OIC interim vice president looks to the future

CNY Business Journal (1996+), Oct 06, 2006 by Palmateer, Paige

ONONDAGA - Sandra Downey is adjusting smoothly to her unexpected role as interim executive vice president of the Office for Industry Collaboration (OIC) within the Syracuse Center for Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems (Syracuse CoE).

"My primary function is to create collaboration between industry and academics," Downey says. "Generating those 'collisions' between industrial partners leads to the end goal of more job creation in New York State."

Approached in July by Edward Bogucz, executive director of the Syracuse CoE, Downey accepted the position - beginning on Aug. 1 and ending Nov. 1 - formerly held by John Vasselli. She transitioned with Vasselli for a week before he departed for a position at Carrier Corporation.

Downey is already fully immersed in the job and currently one of the permanent candidates under consideration by the 21 member board of directors.

On Sept. 26, Downey announced a Technology Application and Demonstration (TAD) grant opportunity funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - to businesses statewide. The deadline for proposals is Oct. 27, and she hopes to announce the first round of awards Dec. 15.

The Syracuse OIC is an independent, non-profit corporation established by the Metropolitan Development Association (MDA) of Syracuse and Central New York in 2000. The organization facilitates the development and application of new environmental technologies, identifies the commercialization of new Indoor Environmental Quality products, and promotes economic development and job creation within the region.

The OIC funnels funds to various opportunities within academe and industry. The corporation has received funds from the MDA, EPA, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Empire State Development Corporation.

As OIC executive vice president, Downey presented the TAD grant to several corporate partners involved in environmental projects, such as testing indoor air quality.

The 61 corporate partners in Downey's region of upstate New York include Air Innovations.

The C&S Companies, Carrier Corporation, HSBC, Sensis Corporation, and Welch Allyn, Inc.

"There are some great opportunities in environmental quality and energy and truly a lot of companies with interest," Downey says.

"I find it exciting that I am going to go out and meet with all of these companies and help them look for funding sources to pursue products that will help improve lives."

On Aug. 9, the Syracuse CoE and OIC moved to their temporary facility at 621 Skytop Road on the Syracuse University campus. The organizations will eventually relocate to new downtown Syracuse headquarters currently under construction at the corner of Washington and Almond streets. The 60,000-square-foot facility is slated for completion in spring 2007.

Prior to the Aug. 9 move, the OIC had offices in the Institute for Human Performance at SUNY Upstate Medical University.

Downey joined 10 employees at CoE, including Anna Fernandez, the other staff member of OIC.

"There have been barriers, but the help I've received from everyone has made it a lot easier for me," Downey says. "The transition could have been a lot harder."

Though not an expert in environmental quality or energy systems, Downey says she is learning both the technology and the demands of going into a new business.

Downey received her bachelor's degree in chemical engineering and master's and Ph.D. in metallurgy (with a focus on corrosion science) from the University of Connecticut. She initially wanted to pursue architecture, but encouragement from her mentor and adviser, Dr. Owen Devereux, convinced Downey to write -her doctoral thesis about corrosion science.

After graduating, Downey joined the Ardsley, N.Y.-based Ciba Geigy Corporation and worked on a number of projects involving water-treatment chemicals, anti-scalants, and corrosion inhibitors. She joined Carrier Corporation in 1992 as the head of the corrosion department and ultimately became an executive in the corporate technology department, leaving the company in 2001 after her department transferred out-of-state.

Downey, husband Matthew, 10-year-old son Alexander, and 6-year-old daughter Jennifer chose to remain in Syracuse, despite opportunities to move elsewhere.

"My husband works at Syracuse Research Corporation, and I started my own business, Materials Testing and Consulting, LLC," she explains.

Downey's company, of which she is president and the sole employee, provides scientific testing previously offered by her group at Carrier. Downey began receiving requests for the testing by word of mouth and purchased equipment from her old labs at Carrier through an auction.

Downey's other goal is to move the equipment and capabilities of her home business into the 7,000-square-foot barn on the 57 acres of land she recently purchased on Seneca Lake, near Watkins Glen. Downey and her family are continuing to clear trees at their Seneca Lake site to expand their vineyards, first planted in 2005.

"We'll have our first grapes next year, and eventually we'll be able to conduct testing on the wine chemistry to improve the flavor," she says, "So our eventual business plan is to transition from material testing to wine testing."