Board of Directors

Virginia E. Maurer, MD

Founder

Dr. Virginia E. Maurer, MD has dedicated her professional life to the study and treatment of breast cancer. Her passion for breast health education served as the catalyst in establishing The Maurer Foundation in 1995. 

Dr. Maurer is the former Chief of the Division of Breast Surgery and former Director of NYU Winthrop Hospital’s Breast Health Program. After 40 years of serving as a prominent breast surgeon and breast cancer specialist, Dr. Maurer retired from the active practice of surgery in 2022. Her many years of dedicated medical service has made an invaluable impact on the Long Island community and beyond. She continues to dedicate herself to the urgent work of breast cancer education and is integrally involved in the mission and promotion of the Foundation through the Medical Advisory Council and various event committees. READ MORE»


Gary Barello

Chairman

Gary Barello is the Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Organizational Development at Biodex Medical Systems. As a highly accomplished HR executive, Mr. Barello brings over 27 years of experience in diverse sectors that he has served including financial services, government, international manufacturing, not-for-profit and non-profit organizations.

Mr. Barello holds a dual Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Spanish from Stony Brook University, successfully completed his MBA in Management from Dowling College, and attended St. John’s School of Law. As an active member of the community, Mr. Barello serves as Board Chair of Sperry Federal Credit Union and is a former board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island. He is a member of the Society for Human Resource Managers and is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources. Continuing his commitment to education, Mr. Barello also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Dowling College where he teaches employment law, business ethics, human resources management, organizational and industrial psychology, and human relations.


Andrew Corrado

Andrew F. Corrado

Vice Chairman

Andrew Corrado is a Senior Vice President and Group Director for Signature Bank. With more than 27 years in the financial services industry, he currently co-leads a team of bankers focused on commercial and middle market clients across the metropolitan NY area. Prior to joining Signature Bank, Mr. Corrado was the Market President for Capital One where he focused on continuously improving the customer experience, growing revenue and leveraging market opportunities. He played a critical role in overseeing and coordinating company resources to help ensure meaningful contributions to local communities. Mr. Corrado also served as Senior Vice President, heading Capital One’s Professional Services and Private Banking Division across the country. In his capacity as Board Member of the Maurer Foundation, Mr. Corrado’s expertise in financial matters has proven invaluable. He has further demonstrated his interest in philanthropy by serving as Board Member and Treasurer of Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Greater New York.


Kathy Weiss, PhD

Treasurer

Dr. Weiss received her BA in Mathematics from Syracuse University, her MA in Mathematics from the Courant Institute of New York University and her Ph.D. from New York University. She has devoted most of her career to the administrative aspects of education. From 1994 until 2005, Dr. Weiss served as Superintendent of Schools for the Baldwin Union Free School District. Previously, she spent five years as the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction for the Rockville Centre Public Schools and was principal in Malverne High School. Dr. Weiss has made numerous local, regional and national presentations on such topics as cooperative learning, shared decision-making, peer coaching, whole language assessment, testing, child abuse, and evaluation of principals. Currently she is an adjunct professor at LIU, CW Post Campus in the Department of Educational Leadership & Administration, and an associate with School Leadership LLC, a company that assists school boards in searching for superintendents. Dr. Weiss has chaired The Maurer Foundation’s Program Committee for many years.


Pamela Rousakis Praetorius

Secretary

Pam Rousakis Praetorius has founded and operated several successful pop music promotion, management and publishing companies. Over three decades Ms. Praetorius has presented sellout concerts in the region’s largest venues, guided the careers of platinum-selling artists and assembled a portfolio of Top 40 hits achieving gold and platinum sales, several winning Grammy Awards.

Today, as a Financial Advisor in Garden City, New York, Ms. Praetorius uses her firsthand knowledge of the issues facing private business owners to present insightful solutions to the challenges of maintaining wealth and maximizing its return.

A graduate of Hofstra University and an active member of Long Island’s Greek American community, Ms. Praetorius has founded The Good Neighbor Fund and The Holiday Spirit Program. Over the past decade these organizations have provided financial relief to dozens of health and poverty stricken individuals and provided meals for more than a thousand.

Ms. Praetorius currently resides in Huntington with her husband, and has two grown sons making their careers in media.


John J. Barnosky, Esq.

Board Member

Jack Barnosky is a partner at Farrell Fritz who practices trust and estate law, concentrating on estate planning, probate and administration of estates and trusts, and taxation. He also represents clients in litigated trust and estate matters, including will contests, disputes over the validity of trusts, contested accounting proceedings, and tax disputes before the Surrogate’s Courts and other courts throughout New York.

In addition to his work at Farrell Fritz, he is a frequent lecturer at New York State Bar Association seminars on trust and estate practice and has written articles published in the New York Law Journal, The Nassau Lawyer, and the Journal of the Suffolk Academy of Law. Jack is a past chair of the Nassau County Bar Association.


Barry Douglas

Barry K. Douglas, MD, FACS

Board Member

Dr. Barry K. Douglas has been with the Long Island Plastic Surgical Group since 1991. Dr. Douglas is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Trinity College, Connecticut where he majored in Studio Art and Physics. He then obtained his MD degree from Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University, North Carolina in 1980. After his internship he completed his General Surgical Residency at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City. Continuing his education at Mount Sinai Hospital, Dr. Douglas completed residencies in Microvascular Surgery and then Plastic Surgery. From 1986-87, he held the position of Chief Resident at this prestigious hospital. In 1987, Dr. Douglas completed a fellowship in Pediatric Plastic & Maxillofacial Surgery at Children’s Hospital of Akron with the Northeastern Ohio School of Medicine.

Dr. Douglas has lectured on a wide range of topics including cosmetic surgery, cleft lip surgery, breast reconstruction, and reconstruction for skin malignancies. His areas of expertise include cosmetic surgery, breast reconstruction, cleft lip and palate surgery, rhinoplasty and aesthetic breast surgery. Dr. Douglas has also written many original papers in the field of Plastic Surgery. Dr. Douglas brings his extensive art background to Long Island Plastic Surgical Group. His paintings hang around the country and he plays keyboard in his rock band. He actively competes in triathlons, is a cyclist, swimmer, and weight trains.


Tammy Fortune

Board Member

Tammy Fortune is the Owner and Director of Camp Wa-Klo for Girls, a residential summer camp where girls are inspired to grow in confidence, character and gain courage from exceptional female role models. Tammy holds a Master’s degree in Education with a focus in Elementary Education from Boston College, as well as a BA in Sociology from the University of Denver. She has served as a middle school math teacher and math specialist, and spent her summers progressing through leadership roles at Camp Wa-Klo. As the daughter of renowned breast surgeon and The Maurer Foundation founder, Dr. Virginia Maurer, Tammy has been a staunch, lifelong supporter of breast health and has been taught from an early age the value of female leadership. In her spare time, Tammy enjoys traveling, outdoor activities, and spending time with her husband, two children, and their dog.


Donald Gelestino

Donald Gelestino

Board Member

Donald Gelestino possesses over 30 years of experience in the elevator industry. As the President and Founder of Champion Elevator, Donald brings with him unparalleled business acumen. Donald began his career in 1986 with DECO Elevator, excelling in all facets of the trade. This expertise allowed him to start his first company Ver-Tech Elevator Co., Inc. Through Donald’s expert guidance and management, he transformed this company into a multi-million dollar force within the elevator industry, successfully negotiating its lucrative sale, which subsequently allowed him to embark on his newest venture with the founding of his company Champion Elevator in 2015. Through Champion Elevator, Donald is able to display his exceptional leadership and the professionalism that have been hallmarks of his illustrious career.


Anne Marie Immerso

Board Member

Anne Marie Immerso currently serves as Group Director & Senior Vice President of Signature Bank. She is an accomplished and highly regarded banking professional with over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. Since Anne Marie began her career in the 1980’s with European American Bank, her stellar performance record and expert knowledge has propelled her to progressively more responsible positions in all facets of finance. Her impressive portfolio of long-term clients have come to know her as a trusted advisor and unwavering advocate for their financial success. Anne Marie’s extensive expertise in banking and business makes her an invaluable asset to the Board of Directors.


Joan Leondis

Board Member

Joan Leondis is a two-time breast cancer survivor and together with her family has been a staunch supporter of the foundation for many years. She volunteered for the Adelphi New York Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline and Support Program for over 15 years, providing outreach, answering calls and fundraising for the Creative Cups project. Joan and her husband John have three daughters, five grandchildren and reside in Garden City.


David Marino

Board Member

David Marino is the Group President & COO of American Global, responsible for driving strategic growth and financial performance of its domestic and international insurance brokerage operations. With over 30 years of risk management experience, David has designed programs for complex infrastructure, including alternative delivery projects and public-private partnerships, advised clients during merger and acquisition transactions, developed solutions for controlled insurance programs, and managed highly complex multi-line insurance claims to satisfactory outcomes. He has held numerous regional and national leadership roles and has been the senior leader for many top contractors. David is a member of the board of Governors of the New York Building Foundation/New York Building Congress.


Paul Pomponio

Paul Pomponio

Board Member

Paul Pomponio is the Vice President of Operations of El Sol Contracting & Construction Inc, a family-owned and operated highway & heavy general contractor who has been performing work in the five boroughs of NYC, Nassau & Suffolk Counties and New Jersey for the past 40 years. Paul is a dedicated professional with a wide background in heavy and highway construction management, insurance, surety and safety and is a member of the General Contractors Association (Executive Committee), Columbus Citizens Foundation, the Moles, and the Sands Point GC Scholarship Committee.


Greg Schaefer


Board Member

Greg Schaefer, Chief Executive Officer and owner of Better Home Health Care Agency, Inc., is a visionary whose leadership and dedication have supported over thousands of recipients of quality health care as well as more than 600 Better Home Health Care Employees. He has served as the President of the Rockville Centre Chamber of Commerce, on the Board of Directors of the Rockville Centre Lions Club, and on the boards of South Nassau Communities Hospital, Molloy College, and the Limb Kind Foundation. He was born and raised in Rockville Centre where he continues to live with his wife Michelle and their two beautiful children, a nine-year-old son Cain and a six-year-old daughter Cameron.