Albany Business Review, November 18, 2020 — Melissa O’Connor is the new president and CEO of the Retail Council of New York State.
The council’s board of directors voted unanimously to select O’Connor. She’s the first woman to serve in this role since the organization was established in 1931.
O’Connor succeeds Ted Potrikus, who retired in November after a 32-year career leading the trade association in Albany.
O’Connor was previously the Retail Council’s executive vice president and director of government relations. She first joined the organization in 2005.
“The issues facing retailers today are many, and I am committed to advancing the retail industry’s public policy priorities at the state and local level. It is not lost on me that this year has been particularly challenging for the independent stores that we represent,” O’Connor said in a prepared statement. “In addition to our advocacy efforts, we will continue to work tirelessly to save them money on the products and services they need to operate their business. There is a lot of work to be done on our members’ behalf and I am thrilled to lead this organization into the future.”
O’Connor holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh and a master’s in business administration from the College of St. Rose. She resides in Latham, with her husband and two children.
Read the article here.
