Joseph Rigazio is the CEO of Talisen Construction Corporation. Talisen is a commercial construction firm founded in the New York Metro marketplace in 2009. Focusing on the Healthcare and Education markets has brought Talisen success in the hospital, ambulatory centers, medical office buildings, charter schools, private universities, and special projects areas.

Trained in both Electrical Engineering, Business Economics, and Construction Management, Joseph entered the professional world with a strong vision. After a 23-year-long career in technology, in which he managed Fortune 100 company relationships in sales management, ran marketing organizations, and ultimately, lead a major business unit at Texas Instruments, Joseph chose to utilize his expertise and leadership skills to start Talisen.

Concentrating on growing a team bonded by a common vision, Talisen has become a trailblazer in the New York construction field. Focused investments on employees, processes, and the NY Metro subcontractor ecosystem, along with an innovative approach to project management, differentiates Talisen from the competition. Founded on the key tenants of safety and collaboration, Talisen has grown into a premier New York construction firm that truly partners with their clients to bring their vision to life.

Carlo A. Scissura, Esq. is President & CEO of the New York Building Congress, a position he has held since January 2017.

The New York Building Congress is a broad-based membership association committed to promoting the growth and success of the construction industry in New York City and its environs. The organization – which includes members from across the building community – provides a unique forum to advance an industry-wide agenda focusing on economic and infrastructure investment, job creation, and professional exchange.

Carlo and his team have spurred tremendous growth at the Building Congress. With record membership, increased visibility across the five boroughs and the entire region, and a focus on securing infrastructure investment from the city, state and federal levels of government, the Building Congress is stronger and more influential than ever.

Prior to joining the Building Congress, Carlo was President & CEO of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. Under Carlo’s leadership, the Chamber became one of New York’s largest business advocacy and economic development organizations, and its membership grew by more than 200 percent to over 2,200 members. During this historic period of growth, the Chamber’s efforts were widely recognized as creating national models for business development, outreach and technical assistance, and regional branding.

Carlo served both as Chief of Staff and General Counsel to Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz for nearly five years before leading the Brooklyn Chamber. During his tenure, he restructured operations at Borough Hall and served as senior advisor to the Borough President. He focused on driving the borough’s economic development agenda, working closely with the Mayor’s Office, City Council, and Economic Development Corporation (EDC), and served on the Boards of EDC, the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation and Brooklyn Public Library.

A graduate of both Pace University and Pace Law School, Carlo owned a thriving solo practice law firm in Dyker Heights prior to joining the Borough President’s Office. He previously served on the staffs of State Senator Vincent Gentile and Assemblyman Peter Abbate.

Carlo is the President of the Federation of Italian-American Organizations, where he has spearheaded the building of the new Italian Cultural and Community Center in Brooklyn. He is a member of the Boards of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corp., The New York City Regional Economic Development Council, ACE Mentorship, Salvadori Center and the Friends of the BQX. Carlo is a former member of Community Board 11 in Brooklyn and the District 20 School Board and Community Education Council. Carlo is currently Chair of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway redevelopment panel, tasked with evaluating options for the replacement of the aging highway from the Atlantic Avenue interchange to Sands Street in Brooklyn. Carlo has also received numerous honors and awards for his work.

Born and raised in Bensonhurst, Carlo is a lifelong Brooklyn resident. He currently lives in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn with his daughter, Teresa Rose.

Susi Yu is a Managing Director and the Head of Development at L&L MAG. She is responsible for

overseeing and executing the development and investment strategy.

Previously, Susi served as Executive Vice President of Development for Forest City Ratner Companies,

leading the Residential Development team on execution of Pacific Park Brooklyn, the $4.9 billion, 22-

acre mixed-use development in the heart of Brooklyn. At Forest City, Susi also oversaw the development

of large scale, mixed-use urban projects including New York by Gehry, an 896-unit residential building

designed by Frank Gehry. Susi started at Forest City in 2001 and worked there until 2018, except for a

20-month stint from 2013-2015 with the Howard Hughes Corporation as Senior Vice President of

Development.

Trained as an architect at the University of Virginia’s School of Architecture, Susi previously worked for

ten years in that field, most recently as a Project Architect for Robert A.M. Stern. She is a graduate of

Columbia University’s Master’s of Science in Real Estate Development Program and is a registered

architect in New York State. Susi emigrated from Seoul, Korea to Richmond, Virginia at the age of ten.

Susi serves on an advisory board of the Goldman Family and is a director of Apple Bank.