17th Season, September, 2021
September 19, 2021: James Fitzgerald, Real Estate Banker & Business Leader
September 26, 2021: Straits 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
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, Michael Strauss
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
Chairman & CEO,, Republic Bank
November 14th, 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.
January 9, 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, Bank United
BankUnited COO, Thomas Cornish, and his siblings, were abandoned when he was 2 1/2 years old. Circumstances prevented his adoption from foster care; his mom-to-be packed them up, beginning multi-city bus trips, ending in Miami. After poverty, anger - education, opportunity, success - and, now, giving back.
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, Wharton Equity Partners
February 20, 2022 Chef Marc Murphy
February 27, 2022 Bruce Schanzer, Cedar Realty Trust
March 6, 2022 Ed Brown, CEO, Restaurant Associates
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
April 3, 2022: Henry Meer
April 10, 2022: Debra Tantleff
April 17, 2022 James O’Neil
April 24, 2022 John Usdan
May 1, 2022: Bess Freedman
CEO, Brown Harris Stevens
May 8, 2022: Gordon Crane
Apple & Eve
May 15, 2022; Marci Waterman
May 22, 2022 Amir Korangy, The Real Deal
May 29, 2022: Marty Burger, The Real Deal
June 12, 2022
Alan Dern, The One Stop Property Group