Myron Thurston Iii, Mba, Cfre Email & Phone Number

Sherrill, Ny, Us

Oriskany, New York, United States

• Promote and develop programs that will enhance the economic viability of agricultural enterprises in Oneida County.• Educational leadership and resources for agricultural production, management, marketing, business development, tourism, and public relations issues.• Focus on enhancing the viability of local agriculture through product diversification, direct marketing, promotion of local product labels and value-added opportunities.• Work with and coordinate a variety of agriculture and community stakeholders implementing Oneida County’s Ag and Farmland Protection Plan.• Apply subject matter knowledge in agricultural business development to identify program gaps and emerging needs in the community.• Serve as direct linkage with Cornell University faculty within relevant agricultural areas and program units for program assessment guidance.• Create innovative educational programs around developing successful agriculturally based businesses.• Apply subject matter expertise of agricultural business development in the delivery of educational programming.• Serve as a subject matter expert in agricultural marketing and business development and provide highly complex nonstandard responses to questions that are specific to individual farms/businesses.• Represent CCE before the public and local farming community, community leaders, government officials, and Cornell University. • Assist in conducting applied research in conjunction with Land Grant University faculty as outlined in CCE program definition and standard.• Utilize subject matter knowledge to plan the delivery of short and long-term educational programs surrounding agricultural business development and marketing using a variety of methods and based on the Association Plan of Work and community needs identified in the Oneida County Ag and Farmland Protection Plan• Initiate and develop grant or other funding proposals to secure additional funding.

Oriskany, New York, United States

Heading The Bridging the Upstate-Downstate Food Network Divide – Incorporating Oneida County Small Farms into the Metro New York Marketplace Project that will focus on connecting Upstate NY farmers, food hubs, and distributors with distributors and food banks in the NYC Metro Area. Initially, we will focus on connecting food pantries in Queens that are very interested in buying their food from Upstate NY with agribusinesses that are able to provide the food in a form and manner that will work for the food bank distribution network in that part of the state. In the next phase of this project, we will also be connecting Upstate NY distributors like the Upstate Growers and Packers Cooperative with distributors in NYC like Baldor Specialty Foods located in the Hunt’s Point Market in the Bronx.

Morrisville, New York, United States

Operations• Provide management and oversight of agriculture programming and staff, including topics covered, structure, and communications.• Create and oversee communication and marketing strategy, including database development, digital and print media, and social networking.• Create internal systems for internal communication, the protocol for programs, and capturing impact.• Work with corporate sponsors to encourage them to make investments in Madison County Agriculture.• Identify grant opportunities and then write, submit, and provide follow-up once received. • Provide financial oversight of the Ag Program budget (including County funding and grant funding), interface with Cooperative Extension financial personnel, and report to the County Planning Committee. Community Outreach• Promote the positive image of Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Ag Program with key stakeholders in the County, including Board of Supervisors, Planning Committee, Industrial Development Agency, and County Administrator, Madison County Tourism, local institutions, and community organizations.

Utica, New York, United States

Cornell Small Farms And The School For Integrative Plant Sciences

Lead Instructor for Cornell Small Farms Courses Access to Capital for Agribusiness and Writing a Business Plan.

Sherrill, Ny

• Principal Consultant for a consulting firm that focuses on providing development planning, communications planning, capital campaign structure and feasibility studies for non-profits.

Utica, Ny

Chittenango, Ny

Fund Development and Donor Recognition• Develop and implement a strategic plan for innovative and effective fund development strategies• Identify, pursue, and acquire major donors• Develop and assign caseloads for stewardship and cultivation to the Board of Directors, CEO, CSO• Monitor and manage all online giving programs• Manage the annual appeal• Create and manage a planned giving program for board, staff and all donors• Maintain, review, update, and implement the gift acceptance policy• Create, document, deploy and manage an effective cycle of giving• Create a donor recognition program that will encourage continued regular donations• Identify and engage prospect research sources to ensure adequate wealth screeningManagement, Teamwork, and Leadership• Provide effective leadership to the staff about fundraising protocol• Work with the COO and appropriate staff to assign proper speakers for outreach and donor-related events• Responsible for the efficient and timely recruiting, interviewing and assessment of fund development staff and volunteers• Effectively evaluate the performance, skills, and professional development needs of fund development staff and volunteers to include a regular schedule of formal performance evaluations and trainingAdministrative and Miscellaneous• Work with the CEO and COO to create the budget• Create and disseminate an annual report including but not limited to financials and donor giving levels• Create and implement direct mail campaigns• Attend Board of Director meetings, take minutes and submit to CEO and Board Secretary for review and approval• Attend and actively participate in staff and other meetings as needed• Analyze monthly and historical receipts• Create reports that summarize donor activity and donations for executive staff, program directors/managers• Attend training and educational sessions• Ensure a PR and Marketing strategy aligns with CPV fund development

Morrisville, Ny

• Responsible for all major development initiatives at the college including annual fund, major gifts, corporate support, sponsorships and corporate or foundation grants. • Created a new development plan and identified over 250 alumni and donors with significant potential for increased giving.• Currently meeting with major gift prospects and donors to identify areas of interest and create moves management plans. • Manage all temporary student workers and interns for the Institutional Advancement Department.

Utica, Ny

• Managed a staff of 5 and oversaw development initiatives including fundraising, grant writing, special events, internal & external communications and marketing for non-profit organization with an annual budget of over $25 million and over 350 employees. • Directed all major gifts, planned giving, strategic donor planning and overall marketing strategy for the Development and Communications Department. • Ensured the success of two major fundraising events, The Annual Golf Tournament and the 10th Annual Wine All You Want Gala & Wine Auction, raising over $145,000 after expenses.

Utica, New York

Development• Created and expanded donor relationships in New York State resulting in several new high dollar donors for the institution and many new partners and supporters.• Conceived and instituted the first major annual gift program for the Laboratory termed Partners for Life. Board of Directors granted final approval in 2014 and 17 individuals committed to the program representing nearly $100,000 in annual gifts.• Managed an Advisory Board of 27 members including eight C level executives, nine doctors, three lawyers and several prominent citizens of the Mohawk Valley and instituted goal of securing new funding sources and opportunities for the Laboratory.• Assisted with writing and submission of grant proposals and worked with the leadership of local economic development agencies and elected officials to secure funding for these proposals. The Laboratory was awarded a $300,000 grant from the Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council in 2012 and a $250,000 grant in 2013. Communications• Designed and published brochures, newsletters and press releases acquiring the media attention of the local newspaper, television or radio outlets over 80 times, including the publication of 30 press releases.• Acted as sole editor and publisher of the MMRL Heart Rhythm Newsletter and e-newsletter.• Oversaw all online marketing and social media resulting in a media presence of approximately 3500 supporters.• Coordinated tours of the facility and public speaking engagements. Presented on the value of medical research to thousands of individuals throughout New York.Special Events • Initiated first, large-scale fundraising event in 2011, An Affair of the Heart Gala & Charity Auction. Recruited event committee and advised them during the planning and coordination of the event ultimately raising over $75,000.• Spearheaded the largest special event ever completed by the MMRL, Every Heartbeat Counts Celebration, in 2014, which netted $87,000.

Utica, New York

• Managed a community-wide fundraising effort running three annual campaigns which raised more than $11 million to support community programs. Increased total dollars raised from $3.35 million in 2006 to $3.72 million in 2007, an 11% increase.• Directed campaign staff, which included an assistant and two fundraising professionals, and was involved in hiring two new team members.• Collaborated with volunteer Campaign Chairs to recruit 30-35 volunteers for a Campaign Cabinet that propelled the campaigns. More than 1,000 volunteers were involved in the campaigns.• Spearheaded the scheduling of speaking engagements reaching a total audience of 10,000 - 15,000 per year and during tenure, personally delivered over 500 presentations in order to obtain community support.

Utica, New York

• Managed 1200 clients in the Mohawk Valley market and an additional 300 clients in the Syracuse market. Secured new clients and increased the number of services that each client used garnering higher retention and renewal rates.• Earned Account Manager of the Year for New York State in 2005.

• Supported over 1,000 customers in the Syracuse Market with the goal of up selling and securing long term contracts. Worked with the technical team to handle all moves and scheduling changes in telecommunications services.• Awarded Client Development Representative of the Year for the Northeast Region in 2003.

Tavares, Fl

• Handled banking needs including loans, mortgages, checking accounts and all other traditional banking instruments as well as insurance, certificates of deposit and annuities.• Advised customers regarding investments and helped select mutual funds for long term growth.

Master Of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management, 3.87 Gpa

Graduate Certificate, Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management, 4.0 Gpa

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), Business, Management And Economics With A Minor In Marketing, 3.85 Gpa

Activities and Societies: Student Affairs Committee Member, Chair of the Retention Committee of the Student Affairs Committee and one.

Liberal Arts Mathematics

Regents Diploma, Regents