MEA is pleased to announce the 2024 Bylaws Committee. These eight individuals were appointed by the executive board and will be working together to update the MEA Bylaws. Thank you for your time.
TINA M. RAMSEY (Chair)
Administrative Manager M1, DCAS
DCAS Chapter Director
City Service: 37 Years
Awards: Women’s History Month Honoree – March 2015, Customer Hero Award- 2017, Customer hero Award – 2018, The City of New York 2018 Excellence Award For Walk-in Center Management
Tina Ramsey has approximately 37 years of dedicated service working at the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (formerly the Department of Personnel before the merger). In the Bureau of Examinations, she held titles as the Deputy Director of the Application Section, Coordinator of the Test Support Unit, and Interim Supervisory Team for the Test Administration Unit, where she: coordinated enhancements and initiatives to improve business processes while ensuring customer service standards and objectives were maintained; acted as a major contributor for on-going projects for the Bureau of Examinations. She provided expert advice and counsel in content, strategies, and methodology concerning the operations in Exam Support Group, which led to the implementation and installation of the Interactive Voice Response System (IVR) for the Mayor’s initiative for the creation of 311; and for the special project that involved attending software demo presentations that led to the selection of PeopleSoft, which was used to create the NYC Automated Personnel System (NYCAPS), a centralized state of the art automated personnel system for human resources professionals, managers, and employees to access and manage personnel and benefits information. As an MEA member since 2000, Tina has served as the Assistant Municipal Chapter Director, the Municipal Chapter Director, Co-Chair for the Organization Committee, and participating member on the Bylaws, Office Practices, and Volunteer Corp Committees. Tina currently serves on the MEA’s Executive Board as the Chapter Director for DCAS, and currently serves as the Chair for the Compensation, Benefits and Personal Development Committee, and Chair of the Financial Seminar Series sub-Committee and now the Chair of the 2024 Bylaws Committee.
KATY DIAZ-ESPINAL
Assistant Inspector General/Supervisor, Department of Investigations
DOI Recording Secretary
City Service: 23 Years
Awards: 2011- Robert Clark Memorial Award for Exemplary Performance in a Major Investigation. 2012- Southern District of New York Special Mention for Successful Investigation and Prosecution on a Major Case. 2013- DOI Award for Outstanding Performance on a Fraud Investigation. 2017- Above and Beyond Department Contribution for Agency Performance. 2019 – Outstanding Performance In Agency Operations – Reorganization Project
Katy Diaz-Espinal is a dedicated public servant, who has spent the last 20+ years investigating, advocating and uprooting the corruption that prevents delivery of service to those that need them most. Katy began her career with the City as an Investigator and later Supervisor with the Administration for Children’s Service. She was a strong advocate for Bronx and Harlem children and families, and believed that strong communities and family-centered services were the best way to combat child abuse and neglect. Later in her career Katy joined the New York City Department of Investigation, where she was initially tasked with investigating vulnerability, corruption, waste and mismanagement, as it pertained to the City’s social service agencies. In that role she was involved in major corruption investigations and we’ll as child fatality reviews. She was later promoted to Assistant Inspector General, a role that has allowed her to mentor, teach and guide new generations of investigators.
CINDY TETA
Associate Commissioner for Crisis Management, NYC Department of Homeless Services (DHS)
DHS Chapter Director
City Service: 19 Years
Cindy Teta has devoted 32 years to the social services arena, with nearly two decades spent at the NYC Department of Homeless Services (DHS), and is currently serving as the Associate Commissioner for Crisis Management. Her tenure spans diverse roles within the DHS, where she effectively managed portfolios, collaborated with providers, and spearheaded cross-functional programming across the five boroughs. Cindy’s work has focused on serving vulnerable populations, including Families with Children, Single Adults, Adult Families, Special Populations, and Asylum Seekers. She has also contributed to the creation of the Behavioral Health Model of Practice and managed mental health initiatives in collaboration with various partners. As a client-centered advocate and collaborative leader, Cindy’s creative thinking has driven impactful change one person at a time. She believes in providing a supportive space for individuals to become the best version of themselves, investing her time in mentoring colleagues and supervising youth interns. Cindy’s dedication and passion, coupled with her exemplary skills in interpersonal relationships, leadership, and team building, have enabled her to navigate the complexities of serving diverse populations experiencing homelessness in New York City. With a Master of Science in Counselor Education from CUNY Queens College and a Bachelor of Science in Human and Community Services from SUNY Empire State College, Cindy’s qualifications are extensive. Her numerous certifications, leadership awards, and citations, including recognition from Mayor Eric Adams when he served as the Brooklyn Borough President, attest to her commitment and impact. As an active member of the MEA for 18 years, serving in various capacities, Cindy’s leadership and dedication to DHS and the community have left a lasting legacy.
GRAHAM I. RABINOWITSCH
Director, Workforce Planning and Compliance, Department of Buildings (DOB)
DOB Chapter Director
City Service: 9 Years
Graham I. Rabinowitsch is the Director, Workforce Planning and Compliance at the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB). During his tenure at DOB, he has managed workforce planning, youth engagement, labor relations, and civil service and regulatory compliance. He led the strategic redevelopment and expansion of youth engagement at DOB, including programs for internships, trainees, and other non-traditional staffing types; and programs educating students about construction safety, sustainability, and City government. He also developed proposals for new and revised competitive titles to provide entry level job opportunities, create clear career paths for employees, modernize the language used in the title specifications, and expand qualifications. In collaboration with Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) colleagues, he developed new titles for the City’s energy focused workforce. He developed multiple proposals for exempt and non-competitive titles that were approved by the New York State Civil Service Commission. He is regularly involved in classifying positions, organizational design, analyzing civil service lists, advising the recruitment team and hiring managers on classification and candidate qualifications, reviewing personnel actions, and managing agency support in civil service exam development.
JASON LOUGHRAN
Senior Advisor of Intergovernmental Affairs, NYC Department of Veterans’ Services
City Service: 7 Years
Military: E4, US Navy, 4 Years
Awards: City and State 2023 New York City 40 under 40, 2023 Baruch College Alumni Changemaker Award, 2021 Sixth Annual Irish Community Champion Award, 2019 Baruch College Alumni Association Leadership in Public Service Award.
Jason Loughran is a Veteran of the United States Navy and currently serves as the Senior Advisor of Intergovernmental Affairs for the New York City Department of Veterans’ Services. In his previous role as Assistant Commissioner of Community Services, he managed the agency’s direct service programming and synchronized its efforts with public, private, and not-for-profit agencies to overcome the barriers hindering New York City Veterans from accessing benefits, mental health, employment, entrepreneurship, legal and educational resources. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he created “Mission: VetCheck” through a partnership with NY Cares and the Mayor’s Office of Community Health, to combat social isolation amongst the veteran community through supportive check-in calls conducted by volunteers. During these calls, volunteers would ask veterans how they were doing and offer information on critical resources to support eviction prevention, mental health, and many others. After reaching over 30,000 households, Mission: VetCheck won the Abraham Lincoln Pillar of Excellence Award for the State of New York by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to recognize best practices that have developed effective programs in the country. During his military service, he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2010 with Air Cargo Detachment-ONE, where the detachment received a Flag Letter of Appreciation and a Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy when transporting supplies and equipment between Kandahar and Helmand province.
Nora Santos (DOC), Sean Newman (H+H), and Audrey Dunlap (ACS) are also serving on the committee.