THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
CREST HOLLOW COUNTRY CLUB

libn.com
 LONG ISLAND BUSINESS NEWS | 35

The Millennial Awards honors the bright and dynamic young professionals who are
part of the millennial generation, who contribute to the Long Island community
through public service and who have made significant strides in business. This is
the ultimate celebration of a generation.

Vice President and Publisher Event Manager

Scott Schoen Melissa Rose

Advertising Director Photographer

Joe Giametta Bob Giglione

Special Section Editor Designer

Suzanne Mobyed Michael Duntz

2016 HONOREES
36 MALISA ALI Women’s Fund of Long Island
36 JULIE ALLEGRETTI Center for Biotechnology
36 MICHELLE BLUM Nutrish Mish, Inc.
38 BRITTNEY BORRUSO Borruso Law
38 DANIEL BRANDEL CBRE
38 JOSEPH CALAMIA Sales Tax Defense LLC
39 CHRISTINE CESARINO Advantage Payroll Services
39 TROY DOUGLAS School Business Partnership of Long Island
39 MIKE FRICCHIONE Todd Shapiro & Associates Public Relations
40 ANDREA FRIEDMAN Friedman & Friedman
40 VINNY GALIANO Minion Made LLC
40 LISA GARDNER Wisselman, Harounian & Associates, P.C.
42 KATY GREENE Greene Digital Marketing and Farmingdale State College
42 RUTH GUZZONE Insurance Agent
42 TIMOTHY JAMES HATTER State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s Office
43 MICHAEL HAYNES Long Island Cares, Inc.
43 JOHN HOGAN Oxford Solutions
43 HOLLY KENNY Marcomm Group
44 JOSEPH KNOCKENHAUER Markowitz, Fenelon & Bank, LLP
44 KELSEY H. KNUTSEN Cullen and Dykman LLP
44 ADAM KOBLENZ Sahn Ward Coschignano, PLLC
46 BLAINE LIPKIN Zodiac Wealth Management
46 CHRISTINA MANERI Capital One
46 JOHN MANLEY AVZ
47 HENRY MASCIA Rivkin Radler LLP
47 HAYLEY MAYER Prager Metis CPAs, LLC
THURSDAY, SE
PTEMBER 15, 20
16
6:00 PM - 9:00
PM 47 PAXTON MITTLEMAN The H Factor Media
CREST HOLLOW
COUNTRY CLUB
48 HILARY MOREIRA Bond, Schoeneck & King
48 DAVID OKSENHORN Marcum LLP
48 ROBERT RENDA Forchelli, Curto, Deegan, Schwartz, Mineo & Terrana, LLP
50 JOHN SANDERS The Black Business Alliance
50 MARY SANTOLI Prager Metis CPAs, LLC
50 AMANDA SEXTON Markowitz, Fenelon & Bank, LLP
51 RYAN SIRICO The Public Relations and Marketing Group
51 AMY SMITH Hofstra University Career Center
51 CHRISTINA SOLOW Advantage Payroll Services
52 MADELINE SPETRINO Marcomm Group
52 BILL STUBBS Autronic Plastics, Inc.
52 DANIEL VAILLANT Meyer Suozzi English & Klein, P.C.
libn.com
54 GINO VENEROSO North Brookhaven Chamber of Commerce
54
54
55
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MAURICIO VIDES WebDesignYou
CANDICE VOTKE PR4Lawyers
ELIZABETH WEGLARZ Compass Workforce Solutions, LLC
55 JILLIAN WESTON Jillian’s Circus
55 DR. HALLIE ZWIBEL NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine
36 I LONG ISLAND BUSINESS NEWS
MALISA ALI
■ Age: 26
■ Company name and title: Director of Programs, Women’s
Fund of Long Island; Adjunct Professor, St. Joseph’s
College; CEO, MissLongIsland.com
■ Twitter handle: @FeministMalisa
■ Education: PhD Student, Fordham University, 2018
■ How many hours do you sleep? Not enough!
■ What do you eat for breakfast? It varies but I like my
Grande Caramel Iced Coffee!
■ What is on your home screen? It alternates between
Oprah and Rihanna. Do you blame me? Oprah Winfrey is
my hero. She is the reason I work to empower women and
the reason I am an aspiring talk show host. Rihanna is the
ultimate millennial as she is resilient and unapologetic, and
I admire those qualities.
■ What app can’t you live without? Does email count? I
check it too often! I also like to get my daily affirmations on
the Spirit Junkie app.
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
participate in? Facebook. Ironic as I run social media
for my organization and love doing so. I do feel serious
peer pressure to join and as I launch my new business,
MissLongIsland.com, I think I may have to make a profile.
■ What is your favorite city; why? Don’t make me choose
between London and Venice! I actually just studied abroad
in London as part of my doctoral program. I was always
obsessed with the city and it did not disappoint. Venice is
breathtaking and the days I spent there were my happiest.
■ Who is your favorite music artist? Rihanna and M.I.A.
■ What keeps you up at night? My dreams. I really, really
want to make an impact in the world. I stay up all night
just thinking about the different ways I can uplift women
and make a change in my community. There’s so much I
want to do!
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
most people don’t know: We’re not all glued to our phones
or obsessed with celebrity news. We are conscious
changemakers who are hardworking and goal-oriented.
■ What about your job most excites you? I love working
with youth! I run a leadership program for high school girls
and I have worked with almost 150 girls in the last three
years. I mentor these girls and teach them leadership skills.
I introduce them to concepts like intersectional feminism,
which they love.
■ What do you look for in an employer? I look for an
organization that has a vision and mission that aligns
with my own. It should embrace diversity and see it as a
strength. I also like an employer that values flexibility and
promotes a positive office culture.
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
traveling? I prefer to work from home because I am a
student and I need that flexibility. Working while traveling
sounds very appealing, but free Wi-Fi is not always a
guarantee.
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? Handwritten thank you notes, respect for
elders, face to face conversations, and etiquette.
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? I think
the answer is obvious- Oprah Winfrey. Oprah, if you’re
reading this, I think “The Malisa Ali Show” is going to be the
next big thing! We need a conscious millennial talk show!
JULIE ALLEGRETTI
■ Age: 28
■ Company name and title: Programs Assistant, Center for
Biotechnology
■ Twitter handle: @LadyJ_LI
■ Education: AS, Criminal Justice – Farmingdale State
College, 2010. BS Security System, Aviation – Farmingdale
State College, 2009. AS, Liberal Arts and Sciences –
Farmingdale State College, 2007
■ How many hours do you sleep? 7.5 hours
■ What do you eat for breakfast? Coffee and cereal
■ What is on your home screen? On my home screen is a
picture of a tranquil beach scene.
■ What app can’t you live without? Starbucks because
I enjoy their food and beverages. They also offer a great
customer rewards program.
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
participate in? I like to try all new platforms before I would
refuse to participate in them. As Co-VP of the Social Media
Association it is essential that I am aware of the different
avenues of online networking. I have found over time I have
lost interest in using Periscope and Google+.
■ What is your favorite city; why? My favorite city is
Huntington, NY because there is always something to do.
There is plenty of shopping, restaurants, beaches and
concerts/shows.
■ Who is your favorite music artist? My favorite music
artist is the famous Long Islander, Billy Joel.
■ What keeps you up at night? My friends moving out of
state because of the high cost of living here on Long Island.
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
most people don’t know: We are hardworking individuals.
Most people I know hold more than 1 job, continue their
education and volunteer.
■ What about your job most excites you? What excites me
about my job is the opportunity to network with people of
diverse backgrounds. Together we share fresh ideas and
different perspectives on business and technology.
■ What do you look for in an employer? I look for someone
who has open means of communication, allows me to
expand my ideas and gives me the opportunity to develop
my leadership skills.
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
traveling? I prefer to be in the office where I can exchange
ideas and useful tools with my colleagues.
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? I think it is important that people
remember the value of family because they are always
there to support you.
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? I would
pitch Melissa Joan Hart because she is a native Long
Islander who has been successful in a number of industries.
She developed a clothing line King of Harts where proceeds
benefit various non-profit organizations.
MICHELLE BLUM
■ Age: 28
■ Company name and title: Owner/Nutritionist at Nutrish Mish
■ Twitter handle: @Nutrish_Mish
■ Education: Hofstra BS in Exercise Science, Queens BS in
Nutrition and currently pursuing masters at Stony Brook in
Nutrition
■ How many hours do you sleep? Anywhere from 4-8
depending on my schedule and time of year.
■ What do you eat for breakfast? I almost always have
a protein shake with 1 scoop of Nutrish Mish Chocolate
Protein Powder, 1 cup cold brew coffee, ½ cup chocolate
unsweetened almond milk, and frozen strawberries. This
gives me lots of energy and keeps me feeling full through
my crazy mornings.
■ What is on your home screen? The Nutrish Mish logo
■ What app can’t you live without? Evernote is great for
keeping me organized.
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
participate in? None that I refuse to participate in, but I
put my energy into the ones that my demographic uses the
most. I use Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Twitter, Pinterst,
Snapchat and Periscope.
■ What is your favorite city; why? NYC of course! All cities
have their own unique personality, but none like New York,
just because we live here, we can’t take it for granted!
■ Who is your favorite music artist? Dave Matthews Band
■ What keeps you up at night? Since I am not seeing clients
at night, it is the time I can think about the business. I am
constantly thinking about new ideas.
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation
that most people don’t know: We have such a unique
perspective because we can remember a time before cell
phones and Facebook, but we are still young enough to
have incredible comfort with technology. I think every
generation has its’ criticism about the generation coming
up, the only difference is now, we have a global platform
to have a conversation about it, so the differences are
highlighted in a way they never have been before.
■ What about your job most excites you? I have the best job
in the world, I get to help people every single day become
healthy. Weight loss and good nutrition are so difficult
because the diet industry has failed us. We see thousands of
people who have struggled with food and weight their entire
lives. To have the ability to take that struggle away from
someone is very powerful and rewarding.
■ What do you look for in an employer? In an employee I
look for someone with a passion to help people. I can teach
employees nutrition and counseling strategies, but I can’t
teach them to care.
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office, traveling?
I prefer to work in my office. I feel when I work from home or
while traveling, I am not as focused as I want to be.
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? I think taking the time to genuinely
connect with people is important. My mom always made us
have dinner together every night as a family, and I think that
is a great example of something we need to do more of.
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? I love
Bethenny Frankel. I think it is amazing how she made
something out of nothing, and I love her honesty and
attitude. Collaborating with her would be a highlight for sure!
38 I LONG ISLAND BUSINESS NEWS
BRITTNEY BORRUSO
■ Age: 28
■ Company name and title: Owner/Counsel, Borruso Law
■ Education: J.D., Cardozo School of Law 2013, B.A.,
Fairfield University 2010
■ How many hours do you sleep? Depends on the day, but
I try to get a good night sleep for a productive day and
healthy life.
■ What do you eat for breakfast? Coffee and fruit or
oatmeal during the week; bagels or pancakes on the
weekend.
■ What app can’t you live without? My email, is that an
app?
■ What is your favorite city; why? Long Beach, NY —
the “City by the Sea”, there’s so many things to do there —
from outdoor activities, to dinner and drinks. The views are
pretty amazing, and it always feels alive with people. I feel
really lucky to be able to live near somewhere that most
people consider a vacation.
■ Who is your favorite music artist? Red Hot Chili Peppers,
Incubus and Foo Fighters
■ What keeps you up at night? Ideas and things to
remember to do the next day.
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
most people don’t know: We work a lot harder than people
think we do. We’re ushering in a wave of small business and
shopping local, and we know that people think we spend
too much time on social media, but it helps to build our
businesses!
■ What about your job most excites you? The ability to
shape and create it. Owning my own law office means I
am responsible for all aspects of it, i.e. marketing, bringing
in clients, retaining clients, and doing the legal work. It’s
equal parts exciting and nerve wracking to know that my
success is in my hands only.
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
traveling? I like working from home
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? Networking and ensuring that you follow
up with those you meet.
DANIEL BRANDEL JOSEPH CALAMIA
■ Age: 30 ■ Age: 32
■ Company name and title: First Vice President ■ Company name and title: Tax Manager at Sales Tax
at CBRE, Inc. Defense LLC
■ Twitter handle: Not on Twitter ■ Twitter handle: @JoeCPAlamia but I don’t use it too
much
■ Education: Bachelor of Science, Major Finance. The Ohio
State University, 2008 ■ Education: I will finish obtaining my Master’s Degree in
Taxation in the summer of 2017
■ How many hours do you sleep? 8
■ How many hours do you sleep? 6
■ What do you eat for breakfast? Fruit
■ What do you eat for breakfast? Greek Yogurt
■ What is on your home screen? A picture of my wife and I
■ What is on your home screen? I just leave the stock
■ What app can’t you live without? ESPN photo that’s there when you buy the phone. I always
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to jokingly say that it gives my phone that “new phone” look.
participate in? I do not necessarily refuse, however I am
■ What app can’t you live without? Rotoworld
not on Twitter, Instagram or Snapchat. The only social
platforms I am on are LinkedIn and Facebook. I primarily ■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
use LinkedIn for professional purposes and Facebook for participate in? I don’t use them all, but there’s none I
personal use only. refuse to use.
■ What is your favorite city; why? New York City – New ■ What is your favorite city; why? New York City because it
York City and the tristate area provides an opportunistic has everything.
environment with excellent amenities and perks.
■ Who is your favorite music artist? Three Days Grace
■ Who is your favorite music artist? Eric Church
■ What keeps you up at night? Nothing
■ What keeps you up at night? There is not much that
keeps me up at night, I am a great sleeper! Although
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
most people don’t know: Like all groups, we’re not all the
flexibility is important to me, I typically have all of my work
same and we don’t all fit into the stereotypes. If I’m not
for the day completed no matter what time I need to work
on the phone when people talk to me, they always seem
until. I try to not go to bed with unfinished work.
shocked.
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
most people don’t know: Flexibility in a work schedule is
■ What about your job most excites you? We work with
businesses in every industry so I’m always learning about
very important. I find that many millennials do not want to
something new.
be constricted to a permanent work schedule. Jobs which
inspire creativity and team-work oriented environments ■ What do you look for in an employer? Someone who
are ideal. cares about doing a good job and wants to be the best at
what they do. After all, if I have to work, I might as well do
■ What about your job most excites you? There are truly no
it right.
limits to what you can achieve in my position. The position
requires me to be creative and intelligent in my thinking. ■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
What excites me the most is achieving results that exceed traveling? The office. It’s where I’m the most productive.
my client’s expectations.
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
■ What do you look for in an employer? Flexibility, benefits, important today? There are many of them, but I’m going to
fair compensation and good people to work with. say opening the car door for your date. I think it helped me
score points with my wife when we first started dating.
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
traveling? Primarily from my work office. However, we ■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? Elon
now have laptops so I always have that with me. I am Musk because he thinks outside the box.
available 24/7.
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? Regardless of the changes in generations
and the work environments, treat your family, friends and
colleagues with the same level of integrity, fairness and
respect and follow morals which you were brought up with.
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? The
person who has a real estate need that they can’t seem to
resolved, that I can work with to develop a solution for them.

CHRISTINE CESARINO
■ Age: 33
■ Company name and title: Executive Assistant to the
President, Advantage Payroll Services
■ Twitter handle: No twitter!
■ Education: BA in History, 2005, LIU: CW Post
■ How many hours do you sleep? With a new baby in the
house, as many as I can!
■ What do you eat for breakfast? With two kids my day starts
really early so I usually eat two breakfasts. Usually a protein
bar to start. Later on, a Greek yogurt, some turkey bacon and
fruit. And maybe a protein shake if I’m really hungry.
■ What is on your home screen? A picture of my kids.
■ What app can’t you live without? It’s a pretty boring
selection. MapMyRun, MyFitnessPal and the Weather
channel app are my must-haves.
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
participate in? I wouldn’t say I refuse, but I don’t use most
of them – I’m only on Facebook. We spend too much time
looking at our phones!
■ What is your favorite city; why? Rome. It’s incredible
that people who live in Rome go about their day to day lives
amongst the ruins of one of the greatest cities ever built.
It’s also a beautiful city. The food and wine isn’t bad either.
■ Who is your favorite music artist? I pretty much listen
to everything, but as a Y2K child, I’ll take anything 90’s –
Britney, Backstreet Boys, Blink 182, Nirvana, Green Day,
Alanis. I’m a huge fan of Billy Joel too.
■ What keeps you up at night? I’m definitely stressing over
if I’m leaving the world a better place for my children. If I’m
making a positive difference every day in some way, and if
my daughter will have even more opportunities as a woman
that I had.
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
most people don’t know: We work just as many hours as
our parents. They are just spread out differently from the
traditional 9-5 job.
■ What about your job most excites you? I come in every
day and my responsibilities or my tasks are different from
the previous day, which keeps my job fresh. I also enjoy the
fact that I’m supported by my boss, so it gives me space
to be creative, take initiative on new projects and work
independently.
■ What do you look for in an employer? Someone who
supports my efforts, my professional development and
believes in a work life balance, which is really important
to me. An office with a great corporate culture and a great
team of people to work with is important as well.
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
traveling? I like coming into the office. I enjoy being a
member of a team, the watercooler chit chat, sharing ideas.
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? I still think family time is important. I
grew up with a large extended family and memories of our
loud holidays are some of my favorites. I hope to create the
same for my children, starting with something as simple as
eating dinner together every night.
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? Warren
Buffet. He’s definitely a personal idol of mine and I’d love
to pitch him then take him to lunch and pick his brain.The
man is not only a genius, but his personal philanthropy
inspires me.
LONG ISLAND BUSINESS NEWS | 39
TROY DOUGLAS MIKE FRICCHIONE
■ Age: 26 ■ Age: 28
■ Company name and title: I currently work as Mechanical ■ Current job and title: Vice President, Todd Shapiro &
Engineer for the Customer Solutions Department at Festo Associates Public Relations
Corporation in Hauppauge. I design custom automation
systems for various companies across the U.S. and around
■ Twitter handle: @mfricch
the globe. ■ Education: B.A. Loyola University Chicago 2008; M.A.
Fordham University 2011
■ Twitter handle: @PyriteAlchemist
■ How many hours do you sleep? Not enough.
■ Education: Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering,
Stony Brook University, 2012 and a Bachelor of Engineering ■ What do you eat for breakfast? The news.
in Mechanical Engineering, Stony Brook University, 2012
■ What is on your home screen? Currently, it’s a
■ How many hours do you sleep? 6 velociraptor riding a shark.
■ What do you eat for breakfast? I usually eat oatmeal with ■ What app can’t you live without? Newsday, and of course
apples Long Island Business News.
■ What is on your home screen? A picture of my girlfriend ■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
and I at the Fire Museum in Charleston, SC. participate in? Pinterest. I won’t do it.
■ What app can’t you live without? Amazon ■ What is your favorite city; why? Rome - La città eterna.
To walk on the same ground as some of ancient history’s
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
greatest and most notorious actors, while also eating a
participate in? Vine, never really saw the point.
gelato or drinking a beer, always gives me a surreal feeling
■ What is your favorite city; why? That would definitely when I think about it.
have to be New York City. Just the level of energy and
excitement, regardless of the time of day. I love the fast
■ Who is your favorite music artist? David Bowie
paced atmosphere! ■ What keeps you up at night? Grizzly Bears and caffeine
■ Who is your favorite music artist? I would have to say ■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
Halestorm. most people don’t know: We’re actually not that different
than every other generation. We’re all taking selfies now.
■ What keeps you up at night? I tend to be a bit over
You’re welcome.
analytical, and that can sometimes lead to overthinking
situations. ■ What about your job most excites you? The crisis
situation that blindsides everyone on some idle Tuesday.
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
most people don’t know: There are so many people striving ■ What do you look for in an employer? A sense of humor,
for and achieving success by making their own way and creative license, and the ability to write checks.
taking the road less traveled.
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
■ What about your job most excites you? I never work on traveling? Beds, beaches and trains are the optimal places
the same thing twice. Every day is something new and I’m for writing press releases. The office works too.
always learning about new technology and ideas.
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
■ What do you look for in an employer? I look for stability, important today? Loyalty
room for growth, atmosphere, and charity.
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? Director
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office, Wes Anderson
traveling? That really depends. While I do enjoy the
peace and quiet from working at home, I truly enjoy the
camaraderie that has formed with all of my coworkers.
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? I would have to say, saying please and
thank you, holding the door for people, and even just giving
people a simple smile or hello when passing.
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? I would
have to say my brother. Despite all of the hardships and the
fact that we sometimes fight as brothers do, he’s always
seemed to come out with a smile and we always have a
blast with everything that we do.
40 I LONG ISLAND BUSINESS NEWS
ANDREA FRIEDMAN
■ Age: 31
■ Company name and title: Friedman & Friedman, Partner
■ Education: B.A. from The George Washington University;
J.D. from Hofstra University, School of Law
■ How many hours do you sleep? 7-8 during the week
■ What do you eat for breakfast? Cereal with milk and
blueberries
■ What is on your home screen? Picture of the ocean water
from the Cayman Islands
■ What app can’t you live without? Open Table
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
participate in? Twitter
■ What is your favorite city; why? Manhattan (Isn’t it
everyone’s favorite city?) I also love Florence, Italy. I studied
abroad there during college and I absolutely loved it.
■ Who is your favorite music artist? I have always enjoyed
Billy Joel. I have been listening to his music since I was a
little girl.
■ What keeps you up at night? I usually sleep well so if I
am up it is because I feel overwhelmed.
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
most people don’t know: I cannot speak for the entire
generation, but as for me, I think most people do not know
how important it is to succeed based on your own efforts
and hard work.
■ What about your job most excites you? Helping my
clients. The issues my clients face are the most difficult
times in their lives. To be able to not only support them,
but actually see a difference in their lives because of my
help is extremely gratifying.
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
traveling? From the office.
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? To treat others the way you want to be
treated. To be honest and work hard because there are no
short cuts in life.
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? Sarah
Jessica Parker. I have always liked her and would enjoy
getting to know her and telling her about myself.
VINNY GALIANO LISA GARDNER
■ Age: 25 ■ Age: 33
■ Company name and title: Minion Made – Founder & ■ Company name and title: Senior Associate; Wisselman,
CEO; Mother Mantis – Founder & CEO; Setup The Upset – Harounian & Associates, P.C.
Founder & CEO; The BEAT Dance Tour – Founder & CEO.
■ Twitter handle: @gidgetlmg
■ Twitter handle: @Galiano
■ Education: BA, University of Michigan, 2004; JD Hofstra
■ Education: Bachelors Degree in Business Management, University School of Law, 2008
Farmingdale State College, Class of 2014.
■ How many hours do you sleep? 7-8
■ How many hours do you sleep? 6 to 7 Hours
■ What do you eat for breakfast? Protein shake and Ezekiel
■ What do you eat for breakfast? Egg sandwich toast with peanut butter
■ What is on your home screen? My fiancé ■ What is on your home screen? A photo of me and my
husband at a recent wedding we attended.
■ What app can’t you live without? My music & photos
application. ■ What app can’t you live without? Google
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to ■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
participate in? Google+ participate in? Snapchat
■ What is your favorite city; why? Dallas, TX. I love the ■ What is your favorite city; why? My hometown: Okemos,
cleanliness and friendly, family oriented atmosphere. Michigan; I haven’t lived there since I graduated high school.
I very rarely get to go back but it still feels like home.
■ Who is your favorite music artist? James Bay and
John Mayer ■ Who is your favorite music artist? Dashboard
Confessional
■ What keeps you up at night? Mentally preparing for the
next day. ■ What keeps you up at night? My to-do list
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that ■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
most people don’t know: The millennial generation is most people don’t know: We have very high student
incredibly versatile and innovative. Our inherent ability loan debt as a generation. It has a big impact on the life
to utilize technology to our advantage has changed how decisions we make, such as what job we work, and if, or
businesses operate, maximizing efficiency and streamlining when, to get married, have children or buy a house.
business operations.
■ What about your job most excites you? It’s challenging
■ What about your job most excites you? Working with and there is always an opportunity to learn something new.
aspiring start-up companies and entrepreneurs. Their
■ What do you look for in an employer? Trust and respect
creativity and exciting optimism is contagious, making each
and every project different from the next. ■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
traveling? Office
■ What do you look for in an employer? I have always been
self employed. However, when looking for an employee, I ■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
look for versatility. Working with thousands of companies important today? Good manners
in all different industries forces you to become versatile in
your creativity.
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
traveling? Home, for sure. However, I think it’s important to
travel and work remotely every now and then.
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? Respect and loyalty are two qualities and
values that I hold in the highest regard. Respect and loyalty
I believe are essential to success and happiness for your
family life and business.
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be?
Mark Cuban
42 I LONG ISLAND BUSINESS NEWS
KATY GREENE
■ Age: 27
■ Company name and title: Digital Media Manager,
Farmingdale State College. CEO & Founder, Greene Digital
Marketing LLC. Member, Moxxie Mentoring Foundation
■ Twitter handle: @KatyGreene14
■ Education: BA SUNY Cortland, Adolescent Education
Social Studies 7-12, Political Science 2010. Dowling
College, MBA 2014. SUNY Stony Brook MS Higher Education
Administration – Anticipated 2018
■ How many hours do you sleep? 8
■ What do you eat for breakfast? Egg Sandwich/ Oatmeal/
Yogurt depending on the day
■ What is on your home screen? Basic background image –
Apps include Mail, Calendar, Photos, Camera, Clock, Notes,
App Store, Settings, Maps, Weather, Chrome, HulloMail
■ What app can’t you live without? Trello, Drive, Spotify,
Audible
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
participate in? YikYak
■ What is your favorite city; why? New York, NY. Although I
love traveling to different cities and experiencing different
things, there is no place like home.
■ Who is your favorite music artist? Ian Anderson – Jethro Tull
■ What keeps you up at night? New ideas. I always keep
a notebook by my bedside so I can quickly jot ideas down
when I wake up and then as soon as they are written down,
I can go back to sleep.
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
most people don’t know: We are trying to make our way
just like any other human on this earth. We have the
same cares and concerns as previous generations – we
just may go about our solutions in different ways and
with different tools.
■ What about your job most excites you? At Farmingdale, I
enjoy working with the students and strategizing them how
to engage the campus on social media. I also love that I get
to work with Faculty, Staff, and the local officials to make
initiatives.
■ What do you look for in an employer? Professional
development opportunities, mentorship, and security.
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
traveling? I would prefer to work from home.
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? Communication – Picking up the phone,
sitting down in person, etc.
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? No one in
particular but whoever that one person is, I’m ready!
RUTH GUZZONE TIMOTHY JAMES HATTER
■ Age: 24 ■ Age: 33
■ Company name and title: Insurance Broker/ Producer. ■ Company name and title: Long Island Director of
Company: Monumental Properties - Sales consultant for new Intergovernmental Affairs for NY State Attorney General
construction homes. Long Island Inc. AKA LIincs - Treasurer. Eric T. Schneiderman
■ Twitter handle: Don’t have one ■ Twitter handle: @TJ22Hatter
■ Education: Property and Casualty License & Life and ■ Education: BA SUNY Oswego 2005, J.D. University of
Health Certificate from Insurance Licensing Institute. I Tennessee 2011, MSc University of Edinburgh 2012
also did a year and half of college at Tompkins — Cortland
■ How many hours do you sleep? I don’t really. I rest my
Community College, but I switched majors 3 times. I realized
eyes on occasion.
I liked learning from real experiences then from a textbook.
■ What do you eat for breakfast? Water - that’s it.
■ How many hours do you sleep? I get 8 hours of sleep and
try to be in bed by 9pm. I like to go to sleep early so I can ■ What is on your home screen? A picture of the Tammany
wake up for the gym early too. Tiger. A regular reminder to keep fighting for good people.
■ What do you eat for breakfast? I either drink a protein ■ What app can’t you live without? Twitter. I’m addicted.
shake with berries, have a protein bar, or one egg with
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
cheese and hot sauce on a toasted English muffin.
participate in? No. My friends normally convince me that
■ What is on your home screen (phone)? It is a bible scripture they’re a good idea, even if I drag my feet. I just joined
with a picture of my mom and I. We are both named Ruth! Instagram. On my first Instagram post, both my mother and
best friend heckled me for taking so long to join. Yes, that’s
■ What app can’t you live without? LinkedIn and my GPS.
right, my Mother.
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
■ What is your favorite city; why? Can’t pick just one.
participate in? Not that I know of yet.
Jerusalem, Edinburgh, London and New York all mean a lot
■ What is your favorite city; why? Burbank, California. I was to me. I came the long way around.
majoring in radio/tv and my teachers nominated me to go
■ Who is your favorite music artist? Noel Gallagher and
work in Burbank for an internship where I was working on TV
John Mayer.
sets. The second I got off the plane I felt I fit right in Cali!
■ What keeps you up at night? Anxious to start the next
■ Who is your favorite music artist? Meghan Trainor and
day at work.
G-Eazy
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
■ What keeps you up at night? Insurance terms, numbers,
most people don’t know: We’re not waiting on the world to
and my future.
change anymore. We’re ready to start doing it. And we’re
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that mindful that it’s not going to be easy.
most people don’t know: Some people are put in negative
■ What about your job most excites you? Every day, I wake
environments or situations which led them to believe that
up, and I know that I work for the best elected official in
they are not good enough. With patience, hard work, and
the State of New York and that we’re changing lives for the
determination the circumstances will eventually change--
better. That’s my idea of heaven.
that door WILL open up. When it does open, that is your
chance to break free and unleash the inner entrepreneur ■ What do you look for in an employer? Eric T.
and leader you were meant to be. Schneiderman. The tone that Eric sets makes you wake up
every morning grateful and ready to do your utmost. Good
■ What about your job most excites you? Competition! As
people always surround a workplace like that, and then you
well as helping others which is my real purpose in life.
have a team that can do anything. Brookhaven Supervisor
■ What do you look for in an employer? The president Brian Foley set the same tone. I’m very lucky.
should lead with morals, respect, integrity, and promote
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
diversity. I believe the president should not become
traveling? Wherever I can do the most good.
“friends” with employees. Of course, your employees
should be happy, but most importantly they should be ■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
passionate about their work and treat your customers with important today? Decency. Otherwise, delete your account.
the best service they can offer. And Yes, I *am* talking about the horrible person of note,
Donald J. Trump.
■ Where do you prefer to work? I prefer to go into the
office when I have paper work to do. Not that I always can, ■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? Attorney
but I prefer working from home too. I like prospecting or General Eric T. Schneiderman. I do it a fair amount, but I
selling over the phone from home. I feel more relaxed, less always enjoy it.
pressured, and more comfortable speaking with the prospect.
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still important
today? Many people are jealous of the ones who have
self- confidence and strong belief in themselves. Some sit
in self-loathing and follow-- while hating on the leaders.
This isn’t a bad thing; this makes great competition! It is
the wealthiest and most successful people that see no
barriers and instead of going around the obstacles they
aren’t afraid to take risk and go right through it. 
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? Barbara
Corcoran! She is my idol and we have a lot in common.

MICHAEL HAYNES
■ Age: 33
■ Company name and title: Chief Government Affairs
Officer for Long Island Cares, Inc.— The Harry Chapin
Food Bank
■ Twitter handle: @LICGovtAffairs
■ Education: 1) Master of Public Administration, University
of Delaware, 2007 2) Bachelor of Science, History and
Political Science — 2x Major, Sacred Heart University, 2005
■ How many hours do you sleep? 7
■ What do you eat for breakfast? Honey Nut Cheerios
■ What is on your home screen? A picture of my mom and I
from my Delaware graduation.
■ What app can’t you live without? Waze.
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
participate in? Snapchat & Pinterest
■ What is your favorite city; why? New York City because of
the Rangers, Knicks, Mets, Giants (NJ — I know), pizza, bars,
and the restaurants.
■ Who is your favorite music artist? It’s close between
Weezer, Nirvana, and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
■ What keeps you up at night? Netflix. Right now, I’m
midway through Archer.
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation
that most people don’t know: Despite the notion that
millennials are entitled, we’re actually a very hard working
and innovative group. Look at all the startups, apps, and
newly elected millennials making noise throughout America
and the world.
■ What about your job most excites you? Through our
advocacy efforts, we form and leverage partnerships
that positively impact my community and empower those
populations which sadly too often don’t have a voice or a
platform. Also and most importantly, the opportunity to
turn someone’s bad day into a good day.
■ What do you look for in an employer? The ability to make
a difference, have a say, and help people.
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
traveling? I prefer to work at the office. It’s important to
disconnect from the office and be present when you are
with family and friends.
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? Respect and simply to be nice. Tone
matters. It doesn’t matter if your message is correct and
helpful if your tone already alienated the audience.
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? Eli
Manning, the calm and tough as nails quarterback for the
NY Giants, who never had to cheat to win a Super Bowl.
MILLENNIAL
OF THE DECADE
JOHN HOGAN
■ Age: 30
■ Company name and title: Vice President, Oxford
Solutions (cybersecurity) and Chairman, The Viscardi
Advisory Council at The Viscardi Center (non profit)
■ Twitter handle: personal - N/A
company - @ox_solutions
■ Education: BA, Hofstra University, Class of 2009
■ How many hours do you sleep? 6-8 hours
■ What do you eat for breakfast? Pancakes and bacon
■ What is on your home screen? My dog
■ What app can’t you live without? I can live without any
app, but do enjoy using Facebook because it allows me to
stay connected with friends and family that I do not get to
see or speak to frequently.
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
participate in? Twitter, SnapChat, Instagram.
■ What is your favorite city; why? Paris, France. It’s a
beautiful city that’s easy to get around. The culture, history
and architecture is fascinating. I especially enjoyed the left
bank area by Notre Dame. I was engaged to my wife in Paris
on the 4th of July in 2012 so I have fond memories of the
city.
■ Who is your favorite music artist? Led Zeppelin
■ What keeps you up at night? My 3 month old son!
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
most people don’t know: First off, let me say something
that most people already know about the millennial
generation… We are ambitious! Most millennials DREAM BIG
and strive to accomplish their goals.
■ What about your job most excites you? I have always
liked to help people. At Oxford Solutions I have a
tremendous opportunity to help business leaders protect
their organizations from cyber threats and reputational
damage. We truly care about solving cyber problems and
we work hard every day to protect, defend and educate our
customers and community. It’s an exciting mission!
■ What do you look for in an employer? I want to be
surrounded by top talent. The quote “If you’re the smartest
person in the room then you’re in the wrong room” should
explain it. I love to learn from people at work. Having a mentor
is very important, I have at least 5! They have all influenced
me and helped me grow both professionally and personally.
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
traveling? I prefer to work in the office. Being present in
a professional environment surrounded by my coworkers
helps me stay focused and motivated.
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? It’s very easy to hide behind the
computer in today’s world due to email and LinkedIn.
Especially in sales and customer service, it’s important
to build relationships with your prospects and clients.
Connecting face to face allows you to really listen with
your ears and eyes to what the other person is saying.
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? Kevin
Law, President and CEO of the Long Island Association.
Educating the LIA and its members on the current
cybersecurity landscape would allow us to share our
message with over 2,000 business owners on Long
Island. Kevin is a trusted advisor to so many Long Island
companies and having his recommendation would be a
tremendous asset in our mission to serve our community.
LONG ISLAND BUSINESS NEWS | 43
HOLLY KENNY
■ Age: 29
■ Company name and title: Public Relations Manager,
Marcomm Group
■ Twitter handle: @hollybonbon3
■ Education: Bachelor of Arts, York College of Pennsylvania,
Class of 2008
■ How many hours do you sleep? 7
■ What do you eat for breakfast? Honey Nut Cheerios (still
a child at heart)
■ What is on your home screen? A picture I took in
Hamburg earlier this year. Every time I look at my phone it
takes me back to a happy memory and reminds me of my
love for travel. Hmm… I think its time to book another trip.
■ What app can’t you live without? Instagram
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
participate in? Though technically a game, does Pokémon
Go count?!
■ What is your favorite city; why? I fell in love with Galway
during my honeymoon in Ireland. We had a nice, clear day
at the Cliffs of Moher and my husband had to peel me away
when our tour bus was ready to leave. The view was just
breathtaking.
■ Who is your favorite music artist? Hands down, Kelly
Clarkson. Not only does she write her own music, but
anytime she sings she gives me goose bumps.
■ What keeps you up at night? Typically, a good book will
keep me up at night. I love to read and take my Kindle
everywhere.
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
most people don’t know: Older generations feel that
Millennials are lazy, but I strongly disagree. When I
graduated college, I struggled to acquire a job in my field.
I took on several unpaid internships before I landed at
Marcomm Group. Since then, I have worked my way up from
intern to Public Relations Manager in under six years.
■ What about your job most excites you? I look forward
to attending trade shows on behalf of our company or for
our clients. Though we live in a digital world, nothing beats
face-to-face time. It gives you the opportunity to develop a
stronger relationship and deeper level of trust. Not so easy
to accomplish via email…
■ What do you look for in an employer? I look for an
employer who values the hard work of their employees.
Every person has ideas and should be given the opportunity
to present them. How do you expect your company to grow
if you continually do things the same way?
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
traveling? While I love to travel, I think I am most
productive in an office setting.
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? Listen with your heart as well as your
ears. I have always been a good listener, but I also like
to act on what I’ve learned, whether it be birthdays,
anniversaries, special occasions, etc. Whatever is important
to people I know, becomes important to me.
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? I would
want to pitch someone at HarperCollins, the idea for a
series of children’s books I have been working on.
44 I LONG ISLAND BUSINESS NEWS
JOSEPH KNOCKENHAUER
■ Age: 26
■ Company name and title: Systems Administrator,
Markowitz Fenelon and Bank
■ Twitter handle: I don’t use twitter.
■ Education: AS in Information Technology, Vermont
Technical College 2010, AS in Electronic Engineering, CCAF,
2012, Several IT certifications.
■ How many hours do you sleep? 6 per night on average
■ What do you eat for breakfast? I feel like people that eat
breakfast really have their lives together. I am not one of
those people.
■ What is on your home screen? Phone app, Gmail app,
Folder full of various Gapps, Google Authenticator, Sync for
Reddit Pro, and Pokemon Go
■ What app can’t you live without? Google authenticator.
Without it I wouldn’t be able to get into anything with TFA
enabled.
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
participate in? Facebook, Twitter.
■ What is your favorite city; why? I don’t know that I have
one. Although Burlington VT has a special place in my
heart.
■ Who is your favorite music artist? Coheed and Cambria
■ What keeps you up at night? That moment when your
head hits the pillow and you immediately remember all of
the stupid things you’ve done in your entire life. That and
memes.
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
most people don’t know: We’re larger than the baby
boomer generation. I think a common misconception is that
millennials are lazy and expect things to be given to them.
We certainly work and think differently, but we have a
different mindset than previous generations.
■ What about your job most excites you? I love technology,
tinkering with it, breaking it, finding more ways to do things
than just one. It isn’t something we should fear. We can
continue to use it to improve life around the world.
■ What do you look for in an employer? Support. The
relationship between an employer and employee should be
mutually beneficial, not co-dependent. It should benefit
both parties in any way, not keep one of them down.
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
traveling? I hate traveling. I would prefer to work in the
office most days, and home sometimes.
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? Hard work should pay off. Integrity and
responsibility should be at the crux of everyone’s life.
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? I had a
mentor who would be considered a GenXer. Met him in the
military and we ended up becoming great friends. I would
be nowhere without him.
KELSEY KNUTSEN ADAM H. KOBLENZ
■ Age: 24 ■ Age: 35
■ Company name and title: Marketing Manager at Cullen ■ Company name and title: Member and Partner, Sahn
and Dykman LLP Ward Coschignano, PLLC
■ Twitter handle: @CullenandDykman ■ Education: Bachelor of Arts degree from Brandeis
University, 2003; Juris Doctor from The George Washington
■ Education: MBA, Marketing, Liberty University in University Law School, 2006
Progress; MPA Emergency and Crisis Management, Anna
Maria College, in Progress; BS Physics SUNY Oneonta, 2013. ■ How many hours do you sleep? 4-5 hours
■ How many hours do you sleep? 6 ■ What do you eat for breakfast? Egg whites
■ What do you eat for breakfast? For breakfast I love to ■ What is on your home screen? Nothing
make egg whites, spinach, roasted tomatoes and feta in a
whole wheat wrap!
■ What app can’t you live without? Instagram
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
■ What is on your home screen? A picture of my two
participate in? No
puppies – Maverick and Layla.
■ What is your favorite city; why? Paris; it is a beautiful
■ What app can’t you live without? Waze! I am always on
city. It is very stylish and the food is incredible.
the road and it makes sure I always get the best route!
■ Who is your favorite music artist? Citizen Cope
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
participate in? I haven’t ruled any out completely. I’m not ■ What keeps you up at night? My babies
currently using Google+ but I will give it a chance!
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
■ What is your favorite city; why? New York! I’ve visited a most people don’t know: We are hardworking.
lot of different cities across America, but nothing compares
to the diversity and cultural fusion in NYC. ■ What about your job most excites you? The
entrepreneurial aspect of business growth and
■ Who is your favorite music artist? Carrie Underwood development.
■ What keeps you up at night? When I have a new project ■ What do you look for in an employer? Chances for
being released, I constantly go over the details to make upward mobility and growth.
sure I have everything covered.
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that traveling? Office
most people don’t know: We are very goal-oriented and
action minded. ■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? Work ethic, professionalism, and
■ What about your job most excites you? I love my job collegiality.
because each day brings a new challenge to overcome –
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be?
you never know what to expect!
Warren Buffett
■ What do you look for in an employer? Strong core values
and beliefs that echo my own.
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
traveling? I like to travel and be able to see different towns
and meet new people!
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? I really value the importance of face to
face meetings rather than just connecting over the internet.
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? Michael
Bloomberg
46 I LONG ISLAND BUSINESS NEWS
BLAINE LIPKIN
■ Age: 29
■ Company name and title: Partner and Financial Advisor at
Zodiac Wealth Management
■ Education: Finance, University of Pittsburgh, 2009
■ How many hours do you sleep? 7-8 hours
■ What do you eat for breakfast? I love to make a big
omelet for breakfast, but only do that on weekends.
■ What is on your home screen? Picture with my girlfriend,
Ashley
■ What app can’t you live without? PGA Tour app – I Need
to check the golf scores and stats constantly. I would keep
that over Uber and seamless. However, my calendar, work
email, and messages are my most important apps.
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
participate in? Not really, but I don’t have Twitter,
Instagram, or Snapchat. I get enough from Facebook and
LinkedIn.
■ What is your favorite city; why? Jackson Hole, Wyoming,
but any town at the bottom of a ski mountain will do!
■ What keeps you up at night? I stress when I feel I did try
my best.
■ What about your job most excites you? What I like most
is that I’m in control and have the ability to determine my
own destiny. This also always makes me focus on ways to
be creative and differentiate myself in the market.
■ What do you look for in an employer? Transparency and
fairness
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
traveling? I operate best in the office since I have the least
amount of distractions. My job forces me to leave the office
and be effective on the go. I use technology so that I’m not
limited by location and can be prepared for a meeting or
client call at any time.
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? Treat others the way you would want to
be treated.
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? My
Grandfather, Harvard Gilbert – he would be impressed and
proud of the professional I tuned into.
CHRISTINA MANERI JOHN MANLEY
■ Age: 27 ■ Age: 30
■ Company name and title: Senior Operational Risk ■ Company name and title: Manager at Albrecht, Viggiano,
Associate, Capital One. Ms. Moxxie Mentoring participant Zureck & Co.
■ Education: BS International Business Management ■ Twitter handle: Not on the twitter scene
minor in Spanish, The University of Tampa, class of
2011. Currently pursuing MBA from Florida International
■ Education: MBA in Accounting, St. Joseph’s College 2010.
BS in Accounting, St. Joseph’s College 2008
University, class of 2017
■ How many hours do you sleep? 5-7
■ How many hours do you sleep? 6-7
■ What do you eat for breakfast? Usually skip breakfast – I
■ What do you eat for breakfast? Oatmeal or avocado toast
know, the most important meal of the day.
and iced macchiato 
■ What is on your home screen? A photo of my fiancée
■ What is on your home screen? “This heart of mine is
Danielle and myself taken at sunset at my family summer
made to travel the world” 
house.
■ What app can’t you live without? My banking and credit
card apps, I check them religiously! 
■ What app can’t you live without? Clash of Clans
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
participate in? Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat. I barely use
participate in? Twitter- I used to use it, but there was just
Facebook
too much drama for me! 
■ What is your favorite city; why? Outer Banks, North
■ What is your favorite city; why? My favorite city, aside
Carolina. I had many great vacations with friends there.
from NYC is Venice, Italy. For me it was like a dream world,
it was so beautiful and had everything you could hope for ■ Who is your favorite music artist? Jason Aldean
in a city. 
■ What keeps you up at night? Binge watching a TV series
■ Who is your favorite music artist? Tank on Netflix.
■ What keeps you up at night? I am always planning what is ■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
next, I get bored easily so what keeps me up at night might most people don’t know: Not all millennials have a
be my next academic venture, my next vacation or weekend perceived sense of entitlement. I began my career, nearly
trip, or my next career step.  10 years ago as an intern and have worked extremely hard
to prove myself and get to (4 promotions later) where
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
I am today.
most people don’t know: The millennial generation is filled
with people who are willing to ask tough questions, and
■ What about your job most excites you? Assisting clients
they are effectively creating change. with the preparation of their financial statements. It’s
always gratifying when I can help a client and their staff
■ What about your job most excites you? I am a problem
take their business information and create a set of financial
solver so having the opportunity to discover risk and incite
information to provide to creditors, board members or own
change is something that excites me about my current role. 
internal use.
■ What do you look for in an employer? In an employer, I
look for an organization who empowers me as an individual
■ What do you look for in an employer? Established
company, with strong core values, ability for career
and who allows me to use my skills to their fullest
development and a good reputation.
potential while still allowing me a fair work life balance. 
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
traveling? I would have to say the office. I need to be able
traveling? I like to mix up my work environment. I enjoy
to concentrate, and there are way too many distractions
having the flexibility to work from home, but I enjoy the
at home, and traveling you are limited in resources, which
team environment of working from the office as well.
slows me down.
Having the ability to work and travel is something that I
enjoy as well. ■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? Leaving for the day before my boss
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
leaves. I feel it is a sign of respect to your boss or superior
important today? Growing up, Sundays were for family only.
that you are putting in the time and effort to help make
I think that value is something that should be maintained.
deadlines.
In our normal work week we sometimes forget to take time
to spend with and enjoy our families and we take them for ■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? It would
granted so it is important to enjoy each others company be my father and the way he carries himself and his work
when possible.  ethic. I worked with my father for many years prior to
beginning my accounting career. He taught me simple
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be?
ideals, such as: make your customers happy and putting in
Anthony Bourdain
extra hours now will reward you in the end.

HENRY MASCIA
■ Age: 33
■ Company name and title: Associate Attorney, Rivkin
Radler LLP
■ Twitter handle: @HenryMascia
■ Education: B.A., Messiah College 2005. J.D., Elizabeth
Haub School of Law at Pace University 2009
■ How many hours do you sleep? 7 hours per night
■ What do you eat for breakfast? Fruit with eggs, oatmeal
or cold cereal
■ What is on your home screen? Yahoo.com
■ What app can’t you live without? Google maps
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
participate in? No
■ What is your favorite city; why? New York City. It has
everything.
■ Who is your favorite music artist? Sarah Barreilles
■ What keeps you up at night? Nothing
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
most people don’t know: We work hard.
■ What about your job most excites you? The thrill of
victory.
■ What do you look for in an employer? An employer who
cultivates a culture where people work hard but act kindly
toward one another.
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
traveling? A little of all three.
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? Civility.
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? The
President of the United States.
HAYLEY MAYER
■ Age: 36
■ Company name and title: Director of Life Style,
Prager Metis
■ Twitter handle: @haymayer
■ Education: BS from Kelley School of Business, Indiana
University, 2002
■ How many hours do you sleep? 6
■ What do you eat for breakfast? Protein Shake
■ What is on your home screen? My Dog Indy who passed
away of mouth cancer
■ What app can’t you live without? Facebook, Snap Chat,
Instagram
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
participate in? no
■ What is your favorite city; why? San Francisco, because
it’s so peaceful on the water and the weather is so nice.
■ Who is your favorite music artist? Britney Spears
■ What keeps you up at night? My children
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
most people don’t know: We are all still hooked on late 80s
and 90s movies.
■ What about your job most excites you? My clients!
When they say I am doing a good job, it makes me feel
accomplished.
■ What do you look for in an employer? Growth
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
traveling? Office
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? It’s important to have family dinner and
time away from work and our cell phones.
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be?
Donald Trump
LONG ISLAND BUSINESS NEWS | 47
PAXTON MITTLEMAN
■ Age: 21
■ Current job and title: CEO of The H Factor Media
■ Twitter handle: @BlueHenPaxton
■ Education: B.A. in Mass Communications from the
University of Delaware, May 2017
■ How many hours do you sleep? Ideally, 7
■ What do you eat for breakfast? Eggs with cheese and
sundried tomatoes and/or Greek yogurt.
■ What is on your home screen? A picture of Big Ben from
London.
■ What app can’t you live without? CityMapper
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
participate in? YikYak
■ What is your favorite city; why? London, because it is an
incredible center of cosmopolitan culture and history.
■ Who is your favorite music artist? Walk the Moon
■ What keeps you up at night? I wonder if I’m living my
best life each day.
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
most people don’t know: We worry about the future more
than you know.
■ What about your job most excites you? Connecting with
people.
■ What do you look for in an employer? Someone with
personality, who understands company culture is vital to
the success of a company.
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
traveling? I actually like being in an office. It’s where I’m
most focused.
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? If you want to have a real conversation
with someone, pick up the phone and call them. Don’t do it
over text.
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? Sheryl
Sandberg, hands down.
48 I LONG ISLAND BUSINESS NEWS
HILARY MOREIRA
■ Age: 33
■ Company name and title: Management Side Labor and
Employment Associate, Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC
■ Twitter handle: I do not have a twitter account.
■ Education: Bachelors of Arts in Diversified Liberal
Arts, University of San Diego, 2005. Juris Doctor, Hofstra
University School of Law, 2009
■ How many hours do you sleep? Approximately 7 hours.
■ What do you eat for breakfast? Coffee, a Dunkin’ Donuts
breakfast sandwich and a yogurt.
■ What is on your home screen? A picture of my 17-month
old daughter.
■ What app can’t you live without? Facebook, Uber and the
Kindle App.
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
participate in? There are no particular social platforms that
I refuse to participate in, but I try to focus on the social
platforms that best facilitate my connections with clients,
family and friends.
■ What is your favorite city; why? My favorite city is my
hometown, San Diego, California. Not only was I born
and raised there, but the people are friendly, the food is
delicious, the beaches are beautiful and the weather is
always perfect.
■ Who is your favorite music artist? Madonna. I know
the lyrics to almost every one of her songs and she has
managed to stay relevant for more than three decades.
■ What keeps you up at night? If I ever have a sleepless night,
it is most likely caused by my teething 17-month old daughter.
Of course, on any given day, there could also be a number of
client issues that keep me up throughout the night.
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
most people don’t know: Not all millennials expect a trophy
just for “participating.”
■ What about your job most excites you? As a
management-side labor and employment lawyer, advising
clients on personnel issues is a major part of my practice.
As I have learned over the past 7 years, I should never
underestimate the types of issues that could arise on any
given day. I love that no two days are the same and that
each day I am presented with a new set of challenges.
■ What do you look for in an employer? When considering
an employer, I focus on the people. While it may sound old
fashioned, my philosophy is that if I surround myself with
good people who are smart and hardworking, I will enjoy
coming to work each day.
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
traveling? While I love the flexibility of being able to work
remotely, I prefer to work from the office. Working from the
office provides more opportunities to exchange ideas and
collaborate with colleagues, which can provide invaluable
perspective on a difficult issue.
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? Despite all of the technology available,
nothing can replace a face-to-face meeting with a client.
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? If I
could pitch one company it would be Hershey’s Chocolate.
I would assist them in preventing labor management
“meltdowns” and provide advice on how to avoid “sticky
situations” when things “get heated!!” Free samples would
be an added bonus.
MILLENNIAL
OF THE DECADE
DAVID OKSENHORN
■ Age: 35
■ Company name and title: Manager, Marcum, LLP
■ Education: B.S. in Accounting, SUNY Geneseo, 2003
■ How many hours do you sleep? When I can, I try to get 8
hours
■ What do you eat for breakfast? Days I need to be out
early I grab a packet of oatmeal, other days it’s a smoothie
or one of the homemade treats my wife bakes.
■ What is on your home screen? My family and I at the
beach
■ What app can’t you live without? Facebook
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
participate in? Instagram
■ What is your favorite city; why? I haven’t traveled much,
but I fell in love with the unique beauty and charm of
Venice, Italy.
■ Who is your favorite music artist? My tastes and
interests change as the music industry evolves, but the Foo
Fighters are always in my playlist.
■ What keeps you up at night? I find it tough sometimes to
turn my brain off as I think of the day ahead.
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
most people don’t know: People often think of millennials
as entitled and lazy, however, I as well as many of my
colleagues are hardworking and motivated proving
otherwise.
■ What about your job most excites you? Learning more
about my clients businesses including being exposed to a
variety of unique industries and products, and networking
with my young professional peers.
■ What do you look for in an employer? An employer that
provides challenging & interesting work, upward mobility,
learning opportunities and flexibility.
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
traveling? Combination of office and traveling to clients.
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? In today’s busy world, I think it is
important for families to eat dinner together, without
electronic devices, to sit down and talk about the day’s
events and enjoy one another’s company.
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? Jeff
Bezos, CEO of Amazon.com.
ROBERT RENDA
■ Age: 28
■ Current job and title: Associate at Forchelli, Curto,
Deegan, Schwartz, Mineo & Terrana, LLP.
■ Twitter handle: @TheRLRenda
■ Education: B.S., St. John’s University, 2009. J.D., St.
John’s University School of Law, 2012
■ How many hours do you sleep? I try to get at least eight
hours, but most nights I get seven.
■ What do you eat for breakfast? A Kind Bar, preferably
almond and coconut.
■ What is on your home screen? A picture of my wife,
Carolyn, and daughter, Daniella, from the 4th of July.
■ What app can’t you live without? Waze. I am constantly
driving for work and family so Waze is absolutely essential
to me.
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
participate in? No.
■ What is your favorite city; why? New York City. I hate to
be cliché, but there is no other city in the world like it.
■ Who is your favorite music artist? Red Hot Chili Peppers
■ What keeps you up at night? The next “Great Recession.”
I graduated from college in the heart of the “Great
Recession.” Nothing in the professional world scares me
more than the thought of losing my job due to something
out of my control.
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
most people don’t know: We don’t like being called
Millennials.
■ What about your job most excites you? My job involves a
large amount of negotiation and I love to negotiate.
■ What do you look for in an employer? Fairness. I am not
looking for anything I haven’t earned. I know that I will do
the best I can for an employer and the only thing I look for
in return is to be treated fairly.
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
traveling? I prefer to work in the office. My productivity is
best in the office.
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? “Paying Your Dues.” I think this is a
concept that has been forgotten over time. Sure, we would
all love to start as the CEO or managing partner, but the
importance of working your way up through a company
and doing the things no one else wants to do cannot be
overstated.
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? Jeff
Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com.
50 I LONG ISLAND BUSINESS NEWS
JOHN SANDERS
■ Age: 30
■ Company name and title: CEO/President, The Black
Business Alliance. Cultural Liaison – Renew Hempstead.
Cultural Liaison – New Rochelle Future
■ Facebook: jsandersnetwork@gmail.com
■ Education: Socio Cultural Anthropology. University of
Maryland, College Park. 2012 Graduation
■ How many hours do you sleep? About 7 hours
■ What do you eat for breakfast? Egg Whites, Oatmeal,
Green Smoothie
■ What is on your home screen? John Sanders Enterprises
LOGO
■ What app can’t you live without? Facebook
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
participate in? Platforms that denigrate women, exploit our
communities and stifles my personal growth.
■ What is your favorite city; why? Johannesburg, South
Africa; Great energy, progressive young people, interesting
architecture, intriguing history, dynamic night life.
■ Who is your favorite music artist? I’ve never had a
“favorite” artist, but I enjoy old school hip hop.
■ What keeps you up at night? My research, my visions, my
dreams, my ambitions; thinking about my future keeps me
up at night.
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
most people don’t know: The concept of working a
9-5 “job” until retirement is depressing … we embrace
innovation, vision, global thinking and creativity.
■ What about your job most excites you? Opportunity to
engage communities.
■ What do you look for in an employer? I look for an
employer that allows me to maximize my creative energy.
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
traveling? The office + Travel
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? Men are the providers; women are the
nurturers; Men open doors and pay for women when he
takes her to dinner; call elders by their last name; if you
talk back to your parents – you get knocked out.
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? Bill Gates
MARY SANTOLI
■ Age: 34
■ Company name and title: Director of Small Business
Services, Prager Metis CPAs, LLC
■ Twitter handle: Don’t Tweet
■ Education: Bachelor of Business Administration, Hofstra
University, 2003
■ How many hours do you sleep? 5 hours
■ What do you eat for breakfast? A Banana with a Dunkin’
Donuts French Vanilla coffee with almond milk
■ What is on your home screen? My beautiful daughters
■ What app can’t you live without? Facebook and Fitbit
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
participate in? Instagram
■ What is your favorite city; why? New York City, because
of the amazing skyline.
■ Who is your favorite music artist? Bon Jovi
■ What keeps you up at night? Stress
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
most people don’t know: Most people think millennials
want instant gratification. But I believe that hard work,
respect and family values are the way to succeed.
■ What about your job most excites you? The interaction
with the clients and learning about their business and
interacting with my fellow team members.
■ What do you look for in an employer? Professionalism,
team player, loyalty and the opportunity for growth through
hard work and continuing education
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
traveling? Office, I enjoy interacting with the staff and
clients.
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? Working hard to provide for my family,
treating people with respect in the workplace and
expecting to be treated equally.
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be?
Sara Blakely, Founder of Spanx
MILLENNIAL
OF THE DECADE
AMANDA SEXTON
■ Age: 31
■ Company name and title: Markowitz, Fenelon & Bank, LLP,
Valuation Analyst
■ Education: Hofstra University, Bachelor’s Degree in
Accounting. Graduated in 2007
■ How many hours do you sleep? 6-7 hours generally
■ What do you eat for breakfast? During the week -
a gluten-free rice cake with almond butter
■ What is on your home screen? My dogs
■ What app can’t you live without? LinkedIn
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
participate in? Everything other than LinkedIn and
Facebook; everything else just seems redundant.
■ What is your favorite city; why? I haven’t travelled that
much but I’ll go anywhere, especially if there is a beach or
water involved.
■ Who is your favorite music artist? Mariah Carey
■ What keeps you up at night? Not too much can keep me
awake at night; however, if I work too late at night I dream
of random numbers (such an accountant thing to say,
right?)
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
most people don’t know: I recently discovered that I am
also in this “group” and don’t consider myself to be one
within the Millennials stereotype – I am a hard-worker
that likes to exceed expectations, be treated equally and
appreciated. I do not have a sense of “entitlement” without
earning it.
■ What about your job most excites you? New and
challenging opportunities to learn, grow and improve; client
relationships and helping people.
■ What do you look for in an employer? Opportunities,
support and growth potential.
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
traveling? Generally, the office
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? Working hard; showing everyone the same
level of respect and courtesy no matter who they are.
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? Charles
Russo. Charlie is a very hard-working and intelligent
attorney, mentor and friend. He always makes a complete
disaster of a situation look like a small bump in the road.
He also has an incredible heart and goes above and beyond
to help others.

RYAN SIRICO
■ Age: 24
■ Company name and title: Digital Advertising Coordinator,
The Public Relations and Marketing Group
■ Twitter handle: @RSirico1
■ Education: Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication &
Rhetoric | Hofstra University | 2013
■ How many hours do you sleep? 7 – 8 hours per day
■ What do you eat for breakfast? Bagel and coffee
■ What is on your home screen? The beach
■ What app can’t you live without? News because I always
want to know what’s going on.
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
participate in? Pintrest, Yik-Yak (When that was a thing…)
■ What is your favorite city; why? San Diego, not too
crowded, and you can’t beat the weather and the beach
24/7
■ Who is your favorite music artist? Tom Delonge
■ What keeps you up at night? Where I’ve been, where I
am, and where I’m going in life
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
most people don’t know: We are a lot more hardworking,
ambitious and dedicated than most give us credit for.
■ What about your job most excites you? The ability to
come in to work and learn something new every day. The
industry changes so fast and rapidly, and there are so
many technological advancements that enable ways to
market and advertise that we never thought of. The idea of
Augmented Reality going mainstream is a huge excitement,
and the recent success of Pokemon GO (although not a true
AR experience) is just a stepping stone for the potential
that the market can bring.
■ What do you look for in an employer? The same thing I
look for in everyone; trust and mutual respect.
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
traveling? I prefer to work in an office – it’s always good to
bounce ideas off one another and you may just be surprised
by what you can learn.
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? “Give a man a fish, he eats for a day –
teach a man to fish, he eats for a lifetime” – no matter
what you want in life, you have to work hard for it, nothing
is going to be handed to you.
AMY SMITH
■ Age: 25
■ Company name and title: Associate Director of External
Relations, Hofstra University Career Center
■ Twitter handle:@hashtagaims
■ Education: BA Psychology, University of Connecticut.
MSED Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies,
Hofstra University
■ How many hours do you sleep? I try for 8 hours, but that
doesn’t usually end up happening! Typically I sleep around
6 or 7 hours.
■ What do you eat for breakfast? I’ll be honest; most work
days, I don’t end up having breakfast. However, on my days
off I love a big breakfast of bacon, eggs, and a waffle.
■ What is on your home screen? A picture of the Yankee
Stadium field, which I took this summer at one of the
Subway Series games - I am a die-hard Yankees fan!
■ What app can’t you live without? Evernote! Having just
finished conference season, I loved how easy it was to take
notes on my phone, iPad, or computer and have them all
instantly in the same place to access quickly or share with
colleagues.
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
participate in? I think each social platform has its merits,
depending on what you’re sharing and with whom you want
to share.
■ What is your favorite city; why? NYC; of course, because
I’m from Long Island and it is MY city, but also because of
the sheer variety of people, places, and experiences that fit
in such a small geographic location.
■ Who is your favorite music artist? I don’t have just one!
As a former a cappella singer, though, I really enjoy listening
to Pentatonix.
■ What keeps you up at night? If there’s a really good
sports game on, that’s usually what I’ll stay up watching!
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that most
people don’t know: Millennials are curious, and always open
to exploring the vast amount of information we have at our
disposal. I don’t see it as information overload, but rather as
the potential to access different facts, opinions, and evidence
and inform ourselves in our own ways on our own time.
■ What about your job most excites you? I love making
connections, and I get to do that every day in my job.
Whether I’m connecting employers with Hofstra talent,
connecting students with opportunities, or just reviewing
my work process to find a way to make it better.
■ What do you look for in an employer? Company culture
is incredibly important to me; I need to feel like I am
supported in the work that I do and that my employer sees
me as a major component to achieving our goals.
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office, traveling?
I definitely prefer to work from the office. I work much better
when I can communicate face-to-face, so an environment
where I can sit down in a meeting or drop by someone’s office
rather than send an email is the best for me.
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? Communication is a big one; I think we
communicate so much that we sometimes lose sight of the
impact of our words.
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? Mariano
Rivera, in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7 of the
World Series.
LONG ISLAND BUSINESS NEWS | 51
CHRISTINA SOLOW
■ Age: 28
■ Company name and title: Partner Relationship Manager,
Advantage Payroll Services
■ Education: Bachelor’s Degree, Eastern Connecticut State
University, 2010
■ How many hours do you sleep? I sleep 8 hours on
average.
■ What do you eat for breakfast? I usually start my day off
with yogurt, eggs or oatmeal and when I’m really in a rush;
a protein bar!
■ What is on your home screen? A picture of my husband
and I on our wedding day.
■ What app can’t you live without? Instagram!
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
participate in? Twitter is pretty much the only social
platform I’ve never been interested in using.
■ What is your favorite city; why? Would I be a true New
Yorker if I didn’t say New York? However, I did recently visit
Rio and loved it!
■ Who is your favorite music artist? I don’t think I can
pick one artist in particular. I truly enjoy all types of music
however, when I’m in the car I tend to blast hip hop!
■ What keeps you up at night? I’m a pretty good sleeper so
to be honest, not much keeps me up at night.
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
most people don’t know: One thing most people might not
know about millennials, is that most of us (especially the
New York region) prefer to have financial stability and an
established career path before getting married or starting a
family. The world we live in today is so different than it was
only a couple of decades ago so it’s important for us to feel
grounded before focusing on our personal lives.
■ What about your job most excites you? What excites me
most about my job is the ability to create my own business
network. I started in marketing and worked my way over
to sales which entails a completely different set of skills.
Networking and building relationships with local business
owners, referral sources and community member’s helps
me feel more connected to Long Island.
■ What do you look for in an employer? I am a big believer
in work/life balance. I enjoy being a young business
professional and I also enjoy leaving work at a decent hour
and spending quality time with family and friends.
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
traveling? Unlike most millennials, I actually enjoy working
in an office environment. I find that I’m most productive
when I’m out of the house and I’m sitting at my work desk.
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? One “old fashioned value” that I hold true
to is making sure you spend quality time with the ones you
love. Growing up in a big and extremely close Italian family
taught me that all the money and success in the world will
never amount to memories and experiences you share with
your loved ones.
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? Walt
Disney. He is one of the most incredible visionaries of all
time and being able to hear him speak about how he turned
his dreams into reality in such an extraordinary way would
be insanely interesting.
52 I LONG ISLAND BUSINESS NEWS
MADELINE SPETRINO
■ Age: 25
■ Company name and title: Production Manager and
Graphic Designer at Marcomm Group
■ Twitter handle: N/A
■ Education: Bachelor’s Degree, Saint Joseph’s University,
graduated in 2013
■ How many hours do you sleep? 6.5 hours
■ What do you eat for breakfast? Granola bar
■ What is on your home screen? Illustrations of Nintendo
characters.
■ What app can’t you live without? Instagram
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
participate in? Twitter
■ What is your favorite city; why? New York City – It feels
like home.
■ Who is your favorite music artist? Life After TV
■ What keeps you up at night? Chemtrails
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
most people don’t know: Some of us do work very hard.
■ What about your job most excites you? Coming up with
new designs
■ What do you look for in an employer? Security and
challenges.
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
traveling? 50/50 home and office
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? Having good manners
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? Hannah
Stouffer
BILL STUBBS
■ Age: 34
■ Company name and title: Sales Director, Autronic
Plastics, Inc. (API)
■ Education: B.S. Industrial & Systems Engineering,
Binghamton University, 2004
■ How many hours do you sleep? I usually strive for 6-7
hours, but it’s typically less during the week and a little
more on the weekends whenever possible.
■ What do you eat for breakfast? I’m not really a breakfast
person. I usually eat an apple or a protein bar on the drive
to work and wash it down with plenty of water and a cup of
coffee.
■ What is on your home screen? A picture of my wife,
Danielle, and I in one of our home-made Halloween
costumes.
■ What app can’t you live without? I don’t use too many
apps and you’d say the same if you looked at how many I
have on my phone. I primarily use it for e-mail, messaging,
and browsing, but if I had to pick apps I use most, it would
be Facebook and Snapchat.
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
participate in? I don’t use Twitter, but I have nothing against
it. I think it’s probably because I was still using a flip phone
when it came out and I never really had an interest.
■ What is your favorite city; why? I’d have to say my
favorite city is Nashville, TN. I’m a big country fan and it’s
hard to find a bar or restaurant there that doesn’t have a
band playing live music.
■ Who is your favorite music artist? My favorite music
artist is Toby Keith. I’ve seen him in concert over a dozen
times in several different states.
■ What keeps you up at night? At night I usually think
about what I’m going to have to do at work the next day.
Working in a sales role is interesting because you represent
the interests of both the customer as well as the business.
I also think about all of my upcoming bills because we all
know how expensive it is to live on Long Island.
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
most people don’t know: Most millennials don’t like to be
sold. We are tech savvy and have unlimited information at
our fingertips.
■ What about your job most excites you? I learn something
new every day. API is a company of engineers. We
manufacture plastic products for many different industries,
so I get to learn about some very interesting applications.
■ What do you look for in an employer? I want an
employer that gives me an opportunity to grow. I’ve had
some great experiences during my career so far and look
forward to continuing to learn new skills and take on new
responsibilities.
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
traveling? I prefer to work from the office. I find that I’m
more efficient when I have everything at my finger tips and
can have an impromptu meeting with necessary parties.
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still important
today? Remembering how to talk to people. We grew up
playing outside and were not attached to a cell phone.
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? In our
industry, pitching doesn’t usually work. Every client has a
different need and as engineers, we do our best to help
create solutions for their problems.
DANIEL VAILLANT
■ Age: 35
■ Company name and title: Associate in the Corporate
Department of Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C.
■ Twitter handle: I do not have a Twitter handle.
■ Education: Boston College, Bachelor of Arts in English,
May 2003. Hofstra University School of Law, Juris Doctor,
May 2008
■ How many hours do you sleep? I sleep approximately six
and a half hours per night.
■ What do you eat for breakfast? Typically, I eat Greek
yogurt and fruit
■ What is on your home screen? I have an Apple so I have a
provided blank green screen.
■ What app can’t you live without? I love the app Waze. It
is the best GPS application I have used to date.
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
participate in? No but I use Facebook and LinkedIn.
■ What is your favorite city; why? Barcelona, Spain.
Barcelona is a vibrant city that has fresh tapas, unique
architecture, street markets and shops. It’s a young
carefree culture.
■ Who is your favorite music artist? My favorite music
artist is the Grateful Dead. While I really appreciate certain
modern bands such as Dave Mathews Band and Phish, if I
had the opportunity to go to one concert, I would want to
attend a Grateful Dead concert.
■ What keeps you up at night? I worry about external
forces that may affect my young children as they grow
up and become their own people. For example, I see a lot
of extremism and violence in the world. I worry that my
children are entering a violent and hateful world and that I
cannot protect them at all times.
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
most people don’t know: The millennial generation includes
a broad spectrum of people who, on one side of the
spectrum, are technology-savvy, and on the other side of
the spectrum, are still caught in the tail end of the pre-
Facebook era.
■ What about your job most excites you? As an attorney, I
get excited at work when I am negotiating a business deal for
a client with opposing counsel and I “win” a material point
on my client’s behalf through my preparation and focus.
■ What do you look for in an employer? I look for an
employer that is sophisticated, trustworthy, respectful,
appreciative, hardworking and intelligent. I am lucky in that
I have found all of these qualities here at Meyer Suozzi.
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
traveling? I prefer to work in my office, because I have two
small children that will want my attention at all times if I
am working at home. In addition, with modern technology, I
can Facetime my children at night if I am working late.
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? I believe that the following values are
timeless. One should be respectful, trustworthy, punctual
and dependable.
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? I would
pitch Michael Bloomberg. I would pitch him to run for the
President of the United States of America in November 2016.
54 I LONG ISLAND BUSINESS NEWS
GINO VENEROSO
■ Age: 26
■ Company name and title: Marketing Director, North
Brookhaven Chamber of Commerce
■ Education: Associates Degree: Suffolk County
Community College, Graduated 2009. Bachelor’s Degree:
Stony Brook University, Graduated 2011
■ How many hours do you sleep? 7 Hours
■ What do you eat for breakfast? Generally, my breakfast
consists of a cup of coffee and a protein bar to go. On the
weekends I splurge with egg whites, spinach and turkey on
a whole wheat wrap.
■ What is on your home screen? “Whether you think you
can, or you think you can’t – you’re right.” – Henry Ford
■ What app can’t you live without? Snapchat
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
participate in? No, I would give them all a shot.
■ What is your favorite city; why? Lake Como, Italy would
have to be #1 on my list of favorite cities. It’s sense of
culture, history and rich architecture makes everyone feel
beautiful and sophisticated the second you arrive.
■ Who is your favorite music artist? I like Selena Gomez,
mainly because I follow her on Snapchat and I secretively
think we will get married one day.
■ What keeps you up at night? The idea that my time here
on earth has an expiration date is a thought that definitely
keeps me up at night. I get anxious because I want to be
able to achieve all I set out to accomplish. It’s strange to
think I only have a limited time to do so.
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
most people don’t know: What I have found to be a big
misunderstanding amongst Gen X and Baby Boomers is that
they feel that they have to seclude themselves socially and
professionally from millennials. The millennials that I know
are smart enough to look up to their peers and view them
as a resource to learn from. Millennial’s could benefit from
the association and influence of their predecessors.
■ What about your job most excites you? My role at
the North Brookhaven Chamber of Commerce allows
me to combine commerce and community as a recipe
for sustainable success. The value we are able to add
to civic initiatives and charitable organizations while
simultaneously highlighting our local small businesses is
very rewarding to me.
■ What do you look for in an employer? I value an employer
that knows how to embrace the times and culture of
the day. An employer that is wise enough to value the
unique aptitude of technologically savvy millennials and
incorporate their outside of the box thinking into their job
description would certainly get my loyalty.
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
traveling? Working while traveling certainly inspires my
senses. The possibilities you discover while traveling
motivates me to work harder and more creatively.
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? Face to face communication and the art
of conversation I feel are important values that cannot and
should not be replaced.
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? I would
want to pitch Barack Obama. If I can get the President of
the United States of America to believe in me, then Selena
Gomez would be a walk in the park!
MAURICIO VIDES
■ Age: 25
■ Company name and title: CEO & Owner of WebDesignYou
Corp.
■ Twitter handle: @WebDesignYou
■ Education: Bachelors in Computer Science, Queens
College, 2013
■ How many hours do you sleep? 3-6 hours per day
■ What do you eat for breakfast? Eggs, bacon & my green
drink.
■ What is on your home screen? A fox
■ What app can’t you live without? Email, google voice, FB
messenger & Gchat
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
participate in? Nope
■ What is your favorite city; why? NYC, probably because
of the pizza and bagels. But mostly for the hustle & bustle.
■ Who is your favorite music artist? The Descendents
■ What keeps you up at night? Am I living up to my true
potential?
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
most people don’t know: We’re not lazy!
■ What about your job most excites you? Meeting people
and learning about all types of businesses and non-profit
organizations.
■ What do you look for in an employer? Drive, motivation &
respect
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
traveling? Home
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? Chivalry and honor
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? The
judges of Shark Tank, just to see if I could do it and if they
would accept my pitch.
CANDICE VOTKE
■ Age: 23
■ Company name and title: Legal Accounts Executive,
PR4Lawyers a division of The Public Relations and
Marketing Group
■ Education: Public Relations B.A., State University of New
York at Oswego, 2015
■ How many hours do you sleep? 6 to 7
■ What do you eat for breakfast? Tea and toast or waffles
■ What is on your home screen? The greek letters of my
sorority affiliation, Sigma Delta Tau.
■ What app can’t you live without? Instagram
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
participate in? myspace
■ What is your favorite city; why? Sydney, Australia. I did a
study abroad program there when I was in college and fell
in love with the vibrant art and diverse culture of the city.
Every day in Sydney was an adventure. When I wasn’t in
class I’d spend my free time exploring the city’s art galas,
historical moments, and botanical gardens. I spent quiet
afternoons in local cafes and took walks along the harbor.
The locals were very friendly and took every opportunity to
show me the best of what their city had to offer.
■ Who is your favorite music artist? Blink 182
■ What keeps you up at night? Anxiety over pending client
projects.
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
most people don’t know: The millennial generation is
confident, open-minded, connected and we delight in self-
expression.
■ What about your job most excites you? I enjoy working
with law firms and lawyers and helping them achieve
their goals. The public relations field is ever-changing,
especially in my line of work which deals specifically with
lawyers and law firms. At any given moment, a new piece
of legislation or verdict will be passed that will require
our public relations team to spring into action, drafting
and pitching a release or media availability to the press on
behalf of our clients.
■ What do you look for in an employer? I look for an
employer with strong ethical values and core beliefs, one
who is involved and cares about the work of his employees
and the satisfaction of his clients and will run his company
with reliability and integrity.
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
traveling? I prefer to work in the office.
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? To be successful in public relations
you need to work hard and always do what is in the
best interest of your clients. At the end of the day, it
will be your dedication to excellence in your work and a
reputation of reliability that will be the driving forces to a
successful career.
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? N/A

ELIZABETH WEGLARZ
■ Age: 22
■ Company name and title: Human Resources Generalist,
Compass Workforce Solutions
■ Twitter handle: Don’t have one, more of an Instagram
fan.
■ Education: B.A. Psychology and Sociology, Stony Brook
University, December 2014; MBA, Stony Brook University,
May 2016
■ How many hours do you sleep? I strive for at least 8 a
night (usually get around 6 if I’m lucky).
■ What do you eat for breakfast? I change it up every day.
Could be oatmeal, an omelet, or cereal with Almond Milk.
■ What is on your home screen? A picture of my adorable
niece.
■ What app can’t you live without? Google Chrome
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
participate in? Not a big fan of Twitter. I try to stay off my
devices as much as possible.
■ What is your favorite city; why? Tie between San
Francisco and Florence, Italy. San Fran is incredibly
beautiful, and is close to nature and the Pacific Ocean. I
feel like I’d fit in great there. I equally love Florence, Italy
for the history, art, food, wine and gelato.
■ Who is your favorite music artist? Beyoncé
■ What keeps you up at night? Lately, “Game of Thrones”.
■ What about your job most excites you? The ability to
work with different clients and locations daily.
■ What do you look for in an employer? I like an employer
who is honest, just and shows empathy and compassion for
his/her employees.
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
traveling? Depends on the day; I’m so lucky that I get to do
all 3!
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? Work hard and stay humble- gives you a
different perspective as you move forward in life.
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? Oprah —
would love to get on her Super Soul Sunday segment someday!
LONG ISLAND BUSINESS NEWS | 55
JILLIAN WESTON HALLIE ZWIBEL
■ Age: 27 ■ Age: 30
■ Company name and title: President/Founder of Jillian’s ■ Company name and title: Director of Sports Medicine,
Circus NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine
■ Twitter handle: @JilliansCircus ■ Twitter handle: @NYITsportsmed
■ Education: Fairleigh Dickinson University, 2011, Bachelor ■ Education: D.O., NYIT-College of Osteopathic Medicine, 2011
of Science Degree in Hospitality, Hotel/ Restaurant
Management, Tourism and Event Planning
■ How many hours do you sleep? 8
■ What do you eat for breakfast? Greek yogurt with peanut
■ How many hours do you sleep? Ha! Umm…. 6 if I’m lucky.
butter and a banana.
■ What do you eat for breakfast? Most mornings I have
networking meetings so scrambled eggs, bacon and home
■ What is on your home screen? Autumn foliage
fries with hot sauce. If I don’t have a networking meeting, I ■ What app can’t you live without? WNYC
microwave yesterday’s dinner. Every morning I drink coffee!
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
■ What is on your home screen? A picture of me, my mom, participate in? No
dad and grandma from a recent trip
■ What is your favorite city; why? Barcelona, Spain. The
■ What app can’t you live without? Google Maps! I wouldn’t culture, scenery, food, and people are without comparison.
make it to my meetings on time without it. Haha!
■ Who is your favorite music artist? Mumford and Sons
■ Are there any social platforms that you refuse to
participate in? Nope. Love them all. ■ What keeps you up at night? Right now nothing, but very
soon I am sure my newborn daughter will.
■ What is your favorite city; why? New York City. I love
being able to turn the corner and feel like I’m in a whole ■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
new place- there’s always something exciting and fun going most people don’t know: We have been loved and loathed,
on there. praised and vilified, highlighted and forgotten. People
forget that we are just now getting our hands on the reins
■ Who is your favorite music artist? Sum 41 and beginning to guide our own destinies.
■ What keeps you up at night? New ideas and concepts for ■ What about your job most excites you? The challenge
the company. of creating a sports medicine center from scratch with
colleagues I am proud to work with, but most of all caring
■ Name one thing about the millennial generation that
for patients.
most people don’t know: We are able to express ourselves
more freely then any generation before, which leads to ■ What do you look for in an employer? An organization
more creativity and innovation in the business world. which invests in its internal talent by giving them the
resources and autonomy to be successful.
■ What about your job most excites you? The idea that
I can have such a positive impact on my client’s and ■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office,
employee’s lives. And the complete satisfaction of starting traveling? The setting matters less to me than whether it is
with nothing, and watching this amazing business grow and convenient for my patients or contacts. However, I do enjoy
take shape. being outside when I can.
■ What do you look for in an employer? Aside from the ■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
basic skills needed to do the work, I look for someone important today? Integrity. Pride in one’s family and work.
who is kind to others, dedicated to the company and has a Taking the time to speak with people in person.
strong work ethic.
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be?
■ Where do you prefer to work? From home, office, Warren Buffet
traveling? I prefer to work in my office with my staff.
■ What old fashioned values do you think are still
important today? All of them. My slogan is “Traditional
Values, New Age Technology” because we must take those
values such, as being kind to one another, helping your
neighbor, being respectful, etc. and apply them to today’s
communication.
■ If you could pitch one person, who would it be? I would
pitch to Howard Schultz. Starbucks was successful
because he managed it with kindness and innovation. I like
to work with owners that are innovative, are able to come
out of their comfort zone and are kind to their staff. Shultz’
insight would be priceless, plus, free coffee!!!
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you wherever you go
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millenniAl AWArds Business & FinAnce AWArds

Thursday, sepTember 15
Crest Hollow Country Club | 6-9 p.m.
Join us in a celebration of a generation. The Millennial Awards hon-
ors the bright and dynamic young professionals who are part of the
millennial generation, who contribute to the Long Island communi-
ty through public service and who have made significant strides in
business.
Thursday, sepTember 22
Crest Hollow Country Club | 6-9:30 p.m.
This event will recognize financial professionals for their outstand-
ing performance as stewards of Long Island’s corporations, govern-
ment and not-for-profits organizations. This program will highlight
accountants, financials advisors, controllers, chief financial officers
and any other financial professional.

Top 50 Women AWArds AchievemenTs in

heAlTh cAre AWArds
Thursday, OcTOber 20 Tuesday, NOvember 1
Crest Hollow Country Club | 6-9:30 p.m. Crest Hollow Country Club | 6-8 p.m.
Launched in 2000, the Top 50 Women awards recognize Long Is- Join us as we recognize excellence, promote innovation, contribute
land’s top women in business, education, government and the non- to the enhancement and quality of health care, and identify those
for-profit fields for their business savvy, mentoring and community who work tirelessly to ensure the well-being of the Long Island com-
involvement. munity.

Nominations close on: August 26 Nominations close on: August 26

long islAnd leAdership in lAW AWArds

Business hAll oF FAme
Thursday, NOvember 10
Crest Hollow Country Club | 6-9:30 p.m.
This event, in its second year will include over 20 of the most distin-
guished leaders in our business community. Induction into the Hall of
Fame is the highest honor for those who demonstrate a commitment
to excellence; past, present and future. Network with these influential
leaders and learn about their secrets to success. Inductees are se-
lected by a committee of the top business leaders across Long Island.
w
Ne
Thursday, NOvember 17
Crest Hollow Country Club | 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Experience counts. Dedication, hard work, skill, tenacity, and ex-
cellence are expected. This event will recognize those individuals
whose leadership within the legal profession and the community
has had a positive impact on Long Island. Honorees demonstrate
outstanding achievements, involvement in their profession, sup-
port of the community and mentoring.
Nominations close on: September 2

To submit a nomination, download our online nomination form and email to nominations@libn.com.

For additional information about Long Island Business News events, visit LIBN.com.
For information on how your company can sponsor one of our events, please contact Melissa Rose at melissa.rose@libn.com or 631.913.4258.

= A special section about the event will be distributed at the event & will appear in LIBN = A special publication will be distributed at the event & mailed to subscribers