Retirement Community in Westchester County, NY

Elizabeth Robertson serves as Chair of the Board and President of Purchase Senior Learning Community Inc., a position she has held since 2020. She served as Secretary of the Board from 2010-2020.  From 2010 until 2019, Elizabeth was the Director of Government Relations and Strategic Projects for Purchase College while serving as the Executive Assistant to the college’s President.  She oversaw the passage of the enabling legislation authorizing the development of Broadview and subsequently played a principal role in the development and opening of the community as well as its integration with the college. As chair and president of the Board, she oversees the governance and management of Broadview.

Ms. Robertson graduated from Williams College, holds an M.B.A from Columbia University and an Ed. M. from Harvard University. Before joining the leadership staff of Purchase College, she had careers in banking, teaching and government. She was a resident of Rye, NY, for 20 years and currently resides in Manhattan.

Kevin J. Plunkett joined Simone Development Companies in April 2018 as Director of Strategic Initiatives, leveraging his broad experience in both public and private sectors. He previously served as Deputy County Executive of Westchester County from 2010 to 2018, where he managed a $1.8 billion budget, 35 departments, and over 4,500 employees. Before his public service, Kevin practiced law for over three decades, starting as an Assistant District Attorney in Westchester in 1975. He has been a partner at several prominent law firms, handling business transactions and litigation for both public and private clients.

Throughout his career, Kevin has represented numerous governmental entities and has been an active member of various boards, including the New York State Thruway Authority and is currently Chair of Northwell Phelps Hospital Board. He also has a strong presence in Westchester’s business and not-for-profit communities. He has served on various Bank board’s and is currently serving as the Chair of the Business Development Board at Tompkins Community Bank.

Kevin holds a law degree from Stetson University College of Law and is a lifelong resident of Tarrytown, New York.

Michael Kopas is a seasoned leader in higher education administration and facilities management, with over two decades of experience in strategic planning, capital project execution, and operational oversight. Currently serving as the Vice President of Administration at Purchase College, State University of New York, he provides leadership and oversight for Finance and Business Affairs, Facilities Management, Capital Planning, Human Resources, and the Purchase College Association.

Prior to his current role, Michael served as the Senior Director of Facilities and Capital Planning at Purchase College, where he successfully led major capital improvements and secured competitive funding to support campus development. His tenure was marked by initiatives that improved customer satisfaction, enhanced campus sustainability, and streamlined resource allocation to better serve institutional goals.

Michael has also held executive leadership roles at the New York Botanical Gardens and Drew University, where he played a critical role in campus operations, strategic planning, and the execution of major infrastructure projects. His expertise in sustainability is demonstrated by his efforts in establishing the Office of Campus Sustainability at both Purchase College and Drew University, driving measurable reductions in energy consumption and carbon emissions.

With a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Planning and Design from Rutgers University, Michael has dedicated his career to fostering innovation, operational efficiency, and sustainable campus environments. His leadership extends beyond institutional boundaries, having served on various municipal boards and committees, contributing to urban planning, sustainability, and community development.

Laura Brett is an attorney with over 30 years of experience as an advertising attorney and litigator. In addition to her legal career, Laura has extensive experience on non-profit boards and government commissions. Laura currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Rye City Planning Commission and was elected to the Rye City Council and served as its Deputy Mayor. In her professional career, Laura gained respect for her leadership of the National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs, the advertising industry’s system of self-regulation founded in 1971 to build trust in advertising. leading NAD in August of 2017 after serving several years as an NAD attorney and Assistant Director, managing a team of skilled attorneys and engaging in policy discussions with regulators, brands, and law firms, about how to build trust with the changing and demanding pace of digital advertising and e-commerce.

Ms. Brett’s public speaking engagements focus on the standards and policies guiding truthful and transparent advertising. She is relied upon for her subject matter expertise by reporters and ad law practitioners and has published various articles on the standards for advertising in social media, has been quoted in industry, local, and national publications such as the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. She has participated on several panels at Federal Trade Commission workshops and hearings, as well as engaged in policy discussions in the U.S. and internationally on advertising issues arising due to the changing pace and format of digital advertising.

Prior to joining BBB National Programs, Ms. Brett was a litigator with her own private practice after having worked in commercial litigation at Willkie Farr & Gallagher