The School of Business is pleased to announce the 2011 Hall of Fame inductees. The inductees will be: The Solar Energy Consortium as Business Person of the Year; The Ulster Savings Charitable Foundation for the Dean’s Award of Excellence; Harold King '07 as Alumnus of the Year; and Armelle Kessler '11 as Student Leader of the Year.
Business Person of the Year
The Solar Energy Consortium
The Solar Energy Consortium (TSEC) is a 501(c)(3) whose mission is to facilitate making NYS a global Hub for transformative solar research and innovation, application development, and manufacturing. Since its formation in 2007, TSEC has assisted solar manufacturers settle in the Hudson Valley, creating hundreds of jobs.
To expedite the adoption of solar energy in the United States and create a solar R&D and manufacturing cluster in New York State, TSEC brings together industry, academic, and economic development partners to find solutions to the technical, economic, and marketing challenges facing the growing solar industry. These alliances give The Solar Energy Consortium its strength and its uniqueness. Industry partners total some 70 companies including IBM, Prism Solar Technologies, SolarTech Renewables, Precision Flow Technologies, Spectrawatt, and EarthKind Solar. TSEC also partners with economic development organizations throughout the region and state to provide the technical and economic resources required to grow the solar industry. TSEC has formed several academic partnerships, lining them together to collaborate on market-focused solar products and technologies and to resolve issues associated with new technology applications. Committed university partners include Binghamton University, Clarkson University, State University of New York at New Paltz, and the City University of New York (CUNY).
Dean's Award of Excellence
Ulster Savings Charitable Foundation
The Board of Trustees of Ulster Savings Bank conceptualized the Ulster Savings Charitable Foundation during the bank’s 150th anniversary in 2001 in order to insure that the bank’s community giving goes on in perpetuity. The Foundation was incorporated in 2002, and received IRS designation and awarded its first grant in 2003.
While funded through Ulster Savings Bank, the Ulster Savings Charitable Foundation is operated separately based on a mission to assist the community in the areas of education, housing and human services.
The Ulster Savings Charitable Foundation supports the local community through its grant, scholarship and Learning Initiatives for Educators (LIFE) grant programs.
The grant program provides funding to local not-for-profit organizations for programs and projects that focus on the Foundation’s priorities. Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded 58 grants for a total of $1.13 million. Just this last year, the Foundation supported local not for profits including: HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley, Ashokan Foundation Inc., Children's Home of Kingston, Catskill Hudson AHEC, Woodstock Film Festival, Mid-Hudson Children's Museum, Family of Woodstock, Inc., Phillies Bridge Farm Project, Inc., Hudson Valley Senior Residence, Academy Green, Inc., Ulster County Historical Society, and Gateway Community Industries, Inc.
Since 2001, 140 scholarships have been granted through the scholarship program to local residents who were attending accredited colleges in the area as undergraduate students.
The LIFE grant program provides opportunities for teachers and schools to further educational opportunities for students, enhance the professional development of teachers, and to involve students in community service activities. In the past three years, 38 LIFE grants for a total of $29,253 were distributed for field trips and school projects, and five grants for professional development were awarded.
The Foundation’s ongoing support and social entrepreneurship has been invaluable to this region.
Alumnus of the Year
Harold King '07
Harold King is the Executive Vice President of the Council of Industry of Southeastern New York, an association of 145 Hudson Valley manufacturing firms. Founded in 1910, it is the mission of the Council of Industry to promote the success of its members and their employees and, through them, contribute to the Hudson Valley community. The Council accomplishes this mission through a variety of programs and services that include training and education, advocacy, professional networking and group purchase discounts on essential products and services. Mr. King has served as the association's Chief Executive Officer since 1991.
Prior to his current position, Mr. King worked as an Economic Development Specialist with the Dutchess County Economic Development Corporation and as Campaign Director for the United Way of Ulster County.
Mr. King holds a Masters in Business Administration from the State University of New York at New Paltz and a Masters in Public Administration from the University at Albany's Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy. His bachelor degree is from Allegheny College.
He serves on many community boards and committees, such as the School’s Business Advisory Council, School of Science and Engineering Advisory Board and the Ulster BOCES Metal Trades Advisory Board. He also serves on the Consistory of the Reformed Church of New Paltz.
Mr. King has found ways to increase the collaboration between the Council and New Paltz. He organized a strategic management training program, held at New Paltz and taught by its faculty, to provide executive training to company senior level staff and small business owners. He assisted in the School of Business’ effort to secure a Department of Education grant to sharpen international business offerings and develop a series of global business seminars co-sponsored by the US Department of Commerce. He also helped with the development of an Engineering Advisory Board at New Paltz.
He resides in New Paltz with his wife Amy (MA ’93) and two children.
Student Leader of the Year
Armelle Kessler '11
Armelle Kessler is a Management major with a minor in Theatre Arts and plans to graduate in May 2011. During her tenure at New Paltz, Ms. Kessler has been involved with many different student organizations including Emerging Leaders, New Paltz Players, the New Paltz Dance Team, Management Association (MA) and the Dean's Student Advisory Board (DSAB).
As president of both the MA and DSAB, Ms. Kessler has played a significant role in leading, promoting and coordinating activities for both organizations. She began an entrepreneurship workshop series for the MA in which local business professionals spoke with students about the trials and tribulations of starting their own business. She also assisted in promoting and coordinating the student debates hosted by DSAB. In addition, Ms. Kessler spoke to classes and encouraged new and transfer students to get involved with the business associations. She was successful in increasing the number of MA and DSAB members.
Ms. Kessler works part-time on campus in both the School of Business designing digital signage content and assisting in the Main Office, and the Theatre Box Office. She also regularly promotes the School to prospective students during Open House and Accepted Students’ Day.
In addition to her school work, Ms. Kessler participated in two internships. She interned with the marketing department in Proctors Theater in the summer of 2009. The following summer, she had an internship in house management at the Williamstown Theatre Festival.
Ms. Kessler is interested in working in performing arts management and is currently looking for jobs in the New York City area. She is also applying to both the graduate program at New Paltz and Brooklyn College.
Thank you to our Sponsors!
Presenting Sponsors
FALA Technologies, Inc.
Mediacom Communications Corporation
Corporate Sponsors
Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation
M&T Bank
Ulster Savings Bank
Business Sponsors
Company Sponsors
Empire State Bank
Fryer Machine Systems
Everton Henriques '78, '83g & Jeannie Irvine '78
Mid Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union
Rocking Horse Ranch Resort
TD Bank
