SPEAKERS BIOGRAPHIES   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z Mr. Lael Paulson American Sugar Refining, Inc. – Domino Sugar – Yonkers Over 32 years in the cane sugar refining industry Has worked at Domino Sugar refineries in New Orleans, Baltimore, Brooklyn and Yonkers. Has been Yonkers Refinery Manager since March of this year Native of Wisconsin Graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD Yonkers Refinery Refinery has been in operation in Yonkers for over 100 years Employs approximately 285 people, a great many of whom are residents of the City of Yonkers Refinery processes 4 million pounds of sugar per day Produces and packages granulated sugar, brown sugar and confectionary sugar for consumers and industrial customers Produces liquid sugar for industrial customers Packages under the Domino Sugar brand name Yonkers is Corporate Headquarters for American Sugar Refining, Inc. Bernard P. Pierorazio Bernard P. Pierorazio is Superintendent of the Yonkers Public Schools, which is the fourth largest district in New York State. Prior to becoming the Superintendent, he served as the Deputy Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, and Principal of Saunders Trade and Technical High School. Mr. Pierorazio, a graduate of the Yonkers Public Schools District, continued his studies at Central Connecticut State University, the College of New Rochelle, and Iona College, earning degrees in History, Special Education, and Administration and Supervision. With strong community loyalty and dedication to education, he returned to his native Yonkers as a teacher, dean, and administrator. Mr. Pierorazio received numerous prestigious awards and recognitions that highlight his educational career, and are testimony to his community commitment. These awards include: the Rotary Club of Yonkers “Leadership in Education,” Boy Scouts of America “Excellence in Education Award,” American Congress of Italian Migration “Educator of the Year,” Westchester Association of Hispanic Professionals Award, Eastchester Tuckahoe Lions’ Club “Man of the Year,” Khalil Gibran Education Fund “Khalil Gibran Spirit of Humanity Award,” Spanish Community Progress Foundation “Outstanding Community Service on Behalf of the Hispanic Community of Yonkers,” Career and Technical Education “Educator’s Award,” Fulbright Association - Greater New York Chapter “Leadership Award,” Grand Marshall of the Yonkers Columbus Day Celebration/Parade, Grand Marshall of the Eastchester Tuckahoe Columbus Day Parade, and Nepperhan Community Center Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Drum Major for Justice.” Mr. Pierorazio was the keynote speaker at the New York State Education Department CCE meeting, Yonkers Columbus Day Committee Dinner/Dance, Yonkers Chamber of Commerce Breakfast, Westchester Pulaski Scholarship Luncheon, Yonkers Community Planning Council Annual Luncheon, and the Education Alliance of Brown University. He hosted or participated in numerous programs where he discussed school related topics, appearing on Yonkers Public Schools News Channel 75, and Cablevision News 12. Mr. Pierorazio continues to demonstrate that he is a true visionary. In the capacity of Deputy Superintendent, he was instrumental in developing the District’s Five Year Plan which compelled unitary status for the Yonkers Public Schools. As Superintendent, Mr. Pierorazio is presently involved in several initiatives. Among them is the restructuring of the school system through the initiation of a pre-kindergarten through eighth grade model to improve student achievement and parent involvement at the secondary level, an increase in the number of district high schools to ensure smaller learning communities, and a one billion dollar Yonkers Public Schools infrastructure modernization effort. In addition, he formed district partnerships with many important institutions including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the College Board Association to establish the Yonkers College Board Academy, the Yonkers Partners in Education Foundation, and the Generoso Pope Foundation. A resident of the Town of Eastchester, Mr. Pierorazio is the son of Yonkers natives Joseph and Lillian (nee DeSantis) Pierorazio. Mr. Pierorazio has been married for thirty-three years to Tina, who is an educator in the Ardsley Public Schools. Among all his accomplishments, he is most proud of his two sons, Dr. Phillip Martin Pierorazio, a Columbia University Medical School graduate, and resident at Johns Hopkins University Hospital, Michael Bernard Pierorazio, a law student attending Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, and daughter-in-law Dr. Christina L. Pierorazio, also a Columbia University Medical School graduate, and resident at Johns Hopkins University Hospital.