Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.

Community Bank appoints head of business banking credit and operations
ALBANY, N.Y. — Community Bank, N.A. announced it has hired Jeff Connolly as SVP, head of business banking credit & operations. Based in Albany, Connolly will lead Community Bank’s business-banking credit efforts. He will oversee the strategic direction and execution of credit-risk management and operational processes within the business banking division for the bank’s New […]

Marchello begins serving as DEC executive deputy commissioner
ALBANY — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has a new executive deputy commissioner with the recent return of Michelle Marchello to New York. Marchello joined the DEC in this position on Sept. 8, bringing more than a decade of experience advancing state and local-government priorities on climate, energy, and environmental policy

LaFayette Board of Education selects new superintendent of schools
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

Pratt Munson dean elected to national association board
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

Mehnert elected to SRC Ventures board of directors
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

Community Memorial Hospital in Hamilton appoints COO
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

Utica First Insurance Company readies for leadership transition
UTICA, N.Y. — Utica First Insurance Company will have a new president and CEO when the calendar turns to 2026. Ryan Fleming will succeed retiring president and CEO Scott Shatraw. The firm announced Fleming’s appointment on Sept. 16. Fleming joined Utica First Insurance in 2024 as VP of marketing and agencies and has “demonstrated his

Community Financial System appoints Vaccaro as new independent director
DeWITT, N.Y. — Community Financial System, Inc. (NYSE: CBU) announced it has appointed John A. Vaccaro to its board of directors as a new independent director, effective Oct. 1. Vaccaro is chairman emeritus of MML Investors Services, LLC, a national broker-dealer and registered investment advisor with more than $285 billion in assets under management, and

SRC appoints director of autonomous collaborative systems
CICERO, N.Y. — SRC, Inc. has promoted Michael Addario to director of autonomous collaborative systems (ACS). In this role, Addario will oversee the ACS business unit’s strategic vision, program execution, financial performance, business development, customer satisfaction and engineering excellence, the Cicero–based company said in a Nov. 10 announcement. Addario joined SRC in 2003 as a

Tompkins Financial Advisors’ chief investment officer to retire
ITHACA, N.Y. — Tompkins Financial Advisors announced that Geoff Blyth, senior VP and chief investment officer, has decided to retire in early 2026 from his role — after nearly seven years in the position. Tompkins Financial Advisors is the wealth-management arm of Tompkins Financial Corp. (NYSE: TMP), an Ithaca–based financial services holding company that is
Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.