Bernadette Castro
| Bernadette Castro | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born |
July 10, 1944 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Peter Guida |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | University of Florida (BA, MA) |
| Website | Official website |
Bernadette Castro (born July 10, 1944, Manhattan, New York) is a businesswoman and former New York politician who served in the Cabinet of former New York Governor George Pataki. She is the CEO of Castro Convertibles, a convertible furniture company based in Locust Valley, New York. She is also a partner with her family in Castro Properties.
After earning her master's degree at the University of Florida, Bernadette worked in the advertising and promotions department of Castro Convertibles. While raising her four children, Bernadette worked in the business on a limited basis and later moved into her role as the company CEO when they were grown. In 2009 Bernadette bought back the Castro Convertibles furniture business with her family, relaunching the legendary brand with two all-new convertible ottomans designed for contemporary living. The products are sold online (www.castroconvertibles.com) and on the Home Shopping Network.
Bernadette has four children: Terri Keogh, David Austin, Jonathan Austin and Bernard Austin, as well as eight grandchildren.
While Bernadette sold the furniture division of the family's company in 1993 to Krause Furniture, she retained ownership of the real estate and remained active in the family’s commercial real estate business with properties along the East Coast. Terri Keogh, Bernadette’s daughter, is CEO of Castro Properties. Bernadette's son Jonathan Austin is also in the family real estate business. Castro Properties' flagship property is The Castro Building, which is located in Manhattan's Flatiron District at 43 West 23rd Street. Bernard Castro, founder of Castro Convertibles, purchased the property in 1972 and all eight floors were the well-known flagship showroom for Castro Convertibles.
In 1995, Bernadette was appointed Commissioner of the New York Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation by Governor George E. Pataki, a cabinet post she held for twelve years. During her tenure from 1995 to 2006, New York State preserved over one million acres of land through acquisition for state parks and conservation easements. Much of this was funded by a $1.75 billion environmental bond, which was authorized in 1996.
Among her many accomplishments as Commissioner, Bernadette worked with Speaker Newt Gingrich and the Trust for Public Land in 1996 to acquire the 18,000 acre Sterling Forest property for $55 million. The property protects approximately 25% of New Jersey's drinking water. Sterling Forest II, an additional 1,065 acres, was purchased later in Castro's term for $8 million. In 2001, President George W. Bush appointed Bernadette the Vice Chair of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.
...
Wikipedia