Carrie Torres has built her career on the conviction that public investment should be more than transactional—it should be transformational. As Director of the Opportunity Programs Group at DASNY, New York’s principal public finance and construction authority, she leads efforts to ensure that minority, women, and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses have meaningful access to the billions of dollars in public contracts that shape the built environment. Under her leadership, DASNY reported $200 million in MWBE expenditures in FY24–25 alone, contributing to New York State’s record-setting achievement of over 30% MWBE utilization—the highest rate in the nation.

Carrie describes her role in the industry as both a strategic facilitator and policy advocate—someone who connects vision with execution. Working within a public benefit corporation, she focuses on aligning diverse stakeholders—developers, contractors, regulators, and community members—so that projects not only meet financial goals but also serve the broader public good. She emphasizes that the true test of development is whether it measurably benefits the people who live and work in a community. That means jobs above minimum wage, expanded access to health insurance and paid leave, youth internships and mentorship opportunities, and outcomes that outlast the construction process.

She is most proud of creating systemic pathways for women and minority-owned businesses to fully participate in large-scale civic capital projects, making the marketplace more equitable and more competitive.

She points to billion-dollar public projects where certified diverse businesses have secured significant contracts as evidence that intentional policy design can change markets. By shaping procurement practices, contract terms, and inclusion standards, Carrie has demonstrated that equity and efficiency are not opposing goals but mutually reinforcing. For her, the construction industry is the backbone of real estate—and when that backbone is strengthened by diverse participation, both projects and local economies thrive.

Carrie’s career is also guided by a philosophy she learned early: “build bridges before you need to cross them.” While the phrase initially sounded like simple networking advice, over time it became her mantra for cultivating authentic, service-driven connections. She believes that generosity with time and expertise turns barriers into bridges, and she credits this mindset with her ability to always find someone—across industries and sectors—who can help move a project, or a person, forward.

With a background that spans policy, compliance, and community development—including including senior roles at New York State Homes and Community Renewal, New York City Housing Authority, and service on Governor Hochul’s Interagency Taskforce on Health Equity and DEI—Carrie has consistently used her platform to champion equity at scale. She is equally committed to ensuring that public investment translates into stronger families, healthier communities, and new opportunities for future generations.

For Carrie, every project is more than a structure; it’s a promise to the people it will serve. And her work is proof that with vision, intention, and inclusion, that promise can be kept.