Bucknam & Conley CPAs, a CPA firm specializing in tax and providing services nationwide, announced that Riley Markle has joined the firm as office administrator/project manager.
She will be the front-line client interface of the firm, will manage our technology and client experience initiatives and will oversee the internal workings of the office.
After graduating from the University of Albany, Markle enrolled at SUNY Empire State College where she is pursuing an MBA with a concentration in Human Resource Management.
Riley gained her prior experience in operations, human resources, and office administration while working at a law firm in Albany and later in a consulting firm in Saratoga.
The company also announced that both Daulton McHale and Bryce Kahler passed their last part of the CPA exam.
McHale is officially a licensed CPA in the state of New York. He is a senior tax associate and Kahler is a tax and accounting associate. They work on a wide range of industries and have a broad perspective on the varied tax and accounting issues that clients encounter.
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NBT Bank announced that Catherine Raymond has joined the company as talent acquisition manager.
Raymond, who has more than a decade of experience in talent management, will design, implement and manage effective hiring strategies for candidates across the company’s seven-state footprint that align with NBT Bank’s business goals.
Most recently, Raymond served as talent acquisition operations manager for Oneida Nation Enterprise. Prior to that, she was the division manager for an accounting and finance staffing firm.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Nazareth College and has received numerous awards for her work. Active in her community, Raymond volunteers at the Boys & Girls Club and with the Wounded Warriors Project.
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Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP has extensive experience representing clients in the area of Alcoholic Beverage Law and is continuing to grow this practice with the addition of Alexandra Becker and Richard Burstein.
The industry is constantly evolving and COVID has exacerbated the already high demand for licenses and need for new capabilities, including take out of alcoholic beverages and the possible change to allow wine in grocery stores.
Becker and Burstein, a father-daughter team, bring 55 years of combined experience in this area, representing clients across a variety of industries in matters before the New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) and Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).
Becker joins the firm as a partner focusing her practice in the area of alcoholic beverage licensing and compliance, as well as corporate law, and mergers and acquisitions.
Becker started her career with her father, Richard Burstein, as her mentor and together they have assisted hundreds of clients in obtaining liquor licenses. She represents numerous national brands in the area.
Burstein joins the firm as senior counsel, and in addition to his alcoholic beverage practice, also represents clients in the gaming industry, including Saratoga Casino and the New York Gaming Association, and has extensive experience in corporate and securities law, and mergers and acquisitions.
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The Wesley Community announced that Kelli Derway was appointed to its board of directors.
Derway is the director of facilities for Stewart’s Shops, where she has worked for 30 years providing operational and facilities support. She has a broad range of experience from managing preventative maintenance programs and standards upgrades to budgeting and expense reporting.
She has also had responsibilities overseeing refrigeration, HVAC and security installations and repairs. Derway serves as a trustee to the Stewart’s Shops’ Employee Stock Ownership Plan.
For more information about The Wesley Community, visit www.thewesleycommunity.org.
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Amanda LaForte has been awarded the GRI designation by the New York State Realtor Institute.
LaForte is a state licensed real estate salesperson for EXIT Realty Empire Associates in Clifton Park.
She received this honor after successfully completing 90 hours of residential real estate education meeting the rigorous standards established by the National Association of Realtors.
The Realtor Institute of New York, which is conducted by the New York State Association of Realtors, was developed to satisfy the need for more comprehensive and effective learning experience in various phases of real estate. By taking courses offered by the institute a Realtor or Realtor Associate can become a more competent professional, render broader and more effective service, and elevate the standards of the real estate industry.
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Southern Adirondack Realtors installed a slate of new leaders at its holiday gala in December.
SAR officers include Eden Whitaker of DeMarsh Real Estate, president; Jessica Sherry of the Sherwood Group, president-elect; Lisa Ostrander of Howard Hanna Real Estate, secretary ; and Saraha Millington of Gallo Realty ADK, Treasurer-Elect.
Other officers are Catherine McDonough of Hunt Real Estate, past president; and directors Lisa Grassi Bartlett of Exit Realty, Gloria Bolesh of Howard Hanna Real Estate, Scott Cross of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, Howard Denison of DeMarsh Real Estate, Mark Ladu of Davies of Davies Real Estate, Brian Williams of Levack Real Estate, and Dan Davies of Davies-Davies Real Estate.