About Riverhead EJDC: Board

Board of Directors

James Farley, Chairman
Lori Ann Pipczynski,, Vice Chairwoman
Tony Barresi, Secretary
Bob Kern, Treasurer
Tom Cruso, Asst. Treasurer

Board Member Bios

Jim Farley
Jim Farley is Managing Director of Acumen2, an independent nine year old consultancy aligned with experienced industry executives for select equity and debt transactions in infrastructure and other asset classes on a global basis, with a primary focus in the United States and Europe.

Prior to establishing Acumen2, Jim was a senior executive of Babcock & Brown Europe, where he managed a broad range of private equity initiatives, including the development of a significant infrastructure fund with particular focus on airports, ports and energy related assets. At Chase Manhattan Bank in New York and London Jim had responsibility for the development of structured derivatives; this included the first commodity swap ever executed. His career began at Price Waterhouse in New York where Jim became responsible as a senior manager for relationships with many significant clients in the steel, mining, insurance and banking industries. Before being drawn to the financial sector Jim served as a judicial clerk and assistant US Attorney in the Southern District of New York.

Jim has been a homeowner in Riverhead for thirty six years and he and his wife have made it their home for the last three years. He has begun to serve the community as a member of the Rotary Club and is presently co-chair of the Downtown Revitalization Committee. In addition, Jim has chaired the Rites of Spring Music Festival for the past two years as it qualified for 501(c) (3) status.

A native of Connecticut, Jim spent his formative years in Japan with his family and the major part of his career in London, England. A graduate of Duke University and Fordham Law School, Jim is a certified public accountant and an attorney. He and his wife, Petra, parents of three children, reside in South Jamesport. His hobbies include fly fishing (actually most fishing), the arts, renovations and travel.

Lori Ann Pipczynski
Lori Ann Pipczynski is Director of External Affairs & Strategic Partnerships at Suffolk County Community College, the largest community college in the State University of New York (SUNY) system. Working collaboratively with faculty, administrators and external partners, she is responsible for conceptualizing, planning, and developing proposals for academic, workforce development, environmental and infrastructure initiatives at the College and has been instrumental in securing over $23.7 million in federal, state and local funding for the institution. Ms. Pipczynski has over eighteen years of experience in economic and workforce development, including as past Chairwoman of the Suffolk County Empire Zone Administration Board with responsibilities for the development of annual operations and marketing plans and regulatory and reporting compliance. In her former roles as County Executive Assistant and Executive Assistant to the Supervisor, she supported the development of initiatives focused on downtown revitalization, business investment incentives, and farmland and open space preservation.

Ms. Pipczynski currently serves on the Heidi Behr Memorial Scholarship Committee and is a member of the Council for Resource Development and the Grant Professionals Association. She is past Vice President and Treasurer of East End Arts and past Vice Chair of the Riverhead Revitalization & Preservation Corporation.

Born and raised in Riverhead, she is a graduate of Cornell University and received a masters degree in business and public policy from SUNY-Empire State College. She resides in Jamesport.

Tony Barresi
Tony Barresi is a retired school principal who worked in the Huntington UFSD for 34 years. During his tenure he taught students in grades k-6 and in the gifted and talented program. He then became the district?s coordinator for science and technology for all the district?s elementary schools. Later, he became a building principal where he served in this position for 20 years. Prior to this experience he also worked in management for the JC Penney Corporation. Mr. Barresi received his Bachelors Degree from C.W. Post and his Masters Degree & Professional Diploma from Long Island University.

Mr. Barresi served both his professional and residential communities in several ways: he has served as a board member for the Lloyd Harbor Historical Society and was its? president for many years. While living in Lloyd Harbor he served as a board member for the FGA Home Owners Association. In addition,Tony was president for the District Supervisors and Principals? Association of Huntington for several years.

Tony and his wife, Christine, live in Aquebogue. They enjoy traveling and playing golf.

Robert Kern
Robert Kern is currently the owner of 2XS, LLC a marketing and branding consultant company. He is also a business broker and development specialist.

Mr. Kern is credited with the branding and growth of Martha Clara Vineyards, initially as a consultant to the Entenmann family and then taking on the role of General Manager in 2001. Prior to that, Mr. Kern was a partner and Vice President at EPISTAT Biotech, a company involved with the intellectual property creating cancer vaccines which ultimately sold its patent to Genzyme. He also owned Grafix Multi Media, an advertising agency which serviced such reputable clients as Cablevision, Sportschannel, Cosby Show, NY Yankees, Mets, Islanders and NY Nets.

Mr. Kern is currently the President of the Riverhead Chamber of Commerce and sits on the Town of Riverhead Agricultural Advisory Committee and East End Tourism Alliance board. He is also a former Coast Guard Auxiliary Member. His past contributions to the community include sitting on the board of the Long Island Farm Bureau, the Long Island Wine Council and the NY State Wine and Grape Governors Task Force. Robert Kern resides in The Town of Riverhead.

Thomas F. Cruso
Tom Cruso is President of Cruso Associates, Inc. a fifteen year-old financial planning and assest management practice with offices at 123 Maple Avenue, Riverhead, NY. His firm specializes in comprehensive financial planning, investment portfolio management and retirement planning. His professional designations include Chartered Financial Consultant, Chartered Life Underwriter and Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter; he is also a Registered Securities Principal.

Prior to establishing Cruso Associates, Inc., he was an officer of the Allstate Insurance Company. As Regional Vice-President of Long Island he was responsible for the overall management of the sales, underwriting and claims functions for Queens, Nassau and Suffolk. Under his leadership he developed and implemented sweeping changes that resulted in major breakthroughs in the financial performance and internal cultural behavior of Allstate's 1800 Long Island employees. Throughout his career with Allstate, Cruso held a variety of marketing management and strategic planning positions in the Northeast and in Allstate's corporate headquarters in Northbrook, Illinois.

Cruso has served the community as a member of the Board of Directors of United Way of Long Island, was Chairman from 1993 through 1997 and 2003 through 2007. He was Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Long Island Association Health Alliance, a member of the Long Island Association of Board of Directors and is a mentor to students at Stony Brook University. He has also served on the Boards of the Long Island Philharmonic, St. Joseph's College and the New York Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation.

A native New Yorker, Cruso is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University. He and his wife Pat are the parents of two adult children and reside in Aquebogue. His hobbies include the arts, cooking and golf and travel.