7 minute read
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh has named Kelly Montague as the city’s public information officer specifically focused on city infrastructure and Brooke Schneider to the role of senior public information officer in the city’s Office of Communications. Montague will be responsible for a wide range of public information and communication activities supporting the departments of public works, engineering, water, and fleet management. In this new role, Montague will produce a range of public communications and content for web, print, and social media, as it relates to activities and public projects affecting roads, sewers, pedestrian traffic, and public spaces. She will develop and distribute public information to proactively educate and engage Syracuse residents and media in ongoing and upcoming major infrastructure projects and initiatives such as supplemental sidewalk snow removal, snow safety, road reconstruction, and I-81 construction. Montague, a Syracuse native, moved to the District of Columbia after her graduation from Syracuse University, receiving her bachelor’s degree in geography and minoring in environment and society. She spent time building her career first with National Geographic Maps and then the D.C. Office of the Chief Technology Officer, working to establish the District’s GIS mapping and enterprise services before moving back to Syracuse in 2017 to work as a GIS Analyst at environmental consulting firms. In her most recent role as marketing and design assistant at the Erie Canal Museum, Montague created and assessed community outreach opportunities, produced multimedia assets for the Erie Eats: The Erie Canal Foodways Project, and aided in the development of the museums marketing. Montague is a member of the Communications Committee of the New York State Geographic Information System (NYS GIS) Association, where she supports communications social media and web. She has received several awards for her work in design from NYS GIS and the Esri Mid-Atlantic Users Conference for her work in digital maps and poster design. She recently joined the board of the George & Rebecca Barnes Foundation, contributing to work at the historic Barnes-Hiscock Mansion.
Schneider’s work for the city concerns public policy communication, media relations, digital content creation, and community engagement support. In this role she is responsible for planning, preparing, and communicating critical information on government activities, services, programs, projects, and objectives to Syracuse residents, and community partners. In her previous role in the private sector, Schneider worked as an account executive at the international communications agency BCW Global, planning and directing media content and strategies while leveraging engagement across multimedia channels.
With a background in public diplomacy, global communication and international relations, she spent time in Brussels, Belgium working with the communications unit of Global Union Federation, Education International (EI). Schneider also worked in New York City on the New York Public Affairs team at BerlinRosen, a firm specializing in strategic communications, creative services, digital strategy and media relations. Schneider received her Bachelor of Science in Public Relations from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. As a Newhouse student, she was named social media director for The NewsHouse’s #HighStakes campaign. In this role she earned national recognition for her social media strategy with awards from the Associated Collegiate Press, the College Media Association, the Society for Features Journalism, the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, and the Society for News Design. Schneider also completed her master’s degree in Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, with an emphasis on International Development Administration.
At Loretto, Smith promoted and Conan returns
Loretto has promoted Julie Smith to marketing and communications manager. Formerly senior marketing coordinator, Julie Smith started at Loretto in 2020. She holds a bachelor of science degree in business management with a concentration in marketing and a minor in Communication/ Journalism from St. John Fisher College. Smith resides in Liverpool. In her new role, she is responsible for implementing comprehensive communications campaigns to advance the goals of employee recruitment and retention as well as fostering support of The Loretto Foundation. Smith is also responsible for managing Loretto’s social media channels along with coordinating employee and community outreach events.
“I look forward to continuing to work with our Loretto team to recruit and retain employees who have the potential to grow their careers with us,” she said. “I also am excited to continue to fundraise and implement valuable programs that benefit our residents and employees through our Loretto Foundation.” Loretto has also hired Kate Conan, RN, as senior outreach coordinator. Formerly an outreach coordinator for Loretto, Conan was rehired in 2021 to head a new admissions program to assist families in finding the right level of service where and when they need it. Conan, a Skaneateles resident, studied business at Syracuse University and Niagara University before receiving her associate degree in applied science in nursing from Cayuga Community College to become a registered nurse. Conan brings years of diverse experience to Loretto. She previously worked at Crouse Hospital, where she received clinical training in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. In addition to clinical experience, she brings business insight to her new role, with previous experience selling enzymatic wound ointments for Knoll pharmaceutical as an RN/sales representative. As senior outreach coordinator, Conan will work closely with referral sources, hospitals, outside agencies, providers, and families to help identify individuals in need of services - and work collaboratively to direct them to the most appropriate facilities and level of care. She will provide valuable insight on the continuum of care services Loretto has to offer – from PACE CNY to assisted living, skilled nursing facilities, and dedicated memory care communities.
“I look forward to assisting families and residents as they navigate through the health care system and transition into Loretto’s facilities with different levels of care and services - ensuring the process is seamless for them,” Conan said.
Dermody, Burke & Brown, CPAs announces two hires
Dermody, Burke & Brown, CPAs, LLC has announced the addition of Tammy Reyes, CPA/PFS, CGMA, MT who joined the firm as a principal in the tax department. Reyes has more than 24 years of experience in the public accounting industry. She joins the firm with previous tax leadership experience and a specialization in the taxation of trusts and estates and high net worth individuals. She also serves corporate and partnership clients and is a certified public accountant (CPA), a personal financial specialist (PFS) and registered financial consultant (RFC). Reyes received a bachelor‘s degree in accounting from Binghamton University School of Management, a masters in taxation from University of Denver, and a certificate in financial planning from Kaplan College. SheisamemberoftheAmericanInstituteofCertifiedPublicAccountants, the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the International Association of Registered Financial Consultants. She is a member of the Estate Planning Council of Central New York and serves as the treasurer and board member for the Landmark Theatre. She is also a past board member and treasurer for Wester Federal Credit Union and Baltimore Woods Nature Center. Reyes resides in Camillus. DB&B also announced the recent hire of Bailey Davis as an associate in the Syracuse office. Davis joined the firm as an associate in the tax department. She received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from SUNY Buffalo and a master’s degree in accountancy from The City University of New York at Baruch College. Bailey joins the tax department after interning with Dermody, Burke & Brown in 2021. She is working to complete the certification process to earn her designation as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). She resides in Manlius.
Leadership Greater Syracuse (LGS) is pleased to announce that Amy Lawler, senior vice president of finance for CenterstateCEO, has been elected as president of the board of directors. She will serve a two-year term as board president.
Lawler participated in the LGS Class of 2011 and immediately started volunteering upon graduation. She joined their program committee and their finance committee. Lawler was elected board treasurer in 2014 and most recently served as board vice president from 2020-2021.
Renae Rokicki, senior leadership and development coordinator at SUNY Upstate Medical University, was elected as LGS board secretary following six years as a board member including two years on the governance and nominating committee. She will serve a two-year term as secretary. Additionally, Jin Gwak, chief digital and information officer of AmeriCU Credit Union, was elected to a three-year term as a board member. Gwak was a member of the LGS Class of 2015. Ryan McDermott, vice president of commercial banking at M&T Bank, was elected as board vice president and treasurer. McDermott participated in the LGS Class of 2011 and joined the organization’s finance committee in 2013. He was first elected as board treasurer in 2020. He will serve a two-year term and vice president and treasurer. The officers were elected at the organization’s annual meeting in November of 2021. “LGS is honored to have these high caliber professionals serve on our board of directors,” said LGS Executive Director Pam Brunet. “These individuals are leaders within their organizations and they epitomize the LGS mission by taking an active role in the community.” For more information about Leadership Greater Syracuse, visit http://www.leadershipgreatersyracuse.org.
