Thompson and Bender

T&B Team at 42

tb — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:43:20 +0000

Members of the Thompson & Bender team at an event at 42 The Restaurant last week. From left to right: Valerie Hovasapian, Elizabeth Bracken-Thompson, Lauren Miller, Holly Athas, Jessica Apicella, Carol Schwartz, Caroline Lewittes, Geoff Thompson.

T&B Partner Featured In Westfair Online

tb — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 20:34:02 +0000

Bracken-Thompson advises companies to communicate their strengths through marketing and PR, and to focus energies on social media

Partner Elizabeth Bracken-Thompson sat down for a Q&A with Westfair Online and tackled vital questions about the marketing, public relations and social media landscape. In a society where advertising campaigns have changed drastically to fit the consumer, she explains that companies are using newer marketing strategies such as social media to stay visible. She stresses the importance of “360 marketing” which includes growing a company’s product appeal through every media outlet and every type of advertising. She also weighs in on Occupy Wall Street and how the recession has affected ad spending and how it all ties back into the power of public relations.

The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester Announces New General Manager

tb — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:50:59 +0000

Jeff Dziak

The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester, the County’s premier hotel, is pleased to welcome Jeffrey Dziak as General Manager.

Dziak has worked with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company for 19 years and comes to The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester from The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes where he was Hotel Manager since 2008. Prior to that, Dziak worked with The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island; The Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix; The Ritz-Carlton, Huntington Hotel & Spa; and The Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland.

In his new position, he will be accountable for all operations of the luxury hotel and two residential towers totaling 362 units.

“I’m thrilled to be working at The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester,” said Dziak. “This is an exciting time in the hospitality industry and together with the great staff at this hotel, I look forward to creating a lasting guest experience for each of our guests.”

Dziak has lectured at The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center, the Rosen School of Hospitality and the University of Arizona. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cleveland State University.

ABOUT THE RITZ-CARLTON WESTCHESTER:
The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester is the area’s premier hotel and sets new standards for hotels in the market. It features 146 luxury rooms, an award-winning spa with rooftop pool and state-of-the-art fitness center, a comfortably elegant Lounge, and 10,000 square feet of meeting and special event space, including a 500-person ballroom. In addition, the hotel offers BLT Steak, located on the ground floor and Restaurant “42,” on the 42nd floor. Set in the heart of the Hudson Valley, The Ritz-Carlton Westchester is just minutes from Manhattan, yet miles from the ordinary. The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester immerses its guests in all the luxury and cultural heritage that is Westchester County, and offers a beautiful retreat for both business travelers and leisure guests.

ABOUT THE RITZ-CARLTON HOTEL COMPANY L.L.C.:
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., of Chevy Chase, Md., currently operates 76 hotels in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Caribbean. More than 38 hotel and residential projects are under development around the globe. The Ritz-Carlton is the only service company to have twice earned the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, an award that originated in 1987. Its purpose is to promote the awareness of quality excellence, recognize quality achievements of companies and publicize successful quality strategies. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company won the award in 1992 and 1999. For more information, or reservations, contact a travel professional, call toll free in the U.S. 1-800-241-3333, or visit the company web site at www.ritzcarlton.com. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR).

PROVIDENT BANK NAMES KEY LEADERS

tb — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:12:58 +0000

Jim Peoples and Rick Jones named as Market Presidents;
Rodney Whitwell named as Chief Operating Officer

Provident Bank, a subsidiary of Provident New York Bancorp (NASDAQ: PBNY), announced appointments in key leadership positions. “As we implement our strategy, strong leadership is critical to our success,” said Jack Kopnisky, President and CEO of Provident Bank. Market President is a new role for the bank. Market Presidents will lead all aspects of the bank within their geography, delivering all the resources of the bank to commercial and consumer customers to meet their total banking needs.

Jim Peoples has been named Executive Vice President of Provident Bank and Market President for the central market that covers Rockland, Westchester and Bergen counties. “Jim is a great addition to our leadership team and has a track record of growing markets,” said Jack Kopnisky. “I am looking forward to growing Provident Bank and providing superior value to our customers,” Jim Peoples added. Mr. Peoples has over 35 years of experience in banking and was most recently Chairman, President and CEO of United Western Bank in Denver, Colorado. Prior to joining United Western Bank he served in a variety of leadership positions with KeyCorp from 1995 to 2008. During those years Mr. Peoples served as President of the Seattle Cascades District, the second largest district within Key, growing deposits by 72% and loans by 60% in addition to expanding the franchise both organically and through acquisition. Jim is no stranger to the metropolitan New York marketplace as he held a credit leadership position for National Westminster Bank earlier in his career. Jim has a history of active community involvement. He served as chair of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, Campaign Chair of Mile High United Way and as a board member for the University of Washington Foundation.

Rick Jones has been named Market President for the north market that covers Orange, Sullivan, Ulster, Putnam, and Dutchess counties. Mr. Jones joined Provident Bank in 2004 as Executive Vice President and previously served as head of Business Services. “We are pleased that Rick is taking on leadership of our north market and leveraging his experience both with the bank and in this marketplace,” said Jack Kopnisky. “I am excited to broaden my responsibilities in this market,” Rick Jones added, “I have lived in Orange County for over 35 years and have been actively involved in this community.” Rick has 38 years of consumer and business banking experience. He joined Provident Bank after retiring from JP Morgan Chase where he served as Senior Vice President of Client Management and Personal Financial Services for JP Morgan Chase’s Personal Financial Wealth Services Group since 2002. From 1996 to 2002, Mr. Jones served as Senior Vice President/Regional President for the Tri-State (New York-New Jersey-Conneticut) and Texas Regions of JP Morgan Chase. Rick was previously with Chemical Bank, which was acquired by Chase. He started his banking career with Manufacturers Hanover in 1973. Rick has been involved in the Orange County community for years, most recently as a member of the Board of Directors of St Anthony’s Hospital. In the early 1990’s, he served four year terms as both as Town Councilman and Planning Board member for the Town of Monroe.

Rodney Whitwell has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Provident Bank. He joined Provident Bank in August and served as Senior Vice President of Strategy/Corporate Development. Chief Operating Officer is a new role for bank. Mr. Whitwell will be responsible for driving strategy and consolidating operational functions under his leadership, including Provident’s direct banking channels, systems and technology, products and services, marketing, and bank operations. “Rodney brings a wealth of experience to drive strategy and build a customer-centric, highly efficient bank operation that supports our market sales leadership,” said Jack Kopnisky.

Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Whitwell served as Principal at Mercatus LLC, a national financial services consulting and investing firm, where he was responsible for directing strategic consulting engagements with financial services providers. From 2008 to 2010, Mr. Whitwell was Chief Executive Officer of Union Federal Savings Bank, a federally chartered savings bank and subsidiary of The First Marblehead Corporation. From 2007 to 2008, Mr. Whitwell was Senior Vice President, New Business Initiatives at The First Marblehead Corporation, a provider of outsourcing services for private education lending. Prior to joining First Marblehead, Mr. Whitwell served as Director of Segment Management at KeyCorp from 2004 to 2007.

“Our new leaders are ready and able to leverage our existing market strength to develop new opportunities for growth and take Provident Bank to the next level,” said Jack Kopnisky.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS
Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact, including those that anticipate future growth, may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties that may adversely affect the Company’s ability to realize its plans. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this press release. There are a number of important factors described in documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission and other factors that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to those forward-looking statements which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Headquartered in Montebello, N.Y., Provident Bank, with $3.1 billion in assets, is the largest independent full-service community bank in the lower Hudson Valley. Provident Bank operates 37 branches that serve the Hudson Valley region including three Commercial Banking Centers in Westchester County, and two Commercial Banking Centers in Bergen County, N.J., and one Commercial Banking Center in Montebello, NY. The bank offers a broad line of commercial, retail and investment management services. Visit the Provident Bank Web site at www.providentbanking.com

Iona College Works with Operation: Support Our Troops to Send More than 1,100 Holiday Care Packages To Troops Overseas

tb — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:19:23 +0000

Left to right are Iona College students who helped in packing the Operation: Support Our Troops holiday packages: Meaghan Haskell, Ashley Wynne, Maureen Cummins, Danielle Beck, Brendan Hall

Also Raise About $5,000 to Pay for Shipping Costs

Iona College students recently joined more than 300 volunteers at St. Augustine’s Church in Larchmont to help complete the packing of more than 1,100 holiday care packages. The packages contained food, clothing, books and other personal items that were collected on behalf of Operation: Support Our Troops which shipped them to U.S. military personnel stationed overseas. The packages will arrive in time for the holidays.

In late October, Iona students joined in the effort to help Operation: Support Our Troops with its initiative, “Operation: Cram the Van.” It was one of the events tied to the inauguration of Dr. Joseph Nyre as the college’s new president in recognition of his service in the U.S. Navy. The gift donations were dropped off at a military Hummer and other vehicles that were parked at the Robert V. LaPenta Student Union over the past month.

Each package includes a letter from Dr. Nyre noting: “This project (Cram the Van) had one purpose; namely to honor you as a person in service to our country. You are the heroes of today and we all send heartfelt thanks.”

The cost of shipping the packages was paid for through monetary donations totaling $4,941.89 that the students raised. Joining the students in the packaging was Maureen Cummins, a senior and the class liaison for the project. “It’s really gratifying to see a US Post Office truck with 1,136 boxes pull away and head directly to the post office. Iona has done a really extraordinary thing this holiday season. Men and women overseas will receive our packages just in time for Christmas, making being away from family and friends this Holiday Season a tad bit easier. We’ve made it clear we care, we’re thinking of them, and appreciate what they’re doing for our country. I’ve never been more proud to be a Gael,” said Ms. Cummins.

Amy Parise (‘03 MST), director of Iona’s Alumni Relations, said: “Students at Iona College are always eager to give back to the community and help others for a good cause. I can’t think of a better way to help those serving overseas during the holidays and Iona College as a whole has worked very hard to do so.”

About Iona: Founded in 1940, Iona College is a four-year private, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers and American Catholic higher education. It is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona offers undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science, and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs.

Fortune Ridge at Southeast, a ‘New’ Old-Fashioned Neighborhood of Traditional Homes, Opens for Sales

tb — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:31:28 +0000

"Balled" Style House

The Clubhouse at Fortune Ridge

Set on 300-Acre Wooded Setting, Fortune Ridge Offers Distinctive Collection of Single-Family Homes Priced from $699,000 with Exceptional Lifestyle Amenities

Fortune Ridge at Southeast, a “new” old-fashioned neighborhood of 103 single-family homes, is now offering for sale an exciting collection of architect-designed homes with exceptional neighborhood amenities in a spectacular wooded country setting.

Located on 3/4-acre sites, the spaciously designed traditional 2,750 to 3,400 square foot new homes feature gracious exteriors that open to bright flowing contemporary interiors with state-of-the-art gourmet island kitchens and spacious master suites. Designs include homes with master suites upstairs and down. All have both formal and informal living spaces and at least four bedrooms.

Each distinctive home style features three different elevations and a wide palette of country colors for siding, trim and roofs. In addition, homes can be enhanced with finished bonus spaces, screen or sunrooms, 3-car garages, finished garden levels, and an exciting selection of designer finish materials. The homes feature a variety of unique and interesting designs including a center hall with master down, a Wii room off the family room, a mid-level library design and a Florida style home with a rear grand master down.

Value priced from $699,900 to the mid $800,000’s, the homes at Fortune Ridge at Southeast would sell for at least a half a million more just minutes away in Westchester.

Fortune Ridge at Southeast is the ideal community for families who are looking for more home and a lifestyle all in one place as well as empty-nesters looking to downsize but stay close to friends and family. Residents of Fortune Ridge at Southeast will enjoy an exceptional lifestyle at “The Club at the Ridge” a multi-generational amenity featuring a pool and pavilion, a splash fountain and playground, tennis and sports courts, and an easy-to manage clubhouse with a neighborhood gathering room, a catering kitchen and a fitness center with a visible children’s playroom.

Nestled in a wooded country setting at the Putnam/Westchester county line, more than two-thirds of the approximately 300-acre property will remain “forever green” so most home sites open to conservation space. Fortune Ridge’s state-of-the-art Sales and Design Center is located on the site in a magnificent stone castle that was once the estate of Max Dreyfus, the legendary music publisher whose clientele included the likes of George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Richard Rogers and Cole Porter.

Fortune Ridge is being developed by Fortune Home Builders, one of the foremost builders of custom homes in Westchester with more than two decades of experience throughout the county. The company’s portfolio of fine homes includes Scarsdale Manor in Scarsdale, Boulder Pines in Katonah and Hardscrabble Lake in Chappaqua. The company is renowned for its high quality construction and an extraordinary dedication to customer service.

“We are very excited to debut this extraordinary new residential neighborhood at a time when there is a great deal of pent-up demand for something truly new — well-priced well-designed single-family homes on a spectacular country site,” said Chris Munch, Vice President of Fortune Home Builders. “At Fortune Ridge, we offer buyers the advantages of a hands-on, locally-based homebuilder where the buyers have a wide array of choices and can truly personalize their homes. In addition, we bring our unique custom home experience, knowledge and level of service to the merchant built sector of the home building market,” he added.

At a time when some homebuilders are unable to secure financing for their projects, Fortune Home Builders brings the financial strength and stability of being owned by a well-known private Wall Street investment company. ” Fortune Home Builders is a privately held business. We like to say we are owned by an old-line Wall Street family but not by Wall Street. The commitment of our owner is clear here as Fortune Ridge has been almost 20 years in the making,” said Mr. Munch.

Located in the well-respected Brewster school district on the Putnam/Westchester border, Fortune Ridge offers convenient access to major highways and Metro-North Railroad’s Harlem Line. Fortune Ridge is located at 150 Deans Corner Road, just off Rte 22 at Croton Reservoir in Brewster, NY. From Rte 684 North Exit 8 Hardscrabble Road make a left over the Bridge to Rte 22 to Croton Falls. Follow Rte 22 North to the reservoir. Turn Right at Deans Corner Rd. Fortune Ridge is ahead on the left.

For more information about Fortune Ridge visit www.fortuneridgehomes.com or call 845 278-8800.

Mauro Romita, President of Castle Oil, Elected to the Board of Directors of Community Mutual Savings Bank

tb — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:36:50 +0000

Mauro Romita

WHITE PLAINS – CMS Bancorp., Inc. (Nasdaq:CMSB), the parent company of Community Mutual Savings Bank, has announced that Mauro C. Romita, President and Chief Operating Officer of Castle Oil Corporation, has been elected to the CMS Bancorp’s and Bank’s Board of Directors.

Castle Oil Corporation, which was founded in 1928 by Mr. Romita’s father, is the largest independent owner-operator of petroleum terminals and distributor of fuel oil in the New York metropolitan area. Mr. Romita oversees all domestic and international areas of the Harrison-based company and its subsidiaries, including product supply and marketing, sales, terminals, trucking operations, service and administrative functions. Mr. Romita, who joined Castle Oil in 1968 after practicing law in New York City, is a graduate of Iona College and holds a law degree from New York Law School.

Mr. Romita is actively involved in many educational and charitable organizations. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Governors of Sound Shore Medical Center; Trustee of the Inner-City Scholarship Fund; Chairman of Boys’ Towns of Italy, Inc.; Trustee of St. Joseph’s Seminary; and a member of the American Association of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, and a Knight of the Order of St. Gregory the Great. He is a former trustee and chairman of The College of New Rochelle and the Calvary Fund.

Throughout his distinguished career, Mr. Romita has received awards and accolades including the Community Service Award from the Westchester Chapter of the American Committee on Italian Migration; Honorary Citizen from Boys’ Towns of Italy (Rome); Man of the Year Award from the Westchester Chapter of the Cooley’s Anemia Foundation; Medal of Honor from the Ellis Island Foundation; Cardinal’s Award of the Westchester Division of the Cardinal’s Committee of the Laity; Bronx Means Business Award from the South Bronx Overall Development Corporation; Outstanding Service Award from the Italian Apostolate of the Archdiocese of New York; President’s Award from the National Italian American Foundation, and the Honorable Richard J. Daronco Distinguished Service Award from the Columbian Lawyers Association of Westchester County. Mr. Romita, who is a resident of Pelham, has received honorary degrees from Iona College and The College of New Rochelle.

“We are very pleased and honored to have Mauro Romita join our board. With his distinguished career as a successful business leader and his strong commitment to serving the local community, Mr. Romita is a significant and valuable addition to our board,” said Thomas G. Ferrara, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Community Mutual Savings Bank.

Community Mutual Savings Bank provides a wide range of banking products and services to the retail consumer and small business customers including residential and commercial real estate loans, consumer loans and small business loans primarily in Westchester, Dutchess and Putnam Counties as well as Fairfield County, CT. In April 2007, Community Mutual Savings Bank converted from a mutual savings bank charter to a stock company. The holding company, CMS Bancorp, Inc. is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol “CMSB”.
Community Mutual Savings Bank has branches in Eastchester, Greenburgh, Mount Kisco, Mount Vernon and West Harrison. The Bank’s corporate offices are located in White Plains.

Forward-Looking Statement – This press release may include certain forward-looking statements based on current management expectations. Readers should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements contained in this press release, which speak only as of the date made. Factors of particular importance to CMS Bancorp, Inc. include, but are not limited to: (i) changes in general economic conditions, including interest rates; (ii) changes in conditions in the real estate market or the local economy; (iii) competition among providers of financial services; (iv) changes in the quality or composition of loan and investment portfolios of the Bank; (v) changes in accounting and regulatory guidance applicable to banks; and (vi) price levels and conditions in the public securities markets generally. These factors could affect CMS Bancorp’s financial performance and could cause the actual results for future periods to differ materially from any opinions or statements expressed with respect to future periods in any current statements. Neither CMS Bancorp nor the Bank undertake and specifically decline any obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions that may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester Announces Holiday Events for the Whole Family

tb — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:46:41 +0000

Events Include Breakfast with Santa and Gingerbread Cookie Decorating Classes

The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester will be brimming with Holiday delights for the entire family this December, including the hotel’s annual Breakfast with Santa and Gingerbread Cookie Decorating classes with the hotel’s pastry team. All events are geared for children from ages 3 to 10.

On Sunday, December 4 from 8:30 to 10 a.m., Santa himself comes to the hotel for breakfast. In addition to a delicious breakfast buffet created specially for the event, there will be arts and crafts activities for kids, music, and of course, photos with Santa! The breakfast will take place in the hotel’s beautiful ballroom, which will be transformed into a holiday wonderland for the celebration. The cost for “Breakfast with Santa” is just $45 per person; children under three are free.

On Saturdays, December 3, 10 and 17, from 9 to 11 a.m, the hotel will offer fun-filled Gingerbread Cookie Decorating Workshops. After donning chef’s hats and aprons, children will be taken on a tour of the hotel’s kitchens, and then will decorate gingerbread cookies alongside The Ritz-Carlton’s pastry chef. The child with the best decorated cookie will even win a special gift! Refreshments will be served. The cost for the Gingerbread Cookie Decorating Workshop is $30 per person. Gingerbread house kits baked and assembled by the hotel will also be available for sale at these events.

“We’re pleased to be hosting these exciting family events this holiday season,” said Jeff Dziak, General Manager, The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester. “We hope that families from the area will bring their kids and friends and come experience the holidays with us!”

Space is limited, so make your reservations early by calling The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester at (914) 467-5826. Make this a Holiday season the whole family will always remember!

ABOUT THE RITZ-CARLTON WESTCHESTER:
The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester is the area’s premier hotel and sets new standards for hotels in the market. It features 146 luxury rooms, an award-winning spa with rooftop pool and state-of-the-art fitness center, a comfortably elegant Lounge, and 10,000 square feet of meeting and special event space, including a 500-person ballroom. In addition, the hotel offers BLT Steak, located on the ground floor and Restaurant “42,” on the 42nd floor. Set in the heart of the Hudson Valley, The Ritz-Carlton Westchester is just minutes from Manhattan, yet miles from the ordinary. The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester immerses its guests in all the luxury and cultural heritage that is Westchester County, and offers a beautiful retreat for both business travelers and leisure guests.

ABOUT THE RITZ-CARLTON HOTEL COMPANY L.L.C.:
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., of Chevy Chase, Md., currently operates 76 hotels in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Caribbean. More than 38 hotel and residential projects are under development around the globe. The Ritz-Carlton is the only service company to have twice earned the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, an award that originated in 1987. Its purpose is to promote the awareness of quality excellence, recognize quality achievements of companies and publicize successful quality strategies. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company won the award in 1992 and 1999. For more information, or reservations, contact a travel professional, call toll free in the U.S. 1-800-241-3333, or visit the company web site at www.ritzcarlton.com. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR).

Main Street Connect Celebrates Grand Opening of Westchester Headquarters with Reception Attended by Congresswoman Nita Lowey & Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino

tb — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 21:35:35 +0000

Less Than Six Months After Westchester Launch, Main Street Connect’s 32 Community News Sites Now Reaching 20 Percent of County’s Population

Pictured at the October 19th Grand Opening of Main Street Connect’s new Westchester headquarters in Armonk, NY were, from left, Business Council of Westchester President and CEO Marsha Gordon; Main Street Connect Senior Associate Publisher Anne Ring; Main Street Connect Managing Editor Sue Guzman; Laurence Gottlieb, Director of the Westchester County Office of Economic Development; U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey; Main Street Connect Managing Editor Tony Davenport; Main Street Connect Editor and Publisher Carll Tucker; Main Street Connect Editorial Director Jane Bryant Quinn; Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino; North Castle Town Supervisor William Weaver; Deputy County Executive Kevin Plunkett; County Legislator John Nonna; Natasha Caputo, Director of Westchester County Tourism and Film; and Main Street Connect President John Falcone.

ARMONK, NY – In another milestone for the nation’s leading community news company, Main Street Connect today celebrated the Grand Opening of its new Westchester County headquarters.

Among those attending the VIP ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by Main Street Connect Founder and Editor Carll Tucker were U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey and Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino as well as local officials and business leaders. Joining Mr. Tucker from Main Street Connect were John Falcone, President and Chief Operating Officer, and Editorial Director Jane Bryant Quinn.

The opening of Main Street Connect’s Westchester headquarters at 200 Business Park Drive in Armonk follows the highly successful launch in June of 32 community-based online news sites throughout the county.Main Street Connect’s news sites are now reaching 20 percent of the population in Westchester County.For a complete list of Main Street Connect’s new Westchester websites, visit www.mainstreetconnect.us

“We’re very pleased at the success we’ve achieved so far in delivering local community news in a digital format to the residents of Westchester County. Clearly, there is a strong and growing demand for the kind of local news coverage that we’re providing through our 32 community-based news sites. In less than six months, we have reached 20 percent of the Westchester population. That is an extraordinary achievement and we intend to build on that success in the months ahead,” said Carll Tucker, Founder and Editor of Main Street Connect.

The Westchester launch builds on the phenomenal success of Main Street Connect in neighboring Fairfield County, Connecticut where it has emerged as a dominant force in community news and information with a market penetration of 37%. In the past 30 days, the combined Westchester and Fairfield news sites had more than 2 million page views.

Main Street Connect was founded in December 2009 by Mr. Tucker, the former Editor and Publisher of Trader Publications, a community news company in Cross River, NY. Main Street Connect launched its first site, TheDailyNorwalk.com, in March 2010. Main Street Connect has ten sites in Fairfield County serving Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stamford, Weston, Westport and Wilton. Main Street Connect also operates CentralMassNews.com, a network of ten online community news centers serving Central Massachusetts. In total, Main Street Connect’s network currently has 52 news sites in three states.

Main Street Connect supports the local communities it serves with online contests that offer prizes to local organizations ranging from $500 to $10,000. Readers participate by voting online for their favorite organization. Main Street Connect is currently conducting its popular “Better Schools Bonanza”in Westchester, where readers of their community news sites will get the chance to vote for their favorite elementary school, with the hopes of helping their school claim a grand prize of $10,000. The Better Schools Bonanza, which runs through the end of this month, is open to all Westchester and Fairfield County public and private elementary schools, with the top vote-getter from each county winning $10,000. The second place prize of $1,000 will go to the runner-up vote-getters in each county.All schools that receive 500 or more votes will receive $500.

Photo caption for Main Street Connect Grand Opening event:
Pictured at the October 19thGrand Opening of Main Street Connect’snew Westchester headquarters in Armonk, NY were, from left, Business Council of Westchester President and CEO Marsha Gordon; Main Street Connect Senior Associate PublisherAnne Ring; Main Street Connect Managing Editor Sue Guzman; Laurence Gottlieb, Director of the Westchester County Office of Economic Development; U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey; Main Street Connect Managing Editor Tony Davenport; Main Street Connect Editor and Publisher Carll Tucker; Main Street Connect Editorial Director Jane Bryant Quinn; Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino; North Castle Town Supervisor William Weaver; Deputy County Executive Kevin Plunkett; County Legislator John Nonna; Natasha Caputo, Director of Westchester County Tourism and Film; and Main Street Connect President John Falcone.

Judith Huntington Inaugurated as 13th President of the College of New Rochelle

tb — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 20:05:40 +0000

CNR’s First Lay Woman President Shares Vision for the Future

New Rochelle, NY, October 14, 2011 – Judith Huntington was officially inaugurated today as the 13th president of The College of New Rochelle at a ceremony held at the New Rochelle campus attended by hundreds of faculty, alumni, staff, students and leaders from the educational, business and political community. Ms. Huntington, who is the first lay woman president of the College in its 108-year history, succeeds Stephen J. Sweeny, who served as
president since 1997.

In her inaugural address, Ms. Huntington shared her vision for The College of New Rochelle and outlined key initiatives the College must address to meet today’s challenging environment.

“There is new skepticism about the value of a college education driven by parents and students anxiety about affordability, future employment and worries over accumulating student debt. While the economic challenges may seem daunting, they also provide the necessary impetus for us to change, adapt, and innovate. Clearly, the challenges cannot be ignored and standing still is not an option,” she said.

To meet these challenges, Ms. Huntington said the College will embark on an institution-wide strategic plan supported by a fully integrated master facility plan and financial plan to determine where it will be in the years ahead.

Ms. Huntington said she will stress a “student centered” approach. “We must place students at the very center of our decision making and provide them the education, resources and skills they need to become successful,” she said.

She noted that the College must expand its academic programs, diversify its revenue sources and utilize all aspects of technology to deliver education in an e-learning environment. “By doing so, the College will be better insulated from volatile market conditions. It will improve our competitive position, economies of scale and brand recognition, and broaden our geographic reach,” she said.

Ms. Huntington said social justice remains a prevailing theme in educating students at The College of New Rochelle. “Central to our mission and at the core of both social justice and our Catholic identity is providing access to education for all those who were previously denied or prevented from pursuing a degree. We pride ourselves for the richness this diversity brings to our community,” she noted. “We also pride ourselves on our continued commitment to women’s education and recognizing women’s achievements.”

Ms. Huntington’s inauguration as president is another milestone in a distinguished career that spans the business and academic communities. She began her tenure at The College of New Rochelle in 2001 as Vice President for Financial Affairs with full responsibility for all fiscal issues involving the College. Under her steady leadership, she oversaw the construction and financing of the College’s $28 million, LEED-rated Wellness Center. She also maintained the College’s investment grade Baa3 rating from Moody’s Investor Services, and improved the College’s financial strength through conservative spending, prudent financial management and investment practices.

Ms. Huntington brings to her new role as president a unique financial perspective built on more than 25 years of experience in the business world. Prior to joining The College of New Rochelle, she worked for 15 years with the accounting firm KPMG LLP serving as audit senior manager in KPMG’s metro New York higher education, research, and other not-for-profit practice, providing audit and accounting services. One of her first clients at KPMG was The College of New Rochelle, serving as outside independent auditor for the College for about 10 years. She also worked in KPMG’s banking and SEC practice and was an instructor and recruiter in the firm. She was among one of the youngest members of the firm to be selected to serve on a sponsored internship/fellowship at the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). A Certified Public Accountant, Ms. Huntington holds a bachelor of business administration degree from Pace University.

In assuming her new role as president, Ms. Huntington is well prepared for the many challenges that lie ahead. She said her year as President-elect “offered a new perspective and enabled me to move from the role of a Vice President who safeguarded and protected the College’s financial health to that of a President who seeks to safeguard and protect the College’s Mission.” During that period she met with the Board of Trustees, governance groups, students, faculty, instructional staff and alumnae/i of the College.

Ms. Huntington is actively involved in the education and business community. She serves on the Lower Hudson Valley Consortium of Catholic Colleges and Universities and is a member the Middle States Commission on Higher Education evaluation team. She is also a former member of the Yorktown Central School District Board of Education. In 2008, she received the Apex Advocacy Award from The Westchester County Association for her participation on the County Association’s Property Tax Alliance.

In addition to her College residence in Pelham, NY, Ms. Huntington resides in New Milford, CT with her husband Brad Huntington, who is President of Tri-State Engineering, and their two children, Amanda, a junior at Sacred Heart University, and Bradley Jr., a senior at Kennedy Catholic High School in Somers, NY. They are parishioners of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Church in Brookfield, CT.

About The College of New Rochelle

The first Catholic college for women in New York State, The College of New Rochelle was founded in 1904 by the Ursuline Order. Today, The College of New Rochelle enrolls over 5,000 students on six campuses across the Greater New York City area. The College’s academic programs are offered in four schools: the School of Arts & Sciences (for women), School of New Resources (for adults), School of Nursing and Graduate School. The College maintains five campus locations in New York City and its main campus in New Rochelle. Visit the College’s website at www.cnr.edu.