Griffo announces Utica/Rome-area’s Greeley Ford as new Commissioner to State Liquor Authority

ALBANY – State Senator Joseph Griffo announced Friday that the Senate has confirmed Greeley Ford of the Mohawk Valley as a new commissioner to the New York State Liquor Authority.

Senator Griffo recommended Ford, who resides in Camden, N.Y., to the Governor to be considered for appointment as commissioner. The Governor then nominated Ford to the three-year appointment, and he was confirmed Thursday night by the Senate to fill the remaining vacant position on the three-member board.

The State Liquor Authority (SLA) has two core statutory functions: properly issuing liquor licenses and permits in a timely fashion, and ensuring compliance with the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law.  The Chairman and the Commissioners of the SLA are responsible for creating policy, developing strategy, and directing initiatives that create a regulatory framework designed to efficiently, ethically, and professionally accomplish these functions.  The Chairman and Commissioners also ensure the work of the SLA is consistent with the overall strategy and goals set by the Governor’s administration.

Senator Griffo, R-Rome, said: “Over the many years I have known Greeley, he has always proven to be a very talented, knowledgeable and hard-working individual, with an enormous amount of energy. He has served the state in the past, and I have no doubt he will be an outstanding member of a very important policy board that affects businesses and communities all across New York State.”

Ford – who is also known throughout the community as a bass player in the band Classified – is a graduate of Utica College and currently Senior Network Consulting Engineer for AT&T across all Upstate New York. In 1988, Ford began his career as one of the original staff of Cellular One in Utica before it became AT&T.

Upon being confirmed as SLA Commissioner, Ford said: “Over the years, I’ve complained about government and what it does or doesn’t do, so I am hopeful that this will be an opportunity for me to do something good within government that helps businesses in New York State grow and prosper. My role will be to help apply and enforce the state liquor laws with a dose of common sense, just as I have observed SLA Chairman Vincent Bradley and Commissioner Kevin Kim doing. I look forward to learning from them, and being able to contribute something positive to enhance the business climate and well-being of our state. I thank Senator Griffo for recommending me, and it’s truly an honor to even be considered for this important responsibility.”

The State Liquor Authority meets several times a month in New York City to conduct hearings concerning the liquor licenses of establishments throughout the state.

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