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

MVCC president tapped for Aspen Presidents Fellowship
UTICA, N.Y. — The Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program announced that Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) President Dr. Randall J. VanWagoner has been selected for the inaugural class of the Aspen Presidents Fellowship. The program focuses on developing a sustainable and comprehensive reform agenda that advances excellence and equity in student outcomes at scale. The […]

Lockheed Martin Owego wins $60 million radar contract from U.S. Army
OWEGO, N.Y. — Lockheed Martin Corp.’s Owego plant was awarded a $60.5 million firm-fixed-price contract from the U.S. Army for modernized-radar frequency interferometer production and related support services. Work will be performed in Owego, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 31, 2026, according to an Aug. 30 contract announcement from the U.S. Department of

Preferred Mutual’s Raue named to RISE advisory board of directors
NEW BERLIN, N.Y. — Preferred Mutual Insurance Company announced that Michelle Raue, its senior VP and chief claims officer, was recently appointed to the Rising Insurance Star Executive (RISE) advisory board of directors. RISE provides young professionals entering the insurance industry with resources to help them build a successful career through networking, mentorships, training, education,
Community Bank Trust Services changes name to Nottingham Trust
DeWITT, N.Y. — Community Bank Trust Services, the personal trust and custodial services provider subsidiary of Community Bank System, Inc. (NYSE: CBU), underwent a name change in August to Nottingham Trust. The change comes almost a year after the creation of Nottingham Wealth in late 2022. Nottingham Wealth combined the financial planning and investment capabilities

Utica Mutual Insurance names new board member
UTICA, N.Y. — Tiffany L. Hawkins, COO of Momentum Advisors and founding partner of the Franklin Morgan Private Equity Fund, has been elected to the board of directors of Utica Mutual Insurance Company, the lead company of the Utica National Insurance Group. Hawkins joined the minority-owned wealth-management firm Momentum Advisors in 2014 as managing director

New York manufacturing activity bounces back in September
The Empire State Manufacturing Survey general business-conditions index rebounded into positive territory by rising 21 points in September to 1.9. The index had plummeted 20 points in August to -19 after declining six points in July to 1.1. The general business-conditions index is the monthly gauge on New York’s manufacturing sector. The September reading —

N.Y. home sales continue falling in August with 19% decline
ALBANY, N.Y. — New York realtors sold 11,310 previously owned homes in August, down 18.8 percent from the 13,922 existing homes sold in August 2022. Pending sales also fell more than 11 percent, pointing to further declines in closed home sales in the next couple months. That’s according to the August monthly housing report that

VC firm partner sees opportunity with new Tech Garden office
SYRACUSE — A partner in ff Venture Capital (ffVC) is giving a thumbs up to its role as the first in-residence investor at CenterState CEO’s Tech Garden. Its operations at the Tech Garden also represent an upstate New York office for the New York City–based firm. The Tech Garden, operated by CenterState CEO, is home
SUNY launches task force on health-care worker shortage
It includes Upstate Medical, Binghamton–area university leaders ALBANY, N.Y. — SUNY’s new task force on New York’s health-care worker shortage includes the leaders of Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, Binghamton University, and SUNY Broome Community College. Dr. Mantosh Dewan, president of Upstate Medical University; Harvey Stenger, president of Binghamton University;

Upstate’s new NP residency program to start in November
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Upstate Medical University in November will start a new nurse-practitioner (NP) residency program that it says will offer a new “post-graduate experience while bringing much-needed medical care to underserved communities.” To pay for the program, Upstate Medical is using a grant from the Rockville, Maryland–based Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an
Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.