Neal Kwatra

Neal Kwatra, born 28 November 1973, is the CEO and founder of New York public relations firm, Metropolitan Strategies. Before founding Metropolitan Strategies in 2013, Kwatra worked as a political operative in a variety of organizations. 
== Early Life ==
Kwatra was born in Queens but grew up in Ramapo, New Jersey.Wire, A. B. (2014a, April 24). Indian American Neal Kwatra hired as New York Gov. Cuomo’s Chief Strategist for a poll campaign. The American Bazaar. https://www.americanbazaaronline.com/2014/04/23/indian-american-neal-kwatra-hired-new-york-gov-cuomos-chief-strategist-poll-campaign/. He involved himself politically from an early age, organizing on behalf of janitors and casino workers in St. Louis while earning his B.A. in Political Science and Journalism at Rutgers UniversityCrain Communications, Inc. (2018, July 7). Neal Kwatra. Crain’s New York Business. https://www.crainsnewyork.com/awards/neal-kwatra. 
== Career ==
Kwatra started work in politics in 1998, as the Deputy Director of Strategic Affairs for UNITE HERE, a national hotel worker’s union, where he founded and led the union’s hotel development programHaniffa, A. (2014, May 7). Neal Kwatra to head the New York governor's re-election campaign. Rediff. Retrieved October 4, 2021, from https://www.rediff.com/news/report/neal-kwatra-to-head-new-york-governors-re-election-campaign/20140507.htm%20apa%20format. . Kwatra moved from UNITE HERE to the New York Hotel Trades Council in 2007, assuming the role of Director of Political and Strategic Affairs. From 2011-2013, Kwatra served as Chief of Staff in the Office of the New York State Attorney General, managing the Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's schedule, political strategy, and day-to-day activities in the office. 
After Kwatra’s experience on campaigns and within government, he opened his own political affairs firm, Metropolitan Public Strategies, in 2013. MPS's first project was Ken Thompson’s successful run for the Brooklyn District Attorney office. Thomspon was the first African American to be elected District Attorney and the first insurgent to defeat an incumbent District Attorney in Brooklyn in more than 100 years. Within two years of MPS’s opening, Kwatra was hired as the Chief Strategist for Governor Andrew Cuomo’s successful re-election campaign. 
Following the 2014 election, MPS led multiple grassroots and issue advocacy campaigns, including: the #FightFor15 movement in New York, the United for Affordable NYC campaign that enacted the largest affordable housing program in the country; the passage of criminal justice reforms on behalf of the Innocence Project, Paid Family Leave, Tuition Free College, medical marijuana expansion, and the ShareBetter campaign.
Over the past few years, Kwatra has worked on the election of New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson and campaigns for over a dozen state and local races.
Kwatra expanded MPS to Florida in 2017Metropolitan Public Strategies. (2019, October). Communication and Marketing Services September 2019 #GEN2119422P1-01. Broward County Board of County Commissioners.. He pioneered the management of the Broward County Transportation Ballot Referendum, the largest transportation ballot referendum in the country, strategic direction for multiple Democrats across state legislative, Congressional, and issue campaigns, including the election of Democrats State Sen. Annette Taddeo and Miami-Dade County Commissioner Eileen HigginsFlorida Politics. (2019, April 16). After winning an award for Broward surtax ad, PR firm plans to expand Florida presence. Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. https://floridapolitics.com/archives/293815-after-winning-award-for-broward-surtax-ad-pr-firm-plans-to-expand-florida-presence/
Kwatra was named to Crain’s New York Business “40 Under Forty” in 2012. He is consistently recognized in City and State's "Power 100" in both New York City and Albany including their 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 lists. In early 2021, Kwatra ranked 31 in City & State's “New York City Power 100." In July 2021, he ranked tenth in City & State’s "Power of Diversity: Asian 100."
Category:1973 births
Category:Chief executive officers