Board of Directors
Bob Friedrich (Board Member since 5/91)
President and CFO
- Chairman of Maintenance Committee
- Chairman of Finance/Budget Committee
- Co-Chair of Personnel Committee
Bob Friedrich serves as President and Chief Financial Officer of the co-op. As an Accountant, his leadership has been instrumental in transforming Glen Oaks Village into one of Queens’ best-run and financially sound cooperative housing developments. Under his leadership, Glen Oaks Village became a self-managed co-op many years ago. It was originally structured as a fiscally-disciplined corporation and still runs that way today--being one of the few co-ops with no flip tax, low maintenance, and a substantial reserve account.
Bob is a civic leader and has led the battle on many co-op issues that affect Glen Oaks Village. He founded the Presidents’ Co-op & Condo Council, which brings together co-op Board Presidents from around New York City, to tackle co-op related issues before the City Council and State Legislature. As a community leader, Bob works diligently with other civic organizations to continually improve the quality of life in our community. Bob’s top priorities include keeping maintenance low and affordable, maintaining our infrastructure and overseeing our financials so that they remain strong. He is easily accessible and as a “hands-on” member of the Board of Directors, he has achieved many milestones:
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Conceived and negotiated the takeover of more than 500 rent-stabilized apartments and placed them under GOVO ownership,
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Created and implemented self-management,
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Brought financial expertise, and high levels of transparency and accountability to the co-op management team,
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Created a professional newsletter and website, with detailed information and news about the co-op,
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Spearheaded programs that actively encourage Value-Added Improvements by shareholders such as Decks and Terraces, Private Entrances, Basement Conversions, Townhouse Dormers and Sunrooms. These unprecedented achievements have enabled families to stay in Glen Oaks Village, by allowing their homes to grow with them,
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Established procedures to measure accountability and established quality control mechanisms for workmanship of outside contractors,
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Created close and powerful working relationships with elected officials, nearby cooperatives and surrounding community civic associations.
Bob Friedrich has been quoted extensively in newspapers, as well as, co-op magazines and has provided testimony to the City Council and State Legislature. Bob’s objective and overall mission has always been to raise the standards by which successful cooperatives are measured.
Roseann Ciaccio (Board Member since 2/96)
Vice President
- Co-Chair of Personnel Committee
- Co-Chair of Green Thumb Committee
- Member of Maintenance Committee
- Member of Mediation Services Committee
- Member of Finance/Budget Committee
- Member of Safety and Security Committee
You won't find a harder working, more dedicated mom and civic-minded individual than Roseann Ciaccio, who brings a dynamic personality to the table. Roseann works closely with the President and General Manager and reviews and approves the bills of the co-op month after month as part of our corporate oversight function. Roseann is one of the most conscientious Board Members and is a civics lesson in real-time.
Carol Carucci (Board Member since 5/97)
Secretary
- Co-Chair of Real Estate Committee
- Co-Chair of Green Thumb Committee
- Member of Maintenance Committee
- Member of Personnel Committee
- Member of Safety and Security Committee
Carol has been a Board Member for over 20 years, having raised her two children in Glen Oaks. She is a proud grandmother of 3 grandchildren, 1 of which is now growing up in the community. Carol is primarily responsible for our successful apartment renovation and sales program, working diligently with the staff to maximize our apartment sale prices. Carol also works extensively with our Groundskeeping Personnel on the many landscape issues and numerous residential requests for flowers, shrubbery, spigots, lawn furniture, green thumb vouchers, etc., that are made.
Still a proud and dedicated Board Member and shareholder, Carol balances her time visiting her daughter’s family while remaining a fixture in Glen Oaks with her son and his family. Carol is an off-site shareholder.
Lee Feinman (Board Member since 10/89)
- Chairman of Mediation Services Committee
- Chairman of Real Estate Committee
- Co-Chair of Admission Committee
Experience is an important commodity for any successful business. Lee has had more than 35 years of experience in sales, management and administration in the banking and insurance industry. Glen Oaks Village has benefited from this experience and Lee has been a dedicated, contributing member of our Board of Directors since 1989.
Lee is responsible for the creation of the mortgage, sales and sublet division and developed the financial guidelines for prospective purchasers and sublets. He assumed a leadership role in the creation and growth of the Real Estate Committee. Additionally, he oversees operations of the resident application review process. Lee played a key role in structuring the original house rules and developed the framework for the Admissions Package, including the interview questions and administrative functions. Lee interviews prospective residents of Glen Oaks Village on a weekly basis.
Lee is committed to the ongoing success of Glen Oaks Village and plans to continue making worthwhile contributions while maintaining the quality of life we have worked so hard to build. Lee currently lives off-site and owns a unit in Glen Oaks Village that family members reside in.
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Christine Bergen (Board Member since 9/97)
Secretary
- Co-Chair of Admissions Committee
- Co-Chair of Awards Committee
- Member of Community Events Committee
- Member of Green Thumb Committee
Christine is an extraordinarily fair-minded, hardworking Board Member and as Co-Chairperson of the Admissions Committee, which meets weekly all year long, Christine is on the frontlines of our co-op, ensuring that all new residents understand co-op living and our House Rules.
Christine and her family have been residing in Glen Oaks for forty-three years. A huge supporter of our Value-Added Improvement Program, she continually enjoys the terrace that she added to her apartment many years ago. Christine walks the community at least five days a week and reports anything that is amiss.
As an active member of the Community Events Committee, she oversees the volunteers for the Fall Festival and finds it heartwarming to see so many residents attend. Christine is compassionate about the recycling program and had signs posted on the green dumpsters indicating that boxes should be flattened.
Christine plans on staying in Glen Oaks Village for many years and thinks it is a wonderful place to live and raise a family. As both a Board Member and resident, her goal is to continue working toward making Glen Oaks Village a place where people live in harmony and peace, and where they take pride in their homes and community.
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Sandra Draves (Board Member since 6/16)
- Chairman of Safety and Security Committee
- Co-Chair of Awards Committee
- Member of Maintenance Committee
Born and raised in Queens, Sandra has always enjoyed living in this area and the many year-round amenities. In 2011, after becoming a Glen Oaks Village Shareholder, she realized that her new home presented many opportunities to put her strong sense of community and volunteerism to good use—and that she had many neighbors who shared her enthusiasm. Before retiring, Sandra enjoyed serving nearly three decades in law enforcement, where improving the “Quality of Life” for NYC residents was a primary concern. Now it is even more satisfying to know she can continue helping others by improving the “Quality of Life” for the Glen Oaks Village community.
Sandra began volunteering with GOVO in 2012 on the Admissions Committee and later became a member of the Board of Directors in 2016. As a Director, she was able to utilize her extensive law enforcement experience and training to assess and improve our Security Department procedures by reviewing Security Department and community interactions daily. Her prior NYPD background enables Sandra to be a stronger vocal representative for GOVO in venues, such as the 105 Precinct Community Council meetings, Creedmore meetings-chaired by both the Office of Mental Health and local elected officials and at NYC Property Tax Commission hearings. From inception, Sandra participated in the Laundry Room renovations, negotiating with the new Laundry Room Vendor and assisting with the research on the Solar Project. More entertaining, is her involvement with the annual Halloween Display and Holiday Lights contests.
Sandra loves being a part of the Glen Oaks Village community, has made many friends here and continues to appreciate the value of service to others. She looks forward to working for years to come to further improve our GOVO community.
Mitch Jaret (Board Member since 5/06)
- Member of Finance/Budget Committee
Mitch was born and raised in the area. He has a diverse background in the Public and Private sectors with extensive experience in Purchasing, Management, Sales, Budgeting and Computer Science, spanning over twenty-five years.
Mitch is always bottom line oriented and looks out for the best interests of Glen Oaks Village and its Shareholders. His broad-based business knowledge and long-standing community ties bring another perspective to the Board of Directors of Glen Oaks Village.
Lisa Bagnoli (Board Member since 6/18)
- Member of Maintenance Committee
Lisa has called Glen Oaks Village home since 2002. She loves how welcoming, safe, and convenient it is to live here, as well as the caliber of people in the community that make Glen Oaks Village such a wonderful place. She especially enjoys seeing the many beautiful flowers planted by our residents every year.
In 2017, after being employed in the demolition and concrete industry for many years, Lisa became a licensed NYC Construction Superintendent and started her own business. Serving on the Maintenance Committee enabled Lisa to gain an understanding of just what goes on behind the scenes to successfully run our large co-op. With her many years of experience in the construction industry and a background in finance, she brings more insight of what it takes to bid, plan, oversee and complete our Capital Improvement-type projects. She looks forward to being more involved and “hands-on” in future Capital Improvement projects.
Navien Vaswani (Board Member since 6/19)
- Member of Maintenance Committee
- Member of Finance/Budget Committee
- Member of Green Thumb Committee
- Member of Real Estate Committee
Since 2002, Navien Vaswani has enjoyed living in Glen Oaks Village — first on 73rd Avenue and now at his new address on 260th Street. Over the years, he has become increasingly involved in our community. Navien didn’t want to just understand what it physically takes to run such a complex; he also wanted to be involved in the decision-making process that managed it.
Navien thoroughly enjoys witnessing projects go from “just an idea” to implementation and seeing our Residents enjoy the new improvements. A big supporter of Green GOVO ventures (i.e. solar farming), Navien believes it is important to consider what will be best going forward, ecologically.
Now, self-employed, he has the flexible hours to work on GOVO projects, when needed. Through the years, he has personally overseen the total renovation of both his homes (including basements) and has a technical understanding of what is required for the installation of home appliances, including service upgrades and adherence to City Codes.