Power Lists
The 2026 Queens Power 100
The leaders of one of the country’s most diverse counties.
City & State presents the 2026 Queens Power 100. Franmarie Metzler, US House Office of Photography; Kara McCurdy; State Senate
Queens has long enjoyed the designation as the “World’s Borough,” a description that reflects the many ethnic groups that call it home and the hundreds of languages they speak there. As Queens has welcomed new arrivals from every corner of the globe, it has also produced political figures having an impact well beyond the borough’s borders. President Donald Trump, now in his second term, came of age as part of a Queens real estate family before ascending to the White House and reshaping the global order. Zohran Mamdani defeated another Queens guy, Andrew Cuomo, in a stunning upset to become New York City’s mayor and is now an international figure in his own right. Mamdani’s ally, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, represents a district in Queens and the Bronx, but she has been a national progressive icon ever since her first election – and she may capitalize on her celebrity with a campaign to succeed Trump in Washington, D.C.
City & State’s Queens Power 100, researched and written in partnership with journalist Sean Okula, features the most powerful individuals in the borough today – including the next generation of rising stars preparing to make their own leap in the years ahead.
1. Zohran Mamdani
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has been one of the biggest political stories of the past year, not just in the five boroughs, but nationally and internationally as well. Yet Mamdani hasn’t abandoned his Queens base, even though he gave up his rent-stabilized, one-bedroom apartment to relocate across the East River to Gracie Mansion. While governing that nation’s largest city, Mamdani has remained deeply engaged in Queens politics, propelling an ally, Diana Moreno, into his old Assembly seat while lending his support to Assembly Member Claire Valdez, who hopes to succeed Rep. Nydia Velázquez in a Queens-Brooklyn district. He also endorsed Aber Kawas when she was running for an Assembly seat, but she has since pivoted to a state Senate bid.
2. Michael Gianaris
State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris announced in February he would not be seeking reelection in November, leaving the state Legislature to be with his family after a remarkable quarter century of service. In the meantime, the No. 2 official in the Senate Democratic conference is focused on fighting for the rights of immigrants by co-sponsoring the New York for All Act that would ban collaboration between local law enforcement agencies and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Gianaris’ 12th state Senate District spans much of western Queens, which has become a stronghold for the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. DSA-backed organizer Aber Kawas and western Queens Assembly Member Steven Raga have announced their campaigns for the seat.
3. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
New York’s foremost democratic socialist continues to flex her political might amid ongoing speculation of a potential bid for the U.S. Senate or even for president. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spoke at the Munich Security Conference in February, warning foreign leaders of the dangers of neglecting the working class. On Capitol Hill, she serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The Bronx and western Queens representative secured $14.2 million in federal funding for the 14th Congressional District for fiscal year 2026. She recently endorsed Brian Romero in the race to succeed Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas in Assembly District 34.
4. Gregory Meeks
Rep. Gregory Meeks, who leads the Queens Democratic Party, helped propel New York City Council Member Julie Menin to the council speakership. And the county party surprisingly endorsed democratic socialist Diana Moreno in her successful bid for Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s old Assembly seat. But he did not endorse in the New York City mayoral election in November after backing former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary. As the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Meeks is also leading the resistance against President Donald Trump’s unilateralist agenda. In February, he passed a joint resolution in the House symbolically disapproving of tariffs on Canada, picking up six Republican votes.
5. Melinda Katz
Since taking over as Queens district attorney in 2020, Melinda Katz has made it a priority to keep the streets safe. The Crime Strategies and Intelligence Bureau she created has led the fight against unregulated ghost guns; Queens County has accounted for 38% of ghost gun recoveries citywide since 2021. In November, Katz announced a 97-count indictment charging 32 members of a Southeast Queens gang with carrying out multiple shootings and homicides since 2021. The first woman to hold the office in borough history has also targeted alleged perpetrators of mass fraud and theft.
6. Joseph Addabbo Jr., Leroy Comrie, Kristen Gonzalez, John Liu, James Sanders Jr. & Toby Ann Stavisky
State Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee Chair Joseph Addabbo Jr. had a big 2025, with the awarding of three casino licenses in New York City, including for Resorts World’s existing racetrack casino in Addabbo’s backyard. Outside of casino policy, Addabbo passed legislation last year to deliver a property tax exemption for service-disabled veterans and to require insurance to cover lung cancer screenings and follow-up diagnostic services at no cost to patients.
Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Committee Chair Leroy Comrie wants to take New York in the direction of other states and allow the sale of wine in supermarkets, arguing it would be consumer-friendly and boost the local wine industry. He sponsored the FAIR Business Practices Act signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul last year.
Internet and Technology Committee Chair Kristen Gonzalez is crafting ways to address the regulation of artificial intelligence in the state, sponsoring a bill to protect minors from chatbots. The democratic socialist lawmaker also chairs the Elections Committee.
New York City Education Committee Chair John Liu helped advance the Metropolitan Park casino by sponsoring the key legislation last year to free up the required state-owned parkland. He is sponsoring legislation to put a millionaires tax into effect to fund essential needs.
Banks Committee Chair James Sanders Jr. won a major judicial victory with the state Court of Appeals upholding that his Foreclosure Abuse Prevention Act could apply retroactively to protect homeowners. His legislation to prohibit the use of credit history in most employment decisions was signed into law by Hochul in December.
State Senate Vice President Pro Tempore Toby Ann Stavisky, the chair of the Higher Education Committee, had legislation signed into law by Hochul to have insurance cover the cost of scalp cooling, which helps chemotherapy patients. She also worked to reduce the scope of the redevelopment of the Creedmoor Psychiatric Center.
7. Donovan Richards
After cruising to reelection and reportedly turning down an offer to be Gov. Kathy Hochul’s running mate, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards remains committed to the borough he calls home. In 2025, Queens received two of the three downstate casino licenses approved by the state Gaming Commission, and Hochul announced the approval of the Creedmoor Redevelopment Plan, turning the former eastern Queens psychiatric complex into a 2,022-unit mixed-use housing project. Richards last summer announced $26 million in funding for the Arverne East Aquatic Center, the future home of the first public pools on the Rockaway Peninsula.
8. Helen Arteaga
With a vast portfolio of government agencies under her purview, New York City Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Helen Arteaga is one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top lieutenants. Arteaga moved up from being the CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst in Queens to overseeing health care citywide, with oversight responsibilities including the departments of health and social services. She attended the State of the Union address with Rep. Grace Meng in protest of the Trump administration’s health care cuts and Republicans’ refusal to renew Affordable Care Act tax credits.
9. Nydia Velázquez
After more than three decades in Congress, Rep. Nydia Velázquez announced in November that she would not be running for reelection. Tributes poured in for the trailblazing Puerto Rican lawmaker, nicknamed “La Luchadora,” from dignitaries including Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who later endorsed democratic socialist Assembly Member Claire Valdez to succeed Velázquez in the 7th Congressional District, and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, whom Velázquez herself has endorsed as her successor. The outgoing lawmaker is the ranking member of the House Small Business Committee and recently passed legislation supporting residents of cooperative housing.
10. Ali Najmi
After representing then-Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani during his mayoral campaign, civil rights and election attorney Ali Najmi joined the new administration as chair of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary. He oversees the committee’s efforts in evaluating incumbents and candidates for judicial appointments in family and criminal court and interim appointments in civil court. Najmi also represents criminal defendants and candidates for office in his private practice. He serves as special counsel at Liakis Law, a personal injury law firm, and co-founded the Muslim Democratic Club of New York and the South Asian and Indo-Caribbean Bar Association of Queens.
11. Grace Meng
As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Grace Meng has been on the front lines of the fight against President Donald Trump’s proposed cuts to the federal budget. She brought $18 million in Community Project Funding to her Queens congressional district for fiscal year 2026. In her seventh term, her legislative priorities have included protecting SNAP beneficiaries from fraud and holding federal law enforcement accountable for using deadly force. She faces a primary challenge from former U.S. State Department employee and City Council staffer Chuck Park.
12. Shekar Krishnan, Linda Lee, Sandra Ung & Nantasha Williams
In one of her first acts as New York City Council speaker, Julie Menin elevated a quartet of Queens lawmakers to positions on her leadership team. Finance Committee Chair Linda Lee made her mark as a detail-oriented policy wonk over the past four years, a skill set that will serve her well as a point person negotiating the city’s budget. First up on Lee’s new agenda is closing the city’s multibillion-dollar budget gap. She previously chaired the then-Mental Health, Disabilities and Addiction Committee, where she created the city’s Mental Health Roadmap to guide the city’s mental health policymaking. As deputy speaker, Nantasha Williams is also part of Menin’s top leadership team and landed a coveted position as chair of the Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Relations Committee. Not only does Williams oversee funding and policy for New York City’s vibrant cultural institutions, she gets an invitation to the Met Gala. Williams, a former chair of the Civil and Human Rights Committee, crafted the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan, with plans to build 12,000 affordable housing units. Deputy Leader Sandra Ung has emerged as a key member of Menin’s leadership team. Ung is the chair of the Rules, Privileges, Elections, Standards and Ethics Committee, overseeing the internal running of the city’s legislative branch. Ung previously chaired the Standards and Ethics Committee, merging her previous role with the powerful Rules Committee. Oversight and Investigations Committee Chair Shekar Krishnan is trading oversight of parks for being the City Council’s top investigator. Krishnan has indicated that his vision in leading the oversight body includes investigating bad landlords and predatory corporations, addressing affordability issues and preventing corruption in city government.
13. Steve Cohen
While the Mets floundered on the field, the team’s owner, hedge fund billionaire Steve Cohen, hit a home run with the approval of his Metropolitan Park casino bid next to the baseball stadium. Cohen successfully navigated the state Legislature, bypassing an opponent, state Sen. Jessica Ramos, to advance a parkland alienation bill required to turn the parking lot at Citi Field into an entertainment complex with a Hard Rock casino at its core. Cohen received one of three downstate casino licenses from the state Gaming Commission in December.
14. Robert DeSalvio & Michelle Stoddart
Resorts World New York City received one of three downstate casino licenses from the state Gaming Commission in December. The resort will move forward with a $7.5 billion expansion that will feature a full casino gambling floor, 2,000 new hotel rooms, a 7,000-seat multipurpose entertainment venue, 12 acres of public green space to be built on the footprint of the Aqueduct Racetrack (which will close permanently in June) and 50,000 housing units to be built around the five boroughs. Robert DeSalvio will oversee the transformation as president of Genting New York State, the subsidiary of the Malaysia-based gambling company that owns the resort. Michelle Stoddart, a veteran community development executive at Resorts World New York City, helped forge community connections that paved the way for the casino’s expansion.
15. Thomas Grech
Queens is keeping up in the technology sector, thanks to the efforts of the Queens Chamber of Commerce’s Thomas Grech. The borough’s business organization secured $1.5 million in federal funding to establish a cyber academy, intended to prepare workers with the skills they need to thrive in a digital setting. Grech also celebrated the opening of six tech incubators, offering startups a chance to grow with free office space and development opportunities. The Queens Chamber of Commerce represents more than 1,400 organizations with more than 150,000 employees around the borough.
16. Dennis Walcott
Dennis Walcott, the former New York City schools chancellor and deputy mayor for education and community development, has led the Queens Public Library as president and CEO since 2016. Five QPL locations recently expanded service to seven days a week thanks to funding from the New York City Council for fiscal year 2026. The library system also celebrated groundbreaking on extensive renovations to its Baisley Park and Rego Park branches in 2025. Walcott has been appointed to a number of city and state government commissions, most recently being nominated by Gov. Kathy Hochul to serve on the state Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government.
17. Tom Suozzi
Moderate Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi, who represents a district straddling Queens and Nassau County, has strived for bipartisanship in Washington, D.C. As co-chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus, he helped pass an extension of Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits through the House early this year (although it hasn’t advanced in the Senate). Suozzi serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, on which he fought for a full repeal of the cap on state and local tax deductions. The cap was raised from $10,000 to $40,000 last year.
18. Tyquana Henderson-Rivers
Leading Connective Strategies with nearly 30 years in and around government, Tyquana Henderson-Rivers has established herself as one of the top political strategists in the city. Her firm worked on the successful reelection campaigns of Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson last year. Henderson-Rivers was also involved in former New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams’ run for mayor and her succession in District 28, where former Adams staffer Ty Hankerson won. Henderson-Rivers has an extensive lobbying background, with clients including FedEx and Altria Client Services.
Editor’s note: Tyquana Henderson-Rivers is a member of City & State’s advisory board.
19. Patrick B. Jenkins
Patrick B. Jenkins founded the lobbying firm that bears his name in 2009, offering a range of services including campaign management, polling and community relations. Among the clients of Patrick B. Jenkins & Associates is Genting New York, the group responsible for managing Resorts World New York City, which received one of three downstate casino licenses from the state Gaming Commission last year. Jenkins served as district director for Rep. Gregory Meeks from 1998 to 2005 and worked as a special assistant to now-Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie from 2009 to 2010.
20. Jessica González-Rojas & Jessica Ramos
State Sen. Jessica Ramos earned a reputation as a formidable lawmaker in Albany following her election win in 2018, getting appointed to lead the influential Labor Committee and championing a number of notable worker protections. Yet she lost some political capital over the past two years, as she opposed Steve Cohen’s casino bid in her district (which ultimately was approved), mounted a bid for New York City mayor that fizzled out and then turned heads with a mayoral endorsement of former foe Andrew Cuomo. Ramos is now facing a serious primary challenge from Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas, who chairs the Task Force on Women’s Issues and the Subcommittee on Human Trafficking. González-Rojas recently saw the governor propose funding for her legislation requiring the implementation of an electronic benefit transfer system using industry-standard chip technology.
21. Ed Braunstein, Catalina Cruz, Andrew Hevesi, Alicia Hyndman, Ron Kim, Stacey Pheffer Amato, Nily Rozic, Clyde Vanel & David Weprin
Assembly Member Stacey Pheffer Amato, the chair of the Committee on Governmental Employees, chaired the Resorts World New York City Community Advisory Committee, which unanimously voted to approve the proposal for a commercial casino license it would later receive from the state Gaming Commission. She’s not seeking reelection this year.
Assembly Member Catalina Cruz is focused on protecting civil rights, having introduced legislation that would increase access to immigration legal services.
Assembly Member Nily Rozic has passed multiple pieces of legislation protecting children in online settings. She chairs the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection, which regulates illicit business practices.
Insurance Committee Chair David Weprin has made a legislative priority of attacking fraud. In December, the committee held a hearing on the use of artificial intelligence in insurance underwriting and pricing.
Assembly Member Ed Braunstein chairs the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions, which reviews funding for public authorities and examines legislation affecting corporate entities. Last year’s state budget included $68.4 billion in funding for the five-year capital plan of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which is under the purview of Braunstein’s committee.
Committee on Children and Families Chair Andrew Hevesi is tasked with making a promise of universal child care come to fruition in the state budget. At the start of this year, the governor signed a slate of Hevesi-sponsored bills raising the standard for high-quality child care into law.
Higher Education Committee Chair Alicia Hyndman passed legislation breaking down barriers for online high school graduates in receiving admission and financial aid at SUNY and CUNY institutions. She kicked off a statewide tour of colleges and universities in January.
As chair of the Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development, Assembly Member Ron Kim introduced legislation to cap concert ticket prices on reseller markets.
Assembly Member Clyde Vanel chairs the Banks Committee and has long focused on technology policy in Albany.
22. Richard Browne & Jeff Wilpon
Last year, the developers of Willets Point reached some key milestones in redeveloping what had been a blighted corner of Queens crammed with ramshackle auto repair shops: In the spring, the Adams administration announced the first phase of the transformation was halfway done, and by the end of the year a housing lottery had opened for 880 affordable housing units at the site. The project is being developed by Queens Development Group, a joint venture of Related Companies and Sterling Equities, a development management and advisory firm led by Richard Browne and Jeff Wilpon.
23. Frank Monterisi
Related Companies is one of the real estate developers responsible for the transformation of Willets Point. As Related executive vice president, Frank Monterisi is the point person on that effort, with experience running similar operations across Chicago and New York, including the 925-unit affordable housing development at Hunter’s Point South. The first 880 of 2,500 affordable housing units to be made available at Willets Point will open to the public in April, with the 25,000-seat stadium for New York City Football Club set to follow in 2027. Monterisi is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran.
24. Brad Sims, Marty Edelman & Jennifer O’Sullivan
Even with more than a year until Etihad Park opens across the street from Citi Field, New York City Football Club is actively fostering relationships in Queens. The professional soccer club continued the work of the New York City Soccer Initiative with a pledge to open 26 new mini soccer pitches around the city in celebration of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first coming at P.S. 211 in Corona. The team’s future home at Willets Point is scheduled to open in summer 2027 and will host early round matches of the 2028 Olympic soccer tournament. The team is led by Marty Edelman, Brad Sims and Jennifer O’Sullivan. Edelman, who is also a lawyer at Paul Hastings, recently joined the executive board of President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace. O’Sullivan oversees business operations and legal functions for the club and Sims runs the club on a day-to-day basis, joining NYCFC in 2019 after vice president roles with the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers and in the league office.
25. Joanna Geraghty
Terminal 5 at John F. Kennedy International Airport, home of the JetBlue hub, is getting a refresh with inspiration from the city it calls home. The Long Island City-based airline last spring announced 40 new concessions reflecting the flavors of New York at its flagship terminal, as well as a redesign of its center concourse and new art installations. JetBlue will also expand its service once the new Terminal 6 is completed as part of the $19 billion redevelopment of JFK. Joanna Geraghty took over as CEO in 2024, after first joining the company in 2005.
26. Frank Wu
Frank Wu, a trailblazing higher education leader, took the reins as president of Queens College in July 2020. He has made combating antisemitism a focus of his administration, welcoming the Israeli consul general in New York to campus in July. The New York City Council allocated $5 million in capital funding last year for renovations to the Flushing CUNY campus, and Rep. Grace Meng announced an additional investment of more than $3 million for fiscal year 2026. Wu is a career educator, with stops at institutions of higher education around the country.
27. Elizabeth Crowley
Former New York City Council Member Elizabeth Crowley took over as president and CEO of the Building Trades Employers’ Association in 2023. The industry organization serves union contractors through advocacy, including government lobbying. Last year, BTEA successfully advocated for the implementation of mental health safety training for city construction workers. Crowley previously co-founded 21 in ’21, a nonprofit group that helped pave the way for the first woman-majority City Council in 2021.
28. Adrienne Adams
Adrienne Adams is hoping to become the first New York City Council speaker to win higher office after exiting City Hall. The former council speaker, who made a name for herself battling then-Mayor Eric Adams and lost her own mayoral bid last year, is now Gov. Kathy Hochul’s running mate as she looks to become lieutenant governor. Adams, the first Black woman speaker, joins Hochul on New York’s first all-women major party ticket. If successful, the ticket would be the fifth all-women governor-lieutenant governor pairing in American history.
29. Tiffany Cabán, Shanel Thomas-Henry & Julie Won
New York City Council Workforce Development Committee Chair Julie Won is hoping to take her legislative talents to Washington, D.C. The Sunnyside lawmaker jumped into the competitive primary to succeed retiring Rep. Nydia Velázquez, a race in which she’s facing off against Assembly Member Claire Valdez and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. Won, a former Contracts Committee chair, has shown herself to be a skilled negotiator for her Long Island City constituents, securing key affordable housing commitments in the OneLIC rezoning plan and in other development deals.
City Council Member Tiffany Cabán’s near win for Queens district attorney in 2019 was one of the early signs that Queens politics was changing. Now a city lawmaker of four years who’s a co-chair of the Progressive Caucus, Cabán has racked up a string of accomplishments, including passing the Safer Sanctuary Act, supporting survivors of gender-based violence and securing record mental health funding. She took the gavel of the Mental Health and Substance Use Committee this year.
First-term City Council Member Shanel Thomas-Henry brings a lot of practical experience with small businesses to her new role as chair of the Small Business Committee. A small-business owner herself dating back to her graduate school days, she also grew up around her grandfather and uncle’s small businesses. In addition to her small-business work, Thomas-Henry was the community outreach manager for the LaGuardia Airport redevelopment program.
30. Claire Valdez & Diana Moreno
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani got Diana Moreno elected to his old Assembly seat earlier this year, but he’s facing a tougher political test with another Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidate. Assembly Member Claire Valdez, a Mamdani ally, is running for the congressional seat set to be vacated by Rep. Nydia Velázquez, who’s not running for reelection. Unlike Moreno, who garnered support from the Queens Democratic Party and coasted to victory in the February special election, Valdez faces stiff competition for the Democratic nomination. Also in the mix are Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, who has received the endorsement of Velázquez and the Working Families Party, as well as New York City Council Member Julie Won. Valdez is running for the heavily progressive Brooklyn-Queens crossover district with help from advisers to Mamdani’s come-from-behind campaign.
31. Suzette Noble
Since joining LaGuardia Gateway Partners in 2021, Suzette Noble has channeled her experience delivering for guests and corporate interests at Disney theme parks, Krispy Kreme and Great Wolf Lodge to critical acclaim for LaGuardia Airport’s redeveloped Terminal B. Noble was promoted CEO in 2023, the same year that airport rating firm Skytrax gave the terminal, which is managed and led by LaGuardia Gateway Partners, five stars. Terminal management celebrated the opening of the 12,500-square-foot Capital One Landing lounge in February.
32. Brian Shanley
In the midst of a $400 million fundraising effort that began last year, St. John’s University is starting to reap the benefit of dollars secured from prior fundraising. In 2024, the institution opened a $106 million state-of-the-art health sciences center, and last year it broke ground on a new basketball practice facility, which will allow the old practice facility to be repurposed into a student recreation center. The Rev. Brian Shanley took over as president of St. John’s in 2021 after 15 years in the same role at Providence College. He is chair of the Big East Conference board of directors.
33. Selvena Brooks-Powers, James Gennaro, Ty Hankerson & Lynn Schulman
New York City Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers made history in 2022 as the first Black woman to serve as the body’s majority whip. She and her colleagues overrode a veto by then-Mayor Eric Adams of her bill to reopen the window for survivors of gender-based violence to pursue legal action. Brooks-Powers, who mounted an unsuccessful run for council speaker, has a new assignment as chair of the Criminal Justice Committee.
The New York City Council’s leading environmentalist, James Gennaro remains chair of the Environmental Protection and Waterfronts Committee, a post he’s held for most of the past quarter century. Gennaro is tackling issues related to basement apartments and flooding challenges as well as upgrading the city’s storm sewer capacity to handle heavy rainfalls.
After winning another term, Council Member Lynn Schulman is keeping her position as chair of the Health Committee. In that role, she has spearheaded the establishment of family building benefits for city employees, improved testing for Legionnaires’ disease and codified HealthyNYC, which aims to increase New Yorkers’ life expectancy.
Parks and Recreation Committee Chair Ty Hankerson knows his new City Council district well, having spent the past four years as district chief of staff for his predecessor, former City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams.
34. Steve Thody
JFK Millennium Partners is a Vantage Group-led consortium responsible for operating Terminal 7 at John F. Kennedy International Airport while it develops the adjacent new Terminal 6, a $4.2 billion project. Overseeing the ambitious undertaking is Steve Thody, an aviation executive with more than 20 years of experience. The new terminal was recognized with The Bond Buyer’s Green Financing Deal of the Year award last year, a nod to the project’s commitment to sustainability. The consortium has also prioritized connecting Terminal 6 to its surrounding community, with concessions featuring local eateries and work from Queens artists lining the halls.
35. Neil J. Moore & Alina Moran
Neil J. Moore took over as the CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens in 2021. Last fall, the hospital unveiled improvements to its cancer care and radiology treatment capabilities, made possible through funding from Borough President Donovan Richards and New York City Council Member James Gennaro. Moore comes from an extensive background as a health care administrator, including a previous stint with NYC Health + Hospitals from 1989 to 2005.
When New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani hired Helen Arteaga to be his deputy mayor for health and human services, NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst brought back Alina Moran to succeed Arteaga as CEO of the Queens hospital. Moran previously was chief financial officer at the hospital, and her most recent career stops were at Samaritan, a digital health service for people experiencing homelessness, and as CEO of California Hospital Medical Center.
36. Roel Huinink
As president and CEO of JFKIAT, the company responsible for operating JFK Airport’s Terminal 4, Roel Huinink oversees the safe passage of more than 25 million travelers each year. Following the $1.5 billion expansion of the terminal, which included the consolidation of Delta’s operations at the airport, Huinink last year announced the T4 North Star initiative focused on an improved guest experience. Huinink, who has more than a quarter century of experience in the industry, joined JFKIAT in 2018, before the terminal’s redevelopment.
37. Bruce Flanz
Both of the hospitals under the management of the MediSys Health Network and its top executive, Bruce Flanz, are being brought up to modern standards. Flushing Hospital Medical Center completed an upgrade of its emergency department last year, while Jamaica Hospital Medical Center expects to open its new emergency department in phases starting this summer, built with state funding. Gov. Kathy Hochul also announced a $180 million state investment into a new cancer center at Jamaica Hospital, with construction set to start this year.
38. Laura Rothrock
It was a busy year for the Long Island City Partnership, which manages the Long Island City Business Improvement District. After doubling its footprint at the start of 2025, the organization secured $9.7 million for improvements around the neighborhood through the state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative. Then, the New York City Council approved the OneLIC Neighborhood Plan, which will add 14,700 new homes, 4,350 of which will be permanently affordable. Laura Rothrock, the organization’s president, announced a Queens Plaza and Jackson Avenue mobility study, supported by state funding.
39. Khaleel Anderson, Sam Berger, Vivian Cook, Larinda Hooks, Steven Raga & Jenifer Rajkumar
These Queens Assembly members know that you don’t need to chair a full-fledged committee to make headlines. Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar garnered attention for her alliance with then-New York City Mayor Eric Adams, showing up at many of his public events in her signature red dresses. But the partnership didn’t propel her to victory in her race for New York City public advocate, especially with Adams plagued by several scandals. Rajkumar, who chairs the Subcommittee on Diversity in Law, has also targeted illegal smoke shops and helped establish Diwali as a New York City public school holiday.
This year, Assembly Member Steven Raga is taking his shot at climbing the political ladder. He’s seeking the seat held by retiring state Sen. Michael Gianaris, although he’ll have to win a competitive primary against Aber Kawas, who has the backing of the Democratic Socialists of America.
Assembly Member Vivian Cook, who’s been in office since her first election in 1990, kicked off another race with her February announcement that she won’t be seeking reelection this year. Nathaniel Hezekiah, the deputy chief of staff to Rep. Gregory Meeks, and Latoya LeGrand, a former Cook staffer working for state Sen. James Sanders Jr., are running to replace her.
Assembly Member Larinda Hooks, who succeeded Jeffrion Aubry last year, played a key role in advancing the Metropolitan Park casino bid when she teamed up with state Sen. John Liu on a required parkland alienation bill.
Assembly Member Khaleel Anderson serves as chair of the Task Force on Food, Farm & Nutrition Policy. When he was first elected in 2020, he made history as the youngest Black Assembly member in New York history.
Assembly Member Sam Berger was first elected in a competitive 2023 special election. Berger, an Orthodox Jew, has sought to combat antisemitism on college campuses and tamp down on street protests.
40. David O’Rourke
With the transformation of Belmont Park set for completion in the fall, the New York Racing Association will consolidate its downstate operations to the new facility and close the Aqueduct Racetrack in June. David O’Rourke took over as president and CEO of NYRA in 2019 and has overseen the complete redevelopment of the Belmont track, which has required the relocation of most of the racing association’s schedule. In its footprint will rise the expanded Resorts World New York City Casino, set to open this summer.
41. Peter Tu
As a longtime leader with the Flushing Chinese Business Association, Peter Tu advocates on behalf of the immigrant-driven Queens community. He came out in support of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s effort to crack down on auto insurance fraud, citing the disproportionate effects of rising costs on small-business owners reliant upon affordable transportation. Tu also founded the Kissena Democratic Club. The FCBA hosted the 30th annual Lunar New Year Parade through the streets of Flushing in February.
42. Lorraine Chambers Lewis
Rising from physician assistant to president of Long Island Jewish Forest Hills hospital, Lorraine Chambers Lewis knows health care management inside and out. In her previous capacity as vice president of employee health services for Northwell Health, she launched the network’s first injury management program and created an occupational health business model to support worker safety. Now, she runs Northwell’s 312-bed facility in Queens, which received high marks for patient safety, orthopedic surgery, maternity services and gynecology in 2025.
43. Melva Miller
More than two decades of experience in community development across the borough has landed Melva Miller with the leadership team at the New Terminal One at JFK Airport, set to open in phases starting this year. As its chief engagement officer, she seeks to connect the $9.5 billion development with its surrounding Southeast Queens community. Previously, Miller was the founding executive director of the Sutphin Boulevard Business Improvement District, deputy borough president under then-Borough President Melinda Katz and the inaugural CEO of the Association for a Better New York.
44. Cameron Hernandez
Patient safety is paramount at Mount Sinai Queens in Astoria. The hospital received an “A” grade from watchdog Leapfrog Group for precision in care, meeting expectations set by President and Chief Operating Officer Cameron Hernandez, who was promoted from chief medical officer in 2021. Mount Sinai expanded the scope of its care in western Queens with the opening of a new outpatient practice in 2024 and will continue to do so with a new intensive care unit set for groundbreaking this year and scheduled to open in 2027.
45. Sarah McKeon
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey operates five airports across two states, including the two major airports located in Queens. As the Port Authority’s aviation director, Sarah McKeon oversees an operation that serves around 150 million commercial passengers each year. Queens’ airports lead the way, with LaGuardia Airport receiving the best marks of any airport in North America in a 2025 passenger satisfaction survey, and upgrades ongoing at John F. Kennedy International Airport. McKeon worked her way up the ranks at Newark Liberty International Airport in a more than 20-year career with the Port Authority.
46. Brian W. Simon & Julissa Ferreras-Copeland
Since its founding in 2021, Hollis Public Affairs has quickly climbed into the top tier among New York City lobbying firms – vaulting all the way to No. 4 in the latest list published by the city clerk. The rapid rise is a testament to the abilities of founder Brian W. Simon, a former staffer in state and federal government, and Julissa Ferreras-Copeland, a former New York City Council Finance Committee chair. Simon, who previously spent five years at Davidoff Hutcher & Citron, also absorbed The Wright Group NY’s lobbying practice last year. In February, the firm announced the launch of its Strategic Communications Practice, with Zach Haberman brought on to lead it.
47. Donald Morrish
It was a big year for the Rockaway safety net health system Episcopal Health Services. Its 257-bed St. John’s Episcopal Hospital opened a $12 million maternity suite in July, then received a $27.2 million state grant to improve its critical care services in August. EHS also earned a baby-friendly designation for its new labor and delivery center and received acclaim for its dialysis center. Dr. Donald Morrish took over as CEO in 2024, having been with the health network since 2016, most recently as chief medical officer.
48. Fahd Ahmed
Desis Rising Up & Moving played a pivotal role in the early coalition-building efforts for then-mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. The organization worked closely with the Mamdani campaign through its DRUM Beats electoral affiliate to mobilize canvassers speaking the languages of the members of Queens’ South Asian communities. Fahd Ahmed has been with DRUM for more than 25 years. Ahmed, who was once an undocumented immigrant, supports the South Asian and Indo-Caribbean working class in its struggle for justice and equity.
49. Sasha Wijeyeratne
Since CAAAV was founded in 1986 as the Committee Against Anti-Asian Violence, it has combated racism following the 9/11 attacks, opposed wars in the Middle East and organized cab drivers, domestic workers and others. The organization notched perhaps its biggest political win last year, when it was part of a diverse coalition that propelled Zohran Mamdani to City Hall. CAAAV, led by Sasha Wijeyeratne, teamed up with DRUM Beats to reach more than 150,000 South Asian residents across the city during Mamdani’s primary campaign.
50. Joann Ariola
South Queens New York City Council Member Joann Ariola won a battle to be minority leader last year, only to lose a vote to retain the post this year. While Staten Island Council Member David Carr now leads a five-member GOP cohort, Ariola was reappointed to an important post as chair of the Committee on Fire and Emergency Management. She sponsored legislation passed in December phasing out the use of toxic chemicals in protective firefighter gear. In March, Ariola withdrew from the City Council’s bipartisan, center-right Common Sense Caucus, which now has six members.
51. Peter Vallone Sr.
The first speaker in the history of the New York City Council has stayed active in government after leaving elected office at the end of 2001. Peter Vallone Sr. co-founded Constantinople & Vallone Consulting, where he and his team guide clients through the stages of government bureaucracy, helping to secure funding or pass legislation. The lobbying firm, ranked in the top five in the city, specializes in the construction, energy, education, technology and labor sectors, while also offering strategic guidance for businesses and nonprofits.
52. Kenneth Adams
Kenneth Adams has tapped into his experience in economic development during his tenure at LaGuardia Community College. His Long Island City institution received $116.2 million from Steve and Alex Cohen for the construction of a workforce training center in 2024, the largest gift ever given to a community college and the biggest in CUNY’s history. This year, the school received $3 million in funding from the New York City Council for improvements to the campus’ aesthetics, accessibility and energy efficiency. Adams led Empire State Development from 2011 to 2015.
53. Anita Chen
Veteran hospital executive Anita Chen optimizes processes that keep NewYork-Presbyterian Queens clicking. She joined the health network’s borough operation to launch its occupational therapy program in 2008, and she has since progressed through leadership roles overseeing various projects, including renovations to the Flushing health center’s postpartum unit and the neurological intensive care unit, the only one of its kind in the borough. In May 2025, the health network announced a $16 million contribution from beverage entrepreneur and Queens native Mike Repole for a new infusion center to improve cancer care, which is planned to open in 2027.
54. Christine Mangino
Queensborough Community College is committed to offering an inclusive college experience for all. The CUNY institution last spring opened its PRIDE Center, a resource space celebrating LGBTQIA+ history and culture. In February, Rep. Grace Meng announced $3.1 million in Community Project Funding for a child care center on the campus. Christine Mangino took over as president in 2020 after working her way up the CUNY ranks from assistant professor to provost and vice president for academic affairs at Hostos Community College in the Bronx. She also serves as a Middle States Commission on Higher Education peer evaluator.
55. Shamik Banerjee & Adam Ryan
Queens is a hub for air travel, making airline executives like Delta Air Lines’ Shamik Banerjee and Adam Ryan pivotal players in the borough. Banerjee oversees airport operations for Delta at John F. Kennedy International Airport, where he manages a team of 3,000 customer services employees and maintains the airline’s large trans-Atlantic schedule, with 97 destinations around the globe. He joined Delta in 2007. Adam Ryan holds the same role at LaGuardia Airport as well as Boston Logan International Airport and Delta’s entire Northeast region, with a team of 7,000 employees. He has prioritized safety improvements and has helped win awards recognizing LaGuardia as a top hub and distinctions for sustainability.
56. Daniel Zausner
The crown jewel of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Arthur Ashe Stadium, is set to receive an $800 million makeover. The renovations, which are scheduled to be complete in time for the 2027 U.S. Open without interrupting play or fan access, will feature modernized concourses, 2,000 new seats in the courtside bowl and two new levels of luxury suites. Daniel Zausner has handled operations at the facility since 2001. The property will also be used as a FIFA World Cup fan zone in June.
57. Justin Rodgers
Greater Jamaica Development Corp.’s Justin Rodgers last year announced a joint venture partnership with three real estate developers on Arras, a $200 million development with 425 housing units in a mixed-use project in Downtown Jamaica. The organization is front and center in the revitalization effort in Southeast Queens. Its GJDC Community Development Financial Institution provides technical assistance and loans to small businesses in the area, having lent more than $13 million. Rodgers also serves on the Downtown Jamaica Partnership board and the JFK Redevelopment Community Advisory Council.
58. Costa Constantinides
Set to undergo a $305 million renovation, the old Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens building in Astoria closed its doors in December. Programming has been relocated to a senior center and four partner schools while a new facility goes up under the supervision of CEO Costa Constantinides. Groundbreaking is set to take place this year, and construction is scheduled to be completed in 2028, when the organization will be able to serve 16,000 youths. Constantinides previously served as a New York City Council member for District 22 from 2014 to 2021.
59. Claudia Schrader
After nearly a year and a half serving as the interim leader of York College, the CUNY school named Claudia Schrader as its permanent president in May 2025. On her watch, the Jamaica, Queens, institution, which has a student body of over 6,000, has improved its campus facilities, initiated a multiyear period of self-assessment and launched the York Opportunity Network to improve college accessibility for students in underserved communities. Schrader has also established the Welcome Wagon program, in which she delivers goodie bags to incoming students.
60. Clint Plummer
Earlier this year, Clint Plummer announced his new job as managing director and head of generation development at LS Power, an energy development, investment and operating company based in New York City. It should be a smooth transition, thanks to his previous work leading Rise Light & Power, which was owned by LS Power. Rise Light & Power owns Long Island City’s Ravenswood Generating Station, which pursued upgrades and clean energy investments under Plummer until its recent acquisition by NRG Energy. Plummer plans to continue to focus on grid reliability, energy affordability, sustainability and security.
61. Mark Weprin
With experience serving in the New York City Council, the Assembly and the Cuomo administration, Mark Weprin launched his own government affairs and public policy advisory firm last fall. Among his clients is his most recent employer, Invenergy, a clean energy company where he served as vice president for government affairs from 2022 to 2025. The veteran Queens politico represents the renewable energy industry and after-school programs, helping clients navigate government and develop community engagement strategies in his new venture.
62. Dermot Smyth
After more than a decade and a half fighting on the behalf of unionized teachers, Dermot Smyth joined the CUNY leadership team as vice chancellor for government affairs in January. The role involves engaging with various legislative bodies on the behalf of the city’s vast higher education system, pursuing its legislative and budgeting priorities. In his previous role as Queens political action coordinator for the United Federation of Teachers, Smyth organized mobilization efforts, vetted candidates for endorsements and represented the union in its advocacy efforts. He made a run for the New York City Council District 30 seat, but lost the Democratic primary to now-Council Member Phil Wong.
63. John Albert & Anne Marie Anzalone
Bolton-St. Johns just notched another year as the No. 2 government relations firm in New York City, raking in $10.6 million in lobbying compensation in 2025, according to a new report from the city clerk. The firm benefits from the experience and connections of its partners, including Queens-based executives John Albert and Anne Marie Anzalone. Albert focuses on nonprofits, cultural organizations and businesses, including guiding the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center through land use and community approvals needed for upgrades. Anzalone was a longtime government staffer in Queens before moving into the private sector, having served as chief of staff to then-Rep. Joe Crowley.
64. Michael Braun
Kasirer, which perennially ranks as the top lobbying firm in New York City, trusts its strategic development to Michael Braun. He serves as managing director for Kasirer Strategic Advisors, a new division within the firm stretching beyond government relations into business consulting and strategic advisory services. Braun previously served as Kasirer’s chief strategy officer, a role in which he led government and community relations on client projects and oversaw Kasirer’s political analysis. Before joining the firm in 2019, he was a student trustee at SUNY.
65. Spencer Lee
The Parkside Group offers an array of government services, including lobbying and public affairs. As the firm’s managing director, Spencer Lee oversees advertising and coalition-building efforts for a portfolio that includes the state Senate Democrats, New York City Council members and other political, advocacy and corporate clients. Before joining Parkside, Lee served as the external relations director for the state Senate Democrats and worked on federal campaigns.
66. Sean Crowley
The younger brother of former Rep. Joe Crowley, Sean Crowley is a partner and interim chair in the New York State Government Relations Group at Davidoff Hutcher & Citron. His work on the behalf of Queens clients, including the United States Tennis Association, focuses on navigating local government on matters related to zoning, permitting and municipal contracts. Crowley previously served as a campaign coordinator for then-Rep. Thomas Manton, his brother’s predecessor in Congress, and as an investigator for the New York City Council and managing partner at the Crowley, Crowley & Kaufman law firm.
67. Ben Thomases
With a budget that has nearly tripled since he took the helm in 2015, Ben Thomases has shepherded unprecedented growth at Queens Community House. After the completion of a $16 million renovation of the organization’s Forest Hills Community Center in 2024, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a $5 million grant for upgrades to the organization’s Pomonok Community Center in December. Thomases earned a title bump to CEO last year. As a leader of the #JustPay campaign, he helped city-contracted human services workers gain a 3% cost-of-living wage adjustment each year in fiscal years 2025, 2026 and 2027.
68. Scott Crowley
With nearly a decade of experience handling budget and finance matters for the New York City Council, Scott Crowley now guides clients of Fontas Advisors through the process of securing public funds, navigating government regulations and advancing legislative priorities. He was named a senior vice president at the firm in 2020 and works with clients in the corporate, nonprofit and technology sectors. Before working for the City Council, Crowley worked on city, state and federal campaigns.
69. Michael Mallon & Ebony Young
After four years serving as chief of staff to Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Michael Mallon was promoted to a new role as deputy borough president for external affairs and special initiatives last fall. He is in charge of executing Richards’ transportation agenda, including community engagement on the Interborough Express, a light-rail line connecting Queens and Brooklyn, and also leads the office’s Food Insecurity Working Group. Ebony Young has served as deputy borough president since 2022, with an eye toward globalizing the world’s borough. She spearheaded the development of the New York Global Tech & Innovation Center, a business development facility for local startups. Young, who is also spearheading efforts to improve Black maternal health, comes from a background in corporate management at public and private entities and nonprofits.
70. Daniel Rosenthal
Daniel Rosenthal resigned from the Assembly to join the UJA-Federation of New York in 2023. He has lobbied his former colleagues in government on the behalf of the influential Jewish advocacy organization, which distributed more than $275 million in grants last year. UJA-Federation of New York announced a $1 million grant to support food pantries around the city in November. Rosenthal has raised alarms about rising antisemitism, and the organization is backing city legislation that would put in place new police protections around houses of worship.
71. Danielle Ellman
Commonpoint provides food assistance, workforce development and programming for children, older adults and people with disabilities. Among the nonprofit’s 95 locations around New York City are five food pantries, which have distributed groceries to those affected by federal benefit cuts. While based in Queens, the organization has been expanding, most recently opening a new youth clubhouse in the Bronx. Danielle Ellman took the reins in 2017 after running the Central Queens YM & YWHA and completing a merger with the Samuel Field YM & YWHA that created Commonpoint. In 2023, Ellman was named to the mayor’s inaugural Jewish Advisory Council.
72. Kevin Alexander
As an active member of the Far Rockaway community and president and CEO of the Rockaway Development & Revitalization Corp. since 2011, Kevin Alexander partners with government officials and agencies to bring about improvements to the city’s southeasternmost corner while also maintaining a slate of development programming for the community. He served on the local planning committee for the distribution of $4.5 million in state funding through the NY Forward program in 2023. RDRC started the Southeast Queens Business Incubator, an eight-week business growth program, in 2024.
73. Ira Goldstein
Drivers for hire have a dedicated advocate in Ira Goldstein. The Black Car Fund provides workers’ compensation benefits to more than 100,000 drivers. Through its Drivers Benefits program, the organization provides no-cost benefits to more than 65,000 drivers, including disability and accident insurance, critical illness coverage, an accidental death benefit and hearing, vision and dental care. Last year, Goldstein advocated successfully for a state extension of the organization’s authority to provide additional health-related benefits through its Driver Benefits program, leading to a new Health Navigation Service benefit that began in January.
74. Lisa Gugenheim
A new exhibition at the New York Hall of Science in Corona lets visitors view life through the eyes of the people who make New York City run. Titled “CityWorks,” it offers interactive experiences related to city infrastructure, covering transportation, sanitation, water management and construction. The exhibition is the result of a collaboration with a research scientist from NYU’s Center for Urban Science and Progress. Lisa Gugenheim took over as CEO and president of the institution in 2024 after a nearly 30-year run with the American Museum of Natural History.
75. Sally Tallant
Sally Tallant will hand the reins of the Queens Museum off to her deputy, Debra Wimpfheimer, as she steps down this summer to return to her native England, where she will run the Hayward Gallery in London. Wimpfheimer will move up to the position of executive director with more than 20 years of experience at the museum. The Queens native will oversee the development of a new state-funded children’s museum for arts and culture, scheduled for completion in 2027.
76. Leonard Jacobs & Courtney Ffrench
Carrying on a long legacy of supporting culture at the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning are Leonard Jacobs and Courtney Ffrench. JCAL adopted a five-year strategic plan in 2024 focused on supporting local artists and empowering creative expression. The organization operates the Jamaica Arts Center, where it stages exhibitions, and the Jamaica Performing Arts Center, which Ffrench ran from 2011 to 2022. Jacobs, a Queens native, comes from a background as an arts journalist and editor, with a stint as director of cultural institutions for the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs from 2011 to 2018. In his current role, he has doubled the center’s staff and budget and formed a partnership with Resorts World New York City, Terminal 6 at the John F. Kennedy International Airport and the Greater Jamaica Development Corp.
77. Sam Charney
Since he founded the Charney Companies in 2013, Sam Charney has expanded the real estate firm beyond its base in Brooklyn and made his mark in neighboring Queens. His development, The Jackson at 11-51 47th Ave., was recognized with the Queens Chamber of Commerce Award for Best New Multifamily Building in 2017, and he’s now developing a 55-story condominium in Long Island City. Charney, who also serves on the board of the Queens Museum, has more than 3,000 units in development citywide.
78. Edwin Christian
Edwin Christian has been involved with International Union of Operating Engineers Local 14-14B for decades, serving as its business manager since 2004. The union represents workers in construction fields and offers benefits such as an annuity plan, a pension plan and health insurance. Christian serves as chair of the IUOE trustees, president of the New York City Coalition of Operating Engineers and secretary-treasurer of the IUOE New York State Conference. He also has served on the boards of several construction and labor councils, including the New York City Mayor’s Workforce Development Board.
79. Ben Guttmann
Since 1977, the Queens Economic Development Corp. has been bringing business into the borough. The organization runs the event calendar “It’s in Queens” through its Queens Tourism Council, highlighting the things to do and places to be from Astoria to Jamaica. The QEDC offers support for businesses and entrepreneurs, and it champions community initiatives through advocacy, having retained the services of firm Lemma Class in recent years. Ben Guttmann took over as executive director in July, coming from a career in marketing.
80. Stuart C. Kaplan
Selfhelp is focused on building a brighter tomorrow for seniors in Queens. In June, the state Energy Research and Development Authority awarded $1 million to the Selfhelp Realty Group for a new all-electric senior housing project on its Flushing campus, joining the repurposed Parkway Hospital in Forest Hills as Selfhelp projects in development in the borough. For more than a quarter century, CEO Stuart C. Kaplan has spearheaded the organization’s commitment to programming and housing for older adults throughout the city.
81. Nilbia Coyote
Shining as a beacon for immigrant rights is New Immigrant Community Empowerment, led by Mexican immigrant Nilbia Coyote. Under Coyote’s leadership, the Jackson Heights-based organization started a preapprenticeship program to help immigrant workers adapt to the U.S. labor landscape. In February, U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced $500,000 in federal funding for the development of a NICE Community and Training Center. Former NICE staffer Diana Moreno was recently elected to the Queens Assembly seat that was vacated by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
82. Anthony Lemma & Facia Class
Anthony Lemma has cultivated relationships with major players across Queens, counting among his recent clients Steve Cohen’s recently approved Metropolitan Park casino project as well as the Queens Chamber of Commerce, Delta Air Lines, Commonpoint and the Variety Boys & Girls Club. Lemma, a former congressional aide, and his business partner, Facia Class, renamed their firm Lemma Class in March, dropping the old Lemma Strategies name amid an expansion and an embrace of multilevel advocacy. Class, a Queens native, led an effective government affairs and community engagement campaign for the live music venue Forest Hills Stadium in response to neighborhood complaints about noise and overcrowding.
83. Mitchell Taylor
A top free tax preparation provider, Urban Upbound celebrated 20 years of offering New Yorkers assistance on their filings in January at City Hall with New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin and the city Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. Bishop Mitchell Taylor co-founded the organization to provide financial education to tenants of public housing developments, continuing the work he started at the nondenominational Center of Hope International. Taylor was a loyal ally of Eric Adams, endorsing his policy announcements and describing a federal probe into the then-mayor as racially motivated.
84. Sagar Chadha
Sagar Chadha has taken his experience as an assistant district attorney in Queens into personal injury law. He chairs the Labor Law Division at Liakas Law, where he handles catastrophic personal injury cases and represents union and nonunion workers injured on construction sites. He teamed up with fellow attorney Ali Najmi to launch the South Asian and Indo-Caribbean Bar Association of Queens in 2017. Chadha joined the Advisory Council for the Housing Part of the Civil Court of the City of New York last summer and is a defender of New York’s Scaffold Law.
85. Daniel Lowy
A decade ago, Daniel Lowy launched EMU Health, an integrated outpatient clinic based in Queens. The Wharton School MBA set up the facility with an eye toward improving accessibility, offering primary care, specialty care, interventional radiology, women’s health and pediatric dental surgery at one location. Lowy is also a director-at-large with the Orthodox Union, one of the country’s largest Orthodox Jewish organizations, and a member of the executive board of Teach NYS, which advocates for government funding for yeshivas and Jewish day schools. He serves on the CUNY SPH Foundation board as well.
86. Eugene Noh
Eugene Noh brought experience running campaign operations for city, state and federal races when he joined Legion Outreach Consulting in 2024, and last year he took the reins following Justin Chae’s departure. The firm combines research, advocacy and data-driven outreach to serve political, government and corporate clients, including state Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky and New York City Council Member Shanel Thomas-Henry. Noh ran the reelection campaign for then-Mayor Eric Adams for a few months until it was suspended in September. He is married to New York City Council Member Julie Won.
87. Whitney Barrat
Three years into a merger of the three business improvement districts that used to serve the area, the Downtown Jamaica Partnership continues to push back against bus lanes along Jamaica Avenue that have created problems for businesses lining the corridor. Whitney Barrat, who has run the Downtown Jamaica Partnership since 2022, previously held senior leadership positions at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and served as executive director of the subsumed Jamaica Center BID. The organization has started a campaign to rebrand the neighborhood with the acronym “DJQ” for Downtown Jamaica, Queens.
88. James Johnson
While a revamped John F. Kennedy International Airport is in development, the businesses in its surrounding Springfield Gardens community turn to James Johnson to represent their interests. The leader of the GatewayJFK business improvement district secured a $75,000 grant from the New York City Department of Small Business Services last year, which will go toward programming and beautification efforts. Johnson finished behind New York City Council Member Nantasha Williams in the Democratic primary in 2021.
89. Udai Tambar
The youth movement is strong in tennis. In 2025, the United States Tennis Association announced that Udai Tambar’s New York Junior Tennis & Learning would receive $450,000 as a charter member of its Community Impact Hub program. The funds support the Queens-based organization in teaching nearly 90,000 young people through tennis at 100 school and community sites throughout the city. Tambar hopes to boost that number to 300,000 people served in 2027. Tambar is also a member of the New York City Commission on Universal After-School.
90. Erica Ford
A champion of violence intervention and youth empowerment, Erica Ford has contributed to the ongoing transformation of Southeast Queens from the street level. She is the founder of Life Camp, an organization committed to providing families facing violence with the tools they need. Her conflict resolution methods have been incorporated into the city’s crisis management system, and she served on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s transition committee on community safety. She’s also the author of “The Peace Doctor's Playbook: 365 Days to a Stronger, More Powerful You.”
91. Kevin Livingston
100 Suits for 100 Men continues to grow, both at home in Queens and beyond. The nonprofit offers suit fittings and workforce development for those facing economic hardships and looking for sustainable employment. In partnership with the New York City Department of Correction, founder and Executive Director Kevin Livingston launched a men’s boutique on Rikers Island in December to dress those in custody for special occasions, including their release day. The organization also hosts regular open mic poetry nights in Southeast Queens.
92. Mohamed Amin
At a time when advocacy for marginalized groups is as important as ever, Mohamed Amin leads the Caribbean Equality Project based out of Southeast Queens, where he fights for LGBTQ+ and immigrant rights through legislative action and community development. The organization last year launched a campaign to raise $3 million for the construction of a Caribbean LGBTQ+ Center in Richmond Hill, which would be the first of its kind in the city. Amin’s organization also offers regular programming with a focus on combating food insecurity and supporting trauma recovery.
93. Greg Lavine
With experience serving Queens elected officials in the New York City Council and the House of Representatives, Greg Lavine brought his political acumen to McBride Consulting & Business Development Group in 2023. Lavine, who was previously at Mercury, guides businesses and other entities through the process of working with government, through contracting opportunities, grant assistance or the passage of legislation. Lavine has lobbied on behalf of Syneroid Technologies, which is based in Kew Gardens, as well as the Cradle of Aviation Museum and L+M Development Partners.
94. Ari Espinal
Construction workers received a boon late last year when the New York City Council passed the Construction Justice Act, which requires developers to pay workers a minimum package of $40 per hour, with no less than $25 of that accounting for wages, and aim for a workforce of at least 30% city residents on public-funded housing projects. Ari Espinal championed the legislation in her role as political and policy coordinator for the Mason Tenders District Council PAC. Espinal served briefly in the Assembly after winning a 2018 special election in Queens.
95. Betty Braton
Old Howard Beach lifer Betty Braton has kept her finger on the pulse of her community for more than half a century through her work with Queens Community Board 10, the past 36 of which coming as the annually reelected board chair. She also took on an additional role last year as then-New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams’ appointee to the Resorts World New York City Community Advisory Committee to evaluate a full casino license at Aqueduct Racetrack, casting one of six “yes” votes in the committee’s unanimous approval of the expansion.
96. Magdalena Morańda & Shawna Morlock
After volunteering in the early days of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s insurgent Democratic primary campaign in 2018, Shawna Morlock joined the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. The Texas transplant and Astoria resident has since become a staple on DSA-backed campaigns in Queens, including victories for New York City Council Member Tiffany Cabán, Assembly Member Claire Valdez and state Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, whom she worked for after the election. She has also worked on multiple campaigns for Mayor Zohran Mamdani, including as a paid canvasser on his victory last fall. Morlock is a district leader in Assembly District 34.
After showcasing her skills as a field lead on Mamdani’s campaign, Magdalena Morańda joined Our Time, an organization created to build on the grassroots momentum around the promise of an affordable city, as field manager. A Queens native born to Polish immigrants, Morańda is an active member of the Democratic Socialists of America, helping elect Valdez and Sarahana Shrestha to the Assembly. Morańda also worked as an operations and fundraising associate at consulting firm Build Power Strategies and managed the 2024 reelection campaign of Assembly Member Marcela Mitaynes.
97. Mike Luba
While Mike Luba gets rave reviews for resurrecting Forest Hills Stadium as a destination for some of the biggest names in music, the commotion on concert nights draws the ire of some in the local community. The Forest Hills Gardens Corp. has filed multiple lawsuits with complaints related to noise and accommodations made for concertgoers, though newly elected organization leadership suggested the neighborhood can coexist with the venue. Meanwhile, the shows go on, with Chappell Roan, Doechii and a Zohran Mamdani campaign rally featuring U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez among the events to grace the stage last year.
98. Tsering Diki
As executive director of the New York Tibetan Service Center, Tsering Diki organizes cultural programming, social services and youth enrichment opportunities for immigrant families. She founded a network of six day care centers, five of which are located around New York City, and last year advocated for the continuation of an extended hours pilot program that was set to be cut from the city budget. Diki also played a role in the passage of legislation in the New York City Council declaring Losar, the Tibetan New Year, a holiday for alternate side parking.
99. Frank Russo Jr.
It’s not just about hospitality for Howard Beach magnate Frank Russo Jr. In addition to a portfolio that includes the event venue Russo’s on the Bay – a popular gathering spot for political figures – and Vetro Restaurant & Lounge, located a little further down Cross Bay Boulevard, Russo is also the founder and CEO of Angels on the Bay, which is dedicated to funding pediatric medical care. In August, Flushing Hospital Medical Center opened its renovated neonatal intensive care unit thanks to a contribution from Russo’s charitable organization.
100. Vickie Paladino
New York City Council Member Vickie Paladino has a strong base in northeast Queens and a loyal following on social media, but her inflammatory posts have eroded her institutional clout. In December, Paladino called for the “expulsion of Muslims from Western nations,” which spurred an ethics investigation and disciplinary charges and prompted Council Speaker Julie Menin to give her only two committee seats. Paladino has defended herself on First Amendment grounds and sued the council in response, while also saying she only requested to be on two committees. Paladino also joined fellow Queens Council Member Joann Ariola in quitting the center-right Common Sense Caucus.
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