PROFILE By Stefan Yablonski
ALLEN CONNELY
New CEO of Oswego Industries and Arc of Oswego County has his hands full advocating for those he serves
O
swego Industries and Arc of Oswego County board of directors approved a management services agreement appointing Allen Connely as Laurie Davis’ successor, effective March 1. Connely, who is the president and CEO of Mozaic, (Seneca, Cayuga, Yates, Tompkins County Arc) now provides direct oversight of both agencies as part of a planned leadership succession plan. Mozaic and its affiliated companies provide critical services for people with disabilities throughout the New York Finger Lakes area. “We, at Mozaic, are grateful to have the resources to be able to help other organizations with similar missions to ours be successful so that they can continue to provide more of their mission within their communities,” the president and CEO of Mozaic, Oswego Industries and Arc of Oswego said. He was born in Oklahoma and raised in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Connely did his undergrad work at Graceland University in Iowa. He earned his MBA from Drury University
and I had been talking about Allen Connely also Oswego collaborating for more than a year. When decided to retire it seemed to make serves as the president she sense from the board’s perspective that make the collaboration more formal, and CEO of Mozaic in we which we did when I became the CEO for OI and Arc of Oswego.” the Finger Lakes. His responsibilities are typical the in Springfield, Missouri, and master’s in international management from Thunderbird, now under Arizona State University, he said. “Growing up, I wanted to be a professional football player — can’t grow up in Oklahoma without having some desire to play football,” he added. He has been the CEO for Mozaic for six years. He is a strong advocate for those he serves — striving to expand “meaningful job opportunities for people with disabilities.” “We have a textile manufacturing facility and are a DOD contractor. Oswego Industries also does manufacturing for the federal government,” he said. “The previous CEO at OI–Arc of
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responsibilities of any CEO — oversee management of both organizations and focus on growth in mission while being financially sustainable, he explained. How similar are the two jobs? “Very similar. OI and the Arc of Oswego are smaller companies than Mozaic, but the jobs are very similar,” he said.
Travelin’ man While employed in the commercial industry for 25 years, Connely had the opportunity to live or work in 26 different countries. “I worked for the Amway Corporation and was in charge of its detergent division for some time and then moved up to have other responsibilities,” he said. “The jobs I had were on the inter-
