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Senior Management
Mark E. Tryniski President & Chief Executive Officer
Mark E. Tryniski was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer in August 2006 and was elected to the Board of Directors at that time. Mr. Tryniski has been with the bank since 2003, serving first as its Chief Financial Officer, and more recently, as its Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
Prior to his position with Community Bank System, Tryniski was a partner in the Syracuse office of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, with 18 years of experience working with SEC registrants in banking and other industries.
Mr. Tryniski has a BS degree from Oswego State University of New York, and is a Certified Public Accountant.
He is active in many civic and educational organizations, including the Everson Museum of Art, the Hospice Foundation of Central New York, and Oswego State University.
Timothy J. Baker Senior Vice President and Director of Special Projects
Timothy J. Baker joined the St. Lawrence County National Bank (predecessor to Community Bank, N. A.) in October 1971 as a manager trainee. Mr. Baker’s areas of responsibility have included head of the Credit Department and Loan Processing from 1973 to 1977; Vice President, Commercial and Consumer lending group, and Manager of Loan Application conversions, Merger and Acquisition team, from 1977 to 1983; Merger and Acquisition team leader for loans from 1983 to 1985; and Chief Financial Officer of the St. Lawrence National Bank 1985 to 1994. He is a 1971 graduate of Canton College.
In his current capacity since 1995, Mr. Baker has been responsible for Bank Operations, special projects and technology innovation such as Data Processing evaluation, ATM Processing evaluation, one bank consolidation of operations and standardization of best practices bankwide. He has also completed Income Enhancement and Efficiency Review and Staffing Model development with an Independent Consultant, has been the project leader for whole Bank and Branch acquisitions, conversions and mergers and served as the chairman of the Bank’s Year 2K Committee.
Mr. Baker has been active in community activities in his hometown of Ogdensburg, New York, as coach for youth sports of hockey, football and baseball and an officer and director in adult basketball and softball leagues. He is a member, Past Grand Knight, Past President, Past State Chairman of the Knights of Columbus.
Bernadette R. Barber Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer
Since February 2, 2005, Bernadette R. Barber has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer of Community Bank System, Inc. and its principal banking subsidiary, Community Bank, N.A., both headquartered in DeWitt, New York.
Immediately prior to joining CBSI, Ms. Barber served since 1997 as Vice President of Human Resources and Administration for The Penn Traffic Company, a $3 Billion supermarket industry wholesaler, retailer, and manufacturer, at its headquarters in Syracuse, New York. Her responsibilities at Penn Traffic encompassed leading and managing its corporate human resources function including employee benefits, payroll, risk management, labor relations, training and organizational development, diversity, and public relations. She also served on its Senior Officer Management Committee.
From 1990 to 1997 Ms. Barber worked in various management positions with Penn Traffic. Prior to 1990 Ms. Barber was employed in various human resource management positions for several companies including American General Life Insurance Company.
Ms. Barber holds a B.S degree from Binghamton University and several human resource professional designations and is active in a variety of business and civic organizations.
Robert A. Cirko Senior Vice President and Pennsylvania Retail Banking Manager
Robert A. Cirko was promoted to Senior Vice President of Pennsylvania Retail Banking in March 2008 and joined the Senior Management Committee in January 2009. Mr. Cirko joined the company in 2004 and held the position of Retail Business Development Manager for First Liberty Bank & Trust, a division of Community Bank, N.A. He was previously employed by First Heritage Bank since its inception in 1994 where he served as Vice President and Retail Division Manager with responsibility for retail lending, branch administration, marketing, compliance, security and facilities.
Mr. Cirko began his banking career in 1980 at Wyoming National Bank in Wilkes-Barre, which was followed by a series of mergers where the bank became known as First Fidelity. He gained retail experience as a branch manager and retail loan & credit administration manager. Cirko later joined 1st Peoples National Bank in Edwardsville where he started the indirect lending department and became the Consumer Division Manager.
Cirko holds a B.S. in Business Administration from King’s College and has been active in various youth sports and community organizations including the King’s College annual fundraising campaigns and Wyoming Valley Catholic Youth Center, where he served on the Board of Directors, the Athletic, and Annual Campaign Committees.
Brian D. Donahue Executive Vice President & Chief Banking Officer
Brian D. Donahue began his banking career with First Trust Union Bank in Western New York in early 1980. While there he held various positions which included Team Leader in the Middle Market Commercial Lending unit as well as heading up the Small Business Bank division until his departure in 1992 to join Community Bank, N.A. Donahue has a diversified background with other areas of expertise including human resources, branch management, and retail indirect and mortgage lending.
Upon joining Community Bank, N.A., Mr. Donahue was named Senior Loan Officer in the Southern Region and in February 2000 was named Chief Credit Officer for the entire bank.
Mr. Donahue holds a B. A. degree from St. Bonaventure University and is active in a variety of banking, business and civic organizations.
George J. Getman Executive Vice President & General Counsel
George J. Getman was appointed Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Community Bank System, Inc. and Community Bank, N.A. in January 2008.
Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Getman was senior partner with Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC and served as corporate counsel to the Company on a broad range of matters, including mergers and acquisitions, SEC and other regulatory reporting, banking law and corporate governance.
Mr. Getman is a graduate of Hamilton College and Cornell Law School. He is a member of the American and New York State Bar Associations, and the Lawyers Advisory Committee of the New York Bankers Association.
Stephen G. Hardy Senior Vice President & Chief Credit Administrator
Stephen G. Hardy was appointed Senior Vice President, Chief Credit Administrator for Community Bank System in December 2006. He has overall responsibility for the Bank’s credit management and administration activities, as well as loan policy development, portfolio reporting, and the loan workout function.
Mr. Hardy’s banking history spans over thirty years and includes extensive experience in all aspects of commercial banking and credit administration. He began his banking career at PNC Bank (and its predecessor bank in Northeastern PA) where he held a variety of management positions over an eighteen-year period, including Chief Corporate Banking Credit Officer, Regional Manager of Corporate Banking, and Credit Policy Manager for the Northeastern PA market. Mr. Hardy’s other banking experience includes senior level operations management and lending roles with Natwest Bank, USA and its successor, Fleet Bank, in the Northeastern PA market. He came to Community Bank System via its acquisition of First Liberty Bank and Trust, where he managed the Operations Division and was First Liberty’s Senior Loan Officer. Most recently, Hardy was responsible for Community Bank System’s Credit Risk Management function.
Mr. Hardy graduated from Plymouth State University (NH) with a B.S. degree in Business Administration and attended the Stonier Graduate School of Banking. He is a former president of the Northeastern PA Chapter of RMA, the Risk Management Association and is active in a variety of business and civic organizations.
Richard M. Heidrick Senior Vice President & Retail Banking Administrator
Dick Heidrick was promoted to Senior Vice President and Retail Banking Administrator of Community Bank, N.A. and appointed to the Senior Management Committee in July 2006. His job responsibilities expanded to include oversight of branch administration, retail lending and facilities on a bank wide basis for 124 branch offices throughout Upstate New York and Northeastern Pennsylvania. He will continue his role with upper-level management administering the consumer indirect loan portfolio.
Mr. Heidrick’s 24-year banking career began in 1981 with Cattaraugus County Bank. Since joining Community Bank, N.A. in May of 1986 as a loan and business development officer, Mr. Heidrick has held numerous management positions within the lending, collections and facilities areas. In 1998, he was promoted to the position of Vice-President in Loan Administration.
Mr. Heidrick received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 1980 from Thiel College with advanced MBA coursework from St. Bonaventure University in 1993. He began his professional career on the teaching faculty of Franklinville Central Schools as a business teacher and coach. He lives in Allegany, New York with his wife, Lorraine, and children Nicole, Kris and Ricky and is active in various business and civic organizations including assistant coaching of the Allegany-Limestone varsity program.
Scott A. Kingsley Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Scott A. Kingsley joined the company in August 2004 and serves as Treasurer of Community Bank System, Inc. and as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Community Bank, N.A., its principal banking subsidiary.
Prior to his position with Community Bank, Mr. Kingsley was Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Carlisle Engineered Products, Inc., an Ohio-based subsidiary of the Carlisle Companies, Inc. Mr. Kingsley also worked for the Syracuse, New York office of PricewaterhouseCoopers from 1986-1994, rising to the level of Senior Manager.
Mr. Kingsley has a BS degree from Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York, and is a certified public accountant.
Joseph J. Lemchak Senior Vice President & Chief Investment Officer
Joseph J. Lemchak joined Community Bank System, Inc. (CBSI) in April 1990, as Assistant Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Horizon Bank, a wholly-owned bank subsidiary of CBSI. Since May 1991, he has served in the duel capacity of Chief Investment Officer and Asset/Liability Manager for the Company. When Mr. Lemchak assumed his responsibility, investments outstanding were $193 Million with no net capital market borrowings. As of December 31, 2004, investments have increased to $1.50 Billion, with capital market borrowings of nearly $800 Million.
Prior to CBSI, Mr. Lemchak worked as a commercial lender with Chittenden Trust Company, a Vermont based lending institution, from 1989 to 1990, and Security Norstar Bank in Rochester NY, subsequently acquired by Fleet Bank, from 1984 to 1989.
Mr. Lemchak is a 1983 graduate of the University of Rochester, earning a B.A. in Economics.
Robert P. Matley President of Pennsylvania Banking
Robert P. Matley was promoted to his current position as President of Pennsylvania Banking in January 2008. Mr. Matley joined the company in 2004 and served as Senior Lending Officer of First Liberty Bank & Trust, a Division of Community Bank, N.A. He was previously employed by First Heritage Bank, having joined that organization in 1994 as Executive Vice President and Senior Lending Officer. He was promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer in 2003 and served in that capacity until the merger with the company in 2004.
Mr. Matley is involved in several community activities in his hometown of Wilkes-Barre, including Director of the Earth Conservancy, Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business & Industry and Greater Wilkes-Barre Development Corporation. He has also held various campaign/cabinet positions for the United Way, Wilkes University, King’s College, and the YMCA.
Nicholas S. Russell Senior Vice President & Senior Commercial Lending Officer - Northern NY
Nick Russell began employment with Community Bank, N.A. in January 2001 as Vice President and Commercial Lender in the bank’s Canton, New York market. Mr. Russell was promoted to Senior Vice President of Commercial Banking for the Northern Region and appointed to the Senior Management Committee in October 2006. Previously, he had served as Vice President and Commercial Team Leader since November 2004.
Immediately prior to joining Community Bank, N.A., Mr. Russell served as Vice President at Key Bank, N.A. in the middle market corporate banking group in Massena, New York. His responsibilities at Key Bank included duties as a corporate lender in a two county area. He was a private banking officer and small business lender for Key Bank prior to becoming a middle market lender. Mr. Russell started his banking career at Citizens National Bank of Malone, Malone, New York in 1993 and gained experience as a credit analyst and small business lender. Community Bank acquired Citizens National Bank of Malone in January 2001.
Mr. Russell is active in various business and civic organizations.
Joseph F. Serbun Senior Vice President & Chief Credit Officer
Joseph F. Serbun began employment with Community Bank, N.A. in 2008 as Vice President and Commercial Lending Officer at the company headquarters in DeWitt, New York.
Immediately prior to joining Community Bank, N.A., Mr. Serbun, a 26 year banking veteran, worked with middle market and small business clientele as Vice President and Senior Relationship Banker at Partners Trust Bank. Earlier in his career he was employed by JPMorgan Chase Bank for over 20 years, working in both the middle market and business banking segments.
Mr. Serbun graduated from State University of New York at Oneonta and is active in numerous community boards. He currently resides in Camillus, New York with his wife Christine and three children Joseph, Stephen and Michael.
Joseph E. Sutaris Senior Vice President, Central New York Region-Banking
Joseph E. Sutaris joined Community Bank N.A. in April 2011 and serves as the Senior Vice President of the Central New York Region - Banking.
Prior to joining Community Bank N.A., Mr. Sutaris served as the Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary of The Wilber Corporation and its principal bank subsidiary, Wilber National Bank, based in Oneonta, New York. Prior to joining Wilber in 1995, Mr. Sutaris held the position of Associate Vice President for Starling Holding Limited, a privately-held investment holding company based in the Cayman Islands, B.W.I. and Assistant Vice President of Balder Management Ltd., an investment management company based in Somerset, New Jersey from 1988 – 1994.
Mr. Sutaris holds BA and MBA degrees from Rutgers University, New Jersey. He is also a graduate of the American Bankers Association’s Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Georgetown University, Washington D.C. and the New York Bankers Associate Graduate School of Management held at West Point New York Military Academy.
Mr. Sutaris is active in several community based not-for-profit organizations and serves on the Advisory Board of a Small Business Investment Company based in Radnor, PA.
Paul J. Ward Senior Vice President & Chief Risk Officer
Paul Ward was promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief Risk Officer, and was appointed to the Senior Management Committee in September 2007. Ward is responsible for coordinating the organizations Enterprise Risk Management approach, which includes strategic, operational, financial and compliance risk assessment. This involves oversight of the audit, compliance, loan review, security and IT security functions. Other responsibilities include insurance administration, and certain aspects of vendor management. Mr. Ward was the Director of Risk Management for NBT Bancorp from 2000 until joining Community Bank in August 2006 as Risk Manager.
Paul holds a Bachelors degree in Accounting from the State University of New York at Oswego, and an MBA from Syracuse University. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and a Certified Risk Professional (CRP). Paul lives in Earlville, NY with his wife Jennifer and three children.
Harold M. Wentworth Senior Vice President - Retail Banking, Sales & Marketing
Since January 1, 2005 Harold M Wentworth has served as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing of Community Bank System, Inc. and its principal banking subsidiary Community Bank, N.A., both headquartered in DeWitt NY.
Mr. Wentworth joined Community Bank System, Inc. in 1988 in one of its then subsidiary banks, Horizon Bank, a $90 million bank based in Waterloo NY. Starting as a credit analyst, Wentworth worked his way up to Director of Operations before the Company’s five subsidiary banks were consolidated in 1991.
In 1991, Mr. Wentworth moved to DeWitt becoming the Financial Analysis Manager and later the Asset Liability Manager/Investment Officer.
Mr. Wentworth holds a B.S. degree from Cornell University.
J. Michael Wilson Senior Vice President & Chief Technology Officer
J. Michael Wilson Joined Community Bank System, Inc. in June 2002 as Vice President of Information Technology and assumed his current position in October 2004. Prior to joining the company, he held the position of Director of Technology Services for Unizan Bank in Ohio with previous Information Technology experience in the manufacturing sector.
Mr. Wilson holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Mount Vernon Nazarene University and a degree in Computer Science from Muskingum Area Technical College.
Board of Directors - Community Bank System, Inc. and Community Bank, N.A.
Nicholas A. DiCerbo Chairman
Nicholas A. DiCerbo has been a Director of the Company since 1984 and was elected Chairman in January 2012. Mr. DiCerbo is a partner of the law firm of DiCerbo & Palumbo of Olean, New York.
James A. Wilson Lead Director
James A. Wilson became a member of the Community Bank System, Inc. Board of Directors in January 2009 and was appointed Lead Director in January 2012. Mr. Wilson is the retired Principal Partner of the accounting firm of Parente Randolph, LLC located in Wilke-Barre, Pennysylvania, and is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Fraud Examiner.
Brian R. Ace
Brian Ace has served as a Director of the Company since November 2003. He is owner of Laceyville Hardware in Laceyville, PA, a member of the Laceyville Business Association and Chairman of the Laceyville Revitalization project.
Mark J. Bolus
Mark J. Bolus became a member of the Community Bank, N.A. Board of Directors in January 2009 and a member of the Community Bank System, Inc. Board of Directors in February 2010. Mr. Bolus is President and majority owner of Bolus Motor Lines, Inc. and Bolus Freight Systems, Inc. of Scranton, PA.
Neil E. Fesette
Neil J. Fessette became a member of the Community Bank, N.A. Board of Directors in January 2009 and a member of the Community Bank System, Inc. Board of Directors in February 2010. Mr. Fesette, a Certified Property Manager, is the Owner, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fesette Realty, LLC and Fesette Property Management, both of which are located in Plattsburgh, N.Y.
James A. Gabriel
James A. Gabriel has been a Director of the Company since 1984. He served as Chairman of the Board from January 1999 to June 2006. Mr. Gabriel is owner of the Franklin & Gabriel law firm, located in Ovid, New York.
James W. Gibson Jr.
James W. Gibson was elected to the Community Bank System, Inc. Board of Directors in January 2009. Mr. Gibson is a Certified Public Accountant.and a retired partner of KPMG, LLP, an audit, tax and advisory services firm headquartered in New York, NY.
Edward S. Mucenski
Edward S. Mucenski became a member of the Community Bank, N.A. Board of Directors in January 2009 and a member of the Community Bank System, Inc. Board of Directors in February 2010. Mr. Mucenski is a Certified Public Accountant and a partner and Managing Director of the Pinto Mucenski Hooper VanHouse & Co., P.C. accounting firm in Potsdam, N.Y.
John Parente
John Parente has served as a member of the Community Bank, N.A. Board of Directors since January 2009 and as a member of the Community Bank System, Inc. Board of Directors since February 2010. Mr. Parente is Chief Executive Officer of CP Media, LLC of Wilkes-Barre, PA, an owner and operator of broadcast television stations.
Sally A. Steele
Sally A. Steele has served as a Director of the Company since November 2003. Ms. Steele operates a law practice in Tunkhannock, PA.
Mark E. Tryniski
Mark E. Tryniski was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer in August 2006 and was elected to the Board of Directors at that time. Mr. Tryniski has been with the bank since 2003, serving first as its Chief Financial Officer, and more recently, as its Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
Prior to his position with Community Bank System, Tryniski was a partner in the Syracuse office of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, with 18 years of experience working with SEC registrants in banking and other industries.
Mr. Tryniski has a BS degree from Oswego State University of New York, and is a Certified Public Accountant.
He is active in many civic and educational organizations, including the Everson Museum of Art, the Hospice Foundation of Central New York, and Oswego State University.
John F. Whipple Jr.
John F. Whipple became a member of the Community Bank, N.A. Board of Directors in January 2009 and a member of the Community Bank System, Inc. Board of Directors in February 2010. Mr. Whipple is a Certfied Public Accountant and the Chief Executive Officer and a shareholder of Buffamante Whipple Buttafaro, P.C., a regional certified public accounting and business advisory firm with offices in Olean, Jamestown and Orchard Park, New York.
Alfred S. Whittet
Alfred S. Whittet became a member of the Board of Directors of Community Bank System, Inc. in April 2011. Prior to retirement, Mr. Whittet served as the Chief Executive Officer of The Wilber Corporation from 1998 to Janaury 2006 and from August 2010 to April 2011. Mr. Whittet served as a director of The Wilber Corporation from 1997 until its merger with the Company in 2011.
Brian R. Wright
Brian R. Wright became a member of the Board of Directors of Community Bank System, Inc. in April 2011. Mr. Wright is an attorney, special counsel with Hinman, Howard & Kattell, LLP in Binghamton, NY. Mr. Wright served as a director and Chairman of The Wilber Corporation from 1982 until its merger with the Company in 2011.
