By Marvin Krislov, President of BCW Member Pace University, and Marsha Gordon, BCW President & CEO As federal and state leaders debate the efficacy of higher education, one truth remains evident: independent colleges and universities in New York State are indispensable drivers of economic and social progress. This is particularly true for the Hudson Valley and Westchester County, where these institutions contributed $4.8 billion to the region’s economy during the 2022–2023 fiscal year and employ thousands of New Yorkers. This data comes from a report by the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities, which highlights the economic contributions of New York’s private, […]

On Wednesday the Business Council of Westchester’s KeyBank Speaker Series welcomed Brian Pietrangelo, Managing Director of Investment Strategy at Key Wealth, to hear his economic outlook for 2025. He highlighted the ongoing challenges and opportunities within the U.S. economy, emphasizing the interplay of inflation, interest rates, and consumer behavior. Pietrangelo began by revisiting key economic trends of 2024, including the Federal Reserve’s cautious approach to interest rate cuts, which totaled three during the year. He noted that inflation, although declining from its 2022 peak, remained above the Fed’s 2% target, driven primarily by persistent price increases in services, especially shelter. […]

The Business Council of Westchester announced this week the winners of its prestigious Business Hall of Fame Awards, which recognize Westchester’s top business leaders. The winners will be honored at the 2025 Business Hall of Fame Awards Dinner on April 29th at the Glen Island Harbour Club in New Rochelle. “This illustrious group of honorees joins more than 100 past winners which include some of the most prestigious business leaders and organizations in the proud business legacy of Westchester. The quality of this year’s honorees is truly extraordinary. We are proud to continue this time-honored tradition in Westchester,” BCW President & CEO […]

Roads and bridges that are deteriorated, congested or lack some desirable safety features cost New York motorists a total of $38 billion statewide annually  due to higher vehicle operating costs, traffic crashes and congestion-related delays, according to a report recently released by TRIP, a Washington, DC based national transportation research nonprofit.  The TRIP report, “New York Transportation by the Numbers: Providing a Modern, Sustainable Transportation System in the Empire State,” finds that throughout New York, nearly half of major locally and state-maintained roads are in poor or mediocre condition, nine percent of locally and state-maintained bridges (20 feet or more in length) are rated poor/structurally deficient, […]

BCW Member KeyBank has announced its newest branch, located at 1 North Main Street, Port Chester in the Port & Main building. The new 3,975 square-foot full-service branch will provide clients with a full range of financial products and services, including personal and business banking, investment solutions, and mortgage lending. The facility will include state-of-the-art banking technology, a walk-up ATM, metered parking in front of the branch and free nearby parking, and a gathering room available for use by community groups upon request.  “We are excited to bring KeyBank’s exceptional banking services and community-focused values to Port Chester,” said John […]

Jack A. Martinelli has been awarded the BCW’s prestigious Ambassador of the Year Award. The award was presented at the BCW’s Annual New Year Blast held on January 9 at the Surf Club in New Rochelle. Martinelli is the Director of Business Development for 914 INC Magazine. Also known as The Business Magazine of Westchester, 914 INC Magazine covers the extensive business community in Westchester County ranging from small startups to Fortune 500 companies. 914 INC Magazine is known for introducing readership to these diverse companies that are at everyone’s fingertips and bringing together the local business community. “It is an absolute pleasure to work with […]