Contact: Phyllis Levine at 845.896.6934 X3001 or by Email
Business Leaders Form Institute for Business Innovation
Hudson Valley, New York, January 16, 2007 – During 2006 some of the Hudson Valley’s most influential business leaders have been creating a powerful organization of business innovation. Spearheaded and founded by Vincent Cozzolino, Vice President, IBM; Dr. Andres Fortino Associate Provost at Polytechnic University; and Tom Phillips, Executive Director of the Hudson Valley Technology Development Center, the Institute for Business Innovation (IBI) has been formed. In addition to these three executives, Institute directors include: Richard O’Beirne, Executive Director, Construction Contractors Association; Dr. Steven Poskanzer, President, SUNY New Paltz; Peter Rivera, Business Technologies Department Head, Dutchess Community College; Sheila Appel, Corporate Community Relations Manger, IBM; Carl Meyer, President, Central Hudson Gas & Electric; Abraham Lackman, President, Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities; Dr. Roger Norton, Dean, School of Computer Science and Mathematics, Marist College; Dr. Wendy Arienzo, General Manager, NXP;; Steve Cole, Director Career Services, Marist College; Jean Bordewich, Chief of Staff for U.S. Representative John Hall; Dr. Leah Akins, Department Chair, Dutchess Community College; Harold King, Executive Director, Council of Industry; Dave Tetor, retired agricultural specialist; and Art Weintraub, retired President, Northern Hospital Association.
IBI Executive Director Vincent Cozzolino explains, “Businesses nationwide are facing a competitive global economy with a lack of skilled workers. Businesses need to look at innovative ways to compete regionally, nationally and globally. The Institute for Business Innovation was formed to take a leadership role in driving innovation for businesses throughout the Hudson Valley. Our intention is for innovative business leaders to assist companies, organizations and other entities succeed in the present and future economy through innovation. IBI’s focus is on innovative processes, techniques and culture in a leading edge framework. We want to be action oriented in helping affiliated businesses and organizations close innovation capacity and performance gaps and lead in their fields. Our model is collaboration between industry sectors, private sectors, academia and government.”
Tom Phillips, IBI Co-Founder, explains, “The intention of IBI’s directors is to research, develop and deploy innovative processes, practices and cultures to help local businesses transform and sustain global economic growth and competitiveness. Our mission is to accomplish this by collaborating with multiple economic sectors.” IBI affiliate organizations include Dutchess Community College; Marist College; Council of Industry; Solid State Cooling; Schott Lithotec; HVCFI; Panorama Labs; Pawling Corporation; Fala Technologies; NXP Corporation; HealthQuest; SUNY New Paltz; Central Hudson Energy Group; Hudson Valley Technology Development Center; Construction Contractors Association; New York Farm Bureau; Branagan Communications Consultants; Council of Independent Colleges & Universities, among many others.
“We strongly believe,” states IBI Co-Founder, Dr. Andres Fortino, “that this collaboration will facilitate identification of best practices, processes and technology from each of these affiliated sectors. Each sector will then assess its applicability to other sectors and implement the idea. The intention is to rapidly deploy this innovation within and across sectors. It will be known as ‘lifting’ a practice, then ‘shifting’ the practice appropriately, and ‘dropping’ or implementing the proven idea.”
IBI has created a structure through which organizations can learn about innovation strategies, discuss best practices within their industries and across industry sectors, receive training, and incorporate innovation into their strategic vision. This structure is designed to help Hudson Valley businesses and organizations retain competitiveness in the world economy. IBI also offers expertise in process innovation that will assist companies develop and deepen their culture of innovation. Services IBI provides are directed to enhance companies’ innovation leadership, strategic planning, customer and market focus, measurements, and analysis of innovation. These services include a focus on human resource management, process management and results for innovation.
IBI’s services include research on core competencies and best practices; educational seminars, workshops and courses, mentor leadership, certification; consultation for assessment, gap identification, recommendations for corrective actions, measurements for success; facilitation for identifying funding opportunities, cross sector collaborations, industry workshops, recognition and awards.
For more information, contact Vincent Cozzolino at 845-656-1334 or Lea Bishop at 845-226-8685.
HVTDC is one of ten regional technology development centers funded cooperatively through the NYS Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research (NYSTAR) and the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST). For more information on HVTDC’s extensive business assistance resources, visit www.hvtdc.org, or contact Phyllis Levine at 845-896-6934 ext. 3001 or via e-mail to plevine@hvtdc.org.