Peterson named president and CEO of GRE by board

According to the board of directors of Greater Rochester Enterprise (GRE), a privately led economic-development organization dedicated to revitalizing the regional economy, they have appointed GRE interim president and CEO Mark Peterson to serve in an official leadership capacity for a three-year term. The offer was extended and accepted at a GRE board meeting this morning. "Over the last seven months — and certainly since he first joined GRE in March 2005 — Mark's leadership, management, and fundraising skills have generated positive results for the organization," said Albert Simone, chairman of GRE's board of directors. "Mark's accomplishments in the areas of investor relations, business outreach, and collaboration with economic development partners have been especially notable. This is a testament to Mark and the entire GRE staff." Since Peterson first became GRE's interim president in September, the organization has handled numerous economic-development projects. Currently, there are 15 potential business-attraction projects in the GRE pipeline — proof that the region is on the radar screens of national site selectors, corporate real estate brokers and top company executives. Representatives from several of these projects have conducted multiple site visits to the area, demonstrating the region's ability to compete in a highly competitive economic development environment. "I'm very pleased that the GRE board has asked me to serve as president and CEO of GRE," Peterson said. "We've made tremendous strides in recent months and I'm proud to be able to continue to serve as the leader of this vital economic-development organization." Before joining GRE, Peterson served as president of Bishop Kearney High School. Previously, he was COO at Telecomp. Inc., director of major gifts at Hiram College, and VP at Philanthropy Management Inc. He has been a certified fundraising executive since 1992. Peterson is an associate faculty member with the Department of Public Administration at SUNY Brockport and serves as vice chairman of the board of directors for Continuing Developmental Services as well as president of St. John Bosco Schools. The GRE board appointed a slate of board officers, who begin their terms on June 1: * Chair: Dan Burns, president Rochester Region, M&T Bank. * Vice chair: Tom Judson, president & CEO, The Pike Co. * Treasurer: Lisa Brubaker, executive VP, Rochester & Government Programs, Preferred Care. * Secretary: Jim Locke, Partner, Nixon Peabody.