The biggest names in business, philanthropy and politics on Long Island gathered at Leonard’s Palazzo in Great Neck to network and receive awards as part of the annual Kings of Long Island event.
All of the 34 honorees are experts in their fields and leaders in their communities. The event recognized the kings’ accomplishments and allowed them to mingle and share each others’ stories.
“Each one of you has made a mark in your profession,” said Victoria Schneps, publisher of Schneps Communications.
Edward Mangano, the Nassau County Executive, was crowned the King of Nassau County. Mangano has acted as Nassau County Executive since 2010 and has cut over $330 million in wasteful spending since being elected.
“I’m honored to have been selected among all these wonderful leaders in industry, in charities and it’s just a wonderful event that’s going to raise money for important charities that’ll help make our country and our state an even better place to live, work and raise a family,” Mangano said.
The evening ended with a charity raffle, which also collected proceeds to be donated to Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Long Island Community Chest and Tourette Association of America.
For the first time this year, the Dan Murphy Memorial Award was given to Dr. Drew Bogner, the president of Molloy College. The award was named after the late Dan Murphy, a former chairman of the board of trustees at Molloy College and the co-chairman and CEO of Madison National Bancorp.
“Those of you who knew Dan know what a loss it was,” Bogner said. “Personally, [it was] very difficult to see what happens to someone when you were so young and so vital and there is so much you can contribute, and so we have kept the name Madison Theatre even though the bank is two mergers long gone, so it’s a testament to him. It’s a wonderful honor to actually receive the Dan Murphy Memorial Award for the first time.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpdH9r6i3CE&sns=em
The event also honored Joseph Ficalora, president and CEO of New York Community Bank, for his philanthropic work. Ficalora was named the Philanthropist of the Year for his role on several boards for organizations including the Foreign Policy Association, the New York Hall of Science, NewYork-Presbyterian/Queens, the Museum of the Moving Image, Flushing Cemetery and the Queens Museum of Art.
Ronald Fatoullah, the founder of Ronald Fatoullah & Associates and J.R. Wealth Advisors LLC, financial planning companies, said the award validates the hard work he has put in to his career.
“I’m so honored to be in the company of such esteemed honorees and it’s funny to say but I’ve worked so hard, 40 years in my career, and it’s just so wonderful for all the hard work that I do and I see that my fellow honorees are in the same boat,” Fatoullah said. “It’s wonderful for me to see that they are honored as well.”
The full slate of honorees looks like a “who’s who” of Long Island’s elite business leaders: Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano; Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone; Anthony Antonetti, Finance Director, Westbury Toyota; Jay Best, Founder and CEO, Green Audit USA; Michael Balzano, Branch Manager, Investors Bank; Joseph Battaglia, President, Senior Services of North America; Joseph N. Campolo, Managing Partner, Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, LLP; Tom Fabbri, Tom Fabbri International, LLC; Ronald Fatoullah, Founder, Ronald Fatoullah & Associates, J. R. Wealth Advisors, LLC; Howard Fensterman, Managing Partner, Abrams, Fensterman, Fensterman, Eisman, Formato, Ferrara & Wolf, LLP; Louis C. Grassi, CEO, Grassi & Co.; A. J. Jin, Executive Vice President, Director of Residential & Mixed Use & Small Multi-Family Lending, Flushing Bank; Ken Kern, Esq., Partner Genser Dubow Genser & Cona, LLP; Scott Laffie, Partner, Laffie Financial Group; Carl Lanzisera, Founder, Americans 4 Legal Reform; Derek Y. Law, Owner, Kissena Properties; Bishop Andy C. Lewter, D. Min.; Bert Lurch, CEO and Co-founder, E Central Medical Management, Inc.; Bernard Macias, Associate State Director, AARP Long Island; Joe Mandaro, Executive Director of Corporate and Special Events, Scotto Brothers; Ed Mangano, Nassau County Executive; Jonathan Mangano, Sr., President, Mangano Sewer and Drain; Joseph M. Mattone, Sr., Chairman & CEO, Mattone Group; John Miller, President & Chief Executive Officer, Tourette Association of America; Patrick Pinto, Chief Marketing Officer, On Top Visibility; Andrew Sama, CEO, Progressive Emergency Physicians; Steven Santino, First Vice President, People’s United Bank; Bob Savino, CEO/Founder, Automatic Industries; Paul Schmidt, Executive VP, Eastern American Data/Voice; Adam Schwam, CEO, Sandwire; Matt Silver, President, Ultimate Class Limousine ; Marvin J Soskil, President, Brett Harrison Jewelry Brokers, Inc.; and Mohinder Singh Taneja, President, American Diversity Forum, Inc.
The event was sponsored by New York-Presbryterian Queens, New York Community Bank, People’s United Bank, Flushing Bank, Investors Bank, Progressive Emergency Physicians, Mangano Plumbing, The Scotto Brothers, Sewer and Drain, Ronald Fatoullah & Associates, Laffie Financial Group, Raich Ende & Malter Co. llp, Mattone Group, Merritt Environmental Consulting Group, Sim Play, Servco Industries, Stop and Share Mobile Media, Sandwire, Godiva and Sipp Beverages.
