By Emily Davenport via StarNetwork.com
It certainly was a night to remember at the second annual Star Network Kings of Long Island Awards and Networking Event.
On Thursday, April 6, nearly 500 people gathered at Leonard’s Palazzo in Great Neck to recognize 45 men from Nassau and Suffolk counties for their work in business and the community.
“You are the stars of tonight,” said Victoria Schneps, publisher of The Queens Courier and founder of the Star Network. “We are all thrilled to have you with us.”
CHECK OUT PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT HERE
The evening kicked off with a cocktail hour so honorees and their guests could mix, mingle and get to know each other better. The excitement was contagious.
“I would like congratulate all of my fellow honorees,” said Anil Kapoor, President & CEO of SVAM International and recipient of the Excellence in Technology Award. “It’s great to be here tonight.”
“I’m extremely honored to be here,” said Jeffrey Levy, Director of Development of New York and VP of Pennsylvania at EIHAB Human Services. “I’m very excited about tonight.”
Steven D. Lichtenstein, CLU, ChFC at Forest Hills Financial Group, agreed with Levy, saying, “It feels wonderful to be hanging out with a group of very successful businessmen and women from Long Island.”
Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos was in attendance that evening, offering his complements to all the honorees.
“I would like to congratulate you for your accomplishments,” said Comptroller Maragos. “Each one of you is an incredibly accomplished, and I know you have a lot more to give.”
As the night went on, everyone gathered in the main dining hall to receive their awards for the evening.
CHECK OUT PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT HERE
The Woman of the Year Award went to Kristin Thorne, Reporter for WABC-TV. The Excellence in Technology Award went to Anil Kapoor, President & CEO at SVAM International. The Family Business Award went to the LaSpina Family, proprietors at the Maple Family Centers. The Excellence in Healthcare Award went to Dr. Adhi Sharma, Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer at South Nassau Communities Hospital. The Champion Service Award went to Billy Richards. The Guests of Honor were Michael Faltischek, Partner at Ruskin Moscou Faltischek P.C., Robert B. Catell, Chairman of Advanced Energy Research & Technology Research Center for Stony Brook University and Dr. Yacov Shamash, Vice President of Economic Development at Stony Brook University.
Ashley Edwards, who was crowned Miss Long Island 2017, was also in attendance at the event.
This year’s incredible honorees included: George Andriopoulos, CEO & Founder of Launchpad Five One Six; Dean Bennett, President & CEO of J.K. Bennett & Associates, Inc.; Michael Billia, Senior VP, Regional Manager at Investors Bank; Dilip Chauhan, Director of Southeast/Asian Affairs at the Nassau County Comptroller Office; Tim Coleman, Director of Waiver and Family Support Services at Innovative Resources for Independence; Lance W. Elder, President and CEO at EAC Network; Paul Giotis, VP of Operations at EPIC Long Island; Ron Gold, Founder and President of Marketing Works; Peter Goldsmith, President and Chairman at LISTnet; Joe Graziose, Senior Vice President of Residential Construction at RXR Realty; Michael T. Hanley, Managing Partner at Michels & Hanley CPAs, LLP; Tariq Khan, President of Sentar Fuel Co., Inc., and Niats Realty Corp; David Kirschenbaum, Public Relations Manager at Neiman Marcus, Roosevelt Field; Dr. Krishan Kumar, Board of Trustees of American Association of Physicians of Indian Heritage and Professor & Chair of Pediatrics at Nassau University Medical Center; Dr. Kishore Kuncham, Superintendent of Freeport Public Schools; Stew Leonard Jr., President, CEO of Stew Leonard’s; Howard Levitt, Chair of Vistage; Jeffrey Levy, Director of Development of New York and VP of Pennsylvania at EIHAB Human Services; Steven D. Lichtenstein, CLU, ChFC of Forest Hills Financial Group; Raj Mehta, Chairman, CEO of Infosys International Inc.; Dr. Steven Mendelsohn, Chief Executive Officer of Zwanger Pesiri Radiology; Dr. Paul Mustacchia, Chairman of Medicine at Nassau University Medical Center; Brendan O’Brien, President of Gold Coast Wealth Management; Paule T. Pachter, Chief Executive Officer of Long Island Cares, Inc.; Eric Penzer, Estate Litigation Partner at Farrell Fritz, P.C.; Danny Pisani, Vice President/Director of Sales at Contour Mortgage Corporation; Jack Schnirman, City Manager of City of Long Beach; Walter Skinner, President of The Skinner Insurance Agency; Michael Smith, Executive Director at ACDS; Salvatore Spano, First Senior Vice President, Director of Retail Banking Employee Management at New York Community Bank; Nick Symanski, Business Development Manager at Flushing Bank; Joshua Thomas, Vice President of Operations at EIHAB Human Services; Matthew Thompson, Family Wealth Advisor at Morgan Stanley; Bill Waibel, President of A+ Stem Labs; Robert M. Werner, Senior VP of Operations, CFO of Parker Jewish Institute; Timothy Williams, Vice President of Santander Bank NA US; and Simon Zysman, Ph.D., President & Founder of Employee Assistance Resources Services, Inc.
CHECK OUT PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT HERE
The evening’s raffle raised nearly $4,000, thanks to a very generous donation by honoree Danny Pisani, who bid–and won–on the trip to Cancun. Proceeds from the raffles went to support EIHAB Human Services and The United Family Beacon House.
This event was sponsored by Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation, Investors Bank, Flushing Bank, D & F Development, New York Community Bank, Contour Mortgage, AgeWell New York, Forest Hills Financial Group, Stew Leonard’s, Zwanger Pesiri Radiology, Marketing Works, Broadway Stages, EIHAB Human Services, Bethpage Best of Long Island, Georgi Vodka, Neiman Marcus and Godiva.
The Star Network, a division of Schneps Communications, brings the most powerful and active members of the community into one room through many targeted events. These provide face-to-face networking, as well as business building and branding opportunities.
