RTMA Announces Retirement of Executive Director Bob Coyne

Rochester – The Rochester Technology & Manufacturing Association is preparing for a leadership transition with the upcoming retirement of longtime Executive Director Bob Coyne, who will step down on April 1, 2026. Succeeding him will be the RTMA’s current Director of Workforce Development, Rich Turner.

The RTMA Board of Directors named Coyne its second Executive Director in January 2021 after serving the Association as its Workforce Development Director from 2018 to 2020. Prior to joining the RTMA, Coyne was the General Manager at Acro Industries in Rochester and held various positions in advanced manufacturing for more than 40 years. Coyne also served as the President of the RTMA Board of Directors from 2014 to 2018. He is a Journey Worker Tool Maker and a graduate of Churchville-Chili High School and WEMOCO.

During his time at the RTMA, Coyne co-created the Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Program in partnership with Monroe Community College as an effort to connect high school seniors and juniors to paid co-ops and job shadows. In 2022, Coyne created the ROC With Your Hands career exploration event with partners from government, industry and education to provide students with the opportunity to explore careers in advanced manufacturing, the skilled trades, automotive technology, heavy equipment and more. He also co-created the Genesee Valley Pre-Apprenticeship Boot Camp and Monroe County Advanced Manufacturing Pre-Apprenticeship Program in partnership with higher education and community partners for participants to earn while they learn on the latest technology in automated maintenance. In 2024, NYATEP honored Coyne for his contributions to the region with the Economic and Workforce Development Partnership Award.

Turner joined the Rochester Technology & Manufacturing Association in January 2021 as its Director of Workforce Development and will assume the position of Executive Director on April 1, 2026. During his time at the RTMA, Turner expanded the Association’s regional sponsorship of the NYS Registered Apprenticeship Program to more than 40 signatory companies and registered over 250 apprentices. In addition, he helped provide nearly $3 million in assistance to signatory companies and apprentices through tuition assistance, grants for tools, incentives, scholarships, and more. He also spearheaded the Association’s direct entry programs, Real Life Rosies © and Advance 2 Apprenticeship.  Turner also expanded K-12 outreach by creating the annual Women in Manufacturing Summit, Black History Month Panel, Manufacturing Educators Day, and other events with local school districts.

Prior to joining the RTMA, Turner spent more than a dozen years in local government, including nearly five years as Monroe County’s Workforce Development Manager. He is also a graduate of St. John Fisher University, Leadership Rochester and the Monroe County Leadership Academy.