Business Council Of Westchester Celebrates Record-Breaking Annual Dinner

Rye Brook, N.Y. (November 11, 2026) — The Business Council of Westchester (BCW) hosted the most successful annual dinner in its history Tuesday evening, bringing together more than 500 business, civic, and community leaders at the VIP Country Club in New Rochelle in support of the Hudson Valley’s largest business advocacy and membership organization. Click here to view the digital program: https://www.flipsnack.com/tbartdept/bcw-annual-dinner-nov2026.html

The event celebrated the leadership of Westchester’s influential New York State legislative delegation. BCW President & CEO Dr. Marsha Gordon and BCW Executive Vice President Noam Bramson moderated an on-stage panel discussion featuring Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and four Committee Chairs – J. Gary Pretlow, Amy Paulin, Steve Otis, and Nathalia Fernandez – who outlined their key priorities for 2027. The event also honored Senators Shelley Mayer, Peter Harckham and Jamaal Bailey, and Assemblymembers Chris Burdick, Dana Levenberg, Nader J. Sayegh, MaryJane Shimsky and Matt Slater.

“Westchester’s powerhouse legislative team is uniquely positioned to shape statewide policy, and we are very fortunate to benefit from their outstanding leadership,” said Dr. Gordon. “The BCW is committed to building on our strong partnership with the delegation and continuing to serve as the eyes, ears, and voice of the business community.”

The annual dinner also marked two important changings of the guard for the BCW itself.

Concluding fifteen years as the BCW’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, John Ravitz will retire at the end of this year. A former six-term State Assemblyman, Ravitz was instrumental in guiding the BCW’s governmental advocacy, launching coalitions to promote economic development and clean energy, and building positive relationships across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Deeply admired by colleagues, Ravitz’s work was lauded in heartfelt tributes from Dr. Gordon and from BCW Board Chair Jamie Schutzer.

“John Ravitz is a great colleague, an invaluable asset, and, above all, a stellar human being, who has earned the admiration and friendship of our entire board and staff,” said Schutzer. “The positive legacy of John’s accomplishments will continue to shape the BCW and the business community as a whole for many years to come.”

Schutzer, who also will step down from his position at the end of this year, introduced incoming BCW Board Chair Joe McCoy, who will lead the organization into its next chapter of strategic growth. McCoy heads commercial banking at Valley Bank and brings to the Chairperson role more than 25 years of financial services experience, along with a record of deep community engagement across Westchester County.

Looking ahead, the BCW unveiled an exclusive sneak peek of Choose Westchester, an economic development platform that will launch in 2027. Powered by a new app, website, and AI-enabled concierge, the initiative is designed to highlight Westchester’s strengths, attract growth, and promote investment-readiness across Westchester’s diverse municipalities.

Photo caption: Holding custom artwork depicting the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge are, from left, BCW Executive Vice President and COO John Ravitz; Assemblyman Matt Slater; Assemblywoman MaryJane Shimsky; Senator Nathalia Fernandez; Assemblywoman Amy Paulin; BCW President & CEO Marsha Gordon; Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins; Assemblyman Gary Pretlow; Assemblyman Chris Burdick and BCW Executive Vice President Noam Bramson

About The Business Council of Westchester

Representing more than 1,100 members – from multi-national corporations to solopreneurs – The Business Council of Westchester is the largest and most influential business advocate in America’s most iconic suburb. Our partners span every sector of Westchester’s dynamic economy: colleges and universities, hospitals and medical centers, biotech and computing pioneers, entertainment and dining venues, not-for-profits, real estate developers, construction firms, professional and financial service-providers, tradespeople and manufacturers, energy producers, artists and content creators, and government at every level. Through member services, thought leadership, and relationship-building, we enable Westchester’s business community to connect, learn, collaborate, and thrive. As a trusted convener of business, government, education, art, and nonprofit leaders, we spark conversations, forge partnerships, and champion the ideas that strengthen our regional economy. And by mobilizing the business sector to speak with a powerful shared voice, we promote economic growth and opportunity, while shaping public policy from Washington to Albany, from the County to city and village halls. Build, Connect, and Win with The Business Council of Westchester