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September 2007
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ALUMNI PROFILE |
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Meet the 2007 Rising Star Award Recipient Imagine rising at 6:45 a.m. each day with every hour already planned and scheduled to include work at two different jobs, at least one class for law school, study time, public appearances, possibly a workout or meal, and a midnight bed time. It’s all just part a normal day for Ken Biberaj, SPA/BA ’02, recipient of AU’s 2007 Rising Star Award. The Rising Star Award recognizes alumni who have received their undergraduate degree within the past 10 years, who are already making significant contributions to society through professional and/or philanthropic work. The award was presented for the first time in 2006, to Neal Sharma, SPA/BA '98. As the vice president and spokesperson of the Russian Tea Room Funding Group, director of Investment Sales for Broadway West Enterprises, Ltd., and a third-year law student at the New York Law School, Biberaj knows a thing or two about time management. “You just do it. You don’t stop. If you spend too much time thinking about it, you’re wasting time.” Yet he’s quick to add that some down time is important as well. In those precious few hours of the week, he enjoys riding his bike in Central Park, hitting balls at the Chelsea Pier driving range, and enjoying new restaurants in New York. “Nothing beats a night out for good food, wine, and friends in New York City,” he says. This “work hard, play hard” attitude likely comes from his parents; Albanian immigrants whom Biberaj calls his role models and inspiration. “My parents didn’t speak any English when they arrived in America and hardly had anything, but my dad now has a PhD from Columbia and my mom owns her own small business. No matter how busy my life is, they’re a constant reminder that things can always be harder and you have to appreciate what you have and work hard.” Biberaj landed in his current job after working on John Kerry’s presidential campaign in 2004. Other experience in the political sphere included a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, as well as a summer internship with President Clinton’s foundation. When a career opportunity with Broadway West Enterprises, Ltd., a commercial real estate company in New York City, came about, Biberaj was eager to take it and gain some business experience. He began his work with the company in investment sales of commercial properties, but soon shifted his primary focus to the Russian Tea Room, which the company also owned. Biberaj served as project manager for the restaurant’s reopening in November of 2006, and has since taken on the role of vice president and spokesperson. In this capacity, Biberaj handles all of the PR-related business, including corporate partnerships and advertising, as well as live interviews. He’s done them with NY1, the CBS Early Show, and several other local and international news outlets. For Biberaj, being part of the team that reopened the Russian Tea Room has been his biggest career accomplishment to date. “It’s such an historic place – a New York institution. Not a day goes by that someone doesn’t come in to share a personal memory. This one guy, a violin player, could point out the exact booth that he and his friends sat in 50 years ago after a Carnegie Hall performance.” Although his career seems to be on the fast track in the business world, Biberaj’s early aspirations were much more politically-oriented. In fact, he chose to attend AU in part because of the SPA program. Raised in northern Virginia, Biberaj was also attracted to AU’s blend of a traditional campus and proximity to downtown D.C. “AU is the ideal university,” he says. “First, you have world-class academic programs and top-rate professors. Second, the students are some of the best in the world – you learn so much just by interacting and appreciating the diversity AU has to offer. Lastly, the campus life and quality it provides is unmatched – having an actual campus, and only being a few train stops from downtown Washington.” While at AU, Biberaj served as the president of the Student Confederation for two terms. That re-election to a second term was one of his most memorable experiences at AU. “It really meant a lot to have such support from the students for the agenda we had pursued.” Biberaj looks forward to graduating from law school in May 2008 and continuing his work with the Russian Tea Room. He is also looking forward to increased participation on the SPA Dean’s Advisory Council, which he joined this past April. “I’m really glad to be reconnected with AU and to know what’s going on campus. I’ve been very proud to have the opportunity to give a little back to AU.” Please join the Alumni Association in congratulating Ken Biberaj on winning the Rising Star Award at the Alumni Weekend Port & Politics cocktail reception on Saturday, October 27. RSVP online at http://www.alumni.american.edu/alumniweekend any time after September 12. - Tara Sherwin |