Wonder-women shine at annual Top Women in Business

It’s all about the leading ladies.

The power of women was evident on Wednesday, March 11 as 36 of the borough’s most influential business women and community activists were lauded at The Home Reporter and Brooklyn Spectator’s fourth annual Top Women in Business Awards and Networking Dinner.

“There are excellent women in our community and my role is to recognize them,” said Home Reporter and Brooklyn Spectator Co-Publisher Victoria Schneps, who spearheaded the event. “They deserve to be highlighted for all their dedication and devotion to what they do.

“These women keep more balloons up in the air than anyone else,” she said to a room-full of honorees at the event, held at the Grand Prospect Hall, 263 Prospect Avenue.

“In one word, I am humbled,” said honoree Diana Howe, president of Howe Beautiful Gift Services and longtime Bay Ridge resident. “I’m happy to be amongst such an esteemed group of women.”

Fellow honoree Susan Eaton, co-founder and director of fundraising for The M.H.E. Research Foundation, agreed.

“I’m honored to be among these wonderful, wonderful women,” she said, joining Howe in a hearty “Cheers.”

“I’m happy to be in such an esteemed room of women,” noted the Honorable Sylvia G. Ash, New York Supreme Court Justice and honoree.

Jane Kelly, 93, community activist extraordinaire, was awarded with the event’s annual Lifetime Achievement Award.

“I’ve lived in Bay Ridge since 1951,” said the mother of three and grandmother-of-five, “and since retiring, I’ve remained active in the community.”

Ingrid Lewis-Martin, senior advisor to Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, received the event’s annual Community Service Award.

“You are all doing some wonderful things,” lauded the beep himself. “It’s Women’s History Month, and I know that you will continue to make history.”

Still, “behind every woman is a good man,” noted Schneps, making sure to congratulate the Man of the Year, Chris Cimino, lead meteorologist for NBC 4 New York’s morning show “Today in New York.”

“I am truly honored to be a part of this,” he said, “but tonight is all about you.”

The event’s many exhibitors agreed.

“It’s an honor to be amongst so many powerful women,” said Gennine Di Giuseppi of Skin Beauty Laser Center.

Immediate Care Director of Marketing Rey Bolic agreed.

“It’s an absolute honor for Immediate Care to be a part of such a distinguished event,” Bolic said, “and, to that end, it’s wonderful to have such a strong relationship with such a great publication as The Home Reporter.”

This year’s event was sponsored by Con Edison, Empire State Bank, Immediate Care, Jaguar Court Reporting, Kings Plaza Brooklyn, Lutheran HealthCare, National Grid, the New York Daily News, Northfield Bank, the NYCB Family of Banks and Supernatural Woman.

The good time wasn’t only for the women, as some guests walked away with door prizes and one lucky winner took home a five-day, four-night trip to Cancun, the grand prize in a raffle held to raise money for the American Heart Association and St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

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