Who will lead local economic development engine Mohawk Valley EDGE into the future?
Shawna Papale has been appointed as president of Mohawk Valley EDGE by the MV EDGE executive committee.
Papale has been serving as acting president since the death on March 6 of former and founding President Steve DiMeo, 69.
She has been with MV EDGE since its early days, starting as a program manager in 1996 and working her way up to chief administrative officer before her appointment as acting president.
"Throughout the years, Shawna has consistently shown exceptional skill, strategic insight, and unwavering dedication to the growth and mission of EDGE," said Justin Hummel, chairman of the EDGE Executive Committee, in a statement. "She has established and continues to nurture strong relationships with partner organizations, including businesses in the Mohawk Valley, financial institutions, education and workforce organizations, and elected officials."
Papale will head a powerhouse nonprofit that has had a hand in some way in most of the economic development projects that have happened in Oneida County, and many in neighboring counties, over the past three decades.
MV EDGE and DiMeo most notably played a leading role in developing the Marcy Nanocenter and convincing Wolfspeed to build their 200mm silicon carbide fabrication facility there.
Papale said she’s honored to be asked to take on the job.
“I want to thank the EDGE executive committee, our boards, business partners and local leaders for their support during this challenging time since Steve’s passing earlier this year,” she said in a statement. “EDGE is dedicated to fulfilling our mission of fostering growth in the Mohawk Valley region for years to come.”
After DiMeo’s death, co-workers and others who worked with him described him as having an incredible memory, a brilliant grasp of details, a drive to work hard, a thorough understanding of what projects need to succeed and a grasp of human nature that helped him close deals.
But, as MV EDGE reeled in the aftermath of his death, Papale told her co-workers that all that knowledge and all those skills live on.
“He’s in all of you,” she told the staff after his death.
DiMeo worked with and helped train everyone on the staff, especially Papale with whom he had worked during his time with the City of Utica before MV EDGE even existed.
He also like to write things down and leaves behind paperwork and emails with details about projects, lists of projects for the future and his thoughts on everything, Papale said at the time.
Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente Jr said that Papale is the right person to follow DiMeo as president of MV EDGE.
“Having worked alongside her for years, I know firsthand the passion, expertise and commitment she brings to every project,” he said in a statement. “Shawna is the perfect leader to help guide our region’s growth and success, and I’m excited to continue working with her to make a lasting impact on Oneida County and the Mohawk Valley."
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Acting President Shawn Papale will replace late Steve DiMeo at MV EDGE
