Utica First Insurance Company appoints its next president and CEO

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UTICA, N.Y. — Utica First Insurance Company has announced the appointment of Ryan Fleming as its next president and CEO, effective January 1, 2026. Fleming will succeed retiring president and CEO Scott Shatraw. Fleming joined Utica First in 2024 as vice president of marketing and agencies and has “demonstrated his ability to lead the company […]

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SUNY Poly launches NYSTEC Business Center of Excellence

Education & Training, Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Featured, Mohawk Valley, Nonprofits, Regional News, Technology

MARCY, N.Y. — SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) formally opened the NYSTEC Business Center of Excellence during a ceremony held Sept. 19. A $500,000 pledge

Crews complete work on St. Matthew’s Condominium in East Syracuse

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Energy, Environment & Sustainability, New York News, Subscriber Only

EAST SYRACUSE, N.Y. — St. Matthew’s Condominium, a project that redeveloped the former St. Matthew’s Elementary School in East Syracuse into condominiums and apartments, is now complete. 214 Redev, LLC — a subsidiary of Redev CNY and led by Syracuse-based developer Ryan Benz — on Sunday announced the completion of work on the property at

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EAST SYRACUSE, N.Y. — St. Matthew’s Condominium, a project that redeveloped the former St. Matthew’s Elementary School in East Syracuse into condominiums and apartments, is now complete.

214 Redev, LLC — a subsidiary of Redev CNY and led by Syracuse-based developer Ryan Benz — on Sunday announced the completion of work on the property at 214 Kinne St.

The redevelopment converted the former St. Matthew’s Elementary School into an energy-efficient residential community, including 21 studio, one- and two-bedroom homes, modern appliances, and shared community amenities.

Redev CNY describes the project as “a transformative redevelopment in East Syracuse that delivers high-quality, affordable, and accessible homeownership opportunities to Central New York families.”

St. Matthew’s Condominium brings new energy-efficient housing options to the market “at an accessible price point,” Redev CNY said. The project is supported by $4.2 million from New York State Homes and Community Renewal’s Affordable Homeownership Opportunity Program (AHOP), which provides funding to encourage the creation of affordable homeownership projects that serve low and middle-income homebuyers.

It is also supported by the Onondaga County Housing Initiative Program (O-CHIP) and a Clean Heat award from National Grid.

The project has been designed to ensure that each unit’s monthly costs — including mortgage, HOA expenses, and property taxes — prioritize affordability, per the announcement. The units will be affordable to homebuyers earning 80 percent of the area median income in Onondaga County.

“St. Matthew’s Condominium represents more than just housing — it’s about creating generational opportunity,” Ryan Benz, developer and founder of Redev CNY, said in the announcement. “We are committed to making sure Central New Yorkers can own high-quality homes without being cost-burdened, and we’re grateful to our partners at New York State, Onondaga County, and National Grid for making this vision possible.”

DAV, RecruitMilitary to host Military Community Job Fairs in Syracuse, Watertown this week

Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Construction, Design & Real Estate, Health Care, Nonprofits, North Country, Regional News

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — DAV (Disabled American Veterans) and RecruitMilitary will co-host two Military Community Job Fairs this week in both Syracuse and Watertown. The event

Utica to host 2026 NYS Tourism Conference

Utica selected as host site of the 2026 NYS Tourism Conference

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UTICA, N.Y. — Oneida County Tourism (OCT) says Utica will host the 2026 New York State Tourism Conference, presented by the New York State Tourism

Companies from Rome, Binghamton awarded innovation matching grant funds from ESD’s NYSTAR program

Manufacturing & Engineering, Energy, Environment & Sustainability, Mohawk Valley, North Country, Regional News, Small Business, Southern Tier, Technology

Companies from Rome and Binghamton are among 25 New York–based businesses awarded a total of more than $3 million in grants through the third round

SUNY Oswego president leads delegation’s July trip to Africa, part of SUNY Africa Initiative

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OSWEGO, N.Y. — The State University of New York sent a delegation to Africa in mid-July as part of the SUNY Africa Initiative — a system-wide effort to deepen strategic educational, economic and cultural partnerships across the continent. Led by SUNY Oswego President Peter Nwosu, the group traveled to Kenya, Rwanda, and Nwosu’s homeland of

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Led by SUNY Oswego President Peter Nwosu, the group traveled to Kenya, Rwanda, and Nwosu’s homeland of Nigeria, the school said in its announcement.

The two-week journey included visits to Nairobi, Kigali, and Lagos, “aiming to bolster SUNY’s presence in Africa” by advancing academic collaborations, student recruitment, study-abroad opportunities, joint research initiatives, and workforce development.

The trip’s key goals included formalizing new university partnerships through memoranda of understanding, along with hosting student recruitment and alumni-engagement events.

The goals also included exploring collaborations in technology, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and cultural industries, as well as supporting U.S. visa success pathways for African students seeking a SUNY education.

Another goal was “elevating SUNY’s global brand, initially, in four high-growth African markets,” SUNY Oswego said.

“This was a valuable opportunity to connect, exchange ideas, and explore prospects in rapidly emerging regions with large, youthful populations eager for international education and global opportunities,” Nwosu said. “Returning to my homeland and visiting other places to share stories of success and the opportunities available through SUNY and Oswego was deeply meaningful. Meeting so many bright students, dedicated teachers, and welcoming administrators and officials made the experience unforgettable.”

On the visit, Nwosu was joined by key administrators, including Melur Ramasubramanian, SUNY Provost, executive vice chancellor of academic affairs and president of the SUNY Research Foundation; SUNY Polytechnic Institute President Winston Oluwole (Wole) Soboyejo; and SUNY Fredonia President Stephen Kolison Jr.

Joshua McKeown, SUNY Oswego’s associate provost for international education, was part of the delegation, the school noted.

The visit builds on a strategic white paper to SUNY Chancellor John King, Jr., co-authored by Presidents Nwosu and Soboyejo, articulating a “comprehensive vision” for the State University of New York’s expanded engagement in Africa and its contribution to New York’s global competitiveness, SUNY Oswego said.

Heather Livingston

People on the Move

Heather Livingston joins the Firm as an Administrative Assistant. She brings extensive experience providing administrative and support services, including many years in healthcare and legal

Syracuse women’s basketball coach to keynote Economic Champions event

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SYRACUSE — Those attending the annual CenterState CEO Economic Champions event in late October will hear remarks from keynote speaker Felisha Legette-Jack, head coach of the Syracuse University women’s basketball team. It’s scheduled for Oct. 29 from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Nicholas J. Pirro Convention Center at Oncenter. Registration for the event is available

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It’s scheduled for Oct. 29 from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Nicholas J. Pirro Convention Center at Oncenter.

Registration for the event is available at: https://centerstateceo.com/events/10/2025/economic-champions-celebration

Legette-Jack, who also played for and graduated from Syracuse University, is a graduate of the Syracuse City School District.

She guided the Orange women’s basketball team to back-to-back 20-win seasons in her first two years and made a postseason tournament in both seasons. The team didn’t qualify for the post season during the 2024-25 season.

CenterState CEO’s Economic Champions event acknowledges hundreds of businesses and organizations that are contributing to the growth of the Central New York economy. The contributions include new jobs, new business openings, expansions and investments, and company milestones.

During the event, Legette-Jack will share her own personal journey of recovery and rebuilding, and how it mirrors Syracuse’s current trajectory.

“I knew the city as a kid, came back for a time as an assistant head coach, and now, after twenty-two years away, I feel blessed to finally be home again,” Legette-Jack said in the CenterState CEO announcement. “In many ways, my own path of growth and recovery runs alongside Syracuse’s story. I’ve seen the loss of businesses and industry, but I also see the exciting possibilities that are ahead for our community. I see hundreds of businesses preparing to embrace the future of My City — Our City, and I’m simply here to celebrate that future with you.”

“Central New York is built on the spirit of turning challenges into fuel for progress. At a time of new growth and possibilities for our region, it’s important to recognize the collective impact and outstanding achievements — large and small — of the business community that are the foundation of that success,” Ben Sio, acting president and CEO of CenterState CEO, said. “We’re thrilled to have Coach Jack joining us as this year’s speaker, to share her enthusiasm and lessons in resilience, recovering from setbacks and preparing for the future, particularly as we look ahead as a region and rally forward toward event greater progress.”

The event will also feature remarks from CenterState CEO President Robert Simpson, and the presentation of the 2025 Community Visionary Award. The award is presented to an organization that embodies a vision of economic opportunity and is creating a significant impact on community prosperity.

YMCA of Central New York names 2025–2026 association board of directors branch chairs

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SYRACUSE — The YMCA of Central New York recently announced the leaders serving as its association board branch chairs for 2025–2026. Each brings a deep commitment to the Y’s mission of strengthening community, promoting youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, the nonprofit organization said. The branch chairs are as follows: Downtown Branch — Jordan

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Downtown Branch — Jordan K. Davis

Born and raised on the South Side of Syracuse, Davis is a husband, father, and business owner dedicated to giving back to his community. His passion lies in educating others about finance and business ownership, helping to create pathways to economic empowerment for families across Central New York.

Manlius Branch — Patti Giancola Knutsen

A lifelong Central New Yorker, Knutsen brings nearly three decades of philanthropy experience to her role as Manlius Branch chair. She served 13 years at Syracuse University and nine years with the YMCA of Greater Syracuse, where she was instrumental in the creation of the East Area Family YMCA.

Hal Welsh East Area Family Branch — Pat Floyd-Echols

Floyd-Echols has served as East Branch board chair for the past three years and brings both personal and professional dedication to the YMCA. A retired school principal, she has long valued the Y as a safe place for her children to grow, learn to swim, and connect after school.

Southwest Branch — Shawn Edie

Edie, director of student orientation, leadership, and engagement at Onondaga Community College, combines his professional expertise in education with his passion for community service. In addition to leading the Southwest Branch, he serves as VP of the Marcellus School Board, is an active leader in scouting, and supports the Longhouse Council – Scouting America.

Arts & Education Branch — Carol Radin

A member of the Arts & Education Branch board for three years, Radin brings a wealth of experience from her career at Syracuse University and Cazenovia College. In retirement, she continues to uplift the community through volunteer work with the Interfaith Community Collective and contributes articles to CNY 55 Plus magazine.

Northwest Family Branch — Beth Greene Monaco

Greene Monaco is a project manager for new product development at Belden Inc. A graduate of Clarkson University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Greene Monaco has held various roles in her career, including design engineering, quality assurance, and product management. She is dedicated to community engagement, volunteering her time with the YMCA of Central New York and serving as a youth ice-hockey coach.

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