SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The board of directors of CenterState CEO has elected David Schneckenburger as its new chair.
Schneckenburger is president and CEO of Thompson & Johnson Equipment Co., Inc. of DeWitt. He succeeds Melanie Littlejohn, National Grid VP for New York, as the CenterState CEO board chair.
Schneckenburger’s “expansive” business and community-leadership credentials, as well as his “deep engagement in the organization and a strong understanding of its strategic priorities, make him uniquely qualified” for this position, CenterState CEO contended in its announcement.
He has served as a member of CenterState CEO’s board of directors and executive committee, as well as the finance and sustainability, membership, audit (chair), Hancock military affairs, and I-81 committees. Schneckenburger most recently served as secretary of the board of directors.
“David has been a constant, engaged and passionate volunteer leader for CenterState CEO since its inception, and I am proud to have him step into the role as chair of our incredible board of directors,” Robert Simpson, president and CEO of CenterState CEO, said in a statement. “David is a vocal and convincing spokesperson for our small-business community, stemming from his own experience running a small, family-owned business here in Central New York. A tireless worker, he is highly educated about the larger trends impacting our region and he has helped drive many of our organization’s strategic priorities during his time on our board of directors and executive committee.”
Littlejohn’s tenure
During her tenure, Littlejohn oversaw the CenterState CEO board as the economic development and chamber of commerce organization hit “record levels” of grant awards and “strengthened” member dues, CenterState CEO said.
She led the board during the “turbulence” of the pandemic and its impact on the region’s economy. It was during that time that Littlejohn oversaw the launch of new efforts, such as the Growth + Equity Fund, The Tech Garden expansion, the Build Back Better Regional Challenge, and the organization’s advocacy for the community grid replacement option for Interstate 81.