Mega Procurement Opportunities Session
Meet the Moderator and Panelists
Moderator
Dhanraj Singh
State Chief Procurement Officer
Office of General Services, Procurement Services, New York State
Dhanraj is New York State Chief Procurement Officer. He leads the state's centralized procurement office within the Office of General Services managing over 1,500 contracts valued at approximately $34 billion. In addition, he chairs the State's Procurement Council, driving policy improvements and best practices. With executive-level experience in strategic sourcing, contract management, and risk mitigation, he spearheads initiatives to enhance efficiency and transparency in state procurement. His role involves collaborating with stakeholders to optimize procurement strategies, ensure compliance with regulations, and deliver cost-effective solutions for the State of New York. Dhanraj is dedicated to promoting integrity, innovation, and excellence in procurement practices, contributing to the state's fiscal responsibility and mission success. Dhanraj joins OGS from the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, where he served as the Assistant Commissioner for Economic Opportunity and Regulatory Compliance and the Agency Chief Contracting Diversity Officer where he provided executive oversight over the agency's procurement activities and compliance with various city, state, and federal regulations. He also served as the Agency Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises Officer, directing the agency's efforts to ensure compliance with the city's contracting goals for minority-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, and emerging business enterprises. Dhanraj also served in various leadership and managerial positions at Orange County Government, Florida, Florida Policy Institute, Federation of Canadian Municipalities International, and the Institute of Development Studies, University of Guyana. With 13 years of experience in the government sector, Dhanraj has extensive experience in public procurement, contract negotiation, regulatory compliance, risk management, economic development, executive oversight, and a commitment to efficient, sustainable, and resilient practices in the public sector. Dhanraj received a Master of Law with specialization in drafting legislation, regulation, and policy from the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London; a Master of Business Administration with specialization in financial evaluation and investment management from Lynn University, Florida; a Master of Science in political economy from the London School of Economics and Political Sciences; and a Bachelor of Science in economics from the University of Guyana.
Panelist
Bridget O'Hanlon, P.E.
Deputy Commissioner
NYS Office of General Services, Design and Construction
Bridget O'Hanlon, P.E. leads the Division of Design and Construction, which delivers high-quality, cost-effective, and timely design, procurement, permitting, and construction management services for capital construction projects to over 50 client New York State agencies and authorities. Bridget is a NYS Licensed Professional Engineer and LEED AP accredited design professional with more than 26 years of design and construction experience, including five years in a senior management role. Bridget has received several professional accolades, including the ACEC 2017 Engineering Excellence Gold Award for the transformation of the New York State Fairgrounds and 2021 Outstanding Women Award from the Women's Building Council. Among Bridget's professional accomplishments was her management of the $200 million complex rehabilitation project for the Office of Mental Health. Bridget has led many other high-priority and Governor's initiative projects throughout New York State during her tenure at OGS, including the agency's first design-build procurement for the State Fair's Exposition Center. Others include OCFS's Raise the Age Initiative, the Fair Haven State Park shoreline stabilization and parking lot reconstruction REDI Initiative project, and DMNA's lead remediation projects and Jamaica Armory renovation. Bridget received her BS in Environmental Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Panelist
Robert J. Rodriguez
President and Chief Executive Officer
Dormitory Authority of the State of New York
Since 2024, Robert J. Rodriguez has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York—one of the country's largest public finance and construction authorities—leading the delivery of billions of dollars in projects that build and strengthen communities across New York State. In this role, he leads an organization that manages approximately $13 billion in active construction projects and issues roughly $10 billion in bonds annually to support hospitals, higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, and other critical infrastructure statewide. Under his leadership, DASNY has also expanded its role in administering major capital grant programs on behalf of New York State, helping deliver transformative investments directly into communities. Rodriguez brings a unique combination of financial expertise and public service to this work. Prior to leading DASNY, he served as New York's 67th Secretary of State and represented East Harlem in the New York State Assembly for over a decade, where he advanced economic development, supported local governments, and worked to strengthen communities across New York State. A lifelong New Yorker, he was born and raised in East Harlem as the grandson of Puerto Rican immigrants—an experience that continues to shape his commitment.
Panelist
Jason M. Clark
Executive Vice President
NYS Division of Minority & Women's Business Development
Jason Myles Clark is the Executive Vice President of the Division of Minority & Women's Business Development. Prior to joining the Empire State Development, Jason served as Executive Director at Tech:NYC, where he focused on reducing the digital divide and building a tech ecosystem that works for all New Yorkers. Prior to Tech:NYC, he was a partner at the Black owned litigation boutique Hamilton Clarke, LLP, as well as First Attorney in the Harlem Regional Office of the New York State Attorney General Office.
Jason is also the founder of DREAMChasers, a free tutoring and mentoring program that helps students from underrepresented backgrounds prepare for the New York City's Specialized High Schools Admissions Test. From 2018 to 2020, he served as President of the Metropolitan Black Bar Association, which is the largest of association of predominantly Black attorneys in New York. Jason is a proud graduate of Princeton University and the University of Michigan Law School. He resides in his hometown of Southeast Queens with his wife Nia and their two young sons, Eli and Khai.