Archive: Business & Technology

Alternatives Federal Credit Union's Chief Operating Officer, Leni Hochman, was awarded the "Friend of Labor” Award at the 30th Annual Labor Day picnic at Stewart Park, sponsored by Midstate Labor Council, AFL-CIO, and the Tompkins County Workers Center.

Hochman has been the point person on Alternatives' Living Wage Study since its inception in 1994, when Alternatives wanted to take a deeper look at what it would take to support a person above the poverty level. Since then, the Living Wage Study has been updated biannually, and has been the basis of the Tompkins County Workers' Center Employer Certification Program.  This program now boasts 90 local employers who pay a living wage.

Hochman gratefully accepted the award, stating, "For 31 years, I've been proud to be part of the amazing work Alternatives does in the community. We have many great programs that offer one-to-one assistance, helping people gain financial self-sufficiency, but I'm most proud of the Living Wage and its impact on the community as a whole.”

In other staff news, Alternatives welcomes both a new Human Resource Director and Chief Financial Officer after previous employees in these positions retired. Lydia Wickham, SPHR, comes to Alternatives after working in production management at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and most recently as an HR Generalist with Cargill's Salt Division in Watkins Glen. Keith Martin held previous CFO positions with Elmira Savings Bank in Elmira, and Tompkins Trust Company in Ithaca.

Becki Hawley, a Member Service Specialist for five years, has been promoted to Financial Counselor/Assistant IDA Coordinator. Kim Wheelock was also promoted to Member Service Specialist after starting as a teller.

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