The New York State Council of the Society for Human Resource Management, Best Companies Group and Rochester Business Journal have named UConnectCare Behavioral Health Services as one of the 2024 Best Companies to Work for in New York.

This is the sixth consecutive year that the local nonprofit agency, formerly known as Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, has been recognized by Best Companies to Work for in New York, a research-driven program that examines a company’s practices, programs and benefits and also surveys its employees for their perspectives.

UConnectCare was one of 27 businesses in the state receiving the honor in the medium companies (100-249 employees) category.

“As our agency continues to grow, I am especially proud of how our staff has pulled together to provide a wider spectrum of services, while also expressing their satisfaction on the survey in terms of their workplace experience,” UConnectCare Chief Executive Officer John Bennett said. “I am delighted by the level of professionalism and compassion displayed by our employees throughout the organization.”

To be considered, companies must have at least 15 full-time or part-time employees working in New York; be a for-profit or not-for-profit business or government entity; be a publicly or privately held business; have a facility in the State of New York and be in business a minimum of one year.

There were two parts used to determine the rankings. The first consisted of evaluating each nominated company's workplace policies, practices and demographics, worth approximately 25 percent of the total evaluation. The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience, which consisted of 75 percent of the total. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final rankings.

For more information on the Best Companies to Work for in New York program, visit www.BestCompaniesNY.com.

ESL Federal Credit Union recently named Joe Monteleone and Pam Rudolph as business development representatives. They bring a combined 55 years of experience to the financial institution. In their new positions, Monteleone and Rudolph will aid with strengthening the expertise of ESL.

Monteleone’s experience spans 30 years, having previously worked at Five Star Bank and most recently Tompkins Trust Company. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Oswego.

Rudolph joins the ESL team with 25 years of experience. Her previous employment also includes Five Star Bank and Tompkins Trust Company. She holds an associate degree from Genesee Community College.

Rudolph is actively involved in her community, serving as an Attica Central School District School Board Member, Attica Booster Club Board Member, Trinity United Methodist Church Trustee, Attica Historical Society Board Member, and Attica Village Board Trustee.

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Oxbo, a leader in specialty harvesting and controlled application equipment, is pleased to announce Tom Fagen has joined Oxbo as Sales Manager for the North American High Value Crop team. With decades of experience in sales leadership roles, Fagen’s proven track record aligns with Oxbo’s commitment to team development and customer satisfaction.

“I am thrilled to have Tom at Oxbo,” said Curt Schaben, Director of Marketing & Sales for Oxbo’s High Value Crop Division. “Tom brings extensive sales and management experience that will help Oxbo get closer with our customers.”

“I am honored to join Oxbo at such an exciting time in its journey. I look forward to working closely with this talented sales team to deepen customer relationships and drive sustainable growth across North America,” stated Fagen.

Oxbo’s High Value Crop Division serves seed corn, vegetable, and application customers; Oxbo’s direct-to-customer sales and service approach sets it apart from many in the industry. For more information on Oxbo, please visit www.oxbo.com.

Graham Corporation (NYSE: GHM) (“GHM” or “the Company”), is a global leader in the design and manufacture of mission-critical fluid, power, heat transfer and vacuum technologies for the defense, space, energy, and process industries, announced today that it has filed a universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).  

If and when the shelf registration is declared effective, it will permit the Company to offer and sell, from time to time in one or more offerings, up to $150 million of common stock, preferred stock, warrants, purchase contracts, units, or any combination of these securities.

Christopher J. Thome, Chief Financial Officer, commented, “We believe a shelf registration is a demonstration of good corporate governance as it provides GHM with enhanced financial flexibility to meet our long-term strategic goals.  It enables us to access the capital markets quickly and efficiently, if and when favorable conditions align for the Company and our shareholders."

As Chapin International prepares to celebrate its 140th year in business, it will do so with a new president and CEO in place, a Western New York native whose manufacturing career has taken him across the United States.

Chapin was founded in Oakfield and remains based in Batavia, with its headquarters on Ellicott Street. The company's growth has led to the opening or acquisition of plants in other states and parts of the world.

With all of that, and the challenging business climate in New York, Chapin remains committed to Batavia, said the new CEO, Tim Onello.

An expansion of its commercial lending services, Tompkins Community Bank (Tompkins) has welcomed Don Cortina as senior vice president and commercial banking regional manager. Before joining Tompkins, Cortina worked as a senior relationship manager, global and commercial banking, at Bank of America. 

Bringing over 20 years of banking and financial experience to his new role, Cortina will oversee the commercial lending team across Monroe County, focused on developing and expanding new client relationships, while strategically working to enhance commercial services for Tompkins’ business clients.

“Don’s extensive industry knowledge and experience, particularly in terms of new business development, will be an asset to our organization, and our clients,” said Steven Beardsley, SVP and commercial lending division manager at Tompkins. “We look forward to seeing Don strengthen the capabilities of our commercial lending team and further expand Tompkins’ impact in Monroe County.”

A graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology, Cortina is a seasoned veteran of the banking and financial industry, having previously held roles at KeyBank, Five Star Bank, M&T Bank, and JP Morgan Chase, in addition to his recent leadership role at Bank of America. Cortina sits on the Junior Achievement of Central New York’s Board of Directors and resides in Fairport, New York, with his wife, and two children.

A better spot with more room was a strong incentive to change locations, said Ray Smith, owner of Smith's Great Outdoors, which sells most things any dedicated hunter or fisherman might need.

For the past few years, Smith's has been located at Lewiston Road and Veterans Memorial Drive, near Applebees.

Buffalo-Native Timothy Onello has been named president and CEO of Chapin International, taking over from Jim Campbell, who is retiring.

Onello is taking over a company that now has production facilities in the U.S. and overseas but was founded in Oakfield 140 years ago.

The firm is celebrating its 140th anniversary in June. 

From 2020 until February of this year, Onello was VP and general manager of ITW, a Fortune 200 company. He was based in San Luis Obispo, Calif.   Prior to joining ITW, he spent nearly 12 years with JPW Industries in Nashville, rising to the position of VP and general manager.

He has MBAs from Thunderbird School of Global Management and the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and a bachelor of science in marketing and psychology from Northern Michigan University.

He's also held positions at Hilti Tools, Positec Tools, and Irwin Industrial Tools.

Chapin manufactures sprayers, broadcast spreaders, handheld spreaders, ATV sprayers, backpack sprayers, and specialty sprayers.

Press release:

Chapin International would like to announce that Jim Campbell, longtime CEO and President of the company, will be retiring at the end of 2024. Jim has not just guided but rather propelled Chapin through tremendous growth over the last twenty years of management.  

Since assuming the reins as CEO, Chapin has experienced exponential growth of over 400%, broadening its footprint with facilities in four states and two foreign countries, all under his visionary leadership.

Chapin's product portfolio has expanded from a market scope solely focused on sprayers to a multitude of adjacent categories, including lawn and salt spreaders, bird food and accessories, water and irrigation products, and custom blow molding. Chapin continues to develop new product offerings and expand within the market today. 

When asked about retirement, Jim quickly acknowledges that his team and all the folks who work in Batavia and the outside businesses have been critical to Chapin's continued success. 

“All good things happen because people pull together and make things happen,” said Campbell. “I am really proud to have worked with the men and women at Chapin. It is hard to leave as these are some of the best friends I have in the world. As I prepare to retire and join all my friends who have gone before me, I feel good about leaving the company in a very strong financial position, much larger, more resilient, and more diverse than when I started many years ago.”

Jim has been named to the Buffalo Business First List of the Power 250, recognizing the most influential people in Western New York's business community, for the last three years running.

Jim will continue to assist at Chapin from “time to time” in between fishing and working on his orchard.

We wish Jim a long and enjoyable retirement, which he has certainly earned. We are deeply grateful for his leadership and the indelible mark he has left on Chapin International.