Cortland Business Network Names BorgWarner Morse TEC President Roger Wood as New Leader

Roger J. Wood, President of BorgWarner Morse TEC, has been elected to lead the Cortland Business Network, an alliance of the County's largest employers, small businesses, higher education and economic development representatives. The CBN, established five years ago, has been an active catalyst to develop a progressive business environment through cultural and economic growth. Wood succeeds David Berger, former President of Pall Trinity Micro, who led the group through its first five years.

"We are extremely pleased that Mr. Wood has agreed to take on this important position," said Linda Hartsock, executive director of the Cortland BDC who provides staff support to the group. "This is a further extension of BorgWarner Morse TEC's tremendous commitment to this community."

Wood was named president of BorgWarner Morse TEC in January 2001, where he is responsible for Morse TEC operations worldwide. He joined BorgWarner in 1985 and has been instrumental in refining the international business strategy for the company's four-wheel and front-wheel drive business, and in executing Morse TEC's growth strategy in the North American engine timing systems business. Prior to that, he served as Vice President of Business Development for BorgWarner Torq Transfer Systems in Sterling Heights, Michigan, and was also formerly Vice President of Operations for both the Morse TEC Engine Timing Components and Transmission Components.

BorgWarner Morse TEC, a BorgWarner operating group, is a global leader in the design and manufacture of automotive drive chain systems and components for engine timing, automatic transmission and four-wheel drive applications. The company recently made a $38 million investment in Cortland County, locating an engine components production facility in the Town of Cortlandville that is projected to create up to 300 new jobs.

Based in Tompkins County, Morse TEC has grown over the past 20 years from about 400 employees to approximately 1,500 today. It is estimated that nearly 800 of the company's Ithaca-based employees reside in the Cortland County area. Along with employees at the company's new Luker Road facility in Cortlandville, this makes Morse TEC among Cortland County's largest private sector employers.

As the President of the CBN, Wood will provide oversight to the group of community leaders who meet monthly to focus on policy issues that range from workforce development to overall economic growth. Active members of the Cortland Business Network include top executives from:

Graphics Plus Printing Greek Peak Resort Impact Sports Equipment Intertek Testing Services JM Murray Center Keegan Associates Marietta Corporation SCWP Pall Trinity Corporation Photon Vision Systems SUNY Cortland Tompkins Cortland Community College WetStone Technologies

Graphics Plus Printing Greek Peak Resort Impact Sports Equipment Intertek Testing Services JM Murray Center Keegan Associates Marietta Corporation SCWP Pall Trinity Corporation Photon Vision Systems SUNY Cortland Tompkins Cortland Community College WetStone Technologies