Power Lists
The 2024 Long Island Power 100
The power players in Nassau and Suffolk counties.
City & State presents the 2024 Long Island Power 100. Steve Pfost/Newsday RM via Getty Images
The national image of post-World War II suburbia, Long Island has long been a political and economic force in New York. Islanders from Plainview to Montauk are quick to show their opposition to issues that they see as detrimental to their quality of life, such as crime and congestion pricing. The region played a key role in Gov. Kathy Hochul’s close call in the 2022 gubernatorial election against former Rep. Lee Zeldin, a Suffolk County resident. While Republicans are in the minority in Albany, you wouldn’t know it by looking at Long Island’s delegation.
Concerns over crime and border security dominate Long Island politics, which is reflected in the region’s bipartisan delegation in the House of Representatives, where all four representatives serve on the House Homeland Security Committee, with the three Republicans holding leadership roles on panel subcommittees. Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi’s successful return to Congress in a February special election was credited in large part to a focus on border issues – and it broke a streak of Republican victories across Nassau and Suffolk counties in recent years.
City & State’s Long Island Power 100, researched and written in partnership with journalist Lon Cohen, highlights the leaders who are keeping Long Island at the center of state politics and policy.
1. Bruce Blakeman
Bruce Blakeman has established himself as one of the top MAGA leaders in the state. He proposed recruiting armed citizens as “special deputies” to be activated when needed, issued an executive order banning transgender women athletes from playing on women’s sports teams at county facilities (it was eventually made law), signed a controversial mask ban into law and held an umbrella for former President Donald Trump at a Bronx rally. As Las Vegas Sands bids for a downstate casino license at the site of the Nassau Coliseum, he is saying if the process is fair, then the county will receive a license. Blakeman is contemplating running for a second term in 2025.
2. Ed Romaine
Last November, the former Brookhaven town supervisor became the first Republican elected to lead Suffolk County in 20 years. In his first year on the job, Romaine hasn’t upset the applecart too much. He reportedly kept on almost three-quarters of the political appointees made by former County Executive Steve Bellone, a Democrat. Romaine’s agenda includes accelerating the construction of much-needed new sewer system infrastructure in densely populated areas, increasing mental health services for first responders and bringing more federal funds to Suffolk County.
3. Breon Peace
Most federal prosecutors deal with drugs, financial crimes and cybersecurity. Breon Peace, on the other hand, has found himself prosecuting one of the most comically absurd political schemes in American history. Peace in August reached a plea deal for disgraced former Rep. George Santos, for which he will serve at least two years in prison. Santos’ guilty plea capped an outlandish tabloid tale that led to only the fourth congressional expulsion not related to the Civil War.
4. Thomas DiNapoli
Thomas DiNapoli may have found the secret sauce to statewide popularity, being as Politico New York called him, “Mr. Nice Guy.” The five-term state comptroller’s affable and old-fashioned work style (it’s said he doesn’t have a computer on the desk he shares with his secretary) has helped DiNapoli easily win reelection. The Long Island native’s recent audits have found five Island school systems in financial stress, reported that traffic fatalities were up across the Island between 2019 and 2022 and that tourism has rebounded post-pandemic.
5. Andrew Garbarino
As chair of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee, the second-term Republican is heading up the federal government’s response to the systems failure that crippled critical industries across the nation in July after a botched update by online security company CrowdStrike. Garbarino continues the fight to overturn the federal SALT property tax cap, something Long Islanders are especially keen to have happen. Garbarino is facing a challenge for his seat this November from Democrat Rob Lubin.
6. Michael Dowling
For 22 years, Michael Dowling has been the leader of an expanding health empire at Long Island-based Northwell Health, now the largest health care provider and private employer in New York. This year, Dowling took that expansion in a much different direction, opening a film production company called Northwell Studios to make its own shows and documentaries. In a more traditional evolution, Northwell Health merged with Connecticut-based Nuvance Health earlier this year. Dowling is also looking to artificial intelligence to increase efficiency.
7. Ray Tierney
In what is arguably the most high-profile case of his career, Ray Tierney brought additional charges this spring against suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann for two more murders, also presenting an alleged “planning document” for the killing sprees collected from the suspect’s suburban home. Earlier this year, Tierney sparred in the media with Gov. Kathy Hochul over bail reform during a horrific Long Island murder and dismemberment investigation.
8. Anne Donnelly
It’s been a busy year for Anne Donnelly. Nassau County’s top prosecutor has aggressively pursued cases of wage theft, embezzlement and workers’ compensation fraud. Last year, her office convicted a Long Island man for producing deepfake sexual images, and Donnelly is now pushing state legislators to pass the Digital Manipulation Protection Act to toughen punishments for similar crimes. Her office went toe-to-toe with the Nassau County Police Department, which is refusing to release disciplinary records in criminal cases. Donnelly also announced a double-digit reduction in crime in Nassau in 2024; the county was recently ranked the safest in America.
9. Nick LaLota
Earlier this year, Rep. Nick LaLota had to contend with a fleeting Republican primary challenge by former Rep. George Santos, trading barbs with the expelled lawmaker on X. With that out of the way, LaLota will turn his attention to former CNN anchor Democrat John Avlon, who wants to flip the East End seat. LaLota, the Contracting and Infrastructure Subcommittee chair, has been trying to paint Avlon as a carpetbagger, calling him a “Manhattan elitist.” LaLota co-sponsored a bill to raise the SALT deduction cap to halt emigration from Long Island and has spoken in favor of voter identification laws.
10. Thomas Suozzi
Rep. Tom Suozzi had a 14-month sabbatical from Washington, D.C., before returning to succeed the reality show-esque fiasco that was former Rep. George Santos. A former Nassau County executive and gubernatorial candidate, Suozzi has been more hawkish on border policy than his fellow Democrats, speaking about the issue during the Democratic National Convention. Suozzi did not reclaim his old seat on the powerful Ways and Means Committee, instead joining the Homeland Security and Budget committees, along with co-chairing the Democrats for Border Security Task Force.
11. Jay Jacobs
After Rep. Tom Suozzi returned Democratic membership to Long Island’s congressional delegation in February and Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential nomination reinvigorated the top of the ticket, Democrats are finally starting to feel optimistic. State Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs has had to weather criticisms after the party’s poor results in 2022, but the recent tide change gives him reason to be hopeful. Jacobs, who also leads the Nassau County Democratic Party, is also taking steps to increase support for a state-level Equal Rights Amendment on the ballot this November.
12. Charles Lavine, Phil Ramos & Michaelle Solages
NRA leaders beware, Assembly Judiciary Committee Chair Charles Lavine is waging a war on guns. After a gun store opened in downtown Glen Cove, Lavine, who wants gun violence to be designated as a public health crisis, urged city officials to create a “gun store-free zone” to prevent similar stores from opening in the North Shore community. He also passed legislation this year to repeal the state law making adultery a crime.
Assembly Deputy Speaker Phil Ramos has taken on an international portfolio, leading a delegation to Pakistan this year. Ramos and the delegation met with the Overseas Pakistani Minister, discussing ways to increase cooperation between New York and Pakistan on education and health care and met with Pakistani political leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the son of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan.
Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus Chair Michaelle Solages passed New York’s historic reparations law and is focused on finding ways to move forward with the commission the bill created to study the matter. Solages has also proposed codifying state Board of Regents regulations prohibiting certain punishments in schools, passed a bill promoting contract transparency during states of emergency and secured $1.6 million for Haitian American groups in the state’s fiscal year 2025 budget. She has also spoken out against political attacks on Haitian immigrants this election cycle.
13. Anthony D’Esposito
In 2022, Republican Anthony D'Esposito edged out his Democratic challenger, former Hempstead Supervisor Laura Gillen, for a South Shore congressional seat. This year, Gillen is looking for a rematch in what promises to be one of the most competitive races in the country. D’Esposito, who chairs the House Emergency Management and Technology Subcommittee, has demanded Columbia University pay back the NYPD for responding to campus encampments, co-sponsored a bill to require citizenship questions on the U.S. census and has spoken out against congestion pricing in New York City, calling it a “scam.” D’Esposito is now responding to reports that he hired his fiancée’s daughter and his mistress for jobs in his district office.
14. Matthew Cohen
Small businesses are the backbone of the Long Island economy, making up about 90% of businesses in the region, according to the Long Island Association leader. Matthew Cohen supports Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Empire AI consortium, which he says will help Long Island’s technological innovation and support future businesses. After a new LIA report showed that, despite migration from New York City to the suburbs during the pandemic, Long Island’s population decreased by more than 110,000, Cohen is challenging Island leaders to be creative in addressing emigration.
15. Jesse Garcia
As the Republican leader of Suffolk County, Jesse Garcia had a hand in the “red wave” that overtook the county last November, mimicking a trend in Nassau County the year before. Former Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine was elected county executive, the first Republican in 20 years to hold the position. In his place, Republican Dan Panico was elected Brookhaven supervisor. Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter, a Republican, retained her seat. This year, Garcia wholeheartedly rejected a bid by disgraced former Rep. George Santos to run for the 1st Congressional District, calling his moment in the sun a “clown car show.”
16. Rich Schaffer
Pulling double duty as Babylon’s chief executive and chair of the Suffolk County Democratic Committee, Rich Schaffer had a lot to think about after last November’s drubbing in the polls. Schaffer blamed the political winds coming from Albany and Washington, D.C., for hurting local Democratic candidates. On the local government front, Schaffer is waging war on litter and Mother Nature, calling for the Army Corps of Engineers to save a beloved local beach from erosion.
17. Angie Carpenter, Don Clavin, Jennifer DeSena, Tim Hubbard, Dan Panico & Joseph Saladino
In the complex web of New York local government, Long Island town supervisors preside over mini empires that range from hundreds of thousands of residents to just a few thousand, along with overlapping villages and vast areas of service delivery.
Don Clavin was reelected to a third term last year in Hempstead, which, at 700,000 residents, is America’s largest township. Prior to the congestion pricing pause, Clavin made Hempsted the first Long Island town to file a federal lawsuit to block the controversial plan. Clavin has also been on the lookout for something in the water, deploying the town’s shark patrol with jet skis and drones.
A former Suffolk County treasurer, Angie Carpenter was reelected to a third term as Islip supervisor last year. Carpenter has touted improvements to town parks including a new skate park and aquatic options. Carpenter is presiding over renovations at MacArthur Airport and expanded Amtrak service.
Following a first term marked by disagreements with the Democratic-controlled town board on everything from policy to allocation of Town Hall office space, Jennifer DeSena started her second term as North Hempstead supervisor with a Republican majority. DeSena plans to push an ambitious agenda that includes creating an updated town master plan, improving parks and modernizing the town code.
Among the Long Island towns with smaller populations are Brookhaven, Oyster Bay and Riverhead. Following a dozen years as deputy supervisor, Dan Panico was elected Brookhaven town supervisor last year. Panico is making housing a top priority and is looking for new ways to diversify the local housing stock. Oyster Bay, a political hot spot since Theodore Roosevelt’s heyday, is led by Joseph Saladino, who is looking to reduce state courts’ workload by establishing a town bureau to handle code violations. Under his leadership, the town recently received a national award for local government finance reporting. Tim Hubbard became Riverhead’s supervisor in January, succeeding Yvette Aguiar. Hubbard laid out an agenda that includes focuses on school safety, school choice, government reorganization and opposing plans by Southampton to build new housing.
18. John Durso
John Durso leads the fourth-largest union council in the country, representing over 250,000 members across 160 union locals in the region. He has come out in support of the proposed casino project in Nassau County, put his weight behind nurses who threatened to strike at health care facility Long Island Jewish Valley Stream and applauded the beginning of work on an offshore wind farm in Suffolk County. Durso serves on the board of Nassau Community College.
19. Rob Free
Rob Free started his Long Island Rail Road career as a station cleaner and, 31 years later, now leads the commuter railroad. This spring, he was named president following a six-month stint as acting president. His appointment was cheered by union leaders and commuter organizations alike. Free played a key role in launching LIRR service to Grand Central Madison and helped oversee the completion of the Main Line third track project and the opening of the first new LIRR station in 50 years at UBS Arena in Elmont.
20. Scott Rechler
With $19 billion in assets under his company’s control, Scott Rechler is a little sensitive when it comes to rates. The New York Federal Reserve board member warns that regional banks will be crushed when $1 trillion in commercial property debt is refinanced this year at a higher interest rate. But Rechler also sees opportunity. The company recently announced a joint fund of up to $1 billion with Los Angeles-based Ares Management to snatch up distressed office buildings. RXR is also working with Las Vegas Sands to bring a casino to Nassau County. Rechler recently co-wrote an op-ed praising the pause of congestion pricing and offering alternatives to replace the lost revenue.
21. Monica Martinez & Kevin Thomas
State Senate Local Government Committee Chair Monica Martinez is using her gavel to make sure the state’s myriad municipalities have a voice in Albany. Martinez shepherded her Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act into law, with Gov. Kathy Hochul signing the bill in May. She is co-chair of the Legislative Aviation Caucus.State Senate Consumer Protection Committee Chair Kevin Thomas started the year running for Congress, but dropped out and is preparing to leave the Senate at the end of the year. Thomas was the Senate co-chair of a legislative commission exploring making the Long Island Power Authority a fully public utility.
22. Lee Zeldin
After narrowingly losing his 2022 gubernatorial bid to Gov. Kathy Hochul, the former member of Congress remains a prominent figure in Republican politics, both at home and on the national stage – literally – speaking at the Republican National Convention in July. He’s also a frequent media commentator, making appearances on Fox News and recently publishing an op-ed in Newsweek. Zeldin, whose bid for the governor’s mansion was the most successful one for statewide office by a Republican in two decades, says he is focused on getting Donald Trump reelected, but did not rule out another gubernatorial run.
23. Joseph Cairo
Coming off a “red wave” that swept through Nassau County in 2022, local Republican Party Chair Joseph Cairo can be optimistic about Long Island. The memory of fraudster George Santos is fading as the former member of Congress is slated to head to prison after a guilty plea. Though the seat was lost to Democrat Tom Suozzi in a February special election, the GOP is staging a comeback with a fresh face in November. After securing a spot on the Republican National Committee last year, Cairo is helping formulate the party’s national agenda.
24. Kevin Law
When developers want to build big, transformative projects on Long Island, they call Tritec. Their massive $1.3 billion development in Ronkonkoma is rolling along, and the company recently cut the ribbon on a new 418-unit apartment complex in Bay Shore. In December, Tritec was picked to be the master developer for Smithtown’s downtown revitalization project. Kevin Law, a dedicated Long Islander, spent a decade running the Long Island Association before joining Tritec. He is the chair of Empire State Development, the Long Island Housing Partnership and was co-chair of Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine’s transition team.
25. Tracey Edwards
As a former Huntington Town Council member, Tracey Edwards has deep ties to the community, further strengthened by her role as the regional director of the NAACP. She was appointed to the Long Island Power Authority board by Gov. Kathy Hochul in November 2023, serving as its chair. Edwards resigned from her role on the state Public Service Commission last year to become a senior vice president at Sands New York, where she leads corporate social responsibility initiatives, playing a pivotal role in the campaign to bring a casino to Nassau Coliseum.
26. Patrick Dolan, Debby Krenek & Rochell Bishop Sleets
Whether it’s breaking news or the best restaurants for brunch, Newsday has been Long Island’s hometown newspaper for over 80 years. The paper has its detractors, but there is not a part of Long Island that Newsday doesn’t cover. The paper will take politicians to task on both sides of the aisle and make endorsements regardless of party. Newsday won top awards this year for its comprehensive coverage of the Gilgo Beach serial killer, headline writing and photography. Rochell Bishop Sleets joined Patrick Dolan and Debby Krenek at the top of Newsday in September, becoming the paper’s first Black woman editor.
27. Susan Poser
Hofstra University President Susan Poser spent late 2023 and early 2024 battling with Nassau County officials in the press and the courts. The university sued to halt the county’s lease agreement with Las Vegas Sands that would make way for a casino bid; in turn, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakemen accused Poser of collusion with a competing casino in Queens to block it. Outside of casino politics, Poser is presiding over a university that has seen a 10% jump in applications. In May, Hofstra was given $35 million from an alum for its business school, one of its largest donations ever.
28. Richard McCormick
Richard McCormick was appointed interim president of Stony Brook University in July, succeeding Maurie McInnis, who left to become president of Yale University. McCormick, a former president of Rutgers University, will run the flagship research university and medical college with over 25,000 students while it seeks out a permanent president. McCormick, a historian, is currently writing a book on corruption in American politics.
29. Howard Fensterman
Howard Fensterman’s powerhouse law firm, which he co-founded 24 years ago, has over 100 attorneys covering an array of practices, including ones dedicated to health, cryptocurrency, cannabis and white-collar law. Fensterman has established himself as a thought leader, with frequent commentary in the media. He praised President Joe Biden’s decision to drop his presidential bid this summer and called for unity among officials to save the beleaguered Nassau University Medical Center.
30. Thomas Garry
Harris Beach announced a merger with New England-based Murtha Cullina in May to become Harris Beach Murtha. As managing partner of Harris Beach Murtha’s Uniondale office and a key member of the firm’s leadership team, Thomas Garry advises municipalities and serves as special counsel to various local agencies. In March, Garry was named chair of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Judicial Screening Committee for Long Island, the Hudson Valley and three New York City boroughs. Garry, who is the vice chair of the Nassau County Democratic Committee, is New York counsel for Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign and a delegate for the Electoral College pledged to Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
31. Taylor Darling, Kimberly Jean-Pierre, Gina Sillitti, Steve Stern & Fred Thiele
After almost three decades, Assembly Member Fred Thiele is retiring from the Legislature at the end of the year – but he’s still tackling major issues on Long Island on his way out. Thiele co-chaired a legislative commission on the future of the Long Island Power Authority this year along with chairing the Local Governments Committee.
Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chair Kimberly Jean-Pierre addressed the budget crisis in Amityville schools, securing $2 million in the state’s fiscal year 2025 budget for the district. Jean-Pierre, a former Libraries Committee chair who is not seeking reelection, also sought to expand free college and vocational education tuition for veterans to include noncombat veterans, and pushed for the state to recognize Nov. 1 as Military Opportunities Day. Administrative Regulations Review Commission Chair Steve Stern this year introduced a legislative package focused on the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters, including a mental health support program.
Occupational Licenses Subcommittee Chair Gina Sillitti has been focused on getting free meals in New York schools.
Foster Care Subcommittee Chair Taylor Darling was unsuccessful in her bid for a state Senate seat earlier this year, a campaign that left her feuding with state Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs.
32. Evan Krinick
Under Evan Krinick’s leadership, Rivkin Radler has expanded to a team of over 230 attorneys across six offices to become Long Island’s legal powerhouse with practice areas that include immigration, banking and intellectual property rights. Throughout his career, Krinick has handled some of the most significant cases in Long Island’s history, like the decommissioning of Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant, LIPA’s acquisition of the Long Island Lighting Company, Superstorm Sandy litigation and applying the state’s 2% property tax cap. The firm was recently made general counsel for United Way of Long Island.
33. Stanley Bergman
Stanley Bergman has led 90-year-old global dental and medical supplier Henry Schein, Long Island’s largest public company, in another expansion, acquiring Shield Healthcare last year, a supplier of medical products for home-based care. His family foundation made a major donation to Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson as a “thank you” for the care he and his wife received. He also led the company in addressing a cyberattack that impacted several business units.
34. Bruce Stillman
Much like the cutting-edge science it advances, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory keeps moving forward. This year, the lab broke ground on a seven-acre expansion project that will allow for increased research in neuroscience and cancer. The state just gave the lab $15 million for pancreatic cancer research, and the lab reupped a research partnership with Northwell Health for another 10 years to help fight cancer. Bruce Stillman recently spoke out against anti-immigrant sentiment in the United States, saying it hinders scientific discovery.
35. JoAnne Hewett
Cutting-edge scientific research at Brookhaven National Laboratory seems to go at light speed, and JoAnne Hewett is keeping up the pace. Construction is underway on a $3 billion supercollider set to open in 2032, alongside an $86 million project to develop a welcome center and business incubator. Hewett hasn’t forgotten the human aspect of the job – she manages nearly 2,800 employees and promises to foster a respectful and safe workplace.
36. Marc Herbst
Marc Herbst has led the Long Island Contractors’ Association since 2006, advocating for its more than 160 member companies in the heavy construction industry. The former Assembly member now represents Suffolk County on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board. Herbst favored congestion pricing, saying it was fully studied and that the revenue is needed. He called a recent report by his association describing the decline in roadways on Long Island and lack of funding to repair them a “wake-up call.”
37. Frederick K. Brewington
As a third-grader at a recently desegregated school on Long Island in the 1960s, Frederick K. Brewington says he learned that he had more in common with other children than divided them. Decades later, there’s still more work to do, and Brewington took up the mantle to fight discriminatory practices as a civil rights lawyer. Brewington recently spoke out against antisemitism on Long Island at a recent press conference along with other local leaders.
38. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Jack Martins, Mario Mattera, Dean Murray, Anthony Palumbo, Steven Rhoads & Alexis Weik
Republicans are in the minority in Albany, but GOP state senators again hold most of the seats on Long Island – and they’re staking out their differences while also seeking compromise on issues like reproductive rights and organized labor.
In a post-Roe v. Wade world, state Sen. Jack Martins is looking to protect in vitro fertilization. Martins introduced legislation to declare that embryos not inside the body of a pregnant person are not human lives. The ranking member on both the Labor and the Procurement and Contracts committees, Martins has also made efforts to combat antisemitism.
The top Republican on the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions, as well as the Energy and Telecommunications Committee, state Sen. Mario Mattera has honed in on housing policy, drafting legislation this year to combat squatting.
State Sen. Dean Murray is targeting hit-and-run drivers with legislation that would impose mandatory minimum sentences on perpetrators. Murray is the ranking minority member of the Libraries Committee and of the Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business Committee.
A former Suffolk County assistant district attorney, state Sen. Anthony Palumbo is in the thick of law enforcement policy as the ranking member of the Codes and Judiciary committees. The positions give Palumbo, the deputy floor leader, opportunities to address a leading local concern.
Elected tax collectors love becoming lawmakers. While few get to the U.S. Senate like Al D’Amato, Alexis Weik traded her post as Islip receiver of taxes for a state Senate seat in 2023. The ranking member of the Civil Service and Pensions Committee as well as the Women’s Issues Committee, Weik supported reversing Tier 6 pension reform to improve recruitment and retention in state government.
Having battled antisemitism as a Nassau County legislator, state Sen. Steven Rhoads is continuing his efforts in Albany, introducing legislation addressing the issue on college campuses this year. Rhoads, who was first elected in 2022, is the top Republican on both the Ethics and Local Government committees.
State Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick is the ranking member of the Consumer Protection and Mental Health committees. Before she took office last year, she served on the Malverne board of trustees and as the village’s police commissioner, fire commissioner, budget director and deputy mayor.
39. Patrick O’Shaughnessy
Patrick O’Shaughnessy has six hospitals, three nursing homes – among a number of other medical facilities – and almost 16,00 employees under his care. He’s overseeing emergency department renovations at Catholic Health’s hospitals in Port Jefferson and Smithtown. The hospital system recently received a $2 million grant to address opioid addiction. The hospital received an award last year from the Healthcare Association of New York State for its food insecurity prevention programs and is partnering with the Hauppauge Industrial Association to improve worker health and productivity among member businesses.
40. Isao Kobayashi & Seymour Liebman
When Kazuto Ogawa was reassigned to Japan last year, Isao Kobayashi came down from Canada where he was heading up that country’s division to assume the president and CEO role for Canon USA. Kobayashi started in photocopier sales at Canon in 1990. Seymour Liebman – who sits on the boards of the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts and the Long Island Association – started with Canon USA in its accounting department in 1974. Kobayashi and Liebman are now dealing with bad press after the company tightened its belt. Canon USA threatened to close down its Long Island headquarters last year but got a 12-year tax break to stay put, which it might now have to pay back after it laid off workers.
41. Michael Gitman
Nearly three years ago, Michael Gitman took the top spot at Northwell Health’s Long Island Jewish Medical Center having previously served as medical director at North Shore University Hospital. Gitman, who was born in the hospital he now runs, has overseen the creation of a $4 million cardiac catheterization lab and the opening of a new cancer care center. Earlier this year, the hospital narrowly averted a nurses strike.
42. Mike Florio
Last year, the Long Island Building Institute joined forces with the Professional Remodeling Organization New York to swell its ranks, making the state’s largest association for the home construction industry even bigger. Mike Florio, who once worked as chief of staff to Rep. Tom Suozzi, advocates for his nearly 800 member companies. He said that despite a demand for more housing on Long Island, builders are looking out of state for new opportunities where the rules are simpler and NIMBYism is not as fierce.
43. Linda Armyn
Last year, Linda Armyn – who once dreamed of being a press secretary on Capitol Hill – took over the top spot at New York’s largest credit union with over 44,000 members. She’s also the first woman to serve in that role. In September, the bank with the uniquely Long Island name opened its first branches in Queens and New Jersey. Armyn co-chairs the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council and is a member of the Stony Brook University Council.
44. Richard Daly
Broadridge Financial Solutions has been providing vital back office tech services to Wall Street companies and brokerage firms since 1987, when Daly founded the $25 billion public company’s largest division in his Long Island home. Daly is on the advisory board for Columbia Law School’s Millstein Center, which focuses on corporate governance. He also helped establish the Suffolk County chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation as a founding member.
45. Daniel Levler
As president of the Suffolk AME, Daniel Levler is responsible for advocating for over 10,000 county workers. It also puts Levler himself at the center of political influence. Levler is working with the county’s new administration to ensure a fair contract and fill hundreds of vacant positions that provide essential social services. He also backed Suffolk County child welfare workers in the tragic case of 8-year-old Thomas Valva, who was murdered by his own father, saying the union should be part of any reforms to the agency.
46. Elaine Phillips
The Nassau Interim Finance Authority was created to monitor the county’s finances after a meltdown back in 2000. Over 20 years later, Nassau County has been clawing back, and Comptroller Elaine Phillips – a former Republican state senator – reported a budget surplus for the fifth year in a row this year, along with upgraded bond ratings. As a result, Phillips and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman have called for the county to be released from NIFA. In dueling op-eds, NIFA’s chair and Phillips have also argued about the financial responsibility of the last public hospital in the county.
47. John M. Kennedy Jr.
John M. Kennedy Jr. is currently serving out his third and final term as the Suffolk County comptroller. In 2019, the Republican ran a failed bid to unseat Democrat Steve Bellone as Suffolk County executive, whom he worked alongside and often been at odds with. Kennedy is currently heading up an effort to enroll Airbnb owners to pay hotel taxes, and audited the county’s school bus camera ticket program, finding $13 million in fines went uncollected.
48. Christine Riordan
Christine Riordan continues to move Adelphi University forward after serving as its president for the past nine years. She led the creation of a new five-year strategic plan to take the college through 2027, increasing student recruitment and retention, and driving innovation and inclusivity. The school has also launched over 50 new academic programs during her tenure. A former higher education leader in Colorado and Kentucky, Riordan is now well-established and respected on Long Island, serving on the boards of RE/MAX Holdings and the Long Island Association.
49. John Rhodes
John Rhodes brings deep experience in state and national energy policy to his role as LIPA’s acting CEO, which the utility has needed in a challenging time. Rhodes is joining LIPA after top executives followed former CEO Tom Falcone out the door, the state explored making the utility completely public and a search for a possible replacement for PSEG Long Island, the current grid manager, is underway. Rhodes has been a White House energy policy adviser, chair of the state Public Service Commission and president and CEO of the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority.
50. Laura Gillen
Democrat Laura Gillen is taking on Republican Rep. Anthony D’Esposito for a Hempstead congressional seat, again. In 2022, Gillen lost to D’Esposito by 4 points. Gillen has already made history, as the first Democratic Hempstead supervisor in 100 years with her 2017 win. She hopes a bump from Vice President Kamala Harris will steer her to reclaim what was an over two-decade Democratic hold on the 4th Congressional District seat by former Reps. Kathleen Rice and Carolyn McCarthy.
51. Brian Curran, Michael Fitzpatrick, David McDonough & Ed Ra
Assembly Member Ed Ra is the chief budget strategist in his Republican conference. The ranking minority member of the Ways and Means Committee has been a vocal opponent of congestion pricing, introducing a bill to require legislative approval for any toll amount for New York City’s seven toll bridges and two tunnels. Ra teamed up with Assembly Member Alex Bores, a Manhattan Democrat, to found the New York Future Caucus, a bipartisan group of millennial and Gen Z state lawmakers.
Assembly Member David McDonough arrived in Albany after a 2002 special election, making him the longest-serving Long Island Assembly Republican. A former top Republican on the Transportation Committee – and now chair of the Minority Joint Conference Committee – McDonough last year co-sponsored a bill to provide free school meals.
Assembly Member Brian Curran returned to Albany two years ago after a previous eight-year stint in his seat, and he dove headfirst into one of the state’s top issues as the leading Republican on the Housing Committee. The former Lynbrook mayor was concerned that Gov. Kathy Hochul’s housing proposals would allow too much density on Long Island.
Assembly Member Michael Fitzpatrick, the top Republican on the Banks Committee, is aiming to protect New York’s retail workers, introducing legislation to reduce retail store theft.
52. Kimberly Cline
As president of one of the nation’s largest private universities, Kimberly Cline has the distinction of navigating the nearly 100-year-old institution into the future with a strategic plan taking it into 2030. Cline co-chairs the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council, and sits on the boards of Long Island Regional Advisory Council on Higher Education and the Long Island Association. LIU is also home to the White House Experience, a replica of the center of power on Long Island open to the public.
53. Timothy Sams
For the past two years, enrollment at SUNY Old Westbury has been climbing. In 2023, enrollment was up 17.5% from the year before, and this year it welcomed its largest freshman class ever. Last year, the school officially became a university, rather than a college. Timothy Sams, who came to SUNY Old Westbury during the pandemic, recently announced a new research partnership with Brookhaven National Lab, thanks to a $1.15 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.
54. Kevin McCaffrey
In his capacity as president of Teamsters Local 707, Kevin McCaffrey – though a Republican – was invited by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to be his guest at President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address this spring in honor of the union’s work to deliver pension relief for over 4,000 retired truck drivers. McCaffrey retained his position at the helm of the Suffolk County Legislature after he was reelected to his seat last November and commands a GOP supermajority.
55. Howard Kopel
After Republican Howard Kopel was reelected for an eighth term in the Nassau County Legislature last November, he was made the body’s new presiding officer. The title insurance agency owner had previously been deputy presiding officer. Kopel has come out in support of legislation making national news, including a law that codified Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s executive order to ban transgeneder women from competing in women’s sports on county property as well as Blakeman’s countywide face mask ban.
56. Laureen Harris & Kyle Strober
Members of the Association for a Better Long Island include real estate developers aiming to strengthen the local economy. Last year, Kyle Strober – who once served on U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer’s staff – was appointed to the board of the state Economic Development Council. He says affordability continues to be a major concern for most Long Islanders. Laureen Harris, a prominent tax grievance lawyer, is ABLI’s first non-real estate professional to become the organization’s president. She recently resigned from the board of LIPA after four years. The association has opposed a bill that would force local industrial development agencies to put union and public school representatives on their boards. ABLI is also involved in a plan to create a private sector organization to help attract employers to Long Island.
57. Anthony LaRocco
Overseeing the Corrections and Enforcement divisions for Nassau County, Sheriff Anthony LaRocco was elevated to the position in 2022 by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman after the former sheriff quit. In addition to his regular duties, LaRocco is tasked with managing the 25 deputized, armed citizens who can be called up in case of an emergency by the Nassau County executive, which some likened to raising a militia.
58. Errol Toulon Jr.
Errol Toulon Jr., who was raised in the South Bronx and once worked as a bat boy for the New York Yankees, grew up to be elected sheriff in Suffolk County, the highest-ranking law enforcement officer in the county. In his time, Toulon, a Democrat, has instituted a jail intelligence data system to share information about gang activity across facilities and opened a resource center to ease reentry into the community. His agency oversees the incarceration of suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann, a high-profile investigation with an impending trial.
59. Mark Lesko
Mark Lesko’s power ranges from the suburban streets of Long Island to the marble halls of power on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. Powerhouse law firm Greenberg Traurig opened offices on Long Island after the pandemic and recruited Lesko, a former Brookhaven town supervisor to join them. Lesko brings serious legal credentials along with his political background, having been acting U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York and acting assistant attorney general for national security.
60. Sheldon Shrenkel
Picked to lead the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency in 2022, Sheldon Shrenkel has worked in local government before, including a stint as a member of the Hempstead Housing Authority. In 2024, the IDA granted an additional tax break to a Port Washington retirement community to help it exit bankruptcy, and others to support additional housing on Long Island, with projects in Hicksville, Great Neck and Mineola. The IDA also forced a manufacturer to repay tax breaks in August after it cut its Long Island workforce by over 65%.
61. Jon Ledecky
As any Long Islander worth their salt knows, Brooklyn ain’t Long Island, and after the Islanders moved back to Nassau County, attendance went up and the team’s value skyrocketed to over $1 billion. A dip in attendance early last season saw a boost in the second half after a new coach was hired and the team made a playoff push. Changes this coming season bode well for a team that has been deemed “old and slow.” Jon Ledecky is also uncle to Olympic swimming sensation Katie Ledecky.
62. David C. Lyons
David Lyons may be interim leader of PSEG Long Island, but he’s had a very busy year. An ultimately failed bid to convert the Long Island Power Authority into a public utility after PSEG Long Island’s $80 million-a-year contract ends in December 2025 created plenty of static for the group. While PSEG has worked to address the grid’s vulnerability to climate change, critics have lamented its performance issues, computer system cost overruns and woeful customer service. Lyons applauded a new agreement with electrical union workers reached late last year.
63. Jennifer Garvey
This year, Ørsted’s South Fork Wind became the first fully operational commercial-scale offshore wind farm in federal waters, producing enough energy to power 70,000 homes. Then in July, the company’s Sunrise Wind broke ground off of Smith Point. As Long Island development manager, Jennifer Garvey – who has a background in public policy – had to contend with shifting political winds and turbulent seas to help the state reach its clean energy goals. She recently took a new job as development director at Rise Light & Power, an energy company in Queens.
64. Resi Cooper
The former aide to then-U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton was at the Democratic National Convention in August cheering for Vice President Kamala Harris’ bid to be the first female president. Outside of her national political activities, Cooper is well-established on Long Island with her public affairs firm. Cooper played a part in introducing Las Vegas Sands to political connections in its bid to build a casino at the site of Nassau Coliseum. She is on the board of YMCA of Long Island and is a member of the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council.
65. Michael Rosenblut
The Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation prides itself on inclusion and diversity through its community programs and services. Last year, Michael Rosenblut won a humanitarian award for his efforts at the post-acute care center for adults. As president and CEO, Rosenblut expanded health care services, including home dialysis and medical house calls and played a pivotal role in COVID-19 testing and vaccination programs. Rosenblut serves on the boards of both Westchester Medical Center and Good Samaritan Hospital, and he is a past chair of LeadingAge New York, which represents adult care facilities in the state.
66. Joseph Greco
Since assuming leadership of NYU Langone Hospital-Long Island, Dr. Joseph Greco has overseen the hospital’s strategic direction and daily operations along with NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine, where he chairs the Department of Anesthesiology. Under his leadership, the hospital expanded a program to treat more qualified patients at home to reduce the use of hospital space. Previously, Greco served as the hospital’s chief medical officer. He also serves on the board of the Long Island Association.
67. Adhi Sharma
In 2021, Dr. Adhi Sharma became the first physician to hold the presidency of the nearly 100-year-old Mount Sinai South Nassau, charged with overseeing the hospital’s expansion. Since then, Sharma’s days have switched from practicing emergency medicine to managing a $500 million capital plan to grow the hospital’s two campuses. A new pavilion with added intensive and critical care beds and an expanded emergency department are set to open soon. Prior to joining Mount Sinai, Sharma held leadership roles at Catholic Health and Progressive Emergency Physicians.
68. Nick Fitterman
This year, Huntington Hospital was given an “A” in The Leapfrog Group’s biannual Hospital Safety Grades, and U.S. News & World Report gave it the top ranking out of all Suffolk County hospitals. In April, Nick Fitterman announced the opening of a new family health center, addressed security issues and outlined plans to address the rise of lung cancer on Long Island. Fitterman, who is a professor at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, is on the board of the Family Service League.
69. Marc Adler
Marc Adler was brought over to Long Island Community Hospital from NYU Langone Hospital-Long Island after the two hospitals became affiliated. NYU Langone has applied for a full merger with the last remaining independent hospital on Long Island and has plans for $100 million in upgrades. Adler oversees the 306-bed hospital, which handles about 43,500 emergency room visits per year. This year, the hospital celebrated its 1,000th robotic surgery.
70. Brian Sapp
Brian Sapp brings a wide range of experience in Long Island politics to his role leading community engagement in the region for the energy utility National Grid, which has over 600,000 customers across Long Island and the Rockaway Peninsula. Sapp is a former Long Island regional representative for the state Department of Labor and Suffolk County representative for the governor’s office. Prior to his state government service, Sapp was chief of staff for the Suffolk County Legislature.
71. Phil Andrews
A 2024 survey by the Long Island Association found that, despite challenges, many minority small-business owners are optimistic. Phil Andrews plays a key role in supporting Black-owned businesses through programs, coaching and Minority Enterprise Development Week, which brings together minority small-business owners to share resources. He’s also founding president of 100 Black Men of Eastern New York and this spring, Andrews, who is on the boards of a number of local charities, was named Man of the Year by The National Association of Negro Business & Professional Women’s Club.
72. Patrick Guidice & Jerome J. Bost
PSEG Long Island and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1049 reached a new four-year collective bargaining agreement in November 2023 – one week before the previous contract was set to expire – giving 1,500 employees a cumulative 15.5% wage hike. Guidice, who was against a failed push to convert the Long Island Power Authority into a fully public utility, also sits on an advisory committee for the Legislative Commission on the Future of the Long Island Power Authority. Bost oversees the union’s government relations, community outreach and strategic communications. He is on the board of Suffolk County Community College and was recently elected to the board of the United Way of Long Island.
73. Robert Creighton
Robert Creighton is the managing partner at Farrell Fritz PC, specializing in mergers and acquisitions and representing banks in commercial lending transactions. He has advised numerous Long Island businesses, including Winthrop Hospital as it became affiliated with NYU Langone Health System and Tower Fasteners, which was acquired by an industrial supply company. Creighton has been involved in a number of philanthropic efforts and also serves on a number of Long Island civic and economic boards.
74. Billy Haugland II & Joseph “JJ” Haugland
Billy Haugland II began his career in project management at his family’s business and steadily advanced, becoming CEO in 2022. He’d like to see more skilled labor enter the workforce, helping improve infrastructure in the region, particularly in clean energy investments. The company had a hand in both South Fork Wind and Sunrise Wind projects. JJ Haugland serves as president and chief operating officer, working alongside his brother. He started his career as an intern at Elecnor Hawkeye, one of the construction companies his father helped found. He also oversees operations for Grace Industries, which provides heavy construction services in the metro area, and a division of Haugland Group with projects in the southern U.S. and the Virgin Islands. Haugland is occupied with bringing AI and other future-focused technologies to the construction industry.
75. Harrison Feuer
After joining Equinor, Harrison Feuer quickly became immersed in Long Island politics as the company moved forward with offshore wind projects. Feuer has brought significant experience to the role, having previously served on the staff of former Rep. Steve Israel and Assembly Member Charles Lavine. Equinor pulled the plug on one project (called Empire Wind 2) this year citing economic headwinds and community resistance. Empire Wind 1 will push ahead as planned. Equinor recently split from partner BP, giving up its stake in Beacon Wind to fully retain control of Empire Wind 1.
76. Steve Israel
Steve Israel may be out of elected office, but he isn’t out of politics, frequently commenting on policy as director of Cornell University’s Institute of Politics and Global Affairs. The ex-member of Congress clapped back at former President Donald Trump’s opinion that Jewish voters should pick him, penning an op-ed to that effect. He has been adamant that Rep. Tom Suozzi won his seat by leaning into immigration, and called Democratic Vice President nominee Tim Walz “brilliant.” Israel, who owns an independent bookstore in Oyster Bay, also organized the inaugural Gold Coast Book Fair.
77. Gary Lewi
A seasoned crisis manager, Gary Lewi – who once worked as chief spokesperson for former U.S. Sen. Al D’Amato – has been at Rubenstein since 1987, serving as a key public policy analyst for the firm. Well-versed in Long Island affairs, Lewi spent the last year defending Triple Five, a company that put forth a failed bid to develop the former Grumman Aerospace site in Calverton. In the past, he has represented PSEG Long Island and a government lobbying consortium for Long Island developers.
78. Phil Boyle
Last year, the former state senator left Albany to become the president and CEO of Suffolk Regional Off-Track Betting, using his political clout to help grow OTB. Boyle oversees the successful Jake’s 58 Casino, which lifted Suffolk OTB from near-bankruptcy to profitability. Boyle said OTB would not pursue a full-fledged casino license but is instead focusing on a $200 million expansion that will double its offering of video slot machines. Although he does see in-person sports betting in the casino’s future.
79. Sedgwick Easley
This Easter, Sedgwick Easley provided a message of inspiration for his congregation, saying there is always hope despite obstacles for his Black congregants. Easley, pastor of the 100-year-old Union Baptist Church, has expanded his congregation and actively engages with the challenges his community faces. In addition to leading his flock every Sunday, he works as both the publicity director and executive assistant for Waylyn Hobbs Jr., the mayor of the village of Hempstead.
80. David Kilmnick
The LGBT Network is one of the largest LGBTQ+ advocacy groups in the state, with David Kilmnick at the helm speaking out for his community. After the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, Kilmnick said the LGBTQ+ community should support Israel against the terrorist organization’s intolerant ideals and harsh treatment of the LGBTQ+ community. He also spoke out against Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s controversial ban of transgender women playing in women’s sports, saying, “It’s sad and it’s pathetic.”
81. Richard Kessel
Richard Kessel has spent his career fighting the good fight for Long Island, starting with his opposition to the Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant in the late 1970s, and there’s no stopping him now. He once ran for Nassau County executive as a Democrat, chaired the Long Island Power Authority, ran the New York Power Authority and was once New York’s top consumer protection cop. Now, he’s focused on Nassau County’s finances. Despite improving finances, Nassau County is still under fiscal control of the state agency that Kessel chairs, trying to navigate the future of the debt-ridden Nassau University Medical Center.
82. Adam Silvers
Adam Silvers oversees the daily operations at Ruskin Moscou Faltischek PC and is a part of the corporate and securities department, along with their intellectual property and technology group. Silvers is a co-founder of the CFO Roundtable, an exclusive group for Long Island’s top chief financial officers to exchange best practices and business insights. He serves as general counsel and is on the board of the Long Island Association and is a board member of Bethpage Federal Credit Union.
83. Travis Nelson
A GOP sweep of down-ballot elections last year never materialized nationally, but Long Island was a different story. Travis Nelson, who became the state Democratic Party’s political director for Long Island last year, has his work cut out for him. The special election win by Rep. Tom Suozzi and a local surge in fundraising for Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign are seen as good omens for Democrats, who say they’re taking this election very seriously, with strong contenders for multiple seats.
84. Adrienne Esposito
Adrienne Esposito wants Gov. Kathy Hochul to do more to protect the blue bloods of Long Island – the blue blood of horseshoe crabs, that is. Esposito advocated for legislation to protect the prehistoric creatures from biomedical and commercial use in state waters. The bill has passed the state Legislature and now awaits action by Hochul. Esposito is focused on cleaning up the region’s water supply, giving advice on how to better recycle plastics and is behind a $2 billion effort to install sewers and better wastewater management systems on Long Island.
85. Kristen Reynolds
Discover Long Island’s bid to win back Nassau County’s marketing didn’t work out, but Suffolk County held on to the agency’s services. Tasked with promoting tourism, Kristen Reynolds can tout her part in capturing $7.5 billion spent by travelers in 2023, a 12.7% increase year over year. The agency unveiled a new campaign to make the East End a year-round destination spot and announced a partnership with UBS Arena and the New York Islanders.
86. Marlon Taylor
The new president of New York & Atlantic Railway has always been a railroad man, beginning his career in 1999, learning every aspect of the industry along the way. In June, Taylor took over the top role at the freight shipper that operates on Long Island Rail Road tracks. NYA ships about 32,000 carloads of heavy material annually, reducing the equivalent emissions of over 120,000 truck trips. Taylor also leads the advocacy group Railroads of New York and is on the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Long Island Leadership Council.
87. Robert McBride
For almost 23 years, Robert McBride has grown his business strategy and lobbying firm beyond its Long Island roots with offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Dallas and even Toronto. An avid fisherman who calls Montauk a second home, McBride is only interested in targeting clients he knows he can help. He’s working with Sunrise Wind, one of the largest wind power projects in the country. McBride is currently on the boards of the New York League of Conservation Voters and Operation Healing Forces.
88. Todd Shapiro
Todd Shapiro is powerful from Long Island to Albany, where he’s the capital’s Sam Malone. A public relations expert, Shapiro opened The War Room and Todd’s Back Room Cigar Lounge in Albany. It’s like on “Cheers,” where everyone knows your name – but you check your political affiliation at the door. The man who once worked for both Ivana and Donald Trump has represented clients in local municipalities, politicians and both the Suffolk and Nassau County police unions. Shapiro cut his teeth as press secretary to former Suffolk County Executive Bob Gaffney and at Rubenstein.
89. Stuart Lubow
After a year at the helm of one of the region’s largest community banks, Stuart Lubow, who already shepherded Dime Community Bank from a quaint savings and loan into a commercial bank and merged with BNB bringing its headquarters out to Long Island, says the financial institution has no plans to slow down. The bank brought in teams from the failed Signature Bank, added a health care banking division, and hired a national deposits group. Lublow said he’s “bullish” about the Long Island economy.
90. Laura Harding
Taking over the reins from its founder, Laura Harding is only the second president of Erase Racism NY. Last year, the organization released a report with data exploring enrollment at public school districts on Long Island, school funding inequities and a widening opportunity gap. The report provided an eight-point action plan to reverse the trend. It also launched a tool to track affordable housing opportunities across Long Island.
91. Waylyn Hobbs Jr.
As mayor of the state’s most populous village, Waylyn Hobbs Jr. is in charge of a government that rivals most cities in size. In fact, Hobbs once floated the idea of transforming Hempstead into a city for its economic advantages. Hobbs urged the federal government to help fund $55 million needed for a new treatment facility to reduce carcinogen levels in the village’s water supply. He is also a senior pastor at Coney Island Cathedral in Brooklyn.
92. Robert Carpenter
Despite suburban sprawl, the once-ubiquitous farmer on Long Island has survived, trading the sea of potato fields that once covered the island for a wide range of agriculture and aquaculture. Rob Carpenter, who also was on Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine’s transition team, advocates for the rights and concerns of the 550 farm operations on Long Island. Carpenter said farmers’ needs had to be considered in the controversial agritourism legislation that would have allowed resorts to be built on farmland before the proposal was ultimately abandoned.
93. Rory Lancman
A former state legislator and New York City Council member from Queens, Rory Lancman is now firmly established as a Long Island leader. Lancman recently served as executive director of the Future of the Long Island Power Authority Commission and was appointed by Gov. Kathy Hochul as vice chair of the Nassau Interim Finance Authority. Lancman has even taken on his most challenging elective office yet: president of the Great Neck Library board. The library in the suburban village faces lawsuits, board members quitting in disgust and accusations of book banning. Lancman spent $93,000 on his campaign to win the library post.
94. Craig Johnson
A former state senator, Craig Johnson uses his expertise to guide clients through the “complex and dynamic government ecosystem” that is New York. While a senator, Johnson’s committee work focused on mass transit, taxes, education, health and casinos. His consulting firm lobbies for a variety of industries, including cannabis, where he helps companies speak to municipalities about opening dispensaries and navigate the licensing application process.
95. Jan Burman
Jan Burman, who once owned the East End beach house dubbed the “Taj Mahal” of the Hamptons, is the chair of B2K Development and the founder and past president of the Association for a Better Long Island, a noted lobbying group for Long Island developers.
When Engel Burman, the highly successful commercial and residential property developer, morphed into a new entity, B2K Development, to expand its business beyond the metro area, the transition wasn’t seamless. Jan Burman’s son – who worked at Engel Burman – sued last year when he was frozen out of the new company, and the firm countersued.
96. Neela Mukherjee Lockel
In 2021, Neela Mukherjee Lockel took the top spot at EAC Network, a Long Island-based social services charity that provides a number of resources to those in need, including meals, health care services and protection of children from abuse. Lockel has over 25 years of nonprofit experience, including as CEO of the American Red Cross on Long Island. She sits on the board of the Long Island Association and on the LIPA Community Advisory Board. Lockel came out in support of Las Vegas Sands’ casino bid in Nassau County, saying it would provide opportunities for people in the area.
97. Anthony Villa
As a leader at Long Island’s Local 290 carpenters union, Anthony Villa has been sounding the alarm on lost work for union members since the pandemic, calling for more investment in state projects like the approved modernization of Belmont Park, estimated to create 3,700 construction-related jobs. Villa, who climbed the ladder from apprentice to foreman on the job, is a third-generation union member. The union recently introduced a pre-apprenticeship program aimed at expanding opportunities for women to pursue careers in carpentry.
98. Siela Bynoe
This spring, Nassau County Legislator Siela Bynoe defeated Assembly Member Taylor Darling to win the Democratic primary for the open state Senate seat in the 6th District, replacing retiring Democratic state Sen. Kevin Thomas. She’s running on a platform to protect abortion rights, community safety, affordable housing and rescuing the beleaguered Nassau University Medical Center. Bynoe will face off this November against Republican Tom Montefinise, who is hoping to flip the seat, one of only two Long Island state Senate seats occupied by a Democrat.
99. Shelley LaRose-Arken
Skipping the schlep to New York City to fly out of MacArthur Airport is the closest thing Long Islanders can get to a vacation before the actual vacation. Shelley LaRose-Arken has the perfect resume for aviation commissioner. She’s a pilot herself and previously managed Republic Airport in Farmingdale. She’s also making sure Long Islanders have more flight options. JetBlue is starting service this year, becoming the fourth major carrier to fly out of MacArthur. Breeze Airways, which launched service in 2022, just announced more flights from the airport.
100. Iman Mergen
Prior to founding We Belong Here NY last year, Iman Mergen worked as a liaison to the Nassau County Office of Asian American Affairs, helping to advocate and connect communities to local government. With years of experience as an organizer, Mergen is using We Belong Here NY to fight against hate and Islamophobia. She has made efforts to address food insecurity and is advancing diversity in the workplace.
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