Six E.M. women receive honors by Assemblyman Mikulin

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Six East Meadow residents were recognized in the New York 17th Assembly District as “Women of Distinction” for having stood out as extemporary role models in their communities.

Patte Conway, Yesenia Vasquez, Lyndsey Gallagher, Christine Mooney, Marcella Pizzo and Elizabeth Oliva-Kong were among 15 recipients who were honored at the ceremony, which was hosted by Assemblyman John Mikulin at the Farmingdale Public Library on Aug. 5.

Patte Conway dedicates her time toward helping Girl Scouts earn their Gold Awards, the most coveted distinction in the organization that members could earn by completing a community service project.

In addition to her role as the Chief Financial Officer of Laser Now, a cosmetic laser services company, Yesenia Vasquez volunteers for a number of philanthropic organization’s, including the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Kidney & Urology Association, the Long Island Cares Council, the Long Island Science Museum, the Diversity Awards for the Boy Scouts Association of America, and El Salvador Needs You, which was established to help flood victims in Central America.

Business leader Lyndsey Gallagher is the Chief Financial Officer for Century 21 American Homes, the largest Century 21 franchise in New York. She also sits on the Board of Directors of the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce and co-chairs its Culinary Delights fundraiser. Gallagher gives back as a member of the Advisory Board for an organization called Gavin’s Got Heart, which to date has donated over $215,000 to 43 local heart families with children affected by congenital heart defects.

Marcello Pizzo is devoted to helping at-risk adolescents through the New York State Bar Association’s mentoring program at Woodland Middle School in East Meadow. She is also a New York State licensed Mental Health Counselor in Nassau County and an active member of the East Meadow Kiwanis Club and East Meadow Chamber of Commerce.

Christine Mooney previously ran the daycare program at the East Meadow Methodist Church, which led to her now owning Tender Tales Nursery School. She is currently the vice president of the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce and is involved in a number of career-building activities for East Meadow students, including the district’s Career Night and Mock Interview program.

After moving to East Meadow to raise her children, Elizabeth Oliva-Kong became an active member of the Barnum Woods Parents Teacher’s Association, where she was its president for two years beginning in 2016.

“The women that we honor today represent some of the most accomplished and selfless individuals in our state and our nation,” Mikulin said.

The ceremony was also made possible with the support of Betty Tucker, a 2008 honoree and guest reader, the East Meadow Florist, Farmingdale Public Library, Rhonda Fischer, of the Nassau County First District Court and the Massapequa American Legion Post 1066 color guard.