Month: February 2023

This week’s #MadeitMonday goes out to John Steup!

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Portrait photograph of John Steup

John Steup graduated from SUNY Ulster in 1999, earning an AAS in Design Drafting and an AA in Math Science (Geology). Since his graduation, he has attended two colleges: Portland State University and the University of Southern California. Steup is now working toward his  Ed.D (Doctor of Education). 

Shortly after graduating from SUNY Ulster Steup began working with a  music distribution company for independent musicians called CD Baby in Woodstock. At this company, Steup was the VP of Operations from 1998 to 2006. CD Baby was built from a two-person start-up to a “model of international e-commerce.” John’s next adventure took him to Portland State University where he graduated in 2010 with a double major in Social Science and Liberal Studies before moving on to achieve his Master’s Degree in Public Administration at the University of Southern California. 

As a high school dropout, Steup was not sure that he could manage college, but the program in Design Drafting seemed to be a perfect fit. Steup focuses on how SUNY Ulster gave him “a sense of accomplishment” and how “the professors challenged [him] to think harder and reach higher”. As the graffiti Abatement Coordinator in Portland, Oregon the coursework Steup took at SUNY Ulster “continues to be a foundation to [his] daily work life”.

Check out more of John’s incredible work on LinkedIn

Portrait of John Steup and dog 

Herrington Concert Performance Returns to SUNY Ulster

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SUNY Ulster Press Release

February 22, 2023 – Stone Ridge, NY – On Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. the music ensembles of SUNY Ulster will perform a concert to honor the memory of Lee Herrington. Herrington was a dedicated musician and mentor, who was the former band director at SUNY Ulster, a longtime Rondout Valley music teacher, and the former director of the Kingston local American Federation of Musicians Concert Band. The event will be held in the Quimby Theater, in Vanderlyn Hall on the Stone Ridge campus.

This annual memorial concert will have multiple performances with groups that include current SUNY Ulster students, Alumni, faculty, staff, and the community.  The College Chorus will be directed by Janet Gehres and accompanied by Edward Leavitt while they perform pieces celebrating music making. The African Drumming Ensemble will be directed by Paul Chambers and will be honoring traditional music from Nigeria and Guinea. The College/Community Band will be directed by Victor Izzo as well as guest conductor, Michael Flamhaft. Capital Brass will perform Davenport Blues, A Comedy Tonight as well as other musical pieces.

For more information, contact Janet Gehres at gehresj@sunyulster.edu. The snow date is scheduled for Thursday, March 2, 2023.

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This week’s #MadeitMonday goes out to Jess Robie

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Jess Robie posing

Nursing Major

Jess Robie was a Nursing student here at SUNY Ulster before her graduation in 2016. Initially, her attendance at SUNY Ulster was planted in its convenient location, being only two miles away from her home but she soon came to realize the plethora of other advantages to attending SUNY Ulster. According to Robie SUNY Ulster “seemed like a convenient and affordable way for [her] to switch careers”. 

Since graduating Robie has worked as a respiratory nurse for Health Alliance of the Hudson Valley and a Chronic Care Manager at Medical Associates of the Hudson Valley, as well as a nurse practitioner at smaller-scale practices.  Robie still honors her original goal of being a primary care provider that is versed in both traditional and alternative medicine and is excited to embark on a new journey at Drs. Engel and Lindgren Family Medicine as a general practitioner. 

Reflecting on her time at SUNY Ulster Robie remembers being “hunkered down somewhere with friends studying used NCLEX style questions to practice”. Robie also distinctly remembers a few of her professors at SUNY Ulster listing Nancy Decker, Don Terpening, Lisa Schulti, and Ellen Tangeny as her favorites. According to Robie “the nursing faculty have been huge advocates and supporters ” of hers. Many of her classmates have now become co-workers. Of all her nursing education she believes SUNY Ulster “was both the most rigorous and intense” claiming it was “top-notch”. Not only did Robie graduate and get offered a job at the base salary of $50k a year, but she was also able to graduate with zero debt before moving on to achieving her master’s degree in nursing. 

Hats off to you Jess Robie, and enjoy the next chapter of your career!

 

jess robie

SBDC Appoints New Regional Director, Welcomes New Counselor 

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SUNY Ulster Press Release

February 10, 2023 – Stone Ridge, NY – The SUNY Ulster Mid-Hudson Small Business Development Center located in Kingston, NY has appointed a new Regional Director, Sam Kandel.

Sam Kandel has been an active member of the Small Business Development Center since 2002 and has previously served as Advanced Certified Business Advisor, Associate Director, and Interim Director.

Having been nominated for Business Advisor of the Year a dozen times, Kandel had won almost half of the nominations, most recently being awarded this title in 2020. He was also selected as the New York State Star, a national honor two times. Now as SBDC Regional Director, he manages the day-to-day operations of the Mid-Hudson Regional Center, hosted by SUNY Ulster, and continues to honor the organization’s mission.  The Center works closely with local and State economic development entities; with SUNY faculty, staff and students; and with representatives from private industry, small businesses and entrepreneurs throughout the region.

Janaina Barham-Middleton, a small business owner in Walden, was hired as a full-time Small Business Development Center Counselor. Barham-Middleton’s experience as a small business owner and educator allows her to understand the unique challenges companies face. Her main goal is to help people move to the next level in their desired journey.

The SBDC provides expert management and technical assistance to start-up and existing businesses across the state. The New York SBDC is administered by State University of New York and funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the State of New York, and host campuses. The SBDC emphasizes counseling and training services to women, veterans, people with special needs, and minority clients.

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Janaina Barham and Sam Kandel