Our Region’s Digital Future is an online panel of the 30th RPA Assembly.
Leecia Eve
Vice President of Public Policy, Verizon
![Leecia Eve Headshot](https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/300x300/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Leecia-Eve-Headshot.jpg?bossToken=072c7b0e8898759950a1328ee07d4ffb62dfde0aa00770f8a52f83e1e0297311 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/600x600/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Leecia-Eve-Headshot.jpg?bossToken=01e301a91a2441f95e0ad6707c7cda3f68febf5bfd6b718e83fc897918fe3f43 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/900x900/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Leecia-Eve-Headshot.jpg?bossToken=7ba4544ca79f30a27f7a29386df848e63a654204fd7e64cded5b86aef98b2644 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1200x1200/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Leecia-Eve-Headshot.jpg?bossToken=6bcd083c3e250e62eca8e4429194f4d8c690966ce5ed7a43e3e3afc4019fec7f 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1500x1500/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Leecia-Eve-Headshot.jpg?bossToken=8d255aaba611e992d0d775d50535084d972b39c8282b7f2bd12b23639300dc82 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1800x1800/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Leecia-Eve-Headshot.jpg?bossToken=b90092f5196e065041042bbef402c03ec490d4f3033de3a2c449b51d42186bd1 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2100x2100/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Leecia-Eve-Headshot.jpg?bossToken=05fb279bc3d33ebd4df891a933c8831bb05d0db8cee8333091e68b17da782ae7 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2400x2400/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Leecia-Eve-Headshot.jpg?bossToken=936904be0427f6273f9f10d7041decae34f2f9ec7a3ffbac1523065ffe109d0a 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2700x2700/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Leecia-Eve-Headshot.jpg?bossToken=ebe12aee7481111a5add7ddcecf5a7099c4b81bef10ef839881721f1e24e53d0 1543w)
Leecia Eve serves as Vice President of Public Policy at Verizon, focused on driving Verizon’s deployment of 5G in the New York metro region. She previously served as Vice President for State Government Affairs, overseeing public policy, government and external affairs, regulatory affairs and philanthropy in the Tri-State area.
Before joining Verizon in July 2013, Ms. Eve served as the Deputy Secretary for Economic Development for New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. She previously served as Senate Counsel and Homeland Security Advisor to then-Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and as Senate Judiciary Committee Counsel to then-Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr.
John Paul Farmer
Chief Technology Officer, New York City
![Headshot johnpaulfarmer](https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/300x300/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/headshot-johnpaulfarmer.jpg?bossToken=914b3a2a166da299689b5da91de7b8d94aec5809dabe95119ca6832fde22d477 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/600x600/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/headshot-johnpaulfarmer.jpg?bossToken=25ad5e551b4ac671e6edec941f0aa493eb981bd44362e83f2c992cfe1c154265 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/900x900/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/headshot-johnpaulfarmer.jpg?bossToken=bbe72430d5ae55f3b025ad0d1f553cf6f49e54bbbea9f9b3b2275adfd5117d8c 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1200x1200/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/headshot-johnpaulfarmer.jpg?bossToken=4c87958ba59808441fe259b37a564ae97d8f30574857c6c2d0866b76ad331dfc 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1500x1500/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/headshot-johnpaulfarmer.jpg?bossToken=f04541bd9446572d4781c655b68ec3029b9c6aa1cebfd290aa75462062c2fad7 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1800x1800/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/headshot-johnpaulfarmer.jpg?bossToken=a172388d4927d218f777b208747044ee8ca390bb35b4aed3285634aec5c4e3bc 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2100x2100/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/headshot-johnpaulfarmer.jpg?bossToken=3d559b5fcdf34783ba139ccc80c83d06b6cfabb77949853c115657a64f0efd1e 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2400x2400/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/headshot-johnpaulfarmer.jpg?bossToken=e5fb0579a5d72078c537118d455032c11325580008a1e38cafabb48434bd5dfd 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2700x2700/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/headshot-johnpaulfarmer.jpg?bossToken=d26a276d90dcf3b5ec5ca1df205de52af372683d9d653080f0d0314695ab4595 1543w)
John Paul Farmer is the Chief Technology Officer of the City of New York. As NYC CTO, he leads a diverse team in delivering technology policy, programs, and products to better serve New Yorkers and build a more future-ready city. John is also an adjunct professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.
Previously, John was Managing Director of Microsoft Cities, based in New York. There, he led a cross-functional team to build partnerships and co-design technology products that make communities more livable, more vibrant, and more equitable. As the Founder & CEO of The Innovation Project, John spread innovation best practices worldwide. His work has been featured in Fortune, Forbes, Fast Company, WIRED, the Washington Post, TechCrunch, and the Harvard Business Review.
John served as the Senior Advisor for Innovation at the White House under President Barack Obama, where he co-founded and led the Presidential Innovation Fellows program to attract top private sector change-makers for focused tours of duty in government. Prior to the U.S. government, John built new business units in the private sector. He played professional baseball in the minor league systems of the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers.
John is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He holds an M.B.A. with honors from the Graduate School of Business at Columbia University and an A.B. with honors from Harvard University.
Christopher Levendos
Vice President, Network Engineering & Operations, Crown Castle
![Chris Levendos](https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/300x300/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Chris-Levendos_200519_204815.jpg?bossToken=da5b0b97a59a6996b703fe867822960f0937af59153ab5acd0eb149c0463e17a 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/600x600/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Chris-Levendos_200519_204815.jpg?bossToken=486d8e866886885ccf033be3c9ceda262808229f78015aef30d711284793aa96 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/900x900/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Chris-Levendos_200519_204815.jpg?bossToken=87b5a05ce6c6148df9b78b74e7022d9d587f77e7147aefad1a6b1e1fbf71c275 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1200x1200/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Chris-Levendos_200519_204815.jpg?bossToken=5ad1cb3c3f426290515e5a1cd5a45c28ed08dc9b9a8c6839bce1ace2378e4ea2 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1500x1500/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Chris-Levendos_200519_204815.jpg?bossToken=32f06dbc5aef679331ab0bdbd443cbd1e1901d3b55ae64e88924cdc8d11cd11e 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1800x1800/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Chris-Levendos_200519_204815.jpg?bossToken=d95a0b20a4c570771d2ae2c3d03bcbe3d620b83ea306daa301837fb51f9d9045 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2100x2100/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Chris-Levendos_200519_204815.jpg?bossToken=416f16b7a78b1eaf7e22215d786de0c7562e0ce408183cd6406ca40b1472ad10 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2400x2400/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Chris-Levendos_200519_204815.jpg?bossToken=b16906a511ba41771341fc98939bc56a7a7edf4889dc27fe22e7e5d22f77b66f 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2700x2700/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Chris-Levendos_200519_204815.jpg?bossToken=6abf98ce628b2834a8036a2fe7939b5dd523b02c72e2eca3a075f08ea0c750c1 1543w)
Chris Levendos is Vice President of Network Engineering and Operations for Crown Castle’s national fiber infrastructure network. Crown Castle’s comprehensive portfolio of towers, small cells, and fiber gives people and communities access to essential data, technology and wireless service and opens the door to countless opportunities and possibilities. Chris is based in White Plains, NY.
Chris was previously Executive Vice President of Field Operations for Frontier Communications where he was responsible for service delivery across twenty-nine states. Prior to joining Frontier, Chris was an executive of Google Fiber (Alphabet), where he led Network Deployment and Operations and helped expand Google Fiber’s network operations from three cities to ten cities.
Mr. Levendos also served as Region President of New York City for Verizon, where he worked for twenty-six years. Prior to that he served as Vice President of National Operations and supported Verizon’s annual capital program investments and operational process improvements. He joined New York Telephone as a field technician in Harlem in 1989, and served in positions of increasing responsibility in operations and engineering. While at Verizon, his teams led the planning, design and early build of Verizon’s fiber-to-the-home network across New York City.
He helped lead a number of key operational innovations in fiber-optic deployment and holds two patents. After super-storm Sandy, Chris led the recovery effort of Verizon’s wireline infrastructure in Lower Manhattan, converting the entire local distribution system to fiber-optic based infrastructure within six months. Chris is a native New Yorker who proudly serves on the boards for Junior Achievement of New York, the Regional Planning Association (RPA), the steering committee for the Association for a Better New York (ABNY) and is a member of the President’s Leadership Council at Stevens Institute of Technology.
Chris holds a bachelor’s degree in history from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, where he was a member of the Phi Alpha Theta Historical Honor Society. Chris also received a master’s degree in urban planning from New York University and a master’s degree in telecommunications management from Stevens Institute of Technology.
Javier Lopez
Chief Strategy Officer, Red Hook Initiative
![Javier Lopez](https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/300x300/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Javier-Lopez.png?bossToken=88093d81b26c9d347143333502eb75c252cbed937d5955d59ce65c6a077d4786 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/600x600/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Javier-Lopez.png?bossToken=c40ae9268e0ba8598b80c2eee42d933e633e771bdc62b5ae61152e5d7fff9077 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/900x900/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Javier-Lopez.png?bossToken=85f1c7286eab09530291075349316c3e3e894bdeaa3a3b45b88f336e02c02fae 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1200x1200/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Javier-Lopez.png?bossToken=00241c035c3a854b803a04b74a9b9694c82451bdd97239bd49ddc2bd6c971ded 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1500x1500/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Javier-Lopez.png?bossToken=f83e504cf03db606ee7a6935e15d5b849156bf0e74dd3c233f756b3da02fad4f 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1800x1800/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Javier-Lopez.png?bossToken=7276a0c87a4512e7086e0b7d1b81d04ef048d9b85464b02dc59918110dacd329 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2100x2100/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Javier-Lopez.png?bossToken=b4c578e30797dcba6b509f0ac0f486089d90df8f0b8bb85b888fd5aea3e84bbe 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2400x2400/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Javier-Lopez.png?bossToken=f146ce4004811f37c0d88ab47e801e352c4cd01ddd418768cb87a30b49682f2c 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2700x2700/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Javier-Lopez.png?bossToken=ef385cf2ced1e71981abfb150bceb57d736d03483b1ade54c11f591cd366c11c 1543w)
Javier is the Chief Strategy Officer for Red Hook Initiative, one of New York City’s more successful youth development not-for-profit organizations. Javier leads RHI’s community building, urban farming and neighborhood Wi-Fi programs. In addition, he co-leads the organization’s development, external affairs and racial equity work.
Before joining RHI, Javier spent 15 years spearheading racial and gender justice policies and programs that aim to improve public health, expand public transportation, end urban gun violence and improve access to affordable housing (focus: communities of color).
He brings deep expertise in collaborative efforts to advance racial equity and is a frequent speaker on how public health is the best system to support racial equity.
Javier has extensive experience in eradicating urban gun violence.
He comes to the work offering racial justice centered tools that include research, policy analysis, program planning and narrative change.
During his free time Javier co-facilitates “How to advocate for racial justice in your school” with parents of students of color school throughout New York City. He is a husband to his wife Michelle and a father to Ava, Maximilian and Leandro.
Nicki Palmer
Chief, Product Development, Verizon
![Nicki Palmer headshot](https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/300x300/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Nicki-Palmer-headshot.png?bossToken=92ab72df5f7a3b488d42e892e875ac6ba93590c520f17b9adc27ffe68362cc80 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/600x600/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Nicki-Palmer-headshot.png?bossToken=1f0708e6589628a1825c93ce101bf68b1f0033f91f5f97453e4bddc26fddc285 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/900x900/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Nicki-Palmer-headshot.png?bossToken=c300466070478f17e3a51ce40f740a7530447e4a964594f81341d9bd93d0d666 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1200x1200/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Nicki-Palmer-headshot.png?bossToken=81652ff687cd697ad13962661069737e250790e62c87b09795e6343c79e1baea 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1500x1500/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Nicki-Palmer-headshot.png?bossToken=aeb97551cea7d829a1f849d8e54b80b6fbe16a21a8f8bd53751ec98988c3909a 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1800x1800/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Nicki-Palmer-headshot.png?bossToken=100a36ebf182caf23602deb7b5d30388b5819226677f856d4c6abdb9fc378ce1 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2100x2100/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Nicki-Palmer-headshot.png?bossToken=813cf463249fcfe81737a7df5df19956d57a166767717f357edb2e79cc47fa4f 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2400x2400/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Nicki-Palmer-headshot.png?bossToken=eb2a22d9cf419a518664176037909d41d00d5085689664beb8e02dc9a201ef47 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2700x2700/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Nicki-Palmer-headshot.png?bossToken=bd320c25dd834a0d580745283b85aa43a69231882b711755e1d87522c9dad41f 1543w)
Nicola (Nicki) Palmer is the Chief Product Development Officer for Verizon. Nicki oversees the growth and expansion of the 5G ecosystem, convening partners, and developing products and services to advance 5G growth and device technology.
Previously she was responsible for the planning, operations, and engineering of the nation’s largest and most awarded 4G LTE wireless network, the company’s 5G residential broadband, and 5G mobile network.
Palmer began her career at Bell Atlantic in 1990 and has held a number of leadership positions in engineering, operations, and technology supporting advanced data and wireless products. Among many highlights throughout her career at Verizon, she was responsible for the planning, design, and operation of global voice, data and IP networks, and also led the engineering and operations of the nation’s premier fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network; which powers Verizon’s FiOS data and TV services.
She is active in a number of organizations including the National Academy Foundation, and is a passionate advocate for promoting education and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), especially for young women. She has been recognized by Fierce Wireless as one of the industry Women to Watch, a Top 100 CIO/CTO Leaders in STEM by STEMCONNECTOR, and as one of the Most Influential Women in Wireless. Nicki has also been honored by Working Mother magazine and Girl Scouts of Greater New York.
Palmer earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Penn State University and an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. She resides in New Jersey with her husband and three children.
Jason Post
Director of Global Communications & Public Affairs, Google, Inc.
![Jason Post](https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/300x300/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Jason-Post.jpg?bossToken=def0cdbdf30309978033fbcd5eac9b16a092a87772e498ea83edcb12a4102ee7 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/600x600/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Jason-Post.jpg?bossToken=3b7eedcbda0278e79418653738d2fb81a0a2eac51948c661dcb274219959e933 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/900x900/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Jason-Post.jpg?bossToken=2cbba2d4e3ef8472bb5139e4b71d147adafcc0976fad2d1a1a9b64ab3fe1ec61 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1200x1200/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Jason-Post.jpg?bossToken=8c9d7e3bbf34a21987e9c39d93f2e7a389c51b8db408c7838e273148d92ebbcf 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1500x1500/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Jason-Post.jpg?bossToken=ec054d1d305e1155e81f207b3cedb3631a7b0ab3af768a9d42b8970ab86225ae 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1800x1800/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Jason-Post.jpg?bossToken=547e5703ea1e6d1295a96640854edeb2f3730432cf7fd95068d34c2f2faefaf3 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2100x2100/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Jason-Post.jpg?bossToken=188e3d00a949aa57cee03ce0a7876d07d5d2162557e8544b1da318484079b274 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2400x2400/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Jason-Post.jpg?bossToken=543e5d04242535b0edae38751902902f8be037829f78362eadebf0ba56c3cf60 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2700x2700/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Jason-Post.jpg?bossToken=3ce3c78c523b66f77e50a048af23ac156864360495b2a965d6d3e5732db73ed4 1543w)
Jason Post is the Director of Global Communications & Public Affairs for Google. He previously worked at Uber Technologies, Inc. where he was the Director of Public Policy & Communications. Before his time at Uber, Jason was a Managing Director of Teneo Strategy. He also served in the administration of NYC Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and worked at the NYPD as a spokesman and aide to the Police Commissioner, Raymond W. Kelly. Mr. Post produced the NY1 News political news program Inside City Hall. He sits on the board of the Regional Plan Association and is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.