Making a move
Michael Relyea, who turned Luther Forest to chip factory, joining Albany law firm
Michael Relyea, who turned Luther Forest to chip factory, joining Albany law firm./
Michael Relyea, who led the development of the Luther Forest Technology Campus, the home of Globalfoundries’ $15 billion Fab 8 computer chip factory, has joined the government affairs and hospitality law firm Shenker Russo & Clark in Albany.
After setting the table for Globalfoundries by leading the development, financing and construction of infrastructure at Luther Forest, Relyea led his own economic consulting company for nearly a decade.
“We are excited to have Mike joining our (company’s) team,” said Theresa Russo, the CEO and co-managing partner of Shenker Russo & Clark. “Mike’s diverse background in both government and the private sector adds another dimension to our firm, allowing us to provide additional services to the firm’s existing client base and to attract new clients.”
Relyea was president of the Luther Forest Technology Campus Economic Development Corp., the nonprofit group that owns and developed the 1,414-acre Luther Forest campus, an old logging forest and post-world War II missile testing site that is home to Fab 8, which employs 3,000 people.
Before that, he worked under Gov.
George Pataki as director of New York State’s Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research, heading state-led research and development programs in the state with academic and commercial partners.
“Mike’s government experience includes working in the (state) Assembly, the (state) Senate, the Governor’s Office and as executive director of New York State’s Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research,” Doug Clark, comanaging partner of the firm said. “When it comes to knowledge about how our state government works, very few people have Mike’s first-hand experience and qualifications. We look forward to having Mike on our team helping our clients navigate government, business
economics, politics and the law.”
The firm said that Relyea will help its national and local real estate clients get through the state’s sometimes “complex and often confusing ” permitting process for large industrial and commercial real estate projects.
“In addition to lobbying and alcohol beverage licensing, we can provide services in financing and economic development, strategy, real estate, and communications — becoming a one-stop shop for clients seeking success in areas across the state,” Russo added.