January 2002

David Law Named BDC Director

Cortland, NY -- David Law has been named to a three-year term as a member of the board of directors of the Cortland County Business Development Corporation representing agribusiness interests, according to BDC Board Chairman Paul Slowey.

Long active in local, regional, state and national agribusiness organizations, Law owned the New Holland Cortland store until its recent merger with Lucas Cortland and Empire Tractor.

"I am pleased to have this opportunity to become involved in a different aspect of the community," said Law, who has a long record of service. For ten years he chaired the Cortland County Dairy Promotion Committee, overseeing the Dairy Parade and also served for many years on the Cornell Cooperative Advisory Board, as well as the McGraw School Board. "While Cortland has seen some difficult periods, there is a great deal of opportunity here and a very supportive community. I have had the chance to live and work in other parts of the country, and I'm happy to be home."

"We're delighted that Dave will be coming on board," said Slowey. "He is an experienced businessman and he brings a strong background in agribusiness which we are interested in learning from. He will be an excellent complement to the board, and we look forward to working with him to better understand and serve the needs of the agribusiness community." The BDC/IDA recently formed a new organization, the Cortland County Local Agricultural Development Corporation, to oversee farmland protection projects through the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, and is teaming with the New York Business Development Corporation on agribusiness lending programs. In addition, the BDC/IDA has been working with the Northeast Chapter of the American Farmland Trust on economic development initiatives. "We know that Dave will greatly add to our efforts to create local outreach to area farms and agribusinesses to support these state programs."

A native of Norwich, Law moved to Cinncinatus when he was five. He graduated from the Cinncinatus school district and went on to receive a degree in agricultural engineering from SUNY Morrisville, later transferring to SUNY Cortland to pursue studies in physical education while still working on the family's farm. He and his wife, Lori, have three children, Timothy, Eric and Nicole. They reside in McGraw.

Law began work with Sperry New Holland Cortland in 1978 as a retail salesperson, and in four years was promoted to a territory management position in West Texas within the company. After a four-year stint in Texas, he moved to another management position in the company in Albany, NY before returning to Cortland in 1987 to take over the Ford New Holland Company Store.

In 1988, with Ford deciding to sell its interests, Law bought the store, growing it from a base of nine employees to 26, and making approximately eight expansions to add new product lines such as Ace Hardware. "The key to success was change," noted Law. "As the industry and environment changed, our success came from within by finding new and more ways to create business." Three years ago, Law bought New Holland Binghamton which has both agricultural and industrial product lines. "As we continued to invest in growing the business, we also focused on the local community," added Law. "We did business locally, and a grew a family within the business, resulting in very low employee turnover."

During that time Law was active in a number of national agribusiness organizations, including the New Holland National Dealer Council and the Kubota National Dealer Council.

After achieving the goals he had set for the company, Law sold the business in March 2001 to Empire Tractor which combined it with Lucas Cortland to create an all inclusive farm, lawn, garden equipment retail warehouse and New Holland and Case IH tractor dealership. He stayed on as a consultant through the merger process until November 2001.

"I'm excited about the opportunities ahead for myself and Cortland," he concluded. "There's no better place to be than here in the Seven Valleys in the four seasons. I am eager to work with the BDC to help promote Cortland as a great place to live and work, and look forward to my tenure on the board."