Paul Tonna - Board President
Managing Partner, Praxis Public Relations, Inc.
The Honorable Paul Jude Tonna serves as managing partner of Praxis Public Relations, Inc., a Long Island-based business consulting and government relations company. He is Molloy College’s executive director for The Energeia Partnership, a leadership academy dedicated to identifying & addressing serious, complex & multi-dimensional issues challenging the Long Island region.
Mr. Tonna served from 1994 to 2005 as a Suffolk County legislator & for three years led the Suffolk County Legislature as its presiding officer. During his 12 years of elected office, he was a strong advocate for the poor, homeless & marginalized on Long Island, workforce housing & the environment. He sponsored, co-sponsored & passed numerous laws and/or initiatives including: groundbreaking non-smoking legislation; innovative programs focused on eliminating child poverty & homelessness; legislation designed to elevate the standard of living for all Suffolk County residents; & innovative Greenways Funds to protect open space & farmlands.
Mr. Tonna earned a bachelor’s degree from New York University, a master’s degree from Immaculate Conception Seminary and he conducted doctoral studies at Fordham University. Paul resides in Huntington, New York with his wife Carol and their eight children.
Thomas Telesca - Board Vice President & Treasurer
Partner, Ruskin Moscou Faltischek P.C.
Tom Telesca is an attorney in a private practice on Long Island. His family has been enjoying the bays and offshore waters of the East End since the 1940s. Mr. Telesca continues that tradition with his wife and four children, always with an aim towards conservation and preserving the marine environment for future generations.
Barbara Becker - Board Secretary
Vice President/Senior Commercial Lending Officer, TD Bank NA
Barbara Becker has over 25 years experience in Commercial Lending & Banking. She holds a Bachelors in Business Administration /Finance degree from Hofstra University and also holds aRegistered Nursing degree. She actively serves on other not for profit boards. Barbara is an avid scuba diver and has witnessed first hand the effects of climate change on marine life, coral beds and the oceans.
Matt Aboff - Board Member
Owner, Aboff’s Paints
Matt Aboff is an owner of Aboff’s Paints, one of the largest family owned and operated paint store chains in the country. After graduating from Cold Spring Harbor High School, Matt attended the University of Hartford where he received his bachelor’s degree in finance.
After a short time on Wall Street, Matt decided to join his family’s paint business where he has worked for the past 11 years. Matt was recently honored by the Long Island Business News as a recipient of their 40 Under 40 award in recognition of his role as one of Long Island’s future business leaders.
Matt is also a member of the Energeia Partnership, a diverse group of ethical leaders from Long Island’s public, private, and not for profit sectors that work to address the region’s most complex issues. Matt currently resides in Sag Harbor with his wife Colleen, daughter Ellie, and their beloved bernedoodle Duncan.
Alfred Amato, Esq. - Board Member
Founder, Amato Law Group, PLLC
Alfred L. Amato is the founder and managing partner of Amato Law Group, PLLC, which was established in 1995. Today, the firm is one of the largest real estate and land use firms on Long Island. With a sophisticated real estate practice cultivated over 27 years, Amato Law Group, PLLC strategically focuses on commercial real estate development and transactions, land use and zoning, litigation, telecommunications and renewable energy. The firm represents some of the nation’s largest commercial, industrial and multi-family developers, telecommunication companies, health care and assisted living providers, retailers, and public agencies, along with international energy companies and regional developers and businesses. The firm’s clients depend upon Al’s comprehensive experience to successfully navigate the challenging and complex Long Island development environment. Mr. Amato is admitted to the New York State Bar, the New Jersey State Bar, the United States District Court Eastern District of New York and the United States District Court Southern District of New York. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, the Nassau and Suffolk County Bar Associations, the New Jersey Bar Association and the New York State Wireless Association. Al serves on the board of the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, as well as on the board of the U.S. Green Building Council.
Thomas Barracca - Board Member
Stony Brook University
Thomas Barracca is currently the Associate Director, of Growth and Industry Partnerships in the Office of Economic Development at Stony Brook University (SBU). With more than 25 years of management and engineering experience in the energy industry, Tom works collaboratively to develop and implement innovation projects between SBU’s researchers and incubator companies with industry partners. Tom’s past volunteer activities included East Meadow Little League and Boy Scouts of America where he participated in numerous environmental conservation projects.
Anthony Basile - Board Member
Marcum LLP
Anthony Basile is an assurance services partner in the Firm’s SEC and Technology & Life Sciences Practice groups. He has more than 20 years of experience working with public and private companies in the areas of accounting, auditing, advisory services, corporate taxation, mergers and acquisitions, capital financing transactions, and business restructuring. He has developed a reputation for successfully guiding clients through the intricacies of complex accounting and reporting issues, as well as closing mergers, acquisitions, and capital financing transactions.
Mr. Basile primarily works with mid- to small-cap companies, many of which are involved with mergers and acquisitions and capital financing transactions. He also advises private companies going public on capital raising strategies, reverse mergers, initial public offerings and the securities registration process.
Some of his more detailed responsibilities include handling periodic filing requirements, reviews and private placement memorandums and other exempt offerings as well as Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404. He provides clients with expert guidance through the compliance process, ensuring they remain compliant with SEC regulations.
Prior to joining the Firm in 2005, he was an audit manager for a regional accounting and consulting firm.
Sammy Chu - Board Member
CEO, Edgewise Energy
Sammy Chu is chief executive officer for Edgewise Energy, a Long Island-based start-up focused on deploying next-generation distributed clean energy solutions. A proven leader in promoting market adoption of energy efficiency, he was the founding director of the Town of Babylon’s Long Island Green Homes Program – the first operationalized property assessed clean energy program (PACE) in the country.
Chu previously served in the administration of County Executive Steve Bellone as Chief of Staff and as commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Labor, Licensing & Consumer Affairs. He was the lead county official in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, tasked with coordinating response and recovery. A staunch advocate of inclusive, sustainable economic development, Chu was instrumental in creating workforce opportunities for traditionally underserved individuals during the planning of the transformative Wyandanch Rising development, one of the seminal LEED ND projects.
He currently serves in various volunteer leadership positions including chairman of the Long Island chapter of the US Green Building Council, vice-chair of the Suffolk County Planning Commission, Chair of the LGBT Network, board member of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, board member of the Child Care Council of Suffolk, board member of the American Red Cross on Long Island, board member of EAC Long Island, chair of the Suffolk County Workforce Development Board, trustee for Molloy College, and has previously served as a board member of the National Home Performance Council.
Chu is very fortunate to be married to his wife, Gennifer. They are the parents of two quick witted teenagers, Jakob and Julia.
John Cush - Board Member
Business Agent, Ironworkers Local 361
John is a 20-year member of Ironworkers Local 361, serving as Vice President and Business Agent for the last 8 years. John attended St. Peter’s High School in Staten Island and attended SUNY Oneonta prior to becoming an Ironworker. His role as a business agent led him to get involved in the push for green energy and offshore wind. John enjoys spending time with his wife and three children.
Jennifer Dupont, Ph.D. - Board Member
Strategic Environmental Affairs Manager, Equinor Wind US
Jennifer Dupont is the Strategic Environmental Affairs Manager at Equinor Wind US. Jennifer has close to 15 years of professional experience with executing and managing marine environmental research programs, large offshore infrastructure projects, and sustainability programs at global international energy companies. She has a well-rounded understanding of marine sound impacts, biodiversity/net positive impact, risk assessment, environmental and safety management systems, and technological innovation. In her current role at Equinor, she is responsible for managing a variety of external relationships and stakeholders, developing environmental mitigation and monitoring programs for projects in the US portfolio, and providing strategic guidance to emerging areas of interest in the offshore wind portfolio. Prior to joining Equinor, Jennifer worked in various environmental research, team lead, and manager roles within ExxonMobil, spanning projects and locations including Qatar, Russia, Papua New Guinea, and Alaska. Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of Richmond and a PhD in Marine Science from the University of South Florida.
William Haugland Jr. - Board Member
Co-President Haugland Group LLC
William Haugland Jr. (Billy) is Co-President of Haugland Group LLC, a Long Island, New York-based infrastructure services company with subsidiaries that provide a wide range of heavy civil, energy, and transportation construction services.
Exploring his passion for transportation infrastructure at a young age, Mr. Haugland took a role within his family-owned construction business, working in the field with project management teams. He held several positions throughout the company’s subsidiaries, taking an immersive approach to learning the intricacies of the various businesses. In his current role, Mr. Haugland oversees the management of Haugland Group’s portfolio, including Grace Industries LLC and Haugland Energy LLC, which operate throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.
Mr. Haugland sits on the Board of the Long Island Contractors’ Association (LICA), the Highway Board of Governors for the Associated General Contractors of America New York State chapter (AGC NYS), and is an active member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) Metro New York chapter.
Tom Locascio - Board Member
Director of External Affairs, LIPA
Tom Locascio is LIPA’s Director of External Affairs. Mr. Locascio joined LIPA in September of 2020 with over 17 years of utility and state government experience. His responsibilities include directing LIPA’s External Affairs efforts, developing and advocating LIPA’s positions and strategies on legislative and regulatory issues, and serving as a point person for LIPA in local government affairs.
Prior to joining LIPA, Mr. Locascio managed state government affairs for a large regional utility and held various positions in state government, including Director of Operations for the Majority Leader of the New York State Senate.
Mr. Locascio served for six years as an elected Trustee to the Kings Park Central School District Board of Education. He currently serves as a Director to the Safe Center LI, a nonprofit that provides services to victims of child abuse and domestic violence. Additionally, Mr. Locascio is a member of the Energeia Partnership at Molloy College, a think-tank organization focused on challenges facing Long Island. Mr. Locascio received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from St. John’s University.
Joseph Macina - Board Member
CPA, CFO J.C. Steel Corp.
Joe Macina is the CFO of JC Steel. JC Steel is a Long Island-based steel erection company that boasts major steel construction projects like the soon-to-be-completed UBS Arena, which the NY Islanders will call their new home in the Fall of 2021, as well as major projects in the Healthcare and Public Transportation space. Prior to JC Steel, Joe was a partner for over 14 years at a Big Four and other major national accounting firm where he held high-profile diverse roles such as National Retail Practice Head, Risk Management – Department of Professional Practice Partner, Partner in Charge of Long Island recruiting, and Lead Middle Market Development Partner.
However, Joe’s professional talents are not just limited to the construction and professional services industries. Joe was also an adjunct professor at his alma mater St. John’s University where he taught graduate students at both the Jamaica and downtown Manhattan campus locations.
Joe has a passion for giving back to the community in which he lives. In the past, Joe has been a Long Island board member of both the American Heart Association and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, as well as a board and finance chair of his local church and golf club.
Joe is a high-energy guy who loves the outdoors, in particular golfing and running are his passion. Joe has traveled all over the world for business and enjoys learning about local cultures and customs. Joe has a wife who enjoys his passion for golf and giving back to the community. Joe has a hard time choosing sides when either Notre Dame, Alabama, or Ohio State compete against each other as his three children have either graduated from, currently attend, and are registered to attend these three major rival colleges.
Gary Rozmus - Board Member
GEI Consultants
Gary is a recognized leader in Brownfield redevelopment for private and public clients both locally and nationally. He directs a broad range of environmental services including site investigations and remediation; infrastructure project environmental services; environmental compliance and permitting; regulatory interaction and negotiations; GIS mapping and inventory; stormwater and wastewater management; natural resource assessments; sustainable environmental design; and much more.
Alanna Russo - Board Member
National Grid Ventures
Alanna is a self-motivated, natural leader with excellent collaboration skills. She is currently the Director of Strategic Engagement and Business Development for National Grid Ventures. National Grid Ventures is the competitive division of National Grid plc, one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the world. It operates outside of National Grid’s core regulated businesses in the UK and US where it develops, operates, and invests in energy projects, technologies, and partnerships to accelerate the development of our clean energy future. In this role, Alanna develops strategy for stakeholder engagement, community investment, workforce development and oversees a team who manages the dynamic relationships of stakeholders in relation to the business’s current projects and future ambitions. She leads Additionally,
Alanna is the Head of Strategic Engagement for Community Offshore Wind which is an offshore wind joint venture between National Grid and RWE. Together with her team, she works closely with government, business, community organizations, and local stakeholders.
Prior to this role, she was the Manager of National Grid’s internal pandemic response in which she managed health services pandemic response process impacting 16,000 employees, analyzed and mitigated risks daily, and worked closely with internal organizations across the US business to follow internal policy and state guidelines. Pre-pandemic, Alanna was the Community Relations Manager for National Grid’s downstate New York territory. In this role, she used her strong stakeholder management skills and communication skills to interact with external partners and lead National Grid’s community giving and community engagement efforts. Before joining National Grid,
Alanna worked for the Huntington YMCA where she held various roles which highlighted Alanna’s love of community, health, and philanthropy. Her last role was Director of Member Engagement and Philanthropy.
Alanna is a community advocate. Alanna has led National Grid’s Long Island employee giving campaign for the past 5 years and she sits on the board of the Moonjumpers Charitable Foundation, Huntington YMCA, Project Warmth Committee for the United Way of Long Island, Island Harvest’s Business Advisory team, and volunteers with numerous nonprofit organizations such as the Red Cross, Junior Achievement and General Needs.
Alanna holds a BA in Organizational Management and an MBA from St. Joseph’s University. She has a certificate in Non-Profit Management from UCLA and a Diversity & Inclusion certification from the American Management Association. Alanna is an honored recipient of the Long Island Business News 40 Under 40 Award, was named on Long Island Business News’s Power List: Long Island’s Most Powerful Women 2022, and was included in the Long Island Business News Book of Long Island Business Influencers. She is a Leadership Huntington graduate and is in the 2022 class of Energia.
Alanna is passionate about building relationships, meeting the needs of her community by offering effective solutions, and rising above challenges to meet the desired outcome.
Jordan Ziegler - Board Member
Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Walsh Stanton & Romano, LLP
Jordan Ziegler, a senior partner at Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Walsh Stanton & Romano, LLP, handles workers compensation, personal injury, and Social Security disability claims for the firm, as well as civil service disability retirement pensions from the New York City and New York State and local retirement systems. He serves as chair to the law firm's Civil Service Disability Retirement Pension Department.
He received his law degree from The Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center at Touro College in New York and received his undergraduate bachelor's degree from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. He is admitted to practice law in the state and federal courts of New York and is an active member of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association as well as the New York State, the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), and the New York Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH).
Mr. Ziegler is disability counsel for numerous police and law enforcement associations and Police Benevolent Associations throughout New York State, as well as for utility worker and building trade unions. He is general counsel to the Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association Legal Benefit Fund Legal service provider, Suffolk County Police Columbia Association, Suffolk County Police Asian Jade Society, and Fraternal Order of Police Lodge, Riverhead, NY. He is Disability counsel to the Port Authority Police Benevolent Association. Jordan serves as the Vice-Chair on the Advisory Board of Occupational & Environmental Medicine of Long Island at the Northwell Health/ North Shore-LIJ Health System. He serves on the World Trade Center Council Advisory Commission established in conjunction with the Mount Sinai-Selikoff and the NYU/Bellevue occupational and environmental medicine clinics on workers compensation.
He initiated and helped establish the workers compensation class curriculums taught at both the New York City District Council of Carpenters Labor Technical College and the Empire State Regional Council Carpenters Shop Steward certification programs and Apprenticeship Training Program, where he is the regular lecturer. He also lectures extensively in the areas of workers compensation, Social Security disability, personal injury and disability retirement pensions at many utility worker, trade union, and police and law enforcement training programs.
In addition, Mr. Ziegler is an adjunct professor and lectures at Touro Law School (Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center) in Central Islip, NY, and he has lectured and worked closely with the New York State AFL-CIO on its Workers Compensation Navigator Program.
Mr. Ziegler is an active columnist in magazines, newsletters and journals for various utility worker, trade union, and police and law enforcement associations and the author of the "The Little txt Book of Workers Comp". He is also an active member of the board of directors of Ronald McDonald House of Long Island and a member of the Eastern Long Island Police Pipes and Drums marching band.
He was named as to the Super Lawyers list for 2021 in the area of workers compensation by Super Lawyers magazine. This is the sixteenth year that Jordan has received this prestigious award.
Mr. Ziegler resides in Great Neck, NY with his wife Wendy and his two sons, Zachary and Benjamin.