Chris Sharkey is President of Community Engagement with Corning Incorporated where she leads Corning’s community and economic development initiatives as well as the philanthropic work of the Corning Incorporated Foundation.

Chris started her career with then Corning Glass Works in 1980 with a liberal arts degree from Kenyon College. After twenty years in a variety of plant, business and corporate financial roles across many of Corning’s businesses, Chris joined Corning Enterprises in 2001. Focusing first on initiatives in child care, education, and economic development, she was named to her current role last year.

Chris serves on a number of non-profit boards including Three Rivers Development Corporation (chair), Corning Classic Charities & Wineglass Marathon (chair), Corning’s Gaffer District, Southeast Steuben County Library, Steuben County Industrial Development Agency, Finger Lakes Wine Country, CSS Workforce NY, Elmira College President’s Council, Fund for Women of the Southern Tier, and the Leadership Campaign Board at Kenyon College.

Committed to advocacy and support of women both professionally and in the community, Chris was instrumental in starting the Corning Professional Women’s Forum in the 1980’s and served on the first Women’s Quality Improvement Team at Corning. With 20 friends, she launched the Fund for Women of the Southern Tier in 2009, an organization she led for three years during which the Fund’s endowment reached its $1 million endowment goal.

Chris and her husband John split their time between a home in Painted Post, NY and a farm in Troupsburg, NY. She is an avid baker, particularly when it includes chocolate. She and John have two grown sons, Matt (Cornell MBA) and Connor (Hamilton College).