Elena is the rock star of the FuzeHub team who leads everyone in executing FuzeHub’s mission to help manufacturers grow and thrive in New York State.
Elena Garuc is the Executive Director of FuzeHub, New York State’s premier organization championing the manufacturing and innovation ecosystem. For two decades, Elena has led the implementation of technology-led economic development initiatives resulting in private sector job growth and competitiveness gains. Elena leads FuzeHub’s operations and works closely with its Board of Directors to realize strategic goals. As a FuzeHub founder, she guided the organization from inception while growing its team to fourteen staff members and securing federal and state grants, including designation as the statewide New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) center. Before becoming Executive Director, Elena shaped FuzeHub’s marketing and brand strategy, and its nationally-recognized web-based portal and marketing programs.
With support from Empire State Development, Elena spearheaded the launch of the New York State Innovation Summit in 2019, to showcase companies and researchers at the forefront of emerging technologies and new advancements in production capabilities. She also developed the Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund, which has helped 159 companies spur technology development and commercialization across New York State.
Prior to her role at FuzeHub, Elena spent a decade as Director of Marketing at the Center for Economic Growth in Albany, and had the privilege of leading or supporting programs such as an upstate venture capital forum, a biotechnology network, and a technology roadmap portal..
In 2012, she was named to the Albany Business Review’s “40 Under 40”, a prestigious group of up-and-coming business leaders in New York’s Capital Region. In 2022 she was named City and State’s Economic Development Power 100 and in 2023 the Above and Beyond Innovator Award.
A graduate of the College of Saint Rose, Elena holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Marketing. She makes her home in Greene County with her husband and two children, Milania and Marko.
A graduate of the College of Saint Rose, Elena holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Marketing. She makes her home in Greene County, New York.