SU Trustee James V. Breuer to be honored by the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities during March 1 ceremony

Jemeli Tanui
(315) 443-5172

SU Trustee James V. Breuer has been inducted into the 2010 Independent Sector Alumni Hall of Distinction, an honor awarded by the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (cIcu) to alumni who have contributed positively to growing the economy in New York state.

Breuer and other inductees will be honored March 1 during cIcu’s annual meeting at the State Capitol in Albany. The cIcu is a statewide association representing the public policy interests of the chief executives of more than 100 independent colleges and universities in New York State.

The cIcu Alumni Hall of Distinction was established in 2000 to recognize New York’s Independent sector graduates who make contributions to society through their careers and community involvement. The 2010 Alumni Hall of Distinction will focus on “economic development role models” —individuals who work to grow business in New York state, bringing jobs and economic benefits to communities in both small towns and big cities.

SU Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor, a member of the cIcU Board of Trustees, nominated Breuer for the award based on his accomplishments and passion for Syracuse and SU.

“Jim Breuer’s name is synonymous with growth and opportunity in Central New York,” says Cantor. “Beyond being an incredibly strong supporter of SU, he’s an entrepreneurial leader, an astute developer of promising new ventures and talents, and a passionate and generous cultivator of community. This high honor for Jim is an accolade for his family as well—which has been an anchor in this region for generations—and we’re proud he is a member of the SU family.”

Breuer, who received a B.S. in 1972 from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, was elected to the SU Board of Trustees in 2003. He is president and the fifth generation of the family-owned Hueber-Breuer Construction Co. Inc., founded in 1880. In 2005, the company celebrated 125 years of providing construction services to Central New York.

Hueber-Breuer has constructed numerous facilities for SU, starting with Maxwell Hall in 1935. Sixty years later, the company built the adjacent Eggers Hall, and, most recently, it constructed the new building for the Martin J. Whitman School of Management. The company has either built or renovated many other Central New York landmarks, including local hospitals, downtown office buildings, adult homes and educational facilities. Breuer is also an investor in commercial office buildings, hotels, distribution facilities and the Syracuse Crunch professional hockey team.

Breuer’s professional commitments include past and present memberships in the Metropolitan Development Association, Syracuse 20/20, Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency and the Downtown Committee of Syracuse. His civic interests include St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center, Loretto, Elmcrest Children’s Center, Syracuse Stage and Christian Brothers Academy.

For the University, Breuer served as a member of the Athletic Policy Board, Alumni Association Board of Directors and Board of Directors for Syracuse Alumni Rowing Association. He currently serves on the Institutional Advancement Committee and Academic Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees. His many awards include being named a Letter Winner of Distinction for crew in 1995. Breuer was the third generation to attend SU, preceded by his grandfather and both parents. He and his wife, Catherine Cragg Breuer ‘73, have three children.