Rocky Ferraro to Retire After 30 Years of Service

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The Capital District Regional Planning Commission (CDRPC) has announced Executive Director Rocco “Rocky” Ferraro, will retire at the end of 2016 after more than 30 years of service to the organization and the Capital Region. CDRPC’s board of commissioners has formed a search committee who will work to select a successor for Ferraro’s position.

“We will truly miss working with Rocky,” said Lucille McKnight, chair of the commission. “Over the past three decades he has brought so much to the Capital Region community through his hard work, passion and his many talents. It will be difficult to find someone to fill Rocky’s shoes but we are looking forward to the challenge as we enter this new chapter.” Ferraro has had excellent relationships with the four counties that support CDRPC, as well the Capital Region planning and economic development community at large.

Ferraro who has served as executive director since 2003 has moved the organization forward in multiple ways during his tenure. Most importantly, he has established CDRPC as a “go to” data resource center serving the stakeholders in the Capital Region. Not only can you find key data at CDRPC, but Ferraro and his team are experts in interpreting that data and making accurate forecasts based upon their experience. In addition, he has done an excellent job of relationship building and promoting intergovernmental cooperation. Under Ferraro’s leadership, CDRPC took the lead to implement a combined sewer overflow long-term control plan to address water quality issues in the Hudson River. Most recently, he was awarded the 2015 Nonprofit Executive Leadership Award by the Tech Valley Nonprofit Business Council through the Capital Region Chamber of Commerce.

“I have enjoyed a productive and rewarding career with CDRPC. We provide objective evaluations and act on opportunities that can improve the lives of those in our region,” said Ferraro. “I cannot say enough wonderful things about CDRPC and the people I’ve encountered in my years of service with the organization. I have been fortunate to have had such a solid team and board that will now carry the organization forward,” said Ferraro.

Since 1967, CDRPC has been a regional planning and resource center serving Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady counties. CDRPC provides an analysis of data, trends, opportunities, and challenges relevant to the region’s economic development and planning communities. CDRPC provides added capacity to local municipalities through its regional coordination programs. By partnering with CDRPC, local municipalities are able to leverage the expertise of a full-time professional planning staff with significant network resources to provide added benefit to the work that is done day-to-day here in the Capital Region. Some of CDRPC programs that directly impact those living and working in the region include: economic development, sustainability, land-use and transportation, water quality and the juvenile secure detention center.

The Commission will be fully staffed throughout 2016 and all initiatives that are currently planned or underway will move forward to enhance the communities that make up the region.

In addition to his career at CDRPC, Ferraro has been an adjunct professor, since 1997, in the Department of Geography & Planning at the University at Albany. He was the recipient of the 2010 President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching Part-Time and the 2013-14 Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching.

Ferraro currently serves on a number of local and regional boards and advisory groups throughout the Capital Region. He is chairman of the planning board for the Town of Clifton Park and board president for the Saratoga Affordable Housing Group.

His retirement plans include continuing to stay involved in planning issues in the region and continuing his roles on the planning board for the Town of Clifton Park and as an adjunct professor.