Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City Honors Finance Industry Leaders at 24th Annual Accountants & Bankers Reception

Jeff Resnick, Joe Ferrone and Barry Resnick, Friedman LLP Honoree Blair Ridder, M&T Bank

Hundreds of executives from New York City’s accounting, banking, finance, fashion and law industries joined Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City (BBBS of NYC), the nation’s first and New York City’s largest youth mentoring organization for its 24th Annual Accountants & Bankers Reception at Inside Park at St. Bart’s in Manhattan. The event recognizes industry leaders who are dedicated to mentorship and have made an impact in the accounting and banking fields.

This year, BBBS of NYC honored Lee M. Cohen, CPA, founding and managing partner at L.M. Cohen & Company (LMC), and Blair Ridder, regional president-New York City at M&T Bank, for their success and commitment to BBBS of NYC’s mission. Little Saphir, a mentored youth, and Big Christian Vastola, his caring adult mentor, introduced both honorees, recognizing them for their tremendous leadership and support.

This year’s event was chaired by Abby Parsonnet, BBBS of NYC trustee and head of commercial services and regional president, Metro NY at Webster Bank, and raised more than $350,000 to support BBBS of NYC’s mission to build and support mentoring relationships that ignite the biggest possible futures for youth.

Photos by Jill Lotenberg

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01 Elliot Berger, BBBS of NYC; Joe Nastri, Valley National Bank and Mark Jerz,

Faherty Brand 02 Little Saphir; Honorees Lee M. Cohen, LMC and Blair Ridder, M&T Bank and Big

Christian Vastola 03 Alicia Iskhakova, Chase and Tony Creanza, Webster Bank 04 Leslie Himmel, Himmel + Meringoff Properties; Susan Newman, M&T Bank; Stephen Meringoff, Himmel + Meringoff Properties and Matt Petrula, M&T Bank 05 Honoree Lee M. Cohen, LMC and his son, Stanley Cohen 06 Katie O’Boyle, and Sarah Larson, Wilmington Trust and Susan Newman,

M&T Bank 07 Richard L. Stehl, Otterbourg LLP and Marc Federbush, Anchin LLP 08 Joe Nastri, Valley National Bank; Alicia Guevara, BBBSNYC; Little Saphir;

Honoree Lee M. Cohen, LMC; Honoree Blair Ridder, M&T Bank and Big

Christian Vastola 09 Lissa Baum, IDB Bank and Honoree Lee M. Cohen, LMC 10 Daniel Greene, U.S. Bank; Elizabeth Bennett, M&T Bank and John Rapaport,

Component Assembly Systems 11 Frank Grimaldi, Gordon Brothers