[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 7 (Monday, January 14, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E39]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING THE CAREER OF DOUGLAS VERVERS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOHN KATKO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 14, 2019

  Mr. KATKO. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Douglas 
Ververs, who retired in 2018 after a 30-year career with the Cornell 
Cooperative Extension (CCE). Mr. Ververs has served the CCE in various 
capacities throughout the years and has remained steadfast in his 
commitment to support economic development and the agriculture in 
Upstate New York.
  Mr. Ververs graduated from SUNY Oswego with a degree in Industrial 
Arts & Technology Education in 1979. He spent his first eight years 
after college working in sales for the Black Clawson Company in Fulton, 
but changed his career trajectory in January 1988 when he started 
working for CCE. He first served as a Small Business and Tourism 
Educator for CCE Oswego County, where he taught businesses how to 
utilize local attractions for their customers. In 2006, Mr. Ververs 
became Executive Director of CCE Cayuga County after 17 years working 
for CCE Oswego.
  Mr. Ververs oversaw all of CCE's operations in Cayuga County during 
his tenure as Executive Director. This included conducting outreach 
programs for Cayuga County residents in the fields of agriculture, 
environmental education, and small business and nutrition. 
Additionally, Mr. Ververs implemented a 4-H youth development program 
through CCE Cayuga. He was also responsible for many administrative 
responsibilities at CCE Cayuga.
  Outside of his CCE Cayuga activities, Mr. Ververs was a team member 
with the New York Sea Grant Program in Costal Business Development from 
1988 to 2002. He also shared his knowledge of recreation and the 
environment by teaching classes at the SUNY College of Environmental 
Science and Forestry from 2003 to 2005. Mr. Ververs has been honored 
many times throughout his career for his work in Central New York, 
including his receipt of the Community and Rural Development Innovator 
Award in 2001, the Cornell Cooperative Extension Distinguished Service 
Career Award in 2014, and induction into the Oswego County Tourism 
Ambassador Hall-of-Fame in 2005.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House to join me in 
honoring the distinguished career of Douglas Ververs. He has improved 
the lives of many Central New Yorkers, as well as the environment, 
through his diligent service to his community. His investment in the 
success of his local community is exemplary of a model citizen and is a 
standard from which we can all learn.

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