JOHN DESANTIS has joined Runningboards Marketing as a digital marketing sales rep. He previously served as the executive director of Believe in Syracuse, a nonprofit organization he founded. DeSantis holds a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University, Runningboards Marketing is headquartered in Watertown and owns and operates digital-advertising platforms. 

KATHERINE RODRIGUEZ recently joined Chianis + Anderson Architects as office manager/bookkeeper. She brings a great deal of experience in accounting and management to the firm. Rodriguez has an associate degree in accounting from SUNY Broome. 

HONORA SPILLANE has joined CenterState CEO as senior director of business and economic development. She previously worked as deputy commissioner at the City of Syracuse, Department of Neighborhood and Business Development and served as executive director of the Syracuse Industrial Development Agency. Spillane also previously was a senior economic development specialist at the Onondaga County Office of Economic Development. She received a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Boston University, and her JD and MPA degrees from Syracuse University.

JARED SHEPARD has joined as a research and policy analyst. He is responsible for conducting primary research, compiling economic data and insight, and performing public-policy analysis to help the organization develop strategies for regional growth, community sustainability, advance business development opportunities and provide information to businesses. Shepard most recently worked for the Center for Policy Research at The Maxwell School. He earned his bachelor’s degree and master’s degrees from Syracuse University.

ANDREW OBERNESSER has come aboard as director of community investment. He helps lead place-based economic development efforts for CenterState CEO’s economic-inclusion portfolio. Obernesser most recently worked as a senior project manager at the local consulting and planning firm, Environmental Design & Research. Obernesser holds a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from the University of Wisconsin and a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Geneseo.

CALVIN CORRIDERS has joined CenterState CEO as manager of neighborhood-economic development. He facilitates and supports economic development on the Southeast Gateway by engaging the community for their input and feedback, working to attract new business in the area, and helping to create new opportunities for locals to develop or expand business in this area. Corriders most recently worked as residential mortgage lender at Pathfinder Bank. He earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from Syracuse University.

ALISSA TUBBS has been hired as strategic operations manager for the economic inclusion portfolio’s Work Train program. She will manage and develop strategies to support Work Train, including developing systems and process improvements for grants and contract management, data collection, evaluation, and communication. Tubbs most recently worked as agency relations manager at the Food Bank of Central New York. Tubbs is currently completing her Master of Public Administration degree in nonprofit management at Arkansas State University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in health sciences from Ithaca College.

LAIZA SEMIDEY also joined CenterState CEO’s economic inclusion portfolio’s Work Train program as health care programming manager. She manages the execution of Health Train, engages and builds strong relationships with the community and employer partners, and leads the expansion of Health Train to other counties. Semidey most recently worked at SpinCar, where she was senior advertising technology manager. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Binghamton University.

DEMITRIUS MCNEIL has joined the organization’s business development portfolio as director of business and economic development. McNeil coordinates multiple partners under the “UAS Central” brand, promoting unmanned aerial systems development. He also provides economic-development support for the Central New York region. McNeil most recently worked as an account manager at the Pinckney Hugo Group. McNeil earned a dual bachelor’s degree in business analytics and marketing from Le Moyne College. 

Mirabito Holdings, Inc. has hired BRETT HUGHES as director of business development. He will be responsible for the strategic leadership of Mirabito land assets and real-estate projects. Hughes brings significant experience in real estate, with strengths in real-estate development and asset and property management. He most recently worked as director of real estate & IT at Fastrac Markets in Syracuse. Hughes earned his bachelor’s degree from St. Lawrence University, where he also played college football.

JUSTIN ARNETT has been hired by the Oneida Indian Nation as its first director of sports book operations. Arnett, a Las Vegas sports betting veteran, will oversee the sports books at all three of the Oneida Nation’s Central New York gaming venues — Turning Stone in Verona, Point Place Casino near Bridgeport, and Yellow Brick Road Casino in Chittenango. Arnett most recently managed daily operations of the race and sports books at The Venetian, The Palazzo, and inside Lagasse’s Stadium in Las Vegas. He previously worked on the sports book teams at the Hard Rock Casino Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, the M Resort, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, and the Gold Coast Hotel & Casino.

BRIANNA FRANCISCO has joined Destiny USA as its new assistant marketing director. She will be responsible for the management of on-site events, digital marketing, social media, press releases, tenant relations, guest services, and marketing strategies. Francisco interned at Destiny USA three times while she was a student in college. Among her contributions, she created the Destiny USA Stay & Save package in collaboration with the Embassy Suites hotel, and assisted with other marketing material and initiatives. Francisco also interned at Dalpos Architect & Integrators in Syracuse, as well as Ed Lewi Associates, a full-service marketing firm in Albany. She recently graduated from Siena College with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a concentration in sports and services marketing.

ROBERT MCDONNELL has joined HUNT Commercial Real Estate as chief operating officer. He will be responsible for growing the commercial sales organization within New York state, as well as implementing strategic initiatives to achieve long-term goals of both HUNT Commercial and HUNT Property Solutions. McDonnell was originally recruited to HUNT Commercial in the early 1990s. McDonnell’s initial experience at HUNT helped him transition to a 20-plus year career with another commercial development firm. His positions included working as a sales/leasing manager, senior sales/leasing manager, director of business development, VP of sales, and the senior VP and broker of record. He has been involved in all sales and marketing-related activities for a vast multi-client portfolio totaling upwards of 15 million square feet. To date, McDonnell has been involved in more than 400 transactions with a total value exceeding $700 million and has completed transactions in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, and White Plains, as well as markets outside New York state. McDonnell is a graduate of John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio and the CCIM Institute in Chicago.

SCOTT VANDERVEER has joined Metis Consulting Group as VP – process management. He holds a master’s degree in managing innovation & information technology from Champlain College and has led IT and operations management efforts at Food Bank of Central New York, Magic Hat Brewing Co., Phish, Inc., and Philip Johnson Associates, Inc.