Real Estate Summit

Kate is the Executive Vice President at Regional Plan Association, overseeing RPA’s programs in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut and working to advance RPA’s mission toward improved mobility, equitable economic growth, and environmental resiliency. Kate joined RPA in 2016 to manage outreach for the Fourth Regional Plan. Since then, she has led RPA’s work for a New York City congestion pricing program, successfully advocated for the Interborough Express to move forward, established the Healthy Regions Planning Exchange, built coalitions to help address the region’s affordable housing crisis, and co-authored a number of RPA reports.

Kate has worked for over two decades for more equitable and climate friendly transportation and land use in the New York metropolitan region. She has successfully fought against cuts to public transportation, and has helped secure millions of dollars in new funding for transit, cycling, walking, and sustainable development projects. She is deeply committed to addressing the region’s housing affordability and climate challenges and promoting a more inclusive society.

Kate is widely published and cited in the media, including the New York Times, WNYC, Daily News, Star Ledger, and CNN. She has served on the New York City Sustainability Advisory Board, the MTA Fare and Toll Evasion Blue Ribbon Panel, and the Newark360 Master Plan Steering Committee.

Previously, Kate served as assistant commissioner for government and community affairs at the New York City Department of Transportation under former Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan. She spent a decade at the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, serving as executive director from 2007 until 2012 and receiving the EPA’s Environmental Quality Award in 2011. Kate started her career at the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation as an urban park ranger in Brooklyn.

Kate has a master’s in urban planning from New York University, a bachelor’s in earth and environmental sciences from Wesleyan University and is an alumna of the International Honors Program. She lives with her husband, a professor at the City University of New York, and their two children.

Patricia oversees the day-to-day management and operations for Simone Development’s roughly 7 million square-foot portfolio. Her professional recognition include being named one of Bisnow’s New York Power Women in Real Estate.  Patricia is an active member on the Board of Directors for the Westchester Medical Center Foundation, the Bronx Economic Development Corporation, and the Business Council of Westchester. Patricia has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Emory University and a Master’s degree from the New York University Schack Institute of Real Estate.

Mr. Ratner is the Executive Vice President (EVP) and Chief Strategy Officer of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth) and past Chief Executive Officer of HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley (HAHV). WMCHealth is a 1,700-bed healthcare Network based in Valhalla, New York, with nine hospitals on seven campuses providing healthcare services across 6,200 square miles of the Hudson Valley.

Mr. Ratner has more than 25 years of healthcare executive leadership experience, with a proven track record of successfully developing and executing innovative strategies and programs. He is fluent in healthcare policy and economics and maintains strong relationships with decision-makers in Albany and Washington, D.C. His portfolio includes Network Strategy, Marketing and Communications, Government Affairs and Community Relations, Grants and Research, and Patient Experience.

As Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, Mr. Ratner leads the development and execution of clinical and corporate strategies across WMCHealth. His work focuses on advancing patient outcomes through innovative care programs, cutting-edge technologies, and strategic partnerships. In addition to overseeing Network affiliate relationships, he provided strategic and operational leadership for WMCHealth’s Behavioral Health program from 2021 to 2024, one of the largest programs of its kind in New York

Notable achievements include:
• Developing a proposal for the $88.8 million Capital Restructuring Financial Program prior to HAHV’s merger with WMCHealth, which helped reconfigure healthcare in Ulster and Delaware counties.
• Securing $120 million in funding to build the new HealthAlliance Hospital, where his leadership improved patient volumes, emergency department satisfaction scores, and employee retention, supported by a ’30-minute or less’ ED pledge.
• Leading public-private collaborations with elected officials that resulted in the creation of a Behavioral Health Center of Excellence at MidHudson Regional Hospital and the redeployment of mental health inpatient beds at HealthAlliance Hospital, enhancing community integration and care delivery.
• Overseeing the Hudson Valley regional COVID-19 vaccination HUB in collaboration with the New York State Department of Health.
Mr. Ratner is currently managing the strategy for the $220 million Patient Care Tower project at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla. This initiative, expected to open in 2026, will bring together critical care and general medical-surgical services under one roof, featuring a 162,000 square foot, five-story tower with cutting-edge clinical services, improved patient experiences, and all-private rooms.

As the direct manager of WMCHealth’s relationships with elected officials, Mr. Ratner has secured $320 million in state funds over the past eight years and maintains a direct line to the Governor’s Office. His leadership allows WMCHealth to pursue strategic opportunities while navigating the complexities of public-benefit healthcare systems.

Previously, as CEO of HAHV, Mr. Ratner led operations at HealthAlliance Hospital, Margaretville Hospital, and Mountainside Residential Care Center. He continues to guide the second phase of the Network’s Ulster County healthcare advancement plan, including the transformation of HealthAlliance Hospital’s Broadway campus into the HealthAlliance Medical Village.
After helping facilitate HAHV’s transition into WMCHealth in 2016, Mr. Ratner served as Senior Vice President of Network Strategy & Development before his appointment as Chief Strategy Officer.
Mr. Ratner serves on the boards of the Westchester County Association and WMCHealth’s Bon Secours Charity Health System. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Stony Brook University and a Master’s Degree in Public

Vaughn Ratchford recently joined New York Blood Center Enterprises as Senior Vice President and Chief Real Estate Officer (CREO). He previously served as Executive Vice President and head of Asset Management at the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC). He oversaw the organization’s 65M square foot real estate portfolio, including office, retail, entertainment, industrial, life science, and port assets. Prior to NYCEDC, Vaughn held positions with The Related Companies and Starwood Hotels and Resorts in asset management, business operations, finance, and business analytics roles. Earlier in his career, he held positions in nonprofit and government organizations, including the City University of New York’s Office of Facilities Planning, Construction and Management and the NYS Division of the Budget, where he specialized in capital planning and public finance. Vaughn received his B.S. in Economics and B.S. in Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Master’s in Real Estate from New York University.

With over two decades of experience and leadership as a senior executive and not-for-profit board member, Josh currently serves as the Chief Campus Transformation Officer at White Plains Hospital. He was previously Chief of Staff to President and CEO Susan Fox upon joining the organization in 2022.

In his current role, Josh guides the efforts of the organization in support of transforming its facilities to meet current and future needs. He is responsible for overseeing the coordination and prioritization of all activities required for the strategic planning and development of facilities across the organization, including new construction, renovation of existing facilities, and infrastructure improvements and leads the Office of Project Management. This is highlighted by the management of a $1B initiative to expand the hospital.

Prior to joining WPH, Josh served as Vice President of Regional Strategy and Development for Northwell Health, where he coordinated strategic, program and large-scale facility planning activity across New York City and Westchester County. He managed a multi-billion dollar development initiative, accountable for revitalizing a Manhattan hospital campus.

Josh joined Northwell in 2004 and held a series of progressive leadership positions including Vice President of Manhattan Redevelopment and Associate Executive Director at Lenox Hill Hospital. Before joining the Manhattan hospital, he was Associate Executive Director of Administration at Glen Cove Hospital in addition to numerous leadership roles in operational and financial management.

During the recent health pandemic, Josh was appointed to multiple covid-19 leadership roles, including an advisory position to the Manhattan borough president. Josh also served as Managing Director at a care center located in one of the nation’s earliest and most impacted communities.

Throughout his career, Josh has been committed to promoting health and wellness across diverse groups and environments. He was the founding chair of a business employee resource group aimed at addressing sustainability and social responsibility for 78,000 employees. Through these efforts, he helped create NYC’s first hospital-based fleet of green ambulances and established a hospital rooftop garden.

In 2016, Josh was selected as a founding member of the Culinary Institute of America and the Harvard School of Public Health’s Teaching Kitchen Collaborative, a network of thought-leading organizations using teaching kitchen facilities as catalysts of enhanced personal and public health across medical, community, school, and corporate settings.

Among his leadership roles, Josh has served on multiple boards including the current Chairperson at Harlem Grown, a nonprofit dedicated to inspiring youth to lead healthy and ambitious lives through mentorship and hands-on education in urban farming, sustainability and nutrition. He has served as an executive-in-residence at Cornell University’s Sloan Executive Health Administration Program since 2022.

Josh has successfully collaborated with a United States President, United States Cabinet member, international heads of state, multiple political leaders, Fortune 100 & 500 CEO’s, Hall of Fame athletes, national media personalities, legendary Hollywood entertainers and public service icons across a broad range of initiatives.

Josh received his Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University and a Master of Professional Studies in Health Administration from the Sloan Program at Cornell University.

Joe Ienuso, M.B.A., is Group Senior Vice President, Facilities and Real Estate for NewYork-Presbyterian. In this role, he is responsible for maintaining hospital, residential and commercial facilities, capital assets, Security & Emergency Management and operational integrity across NewYork-Presbyterian and its integrated health care delivery system. He also oversees all facility development, engineering, capital planning and major construction projects. Previously, Mr. Ienuso was Senior Vice President of Capital and Financial Operations Northwell Health. Prior to joining Northwell, Mr. Ienuso worked at Columbia University, where for 26 years he served in various capacities with progressive responsibility, ultimately becoming Executive Vice President for University Facilities and Operations at Columbia University, a role held for over a decade. Mr. Ienuso holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Columbia School of Business, as well as a bachelor’s degree in human services and counseling and a master of science in education from St. John’s University. He has received numerous honors, including the Leadership Award from the Salvadori Center, the Corporate Social Responsibility Award from City & State Reports and was named a founding member of the Corporate Alliance Program by Mayor Michael Bloomberg.