SUNY Poly appoints director of NYSTEC Business Center of Excellence in Marcy

MARCY, N.Y. — SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) has appointed Jim Staihar, assistant professor of business ethics, as the inaugural executive director of its NYSTEC Business Center of Excellence. SUNY Poly formally opened the NYSTEC Business Center of Excellence during a ceremony held on Sept. 19. “I am deeply honored to be named Executive Director of the NYSTEC Business Center of Excellence,” Staihar said in the Sept. 25 announcement of his appointment. “This center represents a unique opportunity for our students to explore artificial intelligence, confront the ethical challenges of modern business, and pursue bold entrepreneurial ideas. I am excited to work alongside our faculty, staff, and community partners to create an environment where students can develop the skills, knowledge, and integrity needed to lead in today’s dynamic global economy.” In addition to his new leadership role, Staihar serves as assistant professor of business ethics in SUNY Poly’s College of Business. He was previously the inaugural Fishlinger Family Endowed Scholar at the University of Maryland’s Center for the Study of Business Ethics, Regulation, and Crime and has held fellowships at Princeton University and the University of Chicago Law School.

About the Center

A $500,000 pledge from New York State Technology Enterprise Corporation (NYSTEC) sparked the initiative to support the creation of an interdisciplinary business center in SUNY Poly’s Donovan Hall. To acknowledge the donation, the new hub will bear the name NYSTEC Business Center of Excellence. The NYSTEC Business Center of Excellence will serve as a vital hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and interdisciplinary education, SUNY Poly said in its announcement. It includes an AI & Business Lab, which exploring the “transformative” impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on business, along with a business-ethics initiative, which offers programs and events to address the “moral complexities” of modern business. The center also includes an entrepreneurship and innovation hub that provides support for student startups, mentorship, and networking opportunities. It also has an AI trading room, which is described as an environment for students to engage with real-world financial-market simulations. “We are deeply grateful to NYSTEC and our many donors for making this Center possible,” SUNY Poly President Winston Soboyejo said. “Their generosity is an investment in our students — the innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders of tomorrow. The NYSTEC Business Center of Excellence is more than a building; it is a hub where students will explore artificial intelligence, engage with the ethical challenges of business, and bring bold ideas to life. Together, we are creating opportunities that will prepare SUNY Poly graduates to succeed in a rapidly changing global marketplace.” The ribbon-cutting event brought together elected officials and leadership from Oneida County, the City of Utica, the New York State Legislature, and members of Congress, alongside campus leaders, faculty, staff, and students. “We are proud to support the launch of the NYSTEC Business Center at SUNY Poly, which reflects our mission to strengthen communities and prepare the workforce of tomorrow,” NYSTEC CEO Kevin Owens said. “The center will be an important resource for the Mohawk Valley, driving economic development and creating new opportunities for students and businesses alike. Students will be exploring some of the most important and pressing technological and business issues of our time. This investment highlights our deep partnership with SUNY Poly and our shared commitment to the region’s growth.”