Syracuse Stage has appointed JOANN MARIA YARROW to the newly created position of director of community engagement and education. With more than 30 years of experience as a director and producer, she most recently served as the executive artistic director of Teatro Prometeo in Miami, the only Spanish language theater conservatory in the country. Yarrow has also produced and hosted the International Hispanic Theatre Festival of Miami and Play Time! An International Theatre Festival for Children. She spent three years working on several Broadway productions. Yarrow joins Syracuse Stage when its education programs are serving more students than ever. Her appointment is part of a strategic initiative that includes promoting KATE LAISSLE, formerly assistant director of education, to associate director of education. 

Ascent Wealth Partners in New Hartford has hired TIMOTHY WELCHONS as financial advisor. He previously an equities research firm in Boston, serving as VP of its institutional sales trading group. Earlier in his career, he worked for a Canadian–based investment bank’s U.S. brokerage unit. Welchons is a graduate of Hamilton College with a bachelor’s degree in government.

MARK JULIANO has joined Del Lago Resort & Casino as the new general manager. He is a 30-year industry veteran, spending the greater part of his career in a management capacity at multiple internationally known resorts and casinos, including Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Trump Entertainment Resorts in Atlantic City, and Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Juliano served as the chief gaming officer of Marina Bay Sands for several years prior to returning to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, with parent company Las Vegas Sands Corp. when he became president of the Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem. Under his leadership, Sands grew to be the most profitable casino in Pennsylvania. Juliano has played significant roles in major casino construction and renovation projects. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from La Salle University in Philadelphia. 

MEGHAN NOLAN has been named nurse manager of AC 1 at the St. Luke’s Campus of the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS). Nolan previously held nursing positions within Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare, most recently as a staff nurse in the Post Anesthesia Recovery Unit at the Faxton Campus. Nolan earned her associate degree in nursing from Mohawk Valley Community College and her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Utica College.

NICHOLAS SPUDIE has been named IT security analyst I at MVHS. He has been an employee of MVHS since 2009 when he served as an IT student intern. Spudie most recently worked as an IT desktop support technician. He earned his associate degree in business management from Mohawk Valley Community College and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in cyber security, information assurance from Utica College. 

MVP Health Care has promoted DENISE GONICK to the expanded role of CEO and director, joining the board as MVP’s first inside director in its history. In addition, MVP Chief Operating Officer CHRISTOPHER DEL VECCHIO has been elevated to the broader executive position of president and chief operating officer. 

STEPHEN BREEN has been appointed the chief financial officer and treasurer of the Diocese of Syracuse, effective July 23. John Barsanti, who previously served the diocese as CFO and chief operating officer, moved into a part-time role overseeing the implementation of the diocese’s strategic plan and other special projects on April 1. Breen is a CPA who had leadership roles with the Cortland Companies from 1998 to 2016, including chief financial officer and global business leader of Cortland’s rope business. He has previous experience with Baasch, Winters & Breen and Coopers & Lybrand. Breen is a graduate of C.W. Post College. 

Sutton Real Estate Company recently hired MAUREEN NAVATKA, who has joined Sutton as a property accountant. She graduated from Bryant & Stratton with an associate degree in accounting and also graduated from Colorado Technical University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. 

CHRISTINE BENN has joined Visit Syracuse, Onondaga County’s official tourism promotion agency (TPA), as the new partner engagement manager. Benn previously worked at Research & Marketing Strategies in Baldwinsville, and before that, worked as a constituent services coordinator at the CNY chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business marketing from Le Moyne College.