Long Islanders tend to think we have the best beaches (Jones Beach to Main Beach), the best hockey team (go Islanders!), the best micro brews… and they are probably right.
Those that call Long Island home include everyone from Fortune 500 company leaders to the top policymakers in New York State. It is a hotbed of innovation and scientific research. And it’s launched the careers of countless leaders in the education, real estate, nonprofit, and healthcare — not to mention media moguls.
In the 16th annual Long Island Press Power List, we honor Long Island’s most influential movers and shakers that have the most impact on the lives of the rest of us. After months of internal deliberations over who deserves to be on the prestigious Power List, these were the people that made the cut.
Juju Chang, an Emmy Award-winning co-anchor of ABC News’ Nightline, will emcee the 16th annual Long Island Press Power List party and networking event at Leonard’s Palazzo in Great Neck on Feb. 28. Chang, who also reports regularly for Good Morning America and 20/20, has been recognized for her in-depth personal narratives set against the backdrop of pressing national and international news.
Now, as we prepare to toast the Power Listers, we hope you’ll join us in a tip of the hat to them. The expanded list of the 70 change makers, policy shapers, deal makers, mind shapers, and rainmakers on this year’s Power List can be found here: https://www.schnepscommunicationsevents.com/events/powerlist2019/
The Change Makers: Those dedicated to making Long Island a better place to live
Fred Brewington, civil rights attorney
Isma Chaudhry, President, Islamic Center of Long Island
John Durso, President, Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW & LI Federation of Labor
Tracey Edwards, Long Island Regional Director, NAACP; Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk
Kevin Law, President and CEO, Long Island Association
Neela Lockel, CEO, The American Red Cross of Long Island
Gwen O’Shea, President and CEO, the Community Development Corporation of Long Island
Paule Pachter, CEO, Long Island Cares and The Harry Chapin Regional Food Bank
Mitchell Pally, CEO of the Long Island Builders Institute
Nancy Rauch Douzinas, President, the Rauch Foundation
Theresa Regnante, President and CEO, United Way of Long Island
Jeffrey Reynolds, President and CEO, the Family and Children’s Association
Theresa Sanders, President and CEO, the Urban League of Long Island
The Specialists: The leaders of the region’s top medical centers dedicated to keeping Long Islanders healthy
Michael Dowling, President and CEO, Northwell Health
Dr. Alan Guerci, CEO, Catholic Health Services of Long Island
George Tsunis, Chairman and CEO of Chartwell Hotels, chairman of the board of Nassau Health Care Corp.
The Rain Makers: Long Island’s top business leaders, from bankers to manufacturers
Stanley Bergman, Chairman and CEO, Henry Schein, Inc.
Mark Burford, Co-founder, Blue Point Brewing Company
John Cameron, Founder and Managing Partner, Cameron Engineering
Michael Corn, Senior Executive Producer, Good Morning America
Daniel Eichhorn, President and Chief Operating Officer, PSEG-Long Island
Wayne N. Grossé, President and CEO, Bethpage Federal Credit Union
Lynda Armyn, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Bethpage Federal Credit Union
Jon Ledecky, Co-owner, New York Islanders
Seymour Liebman, Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel, Canon U.S.A. Inc.
Michael McKeon, Partner, Mercury Public Aff airs
James Metzger, CEO and Chairman, The Whitmore Group
Kevin O’Connor, President and CEO, BNB Bank
Michael Serao, Executive Vice President Chief Administrative Officer, First Central Savings Bank
Todd Shapiro, President, Todd Shapiro Associates
Luis Vasquez, President and CEO, Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Robert Zimmerman, Partner, Zimmerman-Edelson
The Deal Makers: The region’s top real estate executives and developers
Robert Coughlan and James Coughlan, Co-founders, Tritec Real Estate, Inc.
Michael Dubb, Founder and CEO, The Beechwood Organization
Dorthy Herman, CEO, Douglas Elliman Realty
Howard Lorber, President and Chief Executive Officer, Vector Group
Diedre O’Connell, CEO, Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty
Scott Rechler, Chairman and CEO, RXR Realty
The Mind Shapers: The region’s thought leaders that run Long Island’s colleges and universities
Rev. Calvin O. Butts, III, President, SUNY College at Old Westbury College
Kimberly Cline, President, Long Island University
Stuart Rabinowitz, President, Hofstra University
Christine Riordan, President, Adelphi University
Dr. Samuel Stanley, Jr. President, Stony Brook University
Bruce Stillman, President, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
The Innovators: Those pushing the Island’s economy forward through technology and scientific advancement
Doon Gibbs, Director, Brookhaven National Laboratory
Peter Goldsmith, Chairman, ListNet
The Policy Shapers: Long Island’s political leaders and elected officials
NASSAU LEADERS
Laura Curran, Nassau County Executive
Richard Nicolello, Presiding Officer, Nassau County Legislature
Kevan Abrahams, Nassau County Legislature’s Democratic Minority Leader
Jay Jacobs, New York State Democratic Committee Chairman
Joseph Cairo, Chairman, Nassau County Republican Committee
SUFFOLK LEADERS
Steve Bellone, Suffolk County Executive
DuWayne Gregory, Presiding Officer, Suffolk County Legislature
Thomas Cilmi, Minority Leader, Suffolk County Legislature’s Republican Caucus
Richard Schaeffer, Suffolk County Democratic Committee Chairman, Babylon Town Supervisor
John Jay LaValle, Suffolk County Republican Committee Chairman
ALBANY POWER PLAYERS
Thomas DiNapoli, New York State Comptroller
John Flanagan, New York State Senate Republican Minority Leader
Patrick Foye, President, Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Howard Zemsky, President and CEO, New York State Urban Development Corporation
THE LI 6
The leaders of the Island’s new Democratic majority state Senate caucus
Todd Kaminsky, New York State Senator
John Brooks, New York State Senator
THE FRESHMEN
These four Democratic state senators were instrumental in flipping the chamber from Republican control
James F. Gaughran, New York State Senator
Anna Kaplan, New York State Senator
Monica Martinez, New York State Senator
Kevin Thomas, New York State Senator
DRAGON SLAYER
Unseated the third most powerful state Assemblywoman in November
Taylor Raynor, New York State Assemblywoman
DC BIGWIGS
Peter King, U.S. Congressman
LI’s most tenured U.S. Representative
Thomas Suozzi, U.S. Congressman
Sits on powerful Ways & Means Committee
TOP COPS
Patrick Ryder, Nassau County Police Commissioner
Geraldine Hart, Suffolk County Police Commissioner
Madeline Singas, Nassau County District Attorney
Timothy Sini, Suffolk County District Attorney
In Memoriam: Long Island Press Power List Hall of Famer Charles Wang, the Computer Associates founder and former CEO, former New York Islanders owner who passed away last fall.
