Welcome Ceremony: Second Floor

8:30 am: Breakfast and Registration

9:15–9:20 am: Welcome Remarks
Daniel Clark, Director of Business Development, NYCEDC

9:20–9:30 am: Welcome Remarks
Jeanny Pak, Interim President & CEO, NYCEDC

9:30–9:35 am: Keynote Address
Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of the City of New York

9:35–10 am: Growing in New York City
A Fireside Chat with Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Hamdi Ulukaya, CEO of Chobani

Speakers:

  • Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of the City of New York
  • Hamdi Ulukaya, CEO, Chobani

Breakout Sessions: Second and Third Floors

10 am: New York’s Latest Business Attraction Success Stories
Hear relocation and expansion stories of the most exciting startups choosing NYC.

Speakers:

  • Moderator: Daniel Clark, Director of Business Development, NYCEDC
  • Megan Kresinske, Chief of Staff & Head of Marketing, Queen One
  • Rajiv Shah, Vice President, Kraken Technologies
  • Franz Tschminben, Co-Founder & CEO, ALLSIDES

10 am: One City, Many Partners: Aligning on Economic Development Across NYC
Hear economic development leaders at the federal, State, City, borough, and neighborhood levels discuss how various parts of government can help grow your business in NYC.

Speakers:

  • Justin Kreamer, Senior Vice President, Partnerships, NYCEDC (Moderator)
  • Peter Sexton, Senior International Trade Specialist, US Department of Commerce
  • Carin Rising, Managing Director, Empire State Development
  • Tom Grech, President & CEO, Queens Chamber of Commerce
  • Laura Rothrock, President, Long Island City Partnership

10 am: By the Numbers: The State of the New York City Economy in 2026
Presentation on NYCEDC's State of the Economy report.
Speaker: Kyle Marks, Vice President, Economic Research and Policy, NYCEDC

11 am: Inside NYCEDC’s Real Estate Portfolio
From waterfronts to innovation districts, NYCEDC manages one of the most diverse real estate portfolios in the world. Get an inside look at the organization's assets, infrastructure, and what's coming next.

Speakers:

  • Jennifer Brown, SVP, Sunset Park
  • Anton Fredriksson, SVP, Ports, Waterfront, & Transportation
  • Sean Freas, Vice President, Commercial & Industrial
  • Bridget Chansakul, Assistant Vice President, Leasing Team

11 am: Wayfinding for International Businesses: Insights from Global Advisors
Hear from leading international service providers tackling different aspects of establishing a presence in NYC.

Speakers:

  • Anne-Sophie Mahle, Director of International Engagement, NYCEDC (Moderator)
  • Nicola Ellam, Managing Principal, CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA)
  • Zjantelle Markel, Founder & Principal Attorney, Cammisa Markel
  • Carmen Muñoz-Vicedo, Vice President of Business Development, TABS Inc.

11 am: From Idea to Industry: How NYC Turns Innovation into Economic Growth
A panel discussion about the NYCEDC programs supporting the growth of the innovation economy.

Speakers:

  • Daria Siegel, Senior Vice President, Emerging Tech and Creative, NYCEDC (Moderator)
  • Chris Walla, Cambridge Innovation Center/BATWorks
  • Nate Hinman, Senior Director, Plug and Play
  • Dmytro Pokhylko, Senior Director of Industry Innovations, Columbia Engineering

Noon: Lunch on the Third Floor

Afternoon Program: Second Floor

12:45–12:55 pm: Welcome Remarks

Speakers:

  • Julie Stein, President and CEO, Union Square Partnership
  • Jeanny Pak, Interim President & CEO, NYCEDC
  • Julie Su, NYC Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice

1 pm: Scaling in NYC: Accessing the World's Deepest Talent Pool
New York City’s First Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice, Julie Su, joins leading voices in workforce development to discuss how New York connects businesses with talent they need to scale. From community colleges to employer partnerships, this session explores the strategies keeping NYC competitive as a destination for both companies and the workers who power them.

Speakers:

  • Julie Su, Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice
  • Lauren Anderson, Vice Chancellor for Career Engagement and Industry Partnerships, CUNY
  • Marco Carrion, Executive Director, Consortium for Worker Education
  • Kiersten Barnet, Executive Director, New York Jobs CEO Council

1:30 pm: Building Neighborhoods: The Willets Points Transformation
Decades in the making, the Willets Point redevelopment is one of the most ambitious public-private investments in NYC history. Hear how a stadium is anchoring long-term economic opportunity for Queens and the city at large.

Speakers:

  • Jeanny Pak, Interim President & CEO, NYCEDC
  • Brad Sims, CEO, New York City FC

2 pm: The Capital Conversation: Inside NYC’s Venture Ecosystem in 2026
Whether you're raising your first round or preparing for a Series B, understanding how NYC's investors think is half the battle. Join leading venture capitalists for a candid conversation on deal flow, due diligence, and what it really takes to get funded in New York in 2026.

Speakers:

  • Maria Gotsch, Partnership Fund for New York (Moderator)
  • Sabriya Stukes, Partner, SOSV
  • Ben Sun, Co-Founder & General Partner, Primary Venture Partners

2:30 pm: State of the Boroughs: Opportunities Across New York City
Every borough has a story—and a competitive edge. Hear from the leaders of NYC's borough-wide economic development organizations on what makes each corner of the city uniquely positioned to help your business grow.

Speakers:

  • Daniel Clark, Director of Business Development, NYCEDC (Moderator)
  • Tom Grech, President & CEO, Queens Chamber of Commerce
  • Jessica Walker, President & CEO, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce
  • Dina Rabiner, SVP Innovation & Strategy, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce
  • Linda Baran, President & CEO, Staten Island Chamber of Commerce
  • Lisa Sorin, President, The New Bronx Chamber of Commerce

3 pm: Speed-Dating Style Networking
Fast-paced networking designed to connect businesses, investors, neighborhood and borough representatives, trade organizations, and industry leaders across sectors, creating opportunities for collaboration, partnership, and growth.

3:55 pm: Closing Remarks
Daniel Clark, Director of Business Development, NYCEDC

4–7 pm: Happy Hour and England vs Ghana World Cup Watch Party

All times are approximate and subject to change.

Event Contact

Maleeka Zainab
Project Manager, Business Development, NYCEDC
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 917 848 9644