WATERTOWN, NY — Carl E. Farone, Jr. has been appointed Executive Director of the Development Authority of the North Country by the organization’s Board of Directors. Farone has been employed by the Authority for 21 years, mostly recently as Deputy Executive Director and Chief Fiscal Officer.
The Board appointed a search committee following the retirement of former executive director James W. Wright in May. Farone served as Interim Deputy Executive Director while the Board conducted its search.
The Authority received 26 applications for the position and interviewed several highly-qualified candidates. The search committee recommended Farone’s appointment to the full board and position was offered to him following a special board meeting held on July 22.
Farone has held several positions at the Development Authority, providing him with significant experience in managing the operations of the various divisions. He started as a Project Development Specialist, managing a $21 million lending portfolio, and was later actively involved in the creation of the Authority’s Open Access Telecommunications Network. Once the Network was fully operational, he moved to the Finance office and in 2007 was named Comptroller. In 2019, Farone was promoted to Deputy Executive Director/Chief Fiscal Officer.
Farone’s appointment is effective immediately.