It’s a Busy Year Ahead for the Putnam County Business Council!

We are so excited for the rest of 2021 and have planned many great events! On February 26th from 7:30-8:30 a.m. please join us for a “Business Talkback” panel discussion, featuring industry leaders on the future of the Construction & Real Estate sector and its impact on Putnam County economic development and the local community.  The panel is still being assembled.  Confirmed speakers so far include Stacy Tompkins, Tompkins Excavating; Tom Leperch, Director, Houlihan Lawrence Commercial Group; Kathleen Abels, Putnam County Economic Development Corp; Bill Nulk, Putnam County Industrial Development Agency;  Phil Faranda, CEO, J. Philip Real Estate as well as a rep from Tompkins Mahopac Bank, county developers and more.  Find out what the future holds for Putnam County.

In March we have our first quarterly Traveling networking event! Kevin Brown, Hudson Barter Exchange, will lead an introductory discussion about the ancient practice of bartering and how 21st-century businesses are using this form of trade to procure necessary goods and services when cash flow is tight but the future is bright.  The date is Mar 11, 2021, from 6:30 – 8 p.m.

Coming in April will be our legislature’s priority roundtable discussion with elected town, county, state and federal elected officials as we present the PCBC Legislative priorities for 2021. Also throughout the year we will have our quarterly marketing events, more “ Business Talkback” webinars for other industries and business clusters such as Women owned,  not-for-profit, Hispanic owned, art and culture. In the near future another breakfast mixer is planned as well as our annual TrailBlazer Awards event.  It goes without saying that all of the above events will be planned with the latest public health guidelines in mind and held in strict compliance to the rules regarding COVID-19.   We hope the later events can be in-person or at least a hybrid activity.

The Putnam County Business Council is the County’s largest business and professional organization, providing Putnam County with the support and resources it needs with the focus on economic development. We are looking to grow so that we can continue our efforts and support the business climate in Putnam County. Please go to http://putnamcountybusinesscouncil.com/ for membership and event registration information.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that New Yorkers with comorbidities and underlying conditions can make appointments at state-run mass vaccination sites beginning February 14, with the first appointments scheduled for February 15. Excess vaccine supply meant for hospital workers can be used to open eligibility for New Yorkers with comorbidities and underlying conditions. Local health departments will determine how, where and when to schedule appointments in their jurisdictions, and those appointments will begin as early as February 15. No local jurisdiction should accept appointments until the allocations are known, and no earlier than February 14.

“As the state’s effort to vaccinate health care workers nears completion this week, we are now shifting those doses to prioritize those New Yorkers with comorbidities and pre-existing conditions – a group which has felt the brunt of COVID’s destructiveness first-hand,” Governor Cuomo said. “While this is a great step forward in ensuring the most vulnerable among us have access to this life-saving vaccine, it’s no secret that any time you’re dealing with a resource this scarce, there are going to be attempts to commit fraud and game the system. That’s why it’s been critically important that we put safeguards in place to prevent bad actors from slowing the distribution process and we have done just that. Again, I want to remind newly eligible New Yorkers to please be patient when beginning to schedule appointments – we can only administer as many doses as the federal supply allows and we’re continuing to fight for more every day.”

Click HERE for more information

The Siena College Research Institute (SCRI), in partnership with The Business Council of New York State, Inc., and with support from Western Governors University is conducting the 14^th Annual New York State Business Leaders Survey.

This year, we are opening the survey up to chamber members so your members can participate in this study and share their valuable insight and opinions about the state of business in New York and the important issues that impact their ability to successfully compete in today’s economy including the changes that have happened due to COVID-19. For over ten years, SCRI has gathered data that measures economic indicators across the state and for specific regions. Using this data, SCRI has constructed the Business Leaders Index. This Index, and the survey as a whole, have been valuable resources for leaders across New York State.

We encourage you to participate within the next two weeks as we are looking to close the survey before the end of February.

Click the button below to take survey. You will need to enter the following code: PutnCEO

The Board of Directors of Tompkins Mahopac Bank today announced that Gerald J. Klein, Jr. will retire as president and CEO of Tompkins Mahopac Bank after 26 years of service to the company. In anticipation of his retirement, Tompkins Mahopac Bank has worked on a succession plan to assure a smooth transition of leadership and is delighted to announce the appointment of David DeMilia, currently senior vice president, to president and CEO. Klein will support the transition process during the first half of the year, retiring mid-year.

Klein joined Tompkins Mahopac Bank in 1995 and was executive vice president and chief lending officer before becoming CEO in January 2007. He currently sits on the board of directors of the bank and is an executive vice president of the bank holding company, Tompkins Financial Corp., and a member of its senior leadership team. Klein serves on the board of the Independent Bankers Association of New York (IBANYS) and was named as a member of the Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of NY.

Consistent with his personal values and that of Tompkins Mahopac Bank, Klein is immediate past chairman of Putnam Hospital Center Foundation, and is a director on the boards of the Putnam Hospital Center, Putnam Economic Development Corporation and SCORE Putnam. In 2020, Jerry was appointed to the Business Council of Westchester’s board of directors. Previously, he served on the board of the Westchester County Association and was also past chairman of the American Heart Association Heart Walk in Putnam, and past corporate chairman of the Cystic Fibrosis Great Strides Walk in Putnam County.

“Jerry is an exceptional business leader who has overseen a period of strong growth and high performance,” said Tompkins Mahopac Bank Board Chairman Michael Spain. “I would like to thank him personally, and on behalf of the Board, for his contributions to Tompkins Mahopac Bank.”

Steve Romaine, president and CEO of Tompkins Financial Corp. added, “Jerry has successfully led the bank into the digital age without ever losing his deep sense of community and the clients he serves. Integrity, positivity, a deep sense of caring and commitment and a strong sense of humor were all marks of Jerry’s leadership over the past two-and-a-half decades. He has been instrumental in the growth and success of the bank. I wish him all the best in his retirement.”

A lifelong resident of Westchester County, David DeMilia joined Tompkins Mahopac Bank in 2008. He held a number of positions over the years and is currently the senior commercial lending division manager. DeMilia exhibits the values of Tompkins with his various community activities and involvement, most notably his position as trustee of the WMC Health Organization where he has overseen team efforts to raise in excess of $125,000 for that organization over his years with Tompkins.

“Dave brings strong expertise and leadership in one of our core businesses, commercial banking,” said Spain. “He has directed and co-directed multiple important corporate initiatives that have helped Tompkins continue to be a forward-looking company providing superior services to its clients and its communities. I have gotten to know Dave over the years and, along with the entire board, warmly welcome him and wish him every success.”

“It has truly been an honor to lead Tompkins Mahopac Bank,” said Klein. “The company’s vision and values, as a community bank, closely align with my personal code of ethics, so it has been an outstanding fit for me. Tompkins Mahopac Bank has encouraged and supported my work over the years in the industry and the community. The team of people here at the bank are exceptional and truly committed to serving the needs of our communities and I remain grateful for their support. I look forward to working with Dave during the transition and I have the utmost confidence in his ability to lead and drive sustainable excellence in all that we do.”

Tompkins Mahopac Bank, part of Tompkins Financial Corporation, has personalized service, local decision-making and a broad range of services for consumers and businesses. Wealth management services are provided through the offices of Tompkins Financial Advisors. Whether you prefer branch or remote mobile banking, we provide the breadth of services and local decision-making to make what’s possible a reality. Locally Focused. A World of Possibilities. More information is available at www.mahopacbank.com.