Putnam EDC Welcomes New Board Directors

Putnam County’s Economic Development Corporation welcomes its newest directors, Daniel F Leary, Partner of Berlandi Nussbaum & Reitzas, LLP. , Marjorie Nichols Keith, Executive Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County, and Robert Zubrycki, Violinist for the New York City Chamber Orchestra. The Board of Directors of Putnam County Economic Development Corporation elected the three candidates to the Board on January 9^th 2017 at their annual meeting.

Daniel F. Leary, attorney and partner of Berlandi Nussbaum & Reitzas, LLP., was one of the candidates to be welcomed to the PEDC Board this year. Mr. Leary has over twenty years of experience in getting projects approved for his clients; ranging from real estate agents, schools, corporations, non-profit organization, municipalities, wireless carriers, public utilities, and more. Mr. Leary’s specializations include commercial, residential mixed use, adaptive reuse, telecommunications, energy, zoning and related environmental law. Mr. Leary has previously worked with agencies such as the New York State DEP Watershed Regulatory and Enforcement Agency and has experience in State and Federal Compliance laws such as NYS Environmental Quality Review Act, also known as “SEQR”. Mr. Leary has also been a First Deputy County Attorney, Town Attorney and Special Counsel to a number of municipalities. He has represented public and private clients in a wide variety of matters, including sewer, water, wastewater and other infrastructural projects, governmental economic development/incentive programs, public contracts, public finance (including IDA projects), procurement and real property taxation and assessment. Putnam County Economic Development Corporation is excited to welcome Mr. Leary’s experience and knowledge looking to work together to drive economic vitality in much of the areas within his practice.

Marjorie Nichols Keith, Executive Director for Cornell University Cooperative Extension of Putnam County was also one of the candidates to be welcomed onto the Board this year. Marjorie Keith is a lifelong Putnam County resident with much knowledge on the history of Putnam County and previous experience on the PEDC board Ms. Keith was a perfect candidate for PEDC. She extends her leadership skills into her community life currently serving on the Putnam Hospital Center Board of Directors. She has previously served on the Putnam County Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors, Putnam SCORE Advisory Board, Putnam Hospital Center Foundation Board of Directors and more. Ms. Keith holds a Master’s Degree in Adult Education and Human Resources from Fordham University and undergraduate degrees from SUNY Oneonta and Fashion Institute of Technology. She is a Carmel Rotary Club member; and was recognized in 2013 as a Woman of Distinction in the 40^th NYS Senate District representing the Town of Carmel and in 2015 by the Putnam County Legislature for her professional and community service. Putnam EDC welcomes Ms. Keith with great joy, as her experience with the county will support PEDC’s mission to cultivate and expand Putnam County.

Robert Zubrycki, Violinist of New York City Chamber Orchestra was another candidate welcomed onto the PEDC Board this year as well. Mr. Zubrycki, alumni of Carmel High School has performed in several Broadway shows including “A Gentleman's Guide To Love and Murder”, winner of the 2014 Tony Award for Best New Musical and he can also be heard on the recent cast recordings of “She Loves Me”, “An American in Paris” and “Paint Your Wagon” (violin and mandolin). He has won an Emmy Award for his musical contribution to the documentary, “The Curse of the Bambino”, and his violin solos can be heard in Ric Burns’ documentary, “American Experience, Death and the Civil War”. His numerous television appearances include a recent performance with Céline Dion on the Tonight Show and Barry Manilow on the Today Show. He has recorded with Lady Gaga and Tony Bennet. Mr. Zubrycki has also performed as Concertmaster for the New York Choral Society at Carnegie Hall, Encores! at City Center, the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic and for Pope Francis at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. In Brewster, NY, Robert serves as President for the Town of Southeast Cultural Arts Coalition, where he is director for the Concerts Around the Corner series at the Studio Around the Corner. TOSCAC’s mission includes renovating and reopening the Old Town Hall Theater on Main Street in Brewster, creating a vibrant cultural centerpiece for our region. Putnam County EDC looks forward to working with Mr. Zubrycki and his talents as an artist to drive an economic vitality in the sector of arts to Putnam County.

The Putnam County Economic Development Corporation acts as the primary facilitator connecting local resources with opportunities to deliver economic growth. We work to cultivate and expand existing business as well as promote commercial real estate to attract new business. We market county assets such as proximity to New York City, its Metro North transit links, its infrastructure and highly skilled work force. We advocate for development projects among municipalities and planning boards to ensure the growth of our county’s tax base. We educate and assist local nonprofits, small businesses and municipalities with incentive and grant programs from New York State, utility companies and other funding sources. We strive for balanced growth throughout the county to meet the needs of our broad audience.