Eugene Poverni Gets Warm Welcome at Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County’s B&P ICON Event
In a room full of new faces, Eugene Poverni felt right at home.
As the featured speaker at the Business & Professional Division (B&P) ICON event, Poverni, who hails from Baltimore, and is a new resident of Boca Raton, had an opportunity to introduce himself, his family, and his business partners to an audience of more than 100 people. On September 17, 2024, Poverni did a Q&A with Rich Steinberg, who chairs the 2025 Annual Campaign of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County.
B&P is a Federation division, which welcomes local corporate leaders and business owners to network and support Jewish nonprofits that serve those in need locally, in Israel and around the world. B&P also hosts ICON, where industry leaders share their insights and advice. Poverni is the founding partner and CEO of Poverni Sheikh Group, a real estate development and credit management firm, and he shared how philanthropy has played a role in his success – both personally and professionally.
Poverni said he plans to be as charitably involved in Jewish Federation in South Florida, as he was in Baltimore.
“This is one of the better welcome parties I’ve had,” Poverni said to laughter in Federation’s Zinman Hall.
He and Steinberg talked about how Poverni’s family immigrated from Ukraine to the U.S., working their way to the American Dream. Poverni made his first fortune in high school, re-selling overstocked items from retailers. After earning a JD from George Washington University, he became interested in real estate and credit management. Based in Baltimore, Poverni Sheikh Group employs approximately 30 people.
Poverni joins an esteemed roster of B&P ICON speakers, including Cathy and Ira Baer of Baer’s Furniture; Misha Ezratti, CEO of GL Homes; Caryl M. Stern, Executive Director of the Walton Family Foundation; Larry Feldman, founder and CEO of Subway Development Corp. of Washington; Jeffrey Bleustein, former CEO of Harley-Davidson; Florine Mark, CEO of the Weight Watchers Group; and Lewis Katz (z”l), former owner of the New Jersey Nets/Devils.
Sponsored by CBIZ, the ICON event was made possible by the dedicated efforts of B&P Division Chairs Geil Bilu and Sandy Gerstein, and Industry Icon Event Co-Chairs Corey Levin and Stephanie Midler and the ICON Committee. Special thanks to B&P Division Sponsors Berger Singerman, Haven Home Health and Hotwire Communications-Fision; Exclusive Magazine Sponsor Boca Raton Observer and In-kind Sponsor Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits.
For more information about the networking and philanthropic opportunities available through the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County’s Business & Professional (B&P) Division, email Marc Fishman at [email protected] or visit https://jewishboca.org/departments/annual/bp/.