Broome Leadership Institute graduates 19 in Class of 2022

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — On Thursday, March 24, 19 area businesspeople graduated as members of the Broome Leadership Institute (BLI) Class of 2022 at a dinner and ceremony, at the Riverdale Banquet Hall in Endwell.

The BLI Class of 2022 represents the 35th graduating class of the program. BLI is a six-month community leadership program, sponsored by the Greater Binghamton Education Outreach Program (GBEOP), an affiliate organization of the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce. The six-month program is designed to develop enthusiastic and well-informed leaders who are committed to making positive contributions to the community. A select number are chosen for each class, which runs from September through March with two full-day sessions each month, per a Greater Binghamton Chamber news release.

Each session provides a behind-the-scenes look at the community — learning how it works, who makes it work, what problems it faces, and learning how and where leaders can help. Sessions are designed to immerse participants in the topic of the day by holding the session at an appropriate site and inviting key people in that topic area to be presenters. Topics covered include: agriculture, arts, board development, chamber of commerce, community insight, current issues, courts and the penal system, diversity, education, economic development, ethics, government, innovation, leadership, health care, human/social services, and media.

The benefits include meeting with key decision-makers face-to-face; gaining a broader understanding of the issues affecting life in the greater Binghamton region; learning new skills and making invaluable professional contacts; gaining the knowledge, experience, and contacts needed to make a positive difference in the community; and experiencing fun along the way.

The BLI Class of 2022 was comprised of the following individuals: Brent Baker, mortgage-sales manager, Visions Federal Credit Union; Sarah Boniche, operations coordinator, Binghamton University; Colleen Brown, advisory software engineer, IBM; Carrie Davis, director of communications, United Health Services; Patrick Dickerson, president, Mountain Top Grove Inc.; Nicholas Dupuis, loan-officer assistant, M&T Bank; John Garcia, Jr., director of operations & maintenance, Broome-Tioga BOCES; Gary Gates, operations manager, Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP; Vincent Gennett, commercial-banking relationship manager, NBT Bank; Christina Graziadei, associate attorney, Hinman, Howard & Kattell, LLP; Laura Hodel, director of student financial services, SUNY Broome Community College; Rachel Mastin, accounting representative, Broome Co-operative Insurance Company; Danielle Naylor, business-development manager, Delta Engineers, Architects, Land Surveyors, & Landscape Architects, DPC; Machella Raymond, social worker, Rise-NY; Jennifer Richards, director of operations, Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Hospital; Nick Romo, owner/agent, Nick Romo-State Farm; Mark Ropiecki, executive director, Care Compass Network; Christine Springer, general manager, Goodwill Theatre, Inc.; Charolette Truxal, AVP hub manager, Chemung Canal Trust Company.