Judy McKinney-Cherry, CEcD, is the Executive Director the Schuyler County Partnership for Economic Development (SCOPED) and CEO/CFO for the Schuyler County IDA. Ms. McKinney Cherry has experience working in the private sector, public sector and university settings with over 30 years of business and executive management experience. Ms. McKinney Cherry was appointed by Governor Andrew Cuomo to the Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council in 2015 and is a member of the Southern Tier Regional Community College Council. McKinney Cherry is a supplemental professional for the University of Delaware Center for Applied Demographics and Survey Research (CADSR) where she provides subject matter expertise for economic development-related publications.

McKinney-Cherry spent six years serving as the Cabinet Secretary for the Delaware State Economic Development Office and was the first female to be confirmed in that position by the Delaware Senate. During her tenure she led the organization to become the second State-level organization in the US to become an accredited economic development organization. Before joining the State Economic Development Office in 2002, McKinney-Cherry worked for 9 years in a leadership position for a national information technology services firm. In these roles, McKinney-Cherry was responsible for operations, executive-level sales, and profitability. Prior to her private sector role, she worked in the research division and led the State Data Center Program within the state economic development office for 7 years.

In New York, she also holds board seats on the CCS Workforce Investment & Opportunity Board where she serves on the executive committee; as well as board seats on the Southern Tier Central Planning Council, Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce, Southern Tier Investment Fund Board, and the Erie Canal Heritage Foundation Board where she is a member of the Executive Committee. She currently serves on the International Economic Development Council AEDO Accreditation and Sustainability Committees.

She has been awarded the Regional SBA Award for assisting small businesses, is the recipient of the 2003 Girls Inc. “She Knows Where She’s Going” award and has been a Distinguished Lecture Series Speaker for the University of Pennsylvania’s Fels Institute.

McKinney-Cherry has a strong history of leadership experience with non-profit organizations including human health, government service and professional business organizations. She is a Rotary Foundation Paul Harris Fellow and served on the Watkins Glen Montour Falls Board from 2016-2018. She served on the board of the Smyrna Opera House where she was Chairman of the Board from 2012-2013 and also the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for the Delaware STEM Academy Charter School. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Delaware YWCA (2010-2014) and served on the board of the Delaware Arthritis Foundation 1996-2000 (Chairman 1998-99). McKinney-Cherry was also elected to the National Board of the Arthritis Foundation serving 1999-2001.

McKinney-Cherry is a certified professional economic developer (2008) and is a graduate from the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and Political Science, while securing minors in Computer Science and Economics from the College of Natural Resources at Utah State University.

Public Presentations, Publications & Articles

2009 IEDC Annual Conference, October 2009 “Using Metrics to Steer Resurgence” Reno, Nevada
2009 State Cap & Trade Policy Discussion Reno, Nevada Session Facilitator
2008 SALLIE MAE Announcement
2008 IEDC Annual Conference, October 2008 “Globility/Mobility: Strategies for Going Global” Panel Chair, Charlotte, North Carolina
2008 Area Development Online August/September 2008
2008 European Wind Energy Conference, Side Event Invest In Delaware, Brussels, Belgium April
2007 IEDC Leadership Summit Achieving Optimal Performance for Your Organization Contributing to the Strength, Growth and Vitality of the First State
2007 Economic Development Now, May 2007/ Volume 7/ Issue 10, “Leveraging Patent Donation to Grow Technology-Based Businesses”
2007 Area Development Online/August September
2007 Out & About Magazine/ April 
2007 USA Today “Donated Patents Put To Good Use”, March 18, 2007
2006 & 2008 FELS Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Distinguished Lecturer Series

Notable Affiliations

2010 IEDC Excellence in Economic Development Awards Judge
2004-2010 International Women’s Forum
2009 IEDC Honorary Awards Committee, Chair
2008 AEDO – Delaware State Department of Economic Development Accreditation
2007-2010 International Economic Development Council (IEDC), Board of Directors
2009 IEDC Economic Recovery & Stimulus Committee – Chair
2002-2009 Diamond State Port Corporation Board of Directors
2002-2009 Delaware Manufacturers Extension Partnership Board
2006-2009 Delaware Science and Technology Council
2003-2008 Delaware Energy Advisory Council
1999-2009 Workforce Investment Board – Performance Committee Chair (1999-2002)
2002-2009 De. State Chamber of Commerce – Partnership Board
2002-2009 Delaware Economic Development Authority – Chair
2008 National Governor’s Association Best Practices – Science & Tech. Investments
2003 Regional SBA award for Small Business Assistance
2003 Girl’s Inc. “She Knows Where She’s Going Award”
2002-2009 Delaware Stadium Corporation Board of Directors
2009-2011 Smyrna Clayton Heritage Association
1996-2002 Arthritis Foundation – Delaware (Chairman of Board 1998-2000)
2001-2002 Arthritis Foundation – National Board of Trustees