FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: June Bisel
BBG&G Advertising/Public Relations
t: 845. 695-1880 • f: 845. 695-1996
junebisel@bbggadv.com

Poughkeepsie, NY (June 17, 2008) – Steven G. Poskanzer, President of the State University of New York at New Paltz was honored this morning at an award presentation ceremony held by the Business Marketing Association of the Hudson Valley (BMA-HV) at the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel and Conference Center.
Jonathan Drapkin, President and CEO of Pattern for Progress introduced Poskanzer as a man with a vision for SUNY New Paltz and the entire Hudson Valley.

Mr. Poskanzer highlighted the importance of marketing and brand stewardship in his role at SUNY New Paltz. He then presented the results from the 2007 SUNY New Paltz Economic Impact Study, which indicates that through direct and indirect means, the college brings $274 million annually to the Hudson Valley. As the third largest employer of Ulster, $50 million represents employee wages along with $13.9 million in college spending, $.5 million in visitor spending, and $83 million in student spending. Mr. Poskanzer noted that the college has a significant non-monetary impact on the community as well, by providing a high level of education and by being the cultural and intellectual hub of the community. Ninety three percent of SUNY New Paltz students are from within New York State, with a majority being from Ulster, Dutchess, and Orange counties.

Bud Clarke, Board President of the BMA-HV, presented Mr. Poskanzer with their 2008 Business Leadership Award, which recognized his contribution to economic growth within the Hudson Valley. Mr. Clarke also presented Poskanzer with congratulatory letters from both U.S. Congressman Maurice Hinchey and New York State Senator John Bonacic.

Steven Poskanzer became President of SUNY New Paltz in May 2003. He is a scholar of higher education law, with a broad range of administrative experience at both public and private universities and colleges. A graduate of Princeton and Harvard, Mr. Poskanzer sits on a number of boards, including the Mid-Hudson Pattern for Progress, Mid-Hudson Technology Council, Mohonk Preserve, St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital, Commission on Leadership and Institutional Effectiveness, and the American Council on Education. His extraordinary contribution to the integration of higher education and community affairs has directly impacted the economic growth of the Hudson Valley.

For more information about the BMA-HV, visit www.bma-hv.org.

Photos:

President, SUNY New Paltz, Steven Poskanzer and Bud Clarke, President of the Business Marketing Association of the Hudson Valley

Professor Ted Clark, Steven Poskanzer, and Bud Clarke

Joan Giewat, American Red Cross; Jay Shapiro, D&D Mailing; Bud Clarke