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EMPA Alumni Forum Board
The EMPA Forum was founded in the spring of 2003 by several alumni and then by current students who wished to maintain contact with their classmates post-graduation, and to create an organization through which learning and the sharing of ideas could continue throughout their careers. The following spring the Forum held its first formal election and the Executive Committee and Board of Directors voted in the organization’s by-laws. Both the Picker Center for Executive Education and the Alumni Relations Office provided seed capital for initial events held by the fledgling organization and only a few years later the Forum hosts a robust program of events throughout the year. www.empaforum.org
If you are a current or former EMPA student and would like to know more details about upcoming events, updating your contact information or joining the EMPA Forum Board, please contact empaforum@gmail.com.
CONGRATULATIONS......
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Congratulations to Jacqueline Pineda, EMPA Class of 2009, the new Director of Professional Programs for CUNY's Laguardia. After 9 years Jackie has left the Picker Center.
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Congratulations to Vincent Morgan, EMPA Class of 2005 who is running as the Democratic Candidate for Congress for NY-15.
http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000072068
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Congratulations to Eric Perugini who is now working at NeuLion in their collegiate division. NeuLion is a digital technology company that works across professional and collegiate athletic programs to distribute content... as a matter of fact, Columbia is one of their partners!!
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Congratulations to Nancy Conde who received the 2011 Mujeres Destacadas Award by El Diario La Prensa. For the Sixteenth celebration of the “Mujeres Destacadas” Award, El Diario La Prensa proudly presents the recognition of the best and the brightest; a group of dynamic Latinas who relish and share as role models for our teenagers.
http://zoominlocal.com/impre-el-diario/2011/04/14/
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Congratulations to Heather Woodfield who was just hired as the Program Manager of One Percent for Culture, a campaign to generate public and private support for an increase in New York City's financial commitment to the nonprofit cultural community, including artists of all disciplines.
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Congratulations to Roger Fisk, the new Deputy Director of Budget Control for New York City Transit. In this executive role Roger directs the forecasting, planning & analysis of agency operating budget revenues and expenditures (~$5B annually), as well as the budget technology team. He also leads an initiative focused on agency management innovation and reengineering initiatives.
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Congratulations to Robert Amodeo, '12 for his participation in the Charles Schwab Conference held in Boston on March 9, 2011, for the workshop "The 2011 Political Picture: What it Means for the Markets."
https://www.seeuthere.com/rsvp/invitation/invitation.asp?id=/m1312deb-58B34Q0BPKXKQ
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Hilka Klinkenberg was featured in Woman's Advantage Calendar for the second year in a row.
www.WomansAdvantage.biz/calendar.
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Congratulations to Jackie Frankel who was featured in The Jerusalem Post, and had her op-ed piece published.
To read the article please visit,
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Congratulations to Mark McCormick who has joined the Brown Brothers Harriman firm as their currency strategist.
To read his latest interview, please visit,
http://www.hardassetsinvestor.com/features-and-interviews/1/2438-mark-mccormick-behavior-economics-trumps-econ-101.html
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Congratulations to John Dandola, EMPA Alumnus '10
John Dandola, an example of EMPA's exceptional Alumni, has been recognized in the SIPA Annual Report 2009-2010 for his achievements as Senior Internal Investigation Supervisor of the NYPD. He expressed the impact a SIPA (EMPA) education has had on his professional development. To read the article please visit, www.sipa.columbia.edu/about_sipa/documents/Columbia_SIPA%20Annual_2010.pdf
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Congratulations to Thierry Trottereau, EMPA Alumnus 07'
Thierry launched his website on ipolitics360.com.
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Congratulations to Migna Taveras, EMPA Alumnus
Migna has been appointed as the new Senior Policy Analyst in the Inter-governmental Affairs Office at The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA).
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Congratulations to Yaakov Ringler, EMPA Alumnus 06'
Yaakov recently joined Morgan Stanley as the Vice President of the Israel-focused Private Wealth Management Program based in the US. Previously, he worked at Goldman Sachs for 11 years in various functions including COO of the Israel Group in Investment Banking, the Executive Office, and the CIO Office.
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Congratulations to Matt Millea, EMPA Alumnus 04’ - County of Onondaga
Matt Millea was appointed Deputy County Executive for Physical Services
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Congratulations to Rob Nikolewski, EMPA Alumnus 09’ - New Mexico
Rob Nikolewski acts as Capitol Reporter and Editor. A three-time Emmy Award winner, Nikolewski has spent more than 20 years in journalism.
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Congratulations to Jackie Frankel, EMPA Alumnus 09’ - Israel
Jackie received a new job working for the non-profit Jaffa Institute helping to save the lives of at-risk kids
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Congratulations to Tracey Foster, EMPA Alumnus 10'
Tracey was nominated by her EMPA colleagues, and selected by the Dean of Student Affairs to receive the Picker Public Service Award.
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Congratulations to Nicole Gallant, EMPA Alumnus 09' - Washington, DC
Nicole was just appointed as Director of Learn and Serve America and Strategic Education Advisor at the Corporation for National and Community Service in Washington, DC.
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Congratulations to Aaron Miller, MD, EMPA Alumnus 10'- Director of Lincoln Hospital's Child Advocacy Center
He helped secure $100,000 from UNICEF to help Malawi build it's first-ever child abuse center at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, where doctors, police, and child protection workers will work together to care for abused children. His team will be returning to Malawi in January 2010 to continue capacity-building for this ground-breaking new center:
http://www.partnershiptoprotectchildren.blogspot.com/
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Congratulations to Ashley Cotton, EMPA Alumnus 09’ – City Hall
City Hall elected Ashley as one of the 40 under 40 Rising Stars. The next generation of Political Leaders in New York.
http://www.cityhallnews.com/newyork/article-944-rising-stars-40-under-40.html
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Congratulations to Vincent Morgan, EMPA Alumnus 06’- TD Bank
September 2009 he announced he is seeking a seat for the US House of Representatives. Currently, he serves as the Vice President of Community Development for TD Bank.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/14/us/politics/14rangel.html?_r=1&emc=eta1
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Congratulations to Todd Jacobson, EMPA Alumnus 06’- NBA Cares
This past year, Todd was tapped to lead the Community Relations Department that manages the NBA and WNBA global social responsibility efforts, community partnerships and public service initiatives.
The sixth edition of NBA Cares-Basketball without Borders Africa was held at the American International School of Johannesburg in South Africa from 3 – 7 September 2008.
http://info.specialolympics.org/Special+Olympics+Public+Website/English/Press_Room/Global_
news/Basketball+Without+Borders+Africa.htm
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Congratulations to Jill Monum, EMPA Alumnus 06’- Avon Foundation for Women
Jill was recently promoted to Manager of the Global Program Development. Jill provides strategic and operational direction for developing and supporting Avon's global philanthropy programs as well as foundation fundraising activities including fundraising product and cause-marketing initiatives. The Avon Foundation's mission is to improve the lives of women globally with a focus on breast cancer and domestic violence issues. Currently Avon carries out these initiatives in over 50 countries worldwide.
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Congratulations to Matthew Millea, EMPA Alumnus 04’- New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation
On Thursday, March 12, 2009 the House approved legislation authorizing $19.4 billion for waste water and water infrastructure, including $13.8 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. Also included is $2.5 billion for addressing sewer overflows, $250 million for alternative water source projects, and $750 million for improving the water quality of the Great Lakes.
http://www.nysefc.org/home/index.asp?page=691(Search for Matthew Millea, it is the 3rd link down)
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Congratulations to Betty Wu Adams, EMPA Alumnus 04’- United States Department of Health
Ms. Adams will re-join the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grants. It is a return to HHS for Ms. Adams, who previously served the department for two years in various senior executive leadership positions.
http://www.sipa.columbia.edu/news_events/announcements/announcements08.html
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Congratulations to Kim Bohnet, EMPA Alumnus 09’ – Columbia University
Kim was accepted into Teachers College, Columbia University for an Ed.D. in adult education.
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Congratulations to Steven Newmark, EMPA Student- Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
During the 2008 presidential election, Steven served as the National Coordinator for Young Lawyers for Obama, an organization of over 11,000 attorneys with 86 chapters in 47 states nationwide. In 2009, Steven serves as co-chair of the young professionals committee for Cy Vance's campaign for Manhattan District Attorney.
http://amlawdaily.typepad.com/amlawdaily/2008/11/election-2008.html#more
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Congratulations to Afsheen Mahar, EMPA Alumnus 09' - NYC HHC
Afsheen was just promoted yet again. She was working as an Associate Director before she was promoted the Administrative Director of ER. She manages day-to-day operations in an extremely busy ER. They currently see approximately 100,000 patients a year, which is constantly increasing due to the closure of 2 hospitals in the borough of Queens.
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Congratulations to Hilka Klinkenberg, EMPA Alumnus 09' - Global Coaching and Consulting Group
Hilka was selected as a "Top-Idea Maven" by The Woman's Advantage Entrepreneur's Advice Featured in 2010 Woman's Advantage Calendar. She was selected from over 3,500 submissions to be featured in The 2010 Woman's Advantage Shared Wisdom Calendar. The calendar provides advice for women business owners from influential women leaders across the US and Canada.
http://www.womansadvantage.biz/about.html
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Congratulations to Sahap Gizlen, EMPA Alumnus 06’- Academia Pro
Sahap recently launched his new business. Academia Pro is an international education and management consulting firm in the United States overseeing the greater New York City area.
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Congratulations to Wilson Peter, EMPA Alumnus 11' - Entreprenuer
Wilson was recently featured on NY Times for his entreprenurial success.
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Congratulations to Ibrahim Musaev, EMPA Alumnus 07' for his recent published work
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Is-Sustainable-Development-by-Yuriy-S-Polyakov-090427-227.html
If you are an EMPA alumn, or current student, and you would like to inform us of a recent promotion, please email empa@columbia.edu