Last week, the imminent retirement of Mike Tucker as president and CEO of Columbia Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) was in the news. This week, CEDC revealed Tucker's successor. The following is the press release making the announcement:
The Board of Directors of the Columbia Economic Development Corporation (CEDE) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jonathan Spampinato as the organization's next President and Chief Executive Officer.
Spampinato brings more than 25 years of leadership experience spanning economic development, sustainability, strategic communications, public affairs, and organizational management across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. He will succeed longtime President and CEO F. Michael Tucker and will lead the organization's continued effort to strengthen Columbia County's economy, support local businesses, expand housing and workforce opportunities, and advance strategic development initiatives throughout the county. . . .
Most recently, Spampinato served as Senior Manager of Global Sustainability for Wallenius Wilhelmsen, a publicly traded international shipping and logistics company, where he worked across global business units to integrate environmental, social, and governance practices into corporate strategy and operations. Prior to that, he held senior leadership roles with the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), the IKEA Foundation, and other organizations focused on communications, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable economic development.
Earlier in his career, Spampinato worked in Massachusetts state government, including positions with the Massachusetts Office of International Trade & Investment and the Office of Consumer Affairs & Business Regulation, where he developed experience in public policy, economic development, and regulatory affairs.
A resident of Hudson, Spampinato has also become deeply engaged in local civic and economic development efforts. He currently serves as Vice Chair of the Hudson Industrial Development Agency and is involved with several local nonprofit and community organizations, including the Columbia Memorial Health Foundation and Friends of Park Square [sic]. . . . [Gossips Note: That should be Friends of the Public Square (FOPS).]
In the coming months, Spampinato will work closely with CEDC staff, Board members, local governments, business leaders, nonprofit organizations, and regional partners to ensure a smooth leadership transition and maintain continuity across the organization's ongoing initiatives and programs. The transition process will prioritize collaboration, relationship-building, and continued progress on the organization's strategic priorities, while creating opportunities for community stakeholders to engage with the new President and CEO as he begins his tenure.
Spampinato will officially begin his role on June 15, 2026.
This is great news! Michael Tucker left a pair of humongous shoes to fill and Jonathan seems like someone who could.
ReplyDeleteWhat I find exciting is that John will possibly bring a slightly more Hudson-focused view to the table, at least where it concerns projects in and around the city.
CEDC, and Hudson, are lucky to have Spampinato. Hudson roots. Succeeded abroad and nationally. Not a career politician.
DeleteTucker was an effective grant getter, pulling roughly twice Columbia County's share of regional Albany funding. Credit where due, and he is a gentleman.
But the county lost ~2,500 residents on his watch and lags Dutchess on jobs.
The three largest employers are HCSD, Columbia Mem Health, and Columbia County government. The private sector is hospitality and self-employment.
Spampinato has a choice. Continue CEDC as a Welfare Broker, a grant intermediary turning recycled Albany tax dollars into Powerpoints and PILOTs.
Or build an Economic Growth CEDC that brings new private capital, new entrepreneurs, and investment from Boston, New York, and Albany.
Will the annual CEDC event (again) feature local politicians introducing each other, or business leaders from outside New York looking at Columbia as a place to build?
Columbia County is surrounded on all sides by economic and immigration engines. Without the CEDC moving away from grants and towards growth, the GDP just tracks the same housing stock selling to weekenders who can skip the schools and the winter, while the county keeps depopulating.
You're on the money viz. Spampinato. His experience and outlook bode well for the county. CEDC has historically been mum regarding the economic losses generated by our flailing school districts. Hopefully, an appreciation of this issue will be reflected in the CEDC's words and actions moving forward.
DeleteWe are emailing the 4! local pro business groups to ask them who are the biggest employers in the County / City.
DeleteCurious to see if any one is tracking.
The fact that HCSD and the County government are top 3 employers, and Colarusso on the private sector, seems to explain a lot of local politics.