Teal, Becker & Chiaramonte CPAs, PC, announced that Karen Foster, its manager of pension operations with over 30 years of experience in retirement plan management and client services administration, will lead the Retirement Plan Services division as the new director.
A former benefit plan consultant and record-keeper, she joined TBC in 2007. She is a graduate of University at Albany, holding both a master’s and a bachelor’s degrees in economics. She is an American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA) credentialed Qualified 401(k) administrator.
She was formerly employed by an actuarial and benefit plan consulting firm, a bank trust department and an ERISA attorney. Her practice focuses on working with brokers and clients to determine the best type of plan for firms and maintaining contact with them to ensure that the plan continually meets their needs.
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Taylor Herrick has been promoted to director of public safety at Saratoga Hospital, responsible for a team of 20 public safety officers.
Herrick joined the hospital in January 2007 as a part-time public safety officer and rose quickly through the ranks. For the past six years, he has held the position of public safety coordinator, which is second in command.
A certified security professional and certified public safety instructor, Herrick spearheaded the hospital’s security guard training program, which is approved by the state Division of Criminal Justice Services. He holds multiple certifications from agencies including DCJS, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.
Herrick is active on many hospital committees and work groups. He has an associate degree in criminal justice from SUNY Adirondack and is pursuing a degree in business management and economics, with a concentration in emergency management, from Empire State College.\
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The owners of four Saratoga County restaurants announced the hiring of a new culinary director to oversee their area restaurants and build upon the group brand name.
Colleen and Tim Holmes hired Chef Chris Dore at WOW Restaurants Inc.
Dore joined the group in June and has completed a focused training of a new restaurant team at 2 West Bar and Grille on West Avenue in Saratoga Springs, the most recent addition to the WOW Restaurants Inc. quartet.
A native of Saratoga Springs, he is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. After three months staging at restaurants in New York City and Washington D.C., Dore helped open Forno Toscano and Max London’s restaurants. He then took the position of executive sous chef at Sperry’s Restaurant. He has also worked at Druthers Brewing Co., Mingle on the Avenue and the Gideon Putnam restaurants.
The WOW Restaurants Inc. Group includes Wheatfields Restaurant & Bar on Broadway in Saratoga Springs; Wheatfields Bistro and Wine Bar located in the Crossings in Clifton Park; BWP Beer Wine Pizza, located at 70 Weibel Ave., Saratoga Springs; and 2 West Bar & Grille.
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The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce’s Veterans Business Council elected a new group of officers for 2018.
The Veterans Business Council is a group of area business leaders who volunteer to help veterans in Saratoga County find employment opportunities or entrepreneurial opportunities that may fit their unique skill sets. The group supports other veterans agencies through fundraising efforts and information sharing about career pathways, jobs, training and business ownership in the greater Saratoga area.
The new leadership team includes: Karen Charbonneau, Chairwoman, Saratoga Home Team of the Miranda Real Estate Group; Jason Collins, vice chairman, veteran outreach coordinator, Office of Veteran and Military Education/ SUNY Empire State College; Michael Kennedy, treasurer, Human Resources at Saratoga Bridges; Randal Hagen, secretary, assistant vice president, Ballston Spa National Bank; Dan Colvin, immediate past chairman, continuous improvement BB expert, Waterford operations of Momentive Performance Materials’ and Col. Dave Cummings, retired, Chamber board of directors liaison.
For more information on the Veterans Business Council, contact Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President Denise Romeo at 518-584-3255 or visit www.saratoga.org/pages/veterans-business-council.