Biden nominates Tioga Downs, Vernon Downs CEO Gural for post in his administration

NICHOLS, N.Y. — President Joseph Biden has nominated the top official for both Tioga Downs Casino Resort and Vernon Downs Casino Hotel for a post in his administration.

Jeffrey Gural, president and CEO of the facilities in Tioga and Oneida counties, has been nominated to serve as chair of the Public Buildings Reform Board. Biden nominated Gural on July 6.

The board operates as an independent agency that identifies opportunities for the federal government to “significantly reduce” its inventory of civilian property, thereby reducing federal expenses, as described in the Wednesday announcement from Tioga Downs.

“It’s a true honor to be called into service for our country,” Gural said. “My experience and commitment to making the Southern Tier a better place for all local businesses has prepared me for opportunities like this. I thank President Biden for the recommendation, and I look forward to the appointment process with lawmakers in our nation’s capital.”

In announcing Gural’s nomination, the Biden administration highlighted Gural’s time with Newmark Knight Frank, where he was chairman until 2017 and now serves as chairman emeritus. Gural has also served as a staff member with Diesel Construction Co., where he supervised the construction of more than 1 million square feet of new office space.

Besides his roles as president and CEO for both Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs, Gural is also currently the chairman of New York City–based GFP Real Estate LLC. He’s also a member of the executive committee of the Real Estate Board of New York. In addition, he previously served as chairman of the Times Square Alliance’s board of directors and as VP of the Broadway Association.

The Public Buildings Reform Board is the result of the Federal Assets Sale and Transfer Act, which became law in 2016. It was formed to reduce federal costs and increase efficiencies in the federal real-estate portfolio. The board is charged with maximizing the utilization rate of federal buildings and facilities, reducing the reliance on leased space, and selling or redeveloping high-value assets that are underutilized to “obtain the highest and best value for the taxpayer and maximize the return to the taxpayer,” per the announcement.