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Working Another Job While on FMLA Leave is Not Necessarily Misconduct
Imagine this. You have an employee who is on leave pursuant to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and you discover that the employee
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Drivers who use Interstate 690 (I-690) eastbound in the city of Syracuse will soon see a lane reduction connected to a project
Onondaga County accepting grant applications for its hotel initiative
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Onondaga County is now accepting applications for the hotel initiative that Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon announced back on June 4. The Onondaga County Hotel Initiative will be seeded with $4 million and will award grants ranging from $50,000 to $750,000 to developers. The grants are meant to help in closing funding
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Onondaga County is now accepting applications for the hotel initiative that Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon announced back on June 4.
The Onondaga County Hotel Initiative will be seeded with $4 million and will award grants ranging from $50,000 to $750,000 to developers. The grants are meant to help in closing funding gaps in new hotel construction and/or give existing hotels incentive to add rooms to their facilities in Onondaga County.
The county will establish criteria to grade each proposal including, but not limited to, size of hotel, how quickly it will come online, and jobs created, per the announcement.
Onondaga County Community Development will operate the program and will award funding grants “on a rolling basis.”
In the Tuesday announcement, McMahon’s office said, “Tourism and convention business have served as a key driver of revenue and growth with respect to the local economy. Key to that success has been an abundance of diverse and quality hotel rooms and meeting space. In recent years, we have seen a significant number of hotels come offline and subsequently jeopardize our ability to attract new convention business or accommodate visitors and tourists to the area.”
It went on to say, “Further compounding the issue are the massive investments being made by Micron [Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: MU)] at the White Pine Commerce Park as well as the numerous supply-chain companies expected to follow suit.”
More information can be found at this website. Or, you can contact Marty Skahen, director of community development, at martinskahen@ongov.net or (315) 435-3558.
Community Bank names CNY market regional president
DeWITT, N.Y. — Community Bank N.A. announced it has promoted Lindsay Weichert to the role of regional president of the bank’s Central New York market in Syracuse. In her new position, Weichert is responsible for leading business development and community-engagement activities while ensuring effective communication across all bank and non-bank lines of business in the
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DeWITT, N.Y. — Community Bank N.A. announced it has promoted Lindsay Weichert to the role of regional president of the bank’s Central New York market in Syracuse.
In her new position, Weichert is responsible for leading business development and community-engagement activities while ensuring effective communication across all bank and non-bank lines of business in the region.
“Lindsay’s leadership and wealth of experience in commercial real estate finance have been a key factor in our growth and strong reputation across our Central New York region,” Chief Banking Officer Jeffrey Levy said in a news release. “As Community Bank continues to grow in size and geography, remaining close to our customers and communities is more important than ever. I am confident that Lindsay’s effective leadership, passion for community service, and her steadfast commitment to our customers will further support this mission, and I look forward to her continued success in this new role.”
Weichert, who has more than two decades of banking industry experience, joined Community Bank in 2022 as senior VP, commercial banking group manager, where she oversaw commercial-banking operations for the region. She has completed Community Financial System Inc.’s inaugural Leadership Council program.
Prior to joining Community Bank, Weichert worked for M&T Bank and Fitch Ratings, where she specialized in commercial real-estate lending.
Outside of work, Weichert is active in the community and volunteers with several organizations. She is treasurer of the Downtown Syracuse Foundation, a board member of Syracuse City Ballet and the United Way of Central New York, and a member of several local economic-development task forces and working groups.
Weichert holds a master’s degree in real estate with a concentration in finance and investments from New York University and a bachelor’s degree in multi-language, with minors in economics and mathematics, from St. Lawrence University.
Community Bank N.A. is the banking subsidiary of Community Financial System, Inc. (NYSE: CBU), a financial-services company based in DeWitt. Community Bank has 200 branches across New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Massachusetts.
Embracing CHange Across the Generations
CH Insurance, Your LOCAL Partner for Insurance, Risk Management & Group Benefits Massive shifts have transformed workplaces and the world, including the insurance industry. From
MVHS lab services and pharmacy open in new medical office building
UTICA, N.Y. — Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) recently opened laboratory services and a pharmacy in the new MVHS Medical Office Building at 601 State St., next to the Wynn Hospital. The openings come 10 months after the hospital opened in October 2023. The lab offers both clinical and pathology services, with most testing taking
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UTICA, N.Y. — Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) recently opened laboratory services and a pharmacy in the new MVHS Medical Office Building at 601 State St., next to the Wynn Hospital.
The openings come 10 months after the hospital opened in October 2023.
The lab offers both clinical and pathology services, with most testing taking place in the laboratory inside Wynn Hospital. MVHS’s lab partners with the Mayo Clinic’s Mayo Medical Laboratories and offers an array of tests and clinical expertise.
Lab services are available for walk-ins or by appointment with online scheduling available through MyChart for MVHS patients. The hours are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon.
The pharmacy, located in suite 103 of the medical office building, offers prescription services to MVHS employees and the public including general maintenance medications, mail orders, and one-time prescriptions, as well as over-the-counter products.
It is a dually accredited specialty pharmacy providing a full line of specialty medicines that treat complex conditions.
The pharmacy accepts most insurance plans from major carriers. The hours are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
MVHS is the parent organization of the 373-bed Wynn Hospital, MVHS Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, and Visiting Nurse Association of Utica and Oneida County. The MVHS Medical Group operates 15 primary-care locations.
Destiny USA to host latest job fair on Wednesday
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Destiny USA says it will host another in-person job fair on Wednesday, Aug. 7 from 2-6 p.m. in the Canyon area. Dubbed
Syracuse airport to hold live-fire training and emergency exercise this week
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) says it will conduct live-fire training and its triennial full-scale emergency exercise this week. The federally mandated training will begin with daily and nightly live-fire training on Wednesday. It will culminate with the full-scale, emergency-response exercise on Saturday, the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority (SRAA) said Monday. During
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) says it will conduct live-fire training and its triennial full-scale emergency exercise this week.
The federally mandated training will begin with daily and nightly live-fire training on Wednesday. It will culminate with the full-scale, emergency-response exercise on Saturday, the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority (SRAA) said Monday.
During the live-fire training Wednesday through Friday, travelers at and near the airport may notice fire, smoke, and an increased presence of emergency-response vehicles, SRAA said.
During the triennial full-scale emergency exercise Saturday morning, travelers may notice an increased presence of emergency-response vehicles, actors on the airfield and inside the terminal building, along with smoke and fire.
“The triennial full-scale exercise is an essential tool to prepare people throughout the airport ecosystem to respond swiftly and with purpose in the event of a real emergency,” Jason Terreri, SRAA executive director, said in the announcement. “We greatly appreciate the support and volunteerism of our surrounding emergency response agencies, airport tenants, and workers throughout the airport who help bring this large production to fruition every three years.”
Le Moyne working with NYC firm to raise $40 million for athletics, wellness
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Le Moyne College has entered into a five-year agreement with the firm Legends to raise $40 million to support the upcoming renovation of the Thomas J. Niland Jr. Athletic Complex. “This partnership will benefit the entire campus community,” Le Moyne President Linda LeMura said in the school’s announcement. “The planned renovations to
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Le Moyne College has entered into a five-year agreement with the firm Legends to raise $40 million to support the upcoming renovation of the Thomas J. Niland Jr. Athletic Complex.
“This partnership will benefit the entire campus community,” Le Moyne President Linda LeMura said in the school’s announcement. “The planned renovations to the Niland complex will add to and upgrade our fields, fitness and wellness facilities used by students, faculty and staff, as well as those living in the neighborhoods surrounding campus. Working with Legends will allow our advancement and innovation team to continue to focus on academics and other key areas of fundraising.”
Mike Behan, who graduated from Le Moyne in 2005, is the president of Legends’ college division, the school noted.
Founded in 2008, New York City–based Legends describes itself as a “premium experiences company” with six divisions that include global planning, global sales, hospitality, global partnerships, global merchandise, and Legends IQ.
Legends launched its philanthropy practice in 2017 and has built a “successful fundraising track record,” Le Moyne said.
The firm has worked with the University of Notre Dame, the University of Oklahoma, the University of Southern California, Villanova University, and the Rose Bowl. All told, the company has assisted in maximizing revenue associated with more than $2 billion in new and renovated facility projects.
The company’s IQ division provides the “business intelligence driving and informing its work.”
“I’m excited that we are bringing in a global leader to help us achieve our goals in the athletics, fitness and wellness areas,” Jim Joseph, VP for advancement and innovation and dean of the Madden College of Business and Economics, said in the school’s announcement. “Working seamlessly as one team, advancement and innovation and Legends will also procure resources for athletic scholarships and other athletic-focused endowment funds.”
In addition to working on donations to fund the immediate athletics needs, the Legends approach is to develop a “sustainable fundraising model” to provide for annual gifts going forward, “building a culture of athletic philanthropy that will develop a pipeline” for major gifts in the future.
“It brings me great pride that Legends has the privilege to partner with Le Moyne, my alma mater,” Behan said. “This is a transformative time for Le Moyne given its recent move to Division I. We look forward to supporting the College in reaching new heights!”
Excellus opens new Utica regional office
UTICA, N.Y. — Excellus BlueCross BlueShield celebrated the opening of its new Utica regional employee office with a ribbon-cutting event with the Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce on July 31. The new space, located at 301 Wood Park Drive in Clinton, serves the health insurer’s more than 500 regional employees. “During the pandemic, the world
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UTICA, N.Y. — Excellus BlueCross BlueShield celebrated the opening of its new Utica regional employee office with a ribbon-cutting event with the Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce on July 31.
The new space, located at 301 Wood Park Drive in Clinton, serves the health insurer’s more than 500 regional employees.
“During the pandemic, the world of working only in an office changed for us at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, just like it did for so many,” Utica Regional President Tony Vitagliano said in a news release announcing the new office. “We found that many of our employees prefer working from home and productivity as well as employee satisfaction both remain very high, reducing the need for an office with a large footprint.”
The new space replaces the region’s previous office space in the LaPolla & Ford Business Park in Utica and was designed with today’s changing workforce in mind. The new office has more collaborative space and fewer traditional cubicles.
“Our team has designed a new, modern facility with a forward-thinking design that encourages our employees to come in and meet as groups either formally or informally,” Vitagliano said.
The office also incorporates technology that allows for hybrid meetings between those on site and those working remotely. “We pride ourselves on being flexible and adaptable to today’s changing workforce, and I’m proud of the investments that we have made as a company to work with our employees to create a welcoming environment with a positive work-life balance,” he added.
Speakers at the ribbon cutting included Excellus President/CEO Jim Reed, Vitagliano, Greater Utica Chamber Executive Director Kari Puleo, and State Assemblymember Brian Miller (R-C, New Hartford).
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and employs more than 4,200 people. The nonprofit health plan serves 1.5 million upstate New York members.
Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.