Mr. George J. Tsunis is the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Chartwell Hotels as well as an attorney, developer, philanthropist and public policy advisor with a strong interest at the intersection of economic and foreign affairs.
Prior to founding Chartwell, Mr. Tsunis was a partner at the law firm of Rivkin Radler LLP, Long Island, NY’s largest law firm representing both private clients and municipalities in the practice areas of land use and zoning, real estate corporate law, municipal law and commercial litigation. Mr. Tsunis’ public service includes time as a Legislative Attorney at the New York City Council, Special Counsel to the Town of Huntington (NY) Environmental Open Space Committee and Counsel to the Dix Hills (NY) Water District.
Mr. Tsunis served as an advisor to the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, where he furthered the Committee’s legislative role of overseeing a diverse group of issues, including but not limited to, banking, insurance, financial markets, securities, housing, urban development and mass transit, international trade and finance, and economic policy.
Mr. Tsunis currently serves as Chairman of The Battery Park City Authority. The Battery Park City Authority is the state public benefit corporation that oversees Battery Park City, the 92-acre planned development on Manhattan’s lower west side. He was appointed to the board of The Battery Park City Authority by Governor Cuomo.
Mr. Tsunis is Director of the New York Convention Center’s (Jacob Javits Center) Operating Committee and Director of the New York Convention Center’s Development Committee.
Mr. Tsunis chairs the Nassau Health Care Corp., or NuHealth, the health system that operates Nassau University Medical Center, A. Holly Patterson Nursing Facility, NUMC Primary Care Clinic and co-operates six Long Island Federally Qualified Health Clinics located throughout Nassau County. It is the largest public hospital in Nassau County with a distinguished Burn Center.
Mr. Tsunis was a member of the Brookings Institution’s Foreign Policy Leadership Committee and its Metropolitan Studies Leadership Council as well as a member of the Business Executives for National Security’s Board of Trustees. He has also previously served on the Board of Trustees at Dowling College, the American Red Cross Suffolk County Chapter, the Huntington (NY) Chamber of Commerce/Committee on Good Government, the Education and Assistance Corporation and the Private Industry Council of Suffolk.
Mr. Tsunis received his Bachelor of Arts degree from New York University and his Juris Doctor from St. John’s University’s School of Law. He is married to his wife, Olga, and they live in Matinecock, NY, with their three children.