Michael D. Nieves, President and CEO of HITN, participated as a panelist in a career development forum hosted by the Queens Community House (QCH) Summer Youth Employment Program.
The event brought together about 300 participants, ages 14 and 15, to hear from professionals across multiple industries about their career paths and lessons learned.
Each summer, QCH places more than 1,500 young people in jobs through its Summer Youth Employment Program, providing workplace skills, experience, and career exposure.
Other panelists included:
- Ariel Rodríguez, basketball coach
- Kenneth Koo, Queens Assistant District Attorney’s Office
- Libert Sang, Global Head of Real Estate Transformation and Strategic Insights, Morgan Stanley
- Jennifer Bisram, reporter, CBS News
- Alfonso López, Commissioner, NYC Department of Environmental Protection
Panelists discussed key career moments, addressing topics such as teamwork, communication, leadership, and adaptability. They also answered questions about professional challenges, work-life balance, and decision-making.
Mr. Nieves shared lessons from his own career and underscored HITN’s commitment to supporting education and workforce development for youth. QCH Executive Director Ben Thomases closed the event by thanking the panelists, staff, and participants.
