Government Market News StaffProfiles in Power highlights public officials nationwide who are improving their communities through their dedication, enthusiasm, creativity, and experience.
This week’s profile is Robert J. Rodriguez, president and CEO of the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY).
Public career highlights and education: I am a graduate of Yale University and spent seven years at LP Bloomberg. After that, I ran for city council, but did not win. However, the experience helped me win the assembly race for the state legislature as a public representative for Harlem. I did that for 11 years. Concurrently, I went back to business school and graduated with a major in finance. Upon graduation, I got involved with public finance at the municipal level, which I did for 15 years while serving in the state legislature
I’m currently at DASNY, which manages a $55 billion debt portfolio. We issue about $9 billion a year on behalf of the state and some of our higher education and health care issuers. We are covering about a thousand projects at any given time.
What I like best about public service: Public service gives me the opportunity to make a difference in the world, in the community. I can contribute to changing those things that make us unhappy.
The best advice I’ve received: There are going to be times in our career where we are risk averse and maybe uncomfortable with taking a leap. You need mentors who will give you not just wisdom and advice but give you the resources to be able to take that risk.
People might be interested to know that: I am an avid traveler. I am always looking for a new adventure, a new place to go, a new place to see.
One thing I wish more people knew about DASNY: That name does not give it away. Through our grant-making capacity, we are the financial vehicle of the state in many ways. We really are the public infrastructure vehicle for the state of New York.
