Business Council Speakers Bureau
Making Your Event a Success!
Heather C. Briccetti, Esq., President and CEO
Heather C. Briccetti, Esq. is the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of The Business Council of New York State, Inc., the primary, statewide association advocating for New York’s business community. Ms. Briccetti is a dynamic leader, trusted advisor and champion for economic growth, good jobs and strong communities across New York.
As a visionary for New York’s economy, she has created a leading voice for business on economic growth, corporate governance, tax policy, labor, manufacturing, campaign finance reform, value creation, and education, among other issues.
Ken Pokalsky, Senior Advisor to the President
Specialties: Taxes, Economic Development and Chambers of Commerce, Contract Procurement, Government Affairs, Manufacturing, Small Business
With more than 30 years of business advocacy and association management experience, Ken oversees The Business Council's overall legislative and regulatory advocacy efforts, and is directly responsible for the Council’s lobbying on taxation and economic development, as well as its Lobby Act reporting and compliance. He has extensive experience on a wide range of business issues, including environment, workers’ compensation, government procurement and others. He has served on numerous state advisory panels, including state’s Business Taxpayer Advisory Committee, its Environmental Justice advisory, the Superfund Working Group and others. He is a graduate of the SUNY Albany Graduate School of Public Affairs and SUNY at Brockport.
You can contact Ken at [email protected].
Paul Zuber
Specialties: Technology/Telecommunications, Gaming/Racing/Wagering, Hospitality/Travel & Tourism
Paul Zuber serves as Executive Vice President and is responsible for advocacy on technology/telecommunications, gaming/racing/wagering, and hospitality/travel & tourism. Paul brings the knowledge and unique insight of more than two decade’s worth of experience working both in key positions within the New York State Legislature and as a pivotal and successful advocate for such high-profile clients as Firemen’s Association of the State of New York, MGM, Resorts World, Total Wine and More, and the New York State Laborers. After Paul earned his JD from the University of Maryland, he joined the New York State Senate Majority Counsel/Program staff. During the next seven years, Paul became a highly respected advisor to the Majority Leader and key members of the Senate Conference. His particular issue areas covered a diverse range of key policy subjects such as transportation, racing and wagering, alcohol and beverage control as well as NYS fiscal policy as Paul represented the Senate in ongoing Budget negotiations with the Assembly and the Executive while in State service.
You can contact Paul at [email protected]
Lev Ginsburg, Esq.
Specialties: Health Policy/Health Insurance, Financial Services and Legal Reform
Lev is responsible for The Business Council's advocacy on health care & health insurance, financial services, legal reform issues and head our Amicus Curiae program. He sits on the Board of Governors for the New York Compensation Insurance Rating Board, New York Workers’ Compensation Board’s Medical Advisory Committee as well as its Advisory Committee on Independent Medical Examinations. He led The Business Council’s successful 2017 legislative campaign to reform New York’s workers’ compensation system, saving hundreds of millions of dollars annually for New York’s employers. Previously, Lev served as a staff member for U.S. Senator Arlen Specter, and as a staff attorney with T-Mobile Communications, and as attorney and staff supervisor with the former Governor's Office of Regulatory Reform (GORR). At GORR, Lev handled stakeholder outreach and regulatory oversight over most State regulatory agencies, and his regulatory oversight work covered a broad range of issue areas with a focus on health and labor regulations. He is a graduate of the University of Buffalo and the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.
You can contact Lev at [email protected].
Frank Kerbein
Specialties: Labor and Human Resources, Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) Unemployment Insurance and Workers' Compensation
Frank is responsible for advocacy on labor/HR, unemployment insurance and workers' compensation issues, and for providing human resources consulting services to Council members. Frank comes to The Business Council from the New York State Funeral Directors Association where he provided human resource and OSHA consulting services to employers of all sizes. Prior work experience includes human resources staff and leadership positions in the financial services and health care arenas. Frank is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations with nearly 35 years of experience in human resource management. He is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), a Certified Association Executive (CAE), and a frequent presenter of human resource topics across the state and nationally.
You can contact Frank at [email protected].
Amber L. Mooney
Specialties: Workforce Development and Education
Amber Mooney is the Director of Workforce Development, responsible for advocacy and programs in education and workforce development. Her diverse background includes economic development, workforce development, education, and she has been involved with the entrepreneurial ecosystem in New York State in a number of capacities. Most recently, as the industry engagement manager at FuzeHub, the statewide Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Center, she launched the Jeff Lawrence Manufacturing Innovation Fund, designed to spur technology development and commercialization throughout New York State. Prior to FuzeHub, she cultivated business and education partnerships for the Ballston Spa Central School District. As a program manager at the Center for Economic Growth, the MEP affiliate for New York’s Capital Region, Amber crafted and implemented workforce development initiatives aligned with the region’s tech-led economic strategies. In August 2017, she was selected by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) for their Fellowship for Education Attainment. She has received “40 Under 40” awards from ACCE, City and State Magazine, and the Albany Business Review. Amber received a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Language and Literature from the University at Albany.
You can contact Amber at [email protected].
Melvin Norris
Specialties: Construction & MWBEs, Economic Development, Transportation
In his position with The Business Council, Melvin is responsible for all aspects of legislative and regulatory advocacy on energy and environmental policy including direct advocacy with the state legislature and regulatory agencies as well as federal and municipal advocacy. Melvin also oversees the Construction Industry Council and advocacy on behalf of our MWBE members. Before joining The Business Council, Mr. Norris served as the Executive Vice President of the Harlem Community Development Corporation and oversaw New York State’s economic and community revitalization initiatives to the greater Harlem community. Raised in Harlem during an era that experienced unrelenting challenges to the fabric of modern urban society, he relied on that experience to lead the organization in advancing small business development, tourism and workforce development. Mr. Norris created the Corporation’s most utilized program called the THINK initiative (Tools for Harnessing Information Networking and Knowledge) which provides guidance to small business on marketing, small business lending and technical assistance. Under his management, the Corporation increased Minority/Women’s Business Enterprise certifications to further the Governor’s contracting goal.
Melvin can be reached at [email protected]