Mackenzie Hughes elects new managing partner

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse–based law firm Mackenzie Hughes LLP announced it has elected a new managing partner. The firm elected attorney Richard Engel for the role. He succeeds attorney Anne Ruffer, who stepped down as managing partner on Dec. 31, after having served in the role for six years. As managing partner, Engel will oversee […]

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Richard Engel (Photo credit: Mackenzie Hughes)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse–based law firm Mackenzie Hughes LLP announced it has elected a new managing partner.

The firm elected attorney Richard Engel for the role. He succeeds attorney Anne Ruffer, who stepped down as managing partner on Dec. 31, after having served in the role for six years.

As managing partner, Engel will oversee Mackenzie Hughes’ operations, chair the executive committee, and guide the strategic vision of the law firm, per its announcement. He joined Mackenzie Hughes in 2003.

Engel concentrates his law practice in business and corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, securities law, banking, commercial development, and IDA financing. He also handles securities litigation and arbitration before FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority), private securities offerings, and federal and state regulatory compliance relating to securities and corporate governance.

During her time as Mackenzie Hughes managing partner, Ruffer oversaw the day-to-day firm operations, worked in supporting the firm’s various practice areas, and managed its fiscal responsibility.

Anne Ruffer (Photo credit: Mackenzie Hughes)

She also “successfully navigated” Mackenzie Hughes through the pandemic and its many challenges, the firm said. Ruffer has served in the firm’s management since 2007, when she was elected to join the firm’s executive committee.

In addition, while managing partner, Ruffer continued her law practice providing legal services in the firm’s estates department. She will continue her law practice, where she’ll work with clients on their estate planning, estates and trust administration, special needs and elder law planning, guardianships, estate litigation, and related matters, Mackenzie Hughes said.

Besides the change in managing partner, the firm also announced that attorney James Nicoll will serve as chair of the business department. Nicoll joined Mackenzie Hughes in 2014 and is a partner in the firm’s business department.

CenterState CEO report finds 55 percent of area firms expect to boost hiring this year

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A new report from CenterState CEO finds 55 percent of more than 165 businesspeople surveyed expect an increase in jobs and hiring in 2024 — down 17percent from 2023 projections. It also found nearly three quarters of those surveyed (72 percent) anticipate increased sales or revenue in 2024, down 1 percent from

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Pathfinder Bancorp pays dividend of 9 cents a share in Q4

Banks & Credit Unions, Subscriber Only

OSWEGO — Pathfinder Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: PBHC), the bank holding company of Pathfinder Bank, recently paid a quarterly cash dividend of 9 cents per share on its common stock. The fourth quarter 2023 dividend was paid on Feb. 2 to all shareholders of record on Jan. 12, according to an announcement from James A. Dowd,

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Community Bank System elects new independent director

Banks & Credit Unions, Subscriber Only

DeWITT — Community Bank System, Inc. (NYSE: CBU) recently announced the election of Michele Sullivan to its board of directors as a new independent director, effective Feb. 1. Sullivan is a retired partner of Crowe LLP, a Chicago–based public accounting, consulting, and technology firm, serving in its consulting practice specializing in the financial-services sector. She

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DeWITT — Community Bank System, Inc. (NYSE: CBU) recently announced the election of Michele Sullivan to its board of directors as a new independent director, effective Feb. 1.

Sullivan is a retired partner of Crowe LLP, a Chicago–based public accounting, consulting, and technology firm, serving in its consulting practice specializing in the financial-services sector. She worked with top U.S. banks and global banks, as well as mid-market insurance carriers and fintech companies, providing consulting services on risk, compliance, internal audit, technology, strategic acquisitions, merger integration, and governance matters. Sullivan is a certified public accountant (CPA) and a certified risk management professional (CRMA).

Sullivan joined Crowe in 1992 and, prior to her retirement in March 2023, served on the firm’s board of directors for seven years and its audit and risk committee. During her time on Crowe’s board, she developed and led the Corporate Governance Strategic Initiative.

Sullivan’s election expands Community Bank System’s board to 14 directors, 12 of whom are independent. She was also appointed to the board of directors of Community Bank, N.A., the company’s wholly-owned banking subsidiary. She will also serve on the board’s audit committee and risk committee.

“Her audit, compliance, governance and risk management experience as a partner at Crowe are valuable additions to the board,” Eric E. Stickels, Community Bank System board chair, said in a news release “[Sullivan’s] appointment reflects the Board’s continued focus on enhancing the Board’s depth of experience and diversity to ensure an appropriate level of expertise and perspective to provide effective oversight of the Company and its subsidiaries.”

Sullivan graduated from Indiana University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and has completed board and corporate governance course work through Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management executive development program.

Community Bank System is a diversified financial-services company focused on four main business lines — banking, benefits administration, insurance services, and wealth management — with total assets of $15.4 billion. Its banking subsidiary, Community Bank, N.A., is among the nation’s 100 largest banks and operates more than 200 branches across upstate New York, northeastern Pennsylvania, Vermont, and western Massachusetts.

AmeriCU Credit Union formally unveils renovated Auburn branch

Banks & Credit Unions, Construction, Design & Real Estate, Subscriber Only

AUBURN — Rome–based AmeriCU Credit Union announced it recently unveiled its newly remodeled Auburn financial center (branch office) that blends technology with personal service. The credit union’s employees and community members celebrated the renovation with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the branch office, located at 295 Grant Ave., on Jan. 17. New teller pods and interactive

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OPINION: On Mental Wellness, Patients & Providers Need Our Support

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As New York State budget negotiations begin to take a more concrete shape, it becomes even more important to keep pushing to support policy initiatives that can do the most for New Yorkers. [Now that we have closed] out Mental Wellness Month, which was in January, I want to reiterate that adequate resources for our mental-health care facilities, human-services workers, and resources dedicated to fighting the state’s ongoing opioid crisis are critical to strengthening New York from top to bottom.

“We can all benefit from better mental hygiene and a stronger commitment from the state to support adequate mental-health services.”

Mental hygiene impacts every segment of our lives. From education to the economy and our criminal-justice system, better mental-health services create happier, more effective, and safer New Yorkers. I was pleased the executive-budget proposal highlighted these services. Specifically, a planned $5 million to support recovery community centers, funding adjustments for rising costs at residential-housing units, and additional funding for employment access are all a great start. But now, we must find a way to make these proposals reality.

Mental-health services have been a priority for the Assembly Minority Conference for several years. We have made great strides understanding and addressing some of these challenges in two of our major task-force initiatives dealing with school safety and veterans, and we are eager to build on that momentum in the coming weeks.

There are also lots of other great ways we can all recognize Mental Wellness Month, including awareness initiatives like the Little Things Mental Health Campaign, which aims to “highlight little things an individual can do to improve their mental health, including keeping active, talking about problems, drinking less alcohol, and eating and sleeping well.” Like most problems, taking small steps can lead to bigger, more meaningful changes later.

We can all benefit from better mental hygiene and a stronger commitment from the state to support adequate mental-health services. I remain hopeful the final iteration of next year’s budget includes the much-needed funding boosts proposed, and I look forward to working with the governor and my legislative colleagues to deliver a spending package that prioritizes the needs of all New Yorkers — especially those struggling with their mental health.

William (Will) A. Barclay, 55, Republican, is the New York Assembly minority leader and represents the 120th New York Assembly District, which encompasses all of Oswego County, as well as parts of Jefferson and Cayuga counties.

People news: SUNY Poly names new director of university marketing and communications

Health Care, Regional News, Subscriber Only

MARCY, N.Y. — Sara Furlong has joined SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) as its new director of university marketing and communications. She brings more than 15 years of experience in higher education, ad agency, consulting, and industry settings to the role, the university announced. Prior to joining SUNY Poly, Furlong spent more than six years

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MVHS drops mask requirement

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UTICA, N.Y. — The Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) announced it will no longer require masking at its facilities, effective immediately. MVHS’s infection-prevention team has tracked community transmission levels of COVID-19 in Oneida County and surrounding areas, as well as among patients and staff. At this time, transmission levels have dropped enough where masking is

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Schumer calls on regulators, drug makers to deal with shortage of RSV doses for local doctors

Health Care, Law, Accounting & Taxes, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.) wants the federal government and drug makers to “get all hands-on deck” to ensure doctors across New York and the U.S. have immunization doses for respiratory syncytial virus infection, or RSV. In a letter to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the

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In a letter to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food &Drug Administration (FDA), Schumer said that with new doses being distributed, it is “imperative” that those vaccines get to pediatric clinics on the frontlines “ASAP,” his office said.

He discussed the letter at Upstate Medical University with local doctors who are facing shortages of the RSV doses. Dr. Mantosh Dewan, president of Upstate Medical University, and Dr. Seth Kronenberg, president and CEO of Crouse Health, also joined Schumer for his Monday announcement.

The majority leader said it is especially important to get these doses to pediatricians because they are the first line of defense in protecting children and most often where parents go first. Secondly, the senator said it is vital the drug manufacturers work with all levels of the federal government to ramp up supply now and fix supply chain issues, so that all those who need the vaccines are able to get them.

As an example, Syracuse Community Health (SCH) told Schumer’s office that it received 30 total doses, despite ordering hundreds of doses of the RSV vaccine over months of procurement efforts.

To date, SCH has received a delivery of just 10 doses of the 100 mg formulation, critical for many of the sickest and highest risk children.

SCH sees between 20 and 30 babies per day who are in need of the RSV immunization, but SCH’s highly limited supply prevents providers from immunizing all but a select few children, Dr. Ofrona Reid, interim president and CEO of SCH, told Schumer’s office.

“Doctors should never have to make a choice between who gets a shot and who doesn’t, or tell parents they have to wait weeks or months to protect their kid from this potentially deadly virus, which is why the feds need to take action now and release more doses ASAP,” Schumer said in a news release. “That’s why I’m calling on the CDC, FDA and drug manufacturers to get all hands-on deck and work overtime to release more doses of this vital treatment, and to ensure all new doses get where they are needed most, like our hard-hit Central NY pediatricians on the frontlines.”

ConnextCare to offer dental services to the Oswego City School District

Health Care, Subscriber Only

OSWEGO, N.Y. — ConnextCare has announced plans to offer dental services for the Oswego City School District, a move the organization sees as the first step in launching its school-based, health-center program set for this fall. ConnextCare is locating the new school-based health center at the Frederick Leighton Elementary School. It will first be open

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