Photo courtesy of Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce: The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce and its Women’s Council affiliate presented ATHENA awards on Thursday to, from left: Kimberly Jones, CEO of Butler/Till Media Services; Dr. Heidi Macpherson, president of The College at Brockport – State University of New York; and  Julie Camardo, Zweigle’s owner and CEO.

ROCEHSTER – Dr. Heidi Macpherson, president of The College at Brockport, was presented with the ATHENA International Award on Thursday by the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce and its Women’s Council affiliate.

The award is given annually to a professional female leader who has demonstrated significant achievements in business, community service, and the professional advancement of women.

Macpherson is the seventh president of The College at Brockport and the first woman to hold this role. Macpherson has 25 years of experience in higher education as an English professor and administrator in both the United States and England, having previously held positions of Provost, Pro Vice Chancellor, and Dean.

She has written or edited seven books, including a three-volume encyclopedia set. She is the chair of the Rochester Area Colleges Presidents Network. She has held a number of positions on national education bodies and volunteer boards in the UK, Wisconsin, and New York.

Currently she serves as co-chair of the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council and on the boards of the Rochester and Monroe County YWCA, Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, the Willow Domestic Violence Center, the United Way of Greater Rochester, and Roc the Future Convenors Group. She is also an active member of Rotary International.

The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce also on Thursday presented its ATHENA Young Professional Award to Julie Camardo, the fifth-generation owner and CEO of Zweigle’s.

The ATHENA Young Professional Award recognizes emerging leaders in the 30 to 45 year old range who demonstrate excellence, creativity, and initiative in their business or profession. Recipients also provide valuable service by contributing time and energy to improve the quality of life of others in the community while serving as a role model for young women both personally and professionally.

Camardo started in the office environment and then transitioned to sales while both her grandfather and mother were still at Zweigle’s. In 2005, Camardo was named vice president. She took over as president of Zweigle’s in 2009 after her mother passed away. In 2015, the Zweigle’s Board of Directors named her CEO.

Under Camardo, Zweigle’s expanded two times and has grown in product diversification, sales and employees. The company is guided by four core values of quality, caring, accountability, and integrity, each representative of one of the prior generations.

Camardo is committed to the community where she lives. She sits on the boards of the MCC Foundation, ESL, Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, Holy Childhood, and Special Touch Bakery. She is a strong supporter of the Golisano Children’s Hospital, Susan B. Anthony House, United Way, and The Strong.  She is also a current member of the Vistage organization.

The ATHENA Organizational Award was presented to Butler/Till Media Services. The award goes to a woman-owned or woman-led business or organization that creates a culture encouraging women employees to achieve their full leadership potential and supports leadership development opportunities for women and girls in the community.

Butler/Till is home to more than 150 employees, of which 65% are female. It remains headquartered in Rochester and has added satellite offices in New York City and San Francisco. With a strong women leadership team as a significant driver of organizational growth and prosperity at Butler/Till, the company has experienced double-digit revenue increases in each of the past eight years.

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Mariah Plain

ALBION – Mariah Plain, an Albion High School senior, has been nominated for the U.S. Air Force Academy by U.S. Kirsten Gillibrand.

Plain has been a first-team Niagara-Orleans soccer selection as a forward/midfielder for the Purple Eagles. She also represented Orleans County American Legion Auxiliaries for a week last summer at Empire Girls State at The College at Brockport.

Gillibrand, Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee, today announced her nominations for candidates for three of the nation’s leading service institutions: the United States Military, Naval, and Air Force Academies.

“Our nation’s service academies cultivate exceptional officers, and it is a privilege to nominate some of the best and brightest students from the Rochester-Finger Lakes Region to attend these distinguished institutions,” Gillibrand said. “These future leaders have outstanding academic records and a passion for service. I look forward to watching the successes of all of our nominees as they further their education and serve our nation in the armed forces.”

A selection committee formed by Senator Gillibrand chose the nominees from a large group of qualified applicants. Decisions were based on criteria including academic record, leadership potential, and overall achievement. Final acceptance is determined solely by the service academies.

The United States service academies offer a first-class education as well as a chance for young people to serve our country upon graduation as commissioned officers in the United States Armed Services.

Other candidates from the Rochester-Finger Lakes Region nominated by Gillibrand for the service academies include: Leslie DeGroff (Warsaw, Wyoming County) – United States Military Academy; McKenzie Schaertl (Shortsville, Ontario County) – United States Naval Academy; and Sydney Higgins (Pittsford, Monroe County) – United States Naval Academy.

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Provided photos from Catholic Charities: June Seager speaks last week at East Pembroke during a kickoff event for the 2020 Catholic Charities appeal. Next to her is Kelly Grimaldi, Catholic Charities Tri-County district director.

EAST PEMBROKE – An Orleans County woman was honored last week by Catholic Charities for her “unwavering commitment to helping those in need in the community.”

June Seager received the “Hero of Hope Partner Award.” She works as the coordinator for the Orleans County Office of Children and Family Services. In 2018 she was named the Orleans County Employee of the Year.

She has worked the 16 years as a caseworker for the county. She was recognized in 2018 as the county employee of the year for her work as an adult protective caseworker with residents 18 and older. Most of the cases involved elderly residents at risk. They may be financially exploited, or suffer from a physical disability or mental health issue.

This photo includes, from left: Deacon Steve Schumer, Catholic Charities president and CEO; June Seager, county coordinator for the Orleans County Office of Children and Family Services; and Kelly Grimaldi, Catholic Charities Tri-County district director.

“June really goes above and beyond the call of duty for her clients,” said Kelly Grimaldi, Tri-County district director for Catholic Charities. “She truly cares about them, not just as clients, but as individuals, and it continuously shows in her work. When we try to reach her at her office, more times than not she isn’t there because she is out taking care of someone. She genuinely cares.”

About 40 Catholic Charities appeal parish volunteers, clergy, and staff attended a volunteer training workshop on Jan. 8 at St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church at East Pembroke. The event helped kick off the $10 million Catholic Charities and the Fund for the Faith in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties.

The patron saint for Appeal 2020 is Saint Joseph. Working under the theme “Think of Me,” Appeal volunteers from Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties will begin reaching out to individuals and businesses in the community to encourage their support of the Appeal, which helps fund Catholic Charities’ 51 programs and services across 43 sites in Western New York, along with a number of programs and ministries through the Fund for the Faith.

“Funding is vital not only for Catholic Charities to continue its robust mission of serving those most in need in Western New York, but for the Fund for the Faith to provide its important ministries for parishioners in our diocese,” said Rick Cronin, chair of Appeal 2020. “This marks our 96th Appeal, and we know that we couldn’t have come this far without prayers, dedicated volunteers and generous donors. As we begin our climb to $10 million, we will once again rely on this combination, and will remain committed to ensuring that Catholic Charities is a beacon of hope for those in need in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties.”

Catholic Charities provided assistance which impacted more than 160,000 individuals, Catholics and non-Catholics alike during the past year, including more than 3,600 individuals in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties. Donors from these three counties contributed $418,727 to the 2019 Appeal.

Catholic Charities provides a range of services in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties. These services include basic assistance; counseling for individuals, couples and families; Domestic Violence program for men; Our Kids: Parent Education and Awareness Program; and outreach to homebound seniors through Friendly Phones in Orleans County and Friendly Phones and Home Visitation in Genesee County.

Catholic Charities’ offices are located at 25 Liberty St., Suite 7, Batavia, 243 South Main St., Albion, and 6470 State Rt. 20A Bldg. 1, Perry.

This year’s Appeal Week will take place March 28-April 5 throughout the eight counties of Western New York to celebrate the support of those who have made contributions to the Appeal, and to encourage those who have not already donated to do so. Volunteers will continue to work to achieve the final goal until the conclusion of Appeal 2020 on June 30.

To make a donation to Appeal 2020 or for more information contact Catholic Charities at (716) 218-1400 or go to ccwny.org, or follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Photo courtesy of Bruce Landis, Photos by Bruce

GAINES – Bruce Landis took this photo – “You want it when?” of Dave Clark working in the harness shop at the Cobblestone Museum in Gaines. This was taken on Sept. 14 during the Old Timers Fair at the museum.

The image earned a first place award at the Professional Photographers of America International photo competition, and will be on display at their annual convention in Nashville Tenn., from Jan. 18-21.

Landis has worked as a professional photographer locally since 1974. In 2017 he was honored by the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce with a “Lifetime Achievement Award.”

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