Meet the Board of Directors

		Sonia Spar, President Sonia Spar is an strategic thinker with more than 20 years of experience in leadership positions working with government agencies, and internationally recognized higher education and non-for-profit institutions helping them expand impact and strengthen credibility, accountability and performance. Expert in developing and strengthening relationships with stakeholders - at all organizational levels, and identifying diverse opportunities for growth. more...
		David Diamond, Vice President David Diamond has been a board member since January 2021 and is excited to be helping advance all aspects of CCE-Suffolk’s mission. He is especially interested in the marine environment and child education programs. He is on the Board of Governors of the Port Jefferson Yacht Club where his responsibilities include the child and adult education programs. more...
		Andrew Lynch, Treasurer Andrew Lynch is a transportation executive and current Vice President with Hampton Jitney, where he has worked for over 15 years. A dynamic, family-owned business, Hampton Jitney is one of the most readily identified brands on the East End and its iconic service has been running daily for over 45 years. more...
		Chris Kempner, Secretary Chris Kempner has over 35 years of rich experience providing innovative Economic Development Strategies for government, nonprofit, and private clients. Hailing from Long Island with summers spent in Southold on Long Island Sound fishing and sailing, Chris has a deep connection to Suffolk County’s farming and maritime heritage. Chris is an attorney with a Juris Doctorate degree, cum laude, from the University of Hawaii with a concentration in Environmental Studies, complemented by a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University in Policy Analysis. Admitted to the bars of the states of both New York and Hawaii, Chris also holds a New York State Real Estate Brokerage License as Whale Rock Realty. more...
		Michael Russo Michael Russo is a long-time resident of Suffolk County. He is a graduate of Hofstra University and a CPA. Mr. Russo has diverse experience as an operating executive for branded products, manufacturing and distribution companies. He held senior management positions, including President/Chief Operating Officer/ VP General Manager for various companies including his own consulting firm, Premier Store Fixture, D’Addario, Terk Technologies and Harman International. more...
		Thomas J. Kehoe, Sr. Tom Kehoe brings a lifetime of work in the seafood industry from many avenues. A partner in numerous wholesale and retail companies, some dating back to the Old Fulton Fish Market. He has also owned aquaculture operations, holding one of the first aquaculture permits in 1986 in Peconic Bay. Tom has lectured about American Seafood in Russia, and has actively exported, shipped, traveled to and traded US seafood to numerous countries. more...
		George LaMay George LaMay, an Arborist, and has been an active supporter of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County for nearly two decades. He and his wife of 50 years, Cynthia founded LaMay's Tree Service in Greenlawn, N.Y. in 1972. Their sons Buddy and Jason also work in, and manage this successful family business. more...
		Jennifer Carpenter Low Jennifer Carpenter Low brings three decades of experience in the nonprofit sector serving in program, fund development, and executive roles with local, national, and international organizations, spanning the realms of advocacy, disaster relief, and education. more...
		Morgan Morrison Morgan Morrison is a lifelong resident of Suffolk County and is deeply rooted in this community. Morgan grew up fishing, clamming, and sailing on the North Shore of Long Island. He is a lover of all things natural as well as an avid beekeeper and gardener. He holds a BSc in Computer Science from Stony Brook University and currently works as a Horticultural Consultant in the private sector. Morgan also serves as an elected Trustee in the Village of Old Field. Morgan loves problem solving, and is excited to bring his time and technological expertise to advancing the varied missions of CCE Suffolk.
		Alyssa Turano Alyssa Turano is a Senior Public Involvement Specialist for Burns & McDonnell. As part of the project management team she works to help manage, provide field outreach, and deliver an integrated community approach to planning utility scale renewable energy projects. She is a current member of the Suffolk County Farm Community Advisory Committee and serves as liaison to the Cornell Cooperative Extension Board of Directors. more...
		Kristina Wollschlaeger Kristina Wollschlaeger is an accomplished leader and innovative change agent with a 30-year career at McKinsey, a global management consulting firm, where she held various leadership positions. more...
		Janet Sklar BA Brooklyn College-Food and Nutrition MA-Adelphi University-School and Community Health NYS Teaching License-Health K-12 NYS Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist more...
		Patrick Wiles Patrick Wiles, a Cornell graduate of the class of 1984, boasts an impressive career spanning four decades with Farm Credit East, ACA. Currently serving as the Branch Manager of the Riverhead office, he oversees a substantial portfolio of over $400 million in agricultural loans, catering to both Suffolk and Nassau County. With 37 years dedicated to Long Island, Patrick is deeply rooted in the community. more...
		Leslie Merinoff Kwasnieski Leslie Merinoff Kwasnieski is a distiller/winemaker and a passionate advocate for local agriculture and sustainable practices. Over the course of her career she has worked in distillery operations, strategic brand development, and impactful community engagement. more...
		TJ Star
		Dennis Limonious
		Dafny Irizarry Dafny Irizarry is the founder and president of the Long Island Latino Teachers Association, an organization working to identify and tackle common risk factors impacting the academic outcomes of Latino students and other ethnic groups on Long Island. Ms. Irizarry teaches English as a New Language (ENL) in the Central Islip School District. She also serves as First Vice President for the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) Long Island Chapter, is a member of the Advisory Board Member for the TESOL Program at Molloy College, and a member of the Community Advisory Board for Northwell Health.
		Jason A. Neal