and her staff to develop polices and implement programs that strengthen the borough and help its diverse residents meet the challenges of a global economy. Rosa holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and attended Columbia University Graduate School of Social Work. A proud Greek-American, she began her career with the Hellenic American Neighborhood Action Committee. She subsequently worked at City Hall with City Council Presidents Paul O’Dwyer and Carol Bellamy. She is a proud mother and Queens resident. CON EDISON BIG HEART AWARD Frances O. Scarantino President/Founder Reach for the S.T.A.R.S. Frances O. Scarantino is a native New Yorker, born and raised in Queens. When she was a year old, her family moved to Howard Beach, which she has called home ever since. Scarantino went to high school at St. Francis Prep, received her undergraduate degree in political science from Adelphi University in just three years, and went onto St. John’s University where she received two master’s degrees, one in politics & government and the other in public administration. Scarantino loves children. As the President/Founder of a successful non-profit youth organization in Howard Beach, Striving To Achieve & Reach Success, Inc. (S.T.A.R.S.), Scarantino runs various activities in the areas of recreation, education and self-development for many age groups in the youth center. Seeing the lack of programs for children of working parents in her area, Scarantino left her successful career in New York City government, working for the Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget, and decided to open her business. Reach For The STARS! includes a day care, an after-school program, and a classroom setting program for children ages three and four years old. The programs focus on development and education of these children and preparing them for their academic future. Reach For The STARS! has grown to include weekend enrichment programs such as Star Bright (a program for gifted and talented young children), Stella (an Italian and Sign Language class for children) and Test Prep (for children in second and third grade). Scarantino is also an up-and-coming writer. She writes a blog called “Let’s Talk About Kids”. She has also published her first book, entitled Felicia Gets Ready For Day Care, and two more books are on their way. In addition to Scarantino’s growing business and non-profit neighborhood youth center, she is involved in many aspects of the community. Among many other regional projects, Scarantino was the driving force behind the 2001 Hamilton Beach playground build. This was accomplished in a park where no prior playground existed and was accomplished entirely through donated funds and a volunteer workforce. Scarantino is currently the Immediate Past President of the Rotary Club of South West Queens Communities, a charter executive board member of the Sons of Italy, a member of the 106th Police Precinct Community Council and a member of the National Association of Day Care Providers. HUMANITARIAN AWARD Lois Christie CEO Christie & Co. Salon * Spa Founder and active CEO of Christie & Co., one of the largest salons in New York City, Lois Christie is an award-winning businesswoman and lecturer whois the first female president of the prestigious Intercoiffure America/Canada, which represents the best salons North America. Christie has been honored for her community service and has been recognized as one of the “Top Ten Women in Business”. She has also been honored by Mayor Michael Bloomberg as one of the “Business Women of the Year” and as one of the “20/20” Leaders” for her leadership and contributions to the community in both business and philanthropic areas. Among her other awards and honors: “Outstanding Achievement in Women’s Rights” from the Queens Woman’s Center of New York; “Humanitarian Award” and “Top Hat Award” from the American Cancer Society; “Women of Vision Award” from the Working Organization of Retarded Children (WORC); Wella’s “Winning Looks” Colorist of the Year; Clairol’s “Color Can make A Difference,” raising money for the fight against AIDS; Intercoiffure Artistic Achievement Award, the prestigious Intercoiffure Chevalerie Award from Intercoiffure Paris; and the “Leslie Blanchard Color Award.” Christie was also honored by Juvenile Diabetes for her outstanding work for children with that disease and was acknowledged for her work with the Intercoiffure World Congress in Japan 2004. Christie grew up in Queens and finished beauty school in Flushing, determined to be the best hairdresser and own her own business. Years ago, with a $1,500 loan from her uncle, she opened her first hair salon in Queens, a relatively small salon with four other hairdressers. However, not even she could have predicted that this venture would grow into one of the largest full-service salons in New York City, Christie & Co. Salon, located in the Bay Terrace Shopping Center. Her 8,000-square-foot salon has more than 70 employees, including 24 hairdressers and 16 colorists, who help provide services, ranging from basic salon services to very highly technical microdermabrasions, to nearly 250 clients each day. In serving three generations of clients, Christie and her staff have established a reputation within community for caring about their clients. Besides providing beauty services to its clients, Christies works with many local charities, including St. Mary’s Hospital.
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