Gabriel Silva Marques

Gabriel S. Marques
Born	Mineola, New York, US
Education	Hofstra University, (BBA, MBA) Touro Law Center (JD)
Occupation	Attorney Economist Community leader

Gabriel Marques is a Portuguese-American attorney and socioeconomist who serves as the Senior Economic Advisor for the Nassau County Comptroller in New York.

Education

Marques attended the Frank G. Zarb School of Business at Hofstra University, where he obtained a B.B.A. degree at age 20 and an M.B.A., both in finance. At Hofstra, Gabriel was a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society, Phi Eta Sigma honor society and the Hofstra University Honors College. In 2014, Marques received a Juris Doctor degree from Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center and was the recipient of the school’s 2014 Special Service to the Public and Community Award. He is currently admitted to practice law in New York State.^[1][2]

Government

Gabriel currently serves as the Senior Economic Advisor to Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos.^[3]

Marques has co-authored several Comptroller's Opinions, primary concerning review of the County's largest Public-Private Partnerships, including the $400 million Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum redevelopment (then home of the New York Islanders),^[4] $100 million privatization of Long Island Bus to Veolia Transportation,^[5][6][7] and the $57.4 million privatization of the County’s wastewater system to United Water.^[8] He was also a lead analyst for the Comptroller’s review of the County's new assessment system and helped initiate the investigation on the Libor Scandal's impact on County SWAPS.^[9][10]

Special appointments

In 2014, Marques was appointed by the County Executive to serve on the County's Anti-Biased Crime Task Force, becoming the first Portuguese-American to serve on the committee.

Community

Portuguese

Gabriel is considered the architect of the modern revival of the Portuguese community in New York State. He has served as the Chairman of the New York Portuguese American Leadership Conference since 2012.^[11][12]

In 2012, Marques and County Executive Ed Mangano presented the first County-wide recognition of Portugal Day on Long Island by hosting the Portugal Day Celebration in the County’s Legislative Chambers.^[13] The event has since been held annually (renamed the New York Portugal Day Celebration) and has been recognized by the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a New York State Senate resolution^[14] and named a “TOP 25” Portugal Day Celebration in the United States by LusoAmericano Newspaper (2013 & 2014). In 2014, the Celebration became so large that it was split to incorporate a Parade in the Village of Mineola, New York organized by the Daughters of Portugal. The Inaugural Long Island Portugal Day Parade was the first Portuguese themed parade in the 100 year-old history of Portuguese on Long Island. It was held on June 8 and was reported to have been the largest parade in village history, drawing over 5,000 people.^[15][16]

Gabriel has also organized Hofstra University's "Spotlight on Portugal" during the 30th Annual Dutch Festival (in which he was an honorary master of ceremonies) and a Touro Law Center and Aristides de Sousa Mendes Foundation joint-event to honor the Holocaust hero.^{[17][18][19][20]}

In July 2014, Marques was featured in the national LusoAmericano Newspaper as one of the most innovative young Portuguese community leaders in the United States.^[21]

Amateur soccer

In 2011, Marques coached the Mineola Portuguese Soccer Club team to its fourth New York State Division 1 Championship (Dr. Randolph G. Manning Cup, beating the 2010 National Champion New York Pancyprian-Freedoms in the finals. In the same year, the team also reached the finals of the New York State Champions League (Sal Rapaglia Cup) and placed 4th in the United States Adult Soccer Association national George F. Donnelly Cup.^[22][23] In total, Marques has won 20 USASA, Eastern New York State Amateur Soccer Association or Long Island Soccer Football League trophies with Mineola Portuguese and was individually named the 2012 LISFL "Hero of the Game" President's Award recipient for his accomplishments on and off the field for amateur soccer on Long Island.^[24][25]

Awards and honors

• "Man of the Year", New York Portuguese American Leadership Conference (2014)^[26]
• "Young Portuguese-American of the Year", New York Portuguese American Leadership Conference (2013)^[27]
• "Key to the Village" awarded by Mayor Scott Strauss, Mineola, New York (2011)

References