Believe in Syracuse elects Zorn as new board president

Also announces other board officers

SYRACUSE — Believe in Syracuse recently announced it has elected Esther Zorn as the new president of its board of directors and has also appointed several other board officers.

Believe in Syracuse is a nonprofit organization that says it promotes positive perceptions and improves the quality of life in the greater Syracuse area.

Zorn is a founding board member of Believe in Syracuse and is a long-time resident of the city of Syracuse, the organization said in a news release. She graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in journalism and international relations.

Zorn and her husband stayed in Syracuse and raised their three children, who have now all left the area. Zorn and her husband have chosen to stay in Syracuse for reasons including the beauty of the Central New York area, its easy access to many other attractive metropolitan and natural areas, its affordable housing, and its friendly people, the release stated.

Zorn is a past president of WBOC (Women Business Opportunities and Connections) and now board member of Zonta, member of Rotary of Eastwood, and was recently chosen to serve on the Agent Leadership Council for Keller Williams Realty Syracuse, where she is continuing her more than 16-year career as a real estate associate broker.

The Believe in Syracuse board has elected Jessica Bumpus as VP. She has been a resident of the Syracuse area since 2004, moving from central Texas to pursue a bachelor’s degree at SUNY-ESF. After having her son in 2007, she decided to settle in the area. Bumpus currently works at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo as the gift shop manager and buyer, the chair of the Conservation Committee, and member of the Education Committee. Bumpus is the treasurer for the Rosamond Gifford Zoo chapter of American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK) and former executive board member of GreeningUSA, the release stated.

Matthew McArdle is the new treasurer and a member of the board of directors of Believe in Syracuse. He graduated from Westhill High School and received a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University, where he studied accounting and finance. McArdle is a CPA and a manager at DiMarco, Abiusi, & Pascarella CPA.

Elected as board secretary, Mery Liranzo-Nieves is a three-year resident of Syracuse, originally from southern New Jersey. She has a bachelor’s degree from Stockton University in New Jersey in business management. Liranzo-Nieves currently works at the Social Security Administration. 

Believe in Syracuse has elected Sally Sayles-Hannon as its new sergeant of arms. She is a diversity educator and active community organizer/advocate in Central New York, the release said. She has been an instructor at five U.S. universities and colleges. She currently holds an instructor position at Cayuga Community College in Auburn in the School of Social Sciences and Education. Sayles-Hannon has a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from Grand Valley State University, a master’s degree in women’s studies from Texas Woman’s University, and is a Ph.D. candidate in cultural foundations of education at Syracuse University. She is presently the chair of the Community Service Committee. Sayles-Hannon moved to Syracuse in August 2008 from Dallas, Texas. 

“We will rise by lifting others, and we as the new board of Believe in Syracuse are excited to work together and continue to lift Syracuse up as a great place to live and work,” Zorn said in the release. “We are also well aware that through effective collaboration with other organizations and the city leadership, more grassroots work can get done. Believe in Syracuse intends to work on retaining people in Syracuse while attracting new businesses so jobs will be plentiful and Syracuse can rise to the top of any list.”      

Also announces other board officers

SYRACUSE — Believe in Syracuse recently announced it has elected Esther Zorn as the new president of its board of directors and has also appointed several other board officers.

Believe in Syracuse is a nonprofit organization that says it promotes positive perceptions and improves the quality of life in the greater Syracuse area.

Zorn is a founding board member of Believe in Syracuse and is a long-time resident of the city of Syracuse, the organization said in a news release. She graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in journalism and international relations.

Zorn and her husband stayed in Syracuse and raised their three children, who have now all left the area. Zorn and her husband have chosen to stay in Syracuse for reasons including the beauty of the Central New York area, its easy access to many other attractive metropolitan and natural areas, its affordable housing, and its friendly people, the release stated.

Zorn is a past president of WBOC (Women Business Opportunities and Connections) and now board member of Zonta, member of Rotary of Eastwood, and was recently chosen to serve on the Agent Leadership Council for Keller Williams Realty Syracuse, where she is continuing her more than 16-year career as a real estate associate broker.

The Believe in Syracuse board has elected Jessica Bumpus as VP. She has been a resident of the Syracuse area since 2004, moving from central Texas to pursue a bachelor’s degree at SUNY-ESF. After having her son in 2007, she decided to settle in the area. Bumpus currently works at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo as the gift shop manager and buyer, the chair of the Conservation Committee, and member of the Education Committee. Bumpus is the treasurer for the Rosamond Gifford Zoo chapter of American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK) and former executive board member of GreeningUSA, the release stated.

Matthew McArdle is the new treasurer and a member of the board of directors of Believe in Syracuse. He graduated from Westhill High School and received a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University, where he studied accounting and finance. McArdle is a CPA and a manager at DiMarco, Abiusi, & Pascarella CPA.

Elected as board secretary, Mery Liranzo-Nieves is a three-year resident of Syracuse, originally from southern New Jersey. She has a bachelor’s degree from Stockton University in New Jersey in business management. Liranzo-Nieves currently works at the Social Security Administration. 

Believe in Syracuse has elected Sally Sayles-Hannon as its new sergeant of arms. She is a diversity educator and active community organizer/advocate in Central New York, the release said. She has been an instructor at five U.S. universities and colleges. She currently holds an instructor position at Cayuga Community College in Auburn in the School of Social Sciences and Education. Sayles-Hannon has a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from Grand Valley State University, a master’s degree in women’s studies from Texas Woman’s University, and is a Ph.D. candidate in cultural foundations of education at Syracuse University. She is presently the chair of the Community Service Committee. Sayles-Hannon moved to Syracuse in August 2008 from Dallas, Texas. 

“We will rise by lifting others, and we as the new board of Believe in Syracuse are excited to work together and continue to lift Syracuse up as a great place to live and work,” Zorn said in the release. “We are also well aware that through effective collaboration with other organizations and the city leadership, more grassroots work can get done. Believe in Syracuse intends to work on retaining people in Syracuse while attracting new businesses so jobs will be plentiful and Syracuse can rise to the top of any list.”