NIFA Staff

Evan Cohen serves as Executive Director. Mr. Cohen has more than 30 years of financial management experience dealing with governments. He has worked for the Authority since 2000 and previously worked for the New York State Financial Control Board for the City of New York. Mr. Cohen earned a BE in Electrical Engineering and an MBA in Finance.

Conal Denion serves as Deputy General Counsel. Mr. Denion has been admitted to the practice of law in New York State since 1990. He has worked for the majority of his legal career in the public sector.

Carl Dreyer serves as Treasurer at NIFA. Carl has a Master's Degree in Finance and has been a Certified Public Accountant in New York State since 1982. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Chartered Global Managerial Accountants.

Kathleen Stella serves as Chief Administrator. Ms. Stella's responsibilities include the organization of all meetings of the Directors as well as the preparation of numerous filings to fulfill State requirements. Prior to NIFA, Ms. Stella had 18 years' experience with the Long Island Power Authority as their Human Resources Coordinator and served as Board Secretary.

John B. Chiara serves as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. Mr. Chiara has been admitted to the practice of law in the State since 2007. He previously served as the Town Attorney for the Town of North Hempstead and the Acting County Attorney for Nassau County. Mr. Chiara is also a Major in the United States Army Reserve. 

Martha Worsham serves as Deputy Director at NIFA. She has approximately 30 years of financial analysis experience in the private sector and government. Prior to joining NIFA, Mrs. Worsham worked for Nassau County as a Deputy Budget Director.