Cheryl Davidson

Executive Director
Long Island Works Coalition

"Find a way." "Do whatever it takes." "Just keep moving forward." Those close to Cheryl Davidson know these are the mantras she lives by. And her can-do attitude has made all the difference for Long Island Works Coalition, and the students, educators and businesses it serves.

As executive director, Davidson believes strongly that her agency is the missing link between businesses that need qualified workers and schools that educate those potential workers.

In the organization's first decade, Davidson has done much to build strong relationships between these two groups and in doing so is bringing about real opportunities for Long Island students. From helping school districts to set up business advisory councils to conducting internship fairs, she and her staff of three have impacted more than a million students and 6,000 businesses.

Davidson was instrumental in developing the organization's Career Academies program in collaboration with Ford Motor Company. School districts throughout Long Island have opened these academies, which focus on teaching lessons through real industry examples.

Most recently, she helped ensure the future of Long Island Works Coalition by entering into a partnership with Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey, which is dedicated to breaking down the barriers to employment.

Davidson brings a wealth of experience to her role, having started her career at E. F. Hutton & Co. before continuing her career at the Northrop Grumman Corporation and the Long Island Association. She also has been an instructor for Dale Carnegie Training for more than 13 years.

Just as she is encouraging others to do, Davidson attended college on Long Island. She earned a bachelor's degree from Adelphi University and a master's from New York Institute of Technology.

Davidson lives in East Meadow, N.Y., with her husband, Peter Michelman, and their two children, Jamie and Steven.