George T. Schneider has been named the first president of Tompkins County's "virtual incubator" the Business Innovation Center by its board of directors.
The Business Innovation Center (BIC) is an innovative partnership between Tompkins County, Cornell and Tompkins County Area Development (TCAD). The BIC's goal is to assist start-up companies by providing direct one-to-one business services, such as marketing and business-plan review, and secure capital and investment funding.
The Business Innovation Center is a "virtual incubator" because it focuses on the delivery of business services rather than on the construction of new facilities and the high costs associated with construction and occupancy. Interest in the creation of an incubator peaked in 1996 when Tompkins County's Economic Alliance began meeting and recommended the creation of a business incubator that would accelerate the commercialization of technology developed at Cornell and assist other promising business start-ups.
Schneider is a 1960 graduate of Cornell with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. He was selected from 170 applicants in a competitive national search to lead the virtual incubator initiative. Schneider, who began his duties as president on Aug. 4, has held positions as president and CEO of Delta Cooling Towers Inc., chief operating officer of Apogee Technology Inc., and president/COO of Concord Laboratories Inc.
Arthur W. Pearce, chairman of TCAD and the Innovation Center's board of directors, underscored the importance of Schneider's appointment. "Clearly, some of the county's most valuable assets are our intellectual wealth and capacity for research and discovery," Pearce said. "The Innovation Center will assist entrepreneurs and the business community in very real ways. The naming of George Schneider as president is the first step in this very exciting initiative."
The long-term goal of the BIC is to create jobs and strengthen the local economy, and one of Schneider's first priorities will be to identify companies with the potential to create significant employment for area residents. Companies that have that potential are most likely to receive virtual incubator services.
Barbara Blanchard, member of the Tompkins County Board of Representatives and chair of its Planning, Development and Education Committee, said the Business Innovation Center "is an important component of the county's economic plan, designed to help entrepreneurs who develop technology move from concept to reality at an accelerated rate.
"We're pleased George accepted our offer as president of the Innovation Center and are eager to begin the next phase of the project," Blanchard added.
Lynn Jelinski, director of Cornell's Office of Economic Development, said: "Cornell University has already made an investment in the future of the community and in economic development by coordinating its research and technology-development activities. Now we can focus on the implementation stage through the Business Innovation Center. George Schneider brings a set of solid business skills and a high level of expertise to the center."
The Business Innovation Center will operate from offices in the Langmuir Lab facility in the Cornell Business and Technology Park beginning in September. In the meantime, Schneider can be contacted at Tompkins County Area Development at 273-0005.