LIPA Board of Trustees

Mr. Belinsky is the President and CEO of HELP USA, a $70 million Not-for-Profit organization which was founded in 1986 and recognized by the United States Congress as a national model. HELP USA is one of the country’s largest developers, builders and operators of service-enriched transitional and permanent housing. Currently, HELP USA has developed 28 residences and manages more than 2,200 units nationwide, each one providing high quality security, architectural aesthetics and comprehensive support services to the homeless, populations at risk of becoming homeless and working poor families.

Prior to joining HELP USA, Mr. Belinsky was a Principal of Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P. an investment banking firm. Mr. Belinsky has more than 25 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. He headed an international privatization advisory practice at KPMG LLP. He was a Vice President in Merrill Lynch’s investment banking group specializing in Municipal Finance. In addition, Mr. Belinsky has served in New York State’s executive branch and has served as Assistant Director of Special Projects for the New York State Housing Finance Agency developing homeless and special needs housing

Mr. Belinsky received a MBA from Columbia University School of Business and a B.A. from the State University of New York at Albany. He is currently serving his second term as a Trustee of the Manhasset School Board. From April 2002 through April 2004 he has served as a Trustee for the Village of Plandome Heights. Previous to serving as a Trustee he served on the Village’s Zoning Board of Appeals. He and his wife live in Manhasset with their four children.

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David L. Calone is the President of Jove Equity Partners, LLC, a private equity and venture capital firm which invests in the internet, digital media, real estate and health care industries. He serves as a director of five privately-held companies located throughout the United States.

He was appointed to the Suffolk County Planning Commission in 2006 and, in February 2008, was elected as the Commission’s Chairman. In that role he has led the Commission to focus on land use policies with significant impact on the future of Suffolk County including energy efficiency and distributed generation, housing and public safety.

In 2008, he served as the head of the transition team for U.S. Congressman Jared Polis. He is a member of the Long Island Energeia Partnership Class of 2009.

Previously, Mr. Calone was a litigation associate at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison in New York City. He also served as a Special Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Division of the New York State Attorney General’s Office where he enforced state and federal laws relating to the Medicaid program and negotiated a $76.5 million civil settlement -- the largest state health care settlement in New York history -- with a prominent not-for-profit corporation.

From 1999 through 2003, Mr. Calone was a federal prosecutor at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. He was one of two federal prosecutors nationwide to receive the 2003 Attorney General’s Award for Outstanding Contributions by a New Employee, in honor of his work fighting terrorism-related and corporate international crime including work on the September 11th-related prosecutions. He served as a guest instructor at the U.S. Army European Headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Brunswick, Georgia.

Mr. Calone graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1999. Mr. Calone graduated cum laude from Princeton University with a degree in Economics in 1996. He was named a USA Today College Academic All-American. While at Princeton, he served as president of the Undergraduate Student Government and was selected as a 1994 White House Intern where he worked on Vice President Al Gore’s Reinventing Government initiative focusing on management and organizational change within government agencies.

Mr. Calone lives in Babylon with his wife, Kate, a divinity student at the Princeton Theological Seminary, and their three year-old daughter and two-year old son.

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X. Cristofer Damianos is a Principal of Damianos Realty Group LLC, a commercial real estate development company located in Smithtown, N.Y. specializing in the development, management and acquisition of office, retail and industrial properties throughout Long Island.

Mr. Damianos is also a member of the Association for a Better Long Island (ABLI), Vice-Chairman of the Long Island Museum of American Art, History and Carriages, Governor of St. George’s Golf & C.C. and Founder and Director of Gold Coast Bank as well as former Trustee of St. Charles Hospital and Rehabilitation Center.

Mr. Damianos was recently honored as Man of the Year by Brookhaven Memorial Hospital and is the 2007 recipient of the ABLI Developer of the Year Award.

He holds a B.A. from Tulane University and a M.B.A. from Adelphi University. He resides in Suffolk County with his wife and three children.

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Honored by many civic, charitable, fraternal and political organizations, Mr. Lawrence E. Elovich of Elovich & Adell, Esqs. is a practicing trial lawyer specializing in personal injury cases. For the past 25 years, he has been the President of the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce. He is a Nassau University Medical Center trustee and member and Board of Directors for the American Cancer Society and Long Beach Cancer Care. In addition to holding numerous other positions, Mr. Elovich is a former Chairman of the Nassau County Bar Associations legislative committee and past President of the Long Beach Lawyers Association. He currently serves as the senior member of the Board of Trustees at the Long Beach Medical Center.

Mr. Elovich is a member of the Lynbrook Elks Lodge and was a past Exalted Ruler of the Long Beach Elks as well as an Executive Deputy District Governor and Zone Chairman of the Nassau County Lions. While attending law school, Mr. Elovich served as a Long Beach Special Patrolman for two years as well as serving as a volunteer fireman for the City of Long Beach Fire Department.

Currently residing in Long Beach with his wife of 43 years, Mr. Elovich enjoys general physical fitness activities and spending time with his three daughters and seven grandchildren.

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John Fabio served as Vice President of the Nassau Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation from 2001 to 2009. Previously, he served as an Educational Administrator with the New York City Board of Education SPARK (Students Assistance) Program, before retiring in 2001 after 32 years of service.

During his tenure with the Board of Education he was responsible for the day-to-day operations of SPARK in 25 Queens public high schools. Mr. Fabio also served as an adjunct college instructor in the Queens College Counselor Education program and the Department of Health Sciences at Brooklyn College.

In 1993 Mr. Fabio was elected to the North Hempstead Town Council where he served until 1997. Prior to his election as councilman, he served as a member of the Town of North Hempstead Board of Zoning Appeals.

For the past 30 years Mr. Fabio has been an active leader in community and civic affairs. He has severed as secretary to the Board of the Education and Assistance Corporation (EAC). He currently serves as president of the Greenvale Civic Association and was a founding member and past president of the North Hempstead Civic Coalition. Mr. Fabio also served as a member of the North Hempstead Councilmanic District Commission.

Mr. Fabio received his B.A. and M.S. degrees from Queens College, certification for Health Education from Brooklyn College, and New York State School Administrator and Supervisor certification from C.W. Post College.

Mr. Fabio and his wife have resided in Nassau County for the past 35 years.

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Michael Fragin is a partner at the Ducat Investment Group, LP, an investment firm focusing on opportunities in real estate and mortgage debt throughout the United States. Prior to Ducat, Michael was a Managing Director at Paramount BioCapital, a life sciences merchant bank located in New York City.

Before entering the private sector, Michael served as Vice President of Strategic Planning at the Hugh L. Carey Battery Park City Authority (BPCA) where he oversaw the Authority's major capital development projects and was the liaison between the authority, the Bloomberg Administration, and other agencies redeveloping the World Trade Center site.

 Prior to the BPCA, Mr. Fragin served as Executive Assistant to Governor George Pataki covering a wide range of political and policy areas. Previously, Mr. Fragin was CFO and executive director of the New York based Afikim Foundation where he was vital to the development and funding of educational projects worldwide. Mr. Fragin helped found and develop companies in the telecommunications and technology sectors prior to attending business school.

Mr. Fragin graduated from Yeshiva University, Magna Cum Laude, with a degree in Economics and obtained his MBA in Finance and Management from Columbia Business School.

Mr. Fragin also serves as a Trustee and Fire Commissioner of the Incorporated Village of Lawrence in Nassau County. Fragin has been a political columnist with the Jewish Star newspaper, served for several years as a firefighter with the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department, and is an active Emergency Medical Technician with the Hatzalah Volunteer Ambulance Corps. Fragin participated in the rescue effort at Ground Zero on September 11, 2001, aiding dozens of wounded. Fragin, his wife and five children reside in Lawrence.

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Christopher M. Hahn heads the Government Relations & Regulatory Affairs group for Meltzer Lippe.

Christopher has held several high level positions in government and the Non-Profit world prior to joining the firm. In January of 2009, Governor David Patterson appointed Christopher a Trustee of the Long Island Power Authority where he helps oversee the second largest public utility in the United States. Christopher has worked with many top national, state and local elected officials during his career including United States Senator, Charles E. Schumer (D-NY).

Prior to joining the firm, Christopher led United Way of Long Island during one of the most critical transitions in its history. He tirelessly worked to effectively move the organization from a traditional allocation-based model to a Community Impact operational plan. Christopher is a true champion of optimization and collaboration among Long Island's nonprofit organizations, and has worked tirelessly to create efficient and effective non-profits. Prior to joining United Way, he served as Chief Deputy County Executive for Nassau County, the top appointed post in the Suozzi administration. He directed and managed the daily administration, communications and operations of Nassau County government, which consisted of a $2.6 billion budget, 8,700 employees and 47 departments.

During his tenure, he helped to create the Nassau County Empire Zone and protect open space under the Environmental Bond Act; engaged in various downtown revitalization efforts; and proposed a no tax increase budget that was unanimously passed by the Legislature. Hahn was also charged with implementing and managing Suozzi's aggressive campaign to save the Cradle of Aviation Museum. Within weeks, Christopher raised more than $700,000 for the museum, which was more than the Cradle of Aviation had fundraised in the entire previous year.

Christopher's earlier career posts included working as a Senior Associate in the government group of Holland and Knight, LLP and serving as the Long Island Director for United States Senator Charles E. Schumer for five years. While working for Senator Schumer, Hahn facilitated all of the Senator's regional priorities. Among his accomplishments were coordinating and supervising all regional post 9-11 Homeland Security activities on the Senator's behalf; securing all of the permits for a massive beach re-nourishment project for Fire Island communities and a coastal preservation project from Montauk Point to Fire Island Inlet; spearheading the Senator's initiative to clean up Brookhaven National Lab; and assisting in the establishment of the Long Island American Viticulture Area for the Long Island wine industry.

Christopher is a graduate of SUNY Albany where he competed in NCAA Football and was Student Body President and St. John's University School of Law, where he received a Public Interest Fellowship. He lives in Setauket with his wife, Kara and daughters, Karina and Hope.

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James C. Herrmann is the President of James C. Herrmann & Associates, Ltd., (JCH) a full service insurance agency and brokerage with offices in Rockville Centre, New York, Denver, Colorado and Atlanta, Georgia.

JCH has obtained National recognition as a leading provider of Environmental Risk Management & Insurance Services for commercial lending, mergers & acquisitions and Brownfield redevelopment.

Jim began his insurance career in 1986, specializing in healthcare professional liability and financial services. Today, these two areas represent a significant portion of JCH’s business as they insure many health care facilities, physicians and not-for-profit agencies. JCH is also the endorsed provider of environmental insurance for The Community Bankers Association of New York State with many prestigious lending clients.

Jim has been a speaker and participant at numerous national Brownfield and environmental insurance meetings and was honored to speak at the Brownfields Summit at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, DC.

Jim is an Ex-Captain in The Rockville Centre Volunteer Fire Department, a Past President of The Friends of Mercy Medical Center and a past member of the Board of Directors of Mercy Medical Center and Our Lady of Consolation Nursing Home.

Jim resides in Nassau with his wife Donna, son James and twin daughters, Emma and Sarah.

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Susan Gordon Ryan has held a variety of executive level positions in the field of education, government, and not for profits. She has had a distinguished career. She began her career as a special education teacher at the Henry Viscardi School in Albertson, NY.

After her special education career, she worked for the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historical Preservation. She founded the “Empire State Games for the Physically Challenged,” a fitness and competition program for people with disabilities, which serve approximately, 2000 children per year. She was able to use her personal and professional background to develop this unique and innovative program that is celebrating its 24th year.

She is also the first woman to serve as Long Island Regional Director for the NYS Parks, largest and busiest state park region. She coordinated all administration, programs, events and activities throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties.

After her 12-year tenure with the government, she moved on to work in the not-for-profit field including corporate and foundation relations at St. John’s University. She also coordinated government relations, special events and fundraising for several other not-for-profits. Before returning to the National Center for Disability Services, now known as ABILITIES, she served as the Chief Deputy Parks Commissioner for Nassau County Parks.

She has been the recipient of numerous awards and acknowledgement including NY Senate Woman of Distinction. She has served on the Nassau County Environmental Bond Act Committee and is a member of the Energeia Partnership.

Susan resides in Point Lookout with her husband Francis X. Ryan and children, Shayne and Taylor.

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Suzette C. Smookler of Port Jefferson, New York has had a distinguished career in healthcare and education. She currently is the Administrator for Hospitality Services at Stony Brook Medical Center.

Ms. Smookler served on the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education from 1996 to 2002 and for four years as President. She is a registered dietitian and served as the President of the Long Island Dietetic Association from 1984 to 1985.

Ms. Smookler was employed by the New York State Department of Health – Office of Health Systems Management from 1980-1991. In this role she monitored Long Island hospitals and long term care facilities for compliance to New York State and Federal codes and regulations.

Ms. Smookler earned her Bachelor of Science from Arizona State University and her Masters; Health Care Policy and Management from Stony Brook University.

Suzette was born in Glen Cove and raised in Nassau County. She and her husband have resided in Suffolk County for the past 33 years. They have three grown sons.

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Diana Weir is Executive Vice-President of the Long Island Housing Partnership (LIHP), the largest not-for-profit developer of affordable workforce housing on Long Island.

Prior to joining LIHP, Ms. Weir served as the first Hispanic councilwoman on the East Hampton Town Board. From 1994 to 1999, she served as Chief-Of-Staff for New York’s First Congressional District, directing the overall operations of the Washington and Long Island district offices; advising on major policy issues, overseeing constituent services, interacting with community groups, constituents, elected officials, the news media and all levels of government.

Before working in government, Ms. Weir was Senior Vice-President at the Bank of The Hamptons, in charge of branch administration, including human resources and marketing, and participated in formulating the bank’s strategic plan. For the prior twenty years, Ms. Weir was Senior Vice-President and Corporate Secretary for Smithtown Bancorp, where she was in charge of administration and oversaw the computerization of the bank’s operations.

Ms Weir was appointed by Governor Pataki to the SUNY Stony Brook Council, and recently served on the search committee for the University’s fifth president. Ms. Weir served as a Suffolk County Human Rights Commissioner and co-chaired the Economic Development panel at the Long Island Hispanic Leadership Summit. Ms. Weir received many awards for her community work, among them New York City El Diario / La Prensa’s “Distinguished Latinas,” Suffolk County Hispanic Heritage Month’s “Hispanic Role Model” and the U.S. Small Business Administration’s “Small Business Minority Advocate of the Year.”

Diana has a son and daughter, three grandchildren and resides in Wainscott, New York.

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