Business Council of Westchester names Noam Bramson to leadership role as John Ravitz plans retirement

The Business Council of Westchester is changing leadership as longtime EVP/COO John Ravitz prepares to retire Dec. 31, 2026, and former New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson joins July 1 as executive vice president for government affairs and economic development. The overlap is designed to keep the county business group’s advocacy, member services and policy work running smoothly through the transition.

Why it matters: - The Business Council of Westchester is replacing a long-serving advocacy leader while keeping a handoff period in place to protect its policy and member-service work. - John Ravitz helped shape the group’s influence with local, county, state and federal officials. - Noam Bramson brings mayoral, economic development and climate-policy experience into a role focused on business advocacy.

What happened: - The Business Council of Westchester announced that John Ravitz will retire as executive vice president and chief operating officer on Dec. 31, 2026. - The organization named former New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson executive vice president, government affairs and economic development. - Bramson starts July 1, 2026. - Ravitz and Bramson will serve in parallel from July 1 through Dec. 31, 2026. - The transition is intended to ensure continuity in advocacy, programs and member services.

The details: - Ravitz has served the Business Council of Westchester for 15 years. - Ravitz built and led the organization’s advocacy program across multiple levels of government. - Ravitz created the LEAP Program, which connects BCW members with elected officials and key decision-makers. - Ravitz also created the Coalition for Smart Development, which supports business-friendly land use and development policy. - Ravitz created the Coalition for Westchester County Airport, aimed at protecting and promoting the airport as an economic asset. - Ravitz created the Clean Energy Action Coalition, which pushes pragmatic energy policy while supporting Westchester businesses in the clean-energy transition. - The BCW said those efforts helped make the group a nationally recognized model for business advocacy. - Ravitz previously served six terms in the New York State Assembly representing the East Side of Manhattan. - In the legislature, Ravitz served as assistant minority leader, assistant minority whip and ranking member of the Health Committee. - Ravitz also served on the Higher Education, Education, Mental Health and Children and Families committees. - Before joining BCW, Ravitz was chief executive officer of the American Red Cross in Westchester County and chief operating officer of the American Red Cross’ Greater New York Region. - In those roles, Ravitz oversaw disaster response, health and safety, international services and support for military families. - The Red Cross in Westchester trained more than 18,000 people a year in lifesaving courses under Ravitz. - The organization responded to more than 100 local disasters a year under Ravitz. - The organization served more than 170 military families under Ravitz. - Earlier in his career, Ravitz led the New York City Board of Elections as executive director. - That job put him in charge of all five borough offices and a staff of 350. - Ravitz has also organized more than 60 town hall meetings. - His awards include the Mayor’s Action Committee’s Legislative Recognition Award, the New York City Council’s Community Service Award, the New York State Conference of Mayors’ Good Government Legislative Award and the Burden Center for Aging’s Lifetime Recognition Award. - Bramson served as mayor of New Rochelle from January 2006 through December 2023. - As mayor, Bramson led a public-private housing and economic development framework that has been credited with helping revitalize New Rochelle. - That framework is projected to produce more than 10,000 housing units. - Bramson helped guide New Rochelle through the first COVID outbreak in the eastern United States. - Bramson helped secure the New York State Downtown Revitalization Initiative and Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Mayors Challenge for New Rochelle. - From January 2024 through March 2026, Bramson was executive director of Sustainable Westchester. - Sustainable Westchester is a nonprofit intermunicipal consortium focused on climate and clean energy solutions. - Bramson worked with BCW’s Clean Energy Action Coalition during that period. - Bramson is a Harvard University graduate with both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in public policy. - Bramson is a lifelong New Rochelle resident and a graduate of the city’s public schools. - The Business Council of Westchester represents more than 1,100 member companies. - BCW says it is Westchester County’s largest business membership organization. - The group advocates for business interests at the local, state and federal levels. - Thebcw.org is the organization’s website.

Between the lines: - The move keeps BCW leadership in-house on the advocacy side while adding a former municipal executive with experience in development, crisis management and regional collaboration. - The overlap suggests BCW wants to preserve institutional knowledge as Ravitz exits and Bramson takes over government-facing work. - Bramson’s background points to a continued focus on land use, housing, clean energy and economic development policy.

What’s next: - Bramson will formally assume his new role on July 1, 2026. - Ravitz will remain in place through Dec. 31, 2026, before retiring. - BCW said the transition is meant to keep its programs, advocacy efforts and member services moving without disruption.

The bottom line: - BCW is pairing a retirement after 15 years with a carefully staged succession plan to keep its policy influence intact.