Authority Management
Dr. Richard J. Wolff, Executive Director
Richard J. Wolff, served as Chairman of the Authority from its inception in 1988 until 2013. In February 2013, he assumed the duties of Executive Director. He is a former managing partner at an international consulting firm, Kreab Gavin Anderson, and the former chief executive officer and vice-chairman of Grayling Global, a global consulting firm specializing in financial and corporate communications. He holds an A.B. from Georgetown University, Phi Beta Kappa, and an M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. from Columbia University. He also served as a dean and professor at St. John's University. He has written several books and many articles on social and economic history, investor relations, business, and wastewater issues.
Donald R. Conger III, P.E., Authority Engineer
Donald Conger has been the Authority Engineer since 2023 and has been working on Authority projects since 2003. He is a Licensed Professional Engineer and Wastewater Operator in New Jersey. Before coming to the Authority, he was Project Director in charge of plant and collection systems operations and maintenance for all NHSA Facilities for 9 years. He also spent 9 years with an environmental consulting firm performing water and wastewater design work, as well as construction management and inspection for clients across New York and New Jersey. He holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Syracuse University, and an MS in environmental engineering from NJIT. He is a member of the New Jersey Water Environment Association.
Linda Kish, Chief Operating Officer - Chief Financial Officer
Omar Vicioso, Director of Communications - Chief of Staff to the Executive Director
Edward Friedrich, Commissioner
Commissioner Friedrich is a lifelong resident of New Jersey. He grew up in Gloucester County, is a graduate of Rutgers College, New Brunswick with a degree in physics, and has lived in Hoboken since 2001 where he has been an active member of the community. He has served as both the vice president (2004 - 2011) and president (2011 - present) of his condo association. Researching flood mitigation ideas while working with former Mayor Zimmer (2007), he came across the CSOnet technology which the mayor eventually moved forward in coordination with the NHSA. He is also a current member of the Hoboken Rebuild by Design Citizen Advisory Group (CAG). He works in Information Technology for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. His interests include technology, being outdoors, traveling, and playing many sports including snowboarding, soccer, tennis, kayaking, sailing, running, triathlons.
Alejandro “Alex” Velazquez, Chairman
Chairman Velazquez was born and raised in Union City. He is intimately familiar with the densely populated City and its infrastructure, having served as a Director of Housing and Health Inspector for over twenty-six years. Chairman Velazquez is currently the Director of the Health Department and Mayor Stacks Office. The Commissioner is a graduate of Union Hill High School in Union City. Currently serves as Chief of Staff to Mayor/Senator Brian P. Stack.
Authority Commissioners
Erika Zucconi, Commissioner
Commissioner Zucconi is a life-long resident of Weehawken. She received her BA in political science from Wagner College and MSW from Rutgers University. She currently holds the position of school social worker for the Weehawken Board of Education. Commissioner Zucconi is also the Second Vice Chairperson of the North Hudson Community Action Corporation on whose board she has served since 2007.
Victor Barrera, Commissioner
Commissioner Barrera is a lifelong resident of West New York. He has dedicated his life to working with the senior citizens in our community as a small business owner. He is the current Commissioner of Parks & Public Property & Senior Affairs in the Township of West New York.
Victor is the Founder of the Casa Manito Adult Day Care Center and the Rise & Shine Adult Day Care Center and the former Executive Director of Senior Citizen Services for the Town of West New York. Victor has served his community as a former Trustee of the West New York Board of Education a former Member of the West New York Planning Board and a former Commissioner of the West New York Parking Authority.
Andres Garcia, Commissioner
Junior Fernandez, Commissioner
Mark Brodsky, Commissioner
Dr. Peter J. Olivieri, Commissioner
Commissioner Olivieri is a lifelong New Jersey resident, presently living in Weehawken. Dr. Olivieri has a B.A. and an M.A. in Science and a Ph.D. in Administration and Social Change Theory. He was employed by the Weehawken School System from 1965 until his retirement in 2015. During his tenure in Weehawken, he served as a science teacher, an Assistant Principal and from 1975-2015 as the Principal of Weehawken High School and the Assistant Superintendent of Schools.
Dr. Olivieri and his wife Kathleen, have three children Lauren, an attorney and the Weehawken Municipal Court Judge, Nicole, the co-owner of an advertising company and Guy, an actor, writer, filmmaker and entrepreneur.