Horse Women of Business Award

New York, NY – February 1, 2007 – When Melissa Cohn isn’t riding she is running her Manhattan Mortgage Company (TMMC), a firm that boasts 175 employees and 12 branches with its headquarters in New York City.  In the horse show arena she’s been the recipient of numerous championships and in the business world she is often recognized for her achievements.  Her latest accomplishment was being named a Finalist in the Best Entrepreneur – Service Businesses – up to 2,500 Employees category in The 3^rd annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business.   

The Stevie Awards for Women in Business honor women executives, entrepreneurs, and the companies they run – worldwide.  The Stevie Awards have been hailed as “the business world’s own Oscars.”  (New York Post, April 27, 2005).  

Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word crowned, winners will be announced during a gala event in New York in March.  Nominated women executives and entrepreneurs from the U.S. and several other countries are expected to attend.  

Throughout the horse world we know numerous people who are only able to compete on a part-time basis because of the other lives they lead.  Often that other world is steeped with pressure amidst the rewards and for many being involved with horses allows for an escape from that pressure.  We see these people as our horse friends yet in their business world many are champions.  Such is the case with Melissa, who is a nationally recognized expert in the mortgage industry.  She serves as a Governor of the Real Estate Board of New York, sits on numerous other boards and committees and is quoted frequently by major media, including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CNN, CNBC and ABC.  Ms. Cohn has been honored by numerous groups including Ernst & Young and Habitat for Humanity and she is President of the Board of the Child Development Center of the Hamptons.   

For this year’s Stevie Awards over 600 entries were submitted in more than 40 categories.  Finalists were chosen by business professionals worldwide during preliminary judging.  Members of the Awards' Board of Distinguished Judges & Advisors and their staffs select Stevie Award winners from among the Finalists during final judging.  The elegant Stevie trophy was designed by R. S. Owens, the same company that makes the Oscar and the Emmy.  

 Being named a Finalist in The Stevie Awards for Women in Business is an important achievement, said Michael Gallagher, Stevie Awards President.  It means that independent business executives have agreed that the nominee is worthy of recognition.  

 I am honored to have been selected as a finalist for the Stevie Awards.  Recognition such as this makes the 21 years of hard work well worthwhile and my riding has been an integral part of teaching me the importance of hard work and staying the course, commented Melissa.  

 Details about The Stevie Awards for women are available at www.stevieawards.com/women.  For more information about The Manhattan Mortgage Company call 888-593-4343 or visit their Web site: www.manhattanmortgage.com.