The Central New York Community Foundation board of directors recently elected six new members.
The following new members were appointed to serve their first three-year term:
Jaime Alicea, Retired Superintendent of Schools at Syracuse City School District
Jaime began his career with the Syracuse City School District (SCSD) as a teaching assistant at Seymour Elementary School in 1983. After working his way up through a number of teaching and administrative positions, he was appointed as superintendent in 2017, retiring in 2022 after 40 years with the district. Born in Puerto Rico, Spanish is Jaime’s first language, and throughout his time at SCSD he took special interest in connecting and supporting students and parents who were learning English. During his tenure, he shepherded the district through the COVID-19 pandemic and helped lay the groundwork for the state’s first STEAM high school. At the time of his retirement, the district’s high school graduation rate had increased to 71%. In 2022, the New York state education commissioner assigned him as a fiscal consultant to the Rochester City School District and was appointed as the state monitor in 2023.
Martin Durkin, Chief Campus Counsel at SUNY Upstate Medical University Hospital
Since joining the SUNY Office of General Counsel in September 2017, Martin has been actively involved in efforts to modernize SUNY Upstate’s academic medical center funding flow and the negotiation and documentation of various strategic initiatives. Before joining SUNY Upstate, he was a partner at Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. There he represented corporations, nonprofit health systems, academic medical centers, ambulatory surgery centers, an organ procurement organization, physicians and physician practices. He also assisted in the representation of nonprofit healthcare entities conducting internal investigations, medical necessity audits, peer review proceedings and managing government disclosures. Martin also previously served as associate counsel for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Physician Services Division.
Lisa Germain, Senior Vice President and Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch
Lisa is a seasoned and savvy financial advisor who brings her deep knowledge and enlightened perspectives to active and retired clients that span generations and the nation’s geography. Lisa has completed advanced industry training sponsored by the Johnson School of Management at Cornell University. Additionally, she holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC®) designation from the College for Financial Planning and was named as one of Forbes’ 2024 Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-In-State. Lisa is involved with several local philanthropic organizations, including the Upstate Foundation, YMCA and Girl Scouts. She also helps with collection drives that supply backpacks to local students. Lisa holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Alfred University.
Mark S. Hall, Managing Partner at M.S. Hall & Associates, LLC
Mark has over 40 years of experience in the healthcare industry. For the past 19 years, he has served as managing partner at M.S. Hall + Associates, a financial and data analytics healthcare consulting firm. In addition, and most recently, Mark served as president & CEO of Syracuse Community Health (SCH) for six years where he oversaw the construction and December 2023 opening of its new $25 million healthcare facility. Prior to M.S. Hall + Associates, Mark held the title of vice president of finance at Crouse and Community General hospitals, and later served as CFO of the Syracuse Community Health Center. Prior to Crouse and Community hospitals, Mark was promoted to manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC; legacy Coopers & Lybrand), in its Healthcare Regulatory Group. While at PwC, Mark prepared and was involved with feasibility studies for over $2 billion in financings. Prior to this, Mark was employed at Loretto Rest Corporation and Blue Cross Blue Shield of CNY. Mark has also served as an expert witness in a litigation lawsuit.
Duane B. Owens, NYS Regional Director of Historical Sites, Parks & Recreation
Prior to his role as the New York state regional director of historical sites at parks & recreation, Duane served as the commissioner of personnel, commissioner of facilities management and MWBE consultant for Onondaga County. He has an extensive background in business and real estate development and currently serves on the board of directors of CNY Works and Inclusive Economy CNY, among others, and is a member of Coop Fed’s Business Opportunity Loan Committee. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Wake Forest University.
Kathleen L. Wiese, Retired Major Gift Officer at Hamilton College
Kathy began her career as an auditor with Coopers & Lybrand, later becoming a manager at Price Waterhouse Management Consultants. She previously worked for GE Military and Data Systems Operation in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania and at Hamilton College for 16 years, primarily serving as the major gifts officer, among other roles. She has a bachelor’s degree in economics and accounting from College of the Holy Cross. She currently serves on the board of directors for Christian Brothers Academy and previously served on the board of directors for the Loretto Foundation and the Syracuse Football Club. Kathy’s son, Patrick, established a fund at the Community Foundation in 2017 to support cancer research and provide supplies for youth with cancer to continue their education.
