The Business Council of Westchester (The BCW), with support from Google.org, convened its inaugural AI Intensive program this week, bringing together a dynamic group of local small business leaders committed to understanding and integrating artificial intelligence into their operations. The session marked an important milestone as Cohort 1 officially comes to a close, capping off a highly successful first chapter of this forward-thinking initiative. Over the course of the program, participating small business spanning industries such as healthcare, financial services, hospitality, technology, and professional services have worked collaboratively to explore practical AI applications, improve efficiencies, and position themselves for long-term […]

The Business Council of Westchester (The BCW), the county’s largest business membership organization focusing on economic development and advocacy, supports the laudable goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). However, the BCW believes that we need to prioritize initiatives that immediately reduce energy costs while making a more systematic transition to a clean energy economy. The findings released by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) provide a sobering validation of the Business Council of Westchester’s (BCW) long-standing concerns regarding the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act’s (CLCPA) timeline and costs. The state’s analysis […]

Business leaders from across the county gathered on Monday for the Business Council of Westchester’s (BCW) AI Alliance 360 Impact Summit to discuss the rapidly shifting landscape of artificial intelligence. Led by John Ravitz, Executive Vice President and COO of the BCW, a panel of experts from IBM, local law firms, and regional enterprises warned that simply using AI as an office assistant is no longer enough to remain competitive. The discussion centered on the transition from traditional machine learning to generative AI, the necessity of internal governance, and the emergence of the “AI Champion” as a critical corporate role. […]

Westchester County, NY — The Business Council of Westchester (The BCW), the county’s largest business membership organization focusing on economic development and advocacy, supports the laudable goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). However, the BCW believes that we need to prioritize initiatives that immediately reduce energy costs while making a more systematic transition to a clean energy economy. The findings released by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) provide a sobering validation of the Business Council of Westchester’s (BCW) long-standing concerns regarding the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act’s (CLCPA) timeline and […]

The Westchester Innovation Network’s (WIN) City Labs initiative is partnering with the Village of Sleepy Hollow and Iona University’s Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation on a design-thinking project. Rather than starting with a pre-defined assignment, the Iona students are defining the problem themselves after a briefing with the Mayor, Trustees and Village department heads. In class, students examined three themes identified by the village—modernizing building department processes and tools, signage and wayfinding, and downtown revitalization—then mapped stakeholders and discussed potential solution directions. The students used design thinking, a human-centered methodology for creative problem-solving that focuses on understanding user needs […]

White Plains Mayor Justin Brasch joined the Business Council of Westchester Valley Bank Leadership Conversations on March 13 to discuss his new administration’s vision for the city. Brasch, a Democrat, began his conversation with BCW President and CEO Marsha Gordon by drawing a sharp distinction between his approach to governing and what he called the divisive, anti‑business politics he sees emerging in New York City. Brasch described himself as pro‑business, pro‑development, and pro‑police. “I am a Democrat because I believe that we should be figuring out how to help the most vulnerable in our society. The way we do that […]