Local Content Power List 2026: John Schneidawin Jr.

Return to the Power List homepage

John Schneidawin Jr. brings crisis-tested leadership and long-term economic vision to his role as Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Port of Albany. His commitment to local suppliers, workforce pathways, and community benefit was forged during the earliest days of the Covid pandemic, when he was reassigned by county leadership to lead emergency procurement efforts securing PPE for healthcare workers and first responders. That experience revealed, in stark terms, how critical resilient local supply chains are to public safety and economic stability.

Additional moments shaped his focus on workforce sustainability, including conversations with higher education leaders struggling to retain top talent due to cost-of-living pressures and his work mentoring young professionals across Long Island. These experiences sharpened his advocacy for workforce pathways that deliver family-sustaining wages rather than short-term opportunity.

Today, Schneidawin applies this perspective at the Port of Albany, working across local, state, and federal agencies to unlock funding and public-private partnerships that enhance port infrastructure and regional growth. While initially focused on offshore wind manufacturing, he has adapted to shifting market conditions by identifying near-term opportunities in transmission infrastructure. His leadership reflects a pragmatic, collaborative approach to positioning the region for long-term industrial readiness and economic resilience.

‍