WCNY appoints COO and VP of development

SYRACUSE — Richard A. Sullivan, of Skaneateles, has been named executive vice president and chief operating officer at WCNY. He brings 34 years of news-media experience to Central New York’s public-broadcasting company, WCNY said in a news release.

Prior to joining WCNY, Sullivan was managing editor for local news at The Post-Standard for 14 years. He also served as sports, community, and regional editor for 13 years. He was responsible for print, web, and mobile content. In his new role, Sullivan is responsible for providing day-to-day organizational management and will manage government, community, and industry and board relations, according to the release.

Sullivan taught journalism for nearly 10 years as an adjunct professor at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. He was a longtime supervisor of the Newhouse Foundation Graduate Fellowship for Minorities program.

Sullivan earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from New York University.

Thomas A. Burton, of Cicero, has been named WCNY’s vice president of development. Prior to joining WCNY, he was Onondaga Community College’s (OCC) vice president for institutional advancement and executive director of the OCC Foundation. Burton also served as WCNY’s director of development for nearly 10 years, the release said.

Burton brings more than 30 years of advancement, fundraising, major donor, planned giving, and leadership experience to WCNY. He is responsible for WCNY’s capital campaign to raise funds for WCNY’s new Broadcast and Education Center; and development strategies in membership, volunteerism, grants, planned giving, major gifts, special events, and auctions, WCNY said in the release.

Burton earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing from the State University of New York College at Fredonia.