Utica, NY – SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) is excited to announce a transformative $500,000 pledge from New York State Technology Enterprise Corporation (NYSTEC) to support the establishment of a cutting-edge interdisciplinary business center. In honor of this significant contribution, the new center, set to be housed in Donovan Hall, will be named the NYSTEC Center for Business Excellence.
The NYSTEC Center for Business Excellence, or CBE for short, will serve as a hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and interdisciplinary education, integrating cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence, business ethics, and financial market innovation. Establishing the center will cost $800,000, so this pivotal gift brings SUNY Poly well beyond the halfway point in its fundraising.
“We are incredibly grateful to NYSTEC for their generosity and commitment to supporting the next generation of business leaders,” said Andrea LaGatta, Vice President of Institutional Advancement at SUNY Poly. “This investment in the NYSTEC CBE underscores the vital role of public-private partnerships in fostering innovation and driving economic growth in our region and beyond.”
“We are thrilled to provide foundational support for the NYSTEC CBE, which aligns closely with our mission of improving the lives of New Yorkers and developing the workforce of tomorrow,” said NYSTEC CEO Kevin Owens. “This will be a transformative community resource for the Mohawk Valley and will contribute to the region’s economic development goals. NYSTEC’s donation solidifies our partnership with SUNY Poly and our commitment to this vital educational institution and its leadership.”
Steve (’06) and Gina (’03) Surace, co-chairs of this campaign, have made the creation of the trading room within the NYSTEC CBE possible through their extraordinary generosity, contributing $100,000 in addition to the substantial support provided by NYSTEC.
“Gina and Steve’s generosity has made such an important impact on this project,” said LaGatta. “Within the state-of-the-art trading room that they have made possible, students will have the opportunity to use advanced financial tools and software to engage in experiential learning.”
In addition to the trading room, the NYSTEC Center for Business Excellence will feature:
- AI & Business Lab: A dedicated space for exploring the transformative impact of AI on business.
- Business Ethics Initiative: Programs and events addressing the moral complexities of modern business.
- Entrepreneurship & Innovation Hub: Support for student startups, mentorship, and networking.
By centralizing these resources and expertise, the NYSTEC CBE is poised to have a lasting impact not only on SUNY Poly’s students but also on the surrounding community. Through partnerships with local businesses, the center will serve as a catalyst for job creation and collaborative research initiatives, fueling regional economic development. As students work alongside industry professionals, they will help identify unique market needs, create innovative solutions, and foster new enterprises—all of which promise to strengthen the local economy and improve the quality of life for residents of the Mohawk Valley.
SUNY Poly is actively seeking contributions to bring this initiative across the finish line, and then plans to fundraise to endow the center so it will benefit students and the Mohawk Valley in perpetuity. Funds raised will allow the College of Business to develop, acquire, and maintain the necessary infrastructure, technologies, and program initiatives that will equip students with practical skills and ethical foundations to excel in an evolving global economy.
Those who would like to learn more about being a part of this transformative initiative at SUNY Poly can email Andrea.LaGatta@sunypoly.edu.
About SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly)
SUNY Poly is charting a path to become New York State’s and the nation’s premier public polytechnic. The university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees – via its four colleges: Arts & Sciences, Business, Engineering, and Health Sciences – in engineering, cybersecurity, computer science, and the engineering technologies; professional studies, including business, communication, and nursing; and arts and sciences, including biology, game design, mathematics, and social sciences at its campus located in Utica. Established in 1966 as the Upper Division College at Herkimer/Rome/Utica, SUNY Poly today operates as an innovative academic leader and economic driver in the Mohawk Valley region and beyond. For more information, visit http://www.sunypoly.edu.
