Title President & CEO, Empire State Development; Commissioner Company New York State Department of Economic Development Bio Kenneth Adams has served as President & CEO of Empire State Development and Commissioner of the New York State Department of Economic Development since February 2011. Empire State Development, or “ESD”, is the economic development agency of New York State. Commissioner Adams and his colleagues manage a broad range of programs, incentives and services designed to increase private sector investment and job creation in New York. The organization has a staff of over 400 people located in 12 offices across the State. Mr. Adams works closely with Lieutenant Governor Robert J. Duffy to implement the Regional Economic Development Councils. Recently, ESD launched Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s newest economic development initiative, Start-Up NY. This unique program offers 10-year abatements on all taxes, including corporate and personal income taxes, to qualifying companies that co-locate on college and university campuses in New York. Mr. Adams came to ESD from The Business Council of New York State, the State’s leading business association, where he served as President and CEO from 2006 to 2011. Prior to leading the Business Council, Mr. Adams was President of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and Director of the MetroTech Business Improvement District. He was the founding Executive Director of New York Cares. Mr. Adams is a resident of Brooklyn, New York, where he lives with his wife and two daughters.