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En español
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR­ 043­05
February 2, 2005
MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG ANNOUNCES SIX NEW
APPOINTMENTS TO NEW YORK CITY COMMISSION ON
WOMEN'S ISSUES
Elizabeth LoNigro is appointed as New Executive Director
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced the appointment of
six new Commissioners to the NYC Commission on Women's
Issues and the appointment of the Commission's new Executive
Director Elizabeth LoNigro. The six new members of the
Commission on Women's Issues are Dr. Marcia Brumit Kropf, Ursula
F. Fairbairn, Cynthia Hayes, Shirley Rodriguez Remeneski, Margaret
M. Smyth, and Dr. Marlene Springer.
"Women play a vital role in every aspect of our City's life," said
Mayor Bloomberg. "Our administration is committed to finding
innovative ways to support women at work and in their lives. It is
an honor to appoint these six extraordinary women and their new
Executive Director who will dedicate their time and effort to the
Commission as it continues to help us make the Big Apple the City
of choice for women."
"I am very excited about the new appointees to the Commission,"
said Chair of the Commission on Women's Issues Anne Sutherland
Fuchs. "Through their experience and leadership in their respective
fields, I know both the new Executive Director and the six new
Commissioners will lend invaluable ideas, time, and effort to this
important Commission."
Mayor Bloomberg established the New York City Commission on
Women's Issues as an advisory body on matters impacting the lives
of women in New York City. The Commission has identified three
main areas of concern: health, childcare and economic
development. The Commission recently kicked off a public service
campaign "New York Loves Women" to educate the public about city
services 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 of
Research & Information Services at Catalyst, a nonprofit research
and advisory organization working to advance women in business.
Dr. Kropf earned her B.A. from Mount Holyoke College, her Master
of Arts in Teaching from Oberlin College, and her Ph.D. in
Educational Communication and Technology from New York
University.
Ursula F. Fairbairn is the Executive Vice President of Human
Resources and Quality at American Express Company. Prior to
joining American Express, Ms. Fairbairn served as the Senior Vice
President of Human Resources at Union Pacific Corporation. She is

2. a member of the Board of Directors for the Labor Policy
Association, and is Vice Chair of the National Academy of Human
Resources. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Sunoco,
Inc. and VF Corporation. Ms. Fairbairn has a bachelor's degree in
Mathematics from Upsala College and a master's degree from
Harvard 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 has
managed since 1993. Her clients include American Express, JP
MorganChase, The Walt Disney Company and other firms in media
and financial services. Prior to starting her firm, she spent three
years at McGraw­Hill as an internal consultant and strategic planner
for 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 the
Empire State Development's Economic Revitalization Division,
where she oversees economic development for distressed
communities. Ms. Remeneski began her career in 1966, when she
established and directed the first Social Services Unit in the Bronx
Borough President's Office. She serves as a board member of
many organizations, including the Multicultural Advisory Committee
of the Metropolitan Museum of Art; Bronx Lebanon Hospital, which
she chairs; and the 21st Century Women's Leadership Center, of
which she is the co­founder and co­chair. She is also the president
and 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. Smyth
serves as an active member of many boards, including the steering
committee for the Museum of Television & Radio's On The Air: A
Celebration of Women's Achievements in Television and Radio, and
as a trustee for Fordham University and Catholic Charities for the
Archdiocese of New York. She received her B.A. in Economics from
Fordham University and an M.S. in Accounting from New York
University. She graduated summa cum laude from both institutions
Dr. Marlene Springer is the President of the College of Staten
Island of the City University of New York. As a member of
numerous civic and professional boards, Dr. Springer has earned
many awards, including the 1998 Distinguished Woman in Education
Award from Alpha Beta Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society
International. Dr. Springer has both an M.A. in American Literature
and a Ph.D. in English Literature from Indiana University and is a
noted scholar who has lectured throughout the world.
Elizabeth LoNigro is the new Executive Director for New York
City's Commission on Women's Issues. Prior to joining the Mayor's
Office, Ms. LoNigro worked as a Program Director at beCause
Global Consulting in New York City building partnerships between
the public and private sectors. She also co­taught a course at the
Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University,
called "Fundraising for Global Nonprofits: Creating and Sustaining
Effective Partnerships between the Public and Private Sectors." She
replaces Carmen Rita Torrent. Ms. LoNigro has a B.A. in History and
Political Science from The Colorado College.
The Commissioners, appointed to a three­year term and do not
receive salaries. The Commission is made up of 35 Commissioners
and one Chair. Research and programs supported by the
Commission are funded through The Mayor's Fund to Advance New
York City.

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