Michael E. White is the Executive Director of the Long Island Regional Planning Council. Prior to his appointment he was a partner in the firm of Jaspan Schlesinger Hoffman LLP in Garden City, New York. He headed the Environmental Law Practice Group and was part of the Municipal Law Practice Group where he concentrated his practice in the areas of environmental law including, the regulation of solid, liquid and hazardous substances and wastes, Federal and State “Superfund” and remediation, Brownfields, fishery management, NEPA, SEQRA, land use, zoning and all aspects of municipal law.

Michael was the Long Island Chapter Chair of the New York League of Conservation Voters and member of its statewide Board .He is on the Board of Governors of the New York State Sea Grant Program, and recently completed a term as its Chair. He is also the Chair of the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences Dean’s Council and Adjunct Faculty of Environmental Law and Policy at Stony Brook University. Michael is a Commissioner on the Blue Ribbon Commission on Sustainability and the MTA, on the Suffolk County Wastewater Treatment Task Force and its Carbon Cap Commission, a member the Long Island Center for Healthcare Policy Studies, LI Carbon Footprint Steering Committee and L I Index Advisory Committee. Michael is the recipient of the Touro College Law Center Pro Bono Attorney of the year in 2004, the Old Westbury College Foundation Theodore Roosevelt Preservation Award in 2005 and a co- honoree with his wife Judy of the Cornell Cooperative Extension in 2008.

Prior to joining Jaspan Schlesinger Hoffman LLP, Michael was the managing partner of White and Kretzing P.C., which merged with JSH in 2002. He is admitted to practice in the Courts of New York, the Eastern and Southern District Federal Courts of New York, the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the Court of Federal Claims and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. He received his Juris Doctor, from Touro College Law Center and has degrees in Environmental Studies and Earth and Space Science from Stony Brook University. Prior to his legal career, Michael served as an environmental planner in the Department of Environmental Control of the Town of Huntington, and then Director of that Department, was an environmental consultant in the private sector, worked in the Environmental Monitoring Division of the Suffolk County Department of Environmental Control and then with the Suffolk County Department of Health Services Water Quality and Drinking Water Supply Bureau and was a research scientist at the Marine Sciences Research Center of Stony Brook University. He is a former Chair of the Environmental Law Committee of the Suffolk County Bar Association as well as a former member of the Board of the Suffolk County Water Authority, the Long Island Regional Planning Board 208 Technical Advisory Committee and the Long Island Regional Ashfill Board.

John D. Cameron, Jr., P.E., is Chairman of the Long Island Regional Planning Council. He is truly dedicated to the issues that affect the physical, economic and social health of Long Island and its residents.

Cameron is Founder and Managing Partner of Cameron Engineering & Associates, LLP, located in Woodbury, N.Y. Throughout its 24 years of business under his leadership, Cameron Engineering has become one of Long Island’s premier consulting firms, having local, state and national awards for many of its projects.

Cameron’s professional career has encompassed various responsibilities including planning, design, construction, consulting engineering, academia, government, facility operations, entrepreneurship and business ownership. His personal areas of professional discipline include planning and mechanical, electrical, civil and environmental engineering.

An engineering graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, Cameron also holds a Masters degree in Environmental Science from Long Island University. He is a licensed professional engineer, marine engineer and a U.S. patent holder for recycling technology. Cameron is very active in his Long Island community, church and professional associations, having served on numerous boards of charitable, educational and environmental organizations.

Mr. Kraut coordinates the strategic planning and marketing activities of the North Shore-LIJ Health System, as well as the development of its network of providers through merger, acquisition or affiliated relationships. North Shore-LIJ is the third largest secular health system in the country with revenues in excess of $4 billion and employing over 38,000 persons.

Mr. Kraut is a recognized leader in health planning and policy. A member of the NYS Hospital Review and Planning Council since 2003, Jeffrey Kraut was designated as its chairman in 2007 and is a member of the Long Island Regional Planning Board. He also served as a member of the Long Island Regional Advisory Committee of the Commission on Healthcare in the 21st Century, (the “Berger Commission”).

He is a fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine, and is a former President of the New York State Society for Health Planning. He was recently honored as the recipient of its 25th Anniversary Leadership Award. Mr. Kraut is also a member of the Long Island Index, the Health Committee of the Long Island Association, the Long Island Committee for the Regional Plan Association, and serves on the boards of Sustainable Long Island, the Brookville Center for Children Services and the College of Advisors for Erase Racism.

Prior to joining North Shore-LIJ, Mr. Kraut served as the Vice President for Policy and Planning at the SUNY Downstate Medical School, where he was recruited from the health care consulting group of KPMG Peat Marwick. Mr. Kraut received an MBA in Healthcare Management from Baruch College/Mt. Sinai School of Medicine and is a graduate of Stony Brook University.

Richard V. Guardino, Jr. joined the Long Island Regional Planning Council in 2008. As Vice President for Business Development at Hofstra University, Guardino directs the Scott Skodnek Business Development Center and serves as Executive Dean of the Wilbur F. Breslin Center for Real Estate Studies.

Before joining Hofstra University, Guardino served as Supervisor of the Town of Hempstead. In this role Guardino was Chief Executive Officer of the largest town in the United States - with a population of over 757K, more than 2000 employees and a budget of $300 million dollars.

Guardino is admitted to practice law in both New York and Florida and was previously a partner in the law firm of Banno & Guardino. He also served as counsel to State Senator John R. Dunne, and was investigative counsel to the NYS Senate Judiciary Committee.

He has served for many years as Honorary Chairman and Grand Marshall of the March of Dimes WalkAmerica and Honorary Chairman of the Long Island Walk to D’Feet ALS. Guardino has also served as Honorary Chairman of the Women’s Sports Foundation’s Annual Golf Outings and as Honorary Vice Chairman for the U.S. Marine Corp Toys for Tots drive. Guardino served on the New York State Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century, as a Regional Member and as a member of the Study Group for the New York State Commission on Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness.

Guardino currently serves on: Community Development Corporation, Member of the Council of Advisors, Lighthouse Development Group, LLC, Member of the Lighthouse Steering Committee, and United Way, Member of the Committee on Nonprofit Optimization. He is the recipient of both the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Living the Dream Award” and the American Committee on Italian Migration Award. He is a graduate of William & Mary College and Law School.

Jon Kaiman took his seat on the Long Island Regional Planning Council in 2008 and with him brought a distinguished record of public and private sector accomplishments.

Since January 2004, Kaiman has served as Town Supervisor of the Town of North Hempstead. In his years as Town Supervisor, Kaiman has spearheaded a series of initiatives and has also helped push the Town of North Hempstead towards environmentally friendly practices – such as the purchase of more than 20 hybrid and electric vehicles and instituting a comprehensive town-wide recycling program that targets the Town’s parks, libraries and schools.

As one of the chief architects of the Town’s Environmental Legacy Fund, Kaiman has continued to fight to preserve and replenish open space and protect the Town of North Hempstead’s environment. As Supervisor he instituted North Hempstead’s annual Earth Day Program and Operation Clean Sweep - a month- long, top to bottom “Spring Cleaning” of the Town. During its five years of existence, the program has removed tens of thousands of tons of garbage and debris.

In 1999 Kaiman was elected to the Nassau County District Court, where for two consecutive years he received the highest rating possible from the Nassau County Bar Association’s Judicial Screening Committee. Kaiman received his Juris Doctorate from Hofstra University Law School and a Bachelor of Arts from Hofstra University.

Since 1997 Theresa E. Sanders has served as the President and CEO of the Urban League of Long Island, an affiliate of the National Urban League.

Sanders has over 10 years of administrative experience at the Urban League, a not-for-profit community based organization that annually serves 18,000 children and families in Nassau and Suffolk counties. For eight years before coming to the Urban League, the Harlem native served as an Internal Auditor for several metropolitan New York area companies and as an entrepreneur, secured audit contracts with local school districts on Long Island.

Under the leadership of Sanders, the Urban League of Long Island addresses key issues impacting the local community. Through her vision the League has formed a strategic plan that will broaden and strengthen community services. The strategic plan includes the development of the first permanent home for the League, the Long Island Center for Community Empowerment. The Long Island Center for Community Empowerment will address Long Island’s growing demand for youth, family and business development services.

In addition to serving on the Long Island Regional Planning Council, Sanders is also a board member of Long Island Software and Technology Network (LISTnet) and Tomorrow’s Hope Foundation. She also serves on the Executive Board of the National Urban League Association of Executives and President of the New York State Association of Presidents. Sanders was honored in 2004 and 2005 as one of Long Island Business News’ Top 50 Women and selected as one of the most influential Long Islanders in 2006.

Theresa Sanders is an active member of her church, Living Hope Fellowship, as well as the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and the Belmont Lake Civic Association.

Paul Jude Tonna currently serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Long Island Regional Planning Council. With notable practice in both the private and public sectors, Tonna brings great knowledge and experience to the Council and the issues the organization takes on.

Tonna is Chief Executive Officer of Professional Evaluation Medical Group, a preventive health care company headquartered in Hicksville, N.Y. Prior to this, he served as a Suffolk County Legislator (1994 - 2005) and for three years was chosen by fellow legislators to lead the Suffolk County Legislature as its Presiding Officer (2000, 2001 and 2002).

During Legislator Tonna’s 12 years of elected office, he was a strong advocate for the poor, homeless and marginalized on Long Island; affordable housing; labor organizations; and the environment. Tonna is a strong advocate of immigrants working and living on Long Island – Farmingville, the 2003 award-winning documentary, chronicled some of those efforts.

Tonna is an Adjunct Professor in Theology & Religious Studies at St. John’s University and serves on numerous Boards and Commissions across Long Island. Through the years Tonna has received many awards and honors including but not limited to Suffolk County Human Rights Commission Legislator of the Year; Habitat for Humanity Man of the Year and National Association of Social Workers Public Citizen of the Year.

He earned an undergraduate degree in philosophy from New York University, a Masters of Arts degree in theology from Immaculate Conception Seminary and conducted doctoral studies in systematic theology at Fordham University.

Grant Hendricks joined the Long Island Regional Planning Council in 2008. For over 20 years, he has served as Vice President and Managing Partner of BIMASCO Inc., a manufacturing and contracting business located on Long Island. He also serves as the Vice President and Managing Partner of Bituminous Roadrunner, Inc., a successful trucking company that specializes in the transportation and application emulsified asphalt products.

Additionally, Hendricks is President of 3Sixty Recycling Corporation, which was founded in 2002. In this position he is dedicated to solving Long Island’s landfill overflow problem through utilization of Waste-to Energy Residues as an engineered aggregate in construction applications.

Hendricks is also involved with various Associations and Boards across Long Island, including the Energeia Partnership Class of 2007, Long Island Contractors Association, Suffolk County Highway Superintendents Association, Board of Governors for Southward Ho Country Club, O-Co’Nee Home Owners Association, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 138 and a Trustee to Construction Laborers Union Local 1298.

Peter J Elkowitz, Jr. was appointed by Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy to the Long Island Regional Planning Board in 2008.

In 2004, Elkowitz was named President and Chief Executive Officer of the Long Island Housing Partnership and Affiliates (LIHP). He has also served as Executive Vice President/Chief Fiscal Officer and as Program Administrator. He is responsible for administration of programs and internal operations for all organizations.

Prior to joining the LIHP, Elkowitz served as program director of the Suffolk Community Council, Inc. (SCC), a non-profit health and human services planning agency. Elkowitz has also taught graduate courses at SUNY Stony Brook.

Elkowitz is a Board Member of Friends of RSVP, was appointed to the Federal Home Loan Bank Affordable Housing Advisory Council, serves on the JP Morgan Chase National Community Advisory Board and the Real Estate Practitioners Institute Board of Directors, and recently joined the 2007 Class of The Energeia Partnership – The Academy for Regional Stewardship at Molloy College. He has received both the Harry Weiner Distinguished Alumni Award as well as the Governor’s award for Excellence in Housing in 1994.

In June 2002, Elkowitz received a Fannie Mae Fellowship and completed the Senior Executives Program in State and Local Government at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Elkowitz holds a Master of Science Degree in Policy Analysis and Public Management.

Thomas J. Garry is an attorney with the law firm of Harris Beach PLLC. Mr. Garry received his B.A. in 1991 and his J.D. in 1994 from St. John’s University. He was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1995 and is also admitted to the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York. He is a member of the Nassau County Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association and the Catholic Lawyers Guild.

Mr.Garry is intimately familiar with all aspects of development projects from both the municipal and private development perspectives. He has extensive experience representing major commercial and residential developers in various phases of applications including site plan and subdivision review, special permit applications, re-zonings and variances. In connection with these applications, Mr. Garry has appeared before numerous state agencies and commissions, local town boards, village boards, planning boards and zoning boards of appeal.

Furthermore, Mr. Garry has vast experience representing municipalities previously serving as interim Village Attorney of The Incorporated Village of Hempstead and special counsel to many other state and local agencies. Mr. Garry has provided legal advice to municipalities and their agencies on issues such as the development and implementation of a master plan, the creation and impact of municipal easements and restrictive covenants, compliance with the State Environmental Quality Review Act, the creation of planned development districts, transportation issues and smart growth projects.

Finally, Mr. Garry has extensive land use and municipal litigation experience. Mr. Garry has successfully represented developers and municipalities in proceedings challenging administrative determinations pursuant to CPLR Article 78, declaratory judgment actions and actions alleging breach of contract. Mr. Garry also serves as Counsel to the Nassau County Board of Elections. Mr. Garry resides in the Village of Rockville Centre.

Paul V. Pontieri, Jr. joined the Long Island Regional Planning Council in 2008. He has served as Mayor of Patchogue Village since March 2004.

As Mayor, Pontieri proposed and developed the first major Work Force Housing Development in Suffolk County. He also worked with Federal and State Representatives to secure of $7 million for capital improvement such as road paving, street lighting and Work Force Housing for the Village. Pontieri has also made it a priority to take a “Smart Growth” approach to revitalizing Patchogue Village.

Prior to serving as Mayor, Pontieri served as Village Trustee during the years of 1986-1994 and 2001-2004. As Village Trustee he wrote and passed various legislation on boarding houses, and worked to change the Village Code on such houses. Pontieri also served as Assistant Principal of Bellport Senior High School from 1996-2003. .

Pontieri is certified in School Administration and Elementary Education and holds both a BS and an MS from SUNY Buffalo.

George “Butch” Starkie joined the Long Island Regional Planning Council in 2008. Starkie serves as Mayor of the Incorporated Village of Farmingdale and is Trustee of the Village.

A Farmingdale Village Trustee since 2006, Starkie was elected Mayor in 2008. Mayor Starkie has worked tirelessly to revitalize Farmingdale’s Main Street by attracting new businesses, initiating more community events and bringing additional revenue to the Village’s downtown. Because of his efforts, Farmingdale is seeing a significant increase in grants and community revitalization programs with the goal of attracting more businesses, patrons and young people into this vibrant downtown. Mayor Starkie is passionate about Farmingdale and wants to be part of the solution to all the stresses of small downtowns on Long Island.

In addition to serving the Incorporated Village of Farmingdale, Mayor Starkie also owns and operates Starkie Brothers Garden Center in Farmingdale. He has other business interests in Long Island’s horticultural field, as well - including an 86-acre farm on the North Fork of Long Island.

Mayor Starkie is a member of the Long Island Farm Bureau, is involved with various programs related to farming and agricultural stewardship, and is a strong advocate for the Long Island’s agricultural community.