Business and community leaders across Queens already know the value of networking and power breakfasts in growing their companies. Combining the two and adding a top level speaker such as U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand makes for a unique opportunity.
The Queens Courier will present just such an event – a "Power Breakfast" at the Water’s Edge Restaurant in Long Island City – on Thursday, August 19.
The networking event, which will feature special keynote speaker Gillibrand and will be covered by NY1 news, will be followed by a discussion panel with the senator that will touch on an array of topics including the economy, healthcare, education, jobs, transportation and immigration.
The panel (see bios below) will feature an expert in each field and will include such Queens luminaries as President James Muyskens of Queens College and Jack Friedman, executive vice president of the Queens Chamber of Commerce.
The panel of experts will field questions from the audience, moderated by Peter M. Meyer, New York City Market President for TD Bank.
Also sitting in on the panel will be Michael N. Rosenblut, president and CEO of Parker Institute for Healthcare and Rehabilitation; Caryn Schwab, executive director for Mt. Sinai Hospital in Queens; Arthur J. Torno, vice president-New York American Airlines; and Nestor Diaz, president of the Latino Lawyers Association of Queens County.
“We’re delighted to bring to our Queens leaders the opportunity to shake the hand of our U.S. Senator,” said Victoria Schneps-Yunis, co-publisher of The Queens Courier. “It is a wonderful chance to personally meet, greet and hear from someone who represents us in Washington.”
Gillibrand was sworn in as New York’s junior senator in January 2009, filling the seat vacated by current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Prior to her appointment, Gillibrand served in the House of Representatives, representing New York’s 20th Congressional District, which spans across 10 counties in upstate New York.
Space is limited, so purchase your tickets online now by going to qns.com/events. Tickets are $35 apiece or 10 for $300.
Jack Friedman
Executive vice president
Queens Chamber of Commerce
Jack Friedman has been a community leader in Queens for most of his adult life.
A graduate of Queens College and State University of New York at Oneonta, he was a business owner in the early 1980s and a member of Community School Board 26 for 10 years, serving on the New York State Joint Legislative Task Force to determine the future role of Community School Boards in New York City. His interest in civic matters began to expand as he served as president of the Cloverdale Gardens Co-op Board and later vice president of the Rocky Hill Civic Association.
In 2003, Councilmember David Weprin asked Friedman to be his chief-of-staff. In 2007, he was selected as the executive vice president of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, a position he still holds. As the Chamber’s executive, Friedman strategizes and counsels businesses, business organizations and not-for-profits throughout Queens.
James L. Muyskens
President
Queens College of the City University of New York
James L. Muyskens was appointed Queens College’s ninth president in July 2002.
Over the years at Queens College, Dr. Muyskens has guided the recruitment of hundreds of new faculty and overseen the completion of the renovation of Powdermaker Hall as well as the $30 million addition to Remsen Hall that now houses new chemistry laboratories. In fall 2009, he welcomed students to The Summit, the college’s first ever residence hall. Muyskens also spearheaded the college’s most ambitious capital fundraising campaign, which exceeded its goal of $100 million. Muyskens’ extensive administrative experience includes serving as Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for the 34-campus University System of Georgia. He also spent seven years as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Kansas. A graduate of Central College in Iowa, Muyskens earned a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Michigan.
Michael N. Rosenblut
President and chief executive officer,
Parker Jewish Institute
Michael N. Rosenblut is president and chief executive officer of Parker Jewish Institute, one of the nation’s preeminent health care and rehabilitation centers for older adults.
Rosenblut administers the institute’s highly regarded sub-acute/post-acute care, short-term rehabilitation and long-term care programs, as well as prominent geriatric medical education and research centers. He is also responsible for a wide-ranging constellation of community health care programs, encompassing one of the region’s largest adult day health care programs, Alzheimer’s day care, long-term home health care and community hospice programs. Under his stewardship, Parker has undertaken a variety of progressive clinical, management and environmental initiatives, including new programs in wound care, pain management, palliative care and behavior modification, a new computer infrastructure, and comprehensive building renovation and modernization.
Caryn A. Schwab
Executive Director
Mount Sinai Hospital Queens
Caryn A. Schwab has been a dynamic force in New York City health care for more than 20 years.
She began her career at the city’s Health & Hospitals Corporation in 1981 and soon moved on to City Hall – first as Chief of Staff to the First Deputy Mayor, overseeing more than 30 city operating agencies, and then as Healthcare Advisor to Mayor Ed Koch. Under her direction, Mount Sinai Hospital Queens has continued its mission of providing high-quality, compassionate care to the communities in the borough. She has launched a number of capital improvements and oversaw an expansion of medical services to better meet specific healthcare needs of the most ethnically diverse community in the world.
Arthur J. Torno
Vice President – New York
American Airlines, Inc.
He began his career as a flight attendant, but now as Vice-President of American Airlines — New York, Arthur J. Torno is responsible for airport operations and broad oversight of American’s strategic initiatives in the New York Market. He also works to strengthen, promote and advocate for American Airlines in the New York metropolitan area.
Previous to his position as Vice-President, Torno ran American’s Caribbean operations, which included the San Juan Hub along with 24 island destinations. He also spent three years running South American operations with an office in Santiago, Chile.
A native of Camden, New Jersey, Torno received a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from LaSalle University in Philadelphia in 1997.
He is in the process of relocating to New York City with his wife and three children.
Nestor Diaz
President
Latino Lawyers Association of Queens County
Nestor Diaz pursued a bachelor’s degree in government and public administration from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York.
After graduating, he began his public service career when he interned with the Bureau of Consumer Frauds and Protection in the New York State Attorney General’s Office. In 1985, Diaz began working for the FBI and was assigned to the Investigative Support Information Systems Unit, providing information to special agents in the field investigating acts of domestic terrorism. He left the FBI to study at St. John’s Law School in Queens. After graduating in 1989, Diaz continued in public service by working in the City of New York’s Human Resources Administration and the Administration for Children’s Services. He is currently in private practice where a large portion of his practice is dedicated to assisting immigrants. Aside from being the President of the Latino Lawyers Association of Queens County, Diaz is also General Legal Counsel to the New York Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and New York Dominican Officers Organization.
Peter M. Meyer
President, New York City Market
TD Bank
As president of TD Bank’s New York City Market, Meyer is responsible for commercial, retail branch operations and consumer lending.
He joined TD Bank in 2002 to execute the bank’s aggressive expansion into the Brooklyn/Queens market. In his current role, he oversees over 80 branches as well as numerous lending groups throughout all five boroughs.
Meyer began his banking career as a teller while attending St. Joseph’s College. He later attended Long Island University where he received an MBA.
He has held senior positions with various banks in New York City and has been instrumental in shaping loan programs and products for healthcare and nonprofit organizations. His position has afforded him the opportunity to provide greater access to capital for organizations delivering essential services to New Yorkers in need.
In addition to serving as a board member of St. Joseph College, Meyer is currently Chairman of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and serves on the boards of numerous nonprofit and civic organizations.
