Business Leader Award

Vera has been working since a young age, growing up in Staten Island and Marlboro, New Jersey. She hustled to afford her designer jeans and keep up with the trends, spending her summers as a camp counselor, weeknights babysitting, and weekends working in various department stores. These experiences served as early lessons in grit and perseverance, paving the road for a strong work ethic.

While studying finance and accounting at the University of Buffalo, Vera's passion for life sciences consistently took center stage. She immediately leveraged her finance background to facilitate access to expensive, lifesaving medications in the biotech and pharmaceutical sector. With a career spanning 17 years at Merck, followed by three years at Sanofi Genzyme, and the most recent five years at Sage Therapeutics, Vera has played a crucial role in providing access to essential medications through collaborations with major national insurers such as CVS Health and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. Notably, at Sage, she spearheaded the successful launch of the first portfolio of drugs dedicated to treating postpartum depression and remains committed to assisting those grappling with various brain health disorders.

Vera's philanthropic journey with UJA began as soon as she moved to Long Island. Alongside her husband Todd, she dedicated four years as NLC chair, took on the role of Summerfest Chair in 2013, and actively participated in the first Aqua Run committee. Beyond UJA, Vera consistently opens her home to host pro-Israel programs for organizations like AIPAC, DMFI, and FIDF, treating attendees to Israeli delights and home-baked goods. Notably, their recent event supporting the IDF not only raised a substantial amount of money for soldiers, but also fostered a strong bond within the local Jewish community. Outside of her involvement in the pro-Israel world, Vera also volunteers her time to the University of Buffalo foundation and serves on the board of the Northeast Academy of Managed Care.

Make no mistake, Vera's greatest pride and joy stems from being a devoted mother to her three boys and her beloved puppy, Bucky. She cherishes spending quality time with her family, exploring foreign places, and embarking on outdoor adventures together.

Long Island Women Spring Event

Thursday, May 16, 2024

11:00 AM

place Woodbury Jewish Center, 200 South Woods Road, Woodbury, NY, 11797

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Woodbury Jewish Center, 200 South Woods Road, Woodbury, NY, 11797

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