VERNON — Vernon Downs Casino Hotel President and CEO Jeff Gural has been nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as his administration’s chair of the Public Buildings Reform Board.

The board operates as an independent agency that identifies opportunities for the federal government to significantly reduce its inventory of civilian property, thereby reducing federal expenses.

“It’s a true honor to be called into service for our country,” says Gural. “My experience and commitment to making Central New York a better place for all local businesses has prepared me for opportunities like this. I thank President Biden for the recommendation, and I look forward to the appointment process with lawmakers in our nation’s capital.”

In announcing Gural’s nomination, the Biden Administration highlighted Gural’s time with Newmark Knight Frank, where he was chairman until 2017 and now serves as chairman emeritus. Gural has also served as a staff member with Diesel Construction Co., where he supervised the construction of more than one million square feet of new office space.

Gural, who is the chairman of GFP Real Estate LLC., on top of his roles as president and CEO for both Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs, is also a member of the executive committee of the Real Estate Board of New York. In addition, he previously served as chairman of the Times Square Alliance’s Board of Directors and the Broadway Association’s vice president.

Previously, Gural served in various roles with the Statue of Liberty Foundation and the Realty Foundation of New York.

In 2016, the United States Congress passed the Federal Assets Sale and Transfer Act, which created the Public Buildings Reform Board. It was formed to reduce federal costs and increase efficiencies in the federal real estate portfolio. The board is charged with maximizing the utilization rate of federal buildings and facilities, reducing the reliance on leased space, and selling or redeveloping high-value assets that are underutilized to obtain the highest and best value for the taxpayer and maximize the return to the taxpayer.