Adam Ryan and Dr. Carmen Cotei join the Junior Achievement of New York Board of Directors

New York, NY – April 23, 2026 – Junior Achievement of New York (JA New York) announced the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors: Adam Ryan and Dr. Carmen Cotei.

“These accomplished leaders bring a powerful mix of industry expertise and commitment to youth development,” said Betty Garger, President and CEO of Junior Achievement of New York. “Their collective experience and dedication to empowering learners and leaders will strengthen our mission to inspire and prepare young people for success in an increasingly complex global economy; preparing them for what’s next.”

Adam Ryan is Vice President of Airport Operations for LaGuardia (LGA), Boston Logan (BOS), and Delta Air Lines’s East Region. He leads the Airport Customer Service Teams comprised of more than 4,000 aviation professionals across two hubs and 27 airports.

With 30 years of industry experience at Delta Air Lines, Adam brings a deeply rooted and highly diverse operational background. Adam began his career on the front line and progressed through roles of increasing responsibility. This experience has shaped his strategic, disciplined, and people-first leadership approach. Known as a respected and approachable leader, Adam is deeply committed to mentoring and developing future leaders. He is widely recognized for building strong leadership pipelines, fostering inclusive and high-performing teams, and investing meaningfully in talent at every level of the organization.

Beyond Delta, Adam has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to community leadership. He served as a member of the Board of Governors for the Salt Lake City Chamber of Commerce and on the Board of Trustees for Primary Children’s Hospital.

“It is an honor to join the Board of Junior Achievement of New York,” said Mr. Ryan. “Junior Achievement’s commitment to preparing students for real-world success is both impactful and inspiring, and I am excited to contribute to its mission of expanding access, building financial literacy, and empowering the next generation for meaningful careers.”

Dr. Carmen Cotei is the Ally Bridge Dean of Business at Queens College, at City University of New York. She is also a seasoned academic leader and finance scholar with extensive experience in strategic planning, accreditation, faculty development, and organizational governance. She brings more than two decades of leadership in higher education, including service as Interim Dean, Associate Dean, and Department Chair at the University of Hartford’s Barney School of Business. Her administrative portfolio has included oversight of curriculum development, accreditation processes, enterprise risk management, budgeting, and academic operations.

A recognized scholar in corporate finance, Dr. Cotei has published extensively on startup financing, capital structure, and M&A outcomes. Her research has earned multiple distinctions, including the Best Paper Award from Small Business Economics and the Kauffman Foundation for her work on M&A exit strategies.

Dr. Cotei is deeply committed to expanding pathways for young people and currently serves on the Board of Directors and Investment Committee for Junior Achievement of Southwest New England and serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors of the Upper Albany Main Street Micro Business Incubator.

"After two rewarding years with Junior Achievement of Southwest New England, I am excited to bring my experience and passion for expanding opportunity to the board of Junior Achievement of New York and support its mission of inspiring and preparing young people to success,” said Dr. Cotei. “It is truly an honor to contribute to an organization that equips young people with the financial knowledge, confidence, and vision to shape their futures."

JA New York also announced the resignation of Joe Duggan, Cathy Vuong, and Chuck Imhof from its Board of Directors. “We thank Joe, Cathy, and Chuck for their years of service and dedication.” said Betty Garger. Mr. Duggan will continue to support JA New York as a member of the Chair’s Circle. JA New York’s Chair’s Circle is an invitation-only membership comprised of former board members who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and commitment to the organization. Members serve JA New York in an advisory capacity and support JA New York by leveraging their expertise, connections, and experience.

About Junior Achievement of New York

Junior Achievement of New York (JA New York), an affiliate of Junior Achievement USA, is the leading non-profit organization in Greater New York dedicated to creating pathways to economic empowerment for local youth. With a mission to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in the global economy, JA New York provides experiential, interactive programs that teach and inspire young people to understand the economic world around them, plan for their financial futures, and reach their full potential.

For more information about JA New York, visit newyork.ja.org.

CONTACT:
Wendy Eng
Junior Achievement of New York

weng@jany.org