Howard Milstein

Howard Milstein leads a family that has been prominent in business and philanthropy for three generations. Known as one of New York’s great real estate families, it has been a major force in the development of New York City, the region, and beyond. A leading figure in local, national and global affairs, Howard is a trusted advisor on economic, civic and philanthropic matters. His ability to marshal business, government, philanthropic, and family resources drives a breadth of initiatives across health, civic, educational and security matters.

Howard is currently Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of New York Private Bank & Trust and its operating bank, Emigrant Bank (the country’s largest privately held bank.) He chairs and operates all the Milstein family’s real estate companies. Howard is also founding Chairman of the merchant bank, FriedbergMilstein, and is an owner and builder of innovative businesses in financial services, technology, sports and entertainment, and consumer goods.

His entrepreneurial spirit is evident in the family’s major holdings - Milstein Properties, Milstein Brothers Real Estate and the Emigrant Savings Bank - as well as the august institutions that bear their name: Milstein Hospital Building of New York Presbyterian Hospital; Milstein Hall of Ocean Life ("The Whale Room") at the American Museum of Natural History; Milstein Division of Local History, American History and Genealogy at the New York Public Library; Milstein Hall at the Cornell University\'s College of Architecture, Milstein Pool & Terrace at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and many others.

Howard’s career began at Starrett Housing Corporation, one of the family\'s companies , where he participated in every aspect of the development of Starrett City in Brooklyn, encompassing nearly 6,000 affordable housing units.

In the second half of the 20th century , the Milstein family built, or bought with their partners, 50,000 apartments in the Metropolitan area, of which 30,000 were moderate and low income apartments, many built through their companies, Starrett Housing and National Kinney, along with 2 million square feet of office buildings and 10,000 hotel rooms. The Milsteins were also leaders in 80/20 housing. Early on, thy built Normandie Court with 1500 units, of which 300 were moderate and low income - more than the rest of New York State combined.

Since then, the Milstein family has remained one of the most dynamic forces on the real estate scene. Well known for their good timing, though usually as buyers, Howard Milstein sold the last remaining parcel of land in the Times Square area prior to the recent financial crisis, at the height of the real estate bubble.

The Milstein vision is to invest in large scale developments that serve to anchor and revive ailing neighborhoods. As such, Howard and his forbears developed a keen vision for identifying areas where they saw extraordinary potential long before most others. Out of these investments came visionary new neighborhoods. Their most recent project includes Liberty Luxe and Liberty Green, the MIlsteins’ fifth and sixth buildings in Battery Park City.

In 2011, Milstein was nominated by Governor Andrew Cuomo and unanimously confirmed by the New York State Senate as the Chairman of the New York State Thruway Authority, where he is using his expertise for the benefit of the New York’s communities and is currently leading the effort to rebuild the Tappan Zee Bridge.

Among many honors, Howard was named 2008 Entrepreneur of the Year by Cornell University and received the Master Builders Award from the Associated Builders and Owners of New York. He has received the JASA Man of the Year Award, Make a Wish Foundation Award, ORT Community Builder Award, Tanenbaum Center Corporate Bridge Builder Award; as well as awards from the Jewish National Fund and B’nai B’rith Youth Services. He was also honored with the Catholic Youth Organization Gold Medal Award, Emerald Isle Immigration Society Robert Briscoe Award, Federal Law Enforcement Foundation Humanitarian Award, and Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award. In March of 2012, Howard was sworn-in as an honorary FDNY Battalion Chief, in recognition of his significant support for the Fire Department and the people of New York.

A graduate of Cornell University, Howard earned a B.A. in Economics summa cum laude (1973). At Harvard University, he earned both his Law and Business degrees in the JD/MBA Program (1977). He was admitted to the New York State Bar, and is a member of the Federal Bar Council and the American, New York State and New York City Bar Associations.

Howard is married to Abby Sniderman Milstein and they have a son, Michael.