BRIAN MURRAY was recently sworn in and installed as the New York State director for USDA Rural Development, based in Syracuse. Rural Development state directors serve as the CEO of USDA Rural Development in the states and territories. In conjunction with the guidance and support of the national office, state directors are responsible for promoting the mission and strategic goals of USDA Rural Development. Murray has spent more than 19 years with Rural Development, prior to his appointment as state director for New York. He started his career with the USDA in 2002 as a loan specialist in the Canton field office. In 2007, Murray became an area director, serving New York from the state’s Southern Tier to the Canadian border. Most recently, he was the associate enterprise director for New York State. Murray is a graduate of SUNY Potsdam, where he received a bachelor’s degree in financial economics. 

LIZ BOGART has been promoted to project manager at Appel Osborne Landscape Architecture. She previously was a project designer at the firm for four years. Bogart first joined Appel Osborne in 2017 as an intern and continued in this role until her graduation from SUNY ESF at the end of that year. Before graduating with her bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture, she earned her associate degree in architectural technology from Onondaga Community College in 2014. Bogart is currently pursuing her New York State registered landscape architect license. Her experience includes design for a variety of markets including K-12 education, residential and mixed-use development, and parks and recreation.

JENNA MOSCA has been appointed sales and marketing specialist at Oriskany Arms, Inc., an affiliate company of Giotto Enterprises headquartered in Oriskany. Mosca will be responsible for the company’s purchasing, scheduling, and general administrative efforts. She holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Lasell University in Massachusetts. Before joining Oriskany Arms in 2020, Mosca held various marketing roles in the media, consumer product, and restaurant industries.

DAVID HUGHES was named VP of operations at Fiber Instrument Sales, Inc. (FIS), the flagship company of Giotto Enterprises. Located in Oriskany, FIS is a manufacturer and distributor of fiber-optic components and test equipment used in the telecommunications industry. Hughes joined Fiber Instrument Sales in 2020 and holds an electrical-engineering degree from SUNY Poly. Prior to joining FIS, he held various leadership positions in the manufacturing, electrical, and biomedical industries. Hughes is responsible for strategic oversight for all manufacturing, test equipment, and engineering functions.

ALISON STANULEVICH has been named VP of corporate compliance at Giotto Enterprises, the umbrella organization for FIS and its six affiliate companies located in the greater Utica–Rome area. She joined Giotto Enterprises in August 2021, and is responsible for maintaining its compliance programs, and providing legal advice and support in various other critical areas of the business. Stanulevich holds a bachelor’s degree from Utica College and received her law degree from the Charlotte School of Law. Her legal career experience includes advisory and compliance assurance roles in the private and public sectors.

MARK I. CUSHMAN has been appointed to the board of directors for Giotto Enterprises. In total, Giotto employs more than 400 people at multiple locations throughout the Utica-Rome area. Cushman joined the organization in 2006 and serves as VP of organizational development. His responsibilities include oversight of human-resources activities, employee recruitment, public relations, and various other professional education and development initiatives. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Rochester Institute of Technology, a master’s degree from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, and a certificate in employment law from Cornell University. 

The Community Foundation of Otsego County (CFOC) recently hired JEFF KATZ as its first executive director. Katz brings many skills to his new position, including having formerly been an options trader, published author, head and board member of various local nonprofits, and former mayor of Cooperstown. Katz was hired on the recommendation of the CFOC Search Committee, chaired by Patricia Kennedy, which also included Harry Levine, Alan Donovan, Alicia Dicks, and Michael Stein. The CFOC board voted unanimously to hire Katz at its Dec. 9 meeting. In 2020-21 the Community Foundation made awards of more than $250,000 to Otsego County nonprofits, initially focused on helping them operate safely through COVID. In 2021, the foundation opened up the award programs to fulfill its broader mission to help innovative nonprofits develop and expand their capabilities. In 2021, the CFOC also completed the Founders Campaign, a $2 million donor drive.