Focus Media president and CEO continues eight years of service to organization
GOSHEN, N.Y. (December 26, 2018) – Josh Sommers, the President and CEO of Focus Media, has been named First Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation (HVEDC). Sommers joins four other regional business leaders on HVEDC’s newly established Executive Committee. Sommers initially joined the HVEDC Board in 2010.
Sommers’ fellow appointees include: Robert J. Levine, founding member, partner and chairman at Corrigan of Baker & Levine, LLC, who will continue to serve as HVEDC Board Chair; Erin Loosen, who handles Government Affairs and Public Policy for Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. as Second Vice Chair; Mark Kastner, president and principal at The Chazen Companies as Treasurer; Anthony B. Gioffre, III, a partner at Cuddy and Feder LLP, as Secretary.
Sommers founded Focus Media in 2002 with the aim of bringing Madison Avenue quality and innovation to his clients. Today, Focus Media is one of the largest public relations and marketing firms in New York outside of Manhattan, and in recent years has been recognized by PR Week as one of the fastest growing agencies in the nation. Focus Media has won more than 200 national awards for marketing in health care, tourism and economic development.
Sommers, a former veteran radio broadcaster, newspaper columnist and casino marketing executive, has also become known as a leader and advocate for economic development in the Hudson Valley and Catskills. His accomplishments include helping guide Resorts World Catskills in the site selection process for its casino resort in New York, and publicizing Simon Property Group’s redevelopment of Woodbury Common Premium Outlets – its flagship center. Sommers also served as a key consultant and lobbyist for the approvals of the $500 million LEGOLAND New York Resort. He advises world-renowned companies and their CEOs on crisis communications, public relations and marketing.
Although Focus Media continues to expand with national clients, Sommers remains committed to his local community. Besides his current role on the HVEDC Board of Directors Executive Committee, he is the Immediate Past Chairman of Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan; Past Chairman of the Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development and Past Board Member and Officer of the Orange County Chamber of Commerce. Along with Lisa Sommers, a Vice President at Focus Media and Sommers’ wife, the couple has chaired many nonprofit galas, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for local and regional causes.
Sommers is a past recipient of the Walter A. Rhulen Award from the Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development – the organization’s highest honor – for his leadership in economic development, philanthropy and commitment to the community. He also received the Pillar of the Community Award from Cornerstone Family Healthcare in 2014.
“It has been a pleasure serving on the HVEDC Board for the better part of a decade and seeing all of the progress and prosperity that has come of its efforts and initiatives,” said Sommers. “HVEDC has brought a lot of new and impressive energy and expertise to its Board in recent months, and our new CEO Mike Oates is helping lead the way in the region.”
“Our organization has partnered with Josh and his team at Focus Media for many years, and the results of that relationship have been a benefit to us and our constituents,” said Oates. “Josh has served our Board for a long time, and I am pleased he has accepted this appointment as our First Vice Chair.”
About Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation (HVEDC)
HVEDC is the leading economic development agency for the seven-county region of Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, Orange, Ulster and Sullivan counties. The public-private partnership markets the region as a prime business location to corporate executives, site selection consultants and real estate brokers. HVEDC helped start the organizational, branding and promotional effort for NY BioHud Valley, Hudson Valley 3D Printing, and the Hudson Valley Food & Beverage Alliance. To learn more, call 845-220-2244 or visit hvedc.com.
About Focus Media
Focus Media, Inc. is an award-winning, full-service public relations and marketing firm specializing in market research, branding, design, collateral development, TV and radio production, media planning and placement. Since launching the company in 2002, President and CEO Josh Sommers has assembled a talented team of knowledgeable marketing experts, public relations strategists and acclaimed graphic designers that have made Focus Media a preeminent advertising agency known for its creativity, innovation and cutting-edge marketing strategies. For more information, visit focusmediausa.com.
