Jim Griffin (aka Griff) passed away on August 23 after a year’s fight with cancer.  He had an admirable career in economic development, beginning work in 1972 for the Hornell Area Chamber of Commerce (New York). He also became the Executive Director of the City of Hornell Industrial Development Agency. He headed both entities as CEO for 48 years. During his time in economic development in Hornell, he was responsible for the creation of 5,000 new jobs and the retention of 2,500 jobs.

But Jim was not just an economic developer in the Southern Tier of New York, he was much more than that. Jim was the initiator of the merger of the American Economic Development Council (AEDC) and the Council for Urban Economic Development (CUED) to become the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) in 2000.  He also was an active member of the New York State Economic Development Council and past chair of AEDC.

The merger of the two organizations (AEDC and CUED) was a significant step that had been heavily contemplated over several years with multiple attempts at negotiations, but ultimately, they were not able to find an agreement. But Jim did not give up and was relentless in his work to unite the two organizations and chart a new path forward. Ultimately, at the last annual conference of AEDC in April of 2001, with the help of Jim’s leadership, the organizations agreed to merge and form IEDC.

Jim was well thought of and respected by all who knew him. Here are some reflections on Jim and the impact that he made:

• As David Krietor, who now serves as the Executive Director of Phoenix Biomedical Campus, says, “Jim's work to bring AEDC and CUED together changed the profession.” 
• Diane Lupke, an economic consultant and active in the merger in Wisconsin, adds, “Jim and Kurt Chilcott were brilliant during the merger. We could not have completed negotiations without their steady hands. Jim will be remembered and missed.”
• Joe Russo, an active economic development practitioner in New York State, noted, “Griff was very emotional about the merger. I kidded him for tearing up at the time. It meant a lot to him. “Yes, Jim's life lives on through the great work of IEDC. And Upstate NY benefited beyond measure because of his hard-fought victories on its behalf. What a legacy!” Daniel C. Gundersen, Principal and Senior Vice President Camoin Associates
• “His passing is a big loss to IEDC and the economic development community. I always enjoyed his disarming smile and his humble kind soul. He always had time to talk with you. He also made you feel like you are the most important person in the room while he was talking with you.” Jim Allen
• “Griff was a tremendous leader under pressure as I was one of those riding him hard to protect rural ED during the merger when I was on the AEDC Board and then on the IEDC Board. I have great respect for him and was always impressed by how hard he worked for his Hornell community.” David Spaur
• “No matter how busy he was, Jim always had the time to talk with you, encourage you, and simply be your friend.” Walter Sprouse
• “Jim was more than a fellow IEDC Board member; he was a welcoming beacon when I moved to the Southern Tier in 2014. On a road trip to Cleveland for an IEDC meeting, he had to take “a few extra minutes” to tour me through the St. Bonaventure campus. “Jim had an internal light that shined through everything he did. His approach was assertive, strategic, and pragmatic. He provided great counsel to all his colleagues, and I count myself blessed to have had the opportunity to work with Jim in both the IEDC Board capacity and in New York State.” Judy McKinney Cherry, Executive Director Schuyler County Partnership, Co-Chair, Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council.

For those who knew Jim, they got to meet many of his board members, as they often traveled to conferences with Jim, and they ate at some of the best steak houses in North America.  We met many of them… Sam Nasca as chair, Mayor Shawn Hogan, George Prete, Dave Parmley, Joe Foreman, and Billy Schu.  But beyond this group, Jim often brought his wife Cindy, and it was like family.  Former IEDC chair Ronnie Bryant referred to Cindy as mom.  Dyan Brasington noted that she was swept up by the Hornell group and felt like she was visiting with family at AEDC/IEDC conferences, with Cindy and Jim being the parental figures in the family.

Besides his involvement with the state association, his own community, and the Catholic Church, Jim was also a board member of the Flax Trust Initiative. He brought Father Myles Kavanaugh and Sister Mary Turley to the last AEDC conference in 2000.  Father Kavanaugh led an organization to bring peace through prosperity and economic development in Northern Ireland.  Jim and his son Shawn traveled to Belfast and helped there, but they assisted in raising money in the States as well.  In fact, Father Myles became a member of IEDC and was later given an achievement award for his good works.  None of this involvement would have happened without Jim.

But at the end of the day, Jim was just a big personality. He made friends easily and was always willing to assist.  Vicki Pratt, who is now in Wichita Falls, Texas, said, “My own economic development career was shaped by the ideas and processes of Jim.” And former IEDC staffer and fellow St. Bonaventure graduate, Emily Bell shared, “Jim was so kind and encouraging - especially during my early years at the International Economic Development Council. I always enjoyed seeing him and exchanging a "Go Bonas!" shout at conferences.”

Here are what some of IEDC’s past chairs have said in honor of Jim Griffin

• "Jim and I got along from the very beginning.  At our first meeting of the merger committee, he wore my CUED shirt, and I wore his AEDC shirt.  You knew that he had the humor and attitude that would make this merger work.  But he also became a great and trusted friend, and I am saddened that he is no longer with us."  Kurt Chilcott 
• Jim was such a special guy, had a great sense of humor, and was someone who always gave you a big hug, said JoAnn Crary, President of Saginaw Future.  “He and I were good Catholics, Eucharistic Ministers, and always found something to laugh about!  We will all sadly miss his contagious laugh and his words of wisdom.” JoAnn Crary
• “Jim was a rare individual who would step up when most others would not. Whether it was saving his community, his beloved Buffalo Bills, his profession, or his family and friends, who he cherished most, he was a unique person of integrity, professionalism, and compassion that we are all better for knowing him and will miss deeply. Go Bills!”  Tom Kucharski
• “Jim had an amazing way of diffusing difficult situations, bringing people together with opposing viewpoints, allowing them to empress their concerns, calmly helping them see common ground, and ultimately helping them create a compromise that worked for everyone. In my roles at IEDC, I relied heavily on Jim and his leadership skills - and when I asked him for help, no matter how busy he was, the answer was always yes." Joe Marinucci
• Tracye McDaniel noted that she came to know Jim Griffin later, “as the merger was a few years before I started to rise through the organization into leadership.  But I knew Jim as someone who would treat me like family.  He would provide some advice; he would sit with me and ask what I was doing and how I was doing."

Over the last few months, many past chairs called Jim to give him support and hopefully cheer him up.  It was great to see these former leaders step up and help carry Jim on their shoulders.  Jay Moon, Jim Devine, Mark Waterhouse, Rick Weddle, Judie Scaliese, Bill McDermott, Jay Garner and Rick Weddle all were supportive.

Jim and I talked fairly frequently over the last many months, and I was pleased to have been able to go to Hornell last week to be at his funeral service.  I was joined by many friends and colleagues, some of them already mentioned here, but I was also joined by Rob Camoin, a former IEDC board member; Ryan Silva, a current board member and a delegation of New York state economic developers; many of whom are also IEDC members.

As Cindy said to me, “You and Jim were buddies,” I would agree, but it was more than that; it was mutual respect, and I could always count on Jim to have my back.  It never hurts to have a big guy like Jim having your back!  We will miss you, Jim! You had a life well lived and you did great – look at IEDC; you did that!

By Jeff Finkle, past President and CEO, IEDC