Nearly 650 people gathered to celebrate as women business and community leaders were honored at the Long Island Power Women in Business Awards and Networking Event also raising $2,500 for three local causes on Nov. 30 at Leonard’s Palazzo in Great Neck.
Honorees each took turns sharing the inspiration for their transformative work before mingling with friends, families and colleagues at the posh catering hall. Each then strutted her stuff down a catwalk to receive their award statue from Press co-publisher Victoria Schneps-Yunis.
“Being part of a group of women like this, with so much passion about what they do in life, both personally and professionally, was such an honor for me,” said Suzanne Brienza, Director of Meter Services for PSEG Long Island. “The energy you feel from powerful women makes you feel unstoppable. I am most proud of being part of an organization like PSEG Long Island, which values the development and promotion of women while providing me with the flexibility to be a mom to my three children.”
Click here to view a photo gallery from the event
Among this year’s special honorees were Nassau County Executive-elect Laura Curran; Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas; Linda Armyn, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Bethpage Federal Credit Union, who received the Community Leadership Award; Donna Drake, host of “Live It Up With Donna Drake on WLNY-TV;” “Dynamic Duo” Geri Gregor and Lisa Rispoli of Grassi & Co.; Jessica Kalra, attorney with David Gallo & Associates, LLP, who received the Diversity Champion Award; and Dr. Chetachi Nwoga-Ecton, CEO and President of the When in Need Foundation, who received the Hall of Fame/Global Giving Award.
Raffle proceeds were donated to the nonprofit Family & Children’s Association, The Retreat, a nonprofit that helps domestic violence survivors, and Metavivor, which raises funds for metastatic breast cancer research.
“We’re all about the women,” said honoree Juliana Curran Terian, President and CEO of Rallye Auto Group.” We want you to have an easier, softer, sweeter way when you have your car serviced, when you’re buying a car.”
The awards gave the honorees a moment to reflect on their successes.
“My most proud, successful accomplishment is that I’m the mother of five women,” said honoree Silvana Scotto, the self-described “Queen of fun,” proprietor of the Sagamore Bridge Club and woman behind several other ventures.
Others were profusely thankful.
“I am so touched that the leadership at Parker Jewish Institute for Health Cared and Rehabilitation nominated me for this award,” said Maureen Schneider, RN and Director of Corporate Admissions at the New Hyde Park-based Parker Jewish Institute. “It has been a pleasure, and a blessing in my life to work with such dedicated and professional people, whose only mission is to give quality care to our patients and residents.”
One honoree best summed up the the theme of the night — keeping the charitable holiday spirit alive year round.
“Every day is a good day just as long as we’re helping someone,” said Linda Armyn, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Bethpage Federal Credit Union, who received the Community Leadership Award.
This year’s 2017 Power Women honorees were:
Tara Anglim LCSW-R, ACHP-SW, Associate Director Palliative Care, Peconic Bay Medical Center-Northwell Health
MaryAnn Benzola , Director of Marketing, Custom Computer Specialists, Inc.
Suzanne Brienza, Director of Meter Services, PSEG Long Island
Anne Brigis, President & CEO, YMCA Long Island
Lisa Burch, VP & Chief Operating Officer, Family and Children’s Association
Nicole M. DeMichael-Cadena, Senior Vice President, Commercial Team Leader, Mid-Corporate Banking | HSBC Bank USA
Lisa A. Cairo, Partner, Jaspan Schlesinger, LLP
Pina M.Campagna, Partner, Carter, Deluca, Farrell, & Schmidt, LLP
Suzanne Chimera, Co-Founder, Hair We Share
Marian Conway, Ph.D., Executive Director, New York Community Bank Foundation
Joy DeDonato, Executive Director, Nassau Community College Foundation
Rhonda Pierson-Delorenzo, Vice President, Branch Manager, Flushing Bank
Dr. Sheetal Desai, Owner, Dynamic Physical Therapy & Rehab Services
Denise M. Faltischek, Executive Vice President, The Hain Celestial Group, Inc.
Maria Themistocleous-Frey, Founder & President, Executive Consultants of New York, Corp. & The ECNY Foundation
Karen C. Green, President, Karen C. Green Communications, Inc.
Katy Greene, Founder & CEO, Greene Digital Marketing LLC
Susan Hamblen, Real Estate Broker & Owner, Exit Realty Achieve
Tina Handras, SVP Retail Market Manager, Investors Bank
Eileen Hattersley, President and Breeder, Labradoodles of Long Island
Mary C. Hodge, Coordinator of Community-Based Day Hab and Head Coach of the Nassau Thunderbolts Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County
Patricia Clements Jaquay, Mortgage Loan Originator #1214012, American Advisors Group
Manda Kalimian, Founder, Cana Foundation
Heather A. Kollar, CEO, h2o cleanse
Dr. Karen Michele Kostroff, Chief, Breast Surgery, Northwell Health System
Lisa La Macchia, Senior Market Manager, VP, People’s United Bank
Jennine Rochlin Leale, CEO, HRPRO Consulting Services, LLC
Barbara Lehrer, Founder & President, The Beacon Group
Lisa Mirabile, Founder & CEO, Vertigo Media Group
Maureen Tara Nelson, CEO, MTN Matchmaking, Inc.
Wynne Nowland, Chairwoman & CEO, Bradley & Parker Insurance
Hillary Peckham, Chief Operations Officer, Etain, LLC.
Claudia Pilato, VP, Director of Marketing, Bridgehampton National Bank
Melissa Rose, VP of Marketing, Marketing Works
Silvana Scotto, Founder & President, Sagamore Bridge Club of Long Island
Maureen Schneider, RN, Director of Corporate Admissions, Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care & Rehabilitation
Tina Shah, President & CEO, Sterling Enterprise Corp.
Dee Lakhani Shravah, MetaBash Fundraiser Founder, Dee-termined.org
Juliana Curran Terian, President & CEO, Rallye Motors
Andrea Tsoukalas, Attorney, Forchelli, Curto, Deegan, Schwartz, Mineo & Terrana, LLP
Alissa L.Van Horn, Managing Partner, Van Horn & Friedman, P.C.
Carolyn Reinach Wolf, Executive Partner & Director, Mental Health Law Practice, Abrams Fensterman
Sponsors of the event include platinum sponsor Rallye Auto Group, PSEG Long Island, Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation, Bethpage Federal Credit Union, Investors Bank, Bradley & Parker, Sagamore Bridge Club, Flushing Bank, Greene Digital Marketing, Bridgehampton National Bank, Carter Deluca Farrell & Schmidt llp, National Grid, Raich Ende Malter & Co. LLP , People’s United Bank, Etain, Dynamic Physical Therapy & Rehab Services, P.C., Godiva, Bodian Dermatology, Daily News, Medcast and Sandwire. The event was hosted by the Long Island Press and Schneps Communications Events.
