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New CEO to start soon at Tops, Price Chopper parent company
Prior CEO, Curci, is retiring SCHENECTADY — The CEO of Northeast Grocery, Inc. (NGI), the parent company of Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops Friendly Markets is getting set to retire and NGI is ready to move forward with a new top executive. NGI’s board of directors on Jan. 22 announced the upcoming retirement of CEO […]
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SCHENECTADY — The CEO of Northeast Grocery, Inc. (NGI), the parent company of Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops Friendly Markets is getting set to retire and NGI is ready to move forward with a new top executive.
NGI’s board of directors on Jan. 22 announced the upcoming retirement of CEO Frank Curci, along with its selection of John Persons, NGI’s COO, as Curci’s successor.
Persons, who NGI describes as a 40-year industry veteran, will assume the role of CEO, effective Feb. 26.
He has served as NGI’s COO since June 2023, overseeing both the Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops Markets operating companies, as well as Northeast Shared Services’ merchandising and marketing functions.
The overall announcement is “part of the company’s strategic succession plan,” and the board selected Persons “following an internal and external search,” NGI said.

“The 43 years I have spent in this business have been challenging and rewarding beyond measure and, without a doubt, the recent years spent planning and then bringing NGI to life have been some of the most gratifying,” Curci said in a news release. “I’m delighted that John has been chosen to succeed me. He has been instrumental in our merger success to date, providing the necessary leadership over these past few years to position NGI for success. While John’s strategic mindset is poised to lead our multifaceted business day to day, he also possesses great vision for our path forward.”
NGI says one of Curci’s accomplishments as NGI’s CEO has been to develop a team of seasoned executives across Tops, Price Chopper/Market 32, and Northeast Shared Services (a subsidiary of NGI providing services to both operating companies). That team is “capable of providing experienced leadership and fueling” the internal succession plan. That plan ultimately led to the selection of Persons to succeed Curci, NGI said.
“I am thrilled to lead NGI forward in collaboration with the talented teammates and associates at Northeast Shared Services, Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops who are dedicated to nourishing the communities we serve,” Persons said in the release. “On behalf of all 30,000 of us, I’d like to express gratitude to Frank Curci for his leadership and mentorship over the years and reiterate my commitment to build on the momentum and success that he has fostered.”
Persons started as a cashier at Tops and rose to the office of the president. He has spent his entire career with the Williamsville–based grocery chain and now NGI. During his tenure at Tops, he had oversight for various functions, including operations, merchandising, sales and marketing, real estate, information technology, and organizational strategy, all leading to his appointment as president in 2015, NGI said.

Solvay Bank sets sights on growth in the Mohawk Valley
SOLVAY — After more than 106 years of serving Central New York, Onondaga County–based Solvay Bank is pushing its reach further with its sights set on the Mohawk Valley. In late December, the banking company announced its commercial expansion into the Mohawk Valley and the hiring of Matt Nicholl as VP, commercial-loan officer, to serve
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SOLVAY — After more than 106 years of serving Central New York, Onondaga County–based Solvay Bank is pushing its reach further with its sights set on the Mohawk Valley.
In late December, the banking company announced its commercial expansion into the Mohawk Valley and the hiring of Matt Nicholl as VP, commercial-loan officer, to serve the region.
Solvay Bank President/CEO Paul Mello says the demographics of the Mohawk Valley region, including the small-business climate, are similar to Onondaga County and appealing to the bank.
“When we looked at the Mohawk Valley, we felt like it was the perfect complement,” he says. Solvay Bank already has some commercial accounts in the area, making it a natural fit.
And while there are a “lot of fine banks” that already serve the Utica–Rome region, Mello says he believes the market is big enough to support them all.
With all the growth along the tech corridor, the area is seeing growth at all levels, he notes. “That’s what excited us.”
Solvay Bank’s initial focus is to serve the Mohawk Valley’s small businesses.
The bank offers a full array of banking services for small businesses including deposits, loans, lines, commercial real estate, ACH capture, and more.
Solvay Bank can tailor those services to what a business customer needs, Nicholl notes.
He has hit the ground running in his new role, working in the community to establish new relationships and “just getting the Solvay Bank name out there and getting people used to hearing it,” he says.
Along with more than 20 years of banking experience, Nicholl has ties to the community that made him the ideal choice to lead Solvay Bank’s expansion into the Mohawk Valley area, Mello contends.
“We wanted to find someone who lives and breathes the Mohawk Valley,” he says.
Nicholl is active in the community, serving on the boards of Mohawk Valley EDGE and the United Way of the Mohawk Valley. He’s also making sure the bank is actively involved with the Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce, including sponsoring the chamber’s ribbon cuttings.
Solvay Bank offers local lending with local decision making, Nicholl notes. “It allows us to understand what the customers’ needs are. I think that’s what I’m most excited about.”
Nicholl looks around at what’s happening in the area, such as the ongoing development of Harbor Point in Utica and is enthusiastic about those opportunities. “There’s a constant change going on in the market,” he says. Being local will help him stay on top of those changes and the needs of the market.
Nicholl isn’t the only one excited about Solvay Bank’s opportunities in the Mohawk Valley. “Our whole senior management team is committed to the success in the Mohawk Valley region,” VP, Commercial Banking Manager Renee Dellas says. The whole organization not only supports Nicholl, but also many senior bank leaders plan to be frequent visitors to the area.
There are no immediate plans to open a brick-and-mortar retail branch in Mohawk Valley, but technology allows the bank to connect with customers even if they don’t live near a branch, Mello notes.
“As the market demands, we will scale up,” he adds.
Solvay Bank, founded in 1917, has nine branches located in Solvay, Baldwinsville, Camillus, Cicero, DeWitt, Liverpool, North Syracuse, Westvale, and downtown Syracuse. It also operates Insurance Agency, Inc., a full-service general insurance agency.

Student-run bank deepens Tioga State Bank’s community connections
SPENCER — Tioga State Bank’s (TSB) new student-run branch at Spencer-Van Etten High School in northwestern Tioga County does more than provide a convenient place for students, faculty, and staff to bank. It deepens the bank’s connection with the community it has served for 160 years and provides an opportunity for TSB to offer even
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SPENCER — Tioga State Bank’s (TSB) new student-run branch at Spencer-Van Etten High School in northwestern Tioga County does more than provide a convenient place for students, faculty, and staff to bank.
It deepens the bank’s connection with the community it has served for 160 years and provides an opportunity for TSB to offer even more financial-literacy education to students.
The branch, located in its own space just off the main library of the high school, formally opened on Jan. 12. Jenna Gillette, a universal banker in TSB’s Spencer office, oversees the in-school branch. It’s open Tuesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon on days the school is open. Students Kaili Root and Jacqueline Brown staff the office.
“They actually handle all the transactions that come in through the school,” Gillette says of the student employees. The students can manage basic banking operations including deposits, check cashing, and balance inquiries. Both were trained just like any other TSB employee, Gillette added.
Spencer-Van Etten High School approached TSB about having a branch, Susan Allen, TSB’s senior VP of retail banking, says. Principal Melissa Jewell asked about a school-based branch around last August, Allen says, and they began looking into the idea.
TSB had to reach out to state regulators for approval. “We had a few technological things we had to make sure would work,” she adds. “We had to make sure we could to that safely and securely.”
Once the bank knew it would work, it was full steam ahead. School officials suggested students they felt would be a good fit to staff the branch.
“We are a community bank, so we were excited to be able to offer an additional channel,” Allen says. TSB has educated students on the basics like how to write a check or track balances for years, she says. Having the branch in the school allows for more education and even peer-to-peer education as students learn from those who operate the branch.
The partnership goes beyond just banking, Allen adds. TSB is collaborating with the school’s art department on a contest for a co-branded logo for the branch, and students interviewed Gillette about the branch for an article in the school paper.
“The school has been a fantastic partner,” Allen says.
The new in-school branch has also proven a plus for faculty and staff at the school, Gillette notes. “It’s very convenient for them,” she says. This is especially true for those that oversee school clubs and groups that have accounts, making it easy for them to deposit funds or obtain petty cash, for example, she adds.
The branch has been only open a few times as of press time, but Gillette is hopeful that as the weeks go by, students will check out the branch and, hopefully, become account holders.
Headquartered in Spencer, Tioga State Bank has $547 million in assets and more than 100 employees. The bank operates 11 branches in Binghamton (2), Candor, Endwell, Newfield, Owego (2), Spencer, Van Etten, Vestal, and Waverly.

Visions FCU’s financial-readiness center opens at Syracuse University
Aims to help veteran, military-connected community SYRACUSE — Visions Federal Credit Union (FCU) says its financial-readiness center at Syracuse University’s National Veterans Resource Center (NVRC) seeks to provide “support and guidance” for the university’s veteran and military-connected community. The resource for student veterans and military families is made possible by the collaboration between
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SYRACUSE — Visions Federal Credit Union (FCU) says its financial-readiness center at Syracuse University’s National Veterans Resource Center (NVRC) seeks to provide “support and guidance” for the university’s veteran and military-connected community.
The resource for student veterans and military families is made possible by the collaboration between Visions FCU and Syracuse University’s Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA), Visions said in its announcement.
Financial-readiness modules, online resources, and an event calendar will help in “navigating financial challenges and achieving long-term economic stability in a convenient and interactive way.”
Visions FCU on Jan. 12 formally opened its financial-readiness kiosk area at Syracuse University’s NVRC at the Daniel & Gayle D’Aniello Building on campus.
Speakers at the event included J. Michael Haynie, Syracuse University’s vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation; U.S. Army Colonel (Ret.) Ron Novack, executive director of the Syracuse University’s Office of Military and Veterans Affairs; and Tim Strong, director of branding and public relations at Visions FCU.
The Visions FCU financial-readiness kiosk area is one component of the Visions Student Veteran Success Program, the credit union said.
Visions FCU and OVMA announced the launch of the Visions Student Veteran Success Program at the Veteran and Military-Connected Student Orientation in the fall of 2022.
The program provides new academic resources and professional-advancement services to the military-connected community at Syracuse University and is open to all enrolled student veterans and their families, the credit union noted.
Established in 1966, Endwell–based Visions FCU serves more than 250,000 members in communities throughout New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Services include banking as well as auto, home, personal, and business loans, the credit union said.

Generations Bank, FHLBNY grants help five area nonprofits
SENECA FALLS — Five nonprofit organizations in Union Springs are using grant funding from Seneca Falls–based Generations Bank. The bank announced it secured $50,000 in grant money from the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (FHLBNY). The five grant recipients are the Springport Free Library, Frontenac Historical Society, Western Cayuga County Food Pantry, Union
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SENECA FALLS — Five nonprofit organizations in Union Springs are using grant funding from Seneca Falls–based Generations Bank.
The bank announced it secured $50,000 in grant money from the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (FHLBNY).
The five grant recipients are the Springport Free Library, Frontenac Historical Society, Western Cayuga County Food Pantry, Union Springs Volunteer Fire Department, and the Finger Lakes Region Lions Hearing Foundation.
AG Cutrona, senior VP – chief banking officer at Generations Bank, applied for the FHLBNY grant on behalf of the nonprofits.
“Generations is committed to giving back to the communities that we serve,” Cutrona said in a news release. “We are grateful to the local not-for-profit organizations that work so hard to give back to the Union Springs Community. These grants will have a lasting impact on the organizations receiving the funding and get them off to a positive start to the New Year.”
Tom Settino, VP of member relations at FHLBNY, had made Cutrona aware of the funding and application process, Generations Bank noted. Union Springs Mayor Robert Thurston, Jr. also provided “direction, support, and responsiveness” during the grant process.
“I can’t thank the team at Generations Bank enough for all their hard work to make this grant a dream come true for our community,” Thurston said in the Generations Bank release. “The funding that we were able to secure together will provide a huge relief to our community not-for-profits that work so hard every day to take care of our community. We look forward to working with Generations Bank in the future to help our community grow and prosper.”
Using the grant funding
The Springport Free Library will use its funding to improve its young child reading program area with new materials, area remodeling, and new furniture, Generations Bank said.
The Frontenac Historical Society recently had to pay for a major boiler replacement. Its grant funding will help offset the purchase of the new boiler.
The Western Cayuga County Food Pantry will use its grant to purchase food and paper products for families and the elderly who are dealing with “food insecurity.”
The funding for the Union Springs Volunteer Fire Department will offset its recent purchase of a new emergency tracked utility terrain vehicle (UTV) that will help the department respond to emergencies in remote areas.
The Finger Lakes Region Lions Hearing Foundation, established in 1985, collects used hearing aids to refurbish and give to hearing impaired individuals in need. They will use the grant money to work on the hearing aids.
About the institutions
Founded in 1870 and headquartered in Seneca Falls, Generations Bank operates retail branches in Seneca Falls, Auburn, Union Springs, Waterloo, Geneva, Phelps, Farmington, and Medina.
Besides business and consumer deposit services, Generations offers residential mortgages, along with manufactured home, automobile, home equity, commercial, non-residential real estate, and construction loans.
The FHLBNY helps community lenders advance housing and community growth in New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The FHLBNY is part of the congressionally chartered, nationwide Federal Home Loan Bank System and increases the availability of mortgages and home finance to families of all income levels by assisting members in more effectively serving their neighborhoods and meeting their Community Reinvestment Act responsibilities.
Fulmer begins duties as new SECNY FCU top executive
Transition period with former CEO Bobesky continues ONONDAGA — SECNY Federal Credit Union (FCU) has a new CEO who is working with the
OPINION: Bashing China is easy but not always helpful to us
Here’s one thing we can count on in the upcoming election year: American politicians will find ways to criticize China, even if they’re running for jobs that have little to do with U.S. foreign policy. China-bashing is a tried-and-true way to appeal for votes. It’s politically safe: China has few defenders anywhere in the United
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Here’s one thing we can count on in the upcoming election year: American politicians will find ways to criticize China, even if they’re running for jobs that have little to do with U.S. foreign policy.
China-bashing is a tried-and-true way to appeal for votes. It’s politically safe: China has few defenders anywhere in the United States. Politicians can take shots at China without worrying that they will offend anyone or lose support. And, certainly, China often deserves criticism.
But there is a downside to reflexive anti-China rhetoric. With the world’s second-largest population and its second-largest economy, China is a force in world affairs. We need to push back when it threatens our interests, but we also need to engage with China when appropriate.
It’s understandable that China would be a target for attacks. We live in a bipolar world, with the U.S. and China competing for global influence. Under President Xi Jinping, China has positioned itself as our chief rival. And China’s actions often call for pushback. It engages in unfair trade practices, disregards intellectual-property rules and tramples on human rights. The nation has been accused of genocide against the Uyghur population in its Xinjiang province. It also threatens Taiwan and antagonizes its neighbors over the South China Sea.
To many Americans, China can seem foreign and far away. Its people look different and speak different languages. Its autocratic system of government is very different from our democratic system. A recent Pew Research Center survey found half of Americans consider China to be the biggest threat we face; that’s three times as many as view Russia as our biggest threat. In another survey, more than 80 percent of Americans had negative views of China.
Some of China’s actions do call for strong responses. We should expect candidates for relevant government offices to adopt clear positions toward China. But China-bashing can go too far. In Indiana, where I live, one candidate for governor has made “combating China” a centerpiece of his campaign. He and his rivals say they will confront China over fentanyl imports, online theft of personal information, and other matters. The next governor of Indiana will have a lot of important issues to address, but getting tough with China won’t be high on the list.
Demonizing China also has a long and sometimes ugly history in the U.S. Chinese immigrants in the 1800s did hard and dangerous jobs, working in mines and building railroads, but faced discrimination in housing, employment, and education. Anti-Chinese bias led Congress to pass the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, barring further Chinese immigration. Sensationalistic newspapers fanned fears of a “Yellow Peril” that threatened native-born Americans. A 1924 law further restricted Asian immigration.
Some of those old prejudices can resurface today. One recent poll found that voters linked politicians’ anti-Chinese rhetoric to a spike in violence against Asian-Americans. With election campaigns getting underway, some experts predict a rise in hate incidents.
At the end of the day, U.S. officials will have to lay aside the rhetoric and engage with China. That means standing firm when China threatens our interests and those of our allies, but it also means finding ways to work together. We can, and should, cooperate on addressing climate change, combating terrorism, deterring drug smuggling, promoting free and fair trade, and other issues.
Lee Hamilton, 92, is a senior advisor for the Indiana University (IU) Center on Representative Government, distinguished scholar at the IU Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, and professor of practice at the IU O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Hamilton, a Democrat, was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years (1965-1999), representing a district in south-central Indiana.
Watt reflects on time at NBT as he prepares for retirement
NORWICH — While the Jan. 22 announcement that NBT Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: NBTB) President/CEO John H. Watt, Jr. will retire this coming May might have caught some by surprise, it’s a decision Watt says he reached last year. What spurred the decision? “The bench!” he tells The Central New York Business Journal. “The strength of
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NORWICH — While the Jan. 22 announcement that NBT Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: NBTB) President/CEO John H. Watt, Jr. will retire this coming May might have caught some by surprise, it’s a decision Watt says he reached last year.
What spurred the decision?
“The bench!” he tells The Central New York Business Journal. “The strength of the individuals on the team.”
The team he’s referring to are CFO Scott A. Kingsley, who will step into NBT’s president and CEO role on May 21 when Watt officially retires; Chief Accounting Officer Annette L. Burns, who will become CFO; and President of Retail Community Banking and Chief Information Officer Joseph R. Stagliano, who will become president of NBT Bank, N.A.
All of them are hardworking and exceedingly competent, Watt says. “Recognizing that, how could I not step aside and provide them opportunity?” he posits.
Part of being a good steward of a public company is not just training new leaders, but also providing the opportunity for them to lead, Watt says. The failure to do so could drive those leaders to look elsewhere for those opportunities.
Watt approached the board of directors with his plans to retire last year, and the board undertook a 10-month process to draft and approve a succession plan.
“I had a good run, no doubt about it,” Watt says of his time at the helm. He will spend the time between now and May ensuring a smooth transition to the new leadership team. “My job after that will be to get out of their way,” he says.
With his retirement, Watt won’t completely be stepping away from NBT, which he has led as president and CEO since 2016.
Watt is most proud of the team at NBT, especially with their efforts during the pandemic. The way that the entire team came together during that time to help the communities NBT serves, including initiating more than $800 million in Paycheck Protection Program loans, is nothing short of incredible, he notes. “I’m very proud of how the team came together.”
Another highlight is last year’s acquisition of Salisbury Bancorp, which expanded NBT’s footprint and number of employees.
NBT grew from about $8 billion in assets to nearly $14 billion during his tenure. “We needed to drive growth, and we did,” Watt recalls.
He’s also proud that the company’s C-suite includes six female executive VPs, something that isn’t common in the industry. They are true leaders that are harder working and smarter than him, Watt notes.
Watt doesn’t plan to spend his retirement days relaxing. Joking that he put away his golf clubs a decade ago because the sport is too frustrating, Watt says he feels the need to remain busy and work to give back to the company and the community.
He will continue to serve the board of directors as vice chairman, where he will provide strategic support for NBT’s initiatives along the semiconductor chip corridor, and also serve as an advisor through the end of the year.
“It’s such a unique, once-in-a-hundred-year opportunity,” he says of the growth the region, particularly Syracuse, is poised for with the semiconductor industry. To see combined federal and state support to re-shore the industry is transformational, and he doesn’t want to miss it.
Watt also wants to make sure that NBT benefits along with the community as the need for housing grows and as contractors, franchisees, and businesses of all sizes need loans to get started or grow.
“All of these things are going to multiply, and we have the opportunity to be part of that,” he says. People will need loans, insurance, and even wealth management. “We’ll be there.”
Watt also plans to remain active with OnPoint for College, a nonprofit education and career-attainment program that helps students pursue post-secondary educational goals. Last year, NBT committed to funding a career-advisor position at the organization, and Watt plans to continue to be involved with OnPoint.
He also hopes to do a little fishing. “I will admit that once in a while, I have a fishing pole in my hand, and I hope to do a little more of that,” Watt quips.
Headquartered in Norwich, NBT Bancorp is the holding company for NBT Bank, N.A. and has more than $13.8 billion in assets. NBT Bank has 153 branches in New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, and Connecticut. The company also operates EPIC Advisors, Inc., a Rochester–based benefits-administration firm, and NBT Insurance Agency, LLC, a Norwich–based full-service insurance agency
OPINION: Congress Tests its Own Willingness to Get Things Done
Back in mid-January, among people who pay attention to the state of American democracy, perhaps the most widely circulated quote from a news article had nothing to do with the presidential primaries or drama in Congress. Rather, it was from a European ambassador who likened the United States to “a fat buffalo trying to take
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Back in mid-January, among people who pay attention to the state of American democracy, perhaps the most widely circulated quote from a news article had nothing to do with the presidential primaries or drama in Congress. Rather, it was from a European ambassador who likened the United States to “a fat buffalo trying to take a nap,” while wolves circle.
The point this ambassador was making — along with other diplomats to whom Politico foreign affairs correspondent Nahal Toosi spoke — is that as seen from abroad, the U.S. is failing basic tests. “The diplomats are aghast that so many U.S. leaders let their zeal for partisan politics prevent the basic functions of government,” Toosi wrote.
Normally, I’d read something like that, think, “Huh, that’s interesting,” and move on. But I keep returning to it in my mind.
“In our system, someone will always be unhappy.”
When I began work on this commentary, my plan was to praise the budget agreement that Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer reached in early January. It was a sign that maybe Congress was ready to avoid a government shutdown and get its most important work done.
The waters have gotten muddier since then, though both houses of Congress did agree to another continuing resolution that will allow them to keep the government operating into March. The truth is, with a closely divided electorate and a narrowly divided U.S. House, this kind of brinksmanship may be the best we can expect. In our system, someone will always be unhappy. We make progress when political leaders who are willing to search for common ground find people with whom they can work.
To some extent, the diplomats [talking with] Politico [were] just reacting to the messy way policy sometimes gets made in the U.S. Still, there is no question that our ability to move forward as a country on key questions is hamstrung on Capitol Hill right now.
There are plenty of reasons for hopefulness, including a functioning Senate and a perception among Democrats that Johnson, as a Republican House speaker, has been willing to deal honestly with them. But the fact that there is so little predictability about Congress’s ability to get things done is worrisome. As long as congressional leaders on both sides can keep talking to one another and are willing to seek points of agreement, our system can function. If that stops, maybe we’re a fat buffalo after all.
Lee Hamilton, 92, is a senior advisor for the Indiana University (IU) Center on Representative Government, distinguished scholar at the IU Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, and professor of practice at the IU O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Hamilton, a Democrat, was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years (1965-1999), representing a district in south-central Indiana.
People news: Security Mutual hires Kentch
ITHACA, N.Y. — Security Mutual Group recently announced the appointment of Samantha Kentch to the insurance company’s cancellations department. Prior to joining Security Mutual, she worked for two years at the Tompkins County Department of Social Services. Kentch is a graduate of Groton High School in Tompkins County and holds certifications in digital media and
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ITHACA, N.Y. — Security Mutual Group recently announced the appointment of Samantha Kentch to the insurance company’s cancellations department.
Prior to joining Security Mutual, she worked for two years at the Tompkins County Department of Social Services.
Kentch is a graduate of Groton High School in Tompkins County and holds certifications in digital media and business math from Tompkins-Seneca-Tioga BOCES.
In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time with her family, and working part-time for Rick’s Rental World in Ithaca, Security Mutual said.
Organized in 1887, Security Mutual Insurance Company writes more than $50 million in premiums and provides property and casualty insurance for homes and businesses. The company is represented by a network of more than 400 independent agents throughout the state.
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