STEPHANIE BUSH was appointed recruitment and employment specialist in the Human Resources Department at Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC). She will be responsible for the coordination and implementation of human-resources processes and procedures. Bush also will prepare, maintain, and distribute confidential reports including those used for college and human-resources budget, labor matters, and negotiations. Bush joins MVCC with a breadth of human-resources experience, previously serving in such positions at Express Employment Professionals, Carbone Auto Group, Robert Half International, and Manpower, Inc. She also previously worked as a sales consultant at Ralston Supply Center, Inc. and as restaurant supervisor at Embassy Suites in Syracuse. Bush holds a bachelor’s degree in hospitality and food service management from Syracuse University.

CHRISTOPHER HANRAHAN was appointed to the grant-funded position of associate business advisor in the Mohawk Valley Small Business Development Center (MV SBDC) at MVCC. He will support business advisors who help a variety of small businesses and entrepreneurs engaged in starting, managing, growing, or purchasing a business. He also will manage the MV SBDC’s social-media strategy and activities, and assist the director in coordinating seminars, workshops, and webinars on topics of interest to the business community. Hanrahan is joining the SBDC after working as a bookseller at Barnes & Noble since 2016. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from SUNY Polytechnic Institute and an associate degree in civil engineering from MVCC.

SUSAN O’MEARA was appointed by MVCC to the grant-funded position of Job Corps Scholars counselor and will provide youth of diverse backgrounds from the high-needs population of Utica with academic instruction, occupational-skills training, and viable pathways to college and careers. O’Meara worked at MVCC as a part-time CSTEP advisor from 2017 to 2019. Prior to joining MVCC, she worked as a case worker for the Oneida County Department of Social Services and held various positions with several higher-education institutions, including Cambridge Education Group/ONCAMPUS SUNY, PrattMWP, Raritan Valley Community College, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, and Utica College. O’Meara additionally served as a school social worker/caseworker at Catholic Charities — Rome Safe Schools Program. O’Meara holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from Utica College.

KIRK GRAVELY was elected CEO of Security Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, effective July 11, in addition to the company president position he already holds. Gravely, who also joins the firm’s board of directors, succeeds BRUCE W. BOYEA as CEO. Boyea will continue as chairman of the Security Mutual board of directors. Security Mutual said Gravely has demonstrated unique leadership qualities since joining Security Mutual Life as president and chief operating officer in 2019 and has greatly contributed to the insurer’s continued growth during the pandemic. Gravely became Security Mutual’s president and COO on Nov. 11, 2019, and Boyea, who had held the president’s job for 23 years, continued serving as CEO and board chairman.