70 THE QUEENS COURIER • BUZZ • FEBRUARY 15, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
VICTORIA’S
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Victoria
SCHNEPS-
YUNIS
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The Stars Shone Brightly
Although the skies
were heavy with rain
Saturday night, inside,
the Brooklyn Marriott was filled
with sparkling stars, there to celebrate
the 100th anniversary of
the powerful Brooklyn Chamber
of Commerce.
I hadn’t gotten up the escalator
before I was greeted by
an old friend waiting for her
friend. It was just the beginning
of an evening in which I saw
many friends dressed elegantly
and looking like movie stars
— because they are the stars
of our city, making a difference
every day.
My dear friend 87-year-old
developer and innovator Joe
Mattone, Sr. — who was one
of the honorees — was there
with his beautiful wife Mary
Ann, holding court during the
cocktail hour at a table in the corner
with his family and friends.
It was like old home week, seeing
retired judge Joe Golia and his
wife Rosalie. They were joined
by Vallo Transportation CEO
Linda DeSabato.
Joe -- along with Bruce Ratner,
another centennial honoree —
changed the face of downtown
Brooklyn in 1985 by building
MetroTech, the now centerpiece
of the area, and one of their
many projects in Brooklyn.
It was a treat to see Pam Brier,
another honoree, recognized
for her devoted, powerful leadership
in the healthcare world,
after having recently retired
from many years at the helm
of Maimonides Medical Center.
Under her leadership, I was a
Nurse for a Day and saw firsthand
her world-class neonatal
intensive care unit. One of her
recent achievements was planting
the seeds for Maimonides’
relationship with Northwell
Health.
What I particularly love about
going to a gala is seeing friends I
mostly communicate with online
or on the phone. The program
led off with greetings from Peter
Meyer, president of the New
York City Market for TD Bank,
who is devoted to the chamber
and who served as the centennial
chair. Under his leadership, the
event was a huge success, with a
packed, sold-out ballroom and a
thick journal filled with tributes
to the Chamber.
It was fascinating to read the
100-year timeline which traced
the Chamber’s history from
its beginnings to today, when
it was chosen by the Business
Council of New York State as
the Chamber of the Year. My
favorite moment of the night
was when I saw Chamber Chair
and dear friend Denise Arbesu
— who broke the glass ceiling
to become the Chamber’s first
woman and first Latino leader —
take the microphone to welcome
the massive audience.
She earned her position the
old-fashioned way, working
hard, coming to the Chamber
decades ago, knowing no one
and building relationships one
by one. She role
model and inspiration
for every
businessperson.
It was a
night also
c e l e brat -
ing another
dear friend
who has
devoted his
life and career
to public service
through his the energy sector
for over 50 years.
Robert Catell,
the former chair
of the Brooklyn Chamber and a
key figure in every leading business
group in New York City,
was the CEO of Keyspan. Our
lives have reconnected with his
latest project as chair of Stony
Brook University’s Advanced
Energy Research & Technology
Center. His knowledgeable contributions
to the university have
been reported in the Long Island
Press, one of my recent acquisitions.
Although the night
focused on his Brooklyn connections,
I know he carries his
unique and powerful knowledge
outside the borough’s borders.
Although I don’t know him,
Alan Fishman was another worthy
honoree. He has made endless
contributions through his
banking affiliations to non-profit
organizations such as my childhood
to-adulthood favorite, the
Ingrid I
Lewis-Martin, Denise Arbesu, Victoria Schneps, Joe Mattone Sr., Bruce Ratner and friends.
remarkable
Brooklyn
Academy
of Music
(BAM). His
leadership in
business circles
is renowned.
The
influential
Bedford Stuyvesant
R e s t o r a t i o n
Corporation —
which was created by the beloved
Robert Kennedy back in 1967 —
was also recognized. Everyone
knows how the integrated community
has become one of the
hottest neighborhoods in New
York City.
Tribute was also paid to the
Chamber’s past chairs, and
Andrew Hoan, the chamber’s
current president and CEO, also
recognized popular Borough
President Eric Adams in the
audience, which also included
former Borough Presidents
Marty Markowitz and Howard
Golden. Marty helped make
Brooklyn sexy, making it an
international “star.”
I was a guest of Investors
Bank, one of the sponsors of the
event. The bank’s Senior Vice
President & Market Executive,
stunning, stately Ana Oliveira,
took the stage to introduce videos
of the honorees, a great way
to present them to the huge
audience.
Andrew has continued to
make the Chamber a great organization
for business owners
looking to build their businesses.
Adding to the power of the
night was to see and give hugs to
Joyce and Frank Seddio, Frank
Carone, Dawn Simon from
Kings Plaza, National Grid’s
Dan Daly along with Renée
McClure, his right hand person,
dressed as a star. I was so happy
to see the Broadway Stages family
of Gina Argento, her brother
Anthony and husband John
Ciafone, who recently opened
a movie studio at the former
Arthur Kill prison site on Staten
Island. Anthony complained that
they filled every sound stage and
need more property. Any real
estate developers listening? The
company brings in millions of
dollars to the city coffers!
It was also great to see old
friend Ed O’Donnell of Chase
Bank who had served for many
years as chair of the board of the
organization I founded, Life’s
WORC.
Perhaps my favorite persons
were my son Josh’s mentors,
business leaders Elaine and
Norm Brodsky, and developer
Josh Muss who told me he
reads my column regularly --
keep reading, Josh!
I was happy to see my friends
Michael Perez from Dime Bank,
Phil Guarnieri from Empire
State Bank, Robin Lefkowitz of
Northfield Bank, and Northwell
Health - Maimonides, NYU
Langone Hospital - Brooklyn,
St. Francis College, NewYork-
Presbyterian Brooklyn
Methodist Hospital, Cushman
& Wakefield, Halstead
Property, Industry City,
Airbnb, Two Trees, DeSales
Media, St Joseph’s College and
Wells Fargo, and the table of
people from the YMCA. Our
friends from the Brooklyn
Cyclones and the Alliance for
Coney Island just added to the
fun!
The great thing about such a
grand celebration is that it also
brought out business partners
from the other boroughs. It was
great to see Cesar Claro, president
and CEO of the SIEDC, and
Linda Baran, CEO of the Staten
Island Chamber, as well as the
leaders of the Queens, New York
and Bronx Chambers.
Looking spectacular in her
gold sequined dress was the stunning
and smart Yvonne Riley of
TD Bank. The glamour of the
night was personified by brilliant
Ingrid Lewis-Martin, senior
advisor to the Brooklyn borough
president, who wore a stunning
midnight blue sequined gown.
Move over, Hollywood. You
may have your Oscar night, but
Brooklyn had its stars out, all
dressed for prime time, to commemorate
the powerful centennial
celebration of the Brooklyn
Chamber.
What a night!
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Gina Argento and Borough
President Adams
Andrew Hoan, president and CEO of Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, with Ana Oliviera and Biagio Madaio and the
Investors Bank team.