PRE Advisory Board Member Howard Milstein Named to Governor-elect’s Transition Team
New York State Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo has named Cornell Program in Real Estate (PRE) Advisory Board member Howard Milstein as a member of his Transition Team to help Cuomo prepare to take office on January 1, 2011. Milstein has a key position on the bi-partisan Economic Development and Labor committee slated to advise the Governor-elect on recruiting the best people to the executive branch of the state government. Milstein’s extensive background in banking, real estate, and private wealth management make him a valuable member of the transition team as the state looks to find the right people to fix looming budgetary woes, which include a projected $9 billion operating deficit next year.
Milstein is the co-chairman, president and chief executive of Emigrant Savings Bank, and chairman of its holding company New York Private Bank & Trust. Under Milstein’s leadership, Emigrant Savings Bank has become the largest privately owned bank in the United States, with over $15.4 billion in assets and $1.2 billion in total equity capital. In addition to his duties at Emigrant Savings Bank and New York Private Bank & Trust, Milstein is the Chairman of Milstein Properties, Chairman of the merchant bank FriedbergMilstein and is involved in a number of charitable and philanthropic causes—including healthcare, government, education, music and religion. One of those causes that he is very committed to is Cornell University. In 2007, the Milstein family dedicated the Paul Milstein Building for the College of Architecture, Art and Planning, adding an impressive and transformational structure for the Cornell campus.
“Howard Milstein’s selection by Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo as a member of the committee for Economic Development and Labor is a shining example of the service embodied in the Cornell Program in Real Estate Advisory Board,” said David Funk, director of the Program in Real Estate, adding “The access to people of Mr. Milstein’s caliber to advise the Program, guest lecture on campus, and to mentor students is a hallmark of the Program, and we congratulate Howard on his selection.” The Advisory Board directs and assists the Program in fulfilling its vision and goals. Membership of the Advisory Board consists of Cornell graduates that are company chairpersons, presidents, principals, partners, CEO’s and other key industry executives, and who represent the real estate industry and geographic diversity. The Board plays a critical role in advising on academic issues, such as the relevancy of the curriculum to industry needs, serving as a vehicle for linkages with the real estate community, advocating on behalf of the program, lecturing, providing resource and mentoring support, and more.
The Economic Development and Labor committee is comprised of 32 government, business and educational leaders across New York State. The committee will lead the search for new talent to staff the state agencies with a mandate to spur job creation and grow New York’s economy. Also included in the committee are current Cornell President David Skorton and Cornell alumnus Rob Dyson, of Dyson-Kissner-Moran Corporation.