33. Pat Foye

Once a high-powered partner in powerhouse firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, Foye is arguably the third most powerful man in New York State since Gov. Eliot Spitzer chose him to run Empire State Development. Just last year, Foye was the executive director of Long Island’s United Way (a seat currently occupied by former Nassau County Chief Deputy Exec Chris Hahn), and now is the man in charge of the largest development projects in the state, most notably the rebirth of Lower Manhattan. There are few who have anything bad to say about Foye, a smart man who has networked himself well throughout many circles. To say that this is a plum assignment is a total understatement, and Foye will probably be making a big jump up this list in a short time.