Page 20 - Rising Stars 40 Under 40

40UNDER40 | RISING STARS OF WESTCHESTER
CHRISTINA RILEY, 39
Executive Director
Ronald McDonald House
of the Greater Hudson Valley
Name one habit of a highly successful
person.
I would say one habit of a highly successful person is to start with the end. But, I think a habit that is underrated is making your bed.
What is your definition of success?
My definition of success is happiness. If you’re happy and content where you are, to me, that is success.
What do you enjoy most about your
chosen profession/industry?
I enjoy that in my current industry, I am a part of something that is helping people. When someone you know isn’t well, you ask ‘how can I help?’ I get to help.
DAVID ROTH, 39
Principal
Palladium Management
What was the best business or personal
advice ever offered to you?
My first boss in the industry used to say, ‘Good things happen when you buy good real estate.’ Although it sounds obvious, it has actually helped me a great deal with the patience that’s necessary in our business to be successful.
What is your favorite inspirational
quote?
‘Buy land, they’re not making it anymore.’ – Mark Twain
Name an unusual talent.
I can play guitar behind my head. While this might look impressive, it is important to realize that once you learn to play the guitar without looking at it, playing behind the head is less difficult than it seems.
STEVEN SERRANO, 36
Director of Value Added Services
Anatomy_IT
If you won $20 million in the lottery,
what would you do with the money?
Every morning I ask myself this question when
I drive past a big Mega Millions billboard. I
always think about my friends and family before me, personally. Then I ask myself ‘How can I intelligently buy all of the people I care about the most a new home, as a surprise?’ I’ve settled on: I would probably build a community, filled with the people I most admire and love to be around.
Provide one example from your
education experience that has led to
your business success.
Not going to college is not a prerequisite for success. Working hard, working really hard, gets noticed when you put yourself in the right places. I have been very fortunate to have had a lot of great bosses and peers over the years who have acknowledged my efforts.
What was the best business or personal
advice ever offered to you?
The power and value of getting culture and
core values right. You can influence so much
if decisions are filtered through a great set of values. This goes for both personal and business. Values do not have to be written on a wall for you to have them. You raise your family with a set of values just like you run a business with them.
MAX SILVERMAN, 26
Director of College Readiness
Yonkers Partners in Education (YPIE)
How would you describe yourself in
three words?
The traits I most value in myself are the ones
I aim to foster in the world: Compassion, thoughtfulness and presence. Naturally, I often fall short, but I believe in high expectations.
What do you enjoy most about your
chosen profession/industry?
As an educator, I am grateful for the inspiration I find in my students on a daily basis. As a leader aiming for impact, I appreciate the intricate necessity of translating long-term strategic goals to the minutiae of day-to-day work.
What is your definition of success?
Success is fulfilment – doing meaningful work that leaves the world, in some way or another, better than we found it.
S20 | WESTCHESTER COUNTY 40UNDER40 | 2021