Tsoukalas of Forchelli, Curto, Deegan, Schwartz, Mineo & Terrana LLP honored with Top Women in Business Award

Name:Andrea Tsoukalas Title: Partner Company/firm: Forchelli, Curto, Deegan, Schwartz, Mineo & Terrana LLP Follow my Company on Twitter: @Forchelli_law What recent honor, achievement or recognition has meant the most to you and why? I was recently honored by the Queens Courier with its Top Women in Business Award. I am most proud of this honor because it recognizes successful professionals who also give back to the community. For the past two years, I have been an officer of the Women's Bar Foundation, the charitable arm of the Women's Bar Association. The foundation has a scholarship luncheon every spring to raise money for exceptional women in law school that need financial assistance. These women are very bright, but have little or no financial backing from their families. The foundation also hosts an annual golf outing to raise money for breast cancer awareness. Every dollar earned from this event is donated to organizations that directly benefit women with breast cancer. I am proud to be an officer of the Foundation because we all work together towards a common good. What is your favorite quote? "Fearlessness is not the absence of fear. It's the mastery of fear. It's about getting up one more time than we fall down." - Arianna Huffington This is one of my favorite quotes because I believe the most successful people accept failure as an integral part of their success and attack every challenge with the same veracity and fearlessness. It's an inspirational message that applies to all people in every profession. Andrea Tsoukalas (New York Law School, 2000, cum laude) joined the firm in January of 2005 and concentrates her practice in zoning, land use, environmental and municipal law matters. Tsoukalas represents a wide variety of clients including national corporate chains, local developers and small business owners in the development of commercial and residential properties. Tsoukalas also has substantial experience in appellate practice and civil litigation. She litigates contract and real estate claims, corporate and partnership disputes, and regulatory claims arising out of building and zoning code violations. Tsoukalas is general counsel to the Long Island Gasoline Retailers Association, a nationally recognized non-profit trade association with over 600 members. She also serves as counsel to the Village of Kensington Board of Trustees, Zoning Board of Appeals and Architectural Review Board. Tsoukalas is admitted to practice before the New York State Bar. She is also a member of the New York State Bar Association, Nassau County Bar Association, and Nassau County Women's Bar Association. She also served as the Treasurer and was recently appointed a Director of the Nassau County Women's Bar Foundation, the charitable arm of the Nassau County Women's Bar Association. Andrea Tsoukalas was honored by the Long Island Business News with its 40 Under 40 award (2012). She was listed by the same publication as a 'Who's Who in Women in Professional Service.' She was honored by the John J. Byrne Community Center with its Long Island Outstanding Advocate for Children and Youth Award (2012). Most recently, she was honored by the Queens Courier with its Top Women in Business Award, honoring influential women in business whose achievements make a difference in the community.