Governor Hochul Appoints SUNY Delhi President Mary Bonderoff as Co-Chair of the Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council

November 7, 2024 -- Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed SUNY Delhi President Dr. Mary Bonderoff to serve as Co-Chair of the Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council (STREDC), effective immediately. Dr. Bonderoff succeeds President Emeritus of SUNY Broome Community College Dr. Kevin Drumm as the Council's Academic Representative. She joins Schuyler County Partnership for Economic Development (SCOPED) Executive Director Judy McKinney-Cherry as Council Co-Chair as the STREDC continues it focused work to grow the economy in the eight county Southern Tier region which includes Broome, Tioga, Chenango, Delaware, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, and Tompkins counties.

“I am honored and grateful to Governor Hochul for this appointment to serve as co-chair of the Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council,” Dr. Bonderoff said. “I look forward to working with Judy McKinney-Cherry and all of the team members who have done a fantastic job for the region since the inception of the Council in 2011.  I would also like to thank Dr. Kevin Drumm for his incredible commitment to the Council and to our community. We are all better off for his having worked on our behalf. We have important work ahead of us now as we continue the work to move the region forward the ensuring economic prosperity for everyone in the region.”

Judy McKinney-Cherry, Executive Director SCOPED said, “I would first like to thank Dr. Drumm for his exemplary leadership, dedication, and vision on behalf of our region. Our success as a Council has been grounded in the belief that the collaborations at and beyond our table are the key to driving real, lasting economic opportunity for the full diversity of our community. I am also so delighted to welcome Dr. Bonderoff as the new STREDC co-chair and welcome her invaluable input and leadership regarding economic development efforts in the Southern Tier as we continue to support innovation, attract and grow our workforce enabling our residents and businesses to thrive.”

Since 2011, the REDC process has transformed New York State government’s approach to economic development by creating a statewide framework for bottom-up, regional economic growth and streamlining the state funding application process.  The Councils are public-private partnerships made up of local experts and stakeholders from business, academia, local government, and non-governmental organizations.