Hear Key Economic Trends Defining the Market at WCA Breakfast

According to some of the economic predictors, the nation’s economic growth may show some strength in 2016, particularly in the housing sector, and consumer spending may be on the rise. Will those trends apply to this region as well? If so, how?

Several speakers at the upcoming “2016 Economic Forecast Breakfast,” organized by the Westchester County Association, will share their own views, giving business leaders a better understanding of the global, national, and local trends that will drive the economy in the year ahead. The event takes place Thursday, January 7, 2016 from 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. at The Westchester Marriott Hotel in Tarrytown. Tickets are $75 for members and $90 for future members. Guests may register at westchester.org. Pre-registration is recommended. The event is sponsored by Sterling National Bank, Con Edison, CohnReznick, ENT & Allergy Associates, and O’Connor Davies.

The breakfast is a high-octane event that leads off with a presentation by County Executive Robert Astorino’s in which he outlines his priorities for 2016. This will be followed by remarks and observations by Jack Kopnisky, President and CEO of Sterling National Bank. An interactive roundtable discussion follows with Barbara Benson, Assistant Managing Editor of Crain’s New York Business; Guy Liebler, President, Simone Healthcare Development; John Flannery, Partner, Wilson Elser; and Amy Allen, Executive Director, Hudson Valley Workforce Academy, WCA. Mr. Kopnisky will moderate.

“The 2016 Forecast will be a lively and thought-provoking event,” notes William M. Mooney, Jr., President & CEO, Westchester County Association. “The Westchester business community will hear from some of the region’s leading economic and real estate market experts, who will share their valuable insights and business intel to our members and guests.”

(Speakers in alpha order)

Amy Allen serves as both executive director of the Hudson Valley Workforce Academy, and vice president of the Westchester County Association, (WCA), Westchester’s preeminent business leadership organization that acts as an integrator to drive economic vitality in Westchester and the region by stimulating growth and innovation. The WCA Workforce Academy focuses on training the area workforce in the skills for the jobs of today. Under Ms. Allen’s leadership, the WCA was awarded the project management role of a $9.8 million dollar federal USDOL grant, administered by Westchester County’s Workforce Development Board, and designed to fill key positions in the healthcare sector throughout the Hudson Valley. She is a recipient of Westchester County Business Journal WOW (Women of Westchester) award.

Rob Astorino has served as Westchester County Executive since 2009. While a 21-year-old communications major at Fordham University, Mr. Astorino was elected to his hometown Mount Pleasant’s Board of Education, then the Mount Pleasant Town Board. Mr. Astorino held various positions in the radio industry and was a station manager and program director of The Catholic Channel on Sirius-XM Satellite Radio. Prior to becoming County Executive, he served on the Westchester County Board of Legislators from 2003-2005.

Financial journalist and editor Barbara Benson joined Crain’s New York Business in 1993. Currently assistant managing editor, she also oversees Crain’s Health Pulse, an influential daily newsletter that covers the business side of health care in the New York City area, that she launched in 1996. As assistant managing editor, she directs health coverage for Crain’s and manages its reporting staff. She formerly worked as a staff reporter at the American Lawyer, Manhattan Lawyer, and Dun’s Business Month. Her articles have appeared in the New York Times, Financial Times, and Canada’s Globe and Mail, among other publications.

John Flannery is a partner at Wilson Elser, and serves as a member of the law firm’s Executive Committee. He also serves as the managing partner of the firm’s White Plains office. His practice focuses on civil litigation, including claims involving toxic torts, commercial disputes, civil rights, municipal and product liability, and employment litigation. He is currently a member of the board of directors of the Westchester County Association, and Legal Services of the Hudson Valley.

Jack Kopnisky is President and CEO of Sterling National Bank and Sterling Bancorp, where he spearheaded the recent merger with Hudson Valley Holding Corp., combining two strong, successful banks to form an institution with approximately $11.2 billion in assets that serves the metropolitan region – New York City, Westchester County, the Hudson Valley, Long Island and New Jersey. Prior to his appointment at Sterling, he served as CEO of SJB Escrow Corporation and as a partner in Mercatus LLC, a national financial services consulting and investing firm. From 2005 until 2008, he was President and CEO of First Marblehead Corporation, where he significantly restructured and repositioned the company, doubling revenues and earnings from 2005 to 2007. Prior to that, he held several top positions at KeyCorp and First Marblehead Corporation. He is a member of the board of directors of the Westchester County Association.

H. Guy Leibler, President, Simone Healthcare Development, joined the company in 2013, bringing 35 years of experience in the real estate and healthcare industries to his position. He began his career at Schulman Realty Group in 1978 and became President and Chief Executive Officer in 1987, a position he held until 1992. Mr. Leibler then joined Sony Corporation in 1993, where he led the development of new business platforms for Sony operating groups. In 1997, he was elected Chairman of White Plains Hospital, where he had served as a director since 1988. As such, he led a repositioning of the hospital by developing a cancer treatment center, expanding the maternity program, creating an orthopedic institute, and laying the groundwork for a cardiac center. In 2001, Mr. Leibler was named president and Chief Operating Officer of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in 2001, and in he joined L&L Holding Company as Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer in 2004.