Board & Executive Staff
Chair of the Board | Board Members | Executive Director | Executive Staff
Joanne M. Mahoney, Chair, Thruway Board of Directors
Joanne M. Mahoney
Joanne M. (Joanie) Mahoney was nominated by the governor and confirmed by the New York State Senate as a member of the Thruway Authority Board on March 30, 2015.
Ms. Mahoney was elected Onondaga County Executive in November 2007, and was the first woman to serve in that role. She was re-elected in 2011 and 2015. Among her many accomplishments as county executive, Ms. Mahoney focused on increasing literacy, ensuring that all students receive an education that prepares them for successful lives, and protecting the environment.
In Fall 2020, Ms. Mahoney assumed the Office of the Presidency at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Ms. Mahoney is the first woman to lead SUNY ESF. Ms. Mahoney joined SUNY ESF in November 2018 as Chief Operating Officer.
Ms. Mahoney has shown a strong commitment to working collaboratively with her government partners. In 2010, then County Executive Mahoney was asked to serve as co-chair of the governor’s transition team and in 2012, Ms. Mahoney was appointment to serve as a trustee for the New York Power Authority.
In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, Ms. Mahoney was asked to help investigate New York’s power utilities’ preparation and response to the major storms that devastated communities across New York State in recent years.
A Syracuse native, Ms. Mahoney graduated from Corcoran High School, and then from Syracuse University's School of Management and S.U.'s College of Law.
After spending time in private practice, Ms. Mahoney worked for five years as a criminal prosecutor in the District Attorney’s office before being elected Councilor-at-Large in the City of Syracuse, where she served a four year term.
Ms. Mahoney and her husband Marc Overdyk have four sons and reside in the town of Dewitt, New York.
Heather C. Briccetti Mulligan, Esq., Thruway Board of Directors
Heather C. Briccetti Mulligan
Heather C. Briccetti Mulligan was nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the New York State Senate as a member of the Thruway Authority Board in June 2019.
Ms. Mulligan is the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Business Council of New York State, Inc. Ms. Mulligan joined The Business Council in 2007 and has also served as Vice President of Government Affairs.
Ms. Mulligan’s career spans decades in the public and private sectors. Prior to The Business Council, Ms. Mulligan was a consultant and lobbyist for Powers and Company. She has also served as assistant counsel to the New York State Senate majority, as a legislative aide and counsel to the New York State Assembly majority committee on Racing and Wagering, and special counsel in the New York State Attorney General’s office. She also founded a private law practice, Sweeney & Wollowitz, and served as the chief public defender for Rensselaer County earlier in her career.
In addition to serving on the Thruway Authority Board of Directors, Ms. Mulligan has also served on numerous boards and committees including the New York State Council for Women and Girls; Berkeley College Board of Trustees; Council of State Chambers (COSC) Board of Directors; New York State Wage Board; American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), among others.
Ms. Mulligan received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the State University of New York at Binghamton and graduated from Albany Law.
José Holguín-Veras, Ph.D., P.E., Thruway Board of Directors
Dr. Holguín-Veras was nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the New York State Senate as a member of the Thruway Authority Board in May 2010.
Dr. Holguín-Veras is the William H. Hart Professor and Director of the Center for Infrastructure, Transportation, and the Environment at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He joined Rensselaer in July 2002. Dr. Holguín-Veras has also been in the faculty of the City College of New York (1997-2002), and the California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California (1996-1997).
He has extensive professional experience including the analysis of the intermodal alternatives for the trans-isthmian corridor that runs parallel to the Panama Canal. He has been consultant in transportation planning, modeling, and economics for international companies and financial institutions, including: The World Bank, The United Nations, The Inter-American Development Bank, among many others.
Dr. Holguín-Veras’s leadership positions at key international research organizations include: Vice President for logistics of the Pan-American Conferences of Traffic and Transportation Engineering; elected member of the Council for the Association for European Transport; member of the International Organizing Committee of the City Logistics Conferences; member of three technical committees and invitational Task Forces on freight modeling at the Transportation Research Board.
In addition to authoring dozens of articles on transportation modeling and economics, Dr. Holguín-Veras received several awards: the Milton Pikarsky Memorial Award from the Council of University Transportation Centers (1996); the CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation (2001); and The School of Engineering Excellence in Research Award (2007).
Dr. Holguín-Veras received a bachelor’s of science degree in civil engineering from Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo; master’s of science degree in Transportation from Universidad Central de Venezuela; and a doctoral degree in transportation from University of Texas at Austin.
Norman Jones, Thruway Board of Directors
Norman Jones
Norman H. Jones, Sr. was nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the New York State Senate as a member of the Thruway Authority Board in June 2023.
Mr. Jones, Sr. retired in 2021 after more than three decades of distinguished service with the City of Rochester. During his career in public service, he served as the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Services (2014 to 2021), Director of Operations (2012 – 2014), Manager of Building Services (1995 – 2012) and Recycling Coordinator (1988 – 1995).
In his most recent position as Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Service, Mr. Jones completed or initiated some of Rochester’s most trans formative physical changes, including nearly $50 million in improvements to the Inner Loop East and the Port of Rochester Marina. He is also credited with assisting with the design and implementation of the City of Rochester community recycling program.
Mr. Jones is currently on County of Monroe Industrial Development Authority and continues to be active within his community serving on various volunteer boards including most recently as the Chair of the Rochester Schools Modernization Program which just completed the $460 million phase for the Rochester City School District and exceeded all of the program’s goals.
Mr. Jones attended the University at Buffalo.
Robert L. Megna, Thruway Board of Directors
Robert L. Megna
Robert Megna was appointed Director of the Division of Budget to serve through the 2023 legislative session and to assist with the search for a long-term Budget Director. Immediately prior to his appointment, Megna served as president of the Rockefeller Institute of Government, a role he will return to following the selection of a long-term Budget Director. Megna previously served as senior vice chancellor and chief operating officer of SUNY System Administration. In that role, he oversaw the operations of the chief information officer, the State University of New York (SUNY) Plaza business functions, capital facilities, campus energy management, and the Charter School Institute. He joined SUNY System Administration from Stony Brook University, where he served as senior vice president for finance and administration. Prior to joining Stony Brook, he served as executive director of the New York State Thruway Authority and New York State Canal Corporation.
Megna served as budget director for New York State Division of the Budget (DOB), during which time the state achieved its highest financial rating in 40 years from three major credit rating agencies and passed four on-time budgets for the first time since the 1970s. He also chaired multiple governmental boards, including the Financial Restructuring Board, the New York Racing Association, and the Public Authorities Control Board. Megna has also served as commissioner for New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, director of the revenue and economics unit at DOB, assistant commissioner of the office of tax policy at the Virginia Department of Taxation, director of tax studies at the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, and deputy director of fiscal studies on the Assembly Ways and Means Committee.
Megna earned an M.S. in economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science at the University of London and received both his B.A. in Economics and M.P.A. from Fordham University.
Joan McDonald, Thruway Board of Directors
Joan McDonald
Joan McDonald was nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the New York State Senate as a member of the Thruway Authority Board in June 2024.
Ms. McDonald currently serves as the Director of Operations for Westchester County and the Board Chair of the New York State Bridge Authority. She previously served as the Commissioner of the New York State Department of Transportation from 2011 through 2015. Ms. McDonald previously served on the Transportation Research Board and the Women’s Transportation Seminar. She currently is a member of the National Infrastructure Advisory Council.
Ms. McDonald received her Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Harvard University and her Bachelor’s Degree from LeMoyne College.
Paul Tokasz, Thruway Board of Directors
Paul Tokasz
Paul Tokasz was nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the New York State Senate as a member of the Thruway Authority Board in June 2024.
Mr. Tokasz served as an Assemblymember representing the Western New York region from 1988 to 2006, and served as New York State Assembly Majority Leader from 2001 to 2006. Most recently, Mr. Tokasz served as Administrative Vice President/Manager of Government Relations at M&T Bank from 2016-2022. Mr. Tokasz was also an educator in Buffalo in the 1970s, before becoming Clerk of the Erie County Legislature, Deputy County Clerk of Erie County and First Deputy County Clerk in the 1980s.
Mr. Tokasz received his Bachelor’s Degree from Hobart College and a Master’s Degree in Education from the Buffalo State College.
All Board members, including the Chairperson, are appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the State Senate. The members of the Board receive no salary in connection with the performance of their duties. Vacancies in the Board occurring other than by expiration of the term are filled for the unexpired term in the same manner. Pursuant to the Public Officers Law, members of the Board whose terms have expired continue to serve until a successor is appointed and qualified.
Executive Director
Frank G. Hoare, Esq.
Mr. Hoare was confirmed by the New York State Senate as Executive Director of the New York State Thruway Authority in April 2024. He was recommended by the Governor to serve as Acting Executive Director of the New York State Thruway Authority and approved as Acting Director by the Thruway Board of Directors in September 2023. Mr. Hoare served as Interim Executive Director from December 2022 through September 2023.
Mr. Hoare served as General Counsel of Authority from December 2020 to December 2022. Mr. Hoare’s legal career has included both state government service and private practice. Previous assignments include Associate Counsel at the N.Y.S. Division of Military & Naval Affairs, Deputy Secretary to the Governor for Legislative Affairs, General Counsel at the N.Y.S. Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services, Deputy Attorney General for Regional Affairs and Deputy Counsel to the Attorney General, and Counsel to Assemblyman Herman D. Farrell, Jr., Chair of the Assembly Ways & Means Committee.
Mr. Hoare was a partner at a litigation/lobbying firm for six years and early in his career was an Associate at several firms engaged in civil litigation in Federal and State Courts. Mr. Hoare served as a Judge Advocate in the U.S. Army Reserve for 28 years. Mr. Hoare earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University at Albany and his Juris Doctor from Albany Law School.
Executive Staff
Erika Beardsley serves as Chief Strategic Initiatives Officer for the New York State Thruway Authority since October 2022. Prior to joining the Thruway Authority, Ms. Beardsley served in several management positions for eight years including: Deputy Director of the Business Services Center at the Office of General Services (OGS), Acting Executive Deputy Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the Office of Information Technology Services, Deployment Manager within OGS Finance and Accountability and as an Analyst with the Business Services Center at OGS. Prior to these positions, Ms. Beardsley served nearly 15 years working in multiple capacities in financial positions in state service. With her leadership and role at the Thruway Authority, Ms. Beardsley’s team is responsible for strategic planning, program management and continuous improvement. Ms. Beardsley graduated from Siena College with a Bachelor of Business Administration and Accounting.
Mary Boehm serves as Chief Audit and Investigations Officer for the Department of Audit and Management Services for the Thruway Authority. Ms. Boehm is responsible for overseeing internal audits, reviews, confidential investigations, serving as a liaison with law enforcement, investigatory and prosecutorial agencies, and other requested management services. Previously Ms. Boehm served in various positions at the Thruway including her most recent position Deputy Director of Audit and Management Services. During her tenure at the Authority, Ms. Boehm was part of the team that developed and established the Thruway Operations Center (TOC)/Security Unit for the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. Prior to joining the Thruway in 2006, Ms. Boehm was the Deputy Chief of Investigations for the Office of the State Inspector General. Ms. Boehm earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University at Albany.
Selica Y. Grant, Esq., CDE serves as the New York State Thruway Authority’s Chief Administrative Officer since April 2023. Prior to joining the Thruway Authority, Mrs. Grant served in a variety of positions at the New York State Department of Labor (DOL), most recently as the Chief Diversity Officer and the New York State Workforce Innovation Opportunities Act (WIOA) Equal Opportunity Officer. Her previous roles at the DOL include the Agency’s Chief Risk Officer and Special Counsel, the Director for the Division of Equal Opportunity Development, and the American with Disabilities Act Coordinator. Prior to her tenure at the DOL, she held various roles at New York State Homes and Community Renewal including, Counsel of the Fair and Equitable Housing office, Deputy Director and Counsel for the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity and a Senior Attorney. Additionally, Mrs. Grant is an adjunct faculty member at The Sage Colleges and the State University at Albany where she teaches classes on racial justice, diversity and equity in the law, women and the law, and administrative leadership. Mrs. Grant is admitted to practice law in New York State and is a Certified Diversity Executive. She earned her Juris Doctorate from Albany Law School with a concentration in Intellectual Property and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the State University at Albany.
Jennifer Givner has served as the Chief Media and Government Relations Officer for the Thruway Authority since 2015. Ms. Givner has close to 25 years of communications experience working for both the City and State of New York. Prior to the Thruway Authority, she served as the Assistant Commissioner of Communications for the New York State Office of Children and Family Services and before that, she served in various communications management positions at the New York State Office of the Attorney General, NY Lottery, and as the Deputy Press Secretary and Chief of Staff for Public Safety in the Executive Chamber. Ms. Givner has a Master of Public Administration degree from the Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at SUNY Albany and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Hartwick College. She was recently named a member of the Leadership Council for the Hartwick Institute of Public Service.
Brent E. Howard, P.E. has served as the Chief Engineer of the Thruway Authority since January 2024. Mr. Howard has worked at the Authority since 2006 beginning in the Highway Design Bureau, and then progressively serving as Traffic Systems Manager, the Assistant Division Director of Operations, Division Maintenance Engineer, Director of Construction Management (Canal Corporation), and as the New York Division Director since August 2020. Prior to joining the Authority, Mr. Howard spent two years with the New York State Department of Transportation and 11 years working in the private sector in various engineering positions. Mr. Howard received an Associate of Science Degree from Hudson Valley Community College and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from Clarkson University. He is a licensed Professional Engineer registered in the State of New York.
Josh S. Klemm was appointed as the Chief Information Officer of the New York State Thruway Authority in October 2021. Prior to joining the Authority, Mr. Klemm served in a variety of positions in his nearly 20 year Information Technology career, including 12 years of service in the State of New York. While with the State of New York, Mr. Klemm served as Chief Information Security Officer and Director of the Bureau of Systems and Informatics at the New York State Department of Health, where his team played a critical role in developing the systems and reports for the State’s COVID-19 response, and ran the State’s All Payer Database, Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS), Provider Directory, and Master Data Management systems. Mr. Klemm has also held positions with the AIDS Institute and Department of Labor. Mr. Klemm received his Bachelor of Arts and his Masters of Science from the University at Albany, where he serves as an Adjunct Lecturer in Informatics with the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity.
Nicole Leblond is serving as the New York State Thruway Authority Chief of Staff since April 2024.
Ms. Leblond joins the Thruway Authority from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets where she served as she Deputy Commissioner for two years, spearheading critical regulatory reform and policy development and leading familiar initiatives such as the Taste NY and New York State Grown & Certified programs, among others. Prior to her tenure at Agriculture & Markets, Ms. Leblond spend six years in the Executive Chamber as Deputy Communications Director for both Economic Development and Health where she handled statewide crises management, broad policy development, strategic communications, and media relations covering emerging and sensitive topics such as water quality/PFCs, COVID-19, substance use and addiction, cannabis management, tenant protections, and business attraction and development. Ms. Leblond has previously worked in the education space serving as both Director of Communications and Manager of Special Projects for local and national charter school organizations including The Brighter Choice Foundation and National Heritage Academies. She also served as Deputy Press Secretary and spokesperson for New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli covering various issues including local governments, school accountability, retirement, and not-for-profits, and led critical marketing and campaign efforts through her work as a Public Affairs and Public Relations Account Executive at Eric Mower and Associates. Nicole received her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Russell Sage College in Troy, New York, and her master’s degree in business administration at The College of Saint Rose.
David Malone serves as Chief Financial Officer for the New York State Thruway Authority since July 2023. Mr. Malone oversees the Department of Finance and Accounts with responsibility for the Authority’s budget and long-range financial plan, financial administration, debt management and investments. Mr. Malone has been with the Authority since 1993 and served as the Director of Accounting and Disbursements prior to his appointment to the Chief Financial Officer position. Mr. Malone earned an undergraduate degree from Siena College and a Master of Business Administration degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Thomas McIntyre has been serving as Deputy Executive Director for Operations and Special Projects at the Thruway Authority since November 2023.
Mr. McIntyre previously served as Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations at the New York State Department of Transportation. During his eight years at DOT in this role, Mr. McIntyre was responsible for the coordination of programs and functions throughout regions 1, 8, and 9 and worked directly with and supervised those Regional Directors.
Mr. McIntyre is also a veteran with 30 years of service in the US Army and Army Reserves and has held several positions with the Army, including Brigade Battle Staff First Sergeant, United States Army Goodwill Ambassador and Ammunition and Equipment Operations Technician. He has an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science from New River Community College.
Diana Nebiolo serves as Chief Revenue Management Officer for the New York State Thruway Authority since September 2022. Ms. Nebiolo is responsible for overseeing tolling and non-tolling revenue operations, electronic tolling customer service, toll systems quality assurance and exploring new revenue opportunities for the Authority. Prior to joining the Authority, Ms. Nebiolo served as the Deputy Commissioner of Administration and Finance at the New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), where she worked for nearly seven years. While at HCR, Ms. Nebiolo also served as Senior Vice President for the Office of Professional Services. Prior to her time at HCR, Diana held several key positions in the New York Division of the Budget during her 16 year tenure, where her most recent role was the Principal Budget Examiner of the Public Protection Unit. Ms. Nebiolo graduated from Siena College with a Bachelor of Arts.
Sandra D. Rivera, Esq. serves as General Counsel for the Thruway Authority since December 2023. Ms. Rivera has over 25 years of experience in both the public and private sectors working with New York State Government. Prior to joining the Authority, she served in the Executive Chamber as a Senior Advisor for Legislative Affairs, and most recently as Senior Counsel in the Office of Counsel to the Governor. As Senior Counsel, Sandra reviewed Gubernatorial Judicial appointments and was responsible for the judiciary portfolio. Prior to taking on that role, she managed the Transportation and Infrastructure portfolio. Prior to joining the Executive Chamber, Sandra was in private practice at several firms, including as a Principal of her own firm, Rivera Law, PLLC, advising for-profit and not-for-profit businesses in assorted industries as well as government clients in a variety of areas of law including technology and economic development, health and human services, and criminal and social justice. Additionally, throughout her professional career, Ms. Rivera has served in leadership positions on both public and private not-for-profit boards including Commissioner of the Office of Court Administration's Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission, New York State Bar Association, Albany Law School’s Government Law Center Advisory Board, and Chair of the Board of Family Planning Advocates of New York State. Before attending law school, Ms. Rivera worked as a legislative representative for the New York State United Teachers and began her career as a legislative associate in the New York State Assembly Majority Leader's Office. Ms. Rivera is a graduate of the University at Albany, where she received a B.A. in Anthropology and M.A. in Political Communication. She received a J.D. from Albany Law School and is admitted to practice in New York.
Andrew Trombley serves as Chief Procurement Officer since March of 2020, overseeing the Capital Program and Contracts Management; Purchasing; and Contract Compliance Units at the Authority. Mr. Trombley manages the centralized purchasing system for the Authority that ensures integrity and fairness, with the responsibility for oversight of solicitation, vendor selection, negotiation, award, contract administration, reporting and disposal of surplus property. He assists with the development and management of the Authority’s multi-year Capital and Contracts Program, the annual update to the Capital Program, and other long range plans to address the capital need of the Authority’s infrastructure. The Office also works to maximize opportunities for the participation of od New York State business enterprise, including MWBE/SDVOBs and prime and sub-contractors and suppliers on all Authority contracts. Prior to joining the Thruway Authority in 2019, Mr. Trombley served in a variety of leadership roles in public service over his 17- year state and federal government career, most recently as the Director of the Onondaga County Division of Purchase. Mr. Trombley received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from St. Lawrence University.