NY New Media Association Names Executive Director

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.