CHYE to Honor Local Business Making an Impact

On Tuesday, February 21st at 7 pm, Crown Heights Young Entrepreneurs will be celebrating founders at its much-anticipated 11th annual Founder’s Circle Evening in the Deloitte office in Rockefeller Center.

This mostly invitation-only event (tickets can be purchased by the public for $360 a person) promises an exquisite evening of high-impact networking featuring a special keynote speech by American Dream Mall founder and real estate mogul, Don Ghermezian, an open bar, and a delicious buffet.

The Founder’s Circle is made up of Crown Heights business leaders who go above and beyond to give back to the local business community, not only financially, but by devoting their time and energy to mentoring new startup founders and yeshiva graduates entering the workforce.

Now celebrating eleven years of promoting entrepreneurship in the community, CHYE’s Founder’s Circle Evening recognizes Crown Heights, anash business leaders for their support of CHYE’s activities, and for demonstrating an outstanding commitment to encouraging the next generation of Crown Heights entrepreneurs and professionals.

“It’s always been CHYE’s mission to inspire and foster a spirit of entrepreneurship and a can-do attitude in our community,” said CHYE founder, Rabbi Yehoshua Werde. “We’re grateful to have served the community for over 11 years. I thank all of our supporters, participants, and especially our Founder’s Circle who have been instrumental in helping us succeed in impacting the lives of hundreds of anash entrepreneurs and working people.”

This year, the Founder’s Circle Evening will honor two outstanding business leaders for their exceptional impact on the community.

Mendy Smetana, CEO of CH Shipping Center will be honored with the Business of the Year award, and Menachem Ben Arrach, the owner of LivFit Studios, will be recognized as Startup of the Year.

“As a business owner based in Crown Heights, one of the greatest pleasures I have is seeing young guys start out small and grow bigger,” said Mendy Smetana. “I’m in shipping and printing so entrepreneurs often come into my store [to print out flyers or ship out products], which gives me front-row seats to witnessing their growth. I personally find it gratifying and get a sense of satisfaction to watch them grow to the point where we need to expand to keep up with their growth.

“Over the past year CH SHIPPING CENTER has seen accelerated growth expanding to occupy a half a block on Albany Ave and opening new departments including a full in house printing and shipping experience to service the needs of consumers and growing businesses alike. There is hardly a business in the neighborhood that does not make use of their services in some shape or form.

“Most of these companies that come to my store have been helped by CHYE. I believe it’s very important to support CHYE, because they’re helping the next generation of Crown Heights entrepreneurs and business owners. When these founders succeed, their success comes back to the community.”

“I believe it was about eight years ago when I attended my first CHYE event,” remembers Menachem Ben Arrach. “I felt encouraged by meeting and networking with fellow entrepreneurs and learning about all the different businesses that exist in our community – most of which I never would have heard of if not for CHYE. At the time, I was just working as a personal trainer, trying to build up a clientele and help others reach their fitness goals, but BH we’ve grown a lot since then and I’m so grateful for all their help!

“Toward the end of 2021, my wife and I opened LivFit Studios – a full-service boutique training facility providing personal training, small group sessions, nutrition coaching, and online personal training. Our first brick-and-mortar location in Boro Park has grown faster than we could have anticipated, and now we’re on the cusp of opening the doors to our second location in Crown Heights on the corner of Crown Street & Nostrand Avenue. We hope to contribute to the health and well-being of the community by providing a valuable and much-needed service to Crown Heights, just as CHYE has been doing all these years!”

Learn more or buy your ticket here: https://www.chye.info/founders