News & Events
2010 ANNUAL MEETING RECAP
MORE THAN 100 GUESTS ATTEND
2010 ANNUAL MEETING
Debra Fechter Re-Elected Chair
More then one hundred people -- a record crowd -- packed the Friars Club on the morning of Thursday, June 17, for the East Midtown Partnership's 9th Annual Meeting of Membership.
Debra G. Fechter, a partner at Digby Management Co. LLC, was re-elected as Chair of the Board of Directors. She has led the organization since 2008. The Board also re-elected Joanne Porrazzo of Vornado Realty Trust as Vice Chair, Newmark Knight Frank's Brian Steinwurtzel as Treasurer, and Adam Zickerman of Inform Fitness Studios as Secretary. Rob Byrnes, president of the organization since 2002, will remain in that position. Among the directors elected was Joseph DeGregorio, Regional Property Manager for Boston Properties, marking a return of that company to the Board for the first time since 2003.
Sam Roberts, author and urban affairs correspondent for The New York Times, was a lively and well-received guest speaker at the meeting. New York City Comptroller John C. Liu also offered remarks to the guests.
From left: Guest speaker Sam Roberts; "standing room only" in the Friars Club's Frank Sinatra Room; NYC Comptroller John C. Liu.
During the meeting, the East Midtown Partnership presented a number of awards, including:
Business Leaders of the Year: Adam Zickerman, Inform Fitness Studios; Josephine "Joey" Longo, TD Bank; and Elysabeth Kleinhans, 59E59 Theaters.
From left: Board member Tina Georgeou of Lighthouse International and EMP President Rob Byrnes congratulate Joey Longo; Adam Zickerman; Elysabeth Kleinhans.
Community Leaders of the Year: Barbara McLaughlin and Jo-Ann Polise, The Fund for Park Avenue; and Hunter Armstrong and Rita Hirsch, Civitas.
From left: Jo-Ann Polise and Barbara McLaughlin; EMP Board Chair Debra Fechter addresses the crowd; Hunter Armstrong; EMP Vice Chair Joanne Porrazzo with Steven Cherniak
Building of the Year: 135 East 57th Street, owned by Cohen Brothers Realty Corp., for its substantial investment in renovating the fountain in its public plaza. Steven Cherniak, Chief Operating Officer for Cohen Brothers Realty, accepted the award.
The following individuals were also named Partners of Distinction: Jonathan Bing, New York State Assembly; Liz Krueger, New York State Senate; Sam Roberts, The New York Times; Josh Mazess, NYC Comptroller's Office; Craig Trotta, The Doe Fund; and Brian Moriarty, Bowery Residents' Committee.
Top Row: Bowery Residents' Committee Executive Director Muzzy Rosenblatt
with Rob Byrnes; Brian Moriarty; Laura Rothrock of the NYC Department
of Small Business Services.
Bottom Row: EMP Director of Operations Bob Iovino with Craig Trotta and
George McDonald, Founder and President of The Doe Fund; Keith Powers,
Chief of Staff to State Assembly Member Jonathan Bing.
Photos by Terise Slotkin