The Riverhead IDA has been given the powers to spark economic development that will expand the future tax base, prevent unemployment and prevent economic deterioration, create jobs, improve the health and the economic welfare of the people of the Town of Riverhead and improve their recreation opportunities, prosperity and standard of living.
To carry out its purpose, the Riverhead Industrial Development Agency (IDA) has been given the ability to promote, develop, encourage and assist in the acquiring, constructing, reconstructing, improving, maintaining, equipping and furnishing of facilities, such as:
Industrial
Research and recreation facilities,
including industrial pollution control
Manufacturing
Railroad
Warehousing
Commercial
Horse Racing
Educational or Cultural
Discover why All Roads Lead To Riverhead. Call the Riverhead Industrial Development Agency at 631.369.5129 for more information on relocating, expanding or starting your business in the Town of Riverhead.
The Riverhead Town Board is the appointing authority for the board members of the Riverhead Industrial Development Agency and the Riverhead IDA Economic Job Development Corporation. The members serve concurrent terms on both entities at the pleasure of the appointing authority.
Consulting CFO, Contracting and Procurement Officer
Committee Members
Audit Committee Members:
Chair Douglas Williams, James Farley Governance Committee Members:
Chair Lee Mendelson, Lori Ann Pipczynski, James Farley Finance Committee Members:
Chair Doug Williams, Lee Mendelson
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.
Lee Mendelson
Lee J. Mendelson, an accomplished legal professional and business strategist, has cultivated a diverse career spanning various legal and entrepreneurial domains. As the Principal at Mendelson Law Firm PLLC, Lee provides comprehensive legal guidance to individuals and businesses. His expertise encompasses navigating complex matters such as corporate, contract, construction, cannabis, real estate, and collection law. This proficiency has established him as a trusted counsel in Bridgehampton, New York.
Lee's executive acumen is further demonstrated in his role as General Counsel at Telemark Inc., where he has significantly contributed to the company's reputation for excellence in luxury home construction. In this capacity, he effectively manages corporate, contract, and collection matters related to the high-end construction industry.
As a visionary leader in the emerging cannabis regulation field, Lee co-founded Phyto-Farma Labs LLC and serves as one of the corporate managers. Under his leadership, Phyto-Farma Labs has become one of New York's premier licensed cannabis testing laboratory, offering state-of-the-art services to hemp and cannabis producers and distributors.
Lee holds a Juris Doctor from Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University, complemented by a Liberal Arts degree from St. John's College of Annapolis, Maryland that focused on Philosophy, Mathematics, Languages, and Physics.
Beyond his professional pursuits, Lee has served as a JAG Officer with the New York Guard and actively participated in economic empowerment initiatives through his roles with the Riverhead IDA, the Business Advisory Committee and as a member of the Executive Board of the Riverhead Chamber of Commerce.
Lee has been married to his wife Shelia since 1993 and they are the proud parents of Nathaniel and Emily.
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.
Douglas Williams
Doug Williams is President of Inspire Business Capital, founded in 2014, which is an investor real estate lender. He has been instrumental in their focus on commercial loans for office, mixed-use, multi-family, SFR, and hospitality sectors, along with trading of whole loan portfolios.
Additionally, Doug and his strategic partners and professional advisors further developed the SBA-approved platform of securitizing and purchasing the non-guaranteed portions of SBA 7(a) loan portfolios.
Previously, Doug was an institutional securities supervisor with specialization in the mortgage-backed securities markets, working solely with institutional clients, by managing their fixed-income portfolios through implementation of mortgage-backed pools, collateralized mortgage obligations and mortgage derivative products, throughout a variety of market conditions and economic cycles.
Doug has overseen growth of branches while directing institutional fixed-income market trading and brokerage strategies/operations. In 2003, he founded and managed a lending company, with commercial conduit lending facilities, as well as the popular SBA lending programs. As a licensed Texas Real Estate Broker since 1979, he is aware of many trends in the residential and commercial real estate markets.
His history in the real estate/mortgage lending/mortgage securities industries provide a unique and broad-based collection of understandings, necessary for complex lending solutions in our current economic environment.
Doug moved to Long Island from Houston, Texas in 2019, after meeting his lovely wife, Sheryl. He is the proud father of two grown daughters. He has enjoyed cycling for many years, and continues to explore the East End attractions by bicycle (although, less when it's cold).
Agency Support
Kimberly Biondi Director of Administration
Kimberly Biondi leads the Riverhead IDA's day-to-day administration through The Biondi Group, a consulting practice that helps public agencies and mission-driven organizations strengthen their operations. She manages the agency's office operations, records, compliance and board meeting materials.
Kimberly has more than 15 years of experience in administration, project management and compliance. That includes federal program work with the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Small Business Administration, and leadership roles at Double Good and School of Rock. She holds a B.S. in Behavioral Science from York College of Pennsylvania and is a Riverhead resident.
