Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino and members of the Town Board hosted a special ceremony to recognize exceptional women who have significantly given back to our communities. This year’s ceremony recognized 10 ‘Women of Distinction’ who live and work throughout the Town of Oyster Bay.
Supervisor Saladino stated, “These extraordinary women all have outstanding qualities and have truly made our Town a better place. Together with my colleagues on the Town Board, we salute these outstanding residents for giving back to the charities, our hometown and the neighbors they love so much.”
Councilwoman Johnson, Chairperson of the Women of Distinction Committee, added “All of our honorees went above and beyond in their communities. All of these women have an inspiring story to tell, and while their backgrounds are different they all have one thing in common – they don’t do what they do looking for accolades. All our honorees should take pride in their great achievements as they are true role models in their various fields and communities.”
2024 HONOREES
Kimberly Leary of Glen Head
Kimberly has taken Glen Dance Studio from a small space with 75 students to a
fun, educational, safe haven for 700 students. Providing more than an outlet
for their creativity, Kim’s motto of ‘Never say I can’t’ teaches students the
importance of positivity and believing in yourself. She also stresses the importance
of giving back to your community and creates a true safe environment for students to learn core values.
Catherine ‘Kitty’ Chiocchi of Massapequa
Kitty has been a crossing guard at Fairfield Elementary School for 45 years. While she
protects children and pedestrians every day, she has also become an integral part
of the community. Her warm demeanor, reliability, and genuine concern for children
have left a lasting positive impact on the entire community. She has touched thousands of lives, not only demonstrating true professionalism but special care at the start and end of every child’s day.
Dr. Monica Shekher-Kapoor of Roslyn Harbor
Dr. Shekher-Kapoor is a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Northwell Health Cohen Children’s Medical Center, where she works to help diversify the practice of pediatric and emergency care. To help patients and their families struggling with issues like addiction, she has worked to implement universal substance use screenings, as well as firearm prevention screening, within the emergency department. She often works to help families who may not know where to turn, helping them understand the intricacies of addiction and how they can turn their lives around.
Mindy Davidson of Bethpage
Mindy has been the heart and soul of the Long Island running community for over 30 years. She served as Vice President for the Greater LI Running club for 25 years and continues to serve as director of the annual ‘Marcum Workplace Challenge’ at Jones Beach each summer, Long Island’s largest running event. She also coordinates several other races on Long Island, and volunteers for many local charitable community groups. A selfless woman who loves helping others, she recently donated a kidney to a stranger.
Dr. SimranJeet Kaur of Hicksville
Dr. Kaur is a dedicated Doctor of Physical Therapy with a remarkable journey in the field
of physical therapy and healthcare. She not only wants to help others, she looks for innovative techniques and methodology, as each person’s case is unique. She opened a clinic in her community, where she offers evidence-based therapy, support groups, mindfulness workshops and tailored home exercise plans to accommodate the diverse needs of her patients. Her clinic has provided hope for those seeking recovery and renewed strength.
Erica McKeon of Syosset
One of the first sports agents to be certified by the WNBA Players’ Association, Erica has a storied career representing female athletes as one of the few female agents in the sports industry. She was instrumental in helping open opportunities for female basketball players with the launch of the ABL and WNBA leagues, and played a critical role in launching the Women’s NBA Players’ Association. While she transitioned into the world of real estate, she continues to help empower women through various support efforts.
Rabbi Deborah Bravo of Woodbury
Rabbi Bravo is the founder and spiritual leader of Makom NY, a new model for Jewish
Community on Long Island. Through her efforts, she created a place where people could connect with their Judaism in ways that work for them individually, without the barriers of cost or commitment. She has helped hundreds of local families, and uses her platform to be of service to the greater community through initiatives like food drives and fundraising programs. Rabbi Bravo is a dynamic visionary who believes in collaborative partnership between clergy and community.
Katie Stone of Massapequa
Katie is the Deputy Municipal Market Director and Assistant Studio Director at H2M architects + engineers. Since achieving her Master of Architecture, she has worked on an array of projects, and was the driving force on H2M’s Sustainability Committee to help improve corporate’s social responsibility and overall carbon footprint. Katie also acts as Lead Mentor for H2M’s ACE Mentoring Program, helping to inspire young students to follow a career path in architecture.
Valerie Monroy & Donna Galgano of Oyster Bay
Valerie and Donna run the People Loving People food pantry in their hometown, which started as a small idea to help neighbors and has grown to serving over 200 families in need. Valerie, the founder and Director of Operations, and Donna, the Board Chair and President, stand by the motto “it takes a village.” Together they spend hours networking with establishments for donations of not only food but clothing, books and medical services geared to serve the local community. Going even further to help their neighborhood, Valerie instituted an after school/homework help program for elementary-age children to receive instruction as well as peer mentoring. Children enjoy the positive, safe environment where they can engage in games, crafts and socialize. She additionally created an ESL program that runs simultaneously. She has also created sewing classes, and has set up medical services such as cancer screenings, mammography services, flu shots and back to school supply drives.