Power Women of Long Island honors 60 leaders shaping the region’s future

Business Power Women of Long Island honors 60 leaders shaping the region’s future By Long Island Press … Comments Posted on November 9, 2026 Congratulations Power Women Long Island 2026. Ramy Mahmoud Leaders in law, medicine, education, public service, finance, the arts and business gathered on Thursday, Nov. 5, as Schneps Media presented the 2026 Power Women of Long Island, recognizing 60 women for their leadership, influence and commitment to the communities they serve. Hundreds of guests filled the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury for an evening of recognition, celebration and connection. The honorees represented a diverse range of fields, including business, law, finance, education and healthcare, from hospital executives and entrepreneurs who built their own firms, to nonprofit leaders whose work supports veterans, children and families. “Looking around this room, it does my heart good to see how many powerful women have helped make Long Island a very special place,” said Natalie Weinstein, co-founder and president of Celebrate St. James – Past-Present-Future and president of Natalie Weinstein Design Associates. “I’m very proud and humbled to be one of them.” The Reading Institute with Founder Dr. Katie Pace Miles Schneps Connects https://podcasts.schnepsmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Dr.Miles_SchnepsConnects.mp3 Subscribe: RSS iTunes Spotify Stitcher Amazon Google Play ICON honoree Dr. Catherine Caronia, senior vice president for academic affairs and chief academic officer at Catholic Health, expressed her pride in representing the health system in a room of such accomplished women. Caronia helps lead the academic mission of Long Island’s only faith-based health care system, which spans six acute care hospitals and employs close to 18,000 people across Nassau and Suffolk. Founded and led by women for more than 30 years, Schneps Media honors more women across the New York market than any other organization through its Power Women series. This year’s program also introduced Latin Impact, Caribbean Impact and Gay City News Impact awards. All of the evening’s raffle proceeds benefited the Guide Dog Foundation & America’s VetDogs , where honoree Leslie H. Tayne serves on the board. Paying it forward For many honorees, the recognition was less about personal achievement than about the example it sets. Weinstein, an ASID interior designer, leads a cultural organization whose Smithtown-area home is now named the Celebrate St. James Center for the Cultural Arts. She sees the women in the room as role models for those still finding their way. “We represent young women of the future who we can engage, inspire and make passionate about giving back to our communities, no matter what profession we’re in,” Weinstein said. Dawn Addabbo, chief operating officer of Abrams Fensterman, LLP, shared that sense of purpose. “Being a Power Woman means the opportunity to give back and to be a part of an amazing community,” Addabbo said. “I’m so proud of it.” For ICON honoree Julia Krispeal, a licensed associate real estate broker with Douglas Elliman, that commitment is personal. A mother and a widow, Krispeal said she is dedicated to empowering women in every area of their lives. “A power woman is someone who embraces who they are with their own confidence,” she said. Redefining leadership Honorees described leadership in terms that went well beyond job titles. Lynne M. Fuentes, managing partner and co-founder of Fuentes & Angel CPAs, LLC, an all-woman accounting firm in Jericho, said it can take many forms. “A power woman can be almost any woman,” she said. “You can be the mother of a household; you’re a power woman. You can be the manager in a business; you’re a power woman. You’re out there every day accomplishing things and getting things done, whether it’s for a company, for your family, or both.” Her own strength, she said, is “being able to tough it out in what people think is a man’s world, but it’s really not.” Lori Hannibal, vice president of community health and wellness at SCO Family of Services, said true leadership requires a willingness to grow. A power woman, she said, is someone who can “mentor, lead, guide,” accept criticism and remain “open to change.” Her colleague Kim Thomas, SCO’s vice president of family permanency and support services, put it plainly: a power woman is “someone who knows how to get the job done and is not afraid to get the job done.” A room built for connection Just as important as the honors were the connections made over the course of the night. Jennifer Baxmeyer, executive director of the Cradle of Aviation Museum, said power women “uplift each other,” and the measure of power is what you do with it: “open doors for other women and lift them up.” She described the evening as a chance to meet leaders far outside her own field. “We love to communicate, talk to each other, and share,” Baxmeyer said. “I love learning about each other and what each one does.” Thomas, whose nonprofit serves families across Long Island and New York City, agreed. “The networking has been fabulous,” she said. “It’s been amazing to see all of the women in this room uplifting and supporting each other.” Hannibal expects the conversations to continue well past the evening. “All of the women are magnificent,” she said. “There will definitely be some card exchanges, some follow-ups.” Strength in partnership Futterman Lanza, LLP was represented by three honorees: ICON Jaclyn T. Kramer and fellow partners Jennifer S. Raguso and Christine R. Shiebler. Kramer described a power woman as “fierce, honest and independent,” and named compassion as her own greatest strength. She called working on a team of women “very empowering.” “We are a team and help each other support our clients,” Kramer said. “It’s uplifting and encouraging, and it’s fun.” Events like this one, Raguso said, recharge that spirit. “We get to see a lot of other women who use their voice for good, and with that comes a lot of powerful energy that re-inspires us to continue our days.” The connections made also have lasting value. “It also helps us build more teams,” Shiebler said. By night’s end, the mood in the room was one of celebration, with honorees describing themselves as empowered, inspired and, in Krispeal’s words, “fulfilled.” Fuentes, who celebrated alongside family, friends and colleagues, summed it up simply: “I love being here.” Schneps Media’s Power Women series continues to recognize the leaders shaping communities across the region. To nominate an inspiring woman leader for a future event, contact [email protected]. 2026 Power Women of Long Island Honorees Christina Abbinanti, Life’s WORC Dawn Addabbo, Abrams Fensterman, LLP Julie Allegretti, Social Media Association (SMA) ICON, Antigone Argyriou, MD, FAAPMR, Spine Medicine & Surgery of Long Island Natasha Bacchus, Truly Flawless Skincare / Empowering Women Inc. Sally Barrera, Culinary Clubhouse Jennifer Baxmeyer, Cradle of Aviation Museum ENRICHING LIVES AWARD/ICON, Lisa Burch, EPIC Family of Human Service Agencies ICON, Randell Bynum, Girl Scouts of Nassau County ICON, Catherine Caronia, MD, MBA, Catholic Health Meredith Chesler, Vishnick McGovern Milizio LLP Kaylynn Clague, K & D Tree Masters Inc. ICON, Dr. Kimberly R. Cline, Long Island University EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION AWARD/ICON, Maria Conzatti, Nassau Community College Karen Cummings, LiveOnNY INSPIRATION AWARD/ICON, Carol O’Neil D’Amato, ALL DAZZLE Judy DeBiase, SMM Advertising Mary Denning, LCSW-R, APHSW-C, COPE Foundation Jennifer DeVito, Evolution General Contracting Theresa Dillman, DNP, MSN, MHA, RN, NE-BC, Plainview and Syosset Hospitals, Northwell Health ICON, Anne T. Donnelly, Nassau County District Attorney ICON, Cathy-Lee Ellison, Esq., Ellison Law P.C. Janet Nina Esagoff, Esagoff Law Group P.C. Maggie Farag, RPh, Community Care Rx Pharmacy Elizabeth Forbes, Gi