Welcoming Remarks
8:30AM
Elizabeth Lusskin
President, Long Island City
Partnership
Elizabeth Lusskin is the President of the LIC
Partnership and Executive Director of the LIC Business
Improvement District. In this role, she promotes
economic development across the vibrant Long Island
City industrial, commercial, residential and cultural
arts mixed-use community. She is the Co-Chair of the
Sunnyside Yard Master Plan Steering Committee, was
Co-Chair of the Amazon Community Advisory Committee
Project Plan Committee and is a Member of the Western
Queens Tech Task Force, among other roles. Prior to
LIC, she served as the Chief of Staff and Vice President
of Strategic Initiatives at the Polytechnic Institute of
NYU. Through her former consulting practice, Elizabeth
Lusskin Consulting LLC, she advised public, private forprofit
and non-profit clients on economic and community
development, organizational management and strategic
planning. Elizabeth has served as Deputy Commissioner
of NYC SBS, General Counsel to the Downtown Alliance
and Legislative Counsel at NYS Office of Federal Affairs.
She is a graduate of Yale University and NYU School of
Law.
Eric Benaim
Founder & CEO, Modern Spaces
Eric Benaim’s entry into real estate began in 2001, after
a successful career as owner of a live event production
and marketing firm. Initially concentrating on Manhattan
luxury sales, Eric later recognized the untapped
opportunity in his own beloved borough, and turned his
focus exclusively to Long Island City. In the midst of
2008’s severe economic crisis, Eric instinctively decided
the time was right to launch Modern Spaces, permanently
changing the perception and value of real estate in LIC.
In just 10 years, Eric’s insightful and personal approach
resulted in the swift expansion of Modern Spaces,
capturing a 70% market share in Long Island City. He
resides in Long Island City with his wife Stephanie, and
their children Greyson and Olive.
Eric is a member of the Long Island City Partnership
Board and the Long Island City Business Improvement
District Board.
Patricia Dunphy
Senior Vice President, Rockrose
Development Corp.
Patricia presently leads the retail leasing and residential
acquisitions departments for Rockrose Development Corp.
During her close to thirty-five years tenure Patricia has
been involved in all aspects of the business throughout
the city but is partial to her work in the development of
Long Island City.
Active in the Long Island City Partnership for many years,
Patricia presently serves as the Chairperson. She is a
member of the Long Island City Business Improvement
District Board.
Dr. Sara Guerrero
Deputy Director of Education and
Community Engagement, Museum of
the Moving Image
Dr. Sara Guerrero-Rippberger is an educator, curator, and
researcher of artistic practices, with a focus on social
practice. She holds a doctorate in art theory from University
of the Arts London and founded the New New Yorkers
program at the Queens Museum in 2005, which continues
to serve immigrant communities through the arts today. She
is currently Deputy Director of Education and Community
Engagement at the Museum of the Moving Image.
Josh Schneps
Co-publisher, Schneps Communications
Founder and President, LIC Flea & Food
Joshua Schneps is CEO and Co-Publisher of Schneps
Media, the largest local media company in New York
City and New York State. The privately-owned media
company includes the most widely read and respected
community newspapers, magazines and local websites
including amNewYork, The Queens Courier chain,
Brooklyn Paper, El Correo, Long Island Press, Gay City
News, Brownstoner.com, Bronx Times, The Villager, Bay
News, New York Family and many more. Schneps Media’s
events division hosts several business networking events
and expos. Mr. Schneps also founded and operates LIC
Flea & Food Market as well as The World’s Fare.
Josh is a member of the Long Island City Partnership
Board.
6 #LICSummit