President & Chief Executive Officer, Long Island Association

Matthew Cohen serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Long Island Association (LIA), the region’s preeminent business leadership organization. Since assuming this role in May 2021, Mr. Cohen has led with a strategic vision rooted in economic modernization, inclusive growth, and regional resilience. He works in close partnership with the LIA’s Board of Directors and its diverse membership to shape and implement a long-range agenda that addresses Long Island’s most pressing socioeconomic challenges.

At the heart of Mr. Cohen’s leadership is a commitment to fostering an equitable and dynamic regional economy—one that attracts and retains talent, supports entrepreneurship, and cultivates innovation across sectors. His policy priorities include expanding access to affordable housing and quality child care, enhancing the region’s business climate, and catalyzing the development of future-oriented industries such as clean energy, artificial intelligence, and the life sciences. He is particularly focused on enabling small and mid-sized enterprises to thrive while ensuring that economic opportunity is shared across communities.

Prior to his appointment as CEO, Mr. Cohen served for a decade as the LIA’s Vice President of Government Affairs and Communications. In that capacity, he served as the organization’s chief policy architect, advancing a robust legislative agenda that secured billions in public and private investment for infrastructure, education, healthcare, and innovation. He played a pivotal role in navigating the region through the COVID-19 crisis, marshalling resources and advocating effectively for state and federal relief to support local businesses.

Mr. Cohen’s leadership reflects a sophisticated understanding of economic development, public-private collaboration, and systems-level change. His work continues to shape the trajectory of Long Island, positioning it as a national model for sustainable, inclusive prosperity in the 21st century.