Upstate United is a coalition, led by an executive director who reports to a managing board. This board is made up of statewide and regional business leaders – including the two co-founders of Upstate United – who have a clear understanding and experience with the unique economic challenges of New York state and Upstate in particular.
Executive Director
Justin Wilcox serves as the Executive Director of Upstate United.
Justin is a former small business owner who has extensive experience in state and local government. He has been a Monroe County legislator since 2011, however, his work in the New York State Legislature began two decades ago when was hired as a Legislative Aide to former state Senator Richard Dollinger. Since then, he has served as Legislative Director to former Senator Ted O’Brien, and former Assembly members Joe Morelle and Jamie Romeo.
Prior to working in government, Justin was the owner of a small roofing business that he started in the early 1990s. Justin earned his associate degree from Monroe Community College in 1995 and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University at Buffalo in 2001. He is a 25-year resident of Brighton, New York where he lives with his wife, Linda and their two children, Evelyn and Brennan.
Board Members
Garry F. Douglas
Board Member
President and CEO, North Country Chamber of Commerce
Garry Douglas has been President and CEO of the North Country Chamber of Commerce – which serves 4,100 companies across Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton and northern Warren County, since 1992. Prior to that, he served for 14 years as executive assistant to U.S. Rep. Gerald Solomon.
Robert Duffy
Board Member
President and CEO, Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce
Rochester native Robert J. Duffy began as Rochester Business Alliance president and Chief Executive Officer January 1, 2015. Prior to working for RBA, Duffy served as New York lieutenant governor in Governor Andrew Cuomo’s administration from January 2011 to December 2014. Duffy previously served as Rochester mayor from January 2006 to January 2011 and as Rochester police chief from March 1998 to April 2005, when he resigned his post to run for mayor. He joined the Rochester Police Department in November 1976. Read more.
Stacey Duncan
Board Member
President and CEO, Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce
Stacey Duncan was named the President and CEO of the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce in November of 2019. In addition to this role, she also serves as the Executive Director at The Agency Broome County IDA / LDC.
Prior to her appointment as Executive Director in 2019, Stacey served as the Deputy Director for Community & Economic Development and prior to that, The Agency’s Director of Communications and Marketing. Duncan served first Executive Director of the Broome County Land Bank Corporation, newly formed by Broome County in 2013. Stacey also served as the Government Relations Manager for the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce, where she directed the Chamber’s business advocacy program, served as the lead liaison with local, state, and federal government elected officials and regulatory agencies.
Brian Sampson
Board Member
President, Associated Builders and Contractors, Empire Chapter
As president of Associated Builders and Contractors, Empire Chapter, Brian Sampson is responsible for coordinating its political and policy agenda, advocating for reform in state government, and promoting the overall growth of the construction industry on behalf of ABC’s more than 300 construction and contracting firms across New York State. Prior to joining ABC, Brian served as Upstate United’s executive director for 5 years. He also worked with Empire State Development (ESD) as Upstate Director for Business Outreach and served as vice president of the Builders Exchange of Rochester, a 550-plus member association in the construction industry.