California company chosen to design Everson Museum café

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SYRACUSE — A California firm will handle the design work on the café at the Everson Museum of Art after winning a competition to secure the job. The Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse and Syracuse University School of Architecture chose a company called Millions. Millions is a Los Angeles–based experimental architectural practice founded by […]

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SYRACUSE — A California firm will handle the design work on the café at the Everson Museum of Art after winning a competition to secure the job.

The Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse and Syracuse University School of Architecture chose a company called Millions.

Millions is a Los Angeles–based experimental architectural practice founded by John May and Zeina Koreitem. Millions says it “conceives of architecture as a speculative medium for exploring the central categories of contemporary life: technology, politics, energy, media, and information.”

The other finalists, selected back in May, included FreelandBuck, which has offices in Los Angeles and New York City; Naturalbuild of Shanghai, China; and Norman Kelley, which has offices in Chicago and New Orleans.

Millions brings a “striking individuality” to its work, Elizabeth Dunbar, director and CEO of the Everson Museum, said in a news release.

“Their approach to the café design within I.M. Pei’s iconic Everson design brings to mind Pei’s own daring intervention into the Louvre. Millions included prismatic glass towers in their design, brilliantly combining function with architectural flair and conceptual rigor. They not only thoughtfully engage Pei’s style; they have highlighted its unique characteristics while simultaneously giving Louise’s collection the prominence and respect it deserves. We are all so very excited to work on this project with Millions. Together we are creating a café space and experience unlike any other in the world,” Dunbar says.

I.M. Pei, the architect who designed the Everson, died in May.

Construction of the new café will begin in 2020 with an expected opening toward the end of the summer of the same year.

Besides Dunbar, the jury that selected Millions as the designer included Garth Johnson, the Everson’s curator of ceramics. The group also included Sean Anderson, associate curator in the department of architecture and design at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City; Aric Chen, curatorial director of Design Miami, an international design fair; Jing Liu, an architect with design firm SO—IL in New York City; Matt Shaw, executive editor of The Architect’s Newspaper; and Oana Stanescu, a faculty member at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design.

In addition to providing daily lunch service and hosting special events, the new museum café will also serve as a venue to showcase and put into use the Rosenfield collection, a more than 3,000-piece functional ceramic-art collection gifted to the Everson Museum of Art by Louise Rosenfield, a Dallas, Texas–based ceramic artist and collector.

Rosenfield also served as an advisor to the jury, along with Kate Nutting, principal and managing member of VIP Architectural Associates of Syracuse; Fouad Dietz, Everson Museum chair of buildings and grounds committee; and Karyn Korteling, owner of Pastabilities restaurant in Syracuse.

Mirons’ $7M donation to help Syracuse University connect Dome with Barnes Center

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SYRACUSE — The renovation work at the Carrier Dome will eventually include a project to connect the venue and the nearby Barnes Center at the Arch. Syracuse University will use a $7 million donation for that project and for a fund to support the school’s libraries. Life trustee Robert Miron, a 1959 graduate, and his

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SYRACUSE — The renovation work at the Carrier Dome will eventually include a project to connect the venue and the nearby Barnes Center at the Arch.

Syracuse University will use a $7 million donation for that project and for a fund to support the school’s libraries.

Life trustee Robert Miron, a 1959 graduate, and his wife, Diane, donated the funding, Syracuse said in a Nov. 4 news release. The donation is one of “several” seven-figure gifts recently made to the school, the university noted.

“I’ve been a part of the Syracuse University community for more than six decades and never have I seen a more exciting time on campus,” Robert Miron said. “From the implementation of a visionary Academic Strategic Plan to the physical transformation of facilities, Syracuse University, led by Chancellor Kent Syverud, is redefining the University’s future, reimagining the student experience and making strategic investments to accelerate the achievement of its ambitious goals.”

Victory Court

The Mirons have supported many academic programs, university initiatives, and athletic endeavors over the years. Their most recent gift will support the construction of Victory Court, which will physically connect the Barnes Center at the Arch and the Dome, “ultimately changing the footprint” of the 40-year-old facility.

Victory Court represents “a key piece” of the Dome renovation effort, or what the school is calling the “Stadium Project,” per the release. Victory Court, an enclosed pedestrian thruway, will be named in honor of the Mirons.

Syracuse has not yet determined a schedule for the construction of Victory Court, as the project must first go through the university’s capital projects governance process.

The scope of the “Stadium Project” includes a new fixed roof, a vertically hung scoreboard, “state-of-the-art” sound and lighting systems, improved accessibility, and the installation of air conditioning, the school noted.

“The Stadium Project is progressing well and every day we get closer and closer to a transformed stadium experience,” Syracuse Director of Athletics John Wildhack said in the release. “After years of soliciting feedback from students, faculty, staff, fans, and alumni, I am thrilled to see this exciting vision starting to take shape. The Mirons are longtime supporters of Syracuse Athletics and have been instrumental in elevating our status as a powerhouse program whose success on the playing fields is second only to the success our student-athletes have in the classrooms, labs and in their communities.”

Libraries fund

The donation will also support the creation of the Diane and Bob Miron Fund for Academic Success in the Libraries.

Diane Miron says supporting the Syracuse libraries was an “easy decision,” as she currently serves on the libraries advisory board. The new Diane and Bob Miron Fund for Academic Success will support any academic and student success initiatives within the libraries, “including but not limited to” entrepreneurship efforts. Those efforts include the Blackstone LaunchPad, student services, technology enhancements, and the creation and maintenance of student spaces.

In honor of the Mirons’ philanthropy, the Libraries Learning Commons on the first floor will be named in their honor.

Financial firm plants seeds of growth

Regional News, Subscriber Only

BINGHAMTON — A new subsidiary, a merger, a new financial offering, and double-digit growth have combined and led S.E.E.D. Planning Group, LLC to the opening of two new office locations this year. The fee-based financial planning firm, which is headquartered in Binghamton, opened an office at 3247 Vickery Road in the town of Salina, in

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BINGHAMTON — A new subsidiary, a merger, a new financial offering, and double-digit growth have combined and led S.E.E.D. Planning Group, LLC to the opening of two new office locations this year.

The fee-based financial planning firm, which is headquartered in Binghamton, opened an office at 3247 Vickery Road in the town of Salina, in late August to accommodate the firm’s growing Syracuse–area client base, says Travis Maus, managing partner and wealth manager.

He credits the need for the office to the company’s Suite(K) business unit, which provides fiduciary services for retirement-plan administration to businesses. The unit led to a lot of opportunity and a growing client base in the Syracuse region so there was a need for an office in the area, Maus says.

The company currently leases about 900 square feet from CNBC Holdings LLC, the owner of the Vickery Road property, but Maus says S.E.E.D. is already planning for a larger location in about a year. S.E.E.D. is also in the process of hiring a full-time person to staff that office.

Suite(K) has proven popular for a number of reasons, Maus says. Along with being vendor-neutral, it also includes an educational component. S.E.E.D. planners work with the employees of their clients to reduce financial stress through information about everything from student-loan repayment, retirement readiness, and life events, such as having to place a parent in a nursing home.

S.E.E.D. will soon add another service to its roster with its upcoming merger with Lakeside Bookkeeping & Tax Service of Whitney Point.

Lakeside will merge with S.E.E.D.’s new Bloom Tax Partners, LLC subsidiary to offer income-tax preparation, income-tax reduction strategies, and bookkeeping services. Kimberly Chidester, who managed Lakeside for 25 years, will join Bloom Tax Partners as a partner and oversee the day-to-day operations, effective Jan. 1.

S.E.E.D. is in the process of renovating just over 2,000 square feet in the old M&T Bank building at 2669 Main St. in the village of Whitney Point to house Bloom Tax Partners, which leases the space from Nick & Kato LLC. Once it’s fully up and running, Bloom will have four full-time and three part-time employees and will likely hire one more employee, Maus says.

Lakeside, which brings 1,300 clients to Bloom Tax Partners had reached a point where it needed to merge with a larger company or stop taking on new clients because it was at capacity, Maus says. Partnering with Bloom introduces the whole suite of S.E.E.D. offerings to Lakeside’s clients and adds tax services as an option for S.E.E.D.’s client base.

With its new offerings, S.E.E.D. is projecting it will generate more than 33 percent year-over-year growth in assets under management. The company currently has $147 million in assets under management, as well as an equal amount in assets under advisement

To manage that growth, the company — headquartered in 6,500 square feet at 31 Lewis St. in the city of Binghamton — will be looking to hire new people. “We’ve been able to attract high-quality, good, similar-valued people,” says Berkeley. Those people are a big part of S.E.E.D.’s success, he adds. “It’s the sum of the parts.”

The company receives an average of two résumés a week, and Stephen Campbell, partner and director of community engagement, credits Maus and Berkeley for the interest in the firm. The two men are innovating and have created an environment people want to join.

“There’s a premium for the right people,” Maus adds. “With the right people, you can grow anything.”

ConMed’s Q3 net income rises nearly 20 percent

Manufacturing & Engineering, Regional News, Subscriber Only

UTICA — ConMed Corporation (NASDAQ: CNMD) on Oct. 30 reported net income of $6.97 million in the third quarter, up almost 20 percent from $5.825 million in the year-ago quarter. The Utica–based surgical-device maker generated earnings per share of 23 cents, up from 20 cents a year prior. ConMed reported adjusted earnings of $18.2 million,

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ConMed reported adjusted earnings of $18.2 million, or 62 cents a share, in the third quarter, up nearly 38 percent from $13.2 million, or 46 cents, in the same quarter in 2018.

The company cited severance costs in connection with consolidation of certain manufacturing operations for the adjusted earnings. Those severance costs were mainly incurred in 2019, the firm said.

ConMed’s adjusted earnings of 62 cents beat the consensus analyst estimate of 56 cents, according to Zacks Research.

ConMed generated revenue of $233.6 million in the third quarter, up 15.5 percent year over year as reported and up 15.6 percent in constant currency. That topped the Zacks consensus estimate of $228.3 million.

“Our solid third quarter results were balanced across our product lines and geographies,” Curt Hartman, president and CEO of ConMed, said in the firm’s earnings report. “We are delivering on our commitment to drive increased profitability, while also continuing to invest for sustainable above-market growth on the top and bottom lines. We believe the strong year-to-date performance in 2019 positions us well to continue to deliver at least mid-single-digit revenue growth and double-digit adjusted earnings growth in 2020 and beyond.”

ConMed is also increasing its guidance for adjusted net earnings per share to the range of $2.62 to $2.65 from the previous range of between $2.52 and $2.57. This represents growth over 2018 of 20.2 percent to 21.6 percent.

The adjusted diluted net earnings per share estimates for 2019 exclude amortization of intangible assets, amortization of deferred financing fees and debt discount, which are estimated in the range of between $32 million and $34 million, net of taxes. Also excluded are the costs of special items, including acquisition costs, manufacturing consolidation costs, and debt-refinancing costs, which are estimated in the range of between $15 million and $17 million, net of taxes.

ConMed is a medical technology company that provides surgical devices and equipment for minimally invasive procedures. The firm’s products are used by surgeons and physicians in specialties that include orthopedics, general surgery, gynecology, neurosurgery, thoracic surgery, and gastroenterology.

People news: SRC names Sabella assistant VP of finance

Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Law, Accounting & Taxes, People on the Move, Technology

CICERO, N.Y. — SRC, Inc. announced it has named Deborah Sabella assistant VP of finance. In her new role, she will be responsible for all

Syracuse University to form a provost search committee during spring semester

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SYRACUSE — Syracuse University will name a provost search committee in the spring semester after current Vice Chancellor and Provost Michele Wheatly announced she’ll step down early next year. Wheatly will step down on Jan. 6, 2020 to become a special advisor to Chancellor Kent Syverud, Syracuse said in a Nov. 4 news release. In

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SYRACUSE — Syracuse University will name a provost search committee in the spring semester after current Vice Chancellor and Provost Michele Wheatly announced she’ll step down early next year.

Wheatly will step down on Jan. 6, 2020 to become a special advisor to Chancellor Kent Syverud, Syracuse said in a Nov. 4 news release.

In her new role, Wheatly will lead women’s leadership-development initiatives on campus. She’ll also advise Syverud on efforts to raise the academic profile of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) through its academic consortium.

Syverud intends to name an interim vice chancellor for academic affairs and provost “in the near future.”

“Michele is a dedicated leader who strives to create change and accomplished many important milestones for Syracuse University,” Syverud said. “She operationalized our academic strategic plan, advanced the campus framework by identifying key priorities for our academic-facilities investments, and catalyzed Invest Syracuse’s academic investment by recruiting top scholars and identifying funds to support 100 new faculty hires to realize the teaching and research goals of the University. We are fortunate that we can continue to benefit from her wealth of experience and deploy it to significant areas.”

Wheatly joined Syracuse University in 2016. She had previously served as provost at West Virginia University for four years.

“The last four years at Syracuse University have been some of the most rewarding in my 24-year career as an administrator in higher education, and I am very proud of our work together, including our successful Middle States reaccreditation efforts and launching six shared competencies to guide the undergraduate-learning experience,” Wheatly said in the release. “Now, I look forward to a new role, one that allows me to concentrate on issues that most matter to me personally and professionally, including paving the way for other women faculty members and spotlighting the scholarly contributions of the ACC.”

Rome Memorial Hospital to search for new CEO after Lundquist resignation

Health Care, Regional News, Subscriber Only

ROME — Rome Memorial Hospital (RMH) will conduct a search for a new president and CEO after David Lundquist resigned from the role on Nov. 1. Lundquist had served as hospital CEO since March 2016. At an upcoming meeting, the RMH board will initiate the process for the search and hiring of the next president

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CH Insurance acquires Life Insurance CNY

Insurance & Financial Services, Small Business, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE — Syracuse–based CH Insurance says it has acquired Life Insurance CNY, described as an “insurance-only financial-services firm” that operated in Syracuse. CH Insurance is a Syracuse–based multi-line insurance agency and benefits manager. Joseph Convertino, Jr., president of CH Insurance, says the acquisition of Life Insurance CNY didn’t involve a financial transaction. Brian Winchell of

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SYRACUSE — Syracuse–based CH Insurance says it has acquired Life Insurance CNY, described as an “insurance-only financial-services firm” that operated in Syracuse.

CH Insurance is a Syracuse–based multi-line insurance agency and benefits manager.

Joseph Convertino, Jr., president of CH Insurance, says the acquisition of Life Insurance CNY didn’t involve a financial transaction. Brian Winchell of Syracuse, who founded Life Insurance CNY, started working at CH Insurance on Oct. 1.

Both Convertino and Winchell spoke with CNYBJ on Nov. 4 at the CH Insurance office at 100 S. Salina St. in the Atrium building.

When asked what Winchell brought with him to the firm, Convertino replies, “His customer list, his brand with the name Life Insurance CNY, and his reputation in the community.”

Convertino foresees Winchell’s work helping to grow CH’s group-benefits division. In addition to supporting the growth of CH Benefits, Winchell will lead the life insurance, disability income, and long-term care sales efforts at CH Insurance as a senior benefits advisor.

Convertino notes that CH Insurance had worked with Winchell as a broker-partner in recent years.

“Before I worked for CH, I worked with CH,” Winchell adds.

“The timing was right” to make Winchell an offer to join CH Insurance, says Convertino. He adds that the conversation to finalize an offer started before Labor Day.

Winchell started Life Insurance CNY at the end of 2018 and launched the corresponding website on Jan. 1, 2019. Winchell says he was the lone employee of Life Insurance CNY.

Winchell says Life Insurance CNY was a home-based business, but he also maintained an office at the Syracuse CoWorks at 201 E. Jefferson St. in Syracuse.

“I just rented space there for working,” he notes.

Winchell explains that he launched Life Insurance CNY to “fill [a] gap in the financial planning community by focusing exclusively on insurance and its role in the financial-planning process.”

He works closely with business owners, fee-only financial planners and investment managers, attorneys, and accountants, to implement optimal insurance strategies designed to protect and enhance retirement-income plans, legacy and estate plans, and ensure properly executed business-succession plans.

The website for Life Insurance CNY is still in operation, but will eventually become part of the CH Insurance website, says Winchell.

Winchell has worked in financial services for nearly 20 years. Before Life Insurance CNY, he worked for KAFL, a Rochester–based insurance brokerage during 2017 and 2018. He earlier worked for Sterling Financial Group, LLC in Salina as an investment-advisor representative.

Winchell earlier spent time in the banking sector, working for Wachovia (now Wells Fargo) in New York City and HSBC in the Syracuse area, he adds.

Cicero native patrols seas from the air for U.S. Navy

Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Subscriber Only

Petty Officer 2nd Class Nicole Rodriguez, a native of Cicero, joined the Navy for the benefits provided and the opportunity to experience new aspects of life. Now, three and a half years later, Rodriguez serves as a logistics specialist with “The Golden Swordsmen” of Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Squadron (VP) 47, working with the Navy’s

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Petty Officer 2nd Class Nicole Rodriguez, a native of Cicero, joined the Navy for the benefits provided and the opportunity to experience new aspects of life.

Now, three and a half years later, Rodriguez serves as a logistics specialist with “The Golden Swordsmen” of Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Squadron (VP) 47, working with the Navy’s cutting-edge maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington.

“The people are what makes this command special,” said Rodriguez. “The people are easy to get along with and work with and make the work days go by faster and better.”

Rodriguez, a 2006 graduate of Cicero-North Syracuse High School, serves with VP-47, a high-tech maritime patrol and reconnaissance squadron tasked with monitoring the world’s oceans in the state-of-the-art P-8A “Poseidon.”

Rodriguez is also currently enrolled at Arizona State University, pursuing a degree in nutrition.

“I’m responsible for ordering and tracking supplies for Naval aircraft,” said Rodriguez.

Rodriguez credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Cicero.

“My parents taught me the importance of working hard and always giving everything you have,” she said. “I am a very take charge person and make sure things get done and done correctly, so I use that lesson daily in the Navy.”

VP-47’s primary mission is to conduct maritime patrol and reconnaissance as well as long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and intelligence gathering missions. The squadron deploys around the world to monitor the world’s oceans wherever they are needed.

The P-8A Poseidon, the Navy’s newest maritime, patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, is a replacement aircraft for the legacy P-3C “Orion”. According to Navy officials, leveraging the experience and technology of the successful P-3C “Orion” with the needs of the fleet, the P-8A is designed to be combat-capable, and to improve an operator’s ability to efficiently conduct anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface warfare; and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.

As the Navy transitions to the full capacity with the P-8A “Poseidon”, the aircraft continues the work-horse tradition established by the P-3C “Orion”. The P-8A has a planned state-of-the-art open architecture mission system and next-generation sensors. These capabilities give warfighters added protection. The aircraft empowers the fleet with more combat capability, responsiveness, and interoperability with traditional manned forces and evolving unmanned sensors. The P-8A “Poseidon” has significant growth potential, with planned, phased-in technological improvements that extend global reach, payload capacity, and higher-operating altitude.

“The travel is pretty cool working with this command,” said Rodriguez. “We aren’t on a ship, but we still get to see some pretty awesome places.”

Serving in the Navy means Rodriguez is part of a world that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances, and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.

A key element of the Navy the nation needs is tied to the fact that America is a maritime nation, and that the nation’s prosperity is tied to the ability to operate freely on the world’s oceans. More than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water; 80 percent of the world’s population lives close to a coast; and 90 percent of all global trade by volume travels by sea.

“Our priorities center on people, capabilities and processes, and will be achieved by our focus on speed, value, results and partnerships,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. “Readiness, lethality and modernization are the requirements driving these priorities.”

Though there are many ways for sailors to earn distinction in their command, community and career, Rodriguez is most proud of earning “Sailor of the Year” honors.

“It took working well above my pay grade,” said Rodriguez. “I cleaned up the programs that I took over and I am using those skills now that I am at this command.”

As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Rodriguez and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes contributing to the Navy the nation needs.

“Serving in the Navy is like having any other job, but you know that what you are doing will provide defense and security for the country,” said Rodriguez.

Some Thoughts for Employee-Benefits Season

Business Mentors, Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Insurance & Financial Services, Subscriber Only

— “Clients do not come first. Employees come first. If you take care of the employees, they will take care of the clients.” — Richard Branson The famous white duck, perhaps the most recognizable mascot on television, just may be the most effective marketer in the insurance industry. Before you finished that sentence, you knew who

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— “Clients do not come first. Employees come first. If you take care of the employees, they will take care of the clients.” — Richard Branson

The famous white duck, perhaps the most recognizable mascot on television, just may be the most effective marketer in the insurance industry. Before you finished that sentence, you knew who I was talking about — the Aflac Duck. The supplemental-insurance benefits that duck promotes are vast — ranging from $120 for a hospital visit, to large lump-sum payments for a cancer diagnosis. These payments are no doubt a welcome relief during a trying time.

Short-term benefits

Although there are some on-going payments provided by the insurance company, these policies generally provide short term benefits. The premium, as low as $5-$6 per week per policy, is paid by the employee directly from payroll, and coverage is guaranteed issue in most cases.

The bigger risk — long term disability

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 26 percent of Americans live with a disability, with the most common challenges being mobility, cognition, and independent living. (See www.cdc.gov/disabilities)

The impact of a long-term disability, however, should not be understated. A long-term disability is exponentially more devastating than short-term disabling events. Your cost of care goes up while your income goes down, often leading to unexpected expenses, debt, bankruptcy and even divorce. Your quality of life suffers, and you may have to apply for Social Security disability.

Group LTD (long-term disability) plans are an incredibly effective solution, but too many employers have not been presented with these plan options.

The typical group LTD plan provides employees with 60 percent of their earnings, after a waiting period of 90-180 days. That payment continues indefinitely, as long as your disability keeps you out of work. Most plans continue to pay you all the way to age 65 or 67.

Life-changing benefits

Ideally, we should consider an individual plan to supplement group coverage, but a group LTD policy provides foundational and truly meaningful benefits.

Consider a 40-year old with a $50,000 annual income who experiences a disabling event. That group policy will pay him $30,000 per year for 27 years. I’ll do the math for you — that’s $810,000.

Once employees become disabled, the employer is not required to keep them on the payroll if they can’t perform their job function. Having this type of plan is a life-changer for your employees, their families, and potentially for your business. (LTD plans have additional benefits for owners and key employees).

Considering your options

Must be expensive, right? That must be why employers don’t offer group disability plans. Recently, we quoted a group in a retail/blue collar industry (the industry matters). The cost was only about $9 per month per employee.

The leverage obtained by using employer-paid group benefits goes beyond cost. All employees are eligible, regardless of any pre-existing conditions, because group plans can qualify for guaranteed insurability — no underwriting.

Successful businesses, those that have thrived, overcome various economic cycles, survive business transitions and generational successions, have commonly demonstrated open-minded leadership, have forward-looking, trusted advisers, and loyal, dedicated and satisfied employees.

During renewal season, it’s easy to get bogged down by the decisions we have to make about our group medical and dental plans, but let’s educate our employees on additional benefits as well.

Brian Winchell is a senior benefits advisor at CH Insurance, and founder of Life Insurance CNY, an insurance-only financial-services brand. With nearly 20 years of broad-based experience in the financial services industry, he works with consumers, business owners, investment managers, financial planners, HR and benefits managers, attorneys and accountants to review existing plans and design insurance-based solutions. Contact Winchell at (315) 552-5344 or email: bwinchell@chinsurance.cc

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