Hudson Valley Newsmakers, 7.21.2014
ORMC appoints unit director
Christine MacKay has been promoted to nursing unit director for 4 West at Orange Regional Medical Center in Middletown.
She has an extensive clinical background, including medical/surgical, telemetry and emergency nursing and is a board-certified medical/surgical nurse. MacKay has received recognition for excellence in customer service and nursing practice as the Orange Regional Medical Center STAR of the year (2011) and most recently as the recipient of a Grateful Patient Award. MacKay has been a member of the Orange Regional Medical Center family since 2003, most recently working as a staff nurse and charge nurse on the night shift in the emergency room.
She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Chamberlin College and is enrolled at Chamberlin pursuing a Master of Science degree in nursing/nurse executive track.
Elant executive wins leadership award
Christine O”™Toole, vice president and executive director of Elant at Meadow Hill, recently received the James W. Sanderson Memorial Award for Leadership from at the organization”™s annual conference and exposition in Saratoga Springs.
The leadership award honors LeadingAge New York”™s longtime counsel and is given to an individual who is dedicated to the long-term care field and its residents, admired and respected by colleagues, creative and practical and shows personal leadership and strong values.
O”™Toole came to Elant at Meadow Hill, which was facing fiscal and regulatory pressure, in 2009. O”™Toole led her team in identifying and implementing policy, procedural and organizational changes to transform the culture of the organization. Under her leadership, the goals were achieved faster than expected, resulting in significant improvement in quality measures, reduction in staff turnover and improved financial health and stability.
LeadingAge New York represents not-for-profit, mission-driven and public continuing care providers, including nursing homes, senior housing, adult care facilities, continuing care retirement communities, assisted living and community service providers. The organization represents more than 600 members who employ 150,000 professionals in New York.
“Chris has a tremendous can-do attitude, which impacts everyone around her to make them better at their jobs, resulting in exceptional care and quality of life for our residents,” said Todd Whitney, president and CEO of Elant Inc.
Through her career, O”™Toole has held various positions of increasing responsibility in long-term care facilities, including nursing supervisor, associate director of nursing, director of nursing and nursing home administrator.
“This award could not have been achieved without the inspiration I have received from the seniors, my colleagues and my exceptional staff who work by my side every day at Elant at Meadow Hill and are always ready and willing to go the extra mile,” O”™Toole said.
Focus Media names senior vice president
Tony Morino has been promoted to senior vice president of client services at Goshen-based Focus Media Inc.
“Tony continues to show excellent management and client service that provide creative approaches to solve clients”™ needs,” said Josh Sommers, president and CEO of the agency. “His extensive skills have helped us take on a growing portfolio of clients across the Hudson Valley.”
Morino began at Focus Media in 2007 as a public relations strategist and then served as director of client services and vice president for client services. Before joining Focus Media, Morino spent eight years in broadcasting.
New board members at ORMC
The Orange Regional Medical Center Foundation in Middletown welcomed Michael J. Flynn, J. Miguel Rodrigues and Catherine B. Suehnholz to its board of trustees.
Flynn joined the Middle Market Commercial Lending Group of M&T Bank in 2001, after four years in the bank”™s retail division. Flynn holds a bachelor”™s degree in business management/finance from the State University of New York at Oswego and a master”™s degree in business administration from Mount Saint Mary College, in Newburgh.
Rodrigues is the director of safety, security and emergency management for the Greater Hudson Valley Health System. He has spent many years as a public servant and is currently the Common Council president and a police commissioner of the city of Middletown. He served on the City Council for more than 10 years.
Suehnholz, is a retired nurse and a member of the Orange Regional Medical Center Auxiliary. She was a member of the Goshen Parent Teachers Association, Sullivan County Community College Scholarship Committee and Harvard University Parents Fund. She is also a therapy dog handler at Orange Regional and resides in Goshen.
Stepping up business by learning more
Stacey Tompkins, president of Tompkins Landscaping Corp. in Putnam Valley, serving clients in Westchester and Putnam counties for more than 30 years, recently graduated from the Academy for Entrepreneurial Excellence in Westchester. She was one of eight members of the Class of 2014 who received a certificate at the graduation dinner at Sam”™s Gedney Way in White Plains.
“I learned new information that will help make my company more competitive in the marketplace,” Tompkins said. “I would highly recommend this course to a small business owner that is looking to step up their game.”
The academy is a partnership between Westchester Community College Gateway to Entrepreneurship and The Business Council of Westchester. The local businessmen and women spent 12 weeks immersed in sessions dedicated to bringing their business to the next level.
Tompkins, a married mother of three, has held her position as president of the family-owned company since 2013. Her role has been to oversee the execution of services, including but not limited to commercial excavation, hardscape and landscape design and installation, property development and residential and road construction in Putnam, Westchester, Rockland and Dutchess counties. Prior to her promotion she held the title of vice president for 10 years.
Information for these features has been submitted by the subjects or their delegates.