Publisher's Section
The 2026 50 Over 50
The Age Disruptors who are at the peak of their powers.
City & State presents the 2026 50 Over 50. NUAIR; City Headshots; Good Shepherd Services
Making it halfway to 100 is no small feat. Anyone who has reached the age of 50 has lived through the COVID-19 pandemic, the Great Recession and the 9/11 terrorist attacks. They’ve witnessed the fall of the Soviet Union, the rise of China and the convention-shattering presidency of Donald Trump. It’s a cohort that has experienced seismic technological shifts, from the advent of the home computer and the birth of the modern internet to the rapid adoption of smartphones, satellite-based navigation and artificial intelligence.
But these aren’t the only transformative changes to occur in their lifetimes. With several decades of professional experience, people over the age of 50 have often amassed an impressive record of accomplishments. Some have become undisputed leaders in their field, ascending in the public or private spheres, in industry and labor, in higher education or health care, in arts or advocacy. It’s an age when many are at the peak of their powers.
That’s why City & State is celebrating 50 distinguished New Yorkers over the age of 50. This year’s list, presented in partnership with AARP New York, features an impressive group of highly accomplished older adults. Among them are four Icon honorees – U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr., NYC Health + Hospitals’ Mitchell Katz and Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn – as well this year’s lifetime achievement honoree, the recently retired transportation titan Rick Cotton.
We’re pleased to present the 2026 50 Over 50.
– Profiles by John Celock and Amanda Salazar
Rick Cotton, LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT HONOREE
Rick Cotton has a confession to make: He loves large organizations, and he especially loves making them run effectively.
It’s a trait that helped him over the past eight-plus years at the helm of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and for three years managing large infrastructure projects in the governor’s office before that.
“I’ve spent the bulk of my career working in big organizations, and that drives some people crazy,” he says. “I found it energizing.”
What’s energizing for Cotton is problem-solving, driving consensus and generating enthusiasm within an organization.
Previously, Cotton spent 25 years as a senior executive at NBCUniversal. He had stints at the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare as well as at the U.S. Department of Energy during the Carter administration. He also practiced law, but he found it “too episodic,” as he prefers the longer arc of management work.
Cotton is not quite a modern-day Robert Moses, but his record of infrastructure developments matches up with any contemporary government bureaucrat. At the Port Authority, he spearheaded major renovation projects at John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty airports, broke ground on a bus terminal on Manhattan’s West Side, deepened the seaport and launched a new capital plan. In the governor’s office, he worked on the Javits Convention Center expansion, the Moynihan Train Hall, the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge and the Second Avenue subway.
He says that he knows the public doesn’t have confidence in government, in particular its ability to follow through on promises. Cotton knows results matter.
“You start having to decide that you’re going to meet that challenge, and you have to come at these projects with the orientation that you’re going to get them done, and you’re going to do whatever it takes to get them to get them done,” he says.
The transformation of LaGuardia Airport is one of his proudest accomplishments. The airport, once compared to one in a “Third World country,” is now ranked as one of the best in the world, winning numerous awards. Cotton said the recently renovated Terminal B at LaGuardia and Terminal A at Newark Liberty were among three U.S. airports honored with a five-star rating from SkyTrax, a U.K.-based consultancy.
Cotton says one of the things that helped to get things done at the Port Authority was the long-running partnership he cultivated with Port Authority Chair Kevin O’Toole, a former New Jersey state senator who joined the bistate agency at the same time as Cotton. He said that he and O’Toole aimed to get things done while moving the Port Authority past the Bridgegate scandal.
For a man who says, “I like to work on big challenges and solve problems,” Cotton’s initial plans after retiring this month and handing the reins to Kathryn Garcia are to relax after an intense 11-plus years focused on repairing New York. But don’t expect him to make that a long-term plan.
“There’s more to come,” Cotton says.
– John Celock
Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, ICON
For Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, public policy is a deeply personal mission grounded in her lived experience.
“Motherhood is basically the achievement that has shaped who I am today,” she says. “Not only as a woman, but as a lawmaker, an advocate and a voice for families across New York, and that becoming a mother literally transformed my understanding of the world.”
Bichotte Hermelyn is the influential Brooklyn Democratic Party leader and chair of the Assembly Subcommittee on Oversight of Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises. She’s passionate about MWBE growth and improving maternal health. Her overarching goal is achieving equity and economic justice.
For Bichotte Hermelyn, the cross section of personal and political came in January standing alongside Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani in her Brooklyn district for the unveiling of the state’s campaign for universal child care expansion. Bichotte Hermelyn held her 3-year-old son, Daniel, who received a gubernatorial introduction.
“It was a moment that really symbolized exactly how I intertwine my personal story with public service. It was just a great moment, that we’re expanding universal child care,” she says. “So for me, it’s hard to say what my greatest achievement is. It’s not a single bill. It’s not only a policy, when it’s really about transforming my personal experience – such as many other people’s experiences, especially those who are not heard – and (pushing forward) legislation that protects families, people in general, across New York.”
– J.C.
Kirsten Gillibrand, ICON
It’s U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s moment.
Gillibrand has an ambitious 2026 agenda. She’s a key voice on national security. And she’s leading Democratic efforts to retake the U.S. Senate.
“I’ve been working on issues related to child care for a long time, and I’m leading a bill, the Child Care Modernization Act, to reinstate the block grant program that was not renewed since 2014, and that’s a way to get billions of dollars into New York for child care that would make a huge difference for a lot of the governor’s priorities and the mayor’s,” she says. “Then there is another bill, bipartisan, about no-cost childbirth, which would make it affordable for parents to actually have children, because our health care costs are out of control. I’m very focused on affordability as a meta issue.”
Gillibrand can see a path for Democrats to retake the Senate, pointing to recruiting wins and the “toxic environment” created by President Donald Trump. A member of the Armed Services and Intelligence committees, Gillibrand is critical of Trump’s foreign policy, saying he should be focused on the domestic economy and not on Venezuela or Greenland.
As for her own record, Gillibrand can tout such accomplishments as 9/11 health care compensation, veterans’ health, $870 million in federal funding since she became a senator and combating sexual assault in the military.
“Most of the work that I focus on is fighting for justice for those who are left behind, largely to be a voice for the voiceless,” she says.
– J.C.
Mitchell Katz, ICON
Dr. Mitchell Katz made his name as a hospital and public health leader in three major cities, but he has always viewed himself first and foremost as a physician.
“I still practice medicine, I’m a primary care doctor at Gouverneur,” Katz says. “And I say that because I feel very strongly that I’ve never left my clinical roots. I never intended to be an administrator. I love being a primary care doctor and taking care of people.”
Katz first got into administrative work while in San Francisco, driven by a desire to help public hospitals better meet patient needs. He served as director and health officer of San Francisco’s Department of Health and then as director of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, earning a reputation for fiscal management by turning a deficit into a surplus in Los Angeles.
Since taking charge of NYC Health + Hospitals in 2018, he guided the nation’s largest municipal health care delivery system through the COVID-19 pandemic, which he calls “the single most difficult thing in my career.”
Recounting that period, Katz remembers that at times he had to teach himself and others to ignore their original medical training.
“My job was to tell people to just keep focusing on doing what is right for the patient, because these are brand new times, and we’ve never gone through anything like this,” he says. “So we have to focus on today’s reality, not necessarily how we were taught.”
– J.C.
John B. King Jr., ICON
As State University of New York chancellor and a former state Education Department commissioner and U.S. education secretary, John B. King Jr. is the epitome of a school administrator. But when he was a teenager, King was expelled from Phillips Academy in Massachusetts.
King had entered the exclusive boarding school after the deaths of his parents. “I was always a good student and always enjoyed classes, but, like many young people who have experienced trauma, I was very angry as a teenager, and I got in a lot of trouble,” he recalls.
But King now views the expulsion as a blessing in disguise, because he then moved in with his aunt and uncle, who set him on the path to success.
Today, King finds himself in the middle of battles over the future of higher education, funding cuts by the Trump administration and even whether the U.S. Department of Education should exist. He argues there is a need for the department, and he defends higher education, including its economic impact, saying the Trump agenda would be a “disaster” for New York.
“I’m incredibly distressed by the attacks from the current administration on higher education,” he says. “Those attacks are very detrimental to the country’s long-term economic success and national security. Higher education institutions of the country prepare the future workforce. If they are undermined, our future workforce is undermined. The higher education institutions also do the research that drives economic innovation and improves people’s health and well-being.”
– J.C.
Arthur Aidala
Arthur Aidala is a top New York criminal defense attorney, representing such defendants as Harvey Weinstein, Steve Bannon and Ingrid Lewis-Martin. The lifelong Brooklynite built up the boutique litigation firm Aidala Bertuna & Kamins from scratch over nearly three decades. He also hosts a radio show on AM 970 The Answer covering current events from a legal perspective. “I love the freedom of taking on whatever clients we choose no matter how popular or unpopular they may be,” Aidala says. “I love achieving results for clients that they thought were unachievable. I love making the impossible possible in the world of the law.”
– Amanda Salazar
Jerry Balentine
Whether he’s working in health care or in higher education, Dr. Jerry Balentine’s passion is helping others. Balentine is the president of the New York Institute of Technology, where he has taught osteopathic medicine for more than two decades. A leader in emergency medicine and health system management, he previously served as the chief medical officer and executive vice president of SBH Health System. “I am fortunate to have had many proud moments during my career,” he says. “What they all have in common is someone saying, ‘Thank you for helping me.’”
– A.S.
Julie Belizaire-Spitzer
Native Bronxite Julie Belizaire-Spitzer has dedicated her career to giving back to her neighbors. At the human services nonprofit BronxWorks, she oversees programs that help clients access benefits, including health insurance, eviction prevention grants and benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. She started BronxWorks’ first Saturday food pantry and spearheaded the opening of an office in Bronx Housing Court. “I love helping people and still being in the community where I was raised,” Belizaire-Spitzer says. “I love that I can still see former participants thriving in the neighborhood, some of whom I’ve known for decades.”
– A.S.
Joseph Belluck
For more than three decades, Joseph Belluck has been a champion for injured New Yorkers, settling over $1 billion in asbestos and personal injury lawsuits. Recognized as an authority on mesothelioma cases, Belluck founded his asbestos litigation firm in 2001 and co-authored the book “100 Questions & Answers About Mesothelioma.” Earlier in his career, he successfully represented the state in its litigation against harmful tobacco billboards. “Our clients worked hard their whole lives and were injured by the wrongdoing of others,” Belluck says. “We give them a measure of justice.”
– A.S.
Robert Benfatto
Robert Benfatto has been serving the Hell’s Kitchen community for nearly 20 years, first as the district manager for Manhattan Community Board 4 and now as the president of the neighborhood’s business improvement district. He focuses on finding new ways to enhance the area, including through beautification projects, streetscape improvements, public programming and support for small businesses. What does he love about his job? “Cementing the collective community work that transformed Hell’s Kitchen out of devastating violence and poverty into a new robust neighborhood, which keeps New York City’s innovation growing fully into the 21st century,” he says.
– A.S.
Virginia Borkoski
Virginia Borkoski’s passion for improving mobility and the built environment has driven her in her 35-year career in architecture, design and development. She’s currently the global transit managing director at the engineering consulting firm Hatch, where she oversees global projects and teams. Previously, the registered architect held planning and development roles with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, where she led the design for Fulton Center. “I realize now, in addition to leaving lasting physical infrastructure, that a career in the public realm has afforded me the legacy of changing people’s lives, every day,” she says.
– A.S.
Vincent Boudreau
Vincent Boudreau has been at City College his entire 35-year career. He was founding dean of the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership, director of the international relations master’s degree program and chair of the political science department. As president since 2017, Boudreau has balanced the school’s budget, shepherded it through the COVID-19 pandemic and launched a successful fundraising campaign. “I love the fact that, at a time when social mobility is vanishingly rare in American society, I work at a nation-leading institution at producing that mobility in our graduates,” he says.
– A.S.
Thomas Callahan
Thomas Callahan knows cities don’t just happen – they’re built by skilled workers. Callahan represents such workers at the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 15, serving New York City and nearby counties. Earlier in his career, he helped the city clean up and rebuild after 9/11 and improve John F. Kennedy International Airport. Now, Callahan mentors, trains and advocates for others in the building fields. “I find it deeply rewarding to see both our new and older members grow, progress and achieve success for themselves and their families,” he says.
– A.S.
Willing Chin-Ma
Willing Chin-Ma has led Grand St. Settlement’s operations for nearly three decades, bringing early childhood, youth and older adult services to Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx. She helped develop Grand Street Senior Housing and expand the nonprofit’s Head Start program. “Growing up in New York City shaped who I am and ignited my passion to become a social worker,” Chin-Ma says. “I witnessed the fear, strength and determination it takes to build a life while navigating unfamiliar systems, languages and barriers. Those experiences taught me empathy and resilience at an early age.”
– A.S.
Cindy Cohen
Cindy Cohen’s mission is to make government work better for the people it serves. As a principal in KPMG’s Health and Government Operations Practice, Cohen helps public sector clients as they create modern solutions, craft policy and reengineer processes across the fields of affordable housing, integrated eligibility, health care and children’s services. “It’s rewarding when our work has a direct, positive impact,” she says. “I’m thrilled when a client wins an award for a transformation that we supported, or when I see my team grow and achieve success.”
– A.S.
Debra De Jesus-Vizzi
Debra De Jesus-Vizzi’s Student Sponsor Partners provides funding for teenagers in underserved communities to attend private high schools. A graduate of Cathedral High School on the Upper East Side, she was one of the first students to receive a scholarship from the organization’s founder, Peter Flanigan. That opportunity, combined with the support she received from her social workers while she was in foster care, inspired her to give back. “Stepping into a leadership role within the same organization felt like coming home, not only to the mission but to the community that believed in me before I fully believed in myself,” she says.
– A.S.
Joel DiCosta
When Joel DiCosta was laid off from his transportation job of 20 years, he decided to change course. He transitioned into a new field helping others find jobs, whether for the first time or after being laid off. At the workforce development firm Grant Associates, he now leads the Queens Workforce1 Career Center, connecting clients to careers. “My experience taught me resilience and fueled my passion to help others turn adversity into opportunity,” DiCosta says. “Guiding both job seekers and my team toward success reminds me daily that leadership can create lasting impact in our community.”
– A.S.
Ayman El-Mohandes
An internationally recognized public health researcher, Dr. Ayman El-Mohandes is the dean of the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy. Under his leadership, the school has achieved a No. 16 national ranking for public health programs in U.S. News & World Report, tying with the Rutgers School of Public Health and the University of Pittsburgh. El-Mohandes’ own research focuses on reducing infant mortality and improving perinatal outcomes in underserved populations. “What I love most about my job is our students and the opportunity to help them achieve the dream of a public health education,” he says, calling it “inspiring and deeply rewarding.”
– A.S.
John Evers
John Evers advocates for New York’s builders. He leads the American Council of Engineering Companies of New York, which represents 33,000 people across 300 member engineering firms. The organization serves as a unifying voice for these companies, advancing their business interests and pushing for improved safety standards. “Engineers are the designers of the built environment,” he says. “We are problem-solvers.” Previously, Evers worked as an Assembly staffer, in the Albany Comptroller’s Office as a senior policy analyst and at The Business Council of New York State.
– A.S.
Ana García Reyes
Ana García Reyes is a bridge between Hostos Community College and the outside world. She spearheads outreach to the community and to government, oversees legislative initiatives and coordinates events for students and faculty. García Reyes, who was born in the Dominican Republic, is also a member of the school’s President’s Cabinet and Extended Cabinet and the CUNY External Relations Council. “I enjoy providing access to individuals who are unfamiliar with higher education and wish to reach their educational goal,” she says. “I love voicing the needs of underrepresented communities where there is an absence of adequate representation.”
– A.S.
Rachel Demarest Gold
As director of Abrams Fensterman’s Labor and Employment Group, Rachel Demarest Gold defends employers and helps them navigate government regulations. Growing up, discussions revolved around the family’s manufacturing business, where she also worked as an adult – and she later found a niche in a role enforcing new worker protections at the state Office of the Attorney General. She also was a deputy commissioner at the state Labor Department, where she shaped legislation to protect both employees and employers. “I love vindicating employers before enforcement agencies, showing people how regulation works and how to navigate government,” she says.
– A.S.
Louis Grassi
Louis Grassi founded his tax, consulting and accounting firm at the age of 24, and he has been at the helm ever since. He provides accounting services, profit-enhancement studies, operational reviews, corporate restructuring and more. In 2023, Grassi transitioned the firm to an employee-owned model. “The chance to make a meaningful impact on others inspired me to pursue this career path and create a service model that puts clients at the center of every decision,” Grassi says. “Seeing our work build confidence and drive lasting success for individuals, businesses and communities has been deeply rewarding.”
– A.S.
Steven Harris
Attorney and government relations expert Steven Harris has been working in and around state government for his entire career. As the president of Cordo & Co., he represents trade associations and private sector clients in state legislative matters. “After all this time, the best part is doing my best to impact decisions that are not only good for my clients, but also beneficial to New Yorkers,” he says. Harris is also the president of the New York State Beer Wholesalers Association. He has served on official panels analyzing New York’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Law three times.
– A.S.
Denise Hinds
Denise Hinds has dedicated her career to Good Shepherd Services and its clients. As the chief program officer for youth and family well-being, she oversees the social services nonprofit’s youth programs, including foster care, child welfare and juvenile justice residential programs – some of which she developed herself. “I’ve always been driven to help others,” she says. “I was extremely inspired by the people who were my role models in the field who guided and molded me.” Hinds also leads the organization’s LGBTQ+ workgroup to create safer spaces for clients and staff.
– A.S.
Jeffrey Hoffman
White-collar criminal defense attorney Jeffrey Hoffman has practiced law for nearly 60 years, representing politicians, executives and even other attorneys. Once a Manhattan assistant district attorney, he has focused on countering prosecutorial abuse, such as when defendants are charged with higher crimes to intimidate them into pleading guilty to lower charges. He’s most proud of the acquittal he secured for crime boss John Gotti because of what he described as the government’s intimidation of witnesses. What does he love about what he does? “Helping people and corporate entities get treated fairly by the justice system,” he says.
– A.S.
Rimas Jasin
Rimas Jasin leads PSS, originally Presbyterian Senior Services, which serves New York City’s older adults and their families through community centers, senior living apartments and other programs. Jasin has long supported the older adult community, formerly working at the Alzheimer’s Association, the American Cancer Society and Ohio’s Lake County Council on Aging. “My parents and family inspired me to want to make a difference, and my wife and daughters nurture that inspiration every day,” he says. “At work, the dedication of staff and volunteers, especially my board, inspire me to do my very best daily.”
– A.S.
Andrea Jerves
Andrea Jerves is focused on serving the community as she manages around 30 programs at HANAC, a nonprofit that was originally created to serve Astoria’s Greek population but now has a citywide reach. She develops and manages the organization’s social services programs, which serve more than 30,000 older adults and families annually. “I have always been deeply impacted by the unequal opportunities in society,” she says. “I wanted to work in a field where I could support people who do not have the same opportunities as others and help create a more equitable community.”
– A.S.
Leah Johnson
When a young Leah Johnson and her family visited Lincoln Center, they felt unwelcome as a family of color. Today, as a key official at the famed institution, Johnson is breaking down that air of exclusivity so all New Yorkers are encouraged to enjoy the arts. Her efforts include a choose what you pay ticketing model and a partial campus redesign for openness. “The arts aren’t just a source of joy and solace; at Lincoln Center, I’ve seen the way they can expand people’s horizons, create deep community and are core to our well-being,” Johnson says. “Witnessing these moments of discovery and connection has been a highlight of my career.”
– A.S.
Michael Klidas
Goddard Riverside Community Center’s Michael Klidas has more than three decades experience in nonprofit finance management, with previous stints at the YMCA, JASA and RiseBoro Community Partnership. He now oversees Goddard’s strategic planning and financial diversification. But Klidas’ favorite part of the job has nothing to do with numbers – it’s mentoring and connecting with co-workers. He credits mentors for helping him ascend to the C-suite and takes pride in being that person for others. “Leading and mentoring staff to grow their skills both interpersonally and technical are my proudest moments,” he says. “Their success leads to my success.”
– A.S.
Kris Kohler
The Mason Tenders’ District Council PAC notched a win for workers when it helped get the Construction Justice Act through the New York City Council in December. Kris Kohler helped drive the campaign to raise wages for workers building city-subsidized affordable housing. Last year, Kohler moved up to succeed Mike McGuire in this role coordinating political activities for a number of affiliated local unions. She was deeply influenced to work in politics by her mother, who survived the Holocaust. “From her, I learned that politics have consequences and to fight for the underdog,” she says.
– A.S.
Craig Leslie
With more than 20 years of experience, trial lawyer Craig Leslie has established himself as an authority in high-stakes cases regarding product liability defense, eminent domain and personal injury. At Phillips Lytle, he leads the Litigation Practice Group, is part of the Governing Committee and is a co-leader of the Appellate Practice Team. Leslie was inspired to become an attorney by his undergraduate Law 101 professor. “He used that course to illustrate the impact of the law on people’s daily lives and the important roles lawyers play in society, which resonated deeply with me,” he says.
– A.S.
Carlos N. Molina
Carlos N. Molina uses his role at the nonprofit community health plan Amida Care to advocate for underrepresented New Yorkers, including those in the LGBTQ+ community and people with HIV. The marketing and communications professional crafts campaigns – such as, “My Body. My Life. My PrEP.” – to advance inclusivity in conversations about public health and access to care. “My work invites me to expand my thinking, question assumptions and make space for diverse stories to be seen, heard and celebrated,” Molina says. “I love the people, the purpose and the opportunity to grow.”
– A.S.
Donald Morrish
Dr. Donald Morrish has led Episcopal Health Services, which manages St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Queens, for two years. Morrish, an OB-GYN, was previously the hospital’s chief medical officer. He is expanding access and working to improve patient safety and satisfaction at the safety net hospital. Morrish credits his mother for inspiring him to enter the field. “She raised me with resilience, love and unwavering belief, and I was the first in my family to attend college because of her sacrifices,” he says. “Everything I strive to give back through medicine and leadership begins with her example.”
– A.S.
Lisette Nieves
Lisette Nieves’ career weaves together service, research and teaching. She leads the Fund for the City of New York, which develops innovations to strengthen government and nonprofits. Nieves launched the group’s annual cross-sector conference, convening leaders to collaborate on policy solutions. Nieves is also a clinical professor at NYU, where she was previously the director of educational leadership and policy studies. “My father, a tradesman, taught me the dignity of work and the responsibility that comes with it,” she says. “Through him, I learned how caring for community, showing up with integrity and creating opportunity for others can shape lives.”
– A.S.
Patrick O’Hare
Patrick O’Hare didn’t set out to have a career in telecommunications – he was planning to be a lawyer in a district attorney’s office. But the opportunity to innovate using evolving technologies prompted him to pivot. O’Hare is currently Boldyn Networks’ chief network operations officer for the U.S. market, where he oversees the company’s network infrastructure and projects. “I love the art and science of leading a diverse team,” he says. “I enjoy collaborating with smart and creative people to design innovative solutions that meet customer needs and solve real problems.”
– A.S.
Diana Ostroff
Diana Ostroff co-leads government relations firm Ostroff Associates, where she manages one of its largest private sector portfolios as she focuses on improving New York’s business climate. She has 30 years of experience developing, coordinating and implementing policy strategies and campaigns, and she has built a vast network of leaders, partners and stakeholders along the way. “I love helping shape policies that move New York forward,” Ostroff says. Prior to joining Ostroff, she was the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce’s vice president for advocacy and communications as well as an assistant vice president at the Life Insurance Council of New York.
– A.S.
Yvonne Patrick
Yvonne Patrick has spent almost four decades advocating on behalf of New Yorkers with intellectual and developmental disabilities. At YAI, she oversees residential, socialization and day habilitation programs, including the nonprofit’s first 24-hour nursing residence, which she helped establish. “Seeing the people we support thrive, build friendships and gain independence is incredibly rewarding,” she says. “This experience reaffirmed for me the profound impact we can achieve when inclusion and empowerment are at the heart of everything we do.” Previously, Patrick served as co-chair of the Bronx Developmental Disabilities Council’s Residential Committee.
– A.S.
Jim Quent
Jim Quent capitalizes on his more than 30 years of experience with New York City, state and local governments to assist a wide array of Statewide Public Affairs clients with public policy and communications. “One ongoing pursuit of pride has been helping great organizations like Coalition for the Homeless and Metropolitan College of New York secure much-needed funding for food pantries, educational advancement and other vital services,” he says, also touting the recent passage of the Construction Justice Act in New York City. His portfolio includes Coca Cola, IBM and the Construction Safety Advisory Committee of New York.
– A.S.
Briget Rein
The United Federation of Teachers is a power player in New York City politics, and Briget Rein is UFT’s point person at City Hall. She advocates for legislation and builds coalitions to support educators and staff. “The people who influenced me are my departed mother, who learned how to use politics to make change, Randi Weingarten, who selected me to join her team, and Michael Mulgrew, who is a proven leader and shows me every day how to be one,” Rein says. She also credits Patrick Gaspard and Bill de Blasio, “who showed me how to be an operative.”
– A.S.
Mike Relyea
When Mike Relyea was in college, his adviser said he’d never get into law school. Relyea went on to graduate from Albany Law School and has enjoyed a successful legal career. As a partner at the government affairs law firm Shenker Russo & Clark, he serves as legal counsel, strategic adviser, spokesperson and project developer for clients across the Northeast and internationally. “I am inspired to be in this field by the people who need a voice,” he says. “I wake up in the morning knowing I am going to help somebody I don’t yet know.”
– A.S.
Mark Romano
At NYSTEC, Mark Romano drives new and expanded business opportunities and serves as its liaison for existing governmental clients. His efforts help the business consulting firm implement and craft technology solutions for key clients within state and municipal agencies. “I value the responsibility and influence of leading work that matters,” Romano says. “At NYSTEC, I am energized by setting direction, empowering my team and ensuring we deliver solutions that advance government effectiveness and create meaningful public impact.”
– A.S.
Eric Rosenbaum
Since 2018, Eric Rosenbaum has led Project Renewal in its mission to end homelessness by providing shelter, supportive housing, mental health care and job training. Rosenbaum previously did similar work for homeless shelter provider Win and the supportive housing nonprofit Lantern Community Services. “It’s all about the people – those I get to work with every day, those we serve and those who make what we do possible,” he says. “Nowhere else in the world could I work with such talented and committed people who come together from such radically different backgrounds to make life better for all New Yorkers.”
– A.S.
John Santos
John Santos has spent his career bolstering 32BJ SEIU, boosting its membership, securing raises and benefits for members, and protecting industry standards. With his help, the influential union established and expanded its security and airports divisions and helped pass the Healthy Terminals Act to raise wages for airport workers. He worked his way up at 32BJ SEIU from being a unionized porter and doorman to serving as the union’s secretary treasurer. How did Santos get on the path to being a labor leader? “Attending my first union meeting and seeing what worker power was all about,” he says. “Seeing that workers have power.”
– A.S.
Flora Si
Flora Si is paying it forward and helping the community that helped her. When she came to New York as a Chinese refugee from Cuba in 1966, the nonprofit Chinese-American Planning Council welcomed her. She later joined the board of the social services organization, serving as chair from 2021 through 2025. “My hope is that I inspire people to become agents of positive change in their own lives and communities,” Si says. “Live a life that makes a difference.” The certified public accountant also runs her own tax and accounting practice in Manhattan’s Chinatown.
– A.S.
Lisa Sorin
The first woman to lead the Bronx Chamber of Commerce, Lisa Sorin empowers and supports local businesses by offering events and resources for business owners. During her tenure, Sorin has expanded the organization’s advocacy and programming, including by developing the Bronx Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s scholarship program for local young women in high school. “I love having the opportunity to truly get to know my borough and the diverse businesses that make the Bronx unique from every other borough,” she says. “Learning their stories and supporting their growth is the most rewarding part of my work.”
– A.S.
Ken Stewart
Ken Stewart is driving innovation in New York’s tech scene as he leads NUAIR, a nonprofit focused on unmanned aircraft systems and advanced air mobility. The organization has partnered with the Empire State Development to advance aviation in the state. Previously, Stewart ran AiRXOS at GE Ventures, where he spearheaded work on unmanned traffic management. He’s also the vice president of the Commercial Drone Alliance. “I love leading NUAIR as we pioneer the next generation of aviation,” Stewart says. “While these technologies are individually transformative, their combination creates a powerful synergy that will truly change the world.”
– A.S.
Jamie Van Bramer
Jamie Van Bramer was inspired to enter politics by his father, who was the Dutchess County Democratic leader when Van Bramer was growing up. Witnessing the importance of government, he went on to hold staff roles in the Assembly and the New York City Council. Now, Van Bramer is the president of public affairs firm Yoswein New York, where he has launched numerous governmental relations and communications campaigns for clients. “The one thing that unifies all of the work is our respect for government and an absolute commitment to integrity – from us and those we represent,” he says.
– A.S.
Moshe Wiener
Rabbi Moshe Wiener has led the Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island for 45 years. The nonprofit once held a single New York City contract and was run out of a storage closet. Today, it’s a citywide social services provider with nearly 400 team members, supporting young, elderly and economically disadvantaged New Yorkers, including survivors of the Holocaust. “As an ordained rabbi, lecturer and author of more than 20 works on Jewish law and thought, I am guided by the conviction that a person’s purpose is to live for others,” he says.
– A.S.
Carolyn Wilson
When Carolyn Wilson founded the New York County Defender Services to provide criminal defendants with access to high-quality legal representation in Manhattan, it had just 13 attorneys. Three decades later, it has a staff of 140 and has represented over half a million clients in criminal cases. “Founding NYCDS in 1997 was the most challenging, rewarding and exhilarating achievement of my life,” she says. “It was an audacious venture at the time, but perhaps against all odds, we built an extraordinary institution.” Wilson has been a public defender her whole career, starting with The Legal Aid Society.
– A.S.
Scott Wohl
Formerly the mayor of the village of Goshen in Orange County, Scott Wohl now oversees communications and education for LiveOnNY, a major nonprofit that advocates for organ and tissue donations. Wohl has revamped the organization’s external affairs strategy, leading to a 70% organ donation increase over three years along with improved hospital engagement. “I love sparking conversations that lead to real, lifesaving action through organ donation advocacy at LiveOnNY,” he says. “Every day, I get to combine strategy with human connection, resulting in work that creates lasting impact for families, communities and future generations.”
– A.S.
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