By: John Jordan

The Third Annual Orange County Economic Summit held at Mount St. Mary College’s Aquinas Hall on Sept. 20 was laser-focused on discussing the key economic growth sectors of the future and how the county can help train its current workforce and the next generation of workers on the skills they will be required to possess in order to compete.

The program, hosted by Orange County Office of Economic Director Steven M. Gross, was highlighted by a keynote address by New York State Commissioner of Labor Roberta Reardon and three highly informational panel discussions. The summit also featured presentations by recently named Mount St. Mary President Dr. Robert Gervasi and Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus.

The first-panel discussion entitled “Leaders Preparing Our Future Workforce” was moderated by SUNY Orange President Kristine Young and featured panelists: Dr. Jeanne Leandre, vice president for workforce at SUNY Orange; Kathleen Smith, director, BOCES Career & Technical Education; Aaron Hopmayer, principal, Pine Bush High School, and Jeff Grimshaw, business development consultant, Manufacturing Technology Enterprise Center.

Panel number two “What Do Our Employers Need?” was moderated by the Orange County Partnership’s Vice President of Business Attraction Conor Eckert. Panelists were: Orange County Director of Employment & Training Steven Knob; Susan Dean, director of operations, McKesson; Gilbert Guaring, global head of marketing, UAP, and Chief Executive Officer of Cornerstone Family Health Dave Jolly.

The third and final panel focused on “Community Preparedness” and was moderated by Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress President and Chief Executive Officer Adam Bosch and featured panelists: John Cappello, partner, J&G Law, LLP; Donna Conklin, owner, Pattycake Playhouse and Orange County Human Rights Commission Director Inaudy Gil.

New York State Labor Commissioner Reardon, who was introduced by Orange County Partnership President and CEO Maureen Halahan, spelled out the need for qualified workers in Orange County and the Hudson Valley. “In our most recent survey, 70% of businesses here in the Hudson Valley reported that attracting new workers was their top challenge,” the commissioner said.

She continued that the survey revealed that other reported human resource hurdles in the Hudson Valley include the quality of the available workforce and training current staff.

She said that professional skills or what used to be called ‘soft skills’ “are lacking at unprecedented levels. We need workers who have a solid footing in communication, self-motivation, problem-solving and teamwork. We need to understand that meeting the current and future needs of our diverse business community is a delicate balance,” she said.

Among the commissioner’s chief observations included that today’s labor force must understand that we are currently in an era of life-long learning. Reardon said, “Gone are the days where you can learn a few skills, get one degree, and do the same thing day in and day out. Our economy is constantly and rapidly evolving. So, it is essential that our workforce does the same.”

She also stressed that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is here to stay. Cornerstone Family Health’s Jolly during a panel discussion agreed and said that AI is going to have a large role in the future of health care going forward. Commissioner Reardon touted the Empire AI consortium launched earlier this year by Gov. Kathy Hochul. Empire AI is a first-of-its-kind consortium to secure New York’s place at the forefront of artificial intelligence research, was part of the FY 2025 Budget. The consortium will leverage a $275 million state investment to create and launch a state-of-the-art artificial intelligence computing center on the University at Buffalo’s campus.  The Empire AI consortium includes seven New York-based founding institutions: Columbia University, Cornell University, New York University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the State University of New York, the City University of New York, and the Flatiron Institute. The initiative will be funded by more than $400 million in public and private investment, including a $250 million State capital grant investment, and $25 million over 10 years in SUNY funding.

The commissioner also detailed a host of virtual and brick-and-mortar services offered by the State Department of Labor to provide businesses and workers training and other needed services.

Eckert of the Orange County Partnership during a panel discussion also stressed the need to prepare the county’s workforce for jobs in high-growth sectors, but also today’s youth for the jobs of tomorrow.

He noted that as the county’s attraction efforts are focused on the semiconductor, clean energy, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing sectors, “the prerequisite for winning these projects is yes, infrastructure, but also importantly, skilled labor.” Eckert also stressed that businesses, government, and other stakeholders must provide the services necessary to retain the county’s quality workforce.

Orange County’s Gross and County Executive Neuhaus provided data on the county’s strong economy, its emerging tourism sector, and strong finances. Neuhaus related that there are a number of large technology companies that are currently “kicking the tires” on locating facilities in Orange County, making the need for qualified workers in the high-tech field critical if the county hopes to be successful in its business attraction efforts.