Who's Who
The 2026 Who’s Who in Government Relations
Notable figures influencing policy and spending in New York.
City & State presents the 2026 Who's Who in Government Relations. The In House Collective; Anthony Garces; Alex Towle
In today’s sharply divided era, bipartisan dealmaking has become something of an anachronism. Political polarization makes it increasingly difficult for lawmakers to reach across the aisle and arrive at a compromise. Voters deeply distrust those from the opposing political party, making it a challenge to even agree on basic facts.
And yet, there’s still plenty of room for persuasion in the realm of policymaking.
Government relations professionals often play a pivotal role in whether legislative proposals make it across the finish line – and what they look like if they do. They bring an in-depth knowledge of policy issues, a firsthand understanding of budgetary, legislative and regulatory processes, and an ability to convincingly explain the impacts of their proposals to policymakers.
City & State’s Who’s Who in Government Relations, researched and written in partnership with journalist Aaron Short, sheds light on some of the most influential figures in the field, including staffers at lobbying firms, law firms, companies, trade associations, advocacy organizations and other entities that interact regularly with government.
Album, Jeff
Jeff Album has spent decades seeking to expand Americans’ access to affordable dental benefits. At Delta Dental, a nationwide dental insurance company, Album oversees a team of 16 lobbyists who advocate for the company in 18 states, including New York, California and Pennsylvania. Last year, Album helped sideline various state legislative proposals, repeal a federal rule that would have limited oral health care access and promoted legislation to include dental coverage in the nation’s federally managed public health exchanges. Album also engages with the National Association of Dental Plans.
Allen, Ian
Ian Allen joined J Strategies in 2024 after representing the interests of New Jersey’s cardiologists and primary care physicians in state government and serving as an aide in the New Jersey Legislature and the U.S. Senate. In his current role as a New Jersey point person for the Albany-based firm, Allen has worked with clients in the health care, insurance, tech, artificial intelligence and financial services industries to develop effective message campaigns and track significant legislation. He has recently been part of campaigns pushing for health care affordability and access to financial services.
Amler, Robert
Dr. Robert Amler launched the New York Medical College’s first formal government relations initiative in 2009, and he has stayed on as the Westchester-based school’s vice president for government affairs ever since. This year, Amler has met with Rep. Ritchie Torres, who introduced a bill that would expand access to federal loans for graduate and professional students, and talked with Rep. Mike Lawler about recently approved federal defense spending for the college’s Center for Disaster Medicine.
Black, Christopher
Christopher Black has defended SUNY’s higher education workforce amid attacks by the federal government on universities. After shaping New York State United Teachers’ legislative agenda for years, Black joined UUP in 2023 to advocate for hundreds of millions of dollars in state funding for SUNY campuses. Last year, Black helped secure $1.1 billion from the state to revitalize the Brooklyn-based SUNY Downstate University Hospital. This spring, his union began negotiations with the state over a new contract for SUNY faculty and staff.
Blaustein, Michael
Airbnb is facing an uphill battle after New York City effectively banned the platform’s rentals in 2023, but Michael Blaustein isn’t giving up. The Airbnb official advocated for a New York City Council bill to ease restrictions last year, with the company releasing a poll that found 80% of voters are open to revising the city’s short-term rental rules. The bill stalled last year, and business leaders unsuccessfully pushed for a temporary exemption during the World Cup. Earlier in his career, Blaustein had stints as a state Senate aide and at Kivvit before handling government affairs for the Partnership for New York City for nearly nine years.
Bolen, Philip
Philip Bolen joined Shenker Russo & Clark in 2022 after serving eight years as a lobbyist for Bolton-St. Johns. Since then, Bolen has established himself as a cannabis expert helping clients navigate the state’s marijuana licensing program while raising awareness about loopholes that allowed illegal operators to thrive. He has also advocated for legislation expanding the settings in which pharmacy technicians can perform services, worked with labor advocates to obtain cost-of-living adjustments for direct support professionals and secured more funding for legal aid services to prevent evictions and represent domestic violence victims.
Byrnes, Patty
Home health care is big business in New York, and Patty Byrnes helped her company carry out a major transition after it was selected as the sole statewide fiscal intermediary for the state’s Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program. After holding government relations roles with HMS and AmeriHealth Caritas, she joined PPL two years ago. Byrnes, who engages with local, state and federal officials, testified before state senators about the bid last year amid heightened public scrutiny. The company relocated its headquarters to Latham after winning the CDPAP bid.
Carlucci, David
After serving in the state Senate for a decade, David Carlucci established his own consulting firm in 2021 to help clients navigate the state’s complex regulatory environment. Last year, Carlucci supported legislative efforts to improve public health transparency, strengthen consumer protection standards in emerging markets, expand school safety initiatives, invest in infrastructure and protect manufacturing jobs. The former lawmaker has also provided incisive analysis in op-eds and TV appearances on the governor’s redistricting efforts, exploration of a mansion tax and enforcement of the SAFE for Kids Act.
Coward Mayers, Onida
Onida Coward Mayers’s consulting firm, CoMadre Communications, guides clients through political and regulatory environments they would be unable to navigate on their own. The communications expert, who has spent time at MirRam Group and Oaktree Solutions, helped BRIC Arts Media get designated as a Cultural Institutions Group last fall and assisted Destination Tomorrow in opening the nation’s first shelter for transgender individuals facing homelessness. The Afro-Latina consultant also helped launch the Video Voter Guide and Voter Awareness Month as the New York City Campaign Finance Board’s director of voter assistance.
Daly, Therese
Therese Daly took the reins of United Way of New York State in January 2025 with a mission to strengthen its ability to serve New York’s most vulnerable populations. In her first year, the former NYATEP executive secured $2.8 million in last year’s state budget for the 211 helpline, which the organization runs, and brought in over $10 million to the nonprofit. The United Way of New York State also welcomed the Caregiver Support Program, supported Albany’s downtown revitalization project and was selected as the fiscal conduit for the Black Legislative Task Force.
Delgado, Ryan
Ryan Delgado plugged into National Grid in January 2025 after serving as a key aide for the New York State AFL-CIO and other labor organizations for two decades. National Grid is a major natural gas and electric utility in New York, with 4.3 million customers across the state, and Delgado is advocating for its interests during a time of transition in the energy sector. He manages engagement with state lawmakers and the Hochul administration as National Grid explores repowering three electric power plants on Long Island and a planned energy center in Syracuse.
Donohue, Bria
Bria Donohue joined the American Institute of Architects’ New York chapter in 2023 when the area was enjoying a building boom. Donohue has been a leader in advocating low-carbon construction, drafting AIA New York’s action plan for building decarbonization and leading a statewide working group on embodied carbon. She also supported New York City’s City of Yes zoning overhaul in public hearings, sought changes to the plumbing code to make it easier to design all-gender bathrooms and promoted reforms to expedite housing production through intentional code and procedural changes.
Duffy, Kristin
Since 2019, Kristin Duffy has powered AT&T’s state legislative strategy to ensure New Yorkers can access clear phone service and high-speed internet. Duffy helped push the state Legislature to spend $85 million for a Next Generation 911 system to replace legacy emergency lines, allowing the public to send texts, photos and videos to first responders. She has also promoted initiatives to bridge the digital divide, helping AT&T open its 13th Connected Learning Center in the state providing free computing resources for students and families.
Dugan, Kevin
Kevin Dugan has sought to make it easier for restaurants to operate in the state at a time when owners are grappling with higher food prices, rising rents and increased labor costs. The New York State Restaurant Association vice president has advocated for legislation updating how restaurants share tips among their staff, allowing year-round outdoor dining in New York City, and permitting bars and restaurants to purchase alcohol from liquor stores for resale. Dugan is also supporting legislation allowing establishments to serve beer in designated outdoor areas during the World Cup.
Estrella, Josiel
Josiel Estrella has supported Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie since 2022, after advising three New York City comptrollers on communications strategy and labor issues. In her current role, she has worked with the state Department of Health to ensure pharmacies continue to accept Medicaid, conducted a survey to improve agency relationships with lawmakers, participated in criminal justice roundtables at correctional facilities and toured farms to understand the effects of federal immigration policies on farmworkers. She also worked with Heastie on a humanitarian relief trip to Jamaica late last year in the wake of Hurricane Melissa.
Fensterman, Howard
Howard Fensterman co-founded Abrams Fensterman more than a quarter century ago with a mission to provide an array of legal services for his clients. His politically connected firm now boasts 120 attorneys and 240 staff members across six offices adept in a range of practices, including health care, medical malpractice, land use, election law, and trusts and estates. Fensterman, who manages the firm’s operations, led its merger with Rosenberg & Steinmetz early this year. Fensterman, a Democratic donor, joined Republican Bruce Blakeman’s gubernatorial campaign as finance chair.
Fessler, Brian
For the past 12 years, Brian Fessler has helped state school districts secure billions of dollars in education aid and advocated for their agenda in Albany. After being promoted to chief advocacy officer at the New York State School Boards Association last year, Fessler helped add student poverty data improvements to the state’s Foundation Aid formula, secured special services aid increases and pushed for a universal free school meals program. This year, Fessler is advocating for the return of whole milk on lunch menus, designating recess as instructional time and overhauling New York’s out-of-district special education reimbursement formula.
Fischer, Eric
In 2021, Eric Fischer linked up with Tonio Burgos after gaining experience on a variety of campaigns around the country. In 2024, he took on the role of director of New York City affairs for the firm and has recently helped guide a Brooklyn affordable housing and mixed-use development through the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, advocated for city capital funding for a Bronx community health center and supported tech initiatives to improve bus speeds and transit reliability. Filings show his firm is advising the Greater New York Hospital Association, United Airlines and Visa.
Garba, Joseph
While Ticketmaster has been mired in a messy antitrust lawsuit, Joseph Garba has helped its rival Stubhub emerge as a dependable event reseller in a crowded market. Garba brought his political skills to Stubhub in January after serving as an intergovernmental affairs secretary to the Assembly speaker and as a top aide for Mike Bloomberg’s 2020 presidential campaign. This year, Stubhub launched a women’s sports ticketing platform and provided $100,000 in free tickets for live events to youth teams and clubs across the state.
Gitter, Tara
After steering South Bronx Assembly Member Amanda Septimo’s office for four years, Tara Gitter moved over last year to Jason Laidley’s consulting firm London House. As a vice president at the firm, Gitter has focused on housing, environmental and economic development matters, helping coordinate a memorandum of understanding between city and state agencies to make the certification processes for minority- and women-owned business enterprises more efficient. She also helped coordinate an influx of government funding for the massive Hunts Point Cooperative Market.
Goldstein, Arthur
Arthur Goldstein has helped mold Davidoff Hutcher & Citron into one of New York City’s most in-demand government affairs firms. As head of DHC’s New York City Government Relations Practice, Goldstein has advised many of the firm’s downstate clients on administrative laws, tax incentives and land use matters, while lobbying on behalf of downstate entities including the Hunts Point Produce Market, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and The Doe Fund. Last fall, Goldstein and his colleagues mourned the death of the firm’s founder, Sid Davidoff.
Greenfield, Jon
Jon Greenfield took a leap of faith in 2018 when he took over as director of government relations at Yeshiva University, a Jewish university in northern Manhattan with a student body of more than 2,800 undergraduate students and nearly 4,000 graduate students. Greenfield, a Red Horse Strategies alum and former state legislative aide, succeeded his old boss, former Assembly Member Phil Goldfeder, when he took this job at the school. During his tenure, Yeshiva has achieved a Top 50 ranking among private universities in the nation and has significantly boosted its enrollment following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Greenspun, Jonathan
Jonathan Greenspun will mark his 20th anniversary at Mercury this year, a milestone that comes after his promotion to partner last year. Greenspun has consulted for Fortune 100 technology companies and clients in real estate, transportation and education while his firm has pitched in on political campaigns. He’s a frequent political commentator and serves on the regional board of the New York League of Conservation Voters and the board of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York. Lately, he’s been working to secure funding for cultural and nonprofit organizations and on messaging for the title insurance industry.
Haxhillari, Eglantina
For nearly a decade, Eglantina Haxhillari has been at Dickinson & Avella advising a range of clients – including the Hotel Gaming and Trades Council, Rivers Casino and the Lawsuit Reform Alliance of New York – on legislative and advocacy strategies. She recently helped ensure upstate casinos continued receiving tax relief, won security funding for at-risk facilities and supported HTC’s efforts to increase the weekly maximum unemployment benefits for its members. Haxhillari is currently leading efforts in auto insurance reforms and combating fraud.
Henderson-Rivers, Tyquana
Candidates savvy enough to hire Tyquana Henderson-Rivers know she delivers on election night. The Connective Strategies founder helped elect Gov. Kathy Hochul in 2022, and the Queens-based consultant counts Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Hempstead Village Mayor Waylyn Hobbs Jr. and New York City Council Member Ty Hankerson among her recent winning clients. She has represented the Real Estate Board of New York and FedEx, and recently launched a joint initiative with organized labor and hospitals to organize faith leaders to advocate for Medicaid funding and health care equity in the state budget.
Editor’s note: Tyquana Henderson-Rivers is a member of City & State’s advisory board.
Herring, Jake
At The Parkside Group, Jake Herring provides trenchant legal and policy analysis for a mix of clients in real estate, financial services and technology sectors, including Microsoft and Waymo. Last year, the former de Blasio administration staffer helped pass the state Affordable Housing Retention Act and worked with the New York City Department of Buildings to expedite elevator repairs. He also advocated successfully on behalf of the New York Community College Trustees for a veto on legislation affecting the board’s makeup.
Hilliard, Jason
Jason Hilliard joined The Building and Realty Institute of the Hudson Valley two years ago after stints on the presidential campaign of U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, with Community Food Advocates and the Office of the New York City Comptroller. Hilliard, who also spent six years as an aide to Rep. Greg Meeks earlier in his career, has supported the Ground Lease Renewal Notice Act in recent years and testified last year against the local expansion of “good cause” eviction at a Tarrytown board meeting.
Hopkins, Naomi
Naomi Hopkins brings a long track record of civic engagement and community advocacy in Brooklyn to the government relations team at First American Title., a title insurance company that’s part of First American Financial Corp. The former New York City Council and Assembly aide has sought the inclusion of more transfer high schools in the city’s Learning to Work program to increase opportunities for more of these students to access workforce development and counseling programs. She also chairs Brooklyn’s Community Board 18 and campaigned for female district leader in Assembly District 59.
Hoyt, Sam
Sam Hoyt founded Upstate Strategic Advisors in 2018 with a mission of helping Western New York clients navigate the state’s complex regulatory agencies and byzantine budget processes. The former Assembly member and Empire State Development official has helped get a law passed to record vehicles illegally passing school buses, secured higher reimbursement rates for a Niagara County health care agency and won state funding for Watertown’s long-anticipated Thousand Islands Event Center. He also advises clients including the Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp., BusPatrol and BestSelf Behavioral Health.
Hughes, Kara
Kara Hughes moved over to O’Donnell & Associates four years ago to oversee the firm’s New York City office and manage legislative initiatives for its growing portfolio of clients. She has leveraged her deep expertise to advise emerging technology companies in the transportation and security sectors and nonprofits seeking to protect children with allergies. Last year, Hughes worked with the Elijah-Alavi Foundation to pass a law requiring city schools to stock epinephrine pens and advised the transportation vendor that installed congestion pricing fare collection gates.
Khan, Omar
Omar Khan joined WSP USA in 2021 after leading the de Blasio administration’s public engagement unit. Now, Khan is responsible for guiding the New York-headquartered engineering consulting firm’s government affairs strategies, giving him a hand in major infrastructure projects like the redesign of Penn Station in Manhattan. In 2024, Khan was appointed by President Joe Biden to the White House Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations. He has also driven government relations across 20 other states in the company’s East region.
Klein, Mike
Mike Klein in 2017 established Urban Strategies, a boutique government affairs firm with a mission of developing strategies, tactics and analyses for winning campaigns. The former Dentons principal has consulted for Fortune 500 companies, including current client Verizon, as well as local entities such as Phoenix House New York and Brooklyn Defender Services. Klein is also a New York City board member of the New York League of Conservation Voters and worked for Tom Suozzi, Charlie Rangel and Mario Cuomo earlier in his career.
Kraus, Cheryl
Cheryl Kraus has been a driving force behind efforts to expand access to palliative care, disability services and substance use. Last year, the veteran health care attorney joined Farrell Fritz, where she shaped a landmark legislative package to modernize the state’s serious illness care program and amend the Medical Aid in Dying Act in order for it to advance. Kraus has also supported the state’s rate increases for early intervention services, advocated for Medicaid coverage for a wider array of therapies for young people with disabilities and sought to increase the number of pharmacies across the state.
Kremen, Maya
Since Maya Kremen brought her talents to Geto & de Milly, she has built consensus to advance the Gowanus neighborhood rezoning as well as positioned arts and social services organizations to secure New York City funding. Last year, she advised clients including the reentry nonprofit Getting Out and Staying Out; New Alternatives for Children, which provides services to children with disabilities or other severe medical needs; and Bridge Street Development Corp., which provides affordable housing for seniors and other services. She also advises Playwrights Horizons, which refurbishes rehearsal space and offers free theater tickets to young people.
Kwatra, Neal
Neal Kwatra has an impressive track record in New York politics and policy, most recently supporting two of the three winning bidders for a downstate casino license. Kwatra, who founded Metropolitan Public Strategies in 2013, has advised candidates for elected office in New York, safety net hospitals and major clean energy players, including in the offshore wind sector. Earlier in his career, he made a name for himself as a political director at what’s now the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council and as a staffer in the Office of the New York State Attorney General.
Lee, Eric
Eric Lee advances Volunteers of America-Greater New York’s anti-poverty agenda by engaging with government officials and developing his organization’s policy strategy. He played a large role in passing a 2025 New York City law that requires first responders to be trained to recognize traumatic brain injuries in domestic violence cases. He also helped restore city funding for a VOA-GNY program providing 22,000 backpacks with supplies for students in shelters. Lee advocated for the Housing Access Voucher Program, included in last year’s state budget, and supports the expansion of New York City’s rental voucher program, CityFHEPS.
Lence, George
Since co-founding Nicholas & Lence Communications, George Lence has been an integral force supporting the robust hospitality industry in New York City. Lence has advised a myriad of business improvement districts and chambers of commerce in some of the most visited places in the city, including the Times Square Alliance and the Broadway Association. This year, Lence is working with Sail4th 250, which will commemorate the nation’s 250th birthday with a flotilla of tall ships in New York Harbor.
Marcy, Molly
Molly Marcy gained invaluable public sector experience in the Executive Chamber and state Senate before joining Brown & Weinraub, the state’s top-ranked lobbying firm. Since joining the government affairs firm in 2021, Marcy has worked on the legalization of electronic wills to make filing easier and increase security for clients in estate matters. She also helped pass a law expanding the scholarship eligibility for people pursuing education master’s degrees at private colleges if they teach in New York state for five years after graduation.
Marfleet Tine, Olivia
Olivia Marfleet Tine was hired by Hodes & Landy in 2021 and has since spearheaded the legislative priorities for many of the woman-owned government affairs firm’s health care and life sciences clients. Last year, Marfleet Tine supported efforts to establish a state health registry and increase patient access to diagnostic testing and treatment, and she also won funding for community-based health services. She has worked with patient advocacy organizations and everyday New Yorkers to build coalitions toward developing patient-friendly policies and reducing health inequities across the state.
Marino, Rebecca
Rebecca Marino brought a quarter century of experience in state government and government affairs when she made her move from Ostroff Associates to Avangrid in 2023. Now, Marino leads the Connecticut-based energy company’s state legislative strategy across 24 states, informing elected officials about Avangrid’s power generation and networks. Last year, Avangrid completed the installation of 1.2 million residential smart meters across the state, sought to increase its solar capacity at its Spencerport plant, and began a $122 million upgrade of its Meyer Substation in Dansville.
Martinez, Paola
Paola Martinez is part of a team at Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York bringing a philanthropic organization founded in 1917 into the 21st century. She drives the organization’s legislative and budget strategy and handles advocacy at the local, state and federal levels. Martinez recently won capital funding for renovations at Kennedy Children’s Center, a special needs school in the Bronx, and is working on a partnership with LSA Family Health Service to launch special education classrooms in East Harlem.
Miller, Zach
New York’s truckers have a relentless advocate in Zach Miller. The Trucking Association of New York official lobbied the New York City Council to pass legislation adding overnight truck parking spaces in industrial business zones. He also supported more parking at John F. Kennedy International Airport and a pilot program in Maspeth, Queens, that provides truck parking during breaks in order to ease residential parking shortages. Miller helped shape the city’s industrial master plan and worked with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to help fleets afford clean vehicle technologies through a truck voucher program. He has expressed concerns about the potential burdens of congestion pricing too.
Mizrahi, Celine
Celine Mizrahi defended democracy and helped New York City respond to the COVID-19 pandemic before joining Civitas Public Affairs Group five years ago. The longtime public servant was a staffer for Rep. Jerry Nadler for more than a decade, driving efforts to preserve the integrity of elections, protect voting rights and create more pathways to citizenship before joining then-New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson’s team in 2020. At Civitas, Mizrahi has focused on workers’ rights and reproductive rights campaigns. The firm was acquired by Orchestra, the parent company of BerlinRosen, in 2024.
Mohammed-Miller, Maryam
At a time when the Trump administration and federal courts have limited access to abortion, Maryam Mohammed-Miller has fought for the continued existence of reproductive health care. Since joining Planned Parenthood of Greater New York in 2022, Mohammed-Miller has helped secure funding from the state Legislature and the New York City Council for reproductive services after the nonprofit’s health centers were cut off from federal Medicaid payments and had to close and sell off its Bleecker Street clinic. She has remained a steadfast advocate for reproductive health care despite these challenges.
Moran, Leslie
For more than three decades, Leslie Moran has ensured that New York’s health insurance industry has a say in state budget and legislative policy discussions. The New York Health Plan Association official has taken aim at rising hospital charges and pharmaceutical price increases. She has also supported proposals to reform the dispute resolution process in the state’s surprise medical billing law and advocated for more funding for the Medicaid Managed Care Quality Incentive Program. She recently cautioned employers to carefully evaluate plans this year before choosing their workplace coverage.
Mozeak, Andre
Andre Mozeak has become an essential part of Pitta Bishop & Del Giorno’s growing government relations team over the past five years. Mozeak assisted on campaigns for the firm’s labor and nonprofit clients involving the passage of New York City’s Safe Hotels Act – requiring hotels to install panic buttons and have 24-hour staffing – and restoring retirement parity for uniformed correction and sanitation workers in the city. Before joining the top five New York City lobbying firm, Mozeak had stints at 32BJ SEIU, the Citizens Committee for New York City and the New York Immigration Coalition.
O’Connor, Matt
In the nearly two decades Matt O’Connor has worked at Hinman Straub, he has become one of Albany’s indispensable consultants. O’Connor has provided legislative analysis for Fortune 500 clients and trade associations in transportation, financial services and environmental policy. He has a track record of serving public safety employee unions and associations, and he has advocated for the New York State Professional Fire Fighters Association and the New York State Police Investigators Association. He recently served as chair and president of State Law Resources, a network of independent law firms with experience in government and regulatory law.
Ortega, Daniel
At the Engineers Labor-Employer Cooperative, Daniel Ortega advocates for stronger investments in public infrastructure in the New York metropolitan area. He engages with government officials, agencies and authorities on behalf of his organization, a coalition of construction industry and union players also known as ELEC 825. This year, Ortega is opposing a proposed moratorium on data center projects that his members build. Ortega is also the public face of New Yorkers for Affordable Energy, which has raised concerns about the costs of environmental initiatives such as the NY Heat Act and the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
Phipps, Ophelia
Ophelia Phipps has been a public face at the New York City Department of Buildings through three mayoral administrations, ensuring elected officials, developers and community boards maintain a connection to the integral city agency. This year, Phipps heard from hundreds of tenants about their experiences with landlords at New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s widely publicized rental ripoff hearings. She has also increased engagement with community boards and business improvement districts on issues like reducing unsightly sidewalk sheds and launched DOB in Your Community events all over the city.
Rahman, Shafian
Shafian Rahman is one of Avoq’s top policy analysts and opposition researchers, providing intelligence reporting, landscape assessments and power mapping for clients. Rahman joined Kivvit before the company merged with Subject Matter to create Avoq in 2024. He has concentrated much of his practice in the energy sector nationally as well as advising companies with legislative and regulatory priorities in New York state. When Zohran Mamdani won the Democratic mayoral primary in New York City, Rahman prepared a memo for clients providing a snapshot of how his administration would affect their goals.
Ramos, Kim
Kim Ramos brings extensive intergovernmental experience with her to Ponce Bank. Following stints working for the MirRam Group, state Attorney General Letitia James and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, she is now leading the community financial institution’s policy and partnerships to expand access to financial services in a banking desert. She has advocated for funding the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, advanced initiatives including New York’s Banking Development District Program and contributed to community programs such as Protecting Your Legacy mastery sessions that educate families on building generational wealth.
Renwick, Sydney
Sydney Renwick joined the State University of New York’s government affairs office 18 months ago during a tumultuous period for the nation’s largest public university system. The former Assembly and New York City Council aide has organized higher education panels at Somos conferences and Asian American Pacific Islander summits, coordinated SUNY’s Educational Opportunity Program events in a funding appeal and organized SUNY’s campus showcase to highlight work across 64 campuses. Thanks in part to the government relations team, SUNY received $114 million in new operating aid for its campuses in last year’s state budget.
Richardson-Myrie, Diana
Diana Richardson-Myrie assumed responsibilities for state engagement at the Office of the State Comptroller in 2023 and has bolstered relationships with lawmakers and community groups across the state. The former Assembly member and deputy borough president from Brooklyn has promoted comptroller reports and communicated complex fiscal data addressing housing affordability, education challenges and health care and child care access to government agencies and advocacy organizations.
Robinson, Robert
Robert Robinson is a community leader and government relations veteran helping the nonprofit Community Health Center of Richmond get the resources it needs to provide outpatient medical care across Staten Island. He has worked with elected officials to secure grants for the federally qualified health center’s Healthy Start Initiative to reduce infant mortality rates. He also is the national project manager for Brothers For Mothers, a Black maternal health initiative. Robinson volunteers with nonprofit and community groups as well, providing training about how to run efficient meetings using Robert’s Rules of Order.
Sanyal, Varun
Gotham Organization was founded over a century ago, but the leading real estate firm never had an in-house government affairs expert before hiring Varun Sanyal. The former New York City Council staffer, where he focused on land use, has helped the family-owned developer secure approvals for zoning applications and tax abatements for thousands of housing units. Sanyal recently handled community engagement tasks with tenant organizations and jobs training organizations for Gotham’s Innovative Urban Village project, which will convert 10.5 acres in Brooklyn into 2,000 affordable homes, and helped the company win City Council approval.
Schwartz, David
David Schwartz embodies the toughness of a Brooklyn trial attorney and the finesse of an East End fixer. The Gotham Government Relations founder and president has represented a range of clients, both as a lobbyist and as a lawyer in New York and in Washington, D.C. Schwartz’s firm has a polling and analytics outfit, Gotham Polling & Analytics, which predicted during the New York City mayoral general election campaign that Zohran Mamdani would be tough to defeat in a multicandidate race. Schwartz is a frequent commentator as well, opining on political and legal matters.
Shorenstein, Marissa
Marissa Shorenstein cut her teeth working for three governors, a global telecommunications giant and a top crisis communications firm before joining New York’s fastest-growing sports brand in 2023. At Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment, Shorenstein oversaw the opening of the Brooklyn Basketball youth athletic facility last fall and has supported the construction of the New York Liberty’s upcoming 75,000-square-foot practice facility in Greenpoint. She also helped award three downstate casino licenses as a member of the state Gaming Commission and chairs the Citizens Budget Commission, which has called on City Hall to curb government spending.
Sikes, Stacey
Stacey Sikes is the acting leader of the Long Island Association, after Matt Cohen stepped down as president after five years in the top post. Over the past four years, Sikes crafted the organization’s advocacy agenda and launched a small-business grant program that has helped 90 companies in the region. She oversaw its research institute, which produces reports on the region’s economy (a recent poll found commuting challenges have hindered hiring). She also coordinated LIA’s events, recently moderating a discussion with Long Island’s congressional delegation about the economy, taxes and the environment.
Sullivan, Evan
Evan Sullivan amassed a decade of experience negotiating state budget agreements and legislative priorities in health care and education before joining Ostroff Associates in 2017. He has contributed to legislative victories that improved patient access to care and secured more workforce investments reducing vacancies of direct support professionals. Sullivan represents Hudson Valley public school districts, building support for school safety and support services. He also assists nonprofit health providers and advises a state-based pharmaceutical manufacturer on regulatory, land use and tax matters.
Tassler, Jennifer
Jennifer Tassler has spent nearly a decade engaging in government relations work for the Associated Medical Schools of New York, which represents more than a dozen accredited public and private medical schools in New York. Tassler, who was promoted to her current vice president role in 2023, has recently been driving her organization’s statewide push for greater investment in biomedical research to make New York more competitive in the field. As part of that campaign, she has built a coalition calling for the creation of a state-funded Empire Biomedical Research Institute.
Taylor, Meghan
Meghan Taylor was a key part of the Genting team that successfully bid for a license to convert Resorts World New York City into a full-fledged, Las Vegas-style casino resort. Taylor helped secure community backing for the company’s $5.5 billion proposal to expand its Queens racino into a 5.6-million-square-foot casino complex with new slot machines and table games, a new hotel and a 7,000-seat arena. Genting’s proposal stood out as a bid that garnered strong support among local community leaders, who praised its commitment to creating 9,000 new jobs.
Treiber, Christopher
Christopher Treiber returned last year to the organization where he started his career 35 years ago, advancing its mission to achieve equity for people with developmental disabilities. Treiber has expanded the legislative team at AHRC New York City, sought increased funding for people with developmental disabilities and assisted with a statewide advocacy campaign for early intervention. Treiber, who was previously at the Inter Agency Council for Developmental Disability Agencies, has also opposed the Trump administration’s move to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, including two special education offices.
Vallone, Perry
Perry Vallone has continued his family’s four-generation legacy in New York politics through his work at Constantinople & Vallone Consulting, where he’s helping pave the way for new housing, community facilities and investment into neighborhoods across the city. Since 2008, Vallone has been the firm’s go-to expert for clients on housing development, rezoning and regulatory matters. Vallone has also helped his firm’s nonprofit clients secure crucial funding from state and city lawmakers in order to weather economic crises.
Waldman, John
John Waldman knows the importance of responding swiftly in a crisis. The former New York City Council aide served under four council speakers before leaving for the Red Cross in 2017. During disasters, Waldman has been at the forefront of coordinating communications with emergency management officials and their partners to deliver essential services to those in need. His team helped launch a campaign with the New York City Fire Department to install free smoke alarms, has responded to those displaced by fires throughout the region and promoted blood donations during a severe shortage.
Walsh, Michelle
Michelle Walsh has dedicated her career to guiding small businesses in the state and ensuring they have access to affordable health care. Since joining Tress Capitol Advisors in 2020, Walsh has tackled Medicaid reimbursement, gender-affirming care and severe mental illness funding. She recently helped remove a long-standing budget cap on funding for the New York State Spinal Cord Injury Research Program and has worked to ensure children’s summer camps in the state could hire enough lifeguards. She is currently a trustee on the Bethlehem Public Library board of trustees and helps manage its services.
Weitzberg, Brent
New York’s bankers rely on Brent Weitzberg, whose extensive relationships and policy know-how have ensured the state’s commercial banking institutions can weigh in on financial laws and regulations. The former Queens borough president staffer has led NYBA’s financial literacy campaign, partnering with local banks to broaden families’ access to financial planning. He has also assisted with the trade association’s events, including community bank roundtables, legislative lobby days and discussions with such stakeholders as Federal Reserve governors and Nasdaq economists.
Williams, Andrew
Andrew Williams understands that in the Adirondacks, clean water and clean air are fundamental rights. Since joining the Adirondack Council last year, he successfully lobbied for increasing the state Environmental Protection Fund to $425 million and the Clean Water Infrastructure Act to $500 million. Williams has also advocated for using less road salt for melting icy roads to protect freshwater from contamination. Last year, his organization pushed successfully for Proposal 1, a constitutional amendment approved by voters to expand Nordic skiing and biathlon trails while also adding new land to the Adirondack Forest Preserve.
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