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<\/a>Teagan Brown, Community Outreach Coordinator, Maspeth Federal Savings (center) with Elizabeth Schneps-Aloni (left) and emcee Monica Morales, PIX 11 (right). Photo by Ramy Mahmoud\n<\/p>\nMale and female attendees networked at a night where a vision had become a Queens tradition and raised money for SCO Family of Services<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is an opportunity to network so we can leverage our resources for greater impact,\u201d said Monique Cole-Green, program director of Industrial Transportation Workforce System for Grant Associates. \u201cThis will help strengthen our ability to serve the community.\u201d<\/p>\n They united to network and even help each other as entrepreneurs in a borough with more than 2 million people, bigger than most cities.\n<\/p>\n Queens was created in 1683, named for Queen of England Catherine of Braganza, and in 1898 became part of New York City.\n<\/p>\n \u201cI love that there are other women in power in the same borough of Queens,\u201d said Eyeri Gonzalez, owner and executive director of Early Bird Educational Centers. \u201cI love that there are people relatable to me, women who own businesses and have been doing it for a long time. It shows stability. It keeps you empowered.\u201d<\/p>\n Others said they draw energy from each other, as entrepreneurs focused on their own business meet others leading organizations.\n<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m excited to be among the women that are honored and recognized for the work we do regularly to be impactful in the community,\u201d said Renee McWilliams, vice president and chief operating officer for the Rockaway Development and Revitalization Corporation. \u201cWe work to ensure families have an improved quality of life through services. We have an incubator for businesses.\u201d<\/p>\n Diversity on Display<\/p>\n McWilliams talked about strength that comes from being in an area with global roots, including diverse backgrounds and languages.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s something you hear all the time,\u201d McWilliams said. \u201cThere is massive diversity which leads to the work we do, making sure every voice is represented.\u201d<\/p>\n LaShea Woodson, director of operations for Connective Strategies Associates Inc., a public relations and government relations company, said the event celebrates and further creates community.<\/p>\n \u201cYou get to meet a lot of people with a lot of backgrounds, network and potentially find business,\u201d Woodson said.\n<\/p>\n Eileen Yingling Zhang, CEO of Advanced-Integrity Wealth Strategies Inc., changed careers more than 25 years ago after seeing a need.\n<\/p>\n \u201cAs a single mother, I started a new career as a financial advisor,\u201d Zhang said. \u201cI found out the Chinese community was making money, but didn\u2019t know how to manage money and do financial strategy.\u201d<\/p>\n Educational Excellence<\/p>\n Queensborough Community College President Christine Mangino, in her sixth year in that role, was awarded with the Excellence in Education Award.<\/p>\n She said as much as 30% of college leaders are women, including many community colleges.\n<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been increasing tremendously,\u201d Mangino, who started as a teacher in Williamsburg, said. \u201cTwenty years ago, it was 10%. We\u2019re making strides.\u201d<\/p>\n Mangino said her school is \u201cclosing the equity gap\u201d in education, including lifting performance by Black and Hispanic males.\n<\/p>\n Simone L. Yearwood, Queens College\u2019s Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities, called herself a three-time graduate alumna of the school.\n<\/p>\n \u201cI started as support staff and ended up in the dean\u2019s office,\u201d Yearwood said. \u201cThe college is supporting its people.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Angela Wambugu Cobb, SUNY Old Westbury\u2019s vice president for institutional advancement, said setting an example benefits others. \u201cTo hear students let me know I\u2019m a role model or someone they look up to is really something,\u201d Wambugu Cobb said.<\/p>\n Workforce Impact Award winner Nancy Martinez, executive director of the New York Career Training School, started her own school after taking care of her brother, who was injured in an accident.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have trained over 45,000 individuals to make them productive members of society and get them jobs,\u201d Martinez said.\n<\/p>\n Transportation Triumph<\/p>\n Queens\u2019 airports, undergoing massive construction, produced a sizable number of honorees.\n<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s critical to recognize all the hard work being done by the community, including the redevelopment of JFK, Queens and surrounding neighborhoods,\u201d said Palmina Whelan, capital program director for the new Terminal One at John F. Kennedy International Airport. \u201cIt\u2019s women, but indirectly it reaches the entire community.\u201d<\/p>\n JFK is undergoing a massive redevelopment, generating jobs as well as reconstruction of an airport emerging into a new era.\n<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the largest public, private partnership program in North America,\u201d Whelan, who was honored with the Woman in Aviation Award, said of the terminal slated to open this year. \u201cThere\u2019s a large percentage of women involved, especially in the executive leadership team.\u201d<\/p>\n Bridgitte Allen, office manager for the JFK Redevelopment Community Information Center, said work at JFK involves the Queens community.\n<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s extremely important to the community,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019re making them aware of the opportunities in the redevelopment project and keeping them informed of upcoming employment.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s Train Time<\/p>\n Amy Louk, senior business manager for New York & Atlantic Railway, said she felt \u201chonored\u201d to be singled out among this group.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt could impact other women to look into an industry,\u201d she said. \u201cRailroad is not an industry that women may not first come to think of. If they see a woman in it, they might consider it.\u201d<\/p>\n Marlon Taylor, president of New York & Atlantic Railway, said Louk is helping the company grow.\n<\/p>\n \u201cThe work Amy does for us is a standout,\u201d Taylor said of her role at the freight rail company. \u201cWe had a strong 2025. The number of cars we handled was up over 2024.<\/p>\n Betting on the Borough<\/p>\n Michelle Stoddart, Resorts World New York City\u2019s Senior Vice President of Community Development and Public Affairs, was the recipient of\u00a0 the Visionary Vanguard Award.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re so happy we\u2019ve got our casino license,\u201d Stoddard said. \u201cRight now we\u2019re in the process of converting the building (at Aqueduct) to accommodate table games.\u201d<\/p>\n She said Resorts World, which partners on a small business incubator with the Queens Economic Development Corp. and the Rockaway Business Development Corp., will hire up to 5,000 people.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re right by JFK,\u201d Stoddart said. \u201cWith the redevelopment of JFK and Aqueduct less than 15 minutes apart, that will be an amazing partnership for Southeast Queens.\u201d<\/p>\n She said events like this are helpful. \u201cI get to meet and mingle with the most powerful women in Queens,\u201d she said.\n<\/p>\n Caribbean Culture<\/p>\n Queens is home to a large community with roots in the Caribbean, and the evening included those serving them.\n<\/p>\n Natasha Wilson, Founder and CEO of NOW Production, an entertainment company that provides Caribbean music, such as reggae.\n<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a huge community that has played a big part in Queens,\u201d Wilson said. \u201cI\u2019m doing a lot of work to help build the youth in our community.\u201d\n<\/p>\n She said she\u2019s doing many charitable events for children with a Caribbean flair. \u201cIt also boosts my courage to continue helping young and upcoming artists,\u201d she said of the recognition.<\/p>\n Efforts for the Elderly<\/p>\n Many serve the elderly, including Deborah Khan, owner of TrueBlue Home Service Ally, a home modification organization.<\/p>\n \u201cThousands of folks are turning seniors every month. We want to make sure that they age safely in their homes,\u201d Khan said. \u201cWe provide free assessments. We encourage them to reach out to us.<\/p>\n They install grab bars, railings, ramps and \u201canything that will make their life easier, comfortable.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Early Education\u00a0<\/p>\n People talked about pursuing a passion and purpose, not only profit, serving early education.\n<\/p>\n \u201cNot only are we serving communities, our employees are from the community,\u201d Gonzalez said.\n<\/p>\n Early Bird has served hundreds of families over more than a decade, continuing a tradition a mother and daughter created. Gonzalez pursued purpose when she discovered this profession.<\/p>\n \u201cMy mother is a retired teacher. As she was retiring, she decided she wanted to open her own pre-school. I was working in investment banking. I said I like that for you,\u201d Gonzalez said. \u201cShe saw something in me. I said I\u2019ll take a sabbatical from work. I\u2019ll set you up and head on back. We\u2019re still waiting for me to head on back.\u201d<\/p>\n Health Care<\/p>\n Debra Alexander is director of food and nutrition services for Episcopal Health Services, where meals are designed not as medicine but to foster health.<\/p>\n \u201cNutrition in a marginalized community is very important,\u201d Alexander said. \u201cA lot of people in the peninsula are high risk when it comes to obesity, diabetes, hypertension. Nutrition is very important in supporting and helping them.\u201d<\/p>\n Alexander said women are very involved in these, as well as many other, Queens health efforts.\n<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of women, especially at EHS, are at the table with a lot of impact on the focus on where we\u2019re going,\u201d she said.\n<\/p>\n Good Government<\/p>\n The Vallone family won the family legacy award, after decades of involvement in government.\n<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all about community service and giving back to the community,\u201d said Anna-Marie Vallone, a banker at 9-branch First Central Savings Bank. \u201cAny time anyone is recognized for doing good things, it\u2019s always so appreciated.\u201d<\/p>\n While some work in government, others are involved in elections. Woodson has helped run campaigns from district leader to district attorney and Congress.\n<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m the person that sends my team to the doors,\u201d she said, \u201ctalks to voters, gets concerns, brings back to the candidate and applies to policies.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Attorneys talked about leading and running a business. Nicole Henriquez and Diana Bronnberg, recipients of the Power Team Award, partnered to create Bronnberg & Henriquez.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have four partners, all women,\u201d Bronnberg said. \u201cIt\u2019s really been an incredible experience to go from other firms to having our own firm.\u201d\n<\/p>\n And Karen H. Charrington, founder of the Charrington Firm and administrative law judge who stated as a prosecutor in the Bronx, said it\u2019s important to set boundaries.<\/p>\n \u201cThe boundary of making sure you take care of yourself,\u201d she said, \u201ccreating boundaries, so you can do self-care.\u201d\n<\/p>\n They Mean Business<\/p>\n Patricia Robinson, Community Advancement Award honoree, as chief administrative officer for the Greater Jamaica Development Corp. helps lead a highly visible nonprofit economic development corporation.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe have a multitude of projects going on,\u201d she said. \u201cWe have an emphasis on our small business initiative, an MWBE accelerator.\u201d\n<\/p>\n They are a community development financial institution or CDFI, which lets them fund businesses. \u201cWe lend money,\u201d Robinson said. \u201cWe\u2019re making sure the economic engine in Southeast Queens is prepared to thrive.\u201d<\/p>\n Cole-Green works to empower underserved and underrepresented communities by creating pathways to employment, running a program for the New York City Department of Small Business to train workers.<\/p>\n \u201cWe help people to get employment and training to get into skilled trades in transportation, construction and manufacturing,\u201d she said.\n<\/p>\n Beauty in the Borough<\/p>\n While many honorees have been in their position for a long time, Michelle DeMartino recently started Bubbles & Mane, a full-service salon and spa in Astoria<\/a>, including bridal hair and makeup.<\/p>\n \u201cWe started really small,\u201d she said of opening in 450 square feet and expanding to 2,500 square feet. \u201cWe\u2019ve had great growth and expansion rapidly.\u201d<\/p>\n DeMartino was part of Goldman Sachs (10,000 Small Businesses) 10KSB program for small business people. \u201cThey helped find my growth opportunities,\u201d she said. \u201cI was a solo entrepreneur. There was no business without me. I needed to expand beyond me.\u201d<\/p>\n She expanded and has been hiring, noting she met a woman at the event who owns a juice bar with whom she hopes to partner. \u201cIt\u2019s a great way for us to come together, take the wellness aspect and merge them,\u201d DeMartino said.<\/p>\n Onward, Upward, Forward\u00a0<\/p>\n Robinson enjoyed the ability to surround herself \u201cwith other women who are leading in different sectors and industries.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEvery single honoree pays it forward,\u201d said Schneps Vice President of Events Toni Cimino. \u201cIt\u2019s not only about what we do, but how we inspire others.\u201d<\/p>\n While many events honor people, some talked about the importance of honoring women specifically.\n<\/p>\n \u201cMost of the awards are geared to general,\u201d Louk said, noting men often are primarily recognized. \u201cThis spotlight\u2019s only women.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \u201cI think recognizing women is important,\u201d Taylor noted. \u201cIt\u2019s a thing we can probably do a little more.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Others noted that networking already led to connections through this event in the past. \u201cIt has absolutely led to partnerships with community organizations, businesses,\u201d Stoddart said. \u201cAnd we love the fact that we have young entrepreneurs, young women businesses here. We can meet and support them.\u201d<\/p>\n The honorees left feeling the joy of their acknowledgement, the love and support of all the attendees and new and renewed relationships.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \u201cI like the energy of all the people here,\u201d said Khan, owner of TrueBlue Home Service Ally. \u201cIt\u2019s exciting. It makes you want to do more.\u201d\n<\/p>\n The 2026 Power Women of Queens:<\/p>\n MISTRESS OF CEREMONIES \u2013 Monica Morales, Emmy Award Winning Reporter, PIX11<\/p>\n Debra Alexander, RD, CDN \u2013 Director of Food and Nutrition Services, Episcopal Health Services\n<\/p>\n Bridgitte Allen \u2013 Office Manager, JFK Redevelopment Community Information Center\n<\/p>\n Caribbean Impact Award \u2013 Coretta Andrews, BSN, RN, Assistant Nurse Manager, Episcopal Health Services\n<\/p>\n Rachelle Antoine \u2013 Manager of External Affairs & Community Outreach, John F. Kennedy International Redevelopment Program\n<\/p>\n Dr. Janice Krystal Ascencio \u2013 Director of Ambulatory Women\u2019s Health, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center\n<\/p>\n Caribbean Impact Award \u2013 Judith Avin, NP, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, NYC Health + Hospitals\/Queens\n<\/p>\n Ali Bardeguez \u2013 Gunnery Sergeant, Paws of War\n<\/p>\n Justice Award \u2013 Julissa Bisono, Director of Base Building, Make the Road New York\n<\/p>\n Power Team Award \u2013 Diana Bronnberg, Esq., Founding Partner and Owner, Bronnberg & Henriquez, P.C.\n<\/p>\n Power Team Award \u2013 Nicole Henriquez, Esq., Founding Partner and Owner, Bronnberg & Henriquez, P.C.\n<\/p>\n Teagan Brown \u2013 Community Outreach Coordinator, Maspeth Federal Savings\n<\/p>\n Karen H. Charrington, Esq. \u2013 Founder, The Charrington Firm, P.C.\n<\/p>\n Youth Empowerment Award \u2013 Ramona Ciobanu, Director, Soccer Kids NYC\n<\/p>\n Tehra Coles \u2013 Executive Director, Center for Family Representation\n<\/p>\n Monique Cole-Green \u2013 Director, Industrial Transportation Workforce System, Grant Associates\n<\/p>\n Michelle DeMartino \u2013 Founder & CEO, Bubbles & Mane, Experiential Salon, Spa & Boutique\n<\/p>\n Kamila Dottin \u2013 Director of Operations, Independent Drivers Guild\n<\/p>\n Power Team Award \u2013 Jade Duncan, Chief Operating Officer, The Nourish Spot Inc.\n<\/p>\n Power Team Award \u2013 Dawn Kelly, Founder & CEO, The Nourish Spot Inc.\n<\/p>\n Inspi-HER Award \u2013 Monique Edwards, Interim Director, Alstom\n<\/p>\n Jeehae Fischer \u2013 Executive Director, KAFSC (Korean American Family Service Center)\n<\/p>\n Stacey Gilbert \u2013 Senior External Relations Client Manager, The Port Authority of NY & NJ\n<\/p>\n 50 Years of Distinguished Service Award \u2013 Yvette Greene, Executive Vice President of Program Management, Crescent Consulting<\/p>\n Eyeri Gonzalez \u2013 Owner & Executive Director, Early Bird Educational Centers\n<\/p>\n Beacon of Hope Award \u2013 Suzette Gordon, President and Chief Executive Officer, SCO Family of Services\n<\/p>\n Veronica Gordon \u2013 Mortgage Loan Originator, Meadowbrook Financial Mortgage Bankers, Corp.\n<\/p>\n Yanna M. Henriquez \u2013 Community Advocate, 100 Unite Here\n<\/p>\n Leslie Jacobs \u2013 Founder & CEO, The Jacobs Agency\n<\/p>\n Belinda Jain \u2013 Vice President, Customer Experience & Commercial, JFKIAT\n<\/p>\n Power Team Award \u2013 Luchia Dragosh, Emmy-Nominated Producer, Director & Supervising Producer, Queens Public Communications Corp. (QPTV)<\/p>\n Power Team Award \u2013 Madeline Johnson, Emmy-Nominated Producer, Director & Community Relations Coordinator, Queens Public Communications Corp. (QPTV)<\/p>\n Power Team Award \u2013 Lisa Gabberty-Rizzo, Business Administrator, Queens Public Communications Corp. (QPTV)<\/p>\n Power Team Award \u2013 Roslyn Nieves, Emmy-Nominated Producer, Director & Reporter, Queens Public Communications Corp. (QPTV)<\/p>\n Power Team Award \u2013 Noran Omar, Emmy-Nominated Producer & Video Journalist, Queens Public Communications Corp. (QPTV)<\/p>\n Power Team Award \u2013 Linlin Zhang, Business, Financial and Employee Services Manager, Queens Public Communications Corp. (QPTV)<\/p>\n Deborah Khan \u2013 Founder, TruBlue Home Service Ally\n<\/p>\n Dimitra Les \u2013 Director of Human Resources & Office Manager, The Black Car Fund\n<\/p>\n Stacey Lora \u2013 Vice President of Safety & Security, JFKIAT\n<\/p>\n Amy Louk \u2013 Senior Business Manager, New York & Atlantic Railway\n<\/p>\n Excellence in Education Award \u2013 Christine Mangino, President, Queensborough Community College, CUNY\n<\/p>\n Workforce Impact Award \u2013 Nancy Martinez, Executive Director, New York Career Training School, LLC\n<\/p>\n Renee McWilliams \u2013 Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Rockaway Development & Revitalization Corporation\n<\/p>\n Woman in Aviation Award \u2013 Suzette Noble, Chief Executive Officer, LaGuardia Gateway Partners\n<\/p>\n Helen O\u2019Reilly \u2013 Chief Legal Counsel, SCO Family of Services\n<\/p>\n Blanca J. Ramirez \u2013 President and CEO, Comunilife\n<\/p>\n Sara Rennert \u2013 Executive Director, Ridgewood YMCA\n<\/p>\n Community Advancement Award \u2013 Patricia Robinson, Chief Administrative Officer, Greater Jamaica Development Corporation<\/p>\n Social Entrepreneurship Award \u2013 Dianna Rose, Principal, Dianna Rose & Associates\n<\/p>\n Anila A. Siddiqi, M.D. \u2013 Psychiatrist and Geriatrician, NYC Health + Hospitals\/Queens\n<\/p>\n Caribbean Impact Award \u2013 Cecilia Solozano-Bahr, Manager \u2013 Commercial\/Contract Management, Alstom\n<\/p>\n Visionary Vanguard Award \u2013 Michelle Stoddart, Senior Vice President of Community Development and Public Affairs, Resorts World New York City<\/p>\n Natasha Lelia Turner, ACE \u2013 Project Management, JFK Redevelopment Program, The Port Authority of NY & NJ\n<\/p>\n Family Legacy Award \u2013 The Vallone Family\n<\/p>\n Shenna Vaughn \u2013 Co-founder, Vaughn Bentley Creative LLC\n<\/p>\n Cecilia Venosta-Wiygul \u2013 Executive Director, Center for the Women of New York\n<\/p>\n Tiffany Victoria \u2013 Founder, The Victorious Foundation & Victorious Consulting NY LLC\n<\/p>\n Angela Wambugu Cobb \u2013 Vice President for Institutional Advancement, SUNY Old Westbury\n<\/p>\n Woman in Aviation Award \u2013 Palmina Whelan, Capital Program Director, The New Terminal One at JFK\n<\/p>\n Natasha Wilson \u2013 Founder & CEO, NOW Production\n<\/p>\n LaShea Woodson \u2013 Director of Operations, Connective Strategies Associates Inc.\n<\/p>\n Simone L. Yearwood \u2013 Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities, Queens College\n<\/p>\n Eileen Yingling Zhang \u2013 CEO, Advanced-Integrity Wealth Strategies Inc.\n<\/p>\n Learn more about these incredible women at PowerWomenQNS.com<\/a>. Nominate, sponsor and buy tickets for future events at SchnepsEvents.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"More than 450 people gathered to cheer, celebrate, congratulate and collaborate at this year\u2019s Power Women of Queens…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":147574,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[9,24,63,46395,122,124,123],"class_list":["post-147573","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-queens","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-city","tag-nyc","tag-power-women-of-queens","tag-queens","tag-queens-headlines","tag-queens-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147573","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=147573"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147573\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/147574"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=147573"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=147573"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=147573"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/stoddart.jpg\")
<\/a>Visionary Vanguard Award\u201d recipient Michelle Stoddart, Senior Vice President of Community Development and Public Affairs, Resorts World New York City (center) with Elizabeth Schneps-Aloni (left) and event emcee Monica Morales, PIX 11 (right). Photo by Ramy Mahmoud<\/p>\n