Politics & Government

Astorino Announces New Economic Development Director, Governmental Operations Assistant

William M. Mooney III and Eileen Mildenberger have been part of the Astorino administration for several years.

William M. Mooney III and Eileen Mildenberger have joined Westchester County government as the new director of economic development and senior assistant for government operations, respectively, County Executive Rob Astorino announced Monday.

“Bill and Eileen have been crucial members of my administration for several years and both share my commitment to promoting economic growth, creating an environment for job creation, and delivering the most cost-effective and efficient government that Westchester residents rightly expect,” said Astorino in a statement, adding that the two are "effectively trading positions" in his administration.  

“I also believe in fostering opportunities for people in my administration to grow professionally and meet new challenges. And in their new roles, they will be doing both – as we work together to continue moving Westchester forward,” he added.

Below is the full Astorino announcement:

County Executive Robert P. Astorino today announced the appointment of William M. Mooney III, as the new director of economic development for Westchester County, and Eileen Mildenberger as senior assistant to the county executive for government operations, effective immediately. Mooney and Mildenberger are effectively trading positions, in a move Astorino said will benefit both the county and his two employees.

“Bill and Eileen have been crucial members of my administration for several years and both share my commitment to promoting economic growth, creating an environment for job creation, and delivering the most cost-effective and efficient government that Westchester residents rightly expect,” said Astorino.  “I also believe in fostering opportunities for people in my administration to grow professionally and meet new challenges. And in their new roles, they will be doing both – as we work together to continue moving Westchester forward.”

In addition to oversight of many of the county agencies as senior assistant for government operations, Mooney was also the lead coordinator on many county projects, including the oversight and development of the county’s more than $100 million capital budgets.  As director of Economic Development, Mooney will serve as liaison to the business community and work with the Westchester Industrial Development Agency and Local Development Corporation, and its executive director, Jim Coleman, to help businesses and entrepreneurs stay, grow and relocate to Westchester.  Mooney will also oversee the county’s Office of Tourism and Film and retain oversight of several ongoing Astorino initiatives, including the redevelopment of the county’s North 60 at the Grasslands reservation where a biotech/Medical research facility is proposed, as well as the public-private partnership for the revitalization of Playland.  Previous to joining the Astorino administration in 2010, Mooney practiced law for many years throughout Westchester and New York State, representing clients in health care, education, real estate and municipal law, and from 1997 to 2003 served as corporation counsel for the City of Yonkers.  Mooney is a graduate of Villanova University with a degree in Business Administration, and has a law degree from Pace University School of Law.

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In her role as director of Economic Development and before that as executive director of the IDA, Mildenberger helped attract more than $750 million in private sector capital investment to Westchester, assisting businesses from start-up biotech companies to global giants like PepsiCo and IBM.  In addition to her new duties as senior assistant to the county executive, which includes oversight and coordination of county departments such as Corrections, Probation, Parks, Planning and Human Resources, Mildenberger will also continue to assist in the economic development strategies and initiatives. Prior to the IDA, Mildenberger worked 12 years at the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC), the final three as chief operating officer. Prior to ESDC, she practiced bankruptcy law. Mildenberger is a graduate of Hofstra University with a degree in Finance, and has a law degree from the Jacob Fuchsberg School of Law at Touro College. 


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