Subject Matter Expert
Mr. Farese has been a subject matter expert with BSSP since 2013. Farese has a distinguished career in corporate and Tribal finance, risk management, strategic planning, and governance Anthony Farese brings a wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience to Blue Stone. He is an accomplished finance executive, who partners with other senior executives and business leaders to develop and execute strategies that drive top line growth, cash flow, and stockholder value. Farese’s vast experience in assembling domestic and international finance teams was invaluable in arranging, assisting, and completing several debt financings and equity financings totaling more than $2 billion.
From 2007 through 2012, he served as Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer of the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC) and its commercial enterprises. The equivalent of a Fortune 1000 company, SRPMIC entrusted Farese with responsibility for all financial operations, risk management, economic growth, business development and strategic planning. He served as Chair of the SRPMIC Investment Committee, the SRPMIC Risk Management Committee, and was also a member of the SRPMIC Benefits Committee. In addition, Farese served as an ex-officio member of each Board of Directors for each SRPMIC commercial enterprise. He led several major economic initiatives for SRPMIC which included securing the financing to construct Salt River Fields and co-led negotiations with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies which led to relocating both teams from Tucson onto the SRPMIC reservation and establishing Salt River Fields as their new spring training home.
Prior to joining SRPMIC, Farese worked for more than a decade in executive finance positions at the Donna Karan Company, now a division of Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessey. During his tenure, the Donna Karan Company grew from a private company with rapidly expanding domestic and international wholesale, retail, and licensing businesses into a NYSE company which was acquired in 2001 by Louis Vuitton. Farese was a member of the transition team and following the acquisition was invited to stay on as Treasurer and Vice President Finance of the Donna Karan Division. Farese has also held executive finance positions with other leading apparel companies.
Farese has an MBA from the Lubin School of Business, Pace University, New York, and a BS in Economics from the City University of New York. He is a member of the Association of Financial Professionals and Institute of Management Accountants. He was recognized in 2013 by the Phoenix Business Journal as an outstanding CFO and was honored by receiving the CFO Lifetime Achievement award.