David Rockefeller Fellows
Providing business leaders with a unique opportunity to better understand New York City and take a more active role in shaping the city’s future.
Program Objectives
Since 1988, the David Rockefeller Fellows Program has been preparing senior corporate executives for more active leadership in civic and public affairs, following the model of the Partnership’s founding chairman:
- Enhance business and civic leadership skills
- Facilitate access to the knowledge and networks necessary to forge effective public-private partnerships
- Establish relationships between leaders in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors
- Develop an alumni network that will support the Partnership’s policy and program objectives
Fellowship Experience
During the 12-month program, fellows meet with leaders in the public and private sectors through a series of meetings, site visits, and tours that are held two to three times per month.
Public Sector Leaders
Meet with key government officials and heads of important nonprofit institutions to learn about their work and the issues they are dealing with. Participants gain a new appreciation for the complexity and challenges of managing public agencies. They hear about issues from many perspectives—legislators, labor leaders, journalists, civic activists, and academics.
Private Sector Leaders
Meet in intimate settings with global business leaders, who share their insights on industry trends, management practices, and the value of civic engagement.
Attend Site Visits
Gain a first-hand view of the city’s nerve centers, including the Command Centers of the NYC Police Department, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and Con Edison. There are insider tours of the World Trade Center; Rikers Island Correctional Facility; public high schools and charter schools; Manhattan Family Court; and several arts and cultural institutions.
Current Fellows Class (2023)
David Beller
Partner
Latham & Watkins LLP
Lisa Bevacqua
Executive Vice President, Head of Asset Management
Silverstein Properties
Janice Brunner
Group General Counsel & Head of Civic Engagement
The Travelers Companies, Inc.
Kerrie Cohen
Head of Communications and Marketing
Warburg Pincus LLC
Seth Drucker
Partner
PwC
Kris Ferranti
Partner
Clifford Chance LLP
Eric Gyasi
Counsel
BakerHostetler
David Heller
Senior Managing Director, Capital Markets Group
Savills Inc.
Ripan Kadakia
Partner
ZMC
Evan Kaufman
Director
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.
EB Kelly
Senior Managing Director, Head of Rockefeller Center
Tishman Speyer
Evan Layne
Vice Chairman and Co-Head of New York Capital Markets
Newmark
Eric Lee
General Partner
Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe
Abena Mainoo
Partner
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
Eli Nagler
Senior Managing Director
Blackstone
Michele O'Connell
Senior Vice President, Customer Operations
Con Edison
Drew O'Connor
Senior Managing Director
Cushman & Wakefield, Inc.
James Ossman
Vice President
Etsy, Inc.
Laura Peterson
New York Metro Office Managing Director; Northeast Lead: Communications, Media, & Technology
Accenture
Kate Pilcher Ciafone
Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Investment Banking
Moelis & Company
Marie Rodland-Allen
Former Senior Vice President, Deputy Chief People Officer
First Republic Bank
Jessica Scaperotti
Chief Communications Officer
Fairstead
Spencer Schrage
Global Consulting Partner and Growth Officer
Ogilvy
Harrison Sitomer
Chief Investment Officer
SL Green Realty Corp.
Thalia Smith
Audit & Assurance Partner
Deloitte
Yolanda Stancil
Region President Wireline Network Operations-New York Metro
Verizon Communications, Inc.
Chad Wallace
Executive Vice President, Commercial Solutions
Mastercard
Seth Wolfe
Principal & New York Office Leader
Arup
Jesse Yeo
Senior Deputy General Counsel & Executive Vice President
Advance