NEWS RELEASE

JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA

January 10, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL REAPPOINTS BOARD TRUSTEES TO PARISH FINANCE AUTHORITY

JEFFERSON, LA – Four members of the Jefferson Parish Finance Authority (JPFA) Board of Trustees were reappointed at the Jefferson Parish Council Meeting held on December 14, 2022.

The JPFA is governed by an independent board of trustees and are appointed by each Parish council member and the Parish President.  The Board of Trustees meet twice monthly to review and approve the JPFA’s financial and administrative programs.

Mr. Dennis DiMarco, reappointed by Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng, has been serving as the Registrar of Voters for Jefferson Parish since 1998. Mr. DiMarco was originally appointed as a trustee to the Jefferson Parish Finance Authority in 2012 and has been the Vice Chairman since 2016. Mr. DiMarco earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the University of New Orleans and his Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Loyola University. Mr. DiMarco held various positions with Jefferson Parish including Chief Administrative Officer and Director of Finance. Mr. DiMarco, a Certified Public Accountant, was an Auditor for the U.S. Department of Energy, a Federal Investigator for the U.S. Department of Labor, and a Veteran of the U.S. Navy.

Mr. Gregory G. Faia was appointed as trustee in 2010 and has most recently been reappointed by the Councilman Dominick F. Impastato, III in Council District 4 for another three-year term. He has served as Chairman of the Board for the past 6 years. Mr. Faia earned his Juris Doctorate from Loyola University School of Law in 1990. Since that time, Mr. Faia has been active in both title and real estate industries having first earned his real estate license at the age of 18. His law practice, Faia & Associates, LLC, is dedicated to intellectual property as well as corporate law including formerly working as general counsel to Ruth’s Chris Steak House. Mr. Faia has also owned and operated Security Title of Louisiana, LLC since 1999. In 2008, Mr. Faia was named President of Strive Incorporated, a Louisiana non-profit organization committed to assisting disabled adults with employment challenges. Mr. Faia was recently reappointed to the Yahoo Search Partner Advisory Council. Mr. Faia is a member of the American Land Title Association, the Louisiana Bar Association, and the American Bar Association. Mr. Faia has held a Louisiana Title Producer License through the Louisiana Department of Insurance since 1993.

Ms. Marcy Planer, appointed by Councilwoman Jennifer Van Vrancken in Council District 5, has been active in the real estate industry for over thirty years. Ms. Planer holds licenses in law, real estate, and title insurance. Ms. Planer has represented thousands of clients in refinances, purchases, and sales of residential real estate. In addition, Ms. Planer served as a hearing officer for property tax assessment appeals and held leadership roles in several homeowner associations. Ms. Planer received her undergraduate degree from Brown University and her law degree, cum laude, from Tulane University Law School. Ms. Planer is a fellow of the Loyola Institute of Politics.

Ms. Carol Watson Smith, appointed by the Councilman Byron L. Lee in Council District 3, earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing, a Master's Degree in Business Administration, and a Master’s Degree in Health Care Management. Ms. Smith has over twenty five years of industry experience and is the Founder and CEO of Optimum Management and Consulting Group LLC., a strategic positioning firm designed to aid individuals, companies and brands in planning and managing cross-functional business and campaign operations; and the Co-Founder and Senior Partner of LSA Plus Partners, a lobbying, business, and political firm.

The Jefferson Parish Finance Authority operates under a state and federally approved indenture. The mission of the Jefferson Parish Finance Authority is to provide down payment and financial assistance to Jefferson Parish residents and surrounding parishes for the purchase of homes. Together with participating lenders and realtors, the JPFA strives to make dreams of homeownership come true.

If you are interested in learning more about the programs the Jefferson Parish Finance Authority has to offer or how to become a participating lender, please reach out to the Executive Director, Lauren Ruppel, at 504.736-6311 or visit the website at www.jpfinanceauthority.com.

For more information about Jefferson Parish, visit www.JeffParish.net Residents can also receive regular updates by following the Parish on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@JeffParishGov).

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Jefferson Parish Public Information Office 1221 Elmwood Park Boulevard, Suite 1002 Jefferson, LA 70123

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Gretchen Hirt Gendron, PIO