Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.

Sheriff’s union has new tentative labor contract with Onondaga County
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Onondaga County Deputy Sheriff’s Police Association (OCSPA) has a tentative new labor contract with the Onondaga County government. The Onondaga County Legislature will vote to finalize the deal in December, according to the county’s Nov. 19 announcement. The four-year pact includes a wage increase of 3 percent per year as well […]

AAA Western and Central New York names new director of insurance
AMHERST, N.Y. — AAA Western and Central New York says it has a new director of insurance. Jen Ketchum brings 21 years of experience in both insurance sales and service to the role, which oversees all insurance operations across AAA’s regional footprint in Western and Central New York. She will manage the entire insurance team

WNY health insurer affiliates with MVP Health Care
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — A Western New York health plan is affiliating with Schenectady–based MVP Health Care. Independent Health will join MVP’s family of companies, subject to regulatory approvals. The boards of directors of both organizations unanimously approved the transaction, per MVP’s Nov. 18 announcement. Neither health insurer released financial terms of their agreement. In their

Utica First Insurance Company readies for leadership transition
UTICA, N.Y. — Utica First Insurance Company will have a new president and CEO when the calendar turns to 2026. Ryan Fleming will succeed retiring president and CEO Scott Shatraw. The firm announced Fleming’s appointment on Sept. 16. Fleming joined Utica First Insurance in 2024 as VP of marketing and agencies and has “demonstrated his

Community Financial System appoints Vaccaro as new independent director
DeWITT, N.Y. — Community Financial System, Inc. (NYSE: CBU) announced it has appointed John A. Vaccaro to its board of directors as a new independent director, effective Oct. 1. Vaccaro is chairman emeritus of MML Investors Services, LLC, a national broker-dealer and registered investment advisor with more than $285 billion in assets under management, and

SRC appoints director of autonomous collaborative systems
CICERO, N.Y. — SRC, Inc. has promoted Michael Addario to director of autonomous collaborative systems (ACS). In this role, Addario will oversee the ACS business unit’s strategic vision, program execution, financial performance, business development, customer satisfaction and engineering excellence, the Cicero–based company said in a Nov. 10 announcement. Addario joined SRC in 2003 as a
VIEWPOINT: Gender-Based Violence & the Workplace Policy Mandate Goes into Effect
It’s for bidders on NYS contracts As part of this year’s budget, New York State added Section 139-m to the State Finance Law, which requires bidders on competitive state procurements to certify that they have a written policy addressing gender-based violence and the workplace and that such policy meets certain requirements. The law went into effect

MMRI, MVHS, SUNY Poly form Mohawk Valley Biotech Collective
UTICA, N.Y. — Three Mohawk Valley Institutions on Wednesday formed the MV Biotech Collective, which is designed to “position the Mohawk Valley as a leader in biomedical innovation.” Representatives from the Masonic Medical Research Institute (MMRI), SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly), and Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) signed a memorandum of agreement to formally establish

Tompkins Financial Advisors’ chief investment officer to retire
ITHACA, N.Y. — Tompkins Financial Advisors announced that Geoff Blyth, senior VP and chief investment officer, has decided to retire in early 2026 from his role — after nearly seven years in the position. Tompkins Financial Advisors is the wealth-management arm of Tompkins Financial Corp. (NYSE: TMP), an Ithaca–based financial services holding company that is

St. Joseph’s Health expands orthopedic, spine care with launch of new practice
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — St. Joseph’s Health has announced the upcoming opening of St. Joseph’s Health Orthopedic and Spine Care, which expands access to orthopedic and
Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.