The de Blasio administration recently announced the appointment of ten new members to New York City Economic Development Corporation’s Board of Directors. The appointees, who include business, community, nonprofit and academic leaders, will join the organization’s 27-member board, which helps to guide NYCEDC’s agenda. As the City’s primary economic development vehicle, NYCEDC leverages the City’s assets to create good jobs and drive growth, ensuring equitable and sustainable development across all five boroughs.

“Right now, New York City is experiencing the strongest job growth in two decades. Through the NYCEDC we are working to invest in fast-growing sectors like bio-tech, advanced manufacturing and life-sciences, and making sure that New Yorkers can participate in the next great economic chapter of our city. We are honored to have these new leaders from tech companies, non-profits and academia join our team as we invest in the human capital, infrastructure and space needs to drive a fair and strong economy,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“The NYCEDC Board plays an important role in establishing crucial projects to catalyze inclusive innovation in our city,” said NYCEDC President Maria Torres-Springer. “I look forward to partnering with this accomplished and talented team to create an equitable and sustainable economy for New Yorkers from all five boroughs.”

The new members of NYCEDC’s Board of Directors are:

William S. Floyd is head of external affairs for Google New York, leading Google’s government and regulatory interactions, public affairs programs, and community relations. Prior to joining Google, Floyd was a member of the Law Offices of Claudia Wagner and a Senior Advisor in the Government and Regulatory Affairs Division of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP. He has served as Executive Director of the New York City Districting Commission and as Director of Community Affairs for New York and Connecticut for Verizon Communications Inc. Floyd spent nine years working in New York City government, including at NYCEDC. He is an active member of several non-profit boards, including the Little Red/Elizabeth Irwin School and the Children's Museum of the Arts. Floyd is a graduate of Columbia University.

Wilton Cedeno is the Director of State Regulatory Affairs for Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. (Con Edison), where he works to develop and implement internal and external communication strategies and advocacy related to state energy policy. Since 1993, Cedeno has worked at Con Edison, serving as Director for Information Resources and General Manager for Staten Island Electric Operations, among other positions. He sits on the board of the Brooklyn Technical High School Alumni Foundation, and is a recipient of the Defining Trends in Latino Culture (DTM) Trendsetter Award in recognition of his work with the community and excellence in his position at Con Edison. Cedeno founded the Cooperative Technical High School Intern Program, which enables high school students to work at Con Edison. He is a graduate of Columbia University.

Matthew Hiltzik is the Founder and CEO of Hiltzik Strategies, which provides a wide range of communications services including strategic counsel, crisis management, and corporate positioning. Hiltzik previously held roles as the President and CEO of Freud Communications and as Senior Vice President of Communications and Government Relations for Miramax Films. He also served as Press Secretary/Deputy Executive Director of the New York State Democratic Committee, having worked on campaigns for Senator Charles Schumer and former Senator Hillary Clinton. Hiltzik is a graduate of the School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR) at Cornell University and Fordham University School of Law.

Pam Kwatra is President of Kripari Marketing where she serves as a link between major American corporations and the Indian community. Kwatra is a member of the Association of Indians in America, Arya Samaj of Bergen County, and an Executive Committee member of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. She sits on the boards of the American Conference on Diversity, Indian Chamber of Commerce, and South Asian Business Alliance, among many others. She is a graduate of Delhi University in India.

David Lichtenstein is Chairman and CEO of The Lightstone Group, one of the largest privately held real estate companies in the United States. Since its founding in 1988, Lichtenstein has directed all aspects of the acquisition, financing and management of Lightstone’s diverse portfolio of multi-family, hospitality, retail and industrial properties. Lichtenstein is a member of the Board of Governors of the Real Estate Board of New York, a Trustee of the Citizens Budget Commission, a Member of the Real Estate Roundtable and Co-Chair of the Real Estate Capital Policy Advisory Committee. Lichtenstein is a founder of the Friendship House, an organization that provides housing for families of sick children and adults in the Greater New York City area.

Lynn B. Kelly is the Chief Executive Officer and President of Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden, one of the City’s premier cultural destinations. Prior to her position at Snug Harbor, Kelly worked for ten years at NYCEDC, serving as a Senior Vice President and as President of the Coney Island Development Corporation. Kelly is the Staten Island Vice Chair of the Cultural Institutions Group and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of NYC & Company, where she chairs the Committee for Arts and Culture. She is a graduate of New York University and the Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service at NYU.

Dr. Gail O. Mellow has served asPresident of LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City since 2000. Under Dr. Mellow’s leadership, LaGuardia is pioneering new approaches to educating and graduating under-represented students and leveraging education to support the growth of local businesses and create jobs. On a national level, Dr. Mellow is actively involved in promoting the role community colleges play in spurring economic growth while developing both education and career ladders for students. Prior to joining LaGuardia Community College, Dr. Mellow served as President of Gloucester County College. She is a graduate of Jamestown Community College, SUNY Albany, and The George Washington University.

Fred Heller is owner of Team Systems, a family-owned and operated taxi fleet and garage in Long Island City. Heller is also Principal of Ace Scrap Metal Recycling, a metal recycling and construction and demolition debris disposal company. Heller is an Advisory Board Member for the Queens Museum of Art, an Executive Board Member for the Metropolitan Taxi Board of Trade, and serves on the board of advisors of the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City. He is a graduate of Adelphi University.

Timothy A. Wilkins is a corporate partner at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, where he advises leading U.S. and international corporations on cross-border mergers and joint ventures, and serves as the Co-Chair for the New York Office’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee. Wilkins is an Adjunct Professor of International Law at Hunter College and founding Chair of the Steering Committee of The Opportunity Agenda, a non-profit organization dedicated to expanding equal opportunity. Prior to joining Freshfields New York, Wilkins worked for 11 years in Tokyo, Japan as an investment banker and lawyer. He serves on the Board of Directors of New York City Global Partners, The Public Theater and the New York City Bar Fund. Wilkins is a graduate of Harvard College, Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School.

Mark Patricof is Managing Director and Co-Head of Houlihan Lokey’s Technology, Media & Telecom Group, where he advises a wide range of leading technology, telecom, media, entertainment, and gaming companies. Before joining Houlihan Lokey, Patricof was a Co-Founder and Managing Partner at MESA Securities and President and Chief Operating Officer at the Rockwell Group. Patricof also co-founded <kpe>, a digital media agency and business incubator. He is a member of the Boards of Directors of NEP Broadcasting, New York Cruise Lines, and Board Chair for the New York based non-profit, New Heights. Patricof is a graduate of Emory University.