People news: Launch New York names director of finance

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Launch NY, a nonprofit venture-development organization focused on upstate New York, has appointed Alex Adema as director of finance & operations.

In this role, he will provide overall operational support for the organization while coordinating its Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) Program, the organization said in a news release.

The EIR Program matches seasoned entrepreneurs with local start-ups and provides them business coaching, mentoring, training, networking opportunities, and improved access to funding resources, Launch NY said.

Adema will work closely with Launch NY’s entrepreneurs-in-residence across the 27 counties of upstate New York. To date, EIRs based in Buffalo, Ithaca, Rochester, and Syracuse have worked with more than 200 new businesses, the release stated. Paul Brooks is Launch NY’s entrepreneur-in-residence for the Syracuse area.

Adema brings more than 15 years of program operations experience and leadership to Launch NY. His entrepreneurial record as a co-founder of two successful nonprofit organizations, plus his “deep background in financial analysis, product development, and business planning align well with the needs of the organization,” Launch NY said in the release. Adema most recently worked for the Restoration Church and M&T Bank.

His degrees include a bachelor’s degree in economics from Colorado College and an MBA from the University at Buffalo (UB). Adema is also a member of the Leadership Buffalo Class of 2014 and is a current board member of the Restoration Church.

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