Frank V. Carone is Founder and Chairman of Oaktree Solutions. 

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Building on Carone’s career of solving complex challenges, Oaktree provides issue advocacy and market positioning, litigation support, crisis management, government relations strategy, mediation services, business development support, executive and board consulting, and equity and sustainability consulting.

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An accomplished negotiator, one of the city’s most sought-after business litigators, and a former U.S. Marine, Frank served as chief of staff to the 110th mayor of the city of New York, Eric L. Adams. In service to Mayor Adam’s vision of New York as a “City of Yes,” Frank’s initial goals for the new administration included building the team; creating a culture of discipline, responsiveness, and creativity; and having the vision to pursue large, high-impact projects. 

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During his tenure as chief of staff, Frank helped break down bureaucratic barriers to business and build a real partnership with the state and federal government. His accomplishments on behalf of the city include leading negotiations to develop Brookdale Science Park and Research Campus, a project that transformed an entire city block into a state-of-the-art destination for the rapidly growing life sciences industry and has created new jobs, higher education opportunities, and space for business incubators. 

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Frank also led the charge on the corridor-wide rehabilitation of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, an initiative that has connected communities long separated due to the design of the historic Robert Moses highway. He successfully concluded negotiations to bring affordable housing and a world class soccer stadium to Willets Point, an area of Queens underutilized for generations. He also promoted New York City’s application to host the Democratic National Convention in 2024.

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While visiting big cities around the world, Frank successfully brought back major business and convenings to New York. He brought the World Dyslexia Forum to New York City for the first time, raising awareness of the reading disorder, while also helping to implement universal dyslexia screening for public school students. Frank convened the 2022 Mayoral Summit on Criminal Justice, during which stakeholders from across the ideological spectrum came together to develop a shared agenda to address crime in innovative ways.

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Frank’s negotiating style is built on “achieving alignment”: identifying areas where multiple parties’ interests converge so that everyone is satisfied with the outcome when negotiations are finished. He has leveraged this approach to great success throughout his career.  

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Prior to joining the Adams administration, Frank was an executive partner at Abrams Fensterman, LLP, a full-service law firm with multiple offices in New York State: Long Island, Brooklyn, Manhattan, White Plains, Rochester, and Albany. He was instrumental in charting the firm’s strategic expansion, transforming it into the largest legal practice in Brooklyn and establishing it as one of the region’s premier law firms.

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Known for achieving breakthrough results on complex problems others thought unsolvable, Frank became the go-to private practice attorney for cases in which the New York State Attorney General was conflicted, successfully representing the interests of the state on 15 thorny and politically-charged cases.

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Designated a Super Lawyer in Government Relations and known for his creative solutions, Frank attained significant achievements in both business and law. His practice handled a diverse array of civil and criminal matters for individuals, corporations, government agencies, nonprofits, professional practices, and independent family offices, as well as providing high-level government relations strategies. Forbes cited Frank as “one of the foremost experts on business negotiating strategy” in the country.

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Before joining Abrams Fensterman, Frank founded a successful mortgage bank that he grew into a multi-state enterprise with more than 200 employees, ultimately negotiating a successful merger with a larger institution. 

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Born and raised in Brooklyn, Frank served two terms on the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission. He was appointed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2011 and reappointed by Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2015, unanimously confirmed by the New York City Council in both instances. His tenure as a commissioner was marked by notable advancements in green vehicle standards, the advent of e-hail apps, and significant improvements to accessibility and driver wage increases. He lobbied for the creation of and served as chair of the New York State Bar Association Committee on Transportation Law, which focused on issues associated with ride-sharing services and driverless vehicles. 

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For almost a decade, Frank was counsel to the Kings County Democratic County Committee, where he represented numerous elected government officials. He frequently appears as a guest lecturer before legal and business trade organizations.

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Frank graduated cum laude from St. John’s University with a bachelor of science degree in finance. He received his juris doctor at Brooklyn Law School, where he graduated in the top of his class and received the award for American Jurisprudence in Legal Ethics. 

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He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1993 to 1995 where, upon completion of Officers Candidate School, he was commissioned second lieutenant. 

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Frank’s professional memberships include the New York State Bar Association, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Brooklyn Bar Association, American Association of Bank Directors, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Kings County Criminal Bar Association, and Columbian Lawyers Association.

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His ongoing business and nonprofit engagements include board member and audit chair of Hanover Community Bank (HCB), where he led a successful reorganization and recapitalization; Board and Audit Committee chair of Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council, where he helped restructure the agency; and board member and audit chair of the Catholic Foundation of Brooklyn and Queens. Frank joined the founding advisory board of the New York League of Independent Bankers and serves on the board at the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership. He also served as president of the Brooklyn Bar Association.

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Frank continues to make his home in Brooklyn with his wife Diana and children Gabriella and Francesco.

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Learn more about Frank here.

Anthony J. Carone is the Chief Executive Officer of Oaktree Solutions.

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Anthony is a partner at Abrams Fensterman, LLP, and a member of the firm’s Real Estate and Government Affairs practice groups, working out of the Brooklyn office.

Immediately prior to joining Abrams Fensterman, Anthony was the principal attorney at his own law firm focused on Business and Corporate, Real Estate, and Trusts and Estates law. Prior to starting his firm, he was an associate at Otterbourg, PC, in the Corporate Restructuring and Asset Based Lending groups, where he represented financial institutions, corporations, and other business enterprises. Anthony began his professional career in the U.S. Probation Department for the Eastern District of New York, where his duties included review and approval of government contracts with private vendors. Anthony was selected by the United States Courts Second Judicial Circuit for the 1997 Merit Award for outstanding service to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

Anthony attended Brooklyn Law School and graduated cum laude in 2000. He was a member of the moot court team and received the Best Brief award in the 1999 Domenick Gabrielli National Moot Court Competition. He was also selected for the judicial clerkship clinic for U.S. District Court Judge Denny Chin in the Southern District of New York. He graduated from St. John’s University summa cum laude. There, he received the Professors Award for attaining the highest cumulative GPA of all criminal justice majors in his graduating class. In addition, he attained a 4.0 GPA in his particular major. Anthony was also the captain of St. John’s mock trial team that placed in the top 10 in the national intercollegiate mock trial tournament. He was also selected for a prestigious honors internship with the U.S. Secret Service and served as an intern in the Internal Affairs Division of the U.S. Customs Service.

Anthony serves as a volunteer arbitrator for Kings County Civil Court, where he acts as an arbitrator of civil disputes. He is admitted to practice in the State of New York and is an active member of the Brooklyn Bar Association, Columbian Lawyers Association, Association of Arbitrators, Mill Basin/Bergen Beach Lion’s Club, and Knights of Columbus (St. Bernard’s Council).

Leah H. Goldberg is an Analyst for Oaktree Solutions. She is based in New York City.

Jason Goldman is a Senior Strategic Advisor at Oaktree Solutions.

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Jason is a seasoned professional with a strong track record in public administration, political action, and strategic leadership. Throughout his career, Jason has demonstrated an ability to drive strategic initiatives, manage large scale operations, and build strong, effective teams. One key area of focus is helping clients navigate land use and real estate projects with sophisticated strategies. His deep understanding of political landscapes, legal frameworks, and community engagement makes him a valuable asset in the sphere of where government, politics, and community engagement intersect.

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Before joining Oaktree, Jason served as the Chief of Staff for the New York City Council under Speaker Corey Johnson. In that role, he oversaw the daily operations of over 900 employees and 14 divisions, ensuring alignment with the council's strategic goals. His responsibilities extended from financial oversight and facilities management to executive leadership, performance management, and strategic advice. He also served as a lead strategist on all legislative, budgetary, and strategic plans for the speaker. During his tenure, he also oversaw the management of the 2019 City Council-initiated Charter Revision Commission — a significant responsibility tasked with conducting a comprehensive review of the City Charter.

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Prior to that, Jason had been a lobbyist and strategic advisor, and served in a senior role at the United Federation of Teachers. Jason has experience organizing grassroots campaign activities, managing strategic consulting proposals, executing strategic plans for legislative priorities, and coordinating community engagement.

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Jason's contributions to public service have been recognized with several awards and honors. He has featured multiple times in City & State’s NYC Power 100 list, he was celebrated as one of the Top 5 Leaders Under 35 by Manhattan Young Democrats, and he was listed among City & State Rising Stars 40 Under 40.

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Born and raised in New York, Jason graduated from the State University at Albany with a Bachelor of Arts in American History and a minor in Political Science.

Julianna Kelly serves as an Analyst on the Oaktree Solutions team, working with multiple Managing Directors to support clients across non-profit, advocacy, real estate, and technology spaces. She studied Political Science and Philosophy at Villanova University. Julianna's background includes competitive internships in consulting and lobbying, where she honed her skills in strategy and problem-solving to find innovative solutions to complex issues. Born and raised in Rockaway Beach, Queens, she has a love for New York City and is passionate about serving her community.

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Kevin D. Kim is the Managing Director of International Growth at Oaktree Solutions.

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Kevin D. Kim was appointed by Mayor Eric Adams to serve as the Commissioner for the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS), a dynamic City agency focused on equity of opportunity leading to economic self-sufficiency and mobility for New York City's diverse communities. Among the initiatives SBS successfully launched in his first year as Commissioner include: 1) largest public-private partnership loan fund in NYC directed to small businesses ($85M); 2) Cannabis NYC to outreach and educate New Yorkers on the opportunities connected to this newly-legalized market; 3) Small Business Forward - recommending more than 100 reforms to violations that overly-burdened small businesses, saving small businesses millions of dollars annually; and 4) Small Business Advisory Commission to give actual small business owners a seat at the table when important policy decisions are being made.

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Commissioner Kim is an attorney, entrepreneur, and public servant. As a son of immigrant small business owners, and a former co-founder/operator of several small businesses, he understands first-hand the various challenges small businesses face.

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In public service, Commissioner Kim served as the first Asian American commissioner of the New York State Liquor Authority. For more than a decade, he has been a recognized community leader serving on the boards of various non-profit organizations, including the CUNY Board of Trustees, President (Biden)'s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, and American Red Cross (Queens). He is also a certified community mediator through his participation in the Black Korean Mediation Project.

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Commissioner Kim is a proud product of the NYC public school system, having attended K-12 in Queens (graduating from Townsend Harris High School at Queens College). He received his B.A. and M.A. from Stanford University and his J.D. from Columbia Law School, where he was a member of the Columbia Law Review.

Jeff Lewis is a Managing Director of Policy and Strategy at Oaktree Solutions.

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Prior to joining Oaktree Solutions, Lewis served in a number of senior roles throughout New York State government.

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Lewis is widely recognized for his tenure as Chief of Staff to Governor Hochul, spearheading her historic transition to Governor and overseeing all executive operations with a commitment to ensuring that state government worked seamlessly to serve the people of New York and accomplish Governor Hochul's agenda. Most recently, Lewis was a Senior Advisor to Governor Hochul’s campaign and the New York State Democratic Party, where he helped elect the first female Governor in New York’s history. 

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In his earlier political career, Lewis served as finance director for a top ranked DCCC Red to Blue congressional campaign raising $2.5+ mil in the 2014 cycle. He also served as the Northeast & LGBT Deputy Finance Director for the DCCC, and has been a lifelong advocate for helping ensure New York is a safe, welcoming, and accepting place for every LGBTQ+ person who wants to build a life here and thrive.

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Lewis is a graduate of NYU and lives in Brooklyn.

Onida Coward Mayers is the Chief Government Affairs Officer at Oaktree Solutions.

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For over two decades, Onida Coward Mayers has been a leading voice in media, politics and government relations.  

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Prior to joining Oaktree, Onida was a Senior Vice President and a registered lobbyist for the MirRam Group, a firm providing strategic consulting in government, political campaigns, and communications. She was charged with advising a broad range of clients on local, state, and federal policy and legislative matters. In this role, she proudly served on the lead consulting team for the roll out of the Racial Justice Commission ballot reform questions in the 2022 historic Fall elections.

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She began her city government career with former New York City Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, serving as the Agency head for the Voter Assistance Commission and later as the Director for Voter Assistance for the NYC Campaign Finance Board where she was the lead in launching NYC Votes. She proudly led NYC to first place in the United States for the highest number of people registered in a single day on National Voter Registration Day from 2015 - 2017.

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Before joining city government, Onida was the Founding Director of Brooklyn Community Access Television at BRIC where she led the creation, launch and daily management of the 10,000 square foot multi-media television station and executive produced many local and international television programs.

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Onida was awarded the 2021 City and State “Above and Beyond” recognition for creating and launching several civic engagement firsts including NYC Votes, the NYC Youth Poet Laureate (YPL) program, Student Voter Registration Day, New Citizen registrations, and the annual “Voter Day” in Albany.  She received a Community Service Award from Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and the “Mujures Distintas” from El Diario in 2005. She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and The Links Incorporated. 

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Onida also remains committed to her personal venture Comadre Communications LLC, integrating her expertise in media, communications and voter policy with her connections in Black and Latinx communities.

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An Afro Latina born in the country of Panama, Onida resides in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn with her husband, Gregorio, and their two children. She is a graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo in Broadcasting and Communications, and she received her MBA from the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College/City University of New York.

Hon. Esther “Micky” Morgenstern (Ret.) is the Managing Director of Oaktree’s Litigation Support practice.

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Prior to joining Oaktree, Justice Morgenstern served for 28 years in the New York State Supreme Court, as well as an additional 10 years of public service as the Principal Law Clerk to a Supreme Court Justice.

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Justice Morgenstern is most notably recognized for creating and leading the Kings County Integrated Domestic Violence (IDV) Court, established in 2003. Dedicated to a “one family one judge” model, she handled criminal, family and matrimonial cases involving domestic violence between intimate partners. Her influence extends beyond King’s County – the “best practices” she has shared have been implemented statewide, changing the landscape of domestic violence interventions in all of New York’s 62 counties.

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She is the former President of the Brooklyn Women's Bar Association, and recipient of the Sybil Hart Kooper Award and the Beatrice M. Judge Award and the Pro Bono Award from the Brooklyn Bar Association's Volunteer Lawyers Project. Judge Morgenstern served as a trustee of the Brooklyn Bar Association and continues to serve on several committees.

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Judge Morgenstern received her Bachelors of Art in Political Science from Brooklyn College summa cum laude and her Juris Doctor from Cardozo School of Law.

Ariel Palitz is the Managing Director of Hospitality & Intergovernmental Affairs at Oaktree Solutions.

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Ariel is widely known for having been New York City’s first-ever “Nightlife Mayor,” appointed as the Founding Director of the Mayor's Office of Nightlife and serving under both Mayor Bill de Blasio and Mayor Eric Adams from 2018 to 2023. In that role, she used her experience as a former nightclub owner and community board member to create the infrastructure for a new government office, identify systemic challenges and develop non-enforcement solutions. She also successfully navigated the hospitality industry through the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Ariel is recognized as a pioneer and ambassador for the global nighttime governance movement, creating internationally adopted solutions and addressing issues around enforcement, safety, harm reduction, quality of life, community and government relations, licensing and permitting, crisis management, equity, and fairness. Ariel’s strength for problem solving and building relationships between industry, community, and government enables her to find mutually beneficial solutions that support the needs and interests of all stakeholders.

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In her private capacity Ariel is involved in global consulting and public speaking on nighttime governance strategies.

Matthew A. Quinonez is the Chief of Staff and Managing Director, Business Development for Oaktree Solutions. He is based in New York.

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Before joining Oaktree Solutions, Matthew had a distinguished career in city government. He served as Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff to the Mayor of New York City, where he helped oversee daily operations and manage the workflow of the Office of the Chief of Staff, acting as a liaison for a broad range of mayoral offices.

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Previously, Matthew was the Special Assistant to the Deputy Mayor for Administration and the Deputy Mayor for Health & Human Services. During this time, he played a key role in establishing NYC’s first Vaccine Command Center amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He also served as Special Assistant to the Budget Director at the Office of Management and Budget, who managed the country’s largest municipal budget.

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Born and raised in Virginia, Matthew earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Baruch College.

Sanjay Singla, CPA, CGMA, MBA, MSC, is the Chief Financial Officer at Oaktree Solutions.

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Sanjay also serves as an audit and compliance partner for KBL, LLP, in the firm's Assurance and Advisory Services Group. With over 30 years of experience in accounting, auditing, business advisory services, and taxation, Sanjay oversees KBL’s Not-For-Profit Group. As an audit partner, he works closely with clients in both the private and public sectors. His focus is on initial public offerings, SEC filings, taxation, and not- for- profit organizations. Sanjay's expertise lies in conducting external audits to ascertain the validity and reliability of information that then provide the basis for an opinion on a company’s financial statements and an assessment of its internal controls.

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Sanjay started his career at Nestle, progressed to Pfizer, and worked at a Big Four CPA firm before joining KBL. He has a master’s degree in accounting and finance, along with a master’s degree in computer science, and a third master’s degree in marketing. Sanjay is a member of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA).

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Sanjay is a proponent of giving back to the community. Accordingly, he contributes his time, money, and effort in assisting non-profit organizations and provides accounting services to underrepresented communities.

Robert Spolzino, Esq. is General Counsel at Oaktree Solutions.

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Robert is a former New York State appellate judge and an executive partner with the New York law firm Abrams Fensterman, LLP. Robert chairs the firm’s appellate and litigation practices and manages the firm’s White Plains office. 

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Robert brings to his clients unparalleled judgment cultivated over decades of unique experience. An attorney for more than 35 years, he served more than eight years as Justice of the New York State Supreme Court, with five of those years as a Justice of the Appellate Division, New York’s intermediate appellate court. In 2016, Robert was selected by the New York State Commission on Judicial Nomination as one of seven candidates statewide for a seat on New York’s highest court, the Court of Appeals.

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As a Justice of the Appellate Division, Robert decided more than 4,000 appeals and 10,000 appellate motions and wrote major opinions across a broad spectrum of areas. Since leaving the bench in 2009, Robert has argued seven times in the New York Court of Appeals and more than 125 times in the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court. Robert regularly addresses audiences of lawyers and judges with respect to issues of appellate practice.

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The insights into judicial thinking that Robert developed in eight years as a trial and appellate judge and more than 35 years as an appellate litigator bring unique value to his representation of a broad base of public and private clients. His ability to see the issues from the perspective of the judge or judges who will decide the case, and then to articulate the arguments in a forceful and effective manner, allows his clients to achieve their objectives with remarkable effectiveness.

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In addition to his law practice, Robert is actively involved in the governance of health care institutions. Robert was a member of the Board of Trustees of Northern Westchester Hospital for 10 years and its chair for four. He is also the immediate past chair of Health Care Trustees of New York State, having served on its Board of Governors since 2012. 

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Robert resides in Mamaroneck, New York, with his wife, Joann.

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Daniel W. Tietz is the Chief Compliance Officer at Oaktree Solutions.

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Prior to joining Oaktree, Daniel led the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance as commissioner. Nominated by Governor Kathy Hochul and confirmed by the State Senate, he was charged with overseeing and leading support programs and economic assistance for low-income New Yorkers.

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Before joining OTDA, Daniel served as Interim CEO of Bronx Parent Housing Network, Inc., a provider of emergency shelter and social services to over 2,000 individuals in more than a dozen facilities. He was also appointed by the New York State Supreme Court to serve as Temporary Receiver/CEO for Childrens Community Services, Inc.

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Previously, he served as CEO of Bailey House, a community-based organization with a nearly 40-year history of providing housing and essential supportive services to individuals and families with HIV/AIDS and other chronic conditions.

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Prior to that, Daniel served as the Chief Special Services Officer for New York City’s Department of Social Services/Human Resources Administration (DSS/HRA) from June 2014 through October 2017. Daniel oversaw programs that focused on the most vulnerable New Yorkers, including day-to-day shelter and intake operations for approximately 60,000 New Yorkers experiencing homelessness.

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Earlier in his career, he served as executive director of ACRIA, a national HIV research, education, and advocacy organization; as deputy executive director at the Coalition for the Homeless; and as deputy executive director for Housing Works, all of which are based in New York City, among other positions.

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Daniel has also long-advocated on behalf of LGBTQI+ rights and social justice concerns. A lawyer and registered nurse, Daniel received a J.D. from New England Law School, a B.A. in Legal Services from the University of Massachusetts-Boston, and an R.N. from the Milwaukee County General Hospital School of Nursing.

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Tian Weinberg is the Chief Operations Officer at Oaktree Solutions.

Prior to joining Oaktree , Tian served as Chief of Staff at the Department of Small Business Services (SBS), where she serves as chief advisor to the SBS Commissioner and oversees the agency’s operations, public affairs, and strategic initiatives

At SBS, Tian  guided the agency’s efforts to expand access to capital and cut red tape for small businesses, connect more New Yorkers to good paying jobs and careers, enhance neighborhood development and public spaces, and empower minority- and women-owned businesses in City contracting.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Tian delivered critical economic recovery priorities in Mayor Adams’s Blueprint for Economic Recovery and initiated several organizational and administrative reforms. These include 1) the launch of Cannabis NYC; 2) the creation of an agency outreach unit; 3) hiring more than 160 new SBS employees in two years; and 4) implementing the most ambitious and effective reform of City rules and regulations impacting small businesses, saving local establishments more than $15 million in avoided fines and fees.

Tian is an experienced communicator with a proven track record of leading strategic campaigns that advance economic justice: from winning “Fight for $15” campaigns in Florida and Arizona, organizing the first union of bank workers in more than 50 years, and coordinating shareholder advocacy that led to leadership and policy changes at McDonald’s, Facebook, and Wells Fargo. She has also served as a speechwriter, policy director, and press secretary.  

Tian is a proud native New Yorker and a graduate of Barnard College and Hunter College High School.

Jayson Williams is the Managing Director of Sports Ventures at Oaktree Solutions.

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After an 11-season career in the NBA, Williams is dedicated to guiding clients through complex sponsorship and partnership negotiations, strategic financial planning, and brand and reputation development, all aimed at creating rewarding and lucrative careers.

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Williams is also the Founder and Owner of the Rebound Institute, which provides programs and services designed to help individuals rediscover their true selves through counseling, crisis intervention, life skills development, and holistic therapies.

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Williams was a first-round draft pick for the Philadelphia 76ers and played 10 years in the NBA, becoming an NBA All-Star and one of the most dominant rebounders in the history of the game. Early in his career, Jayson quickly learned about the potential pitfalls of life in the NBA. 

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He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Arts from St. John’s University.

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