FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 21, 2015

Speaker Heastie Names New Intergovernmental Relations Staff


Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie today announced new appointments to his administration. Joseph N. Garba will serve as secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs. Kim Ramos, esq. and Lanessa Owens, esq. will serve as deputy secretaries for Intergovernmental Affairs.

"I am pleased to announce this new team which will serve to strengthen the Assembly Majority's relationships with officials at the federal, state and local levels," said Heastie. "This is a talented group of individuals with a broad spectrum of experience at varying levels of government in New York. I look forward to working with Joe Garba and the new Intergovernmental Affairs team to advance legislation that will move hard-working families forward."

"Speaker Carl Heastie is a bold and dynamic leader that has already ushered in a new way of operating in the New York State Assembly," said Garba. "His pragmatic style of governing is a trait I have admired over the last decade. I am honored to join his team and work on the important issues we face in order to better the lives of the people of the State of New York."

Joseph N. Garba has been appointed to the role of secretary to the Speaker for Intergovernmental Relations. Mr. Garba has extensive experience in New York State and city government, most recently serving as deputy borough president for the Borough of Manhattan, with a focus on budget and policy. He previously served as the director of State Legislative Affairs for the City of New York in the Office of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. Prior to that, he worked in a variety of other roles in city and state government. He earned a master's degree in Public Administration from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at the University at Albany and a bachelor's degree in Communications from the University at Albany.

Kim Ramos, Esq. has been appointed to serve as deputy secretary for Intergovernmental Relations. She most recently served as vice president and general counsel for MirRam Group working extensively in government relations and lobbying with non-profit, corporate and organized labor clients. She is a member and former officer for the Community Association of Progressive Dominicans board of directors, an affiliate of the Acacia Network and a member of the Puerto Rican Bar Association. She is a member in good standing of the New York State Bar and earned a juris doctorate from the Fordham University Law School and a bachelor's of business degree from Baruch College.

Lanessa Owens, Esq. has been appointed to serve as deputy secretary for Intergovernmental Relations. She began her legal career as a law associate with Hiscock Legal Aid Society in Syracuse, New York and later went on to serve as legal counsel and chief of staff for Assemblyman Samuel D. Roberts. In addition to her work with the Assembly, she is the founding executive director of The William Herbert Johnson Bar Association and is a founding co-chair on the Onondaga County Bar Association's Diversity and Inclusion committee. She earned a juris doctorate from the St. Thomas University School of Law, a paralegal certificate from Queens College, and a bachelor's degree in Economics and Political Science from SUNY College at Old Westbury.