Promotions And Honors In The World Of Westchester Business This Week (2/16)

Prestigious Honor for Westchester Bank CEO John M. Tolomer

John M. Tolomer, president and CEO of The Westchester Bank has accepted an invitation to serve as a member of The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (FDIC) Advisory Committee on Community Banking. The Advisory Committee is made up of just 15 bank leaders from around the country. The FDIC Advisory Committee was established in 2009 with a primary mission to provide advice and recommendations to the FDIC on a broad range of community bank policy and regulatory matters. This includes examination of current policies and procedures, credit and lending practices, deposit insurance assessments, insurance coverage, and regulatory compliance.

“It’s an honor to be selected as a member of the FDIC Advisory Committee on Community Banking and I appreciate the confidence the FDIC placed in me by providing this unique opportunity to serve,” Tolomer said in a statement. “I look forward to a meaningful exchange of ideas with these exceptional industry leaders and hope that collectively we have a positive and lasting impact on the future direction of community banking.”

Legal Services of the Hudson Valley CEO Inducted Into Women’s Hall of Fame

Barbara Finkelstein, CEO of Legal Services of the Hudson Valley and a 914INC. 2014 Women in Business honoree, has been selected by The Women’s Research and Education Fund (WREF) as the 2015 winner of its 31^st Annual Women’s Hall of Fame Award. On March 27, 2015, Finkelstein will receive the coveted “medallion” at the Women’s Hall of Fame Scholarships & Awards Luncheon, at The Doubletree Hotel in Tarrytown. The Women’s Hall of Fame Award is presented to a woman who has made an outstanding contribution to Westchester County in any one or more of the fields of the arts, athletics, business, education, government, human services, humanitarianism/philanthropy, and/or science. Since 1986, WREF has honored 30 women with this distinction as well as distributing numerous scholarships. The mission of the scholarship awards program is to assist young women to achieve their future goals.

BCW Announces Hall of Fame Winners

The Business Council of Westchester (BCW) has announced six winners of this year’s Business Hall of Fame Awards. Unique to this year’s Hall of Fame is the addition of the Chairman’s Recognition Award. The recipient of this inaugural award was chosen from among all of the entries received across all categories. The award recognizes a business or organization for its outstanding contributions to the community.

“We are proud to have a diverse and distinguished group of honorees that represent the best of Westchester businesses,” said Marsha Gordon, president and CEO of The Business Council of Westchester. The honorees, who will be feted at the 2015 Business Hall of Fame Awards Dinner on April 21 at the Glen Island Harbour Club in New Rochelle, are:

Corporate Citizenship: New York Medical College, Valhalla
Entrepreneurial Success: Mindspark, Yonkers
Small Business Success: York International Agency, LLC in Harrison
Women in Business Success: Rella Fogliano, president of MacQuesten Development, Pelham
Family-Owned Business: American Christmas, Mount Vernon
Chairman’s Recognition Award: Beecher Flooks Funeral Home, Pleasantville

CNR Professor Recognized for Dedication to Teaching

Dr. Dennis R. Ryan, professor of religious studies and philosophy at The College of New Rochelle, received the 2015 Distinguished Teaching Award from the American Catholic Historical Association on Saturday, January 3. He was recognized for his dedication and commitment over the past 45 years to the teaching profession. The award was presented during the Historical Association’s annual Presidential Luncheon, held in the Social Hall at St. Paul the Apostle Church in midtown Manhattan. According to Dr. Richard Thompson, dean of the School of Arts & Sciences at CNR, “Professor Ryan’s classes always fill-up early and to capacity.” Thompson noted that “Ryan challenges, enlightens, and delights his students with his teaching style as well as his knowledge. He is a teacher’s teacher, prepared, dedicated, and engaging. His students admire and, yes, love him.” Dr. Ryan has taught at The College of New Rochelle for almost 45 years, beginning as an Assistant Professor of Religious Studies in 1971. Over the past four decades, his course offerings have varied from classes that focus on the religious experiences of the east, to morality and sexuality, death and the grieving process as well as western cultural heritage, and freshmen writing.

Tarrytown Doubletree Hotel Given Hall-of-Fame Honor

The DoubleTree by Hilton Tarrytown has been inducted into the The Knot’s Best of Weddings Hall of Fame. The honor was announced simultaneously with the DoubleTree by Hilton Tarrytown again earning The Knot’s “Best of Weddings” award for the fourth year in a row. To qualify for induction into The Knot’s Hall of Fame, a wedding venue needs to earn four or more BOW awards. The Doubletree by Hilton Tarrytown is the only hotel in Westchester to have earned that distinction with back-to-back BOW wins since 2012. BOW 2015 winners represent the top 2% of local wedding vendors listed on TheKnot.com.

Rich Friedman, general manager, said: “It comes as no surprise that the DoubleTree by Hilton Tarrytown is again recognized by The Knot as one of the most attractive and convenient wedding destinations, thanks to the unparalleled service and meticulous attention to detail by our event team and diverse catering options. It is also arguably one of the most charming and picturesque settings in the Hudson Valley region for indoor and outdoor ceremonies.”