The Queens Courier will host its fourth annual “Rising Stars” awards and networking event on Thursday, January 26.
Presented by Metropolitan Hospitality, the evening will honor young professionals who exemplify outstanding leadership skills — not only in their chosen fields, but also in their community.
The “40 under 40” event will feature networking with top professionals and an expo with leading businesses in the area. There will also be a charity raffle to benefit Futures in Education and the Cerebral Palsy Organization.
So far, this year’s honorees include Akua Anokye, fund development associate at Jamaica YMCA; Dino Antzoulis, manager and vice president of TD Bank; Sara Banda, public affairs manager at Con Edison; Assemblymember Edward Braunstein of District 26; Marisa Breglio, tournament and fundraising manager at American Golf Corporation; Chaday Brown, consultant at Community Wellness & Benefits Consulting; Adrian Cardona, franchisee and broker at Rapid Realty; John Choe, founding director of One Flushing Community Economic Development; Judy Dular, vice president of Flushing Bank; Mohamad Faroqui, president and CEO of Malak Designs; John J. Glynn, crime prevention officer of the NYPD; Michel Hodge, assistant vice president for enrollment at York College; Jacqueline Herrera, acting director of clinics at PSCH Inc.; Jukay Hsu, founder of Coalition for Queens; Laura E. Imperiale, director of government affairs at Tully Construction Co., Inc.; Irfan Iqbal, president and CEO of Astoria Medical, Dental & Lasik Center; Jorge LaCourt, vice president and branch manager of Sterling National Bank; Greg Lavine, chief of staff for Councilmember Karen Koslowitz; Teresa Lisson, partner at Renaissance Event Hall; Ian Magerkurth, associate at The Driscoll Group; Assemblymember Grace Meng of District 22; Jonathan Morris, president of Quantech Corporation; Assemblymember Francisco P. Moya of District 39; Devon O’Connor, president and founder of Welcome to Whitestone Commercial & Residential Civic Association; Reena Panchal, consulting manager at Grassi & Co.; Tommy Petridis, owner of Maria’s Greek Fusion Restaurant; Vincent Renda, chair of Sunnyside/Woodside Boys & Girls Club; Rafael Reyes, senior mortgage banker at Advisors Mortgage Group; Nick Roberts, project manager of Flushing-Willets Point Corona LDC; Jennifer N. Santaniello, partner at Abrams, Fensterman, Fensterman, Eisman, Greenberg, Formato & Einiger, LLP; Michael Serao, vice president of Quontic Bank; Dmitriy Shpuntov, private mortgage banker at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage; Matthew Silverstein, democratic state committee person and project analyst of District 26 and America Works of NY Inc.; Michelle Kawka, photographer; Kafui Kouakou, chair of the University Student Senate Trustee CUNY Board of Trustees; Erin Liberti, director of operations at LakeVille Ambulette, Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation; Ross Wallenstein, political consultant and blogger; Tanya Whittmore, Medicare site developer at Healthfirst; Angelica Huynh, chief human resources officer at Queens Library; Jinpin Ying, CIO of the Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center; and Robert Fliegel, CFO of the Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center.
Sponsoring the event this year are Con Edison, Flushing Bank, New York Daily News, Parker Jewish Institute for HealthCare & Rehabilitation, PSCH Inc., TD Bank, CUNY and Queens County Savings Bank.
The “Star of Stars Award” will be presented to Mike Woods — meteorologist for Fox 5’s Good Day New York — while the “Rookie of the Year” award will go to Justin Lieu, a senior in Francis Lewis High School.
The event will take place at Citi Field in Flushing — at the Caesars Club — from 5 to 8 p.m.
To reserve your ticket, go to qns.com/events.
