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Top women honored at Schneps Media Power Women of Manhattan

30th Anniversary Power Women of Manhattan 2024
30th Anniversary Power Women of Manhattan 2024
Photo: Ralph Depas

The Schneps Media’s Power Women 30th- anniversary celebration continued with the Power Women of Manhattan. The event ushered in the energy of the spring season at the Bryant Park Grill this Thursday. President and CEO of Schneps Media, Victoria Schneps, with her signature sense of style looked out into a sea of well-dressed women from across New York’s business community, “Manhattan in the house tonight! and the best of the best is here.” Power Women celebrated its 30th anniversary by honoring 54 diverse industry leaders who all help to uplift vibrant communities in New York City.

“I think networking events like the Schneps Media Power Women event are really important for women to see what else we are doing out there” shared Bonnie Comley, Founder and CEO of BroadwayHD, “ We are all doing different things. But I think we are [all] just trying hard to move each other forward.” 

These women represent pillars from a multitude of industries that support the culture and resilience of New York. They lead the charge in fashion, healthcare, nonprofits, construction, and so much more. On this night, Schneps Media brought them together to honor their hard work and give them the space to connect and celebrate each other’s successes. 

For Lisa Rosario, Director of Growth Operations at MetroPlus, it is all about lifting each other up and the communities in their industries. 

“It is important to keep supporting women because we need to ensure we keep empowering each other so we can get our piece of the pie.” 

Power Woman ICON Dawn M. Florio, Esp., founding and managing partner at Dawn M. Florio Law Firm PLLCsays her nickname in her industry is “the pretty pitbull attorney.” She shared being “persistent, consistent, and relentless” is what has helped her find success in her career.

“I am so particularly honored because as a woman, it is so important to mentor other women. As a trailblazer, I don’t want them to experience the things I had to experience coming up.” 

The evening started with an exclusive VIP Power Hour reception. The venue sparkled with honorees welcoming each other with hugs and excited introductions. “The impact for me has been being around powerful women today, networking, engaging, and inspiring each other”, says Audrey Bonanno-Williams, Sales Field Operations at Metro Plus. These Power Women had the unique opportunity to take the microphone, introduce each other, and shoot out other women in the group who have supported them throughout their careers. 

Gale Brewer, previously a Borough President and now a City Council Member, shared, “I want to thank the entire Schneps family because, for a very long time, they have done events like this when nobody else did.” 

Emma DeVito, an honoree who has built an incredible career as President and CEO of Village Care, adds to Brewer’s sentiments, “I think it is a real opportunity to come together and recognize each other and support each other. And unfortunately, it doesn’t happen as often as it should.” 

Adriana Forero, Assistant Vice President at Popular Bank, said the success in her career has been directly impacted by her connection with other women, “I’ve always had amazing women supporting me, guiding me, teaching me how to be successful.” 

Following the VIP Power Hour, the energy of the night only grew as the honored guests and their supporters entered the banquet area. Vicki Schneps, led the evening along with Mistress of Ceremonies Star Harvey of PIX 11, as each Power Woman was given the opportunity to dance onto the stage and accept their award. The evening was filled with clinking glasses, people getting up to dance a little around their tables, and a full standing ovation following a performance from Power Woman Leah Danielle of the Palm Beach Opera.

Lori A. Roth, Global Managing Partner at  Prager Metis, highlights that beyond a night of fun and celebration, bringing together Power Women helps break barriers that hold women back in their careers. 

“It’s important as women that we elevate other women instead of stepping on anybody to get ahead because it all took us a lot to get where we are. And I think it is important to put the hand forward and help others.” 

Each Power Women event supports a different cause and this evening’s raffle tickets were sold to support the amazing work of Special Olympics New York. Diane Colonna, Vice President of Downstate Operations for Special Olympics New York, attended both as an honoree and a spokesperson for the Special Olympics. She shared that Schneps Media has been a part of her career for “many many years” 

“Going back 30 years ago to the American Cancer Society in Queens, I remember going to all of these events and here I am 30 years later being recognized by them. I think it’s incredible. 

Tiffany Joy Murchison the Founder, CEO, and lead multi-cultural media maven of TJM & Co. Media Boutique, perfectly describes the type of women honored at the event, “a power woman is one that supports other women in her circle and her community.” 

“A power woman is one who falls down and gets right back up. Power woman is one who exhibits courage. Just tenacity. Just never stops going after her dreams.”

Josh Schneps, CEO of Schneps Media, encapsulated the power of fostering connections between both women who have illustrious careers and those who are just beginning to rise in their fields.

“Bringing people together that care about the communities in which they serve, in this case Manhattan, is an ability for people to help each other. When you bring together those people, they make things happen.”

After 30 years of Schneps Media bringing change makers together into one room to support, meet, and congratulate each other, the event concluded another night of connection and celebratory joy for the Power Women of Manhattan. 

“Events like this are incredible,” says Doris Hernadez Murphy, Power Women honoree and Executive Vice President of SSEU Local 371 union.

“They bring together these wonderful, talented, gifted, amazing leaders in our community. They are allowing them to showcase and celebrate their wonderful accomplishments and the contributions that they make to this wonderful city, globally, [and] to the state of New York. 

The 2024 Power Women of Manhattan are:

ICON Linda S. Alexander, President, Alexander Marketing Corp.

Nicole Aloise, Senior Assistant District Attorney, Career Prosecutor

Sharon Barnes-Waters, Executive Producer & DE&I Coordinator, 1010 WINS & Audacy

Jennifer Bassuk, Founder & CEO, Jenuine Advisors

Sarah Berman, Founder & President, The Berman Group

Audrey Bonanno-Williams, Sales Field Operations, MetroPlusHealth

HanaBoruchov(ICON)Founding PartnerBoruchov, Gabovich & Associates, PC

BettyBranoFounder & CEOBrano Design

TaraBuonocore-RutPresident & CEOCenterLight Healthcare

Mary E. Coleman, Vice President of Administration & Finance, Stella & Charles Guttman Community College

Diane Colonna, Vice President of Downstate Operations, Special Olympics New York

ICON Bonnie Comley, Founder & CEO, Broadway HD

Rebecca Damon, Chief Labor Policy Officer and New York Local Executive, SAG-AFTRA

ICON Leah Danielle, Acclaimed American Soprano, Palm Beach Opera

ICON Michele DiMeo, Principal & President, Squisito Franchise Enterprises & Monte Restaurant Development Group

Michelle de Milly, Principal & Founder, Geto & de Milly, Inc.

Emma DeVito, MBAPresident & CEO, VillageCare

Anita Durst, Co-Founder & Artistic Director, ChaShaMa

Erika Elliott, Executive Artistic Director, SummerStage

C. VirginiaFields, President & CEO, National Black Leadership Commission on Health

Linda Filardi, Senior Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Flagstar Bank

ICON Dawn M. Florio, Founder & Managing Partner, Dawn M. Florio Law Firm PLLC

Adriana Forero, Senior Marketing Manager, Popular Bank

Violeta Galagarza, Executive Director, Keep Rising To The Top (K.R.3Ts)

Sheryl Giugliano, Partner, Ruskin Moscou Faltischek PC

Rachel Demarest Gold, Director, Employment, Law Practice Abrams Fensterman LLP

Alessandra Grassi, Director of Wealth Management Solutions, Grassi Advisors & Accountants

Star Harvey, Meteorologist, PIX 11

Doris Hernandez MurphyExecutive Vice PresidentSSEU Local 371

Maxine Hoover, Artist & Curator

Michelle Hopson, National Executive Director, Professional Women in Construction

Karen Ignagni, Chief Executive Officer, EmblemHealth

Princess Jenkins, Founder & Owner, The Brownstone Woman

ICON Malikka D. Karteron, President & CEO, Global25

Hope KnightPresident, CEO & CommissionerEmpire State Development

Juanita O. Lewis, Executive Director, Community Voices Heard

Michelle Lewis, President & CEO, NYC Health+ Hospitals/Gotham Health

Diana Mahrach, Founder & Owner, Diana Mahrach Couture

ICON Misty Marris, Managing Partner, Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, LLP

Tiffany Joy Murchison, Founder & Principal, Public Relations Strategist, TJM & Co. Media Boutique

Stephanie Rhoades, Development Manager, Gotham Organization

Arva Rice, President & CEO, New York Urban League

Lisa Rosario, Director of Growth Operations, MetroPlusHealth

Bevin Ross, Executive Director, The Drama League

Lori A. Roth, Global Managing Partner, Prager Metis

ICON Hon. Rebecca A.Seawright, Assemblymember, 76th District

Helen C. Shelton, Global Chief Diversity Officer, Finn Partners

Elizabeth W. Smith, President & CEO, Central Park Conservancy

Sunshine Smith-Williams, Founder, Entrepreneur & Philanthropist, Sunny Legal Realty

Elise Wagner, Partner and Co-Chair, Land Use, Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP

Christine Walevska, Acclaimed Master Cellist

Angela Williams, Executive Director, Common Denominator

Zaneta Williams, Chief Executive Officer, Eyeris Industries Ltd.

Janet Wolfe, Head of School, The IDEAL School of Manhattan

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