CEG names 2020 Officers and Board of Directors
Staff report / The Record / Dec. 28, 2019
ALBANY, N.Y. — Board officers for the Center for Economic Growth (CEG) were recently elected at the organization’s Board of Directors meeting, with CDPHP President and CEO John D. Bennett, MD, being selected to succeed Pioneer Bank President and CEO Thomas Amell as Board Chair.
Dr. Bennett and the following officers will take office on Jan. 1:
John D. Bennett, MD, CDPHP; Chair of the Board
Thomas Amell, Pioneer Bank;Past Chair
Patricia Fusco, Fusco Personnel; Secretary
James Drislane, Teal, Becker & Chiaramonte, CPAs; Treasurer
Dr. Bennett will be taking the helm of CEG at a pivotal time for both the organization and the Capital Region. On top of overseeing the continued expansion of CEG’s industry and workforce development initiatives, as well as the launch of a regional branding campaign, Dr. Bennett will guide the organization as it works to fulfill the strategies of the Capital Region’s five-year economic development plan.
“I’m thrilled to be named CEG Board Chair, building upon the incredible leadership of my predecessor Tom Amell, and continuing the excellent work being done to attract and retain talent in this region we call home,” said Dr. Bennett. “Like CEG, CDPHP understands that the success of our community depends on the strength of its businesses, which is why we work day-in and day-out to improve the lives of the individuals we serve. I look forward to getting to work on what I hope will be a very prosperous term.”
“John Bennett keenly understands just how transformative technology can be, whether it’s for a health insurer or a region,” CEG President and CEO Andrew Kennedy said in a news release. “He knows how important it is to train, attract and retain talent as well as to make the investments needed to create a place where people want to live and work. As CEG strives to advance priorities such as industry attraction, workforce development, startup support and placemaking, John’s vision and leadership will be invaluable.
“It has been an honor working with Tom during his tenure as Board Chair, and it is because of his strong commitment to CEG and the Capital Region that we are positioned to have an even greater local economic impact in 2020.”
Officials said Dr. Bennett will build on the accomplishments that Amell helped CEG achieve in 2019, which have included:
–Marketing the Capital Region at 23 events/tradeshows worldwide
–Engaging with over 100 companies looking to grow
–Developing strategies to help advance progress of key industry clusters in the region
–Supporting 41 companies expand and enhance their competitiveness
–Engaging 30 startups, helping them secure nearly $3 million in investments
–Attending 10 careers fairs in the Northeast
–Assisting over 75 executives and skilled workers with relocation and career support services
–Opening the Veteran Connect Center (VCC) to attract transitioning service members to the region Created workforce training solutions
–Creating workforce training solutions, such as the Manufacturing Technologies Pathways and apprenticeship programs.
At CEG’s 2019 Annual Meeting at WMHT Studios in Troy, the following individuals were also elected to the 2020 Board of Directors:
Executive Committee
James J. Barba, Albany Medical Center
David M. Buicko, The Galesi Group
Michael J. Castellana, SEFCU
J. Gregory Connors, GLOBALFOUNDRIES
Chris Del Vecchio, MVP Healthcare
George R. Hearst, III, Times Union
Richard Hendrick, Port of Albany
Ruth Mahoney, Key Bank
Justin Moore, Rivers Casino & Resort
John J. Nigro, Nigro Companies
Stephen Obermayer, BBL Construction Services, LLC
Robert Pasinella, Rensselaer County IDA
Laura Poltynski, National Grid
Gregory Stephan, Zones/nfrastructure
Havidán Rodríguez, Ph.D., University at Albany
John Tattersall, Chair, Chief Executives Network
Board Members
Brian Akley, Gilbane Building Company
Cindy Applebaum, Albany Business Review
Carm Basile, CDTA
Robert E. Blackman, Howard Hanna Realty
Tracey Brooks, Shenker, Russo & Clark, LLP
Bryant J. Cassella, Wells Fargo
Antonio Civitella, Transfinder
Casey Crowley, Owens Corning
John DeAugustine, Schenectady Gazette
David S. DeMarco, Saratoga National Bank
J. Tyler Desmond, The Desmond Hotel & Conference Center
Keith Dolan, BlueShield of Northeastern New York
Christopher Dowd, Ballston Spa National Bank
Paul Fahey, Overit
Daniel Fariello, Capital Bank
Ray Gillen, Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority
James Harris, Jr., Janitronics
John Harris, Esq., Brown & Weinraub, PLLC
Michael J. Hickey, Siena College
David Horan, JP Morgan Chase
Chris Horne, GLOBALFOUNDRIES
Scott Houghtaling, Berkshire Bank
Josh Kowalski, Carver Companies
Kevin Lanahan, New York Independent System Operator (NYISO)
Richard E. Leckerling, Esq., Whiteman, Osterman & Hanna
Jennifer L. MacPhee, Bank of America
Andrew Marsh, Plug Power
Chris McKenna, CAPCOM
John McManus, Harris Beach, PLLC
Matthew Millea, C&S Companies
Paul Milton, Ellis Medicine
Thomas O’Connor, III, Mohawk Fine Papers Inc.
Diana Ostroff, Ostroff & Associates
Michael Paparian, Citizens Commercial Banking
Roger A. Ramsammy, Ph.D., Hudson Valley Community College
Justin Riccio, Alliant Americas
Joe Rigabar, AYCO
Andrew C. Rose, Esq., Nixon Peabody, LLP
Raymond L. Rudolph, P.E., John W. Danforth Company
Peter Semenza, St. Peter’s Health Partners
Hon. Kathy Sheehan, City of Albany
Richard P. Sleasman, SIOR, CBRE – Albany
Carolyn Stefanco, Ph.D., The College of Saint Rose
Carl E. Stewart, III, Turner Construction
Richard Straut, P.E., Barton & Loguidice
Michael J. Uccellini, United Group of Companies
Nick Viggiani, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Susan Walden, Momentive Performance Materials
Dan White, KPMG LLP
Published: Mon, 30 Dec 2019 13:21:58 +0000 by d.gardner