Joe Martens, New ORDA Board Chair

The New York Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) congratulates the new ORDA Board Chair, Joe Martens. Yesterday, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the Senate confirmed Joe Martens as the new ORDA Board Chair. Martens served as the ORDA Board Chair from June 2007 to January 2011.

*Joe Martens, Chair of ORDA Board of Directors*

“Joe Martens is a familiar face who knows ORDA operations well. We look forward to his return to the Board Chair position,” stated Mike Pratt, CEO and President. “With the FISU World University Games, World Championships for Synchronized Figure Skating and Bobsled Skeleton on the horizon, as well as our year-round operations in the Catskills and Adirondacks, Chair Martens’ leadership and expertise will be an invaluable asset at this exciting time.”

As released yesterday, and an excerpt from “Governor Hochul Announces Confirmation of Transportation and Economic Development-Related Administration Nominees”:

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the confirmation of new transportation and economic development-related administration nominees. “As my administration continues to carry New York forward toward a new era, it is vital that we are surrounded by the best of the best to achieve our transportation and economic development goals,” Governor Hochul said. “Today’s nominations fill a variety of needs in agencies across the board, and there is no doubt that these nominees are the best choices for these roles. I look forward to the good that will come from this group.”

Joe Martens has been confirmed for the Olympic Regional Development Authority. Mr. Martens is the former Director of the New York Offshore Wind Alliance, a coalition of business, labor and environmental organizations committed to promoting the development of offshore wind energy off New York’s coast. Prior to that he was a Senior Fellow at the Open Space Institute, a regional land conservation organization that has protected thousands of acres of land from Maine to Georgia. He served as Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation from March 2011 to July 2015. Mr. Martens led the agency in implementing its core statutory mission to protect public health and the environment. Mr. Martens served Governor Mario Cuomo as Deputy Secretary for Energy and the Environment from 1992-94 and as Assistant Secretary from 1990-92. He was Chair of the Board of the Olympic Regional Development Authority, Chair of the Environmental Facilities Corporation and sat on the board of the Energy Research and Development Authority.

“We will be forever thankful to Kelly Cummings for her tenure as ORDA Board Chair,” stated Mike Pratt. “She has been an incredible advocate of our organization during some of our more challenging times, and we are grateful for her support and service.”

Martens will take the helm with a busy June schedule of Board and Committee meetings: