Ashley McGraw Architects announced it has promoted project architects JASON EVANS and NICOLE SCHUSTER by naming them associate principals of the firm. Evans joined Ashley McGraw in 2008. He has completed numerous projects for universities across New York state. Evans holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Syracuse University.

Schuster joined Ashley McGraw in 2016. She has been a certified passive house consultant since 2015, and is currently working on the Nuthatch project, an environmental learning and research site at Binghamton University that is targeting both passive house and living building challenge certifications. She holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Syracuse University.

Security Mutual Life has promoted four officers. CHRISTOPHER J. WALSH was promoted to VP, chief information security officer. He joined Security Mutual in 2001 as senior network and technical services team leader. Walsh has been promoted to a number of positions and has been serving as second VP, information security officer & infrastructure architect since 2013.

GERRI L. COREY, CPA, was promoted to second VP, financial reporting. She began her
career with Security Mutual Life in 2012, joining the financial operations department as manager of financial reporting. In 2014, Corey was promoted to director of financial reporting, and in 2015 to assistant VP, financial reporting.

OLIVER T. HICKS has been promoted to second VP, software engineering. He joined Security Mutual in 1997 as a creative design coordinator, was promoted to programmer analyst in 2001, followed by promotion to senior software developer in 2003, to lead software developer in 2010, and to assistant VP, software engineering in 2014.

DEBORAH A. SCHAFER has been promoted to second VP, underwriting. She began her career with Security Mutual Life in 1973 and joined the underwriting department in 1982 as an administrative assistant. Schafer was promoted to underwriter, director, and assistant VP roles between 1991 and 2007, and rejoined Security Mutual’s Underwriting Department in 2010 as an advanced underwriter. 

Northwestern Mutual announced it has promoted a key leader and added several financial representatives in the Central New York region to the firm. JAMES (JIMMY) DEXTER began his career with Northwestern Mutual in 2011 as director of training and development and was recently promoted to chief growth officer for the firm’s Syracuse office. KEEGAN BOWMAN has joined Northwestern Mutual and holds a bachelor’s degree in business and economics from St. Lawrence University. BRANDY COLLARD has joined the firm. She graduated from Cayuga Community College with an associate degree in early childhood education in 2015. She spent four years teaching before transitioning her career to financial services. JUSTIN DOTY began his career with Northwestern as an intern while earning his bachelor’s degree in business administration from SUNY Oswego. He has now accepted a position as a financial representative. JOANNA MELNIK has also joined the company. A graduate of Syracuse University, she received a bachelor’s degree in interior design. Melnik holds her New York life, accident, and health, FINRA Series 6 and 63 licenses. ERNESTINE BRYANT graduated from Ashford University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management and has her New York life, accident, and health licenses. MELISSA LUPINSKI received her bachelor’s degree from Utica College in business management with a finance focus. She has previous experience as a property casualty insurance agent. J.T. SMITH received his bachelor’s degree in finance from Binghamton University. He came to Northwestern Mutual as an intern in 2016 and is starting a full-time position as a financial representative.

The YMCA of Greater Syracuse has promoted or added the following staff recently. JACK KORZYP was promoted to assistant executive director at the Southwest YMCA at Onondaga Community College. He previously was the director of health, wellness, and performance. He will oversee all branch departments at the Southwest Y. Korzyp is a SUNY Cortland graduate and an NSCA-certified strength & conditioning specialist. MATT JOHNS has joined the staff as associate director of development. Also a SUNY Cortland graduate, he has spent the past 10 years working in both event management and nonprofit fundraising on the East Coast, including at the Frost Valley YMCA in the Catskills. ANDRÉ ANTHONY has joined the team as chief of staff. He most recently served as a branch executive director with the Rock River Valley YMCA in Rockford, Illinois. Previously, Anthony served as the senior director of youth development services for the YMCA of Columbia, South Carolina. Prior to that, he spent more than 12 years with the YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities in Minnesota. Anthony is also involved on the national and international level, including YUSAs Diversity, Inclusion and Global (DIG) work. He served as the president/chair of the first-ever U.S. cohort of Global Change Agents with the World Alliance of YMCAs.

Pelco Component Technologies has hired REBECCA CARDUCCI as customer-service representative at the factory and HQ in Cazenovia. She is responsible for developing and maintaining purchasing, manufacturing, and shipping data as customer orders move toward delivery. Carducci will also be Pelco’s main post-sales contact.