Class Notes

New York economic development officer receives Simon’s Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Howard Zemsky ’86S (MBA), the president and CEO of Empire State Development and commissioner of the New York State Department of Economic Development, received the Distinguished Alumnus Award during the June commencement ceremony for Simon Business School.

Nominated for his post by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate, Zemsky holds the top economic position in New York, working closely with Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul and the cochairs of the state’s Regional Economic Development Councils. The 10 councils were created by Cuomo in 2011 and given the responsibility of devising long-term job-creation plans to tap into different attributes of each area. Zemsky has cochaired the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council.

In 1981, Zemsky took over his family’s meat processing business, based in Buffalo, New York. It later became Russer Foods, one of the largest producers of delicatessen meats. After selling the business, he established a Buffalo-based private equity and real estate investment firm, Taurus Capital Partners.

Zemsky has been a featured speaker for Simon and is a member of the George Eastman Circle, the University’s leadership annual giving society.