Joye Brown, Columnist, Newsday: Ms. Brown has worked at Newsday for more than 20 years as a reporter, editor, administrator and editorial writer. Before coming to Newsday, she worked as a reporter for the News and Observer in Raleigh, N.C. and the Chicago Tribune. She grew up in Washington, D.C., and now lives in Suffolk with her husband, two children, two kittens and a tortoise.   Back to Top

Ann Golob, Director, Long Island Index: Drawing on her research and analytical background, Dr. Golob developed business expertise in strategic planning, knowledge management, relationship management, and process-improvement initiatives. For six years, she oversaw an indicators project that monitored and measured overall service delivery at Chase's 1,000-employee customer service center located in Jericho , NY . Dr. Golob holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from City University of New York Graduate Center and has 20 years of management experience at several Fortune 200 companies. She resides with her husband and their son in Port Washington.   Back to Top

Chris Jones, Vice President of Research, Regional Plan Association: Mr. Jones is responsible for directing RPA's economic, housing, transportation and urban development research. He is currently overseeing RPA's research for property tax reform, regional housing strategies, community development initiatives and transportation finance. He is also leading efforts to develop a regional visioning initiative on Long Island and other parts of the Tri-State region. Since joining RPA in 1994, he has authored several reports on regional development, economic and workforce issues. Prior to joining RPA, Mr. Jones was the Special Assistant to the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Development in New York City . He has a Masters Degree in Urban Planning from Hunter College of the City University of New York.   Back to Top

Sarah Lansdale, Executive Director, Sustainable Long Island . Ms. Lansdale has a diverse background, bringing experience in fundraising, environmental studies, and urban planning to Sustainable Long Island. She has extensive community development experience, including two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala . Ms. Lansdale holds a Masters Degree in Urban Planning from New York University and a Bachelor's of Science in Environmental Studies and Agricultural Economics.  She serves on the Suffolk County Planning Commission, and is on the board of several nonprofits including the Women Economic Developers of Long Island and the Long Island Organizing Network; she is also a member of Molloy College 's Energia Partnership. Recognized as a rising star by the Long Island Business News “40 Under 40” program in 2006, Ms. Lansdale has been honored by the National Association of Women Business Owners and 100 Black Men of Long Island.   Back to Top

The Reverend Patrick G. Duggan, Nassau County Executive for Economic Development: Rev. Duggan, Sustainable Long Island's first Executive Director, has served as Pastor of the Congregational Church of South Hempstead/United Church of Christ since 1995. As Deputy County Executive for Economic Development, he oversees a $75 million organization of 100 employees. Rev. Duggan is responsible for advancing County Executive Suozzi's 10-point economic development plan to retain and attract business, increase the number of living wage jobs, and produce more Next Generation housing. Under Duggan's leadership, Nassau County Economic Development has secured the first Empire Zone in the County's history; completed the economic analysis of the Nassau Coliseum redevelopment proposal; completed the first phase of the Nassau HUB transportation Management Information Study (MIS);  secured $21 million in federal grants for Phase II of the HUB MIS; and broken ground on four of eight development deals in the historic $60 million New Cassel Revitalization. Rev. Duggan and his wife, Patricia, reside in Nassau County with their three sons.    Back to Top

Honorable Richard V. Guardino, Vice President for Business Development, Hofstra University: Mr. Guardino heads up The Scott Skodnek Business Development Center,  a multidisciplinary center offering  human and technological resources for business support and education, as well as community services. He is also the Executive Dean of Hofstra's Center for Suburban Studies, which is devoted to researching suburban issues throughout the nation, including affordable housing, health care, transportation, education, energy policy, homeland security, smart growth and consolidation of services. He served as the Supervisor of the Town of Hempstead from 1998 to 2003 and 1993 to 1995. Mr. Guardino, an attorney admitted to both the New York and Florida Bars, specialized in both commercial transactions and real estate. He received his B.A. from William & Mary and his J.D. from William & Mary Law School.    Back to Top

 

Jon Kaiman, Supervisor, Town of North Hempstead : As one of the chief architects of the Town's Environmental Legacy Fund, Mr.Kaiman has continued to fight to preserve and replenish open space and protect the Town of North Hempstead 's environment. He instituted North Hempstead 's annual Earth Day Program and Operation Clean Sweep in April 2004. He also helped push the Town towards environmentally friendly alternatives, including the purchasing of seven new hybrid SUV's for the Town's fleet of vehicles. Mr. Kaiman is an advocate of Community Based Planning. Beginning in 2004, the Town hosted numerous community meetings throughout North Hempstead to address local concerns relating to development projects, planning decisions, park improvements, roadway improvements and other local issues. Mr. Kaiman lives in Great Neck with his wife and three children.   Back to Top

Honorable May W. Newburger, Director, Nassau County Planning Federation: Prior to her current role, Ms. Newburger served for five terms as the Supervisor of the Town of North Hempstead, where she enacted a number of major environmental laws, along with laws to combat domestic abuse and assist families with child care programs. During her term, she transformed the Town's finances from an $8.5 million deficit to a net surplus of approximately $15 million. Her accomplishments included instituting pesticide-free town facilities; strengthening the ethics laws of the Town; passing a law creating a five-acre zoning in the Special Groundwater Protection Areas of the Towns; passing the first Environmental Bond Act in Nassau County; and spearheading  the revitalization of the New Cassel community. Ms. Newburger's numerous recognitions include awards from the Nassau County League of Women Voters, the New York State League of Conservation Voters, and Woman of the Year from New York Institute of Technology.    Back to Top

Julius Walls, President and CEO, the Greyston Bakery and the Senior Vice President for Business for the Greyston Foundation: Described by CBS news as “a role model for companies that want to inject some social action into their business,” The Greyston Bakery hires men and women who have little or no credentialed work experience, many of whom have come to Greyston with backgrounds that include homelessness, incarceration, substance abuse, welfare dependence, domestic violence and illiteracy. As its leader, Mr. Walls encourages employees to bring their whole self to work, including their cultural and spiritual selves. His manner of being has motivated employees to be their most productive at work as well as supported their personal growth. Mr. Walls serves on over 10 boards including as the Chair on the Workforce Investment Board in Yonkers, and as a board member on the Social Enterprise Alliance, and NYS Empire Zone-Yonkers. Mr. Walls has spoken extensively throughout the country on the topics of Social Ventures and Social Purpose Businesses, Spirituality in the Workplace, and Business Development in the Inner City.   Back to Top

Larinzo D. Clayton, Esq., Board member, Unified New Cassel Community Revitalization Corporation: Mr. Clayton is currently President of the Law Office of Larinzo D. Clayton, P.C.  Prior to heading up his own practice in August 2004, Mr. Clayton was an associate at Long Island's largest law firm, Rivkin Radler LLP.  He worked in Rivkin Radler's Uniondale office in the Insurance & Litigation Practice Group. Mr. Clayton received an Associates Degree in African-American History from Nassau Community College, a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from Hofstra University and a Juris Doctorate from Hofstra's School of Law. His practice includes residential real estate, wills and estates, and all aspects of personal injury and general liability litigation and trials.  Mr. Clayton was a certified contract advisor from 1996 to 2001. He represented National Football League Players in a wide range of litigation and trial issues. Mr. Clayton, who resides in Freeport, serves as a Deacon, Adult Sunday School Teacher, New Disciples Instructor and General Counsel at the First Baptist Cathedral of Westbury and the Unified New Cassel Community Revitalization Corp. (“UNCCRC”).    Back to Top

Matthew T. Crosson, President, Long Island Association: Mr. Crosson is the President of the Long Island Association Inc., the Long Island region's principal business and civic organization. He is a trustee or director of many not-for-profit organizations on Long Island and in New York City . He hosts the weekly news program, “The Cutting Edge,” which is broadcast throughout the tri-state region on WLNY-TV, as well as “News 55 Focus” on the same station. Mr. Crosson was an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney's Office, Assistant Counsel to Governor Mario M. Cuomo responsible for legislation and other matters relating to the justice system, and Deputy Chief Administrator for Management Support of the New York State Unified Court System. He served as Chief Administrator of the New York State Unified Court System from 1989 to 1993. He resides in Huntington with his wife and son.   Back to Top

Elaine Gross, President, ERASE Racism: Throughout her career, Ms. Gross has focused on exploring the systemic causes of social, political, and economic inequities and finding ways to counteract those inequities. ERASE Racism identifies and addresses institutional and structural racism in housing, public school education and healthcare, promoting racial equity by conducting research, leading public policy advocacy campaigns and providing organizational assessment and education services to institutions. Among her numerous accomplishments, Ms. Gross served as the founding Executive Director of Sustainable America, a New York-based national NGO that promoted sustainable, equitable development practices and policies. Today, she serves on the Long Island Regional Planning Board, the Executive Committee of the Sustainable Long Island Board of Directors, the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island Board, the Advisory Board of Vital Signs at Adelphi University , the Advisory Committee of the Long Island Index of the Rauch Foundation and the Advisory Board of The Energeia Partnership.   Back to Top

Steve Levy, Suffolk County Executive: Mr. Levy is a fiscal conservative whose “do more with less” philosophy helped pull the county out of a $238 million budget. He is making the county more affordable not only by cutting taxes but by increasing the stock of housing through his Workforce Housing Commission that has identified numerous sites throughout Suffolk appropriate for affordable housing. He has transformed a scandal-ridden, dormant open space program into an aggressive preservation program, banning outside business conflicts, placing the program under the guidance of a renowned environmentalist, and creating a master list of 5,000 acres of environmentally sensitive properties and farmland parcels targeted for acquisition and/or preservation. He also helped broker a $75 million open space bond and created a $100 million Environmental Legacy Fund to be used for partnership acquisitions of open space and farmland.   Back to Top

Thomas Suozzi, Nassau County Executive: Under Mr. Suozzi's innovative leadership, Nassau County 's bond rating has been upgraded 11 times in less than three years, more than any other municipality in the nation. Nassau County is now rated in the “A” ranks by Moody's, Fitch and Standard and Poor's for the first time in over 12 years. Mr. Suozzi's initiatives include the creation of “No Wrong Door,” a national model of a consolidated health and human services delivery system, a minority health task force to address health care disparities, brownfields environment clean-up and the construction of new affordable housing for young workers and senior citizens. A highly effective manager, Mr. Suozzi's business-like approach to government resulted in what Smith's Ratings and Research Review , an independent investor watchdog group, called “ one of the top three turnaround stories in the nation .”    Back to Top

Deidra Parrish Williams, Community Affairs Manager, Newsday:   Ms. Parrish Williams oversees Newsday's public facing initiatives: public relations; the Publisher's outreach efforts; executive board development; Newsday Charities' fundraising and grant making; employee giving; and community service newspaper programs such as FutureCorps and Community Champions. Prior to joining Newsday, Ms. Parrish Williams worked as manager of internal communications for Girl Scouts of the USA , and in 2002 she worked in the administration of Thomas Suozzi as director of communications for the Office of Economic Development. She serves on the board of directors for Project Grad Long Island and is an advisory committee member with the Long Island Works Coalition and Sustainable Long Island.  She was awarded a community leadership award from the Education Assistance Corporation Inc. in 2007.   Back to Top

Roger Clayman, Executive Director, Long Island Federation of Labor: The Long Island Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, the central labor council for local unions on Long Island, represents 250,000 union members and their families in Nassau and Suffolk Counties in the public and private sectors, including construction, retail, utilities, and transportation as well as county and municipal workers and teachers. Their mission is to represent the collective needs of Long Island 's labor movement. The group is concerned with economic development as a vehicle to produce good jobs in safe communities and establish the tax revenues to support the services needed by a vibrant economy. They are supportive of a stable, middle class economy and bridges to that lifestyle for a new generation of workers through unionized jobs with health care and other benefits and affordable housing for younger workers.   Back to Top

Rona Fried, President and Founder, SustainableBusiness.com: Dr. Fried is an expert on sustainable business and environmental issues. SustainableBusiness.com provides global news and networking services to help green business grow. The site offers visitors a unique lens to view the field as a whole: clean energy, green building, green investing, organic products, climate change and all subjects that impact sustainability. SustainableBusiness.com also runs Green Dream Jobs, the only sustainable business job service, and Business Connections, an online networking forum for green businesses. The company publishes Progressive Investor , a h ands-on sustainable investing newsletter. Ms. Fried serves on several Advisory Boards: the WilderHill Clean Energy Index ( ECO), the first index to track the clean energy sector; the Stock Selection Committee for the WilderHill New Energy Global Innovation Index (NEX), which tracks the clean energy sector worldwide; and Greensource Partners, a venture capital firm investing in sustainable early stage companies.   Back to Top

Howard Granat, Vice President, Artisan Columbia Printing and Graphic Communications: In 2001, after many years in marketing and other roles in the radio broadcast business, Mr. Granat joined his family's printing and communications business. An avid environmentalist, he played an instrumental role in Artisan's decision to buy energy from a wind-power supplier, making them the first printer in New York to participate in the Long Island Power Authority's Green Choice program, which supports companies that add wind-generated power. Artisan's commitment to wind power is the environmental clean air equivalent of planting more than 2,600 trees per year while helping reduce the nation's reliance on foreign energy sources.   Back to Top

Honorable Claudine Schneider, former U.S. congresswoman from Long Island and consultant: After serving in the congress from 1980-1990, where she authored and succeeded in the passage of many energy, environmental, international, health and gender-equity pieces of legislation, Ms. Schneider co-founded and served as Senior Vice President of Energia Global, an energy efficiency and renewable energy development company exporting services and technology to Central and South America. She has served in many capacities, including as the Corporate Social Responsibility Advisor to the Board of National Grid, one of the world's largest utilities. Today, as an independent consultant, her work is focused primarily in the field of strategic energy/climate policy. Ms. Schneider serves on the Board of Wilder Hill New Energy Global Innovation Index. She is also on the Board of Trustees of the American Solar Energy Society, the Climate Institute, TERI (Indian) and the Center for Resource Solutions.   Back to Top

Christine Vargas Law, Director of Diversity and Affirmative Action, Stony Brook University Office of Diversity and Affirmative Action and Human Resources. Ms. Vargas Law has responsibility for the University's Affirmative Action Program; coordinating specialized employment outreach activities; and developing and delivering educational, training and orientation programs, workshops and conferences on topics ranging from Diversity Awareness, EEO Law and Discrimination, Cultural Competence and Sexual Harassment Prevention. She serves on the Board of Directors for ERASE Racism and the Stony Brook Alumni Association, and is a member of the American Association of Affirmative Action. Throughout her career, she has displayed a passion for social justice, multiculturalism and diversity and has worked to bring various communities together in partnership with Stony Brook. A resident of Coram, she is the proud mother of three boys.   Back to Top

Russell C. Albanese, President, Albanese Organization Inc.: Mr. Albanese is a dedicated advocate of environmentally responsible development. Anticipating the future significance of environmentally sustainable development, in 2000 Mr. Albanese led his full-service real estate firm in the strategic decision to undertake a leadership position in the emerging field of environmentally advanced urban living. The firm's first green development project, The Solaire, won worldwide acclaim as America's first environmentally engineered residential tower and became the first residential tower in the U.S. to receive a U.S. Green Building Council LEED ® Gold rating. In May 2006, the Albanese Organization was nominated by LIPA and recognized by the Northeast Energy Efficiency Summit for its business commitment to energy efficiency and the redevelopment of 1001 Franklin Avenue in Garden City as its first green commercial building on Long Island. Mr. Albanese was a founding member of the U.S. Green Building Council New York; he also serves as Vice Chair of the Board of the Long Island Museum of Science and Technology.    Back to Top

Peter Caradonna , Principal, Peter Caradonna Architecture and Planning: Since opening the his firm in 1996, Mr. Caradonn has contracted work on a variety of projects that use sustainable gui delines and integrated design. The office is currently working on t he Suffolk County Environmental Center in Islip, The Laurel Hill School in Setauket, and the corporate headquarters for SEATOW , all working with and seeking to achieve LEED certification. The firm also consults with other design teams to assist them in achieving LEED certification for their projects . Mr. Caradonna lectures and teaches high-performance and green building tech nology throughout the country. He has guided the firm to membership in good standing with the U . S . Green Building Council since 2000 and was the first LEED Accredited Professional on Long Island in 2001. He is the immediate past chair of the U . S . Green Building Council's Long Island Chapter. Mr. Caradonna's dedication to transforming the built environment has guided the philosophy and approach to design for the firm.    Back to Top

Tzipora Lubarr, Project Manager for Sustainable Initiatives, New York Industrial Retention Network (NYIRN): NYIRN is a non-profit economic development organization that works with manufacturers to keep decent, well-paying manufacturing jobs in New York City, and to promote economic and environmental justice and sustainable development. Prior to joining NYIRN, Ms. Lubarr was a consultant in corporate sustainable development, working with Fortune 500 companies on corporate esponsibility and environmental management strategies. She has also worked with international environmental NGOs and local environmental education organizations. She has an M.A. from Columbia University.   Back to Top

 

Robert A. Scott, President, Adelphi University: Dr. Scott is the author of often-cited works in scholarly and popular media on global issues, higher education, public policy, and ethics. He has a television show entitled “Exploring Critical Issues,” for which he won a “Telly”; writes a regular column on education for Anton Community Newspapers; serves on the boards of the Long Island Association, the Regional Plan Association, and Global Kids Inc.; and has advised the United States Congress on student financial aid programs. He initiated Adelphi’s “Vital Signs” (social health indicators) and Non-Profit Institute’s programs, and gave impetus to international programming and a more robust calendar of cultural events. Dr. Scott earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at Bucknell University and his PhD. at Cornell University. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and has represented the United States in international negotiations with UNESCO, the Council of Europe, and countries in the Asia-Pacific region.   Back to Top

Randy Spitzer, Assistant Program Manager, Clean Energy Initiative, LIPA: Mr. Spitzer issues policy recommendations and provides oversight on LIPA's Clean Energy Initiative's Commercial and Industrial efficiency programs. He holds a B.A. in Earth System Science and an M.S. in Energy Management with a Certificate in Energy Technology. Prior to joining LIPA in 2004, Mr. Spitzer worked for the United States Geological Survey under the U.S. Department of Interior and Renewable Energy Long Island. He serves on the Board of United States Green Building Council's Long Island Chapter and on the Board of the Conservation Advisory Council of the Village of Port Jefferson.   Back to Top

Gordian Raacke, Founder and Executive Director, Renewable Energy Long Island (RELI): As RELI, a not-for-profit organization, promotes clean and sustainable energy use and generation on Long Island . Mr. Raacke has worked as a consultant on energy issues to the Suffolk County Legislature, participated in the development of New York State Energy Plans and in proceedings before the NY PSC including rate cases, the proceeding on restructuring electric utilities and the proceeding to establish a statewide Renewable Portfolio Standard which requires that 25% of New York State's electricity come from renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and biomass by 2013. He currently heads up the Long Island Solar Roofs Initiative and coordinates public outreach and education efforts with the Long Island Power Authority and a coalition of environmental groups on the proposed Long Island Offshore Wind Park.   Back to Top

Christopher Castro , Owner, Solymar: An environmentalist and solar engineer, Mr. Castro is the founder of Solymar, a LIPA-certified solar installation company, and Solar Café, based in Brentwood, the nation's first café powered by solar energy. Mr. Castro heads up Solar Community Corp., a nonprofit organization that advocates for sustainable living and promotes renewable energy; the group also helps low-income families get renewable energy installed in their homes at a low cost with volunteer labor. Solar Community hosts the annual NY Solar Fest ( www.nysolarfest.org ), a two-day celebration of renewable energy, sustainable living, environmental activism and environmentally responsible business. The event takes place in early summer at the St. Joseph's Academy in Brentwood. Mr. Castro is also a proud member of the Rotary Club and is involved in many service projects, such as the gift of life program, which sponsors children with life threatening diseases for operations and treatments in the U.S. Mr. Castro was named Environmentalist of the Year in 2004 by the Long Island Sierra Club.    Back to Top

Michael Forese, Director of Business Development, Community Energy: Community Energy is a leading marketer and developer of wind energy generation and now a subsidiary of Iberdrola, the largest renewable energy owner and operator in the world. In his role, Mr. Forese drives new wind energy development through the sale of renewable energy certificates to commercial and industrial customers. LIPA customers can support the development of wind energy through the LIPA Green Choice Program. Mr. Foresee holds a Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering and has been involved in various engineering, technical sales and business development roles throughout his career.    Back to Top

Neal Lewis , Executive Director, Neighborhood Network: Mr. Lewis is an attorney and the Executive Director of the L. I. Neighborhood Network, an Island-wide environmental protection organization. The Neighborhood Network's current program priority involves efforts to reduce America's unsustainable reliance on fossil fuels, which pollute our air, contribute to global warming, and put our national security at risk. Their initiative called the Clean Energy Leadership Task Force , is working with local government officials to lead by example — by retrofitting government buildings and converting vehicle fleets. Mr. Lewis and the Neighborhood Network have a multi-issue program agenda that includes: pesticides alternatives, smart growth, transportation alternatives, open space preservation, environmental stewardship, and clean energy initiatives. Some of Mr. Lewis' notable past accomplishments include helping to draft and lobby for passage of the first-in-the-nation Neighbor Notification of Pesticide Spraying Law, and more recently, playing an integral role in the creation of the $150 million 2004 and 2006 Nassau Environmental Protection Bond Acts.    Back to Top

Robert Teetz, Director of Environmental Licensing and Compliance, KeySpan: Mr. Teetz, a graduate of the City University of New York, has over 30 years of environmental policy, licensing and compliance experience in the electric and gas energy business. He is responsible for developing, implementing and managing corporate environmental programs at KeySpan. In this regard he manages air quality and emission compliance programs for over 6200 MWs of electric generating capacity. He represents KeySpan on the NY Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative stakeholder committee and is a past member of the Suffolk County Energy Advisory Committee. Mr. Teetz is currently involved in KeySpan's renewable energy project initiatives including tidal power and biofuel project development and is a past winner of an Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Innovator Award for environmental research related to electric generation.   Back to Top

Fred Zalcman, Executive Director, the Pace Energy Project: Mr. Zalcman has been lead counsel for environmental coalitions in regulatory proceedings in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, promoting electric industry market structures and regulatory policies supportive of energy efficiency, renewable energy and clean distributed generation technologies. He is part of a team of attorneys advising environmental stakeholders on legal issues related to the design and implementation of the Northeast Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the nation's first program to regulate emissions of global warming pollutants from the power sector. Since 2003, Mr. Zalcman has also co-directed the Northeast Combined Heat and Power Application Center. He serves on the New York System Benefits Charge Advisory Group, which provides guidance and counsel to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority on implementation of the $175 million annual New York Energy Smart™ Program. He teaches energy law at Pace Law School and has significant experience in energy and environmental matters, both as an attorney and policy analyst.    Back to Top

Dan Zaweski, Assistant Vice President for Energy Efficiency & Distributed Generation Programs, Long Island Power Authority: Mr. Zaweski maintains primary responsibility for LIPA's Clean Energy Initiative, a 10-year-, $355-million-initiative consisting of a mix of energy efficiency programs and the promotion of clean and renewable generation technologies. He is leading LIPA's efforts on both the Long Island Offshore Wind RFP and 75 MW Demand Side Management RFP, and is also coordinating LIPA's efforts on the New York State Renewable Portfolio Standard. Mr. Zaweski also serves as the Secretary/Treasurer of the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corp. He is a member of the Board and serves as Treasurer of the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships Inc.; is a member of the Board of the Consortium for Energy Efficiency; and is a member of the U.S. Department of Energy's State Energy Advisory Board. He holds a B.A. and M.B.A. with concentrations in management.   Back to Top

Steve Bellone, Supervisor, Town of Babylon: During his service in the Army, Supervisor Bellone earned a Masters Degree in Public Administration and later his Law degree from Fordham University. In 1997, he was elected to the Babylon Town Board in his first run for public office. Supervisor Bellone created the Town of Babylon Beautification program during his first year in office. The initiative combines the energy of nonprofit neighborhood groups, scouts, business owners and others to improve the appearance of intersections, side streets and community parks. Supervisor Bellone also wrote and produced the first made-for-television documentary about the history of the Town of Babylon. He organized the collection and cataloguing of records and cultural artifacts placed in the town's time capsule, buried on the grounds of Babylon Town Hall at the close of the century. Supervisor Bellone began his term as Babylon's 30th Supervisor in January of 2002. He resides in West Babylon with his wife, Tracey.    Back to Top

Michael White , Executive Director, Long Island Regional Planning Board: Mr. White has a long and distinguished background in the environmental field. He received his Juris Doctor from Touro College and has degrees in Environmental Studies and Earth and Space Science from the SUNY Stony Brook. As a partner in the firm of Jaspan Schlesinger Hoffman LLP, he headed the Environmental Law Practice Group and was part of the Municipal Law Practice Group. He concentrated his practice in the areas of environmental law, including the regulation of hazardous substances, Superfunds, brownfields, land use, zoning and more. Mr. White is a member of the statewide Board of the New York League of Conservation Voters and its Education Fund.  He is also on the Board of Governors of the New York State Sea Grant Program, and recently completed a term as its Chair.  Mr. White is the recipient of the Touro College Law Center Pro Bono Attorney of the year in 2004 and the Old Westbury College Foundation Theodore Roosevelt Preservation Award in 2005.    Back to Top

Roslyn D. Goldmacher , President and CEO, Long Island Development Corp: Ms. Goldmacher founded LIDC 27 years ago and it has made over $750 million in small business loans and leveraged $2.5 billion in capital investment into our local community. LIDC has helped entrepreneurs obtain and perform on over $1.5 billion in government contracts with its free counseling service. LIDC has lent money to many of Long Island's women-owned businesses, helping to retain and create thousands of jobs in our economy. Ms. Goldmacher is a noted expert on small business financing and is well known for her philanthropic efforts. She is a regular columnist for Networking Magazine, the New York Real Estate Journal and Building Long Island. She has been honored by numerous entities, including Congress, U.S. Small Business Administration, and Newsday, among many others. She has been involved in numerous efforts to promote women in business through the years, including the creation of LISBAC to offer micro loans and free technical assistance to women owned businesses. She also founded WEDLI (Women Economic Developers of LI.    Back to Top

Stephen M. Jones, CEO, Suffolk County Water Authority: The Water Authority currently operates the largest public water supply in the United States fed exclusively from groundwater, delivering high-quality water to over 1.2 million people. Prior to his appointment as CEO, Mr. Jones served for seven years as the Suffolk County Planning Director; for 10 years in the private sector as Vice President of the New York Institute of Technology; and for 10 years as Islip Commissioner of Planning and Development. His past community and government activities include serving as Chairman of the Suffolk County Planning Commission, and President of the Suffolk County Historical Society. Mr. Jones is a professional planner by training and experience.    Back to Top

Jeff Kraut, Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning and Marketing, Long Island Jewish Health System: Mr. Kraut coordinates the strategic planning, marketing and web-based activities of the North Shore-LIJ Health System, as well as the development of its network of providers through merger, acquisition, or affiliated relationships. He serves on the NYS Hospital Review and Planning Council and is a Board Member of the Nassau Suffolk Hospital Council.  He served as a Regional Advisory Committee member of the NYS Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21 st Century and is a member of the Long Island Committee of the Regional Plan Association.  He assumed a leadership role in the Long Island Index , an indicator report which serves as a catalyst for regional policy and change as well as Vital Signs , a report highlighting the social and health status of Long Island. Mr. Kraut has served on the boards of nursing homes, transplant organizations and early childhood intervention programs.    Back to Top

Julia E. Lynch, Green Project Manager, Full Spectrum NY:  Ms. Lynch overseas the sustainable design efforts of Full Spectrum, a community sustainability development organization specializing in urban Brownfield redevelopments.  Full Spectrum prides itself in creating habitats for people of varying income levels; helping cities create new jobs; designing spaces with environmental sustainability in mind; making use of renewable resources; and lowering the use and cost of energy consumption.   Full Spectrum's development in Harlem, 1400 5 th Ave nue, was the first condo building built in northern Manhattan in decades and has sparked the redevelopment and reinvestment of the entire community.  It was the first green affordable housing built in Manhattan and was awarded the only New York State Green Building Tax Credit given to a condominium    Back to Top

Jennifer E. Rimmer, Vice President for Subsidiary Development, Empire State Development Corp. (ESDC): Ms. Rimmer is responsible for overseeing all subsidiaries in the Downstate portion of New York State, including the redevelopment of the Javits Convention Center, the Moynihan Station, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Queens West, Governors Island, Harlem Community Development Corp., Harriman Research and Technology Park. Ms. Rimmer is also working with Governor Spitzer's office to develop and implement smart growth and sustainability programs that are linked to the State's economic development.  Prior to joining ESDC, Ms. Rimmer was the Executive Director of Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington and worked closely to implement sustainable principals with the elected officials and community. She has a Masters of City Planning from the University of Pennsylvania and lives in Port Washington with her husband and daughters.    Back to Top

Alexie Torres-Flemming , Founder and Executive Director, Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice:  Ms. Torres-Fleming has an extensive background in the areas of youth development, community organizing and environmental justice. Ms. Torres-Fleming has most notably led young people and her community in a six-point campaign to reclaim the Bronx River in their community. She is a recipient of numerous honors, including the Young Adult in Ministry Award from the Latino Pastoral Action Center, the Sowing Hope Award from Bruised Reed Ministry, the 1998 Union Square Award for work in activism and human rights, the 2000 Heroes Award from the Robin Hood Foundation, and the 2001 Local Peacemaker Award from Pax Christi.  In 2005 she received the Helen LaKelly Hunt Neighborhood Leadership Award from the New York Women's Foundation and the Comite Noviembre “Mejor de Nuestra Comunidiad” (Best of Our Community) Award in honor of Puerto Rican Heritage Month. Ms. Torres-Fleming was born and raised in the South Bronx, where she and her husband are raising their son and daughter.    Back to Top