Category Archives: Personnel Briefs

The Arrow Family of Companies has announced the appointment of Valerie Patrenets to branch manager of the Glens Falls Main Office for its subsidiary bank Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company.

Patrenets is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the branch and meeting the financial needs of the community. 

She has seven years’ experience in banking, most recently serving as branch manager of the Saratoga National Bank Corinth Office. 

Before her time with Glens Falls National Bank, Patrenets served as branch manager and float personal banker with Ballston Spa National Bank. 

The Corinth native attended SUNY Oswego.

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JMZ Architects and Planners, P.C., a Glens Falls-based firm specializing in higher education planning and design, has announced the addition of Theresa Loeber as project architect. 

Loeber holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Rochester and a master of architecture from the University of Colorado at Denver. 

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Advokate, LLC has announced the appointment of Olivia Dybas as marketing and communications associate.

Ms. Dybas is a recent graduate of Cornell University, earning her bachelor’s of science in communication with a social influence concentration. She was a member of Phi Theta Kappa National College Honor Society at SUNY Adirondack and served a season as company manager at Adirondack Theatre Festival after interning there in 2021. 

In addition to working with Advokate, Ms. Dybas is known for her roles on stage including roles with Adirondack Theatre Festival, Lake George Youtheatre, Glens Falls Community Theatre, Glens Falls High School, and many others. Outside of the arts, she is a sales associate at Eddie Bauer, and put in many years working the counter at Angelina’s Pizzeria. She also plays violin, guitar, and sings all throughout the community.

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The Hyde Collection has announced the appointment of Christine Hoard as the director of development. With over 25 years of experience in professional fundraising, project management, and special events production, Ms. Hoard brings a wealth of expertise to her new role.

Prior to joining The Hyde Collection, she served as the development manager at Comfort Food Community, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to reducing rural hunger in Washington, Warren and Saratoga counties. During her tenure, she spearheaded establishing the organization’s annual giving program and collaborated closely with the board to develop protocols and processes.

Ms. Hoard’s career also includes serving as the director of philanthropy for the VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region, where she played a pivotal role in planning, organizing, and directing all fundraising initiatives.

Prior to that she served as the annual fund coordinator at Burr & Burton Academy, where she managed the annual giving program and orchestrated various special events.

Ms. Hoard held several positions at the Glens Falls Hospital Foundation, where she played a key role in developing and implementing the hospital’s inaugural annual giving program.

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Bartlett, Pontiff, Stewart & Rhodes, P.C. has announced that Alexandra D. Finocchio has joined the firm as an associate attorney. 

Ms. Finocchio received her Juris Doctor degree from American University Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C., graduating cum laude in 2022. While their she worked as a student attorney with the Disability Rights Law Clinic, served as a staff editor on the American University Law Review, and volunteered with the War Crimes Research Office. She has been a member of the District of Columbia Bar since 2022 and was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2024. She is also a member of the Warren County Bar and New York State Bar Associations.

Prior to receiving her Juris Doctor, she obtained her Master of Laws in International Law with International Relations in Europe from the University of Kent, Kent Law School. 

Ms. Finocchio graduated from the University of Delaware in Newark with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations—specializing in diplomacy in the Middle East—and History. She also minored in Islamic Relations with Arabic Language.

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NBT Bank welcomed Lidia De Jesus as Affordable Housing Originator and Dale Josephson as Secondary Market and Construction Risk Manager. De Jesus and Josephson are based at NBT’s Capital Region Financial Center on Wolf Road in Albany.

In her new role, De Jesus acts as a primary contact for nonprofit housing partners who manage grant programs and educational seminars for first-time homebuyers. She is also responsible for originating residential mortgage loans, with an emphasis on affordable housing products.

De Jesus previously held roles as a branch manager and loan officer. She will graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Empire State University in 2024. Active in her community, she serves as a board member with the Friends and Foundation of Albany Public Library.

In his new role, Josephson manages interest rate risk through daily pricing and loan sales execution to various secondary mortgage market and private investors. He also evaluates residential construction loan risk and manages the home builder contract and vetting process for the bank.

Josephson has more than six years of experience as a secondary market specialist. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama, Culverhouse College of Commerce. Active in his community, he has volunteered with Men Go Red for the American Heart Association.

Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Alex Rusate as Senior Vice President and Director of Internal Audit.

Mr. Rusate is responsible for managing the Internal Audit Department, which provides oversight over organizational risks and controls. He performs the same duties for Saratoga National Bank and Trust Company and Upstate Agency, which are part of the Arrow Family of Companies. Mr. Rusate reports independently to the Board Audit Committee on risk and audit issues and to the Chief Operating Officer on internal and administrative issues.

Mr. Rusate brings more than 10 years of experience to the role, most recently as Senior Internal Auditor for New York Independent System Operator, a non-profit organization that manages New York’s electric grid and competitive wholesale electric marketplace. He was previously a Senior Associate with KPMG.

Mr. Rusate received a master’s degree in accountancy and a bachelor’s degree in accountancy and global perspectives from Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA). Mr. Rusate also attained his Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA) and Certification in Control Self-Assessment (CCSA).

Lorie Gollhofer has joined the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce  as the membership marketing assistant.

Gollhofer has worked in membership and office management for over 25 years and at local organizations such as the The Hyde Collection, the Lake George Association, Bolton Chamber of Commerce and Bolton Central School. She joined the Chamber team in July.

In addition to regular office duties, Gollhofer provides one-on-one assistance to travelers who call, email and visit the Chamber office. She assists phone calls from visitors helping them find information on what to do in the area as well as where to eat, shop and stay. She also works to ensure members are taking full advantage of their benefits, such as keeping brochures stocked at both the main office and the Lake George Visitors Information Center and keeping information up to date so the Chamber can connect its members with visitors. 

She will also be taking on duties to assist with the marketing efforts for the Chamber, including but not limited to; social media posts, email marketing, website updates, and more.

Originally from Greenwich, Gollhofer now lives in Bolton Landing. 

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Arrow Financial Corp. announced the promotion of Marc Yrsha to chief banking officer for its two subsidiary banks, Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Co. and Saratoga National Bank and Trust Co.

Yrsha retains his position as executive vice president and will assume all chief banking officer responsibilities for the banks. 

He joined the company in 2015 and currently oversees retail banking, which includes retail, consumer, business and municipal banking, as well as small business and home equity lending. As chief banking officer, Yrsha succeeds Dave DeMarco, who was promoted to president and CEO of Arrow in May.

Yrsha is active in the community and currently serves as chair of the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce. He is also a member of the Council of Business Advisors for the Lake George Association, Warren County Local Development Corporation and Lake George Regional Planning Board loan review committees.

He is a graduate of Castleton State University and the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class of 2013. Marc and his family currently live in Queensbury.

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