LaFayette Board of Education selects new superintendent of schools

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LaFAYETTE — The LaFayette Board of Education recently named Kara Lux as its next superintendent of schools, pending successful contract negotiations. Lux, who currently is director of special education and grants at the Marcellus Central School District, is expected to begin her new role at the LaFayette Central School District in December or January, per […]

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LaFAYETTE — The LaFayette Board of Education recently named Kara Lux as its next superintendent of schools, pending successful contract negotiations.

Lux, who currently is director of special education and grants at the Marcellus Central School District, is expected to begin her new role at the LaFayette Central School District in December or January, per LaFayette’s Oct. 20 announcement.

She is set to replace Interim Superintendent Daniel Bowles, who has served as the district’s leader since former superintendent Jeremy Belfield left in July to become the new district superintendent for the Center for Instruction, Technology & Innovation (CiTi BOCES) in Oswego County.

Lux has worked in her position in Marcellus for the past eight years. As director of special education and grants, she was responsible for special education programming. As part of that role, she also wrote and managed federal grants and provided a wide variety of professional development and instructional support to staff.

In her application to the LaFayette Board of Education, Lux said she was drawn to the district because of its “deep-rooted sense of community, commitment to educational excellence, and its unique and honored relationship with the Onondaga Nation.”

Ronald Shawn Reyburn, president of the LaFayette Board of Education, said Lux’s experience and leadership skills propelled her to the top of a carefully considered pool of more than two dozen candidates.

Lux graduated from Bishop Ludden High School and later earned a bachelor’s degree in speech-language pathology from SUNY Geneseo, a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from Syracuse University (SU), and a certificate of advanced study in educational leadership from SU.

Lux began her career as a speech-language pathologist for the Syracuse City School District, where she worked with students in grades K-6 for eight years. Later, she transitioned to West Genesee, where she worked as a speech-language pathologist with students in grades K-5. In 2017, Lux took her current position in Marcellus.

As LaFayette’s top leader, Lux will oversee a district with about 800 students and 230 staff members spread across four school buildings. The district includes the Onondaga Nation School, which is dedicated to preserving and teaching the Onondaga language and culture.

American Heart Association names three new Syracuse–area advisory board members

Health Care, Nonprofits, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE — The American Heart Association announced it has named three local leaders to its Syracuse–area advisory board. These volunteers started their board term just as the group was recognized at the national level by the American Heart Association. The new local board members are: Gwen Crossett — Crossett is CEO and founder of ConstantCare247,

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The new local board members are:

Gwen Crossett — Crossett is CEO and founder of ConstantCare247, which offers comprehensive in-home care, nursing services, and skilled personal-care services. Crossett is a registered nurse with more than 20 years of experience. She will also serve as the Giving Society Ambassador as part of her role on the American Heart Association advisory board.

Lekia Hill — Hill is the branch and community development manager for Community Bank, N.A. in the Syracuse region. She also serves as the lead consultant for Lekia Tech LLC and is the founder of the civic tech-based ecosystem application Powerful Voices App. Hill has dedicated her time to several community organizations over the last two decades, including the YWCA of Syracuse & Onondaga County and the Community Foundation’s Black Excellence & Equity Council.

Vanessa Szwejbka — Szwejbka is the community relations manager and executive director of the AmeriCU Charitable Foundation. In her role, she focuses on expanding the foundation’s reach and strengthening partnerships with local organizations. Szwebjka spent 15 years in broadcasting as a meteorologist before transitioning to community relations.

“The American Heart Association has a mission to save lives, but we can’t do that without volunteers,” Heather Evans, executive director of the American Heart Association in Central New York, said in the announcement. “The Syracuse advisory board is a group of dedicated local leaders that is truly making a difference in the health of our community.”

The new members join an award-winning advisory board. The Syracuse–area advisory board has been honored with the national Gold Standard Board designation from the American Heart Association 12 times since 2012. The board was recently recognized again at the silver level.

Pratt Munson dean elected to national association board

Education & Training, Mohawk Valley, Subscriber Only

UTICA — Suzanne Snyder, dean of the Pratt Munson College of Art and Design, has recently been elected to the board of directors of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). The association was established in 1944 to improve educational practices and maintain high professional standards in art and design education and

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UTICA — Suzanne Snyder, dean of the Pratt Munson College of Art and Design, has recently been elected to the board of directors of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

The association was established in 1944 to improve educational practices and maintain high professional standards in art and design education and now serves more than 320 institutions nationwide, according to a Nov. 25 announcement from Munson, the parent organization of the Pratt Munson College of Art and Design.

“Munson is proud of Dean Snyder’s election to the NASAD Board, a fitting recognition by her colleagues of her leadership and insight into the ever-evolving field of arts in higher education,” Munson President and CEO Anna D’Ambrosio said.

NASAD establishes national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees and other credentials for art, design, and related disciplines; fosters the development of instruction while also encouraging varied and experimental approaches to teaching art and design; and counsels and assists schools in developing their programs.

In this national leadership role, Snyder will help guide accreditation standards, support peer institutions, and contribute to NASAD’s work with international equivalencies, according to the Munson announcement.

Snyder previously served as the site evaluator and chair for NASAD, and was the chair of education for the American Institute of Graphic Arts in Burlington, Vermont. Prior to joining Pratt Munson, Snyder served for 13 years as the program director in the Graphic Design and Visual Communications Department at Champlain College in Burlington. Her many initiatives at Champlain included launching and directing successful and innovative new programs and classes, in addition to teaching graphic design beginning in 2008 and reaching full professorship in 2021.

Munson is located at 310 Genesee St. in Utica. Pratt Munson College of Art and Design is a division of Munson and the upstate New York extension campus of Pratt Institute, located in Utica.

Mehnert elected to SRC Ventures board of directors

Manufacturing & Engineering, Subscriber Only, Technology

CICERO — SRC, Inc. announced that its SRC Ventures unit has recently added the former president of L3Harris Communications Systems to its board of directors. Dana Mehnert brings more than 38 years of experience in the aerospace and defense industries. At L3Harris, he expanded the business from $750 million to $5 billion in revenue. Mehnert

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Officials break ground on first phase of East Adams Neighborhood Transformation Plan

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Energy, Environment & Sustainability, Featured, Law, Accounting & Taxes, Manufacturing & Engineering, New York News, Nonprofits, Small Business, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The first phase of the East Adams Neighborhood Transformation Plan is underway, representing the first step in a comprehensive reinvestment strategy led

MVHS formally opens new surgery center as it completes final readiness steps

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Health Care, Manufacturing & Engineering, Mohawk Valley, New York News, Nonprofits, Small Business, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Subscriber Only, Technology

UTICA, N.Y. — Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) on Wednesday formally opened its new ambulatory surgery center, which it calls the Mohawk Valley Surgery Center. The event was held in conjunction with the Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce. Community leaders, health-care partners and MVHS staff attended the event at the Medical Office Building at 601

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Charlotte (Chuckie) Holstein, co-founder of FOCUS Greater Syracuse, dies at 100

Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Nonprofits, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Charlotte (Chuckie) Holstein, who co-founded FOCUS Greater Syracuse, Inc. and considered herself a “Citizen Trustee” through activism and volunteering, died Tuesday at

Ask the Expert: Investing in the Future with Registered Apprenticeship

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In today’s competitive job market, finding and retaining top talent can be incredibly challenging. For companies, Registered Apprenticeship is an investment not only in its

JetBlue to relaunch direct flights from Syracuse to Fort Lauderdale

Featured, New York News, Nonprofits, Small Business, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — JetBlue will restart year-round, nonstop air service, five times per week, from Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport

Community Memorial Hospital in Hamilton appoints COO

Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Health Care, Mohawk Valley, New York News, Nonprofits, Southern Tier, Subscriber Only

HAMILTON, N.Y. — Community Memorial Hospital (CMH) says it has appointed Kipp Jones as its new COO to oversee daily operations of primary and specialty practices. He begins his duties on Dec. 8, CMH tells CNYBJ in an email. In this new role at the hospital, Jones will play a key role in advancing CMH’s

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HAMILTON, N.Y. — Community Memorial Hospital (CMH) says it has appointed Kipp Jones as its new COO to oversee daily operations of primary and specialty practices.

He begins his duties on Dec. 8, CMH tells CNYBJ in an email.

In this new role at the hospital, Jones will play a key role in advancing CMH’s strategic initiatives, “ensuring continued excellence in patient care, quality, and performance,” per the CMH announcement. He brings experience in health-care leadership and a proven ability to strengthen operational systems that support both providers and patients, the hospital said.

“Kipp brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of how to strengthen operations while keeping patients at the center of every decision,” Jeff Coakley, president and CEO of Community Memorial Hospital, said in the announcement. “We are confident he will be an outstanding addition to our leadership team and help us continue to advance our mission of providing exceptional care close to home.”

Most recently, Jones served in leadership roles with HCA Healthcare in New Hampshire, and a private practice, where he made contributions to rural health care in New England. His accomplishments include leading the recruitment and contracting of providers to strengthen access to care and expand provider capacity. Jones also led the implementation of electronic medical record (EMR) systems in newly acquired practices.

His skill and experience in these areas will “prove to be uniquely beneficial” as CMH continues to advance and grow during an upcoming upgrade to the organization’s EMR, the hospital contended.

“I am eager to partner with our team members, medical staff, board, and the broader community to build on the outstanding work already being done,” Jones said. “Together, we will continue to strengthen CMH’s role in delivering high-quality, patient-centered care that’s close to home — just as we have done since 1952.”

Jones earned his bachelor’s degree from Ball State University and a Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree from Cornell University.

Community Memorial Hospital offers primary and specialty care in locations that include Hamilton, Cazenovia, Morrisville, Munnsville, Sherrill, and Waterville.

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