Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital Thanksgiving Parade 2025
Elizabeth Bracken-Thompson is a partner of Thompson & Bender. Founded in 1986, the agency is the region’s premier advertising and public relations firm. As a partner in the firm, Mrs. Bracken-Thompson is responsible for a wide variety of clients representing a broad spectrum of business sectors including Fortune 500 firms; banks and financial institutions; educational institutions; not-for-profits; hospitals and health care organizations; the travel and hospitality industry; food and beverage sector; senior residential living; commercial real estate developers; environmental and business organizations, among others.
Before joining Thompson & Bender, she was Vice President of Marketing for the daily and weekly newspaper group owned by Gannett in Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and Fairfield counties.
She has been recognized with many prestigious personal and professional honors, including being named by Crain’s New York Business as a Notable Nonprofit Board Leader in 2023 and as one of the 2023 Women Innovators by Westfair Business Journals. She is a member of the Business Council of Westchester’s Hall of Fame; a recipient of 914INC’s Small Business Award as well as their Best of Business awards 2019-2023, and was named as one of 914 Inc’s Westchester’s “Power Dozen” as well as one of City & State’s “Westchester Power 50” and “Westchester Power 100” from 2018 to 2023. Mrs. Bracken-Thompson is a recipient of the “Woman of Leadership and Excellence Award” from Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson and the “Woman of Distinction” award from the United Way of Westchester and Putnam.
Mrs. Bracken-Thompson is active in numerous community and professional organizations and serves on the boards of many organizations, including the Business Council of Westchester, the Hudson River Museum, the Westchester Parks Foundation, the Westchester Medical Center Foundation, and the Charter School of Educational Excellence.
Dr. David Asprinio is Director of Orthopaedic Surgery at Westchester Medical Center and Chairman of Orthopaedic Surgery at New York Medical College. He completed his undergraduate studies at the College of the Holy Cross and medical school at the University of Vermont. He completed his residency in orthopaedic surgery at Rhode Island Hospital and Brown University. He then completed fellowships in orthopaedic trauma at the Hospital for Special Surgery and orthopaedic spine surgery at the University of Maryland. He is board-certified in orthopaedic surgery and a member of numerous sub-specialty organizations.
Dr. Asprinio joined the medical staff of Westchester Medical Center in 1995 and has been recognized as one of the “Top Doctors” in Westchester County and the New York metropolitan area in each of the last eight years. In 2012, he was named one of the top 29 orthopaedic trauma surgeons in the United States. He is Program Director for the Westchester Medical Center-based New York Medical College Orthopaedic Residency Program. He is involved in clinical and basic science research activities and has lectured nationally and internationally. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals including The Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma, The American Journal of Sports Medicine and The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery.
Dr. Asprinio lives in Greenwich with his wife and three children.
Jeremy Abramson is Vice President of The Premier Collection, a family-owned and -operated group of Volvo, Subaru, Lincoln, Mazda and Volkswagen dealerships in the region. Mr. Abramson started his career at 16 washing cars and worked his way up through the ranks to running the day-to-day operations of the entire dealership. After graduating from Towson University in Maryland, he moved to New York where he met his wife, Amy.
Mr. Abramson is deeply committed to community involvement, sitting on several professional and charitable boards including the UJA Business & Professional Division, Westchester Medical Center Foundation (Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital), Jewish National Fund and Young Israel of White Plains, where he and his family have been members since 2011. Mr. Abramson also serves on the board of Blankets for Cancer, an organization founded in memory of his nephew, Jordan, that supports patients and families battling pediatric cancer.
Mr. Abramson and his wife, Amy, reside in White Plains with their three children, Sydney, Alexander and Emma.
Foundation Board activities: Governance/Nominating Committee; Recruitment Committee; Events Committee
Kara Bennorth has nearly 40 years of experience in public affairs, marketing, communications and development in both healthcare and the public sector. A member of WMCHealth since 1995, she served as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer where she was responsible for overseeing in-network activities, driving organizational development and culture and inter-network and interdepartmental collaboration and coordination. With direct responsibility for the overall brand and image of the organization, Ms. Bennorth was in charge of communications, marketing and philanthropy/grants development for WMCHealth’s nine hospitals, six 501(c)(3) foundations, numerous ambulatory and community-based programs and several hospital-based practice locations.
During her tenure, the organization consistently ranked tops among hospitals in the region for image and quality and earned a national patient satisfaction award from Press Ganey, one of only two hospitals in the northeast to achieve this status. She also was part of the team that led the hospital’s first capital campaign to raise more than $25 million to build the region’s only children’s hospital. Ms. Bennorth holds a bachelor’s degree in English/Journalism from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh and an MBA from Franklin Pierce University. Kara has two grown children, Melissa and Ian, and resides in Putnam County with her husband, Michael Hubertus.
Foundation Board activities: Chair, Campaign Committee; Chair, Special Events Committee; Recruitment Committee; Critical Care Tower Campaign Cabinet
Dr. Robin Altman is a board-certified pediatrician. She got her B.S. in Psychobiology from Yale University and her M.D. from Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. She completed her pediatric residency at New York Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center and joined the faculty at New York Medical College and Westchester Medical Center in 1991. In 1995, Dr. Altman became the Chief of General Pediatrics and Pediatric Hospital Medicine, a position that she maintains today. In 2012, she became the Medical Director of Quality and Safety for Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, and in 2021 she was appointed Vice Chair, Quality and Safety for the Department of Pediatrics. Dr. Altman continues to practice pediatrics in Hawthorne, NY, but her passion is quality improvement, patient safety and enhancing the healthcare experience for patients and their families.
Hedy Cardozo worked for 24 years as a social work supervisor at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale, and since 2015 has practiced social work independently, chiefly in the area of supporting individuals and their families with palliative care and other treatment decisions at the end of life. She graduated from Brandeis University and received her master’s in social work from the University of Pennsylvania.
Ms. Cardozo is very involved with her community, in addition to recently joining the WMCF Board, she is a member of the Board of Trustees of her synagogue, Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester, where she co-chairs the Social Action and Social Justice Committees. She also volunteers weekly at 914Cares and is a member of their Advisory Board. Ms. Cardozo is also a member of UJA-Federation of New York’s Caring Commission Aging Sub-Committee, prior to which she was a member of several UJA-Federation of Westchester committees, most recently co-chair of J-Teen’s Parent Advisory Board. Additionally, she served for six years on the Executive Board of the Blind Brook PTA.
Ms. Cardozo is a lifelong Westchester resident. She grew up in Scarsdale and now lives in Rye Brook with her husband Michael N. Rosenblut and their twins: Lucy, a sophomore at Syracuse University, and Josh, a sophomore at Emory University. Ms. Cardozo’s interests, beyond the practice of geriatric social work and giving back to her community, include walking/hiking, reading, and watching whatever comes up next on her streaming feed.
John A. DeCicco, Sr. was born in Reggio, Calabria, Italy in 1948 and immigrated to the U.S., settling in New York in 1958. At only ten years old he already held three jobs. After graduating from the City University of New York with a degree in economics and finance, Mr. DeCicco served in the New York National Guard, attaining the rank of 1st Lieutenant. Following his completion of active duty, Mr. DeCicco, along with his family, acquired a small grocery store where he had once been a delivery boy. The DeCicco legacy was born in that first little grocery store on Katonah Avenue, in the Woodlawn section of the Bronx, in 1973.
Almost 50 years later, the family business has evolved into the second generation, known as “DeCicco & Sons.” John A. DeCicco Sr., Founder, and Chairman of DeCicco & Sons, together with his two sons, John Jr., and Chris, along with his brother Joseph, and his son, Joseph Jr., have transformed their empire into one of the most recognizable premium supermarket chains throughout Westchester and Putnam counties in New York. Today they proudly operate ten locations, with a food selection that ranges from popular favorites to regional specialties, and an enjoyable shopping experience.
Over the years, Mr. DeCicco and his family have supported many philanthropic causes and donated back to the community through charities and local groups. He lives in Armonk with his wife of 46 years, Marie.
Trustee
With approximately 23 years of banking experience, Mr. DeMilia joined Tompkins Community Bank (TCB) as its Regional Vice President providing commercial banking services in Westchester County in 2008. His dedication to the bank, fellow team members, shareholders and clients was quickly recognized and shortly thereafter he became the Westchester Commercial Lending Division Manager and later the Senior Commercial Lending Division Manager for all of commercial lending in the Hudson Valley.
His contributions to Tompkins have not been limited to the Mahopac Bank affiliate as Mr. DeMilia has directed and co‑directed multiple important corporate initiatives that have helped Tompkins continue to be a forward‑looking, multi‑faceted, full‑service financial institution providing superior services to its clients and its communities. Mr. DeMilia exhibits the values of Tompkins Community Bank with his various community activities and involvement, most notably his position as Trustee of the WMCHealth Organization where he has overseen team efforts to raise funds.
He obtained his JD/MBA from Pace University in 2006 and received his bachelor’s degree from SUNY Cortland in 1998. A lifelong resident of Westchester County, Mr. DeMilia lives in Yorktown Heights with his wife Kim and daughter Grace.
Foundation Board activities: Executive Committee; Chair, Governance/ Nominating Committee; Recruitment Committee; Special Events Committee
Janet DiFiore is an attorney and judge who served as the Chief Judge of New York Court of Appeals from 2016–2022. As the recently retired Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals and of the State of New York, Ms. DiFiore was the CEO of the third branch of government in New York with responsibility for over 15,000 employees (3,400 of which are judges) and 350 courthouse facilities and an annual budget of $3 billion.
Ms. DiFiore was born in Mount Vernon, New York, and graduated from Long Island University and St. John’s University School of Law. As a practicing attorney, she worked in a law firm and in the Westchester district attorney’s office. Ms. DiFiore then was elected a judge of the Westchester County Court and was subsequently named a justice of the New York Supreme Court, serving in that post from 2003 to 2005. She left the bench to become district attorney of Westchester County, New York, in 2006; she stayed in that position for nearly a decade, until Governor Andrew Cuomo nominated her to the New York Court of Appeals. Her nomination was confirmed by the New York State Senate. She served as Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals in New York from January 21, 2016 until July 11, 2022. She is widely recognized as an outstanding leader of the New York court system, where her record of achievement includes dozens of awards and accolades, notably including being the recipient of the Deming Cup (Columbia Business School’s annual award for senior executives who drive operational excellence and continuous improvement in their respective businesses).
Ms. DiFiore has served in leadership positions on dozens of boards (both governmental and not-for-profit). In these and other positions, Janet has been an important role model and mentor to women, minorities and younger leaders. She and her husband, Dennis E. Glazer, have three grown children and live in Bronxville, New York.
Foundation Board activities: Critical Care Tower Campaign Cabinet
A partner at Maier Markey & Justic LLP, as well as an outsourced CFO for a number of companies, Ms. Djonovic provides accounting and consulting expertise to clients in a wide range of industries, including not-for-profit, healthcare and professional services. Her impressive career started with the Big 4 public accounting firm Deloitte & Touche LLP followed by Arthur Andersen LLP.
In Ms. Djonovic’s near 25 years in the finance industry, she has done everything from running audits, overseeing staff recruiting, serving as Director of Quality Control, to developing, growing and managing outsourced client engagements. Ms. Djonovic graduated from Fordham University and is a New York State Certified Public Accountant. She serves on the Boards of Ridgewood Savings Bank and Pleasantville Country Club. She lives in Pleasantville, NY.
Foundation Board activities: Board Chair; Special Events Committee; Critical Care Tower Campaign Cabinet
Brenda Fareri was born and raised in Greenwich, CT. Mrs. Fareri started her career as a critical and coronary care nurse before becoming a wife and mother. Mrs. Fareri is the Vice-Chair of the WMC Foundation Board of Trustees. She devotes a great deal of time and energy to numerous fundraising events for Westchester Medical Center and Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, including the annual wine tasting fundraising event, the Go The Distance walk and the WHUD 100.7 For The Kids radiothon each November.
John and Brenda Fareri’s youngest child, Maria, died in October 1995. It was Maria’s wish for “the health and well-being of all of the children in the world” that spurred John and Brenda Fareri to become involved with Westchester Medical Center and spearhead the creation of the Children’s Hospital so that one day Maria’s wish would be fulfilled. From architectural concepts to interior design ideas, the Fareris’ personal touches have helped to make Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital an environment focused towards healing, support and education where family and friends can be with their loved one twenty-four hours a day.
Brenda and John Fareri reside in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Foundation Board activities: Foundation Board Vice Chair
John Fareri serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Fareri Associates, a real estate development company in Greenwich and Westchester County. Mr. Fareri also serves as a Director of The First Bank of Greenwich. Mr. Fareri was born and raised in Westchester. His family owned an electrical contracting business which led to the start of his own business in the early 1970s. He is now a commercial and residential builder in Westchester and Greenwich.
John and Brenda Fareri’s youngest child, Maria, died in October 1995. It was Maria’s wish for “the health and well-being of all of the children in the world” that spurred John and Brenda Fareri to become involved with Westchester Medical Center and spearhead the creation of the Children’s Hospital so that one day Maria’s wish would be fulfilled. From architectural concepts to interior design ideas, the Fareris’ personal touches have helped to make Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital an environment focused towards healing, support and education where family and friends can be with their loved one twenty-four hours a day.
John and Brenda Fareri reside in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Foundation Board activities: Governance/Finance Committee
John Flannery is a member of Wilson Elser’s Executive Committee and Managing Partner of the White Plains office. His practice focuses on civil litigation, including claims involving toxic torts, commercial disputes, civil rights, municipal and product liability and employment litigation.
When it comes to legal strategy, Mr. Flannery is a consummate tactician. He uses his problem-solving skills to anticipate where an adversary is going and generally gets there first with a winning solution. He has tried numerous cases in both state and federal court, with an excellent record of favorable verdicts. Mr. Flannery has held the position of co-chair of the Trial Lawyers Committee of the Westchester County Bar Association for many years. During law school, Mr. Flannery completed an internship with the district attorney’s office in Cumberland County, PA.
Mr. Flannery served 12 years on the board of trustees of the New York State Interest on Lawyer Account Fund (IOLA), which helps low-income people with civil legal problems affecting their most basic needs. He is a member of the board of directors of Legal Services of the Hudson Valley, an organization with similar goals.
Foundation Board activities: Governance/Nominating Committee; Recruitment Committee
Dr. Renee Garrick serves as the Chief Medical Officer for WMCHealth where she oversees clinical care, academic affairs and quality, safety and regulatory initiatives. She is a Vice Dean and Professor of Clinical Medicine at New York Medical College, the academic affiliate of Westchester Medical Center.
Dr. Garrick has extensive experience with quality and safety initiatives. She currently serves as Chair of the Quality Committee of The Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS), is a member of the New York State Office Based Surgery Safety Committee, and previously served as the Co-chair of the Renal Standing Committee of The National Quality Forum. She has served on Technical Advisory Panels of the NQF, on Data Safety Monitoring Boards of the National Institutes of Health, and is a member of the NTDS American Society of Nephrology/CDC collaborative targeted to improve dialysis patient safety, and chairs its Human Factors Committee.
Dr. Garrick has served as a board member of the Renal Physicians Association and is a member of its patient safety committee. She is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, the medical honor society, and is a Fellow of several national organizations, including the American Society of Nephrology and the American College of Physicians. Dr. Garrick received her medical degree from Rush Medical University in Chicago and her subspecialty training in nephrology at the University of Pennsylvania.
Foundation Board activities: Executive Committee
Lola Gazivoda is the founder and CEO of Bota Consulting Group, an offshore recruiting, consulting, and management firm. With nearly 20 years of experience in the banking industry, Lola has an extensive background, including an 11-year tenure at M&T Bank where she served as a Senior Vice President within the Business and Professional Banking Group in Westchester. Prior to M&T, she held positions at Chase and Capital One. Born and raised in Albania and relocating to the USA at age 14, Lola is deeply proud of her heritage and actively participates in community nonprofits both within the Albanian community and the broader Greater NYC area. In 2020, she was recognized as a “40 Under 40 Rising Star” by the Westchester Business Council. Lola has served on the boards of the Childcare Council of Westchester and the Westchester chapter of Vatra, and she is currently a board member of the Business Initiative Corporation of New York. She resides in Bedford with her husband John and their three children – Daniel, Nicoleta, and Julia.
Susan Gevertz is a seasoned healthcare executive and consultant with over 30 years of healthcare experience. She began her career at PepsiCo designing corporate benefit and compensation programs. She then served in senior management positions at Beth Israel Medical Center/Continuum Health Partners before launching her consulting practice. Ms. Gevertz provides strategic counsel to a wide range of healthcare providers including ambulatory, acute and post-acute care. In addition, her consulting practice spans disease-specific advocacy, pharmaceutical and medical devices, and healthcare public relations, advertising and strategic communications.
Ms. Gevertz shares her expertise through her volunteer work, both providing pro-bono consulting to under-resourced entrepreneurs, and serving as a long-standing member of a number of boards and committees. She is vice chair of the Board of Directors of the Westchester County Health Care Corporation and the Bon Secours Charity Health System (including its subsidiary boards) and serves as chair of their respective committees on quality care. She also serves on the WMC Foundation Board.
Ms. Gevertz graduated magna cum laude from Brown University with a concentration in psychology.
Dr. Gewitz is the Executive Director and William Russell McCurdy Physician-in-Chief at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital. He is also SVP for Clinical Operations at WMC and is Professor and Vice Chairman of Pediatrics for New York Medical College. From 1983-2020 Dr. Gewitz also served as Chief of Pediatric Cardiology for the institutions.
Dr. Gewitz is a fellow of numerous state and national societies including Alpha Omega Alpha, the medical school honor society, the New York Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Pediatric Academic Societies, the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology. He served for 10 years as a member of the New York State Cardiac Advisory Committee, the group that advises the Commissioner of Health on cardiovascular practices and policies throughout New York. He is the author or co-author of 140 scientific publications, chapters and statements and has edited a textbook in pediatric cardiology. He also served as Chairman of the Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young for the American Heart Association; as Chair of the Association’s Committee on Rheumatic Fever, Endocarditis, and Kawasaki Disease; and was a member of its Scientific Advisory and Coordinating Committee. When he was active in clinical practice, Dr. Gewitz was named as one of the Best Doctors in America by American Health Magazine and was included nearly every year since its inception in Castle Connolly’s publication of America’s Top Doctors, and by New York Magazine’s Best Doctors in New York.
Dr. Gewitz graduated from Yale University in 1970 and received his medical degree from Drexel University School of Medicine (aka Hahnemann University) in Philadelphia. He completed his residency at University of Pennsylvania’s Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and fellowship at Yale University School of Medicine. Before coming to Valhalla, he was the founding Director of the Pediatric Echocardiography Laboratory and attending in Pediatric Cardiology at CHOP.
Foundation Board activities: Executive Committee
Jon Halpern is the Founder, Managing Partner and CEO of Halpern Real Estate Ventures, and has over 35 years of professional experience in real estate investing. Mr. Halpern began his career in 1985, stepping in to lead Halpern Enterprises, one of New York’s leading regional commercial and residential property owners and operators. In 1994, he successfully exited Halpern Enterprises’ through an merger with Reckson Associates Realty and joined the company’s leadership team.
Mr. Halpern co-founded the Reckson Opportunity Partners fund, supporting the development of several real estate companies, including HQ Global Workplaces and American Campus Communities. After a successful exit from HQ Global in 2000, he became its CEO in 2001, steering the company through the tech-driven economic downturn.
In 2003, he launched the Real Estate Private Equity business at Marathon Asset Management, where he served as Partner and Executive Management Committee member. In 2011, Mr. Halpern established HREV, focusing on scalable real estate investment, operations, and advisory services In the Northeast U.S. and Colorado. Active in community service, Mr. Halpern has been involved with the Westchester Medical Center Foundation, the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, and the Hudson River Park Trust.
Lianne Hales Dugan is an accomplished healthcare executive with over 20 years’ experience successfully driving fundraising initiatives, business development, marketing and program management. Most recently, Ms. Hales Dugan was Vice President of Development and Marketing at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital and, prior to that, led the Westchester Medical Center Foundation for six years. She was Vice President of Business Development at Dominican Sisters Family Health Services from 1999-2013.
In addition to serving on the board of the WMC Foundation, Ms. Hales Dugan currently serves on the Advisory Board of The Elizabeth Mascia Child Care Center and on the Westchester County Merit Selection Panel for Magistrate Judge. Her continuous commitment to community service is also reflected in her service on the Executive Committee of the Renew and Rebuild, New York Archdiocese Capital Campaign, the Iona College Alumni Board of Directors, the Key Bank Advisory Board and the Ossining Rotary Club.
Ms. Hales Dugan earned a Bachelor’s of Business Administration and a Master’s of Business Administration, Marketing, from Iona College.
Foundation Board activities: Critical Care Tower Campaign, Cabinet Co-Chair
Barbara Hart is a director at Grant & Eisenhofer and serves on the firm’s Executive Committee. She has nearly three decades of experience as a leader in plaintiffs’ litigation. She has represented institutional investors, including many public pension funds, in securities and antitrust litigation and served as lead counsel in four of the top 100 securities class action settlements. Ms. Hart has also achieved substantive antitrust and False Claims Act/Qui Tam settlements on behalf of her clients.
In addition, Ms. Hart currently represents approximately 45 adult survivors of sexual abuse who are bringing claims against the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, Maryknoll, Rockefeller University Hospital and the Boy Scouts of America. Ms. Hart is pioneering these claims in light of a change in New York law known as the Child Victims Act.
Ms. Hart is a member of the Thirty Percent Coalition, a group representing many trillions of dollars of assets under management advocating for diversity on corporate boards. In March 2020, Ms. Hart received the EPIQ award for the Coalition’s advocacy for the advancement of women. Ms. Hart also currently serves, at the behest of the Westchester County Executive, on the Police Reform & Reimagining Task Force.
Ms. Hart received her undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University, her MA from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and her JD from Fordham University School of Law where she was on the Dean’s List and a member of the Fordham Law Review.
Foundation Board activities: Foundation Board Secretary; Executive Committee; Finance/Audit Committee; Governance/Nominating Committee
John Heimerdinger is retired. He was a general partner of Ladenburg Thalmann & Co., an investment bank and member of the major stock exchanges from 1964 until 1973, and president and CEO of the Jewish Guild for the Blind for 20 years. Mr. Heimerdinger was Chief of The Armonk Fire Department for two years and also served as a commissioner of Fire District #2 of the Town of North Castle. He was appointed to the WMCHealth Board of Directors in December of 1997.
Mr. Heimerdinger earned an MSW degree in social work from Columbia University and an AB from Princeton University. His degree at Princeton was awarded magna cum laude and he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.
Mitchell Hochberg is President and COO of The Lightstone Group. He has more than 30 years of experience in residential, hospitality, commercial, gaming and mixed-use real estate sectors. He founded and for 20 years served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Spectrum Communities, a premier residential developer in the northeastern United States. Thereafter, he served as president and COO of Ian Schrager Company, a developer and manager of innovative luxury hotels and residential projects in the United States. He is currently a principal in partnership with Marriott International and Ian Schrager Company in the rollout of Edition, a next-generation lifestyle boutique hotel concept. Mr. Hochberg currently serves on the board of directors of Belmond Ltd. (formerly Orient-Express Hotels Ltd.) as chairman of the Investment Committee and member of the Audit and Nominating and Governance Committees.
Mr. Hochberg is an attorney at law and a certified public accountant. He received his law degree as a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar from the Columbia University School of Law. He graduated magna cum laude from New York University College of Business and Public Administration with a bachelor of science in accounting and finance.
Michael Israel is President and CEO of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth), the 1,700-bed regional medical system serving New York’s Hudson Valley and beyond, encompassing a regional academic medical center, children’s hospital, trauma centers, several community hospitals and inpatient and outpatient behavioral health centers, nursing homes, homecare and numerous outpatient health and related services. He has served as President and CEO of WMCHealth (previously Westchester Medical Center) since August 2005, with more than 40 years of healthcare experience. Mr. Israel and his team have been credited with a significant financial turnaround of the region’s lifeline to advanced care, from a “financially challenged” county hospital to a thriving public benefit corporation-led health system, providing high-quality specialty care to more than 120,000 children and adults annually with a workforce of 13,000 and a $3.3 billion economic regional contribution.
Mr. Israel previously served as the COO of the North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System based in Great Neck, NY, where he was responsible for the operational performance of the 18 system hospitals. From 1993- 2002, he was with Duke University, where he served as the CEO of Duke University Hospital, the University’s Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs, and as Vice President of the Duke University Health System. Prior to Duke, he served as Executive Vice President at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital / Texas Heart Institute in Houston, TX, and in operational and financial leadership positions at hospitals and healthcare organizations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Mr. Israel holds a Master of Public Health, Hospital Administration, from Yale University where he received a United States Public Health Services Fellowship, and a Bachelor of Arts, Business Administration, from Rutgers College. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Foundation Board activities: Executive Committee; Critical Care Tower Campaign Cabinet
Allen Kass is former co-president and co-owner of Kass Industrial Supply Corp., formerly located on Tremont Avenue in the Bronx. The company specialized in commercial construction supplies. Mr. Kass earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in psychology from Ithaca College. Mr. Kass and his wife, Susan, live in Bedford.
Foundation Board activities: Special Events Committee
Leslie Lampert, executive chef and owner of Ladle of Love Bronxville, LLC, in NY, is proud to celebrate 20 years as the first consciously-sourced, thoughtfully-prepared food brand in Westchester. Ladle of Love, the award-winning take-out shop, inspired its sister restaurant, Café of Love, Mt. Kisco, from 2008–2018, featuring seasonal menus sourced from local farms.
Ladle of Love and Café of Love have been featured in numerous publications and TV shows including The New York Times, Westchester Magazine, The Journal News, Bedford Magazine, The Valley Table, Inside Chappaqua, Serendipity Magazine, The Patch, The Bedford Record Review, Greenwich Girl, The Examiner, The Daily Voice, Newsday, ABC TV, Toni On!, News Channel 12, Restaurant Hunter, and The Oprah Winfrey Show.
The company features four divisions. In addition to the Bronxville Shop and curbside pickup in Mt. Kisco, Love On The Run Catering specializes in distinguished at-home celebrations and off-premise events at boutique venues in the tri-state area. MarketLove, the distribution division of the company, makes small-batch food weekly for Fresh Direct, The Farmers Grind and Alpen Pantry, among others. Ladle of Love is the exclusive Culinary Team at The Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester, providing culturally-familiar, healthy, hot meals to more than 1,500 kids per week. Ms. Lampert’s zero-waste project, The Scrappy Chef, shows viewers how to transform the food we trash into healthful, delicious meals at home.
The Ladle of Love brand is committed to supporting local charities as well as community efforts that serve the food-insecure community, and is a longtime partner with Feeding Westchester and several county food pantries.
A former journalist, Ms. Lampert was senior editor at Ladies’ Home Journal Magazine and has written dozens of articles on food and lifestyle for national magazines including Time, The New York Times, Parents, House Beautiful, Glamour and The Boston Globe, among others. She appeared frequently on TV shows including The Today Show, CNN, 48 Hours, ABC News.
Ms. Lampert holds a Bachelor of Arts from Skidmore College, attended Colgate University, and received a master’s in journalism from Boston University (her home town). She has three inspiring children, four delicious grandchildren, and lives in Westchester.
Foundation Board activities: Recruitment Committee, Special Events Committee
Dr. Steven Lansman received MD and PhD (biophysics) degrees in 1977 from the State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn. He trained in cardiac surgery at SUNY under Dr. Randall Griepp, and in cardiac transplantation at Stanford University Hospital under Dr. Norman Shumway. In 1985, after serving as Interim Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery for SUNY Brooklyn, the Brooklyn VA Hospital, and Kings County Hospital, Dr. Lansman joined the staff at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City to begin a heart transplant program. At Mount Sinai, he performed the first cardiac transplant with Dr. Griepp in 1986 and, through 2005, performed most of the program’s cardiac transplant and mechanical cardiac assist device procedures.
Dr. Lansman has an extensive bibliography in aortic aneurysm surgery and, for over 36 years, he has organized the Aortic Symposium, an international meeting regarded as the premier forum for surgery of the thoracic aorta. In 2001-2002, Dr. Lansman was President of the New York Society of Thoracic Surgery and, in 2002, served as interim Chairman of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Mount Sinai. Currently, he is Professor and Chairman of Surgery at New York Medical College and Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Westchester Medical Center.
Foundation Board Activities: Critical Care Tower Campaign Cabinet
Ben Lieberman is currently Managing Director at Global Strategic Risk management, a Fixed Income Hedge Fund. Formerly, Mr. Lieberman was a bond trader who worked in institutional sales and trading for banks including RBC Capital Markets, JPMorgan, Merrill Lynch, Union Bank of Switzerland and Lehman Brothers.
Mr. Lieberman is a writer who has authored two best-selling novels, Odd Jobs and The Carnage Account, which were both published by Thomas & Mercer.
Mr. Lieberman also champions anti-distracted driving initiatives through his founding of the Alliance Combating Distracted Driving, a political action committee, and an advocacy group, Distracted Operators Risk Casualties (D.O.R.C.s.). Mr. Lieberman graduated from the University of Maryland.
Foundation Board activities: Vice Chair, Executive Committee; Finance/Audit Committee; Critical Care Tower Campaign Cabinet
Michael McCormack is a partner of Liscum McCormack VanVoohris Architects. He is an affiliate of the American Institute of Architects’ Westchester Hudson Valley Chapter.
Mr. McCormack is a member of the AIA Westchester-Mid Hudson Chapter Board, Bannermans Island Trust Board, the Dutchess County Workforce Investment Board, the Poughkeepsie Alliance Board, the Dutchess County Economic Development Board, and the Dutchess Community College Architectural Advisory Committee. He is the Dutchess County Republican Committee Chairman.
Mr. McCormack holds a Bachelor’s of Architecture from the New York Institute of Technology.
Vincent J. Miller is a lifelong resident of the city of Poughkeepsie. He attended local schools, graduating from Our Lady of Lourdes High School in 1976 and Marist College in 1980 with a BS in Business, followed by Hudson Valley Community College with a degree in Mortuary Science in 1983. He is presently the third generation Licensed Funeral Director and owner of his family business, Wm. G. Miller & Son Funeral Home, Inc, with two locations in Poughkeepsie. Mr. Miller has 34 years of experience managing his business, which serves all faiths and nationalities.
Mr. Miller is very involved in his community and has served on many boards in various capacities, including: the Dutchess County YMCA (board of Directors and Past President); Hudson Valley Hospice (Board Member & Secretary); the former St. Francis Health Care Foundation (Board member and Secretary); Miles of Hope (Board Member); Community Foundation of the Hudson Valley; United Way of Dutchess County, American Heart Association; Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital of Westchester County (Board of Visitors); Dutchess Community College Foundation Board; Catholic School Region of Dutchess County; and the Dutchess-Ulster-Putnam Funeral Directors Association (two-time President). He received the Legion of Honor Award form Lourdes High School in 2014.
Mr. Miller and his wife, Brenda, have a daughter, Lauren. He is a Lector and Eucharistic Minister at St. Martin de Porres Church. In his free time, Mr. Miller also enjoys playing golf, tennis, and running.
Foundation Board activities: Governance/Nominating Committee
Michelle Nicholas is a distinguished thought leader celebrated for her impactful contributions to people-focused and community development initiatives, coupled with expertise in nonprofit management. As a sought-after executive coach and speaker, her strategic acumen, patience and empathetic approach set her apart across various sectors.
As the founder of The NICO Consulting Inc., operating in North and South America, Ms. Nicholas specializes in strategy, operations, human resources development, communications and nonprofit management, excelling in optimizing client performance and opportunities.
Ms. Nicholas’ remarkable career encompasses pivotal leadership roles, notably as senior vice president at PCSB Bank, where she played a crucial role in shaping the bank’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policy, fostering growth, enhancing community engagement and boosting revenue.
In addition to her contributions at PCSB Bank, Ms. Nicholas led Girls Inc. of Westchester County, leaving an indelible mark on the organization. Furthermore, she served as Vice President of Development and External Affairs at Family Services of Westchester, where her leadership led to remarkable improvements. Her strategic approach and dedication to inclusive practices have consistently made a positive impact throughout her career.
Widely recognized, Ms. Nicholas has earned awards from 914 Inc., City & State NY, Crain’s Business New York, Westchester Magazine, and more.
Actively engaged in various board leadership positions, Ms. Nicholas demonstrates commitment to community betterment through entities like PCSB Community Foundation, United Way of Westchester and Putnam, NonProfit Westchester, Youth Shelter Program of Westchester, and Westchester Women’s Agenda.
Dedicated to advocacy for women and children, Ms. Nicholas co-created the 25 Influential Women Leadership Award and Women’s Leadership Program. She is also the founder of SAFEGuyana, providing services to victims of gender-based violence and mental illness in Guyana.
With degrees in economics, social work, and management, Ms. Nicholas showcases commitment to lifelong learning, community and professional development.
Joseph Ricca is the Superintendent of Schools of the White Plains City School District. He has 14 years of experience as a superintendent of schools serving in both New York and New Jersey. Dr. Ricca started his career as a history teacher; then served as an assistant principal and principal prior to becoming a superintendent of schools.
With a bachelor’s degree from Seton Hall University, Dr. Ricca earned his master’s in education from Harvard University, a Master of Arts degree from Caldwell College, and a doctorate in education from Walden University.
Dr. Ricca is Vice President of the Southern Westchester BOCES Chief School Administrators Association and Past President of the Lower Hudson Council of School Superintendents. He is also an Executive Committee member of the Lower Hudson Education Coalition and regularly works with elected officials to support education statewide policy.
Due to his outstanding work, his peers bestowed Dr. Ricca with the Lower Hudson Council of School Superintendents Distinguished Service Award in May 2021. He was named by the Business Council of Westchester as a “40 Under 40” Rising Star and was Leadership Westchester’s Alum of the Year in 2019.
He served on Westchester’s COVID-19 task force for reopening schools and the Westchester County Department of Health’s COVID-19 Taskforce as well as White House, CDC and Rockefeller Foundation task forces to assist schools in identify best practices to serve their communities during the pandemic.
Dr. Ricca had also served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Morris County College, the New Jersey Anti-Bullying Task Force, and was also a member of the New Jersey State Board of Education, appointed by former Governor Chris Christie in 2017.
James Ritman joined Newmark in 2002 and serves as Executive Vice President and Managing Director. He leads the Connecticut and Westchester County, NY markets for the firm, overseeing three offices. One of the firm’s most accomplished advisors, he primarily focuses on tenant representation globally and has executed deals across North America, Europe and Asia. Over his career, he has completed over 1,000 transactions across tens of millions of square feet, creating billions in total transactional value. Mr. Ritman also leads various office leasing agency teams, currently advising landlords on 1.25M square feet throughout New York and Connecticut. Over his career he has also executed $1B in capital markets transactions.
His efforts have been critically acclaimed, winning several Connecticut Deal of the Year awards by NAOIP as well as being a Newmark Top Producer and Chairman’s Circle invitee. Considered an expert in corporate real estate he is often cited in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg and CNBC.
Mr. Ritman was recognized as a Real Estate Weekly Rising Star in 2007 and was named one of Fairfield County’s “40 Under 40” in 2005.
Mr. Ritman received his MBA from George Washington University in 2002 and his bachelor’s from Rollins College in 1998. He is on the board of trustees at Brunswick School and is a past president of the Greenwich September 11th Memorial Fund.
Mr. Ritman resides in Greenwich with his wife and three children.
Zubeen Shroff is a managing partner of Galen Partners. With over 30 years of experience in building healthcare companies, Mr. Shroff has acquired deep expertise and demonstrated strong leadership in working with entrepreneurs to maximize shareholder value in the following areas: specialty pharmaceuticals, medical imaging, therapeutic devices, diagnostics, capital equipment, specialty supplies distribution, consumer-driven healthcare, insurance and payor services, home care-based solutions and technology-enabled services. Successful Galen portfolio companies in which Mr. Shroff played a key leadership role include: Aperio Digital Pathology, Cambrooke Therapeutics, Dow Pharmaceutical Sciences, Encore Medical, International Medical Group, JDS Pharmaceuticals, Lumenos, MiniMed, National Rehab Equipment, Nautilus Neurosciences, Quotient Biodiagnostics, SMP Pharmacy Solutions and Tactile Medical.
Prior to joining Galen in 1997, Mr. Shroff was a principal at The Wilkerson Group (sold to IBM), a leading medical products management consulting firm with a client base including pharmaceutical, diagnostic, device and biotech companies, as well as a few select venture capital firms. He played a major role in developing several of The Wilkerson Group’s practice areas, including outcomes research, strategy formulation, and disease management initiatives. Mr. Shroff started his career at Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals where he directed marketing, sales and Phase IV clinical development for the company’s high-growth biotech business in France and was responsible for the launch of alpha-Interferon in several new indications.
Mr. Shroff serves as an advisor to several not-for-profit institutions. He is Chairman of the Board of the Westchester County Health Care Corporation which operates WMCHealth, the $2.5 billion healthcare system serving Hudson Valley New York residents. He also serves on the Boston University School of Public Health Dean’s Advisory Board. In addition, Mr. Shroff is a fellow of the NY Academy of Medicine. He is a frequent speaker on healthcare market trends, winning medical product and service business models, and the private equity investment climate.
Mr. Shroff earned an MBA from the Wharton School and a BA in Biological Science from Boston University.
Foundation Board activities: Executive Committee; Finance/Audit Committee; Governance/Nominating Committee; Critical Care Tower Campaign Cabinet
Alana Sweeny, a Mahopac resident, was privileged to have a career serving in executive positions in the government, not-for-profit and education sectors. She dedicated her career to both working directly with children, individuals and families facing challenges such as poverty or special needs, and supporting their cause both professionally and as a volunteer through policy, partnerships and funding. She developed model local programs and influenced state and national policy initiatives related to youth, families, health, and education.
Prior to her retirement as President and CEO of the United Way of Westchester and Putnam, Ms. Sweeny also served as Executive Director of the Police Athletic League in New York City. As Executive Director of the New York State Council on Children and Families, she coordinated the state’s 13 education, health, and human services agencies’ joint policy and budget priorities as they affected children and families. Additionally, Sweeny has chaired numerous state task forces, including the Task Force on Out of Wedlock Pregnancy and Poverty. She co-chaired, with the state education commissioner, the task force on School-Community Collaboration. She was the Governor’s point-person in the development of United Way’s 2-1-1 helpline and was the point-person in the restructuring of Health, Labor, Social Services and the Division for Youth. She was a member of the Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children and served as State Public Policy Chair for the United Way of NYS and of the Alzheimer’s Association. She currently sits on the board of the YMCA of Central and Northern Westchester.
Ms. Sweeny is the recipient of numerous awards including being named twice as a Woman of Distinction by the New York State Senate, a Westchester Magazine Women in Business Awardee and a National Diversity Council Most Powerful and Influential Women honoree.
Ms. Sweeny is married to retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department, John Sweeny, and has three adult sons.
Foundation Board activities: Special Events Committee
Mark Tulis is a Panel Bankruptcy Trustee for the United States Department of Justice, Southern District of New York, and is a recognized expert in the areas of real estate tax, condemnation, bankruptcy law and industrial development agency matters. He has represented clients as diverse as the Port Chester Industrial Development Agency, Consolidated Edison Company of New York and United Water in tax matters. Mr. Tulis tried perhaps the largest tax reduction case ever brought in New York involving Consolidated Edison special franchise property.
His municipal clients include the Town of Rye, Village of Rye Brook, Village of Port Chester, Town of Ossining, the Mount Pleasant Public Library and various other developers and institutions throughout New York State. Mr. Tulis is presently Chair of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) Bankruptcy Committee of the Business Law Section and has chaired, written for and spoken at numerous NYSBA and local bar association continuing legal education programs. Previously, he was a Westchester County legislator, a town supervisor and councilman in the Town of New Castle and has participated in numerous civic, charitable and other political endeavors. He has been afforded the highest attorney rating by Martindale Hubbell. Mr. Tulis graduated from the New York University School of Law in 1975 and received his bachelor’s from Columbia University.
Foundation Board activities: Governance/Nominating Committee
Alfred Vigorito was a Founding Member/Owner of the firm Vigorito Barker Patterson and Porter LLP formed in January 2015. He has recently transitioned to Partner Emeritus and continues to manage all aspects of the Westchester Medical Center litigation portfolio for the firm. Under his leadership the firm has grown to more than 75 attorneys with offices in Valhalla, Garden City, Manhattan, New Jersey and Florida.
The firm continues to specialize in the defense of the medical profession, including representation of major hospital networks and all insurance programs and risk retention groups operating in New York and New Jersey.
Mr. Vigorito has successfully defended over 130 trials during his now 43-year legal career. A native New Yorker, born and raised in Brooklyn, Al graduated Brooklyn Technical High School in 1973. He next attended St. John’s University and graduated cum laude in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. In 1980, he graduated from Pace University School of Law with his Juris Doctor degree.
Mr. Vigorito commenced his professional career as an assistant district attorney in Bronx County, N.Y. where he tried over 60 felony cases to verdict including major narcotics trafficking, homicides and violent robberies. In 1986 he was selected to become a Special Assistant U. S. Attorney for the Southern District of N.Y. and successfully prosecuted political corruption cases until he left in 1988 to join Bower & Gardner, the largest medical negligence defense law firm in the country.
Mr. Vigorito quickly distinguished himself as a preeminent trial attorney with numerous victories in the Bronx and Brooklyn, the two most difficult venues in New York State. Al was elected to the Partnership in 1991 before departing to join another firm as an equity owner prior to starting his own firm in 2005.
Mr. Vigorito has been chosen by his peers as a Super Lawyer for the last 11 years and has been recognized as a Top 25 Attorney in Westchester Magazine for the last three years. A member of the prestigious Litigation Counsel of America, Al regularly lectures at WMC Grand Rounds and Medical-Legal Conferences. Mr. Vigorito’s proudest accomplishment continues to be his recognition as a “trial lawyer’s lawyer.” There can be no greater praise.
This past year Mr. Vigorito was selected as the Westchester Medical Center Community Person of the Year, receiving that honor at the WMC Gala held at Caramoor in Katonah, NY.
Mr. Vigorito and his wife Sally reside in Stamford, CT.
Foundation Board activities: Critical Care Tower Campaign, Cabinet Co-Chair
Richard Wishnie was elected to the Westchester County Board of Legislators for six terms from 1993-2005. He served as Vice Chairman of the legislature and Chair of the board’s Committee on Budget and Appropriations. Mr. Wishnie also served on the Westchester County Criminal Justice Advisory Board and was Chairman of the Westchester County Emergency Medical Services Task Force.
As a county legislator, Mr. Wishnie spearheaded passage of county budgets that included the largest property tax cut in county history. He also obtained additional funding for police officers, for the enhancement of the Fire Training Center, and for restoration of funding for daycare programs and community health centers. He has instituted a number of reforms that make Westchester’s budget more “user-friendly.” An ardent supporter of educational opportunities, Wishnie initiated the opening of a satellite campus of Westchester Community College in Ossining.
Mr. Wishnie advocated for state and county funding for the SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) program that provides rape victims with expert services 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. His proposal to designate Westchester County as its own planning region for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) was approved by the New York State Legislature.
He was at the forefront of efforts to clean up the Kill Brook River in Ossining and at his urging the burning of sludge at the Ossining plant permanently ceased.
Mr. Wishnie has an extensive record of public service. Prior to becoming a county legislator, he served the Town of Ossining as councilman from 1976-1979 and as supervisor from 1979-1983. He has served as chairman of the Ossining Open Door Health Centers, Westchester Health Source, the Ossining Volunteer Ambulance Corps, and the Ossining Red Cross Disaster Team. He has also served as an officer and director of the Ossining Chamber of Commerce, president of the Ossining Jaycees, director of the United Way of Northern Westchester, a member of the Briarcliff Manor Volunteer Fire Department, and a Town of Ossining Auxiliary Police Officer.
Mr. Wishnie has been honored by numerous organizations for his service to the community. In January of 2006, the Village of Ossining named a public park in his honor.
He serves as the Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services after being appointed by County Executive George Latimer in 2020. He served as a member of the Westchester County Police Board and was recently appointed by the County Executive to serve a new 3-year term.
Mr. Wishnie presently serves as a board member of the Westchester County Health Care Corporation, is Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bon Secours Charity Hospitals, and Vice-Chairman and Treasurer of the Health Alliance Hospital Board of Directors. He has chaired the Committee on Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement and serves on numerous other WMCHealth network committees.
A graduate of the Harry Van Arsdale Jr. Center for Labor Studies, Empire State College, SUNY, he has a BS in labor studies. He resides in Somers with his wife Marilyn, the former principal of Hillside School in Hastings-on-Hudson. They have two daughters and four grandchildren.
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Brenda Fareri was born and raised in Greenwich, CT. Mrs. Fareri started her career as a critical and coronary care nurse before becoming a wife and mother. Mrs. Fareri is the Vice-Chair of the WMC Foundation Board of Trustees. She devotes a great deal of time and energy to numerous fundraising events for Westchester Medical Center and Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, including the annual wine tasting fundraising event, the Go The Distance walk and the WHUD 100.7 For The Kids radiothon each November.
John and Brenda Fareri’s youngest child, Maria, died in October 1995. It was Maria’s wish for “the health and well-being of all of the children in the world” that spurred John and Brenda Fareri to become involved with Westchester Medical Center and spear-head the creation of the Children’s Hospital so that one day Maria’s wish would be fulfilled. From architectural concepts to interior design ideas, the Fareris’ personal touches have helped to make Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital an environment focused towards healing, support and education where family and friends can be with their loved one twenty-four hours a day.
Brenda and John Fareri reside in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Foundation Board activities: Foundation Board Vice Chair
Sandi Armstrong lives in Woodstock, NY with her husband, Jim Armstrong. She was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, and grew up in Robbinsdale, Minnesota.
Over the years, Ms. Armstrong has worked a variety of jobs spanning several industries. Within healthcare, she served as a nurse’s aide and enjoyed participating in the hospital’s accident simulation team. She also worked as an Executive Assistant at UnitedHealthCare. Her experience in printing and accounting includes roles in accounts receivable, banking, and bookkeeping for Woodstock Meats. Coordinating logistics for Sesame Street Live events marked her entry into the entertainment industry. Additionally, Ms. Armstrong spent some time as the receptionist for the Woodstock Jewish Congregation.
Her free time is dedicated to volunteering. She has coordinated parade floats in Minnesota, served as Parish Council President of her church, and has been the Treasurer, President, and a member of Supporting Friends of HealthAlliance (SFOHA) since 2009. She also holds the positions of Vice President and Sunshine Committee Chair for Woodstock Co. 4 Auxiliary and is an election worker.
Sandi has two sons, John and Chad, a beautiful daughter-in-law Alyssa, and a grandpuppy named Max. Her oldest son, John, passed away in 2012. She enjoys making cards, scrapbooking, cooking, jewelry making, photography, driving all over, and dancing whenever she can.
Barbara Connelly Cohen serves on the boards of the Supporting Friends of HealthAlliance, Jewish Federation of Ulster County, Ulster Community College Foundation, HealthAlliance Foundation, Children’s Home of Kingston (Associate board member) and Reher Center for Immigrant Culture & History. She is a member of Congregation Emanuel of the Hudson Valley and serves on their Membership & Welcoming Committee as well as a member of Kingston Rotary Club and Ulster County Chamber of Commerce. She is the founder and one of the editors of Kolenu, a publication of the Jewish Federation of Ulster County. She is a past board member of the Mental Health Association of Ulster County. She is the chairperson of Fall For Art Show & Sale dedicated to benefiting the arts in the Hudson Valley, celebrating 27 years in November.
Ms. Connelly Cohen is the owner of Schwartz’s Inn located in uptown Kingston, property owned by her husband’s family since 1917, and I’m A Star t shirts, dedicated to empowering children.
Ms. Connelly Cohen is married to Dr. Joseph Cohen, a practicing optometrist in uptown Kingston. The couple has two daughters, Jaime and Beth, and four grandchildren, Benjamin, Anna, Pen and Joshua.
Rocco J. Pucino III is the VP/Retail Banking Officer at Ulster Savings Bank’s Kingston headquarters. In Mr. Pucino’s new role, he will is responsible for overseeing and directing the Retail Banking area by providing guidance and support to the bank’s 15 branch locations.
A Newburgh, NY resident, Mr. Pucino is a graduate of the American Bankers Association Stonier Graduate School of Banking located at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. Rocco serves as Treasurer and Board Member of the HealthAlliance Hospital Foundation and is a member of the New Paltz Rotary. He has been a bank employee since 2003 and a board member of HealthAlliance Hospital Foundation since 2018.
Mary Ann Hildebrandt retired as the President and CEO of Gateway Community Industries in 2019 after a 42 year career of increasing responsibilities with the organization. Currently serving as the Board Chair of the Health Alliance Foundation Mrs. Hildebrandt has been involved with the Kingston Hospital Foundation/Health Alliance Foundation for more than 15 years.
Mrs. Hildebrandt is a graduate of SUNY Oneonta and holds a Masters in Public Administration from SUNY Albany’s Rockefeller College.
Beyond her involvement with the HAFB Mrs. Hildebrandt is active in other community organizations. She currently sits on the New York Statewide Senior Action Council Board of Directors and is the Vice President of its Ulster County Chapter. Mrs. Hildebrandt sits on the YWCA of Ulster County’s Finance Committee and is the Treasurer Emeritus.
Past recognitions include the 2006 YWCA Woman of the Year, Gateway Community Industries’ 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award, was presented an Oneonta Alumni of Distinction Award in 2020 and in 2022 was recognized with the New York Statewide Senior Action Council’s 50th Anniversary Award.
Born and raised in Kingston Mrs. Hildebrandt and her husband Mark reside in Saugerties.
Frank M. Castella, Jr. is a lifelong Dutchess County resident and experienced small business owner. After three generations, Frank was inspired to take over the family printing practice, integrating AM Direct Mail, Inc. and Harmon and Castella Printing, Inc. and working on the business with his late grandmother, Ruth Hutchings; parents, Frank and Karen, and Aunt, Jill Veith. Mr. Castella also co-owned A Black-Tie Limousine, Inc. Mr. Castella has also been involved for thirty-two years with one of the largest and most successful haunted theme parks in the country, Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Houses, Inc., drawaing tourists to the Hudson Valley in great numbers.
Mr. Castella is proud of his local heritage as graduate of Arlington Central School District, Dutchess Community College and Albany University with a degree in business and marketing. He is the recipient of the 2007 United States Small Business Administration Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, the Senator Steven and Linda Saland Community Service Award and the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award, is an inductee in the Dutchess Community College Alumni Hall of Fame, and has been recipient of several other industry and recognition awards. Castella’s commitment to community is evidenced by his involvement as a committee volunteer, event emcee and by serving as a board member for numerous nonprofits. He has served Arts Mid-Hudson, Alzheimer’s Association of the Hudson Valley, Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce, American Heart Association, Rebuilding Together, MidHudson Regional Hospital and as Trustee for Dutchess Community College, to name a few. Since January 2015, Frank has been President and CEO of the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce and President of The Chamber Foundation.
Frank’s love for working with his hands has inspired him to own and work on classic cars, and restore an 1840’s Greek revival, where his wife, Jennifer and son, Frankie III, reside in Union Vale.
Dr. Donna Moss received her B.A. (History) and M.S. (Social Science Education) from SUNY Oneonta and her Ph.D. in Educational Administration from Syracuse University. Dr. Moss has been a building administrator at all levels K-12 and was an Assistant Superintendent/Director for Curriculum and Instruction in Amsterdam, Highland, and Hampton Bays School Districts. She also was the Supervisor for Research and Development at Ulster County BOCES and most recently oversaw a SED grant based at Ulster BOCES focusing on assessment training for schools in the three county area. She now serves as a Consultant and Interim Administrator in NYS and NJ.
Dr. Moss has conducted trainings and presented in NYS and at national Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) conferences, and she has numerous publications. She has been recognized statewide and nationally including having been elected President of NYSASCD and of NYS Congress of School Administrator Organizations and served on ASCD Board of Directors; she was honored by ASCD’s African American Critical Issues Network for her work with that group. Dr. Moss was one of the founders of and elected President of the Mid-Hudson Women in Educational Leadership and served on the Board and as Vice Chair for NYS Association for Women in Administration. She was a member of the NYS Education Department Commissioner’s Ad Hoc Advisory Committee on Early Children and the Education Department’s Staff and Curriculum Network. Dr. Moss was honored as an Alumni of Distinction by SUNY Oneonta in 2014.
Dr. Moss serves as a member of the Health Alliance Foundation Board, SUNY Ulster VATEA-Perkins Grant Advisory Committee, and SUNY Oneonta School of Education Dean’s Professional Educators Council. She was on the Kingston Hospital Board of Directors and chaired the Broadway Campus Quality Assurance Committee for many years. She has served on other community Boards, including Family of Woodstock, Ulster County AIDS Task Force, Ulster County School-to-Work, and Ulster Youthbuild. She is a member of the Ulster County Chamber of Commerce, Arts Society of Kingston, Saugerties Fish and Game Club, and other groups. She also owns Donna Moss Greeting Cards and sells her cards at Adams FairAcre Farms Store in Lake Katrine Married to Joseph Lewis she resides in Kingston, NY. She loves photography, painting, and the arts and has exhibited regionally.
Charles “Charlie” North is the retired President of the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. North began his career when he became the youngest officer in the Port Chester Volunteer Fire Department, also becoming the youngest captain ever to serve the department. He was previously the Vice President and Business Development Officer of Norstar Bank and Vice President of Marketing, Public Relations and Business Development at Riverside Bank. In addition to banking, he has worked in radio as Vice President of Public Relations for WKIP and Q92.1 FM. He is actively involved in fostering local commerce, working with nonprofit organizations, and serving his community.
Presently, Mr. North serves on the Board of Visitors of Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital and the Board of The Lutheran Care Center at Concord Village. He has received numerous humanitarian awards, including the prestigious Dale Carnegie Leadership Community Service Award, given annually to less than 20 people worldwide, and the Distinguished Citizens Award-Boy Scouts of America, which is bestowed upon individuals who have demonstrated integrity and genuine concern for others in both their professional and personal lives.
Mr. North has called Dutchess County home since 1982. He is married to Joanne, his wife of 45 years; together, they have two sons, Alexander and Joseph.
In the dynamic world of broadcast radio, Marisa Perez Rogers has been a standout figure for over a quarter of a century. With a career spanning 25 years, Marisa has not only witnessed the evolution of the industry but has also played a pivotal role in its growth. Currently, she holds the position of General Sales Manager at Radio Woodstock, WDST, 100.1 FM, where her leadership and vision have been instrumental in shaping the station’s success.
Marisa’s journey in the broadcast industry is marked by her dedication and passion for connecting with the community. Her commitment extends beyond the airwaves into significant community service. In 2013, she took her talents to the HealthAlliance Foundation Board, where she has been a vital member, contributing her expertise to further health and wellness in her community.
Her leadership qualities shone brightly during her tenure as chair of the Tulip Ball Committee, a role she excelled in for five years. Under her guidance, the Tulip Ball not only raised substantial funds for healthcare initiatives but also became a highlight of the social calendar in her community. Marisa’s organizational skills and attention to detail have also seen her hold the position of secretary, where she continues to make significant contributions.
Further expanding her impact, Marisa is a trustee on the UCSPCA board, demonstrating her deep love and concern for animal welfare. Her role as chair of the Radio Woodstock Cares Foundation underscores her commitment to leveraging the power of radio to support and uplift the community, embodying the spirit of giving back that defines her career and personal life.
Away from her professional and community service endeavors, Marisa’s heart belongs to her family. Married to Rafael, she is the proud mother of three successful adult children. Together, they reside in Shokan, New York, where Marisa finds solace and rejuvenation in the beauty of the outdoors. An avid biker, she enjoys exploring the trails around the Ashokan Reservoir, and she is no stranger to the tennis courts nearby, where she engages in friendly matches. For Marisa, these moments of leisure are not just about relaxation but about celebrating life and the beauty of her surroundings with friends and family.
Bill Madden serves as the director of New York communications and government affairs for Veolia. In this role, he is responsible for the company’s government relations, media relations, community relations and customer communications in Rockland, Westchester and Orange counties.
Prior to joining Veolia, Bill spent 12 years in senior management roles at two of the region’s premier agencies. He was the founder and president of Madden Communications and Marketing LLC, the leading public relations agency in Rockland County from 2002 to 2010.
He also managed national and international communications programs at KPMG, a global accounting firm, after a 19-year career with Gannett, the nation’s largest newspaper company. While with Gannett, Bill served in managing editor roles for The Journal News in Westchester and Rockland counties.
Bill serves on a number of business and community boards. Currently, he is a member of the St. Thomas Aquinas College Board of Trustees and the board of directors for the Rockland Business Association, Leadership Rockland and Cornell Cooperative Extension. He also currently serves as the Chair of the Executive Leadership Committee of the Rockland Alzheimer’s Walk.
Bill has a B.S. in Accounting from St. Thomas Aquinas College and is a member of the college’s Alumni Hall of Fame.
Patricia Simone is currently the president of Simone Management Group, the management and operations arm of Simone Development Companies. Patricia oversees the day-to-day management and operations for Simone’s roughly 7 million square-foot portfolio. Her professional recognition includes being named one of Bisnow’s New York Power Women in Real Estate and receiving the “40 under 40” as well as the Hall of Fame Women in Business Success Award from the Business Council of Westchester. Patricia frequently participates in commercial real estate panels and is an active member on the Board of Directors for the Business Council of Westchester and the Fordham University Real Estate Institute. Patricia has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Emory University as well as a Master’s degree from the New York University Schack Institute of Real Estate.
Julie Fareri Zielinski, Esq, is CEO of Fareri Associates, a family-owned and operated company based in Greenwich, CT that specializes in real estate development, investment and construction in Westchester County, N.Y., and Fairfield County, CT.
Ms. Zielinski, who has more than two decades of real estate development experience, oversees the day-to-day operations of leasing, property management, financing, and acquisitions. The company’s recent projects include 500 West Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT, 585 West Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT 16 Old Track and J Lofts Greenwich in Greenwich, CT, Greenwich Office Park, and1162 East Putnam Avenue and J Lofts Riverside, Greenwich, CT.
Ms. Zielinski began her career in property management while attending law school. A graduate of Boston University, cum laude, Ms. Zielinski earned her law degree from Pace University School of Law where she was awarded a Trustee Scholarship, Stuart Shamberg Scholarship for Excellence in Development Law. She was also a Pace Land Use Law Center Intern, Ranking Scholar and was on the Dean’s List. She is admitted to practice in New York and Connecticut bars and holds a New York real estate brokers license.
Ms. Zielinski is an Advisory Board Member of First Bank of Greenwich and United Way of Greenwich. She is also an Executive Board Member of the Greenwich International Film Festival and is active in fundraising for the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital.
The Rev. Dr. Hugh B. Marriott serves as the Vice President and Executive Board Member of the African American Men of Westchester, Inc. He also serves as a Board Certified Staff Chaplain at the Westchester Medical Center, Adjunct Full Professor at Long Island University’s Brooklyn Campus and Pastor of the Allen Temple AME Church in Mount Vernon, NY.
Previously, Dr. Marriott served for almost 16 years with Verizon as their Director of National Contracts and Energy with responsibilities for an almost 140 million square foot Portfolio and overseeing a budget of just under $1B. He developed powerful partnerships while successfully increasing value to Verizon through multiple contract dispute settlements, contract consolidations and energy efficiency programs.
Dr. Marriott holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electrical Engineering, a Master of Science degree in Telecommunications Management, a Master of Divinity degree in Theology and a Doctor of Ministry degree in Global Christian Leadership. Dr. Marriott is a Silver Life member of the NAACP and serves on the Board of Directors for the Westchester County Homeowner’s Coalition Inc. and for Westchester County Crimestoppers Inc. He is a recipient of the 2004 Harlem YMCA Black Achiever in Industry award and the 2003 Verizon Excellence award for his efforts related to the recovery from the September 11, 2001 disaster.
Dr. Marriott resides with his wife in Mount Vernon, New York and boast two children and three grandchildren.