Empire State University has announced that Charles Infurna, Ed.D., has been appointed as the 2024-25 PRODiG+ (Promoting Recruitment, Opportunity, Diversity, Inclusion and Growth) Fellow.
This fellowship is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) initiative to increase the number of underrepresented faculty and allies selected for tenure-track positions. While at SUNY Empire, Infurna will serve as visiting assistant professor in the Department of Educational Studies.
Infurna most recently served as principal of North Hornell Elementary School. He also has more than a decade of experience coaching track and field throwing events at colleges throughout New York state. Infurna has also served as an associate at the University of Rochester Children’s Institute, where he conducted research on the self-efficacy of preschool teachers, classroom quality measures, student outcomes, and coach-athlete relationships, including psychological dynamics that influence athletic performance and wellbeing.
Infurna holds a bachelor’s degree in childhood education and a graduate degree in curriculum and instruction from SUNY Fredonia. He earned his doctor of education degree in executive leadership at St. John Fisher University.
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Christopher R. Dowd, president and CEO of Ballston Spa National Bank (BSNB), has announced that Pamela J. Montpelier has joined the bank as senior vice president, growth and experience officer.
Ms. Montpelier is a highly skilled banking professional with more than three decades working in the industry. Most recently she served as strategic sales director for Generations Gold Inc., a financial services company that provides financial institutions with strategies for deposit acquisition and revenue growth.
Prior to her position at Generations Gold, Ms. Montpelier served as president & CEO/chairperson of the Bank Board of Strata Bank, a respected Massachusetts-based community bank with eight locations that was acquired by Middlesex Savings Bank in 2008 as part of a strategic consolidation.
In her new role, Ms. Montpelier will be responsible for overseeing three of the bank’s divisions, Retail Banking, Marketing and Wealth Management Solutions, providing cross-functional leadership to direct new business growth, product enhancements and rollouts and initiate community engagement programs.
She has also received several awards and accolades for her work. She was named “Most Powerful Woman in Banking” by U.S. Banker Magazine, ranking #13 of the top 25 female bankers in the US in 2005 and one of the magazine’s “25 Women to Watch” in 2006, and was United Chamber of Commerce’s “Businessperson of the Year” in 2004 for outstanding service to the community.
Ms. Montpelier resides in Ballston Spa.
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Franklin Community Center has announced the promotion of Abbie Aldrich to the position of FCC’s Project Lift program director. Her promotion is a testament to her dedication to the mission of Franklin Community Center and her demonstrated ability to advance the goals of Project Lift, which has been making a positive impact on the lives of the community’s youth for over 40 years.
Ms. Aldrich is a native of Saratoga Springs and a graduate of The College of Saint Rose.
In addition, Franklin Community Center welcomes Samantha Porcello as the new student services coordinator. She will be responsible for overseeing the wide range of assistance services provided to families in Saratoga County, including school supplies, Halloween costumes, and holiday support through FCC’s Adopt a Family program.
Ms.Porcello is a resident of Middle Grove and a graduate of The Community College of Vermont.
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Rebecca Fankhanel has joined FAZ Forensics as an analyst in the Saratoga Springs office, where she is involved in the analysis of claims for lost earnings and other projects.
Prior to joining FAZ Forensics, she worked as an audit intern for KPMG, gaining knowledge on the regulatory standards in the accounting industry. Additionally she gained invaluable experience as a tax intern at Wojeski & Company, learning to provide clients with insight on how to optimize their financial position.
Ms. Fankhanel holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Siena College. She continued her education and received a master’s degree in Accounting with a Certificate in Fraud and Digital Forensics.
She plans to pursue both the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) designations.
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Joshua McIntosh has joined FAZ Forensics as Business Development Coordinator. In this role, he will collaborate with their team to expand their reach and achieve their business goals.
With over five years of experience in business development, he will play a crucial role in identifying new business opportunities, developing strategic initiatives, and enhancing client relationships.
McIntosh is a graduate from SUNY Geneseo and obtained a bachelor of science in Business Administration.