Virtual Event
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Key Partners & Programs to Support Winery and Vineyard Growth
May 31, 2023 @ 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Virtual Event
Is your winery or vineyard exploring or engaging upon capital investments in facilities, production equipment, or even adding jobs? If so, there are partners and programs available in New York State to support your investments in growth. This webinar will introduce key economic development partners and programs and include specific examples of how industry colleagues are currently leveraging resources to reduce risk.
Speakers:
- Stefan Fleming, Director, Industry Development; Craft Beverage
- Steve Griffin, CEO, Finger Lakes Economic Development Center & Yates County Industrial Development Agency
- Annette Brenner, Senior Business Advisor, NextCorps
- Leah George VanScott, Senior Vice President, Business Development, Greater Rochester Enterprise (moderator)
About Our Speakers
Stefan Fleming is a Director of Industry Development with the Strategic Business Development Division of Empire State Development. As the lead for the craft beverage and industrial hemp industries in New York State for the past 7 years, Stefan has overseen the rapid growth of the craft beverage industry across the State. Stefan assists companies through economic development incentives and the One Stop Shop – a single point of contact for answers to questions regarding State regulations for the entire alcohol industry. He also works closely with key stakeholders in developing the industrial hemp market.
Steve Griffin is responsible for the overall economic development programs within Yates County. Steve has over 20 years of experience in Economic Development having helped over 500 businesses expand or locate in New York with planned capital investments of over $650 million. Under his leadership, the FLEDC was named one of 7 “High Performing Economic Development Organizations in the World” by the International Economic Development Council. Steve has consulted with economic development organizations throughout the Northeast on rural development and with government and economic development professionals from around the world including Canada, Mexico, Russia, China and Moldova.
Annette Brenner identifies and develops new clients and projects as she promotes all of NextCorps’ manufacturing growth services to the region’s small- and mid-sized manufacturers. This includes finding the best service providers and potential funding resources for projects such as strategic business solutions and growth services, lean enterprises, quality management, market development, product design, and prototyping. Prior to NextCorps, Annette has been a senior research engineer and global buyer for General Motors, graphic designer, lecturer, and has held multiple machine shop positions, from office to operations. Annette has chemical engineering degrees from The University of Akron and the University of Kentucky, and an MBA from the Simon School of Business at the University of Rochester. Annette enjoys problem solving with the manufacturers in our region for the diverse products they make and with the wide range of service providers that partner on projects to provide solutions.
Leah George VanScott is a senior member of GRE’s business development team. Leah manages relationships with corporate executives, site selectors, and regional economic development officials to attract private capital investment and new jobs to the 9-county Greater Rochester, NY Region. GRE is often described as the concierge to the region, providing critical and confidential information and connectivity to key business partners to support growth. Leah works tirelessly internally to implement continuous process improvements and externally to successfully guide companies through the economic development process. Leah was directly involved in the attraction of Edwards, Plug Power, Li-Cycle Corp., Security Risk Advisors, VIAVI Solutions, Ocean Insight, and the expansion of Zweigles, Vuzix Corp., Corning, Carestream Health, Pactiv Corporation, Durst Image Technology US, and ITX Corp.
