28. Resi Cooper

Resi Cooper could be one of the most influential women you’ve never heard of—unless you’re on this list, and then you can call her by her first name. Once upon a time, she was known around town as the Long Island regional director for then-Sen. Hillary Clinton. (She’d served her New York Senate campaign as statewide political director.) Based in Jericho these days, she’s a power unto herself, although she prefers to exert her influence behind the scenes, out of the headlines and away from the spotlight as a consultant to politicians and businesses. But see her in person at a gathering of movers and shakers, and she owns the room. She’s handled public policy, corporate advocacy, community coalition building and research projects for energy companies, foundations and nonprofits, to name a few. Thanks to her prowess, she was instrumental in helping Accelerate Long Island, a not-for-profit group assisting technology startups on LI, get up to speed before Mark Lesko succeeded her as executive director. She was recently appointed to serve on the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council, a state panel that helps determine which businesses will get state aid. For those who know her, it seems like a logical choice, indeed.