Elmira College Trustees Elect New Officers, Members

Elmira, NY (02/17/2021) — The Elmira College Board of Trustees recently elected The Honorable George H. Winner, Jr. as chair, and Clare van den Blink '96 as vice chair. Winner and van den Blink succeed Robert G. Morris, L.H.D. '16 and Katherine Metzger '67, respectively, each of whom served in their roles with dedication for many years.

"Elmira College has been fortunate to have many devoted Trustees, and I want to thank Bob and Kathie for lending their time and commitment to the College," said President Charles W. Lindsay. "I look forward to working with George and Clare as they transition into their new leadership roles. Their expertise and close connections to the College and the community will play a critical role in advancing the College's strategic plan, which calls for strengthening our partnerships with businesses and nonprofits throughout Elmira and the Southern Tier. George and Clare will be instrumental in making this goal a reality."

Winner, currently a practicing attorney with the firm of Keyser, Maloney & Winner, LLP in Elmira, is a lifelong resident who served as New York Senator from 2004-2010. Prior to that, he served 13 consecutive terms in the New York Assembly, representing portions of the New York Southern Tier after serving as counsel and legislative assistant to then Senate Deputy Majority Leader William T. Smith of Big Flats.

A 1971 graduate of St. Lawrence University, Winner was admitted to the practice of law in New York in 1977. He is a member of the Chemung County and New York State Bar Associations, and has served on numerous local community boards, including the Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes, on which he currently serves.

Winner and his wife, Lynn Hardman Winner '73, reside in Elmira, and are the parents of three adult daughters.

van den Blink, an Elmira College alumna, serves as senior vice president and chief information officer at The Hilliard Corporation, a manufacturing company in Elmira. She has extensive experience in higher education, technology, and business, having served as vice president and chief information officer at Pace University; and director of academic technologies at Cornell University. She has taught as an adjunct professor at Elmira College and other colleges.

Active in the Elmira community, van den Blink received the Jefferson Award for Public Service in 2019 and the Chemung County Chamber of Commerce's ATHENA® leadership award in 2018. She currently serves on the board of Catholic Charities of Chemung & Schuyler Counties, the Arnot Art Museum, and as president of the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes. van den blink lives in Elmira with her husband, Jan, and has three grown daughters.

The Board of Trustees also welcomed John H. Brand, Martin S. Fennell, Janet McRorie Hindsley '68, Laurie S. Kelechava '73, and Joseph M. McDonald to its membership following the February board meeting.

"Colleges and universities across the country continue to face many challenges, including a worldwide pandemic, making it clear that institutions of higher education must innovate and expand beyond the traditional model," said Lindsay. "The depth and breadth of experience represented with these new members, and the entire Board of Trustees, positions the College well as we navigate a rapidly changing higher education landscape and look to invest in new and innovative programs that expand lifelong learning opportunities and deepen our partnerships with industry."

New Board of Trustee members:

John H. Brand, CFA®, CFP®
John Brand is a financial advisor with the Brand Schweizer Group / Raymond James in Elmira. He is a graduate of the New York State Banker Trust Investment School and is a member of the New York Society of Security Analysts (NYSSA). Brand serves as chairman of the board for Arnot Realty Corporation and as a board director for Southern Tier Economic Growth, the Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes, the Elmira City Club, and the Clemens Center. He received his bachelor's degree in economics from Hamilton College.

Martin S. Fennell
Martin "Marty" Fennell serves as president, owner, and partner with several area businesses, including of Fennell Industries, LLC, United Dividers, Fennell Spring Company, and Paint the Town. He previously served on the Elmira College President's Council and on the board of directors for the American Red Cross.

Janet McRorie Hindsley '68
Janet "Jan" Hindsley '68 rejoins the Elmira College Board of Trustees, having previously served from 2012-2016. A retired college economics instructor, Hindsley has served as Reunion Chair for the EC Class of 1968 and is a member of the Iris Society and Phi Beta Kappa. She earned her bachelor's degree in mathematics from Elmira College and a master's in economics from The University of Virginia.

Laurie S. Kelechava '73
Laurie Kelechava '73 is a retired educator, having worked in the Allentown School District in Allentown, Pennsylvania, for many years. She has served as the secretary for the Elmira College Alumni Board of Directors, Reunion Chair for the EC Class of 1973, and a host for EC alumni events in the Allentown area. After receiving her bachelor's degree in elementary education from Elmira College, Kelechava received her Master of Education from Lehigh University and her early childhood certification from Kutztown University.

Joseph M. McDonald, CPA, MBA, CGMA, EdD(c)
Joseph "Joe" McDonald is vice president for finance and enrollment with Maria College in Albany, New York. He served as a Maria College Board of Trustee member for three years on the audit, facilities, and development committees, as well as treasurer and chair of the Finance Committee. He is a certified public accountant and a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA). McDonald earned his bachelor's degree in accounting at SUNY Albany and his MBA at Union College.

The five new members join the continuing Trustees:

George H. Winner, chair
Clare van den Blink '96, vice chair
Dr. Lloyd Cook '79
Dr. Susanne Grennell '70
Thomas J. Hilfiger
Doris P. Malesardi '64
Katherine Metzger '67
Whitney F. Posillico '63
Louise Souders '62
Charles A. Thorley '02
G. Thomas Tranter, Jr. '76
John M. Walsh, III
Franon R. Wilson '97

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