Mark L. Ryckman is the City Manager of the City of Corning, New York, a municipal corporation founded in 1890. The City of Corning is home to the world headquarters of Corning Incorporated, a Fortune 500 company. Ryckman is the youngest son of psychologist and textbook author Dr. Richard M. Ryckman. In July 1997, Ryckman's appointment as City Manager was approved by the Corning City Council. As the City's Chief Executive Officer, he is responsible for all daily operations and providing the legislative body with policy advice on a variety of issues. He has led numerous development and infrastructure projects including improvements to Denison Parkway, renovation of the Bridge Street Bridge, the construction of a new transportation center, and upgrading the Nasser Civic Center Plaza. Mr. Ryckman is also responsible for providing and annual "Status of the Administration Address". In Corning, New York the "State of the City Address" has been replaced by the "Status of the Administration Address" given by the City Manager who serves as the City's Chief Executive Officer rather than the Mayor. Mr. Ryckman has an extensive public safety background. In addition to his duties as the City Manager of the City of Corning, he also serves as the City's Director of Public Safety with responsibility for issuing all rules, policies and procedures to manage the Police and Fire Departments. He was a member of the Board of Directors for the former Public Safety Spectrum Trust in Washington DC which was working with the Federal Communications Commission to build a nationwide broadband network for interoperable public safety communications. He is currently a member of the First Responder Network Authority's public safety advisory committee. FirstNet, housed within the U.S. Department of Commerce, was created by Congress in the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 to assume the responsibilities of the nationwide public safety broadband network. Mr. Ryckman has also served on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Stakeholder Group for the National Response Plan and National Incident Management System Revision Process in 2006 and 2007. Among his many board services, Ryckman is a Past-President of the New York State City/County Management Association, serves on the International City/County Management Association's Government Affairs and Policy Committee in Washington, DC, and is the Treasurer of Corning's Gaffer District Prior to his appointment as the City Manager of Corning, New York, Ryckman served as the City Manager of Calais, Maine. Ryckman holds a Bachelor's Degree in Public Management and a Master's of Public Administration both from the University of Maine. He has also completed the Certificate in Fundraising Management from the School on Philanthropy at the University of Indiana.
