September 19, 2021

James Fitzgerald, Real Estate Bank & Investor

September 26, 2021: Stratis Morfogen

Stratis Morfogen, restaurateur, entrepreneur, author, talks about his family coming to America from "a little village in Sparta," and opening their first restaurant, Pappas, on 14th Street. Pappas remained open from 1910-1975 marking the beginning of the Morfogen restaurant dynasty.

Guests:

Stratis Morfogen - Entrepreneur, Author, Brooklyn Chop House, Brooklyn Dumpling Shop, "Damn Good Dumplings"

October 3, 2021: Alexa Sewell, Settlement Housing

Alexis Sewell tells a great story-a NY/American talk-about her immigrant family, Greek and Italian, their talents and contribution to America's history. Sewell discusses the Settlement Housing Fund, building affordable housing with strong communities.

October 10, 2021” Patrice Derrington

Australian born Patrice Derrington has combined her expertise in business, architecture, real estate and education in support of numerous projects including VP of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, during New York's recovery efforts after 9/11. Derrington describes the focus of her work, questioning how people can ever get on their feet - on equal footing - with those who have stable shelter.

October 17, 2021: Michael Strauss, Associate Dean, Sy Syms School of Business, Yeshiva University

Germany, Israel, New York-Entrepreneur, Professor, Teacher - it's Michael Strauss! Child of 3rd and 4th generation Jews in Germany, Michael Strauss shares his family's escape to Palestine in 1935, and the difficult living conditions in Haifa. Coming to America in 1956, delivering groceries, bussing at a summer hotel, CCNY-Baruch - American Express - Yeshiva University and the story continues.

October 24, 2021: Peter Scardino M.D.

The American part of Dr. Peter Scardino's story began in 1880, when three brothers hopped a freighter sailing from Sicily landing in Texas, to begin a new life. Hard work, ambition, good fortune, enabled Scardino's father to study medicine at Johns Hopkins. Curiosity, a love of science and learning, which characterized Peter Scardino's college years, provided him opportunities to study medicine and to practice his specialty: early detection, prognosis, and the surgical intervention of prostate cancer

October 31, 2021 Joseph Collins, Collins Building Services

Created when he was 52, when many of us are looking ahead to retirement, Joseph Kenneth Collins formed and developed CBS, Collins Building Services, one of New York's largest building services companies, serving many premier owners, managers, corporations and institutions.

November 7, 2021: Vernon Hill, Republic Bank

November 14, 2021: Judith Kelman

Judith Kelman, well-know author of mystery and suspense novels, discusses her early career teaching special-needs children. A voracious reader from childhood, cued in to interesting ideas, happy to explore the "what-if" of events, she knew she wanted to be a writer, and "Prime Evil" was born. Judith Kelman is founder of a remarkable program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, pairing patients who want to write with professional writers/mentors.

November 21. 2021” Marc Altheim

Growing up "in a bubble," Marc Altheim describes his college years here and study abroad as life changing experiences - coming out of the bubble - enabling him to be more serious about his life, leading to work with H.E.L.P. USA, affordable and supportive housing and later, with assisted living facilities.

November 28, 2021 Robert Krasner M.D.

Coming from a family of doctors, it seemed certain that Robert CJ Krasner would be a physician. The question is how does a young doctor, on the Berry Plan, get posted to Ethiopia, Sardinia, England, Panama, attain the rank of Rear Admiral and serve as Attending Physician to Congress? The answer is he asked for an assignment that "...nobody wanted."

January 2, 2022: Jack Kliger, President & CEO, Museum of Jewish Heritage: A Living Memorial to the Holocaust

A child of holocaust survivors, Jack Kliger, comparing his mother's photo, taken at 14, in the Budapest ghetto, and his daughter's Bas Mitzvah picture, discusses the vast differences in their lives - their opportunities - their safety, and his personal commitment to the mission of the Museum of Jewish Heritage-A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, where he serves as President and CEO. Kliger's successful career in media began in the mid-70s, at the Village Voice, becoming publisher of GQ Magazine and Conde Nast Publications, and Executive President of Parade Publications.

January 16, 2022 Thomas Cornish BankUnited

January 23, 2022: The Korman Family, Larry, Brad, Mark: The Fourth Generation

February 6, 2022

Clark Gillies, #9 New York Islanders, Hockey Hall of Fame

February 13, 2022: Peter Lewis, Whaton Equity Partner

February 20, 2022: Chef Marc Murphy

February 27, 2022: Bruce Schanzer, Cedar Realty Trust

March 6, 2022: Ed Brown, CEO, Restaurant Associaes

Ed Brown always wanted to cook - to be a chef, to work in food services! As a youngster, he worked in a luncheonette - graduated from the Culinary Institute of America - went to Paris; during his career, he co-authored a cook book and was awarded Michelin Stars. Mr. Brown discusses owning his own business - the successes and disappointments - and his long-time relationship with Restaurant Associates

March 13, 2022: Bishop Victor Allen Brown

Bishop Victor Allen Brown, World Council of Independent Christian Churches and Senior Pastor of Mt. Sinai United Christian Church describes the dream he had when he was 12 years old, and his passion for the ministry and the preaching ministry. A graduate of St. John's with a BA in finance, a Master of Divinity Degree from New York Theological Seminary, a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Bishop Brown serves as a volunteer in the NYPD Clergy Police Liaison Program.

Guests:


Bishop Victor Allen Brown - Sr. Pastor / Bishop, Mt. Sinai United Christian Church / World Council of Independent Christian Churches

March 20, 2022 Fritz Francois M.D.

"They didn't have a lot of money, but they had a passion for education..." is how Dr. Fritz François describes his parents, Haitian immigrants, their work ethic and lifestyle that enabled their children access to education.

Executive Vice President and Vice Dean, Chief of Hospital Operations, at NYU Langone Health, Professor, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Dr François talks about his return to Haiti in 2011, with an NYU team, to provide medical assistance after the devastating earthquake.

March 27, 2022 Ofer Yardeni, Stonehenge, NYC

Israeli born, Ofer Yardeni, chairman and CEO of Stonehenge NYC, describes his families's journeys, beginning in 1492, to their establishing a home in Jerusalem, in 1801. Fast forward a few centuries, we meet his parents, learn of his army service, and celebrate his extraordinary career.

April 3, 2022: Henry Meer

April 10, 2022 Debra Tantleff, Tantum Real Estate

April 17, 2022: James O’Neal

Legal Outreach

April 24,2022: John Usdan, Midwood Investment & Development

May 1,2022: Bess Freedman, CEO, Brown Harris Stevens

When she was nine, Bess saw Bella Abzug on stage and considers this encounter a life changing event. As a state prosecutor, passionate about social justice, Freedman believed that those with power and love, can help people who don't have a voice. As CEO, Bess Freedman has contributed to the grown of Brown Harris Stevens into one of the largest and most successful private real estate companies in the United States.

May 8, 2022: Gordon Crane

Gordon Crane, self-described as "... a hippie, a flower child" reminds us of the 60s and 70s - drugs, Vietnam War protests; a difficult time to plan one's future. Encouraged to own his business, Crane, working with his family, developed and expanded Apple & Eve Juices, available in supermarkets, today.

May 15, 2022 Marci Waterman

New York attorney Marci Waterman, a former prosecutor, having served in the Brooklyn Major Narcotics Division describes her past adventures and current responsibilities as COO of SterlingRisk Insurance and managing director of Sterling Analytics.

May 22, 2022: Amir Korangy, The Real Deal

Amir Korangy is founder and publisher of The Real Deal: New York Los Angeles South Florida, a publication about real estate and financial news. Born in Iran, Korangy describes escaping from Iran to Afghanistan during the Islamic Revolution, later to France, to Mexico and, finally, to the United States.

May 29, 2022 Marty Burger, Silverstein Properties

Marty Burger, Silverstein Properties, discusses his earlier career at some of real estate's best known companies. Burger serves as sole CEO, a title he shared with Larry Silverstein, until 2014. Silverstein Properties, well know for buildings at the World Trade Center, are only part of the company's mega portfolio grown to include award-winning hotels and developments in China and Israel.

June 5, 2022 Joseph Abboud

Joseph Abboud, an award winning, men's wear fashion designer talks about the development of his career: at 16, as a salesperson at Louis Boston, on to the Sorbonne, to work with Ralph Lauren and others, to authoring "Threads," his off-the-record take on the industry. The son of a hard-working Lebanese family, Abboud is one of the best known dressers of American men.

June 12, 2022

Alan Dern

The One Stop Property Group

His tenacity and a little luck have helped Alan Dern overcome personal misfortune and later, business set-backs. With his family and supportive friends,

Dern
has developed businesses working with industries requiring commercial space, warehouses, storage, manufacturing and office space.