These Are the Top Westchester CEOs & Business Leaders in 2023

Nonprofit-General

Jan Fisher

Executive Director

Nonprofit Westchester (NPW)

As executive director of Nonprofit Westchester (NPW), Jan Fisher runs the only membership organization in Westchester that focuses solely on advocating issues that directly impact the nonprofit workforce and the population it serves. Since September of 2019, Fisher has led the 300-plus-member group and has been strengthening the impact and visibility of nonprofits while gaining a reputation as an effective leader who understands the vital role those organizations play in our communities. In critical areas, like caring for young children, promoting racial equity, fostering workforce development, and ensuring the welfare of older adults, Fisher has championed the work of such organizations through advocacy, education, and awareness. Formerly the director of Public Affairs at Westchester Jewish Community Services, Fisher went on to run her own consultancy firm before taking the helm at NPW; her experiences have fostered a deep understanding of how to take action to strengthen and empower nonprofit organizations. —JJ

Lifetime Achievement Award

Martin Ginsburg

Founder and Principal

GDC Properties

After more than 60 years as a real estate developer in Westchester, Martin Ginsburg is reflective about his legacy and long-held ideas about the state of New York. “I have a vision of the Hudson River, and a lot of what I am doing now are projects in communities on the river,” Ginsburg says. “I think the future of the state depends substantially on revitalizing and turning those waterfronts into tourist attractions, which will determine how the entire state does.”

His firm, GDC Properties, develops residential and commercial properties in addition to owning and managing apartments, condos, shopping centers, and office buildings — always with the goal of enhancing communities. In places like Peekskill, Ossining, Yonkers, Ginsburg believes his work is helping transform perceptions of towns and villages as some of the derelict waterfronts in Westchester are converted. According to Ginsberg, the key to his enduring success has been to “view every obstacle as a challenge, not negatively, but to look at it and say, ‘What are we going to do about it?’” —JJ

Nonprofit-General

Janet Langsam

CEO

ArtsWestchester

Janet Langsam is a force of nature amid the county’s cultural landscape. As CEO of ArtsWestchester, Langsam transformed what was once a $1 million organization called the Westchester Arts Council into a $6 million nonprofit that is one of the county’s leading supporter of the arts. It was under her guidance that ArtsWestchester’s White Plains headquarters welcomed Amanda Browder’s 2023 Best of Westchester-winning fabric installation, draped across its nine-story façade. Langsam also spearheaded the purchase and renovation of the abandoned historical bank building in the center of Downtown White Plains, transforming it into a hub of artists’ studios, galleries, and offices. She recently worked with the N.Y. Thruway Authority to adorn the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge with sculptures by a host of state-based artists. It all amounts to a life spent tirelessly supporting Westchester’s creative organizations, nonprofits, and venues, and serving as a perennial resource and guiding light for area artists. — PA

For-Profit Companies

Joe Cotter

President, CEO

National Resources

Leader of one of the most formidable real estate companies in Westchester, it would be difficult to overstate the impact of Joseph Cotter and his firm, National Resources, on our region. Founded in 1988, National Resources has redeveloped projects totaling more than $2 billion and is one of the region’s largest private owners of Hudson River waterfront. The company has put this land to good use with its chic Hudson River residences and innovative iPark Hudson office and residential park. However, Cotter and National Resources might be best known for sealing the deal on Great Point Studios’ $500 million campus, Lionsgate Studios Yonkers — which includes two 20,000-square-foot soundstages and one 10,000-square-foot soundstage — all to be built amid National Resources’ 24-acre iPark Hudson campus. The project has changed the face of film and television production in Westchester, and proved Cotter’s outsize impact on the county. — PA

For-Profit Companies

Ed Domingo

Senior Vice President & General Manager

Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts

The bright lights of Las Vegas simply could not compete with the allure of the New York metro area for Ed Domingo, senior vice president and general manager at Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts in Yonkers. Domingo, who was born and raised in Dallas, started his career as an attorney in New York before joining the casino industry — eventually leading him to a senior executive position with MGM Resorts at Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Vegas. “However, New York has always held a special place in my heart, so when the company acquired Empire City Casino in 2019, I knew it was the right move for me and my family,” Domingo says. He credits his father for nurturing his core career values, including the notion that businesses have a responsibility to the communities in which they operate. He attributes the casino’s success to the dedication and drive of his team members. “As we work toward securing a full-gaming license, it is critical that each of our team members have an essential role in our success,” Domingo notes. —JC

For-Profit Companies

Russell Yankwitt

Managing Partner & Litigation Department Chair

Yankwitt LLP

“We provide the same litigation services you’d get from a prestigious New York City law firm, only in Westchester, and that’s not just lip service. We also do it at a fraction of New York City costs,” explains Russell Yankwitt, founder/partner of Yankwitt LLP, regarding his trial-and-litigation firm in White Plains.

The former federal law clerk, big-firm litigator, and assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York leads an impressive team of trial lawyers who are committed to producing outstanding outcomes for their clients and protecting their interests by carefully designing strategies for each individual case. The firm, which was founded in 2009, represents businesses and high-net-worth individuals across a range of matters in the federal and state courts. Yankwitt and his team consider themselves “zealous advocates for their clients” and the “go-to litigation firm in the county.” —JJ

For-Profit Companies

Anthony Viceroy

President, COO

Summit Health-CityMD

Facilitating the healthcare of millions of patients nationwide is all in a day’s work for Anthony Viceroy, president and COO of Summit Health-CityMD. Boasting 770 practice locations and a workforce more than 20,000 strong, Summit Health-CityMD offers high-quality primary, urgent, and multispecialty healthcare services for both individuals and communities across the United States, with services through telehealth as well as in-home and traditional practice settings. Viceroy is in charge of the company’s operational strategy, maintaining a laser focus on growth, value creation, and operational efficiency in order to best aid the eight million patients it serves. Recognized as a healthcare leader by Crain’s New York Business, Viceroy is also a certified public accountant, a charted global management accountant, a Manhattanville College trustee, a member of the Board of Advisors for New York Medical College, and sits on the Board of Directors of the Westchester County Association and the Bedford Physicians Risk Retention Group. —PA

Nonprofit – General

Marsha Gordon

President, CEO

Business Council of Westchester

It is difficult to conceive of Westchester’s business landscape without the steady hand and welcoming words of Marsha Gordon, president and CEO of the Business Council of Westchester (BCW). For more than two decades, Gordon has been one of the biggest players in the county’s economic landscape, spearheading the 1,000-plus-member organization that tirelessly supports county-based businesses. Gordon, who holds an MBA in business administration from Marist College as well as a doctorate in professional studies in management and marketing from Pace University, is also the recipient of one of the New York State Senate’s 2017 Women of Distinction Awards. Gordon was additionally named to Westchester County Executive George Latimer’s Reopening Task Force and serves on the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council’s executive committee.— PA

Nonprofit – Healthcare

Philip Ozuah, MD

President & Chief Executive Officer

Montefiore Medicine

As a nationally recognized expert in his field, Dr. Philip Ozuah serves as the president and CEO of Montefiore Medicine, an umbrella organization of the Montefiore Health System’s 13 hospitals (including three in Westchester), 10,000 physicians, 53,000 employees, and over 7.5 million patients every year. In the role, he has made access to healthcare by underserved communities a priority in addition to overseeing $8 billion in annual revenue. He has recruited exceptional and diverse healthcare talent while improving the organization’s financial and operational performance by integrating care across the large Montefiore system. An award-winning educator, Dr. Ozuah also leads the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, one of the top medical research and educational centers in the country. But in addition to his clinical and educational leadership accomplishments, the Nigeria native has consistently been recognized by Modern Healthcare magazine as one of the nation’s top physician executives. As a result, it is not surprising that under Dr. Ozuah’s leadership, Montefiore’s healthcare specialties have consistently ranked among the top one percent of all U.S. hospitals. — JC

For-Profit Companies

Daniel Singer

CEO & President

Robison Oil

Daniel Singer, CEO and president of Robison Oil, wasn’t always a preeminent authority on the local heating-oil-and-energy business landscape. After graduating from Syracuse University in 1989, he’d held a number of positions at PepsiCo, concluding his tenure at the beverage giant in 1996 after serving as manager of Labor Relations for the company’s North American operations. He then joined the family business at Robison as VP of Operations before becoming CEO and co-president with his brother David. Under his leadership, the local heating-oil company has expanded its business offerings to include natural gas service, electricity supply, air conditioning, and other HVAC services. The firm now employs more than 200 people serving over 24,000 homes and businesses across Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, and Fairfield Counties, as well as New York City. Singer, who lives in Westchester with his wife and three children, is also active in his community, serving as the immediate past president of the Congregation Sons of Israel in Briarcliff Manor and on the board of trustees at the Solomon Schechter School of Westchester. — JC

For-Profit Companies

Stacey Tompkins

CEO

Tompkins Excavating

Stacey Tompkins knows about tenacity. In 2013, Tompkins took a leap in her career, leaving behind an impressive resume managing food service facilities for the likes of Bear Stearns and Goldman Sachs. “I was always very involved in the business while raising our three children,” she explains. “When the opportunity presented itself, I started working full time for our family business. With education, classes, and personalized coaching, I found my niche.”

Since taking the helm in 2013, when annual revenues were $1 million, the company is on track to exceed projected revenue of $10 million in 2023. Under her leadership, Tompkins Excavating has received several prestigious awards, including the Business Council of Westchester’s 2019 Hall of Fame and Women in Business Success and Business of the Year from the Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce. Tompkins Excavating previously teamed up with New York State Senator Sue Serino in her “Planning for a Future that Works” program that introduces high school students to career opportunities in the construction industry.

Tompkins’ strong management background has helped cultivate a company culture that retains top-quality employees. “It’s vital seeing your employees interact with each other — either at our company meetings or at a team-bonding event,” explains Tompkins. “We acknowledge the efforts of our employees. One of my favorites is the ability to recognize certain individuals at a holiday dinner with a certificate of excellence award.”— CC

Government

Mike Spano

Mayor

City of Yonkers

A lifelong Yonkers resident, Mayor Mike Spano is on a mission to constantly improve the city that he loves. Spano was elected in 1992 as the youngest member of the State Assembly. In one of his biggest crusades, he led the Task Force on Sex Crimes Against Children and Women (SAVE New York), fought for the passage of Megan’s Law, and successfully cemented legislation to protect children across New York. With the betterment of his constituents always in mind, Spano helped create the New York State School Tax Relief (STAR) program and Enhanced STAR. Taking office as mayor in 2012, he hasn’t slowed down. Spano led the passage of bipartisan budgets without cuts to services, while pushing to rebuild and develop Yonkers Public Schools. Spano also launched one of the most ambitious and comprehensive energy plans of any city across New York — Yonkers Green City — saving taxpayers millions of dollars in energy costs, while protecting the environment and ushering the city into a new era of green-driven initiatives. Currently under his leadership, Yonkers is seeing a $5 billion revitalization boom, including changes and development on the waterfront, an expansion of the arts, and the introduction of filmmaking mecca Lionsgate Studios to the city. — CC

For-Profit Companies

John DeCicco Jr.

CEO

DeCicco & Sons

John DeCicco Jr. is passionate about not only keeping the gears of his family’s businesses turning but also thriving. What started out as a grocery stand run by newly emigrated brothers in 1973 has become a household name in Westchester 50 years later. Working with cousin Joseph Jr. and brother Chris, the trio opened up the Ardsley store in 2006, and haven’t stopped yet, expanding across the county and into Putnam. With a clear business strategy and family values ingrained since he was young, DeCicco has overseen the astounding growth of the supermarket chain into other areas such as food service and beer gardens. Laser focused on innovation, DeCicco believes in doing the little things well and constantly, so there is continous improvement made not just for the business to grow, but for customers to have the greatest experience. — CC

Nonprofit – Healthcare

Joshua Ratner

Executive VP, Chief Strategy Officer

WMCHealth

Throughout his seven-year tenure working with the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth), Joshua Ratner has maintained a consistent focus on honing strategies and building relationships for the 1,700-bed healthcare provider. As executive VP and chief strategy officer of the Valhalla-based company, Ratner supports WMCHealth Network president and CEO Michael Israel’s vision and helps both develop and align the nine-hospital healthcare conglomerate’s corporate and clinical strategies. Ratner is additionally responsible for disseminating WMCHealth’s numerous healthcare innovations and overseeing the conglomerate’s affiliate and provider relationships, government relations, and behavioral health operations. Along with serving on the boards of the HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley and WMCHealth’s Bon Secours Charity Health System, Ratner also leads the Hudson Valley Region Hub of New York State’s Regional COVID-19 Vaccine Network. —PA

For-Profit Companies

Michael Gilfeather

Orange Bank & Trust Company

President, CEO

Great banking is a way of life for Michael Gilfeather. President and CEO of Orange Bank & Trust Company, as well as a director, since 2014, Gilfeather has played a leading role in expanding the bank’s presence to five branches and 2.2 billion in total assets. Today, the bank’s portfolio includes business banking, cash management, personal banking, and wealth management, including trust services and investment strategies. But Gilfeather’s most impressive feat just might be leading Orange Bank & Trust to its most successful year in the company’s 130-year history. In 2022, the bank managed to hit a record $24.4 million in earnings, saw total deposits reach roughly $2 billion, and expanded its loan portfolio by more than 20%. A Pace University alum, Gilfeather also serves as vice chairman of the New York Bankers Association and as chairman of the Board of the Orange County Partnership. — PA

Nonprofit – Healthcare

Mary Spengler

CEO

Hospice of Westchester

Mary K. Spengler has been devoted to the well-being of Westchester residents for more than four decades. As CEO of Hospice of Westchester (HOW) since 2011, she has consistently provided patients and their families with respectful and compassionate care as they face life-limiting illnesses. In 2013, she spearheaded the expansion of HOW’s Pediatric Palliative Care Program, which provides extensive assistance for children from birth to 21 years old — the only program of its kind in Westchester.

With a master’s degree in nursing and decades of experience at White Plains Hospital in nursing and in administration, Spengler is a healthcare community leader who is uniquely suited to guiding an entire staff as they provide care to the most vulnerable among us — just some of many reasons she was named a Westchester Magazine Healthcare Hero in 2014 and served as a judge in that competition for many years to follow. Under her steadfast leadership, HOW continues to serve as a model of excellence in the region for its approach to supporting and comforting those in need of end-of-life care, offering patient-focused services that are carried out with dignity and kindness. — JJ

For-Profit Companies

Elizabeth Bracken Thompson, Dean Bender, and Geoff Thompson

Principals

Thompson & Bender

Elizabeth Bracken Thompson, Geoff Thompson, and Dean Bender all met serendipitously — and the businesses of Westchester are lucky they did. While working at Gannett — Geoff and Dean as award-winning journalists and Elizabeth as vice president of marketing — each had the same goals to do the best work possible and shared an interest and understanding of the community and economic environment. All hailing from entrepreneurial families, they decided to turn their love of creative storytelling into a business — one that years later would change the landscape of business in Westchester.

Throw a rock in Westchester, and chances are you’ll hit a business that the acclaimed agency has worked with, such as Iona University, PepsiCo, and the Cross County Center. The continued recognition of these stories and achievements include the Business Hall of Fame Award, the 2017 Small Business Award, being voted Best Advertising & PR, Best Web Development & Graphic Design, and Best Social Media Services agency by the readers of 914INC. and selected by City & State as part of the Westchester Power 100 for the past three years.

“It’s dedication to creating quality work and service to and for our customers,” says Bracken-Thompson when asked about the secret behind the success. “We are proud of the longevity with many of our clients and value their loyalty. We still get energized when we get positive national media coverage for a client or create a winning TV or digital ad that produces desired results, or design and launch an animated website that reflects the personality of the brand we are promoting.” — CC

For-Profit Companies

Tim Foley

CEO, Executive Director

Building & Realty Institute

It is thanks to pioneers like Tim Foley that our county is evolving into a beacon of sleek, community-forward architecture. As CEO and executive director of the Building & Realty Institute of Westchester and the Mid-Hudson Region (BRI), Foley works hard to advocate the interests of the region’s realty, building, and construction professionals. Based in Armonk, the institute is a building, realty, and construction industry membership organization that boasts more than 1,800 members, spread across 14 New York State counties. While at BRI, Foley has consistently focused on sustainability, smart growth, and expanding affordable housing. Prior to his work with The Building & Realty Institute of Westchester, Foley served as communications director for New York State Assembly Member Amy Paulin and as political director for the Committee of Interns and Residents/SEIU Healthcare labor union. —PA

For-Profit Companies

JoAnne Murray

Owner, President

Allan Block Insurance

JoAnne Murray has dedicated her life to helping clients through the very best insurance she and her company are able to provide. As owner and president of Allan Block Insurance, Murray began working at the company in 1976, serving as co-owner and president of the personal lines division for two decades before ascending to the position of owner and president in 2017. Murray has led Allan Block Insurance to the forefront of business insurance, and the firm now offers a fleet of services ranging from personal insurance and cyber-insurance to products specifically tailored to high-net-worth clients. Murray has served on the Professional Insurance Agents council and is a former president of the Independent Insurance Agents of Westchester County. In addition, Murray chairs the annual Tarrytown Halloween Parade committee and serves on boards for the Sleepy Hollow Tarrytown Chamber of Commerce, Kendal on Hudson, Sleepy Hollow’s RSHM Life Center, Rotary Club of the Tarrytowns, and Tarrytown Music Hall. — PA

For-Profit and Non-Profit Companies

Joseph Kenner

CEO and President

Greyston Bakery & Greyston Foundation

Joseph Kenner is leading the charge for positive social change and the systemic revamping of what it means to offer open hiring practices. Known for his innovative leadership and commitment to creating lasting community impact, Kenner spent 14 years in corporate America and nearly 10 years in government in various elected and appointed leadership roles before joining Greyston as vice president of Program and Partnerships in 2018. In 2022, Kenner was appointed CEO, playing a crucial role in creating job opportunities and delivering millions of dollars in economic impact locally and worldwide. Greyston Bakery is New York State’s first B Corp, while Greyston Foundation is a nonprofit that unlocks human potential through inclusive and transitional employment and workforce development. Without the use of background checks and interviews, Greyston utilizes a no-questions asked form of hiring that levels the playing field for underserved groups of people who would otherwise be eliminated from the hiring pool.— CC

Related: The CEO of Empire Entertainment Speaks on His Westchester Roots