NEW WINDSOR, N.Y. (November 19, 2015) — Today the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation (HVEDC) announced that the SUNY New Paltz School of Business has joined the Hudson Valley Food & Beverage Alliance.
The Hudson Valley Food & Beverage Alliance functions as a key resource for industry leaders in the region. By providing its members with a unique ability to foster partnerships, the Alliance works to strengthen both Hudson Valley commerce and the local culture. The organization’s members represent diverse interests within the region’s prosperous food and beverage industry, and include a variety of successful entrepreneurs, manufacturers, distributors and farmers. The Alliance is part of HVEDC’s award-winning cluster initiative program, which drives economic growth in the region by providing local businesses with fiscal and promotional support.
In recent years, HVEDC and SUNY New Paltz formed an important partnership through its joint efforts in the Hudson Valley 3D printing (HV3D) initiative. This alliance will be strengthened through the addition of the SUNY New Paltz School of Business to the Food & Beverage Alliance. Dr. Russell Zwanka, an accomplished marketing consultant and a recent addition to the faculty at the SUNY New Paltz School of Business, will lead the School of Business’ developing of food-related courses set to begin in Fall 2016. Courses will include Food Retail Management and Food Category Management; the college is also working to develop additional, food-oriented executive education.
“By working closely with Dr. Zwanka and the School of Business, we see incredible opportunities for expanding the Hudson Valley Food & Beverage Alliance by tapping into the college’s considerable capabilities,” said Laurence Gottlieb, president and CEO of HVEDC. “Jumping off the incredible partnership we forged with their School of Science & Engineering around 3D printing technology, we see similar potential with a collaboration centering on the food and beverage industry, which is literally feeding the Hudson Valley’s economic growth in new and exciting ways.”
The HV3D program and its partnerships resulted in the development of the Hudson Valley Center for Advanced Manufacturing, which featured the nation’s first MakerBot 3D Printing Innovation Center. The center is currently used by educational institutions, business leaders and regional organizations as a premier printing and design facility.
“We are very excited about this collaboration with companies in the food industry in the Hudson Valley region and beyond,” said School of Business Dean Kristin Backhaus. “Joining the Hudson Valley Food and Beverage Alliance and formation of the New Paltz Food Industry Council are two important steps in an exciting new direction for the School of Business.”
Dr. Zwanka’s involvement with the Food & Beverage Alliance is representative of a new direction for the successful partnership between HVEDC and SUNY New Paltz. Through his involvement with the Alliance and his work with the School of Business, Dr. Zwanka will bring an important perspective on food retail management to food and beverage industry leaders.
“SUNY New Paltz is very pleased to join the Food & Beverage Alliance as its newest member, and look forward to strengthening existing ties between HVEDC and the college,” said Dr. Zwanka, professor at SUNY New Paltz and CEO of Triple Eight Marketing, a consulting business for the retail food industry. “I am excited to share my years of experience in food retail marketing with members of the Alliance so that we can expand our region’s influence and shape this important area of our local economy.”
Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Zwanka has authored five books on marketing and business strategy, and has worked with retail and wholesale grocery companies in both domestic and international markets. In addition to his current position at SUNY New Paltz, he has also previously served as a Marketing and Business Strategy professor at both Siena College and Hudson Valley Community College.
About the Hudson Valley Food & Beverage Alliance
The Hudson Valley region boasts the most vibrant and growing base of food and beverage-related businesses in the nation. Alongside many well-known industry names and successful and growing industry players, the Hudson Valley Food & Beverage Alliance brings organizations within the food and beverage industries together, helping area businesses forge strong partnerships. The alliance provides access to economic guidance and marketing resources to businesses throughout the region.
About Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation (HVEDC)
HVEDC is the leading economic development agency for the seven-county region of Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, Orange, Ulster and Sullivan counties. The public-private partnership markets the region as a prime business location to corporate executives, site selection consultants and real estate brokers. HVEDC helped start the organizational, branding and promotional effort for NY BioHud Valley, Hudson Valley 3D Printing, Hudson Valley EDs & MEDs and the Hudson Valley Food & Beverage Alliance. To learn more, call 845-220-2244 or visit hvedc.com.
