TCIDA Board of Directors

Rich John

Chair

rjohn@tompkins-co.org
607-256-9794
First appointed to IDA: 1/14/16
Current IDA term: 1/1/19 – 12/31/19
Tompkins County Legislature

 

Rich has spent twenty years as a general practice partner in a local law firm, and nine years serving as the general counsel and vice president of compliance for a global product testing and inspection company, Intertek. Currently, Rich John is a member of the Government Operations Committee and serves as the Chair of the Public Safety Committee.

Martha Robertson

Vice Chair

mrobertson@tompkins-co.org
607-592-3119
First appointed to IDA: 2/20/06
Current IDA term: 1/1/19 – 12/31/19
Tompkins County Legislature
Martha Robertson has been a member of the Tompkins County Legislature since 2002 representing the Town of Dryden. She served as Chair of the Legislature, as well as Chair of the Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency, from 2010 – 2013. Since January 2018 Martha has again been Legislature Chair. In addition, she chairs the Program Oversight Committee of the Community Housing Development Fund, a partnership among Tompkins County, the City of Ithaca, and Cornell University, which supports development of affordable housing in the county. Before joining the County Legislature, Martha’s career included serving as Director of the President’s Council of Cornell Women at Cornell University, a development officer for several nonprofit organizations, and a museum exhibit developer.
Jennifer Tavares

Secretary/Treasurer

Jennifer Tavaresjtavares@tompkinschamber.org
607-273-7080
First appointed to IDA: 1/18/15
Current IDA term: 1/1/19 – 12/31/20
TCAD Appointment

 

Jennifer Tavares, CEcD, has been President of the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce since 2014.  Prior to leading the Tompkins County Chamber & Convention & Visitors Bureau, she was the director of economic development for Chenango County and also director of the Potsdam Chamber of Commerce. Jennifer currently sits on the Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency board, Workforce Development Board, Air Services Board, United Way Board, and Tompkins County’s Energy Task Force.

Mike Sigler

Mike Siglermsigler@tompkins-co.org
607-339-7978
First appointed to IDA: 2/8/18
Current IDA term: 1/1/19 – 12/31/19
Tompkins County Legislature

 

Mike Sigler has served on the Tompkins County Legislature for two non-consecutive terms from 2006 to 2010 and then from 2014 to present. Mike also works for Park Outdoor Advertising full time. Mike worked in television, as an Anchor, Reporter and Producer.

Leslyn McBean-Clairborne

Leslyn McBean-Clairbornelmcbean@tompkins-co.org
607-277-5104
First appointed to IDA: 2/8/18
Current IDA term: 1/1/19 – 12/31/19
Tompkins County Legislature


Leslyn McBean-Clairborne is in her fourth term as a Tompkins County Legislator, representing the 1st Legislative District in the City of Ithaca. As a legislator, Leslyn formerly chaired the Facilities and Infrastructure, the Public Safety and the Health and Human Services Committees. She currently chairs the Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the Legislature. Leslyn also works as the Executive Director of the Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC), a large multicultural community center in the City of Ithaca that serves all ages through a variety of programs focused on social and individual development.

John Guttridge

john@brightworks.cc
607-277-8585 x 00
First appointed to IDA: 6/4/18
Current IDA term: 1/1/19 – 12/31/20
At-Large Director

John Guttridge founded Brightworks Computer Consulting (then Black Box Computer Consulting) in 2004 as a one-man operation based in his dining room and grew it to a 16 employee operation. He is deeply involved in the ongoing redevelopment of downtown Ithaca. He serves on the Board of the Downtown Ithaca Alliance (where he chairs the Downtown Operations Committee), the Board of the State Theater of Ithaca, and is President of the State Theater Foundation Board. He is also integral to the team of people that works to bring Wizarding Weekend to life.

Laura Lewis

Laura Lewisllewis@cityofithaca.org
607-279-2075
First appointed to IDA: 2/8/18
Current IDA term: 2/8/18 – 12/31/19
At-Large Director

 

Laura Lewis is a 40-year resident of the City of Ithaca. She worked at Cornell University in student services in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations for 30 years. She retired in 2016. She sat on the Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services (INHS) Board of Directors for many years, and at one point served as the board’s president. Laura was elected to the City of Ithaca Common Council in November 2017 where she represents the City’s 5th Ward.

2018 TCIDA TCDC Board Self Evaluation summary

TCIDA Organizational Chart

TCIDA Administrative Director

The Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency is managed by Tompkins County Area Development.

Heather McDaniel
Administrative Director, Tompkins County IDA
President, Tompkins County Area Development
401 East State/MLK Jr. Street, Suite 402B
Ithaca, NY 14850
607-273-0005

TCIDA Administrative Policies

Bylaws

Code of Ethics 

Compensation, Reimbursement and Attendance Policy

Defense and Indemnification Policy

Investment Policy

Procurement Policy

Property Disposition Guidelines

Real Property Acquisition Policy

Recapture Policy

Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy and Complaint Form

Travel and Discretionary Funds Policy

Whistle-blower Policy

TCIDA Legal Counsel

Russell Gaenzle – Attorney at Law
Harris Beach PLLC
99 Garnsey Road
Pittsford, NY 14534
585-419-8801

TCIDA Advisory Committee

Katherine Borgella

Tompkins County Planning Department

Katherine Borgellakborgella@tompkins-co.org
607-274-5560

Jason Molino

Tompkins County Administrator

jmolino@tompkins-co.org
607-274-5551

Richard Snyder

Controller, Tompkins County Finance Department

Richard Snyderrsnyder@tompkins-co.org
607-274-5545

Additional TCIDA Committees

Finance & Audit Committee
(Audit Committee established 2008;
Finance & Audit Committee established 2018)
Rich John
Martha Robertson
Jennifer Tavares

Housing Committee
(Housing Committee established 2019)
Laura Lewis
Martha Robertson
John Guttridge
Nels Bohn (IURA)
Joe Bowes (INHS)
Seph Murtagh (City of Ithaca)
Jennifer Kusznir (City of Ithaca)

Energy Committee
(Energy Committee established 2019)
Rich John
MIke Sigler
Jennifer Tavares

Governance Committee
(Governance Committee established 2008)
Rich John
Mike Sigler
Laura Lewis