NEW WINDSOR, N.Y. (Feb. 6, 2013) – Hudson Valley Economic Development Corp. (HVEDC) Board Chairman Steven V. Lant today announced that Laurence P. Gottlieb was named the organization’s new president and CEO, effective Feb. 25. Gottlieb is currently director of economic development for Westchester County.
Gottlieb was the co-founder of HVEDC’s NY BioHud Valley® and Hudson Valley Food & Beverage Alliance initiatives and has been a key member of the organization’s board. He succeeds Mike Oates, who has accepted a position as CEO of Hudson River Ventures LLC, a small business investment fund focused on the Hudson Valley that was founded by Sean Eldridge in 2011.
“HVEDC is delighted that Larry Gottlieb will be its next leader,” Lant said. “As an engaged HVEDC board member and director of economic development for Westchester County, Larry has been instrumental in the successful launch of HVEDC’s NY BioHud Valley initiative as well as our Hudson Valley Food & Beverage Alliance. He has also led a successful transformation of Westchester County’s economic development efforts. Larry’s vision, energy and marketing and communication skills make him the ideal candidate to lead HVEDC. His familiarity with HVEDC’s strategy and key initiatives give HVEDC a unique opportunity to have a seamless transition of leadership and maintain our positive momentum.”
Gottlieb is a strategic communications executive who has more than 25 years of senior management experience. He has been director of economic development for Westchester County since joining County Executive Robert P. Astorino’s administration in 2010. In that role, Gottlieb was involved in creating both the NY BioHud Valley biotechnology cluster development coalition and Hudson Valley Food & Beverage Alliance, which promote regional industry growth through aggressive marketing campaigns and innovative programming, such as mini-MBAs for biotech executives and venture capital tours of food and beverage hubs.
He has been Westchester’s chief economist, rebranding the county with the “Westchester County: New York’s Intellectual Capital®” campaign. His office brought in nearly $500 million in new capital investment with the retention and creation of thousands of jobs from companies such as IBM, Atlas Air, PepsiCo, Sabra Dipping, Dannon, Regeneron, Acorda Therapeutics and Kraft Foods. Under his management, the Office of Tourism and Film has seen a 38 percent increase in movie, television and commercial production since deploying the Film Westchester marketing campaign.
“HVEDC draws its incredible strength from the robust and resilient Hudson Valley economy, which is reflected in the extraordinary board of directors who collectively remain the brilliant mind and thoughtful heart of the organization,” Gottlieb said. “I am honored to work with such a great team, as we together lead HVEDC through these challenging but equally exciting times.”
“I’m thrilled that Larry will be taking over as the president and CEO of Hudson Valley Economic Development Corp.,” Oates said. “I have worked closely with Larry on countless projects over the years and know that he will take the organization to new heights. Larry is an innovative economic development professional with vast experience in the business world. His expertise was put to good use with the launch of NY BioHud Valley and the Hudson Valley Food & Beverage Alliance. These were two important initiatives that Larry helped launch and grow. The Hudson Valley will be well served with him running HVEDC. I look forward to working closely with Larry in the coming years ahead.”
“Larry is uniquely qualified to lead HVEDC in these challenging economic times,” said Mark Kastner, president of The Chazen Companies. “His business experience and economic development acumen will be a tremendous asset to HVEDC and the entire Hudson Valley.”
HVEDC will continue to provide management of the Orange County Business Accelerator. James D. O’Donnell, deputy county executive of Orange County and executive director of the Orange County Industrial Development Agency, which provides funding for the Accelerator, said, “I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with Larry on Governor Cuomo’s Mid-Hudson Regional Council, where he would often strongly advocate for projects beyond the borders of Westchester County, because he knew our success was dependent upon everyone working together. That passion for the region – matched with his economic development experience and marketing background – is exactly the kind of smart advocacy we need for HVEDC and the Orange County Business Accelerator.”
Astorino said: “Our loss is the region’s gain. Businesses large and small benefited from Larry’s expertise and energy, which helped them grow even in challenging economic times. Going forward we will continue to work together on projects that benefit Westchester and the entire Hudson Valley region.”
About Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation (HVEDC): HVEDC represents seven counties in Hudson Valley. This public-private partnership markets the region as a prime business location to corporate executives, site selection consultants and real estate brokers. HVEDC also helped start the branding and promotional effort for NY BioHud Valley. For more information on Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation or to review available business sites, visit http://www.HVEDC.com or call 845-220-2244.
