Belinda Venuti
Currently the General Manager of Knapp Winery where she has been employed for over 5 years. Formerly, she was at the Geneva Area Chamber of Commerce as the Marketing and Membership Manager. In addition, she was the Coordinator of the Board of Directors of the Finger Lakes Wine Alliance, an association of wineries that works on issues of importance to the Finger Lakes wine industry. Prior to this position, Ms. Venuti was the Director of the Seneca Lake Whale Watch, Geneva’s largest music festival for thirteen years. She has served on the Board of Directors of Geneva Community Projects, the Finger Lakes Visitor Connection, Geneva Family YMCA, and the New York Festivals and Events Association. Past positions have also included assistant buyer and department manager for the Hecht Company (now Macy’s) in Washington, DC. Ms. Venuti has been a recipient of the Women of Distinction Award given by the New York State Senate, and was named 1999 Citizen of the Year by the Geneva Area Chamber of Commerce. Venuti earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Marquette University, is married to Mark Venuti, a local attorney, and has three children, Alessandra, Sam and Stephen Venuti.
Currently the General Manager of Knapp Winery where she has been employed for over 5 years. Formerly, she was at the Geneva Area Chamber of Commerce as the Marketing and Membership Manager. In addition, she was the Coordinator of the Board of Directors of the Finger Lakes Wine Alliance, an association of wineries that works on issues of importance to the Finger Lakes wine industry. Prior to this position, Ms. Venuti was the Director of the Seneca Lake Whale Watch, Geneva’s largest music festival for thirteen years. She has served on the Board of Directors of Geneva Community Projects, the Finger Lakes Visitor Connection, Geneva Family YMCA, and the New York Festivals and Events Association. Past positions have also included assistant buyer and department manager for the Hecht Company (now Macy’s) in Washington, DC. Ms. Venuti has been a recipient of the Women of Distinction Award given by the New York State Senate, and was named 1999 Citizen of the Year by the Geneva Area Chamber of Commerce. Venuti earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Marquette University, is married to Mark Venuti, a local attorney, and has three children, Alessandra, Sam and Stephen Venuti.
Rob Sollenne
Chief Financial Officer for USNY Bank the parent company of the Bank of the Finger Lakes and the Bank of Cooperstown. Has been in banking for over thirty-five years and held various senior level positions including; financial, operations , branch administration, marketing and investments. A longtime member of the Geneva Community Projects Inc. Board of Directors going back to Seneca Lake Whale Watch and GenevaFest. Involved in many community organizations including; Geneva YMCA, Knights of Columbus, Geneva Growth, Geneva Scholarship Associates , Geneva LDC and Ontario County Economic Development Corporation. A graduate of St. John Fisher College and the Stonier Graduate School of Banking. A lifelong Geneva resident, married to wife Karen M. Sollenne and has four children, Tyler, Ryan, Bobby and Julia.
Chief Financial Officer for USNY Bank the parent company of the Bank of the Finger Lakes and the Bank of Cooperstown. Has been in banking for over thirty-five years and held various senior level positions including; financial, operations , branch administration, marketing and investments. A longtime member of the Geneva Community Projects Inc. Board of Directors going back to Seneca Lake Whale Watch and GenevaFest. Involved in many community organizations including; Geneva YMCA, Knights of Columbus, Geneva Growth, Geneva Scholarship Associates , Geneva LDC and Ontario County Economic Development Corporation. A graduate of St. John Fisher College and the Stonier Graduate School of Banking. A lifelong Geneva resident, married to wife Karen M. Sollenne and has four children, Tyler, Ryan, Bobby and Julia.
Don Damick
Don has operated a Nationwide insurance agency in Geneva since 1979. A relative newcomer to G.C.P. He was drawn to this group's emphasis on the Arts. Don was President of the New York State Assoc. Of Insurance and Financial Advisors in 2010_2011. Also, he has been a member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board for over 25 years as well as serving as Chairman. Don serves as the substitute organist and choir director for the Presbyterian church in Geneva and several surrounding churches as well as an Elder.
Don has operated a Nationwide insurance agency in Geneva since 1979. A relative newcomer to G.C.P. He was drawn to this group's emphasis on the Arts. Don was President of the New York State Assoc. Of Insurance and Financial Advisors in 2010_2011. Also, he has been a member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board for over 25 years as well as serving as Chairman. Don serves as the substitute organist and choir director for the Presbyterian church in Geneva and several surrounding churches as well as an Elder.
Kim Aliperti
Kim Aliperti is owner and Operations Manager of Billsboro Winery, and is a former Peace Corps volunteer. She is an active member of the Geneva community, serving on several boards including Geneva Community Projects, The Geneva Community Center and Boys and Girls Club and The Finger Lakes Culinary Bounty. She is married to Vinny Aliperti and has three children.
Kim Aliperti is owner and Operations Manager of Billsboro Winery, and is a former Peace Corps volunteer. She is an active member of the Geneva community, serving on several boards including Geneva Community Projects, The Geneva Community Center and Boys and Girls Club and The Finger Lakes Culinary Bounty. She is married to Vinny Aliperti and has three children.
Kathleen Flowers
Kathleen Flowers earned her undergraduate degree in Communications from Stonehill College and her Ed.M in Higher Education Administration from the University at Buffalo. She is the Director of Hobart and William Smith College’s Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning and has been at HWS since 2004. Ms. Flowers oversees the Geneva 2020 initiative, service-learning and community-based research programs, the Summer of Service internship program, and she facilitates the Faculty Service-Learning Advisory Council and Community Advisory Council. Her purview also includes the America Reads and America Counts Federal work-study tutoring programs, Alternative Spring Break trips, and post graduate service opportunities. She is an AmeriCorps VISTA alumna and serves on the board for five local non-profit agencies as well as the New York Campus Compact Advisory Board. She has received the inaugural Dorinne Maxwell Memorial Citizenship Prize in 2006, was inducted as an honorary member of the William Smith Class of 2011, and received the Young Athena Award from the Geneva Chamber of Commerce in 2013.
Kathleen Flowers earned her undergraduate degree in Communications from Stonehill College and her Ed.M in Higher Education Administration from the University at Buffalo. She is the Director of Hobart and William Smith College’s Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning and has been at HWS since 2004. Ms. Flowers oversees the Geneva 2020 initiative, service-learning and community-based research programs, the Summer of Service internship program, and she facilitates the Faculty Service-Learning Advisory Council and Community Advisory Council. Her purview also includes the America Reads and America Counts Federal work-study tutoring programs, Alternative Spring Break trips, and post graduate service opportunities. She is an AmeriCorps VISTA alumna and serves on the board for five local non-profit agencies as well as the New York Campus Compact Advisory Board. She has received the inaugural Dorinne Maxwell Memorial Citizenship Prize in 2006, was inducted as an honorary member of the William Smith Class of 2011, and received the Young Athena Award from the Geneva Chamber of Commerce in 2013.
Katharine Warner
Katharine is the marketing coordinator at Three Brothers Wineries & Estates and has been with the company since 2011. She grew up in Rochester, NY and graduated from Le Moyne College in Syracuse, NY with a B.S. in Business Administration, concentrating in Marketing and Applied Management Analysis. Katharine resides in Farmington with her husband John (a Geneva native) and their daughter. When she’s not working Katharine enjoys spending time with family and friends on Seneca & Keuka lakes, cooking, baking and exercising.
Katharine is the marketing coordinator at Three Brothers Wineries & Estates and has been with the company since 2011. She grew up in Rochester, NY and graduated from Le Moyne College in Syracuse, NY with a B.S. in Business Administration, concentrating in Marketing and Applied Management Analysis. Katharine resides in Farmington with her husband John (a Geneva native) and their daughter. When she’s not working Katharine enjoys spending time with family and friends on Seneca & Keuka lakes, cooking, baking and exercising.
Chris Lavin
Geneva native Christopher Lavin assumed the role of executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Geneva and the Geneva Community Center on Jan. 12, 2015. Prior to returning to his hometown of Geneva, he was director of communications for the La Jolla Country Day School, in La Jolla, Calif. In that role, he created year-round marketing campaigns and increased applications and enrollment. He was also founding editor of La Mesa Today. Previously, Lavin served in a variety of positions with the San Diego Union-Tribune, including general manager of arts and entertainment, senior editor and general manager. He also worked as a reporter for the St. Petersburg Times before moving on to assistant managing editor/world for the paper. Prior to moving out of New York, Lavin worked for the Finger Lakes Times and then the Rochester Times-Union.He earned his B.A. in Anthropology from Hobart College, having received a scholarship from Geneva Scholarship Associates. Lavin has won awards for writing and marketing. Additionally, he is a contributing author to “Iroquois Land Claims,” published in June, 1988.
Geneva native Christopher Lavin assumed the role of executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Geneva and the Geneva Community Center on Jan. 12, 2015. Prior to returning to his hometown of Geneva, he was director of communications for the La Jolla Country Day School, in La Jolla, Calif. In that role, he created year-round marketing campaigns and increased applications and enrollment. He was also founding editor of La Mesa Today. Previously, Lavin served in a variety of positions with the San Diego Union-Tribune, including general manager of arts and entertainment, senior editor and general manager. He also worked as a reporter for the St. Petersburg Times before moving on to assistant managing editor/world for the paper. Prior to moving out of New York, Lavin worked for the Finger Lakes Times and then the Rochester Times-Union.He earned his B.A. in Anthropology from Hobart College, having received a scholarship from Geneva Scholarship Associates. Lavin has won awards for writing and marketing. Additionally, he is a contributing author to “Iroquois Land Claims,” published in June, 1988.
Heidi Westfall
Operations Officer for Bank of the Finger Lakes, a unit of USNY Bank. Job duties for the bank cover several areas including accounting, vendor oversight, IT and information security. Her and her husbandPaul Crowley moved to Geneva in 2015. They enjoy spending free time with their two dogs at the lakefront, traveling, and working on home improvement projects!
Operations Officer for Bank of the Finger Lakes, a unit of USNY Bank. Job duties for the bank cover several areas including accounting, vendor oversight, IT and information security. Her and her husbandPaul Crowley moved to Geneva in 2015. They enjoy spending free time with their two dogs at the lakefront, traveling, and working on home improvement projects!
Christine Jeffries
Christine is owner of Fast Lane Enterprises, LLC… bringing the best custom logo apparel and promotional products to local businesses such as wineries, breweries, distilleries and specialty gift shops in the Finger Lakes region. She is an active member on the Executive Board of Finger Lakes Culinary Bounty with special focus on the annual harvest dinner fundraising event. She was also on the Charitable Causes Committee for Finger Lakes Young Professionals.
Christine is owner of Fast Lane Enterprises, LLC… bringing the best custom logo apparel and promotional products to local businesses such as wineries, breweries, distilleries and specialty gift shops in the Finger Lakes region. She is an active member on the Executive Board of Finger Lakes Culinary Bounty with special focus on the annual harvest dinner fundraising event. She was also on the Charitable Causes Committee for Finger Lakes Young Professionals.
Mackenzie Wyckoff
Mackenzie is the wholesale accountant at Three Brothers Wineries and Estates where she has worked in various roles since 2011. She graduated from SUNY Brockport with her B.S. in Accounting and went on to obtain her M.B.A. with an accounting concentration at St. John Fisher College. Mackenzie is a Geneva native who has made her home there with her husband and 2 furkids. In her free time she enjoys cooking, getting outdoors and enjoying Seneca Lake.
Mackenzie is the wholesale accountant at Three Brothers Wineries and Estates where she has worked in various roles since 2011. She graduated from SUNY Brockport with her B.S. in Accounting and went on to obtain her M.B.A. with an accounting concentration at St. John Fisher College. Mackenzie is a Geneva native who has made her home there with her husband and 2 furkids. In her free time she enjoys cooking, getting outdoors and enjoying Seneca Lake.
Thomas Tierney III
I grew up in Geneva, where everyday on my way to school I could see the landfill off in the distance. My neighbors for the most part were fields of crops and dairy farms. These people who worked the land everyday were great stewards to me because they understood the value it provided in their life. I could never understand why so close to that was the juxtaposition of the landfill, that on most mornings could be mistaken for a small mountain. After high school I attended New York University, located in New York City, where I studied Math and Physics. This ultra-urban environment was unlike anything I had lived in before. My view of endless rows of crops were replaced by busy streets and concrete buildings. I felt as if I was somehow disconnected from my environment. I remember vividly coming home in the fall during my freshman year, and just being amazed by the tree’s new color shades that come every Autumn. My appreciation for my hometown, and the environment it sits upon grew with each trip back home. I graduated in 2020 and returned home to start an environmental group called Stewards of Natural Environments (SONE) where we focus on fostering the connection between the individual and the natural environment(s) that surrounds them. I believe that the best way to ensure our natural gifts are preserved is through widespread community engagement. I have come to develop an appreciation for my town that is much different than when I attended the public schools here.
I grew up in Geneva, where everyday on my way to school I could see the landfill off in the distance. My neighbors for the most part were fields of crops and dairy farms. These people who worked the land everyday were great stewards to me because they understood the value it provided in their life. I could never understand why so close to that was the juxtaposition of the landfill, that on most mornings could be mistaken for a small mountain. After high school I attended New York University, located in New York City, where I studied Math and Physics. This ultra-urban environment was unlike anything I had lived in before. My view of endless rows of crops were replaced by busy streets and concrete buildings. I felt as if I was somehow disconnected from my environment. I remember vividly coming home in the fall during my freshman year, and just being amazed by the tree’s new color shades that come every Autumn. My appreciation for my hometown, and the environment it sits upon grew with each trip back home. I graduated in 2020 and returned home to start an environmental group called Stewards of Natural Environments (SONE) where we focus on fostering the connection between the individual and the natural environment(s) that surrounds them. I believe that the best way to ensure our natural gifts are preserved is through widespread community engagement. I have come to develop an appreciation for my town that is much different than when I attended the public schools here.
David Diehl
Wendy Goodman
Charles (Chuck) McCadd
Charles is from Chicago, IL and is the head of Technical Services for the United States branch of Hunt Bicycle Wheels based in the United Kingdom. He moved to the area in 2019 after a decade of managing professional bicycle shops and nonprofit work with youth in the Outdoor Industry in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Upon moving to Geneva, NY he became the Assistant Head Winemaker at Hosmer Winery and was the technical knowledge behind the Geneva Bicycle Swap of 2020 held at the Geneva Ice Rink. Where refurbished bicycles and helmets were given out to the Geneva community. He enjoys life in the Finger Lakes with his wife Shanelle and spending time with friends.
Wendy Goodman
Charles (Chuck) McCadd
Charles is from Chicago, IL and is the head of Technical Services for the United States branch of Hunt Bicycle Wheels based in the United Kingdom. He moved to the area in 2019 after a decade of managing professional bicycle shops and nonprofit work with youth in the Outdoor Industry in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Upon moving to Geneva, NY he became the Assistant Head Winemaker at Hosmer Winery and was the technical knowledge behind the Geneva Bicycle Swap of 2020 held at the Geneva Ice Rink. Where refurbished bicycles and helmets were given out to the Geneva community. He enjoys life in the Finger Lakes with his wife Shanelle and spending time with friends.
