Three NYU Wagner Alumni Recognized as Notable Leaders in MWBEs

New York’s state and local governments have made uplifting minority-and women-owned business enterprises, or MWBEs, a priority. The City & State 2025 Who’s Who in MWBEs power list recognizes the business owners, public officials, and advocates working to create equity and opportunity for MWBEs. Three of these notable leaders are NYU Wagner alumni. 

Rosalie Drago (EMPA 2012), vice president of external affairs and strategic engagement, Haugland Group
Throughout Drago’s career as a workforce development leader, she’s been committed to promoting equity and inclusion. As Suffolk County’s first woman labor commissioner, she helped foster diverse, safe workplaces. Drago applies these values in her work at Haugland Group overseeing marketing, communications, events, and workforce and supplier development. 

Lisa Flores (MPA 2001), CEO, Catholic Charities Community Services
Before her recent transition into the nonprofit sector to lead Catholic Charities Community Services, Flores spent a decade in top procurement positions in New York City government. As deputy city comptroller for contracts and procurement, she spearheaded efforts to  make it easier for MWBEs to contract with the city, and she led record MWBE utilization in 2024 while serving as director of the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services. 

Lourdes Zapata (MPA 1992), chief diversity and inclusion officer, Metropolitan Transportation Authority 
Zapata has spent her career championing diversity and inclusion, serving as the state’s chief diversity officer under then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo and as the executive director of Empire State Development’s MWBE Division. In her current role as chief diversity and inclusion officer for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, she eliminates barriers for MWBEs to secure MTA contracts, enabling the MTA to award up to $7.5 billion to MWBE contractors in the 2025-2029 capital plan.