CONOR ROCKHILL has been promoted to economic-development specialist at the Downtown Committee of Syracuse, after having served as an economic-development coordinator. He will focus on real estate and market-trends analysis and reporting, interface with commercial prospects, and expand upon the organization’s grants management and business support. Rockhill started his career providing research, data analysis, and […]
CONOR ROCKHILL has been promoted to economic-development specialist at the Downtown Committee of Syracuse, after having served as an economic-development coordinator. He will focus on real estate and market-trends analysis and reporting, interface with commercial prospects, and expand upon the organization’s grants management and business support. Rockhill started his career providing research, data analysis, and graphic-design support for nonprofit projects before joining the Downtown Committee in August 2021. Rockhill holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Michigan and made the move to Syracuse from the Chicago area.
HEATHER SCHROEDER is director of economic development at the Downtown Committee of Syracuse and has been promoted to include a deputy-director role with the organization as well. In this role, Schroeder will participate in current and long-term strategic planning, oversee public space and placemaking initiatives, assist in resource development and budgeting, and program administration. Schroeder’s background includes affordable-housing finance and development with a focus on urban infill and historic preservation. She has almost two decades of real-estate development and professional experience. Schroeder holds degrees from Cornell University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and returned to the Syracuse area 10 years ago after working in the Boston area.
The Downtown Committee also recently hired VANESSA SZWEJBKA as its communications associate. Szwejbka will be responsible for a broad range of duties related to content and messaging, including development and support of all internal and external communications and play a key role in cultivating the stories of the community, helping to promote the variety of downtown experiences available, and the revitalization activity underway in downtown Syracuse. Szwejbka brings 15 years of experience working in the broadcast, communications, journalism industry. Her background includes working with complex information and creating engaging content for broadcast, web, and social-media platforms, following industry trends, and producing content relevant for a variety of audiences. Szwejbka holds a bachelor’s degree in meteorology and is a native of the Central New York region.