ALBANY— The Business Council welcomes Darren Suarez as a new director of government affairs. In that roll, he will foster The Business Council's advocacy efforts by spearheading the Council's energy and environment committees. He will use his extensive knowledge of environment and energy issues in New York to formulate a legislative agenda that reduces barriers to private sector investment and economic growth.
“Darren's deep understanding of the environment and environmental regulations coupled with his knowledge of the legislature will enhance our efforts to influence public policy,” said Heather Briccetti, acting president and CEO of The Business Council of New York State. “I have known Darren for many years and have seen the quality work he has done to improve the business climate in New York and I am pleased to welcome him to The Business Council.”
Darren comes to The Business Council from Hinman Straub LLC, where he served as a government analyst. While there, he lobbied on behalf of a number of Fortune 500 companies on energy and environment issues. Before that Darren was the program director for environmental and economic development for the New York State Senate. While working for the Senate he represented the Majority Leader in meetings and public events. He also, developed, amended, and negotiated economic development tax incentives. He worked for the City University of New York and Cornell University. He worked for the New York State Department of Labor as a job services representative working with employers to meet their workforce needs.
Darren holds a degree in Political Science from UMass - Dartmouth. He was the recipient of the 2006 Economic Development Service Award in recognition of work in attracting AMD to construct a $3.2 billion 300 mm-wafer fab in New York State. He was the coauthor of the 2005 amendments to the Empire Zone tax incentive program. He was awarded the 2005 New York Nature Conservancy's Salamander Award for working to protect New York's biodiversity and a joint recipient of the 2004 National Conference of State Legislatures Staff Chair Award for work as a primary author of New York's Brownfield Cleanup Program.