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JAMES BLIGH has been promoted to branch manager of Pathfinder Bank’s Pike Block Office in downtown Syracuse. He joined Pathfinder Bank in 2018 as the assistant branch manager of the newly opened Clay office and held that position until this recent promotion. Bligh’s new duties will be developing retail and commercial business in the Syracuse […]
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JAMES BLIGH has been promoted to branch manager of Pathfinder Bank’s Pike Block Office in downtown Syracuse. He joined Pathfinder Bank in 2018 as the assistant branch manager of the newly opened Clay office and held that position until this recent promotion. Bligh’s new duties will be developing retail and commercial business in the Syracuse region, while managing the day-to-day operations of the branch. Bligh holds a bachelor’s degree in history from SUNY Brockport.
MORGAN FLACK has been promoted to residential mortgage lender at Pathfinder Bank. Her prior experience is in residential-loan processing, constriction loan management, and customer service. In this new role, Flack will originate residential mortgages and promote the financial institution and its lending services to the community. She will be based in the Pike Block office and will be working to grow residential mortgages in Syracuse and greater Onondaga County. Flack joined Pathfinder Bank in 2012 as a part-time teller and later began her career in lending in 2014 in the loan servicing department. She was promoted to closing coordinator in 2018 and held that title before her promotion to mortgage lender. Flack graduated from SUNY Oswego with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a minor in coaching.

JOSEPH S. CICCI has been named president of corporate apparel and government contracting for American Fashion Network (AFN). He is also CEO of his own private consulting firm, Javelin Strategic Consultants. Cicci is a 25-year C-suite industry veteran who has successfully created multiple B2B marketing models and served as an entrepreneurial consultant to institutional investment
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JOSEPH S. CICCI has been named president of corporate apparel and government contracting for American Fashion Network (AFN). He is also CEO of his own private consulting firm, Javelin Strategic Consultants. Cicci is a 25-year C-suite industry veteran who has successfully created multiple B2B marketing models and served as an entrepreneurial consultant to institutional investment firms in the decorative supply chain industry. Cicci will be helping Jackie Wilson, founder and CEO of AFN, which produces corporate apparel. Cicci holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and history from Hobart & William Smith Colleges.

C2C Construction Solutions LLC
PHIL ALLEN has joined C2C Construction Solutions LLC as an estimator/project manager for the Butler Building and Renovations Departments. He previously owned Allen Construction, which he managed for seven years as a contractor/owner. Prior to owning his own business, he worked as a project manager for National Building & Restoration Company in Utica. TAYLOR
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PHIL ALLEN has joined C2C Construction Solutions LLC as an estimator/project manager for the Butler Building and Renovations Departments. He previously owned Allen Construction, which he managed for seven years as a contractor/owner. Prior to owning his own business, he worked as a project manager for National Building & Restoration Company in Utica.

TAYLOR ENGLISH has joined C2C Construction Solutions LLC as an estimator/project manager for the Custom Vacation Home and Renovation Departments. He previously owned English Contracting, which he managed for seven years as a contractor/owner. Prior to owning his own business, English worked as a project engineer for Hayner Hoyt Corporation in Syracuse and Murnane Building Contractors in Utica.

Strategic Financial Services, Inc.
Strategic Financial Services, Inc. has added three new associate advisors to its team. They were chosen to be part of Strategic’s advisor-development program, where they will develop the critical skills necessary to guide clients toward their financial objectives. They’ll will also be working to become certified financial planner (CFP) professionals. SOPHIA TSOUPELIS is a graduate
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Strategic Financial Services, Inc. has added three new associate advisors to its team. They were chosen to be part of Strategic’s advisor-development program, where they will develop the critical skills necessary to guide clients toward their financial objectives. They’ll will also be working to become certified financial planner (CFP) professionals.
SOPHIA TSOUPELIS is a graduate of Providence College in Rhode Island with a bachelor’s degree in finance. She was previously a wealth-management intern at Merrill Lynch in Utica, and a corporate-actions income and tax intern for Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., a financial-services firm in Boston.
KYLE DEMPSTER holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester and an MBA from Utica College. He comes to Strategic after serving as a financial-aid counselor at Utica College for six years.
CODY CARNAYA attended SUNY Plattsburgh, where he received a bachelor’s degree in ecology. Most recently, he worked at Equitable Advisors in Syracuse, where he passed his New York State life & health, SIE & Series 7 licensing exams.
Oswego Industries Inc., a Fulton–based nonprofit agency that supports working-age adults with developmental disabilities, announced four new employees: JENNIFER STOCK, respite assistant; MARGARET KREMERS, direct support professional; TAMARA MORRISON, direct support professional; and VANESSA THIBAULT, community habilitation aide.
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Oswego Industries Inc., a Fulton–based nonprofit agency that supports working-age adults with developmental disabilities, announced four new employees: JENNIFER STOCK, respite assistant; MARGARET KREMERS, direct support professional; TAMARA MORRISON, direct support professional; and VANESSA THIBAULT, community habilitation aide.
The Mohawk Valley Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has appointed PAUL ARVANTIDES to director. He has been a business advisor with the Mohawk Valley SBDC since 2017. During that time, he has provided business-advisement services to a variety of small businesses and entrepreneurs engaged in starting, managing, growing, or purchasing a business. Prior to his
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The Mohawk Valley Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has appointed PAUL ARVANTIDES to director. He has been a business advisor with the Mohawk Valley SBDC since 2017. During that time, he has provided business-advisement services to a variety of small businesses and entrepreneurs engaged in starting, managing, growing, or purchasing a business. Prior to his time with the SBDC, Arvantides acted as a business manager for Northwestern Mutual, was VP and head of U.S. services at E4E Healthcare Services LLC in Maryland and was the president/owner of Medical Coding Services, Inc. in Baldwinsville. Arvantides holds a bachelor’s degree in health information administration from SUNY Polytechnic Institute and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Hamilton College. As director, he will oversee the Mohawk Valley SBDC, which provides free one-on-one counseling and training to support local small businesses. Arvantides is succeeding previous director Roxanne Mutchler, who is retiring after 11 years with the Mohawk Valley SBDC, during which she worked in a variety of capacities, including New York SBDC government contracting coordinator and acting director.

Broome County executive reports 91 COVID cases over the weekend, a slowing from prior two days
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Broome County Executive Jason Garnar reported 91 new coronavirus cases for the county over the weekend. Garnar, on his Facebook page, reported

Broome County warns of possible virus exposure on bus arriving from New York City
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — The Broome County Health Department announced Sunday that a person who was on a Greyhound bus travelling from the Port Authority in

Boeheim says he’s tested positive for COVID-19; men’s basketball activities paused
“As part of our routine COVID-19 health and safety protocols, I, along with my team and staff, are tested for COVID-19 multiple times each week.

Chemung Chamber to Cuomo: Reconsider guidance for micro-cluster zones
ELMIRA, N.Y. — The Chemung County Chamber of Commerce has sent a letter urging Gov. Andrew Cuomo to “adjust guidance and provide additional resources to
Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.