2012 Brooklyn Rising Stars

2012 Brooklyn Rising Stars Mentor of the Year Curtis Sliwa

The Home Reporter, the chain of community newspapers that is expanding its coverage in Brooklyn, held its First Annual 2012 Rising Stars Awards event at the wonderful Abigail Kirsch Steiner Studio 6 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The evening included community trade fair and extensive networking opportunities. The award acknowledges up-and-coming leaders in Brooklyn's business, political, education, community service, and arts communities. Star of Stars Awards went to Public Advocate Bill DeBlasio. Mentor of the Year went to the ever-opinionated founder of the Guardian Angels, and aspiring King of All Media, Curtis Sliwa.

Christina Moore, Miss Brooklyn 2011, received the Rookie of the Year award. Among the notable rising stars, City Councilmember Jumaane D. Williams; Justin Brannan, legislative and communications director for Citycouncilmember Vincent Gentile; Renee Altomonte, vice president and retail market manager, TD Bank; Rachel Amar, community relations manager, Waste Management; ; Warren Chan, president, Asian Community United Society; Christian Charvet, sales manager, Sovereign Motor Cars, Ltd-Mercedes-Benz; Ryan Condren, managing director- leasing, CPEX Real Estate; Julia Dawson and Carey Balogh, co-founders/owners, Frolic Playspace; Tina Roth Eisenberg; founder, Tattly; Michael Esposito, owner, Cebu Restaurant; Charles Fabbella, associate broker/partner, Ben Bay Realty Co. of Bay Ridge., LLC; Gabriela Falquez, licensed real estate broker, Rapid Realty NYC: Cynthia J. Felix, deputy network leader, CFN 612, New York City Department of Education; Father Michael Louis Gelfant, pastor, St. Finbar Roman Catholic Church; Aisha Browne Glover, vice president of external affairs, Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation; Pamela Golkin, board member, Francesco Loccisano Memorial Foundation/music teacher, The Child Legacy School; Dr. Jared Hoffman, owner, Keller Chiropractic of Williamsburg; Jamie Johnson, regional director of golf events and fundraising, American Golf Corporation; Mehmet Kilic, vice president, Turkish Cultural Center; Renata Landskind, attorney and partner, Connors & Sullivan Attorneys at Law; Joe LaSpina, vice president, Maple Family Centers; Erin Leigh, Manager of Inside Sales, NETS Basketball; Jonathan Levin, president, Cardinal Trade Group; Kevin Mahoney, assistant GM, Brooklyn Cyclones; Dr. Jennifer Kulp Makarov, reproductive endocrinologist, Genesis Fertility; Dr. George Malayil, retina specialist, ophthalmology, Preferred Health Partners; Assemblymember Nicole Malliotakis; Robert Manse, designer and president, Robert Manse Designs; Kevin “Kato” McKessey, senior, vice chairperson of senior college affairs, CUNY Student Senate; David Meade, executive director, Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation; Daryl Meyers, development agent, Subway Development of Brooklyn; Eileen Mora, director, Fort Hamilton Child Development Center; Frank Morizio, Jr., financial advisor, MetLife; Jeanette Nigro, vice president, economic development, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Phil Penta, Jr. co-owner, 3 Guys from Brooklyn; John Quaglione, deputy chief of staff and press secretary for State Senator Marty Golden; Amanda Quiñones, AVP Branch Manager, Flushing Bank; Linda Sarsour, executive director, Arab American Association of NY; Arthur M. Shtaynberg, Esq., CEO, LicensePro, LLC;  and Daniel Woods, associate director transaction services, Grubb & Ellis Company.

Two local not-for-profit organizations -- the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation and the Francesco Loccisano Memorial Foundation -- were beneficiaries of a raffle held at the event.