Honors for Westchester leaders at WCA event

An estimated 400 business, nonprofit and community leaders were on hand last night when The Westchester County Association honored four Westchester leaders at its Annual Leadership Event, “Impact in Action.” The event took place at Glen Island Harbour Club in New Rochelle.

In welcoming remarks, Susan Fox, WCA Board Chair and president and CEO of White Plains Hospital, highlighted the WCA’s accomplishments this year.

“Leadership is about inspiring and motivating others to turn a shared vision into reality,” Fox said.

Michael N. Romita, president and CEO of WCA explained, “These four individuals and companies (that are being honored) are transforming our region through their innovative approaches to energy, housing, the environment, and workforce development — meeting challenges head-on and finding new pathways forward. As we acknowledge the role of leadership, we also celebrate their achievements and ability to inspire others.”

Michael Romita speaking at WCA event.

Meg Glander, director of external affairs at Crown Castle, received the WCA’s New Leader Trailblazer Award.

Justin E. Driscoll, president and CEO of the White Plains-based New York Power Authority (NYPA), received the WCA Leadership Award. He is widely credited with advancing New York’s clean energy goals with two billion-dollar projects to remake the Hudson Valley’s’ energy grid a model for the rest of the nation.

“The Power Authority is proud to play a leading role in New York state’s ongoing transition from fossil fuels to clean energy alternatives,” Driscoll said. “Simultaneously, economic development and a growing energy workforce are top priorities for NYPA. And our team is also committed to advancing a full roster of energy service projects across the state that save money and energy while helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

Justin Driscoll of NYPA speaks at WCA event.

The NRP Group also received a Leadership Award, which was accepted by Jonathan Gertman, senior vice president of development, Northeast. The NRP Group has been active with a number of housing developments in Westchester, notably in New Rochelle, White Plains, and Harrison.

The Alfred B. DelBello Visionary Award, named after the former Westchester County Executive, went to John R. Nolon, founder of the Pace Land Use Law Center at Pace University. Nolon is recognized as one of the prominent thought leaders in land use law and has spent decades advocating for sustainable land use and smart growth policies to positively shape the region’s future.

The event also served to highlight that WCA s about to enter its 75th anniversary year in 2025. The organization’s track record in helping establish Westchester as a center of economic opportunity, growth, and upward mobility was highlighted. Among the organization’s accomplishments:

  • Helping to address the acute housing shortage through a bootcamp for newly elected municipal officials to help them tackle affordable housing in their communities;
  • Providing information about maintaining a defensive, in-depth preventative approach to cybersecurity;.
  • Staging the WCA’s 1000 Jobs Challenge that placed over 200 workers resulting in $20 million in local economic impact;
  • Convening a Workforce Summit and hosting job fairs.