Certified enterprise
DESIGNWORKS NY L.L.C. in Middletown, a marketing and design firm, has received national certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the Women’s Business Development Center of Pennsylvania, Delaware and southern New Jersey, a regional certifying partner of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). DesignWorks NY has locations in South Salem, Middletown and Matamoras, Pa.
“We are excited to be officially certified as a Woman-Owned Business Enterprise,” said Kelley Briggs, principal and executive creative director. “As we enter our 15th year in business, we look forward to the new opportunities the WBE certification will bring.”
And the award goes to…
THE ORANGE COUNTY PARTNERSHIP will present awards in three categories at its annual event, which will be held Dec. 3 at 5 p.m. at Anthony’s Pier 9 in New Windsor.
Maureen Halahan, president and CEO of the organization said, “I am particularly pleased to announce this year’s recipients as they reflect the diversity of economic growth that Orange County is experiencing.”
The award winners are:
• THE SPIRIT OF INNOVATION AWARD recognizes exceptional initiative that epitomizes the forward-thinking spirit of Orange County. Warwick Town Supervisor MICHAEL SWEETON and the town will receive this award for its innovative plan and clear commitment to economic development by transforming a state-owned correctional facility to a valuable commercial real estate industrial park.
• THE QUALITY OF LIFE AWARD recognizes excellence in leadership involving the creation, maintenance or enhancement of life in Orange County. TOURO COLLEGE will receive this award for its vision of converting the shuttered Horton Hospital building into a medical school that will enhance both economic development and quality of life in the county.
• THE GOLDEN SHOVEL AWARD recognizes a vision to further responsible growth that helps strengthen and diversify the economy in Orange County. The Alliance for Balanced Growth, a standing committee of the Orange County Partnership, will recognize UNITED NATURAL FOODS INC. as the recipient of this award for the construction of its 505,000-square-foot LEED Gold Certified distribution center in the town of Montgomery.
For more information about this year’s event, contact Norma Byrne at (845) 294-3696 or norma@ocpartnership.org.
Above and beyond
CAROL HOLBERT, an active community member and facilitator of the Orange Regional Medical Center Caregiver Support Group, was presented the Fearless Caregiver Award by the center.
“Holbert has demonstrated loyalty, compassion and has gone beyond the call of duty to provide the highest quality of care not only to her own family but the individuals that attend the support group,” according to the hospital. Holbert also served on the ORMC Foundation board of trustees from 2005-2011.
New member on Cancer Society board
LISA KELLY, key account director at Focus Media in Goshen was named to The American Cancer Society’s Hudson Valley Region board of directors.
“I look forward to advancing the American Cancer Society’s goals in a way that will serve both the organization and the community at large,” Kelly said.
Kelly recently co-chaired the organization’s Birthday Bash, a milestone event that commemorated 100 years since the American Cancer Society’s inception. The event raised more than $100,000 for cancer programs and research.
Kelly earned her bachelor’s degree in communication arts from St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, and went on to work for Madden Communications & Marketing, Rockland County’s largest public relations firm. She joined Focus Media in 2010 as an account executive and was promoted to key account director in 2011. Kelly has served on committees for several community organizations, including Elant and the Orange County Rural Development Advisory Corp.
Rising stars
JUSTINE GEISLER, Orange Regional Medical Center nursing director and MIGUEL RODRIGUES, director of safety, security and emergency management at the Middletown hospital, were recently honored as two of Orange County’s rising stars. The awards, presented by its founding organizations, the Junior League of Orange County Inc., Leadership Orange and the Orange County Chamber of Commerce, recognize individuals between the ages of 21 and 40 who are up-and-coming leaders in their professional and volunteer lives.
“These two individuals illustrate dedication and commitment to our hospital’s mission and we are proud to work with them every day,” said Scott Batulis, hospital president and CEO.
Selection is based on the individual’s professional and volunteer activities, demonstrated leadership and the impact the nominee has had on his/her organization or community.
Scholarship accounted for
JUDELSON, GIORDANO & SIEGEL (JGS), an accounting and business- consulting firm in Middletown, has awarded a SUNY Orange accounting student with a scholarship for the 10th consecutive year.
GEORGE PONZONI of Middletown received this year’s award. He is in his second year of SUNY Orange’s two-year associate’s degree accounting program and expects to graduate in May 2014. He is planning to either continue his accounting education in a four-year program or begin his accounting career in a junior-level position after graduation. He said he will use the $1,000 award toward his tuition.
“I’d like to thank Judelson, Giordano & Siegel very much for being a local firm that is helping out a local student,” Ponzoni said. “The values of this firm are deeply tied to this community, SUNY Orange and the accounting program, which is very much appreciated.”
Loans on the new menu
WHEN SAWYER SAVINGS BANK PRESIDENT GABRIEL SOTTILE heard longtime restaurateur Luigi Mazzella was planning to retire, he had conflicting feelings. Casa Mia, Mazzella’s restaurant, a fixture in Highland for more than 40 years, was one of Sottile’s favorite restaurants. But its location on Route 9W was an ideal spot for a new bank branch.
Casa Mia closed its doors over the summer and the site will be transformed into a $2 million, 3,500-square-foot branch of Sawyer Savings. The bank is to open next spring.
“I’m going to miss Luigi’s cooking, but we’re pleased to be able to build our new branch on the site,” Sottile said.
Mazzella said he too had mixed feelings about leaving a business he loved. A native of Italy who immigrated here when he was a child, Mazzella built the restaurant shortly after he was discharged from the U.S. Army. “I was designing my first menu when I was still in the service,” he said.
The deal transferring the property from Mazzella to Sawyer Savings was brokered by John Schlosser of Quinn Realty Group of Highland. John Quinn, broker/owner of Quinn Realty Group, said he was glad he was able to help Sawyer Savings find a way to remain in the town.
Lloyd Town Supervisor Paul Hansut said he too would miss Mazzella’s cooking at Casa Mia. But he praised Quinn for working to foster economic growth in the town by brokering the deal with Sawyer Savings.
“John’s a longtime Highland resident who genuinely cares about the town,” Hansut said.
Drawn to a new role
KATHRYN HOUGHTALING has been promoted to senior art director by Goshen-based Focus Media Inc.
Houghtaling joined the agency in 2010 as a graphic designer. In her new role, she will oversee all aspects of creative design for the firm and manage the design department, specializing in branding, advertising, web design and visual communications.
Prior to joining Focus Media, Houghtaling served as creative director at Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Inc., executing graphic design for academic books, journals and promotions and directing design, layout and production.
She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in graphic design and visual communication and a Bachelor of Arts degree in printing from SUNY New Paltz. She is a member of the Graphic Artists Guild, The American Printing History Association and Cambridge Who’s Who of Executive Women.
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