Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi today named nine members to the Minority Affairs Council, a charter panel that will make recommendations to the County Executive for the post of Minority Affairs Director, and help the County to better respond to the needs of the minority community. Suozzi appointed Deputy County Executive Hezekiah Brown, Rev. William A. Watson, Jr., Noreen Caro, Lisa Warren, Iris Johnson, Edward D. Tolver, II, Ali Mirza, Rassan Hoskin, and Elaine Kennedy.

(L to R) Rev. William Watson, Jr., Iris Johnson, Rassan Hoskin, Legislator Patrick Williams, Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, Deputy County Executive Hezekiah Brown, Ali Mirza, Lisa Warren.

Hezekiah Brown is currently serving as the Deputy County Executive for General Operations. He is the former director of labor-management at Cornell University, New York State School of Industrial and Labor Studies. Mr. Brown has served as Project Director for the Minority Arbitrator's Training Program, which was co-sponsored by the American Arbitration Association, Cornell University, and Hofstra School of Law.

Reverend William Watson, pastor of St. John's Baptist Church, is the Vice-Moderator at Large of the Eastern Baptist Association. He also serves on the Licensing and Ordination Council of Eastern Baptist Association. Rev. Watson conducts a mentoring program for women in leadership roles, and plays an active role in a hospital outreach program.

Noreen Carro is the Vice-President and co-owner of LMN Printing Co., a multi-million dollar operation. She is currently President of the L.I. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and co-Vice President for the Long Island Fund for Women and Girls. In 1992 she received the Business Woman of the Year Award from the New York State Federation of Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, and in 2001 she was honored with the "Small Business Minority Advocate of the Year" Award from the Long Island Association.

Lisa Warren is a former Manager in charge of Fiscal Controls at the Long Island Power and also a former Senior Accountant, Financial Reporting Division, for Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., in New York City. She also served as the Coordinator of the First Things First Program, a teen pregnancy prevention program organized by Planned Parenthood. Ms. Warren was also the Vice-President and Political Action Committee Treasurer of the National Women's Political Caucus, Nassau County Chapter. Lisa Warren holds her M.A. from Duke University.

Iris Johnson serves as the Executive Director for the Economic Opportunity Commission of Nassau County. She is responsible for devising strategies and formulating policies to meet objectives, as well as developing plans to provide for growth and revitalization of the county's communities. Ms. Johnson is also a member of the Minority Community Political Action Network and the New York State Division for Women Advisory Council.

Edward Tolver is the President of E.D.T. Flooring Contractors Inc, which specializes in commercial and residential floor covering sales installations and repairs. He is a former member of the United States Marine Corps Reserve, and the President of the Hempstead Branch of the NAACP. Mr. Tolver was awarded the NAACP Long Island Region Community Service Award and the NAACP Life Membership Award.

Ali Mirza is the Owner and President of Mirza Group, Inc., an auto, home, and business insurance agency. He is the Founding President of Americans of Pakistani Heritage, Inc., and the Director of the Pakistan League of America. Mr. Mirza received the Congressional Medal of Distinction for his community leadership and vision in 2001.

Rassan Hoskins is the founder of the National Afrikan/Afrikan American Maafa Remembrance Center. He is currently the Executive Director of the community service organization Diaspora Cultural Services, Inc., an organization founded in 1993 to enhance the overall development of youth at risk and their families by exposing them to the fine and performing arts.

Elaine Kennedy has been with the Nassau County Department of Social Services, where she serves as a Child Support Investigator. She has developed various social and cultural programs for children, and has worked to expedite interstate child support claims against Nassau residents. Ms. Kennedy is a member of the United Way of Long Island, and the League of Women Voters.