For more than a decade when Malgieri previously worked as Chief Operating Officer at the Center for Governmental Research, colleagues asked if they could nominate her for the award, and she repeatedly said "no," for two main reasons. First, Malgieri does not like the limelight. Second, Malgieri says her success is due to surrounding herself with really smart people. So when Mayor Robert Duffy asked last summer to nominate her, the answer was the same.

Can’t Fight Fate

     Malgieri is humble, but exudes a strong presence. Nearly a half dozen times during our conversation, she explains that she prefers to be behind the scenes, and that it is the people around her who are responsible for the successes of her affiliations. Despite her protest, Mayor Duffy, unbeknownst to her, disregarded her request and delivered the seven page nomination form that drew the acknowledgement she truly deserves and that her associates and friends say is long overdue.

     "I was really angry with him for about this long," Malgieri says, gesturing with two fingers not quite pinched together. Then I decided that I would just go along, attend the luncheon graciously, applaud the recipient and then get on with business." But Malgieri was selected the winner from the field of 20 candidates. "It's about time!" undoubtedly resonates in the minds of many of those who know her.

A Time for Change

     In 2004, after decades with CGR, Malgieri set a time frame to look forward to change. When you are at the helm of a firm such as CGR, you work with a variety of clients and make quite a few contacts-one was with the city of Rochester.

"Bob Duffy was my favorite client when I was at CGR. We did several projects for him when he was police chief. And the reason why I say he was my favorite client is because he is very courageous. He took very bold action when he didn't have to on a few fronts, and I always respected his being on the cutting edge of politics," says Malgieri. "He tackled police community relations. He was always the first person to show up at the funeral of a homicide victim asking what the police could do to improve that situation. I always respected him for that-being so great on the personal interaction with the community side of things. So I new (former Chief) Duffy well as a client and I always respected him. So there was a lot of foundation there to build on." Observing him as a candidate for mayor, Malgieri was also struck by what a quick read Duffy was, and she realized that they shared the same philosophy, which contributed to her decision to come on board with the city in 2005.

     Malgieri did not even know that a deputy mayor position was in the plan. She had come on board to former Rochester police Chief Robert Warshaw's mayoral transition team primarily for her analytical skills. But Mayor Duffy clearly knew a good deal about Malgieri, and plucked her from that crew, and offered her the deputy mayor post. Did Malgieri have reservations? A few.

Leading the Masses

     Although she had been the CEO of an organization, colleagues told her that it was very difficult to go from being the head of something to being "Number 2." Malgeri gave pause only for a moment on that issue.

     "I couldn't wait not to be Number 1," she says emphatically. She had spent more than a decade holding ultimate responsibility of a company, making payroll and other major decisions. "Being Number 2 was exactly what I wanted."

Objective vs. Subjective

     Malgieri was also faced with the task of coming from a place where she had been on the "outside" for years, commenting on what government should do-it was the exact nature of her business at CGR. People told her that it would be very different working in government.  But Malgieri was not on unfamiliar turf. Years ago in Yonkers, she had worked for five years in its office of budget management, so she had that experience. "I knew in the back of my mind that I always wanted to get back into city government." Malgieri adds that this also made her feel more comfortable that going from a public policy research organization to 'getting her hands dirty' was a stretch. Mayor Duffy wanted her because he had always respected her organization's opinions, and thought she would be perfect to bring those innovations to the city. That also allayed any of her fears that she was a "fish out of water."

From a Lake to an Ocean

     Malgieri took the leap from leading a staff of 20 to being second in command to 3,000.  Although she did not have experience leading a fire department or the 9-1-1 emergency call center, Malgieri took the high road.

     "If you have experience, and have a sense about how to get the best out of people, it can work," Malgieri says, adding that the caliber of people that she would be working with were incredibly self sufficient. She likes the role of being a sounding board to those people-a consultant of sorts more so than their direct boss.

     "They come to me when they have issues that need advice or counsel, rather than when they need to know how to do something."

On Her Humble Nature

     Malgieri puts aside allusion to childhood experiences or her upbringing to her humble nature.

     "It's professional," she says. Malgieri believes that the reason she likes to work 'behind the curtain' so to speak is because that is exactly how her former company operated. She spent more than two decades at a firm that was low key, and behind the scenes by virtue of the nature of her employer.

     "Our company (CGR) provided objective information and advice to decision makers, but never took the limelight, never took credit. In fact, we were most effective when we did work that was anonymous and confidential and allowed politicians to take the credit or ignore our advice." Malgieri was ingrained in the culture of her chosen profession, and that meant shunning any recognition.

     "In this job, it is exactly the same. It's perfect for me because what I do every day is try to help the mayor be the very best mayor he can be. And I am best when no one sees me."

     Malgieri sounds like the epitome of what we'd all like all our bosses to be like. She believes in not only being a sounding board for colleagues, but also that she can be most effective when she is non-threatening, and by having no ego.  Longtime friend and colleague, Rochester Chief of Staff Jean Howard says Malgieri is also a woman who sets no boundaries around her job.

     "Patty believes that the key to delivering better results is to know all you can about all aspects of the business." Howard's example may seem extreme, but it clearly demonstrates her point. After a recent City Council meeting when Rochester was hit with a major snowstorm, Malgieri made a quick decision to take a ride around town aboard one of the city's huge snowplow trucks. "Her parting words were, 'If I don't do it tonight, I don't know if I will get another chance at this," notes Howard.  

On Women and Leadership Roles

     Malgieri says she rarely experienced any discrimination professionally as a woman. Even back in the early '70s, she says she was fortunate to work with great bosses, all of them male, who promoted her because of how she did her job.  Still, she has always been concerned about women's status, which is why she devotes her charitable time to helping young women. Malgieri served on the board of Our Lady of Mercy High School and Nazareth Academy. She believes that an all girl high school education and environment affords confidence in abilities and options. Having schooled herself at an all girl Catholic high school in the Bronx, Malgieri places heavy emphasis on this premise.

      "I adore working with the religious community. Most leaders of congregations would be CEO's if they worked in the private sector. They are such dynamic, incredibly talented and knowledgeable women with a lot of energy, commitment and dedication." For that reason, Malgieri wants to make sure girls' educations stay there. "It was cool to be smart at an all girl school." Malgieri notes that with boys around, that might not be the case.

     Mayor Duffy emphasized his colleague's commitment to women in his Athena® nomination: "I can speak to Patty's effort to promote women in the short time she has been in City government. Her direct hires have been young women who are smart, motivated and just needed a chance to show their talents," he wrote. The Mayor describes Malgieri in his 7 page Athena® nomination as "a selfless leader who perseveres, collaborates and builds consensus to get the job done and not seek recognition for doing so." Howard agrees.

     "I sometimes observe her sitting quietly and alone. I believe that's a moment when she chooses to challenge her own thoughts and ideas. In her bolder moments, however, she delightfully challenges those who wish to be challenged and those who need a challenge. Patty never 'toots her own horn,' but she truly marches to the beat of her own drum."

     The latter is an observation resounded by many about Malgieri. But now, let the band play on in honor of her many accomplishments, the music of which is long overdue.

     Malgieri lives in Rochester with her husband Pat. Her eldest son, Colin, 23, lives in Chicago where he is a legal assistant in a law firm. Son Jesse, 19, is an opera student at the Indiana University School of Music. Jesse was accepted at Eastman School of Music, but chose Indiana because it has the largest opera program in the country. The Malgieri's also share their newly adopted dog Ben-a mixed breed while they are empty nesting.