Long Island’s multicultural diversity is the key to our social and economic survival. The ability of people from different races, religions and regions to live and work together is crucial to our prosperity. Diversity is everybody’s business – and good for everybody’s business. The growing number of newcomers, often from faraway lands, are the new students, patrons, and entrepreneurs who can revive and sustain our economy. Getting to know one another is essential to our success. Dedicated to funding diversity-related scholarships and research at the National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University (hofstra.edu/ncss), the annual Celebration of Suburban Diversity banquet brings together Long Islanders from across the multicultural spectrum, as well as individuals with disabilities and gay and lesbian communities. The evening is dedicated to the idea – and ideal – that we can be stronger for our differences if we come together to appreciate them.
Celebration of SU B U R B A N D I V ER S I T Y 2 017
The National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University is a nonpartisan research institution dedicated to promoting the objective, academically rigorous study of suburbia’s problems, as well as its promise. CELEBRATION OF SUBURBAN DIVERSITY 2017 BANQUET CO-CHAIRS Scott Rechler
George J. Tsunis, Esq.
CEO and Chairman, RXR Realty
Chairman and CEO, Chartwell Hotels
CELEBRATION OF SUBURBAN DIVERSITY 2017 BANQUET COMMITTEE Stuart Rabinowitz President, Hofstra University
Sandi Brewster-walker LI Indigenous People Museum
Linda Leaf LI Human Rights Activist
Gail Simmons Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Hofstra University
David L. Calone LI Emerging Technologies Fund
Soh Young Lee-Segredo Banquet Music Coordinator
Robert B. Catell Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center
Bernard Macias AARP
Lawrence C. Levy Executive Dean National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University Christopher Niedt Academic Director National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University
Hon. Jon Cooper Spectronics Corporation Resi Cooper Consultant Don Dreyer Disability Rights and Policy Consultant
Sandra Garren Director of Sustainability Research National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University
John R. Durso LI Federation of Labor
Ina Katz Senior Assistant Dean for Administration National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University
Thomas J. Garry, Esq. Harris Beach PLLC
Eric Alexander Vision Long Island Hon. Michael Balboni Redland Strategies Leone Baum Hempstead Chamber of Commerce
Marwa Fawaz VHB Engineering
Henry Holley Henry Holley Group 100 Black Men of Long Island Inc. Jessica K. Kalra, Esq. Kakkar & Associates David Kilmnick Long Island LGBT Services Network Jeffrey Kraut Northwell Health System
Pavneet Mehra Citibank Joseph Milizio, Esq. Vishnick McGovern Milizio LLP Kirit Panchamia Panchamia CPA Hotelier Marge Rogatz Community Advocates, Inc. Christine Conniff Sheahan Networking Magazine Zahid Syed Nassau County Commission on Human Rights
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Mohinder Taneja Banquet Founding Chair Freda Wagner, Esq. Mediator and Consultant Tai Wang WAC Lighting Company Herbert A. Weiss, Esq. Garganigo, Goldsmith & Weiss
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