Page 43 - 2022 Westchester County Economic Development Guide

Top: Attendees at the BCW’s Annual Dinner Bottom: BCWCOO John Ravitz, Chairperson Heidi Davidson, President and CEO Marsha Gordon and Westchester County Executive George Latimer attend the BCW Annual Dinner.
the BCW
hosted
a meeting
In December,
at the BCW’s offices for its Board of Directors to meet with New York State Attorney General Letitia James for a presentation and Q&A.
A THRIVING MEMBERSHIP BASE
BCW membership continues to grow with 170 new members joining in 2021. The value of BCW membership is demonstrated by members sharing success and business growth. A Circles of Influence event in the fall welcomed a record 26 new members in one evening.
ENGAGING IN-PERSON EVENTS
2021 saw a return to in-person events with a total of ten events with total attendance of nearly 1,300. Total attendance for BCW programs in 2021, including in-person and virtual events (Zoom, Facebook Live and You Tube) totaled 19,588.
The top BCW event of the year was the Annual Dinner on October 13, which attracted more than 400 attendees. The event honored Regeneron founders Leonard Schleifer and George Yancopoulos who received the BCW’s 2021 Global Leadership Laureate for their innovation, their development of the REGEN-COV therapy for post-exposure prevention of COVID-19, and for the company’s multi-billion-dollar investments in Westchester County.
ENERGY EXPERTISE
As 2021 came to a close, the BCW hosted a major energy conference in December that assembled
local energy experts to discuss how New York will achieve aggressive carbon-neutral goals. Bringing Power to Westchester was a four-hour virtual event hosted by BCW Executive Vice President and COO John Ravitz, who kicked off the event by outlining the BCW’s years of energy advocacy, particularly around the debate about the Indian Point Energy Center, which permanently closed in April 2021.
LOOKING AHEAD
Looking ahead to 2022, the BCW is planning a major new initiative to position Westchester County as a place where innovation thrives. Westchester Innovation Network (WIN): Shaping the County of the Future will focus on convening thought leaders, planning futurists, innovators, government officials and local organizations to strengthen the long-term innovation ecosystem in Westchester County. “Creating a stronger innovation ecosystem is critical for the future of Westchester County. We are focused on showcasing Westchester County as an attractive location to build, grow, and explore innovation,” said Gordon.
An Apprenticeship Program with Westchester’s real estate developers is also in the works for 2022. Westchester Works is a social justice program designed to recruit and offer free, advanced training to local residents in underrepresented communities to enable them to qualify for skilled jobs in the construction trades in Westchester County.
“The year 2022 is shaping up to be another transformative year for the BCW as it focuses on the critical issues facing our region’s economy and business community during these very challenging times,” said Gordon.
“Creating a stronger innovation ecosystem is critical for the future of Westchester County. We are focused on showcasing Westchester County as an attractive location to build, grow, and explore innovation.” —BCW President and CEO Marsha Gordon
WESTCHESTER COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE 41
© Courtesy of the Business Council of Westchester
© Courtesy of the Business Council of Westchester