The First National Bank of Groton has promoted KELLY GAVITT to VP from lending officer. She began at the bank in 1990 after several years in customer service with businesses in the Ithaca area. Originally employed at the bank as a customer-services representative, she has taken on additional responsibility and was promoted to financial-services consultant in 1998, to retail banking officer in 2000, and to assistant VP in 2009. Gavitt is a graduate of the New York Bankers Association Consumer Credit School.

KATHLEEN BARNES has been promoted to VP from manager of the audit and compliance department. She started in 1986 as mortgage-loan analyst at Citizens Savings Bank in Ithaca. Barnes became auditor there in 1987, and joined First National Bank of Groton as auditor in 1992. She was promoted to compliance officer and audit manager in 2000, and in 2005, she also assumed the role of Bank Secrecy Act officer. In 2009, she was promoted to assistant VP. Barnes has a bachelor’s degree in finance from SUNY Geneseo and is a graduate of the New York Bankers Advanced School of Banking.

ANDREW GOBEL has been promoted to VP from finance officer in the Finance and Administration department. He started at the bank in 1998, working part time in various departments while attending school. Gobel worked full time as internal auditor from 2005 until being promoted to finance officer. He holds certifications from the Independent Community Bankers Association as internal auditor and as compliance officer. Gobel graduated from Ithaca College in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and is also a graduate of the New York Bankers Advanced School of Banking.

SCOTT BABCOCK was promoted to VP after serving as lending officer. He joined First National Bank of Groton in 2003 as a financial analyst, and then from 2007 to 2011, he worked in the insurance industry. Babcock rejoined the bank in 2011 and was promoted to commercial loan and credit administration officer in 2014. He received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Binghamton University School of Management with a concentration in finance and is also a graduate of the New York Bankers Advanced School of Banking.

Elevate Integrated Member Services in Ithaca has promoted STEPHEN KIMBALL into a newly created position in charge of its client development and marketing efforts. He graduated from Lewis and Clark College, earning a bachelor’s degree in history. Prior to joining Elevate, Kimball worked in a wide range of for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, including Tompkins County Area Development, Cornell University, and The State Theatre. He brings nearly 20 years of experience in marketing, public relations, fundraising, and business development to his new position.

Licensed real-estate salesperson, VIRGINIA MANN, has joined HUNT Real Estate ERA at its Chittenango office. Prior to obtaining her real-estate license, she was employed at Niagara Mohawk and National Grid for 25 years. 

The del Lago Resort & Casino named JEFF BABINSKI VP and general manager. Babinski, with 25 years of industry experience, comes to del Lago from Lumiere Place Casino & Hotels in St. Louis, where he held the same title since 2010. Prior to that, he was GM and marketing director at Boomtown Casino & Hotel in Reno, Nevada.