Leslie A. Ramos joined the 82nd Street Partnership in October 2014 as Executive Director. She has extensive experience working with small businesses, City agencies, and the Latino community; bringing a wealth of knowledge in economic and community development practices. Leslie received a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Illinois and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs at Syracuse University. She began her career at the Office of Management and Budget, and has also served as Assistant Commissioner for Finance at the Department of Housing Preservation & Development, and executive director of the Mayor’s Office for Industrial & Manufacturing Businesses. Leslie is a member of the Latina Leadership Forum’s founding committee, and a former board member of Latina PAC, as well as an Adjunct Professor at Brooklyn College’s Puerto Rican & Latino Studies Department.

Laura Quintero is a bilingual content creator and communications consultant originally from Colombia, currently based in New York City. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Social Communication and Journalism from Universidad Externado de Colombia and has built her career at the intersection of storytelling, content planning, and community-driven marketing. She currently volunteers at Librería Comunitaria Barco de Papel, where she supports literary programming and social media management.

In her consulting work, Laura brings experience in content strategy, copywriting, visual production, and digital campaign planning across social media, print, and web,  helping brands and organizations connect authentically with their audiences. She is passionate about amplifying cultural narratives and building meaningful community presence through intentional content.

Amna is a Marketing Intern at the 82nd Street Partnership and a student at Queens College, City University of New York, where she is pursuing a B.A. in Sociology. She earned an Associate degree in Accounting from Nassau Community College in Garden City, New York, and later studied Business and International Business at Queens College before pursuing her current degree.

Amna has a strong interest in marketing, social media, and digital communications, with experience in social media management, content creation, audience engagement, and digital marketing. She enjoys combining creativity with strategy to help brands and organizations connect with their audiences. At the 82nd Street Partnership, Amna is excited to expand her experience in marketing and communications while contributing to the Jackson Heights community.

Busra is an Economics student at Queens College and an Economic Development Intern at the 82nd Street Partnership. She is interested in learning more about how local businesses contribute to the growth and character of their communities. At the Partnership, she works on projects involving small businesses and the Jackson Heights neighborhood while gaining hands-on experience in economic and community development.

Before joining the Partnership, Busra gained several years of work experience at Amazon, where she took on responsibilities that included training and supporting new employees and working as part of a team in a fast-paced environment. Through her internship, she is able to build on those experiences while connecting what she learns in school to real-world projects. She hopes to continue developing her professional skills and learning more about the businesses and people that make the neighborhood unique and diverse.

Celina Khan is an intern at the 82nd Street Partnership and a Finance student at Queens College. She previously earned her Associate degree in Business Administration from Nassau Community College and has developed an interest in finance, technology, and project management.

She also works with the New York City Department of Sanitation, where she has gained hands-on IT experience using internal systems along with supporting administrative and technology related tasks. Through her experience with DSNY she has strengthened her technical, organizational, and problem-solving skills and is excited to continue building her skills while contributing to the Jackson Heights community.