Long Island Leaders Join HIA-LI Board of Directors

HAUPPAUGE, NY – JANUARY 14, 2022 – HIA-LI, one of the region’s largest business advocacy organizations, has added three prominent Long Islanders to its board of directors: Catholic Health’s St. Catherine of Siena Hospital Chief Operating Officer Dominick Pernice, Suffolk County Community College President Edward T. Bonahue, and Long Island Cares Chief Executive Officer Paule T. Pachter.

“Representing the healthcare, educational, and non-profit sectors, these three outstanding individuals have all made valuable contributions to our community,” said Terri Alessi-Miceli, President and CEO of HIA-LI. “We are fortunate to have them as part of our leadership team.”

“Because they’ve achieved distinction in three diverse fields, these new board members are certain to broaden our organizational vision,” said Richard Humann, PE, Chairperson of the HIA-LI board and President and CEO of H2M architects + engineers in Melville. “HIA-LI will leverage their varying areas of expertise to help us devise better-integrated strategies for regional economic growth.”

With more than 25 years of healthcare experience within the Catholic Health and Northwell Healthsystems, Dominick Pernice, of Islip, is Chief Operating Officer of St. Catherine of Siena Hospital, a not-for-profit facility in Smithtown with 296 beds and 240 nursing home beds. He previously served as Assistant Director of Radiology at Long Island Jewish Medical Center and the Administrative Director of Imaging Services and Cardiac Catheterization at St. Catherine of Siena and St. Charles Hospitals. Mr. Pernice received both his Bachelor of Science degree and his Master of Business Administration degree from Long Island University CW Post Campus.

Overseeing an academic institution serving 22,000 students, Dr. Edward T. Bonahue, of Farmingville, is President of Suffolk County Community College, the largest community college in the State University of New York system. He is a seasoned higher education executive with more than 20 years of experience in community college education, including service as a tenured faculty member and an executive administrative leader. A native Long Islander, Dr. Bonahue earned a Ph.D. in English literature at the University of North Carolina, an M.A. in English literature at the University of North Carolina, and a B.A. in English literature from Wake Forest University.

Paule T. Pachter, of North Bellmore, is Chief Executive Officer of Long Island Cares, which provides nutritional food and support services for an Island-wide network of more than 374 community-based member agencies. In 2016, he was named one of Long Island’s Top CEO’s by Long Island Business News. In 2020, Mr. Pachter received the Town of Hempstead’s “Make a Difference Medal” for his leadership work in responding to COVID-19. He graduated from the Adelphi University School of Social Work and has held several positions within Long Island’s human services community, including Deputy Commissioner of Nassau County’s Department of Mental Health.

ABOUT HIA-LI

Now in its 43rd year, HIA-LI is one of Long Island’s largest business advocacy organizations. It also represents the Long Island Innovation Park at Hauppauge, the largest industrial park in the Northeast. The park supports 55,000 jobs, produces $13 billion in goods and services each year, and accounts for eight percent of Long Island’s gross domestic product. For more information, go to www.HIA-LI.org.