About
Principals
James F. Capalino, Chief Executive Officer Jim is recognized as one of New York’s premier urban problem-solving strategists. His background combines senior management roles in government, public relations, real estate, and construction management, with extensive public sector experience at senior levels of New York City government. Prior to establishing Capalino+Company he founded The Growth Strategy Group - helping senior corporate managers to refine growth strategy, manage change and increase returns – and served as COO of AJ Contracting, one of the nation’s largest minority owned contractors, increasing its revenues from $125 million to $400 million in three years. Jim’s government career began in 1972 when he joined the staff of Congressman Edward I. Koch. In 1977, he co-managed the mayoral campaign of Congressman Koch when he was elected the 105th Mayor of the City of New York. He was named Commissioner of General Services, a 2,000+ employee, $750 million agency, at the age of 29 (still, the youngest commissioner in City history). Jim managed the Mayor’s successful third term re-election, which he won by the largest margin in the City’s history.
Jim holds an M.A. in Management and Urban Affairs from the New School University, and a B.A. in Political Science, cum laude, from Colgate University. He currently sits on the boards of Friends of the High Line, Safe Space and Friends of the Hudson River Park.
Travis H. Terry, Chief Operating Officer Travis brings to Capalino+Company’s clients more than a decade of hands-on experience providing strategic advice to some of New York’s leading not-for-profit and for-profit organizations. Since 2002, Travis has been a senior executive at Capalino+Company, becoming its Chief Operating Officer in 2006. In this position, Travis is responsible for strategic planning and managing some of the firm’s major accounts. Since joining Capalino+Company, Travis has secured public funding for some of the City’s leading not-for-profit organizations, including the $30 million renovation of Guggenheim Museum and the $60 million expansion of the Museum of the Moving Image. He also provides strategic advice on government and community relations regarding many of the firm’s most complex projects including the St. Vincent’s Hospital plan to construct a new hospital in Greenwich Village and Related Companies’ plans for the West Side Railyards.
Prior to joining Capalino+Company, Travis worked in management consulting, advising Fortune 100 Companies on strategic planning and organizational efficiency, and in the branding and sports marketing fields. He is a graduate of CORO Leadership New York and sits on the Development Advisory Board for the Bank Street School for Children and on the local Board of Directors for Computers for Youth, a national not-for-profit. He has also been a guest lecturer at Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service and acted as an evaluator for Echoing Green, a global not-for-profit that funds social entrepreneurship.
Travis holds a B.S. in Business Management and Marketing from Cornell University and lives in Forest Hills, Queens with his wife and daughter.
Mark P. Thompson, Vice President for Real Estate Advisory and Business Development Mark has spent more than two decades advising real estate clients in New York, the United States and Eastern Europe. His clients have included institutions, governments and private investors in both advisory and transaction oriented roles. Mark advises clients on real estate development strategies, including zoning and project approvals, permit applications, responses to RFPs and RFQs, landmark issues and economic incentives. A resident of Manhattan, Mark is active in civic affairs and serves as Vice Chair of Manhattan Community Board 6. He is on the Board of the Stuyvesant Cove Park Association and is Treasurer of the Stuyvesant Park Neighborhood Association. He is a graduate of Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and the University of Southern California and is a member of the American Planning Association.
George M. Fontas, Vice President for Government and Community Relations George most recently served as the Director of Communications and Legislative Affairs for New York City Council Member David Weprin, Chairperson of the City Council Finance Committee. During his time with the City Council, he was recognized as a specialist in the formulation and implementation of the City’s capital and expense budgets. He also managed the legislative agenda of Council Member Weprin. A veteran of numerous political campaigns across New York State at every level, George has earned a reputation as an innovative public policy and community relations strategist. A lifelong New Yorker with close ties to his native Brooklyn, he holds a B.A. in Government from Manhattan College and a M.A. in Government from St. John’s University.