Meet the Team

  • Anthony J. Lemma III

    Founder & Partner

  • Facia Class

    Partner

  • Amanda Vazquez

    Vice President

  • Karen Koslowitz

    Senior Vice President

About the Founder and Partner of Lemma Strategies:

Anthony Lemma is the Founder and President of Lemma Strategies, a government relations firm. With twenty years of experience working in government and political action, Anthony now represents a number of corporate clients, non profit organizations, and small business owners.

Born and raised in Queens, New York, Anthony has emerged as a leader in successful government and political strategy. With an extensive knowledge and network throughout New York City, New York State and Washington, DC, Anthony has been at the forefront of developing winning strategies grounded in strategy, government affairs and community engagement.

Anthony is best known through his work as District Director and Senior Political Advisor to Congresswoman Grace Meng, the First Asian American to be elected to the United States House of Representatives in the history of New York State. Prior to joining Team Meng in 2013, Anthony served as the Executive Assistant to his political mentor, Congressman Gary L. Ackerman.

Through his experience, Anthony has built a reputation based upon trust in his political knowledge and analysis, in addition to his relationships with elected officials and their staff members. He also regularly works with leaders in business, organized labor, the nonprofit sector, and key stakeholders in communities that make up our beautifully diverse city and state.

Anthony was named one of City and State’s NYC 40 Under 40 Rising Stars in 2021, Top 75 Political Consultants in 2022, and PoliticsNY & amNY Metro’s 2023 Power Players in PR and Lobbying.

About the Partner of Lemma Strategies:

Facia Class is a Partner and Vice President at Lemma Strategies and a respected leader in New York’s political landscape. As a second-generation Latina, she has built a vast network of relationships and gained extensive experience at the City, State, and Federal levels of government.

Born in the Bronx and raised in Queens, New York, Facia’s passion for public service began at the young age of 12, when she interned for her local representative, Assembly Member Nettie Mayersohn. Coming from a working-class family, she was raised in New York City Housing Authority’s (NYCHA) Pomonok Houses, where her father worked as a maintenance worker and a proud Teamsters Union member. Inspired by her upbringing, she volunteered alongside her mother at the Pomonok Senior Center for over a decade, instilling in her a deep commitment to community service.

Facia is a first-generation college graduate, earning her Undergraduate Degree from St. John’s University and a Master’s Degree from Queens College. Her professional journey has been marked by leadership roles in government and politics, including:

  • Director of Constituent Services for the late Assembly Member Michael Simanowitz

  • Political Director and Director of Community Engagement for Congresswoman Grace Meng

  • Chief of Staff and Budget Director for New York City Council Member Lynn Schulman

  • Political Director for Robert Zimmerman’s Congressional Campaign

During her tenure with the New York City Council, Facia played a pivotal role in strategy and funding allocation, overseeing the distribution of $5 million in critical resources focused on health, youth services, aging, education, women’s initiatives, and the LGBTQ+ community.

Beyond her professional work, Facia is deeply engaged in civic leadership. She serves on the Georgetown Mews Co-op and Queens College Community Advisory Boards and made history as the first Latina elected District Leader for the 27th Assembly District in Queens, NY. She is also the Founder and President of The White Lotus Collective, LTD, a Queens-based nonprofit dedicated to providing free menstrual products to those in need.

Facia Class continues to be a trailblazer in advocacy, community engagement, and political strategy, working tirelessly to uplift and empower the communities she serves.

About the Vice President of Lemma Strategies:

Amanda is a seasoned public service professional with over a decade of experience in New York City government, specializing in budget management, public policy, and nonprofit engagement. Throughout her career, she has played a pivotal role in allocating resources, shaping policy, and supporting community-driven initiatives.

Most recently, Amanda served as Chief of Staff to Council Member Linda Lee, where she led legislative strategy, budget oversight, and community engagement efforts. Prior to this role, she was the Director of Budget for Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, overseeing the agency’s budget and directing hundreds of millions of dollars in capital allocations for vital infrastructure and community projects across the borough.

Amanda’s deep expertise in budget coordination and government operations was further honed in her roles as Deputy Chief of Staff for former Council Member Karen Koslowitz and Budget Director for former Council Member Mark Weprin, where she worked extensively on municipal finance, resource allocation, and nonprofit funding initiatives.

With a Master’s Degree in Urban Studies from Queens College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Baruch College, Amanda brings a comprehensive understanding of city budgeting, nonprofit relations, and public policy development. She remains committed to advancing strategic investments, fostering community partnerships, and ensuring equitable resource distribution to strengthen New York City’s diverse communities.

About the Senior Vice President of Lemma Strategies:

Lemma Strategies is thrilled to announce that former New York City Council Member, Karen Koslowitz is joining our team as Senior Vice President. 

A former Chair of the Queens Delegation, and grounded in decades of service to our city and the Borough of Queens, Karen remains a tireless fighter and advocate for issues facing our communities. During her tenure in the City Council, which spanned from 1991 to 2001 and then again from 2009 until 2021, Karen fought for funding for schools, services for seniors, resources for small businesses, and worked to keep her district clean and safe. She also served as Queens Deputy Borough President from 2001 to 2009.

We are truly excited to continue our growth as a firm, and do so with a true legend of New York City government and politics as a part of our team.