SAAGNY took a page from the Food Network to host its own Chopped event at the Le Gourmet Factory Cooking School, Englewood, NJ, on Thursday, March 9.  Inner chefs were unleashed and creativity was released as knives chopped and everyone was put to work. 

More than twenty attendees were divided into groups to go head to head in appetizer and main dish competitive rounds.  For the appetizer round the “secret ingredient” was lime flavored Tortilla Chips. The first team led by Donna Lo Pinto prepared fresh salsa with shrimp with a crust of chips on a bed of lettuce. The second team led by Tom Rondi prepared sautéed onion, mushrooms and brussel sprouts with finely chopped chips as the sautee on the shrimp.  Each one was beyond delicious but the Judge declared Tom Rondi’s team the winner of the appetizer round.  All the attendees enjoyed feasting on the appetizers.

The main dish round’s mystery basket item was fig newtons.  Tina Moss’s team prepared a dish with fig newton coated chicken and zucchini chips served over a butternut squash puree.  Trish Glazer’s team prepared a chicken stuffed with cheese and fig newtons with roasted brussel sprouts over a butternut squash puree.  These restaurant quality dishes were something you would expect at a high-end restaurant.  Trish’s team pulled it out in the end and was the Main Dish winner.  Again all the attendees indulged on the main dishes prepared by both teams.

Dinner was followed by a deconstructed Tiramisu prepared by Chef Gus at Le Gourmet Factory.  A truly fun night was had by all.

SAAGNY members had a great night at the Westchester Knicks game.  The SAAGNY seats were steps from the court for this game against the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.  Besides the opportunity to spend quality time with your family, there were also opportunities to chat your fellow SAAGNY members including Past President Mike Leone as well as current President John R. B. Cudahy.  SAAGNY members and their families enjoyed Family Night at the Westchester County Center.  A great buffet dinner was included.   Attendees even were able to see Marshall Plumlee play on one of his stints back in the Development League from the New York Knicks. 

The Specialty Advertising Association of Greater New York (SAAGNY) is pleased to introduce Donna-Jean Plante who will serve as the association’s new executive director, effective February 21, 2017.  With more than 15 years in association management, including roles in operations, membership, events, educational programs and general administration, she brings a broad range of experience to her new role.

For the past five  years, Plante has served as manager of events and continuing legal education programs for the Federal Bar Council, which included budgeting, marketing, program evaluation and staff supervision. Prior to that, she was chapter director for the Masters’ Association of Metal Finishers (MAMF) with responsibilities that included legislative advocacy, public relations, member communications and financial management. She also bring to the job significant experience in membership development and planning events ranging from 50-500 people.  Plante received her Bachelor of Science in finance from Fairfield University, Fairfield, Connecticut.

SAAGNY President John R.B. Cudahy, CAS, says, “SAAGNY is so fortunate to have Donna-Jean as our new executive director. Her experience, knowledge and personality will be a tremendous asset to SAAGNY and its members as we move forward. SAAGNY always has been an innovative and relevant association to those in the promotional products industry, and we are confident that Donna-Jean will help us maintain those standards.”

“I am excited to be a part of SAAGNY and to build on its firm foundation of focusing on the stakeholders of which it serves and the desire of its members to share their knowledge and experience,” says Plante, adding  that she is looking forward to working with staff, members and the Board of Directors to make the organization even more vital to its stakeholders.

Contact Donna-Jean Plante  at 914-848-7369, ext. 304 or by email donna-jean@saagny.org.