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

Report: START-UP NY created 332 jobs in 2015
Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s START-UP NY program created 332 jobs during 2015 and a total of 408 net new jobs in the program’s first two years.

People news: Hurley, Tietje join Erie Canal Museum board
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Dan Hurley and Sarah Tietje were recently elected to three-year terms on the board of trustees of the Erie Canal Museum in
KRISTY LEE WITT has joined Fusion Advertising as social media & marketing manager on its marketing team. Witt brings 10 years of experience to the position, including knowledge of digital design, marketing, advertising, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit management. Currently, she is also the social media & booking manager of the Miss Syracuse Organization and co-founder of

CenterState CEO has hired LAUREN DEVENDORFas its new account manager for the Benefit Specialists of NY (BSNY) group. Previously, she served as policy owner services coordinator for Northwestern Mutual where she worked directly with clients to connect them to the company’s services. In addition to her client relations experience, she also brings a diversity of

JOHN STELMACK, JR. has joined Preferred Mutual Insurance Co. as a liability claims representative. He brings more than 11 years of claims experience to Preferred Mutual, having most recently served in a similar capacity at a national insurance carrier. Stelmack earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Hartford and a master’s

Schneider Packaging Equipment Co. has promoted BOB BROTZKI to chief operating officer. He previously served as director of sales and marketing. Brotzki, a former NFL player, has been a part of the sales, operations, and management teams at Yellow Freight/Precision Trucking and owned his own business, Penn Select Hardwoods. He holds a bachelor’s degree in
Thompson & Johnson Equipment Co., Inc.
Thompson & Johnson Equipment Co., Inc. has hired 19 new employees this year. The firm hired the following as mechanics: BRAD BENSON, JIM BERRY, RICH CERUTTI, JOSH CHAMBERLAIN, NATE DARLING, BOB GUYER, PHILIP LONG, JOHN RYALS, JASON STENE, KEN STEVENS, and JERRY WOODWORTH. Hired for the parts counter were CHRIS DOOLITTLE and JIM MCCARTHY. DON

HARRY P. HARKAWAY has joined CBD Companies as director of real-estate services. He has more than 30 years of commercial real-estate experience having started his career with JMB Realty of Chicago, Illinois, where he worked in leasing and property management in Minneapolis and Syracuse. Harkaway later acted as area manager in Washington, D.C., directing transactions for

State DEC project manager from Utica area indicted in contractor-fraud scheme
A former project manager with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is facing charges he operated an “elaborate” contractor-fraud scheme while employed

Cowboys Saloon to hire more than 100 during month-long job fair, starting Friday
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Cowboys Saloon American Bar & Grill on Friday begins a month-long job fair seeking new staff for its upcoming restaurant in Destiny
Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.