ABNY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Public Policy Director
- the Public Policy Director
Aaron Sanders is the Public Policy Director at the Association for a Better New York (ABNY). Mr. Sanders is responsible for developing and executing ABNY's public policy agenda to positively impact New York State and City. Prior to ABNY, Mr. Sanders worked as Associate Director of Advocacy and Policy for the Natural Areas Conservancy (NAC) and was responsible for increasing financial and policy support for natural areas through advocacy and strategic partnership. Before joining the NAC, he worked as Community Outreach and Organizing Manager for The LGBT Center. Mr. Sanders graduated from Millersville University with a bachelor's degree in Government and Political Affairs. He also graduated from Villanova University with a master's in political science.
Job Titles:
- Special Counsel and Senior Advisor
Bob Lehrman serves as Special Counsel and Senior Advisor to several organizations in the banking, real estate, and not-for-profit fields. He is a Trustee of the Community Capital Trust (including the CCM Community Impact Bond Fund) and is Governance Committee Chairman.
Mr. Lehrman was formerly President/CEO of the Community Bankers Association of New York, and of the American Forest Foundation. Previously he served as a Con Edison senior executive and government lawyer. He also had been a Board Member of Community Capital Bank and Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield.
He has been active in various civic and philanthropic groups, including ABNY and the ABNY Foundation (Founding Chair of the Audit/Finance Committee), Citizens Housing and Planning Council, Community Preservation Corporation, FEGS Health and Human Services (formerly President), New York Society of Association Executives (former Chair), and One Hundred Year Association/New York. He served for nearly twenty years as Chairman of the New York/National Housing Conference Annual Awards Luncheon.
Job Titles:
- Chancellor
- Chancellor of the City University of New York
Dr. Félix V. Matos Rodríguez has been Chancellor of The City University of New York (CUNY) since May 2019. He is the first educator of color, and first Latino, to serve as CUNY's Chancellor. CUNY is the nation's largest urban university, comprising 25 campuses with an enrollment of over 275,000 degree-seeking students, over 225,000 adult and continuing education students, and an operating budget of over $3.6 billion.
Previously, Dr. Matos Rodríguez served as president of CUNY's Queens College and of CUNY's Eugenio Maria de Hostos Community College in the Bronx, making him one of a select few U.S. educators who have led both a baccalaureate and a community college. He also served previously as Puerto Rico's Cabinet secretary of the Department of Family Services where he oversaw a $2.3 billion budget and formulated public policy and administered service delivery in programs such as Child Support, Adoption, Foster Care, and Child and Elderly Protection.
Chancellor Matos Rodríguez sits on the boards of the Council on Foreign Relations, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, Phipps Houses, the United Way of New York City, TIAA Hispanic Advisory Council, Research Alliance for New York City Schools, and NYC Tech Talent Pipeline Academic Council. He has received the Albert J. Beveridge award of the American Historical Association and is an Aspen Institute Ascend Fellow.
Dr. Matos Rodríguez graduated from Yale University cum laude with a degree in Latin American Studies before obtaining a Ph.D. in history from Columbia University. He has taught at Yale, Northeastern University, Boston College, and CUNY's Hunter College, where he also directed the Center for Puerto Rican Studies, one of the largest and most important Latino research centers in the United States.
Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, he is married to Dr. Liliana M. Arabia, a dentist, and they have two sons.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Con Edison
Frances Resheske is the Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Con Edison. In this capacity, she oversees Con Edison's corporate communications; community and media relations; economic development; branding; advertising; and corporate philanthropy. She also handles government relations, regulatory relations, and the energy markets policy groups.
Job Titles:
- Adjunct Professor at Baruch College 's School of Public Affairs
Gregg Bishop has made a name for himself investing in low to moderate-income communities, growing the capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME's), implementing sectoral workforce strategies, and building resilient technology infrastructure for media companies. He is currently the Executive Director of the Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation Social Justice Fund. Prior to joining the Fund, he served as Interim Executive Director of Coro New York, tasked with leading a civic leadership organization that believes meaningful change comes from collaboration: people in business and communities, schools and unions, government and nonprofits, working together to find creative solutions and strengthen our democracy.
Prior to this role, Bishop served as the Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) where he was charged with running a dynamic City agency focused on equity of opportunity that leads to economic self-sufficiency and mobility for New York City's diverse communities. During his tenure, he connected small businesses to over $200 million in capital, certified a record 9,000 Minority and Women business enterprises, connected over 100,000 New Yorkers to good-paying jobs, and invested over $10 million in capacity-building programs across the five boroughs. In addition, over 10,000 city residents were trained with new skills in the technology, healthcare, industrial and manufacturing, and hospitality sectors. He also developed and launched several initiatives aimed at structural barriers minorities face, including
Bishop is an adjunct professor at Baruch College's School of Public Affairs and serves on several boards including Red Hook Initiative, Junior Achievement of New York, Pursuit (formerly the Coalition for Queens (C4Q)), The Robert Sterling Clark Foundation, and The Association for a Better New York (ABNY). He also serves on the Hebrew Free Loan Society Microenterprise Committee, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Local Advisory Committee, and is the Vice President of the Alpha Gamma Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Job Titles:
- Founder and Managing Director of Walnut Hill Advisors
Jeffrey Stewart is the founder and Managing Director of Walnut Hill Advisors and also serves as Senior Advisor to the Chairman & CEO of Loews Hotels & Co., Jonathan Tisch. Mr. Stewart's career spans more than twenty-five years working at the intersection of business, politics, media, and civic engagement, where he has served as trusted advisor of CEOs, entrepreneurs, and founders of businesses and nonprofits. He oversees all business development and strategic direction for Walnut Hill Advisors.
Jeffrey Stewart is the founder and Managing Director of Walnut Hill Advisors and also serves as Senior Advisor to the Chairman & CEO of Loews Hotels & Co., Jonathan Tisch. Mr. Stewart's career spans more than twenty-five years working at the intersection of business, politics, media, and civic engagement, where he has served as a trusted advisor of CEOs, entrepreneurs, and founders of businesses and nonprofits. He oversees all business development and strategic direction for Walnut Hill Advisors.
Mr. Stewart joined Loews Hotels & Co. in 1999 and has held a variety of executive positions including, Chief of staff to the Chairman & CEO, Senior Vice President for Communications and Public Affairs, and Director of Development. In these roles, he has been an integral part of the strategic development, planning, and execution of a wide variety of projects for the company as well as outside ventures and investments specific to the Chairman. During his tenure, Mr. Stewart managed the 125 million-dollar conversion of the landmark PSFS building into the Loews Philadelphia hotel and served on the Loews Hotels Senior Brand Strategy Committee and the Executive Leadership Team.
For more than twenty years, Mr. Stewart has played an active role in the travel and tourism industry where he served as an officer of the Travel Business Roundtable and was instrumental in the creation of its successor organization, the United States Travel Association. He has testified before the United States Congress, has been quoted in leading publications, and appeared on television in the United States and abroad on the importance of travel and tourism. Travel agent magazine recognized him as a "Rising Star" in the industry. Mr. Stewart is on the Board of Directors of NYC & Company, the Board of Advisors of the NYU Tisch Center of Hospitality, and is the Vice-Chair of the annual NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference. He has also been involved in various civic activities where has taken on several leadership roles.
Jen Hensley is Head of Government Relations, Public Policy for Lyft, leading the government relations team in working with lawmakers, city officials, and other stakeholders on policy to support Lyft riders, drivers, and communities across the country.
Prior to joining Lyft, she was President of Link, overseeing all aspects of the Link program for the world's largest and fastest free public Wi-Fi network. Previously, Ms. Hensley served as Executive Director of ABNY, the City's preeminent civic advocacy organization, as Senior Adviser to the Chairman at Empire State Development Corporation, and Assistant Vice President at the Alliance for Downtown New York. Ms. Hensley has also held positions in finance at Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase.
A graduate of Barnard College, she holds an MBA from NYU's Stern School of Business and an MPA from NYU's Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. She serves on the board of Pursuit, a tech training organization, and lives with her family in Astoria, Queens.
Jen is Head of Government Relations, Public Policy for Lyft, leading the government relations team in working with lawmakers, city officials, and other stakeholders on policy to support Lyft riders, drivers, and communities across the country.
Jennifer J. Raab is the 13th President of Hunter College, the largest college of the City University of New York.
Since her tenure began in 2001, President Raab has been responsible for raising more than $400 million in philanthropic support for Hunter College. Major accomplishments include the renovation and reopening of the historic Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt House, which is now the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College, and the construction of a $131 million home in East Harlem for Hunter's renowned School of Social Work.
President Raab previously served as a litigator at two of the nation's most prestigious law firms-Cravath, Swaine & Moore and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison.
Job Titles:
- President & CEO of Abacus Federal Savings Bank
Jill Sung is the President & CEO of Abacus Federal Savings Bank. Abacus Bank was started in 1983 by her father, Thomas Sung, to meet the banking needs of the Asian-American community in New York City and later expanded into Edison, NJ and Philadelphia. Abacus Bank is a minority depository institution as defined under the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989. Abacus Bank's mission is to provide financial services to consumers and small businesses within its community, the majority of which are low-to-moderate income and first-generation immigrants. Abacus' goal is to ensure that all members of its community have fair and equal access to the banking system to achieve economic success. Abacus Bank focuses on providing credit to its community for homes and small real estate properties, and also providing credit to small businesses - a need that has taken particular importance given COVID-19. Ms. Sung takes pride in Abacus Bank's work to help its customers establish their financial "roots" here, from opening their first savings account to buying their first home, to becoming successful small business owners. Ms. Sung has been elected to serve as a member of the Board of Directors for the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) and has served as Chair of ICBA's Minority Bank Council and Consumer Financial Services Subcommittee for several years. Ms. Sung has an MBA from Wharton, JD from NYU, and a BA from Wesleyan University.
Job Titles:
- Special Events Coordinator
John Napisa is the Special Events Coordinator at the Association for a Better New York. His responsibilities include volunteer coordination for all ABNY events, as well as background activities ensuring the smooth operation of events. Mr. Napisa is currently attending Hunter College pursuing a dual-degree in Chemistry and German Language and Literature.
Julio Peterson has been with The Shubert Organization since 2000. Mr. Peterson is responsible for the overall management of the organization's corporate real estate including the disposition of transferable development rights, office, and retail leasing transactions, and the company's outdoor signage business. He also oversaw the development of the Little Shubert Theatre on 42nd Street.
Mr. Peterson is additionally responsible for corporate/public relations and governmental affairs. In this regard, he works with City agencies on zoning issues and quality of life matters impacting the Theatre District. He is Shubert's liaison with City and State government and works closely with The Broadway League, Times Square Alliance, the Broadway Association, the Association for a Better New York, and other civic organizations in New York City.
Prior to joining Shubert, Mr. Peterson was a Senior Consultant in KPMG's Real Estate Consulting Division. He was also Director of the Neighborhood Builder's Program at the New York City Partnership where he oversaw the development of over $300 million in multi-family homes in distressed neighborhoods throughout the City. Mr. Peterson was a Senior Project Manager in the Manhattan Commercial Real Estate Division of The New York City Economic Development Corporation where he was responsible for managing projects such as the 125th Street Pathmark Supercenter, the Columbia University Biotechnology Research Park, The Malcolm X Memorial at the Audubon Ballroom, and the Julia De Burgos Latino Cultural Center in East Harlem.
Mr. Peterson is a native New Yorker raised on the Upper West Side. He attended New York City public schools, Phillips Exeter Academy, Cornell University's College of Architecture, Art & Planning, and the Harvard University Graduate School of Design where he was awarded the John L. Loeb Fellowship. He serves on the Boards of The Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Center, The Public Theater, Association for A Better New York (ABNY), The Broadway Association, City Parks Foundation, Camp Ramapo for Children, and is a member of the Hunter College Theatre Advisory Board and The Repertoire Español Advisory Board.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of the Association for a Better New York
Laura Colacurcio is the Vice President of the Association for a Better New York (ABNY). Ms. Colacurcio is responsible for developing and executing ABNY's strategic direction, priorities, programming, and agenda; overseeing ABNY's Young Professionals and ABNY Women networks, and working with more than 250 member organizations on issue-specific advocacy campaigns and policy proposals.
Melva M. Miller, the Association for a Better New York's first Chief Executive Officer, is responsible for the overall success of the organization through economic development, long-term planning, stakeholder engagement, strategic partnerships, and the expansion and evolution of ABNY's membership. Prior to this role, Ms. Miller led the organization's Census initiative for an accurate count of New York where she supported and supplemented the 2020 census efforts by the U.S. Census Bureau, State and City of New York, and in coordination with community-based organizations in an effort to help New York State and City achieve the most accurate census count possible.
Ms. Miller has also served as the Deputy Borough President of Queens, working with the Borough Presidents on moving Queens forward. Ms. Miller's achievements include the creation of the Jamaica NOW Action Plan, a $153 million stakeholder-driven strategy to increase quality employment, economic diversity, and financial security in downtown Jamaica. She was also the lead organizer of the Western Queens Tech Strategic Plan, an initiative that produced a five-year, $300,000 planning initiative that produced a blueprint for equitable growth of the Long Island City and Astoria tech ecosystem. Ms. Miller has held several senior economic development roles throughout her career, including Director of Economic Development for the Borough of Queens and Executive Director for the Sutphin Boulevard Business Improvement District. She serves on the Boards of the New York City Economic Development Corporation, Habitat for Humanity New York City, and the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation.
Ms. Miller holds a Bachelor's degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, a Master's degree in Social Work from Hunter College School of Social Work, and received a second Master's Degree in Philosophy from The Graduate Center at the City University of New York. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Social Welfare program at CUNY's Graduate Center.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director for Delta
Patricia Ornst serves as managing director for Delta's state and local government affairs efforts in New York, where her work helps Delta develop and achieve its key strategic objectives throughout the state. Ornst brings more than 15 years of experience in the aviation industry. Prior to joining Delta, she was a director of state and local government affairs for the Northeast region at American Airlines. She also served as vice president, aviation, for the New York City Economic Development Corporation, where she led aviation strategy for New York City under Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration. Earlier in her career, she spent nearly seven years at Airports Council International-North America as director of legislative affairs.
Samantha Rudin Earls started working at Rudin Management Company in July of 2007. She sits on the executive committee of Rudin Management Company. She focuses on development, redevelopment, design, and marketing for the Rudin portfolio. She was involved in the development of 130 W. 12th Street and The Greenwich Lane in the West Village, in addition to Rudin's latest project, Dock 72, a 675,000 SF office building focusing on the Technology sector at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
In 2016 Ms. Rudin Earls helped launch an Association for Better New York's Working Women's Network, called ABNY Women, which strives to connect and empower women from all sectors in New York. In February of 2017, Ms. Rudin Earls joined the Roundabout Theatre board. She is also on the board of the May & Samuel Rudin Family Foundation as well as other family foundations. In January 2021, Ms. Rudin Earls joined the board of ABNY.
Ms. Rudin Earls is a proud New Yorker and a graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. Ms. Rudin Earls is married to David Earls. They have a daughter Elle Rudin Earls.
Job Titles:
- Communications Coordinator
- Communications Coordinator at the Association
Sophie Wright is the Communications Coordinator at the Association for a Better New York (ABNY). She is responsible for executing and monitoring communications strategies for ABNY by creating marketing and public relations materials. Ms. Wright brings communications, marketing, and business development experience acquired from working at Global Strategy Group (GSG), a public affairs and research firm. She most recently served as a senior leader on the Guest Relations Team at Eleven Madison Park, a three Michelin-starred restaurant. Ms. Wright received a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Steven Rubenstein became ABNY's Chairman on January 1, 2018. He is the President of RUBENSTEIN, the legendary New York City strategic communications agency founded by his father, Howard J. Rubenstein, in 1954.
Serving New York has been in Mr. Rubenstein's DNA since his father co-founded ABNY with Lewis Rudin in the 1970s. Through his professional work as an advisor to a wide range of New York leaders, as well as his personal pursuits in support of City philanthropy and civic organizations, Mr. Rubenstein has been a committed champion for New York City.
At RUBENSTEIN, Mr. Rubenstein oversees the day-to-day operations of the firm, drives innovation and growth across 13 practice groups, and sets the direction for RUBENSTEIN'S continued leadership within the strategic communications field. He has helped organizations in finance, real estate, media, culture, social service, entertainment, and sports tell their stories and expand their reach in New York, as well as nationally and globally.
Outside the firm, he serves on the boards of directors of the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City, Friends of the High Line, 92nd Street Y, the Jewish Community Relations Council, and Reboot, a national idea incubator that strives to make Jewish life meaningful to a new generation.
Prior to accepting the Chairmanship of ABNY and the ABNY Foundation, Mr. Rubenstein served on their Boards of Directors and as Vice-Chair.
With five decades of business, government, civic involvement, and legislative affairs experience, Tonio Burgos brings unique insight and a comprehensive understanding of how to get results on behalf of clients. As a top-rated consulting and lobbying firm in the tri-state region as well as Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, TBA has successfully worked on a wide range of projects in both the public and private sectors for over 32 years. Mr. Burgos worked for Governor Mario Cuomo for 15 years, beginning with the Governor's service as Secretary of State in Governor Hugh Carey's administration in the mid-70s and continuing during Governor Mario Cuomo's tenure as Lieutenant Governor of the State. In 1983, Governor Cuomo appointed Mr. Burgos as his Appointments Secretary, and in 1984, as the Director of Executive Services. Mr. Burgos served as a Commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and as a Director of the Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation which oversees the PATH rail system. In addition, Mr. Burgos served as a member of the Advisory Committee of the Lower Manhattan Economic Development Corporation Transportation Committee from 2002 to 2006 by appointment of New York Governor George Pataki. In 2002, New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey appointed Mr. Burgos as Vice Chairman of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and as a member of the School Construction Corporation, Treasurer of the Camden Economic Recovery Board, and a member of the Israel-NJ Trade Commission. In 1995, President Bill Clinton appointed Mr. Burgos to the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, where he served until 2001. He also served as a founding board member of GMHC, the Latino Commission on HIV/AIDS, as well as the board of the Victory Fund from 1996 to 2006. Mr. Burgos has served in many capacities and received numerous honors from charitable organizations and educational institutions. In 2017, he was honored at the Union Settlement Annual Spring Gala, and Citizens Union honored him with their Gotham Greats Award. On May 28, 2015, Herbert H. Lehman College awarded Mr. Burgos an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree. He was also the 45th Anniversary Award Recipient of Hostos Community College in May 2013. The Regional Plan Association in April 2011 presented Mr. Burgos with its Lifetime Leadership Award, and in 2010, the New Jersey Alliance for Action presented him with its President's Eagle Award. Mr. Burgos's present affiliations also include Chairman of the National Parks of New York Harbor Conservancy. He also serves as a Member of the Steering Committee of the Association for a Better New York (ABNY), the Board of Directors of the Robert F. Kennedy Center and Foundation as well as a member of the NYC Police Foundation Board of Trustees. Mr. Burgos continues to serve as a member of the New York Latin Media Entertainment Commission, appointed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and reappointed by Mayor Bill de Blasio. He has served for over three decades as a member of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and is currently a member of its Executive Committee. Past affiliations include: Member of the Board of Trustees for the New York Law School Member of the Board of Trustees of Boricua College Member of the Governors Island Advisory Council Member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Board of Trustees Member of the Board of the Actors Fund Housing Development Corporation
Vincent Alvarez was elected as the New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO's first full-time President and first Latino President in 2011, and was re-elected in 2015 and 2019. He had previously served as Assistant Legislative Director of the NYS AFL-CIO, spearheading various worker-related policy initiatives throughout the state. From 2007-2009, Mr. Alvarez was Assistant to the Executive Director and then Chief of Staff of the NYCCLC.
A member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) since 1990, Mr. Alvarez began his career with IBEW Local 3 in Flushing, New York, serving on numerous political campaigns, grassroots initiatives, and negotiating committees.
During this time, he also coordinated hundreds of labor mobilization and campaign events on behalf of the NYCCLC's affiliates and was the lead organizer and Marshal of the NYC Labor Day Parade, the nation's oldest and largest worker parade.
Mr. Alvarez is a Class C Director of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; Board Chair of the Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives at New York University; a Vice President of the Consortium for Worker Education; a Principal Officer of Climate Jobs NY; a Board Member of the Greater New York Councils, Boy Scouts of America; a Board Member of the New York Building Congress; and a Board Member of the Remember the Triangle Fire Coalition. He serves on the national AFL-CIO State Federation and Central Labor Council Advisory Board as well as on the Advisory Board of the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies. He is also a member of Cornell University's Worker Institute Advisory Council and the NYC Comptroller's Advisory Council on Economic Growth through Diversity and Inclusion.
Mr. Alvarez is a graduate of the State University of New York at Oneonta, where he majored in business economics.
William Floyd is the director of state public policy and public affairs for Google and is responsible for managing the company's state and local engagements with key opinion formers and elected officials across the country. Focusing primarily on the states and communities where Google has a presence, Mr. Floyd creates and executes Google's government and regulatory strategy on the local level, as well as lead its public affairs, local philanthropic, and community relations programs. Mr. Floyd oversee a staff of twelve (12) professionals, dispersed regionally, whose job is to represent Google's policy objectives.