KENNETH ADAMS
President & CEO

Kenneth Adams became President and CEO of The Business Council of New York State on November 1, 2006.  The Business Council, established in 1980 through the merger of Associated Industries and the Empire State Chamber of Commerce, is the state's leading business association.  It represents nearly 3,000 member businesses, chambers of commerce and professional and trade associations.  The mission of the Business Council is to create economic growth, good jobs and strong communities across New York State.

Prior to leading the Business Council, Kenneth was the President of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, a business assistance organization established in 1918 to promote commerce and economic development in Brooklyn.  Kenneth more than doubled the Chamber’s membership, launched ten new economic development initiatives for Brooklyn and improved the organization’s relationships with officials at all levels of government.

Before joining the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce in 1995, Kenneth was the Director of the MetroTech Business Improvement District in Downtown Brooklyn.

Kenneth was the founding Executive Director of New York Cares, which he ran from 1988 to 1994.  He managed the organization’s growth from 500 to 6,000 volunteers serving in citywide social service and community revitalization projects.  His promotion of New York Cares helped launch similar volunteer organizations in over 20 American cities.

On behalf of Governor David Paterson, Kenneth serves on the Empire State Stem Cell Board, the Children’s Cabinet Advisory Group, the Mature Worker Task Force and the Small Business Task Force.  He serves on the Board of Directors of the Brooklyn Community Foundation, the Steering Committee of the Association for a Better New York and the Board of Directors of the Middlebury College Alumni Association.  He is also a member of the City University of New York Business Leadership Council, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100, and the Council of State Chambers.

Kenneth grew up in Brooklyn. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude from Middlebury College, where he received his Bachelors and Masters degrees.  He lives with his wife Diana and daughters, Rose and Ginger, in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn.