Finger Lakes Wired Appoints David Zorn Managing Director
Rochester, NY—September 15, 2008—Peter Robinson, Chair of the Finger Lakes Wired (www.fingerlakeswired.com) Governing Board announced today that David Zorn has been named Managing Director of Finger Lakes Wired. Zorn also serves as Executive Director of Genesee Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council, a position he will continue to hold.
“David is widely known throughout the nine-county Finger Lakes region for his extensive experience in economic development and planning,” said Robinson. ”His expertise will help guide the multiple Wired-funded projects underway that are developing talent, boosting entrepreneurship, and fueling innovation to help build this region’s economy. He will also ensure that these programs are sustained and continue to benefit the region after Wired concludes.”
Zorn’s selection followed an extensive search led by Peter Robinson and a nominating committee. The federal funding that supports Finger Lakes Wired continues through January 31, 2010.
Zorn has been a member of both the Governing Board and Steering Committee of Finger Lakes Wired since it was established in 2006. He has been with the Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council (G/FLRPC) almost 14 years and has served as Executive Director for almost six years. G/FLRPC’s program areas include Economic Development, Regional, Local and Water Resources Planning and a Data, Technology and Resource Center.
"David Zorn's knowledge of the region and exemplary working relationship with Monroe County’s Planning and Economic Development Directors make him an excellent choice to serve as Finger Lakes Wired’s new managing director," said County Executive Maggie Brooks. "I am confident that under David's leadership our local economy will continue to benefit from Finger Lakes Wired’s creativity and commitment to make our region a premier place in which to educate workers and invest in entrepreneurial opportunities."
James Hoffman, Chair of the G/FLRPC, the Town of Williamson Board and Board of Supervisors of Wayne County said, “Dave has been key to developing the G/FLRPC into a vital and productive organization. As part of the Regional Planning Council's economic development responsibilities, he has been involved in WIRED since its inception. Dave is well known, respected and very familiar with every county in the region. On behalf of G/FLRPC we are pleased that David has been selected to become Wired’s new Managing Director.”
Rochester Mayor Robert J. Duffy said, "I was happy to learn that David Zorn will become the Managing Director of the Finger Lakes Wired initiative while maintaining his responsibilities as Executive Director of the Genesee Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council. The City is a proud partner of the G/FLRPC and WIRED and we are confident that David will do an excellent job furthering economic development in our region."
Zorn holds a Master of Science degree from Shippensburg University and a Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York College at Brockport. His organizational expertise includes administration, project and program management, grant development and administration, training and education, and strategic planning. His programmatic experience spans land use, environmental, water resources, and economic development planning as well as geographic information systems, remote sensing, socio-economic and demographic analysis, and database and Web development. Zorn lives in Brighton.
Finger Lakes Wired is administered for the nine-county region by RochesterWorks! Peter C. Pecor, Executive Director of RochesterWorks! said, "We look forward to working with David to identify and enhance the initiatives created through Wired that will be sustained beyond the sunset of this grant."
Finger Lakes Wired was created to link the communities of education, workforce development and economic development, creating an entrepreneurial, industry-driven, integrated system. It was one of the first of several regions funded by the U. S. Department of Labor WIRED (Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development) Initiative.
The designation has brought millions of dollars to the nine-county area surrounding Rochester (Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Orleans, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates), to increase entrepreneurship and innovation, expand employment, advance opportunities for workers, and enhance the talent of the workforce through the creation of high-skill and high-wage opportunities.
September 2008
