Rochester Business Journal

Summary: Episcopal SeniorLife launches Empower Leadership Academy in 2024 Jewish Home expands hiring to refugees, veterans, and disabled individuals Jewish Home’s Your Path Forward offers tuition reimbursement and training Episcopal SeniorLife provides unlimited RTS bus passes and emergency relief fund As America’s population ages, the demand for senior living and care services continues to grow.

The Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport will use just shy of $5.5 million in federal funds to pay for upgrades to taxiways, customs and border patrol facilities, runway and apron lighting and baggage claim units. The money has been allotted from the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program and the Airport Grant Program and is part of nearly $63 million awarded to airports across the state.

National nonprofit organization Jewish Women International (JWI) has elected Rochester leadership coach, author and consultant Pam Sherman as chair of its board of trustees. Pam Sherman Sherman, founder of The ShermanEDGE and a 2017 JWI Women to Watch honoree, succeeds Michelle Carlson of Las Vegas, who will remain on the board.

Key takeaways: Small and mid-sized businesses often struggle with cybersecurity because they are overwhelmed, not because they disregard the risks. AI is making cyberattacks more sophisticated, requiring organizations to develop secure AI governance strategies. Effective cybersecurity programs can create business value through cost savings, competitive advantages and lower insurance premiums.

While researching this column about a handful of the most memorable moments in United States sports history, a theme emerged. Although we Americans have enjoyed the dominating performances of a Babe Ruth or a Michael Jordan or a Tiger Woods or a Secretariat on our fields, courts, rinks, and tracks of play, we’re even more passionate about the stories of underdogs overcoming the odds. The more daunting the challenges, the sweeter the results. We love longshots. Always have.

In an increasingly competitive market, older adult living communities are being challenged to think differently about what drives resident satisfaction and influences prospective residents. While factors such as healthcare services, wellness programming, housing options, and recreational amenities remain important, I have found that one of the most powerful differentiators may be something far more universal: food.

L3Harris Technologies has secured a contract from NASA to develop critical technologies for the Habitable Worlds Observatory, a next-generation space telescope designed to search for signs of life on distant planets. L3Harris is one of seven companies selected for three-year, fixed-price contracts supporting the ambitious mission, which is expected to become one of NASA’s flagship deep space observatories.

The Greece Regional Chamber of Commerce has created a new brand identity, unveiling a redesigned logo meant to accentuate the organization’s mission of helping businesses connect, grow and thrive. The logo features flowing blue and green elements to symbolize the relationships, partnerships and momentum that drive business success while paying tribute to the community’s connection to Lake Ontario and adjacent waterways.

Rochester and the whole Finger Lakes Region have a lot to be grateful for coming out of the New York State Budget process and Legislative Session. While, as always, there will always be critics, taking a step back to look at all we accomplished showcases an array of valuable results. From advocating for the passage of positive policy to lobbying to stop harmful regulations, this year’s session exemplifies the power of collaboration and what good governance looks like.

David Bovenzi Appointment David Bovenzi, Independent Director, Financial Institutions, Inc. Financial Institutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: FISI), parent company of Five Star Bank and Courier Capital, welcomes Dave Bovenzi to its Board of Directors. Mr. Bovenzi is Chief Investment Officer of Grand Oaks Capital and a former Managing Director and Portfolio Manager at Bank of America Private Bank. He brings deep expertise in investment strategy and capital markets.