40 under 40 - Rising Stars NYC 2015

OC TOBER 21, 2015

CIT YANDSTATENY.COM

@CIT YANDSTATENY

The New York STaTe Trial lawYerS aSSociaTioN Congratulates david MaNSur, NaShbaN MaNSur llc JoSh cook, berliNroSeN & ceSar cardeNaS, Pitta biShoP Del giorNo & gibliN co. aND all of New York ciTY’S riSiNG STarS iN PoliTicS aNd GoverNMeNT

EspEcially our own ToM SchNurr DePutY Political Director “ThE firsT duTy of sociETy is jusTicE.” -- alexaNDer haMiltoN. lawreNce J. Park

evaN M. GoldberG

executive Director

PreSiDveNt

New York State trial lawYerS aSSociatioN · ProtectiNg New YorkerS SiNce 1953 · www.NYStla.org

40 under 40

MEET THE RISING STARS OF NEW YORK CITY OCTOBER 21, 2015 CONTENTS 6

Ibrahim Abdul-Matin

64

Jordan Isenstadt

8

Sasha Neha Ahuja

68

Kathleen Knight

10

Amit S. Bagga

70

Robin Levine

16

Ryan J. S. Baxter

72

William Brady Mack

18

Gregg Bishop

74

David L. Mansur

22

Michael Blaustein

78

John F. Marino

24

Anna Brower

80

Tara L. Martin

30

Cesar Cardenas

82

Frank Morano

32

Melissa Chapman

84

Ilana L. Ozernoy

36

Josh Cook

86

Jerika L. Richardson

38

Josh Dawsey

90

Raymond Sanchez Jr.

40

Liz DeBold

92

Tom Schnurr

42

Max Dworin

94

Lindsay Scola

44

Matt Engel

96

Ali Sirota

48

Ruth Fasoldt

100

Shaneek Smith

50

Steven A. Figueiredo

104

Ingrid D. Sotelo

52

Adam Forman

106

Joel Steinhaus

54

Alexander Gleason

108

Jerome White

58

Joshua Goodman

110

Wayne K. Williams

60

Anthony Hayes

112

James Yolles

Profiles by Jon Lentz, Sarina Trangle, Jeff Coltin, Will Brunelle and Alice Popovici. Photography by Celeste Sloman. cit yand stat eny.com

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FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

61 Broadway, Suite 2235 New York, NY 10006 Editorial (212) 894-5417 General (646) 517-2740 Advertising (212) 284-5422 info@cityandstateny.com

CITY AND STATE, LLC Chairman Steve Farbman

Michael Gareth Johnson Executive Editor

President/CEO Tom Allon tallon@cityandstateny.com PUBLISHING

Once again we are singling out 40 exceptional men and women who make New York City government tick. Like in years past, the cohort is filled with intelligent, hardworking and well-informed people with interesting stories to tell. In this special issue of 40 Under 40 Rising Stars, we bring you those stories. But we also did something new this year that I found fascinating and informative: We asked them to fill out an anonymous survey.

These honorees are not only exceptional in our field of government and politics, but they also represent the collective thinking that will shape the future of the city. Their feedback on some of the timely issues and prominent people in state government gave us intriguing insight into how they think. It’s a specific sampling of informed experts, which carries a lot of weight for journalists as we try and make sense of the political landscape.

The best example of this is when we asked our Rising Stars to pick one word to describe Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. The two most prominent and powerful politicians in the state have had an open feud since de Blasio publicly blasted Cuomo, calling him manipulative.

Apparently many of our Rising Stars agreed. The most common word they chose for Cuomo was “Machiavellian,” along with some similar adjectives.

The narrative surrounding de Blasio also held up in the responses we received: “Progressive” led the way, along with with similar terms. Also interesting was that many people decided to pick a very neutral and objective term – “tall” – to depict the mayor. Cuomo, in comparison, earned more subjective terms.

While I am sure you will read through the profiles of this year’s 40 Under 40 Rising Stars – another outstanding class – I also encourage you to take a look at the other items we have included in the book. There is a lot of information to be gleaned.

cit yand stat eny.com

Publisher Andrew A. Holt aholt@cityandstateny.com Vice President of Advertising Jim Katocin jkatocin@cityandstateny.com Events Director Jasmin Freeman jfreeman@cityandstateny.com Director of Marketing Samantha Diliberti sdiliberti@cityandstateny.com Business Development Scott Augustine saugustine@cityandstateny.com EDITORIAL Executive Editor Michael Johnson mjohnson@cityandstateny.com Associate Editor/Senior Correspondent Jon Lentz jlentz@cityandstateny.com Editor-at-Large Gerson Borrero gborrero@cityandstateny.com Copy Editor Ryan Somers rsomers@cityandstateny.com Editorial Assistant Jeremy Unger junger@cityandstateny.com PRODUCTION Creative Director Guillaume Federighi gfederighi@cityandstateny.com Senior Designer Michelle Yang myang@cityandstateny.com Marketing Graphic Designer Charles Flores cflores@cityandstateny.com Illustrator Danilo Agutoli Digital Strategist Chanelle Grannum cgrannum@cityandstateny.com Multimedia Director Bryan Terry bterry@cityandstateny.com Copyright ©2015, City and State NY, LLC

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The City University of New York Congratulates

City&State and distinguished honorees Jordan Isenstadt, Global Chief Communications Director, Ducere, MPA, Baruch College/CUNY Sasha Ahuja, Deputy Director, Policy & Innovation Division, New York City Council B.A., Hunter College/CUNY Ryan Baxter, AVP, REBNY, B.A., Hunter College/CUNY Ibrahim Abdul-Matin, Director of Community Affairs, New York City DEP, MPA, Baruch College/CUNY

On the occasion of

NYC 40 Under 40 Event October 21, 2015 Benno Schmidt

CHAIRPERSON, BOARD OF TRUSTEES

1-800-CUNY-YES

James B. Milliken CHANCELLOR

CUNY.EDU CUNY TV-Channel 75

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40 under 40

IBRAHIM ABDUL-MATIN

Director of Community Affairs, City Department of Environmental Protection BIRTHDAY:

1/5/1977 York

GREW UP IN: New

Ibrahim Abdul-Matin, the director of community affairs for New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection, is a fierce believer in his agency’s mission.

“I feel like I’m on the side of good government,” he said.

Abdul-Matin boasts a long history of working on environmental policy. He began as a policy adviser under then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg and followed it up with a stint as a consultant in the private sector. He quickly returned to the public sector, which he said is a better fit for his personality.

“I’m really bad at consulting, because I’m a pretty bad liar,” Abdul-Matin said.

He says working with de Blasio’s administration and the DEP makes him feel like he’s doing something good, that he’s part of something greater than himself.

“We’re figuring out how to do things better than they’ve been done before,” he said.

Beyond his work in the public sector, Abdul-Matin has written a book, “Green Deen,” which analyzes what Islam’s teachings say about protecting the environment.

Abdul-Matin said he chose environmental policy work because he sees it as a pivotal issue for his and the following generations.

“I wanted to make sure I was part of this big, grand experiment in this generation, of trying to address climate change,” he said.

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“Stay-at-home dad who writes novels.”

-WB HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Master of Public Administration, Baruch College cit yand stat eny.com

TWITTER HANDLE: @ibrahimSalih

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40 under 40

SASHA NEHA AHUJA

Deputy Director, Policy & Innovation Division, City Council BIRTHDAY:

10/8/1987 York

GREW UP IN: New

While organizing campaigns for immigrant and minority communities, a younger Sasha Ahuja never envisioned herself taking a job at City Hall – much less as deputy director of the policy and innovation division for the City Council.

But then again, Ahuja said she never anticipated an era in which those with similar priorities would be running the government. She’s now part of a small team working to advance the priorities of the council and the speaker, such as aiding low-wage workers, organizing participatory budgeting, researching ways to get citizens more involved and launching the Young Women’s Initiative, which strives to help young women of color overcome obstacles and achieve success.

“Coming out of the word of organizing and advocacy, that spirit is still very much alive in my current job,” said Ahuja, who has worked with a taxi union; on an initiative that fought for lower street vending violation fines; and as director of government relations for Planned Parenthood. “A lot of those skills are still there – facilitating meetings and creating open, more horizontal space for people to participate.”

At 17, when she started at the New York City Taxi Workers Alliance, she said the union’s Executive Director Bhairavi Desai was the first of many women of color who gave her “space to do things at a really young age.” Now she hopes to do the same for younger generations, and is considering mentoring those who will someday succeed her and her colleagues.

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“While I love my job, sometimes I dream about being a chef, a midwife, or FLOTUS’ special assistant.”

-ST HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Master of Science in Social Work, Columbia University cit yand stat eny.com

TWITTER HANDLE: @ahujie

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40 under 40

AMIT S. BAGGA

Deputy Commissioner, External Affairs, City Department of Consumer Affairs BIRTHDAY:

11/25/1985 York

GREW UP IN: New

Amit Bagga said he draws inspiration from the courage of his parents, refugees of the Indian Partition of 1947 who often dealt with discrimination and have had to reinvent themselves many times.

“Their experiences have been very instructive and informative for me and have contributed directly to what I do,” said Bagga, deputy commissioner for external affairs with the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs. “I want to be able to contribute to a world where government provides solutions for people and serves the needs of people.”

Bagga’s office is in charge of licensing a wide variety of city businesses, from automotive shops to tow truck companies to horse-drawn carriages, and he oversees legislative efforts around implementing consumer legislation. Last year they began to implement one of their largest public awareness campaigns to date, publicizing the new paid sick leave law enacted last year. The posters advertising the law were likely seen by everyone who regularly rides the subway, Bagga pointed out.

More recently, on the heels of a widely read New York Times article exposing the dangerous practices of some nail salons, his office organized a day of action in which volunteers visited salons to inform employees of their rights.

Outside of work, Bagga, who is Indian with Punjabi Hindu and Sikh heritages, said he and his parents are active in trying to encourage the South Asian community to discuss lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues with family members. Bagga said that being the son of immigrants, a person of color and queer are all factors that have driven him to “seek change and to be a part of a government that delivers.”

“For me, the personal is the professional and the professional is the personal,” he said.

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“Finance minister of Greece, planning the Grexit.”

-AP HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Bachelor of Arts, McGill University cit yand stat eny.com

TWITTER HANDLE: @whoneedsavisa

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CONGRATULATIONS TO SHANEEK SMITH, NEW YORK’S (AND YNY’S) NEWEST RISING STAR. Yoswein New York has become NY’s leading boutique lobbying and public affairs firm thanks to the talents of a team of professionals that is unmatched in the business.

Congratulations from the entire YNY family to Shaneek Smith, Yoswein NY’s Director of Operations, for being named a 2015 City & State Rising Star!

AT YOSWEIN NEW YORK, WE’RE ONLY AS GOOD AS OUR TEAM MEMBERS… AND OUR TEAM IS GOOD!

www.yny.com

Q: WHO’S YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW CHARACTER?

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DAVID L. MANSUR Opie Taylor, "The Andy Griffith Show" TARA L. MARTIN Sterling Archer, "Archer" INGRID D. SOTELO Sheldon Cooper, "The Big Bang Theory" RAYMOND SANCHEZ JR. Sheldon Cooper, "The Big Bang Theory" AMIT S. BAGGA Violet Crawley, "Downton Abbey" ILANA L. OZERNOY Cookie Lyon, "Empire" FRANK MORANO Stewie Griffin, "Family Guy" TOM SCHNURR Capt. Mal Reynolds, "Firefly"

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JOSH DAWSEY Frasier Crane, "Frasier," "Cheers" MELISSA CHAPMAN Regina Grier, "The Steve Harvey Show" ADAM FORMAN Neal Schweiber, "Freaks and Geeks" ANTHONY HAYES Daenerys Targaryen, "Game of Thrones" JEROME WHITE Jon Snow, "Game of Thrones" LIZ DEBOLD Daenerys Targaryen, "Game of Thrones" SHANEEK SMITH Tyrion Lanister, "Game of Thrones" JOSHUA GOODMAN Dorothy Zbornak, "The Golden Girls" CESAR CARDENAS Carrie Mathison, "Homeland" JOHN F. MARINO Frank Underwood, "House of Cards" SASHA NEHA AHUJA Annalise Keating "How to Get Away with Murder" and Sophia Burset, "Orange Is the New Black" KATHLEEN KNIGHT Mindy Lahiri, "The Mindy Project" ALEXANDER GLEASON Dale Cooper, "Twin Peaks" IBRAHIM ABDUL-MATIN Ron Swanson, "Parks and Recreation" ROBIN LEVINE Leslie Knope, "Parks and Recreation" JOEL STEINHAUS Tommy Shelby, "Peaky Blinders" RYAN J. S. BAXTER Rick Sanchez, "Rick and Morty" JOSH COOK Jim Rockford, "The Rockford Files" JERIKA L. RICHARDSON Olivia Pope, "Scandal" GREGG BISHOP Cosmo Kramer, "Seinfeld" STEVEN A. FIGUEIREDO Newman, "Seinfeld" JORDAN ISENSTADT Jean-Luc Picard, "Star Trek: TNG" RUTH FASOLDT Liz Lemon, "30 Rock" WAYNE K. WILLIAMS Leonidas, "300" ANNA BROWER Josh Lyman, "The West Wing," and Leslie Knope, "Parks and Recreation" ALI SIROTA Amy Gardner, "The West Wing" LINDSAY SCOLA Josh Lyman, "The West Wing" MICHAEL BLAUSTEIN President Jed Bartlet, "The West Wing" JAMES YOLLES Stringer Bell, "The Wire" MAX DWORIN Stringer Bell, "The Wire" WILLIAM BRADY MACK Omar Little, "The Wire" MATT ENGEL Kevin Arnold, "The Wonder Years"

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40 under 40

RYAN J. S. BAXTER

Assistant Vice President, Real Estate Board of New York BIRTHDAY:

1/9/1990 York

GREW UP IN: New

College is often a formative place for students, and it certainly was for Ryan Baxter.

But Baxter spent much more time than most at Hunter College, his alma mater.

“I went to Hunter College my entire life. That is an 18-year stint, from nursery school through college,” Baxter said. “I sincerely feel as though everything I am is due to my family, my friends and Hunter. It has made me who I am, and I am tremendously grateful for it, and the education and assistance it continues to provide me.”

The college, which runs the elementary school and high school he attended, also helped him land a job at the Real Estate Board of New York, where he is now an assistant vice president. A REBNY opening was posted at Hunter, and Baxter, an urban studies major, was informed of the opportunity.

“I thought it would be a great place to decide where within the real estate industry my interests truly lie,” said Baxter, who was born and raised in midtown Manhattan.

“Here we try to make it easier to be in the real estate industry in New York City in a number of ways, and I’m really getting a good sense of who does what, how and when.

What really gets me going with my work is however trivial my task may seem at any given point, it is affecting the evolution of the greatest city in the world – and that makes me really happy.”

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“Successful actor.”

-JL HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Bachelor of Arts, Hunter College and Macaulay Honors College cit yand stat eny.com

TWITTER HANDLE: @RJSBaxter

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40 under 40

GREGG BISHOP

Deputy Commissioner, City Department of Small Business Services BIRTHDAY: 7/4/1975 GREW UP IN: New

York

The two young men Gregg Bishop mentors are in different situations – one is pursuing a college degree and the other is incarcerated – but Bishop said he wants to make sure each lives up to his potential.

“There’s a need to provide opportunity for young people,” said Bishop, deputy commissioner for New York City’s Department of Small Business Services and a volunteer at the nonprofit Red Hook Initiative. “Everyone has a potential and you just need to unlock that potential.”

Bishop uses the same approach in his professional role helping small businesses build capacity. One recent project, developed by his office in partnership with the New York City Housing Authority and Citi Community Development, among other partners, is designed to harness the culinary talents of public housing residents.

“This is a great example of private and public coming together,” Bishop said. “These are the things that really get me excited. … It’s always, where can we make a difference?”

The Food Business Pathways program connects NYCHA residents who have culinary skills with courses on marketing basics, business strategies and finance. At the end of the program, a few graduates receive free space in a kitchen incubator.

Other programs Bishop’s office runs include business classes and programs that help immigrant communities access capital through local organizations.

“A lot of immigrants want help, but are hesitant to turn to government,” Bishop said.

He said he wants to help communities understand “we have these services at no cost.”

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“White House chief of staff.”

-AP HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Master of Science, Integrated Marketing and Management Communication, Florida State University cit yand stat eny.com

TWITTER HANDLE: @greggbishopnyc

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NYSNA: Caring for ALL New Yorkers

Congratulations to our Colleague

Tara MarTin and

all the honorees for

Being reCognized By City & state

Here in New York City and throughout our state, nurses are uniting to improve care for our patients.

We’re working together to end healthcare inequality and to raise standards so that every New Yorker has access to quality care. Through our union, the New York State Nurses Association, we’re creating a better future for nurses and our patients:

as a

new york City “Rising staR”

Æ Safe RN Staffing. Having enough nurses at the bedside is key to safe patient care.

In our union contracts and in the legislature, we’re working to ensure that every patient has access to the care of a nurse whenever they need it.

Æ Community Voices. We believe that our communities should have a voice in decisions that

impact their access to care. Healthcare decisions should be based on community needs, not on the bottom line. That’s why we’re advocating to strengthen community voices in care.

Æ Quality Care for ALL. Every patient deserves equal access to quality care regardless of

income, borough, or insurance coverage. We’re working with fellow healthcare unions, patients, community leaders, and elected allies to stop the devastating tide of hospital cuts and closures in underserved communities.

www.nysna.org

nynurses

@nynurses

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L O C A T I O N S

W O R L D W I D E˚

Greenberg Traurig congratulates our friend and colleague, Will Mack, for being recognized on City & State’s 40 Under 40 Rising Stars List.

We congratulate City & State for its service and all honorees for their achievement.

G R E E N B E R G

T R A U R I G ,

L L P

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A T T O R N E Y S

A T

L A W

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W W W . G T L A W . C O M

The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements. Greenberg Traurig is a service mark and trade name of Greenberg Traurig, LLP and Greenberg Traurig, P.A. ©2015 Greenberg Traurig, LLP. Attorneys at Law. All rights reserved. Contact: John L. Mascialino in New York at 212.801.9200. Images in this advertisement do not depict Greenberg Traurig attorneys, clients, staff or facilities.

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40 under 40

MICHAEL BLAUSTEIN Senior Associate, Kivvit BIRTHDAY: 3/22/1990 GREW UP IN: New

York

“I was raised by two parents who had a big desire to instill an interest and passion in politics in me,” said Michael Blaustein, senior associate at Kivvit (formerly M Public Affairs). “Parents who told me what goes on outside the house matters.”

That environment made Blaustein a thinker, and he considers the philosopher Eli Siegel one of his biggest influences. “One of the most important things in order to take care of ourselves is to have a real desire and interest to be fair to people and see the relation of ourselves to the outside world,” Blaustein said. “I feel like that mindset is how I approach this job.”

That job includes public affairs for clients in sectors ranging from finance to labor to energy to government. He spent time with the Civil Service Employees Association in Albany and working for state Sen. Jeff Klein, but especially loves the challenges his current job presents.

“How do you create the messaging, how do you create the strategies that will compel the public to agree with you?” he asked. “No one’s going to always agree with you. So I think that’s the most exciting part about my job. Coming up with messages or strategies to help those that are in need, if you will.”

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“Chef.”

-JC

HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Master of Industrial Labor Relations, Cornell University cit yand stat eny.com

TWITTER HANDLE: @blaustein22

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40 under 40

ANNA BROWER

Director of Communications, City Public Advocate’s Office BIRTHDAY: 3/25/1988 GREW UP IN: Michigan

When Anna Brower needs advice, she turns to a trusted group of people she refers to as her “council”: her parents, her boyfriend, her close friends and former bosses.

“Like a council of advisers in your personal life,” said Brower, communications director for New York City Public Advocate Letitia James. “I think it’s great to have different perspectives.”

Brower’s boss James, the second-highest elected official in the city, has developed a reputation as a proponent of criminal justice reform.

“She provides oversight to show that city agencies are doing their jobs and the people of New York City are getting what they need,” Brower said. “I really feel that we’re impacting people in this on a daily basis.”

Brower said it’s challenging to focus media attention on the work James does, because reporters are not always tuned in to the public advocate’s office. But Brower said her efforts paid off recently, when a conversation with a New York Times reporter led to an August profile that connected the dots between James’ background as a public defender and her role as public advocate.

In her free time, Brower volunteers with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Many of the children with life-threatening illnesses wish for trips to Disney World, but last December, Brower said she was able to fulfill a 15-year-old girl’s wish to visit New York City and go shopping.

“She wanted to see New York at Christmas,” Brower said.

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“Food critic.”

-AP HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Bachelor of Arts, Barnard College cit yand stat eny.com

TWITTER HANDLE: @ab2788

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CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE

CESAR CARDENAS Senior Government Relations Specialist & to all the 40 Under 40 Rising Stars!

PITTA BISHOP DEL GIORNO & GIBLIN LLC

LOBBYING * CONSULTING * GOVERNMENT RELATIONS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT * CRISIS MANAGEMENT * FIRE SAFETY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & RESPONSE * COMMUNITY & PUBLIC RELATIONS

PITTA & GIBLIN LLP

LABOR & EMPLOYMENT LAW * EMPLOYEE BENEFITS REGULATORY COMPLIANCE * CAMPAIGN FINANCE COMPLIANCE

120 BROADWAY, 28TH FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY 10271 TELEPHONE (212) 652-3890 * FACSIMILE (212) 652-3981 25 HYATT STREET, SUITE 202, STATEN ISLAND, NY 10301 TELEPHONE (718) 943-1050 * FACSIMILE (718) 943-1051 111 WASHINGTON AVENUE, SUITE 401, ALBANY NEW YORK 12210 TELEPHONE (518) 449-3320 * FACSIMILE (518) 449-5812

Q: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE NEW YORK CITY BAR OR RESTAURANT?

JERIKA L. RICHARDSON 5 and Diamond Restaurant, 2072 Frederick Douglass Blvd., Manhattan

LINDSAY SCOLA Friedman's Lunch, 75 Ninth Ave., Manhattan

JOSH COOK al di la Trattoria, 248 Fifth Ave., Brooklyn

WILLIAM BRADY MACK Gramercy Tavern, 42 E. 20th St., Manhattan

ANTHONY HAYES Amy's Bread, 672 Ninth Ave., Manhattan WAYNE K. WILLIAMS Arturo's, 106 W. Houston St., Manhattan JOSHUA GOODMAN Buddha Bodai Kosher Vegetarian Restaurant, 5 Mott St., Manhattan MATT ENGEL Campagnola Restaurant, 1382 First Ave., Manhattan

RAYMOND SANCHEZ JR. Harlem Public/At the Wallace, 3612 Broadway, Manhattan RYAN J. S. BAXTER B.E.A.N.S. Chicken, 219 E. 23rd St. RUTH FASOLDT Ippudo NY, 65 Fourth Ave., Manhattan JOHN F. MARINO Carbone, 181 Thompson St., Manhattan

STEVEN A. FIGUEIREDO Il Corallo Trattoria, 176 Prince St., Manhattan

TARA L. MARTIN Johnny's Bar, 90 Greenwich Ave., Manhattan

LIZ DEBOLD Caracas Arepa Bar, 93 1/2 E. Seventh St., Manhattan

IBRAHIM ABDUL-MATIN Joloff Restaurant, 1168 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn

ANNA BROWER Casa Mezcal, 86 Orchard St., Manhattan

KATHLEEN KNIGHT Jorge's Restaurant, 689 Seneca Ave., Queens

JOSH DAWSEY Corner Bistro, 331 W. Fourth St., Manhattan

CASA MEZCAL 86 Orchard St., Manhattan

SASHA NEHA AHUJA Kabab King, 7301 37th Road, Queens

AMIT S. BAGGA Olea Mediterranean Taverna, 171 Lafayette Ave., Brooklyn

MICHAEL BLAUSTEIN Knickerbocker Bar & Grill, 33 University Place, Manhattan

DAVID L. MANSUR Flaming Saddles Saloon, 793 Ninth Ave., Manhattan

ALI SIROTA Koi Bryant Park, 40 W. 40th St., Manhattan

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HARLEM PUBLIC 3612 Broadway, Manhattan

L&B SPUMONI GARDENS 2725 86th St., Brooklyn

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ROBIN LEVINE L&B Spumoni Gardens, 2725 86th St., Brooklyn GREGG BISHOP Madiba Restaurant, 195 Dekalb Ave., Brooklyn TOM SCHNURR McSorley's Old Ale House, 15 E. Seventh St. INGRID D. SOTELO Patsy's Pizzeria, 2287 First Ave., Manhattan MAX DWORIN Poke, 343 E. 85th St., Manhattan JOEL STEINHAUS Professor Thom's, 219 Second Ave., Manhattan ILANA L. OZERNOY Roman's, 243 Dekalb Ave., Brooklyn CESAR CARDENAS Spicy Village, 68 Forsyth St. B, Manhattan MELISSA CHAPMAN Suede, 5610 Clarendon Road, Brooklyn JAMES YOLLES The Bearded Lady, 686 Washington Ave., Brooklyn FRANK MORANO The Curly Wolf Saloon, 825 Annadale Road, Staten Island ALEXANDER GLEASON Kittery, 305 Smith St., Brooklyn ADAM FORMAN The Rusty Knot, 425 West St., Manhattan SHANEEK SMITH Water's Edge, 401 44th Drive, Queens JORDAN ISENSTADT Whiskey Town Bar, 29 E. Third St., Manhattan

SUEDE 5610 Clarendon Road, Brooklyn

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JEROME WHITE Wolfgang's Steakhouse, 16 E. 46th St., Manhattan

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40 under 40

CESAR CARDENAS

Senior Government Relations Specialist, Pitta Bishop Del Giorno & Giblin LLC BIRTHDAY: 12/29/1978 GREW UP IN: Florida

Cesar Cardenas said his experience working in Washington – and the political inertia and polarization that followed 9/11 – led him to New York City and a career in law.

He found his niche at the Fordham University School of Law, where he began working on public interest law and policy with the school’s Community Economic Development Clinic. Among other projects, Cardenas worked on a community benefits agreement negotiating jobs and other issues related to Columbia University’s planned expansion into the Hamilton Heights neighborhood.

“It was pretty eye-opening,” said Cardenas, senior government relations specialist for Pitta Bishop Del Giorno & Giblin LLC, a joint lobbying and law firm that specializes in labor union-related work. Cardenas said one of the aspects he enjoyed most about his time in law school was helping low-income residents organize and improve their situations, adding that this commitment to social justice continues in his current job.

“You’re there for working families and you are there to prevent government overreach,” Cardenas said. “It is important that the government know that people are watching.”

In his free time, Cardenas does fundraising for the Brooklyn Public Library and the Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights, among other volunteer projects.

“I’ve always been keen to see minorities in workspace and leadership positions,” Cardenas said. “I’m going to do what I can from my position to support people.”

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“International development.”

-AP HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Juris Doctor, Fordham University School of Law cit yand stat eny.com

TWITTER HANDLE: @cesarcardenas

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40 under 40

MELISSA CHAPMAN

Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce BIRTHDAY: 7/19/1982 GREW UP IN: Guyana

Remember that Brooklyn-made whiskey you drank? Or that Brooklyn-made clock hanging on your wall? You have the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce’s Melissa Chapman to thank. “It is a central part of what we do in the chamber,” Chapman said.

“We kind of have the trademark for the term “Brooklyn-made.”

That’s just one small part of Chapman’s job of selling the hippest borough in the world.

One day may have her leading a delegation to Washington to meet with elected officials.

The next day, she’ll be helping hand out the Made in Brooklyn Awards to the best products in Kings County.

Chapman’s story is an inspiring immigrant tale. She moved from Guyana to Brooklyn with her mother in 2006. Her first job was with the chamber, and she has proceeded to climb the ranks from intern to administrative assistant to membership director to vice president to her current position as senior vice president of public affairs. With a story like that, Chapman is rightfully proud of her ability to grow, change and adapt.

“When I first started in the area of government and public affairs, I had not had that experience,” she said. “But I knew that I wanted to move up in the world, so I trusted myself when I took a chance and just gave it my all and now I can clearly see that I’m kind of making it!”

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“Hospitality management.”

-JC HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Bachelor’s in Business Administration, Brooklyn College cit yand stat eny.com

TWITTER HANDLE: @melissajenel

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21

6

SUBWAY

6

UBER

3

TAXI

2

BIKE

CONGRATULATIONS! Citi is proud to recognize our colleague Joel Steinhaus and all “40 Under 40” honorees for their leadership and commitment to making New York City a better place to live, work and visit.

© 2015 Citigroup Inc. Citi and Citi with Arc Design are registered service marks of Citigroup Inc. The World’s Citi is a service mark of Citigroup Inc.

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Q: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO GET AROUND THE CITY? How do New York City’s best and brightest get around? Just like you do, apparently!

2

LYFT

2

MY OWN TWO FEET

2

MY CAR

1

EXPRESS BUS

1

FERRY

GMHC Congratulates

Anthony Hayes!

With new methods to treat and prevent the spread of HIV, New York State is leading the nation in the fight to end the AIDS epidemic.

GMHC congratulates Anthony on this well-deserved honor, and we know his continued efforts in NYC and Albany will help us realize our goal of ensuring the Governor’s plan to end AIDS is fully funded and implemented.

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40 under 40

JOSH COOK

Vice President, Digital Engagement, BerlinRosen BIRTHDAY: 3/28/1988 GREW UP IN: Kentucky

Political campaigns, public relations and advocacy for issues are eclectic bullet points on Josh Cook’s resume, including a job as the head of social media for President Barack Obama’s Pennsylvania re-election campaign. Cook’s other past jobs have included stints in then-U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold’s office and at CLS Strategies in Washington, D.C. He’s even worked to get candidates elected on other continents, which he said was a surprisingly familiar process, despite the different political environments.

“It’s amazing that the challenges are totally the same,” Cook said.

As the head of BerlinRosen’s digital team, he values the time his firm spends “telling stories” in its advocacy work, and says he doesn’t measure his job in terms of wins or losses.

“I don’t really think about it that way,” he said. “Moving the needle forward always feels good.”

He cited the firm’s work on behalf of the Child Safe Products Act as a favorite project of his. Though it didn’t ultimately pass the Legislature last year, he said helping families fight for the bill was rewarding because it helped “bring the conversation around.”

Asked about his career ambitions, Cook said he envisions a fruitful future for himself at BerlinRosen, and is excited to see what the next several years will bring for the firm.

“It’s less a question of moving up and more a question of building out,” he said. “We’re doing something special at BerlinRosen on the digital side, and we’re just starting to see the potential.”

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“Coach of the University of Louisville basketball team.”

-WB HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, American University cit yand stat eny.com

TWITTER HANDLE: @TheJoshAbides

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40 under 40

JOSH DAWSEY

Reporter, The Wall Street Journal BIRTHDAY: 7/13/1990 GREW UP IN: South

Carolina

Many reporters get their first professional experience during an internship or after graduating from college.

But Josh Dawsey got started earlier, taking over as editor-in-chief of his small hometown paper in South Carolina while he was still in high school.

“It was kind of a ragtag operation, very short-staffed and late deadlines and crazy owners and all sorts of nonsense,” Dawsey said, recalling his six-week stint running the weekly Aynor Journal. “The editor-in-chief quit two days before publication one week, and they needed someone to put out the paper. So they were like, you’ve been at the high school paper, you can just do it.”

Dawsey now writes for a much larger audience covering the de Blasio administration for The Wall Street Journal. He has written groundbreaking stories on de Blasio’s aspirations as a progressive leader, his management style and his bruising battles with Albany.

Prior to covering New York City, Dawsey covered another high-profile figure, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, right in the middle of the Bridgegate scandal.

“When I left the Christie beat a lot of people said, you know, you’re going to be bored covering de Blasio. It won’t be as much fun,” Dawsey said. “But it’s actually been a lot of fun. City Hall is one of the most intriguing beats on the planet, and has really provided a multitude of good stories to chase and characters to follow.”

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“Baseball umpire.”

-JL HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Bachelor of Arts, University of South Carolina cit yand stat eny.com

TWITTER HANDLE: @jdawsey1

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40 under 40

LIZ DEBOLD

Communications Manager, Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City BIRTHDAY: 9/4/1991 GREW UP IN: New

York

Liz DeBold began her career in public communications in 2011 as a college intern at Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s office. That internship, she said, inspired her to continue working in the public sphere.

“I find that to be very nuanced and complicated work,” DeBold said. “It’s challenging to have to talk every day about a variety of different issues, and stay on message and always relate it back to what your central idea, what your central goal is.”

Now the communications manager for the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, DeBold helps “communicate a public, unified message.”

Her favorite project so far has been coordinating the announcement of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s initiative to require all public schools to offer computer science education.

“It was such a huge and historic announcement,” she said. “We’re doing something that we know will have a real impact in the lives of these students, not only now but years down the road.”

She also fondly remembers helping Schneiderman sue Donald Trump, “which is especially interesting these days,” and helping the attorney general’s office in its crusade to force health supplement manufacturers to more accurately label their products.

DeBold says she enjoys her work with the Mayor’s Fund so much that she hasn’t even considered what her next steps might be.

“We’re doing exciting, incredibly progressive things,” she said. “The path I’m on now is the path I’ll be staying on.”

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“Storm chaser.”

-WB HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Bachelor of Arts, New York University cit yand stat eny.com

TWITTER HANDLE: @lizdebold

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40 under 40

MAX DWORIN

Vice President, Communications, Partnership for New York City BIRTHDAY: 1/16/1989 GREW UP IN: New

York

Like all good communicators, Max Dworin has a way of weaving a story to make his notable accomplishments seem self-deprecating. Like when he applied for a position at the Clinton Foundation as an undergrad. He was studying foreign policy at Johns Hopkins and wanted a position in that realm. “But I thought, I’ve got to do something where I’m not going to be competing against incredible foreign policy scholars. I didn’t have a lot of confidence that I would be picked,” he said. So he applied for the executive office thinking he could “sneak in” in an administrative position, and ended up getting chosen for a post in Bill Clinton’s personal office.

That position set him up for a job in U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer’s office, and then on to the Partnership for New York City, where he works with even more heavy hitters.

“You’re tapping into a group of people who are in an incredible position to leave a mark on the city,” he said. So it’s the perfect job for this East Village native who calls himself an “unabashed, proud New Yorker.”

“I’m very proud to be playing a role in helping to shape the way the city looks in the future by tapping into the private sector and its interest in seeing the city and its economy continue to grow and thrive,” he said. “We’re in an incredible position to leave a mark on the city.”

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“Real estate tycoon.”

-JC

HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Bachelor of Arts, Johns Hopkins University cit yand stat eny.com

TWITTER HANDLE: @MaxDworin

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40 under 40

MATT ENGEL

President, Langsam Property Services Corp. and the Community Housing Improvement Program BIRTHDAY: 3/24/1977 GREW UP IN: New

York

Matt Engel thought it “seemed natural” to study real estate at Pennsylvania State’s Wharton School of Business because of his father’s decadeslong tenure as head of Langsam Property Services Corp.

“I never had any great expectations from it,” Engel said.

But in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks, Engel joined his father’s company and started learning the multi-family unit renting business, eventually becoming the president through the merit of his work.

“Coming into a family business … it’s a tricky situation where you need to earn respect from your co-workers and associates, and I took that very seriously,” Engel said. “But I never look back to say it wasn’t because of the training I got from my father.”

He later joined the Community Housing Improvement Program, where he said his “knack for not being able to shut up” landed him on the board by 2006, and by 2012 had other board members asking him to assume the presidency.

Between both roles, Engel said he has fought to upend the city’s aging rent regulations.

“Our goal has been to continue developing and creating relationships on both sides of the aisle, to explain why we need to rethink the New York housing industry,” he said. “We have made a significant push … to make New York City housing affordable without restricting the ability of the owner to make a profit.”

Engel acknowledged that his side of the rent regulation fight sometimes looks worse in the public view, but despite the negative press, “we know we do the best for our residents.”

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“Executive director, American Israel Public Affairs Committee.”

-WB HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Bachelor’s in Economics, University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School cit yand stat eny.com

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Q: WHO LED THE CITY BEST? We asked the honorees who they think is/was the best mayor in New York City history. All answers were anonymous.

The bigger the head, the more votes received!

John Lindsay, 4 votes

Jimmy Walker, 1 vote

Fiorello La Guardia, 12 votes

John Purroy Mitchel, 1 vote

The New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO Congratulates the Labor Movement’s “40 Under 40 Rising Stars”

Alex Gleason, Policy Associate,

New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO

Tara L. Martin, Senior Communications Manager, New York State Nurses Association

NEW YORK CITY CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL, AFL-CIO 275 SEVENTH AVE. NEW YORK, NY 10001

And all of this year’s honorees.

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Michael Bloomberg, 10 votes David Dinkins, 4 votes

Ed Koch, 4 votes

Rudy Giuliani, 1 vote

Bill de Blasio, 3 votes

Congratulations "rising star"

Katy Knight

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40 under 40

RUTH FASOLDT

Business Development Manager, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants BIRTHDAY: 5/20/1984 GREW UP IN: New

York

Ruth Fasoldt plans her yearly Coney Island trip months in advance. “I go get a Nathan’s hot dog and walk the boardwalk and go on the roller coaster and the Ferris wheel,” she said. “I think it has so much charm! I’m a big defender.”

It’s an impressive level of passion for something that, well, let’s just say not everybody feels the same way about. That capacity for an offbeat passion, however, has served her well in her position with ACCA, which offers the Chartered Certified Accountant global accounting qualification (similar to the CPA) which Fasoldt’s team is trying to popularize in the United States. The job has her contributing to the international ACCA magazine and forming a partnership with Pace University. “It’s the first time in the history of the ACCA that you can study ACCA in a brick-and-mortar U.S. university,” she said. “That’s been a really exciting moment in time.”

That’s not bad for someone with no accounting experience. “I’ve learned a lot of the acronyms and I think I can hold my own in a good conversation about it now,” Fasoldt said. “But I have a master’s in women’s history!”

Fasoldt is from Ulster County, but always dreamed of moving to New York City. She got to know it in her previous position at the Association for a Better New York, where she still sits on the Young Professionals steering committee. It’s her way of giving back to the city. “It’s my home,” she said. “And it’s been my home for many years. And I hope it’s my home for many more to come. I just bought my apartment so I’m not going anywhere!”

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“Executive director at the Coney Island Museum.”

-JC HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Master’s, Simmons College cit yand stat eny.com

TWITTER HANDLE: @rufasoldt

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40 under 40

STEVEN A. FIGUEIREDO Vice President, Capalino+Company BIRTHDAY: 9/7/1977 GREW UP IN: Massachusetts

Steve Figueiredo recently moved back to Jackson Heights and was surprised at all the new people and businesses coming in. “It’s totally changed since the five years that I lived up there!” he said. Like it or not, every neighborhood in New York City is constantly changing, and Figueiredo has a hand in much of that change. “I always say it’s a city of perpetual demolition,” he said.

Figueiredo deals mostly with developers at Capalino, guiding clients through the bureaucratic red tape of building in the city. “You always think, oh it would be nice to live in Paris, or it would be nice to live in London. But nothing beats New York,” he said. “And you try to make the city great by working with people in the city that care about keeping New York great.”

He comes to the job with an insider’s knowledge, drawing from almost a decade of experience at the city Department of Buildings. His work has drawn the praise of those he admires most – and nothing makes Figueiredo prouder. “It just showed me that if you work hard, people recognize that,” he said. “And I think that’s the greatest accomplishment that I have: the level of respect people have for me. That I can be trusted and they respect what I have to say.”

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“Becoming a leader of a city agency, but if that doesn’t work out, become a professional tourist.”

-JC

HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Master of Public Administration, Baruch College School of Public Affairs cit yand stat eny.com

TWITTER HANDLE: @safig

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40 under 40

ADAM FORMAN

Senior Researcher, Center for an Urban Future BIRTHDAY: 5/26/1984 GREW UP IN: New

Jersey

When Adam Forman got a job in the New York City public advocate’s office in 2012, he thought he might eventually follow his new boss, Bill de Blasio, to City Hall.

Instead, an internship with the Center for an Urban Future led to a full-time position with the think tank, where he probably has more influence researching the city than working for it. He gets to sit down with officials and staffers to learn how the city really works, which he translates into in-depth, accessible reports that are widely read by politicians and covered by the press.

For example, Forman’s 2014 report on aging utility and transportation infrastructure was covered in dozens of news outlets, including The New York Times, Time magazine and The Guardian.

“I was pleased to know that it did have a strong influence, looking at the last 10-year capital budget,” Forman said. “So many of the things that we discussed and shined a light on actually were considered or are now being funded, from a huge increase in funding for bridges to much better funding for road repavings.”

Forman, who grew up just across the Hudson River in New Jersey, went to Colgate University and got a master’s degree at the University of Washington in Seattle. But he always knew he’d come back.

“The heart of change is in cities, so I was very interested in getting involved in city politics,” Forman said. “I thought that would be the most dynamic and interesting area to work in.”

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“Ringmaster, Big Apple Circus.”

-JL HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Master’s, University of Washington cit yand stat eny.com

TWITTER HANDLE: @

AdBaFo

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40 under 40

ALEXANDER GLEASON

Policy Associate, New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO BIRTHDAY: 7/4/1991 GREW UP IN: Cape

Cod, Massachusetts

Alexander Gleason was studying economics at The New School when he was introduced to what he now calls “a slow-moving crisis.”

“The retirement security crisis in America today is a derivation of a 40-year breakdown in collective bargaining,” said Gleason, a policy associate at the New York City Central Labor Council, a nonprofit membership organization affiliated with the nationwide American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations. “It’s an issue we all need to be aware of.”

Gleason said the issue has been a focal point of his work. His organization supports local unions in various industries, but he said the biggest project he and his colleagues have been working on is the Climate Works for All campaign promoting economic justice and addressing New York City’s environmental problems.

Among other campaigns, Gleason said he is proud of the work he has been doing to support the city’s horse carriage industry, which has recently been the target of animal rights groups who argue the horses are being mistreated. Gleason says studies show the animals are not being mistreated and asks why – in a time when job growth has been limited to the technology sector and low-paying service jobs – we would eliminate 300 well-paying jobs in the city.

“At the end of the day, what we work for is trying to grow the economy from the bottom up and middle out,” Gleason said. “If there’s something I want to dedicate myself to, it’s to help people live a better life.”

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“I would be a theater critic. I love Stephen Sondheim.”

-AP HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Master of Arts in Economics, The New School For Social Research cit yand stat eny.com

TWITTER HANDLE: @AlexGleas

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Q: WHO DO YOU THINK WILL WIN THE OVAL OFFICE?

NOTE: The Rising Stars all made their predictions by Oct. 12.

We asked all 40 honorees who they thought will win the 2016 presidential election. All answers were anonymous – and some were a little more straightforward than others.

Hillary Clinton, 26 votes Joe Biden, 5 votes Marco Rubio, 3 votes Bernie Sanders, 1 vote Jim Webb, 1 vote

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"A Democrat," 1 vote "A woman," 1 vote "A Republican," 1 vote "Not Trump," 1 vote

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We congratulate our dear friend and esteemed colleague

Steven Figueiredo For being named as City&State’s 40 Under 40 Rising Stars in New York City, and for being recognized for his expertise in agency operations and development across New York.

We congratulate all the honorees for their leadership and hard work.

Capalino+Company is the Premier Lobbying and Strategic Consulting Firm in New York City • Agency Resolution + Permitting • Business Development + Procurement • Business Permits + Licenses

• Community Mobilization • Corporate Social Responsibility • Housing + Real Estate

• • • •

Land Use Planning + Zoning Legislative + Regulatory Advocacy MWBE Compliance Strategic Partnerships

www.capalino.com The Woolworth Building • 233 Broadway, Suite 710 • New York, NY 10279 212.616.5810 • contact@capalino.com • @capalino

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40 under 40

JOSH GOODMAN Senior Associate, SKDKnickerbocker BIRTHDAY: 7/27/1986 GREW UP IN: New

York

Josh Goodman has a lot of pride in his clients. “I like to think of my portfolio as anyone who’s trying to make the quality of life better for New Yorkers,” he said.

In practice, that means he is leading media relations for influencers in industries like education, health care and more across the city. If he meets someone who isn’t comfortable in front of the press, he can help change that. “I don’t ever help anyone say anything that isn’t their truth, but I do a lot of work helping people figure out the right way to share things they already know and believe,” he said.

Goodman grew up in and around the city, but left for a time to run campaigns in battleground states across the country. He was lured back home, however, by another one of his passions: “It’s one thing if you’ve never tasted a good bagel, but if you know what they are and you have to go without them? Can be very difficult,” he said.

The bagel comment may be more than just a joke, coming from a connoisseur who has eaten at every single all-vegan restaurant in Manhattan and is willing to travel outside his borough for ingredients. But the way he sees it, his enthusiasm is just a part of being a New Yorker. “There’s nobody more passionate about their communities than New Yorkers,” he said, “and I’m proud to be a part of that.”

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“Deputy borough president.”

-JC

HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Bachelor of Arts in International Service, Peace and Conflict Resolution, American University cit yand stat eny.com

TWITTER HANDLE: @joshgNYC

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40 under 40

ANTHONY HAYES

Vice President, Public Affairs and Policy, Gay Men’s Health Crisis BIRTHDAY: 3/10/1976 GREW UP IN: Oklahoma

When Anthony Hayes left the Port Authority to join Gay Men’s Health Crisis last year, his new employers knew they were getting somebody who was adept at handling crises.

“So much of what happens at the Port Authority is really making sure that the public understands – whether you’re talking about Hurricane Sandy or all the delicate work being done at the World Trade Center,” he said. “You’re talking about communicating with a public who uses some of the most critical infrastructure in the world!”

Hayes is proud of his work at GMHC, handling government and media relations and agencywide messaging, but as a New Yorker, he still looks back fondly on the opportunities he had at the Port Authority. “The proudest I’ve been – and just overwhelmed – was being able to play a small role in the World Trade Center efforts and the redevelopment that’s gone on there,” he said.

That experience at the Port Authority is serving GMHC well. HIV/AIDS may not be in New York’s headlines like it used to, but these days Hayes is coordinating with everyone from the White House to the New York City Council to end the epidemic in the city once and for all.

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“Underwear model.”

-JC

HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Bachelor of Arts, The New School cit yand stat eny.com

TWITTER HANDLE: @AnthonyJHayes

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From all of us at The Marino Organization, congratulations to our Chief Operating Officer, John F. Marino, on being named to the City & State “40 Under 40� Class of 2015!

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JORDAN ISENSTADT

Global Chief Communications Officer, Ducere BIRTHDAY:

9/13/1979 York

GREW UP IN: New

A college class with a guest lecture from David Dinkins, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, or the magician David Copperfield sounds like a dream for many students.

But it is Jordan Isenstadt’s job to make that a reality for students getting an online degree through Ducere, the Australian online education provider that expanded to the U.S. a year ago. Since then, Isenstadt has been interviewing leaders in business and government for the organization’s online lecture series and helping lead U.S. operations.

And yes, he knows the stigma. “A lot of the online programs around the world don’t have a great reputation, and there’s a reason why.” Isenstadt said that because Ducere’s model is more engaging, its completion rates are around 20 times higher than most online programs.

Isenstadt got his start in government and public affairs, but says there has been an education component to all his jobs, from representing higher education clients at Edelman, to working for education-minded state Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky. The topic comes naturally to Isenstadt: His mother is a retired New York City schoolteacher, his father was a teacher, and his grandfather was a principal. “I have a lot of education in my family and in my background,” he said. “Thematically I always thought I would get to something that had to do with education. With Ducere, it just kind of magically worked out.”

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“Talent scout, New York Mets.”

-JC HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Master of Public Administration, Baruch College cit yand stat eny.com

TWITTER HANDLE: @MrIsenstadt

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Q: WHAT ONE WORD WOULD YOU USE TO DESCRIBE ANDREW CUOMO AND BILL DE BLASIO? We asked our honorees the one word they’d use to describe the governor and New York City’s mayor. Here’s how they responded. (The bigger the word, the more people picked it.) Their answers were anonymous, even to us.

AMBITIOUS

CHESSMASTER

BULLY

CLEVER STRONG EFFECTIVE AMORAL POWERFUL CAPOFAMIGLIA CALCULATING FIGHTER DRIVEN

FOCUSED

GOVERNOR

UNDERWOOD

MISOGYNIST

MACHIAVELLIAN BOLD

DECISIVE INSPIRATIONAL LOUD

WHO?

NARCISSISTIC

MACHISMO

INTELLIGENT SOULLESS

RESOLUTE SAVVY STONES

PARADOX PETTY

STRATEGIC STAUNCH

ANDREW CUOMO

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OVERWHELMED NARROW IDEOLOGUE ONE-TERM

AMBITIOUS

ALOOF CHUMP

COMMUNIST

DISAPPOINTING

PERSEVERANT

TALL

INTEGRITY

DISCONNECTED LANNISTER EARNEST

PRINCIPLED

REACTIVE

LONGSHANKS

PROGRESSIVE

SELF-CONFIDENT WEAK LAME

MAYOR MISUNDERSTOOD IDEALISTIC

NAIVE

WELL-MEANING

INCONSISTENT HORRIBLE BILL DE BLASIO

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40 under 40

KATHLEEN KNIGHT Public Policy Analyst, Google BIRTHDAY:

8/3/1988 York

GREW UP IN: New

Kathleen Knight might be the only person to go from a nonprofit puppet theater to Google.

“To go from a place where we literally boarded up the windows in the winter because the insulation in the building was terrible, to a place where I get fed two or three meals a day was also a really interesting change,” Knight said.

But don’t let the drafty windows fool you into thinking she was unqualified. Knight had communications experience from various internships, and did public relations and fundraising work at the Spiral Q Puppet Theater, which partners with Philadelphiaarea schools.

Even further back, Knight said attending Brearley, an all-girls private school, was equally pivotal.

“Communications and policy work and the stuff that I do outside of work at (Queens Community Board 5) are just a lot about speaking up for yourself and for other people,” Knight said, “and one of the things you do at all-girls schools is definitely talk a lot and learn a lot about speaking up for yourself.”

At Google, she started out helping nonprofits use Google Plus. She currently does policy and community affairs work, including a partnership with the city’s three library systems on digital literacy and closing the digital divide.

These kinds of initiatives, she said, are changing perceptions of Google.

“I think a lot of people still think of Google as monolithic, a building on the West Coast with computers just doing things,” Knight said. “It’s exciting for me to be a person who represents Google and to bring that different perspective to people.”

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“I'd run a brewery and awesome bar.”

-JL HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Bachelor of Arts in English, University of Pennsylvania cit yand stat eny.com

TWITTER HANDLE: @sayskaty

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ROBIN LEVINE Press Secretary, City Council BIRTHDAY:

8/31/1988 York

GREW UP IN: New

Just call her the podium master of City Hall.

For electeds looking to address reporters on the steps of City Hall, coordinating with Press Secretary Robin Levine and her team is critical, and not just for the guidance she dispenses. Levine helps oversee the City Council’s four or five podiums.

“There’s always a lot of back and forth with various offices about, ‘Is there a podium?’

‘I want the one with the bigger seal.’ People not returning podiums, just having to chase them down because it’s such an essential part of press conferences,” Levine said.

When she’s not hot on the trail of rogue podiums, Levine helps the speaker and council react to news and highlight what they’re working on. She waits for stories to be published online late at night, wakes up early to read the papers and monitor Twitter before arriving at the office, checks in with council staff about what initiatives should be publicized and strategizes how to do so – typically by envisioning the ideal headline and working backwards.

A New York City native, Levine enjoys calling up economists, lawyers and other experts and having them talk her through the intricacies of how policies impact her home (including her parents in South Brooklyn, who Levine says are not shy about weighing in on the government).

She also helps prep for the biweekly prestated council meeting press conference, where the speaker updates the media on the chamber’s work and takes questions. “It’s always an adrenaline rush,” Levine said. “Whenever I watch the prestated, I’m like, ‘Yeah, we did this!’”

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“Love my job and can’t imagine doing anything else.”

- ST HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Bachelor of Arts, Purchase College cit yand stat eny.com

TWITTER HANDLE: @RobinRLevine

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40 under 40

WILLIAM BRADY MACK Counsel, Greenberg Traurig LLP BIRTHDAY:

1/5/1979 York

GREW UP IN: New

It is only fitting this East Elmhurst native would be named one of the 40 Under 40 the same year the Mets posted their best record in almost a decade. Mack does not have the time to go to many games, but he bristles at the all the fair-weather fans filing into Citi Field this fall. “I’ve been there since ’86,” he said. “I was so close to the stadium that when they won (the World Series), at the end of game seven, I could hear the stadium from my house.”

When Mack is not repping for the Mets, he is representing Greenberg Traurig’s clients in front of governmental and regulatory agencies – often taking difficult financial cases dealing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Mack is relatively new to Greenberg Traurig, having joined in 2014 after stints working for FINRA, the United States Trade Representative, and three years in Obama’s White House.

Mack is proud of his time on Pennsylvania Avenue, and the cyclist in him loved docking his ride at the most exclusive bike share station in the world. He never got over New York though, and left D.C. to come back to the city and join his wife of three years.

“I owe New York everything,” Mack said. “I would not be who I am if not for New York City. I’m a product of its public schools. I got my law degree at Columbia. I owe it everything so I try and give it everything I can.”

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“Food critic.”

-JC

HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Juris Doctor, Columbia Law School cit yand stat eny.com

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DAVID L. MANSUR Partner, Nashban Mansur LLC BIRTHDAY:

5/14/1981

GREW UP IN: California

Teaching a client how to ask for money – whether it’s $500 or $10,000 – is one of the biggest challenges of working as a political fundraiser, says David Mansur of Nashban Mansur LLC. Not everyone is comfortable approaching a potential donor.

“If you talk about this issue, it’ll resonate,” Mansur reminds his clients before they make a call. “This money is going to fight for the cause you both believe in.”

Mansur says he and business partner Adam Nashban have worked with Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and New York City Council Speaker Melissa MarkViverito, among other clients. Every time they sign a new client – most of whom are progressive politicians with an interest in social justice issues – Mansur says they have a conversation about issues important to them, so they can find a like-minded donor.

“It’s really finding ways for two individuals to connect and build trust,” Mansur said.

A California native who grew up in a politically active family, Mansur has been attending Democratic political events since childhood. But the impetus for pursuing a career in political fundraising came when he was attending Marquette University in Wisconsin, when he and other students brought then-presidential candidate Al Gore to speak on campus.

While Mansur says his job doesn’t leave him much free time to pursue hobbies, he has found a way to combine work and leisure activities. He frequents galas and political events, and recently hosted a party for donors during one of the GOP political debates.

“There’s few jobs in life like campaigns,” he said. “If you win, you actually make a difference in the city and the state.”

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“Owner of a B&B.” -AP HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Bachelor of Arts, Marquette University cit yand stat eny.com

TWITTER HANDLE: @dlmansur

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Q: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE CANDY BAR? 6 5 4 3

We know they’re under 40, but we wanted to know which Rising Stars were kids at heart – so we asked about their favorite candy bars. A few of the honorees didn’t have much of a sweet tooth, but most indulged us. The most popular answer? Twix! We’d like to think that means our Rising Stars love to share.

2

“ ”

PURE CHOCOLATE OF ANY KIND Anna Brower

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I HONESTLY HAVE NOT HAD A CANDY BAR IN MANY YEARS Ibrahim Abdul-Matin

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WHAT'S A CANDY BAR? Amit S. Bagga

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I DON'T DISCRIMINATE Anthony Hayes

The team at BerlinRosen congratulates our colleague

JOSH COOK

on being named a 40 Under 40 Rising Star

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JOHN F. MARINO

Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director, The Marino Organization BIRTHDAY:

10/5/1980 York

GREW UP IN: New

John Marino’s chief aim as managing director of the firm his father started 23 years ago is to continue growing the agency and help “bring it into the next generation.”

“We have a unique partnership here,” Marino said. “Now we’re up to 30 publicists here and growing, and we expect to continue to grow over the next decade, and continue to grow our client base.”

Marino was drawn to the field by watching his father, Francis Marino, and his uncle, John Anthony Marino, work in politics and media relations. He said his exposure to their work gave him “a great knowledge base that I’ve been able to use in the private sector.”

His first real experience came working on New York City’s bid for the Summer Olympics in the early 2000s, interacting with “communications professionals who were operating at a very high level.”

“It stuck with me for most of my career,” Marino said. “It was the start of the Blackberry era, and it was really the start of that era of mass communication, 24-hours-a-day communication, and it never left me.”

Marino said that always-on mentality is part of what he’s tried to instill in the firm’s operations.

Moving forward, he said he’s excited to see the new industries and sectors the Marino Organization will participate in shaping.

“I’m fully committed to this organization,” Marino said. “Every day is a different day here, and we get to work with some of the smartest individuals around the city and around the country, and it’d be tough to leave that.”

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“General manager of the New York Yankees.”

-WB HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Bachelor of Arts, Fairfield University cit yand stat eny.com

TWITTER HANDLE: @JohnMarino32

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TARA L. MARTIN

Senior Communications Manager, New York State Nurses Association BIRTHDAY:

12/23/1976 York

GREW UP IN: New

Tara Martin has played the game from all sides. She has spent years in government, campaigns, labor – and even got her start writing for the Black Reign Community Newspaper, the first African-American weekly on her home of Staten Island. But above all, she is most proud of representing NYSNA’s 37,000 members.

“I didn’t have a background in nursing prior to taking this job, so this was a real great introduction for me,” she said. “But to spend the amount of time I have with nurses, helping them identify their voice – because nurses spend so much time taking care of other people, they rarely find time to fight for and take care of advocacy for themselves.

To help them in that effort is incredibly rewarding.”

The job takes her all across the state, and she has stood with nurses submitting strike notices, negotiating contracts, and fighting for safe staffing in Albany. “I’m so amazed at not only the work on a day-to-day basis, but I’m amazed at their courage, their strength,” she said.

When she’s not standing up for nurses, Martin gets others to stand up – and dance.

“I’m kind of a hobbyist DJ,” she said. “I have an amazing love for music. My father was a musician. I grew up around music. So for me, DJing is where I find my center.”

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“Professional DJ.” -JC

HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Bachelor of Science, Northwestern State University cit yand stat eny.com

TWITTER HANDLE: @taramartinnyc

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FRANK MORANO

Radio Talk Show Host, Producer and Civic Activist, AM 970 The Answer GREW UP IN: New

York

There’s a special, one-on-one relationship between radio talk show hosts and their listeners, and Frank Morano says that’s part of what drew him to the medium.

“The thing that makes radio so special and so different from every other form of media is its intimacy,” said the host of AM 970 The Answer’s “Morano in the Morning.”

“They listen to you when they’re in the car, by themselves and totally alone.”

Morano, who aspired to become a baseball player or a wrestler before discovering a passion for broadcast media, said he has been “an obsessive talk radio listener” all his life. The topics of his shows run the gamut from local politics to criminal justice to community issues like street parking, and he hopes listeners learn something new each time they tune in. In recent shows, he discussed U.S. House Speaker John Boehner’s resignation and the campaign of GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump. To engage listeners, Morano says he tries to keep the conversation light.

“People are enjoying it, they’re laughing, they’re having fun,” he said, “and before they know it, they’ve learned something.”

Morano, a Staten Island native who describes himself as an ambassador for the borough, says he makes an effort to promote everything the place has to offer – from fine dining to outdoor adventures to the charm of quiet neighborhoods.

“I just really can’t imagine living anywhere else,” Morano said.

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“The host of ‘Jeopardy!’”

-AP

HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Bachelor of Arts, New York University cit yand stat eny.com

TWITTER HANDLE: @frankmorano

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ILANA L. OZERNOY

Chief of Staff, Office of the Counsel to the Mayor BIRTHDAY:

2/11/1978

GREW UP IN: Moscow,

D.C. and New York City

Ilana Ozernoy always wanted a career in government. But first, she wanted to see the world.

So after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, she followed the story to Afghanistan. At age 23 and with virtually no journalism experience, she took an old Soviet jeep to the Hindu Kush Mountains, got as close as she could to the front lines and started filing dispatches for The Boston Globe. She then covered the Iraq War for U.S. News & World Report and became a foreign correspondent for The Atlantic.

“I don’t think in my mind I set out to be a war correspondent,” Ozernoy said. “I really just wanted to see the world and learn and be part of a conversation that was bigger than myself and contribute in a way that made an impact.”

By her 30s, she was ready for something different, and started teaching journalism at Stony Brook University, where she also established the Marie Colvin Center for International Reporting.

Then, inspired by Bill de Blasio’s progressive values, Ozernoy joined his administration, starting in the Office of Immigrant Affairs. In June she became the No. 2 to Maya Wiley, the mayor’s counsel. Unlike past counsels, Wiley’s office has a policy portfolio, including expanding broadband Internet, promoting gender equity and increasing contracting to minority- and women-owned businesses.

“Depending on the day, I’m doing a number of things that involve being a diplomat, a bully, a therapist,” she said. “A chief of staff is a very funny job.”

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“White House foreign policy adviser.”

-JL HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Bachelor of Arts, Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University cit yand stat eny.com

TWITTER HANDLE: @IlanaOzernoy

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JERIKA L. RICHARDSON Special Adviser to the Mayor BIRTHDAY:

6/12/1982 Jersey by way of the ‘Show Me State.’ But I found my heart in Harlem.”

GREW UP IN: “New

After heeding fellow Spelman College students’ advice, Jerika Richardson threw herself into the community by registering herself and others to vote in Atlanta. When it came time to vote in 2000, she watched many of those she’d signed up cast their ballots – but poll workers were unable to find her name and several hundred of her peers’ names on the rolls. They called the local media, civil rights groups and the secretary of state. But they were still waiting for provisional ballots when the polls closed.

Richardson said being disenfranchised was the impetus for a career of using stories to prevent others from being denied their chance at participating in society – first as a law and justice reporter for ABC, then a spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, and now as a special adviser to the New York City mayor.

“It’s one of those things that can either compel you to become more engaged or it can discourage you,” Richardson said. “And discouragement is not what I want.”

In the mayor’s office, Richardson is involved with long-term criminal justice and public safety policy planning and crafting public messages explaining and highlighting the reform work underway. The city’s move toward neighborhood policing has been one of her focuses.

“I just want to say, five years from now, I really had the opportunity and played a role in helping move New York City forward as it relates to criminal justice reform and policing reform, and that the work that we did here made an impact outside of New York,” Richardson said.

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“White House adviser, Harlem poet.”

-ST HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Juris Doctor, University of Michigan Law School cit yand stat eny.com

TWITTER HANDLE: @JLRichardson

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Q: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM? The honorees had a choice of four: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat or Twitter.

Instagram blew the competition out of the water with 18 votes. Facebook and Twitter tied with 11 each.

And nobody picked Snapchat. Poor Snapchat!

11

18

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The Tobman / adler Family

congratulates all of this year’s “40 under 40” honorees with special recognition of friends

will Mack of greenberg traurig & Josh dawsey of the wall street Journal froM our view on the brooklyn side of the bridges, politics and policy are in good hands with the accoMplished professionals singled out by

city & state for well deserved awards

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40 under 40

RAYMOND SANCHEZ JR.

Counsel and Director of Policy, Office of the Bronx Borough President BIRTHDAY:

11/17/1978 York

GREW UP IN: New

Raymond Sanchez is always thinking beyond the borders of the Bronx. Contact him on a Tuesday and he’ll be sitting in on a pension fund lecture in Philadelphia. Call him another day and he will be walking the streets of lower Manhattan, talking a mile a minute, having just stepped out of a conference on Latin-American poverty.

Sanchez says his “beyond-the-Bronx” style is typical of Rubén Díaz Jr.’s office. “If you want to move the needle” on issues affecting the Bronx, he says, “you’ve got to think of all the issues that play into that.”

Sanchez also thinks beyond the typical responsibilities for a lawyer. He uses his background in finance to guide Díaz in his position on the board of trustees for the New York City Employee Retirement System. Sanchez even sits on the speechwriting team, embracing the annual State of the Bronx in a way others in his position may shy away from. “It’s important actually giving a real policy report,” he said. “So many people are so jaded and say government doesn’t do anything.”

Thinking beyond the borders of the mainland borough comes naturally to Sanchez, having been born and raised on the Lower East Side. He’s since moved to Washington Heights – much closer to the Bronx County Courthouse, but still in Manhattan. “My co-workers make fun of me for not living in the Bronx,” Sanchez said. “But I can walk home! You can take your place in Co-op City or Riverdale. I’ll beat you home.”

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“President of a university.”

-JC

HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Juris Doctor, Rutgers School of Law-Newark cit yand stat eny.com

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TOM SCHNURR

Deputy Political Director, New York State Trial Lawyers Association BIRTHDAY:

11/9/1988 York

GREW UP IN: New

“Music is a huge part of what I do,” Tom Schnurr said.

Taking action after a wrongful injury, Schnurr explains, requires somebody with a good sense of rhythm and an ear for harmony. Schnurr will connect the victim with legislators who can tell their story, find out what can be done to make things better, and work to change things in the future – all while he handles the political organizing for the Trial Lawyers Association’s more than 4,000 members.

Schnurr says it isn’t far off from the skills he developed during his time with the Ramblers, Fordham’s all-male a capella group.

Schnurr still goes out for karaoke nights with friends and sits on the alumni advisory committee for the Ramblers’ scholarship fund. “We help raise money for someone in the group to get a scholarship so that they can continue doing what we all like doing,” he said.

With the Trial Lawyers Association, his goals are much broader. “I try and make sure that I’m promoting safety and accountability,” he said, “whether it’s consumers’ rights, workers’ rights or patients’ rights. Helping to make sure, through the civil justice system, that the products people buy are safe. That the work sites people go on are safe. And that when people go to the doctor or the hospital, they are safe as they can be.”

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“Midfielder for Arsenal.”

-JC HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Bachelor of Arts, Fordham University cit yand stat eny.com

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LINDSAY SCOLA

Director of External Affairs, Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment BIRTHDAY:

12/10/1982

GREW UP IN: Washington

state

Lindsay Scola, the self-described “weird kid who always loved politics” who now works as director of external affairs for Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Office of Media and Entertainment, got her start in advocacy by stirring trouble in high school.

When Scola raised questions about the Seattle-area school’s abstinence-only education, a teacher told her to “be part of the solution, not part of the problem.” As a result, Scola wound up as the head of NARAL Pro-Choice America’s youth advisory board for Seattle. The group successfully fought for updated sex education in the state’s schools.

“That experience taught me ... it is possible to make the world a better place,” Scola said.

She went on to work as a congressional staffer before joining Barack Obama’s campaign after witnessing his stirring speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. In between the elections, Scola worked first for the U.S. energy secretary, then for then-U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice.

But now, Scola says, she’s in New York, in a realm she’s wanted to work in for a while.

“For the last couple of years I’ve been very interested in the space that TV plays in pop culture, and that TV has an ability to change hearts and minds in ways that I don’t think people have expected,” she said. “It’s an incredible place to be, especially right now, because New York is in something of a television renaissance.”

Scola doesn’t imagine herself leaving New York any time soon, but said she might consider moving into “the television network space, especially the private-public partnership arenas where TV is doing some incredible work to help make people’s lives better.”

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“Broadway star.”

-WB HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, University of Washington cit yand stat eny.com

TWITTER HANDLE: @lindsayscola

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ALI SIROTA

President and CEO, Sirota Public Relations LLC BIRTHDAY:

12/31/1982 York

GREW UP IN: New

Ali Sirota started a public relations business because she wanted to tell people’s stories – and she has combined this passion with her love of the equestrian world.

“We really want to bring the sport and the horse to the mainstream and elevate that platform a bit,” said Sirota, president and CEO of the boutique firm Sirota Public Relations. “There’s a love of horses that I find to be universal.”

Sirota said she wants to reshape the current narrative and correct misconceptions about the equestrian world.

“There’s the common misconception that the horse does all the work,” she said, but it really is “a team sport between an animal and a human.” Another misconception she has come across is the belief that equestrian sports are only for wealthy athletes.

Among the organizations Sirota’s firm represents, the nonprofit Equestrian Aid Foundation raises money for people in the equestrian world who are struggling financially and need medical care; and the nonprofit Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center helps retrain and find homes for thoroughbred horses that have retired from racing.

But despite a focus on equestrian organizations, Sirota said the firm has attracted a diverse array of clients, in industries ranging from real estate to hospitality to nonprofits.

“We want to (build) long-standing relationships with our clients,” Sirota said. “It’s a partnership: We invest in them as much as they in us.”

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“White House press secretary.”

-AP HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Master of Public Administration, Columbia University cit yand stat eny.com

TWITTER HANDLE: @SirotaPR

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SHANEEK SMITH Director of Operations, Yoswein New York Inc. BIRTHDAY:

5/16/1985 (the island) and New York

GREW UP IN: Jamaica

Looking back at her time as a student in New York City’s public schools, Shaneek Smith remembers students in her math class being selected for after-school programs like Chess-in-the-Schools. Years later, she would find herself representing the same group with the public affairs firm Yoswein. “When I realized this was one of our clients, I was extremely happy because I’d seen it at work in the school itself,” she said.

Smith finds a special joy in seeing her efforts make a difference in children’s lives. “A lot of students, they’re not used to this,” she said. “To have people come to school and provide this opportunity for them, it’s a wonderful thing.”

Smith’s clients vary, but they include powerhouses like the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and Maimonides Medical Center. She came to Yoswein hoping to see a different side of politics after years working for former City Council Speaker Christine Quinn – and she has.

Smith says her work connecting her clients to elected officials and the community at large has led to her proudest moment: receiving this 40 Under 40 Rising Star award.

“I am very proud of the hard work we did as a team working on behalf of our clients,” she said. “But to be acknowledged and my potential being seen by others – that they would deem me worthy of the nomination rises above it all.”

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“Nurse practitioner.”

-JC

HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Bachelor of Science, University at Albany cit yand stat eny.com

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s n o i t a l u t a r g n Co MELISSA CHAPMAN

Senior Vice President, Public Affairs| Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce

Your hard work and dedication inspires all of us!

e

Sincerely,

Risa, Jenn, Peter and Serin

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INGRID D. SOTELO

Director, Community Action Center, City Comptroller’s Office BIRTHDAY:

8/13/1988 York

GREW UP IN: New

When Ingrid Sotelo began organizing “Shred Day” events through the New York City Comptroller’s Office last year – bringing a van with a paper shredder to senior centers throughout the city – she was delighted to see so many people attend.

“I’ve seen constituents come who have (had a) bulk of documents since 1950,” said Sotelo, director of the comptroller’s Community Action Center. “There have been people who brought a carful of boxes.”

The idea for the event emerged from another program Sotelo organized at senior centers, educating older residents about fraud prevention. In the course of those conversations, she learned many seniors did not know how to dispose of documents they had accumulated without the risk of having their personal information compromised. It’s one of several programs she has spearheaded at the Community Action Center.

“We basically do what any local elected office would do on a bigger spectrum,” Sotelo said. “I always say it is ‘the mini 311,’ because the phone is always ringing.”

Sotelo, who grew up in East Harlem, said she knew she wanted to work with constituents and provide community services ever since she did a student fellowship through the office of then-Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer.

“I was seeing the changes that were happening to the immigrant community there,” Sotelo said, describing her work in East Harlem and Washington Heights on behalf of the organization Centro de la Comunidad Mexicana. “That shaped me into wanting to give back to that community.”

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“College guidance counselor.”

-AP HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Bachelor of Arts, Marymount Manhattan College cit yand stat eny.com

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JOEL STEINHAUS

Chief of Staff, Office of the Chairman, Citigroup; Chairman, New Yorkers for Parks BIRTHDAY:

10/31/1981 City, Missouri

GREW UP IN: Kansas

As both chairman of the board of New Yorkers for Parks and chief of staff to the chairman of Citigroup, Joel Steinhaus said the most satisfying part of both jobs is working at the intersection of the public and private sectors.

“I think the two are obviously interdependent and for us to make progress, each has to have an appreciation for the other,” Steinhaus said.

Steinhaus originally came to Citigroup as chief of staff to its head of global public affairs, during an “interesting time” for U.S. financial institutions coming out of the crisis.

“My perspective has been that corporations need to be broad-minded in this multistakeholder world that we’re in,” Steinhaus said. “Working for Citi has been a lot of fun, not least because I came right before we celebrated our 200th anniversary.”

But for Steinhaus, part of the joy of his work also comes from where it is: New York City. He says the amount of influence that the city holds over the rest of the nation and the world makes what he does significantly more satisfying.

“You think about New York City as an urban example for cities across the world,” he said. “I think there’s a great opportunity to be a global bank in New York helping cities with growing populations and everything that comes with that.”

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“General manager, Kansas City Royals.”

-WB

HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Master of Business Administration, Yale School of Management cit yand stat eny.com

TWITTER HANDLE: @thesteinhaus

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JEROME WHITE

Chief of Staff, Office of the First Deputy Commissioner, City Administration for Children’s Services BIRTHDAY:

6/25/1977 York

GREW UP IN: New

As a child growing up between Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights, Jerome White knew he one day wanted a job that would let him “serve the city.”

“I grew up in the communities that were most affected by things like crime and poverty,” White said. “I was able to see a lot of the worst that was happening.”

For White, it was an easy decision to take his first job in New York City with the Center for Economic Opportunity, because it put him in a position to help “move the city forward.” He then worked with the Department of Citywide Administrative Services before taking his current job as the chief of staff to the first deputy commissioner of the Administration for Children’s Services.

“Here I am at ACS, working to keep families together,” White said. “We’ve had some great successes. ACS exists because there are broken families and tragedies, but we do a lot of great work here trying to keep folks together.”

White attributes a lot of his success to the stalwart support of his family and to his mentors in the different city agencies.

“I’m grateful to the people who have given me opportunities to grow and be creative while working over these last few years,” White said. “They’ve given me a great groundwork and training in what it means to be someone who moves the city forward.”

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“President of a philanthropic foundation.”

-WB

HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Juris Doctor, Howard University School of Law cit yand stat eny.com

TWITTER HANDLE: @JDWhite112

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WAYNE K. WILLIAMS

Senior Adviser for Intergovernmental Relations, Kings County District Attorney’s Office BIRTHDAY:

11/27/1977 York

GREW UP IN: New

Whether it was the debate team or a great civics class, almost everyone in public service formed their passion for government in the classroom. Wayne Williams did too – but up front as an instructor. He spent three years with a nonprofit teaching character development in New York City classrooms. “It was the platform that allowed me to feel like I was giving back,” he said. “It was a great experience. It gave me the initial thirst to be a part of a more expanded, broader platform around social change and social awareness.”

That thirst brought Williams from then-Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries’ office to a position in the state Senate chamber to a job with the Department of Financial Services.

Now he is excited to be beginning again with the Brooklyn district attorney. Fittingly, he is most excited about the program called “Begin Again” – vacating warrants for more than 1,000 minor nonviolent offenders.

“And that’s really, in my opinion, how you bridge the divide, bridge the gap between law enforcement and community, when you work with our community partners and stakeholders in a way that is as proactive as what we’ve done with D.A.’s office,” he said. “Not waiting for folks to make a mistake and come in the system to hold them accountable.”

He said his roots are the source of his passion. “I was born in Flatbush, raised in Flatbush, graduated from high school at South Shore High School. Went to college at St. Francis College,” he said. “I don’t know what any other city or borough looks like!”

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“Serving in my current capacity is a continuum of the role that I’ve enjoyed for the past 10 years and would not trade it for any other.”

-JC HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Bachelor of Arts in Communications, St. Francis College cit yand stat eny.com

TWITTER HANDLE: @waynekeithjr

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JAMES YOLLES

Associate, Risa Heller Communications BIRTHDAY:

4/8/1981

GREW UP IN: Baltimore,

Maryland

James Yolles, currently an associate at Risa Heller Communications, attributes much of his success to the mentoring of his former boss, Holly Leicht of New Yorkers for Parks, and current boss, Risa Heller, the CEO and founder of Risa Heller Communications.

“There are few things more important, I think, in professional life than a good boss,” Yolles said.

Working with Leicht, Yolles helped the organization weigh in on land-use issues, which he says taught him the skills he uses in his current role. Leicht, he said, taught him that “you need a little idealism and a little pragmatism to get things done in New York City.”

In his new role with Risa Heller, Yolles says he enjoys his working environment largely because of the freedom Heller gives him to interact and strategize directly with clients.

“The fact that every day I get to play a role in shaping the public policy conversation in the city is really rewarding,” he said.

Yolles didn’t set out to become a public relations associate; he studied journalism in graduate school at Columbia.

“I always loved New York City issues and writing, but I realized I didn’t necessarily want the day-to-day life of a reporter,” Yolles said. Public relations work, meanwhile, lets him work on issues that he loves, “but I still get to write on deadline every day.”

For the immediate future, he sees himself staying in New York City.

“I love working on issues that shape the landscape of the city,” he said. “I want to stay here, where the action is.”

Q: If you could swap your current job for any other job, what would it be?

“Newspaper editorial writer.”

-WB HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED:

Master of Science, Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism cit yand stat eny.com

TWITTER HANDLE: @jamesyolles

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Q: WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? We asked what state or country each of our honorees grew up in.

Though many were born and raised in good ol’ New York, members of the Rising Stars class of 2015 hail from all over the world.

New York: 24 New Jersey: 2

Moscow: 1

South Carolina: 1 Washington: 1

Jamaica: 1

Maryland: 1

Florida: 1 California: 1

Massachusetts: 2

Michigan: 1 Missouri: 1 Kentucky : 1 Oklahoma: 1

Guyana : 1

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