Board Announces Executive Search; LIFT Announces Retirement of President & CEO
(Bethpage, NY) The Long Island Forum for Technology (LIFT, www.lift.org), the designated NYSTAR Long Island Regional Technology Development Center and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) for the U.S. Department of Commerce, working on behalf of the region’s 3,200 small and mid-sized manufacturers, announced today that its President of over 3-1/2 years, Frank Otto, is retiring by year’s end. For Otto, who was pulled back from a previous planned retirement, the decision is a family-motivated one which also will have him relocating to Montana to be close to family members. He will, however, remain accessible and in a support role to LIFT.
 Long Island Forum for Technology President, Frank Otto, is retiring by year’s end |
“LIFT is a great source of pride for me,” said Otto. “I am very proud of the organization we have built, the team I have worked with, and the dedicated manufacturers across Long Island that LIFT serves. I am very optimistic that LIFT will continue to advance manufacturing on Long Island which, in turn, will help secure the region’s future economic growth and stability.”
Otto, a past Chairman and longstanding member of the Board and Executive Committee, became President of LIFT in February 2010 following the untimely passing of LIFT President and inspirational force, Ken Morrelly. LIFT Executive Director Bill Wahlig will serve as Interim President as the Board considers a new president.
During his tenure, Otto, working alongside Wahlig and the LIFT Board of Directors, transformed LIFT into a new organization with a corporate structure and incorporating several new and dynamic entities.
According to LIFT Chairman Joseph Garone, “Frank has served in a vital capacity during LIFT’s major transformative period. He helped guide the organization’s transformation from a small operation focused on economic development to the multifaceted organization LIFT is today – one which is driving the commercialization of technology across diverse sectors and advancing manufacturing and its contributions to the Long Island regional economy and beyond.”
During his tenure, Frank led the organization through several major achievements. Chief among them was the commissioning and tenanting of the Morrelly Center, which is the centerpiece of the Applied Science Foundation for Homeland Security, in 2010. The Foundation is owned and operated as a member of the LIFT Family of Companies. Within the Center are the Foundation’s resident research partners and several local, state and federal government agencies including Nassau County’s Office of Emergency Management; the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, MTA, New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, the Transportation Security Administration, among others. He positioned the Foundation for growth and recognition at the highest levels, helping it to win major contracts including those from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T) resulting in the commercialization of two advanced technologies (i.e., RCOP & WildCat) for homeland security applications.
LIFT Secretary of the Board Barry Shorten added, “Frank’s contributions to Long Island manufacturers and the region at large are numerous. He led several strategic initiatives to help manufacturers succeed and the region to prosper. One example was the development of our Advanced Material and Manufacturing Technology Innovation Center – AMMTIC. He secured the funds made possible through the efforts of New York State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos to purchase a 25,000 square foot facility in Plainview, which is slated to be operational later this year. AMMTIC will give area manufacturers access to leading-edge technologies, educational and training programs, and contract opportunities presented by the primes involving manufacturing with advanced composite materials.”
“Frank Otto has been instrumental to LIFT’s success in cultivating Long Island as a technology hub and helping local manufacturing and technology businesses succeed,” said U.S. Representative Steve Israel (3rd District, New York). “I thank Frank for his outstanding service and contributions to our community.”
Since assuming the President and CEO role at LIFT, Otto also saw to fruition the development of several other major initiatives — the LIFT Rail Alliance; Project SAFEguard, a program of the Foundation designed to protect schools and other organizations and enhance their emergency management programs through preparedness and sharing of critical information including building floor plans and emergency procedures with first responders; a Cyber Security initiative; and most recently, the Long Island Regional Preparedness Center, which has the support and involvement from key members of the region’s government, utility and emergency response management sectors.
“Equally important, Frank has helped build and strengthen critical relationships with other vital organizations that share our mission of economic growth and development,” continued Garone. “We now have effective, working partnerships with such organizations as the LIA for which Frank serves on the Collaborative Board, the Long Island Regional Economic Council, LISTnet, Accelerate Long Island, the Long Island Regional Planning Council and the Long Island Capital Alliance, as well as Stony Brook University and Farmingdale State College.”
LIFT Executive Director Bill Wahlig noted that all of these achievements also were instrumental in LIFT’s greater role and commitment to the region’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programs and related workforce development.
“Frank rolled up his sleeves, taking an active role in STEM and workforce development for Long Island. He served on Suffolk County’s Workforce Investment Board, established the LIFT Scholarship Program with BOCES, and was instrumental in encouraging Stony Brook University to add Composite Curriculum to its Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering program,” said Wahlig.
Garone and Shorten noted that making a decision regarding a new President for LIFT is a top priority. While not ruling out a selection from within the organization, they intend no preferential consideration and are seeking candidates from outside of LIFT. A search committee has been formed with the goal of selecting a new president in the near future, so that a smooth transition can take place. Individuals with the requisite skills are requested to send resumes to resumes@alcottgroup.com for consideration.
“The individual will need the leadership skills, strategic vision and relationships to take LIFT through its third generation of growth and development,” said Shorten. “Both our Ken Morrelly and Frank have been visionary leaders who weren’t afraid to think outside of the box in order to advance LIFT’s mission.”
Garone elaborated on the skill-set needed. “Today’s LIFT needs a president with C-level leadership skills, an understanding of manufacturing and product R&D, as well as the political savvy to navigate our local, state and federal governments.” He added, “Additionally, since LIFT is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization, our new president must also be able to lead effective funding and capital campaign efforts.
About LIFT
The Long Island Forum for Technology (LIFT) is a non-profit economic development organization working with the New York State Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). LIFT is NYSTAR’s designated Regional Technology Development Center for Long Island and the region’s official MEP. Its role is far reaching, including helping members win government contracts and grants to grow their businesses; aligning companies with synergistic lines and missions; giving members access to critical business improvement and quality management systems across core areas; providing lean product design and development services, innovation engineering, feasibility studies, material analysis services and rapid prototyping; and offering industry-specific education forums. The LIFT Family of Companies reflects several major technology and related initiatives, including: the Applied Science Foundation for Homeland Security, the Rail Alliance, The Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technology Innovation Center (AMMTIC), DHS Mantech, Information Technology, Greater Long Island Clean Cities Coalition and Workforce Development. LIFT’s primary mission is to commercialize Long Island’s technology.
For more information, visit: www.lift.org
