32 THE QUEENS COURIER • FEBRUARY 22, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Young professionals shine at ‘Stars U
Schneps Communications Events celebrated the 2018 citywide "Stars Under 40."
Some of the most successful young professionals
in New York City brought their
family and friends for a night of celebration
at the annual “Stars Under 40”
Awards & Networking Event in Maspeth.
Hundreds of guests filled the
Knockdown Center on Fat Tuesday,
Feb. 13, to see Schneps Communications
Events recognize 48 of the city’s most outstanding
businesspersons, bankers, developers,
attorneys and entrepreneurs under
the age of 40. Th e honorees shared business
cards, enjoyed cocktails and food
catered by Bourbon Street and were presented
with a star-topped trophy for the
work they do in their businesses and communities.
“We’re very blessed and we’re very
delighted to have each one of you recognized
for what you do,” Victoria Schneps,
co-publisher of Schneps Communications,
told the honorees. “Each one of you has
made a diff erence in the communities you
live and work in, and you serve.”
Josh Schneps, Chief Executive Offi cer
for Schneps Communications, added that
one of the main reasons he enjoys this
event every year is the networking opportunity
it provides.
“I think the older that we get, the one thing
that we can value is relationships,” Schneps
said. “Part of it is recognizing you for what
you do individually or as part of your organization,
but the other part is just to get to
know some other people that potential-
ly can help you further things that you’re
looking to do, or maybe answer questions
or be someone you can trust in a diff erent
industry.”
Th e ceremony was highlighted by three
exceptional awards: Th e “Star of Stars”
was given to Gianna Gelosi, an anchor for
News 12 in the Bronx and Brooklyn; the
“Developer of the Year” was awarded to
Bentley Zhao, president of New Empire
Corp.; and the “Diversity Award” went
to Jennifer Fernandez, administrative
director for New Immigrant Community
Empowerment (NICE).
The 2018 “Stars Under
40” honorees were:
Stefano Barresi
Agent
New York Life
Adalberto Garcia
Agent
New York Life
Jeff Behounek
Senior Loan Offi cer
Meadowbrook Financial Mortgage Bankers Corp.
Monika Bialokur
Director of Digital Marketing & PR
Lyons Mortgage Services, Inc.
Raymond Castronovo
Attorney
FORCHELLI DEEGAN TERRANA LLP
Kaunteya Chitnis
VP / Senior Director of Acquisitions & Development
MCR Development
William White
Acquisitions & Development
MCR Development
Ramona Ciobanu
Director
Soccer Kids NYC/Founder, Smart Kids NYC
Jamie Claudio
Vice President, Marketing & Sales
Discover Long Island
Marlie Cohen, LMSW
Director of Agency Programming
Mid Island Y JCC
Stephen Di Dio
Vice President & Chief Marketing
& Communication Offi cer
Queensborough Community College CUNY
Danna DeBlasio
Vice President
Connelly McLaughlin & Woloz
Luisa Eusse-Roche M.S. Ed.
Director of Service Coordination
Human First, Inc
Meredith Friedman
Partner
VanHorn & Friedman, P.C.
Joe Gim
Assistant DA Nassau County
Nassau County District
Attorney’s offi ce
Azmat (Ozzy) Hussain
Manager, Entrepreneurial Service Group
Mazars USA LLP
Peter Matwijiw
Senior Tax Accountant
Mazars USA LLP
Brandon Newman won the trip to Cancun,
Mexico Century 21 Amiable II Realty Bunch of Balloons
One of the lucky raffl e winners.
Brandon Jeff ries
Teen Center Coordinator
Queens Library for Teens
Yarik Kim, CPA, CFA
Audit and Accounting Manager
Schwartz & Company, LLP
Joshua A. Lafazan
Legislator
Nassau County, District 18
Rafe Landano
Founder & President
United Sanative & Environmental
Alliance (USEA)
Dominique LaRosa, CHSP
Director of Corporate Sales
The Fox Hollow
Linda Lee, MSW
Executive Director
The Korean Community Services
of Metropolitan New York, Inc.
Joseph Y. Yun
Operations Manager
The Korean Community Services
of Metropolitan New York, Inc.
Rafe Lieber
Executive Vice President -
Business Development & Public Aff airs
Appellate Land Services Ltd
Adam Lombardi
First Central Savings Bank
Jake Medlinger
Director, Zimmerman/Edelson, Inc.
Michael Montuori
First Vice President
The Alpert Group of Wells Fargo Advisors