Darrell focuses on assisting his clients with compliance with national and local labor and employment laws and the institution of management best practices to avoid operational problems proactively. With the workforce world changing dramatically during the pandemic and the ever-evolving use of technology and remote work, Darrell assists his clients with navigating the legal and operational requirements due to these changes. Darrell has developed and provided client unique training to the management teams of his clients on issues ranging from “Management Techniques – Enhancing Employee Performance,” “Conducting Internal Investigations,” “Navigating Leave Laws,” and “Sexual Harassment Training.” He has also worked with his clients to ensure they have the proper personnel policies to satisfy statutory requirements and best practice management standards. On behalf of management, Darrell handles employee-related issues, discrimination matters, traditional labor and management relations, diversity, workplace training, privacy, restrictive covenants, wage and hour, and issues related to international labor and employment concerns. In addition, Darrell is frequently called upon to conduct high-profile and sensitive internal investigations. Darrell’s extensive work for clients with regard to traditional labor matters includes management of union and pre-union environments, union negotiations, NLRB matters including unfair labor charges and representation petitions, negotiation and management of neutrality agreements and elections, and arbitrations. In addition, he serves as chief negotiator for his clients during collective-bargaining sessions and has negotiated several agreements spanning a host of industries. Pertinent to all institutions, Darrell is seasoned in guiding his clients relative to addressing protected concerted activity issues. Darrell has also led several internal investigations of senior-level executives, including several C-Suite level matters, on behalf of his corporate clients, frequently being retained by the entities’ Corporate Board of Directors. Darrell uses his experience working with the City, State, and Federal Governments and as a New York State Commissioner in helping his clients navigate claims before governmental agencies. With respect to non-traditional work, Darrell has handled and managed significant cases involving single and multiple plaintiffs, single and multiple defendants, cases with allegations of serious continuing violations, and high-profile media cases. He not only has experience before administrative agencies as well as Federal and State courts but has also handled investigations conducted by the New York State Attorney General’s office.

This year’s (‘25) recipient of the National Diversity & Leadership Conference’s ‘Top Diversity Officer’ in America Award, Maurice K. Barrett joins New York State Homes and Community Renewal as Chief Diversity Officer. Mr Barrett is bringing a distinguished career dedicated to advancing equity and fostering inclusive communities. Named one of the Top 100 Black Executives in the US in 2020, Mr. Barrett's leadership philosophy is based on investing in each Human, and creating opportunities while dismantling barriers for all. As a strategic change agent, Mr. Barrett has transformed organizations through innovative diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion initiatives. At Women In Need (WIN), he developed comprehensive equity frameworks that improved outcomes for both staff and the communities they serve. His work as Chief HR Officer at City Harvest demonstrated his ability to implement systemic change, successfully passing board-level DEI policy while fostering inclusive growth during a period of significant organizational expansion. Mr. Barrett's commitment to community empowerment extends beyond the workplace. As founder of Garden State Glory, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering young women, he has created environments of "no ceilings" – a philosophy he brings to his role at HCR. His work with the National Center for Diversity Equity & Inclusion has helped shape best practices across sectors, earning him recognition as Berkeley’s 2021 Alumnus of the Year. Combining strategic vision with practical implementation, Mr. Barrett holds a B.s. in International Business and a Master's in Human Resources Management and Development and brings almost 21 years of executive leadership experience. His proven track record of building coalitions, developing talent, and driving organizational transformation aligns perfectly with HCR's commitment to creating sustainable, equitable communities across New York State. As Chief Diversity Officer, Mr. Barrett will lead HCR's efforts to expand opportunities in housing and community development, strengthen MWBE and SDVOB initiatives, and ensure our programs and policies advance Governor Hochul's vision of a more inclusive, equitable New York.

Seth is a project manager for Genesis Companies LLC, a minority-owned affordable housing developer that specializes in developing affordable housing in New York City and New Jersey. As a project manager, Seth works with government entities, financial institutions, tax credit syndicators to acquire financing to building and rehab affordable housing. Seth has previous experience working at the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development in their Preservation Division working with affordable housing developers to rehabilitate and restructure tax credit projects after Year 15.

Michael J. Garner, MBA, was appointed New York City’s first Citywide Chief Business Diversity Officer by Mayor Eric Adams on February 16, 2023. Mr. Garner formerly served as Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). His tenure at the MTA spanned 14 years from February 2009- through February 2023. He is a diversity champion, making it his personal and professional mission to create a more diverse business environment wherever he’s been. By creating new programs, Mr. Garner and his teams have been responsible for more than $20 billion in payments to New York State/City Minority and Women-owned Businesses. In addition, since Mr. Garner’s arrival, the MTA has improved its hiring of Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians by 20% across the MTA’s six different operating agencies. Since his arrival at the MTA in 2009, Mr. Garner has designed the country’s leading MWDBE Business Development Program based on dollars paid. As the architect of the MTA’s Small Business Mentoring Program, Mr. Garner has transformed the largest transportation system in North America with a results-driven construction mentoring program. The program continues to break down barriers for minority, women, disadvantaged and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses in New York State, who otherwise would not have contract opportunities in the transportation industry. Under the direction of Mr. Garner, the MTA’s Small Business Mentoring Program awarded 575 contracts totaling $620 million to program participants. Overall, through his efforts, more than $17.1 Billion have been paid to New York State certified MWBEs. During Mr. Garner’s tenures at the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), the New York City School Construction Authority (SCA), and the MTA, Mr. Garner and his teams have been responsible for more than $20 billion in dollars paid to both NYC/ NYS certified MWBEs and MTA certified DBEs. As a recognized industry and community leader, Mr. Garner has had a real impact on the MTA and the MWDBE Business Community, but his work and avid vision does not end there. He is an active member of the Canaan Baptist Church in Harlem, a sought-after speaker on effective MWDBE Programs across the nation, an advisor on MWDBE matters to various U.S. Cities and States including the City of Buffalo, the City of Chicago, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), and the State of New Jersey. He has also served in various executive advisory capacities for: Former NYS Governor David Paterson’s Small Business Advisory Council Harlem Hospital Board Former Treasurer, New York/New Jersey Minority Supplier Development Council 100 Black Men of America – Chairman, Development & Corporate Relations Committee United States Rugby Association – Board of Directors President of the Founding Chapter for One Hundred Black Men of New York City; Current Chairman of the Corporate Board Mr. Garner hopes to bring his deep breadth of M/WBE programming experience, his vast network of M/WBE advocates and champions, and a proven track record to the City of New York as it’s first Citywide Chief Business Diversity Officer, and Director of the Mayor’s Office of M/WBEs.

Ahmed Tigani is HPD's Acting Commissioner and oversees all aspects of the agency. As Acting Commissioner, Ahmed works across divisions to foster new areas of collaboration and ensure operational and programmatic alignment; as well as working to strengthen ties with external stakeholders to advance the agency’s priorities. Prior to joining HPD, first as Deputy Commissioner for the Office of Neighborhood Strategies and then as First Deputy Commissioner and Chief Diversity Officer, Ahmed served as Chief of Staff to the Commissioner for the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) and while there was charged with streamlining operations, accelerating project review, establishing more transparency, and developing new tools to promote construction and tenant safety. Before joining DOB, Ahmed was Senior Advisor for Housing, Economic Development, and Labor in the Mayor's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs during the De Blasio Administration, working closely with the Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development on various neighborhood rezonings, legislative agendas and priority projects. Before joining the De Blasio Administration, Ahmed served as Community Development Officer and then later as Assistant Director of Land Use, Planning and Development in the Office of the Manhattan Borough President (MBPO). In those roles Ahmed oversaw planning initiatives and community engagement operations, leading and co-leading various working groups within the office on a variety of subject areas. Before coming to the MBPO, Ahmed served as Director of Housing Policy and Advocacy and then Legislative Director for the Office of NYC Council Member Helen Rosenthal. Ahmed’s started his career in public service as Director of Donations for Materials for the Arts at the Department of Cultural Affairs. Ahmed received a Bachelor of Arts and Science and a Master's in Urban Planning with a focus on Community Development from CUNY-Hunter College.