Q&A with New Orange County Partnership Chairperson, Mary Beth Bianconi

Mary Beth Bianconi, Orange County Partnership Board Chair and Partner at Delaware Engineering, D.P.C.

On Jan. 1, 2026 Mary Beth Bianconi, a partner with Delaware Engineering, D.P.C., officially began her term as chairperson of the Orange County Partnership in Goshen. Her appointment and the expertise and perspective she brings to the Orange County Partnership and its Board of Directors could not come at a more critical time as environmental regulations and regulatory requirements in New York State are evolving.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in her recent State of the State address promised she would work to expedite environmental approvals on certain housing and economic development projects going forward. Bianconi, has more than 35 years of experience as a consultant to public and private entities with a focus on infrastructure and economic development. She works out of the company’s headquarters office in Albany, as well as its regional Orange County location in Goshen.

Bianconi applies her expertise to conceptualizing, permitting and financing small-and large-scale municipal infrastructure projects as well as providing guidance and training in infrastructure master planning and governance, comprehensive planning, and land use codes. She offers expertise in state and federal environmental regulatory policy, including but not limited to the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, Emerging Contaminants, and the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) and, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Her impressive background also includes spearheading a number of economic development master plans, from concept and due diligence as well as economic pro forma analysis through the SEQR process to permitting and implementation. A proponent of regional approaches to economic development and infrastructure, her work experience spans throughout New York’s Capital District, the North Country, Catskills, Southern Tier and Hudson River Valley.

In 2026, Bianconi is also serving her third year as chairperson for Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress as the organization conducts a search to replace former CEO Adam Bosch.

The following are excerpts from the new Orange County Partnership Chairperson’s conversation with Resources and Results E-Newsletter Correspondent John Jordan.

R&R: As you begin your term as Chairperson of the Orange County Partnership, do you have any goals for 2026?

Bianconi: I would say that the Partnership stands on an exceptional foundation, created by all of the past leaders of the organization—its staff as well as its Board. Our goal this year is to grow that and to respond to the modern pressures that there are on economic development and quality of life in the county. So, my goal is to support the staff and to engage with the Board in expanding the mission and reach of the organization to be as successful as it possibly can and build on the exceptional foundation that we already have.

R&R: Do you agree with the Partnership’s focus on emerging sectors such as advanced manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology?

Bianconi: Absolutely. The reality of our modern marketplace is that we are going to have a broad blend of land use to support economic development. The quality of jobs and the availability of (trained) staff are critical components in economic development these days. I think Orange County is incredibly well-positioned to take advantage of the interest in advanced manufacturing, pharma biotech, ag tech and all of these emerging marketplaces.

R&R: Do you think bringing your diverse background as a partner with Delaware Engineering to the chairperson position at the Orange County Partnership comes at a critical time since there are changes coming not only to environmental laws, but also in possible reforms to the SEQRA process?

Bianconi: I have a 35-year career working in the engineering consultant role and certainly have touched very broadly on environmental regulation issues in New York State. I have a deep background in SEQRA and the practice with SEQRA and so I am hoping that I can contribute to the Orange County Partnership’s understanding of and utilization of any changes that may come to the SEQRA regulations as we go down the road.

R&R: Do you see it as a positive that the governor is looking to expedite projects, specifically in housing, advanced manufacturing and clean energy?

Bianconi: What I will say is that time is not the friend of any project that involves capital construction. From the day you conceive of it to the day you build it, the more time that goes by the harder it becomes to predict costs and make things economically viable… I am not a fan of picking winners and losers. We should figure out how to expedite our fairly onerous regulatory process in New York State and the environmental review process for the quality of life in our communities so that projects that are conceived of can be accomplished that are in alignment with community goals and aspirations that bring communities value. We need to expedite these processes—they simply take far too long across the board.

In closing, I think Orange County is so well-positioned to continue its movement in enhancing its quality of life, being a wonderful place to work, live, recreate, have a business, engage in business and visit. I am really excited to be positioned to support that and to work with Conor and the staff and Board to making that happen.