NYRA hires new chief financial officer

ELMONT, N.Y. – Gordon Lavalette has been hired as the new chief financial officer for the New York Racing Association, replacing Susan Stover, who left the company in January for a similar job at the Johnny Rockets restaurant chain.

Lavalette spent the last 28 months as the CFO for ION Media Networks (formerly Paxson Communications Corp.), an American broadcasting company that owns and operates more than 60 television stations. Prior to that, Lavalette worked in finance for the New Jersey Devils for nine years and before that for the New Jersey Nets (now the Brooklyn Nets).

Jelena Alonso, who has handled the CFO duties since Stover resigned, remains the company’s controller and has been elevated to vice president.