David Finkelstein of Annaly Capital Management and Victor DeStefano of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield join Breaking Ground Board of Directors
New York, NY — Breaking Ground, New York’s largest supportive housing developer and manager, today announced the appointment of David Finkelstein and Victor DeStefano to its board of directors. Mr. Finkelstein is Chief Executive Officer and Co-Chief Investment Officer of Annaly Capital Management, and Mr. DeStefano is President of New York Commercial Business for Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield.
“We are so pleased to welcome David and Victor to Breaking Ground’s board of directors,” said Michael Franco, Chair of Breaking Ground’s Board of Directors and President and CFO of Vornado Realty Trust.
“David’s expertise in residential real estate and Victor’s leadership in expanding access to care for New Yorkers will be invaluable as Breaking Ground continues to grow its housing portfolio and strengthen our holistic services.”
“We are thrilled to welcome David and Victor to the Breaking Ground board,” said Brenda Rosen, President and CEO of Breaking Ground. “David brings a deep understanding of housing finance and capital markets, and Victor brings experience and expertise in health systems and access to care for vulnerable individuals. We are delighted to have their counsel, guidance, and leadership on the board.”
David L. Finkelstein is Chief Executive Officer and Co-Chief Investment Officer of Annaly. Mr. Finkelstein has over 25 years of experience in fixed income investments and was elected to serve as a director of Annaly in March 2020. Prior to joining Annaly in 2013, Mr. Finkelstein served for four years as an Officer in the Markets Group of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York where he was the primary strategist and policy advisor for the MBS Purchase Program. Before that, he held senior Agency MBS trading positions at Salomon Smith Barney, Citigroup Inc. and Barclays PLC. Mr. Finkelstein is Vice Chair of the Treasury Market Practices Group sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as well as a member of the Financial Sector Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. He received a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Washington and a M.B.A. from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business and also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation.
Victor DeStefano is the President of the New York Commercial State Plan for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, where he oversees coverage for over 3.5 million health insurance members. Prior to his current role, he led the commercial business division of Empire BCBS, successfully growing the Small Group, Large Group, and Individual market segments. Under his leadership, a dedicated team of over 100 associates are advancing Empire's mission of improving the lives of all New Yorkers. Victor holds a Bachelor of Science in Management from Binghamton University and a Master’s in Public Health from Columbia University, empowering him to make a substantial impact in New York's healthcare sector.
“I am honored to join Breaking Ground’s Board of Directors and support its mission to provide safe, stable housing for New Yorkers who need it most,” said David Finkelstein. “Breaking Ground has long been a leader in developing and sustaining supportive and affordable housing, and I look forward to contributing my experience in mortgage finance and capital markets to help advance their critical work.”
“Breaking Ground’s work is vital to improving housing and healthcare outcomes for vulnerable New Yorkers, and I look forward to helping advance its mission to ensure more people have the support and care they need to thrive,” said Victor DeStefano. “I am proud to join Breaking Ground’s Board of Directors and support an organization that recognizes the essential connection between housing, health, and stability.”
Currently, Breaking Ground has more than 2,000 units of permanent housing in various stages of development across the five boroughs. In addition, the agency is building internal infrastructure to improve health outcomes for the people it serves across its continuum of programs, including street outreach, a drop-in center, seven safe havens representing more than 730 transitional beds, and over 4,100 supportive and affordable apartments across New York City.
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