Economic Impact of Gay Marriage as photographed by New York event photographer Jeffrey Holmes.

December 9, 2011 by Jeffrey Holmes

The Economics of Gay Marriage panel discussion presented by Manhattan Chamber of Commerce held at MetLife Conference Center in New York. (Jeffrey Holmes/JeffreyHolmes.com)

Christine Quinn, NYC Council Speaker and first openly gay NYC Council member, addresses The Economics of Gay Marriage Program. A panel discussion presented by Manhattan Chamber of Commerce held at MetLife Conference Center in New York.

The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce presented a panel discussion that focused on the role of the business community in pressuring the legislature to approve same-sex marriage.The event was held at the new Met Life Conference Center at 6th Avenue and 42nd Street. The event was photographed by event photographer new york, Jeffrey Holmes Photography for the MCC. The business community has a stake in this issue because of employee benefits, payroll taxes, talent retention and money will be made when tens of thousands of couples marry here in New York City rather than traveling to other states.

“Economic Impact of Gay Marriage” took place on Monday, March 14, 2011 and was organized by the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, hosted by MetLife and sponsored by Bloomingdale’s, Gay City News, Microsoft and the Riverside Church.T

People have figured out that when permitted to marry, the gay community will be more likely to hire a realtor, purchase a home, buy insurance, travel on a honeymoon and use the services of a caterer, wedding planner, florist, and all of the other services engaged by traditional couples getting married.

MetLife Conference Center in New York where the Economic Impact of Gay Marriange Program was held and photographed by Jeffrey Holmes, new york event photographer.

Panel members included Jeremiah Frei-Pearson, Straight Allies Coordinator, Marriage Equality New York; George Carrancho, National Sales & Marketing Manager for LGBT Community, American Airlines; M. V. Lee Badgett, Research Director, Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation Law & Public Policy at UCLA School of Law; Rachel B. Tiven, Executive Director, Immigration Equality; Paul Schindler (Moderator), Editor-in-Chief, Gay City News; Tracy Teofilo, President, Prestigious & Elegant Events, Inc; and, Jeffrey Hollander, JD, Assistant Vice President Advanced Markets Group, MetLife.

: MetLife Conference Center in New York where the Economic Impact of Gay Marriange Program was held and photographed by Jeffrey Holmes, new york event photographer.

Photographer Note on the venue: MetLife Conference Center is a great venue for medium size conferences. The lighting is ideal. The room features a large projection screen. While a the screen could have been positioned lower on the back wall, it d

oes provide for great viewing. The stage is lighted with with floods high above in the ceiling (perhaps a bit too much of an angle as to provide an uncomplimentary image) fill flash is a must. The venue provides a wonderful view of Bryant Park. Catering of the events is available.

Institutional Investor 9th Annual Hedge Fund Awards by Event Photographer New York Jeffrey Holmes

September 14, 2011 by Jeffrey Holmes

Institutional Investor's 9th Annual Hedge Fund Industry Awards Dinner held at Cipriani Wall Street. (Jeffrey Holmes/JeffreyHolmes.com)

Institutional Investor magazine’s 9th Annual Hedge Fund Industry Awards, recognizes the hedge funds, funds of hedge funds and industry associated investment consultants, endowments, and foundations. They are presented these awards for their innovation, achievements and contributions to the Hedge Fund industry in the past year of 2010.

The event was photographed for Institutional Investor by Jeffrey Holmes, a premier event photographer New York. Institutional Investor has relied upon Mr. Holmes photography services for the past 6 years. “He captures the story of the event. Jeffrey always works the branding of the sponsors into images. We get the shots we need for press and PR as well as promotional materials for next years event. That is why we have use Jeffrey Holmes Photography for all of our awards dinners.”

Award nominees were honored and winners were announced and awarded at a dinner and awards ceremony at the Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. The event emcee was David Faber, CNBC

Institutional Investor's 9th Annual Hedge Fund Industry Awards Dinner held at Cipriani Wall Street. (Jeffrey Holmes/JeffreyHolmes.com)

Anchor and Reporter (and Institutional Investor alumni). An Emmy, Peabody, Dupont, Loeb award winner and New York Times bestselling author, David Faber is host of CNBC’s “The Strategy Session” (M-F, 12PM ET). Faber is also an anchor and co-producer of CNBC’s acclaimed original documentaries and long-form programming as well as a contributor to CNBC’s Squawk on the Street.

Bruce Kovner, Founder and Chairman, Caxton Associates was bestowed the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Jeffrey Scott, Chief Investment Officer, Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. was the Outstanding Contribution Award Recipient:

Here are Hedge Fund Management Award Categories & Nominees

Institutional Hedge Fund Firm of the Year
Appaloosa Management -WINNER, BlackRock, Bridgewater Associates , CQS , Paulson & Co.

Emerging Hedge Fund Firm of the Year
Hutchin Hill Capital -WINNER, Astenbeck Capital Management, Grant Capital Partners, Senrigan Capital Group, Stelliam Investment Management

Credit-Focused Hedge Fund Firm of the Year
Fortress Investment Group -WINNER, Appaloosa Management, Centerbridge Partners,
Marathon Asset Management, VR Capital Group

Equity-Focused Hedge Fund Firm of the Year
Glenview Capital Management -WINNER, NorthStar Capital Funds, Omega Advisors, SAC Capital Advisors, Visium Asset Management

Event-Driven Hedge Fund Firm of the Year
Third Point -WINNER, Paulson & Co., Perry Capital, Pershing Square Capital, Management, ValueAct Capital

Macro-Focused Hedge Fund Firm of the Year
Bridgewater Associates -WINNER, AQR Capital Management, BlueCrest Capital, Management, BlueGold Capital Management, BTG Pactual

Multistrategy Hedge Fund Firm of the Year
Millennium Management -WINNER, Carlson Capital, Hudson Bay Capital Management, Och-Ziff Capital Management Group, Whitebox Advisors

Relative Value Hedge Fund Firm of the Year
Capula Investment Management -WINNER, BlueMountain Capital Management, Lazard Asset Management, Saba Capital Management, Structured Portfolio Management

Large Fund of Hedge Funds Firm of the Year
Prisma Capital Partners -WINNER, Blackstone Group, J.P. Morgan Alternative Asset Management, Edmond de Rothschild Holding SA, SkyBridge Capital

Small Fund of Hedge Funds Firm of the Year
PineBridge Investments -WINNER, Dorchester Capital Advisors, Magnitude Capital, Signet Group, Van Biema Value Partners

Hedge Fund Seeder Firm of the Year
Blackstone Group -WINNER, FRM Capital Advisors, PioneerPath Capital, Protégé Partners, Tiger Management Corp.

Large Corporate Plan of the Year
Boeing Co. -WINNER, AT&T Investment Management Corp., General Motors Asset Management Corp., Lockheed Martin Investment Management Co.

Small Corporate Plan of the Year
International Paper Co. -WINNER, Alcoa, Cargill, Royal Bank of Canada

Large Endowment or Foundation of the Year
University of Texas Investment Management Co. -WINNER, DUMAC, KAUST Investment Management Co., Ohio State University

Small Endowment or Foundation of the Year
Cook Children’s Health Care System -WINNER, Museum of Modern Art, New York University School of Law, Vassar College

Large Public Plan of the Year
Teacher Retirement System of Texas -WINNER, California Public Employees’ Retirement System, Public School and Education Employee Retirement Systems of Missouri, Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System

Small Public Plan of the Year
San Diego County Employees Retirement Association -WINNER, Public Safety Personnel Retirement System of the State of Arizona, Missouri Department of Transportation and Highway Patrol Employees’ Retirement System, San Bernardino County Employees’ Retirement Association

Family Office of the Year
Mount Vernon Investments -WINNER, Cooper Family Office, Fuqua Capital Corp., Willett Advisors

Hedge Fund Consultant of the Year
James Mnookin, Cambridge Associates -WINNER, Stephen Nesbitt, Cliffwater, John Shearman, Albourne America, James Vos, Aksia

Steelcase 360 Discussion: Preparing tomorrow’s leaders for the fast paced interconnected business world.

July 19, 2011 by Jeffrey Holmes

How does education prepare tomorrow’s leaders for this fast paced interconnected business world?

Roger Martin, Daniel Pink and Jim Keane discussed how education prepares tomorrow’s leaders for this fast paced interconnected business world in a Live Steelcase 360 Discussion: Educating the Creative Leaders of Tomorrow. The New York location of the event was photographed by corporate photographer Jeffrey Holmes.

Coming out of the recent recession, problems are more complex, markets are more volatile and change is more rapid. Education must keep pace. So how can educators prepare students to lead in today’s interconnected world? Steelcase brought together three of the most influential thinkers on management and education to discuss this topic in its live, virtual panel discussion: Educating the Creative Leaders of Tomorrow.

Steelcase 360 Degree Discussion Educating the Creative Leaders of Tomorrow photographed by Jeffrey Holmes, New York corporate photographer.

Reena Jaana and Jim Keane during the Steelcase 360 Degree Discussion of Educating the Creative Leaders of Tomorrow.

Moderated by Reena Jana, an innovation expert and journalist, the Steelcase 360 Discussion explored how education can be redefined to better prepare tomorrow’s creative leaders. Moreover, the panel sought to identify the critical skills needed to achieve success as a business leader and how education will need to adapt. Joining the discussion were Roger Martin, Dean of the Rotman School of Management; Daniel Pink, bestselling author on the changing world of work and Jim Keane, President of Steelcase.

“Given the recent recession, the rapid pace of change, and the complexity of an interconnected world, the skills that today’s students need to lead are far different from what we are used to,” said Keane. “Educators must keep pace with these global business changes to prepare students.”

While Jana joined Keane in the Steelcase showroom in New York City to host the panel, Martin and Pink participated via high-definition videoconferencing from Toronto and Washington D.C., respectively, using Steelcase’s mediascape with HD videoconferencing technology. With mediascape with HD Videoconferencing, panelists can view each other, present and share content seamlessly during the discussion.

About the Panelists

Roger Martin is dean of University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, as well as a professor of strategic management as well as the author of The Design of Business. A Canadian from Wallenstein, Ontario, Roger was formerly a director of Monitor Company, a global strategy consulting firm based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Daniel H. Pink is the author of four provocative books about the changing world of work — including the New York Times bestsellers, A Whole New Mind and Drive. His articles on business and technology appear in many publications, including the New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Fast Company and Wired, where he is a contributing editor.

Jim Keane, Steelcase President photographed by Jeffrey Holmes, Corporate Photographer New York.

Jim Keane, President of Steelcase, during a Steelcase 360 Degree Discussion: Educating the Creative Leaders of Tomorrow.

Jim Keane is president of the Steelcase brand of Steelcase Inc. Named to this role in October 2006, Jim oversees the sales, marketing and product development activities of the Steelcase, Turnstone, PolyVision and Details brands.

Reena Jana, former Innovation Department Editor for BusinessWeek moderates Steelcase 360 Degree Discussion on Educating the Creative Leaders of Tomorrow.

Reena Jana is the former Innovation Department editor for BusinessWeek. Currently, Reena is a freelance writer for national publications (including the New York Times, Harvard Business Review and Wired) specializing in the intersection of emerging technologies and culture.

Steelcase helps create great experiences wherever work happens. Ther brands offer a comprehensive portfolio of workplace furnishings, products and services, inspired by nearly 100 years of insight gained serving the world’s leading organizations. Steelcase is globally accessible through a network of channels, including over 650 dealers. They design for social, economic, and environmental sustainability. Steelcase is a global, publicly traded company leading our industry with fiscal 2010 revenue of approximately $2.3 billion.

Small Business Summit brings technology solutions to business by event photographer New York Jeffrey Holmes Photography

May 8, 2011 by Jeffrey Holmes

Christopher McCann, President of 1-800-Flowers, explains how a single flower shop in Manhattan became the world

The Sixth Annual Small Business Summit, sponsored by Dell Computers, was a special environment where small business owners meet their peers and learn from vendors offering cutting edge technology for small business. Attendees learned, shared and connected with both old and new relationships. This year featured Chris McCann, President of 1-800-Flowers and Jim Fowler, CEO/CoFounder of Jigsaw, plus panels of experts, interactive sessions and networking with exhibitors. Sponsors gave away some fabulous prizes. The event was was organized by Smallbiztechnology.com and Prime Strategies and held at Digital Sandbox in New York. The event photographer for the 5th year was Jeffrey Holmes Photography, a respected business event photographer New York producing great event photography.

The Small Business Summit also presented the 2011 Small Business Strategy Award and Hot Tech Demo winners on at Digital Sandbox in New York City. Winner the 2011 Small Business Strategy Award, ath Power Consulting, a leading financial services market research and strategy firm. Shady Grove Eye and Vision Care and Great Bear Auto and Body Shop were named as runner up winners for this award. Twisplays, a technology firm that allows you to conveniently display whatever Twitter streams you desire from a larger LED screen, has been named the winner of the 2011 Hot Tech Demo. “This award recognizes and honors businesses that have developed and executed a strategy producing significant growth in profits or market share over the past few years,” says Marian Banker, MBA, Co‐Producer of the Small Business Summit and President of Prime Strategies. “ath Power Consulting is an excellent example of success using the strategy of finding and leveraging their opportunity in a market downturn” adds Marian Banker. “We feel honored to be presented with the 2011 Small Business Strategy Award,” said Frank Aloi, President and CEO of ath Power Consulting. “As the downturn in consumer sentiment continued in financial services, we knew that analyzing and improving the customer experience would ‐ or certainly should ‐ be a top strategic priority in the U.S. banking industry. Our goal was to prove how ath Power could help financial institutions rebuild sustainable profitability, trust in the market and return to high performance by using our solutions. We achieved that goal by implementing a solid business strategy, ultimately leading us to increased customer retention and profits. ath Power is proud to be recognized for our achievement.”

Ken Weyel of Microsoft Advertising presents his insight into web marketing at the Small Business Summit 2011 at Digital Sandbox in New York.

“I am so pleased again this year that the ‘Hot Tech’ demo segment has received such a great response,” says Ramon Ray, Co‐Producer of the Summit, Editor & Technology Evangelist of Smallbiztechnology.com. “Small businesses want to see how technology can transform within their business and budget and Twisplays is a perfect example of this. Providing any business the ability to extend their brand and messaging by leveraging their existing Twitter stream is a perfect example of how to expand to a larger audience without breaking the bank”, adds Ray. “We are excited to be named the 2011 Hot Tec Demo Winner, says Joshua Persky, CEO of Twisplays. Our goal is to help businesses promote their brand and increase sales by leveraging existing social media marketing programs, in this case with Twitter.” During the Summit, each of the winners will showcase and tell how their products help a growing business and why it’s important. To learn more about the Summit or these business owners, visit smallbiztechsummit.com

Ramon Ray moderates a panel including Matthew Weiss, Traffic Ticket Lawyer, Andy Steuer of Deluxe and Ken Weyel, Microsoft Advertising. They shared their views on how to achieve outstanding.growth using online marketing techniques.Small Business Summit 2011 at Digital Sandbox in New York. (Jeffrey Holmes/JeffreyHolmes.com)

Ramon Ray moderate a panel including Matthew Weiss, Traffic Ticket Lawyer, Andy Steuer of Deluxe and Ken Weyel, Microsoft Advertising. They shared their views on how to achieve outstanding.growth using online marketing techniques.Small Business Summit 2011 at Digital Sandbox in New York.

Event Photographer Comment: Digital Sandbox is a great venue for technology events. WiFi is available for attendees. From a photographer’s perspective, the lighting is substandard. The room used for the exhibition hall is dark with the spot lighting, exposed ceiling with vents and conduit painted black. This is not a great environment for bounce flash lighting. I make it work by shooting manual strobe and over powering the ambient light. Exposure and color correction is adjusted in post production of RAW files. The rooms where presentations and programs are generally held have white ceilings with fluorescent lighting and make photographing the speakers easier. However in the end, program producers should consider adding supplemental lighting to the stage area.

“America’s Got Talent” Top Ten finalists receive Courage award from Boomer Esiason Foundation

March 11, 2011 by Jeffrey Holmes

Jeffrey Holmes, Event photographer New York. (Jeffrey Holmes)

Ali and Christina Christensen, Top Ten Finalists on “America’s Got Talent” perform at BEF’s Booming Celebration. Photo by event photographer New York Jeffrey Holmes

Michael Brennan Courage Award
Ali and Christina Christensen, Top Ten Finalists on “America’s Got Talent.

This award was established in 2000 to hour the memory of BEF’s friend and colleague Michael Brennan. It is awarded to outstanding individuals living with cystic fibrosis.

Singing Sisters put Cystic Fibrosis in the National Spotlight. Ali and Christina Christensen thrilled the cystic fibrosis community in 2010 when they made it into the Top 10 on the popular “America’s Got Talent” television show. The singing sisters, who both have cystic fibrosis, charmed the show’s celebrity judge panel and won over a national audience. Alexa (“Ali”), 21, and Christina, 14, were presented with the 2011 Michael Brennan Courage Award during the Boomer Esiason Foundation’s Annual Awards Gala 2011. This award is given annually to outstanding individuals living with CF.

Jeffrey Holmes Photography, New York event photographer, covered the event for the Boomer Esiason Foundation this year as well as the past years. His event photography is published in the Boomer Esiason Foundation’s printed and web marketing and public relations program throughout the year.

Alexa and Christina Christensen are sisters from Idaho Fall, who since childhood have astonished audiences with their singing and songwriting talents. Even bigger that their voices are their spirit. The two siblings were diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when they were very young. Initially performing as soloists. The girls joined together in 2011 to sing Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb” as a special tribute at their older sister’s funeral. Each have their unique strengths. Ali is a vocalist of many talents including yodeling. Tiny Christina’s giant voice left the crowd amazed.

Ali Christensen, Top Ten Finalists on “America's Got Talent" performs with sister at benefit for the fight against cystic fibrosis. Photos by event photographer New York Jeffrey Holmes

Christina and Ali’s dream is inspiring people who face challenges or have lost hope. Their message is that while everyone has to navigate personal trials, each is a gift where there is joy to be experienced and dreams to be realized.

The photography portfolio of Jeffrey Holmes, a corporate portrait and event photographer is experienced in corporate portrait photography and portrait corporate head shots. Jeffrey Holmes is an accomplished artist among corporate portrait photographers and is a noted photographer in New York. He has been the official photographer for the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce since 2002. Jeffrey Holmes Photography is known to his clients as their New York event photographer, the choice for photographer for events, always a professional photographer, and event photography New York. Professional photographer for creative corporate portrait photography and respected among portrait photographers. New York event photographer is the photographer for events and event photography New York. Great images and superb customer service.

“Booming Celebration” fights Cystic Fibrosis as photographed by New York event photograher Jeffrey Holmes

March 11, 2011 by Jeffrey Holmes

Boomer Esiason Foundation's Booming Celebration, "Celebrationville" photographed by Boomer Esiason Foundation by Event Photographer New York Jeffrey Holmes

Boomer Esiason (r) with son, Gunnar at the BEF Booming Celebration by Boomer Esiason Foundation by Event Photographer New York Jeffrey Holmes

The Boomer Esiason Foundation held its 18th Annual Booming Celebration. The annual event recognizes the contributions of people who have had an meaningful impact in the fight against cystic fibrosis. This year’s theme was “Celebrationville, The Flavor of Life.”

The evening honored Ralph Stayer, Chairman and CEO of Johnsonville Sausage; Ali and Christina Christensen from “America’s Got Talent” television talent search program, Jim Hynd,VP of Pharmaceutical Products at Abbott; Dan Buttling, SVP of Premium Brands at Diageo;and Jack Cassidy, President of CEO of Cincinnati Bell.

The event was held the evening of February 26, 2011 at the Waldorf=Astoria Hotel. An extensive live and silent auction included travel packages, autographed sports memorabilia and unique jewelry. After the dinner and award presentations, guests were entertained by a top-shelf musical act, Rubix Kube.

Photographed by New York event photographer, Jeffrey Holmes Photography. Jeffrey has photographed this premier New York event for the past five years. Jeffrey commented, “It is one of my favorite events to cover. It is a great cause, a wonderful group of organizers and VIP guests plus a terrific venue that makes creating great event photography New York style!” His event photography is published in the Boomer Esiason Foundation’s printed and web marketing and public relations program throughout the year.

Boomer Esiason said this about this year’s Booming Celebration:

“Given the theme…The Flavor of Life, it would be easy to assume the focus of the event is good food and eating well. To me, the theme calls to mind two ideals, Living life to the fullest extent possible and Coming together from all walks of life to achieve our mission. It is up to each of us to determine how to make the most out of the life we’ve been given. I always am humbled to meet people from the cystic fibrosis community who not only have accepted the hand life dealt them but also have embraced the fact that despite CF, their lives are rich with possibility and opportunity. We will meet some of these courageous people tonight, and I know you will be touched by their strength and their optimism.

On my second point, I learned a long time ago that people can accomplish very little on their own. But no matter who we are and where we come from, when we join together, we can make a difference. I take heart when I meet new supporters of our Foundation and realize that as our circle continues to widen, it grows stronger and formidable. Cystic fibrosis is not a disease that surrenders easily. We have been at this for a while now and the reason we have made progress in disarming this disease is simple: we’ve done it together.”

Boomer Esiason Foundation's Booming Celebration by by event photographer New York Jeffrey Holmes

An enjoyable evening at BEF's Booming Celebration, photo by event photographer New York Jeffrey Holmes

The Boomer Esiason Foundation’s “Booming Celebration” tradition began in 1993 when a close group of friends gathered at a small Long Island pub to help the Esiason family in fighting a cause close to their hearts. That year, 175 people joined together to raise $60,000. Enthusiasm and support has grown exponentially over the years. Today, the 800 people who attend the annual flagship fundraising event help to raise valuable contributions. Over the years, the Booming Celebration has raised millions in support of the cystic fibrosis community and the fight against CF.

But the real stars of Booming Celebration are the children and young adults who are living with cystic fibrosis. In 2003, the guests who gathered to mark the event’s 10th anniversary were captivated as 11-year-old Gunnar Esiason made his first public speaking appearance. Just three years later, Gunnar and his sister, Sydney, were the hosts of Booming Celebration. Now, Gunnar is 19 and living, breathing proof that people with cystic fibrosis can live full, happy lives. The opportunity has never been greater to develop new drug treatments for Gunnar and the 30,000 other Americans living with cystic fibrosis. About 91 percent of every dollar raised at Booming Celebration and other Foundation events enhances their lives and gives them more tomorrows.

BEF’s Booming Celebration honors the Boomer Esiason Foundation’s Most Valuable Player each year. It is also an opportunity to congratulate others who have played a significant role in the Foundation’s success over the past year. Our annual awards recognize those extraordinary people living with CF, a special board member and other friends of the Foundation whose efforts often take place behind the scenes.

Boomer Esiason Foundations' Booming Celebration photography by event photographer New York Jeffrey Holmes

Ralph Stayer (c)of Johnsonville Sausage receives MVP award from Gunnar Esiason (l) and Boomer Esiason (r). Photo by Jeffrey Holmes, Event photographer New York.

Most Valuable Player
Ralph Stayer, Chairman and CEO, Johnsonville Sausage

The MVP Award was established in 1994 to recognize outstanding individual contributions to the Boomer Esiason Foundation fight against Cystic Fibrosis. The award is a bronze statue of Boomer and Gunnar created by well know sports sculptor, Marc Mellon.

Ali and Christina Christensen awarded Michael Brennen Courage Award at BEF Booming Celebration for cystic fibrosis. Photo by Jeffrey Holmes, event photographer New York.

Michael Brennan Courage Award
Ali and Christina Christensen, Top Ten Finalists on “America’s Got Talent

This award was established in 2000 to hour the memory of BEF’s friend and colleague Michael Brennan. It is awarded to outstanding individuals living with cystic fibrosis.

Quiet Giant Award
Jim Hynd,VP, Pharmaceutical Products. Abbott
Dan Buttling, SVP of Premium Brands at Diageo

Behind every great success, there are great people. The Quiet Giant Award was established in 1999 to recognize people who diligently and quietly aid in the fight against cystic fibrosis.

Throughout his career, Mr. Hynd has maintained a unique focus on putting patient needs first and he has tirelessly championed those living with cystic fibrosis in particular. Over the past 15 years, Jim has led his colleagues in fundraising and volunteer efforts that benefit the CF community.

Boomer Esiason met Mr. Buttling several years ago and has built a relationship between Diageo and BEF. Thanks to Dan and his team, Diageo is a proud supporter of BEF and a partner in the fight against cystic fibrosis to find a cure.

Timothy O’Brien Award
Jack Cassidy, President, CEO of Cincinnati Bell

The Timothy M. O’Brien Award was established in 2003 to honor a Boomer Esiason Foundation Board Member who exemplifies the success and drive Tim showed. As one of the Foundation’s original Board Members, he was the first to introduce a major corporate relationship to the organization. While Mr. O’Brien’s death in the September 11 terrorist attacks devastated the Foundation, the Timothy M. O’Brien Award ensures his memory lives on the hearts and minds of his many friends.

As a BEF Board member, Jack Cassidy has helped launch cause marketing programs that have raised millions of dollars in support of the fight against cystic fibrosis. For example, one corporate program has generated significant contributions to the cystic fibrosis fight since its inception in 1999. Jack also organizes an annual sporting clays shooting event near Cincinnati, which as raised significant funding for the Boomer Esiason Foundation. To date, these programs have generated valuable dollars in the fight against cystic fibrosis.

Entertainment
RUBIX KUBE

Event photographer, corporate photographer Jeffrey Holmes Photographer

Rubix Kube performs at BEF Cystic Fibrosis benefit. Photographed by Jeffrey Holmes event photographer New York.

Booming Celebration features live entertainment every year. This year guests were treated to an 80′s Experience by RUBIX KUBE. This group has taken New York City and surrounding boroughs by storm, headlining regularly at NYC’s best and most legendary venues. RUBIX KUBE is the premiere ’80s tribute band of NYC and beyond.

Past year’s have featured top-shelf musical acts including O.A.R, Credence Clearwater Revisited, KC and the Sunshine Band, Kool and the Gang, Hootie and the Blowfish, Richard Marx and Don Felder, formerly of The Eagles as well as Joe Piscopo.

Academy Award Nominated Ana Joanes, Producer-Director of FRESH, at Green Film Festival in New York.

March 3, 2011 by Jeffrey Holmes

Green Film Festival Ana Joanes, Producer/Director of FRESH photographed by Jeffrey Holmes, Event photographer New York

The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce Green Business Committee Retail and Hospitality sub-committee is presented the first ever MCC Green Film Festival. Segments of four films were shown. The films focused on green and sustainability issues in the food and restaurant industry, organic farming, urban farming, composting, and water and energy issues relating to agriculture. The films were Fresh, Food Inc, Flow and Gasland. Gasland was nominated for an 2011 Academy Award for Best Documentary. A panel discussion and then a networking cocktail party catered by GustOrganics.The event was photographed by Jeffrey Holmes Photography, event photographer New York.

Program speakers included Nancy Ploeger, President, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce; Dr. Robert J. Koenig, Associate Dean: School of Managements Student Advancement Programs, NYIT; David R. Pospisil, CEM, Manager, Commercial & Industrial Energy Efficiency Programs, Con Edison Company of New York; Keynote by David Bragdon, Director of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability, NYC.

The panel discussion was moderated by Marcel Van Ooyen, Executive Director of GrowNYC. Panel members included Ron Bergamini, CEO, The Action Environmental Group; Alberto Gonzalez, Founder and CEO, GustOrganics, Ana Joanes, Producer/Director of FRESH; Alan Someck, Project Director – Green Hospitality Initiative of New York State Restaurant Association Education Foundation.The event was sponsored by Green Hospitality Initiative (Sponsored by the New York State Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.)

SEO Scholars Program welcomes Class of 2014

February 2, 2011 by Jeffrey Holmes

Sponsors for Educational Opportunity held its orientation for its Class of 2014 Scholars Program. Group of 200 9th and 10th grade students and their parents were given an overview of what will be expected of SEO, parents and students over the next years of high school. The event was photographed for SEO by

SEO Scholars Program Orientation for the Class of 2014 at Credit Suisse on January 29, 2011. Students and their parents receive an overview of the program expectations from the students, parents and SEO.

Jeffrey Holmes Photography, a professional New York photographer is a creative corporate event photographer. SEO engages him as their photographer for events and event photography New York.

The Scholars Program, an out-of-school academic enrichment program, and the founding program of SEO, helps motivated students of color from New York City public high schools matriculate and succeed at the most competitive colleges in the country.

Sponsors for Educational Opportunity photographed by Jeffrey Holmes, event photographer

Admissions: Students applying to the Scholars Program must submit an application form, essays, the most recent high school report card or transcript and a teacher recommendation. A personal interview is also required.

Who SEO Serves
The SEO Scholars Program works with students who have the capacity for high achievement, yet have not had the opportunity to attend a school where they receive the academic preparation needed for competitive college admissions and success. Our analysis of students entering New York City high schools indicates that approximately 25,000 – 28,000 ninth grade students meet our admissions criteria and could benefit from the curriculum each year.

SEO recruits students from our affiliate schools and through a city-wide outreach effort. In the 2010-11 program year, the Scholars Program will serve 340 high school students and 206 college students. Nearly 60% of our high school students are from households where the annual family income is less than $33,000.

Program Impact: The SEO Scholars Program is pursuing a new paradigm in Out-of-School Time (OST) education – a paradigm that centers on intensive year-round academic preparation in order to ensure that underserved New York City public high school students are truly college-ready.

The program is having a significant impact on the high school grades, SAT scores and college-readiness of our students. We believe the success of our high school graduating Class of 2010 demonstrates the effectiveness of the program:

Ninety-three percent of the Class of 2010 (61 students) are attending a college ranked Most, Highly or Very Competitive by Barron’s Profiles of American Colleges.
These colleges include Babson College, Cornell University, Mount Holyok College, University of Notre Dame, Wesleyan University and Williams College.
Scholars earned more than $1.5 million in scholarships and awards for their first year of college.
Two SEO Scholars were winners of the Gates Millennium Scholarship.
Five Scholars were awarded full, four-year tuition scholarships through the Posse Foundation.
Two Scholars were Horatio Alger Scholarship winners and will receive a $20,000 scholarship annually.
A Scholar was one of five students nationally to be awarded the Leonore Annenberg College Scholarship, covering tuition and fees, room and board, books, a laptop and a modest stipend.

Scholars Program students have also closed the academic achievement gap with their peers nationally. These results are based on comparing the SAT scores of Class of 2009 students in the U.S. that have similar high school GPAs. In addition, the Scholars Program has eliminated the gap between Black SEO high school seniors and their White counterparts at every GPA level. Nationwide, Black students typically score 180-300 points less on the SAT than White students at all GPA levels. This difference is an example of an achievement gap that is regularly cited in the media.

>>View charts showing SEO Scholars’ achievement on the SATs.

After high school, the ongoing personal guidance that Scholars receive through the College Scholars Program is helping students make a sucessful transition to life on campus. Throughout their college years, SEO services help students sustain their academic performance, explore career fields with experienced professionals and participate in enriching internships.

The average cumulative GPA of SEO College Scholars participating in the program is 3.12 as of the fall 2010 semester.
For the high school Class of 2007, 89% of students report that they are graduating from college on time in 2011.
In 2010, SEO assisted college students in securing 87 summer internships with a variety of organizations, including AXA Advisors, Brown University, Discovery Communications, General Electric, HBO, Ketchum PR, the Lymphoma Research Foundation, Montefiore Medical Center, the NYC Department of Transportation, the New York Women’s Foundation, Sirius XM Radio, and the U.S. Department of State.

>> Listen to SEO Scholars share their program experiences and aspirations.

Stephen Goldsmith, Deputy Mayor featured at Manhattan Chamber of Commerce

January 29, 2011 by Jeffrey Holmes

Stephen Goldsmith, Deputy Mayor of Operations was the featured speaker at Manhattan Chamber of Commerce’s Chairman’s Breakfast hosted by MetLife in their Sky Garden Auditorium in New York on January 28, 2011.

Manhattan Chamber of Commerce Chairman

The quarterly breakfast event is photographed by MCC Photographer, Jeffrey Holmes Photography. Jeffrey is a creative New York event photographer, he is the photographer for events and event photography New York. Great images and superb customer service.

Goldsmith spoke to the city’s goal of streamlining city operations, making the processes more expedited and customer friendly. Questions from the guests called to attention traffic/parking issues and coordination of non-profit efforts.

Here is more about Stephan Goldsmith from the New York City web site:

Stephen Goldsmith is the Deputy Mayor for Operations. Deputy Mayor Goldsmith is focused on creating a City government for the 21st Century that is smaller, more efficient, and more cost effective; uses fewer vehicles; consolidates back office functions and reduces redundancies across agencies; shares data, and uses technology to better serve the public.

From 1992-1999, Goldsmith served as Mayor of Indianapolis, where he earned a reputation as one of the country’s most innovative public officials. His transformative efforts to revitalize urban neighborhoods and to transfer real authority to community groups received national acclaim. Deputy Mayor Goldsmith served as a special advisor to President Bush on faith-based and nonprofit initiatives and served as the Chair of the Corporation for National and Community Service for eight years under President Bush and President Obama, where he helped lead efforts to expand and strengthen the government’s service agenda. Deputy Mayor Goldsmith was District Attorney for Marion County, Indiana from 1979 to 1990.

Manhattan Chamber of Commerce Chairman

Prior to his appointment as Deputy Mayor, Goldsmith was the Daniel Paul Professor of Government and the Director of the Innovations in American Government Program at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. He has authored a number of books, including The Power of Social Innovation: How Civic Entrepreneurs Ignite Community Networks for Good, Governing by Network: the New Shape of the Public Sector, Putting Faith in Neighborhoods: Making Cities Work through Grassroots Citizenship and The Twenty-First Century City: Resurrecting Urban America.

Inspiring images of Sponsors for Educational Opportunity

January 26, 2011 by Jeffrey Holmes

Sponsors for Educational Opportunity photographed by Jeffrey Holmes, event photographer (Click on photo to view gallery)

Sponsors for Educational Opportunity

I have had the privilege of documenting the great work of SEO since 2007. Here is a collection of those moments. View Photo Gallery

From SEO’s website: What began in 1963 as one of New York City’s first mentoring and college preparatory programs for underserved high school students of color has matured into a dynamic national organization. Each year we provide a broad range of educational and career development opportunities to hundreds of high school students, college students and young professionals.

With more than 6,000 program graduates, SEO alumni are well-represented as leaders in virtually every imaginable profession. Our alumni are committed to using their success to create opportunities for the next generation.

Jeffrey Holmes Photography has been capturing impactful images of these inspired associates since 2007. A number of favorite photos have originated with this organization. As a corporate portrait and event photographer who is experienced in corporate portrait photography and portrait corporate. Jeffrey Holmes is an accomplished artist among corporate portrait photographers and is a noted photographer in New York. Jeffrey Holmes Photography is known to his clients as a New York event photographer, photographer for events, professional photographer, event photography New York. These students in these programs are the subjects of the Sponsors for Educational Opportunity Gallery.

Sponsors for Educational Opportunity photographed by Jeffrey Holmes, event photographer

The SEO Career Program recruits and trains outstanding underrepresented college students of color for summer internships that lead to full-time jobs with investment banks, corporate law firms and other leading global companies. Over the past two years, SEO has provided more than 700 internships with more than 50 corporate and philanthropic partners. What begins as a 10-week summer internship turns into a lifelong professional network and a resource base for SEO alumni through every step of their development.

The SEO Scholars Program prepares motivated New York City public high school students to gain admission and succeed at competitive colleges and universities throughout the country. The program assists more than 400 high school and college students of color each year, offering a comprehensive roadmap to competitive college admissions and career success. We provide academic preparation, guidance, mentoring, and enriching life experiences that prepare students to take leadership roles in all areas of their lives.

The Alumni and Philanthropy Program drives SEO as an organization. Once a student is accepted into SEO, s/he becomes a member of a global network of more than 6,000 alumni representing 47 U.S. states and 43 countries, supporting each other professionally. SEO Alumni are at the core of a new generation of highly successful people of color. Programming for this unique group focuses on bringing professional development events to our alumni and other young professionals who are in various stages of their careers, while helping them build capacity for, and commitment to, strategic philanthropy.

The Alternative Investment Fellowship Program is an educational program for recent graduates from groups underrepresented in financial services. The program is open to SEO alumni and non-alumni. The aim of the fellowship is to educate these young professionals on various aspects of the alternative investment industry and to strengthen fellows as candidates for positions in the alternative investment sector at the conclusion of their two-year investment banking analyst programs.