Transition Team
Meet the leaders guiding the transition so that we’re ready to get to work on Inauguration Day.
Talent Committee
The Talent Committee will support Mayor-Elect Applyrs by attracting talented and diverse public servants into the Administration.
Committee Members
Anne Saile
Albany Resident, Healthcare and Government Executive Recognized for Organizational Turnarounds
Michael J. Castellana
Chief Executive Officer, Broadview Federal Credit Union
Lynn Ortale, Ph.D.
President, Maria College
Nathaalie Carey
Chief Human Resources Officer, Prologis
Activate Albany Committee
The Activate Albany Committee will be responsible for actualizing Mayor-Elect Applyrs’ commitment to inclusion by overseeing Albany’s largest-ever civic engagement initiative and building a community-driven policy agenda for the Administration.
Committee Leads
Dr. Havidán Rodríguez
President, University at Albany, State University of New York
Economic Development and Growth Strategies Policy Committee
Diane Eber, she/her
Executive Director, The Egg
Arts, Culture, and Entertainment Policy Committee
Anders M. Tomson
President & Chief Executive Officer, Chemung Canal Trust Company
Economic Development and Growth Strategies Policy Committee
Daquetta P. Jones-Johnson
Chief Executive Officer, Trinity Alliance of the Capital Region, Inc.
Youth Policy Committee
J. David Brown
President & Chief Executive Officer, Capital District YMCA
Public Safety and Quality of Life Policy Committee
Dan D. Irizarry
Writer, Community Activist, and Founder, CD LATINOS
Arts, Culture, and Entertainment Policy Committee
Manik Elahi
President, Albany County Young Democrats
Youth Policy Committee
Dr. Janine M. Jurkowski
Albany High School Parent and Professor & Chair, Health Policy, Management, & Behavior, University at Albany, State University of New York
Public Safety and Quality of Life Policy Committee
Kayla Carlsen
Executive Director, Albany Institute of History & Art
Arts, Culture, and Entertainment Policy Committee
Jake Crawford
Chair, Albany County Democratic Committee
Public Safety and Quality of Life Policy Committee
Arts, Culture, and Entertainment Policy Committee Members
Hettie Barnhill, Founder, Artistic Director & Choreographer, Activist, Educator, Filmmaker, Create A Space NOW, Barnhill Movement Collective
Bill Chalmers, Retired Assistant Provost, SUNY System Administration
Matthew DeStefano, Artist / Educator
Alan Goldberg, Board Chair, Advance Albany County Alliance
Tony Iadicicco, Executive Director, Albany Center Gallery
Kevin Johnson, Executive Director, Palace Performing Arts Center
Jeff Mirel, Principal, The Rosenblum Companies
Chet Opalka, Arts Ambassador & Philanthropist, Capital Region
Rodney Smith, CEO/Founder, Allynn Enterprises
Economic Development and Growth Strategies Policy Committee Members
Jeff Buell, Founder, Sequence Development
Mark Eagan, President and CEO, Capital Region Chamber & CEG
Mark Emanatian, Executive Director, Capital District Area Labor Federation
Anthony Gaddy, Co-Founder and President/CEO, Upstate New York Black Chamber of Commerce
Jahkeen Hoke, Principal, Everstead Development
Madison Mackey, Founder and Board Member, The Warren and Denyse Mackey Foundation
Daniel P. McCoy, County Executive, Albany County
Ashley Mohl, President & CEO, Capitalize Albany Corporation; City of Albany Industrial Development Agency & Capital Resource Corporation
Sarah Reginellli, Senior Vice President, Ostroff Associates
Canyon Ryan, Executive Director, United Tenants of Albany
Karen Schupack, Owner, Albany Art Room
Georgette Steffens, Executive Director, Downtown Albany Business Improvement District
Mike Whalen, Senior Vice President, M&T Bank
Deshanna Wiggins, CEO, Albany Black Chamber of Commerce
Public Safety and Quality of Life Policy Committee Members
Daniel Butterworth, Executive Director, Refugee & Immigrant Support Services of Emmaus
Jackie Gonzales, Project Manager, Walkable Albany, Capital Streets
Mehak Jamil, Co-Founder, Albany Muslim Advocacy Coalition
Meghan Keegan, Albany Common Councilmember, 9th Ward
Tandra LaGrone, CEO, In Our Own Voices, Inc.
Daniel P. McCoy, County Executive, Albany County
Youth Policy Committee Members
Heather Ardrey, Executive Director, Love and Serve Albany
Chris Ellis, Sr. Vice President - Albany Lead, Constantinople & Vallone Consulting
Laura Franz, President, The Albany Public School Teachers’ Association
Patricia Fahy, Senator - District 46, New York State Senate
Dale Getto, Retired Principal, Albany High School
Joseph Hochreiter, Superintendent, City School District of Albany