Orange County Executive-Elect Steve Neuhaus today announced the creation of a transition team to assist him as he prepares to take office as Orange County Executive in January. Former County Executive Louis Heimbach will chair the executive committee that will oversee several subcommittees.
“This transition team has a mix of business, political and civic leaders who bring diverse and talented views to the table. I appreciate their willingness to serve,” County Executive-Elect Neuhaus said.
The bi-partisan transition team will be charged with:
- Reviewing all departments and their underlying mission,
- Recommending ways to make each department more efficient,
- Offering ideas on restructuring government to reduce costs,
- Describing how each department or office can play a stronger role in growing the local economy while maintaining and enhancing the quality of life for the people of Orange County.
During the transition, the team will work closely with the administration of County Executive Edward Diana, in particular Acting County Executive Steve Gross.
The members of the executive committee will be Heimbach, Middletown Mayor Joseph DeStefano, Retired U.S. Army Col. Darrell Supak and Orange County Legislators Steve Brescia and Jeff Berkman. Other members of the transition team who will serve on various subcommittees are Todd Diorio, Josh Sommers, Damian Brady, Esq., Tiffany Reis, Esq., Orange County Undersheriff Ken Jones, Town of Crawford Supervisor Charles Carnes, Town of Walkill Supervisor Dan DePew, Michele Iannuzzi Sucich, M.D., Village of Goshen Mayor Kyle Roddey, Nolly Climes, Wilbur Higgins and Eric Denega, P.E.
“I look forward to working with my fellow transition team members to offer advice to the new County Executive on maintaining our quality of life in Orange County, and working to improve it wherever possible,” said Heimbach.
Heimbach has a distinguished career in public service and economic development. He is the chairman, chief executive officer and president of Sterling Forest LLC in Tuxedo, N.Y. Heimbach also served as Supervisor of the Town of Wallkill and on numerous boards. He is the former Chairman of the Orange Regional Medical Center and the Greater Hudson Family Health System and is the current Chairman of the Orange County Trust Company. Legislator Brescia is the Senior Majority member of the Orange County Legislature while Legislator Berkman is the Minority Leader.
Heimbach will also lead a subcommittee consisting of himself, Todd Diorio of the Hudson Valley Building and Construction Trades Council and Josh Sommers of Focus Media, Inc. They will be responsible for reviewing the county’s existing economic development efforts and developing job creation strategies.
Mayor DeStefano will lead a subcommittee that will review public works, public safety and transportation-related areas. The members will be Jones, Brady, Reis, Higgins and DePew. Brady is the Corporation Counsel for the City of Port Jervis. Ms. Reis is Assistant Corporatioun Counsel for the City of Newburgh. Higgins was an official in the Recreation Department of the City of Newburgh and also an award winner for humanitarian work in Orange County.
Legislators Brescia and Berkman will lead a subcommittee addressing finance, shared services and the county office building. Serving with the legislators will be Roddey, Carnes and Engineer Eric Denega of Orange & Rockland Utilities.
Supak will lead a subcommittee focusing on social services, education and healthcare. Joining Supak on the subcommittee will be Dr. Iannuzzi Sucich and Climes. Dr. Iannuzzi Sucich teaches at SUNY Orange and has worked on the county health department’s efforts to fight West Nile Virus. Dr. Iannuzzi Sucich previously practiced family medicine. Climes is the Orange County Director of Rehabilitation Support Services and serves on numerous community boards across Orange County.
The staff for the transition team will include Alicia D’Amico, of Blooming Grove, who will serve as Director, Karin Hablow, of Goshen, who will serve as Financial Advisor and Langdon Chapman, Esq., of the law firm of Bonacic & McMahon LLP, who will serve as Counsel to the Transition Committee.
D’Amico has a long history of service as a Senior Executive Assistant and Operating Officer for a prominent New York City based not for profit organization. She served as the Executive Director of the Neuhaus for County Executive campaign. Hablow has extensive experience in financial services working for numerous investment firms in Manhattan where she managed hundreds of millions of dollars in private wealth. Chapman is Counsel to the Ulster County Legislature, along with several municipalities across the Hudson Valley and Catskills, as well as Counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee and Counsel to the Senate Racing, Gaming & Wagering Committee. He resides in Campbell Hall.
“The primary mission of the transition team is to identify new efficiencies in county government. We face many challenges in Orange County government. I look forward to a new relationship with Orange County’s taxpayers, employees, Legislature and our local governments as we move forward together,” said Neuhaus.
