Our Team

Welcome to The County of Rockland Industrial Development Agency

Board members are appointed by the Rockland County Executive and Legislature to three-year terms. They also serve as members of the Governance, Audit, and Finance Committees.

Our Team

Steven Porath

Executive Director

Mr. Porath has served as the Executive Director of the Rockland Industrial Development Agency and the Rockland Economic Assistance Corporation since 2011. He graduated from Marist College with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. Prior to this position, he worked for eight years as the Director of Economic Development at Rockland Economic Development Corporation. Mr. Porath also served as the Vice Chair on the Board of Directors for Leadership Rockland. Additionally, he has been a member of Cornell Cooperative Extension, Dominican College, the American Heart Association’s Rockland Chapter, and the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation.

Heidi Vandiver

Director of Operations

Mrs. Vandiver joined the Rockland County Industrial Development Agency in September 2022 after spending more than 15 years working with local non-profit organizations dedicated to housing, community development, and economic empowerment, including the Rockland Housing Action Coalition. She holds a B.S. in Business Administration and Economics and has completed advanced studies in Nonprofit Management through Cornell University. In her role with the Rockland IDA, Mrs. Vandiver focuses on strengthening local economic opportunity through workforce development partnerships, business retention initiatives, and strategic community collaborations. She also serves on the Planning Committee of the New York State Economic Development Council. Known for her strong expertise in regulatory compliance, data management, and operational efficiency, she emphasizes transparency, accountability, and innovation in advancing programs that support both businesses and residents throughout Rockland County. Beyond her professional role, Mrs. Vandiver is deeply engaged in community service. She serves on the Board of Meals on Wheels Rockland and has previously served on the Board of Boy Scout Troop 97. She is passionate about connecting public policy, business growth, and community well-being to build a more vibrant and inclusive local economy.

Our Board

Our Board Members are appointed by the Rockland County Executive and confirmed by the Rockland County Legislature.

Timothy Riley, Chair

Re- Appointed to The Board - 10/16/2018
An electrical contractor, Mr. Riley is the Project Executive of Mehl Electric, where he started as a foreman in 1981. He graduated from the National Joint Apprenticeship Training Council and also served in the National Guard for ten years where held the rank of Staff Sergeant. Currently, Mr. Riley is involved in many county organizations, and has served on the Rockland County Electrical Licensing Board, the Hudson/Catskill Workforce Development Center Board of Directors, and the Rockland County Central Labor Council.

Raja Amar, Vice-Chair/Treasurer

Re- Appointed to The Board - July 19, 2022

Raja Amar is CEO, President and Founder of Portables Unlimited, Inc.  The company, based in Nanuet, NY, was formed in May 1999 and has become T-Mobile’s largest wholesale distributor and direct retailer in the USA with 40,000 cellular activations per month.  Mr. Amar serves on T-Mobile’s Retail & Wholesale Council, is a recipient of Rockland’s Forty Under 40 Award and was named Entrepreneur of the Year in Rockland in 2009.  He is also a member of Rockland Economic Development Corporation’s board of directors. 

Peggy Zugibe, Secretary

Re-Appointed - February 16, 2022

Ms. Zugibe has been an active member of the Rockland County Community for over 30 years. Ms. Zugibe is a graduate of Mercy College where she received her of Bachelor of Arts as a Teacher of the Speech and Hearing Impaired (1975) and then went on to continue her education at The College of New Rochelle, where she received her Master of Science in Special Education (1978). She has served as a Board Member for United Way of Rockland County (2006-2015), and is currently a Trustee for the North Rockland Central School District Board of Education (1993 — present) and the New York State School Board Association Board of Directors, Area 10 (2009-Present).

Dr. Mark Geller, Member

Appointed - November 14, 2023

Dr. Mark Geller has been the President and Chief Executive Officer for Montefiore Nyack Hospital since 2014. Prior to his appointment at Montefiore Nyack Hospital, Dr. Geller held the position of Chief Executive Officer at Hudson Valley Radiology Associates for over 17 years. Named a NY Metro Top Doctor since 2001, Dr. Geller has also been recognized as the Nyack Hospital Physician of the Year in 2004 and a Hudson Valley Top Doctor since 2007.

Dr. Geller earned his Medical Degree from SUNY-Downstate and Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Duke University. He completed a Residency in Diagnostic Radiology at New York Medical College where he served as Chief Resident and has subspecialty training in Cross Sectional Imaging and Nuclear Cardiology. He holds Certification through the American Board of Radiology and was inducted as  a Fellow in the American College of Radiology in 2023.

Irene Coughlin, Member

Appointed - September 9, 2025

Irene A. Coughlin has held the position of Chief Financial Officer of Portable Unlimited, Inc. since January 2007.  Prior to joining Portable Unlimited, Inc, Mrs. Coughlin served in a variety of executive financial positions at Curtis Instruments, Inc., and Hypres, Inc. over a 17-year period. She has a vast knowledge of GAAP reporting, business consolidations/M&A (domestic and international), bank financing, auditing, and compliance.

Mrs. Coughlin is passionate about mentoring Rockland’s future workforce through her work with the Rockland Community College Foundation and President’s Society.

During her career she has held a variety of finance positions including, Chief Financial Officer, Director of Finance & Administration, and Controller and is instrumental in securing financing and restructuring companies to adapt to today’s changing business needs. Mrs. Coughlin holds a BBA in Public Accounting from Pace University.

Board of Directors

  • Rockland IDA Executive Director: Steven Porath

Rockland IDA Board Members include:

  • Timothy Riley, Chairman – appointed 10/16/2018

  • Raja Amar,  Vice-Chair and Treasurer – appointed 5/18/16

  • Peggy Zugibe, Secretary – appointed 9/3/2015                                                                                                                                                                 

  • Dr. Mark Geller, Member – appointed 11/14/2023
  • Irene Coughlin, Member – appointed 9/9/2025
 

Click here to read more about our board

Committees of the Agency: Board members are appointed by the Rockland County Executive and Legislature to three-year terms. They also serve as members of the Governance, Audit, and Finance Committees. 

REAC Counsel

  • Lino Sciarretta, Esq., Bleakley, Platt & Schmidt, LLP

  • Daniel Birmingham, Esq., Bond Counsel  Hawkins, Delafield & Wood LLP