2025 Annual Business Breakfast featuring the County Executive

Committed to public service and the principles of democracy, safety, education, technology, and community engagement, Westchester County is led by County Executive Kenneth W. Jenkins, who took office in January 2025 as the tenth County Executive. Jenkins is the first Black County Executive in Westchester history.

Before this historic role, Jenkins served as Deputy County Executive under George Latimer, where he played a key role in advancing countywide initiatives. For 18 years prior, he was a distinguished member of the Westchester County Board of Legislators, serving four years as Chairman, championing policies that shaped the region’s growth and inclusivity.

Jenkins has worked to cut taxes, build affordable housing, protect a woman’s right to choose, reduce crime, secure tax breaks for veterans, restore aging infrastructure and protect the environment. Ever committed to public service, Jenkins has championed the needs of middle-class families, earning a reputation as a fierce advocate for his constituents through his relentless dedication.

Jenkins built an extensive career in telecommunications and technology, holding key roles at leading companies such as Apple, AT&T, Bell Atlantic, New York Telephone (Verizon), NYNEX and Seer Technologies. He also gained valuable sales experience, as an owner and broker, during his tenure at ERA Gem Realty, further enhancing his expertise in the real estate sector.

Jenkins’ extensive public and community involvement includes board service with the Greyston Foundation, United Way, Westchester County District Attorney’s Community Advisory Committee, Westchester County Crime Stoppers and the Community Planning Council of Yonkers. He served as President of the Yonkers Branch of the NAACP and the Yonkers Community Action Program.

A longstanding member of the Democratic Party, Jenkins has held various leadership positions, including: Treasurer of the New York State Democratic Committee, Chairman of the Yonkers Democratic Committee, Chairman of the Black Democrats of Westchester and Secretary of the Westchester County Democratic Committee, in addition to serving on its Executive Committee. He has also shared his political insights as a frequent analyst on News 12 Westchester.

The proud son of a New York City police officer and a nurse, Jenkins is a former Boy Scout and Senior Patrol Leader of Troop 32. He is an alumnus of Fordham Preparatory School and Iona University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Information Systems. He and his wife, Deborah Hudson-Jenkins, have lived in Yonkers since their marriage in 1982 and are the proud parents of three adult children: Alana, Jamal and Terrell. Jenkins is also soon to be a first-time grandfather.

Mr. Gus Scacco has been the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Hudson Valley Investment Advisors (HVIA) since 2015 and Portfolio Manager on HVIA’s mutual fund (HVEIX) since inception. Prior to joining HVIA, Gus was Chief Operating Officer and Senior Equity Analyst at TigerShark Management, LLC, a seed fund known as a “Tiger Cub” under Tiger Management Corp. He was previously an Equity Portfolio Manager and Partner of Angelo Gordon Asset Management. Gus has worked at Morgan Stanley, running the firm’s Capital Growth Fund. He has over 30 years of experience as a portfolio manager and analyst in both the institutional and high net worth markets. Gus has also has been an adjunct instructor in Finance at Hofstra University.  He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Adelphi University and an MBA in Finance from Hofstra University. If you watch Fox Business, you’ll often see Gus as a regular guest talking about the markets. When he’s not looking after portfolios, Gus is active as a board member for both public and not-for-profit organizations

Luis Massiani is President and Chief Operating Officer of Webster Financial Corporation (NYSE: WBS) and Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer of Webster Bank, N.A., a leading commercial bank with more than $70 billion in assets.

In his role, Luis is responsible for the operating infrastructure of the Bank including, bank operations, technology, retail and digital banking, innovation, and corporate strategy activities.

He most recently served as Chief Operating Officer of Sterling Bancorp, and President of Sterling National Bank. He previously served as Chief Financial Officer of Sterling Bancorp and Sterling National Bank. Prior to Sterling, Luis was a Director in the Investment Banking department of Credit Suisse Securities, LLC. Before joining Credit Suisse, he served as a Director in the Investment Banking department of Citadel Securities, LLC.

He holds an MBA from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University.

Melinda has more than 25 years of commercial banking experience in both credit and relationship management and currently heads the Middle Market Banking practice at Popular Bank, one of the 50 largest banks in the US serving Metro NY, south Florida, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.  She began her career at Kidder Peabody as an auditor and was a buy-side analyst covering oil and gas equities before starting her commercial banking career with The Bank of New York.  Melinda has extensive experience in structuring financing, including Industrial Development Bonds, syndications, and specialized construction financing.  Prior to joining Popular Bank, Melinda was the Commercial Banking Leader for Wells Fargo in the Hudson Valley.

Melinda is a life-long resident of Westchester County and earned a BS in Finance from Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT.  She is a Past President of the Westchester County Bankers Association, a member of the Executive Committee of the Westchester County Association and past board member of the Women’s Enterprise Development Corp. Melinda is empty-nesting with her husband in Armonk, NY.

Michael Schiliro is a Senior Vice President at PCSB Bank and serves as a Commercial Banking Team Leader.

Michael joined PCSB Bank (f/k/a Putnam County Savings Bank) in 2014 after an acquisition of his prior bank, CMS Bank (f/k/a Community Mutual Savings Bank), where he started in 2007.  He has worked in the Westchester Banking community for 28 years, including First Union/Wachovia Bank (1997-2006).  In his current role, he works closely with commercial real estate investors in Westchester and surrounding counties, helping them buy, build, or refinance commercial and multifamily developments. In addition, he assists private sector businesses along with public sector and non-profit organizations with all of their banking, lending, and cash management needs.

From 2008-2023, Michael also served in elective office on the North Castle Town Board, 6 years as a Councilman, and his final 10 years as Town Supervisor.   He also served on the Town’s Middle-Income Housing Board, was a co-founder of NC4 – the Town’s Red Cross Affiliate emergency sheltering group, coached his three daughters in various sports in their youth, and is very involved in St. Patrick’s Parish of Armonk.  Since serving in North Castle, Michael has been integrally involved in its exciting economic development.  From the Town’s centerpiece retail development known as Armonk Square with DeCicco’s and Fortina as its anchors, to multiple zoning changes and current and future residential development totaling more than 500 units, which all require a 10% affordable component, which equals a 12% increase in the Town’s residential units.

Michael also serves on the Executive Leadership Team for Alzheimer’s Association’s Hudson Valley Chapter.

Michael graduated SUNY Albany with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Business Marketing.  He was born and raised in Baldwin, Long Island, and was active in civic affairs at a young age.  He has lived in Armonk for 26 years with his wife and three daughters.