Publisher's Section
The 2026 City & State Hall of Fame
20 Years of Impact in New York
Presenting: The 2026 City & State Hall of Fame City & State
A lot can be accomplished in 20 years. Neighborhoods can be transformed. Thousands of lives saved. Millions of public dollars invested into worthy causes, and countless policy proposals reshaped and revised.
To mark City & State’s 20th anniversary, we are recognizing some of the most impactful entities and individuals in our space over the past two decades. The Hall of Fame: 20 Years of Impact in New York recognizes a select group whose exceptional achievements have helped define New York from 2006 to today.
These honorees are grouped into more than a dozen categories: Behavioral Health, Community Development, Construction, Economic & Workforce Development, Education, Energy, Healthcare, Housing & Real Estate, Law, Lobbying, Public Affairs, Technology, and Transportation & Infrastructure. Most of these categories feature an individual, a nonprofit organization and a for-profit corporation.
These 42 honorees will be recognized at City & State’s 20th anniversary event on the evening of Sept. 29 in Manhattan.
We are pleased to present our prestigious Hall of Fame: 20 Years of Impact in New York.
.png)
Vibrant Emotional Health
Since 1969, Vibrant Emotional Health has supported families in times of crisis. Originally called the Mental Health Association of New York City, the venerable nonprofit organization launched the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in 2005 and has since routed more than 26 million calls, texts and chats through more than 200 call centers across the country.
The organization’s other accomplishments are just as impressive. Vibrant has helped more than 1,800 youths and families with mental health services, education, career development, peer support and case management, while also training more than 4,300 people in crisis prevention and disaster preparedness and another 650 New York City Department of Youth and Community Development staff to provide mental health support services.
Vibrant, which is led by CEO Cara McNulty, saw the federal government renew the organization’s status as the national administrator of the 988 Lifeline with another five-year agreement in May.
Erie County Medical Center Corp.
The Erie County Medical Center Corp., which became a state public benefit corporation in 2004, has provided critical health care services for a region that’s on the upswing.
Its Buffalo campus includes an academic medical center with 573 inpatient beds, more than 30 outpatient specialty care services and a 390-bed long-term care facility. It also serves as the area’s only Level I adult trauma center, and it’s a safety net hospital where three-quarters of its patients rely on Medicare or Medicaid.
ECMC recently received a $10.9 million behavioral health services grant from the state Department of Health to expand its inpatient psychiatric services, including a new 24-bed unit and upgrading its Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program. President and CEO Andrew Davis, who took the top job in June, has sought to invest in employees and embrace advanced technology to deliver the highest level of care.
Paloma Izquierdo-Hernandez
Paloma Izquierdo-Hernandez has dedicated her career to expanding access to affordable health care, addressing social inequities and building trust among patients who may be hesitant to seek medical treatment.
Under her leadership, Urban Health Plan has grown exponentially from a single health center in the South Bronx to operating 13 community-based health centers, 12 school-based health centers and two mental health offices across the Bronx, Central Harlem and Corona, Queens. The nonprofit currently serves more than 90,000 patients per year and employs more than 1,000 providers and associates.
Izquierdo-Hernandez has continued Urban Health Plan’s expansion this year with the opening of a new 52,000-square-foot health center in the Bronx that will focus on providing specialty care to an underserved community. And in July, UHP launched its Community Psychiatry Residency Program, which will train the next generation of mental health professionals.
Global companies occasionally transform the New York neighborhoods, but few do it twice. When Google opened a campus in Chelsea, Manhattan, two decades ago, it signified that a city known more for finance and professional services could compete with California for top-flight tech talent.
The tech giant established a nearby campus at Pier 57 next, then expanded its footprint into St. John’s Terminal’s 1.3-million-square-foot building in 2024, creating thousands of jobs while reinvigorating Hudson Square.
This spring, Google’s charitable arm launched a $3 million artificial intelligence literacy initiative with New York City’s three public library systems to help New Yorkers build AI skills, and it also gave a three-year, $2.5 million grant to Pursuit to support an AI-focused workforce hub. The company partnered with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority on its AI-powered initiative to locate and solve track deficiencies.
Ralph Bumbaca
Ralph Bumbaca didn’t intend to pursue a career in finance, but he became fascinated with how capital markets worked as a clerk for Merrill Lynch and realized he wanted to help businesses grow.
For more than 35 years, the banking executive helped businesses survive multiple financial crises while strengthening customer relationships.
In 2010, Bumbaca joined TD Bank, overseeing commercial lending and expanding the institution’s presence across the New York metro area. He was promoted to commercial market president for New York City in 2019, expanding its commercial business development team for LGBTQ+ and minority customers and leading the Paycheck Protection Program rollout.
In 2024, Bumbaca was named regional vice president for metro New York, overseeing more than 300 stores and multiple small business lending and regional banking teams. He serves on the boards of Boys & Girls Club of Metro Queens and the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce.
East Midtown Partnership
Next year, the East Midtown Partnership will be celebrating its 25th anniversary of ensuring the swath of Manhattan it covers is a vibrant place to live, work and play.
Rob Byrnes, who has led the 48-block business improvement district since 2002, has prioritized improving Midtown East’s quality of life and commercial activity through beautification, security and homeless outreach initiatives. A midtown Manhattan rezoning approved in 2017 began to attract new commercial and residential development, increasing the local population and raising the stakes of the BID’s work in the public realm.
Under Byrnes’ leadership, the organization has sought to improve the neighborhood while hosting family-friendly events like Easter egg hunts, Mardi Gras parties and Halloween trick-or-treat activities. Earlier this year, the partnership launched a waste containerization program that removed trash bags from the street while featuring the work of local artists.
CAMBA
Since its establishment as a small merchant association in Flatbush, Brooklyn, nearly 50 years ago, CAMBA has grown into a multiservice nonprofit offering more than 180 programs in housing, education, health, community development and legal services.
The nonprofit reaches more than 70,000 clients annually, including 11,000 youths, working to keep families together and providing opportunities for children. The nonprofit moved 426 families from CAMBA facilities into permanent housing last year, and more than 900 young people participated in its summer youth employment program in 2025. The vast majority of households referred for SNAP benefits through CAMBA’s nutritional program received them, and nearly 100% of families receiving its preventive services avoided having a child enter foster care last year.
CAMBA, which is run by Valerie Barton-Richardson, also prevented evictions for 92% of its clients receiving anti-eviction services. This year, the nonprofit agreed to do more to help tenants who are behind on their rent to avoid evictions.
Forte Construction Corp.
For more than 15 years, Forte Construction Corp. has built a sterling reputation making the New York City metro area’s transit hubs accessible to all.
The general contractor has its headquarters in Islandia, Suffolk County, and has been busy making federally required accessibility improvements at more than 85 subway and rail stations throughout New York City and Long Island as well as complex infrastructure upgrades at Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal.
This year has been one of Forte’s busiest, thanks to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s ambitious 19 Elevators Project to replace aging elevator systems in eight subway stations in Manhattan and Queens. Forte also delivered three elevators at Brooklyn’s DeKalb Avenue station, modernized three elevators at Harlem’s 125th Street station and opened the Babylon Long Island Rail Road station’s reconstructed 12-car platforms ahead of schedule while maintaining largely uninterrupted service.
Forte’s work making many stations accessible for the first time has had a profound impact on how New Yorkers with disabilities get around.
Carlo Scissura
Carlo Scissura has been one of New York’s foremost proponents for building more housing and office space to solve the housing crisis.
For nearly a decade, the New York Building Congress leader, whose organization represents more than 500 member firms, including AECOM, HNTB and Suffolk, has helped advance a plethora of infrastructure projects fueling billions of dollars of economic activity for the New York City metro area.
Scissura advocated for the continuation of the $16 billion Gateway Program amid threats of federal funding cuts and has supported the Penn Station redevelopment plans while promoting investments to build the Interborough Express, modernize the region’s airports and fix the decaying Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.
Last fall, voters passed several reforms to expedite the land use review process that Scissura proposed as chair of the Adams administration’s first Charter Revision Commission. This year, he championed State Environmental Quality Review Act reforms in Albany and called on the governor to reverse her moratorium on data center construction.
Associated Builders and Contractors – Empire State Chapter
Since 1971, the Empire State chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors has helped open shop contractors find work and deliver their projects on time and on budget.
The construction industry trade association, which has 500 member companies and is led by Brian Sampson, operates one of New York’s largest apprenticeship programs, providing more than 80,000 hours of classroom training last year. ABC Empire State has successfully advocated for fair and open competition on construction projects while continuing to boost its membership and retain existing members.
ABC Empire State recently worked with the New York City Department of Buildings and the New York City Council to develop a Site Safety Training Card program and partnered with government officials on licensing requirements to allow qualified professionals to stay employed. The organization has also been expanding its regional training centers to bring workforce development and safety education across the state.
American Council of Engineering Companies of New York
For over a century, the American Council of Engineering Companies of New York has represented the engineering professionals who ensure the quality and safety of the environment where New Yorkers live and work.
The engineering industry organization, helmed by John Evers, represents about 300 firms and more than 33,000 employees who have a shared mission to advocate for more investments in repairing and building new transportation infrastructure, energy sources and water systems.
ACEC New York is dedicated to cultivating the next generation of engineers and is committed to removing financial barriers to join the profession. This year, the organization awarded more than $108,000 in scholarships to 37 engineering students attending New York colleges, including two $10,000 awards presented at its annual gala in April.
In June, ACEC New York inducted a new slate of officers, who will continue to push for procurement and contracting reform, in addition to further infrastructure investments.
Grant Associates
As one of the largest workforce development organizations in North America, Grant Associates has designed and operated innovative programs that help individuals build occupational skills, earn credentials and secure jobs that support their economic mobility.
Since 1997, Grant Associates has provided hiring support for more than 50,000 companies, helping more than 1.25 million people advance their careers. The New York City-based firm, which is led by Vanessa Preston, operates in eight cities across the country, helping businesses recruit candidates and handle referrals, screen potential employees, manage hiring events, assist with talent pipeline development and provide much-needed intelligence on the state of the labor market.
Over the past fiscal year, Grant Associates has placed nearly 20,000 individuals nationwide in employment that can advance their careers, connected 8,200 people with work-based learning opportunities and has helped 1,585 people obtain industry-recognized certifications.
Liz Roberts
When Liz Roberts became CEO of Safe Horizon in 2021, she was well positioned to lead the nation’s largest victim services organization.
She started her career as a domestic violence hotline worker. The former deputy commissioner for family support services at the New York City Administration for Children’s Services joined Safe Horizon in 2010, first as chief program officer and later as deputy CEO and interim CEO.
Under Roberts, Safe Horizon has launched innovative programs, established quality improvement systems and nearly doubled its budget while helping 250,000 New Yorkers find shelter, safety and support each year.
Roberts served on the Zohran Mamdani transition team’s community safety committee. This spring, she joined U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer to advocate for legislation removing the statute of limitations in many civil sex abuse and human trafficking cases.
Thanks to her recent advocacy about state cuts to domestic violence and legal services funding, Gov. Kathy Hochul allocated an additional $36 million for programs to help sexual assault survivors.
HANAC
Originally founded to help Greek immigrants adjust to their new lives in Queens, the Hellenic American Neighborhood Action Committee – now simply HANAC – has been providing affordable housing, social programs and independent living for seniors for more than half a century.
The Astoria-based nonprofit now manages hundreds of affordable housing units that serve nearly 1,000 people, runs four senior centers and helps some 30,000 people each year who receive government assistance.
HANAC teamed up with Monadnock Development to develop Court Street Residences, a 14-story, 141-unit project in White Plains that will provide affordable apartments for senior citizens as well as a new headquarters for The Loft that will serve as a LGBTQ+ community space. The nonprofit also partnered with Mega Development to build Ikos Senior Living, which will provide 168 units of affordable senior apartments as well as a community facility and green space in Astoria.
HITN
Over the past four-and-a-half decades, the Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network has become a leading Spanish-language media company, reaching more than 35 million households in the United States and Puerto Rico.
HITN President and CEO Michael Nieves has expanded its distribution by more than 10 million Latino households, developed programs nominated for Emmys and more than doubled the size of its facility at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
The network won a New York Emmy Award in 2024 for its Spanish-language human interest piece, “Puerto Rican Heritage Month: Ramón & Irmgard.” HITN won three more New York Emmy Awards last year, including one for a segment featuring the Spanish-language boy band Menudo. This year, HITN was nominated seven times for spotlighting Hispanic history and public affairs.
Another recent highlight of the network’s programming was its special coverage around America’s 250th birthday, which included an all-day marathon of the documentary series “Aerial America.”
Michael Mulgrew
Michael Mulgrew is not afraid of playing hardball, no matter who the mayor is.
The United Federation of Teachers leader, who was reelected last year, stayed on the sidelines during the New York City Democratic mayoral primary before endorsing Zohran Mamdani in the general election.
Now, he’s defending city legislation delivering paraprofessionals a one-time $10,000 bonus, even as the Mamdani administration argues that the bonus illegally circumvented the city’s collective bargaining process. The case has now gone to court.
It’s just the latest campaign for the battle-tested labor leader. He has led the UFT since 2009, advocating for teachers through the Bloomberg, de Blasio, Adams and Mamdani administrations. Mulgrew, who represents nearly 200,000 New York City public school teachers and school-related professionals, has also championed state legislation ensuring smaller class sizes, fended off budget cuts while securing education spending increases, and shepherded his members through the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pencil
For more than three decades, the nonprofit Pencil has connected New York’s civic and business leaders to local public schools, helping put students on the path to lifelong educational and professional success.
The New York-based nonprofit has partnered with over 1,100 schools and thousands of business volunteers to create paid internships, mentoring opportunities and school partnerships that have helped young people explore future careers and expand their professional networks.
In recent years, Pencil has developed partnerships with Fortune 500 companies, including Google, IBM and Salesforce, and placed more than 7,000 students in internships through its summer internship program in collaboration with the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development. This year, Pencil served more than 24,000 public school students with career-based experiences, which was double last year. The organization is led by CEO Gregg Betheil and President Jessica Bynoe.
National Grid
As one of the largest utilities in New York, National Grid has a responsibility to provide reliable energy to 4.2 million ratepayers in the state while playing a key role in helping New York transition to a clean energy future.
In recognition of the rising costs of natural gas and electricity, the international utility company recently submitted a proposal to freeze gas delivery rates through March 2028 for nearly 2 million customers in New York City and on Long Island, while making $1.7 billion in capital investments that would be paid by customers after the rate freeze ends.
The National Grid Foundation has been giving back to the community, recently partnering with Brooklyn Org and United Way of New York City to provide grants for emergency heating assistance and to prepare young people for STEM careers. The company also gave $250,000 to help build an apartment complex for homeless veterans in Island Park on Long Island.
Julie Tighe
Julie Tighe has become one of New York’s most effective environmental advocates.
When she previously worked at the state Department of Environmental Conservation, Tighe played a key role reforming the state’s Brownfield Cleanup Program and the 10-year, $1 billion Superfund authorization, and also served as the top negotiator for the Clean Water Infrastructure Act and a comprehensive electronics recycling law.
But Tighe has had an arguably larger effect on environmental policy outside of government. Since becoming president of the New York League of Conservation Voters in 2018, she has helped pass the state’s landmark climate law, set guidelines for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, limit fossil fuel and gas hookups to new construction properties and advance the long-awaited congestion pricing program.
Tighe has continued to fight for clean water and work with Gov. Kathy Hochul to defend offshore wind from federal cancellation, despite the governor’s climate law revisions.
Alliance for Clean Energy New York
New York is on a path toward reducing its dependency on fossil fuels thanks to two decades of advocacy from the Alliance for Clean Energy New York.
The Albany-based renewable energy trade association, which is run by Marguerite Wells, has been a staunch supporter of accelerating construction of new transmission line projects, developing large-scale wind and solar projects, and upgrading the electrical grid.
Over the past year, ACE NY has advocated for efficient permitting and procurement for a slate of renewable energy projects, solar development that supports energy and agricultural needs, statewide requirements for decommissioning projects and the implementation of zero-emissions school bus provisions.
This summer, the nonprofit celebrated the largest buildout of new energy generation in state history. In June, it joined a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense to restart commercial offshore wind development by forcing the Pentagon to complete its national security reviews of the projects.
EmblemHealth
As one of the country’s largest nonprofit health insurers with more than 3 million members, including about 1.5 million in New York state, EmblemHealth has partnered with hospitals and providers to provide affordable, quality healthcare.
Karen Ignagni led the insurer through an organizational transformation while adding innovative services in care and expanding community health initiatives during her decade-long tenure as CEO. She was succeeded last year by Mike Palmateer, whose retirement this month prompted Ignagni to reassume her old title as CEO while an executive search gets underway. Previously, Ignagni had transitioned to a new position as executive board chair in 2025, a role in which she helped negotiate a new health plan for New York City’s municipal workforce in partnership with UnitedHealthcare.
This summer, EmblemHealth reported positive operating and net earnings for the past five quarters, including a five-year high in income at the end of 2025.
Ramon Tallaj
Dr. Ramon Tallaj founded Somos Community Care a little over a decade ago to provide essential medical services to New York City’s immigrant communities and other patients from underserved neighborhoods.
The Dominican American internist’s healthcare network consists of 2,600 healthcare providers in 900 practices that serve more than 1 million Medicare and Medicaid patients across the city. Under Tallaj, Somos pioneered value-based care models to keep people healthy while improving access to affordable healthcare. Somos has reported saving taxpayers more than $336 million a year by reducing emergency room visits and hospital admissions.
Somos has also advanced the state’s Medicaid redesign, serving as the lead entity for the Bronx Social Care Network, which connects Medicaid patients with health care, transportation, emergency food services and other social needs. This year, Tallaj was named grand marshal of the National Dominican Day Parade.
WMCHealth
Since its formation in 2015, the Westchester Medical Center Health Network has been delivering top-notch medical services to 2.5 million Hudson Valley residents.
WMCHealth consists of nine hospitals on seven campuses and 60 ambulatory care sites, employing nearly 13,500 healthcare workers and nearly 3,000 attending physicians. The Valhalla-based system boasts the region’s only Level I adult and pediatric trauma center, an advanced care children’s hospital and the only dedicated burn center between New York City and Canada.
Last fall, WMCHealth was awarded up to $100 million from the state Department of Health’s Safety Net Transformation Program to help integrate facilities in Rockland County and the Hudson Valley into the system.
The flagship Westchester Medical Center is undergoing construction on a five-story, $220 million critical care tower that will contain 128 intensive care rooms. The network, led by Dr. David Lubarsky, recently named Frances Spreer Albert its new chief financial officer.
Slate Property Group
As New York City battles the housing crisis, Slate Property Group is doing its part to create thousands of affordable homes throughout the region.
Since its establishment in 2013, the Manhattan-based developer has built and acquired 17,000 housing units, finding creative ways to finance and construct housing through conversion and adaptive reuse.
Last winter, Slate completed Baisley Pond Park Residences, an all-affordable complex in South Jamaica, Queens, that made history as the city’s first hotel-to-residential conversion under the Housing Our Neighbors with Dignity Act. The company also acquired the former Stewart Hotel in midtown Manhattan for $255 million with plans to convert it into a 579-unit affordable housing tower.
This summer, the city selected Slate Property Group and Hudson Companies to build 1,000 homes on a formerly industrial parcel in Queens. The developer also secured $86.25 million in refinancing this year for Dutch House, a 186-unit multifamily property in Long Island City, Queens.
Ron Abad
Ron Abad took the reins of Community Housing Innovations five years ago with a mission to help families afford a home, deliver short-term assistance during crises and prevent foreclosures and evictions.
Under his leadership, CHI has an operating budget of nearly $125 million and a workforce of roughly 700 employees, providing housing and supportive services and financial support to 4,100 families and 7,400 individuals. This year, Abad hosted a homeownership expo in Westchester County for first-time homebuyers and moderated a panel at a City & State conference on affordable housing solutions.
Last fall, CHI joined Mount Hope Community Development to top off Mount Hope Plaza, a 56-unit White Plains apartment building that has some units set aside for seniors experiencing homelessness. In December, Abad cut the ribbon to CHI’s new 9,800-square-foot headquarters, which was double the size of its former office, at White Plains Plaza in downtown White Plains.
Korean American Family Service Center
The Korean American Family Service Center is an invaluable resource for domestic violence and sexual assault victims, providing access to counseling, legal advocacy, community education and youth services.
It also meets the needs of its clients through a housing program that offers shelter and transitional housing to survivors of gender-based violence as well as their families. The program also includes assistance in finding somewhere to live, securing financial support and navigating the court system. KAFSC’s emergency shelter program meets more immediate needs with bilingual, bicultural staff and familiar food options.
The organization, which was founded in 1989 and is based in Flushing, Queens, is led by Jeehae Fischer, who was promoted to executive director in 2019. She has since more than doubled KAFSC’s budget – from $1.8 million to $4.5 million – and maximized its impact in the local community.
Harris Beach Murtha
While it’s one of New York’s oldest continuously operating law firms, with roots dating back to 1856, Harris Beach Murtha came into being in its current form when Harris Beach and Murtha Cullina combined forces in January 2025.
Chris Jagel, who joined Harris Beach in 1993 and has led the firm as its CEO since 2017, oversaw the merger of the new entity, which now boasts more than 300 attorneys serving clients in more than 30 areas of law across 19 offices in the Northeast. Jagel, who is based in Rochester, has sought to enhance the firm’s collaborative culture, encouraging staff to become innovative problem-solvers, and expanded its initiatives to support inclusion and diversity.
This summer, Harris Beach Murtha continued its expansion by acquiring the Boston-based firm Peabody & Arnold as well as Hartford, Connecticut-based boutique law firm Consoli Bortolan Law Group and a business litigator from Kane Kessler, growing its footprint in New England.
Ed Wallace
Ed Wallace is one of New York’s most accomplished attorneys, serving as a trusted adviser for developers navigating New York City’s land use approvals.
The former New York City Council member has an impressive legacy: working with John Zuccotti and Mort Zuckerman on the development of Columbus Circle, guiding megaprojects from Columbia University, Fordham University and New York University through the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, bringing a golf course to Ferry Point Park in the Bronx and assisting with the establishment of the NYC Ferry system.
More recently, Wallace helped negotiate an air rights deal that would allow a developer to build two high-rise residential towers in Long Island City, Queens, with 150 designated affordable housing units set aside in exchange for transferring air rights from the Queensboro Bridge’s approach ramps. Wallace represents JCDecaux North America, which maintains the city’s bus shelters and newsstands, and he chairs the French-American Foundation’s board of directors.
Brooklyn Defender Services
For three decades, Brooklyn Defender Services has helped New Yorkers contending with the court system who cannot afford legal representation.
The nonprofit has done such an exemplary job representing Brooklynites in criminal, civil and family legal matters that New York City last year had BDS take over Queens Defenders’ contract. Now the public defender organization, which includes nearly 300 attorneys, serves more than 40,000 people each year across both boroughs.
Brooklyn Defender Services hasn’t shied away from high-profile cases. Its deportation defense practice has become a national model for universal deportation representation and the firm sued the New York City Housing Authority and the New York City Police Department in August for allegedly using its municipally supplied broadband program to unlawfully surveil public housing residents.
The organization, which is led by founder and Executive Director Lisa Schreibersdorf, recently reached a labor agreement with its public defenders, social workers and staff.
Pitta Bishop & Del Giorno
Pitta Bishop & Del Giorno is one of New York’s foremost government relations firms, with an emphasis on helping organized labor advance its agenda at the state and local levels.
Led by Vito Pitta, Vincent Pitta, Robert Bishop, Jon Del Giorno and Carlos Beato, the firm has represented a range of clients for more than four decades, providing public affairs lobbying, media relations consulting, public and private sector business expansion and crisis management services in New York City, Albany and Washington, D.C.
The Pitta Bishop team recently played a key role adjusting pension contributions and retirement thresholds for public employees in Tier 6, advocated for 20-year half-pay pensions for New York City correction and uniformed sanitation workers and pushed for increased benefits for widows of police officers.
Vito Pitta served as former Mayor Eric Adams’ campaign attorney and led efforts to appeal a denial of matching funds before Adams ended his reelection bid.
Statewide Public Affairs
Statewide Public Affairs
Christopher Duryea founded Statewide Public Affairs in 2013 to provide knowledgeable consulting services to clients navigating state budgetary, legislative, permitting and regulatory processes.
His Albany-based firm has helped New Yorkers file their taxes for free, facilitated the first autonomous vehicle demonstration in the state, assisted medical marijuana clients in obtaining licenses and advised labor unions that were negotiating collective bargaining agreements with the state. The firm also supported the passage of Elijah’s Law requiring daycare centers to have EpiPens on hand and helped shape the Construction Safety Act.
Statewide Public Affairs has also worked on campaigns to legalize e-bikes and e-scooters, supported professional athlete unions who sought workers’ compensation impairment guidelines and backed Buy American legislation.
A U.S. Navy submarine veteran, Duryea started his New York career as a legislative director in the Assembly and served as vice president of the Cable Telecommunications Association before moving into government relations.
Michael Avella
Since 2009, Dickinson & Avella has taken on tough campaigns and delivered groundbreaking change for its clients, whether they’re multinational corporations, labor unions or nonprofit organizations.
Michael Avella, who was chief counsel to the state Senate’s Republican majority before co-founding his firm, has played a role in some of the state’s most consequential policy advancements, including same-sex marriage, the expansion of casinos, marijuana legalization and the fight for clean water.
As one of the state’s racing and gambling experts, Avella lobbied for Genting and Metropolitan Park, both of which won state licenses to develop full casinos in Queens, and he continues to advise casino clients on construction, tax rates and vendor fees.
His firm has also worked with the New York Yankees on ticket sale and resale laws, guided the NFL toward passing statewide concussion management legislation and secured funding for charter schools.
Kasirer
As mayors come and go, one thing remains the same: Kasirer is New York City’s top government relations firm. Suri Kasirer’s eponymous firm has raked in the most lobbying revenue in the city each year for nearly a decade. Last year, it reported more than $17 million in lobbying compensation in the city, reflecting the loyalty the firm has built up among its clients.
In real estate, Kasirer helped Gotham Organization secure land use approvals for its Innovative Urban Village project in East New York, Brooklyn, positioned Stony Brook University to win the bid for a Governors Island climate center and guided negotiations that led to approval of the Innovation QNS $2 billion redevelopment, which was later scrapped by the developers.
The firm is also a go-to adviser for nonprofits and museums, helping more than 50 organizations obtain nearly $100 million in government funding. Kasirer recently helped The New York Historical advance a $175 million renovation of the Tang Wing for American Democracy.
Rick Ostroff
Rick Ostroff has grown his firm from a single client in 1995 to helping dozens of financial services firms, real estate developers, trade associations, nonprofits and healthcare companies advance their goals in Albany.
Under his leadership, Ostroff Associates partnered with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine to obtain $2 million for cancer research and to support treatment for 9/11 first responders. The firm helped secure state funding to the tune of $400 million for the Championing Albany’s Potential Initiative to transform the New York State Museum and revitalize the capital’s downtown core.
Ostroff’s biggest recent victory has been helping the Buffalo Bills and the Pegula family secure $850 million in public funding from the state and Erie County to build a new Highmark Stadium, which just hosted the Bills’ home opener. After the firm’s success with the Bills, it was retained by the Buffalo Sabres in January to advocate for $400 million in state funding to renovate KeyBank Center.
O’Donnell & Associates
O’Donnell & Associates is celebrating 25 years of providing government relations, procurement and crisis management services to clients in Buffalo and across the state.
Long known for its work with Western New York companies, educational institutions and nonprofits, Jack O’Donnell’s firm is a major player in Albany and has been establishing a greater presence in New York City in recent years.
The firm helped the University at Buffalo secure state funding and its designation as a SUNY flagship institution, and also helped SUNY receive record funding for its research and innovation programs. O’Donnell assisted the Strong National Museum of Play in securing public funding for its $75 million expansion and guided the AIDS Healthcare Foundation in increasing its footprint into Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan.
O’Donnell & Associates launched the Monday Morning Memo newsletter and a podcast, “From the Lobby,” with weekly insights into the state budget, policy battles and polling from state campaigns.
Patrick B. Jenkins & Associates
Since founding his eponymous firm in 2008, Patrick B. Jenkins has built up a talented, diverse team to provide clients with strategic planning, conduct research for candidates and garner support from local communities.
The government relations firm has long had a role in the state’s casino expansion, pushing for legislation to legalize racetrack casinos and then assisting Resorts World New York City in its successful quest for a full-fledged casino license in Queens.
The firm has also represented the influential New York State Trial Lawyers Association and recently lobbied against proposals to restrict single-use plastics and reduce plastic packaging by charging companies for waste.
In addition to its for-profit clients in the tech, real estate and casino sectors, Patrick B. Jenkins & Associates also has a long list of nonprofit clients, including the New York League of Conservation Voters, the One Fair Wage campaign and the Protect Democracy Project.
Amazon
Since 2010, Amazon has invested more than $65 billion in New York state, including $45 billion in New York City alone.
The global e-commerce behemoth currently employs more than 50,000 workers statewide, including 28,000 in New York City, while supporting another 40,000 indirect jobs by operating fulfillment centers, delivery stations and 33 Whole Foods Markets across the state. Amazon’s point person in New York is Andrea Fava, the company’s vice president of U.S. public policy.
Amazon has also played an increasingly significant role operating the state’s internet infrastructure. The company has provided cloud and artificial intelligence services, including generative AI, databases and computing power through its Amazon Web Services agreement with the state Office of Information Technology Services, which has saved taxpayers $58 million.
The company has also supported more than 1 million computer science learning hours for New York students, awarded 118 public school students with up to $40,000 Future Engineer scholarships and deployed more than 800 e-bikes for zero-emissions deliveries.
Bart Schwartz
Bart Schwartz has a reputation as a turnaround expert who delivers incisive advice to institutions and individuals facing complex problems.
The former federal prosecutor, who led the criminal division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, co-founded Guidepost Solutions to provide clients with compliance, monitoring, security and technology consulting services.
Schwartz helped diagnose the New York City Housing Authority’s management failures and address its decrepit conditions when he was appointed as the federal monitor over the housing authority in 2019. Last year, Schwartz was chosen by Columbia University to serve as a third-party monitor to ensure compliance of its obligations under its $200 million antisemitism settlement with the Trump administration.
Schwartz has also expanded Guidepost’s practice to respond to misconduct, risk and regulatory challenges from rapidly evolving technologies and now supports clients involved in artificial intelligence, virtual healthcare, cryptocurrency, NFTs, blockchain and algorithmic design.
NYSTEC
Created by the state Legislature 30 years ago as the New York State Technology Enterprise Corp. with the aim of modernizing how public institutions serve New Yorkers, NYSTEC has played a key role introducing technological innovations into government offices.
The independent nonprofit, which has grown to more than 400 employees, works with state agencies, New York City and other municipal governments as well as public-serving organizations to upgrade critical systems, implement data-driven decision-making, strengthen cybersecurity protections and deliver more accessible and efficient services.
Last year, the Rome, New York-based firm launched a rebrand and a new website to emphasize its commitment to collaboration and community. NYSTEC has since partnered with the Bronx Economic Development Corp. to pair college students with small businesses to help solve problems, hosted a summit on innovations in population health with a focus on reducing social isolation, and this year, gave $300,000 to the YMCA of the Greater Tri-Valley in Rome to upgrade its fitness center.
Halmar International
One of the leading civil construction firms in the country, Halmar International has had its hands in New York’s most critical transportation infrastructure projects of this century.
The Rockland County-based firm has advanced aviation, transit and tunnel projects that have been recognized as industry standards for its design-build innovations while creating tens of billions of dollars in economic impact for the region.
This year, Halmar was selected with Skanska by Amtrak to serve as the master developers for the $8 billion reconstruction of New York Penn Station, a project that will expand track capacity without moving Madison Square Garden. Halmar also started construction on the second phase of the Second Avenue subway in East Harlem after winning the $1.97 billion design-build contract with FCC Construction. The firm has continued work on transportation upgrades at John F. Kennedy International Airport and improved accessibility across city subway stations.
The Black Car Fund
For more than a quarter century, The Black Car Fund has provided workers’ compensation insurance coverage to more than 100,000 independent, for-hire vehicle drivers across New York.
The nonprofit organization was founded as the New York Black Car Operators’ Injury Compensation Fund, authorized by state legislation signed by Gov. George Pataki in 1999, with an initial mission of providing workers’ compensation coverage and other benefits to black car operators in the state.
That mandate has broadened over the years. Since taking the wheel back in 2010, Executive Director Ira Goldstein has added programs that offer health and income-protection benefits, courses on driver safety and a passenger surcharge to fund dental cleanings and vision coverage.
The Black Car Fund recently expanded its no-cost Drivers Benefits program, which recently surpassed 68,000 drivers, adding hospital indemnity insurance and a health navigation service. It also increased payments through its Earn While You Learn program.
Long Island Contractors’ Association
For the past century, the Long Island Contractors’ Association has represented general contractors, subcontractors and suppliers responsible for building the region’s highway, infrastructure and public works projects.
Under Marc Herbst’s leadership, the trade association, which represents 174 member firms, has made Long Island an economic juggernaut by maintaining its roadways, bridges, sewers and housing developments.
In recent years, LICA helped secure $395 million in state and federal funding to fix Suffolk County’s Oakdale Merge and $250 million to redesign and modernize the interchange of the Southern State and Meadowbrook parkways in Nassau County. It also supported a $3.75 billion state investment for water infrastructure upgrades.
This summer, LICA joined Long Island business groups to call on the state Legislature to increase the threshold for the state mansion tax far above its current $1 million level and urged local governments to streamline approvals for construction projects.
NEXT STORY: The 2026 Latino Trailblazers