Westchester County Newsmakers, 9.1.2014

Family Services program receives award

My Second Home, Family Services of Westchester Inc.”™s social model adult day and intergenerational program in Mount Kisco, has been selected by the National Adult Day Services Association for a 2014 Outstanding Adult Day Center Award.

In the letter announcing the award, the association noted that My Second Home”™s staff deserves to be recognized for their “expertise, experience, innovation, creativity, kindness and compassion.”

Rina Bellamy, director of My Second Home, and Susan B. Wayne, FSW president and CEO, will be on hand to receive the award at the association”™s annual conference Oct.11 in Charlotte, N.C.

Developed by FSW in 1998, My Second Home addresses the needs of the burgeoning population of older adults in Westchester County. Housed in the same building as the Mount Kisco Child Care Center, My Second Home provides a homelike environment where older adults can continue to find meaning and dignity in their daily lives through stimulating activities, wellness programs, personal care, excellent nutrition and “living room-to-living room” transportation. What sets it apart from other programs is its intergenerational component, which brings children from the Mount Kisco Child Care Center and adults together on a daily basis to share in activities and forge relationships that promote mutual understanding.

“We are thrilled to receive this award,” Wayne said, “not only for the recognition that Rina and her team at My Second Home so rightly deserve, but because it reinforces our decision to bring this tremendously successful model to White Plains.” Wayne is referring to the Lanza Family Center for All Ages, a new multigenerational site that FSW is developing on North Broadway in White Plains. The center is under construction and scheduled to begin operations early in 2015.

SunTrust names chief marketing officer

SunTrust Banks Inc. has announced that Westchester resident Susan Somersille Johnson has joined the Atlanta-based company as executive vice president and chief marketing officer. She will oversee the company”™s brand strategy and marketing operations, reporting to CEO William H. Rogers Jr.

Johnson was most recently vice president of Global Marketing for NCR Corp. and previously served as global head of customer marketing for Nokia. Prior to that, she held leadership roles in a number of technology organizations.

“Susan has a proven track record of building brands by enhancing the client experience,” Rogers said. “She brings broad industry and marketing experience ranging from retail and communications to technology and financial services.”

While at NCR, Johnson led the marketing effort to revitalize and reposition the brand as it transformed to a modern software-driven tech company. At Nokia, she developed and deployed targeted initiatives that drove customer demand and set record levels of performance.

Johnson holds a bachelor”™s degree in engineering sciences from Harvard University and an MBA in finance from The Wharton School.

Diamond Properties receives green business certification

Diamond Properties of Mount Kisco received green business certification through Westchester Green Business-Certified, a program launched by Westchester County and The Business Council of Westchester. From recycled paper products and solar panels to green cleaning products and electric cars, Diamond Properties made advances toward building more sustainable office spaces. Among other achievements that led to its certification, the business has implemented a comprehensive waste management program that includes tenant and custodial training as well as partnerships to collect electronic waste and other hazardous items.

“It is such an honor to receive this certification as it depended on everyone in our office coming together to work toward a common goal, a greater cause that would benefit our community and set an example for tenants across our portfolio,” CEO Jim Diamond said. “Not only was this a fun and challenging process within our company, but it helped us to make connections and learn the best practices of other companies throughout the Westchester County business community.”

Hitachi awards grant to Guiding Eyes

Guiding Eyes For The Blind has received a $10,000 grant from Hitachi Metals America Ltd.”™s local Community Action Committee. The grant will support the nonprofit”™s Sights on College program, a training curriculum specifically for adolescents who are blind or visually impaired. The program offers specialized training on college campuses. When the student arrives at his or her college, a Guiding Eyes instructor travels to that college and assists in the student”™s acclimation to the new surroundings. Together, the student and Guiding Eyes dog learn essential routes to the student”™s daily schedule ”” from the dormitory to classrooms, dining halls, the student union and campus transportation.

“While visiting Guiding Eyes I had the opportunity to learn about the organization”™s work and see firsthand the difference guide dogs make in people”™s lives,” said Peter Knight, Hitachi Metals”™ director of human resources. “It”™s very gratifying to know Hitachi Metals America, is able to help Guiding Eyes fulfill its mission.”

Yorktown-based Guiding Eyes for the Blind provides guide dogs, professional training and follow-up support services to blind and visually impaired individuals around the world at no cost to them, depending solely on contributions to fulfill its mission.

Houlihan Lawrence adds to its Scarsdale office

Yulri “Julie” Lee and Tianying Xu have joined the Scarsdale office of Houlihan Lawrence as licensed salespeople.

“Julie and Tianying are both dedicated and enthusiastic agents with diverse skill sets and strong passions for helping clients to navigate the complex process of buying or selling a home,” said Chris Meyers, managing principal of Houlihan Lawrence. “We are pleased to welcome them to the team.”

Lee had previously worked at LG Electronics USA Inc., where she was a training manager responsible for its overall capability of building, improving productivity of LG employees and spearheading training and development programs. Lee received her bachelor”™s degree from Tufts University and studied counseling psychology at Columbia University. Lee resides in Hartsdale with her family.

With a strong background in civil engineering, Xu received her bachelor”™s degree from Xi”™an Technological University in China, and a master”™s degree in business and management from Northumbria University in the United Kingdom. Prior to joining Houlihan Lawrence, Xu was an estimator at Can Trust GC Construction Co. in Canada, where she was responsible for takeoff and pricing of projects. Xu resides in Scarsdale with her family.

Information for these features has been submitted by the subjects or their delegates.