Leake and Watts adds to its board
Matt Del Percio, a principal and management consultant at Altman Vilandrie & Co. based in Boston, has joined the board of directors of Yonkers-based Leake and Watts Services Inc.
DelPercio brings his expertise in strategic planning, analytics and technology to the board and his devotion to the agency”™s mission to support at-risk children, adults and families.
“Matt is passionate about helping to lift the people and the communities we support,” CEO Alan Mucatel said. “In today”™s environment of shrinking government budgets and growing human service needs, his knowledge and experience will help Leake & Watts continually improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our 43 programs, serve more than 8,000 people daily in New York City and Westchester.”
WCC joins education network
Westchester Community College has joined 15 other community colleges in joining the Achieving the Dream Reform Network, which focuses on methods to increase student success and completion rates. It is a national nonprofit leading the nation”™s most comprehensive nongovernmental reform network for student success in higher education history.
Achieving the Dream recently welcomed colleges from eight states with faculty, staff and administrators from those institutions participating in the 2015 Achieving the Dream Kickoff Institute in Cincinnati.
“To become an Achieving the Dream College, applicants must demonstrate an institution-wide commitment to spend at least three years working with Achieving the Dream experts to implement reforms designed to improve student success and completion rates on their campuses,” said Achieving the Dream President and CEO William E. Trueheart.
“Our new affiliation with Achieving the Dream will give our institution a wonderful opportunity to build upon existing student success effort,” said Belinda S. Miles, president of Westchester Community College.
The Achieving the Dream 2015 Cohort is joining a network of more than 200 colleges that are working to preserve access and assure that their students, especially low-income students and students of color, achieve their goals for academic success, personal growth, and economic opportunity.
ORMC promotes three
Orange Regional Medical Center in Middletown announced the promotions of Mary Kate Revella to director of cardiology services, Christopher Stimpson to manager of behavioral health services and Diane Vinciguerra to operating room director.
Revella joined the hospital in 2010 as a registered nurse in the progressive care unit, where she later began taking the role of charge nurse. Most recently, she served as supervisor for the centralized telemetry monitoring unit, where she created a strategic timeline for implementation of the central telemetry program.
Stimpson joined ORMC in 2004 and began working in behavioral health services as the program coordinator in 2009.
Vinciguerra started in 2012 as clinical coordinator for the operating room. Her new scope of responsibility will include overseeing the daily operations of the surgical suite, working closely with surgeons and staff to provide patients with perioperative care.
Composto to lead NY Women”™s Bar Association
Andrea F. Composto of South Nyack was recently inducted as the 33rd president of the Women”™s Bar Association of New York. In recognition of this appointment, Rockland County Legislator Nancy Low-Hogan presented a proclamation declaring June 16 a day in Composto”™s honor.
A 2002 graduate of Albany Law School, Composto was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2003 and the Bar of the U.S. Supreme Court in 2006. She is the third generation to practice in a family-owned law firm and has held many positions within the state organization, which advocates for the equality and fair treatment of women, promotes the advancement of women in society and within the legal profession and works to change laws focused on domestic violence, equality in marriage dissolution, custody fairness and sexual violence in crimes. Composto is also active in the Rockland County Women”™s Bar Association, the Columbian Lawyers Association of Rockland and the Brooklyn Women”™s Bar Association.
Schandler honored for distinguished service
The Healthcare Association of New York State presented its 2015 Distinguished Service Award to Jon B. Schandler, former CEO of White Plains Hospital.
“Under Jon”™s steadfast leadership spanning nearly four decades, White Plains Hospital transformed from an outstanding community hospital to an exemplary regional destination for care,” association President Dennis Whalen said.
Schandler joined White Plains Hospital in 1976 as controller and was named CEO in 1981, overseeing continuous expansion of clinical services, strategic partnerships, collaboration and recruitment of top medical talent. The hospital also created White Plains Physician Associates, which increased the specialists available to the hospital, and it began an alliance with Montefiore Health System.
Attorney opens Warwick office
Deborah A. Young, an attorney with more than 25 years of experience, including serving as deputy attorney general for the New Jersey Division of Law for 10 years, has opened an office at 3 Forester Ave. in Warwick. Her practice specializes in legal services for small to midsize businesses.
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the opening of her office she said, “It”™s a wonderful feeling to be welcomed into such a tight community and to be among so many other businesses that have made their business home right here in the Warwick Valley.”
KeyBank names relationship manager
Rodney Bolden of Middletown has been named relationship manager of Key@Work at KeyBank, responsible for managing the workplace banking program throughout the Hudson Valley. Key@Work provides an exclusive package of free and discounted banking services for companies to offer to employees as part of its overall benefits package. Bolden is based in KeyBank”™s Poughkeepsie office at 2515 South Road.
Restaurant marks 10 years
Owners Cheryl and Paul Karas have celebrated the 10th anniversary of The Pioneer Restaurant at 49 Oakland Ave. in Warwick.
Although this was their first restaurant, Paul Karas had previously been a professional chef for almost 30 years.
He had worked at restaurants from New York to California and for a time, owned a catering company. Before opening The Pioneer, Karas had served 20 years as the chef for the Warwick Inn, now the home of The Dautaj Restaurant.
Longtime Warwick residents, Cheryl and Paul Karas grew up in the days when they and their classmates at Warwick Valley High School would stop at the old Pioneer for a hamburger or an ice cream.
Today the new Pioneer, with its attractive décor and surroundings, serves mostly American cuisine and the atmosphere is casual and family friendly.
Scanlon named Realtor Associate of the Year
Sherry Scanlon of KZA Realty Group Inc. was recently named Realtor Associate of the Year at the 91st annual banquet for the Bronx-Manhattan North Association of Realtors.
“I”™m happy, grateful and thankful for this honor and hope I live up to it,” Scanlon said. “The Bronx is a beautiful place to work and hard work pays off. Real estate is a very competitive field and it”™s nice to get recognition for what you do.”
Scanlon, an Armonk resident, co-owner of a plumbing supply store and former president of a Pelham Bay merchants association, joined KZA Realty Group, a full-service commercial real estate firm specializing in the New York City and southern Westchester County markets, in 2012 after meeting with its president, Kathy Zamechansky.
“Sherry has been a fantastic addition to our team, using her extensive knowledge of the local commercial real estate market as a former long time Bronx resident and business owner to bring in the right tenants and ownership for our properties,” Zamechansky said.
Day spa celebrates grand opening
Andrea Sannella officially opened the doors to Andrea”™s Day Spa at 7 Wisner Road in the town of Warwick with her family, Town Supervisor Michael Sweeton and Michael Johndrow, executive director of the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Spa services include facials, reflexology, waxing, manicures and pedicures.
Federspiel honored
NewYork-Presbyterian/Hudson Valley Hospital President John Federspiel has been honored with the Healthcare Leaders of New York Senior Level Healthcare Executive Regent”™s Award. The award recognizes affiliates experienced in the field who have significantly contributed to the advancement of health care management excellence. Awardees are chosen based on leadership ability, innovation and creativity in management and for developing their organization and promoting its growth and stature in the community.
“John”™s leadership is a force behind elevating the patient experience at NYP/Hudson Valley Hospital to such a high level,” said Laura L. Forese, president of the NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System, which the hospital joined earlier this year. “This award affirms that he is a superb manager and that the hospital he runs is a wonderful place to get well.”
Pop-up barbecue opens in White Plains
New York Hospitality Group”™s Great American BBQ Co. recently celebrated its seasonal grand opening with a ribbon-cutting attended by 100 guests, including Deputy County Executive Kevin Plunkett and White Plains Mayor Tom Roach. Visitors enjoyed complimentary tastings of classic barbecue specialties, including Carolina pulled pork, sweet corn pudding, braised beef brisket and St. Louis ribs ”“ all available this summer 7 days a week at the Great American BBQ Shack on the deck at Sam”™s of Gedney Way, 54 Gedney Way.
Open until Labor Day, hours are Monday to Saturday noon to 9 p.m. and Sunday 4 to 9 p.m.
Markhoff & Mittman managing partner supports summer campers
Brian Mittman, managing partner of Markhoff & Mittman PC law firm in White Plains, takes community service so seriously that he will be closing his entire office July 23 from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and making it mandatory for his staff to volunteer at Lifting Up Westchester”™s Summer Camp for homeless and at-risk children. They will be helping at the camp”™s annual Carnival Day, a summer highlight for the 90 campers who range in age from 5-13 years, which takes place at the Ridgeway Elementary School, 225 Ridgeway, White Plains. The law firm employees will assist by painting faces, running game booths, handing out prizes and serving refreshments.
Mittman commented, “We began our partnership with Lifting Up Westchester by organizing a communitywide food drive called ”˜Hope for the Holidays”™ this past December. Afterwards, we served a meal at Grace”™s Kitchen where we felt an immediate connection with the agency”™s soup kitchen”™s guests, many of whom live in our neighborhoods. We wanted to do more. Lifting Up Westchester”™s Development Director Chris Schwartz, told us about Brighter Futures, the agency”™s summer day camp for homeless children and their need for 25 volunteers to manage their carnival. Before she finished her sentence, I said, yes.”
County parks department honors former board chairwoman
Friends of Westchester County Parks recently unveiled an engraved bench at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla to honor Elizabeth Bracken-Thompson, the former board chairwoman for the organization.
According to Joseph Stout, Friends”™ executive director, the organization wanted to thank Bracken-Thompson for her continued contribution to Westchester County Parks, especially during her tenure as Friends”™ board chairwoman.
“Under Elizabeth”™s leadership, we were able to accomplish so many successful projects and she continues to be helpful with promoting our county parks system. We thought an engraved bench at Kensico Dam Plaza was the perfect way to show our gratitude,” Stout said. “On behalf of friends, we”™d like to say ”˜thank you”™ to Elizabeth for all that she has done as board chairperson and all that she continues to do for us.”
Bracken-Thompson is a partner with Thompson & Bender in Briarcliff Manor. She served as the Friends board chairperson from 2008 through 2014, during which time many successful projects were implemented.
“I am so grateful to be honored with an engraved bench at one of the county”™s most beautiful parks,” Bracken-Thompson said. “Being on the board was truly a remarkable opportunity and I am pleased to be able to remember that experience every time I go to Kensico Dam Plaza.”
Director of marketing and communications named at Food Bank
Courtney Davis Walker of Pleasantville has been named director of marketing and communications at Food Bank for Westchester, headquartered in Elmsford. In her new role, she will oversee all aspects of internal and external communications for the organization, helping to build awareness and support for the Food Bank”™s mission, operations and events.
Most recently, Davis Walker held the position of managing account supervisor at one of the top global PR firms, Ketchum, where she worked for five years counseling clients on accounts such as IKEA and FedEx.
Prior to that, she spent seven years with NBC Universal in communications and corporate events, working closely with the executive leadership and ad sales teams. In addition to cross-company media relations, Davis Walker played key roles in major event strategy and execution, including NBC”™s merger with Universal and the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She was highly involved in the launch of Autism Speaks, an autism advocacy organization in 2004.
Davis Walker began her career in NBC”™s “Page Program” and worked as a freelance associate producer for Fox Business Network and as an event producer for Telemundo Network in Miami, Florida.
Promotions at Mahopac Bank
James McKenna of Poughkeepsie has been appointed marketing communications business partner at Tompkins Mahopac Bank on Route 22 in Brewster. In his new role, McKenna is responsible for overseeing the marketing and communication efforts in the Hudson Valley region and providing marketing support to the bank”™s 14 branches.
McKenna came to the bank from Sodexo USA and brings more than five years of marketing experience to the organization. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from SUNY Plattsburgh and his Master of Arts degree in integrated marketing communication from Marist College.
The bank has also promoted David Carey of LaGrangeville to residential lending manager in its Brewster branch. He will be responsible for managing the origination of residential mortgage business.
Ice cream social
Port Chester-based Zyloware Eyeware hosted its first event with Ice Cream Emergency, a full-service, ice cream catering mobile company.
Part of its “We Are Zyloware” initiative, the company invited employees, local and optical press and Port Chester residents to join the ice cream fun replete with an abundance of ice cream flavors and toppings.
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