Kevin O’Connor serves as the CEO of the Advance Albany County Alliance LDC as well as Director of Economic Development for Albany County NY.

Previously Mr. O’Connor was the Chief Executive Officer of FirstLight Fiber (formerly Tech Valley Communications), based in Albany, New York. Mr. O’Connor, a Founder of the Company, successfully grew the company from the start-up phase to one of the largest fiber-based telecommunications providers in upstate New York and Northern New England with over 200,000 fibers miles spanning five states and Canada.

Prior to Tech Valley Communications, Mr. O’Connor served for eight years as President of the Center for Economic Growth (CEG) a business sponsored economic development and consulting organization that initiated the effort to attract the semiconductor industry to the region, which later resulted in the siting of the multibillion-dollar Global Foundries semiconductor chip manufacturing facility in the region. CEG also provided financial management and technical assistance to manufacturing and technology firms. During Mr. O’Connor’s tenure, CEG led the effort to modernize the Albany Municipal Airport into the Albany International Airport and led the call for the redevelopment of the Amtrak Train Station. He was responsible to the Center’s Board of Directors for all aspects of the day to day operations of the Center.

Prior to his appointment as President of CEG, Mr. O’Connor had been working in the economic development field within New York State Government for 12 years. In his last job with State Government Mr. O’Connor was a Deputy Commissioner for the New York State Department of Economic Development (now ESDC). Mr. O’Connor has also held various positions in the Governor’s Office, the New York State Division of the Budget and the New York State Department of Health.
Mr. O’Connor has extensive experience in board governance and sits on or has sat on several private companies, nonprofit and governmental boards of directors.

Mr. O’Connor is a graduate of the State University of New York College at Brockport where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in History and Master’s Degree in Public Administration.