Greater Syracuse Business Development Corp. appoints new executive director

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Greater Syracuse Business Development Corporation (GSBDC) has a new executive director.

Bob Ellis has been on the job since April when he replaced Peggy Adams who retired after 20 years of service in the role, per a news release that GSBDC issued Wednesday.

Ellis comes to GSBDC with more than 30 years of experience in banking and commercial lending and has an “extensive” managerial background.

As executive director, Ellis will oversee and manage the day-to-day operations and will report to the organization’s board of trustees which consists of local business leaders and professionals.

The Greater Syracuse Business Development Corporation is a nonprofit certified development company. It works to provide non-conventional loans “in the form of long-term loans with fixed interest rates and low down payments,” per the GSBDC website.

It provides the funding to new and existing small businesses throughout upstate New York “with the goal of creating jobs and wealth within our region.”

Since 1964, GSBDC has partnered with the U.S. Small Business Administration, local and regional economic-development agencies and local banks to provide financing for fixed-asset projects and working capital.

Those projects range from $50,000 to more than $14 million and have created or retained “hundreds” of jobs, the GSBDC said.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com