Chairman
T. RICHARD FITZGERALD
CEO, Sound Associates, Inc.

Richard was born in the Woodlawn section of the Bronx and has been a Yonkers resident since 1968.  He graduated from Archbishop Stepinac High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from Parsons College.  As an officer in the NY State Army National Guard, he served for six years with the 101st Signal Battalion in Yonkers. 

Richard received a Tony Award in 1980 for his introduction of the Infrared Listening Systems to aid hearing-impaired patrons in Broadway Theatres.  Since then he has designed the sound systems for more than one hundred plays and musicals.  He has been nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award, a Drama Desk Award, a Lucile Lortel Award, and two Ovation Awards for his Broadway and Off-Broadway sound designs.  Richard has served as Chief Executive Officer for Sound Associates, Inc. for twenty years, recently accepting from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services the Secretary’s Highest Recognition Award for “distinguished contributions in the development and application of new and innovative assistive technologies.”

Vice Chairman
DAVID WESTIN
President, ABC News

David Westin was born in Flint, Michigan, and has been a resident of Yonkers since 1997, the year he became president of ABC News. Mr. Westin is responsible for all aspects of ABC News’ broadcasts, including oversees ABC News Radio, ABCNEWS.com, ABC News’ affiliate service, NewsOne, and ABC News Now, the groundbreaking 24/7 multi-media news channel.

From September 1994 until being named to his current position, David served as president, ABC Television Network. He joined Capital Cities/ABC (now ABC, Inc.) as vice president and general counsel in February 1991, responsible for all legal affairs of the company, including labor relations and government relations. Before joining ABC, David was a partner in Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering.  Mr. Westin taught international civil litigation as an adjunct law professor at Harvard and Georgetown universities. He is co-author of “International Civil Litigation in U.S. Courts and International Law.”

Mr. Westin serves on the board of The Associated Press as its sole outside director from a broadcast news division and also sits on the board of the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Mr. Westin received a BA degree with honors and distinction from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and a JD degree, summa cum laude, from the Law School of the University of Michigan.

Treasurer
JOSEPH CURTO, JR.
President, Yonkers Tennis Center

Joseph Curto Jr., is the owner and operator of Yonkers Tennis Center, and is also a partner in Curco Operating Company and JoMale Realty Corp., Yonkers-based real estate management and development companies.

He is an active member of his Cold Spring, NY community, currently serving on the Haldane School Foundation and the Board of Trustees of the Julia L. Butterfield Memorial.

Secretary
ALAN LITT
President, Kohl Partners

Alan Litt serves as President  of Kohl Partners and Senior Vice President of JH Mack, Kohl's construction affiliate. He is also an Executive Vice President and Founding Member of Castle Senior Living, LLC.

Mr. Litt has over 15 years of  experience as a real estate developer, specializing in the construction of institutional facilities - specifically assisted living facilities, nursing homes, medical facilities, houses of worship, schools, community centers and office complexes. He is a board member of Temple Emanuel of Closter, NJ, as well as the Solomon Schechter School, and a consultant to various not-for-profit religious and educational institutions. He received a B.S. Degree in Finance from New York University.

ROSALBA DEL VECCHIO, PhD.
Director of the Master Program for School Leaders, St. John's University

Dr. Rosalba Del Vecchio is a professor and director of the Master Program for School Leaders at St. John’s University, The School of Education, Department of Administrative and Instructional Leadership, Queens, NY. She is a former school district and school building administrator, staff developer, grant writer and special projects director. At St. John’s University, she advises over 300 students in a successful, oversubscribed preparation program for school leadership and participates in several social justice projects.

Dr. Del Vecchio began her career in education as a teacher of Spanish, Italian, French, and Creative Writing, advancing her career in the field of administration to the management of over $ 60 million in categorical and competitive grants in an urban/suburban district in New York State. She received her doctoral degree, with distinction, from Fordham University, specializing in Educational Leadership, Administration and Policy. Dr. Del Vecchio has also studied at the University of London, at the University of Ryazan, Russia, at The University of Perugia, Italy, and at Yale University. A former Fulbright and National Endowment for the Humanities Fellow, she is Vice President of the Fulbright Association of Greater New York and is serving on its Board for over ten years. She also serves as a member of a private school Board of Directors and an active member of several professional organizations.

KAREN GAIL PATRICE EDMONSON
Managing Editor, McGraw-Hill Companies

Karen Edmonson was born in Kingston, Jamaica. She is a graduate of Gorton High School of Yonkers and earned a B.A. in Political Science from Virginia State University.

Ms. Edmonson’s record of community involvement began with the Museum School 25 PTA where she served as an officer. She went on to serve as the Vice-President of the Nepperhan Community Center’s PTA. Karen also joined the NAACP and became the Education Chair at a critical time during the desegregation settlement negotiations in 1999. She worked as an advocate to resolve disputes and address parental concerns in the Yonkers Public Schools. She also advocated for more diversity on the Yonkers Board of Trustees. In March of 2004, she was elected President of the Yonkers Branch of NAACP and is currently serving a second two-year term.

Karen Edmonson has been a member of the Mayor’s Parental Involvement Task Force and wrote the widely disseminated summary of the 5-year Desegregation Plan on their behalf.

KENNETH J. ENGEL
Vice President, Human Resources, American Sugar Refining, Inc.

Ken Engel is Vice President, Human Resources for American Sugar Refining, Inc., Domino Foods, Inc., C&H Sugar, Inc., and Redpath Sugar, Inc.  Mr. Engel has 30 years of Human Resource experience, 14 of which have been at the executive level with such companies as United Technologies, Sun Chemical, Philips Services, and US Foodservice. 

Ken has directed the HR needs of workforces of up to 18,000 associates spread across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Central and South America, and Bermuda. Ken holds a Bachelors Degree in Economics from Rutgers University (where he graduated Magna Cum Laude) and a Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of Miami.

EDWARD FERGUS, Ph. D.
Director, Research, Metropolitan Center for Urban Education
New York University

Edward Fergus, Ph.D., Director of Research and Evaluation at the Metropolitan Center for Urban Education, New York University, has spent his professional career working on education reform. He has conducted research on education policy, analyzed issues plaguing low-performing public school districts, and advised numerous school districts throughout the country.

Dr. Fergus currently serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Hunter College and on the Board of Directors of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity and the Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University.

MATTHEW FINKLE
Senior Vice President, Related Affordable

Matt Finkle joined Related in December 2003 and is responsible for acquisitions. Since joining the company, he has closed over $300 million in affordable housing transactions nationwide, helping propel Related Apartment Preservation to becoming one of the largest owners of affordable housing in the county.

Matt began his career in General Electric’s Management Development Program, where he was promoted into roles of increasing management responsibility in the Consumer Finance businesses. In 1994, GE asked him to move to Japan, where he spent the next 3 years integrating $2 billion worth of acquisitions and reengineering operations to reduce cost and improve quality. Upon repatriating to the United States in 1998, Matt earned his MBA with Honors in Finance from Columbia Business School. After graduation, Matt joined Booz-Allen & Hamilton’s Operations Management Practice, where he helped Fortune 500 clients reduce more than $500 million in cost from their operations. He then left Booz-Allen to join Related. In addition to his MBA, Matt holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Georgetown University. He lives in Westport, CT.

ANTHONY GALLINARI
Vice President, First Hartford Realty Corp.

Anthony Gallinari, VP of Acquisitions for First Hartford Realty, a real estate development company based in Manchester, Conn., has extensive experience in all forms of retail development. He served as President of the Music Conservatory of Westchester from 1996 through 1999, where he oversaw the acquisition, financing, and construction of a new school facility and earned a Kresge Challenge Grant for its successful capital campaign.

A graduate of New York Law School, Mr. Gallinari is a member of New York State and Connecticut Bar Associations. Mr. Gallinari is also a member of International Council of Shopping Centers.

MARION GREENUP, MPH, M.Ed.
Vice President, Administration, Simons Foundation

Marion Greenup joined the Simons Foundation, a non-profit organization in New York City focused on advancement in math and science research, as Vice President for Administration in 2007. She is responsible for developing and managing administrative systems and policies to support the Foundation’s programs.

Ms. Greenup earned an undergraduate degree in psychology from Harriet Sophie Newcomb College, a Masters of Arts in Education in Early Childhood Development from Tulane University, and a Masters of Public Health from Columbia University School of Public Health. She has worked in health and university administration for over 20 years. Ms. Greenup has worked as Administrative Director of the New York University Child Study Center and Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Assistant Vice President of Administration at Columbia University Health Sciences and Department Administrator of Pediatrics at Columbia University. She also served as Senior Vice President of Education and Health Promotion at the March of Dimes, where she led the development of educational programs for consumers and health professionals.

Ms. Greenup has lived in Yonkers for more than 11 years. She has supported Yonkers Partners in Education by serving on the advisory committee. Her volunteer experience also includes: New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation-Past Presidents’ Council, New Orleans; The Foresight Project, Inc., Ayers, MA; Board of Directors of Amsterdam Nursing Home Corporation, New York City; and the ACT Committee of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York City.

ROBERT LEGGIO
Managing Partner, Zuppa Restaurant and Lounge

Robert Leggio is a lifelong resident of Westchester County.  Shortly after college he began working as manager of a division of VS Construction and then moved on to work at Westchester Restaurant Supply where he managed a staff over forty people and sold over a million dollars in goods

In 2002, Robert formed the Damaro Restaurant Group with two other partners, a move that enabled him to open Zuppa Restaurant and Lounge, in March 2003, which received earned raves reviews in various widely circulated publications. On the heels of Zuppa, Robert opened Andiamo, a health-conscious whole food store, and started Bianca Realty Corporation. 

Robert is very active in the civic and business communities where he works and lives.  In addition to YPIE, he is also seated on the board of Yonkers Business Improvement, Lower Hudson Valley Loan Development and the Work Enforcement Board. He was YPIE’s honoree in 2008 at its first annual fundraising gala.

CARL PETRILLO
President and CEO of Yonkers Contracting Company, Inc.

Carl Petrillo has served as President and CEO of Yonkers Contracting Company, Inc. since 1978. During his tenure, his vision and guidance have made the family-owned firm one of the most well respected businesses in the construction industry. Building on the success of his father, Edward J. Petrillo, Carl transformed Yonkers Contracting Company from the large earthmoving firm of the ‘40s and ‘50s to today’s diverse construction company with expertise in all areas of heavy construction and recognized as a leader in the Tri-State region. Yonkers Contracting Company has worked on many of the Tri-State area’s most historic and recognizable structures and facilities, including New York’s Penn Station, Grand Central Terminal, the Brooklyn Bridge and most of the major freeways and historic bridges in the metropolitan area.

In addition to his success in his industry, Carl is a respected philanthropist and community leader. He has been widely recognized by numerous organizations in both the public and private sectors and his dedication to the construction industry, charitable organizations, higher education and scores of other causes has earned much recognition for service over the years. Among his many offices, Carl is a member of the Board of Trustees of Lehigh University and is a founder and director of the newly established Westchester Bank.

NANCY A. SHENKER
CEO & Founder, theONswitch®

Nancy A. Shenker has lived in Westchester for 21 years, where in 2003 she founded theONswitch, a boutique marketing consulting company specializing in start-ups, transformations, launches, and social media. Her company works with clients throughout Yonkers, as well as nationally, and areas of expertise include real estate, health and wellness, retail, education and summer camps, and service businesses.

Nancy previously held executive marketing positions at major brand companies, including MasterCard International, Citibank, and Reed Exhibitions. Nancy is frequently quoted in business press regarding social media marketing and other relevant topics. She is a Contributing Editor to The New York Enterprise Report and Canada Camps magazines. She has served as President of the Association for Women in Communications Westchester/Fairfield, volunteered for PENCIL’s Principal for a Day program, and guest lectures at New York University. She holds a Bachelors Degree in English and Psychology from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She completed the Executive Marketing Communications Program at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and received a Graduate Diploma in Book Publishing from New York University.

THOMAS SMITH, Esq.
Partner, Smith, Buss, and Jacobs LLC

Thomas Smith Esq., Partner at Smith, Buss and Jacobs, specializes in commercial read estate development and urban retail redevelopment. Mr. Smith has served as a member of the New York Attorney General’s Martin Act Task Force and as the former Chairman of the Mount Kisco Zoning Board of Appeals. He is a founder and the current secretary of the Council of Westchester Co-ops and Condominiums (CWCC) and has served on the Board of the Southern New York Chapter of the Community Associations Institute. He currently serves as a member of the Board of The Westchester Bank, which opened in Spring 2008.

NICK SPRAYREGEN
President, Rising Development LLC & Rising Media Group LLC

Nick Sprayregen has expertise in both the real estate and publishing industries. Since 1992, he has been a general partner at Tuck-It-Away Associates, L.P., a commercial real estate company specializing in self storage properties.

In 2006, he also became a managing member of Rising Development Co., specializing in residential and commercial real estate in downtown Yonkers. And, in 2007, he added the role of President and Publisher of Rising Publications, a nine-newspaper weekly chain of weekly publications.

Nick also sits on the Board of Directors the Yonkers Chamber of Commerce, Police Athletic League, and Downtown Waterfront BID.

OLGA LUZ TIRADO
President, LT Communications

After an illustrious career in advertising and creative services, including producing a one-hour documentary, Olga Luz Tirado founded LTCOMMUNICATIONS in 1992. During this time she continued to co-produce various television pilots and mini-documentaries winning several awards and earning an Emmy nomination for a documentary entitled Word Up: Stop the Violence.

Ms. Tirado has received numerous awards, including the 1999 WBE Excellence Award (NYS Governor’s Office); the 1999 Hispanic Magazine Latina Excellence Award; the 2000 Governor’s Award for Excellence (NYS Division for Women); 2004 Business Woman of the Year Award (NYS Federation of Hispanic Chambers of Commerce); 2005 Outstanding Achievement Award for Arts and Communications (YWCA’s Salute to Women and Racial Justice). In addition she was featured as one of El Diario/La Prensa’s Outstanding Latinas and in the book 100+ Puerto Rican Women Achievers. Ms. Tirado is a published writer and poet.

JAMES J. VENERUSO, Esq.
Corporate Secretary & Legal Counsel

James J. Veneruso is a member of the law firm of Veneruso, Curto, Schwartz and Curto in Yonkers. His professional and business associations include the New York State Bar Association Florida Bar Association, West. County Bar Association, Columbian Lawyers’ Assoc. and the Hudson Valley Bank Business Development Board. Additionally, for several years he has served on the Board of the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corp. Jim attended Widener University and New York University Law School. He has served as Associate Editor of the Corporate Law Review, the Editorial Board of the Westchester County Bar Journal, was a founding member of the Board of Editors of the Pace Law Review and served as President of the John Marshall Honor Society.

Jim is very active in civic and charitable organizations. He serves on the Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity, the Generoso Pope Foundation and is a founding Board member of Heartsong Inc. which provides music and art therapy programs for children with disabilities.