Carrie Laney

Experience

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  New York State Executive Chamber

  Jan 1999 - Jan 2001

  Program Manager for Public Authorities

  * Liaison between Governor’s office and many NYS Public Authorities, including Thruway Authority, Canal Corporation, Upstate Transit and Olympic Regional Development Authorities, Environmental Facilities Corporation, Port Authority of NY/NJ, NYS Bridge Authority, Peace Bridge and others. * Collaborated with Executive Management of State Agencies and Authorities, Legislative contacts, and Governor’s Senior policy, budget and legal staff regarding a broad range of statewide transportation, environmental and finance issues. Show less

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  Usa Niagara Development Corp

  Jan 2001 - Jan 2003

  Director

  * Accountable for planning and implementation of project activities, direction and coordination between various State and local agencies, Governor’s office, private sector, environmental and design consultant teams, municipal development authorities, and USA Niagara / ESDC staff members.* Selected, trained, and managed six staff and four consultant contracts worth $500,000 during a successful $18 million Convention Center revitalization project at a blighted commercial site. * Organized and conducted public and project team meetings for the purpose of planning, designing, creating and executing redevelopment plans and activities, drafting subsequent bid documents, securing contractual approval from Board of Directors, and creation of successful marketing efforts.www.usaniagara.com Show less

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  Empire State Development

  Jan 2003 - Jan 2005

  Deputy Commissioner

  * Senior Manager responsible for policy direction and oversight of annual $400 million statewide Empire Zone Program, aiding nearly 10,000 firms that created and maintained 60,000 new NYS jobs.* Negotiated and implemented legislative renewal/reform of entire program, including tax and general municipal law changes, created and implemented numerous policy and administrative program improvements, organized and presented at educational conferences, and set policy direction for 72 local administrations, state/local officials, and public/private stakeholders. * Coordinated offers of financial assistance from ESD and local officials with Empire Zone tax credits to provide the most competitive and efficient offers, bringing thousands of jobs and millions in private sector investment to the State. * Directed 10 regional offices, as well as trained and managed the performance of 15 immediate staff.* Managed the design and content of program newsletters and public relations materials. Show less

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  New York State Executive Chamber

  Sept 2005 - Oct 2006

  Deputy Secretary / Deputy Chief of Staff for Transportation

  Served as the senior staff member responsible for creating and implementing transportation policy and proposing new statewide programs. Responsibilities included negotiating state legislative and budgetary issues on behalf of the Executive Branch and recommending media and public relations approaches. * Senior staff accountable for oversight for numerous transportation agencies / authorities such as the NYSDOT, including Highway and Bridge, Passenger and Freight Rail and Aviation Programs with a combined total 5-year capital plan of $17.5 billion, as well as the Thruway Authority, Canal Corporation, Upstate Transit Systems and Department of Motor Vehicles. * Significant policy contributor in numerous successful statewide initiatives including benefits for energy-efficient and low-emission vehicles, $10 million in new funding to support creation of an Erie Canal Greenway, directed transportation investments to leverage large economic development projects, and actively involved in June 2006 with the extensive I-88, Thruway, and Canal System flash flood response.* Recognized as key contributor to successful private/public educational efforts related to passage of the 2005 Transportation Bond Act providing $2.9 billion to 5 -year capital transportation plan. Show less

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  NYS Thruway Authority

  Oct 2006 - Aug 2008

  Director of the Office of Transportation Planning and Environmental Services

  I oversaw the activities of the Thruway Authority Environmental Bureau, Project Scoping Unit and Transportation Systems Planning Units, devising long-range strategy and program planning, leveraging an interdisciplinary approach and liaison with maintenance and engineering colleagues plus external stakeholders to successfully complete complex projects prior to construction commencing. I progressed major feasibility and planning studies on behalf of the Authority and collaborated with Metropolitan Planning Organizations, NYS Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and other external stakeholders and controlled a budget of $57 million whilst acting as the Executive Project Manager in the multi-agency Tappan Zee Bridge/I-287 Corridor Environmental Review Study, which evaluated a variety of multi-modal solutions for a 30-mile corridor, incorporating a 3-mile-long bridge, with capital costs ranging from $2 - 14 billion. I promoted the Environmental Stewardship program, in partnership with Operations, Maintenance and Division Environmental Specialists, which safeguarded compliance with environmental guidelines, regulations and best practice when applying for permits and approvals. Show less

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  New York Botanical Garden

  Aug 2008 - Apr 2013

  Promoted to a key leadership position, I determined, and controlled the direction of the Division of External Affairs that incorporated the Marketing and Creative Services, Communications, Government and Community Relations Departments. I created marketing collateral that communicated the Garden's value proposition to several stakeholders including the public, members, academic and scientific communities, the neighborhood, governmental officials, and agencies plus the Board of Trustees. I boosted income by creating the concept of 'Evening at the Garden', which not only increased revenue producing hours of operation but also attracted a new, younger demographic to the gardens. Events included Bar Car Nights and The Orchid Show. I improved community relations through sustained engagement that resulted in the establishment of a Community Ground Pass program, an initiative that allowed greater access to NYBG programs and greenspace and garnered neighborhood support. I took ownership of the raising of public funding, dealt with the local community and Metro North in addition to marketing the parking to visitors and non-visitors, delivering earned income. (https://www.nybg.org/content/uploads/2017/08/NYBGGaragePressRelease3-30-12.pdf) Show less I oversaw and conducted NYBG affairs with community organizations and governmental agencies, including federal, state and city elected officials plus stakeholders and addressed community issues, augmented collaborative partnerships with business groups, associations, community boards, grassroots and non-profit organizations. I spoke at meetings and public hearings with city, state, and federal officials plus the Board of Trustees and, as a key member of NYS and NYC coalitions, was credited with restoring millions of dollars in public funding. I served as a primary contact to the Four Bronx Institutions Alliance (FBIA), an association dedicated to improving the borough's infrastructure and public amenities. I secured additional general operating and capital funding from the government during the financial crisis by liaising with multiple departments at the Garden, acquiring information required to complete proposals, presentations, reports, applications, and further documentation, later submitted to relevant agencies, in full. I represented NYBG as an original trustee member, on the Cultural Institutions Retirement System (CIRS) Board, which delivers retirement perks to a membership of 21,000, inclusive of 8,000 active cultural institution and childcare employees. Show less

  • Vice President for External Affairs

    Feb 2011 - Apr 2013

  • Vice President for Government and Community Relations

    Aug 2008 - Feb 2011
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  National Industries for the Blind

  Apr 2013 - Apr 2021

  Executive Director, New York State Preferred Source Program for New Yorkers Who Are Blind

  I lead, promote and sustain accessible and inclusive employment for legally blind New Yorkers. I inspire colleagues and steer the direction of the Program, working in collaboration with municipal and state government clients, commercial and key stakeholder partners and NYSPSP affiliated regional non-profit agencies to nurture career opportunities for New Yorkers who are blind through a public-private partnership model. I supervised the development of a range of blind-made products and services available to the public and resolved legal issues efficiently and established safe-working during the Covid-19 pandemic, liaising with National Industries for the Blind (NIB). Authored and presented reports to the Board, developed relationships with key connections and boosted revenue. I inherited staff from a predecessor organization and flattened organization, established back-office service agreement with like national nonprofit, and managed out under-performing staff, realigned functions, and improved culture. I transformed a failing non-profit program into a highly successful public-private initiative by regaining the trust and respect of clients, public policy makers, through the augmentation of sales, income, and job vacancies. Overseeing an operating budget of $2 million, earned as a proportion of sales to local and state government, I have achieved NYS and local government sales of $53.6 million in 2020, leveraging over 400 jobs for New Yorkers who are blind, creating new taxpayers in communities across the Empire State. Show less

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  Nonprofit & Public Sector Leader

  May 2021 - Aug 2022

  Nonprofit & Public Sector Leader
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  Empire State Society of Association Executives, Inc.

  Aug 2022 - now

  Executive Director