Lorraine Cortes-Vasquez directs the Department of State and its 1,000 workers who handle professional licensing, oversees the Division of Corporations, State Records, the Uniform Commercial Code, the Division of Cemeteries, the Division of Licensing Services, and the Division of Administrative Rules. She directs training of local government officials on such skills as using the state’s building and fire codes and handling waterfront redevelopment and supports the State Ethics Commission, State Athletic Commission and Committee on Open Government.
Ms. Cortes-Vasquez served as president of the Hispanic Federation, a big nonprofit for Latinos, and was executive director of ASPIRA of New York, a nonprofit to advance youth leadership development and education advocacy. She served as chief of staff to former Assemblyman Roberto Ramirez, D-Bronx, and as a member of the Board of Regents from 2001 to 2007. SHe also worked at the New York City Department of Aging for 14 years and was Cablevision Systems Corp.’s vice president of government and public affairs.