Judy Cherry

Executive Director

Scoped, Inc.Watkins Glen, NY (607) 210-6363

ABOUT

Judy McKinney-Cherry CEcD is a results-oriented business executive and certified economic development professional. She is currently the Executive Director of the Schuyler County Partnership for Economic Development and CEO/CFO for the Schuyler County Industrial Development Agency. Judy has over 30 years of experience in private, public, and university settings. Judy is a gubernatorial appointee to the New York Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council and was appointed Co-Chair in March 2019. he was a supplemental professional for the University of Delaware Center for Applied Demographics and Survey Research (CADSR) where she provided subject matter expertise for economic development-related publications. McKinney-Cherry spent 6 years serving as the Cabinet Secretary for the Delaware State Economic Development Office and was the first female to be confirmed in that position by the Delaware Senate. During her tenure, she led the organization to become the second State-level organization in the U.S. to become an accredited economic development organization. She created novel programs including the IP Business Creation Program that utilized IP generated from Fortune 500 firms to spur tech-based start-ups (2007). Her efforts also led to the creation of a virtual incubator entrepreneurial assistance program (2005). Over her tenure, her organization assisted 3400 businesses and 69,000 jobs. Before joining the State Economic Development Office in '02, McKinney-Cherry contributed for 9 years in leadership positions for a national information technology services firm directly managing $30M in revenue across 4 business units and four States. In these roles, Judy was responsible for operations, executive-level sales, and profitability. In New York, she also holds board seats on the SUNY Corning Community College Regional Board of Trustees, CCS Workforce Investment & Opportunity Board (executive committee); as well as board seats on the Southern Tier Central Planning Council, Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce, REDEC, Erie Canal Heritage Fund Board (Chair) and the LocateFingerlakes! Board. She currently serves on the International Economic Development Council AEDO Accreditation Committee. She has been awarded the Watkins Montour Rotary Foundation Paul Harris Award in 2017 and again in 2020, Regional SBA Award, Girls Inc. “She Knows Where She’s Going” award and has been a Distinguished Lecture Series Speaker for the University of Pennsylvania’s Fels Institute.