MOVERS & SHAKERS

Empower Federal Credit Union has hired Ebony King as its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer. King will be responsible for the development, implementation, and oversight of the credit union's diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy. King has more than 16 years of experience in the field, most recently serving as the diversity and inclusion specialist for Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) at Syracuse University. In this capacity she led and facilitated ODI diversity, equity, and inclusion training and workshops. King implemented the ODI workshop program and served as office liaison to campus departments, offices, committees, and programs. She also conducted diversity and inclusion presentations, facilitated dialogue on race and ethnicity and communicated with various programs throughout the university. Prior positions held: Director of Multicultural Engagement and Senior Director of Diversity and Inclusion, for Buena Vista University in Iowa.

Ebony is from the Bronx. She received her bachelor’s degree in social work with a minor in psychology and a master’s degree in higher education administration, both from Syracuse University. King also received a diversity and inclusion certificate from Cornell University. She currently resides in Liverpool and enjoys movies, dancing, interior design and spending time with her miniature Dachshund, Coco.

“We are excited to have Ebony join our team in the role of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer”, said Senior Vice President/ Chief Administrative Officer Erin Fuller. “This new position is vital to the success of our company.”

Registered nurse honored with national award

Nascentia Health has announced that Andrea MacDonald, RN, the organization’s clinical operations manager, was named the winner of the 2022 Joan Anne McHugh Award for Leadership in LTSS (long-term services and supports) Nursing. The award is given by LeadingAge, a national organization comprising more than 5,000 aging services nonprofits. The award is given annually to one nurse leader in the United States who “creates a supportive and engaged workplace environment by displaying excellent leadership skills while managing nursing and frontline staff.” The award was given in person at LeadingAge’s Annual Meeting and EXPO, Oct. 16-19, in Denver, CO. Along with the award, Andrea receives $1,000 toward leadership training of her choice.

Andrea has more than 40 years of experience in the nursing field and has been with Nascentia Health for the past seven years. She oversees the organization’s licensed home care services agency (LHCSA). In that role, she manages more than 10 registered nurses and 120 home health aides. Andrea leads Nascentia’s caregiver respite program that has impacted the lives of hundreds of seniors and their families. She also manages Nascentia’s in-house home health aide training program that teaches critical caregiving skills and prepares trainees to pass their home health aide certification exam.

Andrea is a hands-on leader who is always focused on including her team in the decision-making process. Her team says that she is a compassionate leader whose unique blend of strength and empathy is the perfect fit for her role. She connects on a personal level with her staff and truly gets to the root causes of the situation. Through her commitment to understanding and patience, she develops well-rounded solutions that she can implement with strong support. She received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Hartwick College. She resides in Auburn.

Named Norman Odell Citizen of the Year

The town of Nelson and the Erieville-Nelson Heritage Society have announced that Nancy Demyttenaere is the 2022 Norman Odell Citizen of the Year. This award is given to a citizen of the town for volunteer work in and around the community.

Demyttenaere is being recognized for her work in changing the character of the four corners in the hamlet of Nelson, making it a place of note and activity. Using her background in historic preservation, she has transformed a number of buildings including the Mad Tacos building, a house on Route 20, and a building in the back of Mad Tacos that was once a blacksmith shop. She is now leading a group of preservation-minded people who has purchased the Old Drovers Inn and working on getting grants to restore the Inn in hopes of having it listed on the state and national register of historic places.

A reception to celebrate Demyttenaere is planned for Nov. 6 at 2 p.m. at the Erieville Fire Hall. All are welcome.

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