2025 Trailblazers of Long Island
City & State's 2025 Long Island Trailblazers List: Innovative Leaders Shaping the Future
In a groundbreaking move, City & State has unveiled its inaugural Long Island Trailblazers list, spotlighting a diverse group of innovative thinkers and key players making significant contributions in areas such as climate change, affordable housing, and pandemic preparedness across Long Island's Nassau and Suffolk counties.
This extensive list, researched and written in partnership with journalist Lon Cohen, features a broad coalition of local power brokers steering Long Island's vibrant economic ecosystem. With close ties to New York City's economy, the region also boasts world-class institutions that are driving sustainable growth and quality-of-life improvements.
Among the trailblazers highlighted are Leonard Achan, a former health system executive who is innovating organ donation policy by drawing on his experience as a critical care nurse. Under his leadership, LiveOnNY has achieved a 70% increase in donors across the New York metro region in the past three years and launched a Donate Eight Simulation Center for training that improves organ donor care.
The new CEO of the Long Island Power Authority is also prominently featured, bringing fresh perspectives to energy and climate initiatives. The list also includes a former NFL player turned lawmaker and a recently elevated municipal labor leader, signaling a diverse group tackling community and economic development challenges.
Professionals from sectors such as health care, energy, real estate development, and municipal leadership are focused on combating climate change, building affordable housing, mitigating future pandemic risks, and protecting water quality. Although not all individuals are named in the search results, the list includes a wide range of professionals dedicated to making a positive impact on Long Island.
Long Island, with its approximately 3 million residents, is supported by a network of nonprofit and philanthropic organizations and advocacy groups. The region benefits from innovative building practices like Passive House design, which reduce energy use and carbon footprints, although this was not directly linked to the Trailblazers in the results.
In summary, the Long Island Trailblazers represent a dynamic and forward-thinking group of leaders innovating in critical areas such as health innovation, climate resilience, affordable housing, and pandemic preparedness. Their work is driving the region forward with new leadership and creative problem-solving.
- The newly appointed CEO of the Long Island Power Authority is focusng on introducing fresh perspectives in energy and climate initiatives.
- Leonard Achan, a former health system executive, is leading the charge in organ donation policy innovation, having achieved a 70% increase in donors across the New York metro region in the past three years.
- Professionals from sectors such as housing, education, self-development, and career development are working together to combat climate change and build affordable housing.
- Long Island's network of nonprofit organizations and advocacy groups support a wide range of professionals dedicated to promoting sustainable living and home-and-garden practices like Passive House design, which reduce energy usage and carbon footprints.
