2023 Power Players Rising

Allison Considine is an organizer and campaigner, and is thrilled to be taking on NY’s largest source of climate pollution — buildings — with the Building Decarbonization Coalition. BDC harnesses the power of coalition to effectuate a swift and equitable transition off of fossil fuels in buildings to improve public health, cut air pollution, prioritize high road jobs, and ensure community resiliency. Previously, Allison worked as the senior NY campaign representative for the Sierra Club, organizing to block new gas-fired power plants and advocating for clean energy and clean transportation.

What are you most proud of accomplishing so far in 2023?
I’m proud to have been a part of the movement to pass the All-Electric Buildings Act, a nation-leading measure to eliminate fossil fuels from new construction, and in organizing to get the NY Home Energy Affordable Transition Act passed in the Senate. There was an incredible coalition from Renewable Heat Now, Gas Free NY, NYRenews, and others to advance these transformative bills, which will protect ratepayers, reduce climate pollution, and unlock highly-efficient electrified homes. 

What advice would you give to someone starting off in your industry?
Organize workers! In your workplace or with the labor movement. I got my start as a labor organizer working alongside nurses to build the union at their hospitals, and learning to organize within the labor movement is the best training in relationship building, power mapping, and campaign planning you can get. 

If you weren’t in your current career, what else would you be doing?
I would be biking across the US. Exploring the incredible parks, wild places, and communities in our country by bicycle never fails to fill me with awe at the natural wonders we must protect from fossil-fuel driven climate change, and the hospitality, curiosity, and helpfulness I encounter on the road from strangers gives me faith that people can pull together to build a more just, equitable, electrified future. 

Kathleen Corradi is New York City’s first-ever citywide director of rodent mitigation. Spearheading sustainability, sanitation, and space utilization projects, Corradi has dedicated her career to developing effective systems in service of a more equitable and resilient NYC. Prior to serving as the “Rat Czar,” Corradi worked as an elementary school teacher, directed NYC Zero Waste Schools Program, and oversaw facilities utilization in the Office of Space Planning. Corradi earned a B.S. in biology from Eckerd College, and a M.S. in urban sustainability from The City College of New York.

Justin Cortes, a devoted chief of staff, embodies transformative leadership with a commitment to public service. Raised in the West Bronx, his passion for the arts propelled him through academic success. From community volunteering to financial advising, he sought opportunities to give back. Now chief of staff to Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson, Cortes fosters positive relationships, bringing essential resources to the Bronx, inspiring and hiring a diverse workforce, and tirelessly striving for progress and prosperity as he creates a brighter future for all Bronxites.

What are you most proud of accomplishing so far in 2023?
I’m immensely proud of curating a strong, diverse, and caring team dedicated to the growth and prosperity of the Bronx. Our focus is on advancing economic development, policy, and tourism while ensuring our offices reflect the rich tapestry of cultures, races, and genders in our county. We also retained and acquired exceptional talent that has been paramount, while fostering an inclusive and warm work environment where everyone feels like family here at Borough Hall.

What advice would you give to someone starting off in your industry?
Stay humble, consistent, and true to who you are. This work, nor anyone else’s opinion of you, should never defy you in this political industry.

If you weren’t in your current career, what else would you be doing?
Missionary and humanitarian relief work. But, truthfully, there’s no other place I would rather be at such a time as this, where my Borough needs me the most.

Richard Davis started as a bus operator in Manhattan in1985 and worked his way up to vice president of MaBSTOA, then to secretary-treasurer, and finally president of the largest transportation union in America representing 45,000 transit workers, mostly with the MTA. He has worked to raise the profile of women within the union, to enhance safety for the workforce, and to train a new generation to take on the challenges of the 21st Century.

Dasheeda Dawson currently serves as the founding director of Cannabis NYC, the New York City Department of Small Business Services’ initiative to support the growing cannabis industry. Dawson is a global cannabis advocate, award-winning Fortune 100 business strategist, and a bestselling author on the cannabis industry. Her advocacy and thought leadership have been featured across multiple outlets. Dawson has nearly 20 years of business development, strategic management, and brand marketing excellence while leading organizations in both the public and private sectors.

Victor DeStefano is a dynamic healthcare executive with deep New York roots. As interim president of New York commercial business, he oversees health plans generating more than $4 billion in revenue, serving 3.5 million members, supporting Empire’s mission to materially and measurably improve the lives of all New Yorkers. Previously, DeStefano served as general manager and regional vice president of sales. He holds degrees from Binghamton University and Columbia University. DeStefano serves as a mentor with American Corporate Partners and has a leadership role with Breaking Ground.

What are you most proud of accomplishing so far in 2023?
I’m most proud of my work cultivating talent across our organization in New York. Through mentorship programs, job rotations, and leadership training, I partner with associates showing high potential to support their professional growth. Developing skilled, compassionate associates is essential to improving the healthcare experience for the people we serve and the healthcare system overall.

What advice would you give to someone starting off in your industry?
My advice is to stay focused on the end goal of improving health outcomes and experiences. Leverage technology and care innovations that make health care more proactive, personalized, and human-centered — this holds immense potential to transform and elevate health care for all.

If you weren’t in your current career, what else would you be doing?
If I wasn’t in my current health care leadership role, I’d likely be developing public health policy at the state or federal level. I’m passionate about driving systemic changes that make quality health care more accessible and equitable for all.

Gustavo Dudamel is driven by the belief that music has the power to transform lives, to inspire, and to change the world. Through his dynamic presence on the podium and his tireless advocacy for arts education, he has introduced classical music to new audiences around the globe. Dudamel currently serves as music and artistic director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and music director of the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra, and in 2026, he becomes the music and artistic director of the New York Philharmonic.

Margot Edelman oversees Edelman’s New York operation as general manager, leading a community of over 800 employees in Edelman’s largest global office. A 12-year veteran of the firm, Edelman has served in a variety of leadership roles across the network, including leading Edelman’s Bay Area office and tech practice, and was most recently deputy general manager for Edelman New York. Edelman holds a BA in history and economics and a MBA from Harvard University.

Nicholas Farina is vice president of operations at EOS Hospitality. In this role, Farina focuses on operational strategy and support for the over 50 hotels in the portfolio. He works alongside the property leaders to understand their needs and find resources to help achieve their goals. He also streamlines processes in collaboration with the properties, to help provide consistent practices across the portfolio. Farina boasts almost 20 years of hospitality industry experience. 

What are you most proud of accomplishing so far in 2023?
I am most proud and humbled to be given the opportunity to join EOS Hospitality and EOS Investors. The position that I am in allows me to be a part of re-shaping the hospitality industry as we look to put COVID behind us and create an environment that attracts new people to an exciting industry.  

What advice would you give to someone starting off in your industry?
It is very important to know that hard work does pay off! There is so much opportunity to build skills in so many different disciplines that will always challenge you to grow. The best part is that if you are a person who genuinely enjoys taking care of and supporting others, you will find success and fulfillment as you grow in your career, and AI can’t replace that! 

If you weren’t in your current career, what else would you be doing?
I genuinely enjoy the people in our industry and being of service to our guests and our teams, so I imagine I would have otherwise pursued another career that focused on taking care of others.

Chief Michael Fields is a 28-year veteran of the department. As Chief of EMS Operations, he will oversee the department’s 4,000+ EMTs, paramedics, EMS officers, and civilian employees in the EMS Bureau, and will be responsible for overseeing operations, planning, strategic initiatives, and logistics. With this appointment, Chief Fields has become the first Black man in department history to advance his career to this prestigious rank.