Shirley Rodriguez Remenski, President, 100 Hispanic Women

Shirley Rodriguez Remeneski was appointed in January 2002 to Senior Vice President of the Empire State Development's Economic Revitalization Division. In this capacity, Ms. Remeneski was in charge of overseeing economic development for distressed communities in New York State, and assigned to design projects and programs to stimulate growth and development, which would lead to the creation of permanent jobs and sustainable business enterprises.

Ms. Remeneski has spent her entire career in government and the non-profit world and has held leadership positions since the start of her career in 1966. Prior to her position at Empire State Development Corp., she was Deputy Commissioner and EEO Officer for the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development where she served since 1994. She managed the Office of Equal Opportunity and Community Affairs, which consisted of five units: Equal Employment Opportunity, Fair Housing, Economic Development, Contract Compliance and Labor Standards.

In 1993 she was Senior Vice President of the NYS Urban Development Corporation and Director of the Puerto Rican/Latino Business Development Center. Her responsibilities were to help improve businesses and expand the markets of the growing Latino community.

In 1986, she was the first Executive Director of the NYS Governor’s Office for Hispanic Affairs. She created the Exchange of Officials Program to enhance governmental services to New York City’s diverse communities. In 1985 she was Director of the New York City Metropolitan Area Office for the NYS Department of Social Services. From 1979 to 1985 she was the Legislative Coordinator for the South Bronx Development Organization where she helped to acquire grants for housing and economic development programs, including Charlotte Gardens Housing and Bathgate Industrial Park

In 1978 she was Assistant Deputy Mayor and worked on intergovernmental relations and community development issues in the South Bronx, Harlem and other areas of the City. In 1971 she was District Administrator for Congressman Badillo, where she managed the NYC Office and coordinated activities with the congressman’s Washington staff. She started her career in 1966, when she established and directed the first Social Services Unit in the Bronx Borough President’s Office.

Ms. Remeneski has received numerous awards and commendations from a host of organizations including the Association of Hispanic Mental Health Professionals, the NYS-Hispanic Political Coalition, the NYS Department of Correctional Services, and The Hispanic Society of the New York/New Jersey Port Authority, El Diario, Hispanic Magazine, and the Puerto Rican Bar Association. The 1991 Puerto Rican Day Parade was dedicated to her. In 1998, she was given an “Award for Excellence” from Governor Pataki during Hispanic Heritage Month. In 1999 she received an award from the Puerto Rican Bar Association for “Excellence in Government.” She was awarded the “2001 Women of Distinction Award” by the Girls Scouts Council of Greater New York, and has received the CUNY Award for Excellence in Leadership.

Ms. Remeneski recently retired from government; her most recent position was Senior Vice President at the Empire State Development Corporation. She continues, however, to work and remain active with the many volunteer organizations which she belongs to.