E. Virgil Conway, Thruway Board of Directors

E. Virgil Conway was first confirmed by the New York State Senate as a member of the Thruway Authority/Canal Corporation Boards in December 2006. His first term expired on January 1, 2008. Mr. Conway was reconfirmed by the New York State Senate on June 18, 2008; his current term will expire on January 1, 2017.

A financial consultant and corporate director for more than 50 years, Mr. Conway had served most recently as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for the New York State Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). The MTA serves as the umbrella organization for the various agencies that operate the public transportation systems in the 14-county metropolitan New York area.

Prior to serving as MTA’s Chairman, Mr. Conway served as the Financial Accounting Standards Advisory Council Chairman from 1992-1995; from 1968-1988, Mr. Conway served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Director of The Seaman’s Bank for Savings, PSB.

Mr. Conway received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colgate University in Hamilton, New York and his LLB from Yale University Law School in New Haven, Connecticut. He resides in Bronxville, New York with his wife, Elaine.

Erin M. Crotty, Thruway Board of Directors

Erin M. Crotty was nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the New York State Senate as a member of the Thruway Authority Canal Corporation Board in June 2006. Ms. Crotty is the President of The Crotty Group, LLC., located in Troy, New York, a management consulting firm that assists corporations, governments and non-governmental organizations with the complex issues relating to the environment, energy, economic development and land use. The corporate practice area focuses on corporate social responsibility: the integration and alignment of the environmental and social aspects of a company into its business strategy to gain competitive advantage. Her term expired on June 13, 2009.

Ms. Crotty served as the Commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation from March 2001 through February 2005. Her responsibilities included the strategic, policy, legislative, public and media relations development and implementation of the executive agency charged with environmental protection and natural resource conservation.

Prior to that, Ms. Crotty served as Director of State & Local Government Relations for Plug Power, Inc. a leading provider of stationary fuel cell systems. Ms. Crotty also served as Deputy Commissioner for the Office of Water Quality & Environmental Remediation for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, as the Director of Special Environmental Projects for Governor George Pataki and as a policy analyst for the New York State Senate.

Ms. Crotty presently serves on the Board of Trustees of Emma Willard School and the Board of Directors for Audubon New York. Ms Crotty has received several awards for her work in protecting the environment, including the Conservationist of the Year award from The Adirondack Council, the Environmental Law Section Award from the New York State Bar Association and the Long Island Sound Guardian Award.

Ms. Crotty received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Russell Sage College and a Master of Science in Urban and Environmental Studies from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She resides in Brunswick, New York.

Richard N. Simberg, Thruway Authority Board of Directors

Richard N. Simberg was nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the New York State Senate as a member of the Thruway Authority/Canal Corporation Boards on June 3, 2009. His term will expire on September 14, 2017.

Mr. Simberg’s extensive experience in transportation and bridge operations, capital construction and maintenance throughout New York State will greatly benefit the Authority/Corporation.

Prior to retirement, Mr. Simberg was Assistant Commissioner for Engineering and Chief Engineer at the New York State Department of Transportation; responsible for all engineering activities throughout New York State for the 12,000-employee department, its consultants and contractors.  He assumed the position to strengthen the State’s bridge safety assurance program, overseeing the development and implementation of a statewide bridge reconstruction priority system and maintained design and reconstruction supervision of long span bridges throughout the State, including the Brooklyn, Manhattan, Williamsburg and Queensboro bridges.  Since retirement, Mr. Simberg has remained active in engineering education and professional ethics, and has consulted with the City of Alexandria, Virginia, on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

Mr. Simberg received a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree from Clarkson University and a Master of Civil Engineering degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

He resides in Oneida, New York.

Brandon R. Sall, Thruway Board of Directors

Brandon R. Sall was nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the New York State Senate as a member of the Thruway Authority Canal Corporation Board in June 2008. Mr. Sall will serve in a term that expires on January 1, 2014.

Mr. Sall, a partner at Schuman Sall & Geist (White Plains, NY), Schuman & Sall (White Plains, NY), and Gellert & Rodner (White Plains, NY), specializes in real estate law, trusts and estates, tax certiorari, litigation, and transactional work representing numerous businesses and individual parties.

Mr. Sall’s vast experience with real estate law and knowledge of the process involved with land transactions will benefit the Authority/Corporation during complex real property negotiations, as well as land sales and leases.

With more than 22 years of experience, prior to becoming partner at the abovementioned law firms, Mr. Sall has practiced law at the Law Offices of Brandon R. Sall (1991-1992), Rothschild, Esposito, Himmelfarb, Sher & Pearl (1988-1990), and Jacobs, Sieratski & Zinns (1986-1988).

Admitted to the New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Florida Bars, Mr. Sall is also a member of the New York State Bar Association and has lectured on estate administration for the New York State Bar Association’s Continuing Legal Education program.

Mr. Sall received his B.B.A from the University of Miami in Miami, Florida, and attended the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York, New York. He resides in Rye, New York.

Donna J. Luh, Thruway Board of Directors

Donna J. Luh was nominated by the Governor, and confirmed by the New York State Senate as a member of the Thruway Authority/Canal Corporation Boards in June 2008. Ms. Luh will serve in a term that expires on June 22, 2017.

Ms. Luh’s extensive experience in budget analysis, planning and community affairs will greatly benefit the Authority/Corporation.

Ms. Luh is currently the owner of Luh Consulting Services, an organization that serves as liaison between the public and private sector. Luh Consulting Services provides public participation facilitation, project coordination, governmental affairs, community relations and a host of other client services.

Prior to founding Luh Consulting, Ms. Luh served as the Airport Project Coordinator for the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority in Buffalo, New York, from 1989-1996.

Additionally, she is the co-creator of the successful Peer Review Group of airport executives from across the nation. The Peer Review Group has been featured in a number of aviation trade magazines.

Ms. Luh also serves on the Board of Directors of the Cheektowaga Economic Development Corporation.

Ms. Luh received her Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Science in Education Administration from Canisius College in Buffalo, New York. She resides in Depew, New York. She has two adult sons.

All Board members, including the Chairman, 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.