BUSINESS AWARDS ceremony and gala 2022
25th Anniversary
Celebration
premium sponsors organizers
Tonight’s celebration is bittersweet for me.
On the one hand, we are celebrating the retur n to nor mal. After t wo years of global pandemic, we can finally meet again face to face! We can honor businesses that made it through those tough times and individuals who helped make it happen.
On the other hand, it is hard to celebrate knowing that my own people are killing and being killed; that the t wo countr ies I identify with are at war. While I can’t stop this tragedy from happening, I can do what is within my power to stand against tyranny and suppor t those being oppressed.
I would like to use this oppor tunity to pay tr ibute to the brave people of Ukraine. So far over seven million refugees have left the countr y, most of them being women and children. While men stay behind to fight, women have to leave their livelihood and step into unknown. They have to make peace with the fact that they might never see their fathers, brothers, husbands,
or sons again.
This event is a tr ibute to courage, strength, and beauty of Ukrainian women. The highlight of this gala is Miss Ukraine Califor nia, which spotlights 12 courageous young ladies of Ukrainian her itage. Most of them just recently came to the United States escaping the war.
Please give these ladies a war m welcome and appreciate the jour ney they took to be on this stage tonight.
The Best
by Russian-Speaking Community
Business Awards
ALISA YURCHENKO
Council For Cross Cultural Affairs
MILA KARPEKIN
Russian American Media
SERGEY TEREBKOV
Slavic-American Chamber of Commerce
VALENTIN KALINOVSKIY
Slavic Community Center of Sacramento
KRISTINA TARASOVA
Albedo Arts Community
ALEX MOSENDZ
New Times Magazine
VICTOR MIGALCHAN
Film & TV Director
Judge at the Emmy Awards and Creative Industry Awards (United Kingdom);
CMO at Movieverse Entertainment
Ceremony& Gala 2022
featuring Miss Ukraine California
Ami Bera
U. S. Congressman
California’s 7th Congressional District
November 4, 2022
Dear Friends,
Welcome to tonight’s 25th Anniversary Celebration!
The United States is built upon generation after generation of immigrants coming to this country in search of a better life. They bring their cultures and talents and make our country more vibrant and a better place to live. This is no different with the Russian American and Ukrainian American communities, especially here in the Sacramento region.
I strongly believe that the diversity of our backgrounds is one of this region’s greatest strengths and tonight’s event is a great example of this. To all organizers, audience members, honorees, and contestants, I wish you an enjoyable evening.
Be well,
Ami Bera, M.D. Member of California’sCongress
7th Congressional District
JIM NIELSEN
State of California
Senator
JIM
cooper Assemblymember
Ken Cooley Assemblyman
Kevin J. Barri Region Bank Director
Wells Fargo
(Northern California)
November 4, 2022
Welcome to the 2022 THE BEST event!
Wells Fargo is a proud sponsor of this event and the work that the Russian American Media team continues to do for our community. Tonight we get an opportunity to recognize and celebrate with individuals and organizations that have demonstrated success in making a difference in the Slavic Speaking community throughout this region.
To our winners, THANK YOU for being courageous with your pursuit of excellence. THANK YOU for investing your time, money, and energy into our community. Tonight is your night, all of your hard work and effort will be celebrated amongst friends and peers.
Wells Fargo, like RAM, believes in a diverse business community! We know that a healthy community must have diverse business owners willing to take risk. Wells Fargo is committed to this region and our diverse business leaders. We are very proud of the work we have done and will continue to do to support our business community. It is something we have been doing since 1852 in the Sacramento region.
Thank you all for making time to be here tonight and for supporting our businesses through these difficult times. Tonight is a night to celebrate, have fun, and come together as ONE community. Enjoy!!
Sincerely,
Kevin J. Barri Region Bank Director
Wells Fargo – Northern California
Murdock Smith
Executive Director
Highlands Community Charter and Technical Schools
AWARD PRESENTERS MARK
S. ALLEN
A seven time Emmy Award-winning movie & television producer, writer, director of multiple feature films, host at Comedy Central and ABC10 morning news.
He is executive producer/host of the Emmy Award-winning syndicated movie show Extra Butter TV and a cast member on Morning Blend on KXTV in Sacramento. He was previously the host of Comedy Central's award-winning series Short Attention Span Theater and the creator, producer and host of Mark at the Movies.
In 2018 he co-founded and continued to co-own THE SMART AXE CO, the largest California based chain of World Axe League certified Axe bars. TheSmartAxe.com
Yelena Polyashenko, best known as Layyzerr, was born in Kharkiv, Ukraine. She came to America at a young age with a drive for ambition & growth. She attended Mira Loma High School, where she played on the Soccer & Volleyball Team. During that time she had also begun attending American River College at the age of 16.
After graduating High School in 2015, she moved down south to attend University of California, San Diego where she grew into the wonderful woman she is today. She graduated with a bachelor from UCSD in 2018. She then participated in the Miss Russia California pageant in 2019, where she won the title.
During COVID she continued her work in the finance industry while growing her own business. She is now the CEO of her own coaching business, named “Lift with Layyz” where she helps her clients change their lives by coaching them in nutrition & fitness.
She lives in Sunny San Diego working fulltime for Goldman Sachs, running her own coaching business, creating content on TikTok, all while sticking to her fitness journey.
Layyzerr has always believed in the hustle & going after what you want. Her restless ambition is a pure depiction of immigrants striving for the American Dream.”
LAYYZERR
AWARD PRESENTERS
KRISTINA
MENISSOV
Kristina began her career as a model in Los Angeles in 2017. Since starting Kristina became a cover model for VOGUE Mexico, Harpers BAZAAR Vietnam, GLAMOUR Bulgaria and ELLE Arabia, L’OFFICIEL Baltic has worked with Fashion Houses as CARTIER, CHOPARD, BALMAIN, SAINT LORANT, ROBERTO CAVALLI, GIVENCHY, MICHAEL NGO, MICHAEL COSTELLO, and JOVANI DRESSES, Alersundi, VOGUE portugal published brand Karen Sabag Rever, and AREA, AFFFAIR.FFF by Rufat Ismayil, Mahrukh Akuly Jewelry, Ivan Young Official, Rita Vinieris, She has also graced the runway in LOS ANGELES FASHION WEEK and MIAMI SWIM WEEK last season walking for Nia Lynn Collection by Nicole Williams English not to mention starring in TYGA’S “IBIZA” music video, modeling for CHRIS APPLETON’S YouTube Channel, and appearing in MODEL’S TALK. A former Italian trained Opera Singer, Kristina has parlayed her modeling career into a blossoming singing career. She recently signed with the famed music producer ANDREW LANE who is known for such superstars as THE BACKSTREET BOYS and IRENE CARA. Her first single, “TAKING OVER LA” was released last summer and the lyric video collaboration with VEVO got thousands of views. Another hit single with Italian DJ Marzia Dorlando entitled “BREAKOUT” is breaking records in European Night Clubs.
In 2022 she released multiple successful singles with variety artists throughout the world, “CROWN” with Turkish singer CANSEL, HER STORY with Tamara Kumbula and Move Your Body with NINELLE Ms Universe World International 2022.
Robi Quick is an inter-fusion of Passion + Energy calibrated and set to unleash a memorable experience full of humor and professionalism. Robi was the first ever on-the-pitch emcee for the Sacramento Republic FC, Sacramento’s premiere soccer team, and is currently the Community Emcee for the Sacramento Rivercats. He is an actor as well, seen in various adds (McDonald’s, Mariani Almonds, DTEN, Duralast Deodorant) and even on the theater stage as well.
He has hosted, emceed, and auctioneered for several high-level businesses and organizations all throughout the Sacramento community: Agape International Missions, Bayside Church, Blue Heart International, Child Advocate of Placer County, Glass Slipper, Mikuni Charitable foundation, 1849 Foundation, and several other Community, educational, and religious organizations.
ROBI QUICK
thanks to our sponsors
ORGANIZERS
TITLE SPONSOR
PREMIUM SPONSORS
MEDIA PARTNERS
RUSSIAN
PERSPECTIVE
Town & Country
Event Center
MAIN AUDITORIUM
VIP GREETERS
California State Senator
KEN COOLEY
California State Assemblyman
JIM COOPER
California State Assemblyman
JAMIE N. MCCULLOUGH
Wells Fargo Regional Vice President
SERGEY TEREBKOV
President of Slavic-American Chamber of Commerce
Executive Director of Slavic Community Center of Sacramento
VALENTIN KALINOVSKIY
Kristina Menissov & Ninelle
Instrumental Performance
Sax Version of «Chip Thrills»
Neil Nayyar
Mc Introduction
Mark S. Allen & Layyzerr
Organizer’s Greeting
Sergey Ivannikov
CEO, Russian American Media
Opening Prayer
Ronald W. Harden
Pastor, Epic Bible College
Performance Sponsor Presentation
Nick Sadek
Sotheby’s International Realty
Vocal Performance
«Je t’aime Live»
Kristina Menissov
Miss Universe World International
VIP Greeting
Sergey Terebkov
CEO, Slavic American Chamber
VIP GREETING & PRESENTATION
U.S. Congressman Ami Bera, M.D.
Medical Innovation Award of t he Year
Teimour Nasirov M.D.
Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgeon
Neil Nayyar
Instrumental Performance
Title Sponsor Greeting
Jamie N. McCullough
Regional VP, Wells Fargo
Medical Professionals Awards
Presentation by
Miss Kristina Menissov & Robi Quick
Vocal Performance
«Хороша Думка»
Marko Shvaikovskyi
VIP Greetings
Jim Nielsen
California Senator
VIP Greetings
Ken Cooley
California Assemblyman
Award Presentation
Best Career Technical Education School
(For Adults)
Highlands Community Char ter & Technical Schools
Jury Panel Introduction
Miss Ukraine California Judges
Jewelry Sponsor Presentation
Sharif Fine Jewelers
Miss Ukraine California Pageant
The Opening Act
evening
Program
Marko Shvaikovskyi
Bob Smiley Stand-Up Comedy
Dinner Intermission
Served by Hannibal’s Catering
Dance Performance
Vladimir & Brianna Butov
Traditional Ukrainian Dance called «Hopak» with a little twist
VIP Greeting
Valentin Kalinovskiy
Executive Director
Slavic Community Center
Miss Ukraine California Pageant
The Second Act
Women of the Year Award
Mila Zazhitskiy
Presentation by
Kristina Menissov & Robi Quick
Women Empowerment Awards
Presentation by
Kristina Menissov & Robi Quick
AWARD PRESENTATION
Volunteer Agency of the Year
Generous Heart Charity
Received by Olha Erlikh, CEO
Vocal Performance
Ninelle & Kristina Menissov
«Move Your Body»
Miss Ukraine California Pageant
The Interview
DANCE PERFORMANCE
Rumba Latin Dance
Vladimir & Brianna Butov
VOS Dance Studio
Stand-up Comedy Performance
Mister Bob Smiley
Instrumental Performance
«Wavin Flag»
Neil Nayyar
Miss Ukraine California Pageant
The Solo Walk
Vocal Performance
Ninelle
«Adios»
Miss Ukraine California 2022
Goodbye Speech
& Final Walk
Vocal Performance
«Papaouta»
Marko Shvaikovskyi
Contestants Line Up
Sponsors Line-up
Miss Ukraine California Pageant
Winner Announcement
MISS UKRAINE CALIFORNIA sponsors
Inna’s Photography
Town & Country
Event Center
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