The Catalysts for Intellectual Capital 2020 was formed in January 2004 as a response to a challenge raised in a course instructed by Professor Diane Crews, PhD at Binghamton University called Leadership and Organizational Change. In the fall of 2003, officials and politicians involved with the 2002 BC Economic Plan came to speak with the students and challenged them to take an active role in the implementation of this sustainable economic development plan for Broome County.
With Dr. Diane Crews as their mentor, five students created a plan for student leadership in economic development of Greater Binghamton. In the 2004 spring semester, Alaina Besemer, Jason Kaye, Jonah Kimmelstiel, Marc Lessner, and Matthew Markoff recruited a few more members and became the Catalysts for Intellectual Capital 2020. As a group, CIC2020 has since worked with numerous university and community leaders, attending various meetings and conferences, and developing several initiatives to carryout their mission. With the spring of 2007 came the graduation of the last of the original members, marking the first complete turnover of the CIC2020 Directors.
