Long Island Association Taps Port Jefferson Professor as Chief Economist

Following the retirement of its longtime chief economist, the Long Island Association has named a Stony Brook professor and Port Jefferson resident to the post, according to a report published Thursday in Newsday.

John A. Rizzo, 56, has a background in the economics of health care, one of the major economic drivers on Long Island. He begins his new post with the Long Island Association, the region's largest business organization, on Sept. 1, and will continue teaching at Stony Brook, a position he has held since 2004.

"He is really going to be a great resource for Long Island and the business community," Kevin Law, president of the LIA, toldNewsday.

The LIA's previous chief economist was Pearl Kamer, who spent more than 50 years analyzing the development of Long Island.

Click here to read the full report from Newsday (subscription required).