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 PLLC, says 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
