NY ALLIANCE - Key Persons
Adam is a fierce advocate and an experienced trial attorney, having tried numerous cases in courts across New York State and nationwide. Focusing his practice in commercial litigation as well as criminal defense, Adam uses his broad swath of courtroom experience to guide companies and executives through a wide variety of crises including governmental investigations, grand jury investigations and criminal indictments at the state and federal level. Adam also has extensive experience litigating complex civil commercial disputes enabling him to help resolve any dispute or threat a business may encounter.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Partner
- Treasurer
- Accounting
- Audit Partner
Craig Rothman is an Audit Partner with more than 25 years of public accounting experience. Craig also has extensive experience providing audit, accounting, advisory, consulting, and tax services to family-owned businesses. Craig's value-added approach to client service allows him to develop long-term relationships as an advisor to his clients. He provides strategic business and tax advice based on his intimate knowledge, understanding and hands-on approach to client service, which enables his clients to make better business decisions and maintain a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President
- Member of the Board
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Commercial Furniture Sales
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Officer
- Vice President
With over 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Evan understands the value of delivering an unmatched service experience to sophisticated, exacting business travelers.Corporate Travel Management (CTM) is a global leader in business travel management services. We drive savings, efficiency and safety to businesses and their travelers all around the world.
During his 30+ year career in insurance brokerage, Frank Abbatiello has established solid relationships in the business community, and is highly respected for his client service and knowledge within the insurance and surety industry. Frank co-founded The Amerisc Corporation in Garden City, New York in 1996. Amerisc grew to be one of the largest privately-owned insurance agencies in New York.In February 2011, The Amerisc Corporation merged with USI Insurance Services, LLC, at which time Frank was appointed President of USI Insurance Services, LLC Long Island Division. Frank has reached "PEAK" (USI's top achievers) every year since 2012.Frank graduated Arizona State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Insurance. He also studied finance, marketing, advertising, and accounting there. Frank attended Adelphi University where he took specific certified financial planner courses and also successfully completed two Wharton School of Business programs.Frank is a member of various industry associations including Harleysville Insurance Regional Council (2003-2019) and Nationwide Insurance Company (Regional Council 2015-2017; National Council 2017 - 2019). He is a member of Syosset Baseball Association as well as the manager of the Syosset Travel Baseball Team.Frank continually works with many Long Island charities such as The United Way of Long Island and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Ombudsman
Frank Fortino is the CEO of a building code and zoning consulting firm, Metropolis Group Inc., in Manhattan. He runs the business as a family business but with a corporate mind set. His clients are large developer and owners of high rise buildings as well as small projects.Frank oversees the administrative, technical, and financial divisions of the firm. His dedication, focus and passion for hiswork enable him to be an outstanding communicator, decision maker, leader, and manager. He plans, directs, and coordinates operational activities, sets the company's goals and benchmarks, and develops business expansion by attaining new clients. Frank meets with each department head to develop the overall objectives of the company, and determines and formulates policies and business strategies that cultivate the firm's long term vision. His business philosophy is based on the recognition that there are two key ingredients to a successful firm: satisfied clients and productive employees.Frank is a father of 3 wonderful children (now all grown up and in the work place). Happily married for 33 perfect years and going strong!
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Member of the Leadership Team
- President
Ira Reisman brings decades of experience in technology management to his clients and focuses on identifying and developing new service opportunities that enhance business efficiency. As a skilled information architect and systems integration strategist, he builds and leads high-performance teams that handle the technology needs of business across multiple industries.Born and bred in the high-technology business sector, Ira has worked with LISS since age thirteen. A lifetime entrepreneur, he briefly developed his own consultancy while studying business management at SUNY Albany before revitalizing his family brand.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President
- Founder
Jeff Pinsky is a strategic marketing thought leader who is responsible for helping some of the best know brands in the world (Samsung, Hertz, Farmers, etc) design their activation and branded merchandise strategies. Since co-founding ePromos at 24 years old in 1998, Jeff has helped guide the company through it's many phases of growth and expansion before settling into his current role running its enterprise ePromos Brand Solutions division, and heading strategy for the company's 400 enterprise clients. Prior to ePromos, Jeff was an investment banker working on mergers and acquisitions in the biotechnology sector.An Emory University graduate, Jeff recently moved back to Sands Point, Long Island, the town he grew up in with his wife Debbie, a yoga and dance instructor, identical twins Lindsey and Samantha, and two golden doodles, Lucky and Sunny.
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner
- Managing Partner at THSH
Joel has extensive experience as a real estate lawyer and counsels a broad array of clients from high net worth individuals, family offices, entrepreneurs and businesses, negotiating transactions and guiding clients including employment contracts, estate planning and philanthropy. Joel has good judgment, broad business experience, and excellent negotiating skills. Having clerked for a Federal Court Judge, Joel also understands litigation, when it is appropriate and how to use it. He works closely with the Litigation Department and is frequently responsible for litigation strategy and successful settlements.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- President
- Vice Chairman
- Commercial Real Estate
A veteran of the commercial real estate industry for over 32 years, Marc Shapses has built a successful business through commitment, determination and loyalty to the end users of space. He understands the importance of the real estate decision for his clients and as their advocate, participates in every aspect of the process beyond that of a traditional real estate advisor. Marc is often quoted in media publications for his avid advocacy on behalf of non-profit organizations.Other than serving as the President of the Metropolitan Executive Alliance, Marc is also a board member of the ERS Charitable Foundation and HorseAbility as well as a member of the Lower Manhattan Office Building and Real Estate Board of New York.
Job Titles:
- Vice President
- Employee Benefits Consultant
- Insurance
Phyllis Jackson is an Employee Benefits Consultant with 20+ years in the industry with top firms, working with CEOs, CFOs and Senior Human Resources Professionals to develop long term strategic direction for their Employee Benefit Plans. Learning the business from the inside out, her experience originated with internal roles in Operations, Business Development, and Regional Leadership before turning her talents external with relationship building and client management. Phyllis is a Vice President at USI Insurance Services who works closely with her clients to achieve long-term cost reduction goals, as well as optimizing attraction and retention, wellness, and compliance efforts. Cost cutting strategies that are integrated with wellness directives will optimize the potential for a company's employee benefit program to contribute favorably to the bottom line. Phyllis has established herself as an active strategic partner in the HR communities of New York and beyond as a valuable resource in the design and direction of employee benefit plans and reducing costs while increasing the actual and perceived value to the employee.
On a personal note, originally from Chicago and now a long-time Manhattan, NY resident, she enjoys spending quality time with her fiancé and family. You can find her happiest while traveling, volunteering, mentoring early career development young people, and discovering great, new restaurants.
Job Titles:
- Associate Board Member
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Director of Sustainability at Ettinger Engineering Associates
- Principal at Ettinger Engineering Associates
Pournamasi Rath is a Principal at Ettinger Engineering Associates, a leading multi-disciplinary engineering firm in New York City. An expert in energy efficient and green design, she provides sustainability consultancy to the building and construction industry, and works with developers, builders, architects, designers and building owners. In addition to providing consultancy on several award-winning projects, she has also conducted cutting-edge research towards developing innovative solutions for affordable energy efficient design. A trained architect, Pournamasi holds a Bachelor's degree in Architecture from India and a Master's in Architecture, from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark. She is a LEED AP, WELL AP, Fitwel Ambassador and a Certified Passive House Designer.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Member of the Leadership Team
- President
- Founder and Leader of Distinctive Offices
Richard is the founder and leader of Distinctive Offices. He literally started from the ground up as a carpet installer. Following experience in the field of installing, he recognized that his talents would be better put to use on the business side. He learned to estimate and run work as a project manager. After working for several commercial carpet dealers as a business developer, he decided to go out on his own. For several years, he ran his company as a traditional commercial floor covering dealership working on new construction projects. Quickly, he realized that there was a void in the existing built-out office space, and the decision was made to create Distinctive Offices as a firm that specializes in the cosmetic renovation of occupied office space. With all of his professional success, Richard is most proud of his family. Richard is married with three teenage girls. In fact, family is so important to Richard that he prides himself on establishing that same atmosphere of family at Distinctive Offices. Employees and clients alike are treated with the respect of one of his family members. Whether it is a professional or personal relationship, Richard is there for them. Richard currently sits on two boards, one as the vice president of the metropolitan business network (NYC's most prestigious business group) and as a member of POPPA's board, helping the people who help everyone else, the NYPD.
Job Titles:
- Insurance
- Senior VP, Regional Sales Leader
Stephen started in the insurance business in 1983. He managed producer sales groups, as a Sales Manager, for The Guardian Life Insurance Company and Mass Mutual Life Insurance Company. Stephen then became an owner/partner with the Amerisc Benefits Corp., an independent benefits brokerage insurance agency. At Amerisc, he developed an extensive clientele in the health and benefits insurance business. Amerisc was acquired by USI Insurance Services in 2011.He is currently with USI Insurance Services as a Senior Vice President and Regional Sales Leader in the Northeast Region.USI is an Industry Leading Brokerage Firm, designing, implementing and maintaining Benefits Plans and Property & Casualty Insurance for mid-market companies throughout the United States.Stephen received his MBA in Finance and BA in Economics from from LIU Post. He holds the following licenses: Life, Accident and Health, Property & Casualty, Series 7 General Securities and is a Certified Financial Planner.Stephen is a past Development Board Member for Developmental Disabilities Institute and The Girl Scouts of Nassau County. Stephen is a current Chairperson of the Positive Behavior Support Consulting Annual Golf Outing. PBS Consulting serves people with Autism and many other Developmental Disabilities. Stephen and his wife of 35 years, Theresa, live in Smithtown, NY and have two daughters, Tara and Elissa.
Job Titles:
- Vice President Sales
- Insurance
- Vice President of Sales for USI Insurance Services
Tommy is the Vice President of Sales for USI Insurance Services. Tommy is responsible for maintaining current client relations, as well as, new business development. Tommy began working at USI while studying for his M.B.A. at LIU Post. He started as an account manager, where he learned the various aspects of the insurance industry: underwriting, service, and sales. In 2015, Tommy transitioned into his current role as VP of Sales.
Tommy specializes in Construction & Real Estate Insurance and acts as a risk management consultant for his clients. Tommy serves on the board of the Metropolitan Air Conditioning Contractors Association & is an active member of the Master Plumbers Council of NYC.
Tommy earned his B.S. in Finance and Economics from LIU Post, in which, he graduated first in his class in the college of management. He then went on to earn his M.B.A. from LIU Post.