Past Speakers

Cecilia Li '02

SVP, Chief Information Officer - Urban Edge Properties
Thursday, April 18, 2024

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Cecilia Li is a highly accomplished executive with expertise in innovation, digital transformation, and cybersecurity. Her extensive industry engagement and leadership are evident through her involvement in various advisory and supervisory roles, as well as her frequent participation as a speaker and judge. Throughout her professional development, she has consistently pursued excellence and industry recognition, emerging as a distinguished figure. Born in Venezuela to Asian parents, Cecilia's background enhance her social understanding and appreciation. She brings valuable insight to her work through her unique aptitudes in multicultural perspectives, international experiences and being part of a family of entrepreneurs.

Currently serving as the Chief Information Officer at Urban Edge Properties(NYSE:UE), Cecilia leads all technology functions and IT operations with a strong emphasis on customer experience. Her role involves driving innovation, implementing advanced cybersecurity measures, and leveraging digital technologies to enhance operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Ira Robbins '05

Chief Executive Officer - Valley Bank
Thursday, March 19, 2024

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Ira Robbins is CEO of Valley Bank and approaches his role from a unique perspective. He joined Valley in 1996 as part of the Bank's Management Associate Program and has grown along with the company. From college student to thought leader, his twenty-plus year career at Valley has seen him through several key positions where his invaluable contributions have helped shape Valley's growth and success. As CEO, Ira has led Valley into the future while keeping true to the company's roots as a local bank. In an ever- evolving digital and mobile world, Ira and the rest of Valley's leadership team strive to create a stronger, faster, more efficient and more responsive organization. His vision for success is building a purpose-driven organization which includes embracing innovation, being customer-centric, promoting social responsibility, and empowering Valley's associates.

Ira earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Economics from Susquehanna University, his MBA in Finance from Pace University and is a graduate of Stonier Graduate School of Banking. He is a Certified Public Accountant in New Jersey and a member of both the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Public Accountants. Ira serves on the board of the American Bankers Association, the New Jersey Bankers Association, the New York Bankers Association and the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (FHLBNY). He also serves on the board of the Jewish Vocational Service of MetroWest NJ (JVS) and is on the Morris Habitat for Humanity Leadership Council. Ira takes great pride in community outreach and is an active supporter of several other philanthropic organizations in his community as well.

Ramona Hood

President and CEO - FedEx Custom Critical®
Wednesday, March 6, 2024

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Ramona Hood is president and CEO of FedEx Custom Critical®, a leading North American transportation provider located in Richfield, Ohio. The company provides multiple transportation capabilities for expedite ground, temperature control shipments and industry-specific solutions.

Hood brings more than three decades of FedEx experience to her role. She began her career with the organization in 1991 in an entry-level position and worked her way up to hold various executive leadership positions at FedEx Custom Critical and FedEx Supply Chain. Hood has been recognized for her excellence in thought leadership, responsibility and passion-driven results. A few specific recognitions include Crain's Cleveland 2022 Power 150 list, Business Insider's powerful women leading top logistics companies in 2021 and service on the Brinker International Board of Directors noting her deep experience in sales, operations, supply chain, marketing and talent management to promote growth and brand differentiation. Most recently, she was appointed to the Knight Foundation Board of Trustees due to the impact she has made on the Akron-area community as a business leader.

Hood has played a critical role in maintaining the strategic vision of the business despite unexpected national and global crises. From her first days as president and CEO, she has led the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery as well as nationwide tensions regarding racial injustices. She continues to lead with courage, conviction and purpose to position FedEx Custom Critical for future growth.

With a genuine interest in understanding her team members, customers and independent contractors, Hood has developed culturally significant strategies for ongoing improvement while continuously driving the performance and strategic direction of the company. Hood earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from Walsh University and an Executive MBA from Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead School of Management.

Nick Debellis '83

President/CEO - Elite Sampling And Media Group, LLC
Monday, February 5, 2024

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Nick Debellis has over 30 years experience in consumer packaged goods, advertising, and promotion services. He is a specialist in highly targeted consumer promotion and product sampling programs. He founded Elite Sampling and Promotion, a leading provider of targeted product sampling, promotional and sponsorship programs, in 2001. Formerly he was EVP/Partner at Whittle Communications and prior to that, the Sponsorship Director for the National Football League.

Pooja '09 and Gal '09 Danay

Co-Founders of Woops!
Monday, December 4, 2023

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Pooja Chandnani Danay graduated from Pace University with a double major in marketing and finance. She worked in a major marketing firm right out of college until she decided that the corporate world was not a good fit. Pooja went on to pursue one of her biggest passions by attending an acting program in India for four months. Upon her return to the United States, Pooja became part of the founding team that established Woops! She has had multiple roles in the company including being Director of Events, operating some of the company's most successful locations in Manhattan, and customizing special events for thousands of clients, including some of the largest companies in the world. Woops! has grown to be the largest retailer of French macarons in the United States. In addition, Pooja has excelled as an actor and has been featured on major nationwide commercials for Google, Facebook, Care.com, Garden of Life, and more.

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Gal Danay is a Certified Public Accountant who graduated from Pace University with a degree in accounting. Gal started his career as a managing partner and franchisee of Aroma Espresso Bar in Manhattan. He grew his franchise to three locations with over $7 million in annual sales, and managed hundreds of employees. Gal was one of the founding members of Woops! He has held many important roles in the company throughout its history, including COO of bakery operations, COO of franchise operations, and currently CFO and Co-CEO of Woops!. Gal was in charge of opening franchise locations when the company grew from five corporate stores to 50 locations nationwide. Woops! is now the largest retailer of French macarons in the United States. Gal is a franchise expert and has now been in the franchising world his entire career which spans 15 years.

Jay Levy '82

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CPA, Managing Partner - CohnReznick
Thursday, November 30, 2023

Jay Levy serves as the Managing Partner in CohnReznick's New York office. In addition to his local responsibilities, he is a member of the firm's Financial Services Industry practice. As an audit partner with more than 35 years of audit, tax, and business consulting experience, Jay works with an array of financial services clients including investment management companies, broker-dealers, and family offices. He specializes in working with investment partnerships consisting of hedge funds, private equity funds, and fund of funds, including those with assets under management from start-up to multi-billion-dollar platforms.

Jay's services to clients include traditional audit and tax services as well as consulting on operational, transactional, and tax issues in the financial services industry. He is responsible for auditing year-end financial statements, assessing internal control procedures, and consulting on organizational and tax structures for his clients. He also alerts clients about regulatory changes affecting the financial services industry.

Jay has provided training to investment managers and to the firm's professionals on issues related to investment partnership structuring, accounting, auditing, and financial reporting. He has also published articles on investment partnership topics.

Mark Stevens

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Lifelong Entrepreneur/Founder
Thursday, November 9, 2023

Mark Stevens founded his first business at 10—a Christmas tree store—then moved on to a media company at age 20.

His entrepreneurial forays turned to financial services and eventually one of the world's best known marketing firms, MSCO.

He has written best-selling books on business and marketing and is lauded as an expert in business growth. After he sold MSCO, he was asked to coach others and views it as a privilege.

Laura Plotner '91

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Treasurer & Partner - Chastang & Partners
Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Laura Plotner, CPA, has more than 25 years of experience in public and private accounting, providing tax compliance and consulting services on a full range of tax issues. Her experience includes working with multi-state issues, international tax services, and public/SEC clients. She specializes in organizational and transactional planning related to state, local, and international matters.

Laura's extensive international expertise includes both inbound and outbound transactions and structural planning. She has presented international, state, and local tax planning strategies for manufacturers to various groups, and she specializes in IC-DISC opportunities.

Dan Feeney '86

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Executive Vice President and Manager - North Star Leasing
Tuesday, October 3, 2023

Dan Feeney has lifetime experiences as an entrepreneur with leadership roles in accounting, finance, management, operations, as well as CEO, CFO positions.

Dan is currently serving as Executive Vice President, Manager at North Star Leasing Company, now a Division of Peoples Bank. Under Dan's leadership for 17 years, NSL grew as a micro-ticket leasing company from $12M in assets to now just under $200M. (Dan sold the company to a private equity firm in January 2018 and was asked to stay on and grow the business. NSL was sold again to its current owner, People's Bank of Marietta, OH.)

Dan has experience of running a finance company during the great recession. During the first 12 years of running NSL, the company did not have an HR, IT, or Legal department yet delivered a CAGR of over 22% to the investors which places it in the top 1/10 of 1% of money managers.

Dan Feeney started his career as an accountant with PwC and was subsequently recruited to join Green Mountain Coffee Roasters ("GMCR", now Keurig) as the company's first CFO in 1991.

After GMCR, Dan started Coffee Enterprises in Burlington, VT which at time created private label coffee programs for large companies, hedged coffee purchases for clients and distributed coffee extract to Ben & Jerry's for use in Heath Bar Crunch, which at the time was the number one selling flavor.

Post Coffee Enterprises, Dan, and a colleague purchased Partner's Coffee in Atlanta, GA where they roasted and packaged coffee for large retailers like Shaw's, Giant Eagle, Sutton Gourmet, and Harris Teeter Supermarkets to name but a few.Dan attended Pace University's Pleasantville campus, graduating with a BBA in Accounting in 1986. During his time at Pace, Dan was a four-year starter on the varsity soccer team, attending on a partial athletic scholarship. Dan also worked as a Resident Assistant during his junior and senior years and was employed at Foley's Bar and Grill in Pleasantville.Dan currently lives in Burlington, VT with his wife Amy, also a Pace alumna whom he met the first weekend of freshman year. Their three daughters all currently reside in Brooklyn, NY.

Claude Wade '96

EVP, Chief Digital Officer, and Global Head of Business Operations & IT - AIG
Monday, September 18, 2023

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Claude E. Wade is Executive Vice President, Head of Global Business Operations & IT and Chief Digital Officer of AIG. In this role, he focuses on improving and simplifying the user experience for AIG colleagues, clients, distribution partners, and other stakeholders through a standardized data infrastructure and digital capabilities.

Mr. Wade, who has over 30 years of operational strategy and innovation experience, primarily with Fortune 100 companies, joined AIG from BlackRock where he most recently served as Global Head of Client Experience and Head of the Atlanta Innovation Hub. As Global Head of Client Experience, he was responsible for reshaping the global distribution ecosystem and improving the digital experience for BlackRock clients, revenue retention and efficiency improvements. As the Atlanta Innovation Hub Leader and Office Head, Mr. Wade had overall executive responsibility for creating BlackRock's newest office and digital innovation center.

He previously spent approximately eight years with Marsh LLC and Guy Carpenter & Company, both operating subsidiaries of Marsh McLennan, in multiple execution leadership roles. Mr. Wade is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Certified Agile Scrum Master. He received his MBA from New York University, Stern School of Business and his BBA in finance from Pace University.