On the Bright Side: SUNY Cobleskill promotes leader to new position

Jan. 19—SUNY Cobleskill has named Scott Ferguson as its first chief economic development officer.

According to a media release from the college, Ferguson "will lead efforts in driving economic development and opportunity, fostering innovation in the Mohawk Valley Region, and expanding the scope of the College's Institute for Rural Vitality."

Ferguson most recently served as executive director of the Institute for Rural Vitality, where he "was instrumental in a number of new partnerships and initiatives, including the launch of the Farm & Food Business Incubator and Accelerator programs," the release said. Since taking over the institute in 2021, Ferguson has managed a grant portfolio of $4,851,201, of which $4,001,656 was secured under his leadership with an additional $1,125,500 in grant funding currently under review. The institute has also awarded 1,748 microcredential badges since Spring 2021 and ranked fourth among SUNY schools for its 54 microcredential offerings with an 87% completion rate, according to the release.

In his new job Ferguson will continue to oversee the Institute for Rural Vitality. Introduced in 2016, the institute has provided support services to 620 farm and food businesses and helped launch more than 70 new products to the local and regional food market since 2018, the release said.

Darcy Medica, provost and vice president of academic affairs at SUNY Cobleskill, said, "Dr. Ferguson's exceptional leadership in positioning the Institute for Rural Vitality to become the recognized regional anchor for entrepreneurial development uniquely places him to head new economic growth strategies through the College and the Institute. His realized vision for cultivating partnerships and launching impactful programs has significantly contributed to the prosperity of our community's business owners and producers, and these efforts will only expand through his leadership in this new role."

Ferguson will also oversee the college's existing workforce development initiatives and explore new community and industry partnership opportunities, according to the release. Initiatives happening now at SUNY Cobleskill include a partnership with the state Department of Transportation to train staff in the operation and maintenance of heavy equipment, meat processing credentialing courses at the campus's USDA-certified processing facility and its state Ag & Markets-certified dairy processing center.

Ferguson has been with the college for more than 15 years, and also served as its inaugural chief diversity officer in addition to his tenure as a professor in the business administration degree program. Outside of his work at SUNY Cobleskill, Ferguson is a business management professional, leading small business start-ups and business functions for multinational Fortune 500 companies.