Power Lists
The 2025 Upstate Power 100
Key New York leaders making an impact north of Westchester.
City & State presents the 2025 Upstate Power 100. United States Senate; Blanc Photographie; The Oneida Indian Nation
When Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that the Metro-North Railroad would take passengers all the way up to Albany starting in the spring, it raised a critical question: Does this change the definition of where upstate begins? That’s because for many New Yorkers, upstate begins in Poughkeepsie – because the Dutchess County city marked the far limit of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s reach.
How to define upstate is a perennial debate, and there’s very little consensus. Some say upstate starts just north of the Bronx. Some insist it begins in Albany. Others cite landmarks like the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge or Yankee Stadium or when there’s a Stewart’s Shops convenience store nearby. Still others claim, half joking, that it’s above 59th Street or even 14th Street in Manhattan. Hochul herself weighed in earlier this year, asserting that upstate starts north of Westchester County – and we’re going with the governor’s definition for this year’s Upstate Power 100.
The list features powerful upstate public officials, business executives and industry advocates as well as key leaders in health care, organized labor, academia, philanthropy, social services and other important fields – all ranked based on their influence, their accomplishments and their reach in the region. We’re pleased to introduce the 2025 Upstate Power 100.
1. Kathy Hochul
Gov. Kathy Hochul has taken an outsized role in the governance of New York City this past year, but much of her local political focus is grounded in her upstate political beginnings as a town board member in Hamburg and as Erie County clerk. Hochul’s upstate agenda includes constructing a new nuclear power plant, modernizing Syracuse Hancock International Airport, keeping energy costs low, investing $400 million into Albany’s revitalization and extending the Metro-North Railroad up to Albany. Hochul won’t have to face North Country Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, who abruptly dropped her gubernatorial bid and won’t seek reelection to Congress.
2. Elise Stefanik
Rep. Elise Stefanik’s time as a Washington, D.C., power broker and New York’s most powerful Republican will be coming to an end. She was the front-runner for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, a path she chose after her U.N. ambassador nomination was dropped in order to protect a narrow GOP majority in Congress. Then, after Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman launched a gubernatorial campaign, Stefanik surprised the political world by not only dropping out of that race but also announcing she would not seek reelection to Congress. Stefanik is the House Republican Leadership chair and remains a staunch ally of President Donald Trump.
3. Crystal Peoples-Stokes
The second-most powerful upstate woman in state government is Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes, the region’s most powerful state legislator. She used her perch in Albany to bring acting Buffalo Mayor Chris Scanlon’s 3% hotel tax, a key part of his fiscal plan, to fruition. The author of the state law that legalized cannabis sales, Peoples-Stokes is pushing to help struggling store owners with debt. Peoples-Stokes opposed former Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. President and CEO Henry Wojtaszek’s appointment to the board representing Niagara County. She also serves on the advisory council of the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum.
4. Chuck Schumer
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is adjusting to life in President Donald Trump’s second term, and the Democratic base hasn’t always been pleased with his efforts. Schumer has faced criticism from all sides, both for keeping the federal government open in the spring and shutting it down in the fall. The Brooklynite, known for his annual visits to all 62 New York counties, capped off his 2025 tour with a recent visit to a Columbia County dairy farm. He also has played a role in positioning upstate as an epicenter for the semiconductor and technology industries.
5. April Baskin, Samra Brouk, Jeremy Cooney, Patricia Fahy, Michelle Hinchey, Rachel May & James Skoufis
Even in a city like Albany that’s brimming with ambition, state Sen. James Skoufis still stands out. His long-shot bid for Democratic National Committee chair fizzled this year, but he was named to a DNC “People’s Cabinet.” The state Senate Investigations and Government Operations Committee chair probed Gov. Kathy Hochul’s controversial Medicaid home transition, which might be why she made a point of vetoing a number of his bills. The Hudson Valley lawmaker has also called for a state overseer to veto the tax breaks for an Amazon warehouse in Orange County.
State Sen. Jeremy Cooney took over the policy-heavy Transportation Committee last year while only in his second term. The priorities of the Rochester lawmaker include studying high-speed rail and investing in infrastructure maintenance and community connectivity projects.
State Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Michelle Hinchey this year passed legislation that was backed by the court system and district attorneys and signed by the governor that will improve access to mental health courts. The Hudson Valley and Catskills legislator also passed a measure that would streamline MWBE recertification, which is awaiting action by the governor.
Consumer Protection Committee Chair Rachel May has been productive, advancing 27 bills through both chambers this year. This includes a measure that was signed by the governor that aims to boost the craft brewing industry through annual retailer awards similar to those for wine.
Mental Health Committee Chair Samra Brouk is still endeavoring to pass Daniel’s Law, which would send mental health professionals to deal with those in crisis rather than police. She’s also championing expanding doula access.
Procurement and Contracts Committee Chair April Baskin is now in Albany after chairing the Erie County Legislature. She has passed legislation in the state Senate to remove lead pipes from homes where children live.
State Sen. Patrica Fahy moved up from the Assembly to the state Senate this year, becoming chair of the Disabilities Committee. She has introduced legislation to reimburse small businesses who make accommodations for employees with disabilities.
6. Kirsten Gillibrand
U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand joined the Appropriations Committee this year with the goal of bringing back more federal funds to New York, including some to protect broadband expansion in rural communities and for transportation and resiliency projects. As the new chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Gillibrand is also in charge of Democratic efforts to retake the majority. Among her more recent legislative accomplishments was passing legislation to provide benefits to veterans exposed to toxic burn pits overseas. This year, she became the ranking member on the Aging Committee and serves on the Appropriation Committee’s Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Independent Agencies Subcommittee.
7. Mario Cilento
New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento has made it clear that President Donald Trump is not his friend and is no friend of the labor movement. At the state level, Cilento has represented some 2.5 million members in supporting the passage of legislation authorizing the state to step in if the National Labor Relations Board does not fulfill its duties. He has also pushed successfully for boosting unemployment benefits, making public employee pensions more attractive and passing the state Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act. Cilento has backed Gov. Kathy Hochul’s push to build a new nuclear power plant upstate to boost clean energy production.
8. Melinda Person
Melinda Person is putting her stamp on New York’s schools. The powerful teachers union leader was a force behind the passage of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s classroom cellphone ban. Person has pointed to results of a survey by New York State United Teachers that shows New York teachers largely agree that the ban is working. This fall, Person also called for a greater focus on civics education, arguing that former President George W. Bush’s signature education law, No Child Left Behind, downgraded social studies. She joined a lawsuit that compelled President Donald Trump to release $6 billion in federal education funding.
9. Ray Halbritter
Ray Halbritter has positioned the Oneida Indian Nation as a leader in tourism and entertainment in Central New York. The Oneida Indian Nation’s Turning Stone Resort complex is in the middle of a $370 million expansion project involving almost 90 companies, over 60 of which are based in New York. Earlier this year, Halbritter presided over a topping-off ceremony for the Crescent Hotel, part of the Turning Stone expansion. The rest of the project includes a doubling of Turning Stone’s event space, new dining options, expanded parking and a health center for guests and employees.
10. Malik Evans, Dorcey Applyrs, Sharon Owens & Sean Ryan
Which of these is not like the others? It’s Rochester Mayor Malik Evans, the only leader of one of New York’s largest upstate cities who won’t be new to the post in 2026. Since taking office four years ago, Evans has put a focus on housing, developing new affordable rental units and building energy-efficient housing stock. His administration has awarded $10,000 microgrants for neighborhood community cohesion programs and fulfilled his promise to plant 6,000 trees in four years.
Buffalo Mayor-elect Sean Ryan is the Queen City’s fourth-consecutive elected mayor to move from the state Senate to the towering City Hall overlooking Niagara Square. Ryan defeated acting Mayor Chris Scanlon in the pivotal Democratic primary this summer. Among his priorities is resolving Buffalo’s fiscal crisis, revitalizing downtown and repairing the city’s infrastructure.
Syracuse Mayor-elect Sharon Owens doesn’t need a map to find her new office in January. Currently the city’s deputy mayor, Owens will be succeeding Mayor Ben Walsh. Syracuse’s first Black mayor, Owens won a whopping 74% of the vote in the general election, a performance that helped flip the Onondaga County Legislature to Democrats for the first time in a half century. As deputy mayor, she took an active role in Micron’s community investment program, created an office to reduce gun violence and launched an apprenticeship program.
Albany Mayor-elect Dorcey Applyrs will be the capital city’s first Black mayor. Currently Albany’s chief city auditor and a former Common Council Public Safety Committee chair, Applyrs has made public safety a key part of her platform. Other priorities include economic development, investing in the arts and creating new youth programs.
11. Justin Driscoll
Running an agency known primarily for hydroelectric power generation, Justin Driscoll is bringing the New York Power Authority back to its nuclear roots. Gov. Kathy Hochul has put NYPA in charge of her nuclear power initiative, with the goal of eventually generating 1 gigawatt of nuclear energy. Driscoll said that NYPA has started discussion with the U.S. Department of Energy for a federal loan to cover costs and is looking for upstate communities interested in hosting a nuclear plant. NYPA played a role in New York nuclear power until a quarter century ago.
12. Tom Golisano
Tom Golisano is demonstrating the outsized impact that one man can have. The Rochester business executive and former gubernatorial candidate has now made over $1 billion in philanthropic donations in his lifetime. In October, Golisano announced the national Golisano Children’s Alliance of hospitals, part of a new $253 million philanthropic round that includes children’s hospitals in Maryland, Vermont and West Virginia. In New York, Golisano donated $360 million last year to organizations in Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, and this year he gave $50 million to Buffalo’s soon-to-be-renamed Golisano Children’s Hospital.
13. Nick Langworthy, Mike Lawler & Claudia Tenney
Rep. Nick Langworthy, the former state Republican Party chair before heading to Congress in 2023, remains a campaign fundraising force, boasting $1.7 million on hand at the end of September. Langworthy, whose district stretches from the Buffalo area to the outskirts of Binghamton, serves on three of the most powerful committees in the House: Rules, Energy and Commerce, and Oversight and Government Reform. The co-chair of the Aviation Safety Caucus also reached across the aisle as part of a coalition that pushed successfully to preserve the mandatory 1,500-hour flight training rule for pilots.
Rep. Mike Lawler has pivoted from his dashed gubernatorial dreams to seeking a third term in his Hudson Valley swing seat. His confrontation with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries over the government shutdown turned heads, and as a leader of the SALT Caucus he helped partially restore the state and local tax deduction. He is the vice chair for communications on the Financial Services Committee and chair of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee of the Foreign Affairs Committee. A crowded field of Democrats are seeking to unseat Lawler next year.
Rep. Claudia Tenney is a staunch defender of President Donald Trump. The Finger Lakes lawmaker has introduced legislation to make Trump’s June 14 birthday – which is also Flag Day and the U.S. Army’s birthday – a federal holiday to celebrate the president as the “founder of America’s Golden Age.” She has praised the White House for targeting drug cartels and has been a Trump defender on cable news. She serves on the powerful Ways and Means Committee, the Intelligence Committee and the Science, Space and Technology Committee.
14. Heather Mulligan
Heather Mulligan is focused on fueling New York’s economy and making it easier to do business in the state. The influential Business Council of New York State leader saw her organization’s Public Policy Institute partner with the New York State Economic Development Council to author the Blueprint for New York, which offers a series of recommendations for state leaders on how to be more business-friendly. This year, Mulligan successfully advocated for the repayment of the state’s unemployment insurance debt, a top issue in Albany this year.
15. J. Conrad Seneca & Kevin Nephew
In May, Seneca Nation President J. Conrad Seneca welcomed Gov. Kathy Hochul to the nation’s Cattaraugus Territory, where the governor apologized for past atrocities committed at the Thomas Indian School. The Seneca Nation also reported a $2 billion economic impact in Western New York last year and has continued to expand its portfolio by buying the Rochester Knighthawks lacrosse team. At the thriving Seneca Gaming Corp., Kevin Nephew is driving a casino and resort business that includes properties in Niagara Falls, Buffalo and Salamanca. The first member of the Seneca Nation to lead its casino operation, Nephew is in the middle of developing a new master plan for all three of the corporation’s properties and has implemented a human resources systems and customer service programs.
16. Satish Tripathi
Satish Tripathi will wrap his tenure as the University at Buffalo’s 15th president in June after 15 years in his office atop Capen Hall. Tripathi has presided over a transformation of the SUNY flagship, including completing a new medical campus in downtown Buffalo, renovating major university buildings and establishing UB as the home of the statewide Empire AI initiative. Tripathi has also increased the school’s sponsored research expenditure by 65% and solidified UB as an economic powerhouse. Tripathi, a former UB provost, will return to the engineering faculty.
17. Jeremy Jacobs & Jeremy “Jerry” Jacobs Jr.
As chair of Delaware North, Jeremy Jacobs is a premier player in the hospitality, sports and gambling industries. Jacobs keeps his half-century ownership of the NHL’s Boston Bruins top of mind, watching every game and then calling team leaders for a full debrief. Among the Buffalo-based Delaware North’s recent accomplishments are inking a new concession deal with the Atlanta Braves and acquiring a new event space in Austin, Texas. Jeremy “Jerry” Jacobs Jr., Delaware North’s CEO, was appointed by Gov. Kathy Hochul this year to succeed his father as chair of the University at Buffalo Council, the school’s chief advisory board, and will be chairing the search committee to find UB’s 16th president. Jeremy Jacobs was the chair of the search committees for UB’s 14th and 15th presidents.
18. Tim Kennedy, John Mannion, Joe Morelle, Josh Riley, Pat Ryan & Paul Tonko
Rep. Joe Morelle, who serves on the influential Appropriations Committee, has sought to improve congressional security and has suggested calling a new constitutional convention. The Rochester-area politician was selected in 2022 as the ranking member of the House Administration Committee, a role in which he oversees congressional administration and federal election policy.
Rep. Pat Ryan is a West Point alum whose district includes the U.S. Military Academy. The moderate lawmaker has embraced “patriotic populism” and has sought to make the Democratic Party appealing to young men. Ryan, who serves on the Armed Services and Transportation and Infrastructure committees, has warned against sending federal troops into New York.
A longtime energy leader, Rep. Paul Tonko is fighting the federal government’s blocking of offshore wind permits, introducing legislation to facilitate offshore wind projects, including the creation of a new federal agency. The Albany-area lawmaker has introduced legislation to improve oversight of the sports betting industry. He serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee as well as the Budget Committee.
Rep. Tim Kennedy was a fundraising powerhouse in the state Senate and that hasn’t changed in Washington, D.C. In the most recent fundraising report, Kennedy raised the most money of any Western New York member of Congress. He serves on the Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs committees and has introduced legislation for federal assistance for snowstorms.
Rep. John Mannion has also made the jump from Albany to Washington. A onetime teacher and former chair of the state Senate Disabilities Committee, Mannion is advocating against abolishing the U.S. Department of Education and has introduced legislation to keep special education programs within the department. The Syracuse-area lawmaker serves on the Agriculture Committee as well as the Education and Workforce Committee.
Representing a sprawling swing district, Rep. Josh Riley has taken a moderate approach that left him open to criticism from Republicans and progressives alike. He has teamed up with Republican Rep. Mike Lawler on legislation to improve agricultural practices. He serves on the Agriculture Committee and the Science, Space and Technology Committee.
19. René F. Jones
For René F. Jones, the fundamentals keep M&T Bank on a growth path. In his annual letter to shareholders this year, Jones said he and his team are focused on “managing liquidity, prudently allocating capital and operating with transparency.” The Western New York finance leader has also touted the new federally approved technology hub linking Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse as an economic boon for upstate. He has asserted that the economy is healthy despite uncertainty created by President Donald Trump’s tariff policies.
20. Havidán Rodríguez
Havidán Rodríguez has the University at Albany on the forefront of innovation in higher education. He’s implementing new green policies, announcing a $30 million decarbonization project for the campus this year that will lead to a 16% reduction in natural gas usage. The trailblazing leader is also touting the university’s annual $1.1 billion economic impact and its key role in the growth of Albany, including through the nanotechnology economy, its investments in artificial intelligence and game design, and Gov. Kathy Hochul’s $400 million Albany revitalization program.
21. Terry Pegula
Buffalo is a sports town, and Terry Pegula controls its two biggest sports franchises. Pegula has been succeeding on the football front, with quarterback Josh Allen routinely leading the Buffalo Bills to postseason play – to the delight of diehard fans like Gov. Kathy Hochul. In hockey, Pegula has not enjoyed as much success with the Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres have not made the playoffs in 14 years, a trend that can cause more indigestion in Western New York than wings and a Labatt Blue six-pack ever will.
22. Sanjay Mehrotra
With Micron Technology building a new major chip manufacturing facility on a site outside Syracuse, Sanjay Mehrotra has quickly become one of the most influential businesspeople in the state. Mehrotra has countered President Donald Trump’s tariff threats on computer chips, notching a win when Trump said he would exempt companies that are moving production into the United States. Micron also launched a major lobbying blitz in Congress to protect federal chip aid from any changes under Trump.
23. Adam Bello, Daniel McCoy, Ryan McMahon & Mark Poloncarz
Erie County’s longest-serving county executive, Mark Poloncarz is not slowing down as he enters his final two years in office. He has made it clear he will not accept any more delays at the Heritage Point development in Buffalo’s Canalside district, telling developers “get the damn thing done.” He’s warning that President Donald Trump’s priorities are harming counties and that they will cause future county budgets to be full of “dead flowers and arsenic.” Poloncarz apologized to Canada for Trump’s proposals to annex the country.
Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon is helping drive large-scale economic growth in Central New York tied to Micron’s new $100 billion semiconductor plant outside Syracuse. Dating back to his tenure in the county legislature, McMahon has been focused on developing the future Micron site as a hub for the tech sector. He recently launched a campaign for private donations to cover the final costs of the construction of the new Syracuse aquarium.
Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy has made economic development a hallmark of his administration. McCoy’s budget priorities for 2026 are centered around the revitalization of downtown Albany and housing. Albany County also purchased the campus of the recently closed College of Saint Rose as a redevelopment site. McCoy is the longtime board president of the County Executives of America.
Monroe County Executive Adam Bello has put several issues front and center, from the development of a climate and resiliency plan for the county to his opposition to federal policies. He has joined a lawsuit over the Trump administration’s diversity, equity and inclusion crackdown, arguing it will jeopardize funding for programs that provide essential county services. He said that while the county has made health and economic gains, Trump’s policies pose a threat.
24. Michael Kotlikoff
Twenty-five years after joining Cornell University as founding chair of the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Michael Kotlikoff became the university’s 15th president in March. Kotlikoff, previously Cornell’s provost, had served as interim president for eight months following the retirement of Martha Pollack. Kotlikoff reached an agreement with the Trump administration to restore federal funding and end a federal civil rights investigation into antisemitism at Cornell. The deal, which Kotlikoff said preserves autonomy and academic freedom, requires Cornell to pay $30 million to the federal government and invest $30 million in its agriculture programs.
25. Gavin Donohue
Gavin Donohue’s warnings are being heeded. The longtime leader of a trade association for power producers saw Gov. Kathy Hochul shift her energy strategy to embrace natural gas, including greenlighting a new pipeline, in order to address the electricity crisis Donohue and others had warned about. Donohue argues New York City will face power reliability issues within a year, hitting Long Island and the Hudson Valley by the end of the decade. Donohue has also said that new semiconductor and artificial intelligence projects upstate will need new energy sources.
26. Byron Brown
Byron Brown stepped down as Buffalo’s longest-serving mayor last year to take over Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. and Batavia Downs with a mandate to turn around the beleaguered gambling operation. Since then he has implemented a 10-point reform plan for the government-owned entity, including overhauling executive buyouts, hiring practices and OTB’s heavily questioned professional sports luxury box usage. He got the state to lower the OTB tax rate, allowing for more funding to be returned to local governments. Brown was awarded a 3% pay raise in July.
27. Didi Barrett, Harry Bronson, Pat Burke, Pamela Hunter, Donna Lupardo, William Magnarelli, John T. McDonald III, Jonathan Rivera, Angelo Santabarbara & Carrie Woerner
Assembly Transportation Committee Chair William Magnarelli passed legislation this year to regulate consumer litigation financing, which was signed by the governor. The Syracuse lawmaker won funding in the budget to expand the state Thruway work zone speed camera program.
Assembly Energy Committee Chair Didi Barrett this year passed legislation to put a consumer advocate on the state Energy Planning Board, which the governor has signed. The Mid-Hudson Valley lawmaker opposed funding cuts for a state program that offsets home energy efficiency costs.
Labor Committee Chair Harry Bronson passed several recent bills, including a measure approved in both houses that would protect out-of-state individuals seeking reproductive or gender-affirming care in New York.
Government Operations Committee Chair John T. McDonald III isn’t happy with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s decision to change the name of Fort Johnson back to Fort Polk. The Biden administration had renamed the base after Albany resident Henry Johnson, a Medal of Honor recipient.
Speaker Pro Tempore Pamela Hunter ascended to the speaker’s rostrum this year and presides over legislative proceedings in the chamber. The Army veteran chairs the Subcommittee on Women Veterans and is the immediate past president of the National Council of Insurance Legislators.
Agriculture Committee Chair Donna Lupardo has supported the state’s textile and syrup industries and assisted young and emerging farmers.
Racing and Wagering Committee Chair Carrie Woerner passed legislation this year for a health study into racehorses and has explored expanding the sports betting industry.
People with Disabilities Committee Chair Angelo Santabarbara introduced legislation to give the state Legislature the final power over utility rate hikes and to eliminate overnight tolls on the state Thruway. He has focused on serving children with special needs.
Two Western New York lawmakers are angling for new positions. Cities Committee Chair Pat Burke is mulling a bid for Erie County executive in 2027, seeking in what will be the first open seat election in 16 years for the top spot in the Rath Building. Meanwhile, Assembly Member Jonathan Rivera is seeking the state Senate seat of Buffalo Mayor-elect Sean Ryan. Rivera has passed legislation to create separate judicial districts for Erie, Monroe and Onondaga counties.
28. Jack O’Donnell
From his “From the Lobby” podcast and his Monday Morning Memo newsletter to his growing government relations portfolio, Jack O’Donnell is a go-to lobbyist, particularly in his native Western New York. He has helped position the University at Buffalo as a base for artificial intelligence nationally. A leader in the arts and culture space, he helped secure $220 million for the expansion of Buffalo’s AKG Art Museum and $115 million for the Neighborhood of Play at Rochester’s Strong National Museum of Play. O’Donnell’s firm has been expanding in Rochester and the Finger Lakes.
Editor’s note: Jack O’Donnell is a member of City & State’s advisory board.
29. Beth Finkel
The aging population in New York has no greater advocate than Beth Finkel. The powerful AARP New York leader is fighting for older New Yorkers and has advocated successfully for a series of landmark laws. Finkel’s latest priorities included legislation to create the state Office of the Utility Consumer Advocate to represent consumers in state and federal utility rate debates, a measure the governor recently vetoed. Finkel welcomed Hudson as the 1,000th city in the AARP’s network of age-friendly communities in September and has also called on the federal government to protect Social Security.
30. Stephen Acquario
Stephen Acquario is leading the New York State Association of Counties in its centennial year, with local economic growth upstate a top priority, including ways counties can capitalize on the economic impact of Micron’s investment in Central New York. He has argued for changes to make it easier to utilize a state fund to assist counties in implementing programs related to the state’s Raise the Age law. During the federal government shutdown, Acquario raised concerns about the lack of federal funding for food assistance programs.
31. Sarah Mangelsdorf
University of Rochester President Sarah Mangelsdorf isn’t just a higher education leader – she’s a key player in the regional economy, as the leader of an institution that’s the largest private upstate employer with more than 39,000 employees. In September, Mangelsdorf launched a $1.75 billion capital campaign, and she has noted that the school notched record-breaking fundraising three years in a row. On her watch, the school joined a lawsuit seeking to overturn a U.S. Department of Energy policy to reduce university indirect costs.
32. David O’Rourke
David O’Rourke’s New York Racing Association runs thoroughbred horse racing at three major New York tracks: Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course, providing a local tourism boost. Racing drives the Saratoga County economy, with an estimated $371 million in annual economic impact from the 40-day summer racing season – plus an extra $50 million coming in from Saratoga temporarily hosting the Belmont Stakes. O’Rourke has called for changes aligning racing and sports betting and allowing fixed odds on horse racing in New York.
33. Yvonne Flowers, Michael Galime & Jared Kraham
Poughkeepsie Mayor Yvonne Flowers says her city of over 31,000 is “open for business.” Flowers accepted a $10 million state Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant this year to refurbish Main Street, a longtime goal for Poughkeepsie officials. Flowers is creating a downtown business improvement district and new housing, in addition to other economic development plans. On her watch, the city received a $500,000 federal grant for Northside revitalization and overhauled the city’s zoning code for the first time in 20 years.
Binghamton’s youngest mayor ever is leading the city through an economic renaissance. Jared Kraham accepted a $10 million state Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant in February for the redevelopment of Clinton Street in the Parlor City’s First Ward. He created Binghamton’s first city-run youth recreation center, saw the city earn the state’s first Pro-Housing Community designation and won an eminent domain case to kick off plans to revitalize a blighted shopping center. The 34-year-old, who previously served as deputy mayor for eight years, was a rare Republican winner this year when he captured 54% of the vote to win a second term.
Utica Mayor Michael Galime is showing that he’s more than just the chief executive of a city with a population of over 64,000. He’s running the Boilermaker, Utica’s iconic summer road race, and showcasing his saxophone skills. Galime is also launching revitalization projects for Utica’s Oneida Square and uptown commercial district.
34. Aaron Teitelbaum
The most influential rabbi in Rockland County is Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum, who leads the Ahronim sect of the Hasidic community. Earlier this year, Teitelbaum called on the Hasidic community to consider leaving Williamsburg, citing rising housing costs, and instead move to Rockland and Orange counties. During this year’s election, the sect saw divides as Rabbi Moshe Indig, a political leader aligned with Teitelbaum, endorsed Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and said that he did not consider Mamdani to be antisemitic, although other Ahronim leaders endorsed former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
35. Clint Halftown
Clint Halftown has filed a federal lawsuit against the state Liquor Authority over the agency’s decision to deny a liquor license to the Cayuga Nation for LakeSide Enterprises, a Cayuga-owned business group that includes two gambling facilities. Halftown alleges the SLA did not engage in conversations with the Cayuga Nation. He is also engaged in a federal lawsuit against Cayuga and Seneca counties to obtain Enhanced 911 access for Cayuga Nation police. Halftown unveiled new branding and logos for the nation’s business ventures in January.
36. Michael DiGiacomo & John A. Sarcone III
John A. Sarcone III’s tenure as acting U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York has not been smooth sailing. The Westchester County resident was originally appointed by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, but he was never confirmed by the U.S. Senate and the district’s federal judges did not extend his appointment. So Bondi appointed Sarcone to another high-level role in a legally disputed workaround to stay on as acting U.S. attorney. Sarcone has also faced scrutiny for declaring a boarded-up Albany building as his legal residence.
Michael DiGiacomo, the U.S. attorney for the Western District of New York, hasn’t faced the same amount of turbulence as Sarcone. A federal prosecutor for over two decades, DiGiacomo became the U.S. attorney earlier this year by the appointment of Bondi. DiGiacomo’s tenure was extended in June by federal judges in the Western District.
37. Kimberley Minkel
Former Gov. Nelson Rockefeller was one of New York’s master builders, but he never fulfilled his original vision for Buffalo mass transit: a subway-light rail link to the University at Buffalo’s North Campus in suburban Amherst. Kimberley Minkel is picking up where Rockefeller left off, looking to extend Metro Rail from the Buffalo-Amherst border to UB’s North Campus. Minkel is also improving Buffalo Niagara International Airport, with a new terminal wing and runway rehabilitation, and implementing Western New York’s first bus rapid transit system, a federally funded project to better connect Buffalo’s East Side.
38. Frederick Kowal
Frederick Kowal is the longtime leader of United University Professions, the labor union representing university faculty and staff across the sprawling SUNY system. The conservationist now has a new national role as board chair of the National Wildlife Foundation. Kowal was recently honored by the New York State United Teachers as the union’s Higher Education Member of the Year. He has criticized federal immigration officials for detaining two employees at SUNY Upstate University Hospital and wants a restoration of state aid to the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
39. Casey Seiler & Margaret Kenny Giancola
Casey Seiler and Margaret Kenny Giancola are delivering top-notch journalism at two of the largest upstate newspapers. Seiler, the editor of the Times Union, came to the paper after reporting in Vermont and Wyoming. A former Capitol Bureau chief for the Times Union, Seiler pens a column covering a variety of issues. This year, the Times Union was awarded Newspaper of the Year for the third consecutive year by the New York Press Association. Kenny Giancola started at The Buffalo News as an intern in 1993, rising through the ranks until her appointment as editor-in-chief a year ago. She has made enterprise journalism a key part of her agenda at The Buffalo News, including in-depth coverage of the 2022 blizzard and the 2022 Tops supermarket shooting.
40. Mantosh Dewan
Mantosh Dewan presides over Central New York’s largest workforce, with 12,614 employees at SUNY Upstate Medical University. Dewan is focused on deepening the medical center’s impact as an economic engine through investments in research infrastructure to assist with developing new therapies, treatments and businesses. Last year, Dewan launched Upstate Biotech Ventures with $6 million in seed money to cultivate biotech companies incubated at the medical center. Dewan has also overseen an increase in revenue to $3 billion, the second-highest figure for a SUNY school.
41. Mike Elmendorf
Mike Elmendorf doesn’t want federal trade officials to put one foot in, put one foot out or shake it all about. Elmendorf has expressed concern that President Donald Trump’s tariff proposals will hurt the construction industry by raising costs, and referred to uncertainty over the plans as “tariff hokey pokey.” He said contractors on public jobs have less ability to renegotiate higher costs with the state. Elmendorf continues to advocate for changes to the state’s Scaffold Law and has touted a bill from Rep. Nick Langworthy to exempt federally funded projects from the law.
42. Melissa Fleischut
In the past year, Melissa Fleischut accomplished a remarkable feat in Albany: changing New York’s complex alcoholic beverage control laws. Fleischut, who has led the New York State Restaurant Association for well over a decade, spearheaded a successful effort to push lawmakers to pass retail-to-retail alcohol sales legislation, which would allow on-premise liquor license holders to purchase a limited quantity for a local liquor store for resale. Gov. Kathy Hochul recently signed the legislation.
43. Colleen Wegman
From Rochester to North Carolina, customers love Wegmans. President and CEO Colleen Wegman is the fourth generation to lead this family business. For the past decade, the supermarket chain has ranked first on the Fortune Best Workplaces in Retail list. While Wegmans has expanded far beyond Rochester – with new stores opening in Maryland, Connecticut and on Long Island in 2025 alone – Wegman said there were no plans to go national, since the family prefers to know the individual store teams well.
44. Daniel Pickett III
A health care entrepreneur in the Albany region and the chair of the Albany Med Health System board, Daniel Pickett III was picked on Dec. 4 to become the health system’s new president and CEO, succeeding Dennis McKenna. Pickett is the founder and former chair of AptiHealth. The change comes as the system is in the middle of planning a $25 million expansion of the Albany Medical Center emergency room, including 20 new patient care areas, amid an increase in patient load. He’s also a trustee at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
45. Richard “Chip” Davis
Richard “Chip” Davis took the reins of Rochester Regional Health in 2022 and is overseeing an expansion of the award-winning integrated health system, which serves 1.6 million people. He most recently opened a $37 million Geneva Medical Campus to increase access to health care in the Finger Lakes region. Late last year, Rochester Regional Health partnered with GLOW YMCA to open a new 78,000-square-foot Healthy Living Campus in Batavia, which includes primary care, nutrition, recreation and cancer screenings. Davis backed Gov. Kathy Hochul in opposing the Grieving Families Act.
46. Donald Boyd
Presiding over a major health system with six hospitals in Western New York, one hospital just over the state line in Pennsylvania, two ambulatory surgical centers in the Buffalo area and a number of other health care facilities, Donald Boyd is moving upstate health care forward. Over the summer, Boyd welcomed a $50 million donation from Rochester philanthropist Tom Golisano to Kaleida’s Children’s Hospital in Buffalo, which will be renamed after Golisano and will be part of the new Golisano Children’s Alliance.
47. Thomas Quatroche
Thomas Quatroche is a longtime health care executive in Western New York and has led Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo for the past decade. Now he is taking his work national as the new chair of the board of America’s Essential Hospitals. In this role, he will be advocating for hospitals across the country as they deliver medical care for those who face barriers. He was recently honored by the Healthcare Association of New York State for his advocacy in Washington, D.C., on behalf of safety net hospitals.
48. Joyce Markiewicz
Joyce Markiewicz is making workforce development for Catholic Health’s staff a priority, awarding 15 full scholarships as part of an initiative for staff to study at Trocaire College. A registered nurse, Markiewicz became president and CEO of Catholic Health in September 2023 and has been called the “most powerful businesswoman” in Buffalo. In early October, Markiewicz headed off a strike by workers at Catholic Health’s hospitals across Western New York and reached a deal with CWA Locals 1133 and 1168.
49. Robert Duffy, Mark Eagan & Dottie Gallagher
Robert Duffy has found an active life after elected office as the longtime leader of the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce. Duffy played a key role in building up business support for Gov. Kathy Hochul’s successful proposal to pay off the state’s unemployment insurance debt. Duffy, a former Rochester mayor and ex-lieutenant governor, is a member of the SUNY board of trustees and co-chairs the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council.
Mark Eagan is guiding the Albany region’s business community as New York’s semiconductor industry takes off. This includes the designation last year of Albany NanoTech as the nation’s first National Semiconductor Technology Center. The designation will allow Albany NanoTech to play a key role in the development of the industry nationally.
Dottie Gallagher has been focused on building the Buffalo economy for years. Gallagher became the CEO of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership in 2013 following a stint leading Visit Buffalo Niagara. In June, Gallagher will retire from her position advocating for Western New York businesses. She’ll be replaced by Grant Loomis, who has headed advocacy for the Partnership and was a top aide to former Rep. Chris Collins in Congress and when Collins was Erie County executive.
50. Antonio Delgado
Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado’s power has diminished considerably this year. New York’s nominal second-in-command made his breakup with Gov. Kathy Hochul official by launching a long-shot campaign against the governor in the 2026 Democratic primary. Hochul responded by stripping Delgado of his policy portfolio, most of his staff, security detail, car and state cellphone. Delgado, a former member of Congress, retains his constitutional and statutory duties as president of the state Senate and an ex-officio trustee of the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
51. Kathy Sheehan & Ben Walsh
Kathy Sheehan and Ben Walsh will be leaving office at the end of the year after eventful mayoral tenures. Sheehan, a three-term Albany mayor and former city treasurer, invested $100 million in infrastructure, created an innovation office and boosted investments in workforce development. She also oversaw the construction of Albany’s first office tower in 20 years and welcomed Gov. Kathy Hochul’s $400 million Championing Albany’s Potential Initiative. In Syracuse, Walsh is term-limited after two terms in City Hall. Walsh guided his city through the first phases of the major I-81 viaduct project, which will deconstruct the elevated highway through the city center and make it a boulevard. The project is a Hochul priority and a signature project of the Biden-era Reconnecting Communities Pilot Grant Program. Walsh has pushed for housing development and increased the rainy day fund from $50 million to $120 million. Walsh will be joining Hochul’s administration as director of the state Canal Corp., while speculation about Sheehan as a potential Hochul running mate has died down in recent months.
52. Jeremy Zellner
Jeremy Zellner is the chair of the Erie County Democratic Committee and until recently was the Democratic commissioner of the Erie County Board of Elections, but politically speaking he’s got a wandering eye. Zellner is now seeking the state Senate seat being vacated by Buffalo Mayor-elect Sean Ryan. Yet Zellner may not have an easy path to victory, as a fellow Democrat, Assembly Member Jonathan Rivera, wants the seat as well. Zellner presided over a number of general election wins this year, including Erie County Comptroller Kevin Hardwick’s reelection and Amherst Supervisor-elect Shawn Lavin’s win in a race targeted by Republicans.
53. Anne D’Alleva
Anne D’Alleva traded central Connecticut for the Southern Tier in November to become the next president of Binghamton University. The former provost of the University of Connecticut takes over a prestigious SUNY institution that is powering a technology-driven economic expansion in the Binghamton region. While serving as UConn’s provost, D’Alleva supported the university’s endeavors in artificial intelligence and quantum technology. An art historian, D’Alleva served as dean of the School of Fine Arts before that.
54. William Sanders
William Sanders became the 11th president of the Rochester Institute of Technology in July, succeeding David Munson, who retired. Prior to moving to the Flower City, Sanders spent five years as the dean of the Engineering College at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. In his inaugural address, Sanders announced five new endowed professorships, shared progress on a new strategic framework and committed to continue expanding RIT’s global footprint while also renewing its local commitment to Rochester.
55. Ron Ferri
The upstate supermarket debate often boils down to Tops versus Wegmans, and Ron Ferri knows where his loyalties lie as the president of Tops Friendly Markets. Ferri launched Tops’ annual Food 2 Families campaign this year to assist local food pantries during the November pause of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. Tops also opened a new store in Ellenville this year and launched a new healthy foods initiative. Ferri has partnered with Buffalo officials following the deadly May 14, 2022, shooting at a Tops on Buffalo’s East Side to help the local community.
56. Corey Ellis, Helen Hudson & Miguel Meléndez Jr.
Rochester City Council President Miguel Meléndez Jr. is aiming to uplift his city. His efforts included leading the legislative body in adopting “good cause” eviction for the city, approving a $75 million lead pipe replacement program, funding subsidized housing programs and supporting a Vision Zero traffic safety program. He also appointed the entire City Council to the Public Safety Committee as an accountability move.
Syracuse Common Council President Helen Hudson returned to the dais this spring after battling lung cancer and a near-fatal case of pneumonia, with the goal of finishing up her term as the first Black woman council president before retiring. Called the matriarch of Syracuse politics, Hudson is expected to have a street named after her. Mayor Ben Walsh awarded Hudson the key to the city, the only time he has bestowed the honor in his eight years in office.
The third time was not a charm for Albany City Council President Corey Ellis. Ellis lost his latest bid for the Democratic mayoral nomination this year to Mayor-elect Dorcey Applyrs. In his mayoral campaign, Ellis touted his work as council president, including co-authoring an equity agenda, creating the Community Police Review Board and serving as a founding board member of the Albany County Land Bank.
57. Joshua Breitbart
Joshua Breitbart is a third-generation Brooklynite, but he isn’t growing trees in Brooklyn – he’s cultivating connectivity across New York. Breitbart heads up the ConnectALL program at Empire State Development, which is leading the state’s universal connectivity program. The program has disbursed $1.3 billion in grants to local communities, with a particular focus on upstate. Breitbart has also led a statewide mapping program to identify areas of need and emphasizes connectivity as a driver of economic growth. Breitbart is a former New York City deputy chief technology officer.
58. Rob Ortt & William Barclay
Albany can be a bleak place for Republicans, but state Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt and Assembly Minority Leader William Barclay are making sure their party is heard. Ortt has spoken out against the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision for saying it would release inmates early due to inadequate prison staffing. He also wants more judicial discretion in setting bail. Barclay has said that he wants to address affordability while also aiming to scale back limits on solitary confinement and crack down on crime. One power Barclay and Ortt hold is making appointments to various state panels, including the Yonkers Financial Control Board, the Veterans Services Commission and the Heritage Areas Advisory Council.
59. Ashley Ranslow
Ashley Ranslow is on a mission to help New York’s small businesses reduce bureaucratic paperwork. She is calling on lawmakers to steer clear of any new annual reporting regulations while criticizing a bill passed this year creating new annual forms for businesses with less than 20 employees to root out any illegal activity, which the governor vetoed. Ranslow argued existing law enforcement can handle the job. Meanwhile, Ranslow is praising Gov. Kathy Hochul for the state paying off its unemployment insurance debt. She said the COVID-19 pandemic-era loan repayments had saddled small businesses with extra costs.
60. Tom King
Tom King is committed to protecting the Second Amendment in New York. King spearheaded the landmark NYSRPA v. Bruen U.S. Supreme Court case that reaffirmed the right to carry a gun for self-defense. He has opposed other legislation, including a proposed measure to require those purchasing a gun to have a hunting license and pass a shooting exam and a drug test. King’s New York State Rifle and Pistol Association is the official state affiliate of the National Rifle Association, and he has accused former NRA President Oliver North of conflicts of interest.
61. Howard Zemsky
Howard Zemsky is succession planning for his Buffalo-based development company. This year, the former state economic development chief turned over the CEO role at Larkin Development Group to his daughter, Kayla Zemsky, while retaining the position of chair for himself. Zemsky also chose his son-in-law, Michael Myers, as president and chief operating officer of the company. Kayla Zemsky has been appointed to the Planning, Permits and Parking Subcommittee for Buffalo Mayor-elect Sean Ryan’s transition team. Zemsky has also been a longtime ally of Gov. Kathy Hochul.
63. Peter Nwosu
Oswego is on the upswing, and one of the drivers of the economic growth of this Great Lakes community is Peter Nwosu, the president of SUNY Oswego. Since assuming the presidency in August 2023, Nwosu has created a School of Engineering and Computer Science and launched a new scholarship program for Oswego County residents. With Micron coming to nearby Syracuse, Nwosu is focused on Oswego’s projected economic growth, serving on the Oswego County Micron Strategy Steering Committee and creating the Center for Business Excellence and Transformation.
63. Christopher Jagel
Christopher Jagel completed the merger of upstate legal powerhouse Harris Beach and Connecticut law firm Murtha Cullina earlier this year to create Harris Beach Murtha. Jagel transitioned from the CEO post at Harris Beach to hold the same title for the combined firm. The newly merged firm has over 250 attorneys and 17 offices including across New York and in New Jersey, Connecticut and Washington, D.C. Jagel’s own work focuses on commercial and business transactions.
64. Alexander Betke
A lobbyist and attorney at New York’s top-ranked lobbying firm, Brown & Weinraub, Alexander Betke guides his clients’ goals to reality. Betke is a municipal law expert, providing legal services to local governments as both a general counsel and a special counsel. On the lobbying side, he represents trade associations, Fortune 500 companies and small businesses. Betke brings deep experience in both law and local government to his practice. He is a former Coxsackie town supervisor and was also a town council member.
65. Keith Kimball
New York is the fifth-ranked state in milk production, with an annual economic impact of $3.9 billion. Northeast Dairy Producers Association Chair Keith Kimball leads advocacy for the state’s thriving dairy industry, most recently through this year’s successful push to expand the state farm overtime tax credit to dairy farmers. Kimball praised lawmakers for adding $5 million in this year’s state budget for the Farmworker Housing Revolving Loan Fund. The association has obtained funding for PRO-DAIRY and agricultural workforce development at Cornell and the Cornell Ruminant Center, which includes a dairy research unit.
66. Tricia Asaro & Doreen Saia
At the top-tier lobbying firm Greenberg Traurig, Tricia Asaro and Doreen Saia are key leaders representing clients in the health care and energy sectors, respectively. Asaro is the co-chair of the firm’s Health Care and FDA Practice and the administrative shareholder for the Albany office. An expert in health care, Asaro has represented EmblemHealth in the sale of ConnectiCare to Molina Healthcare and Elderplan in a proposed merger with VillageCareMAX. Saia chairs the firm’s Albany office Energy and Natural Resources Practice. She utilizes her expertise in energy law to advise a number of national clients, with a focus on electricity generation and trading. This includes regulatory issues surrounding market deregulation, the siting of energy plants and ratemaking. Saia played a role in the shaping of the market structure for the New York Independent System Operator and the development of the state’s wholesale electricity market.
67. Barbara Van Epps
In Barbara Van Epps’ world, Mayor Eric Adams of New York City (population 8.5 million) and Mayor Jeannette Barrett of Speculator (population 406) are on the same level. The state’s top advocate for leaders of New York’s cities and villages, Van Epps has defeated proposals for new local government mandates that would drive up costs and this year secured the first increase in unrestricted state aid to cities and villages in 15 years. She led the organization in supporting changes to residency requirements for local government employees.
68. Andrew Kennedy, Evan Sullivan & Jay Holland
Andrew Kennedy, Evan Sullivan and Jay Holland are key members of the Ostroff Associates team delivering for clients in upstate New York. Sullivan, a former state Senate staffer, is an expert in social services, disability and health care issues. While working in the state Senate, he was director of legislation and senior adviser for the now-defunct Independent Democratic Conference. Kennedy brings both a private and public sector perspective as the former president and CEO of the Center for Economic Growth and as deputy state operations director for former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. He helped to bring Siemens’ new high-speed rail plant to the Elmira suburb of Horseheads. A former government affairs director for the New York State Restaurant Association, Holland is knowledgeable about a number of critical economic and business issues. His clients have included the Anheuser-Busch brewery in the Syracuse suburb of Baldwinsville, and he helped pass legislation benefiting the state’s dairy farmers.
69. Michael Fisher
Western New York has deep Catholic roots, and Buffalo Bishop Michael Fisher is shaping the next chapter of the Catholic church in the region. Fisher’s plan to bring the Diocese of Buffalo out of bankruptcy after a $150 million sexual abuse settlement includes merging 34% of parishes, selling such property and having parishes contribute $80 million out of reserve accounts. Fisher and his lieutenants traveled to the Vatican this fall to defend the parish payment plan, although three parish closures were blocked.
70. Pascal Mubenga & Eric Jay Rosser
Buffalo Public Schools Superintendent Pascal Mubenga moved to Western New York this year after a long education career in North Carolina, where he helmed the school systems in Durham and Franklin County. He outlined an initial learning period for his tenure in Buffalo, which will include outreach to stakeholders, a top-down review of district finances, increased communication, curriculum reviews and school visits. Eric Jay Rosser took over the Rochester City School District this year after serving as superintendent of schools in Poughkeepsie. He had been an associate superintendent of schools in Buffalo, a senior executive with the Atlanta, Georgia, public schools as well as in the District of Columbia State Superintendent of Education’s Office. With Rochester hiring its ninth schools leader since 2016, Rosser has pledged a long-term commitment to the city.
71. Christopher Duryea & Charlie Diamond
A onetime office manager for the Onondaga County Democratic Committee, Christopher Duryea is now a top New York lobbyist, heading up Statewide Public Affairs. Duryea represents clients on a range of policy issues, including economic development, energy, taxation and telecommunications. Duryea’s career has included stints as legislative director for the chairs of the Assembly Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Committee and the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee. Charlie Diamond brings deep public policy and government experience to his role as a senior vice president at Statewide Public Affairs. Diamond is a former member of the Watervliet City Council and was appointed by then-Gov. David Paterson to the state’s Racing and Wagering Board. Diamond was also an executive at the Cable Telecommunications Association of New York, where he specialized in tax issues, and was district chief of staff for then-Rep. Michael McNulty.
72. Julie LaFave
Julie LaFave hosts nearly a million visitors to Central New York every summer to learn about agriculture and have fun. The state fair director presides over the annual end-of-summer event, which features the best of New York agriculture, the iconic butter statue, mouthwatering sausage sandwiches, live entertainment and a midway packed with fun. LaFave, a former Syracuse parks and recreation commissioner, debuted two new horse barns and a sheep and wool center this year, along with a new security alert system and expanded sensory experiences.
73. Joseph Stefko
Joseph Stefko has put the pedal to the metal in his quest to accelerate economic growth along the state Thruway’s western end. Stefko is the president and CEO of OneROC, an economic growth organization in Rochester, and also serves as the regional innovation officer of the NY Smart I-Corridor, the federally designated and funded regional technology hub for Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse. The tech hub is anchored by Micron’s opening a new semiconductor facility outside of Syracuse and expansion of the industry across upstate.
74. Tobias Bauer
Tobias Bauer was named CEO of Siemens Mobility North America at the start of December after serving in an acting capacity this summer, and the company continues to keep America rolling along. Last year, Siemens announced a new high-speed rail manufacturing facility in the Elmira suburb of Horseheads. This year, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority purchased 13 battery-electric locomotives from Siemens for the Metro-North Railroad. The new locomotives, which can run on tracks with or without overhead electric wires, would allow Connecticut commuters on the Danbury and Waterbury lines to commute directly into New York City without changing to the New Haven line.
75. Ted Janicki
Ted Janicki is making sure that the Bank of America is being a good neighbor in the City of Good Neighbors. His efforts include investing in the Western New York Impact Investment Fund to assist underrepresented communities, awarding $48,000 to the Hispanic Heritage Council of Western New York to expand programming and delivering a $57,000 grant to the SUNY Buffalo State University Bengal Entrepreneurship Program. A Buffalo native, Janicki started at the Bank of America in a part-time role while enrolled at the University at Buffalo and now serves a number of civic organizations.
76. Oliver Kardos & Michael McMahon
KeyBank is well established in Western New York, where it lends its name to KeyBank Center, the downtown Buffalo arena that is the home of the Buffalo Sabres. Oliver Kardos, the bank’s national head of BB payments, SBA and Virtual RM channels, is an experienced banking leader who is well positioned to bolster KeyBank in these markets and enable growth of small businesses across the region. Michael McMahon is the bank’s market president for upstate New York, boosting the bank’s presence across the region. He has noted that the bank is keeping its upstate focus on the growth of small businesses. He is also a board member of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership.
77. Michael Keroullé
Hornell is one of New York’s smallest cities, but it is punching above its weight in the transportation industry. Hornell is a major passenger train manufacturing hub, thanks to Alstom. The train manufacturer is now building a fourth plant in Hornell, with a focus on making stainless steel body shells for passenger train cars. Alstom previously manufactured these in Brazil. Alstom Americas President and CEO Michael Keroullé said the shift is part of the company’s efforts to boost the economy of the Southern Tier city.
78. James Carr
The former head of his own lobbying firm, James Carr now represents clients at the Albany lobbying powerhouse Hinman Straub. Carr specializes in serving those in the education sector. His clients have included McGraw Hill Education, the New York State Federation of School Administrators and the 4201 Schools Association, which advocates for blind, deaf and physically disabled schoolchildren in New York. Carr’s career has included a stint in the state Senate’s Office of Federal Affairs and another as a legislative staffer with the state Senate Education Committee.
79. Lola Brabham
A former state Civil Service Commission president and state Civil Service Department commissioner, Lola Brabham is now advocating for New York’s private colleges and universities. One of her biggest concerns is budget shortfalls at small colleges upstate, which have forced some closures in recent years. Brabham has cited declining enrollment and uncertainty over federal funding and international student visas as the causes. She said state legislation to ban legacy admissions was overreaching and noted that her members graduate diverse student bodies. Brabham also said cuts in state aid to institutions with large endowments will hurt students.
80. Benjamin M. Zuffranieri Jr.
At the powerhouse Buffalo law firm of Hodgson Russ, Benjamin M. Zuffranieri Jr. is the firm’s managing partner, expanding the firm’s client roster and maintaining its role as a leader in the Western New York legal community. Prior to becoming the managing partner in 2022, he led the business litigation and construction practices. He is an experienced commercial law attorney who has also chaired the firm’s litigation practice. Hodgson Russ is the largest law firm in Western New York, with 140 attorneys and 97 partners in the area, according to Buffalo Business First.
81. Douglas Dimitroff
Douglas Dimitroff is making sure Phillips Lytle has an impact on upstate New York in ways big and small. As the law firm’s managing partner, Dimitroff oversaw its Rochester office relocation to Innovation Square, with a 19,769-square-foot space that will undergird the firm’s long-term growth. Dimitroff also worked on the firm’s relocation of its Chicago office to a building overlooking the Chicago River. Other major firm offices are located in Albany and Buffalo. Dimitroff is a top-ranked telecommunications attorney who has built the firm’s telecommunications practice and has represented many telecom companies nationally.
82. Robert Schofield
Robert Schofield is the managing partner of Whiteman, Osterman & Hanna – the largest law firm in the Albany region with 102 attorneys – and an expert in labor, employment and education law. He provides expert counsel to clients on a number of issues including negotiation, drafting and implementation of collective bargaining agreements and employment policies. He has counseled library systems on a number of issues, including the creation of library districts. He’s the 3rd District vice president of the New York State Bar Association and a former president of the Albany County Bar Association.
83. Hamdi Ulukaya
Greek yogurt can be just as appealing to investors as tech companies. A new valuation has put Chobani, which was founded in Norwich, New York, at $20 billion, putting founder Hamdi Ulukaya’s wealth at more than $11 billion. Ulukaya this fall announced a partnership with Ivanka Trump’s Planet Harvest to use produce that doesn’t meet supermarket aesthetic qualities. The move has caused some to boycott Chobani, but Ulukaya has also questioned President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, citing the adverse impact on farmworkers. Chobani, which is opening a new food production facility in Rome, is moving its headquarters from Chenango County to NoHo in Manhattan.
84. Connie Cahill
Connie Cahill is the managing partner of Barclay Damon, which has offices in Albany, Rochester, Buffalo and Syracuse, among other locations. Cahill is one of New York’s foremost experts on public finance law. With over three decades of experience in public finance, Cahill has represented all sides of the equation in dealings with state agencies, local development authorities, school districts and industrial development agencies on bond issues. Cahill has also helped to guide the development of infrastructure, health care, education and economic development projects.
85. Ashley Walden
It may have been a narrow victory in the November election, but a successful state ballot proposition will allow Ashley Walden to continue to develop the winter sports and recreational offerings of the Olympic Regional Development Authority in the North Country. The amendment to the state constitution authorizes ORDA to continue development of 350 acres of the Adirondacks near Lake Placid. Internally at ORDA, Walden undertook a corporate restructuring last year to reorganize three top jobs into vice presidencies.
86. Stephen Turkovich
A pediatrician and the president of Kaleida Health’s Oishei Children’s Hospital in Buffalo, Dr. Stephen Turkovich has grave concerns about the Trump administration’s health policies. Turkovich said that the president’s proposed Medicaid cuts would severely hurt the hospital and its patients. Turkovich also threw cold water on U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s assertion that using acetaminophen leads to autism, saying a review of 46 studies on the issue shows no definitive conclusion. The 197-bed hospital will be renamed Golisano Children’s Hospital on Jan. 1, after businessperson Tom Golisano’s historic $50 million donation.
87. Simeon Banister, Betsy Constantine & Melanie Littlejohn
Betsy Constantine is transforming Buffalo for the better, leading the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo in supporting education, arts and culture, racial equity and the environment. Since 2022, the foundation has awarded $150 million in grants across the Western New York region, and became the first contributor to the Say Yes Buffalo nonprofit organization in its expansion into Niagara Falls. This year, Constantine accepted $112,820 from the campaign account of former Rep. John LaFalce as it closed and joined the Public Works/Parks Subcommittee of Buffalo Mayor-elect Sean Ryan’s transition team.
Since 1972, the Rochester Area Community Foundation has awarded $740 million in grants to grow and better connect the people of Rochester. Simeon Banister, who joined the foundation in 2017 and was promoted to the top post in 2022, leads a foundation that’s pivotal to the future of Monroe County. Its grantmaking philosophy is geared around creating an equitable community and strengthening the vitality of the region. Individual grantmaking programs target areas like economic and racial equality, education, arts and culture, the environment, historic preservation and aging.
Melanie Littlejohn is one of the key figures shaping the community impact that Micron will have in Central New York. The leader of the Central New York Community Foundation co-chairs the Micron Community Engagement Committee, which is developing priorities for the investment of Micron’s $500 million community investment fund. Among the areas the committee has identified are housing, workforce development, early childhood education, support for MWBEs and veteran-owned businesses as well as increased child care. Prior to joining the foundation, Littlejohn spent almost three decades at National Grid.
88. Matt Enstice
Much of Buffalo’s revitalization has been due to a thriving health care sector downtown, sparked in part by the move of the University at Buffalo’s Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences from University Heights to a new Main Street facility that’s part of the broader Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. BNMC, which Matt Enstice has led since 2002, is a driving force in advancing the innovation economy in the region. In addition to the medical school, BNMC’s partners include Oishei Children’s Hospital, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and Buffalo General Medical Center. Enstice previously worked with Lorne Michaels at “Saturday Night Live.”
89. Mark Blue
The Rev. Mark Blue keeps social justice at the core of his service to Buffalo. Blue is the pastor of Second Baptist Church in Lackawanna and the president of the Buffalo NAACP. Blue kept a food pantry at Second Baptist Church stocked when the federal government shutdown put a pause on SNAP benefits. Blue also chairs the panel overseeing the community benefits agreement for the new Buffalo Bills stadium and the 5/14 Memorial Commission. He serves on the boards of the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority and Erie County Medical Center.
90. Greg Lancette
With Micron opening a $100 billion semiconductor plant just outside of Syracuse, Greg Lancette has played a key role in the staffing for the construction and growth of the facility. The leader of the Central-Northern New York Building & Construction Trades Council, Lancette served on the team that helped recruit Micron to the region. He has worked on the Syracuse Pathways to Apprenticeship program and programs related to nuclear power and Interstate 81. Starting in January, he will be a United Association international representative for New York. He’s also president of the New York State Pipe Trades Association.
91. Chris Scanlon
Chris Scanlon, Buffalo’s Common Council president, became acting mayor a year ago and immediately faced a fiscal crisis. Navigating a $17 million midyear budget shortfall and a $70 million projected budget deficit, Scanlon passed a 3% hotel tax and a $40 million sale of the city’s parking ramps to the newly created Buffalo Parking Authority to resolve the budget crisis. But he lost the June Democratic primary to Mayor-elect Sean Ryan. Scanlon, who remains South Buffalo’s council member, filed a campaign committee with the state Board of Elections for an unspecified state office.
92. Kevin Ellis
Kevin Ellis is the leader of UNC Dairy, a 230-farm cooperative that is one of the largest private companies in the Buffalo area with over $1 billion in revenues in 2024. Ellis is overseeing an expansion of its facility in the Buffalo suburb of West Seneca with the goal of doubling its production of yogurt and cottage cheese. The company, which includes Bison dip in its product line, changed its name from Upstate Niagara Cooperative to UNC Dairy in April. The company announced the closure of a dairy plant in Rochester this year.
93. Dawn Burlew Schmidt
Dawn Burlew Schmidt is the first woman to serve as president of Watkins Glen International, one of NASCAR’s major racetracks. Burlew Schmidt came to Watkins Glen last year after a four-decade career with Corning Inc. In her first year as president, Burlew Schmidt has touted new events, increased community partnerships and capital renovations. She has also served as supervisor of the town of Erin in Chemung County for all but two weeks of the past 12 years, and she ran unopposed for reelection this year.
94. Jeff Cook
Cook Properties is the state’s largest owner and operator of mobile home communities, and CEO Jeff Cook believes that manufactured housing can play an even bigger role in solving New York’s affordable housing crisis. Cook has praised Gov. Kathy Hochul for launching the Move-In NY initiative to use prefabricated manufactured homes and now is urging Hochul to sign legislation that would reclassify manufactured homes from personal property to real property, allowing for conventional mortgages to be used. Cook is constructing the homes for Rochester’s first manufactured home development.
95. Anne McCaffrey
To mark the Erie Canal’s bicentennial, Buffalo hosted this year’s World Canals Conference, bringing together many international inland waterway leaders. Former Lockport Mayor Anne McCaffrey served as a conference co-chair. McCaffrey also runs People Inc., a human services organization supporting over 10,000 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. People Inc. is redeveloping the old DeGraff Memorial Hospital in North Tonawanda into a mixed-use facility with senior housing. McCaffrey also serves on the state Legislative Ethics Commission and the New York State Industries for the Disabled board.
96. Jonathan Dandes
University at Buffalo presidents come and go, but Jonathan Dandes remains. Dandes, a senior Rich Products Corp. executive, was first appointed to the UB Council in 1994 by then-Gov. Mario Cuomo and is now in his fifth term on the University at Buffalo’s main oversight and advisory body. Dandes has also headed Rich Baseball Operations and presided over Rich’s management of the public spaces at Canalside in Buffalo. Dandes has chaired the Erie County Medical Center board of directors, the Buffalo Niagara Partnership and Visit Buffalo Niagara. He is currently board president of Buffalo’s Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Children’s Museum.
97. Elgin Joseph Taylor Sr.
The Rev. Elgin Joseph Taylor Sr., the longtime pastor of Sweet Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church in Albany, was named president of the Empire Baptist Missionary Convention in 2023. At his home church, Taylor presides over a number of ministries, providing health, aging, youth and food security services. With the Empire Baptist Missionary Convention, Taylor leads an organization representing some 300 Missionary Baptist churches across the state. He also was the affirmative action administrator for the state Department of Taxation and Finance’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion until his retirement in 2019.
98. Michael Cinquanti
Michael Cinquanti was a government relations adviser for the New York State Building & Construction Trades Council before launching his own government relations shop, Genium, last year, while keeping the influential labor group as a key client. In his work for the building trades, he helped secure a number of wins, including prevailing wage law reform and the state’s Construction Industry Fair Play Act. He also serves as a commissioner of the Albany Port District Commission. His father, also named Michael Cinquanti, is the mayor of Amsterdam, New York.
99. Charles Makey III
As just the 10th president of Merchants Insurance Group in its 107-year history, Charles Makey III has maintained the Buffalo-based insurance company’s status as one of the region’s top private companies. Makey started out with Merchants in 1996, holding positions in the Manchester, New Hampshire, and Dublin, Ohio, offices prior to joining its Buffalo headquarters. This year, Merchants announced the adoption of a new artificial intelligence service provider to assist with the processing of property and casualty claims.
100. Debra Remy
The New York Farm Bureau had a lot to celebrate this year, including successfully advocating to expand the farmworker overtime tax credit program to dairy farmers and corporate owners. The organization also won an extension of the farm workforce retention tax credit, increased funding for farmworker housing, farmland protection and farm water protection, and saw legislation enacted to exempt syrup from tree sap and honey from certain licensing rules. Debra Remy has led the organization on an interim basis since Deanna Fox resigned as CEO earlier this year.
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