JEFFREY W. SZABO
JOSEPH M. POKORNY
CHRISTOPHER CECCHETTO
MICHAEL A. LITKA
DONNA MANCUSO
THOMAS SCHNEIDER
JEFFREY W. SZABO – Chief Executive Officer.
Jeffrey W. Szabo has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA) since May 2010. During that time, he has led the effort to reposition the organization, which serves 1.2 million Suffolk residents, to meet future challenges by creating a water authority that is more accountable to its customers, more efficient, more environmentally conscious and more transparent.
Among Mr. Szabo’s notable achievements to date as SCWA’s chief executive are the development of the utility’s first long-term strategic business plan, which identifies key objectives to transform SCWA operations over a ten-year period, including completion of the transition to automated meter reading technology; implementation of mobile workforce technology; development of long-term sustainable water supply plans for vulnerable areas; development of new treatment methods for emerging contaminants; and conducting vulnerability assessments of critical facilities, among other objectives.
Mr. Szabo was also the architect of the creation of the Long Island Commission for Aquifer Protection (LICAP), a bi-county effort to identify threats to Long Island’s sole source aquifer and provide a blueprint for the regional management of Long Island’s groundwater resources. He currently serves as LICAP Chairman.
Prior to joining SCWA, Mr. Szabo served as Deputy County Executive and Chief of Staff for the Suffolk County Executive, where he played a significant role in the management of more than 11,000 employees and a $2.5 billion annual operating budget, with direct oversight of 15 departments.
Mr. Szabo also serves on the Board of Directors of the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) and as Chairman of its Legislative Committee. Additionally, he serves as Chairman of the Central Pine Barrens Advisory Committee. In 2005, he was a “40 under 40” award recipient of the Long Island Business News. During Mr. Szabo’s tenure as Chief Executive Officer of SCWA, the utility has been presented five prestigious awards from various organizations honoring SCWA’s performance and commitment to the environment. In 2021, Mr. Szabo was appointed to the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC) for a term of three years. NDWAC is a Federal Advisory Committee that provides EPA with advice and recommendations related to the national drinking water program.
A lifelong resident of Long Island, New York, Mr. Szabo earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Long Island University.
JOSEPH M. POKORNY, P.E. – Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Operations.
Mr. Pokorny has been employed by the Suffolk County Water Authority since 1995. Starting in the Production Control department overseeing maintenance operations on all SCWA water production and storage facilities, Mr. Pokorny was promoted in 1997 to Chief Engineer, responsible for the budgeting, planning, design and construction of all of SCWA’s production, storage and treatment facilities. He then served as Acting Director of Distribution in the Construction and Maintenance department where he oversaw the installation of all pipeline construction, rehabilitation and repair work associated with SCWA’s 5900-mile distribution system. Prior to working for SCWA, Mr. Pokorny worked for eight years for the Long Island Lighting Company in its Electrical Engineering department, where he worked on a variety of projects from fossil and nuclear power plants to small wastewater treatment plants. He also worked for five years as engineering manager for two systems integration companies designing various automation systems for water, wastewater and transportation systems throughout the Northeast United States. Mr. Pokorny has served as the Chairman of the Long Island Water conference and remains active within the organization. Mr. Pokorny also serves as Vice-Chair of the AWWA Water Utility Council. Mr. Pokorny earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Manhattan College, a Masters in Business Administration from St. John’s University and is a licensed professional engineer in the State of New York.
CHRISTOPHER CECCHETTO – Chief Financial Officer.
Mr. Cecchetto joined the Suffolk County Water Authority in 2018 as Deputy Chief Financial Officer and was promoted to Chief Financial Officer in 2022. He is responsible for all accounting and finance related matters at SCWA, including the oversight of annual budgets approaching $250 million. Mr. Cecchetto began his career in public accounting with Baker Tilly and EY and later transitioned to internal roles with W.P. Carey and CA Technologies. Mr. Cecchetto earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Delaware and is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of New York.
MICHAEL A. LITKA, - Chief Technology Officer.
Mr. Litka has been employed by the Suffolk County Water Authority since 1989, where he began his service as a programmer in the Laboratory. He was appointed Deputy Director of Information Services in 1998 and Director of Information Technology in 2002. In 2016, he was appointed Chief Technology Officer, where he provides direction and support for Information Technology solutions that enhance mission-critical business operations and strategic goals for the Authority. He also oversees, directs, coordinates and organizes all operational information technology activities for the Information Technology department. Mr. Litka received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1984 from Hofstra University.
DONNA M. MANCUSO - Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Administration.
Ms. Mancuso has been with the Suffolk County Water Authority since 1985. She began her career as a customer service clerk in the Babylon Office and then transferred to the Engineering department. In 1995, she was selected by the Members of the Board to hold the position of Secretary to the Board. While in that position, she developed the role of Educational Programs Coordinator and created an educational outreach program for schools in Suffolk County, which has grown to reach over 10,000 students each year. In her current position of Deputy CEO for Administration, she oversees Human Resources, Communications and General Services. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from California Lutheran University and has completed graduate studies toward a Master of Science degree in Education and an MBA in Public Management at Dowling College. Ms. Mancuso is a member of the Long Island Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management and is the former Chair of the American Water Works Association's (AWWA) Workforce Strategies Committee. She assumed the position of Trustee in the Management and Leadership Division of AWWA in June of 2021.
THOMAS SCHNEIDER – Director of Water Quality and Laboratory Services.
Mr. Schneider joined the Suffolk County Water Authority in 1993 as a Chemist and was promoted to Supervising Chemist in 1997. From 2014 until his appointment to Director of Water Quality and Laboratory Services in 2022, Mr. Schneider served as Inorganic Laboratory Supervisor. In 2022, Mr. Schneider received a patent for sodium bisulfate dispenser for 1,4-dioxane collection. A member of the American Chemical Society, Science Advisory Board and American Water Works Association, Mr. Schneider earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Chemistry from Stony Brook University.
FRANK TASSONE – Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Customer Service
Mr. Tassone joined the Suffolk County Water Authority as Deputy CEO for Customer Service in 2024 following a long career in government operations; including high level positions at the Town, County and State levels of government.
Throughout his career, Mr. Tassone has brought people together and built coalitions. He partnered with elected officials, government agencies and non-profits to secure funding for critical environmental projects, such as the Mt. Sinai Jetty restoration and watershed improvements in Setauket Harbor. He also co-managed the New York State Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment, ensuring the fidelity of statewide statistical information. Mr. Tassone also held multiple senior roles with the New York State Senate, including Director of New York City Majority Operations and Downstate Director of Minority Operations.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Tassone served as Executive Assistant in Brookhaven’s Department of Waste Management, where he oversaw capital projects, spearheaded renewable energy initiatives and worked on recycling efforts. He also served as Assistant Deputy County Executive for Suffolk County, where he liaised between the executive and legislative branches on policy initiatives.
As Deputy CEO for Customer Service, Mr. Tassone will implement the customer service portions of the Strategic Business Plan – 2030 and strive to streamline operations and efficiencies within the department. Mr. Tassone holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stony Brook University and has been actively involved in community organizations, including the Patchogue Elks and the Senior Citizens Housing Committee.