Alice O’Rourke, senior vice president, strategic planning for Empire State
Development, New York’s economic development arm, was named executive director
of the New York New Media Association (NYNMA).
O’Rourke was instrumental in ESD’s funding of the two benchmark surveys of New
York’s new media industry, conducted in late 1995 and 1997 by NYNMA and
Coopers & Lybrand.
“New media is an emerging force for education, entertainment and commerce. It
brings together the strongest forces in New York: advertising, publishing, the
arts, finance and technology,” said O’Rourke.
“NYNMA is an integral part of the Silicon Alley community. I will seek to
expand NYNMA’s range of programs and activities and will bring the needs of
the new media entrepreneurs to the attention of policymakers at the city
and state level.”
NYNMA’s current initiatives include the New York Angels Investors Program,
educational forums, special interest groups, student internships, lobbying in
Albany and City Hall, and providing professional advice from NYNMA sponsors
to its
members.
O’Rourke previously held the position at ESD of senior vice president and
deputy commissioner, business development, where she was responsible for the
organization’s four major sales and marketing areas.
She succeeds Lori Schwab, who served for three years as NYNMA’s founding
executive director. Schwab has been named vice president of business
development for United Digital Artists.
