35. Kevin Law

Kevin Law has to be one of luckiest Long Islanders ever. He gets to host entertaining discussions on stage with the likes of Eli and Peyton Manning, Derek Jeter, Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, Mitt Romney and Gen. Colin Powell, and the Long Island business community obviously like what they hear, because they keep coming back for more. As the leading advocate for this vital sector, Law is committed to making our economic climate amenable to job growth, private investment and social progress. Under his tutelage, the LIA works tirelessly to make the Island a great place to live, work and visit. And Law doesn’t sugarcoat our problems. He focuses his attention on them like a laser beam. Whether it’s stiflingly high property taxes or too many families falling below the federal poverty line, he’s not afraid to tell it like it is, drawing federal, state and local government attention on these issues. Recently, he helped form the Right Track for Long Island Coalition with major organizations, institutions, businesses and individuals to support Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s LIRR Enhancement Project, which involves adding a third track on the main line between Floral Park and Hicksville, because Law knows how important it is to make the Island competitive in the 21st century. After all, the two existing tracks were laid down in 1844. So, Law believes that it’s way past time for moving this project forward. After helping to found LI-BIO, he’s now leading the efforts to create a research corridor on LI to help innovative companies to take root here and flourish. No doubt about it, when it comes to moving the Island forward, he’s the man.