Craig Cogut, Managing Director of Pegasus Capital Advisors, is our 2008 Corporate Pioneer.More than 500 environmentalists, policy makers, elected officials, business leaders and labor organizers turned out last night for NYLCV's 13th annual spring gala, held at the Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers in New York City.
The gala - dubbed "Celebrating a Greener New York" - made history for the League, raising more than any previous gala to assist the organization in its mission of making the environment a top priority among elected officials, political candidates and voters.
Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi is our 2008 Environmentalist of the Year.Charles Warren, the chair of NYLCV, presented Craig Cogut, the senior founding partner and managing director of Pegasus Capital Advisors, L.P., with the League's 2008 Corporate Pioneer Award. Under Mr. Cogut's leadership, Pegasus has led the way in investing in environmentally friendly products and services, including alternative energy, LED lighting, alternative building materials and sustainable business solutions.
Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi took the evening's top honors as NYLCV's 2008 Environmentalist of the Year. Among his many environmental achievements, Mr. Suozzi led his county's effort to invest $150 million in open space preservation. He also created the largest alternative-fuel vehicle and biodiesel program in the state outside of New York City, and partnered with businesses and homeowners to green the nation's first suburb.
Our keynote speaker was Terry Tamminen, Director of the Climate Policy Program at the New America Foundation.The keynote speaker was Terry Tamminen, a Cullman Senior Fellow and Director of the Climate Policy Program at the New America Foundation. Previously, he was the Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency and the chief policy advisor to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on energy and the environment. Mr. Cullman also founded the Santa Monica Baykeeper, he has been the Executive Director of the Environment Now Foundation, co-founded the Frank Wells Environmental Law Clinic at UCLA and he assisted the nation of Nigeria with the creation of its first solid waste recycling program.
NYLCVEF Board Member Constantine Sidamon-Eristoff with former Gov. George Pataki and John Cahill.Click here [0] to view a photo scrapbook of the event. Thank you again to all of our honorees and guests for making our 13th annual gala a resounding success.