Faces of Long Island celebrates the uniqueness of everyday Long Islanders. In their own words, they tell us about their life experiences, challenges and triumphs. Newsday launched this social media journey into the human experience to shine a light on the diverse people of this wonderful place we call home.

‘We’re all together and try to work together to better our community.’

Uniondale

“I am an EEG technician. EEG, or electroencephalography, is used when someone has seizures. We attach leads to their head to assess them. It falls under the umbrella of neurodiagnostic technology. I’m a service line manager for Northwell, so I work with labs from Chappaqua to Bay Shore. I’m working with labs on quality competencies and just trying to elevate our field.

“I also co-own a school where we teach students how to do EEGs. It’s in Hempstead, and we’ve been running it now for maybe six years. I’m one of the lead instructors, and it’s a six-month program where we teach the fundamentals of EEG. My partner started by teaching out of his house. I started learning from him, and loved it so much, I said we need to open a school.

“I had worked as a correction officer for New York City for four years. But that didn’t really work out. If you can imagine working in jail, it’s not fun. I was like, ‘This isn’t for me.’ Then I said, ‘I need to start going to school,’ and that’s how I found EEG.

People loved it so much that people kept reaching out to us to do it. It ended up being huge.

“I’ve been a fireman for 14 years. I wanted to help my community. I love the camaraderie. It’s really a great place, especially for young kids that are starting out. I didn’t go to college right out of high school. I went into the workforce because I had a child, so I never got that whole feeling of the fraternities and that brotherhood. And I got it here. Just being around a lot of men that are white-collar, blue-collar workers who you just learn from.

“In March of 2020, I started 3C’s Productions with my sister and her husband. My sister had her birthday in March, so we had a party for her on Zoom. I played music, and we had some games. People loved it so much that people kept reaching out to us to do it. It ended up being huge. In 2021, we grossed over $100,000 doing virtual parties with corporations. I couldn’t believe it. We also did virtual memorials for family members who passed from COVID. We helped because people couldn’t go to funeral homes.

“I’m also the treasurer of the Uniondale Community Council. My daughter has volunteered for them, and it’s all a community thing. We’re all together and try to work together to better our community. I incorporate my family in everything I do.”

Interviewed by Dan Offner

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Faces of Long Island is produced by Newsday Consumer Marketing. This content does not involve the reporting and editing staff of Newsday’s Editorial Department.