NIFA Staff

John B. Chiara serves as Executive Director 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 Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve. 

Deirdre Calley serves as Deputy Director.  She has 28 years of budget and financial analysis experience in the public sector.  Deirdre’s prior employers include the Long Island Rail Road and Nassau County’s Office of Legislative Budget Review.

Conal Denion serves as General Counsel and Chief Borrowing Officer. 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 and Deputy Chair of the Accounting, Auditing and Financial Reporting Committee and Council Member of the New York Government Financial Officers Association.

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.

Martha Worsham serves as Director of Financial Planning and Analysis at NIFA. She has approximately 38 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.