Briefs: Cornell grads, new IC VP, business celebrations

Cornell celebrates 2021 graduates

This past weekend, graduates of Cornell University’s class of 2021 walked across the stage in the first in-person graduation ceremony for Cornell since December 2019. Across four separate ceremonies, President Martha E. Pollack lauded members of the class of 2021 for their educational success in the face of a global pandemic that upended their lives and for diligently adhering to the public health guidelines that helped pave the way for these in-person celebrations. “This year has taught you the hardest, most important thing: how to stand back up when the world turned upside down. You do that by reaching out to help each other,” Pollack told the Cornell Chronicle. “I am so inexpressibly proud of every single one of you, of what you’ve accomplished here as individuals, and together; of the way you’ve brought the ethos and the values of Cornell to life; and of the way you’ve come together to bring us to this point today.” A total of about 4,500 graduates, joined by approximately 8,700 family members and guests, attended the four events celebrating the university’s 153rd graduating class, with policies designed to align with Cornell’s ongoing COVID-19 safety protocols. A Cornell education, Pollack said, has always sought to do far more than simply provide the knowledge necessary for a career. “It’s designed to teach you to how to live, and how to thrive, in a changing world,” she told the Cornell Chronicle. “And today, perhaps more than ever, our changing world demands much more than any specific set of knowledge. … [Today’s challenges] demand not just knowledge, but a commitment to truth. Not just science, but the ability to listen to others, and to communicate what you know.” For more information on Cornell’s commencement ceremonies, visit cornell.edu. In this photo, graduates celebrate at the Sunday morning ceremony.

 

Ithaca College names new financial vice president

Tim Downs, who has served in leadership roles in operations and financial management at Princeton University for the past 14 years, has been named vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer (VPFA-CFO) at Ithaca College. Currently the executive director for facilities finance and administrative services at Princeton, he will start his new position at Ithaca on Aug. 2. Downs joined Princeton in 2007 as manager of the Facilities Finance and Business Office and was promoted to his current position in 2012. In that role, he has been responsible for leading a 37-member department providing budget, finance, business operations, procurement, information technology and customer service support. He manages all financial aspects of a $125 million operating budget, $50 million major maintenance budget and multi-billion-dollar capital projects budget. At Ithaca College, Downs will serve as an essential strategic partner to President Shirley M. Collado, working collaboratively with her, the Board of Trustees, and the senior leadership team as well as with faculty, staff, and student leaders to assure a successful and stable financial future for the college. He will provide leadership and managerial oversight for 300 staff members in the areas of business and finance, facilities, and auxiliary services, and have primary responsibility for the development and implementation of the college’s annual operating budget that will allow for financial alignment with the Ithaca Forever strategic plan.

 

Bailey Place Insurance named Best Place to Work

Bailey Place Insurance has been named among the Best Places to Work in Central New York. For the ninth year, the Central New York Business Journal has conducted its annual contest to determine employee satisfaction. Bailey Place Insurance has been selected as one of the top 50 places to work in all of central New York, with the top honors being announced in September. The annual contest polls all staff members of a business that has been nominated. Based upon poll results relating to employee satisfaction, the winners are selected. The announcement does not come as a surprise to Val VanGorder, vice president at Bailey Place, who has been with the company for more than a decade. “I’ve been a proud member of our team at Bailey Place for 11 years, and this is the best crew of people I’ve ever worked with. Everyone is friendly and fun, and great at their job, which makes mine so much easier!” Bailey Place Insurance has offices in Cortland, Dryden, Ithaca, Syracuse and Rochester. “This award means a lot because it was our team’s responses that determined the winner,” said President Steve Franco. “I’m proud that we’ve developed a culture here where our team feels comfortable and enjoys their work. This translates to better customer service.” This was the first time Bailey Place was nominated for the award, which is given out to recognize and celebrate central New York’s employers that “encourage, cultivate and promote a great place to work.”

 

Ribbon cuttings celebrate downtown businesses

The city of Ithaca and the Downtown Ithaca Alliance (DIA) hosted ceremonies May 26 to celebrate three businesses in the downtown district. The first ceremony was held at noon at Serenity’s Beautique, 121 S. Cayuga St., to celebrate the beauty salon’s grand opening. That ceremony was immediately followed by a ceremony at 15 STEPS and Lou’s Street Food 171 E. State St, Center Ithaca. Serenity’s Beautique specializes in eyelash extensions, volume touch-ups and fills eyebrow shaping, and other beautification techniques. Business owner Serenity Dixon, a licensed esthetician, provides all the services. At 15 STEPS, the city and DIA celebrated the gift shop’s new classroom space, where folks can participate in culinary and crafting classes. Plus, 15 STEPS now features a new housewares department where shoppers can find cooking and dining wares. Lastly, local officials celebrated Lou’s Street Food, which opened this past winter as part of the DIA’s Pop-Up Program and is now a permanent fixture in Center Ithaca. At Lou’s, you’ll find affordable, to-go lunch and dinner options — grilled hot dogs and hamburgers and occasionally specialty sausages and soups. Lou Cassaniti, a legendary vendor in the downtown community, owns and operates the cafe. DIA Executive Director Gary Ferguson said, “These three new businesses, all of them have made a serious commitment to our community by investing in bricks-and-mortar locations here in the heart of Downtown. They deserve our thanks, best wishes, and most of all, our patronage and support.” For more information about downtown businesses and its other offerings, visit downtownithaca.com.