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

Upstate announces winners of 2019 medical device innovation challenge
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Upstate Medical University has announced the six winners of its 2019 medical device innovation challenge (MDIC). Upstate MIND (medical innovation and novel

People news: NBT Bank promotes Wheeler to assistant VP
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — NBT Bank has announced the promotion of multi-site branch manager Maria Wheeler to assistant vice president. Wheeler has more than 33 years

Syverud to chair Atlantic Coast Conference Council of Presidents
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse University President and Chancellor Kent Syverud will chair the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Council of Presidents for the 2019-20 academic year.

MVHS names senior VP of marketing and strategy
UTICA, N.Y. — The Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) announced it has appointed Patricia Charvat as senior VP of marketing and strategy. Charvat had been

MVP Health Care to administer behavioral-health services
SCHENECTADY — Health insurer MVP Health Care plans to “directly administer” case management, utilization review, claims payment, and network management for all of its New York members that use behavioral-health services. That service will start in early 2020, the Schenectady–based insurer announced July 10. Boston, Massachusetts–based Beacon Health Options has administered behavioral-health services for MVP
Study: Number of workers eligible for health coverage at work rises
A new study from the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) finds the number of workers eligible to receive health insurance through their job rose from 2014 through 2018, despite offer rates from employers “slowly declining.” The Employee Benefit Research Institute says it is a nonprofit research institute based in Washington, D.C., that focuses on health, savings,

Big I New York taps Lombardo as AVP of learning, development
DeWITT — Big I New York says Jim Lombardo has joined the association as its assistant vice president (AVP) of learning and development. Lombardo most recently served as chief operating manager at AmeriCU Insurance Services, LLC. Big I New York describes itself as the state’s oldest insurance producer trade association. Insurance agents and brokers are
SUNY Cortland appoints new director of career services
CORTLAND — SUNY Cortland recently announced that it appointed Nan Pasquarello as its new director of career services. She took over the position at the end of June when John Shirley, long-time career services director, retired. In her new role, Pasquarello works with SUNY Cortland academic faculty, other professional staff, and key outside stakeholder groups

Report: New York leads U.S. in nonprofit jobs & wages
ALBANY — Nonprofits are “essential” in upstate New York regions such as the Mohawk Valley and the Southern Tier where nearly one in four private-sector jobs was at a nonprofit in 2017. In addition, wages paid by nonprofits were higher than other private-sector employers in five of New York’s 10 regions. That’s according to a

Bassett Medical Center to use nearly $3M federal grant for nurse-practitioner residency program
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Bassett Medical Center will use a $2.7 million federal grant to develop a nurse practitioner primary care residency program in the Bassett
Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.