Category Archives: Personnel Briefs

Brown Brothers Automotive, an automotive sales, and repair shop in Hudson Falls, has hired Scott Seeley as a sales associate. 

Seeley comes to Brown Brothers Automotive with 20-plus years of experience in the automotive industry.

He has held a variety of positions within the industry, including general sales manager and  director at Della, general sales manager at Evia, general sales manager at Nemer, and more. 

Since 2002, Seeley has specialized in credit acceptance and helping people get loans.

Seeley moved to Warrensburg from Maine and graduated from Warrensburg Central School District in 1990. He currently resides in Queensbury.

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The Hyde Collection announced John Lefner as its new chief operations and development officer. He became the organization’s Chief development officer in January 2021 and will retain that position in addition to the newly formed role of chief of operations. 

Lefner brings extensive experience in operations and leading mission-driven organizations, having previously served as district executive director at Capital District YMCA, director of operations at Saratoga Independent School, and assistant director of operations at Double H Ranch.

During his career, he facilitated association-wide strategic plan priority areas of mission awareness and advancement. He also served as an organizational values steward in identifying the values and competencies that represented the organization. Throughout his career, Lefner has shaped several nonprofit’s strategic plans and policy initiatives and reorganized the operations and fundraising infrastructures for successful outcomes.

Lefner will work closely with staff and the  board of trustees, and staff to set strategic goals for longevity and growth. He will also support the long-term plans for expanding the impact of the museum’s mission.

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The Adirondack Thunder has hired Rob Lippolis as the team’s broadcaster and director of communications.  

Lippolis joins the Thunder after spending last season with the Federal Prospects Hockey League’s Binghamton Black Bears, where he was selected as Broadcaster of The Year. 

He also called games for the American Hockey League’s Syracuse Crunch, Hershey Bears, and Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins during the 2021-22 season. Prior to that, Lippolis served as the play-by-play broadcaster for the AHL’s Binghamton Devils from 2017 – 2021 and was part of the radio broadcast of the 2019 AHL All-Star Challenge. 

During the 2020-21 season, Lippolis was on the call for four National Hockey League games for the New Jersey Devils. Prior to joining the pro ranks, Lippolis was with the United States Hockey League’s Omaha Lancers and North American Hockey League’s Corpus Christi IceRays. He attended Oswego State University.

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The board of directors for the Dake Foundation for Children announced a new executive director, Sarah Burns. 

She brings more than 15 years of non-profit experience to the foundation, and her leadership has resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars raised for organizations across the upstate region, the company said..

For more than a decade, The Dake Foundation for Children has been helping local children with physical disabilities have more fun and independence. Founder Gary Dake, president of Stewart’s Shops, realized that health insurance would fund “medical necessities” but would not approve recreational equipment or activities, and he vowed to work to close that gap. Since then, the foundation has helped connect more than 330 children with adaptive bikes, tricycles, swings, strollers, and communication tools that allow them to have the fun, carefree experiences that every child deserves.

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SUNY Empire State College hired Julieta (Julie) Majak as vice president for administration and finance position based in Saratoga Springs. 

Majak will serve as SUNY Empire’s senior business and financial officer, responsible for overseeing development of policies, procedures, and controls to ensure sound management of the college’s financial, human, technology, and physical resources. She will also serve as treasurer of the Empire State College Foundation board.

She served as assistant vice president for administration and campus controller at SUNY New Paltz, where she oversaw the college’s fiscal operations, including procurement and contracting, accounting services, accounts payable, internal controls, facilities finance and administration, and risk management.

In her 29 years at SUNY New Paltz, Majak  served in progressively senior roles within the division of finance and administration, from associate director of telecommunications and administrative services to director of administrative services and assistant vice president for research administration.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing and management from Siena College and a master’s degree in educational administration from SUNY New Paltz. She also completed the SUNY and Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations Leadership Development Program, and she served as the 2021 Fellow for the SUNY Hispanic Leadership Institute.

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Brian Bearor was recently named Stored Technology Solutions Inc. (StoredTech) vice president of sales. 

Bearor has served as the CEO at the Family YMCA of the Glens Falls Area for 12 years and the Y Movement for 29 years. 

He has held both national and community leadership positions that include serving on the Adirondack Health Institute board of directors and as former vice chair of the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce board of directors. He also served as chair of the National YMCA of the USA Small and Midsized CEO Cabinet and the State Alliance of New York State board of directors.

Bearor received a bachelor’s degree from Green Mountain College. 

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SUNY Adirondack announced the appointment of John Delate, Ph.D., as vice president of enrollment and student affairs. 

Delate has more than 22 years of experience in higher education at public institutions in New York and New Jersey. He most recently served as associate vice president for student services at Monroe Community College. 

He previously served as associate dean of student affairs at Purchase College and executive director of Residence Life at Montclair State University. Early in his career, he served in the Peace Corps in Liberia, West Africa, and coached college football. He is an adjunct professor of communications at Purchase.  

In his role at SUNY Adirondack, Delate oversees Student Affairs, which includes the college’s Educational Opportunity and TRIO SSS programs, and Student Engagement and Diversity Initiatives; and Enrollment, which includes Athletics, College Access, Enrollment Systems, Financial Aid, Student Success and Marketing and Communications. 

Delate earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social sciences from Manfield University (Pennsylvania), and master’s and doctorate degrees in American History from Clark University (Massachusetts). 

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Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Co. has hired Karney Manning as branch manager of the Chestertown office.

In his new role, Manning will oversee daily operations, provide quality customer service and develop banking relationships to help customers reach their financial goals. 

He brings five years of banking experience to the position.

Manning is a member of the Sons of The American Legion and currently serves as chaplain. He is also the former president of the Saint Rose Chapter of the American Marketing Association.

Manning has a bachelor’s degree from the College of Saint Rose and is from Silver Bay, N.Y.

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Arrow Financial Corp. recently promoted three senior leaders to the position of executive vice president of its two subsidiary banks, Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Co. and Saratoga National Bank and Trust Co. 

Michael Jacobs was promoted to executive vice president and chief information officer, Christine Snow was promoted to executive vice president and director of customer experience and Marc Yrsha was promoted to executive vice president and director of relationship banking.

The Adirondack Trust Co. announced it has named Bobbi Jo Lucas as senior vice president, chief retail banking officer.

Lucas joined the bank in April and is responsible for the administration, growth, and efficient operation of the bank’s retail network, including oversight of the bank’s 14 branches in Saratoga and Warren counties.

Prior to joining Adirondack Trust, Lucas’s 30-year career focused on retail banking and management. With more than 14 years of leadership at Fifth Third Bank, she provided direction to 82 financial centers across six regions in eastern Michigan. 

During her tenure there, she also played a lead role in retail staff recruitment, hiring, and development.

Lucas earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Kaplan University, and a business diploma from the Center for Banking Education. 

She has served as an executive board member for the Boy Scouts of America—Water and Woods Council; committee co-chair for the Flint Institute of Art’s Art on Tap Event; past president of the Genesee Valley Rotary; board member for the Genesis Hospital Foundation, and more. 

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Nick Kelly has been hired as sports/ reunion sales coordinator at the Lake George Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau, a division of the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce and an extension of the Warren County Tourism Department. 

Kelly, a SUNY Oneonta graduate and Minerva native, has a background in hospitality and sales. He launched his professional career in Chicago at Lettuce Entertain You Restaurant Group and completed a management training program while building knowledge in the food and beverage industry and maintaining relationships with vendors and staff. 

Kelly worked as beverage sales representative for Frederick Wildman and Sons, as well as Anheuser-Busch, overseeing extensive accounts throughout the Adirondack Park and Northern Capital Region. 

His position involves establishing relationships with regional and national sports and reunion event planners to ensure that Lake George area destination assets are top of mind with decision makers. 

Overall, Kelly’s role is to prospect and generate new professional relationships as well as maximize current business in the sports and reunion group business market to achieve booked business and overnight room goals.

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Michael Spaulding of Queensbury has joined the NBT Insurance Agency as vice president of retail-personal insurance.

Spaulding is a member of the NBT Insurance leadership team and will lead the expansion of the Agency’s Retail-Personal Insurance Division. He brings more than 25 years of experience to his new position, including leadership positions in sales, underwriting and operations. 

He comes to NBT Insurance from Travelers Insurance Companies where he most recently served as Eastern New York state regional sales director.

The vice president of retail-personal insurance is a new position at the agency, intended to drive growth in our current and expanding footprint, the company said.

 Spaulding is part of the expanding team of insurance professionals based at NBT Bank’s Saratoga Springs location. 

Currently a board member of Big Brother Big Sisters of the Southern Adirondacks, Spaulding previously volunteered as a youth sports coach in the Queensbury area.

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Morgan Stanley Wealth Management announced that Kathleen Grasmeder, a Managing director, portfolio management director, financial advisor in the firm’s Glens Falls Wealth Management office, has been named to Forbes Magazine’s list of Top Women Wealth Advisors and Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-In-State for 2022, listed on forbes.com. 

Forbes’ “Top Women Wealth Advisors” and “Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-In-State” is a select group of individuals who have a minimum of seven years of industry experience.  The ranking, developed by Forbes’ partner SHOOK Research, is based on an algorithm of qualitative and quantitative data, rating thousands of wealth advisors and weighing factors like revenue trends, AUM, compliance records, industry experience and best practices learned through telephone and in-person interviews.

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The Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce (ARCC) announces that Tricia Rogers has been promoted to vice president of membership and community engagement. 

Rogers has acted as the membership director since September of 2016, bringing in new members and maintaining relationships within the business community.

She serves on the board for the Tri-County United Way, Warren Washington Association for Mental Health, and the Glens Falls Civic Center Foundation. She also won the second annual Dancing with the Adirondack Stars competition hosted by Community, Work & Independence Inc. (CWI).

Rogers lives in Hudson Falls.

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Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Co.  announced the appointment of Cierra Colvin to officer and branch manager of the Fort Edward office.

In her new role, Colvin will oversee daily operations, provide quality customer service and develop banking relationships for the Fort Edward branch. She joined the bank in 2015 and was previously the assistant manager for the Kingsbury branch. 

Colvin supports her local community as a board member for Washington County Learning, Employment, Assistance Partnership (L.E.A.P.). She is originally from Hartford, N.Y. and currently lives in Fort Edward.

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Capital Bank, a division of Chemung Canal Trust Company, announced that Tracey L. Wardwell, assistant vice president and Saratoga County retail manager, was named 2021 Banker of the Year by Pursuit Community Finance, formerly known as NYBDC.  

The award, presented to Wardwell by Pursuit Vice President Nicole Scribner, recognizes outstanding dedication to the small business community.

Wardwell joined the company in 2018 and currently oversees Capital Bank’s branch offices in Clifton Park and Wilton. 

Wardwell graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business, with a concentration in finance and a minor in economics, from St. John Fisher College in Rochester.

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Arrow Financial Corp. has promoted named executive officers David S. DeMarco, David D. Kaiser, Edward J. Campanella and Andrew J. Wise to senior executive vice presidents of Arrow and its subsidiary banks as a reflection of the company’s strong operational and financial performance.

Each will continue in their primary roles overseeing the management of critical functions for Arrow, Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Co. and Saratoga  National Bank and Trust Co.

In addition to serving as chief banking officer of Arrow and Glens Falls National Bank,  DeMarco is president and CEO of Saratoga National Bank and Trust Co.

Campanella continues as treasurer and chief financial officer, Kaiser continues as chief credit officer, and Wise continues as chief operating officer, each for Arrow and its two banks.

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Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Co. announced the appointment of Kasey Norton, assistant vice president and branch manager, to the South Glens Falls Office. 

She was previously branch manager of both the Aviation Road and Exit 18 offices.

In her expanded role, she will oversee operations, supervise staff and develop business and personal banking relationships for the South Glens Falls Office. She brings more than 10 years of financial services experience to the position.

Norton is active in her community and serves as an advisory board member of the Salvation Army of Glens Falls, a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles – Aerie 2486, and an Auxiliary member of the American Legion Post 574.

Norton is originally from Glens Falls and currently lives in Hudson Falls.

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The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) said two staff members are the recipients of this year’s Ronald Montesi Citizen Conservation Award presented by the Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District.

LGLC communications and outreach manager Sarah Hoffman and land steward Alex Novick  received the award on Dec. 13.

Named after long-time WCSWCD Board Member Ronald Montesi who died in 2019, the award “is provided to individuals who have taken the initiative to improve their environment and developed partnerships in their community. The District is committed to recognizing those people who we have worked with to provide new conservation opportunities and enhance existing programs.”

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