Meet this year’s Stars Under Forty

Brooklyn will shine bright on Thursday, June 16 as Schneps Communications and Star Network present the “Stars Under Forty” Awards and Networking Dinner – a night to honor young professionals in the borough who exemplify leadership skills, not only in their chosen fields, but in their communities as well.

This year, more than 40 honorees under the age of 40, as well as three “Rising Stars,” will get the chance to mingle with other, like-minded professionals and be acknowledged for their hard work and dedication.

“’The Stars Under Forty event is very exciting because we get to recognize young professionals throughout the borough who not only are successful in their everyday work but also find time to give back to the community,” said Lori Pedone, the event’s organizer and vice president of events for Brooklyn and Staten Island for Schneps Communications. “I am especially excited about this year’s event because we get to recognize three ‘Rising Stars’ – two high school students and one elementary school student – who are already doing great things for the community as well as excelling in school.”

This year’s honorees are: Samantha Altilio, Executive Director of Pietro’s Fight; Vania Andre, Executive Editor of The Haitian Times; Zoe Badillo, Marketing Coordinator of Fort Hamilton Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation; Louis Belisario, Executive Sales Director with Fillmore Real Estate; Lance Bertrand, President of Turn Key Design & Construction, Inc.; Maureen Brody, Co-Owner of Green Spa & Wellness Center; Britt Burner, Associate with Nancy Burner and Associates; Robert Burnett, Vice President – Financial Services with Admiral Insurance; Natasha Orzeck-Byrnes, Respite Counselor with SKIP of New York; Natasha Campbell, Founder/Executive Director of Summit Academy Charter School; Francis Chevalier, Manager of Blue Agave Restaurant; Brian Cunningham, Director of Government & Foundations Relations with Nazareth Housing; Lisa De Siena, Owner, Director and Choreographer at Dynamic Dance Academy; Nadege Fleurimond, Owner of Fleurimond Catering Inc.; Karen Ford, Assistant to Senior Advisor at Brooklyn Borough Hall; Mathylde Frontus, PhD, Founder & Executive Director of Urban Neighborhood Services; Kisha Edwards-Gandsy, Co-Founder of NY City Explorers; Sean Isaiah James, Special Assistant to Senior Advisor at the Office of Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams; Cindy Similien-Johnson, Founder and Director of Goal Chic; Omar Kasi, Owner of Bubbles & Suds Laundry; Alexandra Larkin, Chief of Staff for Assemblymember Pamela Harris; Pedro Lebron, Contract Account Manager with The Avondale Care Group, LLC; Jill Lindsey, Owner of Jill Lindsey Department Store; Marianne Lombardozzi Owner of BurnedInBrooklyn; Klarinda Louis, Director of Coney Island Generation Gap; Demetri Lymberatos, President of The Brooklyn Apothecary; Jamie Lynn Macchia, Miss New York 2015; Keyanna Murrill, Co-Founder of NY City Explorers; Walter Ochoa, President/Owner of Right At Home; Alex Orman, Owner of Encore Restaurant; Hon. Dweynie Paul, Kings County Civil Court Judge; James Pristouris, President of Super League Athletic Academy; Tiffany A. Tucker-Pryor, Founder and President of Redemption Inc.; Jacqueline Rubi, East Region Sales Manager for Time Warner Cable; Asim Sabir,  Mortgage Representative with Investors Bank; Florence Saint-Jean, Founder & Executive Director of the Global Trauma Center; Dr. Marcello Sarrica, PT, DPT,OCS,CSCS at Sarrica Physical Therapy & Wellness; Schlomo Silber, Co-Founder and CEO of Coworkrs; Dr. Jennifer Srour, Audiologist and Practice Developer at Liberty Hearing Centers; Omar Verges, Contract Account Manager with The Avondale Care Group, LLC; Douglas Wint, Manager of International Accounting Operations at TransPerfect; and Terry Yarde, Supervisor, Gas Sales & Marketing – Lead Intake at National Grid; with Julia Bruzesse of the St. Bernadette School, Michelle Sahlani of Fontbonne High School and Adney Silva of Xaverian High School receiving the “Rising Star” award.

The event will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Grand Prospect Hall, 263 Prospect Avenue, on Thursday, June 16.

Click here to purchase a ticket and here to purchase a table. For sponsorship opportunities, please call 718.238.6600 Ext 110 or email Lpedone@homereporter.com.