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The Arc of Westchester Appoints Tibisay Guzmán as Executive Director and CEO
The Arc Westchester, the County’s largest agency supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, is proud to announce the appointment of Tibisay (Tibi) Guzmán to executive director and CEO. Guzmán currently serves as associate executive director/chief operating officer of the organization, serving on the leadership team at The Arc Westchester for the last 13 years and overseeing different aspects of the organization, starting with The Wellness Center for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Services and following with programs to enhance life skills and Career Supports Services. Guzmán’s experience includes serving as a Executive Vice President of Riverside Health Care Inc. and as a board member of the New York State APSE chapter, participating in local functions. In her new role, Guzmán will be responsible for overseeing and managing day-to-day activities of The Arc.
Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano Appoints Matthew Gallagher to Corporation Counsel
Mayor Mike Spano of Yonkers recently announced the promotion of Matthew Gallagher from Senior Associate Corporation Counsel to the position of Corporation Counsel for the City of Yonkers. Gallagher replaces Michael Curti, who had served as Corporation Counsel since 2012 Gallagher had previously been vital to several bargaining agreements under Mayor Spano’s tenure, and handled litigation as well as contract negotiations involving the City of Yonkers. Gallagher previously served as Legislative Counsel to the Westchester County Board of Legislators, as well an Assistant County Attorney in the Westchester County Attorney’s Office.
County Executive Latimer Appoints Peter McCartt to Director of Energy Conservation and Sustainability
Westchester County Executive George Latimer recently announced the appointment of Peter McCartt as the new Director of Energy Conservation and Sustainability. For more than 12 years, McCartt’s work has focused on the environment, energy conservation, and sustainability. He is responsible for the creation of several successful organizations and programs across Westchester, including Sustainable Westchester, Inc., Eastchester’s Environmental Committee, Friends of Twin Lakes and the Southern Westchester Energy Action Consortium. “I am proud to name Peter McCartt as a key member of my team, who brings a wealth of experience on the environment, energy conservation and sustainability,” says Latimer. “Peter will be charged with rolling out many important initiatives, including launching a County-wide food scrap recycling program, upgrading the County’s fleet to electric vehicles and working with the sound shore communities and rivertowns to ensure our waterways are protected.”
Empire City Casino Welcomes Daniel Clark as New Director of Player Development
Empire City Casino in Yonkers has announced the hiring of Daniel Clark as the new Director of Player Development. Clark has spent 16 years with Caesars Entertainment where he developed his breadth of experience working in hotel and revenue management, food and beverage operations, and casino marketing. He has also worked at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City, and has spent the better part of two decades working in hospitality and casino gaming in the Midwest. He graduated from SUNY Delhi in Hotel and Resort Management and is a Certified Room Division Executive through the Education Institution of Hospitality, one of the most prestigious certifications.
Katherine Richardson Named Chief Human Resources Officer, Michael Taylor Named Chief Claims Officer, and Jason Metzger Named Head of Risk Management for The PURE Group
The PURE Group of Insurance Companies, based in White Plains, has appointed 25-year insurance industry veteran Katherine Richardson (pictured above) as Chief Human Resources Officer. Richardson has experienced from Allied World Assurance Company, serving as SVP and Global Head of Human Resources and holding several HR roles at AIG, in both their field operations and home office. Richardson graduated from Texas A&M University and is certified as a Professional in Human Resources by the Society of Human Resource Management. In her position on the PURE Executive Committee, she will report directly to President and Chief Executive Officer Ross Buchmueller and be responsible for developing core people strategies to build upon workplace culture.
In addition, Michael Taylor has been promoted to Chief Claims Officer for PURE, while Jason Metzger has been promoted to Head of Risk Management. Both will join the company’s Executive Committee and will report directly to President and CEO Ross Buchmueller. Taylor brings more than 30 years of insurance industry experience, including executive roles at AIG and CNA. He joined PURE in 2016 as Deputy Claims Officer. Metzger joined PURE in 2013 following a ten-year stint at Progressive. During Metzger’s tenure at PURE, he has overseen broker distribution and led business development for the New York Metro Region.
Greg Mendoza Appointed General Manager for The Ritz-Carlton New York, Westchester
The Ritz-Carlton New York, Westchester recently announced Greg Mendoza has been named the hotel’s new General Manager. Mendoza previously served as the General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park. In his new role, Mendoza will be responsible for overseeing all operations of the 146-room White Plains hotel, including its spa, rooftop pool, fitness center, lobby, as well as 10,000 square-feet of meeting and event space. Born in Colombia, Mendoza is a graduate of S.E.N.A. hotel management school and brings more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry.
CareMount Medical Promotes Lisa Bardack to Associate Medical Director and Rafael Axen to Medical Director and Chair of the Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine Department
CareMount Medical, the largest independent multi-specialty medical group in New York, is celebrating the promotion of Lisa Bardack, MD (above, right) to Associate Medical Director. Bardack will serve as a physician leader and be integrally involved in CareMount Medical’s practice transformation, population health, and quality programs. She will continue to serve as Chair of the Internal Medicine Department, having served as a physician with CareMount Medical for more than 20 years, and will also continue providing clinical services at CareMount Medical’s Mount Kisco office. Bardack is board-certified in internal medicine and has served as Assistant Medical Director at CareMount, now currently holding privileges at Northern Westchester Hospital and the position of Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
Axen (above, left) oversees anesthesia services in CareMount Medical’s operating rooms and procedure suites. He also develops and evaluates medical and surgical services as well as perioperative protocols and policies across all of CareMount Medical’s locations. In his role as Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Axen recruits and manages the Anesthesiology Department and conducts strategic planning. In addition, Axen will serve as Compliance Officer of The Ambulatory Surgery Center of Westchester.
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The Westchester Bank Welcomes Jay Serniak and Steve Komosinski
The Westchester Bank recently appointed Jay Serniak (pictured, left) to the position of Vice President, Commercial Lending. Serniek has over 25 years of experience working as a commercial and private banker at institutions like Citibank, Merrill Lynch, US Trust, and BNY Mellon. He is a member of the Business Council of Westchester, the Westchester County Association, the White Plains Chapter of USA 500 and the Real Estate Finance Association in Fairfield County. He has worked with both middle market companies and high net worth individuals focusing on credit and lending, covering corporate financing.
The Westchester Bank also appointed Steve Komosinski to the position of Vice President and Branch Manager for the Bank’s Mount Kisco location. Komosinsk, a life-long resident of Westchester County, brings more than 25 years of industry experience. In his capacity as VP and Branch Manager, he is responsible for leading local branch operations, generating new business activity, and ensuring that the highest standards of customer and community service are met. Komosinski has previously worked at the Yonkers Savings & Loan Association, Bank of New York, HSBC, and most recently served as Branch Manager of People’s United Bank in Riverside, Connecticut.
A Flurry of Hiring Activity in the Real Estate Sector!
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Houlihan Lawrence Appoints Stephanie Lynch Williams to Head of Digital and Welcomes Several New Agents
Houlihan Lawrence has announced the appointment of Stephanie Lynch Williams (pictured, left) as its new head of digital. Williams served as vice president of brand and content strategy at Goldman Sachs, were she was responsible for corporate branding, marketing, and advertising initiatives while overseeing paid digital strategy and corporate ad campaigns. Additionally, she led content partnerships across a multitude of digital platforms. In Williams’ new role at Houlihan Lawrence, she will oversee all digital and mobile marketing, product, and strategy efforts for more than 1,300 of the firm’s agents. “Stephanie is a pro at using data to drive marketing results, and we look forward to unleashing her prowess for the benefit of our agents and their home buyers and sellers,” said Houlihan Lawrence CMO Anne Marie Gianutsos.
In addition, Houlihan Lawrence has welcomes several new agents to the company’s Yonkers office. Tammy “Teresa” Belmore is joining Houlihan Lawrence from Better Homes & Gardens Mark Emmerich previously worked for Halstead Brooklyn. Antonietta “Toni” Gugliotta previously worked at IBM Corp. Joseph Mantle has worked for both Apple and Royal Carribean. Iyinimole “Yennie” Neal-Achigbu, who is a lifelong resident of Yonkers, previously worked for the Department of Education in New York City. Roseann Paggiotta has worked for Century 21 and Better Homes & Gardens Rand Realty. Jefry Rojascuevas joins Houlihan Lawrence from Silverson Realty of Scarsdale, while Richard Schweitzer was previously with Better Homes & Gardens Rand Realty.
Southeby’s International Realty Brings On Judith Cascone and Gia Young as Agents
Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty is welcoming experienced agents Judith Cascone and Gia Young (pictured above, left to right) to their Irvington brokerage. Judith Cascone graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in communications and also holds a degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan. Cascone was at agent at Douglas Elliman for almost 30 years, specializing in sales and rentals of Westchester residential and commercial properties, and was also recognized as a “Five Star Realtor” by Westchester Magazine in 2012 and 2013. The two agents are much anticipation by the firm, as Irvington brokerage manager Virginia Doetsch says, “Judith and Gia take pride in delivering the best possible experience for their clients. It is my pleasure to welcome them both to the team, and I look forward to seeing the contributions they will make.”
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Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Rand Realty Welcomes Nicole Borsey to Leadership Team
Nicole Borsey (pictured, right) is joining the leadership team for Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Rand Realty in Yonkers and Bronx offices, bringing 15 years of residential and commercial real estate experience to Rand Realty. She graduated from Fordham University and NYU University, earning a certificate in digital media production and establishing her own residential real estate firm, The Property Network, which was based in Stamford. Borsey is dually licensed in New York and Connecticut, reaching top-producer status as a sales agent, named best real estate agent by Fairfield Weekly for two consecutive years, and given specialized training to sell distressed properties over the years of her career
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Rand Commercial Takes on Anthony Antonellis
After three years of selling residential real estate throughout Bergen County at Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty, Anthony Antonellis (pictured, left) is proudly welcomed by Rand Commercial as he teams up with Donna Licata in New Jersey. Paul Adler, Chief Strategy Officer at Rand Commercial expresses that by combining forces with Licata, Antonellis is opening way for “a smooth collaboration as clients search for the best investment opportunities.”
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Ripco Real Estate Hires Lisa Daniel to Expand Area Presence
Ripco Real Estate (Ripco) announced that Lisa Daniel (right), a highly touted retail professional specializing in Westchester and Fairfield counties, has joined to expand the firm in those regions. Daniel has successfully represented boutique tenants entering Westchester and Fairfield counties, and has worked with landlords to place retailers in those exclusive high-end markets. She had a successful tenure at Goldschmidt & Associates, a Westchester brokerage owned and operated by her family, and has engaged in office and medical leasing, providing acquisition and dispositions of investment properties for her clients in addition to her retail work.
