27. Resi Cooper

In Washington, D.C., there may be a lot of Resi Coopers. But here on Long Island, there are very few consultants who have Cooper’s ability to get people of big-time power on the horn for her clients—clients who pay dearly for her access. Cooper was Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s LI representative during a good portion of Clinton’s tenure as senator, and left three years ago to hang her own shingle, working with clients like Broadwater. During Clinton’s primary campaign for the presidential nomination, Cooper was traipsing across the country setting up key campaign stops—although in the end it did not help her get the nomination. No matter for Cooper, who can surely get the secretary of state to “friend” her on Facebook. That’s not a bad thing when you get paid for knowing the right people. Not bad at all.