the bio

Cathy McNamara | President

For more than 20 years, Cathy has established her professional reputation in the public and private sectors. She embarked on her career as a high-level events planner while coordinating public events for then New York First Lady Matilda Cuomo. The events were international, national and statewide, including official visits to Italy, Israel and Japan.

Following Governor Cuomo’s term of office, Cathy became the Director of Communications and Public Affairs at Manhattanville College. Here she played a pivotal role in the school’s dramatic turnaround. She developed and implemented a multi-million dollar fundraising special events program, which brought luminaries such as Margaret Thatcher, Cokie Roberts and Frank McCourt to the storied Westchester County campus. Additionally, Cathy managed the public appearances of the College president, including his inauguration ceremony and festivities.

Prior to establishing CMI, Cathy served as the Director of Special Events and Community Affairs for Cablevision Systems Corporation, one of the nation’s leading telecommunications and entertainment companies. At Cablevision, she coordinated community-based events involving company corporate sponsorship, supervised company participation in charitable benefits, and managed departmental conferences and meetings. Her special events planning for Cablevision included: The Grand Re-opening of Radio City Music Hall; the company’s listing on the New York Stock Exchange; World Series and Columbus Day Parades; and events at Madison Square Garden with the New York Knicks, New York Rangers and New York Liberty.

In addition to being a seasoned fundraiser and detail-oriented event producer, Cathy McNamara has worn several hats in her roles with the organizations for which she has worked. Her background in communications and public relations allows her to create events that effectively communicate the message of her clients.

In varying capacities throughout her career, Cathy has been instrumental in countless successful events.