2021 NYSEDC Annual Meeting

The State of Economic Development in New York: Sharing Our Best  Practices Over the Past 18 Months 

• Ryan Silva, Executive Director, NYSEDC 

• Shelby Schneider, Deputy Director, NYSEDC

Sponsored by The Agency - Broome County IDA/LDC 

Equity and Inclusion: Proven Programs and Best Practices That Can Be Implemented Across NYS - Ballroom

Economic developers are developing programs and policies around inclusion and creating more equity in the communities they serve. Talking about equity and inclusion is vital; creating programs and policies that are scalable, measurable, and able to be replicated are critical. Research shows that communities with higher social diversity (i.e., diversity of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation) share more information, are more creative, and perform better than those with lower social diversity. Hear from economic developers across NYS on successful programs in their communities and hear from Empire State Development on how they are modernizing and improving the state’s MWBE program.

• Moderator: Jerome DuVal, Executive Vice President and Executive Director, Division of Minority and Women‘s Business Development, Empire State Development  

• Dan Lloyd, Founder and President, Minority Millennials  

• Tamika Otis,  CEO/Principal Consultant, Kabod Consulting Group

• Dominic Robinson, Vice President of Economic Inclusion; Director, Work Train, Centerstate CEO

Board Governance, Management and Transparency: Best Practices - Fenimore

IDAs are subject to provisions in both General Municipal Law (GML) and Public Authorities Law (PAL). A separation and balance in the relationship between boards and staff is critical to maintain transparency and protect fiduciary responsibilities. Hear from the OSC on lessons learned from forensics audits and from IDA counsels on how to manage the relationship between board and staff

• Susan Katzoff, Partner, Bousquet Holstein PLLC 

• Bob Elliot, Office of the State Comptroller

• Kellie Leinung, Assistant Counsel, Division of Investigations, Office of the State Comptroller

• Jeff Pearlman, Special Counsel, Office of Governor Kathy Hochul

• Sara Tillapaugh, Supervising Forensic Auditor, Office of State Comptroller

• Jennifer Wood, Investigator, Division of Investigations, Office of the State Comptroller

Attracting and Retaining the Workforce for the Future  - Kingfisher

Communities across the globe are facing fierce competition to attract and retain talent. Economic developers are on the front lines crafting talent attraction and retention programs to coincide with their business attraction and business retention + expansion programs. Learn how economic developers are employing talent recruitment and retention strategies to grow their regional economies. 

• Moderator: Sarah Lee, CEO, Th!nk Dutchess Alliance for Business 

• Rosalie Drago, Comissioner, Suffolk County Department of Labor, Licensing & Consumer Affairs 

• Jenna Kavanaugh, COO, Invest Buffalo Niagara 

• Jim Siplon, President and CEO, Warren County EDC 

Sponsored by The Agency - Broome County IDA/LDC 

Energy and Economic Development: How Policies and Programs Have Developed an Emerging Industry in NYS - Fenimore

The Clean Energy economy is growing rapidly and poised to power the NYS economy into the future.

Hear from state leaders about successful programs and future goals and learn from local economic developers who have leveraged these programs for job growth and industry expansion. 

• Moderator: Steve Hyde, President and CEO, Genesee County Economic Development Center 

• Doreen Harris, President, NYSERDA 

• Katie Newcombe, Chief Economic Development Officer,Center for Economic Growth  

• Sarah Salati, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, New York Power Authority

Housing and Economic Development  - Ballroom

Housing matters to economic development with long-term implications for economic growth and sustainability. Having the right housing stock for your workforce can enhance economic performance and a community‘s competitiveness for talent and business investment. This panel will discuss the complexities of developing quality, affordable housing options for the local workforce, and explore best practices and challenges of bringing a project from idea to reality. 

• Moderator: Adam Zaranko, President, Albany County Land Bank 

• Libby Coreno, General Counsel, Bonacio Construction  

• Scott LaMoutain, Program Director, NYS Homes and Community Renewal (HCR)

• Darren Scott, Upstate East Director of Development, NYS Homes and Community Renewal (HCR)

• Jennifer Waters, Vice President of Business Development and Communications, Mohawk Valley Edge  

Entrepreneurship in Our Economic Recovery  - Kingfisher

Economic downturns have provided fertile ground for entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship has been the backbone of every economic recovery; small businesses account for two-thirds of all new jobs and drive much of the annual economic growth. In this session, learn about innovative programs providing resources to ignite entrepreneurship, jump starting job creation. 

• Moderator: Bruce Toyama, NY CREATES 

• Elizabeth Cooper, Executive Director, Adirondack North Country Association

• Zach Hobbs, Pandemic Response Outreach Coordinator, Adirondack North Country Association

• Marnie LaVigne, President & CEO, Launch NY 

• Robert Manasier,  Entrepreneur-in-Residence, IGNITEU

• Deborah Novick, Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Westchester County 

IDA Analysis: How IDAs are Leading Community Development and Modernizing Their Local Economies - Fenimore

In 2021, the NYSEDC partnered with Camoin/310 LTD to study how IDAs are driving growth in their communities. Hear the results from our research and learn about policy recommendations to further enhance the role IDAs can play to help NYS achieve its economic development goals.

Market-Ready Infrastructure - Ballroom

Inadequate infrastructure is one of the greatest challenges facing communities throughout New York State. Power, natural gas, water and sewer, telecommunications, and transportation systems are public services benefiting everyone in the economy. Learn how IDAs throughout the state are spearheading infrastructure projects to make their sites shovel ready and communities market ready.

• Moderator: Jamie Johnson, Executive Director, Steuben County IDA 

• Fred Braun, Board Chairman, Town of Brookhaven IDA 

• Bill Farber, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors,Hamilton County 

• Bob Petrovich, Executive Director, Onondaga County IDA 

Afternoon Networking Activities 

(Attendee choose one, RSVP in advance) 

11:30 am - Golf Tournament

Leatherstocking Golf Course

Sponsored by Nixon Peabody, LLP 

Shotgun starts at 12:30 pm, lunch served at ProShop at 11:30 am 

12:00 pm - Lunch for Other Attendees

1:30 pm -  Softball Tournament 

Doubleday Field

Sponsored by LaBella Associates  

1:30 pm - Fenimore Art Museum Tour and Wine Tasting

Fenimore Art Museum

Sponsored by Loewke Brill Consulting Group 

Transportation departs hotel at 1:30pm 

General Session - Ballroom

Sponsored by NDC 

Federal Update: The American Recovery Act and What It Means for NYS

The COVID-19 public health crisis and resulting economic crisis have created a variety of challenges for businesses in communities across the country.  This panel will reflect on where we have been, how Federal and State tools have aided economic recovery and what we can expect going forward. We will also look at best practices and how you can employ them in your community.

• Moderator: Shelby Schneider, Deputy Director, NYSEDC 

• Kevin Gremse, East Team Leader, National Development Council (NDC)

• Kevin Hansen, Senior Vice President, Head of Public Policy, Empire State Development

• Dan Rickman, Deputy District Director, U.S. Small Business Administration

• Cynthia Shannon, Economic Development Specialist, Empire State Development

Click here for the Prevailing Wage Statute

• Moderator: Ryan Silva, Executive Director, NYSEDC  

• Heather Briccetti, President and CEO, The Business Council of New York State (BCNYS)

• Diana Ostroff, Managing Director, Ostroff Associates 

• Milan Tyler, Partner, Phillips Lytle LLP