Immigrant Heritage Week Awards 2012

We were thrilled to welcome special guest Fatima Shama, Commissioner of New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA), as we honored three outstanding immigrant entrepreneurs. The event featured a panel discussion, “How to Use Technology to Market Your Business” moderated by Foulis Peacock, CEO of ImmPreneur, and Chuck Roberts of Durobi.  See more information in our blog post.

Browse photos from this year’s Annual Awards event:

Job Creator Award
Hui Ping Liu

Ms Liu is the owner of LH Human Resources Inc., a home health care agency, providing home care in the Chinese and Vietnamese communities. Ms. Liu started her business with a BCNA loan of $35,000.  To date, LH Human Resources has created one hundred jobs.

Bootstrap Entrepreneur Award
Guadalupe Galicia

Guadalupe, a single mother of five and owner of Guadalupe’s Tamales, began her business with a shopping cart, a pot, and a dream. Guadalupe is proof that you can start a business without a large amount of start-up capital. This award also recognizes the Street Vendor Project of the Urban Justice Center, a leader in street vendor entrepreneurship.

New Beginning Award
Leonid Isakov

Dr. Leonid Isakov, a refugee from the Former Soviet Union, used his BCNA Individual Development Account (IDA) Program savings and matching grant to be re-certified as a pediatrician. A BCNA loan then helped Dr. Ishakov to establish Ocean Medical PC. This award recognizes the Office of Refugee Resettlement for its generous financial and technical assistance support to BCNA through the Microenterprise Development and Individual Development programs.

Business Center for New Americans is the 2012 winner of the American Dreamer AwardBusiness Lender category. The American Dreamer Awards are given by the Mayor of New York City in recognition of individuals or organizations who are making profound impacts on the lives of immigrant New Yorkers.

 

Panel Discussion: “How to Use Technology to Market Your Business.”

Foulis Peacock (Moderator) — Foulis is the creator of IMMPRENEUR.com, an online source of information for immigrants and other entrepreneurs. Foulis immigrated from London to this country 20 years ago. Upon arriving in New York City, he used his “foreign advantage” to become a contractor with Fortune magazine.  Soon after, he and a partner started a media representation company whose clients included Fortune, Money, and Forbes magazines. They then launched Diversity Inc Media LLC in 1998. In 2009, IMMPRENEUR.com was conceived. Foulis is a board member of BCNA.

Chuck Roberts (Moderator) —

Deepti Sharma Kapur — Deepti is the CEO of Food to Eat and is one of New York City’s upcoming entrepreneurs and internet visionaries. She just launched her online business foodtoeat.com in early 2012. Deepti, a business major in college, developed the idea for her business while studying for the LSATs.  Foodtoeat.com is New York City’s newest food delivery and pick-up website, and the only one to include food carts and trucks. Deepti was named as one of 30 under 30 in the Food and Wine Sector by Forbes Magazine. Deepti, a board member of BCNA, is passionate about helping food vendors to use technology and social media to manage their business.

Karen Seiger —  Karen is an author, blogger, market enthusiast and editor of Markets of New York, a site that provides details about the rich and diverse market in the boroughs of New York city, including flea, artisan, green, antique, holiday, and even vegan markets.

Sean Basinski — Sean is Co-Director of Street Vendors Project. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and Georgetown Law Center. Prior to law school, he built a pushcart and sold delicious burritos from the corner of 52nd Street and Park Avenue. He founded SVP in 2001 with a $15,000 grant from Yale Law School. Sean lives in a tenement walkup apartment in Manhattan, with a bathtub in the kitchen.

Adam Sobel — Chef with The Cinnamon Snail