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Long-Time Boys & Girls Club Director Stepping Down
Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester (BGCNW) recently announced that Executive Director Brian Skanes will leave the organization this spring. Skanes has served in his current role at the BGCNW since 1994, and celebrated his 40th year with the organization on national and local levels in 2014. Skanes will continue his career with Boys & Girls Clubs of America as director of major metro services. As a former Boys & Girls Club member himself, Skanes has dedicated his life to the nonprofit. Over the past four decades, he has worked his way up within the organization, serving as program director, assistant executive director, regional vice president, and executive director at clubs throughout the Northeast before landing in Mount Kisco more than 20 years ago.
During his time at the BGCNW, Skanes spearheaded several successful campaigns including those that raised $7 million for the Club’s major renovation and expansion in 1997 and $4 million for program expansions in 2003. Under Skanes’ leadership, the Club’s budget quadrupled from $800,000 in 1994 to $3.2 million today, the majority raised through donations and a well-developed fundraising program. This year, Skanes will be the recipient of the Club’s prestigious “Humanitarian of the Year” award, and will be honored at the annual Humanitarian Award Dinner June 6 at the Hilton Westchester.
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Joseph Apicella Joins The MacQuesten Companies
The MacQuesten Companies, a leading developer of middle-income and affordable housing in New York State, announced that Joseph Apicella, a development executive instrumental in the building of some of Westchester’s most iconic buildings, has joined the firm as managing director of development. Apicella has been directly involved in more than $2 billion worth of development in the tri-state area. As executive vice-president for Cappelli Enterprises, a position he held for the last nearly 20 years, Apicella played key roles in the development of properties including The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester Renaissance Square, a 1.4 million square-foot complex in downtown White Plains that includes a 43-story tower, the tallest building in Westchester County. Apicella has experience in all areas of development, including acquisition, securing financing, obtaining government approvals and construction. Previously, he served as downtown development manager for Yonkers, the fourth-largest city in the state, where he coordinated the creation of the Yonkers Downtown Waterfront Master Plan.
Wells Fargo Names New Northeast Regional Chief
Wells Fargo employees in Westchester—as well as the rest of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut—have a new big boss: Larisa Perry has been named the banking giant’s new Northeast Region President. In her new role, Perry will oversee more than 4,700 team members and 450 retail banks. Perry, a 25-year industry veteran who previously worked as Wells Fargo’s regional president for Central Florida, will work out of the company’s office in Summit, NJ. She will report to Michelle Lee, who previously held Perry’s post and is now the bank’s lead community bank president for the Northeast.
Houlihan Lawrence Expands Scarsdale Office
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Houlihan Lawrence has added three new real estate agents to its Scarsdale office, which serves the communities of Scarsdale, Edgemont, Eastchester, Hartsdale, Mamaroneck and New Rochelle. The three new hires are (from left, above) Bonnie Hut Yaseen, an associate real estate broker, and Grace Shemin Goldstein and Nina Mistry, real estate salespersons. Yaseen joins Houlihan Lawrence with more than 13 years of experience selling real estate in the Westchester and New York City areas; and is an expert in relocation and new construction. Goldstein, who has a wealth of knowledge about house-maintenance and renovations, previously served as an executive recruiter at Nancy Zucker Associates, K. Russo Associates, and Maximum Management. Mistry is transitioning into real estate after having previously worked in assurance and advisory services at Deloitte & Touche, LLP in Manhattan, and establishing companies in Mumbai, India.
Andrus Hires New CFO
Andrus, a nonprofit agency headquartered in Yonkers that offers treatment programs and other services for troubled children and their families, announced the appointment of Christine Monroe as vice president and chief financial officer at the organization. Monroe spent 35 years at ARC of Rockland, most recently as associate executive director for finance and administration. She previously served ARC as director of revenue management and director of employment services, among other roles. Monroe also serves on the board of the Visiting Nurse Service of Westchester.
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New Employees at Palisades Hudson Financial Group
Scarsdale-based wealth-management firm Palisades Hudson Financial Group, has added three employees (above, from left) and promoted a manager. Amy Laburda was promoted from administrative associate to administrative manager. She continues to serve as the firm’s editorial manager. She joined Palisades Hudson in 2010 and has been involved in researching, drafting and editing material for the firm’s new book, Looking Ahead: Life, Family, Wealth and Business After 55, as well as the daily Current Commentary column online, and many articles for the firm’s newsletter. She also manages the firm’s social media presence. Carmelo Bueti and Tim Meyer joined the firm as client service associates. Bueti, a Mount Kisco native, is a 2014 graduate of the Wallace E. Carroll School of Management at Boston College, where he earned his BS in finance. Meyer recently graduated from Union College, where he received a BA in managerial economics. He hails from Brewster. And Nicole Merigliano joined as an administrative associate. She is a 2014 graduate of Union College, where she majored in political science and minored in Spanish. Besides handling telephones and mail, she coordinates the firm’s travel and meeting arrangements. She is a native of Larchmont, where she currently lives.
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New Business Development Head at Dominican Sisters Family Health Service
Dominican Sisters Family Health Service, Inc. (DSFHS), a leading visiting nurse service, has appointed Roland N. Nicol, Sr., as Vice President of Business Development. Nicol has 20 years of experience in healthcare. Prior to joining DSFHS, Nicol was employed at Visiting Nurse Service of New York, heading up provider relations and network development for VNSNY Choice. In his new role as a member of the executive team at DSFHS, Nicol will focus on initiation, development, and continuation of contractual relationships with referrals for all agency divisions, especially in new expansion areas. Nicol has a Bachelors’ of Science and a Masters in Organizational Leadership, both from Nyack College.
DNA Public Relations Promotes One, Hires One
DNA Public Relations, a Rye-based PR firm representing domestic and global beauty brands, has announced the promotion of Barbara Accetta (below, left) from account director to vice president. The firm also welcomes Rachael Diamond as a senior account director.
After joining DNA in May 2013 as an award-winning PR Director, Accetta led a roster of national beauty brands and spearheaded initiatives beyond her role to include revamping business practices and single-handedly rebranding the agency, from logo to online presence—all of which led to her recent promotion. Diamond joins DNA after more than a decade of industry experience at some of New York City’s most reputable agencies. Formerly a Vice President at Jonesworks, a newly established PR firm overseeing beauty, fashion, talent and lifestyle clients, Diamond will lead a roster of DNA’s veteran accounts and contribute to new business development.
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