Yonkers, New Rochelle city officials join BCW’s board

The individuals charged with leading planning and development efforts in Yonkers and New Rochelle have joined the board of directors of The Business Council of Westchester (BCW). They are Wilson Kimball, commissioner of planning and development for Yonkers and Luiz Aragon, commissioner of development for New Rochelle.

In announcing the board additions, BCW Chairman Anthony Justic emphasized the experience and responsibilities each new member has in economic development in their respective cities, as did Marsha Gordon, the BCW”™s president and CEO. Justic said that having Kimball and Aragon on the BCW”™s board “strengthens our position as the most influential economic development organization in Westchester.” Gordon noted that they “have been at the forefront of the tremendous renaissance under way in the urban centers of Yonkers and New Rochelle.”

BCW credited Aragon with repositioning New Rochelle as a “transit- and talent-oriented development destination in Westchester.” It pointed to the city”™s $6 billion master development agreement with RXR Realty as one of Aragon”™s achievements.

Aragon holds an MBA from Baruch College and a bachelor”™s degree in architecture from Pratt Institute. He previously was Sullivan County”™s commissioner for planning and environmental management and had been deputy commissioner for preservation services in New York City”™s Department of Housing Preservation & Development.

Kimball had been deputy commissioner of planning and development in Yonkers before being promoted to commissioner. She earned a law degree at Fordham University Law School and has an MBA in finance from Pace University. BCW noted that since she became commissioner, Yonkers has seen more than $2.5 billion in private real estate investment.