![E Commerce Twitter 2](https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/300/quality:80/work/E-Commerce-Twitter-2.png?bossToken=20b20314cdb10431c8d95b386f9a7e717d9b5829c0b635a2a11c8231b7e384de 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/600/quality:80/work/E-Commerce-Twitter-2.png?bossToken=412ab6e1eafdd45ee100bbd33cfbc3bbc98a5da54f2a50d4ccd8d42bfbdf7577 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/900/quality:80/work/E-Commerce-Twitter-2.png?bossToken=1d7a0356c100efbf0f063cb727908f16ba805a18458c433c09eee578e8811f49 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/1200/quality:80/work/E-Commerce-Twitter-2.png?bossToken=55225e08e4800f58ae4f248f5c7d9f1101c4f8b4335452c71d42bc4c92bea8fb 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/1500/quality:80/work/E-Commerce-Twitter-2.png?bossToken=9ab8314abc3c69929a3ae305fda4907bf47806efa8b307fce3fd86a0f8740c35 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/1800/quality:80/work/E-Commerce-Twitter-2.png?bossToken=4dc989cf77e4009aa8b85bae2a73c1db5fa5b8fc86b0a3d942146464bc901bc5 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/2100/quality:80/work/E-Commerce-Twitter-2.png?bossToken=8b5bdb921ff21226711a0402d76976ed0a33aa39825a1fc2ecb5eb9d6ccfcc09 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/2400/quality:80/work/E-Commerce-Twitter-2.png?bossToken=0e8a2b1cf4aa82e736eda5582ce809c07e3a4d28d96c89a2199e12d152cf78c8 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/width/2700/quality:80/work/E-Commerce-Twitter-2.png?bossToken=f947b8bb4e4a13757d8ff8315dce6aae6c68a77727a6478e09bd6610c400d6a2 1543w)
Tom Wright
President & CEO, RPA
![Wright Tom 3 cropped](https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/300x300/fp-x:0.43,fp-y:0.35,quality:80/headshots/Wright_Tom_4_cropped.jpg?bossToken=0c9f9fbf983f6e98d1e1d7e46845b81a69a875b5b00fa5b208ea55acafa82113 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/600x600/fp-x:0.43,fp-y:0.35,quality:80/headshots/Wright_Tom_4_cropped.jpg?bossToken=d798db593da8af70238a595002f0bc080f205c06594c94914f27b0d13d7e3e27 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/900x900/fp-x:0.43,fp-y:0.35,quality:80/headshots/Wright_Tom_4_cropped.jpg?bossToken=ade56eb432cb28f35bf9745a97d7208b3fcbc2870dc13459a5041a434b5a5e0a 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1200x1200/fp-x:0.43,fp-y:0.35,quality:80/headshots/Wright_Tom_4_cropped.jpg?bossToken=102a169deb6f79b8895a2436dc73eabff3e9d159af280132cac6ecf3523065f3 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1500x1500/fp-x:0.43,fp-y:0.35,quality:80/headshots/Wright_Tom_4_cropped.jpg?bossToken=a27a0f88914266b1360f523ba3b56bb2a96cdf8900e88ebf07692262a92d1a74 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1800x1800/fp-x:0.43,fp-y:0.35,quality:80/headshots/Wright_Tom_4_cropped.jpg?bossToken=d4fac2ca23a4ec971abf0ce69d5536bc92afaa397213dd6d918046116160741a 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2100x2100/fp-x:0.43,fp-y:0.35,quality:80/headshots/Wright_Tom_4_cropped.jpg?bossToken=a19e90e9bbd674b9e1a7841065b452d076428b013573db3dcb628e887410490c 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2400x2400/fp-x:0.43,fp-y:0.35,quality:80/headshots/Wright_Tom_4_cropped.jpg?bossToken=131669e8efd6343364e3262ec98f775dbd607c344fa0497077e320afc0a33177 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2700x2700/fp-x:0.43,fp-y:0.35,quality:80/headshots/Wright_Tom_4_cropped.jpg?bossToken=6d4d4e2a85bffa044f26903bca946db7d992ff7a9151f0f6159255f7e21fafb0 1543w)
Tom Wright is president and chief executive officer of Regional Plan Association (RPA), the nation’s oldest independent metropolitan research, planning and advocacy organization. A private, non-profit corporation, RPA improves the prosperity, infrastructure, sustainability, health and quality of life of the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut metropolitan region by preparing long-range plans and advocating for their implementation.
As president, Tom led the production of RPA’s landmark Fourth Regional Plan, released in 2017, which proposed 61 recommendations to reform public institutions; modernize our transportation systems; tackle the challenge of climate change; and provide affordable and livable communities for all the region’s residents. RPA is now working to implement the major ideas in the plan, such as charging all drivers to enter the Manhattan CBD; cutting carbon emissions and scaling up renewable energy sources; creating healthy, affordable housing in every community; modernizing the NYC subways; and building a new commuter rail tunnel under the Hudson River connected to a new Penn Station.
Tom is a frequent public speaker and commentator on regional governance, economic growth and development, transit investments, and other policy issues. Prior to being named RPA’s president in 2015, Tom was RPA’s executive director. In his 20+ years with the organization, Tom has participated in many key RPA initiatives, including the historic Civic Alliance to Rebuild Downtown New York following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks; the campaign to create a mixed-use district at Manhattan’s Hudson Yards; the protection of the New Jersey Highlands; and a vision plan for the City of Newark. Tom was also in charge of producing A Region at Risk, RPA’s third plan published in 1996.
Previously, Tom was deputy executive director of the New Jersey Office of State Planning, where he coordinated production of the New Jersey State Development and Redevelopment Plan.
In January, 2020, Governor Phil Murphy appointed Tom as the Chairman of the New Jersey State Planning Commission. Tom is also a member of New York City’s Sustainability Advisory Board and the Friends of the BQX. A visiting lecturer at the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, Tom has a master’s in urban planning from Columbia University and a bachelor’s in history and a certificate in American Studies from Princeton University. He resides in Princeton with his wife Cameron Manning and three fabulous daughters.
Supply Chain Management Panelists
Rit Aggarwala (Moderator)
Senior Fellow, Jacobs Cornell-Technion Institute at Cornell Tech
![Rohit Aggarwala cropped](https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/300x300/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Rohit-Aggarwala_cropped.jpg?bossToken=50819ffd7b2a16c9e6da78052034ddb381ad860ae654cb7b1a9282f9a7e7d797 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/600x600/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Rohit-Aggarwala_cropped.jpg?bossToken=88447041579c0dd5c9e74e3868dec9b9254ce1e09da4db6f773f294e5f853aaf 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/900x900/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Rohit-Aggarwala_cropped.jpg?bossToken=8a689bb213a42c05ba0cf3a2e51c02a971f22064e2a00941381a2653d9228456 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1200x1200/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Rohit-Aggarwala_cropped.jpg?bossToken=550a03d5b0876d89e126d82893d00396fe06bf47bec62446f7a5cc3e84978b68 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1500x1500/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Rohit-Aggarwala_cropped.jpg?bossToken=4a3a77b0e5eb72b25744b1babb16beb4bd6acbfac37c663784047710a53e7194 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1800x1800/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Rohit-Aggarwala_cropped.jpg?bossToken=744562e8230cd9e6921576d05c2a210b9b6aff21d5a9e6a836c7edc4f56fa4fc 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2100x2100/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Rohit-Aggarwala_cropped.jpg?bossToken=73eb7b8cc8156bd4546e59fa403b344bc479fa1db02f54d4e398f4a9302aa4c5 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2400x2400/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Rohit-Aggarwala_cropped.jpg?bossToken=75ee4b36e28e6a9e1880770a1b4f1d734678ea6a7fd75f40bfab8b6d3262341e 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2700x2700/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Rohit-Aggarwala_cropped.jpg?bossToken=c6795ee9934af895fbdbe3901718049cad52b33f0a6b80cf12d655aa195b0ddd 1543w)
Rohit T. “Rit” Aggarwala is a Senior Fellow at the Urban Tech Hub at the Jacobs Cornell-Technion Institute at Cornell Tech. He is a Senior Advisor at Sidewalk Labs, and an executive-in-residence at the Closed Loop Fund. He also teaches urban policy at Columbia University, and recently chaired the Regional Plan Association’s Fourth Regional Plan for the New York metropolitan area.
Rit was a member of the founding team at Sidewalk Labs, where he was Head of Urban Systems and led its mobility and sustainability work. Prior to that, Rit spent five years at Bloomberg Philanthropies, where started the foundation’s environmental grantmaking program, served as President of the Board of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, and led the sustainability practice at Bloomberg Associates.
From 2006 to 2010, Rit served as Director of New York City’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability where he led the creation and implementation of “PlaNYC: A Greener, Greater New York.” PlaNYC has been hailed as one of the world’s best urban sustainability plans, leading New York City to a 19% reduction in its carbon footprint since 2005. Prior to joining City Hall, he was a management consultant at McKinsey & Company.
Rit holds a BA, MBA, and PhD from Columbia University, and an MA from Queen’s University in Ontario. He serves on the boards of the Regional Plan Association, the Urban Green Council, and the Design Trust for Public Space. He was born in New York City, where he now lives.
Marc Wulfraat
Founder & President, MWPVL International
Marc Wulfraat is the president and founder of MWPVL International, a global supply chain and logistics consulting firm specialized in helping with companies with supply chain strategy, facility design, and supply chain technology.
Marc has worked with hundreds of companies in North America and the rest of the world to optimize their distribution networks, warehouse operations and overall supply chains. He has 34 years of experience in the strategies and tactics of the most effective logistics and distribution companies. Marc has spent most of his career working in the grocery industry and he has helped many large Grocery companies design, optimize and automate their distribution facilities. His firm is currently involved in projects that involve in excess of $1.1 Billion of capital expenditures into infrastructure. Lastly, Marc is currently working on three separate micro-fulfillment projects for leading grocery retailers.
Marc has been a speaker at over 125 supply chain-industry events and has been published in over 130 magazines and newspapers including the Wall Street Journal and the Economist. Marc has a B.Sc. Mathematics and M.B.A. from McGill University/Manchester Business School, UK.
Marc Levinson
Author, The Box
![Marc Levinson](https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/300x300/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Marc-Levinson.jpg?bossToken=d957c06ebeaece38c51c29cb6b1f6a6de59ac3b5a25fdd38d1efc0bb1a4aba8a 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/600x600/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Marc-Levinson.jpg?bossToken=26856cdc369f829cfcb115fbc3040f5d3a3a7052ccfce3f8a2f392f0ea68919c 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/900x900/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Marc-Levinson.jpg?bossToken=54e6e8509b2283acc017a1217044067371721ccf4dea6346c8c2030944121873 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1200x1200/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Marc-Levinson.jpg?bossToken=d952f916f60645b321d8a10d6c0f44894461f6426e40dfcf58978a4180c88e4d 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1500x1500/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Marc-Levinson.jpg?bossToken=364147749c8f580ffccf4ab2baa06c74e0573328e843ef582943911700124896 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1800x1800/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Marc-Levinson.jpg?bossToken=4e0b58004135c237d3679e0f314c710e6668e19724101db01c23e770c784d372 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2100x2100/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Marc-Levinson.jpg?bossToken=bbe5786c54495d5a5a85be0407d85562872876dd1454758df5a929d2a371deed 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2400x2400/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Marc-Levinson.jpg?bossToken=e1c01b2807c0e09a08d632ee5cabaf4d43d4040fcda6607336f168c66b06e1f5 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2700x2700/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Marc-Levinson.jpg?bossToken=2ae82df6152ef052582160fa900d78a332320bc967ab81c5e91caa792cf63fae 1543w)
Marc Levinson is an independent historian and economist. He spent many years as an economic journalist, becoming finance and economics editor of The Economist in London. Returning to New York, he spent a decade at JPMorgan Chase, developing a unique industry economics function and then initiating the bank’s environmental research for investors. He later served as senior fellow for international business at the Council on Foreign Relations. Marc has written for leading scholarly publications and reviews books on business and history for the Wall Street Journal. His seven books include The Box: How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger, a prizewinning history of an innovation that made globalization possible, and Outside the Box: How Globalization Changed from Moving Stuff to Spreading Ideas, published in 2020.
Stephanie Finch
Program Manager, Goods Movement Action Program
![Stephanie Finch](https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/300x300/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Stephanie-Finch.jpg?bossToken=0eccf90a377517c20a40a1d30cb08863670562d845926fd027e1a301c927b1a0 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/600x600/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Stephanie-Finch.jpg?bossToken=54032c912a038cdf57f918c6c3a105ef0f4fa00526496ee6b6d1192dc807cf45 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/900x900/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Stephanie-Finch.jpg?bossToken=9eb41e4e66c206bd79d5f4f9c1fd7899cc9aef55d05f98b984b1ea88ed737bdb 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1200x1200/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Stephanie-Finch.jpg?bossToken=d3cbc51af7e1390d9b28f6fcbe0e60e5409ce2f049903713a028256b677b8e03 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1500x1500/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Stephanie-Finch.jpg?bossToken=8f038bcb396c85e6a91807118d92c110d5358d9774e6221b76dbd999e8f07bc1 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1800x1800/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Stephanie-Finch.jpg?bossToken=d16a2fee9f3bb1d9c7d707347868a13d63d2263b4201a7da023d345610c864b8 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2100x2100/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Stephanie-Finch.jpg?bossToken=9e66826d942e179dba0030a4b6082d21b52e896b61b2a3d8c9dc99477ed154ef 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2400x2400/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Stephanie-Finch.jpg?bossToken=3a56d36f3dd37cf289cd47f91f897236b7de7281493025bf0db6355b9ee353be 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2700x2700/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Stephanie-Finch.jpg?bossToken=05cf554c1419ac374afe3f0244fd656dc2e344f865b721606edb41177d63c0bc 1543w)
Stephanie Finch is Program Manager of the Goods Movement Action Program (G-MAP), a regional freight planning partnership between the Port Authority, NJDOT, and NYSDOT. She is an active member of several Transportation Research Board freight committees and currently a member of a National Cooperative Highway Research Program project on federal policy for automated & connected vehicles. Prior to her work at PANYNJ, Stephanie executed studies on virtual weigh stations, statewide freight planning, and economic impacts of transportation infrastructure investments at the Connecticut Department of Transportation. Stephanie holds a BA in Philosophy from the University of Connecticut and a Masters in Urban & Regional Planning from the University of Massachusetts.
Transportation Panelists
Tiffany-Ann Taylor (Moderator)
Deputy Director of Freight Programs, Education & Research for Freight Mobility Unit, New York City Department of Transportation
![NEW Tiffany Ann Taylor](https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/300x300/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/NEW-Tiffany-Ann-Taylor.jpg?bossToken=cf5ab4baadddaafc5ae9096a60f9aedfda53474084a78a825289be733e69e1ed 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/600x600/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/NEW-Tiffany-Ann-Taylor.jpg?bossToken=4e9899bceeee03f69e650cd912375c20d5f5c325ef69eb0b46fb599866a17bd7 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/900x900/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/NEW-Tiffany-Ann-Taylor.jpg?bossToken=8d9426dc8912664a4bca83171983460dc224418d3477832a49e6f87076149b43 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1200x1200/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/NEW-Tiffany-Ann-Taylor.jpg?bossToken=8284c3a52ea4e350759af9bed9e196324de564298e57e57f1a7b10248e340396 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1500x1500/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/NEW-Tiffany-Ann-Taylor.jpg?bossToken=96dfb5ae6c9e2a1da0fc170ce52c091fb9d0670dad935c44ad50d585253ae014 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1800x1800/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/NEW-Tiffany-Ann-Taylor.jpg?bossToken=cd26b7c54778f9de9b645bf62daf6e7f78c87fea74225775750e8d174e7c299b 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2100x2100/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/NEW-Tiffany-Ann-Taylor.jpg?bossToken=3b8a591199d6a8cc82cf8c2357eaee18fe585adb526f61303e5e2a1801474eb1 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2400x2400/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/NEW-Tiffany-Ann-Taylor.jpg?bossToken=c9c9fcc205701f3b54ea6169a951706fdbc784ee8c7f6cc16ab39a9d3ffb6635 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2700x2700/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/NEW-Tiffany-Ann-Taylor.jpg?bossToken=a232a720e97206c16c22a746b326c1d476a99ec8e148fe89b77bdc7242a0a1fc 1543w)
Tiffany-Ann Taylor is Deputy Director of Freight Programs, Education and Research for the Freight Mobility unit at the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT). Prior to working at NYC DOT, she worked for the New York City Economic Development Corporation on transformative projects that impact passenger transportation throughout New York City. Tiffany has also worked in suburban and regional planning for Suffolk County Government on Long Island, New York where her primary projects were centered on transportation, open space and economic development. She holds a B.A in Government from The College of William & Mary and a M.S in City & Regional Planning from Pratt Institute. Tiffany is a First-Generation American, the brainchild of the annual Hindsight Conference and former Co-Chair of the American Planning Association’s New York Metro Chapter Diversity Committee (also known as DivComm). Currently, Tiffany leads the Chapter as President, making her the first Black woman to serve in this role for the Chapter. Tiffany is also an alumna of the Urban Design Forum Forefront Fellowship and Coro Leadership NY (LNY) program.
Axel Carrion
Vice President of State Government & Public Affairs, UPS
![Axel Carrion](https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/300x300/fp-x:0.3,fp-y:0.41,quality:80/headshots/Axel-Carrion1.jpg?bossToken=3a38e12dd05587c930e89e4bec7ffe503aa8a46de24c05fc3afb69639c50c4c5 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/600x600/fp-x:0.3,fp-y:0.41,quality:80/headshots/Axel-Carrion1.jpg?bossToken=ad4acdfa5901dfa5f7055c5d9a64b5fb13cd5654867149554be95c775b0b26ef 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/900x900/fp-x:0.3,fp-y:0.41,quality:80/headshots/Axel-Carrion1.jpg?bossToken=f9578d10004f2fb7dc49c0e4461e9cd7e175c999935764de5ade97c0df1f05de 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1200x1200/fp-x:0.3,fp-y:0.41,quality:80/headshots/Axel-Carrion1.jpg?bossToken=fbea3456f68c9314f783800719307cfb4ca681e66b99c0be7bb8b65b4283de5e 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1500x1500/fp-x:0.3,fp-y:0.41,quality:80/headshots/Axel-Carrion1.jpg?bossToken=e3bb112a9408224cb60078261ca8b81aaa059b2c8af990b426ae9fd87737543b 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1800x1800/fp-x:0.3,fp-y:0.41,quality:80/headshots/Axel-Carrion1.jpg?bossToken=df9aad39639710f871a21053d7d3d38882322d8a3e3f0296c59378251f4a05e8 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2100x2100/fp-x:0.3,fp-y:0.41,quality:80/headshots/Axel-Carrion1.jpg?bossToken=da334f9ce4dcb2bd3b4463210369f63023130b93c34897079b2402c354a3a6ca 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2400x2400/fp-x:0.3,fp-y:0.41,quality:80/headshots/Axel-Carrion1.jpg?bossToken=60b7e1635380c435da84ae111942bba7dc08266c6b73d117964e0daf28893a3c 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2700x2700/fp-x:0.3,fp-y:0.41,quality:80/headshots/Axel-Carrion1.jpg?bossToken=f1fd19bc23e3c7fa972dd210e4f7c998b150e134570248c17f1d9e87d67d71e3 1543w)
Axel Carrión began his career at UPS in 1994 as a loader/unloader out of the Metro New York District 43rd Street facility. Since that time he has held positions in multiple functions including Hub & Feeder, Security and Package Operations out of the East Region territory. Prior to joining UPS, he completed two assignments as a Special Agent Assistant for the United States Marshals Service and for the United States Postal Inspections.
As Vice President, Axel’s responsibility for state government affairs includes territories from Connecticut through Maryland while overseeing Community Relations extending through the Mid-Atlantic States culminating in Virginia.
Axel, who holds a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice, founded the North Atlantic District Latino BRG in 2012 while working with local communities including the New Jersey Governor’s Hispanic Fellowship Program, HISPA, The Committee for Hispanic Children and Families and the Puerto Rican Action Board.
Axel is a Board Member of various State Trucking Associations; the Tri-State Transportation Campaign; serves as the UPS liaison to the Democratic Attorneys General Association (DAGA); serves on the Business Advisory Councils for the Board of Hispanic Caucus Chairs (BHCC) and the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL); is a member of the NYC Mayor’s OneNYC Advisory Group and also serves on the Corporate Board of Advisors for HISPA - NJ Governor’s Hispanic Fellowship Program.
Axel and his wife Liz have two children: Rachael, majoring in Human Resource Management at Rutgers University and Madison studying at the Princeton Dance and Theater Studio in New Jersey.
Sarah Kaufman
Associate Director, NYU Rudin Center for Transportation
![Sarah Kaufman](https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/300x300/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Sarah-Kaufman.jpg?bossToken=25fbd0f53d7178ac97d9f764eae4b3f926fee3e96d5fa4e1242892709270f525 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/600x600/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Sarah-Kaufman.jpg?bossToken=258eaeb8f3d1d39d5db98b4d5cb8c03b3bec3feafc70ff52940b884bf6fc4219 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/900x900/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Sarah-Kaufman.jpg?bossToken=212429e7c90365bd5a5f053a2be30787754763da1ed8b337241e205157820903 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1200x1200/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Sarah-Kaufman.jpg?bossToken=550a8ec8526324abebf110d2520c32e9d335c1f691fdef84e1acef4b0447be55 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1500x1500/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Sarah-Kaufman.jpg?bossToken=2530847d8f836557ab2354b1b60370b53881ef57861122119662ecad5b143821 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1800x1800/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Sarah-Kaufman.jpg?bossToken=d7659619f78af873a1b015736e5815dda71aaf9700c036a8f092018623b9f94b 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2100x2100/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Sarah-Kaufman.jpg?bossToken=747e7247153755c7b32b5c1f6534bd64e4df6dd9f138812c9bb24dacae7a8564 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2400x2400/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Sarah-Kaufman.jpg?bossToken=9380119de94aa706b44c693b3b889926ab3c15df3ab1675545853aa25d08b21d 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2700x2700/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Sarah-Kaufman.jpg?bossToken=04a30441232e9e0a15d87bfb287cca63df06d0616b623ad9599c1a69d2ab3efe 1543w)
Sarah M. Kaufman is the Associate Director of the NYU Rudin Center for Transportation, where she researches, advocates for and educates about cutting-edge technologies in transportation. She is also an Adjunct Professor of Planning, teaching Intelligent Cities and Advanced Projects in Urban Planning. Ms. Kaufman directs several projects related to Covid’s impacts on mobility and improving transportation for all: The Pink Tax on Transportation, an analysis of how safety concerns impact women’s travel patterns in New York City; Intelligent Paratransit, to rethink how we transport seniors and the disabled; and the Emerging Leaders in Transportation Fellowship, a program to enhance innovation at all levels of transportation planning and policymaking. Ms. Kaufman was honored with a Responsible 100 Award by City & State New York in December 2018 and a Tech Power 50 Award in February 2019. She is a member of The List and a contributor to Forbes.com.
Danny Harris
Executive Director, Transportation Alternatives
![Danny Harris](https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/300x300/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Danny-Harris.jpg?bossToken=203f1efa5184680dee99188a1a72a937c3851245e111f224ca6b5f903161475d 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/600x600/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Danny-Harris.jpg?bossToken=b9e5a89b243e66b1b27f9582027da8f7caece63f60e8c58eef8c11cd1588583a 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/900x900/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Danny-Harris.jpg?bossToken=157df39bb159fea8bdf452657933cfb68462d809c9f41133e8f9bfbd83e9e751 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1200x1200/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Danny-Harris.jpg?bossToken=0494f8a10bf4d5a79bf7b46b55391f51f4e624567c719b7606867788515d2db2 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1500x1500/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Danny-Harris.jpg?bossToken=e2d9c29ad4811b89f7d4b33b2ed6fa46229c960ffcae9adf53daabffb1686f4c 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1800x1800/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Danny-Harris.jpg?bossToken=edaa72e99f2c8d89f21311542a853a84ad63a70a7bf791c07dd8e204fc06042c 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2100x2100/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Danny-Harris.jpg?bossToken=156586cf1ae298d66c03c12c415a998f7b99d6a699ea79f6b470640ab1822684 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2400x2400/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Danny-Harris.jpg?bossToken=ffe5bc21a0772b9b1b76ad60c501bd8ca9272953ed49ca92aede2a0cde18c080 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2700x2700/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Danny-Harris.jpg?bossToken=c6282c59ad19862cc86b07dbeb4e838a7c113204ba5077ff2550aff3c08a941f 1543w)
Danny Harris is Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives, New York City’s primary walking, biking and safe streets advocacy group. He is a leading voice in building cities for people, not cars. Previously, he spent four years as a program director with the Knight Foundation in San Jose, CA, where he supervised grantmaking related to placemaking, transportation, and affordable housing. Danny has taught at San Jose State University, was named a Vanguard Fellow by Next City, and received a citation from the American Institute of Architects. A graduate of Connecticut College and Princeton University, Danny is a native New Yorker and currently resides in Manhattan with his family.
Charles Komanoff
Public Policy Analyst
![Komanoff head shot for City State 3 June 2021](https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/300x300/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Komanoff-head-shot-for-City-State-_-3-June-2021.jpg?bossToken=f9700886e1aa2fe3cca213df5b42b931f5fd6574409d55a7cfdd0df56626d085 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/600x600/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Komanoff-head-shot-for-City-State-_-3-June-2021.jpg?bossToken=a5da42ddf6a99424caef29f6ea5210e86e95f73dbe716d77ca7dde03d47df265 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/900x900/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Komanoff-head-shot-for-City-State-_-3-June-2021.jpg?bossToken=691d32d1dbde0feb1c30265e2935b9a1fae3737317ce313bc5bb853934526b9b 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1200x1200/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Komanoff-head-shot-for-City-State-_-3-June-2021.jpg?bossToken=ee5dbbd073b85d59f41de34c9b48f5ec2f020eaae06de9b3d122df7ba7a8511b 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1500x1500/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Komanoff-head-shot-for-City-State-_-3-June-2021.jpg?bossToken=f7b0efb9f3c5f7dab7022958d865147d381689e35d3e21398e69aed83148014e 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1800x1800/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Komanoff-head-shot-for-City-State-_-3-June-2021.jpg?bossToken=9fc72e25396b4740a3cd8363cbfa7447731368e201a7ceb5c8ad09ddbb4c6204 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2100x2100/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Komanoff-head-shot-for-City-State-_-3-June-2021.jpg?bossToken=da3e7974094b90a0298d842cbba2df540c8a716e8f41cc72b3c0b03b7d126acb 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2400x2400/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Komanoff-head-shot-for-City-State-_-3-June-2021.jpg?bossToken=f4d35637145c6625c054f36180b811d8355a143663fe8ac82ae9794ca3f1ac19 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2700x2700/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Komanoff-head-shot-for-City-State-_-3-June-2021.jpg?bossToken=ccf5e6002d4e7f24861af67acf38d6fc279329a55be99f6c18324b52a6172e42 1543w)
Economist and policy-analyst Charles Komanoff co-founded the Carbon Tax Center and the pedestrian rights group Right Of Way and “re-founded” the bicycling advocacy organization Transportation Alternatives. His work includes books (Power Plant Cost Escalation, Killed By Automobile, The Bicycle Blueprint), the spreadsheet model used by state government and transit advocates to optimize congestion pricing for New York City, scholarly articles and journalism. An honors graduate of Harvard and married parent of two grown sons, Charles lives in lower Manhattan.
Rob Freudenberg
Vice President for Energy & Environment, RPA
![Freudenberg Rob](https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/300x300/fp-x:0.44,fp-y:0.32,quality:80/headshots/Freudenberg_Rob.jpg?bossToken=d76b84dfce57c8976d5079d81ef0943d588bca3c0fa163ef01190fca055f7863 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/600x600/fp-x:0.44,fp-y:0.32,quality:80/headshots/Freudenberg_Rob.jpg?bossToken=299ba36198e63752c7c595a6f7665248ee80f4bd274ec9a78d91403f963bb94d 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/900x900/fp-x:0.44,fp-y:0.32,quality:80/headshots/Freudenberg_Rob.jpg?bossToken=24f7a515333602e8102bfc72377edf729dcc2b99d44e01968db4d0b32863a213 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1200x1200/fp-x:0.44,fp-y:0.32,quality:80/headshots/Freudenberg_Rob.jpg?bossToken=7ba6ab200c22811d2bb4c5ecde7640e0523c0da52c19e4c170c8b9f442a9573f 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1500x1500/fp-x:0.44,fp-y:0.32,quality:80/headshots/Freudenberg_Rob.jpg?bossToken=1376f0275159a33b736145f1dfd5e415513b5b20350e11ffbd42985738470600 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1800x1800/fp-x:0.44,fp-y:0.32,quality:80/headshots/Freudenberg_Rob.jpg?bossToken=9abf43b3f7a412797067dc7b3c6178f4595a01ffbc87c55bd58fd0c03e7a57b6 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2100x2100/fp-x:0.44,fp-y:0.32,quality:80/headshots/Freudenberg_Rob.jpg?bossToken=8e2ea4a914ced9154c047f021684c8d202eb2f2950c1aa3ab75b658a2da6c15b 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2400x2400/fp-x:0.44,fp-y:0.32,quality:80/headshots/Freudenberg_Rob.jpg?bossToken=f20161b8732b50d254526a8300d189bb12a8a44b1dfa2a80522e391548e2c984 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2700x2700/fp-x:0.44,fp-y:0.32,quality:80/headshots/Freudenberg_Rob.jpg?bossToken=f6af4bda7c968e3c67ccddcad0f7c042bc0fc8799ce62285b5f28e3edf98fd26 1543w)
Robert Freudenberg is vice president of RPA’s energy and environmental programs, leading the organization’s initiatives in areas including climate mitigation and adaptation, open space conservation and park development, and water resource management.
He oversees a comprehensive program of projects and policies to improve public health, quality of life, sustainable development and climate resilience in the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut metropolitan area. Rob works closely with other RPA staff to integrate these objectives with RPA’s economic, transportation, land use, design and community development initiatives.
Rob has been with RPA since 2006 and most recently served as New Jersey director, where he managed the state program with a focus on sustainability planning and policy. He led projects including developing an arts and revitalization plan for Paterson and a neighborhood revitalization plan for East Camden; producing an economic and land use study for a future bus rapid transit corridor in Union County; advancing regenerative design efforts in the New Jersey Highlands; and facilitating land use and urban design recommendations and leading local demonstration projects for the 13-county Together North Jersey effort.
Prior to joining RPA, Rob served as a coastal management fellow at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, where he focused on policies for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Rob holds a master’s of public administration in environmental science and policy from the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs and a bachelor’s in environmental biology from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
Land Use, Workforce, & Finance Panelists
Jim Hughes (Moderator)
Professor, Rutgers University
![Hughes Jim](https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/300x300/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Hughes_Jim.jpg?bossToken=d816bace8332b9384f88a30879d62344d9d4cac58cbbba6f3e8417bc6f3cbaa6 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/600x600/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Hughes_Jim.jpg?bossToken=6d464a91bc18f3e3c8ee7a692cf2c816251fb02b4ba3a4cf77311a6b8bf7453a 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/900x900/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Hughes_Jim.jpg?bossToken=c314d13a46c1cb153eaded5b265fa8f8d19416e568c6d7962deecdfdf4c6566b 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1200x1200/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Hughes_Jim.jpg?bossToken=f52bbda3b1849d60ca27fab5ee448c3ee83537afc5a5e10f053eb584348edd21 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1500x1500/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Hughes_Jim.jpg?bossToken=e6387f0f3bbfd06fd54afab458cce5ab732bf186cd91c6803ea89ead55e69784 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1800x1800/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Hughes_Jim.jpg?bossToken=d25b7cc5aa5950a024cde4f5ced00f590cbf7dfd32eedca0a73239e4f12391e3 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2100x2100/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Hughes_Jim.jpg?bossToken=f40c1487fdd80315ba6b5d2f611d01a49a4bc8ffd61b67f1f3c88109d144905f 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2400x2400/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Hughes_Jim.jpg?bossToken=06bde5018d7a509b115bd30d35c3676d84c0bdcaa9cacb1410fdf19f00951c3d 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2700x2700/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Hughes_Jim.jpg?bossToken=982792013ed0c343b4ab80eaac332bb904e99f575f54ed243070e79bac4433cd 1543w)
Dr. James W. Hughes is University Professor at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, named to that position by the Board of Governors in 2017. He reports solely to the chief academic officer of Rutgers and has the university-wide privilege of conducting research and educational activities across the disciplines and schools of his choice. This position follows his 22-year tenure (1995-2017) as the dean of the Edward J. Bloustein School. He is also a Distinguished Professor of Urban Planning and Policy Development, achieving that rank in 1983.
He is a nationally recognized expert on demographic, housing, and economic issues and is author or co-author of 35 books and monographs and more than 150 articles. Among his books are The Atlantic City Gamble, published by the Harvard University Press and three published by the Rutgers University Press, including America’s Demographic Tapestry: Baselines for the New Millennium. Two additional books are currently under contract with the Rutgers University Press: Population Trends in New Jersey (to be published in the fall 2021) and Rutgers Then and Now: Two Centuries of Campus Development—A Photographic Odyssey (to be published in 2022).
He also directs the Rutgers Regional Report which, since 1990s, has produced more than 45 major studies on both New Jersey and the broad multistate metropolitan region centered on New York City. A new monthly Rutgers Regional Report series, Fast Track Research Notes, was introduced in 2020. It focuses on the changing pandemic-driven economic conditions impacting New Jersey, New York City, and the nation.
He has provided extensive budgetary and economic testimony before many New Jersey State Legislative committees as well as numerous policy briefings both in Washington and Trenton. He has served on numerous commissions and boards such as the NJ Governor’s Commission on Jobs, Growth and Economic Development, and the Economic Advisors Board of the Council of the City of New York. Dean Hughes is a military veteran who served as an artillery officer in the U.S. Army.
Larisa Ortiz
Managing Director, Streetsense
![Larisa ortiz](https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/300x300/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/larisa-ortiz.jpg?bossToken=a1514f783cda248e6aa9c0835f4b2d9a10acffdbf1262155538b47a657dd0e7a 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/600x600/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/larisa-ortiz.jpg?bossToken=1e85ce9cd5ce6b6c4affc5cd92a1dad37bdc557b2216284c8b08adbc4f4b78b8 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/900x900/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/larisa-ortiz.jpg?bossToken=b47726e1ba22586108482d9b2b889e68fbd21fcb094a21e75cbab610ef326655 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1200x1200/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/larisa-ortiz.jpg?bossToken=1d846059d086d6716ca549ed1b995e2c209bc144c19e5258053d16b2e4400fb9 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1500x1500/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/larisa-ortiz.jpg?bossToken=011c083d53922ae682aef77de4ad57befb32e9b1b8f0c28c8f06174c3ecd8e5a 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1800x1800/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/larisa-ortiz.jpg?bossToken=2e7ff95a67f1ba06390cbf02e0d256c74307ea3acfa2470c87f7c1afc44f13e3 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2100x2100/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/larisa-ortiz.jpg?bossToken=4825b6b2869c88e5f876b7f86c5d0840a3be42c6ffc4105278c9d81350c3ce93 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2400x2400/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/larisa-ortiz.jpg?bossToken=984a4c40eef1994cab9c720b0a6e058e900fb0d506232669e542a3a6948108d4 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2700x2700/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/larisa-ortiz.jpg?bossToken=26b6153880898368fa29588d63c887fc2c02834ce5692d6a1d28cc7f0d15b0ea 1543w)
As Managing Director of Public + Non Profit Solutions, Larisa Ortiz brings over 25 years of experience advising public, private, and non-profit sector clients on retail real estate strategy in urban environments. She has led hundreds of comprehensive retail planning efforts across communities large and small, both nationally and internationally. Larisa is the author of Improving Tenant Mix, published by the International Council of Shopping Centers, and currently serves as a Mayoral Appointee to the NYC Planning Commission. A Fulbright Scholar and Watson Fellow, Larisa has traveled the world studying successful downtown and mixed use environments. She holds an undergraduate degree from Wesleyan University and a master’s in city planning with a certificate in urban design from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Kate Wittels
Partner, HR&A
![Kate Wittels headshot](https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/300x300/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/KateWittels_headshot.jpg?bossToken=87c71943d245bb8362518744009504b9643467addbce59a551dc34d31d5ebec3 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/600x600/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/KateWittels_headshot.jpg?bossToken=7e3ea7eb7cce71482fc7c3e015f6c550e034d0545d600f3c2d56570bd39511d4 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/900x900/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/KateWittels_headshot.jpg?bossToken=184d97541c58554141f912f4a8a6d652fcc88ded1d01e1592c4af8f70b2488f0 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1200x1200/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/KateWittels_headshot.jpg?bossToken=bcdc8ddb38dfc74f92e71ce5e022044d880a6705672cb9e1b8edd07d5326053f 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1500x1500/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/KateWittels_headshot.jpg?bossToken=56fabe6eea65734f49671b99705fb24d78c911da59b38e25382dfa546baa776f 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1800x1800/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/KateWittels_headshot.jpg?bossToken=694c1f001fafd4a7cf58d52bd40c2025678569a954973efd7cc85fcc86abbd94 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2100x2100/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/KateWittels_headshot.jpg?bossToken=590c1f472ae975d2c042cec621beec240af734563e79cf4c08e3f2c66697c044 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2400x2400/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/KateWittels_headshot.jpg?bossToken=4fe3daf0cc2f01770a4c9e76dc7edb1db724e0917b9f68ad38ba61b193e19f19 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2700x2700/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/KateWittels_headshot.jpg?bossToken=514eb9942a374f11f190cb570ac618dcefbfb23ce68b945c4763cae8cce13e84 1543w)
Kate Wittels is a Partner with HR&A Advisors where she advises governments, developers, and businesses on leveraging technology and forging connections to create districts, workforces, and economies that are ready for the future. From New York to Sydney, she has structured strategic plans, public-private partnerships, policies, and programs to help her clients grow innovation ecosystems in cities around the world. Kate focuses on how to best shape places, train people, and deliver infrastructure to prepare today’s cities for tomorrow’s opportunities.
Working at the company, district, and city scales, Kate helps her clients leverage technology for economic development. At the company scale, Kate’s clients include some of the leading tech and creative organizations including Airbnb, WeWork, Intersection, and the Motion Picture Association of America. At the district scale, Kate contributed to the development of the Brooklyn Tech Triangle Strategic Plan (which is credited for fueling Brooklyn’s growth as a tech hub), established the development framework for the Providence Innovation and Design District Framework, created the Western Queens Tech Strategy, which is encouraging equitable growth of Long Island City’s innovation ecosystem and is guiding the endowment for Rice University on the development of Houston’s newest innovation district. At the city scale, Kate supported the City University of New York’s efforts to expand the number of students working in the tech ecosystem, guided the City of Pittsburgh in their bid for Amazon HQ2, and is now helping the city to transform their approach to economic development by restructuring the city’s Urban Redevelopment Authority.
Kate has also managed many of HR&A’s most complex projects including the New York City Economic Development Corporation’s 200-acre Sunnyside Yard Overbuild Feasibility study, MTA and Westfield’s public-private management partnership of the $1.4 billion Fulton Center, and David Beckham’s efforts to develop an MLS soccer stadium in Miami. Prior to HR&A, Kate managed Sony’s corporate real estate portfolio. Kate has a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from the University of Pennsylvania and a Masters of Science in Real Estate Development from MIT. Kate resides in Brooklyn with her husband and two kids.
Jun Choi
Chief Executive Officer, Menlo Realty Ventures
![Jun Choi headshot twitter](https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/300x300/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Jun-Choi_headshot_twitter.png?bossToken=b42e991614ce7949cfd54f793882241bdfd2e68bbe382a7fb937716b511d19dd 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/600x600/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Jun-Choi_headshot_twitter.png?bossToken=1c8e45eb79f0231f728c06b45e4f4bdaf171c08b40d2d00162efbeaf02740969 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/900x900/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Jun-Choi_headshot_twitter.png?bossToken=1dd3156ec6698c7291171ba4a3234a6b6efced0a7debc023b99204b7fdcb88cf 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1200x1200/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Jun-Choi_headshot_twitter.png?bossToken=64fce79ea6c1c0b07fb19e2573499b1df8bcba3e19c7c8061f63dc25f98c74fb 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1500x1500/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Jun-Choi_headshot_twitter.png?bossToken=3b3f6afd8932286e334d02beb36038e939dc541b0d183e8fa68a0d8b7314c8fb 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1800x1800/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Jun-Choi_headshot_twitter.png?bossToken=6a854a2376df761baec250215dd601e0ae2d747c60c34e8de1285cf7326a00d4 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2100x2100/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Jun-Choi_headshot_twitter.png?bossToken=53b7b9428d7ebda0bcdbc3ed4e255f083d12e4c37cf9056255cfba4a6705f53d 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2400x2400/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Jun-Choi_headshot_twitter.png?bossToken=53103818c3c08a9c0acc2c7f092a5df0086268a77e5c8d9a9a5615b8c3e0cc5f 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2700x2700/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Jun-Choi_headshot_twitter.png?bossToken=3c371cdb3eb60da69b3de096c07aeac3b7795c21fa4215b542ffe02cd0df2fd3 1543w)
Jun Choi is CEO of Menlo Realty Ventures, a real estate development firm focused on building modern industrial assets with nearly 2 million square feet of projects completed or under development since 2018. Menlo specializes in converting contaminated brownfield sites to clean, productive industrial uses. Prior to founding Menlo, Jun advised large industrial developers on strategy, acquisitions and sales, leasing and public policy at Cushman & Wakefield. He has held leadership roles in government and business. Previously, he served as Mayor of New Jersey’s 5th largest municipality, Edison Township, where he led a good government movement to stabilize the town’s finances ($140 million budget), promote economic development, improve education and public safety, protect the environment and redevelop older, dilapidated sites. During his tenure, he led the planning and negotiations of over 2 million square feet in redevelopment while preserving 37 acres of open space. Under his watch, Edison received several honors including the “Best Place to Raise Kids” in NJ according to BusinessWeek magazine.
Jun serves on the Executive Committee of the RPA and as Co-Chair of the NJ Committee. He also served as Chair of NJ Policy Perspective where he dedicated himself to help rebuild the policy and advocacy organization from 2012-2019 and to expand their work on economic and education policies for lower-income and disadvantaged populations in NJ.
Jun began his career as a management consultant where he helped advise Fortune 500 companies on strategy and tech issues. He earned his BS in Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Master’s in Public Policy from Columbia University.
Aditya Sanghvi
Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company
![Aditya Sanghvi](https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/300x300/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.33,quality:80/headshots/Aditya-Sanghvi1.jpg?bossToken=94c27f17f185dc121e75883f8d237010a6944e8a9d20f05a74ac57043f43af5d 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/600x600/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.33,quality:80/headshots/Aditya-Sanghvi1.jpg?bossToken=519fa8d77e3a095bc06cba3079462e3018cfb2745743da7e236b1874485bfce2 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/900x900/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.33,quality:80/headshots/Aditya-Sanghvi1.jpg?bossToken=4fad6bc49f44e0a022980e438f0ce52bd073ae18201a4d2dd5bbf9c3cd0741f1 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1200x1200/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.33,quality:80/headshots/Aditya-Sanghvi1.jpg?bossToken=5d909a0b3e56fc5024d52bd7a3923f60048bebf769c32b8f2c03494ee8041e98 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1500x1500/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.33,quality:80/headshots/Aditya-Sanghvi1.jpg?bossToken=9c9502ba9012d254fd0b72565811a690a9774a9a662923f0fbe3c26fe1648c97 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1800x1800/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.33,quality:80/headshots/Aditya-Sanghvi1.jpg?bossToken=7b734e680ee36de9e1865caf7cd30b947e6005404b327500e4f349a0d15ff09e 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2100x2100/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.33,quality:80/headshots/Aditya-Sanghvi1.jpg?bossToken=e0ffd9aca9528c60aa3353c4f9fc49950ef0f9dd49763c86dc51685ed5042a31 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2400x2400/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.33,quality:80/headshots/Aditya-Sanghvi1.jpg?bossToken=d101a060b56e9490649e5b79bbacafa3ccd766ccb8e3df2c4f19ad4e66d1f4e1 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2700x2700/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.33,quality:80/headshots/Aditya-Sanghvi1.jpg?bossToken=c2e214701cc363599d0348d1bbc53660d7672ba6bff098460e0ea59ebd5525dc 1543w)
Aditya co-leads McKinsey’s Global Real Estate Practice. In this capacity, he serves leading companies across the value chain in both residential and commercial real estate. His clients include developers, investment managers, real estate investment trusts, services companies, and technology disruptors. Aditya focuses on the disruptions happening across real estate, such as digital, advanced analytics, new business models, capital sources, and tenant needs. In addition, Aditya serves occupiers of real estate on re-thinking experience, footprint, and cost optimization across retail, office, and industrial.
Outside of real estate, Aditya serves leading private-equity organizations across the deal life cycle, with a particular emphasis on serving the general partner, including support in strategy, governance, and investment processes.
Examples of Aditya’s recent client work include the following:
Re-imagining the customer experience in real estate through building proprietary digital platforms and high-quality physical service delivery
Scaling investment management as a new business for a world-class developer
Building advanced analytics as a competitive advantage for a leading vertically-integrated real estate owner and operator in multi-family
Serving a leading institutional investor on building direct investing and operating capabilities
Re-doing the footprint architecture of a retailer based on the omni-channel value of stores—beyond four-wall sales
Aditya is active in the community on issues of economic inequality and mentorship. He is the chair of the board of America Needs You, which provides intensive mentorship to first-generation, low-income students at public universities.
Sustainable Wastestream panelists
Paul Gertner (Moderator)
![Paul Gertner](https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/300x300/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Paul-Gertner_2021-06-09-181307.jpg?bossToken=761f112c54497903e0bbc54e1d2ef4fa03d90d3684c0dd650a9d7c1a16b02a02 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/600x600/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Paul-Gertner_2021-06-09-181307.jpg?bossToken=60ce77cf7d3fe1dc14b72d4490c38a4d0b4d1e253f99f8154084d1d8167a4468 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/900x900/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Paul-Gertner_2021-06-09-181307.jpg?bossToken=7d543c5cd2b9250c4b1bbe97b28a1a4a60abd24e67aa67998f2e99156594209d 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1200x1200/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Paul-Gertner_2021-06-09-181307.jpg?bossToken=31ca069b367ea1152b102b3b1bd2663dab3a59926d76c93e546460e49143f605 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1500x1500/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Paul-Gertner_2021-06-09-181307.jpg?bossToken=0b74344be0bb5ac48ba3e55ff3f646443e3bfcb3fed20bf14deb1c7b4848d12d 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1800x1800/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Paul-Gertner_2021-06-09-181307.jpg?bossToken=54b806386828dea1d683e95c44132ecf3c159f81f62840d7fb14283be3c3909a 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2100x2100/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Paul-Gertner_2021-06-09-181307.jpg?bossToken=6509dba98e59a609c96445cdd580b6299ec70d85b84fa9d2d142e41af56a9884 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2400x2400/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Paul-Gertner_2021-06-09-181307.jpg?bossToken=d318915102f4224b5e1f2cf55baa187945d1107b40bdf178fd941f430c179fde 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2700x2700/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Paul-Gertner_2021-06-09-181307.jpg?bossToken=1e9ff6e3ee6f981ba83e9737e5e18e3af7f0354567cf8c5aaf9a08eb3499b3fd 1543w)
Paul Gertner is a longtime advocate for alternative transportation in the NY region. Among other projects, he founded the Harbor Ring campaign at Transportation Alternatives and initiated RPA’s Five Borough Bikeway plan. He has a Master of Regional Planning degree from Cornell University, and prior to his business career he worked as a City and County Planning Director and on energy conservation planning at the state level. For the last three decades he has been the CEO of Starborn Industries, which has grown from a small Brooklyn hardware wholesaler to one of the largest suppliers of deck fasteners in the world. Starborn designs and sources proprietary components for contractor installation kits globally and domestically. These are assembled and shipped out from the company’s packaging plant in Edison NJ. While Starborn’s main customer base are lumber manufacturers and distributors, it also sells its products to a number of web distributors, for whom the company provides order fulfillment services.
Bridget Andersen
Deputy Commissioner, Recycling and Sustainability, DSNY
![Bridget Andersen](https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/300x300/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Bridget-Andersen.jpg?bossToken=19bf30845d64ac6f11d19f29fbf73fddd80023d7677a3a054360e62ca79f9111 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/600x600/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Bridget-Andersen.jpg?bossToken=e2f570a4f5071d8b8dc2cf6aacdab3d7ac5c6c73834be18fecbce7706f13c9a3 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/900x900/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Bridget-Andersen.jpg?bossToken=78d6ba0cfcdad879c2c5ad3a787c3ad155f44c042c15475c6306fdca44aa9cf6 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1200x1200/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Bridget-Andersen.jpg?bossToken=c9b31c8999a05f4acd496534da8df2f22ecbd48e872be0d5e5af22c0d63224a0 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1500x1500/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Bridget-Andersen.jpg?bossToken=4e155823732905c426a3853e9c9f60a9f1d83c75d7da58e5621d1239e646dfb2 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1800x1800/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Bridget-Andersen.jpg?bossToken=37e5f06d2cec3febbcee5d20d6557c0159c62c443a18645e52e962938bab28d2 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2100x2100/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Bridget-Andersen.jpg?bossToken=b4ddecd0542e512724fa29ba207819866d3c8c70d72bb628cbabd47cf43cf60b 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2400x2400/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Bridget-Andersen.jpg?bossToken=e63f70e3f35dc593651f17938c7f756e53dafbf68a3439ba441bc11d307fbd26 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2700x2700/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Bridget-Andersen.jpg?bossToken=dcde0c1a70856dcc2f4c3c1600c9eb7e994734b27e36155e4272e3e4e5bf99be 1543w)
Bridget Anderson is the NYC Department of Sanitation’s Deputy Commissioner for Recycling and Sustainability. She is responsible for planning, implementation, and tracking of DSNY’s sustainable waste management activities with particular focus on recycling, composting, HHW and ewaste, textile recovery, and waste reduction. Ms. Anderson directs DSNY’s sustainable waste management policy research and program development, and strategic partnerships with the local reuse and community composting sectors. During COVID-19, she advanced “GetFood NYC” Emergency Home Food Delivery serving over 200 million meals.
Eric Goldstein
Senior Attorney and New York City Environment Director, NRDC
![Eric A Goldstein photo vertical](https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/300x300/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Eric_A._Goldstein_photo_vertical.jpg?bossToken=c94bc7c1d53fe30e497bcf17e92276cef83b0d8ee5101cc4c087a3c676005a26 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/600x600/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Eric_A._Goldstein_photo_vertical.jpg?bossToken=c6c18eeb15aa89434a53e72d0a287e14da5f822ee3530355d449f05a5eb0907a 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/900x900/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Eric_A._Goldstein_photo_vertical.jpg?bossToken=e5f6a8252bd189f5bb88b98c28d15ede97de4839c98a45237702e58fada5f2e9 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1200x1200/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Eric_A._Goldstein_photo_vertical.jpg?bossToken=da5a3f090cc1fafba4492af5f5a6553eb9e4109549b2f42a77ce48c5b2029af7 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1500x1500/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Eric_A._Goldstein_photo_vertical.jpg?bossToken=93807a6797ee8686d1b97b9d26ec91a44d616ad7381a7de8b669a654c0701fb6 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1800x1800/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Eric_A._Goldstein_photo_vertical.jpg?bossToken=23130c350992d14ce636399d965ab84ceae84906a0bff7711259f2d96ff77432 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2100x2100/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Eric_A._Goldstein_photo_vertical.jpg?bossToken=b312e6dac24e32480f858fb98455f94f271662016cbc86973c2a354b8e6ccb1a 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2400x2400/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Eric_A._Goldstein_photo_vertical.jpg?bossToken=f7b415844289d9969e68f6d23b381e95ac9b34a73a14817d3d48ceaae05f8f71 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2700x2700/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Eric_A._Goldstein_photo_vertical.jpg?bossToken=43c8d47647628d5693b68d1c00f668d9ce9e15b62e338e139302ba18df3dc562 1543w)
Eric A. Goldstein is a senior attorney and NYC Environment Director at the Natural Resources Defense Council. More than three decades ago, he helped create NRDC’s Urban Program. He gained nationwide attention in the early 1980s for spearheading the public campaign to get lead out of gasoline. Since then, Eric has been one of the New York region’s leading environmental advocates on such issues as solid waste, drinking water, clean air and environmental justice. He helped draft, support and enforce New York City’s landmark 1989 mandatory recycling law and has led NRDC’s efforts to transform the way trash is handled across the state from primary reliance on landfilling and incineration to making recycling, composting, waste prevention and equity the cornerstones of waste policy. He is co-author of the award-winning New York Environment Book, blogs frequently on New York environmental issues and co-directs the Environmental Law Clinic at New York University School of Law.
Kevin Lyons
Associate Professor, Supply Chain Management Department and Director, Public Private Community Partnerships, Rutgers Business School
![Kevin Lyons](https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/300x300/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Kevin-Lyons.jpg?bossToken=7e08f44754b78e3da48d078485901ab14f7c11286110f7192769000e1ead88e5 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/600x600/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Kevin-Lyons.jpg?bossToken=38520c69f5a69d66661f0cd3353a1d57b4c69c4804a60eb1e5aebde4e849da9a 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/900x900/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Kevin-Lyons.jpg?bossToken=2c1857684c1e9bfcd6aa79c60cb6cf01e10a77a2ad4e80da992acc472d5b2b14 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1200x1200/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Kevin-Lyons.jpg?bossToken=b88dbdefdac23a220cb6dee9ce265bd28cb336dd518ce7db4c1ce9834f967383 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1500x1500/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Kevin-Lyons.jpg?bossToken=24a1ba2298cb906b819a5ca45a3173ae75e12c7c39569cd79a0507897b2fb774 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1800x1800/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Kevin-Lyons.jpg?bossToken=393fae589076a8f4ee25b0a5da7505901cf36a7a3b324754612436f9edcbeaa8 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2100x2100/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Kevin-Lyons.jpg?bossToken=69de5658c1316060fd75acb579f47f96abd838d92a138a577a752513a176f966 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2400x2400/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Kevin-Lyons.jpg?bossToken=4dbe2f472028bc346fd27cbb24c7b325eaac19893ac1e720f072d2a8c6a377b8 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2700x2700/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Kevin-Lyons.jpg?bossToken=d3fd4374377840bb617910f47dcd78c6c2a70c999bd3c8e2c146ef32980672f1 1543w)
Kevin Lyons’ research includes the integration of sustainability and diversity criteria into Supply Chain, procurement, and manufacturing processes and operations. Dr. Lyons developed the Supply Chain Environmental Archeology research program/lab, which involves the archeological study of climate change and environmental impacts via the supply chain, big data analytics, risk assessment, decision analysis as well as product end-of-life and new product innovation research. He is the principal investigator for Newark Anchor Collaborative Research Institute, the New Jersey Economic Development Off-Shore Wind Port Purchasing Disparity Study, the Jersey City Purchasing Disparity Study, and the Mandela Washington Fellows Program. Previously, Dr. Lyons was the Chief Procurement Officer at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and he is an U.S. Air Force Veteran.
Books:
Buying for the Future; Contract Management and the Environmental Challenge (2000)
A Roadmap to Green Supply Chains: Using Supply Chain Archaeology and Big Data Analytics (2015)