OSWEGO, NY – With the announced Dec. 31 retirement of William Scriber, executive director of the Port of Oswego Authority (POA), Thomas Schneider has been appointed to serve as Interim Executive Director, it was announced by Francis Enwright, POA board chairman. He will serve in this capacity under a short-term contract while the board continues its formal search process in accordance with its fiduciary responsibilities, Enwright said.
“Tom is a respected and well-known leader in our community,” Enwright, said. “He has been working with Bill Scriber and the POA team as a consultant since September, participating in day-to-day business, meeting our business partners, excellent staff, and customers, to carry forward the momentum and projects generated by Bill Scriber. Tom’s experience as a corporate leader and as a longstanding member of our board makes him a wonderful fit for this position. We are continuing to follow the process of naming a person to the position permanently, and we will announce that decision when completed.”
“It has been my privilege to be a member of the POA board and be a part of the Port’s remarkable growth,” Schneider said. “Bill Scriber’s leadership and vision has secured millions in development and expansion, while broadening our customer base to include new markets and materials. Since resigning from the board and serving as a consultant, I have focused my efforts on working side-by-side with Bill to ensure a smooth transition so we can build upon the success that the Port now enjoys. Milestones like our $15 million Grain Export Center and growth in the diversity of the products that we handle has helped make us a Great Lakes maritime leader. This is an exciting time for our Port, and I look forward to the opportunity to serve as Interim Executive Director and continue moving us forward as we enter 2025.”
Schneider served as president and CEO of PathFinder Bank for 21 years. Prior to his appointment as president, he served as the bank’s CFO and controller since 1988. Under his leadership, PathFinder Bank’s total assets grew from $216 million in 1999 to nearly $1.3 billion on Dec. 31, 2021. During his tenure, the bank also grew from five-branches solely in Oswego County and expanded to 10 branches with locations in Onondaga County and a loan production office in Oneida County. He was a member of the POA board in two separate terms for 14 years, where he chaired the board’s Audit and Finance Committee and served on the board’s Executive Committee.
A U.S./Canadian research study shows that, over the past five years, The Port of Oswego Authority made a $513 million impact on the local and regional economy and supported 2,229 jobs by its maritime activity. The Port of Oswego generated $201.2 million in wages, salaries, and local consumption expenditures for the regional economy. The Port is home to 14 companies that utilize the harbor for domestic and international operations, as well as the Oswego Marina, the Goble Marina, H. Lee White Marine Museum, and the historic maritime district. The Port supports nearly 120 vessels, allowing more than one million tons of cargo to pass through the port on an annual basis. For more information, visit www.portoswego.com.
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