‘We need all of your talents’ – New class completes Leadership Orleans
149 have now graduated since 2018; Nick Picardo named alumnus of year
Photos by Tom Rivers: Taylor Gilbert, a credit representative with Farm Credit East, is congratulated by Orleans County legislator Skip Draper on Thursday evening during the graduation ceremony for Leadership Orleans. Charlie Nesbitt, a retired state assemblyman, is in back. Gilbert is among 25 graduates in the 2023 class.
LYNDONVILLE – A new class has completed an intensive program looking at aspects of the Orleans County community and equipping them to be more involved to help steer the county to success.
Leadership Orleans has now graduated 149 people since the first class in 2018. The program aims to build the “citizen capital” of the community, helping develop leaders who are educated on the many facets of the community, from agriculture, non-profit organizations, government services, small and larger businesses, tourism, arts and culture, community health and economic development.
The class also learned about their individual strengths and weaknesses, their personality types and how that shapes their decision-making and tendencies.
The group visited 44 sites around the county during the year and heard from 53 presenters. The program is funded through sponsors and tuition.
Lynne Johnson chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature, congratulates the class on completing Leadership Orleans, which included sessions each month.
“It is no small feat being able to make a commitment when all of our lives are so busy and hectic,” Johnson said during the graduation at the White Birch. “Your continued and future involvement in all aspects of our community is sorely needed and very much welcomed – from running for office, to serving on non-profit boards, to helping develop a vision of what our future can be – we need all of your talents.”
Johnson urged the group to be good listeners in their roles as leaders.
“Unfortunately, open dialogue is too often defined by who can shout the loudest, talk the fastest, deliver the most clever one-liners and generate the most likes on social media,” she said. “I do not think any of us would define that as leadership, yet that’s the path we’re on.”
Dana Joy, clinical supervisor for UConnectCare (formerly GCASA), accepts his diploma and certificates for completing the class from County Legislator Skip Draper and Jayleen Carney, representing Assemblyman Steve Hawley.
The graduates this year include:
- Jenifer Batt, Director Community Services, Arc GLOW
- Julie Berry, Author/Owner, Author’s Note
- Gabriel Bruning, Owner, Bruning Farm & Mountain Mule Ciderhouse, LLC
- Tracy Cliff, Deputy County Clerk, Orleans County
- Angela Conway, Principal, Ronald L. Sodoma Elementary School, Albion CSD
- Carl Creasey, Training Manager, Claims Recovery Financial Services, LLC
- Jesse Cudzilo, Executive Director, Orleans County YMCA
- John Fitzak, Legislator, Orleans County
- Taylor Gilbert, Credit Representative, Farm Credit East
- Kristin Grose, Human Resources Manager, Orleans Community Health
- Michele Harling, Town Clerk, Town of Yates
- Katie Harvey, Director of Personnel and Self-Insurance, Orleans County
- Cassandra Healy, Store Mgr./Classroom Inst., Community Action of Orleans and Genesee
- Megan Johnson, Executive Director, Orleans Community Health Foundation
- Dana Joy, Clinical Supervisor, UConnectCare (formerly GCASA)
- Gwendolyn Large, Volunteer, Lyndonville Lions Club
- Kristy Lindner, Senior Quality Engineer, Baxter Healthcare Corp.
- Jaime Lyndaker, Director of Operations/Orleans Campus, Genesee Community College
- Janelle Moyer, Operations Manager, Claims Recovery Financial Services, LLC
- Brian Neal, Manager, Orleans Poverty Hill Farms
- Katherine Oakes, Horticulture Educator, Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension
- Sarah Osborne, Director of Probation, Orleans County
- Michael Restivo, Financial Advisor, Brighton Securities
- Jessica Rockcastle, Human Resources Manager, Baxter Healthcare Corp.
- Elizabeth Tuttle, Youth Services Librarian, Hoag Library
Skip Helfrich
The schedule for this past year included a two-day opening retreat in January, legislative affairs in February, economic & workforce development in March, community health in April, communities & culture in May, outdoor leadership in June, tourism & recreation in July, volunteerism in August, agribusiness in September, education in October, simulated society in November, a closing retreat on Dec. 7 and graduation on Thursday.
“It’s not the same session every year,” said Skip Helfrich, executive director of Leadership Orleans since it started. “Every year we try to make it better.”
He said there are already 25 people committed to next year’s class.
Leadership Orleans also will be starting a “Level Up” program in smaller groups. It will include eight people initially and they will meet weekly in seven 4-hour sessions.
“What’s the next level?” Helfrich said. “Where do we go from here.”
The “Level Up” will focus on how to motivate people, create passion, build a cohesive team, and sell yourself to peers, subordinates and supervisors.
The effort should start in the first quarter of 2024, Helfrich said.
George Kiefer (right), procurement manager for Takeform, accepts the “First Impressions” award on behalf of Takeform in Medina. Skip Helfrich, left, is the Leadership Orleans executive director. Takeform was one of 44 sites visited by the class. Kiefer said Takeform works hard to help companies and organizations make a strong first impression through signage and branding.
Katie Oakes, horticulture educator for Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension, shares remarks as a class member during the graduation. Julie Berry, owner of the Author’s Note bookstore in Medina, also spoke during the graduation.
Nick Picardo
Oakes also was picked by the class as “presenter of the year.” She runs the U-pick operation at LynOaken Farms in Lyndonville and gave a message about grafting apple trees. She said that can be a metaphor about bringing different people together and using their strengths.
“We are forever linked by this incredible journey called Leadership Orleans,” Oakes said.
Berry spoke about the power of atomic energy to create a much more through nuclear fusion. She said bringing different people together can result in a much more vibrant end result.
Leadership Orleans brought together people from diverse backgrounds, a program that is desperately needed during a time of polarization, Berry said.
Leadership Orleans also picked an alumnus of the year – Nick Picardo, the Kendall district superintendent.
Picardo was in the 2021 class, when he was executive director of Student Services for Kendall Central School. He has been the superintendent for nearly two years, and just last week led the district on a successful vote for a $12.7 million capital project.
Picardo has spent his educational career in Kendall serving as an administrator, social studies teacher, department chair, coach and advisor.
Jackie Dunham, left, presents the diploma to Gabe Bruning, owner of Bruning Farm & Mountain Mule Ciderhouse. Dunham and Charlie Nesbitt, in back, are both on the Leadership Orleans steering committee. Kelly Kiebala is chairman of the committee.
Nesbitt urged the graduates to shape the direction of the community.
“What makes one community successful and another not?” Nesbitt said during remarks. “It’s the people not the place. It takes a lot of people who know what they’re doing.”
