Cayuga Health appoints chief nursing officer

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ITHACA — Cayuga Health announced it has appointed Debra Morton as its chief nursing officer, effective Sept. 30, after a national search. In this role, Morton is responsible for the strategic leadership and vision for nursing and patient services as well as ensuring high-quality, patient-centered care in both inpatient and outpatient settings, the health system […]

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ITHACA — Cayuga Health announced it has appointed Debra Morton as its chief nursing officer, effective Sept. 30, after a national search.

In this role, Morton is responsible for the strategic leadership and vision for nursing and patient services as well as ensuring high-quality, patient-centered care in both inpatient and outpatient settings, the health system said.

Morton joins Cayuga Health with more than 30 years of acute-care experience in hospital operations, strategic planning, operational and financial improvement, staff empowerment, labor relations, and quality management.

She previously served as VP of patient care services and chief nursing officer at Lifebridge Health Siani Hospital, a 483-bed teaching hospital and level-two trauma center in Baltimore, Maryland. Morton also held leadership roles at Kaiser Permanente and Dignity Health in California.

“I am pleased to join Cayuga Health to shape the future of nursing practice,” Morton said in a Cayuga Health news release. “I was impressed by Cayuga Health nurses’ dedication to providing excellent care in a community setting and am confident that together, we will achieve new levels of nursing innovation and achievement typically only realized in larger more urban settings. I am excited to collaborate with other members of the executive team and health-care providers to optimize patient-care delivery, improve interdisciplinary communication, and enhance patient satisfaction.”

Morton trained at Geisinger School of Nursing in Danville, Pennsylvania; Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and earned a doctorate of nursing practice from the University of San Francisco.

“Debra’s proven expertise in patient experiences will bring a next-level focus on efforts already underway at Cayuga Health,” President/CEO Dr. Martin Stallone said in the release. “As our organization evolves into an integrated delivery network, the complexity of operations has also advanced. Debra’s experience in clinical operations will be invaluable to the Cayuga Health team as we continue to navigate the challenging healthcare landscape. Her strategic vision and inspirational leadership style will provide direction and support to our nurses and patient-care staff during a critical time of change.”

Raymond, sister company repurpose Kirkwood building

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Manufacturing & Engineering, Southern Tier, Subscriber Only

$15.6 million project to create up to 45 new jobs KIRKWOOD — The Raymond Corporation and Toyota Material Handling, Inc. are expanding into Broome County. Raymond, a lift-truck manufacturer in Chenango County, is repurposing an existing structure located on Corporate Drive in the town of Kirkwood. The effort

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$15.6 million project to create up to 45 new jobs

KIRKWOOD — The Raymond Corporation and Toyota Material Handling, Inc. are expanding into Broome County.

Raymond, a lift-truck manufacturer in Chenango County, is repurposing an existing structure located on Corporate Drive in the town of Kirkwood. The effort established what the company calls the Energy Solutions Manufacturing Center of Excellence, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Sept. 9.

The total project cost is a little more than $15.6 million. As a result of the expansion, Raymond has committed to creating up to 45 new jobs.

The Raymond Corporation and Toyota Material Handling are two subsidiary companies within Toyota Material Handling North America.

The new facility will enable Raymond and its parent company to develop a “more diverse portfolio of energy solutions” as industry demand for electric products continues to grow.

It will continue to support the firm’s longstanding presence in New York state and its “green” product line via the assembly of advanced-energy products, including lithium-ion battery packs used in Raymond lift trucks.

“We are excited to welcome The Raymond Corporation’s expansion to Broome County and are grateful for their commitment to growing here,” Broome County Executive Jason Garnar said in the state’s announcement. “This new facility will bring valuable jobs, cutting-edge technology, and a significant boost to our local economy. Raymond’s decision to expand in our community shows strong confidence in our future.”

The company has begun the process of renovating, equipping, and operating at this facility and expects to be fully operational sometime in 2025. This announcement builds on the significant work taking place in New York state and the Southern Tier in the energy storage and advanced battery industries, Hochul’s office said.

Empire State Development is assisting the company with the project by providing up to $1 million through the performance-based Excelsior Jobs tax-credit program.

“This grand opening marks a significant milestone in our company’s journey,” Michael Field, president and CEO of the Raymond Corporation said in the state’s announcement. “But more importantly, it represents our commitment to the future by bringing jobs, growth and opportunity to advance the community and the material handling industry, and by offering our customers with superior energy solutions to fit their unique needs.”

Josh Linnemann, VP of engineering at Toyota Material Handling, added that the strategic investment will help power a greener future and solve customers’ evolving problems. “The Energy Solutions Manufacturing Center of Excellence will allow us to create so much value for our customers by developing and producing solutions to meet each customer’s unique needs,” he said.

About Raymond, TMHNA

Founded in 1922, the Raymond Corporation launched in the village of Greene in Chenango County as a foundry. The company’s products evolved to include patents for the design of the first double-faced wooden pallet and hydraulic hand-pallet truck.

In 2017, the company introduced its first lift truck powered by a lithium-ion battery, per the announcement.

Toyota Material Handling North America (TMHNA), which calls itself “the industry leader in forklift sales,” is composed of two main group companies: Toyota Material Handling, Inc. and The Raymond Corporation. One in three forklifts sold in North America is either a Toyota or Raymond product.

With nearly 2.5 million square feet of manufacturing space, TMHNA is composed of five manufacturing-plant locations: Greene in Chenango County, along with Columbus, Indiana; Muscatine, Iowa; East Chicago, Indiana; and Oakville, Ontario, Canada that produce racking products and more than 1,500 forklifts per week.

With annual revenue topping $4 billion, TMHNA has more than 15,000 employees and more than 300 dealer locations to support Toyota and Raymond customers throughout North America.

N.Y. manufacturing activity expands again in September

Manufacturing & Engineering, Subscriber Only

Led by new orders, shipments Respondents reporting increases in new orders and shipments helped the general business-conditions index of the monthly Empire State Manufacturing Survey rise 16 points to 11.5 in September. That’s according to the Sept. 16 report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. It was the first time manufacturing activity had

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Led by new orders, shipments

Respondents reporting increases in new orders and shipments helped the general business-conditions index of the monthly Empire State Manufacturing Survey rise 16 points to 11.5 in September.

That’s according to the Sept. 16 report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. It was the first time manufacturing activity had expanded in New York state since November of last year.

In the past few months, the general business-conditions index rose nearly 2 points to -4.7 in August after slipping less than 1 point to -6.6 in July. The index is the monthly gauge of New York’s manufacturing sector.

A positive index number indicates expansion or growth in manufacturing activity, while a negative reading on the index shows a decline in the sector.

The survey found “new orders climbed, and shipments grew significantly,” the New York Fed said.

It also found firms grew more optimistic that conditions would improve in the months ahead, though the capital-spending index dipped below zero for the first time since 2020.

The New York Fed distributes the Empire State Manufacturing Survey on the first day of each month to the same pool of about 200 manufacturing executives in New York. On average, about 100 executives return responses.

Survey details

The new-orders index climbed 17 points to 9.4, a multi-year high, pointing to a “modest” increase in orders, while the shipments index rose 18 points to 17.9, its highest level in about a year and a half, “signaling strong growth” in shipments, the New York Fed said.

Unfilled orders were little changed. The inventories index rose 11 points to 0, indicating that inventories were level after declining for the prior two months.

The delivery-times index rose to -1.1, suggesting that delivery times were little changed, and the supply-availability index came in at -2.1, a sign that supply availability was slightly lower.

The index for number of employees came in at -5.7, pointing to another month of “modest” employment reductions, the New York Fed said. After a steep drop the prior month, the average workweek index recovered to 2.9, signaling a slight increase in hours worked.

Price indexes were little changed: the prices-paid index was 23.2, and the prices-received index remained low at 7.4.

New York manufacturing firms grew more optimistic that conditions would improve in the months ahead. The index for future business activity moved up 8 points to 30.6, with 45 percent of respondents expecting conditions to improve over the next six months.

However, the capital-spending index fell 11 points to -2.1, dipping below zero for the first time since 2020.

ConnextCare plans to open new Oswego office in early 2025

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Health Care, Subscriber Only

OSWEGO — ConnextCare is targeting the early part of 2025 for operations to begin in its new office in Oswego. The health-care organization held an Aug. 7 groundbreaking ceremony for the new office at 120 E. First St. in Oswego where construction on the building is ongoing. The total project cost is $11.8 million, Karli

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HOA is now seeing patients at new Camillus cancer center

News

CAMILLUS — Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY (HOA) is now providing care at its new cancer center at 5490 Cobbler Way in the town of Camillus.

Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital leader calls $10 million Golisano donation “magical”

New York News, Education & Training, Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Health Care, Insurance & Financial Services, Nonprofits, Small Business, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The executive director of Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital says the recent $10 million donation from Rochester businessman Thomas Golisano is “magical” for what it means for its future. “Tom has been with us every step of the way in our journey to provide the best care for our kids,” Dr. Gregory Conners,

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“Tom has been with us every step of the way in our journey to provide the best care for our kids,” Dr. Gregory Conners, who also serves chair of pediatrics, said in a statement from Upstate Medical University. “The Golisano name is synonymous with great pediatric care, and I cannot thank him enough for his support.”

Golisano also provided the $6 million naming gift for Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital before it opened in September 2009.

The Syracuse facility is among 82 upstate nonprofit organizations that Golisano named as recipients of a total of $360 million in funding. Golisano announced the funding awards on Tuesday, Sept. 17 at the Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship in Rochester.

Golisano — entrepreneur, philanthropist, and civic leader — is the founder of Paychex, Inc., the nation’s largest human-resource company for small to medium-sized businesses, providing human-capital management services for payroll, benefits, human resources, and insurance services for more than 745,000 clients in the U.S. and Europe.

“We’re grateful to Tom Golisano and his caring heart and generosity that has helped Upstate improve the lives of many children through our facilities and services that bear his name,” Dr. Mantosh Dewan, president of Upstate Medical University, said. “He has helped us transform medical care for children through this region and elsewhere. How fitting that this latest gift from Tom comes as we celebrate the 15th anniversary of the opening of Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital. On behalf of the children, their parents and our staff, thank you.”

Eileen Pezzi, VP for development at Upstate, added her appreciation.

“Tom’s beneficence is boundless,” Pezzi said in the Upstate announcement. “His yearslong investment in Upstate and the children of Central New York speaks volumes about his commitment to this region and its people. Tom cannot help but think big, as he wants to help so many. Thank you, Tom, for thinking big.”

Pezzi attended Golisano’s announcement in Rochester Sept. 17 with Upstate Foundation board chair Rita Reicher.

Metallica’s M72 World Tour coming to the JMA Wireless Dome in April 2025

Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, New York News

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Iconic heavy-metal band Metallica will bring its M72 World Tour to the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse on Saturday, April 19, 2025.

Madison County celebrated its new veteran’s community center with a ribbon-cutting event on Thursday, Sept. 19. The center provides veterans a place to socialize as well as be connected with services and assistance. (Photo credit: Madison County)

Madison County celebrates opening of veteran’s community center

Mohawk Valley, Construction, Design & Real Estate, Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Featured, Law, Accounting & Taxes, New York News, Nonprofits

ONEIDA, N.Y. — Madison County’s Veterans Service Agency (MCVSA) cut the ribbon on its new Madison County Mission First Veterans Community Center at a ceremony

Restaurant offering French dishes formally opens in Utica

Mohawk Valley, Construction, Design & Real Estate, Featured, Small Business, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism

UTICA N.Y. — La Bistrot, a French–inspired restaurant featuring a local twist, celebrates its formal opening at 3 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 23, with a

Nonprofits EFR, ARISE plan to merge

Nonprofits, Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Health Care, Insurance & Financial Services, Law, Accounting & Taxes, Subscriber Only

SALINA, N.Y. — The boards of directors of Exceptional Family Resources (EFR) and ARISE say they are planning to merge the nonprofit organizations to “better serve people with disabilities.” EFR operates at 1820 Lemoyne Ave. in the town of Salina. ARISE’s main office is located at 635 James St. in Syracuse. Both EFR and ARISE

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SALINA, N.Y. — The boards of directors of Exceptional Family Resources (EFR) and ARISE say they are planning to merge the nonprofit organizations to “better serve people with disabilities.”

EFR operates at 1820 Lemoyne Ave. in the town of Salina. ARISE’s main office is located at 635 James St. in Syracuse.

Both EFR and ARISE say they’re “committed to delivering person-centered services to ensure that people with disabilities are fully included in our community at work, school and home,” per the joint announcement.

Upon securing legal approvals, EFR will be the surviving corporation governed by a board combining the contributions of each organization’s current board of directors.

“This collaboration will not only maintain but also surpass the highest standards of care for the individuals and families we assist, while also fostering a more robust and secure work environment for our team members,” Bruce Drake, CEO of EFR, said in the announcement.

“ARISE and EFR are incredibly well-matched,” Tania Anderson, CEO of ARISE, added. “We both believe in the power of people with disabilities. Together, we will be stronger and better able to serve our community.”

In a phone interview with CNYBJ, Anderson says both organizations are targeting mid-2025 to finalize the merger, but it will depend on regulatory approvals.

ARISE has about 600 employees, and EFR has about 900 employees, and both employee counts include variable hour staff members, Anderson noted.

“We anticipate that with natural attrition that we’ll be able to maintain positions,” she added.

Anderson, who is a lawyer, will stay with the organization in a senior leadership role as corporation counsel, she tells CNYBJ.

About the organizations

Founded in 1974, EFR provides community-based services and supports to people with developmental disabilities. Its programs include the Self-Directed program, in which people with developmental disabilities manage their staff and services.

EFR went on to say that its “desire to be an employer of choice is driven by the philosophy that the individuals we support and their families receive timely supports and services in the way that best meets their needs.”

Founded in 1979, ARISE is the designated independent living center for Onondaga, Oswego, Madison, and Cayuga counties.

It provides more than 50 different programs for people of all ages with all kinds of disabilities, including a mental-health diagnosis.

ARISE says it is founded on the “Independent Living Philosophy, which recognizes the power of people with disabilities to direct their services and set their goals and requires full inclusion and access.” ARISE’s affiliate corporation, ARISE at the Farm in Madison County, offers inclusive recreation programs.

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$15.6 million project to create up to 45 new jobs

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