35. Katherine Heaviside

How this woman keeps her cool while wading through some of the hottest controversies on LI is a testament to her strength and her business acumen as she heads the Island’s top public relations firm. Heaviside’s clients put their trust in her to get the job done and she delivers year after year. This spring she guided Veolia Transportation as it transformed the MTA’s Long Island Bus into the Nassau Inter-County Express, no easy undertaking considering that the deal came wrapped in controversy. It’s no wonder The New York Times has called Heaviside “The Crisis Queen.” It also helps that she’s got a disarming smile to go with her regal charm.