Mohawk Valley Society For Human Resource Management: Central New York, Utica New York, Mohawk Vally, Upstate NY, New Hartford, Oneida, Herkimer, Rome New York

Nominations now being accepted

for the Ursula Flagg Awards for Human Resource Excellence!

Nominations are now being accepted for this year's 7th Annual Ursula Flagg Awards for Human Resource Excellence. For those of you unfamiliar with this event, Ursula Flagg was a woman who demonstrated quality practices and sound employee relations within our area's workplaces. Her expertise in the highly regulated area of employee benefits was known and sought after by her colleagues within the community, state and national levels of the human resource profession. On October 21, 2008, MVSHRM will be recognizing and honoring an individual and organizations in our area that carry on the leadership, dedication and spirit to the human resource field as Ursula Flagg did.

If you know an individual or organization that exemplifies excellence in the human resource field, please complete the 2008 Ursula Flagg Nomination form (click here for form). This form can be used for both individual and organization nominations. Self nominations in both the individual and organizational categories accepted and encouraged.

***Need assistance deciding which category best fits your nominee for the organizational award, click here for category descriptions.

The deadline for nominations is July 25, 2008.

About Ursula Flagg

The Award for Human Resource Excellence is given in memory of Ursula Flagg who passed away in March of 2001.

Ursula held the position of Human Resources Officer at the Savings Bank of Utica where she had been employed for 35 years.

During her career at SBU, Ursula held various positions of leadership and responsibility. On July 15, 1981, Ursula was promoted to Personnel Officer and devoted her career to the Human Resource profession. Ursula attended Business College in Nuremberg, Germany. She was a graduate of The American Institute of Banking from which she won The Savings Bank of Utica Cup, the Theodore Rokahr Cup and the Charles W. Hall Cup, all for excellence in scholarship. She later served as President for that institute.

Ursula was highly committed to both professional and charitable organizations throughout the community. Her expertise in the highly regulated area of employee benefits was known and sought after by her colleagues within the community, state and national levels of the human resource profession. She was a Society for Human Resource Management member and certified Senior Professional in Human Resource Management (SPHR) among her many other professional and community committments. Ursula was a true example of excellence in both her professional and personal life.

Join us in honoring and recognizing an invidiual and organization that best demonstrates an outstanding committment to the Human Resource field in the Mohawk Valley each October.

2007 Ursula Flagg Awards for Human Resource Excellence

The Sixth Annual Ursula Flagg Awards for Human Resource Excellence, held on October 16^th, 2007 was truly a premier event. The tremendous support for this event from individuals and businesses through out Mohawk Valley continue to make this a highly successful event.

This years honorees Peter Maio, individual category, Assured Information Security Inc, Upstate Cerebral Palsy and Utica College in the organizational categories personify who this event strives to acknowledge; Individuals and business that exhibit exceptional achievements in human resource programs and practice areas.

Thank you again to all who supported this event from the volunteers, judges, sponsors and participants. The Ursula Flagg Awards for Human Resource Excellence Event could not be successful without your support! Let's also not forget to mention the speaker, Jeff Mangrum. His presentation of "The Heroes Journey" clearly, dynamically and humorously mentioned ways we could all be exceptional individuals and "Heroes" in our own lives.

Please see photos from the event below.

Dana Hobaica, Ursula Flagg Awards Chairperson and Charles Green, Owner/ Vice President, Assured Security Information, Inc.

Dana Hobaica, Ursula Flagg Committee Chairperson, R. Barry White, Vice President for Financial Affairs and Treasurer, Utica College and Sally Backius, MVSHRM President.

John Martin , Director of Human Resources, Upstate Cerebral Palsy and Dana Hobaica, Ursula Flagg Committee Chairperson.

Dana Hobaica, Peter Maio, Bartell Machinery, and Frank Elias, President of Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Dana Hobaica, Ursula Flagg Awards for Human Resource Excellence Chairperson.

From Left to Right : Reed Coughlan, PhD, Professor - Empire State College, Peter Maio, Bartell Machinery, Inc., Rosemary Maio, John Leonardo and Mike Afarian, Bartell Machinery.

Assured Information Security, Inc.

Left to right: Brian Monahan, Human Resource Manager, Charles Green, Owner/VicePresident and Steve Flint, Cheif Operating Officer.

Utica College

Front row (L to R): Dina Russo, Associate Director of Career Services(retired), Caren Summers, Senior Clerk, Payroll, Mona RIce, Director of Human Resources, Sheryl Bohan, Payroll Coordinator, Lindsay Varnum, UC student. Back row (L to R): Anne Flynn, Human Resources Assistant, Evelyn Fazekas, Director of Credit Programs, Robert Cross, Acting Director of Environmental Health and Conservation, R.Barry White, Vice President for Financial Affairs and Treasurer and Rebecca Sullizan, Student EMployment Coordinator.

Upstate Cerebral Palsy

Front row (L to R): Terry Pilzga, Associate Executive Director, Helen Stepowany, Associate Excutive Director, Stacey Griffith, Recruiter. Back row (L TO R) John Martin , Director of Human Resources, Mike Sturr, Recruiter, Lou Tehan, Excutive Director of Upstate Cerebral Palsy, and Chris Celia, Division Director of Human Resources.

MaryEllen Balzano, Dana Hobaica, Jeff Mangrum(speaker), Sallie Backius, Linda Forth and Janet Wren

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2007 Ursula Flagg Award Winners Announced!

The Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce has once again joined the Mohawk Valley Society for Human Resource Management (MVSHRM) in presenting the Sixth Annual Ursula Flagg Award for Human Resource Excellence. This year's event will honor three organizations and one individual for exceptional achievements in human resource programs and practices. This year's winners are:

Individual Category Winner:

Peter Maio, Human Resource Manager, Bartell Machinery Systems.

Best Practice Category Winners:

Compensation and Benefits - Assured Information Security, Inc.

Human Resource Development - Utica College .

Workforce Planning and Employment- Upstate Cerebral Palsy.

Congratulations to all the 2007 Ursula Flagg Award winners!

Previous Award Winners,

20006 Ursula Flagg Awards for Human Resource Excellence, held on October 24, 2006.

Please see photos of the event below.

Jim Armstrong, President MVSHRM, Sallie Backius, MVSHRM President Elect,

Arthur P. Pagano, Speaker, Dana Hobaica, Ursula Flagg Award for Human Resource

Excellence Chairperson, Matt Stubley, President, Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce

Crystal Graves, 2006 Ursula Flagg Individual Award Winner,

Kevin Cleary, Vice President -Enviromental and Human Resources, Revere Copper Products,

Jim Armstrong, President, MVSHRM, Matt Stubley, Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce,President

Carla DeShaw, Assistant Director -Continuing Education, BOCES,

Crystal Graves, Director of Human Resources, Carbone Auto Group, Arthur P. Pagano, Speaker

Kevin Cleary, Vice President -Enviromental and Human Resources, Revere Copper Products

Jim Armstrong, President, MVSHRM, Matt Stubley, Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce,President

Carmen Pecheone, Director-Continuing Education, Tony Picente, Regional Director-Mohawk Valley- Empire State Development Corporation, Crystal Graves, Director Human Resources , Carbone Auto Group, Arthur P. Pagano, Speaker, Kevin Cleary, Vice President -Enviromental and Human Resources, Revere Copper Products, Jim Armstrong, MVSHRM, President, Jackie Starks, Disrtrict Superintendent- Madison Oneida BOCES, Matt Stubley, Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce, President, Doug Gustin, Madison- Oneida BOCES Board President, Pam Hollenbeck, Corporate and Community Education Coordinator, Carla DeShaw, Assistance Director - Continuing Education.

2006 Ursula Flagg Award Winners Announced!