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Robert McBride Operation Healing Forces

R. Couri Hay — Fri, 30 May 2025 15:39:10 +0000

Robert McBride Operation Healing Forces

“ It’s About Impact” – Robert McBride

Helping Veterans & Special Operations Forces

Beyond his business as a top lobbyist, Robert McBride’s impact stretches into service—specifically through his role as an Executive Board Member of Operation Healing Forces (OHF), a nonprofit supporting active-duty and veteran members of U.S. Special Operations Forces and their spouses. Tom Brady, tennis champion Monica Seles, and golf legend Fuzzy Zoeller are also backers of the organztion that started out with some patriotic yacht owners inviting Green Berets, Marine Raiders, and Navy SEALs onto their boats with their spouses for some well deserved R&R. These soldiers had been away from their famlies and homes for up to a year. Many had been severely injured or suffered from PTSD. The organization now offers retreats at the homes of their benefactors in idyllic spots across the country,, including the Hamptons, Martha’s Vineyard, and Aspen to Special Operations Forces members, their spouses, and caregivers. “We let them enjoy some of the luxuries we often take for granted, like fishing, boating, skiing, swimming, tennis, and hiking,” said McBride, adding, “They are disconnected from being away. We want to be a small part of getting them back together.”

At OHF’s recent Florida event, McBride was part of a team that raised over $1.5 million to fund their healing programs. “As someone who advocates for military and veterans every day, I can’t say thank you enough,” he told the crowd. “The job’s not easy, but it’s an important one.” The programs OHF runs—retreats, crisis support, mentorship—are focused on strengthening relationships and stability. “These programs are designed to reduce stress, improve communication, and ultimately create a more stable home environment,” he explained.

That’s where McBride thrives: on the bridge between high-level strategy and real-world results. “I’m not interested in doing anything unless it’s going to move the needle,” he says. “And I want to be around people who want to be impactful.”

McBride doesn’t speak in vague mission statements or buzzwords. He speaks on purpose. “I wake up every day and I have the ability to affect change in people’s lives,” he says. “We’re able to change communities, we’re able to change generations, and we’re able to put people in a position of success.”

McBride Consulting & Business Development Group

As founder and CEO of McBride Consulting & Business Development Group, McBride has earned a reputation for being both strategic and relentless. His consulting firm has advised developers, public officials, unions, and private clients across healthcare, transportation, housing, and infrastructure. But he’s not interested in volume for volume’s sake.

“We turn away probably 60 to 70 percent of the people who ask us to represent them,” he says. “We ask five questions: Who owns the company? Where’s it going? Who’s going to run it? How long are you going to be involved in it? And what’s the exit strategy?”

For McBride, it’s not about politics. It’s about outcomes. “We’re in the business of affecting people’s lives and putting them in a position of success, and at the same time not forgetting where we came from,” he says. “I’m very fortunate and blessed to be in the position I’m in. But I never forgot who I am. I never forgot my roots.”

McBride grew up in Ozone Park, Queens. “I’m the youngest of four kids. I grew up in a neighborhood that was tough. If you ate slow, you didn’t eat,” he says. “We were Irish immigrants. We didn’t have a lot of money. I wore my neighbor’s hand-me-downs.” Still, he adds, “I had a mother who never told me I couldn’t do something.”

Impacting Underserved Communities

That foundation—humble, tough, unshakable—became the basis of a career that now spans multiple companies and advisory roles. His work often touches New York communities most in need of infrastructure and housing support, and he maintains a sharp eye on what makes a project meaningful.

“We get called to work on housing developments that are in communities that are underserved and have not had affordable housing in 30 years,” he says. “We’re working on healthcare projects that are going to save lives.”

At McBride Consulting, he keeps the standards high—and the relationships personal. “We interview people over six months. I’ll have coffee with them, lunch with them, I’ll meet their family, and I want to see how they interact,” he says. “I’ve built the firm on a foundation of integrity.”

And while some people build businesses to exit, McBride builds to endure. “I’m not looking to build something to sell it. I’m looking to build something that I can hand to my kids,” he says. “My father died at 91 years old and said, ‘America is the greatest thing that ever happened to me.’ That’s a pretty powerful statement from an Irish immigrant who came here with nothing.”

As he looks forward, McBride is still asking hard questions, still refining the mission. “We want to be better. We want to be more efficient. We want to be more impactful. We want to grow. We want to continue to support people,” he says.

When asked what keeps him motivated, the answer is simple: “I don’t need to be famous. I don’t need to be on the front page. I just need to know that I made a difference in somebody’s life. And if I can do that, I’m good.”mcbrideny.com

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Elegant Affairs: The Art of Experiences

R. Couri Hay — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 17:42:21 +0000

Elegant Affairs, The Art of Experiences

Premier catering company in NYC & The Hamptons

Andrea Correale

Imagine arriving at an event and being greeted at the door by the scent of sizzling Kobe beef, freshly prepared chicken, and jumbo shrimp. After being cooked on hot rocks, it’s served Nobu style with various delectable Asian-style vegetables. Or picture walking into a mozzarella bar where the cheese is made right in front of all the guests, carved, and accented with a whole array of curated toppings. Or a dessert pairing of Limoncello and lemon macarons, enjoyed best while mingling. These are just a few examples of the limitless and succulent possibilities when the catering company, Elegant Affairs, is invited to do your event. The company possesses a dedication to creating unique and unforgettable experiences for every event.

“Hot Rocks” ( Photo: Elegant Affairs)

Celebrating 30 Years of Extraordinary Service

Elegant Affairs recently celebrated its 30th anniversary but sprouted its roots when the founder, Andrea Correale, was merely 16. From a young age, she was a jack-of-all-trades, exploring positions like bridal attendant, bartender, Maître d’, and personal assistant. For many weeks, the future entrepreneur worked around 30 hours. That was all until someone asked her to produce a party for an upper-class family’s home. She agreed and stunned them. By the end of the event, guests were asking for her business card. As Correale recalls, “I didn’t have anything. I lived with my parents at the time. So I took a cocktail napkin, wrote down my home number and my name, and started giving them out. And then Elegant Affairs was born.”

One party at a time, detail by detail, Elegant Affairs rose. From a desk in her bedroom, Correale continued hosting upscale house parties from clients’ homes and estates, fostering her network and vision. She kept her mind on putting herself and her brand out there, climbing above the radar, now having hosted many noteworthy events for celebrities, including Billie Eilish, Leonardo DiCaprio, Adam Sandler, and Mariah Carey. Elegant Affairs specializes in various event categories, including, high-end social events, corporate events, weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, and product launches.

Small Bites

Correale has been curious about entertaining and catering since she was a child. Her mother sought to create unique holiday and celebratory moments through memorable details. Changing the lightbulbs to seasonal colors or putting out themed placemats crafted such immersive moments. Correale recalls those moments and how they inspired her. “That resonated with me. And I realized that catering was not just about food; it was about the art of entertaining, about

tantalizing all the senses, making sure you have the right music in the background, that the lighting is right, that the temperature is right, that the flow of the food and the timing of the food is done correctly. Not one is more important than the other.”

Prep Work

Elegant Affairs has a way of creating customer ease with grace. The process begins with a prospective client’s call. They will offer up the idea that’s been simmering in their mind. An example may be a holiday party with a Bridgeton-esque throughline. The company lets its creativity run wild from the concept and the occasion. Elegant Affairs produces a stunning proposal with various culinary ideas, photos, and vision boards. Taking the time to discuss the event’s potential possibilities ensures the customer truly understands the concept presented. Following the initial presentation, they do a site inspection, looking over the event site and performing an entire logistical walkthrough with the client. The client’s comfort and sense of ease are prioritized from the phone call and forward. Elegant Affairs follows every step to ensure a smooth operation from the planning to the party. The company thrives off of excellence in each and every aspect.

The experience the guests will have from the moment they enter is well outlined and implemented to a tee. All details — parking, coats, an area for gifts, and the food and bar placement — are given thorough thought when designing the plans. The company is known for offering a cohesive flow to the space and event.

In New York City, Elegant Affairs works from three locations, and in Glen Cove, Long Island, they have a big commissary and warehouse. It also caters to and plans quite a few weddings at homes, estates, vineyards, and many other venues in the tri-state area. The icing on the cake is their newly opened catering venue in Southampton— 230 Elm. The building features stunning architecture, including high ceilings, large windows, and beautiful woodwork ideal for a wedding or visually stunning event. The fully renovated space includes state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems. Unlike their previous locations, this is an onsite catering venue, broadening their abilities as a full-service catering company.

Chef’s Special

The company and Correale’s story is a testament to how the most successful in business are those who have done all the jobs. The education she developed through versatility has developed a seasoned expert. Elegant Affairs juxtaposes experience and detail with passion. For the company and its owner alike, the fascination blends with creating an experience that tantalizes the senses and excites the mind. elegantaffairscaterers.com

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