Keynote Panel: America’s Fastest
Growing Neighborhood: What’s Next?
Redstone Theater 9:30AM - 10:30AM
Long Island City has been described as both the fastest-growing neighborhood in the country
and the most productive area in New York State. LIC is seeing historic growth in all sectors, and
emerging as a true mixed-use, live/work/enjoy center of urban vitality. With Cornell Tech open across
the river, the Life Sciences sector about to kick-off, and big-name companies talking about making
LIC their future headquarters, what’s next for this essential neighborhood?
Lindsey Boylan
Deputy Secretary of Economic
Development and Special Advisor to
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
Lindsey Boylan is Deputy Secretary for Economic
Development and Housing and Special Advisor to New
York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Her portfolio includes
Empire State Development (ESD), the state’s chief
economic development agency—where she served as
Chief of Staff and Executive Vice President—as well
as: the Battery Park Authority, New York Department
of State, Dormitory Authority of the State of New York,
Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery, Javits Center, New
York State Council on the Arts, New York State Homes
and Community Renewal, Olympic Regional Development
Authority and the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation.
At ESD, Lindsey worked with the Commissioner and the
Governor’s Office to promote statewide job growth and
oversaw 10 regional offices. Prior to ESD, Lindsey held
municipal finance roles, ultimately as VP, RBC Capital
Markets, and had earlier steered operations for three New
York City business improvement districts best known for
their restoration of Bryant Park. Lindsey also has worked
for noted urban planner Alexander Garvin. She has an
MBA from Columbia Business School and a B.A. from
Wellesley College. Her board service includes Wellesley’s
Board of Trustees and Alumnae Association, Citizens
Union and NYC’s Community Boards. Lindsey lives in
Manhattan with her husband and daughter.
James Patchett
NYCEDC
A proponent of affordable housing and a principal driver
of Mayor de Blasio’s effort to create 100,000 jobs,
James Patchett became President and CEO of NYCEDC
in February 2016 after serving as Chief of Staff to Deputy
Mayor Alicia Glen. Before his transition to NYCEDC, Mr.
Patchett was pivotal in securing many of the Mayor’s
signature affordable housing achievements and was
one of the de Blasio administration’s chief negotiators
on major land use matters. Mr. Patchett holds a BA
in Economics from Amherst College and an MBA from
Stanford University. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and
their two young children.
Kathryn S. Wylde
Partnership for NYC
Kathryn Wylde is President and CEO of the nonprofit
Partnership for New York City. Ms. Wylde was responsible
for developing and managing affordable housing and
economic development programs that contributed to
the renaissance of blighted urban neighborhoods across
the five boroughs. An internationally recognized expert
on urban policy, Ms. Wylde has been awarded honorary
degrees from Fordham University and St. Francis College
and serves on the boards of many nonprofit institutions.
Elizabeth Lusskin (Moderator)
LIC Partnership
Elizabeth Lusskin is President of LIC Partnership
and Executive Director of the LIC BID. She joined LIC
Partnership after serving as Chief of Staff/VP Strategic
Initiatives at NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering,
expanding its incubator and entrepreneurship efforts.
Previously, she served as Deputy Commissioner, NYC
SBS, General Counsel, Downtown Alliance, and Legislative
Counsel, NYS Office of Federal Affairs.