USLege · Best in Government Affairs Awards
2026 Annual Awards · Albany, NY
New York
Best in Government Affairs
The people shaping New York state policy, recognized by their peers.
Presented with 
462026 Honorees
7Categories
100%Peer-nominated
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The 2026 Honorees
Meet the 46 honorees of 2026.
All 46 honorees of the 2026 Best in Government Affairs New York awards are listed below, grouped into the seven award categories. Select any honoree to read their profile. Every honoree is recognized on stage at Lark Hall in Albany on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
01 · Association
7 honorees →
Association Advocates of the Year
Catherine Chen
Chief Executive Officer Asian American Federation
Kei Williams
Executive Director NEW Pride Agenda
Matt Nelligan
President & CEO, Syndicate Strategies (association manager for New Yorkers for Affordable Energy) New Yorkers for Affordable Energy (NYAE)
Jessica Klos Shapiro
Senior Director of Policy and Community Education Early Care & Learning Council
Ashley Stuart
Vice President of Government Affairs New York Health Plan Association
Caroline Bobick
Deputy Director of Governmental and External Relations New York State School Boards Association
02 · Veterans
7 honorees →
Longtime Legends in Government Affairs
Perry Ochacher
President Willett Public Affairs
Bill Ferris
NYS Legislative Representative AARP New York
Rick Ostroff
President & CEO Ostroff Associates
Christine Rutigliano
President Roffe Group of Robinson+Cole
Robert Megna
President Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government
Patricia Reilly
Principal Consultant and Lobbyist Patricia Reilly Consulting
Ross Frommer
Vice President of Government Affairs Columbia University Irving Medical Center
03 · Intelligence
7 honorees →
Policy Intelligence Leaders of the Year
Katie Hohman
Partner Plummer, Wigger & Hohman
Cheryl Kraus
Attorney – Government Relations | Healthcare | Corporate Farrell Fritz, P.C.
Emily Whalen
Attorney At Law Brown & Weinraub
Joshua Oppenheimer
Shareholder Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Karin Spencer
Founder and Principal Spencer Strategic Solutions
Jay Holland
Senior Vice President Statewide Public Affairs
Evan Sullivan
Executive Vice President Ostroff Associates
04 · Lobbyists
7 honorees →
Powerhouse Lobbyists of the Year
Carol Ann Lemon
Senior Lobbyist
Diana Ostroff
Owner & Senior Leader Ostroff Associates
Jessica Schafroth
Vice President, Government Affairs Malkin & Ross
Jack O'Donnell
Managing Partner O'Donnell & Associates
Evan Stavisky
Co-Founder & President The Parkside Group
Alyssa Lovelace
Partner Hill, Gosdeck, McGraw & Nemeth
Vincent Rossetti
Founder & Principal Rossetti Government Relations
05 · Emerging
6 honorees →
Rising Stars of the Year
Caiti Anderson
Senior Associate Harter Secrest & Emery LLP
Laura Manley Ladopoulos
Advisor Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
Jerry Hyppolite
Chief of Staff & Head of Government Affairs Housing Solutions of New York
Hunter Petro
Chief of Staff Carlucci Consulting
Sam Hartstein
Founder Kol Yisroel
Jasmine Wali
Advisor Elevating Action for Family Justice Fund
06 · Voice
5 honorees →
Strategic Communicators of the Year
Jaden Jules
Senior Associate, Policy Communications DoorDash
Adam Morey
Managing Director J Strategies
Nick Berkowitz
Director of Communications and Digital Strategy Open New York
Joe Bonilla
Partner Relentless Awareness
Geoff Redick
Independent Strategic Communications Consultant Freelance (formerly The Baker Agency)
07 · Behind the Scenes
7 honorees →
Top Staffers of the Year
Alana Sivin
Counsel to the Speaker New York Assembly Speaker's Office
Godfre Bayalama
Director of Intergovernmental Affairs New York State Department of Financial Services
Evan Schneider
Committee Director & Legislative Director, Senate Insurance Committee Office of State Senator Jamaal Bailey, NYS Senate
Mark Kissinger
Senior Policy Advisor Office of Assemblymember Amy Paulin, Chair, NYS Assembly Health Committee
Mary-Anne Dandles
Clerk of the New York State Assembly & Clerk of the Assembly Rules Committee NYS Assembly
Darci Lindgren
Legislative Director Office of Assemblymember Charles D. Lavine, NYS Assembly
Shalyn Ranellone
Chief of Staff & Legislative Counsel; Committee Clerk, Assembly Governmental Operations Committee Office of Assemblymember John T. McDonald III, NYS Assembly
The Ceremony · Wednesday, September 16, 2026
The winners were celebrated in Albany.
The 2026 New York honorees were recognized on stage at Lark Hall in Albany on Wednesday, September 16. First photos from the evening are up now, with the full gallery coming soon.
- Lark Hall · Albany, NY
- 46 honorees · 7 categories
- First photos posted
Seven Categories
One goal: recognize the people who make New York work.
From veterans whose names are synonymous with Albany excellence to early-career operators already three steps ahead, these categories reflect the full spectrum of government affairs talent in New York.
01 · Association
Association Advocates of the Year
Recognizes someone who leads government affairs for a trade, professional, or statewide business association and does it with clarity, credibility, and results.
02 · VeteransLongtime Legends in Government Affairs
Honors the professionals whose decades of work have shaped New York government affairs. Trusted veterans, mentors, and dealmakers whose reputations are built on results, relationships, and respect.
03 · IntelligencePolicy Intelligence Leaders of the Year
Honors someone who redefines what it means to stay ahead. Recognizes the professional using every tool to surface what matters faster and make decisions with unmatched clarity.
04 · LobbyistsPowerhouse Lobbyists of the Year
Recognizes a contract lobbyist whose work in New York government relations stands above the rest. Trusted by clients, legislators, and colleagues alike.
05 · EmergingRising Stars of the Year
Honors an early-career professional whose presence, performance, and potential are impossible to ignore. Already operating like a seasoned pro.
06 · VoiceStrategic Communicators of the Year
Recognizes someone whose message discipline, timing, and voice influence not just public opinion, but legislative outcomes in New York.
07 · Behind the ScenesTop Staffers of the Year
Recognizes a legislative staffer whose expertise, judgment, and hustle power a legislator's agenda from behind the scenes in Albany. These are the staffers who turn draft ideas into law and make the entire operation smarter, faster, and sharper. The member gets the credit but everyone in the building knows who made it happen.
The Process
Four steps. Three minutes. One nomination.
Peer-nominated, advisory-board reviewed. The strongest nominations include specific examples of impact, wins, relationships, and leadership.
Step 01
Choose your nominee
Anyone doing government affairs work in New York qualifies: lobbyists, legislative staff, association leaders, communicators, and rising stars.
Step 02
Pick the right category
One nomination per submission. Teams can submit as many as they like across categories.
Step 03
Make your case
The more specific the examples of impact, wins, and leadership, the stronger the nomination.
Step 04
Advisory board review
Winners are selected based on the strength and volume of nominations. Your words matter.
The Honor
What every winner receives.
A feature profile on the 2026 Best in Government Affairs New York webpage
A custom award badge and digital toolkit to share the win
Exclusive promotion to a network of 12,000+ policy professionals and media partners
Public recognition campaign across editorial and social channels
Recognition on stage at the awards ceremony in Albany on September 16, 2026
Nominations closed · June 26, 2026
Honorees selected.
Nominations are closed and advisory board review is complete. The 46 honorees were recognized on stage at the 2026 awards ceremony at Lark Hall in Albany on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
Meet the 46 honoreesAdvisory Board
Your nomination, reviewed by four who know Albany.
The 2026 Best in Government Affairs New York advisory board brings together a veteran lobbyist, a leading public affairs strategist, a former State Senator, and one of Albany's most respected reporters.
The platform behind the awards
Track the New York Legislature year round.
USLege covers the New York Legislature and New York City Council with live video, transcripts, and cited AI answers, the same coverage Capitol Confidential Pro is built on. Get the weekly Political Spotlight recap for New York, free.
Following Our Texas Program
A proven format, coming to Albany.
In April 2026, we recognized the best of government affairs in Texas at a sold-out celebration in Austin. The New York program brings the same peer-driven approach to Albany, with categories tailored to the rhythms of the New York State Legislature.
Award crystal from the Texas 2025 ceremony, the same honor New York winners will receive.
Frequently Asked
Questions, answered.
Can I nominate myself?
Yes, you can. That said, peer nominations carry more weight during advisory board review. If you've done strong work, chances are someone who's worked with you will nominate you.
Can I nominate more than one person?
Absolutely. One nomination per submission, but you're welcome to submit as many as you like across as many categories as make sense.
What does it cost?
Nothing. There's no cost to nominate and no cost to be featured. This is peer recognition, not pay-to-play.
Who reviews the nominations?
An advisory board of four New York leaders: Kenneth Zebrowski Jr. (Brown & Weinraub), Lisa Hofflich (Bolton-St. Johns), David Carlucci (Carlucci Consulting), and Brendan Lyons (Times Union).
When will winners be announced?
Later this year, following the close of the New York legislative session. Winners will be notified as part of a public recognition campaign and celebrated at a New York event.
Honorees announced · 2026
Someone you know deserved this.
The 46 honorees of the 2026 New York awards are announced, and their profiles are published above.
Every State
Explore other states.
The USLege Best in Government Affairs Awards are rolling out across all 50 states. Find yours below.
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