Governor Hochul Announces Administration Appointments

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced new appointments to her administration.

"As we work to tackle the most important issues facing our state, we need a top tier team to deliver real change to New Yorkers," Governor Hochul said. "These talented and dedicated individuals will bring the skills and experience we need to move New York forward and restore trust in government."

Robin Chappelle Golston has been appointed Executive Deputy Secretary. Robin most recently served as President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts and previously served as vice president of corporate relations and government affairs for EmblemHealth, a nonprofit health plan in New York City. Robin has an extensive political background having worked as a political director under both Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Senator Hillary R. Clinton. She has a B.A. in psychology from Hampton University.

Julie Wood has been appointed Communications Director. Most recently, Julie served as Senior Director of Communications at Lyft, where she leads corporate and policy communications. Prior to Lyft, she was VP of Communications and External Affairs at Motivate, the largest bikeshare operator in the U.S., which was acquired by Lyft in 2018. She served as Press Secretary to the Bloomberg 2020 presidential campaign, as a senior spokesperson on Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign and as First Deputy Press Secretary and Digital Content Director to New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, overseeing the administration's communications efforts related to economic development. She holds a B.A. in English from Georgetown University and a Master's degree in Strategic Communications from Columbia University.

Marty Mack has been appointed Appointments Secretary. Marty has served in local and state government for several decades. He served as Mayor of Cortland, New York, Cortland County Attorney, and Assistant District Attorney. On the state level, he served as Executive Deputy Attorney General for Attorneys General Eliot Spitzer, Eric Schneiderman, and Barbara Underwood where he managed and supervised the legal work of the Attorney General's thirteen regional offices. Mr. Mack also served in the Executive Chamber in Albany as a member of the senior staff for Governors Eliot Spitzer and David Paterson, serving as Deputy Secretary for Intergovernmental and Legislative Affairs and as Appointments Secretary for Governor Paterson. Mr. Mack received an undergraduate degree from Cornell University where he studied labor economics, a Master of Arts Teaching from SUNY Cortland, and a law degree from University of South Carolina.

Sita Fey has been appointed Deputy Appointments Secretary. Ms. Fey serves as a Senior Advisor for the Executive Transition Team. Ms. Fey was most recently the Director of Policy at the Department of Agriculture and Markets. She entered state government through the Empire State Fellows Program and served as a Senior Advisor to then-Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. Prior to state service, Ms. Fey was an educator and cultural change agent holding positions as a School Library Media Specialist at Cooperstown Central School, and an Elementary Teacher and after school program educator in the Oneonta City School District. A proud Oneonta resident, Ms. Fey is actively involved in her community and serving as the board president of Opportunities for Otsego. Ms. Fey holds a B.S. in childhood education from SUNY Oneonta, a MSIS from The University at Albany, a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration from SUNY Cortland, and she has also studied Human Resources at Albany Law.

Bryan Lesswing has been appointed Senior Advisor to the Governor. Most recently, Bryan served as Communications Director for then-Lieutenant Governor Hochul. Prior to that, Bryan was communications director for U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin's re-election campaign. Over the last decade, Bryan has held communications positions at EMILY's List, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and other electoral campaigns across the country. He holds a Bachelor's degree in History and Political Science from DePauw University.