The Grandrap Strategies Team

  Judy Rapfogel is Co-Founder and Principal of GrandRap Strategies (GRS), a government affairs, lobbying and strategic planning firm which opened in 2018.

Judy works with the firm’s clients to cultivate relationships with government and industry officials at the highest levels and to help them achieve their short- and long-term goals. Problem solving on a wide range of challenges is Judy’s forte. 

With more than four decades of experience in the public sector, most of them as Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the New York State Assembly, Judy brings a wealth of knowledge about the intricacies of the legislative process and government, as a whole, in New York State. Judy is a fixture in both the New York State Capitol and in New York City’s City Hall and has strong professional relationships with a long list of members of Congress.

During her time as Chief of Staff, Judy oversaw the management of the Assembly, members and staff, and helped guide and enact the Democratic majority’s policies.

Judy is a founding member of Eleanor’s Legacy and helped to rebuild the Financial District after 9/11 through her work with the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation. She is also a former board member of the Trust for Governor’s Island.

Judy achieved cum laude distinction at Hunter College in New York City, where she majored in English and Communications. 

 Michael Rapfogel, Esq. is Co- Founder and Managing Principal of GrandRap Strategies (GRS), a government affairs, lobbying and strategic planning firm which opened in 2018. 

As Managing Principal, Michael handles the day-to-day operations of the firm. Additionally, Michael works with the firm’s clients, from a wide variety of industries, on their needs. 

Michael helps the firm’s clients determine the proper strategies and actions that will help them reach their very diverse goals, i.e. increasing business performance, raising the client’s profile with important stakeholders or getting the client through challenging times or crises to achieve the best results. 

Prior to launching GRS, Michael spent 12 years at Forest City New York, one of New York’s most prolific real estate development firms. During his time at Forest City, Michael rose through the ranks of the company from project manager to Vice President of External Affairs. In this capacity, Michael helped guide the company’s strategy for media relations, government relations and both internal and external communications. He has worked closely with Federal, State and local government.

While at Forest City, Michael was a leading member of the government, community and public relations team that opened some of the most exciting and important real estate developments in New York including Barclays Center, The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, East River Plaza, Westchester’s Ridge Hill, New York by Gehry and the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island. 

Michael is a member of the board of governors of the historic Bialystoker Synagogue. Previously, he served as the publisher and editor of a local weekly newsletter that was distributed in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Michael also was a member of the board of directors of the MetroTech Business Improvement District in Brooklyn.

Additionally, Michael is an Emergency Medical Technician for Hatzalah Volunteer Ambulance Corporation, the largest volunteer ambulance organization in the world, where he has served the community for nearly two decades.

Michael received his B.A., cum laude, in Political Science from the City University of New York and his J.D. from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. He is admitted to practice law in New York State.