ITHACA, N.Y. — Ithaca Area Economic Development (IAED) announced it appointed its 2025 board of directors at the first quarterly meeting of the year in January.
The organization’s new 3-year appointments include Kate de la Garza (Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services), Mike Horan (Taughannock Aviation), Robert Lewis (SHIFT Capital), Carly Norton (NYSEG), and Tam Marion Warren (Warren Real Estate). Shawn Wilczynski (Cargill) was reappointed to another 3-year term.
IAED’s new ex-officio members Korsah Akumfi (Tompkins County) and Peggy Coleman (Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce) are joined by annual appointments Randy Brown (Tompkins County Legislature) and Jennifer Tavares (Cornell). The full IAED board roster is available at: IthacaAreaED.org/about-iaed.
(Sponsored)
Financial Inclusion through Affordable and Safe Banking Products
Financial inclusion is the accessibility of useful and affordable financial products and services to all individuals and businesses. Financial institutions have made strides in advancing these practices, most recently in
Don’t Take the Bait: Phishing Scams to Avoid
Americans lost $8.8 billion to phishing and other fraud in 2022, according to the Federal Trade Commission, with financial fraud increasing over 30% from 2021. Every day, thousands of people
“IAED’s board members represent every sector of our economy, from education and healthcare to government, non-profit, and industry. They contribute to the organization’s culture, strategic focus, effectiveness, and financial sustainability, as well as serving as ambassadors and advocates. Their insight and oversight are invaluable,” IAED President Heather McDaniel said in the announcement..
At the same meeting, IAED’s board voted unanimously to elect the following officers: Chair: Jodi Lee Denman (Knickerbocker Bed Co./Wiggins Plastics); Vice Chair: Tim Downs (Ithaca College); Treasurer: Jeff Gorsky (Sciarabba Walker); and Secretary: Lisa Whitaker (CFCU Community Credit Union). All are engaged personally and professionally in the Ithaca and Tompkins County communities and have past leadership experience at IAED, the economic-development organization noted.
The IAED executive committee, which includes the officers along with Katie Borgella (Tompkins County), Rob Cantelmo (City of Ithaca), Greg Galvin (Past Chair), and Greg Mezey (Tompkins County Legislature), serve in the same capacity for IAED’s 501(c)(3) subsidiary, TCAD Foundation. The TCAD Foundation was established in 2013 to advance economic development in the Finger Lakes region and currently oversees administration of the organization’s federal and community grants.
Ithaca Area Economic Development is a private, nonprofit economic-development organization serving Ithaca and Tompkins County. Since 1964, IAED has worked to grow, retain, and attract companies that provide high-quality employment opportunities and strives to create a supportive environment for businesses and entrepreneurs.
