POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – May 4, 2026 – Central Hudson Gas & Electric is focused on delivering reliable service while supporting a stronger local economy across the communities it serves. As part of that effort, the company has added Ron Hicks as Director of Economic Development to help ensure Central Hudson’s infrastructure is fully leveraged to support business attraction, expansion, and job creation.

Hicks will work closely with economic development organizations, local governments, and state partners across Central Hudson’s service territory to attract new businesses, support the expansion of existing employers, and encourage job creation and community growth.

His work will be focused on strengthening the regional economy while maximizing the value of Central Hudson’s existing infrastructure. These efforts are intended to help stabilize the customer base, enhance system efficiency, and deliver long-term cost benefits for ratepayers.

By aligning economic growth with responsible planning, Central Hudson is working to ensure that its efforts benefit both the region’s economic vitality and the customers who depend on its service.

With more than 25 years of experience in economic development and strategic business planning, Hicks brings a proven track record of driving investment and creating opportunities for Hudson Valley Communities.

“Ron has been a fixture in the regional business community for decades and his vision aligns perfectly with Central Hudson’s mission to power the lives and businesses of residents across the Hudson Valley,” said Steph Raymond, President and CEO of Central Hudson. “I’m thrilled to have Ron join our team and confident he will play a pivotal role in advancing our commitment to sustainable growth and greater economic stability for the communities we serve.”

Hicks has held a broad range of leadership roles at the city, county, and state levels, both within and beyond New York. His service has included Deputy County Clerk of Dutchess County, Regional Director for former Governor George Pataki, Regional Director for Empire State Development, and, most notably, a long tenure with the Office of the Dutchess County Executive.

As Dutchess County’s Assistant County Executive, Hicks re-engineered the County’s economic development framework through the creation of the Dutchess County Economic Advisory Council and the consolidation of the County’s economic development public authorities into what is now the Think Dutchess Alliance for Business. Under this model, Dutchess County’s economic development efforts have helped eliminate industrial vacancy, generate more than $4 billion in direct investment, retain upwards of 13,000 jobs, create more than 6,000 new jobs, and establish two workforce-to-jobs pipelines for the region’s aviation and manufacturing industries.

Hicks resides in the Town of LaGrange. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Marist College and a master’s degree from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy at SUNY Albany.

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Ron Hicks