President's Advisory Board
Kara Cannon is a seasoned life sciences executive with more than 35 years of global experience spanning marketing, sales, and operations. Her career includes senior leadership roles at Enzo Biochem, Pall Corporation, and Dynal Corporation, where she helped drive growth and innovation across the industry. She currently serves as Executive Director of the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe, leading the development of a science and innovation center at Nikola Tesla’s last remaining laboratory on Long Island.
A former CEO of Enzo Biochem, Cannon is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of life sciences leaders through board service, academic advising, and nonprofit engagement, and has been widely recognized as one of Long Island’s most influential business leaders.
Madeline A. Quintyne-McConney is a community leader, advocate, and mentor who has dedicated her life to empowering her community on Long Island, New York. She shares the inspiring journey of her upbringing, the influence of her parents, and her passion for advocacy. Born in Harlem and raised in Amityville, Long Island, Madeline's life has been a testament to public service and a deep dedication to the well-being of others.
Throughout her career, MaryAnn has played a pivotal role in translating complex scientific challenges into scalable, high performance solutions that meet both regulatory standards and consumer expectations. Her leadership has strengthened the integration of analytical science into innovation pipelines, driving consistency, reliability, and excellence across global operations.
Stuart B. Almer is President and CEO of Gurwin Healthcare System, a comprehensive senior care network located on a 36-acre campus in Commack, Long Island. The System includes Fountaingate Gardens Independent Living Community, Gurwin Jewish ~ Fay J. Lindner Residences Assisted Living Community, Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Island Nursing and Rehab Center (Holtsville), Gurwin Home Care programs and Gurwin Adult Day Care programs.
Karen Boorshtein’s leadership was the heart of Family Service League’s mission. After beginning her career as a LCSW, she rose through the ranks to become President and CEO, guiding the organization for over three decades with empathy, integrity, and a deep understanding of human need.
General Manager
Curtiss-Wright, Target Rock
Michael Cinque is the General Manager of Target Rock, a business unit of Curtiss-Wright specializing in highly engineered, critical-service valves for the U.S. Navy and the global nuclear power industry based in Farmingdale, New York. Michael leads operations, manufacturing, and strategic initiatives, drawing on years of experience in engineering, program management, and executive leadership. He develops, implements, and monitors policies and procedures appropriate to the day-to-day running of the company.
Michael holds in Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Lehigh University, is Qualified as a Naval Nuclear Propulsion Engineering Officer and has a Master of Business Administration from Clemson University.
Paul Defendini has served as the Superintendent of Schools for the Farmingdale School District since 2018, marking over two decades of dedicated service to the "Daler" community. A seasoned educational leader with a background in both instructional and business administration, Paul’s leadership is built on a diverse professional foundation.
Ralph Ekstrand is celebrating his 27th year as Supervising Pharmacist and Principal of Moby Drugs in Farmingdale. The company, established in 1935, is comprised of a full service retail pharmacy as well as a long-term care pharmacy providing pharmaceutical services to agencies and nursing facilities.
Richard, and his wife Toni have lived in New York City most of their lives and have two grown children, Abraham and Samantha as well as two grandchildren, Stella and Isla. Richard was educated at the Institute of Optics in Rochester, New York and Baruch College in New York City.
Richard, the son of William Feinbloom, OD, Ph.D., has spent his entire working life in Research and Development of visual aids for the Partially Sighted as well as creating custom made head borne magnification and illumination systems for Surgeons and Dentists all over the world. As the president of Designs for Vision, Inc. Richard has engineered the surgical product offerings to the point that Designs for Vision, Inc Surgical Telescopes and Lighting are considered essential tools in the armamentarium of many Surgeons and Dentists.
Richard holds over 100 patents in the medical industry. His hobbies include photography, astronomy and golf. He also shares his time with volunteer boards, Optometric Center of New York, 250E87 Owners Corp, Spectrios Institute for Low Vision in Chicago, IL.
George Gorman began his career in public service in 1977 as a summer seasonal employee at Jones Beach State Park. Demonstrating strong leadership and operational skills early on, he became a permanent park worker in 1980 and was promoted to Park Manager I in 1983 at 24 years old, making him one of the youngest park managers in the history of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. At that time, he was also assigned to manage the Jones Beach Marine Stadium, during its transition from theatrical productions to a major concert venue.
Stephen Hicks is president of Hicks Nurseries, Inc. Founded in 1853, Hicks Nurseries is a nursery and landscape business located in Westbury, and operates in the retail, landscape design-build, and landscape distribution segments of the nursery industry. Stephen has been president of the company since 2004 and is the sixth generation of his family to lead the business. He has been instrumental in its sustainability efforts and is dedicated to the company’s long-standing tradition of community engagement and customer service. Stephen received a BS from Cornell University and earned a MBA from New York University.
Joseph Lamantia (Joe) is Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy and Growth Officer of Catholic Health. In this role, he serves as a key advisor on clinical and business transformation for Catholic Health, its six hospitals, ambulatory outpatient network, and other facilities and programs. He leads system-wide strategy development, service line optimization, population health advancement, ambulatory network integrity and expansion, and enterprise growth through new business ventures, partnerships, and innovation. He provides administrative oversight of all clinical service lines, ambulatory centers, population health initiatives, shared risk relationships and business developments.
In September 2020, Vanessa Lockel assumed the role of Executive Director at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County (CCE Suffolk). With a wealth of experience spanning over two decades in collaboration with Suffolk County and New York State entities, Ms. Lockel brought her expertise to CCE Suffolk after serving as the Director of Government and Community Affairs at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority-Long Island Railroad (MTA-LIRR). During this tenure, she played a pivotal role in the Governor's transition team, contributing to the consolidation of the MTA-LIRR.
Christa Lucarelli Ms. Christa Lucarelli is the Director at the Farmingdale Public Library where she has worked since 1985. She graduated from Molloy College in 1991 with a B.S. in Education. Ms. Lucarelli then went on to earn her Master in Library Sciences from Queen’s College. In 2018 Ms. Lucarelli was a recipient of the Town of Oyster Bay’s Women of Distinction for her work with neurodivergent individuals and in 2021 was selected as a Farmingdale School District Wall of Fame honoree. Ms. Lucarelli currently serves as Vice President for the Farmingdale Chamber of Commerce, serves as chair for the Women in Business Committee, and sits on the Board of Farmingdale Rotary. In 2024, Ms. Lucarelli was awarded the Vic Lambert Volunteer Award from the Farmingdale Chamber of Commerce.
Serena Martin serves as executive director of New Hour for Women and Children, an organization dedicated to empowering mothers, women and children impacted by incarceration. New Hour provides fifteen weekly programs inside Long Island’s three jails and provides reentry support to those returning home from incarceration.
Vanessa Baird-Streeter is the President and CEO of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island (HWCLI), bringing decades of leadership experience in government, business, and community service. Under her guidance, HWCLI has strengthened its role as a convener of nonprofit agencies, corporations, and community stakeholders, working collectively to respond to the challenges faced by at-risk populations.
John Sullivan is a Senior Vice President and distinguished construction executive with over 35 years of leadership in delivering high-stakes infrastructure projects. Known for his strategic oversight, financial stewardship, and commitment to operational excellence, John has successfully directed some of New York’s most complex public infrastructure initiatives. His executive portfolio includes leading major capital projects for the NYSDOT, NYCDEP, MTA, Amtrak, and the Port Authority of NY & NJ, with landmark completions such as the Moynihan Train Hall, the JFK Light Rail, and the Newtown Creek WWTP. In addition to his corporate leadership, John brings valuable industry governance experience, serving on the Executive Committee for the General Contractors Association of New York and as an active member of The Moles since 2015. His governance mindset is defined by a sharp focus on stringent safety standards, robust risk management, and driving sustainable financial growth.
Dr. Errol D. Toulon, Jr. is Suffolk County, New York’s 67th Sheriff and the County’s first African American to be elected to a non-judicial countywide office. Now in his third term, he continues to serve and protect the county’s 1.5 million residents through innovative programs to reduce crime and recidivism.
Bill Zalakar is Executive Director of the Long Island Farm Bureau and a respected voice for Long Island agriculture, bringing more than 45 years of experience in horticulture, farm advocacy, education, regulatory issues, and organizational leadership. He previously served for 28 years as Director of Facilities and General Manager of Kurt Weiss Greenhouses, one of the nation’s leading horticultural operations.
Bill has served agriculture at the local, state, and national levels, including as President of the Long Island Farm Bureau, Chairperson of the New York Farm Bureau Promotion and Education Committee, and a member of the American Farm Bureau Federation Promotion & Engagement Committee. His work has focused on strengthening the voice of farmers, advancing agricultural education, connecting traditional agriculture with urban and suburban communities, and addressing issues including land use, labor, water quality, and sustainability. He is a Penn State graduate and recipient of the Horticulture Industry Leadership Award and NYFB James Quinn Award.
office of the president
Horton Hall, 2nd Floor
934-420-2145
president@farmingdale.edu
Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm