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OCC to award degrees to more than 600 in Saturday morning ceremony
ONONDAGA, N.Y. — Onondaga Community College (OCC) will hold its commencement ceremony at 11 a.m. Saturday morning at the SRC Arena with 660 students eligible

Is Your Small Business Ready for the Unexpected?
Essential Coverage Every Family Enterprise Needs Small businesses are built on big dreams, and those dreams run even deeper when family is involved. You’ve invested

Crews complete new flyover ramp in the town of Cicero, part of ongoing I-81 project
CICERO, N.Y. — Construction crews have completed work on the new $18 million flyover ramp that passes over the mainline of Interstate 81 (I-81) and

Hamilton College names commencement, baccalaureate speakers
CLINTON, N.Y. — Hamilton College announced it has named designer and artist Bruce Mau, co-founder and CEO of Massive Change Network, as commencement speaker for its graduation, set for 10:30 a.m. on May 25 in the Margaret Bundy Scott Field House. The college will present Mau and Oneida Indian Nation Representative and Turning Stone Enterprises
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CLINTON, N.Y. — Hamilton College announced it has named designer and artist Bruce Mau, co-founder and CEO of Massive Change Network, as commencement speaker for its graduation, set for 10:30 a.m. on May 25 in the Margaret Bundy Scott Field House.
The college will present Mau and Oneida Indian Nation Representative and Turning Stone Enterprises CEO Ray Halbritter with honorary degrees during the ceremony. Halbritter will also offer the college’s baccalaureate address on May 24 at 3 p.m. in the field house.
Mau, a Canadian designer, innovator, educator, author, and artist, is known for his innovative approach to design and commitment to using creativity to address global challenges. He co-founded the Massive Change Network, a design consultancy focused on social impact and sustainable solutions.
Along with working on projects with a number of major companies, Mau is also a professor and strategic curricular advisor for several higher-education institutions. His most recent books are “MC24” and “THE NEXUS: Augmented Thinking for a Complex World – The New Convergence of Art, Technology, and Science,” co-authored with Julio M. Ottino. His work and life are the subject of the 2022 documentary “MAU,” which premiered at SXSW in 2021.
Halbritter has led the Oneida people to an economic and cultural renaissance including historical agreements with the leaders of New York and local counties and the development of the Turning Stone Resort Casino.
Under Halbritter’s leadership, the Oneida Indian Nation has been hailed as a model for sustainable, diversified, and self-sufficient economic development, according to the Hamilton College announcement.
He received the 2021 Mohawk Valley EDGE Leading EDGE Award in recognition of the Oneida Indian Nation’s economic investment in the region and received the 2018 Native Voice Award from the National Congress of American Indians. In 2021, Halbritter received the Oneida County Historical Center’s Richard W. Couper Living Legends Award.

Kickoff time announced for Syracuse football 2025 season opener
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse football’s 2025 season-opening matchup against the Tennessee Volunteers in the Aflac Kickoff Game will have a 12 p.m. Eastern Time kickoff

Tompkins Community Bank names VP, employee experience manager
ITHACA, N.Y. — Tompkins Community Bank has appointed Gina Benedict as VP and employee experience manager. Benedict, who has worked in professional services and human resources for nearly three decades, will oversee Tompkins’ employee experience team, developing and implementing strategies that enhance the bank’s overall work culture, the bank announced. She previously worked as an
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ITHACA, N.Y. — Tompkins Community Bank has appointed Gina Benedict as VP and employee experience manager.
Benedict, who has worked in professional services and human resources for nearly three decades, will oversee Tompkins’ employee experience team, developing and implementing strategies that enhance the bank’s overall work culture, the bank announced.
She previously worked as an executive human-resources consultant for HR Solutions, where she focused on strategic HR initiatives such as leadership training, employee development, and driving engagement through all levels of the organization. Benedict holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Indiana University and HR certifications from the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM-CP) and HRCI (PHR). Benedict’s community service and volunteer work includes The Girl Scouts of America, Skaneateles Library Board, United Way, and Skaneateles Food Pantry. She also serves on the W. Edwards Deming Institute’s advisory board.
“As a community-focused institution, we recognize that our workplace is a community of its own,” Stacie Mastin, senior vice president, director of human resources at Tompkins Community Bank, said in the announcement. “We strive to make Tompkins a positive and welcoming environment and we are confident that Gina will contribute greatly to our employees’ day-to-day experience through her new role.”

FuzeHub awards grants to Cornell, Clarkson, AMT partnerships
ALBANY, N.Y. — FuzeHub has awarded grant funding to collaborative projects involving Cornell University, Clarkson University, and Alliance for Manufacturing & Technology. They’re among six

Lewis County business to assume oversight of Art in the Park event
LYONS FALLS, N.Y. — Naturally Lewis, Inc. says local business Rags & Rivers will begin oversight of the summer art walk event, Art in the

Christopher Community names director of housing compliance
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Christopher Community, Inc. has appointed Kelly Lawton as its new director of housing compliance. She brings more than two decades of property management and compliance experience to the organization and will play a key role in ensuring regulatory adherence and quality standards across Christopher Community’s housing portfolio, the organization announced. Lawton began
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Christopher Community, Inc. has appointed Kelly Lawton as its new director of housing compliance.
She brings more than two decades of property management and compliance experience to the organization and will play a key role in ensuring regulatory adherence and quality standards across Christopher Community’s housing portfolio, the organization announced.
Lawton began her career in property management and steadily rose through the ranks — from property manager to regional manager, general manager, and eventually senior compliance manager. She most recently worked at Housing Management Resources in Syracuse. In recent years, she has also worked in compliance consulting and auditing, providing her with an in-depth understanding of housing regulations, operations, and best practices, Christopher Community stated.
Lawton’s “extensive background in compliance and property management, along with her commitment to improving housing outcomes, will be a tremendous asset to our mission and operations,” Jeffrey Eysaman, president and CEO of Christopher Community, said.
Lawton holds an associate degree in accounting from Bryant & Stratton College and maintains several industry certifications, including HCCP, COS-A, C4P, STAR, BOS, and CSO-HCV.
Christopher Community is a nonprofit housing development and management organization dedicated to providing housing solutions across Central and Western New York. It manages more than 3,300 units across 70 properties.

Anheuser-Busch to make $300M investment in its facilities nationwide
Anheuser-Busch (NYSE: BUD) on Monday said it plans to invest $300 million in its facilities across the U.S., which it is calling its Brewing Futures
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