Who's Who
The 2025 Who’s Who in MWBEs
Leaders you need to know in the world of minority- and women-owned businesses.
City & State presents the 2025 Who's Who in MWBEs. John Borst; New York City; Nick Antz
New York has long been at the forefront of a movement to support businesses owned by women or minorities. Both at the state and local levels, government agencies and offices have taken steps to award more contracts to minority- and women-owned business enterprises, or MWBEs, as they’re widely known. This year, New York’s Article 15-A law, which created the state’s MWBE program, was extended through 2028. In New York City, the Adams administration has awarded billions of dollars in contracts to MWBE firms, with the goal of hitting a $60 billion target by 2030.
City & State’s Who’s Who in MWBEs, researched and written by City & State’s Amanda Salazar, highlights many of the most important figures in this space, including leaders of MWBE firms large and small, public officials who are developing and carrying out key MWBE programs, and an array of industry leaders, advisers and advocates who are leveling the playing field for MWBEs.
Akra, Wissam
Tough Leaf is a technology platform dedicated to connecting certified subcontracting firms with opportunities, developers and general contractors. Founder and CEO Wissam Akra founded the company to help diverse small businesses grow and thrive. Certified minority, woman, disadvantaged, service-disabled and veteran-owned firms can create a free profile on Tough Leaf’s website, joining a network of over 300,000 vendors available to construction companies. Through the platform, Akra, a professional engineer, has awarded more than $1 billion in contracts to small and diverse firms.
Alemany, Eric
For almost a quarter century, Eric Alemany has been working to expand the New York Power Authority’s role in delivering energy to New Yorkers. Now NYPA’s senior director for supplier relationship management, Alemany drives the authority’s supplier relationships and supply chain management, including its MWBE program. Under his leadership, NYPA and the New York State Canal Corp. have spent $121 million with state-certified MWBEs. In addition, he has led NYPA and the Canal Corp. in spending $15 million with service-disabled veteran-owned businesses.
Armand Kushner, Barbara
Barbara Armand Kushner founded Armand Construction in 1991, and it now has a presence in New York, New Jersey, Florida and Philadelphia. The woman-of-color-owned construction management company supports other MWBEs through mentorship and partnership. In May, the company participated in the MWBE Connect Summit, which brought together important players in the industry to discuss diversity and equity. Armand Kushner previously served as the president of the New York chapter of Professional Women in Construction, which hosted the summit.
Bason, James
James Bason is the president and CEO of TruFund Financial Services. TruFund provides capital, resources and business advisory services for undercapitalized small businesses, including MWBEs. These services bridge economic gaps to allow businesses to create more jobs. The company also offers a language assistance plan to serve diverse entrepreneurs with limited English proficiency. In April, Bason was appointed to the board of directors of the Community Development Financial Institutions Coalition, which advocates for access to capital in economically disadvantaged areas.
Bichotte Hermelyn, Rodneyse
Assembly Majority Whip Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn is the chair of the Subcommittee on Oversight of MWBEs. The Brooklyn Democratic Party boss is a top state leader on MWBE issues, with a legislative agenda that includes multiple bills to support MWBEs. Her office also runs an online MWBE Resource Center with information on Assembly efforts to protect and uplift small businesses, especially as they relate to Article 15-A, which established the state’s MWBE program. In January, her subcommittee joined with three other legislative groups to hold a hearing on the program ahead of Article 15-A’s impending expiration. The law was extended to 2028.
Brathwaite, Lee
Lee Brathwaite is the CEO of Apex Building Group, an MWBE-certified contracting firm that was founded in Harlem. Brathwaite’s team has completed more than $1.3 billion in construction projects, including 7,500 affordable housing units across New York and New Jersey. Apex prioritizes vendor diversity and provides subcontracting opportunities for other MWBE firms and vendors. The company also hires locally and works to support communities, such as by building homes and social centers. Brathwaite came to Apex with experience at Prudential Financial and Citigroup. His career started as a bioenvironmental engineer with the Air Force.
Cahill, Diane
Diane Cahill founded communications and government relations firm Cahill Strategies in 2016 and has built it into a leading firm with a specialization in New York City construction. The certified women-owned business strategically partners with other MWBEs to advance their mutual goals and helps businesses navigate the New York City and state certification processes. A barrier breaker for women in the construction industry, Cahill was active in the development of New York City Building Code Chapter 33 safety revisions and created a 100-page comprehensive reference guide for the industry.
Clark, Jason
Jason Clark is the executive director of the Division of Minority and Women’s Business Development at Empire State Development, where he’s also an executive vice president. The division helps MWBEs across New York navigate the state certification process. It also disseminates information about the state’s MWBE program, including last year’s disparity study, which evaluated participation in the program and where it could be more fully utilized. In May, ESD announced that the new state budget increases the discretionary purchasing threshold for agencies and authorities to $1.5 million, a provision designed to assist MWBEs.
Coletti, Louis
Louis Coletti has been instrumental in the construction industry’s MWBE space. As the longtime president of the Building Trades Employers’ Association – the largest contractor association in the country – he spearheaded the organization’s MWBE Committee and recruited the highest number of MWBE members of any other contractor association in the state. Coletti also drafted the legislation that created the New York City School Construction Authority, a proponent of MWBEs, and chaired its first presidential search. Coletti joined the law and lobbying firm Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP in 2023.
Collins, Fuquan
Fuquan Collins drives diversity, equity and inclusion policy, programs and initiatives for Turner Construction Co., where his goal is to develop a culture of respect, belonging and empowerment both at Turner and with its clients. Certified in diversity and inclusion by Cornell University, Collins has more than 20 years of experience in the construction industry, previously working at RailWorks Transit and Judlau Contracting. In addition to his work at Turner, Collins serves on the board of The Brotherhood Sister Sol, a Harlem-based nonprofit organization promoting social justice.
Crowley, Elizabeth
A former New York City Council member from Queens, Elizabeth Crowley became the Building Trades Employers’ Association’s first woman leader in 2023. Before becoming a public servant, Crowley worked in the construction industry as a decorative painter with IUPAT District Council 9. BTEA advocates for the safety, pay and professional development of New York’s contractors, and its MWBE Council meets quarterly to discuss any issues, since it works with New York City and state agencies to solve these problems. Crowley has said the council also allows for larger companies to bring in MWBE companies as subcontractors on major private sector projects.
Defreitas, Rohan
The Crescent Companies is made up of four divisions: Crescent Consulting, Crescent Energy, Crescent Building Services and CBS Construction & Safety Supplies. Rohan Defreitas is the co-founder, principal and chief operating officer of the MWBE company. Crescent Consulting helps clients maintain compliance with regulations, including minority, women and local business contract compliance and equal employment opportunity. Defreitas is also vice chair of the National Hispanic Business Group and a member of the Building Contactors Association. The Peekskill community leader is also a board member for the city’s Industrial Development Agency, Facilities Development Corp. and Local Development Corp.
Drago, Rosalie
A well-known workforce development leader, Rosalie Drago serves as construction company Haugland Group’s vice president for external affairs and strategic engagement. This means she oversees everything from marketing, communications and events to government relations and community affairs to workforce and supplier development. Throughout her career, Drago has been committed to promoting equity and inclusion. She served as Suffolk County’s first woman labor commissioner, which involved building a diverse talent pipeline and ensuring safe workplaces.
Flores, Lisa
Lisa Flores became the CEO of Catholic Charities Community Services earlier this year after over a decade in top procurement positions in New York City government. Flores came to the nonprofit organization after serving as director of the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services, where she tackled payment backlogs for city vendors and led record MWBE utilization in 2024. Earlier, as deputy city comptroller for contracts and procurement, she spearheaded MWBE small purchase and best value rules that make it easier for diverse firms to contract with the city.
Frazier, Diane
Diane Frazier is a partner at Elk Street Group, an Albany-based, MWBE-certified lobbying and government affairs firm. Established in 2012, the firm was certified as a women-owned business in 2023. Frazier’s firm, which is named for its headquarters’ location, has secured Medicaid funding increases for health care clients and secured funding for city and state affordable housing clients. Last year, Elk Street merged with TLM Associates to increase their capacity and expertise, with the merged firm operating as Elk Street Group.
Galloway, Jennifer
Jennifer Galloway is a project manager and the MWBE compliance manager for E-J Electric Installation Co. E-J Electric is an electrical contractor specializing in large-scale projects, including rail systems, airports, sports stadiums and universities. The firm’s services include emergency response, storm recovery, prefabrication and 3D engineering. In her role, Galloway oversees the company’s compliance with MWBE regulations and develops relationships that benefit her team.
Garner, Michael
Michael Garner’s mission is creating a more diverse and inclusive New York City business community. He’s the city’s first chief business diversity officer, overseeing the Mayor’s Office of Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises, where has led the city in awarding $19.4 billion in contracts to certified MWBEs in just over three years. He helped to raise the city’s MWBE discretionary threshold to $1.5 million and created the city’s Centralized Construction Mentoring Program. Garner was previously the first chief diversity and inclusion officer for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, where he spearheaded initiatives to boost MWBE procurement.
Gutierrez, Julissa
Julissa Gutierrez is the chief diversity officer for New York state, a role in which she’s responsible for increasing diversity in the state’s workforce and contracting through the creation of programs and initiatives. She’s also tasked with registering state-certified MWBEs and cutting through the backlog of applications. In 2020, she nearly met the state’s contract utilization goal of 30% of all state contracts going to MWBEs, having reached 29.51%. Gutierrez has led the state’s MWBE program to have the highest utilization rate in the country.
Hamamgian, Charlette
As New York City’s deputy comptroller for contracts and procurement, Charlette Hamamgian oversees the review of all contract applications and amendments, leases and concessions between city agencies and vendors. Hamamgian has made increased MWBE procurement a priority for her office. Previously, Hamamgian was the senior executive director for contracts and purchasing for the city Department of Education, where she developed and implemented policies to expand MWBE procurement for the nation’s largest school system. She is also a former agency chief contracting officer for the city Department of Design and Construction and Department of Parks and Recreation.
Harris, Julie
Former Olympic track and field coach Julie Harris is the co-founder and executive director of the Council of Black Architecture and Engineering Companies. The organization, a consortium of Black owned and operated architectural and engineering firms, aims to promote growth and development for its members. Member firms get to network with potential clients, collaborate with other companies to handle larger projects, access professional development and more. Harris is a strong advocate for inclusion and diversity, and acts as a guest lecturer and speaker on MWBE policy.
Howard, Assuanta
Assuanta Howard is the assistant dean of business services for CUNY’s LaGuardia Community College. She also serves as executive director of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program at LaGuardia. The economic growth and workforce development programs overseen by Howard include the Small Business Development Center, the Procurement Technical Assistance Center and the Small Business Transportation Resource Center. In her work with 10,000 Small Businesses, Howard partners with Goldman Sachs to generate new small businesses, including MWBEs, through mentoring and training.
Huell, Jermaine
A dedicated MWBE growth leader, Jermaine Huell drives collaboration with MWBEs at WSP, a continuation of his commitment to supporting such firms more broadly in the engineering field. Huell, a Marine veteran, serves on the New York City Mayor’s M/WBE Advisory Council, is a former chair of the American Council of Engineering Companies of New York’s DMWBE Committee and was a district director for Rep. Greg Meeks. He played a key role in securing a seven-year contract for a joint venture between WSP and McKissack & McKissack to manage the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Small Business Development and Mentoring Program.
Johnson, Leah
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts has made increased inclusivity in New York City’s arts scene a key priority in both its hiring and performances. Leah Johnson, the chief of communications, marketing and advocacy for the center, has worked to bolster MWBE participation. Johnson is also a vital part of the Legacies of San Juan Hill project, which tells the story of the working-class Black community that existed in the neighborhood prior to Lincoln Center’s construction. Johnson’s grandmother was born in San Juan Hill.
Jones-Bey, Michael
Michael Jones-Bey is the director of corporate social responsibility for Con Edison, where he is responsible for supplier diversity, sustainability and conduct. Since coming to Con Ed in 2012, Jones-Bey has strived to create opportunities for MWBEs to partner with the energy utility, including through collaborations with the federal government and private investors. He has also secured 30% MWBE utilization on a $1.3 billion integrated supply initiative. Earlier in his career, Jones-Bey ran Empire State Development’s MWBE Development Division.
Jung, Bomee
Bomee Jung is the co-founder and CEO of Cadence OneFive, a people-of-color-led tech company that creates software to accelerate sustainable, climate-informed retrofits of multifamily buildings. The goal is to decarbonize these dwellings and renovate them so they’ll be more capable of weathering the effects of an increasingly unstable climate. Jung created a $1 billion retrofit construction program for the nation’s largest apartment owner and contributed to the development of New York City’s green housing laws.
Lee, Thai
Thai Lee is the president and CEO of SHI International Corp., which she co-founded in 1989. SHI bills itself as the largest MWBE in the country, with offices around the world and more than 7,000 employees. It is certified by the National Minority Supplier Development Council and the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council. SHI International is one of the top contractors with New York City’s government, holding a number contracts exceeding $1 million for data procession equipment maintenance and other professional services.
Lewis, Bertha
Bertha Lewis founded The Black Institute in 2010 to shape public policy through the lens of Black Americans. Supporting MWBEs through policy is key to the organization’s economic fairness principles. Throughout the years, the organization has compiled reports about the struggles MWBEs have faced, including credit discrimination and a lack of access to capital, which have garnered the attention of legislators and policymakers. The organization has held Albany roundtables to educate state lawmakers about the economic benefits of MWBEs and the challenges these businesses face.
Lopez-Hanratty, Martha
Appointed by Rep. George Latimer when he was Westchester County executive, Martha Lopez-Hanratty has been the county’s point person on MWBEs since 2021. Lopez-Hanratty focuses on expanding opportunities for these businesses to work with county and local governments, along with larger businesses looking for subcontractors. Westchester’s Minority and Women-Owned Business Program maintains a public database of registered MWBEs to increase their visibility and also offers business workshops, seminars and training. Lopez-Hanratty is also a New Rochelle City Council member and a former Westchester County director for Hispanic affairs.
Martinez, Oscar
Oscar Martinez is the founder and president of Ozkar Services LLC and BroadGrid Technology, two information technology solutions providers. The companies provide professional and managed IT support, cybersecurity services and cloud solutions. Ozkar, a Hispanic-owned business, completed the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program in 2023 and is an alumni of Empire State Development’s MWBE Business Growth Accelerator Program. Ozkar Services supports the nonprofit Digital Girl Inc., which encourages girls to pursue science and technology, which can lead to more diversity in the industry.
Mason, Jennifer
Jennifer Mason is the CEO and founder of Mason Technologies, a telecommunications contractor that started out developing tech for the medical industry. Mason is a former nurse who had to step back from the job due to an injury, which led to her creating her MWBE-certified firm that specializes in low-voltage structured cabling and other technologies. Mason Technologies emphasizes inclusion, which is reflected in the fact that 61% of its staff are women or people of color.
Matthews, Brian
Brian Matthews is a senior adviser at lobbying firm Brown & Weinraub, where he brings his deep expertise in state contracting to the firm’s procurement and MWBE practices. Previously, Matthews was the chief financial officer of the state Office of General Services, where he was responsible for a broad portfolio, including procurement, contracting, MWBEs and service-disabled and veteran-owned businesses. In the state comptroller’s office, he also worked on procurement and MWBE issues. This year, he was committee chair of Albany Forward, an independent expenditure committee involved in the Albany mayoral race.
McQuilton, Kendra
Energia is a certified woman-owned energy company, led by Kendra McQuilton, that helps public agencies and municipalities become more energy efficient. Through consulting, energy engineering and design, master planning and more, Energia is able to introduce cost-effective, sustainable energy options to its clients, including solar power and LED lighting. McQuilton is passionate about effecting solutions-driven positive change through her work. She brings experience to Energia from her work as a consulting manager at CA Technologies, a software development company.
Molloy, Stephen
Stephen Molloy entered the electrical trade at the age of 17 as an apprentice, learning the ins and outs of the trade and fostering his passion for the business. He later founded Molloy Electric Inc., a full-service electrical company serving residential and commercial clients that is registered as an MWBE with New York state, New York City and the New York City School Construction Authority. Molloy is an active member of Staten Island’s West Brighton community, supporting local events and initiatives to grow the neighborhood’s economy.
Nagarajan, Srikanth
Gandiva Networks is an MWBE founded by Srikanth Nagarajan that provides cybersecurity services for data centers and the cloud. Nagarajan also acts as a security consultant for clients in the public sector and in software services. Gandiva works with New York City agencies, including the Department of Environmental Protection and New York City Housing Authority, and private sector clients to develop cybersecurity solutions for mission critical projects. The company has started a new program focused on utilizing artificial intelligence in cybersecurity and ensuring that AI is developed safely.
Nathan, Jahmeliah
Jameliah Nathan is the vice president of administration and senior adviser for diversity contracting for the Battery Park City Authority. As part of her work in overseeing procurement, Nathan leads supplier diversity for the BPCA’s landmark climate and coastal resiliency initiatives. In April, the authority received the Agency Partner of the Year award from the Regional Alliance for Small Contractors, recognizing a procurement strategy that has included growth for MWBEs. Nathan was previously the chief diversity officer of the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery, where she led the MWBE program.
Padilla, Samuel
Heavy construction company and utility consultant Padilla Construction Services Inc. was founded in 1993 by engineer Samuel Padilla. The certified minority-owned business has worked with New York City and state agencies on a multitude of projects, including the World Trade Center’s vehicle security center, the United Nations’ screening building, the Staten Island Zoo’s leopard exhibit and the Crossroads Juvenile Detention Center. Padilla was a member of then-New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s MWBE advisory board.
Pagano, Maryann
Maryann Pagano is the CEO, owner and co-founder of BlackHawk Data, a technology and cybersecurity firm serving a range of industries. Pagano has built the firm to be a New York MWBE with almost $100 million in business in under seven years. Inclusivity is key to the mission of the firm, which boasts a diverse team and more than 10 diversity certifications. In an effort to support women trying to break into the tech industry, Pagano holds a quarterly Women in Tech Roundtable aimed at fostering career growth through a rotating panel of speakers – featuring women who have succeeded in male-dominated fields – and networking.
Parikh, Nayan
Nayan Parikh, the founder and president of construction company Ashnu International Inc., serves as the New York Tri-State chapter president for National Association of Minority Contractors. At NAMC, he has led major initiatives, including the Building Opportunities series, along with expanding Empire State Development’s Business Growth Accelerator Program to Western New York and the Finger Lakes. At Ashnu International, Parikh has delivered major projects for city and state agencies. He serves on advisory boards for Gov. Kathy Hochul’s MWBE Council, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and the city’s Department of Design and Construction.
Pulice, Jodi
Jodi Pulice is the founder and CEO of JRT Realty Group, billed as the country’s largest certified woman-owned commercial real estate services firm. Pulice’s firm has executed over $5 billion in transactions, including the sale of the Seagram Building and the relocation of Condé Nast to One World Trade Center. The company has also been an MWBE representative on major New York City contracts, including the 26 million square foot Department of Citywide Administrative Services’ real estate portfolio. She created both MWBE Unite and Friday Female Feature, a weekly MWBE newsletter, and serves on New York City’s MWBE Advisory Council.
Romano, Mark
Mark Romano is NYSTEC’s director of business development and strategic relationships, where he serves as the liaison to public sector clients and leads new business opportunities for the advising firm. Romano is committed to partnering with MWBEs and supporting equitable economic opportunities. Since 2015, NYSTEC has delivered more than $140 million to its MWBE partners, with another $30 million coming this year. The firm’s subcontractor base has grown to include more than 30 MWBEs. NYSTEC’s IgniteU NY program, which includes a six-week MWBE accelerator program, helps small businesses and startups grow and better establish themselves.
Sanchez, Daphany Rose
Kinetic Communities Consulting, or KC3, is an MWBE firm that’s focused on generating clean energy solutions that benefit disadvantaged communities, which are often on the front lines of climate change. KC3 was founded by Daphany Rose Sanchez in 2017. She’s passionate about bringing climate solutions and affordable energy to the community she grew up in and others throughout New York City that are in need of support regarding resiliency and housing. KC3 partners with other MWBEs and advocacy groups that work on climate justice issues, including fellow Who’s Who in MWBEs honoree Cadence OneFive.
Sanders Jr., James
As the chair of the state Senate Task Force on MWBEs, James Sanders Jr. advocates for the rights and growth of undersupported businesses. In June, he introduced a bill to expand the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Small Business Mentoring Program to include contracts for construction or related services. In May, Sanders and colleagues held a MWBE Advocacy Day event. As the state Senate Banks Committee chair, Sanders champions economic and social justice, including authoring the state’s Foreclosure Abuse Prevention Act. Sanders co-sponsored the creation of the state’s Community Commission on Reparations Remedies.
Simon, Brian
Brian Simon founded Hollis Public Affairs in 2021 and serves as its managing partner. The growing government relations firm is a person-of-color-owned small business. Hollis advises government officials, large companies and new startups on regulatory and legislative challenges affecting their goals. Simon’s career is rooted in policy and government, with career stops in the offices of Rep. Gregory Meeks and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. Following those roles, he handled government relations for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey as well as Davidoff Hutcher & Citron.
Sturla, Martin
As the City University of New York’s chief procurement officer, Martin Sturla oversees procurement and vending for the university system, which includes ensuring supplier diversity and fair opportunities for all potential collaborators. CUNY looks to contract with state certified MWBEs and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses as part of its Supplier Diversity Program, and Sturla has increased CUNY’s MWBE partnerships. This year, he signed the largest contract in the university’s history awarded to an MWBE, with a value of $120 million. CUNY’s Supplier Diversity Program pairs MWBEs with mentors from major corporations.
Thompson Jr., William
Former New York City Comptroller William Thompson Jr. is the chief administrative officer for minority-owned Siebert Williams Shank, a major nonbank financial services firm. The firm has ranked as the top MWBE in public finance and is managed by a diverse team and board, while recently elevating Gary Hall and Sobani Warner as co-presidents. Thompson has maintained an active presence in New York’s public realm as chair of the CUNY board of trustees, overseeing the university’s budget, policy, personnel and mission.
Torres, Damaris
Damaris Torres serves as the chief diversity and inclusion officer at the New York State Insurance Fund, the state’s largest workers’ compensation insurer and among the 10 largest in the country. Torres has worked at NYSIF for nearly 30 years in the internal audit, internal control, legal and human resources teams. She oversees its compliance with the state’s MWBE program. The fund has set a 30% MWBE participation goal for its contracts. NYSIF also hosts an annual MWBE Investment Symposium to examine successes and challenges in diverse hiring.
Velez, Elizabeth
The Velez Organization is one of the largest minority-owned businesses in the New York City area and the state’s largest Latino-owned construction firm. Elizabeth Velez is the second-generation owner of the MWBE-certified firm, which was founded by her father after an injury forced him to pivot from carpentry work. She is also a board member of the Association of Minority Businesses of New York and chair of the New York Building Foundation. She currently serves on the boards of the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York and the New York City Economic Development Corp.
Walker, Jessica
As president and CEO of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, Jessica Walker endeavors to ensure that the borough’s more than 125,000 businesses thrive. The business organization hosts a number of MWBE programs, including the annual Supplier Diversity Conference & Expo for MWBEs and many other types of businesses to network and gain information. As part of New York City’s Small Business Resource Network, the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce assists with MWBE certification. Previously, Walker was the vice president of government affairs for the Partnership for New York City.
Watts Jr., Edward
Edward Watts Jr. succeeded his father as president of Buffalo-based Watts Architects & Engineers in 2011. Watts has developed the firm’s New York City office over the past decade and led the firm in breaking through with a contract from the New York City School Construction Authority. The contract has allowed the firm to establish its downstate presence. In an effort to bring more people of color and women to the industry, Watts Architects & Engineers offers two scholarships for minority students studying architecture and engineering at the University at Buffalo.
Won, Julie
New York City Council Contracts Committee Chair Julie Won has been using her role to expand access to city government contracts for MWBEs. She held multiple oversight hearings on food quality and MWBE contracts for the shelter food procurement program. She also brought to light companies that are registered as MWBEs but are led by white men who used family connections to qualify as MWBEs. She is a co-sponsor of a bill that would count people of Middle Eastern and North African descent in future MWBE disparity studies.
Zapata, Lourdes
Lourdes Zapata has been a champion of diversity and inclusion in New York City throughout her career, including in her current role as chief diversity and inclusion officer for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Zapata ensures equitable access to economic opportunities for MWBEs, partially by eliminating barriers to securing MTA contracts. In the 2025-2029 capital plan, the MTA is planning to award $6.5 billion to $7.5 billion in contracts to state-certified MWBEs. Zapata was previously the state’s chief diversity officer under then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the executive director of Empire State Development’s MWBE Development Division.
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