Tioga County IDA makes executive committee appointments

OWEGO — The Tioga County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) board of directors made appointments to its executive committee at its annual meeting held in January. Jon Ward serves as chair. He is a VP and commercial services officer at Tioga State Bank. Ward, who studied business administration at Niagara University and business economics at SUNY Oneonta, is a board member and treasurer for the Tioga County Local Development Corporation. He is a graduate of the Broome Leadership Institute program. “I have served on the IDA as a board member since 2020 and as treasurer since 2023,” Ward said in a press release announcing the appointments. “I am looking forward to my new role as chair and proactively advancing the mission of the TCIDA.” Kevin Gillette was appointed as vice chair of the executive committee. He is a partner in Tioga Hardwoods, Inc. in Berkshire and is a trustee of the New York State Lumbermen’s Insurance Trust Fund. The treasurer is Eric Knolles, superintendent of the Waverly Central School District. He holds an educational doctorate from California University of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree in administration and a bachelor’s degree from Mansfield University, and a New York State superintendent’s certificate from St. Bonaventure University. Prior to his career in education, Knolles served for four years in the U.S. Army and worked as a deputy sheriff for the Bradford County Sheriff’s Department. Mari Townsend was named secretary of the Tioga County IDA executive committee. She is an assistant Tioga County attorney and has been a practicing lawyer since 2005. She and her husband, Chris, own Hollenbeck’s Feed & Coal, Inc. in Catatonk. Townsend is a member of the Candor New Quilters on the Block Quilt Guild, a member of the Owego Rotary, and a supporter of the Tioga Arts Council.