38. Adrienne Esposito

From defending Long Island’s drinking water and waterways against pollution, raising awareness about public health dangers, toxic threats and the preservation of ever-diminishing wildlife habitat, to sounding the alarm over climate change, fracking and a host of other environmental concerns ranging from pesticides to pharmaceutical waste, Adrienne Esposito has been an outspoken and impassioned advocate of LI’s environmental health for nearly 30 years. No battle is too big, no challenge too daunting, no offender too powerful. That’s true for the environmental disasters she and CCE tackled in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, as well as the myriad challenges facing LI’s precious natural resources each and every day. Perhaps that’s where Esposito derives some of her strength, perseverance, sheer determination, and the unwavering belief that doing what’s right will somehow always triumph in the end.