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Community Bank names head of retail banking
DeWITT, N.Y. — Community Bank, N.A. has appointed Melissa Bollman head of retail banking. She is responsible for the oversight of the retail banking network and will lead the retail strategy and sales teams to develop strategic initiatives, the bank announced. With 26 years of experience in financial services, Bollman joins Community Bank from M&T […]
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DeWITT, N.Y. — Community Bank, N.A. has appointed Melissa Bollman head of retail banking.
She is responsible for the oversight of the retail banking network and will lead the retail strategy and sales teams to develop strategic initiatives, the bank announced.
With 26 years of experience in financial services, Bollman joins Community Bank from M&T Bank Corp., where she spent more than 20 years in various leadership and managerial roles across business and retail banking. She began her career as a customer-service representative before moving into senior branch manager and retail manager roles. Most recently, Bollman served as senior VP of business banking operations for the past five years.
“Following an in-depth recruitment process, we’re confident that Melissa is the right leader for our retail banking line of business,” Jeffrey Levy, SVP and chief banking officer at Community Bank, said in a statement. “Not only does she bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, but she has also proven to be successful at leading teams across retail and business banking operations to drive growth and operational efficiencies, all while maintaining exceptional customer service. I am delighted to welcome her to the Community Bank team and look forward to supporting her success in this key role.”
Bollman holds a bachelor’s degree from Buffalo State University and completed the Executive Bank Management Program through the Consumer Bankers Association. She is active in the community and volunteers with Cradle Beach Camp and FeedMore WNY.
Community Bank operates 200 branches across New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Massachusetts. It is a unit of Community Financial System, Inc. (NYSE: CBU), a diversified financial-services company based in DeWitt that is focused on four main business lines: banking, employee-benefit services, insurance services, and wealth management.
Upstate Medical, SU collaborate to bring memory screenings to seven regional counties
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Upstate Medical University and Syracuse University (SU) are collaborating on an effort to allow residents over the age of 60 in seven
Binghamton University president to step down at end of academic year
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger will step down after the end of this academic year, according to a Friday, Oct. 18 post
Naturally Lewis awards $50K in startup funding to two Lewis County businesses
LOWVILLE, N.Y. — Naturally Lewis says it has awarded a total of $50,000 to two Lewis County businesses as part of the Launch Lewis County initiative. Coffee & Clay Cafe will use $20,000 for startup equipment, furniture and inventory for a new cafe and pottery studio in Constableville. At the same time, Hartley’s Meat Market
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LOWVILLE, N.Y. — Naturally Lewis says it has awarded a total of $50,000 to two Lewis County businesses as part of the Launch Lewis County initiative.
Coffee & Clay Cafe will use $20,000 for startup equipment, furniture and inventory for a new cafe and pottery studio in Constableville.
At the same time, Hartley’s Meat Market will use $30,000 for startup equipment and inventory for a retail meat market in Port Leyden.
The funding was awarded on behalf of the Lewis County Development Corporation (LCDC), Naturally Lewis said.
Launch Lewis County is made possible through a grant from the New York State Homes and Community Renewal’s Community Development Block Grant program. Launch Lewis County is a partnership between LCDC and Lewis County.
Based on state requirements, Launch Lewis County is a microenterprise grant program for low-to-moderate income entrepreneurs or for those creating a new, full-time position.
“As we are working to develop an entrepreneur-led economy, programs like Launch Lewis County are driving us forward,” Brittany Davis, executive director of Naturally Lewis, Inc., said in the announcement “Our partnership with Lewis County to administer the Launch Lewis County program has allowed small businesses and entrepreneurs to start and expand products and services, which in turn creates and retains jobs, creates unique experiences for residents and tourists, and ultimately enhances the tax base of Lewis County.”
Qualifying for funding
In order to qualify for the Launch Lewis County Microenterprise Grant program, businesses must have a small-business idea or a desire to innovate their existing small business.
In addition, an applicant must be considered low-to-moderate income based on 2023 income tax returns or create a new full-time job that will be made available to low-to-moderate-income persons.
Applicants must also contribute at least 10 percent of total project costs and must complete their project by December 2025, Naturally Lewis said.
The economic-development agency says it’s currently seeking additional applicants for the Launch Lewis County grant program with $205,000 in grant funds still available.
For more information on the Launch Lewis County grant program and the process to apply for funds, you can visit naturallylewis.com/growing-opportunities/launchlc.
Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties awards nearly $2M in grants in Q2
UTICA, N.Y. — The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties announced it has awarded more than $1.85 million in grants during the second quarter
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Upstate Medical University on Friday morning formally opened a new biobehavioral health unit (BBHU) for children with mental-health needs and developmental disabilities.
Berkshire Bank names business banking team leader
ALBANY, N.Y. — Berkshire Bank announced it has promoted Shane Rauh to senior VP, business banking team leader, where he will lead the bank’s sales team for business banking in New York, Vermont, and Berkshire County in Massachusetts. Rauh has more than 20 years of experience in the financial-services industry with special emphasis on business
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ALBANY, N.Y. — Berkshire Bank announced it has promoted Shane Rauh to senior VP, business banking team leader, where he will lead the bank’s sales team for business banking in New York, Vermont, and Berkshire County in Massachusetts.
Rauh has more than 20 years of experience in the financial-services industry with special emphasis on business banking and commercial lending. Before joining Berkshire in March of this year, he served as VP, commercial relationship manager at Pioneer Bank. Prior to that, Rauh worked as director of business banking at Broadview Federal Credit Union.
“Shane has a successful track record of partnering with commercial clients to deliver the financial services they need to grow and prosper,” Rob Nichols, Berkshire Bank’s business banking managing director, said in a news release. “As sales team leader, he’ll also work to deepen our already robust focus on relationship building and communities across his three-state region.”
Rauh lives in Colonie, where he serves on the board of trustees for Crossroads Center for Children and the gala committee for the Alzheimer’s Association of Northeastern New York.
Berkshire Bank is a subsidiary of Boston–based Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: BHLB). The bank has $12.2 billion in total assets and 83 branch locations.
Onondaga County survey seeks input on the future of the CNY Regional Market
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Onondaga County government is using a new online survey to obtain public comment on the future of the Central New York Regional
Comptroller audit addresses issues in a town in Otsego County
PITTSFIELD — A recent audit by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli’s office found the town supervisor in the town of Pittsfield in Otsego County did not maintain complete, accurate, and up-to-date accounting records and reports for the town’s finances. The initial audit spanned from Jan. 1, 2021 to Dec. 31, 2023, but was extended forward
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PITTSFIELD — A recent audit by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli’s office found the town supervisor in the town of Pittsfield in Otsego County did not maintain complete, accurate, and up-to-date accounting records and reports for the town’s finances.
The initial audit spanned from Jan. 1, 2021 to Dec. 31, 2023, but was extended forward to June 20, 2024, to determine whether annual audits were performed and other required financial documents were prepared, according to a report issued by DiNapoli’s office.
The report noted the town supervisor did not properly record revenues in the accounting system, prepare bank reconciliations, or provide detailed monthly fund balances to the board. The supervisor also failed to file the town’s 2021 or 2023 annual financial reports (AFRs), as required by state law, and the 2022 AFR was inaccurate.
Finally, the supervisor didn’t provide the board with records for the annual audit, also required by state law.
According to DiNapoli’s report, the failure to do these things hindered the town board’s and town officials’ ability to monitor financial affairs, make sound financial decisions, and identify and correct errors.
Pittsfield is governed by a five-member board, which includes the supervisor and four board members. The supervisor serves as the town’s CEO, fiscal officer, and budget officer.
The former supervisor hired a bookkeeper to post transactions, reconcile the bank accounts, prepare monthly reports, and file the AFRs. In February 2022, a new supervisor assumed these duties and ended the bookkeeper’s employment with the town of Pittsfield.
DiNapoli’s report included nine recommendations to improve the completeness, accuracy, and timeliness of the town’s accounting records and reports. The recommendations include that the supervisor maintain complete, accurate and timely records and reports; provide the board with accurate and detailed monthly financial reports; ensure financial transactions are recorded correctly in accounting records; attend training sessions to better understand and perform financial duties; ensure the financial information presented in the AFR is complete, accurate, and filed in a timely manner; and provide an annual accounting of records to the board.
Recommendations to the board include ensuring the supervisor provides monthly financial reports, review bank statements and reconciliations to identify and resolve any errors, and perform or obtain an annual audit of the supervisor’s records.
In a Sept. 16 letter responding to DiNapoli’s office, Pittsfield Supervisor Shelby Wing wrote, “I was not surprised at the findings that the auditor reported. These were areas that I struggled with as I am not a CPA. He was able to teach me things that I was not aware and point me in the right direction of literature or people that could help me.”
“The board and I take the nine recommendations seriously and have already gotten to work on improvements,” the letter concluded.
Crouse Health names Raymour & Flanigan CEO to board of directors
SYRACUSE — Crouse Health Board of Directors Chair Patrick Mannion recently announced the appointment of Neil Goldberg to the health system’s board. Goldberg currently serves as chairman and CEO of Raymour & Flanigan Furniture & Holdings, which is headquartered in Clay and is the largest furniture retailer in the Northeast with 6,500 employees and 140
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SYRACUSE — Crouse Health Board of Directors Chair Patrick Mannion recently announced the appointment of Neil Goldberg to the health system’s board.
Goldberg currently serves as chairman and CEO of Raymour & Flanigan Furniture & Holdings, which is headquartered in Clay and is the largest furniture retailer in the Northeast with 6,500 employees and 140 stores across seven states.
“Neil is an accomplished, thoughtful leader as reflected in the remarkable growth Raymour & Flanigan has experienced over the past several decades,” Mannion said in a statement. “His involvement with Crouse Health is sure to bring valuable insights and contributions to our organization.”
With Raymour & Flanigan since 1972, Goldberg has served on a number of community boards and organizations, including Say Yes to Education Capital Campaign, HSBC Bank Regional Advisory Board, Syracuse University Whitman School of Management, United Way of CNY, Salvation Army, and Junior Achievement of CNY.
Crouse Health is a Syracuse–based community hospital system, comprised of 507 beds, 800 physicians, and 3,500 employees with locations throughout the Central New York area. The Crouse board has 17 members.
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