Good Things

Honorary Degree Recipient Speaks At Commencement

Nearly 400 Manhattanville College students received graduate and undergraduate degrees in two separate outdoor commencement ceremonies on the campus quad May 11 and May 13. The school awarded 300 undergraduate degrees, 100 graduate degrees and 20 doctoral degrees.

Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY 16), a 2019 graduate of the doctoral program in educational leadership at Manhattanville, made a special guest appearance and said, “Throughout history we have always been in so much conflict with each other because of our differences and who we are,” said Bowman. “But I think the next evolution of human history is about what we have in common. You all have the ability to solve these problems.”

Betty A. Rosa, Ed.D., commissioner of education and president of the University of the State of New York, was awarded an honorary degree, and Linda Pistecchia Kirkpatrick, president of North America at Mastercard, was the keynote speaker at the graduate ceremonies. Kirkpatrick, a board member and 1999 alumna of Manhattanville, also received an honorary degree.

Addressing students at the undergraduate ceremony on May 13 was 1997 alumnus Jason Rivera, Ph.D., associate vice provost of Student Success and dean of University College at Ball State University. Alumni and former Manhattanville trustees Dwight Hilson and Mary Foley Cooper were honored at the ceremony. All three received honorary degrees, with Cooper’s awarded posthumously and presented to her family, who flew in from California.

In addressing those who earned their master’s and doctoral degrees, Manhattanville Interim President Louise Feroe, Ph.D., congratulated graduates and urged them to not forget the lessons they had learned at Manhattanville.

Feroe also gave special recognition to Shelley Wepner, Ed.D., retiring as dean of the School of Education after 19 years. Wepner founded the school’s Changing Suburbs Institute in 2005, which now works with more than 19 school districts to acclimate first-generation students.

Kirkpatrick told graduate students that when she left the col- lege in 1999, she was ready to take on the world. Manhattanville, she said, was a special community where the values she learned helped her excel both as a business leader and as a human being. As president of North America at Mastercard, Kirkpatrick oversees the operations and customer-facing activities in the United States and Canada. Bloomberg Businessweek named Kirkpatrick to the 2020 Bloomberg 50.

“I still remember walking through the doors of historic Brownson Hall for the first time as a bright-eyed freshman; how this place would instill in me the value of community, how it would push me out of my comfort zone, how it would teach me to see the value and worth of everyone around me – lessons that have stayed with me to this day. And so, throughout my career, every time I felt anxious or unsure of myself, I leaned on my experiences at Manhattanville, knowing discomfort would only lead me to the next good thing,’’ said Kirkpatrick.

Keynote speaker Rivera told students that his experience at Manhattanville taught him to embrace change and use fear to propel him to greater things. Rivera’s research explores college completion for Latino and African American male students and how care, capital and community cultural wealth influence student outcomes. His research was used to develop the Achieving the Promise Academy, an academic coaching program created to ensure every student has the assistance, opportunities and tools needed to succeed in college.

“When I graduated nearly 30 years ago, I was the first person of color who was also openly gay to serve as the president of the student government. On my commencement day, I stood on this same stage as I am today, overlooking the quad with Reid Hall as a beautiful backdrop…. So in many ways, this is a full circle moment for me.

“Manhattanville prepared me to enter an ever-changing world – it taught me to openly embrace the unknown – to get comfortable in the spaces between certainty and uncertainty –and to meet the complexities of change without fear,” he said.

Hudson Realtor Leaders Inducted Into National Association

Three members of the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors® Inc. (HGAR) in White Plains: Dorothy Botsoe, Anthony Domathoti and Richard Haggerty were recently inducted into the National Association of Realtors’ Political Action Committee (RPAC) Hall of Fame. The induction recognizes dedicated members for their financial support and commitment to promote the election of pro-Realtor® candidates across the U.S.

Botsoe, an HGAR past president and broker-owner of Dorothy Jensen RealtyInc. of White Plains was recognized for her contributions of $100,000. “…It takes all of us to make homeownership a reality and we must each do our part. I am happy to be a cog in the wheel,” she said.

HGAR’s immediate past president, Domathoti, broker-owner of EXIT Realty Premium in the Bronx, was cited for his $25,000 contribution. “I’m committed to RPAC because I see the great difference it makes in our industry, for our clients and in delivering the dream of homeownership…,” he said.

Haggerty, CEO of OneKey® MLS, the largest multiple listing service in New York was recognized for his contributions of $75,000. “RPAC is vital to our success. It’s the key to protecting homeownership and our industry’s interests,” Haggerty said.

Botsoe sits on the National Association of Realtors Diversity Committee and the Board of Directors as a voting member and is a director for the New York State Association of Realtors (NYSAR) and NAR, chairs the NYSAR Fair Housing and Cultural Diversity Committee, and is a RPAC trustee.

Domathoti served as the 2022 president of HGAR and sits on the NYSAR Board of Directors and 2023 NAR Leadership Academy. He is the co-chair of RPAC and a member of RPAC President’s Circle.

Haggerty took the reins of OneKey® MLS on Jan. 1, after serving as its president and chief strategic growth officer. He is the former CEO of HGAR, a position he held since 2012. Under Haggerty’s leadership, HGAR grew its geographic reach significantly throughout the northern suburbs and into the Bronx.

Notable Health Care Leader

Robert Glazer, executive vice president and former CEO of ENT and Allergy Associates LLP (ENTA) in Tarrytown, has been selected by a panel of experts as one of “Crain’s New York Business 2023 Notable Leaders in Healthcare.” The list sought to salute the talented health-care professionals who have impacted their organizations and communities in major ways.

Glazer has more than 40 years of health-care industry experience and broad knowledge of finance and operations, information technology, managed care contracting, mergers and acquisitions, physician recruitment and health-care marketing. As CEO of ENTA for 25 years, he helped pioneer and shape practice-management innovations for both community medicine and academic medicine health-care sectors. In 2022, ETNA saw more than a mil- lion patient visits to one of its 55 locations throughout New York and New Jersey.

Last year, under Glazer’s leadership, ENTA also completed the largest acquisition in the company’s history. The 20-physician, 180-employee ENT Associates of New York group it joined July 1, 2022 has had a significant impact on ENTA’s ability to negotiate within the managed care landscape. This merger has also allowed ENTA to expand its patient access further via 12 new locations throughout the Long Island and Queens communities.

Glazer transitioned to physician practice management in 1996 when he was the vice president of administration for ProHealth Associates, a multispecialty sports medicine practice in Long Island.

ENTA is the largest ENT, Allergy and Audiology practice in the country.

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) recently delivered the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University’s 45th commencement ceremony address to graduates at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York. Together with Harvard Professor Bruce H. Mann, a legal scholar and historian, she received the Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, the highest honor conferred by the law school, recognizing their lifelong contributions to public service and the legal profession.

Warren encouraged graduates to “be courageous” and to take chances just as she has during her remarkable career in public office, calling upon them to consider using their law degrees where the need is great.

“That means trust yourself. That means don’t sell yourself short. Don’t settle for work that you don’t believe in. Don’t assume that you can’t make a difference,” she said.

“…We are living in a time of great uncertainty and instability. Multiple pandemics have made clear that humanity is fragile. The wealth gap continues to grow, while greedy corporations pump filth into our air and pour poison into our water. If that reality wasn’t enough, right now, an army of corrupt legal minds are conspiring with hateful politicians across America to silence our voices, steal our votes and deny us our freedoms. They want to attack transpeople, give comfort to white supremacists and declare themselves the ones to judge a woman’s personal medical decisions,” she said. “I say no!”

Warren was a Harvard Law professor and consumer advocate when she was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2012. She is widely credited for the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau under President Obama. In the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, Warren served as chair of the Congressional Oversight Panel for

New Openings For Big Y Express

Big Y Foods Inc. recently announced the planned opening of its 16th and 17th Big Y Express Fuel and Convenience locations at 580 Main St. in Somers, Connecticut, and 241 Hazard Ave., Enfield, Connecticut. Both stores are slated to open as Big Y Express on July 15. These locations will bring the total number of Big Y’s stores in Connecticut to 6.

Big Y Express is open Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on weekends from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The company is currently hiring for management and select part-time positions in both locations. Interested applicants should apply at bigy.com/careers.

the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Horace E. Anderson Jr., Dean of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, presided over the commencement ceremony. Delivering the opening address was Pace University President Marvin Krislov, who asked students to “remember to use your unique privileges and responsibilities as lawyers in good and fair ways.

"…And whatever you do in your careers, please remember that lawyers are instrumental to the working of our democracy.”

Pace University Trustee Liliane A. Haub and University Distinguished Professor of Law Bridget J. Crawford joined Dean Anderson to present the honorary degrees to Warren and Mann, recognizing the recipients’ dedication to the law, commitment to public service and their inspiring example to others within and outside the legal profession.

“We are always looking to bring our customers even more, especially during these challenging times,” said Big Y president and CEO Charles L. D’Amour. “We are excited to not only help our customers save on their fueling needs but also make life easier by offering quick convenience items that our customers can grab on the run.”

Big Y Foods Inc. is one of the largest independently owned supermarket chains in New England operating locations throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut. Big Y has been recognized by Forbes as a Best-in-State Employer in Massachusetts and Connecticut, as well as 2018 Employer of Choice by the Employers Association of the Northeast. Founded in 1936 by brothers Paul and Gerald D’Amour, the store was named after an intersection in Chicopee, Massachusetts, where two roads converge to form a “Y.”

POLICE DEPARTMENT’S BENEFIT CAR SHOW

Under sunny skies, the crowds came out to support the second Greenwich Police Department (GPD) Scholarship Fund 2023 Benefit Car Show, on Saturday, May 13. A 1932 Chevy with only 32,000 miles on it and just two owners was among the show’s winners. Mike Fratello, the second owner of the car won the Best Survivor Trophy, which recognizes vehicles in their original condition. More than 70 classic cars displayed in the Greenwich Town Hall parking lot included lines of 1930 and 1940 Fords and Cadillacs and classic street cars such as Mustangs, GTOs and Corvettes from the 60s and 70s. The Scholarship Fund supports qualified, high-performing children of GPD officers in their undergrad- uate college pursuits.

“We all want our children to pursue their desired educational opportunities and when they achieve their goal, the next step is funding it so that it doesn’t burden them with future debt,” said Sgt. Brent Reeves of the Greenwich Police Department.

The Greenwich Police Department Scholarship Fund, incorporated in December of 1962, was granted tax-exempt status under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code in November 1963. To donate, visit http://bit.ly/GPDSFdonate.

The fund is governed by a board of directors comprised of four individuals whose roles in the community ensure the board’s self-perpetuation.