Andrea began her career as a speech therapist for multiply handicapped children. During that time she became the mother of two daughters and returned to school to change careers. She attended Parson’s School of Design and started her own interior design business with an adjunct business selling American crafts to other interior designers. At this time, she joined a local New Jersey cancer organization called Flo Okin Cancer Relief where she went on to become a member of their board and to chair many fundraising events such as their annual fashion show, holiday bazaar and the publishing of a cookbook. Traveling the world with her husband led her into retirement as her children married. She currently is a passionate supporter of many institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum, Central Park Conservancy, Jewish Museum and JTS. Besides her commitment to 5 Under 40, Andrea devotes time to Nephcure and has been an “angel” supporter to the Ken Hamilton Caregiver Center in Westchester County. Currently the proud grandmother of 5, she also devotes her time and energy to her family and enjoys long walks in Central Park, tennis, yoga and entertaining friends and family.
Mark Epstein is the former President and partner in Robertet Flavors Inc, a global flavor and fragrance company. In addition, he was the founder of Spray Tek Inc which has grown into an international company. He is currently the Chairman of the board . He also chairs the board of TEST Sports Clubs. He has mentored many young people who have gone on to start successful,businesses on which he advises. Along with his wife Andrea, he supports multiple charities and institutions and particularly devotes time to traveling the world, fishing, tennis and his 5 grandchildren and two daughters and sons in law.
David Evangelista is one the nation’s leading hair, makeup and fashion experts. In 1996, David was the first stylist to influence the beauty industry when it came to making women over in fun, friendly and informative way on daytime television. With five time daytime Emmy award nominations for his work on the Rosie O’Donnell Show, he served as O’Donnell’s personal hairstylist and on air sidekick, and created the very popular and imitated “Makeover Monday” segments. From 2006-2007, David was host and producer of the weekly series “The Fashion Team” on the TV Guide Network. David gave viewers an inside look at the fashion world, from interviewing stars on the red carpet, to conversing with designers backstage at fashion shows, to beauty and style how to’s. In a seemingly logical next step, David has been hard at work for the last few years researching ingredients and developing products for an eponymous hair care collection that will answer the needs of women everywhere. David has taken a skin care philosophy and adapted it to a complete hair care regime. He currently serves as CAJ Beauty’s Brand Ambassador and Consultant. He can be seen regularly on QVC showcasing his expert talent empowering women to shine. He currently resides in NYC where he travels the globe as a stylist for private clients.
Andrew Finkelstein is a motion picture talent agent at William Morris Endeavor agency. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University where he majored in psychology. Upon graduation, Andrew took film courses at NYU and then headed to Los Angeles to start his journey in the entertainment industry.
He entered the mailroom at ICM talent agency where he met his mentor, legendary talent agent, Ed Limato. Finkelstein became the late Limato’s longest running apprentice and continues his legacy at WME by representing several of his A-list clients. He’s also secured and shepherded in a new generation of talent. In 2011, Variety magazine named him one of “Hollywood’s New Leaders.”
Noah’s background is quite colorful: former DJ for Jennifer Lopez and nightclubs around the world; co-author of pop culture business book Chasing Cool; and founder and CEO of three startups…all before 35.
Just after college, Noah built the first online one-stop shop for Hip Hop. He then co-founded Noise, the leading creative agency for brands targeting Millennials. Among its many product and marketing creations, Noise built the first Facebook app and Facebook’s original open API, the first credit card to reward responsibility for Chase, the first white label Amazon store, the first major crowdsourced program for Intel, and the top branded entertainment app in the App Store called Falling Stars. Noise also built the first product management group inside of an agency. The company was featured twice on 60 Minutes as the place “to go to influence the choices of that fickle, unpredictable 20-something demographic.” Noise was acquired by the leading UK holding company Engine in 2010. Noah remained CEO until 2014 when he moved into a non-executive chairman role. Noah’s third startup Soundproof represented top music producers like Quincy Jones, Babyface, and David Foster for original commercial music production.
Combining his experiences, Noah inked a deal with Simon & Schuster to pen Chasing Cool, a witty treatise on standing out in today’s cluttered marketplace. Co-authored with creative visionary and co-CEO of Barneys, Gene Pressman, the book is furnished with insights from over 70 of today’s business visionaries ranging from Clive Davis and Ian Schrager to Richard Meier and Tom Ford. Chasing Cool has been featured in such media as NPR, CBS News, Forbes, WWD, The Financial Times, BRANDWEEK, Vanity Fair, and was highlighted as one of Advertising Age’s “Top 10 Books You Should Have Read” and a top 10 business book on Amazon.
Noah has advised and/or invested in several fast-growing startups including: WeWork, the leading co-working company just valued at $5 billion where he also played the interim role of Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer; Muzik, the soon-to-be-launched smart headphone company; Acorns, the new investment app for Millennials that has become the fastest growing brokerage house in history; and Bond, the end-to-end service for handwritten letters. He has been featured as a “Top 30 Under 30 most influential business executive” in Billboard Magazine, a Fast Company “Innovation Agent,” and one of AdWeek’s “Top 20 under 40.” Noah has keynoted conferences for Old Navy, Moet Hennessy, Major League Soccer, and eBay; has been a contributor to Forbes, AdAge, Departures, and Huffington Post; and has guest lectured on entrepreneurship and media at NYU. Noah is a graduate of Cornell University where he studied Psychology and Economics.
Stanley is a world-renowned leader in the beauty industry. He worked directly with Charles Revson to create The Ultima II and Etherea skincare brands. Years later, he was recruited by Pfizer to run Coty. A few years later, he went back to Revlon where he was appointed Executive Vice President of Revlon and created the Charles Revson Inc division. In 1976, he merged all brands Including Ultima II, Marcella Borghese, and Bill Blass into a single luxury group of $100 million in sales. When Mr. Revson died, he left to partner with Calvin Klein to form Calvin Klein Cosmetics. Together they created a venture with a complete line of color, skincare and fragrances. A few years later, Calvin sold the license to a major company.
Stanley then went onto found CFT Marketing as Principal to market Sanofi beauty products, which was distributed to both mass and luxury outlets. Stanley also owned the Marilyn Monroe name for beauty products. He then sold CFT Marketing to Sanofi, Inc with a 5- year employment contract to build the business. Brands included Stendhal Skincare, Parfum Van Cleef & Arpels, La Prairie, and Nina Ricci. Sales volume grew $90 million. He currently serves as a marketing consultant to start-up and small cosmetic companies and is an Adjunct Professor of marketing at LIM College.
Michelle Leifer is an award-winning journalist and producer who has worked in magazines, newspapers, television and online. She earned her undergraduate degree from Georgetown University and her Master’s degree from Northwestern
University’s Medill School of Journalism.
Michelle began her career in magazines, first at Marie Claire and then as one of the launching editors of Cosmogirl. Michelle then went on to work for the New York Daily News where she oversaw the paper’s lifestyle coverage as its Deputy Features Editor. After five years at the newspaper, Michelle moved out west and worked as a Special Projects Producer for the NBC News station in Las Vegas. During her two years at the station, Michelle covered health and consumer news — and won a regional Emmy for an investigative report she produced.
In late 2009, Michelle was tapped by AOL to create video programming for all of the company’s lifestyle sites. In a little over a year, Michelle produced more than 1200 videos with an emphasis on health, cooking, fashion, pets and home decor. In 2010, Michelle was invited to the White House to produce a 30-minute, live webcast featuring First Lady Michelle Obama. Following her stint at AOL, Michelle worked as a Senior Field Producer and Story Producer for the Animal Planet series “Too Cute.”
As the Creative Director for 5 Under 40, Michelle has been instrumental in creating the overall look and feel of the organization. Along with serving on 5 Under 40’s advisory committee, Michelle is a staunch animal rights advocate who volunteers at Animal Care & Control. Michelle operates her own mini rescue center at home, sharing her apartment with two cats, Justin and Peaches, and a Pit bull mix named Marley.
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