2009 NETWORKING® MAGAZINE’S DAVID AWARD HONOREE.

ROBERT ISAKSEN

President, Long Island Market, Bank of America

As Long Island Market President, Robert Isaksen brings to Bank of America his 25 years of experience in the financial industry and his sincere interest in community service. As coordinator of the Bank’s activities in the region, he draws on his solid understanding of the region’s strengths and needs to ensure that the market is served well and that all resources of the Bank are focused appropriately.
In addition, Isaksen serves as senior manager of the Bank’s Healthcare and Institutions group for the Northeast markets—from Pennsylvania to Maine. This position extends the experience he gained serving healthcare providers and nonprofits in New Jersey, metropolitan New York, and the northern suburbs during his prior tenure at Fleet Bank. Today, he oversees the financial needs of more than 1,200 premier acute and long-term care facilities, social service organizations, cultural and higher educational institutions.
Following his graduation from State University of New York at Oneonta with a BA in Business Economics, Isaksen began his career with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company before joining NatWest USA. After completing its training program in 1985, he was appointed Relationship Manager in the Leasing and Finance Company Specialty Lending group, and continued his education at Pace University’s Lubin Graduate School of Business, receiving an MBA in Finance. From 1993-96, Isaksen served as Senior Credit Officer for the National and Structured Finance Divisions. NatWest’s National Division focus included its for-profit national healthcare specialty. He moved to Fleet Bank following its acquisition of NatWest, and expanded his service to the healthcare and nonprofit sector in metro New York, the northern suburbs and Long Island.
The business, civic and philanthropic leadership he demonstrated throughout his career made Isaksen an outstanding partner and advocate for Long Island communities. He says, “A large part of my role as Long Island Market President has to do with community involvement and managing the Bank of America Foundation.”
While the Foundation wasn’t active on Long Island until the merger with Fleet Bank, Isaksen says, “Bank of America has one of the top ten corporate foundations in the country.” In the last four years, Bank of America has supported a host of nonprofit organizations on Long Island from health and human services to museums.
“Having grown up on Long Island and lived most of my adult life here, I have a pretty good sense for the Island and its needs,” adds Isaksen. “Bank of America looks to ensure the economic, social and health fabric of the communities we served. To be able to grant funds to organizations that fill those needs is a very satisfying part of the role I play as Market President.”
The Bank of America Foundation annually presents two organizations with its Neighborhood Builders’ Award. The recipients participate in the Bank’s Neighborhood Excellence program and receive a $200,000 grant to further their mission. He cites several Neighborhood Builders as Long Island Cares, Family and Children’s Association, EAC and Island Harvest. In addition, the Foundation names five Local Heroes—individuals who work with nonprofit groups or otherwise serve their communities in an outstanding way. These “heroes” are given a $5,000 grant that they can distribute to a nonprofit of their choice. And thirdly, the Foundation chooses five high school students who participate in a leadership training program and are given a stipend to work with a nonprofit organization of their choice during the summer between their graduation and entrance to college or other institution of higher learning.
Nominees for these awards go through a competitive process, and Isaksen explains that the Foundation reaches out to community leaders to participate in a panel of judges who make the selections. Notable judges have included Adelphi University President Dr. Robert Scott, St. Joseph’s College President Sister Elizabeth Hill, Suffolk County Community College President Dr. Shirley Pippins, Long Island Association President Matt Crosson, and Long Island Business News Publisher John Kominicki.
Last year, the Bank established the Elena Perez Memorial Award. “Elena was instrumental in kicking off the Neighborhood Builders program,” says Isaksen, adding that she was “a long-time employee of the Bank and a special person on Long Island.” The inaugural grant award of $25,000 was given to Pronto, a nonprofit serving the communities of Brentwood, Central Islip and Bay Shore. “Elena helped Pronto get off the ground, not only through funding, but also managerial direction and assistance to the Executive Director,” notes Isaksen.
Isaksen serves on several community organization boards, and says, “Each is unique and fulfilling in its own way.” A former trustee of St. Joseph’s College, he has been a longtime member of the Association for the Help of Retarded Children Foundation and a past AHRC honoree. On the Long Island Association Board he sees his opportunity to shape LIA’s business and economic program. He serves as a board member for United Way and the Long Island Philharmonic, and serves on the Corporate Advisory Board of the Cold Spring Harbor Lab, with a particular interest in the DNA Learning Center, which encourages interest in science education among children of all ages. He says, “The fundraising work of this board supports outreach to the more challenged economic areas on Long Island so that their children have the same opportunities. You never know, a child who walks through the door might be the next scientist to discover some important advance in medicine or science.” It’s also a source of community pride to serve as a board member of Mather Hospital, his local hospital. Isaksen adds, “Running a community hospital is a 24/7 business, providing a necessary service for which not all are able to afford to pay. It is a difficult task in a challenging environment. Serving on the Mather board allows me to see how well it can be done.”
Isaksen was raised in Setauket, and recalls, “It was a very different place then, and I remember riding my bike to visit friends and going through farm fields and corn fields, trying to avoid the farmer.” After marrying Suzanne, a physical therapist and native of Connecticut, the couple searched from the Delaware Water Gap to New Haven looking for a place to call home before settling back in Setauket, which he calls “a special place.” The couple has twin sons, Erik and Kristofer, sophomores in college, and a daughter Lyndsay, a sophomore at Ward Melville High School. He enjoys snow skiing, golfing with his wife, sons and daughter, and vacationing with the family.

NETWORKING® January 2009