Gary Kris is a seasoned business executive with over 25 years experience developing and executing growth and finance strategies in medical products, consumer goods, industrial equipment, and information technology industries .   Gary has founded, operated, grown and sold two businesses involved in medical devices and industrial products.  Prior to his entrepreneurial activities, Gary supported the development and growth of a number of large businesses as a management consultant.  He also brings a depth of finance experience driving mergers and acquisitions at Pepsico and as an investment banker before that.  Gary holds a bachelors degree in accounting and finance from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.  Gary is actively involved in a number of non-profit organizations including Legal Services of Hudson Valley, Northeast Stem Starter Academy, Friends of the White Plains Youth Bureau and MyMoney.org.

Pete Putignano is Associate General Counsel at IBM in Armonk, NY, where he supports IBM’s regulatory compliance and internal operations groups. Pete began his career with the Federal government and, immediately prior to joining IBM, was a Trial Attorney at the US Department of Justice in Washington, DC. A graduate of Bates College in Lewiston, ME, Pete holds a Masters in ethics from Harvard Divinity School in Cambridge, MA, and a law degree from Pace (Haub) Law in White Plains, NY. Pete grew up in southern Westchester and is passionate about A-HOME’s work to foster diverse communities.

Caroline Keegan is a Senior Associate Attorney at the New York law firm, Kurzman Eisenberg Corbin & Lever LLP. Caroline’s practice within the firm’s Real Estate Department focuses on transactional work including the acquisition, leasing, development, financing of commercial and multifamily housing, as well as the representation of cooperative apartment corporations and condominium associations.

Caroline is a graduate of Fordham University School of Law and of Florida State University, where she received her BA in Art History. Caroline enjoys giving back to her community by volunteering with the Humane Society.

Peter D. Burack is a Co-Managing Partner of ABS Partners Real Estate, a property management and leasing firm based in New York.  He has experience in all matters of real estate services including development, finance, acquisitions and sales.

Mr. Burack has been an active member of his community and participated for many years as a Board member of various youth programs.  In addition, he has been supportive member of his Temple (acting as chairman of the building committee during a major renovation of the facility) as well as the local school foundation and scholarship fund.  Peter also recently joined the Board and serves on the Finance Committee of Hillside Food Outreach, an organization that delivers high quality, nutritious food to those who are otherwise unable to access a traditional food pantry.

He is a graduate of Dartmouth College (BA 1983) and Kellogg Graduate School of Management (MBA 1988).

Chris has had a 35 year career as a Banker on Wall Street, most recently as a Managing Director and Industry Group Head at Mizuho Securities.  Additionally, he has experience financing, renovating, and managing residential real estate in the New York area.  As a longtime resident of Chappaqua, he has an understanding of the need for affordable housing in Westchester to fill the need for local housing for those who cannot afford the higher priced residential rental real estate available in the area.   

 

Ellen joined the A-Home Board in February 2020.    Ellen is originally from Western New York and has called the lower Hudson Valley home for the last 18 years.   She holds a B.S. Degree in Business from Alfred University and a M.B.A. from S.U.N.Y. Buffalo.

Ellen joined the Board to give back to the community and to utilize her skills to help fight hunger and homelessness.   She brings 30+ years of Human Resource Management experience in the Consumer Package Goods (CPG) industry.  In addition to her work experience, Ellen has been an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Yorktown, serving on Session, the Mission Commission and teaching Confirmation classes to young adults.  It was through FPCY that Ellen first became aware of CHHOP and the wonderful work we do.

Andrew Musci works in the accounting industry for PKF OConnor Davies LLP. He has supervised and trained auditing personnel created procedures to improve efficiency and developed budgets and annual audit reports.

Andrew graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a degree in Accounting & Information Systems. He also spends time volunteering rehabbing houses through his church.

I have over 12 years of experience in accounting and auditing, with a specialization in affordable housing and nonprofit organizations. My work focuses on audits and tax preparation, and I’m well-versed in compliance with OMB Title 2 CFR Part 200 (Uniform Guidance) and ACS guidelines, as well as Housing and Urban Development (HUD) audit requirements.  I hold a Master of Science degree in accounting from Baruch College, Zicklin School of Business.

Before joining PKF O’Connor Davies, I spent six years at a smaller audit firm conducting similar audits. Before that I worked five years as an office admin at a donor advised organization in New York City. That experience gave me valuable insight into the unique financial challenges nonprofits face and strengthened my commitment to supporting their mission-driven work.

Andrea Wagonseller is a Senior Vice President and Senior Relationship Manager in the New York City Commercial Real Estate Department at M&T Bank.  Andrea began her career with M&T Bank in 2007 as part of the Bank’s Management Development Program and has since held several management positions in Retail Banking, including M&T’s North Salem and White Plains offices, and has also provided support for several bank acquisitions and conversions.  A graduate of the University of Rochester with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, Andrea went on to receive her MBA from the NYU Stern School of Business in 2015.  Andrea currently serves on the board of the New York City chapter of the Real Estate Lenders Association.