Genesee County Economic Development Center Board of Directors

Steven G. Hyde, CEO
Mr. Hyde brings to the GCEDC 20 years of business experience across multiple industries, including medical devices, telemedicine, information technology and banking. Mr. Hyde serves on the Board of Directors of the Business Educational Alliance and Genesee Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council, and is Chairman of the Economic Development Sub-Committee for the Genesee County Comprehensive Plan. He is also a member of the Genesee County Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee, serves in an advisory capacity to the Rochester Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council and is a member of both the Health Care Industries Association (HCIA) and the American Telemedicine Association (ATA). Hyde holds a master's degree from Rochester Institute of Technology and a bachelor's degree from Cornell University.

BOARD MEMBERS

John F. Andrews, GCEDC Chairman
Mr. Andrews has been Chairman of the GCEDC since 1991. He is a director of Freed, Maxick & Battaglia, CPA's P.C., and RSM McGladrey, Inc. (formerly Battaglia, Andrews & Moag, P.C). He was also the past President and current board member of the Genesee Community College Foundation, board member and treasurer of the board of United Memorial Medical Center, and trustee of St. Joseph's Church in Batavia, New York.

James L. Vincent, GCEDC Vice Chairman
Mr. Vincent is President of L-Brooke Farms, Inc. and affiliated companies, a 7,000-plus acre processing vegetable and grain farm in Western New York. Affiliated companies include: Baker-Brook Dairy, LLC, a 750-cow dairy, and Synergy, LLC, focused on the production linkages from biotechnology and nutritional research to companies developing specific health and nutritional products. Mr. Vincent is Chairman of the New York State Advisory Council on Agriculture and currently serves as one of Cornell's representatives on the Council of Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching. He also serves as the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Advisory Council and Extension Advisory Council.

James W. Fulmer, GCEDC Board Member
Mr. Fulmer has served on the Board of Directors of the GCEDC since 1992. He is President and Board Member of Tompkins Trustco, Inc. Prior to joining Tompkins Trustco, Fulmer was President and CEO of Letchworth Independent Bancshares Corporation in Castile, NY. Fulmer has also served on the Board of Directors of New York Bankers Association since 1993 and United Memorial Medical Center since 1994.

Michael A. Gerber, GCEDC Board Member
Mr. Gerber is President and CEO of Farm Credit of Western New York, ACA, a $700 million lending and financial services organization serving agriculture and related businesses in the 16 westernmost counties of New York State. Gerber also serves as a director for Financial Partners, Inc., the New York Council of Ag Organizations and was a member of the ag advisory committees for former Senator Hillary Clinton and former Representative Randy Kuhl. He is also a past director of LEAD NY, a cooperative effort for leadership development between Cornell University and the agriculture industry in New York State.

Hollis D. Upson, GCEDC Board Member
Mr. Upson is the Genesee County Legislator-8th District. He brings to GCEDC more than 30 years of business experience as the Owner and Treasurer of Upson-Maybach Inc. Upson is a member of the City of Batavia Republican Committee, Genesee County Planning Board, Genesee County Chapter 1169 EAA, and is current Chairman of the City of Batavia Municipal Services Steering Committee.

Wolcott T. Hinchey, GCEDC Board Member
Mr. Hinchey is CEO of P.W. Minor & Son Inc., a 140-year-old footwear manufacturer and wholesaler. He is also President of Prime Materials Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of P. W. Minor & Son Inc. that manufactures foam products for commercial and industrial applications. Hinchey holds an MBA from Rochester Institute of Technology and a BA from Hobart College.

L. William Benton, GCEDC Board Member
Mr. Benton brings to GCDED more than 40 years of experience in the machining and tooling industries. He launched Elba Electronics in 1962 performing Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) and manufacturing tooling for the sheet metal industry under the name of Elba Tool Co. In 1990, he sold Elba Tool to Amada Engineering & Service Company. Benton stayed on at Amada until his retirement in 2000. Today, he runs Benton Machine & Prototype, a light machining business, and is owner/operator of Bethany Airpark LCC.