Westchester County Revolving Door, August 4, 2015

New Medical Directors for WESTMED

Drs. Richard Morel and Steven Meixler have been appointed co-medical directors of WESTMED Medical Group (WMG). In their new roles, they succeed Dr. Barney Newman, the former medical director, who retired on June 30th, having held the position for 16 years. Drs. Morel and Meixler are also vice presidents of WMG. Dr. Morel is board certified in internal medicine. He graduated from College of the Holy Cross with a Bachelor of Arts degree in chemistry. After receiving his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, he completed his postgraduate training at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. He also received a master of medical management degree from Carnegie Mellon 

University. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and a member of the American College of Physician Executives. Before joining WESTMED Medical Group in July 2008, he was in a private practice affiliated with Columbia-Presbyterian Riverdale for 12 years. He is affiliated with White Plains Hospital. Dr. Meixler is board certified in internal medicine, pulmonary diseases and critical care medicine. He was awarded his medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine and went on to complete his internship and residency training at the Manhattan VA/New York University Medical Center, where he served as chief medical resident. He completed a fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine at New York University Medical Center / Bellevue Hospital Center. He is affiliated with White Plains Hospital, where he served as chief of the division of pulmonary and critical care medicine and as director of the Internal Medicine Department. Dr. Meixler is a Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians, and is a member of the American College of Physicians and the American Thoracic Society.

PepsiCo Promotes Across the Board

PepsiCo, headquartered in Purchase, recently announced a series of leadership appointments aimed at supporting the company’s global business priorities and growth strategies. “Our consistent focus on talent development has built a best-in-class leadership pipeline that is fueling our success and positioning PepsiCo well for sustainable long-term growth,” said PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi of the appointments. They include:

• Hugh Johnston, executive vice president and chief financial officer, was named vice chairman. He will continue to serve as CFO, as well as oversee the Quaker Foods North
  

  Hugh Johnston (left) and Mehmood Khan (right). Photos Courtesy of Pepsico. - Partner Content - Q&A Topic: Preventing Dental Cavities in our Pediatric Population Celebrate Summer With Mouthwatering Cuisine At Benjamin Steakhouse

  America business and PepsiCo’s global e-commerce organization. In addition, he will now have responsibility for the company’s global business and information solutions function, which provides information technology systems and solutions across PepsiCo.

• Mehmood Khan, executive vice president and chief scientific officer, was named vice chairman earlier this year. In his role, Khan is focused on leading PepsiCo’s global sustainability agenda and identifying new ways to embed sustainable business practices across all facets of the company’s business. He continues to lead PepsiCo’s global Research & Development organization.

• Eugene Willemsen, currently president, PepsiCo Lipton, has been named executive vice president, Global Categories & Franchise Management. He will be responsible for overseeing the company’s global beverages, global snacks and global nutrition groups, as well as its global franchise organization. Willemsen will also continue to oversee PepsiCo’s Lipton relationship.
• Brian Newman, currently senior vice president and general manager, Global E-Commerce, has been named executive vice president, Global Operations. He will be responsible for global operations and supply chain, global procurement, productivity, global security, risk management and corporate strategy.
• Laxman Narasimhan, currently CEO, Latin America Foods, has been named CEO, Latin America. He will now lead an integrated food and beverage business across the region, creating new opportunities to leverage the scale of PepsiCo’s complementary brand portfolio and enable greater synergies.

162 County Employees Voluntarily Leave Jobs to Reduce County Deficit

Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino announced last month that taxpayers would enjoy a net savings of around $3million in the next year thanks to 162 county government employees voluntarily leaving their jobs by July 31. For doing so, all 162 workers will receive an incentive of $1,000 for every year of completed county service. The idea is to apply these savings to reducing the $56 million deficit Westchester County is projected to face in 2016. The estimated cost of compensating the 162 retiring employees is $800,000, meaning that the $2.97 million in net savings makes up for that number. In addition, Astorino notes, these vacant positions do not have to be filled at the same salary and benefit level because of contract modifications and changes in state law which allow employers to hire back at lower rates.

Technology Trainer Appointed to Integrate Westchester Library System

The Westchester Library System (WLS) appointed Alisson Midgley to the position of Technology Trainer. Midgley’s responsibilities will include training the staff of the 38 WLS member libraries on the use of existing and emerging software, database, and e-content programs and resources. “I am excited to share my passion for learning with library users and staff,” Midgley says. “I am looking forward to relocating from Western New York to Westchester County, with its vibrant and diverse community.” Allison Midgley’s background includes 20 years of experience where she most recently worked as Technology Coordinator for the David A. Howe Public Library in Wellsville, NY. 

New Staff at Food Bank for Westchester

Food Bank for Westchester, the county’s largest hunger-relief organization, has named Persephone Zill to the position of Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships and Advocacy, and Allison Carballo as Director of Devlopment. Zill’s background in business, training, counseling, marketing, social media, and strategic planning will contribute to her responsibility at

the Food Bank to advocate for initiatives that will close the county’s meal gap and help bring county residents to self-sufficiency. Zill held her most recent position as the Program Director and Business Counselor at Women’s Enterprise Development Corporation (WEDC) since 2008. There she developed curriculum and oversaw entrepreneurial training programs while engaging members of the entrepreneurial community as partners to support WEDC’s clients. Carballo’s new responsibilities include managing fundraising efforts to raise critical support from individuals, foundations, corporations, and state and federal sources. Carballo previously worked for Abilis in Greenwich, Connecticut, as Director of Advancement managing all aspects of annual giving.

Marks Paneth Relocates to Accommodate Growth

Marks Paneth, one of the New York region’s largest accounting firms, has announced its relocation from the current Tarrytown office to the fourth floor of a building located within The Centre at Purchase on Manhattanville Road. Marks Paneth will be moving to the new office, which is double the size of its current office, in January 2016 to adequately accommodate the company’s growth. “This new venue gives us room to expand as we continue to grow our firm, organically and through acquisitions,” said Mark Levenfus, Managing Partner at Marks Paneth. “We’re excited to have the opportunity to relocate to such a beautiful and convenient office campus in Westchester County.” The new location also offers a more convenient access point accessible from Midtown Manhattan to Putnam County.

Greenwich OB/GYN Merges with WESTMED Medical Group

Putnam Gynecology and Obstetrics located in Greenwich, Connecticut, has joined WESTMED Medical Group of Purchase as of July 15. The practice serves patients in Fairfield County and lower Westchester County, adding to WESTMED Medical Group’s existing service in central and lower Westchester County with nine locations. The staff, which is joining WESTMED’s 287 physicians, includes Drs. Michael Schecter, Elizabeth Molinelli, Dzwinka Carrol, Y. Elizabeth Hung, Catherine Berzolla, and Linda Reid. Putnam Gynecology and Obstetrics of Greenwich’s location and phone number will remain the same.

USI Insurance Services Acquires Texas Insurance Firm

Westchester-based insurance company, USI Insurance Services, recently announced its acquisition of Alexander & Associates Insurance Services, LLC of El Paso, Texas. The company and its employees will be joining the El Paso office of USI. The acquisition will fortify the connections both companies have made respectively, allowing them to reach further into the demographics of Texas. John D. Collado, USI’s Southwest regional chief executive officer, said: “Through our acquisition of Alexander & Associates, we have attained an experienced staff that truly understands the construction insurance and bonding market and will help us to extend our reach throughout Texas. In addition, their reputation for using a resource-intensive, consultative planning process to find the shortest path from problem to solution is a perfect complement” [to USI].