EDC seeks new CEO to fill Conroy’s post

 

 

After a tenure during which local economic development became a global endeavor and the Internet went from science labs to desk tops, Anne N. Conroy will leave her post as CEO and president of the Dutchess County Economic Development Corp.

 

Her retirement is effective Feb. 15, 2009. The DCEDC is accepting applications for the position through Dec. 18 and plans to interview candidates after the holidays, said Chairman Wayne L. Nussbickel, president and CEO of N&S Supply Inc.

 

He said the organization is seeking a successor who is knowledgeable about Dutchess County, the Hudson Valley and the state. The position is responsible for directing all business attraction, expansion and retention activities of the DCEDC, which is a public-private partnership. Conroy”™s successor will also serve as executive director of the Dutchess County Industrial Development Agency.

 

“Anne has been a tremendous asset to DCEDC,” said Nussbickel. “Her in-depth knowledge of the community coupled with her strategic savvy and keen sense of balance has been key to DCEDC”™s ability to grow successful programs and create new ones to meet the needs of the business community.”

 

Conroy joined DCEDC in February 1995 as director of the Poughkeepsie/Dutchess Empire Zone (EZ). She was appointed president and CEO of DCEDC in March 2005.

 

Her accomplishments while EZ director were cited by officials as particularly noteworthy. The EZ was new to Dutchess County in 1995 and Conroy guided it from zero participating companies to its current level of more than 300. She also brought cumulative private investment throughout the zone to more than $5.4 billion. It is recognized as one of the most effective and efficient empire zones in the state.

 

During her tenure, local economic development activity changed to keep pace with the global economy. “I didn”™t expect the globalization that has occurred,” said Conroy, adding that in practical terms it means Dutchess County competes for businesses not only with neighboring counties and states, but with Asia and South America.

 

Globalization and the Internet have sped up the pace of business, as well. “Executives for business-attraction prospects make decisions in a matter of months or even weeks,” Conroy said. “Those kinds of decision timeframes have been condensed because of the Internet.”

 

Conroy said Dutchess County economic development has moved away from its dependency on IBM, which is still the county”™s largest employer. IBM reduced its work force significantly in the Hudson Valley in the mid 1990s, but has since recovered its global power and remained a huge economic engine locally. Still, the entire episode has benefited Dutchess County. “We have a really good foundation but also a broader economy as a result,” said Conroy.

 

On the local front, she said, development efforts have taken a little longer than hoped. She cited the redevelopment of the Poughkeepsie waterfront, “A priority since day one,” which is still in the midst of a slow, but steady, process.

 

Nussbickel said Conroy”™s successor will face a different set of challenges. “In the past the job primarily was attraction of new business but in the changing economic (climate) it now includes business retention and expansion for companies that are already here,” he said.

 

He said that includes for-profit business as well as not-for-profits, which Nussbickel called “huge contributors” to the local economy. He noted that the DCEDC Business Excellence awards for 2008 were presented to local colleges, which have enormous economic clout here.

 

Meanwhile, Conroy leaves behind a legacy of a city that is being revitalized in the middle of a county that has maintained a strong economy. “Dutchess County is a better place and has a stronger economy thanks to the work of Anne Conroy,” said county executive William R. Steinhaus.

 

Conroy is on the Board of Directors of the New York State Economic Development Council and is co-chairwoman of the Empire Zone section. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Statewide Zone Capital Corp., a loan program administered through the New York Business Development Corp.; the Editorial Advisory Board of HV Biz; and the Board of Directors of the Dutchess County Workforce Investment Board. In 2001, she received the Chairman”™s Award from the New York State Economic Development Corp. for her contributions to the organization.