News for Member News

The Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley (CFHV) today announced the launch of the Local Impact Fund for Tomorrow (LIFT). LIFT, a new local impact platform, is designed to strengthen the region’s nonprofit and community development ecosystem, beginning with a pilot low-interest bridge loan initiative serving nonprofits in Dutchess, Ulster and Putnam Counties.The LIFT bridge loan pilot is ...read more

(Kingston, NY) Ulster Savings Bank is pleased to announce the promotions of two team members: Rocco J. Pucino III and Jo Dunn. Each of them has been recognized for their outstanding achievements.  Rocco J. Pucino IIIhas been promoted to First Vice President/Retail Banking Officer at the bank’s Kingston headquarters. In Mr. Pucino’s new role, he will be responsible for overseeing and directing the ...read more

Running a business means wearing a lot of hats, but when it comes to sales and marketing, trying to do everything yourself is like juggling with your eyes closed. Eventually, you drop the ball. That’s where outside professionals come in—consultants, agencies, and freelancers who specialize in helping companies grow. But hiring external talent isn’t just about finding someone with the right skills; ...read more

Award-Winning, Ethically Sourced Chocolatier Expands with Second Location Poughkeepsie, NY (January 14, 2026) –Fruition Chocolate Works (Fruition), the region’s premier specialty chocolate maker, will bring its award-winning product to the east side of the Hudson River with a second location at Eastdale Village Town Center in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. The new location will offer an immersive experience ...read more

(Kingston, NY) The Board of Trustees of Ulster Savings Bank is pleased to announce the appointment of Joe Ely as its new chairman beginning in 2026.  Mr. Ely, who has chaired the Risk committee, the Audit committee, and served as a former chair of the Ulster Savings Charitable Foundation during his 14 years as a bank trustee, recently retired after serving in numerous engineering, program ...read more

The hard part isn’t always deciding to change—it’s making sure the people around you don’t quietly kill the idea before it’s even off the ground. Small business owners often underestimate just how deeply habits run inside a team, even a small one. One new system, one new hire, one rebrand—none of it happens in a vacuum. And the smaller the company, the more magnified each shift becomes. Managing ...read more