About A-HOME!

Gary 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 Vice President & Senior Counsel at American Express where he provides strategic advice on technical and operational resiliency, and third-party risk management. Before joining AmEx, Pete held senior executive positions at IBM, leading teams responsible for global technology, cybersecurity, and AI governance. Before IBM, Pete worked as a trial attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice. Pete lives in South Salem, NY with his family and is passionate about fostering kindness and joy in their community.

Jill is an Associate Attorney at Kurzman Eisenberg Corbin & Lever LLP in White Plains, New York. She focuses on corporate law and trusts and estates, advising clients on entity structuring, governance, financing, mergers and acquisitions, and business succession planning for closely held companies.

Jill earned her J.D. from Pace University School of Law, and is currently pursuing an LL.M. in Taxation through the University of Florida Levin College of Law.

Michael currently serves as President of Bloom Capital Group and Lantana Real Estate, both based in Costa Rica.  Through managing his team of local professionals he focuses on boutique financing, acquiring distressed properties and selling real estate. Previously Michael was the founder of the USA division of a multinational Dutch cheese cooperative. Michael is also the founder and president of the non-profit Tomorrow’s Chefs.  Michael graduated from Colgate University and has completed executive studies at Wharton School of Business. When he’s not working, Michael is devoted and focuses on his vast range of hobbies, which include traveling to “off the beaten track” destinations (he has seen the world from the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro) and piloting hot air balloons.

Peter 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).

Danielle has more than fifteen years of experience in the non-profit sector, including program development, implementation and evaluation for individuals and families experiencing domestic violence and homelessness. She is a dedicated advocate for client-centered services that promote participant self-determination and agency.

Danielle currently oversees research and evaluation operations at New York University’s Center on Violence and Recovery, where she is the Project Director for the multi-site evaluation funded by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women’s Restorative Practices Pilot Program initiative. Ms. Emery holds a Master of Public Administration from NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and a Bachelor of Arts from Tufts University. She lives in Mount Kisco with her husband, toddler and beloved dog, Pork Chop.

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. 

Caroline 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.

Stephen graduated from the University South Carolina Business School, Cum Laude, with a degree in accounting. His first accounting position was with New York City accounting firm Berenson & Company, a midsize CPA Firm. After several years of working obtained the CPA certificate.
He left Berenson with an associate after approximately ten years, joining a group of sole practioner CPA’s who merged into the accounting firm Shine, Pecker, Kallem, Macaluso, Jason & Berman (partners). Egos were put aside and the firm was renamed Shine & Company. The firm’s services included personal and business income tax planning and preparation, preparation of audit, review and compilation financial statements, estate planning and tax preparation, consulting and financial planning.
Stephen was the partner in charge of education and employee benefits during his tenure with Shine. At that time, he obtained a series 6 license. Shine was acquired by the accounting firm Prager Metis in 2020.
Stephen retired at the end of 2022. His hobbies are pickle ball, gardening, swimming, and golf.

Ian S. Maloney served as Dean of Humanities, Communications, and Education and Professor of English at St Francis College in Brooklyn, NY and as Director of Jack Hazard Fellowships at New Literary Project in Oakland, CA. Ian holds a PhD from the CUNY Graduate Center and is the author of two books, including South Brooklyn Exterminating (Spuyten Duyvil Publishing 2024). Ian lives in northern Westchester with his family and also serves on the Board for the Walt Whitman Initiative.

Jennifer has over 12 years of experience in accounting and auditing, with a specialization in affordable housing and nonprofit organizations. Her work focuses on audits and tax preparation, and is 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.  Jennifer holds a Master of Science degree in accounting from Baruch College, Zicklin School of Business.

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

Andrea 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.

Debbie has been with A-HOME since 1998. Since then she has served in a number of capacites – Case Manager, Supervisor, Program Manager, Deputy Director, Interim Executive Director and in April 2014 she took on the role of Executive Director. 

Debbie is also very active in the community serving as Treasurer on the Northern Westchester Geriatric Committee. Debbie is married with two children and lives in Northern Westchester.