ICAN appoints four new members to board of directors

UTICA, N.Y. — Integrated Community Alternatives Network (ICAN) recently announced the appointment of four new board members: Anthony Brindisi, Iris Buczkowski, Keith Levatino, and Latavius Murray. These four will lend their expertise and talent in assisting with governance and guidance for the growing nonprofit. ICAN says it is a unique home and community-based network that provides individualized and non-traditional services and care to the highest-risk individuals and families with social, emotional, mental health, and behavioral challenges.

Brindisi is a U.S. District Court judge for the Northern District of New York. He began his career at the law firm of Brindisi, Murad & Brindisi Pearlman LLP as a litigation associate, was named a partner in 2008, and appointed of counsel in 2014. In 2011, Brindisi was elected assemblyman to represent New York’s 119th State Assembly District and in 2018, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, serving New York’s 22nd Congressional District. He served until 2021 and then returned to the law firm as a partner until 2022 when he was appointed as a judge on the New York State Court of Claims in Utica. In 2024, Brindisi served as an acting Supreme Court justice in Oneida County and in late 2024 was appointed as a Federal District Court judge of the Northern District of New York.

Buczkowski is CEO and owner of Birch Wealth Management. She has been a financial planner for more than 23 years. Buczkowski built her business from the ground up offering personalized financial advice that helps her clients achieve their goals and navigate the complexities of wealth management by understanding their family lives and unique goals, the ICAN announcement stated.

Levatino is superintendent of schools at the Little Falls City School District. He brings experience from an extensive career in education to the ICAN board, and an expert perspective as ICAN expands essential services into additional school districts. Levatino was named the Little Falls City School District superintendent in 2015, currently overseeing a district made up of 1,050 students and 200 faculty. He is also a SUNY Poly College Council trustee and previously served as an adjunct lecturer at Utica University.

Murray is founder of the Jon Diaz Community Center. ICAN says he brings a unique mix of expertise and perspectives to its board as a former professional athlete, an experienced businessperson, and a nonprofit founder. Murray is a former running back in the National Football League (NFL), announcing his retirement in July of this year. He played for the Oakland Raiders, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, and Buffalo Bills. Even while paying, he transitioned into the business world as the chief brand officer for Enduraphin, a startup nutrition company. Murray played a key role in fundraising, marketing, and product development, leveraging his unique perspective as an athlete to drive brand success and community engagement, ICAN said. He founded the Jon Diaz Community Center in Nedrow to serve as a hub of transformative opportunities, wellness, and recreation for the youth and families in the Central New York area where he grew up. The center is named for his longtime friend who was tragically killed by gun violence in 2016. ICAN will be the operational partner for the Jon Diaz Community Center, with a planned opening in 2027.