Brooklyn Assemblyman Nick Perry recently honored 13 distinguished individuals, organizations, and businesses at his annual awards ceremony at Tropical Manor on Avenue U in Brooklyn.
The honorees included Suede Restaurant and Dave Wallace (Distinguished Entrepreneurial Leadership Award); Stephen Gianotti (Distinguished Industry Business Leader Award); Christopher Erikson (Distinguished Labor Leader Award); Natasha Burke (Outstanding Healthcare Administrator Award); and Ella Russell (Outstanding Educator Service Award).
The others were: Rev. Dr. Norma Mapp-Robertson (Outstanding Ecumenical Leader Award); Chenelle McQueen (Outstanding Public Service Award); Urla Luke, Wayne Ragguette and Margaret Taitt (Outstanding Community Service Award); and Chief Virginia Mampouya and Aileen E. McKinnon (Outstanding Health and Community Service Award.)
“All our efforts and planning would have been in vain without direct decision to share your evening with us and the distinguished group of honorees who we celebrate and recognize tonight,” said Jamaican-born Perry, who represents the 58th Assembly District.
“Thank you for helping to honor them for their personal achievement and for their eagerness to share their success by meaningful involvement in their community in substantial ways that help make our city, state and nation, and surely our world, a better place,” he added. “Please join me in a very hearty congratulations to all our honorees and also their families and friends who are here sharing this evening’s joy with them.”
Perry also said the event served as a fund-raiser “to help elect and keep me in office as your voice in the New York Assembly representing all the people in the 58th AD [Assembly District].”
Burke is a healthcare manager with over 10 years of progressive experience in planning and administration of marketing, public relations, public affairs, development and community affairs programs. She is currently chief of staff at NYC Health + Hospitals Kings County.
Erikson was appointed chairman of the International Executive Council of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers on Nov. 10, 2015.
Gionotti is president of Arcadia Electrical Company, a firm specializing in complex electrical projects for various industries, including commercial and residential.
Trinidadian-born Registered Nurse Luke oversees the coordination of care for psychiatric patients at Kings Country Hospital in Brooklyn.
Guyanese the Rev. Dr. Mapp-Robertson serves as co-pastor of the Global Bible Ministries in Brooklyn.
McQueen, who was born in Brooklyn to Grenadian immigrants, is a paramedic with FDNY EMS.
Vincentian Raguette, owner of Nanni Health Food Store in Brooklyn, has volunteered, supported and managed several political campaigns.
Jamaican Russell is director of the Adult Literacy Center at Brooklyn’s Medgar Evers College and an Adjunct Professor in the English Department.
On Nov. 28, 2014, SUEDE opened its door to the public and introduced the concept of Modern Caribbean Cuisine in Brooklyn.
Taitt, of Barbadian roots, is program assistant at Ft. Green Council, Remsen Neighborhood Center.
Jamaican Wallace is the owner of Natural Blend, Inc., a vegetarian restaurant, bakery and juice bar in Brooklyn.
“The hard working, dedicated members of my committee, Friends of Nick Perry, did a wonderful job of organizing this year’s awards dinner dance,” Perry said. But all our efforts and planning would have been in vain without the over 350 individuals who shared their evening with us and the distinguished group of honorees who we celebrated and recognized.”
