About the School

It is my privilege to serve as dean of the Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science. Primarily an undergraduate school committed to educating future generations of engineers and computer scientists, we also offer Master of Science degrees in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, and Engineering Management. These advanced degrees complement our 14 undergraduate degrees available through the Department of Engineering and the Department of Computer Science.

The DeMatteis School currently serves approximately 785 students pursuing bachelor's degrees and 60 pursuing master’s degrees. The rapid and sustained growth we have experienced over the past seven years is the result of a great demand for graduates who have the skills and knowledge required to work in the technical sector and to contribute immediately to a company's mission in the marketplace. To assist in meeting that demand, our Co-op Program, which was established at the beginning of 2015, has already enlisted approximately 200 companies as partners in hiring interested juniors or seniors for six- to eight-month full-time work experiences prior to graduation.

Our commitment to students and our partnerships with the community extend even further. Our Center for Innovation allows faculty and students to provide technical and engineering expertise to regional businesses and research centers, thereby supporting the region's research-based economy and providing students with valuable real-world experience. Another exciting opportunity awaiting motivated students is our Advanced Summer Program in Research (ASPiRe). This program offers competitive stipends for students who wish to go beyond the academic requirements of their degree programs to experience advanced scientific research within a variety of disciplines. This past year, approximately 60% of our full-time faculty spent the summer months mentoring students on work that typically leads to published papers at scientific conferences or in journals, and which serves as excellent preparation for those who want to pursue graduate studies at prestigious research institutions.

These and other ventures, such as Hofstra in Silicon Valley and DeMatteis OverSEAS, are possible through the hiring and retention of faculty who are passionate about their fields, and who are committed to mentoring students into well-rounded, creative problem solvers who are prepared to help humanity tackle and overcome the challenges of today's complex technological environment.

I am proud to be a part of this exceptional community of scholars, and I strongly encourage students looking toward a career in engineering or computer science to consider a future with us at the DeMatteis School.

Sina Y. Rabbany, Ph.D.
Dean, Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science
Jean Nerken Distinguished Professor of Engineering and Founding Director of the Bioengineering Program

The Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science at Hofstra University recognizes that its primary mission is to provide an optimal educational environment for students to gain an understanding of the world as shaped and designed by engineers and computer scientists, and to gain facility in the use of technology to improve the condition of human life on earth. Successful graduates of the degree programs in the DeMatteis School learn to become critical multidisciplinary thinkers, able to model, analyze and improve complex systems and thereby achieve innovative solutions to problems. They will consequently enter the professional realm, working harmoniously with other talented people, well qualified to tackle projects benefiting humanity.

An ideal environment for nurturing intellectual growth and fostering personal maturity is maintained at the DeMatteis School by staffing its constituent programs with dedicated faculty and other personnel who are devoted to the craft of teaching, who radiate intellectual curiosity through research and scholarship, and who respect each student striving to achieve educational and professional goals. Given the reputation of Hofstra University as, foremost, a teaching institution, care is taken to hire and retain faculty in our programs who will continually inspire students through their pedagogy and through the example they set as mentors. At the same time, many faculty members have attained international recognition for their research.

The DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science aspires also to be a school where students may participate fully in faculty-guided research initiatives, and where all laboratory facilities, even the most sophisticated and expensive, are made available for use by undergraduates. This culture of encouraging research offers many highly motivated students the opportunity to engage in scientific work leading to presentations at professional conferences and publications in peer-reviewed journals. Such students will be fully prepared to continue their education in graduate programs, as well as in industries with strong research components.

Many students take advantage of the opportunity to enhance their skills through participation in the DeMatteis School co-op program, which places them in an industry setting as full-time, compensated employees for a six-to-eight-month period. Equally valuable are part-time internship opportunities in which students can participate while continuing their education without pause. Hofstra University's proximity to New York City, where many engineering and computer science firms are headquartered, as well as the large number of technology companies on Long Island, facilitates the procurement of such positions for our students.

Hofstra University's strong foundation in liberal arts and sciences provides students with a full complement of courses in the humanities, social sciences, mathematics and the natural sciences. Technological advances generated by the engineering and computer science professions have both foreseen and unforeseen effects on human culture and civilization. The broadly educated Hofstra DeMatteis School graduate will mirror the builder/architect envisioned in classical times by Vitruvius, who, in his De Architectura (Book I, Chapter I) said of the successful craftsman: "He should be a man of letters, a skillful draughtsman, a mathematician, familiar with scientific inquiries, a diligent student of philosophy, acquainted with music ..." Throughout the ages this multiplicity of talents has been personified in individuals such as da Vinci, Pascal, Edison, von Neumann, Timoshenko, and many others who have been interdisciplinary innovators. Graduates who are historically, linguistically or culturally enriched through their educational experience at Hofstra will be better positioned to assess the effects of technological change on society, and — if necessary — to work to ameliorate any deleterious effects.

The DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science also benefits from an active partnership with our Advisory Board, composed of industry leaders representative of the fields our students are being prepared to enter. Feedback from professionals helps ensure that our degree programs remain dynamic, incorporating new information and new ways of approaching old problems, while never losing sight of the essential foundations of a solid engineering or computer science education.

John Cameron is the Founder and Managing Partner of Cameron Engineering & Associates, LLP. The firm is in its thirty-third year of business, specializing in consulting engineering and planning, serving the public and private sectors. An engineering graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, Mr. Cameron also holds a Master's Degree in Environmental Science from Long Island University and has an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Molloy College. Mr. Cameron serves on numerous boards including those of civic, professional and educational organizations, including the Long Island Regional Planning Council, where he serves as Chairman; the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County, the Hofstra University and Stony Brook University Engineering Schools, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association and others. Throughout his career, Mr. Cameron has been recognized many times for his professional achievements and contributions to society. Mr. Cameron has diverse personal interests including sports, surfing, music, art, travel, reading, writing, and politics. He and his wife Loretta, reside in Rockville Centre as do their two married children, and grandsons, Jack and Will. His favorite time is spent anywhere with his family, but most especially at the beach.

Mike Delaney is the chief aerospace safety officer for The Boeing Company and a member of its Executive Council. In this role, Delaney is responsible for strengthening the safety processes at Boeing and developing the company’s comprehensive Global Aviation Safety strategy, including integrated responsibility for Product & Services Safety, Aerospace Safety Analytics, Global Aviation Safety System, and Boeing’s Confident Travel Initiative to help the aviation industry safely resume global air travel amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Delaney holds a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from Hofstra University, and a Master of Business Administration from the Toulouse Business School. Delaney is a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).

James K. (Jim) Donaghy is Executive Chairman of the Structure Tone Organization, a $4 billion construction services firm headquartered in New York City. In 2015, the company was ranked no. 15 on Engineering News Record's (ENR's) Top 400 Contractors List. The Structure Tone Organization includes Structure Tone, Inc.; Structure Tone Southwest, Inc.; Structure Tone (UK), Inc.; Govan Brown; Pavarini Construction Co., Inc.; Pavarini McGovern, LLC; and L.F. Driscoll Company, LLC. These companies collectively employ over 1,800 professionals and have offices throughout the US, Canada, England, Ireland and Asia. Jim learned the business from the bottom up, holding various positions in operations, estimating, and management of the STI regional offices, and leadership of the executive team for the past 18 years. Jim spearheaded the creation of a new Board of Directors in 2014 to ensure the right governance, audit, compliance systems, and reporting were in place throughout the global organization. A dynamic and creative leader, Jim personifies the entrepreneurial spirit that is a hallmark of Structure Tone. He plays a key leadership role in setting the strategic direction of this international organization and spearheads innovation within the firm to both better serve his clients and provide an enhanced workplace for Structure Tone employees. When he is not taking on the role of Project Principal for some of our high profile pursuits, projects and accounts, he is typically working alongside the management teams and working on strategic plans to ensure a sustainable growth plan for STO. One of Jim's passions is developing future leaders. He has championed the implementation of development and training programs, and is also the driving force behind Structure Tone University (STU). STU is a dynamic internal education and development resource to help define STO career paths and hone both technical and soft skills. Jim is a graduate of Hofstra University with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, and has completed the Columbia Business School Senior Executive Program (CSEP). Jim resides in Old Tappan, NJ, with his wife and son.

Joe Heaney is the owner and principal of Walden Environmental Engineering, PLLC, a civil/environmental engineering consulting firm headquartered in Oyster Bay, NY, with regional offices in Hopewell Junction, NY; Latham, NY; and Fort Wayne, IN. (www.waldenenvironmentalengineering.com). Since forming Walden Environmental Engineering in 1995, Mr. Heaney has grown Walden with the primary goal to provide professional engineering, environmental compliance, and hydrogeologic consulting services. He has skillfully used his 30 plus years' experience to continuously fulfill clients' needs based on the principles of integrity, professionalism, cost-effective services, trust, social responsibility, and profitability. Mr. Heaney's design experience runs the gamut from soil and groundwater remediation systems to water and wastewater treatment systems. He has also spearheaded numerous projects relating to the design of corrective action projects with failed storage tanks–both under and above ground–and has taught seminars on state and federal underground storage tank (UST) regulations. Under his direct management, Walden has done six UST installation

projects for the Town of Hempstead, NY. Mr. Heaney also has broad experience managing NYCRR Part 360 Permit negotiations as well as Consent Order Terms and Conditions. Additionally, he is an expert in health and safety issues and has taught yearly HAZWOPER 8-hour refresher courses and 40-hour HAZWOPER courses. Other courses that he has taught include Supervisors HASP, confined space safety, and project site workers' orientation training. He has also served as site safety officer for large-scale HAZWOPER applicable projects. In addition, Mr. Heaney serves as Walden's Corporate Health and Safety Officer. He has a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from Lafayette College and a Master's degree in Environmental Engineering from Manhattan College. A Professional Engineer licensed to practice in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania, Mr. Heney also is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) with over 30 years of experience in the complex regulatory framework which governs facility operations. Besides serving on Hofstra's Dean's Advisory Board, Mr. Heaney serves on Lafayette's Career Services Advisory Board. Under his direction, Walden has sponsored over 75 externs for them since 1987. He is also a mentor for engineering students at Manhattan College. Mr. Heaney is an avid cyclist, hiker, and skier. jheaney@walden-associates.com.

Donna Linke-Klein is the product line director for the Tactical Systems business within the C4ISR Systems business area within the Electronic Systems (ES) sector of BAE Systems. She has 40 years of experience in program management and new business capture – Donna has led teams in the identification and capture of critical programs for BAE Systems such as Future Combat System and Multi- Mission Maritime Aircraft (P-8). She has held a number of leadership positions in program management. Previously she served as the deputy general manager of the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Solutions business area, as the sector lead for the Partnering for Success relationship with the Boeing Corporation, and the sector lead for the ES Project Management Authority, which provides industry-leading program management processes, tools and training to the sector (2017-2019). She was part of the CEO Leadership class in 2011 and graduated from the Advanced Leadership Program (ALP) in 2017. She is the Co-Site Ambassador for the Woman’s Inclusive Network (WIN) Employee Resource Group (ERG) and actively supports local Girls Who Code organization. She received the prestigious BAE Systems Project Management Fellow recognition in December 2023, which is granted to select individuals who demonstrate the highest level of achievement in the professional practice of project management.

She received the Long Island Business News (LIBN) Most Dynamic Women Leaders Award in 2023 and the LIBN Executive Circle Award in 2018, the Tribute to Women in Industry Award in 2002 and BAE Systems Manager of the Year award in 2000. Linke-Klein holds a bachelor of science degree in Economics and Management and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Long Island University with Summa Cum Laude distinction. She serves on the board of directors of the Long Island Association and on the Hofstra University - DeMatteis School Dean’s Advisory Board and previously served on the Board of Directors for the Long Island Forum for Technology (LIFT). Donna also spent time as the Site Executive for the Greenlawn, New York campus where she was responsible for employee safety, welfare, engagement and community relations.

Donna and her husband Doug have one son and reside in Greenlawn, New York.

James J. Nolan is Executive Vice President, Research and Innovation and head of InterDigital’s Wireless and Networking Lab focused on the development of next generation radio and network solutions. Those solutions leverage Cloud, AI/ML, Edge Networking and AR/VR technologies for 5G, beyond 5G, 6G based mobile, home, vehicular and enterprise applications.

Since joining InterDigital in 1996, Mr. Nolan has previously held a variety of executive management positions, including serving as the company’s Senior Engineering Officer, founder and head of InterDigital Labs, and then as leader of the company’s Products and Solutions initiatives.  

Mr. Nolan is also a founder and board member of; Chordant, an IoT solutions company and of Convida Wireless a Sony InterDigital joint venture focused on research and development and standardization of IoT and 5G solutions.

Mr. Nolan earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo, a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from NYU Tandon School of Engineering, and an Executive Master of Business Administration from Hofstra University.

Ronald T. Piervincenzi, Ph.D., has served as Chief Executive Officer of the United States Pharmacopeia since February 2014. Dr. Piervincenzi provides strategic leadership to USP’s global staff of over 1,200 across sites in Rockville/USA, Brazil, China, Ghana, and India. His transformative vision has launched key USP initiatives in bringing quality across the healthcare spectrum, upholding USP’s reputation as a quality leader since its founding in 1820. Under his leadership, USP has modernized its operations and launched innovative new science, including in the areas of digital medicine, cutting-edge manufacturing technologies and advanced biologics. USP is better connecting to its stakeholders and customers through new initiatives including the Quality Institute and the USP Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Center. Dr. Piervincenzi also provides oversight and leadership of USP’s global public health initiatives, including sites in Ethiopia, Indonesia, Nigeria and the Philippines. Dr. Piervincenzi served as Chair of the Council of Experts, USP's scientific standards-setting body of 24 Expert Committees and over 750 standards-setting experts until June 2015, when he transferred this responsibility to USP’s new Chief Science Officer.

Dr. Piervincenzi brings more than 20 years of industry experience across pharmaceutical sciences, research and business strategy. Before joining USP, Dr. Piervincenzi served as Vice President of Development Sciences with Biogen Idec, Inc., where he designed and launched Biogen’s value-based medicine group focusing on applying tools and technologies of personalized medicine in the treatment and management of multiple sclerosis. Dr. Piervincenzi was a partner and leader in McKinsey & Company's global pharmaceutical and medical products practice for over 12 years. In this capacity, Dr. Piervincenzi launched McKinsey's global drug safety, medical and regulatory service line. With McKinsey, Dr. Piervincenzi also led the global research and information analytics team, managing staff in New Jersey, London, Brussels, and India.

Dr. Piervincenzi earned his M.S. and Ph.D. from Duke University in Biomedical Engineering, with research focused on protein engineering and received a Bachelors in Engineering Science with a specialization in Biomedical Engineering from Hofstra University. Dr. Piervincenzi is the proud co-founder and chairman of the board for the Newark Mentoring Movement.

Michael Petosa is vice president of information technology at the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Mr. Petosa provides leadership for the development of an innovative, robust, and secure information technology environment at ANSI. He is responsible for a broad range of strategic technology issues, IT governance and policy, resources and budget, delivery of IT services and infrastructure, information security, enterprise and cloud solutions, and end-user support. Mr. Petosa joined ANSI in 2004 as director of information technology, bringing with him twenty three years of experience in systems design, engineering, and business management, and in 2008 he was named vice president of information technology. Prior to his arrival at ANSI, Mr. Petosa was chief technical officer at Pencom Systems, Inc, and director of management information systems at Career Blazers. Earlier in his career, he was an electrical engineer at Bell laboratories where he designed microprocessor based communication terminals, a systems engineer at AT&T Information Systems where he designed large scale communication systems for commercial use, and a senior partner and vice president of a privately held wholesale distribution firm in New York City. He was an active member of the Information Technology Strategy Implementation Group (ITSIG), an advisory group to the ISO Council, is an active participant in the ISOurce Project representing the United States, and he sits on the Information Technology Strategic Advisory Group to the ISO Council, representing the United States. Mr. Petosa holds both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering from Polytechnic Institute of New York.

Shahriar Rafimayeri is Chief Information Officer at Mimecast where he oversees the global Infrastructure and internal application technology. Shahriar leads the execution of the Company’s strategic road map, making internal processes more efficient by digitally transforming the business using technology.

Shahriar has extensive experience in managing large, global and diverse technology organizations where he has transformed and modernized complex technology platforms to greatly improve the stability, resiliency, and cybersecurity of applications and infrastructure. Recently he was the CIO and Senior Vice President of Business Innovation at Infor where he executed on the company’s complete digital transformation and migration to the cloud. Shahriar has also held many senior leadership positions within technology arms of leading financial institutions, including the Morgan Stanley, Blackstone, Credit Suisse, UBS, and Bankers Trust.

Shahriar holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Mathematics from Hofstra University. He also serves as a member of the board of trustees at Kaufman Music Center in New York City, and is an Advisory Board Member of Brooklyn STEM Center at the Brooklyn Navy Yard Technical High School. He lives on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

John Sartor is President and CEO of PS&S, a multi-discipline engineering and architectural firm providing services in six major market sectors: Real Estate, Science and Technology, Education, Energy Utilities, Health Care and Infrastructure. In each of these sectors, Mr. Sartor has played a key role in delivering some of the region's most successful large-scale mixed use development projects.

Mr. Sartor leads the PS&S Executive Management Committee, which is responsible for the overall growth and welfare of the organization. With its integrated planning and design services, PS&S is focused on becoming the region's single source for architectural and engineering excellence. He is proud to celebrate 55 years in business, with over 15 years of business on Long Island.

Paul Saueracker was born in New York City and is a graduate of the New York City public schools including Hunter College of the City University of New York where he received a BA in Geology. He received a MS in Geology from the University of Kansas. In addition he earned an MBA in Marketing from Hofstra University. Mr. Saueracker was also a Lieutenant in the US Navy where he served as a Naval Aviator during the Vietnam War including two deployments to Vietnam. After his military service, Mr. Saueracker joined Minerals Technologies Inc. and enjoyed a 36 year career of increasing responsibilities culminating as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer for the final six years of his tenure before retiring in 2007. Mr. Saueracker and his wife Nancy have three adult children and six grandchildren.

Shila Shah-Gavnoudias is a licensed professional engineer with twenty (20) years of experience in the Civil Engineering field. She earned her Master of Science degree in Engineering Management and Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Polytechnic University. She is a LEED Accredited professional. She began her career working as a Civil Engineer for Shah Associates, a business started by her father, which provided full service engineering and related services to the tri-state area for 22 years. She worked on projects in various disciplines of engineering including site/civil design, structural design, construction and bridge inspection, as well as land surveying. From 1999 through 2009, she was a Project Manager for a local engineering firm. She broadened her experience in the field of civil design for the various municipalities within Long Island, as well as New York City, its boroughs and Westchester. Projects primarily included roadway improvements, drainage design, intersection improvements, traffic calming, and various airport infrastructure improvements. As Commissioner of the Department of Public Works, Shila oversees a department consisting of the divisions of planning, engineering, construction, and real estate, including the oversight of the NICE bus operations within Nassau County. The Department of Public Works is responsible for maintenance and operations related to country roads, buildings, vehicles, and other facilities, and oversees five engineering units devoted to the major branches of civil engineering work.

Chris Wacker is the CEO of Laserfiche, the leading global provider of enterprise content management software. With intuitive on-premises and Cloud solutions for document management and business process automation, Laserfiche products improve productivity, efficiency and strategic decision-making for clients across industries. Chris co-founded Compulink and Laserfiche in the 1980s with his late wife and partner Nien-Ling Wacker. They grew the organization from a small software consulting company to a more than $100 million software developer headquartered in Long Beach, CA, with offices across the United States as well as in Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom Hong Kong and China. Earlier in his career, Chris worked in Saudi Arabia for Ralph M. Parsons, Construction Engineers, where he helped develop the municipal systems infrastructure for a new city with a population of 50,000 people. Before that, he spent several years with the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York. Chris has traveled extensively throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East, and speaks several foreign languages. He holds a bachelor's degree in social science from Hofstra University in New York, class of 1976.

Ralph Lambert began working in the construction industry as a young man alongside his father and grandfather and quickly discovered a passion for it that still guides him today. He worked as a laborer, while putting himself through college at Suffolk County Community College and then Hofstra University.

In 1992, Ralph founded Axis Construction with the support of a carefully selected team of experienced project managers and supervisors. With their combined wealth of knowledge of the construction industry, Axis Construction was able to transform from a small business, operating out of the family kitchen, into the successful construction firm that it is today. Under Ralph’s diligent guidance, perseverance, and hard work, Axis Construction has become a recognized name in such major fields as healthcare, higher education, commercial and industrial construction.

Grateful for the success he and Axis Construction have achieved, Ralph feels a duty to pay it forward and is committed to giving back to the community. Ralph has become a large supporter of many local charities and organizations, including being a Trustee Emeritus Board Member of the Visiting Nurse Service, an Associate Trustee at Northwell Health System, a Founder of the Joe Namath Family Foundation, and a supporter of Molloy College. Ralph is also a proud graduate of the Energia Program. Still inspired to do more, Ralph founded the Lambert Family Foundation alongside his wife, Nicole, and together with their 6 children they continue to raise funds and create awareness for many local causes.

Mr. Robert Ioanna is a Senior Principal with Syska Hennessy Group currently leading the New York office and the Syska Innovations subsidiary. He is a member of the Firms Board of Directors.

Rob began his professional journey with Syska New York in 2000 as an engineer in training.  Throughout the years under Rob’s leadership, the office has achieved a rise in profitability, market diversification and technical talent.  In 2016, he joined the firmwide operations team and played a strategic role in the Vision 2025 plan development. He established a firmwide Internship program, spearheaded the Management Job Title Realignment Initiative and led a revamped firmwide Business Planning process. 

He has been recognized by his industry peers and awarded with the ENR top 20 Under 40 distinction and the “Building Design and Construction’s Top 40 Under 40 award. Rob distinguishes his team by providing his clients with a high standard of technical excellence that is delivered with superior service. Rob has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Binghamton University in New York and sits on the engineering advisory boards of both Binghamton University and Hofstra University

He is a licensed professional engineer in numerous states and a LEED Accredited Professional.   He is also a member of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), 7x 24 Exchange International, New York City Building Congress, ACEC Emerging Leaders and Professional Practice Committee’s, Local Law 97 Working Group Committee , Infrastructure Mason – Journey level and CoreNet Public Policy Committee.

Anne D. Shybunko-Moore is CEO and Owner of GSE Dynamics Inc., a Woman Owned Small Business, and a U.S. Defense Manufacturer. GSE was founded in 1971 and has 2 manufacturing facilities located on Long Island, NY. GSE specializes in providing complex structural assemblies direct to the United States Air Force, Navy and Army, as well as Major Aerospace Primes. Anne joined GSE in 2001, and has been strategically growing the company and expanding its capabilities.  

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) awarded her company the prestigious Outstanding Readiness Support award for Woman Owned Business. GSE Dynamics was recognized as a Top Shop for the Composites Industry by Composites World Magazine for the past three years.  In 2022, GSE was awarded with the Herald’s Legacy Award for Family Business and the Inaugural “Voice of Industry” award from the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA).  GSE continues to be a top supplier to DLA in terms of business volume for Small Businesses and for Woman Owned Small Businesses. 

Nationally, Anne is a member of the Supplier Management Council of the AIA and also currently serves on the AIA Board of Governors.  In 2023 she was elected to a two-year term on the Executive Committee, the leading governing body of the AIA comprised of senior representatives of member companies, to be the voice of Small Business.  From 2014-2017, Anne was an appointed member of The National Women’s Business Council (NWBC), a non-partisan federal advisory council created to serve as an independent source of advice and counsel to the President, Congress, and the U.S. Small Business Administration on economic issues of importance to women business owners.  

Anne also lends her leadership strengths to various councils.  On the State level, Anne is an appointed member of Governor Hochul’s Long Island Regional Economic Development Council, and served on the State Workforce Investment Board from 2014-2018.  On the local level, Anne is on the Board of Directors of the Hauppauge Industrial Association (HIA), representing the largest innovation park in the northeast.  She is Co-Chair of the Board of Directors for The Cradle of Aviation Museum and sits on The DeMatteis School of Engineering Advisory Board at Hofstra University.  Anne is the Founder and Chair of IgniteLI, Manufacturing Consortium of Long Island, an industry driven organization to promote manufacturing with a regional strategic plan for job creation and support for business.  In 2017, Anne partnered with The Suffolk County Legislature to form a Long Island Manufacturing Taskforce to further support and address the economic impact of manufacturing in our region.  Her main advocacy is to promote manufacturing and the need for workforce training to help companies grow.

As a local leader on Long Island, Anne has earned the title of Long Island’s Top 50 Women twice by Long Island Business News and the title of one of Long Island’s 40 Rising Stars Under the age of 40.  Anne served as President of Long Island’s National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), and was twice awarded the Top Woman Business Owner award for NAWBO/LI.  Long Island Women’s Agenda named her as the Business Advocate of the year, recognized for efforts in the small business arena. Enterprising Magazine honored Anne as Enterprising Woman of the Year for her business and community accomplishments.  In 2021, Anne was honored at the Long Island Power Women Awards by Schneps Media and was selected as one of Long Island’s 100 Most Influential People by Long Island Press Powerlist.  In 2022, Anne was inducted into the Long Island Business News Hall of Fame. 

Anne is married to Jamie Moore, President of Industry Grants, a grant writing and economic development company serving Long Island businesses.  Jamie and Anne support each other in their careers and home life as they raise their four sons.  Anne focuses on the importance of family and career balance, and serves as an example that women can be successful at both.

Danyel brings more than 24 years of experience in the industry of biomedical engineering contributing on all levels of engineering from research and technology development to product development. For over 18 years she has served in various capacities with Medtronic.

She is currently responsible for leading all research and development functions including research and technology, new product development and released program management to support the growth and strategy of Medtronic’s ENT (Ears, Nose, and Throat) operating unit. Her team of scientists and engineers design complex hardware, precision instrumentation and drive therapy innovations that set the standard for ENT care with an emphasis on minimizing complications, reducing surgical variability, and increasing efficiency to improve patient outcomes.

Danyel has launched numerous medical devices during her tenure at Medtronic and holds several patents in medical device technology. She is a Medtronic certified coach and works with senior leadership to create an inclusive research and development culture in which female scientists and engineers are inspired to join, thrive and reach their full potential. When she is not working, Danyel volunteers for mentoring and STEM programs in the community. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Mathematics from Hofstra University, earned her Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Connecticut, and is Design for Six Sigma Black Belt certified.

Christos Karanicolas is Senior Vice President of Engineering for Clever Devices, North America's leading provider of Intelligent Transportation Systems for bus, rail, and paratransit markets. Christos has been with Clever Devices since 2005 where he has held various software engineering and management roles including leading the development of the company’s Computer Aided Dispatch and Real Time Passenger Information product lines which are currently found at some of the largest transit authorities across North America.

Christos has served in his current role as SVP of Engineering since 2015. As the head of software engineering, Christos leads a team of world-class engineers and oversees the implementation of Clever Devices' technology and product roadmaps. This includes the development of the company’s next-generation products and migration to the cloud.

Prior to his career at Clever Devices, Christos held engineering roles with companies specializing in products for the defense and secure file transfer industries.

Christos holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Polytechnic University.

Daphne Jackson Hornbuckle is the IT Manager for Charter Communications (Spectrum). For the past decade she has managed the Desktop Support team to provide technical guidance and strategic direction for the North Texas Region. She also oversees the development and implementation of the IT infrastructure for various business units. Prior to joining this corporation, Daphne owned her own IT consulting firm, Diamond Technology Group, LLC. Her clients included American Airlines, SBC, and many other Fortune 500 companies.

This seasoned and successful IT professional has over 25 years of experience. Daphne has served her community as an IT leader, and her passion is only rivaled by her proven commitment to service. In 2016 and 2017, Daphne was inducted into the Third and Fourth editions of Who’s Who in Black Dallas for her leadership role in the Dallas community. Daphne currently serves on the Hofstra University’s Women in Leadership Advisory Board. She is a life-member of the Dallas Society of Women Engineers (SWE) where she volunteers and encourages young women to pursue a career in STEM. She is also a member of the Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT), and the National Association of Parliamentarians (NAP).

Daphne earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Hofstra University.This Long Island native resides in Dallas, TX with her husband, Jesse Hornbuckle, III. Together they own The Hornbuckle Group, LLC, TriBecCa Studios, LLC and 200 Tyler Square, LLC; residential and commercial real estate companies. Outside of her passion for volunteering and mentoring, she enjoys traveling abroad.

Ed Grivins is presently retired. He was most recently employed by Northrop Grumman. He began his professional career at Grumman Aerospace in Bethpage, NY. In 1995, he became employed by Northrop Grumman after the merger of Grumman Corporation and Northrop Corporation was completed. He has held various supervisory and technical positions during his tenure. Most recently, he was involved with various strategic Enterprise-wide Infrastructure projects and initiatives.

Mr. Grivins holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from Hofstra University and a Master of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from Columbia University. He attained several Microsoft certifications including Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MSCE); Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MSCD); Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCT) – Windows Server and Microsoft Office 2019 and Office 365.

Sajed has worked in the IT industry in various roles from Technical Support, Systems Administrator, Service Delivery Manager, and Solutions Engineering for more than 20 years. He has been with Google for the past nine years in various roles across Android, Pixel, and ChromeOS. He currently leads the ChromeOS Channel Technical Sales teams where he is responsible for ensuring channel partners are enabled to sell and support ChromeOS. In addition, Sajed works closely with partners to build a services portfolio to support deployment, application modernization and implementation projects.

Sajed graduated from Hofstra University in 2001 with a degree in Computer Engineering. In 2006, Sajed graduated from NYU Polytechnic with a degree in Finance and then received his MBA from Pace University in 2013.

Pragash Pillai is the Chief Technology Officer of Hotwire Communications. He is also a Board Member of Astound Broadband and VCTI.

Previously, Mr. Pillai served as Executive Vice President, Chief Technology and Information Officer at Altice USA. In this role, he oversaw technology and product development with a focus on expanding fiber broadband to communities across the country and delivering a best-in-class experience through the Company’s portfolio of connectivity and entertainment services. Mr. Pillai also led all areas of construction, engineering, digital platforms, information technology, cybersecurity, and network operations.

Over the course of his tenure with Altice USA, Mr. Pillai has served in a variety of leadership positions across field operations, customer experience, digital transformation, and care and support organizations, including recently as Executive Vice President of Operations, and, prior to that, as Executive Vice President of Customer Experience and Regional Market Strategy, in which Mr. Pillai was responsible for managing the company’s operations strategy and local market expansion.

Prior to Altice acquiring Cablevision, he served as the Senior Vice President of Infrastructure Engineering for Cablevision, managing all aspects of end-to-end voice, video, data, and wireless service delivery infrastructure. He also was Senior Vice President of Engineering and Technology for Bresnan Communications, which was acquired by Cablevision in 2010. Before joining Bresnan, he served as Vice President of Advanced Engineering, Digital Video for Charter Communications.

Mr. Pillai has co-authored several industry articles on technology and operations, has participated in multiple industry technical panels and sessions, and was awarded patents for proactive network performance and power outage detection.

Mr. Pillai holds a master’s degree in Applied Science in Telecommunications from the University of Denver and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Missouri. In addition, he completed graduate work in Telecommunications Management at Washington University – St. Louis. Mr. Pillai is a graduate of the NAMIC Executive Leadership Development Program at Anderson School of Management at UCLA. He also completed the Kellogg School of Management, Corporate Governance Program and the MIT Sloan Executive Program in Strategy and Innovation.