SFCU merges with Edge Federal Credit Union

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LIVERPOOL, N.Y. — Edge Federal Credit Union has merged with Sidney Federal Credit Union (SFCU) in a deal approved by Edge members on Sept. 19. The combination helps solidify SFCU’s entry into Onondaga County while also providing Edge members new products and enhanced services, SFCU President/CEO Jim Reynolds says. Edge got its start in 1956, […]

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LIVERPOOL, N.Y. — Edge Federal Credit Union has merged with Sidney Federal Credit Union (SFCU) in a deal approved by Edge members on Sept. 19.

The combination helps solidify SFCU’s entry into Onondaga County while also providing Edge members new products and enhanced services, SFCU President/CEO Jim Reynolds says.

Edge got its start in 1956, founded by the teachers in the Liverpool Central School District. It includes a branch office at 7545 Morgan Road in Clay, as well as in-school, student-run branches at Liverpool High School and Baldwinsville’s Charles W. Baker High School.

Those ties to education as well as similar philosophies are what made the merger attractive, Reynolds contends. Talks between the two organizations began in earnest about nine months ago when Edge put out a request for proposals. Edge was looking for a merger partner since CEO Theresa Lotito Camerino is retiring at the end of this year.

“She knew we were moving into the market and have the same philosophy about member services,” Reynolds says.

Sidney Federal Credit Union broke ground this summer on its first Syracuse–area branch at 8062 Brewerton Road in Cicero. The project follows the credit union’s expansion of its membership field in late 2022 to include Onondaga, Cortland, Essex, and Hamilton counties. SFCU expects that branch to open in January 2024.

Edge brings about $65 million in assets to SFCU and boosts the credit union’s assets to more than $920 million. It also brings membership to over 70,000 across SFCU’s 11-branch network with the addition of Edge’s 2,600 members. SFCU also retained Edge’s seven employees.

Reynold’s says Edge’s two student-run branches, as well as a strong financial-education background was really appealing to SFCU as it looks to broaden its own financial-education offerings.

“We realize members are struggling right now,” he says. SFCU wants to offer more in the way of education and tools to members to help them manage and make the most of their money, especially in these times of high inflation. “It’s challenging times right now,” Reynolds says.

SFCU was already working to bolster its educational offerings, making sure to include a community room in the plans for the Cicero branch so it can hold financial-wellness seminars, first-time homebuyer classes, and other educational events.

“We can learn a lot from Edge and what they’ve been doing in the schools,” Reynolds notes.

SFCU has also been hard at work updating the products and services it offers to members.

It recently rolled out new online application and origination processes for business loans and mortgages. With hopes to expand its mortgage and home-lending business, the credit union is also working on expanding the home equity products it offers, Reynolds says.

Home buying may have cooled off with the current high interest rates, he says, but SFCU will be prepared with new products and technology when things turn around.

Headquartered in Sidney, Sidney Federal Credit Union also serves residents in Chenango, Delaware, Fulton, Madison, Montgomery, Otsego, and Schoharie counties and portions of Broome, Oneida, and Herkimer counties. Its other branch locations include Sidney, Oneonta (2), Green, Norwich (2), Walton, Delhi, Hancock, Bainbridge, and Amsterdam.

St. Joseph’s Health to expand lab services in $9.1M project

Health Care, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE — Construction is underway on a $9.1 million project that St. Joseph’s Health says will expand laboratory services and result in dozens of new jobs. As announced earlier this year, the health-care system is divesting its co-ownership of Laboratory Alliance of Central New York (LACNY) in January. The project allows for the expansion of

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Broome Leadership Institute class of 2024 announced

Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Nonprofits, Regional News, Small Business, Subscriber Only

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — The Greater Binghamton Education Outreach Program (GBEOP) has kicked things off with the 2024 class of the Broome Leadership Institute, a community leadership training and development program. GBEOP is the nonprofit affiliate of the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce. The goal of the program is to identify community leaders across a variety

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Two upstate projects get $5 million from DMCS program

Health Care, Manufacturing & Engineering, Regional News, Small Business, Subscriber Only, Technology

Two upstate New York–based projects will use $5 million each through the federal Defense Manufacturing Community Support (DMCS) program. The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) had selected the two projects as finalists for funding, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.) announced back on Sept. 8. DoD awarded the funding to the NYS Microelectronics Defense

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Two upstate New York–based projects will use $5 million each through the federal Defense Manufacturing Community Support (DMCS) program.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) had selected the two projects as finalists for funding, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.) announced back on Sept. 8.

DoD awarded the funding to the NYS Microelectronics Defense Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Workforce (Upstate Defense) Consortium project, along with Cornell University’s New York Consortium for Space Technology Innovation and Development (NYCST), Schumer announced Sept. 25.

Specifically, the senator said, “The projects would help train and connect workers to good-paying jobs in microelectronics and aerospace, boost research and innovation in these fields in Upstate NY and strengthen supply chains in high-tech manufacturing vital to our national security.”

“Today, the Department of Defense has confirmed what I have long known: that Upstate NY is on the rise as a world leader in high-tech manufacturing, vital to our national security and economic prosperity,” Schumer said in a news release. “This $10 million will allow these trailblazing projects from the Upstate Defense Consortium and Cornell University Space Technology program to train the next generation for good-paying jobs in communities from Rome to Syracuse to Ithaca, and breathe new life into Upstate NY’s legacy in manufacturing to take us to the next frontier in the technology of the future.”

About the Upstate Defense Consortium

Schumer said that the Upstate Defense Consortium is a partnership between Empire State Development, CenterState CEO, the Griffiss Institute, Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), and FuzeHub.

It is focusing on orienting their workforce-development strategies and programming around the region’s defense firms.

In addition, the consortium will work with a wide variety of industry partners, including Micron Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: MU); TTM Technologies; Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE: LMN); Saab; JMA Wireless; SRC; AIM Photonics; and the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate in Rome.

The Upstate Defense Consortium will build on Central New York and the Mohawk Valley’s “legacy of leadership” in defense manufacturing, aiming to leverage an “ongoing, once-in-a-generation transformation” in the region’s microelectronics industry to “strengthen” national security innovation and expand defense manufacturing capabilities across the area.

Specifically, the Upstate Defense Consortium will help expand education and workforce-training programs for the microelectronics industry at Syracuse University, Griffiss, and with CenterState CEO, and bolster STEM-focused fellowship, internship, and other education and training programs to connect job seekers with defense manufacturing and major tech companies.

The consortium will also invest in attracting new defense-manufacturing companies to the region with workshops and procurement training to strengthen supply chains across the region needed for the semiconductor industry.

The project will address current and future workforce needs of the “rapidly growing” microelectronics industry, including supporting Micron’s proposed $100 billion memory fab project that is expected to create upwards of 50,000 jobs across upstate New York, and also focuses on expanding access to and participation in the microelectronics industry workers from underrepresented communities.

“Our region has built a legacy of expertise and innovation around the defense and microelectronics industries that is being leveraged for unprecedented growth,” Robert Simpson, president and CEO of CenterState CEO, said in Schumer’s release. “To meet this moment, we must continue to foster innovation, attract new companies to the region, and ensure there is a robust talent pipeline to support this progress. Along with our partners at Empire State Development, the Griffiss Institute, Syracuse University’s (SU) Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), and FuzeHub, CenterState CEO will scale programs to ensure all growth is accessible and equitable.”

About NYCST

Cornell University’s project, officially submitted to the competition by the New York Consortium for Space Technology Innovation and Development, will address the need for advanced defense space-technology manufacturing and supply-chain capabilities. The aim is collaboration among universities, research institutions, industry experts, and government agencies in New York state.

NYCST will drive innovation and workforce development in the space-technology industry and includes initiatives in workforce development, facility upgrades, research and development (R&D) projects, and support for small businesses.

The expected outcomes include a skilled workforce, enhanced manufacturing capabilities, increased research and development in critical areas, long-term economic growth, job creation, and a “robust” national defense space technology industrial base. The project’s implementation strategy includes several key components, including upgrading space technology facilities at sites central to the region, expanding workforce development, strengthening R&D, small business programs, and more.

“At Cornell Engineering, we are committed to making a difference,” Lynden Archer, the Joseph Silbert Dean of Engineering at Cornell University, said in the Schumer release. “This consortium provides a powerful example of how partnerships between pioneering thinkers and leaders can enhance our impact. We appreciate the work Senator Schumer has done to foster the collaborative spirit throughout New York that makes such an ambitious project possible.”

About DMCS

The DoD’s Defense Manufacturing Community Support program is designed to support long-term community investments that strengthen national security innovation and expand the capabilities of the defense manufacturing industrial ecosystem. The program designates and supports consortiums as defense-manufacturing communities to strengthen the national security industrial base.

To qualify for funding through the DMCS program, communities must demonstrate “best practices in attracting and expanding” defense manufacturing by bringing together key local stakeholders and using long-term planning that integrates targeted public and private investments.

Kabari Wellness Institute opens new location in Rome

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Health Care, New York News, Regional News, Small Business, Subscriber Only

ROME, N.Y. — Seneca Falls–based Kabari Wellness Institute has recently opened a second location at 214 W. Liberty St. in Rome. The business celebrated a ribbon cutting on Aug. 31 with the Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce and Rome Area Chamber of Commerce. Kabari Wellness Institute provides integrated health and wellness services with a holistic

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VIEWPOINT: The Importance of Showing Thought Leadership

Business Mentors, Subscriber Only

Many professionals understand the significance of building awareness of their expertise and thought leadership, but often grapple with how to do so. Thought leadership goes beyond mere expertise; it is a process that entails building authentic, collaborative relationships within one’s industry, identifying patterns, recognizing emerging trends, and cultivating a code of values and integrity that

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An example of an industry where thought leadership is especially critical these days is health care, where organizations and leaders are facing unprecedented shifts due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Gallup’s annual Health and Healthcare survey, only 48 percent of Americans now rate U.S. health care as “good” or “excellent.”

While there are many factors influencing this perception, including costs and political partisanship, health-care leaders must have strong communications with their employees, patients, and communities to navigate the post-pandemic era and the ongoing transformation of health care. One highly effective means of achieving this is through elevating their thought leadership through op-eds.

The Relevance of Op-Eds in Times of Transformation

Op-eds are written viewpoints that allow professionals to demonstrate their thought leadership and drive change during these transformative times. By crafting compelling arguments supported by data and personal experiences, op-eds can empathize with and educate patients, open doors to new opportunities, shape health-care policies, and contribute to the broader conversation about the future of health care.

As VICE News Editor Chloe Angyal once wrote about the power of op-eds, “It matters who writes op-eds. It matters which ideas make it to the op-ed pages. Because a lot of them don’t stay there. Op-eds become books. … Op-eds become job offers. Op-eds become consulting gigs. Op-eds become speaking opportunities. Op-eds become funding offers. Op-eds become meetings with senators. Op-eds become policy. … It matters who writes op-eds, because it matters who gets to do all the things [that] can come after.”

Choosing Topics Wisely

The key to a powerful op-ed lies in the passion behind it. Start by identifying topics that resonate deeply with you and issues that you wish people understood better. Health-care leaders likely already stay informed about current events and health-care developments. That finger on the pulse of health care is an asset for placing op-eds because news outlets often seek timely responses to significant industry news stories. If you possess relevant expertise or share experiences related to topics in the news, these connections can serve as a launching point for your op-ed.

Do remember that it’s important to engage with your communications department, public-relations agency, or consultants in the op-ed writing process. They can help you refine your ideas and guide you through drafting and pitching your op-ed effectively.

Crafting a Compelling Op-Ed

A well-structured op-ed effectively conveys its message and resonates with the audience. Aim for an article length of 800-1,200 words, keeping your argument concise and clear. Use plain language to ensure accessibility for a wide readership. Here is a suggested structure for your op-ed.

Lede: This is your opening paragraph that should grab readers’ attention. You can start by recounting a current event or study, or sharing an anecdote that illustrates the issue you are addressing.

Thesis: State your central argument forcefully and concisely. This should be the core message you want readers to take away from your op-ed.

Supporting Evidence: Health-care leaders often talk about the importance of being data-driven. The same holds true in op-eds. Present data, expert quotes, scholarly references, or personal stories that back up your health-care thesis. The combination of human stories and data will make your op-ed compelling and relatable.

Application and Reflection: Use the evidence you presented to reinforce your thesis and explain its significance to the readers. Show them why they should care about the issue and its implications.

Conclusion: Circle back to the theme or story mentioned in the lead and restate your thesis to leave a lasting impression on the reader.

Pitching and Publishing

To get your op-ed published, you need to identify publications that are interested in the topic you’ve covered. Make sure to check each publication’s website for op-ed criteria, including word count/length and potential exclusivity requirements.

There are two ways to approach publications with your op-ed:

1. Pitch: Send a concise email to the editor outlining your article’s idea, why readers will care, your qualifications to write on the subject, and a short bio. Make sure your subject line clearly indicates that it’s a timely pitch if relevant. Many editors will only accept pitches from authors with whom they’ve worked before.

2. Submit on Spec: This is the more typical path if you haven’t written for a publication previously. To submit on spec, you must write the entire op-ed first and then submit it with a short pitch.

Be patient if you don’t hear back immediately. Follow up after a reasonable period, often one to two weeks for a piece that isn’t time-sensitive, or one day for a piece that is.

If your op-ed gets rejected, don’t take it personally. Accept feedback graciously. If the editor invites you to submit again, wait at least a month and try again.

Publication Day and Beyond

If your op-ed gets accepted, congratulations. Op-eds are a versatile form of content that can be repurposed across different platforms. Maximize your article’s reach by reusing it on your company’s social-media accounts and your own, in-organization newsletters, the company’s website, and any other owned media assets. Engage with readers who comment on your op-ed, especially those who have genuine questions about the issue, but avoid engaging in heated debates.

Finally, be proud of yourself for advancing the ideas about which you are passionate, especially during this time of transformation.

Virgie Townsend, JD, is director of public relations at Strategic Communications, which says it provides trusted counsel for public relations, including media strategy, media outreach, monitoring, and analysis.

Utica University invests in growing cybersecurity program

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Health Care, Regional News, Subscriber Only, Technology

UTICA, N.Y. — Utica University is taking its cyber-education program to the next level with a new cyber range it will build in Bull Hall. The range will open up new education and training methods and opportunities for the university beyond the programs and products it uses now to train the next-generation cyber workforce, says

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UTICA, N.Y. — Utica University is taking its cyber-education program to the next level with a new cyber range it will build in Bull Hall.

The range will open up new education and training methods and opportunities for the university beyond the programs and products it uses now to train the next-generation cyber workforce, says Andrew Carr, director of graduate cybersecurity programs.

“We can have a ransomware incident,” he says. The range will give students a “pull back the curtain” view on a cybersecurity incident. “The limits are endless.”

The 1,300-square-foot range will include 20 mobile computing stations, allowing professors to plan both individual and team activities.

“Right now, we have a lot of hands on,” Leslie Corbo, director of undergraduate cybersecurity programs at Utica University, says. The range will be different, she notes, because it will allow students to see — and participate — in the entirety of a cyber incident from planning to clean up. Students will also have opportunities to play different roles, from the “bad actors” who do the hacking to the good guys who fight them off.

“They’re going to be able to see everything,” she says, and that will help students determine what areas of cybersecurity they want to focus on professionally.

The range helps professors align with the cyber curriculum the university revamped in January 2022 to provide a more well-rounded education on both sides of the cyber equation, she adds.

“Cybersecurity moves so quickly,” Corbo says. “We start to fall behind if we don’t have something like this.”

Such ranges are usually found at “elite” schools, Carr notes. “It’s really for those trying to push the boundaries.”

The range isn’t just a benefit to Utica University students, he adds. It’s also a boon to the area’s industry professionals and businesses.

“People are getting excited we are bringing something like this in,” he says.

Opportunities for those professionals to both learn and share their experience with students will be plentiful, Carr says. That networking can also help students land internships or even employment upon graduation.

Both Carr and Corbo are working on curriculum with the expectation the range will be complete and active for the fall 2024 semester.

Utica University received a $150,000 grant from the George I. Alden Trust for the range and is actively fundraising for the project. Construction is expected to begin when funds raised reach $300,000.

The range will also include auditorium-style seating for up to 16 people and a video wall that allows distance-learning students to participate.

Utica University has just over 500 students in its cybersecurity program, and that number is growing, Corbo says. “I believe this range will make it even more of a big thing,” she says.

The university offers graduate and undergraduate cybersecurity degrees with three specializations — cyber operations, digital forensics and incident response, and cybercrime and fraud investigation.

VICEROY program seeks to meet U.S. DoD cyber-workforce demands

Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Regional News, Subscriber Only, Technology

“Through the latest round of the VICEROY Program, we are advancing the mission of preparing a highly skilled cybersecurity workforce for the Department of Defense. These virtual institutes, in collaboration with esteemed academic partners, augment traditional curricula, providing hands-on, experiential learning, and internships tailored to meet the demands of the Armed Services, DoD, and Defense

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VIEWPOINT: Cybersecure Your IoT

Business Mentors, Regional News, Subscriber Only, Technology

Internet of Things (IoT) technologies employ embedded devices to sense, and sometimes control, the physical world around us. They offer several benefits that range from general awareness to improved operational efficiency, or just plain convenience. IoT solutions have supported all of this nation’s critical-infrastructure sectors, from commercial facilities and transportation to food and agriculture, while

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As estimates for world-wide IoT adoption approach nearly 43 billion IoT devices in 2023, it is widely acknowledged that this technology has created an immense (and growing) threat landscape for cybersecurity attacks. Accordingly, IoT security has increasingly become a national priority, dating back to Executive Order (EO) 14028 (2021), “Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity,” which tasked the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to initiate programs addressing the cybersecurity capabilities of consumer IoT devices.

The broadened attack surface, which results from the widespread deployment of disparate devices, as well as their respective firmware, operating systems, and wireless-communication protocols, increases the security risk based on the complexity of the connectivity models and the often ad-hoc implementation of these solutions. The ramifications of an exploited IoT device, connection, or cloud service present a significant risk to businesses and consumers alike, with the potential to result in far-reaching intrusions that can laterally impact business systems, sensitive customer data, and/or any number of enterprise infrastructure. Recent high-profile attacks have shown that this not only can happen, but that when it does, recovery costs can run millions of dollars, not to mention the inevitable impact on their brand’s reputation.

While the complexity of the IoT arena can seem daunting, there are a handful of simple strategic protections that can be levied at different levels of the architectural model. The following practices are strongly encouraged within an organization to protect critical information-system assets.

• Device: Prior to acquiring and deploying an edge device, research the different manufacturers and the products they offer. The manufacturer’s country of origin and provided support should be considered, in addition to device-specific factors such as the operating system, any onboard software, the use of encryption, etc. When setting up the device, ensure that it has the latest firmware update, and determine the method by which the device can be updated in the future (e.g., wirelessly, serial, etc.).

• Connection: There are several wired and wireless-communication technologies that can connect devices to cloud-service providers and user applications. The requirements of each use case should typically dictate which is best suited to the planned implementation. While security tips would ideally be tailored to the selected means of communication, general suggestions involve changing default settings (e.g., access point name, password), employing the strongest encryption methods, and disabling any unused features, ports, etc.

• Application: Multifactor authentication (MFA) is a buzzword in the cybersecurity realm for a reason — it is one of the most-effective deterrents because it relies on two or more methods of verification to log into an account. These authenticators fall into the following categories: something you know (e.g., passwords), something you have (e.g., smart cards, authenticator app, or password token), and something you are, (e.g., a thumbprint or facial recognition). Ensuring devices and logins have MFA enabled is one of your best protections for user sign-ins.

• Zero-trust security model: A more-complete approach involves the implementation of a zero-trust security model, which replaces legacy-network, perimeter-security strategies by validating each access request while employing strong authentication and least privilege. The zero-trust model treats every request as if it was coming from a vulnerable open network, which means maximized scrutiny and security are required for each request. This model also enables real-time identification of vulnerabilities to proactively stop cybersecurity attacks before they start.

The implementation of these basic security practices can serve as an effective first step toward securing one’s IoT solutions, whether they include home devices or more significant industrial equipment. Per EO 14028, NIST has more recently released a collection of guidance for both consumers’ and the federal government’s adoption of IoT technologies which provides a more complete set of security safeguards and related considerations. Readers interested in learning more are encouraged to consult the publications provided by NIST’s Computer Security Resource Center (CSRC).

John Reade is IT systems lead at Quanterion Solutions Inc., a Utica–based provider of cutting-edge analytical services, products, and training across a range of disciplines including cybersecurity; managed-cloud services; reliability, maintainability, and quality; information-systems management; software development; information and knowledge management; and more. Email IoT@Quanterion.com with any questions or to learn more about securing your IoT devices, cloud, or connectivity.

TechMD hires vCIO for Syracuse office

Small Business, Subscriber Only, Technology

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — TechMD, a technology management and cybersecurity company headquartered in Endicott, recently announced it has added David Kerrigan as vCIO. Kerrigan has more than 30 years of experience in the managed-IT field and has helped many small- to mid-size companies build and maintain their technology systems. As a vCIO at TechMD, he will

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