Professional Profile: Christine Barshtak 2021
Christine BarshtakName: Christine Barshtak
Title: President
Company: Finaly General Contracting Corp.
Location: New York, NY
Birthplace: Staten Island, NY
Education: Babson College, BS in Finance; started a Masters in Construction at NYU (but then dropped out because my first grader was learning to read; planning on going back).
First job: Credit Analyst (before that many years in retail)
First job in real estate or allied field: Finaly General Contracting. After 10 years on Wall Street I walked into my father’s office to see what he was up to. Now I own the company.
What do you do now and what are you planning for the future? I own and operate a general contracting business that focuses on interior renovations of commercial space (offices primarily). I’m planning to grow our market share and diversify our customer base. I’m also focusing on how to better utilize our Woman Owned Business certification.
How do you unwind from a busy day? Dinner with my kids, dishes and dancing in the kitchen, followed by yoga and then a good book or great short story.
Favorite book or author: How about top 3? “A Year of Magical Thinking” by Joan Didion; “Frannie & Zooey” by J.D. Salinger; “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay” by Micheal Chabon. Authors: Ann Patchett and Stephanie Danler and Joan Didion
Favorite movie: “My Blue Heaven”
Last song/album that you purchased/downloaded? I am newly obsessed with Two Cellos on Pandora.
One word to describe your work environment: Collegiate.
Rules to live by in business: There is always a deal to be made no matter how far apart two sides are – there is always a middle ground.
If you could invite one person to dinner (living or dead, but not related to you) who would it be and where would you go? Gwyneth Paltrow at Blue Hill Farm where maybe we could run into Martha Stewart and talk about building empires.
What is your DREAM job? (something other than your current job) Novelist/yoga/zumba teacher