GIGI PARALKAR FLEMING '98

Tell us about your work. I am an Orthodontist, which is a dental specialist responsible for aligning teeth and correcting jaw or bite discrepancies. Orthodontists first become dentists and then go on for 2-3 more years of additional training to fully learn how to correct malocclusions in children and adults.

Why Orthodontics? How did you first become interested in your profession? I was initially inspired to become a dentist after watching my father work as a general dentist. After his passing when I was 22 years old, I wanted to follow in his footsteps as a way of remembering him and expressing my own strengths. I fell in love with orthodontics after remembering my own transformation as a child and teen, as I needed extensive orthodontic treatment. The change in my patients’ confidence that I witness daily is my biggest reward.

What is your biggest career failure/challenge you have faced and what did you learn from it? My biggest career failure was initially entering into an industry that was not the best fit for me. After graduating from Boston University as a biomedical engineer, I accepted a position as an IT Consultant at IBM. While I gained great experience in the corporate world, I quickly realized that I was meant for something different. I’m grateful that I learned some skills, but moved on to my true calling.

What is your proudest accomplishment? My proudest accomplishment is starting my own practice from scratch. I often joke that Livingston Family Orthodontics is my second child! Designing and growing a boutique orthodontic practice has been a dream many years in the making and I’m so incredibly proud of the environment my staff and I have built for our patients.

In what ways did MKA prepare you for the path your life has taken? MKA allowed me to practice my ability to communicate and present with confidence. I was also able to see so many examples of successful teachers, alumni and parents of fellow students. MKA’s environment really shaped my vision for what I wanted for my life.

who have put their trust in them to meet the Borough's needs moving into the future. Josh is excited to get to work and deliver on his promise to prioritize, plan, and act so that North Caldwell is positioned to face challenges and see many successes ahead.

professionals, and corporate executives who are engaged in a wide range of business interests and have a role in driving the U.S. economy.

1994. Mr. Jason Awerdick; 23 Greenbrook Drive; Bloomfield, NJ 07003; jasonawerdick@gmail.com

1996. Ms. Tanya Barnes; barnes.tanya@gmail.com

Ms. Erica Hirsch 10 West 15th Street, #710 New York, NY 10011 ehirsch77@yahoo.com

Mr. Lee Vartan, 3 Swayze Lane, Chester, NJ 07930; ldvartan@yahoo.com

Cians Analytics was acquired by Equistone-backed Acuity Knowledge Partners, consolidating a leading position in the global financial services outsourcing market.

Congratulations to Kristen Connolly on marrying Stephen O’Reilly in October 2022 at Newman University Church in Dublin, Ireland.

1999. Mr. Alexander Holz, 217 East 10th St, Apt 18, New York, NY 10003; alexbhlz@gmail.com

Ms. Sandra Tritt; sandratritt@gmail.com

2001. / MKA /

Congratulations to Tatjana Gall on her marriage to Michael Morris in August 2022.

2002. / MKA / Miss Emily Santangelo, 27 Woods Road, Little Falls, NJ 07424; emilyannesantangelo@gmail. com

Mrs. Melissa Fortunato Slomienski, 58 Oldchester Road, Essex Fells, NJ 07021; slomienski@icloud.com

Congratulations to Emily Santangelo on her marriage to Matt Marinello on September 10, 2022 in Bernardsville, NJ. 3

1991. Ms. Dara Marmon, 330 E. 39th, Apt. 21D, New York, NY 10016; daramarmon@gmail.com

Mr. Luke Sarsfield, 105 Franklin Street, Apt. 4, New York, NY 10013; luke.sarsfield@gs.com

1992. Dr. Enrique Neblett, 718 Ainsley Court, Durham, NC 27713; enrique. neblett@gmail.com

1993. A huge congratulations to Vejay Lalla who was recognized at the 2022 Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business Awards! Established in 2001 and hosted by the Asian American Business Development Center, this annual event has remained the premier forum to highlight the achievements of Asian American business professionals across the U.S. Vejay and his fellow award recipients were recognized in New York as representing a microcosm of the best of Asian American entrepreneurs,

1998. Ms. Gemma Giantomasi, 80 Avon Drive, Essex Fells, NJ 07021; gemma.diaco@gmail.com

Alumni Anmol Bhandari and Jeremy Traster ’97 were seated next to each other at dinner at Uchi in Miami in August 2022.

From Karson St. John McGinley: After a 10-year hiatus from performing while I ran my yoga studio and had my kids, I returned to the stage this summer, reprising my role as the Emcee in Cabaret at Cygnet Theatre in San Diego! We’ve been performing to sold out houses and have extended three times, currently through October. Such a blessing to be back on stage, especially after COVID-19, with such an incredible theatre community and brilliant material! (Also, remember when I directed Cabaret at MKA when I taught there in 2011?) This show has a very special place in my heart… so happy to be back! 1

Congratulations to Anmol Bhandari whose company

Congratulations to Phil Mazo for his short film, “I’m Phil,” on winning the Coney Island Film Festival for Best Comedy Short.

Congratulations to Igor Alves and his team on producing EMERGE: an NJ symphony concert film trilogy, which won an Emmy! EMERGE expands the universe of orchestral music through a mix of live stage performances, stunning visuals, mesmerizing dance sequences, and format-bending elements on and off stage. The concerts were recorded live and filmed on RED cinema cameras at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, New Jersey, between February and March 2021. 2

2000. / MKA / Ms. Anna Cook, 5 Highview Court, Wayne, NJ 07470; anna_labowsky@yahoo.com

Mr. John Garippa, 2741 NE 58th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308; oceanhut@aol.com

Mrs. Jaclyn Spedaliere, 60 E. Oak Street, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920; jaclynspedaliere@gmail.com

2003. / MKA / Ms. Judith Ferreira, 819 Clifton Avenue, Newark, NJ 071043211; jferreir@pratt.edu

Mrs. Melanie Bieber, 462 Vance Ave, Wyckoff, NJ 07481; mel.braverman@gmail.com

Congratulations to Amanda Rosenthal Chase and her spouse Emily Chase on the birth of their daughter Quinn Mara on June 24, 2022. 4

Congratulations to Daniel Monico and his wife Jasmine on the birth of their first child Willow Lee Monico in August 2022. 5

2004. / MKA / Brendan McCaffrey, 235 West 102nd Street, Apt. 10i, New York, NY 10025; brendan.a.mccaffrey@ gmail.com

Ms. Katherine Santoro, 333 River Street, Apt. 539, Hoboken, NJ 07030; kate. santoro@gmail.com

Congratulations to Enrique Noguera for earning the 2022 International Men’s Day Educational Leadership