LIPA Board of Trustees

In May of 1998, the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) became Long Island’s primary electric service provider. Operating as a non-profit entity, LIPA has continued to serve the Island’s growing population with a consistent commitment to cost- containment, efficiency and service reliability.

   

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James L. LaroccaJames L. Larocca
Chairman, Appointed by: The Governor

James L. Larocca has had a rich and varied career in government, business, the law and academe. He is Chairman and Trustee of the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), the corporate municipal instrumentality of the State of New York that owns and operates the electric transmission and distribution system in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, and the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens County.

Mr. Larocca is Distinguished Professor in Public Policy at Long Island University (Riverhead Campus), focusing on American government and environmental studies. During the 2001 – 2002 academic year, Mr. Larocca served as Dean of the College at Southampton. From 2006 to 2007 he served as Chairman of the Long Island Regional Planning Board, a bi-county agency.

Mr. Larocca was a Director of KeySpan Energy Company and its predecessor, Brooklyn Union Gas, for over fifteen years. He served on the Audit, Compensation, and Corporate Governance Committees. He was a director of European American Bank (EAB) for several years before its sale to Citibank, and served on EAB’s Audit and Community Redevelopment Committees. He also served as Director of ContiFinancial Corporation (Chair, Independent Directors Committee), and sat on regional boards of Barclays Bank and Bank of New York. For many years he was a Trustee (Director) of the New York Power Authority, the largest non-federal producer of electric power in the United States.

After combat service in Vietnam, Mr. Larocca’s early career was in staff positions in the U. S. House of Representatives, and as counsel at the National Commission on Water Quality. He joined the administration of Governor Hugh L. Carey as Deputy Secretary and Director of Federal Affairs. He then served as the state’s first Commissioner of Energy, Chairman of the Energy Research and Development Authority, and Trustee of the New York Power Authority. He led the development of the New York State Energy Master Plan.

During the administration of Governor Mario M. Cuomo, Mr. Larocca served as Commissioner of Transportation, heading the state’s oldest line agency and leading the Rebuilding New York program. During this period he overhauled and reformed DOT’s contracting and real estate practices, making them more competitive and transparent.

From 1985-1993 Mr. Larocca served as President of the Long Island Association (LIA), the region’s largest business and civic organization, while also serving on a number of governmental boards and commissions, including the Special Commission on Bias-Related Violence, the Coastal Erosion Commission, The Long Island Vietnam Veterans Memorial Commission, and the Commission on Constitutional Revision. As LIA President Mr. Larocca brokered the landmark settlement of the Pine Barrens litigation, resulting in the preservation and management of tens of thousands of Long Island acres. He chaired the Long Island Nature Conservancy for several years, and continues to serve as a Trustee. He was senior partner with the law firm of Cullen and Dykman from 1993 – 1999. Mr. Larocca chaired the Board of Visitors of Touro Law School, and sat for many years on the board of Stony Brook University.

Mr. Larocca’s other interests include playwriting and directing. His play Penang received the 1997 award of Playwrights First in New York City, and his work has been presented at The Players in New York and at the John Drew Theater in East Hampton. He most recently directed the premiere presentation of Harry and Eddie by Mark Weston. He is also an avid ocean sailor.

Mr. Larocca holds a B.A. in Political Science from Hofstra University, a J.D. from Columbus School of Law, Catholic University, and a D.H.L. (H.C.) from Hofstra University.

Mr. Larocca and his wife have three grown children and reside in Sag Harbor. BACK TO TOP

Howard E. Steinberg

Howard E. Steinberg
Vice Chairman, Appointed by: The Governor

Howard E. Steinberg is a partner in the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery LLP based in the Firm’s New York office. Mr. Steinberg is a member of the Firm’s Corporate Department and his practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance and securities matters.

Prior to joining McDermott, Mr. Steinberg was Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Prudential Equity Group and Prudential Securities, Inc. Previously, Mr. Steinberg served in several senior executive positions at Reliance Group Holdings Inc., including Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. Prior to joining Reliance, he was a partner in the New York firm of Dewey Ballantine, where he specialized in corporate and securities law.

Prior to his appointment to LIPA, Mr. Steinberg served as Chairman of the New York State Thruway Authority and Chairman of the New York State Canal Corporation.

He has served as a member of the Board of Regents of Georgetown University, an Overseer of the University of Pennsylvania School of Arts and Sciences, Chair of the Committee on Federal Regulation of the Securities Industry Association and a member of the Boards of Directors of Sheltering Arms Children's Service and the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund. While at Georgetown University Law Center, Mr. Steinberg was Editor of the Law Journal. Following his active enlisted service, Mr. Steinberg served as Captain, JACG, USAR.  BACK TO TOP

Michael AffruntiMichael Affrunti
Trustee, Appointed by: The Senate Majority Leader

President and founder of Albertson Electric. A licensed electrician in both Nassau and Suffolk counties, he served as president and chairman of the Nassau Electric League from 1969 to 1973. Mr. Affrunti has also been a member of the Illuminating Engineering Society, the International Association of Electrical Inspectors and the New York State Association of Electrical Contractors.

Long active in his home community, Mr. Affrunti is a former president of the Albertson Hilltop Terrace Association. He is a member of the Lions International and an exempt member of the Albertson Fire Company. He served as chairman of the North Hempstead Town Board of Zoning and Appeals from 1972 until 1992.

Mr. Affrunti resides in Nassau County. BACK TO TOP

Anthony J. Bonomo, J.D
Trustee, Appointed by: The Governor

Mr. Bonomo is President of Administrators for the Professions, Inc. (AFP), the insurance company management organization that operates, among others, PRI (Physicians’ Reciprocal Insurers), the medical professional liability insurer for 13,000 New York doctors and more than 100 medical institutions, i.e., 40% of the New York market. Mr. Bonomo acquired AFP in 2006, having served as its President since 1995. He joined the company in 1986 as Assistant General Counsel, then Vice President for Legal and Legislative Affairs. Under Mr. Bonomo’s direction, the companies have grown dramatically while creating and implementing national award-winning risk management programs for medical practices. A frequent featured speaker on medical malpractice issues and legislation, Mr. Bonomo leads a staff of 300+ in Manhasset, Long Island.

He holds B.A. and J.D. degrees from St. John’s University, and has served as a Trustee of Hofstra University; Commissioner, New York State Parks Bureau, (L.I. Regions), and on the Boards of several leading charitable groups. BACK TO TOP

X. Cristofer DamianosX. Cristofer Damianos
Trustee, Appointed by: The Governor

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. BACK TO TOP

Lawrence Elovich
Trustee, Appointed by: The Governor

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. BACK TO TOP

John FabioJohn Fabio
Trustee, Appointed by: The Speaker of the Assembly

John Fabio serves as Vice President of the Nassau Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation. 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 25 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. Recently Mr. Fabio 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 of 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 30 years. BACK TO TOP

Michael A. Fragin, MBA
Trustee, Appointed by: The Governor

Michael Fragin is the Vice President for Government Affairs at Paramount BioSciences LLC, a unique drug development firm and life sciences merchant bank located in New York City. Prior to Paramount, Michael served as Vice President of Strategic Planning at the Hugh L. Carey Battery Park City Authority (BPCA) where he oversaw the Authority’s capital development projects and was the liaison between the authority and the Bloomberg Administration.

Prior to the BPCA, Mr. Fragin served as Executive Assistant to Governor George Pataki. Prior to entering government, Mr. Fragin was CFO 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 Entrepreneurship from Columbia Business School.

Mr. Fragin is active in many civic and charitable endeavors in Nassau's Five Towns area. He is a former firefighter with the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department and is an active Emergency Medical Technician with the Hatzalah Volunteer Ambulance Corps. Fragin, his wife and four children live in Nassau. BACK TO TOP

Harriet A. Gilliam, Esq.Harriet A. Gilliam, Esq.
Trustee, Appointed by: The Speaker of the Assembly

With an extensive background in the areas of business/economic development, labor relations/employment law, Ms. Gilliam has also served as a Councilwoman in the Town of Riverhead, 1992 - 1995, and as a member of the Riverhead Community Development Agency, 1992 - 1995, which has responsibility for overseeing the redevelopment of Grumman's Calverton Facility.

Specializing in the areas of corporate formation/organization, corporate finance, contract negotiation, employee benefits, labor relations and government relations, Ms. Gilliam has served as Legal Counsel to a number of for profit and not-for-profit corporations.

Founder of the Riverhead Solutions Task Force, Ms. Gilliam was also Co-founder of and legal advisor to the Suffolk County Minority Businesses in conjunction with Suffolk Community College.

A graduate of Holy Cross College, Ms. Gilliam received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Licensed to practice law in New York and Pennsylvania, Ms. Gilliam served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at SUNY Stony Brook Graduate School of Social Welfare, and Suffolk Community College, Eastern Campus.

Ms. Gilliam resides in Suffolk County. BACK TO TOP

James C. HerrmannJames C. Herrmann
Trustee, Appointed by: The Senate Majority Leader

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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Nancy Nugent, Esq.
Trustee, Appointed by: The Governor

Trustee Nugent is a journalist and media commentator for several Long Island news outlets. She is a former Nassau Deputy County Attorney and is a member of the Suffolk and Nassau County Bar Associations, as well as the NYS Bar Association.

She is a member of the Lindenhurst Chamber of Commerce and served as an honored panelist at Molloy College’s Leadership Forum: The Conduct of Business - Restoring the Public Confidence. Ms. Nugent is a parent member of Family Residences & Essential Enterprises, Inc. (www.familyres.org) and its National Foundation for Human Potential, an organization devoted to assisting children and adults with developmental disabilities and mental health issues.

Ms. Nugent is a resident of Lindenhurst, Suffolk County. BACK TO TOP

Jonathan Sinnreich, Esq.Jonathan Sinnreich, Esq.
Trustee, Appointed by: The Governor

A Partner in the law firm of Sinnreich, Safar, LLP, with offices in Central Islip, Mr. Sinnreich specializes in commercial litigation, with a concentration in municipal and construction litigation.

He has substantial experience in utility law, especially with respect to the siting and regulation of nuclear power plants.

Mr. Sinnreich has represented many Suffolk County municipalities including: Suffolk County; the Town of Islip; the Town of Brookhaven; and the Town of Riverhead.  Mr. Sinnreich resides in Suffolk County. BACK TO TOP

Suzette SmooklerSuzette C. Smookler
Trustee, Appointed by: The Senate Majority Leader

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. BACK TO TOP

Last Updated: 04/24/2008