NEW YORK – (August 22, 2014) - As the summer comes to a close and certified public accountants head back to work, the New York State Society of CPAs (http://www.nysscpa.org/) officially announced today the names of its 15 newly-installed chapter presidents for Adirondack, Buffalo, Manhattan/Bronx, Mid Hudson, Nassau, Northeast, Queens/Brooklyn, Rochester, Rockland, Southern Tier, Staten Island, Suffolk, Syracuse, Utica and Westchester. The presidents' one-year terms of service began June 1.

Scroll down for the names of the officers – all of whom are local business professionals - in your region, county and city. Photos of any, or all of the officers, are available upon request. 

Founded in 1897, the NYSSCPA is the premiere professional accounting association for more than 28,000 members residing and practicing in New York State including those working in government, technology, healthcare, real estate, education and entertainment. 

ADIRONDACK CHAPTER

Nathan Farkas, CPA, of Montreal, has been elected as the Adirondack Chapter’s new president. The two-year term of service began June 1. Farkas is a sole practitioner and specializes in cross border taxation between Canada and the U.S. Farkas has been a member of the NYSSCPA since 2008 and has previously served as president-elect of the Adirondack Chapter.

He holds both a Bachelor of Commerce and a graduate degree in Accounting from McGill University.

Other chapter officers include Barbara Marten of Potsdam as treasurer and Barbara Dwyer of Lake Placid as secretary.

BUFFALO CHAPTER

Thomas Burns, CPA, of Buffalo, has been elected as the Buffalo Chapter’s new president. The one-year term of service began June 1.

Burns is a principal at Lumsden & McCormick, LLP and specializes in the planning and performance of auditing and accounting services for commercial businesses, nonprofit organizations and governmental units. Burns has been a member of the NYSSCPA since 2001 and has previously served as committee chair, director, vice president and president-elect. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from SUNY at Buffalo.

Other chapter officers include Bruce Zgoda of Clarence, president-elect; Rosemarie Steeb as treasurer; Sarah Clare of Williamsville as secretary.

MANHATTAN/BRONX CHAPTER

Iralma Pozo, CPA, of New York City, has been elected as the Manhattan/Bronx Chapter’s new president. The one-year term of service began June 1. Pozo is a manager at Schall & Ashenfarb, CPAs, LLC and specializes in auditing nonprofit entities. Pozo has been a member of the NYSSCPA since 2005 and has previously served as chapter president-elect, treasurer and as a member of various state-wide committees. 

Pozo holds both a Bachelor of Business Administration from Baruch College and a Masters in Finance from Pace University.

Other chapter officers include Digant Bahl of Hicksville, president-elect; Alan Willinger of New York, vice president; Margaret Hannon as treasurer and Elysa Dauerman.

MID HUDSON CHAPTER

(This chapter encompasses the following counties: Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Sullivan and Ulster.) 

David Purcell, CPA, of Millbrook, N.Y., has been elected as the Mid-Hudson Chapter’s new president. The one-year term of service began June 1. David Purcell is employed as the Controller at Thorndale Farm, LLC.

In addition, the Mid-HudsonChapter also installed the following officers: Brian DiFilippo of Poughkeepsie, president-elect; Rebecca Hasbrouck of Newburgh, vice-president; Paul Rafanello of Warwick, secretary; and A. Rief Kanan of New Paltz, treasurer.

NASSAU CHAPTER

Robert Barnett, CPA, JD of Huntington, has been elected as Nassau’s new president. The one-year term of service began June 1. Barnett is a partner at Capell Barnett Matalon & Schoenfeld where he heads the tax and estate planning departments. 

He has been a member of the NYSSCPA since 1976 and has previously served as chairman of the Taxation Committee and Estate Planning Committee.

Barnett holds both a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Hofstra University and a juris doctor from Fordham University.

Other chapter officers include Phillip Kanyuk of Melville as president-elect; Lynne Fuentes as vice president; Christine Hallahan of New York as treasurer; and Anthony Basile of Garden City, as secretary.

NORTHEAST CHAPTER

(This chapter encompasses the following counties: Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady and Washington.)

Lisa Smith, CPA, of East Greenbush, N.Y. has been elected as the Northeast Chapter’s new president. The one-year term of service began June 1.

Smith is a Partner at SaxBST LLP and specializes in audit services for employee benefit plans.  She is also the Firm’s Quality Control Leader. Smith has been a member of the NYSSCPA since 1993 and has previously served as Vice President for the Northeast Chapter. 

Smith holds both a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Siena College and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. 

President-elect is Christopher Cannucciari, of Latham; treasurer is Jennifer Pickett of Latham; and vice president is Timothy Doyle of Albany. 

QUEENS/BROOKLYN CHAPTER

Edward F. Esposito, CPA, of Brooklyn, has been elected as the Queens/Brooklyn Chapter’s new president. The one-year term of service began June 1. Esposito is the owner of a CPA firm that specializes in forensic accounting, business valuation, and economic damages. 

Mr. Esposito has been a member of the NYSSCPA since 1984 and is currently the chair of the Business Valuation Committee. He graduated from Pace University with a Bachelor of Business Administration.

Other chapter officers are Rumbi Bwerinofa-Petrozzello of New York, president-elect; Akshay Shrimanker of Jamaica, as vice president; and Rossyln Khunovich of Harrison, as treasurer. 

ROCHESTER CHAPTER

Antoinette Spina, CPA, of Rochester, has been elected as the Rochester Chapter’s new president.  Her one-year term of service began June 1. Spina is a shareholder at Bailey, Carr CPAs P.C. and handles the firm’s complex tax projects such as multistate tax issues.

She has been a member of the NYSSCPA since 1984 and has previously served as chairperson of the chapter’s Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession (COAP) Committee, which introduces high school students to accounting as a profession. Spina is also a Taxation Committee member and a frequent speaker for the NYSSCPA and Monroe County Bar Association. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from State University of NY at Fredonia.

Other chapter officers are Matthew Bryant of Rochester, president-elect; Kenneth Hall of Rochester, vice president; Katherine Welc of Rochester; and Julie Valpey of Fairport, treasurer.

ROCKLAND CHAPTER

Michael Milisits, CPA, of Nanuet, has been elected as the Rockland Chapter’s new president. The one-year term of service began June 1. Milisits is an audit supervisor at Hunter Group CPA LLC.  He has been a member of the NYSSCPA since 2007 and has previously served as president-elect, treasurer and secretary of the Rockland Chapter.  He is also currently serving a three-year term on the board of directors of the New York Society as a chapter representative. 

Milisits holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from St. Thomas Aquinas College.

Other Rockland Chapter officers include Shari Berk of New City, president-elect; David Evangelista, of Cranford; secretary; William Hughes, of New City, treasurer.

SOUTHERN TIER CHAPTER

(The chapter encompasses the following counties: Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego, Tioga.)

Kristi Empett, CPA, of Binghamton, has been elected as the Southern Tier Chapter’s new president. The one-year term of service began June 1.

Empett is a senior consultant for financial services with Coordinated Care Services, Inc., and is currently the financial administrator for Broome County Mental Health in Binghamton. She has been a member of the NYSSCPA since 2006 and has previously served the chapter as president-elect, vice president, and secretary/treasurer.

Other Southern Tier officers include Tera Stanton of Binghamton, as president-elect; Santo Caracciolo of Endicott, as vice president; and Darcy Aldous of Norwich as treasurer.

STATEN ISLAND CHAPTER

Sophia Faraj, CPA, of Brooklyn, has been elected as the Staten Island Chapter’s new president. The one-year term of service began June 1. Faraj is tax accountant at a family office. She has been a member of the NYSSCPA since 2006 and has previously served as the Staten Island Chapter’s secretary and president-elect. She has also been chairman of its Young CPAs Committee.

Faraj holds both a Bachelor and Master of Science degree in Accounting from St. John’s University-Staten Island.

Other chapter officers include Tiffany Montraruli as president-elect, Mark Fappiano as treasurer, and Doreen Inserra as secretary.

SUFFOLK CHAPTER

Elizabeth A. Vuozzo, CPA, of Port Jefferson Station, has been elected as the Suffolk Chapter’s new president. The one-year term of service began June 1. Vuozzo is a director at Fuoco Group, LLP and specializes in Tax and Small Business. She has been a member of the NYSSCPA since 1990 and has previously served as Treasurer, General Taxation Committee Chairperson, as well as serving on the Executive Board for several years. 

Vuozzo holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Hofstra University.

Other Suffolk Chapter officers include Felix Russo of Smithtown, president-elect; Brian Michels of Brightwaters, vice president; and Amanda Sexton of Hauppauge, treasurer.

SYRACUSE CHAPTER

Todd Klaben, CPA, of Camillus, has been elected as the Syracuse Chapter new president. The one-year term of service began June 1.  Klaben is a principal at Testone, Marshall& Discenza and is an audit and tax engagement specialist with expertise with construction contractors, manufacturers and employee benefit plans.

Klaben has been a member of the NYSSCPA since 2002 and has previously served as president-elect, vice president and treasurer. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from State University of New York at Oswego.

Other Syracuse Chapter officers include Mark Ciaralli as president-elect, Jamie Keiser as vice president, Timothy Hammond as secretary and Karen Matticio as treasurer; all of Syracuse.

UTICA CHAPTER

(This chapter encompasses the following counties: Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Madison, Montgomery, Oneida and Schoharie.) 

Brian Reese, CPA, of Whitesboro, has been elected as the Utica Chapter’s new president. The one-year term of service began June 1. Reese is a supervisor at Fitzgerald, DePietro & Wojnas, CPAs, P.C. and has been with the firm for 10 years. Reese has been a member of the NYSSCPA since 2002 and has previously served as the Utica Chapter’s secretary, treasurer and vice-president.  Reese is also the former chair of the Utica Chapter’s young CPA committee.

Reese holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from SUNY Brockport.

Other officers in the Utica Chapter include Maria Suppa of Utica, president-elect; Christopher Lambe of Utica, vice president; Eric Longway of Rome, secretary; and Michael Wilk of Utica, treasurer.

WESTCHESTER Chapter

William H. Zeboris, CPA, of Peekskill, has been elected as the Westchester’s new president. The one-year term of service began June 1. He is a business advisory services partner with Citrin Cooperman.

Zeboris has been a member of the NYSSCPA since 1988 and has previously served as Westchester’s secretary, treasurer and vice president as well as their co-chair of their Accounting and Auditing committee.  He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from The State University of New York at Oswego.