Our Board
Background of Directors
R. Michael Briggs, President & CEO
Mr. Briggs is the President & CEO of USNY Bank. He has significant experience in banking, finance, insurance, and economic development. He is a graduate of Cornell University and has attended executive education sessions at the University of Pennsylvania (Wharton School). He has been active in many community and civic endeavors, including serving as Board Chairman of Finger Lakes Health (Geneva, NY) and Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hospital (Penn Yan, NY). He served 10 years on the Yates County Legislature and formerly was Vice President of the Board of Education for the Penn Yan Central School District. He currently serves on the boards of the Finger Lakes Economic Development Corporation, Geneva Area Chamber of Commerce and Finger Lakes Community College Foundation.
H. Todd Bullard, Director
H. Todd Bullard is an attorney with the Harris Beach law firm in Pittsford, N.Y. The practice focuses on public finance, economic development, business and litigation. He has a bachelor's degree from Alleghany College and a law degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School. In the community, he currently serves on the board of Nazareth Schools and as a trustee on the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester. He was a Monroe County legislator from 1995 to 2005.
H. Taylor Fitch, Director
Mr. Fitch is the former owner of F&W Parts, an automotive supply business that he operated from 1973-1999. He is a graduate of Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA. He also served in the US Army in Italy. Mr. Fitch serves as chairman of the Yates County Legislature and is a former chairman of the board of the Yates County Industrial Development Agency. He is also former chairman of Finger Lakes Health and was a former chairman of Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hospital. He currently is on the board of Healthcare Trustees of New York State. He has participated in numerous other community and civic roles.
Jeffery S. Gifford, Vice Chairman
Jeffery S. Gifford, President of The Birkett Mills. In addition to Gifford's executive position at The Birkett Mills, which manufactures buckwheat products in Penn Yan, N.Y., he owns Carey's Lumber & Building Supply and Carey's Farm & Home Centers, both in Penn Yan, In the community, he formerly was chairman of the Yates County Industrial Development Agency.
Murray Heaton, Director
Mr. Heaton currently serves as an attorney with Heaton & Venuti LLP, a law firm in Geneva, NY. The law firm focuses on business, real estate, and related disciplines. Mr. Heaton is a graduate of Oberlin College and received his JD at Boston University. He has served his community on the boards of several community and civic organizations.
J. Michael Moffat, Director
Mr. Moffat is the Chief Executive Officer of Black Ash Holdings in Cooperstown, NY. This business operates the Blue Mingo Grill and Sam Smith's Boatyard. Mr. Molffat graduated from Kenyon College in Ohio. He is on the board of directors of the NYS Historical Association, Farmers Museum, and Friends of Hyde Hall. He is board chairman for Brookwood School & Children's Center. He also served on the Central New York State Parks, Recreation and Historical Preservation Commission.
Alexandra Karlow Nolan
Ms. Nolan is a graduate of Smith College and The Harvard Business School. She began her career with the Government Affairs Office of American Express Company as an analyst. She later joined Shearson/American Express, becoming the Director of Branch Analysis and Planning. Subsequently, she served as the Editorial Finance Manager of Time Warner's LIFE Magazine. Her more recent focus has been on volunteering in her local community and schools. She has served as a Trustee of the Montclair Kimberley Academy. Alex lives with her husband in Montclair, NJ and also spends time at their farm property in Genoa, NY.
Robert O'Neill, Director
Prior to joining Union Labor Life Insurance Company in Washington D.C. in 2000, Robert O'Neill spent 39 years in Wall Street as a general partner of L.F. Rothschild and as an executive vice president of Tucker Anthony. He has served as an expert witness for FINRA and presently is a consultant to FINRA on Municipal Financing. Mr. O'Neill is a former officer of the United States Air Force, receiving the commendation medal. Mr. O'Neill is a graduate civil engineer from Manhattan College and has served civic, cultural and professional organizations.
Robert Ranger, Chairman of the Board
Robert Ranger has 40 years experience in commercial banking with half of that tenure as a senior bank executive. He was Regional President at Fleet Bank, N.A. in New York State and had additional responsibilities for statewide consumer, small business, credit card and mortgage portfolios along with coordinating all CRA Activities. His career included major responsibilities in commercial lending and municipal finance. Also he was President and CEO of the Wyoming County Bank. He currently owns and operates RWR Funding providing a broad range of consulting and arranging taxable and tax-exempt financing. His major clients are municipalities, health care, public schools, volunteer fire companies, community banks and corporate entities. Mr. Ranger graduated from Cornell University and Rutgers University, Stonier School of Banking.
