New Executive Director and Board President
February 5th, 2010Friends of the Bay Appoints New Director and Board President
The Board of Directors of Friends of the Bay is pleased to announce that Patricia Aitken will be the organization’s Executive Director. Her appointment and that of a new Board President and officers was made at the January meeting of the Board of Directors. “During her time at Friends of the Bay, Pat has shown that she possesses a comprehensive knowledge of the issues facing the Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor Watershed, as well as the ability to develop the relationships necessary to create the partnerships that are essential to achieving our goals. Pat has the full confidence of the Board. I look forward to continuing to work with Pat to keep Friends of the Bay a proactive and effective organization” said Barry Lamb, who is the newly elected President of the Board of Directors.
Mrs. Aitken states “As a lifelong resident of the Oyster Bay area, our mission ‘to protect, preserve and restore the ecological integrity and productivity of the Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor Estuary and the surrounding watershed’ is one that resonates with me. I care deeply about this area, and want to see it receive the care and attention it so richly deserves.” Mrs. Aitken joined Friends of the Bay in March of 2004 as the Coordinator of the Water Quality Monitoring Program
“I have been very fortunate to be at Friends of the Bay during the preparation of our State of the Watershed Report, and look forward to working with the community, environmental organizations, the Town of Oyster Bay and other government entities in the development of our Watershed Action Plan. The Action Plan will build upon the twenty year history of Friends of the Bay and its recognition as one of the top environmental advocacy organizations in the region. I am excited by the opportunity to continue to work with the dedicated supporters, volunteers and board members of Friends of the Bay, all in an ongoing effort to work in coalition to find solutions to the environmental challenges ahead.”
Beth Dalton-Costello, Friends of the Bay’s immediate Past President, will continue on the Board of Directors. She has been involved with Friends of the Bay since its very beginning and is one of its staunchest supporters. “As we enter into the third decade of being a voice for the bay, it is a tremendous pleasure to usher in our newest members on the Executive Board. They each have a strong commitment to our mission and bring a wide range of expertise and passion to the work” stated Ms. Dalton-Costello.
Barry Lamb has been elected as President of the Board of Directors. Previously Mr. Lamb served on the Advisory Board, the Board of Directors and on the Executive Committee as Vice President. Most recently, Mr. Lamb initiated the creation of a partnership to establish a water trail for kayaks and canoes throughout the estuary. Just weeks ago A New York State Department of State grant was awarded through the Town of Oyster Bay for the study and design of the trail. Mr. Lamb, who lives in Bayville, is a life- long resident of the area and a dedicated environmentalist who enjoys sailing, kayaking and fly-fishing the waters of Oyster Bay. He is a long time supporter of Friends of the Bay and has been active on local issues as Avalon Bay, the contaminated Mill Neck Bay Marina property and the soon to be resolved sewage discharge problem at the Birches development in Locust Valley. Mr. Lamb is a Building Inspector and Tree Warden and serves on the Village of Bayville’s Zoning Board of appeals. His experience in these areas makes him knowledgeable in municipal government, zoning, land use planning and stormwater management.
Mickey Brennan, Adrian Kerrigan and Elaine McNicol Postley will all bring their talents and dedication to Friends of the Bay as Vice Presidents. “These recent additions to our Executive Committee will serve to continue the strong leadership that has made Friends of the Bay so effective throughout its history. I look forward to working with Pat, our Board of Directors, community leaders and other organizations to find watershed-based solutions to the issues that threaten this beautiful bay” stated Barry Lamb. Michael Held and David Relyea will continue in their positions as Treasurer and Secretary.
Michael (Mickey) Brennan is the chief executive officer and founder of North Sea Partners LLC. Mr. Brennan has over two decades of global experience in the trading, research and distribution of credit market securities. Mr. Brennan was co-head of Global Credit and Loan Distribution at Citigroup in New York, and prior to that, he was head of High Yield and Distressed Securities Sales, Trading and Research at Citigroup in London. Under his direction, Citigroup was consistently ranked among the top three underwriters of global high yield securities. From 2001 to 2004 he was the head of high yield sales at Credit Suisse in their London office. During his career, Mr. Brennan has been instrumental in the largest and most prominent global high yield and leveraged buyout transactions. Mr. Brennan is a founding board member of Gateway Communications and Custom Vault Securities. An active philanthropist, Mr. Brennan is a director of the TLOA Fund. He is a graduate of Iona College.
Adrian V. Kerrigan is the Senior Vice President of the Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB) headquartered in NYC. CMMB is a faith based leader in global healthcare that last year provided over $285 million in medicine and medical supplies to the developing world. Adrian is a consultant to many in the advancement, fundraising, higher education and non-profit worlds.
“I am so pleased to become Vice President on the Executive Committee of Friends of the Bay. We look forward to advancing the mission of Friends of the Bay through our Watershed Action Plan and increasing awareness and support of our organization which serves and protects one of Long Island’s most beautiful and pristine natural resources.”
Elaine McNicol Postley grew up swimming, fishing and sailing in the beauty of Cold Spring Harbor and Long Island Sound. She and husband, Dr. John Postley, reside in Mill Neck. Ms. Postley practiced corporate and securities law in Manhattan for 29 years. In addition, for five years, she served as president of Goddard-Riverside, one of the most respected and effective community organizations in New York City. She brings to Friends of the Bay her experience in leading board oversight of significant budgets, multiple projects, over 50 employees and a substantial endowment. Ms. Postley will focus on development and oversight for FOB.
Ms. Postley commented on her support for Friends of the Bay “Oyster Bay and Cold Spring Harbors are the last living, thriving waters of the unique and exquisite North Shore. Sadly, these waters are imminently threatened. Our sister harbors sorely need remediation, a Herculean task. This is the moment to act. Friends of the Bay have just completed the first detailed Watershed Study of the Oyster Bay and Cold Spring Harbor Estuary. It is partnering with surrounding municipalities and other groups, to spearhead creation of a vital Watershed Action Plan to preserve and restore these beautiful estuaries.” The Board members and Executive Director of Friends of the Bay are expert, professional and seriously committed to the work. I will strive to support their efforts. My grandchildren, Bea (8) and Griff (6), love swimming in the “real water” of Oyster Bay Harbor and boating and fishing with their great grandfather in Cold Spring Harbor. What better mission than to preserve this extraordinary heritage for all our children. ”
Mrs. Michelle Massarrone has joined the staff of Friends of the Bay as an office manager. She brings twenty years of experience in non-profit, private and government accounting roles and has specialized skills in implementing accounting processes and procedures, as well as computerized accounting systems. She comments that “her approach towards work is a ‘rolled up sleeve’ attitude. I love to learn all about a company and assist in its growth.”
