Valerie White

Valerie White, FCRH ’83, LAW ’96

Valerie White, FCRH ’83, LAW ’96, is the executive vice president of the Empire State Development Corporation (ESD) and serves as the executive director of the organization’s Division of Minority and Women’s Business Development, which is charged with promoting equality of economic opportunities for minority and women-owned business enterprises (MWBEs) throughout New York state. In her role, Valerie oversees the state’s MWBE certification program and all matters related to compliance with the governor’s directives to maximize MWBE engagement in New York’s contracting. Valerie leads a team of more than 40 professionals located throughout the state, who develop and execute on business development strategies through education and outreach for MWBEs and state agencies and authorities.

Valerie brings more than 25 years in government engagement, finance, legal, and operational experience to ESD. Most immediately, Valerie joins the division from the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation, where she previously served as vice president of external affairs. In that role, she raised the global, national, and local visibility of the organization through the development and execution of corporate public affairs strategies, which included building and growing strategic partnerships with government representatives, community groups, and corporate sponsors. Prior to her tenure at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Valerie was managing director and lead analytical manager of the public finance housing and municipal structured securities business at Standard & Poor’s ratings agency, where she led a team of analysts directing the development and implementation of analytical methodologies and capital risk assessments.

Valerie holds both a bachelor’s degree in communications and a law degree from Fordham University, as well as a master’s degree and certificate in organization development from The New School.