Owner/President

Elyse C. Ruzow founded Ruzow & Associates in 2014 after a distinguished 18 year career at the New York County District Attorney’s Office. Ms. Ruzow spent the majority of her career in the Investigation Division of the DA’s office where she prosecuted a multitude of white collar criminal cases. The cases Ms. Ruzow prosecuted included employee embezzlement cases, political corruption cases, police corruption cases, organized crime cases, labor racketeering cases, money laundering cases and tax fraud cases. Additionally, Ms. Ruzow has extensive experience investigating corporate and construction fraud cases, developing and reviewing compliance programs, and determining “best practices” for both public and private entities.

Since becoming a prosecutor for Robert M. Morgenthau in 1996, Ms. Ruzow has directed and investigated thousands of criminal investigations. She has gained a reputation for being a skilled interviewer and investigator, being incredibly thorough and professional.

Ms. Ruzow provides clients with expert consulting services on matters involving corporate compliance, construction fraud, internal investigations and integrity monitoring services.

Senior Managing Director

Om Gillett joined Ruzow & Associates as Vice President in 2017, following a position as the Chief Compliance Officer of a large electrical contracting company. Ms. Gillett was responsible for all aspects of the Company’s compliance program, including public agency reporting, MWDBE compliance, internal investigations, licensing, and administration of the Company’s Code of Business Conduct & Ethics.

Additionally, Ms. Gillett spent over 12 years as an Assistant District Attorney at the New York County District Attorney’s Office, where between 2006 and 2015 she was in the Special Prosecutions Bureau (now the Financial Frauds Bureau), where she conducted numerous investigations into employee embezzlement, falsification of company books and records, and schemes to defraud.

Ms. Gillett consults with clients on matters such as corporate compliance, internal investigations, and integrity monitoring.

Senior Managing Director

Eric Gallowitz,had a successful 20-year career at the New York City Police Department (NYPD). In 1996 Mr. Gallowitz was promoted to Detective. The pinnacle of his career was being assigned to the elite NYPD Intelligence Division where he conducted counter-terrorism investigations after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

Upon retirement from theNYPD Mr. Gallowitz became a licensed Private Investigator in the State of New York. Mr. Gallowitz conducts all types of investigations and has become an expert in construction monitoring and construction fraud having been one of the onsite investigators at One World Trade Center for seven years during the rebuilding of the towers. Areas of construction fraud uncovered during that time and since include theft, certified payroll fraud, Minority and Women Business Fraud, and false business records.

Senior Managing Director

Joseph Ferraro is a Certified Fraud Examiner who joined Ruzow & Associates in October 2019. Joseph has 35 years of criminal investigative experience in conducting and managing investigations pertaining to construction fraud, corruption, organized crime, labor racketeering, money laundering and rules of conduct violations.

Prior to joining Ruzow and Associates, Joseph worked at I4 Strategies for 18 months as Investigative Manager to deter, detect and address fraud, waste and abuse associated with the development of the Hudson Yards project. Additionally, Joseph was employed at the Office of Inspector General for the Port Authority of NY & NJ for 10 years as a Senior Investigator and then progressed into the role of a Project Manager. Joseph also worked with the New York City Department of Investigation, where he started as an Investigator and worked his way up the ranks to First Deputy Inspector General. Joseph holds a Master’s in Public Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University and Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from St John’s University. Joseph is a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

Managing Director

Steven Pérez is a senior law enforcement, compliance, and integrity monitoring executive with more than two decades of distinguished service leading complex investigations and high-performing, cross-agency teams. His expertise encompasses public integrity, construction and program fraud, and compliance oversight, with a demonstrated record of safeguarding high-risk operations and major capital initiatives.

Steve previously provided expert supervision for integrity monitors for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Office of Inspector General, directing investigative strategy for major aviation, rail, surface transportation, and seaport projects. He led criminal and administrative investigations involving personnel, contractors, and vendors, and implemented multidisciplinary safeguards on projects.

Earlier, Steve spent more than two decades in federal law enforcement, culminating as Special Agent in Charge at the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General. He also previously held senior investigative roles at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Labor.

A Bronx native and United States Air Force veteran, Steve holds a B.S. in Management Studies from the University of Maryland, an M.A. in Human Resources Training and Development from Seton Hall University and is a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute’s Leadership for a Democratic Society.

Director

Ainslee Jacoby Barnum is a certified fraud examiner who joined Ruzow & Associates in March 2018 as a compliance consultant, where she is responsible for conducting audits and investigations in connection with contractor payrolls and subsequent financial and construction documentation, as well as assisting the team with ensuring clients’ compliance with M/WBE and EEO requirements.

From 2015 to 2018, Ainslee worked as a special investigator in the Vendor Integrity Unit at the New York City Department of Investigation, where she led investigations relating to New York City’s $648 million hurricane Sandy rebuild program. Moreover, from 2012 to 2015, Ainslee worked as a Legal Assistant while simultaneously obtaining a Masters in Criminal Justice. Mrs. Jacoby’s experience includes auditing construction documentation, investigating construction fraud, vetting contractors and ensuring government program compliance.

Ainslee received a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice from the CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice in 2015 and a Bachelor of Science in Communication from the University of Miami in 2012. Ainslee is certified in OSHA 10-Hour Construction.

Investigator

Jay Singh joined Ruzow & Associates in November 2018 as an Investigator, where he performs compliance monitoring, including prevailing wage audits, site visits, and M/WBE interviews.

Prior to joining Ruzow & Associates, Jay Singh was a Labor Law Compliance Field Inspector at the New York City School Construction Authority and a Sergeant for the New York City Police Department. Mr. Singh is experienced with investigating and enforcing labor law compliance, interviewing construction workers and contractors, auditing certified payrolls and subsequent documentation and providing assistance to state and federal investigations.

Jay Singh is certified in OSHA 30-Hour Construction and NYC DOB 4-Hour Scaffold, and is fluent in Urdu and Hindi.

Investigator

Mike Kelly joined Ruzow & Associates in August 2018 as an Investigator, where he performs compliance monitoring, including prevailing wage interviews, M/WBE site visits and background checks.

Prior to joining Ruzow & Associates, Mike Kelly worked as an Investigator in the Integrity Monitor unit at a global investigations, compliance, monitoring, and security and technology consulting company and as a Detective Investigator 2nd Grade for the New York City Police Department. Mr. Kelly’s experience includes performing construction-monitoring services at the World Trade Center from the demolition phase to completion, gathering field intelligence and observing site activities, conducting site visits, interviewing tradesmen, leading long-term investigations and working closely with government agencies.

Mike Kelly is certified in OSHA 10-Hour Construction and NYC DOB 4-Hour Scaffold.

Finance and Operations Manager/Compliance Consultant

Tamilee Webb joined Ruzow & Associates in November 2018 as an Associate Compliance Consultant, where she provides assistance with audits for wage compliance and reporting for clients’ M/WBE and EEO requirements. She is an expert in government reporting software and is certified as an LCPtracker Software Associate.

Prior to working for Ruzow & Associates, Tamilee Webb was an Administrative Specialist at a property management firm, where her duties included administering all Building Link processes, procedures and methods, consulting with upper management to identify training needs, drafting new hire orientation documentation and scheduling.

Tamilee Webb has a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from University of Albany and received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications in 2013 from Pace University.

Fraud Investigator/Junior Auditor

Edith Tobon joined Ruzow & Associates in June 2026 as a Compliance Fraud Investigator, where she supports labor compliance monitoring, prevailing wage audits, and contractor compliance reviews on public construction projects. Her responsibilities include reviewing certified payroll reports, timesheets, pay records, and supporting documentation to verify compliance with labor requirements and contractual obligations. She also assists with subcontractor due diligence and compliance monitoring, including the review of business licenses, certifications, and other records to identify potential compliance risks.

Prior to joining Ruzow & Associates, Edith completed academic and analytical projects focused on fraud examination, financial forensics, compliance monitoring, and fraud risk assessment. Her experience includes payroll reconciliations, labor compliance testing, fraud risk analysis, and the review of financial records and internal controls.

Edith earned a Bachelor of Science in Fraud Examination and Financial Forensics, Cum Laude, from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in 2026 and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Financial Risk Management at Baruch College, Zicklin School of Business.

Consultant

Christine Thorpe spent 10 years at Metro-North Railroad where she managed and trained their accounting staff, led audits, prepared monthly, quarterly, and year‑end financial statements for internal and external stakeholders, interpreted and implemented GAAP and GASB accounting standards, and ensured accounting processes complied with internal controls.Chritine then spent three years with MTA Construction & Development where she lead accounting and reporting staff responsible for headcount management, monthly close, and financial reporting for C&D’s $15.8 billion Capital Plan. She also partnered on cross‑agency initiatives to implement work orders that accurately tracked project costs and asset capitalization across multiple MTA agencies.She refined and analyzed the C&D operating financial plan; identified unusual spending patterns and ensured alignment with budget targets.

Consultant

Eric Palummieri began his career in the construction industry sweeping job sites and swinging hammers while learning the trade from his father at a very early age. During that time, Mr. Palummieri learned the value in providing quality over quantity. After graduating with honors from New Jersey Institute of Technology in 2005 with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering, Mr. Palummieri began to design and manage large-scale construction projects, including sports and entertainment venues, higher education and medical campuses, and multi-tenant and luxury residences.

In 2012, Mr. Palummieri became involved with construction integrity monitoring, employing program and project management services in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy for FEMA, NJ Department of Treasury and The City of New York, understanding the importance of working to help communities in need. Since then, Mr. Palummieri has specialized in construction project management, integrity monitoring and oversight for high-profile clients and governmental agencies, including Urbanspace, Nasdaq, WWE, NYC Department of Investigations, Port Authority Office of Inspector General, New York City Housing Authority, and Goldman Properties. Mr. Palummieri is currently working on a number of airport redevelopment and transit projects with respective budgets of $1B+.