Edward Reinfurt Executive Director New York State Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation
On Monday, June 4, 2007, NYSTAR welcomed Edward Reinfurt, who is nominated to serve as Executive Director of the New York State Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation.
Mr. Reinfurt had served as Vice President of the Business Council of New York State since 1980, an organization commonly referred to as "the state's largest and most influential voice on behalf of employers." The Council represents more than 3,000 member businesses, chambers of commerce and professional and trade associations.
While there, he worked with IBM, Corning, Eastman Kodak, Pfizer and other leading New York companies to develop and advance the Council's "innovation agenda," which stresses better math and science education, as well as state investments in research activities. Mr. Reinfurt also took part in public outreach sessions such panel discussions, where he discussed the importance of preparing students for careers in the technology workforce.
In 2000, he assembled working groups that brought together researchers from both the business and academic sectors to agree on standards for what became the state's Centers of Excellence program. Previously, Mr. Reinfurt was the Director of Government Affairs for both the Carrier Group and the Associated Industries of New York State, Inc. Mr. Reinfurt receive his B.A. from the State University of New York at Albany.