The winners of the 10th Anniversary CNY BEST Talent Development Awards were announced at the ATD Central New York Chapter’s awards ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 9 at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown. CNY ATD annually presents CNY BEST Talent Development Awards to recognize local excellence in this field. Organizations that link learning to the strategic […]
The winners of the 10th Anniversary CNY BEST Talent Development Awards were announced at the ATD Central New York Chapter’s awards ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 9 at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown.
CNY ATD annually presents CNY BEST Talent Development Awards to recognize local excellence in this field. Organizations that link learning to the strategic growth or success of organizations and individuals are honored as CNY’s BEST in Talent Development.
Nominations for this year’s CNY BEST Talent Development Awards represented a range of organizations and individuals including AmeriCU Credit Union; Binghamton University Fleishman Center for Career and Professional Development; Crouse Health; The First Tee of Syracuse; The Gifford Foundation; The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.; Indium Corporation’s Jim McCoy; Indium’s Rick Short; NYSERNet and SUNY SAIL Institute; OBG; Oneida Nation Enterprises, LLC; The Raymond Corporation; Turning Stone Resort Casino; and University College of Syracuse University.
Nominations were evaluated by a panel of local and national judges representing the profession and community. They looked for quality of talent-development practices, practice results and impacts, and demonstrations of how the practices linked to the strategic growth or success of the organization and individuals. The judges for the 2017 CNY BEST Talent Development Awards included: Bernadette Barber, Community Bank, N.A.; Gayle Bays; Michelle Campanella, Agile Alignment; Laura Carroll, SUNY Upstate Medical University; Chris Coladonato, Farmers Insurance Group and national advisor for chapters at ATD; David Freund, MACNY; James N. Jerose, Nuvenu Business Advisors; Beth King, O.C. Tanner; Linda Maher, UMR (formerly POMCO); Rich McNulty, KPH Healthcare Services, Inc.; Nancy Rizzolo, Gillespie Associates; Sue Torrell-Szarek, SRC Inc.; and Amy Wood, Charter Communications.
The honorees were as follows.
CNY BEST Talent Development For-Profit Organization Gold Award
OBG was recognized with the CNY BEST Talent Development For-Profit Organization Gold Award for linking talent development to its strategic growth or success with its “Cultivating a Strong Safety Culture” program. After the company reviewed the current state of OBG’s safety program, there was consensus that while the program met fundamental compliance requirements in terms of processes and training requirements, there was an opportunity to foster a more robust safety culture. One that could meet the needs of clients, to mitigate risk for the company, and more importantly, to educate employees to be safe on a day-to-day basis. OBG launched safety perception surveys, gathering input directly from employees in categories consistent with the “4 Pillars of a Strong Safety Culture: Leadership, Process, Structure, and Engagement.” In reviewing survey results, OBG’s leadership team came to understand that it is critical to understand the progression of safety-culture development phases and focus company attention on moving to the next phases of the DuPont Bradley Curve. OBG’s Safety Culture program has moved the organization from a reactive safety culture to a dependent safety culture with solid leadership, compliance, policies, procedures, and safety engagement. Judges asserted, “It is wonderful to see executive recognition of the importance of using change management as a business partner, especially when it is so beautifully incorporated into the organization’s strategic plans and well executed.”
CNY BEST Talent Development For-Profit Organization Diamond Award
Oneida Nation Enterprises, LLC received the CNY BEST Talent Development For-Profit Organization Diamond Award for linking talent development to its strategic growth through success with its “Operation First With Our Guests” program. With new state-licensed casino gaming competition increasing, Oneida Nation Enterprises’ competitive stakes became higher. To raise the bar in guest service, the organization created and deployed a comprehensive and consistent methodology for establishing, training, and measuring guest-service standards. The organization’s mission, vision, and values, and team habits provided a strong platform for guest-service expectations, however, a higher, more tailored set of standards and criteria specific to each department and position were established to shape and brand the guest experience. Training and resources were provided to support achieving the new standards, and measurement with accountability criteria aligned to specific positions were instituted to ensure success in bringing the “First with Our Guests” values to life to create the ultimate guest experience. Oneida Nation Enterprises has seen increases in performance and behavior — helping to raise the level of guest service it provides. And, amid increased competition, the Oneida Nation Enterprise-owned Turning Stone Resort Casino was recently named the best gaming resort in New York for 2017 by Casino Player magazine for the second consecutive year. Judges identified a “very comprehensive initiative with powerful results,” along with “a detailed, systematic approach to developing best in class service.”
CNY BEST Talent Development Not-for-Profit Organization Gold Award
NYSERNet and SUNY SAIL Institute were honored with the CNY BEST Talent Development Not-for-Profit Organization Gold Award for linking talent development for external stakeholders to the organizations’ strategic growth via success with its CIO Leadership Academy. When NYSERNet asked college and university chief information officers (CIOs) to name their top priorities, their answers weren’t about the cloud, network capacity, or emerging technology. Instead, the CIOs said they needed to attract and retain information technology (IT) talent, train staff to be leaders, and establish solid succession plans. NYSERNet joined forces with SUNY Strategic, Academic and Innovative Leadership (SAIL) Institute to create the CIO Leadership Academy. It’s a multi-disciplinary program designed to prepare the next generation of IT leaders. Participants work on self-discovery, skill development, and knowledge creation — gaining better leadership skills and insight into the role of the CIO in educational institutions. Current and past higher-education CIOs were enlisted as subject-matter experts during the training design and serve as mentors establishing relationships with participants to keep them engaged and learning during and following the program. The CIO Leadership Academy has seen some promising results with participants overwhelmingly indicating that the program was valuable from the skills development to the current higher education CIO mentors. One participant praised it, saying, “So much collective knowledge.” Judges agreed stating, “Great job; Strong program; High impact project.”
CNY BEST Talent Development Not for Profit Organization Diamond Award
AmeriCU Credit Union received the CNY BEST Talent Development Not for Profit Organization Diamond Award for linking talent development for its internal stakeholders to the organization’s strategic growth through success with its Member Advocacy Program. AmeriCU Credit Union determined that its sales and member service training program needed to be updated, brought in-house, and specialized to reflect AmeriCU’s vision, mission, and values. AmeriCU’s Member Advocacy Program focuses on the behaviors and activities that transform transactional service excellence to relationship building and solution-based guidance for members throughout their lives. By asking important questions, and understanding a member’s financial life phase, staff can determine the right financial services and help anticipate future needs for their members. Moving from a reactive sales approach to a proactive, engaged method allows for fulfilling members’ financial needs while building valuable relationships based on trust, expertise and understanding. Equal emphasis was placed on active and continual coaching by managers who were trained on the principles of coaching required to maintain consistency and provide ongoing support of the process as well as employees’ professional development. Staff have consistently reported building confidence in their fact-finding conversations and the solutions they present to members. Retail managers have seen a marked improvement in their employees’ engagement and quality of interactions; and, cross sales of financial products and services are steadily increasing. Judges’ commented on the credit union’s outstanding needs assessment and excellent job of linking the practice to AmeriCU’s mission and strategic goal.
CNY BEST Talent Development Individual Awards
Jim McCoy and Rick Short of Indium Corporation were presented with CNY BEST Talent Development Individual Awards for contributing to internal or external customers’ talent development growth via success with Indium’s Student Recruitment Program. Indium became an early business partner in Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH), which prepares students for high-skills jobs of the future in technology, manufacturing, health care, and engineering. In order for Indium’s participation and contribution to the P-TECH program to be successful, the company needed to select employees to participate in the program that had the technical knowledge needed along with passion and enthusiasm. Both Talent Acquisition Supervisor Jim McCoy, and Corporate Associate VP and Senior Director of Marketing Communications Rick Short, led students in real-world projects enabling students to integrate numerous areas of knowledge from science, technology, engineering, and math, along with providing workplace skills such as leadership, communication, and problem-solving. McCoy and Short brought passion, enthusiasm, and success to Indium’s investment in this Student Recruitment Program. Comments from educators included, “You were able to get through to the students in a way that school staff cannot,” “The students are walking away with more knowledge and confidence to boost them to a successful future,” and “This is the embodiment of what strong business and educational partnerships can achieve.”
Chapter Excellence Award
ATD (Association for Talent Development) recognized CNY ATD with a Chapter Excellence Award for Excellence in Strategic Partnership for its CNY ATD Scholarship Program. Since its inception in 2011, CNY ATD has awarded 13 scholarships to talent-development professionals and students pursuing professional development and continuing education in the field of talent development.
ATD noted, “CNY ATD successfully captured the spirit of this award with its successful Scholarship Program. This impressive program encourages and supports professional development and continuing education in the field of talent development and addresses a need in the local community for financial support for talent development professionals to pursue professional development and continuing education.” Jennifer Homer, ATD’s VP of communications stated, “The impact our chapters have in their local communities and in support of the talent-development profession is impressive. Winning a Chapter Excellence Award shows the chapter’s level of dedication to meeting ATD’s mission of empowering professionals to develop knowledge and skills successfully.”
Certified Professional in Learning and Performance
Gayle Bays was recognized for achieving the Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP) designation, the only credential covering the entire talent-development profession. Becoming CPLP-certified enhances one’s credibility by recognizing that you have met performance standards, have an overall understanding of the body of knowledge of the talent-development field, and can apply what you know. The process of being certified is broad-based and addresses the 10 areas of expertise as defined by the ATD Competency Model. An individual needs to pass rigorous standards including knowledge and skills assessment exams to achieve this special designation.
CNY ATD Scholarship Awards
Melissa McLean was awarded the John Burns Memorial Scholarship for her pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in instructional design. Tanya M. Eastman and Cindy Renno were awarded Ken Steiger Leadership Scholarships. Eastman is seeking her doctorate in executive leadership at St. John Fisher College, and Renno is pursuing a coaching certification. CNY ATD established the CNY ATD Scholarship Program to encourage and support professional development and continuing education in the field of talent development. The scholarship awards are named in honor of CNY ATD’s 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award winner John Burns, and 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award winner Ken Steiger.
Keynote Speaker
The keynote speaker for this year’s CNY BEST Talent Development Awards ceremony was Jim Fox, CEO of OBG. Jim’s keynote speech, entitled “Why Talent Development?” discussed the importance of talent development, its role in the success of OBG and why talent development is important for all organizations. Fox reiterated, “Talent development is a strategic business investment that, if done purposefully and with clarity, can support the growth and efficiency of any organization — no matter the industry, no matter the size of the organization. Strong people make a strong business.” OBG received the 2015 CNY BEST Learning and Performance Organization Award.
Sponsors
CNY ATD thanks the following sponsors for their support of the CNY BEST Talent Development Program: OBG; Indium Corporation; Business Journal News Network; Visual Technologies Corporation; Oneida Nation Enterprises, LLC; Emergent, LLC; O.C. Tanner; and The Raymond Corporation.
CNY ATD is the local affiliate chapter of Association for Talent Development (ATD). Celebrating 45 years in 2017, CNY ATD has been connecting talent-development professionals throughout the region and contributing to the growth of the profession. Currently, CNY ATD has over 140 members from various businesses covering 16-plus counties from the Canadian border to the Pennsylvanian border in the central area of New York state.
CORTLANDVILLE — The Summit Federal Credit Union has opened a newly constructed branch on Route 13 in the town of Cortlandville, replacing its office in downtown Cortland. The new 2,000-square-foot branch at 877 Route 13, just outside the Cortland city line, is set to open for business on Monday, Nov. 13. It replaces The Summit’s
CORTLANDVILLE — The Summit Federal Credit Union has opened a newly constructed branch on Route 13 in the town of Cortlandville, replacing its office in downtown Cortland.
The new 2,000-square-foot branch at 877 Route 13, just outside the Cortland city line, is set to open for business on Monday, Nov. 13. It replaces The Summit’s location about three miles away at 143 Main St. in Cortland, which closed permanently at the end of the business on Nov. 9.
The new branch, located in what the credit union calls a popular retail area, will have several amenities not offered in the downtown office, such as an ATM and drive-thru lanes. Additionally, this will be the first branch where employees will each have tablets to assist customers.
“We’re really mixing the technology that has become so common with banking and the fact that people want a human to answer their questions, especially when it comes to things like buying a house for the first time,” Cheryl Pohlman, VP of marketing and community relations, tells CNYBJ.
All five employees who worked at The Summit’s Main Street office have moved to the new location, Pohlman says. Including a branch manager and director, the Route 13 office employs seven people.
The Summit is leasing the new property from Calabro Properties of Cortland, which managed construction of it. Pohlman declined to disclose Summit’s construction costs.
Rochester–based Summit has 17 offices in Central New York and Western New York, including locations in Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo. The credit union was chartered in 1941 and has more than 80,000 active members in 2017.
As of June 30, 2017, The Summit had $879 million in total assets, up from $815 million a year earlier. Its total shares and deposits amounted to $783 million, while loans totaled $788 million.
SYRACUSE — Gilberti Stinziano Heintz & Smith, P.C., a Syracuse–based law firm that focuses on energy and environmental law, has combined with Barclay Damon LLP, as Barclay Damon continues to expand its legal work in those areas. Effective at the start of the month, 11 attorneys of the Gilberti law firm and its paralegals and
SYRACUSE — Gilberti Stinziano Heintz & Smith, P.C., a Syracuse–based law firm that focuses on energy and environmental law, has combined with Barclay Damon LLP, as Barclay Damon continues to expand its legal work in those areas.
Effective at the start of the month, 11 attorneys of the Gilberti law firm and its paralegals and staff have joined Barclay Damon, which is also headquartered in Syracuse.
The 11 attorneys include William Gilberti, Jr., the former CEO of Gilberti Stinziano Heintz & Smith, P.C., who is a now a partner with Barclay Damon.
Besides Gilberti, his colleagues John Klucsik, Patricia Naughton, Anthony Rivizzigno, Kevin Roe, and Francis Stinziano, Jr. have also joined Barclay Damon as partners, according to Lisa Kane, proposal manager for Barclay Damon.
In all, 28 Gilberti employees have joined Barclay Damon, which now has a total employee count of 450, Kane told CNYBJ.
Barclay Damon didn’t release any financial terms of its combination agreement with the Gilberti firm.
During the build-out of additional offices in Barclay Damon Tower, the former Gilberti attorneys and staff will use their existing offices at 555 E. Genesee St. in Syracuse as “swing space.”
After construction is complete, all lawyers and staff will move to Barclay Damon Tower at 125 E. Jefferson St. in downtown Syracuse
Barclay Damon sees the Gilberti law firm as having a “deep understanding of strategically significant industries,” including energy, mining, municipal, regional, and state government.
The “continued expansion” of Barclay Damon’s energy practice follows the Sept. 6 announcement that four attorneys from the Framingham, Massachusetts–based firm McCauley Lyman had joined the firm of counsel in its renewable-energy practice group.
About the firms
Over its 45-year history, the Gilberti law firm developed boutique expertise in a number of practices, including energy law, large-project development and siting, environmental law, state regulation, real property tax and condemnation, corporate, litigation, and commercial real estate, according to the Barclay Damon release.
Barclay Damon formed in 2015 with the combination of Hiscock & Barclay, LLP of Syracuse and Damon Morey LLP of Buffalo. The firm has offices throughout the major cities of New York and in Toronto, along with Boston, Massachusetts; Washington, D.C., and Newark, New Jersey.
At 275 lawyers, Barclay Damon says it is the “largest law firm in the Northeastern U.S. “not centered in a major market.”
Barclay Damon recently announced that effective Jan. 1, M. Cornelia (Connie) Cahill would become its deputy managing partner, a new position. She will work closely with John P. Langan, the firm’s managing partner, in leading the regional law firm.
Barclay Damon also announced it has established a chair position that currently remains unoccupied. The position is available to serve the managing partner on select assignments by former managing partners transitioning from their position. Barclay Damon said the chair position “is designed to allow the firm to access [Langan’s] expertise after his eventual transition.” Langan, based in Barclay Damon’s Syracuse office, has been the firm’s managing partner for nearly 18 years. Cahill is based in the firm’s Albany office.
SYRACUSE — During her recent stop in Syracuse, Althea (Allie) Coetzee Leslie, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s deputy administrator, encouraged veterans looking to start a business to contact her agency for help. “My message to veterans is, if you are interested in starting a business, please contact your local Small Business Administration (SBA) office because
SYRACUSE — During her recent stop in Syracuse, Althea (Allie) Coetzee Leslie, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s deputy administrator, encouraged veterans looking to start a business to contact her agency for help.
“My message to veterans is, if you are interested in starting a business, please contact your local Small Business Administration (SBA) office because they have resources that you likely don’t know are available to you,” says Coetzee Leslie. She spoke with CNYBJ on Thursday Nov. 2 at the SBA Syracuse district office at 224 Harrison St. in Syracuse.
Coetzee Leslie visited Syracuse as part of National Veterans Small Business Week, held from Oct. 30 through Nov. 3.
“We are commemorating events all over the country, and the reason why I chose Syracuse was because Syracuse University is the leader in veterans’ programs nationwide,” says Coetzee Leslie.
About Coetzee Leslie
Coetzee Leslie, a native of Richmond, Virginia, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1985. She subsequently earned her master of business administration in law from National University in San Diego, where she was awarded the American Jurisprudence Award.
Coetzee Leslie transitioned into the Navy Reserve in 1993. In her civilian capacity, she has worked in both the public and private sectors in municipal and state government, retail distribution, medical-device manufacturing, and the U.S. Department of Defense.
She has also worked as a small-business owner.
She was most recently recalled to active duty in 2011 and until her SBA confirmation, served as the chief of staff to the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics (AT&L).
In this role, she facilitated the undersecretary’s leadership of AT&L across the offices of five assistant secretaries of defense, eleven directorates, and several defense agencies.
Throughout most of the 20th century, the Markson Bros. Furniture Company was a business institution in Central New York. The highly successful family business venture began when Abraham and Isaac Markson opened the National Art Company, located at 227 North Salina St. in 1905, with only $200 in capital that Isaac’s wife, Ella, had saved
Throughout most of the 20th century, the Markson Bros. Furniture Company was a business institution in Central New York.
The highly successful family business venture began when Abraham and Isaac Markson opened the National Art Company, located at 227 North Salina St. in 1905, with only $200 in capital that Isaac’s wife, Ella, had saved through her own personal thriftiness. The brothers sold art items, household specialties, and religious merchandise mainly through door-to-door sales. The brothers expanded their business to include furniture, built a new structure at 231 North Salina St., and incorporated their company as Markson Bros. Furniture Company.
Markson Bros. was reputed to be the first company in Central New York to sell merchandise on a credit plan in the early 20th century. In the 1920s, along with an array of furniture, Markson Bros. sold Hoosier cabinets, Frost refrigerators, Detroit Jewel stoves, lamps, phonographs (the brothers marketed their own phonograph called the Marksonola), and records. The company’s success allowed it to expand to new locations throughout Central New York: Oswego in 1918; Utica in 1920; Auburn in 1922; Watertown in 1927; Cortland in 1928; Ithaca in 1930; and Fulton in 1937.
In 1936, the family spent $25,000 (the equivalent of $445,000 today) to renovate their establishment. Interior improvements included a central entrance, terrazzo floor, and new, larger display windows with improved lighting. Additional improvements included installing an electric elevator. Exterior improvements included new store signs and three-foot tall letters to clearly identify the business. Markson Bros. expanded its building footprint, taking up an entire block on North Salina Street, and opened a warehouse on Walton Street in downtown Syracuse. The company used two advertising slogans: “You can always do better at Marksons” and “The Markson Bros. furnish a home from the cellar to the dome.” Markson Bros. even had its own bowling team, with famed local bowler, Andy Piraino, leading the team to multiple championships.
Abraham Markson died at a young age in 1922. Isaac continued managing Markson Bros., hiring other family members, including his son-in-law, Leopold Goldberg, as vice president, and his son, Asher S. Markson, as treasurer. Along with operating the family business, Isaac Markson also was a member of the National Retail Furniture Association, the Syracuse Rotary Club, Philo Lodge No. 968 of the Free & Associated Masons, the Tigris Temple, and the Lafayette Country Club. Isaac Markson also supported several local Jewish organizations, including the Jewish Home for the Aged, Bradley Brook Camp, the Fresh Air Camp, the Jewish Charities, and was president of Temple Adath Yeshurun for 25 years. In 1940, Isaac and his wife, Ella, celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary at Hotel Syracuse. At age 65, Isaac Markson was still president of Markson Bros. and would continue in that position another eight years.
Isaac Markson succumbed to a two-year illness in May 1948 at the age of 72. Rabbi Irwin Hyman of Temple Adath Yeshurun praised Isaac Markson as an exemplary citizen. “It is with profound sorrow that I join with the family of Isaac Markson in their hours of bereavement. In the passing of Mr. Markson, the community has lost one of its most promising citizens and Temple Adath Yeshurun its guiding light and spirit for the last 25 years.” Upon Isaac’s death, his son, Asher, became the company’s president after serving as its treasurer since the 1920s.
Asher Markson graduated from Syracuse Central High School and the New York University School of Commerce. Asher emulated his father’s business acumen, as well as his altruistic and philanthropic inclination for local organizations and charities. He served with the U.S. Army Ordnance Department from 1942 through 1944, achieving the rank of First Lieutenant. After his military service, Asher became a member of Post 131, Jewish War Veterans. In 1951, the Jewish War Veterans selected him as Outstanding Citizen for that year.
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The business had become the largest furniture and household furnishings retailer in Central New York with three generations of customers continuing to buy their furnishings there. In April 1955, Asher Markson celebrated the company’s 50th anniversary. That same month, he also was elected to a two-year term as president of the Chamber of Commerce. Asher told a Herald-Journal reporter that he started in the family business at age five performing very small tasks. He graduated to framing artwork and delivering merchandise for 25 cents per week. “At some time or other I’ve held every job in the business,” Markson recalled. “I’ve repaired, collected, bought, delivered, sold, and even written advertising copy!”
Helping Asher celebrate Markson Bros.’s Golden Anniversary was none other than Miss America for 1955, Lee Ann Meriwether. The 19-year-old pageant winner specifically came to Syracuse to officiate the observance by cutting a large cake inside the store at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 26, 1955. Prior to her cake-cutting duties that evening, Meriwether had appeared on local TV and met with Ella (Mrs. Isaac) Markson at the Persian Terrace at Hotel Syracuse. The next day, she toured Syracuse University and the Veterans Administration Hospital, then was the guest of honor at a dinner. The next day, Miss America flew to Allentown, Pennsylvania, where she continued her hectic, activity-filled schedule.
In November 1959, Asher Markson sold Markson Bros. Furniture Company to Sonmark Industries, a company formed in Philadelphia for the purpose of purchasing Markson Bros. Furniture Company. Sonmark Industries had actually leased the Markson Bros. stores for 10 years prior to the sale. Asher Markson continued to manage the furniture company, just as he had since 1948. By this time, Markson Bros.’ annual sales equaled about $2 million (about $16 million in today’s dollars). According to Markson, Sonmark planned to open new stores in shopping centers and other locations where the population was growing. The sale occurred through a stock transfer and did not involve selling any real estate, which remained in the Markson family. In March 1961, Asher Markson announced he was severing all ties with Markson Bros., Inc.
In January 1968, Asher Markson agreed to sell his furniture store at 227-231 North Salina St., as well as a warehouse located at 124-132 West Willow St. to the Syracuse Urban Renewal Agency for the Clinton Square Urban Renewal Project. The agency planned to purchase a total of 17 properties in a two-block area on the north edge of Clinton Square and clear the site for the Herald-Journal/Post-Standard newspaper plant. The buildings were assessed at $162,400; Markson sold them to the agency for $275,000. At the time, Raymour Furniture Company occupied the Markson Bros. buildings, but had plans to move to 421 South Warren St. The new Syracuse Newspapers building opened on June 20, 1971, and published the daily Herald-Journal and the Post-Standard, along with the Sunday Herald-American; in 2001 the company discontinued publishing the two Herald newspapers. In 2012, Syracuse Media Group (SMG) formed to continue publishing the printed Post-Standard, but also publish digital content on its website, Syracuse.com. In June 2013, SMG moved from Clinton Square to the former Merchants Bank building on South Warren Street to publish its online content. In 2016, VIP Structures purchased the Clinton Square building with plans to move its workforce into about 30,000 square feet on the first floor, rent about 50,000 square feet on the second floor to tenants, and lease back the production and press room to SMG to continue publishing the Post-Standard newspaper.
Although Asher Markson had been president of Markson Bros. from 1948 to 1961, and was an accomplished business leader and executive, he also was notable for his civic responsibilities. His long list of leadership roles included serving on the boards of Merchants National Bank, Syracuse Savings Bank, the Better Business Bureau, the American Red Cross, Syracuse Community Foundation, the Youth Development Center of Syracuse University, the Mayor’s Human Rights Commission, Syracuse Community Chest, Syracuse Jewish Welfare Federation, and Syracuse General Hospital. He also was president of Temple Adath Yeshurun from 1948 to 1964. He was well-liked and well-respected in Syracuse and spent countless hours as a concerned citizen trying to better the local community. In 1955, the Syracuse Herald-Journal stated, “Suffice it to say that when a proposition involving the welfare of this city and its citizens is up for consideration, Asher Markson is always there. And when the work is passed out he is always given twice his share. And he always does it twice as well as most of us. Syracuse has reason to be proud of this modest man.” Asher Markson died at age 79 on March 15, 1980. He is buried in the Adath Yeshurun Cemetery.
Thomas Hunter is curator of museum collections at the Onondaga Historical Association (OHA) (www.cnyhistory.org), located at 321 Montgomery St. in Syracuse.
SYRACUSE — Following its acquisition this past spring by UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE: UNH) POMCO Group is now operating under the UMR brand. POMCO Group is a third-party administrator (TPA) of self-funded health-care and risk-management plans. Minnetonka, Minnesota–based UnitedHealth Group is the parent company of UnitedHealthcare. “UMR sits under UnitedHealthcare as the TPA product line,” says
SYRACUSE — Following its acquisition this past spring by UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE: UNH) POMCO Group is now operating under the UMR brand.
POMCO Group is a third-party administrator (TPA) of self-funded health-care and risk-management plans. Minnetonka, Minnesota–based UnitedHealth Group is the parent company of UnitedHealthcare.
“UMR sits under UnitedHealthcare as the TPA product line,” says Michael McGuire, CEO of UnitedHealthcare NY, who is based in Manhattan.
“UMR pretty much does the same thing and has access to a lot more resources than we did [at POMCO],” says Donald Napier, senior VP of UMR.
Both Napier and McGuire spoke with CNYBJ at the local UMR office at 2425 James St. in the Eastwood section of Syracuse. The property still bears the name POMCO, but will change to the UnitedHealthcare brand “probably by the end of this year,” according to Napier.
UMR — formerly known as United Medical Resources, Inc, — is based in Wausau, Wisconsin, according to a company profile on Bloomberg.com. UMR has about 4,000 employees, says McGuire. The figure includes about 330 in the Syracuse office, according to Napier.
The acquisition
The final acquisition discussions between UnitedHealth Group and POMCO Group started near the end of the third quarter of 2016, but the relationship “started probably seven or eight years ago,” says Napier.
“It was a very good, strategic fit … because of what we could offer and open up space to,” he adds.
UMR has grown through acquisition of TPA businesses and this transaction gives it the upstate New York market, according to McGuire. The former POMCO Group’s clients also have access to “all the things that UnitedHealthcare brings to bear,” he says.
He was referring to smartphone applications, cost “transparency,” and more wellness and disease-management programs.
McGuire declined to disclose any financial terms of the acquisition agreement in the CNYBJ interview.
Pomfrey
Robert Pomfrey, president and CEO of POMCO Group, is no longer involved in day-to-day operations at UMR, but does handle client consulting when needed, says Napier. “He’s on-call for us,” he adds.
When asked if the UnitedHealthcare acquisition was a succession plan for Pomfrey, Napier replies that it “was a way so that we could ensure that POMCO could continue … its legacy going forward.”
“UnitedHealthcare is a proven market innovator that brings vast technological and capital resources to ensure investments in our clients, employees, providers and community,” Pomfrey, said in a March 6 UnitedHealthcare news release announcing the deal. “This collaboration will expand UnitedHealthcare’s products and service while also bringing more cost-effective solutions to POMCO clients, members and the Central and Upstate New York regions.”
Jobs impact
When asked if UnitedHealthcare had either cut or added jobs since the acquisition closed more than seven months ago, Napier replied, “both” and noted that it’s “a net gain.” The company cut “a handful” of jobs, “probably 12, 14, and we’re adding 30,” he says.
POMCO Group made headlines when it announced about 90 job cuts in the final months of 2015 from a business unit the firm had created under a contract with Health Republic Insurance of New York, which insurance regulators shut down in late 2015.
That situation wasn’t a factor in the acquisition talks, according to Napier.
“We had conversations when we had Health Republic and things earlier on about doing stuff together … It wasn’t like that was a triggering event,” he explains.
UMR’s client base in Central New York includes the Syracuse City School District and the City of Syracuse, both described by Napier as “long-term” clients.
The customer base also includes other municipalities, schools, and hospitals, some of which are located “downstate.”
UTICA, N.Y. — Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, Central New York’s largest health insurer, announced it has named Dr. Mew Kwan Chan-House as one of the company’s
Haylor, Freyer & Coon Inc. (HF&C) says it has opened an Eastern New York regional office in Schenectady. It’s the sixth office for the Salina–based insurance and risk-management agency. HF&C says it will use the location to service clients in Eastern New York and the Capital Region. HF&C will lease new office space at Two
Haylor, Freyer & Coon Inc. (HF&C) says it has opened an Eastern New York regional office in Schenectady.
It’s the sixth office for the Salina–based insurance and risk-management agency. HF&C says it will use the location to service clients in Eastern New York and the Capital Region.
HF&C will lease new office space at Two Harbor Center at Mohawk Harbor. Two Harbor Center is a mixed-use building with a total of more than 65,000 square feet of office and retail space.
The Schenectady–based Galesi Group, a commercial real-estate development firm, is the developer on the project.
“We have been amazed by the Galesi Group’s vision for this new development,” Jim Freyer, CEO of HF&C, said in a news release. “We have been searching for the right space for our expansion for some time, and we clearly found it at Mohawk Harbor. We look forward to a mid-December grand opening. Over the years, we have seen tremendous growth in our Syracuse, Rochester, Watertown, Ithaca and Binghamton locations. It made sense to continue our successful model of distinctive and exceptional service in Eastern New York and Mohawk Harbor is definitely the place to be.”
HF&C has begun staffing this new office space, and when at capacity, the office will have 10-15 new employees or more.
These new employees will work alongside George Mahoney, a risk-management advisor, who is already located in Schenectady.
“As a full-service agency, we are looking to complement our commercial business presence with a full staff of group benefits and personal-insurance advisors. This is an exciting time for HF&C and we look forward to becoming part of the resurgence in Schenectady,” said Freyer.
David Buicko, president and CEO of the Galesi Group, said Haylor, Freyer & Coon is “exactly the type of quality employer” that his firm wants to attract to Mohawk Harbor. “We thank them for selecting our waterfront community for their new office,” he said.
About Mohawk Harbor
Mohawk Harbor is a 60 acre master planned community that integrates luxury living, high-tech offices, hotels, restaurants, and retail along one mile of the Mohawk River, per the release. When complete, Mohawk Harbor will encompass 1.4 million square feet, including 206 apartments, 50 condominiums, 24 townhouses, two hotels, 100,000 square feet of harbor-side retail/dining, and 70,000 square feet of Class A Office space. Rivers Casino & Resort is also located there. The $330 million casino and resort opened in early February.
About HF&C
Haylor, Freyer & Coon says it is an “employee-owned company” with 180 employee owners. The insurance agency is licensed to operate in all 50 states.
HF&C is also a partner of Assurex Global, described on its website as the “world’s largest privately held commercial insurance, risk management, and employee-benefits brokerage group.”
Collectively, this network of more than 600 offices in more than 80 countries, on six continents, allows HF&C to have local representation throughout the world to meet the demands of clients’ foreign operations and travel, the agency contends.
UTICA — The Masonic Medical Research Laboratory (MMRL) announced it has appointed Maria Kontaridis, Ph.D. to be its new director of research. She will become just the fourth director of research, and the first woman to serve in that role, in the 60-year history of the organization, MMRL said. Kontaridis comes to MMRL from Harvard
UTICA — The Masonic Medical Research Laboratory (MMRL) announced it has appointed Maria Kontaridis, Ph.D. to be its new director of research.
She will become just the fourth director of research, and the first woman to serve in that role, in the 60-year history of the organization, MMRL said.
Kontaridis comes to MMRL from Harvard Medical School, where she is currently an associate professor of medicine, and the director of the Basic Cardiovascular Research Program at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC).
“Through her extensive leadership and research expertise, Dr. Kontaridis’ vision will position the Masonic Medical Research Laboratory as one of the top cardiac research centers in the country and around the world,” David F. Schneeweiss, president of the MMRL board of directors, said in a news release.
Kontaridis received her undergraduate bachelor’s degrees from the University of Florida in classics and chemistry. She earned her master’s degrees in pharmacology and biomedical and biological sciences, as well as her Ph.D at Yale University.
Kontaridis will officially take over day-to-day operations of MMRL in January and will move to the Mohawk Valley with her family in July 2018, the organization said.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the Masonic Medical Research Laboratory during this pivotal time in its history,” she said.
Aflac Inc. (NYSE: AFL) recently announced results from two studies that analyzed the trends, attitudes, and use of employee benefits among the U.S. workforce. The 2017 Aflac WorkForces Report (AWR) found that American workers may feel more confident about benefits choices, while admitting a lack of understanding regarding the choices being made. The findings in
Aflac Inc. (NYSE: AFL) recently announced results from two studies that analyzed the trends, attitudes, and use of employee benefits among the U.S. workforce.
The 2017 Aflac WorkForces Report (AWR) found that American workers may feel more confident about benefits choices, while admitting a lack of understanding regarding the choices being made.
The findings in the AWR resulted from a national online survey of 5,000 U.S. workers, conducted between Jan. 26 and Feb. 17, by Warren, New Jersey–based Lightspeed GMI and released by Aflac.
A separate Aflac study found younger workers who may be making benefits decisions for the first time also “lack knowledge” of health-insurance coverage but want to “branch out” and make independent benefits decisions.
Aflac, based in Columbus, Georgia, offers voluntary supplemental health and life insurance products through the workplace and is well-known for its TV commercials featuring a talking duck.
“False sense”
The 2017 Aflac WorkForces Report found that more than half (55 percent) of American workers who receive benefits from their employer agreed that completing their annual health-benefits enrollment made them “feel secure, like being tucked in at night, or accomplished, like they just finished a marathon.”
And 67 percent said they are “confident” they understood everything for which they signed up.
However, these results may indicate an underlying “false sense of confidence.”
The survey also uncovered that 76 percent of workers are making benefits decisions without a “complete” knowledge of the overall plan.
When asked specifically about understanding their overall policies, like deductibles, copays, and providers in their network, only 24 percent of these workers could answer they understood everything.
And this result has been on a steady decline since 2015, when nearly half (47 percent) believed they knew everything, and then down to 39 percent in 2016.
“It’s counterintuitive to see that workers are reporting a positive benefits enrollment experience, but so many are still struggling with a good understanding of the various aspects of their health care coverage,” Matthew Owenby, senior VP, chief human resources officer at Aflac, said in the release. “Benefits enrollment is one of the most important decisions a worker can make each year. Ensuring workers are more educated will require a sustained effort by employers and employees alike to better understand all aspects of benefits, including coverage options and costs.”
Younger workers
Aflac said it conducted a separate survey among 1,000 people from age 20 to 26, employed either full or part time, because millennials and Generation Z are entering the workforce in record numbers.
The Aflac WorkForces Report First-Time Enrollees Survey was conducted from Aug. 24 to Aug. 28 of this year by Austin, Texas–based Research+Data Insights Inc. on behalf of Aflac.
It found that more than half (51 percent) of young workers will be choosing their health-care benefits for the first time this enrollment season.
When thinking about health-care benefits, nearly one-quarter of young adults surveyed associate benefits with independence (22 percent), yet only 19 percent feel confident, and just 31 percent say they feel prepared.
Their biggest concern about choosing their own health-insurance plan is cost (44 percent), followed by understanding how health insurance works (36 percent).
Of respondents currently on their parents’ health plans (35 percent), more than half (54 percent) are leaving their parents’ plan in the next year to purchase their own benefits for the first time.
More than two-thirds (69 percent) of those on their parents’ plans are unaware how much their health-insurance coverage even costs, but surprisingly, 41 percent indicated they contribute financially to the health-insurance plan their parents pay for, Aflac said.
Despite who is paying the bill, young workers are interested in voluntary benefits. When asked about the benefits young adults are most interested in, voluntary benefits were chosen by one-third of respondents; specifically, 32 percent said hospital insurance and 29 percent answered accident insurance, according to the survey.
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