By Paddy McCarthy
I was at Pier Sixty last Friday evening for the 12th Annual Change-Makers Ball in aid of Self-Help Africa that had big support with a capacity audience. It was the who’s who from the business sector that turned out to support the event and they did. I got to meet some old friends that I have not seen for a very long time, one in particular was none other than Ronan Downes and Carletta with their lovely family. Ronan is from Dublin and is the owner of one of New York’s famous restaurants, Beckett’s Bar and Grill located on Stone Street in the Financial District. I am telling you all this because Ronan and Carletta are the backbone to making this Gala a total success, Up the Dubs.
I also have to congratulate Kerry McGlade who works tirelessly behind the scenes to make it a success and I personally have to thank her for inviting me to the event. One man I missed was Pier Sixty’s General Manager Paul Gallon, who’s also from Dublin, who is the mastermind in making the venue the in-place for all events and also weddings that are first class. As I am on weddings, on Friday I of course went to the wrong room and guess what? It was a wedding. I’m there having a cocktail and I did not see anybody that I knew so I asked a gentleman was I at the right reception and he looked at me and said this is a wedding… only me! I then proceeded to get a trolly car down to the right reception!
News is just in that the Niall O’Leary School of Irish Dance are now offering Irish dance classes in Jersey City! Classes are taught by Niall who has been wowing audiences all over the USA with his choreography and his dance and musical talents since 1996. Classes will be on Mondays at the Grassroots Community Space (54 Coles Street, Jersey City, an eight minute walk from the Grove Street PATH station), a lovely venue with a wood floor. All beginners and returning former dancers are welcome. Visit www.nialloleary.com for more information. My advice is to sign up as soon as possible as they will be thought by a World Champion Niall O’Leary right in Jersey City, now where would yea get it?.
The Irish Business Organization is holding its November Evening Meeting this Wednesday, November 9, at 6pm in the Bank of Ireland NYC Hub (2 Grand Central Tower, 41st Floor, 140 East 45th Street) and virtually on their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ibonewyork. They note that, “As ever, we’ll further our mission to ‘Network, Communicate, Reciprocate!’ featuring Guest Speaker Andrea Haughian, Executive Vice President and Head of Americas at Invest NI, Northern Ireland’s Economic Development Agency in conversation with Alison Metcalfe, Executive Vice President, North America & Australia, Tourism Ireland.
A recognized expert in Foreign Direct Investment, offshore development and international business expansion, Andrea Haughian has helped C-Level executives accelerate business growth, maximize profitability and facilitate recruitment, training and R&D. Andrea’s experience spans a diverse range of sectors including creative and digital technology, financial services, legal and professional services, life and health sciences, green economy and global start-ups.
Andrea is an advocate for the advancement of women and the promotion of diversity and inclusion in the workplace and is a long-time supporter of Young Enterprise. She received the Global Recognition Award at the Digital DNA Awards 2019. The Global Recognition Award recognizes an individual who has made a significant impact on Northern Ireland’s digital and technology sector on a global scale.
In 2021 Andrea received the Tom Moran Business to Arts Leadership Award for her success in building successful partnerships between the business sector and arts communities. Based in New York, she is a graduate of Queen’s University, Belfast and has undertaken post-graduate programs in both San Francisco and Chicago and is a graduate of Cornell University’s Executive Leadership Program.
Andrea will be speaking in a fireside chat, in conversation with Alison Metcalfe. Based in New York, Alison was appointed to her current role in June 2013, where she has responsibility for leading Tourism Ireland’s Marketing Strategy and Operations in the USA and Canada. In June 2017, Alison also assumed responsibility for Tourism Ireland’s operations in Australia/New Zealand.
Alison joined Tourism Ireland in 2002 and previously held the position of Vice President Marketing, USA. Prior to moving to New York, she was responsible for Tourism Ireland’s operations in Canada based in Toronto. She has extensive international destination marketing experience and a record of achievement in building and leading high-performance teams to deliver growth. Her career has spanned strategy development, brand management, integrated consumer marketing, advertising, communications and stakeholder management. Given the importance of the US market and recent strong growth, Alison led the expansion of Tourism Ireland’s network, with the opening of a new West Coast office located in San Francisco in January 2022. Alison also serves as Chair of the European Travel Commission (ETC), USA Operations Group in New York.
Hope to see you all again next week when I am Out&About again…