IFMAGNY holds annual awards dinner at the Grand Hyatt Hotel on January 22

On January 22nd, The Greater New York Chapter of The International Facility Management Association held its Annual Awards Dinner at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. More than 300 members and their guests enjoyed a lively hour of cocktails, appetizers and networking; so much so that they appeared to need coaxing, to finish that portion of the evening and commence with the formal dinner and awards program, in the main ballroom. Welcoming remarks were delivered by Christian Miller CFM, director of property management of the YMCA of Greater New York and chapter vice president. This year's award nominee list had over fifty candidates, the most in the chapter's history. The Greater New York Chapter of IFMA has more than 650 members, with over nineteen thousand members around the world. Miller praised the volunteer leadership of the chapter and cited that GNY IFMA schedules over 140 meetings and educational events annually. The 26th Annual GNY IFMA Awards Dinner honored Kenneth Fisher, senior partner of Fisher Brothers. This organization was initiated in 1915 and started out by building residential properties in New York. During the 1950s the company began building commercial buildings. Fisher Brothers re-wrote its business plan in the mid-1970s, adopting a new strategy that called for the selling off its residential properties, continuing to develop and manage commercial real estate investments, and diversifying its investment portfolio into non-real estate sectors. Philanthropy has a strong presence at Fisher Brothers. Through its foundation, the family is an annual contributor to the Police Athletic League (PAL), AHRC, New York's Finest Foundation, and The New York City Police Museum. Fisher House, serves America's servicemen and women with 34 comfort homes on the grounds of every military major medical center and eight Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers. Another project is New York's Landmark Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. The Intrepid Museum Foundation was founded by Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher to memorialize the distinguished W.W.II aircraft carrier and to honor the men and women of the armed forces and their families. Ellen Hains of Humanscale, awards committee co-chair introduced the awards portion of the evening, thanking her committee members - Mindy Williams of IA Interiors, committee co-chair, Christine Chavez of Knoll, Stephanie Chippas of Perkins Eastman, Jaclyn DiRenzo of Milrose Consulting, John Leitner of Environmental Building Solutions, Matt Poveromo of Waldner's Business Environments, Michael Sweeney of Sweeney & Associates, and Marc Wasserman of The Millennium Group, along with the Dinner Committee- herself and Mindy, Frank Lazzaro of NBC, Brian Ostrowe of BlackRock, Nadine Cino of Tyga-Box Systems, and Patty Oliveira, chapter administrator. Hains also acknowledged Tiffany's, for once again helping with the crystal awards. GNY IFMA past president, Brian Ostrowe CFM, managing director, head of corporate services at BlackRock, Inc., was the presenter of the evening's first award. The award was for Distinguished Associate Corporation and was given to InterfaceFLOR Commercial. Steven La Valley accepted the award on behalf of his company. La Valley is currently one of the IFMAGNY VPs and chair of the associates committee. Below are the rest of the winners of the Awards for the different categories based on their accomplishments, diligence, commitment, and hard work: * The Distinguished Associate Member Award went to Harry Cannon of SDM Metro and programs committee chair.  * The Distinguished Professional Member Award went to Gary Fescine, FMA, RPA of BlackRock. Garry serves as both the marketing committee chair and the education committee chair. * The Facility Management Achievement Award went to Leo Deonarine of Ann Taylor.  * The Distinguished Educator Award went to Beth Barton. * The Distinguished Author Award went to Brad Perkins of Pratt Institute. * The Environmental Awareness Award went to Precision Engraving, accepted by Gary Anzalone, networking committee chair, on behalf of his firm. * The Design of a New Facility Award went to IA Interior Architects (medium space), accepted by Mindy Williams, Awards Committee Co-Chair and NBC (large space), accepted by Frank Lazzaro, IFMAGNY treasurer. * And last but not least, The Special Service Award went to CeCe Haas of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. After the Awards were given, raffles were auctioned, and then guests were escorted outside to the ballroom where desserts were served.  This proved to be a great chance to network for the second time and congratulate the winners. What a fabulous finish to a spectacular evening! By Michael Moskowitz of Valera Global, IFMA Cares committee chair and PR committee member, with the help of Gabriela de Oliveira, IFMA PR committee chair.