Event preparations were set up in the white and green Generation Angel colors, from big banners to the five white tents atop the green grass. Coordinators worked hard to arrange their summer career event in Deal, featuring sessions given by community businessmen and professionals from an assortment of industries.
Allie Sutton, Jack Terzi and Ralph Terzi of Generation Angel (the Sephardic Angel Fund’s youth division) organized the program catering to the community’s young adults. Keynote speakers were Hymie Betesh, President of Dr. Jays.com, and David Tawil, Vice President at Credit Suisse. Both delivered invigorating addresses and motivated their audience of around 150 teenagers and men in their 20s.
David expressed the importance of holding more events of the same nature and noted how lucky youth are to receive such advice. “I didn’t have anything like this,” he said, referring to when he was younger. “The earlier you are aware, the earlier you can plan ahead. And that increases the likelihood for success.”
The event centered around two rotations of 45-minute sessions, during which young adults chose to sit in on industries in which they were interested. Many facilitators are community men who began their own businesses or work at American corporations. Panels were comprised of: Real Estate: Abie and Eddie Hidary, Wholesale: Nathan M. Dweck, David Franco, Jack Haddad, Bernie Hafif and Ralph Harary, Finance-Sammy Attias and Allan Mishan, Medical: Dr. Eddie Gindi (pediatrician), Dr. Stephen Haddad (gastroentologist) and Dr. Joey Shams (interventional radiologist), Law: Jeffrey Dweck, Robert Frastai and Adam Sultan, and Retail: Joe Sitt.
Attendees received business cards from speakers and benefited from the exchange. Young adults sat enthralled in the sessions and felt it helped shape their own careers. Especially nowadays, and in this community, it’s important for young adults to figure out what they love doing and map out a plan on how to get there. “Career is a marathon, not a sprint,” said David in his presentation. He said one should always have a goal as he or she will be more driven, and it’s fine if that goal changes. “Take chances when you are young; the stakes get higher when you get older,” he said.
Previously a lawyer for seven years, David was given a business opportunity and he developed it, which became his current career.
He promoted the idea of sharing information, and said that communication goes both ways. While it’s significant for young adults to seek guidance, successful community members should reach out and look to share their experience and tips. “Why should I keep what I have a secret?” commented David.
However, nothing happens overnight. Some kids today think that life for many is on cruise control and don’t see behind the scenes to how people achieve success. The most prevalent signs of success are material—homes, cars, vacations and lavish lifestyles. Most of those who have succeeded, said David, “love what they do and, at least intitially, worked until they couldn’t keep their eyes open.”
Furthermore, young adults aren’t necessarily aware of what it takes to live comfortably in the community, let alone luxuriously, and therefore should educate themselves on living costs and temper their expectations. David said the same goes for girls.
The world is ultra-competitive and it’s crucial that young adults start down a path to success early on. A college education is essential and, as David put it,
“A profession is a good insurance policy.”
While sitting in on Joe Sitt’s retail session, David observed that many boys raised hands when asked if they planned on entering family businesses. He acknowledged that it’s great if they love it and could be highly advantageous. But on the other hand, if it’s not something they desire to do, it could be counter-productive.
David recalled that when he was younger he worked in his father’s retail store and hated it. That’s when he realized one of the most crucial pieces of advice he could probably give: “As important as it is to find out what you want to do, it’s almost as important to find out what you don’t want to do.”
Young adults took what was said to heart and since many speakers were close in age with them, attendees felt they could relate to them. Every one was impressed by the event, at which dinner and dessert were served amid beautiful floral arrangements. Candy Gabbay, Gladys Haddad, Michelle Haddad and Monique Haddad volunteered their time and efforts to help set up the special night.
“If this event changed the life of one kid, then it is all worth it,” said Jack Terzi. “To learn from professionals—and in this case, young professionals—and see that anyone could make it with hard work, persistence and education is a big confidence booster for kids who need to make it on their own. This is just the beginning. We plan on having many more events and seminars throughout the year and hope to guide the future of the community with help from the leaders of today.”
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Yvonne Harari is a graduate of Brooklyn College and Allegra Franco Sephardic Women’s Teachers College.
