CONNECT, The Business Council Podcast, hosted by President & CEO Heather Mulligan, is now available to watch as well as listen! With more than 3,000 members, The Business Council is New York State’s chamber of commerce, manufacturing association, and leading business advocacy group. CONNECT focuses on insights on issues shaping our business community through engaging conversations with policymakers, business leaders, and newsmakers from across New York State.
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S5. E6. - Peter Cuneo "Superhero Leadership"
Peter Cuneo stopped by the podcast to discuss his time as the head of several major companies, including Marvel. Known as the "turnaround CEO" for his work taking a handful of companies from the bottom to the top, including leading a $4.5 billion sale of Marvel, Peter shares what makes a successful leader and how his time in the military prepared him for the private sector.
S5. E5. - New York State Workers' Compensation Board
The Executive Director and Advocate for Business of the New York State Workers' Compensation Board stopped by the podcast to discuss two issues they are focused on changing in the 2026 New York state budget process: expanding the healthcare provider pool & securing grants to fight fraud.
S5. E4. - Ken Pokalsky - The NYSERDA Memo & the Costs of the CLCPA
Vice President of Government Affairs Ken Pokalsky joined the podcast to discuss a newly released memo from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to the governor’s office titled “Likely Costs of CLCPA Compliance.” The memo marks the first time since the implementation of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) that the state has outlined the potential cost impacts of the climate law enacted in 2019. Ken breaks down the costs detailed in the memo, what comes next for the CLCPA, and why concerns about affordability call for adjustments to the law—not its abandonment.
S5. E3. - Chelsea Lemon - Senior Director of Government Affairs - The Business Council
Senior Director of Government Affairs, Chelsea Lemon, joined the podcast to discuss the momentum in Albany to enact several recommendations from the Blueprint for New York – Creating a Roadmap for Change business report released last Fall and how Governor Hochul is embracing many recommendations by including them in her State of the State and budget proposals.
S5. E2. - Assemblymember Alex Bores - 73rd District
Assemblymember Alex Bores joined the podcast to discuss his viral Congressional campaign launch video, AI regulations, and being a new dad.
S5. E1. - Thomas DiNapoli - New York State Comptroller
New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli sat down on the podcast to discuss his career as an elected official, which began at 18 years-old. The comptroller also discusses his early days working for Ma Bell, the first bill he ever introduced as a freshman Assemblymember, and today's great political divide.
