MOVERS & SHAKERS

Courtney Lyon, MHA, LNHA, administrator for Loretto Health & Rehabilitation, received the New Administrator of the Year award for Central New York from The American College of Health Care Administrators New York Chapter. Lyon was promoted to administrator in 2020. After two of the most challenging years in healthcare, she received the award in recognition of her exceptional commitment as well as her demonstrated potential in the areas of administrative capability, leadership, innovation, creativity, motivation, attitude, and leadership.

“Courtney is exactly the type of administrator and leader that our industry and our community need right now,” said Kim Townsend, president and CEO for Loretto Health & Rehabilitation. “She has contributed to a culture of trust and performance excellence benefiting employees, residents and family members.”

Lyon has been a part of Loretto Health since joining in 2016 as a finance specialist. Her career path includes serving as operations manager for Loretto Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation where she was responsible for daily operations to ensure patients and residents receive high quality care. In her current role, Lyon ensures oversight, follow-up and collaboration among directors and staff to provide appropriate and effective care and services.

Lyon holds a master’s degree in healthcare administration, from Utica College and is a licensed nursing home administrator. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Le Moyne College in 2012.

Long-time employee promoted at PACE CNY

Loretto promoted long-time employee and registered nurse, Tammy Natoli, to director of marketing and intake at PACE CNY. In her new leadership role, Natoli will play an integral part in promoting PACE CNY programs and services by developing, maintaining and implementing existing and new marketing plans that align with Loretto’s business initiatives. Natoli will report to the executive director at PACE CNY. An employee of PACE CNY since 2001, Natoli has spent the past 21 years working at the organization as a registered nurse intake coordinator, a role that also supports the sales and marketing department. Before joining Loretto, Natoli worked as a registered nurse at POMCO and at St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center.

Natoli is a graduate of St. Joseph’s School of Nursing in Syracuse (now known as St. Joseph’s College of Nursing) and worked as a charge nurse on a cardiac telemetry unit and then an endoscopy unit at the hospital.

Natoli resides in Baldwinsville with her family. Receives Distinguished Scholar Award

As one of the major employers in the area and the largest healthcare system in the County, Oswego Health knows firsthand that a highly-educated nursing workforce strengthens the quality of care provided to patients. In 2020, Oswego Health launched a tuition assistance program for their employees looking to advance their training as registered nurses. Among those who have taken advantage of the opportunity is Amber Shumway RN, BSN. Shumway graduated in July 2021 from Southern New Hampshire University with her bachelor of science in nursing but was recently notified that she was among the top students with the highest final GPA in the program and was presented with the Distinguished Scholar Award for having a 4.0 GPA.

Joining Oswego Health in 2016 as a graduate nurse in the Medical-Surgical Unit, Shumway has quickly advanced her career throughout the health system and worked in several departments including Surgical Services and the Fulton Urgent Care. Most recently she was promoted to RN Supervisor for Clinical Administration at Oswego Hospital.

“Amber’s commitment to caring extends beyond the hospital walls and this prestigious recognition for her hard work in the classroom, proves just that,” stated Director of Nursing Melissa Purtell, RN, BSN, MSN. “Her dedication to the profession of nursing and patient-centered care is truly remarkable and we are very fortunate she chooses to provide local care here at Oswego Health.”

The RN Tuition Assistance program is offered to current employees at Oswego Health looking to advance their training as Registered Nurses. New employees or those interested in working for Oswego Health are also eligible to apply at www.oswegohealth.org.

CCE of Madison County welcomes new executive director

Cornell Cooperative Extension Madison County recently announced Larkin Podsiedlik has been appointed executive director of CCE Madison. She had been serving as interim executive director with the association for several months. Podsiedlik was previously the executive director of CCE Steuben County in Bath and is returning to the Cornell Cooperative Extension system after working in philanthropy and nonprofits in Syracuse.

A lifelong resident of Central New York, Podsiedlik grew up in Fabius, and got her start in CCE as the senior nutritionist for the Finger Lakes Eat Smart New York nutrition education program. Prior to that she worked for Foodlink, a regional food hub and the Feeding America food bank serving the Finger Lakes. She is a nonprofit and food systems leader with experience in program delivery and development, organizational leadership and community outreach in Maine, Massachusetts, and upstate New York.

Podsiedlik has a master’s in public health and a master’s in agriculture, food, and the environment, both from Tufts University.

CCE Madison brings local experience and Cornell research-based solutions together to help Madison County farms, families, and communities thrive. CCE Madison is committed to addressing community needs, from startups to centennial farms, from professional gardeners to home gardeners, from families needing access to healthier food options to youth needing positive role models and development opportunities.

“I believe CCE is a springboard for a lot of important conversations on things like food systems, climate change and youth development—all of those things where we can make a difference,” Podsiedlik said. “I look forward to helping CCE make a big difference in Madison County.”

Podsiedlik lives in Lafayette with her husband, David, and their two young children.

Ecodessa honored by state senate

Ecodessa, a sustainable retail fashion company that sells women’s clothing and accessories from ethical, sustainable, and socially conscious fashion brands, has been honored by the New York State Senate with the Empire Award. The award recognizes businesses and institutions that have made significant contributions to their local community. This fall Ecodessa is closing its downtown Syracuse storefront location at 312 S. Salina St. to further grow its e-commerce platform. Caeresa Richardson, owner, a Syracuse University engineering alumnus and community leader, stepped away from a full-time engineering career and opened Ecodessa in 2020, fusing art, social responsibility, fashion, and technology.

“Prior to Ecodessa’s departure in Downtown Syracuse, I am determined to continue inspiring Black retail entrepreneurs to open businesses in Downtown Syracuse,” Richardson said.

“Caeresa Richardson has added so much to the vibrancy of downtown Syracuse with her store, Ecodessa, she’s done it with a focus on sustainable clothing & manufacturing practices,” said Senator Rachel May. “Its clothing that’s stylish and good for the environment. Now, she takes her green business practices to ecommerce, where I’m sure she’ll make her mark there, too. I’m happy to honor Caeresa’s work with the New York State Senate 2022 Empire Award.”

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