First Niagara names business development officer
First Niagara Commercial Finance Inc., the asset-based lending arm of First Niagara Financial Group Inc., announced that David Raphaels has joined the bank as first vice president and senior business development officer. In his new role, Raphaels is responsible for developing new asset-based lending relationships with companies in the metro New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Hudson Valley and eastern Pennsylvania markets. He reports to FNCF National Director of New Business Development Keith Broyles, and will be based in Nyack.
Raphaels brings to the bank 30 years of commercial lending and business development experience. He previously held similar positions at PNC Business Credit, CIT, Wells Fargo Capital Finance and People”™s United Bank.
Raphaels holds an MBA from Lehigh University and a BS in Finance from Rider College. He resides in Basking Ridge, N.J. with his family.
New foundation president at ORMC
William Dauster, has been appointed president of the Orange Regional Medical Center Foundation in Middletown. His primary functions include major donor cultivation and solicitation and he will be highly involved in the capital campaign for Orange Regional”™s new pediatric center.
With a broad array of experience in philanthropy, specializing in fundraising development, Dauster most recently was vice president of marketing and development for Hudson Valley Hospital Center where he was responsible for foundation operations, capital campaign and revenue growth. He also was responsible for marketing, public, community, government and physician relations. He completed a $16 million campaign at Hudson Valley Hospital Center and a $20 million campaign for a replacement facility for Jersey City Medical Center in New Jersey.
“We are pleased to welcome William to the Orange Regional Medical Center community. He will bring a high level of experience in community-based health care and will lend additional creativity to our already successful foundation,” said Jonathan Rouis, foundation chairman.
Dauster received his Master of Science degree in specialized journalism- industrial advertising and public relations from New York University Polytechnic University and his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from William Paterson University. He is a certified fundraising executive and founding president of the Association of Fund Raising Professionals, Westchester Chapter.
Infectious diseases division added at Health Quest
Stuart Feinstein has joined Health Quest Medical Practice in Poughkeepsie and will head its new division of infectious diseases.
“I”™m really excited about this opportunity,” Feinstein said. “It”™s a chance for me and Vassar Brothers Medical Center to join together and make further advances in treating infectious diseases.”
Feinstein said he expects to improve upon infection control, antibiotic utilization and clinical care.
He is board certified in infectious diseases and internal medicine and attended medical school at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn. His post-graduate work was conducted at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx and a fellowship in infectious disease at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx.
A certified specialist in HIV treatment from the American Association of HIV Medicine and a member of the Infectious Disease Society of America, Feinstein has been in practice since 1985.
Businessman nominated for national award
Dutchess County resident and business owner, Chris Meyer, has been selected by Rebuilding Together as one of six finalists eligible to receive the National 2014 Tradesperson of the Year Award.
The fourth annual award honors America”™s skilled trades volunteers who use their talents to lend a hand to their neighbors and their communities. The six finalists were selected from applications received from Rebuilding Together affiliates nationwide. Meyer, president of Meyer Contracting, is one of Rebuilding Together Dutchess County”™s (RTDC) most valued supporters and has been involved with the local nonprofit for nearly 15 years.
“Chris has been an integral supporter of RT Dutchess County,” Executive Director Christina Boryk said. “His contracting expertise contributed greatly to the development of our organization as well as our Rebuilding Day Programs. We are thrilled to learn that such a great friend and community leader is being recognized for his selfless service to better our local community.”
For more information on Rebuilding Together Dutchess County or how you can support its community efforts, please visit rebuildingtogetherdutchess.org or call 845-454-7310.
2014 Henry Awards honor HV visionaries
Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress will honor a wide-ranging group of innovators and community leaders Nov. 6 when it presents the 2014 Henry Awards at its annual awards reception.
“We give these awards, to take stock of the many positive initiatives and achievements in the Hudson Valley,” said Pattern for Progress President and CEO Jonathan Drapkin. “And it really is no exaggeration to say that these individuals and organizations infuse the region with a great deal of vision and hope.”
Recipients of the 2014 Henry Awards are:
Ӣ Daniel Aronzon, former CEO of Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award as a former Pattern board member who has remained active in promoting quality of life in the region.
Ӣ John DӪAmbrosio, recently retired president of the Orange County Chamber of Commerce, and Charlie North, soon-to-retire president of the Dutchess County Chamber of Commerce, will each receive the Excelsior Award for Regional Leadership.
Ӣ Michael Israel, president and CEO of Westchester Medical Center, will accept the Regional Achievement Award on behalf of the medical center.
Ӣ Harold Lepler and Larry Nadel, founders and proprietors of Covington Development, will receive the Economic Development Award on behalf of their Putnam County-based residential and commercial-scale development firm.
Ӣ Diane Serratore, executive director of People to People in Nanuet will receive the Regional Fellows Award, which honors the spirit of regionalism. With this award comes a one-year term on the Pattern board of directors commencing in January 2015.
Ӣ Robert Dandrew, director of the Local Economies Project, will accept the Quality of Life Award for Conservation and Land Use on behalf of the project with its Hudson Valley Farm Hub and related initiatives.
Ӣ Darlene Fedun, CEO of Bethel Woods Center for the Arts and the Museum at Bethel Woods, will accept the Quality of Life Award for Education on behalf of the museum.
Ӣ Tony Danza, Ron Israelski and Ken Steier, visionaries behind the establishment of the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine new Middletown campus, will receive the Quality of Life Award for Healthcare.
Ӣ John P. Stern, president and CEO of Storm King Art Center in Mountainville will accept the Quality of Life Award for Tourism on behalf of the center.
Ӣ Wendy Nadel, executive director of Yonkers Partners in Education will accept the Quality of Life Award for Improvement of Urban Areas on behalf of the organization.
The awards will be given Nov. 6 at Anthony”™s Pier 9 in New Windsor. The event takes place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. To reserve a seat or a table at the awards dinner, call Pattern”™s office at 845- 565-4900, email rdegroat@pfprogress.org, or visit www.Pattern-for-Progress.org for more information.
Food & Beverage Alliance welcomes new member
Bobbysue”™s nuts!, a company that produces a broad range of artisanal nuts, has joined the Hudson Valley Food & Beverage Alliance as a member.
The company is based in Westchester County, but all of its products are roasted and packaged at Farm to Table Co-Packers in Kingston.
“As our company has grown through the years, some of our biggest accomplishments were due to the relationships we”™ve built with other companies in the Hudson Valley,” said Barb “Bobbysue” Kobren, owner of bobbysue”™s nuts! “In this tight-knit business community, everyone is vested in each others”™ successes. We”™re very excited to join the Hudson Valley Food & Beverage Alliance to have even more opportunities to network so we can gain insights, continue to grow the company and, in turn, help others.”
“We are very pleased to welcome bobbysue”™s nuts! to the Food & Beverage Alliance, as this company exemplifies modern, socially responsible entrepreneurism,” said Laurence P. Gottlieb, president and CEO of HVEDC. “We look forward to the insights and contributions Barb Kobren and her team will bring to our organization, as we rapidly expand in order to increase the Alliance”™s extensive network of food and beverage entrepreneurs in the Hudson Valley region.”
In addition, “bobbysue” and her team are dedicated to improving the lives of homeless animals throughout the community, donating a portion of the company”™s profits from every sale. Over the past five years, bobbysue”™s nuts! has contributed more than $40,000 to this cause and it aims to help the SPCA of Westchester raise enough money to build a modern shelter facility and provide educational opportunities to children.
Marist graduate named principal of NYC firm
Rosen Seymour Shapss Martin & Co. LLP certified public accountants and probability consultants in New York City has promoted John P. Giordano to principal.
A CPA, Giordano joined the firm in September 2004. He is a graduate of Marist College and holds a B.B.A. in accounting and business administration. With more than 10 years experience in public accounting, he specializes in providing accounting, assurance and advisory services for a broad array of clients.
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