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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PR­ 043­05February 2, 2005

MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG ANNOUNCES SIX NEWAPPOINTMENTS TO NEW YORK CITY COMMISSION ONWOMEN'S ISSUES

Elizabeth LoNigro is appointed as New Executive Director

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced the appointment ofsix new Commissioners to the NYC Commission on Women'sIssues and the appointment of the Commission's new ExecutiveDirector Elizabeth LoNigro. The six new members of theCommission on Women's Issues are Dr. Marcia Brumit Kropf, UrsulaF. Fairbairn, Cynthia Hayes, Shirley Rodriguez Remeneski, MargaretM. Smyth, and Dr. Marlene Springer.

"Women play a vital role in every aspect of our City's life," saidMayor Bloomberg. "Our administration is committed to findinginnovative ways to support women at work and in their lives. It isan honor to appoint these six extraordinary women and their newExecutive Director who will dedicate their time and effort to theCommission as it continues to help us make the Big Apple the Cityof choice for women."

"I am very excited about the new appointees to the Commission,"said Chair of the Commission on Women's Issues Anne SutherlandFuchs. "Through their experience and leadership in their respectivefields, I know both the new Executive Director and the six newCommissioners will lend invaluable ideas, time, and effort to thisimportant Commission."

Mayor Bloomberg established the New York City Commission onWomen's Issues as an advisory body on matters impacting the livesof women in New York City. The Commission has identified threemain areas of concern: health, childcare and economicdevelopment. The Commission recently kicked off a public servicecampaign "New York Loves Women" to educate the public about cityservices to assist women and families.

Dr. Marcia Brumit Kropf is the Chief Operating Officer at Girls, Inc.the nonprofit organization that inspires all girls to be strong, smart,and bold. Previously, she spent 12 years as Vice President ofResearch & Information Services at Catalyst, a nonprofit researchand advisory organization working to advance women in business.Dr. Kropf earned her B.A. from Mount Holyoke College, her Masterof Arts in Teaching from Oberlin College, and her Ph.D. inEducational Communication and Technology from New YorkUniversity.

Ursula F. Fairbairn is the Executive Vice President of HumanResources and Quality at American Express Company. Prior tojoining American Express, Ms. Fairbairn served as the Senior Vice

President of Human Resources at Union Pacific Corporation. She isa member of the Board of Directors for the Labor Policy

a member of the Board of Directors for the Labor PolicyAssociation, and is Vice Chair of the National Academy of HumanResources. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Sunoco,Inc. and VF Corporation. Ms. Fairbairn has a bachelor's degree inMathematics from Upsala College and a master's degree fromHarvard University Graduate School of Education.

Cynthia Hayes is the President and Founder of Hayes Strategies,an independent consulting firm based in New York that she hasmanaged since 1993. Her clients include American Express, JPMorganChase, The Walt Disney Company and other firms in mediaand financial services. Prior to starting her firm, she spent threeyears at McGraw­Hill as an internal consultant and strategic plannerfor the company's media business. Ms. Hayes received her B.A.from Wellesley College and her M.B.A. from Harvard.

Shirley Rodriguez Remeneski is the Senior Vice President of theEmpire State Development's Economic Revitalization Division,where she oversees economic development for distressedcommunities. Ms. Remeneski began her career in 1966, when sheestablished and directed the first Social Services Unit in the BronxBorough President's Office. She serves as a board member ofmany organizations, including the Multicultural Advisory Committeeof the Metropolitan Museum of Art; Bronx Lebanon Hospital, whichshe chairs; and the 21st Century Women's Leadership Center, ofwhich she is the co­founder and co­chair. She is also the presidentand founder of 100 Hispanic Women.

Margaret M. Smyth is the Senior Managing Partner of Deloitte &Touche LLP's Technology, Media, and Telecommunications Practice.She has been honored as one of Crain's "New York 40 Under Forty"and Irish America's Business 100 Honorees for 2004. Ms. Smythserves as an active member of many boards, including the steeringcommittee for the Museum of Television & Radio's On The Air: ACelebration of Women's Achievements in Television and Radio, andas a trustee for Fordham University and Catholic Charities for theArchdiocese of New York. She received her B.A. in Economics fromFordham University and an M.S. in Accounting from New YorkUniversity. She graduated summa cum laude from both institutions

Dr. Marlene Springer is the President of the College of StatenIsland of the City University of New York. As a member ofnumerous civic and professional boards, Dr. Springer has earnedmany awards, including the 1998 Distinguished Woman in EducationAward from Alpha Beta Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma SocietyInternational. Dr. Springer has both an M.A. in American Literatureand a Ph.D. in English Literature from Indiana University and is anoted scholar who has lectured throughout the world.

Elizabeth LoNigro is the new Executive Director for New YorkCity's Commission on Women's Issues. Prior to joining the Mayor'sOffice, Ms. LoNigro worked as a Program Director at beCauseGlobal Consulting in New York City building partnerships betweenthe public and private sectors. She also co­taught a course at theWagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University,called "Fundraising for Global Nonprofits: Creating and SustainingEffective Partnerships between the Public and Private Sectors." Shereplaces Carmen Rita Torrent. Ms. LoNigro has a B.A. in History andPolitical Science from The Colorado College.

The Commissioners, appointed to a three­year term and do notreceive salaries. The Commission is made up of 35 Commissionersand one Chair. Research and programs supported by theCommission are funded through The Mayor's Fund to Advance NewYork City.

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