Clarissa M. Rodriguez, Esq. is the Chair & Commissioner of the New York State Workers' Compensation Board and a member of New York Governor Kathy Hochul's Executive Cabinet. Mrs. Rodriguez was confirmed as a Board member by the NYS Senate in 2016 and later elevated to head of the agency in 2017. She has since been reappointed by the Governor to serve another term through 2029.

During her time at the Board, Mrs. Rodriguez has led the agency through several important legislative reforms and implementations, including the launch of New York's landmark Paid Family Leave, while also working to make significant improvements to the workers' compensation system.

Before joining the Board in 2016, Mrs. Rodriguez worked as a litigator for the Legal Aid Society of New York in their Foreclosure Prevention and Predatory Lending units. Mrs. Rodriguez also worked in the Civil and Matrimonial Parts of the Nassau County Supreme Court and the Integrated Domestic Violence Part of Queens County Criminal Court. She served with the Civil Rights Bureau of the New York State Office of the Attorney General, the City University of New York's (CUNY) Office of General Counsel, the Municipal Employees Legal Services at District Council 37, and the Urban Justice Center prior to joining the Bar.

Earlier in her career, Mrs. Rodriguez was the project editor/legislative liaison of the National PTA in Washington D.C. In addition, she was a community organizer with the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition in Bronx, NY and the Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation in Brooklyn, NY before serving on their Board of Directors. She also worked as a social services counselor at the West Side Campaign Against Hunger in New York City. She currently chairs the New York Self-Insured Association's (NYSIA) Board of Managers and is a member of the Women's Bar Association of Orange & Sullivan County, the Dominican Bar Association of NY, the Hudson Valley Hispanic Bar Association, and the Hispanic National Bar Association, Region II.

Mrs. Rodriguez has received professional recognitions from the New York State Senate, New York State Assembly, the Nassau County Executive, the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA), and the Latino Lawyers of Queens County Bar Association. Most recently, she was awarded the AGA's 2024 Eleanor Clark Diversity Leadership Award in Washington D.C. and was featured in the book Dominicanas de Voluntad en la Diaspora, published in March 2024 by BanReservas (National Bank of the Dominican Republic). She has also been recognized in several lists compiled annually by the City & State NY publication including the "Law Power 100," "State Labor Power 100," and "The 2024 Trailblazers in Law" lists and was nominated for the Schneps Media "Leaders of Labor" award in 2022 and 2023. Prior to working in government, Mrs. Rodriguez received the Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO) Fellowship of the American Bar Association, and El Diario/La Prensa's 9th Annual Outstanding Latina Award.

She is a graduate of the CUNY School of Law and holds a BA in Political Science and Women's Studies from the State University of New York (SUNY), Purchase College. Mrs. Rodriguez lives in Orange County, NY with her husband, two daughters, and labradoodle Lucy.

Term expires December 2029

Freida Foster of New York County is Vice Chair of the Workers' Compensation Board. A Board member since 2009, Ms. Foster has decades of professional experience in the areas of education, government/civic service and public relations. Ms. Foster is also a member of the Harlem Community Development Corporation Board of Directors and also sits on the Board for Channel Thirteen/WLIW's Community Advisory Board.

Ms. Foster served as a Trustee for the City University of New York (2006-2016), helping oversee campus management. Prior to joining the Workers' Compensation Board, Ms. Foster was a Public Relations Manager in the Public Affairs practice of the Burson-Marsteller public relations firm. Prior to that, she served as Director of the Governor's Office of Community Affairs, Director of Partnerships for Harlem Armory, Speechwriter and Assistant to the Governor for African American Affairs. She has held membership on a number of boards, all with a focus on community and/or civic service as well as student leadership. A lifelong Harlem resident, Ms. Foster holds an MS in Corporate Communications from the University of Wisconsin and a BA in Communications from Hofstra University.

Term expires December 2028

Robert Bergin of Monroe County is an attorney with more than four decades of experience practicing law in government and corporate positions, as well as private practice.

Most recently, Mr. Bergin served as Counsel for Intergovernmental Affairs for Monroe County. Joining the County at the onset of the COVID pandemic, he helped develop and advance the County's State and Federal advocacy programs during the pandemic and post-pandemic periods. This effort was guided by the County Executive and implemented in coordination with County departments and in collaboration with the County's municipal partners, particularly the City of Rochester. The work produced many innovative and successful public health, public safety, human services, economic development, workforce development, and capital projects programs.

Before his County work, Mr. Bergin served as Counsel to the Democratic Minority in the New York Senate and, more recently, as Counsel to the former Assembly Majority leader. He also served as Corporation Counsel for the City of Rochester, and as an Assistant Counsel and Director of Public Affairs for Rochester Gas & Electric Corporation and New York State Electric and Gas Corporation. Prior to joining the utility companies, Mr. Bergin managed a private law practice, where he specialized in business development and trusts and estates.

Mr. Bergin is a graduate of St. John Fisher College and Albany Law School, and is a member of the New York State and Monroe County Bar Associations.

Term expires December 2027

Pamela Caggianelli of Ontario County joined the Workers' Compensation Board in 2019. She is a certified occupational health/legal nurse specialist with a strong background in workers' compensation, disability, medical, family leave and vocational & return to work programs. Prior to joining the Board, Ms. Caggianelli was the Manager of Occupational Health at the University of Rochester Long Term Care Affiliates: Highlands at Brighton, Highlands at Pittsford and Highland Living Center. She has also served in corporate health management and global privacy compliance roles for Bausch & Lomb and Unity Hospital and their affiliates. Ms. Caggianelli has been a member of the Rochester Chamber of Commerce for more than 35 years; served on the Workers' Compensation Committee and chaired the National Certification for Disability Management Commission. She's also a member of several nursing associations and business groups.

Ms. Caggianelli holds a BS in Nursing from SUNY Polytechnic Institute at Utica-Rome and an AAS degree from SUNY Canton.

Term expired December 2024

Steven A. Crain of Saratoga County worked more than 27 years for the Civil Service Employees Association, most recently as general counsel. He also served as staff attorney for the Legal Services Plan of Teamsters Local 237, as assistant county attorney for Orange County, and as special counsel to the Village of Hempstead. Mr. Crain has been an instructor in Special Academic Programs at Marist College and the Labor Studies Program of Cornell University's Industrial Labor Relations School, and has worked in claims for the Prudential Insurance Company. He is a graduate of New York Law School and holds a BA in Economics from the State University of New York College at Cortland.

Term expires December 2026

Peter De Jesús, Jr. of Erie County is a labor and public policy leader with a career grounded in advancing fairness, accountability, and equity for working people across New York State. A proud product of Western New York, Mr. De Jesús' work is shaped by a deep belief in the power of organizing, public service, and collaboration to improve lives and build stronger communities.

Mr. De Jesús comes from a career in healthcare and labor advocacy as a Political Coordinator for 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. In that role, he led political and legislative efforts throughout Western New York, mobilizing health care workers, building broad-based coalitions, and delivering meaningful wins on workplace safety, health care access, and economic justice.

He later served as President of the Western New York Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, where he represented more than 140 affiliated unions and tens of thousands of workers across diverse industries. Under his leadership, the federation deepened its role in state and local policy, strengthened relationships with public and private sector leaders, and expanded its reach within historically underrepresented communities.

Mr. De Jesús is known for his ability to build bridges between labor and business, government and grassroots, and among groups often divided by geography or political affiliation. His approach is rooted in values-based leadership, practical problem solving, and a commitment to ensuring that systems of government work for everyone, especially those who need them most.

Term expires December 2027

Renee L. Delgado is from Albany County and has devoted much of her career to advocating for workers' rights, including her work at the New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, a labor federation with one million members, which represents workers in the public sector, private sector, and building trades unions. She did this while working on a master's degree, then attended law school, graduating in 2006. Ms. Delgado was admitted to the New York State Bar the following year and in 2008, began a career with the New York State Public Employees Federation, AFL-CIO (PEF).

During her 14 years at PEF, Ms. Delgado held various titles, including Associate Counsel, Director of Contract Administration and General Counsel. She has worked as a Special Assistant in the Counsel's Office at the New York State Department of Labor, served as Assistant Director of Legal Services at the SUNY Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, as an Assistant District Attorney in Queens County and Albany County, and was a legislative aide in the New York State Assembly.

Ms. Delgado holds a juris doctorate from the CUNY School of Law at Queens College, a master's degree in criminal justice from John Jay College in Manhattan, and a bachelor's degree from SUNY Albany.

Term expires December 2025

Martin M. Dilan of Kings County joined the Workers' Compensation Board in 2019 after serving in elective office for 40 years. Mr. Dilan spent 16 years in the New York State Senate representing the 18th (formerly 17th) Senatorial District. During his time in the NYS Senate, Mr. Dilan served as Chairman of the Minority Conference, Senior Assistant Majority Leader and Assistant Minority Leader for Policy and Administration for the Senate's Democratic Conference.

Prior to his election to the NYS Senate, Mr. Dilan served as a New York City Council Member for 10 years and a Community School Board Member for 14 years. He is also a former legislative assistant for the U.S. House of Representatives and has served as a Democratic District Leader and Democratic State Committeeman from the 54th Assembly District.

Mr. Dilan attended Brooklyn College where he participated in the Special Baccalaureate Degree Program. He has a BS from Excelsior college, Albany, N.Y.

Term expires December 2025

Mark Higgins of Erie County joined the Workers' Compensation Board in 2008 after serving for over 30 years with the Civil Service Employees Association, Inc. in leadership roles throughout New York State. He was a staff director and chief spokesman in collective bargaining on behalf of hundreds of bargaining units within CSEA in the public and private sectors. Mr. Higgins applied workers' compensation law and the Family and Medical Leave Act among other labor laws in collective bargaining and general union member advocacy in the workplace. He also served on the board of directors at HealthNow, Inc. for 12 years.

Mr. Higgins holds a MA and BA in Human Service Management from SUNY Buffalo State College.

Term expires December 2028

Maria Matos of Albany County is an attorney with extensive experience working in the legal profession and in various leadership roles. Prior to her appointment to the New York State Workers' Compensation Board, she was the Ethics Officer for the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, where she also served as District Tax Attorney, litigating tax matters for the Office of Counsel. Before that, Ms. Matos held several prominent positions within the New York State Courts, including Chief Counsel to the New York State Appellate Division, First Department's Committee on Character and Fitness, where she oversaw investigations of candidates awaiting admission to the New York State Bar. She was the first Latina ever appointed to serve in the role. She began her legal career as an Assistant Attorney General for the New York State Attorney General's Office.

Known for her passion and commitment to diversity, Ms. Matos is Diversity Delegate on the House of Delegates for the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) and served on the Working Group on Puerto Rico. In this role, she was instrumental in garnering the Bar Association's policy in opposition to the Jones Act. Ms. Matos was recently appointed to serve on NYSBA's Civil Rights Committee and was past President of the Puerto Rican Bar Association and Chair of the Puerto Rican Bar Association's Scholarship Fund.

Ms. Matos has received numerous accolades, including the 2013 Volunteer Services Award (Hofstra University School of Law), 2013 Leadership Award (Puerto Rican Bar Association), 2012 Women's History Month Leadership Award (New York City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce), 2009 Scholarship Gala Commitment and Leadership Award (Puerto Rican Bar Association), 2008 Outstanding Community Service Award (New York Law School Latino Law Students Association), and 2008 Government Excelsior Award (St. Pius High School, Bronx, New York).

Ms. Matos received her Juris Doctor degree from Hofstra University School of Law and was admitted to practice law in the First Department. She is also admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, and the United States District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. She received her Bachelor of Science from St. John's University and was a National Hispanic Scholarship recipient.

In her own words, Ms. Matos says her "most important and lasting achievement" is her son, Julian. She is the eldest daughter of five children and takes with her the lessons of love, compassion, perseverance, and fairness inherited from her hardworking Puerto Rican family.

Term expires December 2029

Gloribelle Perez of New York County is a triple barred attorney with a distinguished legal career marked by a steadfast commitment to public service. She joined the Workers' Compensation Board in 2023.

Having worked as a commercial litigation associate at a Manhattan law firm, Ms. Perez honed her exceptional legal research skills and sharpened her ability to navigate complex legal landscapes. Subsequently, she served as a court attorney in the New York County Surrogate's Court, where she conducted extensive research on intricate legal matters and drafted judicial opinions. More recently, Ms. Perez served as an administrative law judge at the New York State Industrial Board of Appeals. In that role, her responsibilities included presiding over hearings and drafting decisions concerning the reasonableness of rules, regulations, and orders issued by the New York State Commissioner of Labor concerning various wage provisions of the NYS Labor Law.

Ms. Perez's impact extends far beyond her legal endeavors. Recognizing the importance of access to quality legal services, she has spearheaded efforts to address the widening gap in legal support for marginalized communities. Through her involvement with various bar associations, she has organized "Know Your Rights" events, Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs, and volunteer opportunities, all aimed at increasing access to justice for all individuals.

Born in the Dominican Republic, Ms. Perez immigrated to the United States at a young age and grew up in Manhattan. She holds a B.A. in Economics from Barnard College, Columbia University, and a J.D. from Pace Law School, where she served as the Executive Editor of the International Law Review.

Term expired December 2024

Gina Sillitti of Nassau County has over two decades of experience serving the residents of Long Island and New York State. Ms. Sillitti is a former member of the New York State Assembly and was first elected to public office in 2020. Throughout her time in office, Ms. Sillitti effectively navigated the halls of Albany to advocate for her constituents and deliver millions in state funding to her district including hurricane relief, sewer, and other large infrastructure projects. She also worked with local advocates to identify funding opportunities for the arts and cultural organizations.

Prior to elected office, Ms. Sillitti held various leadership positions across multiple layers of government, developing close relationships with countless advocacy groups, as well as business and labor leaders.

Ms. Sillitti resides in Manhasset with her husband and adorable baby boy.

Term expires December 2030

Samuel G. Williams of Niagara County started his union career as a sheet metal apprentice. He was a journeyman for Sheet Metal Workers Local 71 until 1976 when he joined the former Harrison Radiator division of General Motors Corp. and became a member of the UAW Local 686. Mr. Williams rose through the union ranks as alternate, district, and shop committeeman. In 1996, he took part in developing the "Transitional Work Center" concept within General Motors, which allowed and encouraged UAW members injured at work to return early in non-traditional jobs until they could resume their normal work duty. It is still in place today, greatly reducing workers' compensation costs throughout the industry.

Mr. Williams served on the International Staff of the UAW Region 9 as a servicing representative, negotiating collective bargaining agreements, handled arbitration issues and PERB hearings for numerous UAW locals throughout Western New York. He was also director of education for UAW Region 9, encompassing New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and the director of the Community Action Program Region 9 UAW New York State. Mr. Williams has received many awards and honors for his tireless dedication to causes he believes in. He was honored in 1994 with the UAW Citizenship Award and in 1999 as Labor Citizen of the Year from the Niagara/Orleans Labor Council AFL-CIO. In 2009 he received the Norm Harper Labor Award from the Coalition for Economic Justice (CEJ), and the Buffalo Central Labor Council "Labor Person of the Year" award for his commitment to labor and community partnership through legislative and electoral solutions. In January 2010 he received the Martin Luther King Jr. Social Justice Award.

Term expired December 2023