JESSICA NESTER has joined NBT Bank as branch manager of its Rome Westgate office. She has nearly 15 years of financial-services experience. Throughout her career, she has held positions with Rome Teachers Federal Credit Union and MetLife, most recently serving as branch manager of M&T Bank’s Mohawk Acres office. Nester earned a bachelor’s degree from Cazenovia College and a master’s degree from Utica College.

LANAE KLINGENSMITH has come aboard to lead NBT Bank’s Clinton team. She joins NBT from M&T Bank, where she most recently served as VP and senior branch manager of the Whitesboro office. Her previous experience also includes roles with First Niagara/Key Bank. Klingensmith is a 2015 Leadership Mohawk Valley graduate.

LORI ALDERWICK is the new Whitesboro branch manager at NBT Bank. She brings more than 23 years of banking experience, including previous roles with M&T Bank and Bank of America. Her experience includes leading a branch team, customer service, as well as research and adjustments. Alderwick attended Utica College and holds a New York State life-insurance license.

Sessler Companies, a Waterloo–based full-service specialty contractor and development firm, has hired ALEX WALSH as business development and communications manager. Walsh will be responsible for the development, marketing, external communications, and media relations for all Sessler Companies. Before joining Sessler Companies, Walsh was the associate VP of regulatory affairs for the Northeast Dairy Foods Association, overseeing the association’s government relations and communications. Prior to that, he was a public-relations account manager for Pinckney Hugo Group. Walsh also gained experience in communications in the infrastructure industry as a public information officer for the Onondaga County Department of Transportation. He is also a former legislative aide to retired New York State Senator John A. DeFrancisco. Walsh received his bachelor’s degree from SUNY Oswego and currently resides in Camillus.

SUSAN DARATT has joined the Fulton Medicine Place and The Medicine Place in Phoenix pharmacies as a pharmacist. She is well known in the Fulton community for her previous position as the pharmacy manager at Walgreens, and for her service as treasurer of the Fulton Lions Club and as a member of the Fulton Memorial Day Salute Committee. Daratt, a native of Cato and a graduate of St. John Fisher College with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, resides in Fulton 

OLIVIA PAUL has been named director of community investment at the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties. Paul previously served as engagement specialist for the Community Foundation’s equity initiative advisory group during the first phase of a 10-year, $10 million commitment to work toward racial equity and social justice. As director of community investment, she will continue to advance and incorporate that equity commitment in collaborating with staff and nonprofit partners. Paul, a longtime Utica resident, brings more than a decade of leadership experience and project management to the Community Foundation. She previously served as senior quality consultant at The Hartford Financial Services Group in New Hartford, where she performed portfolio analytics, quality-management oversight, and evaluation of business systems and processes. She is involved in many local organizations including co-director of the Junior Frontiers of the Mohawk Valley Youth Program and serves as a board member for YWCA Mohawk Valley.

EH KA PAW joins the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties as its finance and accounting intern, where he will assist with finance, accounting, systems, and administrative functions. A Utica resident, he earned an associate degree in applied science from Mohawk Valley Community College and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration, with a focus on finance, at SUNY Polytechnic Institute. His community involvement includes coordinating volunteer cleanup efforts for the Midtown Utica Community Center.

JOHN FAZIO has joined Northland Communications as marketing manager. He brings more than 20 years of experience and industry knowledge. Fazio specializes in marketing and lead generation, predictive and data analytics, social-media strategy, and email automation and segmentation. Moving forward, Fazio and the team will focus on optimizing Northland’s marketing strategy to deliver quality connections between Northland Communications, its customers, and its community.

SARAH MATTACOLA has come aboard Northland as digital-content specialist. She brings 10 years of marketing experience in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors, specializing in print and digital communications, as well as development and advertising.

CHELSEY MOWERS has joined Northland Communications as marketing specialist. She brings six years of experience in marketing, public relations, and broadcasting. Mowers specializes in strategic communication, content creation, and media relations.