{"id":793294,"date":"2026-05-13T11:14:24","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T11:14:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/793294\/"},"modified":"2026-05-13T11:14:24","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T11:14:24","slug":"manhattan-movers-and-shakers-honored-at-manhattan-power-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/793294\/","title":{"rendered":"Manhattan movers and shakers honored at Manhattan Power List"},"content":{"rendered":"

Movers and shakers, executives and entrepreneurs, nonprofit founders and union leaders, educators and administrators united in Midtown on May 7 to celebrate the annual Manhattan Power List honoring a diverse group for their impact on New York City.<\/p>\n

They met at the Bryant Park Grill at the Schneps Media event and included those from Broadway to the boardroom and nonprofits focusing on everything from healthcare to homelessness.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are here to celebrate you, the New York swagger,\u201d said Cheryl Wills, emcee and Emmy Award winning journalist with Spectrum News New York 1, \u201cthe movers and shakers who will not take no for answer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Power List events honor people in various boroughs, but the Manhattan event honored groups with New York City and national impacts. Raffle proceeds went to the Police Athletic League.<\/p>\n

\u201cManhattan\u2019s the center of the world,\u201d said D\u00e9Von Christopher Johnson, chairman and CEO of the BOMESI Foundation and winner of TD Bank\u2019s Outstanding Entrepreneur Award. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to have a presence in the epicenter of business.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nonprofits and groups working with nonprofits also talked about New York City as a nonprofit hub.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cManhattan is my favorite to build on just the energy here,\u201d Brandon Parkes, CEO of Parkes Philanthropy said. \u201cThe momentum of everybody trying to build and get to the next level makes New York City the best.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Networking New York City style<\/strong><\/p>\n

The event brought together honorees from businesses to unions such as Rebecca Damon, of SAG-AFTRA; Henry Rubio, of the Council of School Supervisors & Administrators, as well as Arva R. Rice, of the New York Urban League.<\/p>\n

\u201cI made quite a few connections,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cI met people I knew in name, not in person. It\u2019s been great to put a face on a name.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Carlos Velazquez, Chief Executive Officer \u2013 Police Athletic League of New York City (PAL), winner of the Community Advocate Award, talked about the benefits of bringing people together in an electronic age.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s amazing, the idea of the Power lists,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd the ability of people to get together to impact New York City and the greater good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Parkes said rather than being in silos, it\u2019s important for groups to partner and talk to those in their and other sectors.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s fantastic being able to meet so many different leaders of non-profit organizations across New York City,\u201d said Parkes. \u201cWe\u2019re making an impact across our communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

Small biz, big impact<\/strong><\/p>\n

Small and large companies talked about bridging the gap between small and big businesses.\n<\/p>\n

Nancy Dalton, Director of External Affairs, Marketing and Social Impact for Amazon Access, talked about their efforts to work with communities and small business.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWe truly believe that our success and our scale bring a broad responsibility,\u201d Dalton said. \u201cThat responsibility is about being in community.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Craig Ratigan, TD Bank\u2019s senior vice president in Manhattan, said they are hosting a Small Business Week event on May 14.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will try to give a wide range of different information regarding ways to help,\u201d he said. \u201cWays to grow, promote and help protect your business.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Entrepreneurs talked about the benefit of getting out of the office and meeting those at other companies.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cThis event is an eclectic group of individuals from many different backgrounds doing such monumental things within many industries,\u201d said Mark D. Shirian, founder and principal of Mark David Shirian, a law firm.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Craig<\/a>Craig Ratigan, SVP\/Regional Vice President, Manhattan, TD Bank U.S.Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
\nBenefiting business<\/strong><\/p>\n

While some serve consumers directly, others talked about benefiting other businesses.<\/p>\n

D\u00e9Von Christopher Johnson said BOMESI supports 350 Black-owned media companies, 2,500 Black and diverse (LGBTQ, Hispanic and Asian) business people.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWe help connect audiences with brands that want to reach these audiences,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cWe drive revenue to these platforms. We\u2019re the Uber of diverse owned media.\u201d<\/p>\n

Banks and credit unions talked about financing growth and helping amid adversity in an interconnected world.\n<\/p>\n

Andrew Weltman, general Counsel for Municipal Credit Union, said his more-than-a-century-old credit union a few years ago expanded to serve anyone who lives, worships or attends school across New York City.<\/p>\n

\u2018We\u2019re still very committed to serving our core membership,\u201d Weltman said. \u201cWe\u2019re excited to offer our services to all of New York City.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Other bankers talked about enjoying their ability to help companies, including entrepreneurs, grow.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cOriginally, I wanted to be a chef. I was not cut out for cutting onions,\u201d said Louis Alvarado, SBA lending administrator for Ponce Bank. \u201cI decided to make the transition into banking. I can help small business owners access capital. That to me is priceless.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nonprofit City<\/strong><\/p>\n

Others making differences in New York City focus on helping those most in need, such as Julie Chisolm, Site Director \u2013 Housing Solutions of New York (HSNY), which operates shelters for families, children and single adults.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur biggest challenge as always is affordable housing,\u201d Chisolm said. \u201cWe don\u2019t just want to get people out of shelters. We want them to never have to come back.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Police Athletic League, founded over a century ago, has been expanding to help more with daycare.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve evolved to 27 locations through the five boroughs serving 50,000 kids from day care centers, after schools and more,\u201d Velazquez said.\n<\/p>\n

Josiane Peluso-Tomczyk, vice president of employer solutions and market growth and integration for MetroPlus Health, said they offer a wide range of plans.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re letting people know they have access to high quality care,\u201d she said of her organization, in New York State since 1985.\n<\/p>\n

Deborah Hunt, Dr. Betty L. Forest Dean and Professor at Adelphi University\u2019s College of Nursing and Public Health, said they had \u201carrived in New York City\u201d with a new Manhattan campus opening.<\/p>\n

\u201cNursing is a really important part of the healthcare arena,\u201d she said. \u201cWe support our students. There is less funding. We can\u2019t do it without our generous benefactors.\u201d<\/p>\n

The festival factor<\/strong><\/p>\n

Harlem Week\u2019s new leadership, including chairman Marko Nobles and L. Ade Williams, the son of the late Lloyd Williams, as first vice chairperson, talked about the event slated for Aug. 1-16.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe joke is Harlem is the only place where a week can last for two weeks, three weeks, six weeks, six months,\u201d Nobles said.\n<\/p>\n

Williams said Harlem Week is \u201cmeant to uplift the community and make sure the needs of the community are being addressed.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you live in Harlem, you feel great about your community and yourselves,\u201d Williams said. \u201cIf you don\u2019t live in Harlem, you think that\u2019s a place I need to visit and spend money.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gwendolyn Black, CEO and founder of Gwen Black Arts\/Jazz Festival of New York City, said festivals are important for jazz and many other musicians.\n<\/p>\n

And Deeksha Gaur, executive director of the Theatre Development Fund, or TDF, talked about theater as an economic and cultural force.\n<\/p>\n

Applause rang out as winners collected awards, while Chisolm noted the value of honoring important, often invisible, work.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe this is a great way to recognize people that do the work that doesn\u2019t get recognized,\u201d she said of helping those in need. \u201cWe are a population with very few thank you\u2019s in between the late nights, the midnight calls, working with this population, trying to make differences in the lives of others.\u201d<\/p>\n

Manhattan Power List Full List of Honorees:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

ICON Leonard Achan, LiveOnNY, President & CEO\n<\/p>\n

Louis Alvarado, Ponce Bank, SBA Lending Administrator\n<\/p>\n

Trailblazer of the Year Award\/ICON Na\u2019ilah Amaru, Advocacy and Policy Strategist\n<\/p>\n

Gwendolyn Black, Gwen Black Arts\/Jazz Festival of New York City, CEO & Founder\n<\/p>\n

Larry Scott Blackmon, The Blackmon Organization, CEO\n<\/p>\n

Joe Bonilla, Relentless Awareness LLC, Managing Partner\n<\/p>\n

Vincent Boudreau, The City College of New York, President\n<\/p>\n

Julie Chisolm, Housing Solutions of New York (HSNY), Site Director\n<\/p>\n

Olivia Cohen, MS, MT-BC, LCAT, CaringKind, Director of Early-Stage and Engagement Services\n<\/p>\n

Social Impact Award Nancy Dalton, Amazon Access, Director, External Affairs, Marketing & Social Impact\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rebecca Damon, SAG-AFTRA, Chief Labor Policy Officer & NY Local Executive Director\u00a0<\/p>\n

Deeksha Gaur, Theatre Development Fund (TDF), Executive Director\n<\/p>\n

Educator of the Year Award Dr. Charles J. Gibbs, Metropolitan College of New York, President\n<\/p>\n

Dr. Jeffrey Ginsburg, Volunteers of America-Greater New York, President & CEO\n<\/p>\n

Ron Gold, Marketing Works, President & CEO\n<\/p>\n

Sean T. Granahan, The Floating Hospital, President and General Counsel\n<\/p>\n

ICON Dr. Stephen T. Greenberg, Greenberg Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology, Cosmetic Plastic Surgeon\n<\/p>\n

HARLEM WEEK\n<\/p>\n

Deborah Hunt, PhD, RN, ANEF, Adelphi University, Dr. Betty L. Forest Dean and Professor College of Nursing and Public Health\u00a0<\/p>\n

ICON Leilani Irvin, Port Authority NY & NJ, Senior External Client Relations Manager, Government & Community Relations\u00a0<\/p>\n

TD Bank Outstanding Entrepreneur Award D\u00e9Von Christopher Johnson, BOMESI Foundation, Chairman and CEO\n<\/p>\n

Brian Krist, Esq.\n<\/p>\n

Sir Shefik Macauley, Sovereign Imperial and Royal House of Ghassan, Special Envoy to the United Nations\n<\/p>\n

Marc H. Morial, National Urban League, President and CEO\n<\/p>\n

LGBTQ+ Award Brandon Parkes, Parkes Philanthropy, CEO\n<\/p>\n

Alexander Paykin, Esq., PAYKIN LAW, Managing Director\n<\/p>\n

Josiane Peluso-Tomczyk, MetroPlus Health, Vice President, Employer Solutions and Market Growth\/Integration\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

Craig Ratigan, TD Bank U.S., SVP\/Regional Vice President, Manhattan\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

ICON Arva R. Rice, New York Urban League, President & CEO\n<\/p>\n

ICON Henry Rubio, Council of School Supervisors & Administrators (CSA), President\n<\/p>\n

ICON Rebecca Seawright, Assembly District 76, NYS Assemblymember\u00a0<\/p>\n

ICON Wally Sedgewick, BroadwayHD, Vice President of Analytics and Strategic Planning\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mark D. Shirian, Esq., Mark David Shirian P.C., Founder and Principal\n<\/p>\n

Ibrahima Souare, New York Professional Advisors for Community Entrepreneurs (NYPACE), Executive Director\n<\/p>\n

Community Advocate Award Carlos Velazquez, Police Athletic League of New York City, Chief Executive Officer\n<\/p>\n

Andrew Weltman, Municipal Credit Union, General Counsel\n<\/p>\n

Mistress of Ceremonies Cheryl Wills, Spectrum News New York 1<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Movers and shakers, executives and entrepreneurs, nonprofit founders and union leaders, educators and administrators united in Midtown on…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":793295,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5122],"tags":[5229,323785,405,403,5226,5225,5228,5227,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":{"0":"post-793294","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-york","8":"tag-america","9":"tag-manhattan-power-list","10":"tag-new-york","11":"tag-new-york-city","12":"tag-newyork","13":"tag-newyorkcity","14":"tag-ny","15":"tag-nyc","16":"tag-united-states","17":"tag-united-states-of-america","18":"tag-unitedstates","19":"tag-unitedstatesofamerica","20":"tag-us","21":"tag-usa"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/116566981494872465","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/793294","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=793294"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/793294\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/793295"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=793294"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=793294"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=793294"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}