Young achievers get their due: Milli Awards to benefit Community Plates

Millennials in Fairfield and Westchester counties are running their own businesses, making an impact through volunteer work and contributing innovative ideas to transform companies. Westfair Communications is celebrating these 22 young professionals ages 21 to 34 at the first Milli Awards on Nov. 17 at Chelsea Piers Connecticut in Stamford.

Milli_Logo_FinalThe event will benefit Community Plates, an organization that uses a mobile application, GoRescue, to connect volunteer “food runners” to restaurants, supermarkets and caterers with leftover food and distribute items to those in need.

The winners are:

Fairfield County

Ӣ Samuel Ambroise, Family Self-Sufficiency program coordinator, Family Centers

Ӣ Wesley Carpenter, founder and partner, Stormfield Capital LLC

Ӣ Kate Dischino, associate director, Emergency Response Programs, AmeriCares

Ӣ Christina Dufour, founder and president, Carnelian Connection

Ӣ Max Fanwick, founder and CEO, Explorator Media

Ӣ Alyssa Kranzmann, senior scientist, research and development, Unilever

Ӣ RJ Mercede, Center for Nonprofit Excellence associate, Fairfield CountyӪs Community Foundation

”¢ Angela Moore, office assistant, Yale University ”“ Human Research Protection program

Ӣ Joyce Ramirez, marketing director, AFC Urgent Care of Bridgeport and Fairfield

Ӣ Jessica Rice, legal support associate, Bridgewater Associates LP

Ӣ Christopher Sugar, attorney, Berchem, Moses & Devlin P.C.

Westchester County

”¢ Tom “Sarge” Barzelatto, account executive, Atlantic Westchester Inc.

Ӣ Kristina Benza, president and CEO, County Fabricators LLC

Ӣ Jason Fiore, structural engineer, Thornton Tomasetti

Ӣ Jason Fisch, president and founder, Fisch Solutions Inc.

Ӣ Ken Jacobi, treasury associate manager, PepsiCo

Ӣ Faraz Kayani, executive director, The Bristal Assisted Living at White Plains

Ӣ Caitlin Krueger, senior director, advancement and constituency relations, Iona College

Ӣ Lexie Leyman, communications and community affairs manager, The Dannon Co.

Ӣ Nathaniel Mundy, executive vice president sales and marketing, Diamond Hospitality Group

Ӣ Maria Pampafikos, co-owner and vice president, Royal Regency Hotel

Ӣ Anthony Pili, vice president, director of strategic planning, Greater Hudson Bank

Winners were chosen by a panel of five judges including Julia Emrick, managing director, operations and events at Westchester County Association; Pamela Pillo, director of graduate admissions at Sacred Heart University; Melissa Mongillo, director of corporate services at McIntyre Group; Allison Madison, president of Madison Approach Staffing and Adam Samples, regional president of Robert Half. About 50 young professionals in various industries and positions were nominated in the inaugural competition.

“This award program has brought much excitement to Westfair because it demonstrates that there are so many talented young people in Westchester and Fairfield counties,” Dee DelBello, Westfair Communication”™s publisher said. “We should all feel confident the region is in good hands.”

The Milli Awards is presented by Fairfield County Business Journal, Westchester County Business Journal and WAG Magazine. Sponsors include Mercedes-Benz of Greenwich; Sacred Heart University; Bigelow and Berchem, Moses & Devlin P.C. Other event supporters include Val”™s Putnam Wines and Liquors; Lovesac; Spiked Seltzer; Young Professionals of Greenwich; Young Professionals Network of Fairfield County; The Business Council of Fairfield County; Young Professionals Group, Westchester County Association; Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th; Stamford Innovation Center; The Dannon Co.; McIntyre Group and Heineken.

To attend the Milli Awards, visit westfaironline.com/milli-awards-rsvp.