Lee H. Perlman is the Chair of the New York Convention Center Operating Corporation. Lifelong New Yorker Lee H. Perlman has dedicated his career to serving others. From 1983 to 2020, he was the driving force behind, and longtime President of, GNYHA Ventures, Inc., the for-profit business arm of the Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYHA). As GNYHA Ventures President, Mr. Perlman oversaw a portfolio that included subsidiaries engaged in group purchasing, management outsourcing, and health care consulting. He managed the development of the companies created under GNYHA Ventures, many of which were ultimately sold to Premier, Inc., a national health care improvement company. Under Mr. Perlman’s leadership, GNYHA Ventures developed and sold four companies to Premier, Inc. Mr. Perlman continues his 40 years of service at GNYHA as President of GNYHA Management Corporation and GNYH Foundation and Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative and Financial Officer of GNYHA. A dedicated volunteer and philanthropist, Mr. Perlman devotes significant energy to not-for-profits involved in health care, education, and the arts. In 2023, he received City and State’s Responsible 100 Award, which honors a selection of New Yorkers for their social responsibility and community involvement. In 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul appointed him Chairman of the New York Convention Center Operating Corporation (Javits Center). Additionally, he is Chairman of the Friends of EverGreen Meadow Academy, Inc., a state-of-the-art residential treatment center and school under construction in the Catskills for middle-school girls recovering from trauma. He also serves as Chairman of the International Sports and Music Project, which brings sports and music opportunities to kids facing hardship across the globe. He previously served as Chairman of LiveOnNY, the New York metropolitan region’s organ procurement organization, and was on the Board of Ronald McDonald House New York. Mr. Perlman is Board President of the Berkshire Theatre Group in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and Vice Chair and Compliance Officer of the American Theatre Wing. He also serves on the Boards of Musicians on Call and the Entertainment Community Fund (where he previously served as Treasurer for many years) and was recently named Board President of the Actors Fund Home in New Jersey. Mr. Perlman also serves many Jewish philanthropic agencies. He was recently named Chairman of Commonpoint, a citywide set of Jewish community centers and social services agencies. Additionally, he serves on the Board of the UJA Federation of New York, where he was previously Chair of the Healthcare Executive Committee. Mr. Perlman received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Binghamton University and his Master’s degree in Business Administration from Cornell University, where he is a distinguished lecturer for the Brooks School of Public Policy.

Quenia Abreu serves as the President and CEO New York Women’s Chamber of Commerce (NYWCC), the first such organization in New York State that she helped to create, along with other businesswoman and community leaders. Today, the NYWCC counts more than 7,000 members and has provided technical assistance and training to more than 20,000 entrepreneurs, assisted with the creation of 10,000+ new businesses and aided entrepreneurs in accessing $45 million in capital and $65 million in procurement contracts. It also has helped over 5,000 entrepreneurs apply for Minority/Women Business Enterprise (M/WBE) certification through its M/WBE Center and Women’s Microenterprise Institute. A highly respected advocate for equal opportunity for women and minority entrepreneurs, Ms. Abreu works closely with elected officials, business and community leaders to ensure the growth and success of small businesses in the City and State. In collaboration with elected officials and community leaders, she helped pass Local Law 129, now M/WBE Local Law 1, and Article 15-A which mandate M/WBE participation in City and State projects. Abreu is a member of the M/WBE Advisory Boards for Mayor Bill de Blasio, the NYC School Construction Authority and the Department of Education and serves on a New York State board guiding the State’s reopening strategy. Ms. Abreu has received numerous awards, including the Business Leader Award for creating opportunities for immigrants to become economically empowered individuals given by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. In July 2021, she was awarded Crain’s New York Business’ first ever Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion Award in the Civic Diversity Heroes Category. Ms. Abreu holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Marketing and International Trade and is a graduate of the Executive Education Program at the Chicago Graduate School of Business.

Hugh L. Carey II serves as a public-sector restructuring and bankruptcy consultant for Alvarez & Marsal Public Sector Services, LLC, a consulting firm that specializes in advising financially troubled companies. He previously served as a trader at Samuel A. Ramirez & Co. He graduated from Union College in Schenectady, NY, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.

Joseph Chan serves as the Senior Vice President of Real Estate and Property Management at the YMCA of Greater New York and has more than two decades of experience in community and economic development. Prior to the YMCA of Greater New York, Mr. Chan served for five years as Executive Vice President, Real Estate and Public/Private Partnerships at Empire State Development (ESD), New York State’s chief economic development agency. During his tenure, he oversaw the agency’s large-scale public/private development projects and priorities. From 2006 to 2011, Mr. Chan was the founding president of the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, a nonprofit local development corporation. Under his leadership, the company promoted and advanced the growth of downtown Brooklyn, New York City’s third largest central business district. Previously, he served for four years as a Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development in the New York City’s Mayor Office during the Bloomberg administration. He also has held leadership positions in the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and Local Development Corporation of East New York. In 2008, Mr. Chan was named one of Crain’s New York Business’ "40 Under 40." The following year, he received the NYU Wagner School of Public Service Torch Award for Distinguished Young Alumni.

Fred Dixon is President and Chief Executive Officer of Brand USA, the nation's public-private partnership dedicated to increasing international visitation to the United States through marketing and promotional efforts. In this role, Fred is responsible for accelerating the organization’s efforts to build and execute effective marketing strategies to increase U.S. travel exports, create jobs, strengthen the economy, and help enhance the image of the United States with people all over the world. Fred Dixon began his tenure as Brand USA’s President and CEO on July 15, 2024. He brings with him more than 30 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry. Immediately prior to joining Brand USA, he served as President and CEO of NYC Tourism + Conventions for 10 years where he developed and implemented New York City’s tourism, meetings, and events strategy and programming to grow business and leisure travel from across the US and from around the world. Under his leadership of NYC Tourism + Conventions, international visitation more than doubled to more than 13 million travelers; the result of a long-term strategy to create a global network of outposts comprising sales, marketing, and press professionals in diverse feeder markets including Australia, China, Mexico, Brazil and the UK. Dixon is highly respected within the travel industry and serves on several association boards and committees. He is the Immediate Past Chair of Destinations International, serves on the board of IGLTA, the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association, the U.S. Travel Association Executive Committee, and is a trustee for the FIFA World Cup 2026 NY/NJ Host Committee.

Christy Ferer founded Vidicom a multi-media agency creating branded content and connecting consumers and brands through digital video communities. Its subsidiary, Citybuzz, is a travel channel that is broadcast on the web, in taxis, elevators and in NYC hotels. Ferer began her career as an Emmy award- winning political news reporter and as a lifestyle contributor for the network morning news shows. She also served as a special assistant to Mayor Bloomberg on the rebuilding of the World Trade Center site after the 9-11 attacks. Ferer served as a Commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for five year. She has served on boards of The World Trade Center Performing Arts Center and American Corporate Partners. She currently serves on the boards of American Corporate Partners, the 92nd Street Y and the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in Lower Manhattan. In 2010 she was awarded the French Legion of Honor.

Ronald Goldstock is Of Counsel with the Chicago-based law firm, Pugh, Jones and Johnson, P.C. He provides Independent Private-Sector Inspector General (IPSIG), expert witness and investigative services for corporate, union and individual clients. For 10 years, Mr. Goldstock served as the New York State Commissioner of the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor and previously served for 13 years as Director of the New York State Organized Crime Task Force. He also has served as Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Labor, Director of the Cornell Institute on Organized Crime and Chief of the Rackets Bureau in the New York County District Attorney's office. He is a Past Chair of the ABA Criminal Justice Section, Past Chairs of the ABA Criminal Justice Standards Committee, the Investigative Function of the Prosecutor Task Force, the Fair Trial Free Press Task Force and is currently Chair of the Monitors Task Force. Mr. Goldstock is on the faculties of New York University, Cornell University and Columbia Law School and has recently served three Northern Ireland Secretaries of State as adviser on matters relating to international organized crime.

Richard N. Gottfried served as a Member of the New York State Assembly for 52 years, elected in 1970 while still in law school. He retired in December 2022, making him the longest-serving member of the Legislature in New York State history. He was a Democrat representing a Manhattan district including Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen, Midtown, and part of the Upper West Side. In 1979, he was the Assembly sponsor of the legislation creating the New York Convention Center Development Corporation and the New York Convention Center Operating Corporation and was also the author of the law creating Hudson River Park. Since 1987, he had chaired the New York State Assembly Committee on Health and worked to protect funding for Medicaid, community health centers, school health clinics, and other safety net providers, and creating and expanding public health insurance programs in New York, including Child Health Plus and the Essential Plan. He sponsored the N.Y. Health Act to create a universal “improved Medicare for all” single-payer health plan for New York. He was a leading proponent of patient autonomy and reproductive freedom and was the sponsor of the law to allow medical use of marijuana in New York and the HIV Testing and Confidentiality Law. His other legislative work included promoting primary and preventive care; the Health Care Proxy Law; the Family Health Care Decisions Act; and expanding and strengthening the professional stature of nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and midwives. He introduced the first Assembly bill to recognize same-sex marriage and sponsored the bill to protect transgender rights under the state Human Rights Law. Mr. Gottfried is a graduate of Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences and Columbia Law School. He is a member of the New York Civil Liberties Union, the Art Students League and the China Institute.

Steven C. Koppel serves as a partner at the law firm, Sidley Austin LLP, where he specializes in all aspects of real estate private equity and real estate finance, including a national practice in community development law. With more than 25 years of experience, he represents institutional equity investors throughout the United States and in Europe in the acquisition, development and financing of office buildings, hotels, multifamily housing, public storage facilities, shopping malls and condominium projects. Mr. Koppel sits on the Board of Directors of The Doe Fund, the advisory board of the Rabbinical School at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, the International Advisory Board for the Peres Center for Peace and also serves as a Board Member at Congregation Bnai Jeshurun. He is a graduate of Columbia University and earned his Juris Doctor degree from The George Washington University Law School.

Gary J. Lavine is counsel to Bousquet Holstein PLLC on administrative law. Previously, Mr. Lavine was senior vice president & chief legal officer of Niagara Mohawk Holdings, Inc. and senior vice president, legal & corporate relations of Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation. He served in the U.S. Department of Energy as Deputy General Counsel for Environment & Nuclear Programs managing a portfolio including Assistant General Counsel for International & National Security Programs, Assistant General Counsel for Environment, and Assistant General Counsel for Civilian Nuclear Programs. Mr. Lavine served in a number of staff positions with the New York State Legislature, including Legislative Counsel to the Minority Leader of the Assembly, Counsel to the Senate Committee on Insurance, Executive Director of the Senate Committee on Corporations, Authorities & Commissions, and Assistant to the Chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Reapportionment.

Andrew M. Murstein is the founder, Board Member, President and largest shareholder of Medallion Financial Corp., a publicly traded finance Company (NASDAQ:MFIN). Medallion's predecessor company was started in 1937 and has invested over $10 billion since its I.P.O. Mr. Murstein and Medallion Financial Corp. have been featured in articles in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, American Banker, U.S. Banker, Forbes and many other media outlets. Mr. Murstein received a B.A. graduating cum laude from Tufts University and an M.B.A. from New York University.

Brian O’Dwyer serves Of Counsel to O’Dwyer & Bernstien, LLP, a law firm founded by his late father, Paul, where he specializes in immigration rights, personal injury, labor relations and general commercial litigation. As a strong advocate for immigrants’ rights, Mr. O’Dwyer founded the Emerald Isle Immigration Center, the largest Irish immigrant center in the United States, and has served as chairman and counselor to the Asociacion Tepeyac de New York, which provides advocacy and services to the Mexican community. Mr. O’Dwyer is a graduate of The George Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish-American literature. He earned his Masters of Arts degree in Spanish-Language literature from Middlebury College in Madrid and received his Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University and a Masters in Law from The George Washington University.

Joseph E. Spinnato is President and CEO of the Hotel Association of New York City, Inc., which represents over 200 hotels, employs over 30,000 people and generates billions of dollars in revenues for the City. He served as Fire Commissioner of New York City during the Koch administration, as First Assistant to the Special Prosecutor for Nursing Homes, and First Assistant to the District Attorney at the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office. He is also a member of the Board of Advisors of City Harvest, the Cardinal’s Committee for Charity, Board of Directors of Just One Break, Inc., Board of Directors of the Big Apple Greeters, Inc., and the Board of Trustees of St. Vincent’s Hospital and Medical Center in Manhattan. A quintessential New Yorker, Mr. Spinnato was born in Queens and attended public schools there until he entered LaSalle Military Academy in Oakdale, NY. He graduated from St. John’s University and received his law degree from the University of Miami Law School in Coral Gables, Florida.