2022 Power Players Rising

Grace C. Bonilla, Esq. has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the nonprofit and public sectors. She is president and CEO of United Way of New York City. Grace was senior vice president for Latin America at Covenant House International. She was appointed by Mayor Bill de Blasio to serve as the first executive director of the Task Force on Racial Equity and Inclusion and was also appointed as administrator of the Human Resources Administration leading the largest local social services agency in the country.

Taína Borrero has nearly 20 years of experience in government relations, communications, nonprofit fundraising, events, and business development. At the Hayes Initiative, Taína leads business development efforts and provides public affairs support to numerous clients. Earlier this year she served as senior advisor on Latino Strategy & Outreach to the NY State Democratic Party, working closely on the election campaign for the first female governor of New York. Taína is a graduate of Princeton University (MPA), and Hunter College (BA). She serves on Manhattan Community Board 8.

What is your biggest accomplishment in 2022?
In 2022, I was recognized as one of City and State’s 2022 Albany 40 under 40 and Crain’s 2022 Notable Hispanic Leaders.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out their careers?
Keep in touch with your mentors, managers, and colleagues – you never know where people will end up and how your paths will cross. And say yes to everything that leadership at your organization offers – to take on additional work, to travel for a project, to work late or on a weekend to help meet a deadline or time sensitive project. Your managers notice that and appreciate your willingness to go the extra mile.

Was there something or someone who inspired you to start your journey on your current career path?
I grew up in and around politics and media from a young age so in many ways I feel like my career path chose me and I feel very lucky for that. I have also had incredible, strong female mentors in my life my entire career that have inspired me and whom I still rely on to this day for guidance whenever I’m making a major career decision.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I’m never leaving New York City so geographically, I’ll still be here. Professionally, I’m at a great place in my career – doing what I love to do with colleagues I enjoy working alongside. In five years, I hope to still be doing that, but at a larger scale.

May Boucherak was recently appointed as principal at KPMG. May began her career at KPMG more than ten years ago as an associate and has worked her way up through the ranks to her current position of principal where she works as one of the firm’s top leaders. In this role, May provides regulatory compliance and internal audit services to state and local government clients.

Rachel Bruce is a public servant, regional planner, and organizer. The daughter of two union members, Rachel believes in the power of unions, resurrecting the labor activism arm of the NYS Young Democrats and earning their Caucus of the Year Award. She was named a Labor Power Player by AMNY/Politics NY and earned Orange County Democrats’ Labor Award. Rachel served in the executive chamber as a policy advisor for economic development. Whether on the picket line or behind the scenes, Rachel is committed to elevating working people throughout NYS.

What is your biggest accomplishment in 2022?
My biggest accomplishment of 2022, aside from being named to this list, would probably be running for the Town Council in Woodbury, NY where I was born and raised. If elected to the seat, I will be the youngest woman to ever represent the Town of Woodbury. To learn more about my race, please visit my website www.rachelbruceforwoodbury.com or consider following my Facebook page “Rachel Bruce for Woodbury Town Council.”

Do you have any advice for those just starting out their careers?
Although it may be daunting, remember who you are and stay true to yourself. It is not easy being the youngest person in the room, especially when you may find yourself going against the grain. At the same time, listen, take notes, and ask questions. There is a lot to learn and a lot of teachers, some of whom may be unlikely, willing to help you along the way.

Was there something or someone who inspired you to start your journey on your current career path?
I first pursued public service because of where I grew up and the challenges my community faced. I witnessed first-hand the importance of civic participation to ensure our community is moving in the right direction. My parents especially taught me the importance of being respectful and standing up for what you believe in, even if it means standing on your own. I carry these lessons with me in everything I do.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In five years, I hope to still be working with, standing up for, and supporting hardworking people in their fights for justice, whatever those fights may be. Above all else, my biggest priority is to be happy.

Ramón Cabral is a first-generation Dominican-American and a lifelong resident of Bronx, NY. Ramón was re-elected state committeeman of the 87th Assembly district. He started his political consulting company, Blue Lion Strategies, because he saw a need for more young Latinos and people of color to have a seat at the table and help influence how candidates should be addressing concerns in our communities. He most recently consulted on campaigns for a state senate seat and a slate of five judicial candidates in the Bronx.

What is your biggest accomplishment in 2022?
One of my biggest accomplishments in 2022 was learning how to take on multiple clients at the same time and understanding some of the challenges that come with that. This gave me the experience I needed to learn how to be a better business owner and better manage the commitments that I take on.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out their careers?
Be willing to take calculated risks and understand that the outcomes will not always be what you want, but you will have at least tried to do something that you are passionate about.

Was there something or someone who inspired you to start your journey on your current career path?
My father has always been an inspiration in public service. He is a small business owner of a livery cab base and has contributed to the community in so many ways. He is an immigrant from the Dominican Republic and has been able to successfully maintain a business in operation for 43 years in one of the most bureaucratic cities in the world.

Jesse embodies the essence of a multi-cultured American. He is a proud public school father and community organizer. Fighting for the underdog has always been Jesse’s family business. From his first civil disobedience arrest at age 13 throughout his entire career in politics his goal has always been to make sure the voice of the oppressed are heard in rooms of power. As a political operative Jesse has been like a fireman and a janitor putting out political fires and cleaning up political messes for powerful institutions his entire career.

What is your biggest accomplishment in 2022?
Starting Campoamor & Sons and delivering major victories for our clients. Most notably, working with Erica Ford and Life Camp to win one of the first conditional adult use retail dispensaries in New York. Erica is the first black woman to own a retail dispensary license in the State of New York. Additionally, Jesse worked with NBA hall of fame honoree Chris Webber on his entry into the NYS cannabis market.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out their careers?
This advice is specifically for Black and Brown operatives out there starting their career. Too often we are expected to be “field, relationship” people, and help our principals penetrate communities they would otherwise have difficulty entering. Take the time to gain substantive knowledge and expertise in a specific subject/topic. Too often the people making the decisions are too far removed from the people on the ground impacted by those decisions. Cut out the middle person.

Was there something or someone who inspired you to start your journey on your current career path?
David Smith, my grandfather, has always been my inspiration. He was a marathon runner up until his late 70s and had an unparalleled motor. He was also a tireless advocate for affordable housing in our city and believed in the need to oppose and contain “unbridled greed”. My grandfather grounded me in the humanity in the work we do. It has been and always will be about the people, he taught me that.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Celebrating 5 successful years of Campoamor & Sons alongside my friends, family, and colleagues.

April Cardena is a first-generation Mexican-American and a native New Yorker. Professionally, April is a seasoned political operative, avid criminal justice reform advocate and founding partner of Premier Strategies Inc. April is a proud recipient of acknowledgments from the Princeton Prize in Race Relations through her continued efforts to advance racial equity across New York. April holds a degree in criminal justice and social sciences, sits on several Young Advisory Boards that work with the underserved, underprivileged, and under-resourced groups of New York City and has worked with multiple DEI organizations and projects.  

What is your biggest accomplishment in 2022?
Biggest accomplishment? That’s a hard question due to the nature of the question. I was raised to always look up and forward, no matter where you are in your life, career, or personal timeline. But, I guess if I had to pick something I’m particularly proud of for 2022, I would have to say graduating and watching my brother graduate. As a post-traditional and first-gen student, this a momentous moment for me and my family.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out their careers?
Take the risk. So often we question our talent, our capabilities, and whether or not we deserve an offer, promotion, or chance to grow. The answer is always yes. In particular, if you are the first to do something in your family (graduate, immigrate, etc), I know it’s hard and nerve wracking, but know your worth and know that someone is always watching you and being inspired by your actions and bravery.

Was there something or someone who inspired you to start your journey on your current career path?
My parents, their journey, and my younger brother have all inspired, and continue to inspire, me to break barriers, push boundaries, and surpass limitations. Growing up in the South Bronx and seeing the economic inequities that swallowed our neighborhood was also a stimulant in my desire to challenge societal norms, create a platform for those that needed some form of advocacy, and continue fighting to change institutionally biased policies.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
The plan is to graduate from law school and practice criminal law. As a defense attorney, I will offer adequate and adept legal counsel to those who are most vulnerable to the criminal justice system. As a person of color, I know that institutions are stigmatized and biased – I also know how hard it is to find fair representation within them- I will make it my mission to serve those that need it the most.

Prior to joining the New York City Mayor’s Office, Jessica was a fifteen-year veteran of New York politics. Jess spent five years at Red Horse Strategies as a vice president using her expertise in field, communications, organizing, and management to assist a variety of clients on the New York City Council to a statewide level in New York and across the country. She started her career with the Working Families Party, eventually serving as the New York state elections director. Jessica was born in Brooklyn and raised on New Jersey Coast Guard bases.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out their careers?
I had a boss early on who told me, “you know you don’t have to hate your job.” It sounds a little naive, but being in a place where you’re fully supported and respected, and that ensures you don’t hate your job is something everyone deserves. The best work you’ll do that does the most good will be for and with people, places, and causes that teach you, support you, and fulfill you.

Was there something or someone who inspired you to start your journey on your current career path?
I graduated from college in 2008 with a mountain of student debt and no plan. I answered a craigslist ad and took what I thought was a temporary campaign job at WFP by chance and stayed for seven years. The people I met in and around the NYC campaign world in the ensuing years became friends, mentors, and/or colleagues who have inspired me every day since.

Carlo Casa is the director of policy and research at  New York Building Congress, an organization that advocates on behalf of the construction industry. With a passion for public policy and a zeal for creative problem solving, he brings a data-focused approach to writing reports, testimonies, and memos that promote essential development and infrastructure projects. Prior to joining the team at the Building Congress, he worked for MTA Bridges and Tunnels where he created models to forecast traffic and revenue and worked on congestion pricing.  

What is your biggest accomplishment in 2022?
I’m really proud of our 100 Years: Projects report, which identified the most critical infrastructure projects for securing New York’s future. These projects will bring jobs to our workforce, grow our economy, improve public transportation, and keep us resilient in the face of climate change. The report was widely circulated in the press, which informed the public and started a discussion on these projects, while pushing the Building Congress to the forefront of that discussion.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out their careers?
Be selective in your interviews. Finding the right boss who brings out your best, challenges you in a positive way, and is a true mentor will set an example that helps you shine in the long term, as well as improves your job satisfaction in the short term. Aim to work for a leader who inspires and you’ll soon find yourself doing the same.

Was there something or someone who inspired you to start your journey on your current career path?
I’ve always been a student of history. While larger trends and forces set the stage for events, it’s ultimately individual people making individual decisions who change the course of history. You don’t have a Roman Empire without Caesar, you don’t have Italy without Garibaldi, and you don’t get to the moon first without JFK. If my work helps more people make the right decisions, I consider it a success.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In five years, I see myself at a groundbreaking event, putting shovels in the dirt for a major public project I helped push forward. Whether it’s a new bridge, a mass transit improvement, a large affordable housing development, or flood barriers to protect the city from storm surges, I want to be instrumental in building projects that make a lasting impact on the people who live and work in our region.

Steve Chen serves as President of Crystal Window & Door Systems. Crystal Window & Door Systems was founded by Steve’s father, Thomas Chen. In his role, Steve directs the strategic initiatives and operations of the company and its related subsidiaries and affiliates across the country. Outside of his role as president, Steve is active with many local business, community, charitable, and educational organizations.