2019 Keynote Speaker
Jeremy Cooney
Principal, Red Thread Strategies LLC
Born in an Indian orphanage and raised in Rochester, Jeremy Cooney is a senior executive and lawyer with 15 years of public sector management and non-profit fundraising experience complemented by a strong record of civic leadership. He is a principal with Red Thread Strategies LLC, where he helps non-profit organizations with philanthropic growth, executive coaching, and board development.
Jeremy was the 2018 Democratic candidate for the New York State Senate in the 56th District. Prior to running for public office, Jeremy served as the senior director for community relations for Empire State Development (ESD) under Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, where he helped lead public affairs for large scale downstate economic development projects. Prior to his state government service, Jeremy served as the chief of staff for the City of Rochester, NY, under Mayor Lovely Warren. He was responsible for overseeing operations in city departments, such as Recreation & Youth Services and the Rochester Public Library system. He also oversaw state and federal advocacy. A key accomplishment was securing the city’s federal designation through the competitive Investing and Manufacturing Cities Program (IMCP) under the U.S. Department of Commerce during the Obama Administration. He also helped secure a $1.4 million grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies to help establish and launch the Mayor’s Office of Innovation, which focuses on anti-poverty initiatives.
In the private sector, Jeremy served as the vice president of development for the YMCA of Greater Rochester, where he was responsible for raising over $9M in charitable contributions and establishing a national award-winning philanthropic giving program. He was previously an associate attorney with the law firm of Ward Greenberg Heller & Reidy LLP. He has a BA with honors in public policy studies from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and a JD from Albany Law School. His fiancée, Dr. Diane Lu, is an assistant professor of clinical urology at the University of Rochester.