Diana Fortuna
Encyclopedia
Diana Fortuna is an American businesswoman, who is the Chief Financial Officer
of the Metropolitan Opera
. She spent most of her career working in government budget positions and was the president of the Citizens Budget Commission
in New York City from 1998 to February 2008.
and graduated from Harvard University
and then received an MBA
from Columbia Business School
. She is the daughter of Walter and Marilyn Fortuna.
's Office of Management and Budget, where she eventually became Deputy Budget Director under Mayor Ed Koch
. Beginning in 1990, she served in the New York State Office of Federal Affairs in Washington, D.C., where she analyzed federal policy issues. In 1993, she became a policy aide to the Administrator of the U.S. Health Care Financing Administration, and in 1995, she joined the White House Domestic Policy Council
, becoming Associate Director and working on welfare, health, disability and national service issues.
In 1998, Fortuna became the president of the Citizens Budget Commission
, a non-profit watchdog group that monitors the finances and operations of New York City and New York State government. While at the CBC, Fortuna generally advocated controlling New York State spending more and reducing New York State's public debt load. She also supported Mayor Mike Bloomberg's plan to implement congestion pricing
in New York City. In analyzing New York's 2007–08 budget, Fortuna wrote, "Albany
's ingrained political culture remains highly dysfunctional; the budget process is still too secretive and convoluted, and the state's fiscal practices are still far out of line with those of other states – leaving New Yorkers the nation's most heavily taxed people."
Crain's New York Business called Fortuna "One of the most well-known advocates for fiscal responsibility in New York". When Fortuna left the CBC, New York City Comptroller
William C. Thompson, Jr. stated, "Diana Fortuna has done an outstanding job as President of the Citizens Budget Commission over the past nine years. Under her leadership, the CBC has fulfilled a critical role as a non-partisan watchdog of both New York City and New York State finances. Throughout her tenure, she has been a strong advocate of fiscal reform and has offered constructive advice to City and State government at every level".
In 2005 New York Common Cause honored Fortuna with the Making Peoples' Voices Heard Award for her work in helping to advance the movement for reform of New York State government.
Fortuna left the Citizen's Budget Commission in February 2008 to join the Metropolitan Opera
as its budget director and soon became its Acting Chief Financial Officer
. Fortuna said of joining the Met, "As someone who is interested in the performing arts, it seemed like a great opportunity to enter that field with a perspective I know very well, which is budgeting." Fortuna is now the Met's Chief Financial Officer.
Fortuna also sits on the e-Treasury Pennsylvania Advisory Commission.
member David Yassky
, who ran for the office of New York City Comptroller
in 2009. They live in Brooklyn Heights with their daughters Susan and Margaret. In 2000, Fortuna introduced Diana Taylor to Mike Bloomberg (who was, at the time, considering running for mayor), seating her next to him at a Citizens Budget Commission luncheon, and the two soon began dating.
Fortuna has performed in amateur Gilbert and Sullivan
productions, taking roles at Harvard and Columbia (the Barnard
G&S Society) and with the Victorian Lyric Opera Company (while living in Washington, DC) and other groups. She has continued to sing in her free time.
Chief financial officer
The chief financial officer or Chief financial and operating officer is a corporate officer primarily responsible for managing the financial risks of the corporation. This officer is also responsible for financial planning and record-keeping, as well as financial reporting to higher management...
of the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
. She spent most of her career working in government budget positions and was the president of the Citizens Budget Commission
Citizens Budget Commission
The Citizens Budget Commission is a nonpartisan, nonprofit civic organization that attempts to influence constructive change in the finances and services of New York City and New York State government.-History:...
in New York City from 1998 to February 2008.
Biography
Fortuna was raised in Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
and graduated from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and then received an MBA
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
from Columbia Business School
Columbia Business School
Columbia Business School is the business school of Columbia University in Manhattan, New York City. It was established in 1916 to provide business training and professional preparation for undergraduate and graduate Columbia University students...
. She is the daughter of Walter and Marilyn Fortuna.
Career
In the early 1980s, Fortuna began her career at New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's Office of Management and Budget, where she eventually became Deputy Budget Director under Mayor Ed Koch
Ed Koch
Edward Irving "Ed" Koch is an American lawyer, politician, and political commentator. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1969 to 1977 and three terms as mayor of New York City from 1978 to 1989...
. Beginning in 1990, she served in the New York State Office of Federal Affairs in Washington, D.C., where she analyzed federal policy issues. In 1993, she became a policy aide to the Administrator of the U.S. Health Care Financing Administration, and in 1995, she joined the White House Domestic Policy Council
United States Domestic Policy Council
The Domestic Policy Council of the United States is the principal forum used by the President of the United States for considering domestic policy matters, excluding economic matters, which are the domain of the National Economic Council...
, becoming Associate Director and working on welfare, health, disability and national service issues.
In 1998, Fortuna became the president of the Citizens Budget Commission
Citizens Budget Commission
The Citizens Budget Commission is a nonpartisan, nonprofit civic organization that attempts to influence constructive change in the finances and services of New York City and New York State government.-History:...
, a non-profit watchdog group that monitors the finances and operations of New York City and New York State government. While at the CBC, Fortuna generally advocated controlling New York State spending more and reducing New York State's public debt load. She also supported Mayor Mike Bloomberg's plan to implement congestion pricing
Congestion pricing
Congestion pricing or congestion charges is a system of surcharging users of a transport network in periods of peak demand to reduce traffic congestion. Examples include some toll-like road pricing fees, and higher peak charges for utilities, public transport and slots in canals and airports...
in New York City. In analyzing New York's 2007–08 budget, Fortuna wrote, "Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
's ingrained political culture remains highly dysfunctional; the budget process is still too secretive and convoluted, and the state's fiscal practices are still far out of line with those of other states – leaving New Yorkers the nation's most heavily taxed people."
Crain's New York Business called Fortuna "One of the most well-known advocates for fiscal responsibility in New York". When Fortuna left the CBC, New York City Comptroller
New York City Comptroller
The Office of Comptroller of New York City is the chief fiscal officer and chief auditing officer of the city. The comptroller is elected, citywide, to a four-year term and can hold office for three consecutive terms. The current comptroller is Democrat John Liu, formerly a member of the New York...
William C. Thompson, Jr. stated, "Diana Fortuna has done an outstanding job as President of the Citizens Budget Commission over the past nine years. Under her leadership, the CBC has fulfilled a critical role as a non-partisan watchdog of both New York City and New York State finances. Throughout her tenure, she has been a strong advocate of fiscal reform and has offered constructive advice to City and State government at every level".
In 2005 New York Common Cause honored Fortuna with the Making Peoples' Voices Heard Award for her work in helping to advance the movement for reform of New York State government.
Fortuna left the Citizen's Budget Commission in February 2008 to join the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
as its budget director and soon became its Acting Chief Financial Officer
Chief financial officer
The chief financial officer or Chief financial and operating officer is a corporate officer primarily responsible for managing the financial risks of the corporation. This officer is also responsible for financial planning and record-keeping, as well as financial reporting to higher management...
. Fortuna said of joining the Met, "As someone who is interested in the performing arts, it seemed like a great opportunity to enter that field with a perspective I know very well, which is budgeting." Fortuna is now the Met's Chief Financial Officer.
Fortuna also sits on the e-Treasury Pennsylvania Advisory Commission.
Personal life
Fortuna is married to former New York City CouncilNew York City Council
The New York City Council is the lawmaking body of the City of New York. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The Council serves as a check against the mayor in a "strong" mayor-council government model. The council monitors performance of city agencies and...
member David Yassky
David Yassky
David S. Yassky is a former member of the New York City Council. First elected in 2001, he represented the 33rd Council District, which includes parts of downtown Brooklyn, including Brooklyn Heights, Greenpoint, Williamsburg, DUMBO, Boerum Hill and Park Slope.Yassky is a graduate of Princeton...
, who ran for the office of New York City Comptroller
New York City Comptroller
The Office of Comptroller of New York City is the chief fiscal officer and chief auditing officer of the city. The comptroller is elected, citywide, to a four-year term and can hold office for three consecutive terms. The current comptroller is Democrat John Liu, formerly a member of the New York...
in 2009. They live in Brooklyn Heights with their daughters Susan and Margaret. In 2000, Fortuna introduced Diana Taylor to Mike Bloomberg (who was, at the time, considering running for mayor), seating her next to him at a Citizens Budget Commission luncheon, and the two soon began dating.
Fortuna has performed in amateur Gilbert and Sullivan
Gilbert and Sullivan
Gilbert and Sullivan refers to the Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the librettist W. S. Gilbert and the composer Arthur Sullivan . The two men collaborated on fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which H.M.S...
productions, taking roles at Harvard and Columbia (the Barnard
Barnard College
Barnard College is a private women's liberal arts college and a member of the Seven Sisters. Founded in 1889, Barnard has been affiliated with Columbia University since 1900. The campus stretches along Broadway between 116th and 120th Streets in the Morningside Heights neighborhood in the borough...
G&S Society) and with the Victorian Lyric Opera Company (while living in Washington, DC) and other groups. She has continued to sing in her free time.
External links
- 2007 article in NY Post by Fortuna about NY State budget issues
- Fortuna's December 2007 Op-ed piece in The New York Times
- Photo of Fortuna with then-Governor Elliot Spitzer in 2007
- 2007 Article on "NY power couples" with an interview of Fortuna and Yassky, City Hall News
- Photo of Fortuna and her family