Publisher's Section
The Responsible 100 Alumni
Celebrating the 10th Anniversary Alumni Awards
City & State presents Responsible 100 Alumni HITN; Hospital for Special Surgery Marketing; Healthfirst
A decade ago, City & State published a new list called the Responsible 100, which honored dozens of distinguished New Yorkers who exemplify the values of corporate social responsibility. Since then, the Responsible 100 has featured a new class of honorees each year, adding up to over 1,000 outstanding individuals. To mark the milestone, City & State is honoring some of these deserving leaders once again on the Responsible 100 Alumni.
While many past honorees have retired over the years, many others remain as active as ever – and equally committed to such values as charity, community engagement, sustainability and volunteerism. These alumni honorees will be recognized at an evening cocktail reception on Dec. 11 in lower Manhattan, with remarks by the Rev. Al Sharpton and NAACP New York State Conference President Hazel Dukes.
We’re pleased to present the Responsible 100 Alumni.
Ann Marie Adamson-Serieux
Ann Marie Adamson-Serieux is combating breast cancer in underserved communities throughout New York as part of her community affairs work for EmblemHealth, a major nonprofit insurer with more than 3 million people covered in New York City and the tristate area. This year, she brought breast cancer screenings and education to local communities, overcoming economic and social barriers to care, including through mobile health units to make sure individuals did not miss vital checkups. Adamson-Serieux has been recognized for her efforts, including a recent honor by Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez for her work in the West Indian community.
Saima Anjam
Saima Anjam brings an extensive background in advocacy campaigns and deep experience in social justice to her government relations efforts at The Parkside Group. Over the years, Anjam’s initiatives have spanned immigration, domestic violence, energy and the environment. “I’m proud of my advocacy for our shared environment,” says Anjam, who previously worked at Environmental Advocates of New York and New York Public Interest Research Group. “Since December, I have raised an additional $2 million for clean air and water research, which not only protects our health but also creates baselines for exposure and action plans for correcting course when needed.”
Angel Audiffred
At HITN TV, a leading Spanish-language media company offering educational and cultural programming to over 35 million homes in the United States and Puerto Rico, Angel Audiffred leads a variety of community initiatives. He designed an award-winning 2015 campaign to promote Tu Momento, a series designed to help Hispanics to better understand the presidential election. He also created a program designed to build state-of-the-art production studios in New York City public schools. Committed to community service, Audiffred is a member of a number of civic boards, including the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum, Acacia Network and Cardinal McCloskey Community Charter School.
Chris Bombardier
As the leader of Catalyst Government Relations, a boutique firm working with companies and trade groups, Chris Bombardier is a trusted adviser to clients in such industries and sectors as gambling, real estate, pharmaceuticals, transportation and technology. Bombardier, who launched his firm in 2021, believes “you can only be truly successful if you give back to the community in ways that make a meaningful difference.” He has chaired the board of the Boys & Girls Club and has been working to support Girls Inc. and Caring Closet, which provides personal hygiene products to students in Guilderland.
Ralph Bumbaca
TD Bank bills itself as “America’s most convenient bank,” and Ralph Bumbaca has helped make that true in the New York City metropolitan area. Leading 310 branches across the region, he has been with TD Bank since 2010 and in the banking industry for over 35 years.
At TD Bank, Bumbaca has worked to expand the New York City business development team and led the bank’s New York efforts related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the rollout of the Paycheck Protection Program. He is an active member of the community with a passion for growing and supporting small businesses.
Rob Byrnes
Months after Rob Byrnes was featured in the 2019 Responsible 100, his life changed as COVID-19 brought the world to a halt. Since then, the business leader has navigated the recovery from a pandemic that dominated everyday life. Byrnes has been working to rebuild the economy and also has taken on a new role as president of Friends of Art & Design, a group supporting the High School of Art & Design, working to rally the community. “I’ve always thought of community building as a primary economic development tool,” Byrnes says, “and these efforts will benefit businesses and residents, as well as the school.”
Rodney Capel
A onetime top adviser to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Rodney Capel is now expanding broadband access as Charter Communications’ government relations lead in New York and New Jersey. “I was a proud member of the leadership team responsible for Charter’s landmark three-year agreement with the New York City Office of Innovation and Technology in 2022 to launch Big Apple Connect, the country’s largest free municipal broadband program,” he says. The program started with four pilot New York City Housing Authority developments and has grown to 119 public housing developments citywide, with Capel driving that growth.
Anna Mercado Clark
Anna Mercado Clark has become a national leader for voting rights and college admissions practices. In her recent role as president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, she has engaged the White House about expanding and protecting voting rights and met with students and legal professionals “to discuss issues of importance to the (Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander) community, how we can collaborate, and how to support our pipeline to the legal profession,” she says. The Phillips Lytle partner leads the firm’s technology industry team and is the firm’s chief information security officer. She spearheads the firm’s award-winning diversity pipeline program.
Robert Cordero
Over the past two years, Robert Cordero led Grand St. Settlement through an $18 million renovation of its Lower East Side headquarters. This was followed by a recent increase in funding for Head Start, allowing the nonprofit to expand its early childhood education offerings to more students. Since taking the helm of the organization almost a decade ago, Cordero has increased its budget from $15 million to $60 million and significantly expanded its services. This has included opening six new Head Start sites in the Bronx, the first time the social services provider moved into the borough.
Anthony Coscia
Anthony Coscia is a leader in the region’s transportation and legal circles. In his work at law firm Windels Marx, Coscia’s practice is focused on corporate, commercial and real estate matters, with a special expertise in the financial components of these transactions. In his active civic life, Coscia is the chair of the board of directors of Amtrak, where he is guiding the nation’s passenger rail system through some of its most groundbreaking work in history. This includes the landmark Gateway rail tunnel project; Coscia serves as a commissioner on the Gateway Development Commission.
Doug Cotter
Since Doug Cotter appeared on the Responsible 100 seven years ago, he has enjoyed several professional milestones. At Grant Associates, the national workforce development organization, Cotter and his team have connected over 67,000 New Yorkers with jobs and more than 30,000 New York City students with work-based learning opportunities while deepening ties with partners like New York City Public Schools. “Since I was on the list in 2017, one of my proudest accomplishments has been expanding our team by over 30%,” he says. “This growth has been instrumental in enhancing our capabilities and impact.”
Kelly J. Depsee
At Berkeley College, Kelly J. Depsee oversees BerkeleyCares, the college’s volunteer and service initiatives. Depsee doesn’t just promote services, she leads by example – including as a founding executive board member of the Friends of Cedar Grove Public Library in New Jersey. “Since the creation of an internal volunteer database, Berkeley College has provided more than 16,000 hands-on hours to nonprofits and community organizations, which often operate with limited budgets and staffing,” she says. “These volunteer hours have been spent serving meals, improving community facilities and more, both year-round and during our annual Community Service Week, now in its 14th year.”
Ed Domingo
With a background in finance, law and casinos, Ed Domingo is an effective executive at Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts in Westchester County. A core value at MGM Resorts is volunteerism. At Empire City, this includes tackling food insecurity, education and workforce development, while Domingo recently joined the Catholic Charities of New York board. “Empire City team members have donated over 1,000 hours of their time to support local nonprofits,” Domingo says, “and have supported various nonprofits with hundreds of thousands of dollars of MGM Foundation grants to fund and support programs within the company’s core philanthropic focus areas.”
Patrick Donohue
Patrick Donohue got his start as finance director for then-Gov. George Pataki. He now chairs the International Institute for the Brain, a special education program he founded for students with brain injuries and brain-based disorders. He’s currently creating health clinics offering cradle-to-grave services for this population. A national advocate on brain injury issues, he also founded the Brain Injury Rights Group and its subsidiary, Liberty & Freedom Legal Group. “We have expanded iBRAIN to Washington, D.C., in order to serve families in the D.C. metro area,” he says, “and we have expanded the number of states BIRG/L&F can serve.”
Mike Finley
Mike Finley has been transforming the region’s airports and transportation grid by deploying high-speed wireless capability. Finley has prioritized sustainability, reducing Boingo’s energy footprint by 75%, limiting waste, leveraging recycled materials and training staff on environmentally-friendly business practices. Finley says a top goal is to uplift communities, protect the planet, empower customers and strengthen business. “Boingo Wireless remains committed to connecting New York and the tristate area with seamless and secure 5G and Wi-Fi connectivity,” he says. “Being named to the City & State New York Responsible 100 list is a reflection of Boingo’s commitment to responsible and sustainable network operations.”
Debbian Fletcher-Blake
As the leader of VIP Community Services, Debbian Fletcher-Blake is dedicated to delivering robust health and social services in the Bronx. She has expanded community partnerships, implemented an integrated electronic medical records system and reengineered the organization’s various programs. Fletcher-Blake has also been spearheading efforts to boost public health and raise awareness of a variety of infectious diseases, including COVID-19, influenza, HIV and hepatitis C in high-risk populations. She has joined a number of influential regional and national health policy boards, including the National Council for Mental Wellbeing and the Community Health Care Association of New York State.
Michael Garner
New York has had a long-standing commitment to supporting minority- and women-owned business enterprises, and a key public official finding ways to deliver government contracts to these firms is Michael Garner. Appointed last year to a new role as New York City’s chief business diversity officer, Garner brings a wealth of experience to the role, having held similar roles at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the New York City School Construction Authority. During his long career, the city has been at the forefront in supporting communities that have historically been marginalized, awarding an impressive $30 billion to MWBEs.
Jeff Garte
At Boldyn Networks, Jeff Garte is transforming how New Yorkers travel. In September, Boldyn expanded underground subway cell service to the 42nd Street shuttle, bringing connectivity to this bustling Midtown line that carries 36 million riders a year. And Garte is excited about what’s to come in New York. “It marks a new and critical chapter in the subway system, the vital backbone of New York City,” he says. “As we continue to expand our network in the subway, we’re looking forward to bringing Wi-Fi to all stations and cellular network services to all tunnels.”
Pamela Goldsmith
An expert in complex litigation, Pamela Goldsmith focuses her practice at Harris Beach on malpractice, product liability and mass torts. Representing health centers, physicians and others in the health industry, she has developed a reputation as a top attorney in the medical malpractice field. She has won multiple summary judgment dismissals and defense verdicts. At Harris Beach, she is a past member of the firm’s Cultural Inclusion and Diversity Committee. Goldsmith is also a board member of the LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York and is a former co-vice president of the association’s judiciary committee.
Ira Goldstein
Ira Goldstein is focused on making sure over 100,000 independent for-hire drivers in the state have full workers’ compensation benefits, along with a full set of health care benefits, through the New York Black Car Fund. Goldstein has expanded protections through its Drivers Benefits program, including income protection for illnesses or injuries occurring outside of work and an accidental death benefit. “This year, we also surpassed 50,000 drivers enrolled in this program, who receive all of the benefits we provide at absolutely no cost to them,” Goldstein says. “I have also worked hard to improve upon the benefits we already offer.”
Wes Jacobs
New York and the entire Northeast are in the middle of the clean energy transition, and Wes Jacobs is at the center of one groundbreaking initiative. As project director for Leading Light Wind at Invenergy, Jacobs is leading the only American-led offshore wind energy project in the New York Bight. In addition to his work in reimagining the energy landscape of the region, Jacobs has taken on projects to better the New York City community. He is a board member of Brooklyn Greenway Initiative, which is building out a 29-mile protected and landscaped route along the Brooklyn waterfront.
Todd Jacobson
Todd Jacobson founded TAJ Global, a consulting firm, earlier this year following 23 years at the National Basketball Association, where he led the league’s social responsibility and government affairs efforts. While working for the NBA, he co-created the NBA Cares programs and expanded social responsibility efforts across six continents. He also played a key role in launching the NBA Foundation and in driving the league’s community response to the COVID-19 pandemic, generating over $100 million to deliver 10 million masks and 9 million meals. Jacobson founded TAJ Global to help clients develop ways to align purpose with business growth.
Adam Katz
Adam Katz is a trailblazer. At the nonpublic schools advocacy organization Teach Coalition, he has been forging partnerships with three universities to offer STEM teachers at member schools the option to complete graduate degrees at discounted tuition with the state reimbursing part of the teacher’s salary. “Creating these partnerships was one of the most fulfilling projects in this role,” Katz says. “Not only does everyone involved win – schools, teachers, students, parents, universities, etc. – but it was a big victory for me because I had an opportunity to strategically design a scalable, sustainable and creative solution that will benefit thousands of people.”
Jessica Lappin
A former New York City Council member, Jessica Lappin is now known for being the champion of the lower Manhattan business community. Leading the country’s largest business improvement district, Lappin has guided lower Manhattan through the COVID-19 pandemic and toils to ensure the safety, vitality and long-term future of a neighborhood that has been the heart of New York City for centuries. “As we approach the alliance’s 30th anniversary, it’s amazing to see how far our district has come over these decades in terms of building a sustainable, multifaceted community,” Lappin says.
Kristin Malek
Kristin Malek has created and implemented an effective strategy at CDW to increase diversity at the global IT provider. This includes creating the company’s diverse supply chain, which is made up of over 1,100 suppliers, and continuing CDW’s investment in diversity, equity and inclusion. Since her inclusion on City & State’s Responsible 100, she has completed a personal goal. “As I wrote out my bucket list items, one of them was to do a TED talk,” she says. “My first TEDx talk was published in August, discussing the importance of a local and diverse supply chain and the power of a purchase.”
Glen McGorty
Glen McGorty is a go-to independent compliance monitor overseeing labor unions, having carried out that role with the New York City and Vicinity District Council of Carpenters and United Auto Workers. He is also active in pro bono defense for indigent defendants in the Southern District of New York. “In this role, I have represented dozens of clients over the past few years, on matters ranging from narcotics trafficking and street crime, through international securities fraud, and spent an incalculable amount of time devoted to making sure that the most in need received the benefit of strong legal counsel,” he says.
Johanna Meadows
Johanna Meadows leads philanthropic and community engagement initiatives for the investment firm Centerbridge Partners. She spearheads the Centerbridge Foundation’s partnership grant initiative, an investment strategy for nonprofit capacity-building. Recently, Meadows led Centerbridge’s involvement in the expansion of the CUNY Inclusive Economy Initiative. Encompassing a number of key financial firms, the program aims to prepare more CUNY students for careers in financial services and is part of the foundation’s extensive involvement with CUNY. Meadows also serves as a founding member of the Mount Sinai Hospital NICU Family Advisory Council.
Sanjay Mody
Sanjay Mody’s legal focus at the New York City law firm Windels Marx is centered on the intersection of infrastructure, finance and government. Mody co-founded and leads the Infrastructure Development and Finance Group at his firm, where he has worked for over a dozen years. His specific work at the firm includes advising clients on a range of key issues. Mody is also the general counsel and corporate secretary of The Sentry, an international nongovernmental organization that is focused on exposing the links between dirty money and violence by investigating and holding accountable war profiteers and kleptocrats.
Jack O’Donnell
A top lobbyist and political consultant, Jack O’Donnell is in demand from Fortune 500 companies to presidential and gubernatorial candidates. A former senior aide to U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, O’Donnell has used his passion for helping people and fighting for the underdog as a key part of his work in public affairs. O’Donnell has helped boost the New York economy, advance green energy technology, expand health care and support the state’s culture and tourism industry. A key accomplishment of his has been supporting struggling families and domestic violence programs, part of his commitment to addressing societal issues.
Fatima Omarufilo
Fatima Omarufilo helps the Bronx’s growing West African population combat a significant public health threat: hepatitis B. Through the Montefiore Starfish Program, Omarufilo aids patients in this population to deal with a hepatitis B diagnosis. A native of Nigeria, Omarufilo is trusted by patients who see her as one of their own. Omarufilo, who was featured on the 2023 Responsible 100, works closely with patients to help them navigate the health care system. “Sometimes the patience and the perseverance that you put in let people understand the importance of what you want them to do,” she says.
Swati Parikh
Since she was featured on the 2017 Responsible 100, Swati Parikh has been promoted to assistant dean for public service and pro bono initiatives at New York Law School, completed a coaching certification and launched Greater Good Careers, a professional development and career advising company. She continues to help students navigate turning law degrees into social justice careers. Parikh also lists a series of personal achievements. “I also survived a global pandemic, managed the schooling of two young kids in a two-bedroom New York City apartment during lockdown, completed 15 home exchanges around the world, learned wheel pottery and enjoyed life,” she says.
Jina Park
Jina Park brings a dedication to social justice and a drive to advocate for stigmatized groups to her work at the nonprofit HELP USA, where she supports those with mental health challenges and experiencing homelessness. There, she has also implemented a comprehensive wellness check app with a customized risk-assessment tool and regular wellness checks which, when combined with research into risk factors, helps identify who needs assistance. “This proactive approach has led to a significant reduction in crisis situations,” she says, “and has empowered our staff to build stronger relationships with residents.”
Seth Pinsky
For Seth Pinsky, leading complex organizations is a part of his DNA. Once president of the New York City Economic Development Corp., Pinsky in 2020 took the reins of the 92nd Street Y, which rebranded as 92NY. He speaks with pride about the venerable Upper East Side cultural institution. “I am proud that, in an environment that has been quite challenging for ‘big tent organizations,’ the 92nd Street Y continues to serve a diverse community consisting of people of all backgrounds and beliefs, building community and bringing people together at a time when division and discord are too often the rule, rather than exception,” Pinsky says.
Jennifer Richardson
Jennifer Richardson has spent years in and around city and state government, and now applies her knowledge of budgets, legislation and regulation on behalf of minority- and women-owned businesses, and advocates for criminal justice reform, transitional housing and injured workers. The 2021 Responsible 100 honoree is now an adjunct professor at Albany Law School and president of the Capital District Black & Hispanic Bar Association as well. “One of my biggest accomplishments has been becoming an educator,” she says. “I have been able to share the wisdom and knowledge that I learned from so many seasoned lobbyists in New York and (am) passing it down to law students and others.”
Michael Rivadeneyra
Michael Rivadeneyra believes that the children are the future – and that belief inspires his advocacy on behalf of the YMCA of Greater New York. In 2023, he was a key member of the Emergency Coalition to Save Education Programs, a campaign under the umbrella of the Advocates for Children of New York. “The coalition led a public awareness campaign around the massive budget cuts to New York City public schools,” he says, “and was successful in securing over $400 million in city investments to preserve critical programs and services, such as social workers, psychologists, community schools, Summer Rising, Learning to Work, 3-K, preschool special education, bilingual programs, translation services and dyslexia programming.”
Todd Rogow
An internationally recognized expert on health care and health technology, Todd Rogow has been addressing key health challenges facing New Yorkers and continuing to expand the impact of Healthix, one of the country’s largest public health information exchanges. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Rogow collaborated closely with New York City and state health officials on the development and implementation of strategies to address the public health threat. Rogow has led Healthix’s expansion in New York, including the launch of My Health Record NY, a free and secure online patient portal to allow New York providers to access health records.
Mark Romano
The consummate relationship-builder, Mark Romano is engaged at every level of government to solve complex technology challenges through his work at NYSTEC, a state government-authorized tech advisory company. In his role as NYSTEC’s director of business development and strategic relationships, Romano has helped improve technological communication between county 911 operations and distribute $2 billion in child care funding to organizations that help children and families. The U.S. Air Force veteran has been at NYSTEC for two decades and has focused on projects aimed at driving economic growth statewide.
Jillian Rose
Jillian Rose is aiming to correct equity issues entrenched within the health system. At the Hospital for Special Surgery, Rose launched the Office of Health Equity, where she seeks to reduce disparities in musculoskeletal health care, a specialty of HSS. Her efforts include identifying and implementing solutions, utilizing research and data science. Apart from the Office of Health Equity, Rose oversees the hospital’s largest ambulatory care center and its department of social work programs. She was a key part in the development of the hospital’s community health needs assessment and community service plan.
Ana Rua
One of the state’s biggest issues, from rural counties to urban boroughs, has been connectivity – and Ana Rua has been bridging the digital divide. Both in the governor’s office and now at Crown Castle, Rua has strived to bring about the goal of universal connectivity via wireless infrastructure. “While much work remains, the strides we’ve made in recent years are truly remarkable,” she says. “These results stem from countless smaller accomplishments, and I’ve had the privilege of being at the center of a movement that has built a network of relationships among political, economic and social forces across the state.”
Sheila Saremzadeh
As the founder of Basta, Sheila Saremzadeh is focused on bridging the employment gap for first-generation students of color. The new mother of two is a trailblazer in her field, bringing campaign experience as well as in education to her current work. “Since I was last on this list, Basta has expanded its impact significantly,” she says. “We now have a national footprint and have worked with over 8,000 young people in partnership with major companies and organizations to help bridge the employment gap and create career pathways for first-generation students of color.”
Juanita Scarlett
Juanita Scarlett brings extensive experience in the public and private sectors to her role at lobbying powerhouse Bolton-St. Johns, the state’s second-ranked firm by compensation. She is a former executive vice president for strategy, policy and public affairs at Empire State Development, where she helped the New York economy rebound. Scarlett continues to be a civic leader, volunteering her time on a number of key nonprofit boards. She is the president of the board of Stars of New York Dance, a board member of the Citizens Union Foundation and a board member of Camp Fort Greene.
Editor’s note: Juanita Scarlett is a member of City & State’s advisory board.
Bart M. Schwartz
Ethics, integrity and corporate compliance are key parts of the business and government worlds, and Bart M. Schwartz is an expert in helping agencies and companies comply with court orders after they have problems. Schwartz has been appointed a key government monitor in high-profile cases. Currently the monitor of the New York City Housing Authority, he was also selected to ensure settlement of a deferred prosecution agreement with General Motors, monitored Deutsche Bank in a nonprosecution agreement on the development and sale of illegal tax shelters, reviewed the Buffalo Billion program and helped provide restitution to Bernie Madoff’s victims.
Talya Schwartz
Since taking the helm of MetroPlusHealth in 2019, Dr. Talya Schwartz has seen the 750,000-member health plan’s usership increase by an impressive 35%. During her tenure, she has navigated the COVID-19 pandemic and guided a transformation that has deepened the use of technology along with expanding access to virtual office visits. Her efforts have paid off with a five-star rating in a New York state consumer guide and a four-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The trained pediatrician has also focused on the social determinants of health.
John Shegerian
Environmental entrepreneur John Shegerian has positioned ERI as a pioneering e-waste recycler that has achieved carbon-neutral status. He also launched a podcast, “The Impact Podcast with John Shegerian,” which features discussions about sustainability. “We partnered with Staples to enable them to receive e-waste and unwanted electronics for responsible recycling at every Staples location nationwide,” he says of ERI’s recent accomplishments. “We also recently launched our proprietary Optech Capture system designed to comprehensively manage and track asset chain of custody throughout the entire (IT asset disposition) process for 100% transparency.”
Marti Speranza Wong
A veteran of New York City government, Marti Speranza Wong now leads the Amplify Her Foundation, where she supports women from underserved communities who become transformative changemakers. “When we rally behind women and girls, we’re not just unlocking individual potential, we are igniting the leadership of transformational changemakers who can build thriving communities and drive systemic change,” she says. “Women’s and girls’ leadership is key to driving progress. Empowering them isn’t just about today, it’s about creating positive ripple effects for a more equitable future.”
Laren Spirer
Laren Spirer has focused her career in delivering legal representation to those in need, with an emphasis on expanding pro bono legal services. Now with the Lawyers Alliance for New York for two years, she has previously worked for other organizations and law firms focusing on pro bono services, including Columbia Law School. She notes that she has “assisted legal services organizations in enhancing access to pro bono attorneys and automating service delivery, while also providing additional staff capacity for legal clinics and pro bono programs.”
Lorna Stark
At KPMG, Lorna Stark is the point person for the global professional consulting firm’s New York City portfolio and the leader of its government and health care work nationally. She has guided governments through crises, from the Great Recession to the coronavirus pandemic. She helped the New York City Department of Education adopt remote instruction and disseminate thousands of iPads when COVID-19 hit, and her extensive experience also includes working with New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Department of Energy. She’s also a trustee of the KPMG NY Foundation, which supports local communities.
Michelle Stoddart
Michelle Stoddart manages all charitable work for Resorts World New York City, including its community relations. In the New York City metropolitan area, Stoddart has led the company in supporting over 200 charitable organizations. Stoddart serves as vice chair of the Greater Jamaica Development Corp. and on a number of boards including those of the Queens Public Library and the Queens Botanical Garden. Stoddart was recently honored at the National Action Network’s Women’s Empowerment Luncheon for making Resorts World a good corporate neighbor. This includes the over $5 million in investments the company has made in nonprofit groups in the region.
Matt Sturiale
Matt Sturiale leads Birch Family Services, overseeing a team dedicated to social justice and fighting for the needs of people with autism and developmental disabilities. The nonprofit supports 2,000 individuals in New York City, via early childhood, residential and employment services, among other programs. “Our accomplishments can be attributed to patience, perseverance, compassion, the support of public and private partners, the input of our individuals and families and the generosity of our donors,” he says. “It's exciting to approach our 50th year with a focus on a new strategic plan that ensures nimbleness, responsiveness, and sustainability to those we support.”
Ramon Tallaj
Dr. Ramon Tallaj is not just the founder and leader of a major health care network, he is a New Yorker who knows how to get things done. When he hosted a discussion on mental health services, he brought to the table second gentleman Doug Emhoff, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and Gov. Kathy Hochul. More recently, Tallaj got Somos Community Care designated as a social care network under the NYHER 1115 Medicaid waiver, which allows for the creation of a more equitable and integrated social and health care system in the Bronx.
Michael Trunzo
As a key government affairs leader at the lobbying firm Shenker, Russo & Clark and president of Northeast Public Affairs in Lake Placid, Michael Trunzo brings deep experience in state government to his advocacy efforts. A top priority for Trunzo is to make New York the first state to eliminate petroleum-based fuel and replace it with renewable diesel. “As the state is currently examining the ability of the electric grid to handle the load necessary for full electrification,” he says, “these policies to replace petroleum diesel with biomass-based diesel will provide immediate carbon savings without reliability or cost issues.”
Ed Wallace
In the years since he became the then-youngest New York City Council member, Ed Wallace has gone on to enjoy a career outside of elected office as an accomplished legal and civic leader. Now the co-chair of Greenberg Traurig’s New York office, Wallace has guided a number of top clients, including Columbia University and New York University, on major real estate development projects. In his active civic life, Wallace is a member and former chair of the New Yorkers for Parks board, general counsel of the Citizens Budget Commission and chair of the French-American Foundation board.
Andrew Walrond
At the Fund for the City of New York, Andrew Walrond has been disbursing grants for a number of worthy programs, including capital bridge funding to arts groups, emergency funding for nonprofits with city contracts and loans through the Cash Flow Loan Program. In the 2024 fiscal year, Walrond executed over 400 loans valued at $105 million in total as he expanded the fund’s giving to dozens of new organizations. “Another key accomplishment this year was the expansion of our lending product into Puerto Rico,” Walrond says, “which allowed us to serve new markets and address financial needs within the local economy.”
Pat Wang
The daughter of immigrants, Pat Wang says she was raised with the values of hard work, gratitude and to never give up when pursuing your goals. Today, she keeps in mind that health care is local as she seeks to provide the highest-quality care. As president and CEO of Healthfirst since 2008, Wang now serves 2 million members with the highest-quality health insurance in New York and the country. Recently, she presided over Healthfirst receiving a 4.5-star federal rating for its largest Medicare Advantage Plan contract. She’s also a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
David Weinraub
State government veteran David Weinraub is the co-founder of the state’s top lobbying firm. During his previous career in state government, he was director of legislative and intergovernmental affairs for then-Gov. Mario Cuomo and counsel to then-Lt. Gov. Stan Lundine, along with holding a senior role in the secretary of state’s office. Weinraub, whose firm raked in over $21 million in compensation last year, has also taught at St. John’s University and has established an active civic presence. He is a trustee of the Citizens Budget Commission.
Valerie White
Since her recognition on the 2022 Responsible 100, Valerie White has undertaken a major change at LISC in New York. She oversaw a merger of the New York City and Buffalo offices, taking a new role as senior executive director. This includes overseeing the statewide organization’s $70 million investment in affordable housing and the development of new public-private partnerships. “I have overseen this transition and helped streamline initiatives and programs to improve housing accessibility, increase homeownership,” she says, “and close the racial wealth gap in New York Black and brown communities.”
Doug Wirth
Doug Wirth has expanded health care access, particularly to New Yorkers with HIV. On Wirth’s watch, Amida Care has become the largest Medicaid managed care Special Needs Plan in the state. The community health plan has also facilitated access to more than 2,000 gender-affirming services. “Out of the nearly 10,000 people that Amida Care now serves, our transgender membership has grown to over 3,300 (37%), a testament to the trust that this community has placed in us,” Wirth says. Amida Care has also raised awareness about HIV in the transgender community.
Michael Woloz
Michael Woloz isn’t just the leader of a fast-growing lobbying firm, he’s a top advocate for the arts and an environmental champion. Many of his clients are noted arts organizations, and he chairs the New York City chapter of the League of Conservation Voters. “CMW had many outstanding achievements over the past year,” he says, “from securing over $148 million in the city budget for our nonprofit clients including full restoration and millions in increased funding for the Cultural Institutions Group to passing legislation in Albany that codified strict measures against organized retail theft that hurt minority small businesses.”
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