Archive: Business & Technology

Investors, led by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and the Church of England's investment fund, the Church Commissioners, this week asked the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to reject ExxonMobil's plan to block a shareholder proposal for information on how the company will be impacted by public policies seeking to rein in climate change.

DiNapoli, as trustee of the New York State Common Retirement Fund, the Church Commissioners and other ExxonMobil investors filed a shareholder proposal in December, asking the company to publish an annual assessment of the impact on its business of public climate change policies, including how lower demand for its products and carbon restrictions would impact its oil and gas reserves and resources. The company's response was to notify the SEC of its intent to block the proposal from a shareholder vote at its annual meeting in the spring. Investors responded to ExxonMobil's move in a letter to the SEC on Monday.

Overtime pay at state agencies jumped for the sixth straight year to a record $716 million in 2015 – up nearly $55 million from the year before, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The total number of overtime hours worked also increased, continuing a trend that began in 2011.

"State employees worked 16.8 million overtime hours last year, at a record cost of $716 million," DiNapoli said. "New York's state agencies need to ensure that overtime use is justified, while ensuring that work is done safely and effectively."

Dallas -- Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant Emilie Rawlings of Ithaca, NY has earned the use of a new Chevy Cruze in January as a result of her outstanding achievements in her Mary Kay business.

Rawlings will take delivery of the new Chevy Cruze, her First Mary Kay career car, in March 2016.  Mary Kay independent sales force members earn the use of a career car by meeting or exceeding goals set within their Mary Kay businesses.

"It's amazing to represent a company that rewards it's sales force with the use of a FREE CAR," said Rawlings. " All because I am sharing products that I am passionate about, and an opportunity that I believe is unparalleled in it's freedom and potential."

Ithacans are paying too much for their car loans.  A recent study on wallethub.com ranks Ithaca as 2551 out of 2570 US cities, placing the city among the bottom 20 US cities with a 161% debt-to-income ratio for car loans.  According to the study, Ithaca is the worst city in New York State for getting a car loan, at least in terms of the percentage buyers spend or their annual income.

"The most common mistake people make when shopping for a car (or anything else) is to lose sight of their budget, their existing and forthcoming financial obligations," says Angelo State University Accounting, Economics and Finance Professor Sahit Murat Kara. "Most of us are already burdened with high amounts of debt and, although we are not thinking about it at that moment, in a few months we will have to have the roof of our house redone, or have to replace the AC unit. Not the best time to purchase the $50,000 dream truck, is it?"

Tompkins Financial Advisors is pleased to announce that Kara G. Taylor has joined the firm as managing director for the central New York region. She is based in the Tompkins Financial Advisors office located at 119 East Seneca Street in Ithaca.

In her new role, Taylor is responsible for establishing and executing the wealth management strategy for the central New York region, as well as, ensuring that clients receive the highest level of care.

Boyce Thompson Institute announced that it has been named one of the Best Companies to Work for in New York State for 2016. This is the second year that the Ithaca-based not-for-profit institute has been named to the list.

"At BTI we strive to create a caring and nurturing culture. We have a great environment and offer challenging mission-driven work. We are proud to be recognized as one of 2016's best companies to work for," said Meredith Dessoye, Human Resources Manager.

Former top City of Ithaca official and long-time local transit proponent Bill Gray took over the helm as chairperson of the nine-member TCAT, Inc. Board of Directors at its first regular board meeting of the year on Thurs., Jan. 28.

The TCAT Board of Directors in December elected Gray, who has served on the board since August, 2011, and most recently served as chairperson of the board's budget committee. He was recommended by the city to continue serving on the board and was in rotation to serve as 2016 chairperson.

Brian BisaccioFayetteville, NY –Tompkins Trust Company has been providing Central New York with convenient community banking for more than 180 years, and now the Trust Company is pleased to announce the expansion of its services with its newest bank location opening at Lyndon Corners, 6868 East Genesee St., Fayetteville.

Tompkins Trust Company currently serves clients in Onondaga County through its Auburn and Cortland branches, said President and CEO Greg Hartz.

Cayuga Medical Center, Island Health & Fitness, and Rasa Spa, announced a new name today for their building – “The Cayuga Wellness Center;  your complete wellness destination,”  to reflect 10 years of comprehensive growth.

The Cayuga Wellness Center offers a variety of comprehensive health and wellness services from Rasa Spa, Island Health & Fitness, Cayuga Center for Healthy Living, Sports Medicine and Athletic Performance, and Physical Therapy for a seamless personalized transition from one service to the other.

Buffalo, NY - With tax season underway, Better Business Bureau of Upstate New York knows scammers will be ready to try and take advantage of taxpayers.

BBB reports IRS imposters and other IRS related scams as the number one scam of 2015, according to BBB's Scam Tracker. Of the first 10,000 scam reports processed by BBB, 24 percent were about imposters pretending to be from the Internal Revenue Service. For the Upstate New York service area, it was 19.8 percent.

Recently, the Department of Treasury issued a public service announcement about the IRS scam.

The Rotary Club of Ithaca is pleased to introduce three individuals who have recently joined the service club. These community members volunteer in Tompkins County and bring professional experience from the business and not-for-profit sectors. Ithaca Rotary's motto is "Service Above Self." Membership is open to all who share in this belief; new members are accepted year-round.


"The Ithaca Rotary Club is delighted to welcome these individuals," said Rotary Membership Chair Ron Provus. "Our members come from all walks of life and have a wide variety of interests to match those of Rotary. As members of Ithaca Rotary, individuals give of their time and skills to positively impact the needs of our community."

The boards of directors of Schuyler Hospital and the Cayuga Health System have named James B. Watson to the position of president of Schuyler Hospital and vice president of the Cayuga Health System. He is the current president and chief operating officer of the Arnot Health-Ira Davenport Memorial Hospital in Bath, NY.

"We are extremely fortunate to have Jim join Schuyler Hospital and the Cayuga Health System," says John Rudd, president and CEO of the Cayuga Health System. "He has extensive experience in the small hospital environment and he is highly respected in the field of health care administration. He brings an established track record of achievements in the development of successful affiliations and the integration of services among partner organizations. Jim has in-depth knowledge of both acute hospital care and the field of skilled nursing facilities, which make him ideally suited to take on this new role."