Boris Herzi Class of 2009 is a lawyer with specialization in international transactional law, international arbitration and alternative dispute resolutions, admitted in both France and the U.S. He has worked with a prominent French law firm for 9 years, serving as a second to the Resident Partner for 5 years. For the last 4 years, Boris has had had sole charge of the current management of the desk, under the supervision of members of the board in the Paris office, and I has led the business development efforts, especially in the Northeast, for the firm.
As of February 2008, Boris has been partner of a small international boutique firm with affiliations in France, Belgium and Spain. His responsibilities include, advising North American clients (U.S. companies and New York law firms) regarding French or European Law, but he also represents European clients with their dealings in the U.S.
Boris was born and raised in Toulouse, France, in a multi-cultural and multi-lingual social and familial environment. An active child, he played rugby & soccer, went surfing, swam and practiced martial arts. His love for the outdoors meant he often spent weekends in neighboring countries and his summers attending camps. These activities brought Boris into repeated contact with kids from a diversity of other countries: Spain, Belgium, Holland, Italy, etc. and the cultural diversity developed friendships and an affinity for broader horizons.Boris's desire to meet different peoples and learn about other cultures inspired him to travel extensively around Europe (West and East) and North and West of Africa. and as he got older and began to think about career goals, he realized that his interests would be well-suited for a legal career. He ultimately sought a dual degree in business and law from the University of Toulouse, graduating from the prestigious and highly selective DESS de Droit des Affaires / DJCE, Diplôme de Juriste Conseil d'Entreprise, in 1997. This was followed by work as a lawyer (Avocat à la Cour) in Toulouse and in Paris. He joined one of the leading French firms in Paris, and was then sent to New York in 1999 to second the Resident Partner here. While working as a full-time associate, Boris obtained a degree at Fordham School of Law, with a specialization in corporate, banking and international law and passed the New York Bar.Along with professional responsibilities, Boris is proactively involved in the community, volunteering his services, notably by providing pro bono legal assistance to an association in Toulouse whose mission is to help needy families and homeless persons. He's assisted in preparing administrative paperwork and provided legal advice, regarding social and immigration law in France.
Through this work, Boras was able to interrupt the deportation process of more than 85 aliens and their families, who were in fact entitled to legal status and medical coverage in France. Strong interest in environmental issues, led to his providing pro bono legal assistance for the protection of a site with great natural and historical importance near his home town in the Pyrenees, resulted in the area being put under a special environmental protection order.In 2007, Boris married his lovely wife Soo and they currently live on the Upper West Side. Boris is an avid squash player and a fervid rugby and soccer spectator. He's got an appreciation for classical music and a strong interest in international relations and history. His goals are to continue growing and building his career while starting a family. He says, "My dream is hard to define as I find myself constantly evolving which consequently redefines my dreams. Due to my experience, I find that diversity and cultural differences are the most intellectually stimulating, and this has sustained my constant aspirations to broaden my international knowledge and friendship. New York, in my opinion, is the capital of the world and is my perfect home for now."
Natalie Hahn Class of 2003 Due to the civil war over the last twenty years, nearly every school in Liberia had been destroyed. But with the end of the war and a democratically elected government, the schools are now being rebuilt and there is a real need for school books. Florence Chenoweth, who is Liberian, and Natalie, who lived in Africa for 14 years deceided to "Lend a hand" and commited themselves to the goal of sending a shipping container of 100,000 books. With the help of our Executive Director, Andreas, our club's Foundation, the Rotary Club of Lincoln, Nebraska, (Natalie's home state), USAID, World Vision, and some very generous publishing companies, their service project has already sent more than 800,000 books!
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John J. Haikala Class of 1986 is the chairman of Plywood & Door Manufacturers Corporation has been an importer of the finest birch plywoods from Finland, as well as other quality panel products from all parts of the world since 1948
Their long-standing association with the Finnish plywood industry ensures thier supply of the most technologically advanced panel products from the most responsibly managed, renewable forests in the world.
Yasuko Hara Class of 2009 "Director of Japanese Tea Ceremony"
Yasuko Hara is from Tokyo, Japan, where she attended Toyo Women’s College in Tokyo, majoring in English Literature and Language. In Japan she was the executive assistant to the CEO of Japan’s top law firm for more than twenty years.
Yasuko first visited New York City in 1986 as a corporate trainee and it was love at first visit.
A year later in 1987, she left Japan, inspired and driven to live in New York- a strange new world, with no family, no connections, no home, and no job.Soon after arriving, however, she met her husband Martin at a Zen monastery and they married a year later.Since that time, she worked as Executive Assistant to the CEO of the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi for North America, and she retired in 2008.
Yasuko has a passion for the cultural treasures of Japan – those include Japanese Tea Ceremony, Haiku Poetry, and Zen practice. As such, the Rotary Club of New York now has a member that is a "Director of Japanese Tea Ceremony" which can be experienced at a number of Japanese Cultural Centers, and other venues. During this Ceremony Yasuko displays how Compassion, Mindfulness and Peace can be attained through the simple act of serving a bowl of Tea.
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Erol Hasan - Class of 2007
Erol has been living in NY since 1994 with brothers. His company provides full design and construction services including design consultation or design and build project or solely construction services. This could be a new building or any type of renovation project. The company can solve all construction related problems under one roof.
Originally from Turkey where he graduated from one of the most selective universities in Turkey, The Middle East Technical University, as civil engineer Erol also completed part of Master's Degree program in Vienna at Vienna Technical University.
Some of Erol's passions include philosophy, politics & the arts. But he also puts a lot of energy into building up his company and at the same time works to make a positive contribution to our community.
He is very proud of having built his company from scratch and the fact that the company can take an idea to execution by building a team to make it happen with complete integrity and honesty.
Hayo Hummerjohann Class of 2006 is the CEO of the World Trade Merchant Group.
