By: Nunzio Del Greco, RCE I am pleased to be promoting our next major business networking event scheduled for Wednesday, April 13 at the elegant Marina del Rey Caterers, on the East River, Bronx. The Annual Banquet is a popular and well known event bringing together hundreds of members, companies, and friends active in the business and real estate community from throughout the Greater New York region to network and renew friendships. The Annual Banquet is a formal black tie function and major networking event. Each year, an impressive group of executives, industry, business leaders and elected officials are also in attendance as Dais Guests. Networking Cocktail Hour begins at 5:30 p.m. followed by the Program and Formal Dinner at 7 p.m. A tremendous amount of networking takes place during this time. I often hear guests rave about whom they got a chance to meet and greet. The buffet selections are also superb. For the first time, a new award will be presented at the 2011 Banquet. The new Heritage Award was created to recognize a firm or company active in the real estate industry for multiple generations. The committee unanimously selected Houlihan-Parnes Realtors, LLC and Houlihan & O'Malley Real Estate Services in celebration of their 120th anniversary. The Banquet Committee also unanimously selected the 2011 Award Recipients. They are: Lewis. Kaye, Realtor of the Year Award, LBKaye International Realty Commercial Services Inc.; Danielle Erickson Noak, Realtor Associate of the Year, Sandra Erickson Real Estate; Patrick Siconolfi, Distinguished Service Award, CHIP; Steve Squiteri, Community Service Award, Sanitation Salvage Corp. and D & J Ambulette Service; Carla Romita and Michael Romita, Affiliate Member of the Year Award, Castle Oil Corp.; and Joseph Fingerman, Institutional Member of the Year Award, Signature Bank. We will be announcing the guest speaker upon confirmation. Prior speakers included: Governor David Paterson; mayor Michael Bloomberg; mayor Rudolph Giuliani; former first lady Hillary Clinton; U.S. senator Charles Schumer; N.Y.C. comptroller William Thompson, Jr.; N.Y.C. police commissioner Raymond Kelly; governor Nelson Rockefeller; U.S. senator Jacob Javitz; mayor John Lindsay; secretary of State Hon. Randy Daniels; U.S. attorney general Robert Kennedy; Bronx borough president Adolfo Carrion; and Sandy Treadwell, secretary of state for New York; and Dominic Chianese "Uncle Junior" of the Sopranos were some of the special guests. The Annual Banquet also recognizes members for their years of service to the organization. They are: 40 Year Award: Marilyn Sopher, Marilyn Sopher Real Estate; 35 Year Award: Mark Engel, Langsam Property Services Corp.; David Holtzman, Dabar Management Co., Inc.; 30 Year Award: Harvey Gilston, Gilston Electrical Maintenance Corp.; 25 Year Award: Ram Gupta, Chatam Management Co., Inc.; Jeffrey Gault, Perry Gault Management Co., Inc.; Joe Hasselt, Joe Hasselt Real Estate; 20 Year Award: Gerald Murray, Arco Elevator Co.; Joseph Armato, Adjustrite, Inc.; Perry Finkelman, American Development Group; Richard Anastasio, Property Appraisal Services, Inc.; Eliot Cherson, Rappaport, Hertz, Cherson & Rosenthal, P.C.; and Anthony Scovotti, Scovotti Real Estate. There are early reservations and member discounts. Advertising and sponsorship opportunities are also available. For reservations or more information contact Janine Schall at: (718) 892-3000, (212) 242-4343 or email: [email protected]. BMAR is composed of active members throughout the Greater New York region including: licensed real estate brokers and agents; multi-dwelling property owners; building service vendors and suppliers; unlicensed property managers; attorneys; appraisers; banks; mortgage companies; fuel service and energy companies; title and abstract companies; insurance companies and insurance brokers; contractors and other companies servicing the real estate industry. Nunzio Del Greco, RCE is the CEO of the Bronx-Manhattan North Association of Realtors, Bronx, N.Y.