SYRACUSE — On Feb. 1, 2012, the North Central New York Region of the American Red Cross merged with the Southern Tier Region to become the American Red Cross, Central New York Region. This new region now serves 2.1 million people in 16 counties from St. Lawrence to Broome, from Cayuga to Otsego. A couple […]
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SYRACUSE — On Feb. 1, 2012, the North Central New York Region of the American Red Cross merged with the Southern Tier Region to become the American Red Cross, Central New York Region. This new region now serves 2.1 million people in 16 counties from St. Lawrence to Broome, from Cayuga to Otsego.
A couple of events helped lead to the merger. One was the Southern Tier Region being inundated by major flooding from the remnants of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee a year ago. Second, both chapter executives from the North Central and Southern Tier regions left the organization in the latter half of 2011. These events helped lead the Red Cross to review the chapters and merge the territories.
A new regional executive team was also formed as a result of the merger. The team is now led by Rosie Taravella, regional CEO. With a background in theater that eventually evolved into a fundraising career, Taravella previously was the vice president of corporate advancement at WCNY-TV, the public TV station in Syracuse. “Everything I’ve done has prepared me for this role,” says Taravella. She joined the Red Cross on April 2. “This position was the next logical choice in my career path,” says Taravella, who has always wanted to be a CEO and lead an organization.
By consolidating the North Central New York and Southern Tier regions into one area, the Red Cross Central New York chapter can be more efficient in its finances, staff placement, and service delivery, she says.
It is able to operate in a centralized way to determine if it can meet needs across great distances. An example Taravella uses is that if the Potsdam and Owego chapters need the same thing, the organization can now connect the dots and share resources. “We’re able to mobilize within our own boundaries,” says Taravella.
Leadership team
Paige Thomas holds the position of regional chief operating officer for the Red Cross Central New York Region. Thomas was previously part of a floating pool of interim directors at the Red Cross who traveled to different chapters to help them restructure. Previously located in Denver, she came to Central New York in November 2011. She really liked the area and decided to stick around. Even though her oversight responsibilities are similar, her relationships with the Red Cross team and members of the community are different, she says. “It’s an entirely different animal to invest in the long-term performance of a business unit and deal with the different personalities and issues on a day-to-day basis,” says Thomas.
Judy Fitzgerald, the newest member of the team, who started in June, is the regional chief development officer. Previously, Fitzgerald worked for CNY Central for 11 years, then at WCNY with Taravella. Fitzgerald says that her time at WCNY was the first time in her career she was able to mix her media background with a nonprofit mission. In her new role at the Red Cross, Fitzgerald is responsible for implementing fundraising goals for the new footprint.
Rounding out the new executive team is Matt Michael, the regional chief communications officer. Michael has an extensive media background that includes nearly 20 years at The Post-Standard, freelance writing, and most recently, as the public-relations manager at WCNY-TV.
Along with the new territory and leadership team, the CNY Red Cross also has a new program in the works. Tentatively called the Community Resiliency Program, the organization is in the process of rolling out this pilot program for a mid-size metro area, like the Syracuse region. The Central New York team has begun the conversation with other community agencies to create a structure for community response.
“It will be designed to equip the community with the tools and knowledge it needs to be better prepared for an emergency or natural disaster,” says Thomas. The program will unfold over this fiscal year, running from July 1 to June 30.
The program also will build upon the role the Red Cross has in the three levels of emergency response — from being prepared for expected and unexpected disasters (level 1) to knowing how to respond to a disaster (level 2), and then having the steps in place for recovery after a disaster (level 3). The Central New York region already demonstrates a strong record for emergency response. For example, during fiscal year 2011, the chapter trained more than 100,000 individuals in CPR, First Aid, and other health and safety courses. In addition, it gave preparedness presentations to more than 50,000 individuals. Also, the Central New York team responded to more than 558 separate disasters and assisted more than 732 families affected by disaster.
The national American Red Cross also recently introduced two new free smart-phone apps. In June, the Red Cross First Aid app debuted — raking in 600,000 downloads in the first month. The Hurricane App, launched on Aug. 1, was designed to provide real-time information for hurricane threats for people who live or vacation in hurricane-prone areas.
For the 2012 fiscal year, ending June 30, the Red Cross Central New York region generated just under $4.2 million in revenue from donations. The sources of its funds include the United Way, corporations, foundations, individuals, online, direct mail, and net special events. The organization expects similar results for the 2013 fiscal year. The national Red Cross’s revenue for the 2011 fiscal year, the latest for which data is available, was $3.45 billion. Its sources included contributions, grants, program services, and investment income.
Taravella says that the Central New York chapter is now completely staffed with 52 full-time employees. The organization also relies on 2,800 volunteers to fulfill its mission. In 1881, Clara Barton established the Syracuse chapter, making it the third Red Cross created. The building at 220 Herald Place has been the home of the Central New York chapter for 14 years. The organization occupies about 8,000 square feet of office space.
American Red Cross,
Central New York Region
220 Herald Place
Syracuse, NY 13202
Phone: (315) 234-2200
www.redcross.org
Key Staff
Rosie Taravella Regional CEO
Judy Fitzgerald, Regional Chief Development Officer
Matt Michael, Regional Chief Communications Officer
Paige Thomas, Regional Chief Operating Officer
Shelley Bierwiler, Community Chapter Executive, Southern Tier Chapter
Victor Fariello, Community Chapter Executive, Mohawk Valley Chapter
Jane Gendron, Community Chapter Executive, Northern New York Chapter
Barry Stein , Community Chapter Executive, Cortland County and Tompkins County Chapters
Board of Directors (Officers)
President
Dorothy Hall Sports Physical Therapy of New York, PC
Vice President
Rita Reicher KS&R, Inc.
Board Members
Dave Bullard OswegoCountyToday.com
Tony Dannible Dannible & McKee
Jed Delmonico Delmonico Insurance Agency
Sam Elbadawi Sugarman Law Firm, LLP
Jeffrey Fetter Scolaro, Shulman, Cohen, Fetter & Burstein, P.C.
Rae Fulkerson CNY Central
Dorothy Hall Sports Physical Therapy of New York, PC
Ashley D. Hayes Hancock Estrabrook, LLP
Dave Johnson King + King Architects LLP
Robert Just Blue Ocean Strategic Capital, LLC
Andrew March M&T Bank
Deana Michaels Pathfinder Bank
Patrick Powers D’Arcangelo & Co. LLP
Rita L. Reicher KS&R, Inc.
Lynn Steenberg Sports Physical Therapy of New York, PC
Joseph G. Vitale Savannah Bank
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
Its disaster-response efforts provide food, shelter, and care for a disaster of any scope, from single-family house fires to global conflict. It provides 45 percent of the nation’s blood through its Biomed Services program. Its services to the Armed Forces opens the lines of communication between U.S. military members and their families, and also offers courses and materials to help promote coping skills before and after deployment. Its International Services provide global communication during war, help reunite families after disasters and conflicts, and assist with global health campaigns. It also educates people about international humanitarian law.
RECENT ORGANIZATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
On Feb. 1, 2012, the North Central New York Region of the American Red Cross merged with the Southern Tier Region to become the Central New York Region of the American Red Cross, comprised of 2.1 million people in 16 counties. “By consolidating into one region, the 16 chapter and branch offices are realizing staff efficiencies, cost savings, and improved service delivery. Streamlining our support services and back-office systems have given chapters more time to focus their energies on mission delivery and preparing communities for emergencies and disasters. Regional management is providing a new level of expertise that’s keeping Central New York’s American Red Cross efficient and competitive.”
PLANNING/FUNDRAISING OUTLOOK FOR 2012:
- State Fair Parking Lot, Aug. 23 to Sept. 3: Donated by Crucible Industries. Your parking-tickets dollars support the Central New York Region of the American Red Cross.
- American Red Cross Regional Golf Classic, Sept. 19 at the Otesaga’s Leatherstocking Golf Course in Cooperstown.
- Women Who Mean Business, Oct. 25: Acknowledging successful, engaged women in CNY at the SRC Arena, Syracuse.
- Real Heroes Breakfast, Dec. 5 at the Nicholas J. Pirro Convention Center, Syracuse. Recognizing those who acted unselfishly on behalf of a neighbor, a co-worker, even a stranger to change another person’s destiny and, at the same time, their own.
