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.

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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

Shearman & Sterling, LLP

Eric Gyasi

Vice President, Engagement Management

Aon plc

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

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