Category: Featured

Kryptonite Can Give You Superpowers!

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If there was ever a person who possessed the qualities described above it is Lidia Szczepanowski, Esq., Model Citizen’s 2021 Woman of the Year. She inspires and brings hope to others the way a beacon of light guides ships at night. Lidia exemplifies the real-life embodiment of the words success, independence, entrepreneurship, and glamour and she does so with humility, integrity, and passion. Lidia acquired a plethora of knowledge over the years as a litigation and business development attorney, business strategist, entrepreneur, black belt in karate, and international spokesmodel. More importantly, despite her extraordinarily busy schedule, she has always been most passionate about “giving back” through proactive “hands-on” participation in philanthropy and philanthropic activities. 

Model Citizens Magazine Couple Of The Year Chris and Colleen Cassar

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Colleen Cassar: We met in the summer of 1986. At that time, Chris was in between his 1st and 2nd year of law school. After a few months of dating, we fell in love and decided to take the necessary steps and sacrifices to eventually marry after his graduation. Chris studied every night and didn’t have time for gainful employment so I started working as much as I could to save money to marry. He graduated in 1988, passed the NY Bar 1989 and then we were married the summer on 1989.

For the first 2 years of our marriage and 1 1/2 years prior, Chris worked at the Brooklyn Legal Aid Society where he obtained courtroom experience and trial advocacy in the area of criminal law.  I was working in the accounting dept of a private corporation where I was trained by the CEO of the company. By 1991 our first child Christopher was a year and a half and the need for more income was evident. So, with the help of family, we signed an office lease and took a leap of faith and opened our law practice – just a lawyer and a secretary – Chris & Colleen.

Now, 30 years later, we have a small what we like to call boutique law firm with 4 lawyers, a law school graduate (our son Christopher) and a support staff of 6 people. Many of our staff have been with us over 20 years.

Model Citizens Magazine New York City January 2021

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It is my distinct honor to once again bring to you Long Island’s Model Citizens! This is Model Citizens Magazine’s Annual FASHION Issue as well as our annual announcement of the Model Citizens Man of the Year Award Recipient. I am very pleased to share that Robert Zabbia as you may have already heard is Model Citizens Magazine man of the year. In this issue, we have an exclusive interview with Robert. We also have our annual fashion issue and models Nataliya Smolyakova and Maya Frank show lead the way in this amazing pictorial about fashion. Publisher John Dowling shares his insight into the finer points of fashion and fine art photography and provides his formula and process for consistently creating fine art every time he takes out his camera. We are entering a new year and as we do so let’s pay tribute to all of our model citizens and get ready to nominate some great model citizens for 2021. As always live in Gratitude, pay it forward, and cherish your chapters of love.

Model Citizens Magazine Long Island December 2020

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It is my distinct honor to once again bring to you Long Island’s Model Citizens! This is Model Citizens Magazine’s Annual Holiday Issue as well as our gift guide, and TOP PHOTOS of the YEAR ISSUE! With thousands of portraits of the most philanthropic and go givers on Long Island and beyond. And then of course some really pretty people and Strong Islanders for good measure. I am extremely grateful for this community of model citizens who agree that paying it forward should be a way of life for us all. Hear their survivor stories, the real people in our community, and their stories. It is again my honor to share their stories with you all. A special congratulations are in order for Model Citizens Couple of the Year Sal and Molly Ferro.

The December issue is the Holiday Issue and we have some great stories about Model Citizens and what we all hope for as we head into the holidays and the new year including my own story about Hope for 2021. We also celebrate the model citizens and our communities with over ONE THOUSAND portraits of all of us and our Model Citizen Communities in the TOP PHOTOS OF 2020 Sections of this issue.

There are a plethora of additional stories in this issue that we hope you enjoy. Note that any of these spreads and stories can be printed on fine art glossy, matt, satin, or canvas archival/museum-quality prints. Just click here to find out more. As always Live in Gratitude. Pay it Forward. Cherish your Chapters of love.

Model Citizens Magazine NYC November 2020

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Model Citizens Magazine the November issue features some incredible model citizens including Natalya Smolyakova and her daughter Alisa only the second mom and daughter to ever be nominated as model citizens together. A great interview with founders and proprietors of B2BESPOKE Men’s Clothier Mark Macaluso and Robert Bartol. Model Citizen & former Suffolk County Executive, author Steve Levy shares his thoughts on the presidential election results.

The November issue is the Gratitude issue and we have some great stories about Gratitude, Paying it Forward, and Cherishing your Chapters or love. Alure home improvements CEO and model citizen Sal Ferro shares his views on how our government is doing during this election year. Rhonda Klch shares her views on some current issues and her passion for the Equity First Foundation.

There are a plethora of additional stories in this issue that we hope you enjoy. Note that any of these spreads and stories can be printed on fine art glossy, matt, satin, or canvas archival/museum-quality prints. Just click here to find out more. As always Live in Gratitude. Pay it Forward. Cherish your Chapters of love.

Model Citizens Magazine October 2020

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Model Citizens Magazine the October issue features some incredible model citizens including local lifeguard and Model Citizen Mike Gomes. Model Citizen & former Suffolk County Executive, author Steve Levy. Mike shares his story about this his first modeling shoot ever for B2BEspoke Men’s Clothier’s “A Man’s Guide to Fashion”.

The October issue of Model Citizens Magazine is the 2020 Elections Predictions issue as well as the Man’s Guide to Fashion issue. Alure home improvements CEO and model citizen Sal Ferro shares his views on how our government is doing during this election year. Rhonda Klch shares her views on some current issues and her passion for the Equity First Foundation.

There are a plethora of additional stories in this issue that we hope you enjoy. Note that any of these spreads and stories can be printed on fine art glossy, matt, satin, or canvas archival/museum-quality prints. Just click here to find out more. As always Live in Gratitude. Pay it Forward. Cherish your Chapters of love.

Model Citizens Magazine NYC September 2020

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Model Citizens Magazine the September issue features some incredible model citizens including local attorney Chris Cassar. Model and recent Long Island Graduate Heather Felix. Model citizen and Judge Alan Shwartz shares his story about how he became passionate about giving and why. Publisher and model citizen John Joseph Dowling Jr. shares how to survive after a crisis based on his years of fighting life and death health issues.

The September issue of Model Citizens Magazine is the How to Survive after a Crisis issue and many model citizens like Kershel Anthony share his passion for helping the homeless after being homeless himself for a short time.

There are a plethora of additional stories in this issue that we hope you enjoy. Note that any of these spreads and stories can be printed on fine art glossy, matt, satin, or canvas archival/museum-quality prints. Just click here to find out more. As always Live in Gratitude. Pay it Forward. Cherish your Chapters of love.