Long Island Power 50; 11-50

Catholic Health Services of Long Island is a major employer in the region with about 17,000 employees. President and CEO Alan D. Guerci has been with the system for 20 years, previously serving as a cardiologist and chief executive at several hospitals. He now oversees the largest faith-based health care system on Long Island, operating under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre. The organization has expanded its community partnerships by sponsoring the Suffolk County Marathon and collaborating with the New York Institute of Technology.

As president and CEO of New York state’s largest credit union and employer to more than 600 people, Wayne Grossé has a seat at the table when it comes to banking services and economic development policy. Linda Armyn is the organization’s master of community, government and press relations and directs its many sponsorships, scholarships and charitable giving. Together, they have built a brand that is as much an asset to the greater Long Island community as it is to their customers.

Named president of National Grid’s New York operations in April, John Bruckner oversees natural gas service to 2.3 million customers, 600,000 of whom live on Long Island. As a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and New York Institute of Technology, both he and his wife, a retired Suffolk County police officer, have Long Island roots. Heavily involved in the restoration efforts on Long Island after Superstorm Sandy, Bruckner now considers the reliability of the island’s infrastructure a top priority.

President, pastor, professor are just a few of the hats worn by Calvin O. Butts III. Next year will mark his 20th year as the president of SUNY Old Westbury, but Butts has a collection of at least nine honorary degrees, a clear indicator of his impact on the larger community of higher education. Butts is also a highly regarded pastor at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Manhattan, one of the most historic churches in the country.

With construction on a new 18,000-seat arena for the New York Islanders at Belmont Park expected to get underway within the next year, team co-owner Jon Ledecky has been praised for bringing the team home to Nassau County after three seasons at the Barclays Center. The Islanders’ co-owner has partnered with owners of the Mets, Knicks and Rangers on the development of its new arena, which has secured the backing of Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Recently appearing on CNBC’s “Mad Money,” where host Jim Cramer called Broadridge Financial Solutions “one of the best companies you probably never heard of,” CEO Rich Daly spoke about using technology to help retail investors exercise their voice. Broadridge is one of the island’s largest publicly traded employers, with facilities in Lake Success and Edgewood. Daly has been active in regional conversations about attracting new talent to the area, economic development and Long Island’s high cost of doing business.

Running point on the new Nassau County executive’s transition team is bound to come with political clout, but Tom Garry doesn’t need much when it comes to deal-making. For Long Island politics, Garry might be considered “Counsel to the Stars,” having served as an adviser to Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, Hempstead’s downtown revitalization project, the Wyandanch Rising planning process and Catholic Health Services of Long Island for economic development and land use projects.

Property tax discussions on Long Island are saturated with unfair policies and insincere actors, but Laureen Harris has emerged as a strong-willed and knowledgeable advocate for property owners and commercial real estate interests. As the president of the Association for a Better Long Island, Harris has backed meaningful transit-oriented development, infrastructure improvements and renewable energy initiatives. She is also a partner at the Cronin, Cronin, Harris and O’Brien law firm.

Kevin O’Conner is the president and CEO of BNB Bank (also known as Bridgehampton National Bank), one of the top three community banks in New York, and oversees its 44 bank branches on Long Island and throughout the greater New York metropolitan area. With roots out east and the newest branch having opened in Riverhead in April, BNB is committed to the region and its residents. O’Conner serves on the board of directors of the American Red Cross on Long Island.

One of Long Island’s top Democratic political operatives, Resi Cooper is most well-known for her role as a longtime adviser to Hillary Clinton. Cooper served as then-Sen. Clinton’s Long Island director, ran her Senate re-election campaign, and, in 2016, as the New York state director of Clinton’s presidential campaign. Cooper has also consulted for former Rep. Steve Israel, was executive director of Accelerate Long Island and was recently named vice chairwoman of the Nassau County Democratic Committee.

Theresa Regnante has served as the president and CEO of United Way of Long Island since 2009, and in that time she has been instrumental in developing community partnerships, identifying needs and creating strategic solutions, as well as uniting some of Long Island’s key stakeholders behind issues such as education, income stability and health. Regnante regularly educates elected officials and the media about Long Island’s struggling families and works diligently and creatively to improve their quality of life.

With the pharmaceutical industry becoming increasingly important to Long Island’s economy, Chintu Patel has positioned himself as a knowledgeable and politically savvy leader. The board co-chairman of Amneal Pharmaceuticals has been growing the company's Long Island facilities in Hauppauge, Commack and South Yaphank, with more than 1,000 employees and plans to hire more. With strong ties to the Long Island Association, and several Long Island politicians, Patel is a regular at high-level meetings and fundraisers.

Theresa Sanders has been at the forefront of equity and race discussions throughout the region. As the CEO and president of the Urban League of Long Island, she has directed millions in funding to programs focused on economic independence and empowerment and recently spoke about “The State of Black Long Island” at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center. In addition, she serves as an adjunct professor at SUNY Old Westbury, and chairs the Suffolk County Community College board.

Since becoming the 10th president of Long Island University in 2013, Kimberly Cline has expanded the university’s global footprint and renewed its focus on entrepreneurship and engaged learning. Under her leadership, LIU has achieved upgraded ratings in both Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s on LIU’s financial outlook. Cline served as the chairwoman of the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities, which represents public policy interests of more than 100 independent colleges and universities throughout New York state.

A veteran of the state Legislature, Michael Balboni spent nearly two decades as an assemblyman and state senator. Today, as president and managing director of RedLand Strategies, Balboni counsels clients such as the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Nassau County and Northwell Health. Balboni also serves as executive director of the Greater New York Health Care Facilities Association and was recently appointed to the New York Power Authority’s board of trustees.

Tracey Edwards is a lifelong Huntington resident and a staple of Long Island politics. Currently serving as Long Island regional director for the NAACP, her previous roles include Huntington town councilwoman, regional president for Verizon’s Long Island and Upstate New York office and Elwood school board member. While her most recent campaign, for Huntington supervisor, was not a success, Edwards remains engaged with the NAACP and the United Way.

The region’s leading voice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities, David Kilmnick has been at the helm of The LGBT Network for 24 years. His activism and leadership have helped to build bridges with powerful corporate partners as well as drive greater inclusion and expand services to thousands from Montauk through the border with Queens. He has also been an important advocate for state and federal legislation on hate crimes, bullying and discrimination.

An expert at grass-roots organizing, Lisa Tyson has been behind some of the most uphill political battles on Long Island in recent history. She galvanized commuter support for the Long Island Rail Road’s third track, helped pass the law increasing the state’s minimum wage and pushed affordable housing projects in Huntington and Southampton over the finish line. She skillfully fills an assortment of roles, from policy wonk to fundraiser to advocate, and has become a leader of Long Island’s “resistance” movement.

Not to be confused with Harendra Singh, the restaurateur entangled in the Nassau County corruption scandal, Harry Singh is known as one of CNBC’s “Blue Collar Millionaires.” A former taxi driver and car mechanic, Singh has been president and CEO of Bolla Oil Corp. for nearly 30 years. He has made millions owning, operating and franchising gas stations and upscale convenience stores. Headquartered in Garden City, Singh employs hundreds and is a bona fide political donor.

As a public servant for nearly four decades and former Suffolk County executive, Patrick Halpin continues to navigate the web of Long Island’s government agencies and nonprofits in his role as managing director at lobbying firm Mercury. Halpin’s continued service as a board member of the Long Island Housing Partnership, board secretary of the Suffolk County Water Authority and chairman of Babylon’s Planning Board place him in a position to shape key policy matters throughout the county.