Daniel Ortega joined ELEC 825 in October 2014 and currently oversees the Community Affairs Outreach. His primary responsibility is to establish and maintain relationships with local governmental entities, agencies, authorities, and relevant organizations. He actively participates in municipal council meetings, public hearings, Planning and Zoning boards, and community organizations like chambers of commerce, business associations, and economic development agencies. Through these efforts, Mr. Ortega continues to advance ELEC’s mission to foster economic development and construction across New Jersey and five counties in New York’s Hudson Valley: Delaware, Orange, Rockland, Sullivan, and Ulster.
He takes pride in giving tours of the IUOE Local 825 Training Center in Wawayanda, NY. Mr. Ortega has also testified before the New York Legislative Committees, advocating for transportation projects in the Hudson Valley and legislation aimed at improving water systems and sewerage facilities. Through his work with ELEC and the 17 Forward 86 Coalition, he secured both state and federal funding for NY Route 17, including $5 million for a Planning and Engineering Linkage study in 2018, $34 million for the Environmental Impact Statement, and $1 billion for construction as part of the 2022-2023 New York State Budget.
Mr. Ortega was an active participant in the New Yorkers for Clean Water and Jobs coalition, which helped pass the 2022 New York Bond Act, securing over $4 billion in environmental investments for the state over the next decade. He has participated in infrastructure forums and coauthored an op-ed on the importance of the Environmental Bond Act. In April 2023, his op-ed on the need for cost-conscious energy policies was published by Newsday.
Daniel joined Pattern for Progress as a Board Member in Fall 2022, where he chairs the Education and Outreach Workgroup. Since February 2021, he has served as Co-Chair of the Government Affairs Committee for the Orange County Chamber of Commerce, and in January 2024, he joined their Board of Directors. He is also actively involved in the Rockland Business Association’s Economic Development and Government Affairs Committee.
As a founding member of New Yorkers for Affordable Energy, Daniel advocates for greater access to clean, reliable, and affordable energy sources for residential and business consumers statewide. He became Interim Executive Director of NYAE in Spring 2023 and was appointed full-time Executive Director in December 2023. In May 2024, City and State named him to its annual Albany Power 100, honoring the top political influencers in the state Capitol.
Before joining ELEC 825, Daniel held various political and intergovernmental roles focused on project mobilization, coordination, strategic planning, and problem-solving within governmental sectors.
Since April 2017, Daniel has served as Chairman of the Housing Authority of Bergen County, where he works with fellow commissioners and the executive director to ensure the effective use of public resources in addressing local housing needs. He oversees a $77 million annual budget and manages 3,500 Section 8 Vouchers, along with a portfolio of 1,000 units serving seniors, people with special needs, veterans, and families. He is dedicated to the agency’s mission of creating and preserving affordable housing.
Between May 2006 and September 2010, Daniel held several key roles, including Commissioner of the Hackensack Housing Authority and the Housing Authority of Bergen County, and President of the Housing Development Corporation of Bergen County.
Daniel earned his BA in Political Science from William Paterson University in 2006 and his MS in Administrative Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2010. He and his wife, along with their two daughters, reside in Wyckoff, NJ. Daniel enjoys cooking, especially preparing a mean mac and cheese.
