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Lefton formally becomes state DEC commissioner
ALBANY, N.Y. — Amanda Lefton was recently confirmed by the New York State Senate to serve as commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). She had been serving as acting commissioner of the DEC, New York’s environmental regulatory agency, since February 2025. Lefton’s career spans the public and private sectors, including previously serving […]
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ALBANY, N.Y. — Amanda Lefton was recently confirmed by the New York State Senate to serve as commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
She had been serving as acting commissioner of the DEC, New York’s environmental regulatory agency, since February 2025.
Lefton’s career spans the public and private sectors, including previously serving as the director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) within the U.S. Department of the Interior, according to a May 30 announcement from Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office. Under Lefton’s leadership, from 2021-2023, BOEM developed and implemented a federal offshore wind program during the Biden administration.
Prior to her role as BOEM director, Lefton served as the first assistant secretary for energy and environment for New York, where she led the state’s environmental and climate initiatives overseeing a portfolio of executive agencies including the DEC, per the announcement.
Lefton has also worked for the Nature Conservancy in New York as the deputy policy director and climate-mitigation lead, the Rochester Regional Joint Board of Workers United, and the New York State Assembly and New York State Senate. Lefton comes to the DEC from RWE, an offshore-wind company, where she was the VP of offshore development, U.S. East.
Originally from Queens, Lefton grew up on Long Island and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University at Albany.
5 ways employers can cut prescription drug costs without reducing benefits
Did you know that prescription drug costs in the U.S. are rising faster than inflation? For businesses, that means higher expenses and tough choices.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Centro on Tuesday said its board of members has appointed Christopher Tuff as the new CEO of Central New York Regional Transportation Authority (Centro) and its subsidiary organizations. Tuff assumes the role of CEO after serving during the past four and a half years as Centro’s deputy CEO. During that time, he
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Centro on Tuesday said its board of members has appointed Christopher Tuff as the new CEO of Central New York Regional Transportation Authority (Centro) and its subsidiary organizations.
Tuff assumes the role of CEO after serving during the past four and a half years as Centro’s deputy CEO. During that time, he oversaw the successful launch of Centro’s service in Cortland County, the first expansion of services in 20 years.
Tuff succeeds Brian Schultz in the CEO role. Schultz went on leave in October 2023 due to health issues and eventually informed the Authority his health wouldn’t allow him to return.
“When we began our search for a new CEO, the Board of Members promised to find a leader who exemplifies the organization’s values and appreciates the importance of public transportation in a service area like ours,” Nicholas Laino, chairman of the Centro board, said in the announcement. “We have someone who has demonstrated his ability to lead this organization with accountability and transparency. Someone who lives the values Centro prioritizes. Someone who is ready to transform Central New York’s transportation landscape through the arrival of Micron and removal of Interstate 81. That leader is Christopher Tuff.”
Tuff began his career at Centro in 2007 in the Authority’s accounting department. He left the organization for eight years, working as an auditor for the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. Tuff returned to Centro in 2016 and “steadily rose through the ranks,” holding the positions of vice president of administration, director of operations, and director of subsidiary operations.
Besides his role as an executive, Tuff also occasionally gets behind the wheel.
Tuff obtained his commercial driver’s license (CDL) in 2017 and has operated buses during special events amid the current bus-operator shortage. Like other Centro drivers, Tuff attends regular training and safety programs, Centro noted.
Riverside Gardens project breaks ground in Johnson City
JOHNSON CITY, N.Y. — Square Deal Partners broke ground on Monday June 2 on its $15.5 million project to redevelop the former Davis College campus
SUNY Oswego renames four of its colleges, focusing on areas of growth
OSWEGO, N.Y. — SUNY Oswego on Monday announced the upcoming renaming of its four colleges, three of which were previously known as schools. At the
7 Brew, a drive-thru coffee business, adds Clay to its New York locations
CLAY, N.Y. — 7 Brew, a drive-thru coffee business, on Wednesday formally opened its first Syracuse–area location at 3906 Brewerton Road in the town of
Tompkins Community Bank adds business development officer for Syracuse
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Tompkins Community Bank announced it has expanded its retail banking team by hiring Paul Palladino as business development officer for Syracuse. Palladino is a 25-year veteran of the banking and finance industry. In his new role, he will work to cultivate relationships throughout the bank’s footprint and promote Tompkins through community involvement.
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Tompkins Community Bank announced it has expanded its retail banking team by hiring Paul Palladino as business development officer for Syracuse.
Palladino is a 25-year veteran of the banking and finance industry. In his new role, he will work to cultivate relationships throughout the bank’s footprint and promote Tompkins through community involvement.
Prior to joining Tompkins, Palladino worked as sales manager and loan officer for Supreme Lending and Syracuse Securities. He serves Second Chance Animal Shelter’s board of directors as a fundraising coordinator and volunteers with various animal shelters and veteran organizations in Onondaga County.
“I look forward to seeing Paul’s impact on our market,” Tompkins Community Banking Division Manager Helen Talty said in the announcement. “His background in financial sales and business development, accompanied by his commitment to serving his community, makes him an ideal fit for our team.”
Tompkins Community Bank serves the central, western, and Hudson Valley regions of New York and southeastern Pennsylvania. The bank is part of Ithaca–based Tompkins Financial Corp. (NYSE: TMP).
Bassett, Otsego County enter medical-transport contract
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Otsego County and Bassett Healthcare Network have inked a contract until the fall of 2027 for medical transport across the region utilizing
Canadian firm wins top prize in Binghamton business-plan competition
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Emkao Foods, Inc. of Vancouver, British Columbia is the 2025 winner of the Binghamton business-plan competition. It plans to establish a manufacturing
AmeriCU creates new position to support business members
ROME, N.Y. — AmeriCU Credit Union says it has created a new position to strengthen and expand its support of business members. Jay Singh will fill the new role of assistant vice president (AVP) of business services CUSO (Credit Union Service Organization). He brings more than 30 years of experience in the financial-services industry to
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ROME, N.Y. — AmeriCU Credit Union says it has created a new position to strengthen and expand its support of business members.
Jay Singh will fill the new role of assistant vice president (AVP) of business services CUSO (Credit Union Service Organization). He brings more than 30 years of experience in the financial-services industry to the position.
Singh began his career as a part-time teller, steadily advancing into leadership roles focused on business banking. He spent more than 20 years serving business members in the credit-union industry, including seven years as a commercial loan officer and more than a decade leading a business-services team, according to AmeriCU.
“I have always been focused on building deeper connections with business members, serving as a partner in both strong economic times and periods of uncertainty,” Singh said in a statement. “AmeriCU’s commitment to business members goes beyond the products and services they offer–it’s about people helping people. I’m excited to be part of a team that lives that philosophy every day.”
The credit union says it has created this new position against a backdrop of an evolving financial-services industry where credit unions continue to innovate and broaden their offerings.
AmeriCU, based in Rome, has total assets of $2.7 billion and serves more than 167,000 members from 21 branch locations.
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