OUR ASSOCIATES
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Ayhan, PrincipalAyhan has devoted his career developing restaurants, food products and marketplaces (both online as well as a gourmet shop in Long Island) to make the wonderful offerings of the Mediterranean available to all. Born on the island of Cyprus which lies in the eastern Mediterranean, Ayhan came to the United States as a young man and soon became a successful restaurateur.
In 2005 Ayhan launched www.AyhansMenuPlans.com, a weight loss program based on the healthy Mediterranean Diet. The plan features Ayhan’s restaurant recipes that have been portion controlled by nutritionists and endorsed by doctors. The recipes are delicious, easy, nutritionally balanced and satisfying. A sampling of the weight loss recipes are available in Ayhan’s Shish Kebab restaurants where over 2,400 people have already enjoyed them. Ayhan speaks several languages and every year travels extensively throughout the Mediterranean looking for new products and services to offer to his customers. He resides in Port Washington where he is an active member of the community and where three of his stores are located. In fact, because of his many contributions to his town the mayor dedicated an intersection in his name (“Ayhan’s Corner”). Ayhan’s Shish Kebab was awarded AOL City’s Best 2005 for Healthy Dining. You can read AOL’s feature on Ayhan’s Shish Kebab here. Accomplishments
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Bill Menzel, PrincipalBill Menzel is a co-founder of Ayhan’s Mediterranean Brands, LLC. Bill added his marketing expertise to Ayhan’s recipe genius to develop and distribute Ayhan’s Mediterranean Salad Dressings and Marinades.
Bill is a consultant and executive with a successful track record in the chain restaurant, consumer services and packaged goods industries. From 1991 to 2003 Bill was a senior executive with Restaurant Associates Corp and related companies. Bill’s responsibilities included being the President of the Krispy Kreme, NY subsidiary and Senior Vice President for California Pizza Kitchen during its acquisition transition. For Restaurant Associates Bill was Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning and Marketing and a member of the Executive Committee. From 1978 through 1988 Bill was an executive and franchisee with Ponderosa, Inc. Bill started as Director of Marketing and became Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and later Executive Vice President for Administration. Bill then bought a 5 steakhouse franchise which he sold after achieving record sales. Bill started his career at Procter & Gamble in 1972, and was a Brand Manager in the Food Division. Bill has an MBA from the Columbia University Graduate School of Business and a BBA from Pace University. He is a principal in several start-up businesses and lives with his family in Randolph, NJ. |
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Debra Grossano, NutritionistDebra Grossano, MS, RD, CDN, CDE, has been a practicing registered dietitian for 5 years. She has an undergraduate degree in Exercise Science and Sports Studies from Rutgers University, New Brunswick and a master’s degree in Clinical Nutrition from New York University. Debra formed Riverfront Nutrition Associates in 2007 after working in private practice in NYC.
She also has 4 years of experience in corporate fitness involving personal training and health promotion. Debra has her own private practices in Paramus, NJ and Edgewater, NJ. She accepts all major insurances. Debra is also a Certified Diabetes Educator but sees all medical conditions. To contact Debra or to make an appointment with her, please go to her website: www.riverfrontnutrition.com. |
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Vijay B. Vad, M.D., Sports DoctorOn September 1, 1997, Vijay B. Vad, MD joined the staff of Cornell University Medical Center’s Hospital for Special Surgery. Dr Vad is the physician for the Association for Tennis Professionals and Professional Golfers Association Tours and Chief Medical Consultant for the Senior Tennis Circuit. He specializes in state of the art non-operative treatments for sports and spine injuries, including low back pain in athletes, hip and knee arthritis, and rotater cuff tendinitis and frozen shoulder.
You can visit Dr. Vad’s Web site at SportDoctor.com. |
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Nicole Sommers, President, Gents, LLCNicole Sommers is founder and president of Gents, LLC., a personal, luxurious on-site spa providing customized face treatments and grooming services exclusively for men. Ms. Sommers believes that men prefer the relaxing atmosphere of their own domain and so services are provided in the comfort of a client’s home or office.
A licensed esthetician, trained in traditional esthetics, Ms. Sommers balances classic European and holistic disciplines with innovative technology that is safe and effective. Her unique treatments incorporate active organic products which are hand-made to ensure premium quality and allow for maximum results. Her proficiency in skin care has garnered a dedicated clientele of professional athletes as well as captains of industry. Dedicated to bringing skin care treatments into traditionally male-dominated arenas, Gents recently joined other wellness professionals at the “Welcome to Our World” event on Capitol Hill where nearly one thousand Congressmen and their staff took advantage of grooming services in one of their own ornate hearing rooms. Ms. Sommers has also directed men’s skin care programs at assisted living facilities and educated businesses in skin health management. Nicole Sommers actively donates her time and services to various health charities. She has received tremendous praise for her work with the Libby Ross Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting programs aimed at eradicating breast cancer. Ms. Sommers has also offered her services to be included in an auction for an upcoming event benefiting the National Women’s Division of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. In addition, she works closely with the Day Spa Association (DSA), of which she is a member, to raise funds for the Melanoma Research and Weekends of Hope Foundations. Nicole Sommers is a member and participant in several professional associations, among them: the Aesthetics International Association (AIA), the American Aestheticians Education Association (AAEA), the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) and The National Coalition of Esthetic and Related Associations (NCEA.) She continues to avail herself of ongoing educational opportunities at The International Dermal Institute (IDI) in New York City . Ms. Sommers also works on an independent basis with M.D. Skincare, a comprehensive product line developed by renowned cosmetic dermatologist, Dr. Dennis Gross. Prior to her career as an esthetician, she spent eight years working as a C.P.A. honing her business skills at several of New York’s top firms. For additional information on Gents, LLC. or to schedule an interview with Nicole Sommers, please contact her office at 212-734-8348 or nicole@gentsllc.com. |
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Christopher Speed, MND APDChris is a Master of Human Nutrition from the University of Sydney and continues his professional interest in nutrition and self care as an associate editor of the European Journal of Cancer Prevention and food and nutrition strategist in New York City.
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