WESTCHESTER COUNTY ASSOCIATION’S 70TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT TO HONOR LOCAL BUSINESS AND NONPROFIT LEADERS, CONGRESSWOMAN NITA LOWEY, AND HEALTHCARE HEROES

White Plains, NY (October 21, 2020) – Dr. Philip Ozuah, president and chief executive officer of Montefiore Medicine, will deliver the keynote address at the Westchester County Association (WCA)’s online 70^th Anniversary Leadership Event, which will celebrate business and nonprofit movers and shakers, Congresswoman Nita Lowey, and local healthcare heroes, on November 19 at 4 p.m. EST.

A nationally recognized physician, leader, executive, researcher, teacher and author, Dr. Ozuah has worked to expand access to healthcare for underserved communities, fostered innovations in medical education, and improved operational performance by integrating care across a growing and evolving Montefiore health system, which is comprised of 11 hospitals, more than 200 clinical centers, and the Albert Einstein School of Medicine.

Honorees who will receive the WCA Leadership Award at the event include:

• Kenneth Theobalds, vice president, government and regulatory affairs at Entergy Wholesale Commodities, who has led legislative and advocacy programs across the Northeast and has worked to build strategic alliances and partnerships to promote clean energy, while also dedicating his time and service to several nonprofit organizations in the region;

• Margaret Käufer, president and founding member of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Alliance, a Larchmont-Mamaroneck-based grassroots nonprofit organization that serves more than 4,000 people annually and is dedicated to enhancing K-12 STEM education and enrichment initiatives to benefit students, parents and educators;

• Val Taubner, Jr., and his sons Bill Taubner, Jim Taubner, and Val III, who own and operate Ball Chain Manufacturing in Mount Vernon, the world’s largest manufacturer of ball chain and related accessories, and who, earlier this year, pivoted during the pandemic to meet the needs of our regional hospitals, schools, and other essential businesses, by developing overseas supply chains to import and deliver hundreds of thousands of face masks and other Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) per week in order to serve the community.  Ball Chain Manufacturing is also the exclusive supplier of military dog tags to the U.S. Armed Services.

Lowey to Receive Alfred B. Delbello Visionary Award

Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey, who is currently serving her sixteenth term in Congress, representing parts of Westchester and Rockland Counties, and who will be retiring from that role at the end of the current term, will receive the Alfred B. Delbello Visionary Award for her more than three decades of service to her constituents in the region, her sustained commitment to issues related to healthcare advocacy, and her visionary approach as the first woman appointed to chair the powerful House Appropriations Committee. Delbello was an accomplished leader in the public sector as the lieutenant governor of New York State, county executive of Westchester County, and mayor of Yonkers.  He was also the former chairman of the WCA, a prominent real estate attorney, and a philanthropist.

During the event, the WCA will also present a video tribute to local healthcare heroes for their unwavering dedication and service amidst significant challenges and personal risks throughout the pandemic.

WCA President & CEO Michael Romita, who joined the organization in March of 2020 and who will share his inaugural “Vision for the Future” remarks at the event, noted the significance of recognizing the honorees as the WCA marks an important milestone year of service.  “There’s no better way for the WCA to celebrate its 70^th anniversary of leadership in the region than to celebrate the people who really help to make our region the best it can be,” said Michael Romita, president and chief executive officer of the WCA.  “This is going to be a very special event, honoring some incredible individuals who lead by example.”

Information on sponsorship opportunities and registration for complimentary access to the WCA’s 70^th Anniversary Leadership Event are available on the event website.

The Westchester County Association (www.westchester.org) is the leading economic development and business advocacy organization in the lower Hudson Valley.  The WCA promotes smart economic growth, fosters development for businesses and nonprofits, and provides its members with opportunities to interact with key public and private sector individuals, agencies, and organizations.

For more information about the Westchester County Association, visit www.westchester.org.