Long Island Association to Recognize Business Leaders
Robert B. Catell, Kevin S. Law, and Lawrence J. Waldman
With Centennial Honor for Distinguished Leadership at 100th Anniversary Gala
Robert B. Catell, Kevin S. Law, and Lawrence J. Waldman
With Centennial Honor for Distinguished Leadership at 100th Anniversary Gala
Melville, NY -- September 23, 2026 -- The Long Island Association (LIA), the region’s leading non-profit and non-partisan business organization, today announced that it will honor Robert B. Catell, Kevin S. Law, and Lawrence J. Waldman with the Centennial Honor for Distinguished Leadership, which will be presented at the organization’s Centennial Celebration on November 4, 2026. Catell, Law, and Waldman have each played significant roles in advancing the region’s economy throughout their successful careers, and will be recognized with the evening’s most prestigious award that celebrates a commitment to advancing business growth and prosperity across Long Island.
In addition to their outstanding careers, the honorees have also played a longstanding role at the LIA and within the broader Long Island business community. Catell, former Chairman and CEO of KeySpan Corporation and former Chairman of National Grid US, has been a champion of the region’s energy and business communities. Law served as President and CEO of the LIA for 10 years and is currently Chair of New York State Empire State Development and Principal at TRITEC Development Group, and Waldman is the LIA’s current Board Chairman, and has held leadership positions with major Long Island institutions.
“We cannot celebrate 100 years of the LIA without recognizing the outstanding individuals who have helped shape Long Island’s business community into what it is today. Robert, Kevin and Larry have each made meaningful contributions to the LIA and to the region, and we are thrilled to honor their service with the Centennial Honor for Distinguished Leadership. We look forward to joining with business leaders on November 4 to celebrate these outstanding individuals and this important milestone for the Long Island Association,” said Stacey Sikes, Acting President and CEO of the Long Island Association.
Robert B. Catell is a business and civic leader whose career spans decades of service to Long Island and New York’s energy sector. He was formerly Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of KeySpan Corporation and KeySpan Energy Delivery, formerly Brooklyn Union, where his career began in 1958. Following National Grid’s acquisition of KeySpan Corporation, Catell became Chairman of National Grid, U.S. Catell currently serves as Chairman of the Board of the Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center at Stony Brook University, as well as Chair Emeritus of Cristo Rey Brooklyn High School. He serves on the boards of numerous organizations, including the Long Island Association, Long Island Angel Network, Our Energy Policy and St. Francis Hospital Foundation. He is a past Chairman of the National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium, Long Island Association, American Gas Association, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Partnership for New York City, U.S. Energy Association and New York State Smart Grid Consortium, among others. He holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the City College of New York and is a Registered Professional Engineer.
Kevin S. Law joined TRITEC Development Group in 2021 and currently serves as Principal, where he chairs the company’s Affordable Housing Team. He previously served for more than 10 years as President and CEO of the Long Island Association, where he focused on strengthening Long Island’s business climate and economic development and helped secure more than $5 billion for regional infrastructure investments. Throughout his career, Law has held senior positions in government, law, energy and economic development, including serving as President and CEO of the Long Island Power Authority, Chief Deputy County Executive for Suffolk County, Managing Partner of LI Office of Nixon Peabody LLP, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Co-Chair of the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council. He currently serves as Chairman of the Stony Brook University Council and Chairman of the Long Island Housing Partnership. As Chairman of the Empire State Development Corporation, New York State’s primary economic development agency, he guides business investments and job creation initiatives.
Lawrence J. Waldman serves as Chair of the Long Island Association, bringing more than 40 years of accounting, business, and leadership experience to Long Island's business community. In the public sector, Waldman has dedicated his efforts to work on behalf of the community including the Long Island Power Authority, where he served as Chair of the Board and Audit Committee Chair, and the State University of New York, where he served as Audit Committee Chair. He has also served on many not-for-profit organizations across Long Island as well as the Board of Education of the East Williston Union Free School district. In the business sector, Waldman currently serves as Chairman of the Board of CVD Equipment Corporation, as well as on the boards of several other public companies. Waldman previously held senior positions with leading public accounting firms, including KPMG LLP, where he began his career and advanced to lead the office as Managing Partner. Waldman has also taught accounting and auditing in the graduate program at Hofstra University. He holds a B.S. in Political Science and an MBA in Accounting from Hofstra University and is a certified public accountant.
In addition to the Centennial Honor for Distinguished Leadership, the LIA will acknowledge the organization’s long-time members through the Centennial Dedication Award and will spotlight several philanthropic efforts across the business community through the Harry Chapin Award for Community Service.
Overall, the 100th Anniversary Gala will be a celebration of the historic achievements of the LIA – recognizing the transformation of Nassau and Suffolk Counties from a suburban bedroom community into one of the country’s most populous and economically significant regions. The evening’s festivities will also highlight the region’s future and advocacy efforts that address cost-of-living challenges, including creating new housing opportunities, advancing workforce development, and supporting energy reliability and affordability.
The Centennial Gala will take place on November 4, 2026 starting at 6:00 p.m. at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, New York. More information on the LIA’s Centennial Celebration can be found here.
About the Long Island Association
The Long Island Association (LIA) is celebrating its Centennial in 2026, and 100 years of advocating for the region’s business community and economic growth as a non-partisan, non-profit organization. The LIA’s regional leadership has played a direct role in shepherding progress by urging for government policies and securing funding that created jobs for people who sought the suburban way of life. The LIA is the voice for businesses in Nassau and Suffolk Counties and has introduced unparalleled opportunities for businesses to network and build relationships to accelerate their growth. For more information, visit longislandassociation.org.
Sara Klein
Cell: 631-905-6403
.png)
-
Tatiana LaSalle External Affairs Coordinator
- September 23, 2026
- (631) 493-3000
- Send Email