The Long Island City Partnership has named a new president: Elizabeth Lusskin. An attorney with more than two decades of experience in economic development and government services, Lusskin will be bringing her experience to lead the Partnership and help drive its mission. Elizabeth Lusskin, whose career has navigated the public, private and academic sectors, has been appointed as president of the Long Island City Partnership (LIC Partnership).
“Liz is well positioned to lead the Partnership and drive its mission as new investment and existing uses combine to redefine the area as one of New York City’s hottest new neighborhoods and certainly one of its most diverse,” said Gary Kesner, chair of the board of LIC Partnership. “As Long Island City continues to evolve, Liz has the vision and on-point experience we need to help the Partnership continue to thrive.”
Lusskin is currently chief of staff and vice president of Strategic Initiatives at Polytechnic Institute of New York University (NYU-Poly), the second oldest engineering school in the nation – which is set to officially merge with New York University on Jan. 1, 2014.
“Liz contributed greatly to both NYUPoly and NYU,” said Dr. Katepalli Sreenivasan, president of NYU-Poly. “Her strategic leadership of the NYU-Poly incubators helped drive their success and greater integration into the academic sphere. Liz was also instrumental in advancing our institutional goals at a crucial time – when NYU-Poly was in the midst of completing the formal merger with NYU.”
The LIC Partnership advocates for economic development that benefits Long Island City’s industrial, commercial, cultural, and residential sectors. The Partnership works to attract new businesses to LIC, retain those already there, welcome new residents and visitors, and promote a vibrant and authentic mixed-use community. The Partnership also manages the LIC Business Improvement District.
“We are thrilled that Liz will be leading the LIC Partnership and BID,” said BID Chairman David Brause. “Liz brings a wealth of experience to our exciting neighborhood, which will be of great value as we expand the BID. To lead such a diverse and vibrant community requires intelligence, creativity and energy. Liz is exactly the right leader for LIC!”
“This is a very special time for Long Island City – which has become a hub for new development while retaining its strong industrial base, helping to reinvigorate the borough,” said Lusskin. “I am thrilled for the opportunity to build on the Long Island City Partnership’s success in supporting this ‘city within the city’ – encompassing industrial, cultural, commercial, residential, hospitality, film and television, restaurants, schools, parks and libraries, combined with unmatched transportation. Together with the members of the Partnership and BID, I look forward to helping shape the future of this incredible neighborhood and important borough.”
As LIC Partnership president, Lusskin will strengthen ties between the private and public sectors to promote the area, widely recognized as New York City’s new gold coast. As new developments emerge and LIC’s waterfront, short distance to Manhattan, and skyline view continue to draw young families to the rapidly growing neighborhood, Lusskin will help support the thriving community and the success of local businesses and institutions.
Prior to her position with Poly, Lusskin advised public, private for-profit and nonprofit clients on organizational management, strategic planning and community development. An attorney with more than two decades of experience in economic development and government services, Lusskin has also served as deputy commissioner for Programs and Development for the city Department of Small Business Services, General Counsel of the Alliance for Downtown New York, and Legislative Counsel in the New York state Office of Federal Affairs in D.C. under Governor Mario M. Cuomo.
Lusskin graduated with a J.D. from NYU School of Law and a B.A. in History from Yale University. She assumes her new role on October 15.
