Stacey I. Sikes is an experienced leader of innovative programs in business, government, the non-profit sector, and higher education. She serves as the Vice President of Government Affairs and Communications for the Long Island Association (LIA), which is the leading business organization in the region that supports Long Island’s economic growth. At the LIA, she is the primary advocate for its legislative agenda, manages the Membership Department, coordinates the work of the Member Board Committees, and oversees the organization’s press and digital communications.
Stacey previously served as the Executive Dean of Entrepreneurship and Business Development at Hofstra University, where she supervised the globally-recognized Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Scott Skodnek Business Development Center. She developed new initiatives to support students and entrepreneurs, including the ideaHUb NYS certified business incubator and Hofstra Veterans Venture Challenge. She authored successful grant applications from federal, state, and private sources to build entrepreneurship facilities and fund programs for small businesses. Under her leadership, Hofstra was the only organization in New York State to receive a 2021 U.S. Small Business Administration Lab-to-Market award for its efforts to support a diverse population of entrepreneurs during the pandemic.
Stacey has collaborated on regional initiatives to further economic development, including serving as a writer for the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council’s report. She has also developed surveys on behalf of Nassau and Suffolk Counties to assess the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2022 Stacey was appointed Chair of the Board of Accelerate Long Island, a non-profit collaboration among Long Island’s research and academic institutions to foster an entrepreneurial ecosystem, and previously served as its Assistant Executive Director.
Stacey was named to the Long Island Business News 2021 40 Under 40 list, is part of the 2022 class of the Energeia Partnership at Molloy College and was included on the 2021 Power 25 in Higher Education list by Long Island Business News. She was also a 2019 Girls Inc. of Long Island Gala Honoree and currently is a member of the organization’s Advisory Board. Stacey served as a speaker on several Newsday panels offering advice to businesses navigating the economic challenges presented by COVID-19. In her community, she is a volunteer with Girl Scouts of Suffolk County.
Stacey’s career started in government, serving as Deputy Chief of Staff for Brookhaven Supervisor Mark Lesko (projects included the Ronkonkoma Hub Transit-Oriented Development); Director of Special Projects for Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi (where she assisted with the NYS Property Tax Commission); and Deputy Regional Representative for U.S. Senator Charles Schumer.
Stacey received her BA and MA in Government and Politics from St. John’s University, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude and also served as an Adjunct Instructor.
She was born and raised on Long Island and lives in East Northport with her husband Rich and two daughters.