KENNETH ADAMS
President & CEO

Kenneth Adams has been President and CEO of The Business Council of New York State since November 1, 2006.  The Business Council is the state’s leading business association.  It represents 2,500 member businesses, chambers of commerce and professional and trade associations.  Its member companies employ over 1 million New Yorkers.  The Business Council was established in 1980 through the merger of Associated Industries and the Empire State Chamber of Commerce.  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.  Before joining the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce in 1995, he 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.

On behalf of Governor Andrew Cuomo, Kenneth serves on the Task Force on Mandate Relief.  He also serves on the Empire State Stem Cell Board, the Board of Directors of the Brooklyn Community Foundation and the Steering Committee of the Association for a Better New York.  He is vice-chair of the Board of Directors of the Brooklyn Youth Chorus Academy.  He also serves on the City University of New York Business Leadership Council, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100 and the Council of State Chambers.