40 under 40 – 2019 winners

Petar Crnogorac

Petar Crnogorac
Hometown & Current City: Boonton, NJ
College: Montclair University

Hospitality Industry
Family is from Malinksa, Croatia and Posusje, Herzegovina

Petar is a graduate from the Skola Folkora program administered through Matica Isleljenika in Croatia. Petar is currently working in the hospitality industry managing the front desk for Sonesta International. The tourism industry is very interesting to him, because it is also the primary driver of Croatia’s economy. He wants to be able to contribute to Croatia’s economy. In his early twenties he started working with Starbucks coffee. Within a couple years with the company he had secured a management position in a prime location. He also worked at Narona Woodcraft, his family’s millwork firm, as a project manager. Customer service has always been one of his strengths and a logical career path was one that embraced that strength.

Petar is working to create an online repository of traditional Croatian folk music as tool for groups around the world to utilize.The vision is to create a repository of music from across Croatia and the diaspora that can be used to teach both dancers and musicians.

He spent a good portion of his life working with Cardinal Stepinac Kolo Group at St. Cyril and Methodius Parish in Manhattan. His father was one of its founders and long time president, which is how Petar became associated with this group. As a teen he joined the group as a dancer and eventually took on the role of choreographer and artistic director. His time as a dancer inspired him to attend Matica Iseljenicka Skola Folklora for 10 seasons. There he grew even more inspired to be a leader in his community and be an inspiration to future generations. His love of folklore and understanding of the positive effects it has on the lives of the dancers grew exponentially there. He worked with the Voice of Free Croatia radio & currently he is working with his sister (directors) of Hrvatska Ruza Folklore Ensamble in Asoria, Queens.He also started KUD Okret, and adult ensemble that primarily performs specials requests from smaller organizations. Peter can honestly say he doesn’t know how to not be involved in the Croatian community in New York.

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