SPONSOR
BOARD MEMBERS
BOARD MEMBERS
President
Thomas N. Toscano, Esq.
Vice Presidents
Joseph A. Cristiano
Hon. David Elliot
Hon. Tarek M. Zeid
Active Past Presidents
Hon. George E. Berger
John J. Governale
Michael Macaluso
Margaret MacPherson
Jack M. Weinstein
Executive Director
Terri Ross
Adult Center
81-15 164th Street
Jamaica, NY 11432
Tel.: 718-380-3000
Fax: 718-380-0483
Secretary
Patricia Coulaz
Treasurer
Franz Gritsch
Board of Trustees
Gerald J. Caliendo
Raymond Chan
Anthony S. Cosentino
Lara Gregory
Tyquana Henderson-Rivers
Hon. James Kilkenny
Nancy Vargas
Director of Development
Wendy Phaff Gennaro
Bellerose Center
249-16 Grand Central Pkwy
Bellerose, NY 11426
Tel.: 718-279-9404
Fax: 718-423-1404
Children’s Center
82-25 164th Street
Jamaica, NY 11432
Tel.: 718-374-0002
Fax: 718-380-3214
PROGRAM
7:30PM
Awards Presentations
Special Emcee
Roz Nieves
Manager, Community Development Outreach
QPTV
Lifetime Achievement Award
Cindy Heller
Director of Children’s Services
Queens Centers for Progress
2025 Businessman of the Year
Greg Bianco
Chief Executive Officer
Metropolitan Recycling
2025 Banking & Finance of the Year
Paul Schuldiner
Executive Vice President & Chief Lending Officer
Rosenthal Capital Group
*OPEN BAR & CONTINUOUS DINNER STATIONS *
Selection of Pop Hits
Members of the Tribute String Trio
DJ Music By Bravo Sound
Chance Raffle, 50/50 Raffle & Silent Auction (raffles will close at 9:00PM)
THANK YOU
A Very Special Thank You to QCP’s Gala Chairman
Franz Gritsch
Thank you for your leadership and active involvement with Queens Centers for Progress.
Gala Chairman Franz Gritsch Member, QCP Board of Directors
Gala Committee
Gerald J. Caliendo, Gerald J. Caliendo Architects, Raymond Chan, R.A. - Raymond Chan Architects, Anthony Cosentino, - Former Chief Engineer, Pat Coulaz - Member, QCP Board of
James Kilkenny - Member, QCP Board of -
Hon. Tarek Zeid, - Tarek M. Zeid, P.E., Consulting Engineer; QCP Board of
QCP Board President
Thomas Toscano
Executive Director
Terri Director of Development
Wendy
QCP Development Team
Shaun Caruana, Jyoti Lakhani & Meliza Santiago
THANK YOU
A MESSAGE FROM QCP BOARD PRESIDENT
Thomas Toscano
Welcome to the 2025 Annual Gala. Your presence here tonight and your generous support mean everything to our mission at Queens Centers for Progress (QCP). As President of the Board of Directors, I am continually inspired by the dedication and professionalism of our exceptional staff, who approach their work each day with genuine care and compassion for the individuals we serve. These remarkable people embody the very best of human kindness and commitment.
For seventy-five years, Queens Centers for Progress has been at the forefront of empowering people with developmental disabilities to reach their full potential. We stand alongside families as they navigate daily challenges, offering our services with skill, compassion, and unwavering love. This legacy of service is only possible through the strong partnership we maintain with our Queens community, whose support enables us to fulfill our vital mission.
Tonight's Annual Gala serves as one of our most important fundraising events, allowing us to continue providing life-changing services to individuals with disabilities. I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to our outstanding Board of Directors, whose guidance and support have made this another exceptional year for both our agency and the people we serve. Their commitment to our shared vision has been invaluable to our continued success.
This evening, we have the distinct honor of recognizing three remarkable individuals who exemplify community leadership and service. We celebrate Greg Bianco, Chief Executive Officer of Metropolitan Recycling, and a close colleague of mine for many decades - and the best in our business - as our 2025 Businessman of the Year; Paul D. Schuldiner, Executive Vice President & Chief Lending Officer of Rosenthal Capital Group, as our 2025 Banking & Finance Man of the Year; and Cindy Heller, Director of Children's Services at Queens Centers for Progress, who is retiring after an extraordinary 47 years of dedicated service to our mission. These exceptional leaders demonstrate the power of selfless giving and community commitment.
Thank you for your presence, your generosity, and your willingness to make a difference in the lives of those who benefit from your participation tonight. Together, we continue to build a more inclusive and supportive community for all.
With sincere gratitude,
Thomas Toscano President, QCP Board of Directors
THANK YOU SPONSORS
THANK YOU SPONSORS
THANK YOU SPONSORS
THANK YOU SPONSORS
BENEFACTOR
Greg Bianco President & Chief Executive Officer
Metropolitan Recycling
Gregory Bianco is the President and CEO of Metropolitan Recycling, a leading waste and recycling company serving the greater New York City area. With nearly 40 years of experience in the industry, Mr. Bianco has dedicated his career to redefining sustainability through innovation, leadership, and hands-on expertise.
Since founding Metropolitan Recycling in 2002, he has grown the company into one of the region’s most trusted names in environmentally responsible waste management. Prior to launching his own venture, Mr. Bianco held key leadership roles at RPS Environmental and BFI/Allied Waste Industries, where he served as New York Recycling Facilities Manager.
A true industry pioneer, Mr. Bianco has been a driving force behind some of New York City’s most significant recycling initiatives. His work has supported organizations such as the United States Coast Guard (Governor’s Island), the Port Authority’s MTA Transit System (train platform recycling program), and the NYC Department of Sanitation (curbside mixed paper recycling). Over the course of his career, he has successfully processed, marketed, and exported over 3 million tons of wastepaper from New York City, contributing greatly to the city's environmental progress.
Mr. Bianco's expertise spans contract oversight, regulatory compliance, and executive management. He personally oversees all major contracts, ensuring a smooth transition to and implementation of Commercial Waste Zones. Under his leadership, Metropolitan Recycling has managed large-scale and complex waste management operations for clients including DSNY, the Port Authority, the United States Postal Service, and more.
As CEO, Mr. Bianco works closely with a senior advisory group specializing in law, corporate strategy, and government relations. He holds several professional licenses, including from the Business Integrity Commission (BIC), the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), and financial securities licenses (Series 7 and 63). A graduate of the School of Design and Construction, he brings a unique combination of technical knowledge and entrepreneurial vision to every project.
Gregory Bianco’s legacy is one of service, innovation, and an unshakable commitment to making New York cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable for future generations.
Paul D. Schuldiner
Senior Vice President & Chief Lending Officer Rosenthal Capital Group
Paul D. Schuldiner is Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer at Rosenthal & Rosenthal Inc., a privately held commercial finance company specializing in factoring, asset-based lending, purchase order financing, equipment leasing, and e-commerce direct to consumer inventory financing.
As Chief Lending Officer, Paul is responsible for driving the firm’s growth strategy and business development across all of Rosenthal’s products and offerings. He is a key member of the executive leadership team and works closely with the division heads and the Rosenthal family to manage credit policies and organizational practices for the firm’s portfolio of clients.
Paul is a seasoned financial executive with more than 38 years of experience in commercial finance and public accounting. Paul joined Rosenthal in 2016 and led the formation of the Rosenthal Trade Capital division that provides purchase order financing and alternative inventory financing solutions prior to being elevated to his current position.
He has previously held senior leadership roles at Wells Fargo Capital Finance, King Trade Capital, and as a principal of Transcap Trade Finance. In addition to purchase order financing, Paul started his career in the asset-based lending and factoring division of a NYC based finance company and practiced as a CPA in public accounting.
Paul has been featured in Women’s Wear Daily, Entrepreneur, TIME, Forbes, ABL Advisor, and The Monitor. He is a frequent contributor to The Commercial Factor, The Secured Lender and ABF Journal and has been a featured speaker at industry seminars and conferences, including the New York Institute of Credit, International Factoring Association, TMA Mid-Atlantic & Mid-America, Secured Finance Network Supply Chain Finance conference and Annual National Conference, and the Philadelphia Credit & Restructuring Conference.
Paul is currently a member of the Secured Finance Network Executive Committee and Chairman of the Factoring Committee, former Chairman of the International Factoring Association (“IFA”) Northeast Chapter and a former President of the New Jersey Chapter of the Turnaround Management Association. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Queens College, City University of New York.
Cindy Heller Director of Children’s Services
Queens
Centers for Progress
Cindy Heller has spent her entire professional career at QCP. Serving as the Director of its preschool has been one of the greatest honors of her life.
She started as a Special Ed Teacher in 1978, working her way up to Supervising Teacher, Educational Coordinator, Assistant Director and now Director of Children’s Services. Every day of these 47+ years has been a reminder of why she chose to work at QCP - to provide children with disabilities the opportunity to grow and thrive in an environment filled with love, respect, and opportunity.
She has been fortunate to work alongside a truly remarkable group of people. The Children’s Center staff is exceptional - each one of them dedicated to the children and families they serve. The staff’ s passion, commitment, and skill have continually inspired her. She was fortunate to work under the leadership of Dan Wieder, Charlie Houston and now Terri Ross, along with Nancy Glass at the Children’s Center.
Cindy received her undergraduate degree from Cornell University, master’s degree from Columbia University and post graduate degree from Hunter College. Her husband Randy has always been a great support, and she looks forward to spending more time with her daughter Marissa, son-in-law Dan and grandchildren Justin and Brooke.
A VISIT TO QCP PROGRAMS
A VISIT TO QCP PROGRAMS
BENEFACTOR
PATRON
PATRON
FRIEND OF QCP
FRIEND OF QCP
FRIEND OF QCP
FRIEND OF QCP
FRIEND OF QCP
FRIEND OF QCP
FRIEND OF QCP
FRIEND OF QCP
FRIEND OF QCP
FRIEND OF QCP
FRIEND OF QCP
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
Queens Centers for Progress would like to thank the following individuals and companies for donating to our 2025 Annual Summer Gala.
Dale Akinla, II CFP
AP Deauville, LLC
Stuart Berger
Big River Insurance Brokerage
Sydnee Breuer
Michael & Michelle Brill
CoMetrics Partners LLC
Cathy Dobkins
Howard Dorman
Meira Fleisch
Joan Forchheimer
Laurie Girsky
Bennett Golub
Mark Gorman
Stephen Hendel
Heritage Global
Gordon Brothers
Mark Holtzer
Margaret Hopkins
Charles Houston
Isaac Morris Ltd.
Key Bank
Howard Lazarus
Karen Lubitz
Metropolitan Recycling
Prestige Capital
Primary Capital
Robert Reader
Mark Segal
Erica Strongin
Sunrise Brands
Nancy Thaul
Jack Weinstein
White Oak Commercial Finance, LLC
Rick Zucker
THANK YOU for the support and generosity!
