NBT Bank has announced that Craig Seybolt has joined NBT as Senior Vice President and Regional Commercial Banking Manager. In this role, Seybolt will work closely with regional leaders and the commercial relationship team to support commercial customers throughout the North Country and Glens Falls region.
Seybolt comes to NBT Bank with considerable experience in commercial lending and leadership. Most recently, he served as Vice President and Corporate Banking Manager at Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Co. in Glens Falls, where he managed a commercial lending team responsible for overseeing a substantial loan portfolio, including ancillary banking products and services.
“We are thrilled to welcome Craig to the NBT team,” said NBT Bank Regional Executive Marc Monahan. “His commitment and extensive knowledge of the businesses and communities from the North Country to the Capital Region will be a great asset to our customers.”
Seybolt holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and business from The State University of New York, Plattsburgh. Active in his community, he serves as board trustee for The Hyde Collection and president of the Glens Falls Kiwanis Foundation. He also volunteers with South Glens Falls Youth Baseball and the Kiwanis Club of Glens Falls. Seybolt resides in South Glens Falls.
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Advokate, LLC has announced the appointment of Jessica Ryle as Marketing and Communications Director.
Ms. Ryle has been employed at Advokate since August 2023, with her start as as Marketing & Operations Associate. She brings exceptional skills in social media management, a careful eye to brand guidelines, project management savvy, and is on top of trends and tools.
“Jess is so capable and reliable,” says Kate Austin, Founder and CEO of Advokate, which she established in 2010. “She is perfect for this role. She was one of my first clients and I remembered how quickly she picks up learning new things, and I saw how that evolved through different efforts of hers. Her organization skills, attention to detail and excellent communication are so key.”
Ms. Ryle says, “I love the sense of connection to the community I feel through our work at Advokate. Helping small businesses shine is amazing. My history dabbling in social media marketing and working on websites — which I learned from Kate! — set me up with the perfect base of skills to use everyday in my new position here!”
Prior to working with Advokate, Ms. Ryle founded Vegan Outdoor Adventures, a popular website that served as a guide for vegan gear, and Adirondack Animal Rights. She operated a successful Etsy shop selling crochet hats and other items. She holds a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from the University at Albany, and is often recognized from her ten years at Raul’s, where she got to know the community and everyone in it. She also currently helps manage wholesale orders for Rock Hill Bakehouse.
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The Hyde Collection has announced the addition of new staff members. The Hyde welcomes Allison Schmitt as Digital Communications Specialist, Melanie Painter and Toni Nastasi as Museum Educators, and Janek Palat as Preparator and Museum Technician.
With a photojournalism and digital marketing background, Schmitt brings her expertise to manage and curate content across social media platforms, email marketing, and website maintenance. Her goal is to build awareness and engagement through creative marketing campaigns while fostering a deeper connection with fine art.
With 25 years of experience in the public school setting and a master’s degree in educational administration, Painter will explore museum education and utilize artwork as a primary resource for art appreciation and exploration. She will develop programs that provide inclusive access to The Hyde Collection, fostering meaningful engagement with art for all audiences.
Bringing her background as a local artist and experience in agriculture education, Nastasi will plan and facilitate a diverse range of educational programming for youth, families, adults, and students. She will foster new creative ways of connecting with the community while providing resources specifically tailored to local artists.
With a diverse background in documentary film, woodworking, and artisanal baking, Palat is responsible for installing and de-installing exhibitions, handling art, and maintaining galleries and historical buildings, utilizing his passion for problem-solving and improvisation.