Mike Klein, President and CEO

A distinguished strategic leader with a keen sense of identifying and mitigating risks and who has helped the organizations and leaders he has served thrive, Mike founded Urban Strategies to be a full-service government affairs and strategic services firm. Designed to be nimble, the Urban team is deep in its understanding of the nexus between government, business, and politics. Mike proudly ensures the firm’s ability to provide fundamental situational awareness to its clients with services needed to develop all the necessary strategies, tactics, and partnerships to navigate the regulatory and political spheres to ensure the client’s goals are accomplished.

Mike’s career spans more than thirty years in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. A problem solver and advocate by nature, Mike served in variety of trusted staff positions for a prestigious list of New York elected officials, including Congressman Charles Rangel, Councilman Stan Michels, and Governor Mario Cuomo, both in his Administration as Governor and as a personal aide for more than a decade following his tenure as Governor. Mike also served as Deputy County Executive in Nassau County for Tom Suozzi, Deputy Director of the NY/NJ Office of Drug Control Policy under President Clinton’s Drug Czar and as a Chief in the City of New York Parks & Recreation Department. He also worked for the Parks Council, where he designed and ran the Parks 2001 campaign, one of the largest advocacy efforts in NYC history, comprised of more than 1,000 business and community groups.

After his notable roles in public life, Mike was a Principal at Dentons US LLP, a global law firm with offices in 60 Countries, where he led the Public Policy team in the NY office. In this role, Mike worked on local, regional, and national issues, and provided government affairs counsel to leaders in the fields of infrastructure, aviation, community development, real estate, energy, transportation, telecommunications, technology, parks/open space, and public safety.

As recognition for his service, Mike has received numerous awards. Notably, he was named to the Power 100 New York City list by City & State Magazine in 2015 and 2016. In 2015, he was named to City & State’s Responsible 100 list in recognition of his work in the community and on the Boards he serves, which include the NYC League of Conservation Voters, Governors Island Alliance, Hunter College Library Foundation, Wellness in the Schools, and NY Midnight Basketball.

Mike attended Canisius College in Buffalo and is a graduate of Hunter College in New York City. Additionally, he finished top of his class from the New York City Leadership Institute. A proud, lifelong New Yorker, basketball player, skier, and enthusiastic traveler, Mike resides on Manhattan’s Upper West Side with his wife. Together, they have three adult children and a rescue dog named Coco.

Francesca Iodice, Chief of Staff

Francesca Iodice serves as the Chief of Staff at Urban Strategies, where she plays a crucial role in guiding client relations and managing project execution. She expertly facilitates stakeholder engagement, coalition building, and strategic partnership development to meet organizational and client objectives. Additionally, she manages all facets of data and policy analysis to advance strategic data-driven narratives and propel complex projects forward.

Francesca's exceptional grasp of New York's political machinery comes from serving in the New York State Senate, under Senator Alessandra Biaggi, and in the New York City Council, under Council Member Helen Rosenthal. Her legislative experience made her a fierce advocate and tremendous translator of the complex regulatory and policy matters impacting organizations and businesses in New York. Complementing her work for New York's public servants, Francesca has a background in the field of nonprofits, having worked for Lawyer's Alliance NY and the Center for Nonprofit Strategy and Management. Her dual experience enriches her approach, allowing her to effectively navigate the complexities of governance and nonprofit operations.

Francesca graduated Magna Cum Laude from Baruch College's Marxe School of Public and International Affairs, receiving a Bachelor's degree in Public Affairs with a concentration in Law and Policy. Francesca lives in Westchester with her three young children and husband.

Sam Friedman, Strategic Development Advisor

Development projects is where Sam excels professionally. Sam's expertise is in identifying opportunities, assessing them, and developing practical strategies to drive new business development. His careful and thorough approach allows him to create sustainable growth-oriented plans and manage implementation step-by-step through frequent collaborative work sessions. Sam guides his clients through any challenges and opportunities that arise, ensuring the best possible outcomes. He sets himself apart by maintaining relationships with a vast network of subject matter experts in various fields and participating in a broad spectrum of networking events, always on the lookout to form new connections. Sam is a skilled and flexible leader, quick on his feet, who works with technical, political, and business executives to drive conversations and effect transformations.

Sam studied entrepreneurship at SUNY Albany. He is an active alum in the Goldman Sachs 10KSB community. Sam is a versatile strategist with over 16 years of experience working on projects that involve technology, food systems, financial services, real estate, critical infrastructure, international trade and nonprofits. As a Founder and Advisor, he has successfully navigated multiple industries, building and scaling operations from the ground up. Passionate about fostering business growth, he has guided numerous start-ups, small and medium sized organizations through critical growth phases as a strategic consultant. While Sam is involved in various professional projects, his favorite role is being a devoted father.

 

Team of Partners

Our clients have access to an experienced team of experts and strategic partners that amplify our firm's ability to deliver value for them.

Our alliance with these firms and individuals acts as a force multiplier for our clients in critical issue areas across the Tri-State area and beyond.