Michael Marsh and David Hall, Edward Jones financial advisors in Batavia, invite the public to attend a holiday open house from 12 - 5 p.m. on Saturday, December 7 located at 7 Jackson Street.
"We are happy to be part of the Batavia community and would like to express our appreciation for the confidence and support we receive year-round," Hall said.
Lawley, an independent family-owned insurance broker and employee benefits firm, is proud to partner with Sgroi Financial creating a new financial planning firm, Sgroi Lawley Group, LLC. With a combined 118 years of expertise, this partnership merges two multi-generational businesses committed to serving families and businesses in the Western New York community.
This partnership was orchestrated by Sgroi Financial President Patrick J. Sgroi and Senior Vice President John G. Clouden and Lawley Principal Chris Ross.
For over 65 years, Lawley's goal has been to protect assets and minimize risk to help their customers avoid financial hardship. For 25 of those years, the employee benefits strategy has been focused largely in the 401(k) space with the goal of creating better outcomes for retirees and providing plan governance to plan sponsors. Now, with the addition of the Sgroi team, they are able to offer holistic financial planning to each of their clients.
This merger follows a strategic partnership formed in 2016 between Sgroi Financial and Lawley to expand product offerings including property and casualty insurance and Medicare solutions to Sgroi Financial clients. Sgroi wealth management clients will continue to work with the same financial advisor, the same support staff, and all aspects of investment accounts will remain unchanged, including account numbers and investment products.
“We want to make it clear that this merger is not based on our desire to scale back or retire, rather it has energized us even more to continue in our growth trajectory,” says Patrick J. Sgroi, Sgroi Financial President.
“All of us at Sgroi Lawley Group, LLC are excited about our new partnership and the benefits it will bring our clients,” says John G. Clouden, Sgroi Financial, Senior Vice President.
“We're excited to partner with Sgroi Financial LLC and expand our product offerings and our footprint throughout the northeast,” says Chris Ross, Lawley Principal.
“As Sgroi holds similar values to Lawley, we’re proud to bring them on board and excited to work together to provide the best service to all clients,” says Bill Lawley, Jr., Lawley Principal.
Genesee Community College (GCC) is proud to welcome eight new full-time faculty members for the 2024-2025 academic year. These distinguished educators bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, and passion to our campus, enhancing our commitment to academic excellence and student success.
Ariane Bianchi, Instructor of Nursing
Ariane comes from Golisano Children's Hospital Pediatric Cardiac Care Center and has been a pediatric clinical instructor for GCC. Ariane earned her associate degree in Nursing from GCC and her bachelor's degree in Nursing from the University of Rochester. She intends to pursue her master's in nursing education in the coming year.
Jillian Eberlin, Instructor of Mathematics
Jillian was a Mathematics teacher at OneSchool Global North America, Rochester Campus, and has taught several semesters as a math adjunct instructor at Bryant & Stratton College. Jillian earned her bachelor's degree in Mathematics and master's degree in Mathematics from SUNY Brockport.
Kathryn Edwards, Nursing Clinical Coordinator
Kathryn was a pediatric nurse practitioner at Stony Brook Pediatrics and prior to that worked at Golisano Children's Hospital. She obtained her bachelor's degree in Nursing from the University of Buffalo and her master's degree from the University of Rochester. Kathryn most recently completed her post-master's dual certification in the Family Nurse Practitioner Program at St. John Fisher University.
Metin Eroglu, Instructor of Mathematics
Metin has been in higher education since 2008 as a student, full-time instructor, and tutor most recently working for SUNY Buffalo and Wyzant. Metin earned his bachelor's degree in Mathematics from The University of Texas and his master's degree in Statistics from Michigan State University.
Katie Jennings, Instructor of Nursing
Katie was a Clinical Resource Nurse at Rochester Regional Health in Batavia and has been a Clinical Nursing Instructor for GCC. Katie earned her associate degree in Nursing from GCC, her bachelor's degree in Nursing from SUNY Brockport and is pursuing her master's degree in Nursing at Western Governor's University.
Krysia Mager, Instructor of Business
Krysia worked as an adjunct at GCC and is coming from Tompkins Community Bank in Batavia where she was the Assistant Vice President of Creative Content. Krysia earned her associate degree in Communication from GCC, her bachelor's degree in Journalism Communication from SUNY Brockport and her master's degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Marist College.
Dr. Timothy McCorry, Assistant Professor of Social Sciences/Coordinator of Special Programs
Timothy has 25 years of experience teaching various courses in sociology, psychology, and criminal justice at the University at Buffalo, Buffalo State University, and Medaille University. This past spring, he began to adjunct at GCC. He earned his associate degree from Nassau Community College, his bachelor's and master's degrees from St. John's University and his Ph.D. from the University at Buffalo.
Dr. Scott Wilson, Assistant Professor of Veterinary Technology
Scott was an Associate Emergency Veterinarian/Urgent Care Veterinarian at the Greater Buffalo Veterinary Emergency Clinic. He received both his associate and bachelor's degrees in Veterinary Technology from Medaille College and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Ross University School of Medicine.
"As we welcome these talented educators to Genesee Community College, we look forward to the fresh perspectives and innovative teaching methods they will bring to our classrooms. Their arrival marks an exciting chapter in our ongoing mission to deliver high-quality education and support the success of our students," said Genesee Community College President, Dr. Craig Lamb.
For more information contact Vice President, Development, Admissions and External Affairs Justin Johnston at (585) 345-6809, or via email: jmjohnston@genesee.edu.
The Sands-Constellation Heart Institute (SCHI) Advanced Heart Failure and Mechanical Circulatory Support team at Rochester Regional Health (RRH) has been recognized as the 2024 Outstanding Heart Failure Care Team by the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA). The Rochester team is traveling to the annual HFSA Scientific Meeting in Atlanta to receive the award.
“For years, patients with serious heart conditions, including heart failure, often had to travel outside the region to find specialized care. This award affirms what we’ve always known: world-class cardiac care is available right here at Rochester Regional Health,” said Dr. G. Randall Green, MD, JD, MBA and Executive Medical Director of SCHI. “This national recognition underscores our commitment to delivering exceptional, life-saving care to the patients and communities we serve every day.”
The Advanced Heart Failure and Mechanical Circulatory Support Team is made up of physicians, Advanced Practice Practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, nutritionists, social workers and support team members, who treat thousands of patients a year. Patients travel to Rochester if necessary to receive the latest and most advanced treatments or even take part in groundbreaking clinical trials. They can then continue their treatment plans and receive services close to home in one of our many community-based SCHI provider offices. The team integrates modern technologies such as remote monitoring and teleconferencing to look for symptoms and stay connected.
“Our team and our patients have become family, and we live our purpose of uplifting humanity through care for our community by providing nationally-recognized cardiac care in a geographically isolated and underserved region of New York State,” said Dr. Scott Feitell, MD, Heart Failure Expert with the Sands-Constellation Heart Institute. “Whether we are conducting a clinical trial to examine the effectiveness of new, cutting-edge treatment options or developing treatment plans for those suffering from heart failure, my team and the professionals at the Sands-Constellation Heart Institute are here for our patients.”
To learn more about the RRH Sands-Constellation Heart Institute Advanced Heart Failure and Mechanical Circulatory Support team, heart disease, diagnostic and monitoring technology and heart failure treatments that include lifestyle and medical management support visit rochesterregional.org.
Photo of Douglas R. Kallet, assistant vice president and wealth advisor of Tompkins Financial Advisors Western New York. Courtesy of Tompkins Financial
Demonstrating its commitment to upholding high standards of service, Tompkins Financial Advisors (Tompkins) in Western New York has appointed Douglas Kallet to wealth advisor. With years of extensive financial expertise, Kallet will help grow the business and generate more personalized financial solutions for his clients. Additionally, he will work closely with Tompkins’ loyal clients, building on and maintaining customer relationships, while sharing and implementing Tompkins’ extensive services to assist individuals in continuously growing their finances and meeting their financial goals for years to come.
“Doug’s commitment to providing exceptional financial solutions and services matches all of Tompkins’ values,” said James Sperry, senior vice president and managing director for Tompkins’ Financial Advisors Western New York region. “He considers both financial and personal goals of clients, while also embracing a friendly atmosphere, valuable assistance, and excellent financial guidance and direction. He will provide immense value to our team and the company as a whole.”
Kallet joins Tompkins with over 15 years of service in the financial industry with proficiencies in investment management, capital markets, financial services, consulting and commercial finance. He has succeeded in many roles with Western New York-based financial institutions, serving in the enterprise risk management sector of Five Star Bank, as a senior consultant with Actel Advisory Group, and in financial planning, analysis and overseeing treasury management for QED Technologies LLC. Kallet holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Le Moyne College and an MBA from the University of Rochester. He currently lives in Pittsford, New York with his wife, Christina, and two daughters.
Lawley, an independent family-owned insurance broker and employee benefits firm, has been named to Business Insurance's annual Best Places to Work in Insurance list, which recognizes employers for their outstanding performance in establishing workplaces where employees can thrive, enjoy their work, and help their companies grow.
“This recognition represents the great teamwork that is needed to create our culture, where we share one voice and one vision,” says Lawley Principal, Bill Lawley, Jr. “We're so proud of our associates, our greatest asset, who work diligently to deliver exceptional service to our customers."
Established and headquartered in Buffalo for over 65 years, Lawley’s story has been one of steady, well-managed growth with deep community involvement. We protect assets and minimize risk to help our customers avoid financial hardship and understand that being a partner of choice is dependent upon all of us working together. Lawley’s core values – relationship building, respect & integrity, passion, accountability, and community partners – are in action each and every day collectively shaping our culture of inclusion.
Best Places to Work in Insurance is an annual sponsored content feature presented by the Custom Publishing unit of Business Insurance and Best Companies Group that lists the agents, brokers, insurance companies, and other providers with the highest levels of employee engagement and satisfaction. Harrisburg, PA-based Best Companies Group identifies the leading employers in the insurance industry by conducting a free two-part assessment of each company. The first part is a questionnaire completed by the employer about company policies, practices, and demographics. The second part is a confidential employee survey on engagement and satisfaction.
The program divides employers into the categories of small, 25-249 employees; medium, 250-999 employees; and large, 1,000 or more employees. This year’s report features 100 companies of various sizes, from 25 employees to more than 4,000.
The ranking and profiles of the winning companies will be unveiled in the November issue of Business Insurance Magazine and online at BusinessInsurance.com.
Lawley strives to be the partner of choice for customers, insurance carriers, and employees looking for long-term relationships built on a foundation of trust. This recognition signifies our efforts to actively and continuously work to build and grow a diverse and equitable team of associates who will strive to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our clients and the communities we serve.
"We are so proud of the commitment to teamwork and honored to create an environment where all can succeed across our footprint,” says Director of People Strategy and Recruitment, Kim Navagh.
"As we continue to expand across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and beyond, it's amazing to see the collaboration and shared focus on our core values and vision so that we can serve our clients in the best possible way," says Director of Operations, Reggie Dejean.
“Growing up, I always thought Batavia was too small. Nothing exciting ever happened here,” says Anni. “Then I had the experience of living and working in a big city, and realized that Batavia is a perfect place to work and raise a family. So when I got married and had a baby, I was ready to come home.”
Anneliese Aliasso, Anni to friends and family, has returned to her home town, and will be working with Peter Casey at Del Plato Casey Law, LLP, at their new offices at 81 Main Street.
“It’s so good to be back with my family and get reconnected with so many friends,” says Anni. “My grandmother, Sandi Clark, worked at HSBC Bank (and previously Marine Midland) just next door for years, so it is truly a full circle moment to be back here.”
Anni met her husband, Mike Fabiano, in Syracuse, where his family lives. He is a Surgical Technologist and will be working at a hospital in the area. “His family is close enough that we’ll be visiting often, and they’ll be coming here as well. We’re hoping to get them to a Muckdogs game this summer with our son, Clark.”
“I’m really lucky that I get to work with Peter – everyone knows and likes him. He’s kind of a fixture in Batavia,” she says. “And Peter’s team, Karen, Michelle and Kathy, are just so much fun to work with. I’m really looking forward to seeing and helping my friends and Batavia neighbors.”
“We are so incredibly grateful that Anni chose to join our firm here in Batavia,” says Peter Casey, current managing partner at DelPlato Casey Law Firm. “She had already established herself as a skillful attorney in Syracuse and her roots here in Genesee County will serve her well as she becomes an asset to our local community—legal and beyond. Anni is a great person with sound values and an ascending legal talent that will serve the legal needs of many for years to come.”
Senior photo of Anneliese Aliasso. Submitted photo.
Growing up, Anni attended John Kennedy Elementary, Batavia Middle School, and Notre Dame High School.
She continued her education at Cazenovia College, where she swam and played soccer. She took advantage of their study abroad program and studied in Canterbury, England.
And finally, she was valedictorian of her class, earning a bachelor’s degree in international studies.
From there, Anni moved to Albany to attend Albany Law School where she was just as active. In addition to playing soccer, she became a teaching assistant, was Editor in Chief of the Albany Law Journal of Science and Technology, did pro bono legal work, and won several awards for achievement. And again, Anni graduated at the top of her class, summa cum laude, in 2018.
After graduation, Annie worked at two firms in Syracuse, New York, before deciding to relocate back to Batavia.
Dave Watkins, director of operations; Scott Blake, senior vice president of operations; Gary Kaneb, President and CEO; and Mike Corporon, vice president of operations. HP Hood photo.
Eight years after acquiring a plant in Batavia originally designed to produce a Greek-style yogurt marketed as such, H.P. Hood has been honored by an industry trade magazine for operating 2024's Dairy Plant of the Year.
The honor follows the company's being named partner of the year for 2020 by Genesee County Economic Development Center and winning an operational excellence award in 2023 by Buffalo Business First.
The award recognizes the 458,000-square-foot H.P. Hood plant for its automation processing equipment, wide array of products it produces, employee safety record, sustainability efforts, and community involvement.
The Lynnfield, Mass.-based company employs 418 people in Batavia.
Hood has installed state-of-the-art technology, including an automated layer and pick system, full pallet labelers, and advanced chiller and air management systems.
Hood has developed an extensive safety plan with regular employee training.
Sitting on 133.4 acres in the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park, the Hood plant strives to use equipment and processes that are environmentally friendly, including efficient energy use and waste reduction. The company conducts regular energy audits and upgrades infrastructure as needed.
Hood is now among Batavia's larger employers. Community involvement initiatives include supporting the Crossroad House's flower sale, participating in Day of Caring, the Holland Land Office Museum Winter Wonderland of Trees, and supporting the Batavia Muckdogs, Community Action, the Salvation Army, and the Kwians's Club's Books for Babies.
More than 60 percent of the company's employees live in Genesee County.
In an expansion of its team and its offerings, Tompkins Community Bank (Tompkins) has appointed Rijad Karabegovic to commercial cash management group leader and Chris McCormick to commercial relationship manager. Karabegovic will execute strategies that work to ensure Tompkins’ cash management products and services continue to meet clients’ evolving needs, while delivering world-class service to this important client base; McCormick will be responsible for business development across the Rochester region, strategically fostering new commercial banking relationships.
Bringing more than 20 years of industry expertise to his new role, Karabegovic will lead Tompkins’ commercial cash management group under President of Tompkins Community Bank, John McKenna. Previously, Karabegovic served as manager of commercial deposits, payments and cash management at ESL Federal Credit Union; before that, he worked as a senior vice president at HSBC Bank/HSBC Securities in Rochester. Committed to giving back to his community, Karabegovic is a board member and treasurer for The Monroe Plan for Medical Care and YourCare Health Plan, two New York-based not-for-profits.
McCormick comes to Tompkins with over 13 years of experience in the banking and finance industry. Chris is an accomplished banking professional who prioritizes assisting his clients in the growth and success of their business enterprises by serving as a strong and collaborative partner. He has assisted business entities of varying sizes in a wide range of industries and at each stage of development. With his expertise in commercial lending, credit analysis and treasury management, he’s able to advise and provide financial solutions to businesses to best meet their specific needs. McCormick holds a master's in business administration from the University of Charleston, WV.
“A comprehensive approach to cash management and a strong commercial lending team are essential for Tompkins to contribute to our customers’ success and drive our growth as a company,” said President, Tompkins Community Bank, John McKenna. “The skills and expertise Rijad and Chris bring to their new roles will only enhance the already robust commercial banking team Tompkins has dedicated to the Rochester area.”
The addition of McCormick completes the growth of the Rochester Commercial Banking Team, enhancing client experience and services. The full team is comprised of:
Don Cortina, Rochester Region Commercial Banking Leader
Chris McCormick, Commercial Relationship Manager
Brett Owen, Commercial Relationship Manager
Scott Pittinaro, Commercial Relationship Manager
Karabegovic will lead the Tompkins’ Commercial Cash Management Group across Tompkins enterprise, including supporting the Rochester Commercial Banking Team’s efforts locally in Rochester, where Karabegovic will be based.
Graham Corporation (NYSE: GHM) (“GHM” or “the Company”), a global leader in the design and manufacture of mission-critical fluid, power, heat transfer and vacuum technologies for the defense, space, energy and process industries, announced that Daniel J. Thoren, President, Chief Executive Officer, Christopher J. Thome, Vice President – Finance and Chief Financial Officer, and Matt Malone, Vice President of Graham Corporation and General Manager of Barber-Nichols, will present and be available, in person, for investor meetings at the Gabelli Annual Aerospace & Defense Symposium in New York, NY on Thursday, September 5.
The Company presentation is scheduled to begin at 1:15 p.m. Eastern Time. A live audio webcast of the event with accompanying slides will be available at GHM Investor Relations. An archive of the presentation will be available at the same link following the conference.
Industry publication Insurance Journal has recognized Tompkins Insurance Agencies as one of the Top 100 largest insurance brokers in the United States. In the magazine’s August issue, Tompkins Insurance ranks at 75th largest in the nation, up from 79th place last year. Additionally, the firm’s parent company, Tompkins Financial Corporation, earned a spot as one of the Top 20 bank-held insurance brokerages by fee income, securing the 14th spot in this prestigious ranking.
“We have ranked on Insurance Journal’s top agencies list for many years, and it’s a distinction we don’t take for granted, “ said David S. Boyce, president and CEO of Tompkins Insurance. “The recognition signals another notable year among the largest insurance brokers in the country, and also underscores our commitment to maintaining the strong relationships with the clients we serve throughout Western New York, Central New York and Southeastern Pennsylvania.”
Insurance Journal’s 2023 rankings categorize brokers by size in revenue for the calendar year. This list allows clients to assess their broker partners, offers individual brokers a way to measure their performance against competitors and market leaders, and reveals trends for customers’ risk management and employee benefits challenges and service needs.
In addition to providing commercial insurance programs for businesses throughout New York and Pennsylvania, the agency also serves more than 36,000 personal insurance and employee benefits clients. Tompkins Insurance Agencies operates 12 offices in Western New York, five offices in Central New York and five offices in Southeast Pennsylvania.
It is an independent insurance agency offering personal and business insurance and employee benefits services through more than 50 different companies. A part of Tompkins Financial Corporation, (trading as TMP on the NYSE - MKT), the agency is affiliated with Tompkins Community Bank and Tompkins Financial Advisors, both operating in Western New York, Central New York, Southeast Pennsylvania and New York’s Hudson Valley.
For more information, head to www.tompkinsins.com or follow Tompkins Insurance Agencies on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
Becky Kelly, Flowers by Becky; Heather Hunt, Pastique; Lori Steinbrenner, New 2 Main the Boutique at Personal Preference; and Liz Broussard, Indigo Lux. Submitted Photo
Businesses often experience setbacks, and the ones that survive are those that find ways to adjust. Lori Steinbrenner took that approach when, after a couple of years of trying, she couldn't find a qualified nail technician.
Steinbrenner, who has owned Personal Preference Salon and Spa in Le Roy for 34 years, partnered with three other experienced businesswomen to open the front of her shop as a specialty boutique.
"I relocated the waiting area to the back of the shop (previously set up for pedicures and manicures) and put the boutique in the front of the salon," Steinbrenner said. "It's a unique little gift store."
The store is called New 2 Main the Boutique at Personal Preference.
Steinbrenner's partners are Becky Kelly, owner of Flowers by Becky, Heather Hunt, owner of Pastique, and Liz Broussard, owner of Indigo Lux.
She said the products are decorative pieces mixed with modern, BoHo-style handbags and accessories, along with fresh-cut flowers.
Personal Preference is located at 34 Main St., Le Roy.
Graham Corporation (NYSE: GHM) (“GHM” or “the Company”), a global leader in the design and manufacture of mission critical fluid, power, heat transfer and vacuum technologies for the defense, space, energy and process industries, today announced that Daniel J. Thoren, President and Chief Executive Officer and Christopher J. Thome, Vice President – Finance and Chief Financial Officer, will present and host investor meetings at the Midwest IDEAS Conference at The Gwen in Chicago on Thursday, August 29.
The Company presentation is scheduled to begin at 10:45 a.m. Central Time. A live audio webcast of the event with accompanying slides will be available at GHM Investor Relations. An archive of the presentation will be available at the same link following the conference.
Lawley, an independent family-owned insurance brokerage and employee benefits firm, continues its growth across the Northeast by welcoming Phil Scaffidi, Employee Benefits Consultant in Buffalo, Joe Moran, Insurance Advisor in Florham Park, New Jersey, and Carl Belizaire, Insurance Advisor in Buffalo. These additions aid in several growth initiatives across the agency.
Skilled in creating meaningful relationships with clients, Scaffidi will serve as an advisor providing employee benefit solutions. Prior to Lawley, Scaffidi held leadership roles in business sales in the Western New York community for 10+ years. He will use his previous software industry experience to help clients navigate the various benefits administration solutions that Lawley offers. He holds a Life, Accident, and Health License, and earned a bachelor’s degree from Nazareth University. Lawley is also growing their Property & Casualty sales division by adding Joe Moran to Florham Park and Carl Belizaire to Buffalo. Both Moran and Belizaire will provide creative solutions to meet the needs of their clients and help them understand the various business insurance solutions Lawley offers.
With nearly a decade of experience, Moran brings vast industry expertise, which will enable him to effectively work with clients and streamline the insurance evaluation and implementation process. Moran was previously a Property & Casualty Vice President and held several roles in the insurance industry.
Moran was inducted into the Top Producer’s Club, is a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), a Construction Risk Insurance Specialist (CRIS), and earned a bachelor’s degree from The State University of New York at Fredonia.
Bringing his skillset to the sales team, Belizaire will transition from Surety Specialist to Insurance Advisor serving the Buffalo community. Through his previous role, Belizaire built strong relationships with agents, brokers, and carriers, and assisted with strategies for Lawley's surety and bond business. Belizaire possesses diverse leadership experience and will continue to develop relationships with clients to minimize their cost of risk. Belizaire holds a NYS Property & Casualty Brokers License, a NYS Notary License, and earned degrees from Medgar Evers College and Baruch College.
With 15+ locations and continued growth efforts across the footprint, Lawley protects assets and minimizes risk to help customers avoid financial hardship. Lawley provides more than 50 specialized services, including business insurance, home and auto insurance, Medicare insurance coverage, retirement planning, wealth management, and employee benefits administration.
“We’re excited for Phil and Joe to join our team and welcome Carl to the sales division. Their industry knowledge and expertise makes our team even stronger and will greatly benefit our clients in WNY and across our entire footprint,” says Mike Lawley, Principal of Lawley.
Vincent Chiropractic is hosting a Summer Pop Up this weekend for folks to meet its staff and several other local businesses, including Jagged Edges Salon, Eleanor Delilah, Raw Beauty Wellness, Styled Artistry by Abbey Rose, Thrifted, YK Designs, Sempre by Macey Jon, Green Compass, and Copper Custom Spray Tans.
The event is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at 4105 W. Main Street Road, Batavia.
In March 2005, Bill Sofia first came to the Arc as a resident training instructor (RTI), now known today as a direct support professional. As of July 19, he holds a new title; director of business services.
“I am so excited to continue working and meeting with new business partners we have here in the GLOW community,” Sofia said.
Sofia will be overseeing all of Arc GLOW’s business services which include: Hilltop Printshop, Hilltop Bottle and Can Return, assembly and packaging, janitorial services, lawn care, staffing solutions, Finders Keepers Thrift Shop, and Orleans Enterprises. He also oversees Meals on Wheels in Genesee County, which Arc GLOW staff members and individuals in the culinary arts training program have provided about 36,000 hot, nutritious meals annually to eligible Genesee County seniors.
“Bill has a lot of experience working with individuals and helping them find gainful employment through Arc GLOW’s business services and in the community,” said Kellie Kennedy, vice president of Day and Employment Services. “I have every bit of confidence he will be able to bring that experience to connect our business partners with not only our own services but individuals which would be a good fit for their company.”
Over the years, Sofia has held many titles: RTI at the Meadowcrest Individualized Residential Alternatives (IRA) in Batavia, job coach, assistant residential manger, residential manager, foreman, senior production manager, and employment services manager. His time with the Arc started when his step-father told him that the Arc was hiring.
“I didn’t know what the Arc was, and my step-dad told me it was an organization which worked with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD),” he said. “He told me my good sense of humor would be good.”
Sofia said he loves what he does; he wakes up and enjoys coming to work and being around the people Arc GLOW serves.
Sofia grew up in Rochester, but finished high school at Pembroke High School when his mother accepted a job at the VA Medical Center in Batavia. He now lives in Batavia, and in 2010 completed a disability studies program in collaboration with The Arc of New York State and Empire State College.
Created in 2021, Arc GLOW, a chapter of The Arc New York, is the result of the merger of two successful and long-standing organizations, The Arc of Livingston-Wyoming and Arc of Genesee Orleans.
Arc GLOW is a non-profit organization founded by parents and friends of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We serve individuals with a variety of disabilities including autism, cerebral palsy, developmental delay, Down syndrome, epilepsy, Fragile X syndrome and neurological conditions.
In our name Arc GLOW, GLOW is an acronym for the counties we serve — Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming.
Oxbo, a leader in specialty harvesting and controlled application equipment, is pleased to announce it has been selected to join the inaugural class of affiliate members of the National Grape Research Alliance (NGRA), an industry-led nonprofit organization that aligns the priorities for research for the U.S. grape and wine industry.
For the first time in its nearly 20-year history, NGRA this year is opening a new level of membership offered only to select service and equipment providers, or industry affiliates, by invitation only. NGRA members thoughtfully chose trusted companies known for their research orientation, high integrity and strong reputation for excellence to join the esteemed organization. No more than a dozen affiliate members will be brought aboard in 2024.
Oxbo was nominated by Randy Heinzen, President of Vineyard Professional Services and an At-Large Board Member for the NGRA. Vineyard Professional Services is also a long-time customer of Oxbo.
“In this difficult winegrape market, VPS believes the path to success involves focusing on quality and innovation. Innovation is pushed through organizations like NGRA, while quality is enhanced through using superior technology and automation, including the Oxbo select-sort machine harvesters,” said Heinzen. “Oxbo’s inclusion as a NGRA partner is a natural fit for VPS’s goals of producing the best winegrapes possible through integrating the most recent science with the best tools for the job.”
“Oxbo equipment has empowered many grape scientists to find solutions to some of the grape and wine industry’s most critical viticultural challenges,” said NGRA President Donnell Brown. “The company is an integral part of the grape research ecosystem. We are thrilled to count them as one of our very first affiliate members.”
“We are incredibly grateful for this opportunity to collaborate with the NGRA and contribute to the industry-leading research they support,” said Cory Venable, Director of Marketing & Sales for Oxbo’s fruit portfolio. “It's truly exciting to be part of an organization that is making a significant impact on the grape and wine industry. We look forward to bringing our expertise to the table and working alongside such dedicated professionals to drive innovation and excellence in the market.”
In its fruit portfolio, Oxbo supplies grape, berry, coffee, olive, pistachio, and tomato growers with harvesters and other specialty equipment.
For more information on the full line of Oxbo vineyard products, please visit www.oxbo.com.
Graham Corporation (NYSE: GHM) (“GHM” or the “Company”), a global leader in the design and manufacture of mission critical fluid, power, heat transfer and vacuum technologies for the defense, space, energy, and process industries, today reported financial results for its first quarter for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024 (“fiscal 2025”). Results for the quarter include the P3 Technologies, LLC (“P3”) acquisition, which closed on November 9, 2023.
“We are delivering consistent improvement, solid growth and strengthening profitability,” commented Daniel J. Thoren, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We believe our solid results reflect the commitment and discipline of the GHM team, the confidence our customers have bestowed on us and the effectiveness of our strategy to build better companies. In addition to the visibility our nearly $400 million in backlog provides, it is worth noting that the growth of our defense business has also reduced our economic sensitivity as we receive a steady flow of program renewals and new opportunities with the U.S. Navy. In fact, we will be breaking ground this month on a new 29,000 square foot facility in Batavia, NY to provide production efficiencies, and increased capabilities and capacity to support our defense customer’s needs.”
He concluded, “These are exciting times at Graham Corp. We are steadily advancing our plan, delivering on our targets and are strategically positioning for continued growth.”
Graham Corporation (NYSE: GHM) (“GHM” or “the Company”), a global leader in the design and manufacture of mission critical fluid, power, heat transfer, and vacuum technologies for the defense, space, energy, and process industries, today announced that it was awarded three contracts with a combined value of over $65 million.
Matthew Malone, Vice President, Graham Corporation and General Manager - Barber-Nichols, commented, “We believe the investments we have made in our engineering and operations to expand our capacity and increase our capabilities to serve the defense and space industries led to our being awarded these contracts. We differentiated our solutions through our strong customer relationships, engineering expertise, precision manufacturing capabilities and rigorous testing and qualification processes. Our solutions are vital components that meet the high-level performance requirements for mission critical applications. We appreciate our customers’ confidence to select us for these high-value projects.”
Tompkins Financial Corp. (Tompkins) announced that Eric Taylor has joined the company as Executive Vice President and President of Tompkins Financial Advisors. Taylor has spent his career in wealth management and brings extensive experience in investment and advisory services.
His background includes strategic oversight and management of client-facing investment advisors, portfolio managers and financial planners. In addition, he brings in-depth knowledge of investment planning and portfolio implementation, as well as investment oversight and compliance.
In his new role, Taylor will lead Tompkins Financial Advisors, a holistic financial services firm with over 130 years of experience, bringing customized wealth management, financial planning and trust solutions to individuals and businesses. He will report to Steve Romaine, president and CEO of Tompkins Financial.
Romaine commented, “It is my pleasure to welcome Eric to the Tompkins team. In addition to his experience in the wealth arena, he brings a vision consistent with the Tompkins model of always placing the client at the center of everything we do. Most importantly, we share a common set of values and culture. Eric started his early career with us as a trust officer and I have enjoyed watching his growth and progression over the years. I’m pleased to welcome him back in this senior role, and as a member of my senior leadership team, contributing to strategic issues across the company.”
A long-time resident of Ithaca, New York, Taylor is a graduate of the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University and holds a Master of Business Administration. He also spent his undergraduate years at Cornell earning a Bachelor of Arts in Policy Analysis and Management.
