Westchester County Revolving Door, January 26, 2016

White Plains Hospital Names New CFO

Joseph J. Guarracino recently began his tenure as the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of White Plains Hospital. Guarracino will oversee all financial operations of the 292-bed hospital and its 12 satellite facilities, including two multi-specialty centers in Armonk and New Rochelle. Guarracino’s career spans more than 25 years in managing and overseeing the financial operations of healthcare institutions. Prior to serving as Senior Vice President and CFO of the Brooklyn Hospital Center for eight years, he was CFO for three hospitals in Putnam and Dutchess counties that were part of the Health Quest System, a nonprofit healthcare system. Mr. Guarracino received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Iona College and a Masters Degree in Business Administration with a focus in Healthcare Management from American Intercontinental University. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Finance at the Hagan School of Business at Iona College, teaching a graduate class in healthcare finance management.

New Westchester Regional Manager at Houlihan Lawrence Commercial

Houlihan Lawrence Commercial Real Estate Group recently announced Garry Klein as new Westchester regional manager. Klein has been involved in commercial real estate for over 25 years and has a diverse background in investment, development, management, and construction of commercial sites. Klein holds a master’s degree in Real Estate and City Planning from Pratt Institute, and has been a Licensed Real Estate Broker since 1987 and a Certified Real Estate Appraiser since 2008. He has been a member of the Westchester County Board of Realtors Commercial & Investment Division since 1997.

New Senior Vice President of Operations At HEINEKEN USA

Laurence Wolfe has been recently hired as the Senior Vice President of Operations at Heineken USA; he will work at the firm’s US headquarters in White Plains. Wolfe most recently served as the Regional Director of Supply Chain for the Americas region. In this role, he managed all supply chain activities in the Americas region of 15+ key countries, with responsibility for developing supply chain competitiveness and working with key markets to ensure the optimization of activities to enhance performance and deliver profit growth. 

OLA Consulting Engineers Promotes Four

OLA Consulting Engineers, a sustainability-focused firm that works in all aspects of building systems analysis, design, and commissioning, recently announced the promotion of four staff members: Camille Bowman, PE, CEM, CPMP, LEED AP from senior engineer to associate; and Robert P. Gruffi, PE, LEED AP, Kerry Gorczynski, PE, LEED AP, and Brian Tyler, PE, LEED AP were all promoted to senior engineer.

Bowman is part of OLA’s Energy Engineering Services Group and works on many of the firm’s consulting assignments in NYSERDA’s New Construction Program and NYSERDA’s FlexTech Program for existing buildings. Gruffi works in the Mechanical Engineering Services Group, where he delivers thorough engineering solutions to OLA clients and uses his experience in HVAC, plumbing, and fire protection design to aide in the development of junior-level engineers. Gorczynski, part of OLA’s Energy Engineering Services Group, has expertise in mechanical systems design for HVAC and energy projects, conducting energy audits and feasibility studies, energy modeling of buildings, and commissioning. She has been the lead energy modeling engineer for many of the projects in the 44-school, $1.5 billion New Haven Public School Construction program. And Brian Tyler, who has been with OLA since 2005, is part of the firm’s Mechanical Engineering Services Group. Tyler is one of the firm’s leading designers in this area, working with clients such as Rudin Management at locations throughout New York City, and is currently the project manager for MEP systems design for Rudin’s Corporate Office renovation in New York City.  

New Executive Director for Girls Inc. of Westchester

After an extensive search, The Girls Inc. Westchester Board of Directors have selected Catherine Lepone to be its new Executive Director. Lepone has been working in the nonprofit sector for over 22 years, in a number of leadership capacities. Lepone is also a past recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce, the highest award presented by their past Officers Association, for exemplifying the highest principles and leadership skills in community service work. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Association of Fundraising Professionals Westchester Chapter.

Douglas Elliman Adds To Leadership Team

Douglas Elliman Real Estate recently announced Louise Colonna and Paul Tollefson as two of the firm’s Executive Managers of Sales in Westchester. As Executive Manager of Sales of the Scarsdale office, Colonna will oversee the office’s 40-plusa gents and day-to- day operations. With over 30 years of real estate experience, including 15 years in management, Colonna previously served as a Branch Manager for Coldwell Banker in White Plains. Tollefson will serve as the Executive Manager of Sales of the Chappaqua, Armonk and Pleasantville offices and will oversee approximately 80 agents. Tollefson relocated to Northern Westchester last year from San Francisco, where he owned and operated a luxury boutique real estate agency (which he later sold to Coldwell Banker), which maintained the highest sales volume per agent in San Francisco. “We’re thrilled to have established such a strong leadership team in Westchester, and for Louise and Paul to be joining us,” said Dottie Herman, President & CEO of Douglas Elliman. “Their expertise and leadership skills will be vital as we continue to expand our business and reach in the region.”

St. Christopher’s, Inc. Names New COO and Chief Development Officers

St. Christopher’s, Inc., an organization that provides quality education to special needs children and teens, recently announced two new appointments. The agency named Dr. Donald Antonecchia as the chief operating officer, and Eric Lebenson its new chief development officer. Dr. Antonecchia has over 35 years of experience in education and has served as the Superintendent of Schools and Assistant Executive Director at Leake and Watts Services Inc. He has held leadership positions within the Yonkers and Pleasantville Public School systems, and instituted The Biondi Academy for Young Women, a program designed to empower, mentor and educate young women through business and university partnerships. Lebenson received his Bachelor of Arts from Bucknell University, and has held many business leadership roles throughout Westchester County. In addition to expertise in real estate, he has served as a district manager, controller and director of marketing in various companies. 

White Plains Law Firm Harrington, Ocko & Monk, LLP Promotes Two

Harrington, Ocko & Monk, LLP, a full-service law firm with offices in White Plains and New York City, announced the promotion of Michael W. Freudenberg to partner and John T. Rosenthal to senior counsel. Freudenberg has worked with the firm since 2003 primarily in the Commercial Litigation Department. Recently, he spearheaded the firm’s Construction Law Blog as well as being the Co-Chair of the Business and Commercial Law Committee of the Westchester County Bar Association.  John T. Rosenthal has been with the firm since 2005 also working in the Commercial Litigation Department. He is actively involved in defending clients against lawsuits involving the Federal CAN-SPAM Act and California law and is a standing member of the California Bar Association’s Cyberspace Law Committee. He is involved in providing firm clients with legal assistance in dealing with employment related litigation and investigations.

​Greenburgh Nature Center Hires Events and Marketing Manager

Greenburgh Nature Center (GNC), a leader in environmental education, has hired Rebecca Snyder as the Events and Marketing Manager. Snyder has a broad spectrum of experience in marketing, development, event management and fundraising. Snyder served as a Campaign Specialist at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and worked an independent development consultant and grant writer. She holds a BA in Economics from Purchase College and a MA in International Affairs from The New School. Snyder resides in Port Chester, NY. As the Events and Marketing Manager, Snyder will be responsible for the management and coordination of the Nature Center’s communication and promotional platforms. She will coordinate fundraising and community events and provide support to all marketing and development initiatives.

“Rebecca brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Greenburgh Nature Center,” says Executive Director Margaret Goldberg.  “As our organization grows and expands its efforts in the areas of conservation and sustainability, it is imperative for us to effectively communicate our mission in order to support our efforts in the community.  We are so happy to have Rebecca on our team!”