Roberta Reardon Commissioner of Labor
Previously, Commissioner Reardon served as President of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) from 2007-2012. She was the founding Co-President of SAG-AFTRA, a 165,000-member union for the entertainment industry, when the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) merged with AFTRA in 2012. After stepping down from that position in late 2013, Commissioner Reardon consulted for the AFL-CIO as Special Liaison for Common Sense Economics. She also taught in the Cornell/CUNY Labor Relations Certificate program.
Commissioner Reardon is a former member of the Board of Trustees for the AFTRA Health and Retirement Fund, as well as the New York City Labor Council. She has been honored with the Jewish Labor Committee’s 2009 Human Rights Award as well as the New York City Central Labor Council’s 2012 Award for Service to the Labor Movement and was a recipient of the Cornell ILR School, Union Leadership Institute’s 2017 Change Maker Award.
Commissioner Reardon graduated from the Cornell Industrial and Labor Relations School’s New York State AFL-CIO/Cornell Union Leadership Institute and holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wyoming. She is a Worker Institute Fellow at Cornell University and sits on the Board of Trustees for the Actors Fund of America.
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Scott Melvin Executive Deputy Commissioner of Labor
Scott is a seasoned public servant with nearly three decades of experience driving positive change in both government and private organizations. He is a proven leader with a strong track record of driving strategic initiatives and fostering collaboration. As Executive Deputy Commissioner. he oversees key departmental functions, ensuring seamless day-to-day operations and exceptional service delivery to the Department's customer base.
Scott's leadership extends beyond daily operations. He is a champion for modernization, spearheading the Department's technology innovation agenda. Currently, he is leading a team that is overhauling the 50-year-old unemployment insurance mainframe system, a project that will enhance efficiency and service delivery across the entire State.
Previously, Scott served as Chief of Staff, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the Department's policy agenda. He is also a skilled collaborator, fostering a culture of teamwork across departments and communities. This collaborative approach was instrumental in launching the initial phase of the technology innovation initiative and improving service delivery. Scott's commitment extends beyond the walls of the Department. He has a passion for workforce reintegration, having previously focused on programs to help formerly incarcerated individuals re-enter the workforce. Additionally, his experience includes building strong relationships with external community partners. Scott lives in the downstate area with his husband.
