WCA in the News

“Our local communities have to understand that in many cases there’s a NIMBYism that’s a tremendous barrier to get the housing that we need,” Romita said. “We need to find the ways to break the logjams. But where the governor’s proposal starts out, it’s not the zombie apocalypse that a lot of people make it out to be. It’s not telling local communities what to do; it’s telling them to please do something.”

On Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, the Westchester County Office of Economic Development (OED) and the Westchester County Association (WCA) hosted All Access Healthcare: Regional Life Sciences Outlook. Approximately 100 people attended the in-person panel presentation, which was held at the Auditorium at 360 Hamilton Avenue in White Plains.

“New York’s housing shortage is decades-long in the making and continues to be a serious impediment to economic growth and community vitality,” said Michael Romita, president and CEO of the WCA. “It is choking off upward mobility for our residents and is hurting our businesses.”

Says Michael Romita, WCA president and CEO, from healthcare workers to staff accountants to the people who make your morning latte, affordable housing “pretty much touches every single industry out there.”

WCA President & CEO Michael N. Romita said: “This is a solid and thoughtful budget. It includes a decrease in property taxes while boosting reserves.”

It was a night to reflect on leadership and legacies as the Westchester County Association held its 72nd annual dinner Nov. 17 in the ballroom of the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown.

Dear County Executive Latimer, Commissioner Drummond, Budget Director Soule, and Chair Borgia: Westchester’s housing shortage is decades-long in the making and continues to be a serious impediment to economic growth and community vitality. It remains a shared challenge for our businesses, nonprofits, workers, residents, and local municipalities.

Long Island and Westchester build housing at some of the lowest rates of any suburban area in the country, fueling high rents and home prices across the region.

The newly passed federal Inflation Reduction Act, a climate, health and tax measure, will bolster New York's efforts to aggressively reduce carbon emissions under the state's own landmark 2019 Climate Act. Some in the business community have been slow to embrace the pathway to a clean-energy economy. They view New York's ambitious road map as impractical, unrealistic and threatening to the state's economic future. However, indictments of the council's work coupled with calls to amend the underlying state statute are shortsighted and misdirected. Either we face the economic realities of climate change and address them head-on or we pay an even greater price in the long run.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic took root in 2020, Bona Fide Masks has provided national distribution of masks direct from manufacturers Powecom, DemeTECH, Chengde and Harley.

(November 21, 2024) …. Four exceptional Westchester leaders, cited for their outstanding contributions to Westchester’s robust economy, benefiting its people and businesses, were honored at the Westchester County Association’s (WCA) Annual Leadership Event, “Impact in Action,” held on November 20th at Glen Island Harbour Club in New Rochelle.

White Plains, New York - (November 10, 2023)….Over 450 members of Westchester’s professional community packed the Westchester Marriott ballroom on November 9th for the Westchester County Association’s 73rd annual leadership event.

White Plains (October 12, 2023) More than 300 job seekers lined up to meet with over 40 employers and resource providers at a regional career fair October 12 at the Westchester County Center in White Plains.

Connect Westchester is Westchester County’s Office of Economic Development’s new initiative to bridge the digital divide through providing essential digital resources, education and affordable internet access to low-income residents.

White Plains, New York - (September 22, 2023)…In his keynote address at WCA’s “Toasting to a Healthy Westchester,” Michael J. Dowling, CEO, Northwell Health appealed to 250 key leaders in healthcare and business attending this annual dinner to try to solve what he called the social determinants of health, such as gun violence, poverty, obesity, and drugs and alchohol abuse. “If we don’t solve theses issues, we will never improve the health status of Americans,”he said, citing the pressures facing the industry today.

White Plains, New York -- (June 5, 2023) Close to 200 business, nonprofit, and government leaders attended the WCA’s 2nd Annual Sustainable Business Conference hosted in partnership with Pace University’s Elisabeth Haub School of Law. The event, held June 1 at the law school, focused on new opportunities in sustainable investing and real estate, navigating an evolving regulatory landscape, and the connection between sustainability and diversity, equity and inclusion. New this year, a “Sustainability Bootcamp” workshop served as a primer for businesses of all sizes to get started with practical tools to develop a sustainability program.

White Plains, New York - (December 8, 2022) Susan Fox, WCA Board Chair, President & CEO, White Plains Hospital, and Michael N. Romita, President, and CEO of the Westchester County Association (WCA), announced this week that the WCA, the county’s premier business membership organization, will welcome eight new board members representing important industry sectors to bolster the WCA’s economic development and advocacy work.

White Plains, New York - (November 21, 2022)…. Westchester’s professional community packed the Westchester Marriott ballroom on November 17th for the Westchester County Association’s annual leadership dinner to honor Westchester’s most influential leaders and celebrate another year of impactful work by the WCA, the region’s premiere business advocacy and economic development organization.

White Plains, N.Y. (February 25, 2022) During the Annual County Executive’s Breakfast hosted by The Westchester County Association (WCA) on Thursday, February 24, 2022 at the Sleepy Hollow Hotel & Conference Center in Tarrytown, New York, County Executive George Latimer and WCA President & CEO Michael N. Romita jointly announced the launch of the Healthcare Talent Pipeline Program (HTPP).

The Westchester County Association (WCA) joined community leaders from Nonprofit Westchester (NPW), the Building and Realty Institute of Westchester and the Mid-Hudson Region (BRI), the Construction Industry Council of Westchester and Hudson Valley (CIC), and the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors (HGAR) to put forth an advocacy letter urging government officials to find statewide solutions to Westchester’s housing crisis.

Westchester business owners, are you prepared for what’s next? Join the Westchester County Office of Economic Development at New York Power Authority in White Plains on January 16 for a panel discussion on preparing to step away while preserving your legacy. Following the panel, attendees can network and meet with resource providers

Bleakley Platt & Schmidt, LLP proudly announces Brittany McLaughlin as the newest member of their Litigation Practice Group. McLaughlin brings experience from a nonprofit legal center in Westchester County and has a strong academic and professional background.

White Plains Hospital and Northwell's Lenox Hill Hospital have been honored with The Leapfrog Group’s 2024 Top General Hospital designation, a prestigious distinction recognizing excellence in patient safety and care. Only six hospitals were recognized in New York State as meeting this exceptional standard.

Following a nationwide search, David Lubarsky, MD, MBA, FASA, has been named the new President and CEO of WMCHealth, effective February 17. Dr. Lubarsky, an accomplished leader from UC Davis Health, brings extensive expertise in innovation, operational excellence, and patient-centered care to lead WMCHealth into its next chapter.

LeChase Construction is renovating 22,000 square feet of Westchester County government offices in White Plains. Upgrades include modernized HVAC systems, revamped conference rooms, and enhanced elevators. The project aims to create a more efficient and comfortable workspace while ensuring operations continue smoothly during construction, scheduled for completion in early 2026.

Westchester County’s Element 46 Tech Accelerator Powered by Quay recently hosted a Demo Day to celebrate the accomplishments of its eighth cohort. Applications are now being accepted for the Spring 2025 program.

Westchester business owners, are you prepared for what’s next? Join the Westchester County Office of Economic Development at New York Power Authority in White Plains on January 16 for a panel discussion on preparing to step away while preserving your legacy. Following the panel, attendees can network and meet with resource providers.

The WCA proudly celebrates WCA Board Member Aleida 'Ale' M. Frederico on being named Chairperson of the United Way of Westchester and Putnam’s Board of Directors. With over three decades of banking and community development expertise, Ale brings exceptional leadership to her new role.

Westchester Medical Center (WMC) has partnered with Inspira Technologies, a med-tech innovator in respiratory care, to evaluate the FDA-cleared INSPIRA ART100 systems in real-world clinical scenarios. The technology will be shared with leading physicians and medical institutions. Med-Stat Consulting Services, Inc. will provide servicing while Glo-Med will handle distribution.

Westchester Medical Center (WMC) has partnered with Inspira Technologies, a med-tech innovator in respiratory care, to evaluate the FDA-cleared INSPIRA ART100 systems in real-world clinical scenarios. The technology will be shared with leading physicians and medical institutions. Med-Stat Consulting Services, Inc. will provide servicing while Glo-Med will handle distribution.