Craig J. Flaherty, P.E. is the President of land-use consulting company Redniss & Mead, Inc. which provides land surveying, site civil engineering, and planning and zoning consulting services in Fairfield, New Haven, and Westchester Counties. A civil engineer by education, Craig has spent his 30+ year career securing environmental and planning & zoning approvals for his clients by working collaboratively with the communities where their projects are proposed. This includes proffering and promoting regulation amendments advancing senior and assisted living, historic preservation incentives, cluster and multi-family housing, adaptive reuse of offices, and affordable housing. He continues his site engineering practice by mentoring the company’s growing staff, providing oversight and quality control on their design projects. Craig’s background, including volunteering on municipal commissions for over 20 years, brings a unique perspective and broad vision to his clients and their projects at the critical nexus of site design, code restrictions and opportunities, regulatory oversight, and presentation strategy.

Overview:

30 years of community banking experience targeting the Connecticut and Metro New York markets with a broad background encompassing numerous leadership roles. Full scope oversight and management of Senior and Executive leadership, strategic planning and communications, along with command of large staffing models. Broad P&L, credit, lending, marketing, retail and full-scope management experience with extensive history of identifying, expanding and maintaining long-term client relationships.

Experience:

Richard A. Muskus Jr. is the SVP, Chief Lending Officer and Director of Business Banking for First County Bank. Joining the institution 2022, his responsibilities include full scope management of all lending functions directly overseeing the commercial real estate and C&I lending businesses within their Connecticut and New York markets. He manages a high-performing team of relationship management professionals, operations, and portfolio managers. First County Bank is a mutual, independent community Bank headquartered in Stamford, CT with approximately $2.4B in assets. Serving the area since 1851, the Bank specializes in consumer and business banking, real estate and business lending, and wealth management supported by fourteen retail locations throughout Fairfield County.

Prior to joining First County Bank he held Senior and Executive leadership roles with Patriot Bank serving as President and a member of the Board of Directors assuming the role in January of 2017 after serving as the bank’s Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer since February 2014. In that role, he significantly expanded the size and scope of the commercial loan portfolio, introducing new products and initiatives, as well as overseeing the financing objectives of numerous vital community projects supporting education, nonprofits, and affordable housing. As President, he maintained full P&L responsibility and management of the senior executive team.

Prior to joining Patriot Bank Mr. Muskus was named Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending in 2001 of The Greenwich Bank & Trust Company before serving as its President from 2010 to 2014. Mr. Muskus is well known in the CT and Metro NY markets and is a highly respected second-generation banker with over 30 years of financial, lending, and executive management experience. He began his career at State Street Bank in Boston and then expanded into analytical roles with Merrill Lynch Asset Management and J.P. Morgan Investment Management.

He is a Director Emeritus and former President of the Board of Directors of the Transportation Association of Greenwich, a non-profit serving the elderly and disabled. He currently serves as President of the Joseph Pilsudski Society of Greenwich, an organization founded by his grandfather in 1950. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Town of Greenwich Department of Human Services Foundation also serving as its Treasurer. In 2019 he was named to the Board of Trustees of the Purchase College Foundation serving on the Audit Committee and co-chair of the Finance Committee.

Mr. Muskus earned his BS in Accountancy from Bentley University in Waltham, MA and lives in Riverside, CT with his wife and three children.

Sargent C. Gardiner, Partner, has been with Robert A.M. Stern Architects since 2000. His

work on mixed-use projects, apartment towers, houses, and framework plans all

necessitate sensitivity to local context and the natural environment.

Sargent, known as Sarge, pairs bold design vision with effective management strategies.

With an interdisciplinary background in landscape, urban design, and architecture, Sarge’s

work and leadership exemplifies the firm’s well-rounded capabilities. His commitment to

design and efficient organization helps RAMSA successfully navigate the most complex

approval processes and site requirements.

Sarge’s portfolio is international and includes many recent projects on the entire East

Coast. In Washington, D.C., that includes the 55-acre mixed-use plan for The Yards, a

riverfront neighborhood on the grounds of the former Washington Navy Yard Annex; the

Arris, a mixed-use, LEED Gold building at The Yards that takes its cues from the Navy’s

industrial buildings; and 1331, a prominently located residential building that was

approved by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts. In New York City, his understanding of local

context played a key part in the rejuvenation of the historic Belnord apartment house and

the design of 100 Claremont Avenue, an apartment tower that seamlessly integrates with

the Gothic Revival campus of the Union Theological Seminary. North of the city in New

Rochelle, Sarge is leading the planning and design of Pratt Landing, a pedestrian-oriented

residential community set to replace a former industrial brownfield site facing Long Island

Sound.

In Brookline, Massachusetts, Sarge led RAMSA’s approval efforts on the Newbury, 160-

unit senior living community skillfully integrated into a sensitive historic single-family

neighborhood. Farther afield, Sarge is currently working on South Flagler House in West

Palm Beach, Florida, a high-end residential project that will link two towers via a podium

containing townhouses once complete.

Sarge contributes to architectural research, education, and preservation efforts in his

community and translates that experience into real-world insight. He contributes to the

Regional Plan Association’s New Jersey committee, serves on the Board of Trustees of the

National Building Museum, and participates in professional forums organized by the Urban

Land Institute.

Lisa L. Feinberg is co-leader of Carmody’s Real Estate & Land Use team and practices primarily in the area of land use law with a focus on representing developers, institutions, property owners and tenants in connection with obtaining municipal and state permits for large scale development projects and real estate transactions. Lisa has advised on many significant development projects in Stamford and the surrounding Fairfield County communities. She has developed strong relationships in the community that enable her to efficiently guide her clients through the land use approval process. Lisa’s clients credit her responsiveness, attention to detail and reliable follow-up in connection with complicated development projects.

Andrew Dansker is the CEO and founder of Dansker Capital Group, a national mortgage brokerage firm with six U.S. offices and one international office. He oversees a team of 30 professionals originating commercial mortgage debt across all major asset types, with a particular focus on retail and multifamily properties. The firm primarily arranges bank and credit union financing while also executing agency, CMBS, life company, and bridge loan transactions as appropriate. Since its establishment as an independent company in 2020, Dansker Capital Group has placed well over $3 billion in commercial real estate loans nationwide.

Andrew believes the middle-market debt marketplace is under-served by professional, high-quality national firms and sees a significant opportunity for an enterprising company to fill that gap. His leadership vision is to build an organization that delivers institutional-quality service, execution, and results to the national middle-market debt space.

Andrew is a published industry commentator whose writing on the real estate lending market has appeared in The Commercial Observer, Real Estate Weekly, and New York Real Estate Journal. He is also a frequent industry speaker and contributor at conferences and events organized by Bisnow, GlobeSt, Interface, Commercial Observer, ConnectCRE, and other leading commercial real estate platforms. He has more than 15 years of experience in the real estate industry. Andrew earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Chicago and a Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law.

Mr. Parisier is the key principal and founder of Paredim, a premier

owner operator of multi-family residential properties in the

Northeastern United States, concentrated in the major markets of

Connecticut and NY. He is responsible for directing all aspects of

the firm’s strategic development, acquisition, redevelopment and

management activities in over $1 billion in transactions since

inception.

Mr. Parisier brings over 35 years of experience to managing

Paredim having executed over $1.5 billion in transactions with

several public and private institutional investors including Mack

Cali Realty Corporation and S.L. Green Realty.

Mr. Parisier has a BA in Government from Clark University and an

MBA in Finance from The Leonard N. Stern School of Business and

New York University. He is active in numerous charities and

Chairman Emeritus of the Young Professional’s division of the

Children’s Hearing Institute

Todd R. Pajonas, Esq., President of Legal 1031 Exchange Services, LLC, is a member of the New York Bar and has been working in the real estate and title insurance industries since 1992. Prior to forming Legal 1031 Exchange Services, LLC Todd established the Northeast operations for two separate national qualified intermediaries, founded a national qualified intermediary which was later sold to an investor, and was counsel for two national title insurance underwriters. Todd focuses on IRC §1031 tax deferred exchanges and has received Martindale Hubbell’s prestigious AV peer review rating for attorneys.

In his position with Legal 1031 Exchange Services, LLC Todd frequently lectures on IRC §1031 tax deferred exchanges, structured installment sales, real estate taxation, cost segregation, and other real estate related topics. Todd has lectured extensively for various bar associations, CPA societies, Boards of Realtors, Land Title Associations, and many civic, real estate, tax, educational and financial organizations.

Todd was a guest lecturer at the New York University School of Continuing and Professional Studies where he taught a class on IRC §1031 tax deferred exchanges. He has been quoted in numerous publications including The New York Times, National Real Estate Investor, Small Business Review, Shopping Center Business Magazine, and Registered Rep Magazine. On June 18, 2013 Connecticut Governor Malloy signed House Bill No. 6339 which sets forth guidelines and requirements pertaining to minimum fidelity bond and errors and omissions insurance coverage, as well as inclusion of a prudent investor standard to maintain the liquidity and preservation of the exchange funds. Todd twice gave testimony before the Connecticut Banks Committee and was the main driving force in seeing this law enacted.

Todd is the author of various legal articles, including Tax Deferred Real Property Exchanges: Do Co-Ops Qualify?, published in the New York Law Journal on August 9, 1999, Vesting and Finance Issues Related to Tax Deferred Exchanges Under IRC §1031, published in the May 2000 issue of the West Real Estate Finance Journal, The Benefits of a Tax Deferred Exchange, published in the September 2001 issue of Aviation Week’s A/C Flyer International, Property Exchanges Defer Taxes, published in the New York Law Journal on November 26, 2001, Reverse Tax Deferred Exchanges of Aircraft, published in the December 2001 issue of Aviation Week’s A/C Flyer International, Why Tax Deferred Exchanges are Good For Your Clients, published in the New York Real Estate Journal on December 31, 2001, Forming an Entity Which Allows Partners Separation While Minimizing Tax Consequences, published in the New York Real Estate Journal on January 29, 2002, Qualified Intermediaries Aid in §1031 Tax Deferred Exchanges – Providing Security, published in the New York Real Estate Journal on March 26, 2002, Taxing Complications: Sorting Out Tax-Deferred Exchanges for Tenants in Common, published in the New York Law Journal on April 10, 2002, Minimizing NY Mortgage Recording Tax, published in the May 2002 issue of the New York Real Estate Journal, Boilerplate Contract Language May Get You in Hot Water, published in the August 19, 2002 issue of the New York Law Journal, Proper Planning Is Important for Deposits, Escrows, and §1031 Tax Deferred Exchanges, published in the April, 2003 issues of the New York and New England Real Estate Journals, IRS Favors New §1031 Tax-Deferral Avenue, published in the New York Law Journal on August 18, 2003, Reporting Primary Residence Sales – The IRS has modified requirements when §1031 exchanges and partial rentals are involved, published in the New York Law Journal on March 12, 2007, Vacation Home Exchanges Clarified – The unanticipated implications of Rev. Proc. 2008-16 are broader, published in the New York Law Journal on June 23, 2008, How Mortgage Disclosure Improvement Act Has Changed Residential Closings, published in the New York Law Journal on September 2, 2009 and Eagerly awaiting a Covid-19 extension for 1031 Exchanges, published April 8, 2020 in the New York and New England Real Estate Journals.

Todd received his B.S. degree from Saint John’s University and his J.D. degree from Touro Law School. He is a member of the New York State Bar Association.

Seila Mosquera-Bruno was appointed the Commissioner of Housing for the State of Connecticut by Governor Ned Lamont in 2019 and re-appointed for his second term in 2023. As Commissioner, Seila leads the state agency responsible for all affordable housing matters including development, preservation, acquisitions, homeownership, emergency shelter and homelessness support services. The Department of Housing administers $200 million for homelessness support and more than $800 million for development and preservation of affordable housing. Under Seila’s tenure, the agency has completed more than 15,000 housing units, with over 6,400 currently under construction.

Seila is responsible for creating and successfully launching two signature Department of Housing programs. Time To Own, the state’s down payment assistance loan program for first time homebuyers. Since its launch in late 2022 over 6,400 Connecticut residents have become homeowners with an average age of 34 and annual income of $70,000.

The second, Build for CT, is a workforce housing program that provides gap financing for developers of market-rate housing. Build for CT was launched in 2023 as a direct response to rising supply chain and inflation costs and secures at least 20% high-quality affordable units within the existing market rate plans. This unique program has generated more than 1,900 new units across the state with over 500 set aside for middle-income residents.

Seila is the Board Chair for the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA), the state’s quasi-public organization dedicated to financing production and preservation of affordable housing. In 2024, Governor Lamont Appointed the Commissioner as Chair of the newly established Connecticut Interagency Council on Homelessness, a panel of agency leaders tasked with strengthening the state’s homelessness prevention and response efforts.

During the pandemic, the Department of Housing administered $600MM in emergency relief funds; created an emergency rent relief program; redesigned congregate emergency shelters with the use of hotels and the creation of micro units; reimagined the homeless shelter experience by adding on-site wrap around services and recently created regional “HUBS” across the state to serve as walk-in access points for residents needing emergency support services.

Seila currently serves as Vice President of the CT Municipal Development Authority, a board member for the Capital Region Development Authority, and a board member of the Council of State Community Development Agencies (COSCDA).

Previously she served on the board for Connecticut Legal Rights, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, Santander Bank, Connecticut Housing Coalition, the National NeighborWorks Association and the National Real Estate Development Advisory Council of NeighborWorks America and a member of the Home Connecticut Steering Committee.

As an affordable housing developer herself for more than 20 years in Connecticut, Seila has developed partnerships with financial institutions, service providers, advocates, and nonprofits, municipal leaders, government officials, private developers, architects, and thought leaders in the housing space.

Prior to her appointment, Seila was the President and Chief Executive Officer of NeighborWorks New Horizons (NWNH) a non-profit organization dedicated to providing affordable housing opportunities and neighborhood revitalization. After joining NWNH in 1994, Seila served in many different capacities and became the Executive Director in 2003. Under her leadership, the organization expanded operations beyond New Haven County to New London and Fairfield Counties, managed 38 employees and $100 million in Assets.

Seila holds a master’s degree in urban studies from Southern Connecticut State University, a B.A. in Business Administration from Charter Oak College, and a fellow of Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. She is also a frequent guest lecturer on housing policy at Yale and NYU.

Seila received the Forty under 40 Award from New Haven Business Times; the Housing Good Egg Award and was recognized as a Rising Star by Business New Haven. Seila was inducted into the Gateway Community College Foundation’s Hall of Fame for her exceptional contributions to the community. She was named one of the 50 most influential Latinos in Connecticut recognized by Latinos United for Professional Advancements (LUPA) and a Mujer Imparable recognition in 2025.

Seila is fully bilingual, a native of Ecuador and has lived with her husband and two daughters in Connecticut for more than 30 years