UTICA — The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties recently announced two new board of trustees’ members and new officers. The two new members are Lydia Berez and Ryan Miller. Berez is a senior VP at Utica National Insurance Group, where she serves as general counsel and compliance officer. After beginning her legal career […]
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UTICA — The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties recently announced two new board of trustees’ members and new officers.
The two new members are Lydia Berez and Ryan Miller.
Berez is a senior VP at Utica National Insurance Group, where she serves as general counsel and compliance officer. After beginning her legal career in Boston, she returned to Utica in 2003 and has since been with Utica National, where she will celebrate 22 years of service in September 2025. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Berez has been an active community leader. She has served on the Holland Patent Central School District Board of Education for a decade, including two years as president, and recently concluded her long-standing board role with Hope House. Berez currently chairs the Screening Committee for the Utica National Foundation and serves on the board of GreenUtica.
Miller is the director of Mohawk Valley Community College’s thINCubator, a co-working and business incubator space in Utica dedicated to cultivating a strong culture of entrepreneurship. He has worked with more than 300 entrepreneurs, students, creatives, and business owners to help build ventures, solve problems, and create opportunities across the region. In addition to his role at thINCubator, Miller is the founder of Rust Belt Startup, where he develops websites, produces multimedia content, and crafts marketing strategies for small businesses and mission-driven organizations. He is also a co-founder of several local initiatives including TEDxUtica, the Utica Firefly Storytelling Series, and Detour Utica.
In addition to the two new trustee members, the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties board of trustees also approved new officers. Cheryl Minor will assume the role of board chair, RoAnn Destito is the chair-elect, Harrison J. Hummel IV is now the treasurer, and Kathryn Zongrone will serve as secretary.
Timothy Daly, AVP branch manager at Berkshire Bank and past treasurer of the Community Foundation board of trustees, has concluded his board service after eight years.
Founded in 1952, the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties says it envisions a vibrant region with opportunity for all. The foundation notes that it has transformed decades of donor generosity into $150 million invested in social-impact initiatives, collaborative leadership, and grantmaking.
