About us

Dr. Richard Izzo - Race Organizer

Dr. Richard A. Izzo has lived and practiced in Westchester County for the past 20 years. President and founder of the Westchester Triathlon Club, past Chairman of the Westchester Triathlon he has participated in over 200 triathlons including 10 Ironman triathlons, 15 half Ironmans, and 11 marathons. As president and CEO of TOUGHMAN inc., Dr. Izzo created TOUGHMAN and TOUGHKIDS in 2008 for the purpose of giving athletes a great age group race experience produced by fellow age group racers.
In 2009 Dr. Izzo and his staff created the TOUGHMAN Community Fund to help local groups foster the pay it forward mentality through the “Million Acts of Kindness” program that plays such a huge role in the mission statement of the TOUGHMAN brand.

William Deknatel - Operations Coordinator

William DeKnatel has been the Operations Director and Race Announcer for the TOUGHMAN Triathlon since 2008. William has been a supporter of the Westchester Tri-Club over the past several years and brings extensive professional experience to the TOUGHMAN Race Organization having held roles as Sales Executive, Business Consultant and Technologist at Cisco, IBM and Deloitte. William and his family live in Eastchester, NY and are active members in their church and community. William is passionate about giving back to the community and fostering “One Million Acts of Kindness” through the Westchester TOUGHMAN Race Event.

Marc Grabisch - Race Director

Marc Grabisch grew up in Long Island and began competing in triathlons over 15 years ago as an outlet for his competitive edge after finishing his NCAA D1 swimming career at Cornell. Shortly thereafter he felt compelled to give back to the sport and began coaching and directing races with Total Training and Event Power. He went on to start his own company, Flow Fitness through which he produced races for the AARP and Alzheimer's Association while also managing the Center for Lifetime Wellness through the University of Rochester Medical Center. During this time, Marc worked with Dr. Richard Izzo on the Westchester Triathlon where he was the Race Director for 6 years and along with Natalie Siano, also helped grow the race to the success it is today. Professionally, Marc attended Brooklyn Law School and is currently a Real Estate Site Acquisition Manager for AT&T Mobility as well as President of Flow Fitness. He brings his extensive experience as a working professional, athlete, coach and race director to the Westchester TOUGHMAN to help make it the safest and most enjoyable triathlon racing experience around.

Natalie Siano - Registration Coordinator

Natalie Siano discovered her passion for race management in 2005 when she raced her first triathlon. After competing in tris for 2 years, she found that she was more attracted to the production side of racing than the competitive side. Sports injuries catapulted her switch and launched a moonlighting career in race management in 2005. Natalie was on the Jarden Westchester Triathlon committee for three years and helped grow the race to the size and success it is today. Since 2007, Natalie has directed the packet pick-up production for the New York City Triathlon, handling thousands of athletes with her team of 200 volunteers. She is also the Registration Director for the Air Force Cycling Classic and the TOUGHMAN Triathlon since their inceptions in 2008. Natalie works full time as the Executive Assistant to the President at Tocqueville Asset Management in NYC and has been there over 15 years. She lives in Rye with her husband and four children.

Don Sandford - Communications Captain

Don Sandford serves as Counsel to the Race Committee and is Captain of the Transition Area. He began his racing career in 1987 at the NYAC Triathlon, where he set a course record for the swim and won the race outright the following year. Since then he has competed in numerous races of all distances, including 4 Ironmans and a dozen marathons. In 2008, he anchored a TOUGHMAN relay team when the swimmer and biker appeared at race check-in without their runner, who was injured. He is scheduled to compete in 2010 as a swimmer on a TOUGHMAN Relay Team and participates each year in the Swim Across Long Island Sound.
Don is a former Chairman of the Westchester Triathlon and currently serves as President of the Westchester County Bar Association. In his spare time, he runs a private law practice in Rye, New York.

Roseanne Silivestri - Awards Co-Captain

Roseann Silvestri residing in Scarsdale, NY is a lifelong resident of Westchester County. Roseann currently works for Oracle Corporation where she is a Senior Director for Advanced Customer Services. Roseann brings 15 years of experience in the technology industry managing global client services organizations. Previously she worked at Thomson Corporation utilizing her accounting and finance background. Additionally, Roseann is co-owner of a local dance studio where she is an instructor of Latin Ballroom Dancing. Roseann has joined the TOUGHMAN team this year as the Sponsor Coordinator

Sherry Fugia - Awards Co-Captain

Sherry Fugia resides in Fairfield County, CT and has recently joined the TOUGHMAN team as the Charity Coordinator. Sherry was previously employed by Time Warner Cable fulfilling the role of Director, Product Management Documentation. She has over 10 years of experience in Customer/Client Services within the Information Technology field and has participated in Junior Achievement programs for several local High Schools. Additionally, Sherry serves on the Train Station Advisory Board for the Town of Stratford, CT. This team participates in programs that benefit the commutation experience including parking, safety and other improvements to the local Train Station.

Greg Stewart - Website and Design Coordinator

Greg has been competing in triathlons for 15 years. The early years were spent on short course with an occasional half. Excluding the last three years where he hasn't raced, the later part of his career focused on long course races—including a personal best 9:35 at Ironman Switzerland.

Greg owns a boutique design and brand communcations studio in Norwalk, CT and made for a great fit for the TOUGHMAN team. He also lives in Norwalk with his wife and 3 year old daughter and is keeping his fingers crossed the "bun-in-the-oven" comes after the 2010 TOUGHMAN.

Stan Kroder - Swim Captain

Stan Kroder spent much of his youth in and around swimming pools. He swam in college at Texas Christian University where he specialized in sprint freestyle, butterfly and IM races. As a masters swimmer, he anchored two national record-setting relays in 2001. Stan shifted gears to triathlon a few years after he hung up his goggles from competitive swimming. He is a 5-time finisher of Ironman Lake Placid. Stan lives in Hartsdale, New York and works for ABC News in Manhattan.

Tim Compton - Bike Captain

Tim has been involved in bicycle racing since 1977, both on the road & the track. Growing up in the North Bronx, he found the perfect training grounds, Westchester County and points beyond! Training and racing on the roads that are part of the TOUGHMAN for over 30 years.

While being involved in racing, Tim also developed a sense for organizing bike courses as well as managing them. Safety first, difficulty second! (ha ha)

His goal is to keep the athletes safe and to give them the best line to carry thru out on the bike course.

Tom Maile - Run Captain

Retired executive with many decades of running experience. Two term past president of Taconic Road Runners Club, race director for many TRR events, a volunteer for many dozens more, raced 20 marathons, over 40 half marathons, hundreds of shorter races and one 50 mile ultra. Multiple nominee and two time winner of NYRR Runner of the Year in age group.

Barbara Brittain - Finish line Captain

A long time member of Taconic Road Runner’s Club, Barbara Brittan has been a highly competitive road racer, with her favorite distance being the marathon. She has also acted as Race Director for Taconic’s “Freezer Five” series for many years and co-director of the infamous North County News 5k for the past 3 years. More recently, Barbara has ventured into the triathlon world, where she was introduced to Rich Izzo and Westchester Tri club in 2007 while training for her first Ironman (Lake Placid 2007). She joined the TOUGHMAN Team as the Finishline Captain in Spring 2009.

Anita Watson - Volunteer and Transition Captain

Anita Watson participated in her first triathlon 10 years ago as a member of the Westcheter/Hudson Valley Chapter of Team in Training. She continues her association with Team in Training as a Level I certified Cycling Coach. In addition to triathlons, Anita has participated in numerous marathons, half marathons and cycling endurance events. She has served as a member of the Jarden Westchester Triathlon Committee. Anita lives in Westchester and is employed by Phelps Memorial Hospital in Tarrytown as a Registered Nurse. Anita is also a member of the National Ski Patrol and volunteers at Thunder Ridge, a local ski resort, in the winter season.