news article

Vicki Swanson to retire, resulting in position changes

November 15, 2017 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Vicki Swanson (formerly Vicki Putney) has decided to retire effective July 1, 2018. Few people have been as connected to the Upper New York Conference as long as Vicki has. She started working for the Central New York Conference 35 years ago—she was hired by Robert McCune and Vernon Lee as the Administrative Assistant to the Conference Executive. Her first major project was a pension-campaign fund. Little did she know that pensions would become one of her primary tasks years down the road.

When the Northern New York Conference and Central New York Conference merged, Vicki remained on board and worked as the Administrative Assistant for the Design Team and then as Director of Ministry Support for North Central New York Conference. After many years of the utmost dedication and once the Troy, North Central New York, Western New York, and Wyoming Conferences merged to form the Upper New York Conference, Vicki eventually became the Conference Director of Human Resources and Benefits.

When reflecting on her decision to retire, Vicki said, “It’s a lot like a long-time pastorate—there comes a time when you need to refresh!” Vicki explains how her career has influenced other aspects of her life.  She said, “I spent a lot of my time dedicated to this organization and I have really enjoyed it and learned from it.”

Vicki plans to spend time in her retirement pursuing interests that have often taken the back burner: sewing, crafts, repurposing furniture, traveling, and hiking. In addition to having a more flexible schedule to spend time with her husband, the Rev. Lauren Swanson, she also plans to spend more time with family and friends. She explained, “Many of my friends have been retired or work part-time and I have not had much flexibility to get together with them and now I will.”

Vicki also plans to visit her daughter Tamara, her son-in-law Ryan, and her 4-month old granddaughter Charlotte as often as possible in Toronto. She mentioned how the timing works out perfectly; “About the time Tamara goes back to work is the time I retire. This will help me to be more available when needed!”

With Vicki retiring, there will be some changes in UNY Conference staff positions effective January 1, 2018. These positions changes will create greater synergy and impactful leadership, while remaining entirely budget neutral.

Current Human Resources and Office Manager, Susan Latessa, will become Human Resources and Benefits Director.

Susan has had over 15 years of experience in benefits.  She said, “I am very excited about this position change. I love focusing on human resources and benefits. They’re definitely my strengths.”

Vicki has started training Susan and will continue to do so until July 1, 2018. She is also introducing Susan to people she will be working closely with. For example, Susan met the Board of Pensions when they were at the United Methodist Center earlier this month for a meeting.  

Cherish McGowan will become Office/Connectional Ministries Manager.

Cherish said, “In my six years of working for the Conference as the assistant to the Director of Connectional Ministries, I have had the pleasure and the privilege of working with so many dedicated program team leaders and team members who consistently and graciously work together to help accomplish our mission to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to be God’s love with our neighbors in all places. In my new role as Office/Connectional Ministries Manager, I look forward to deepening my role with the very important work of our teams, and also look forward to helping make sure the Conference office runs as smoothly and efficiently as possible, making sure that we are always good stewards of the Conference’s resources. I am very excited for what lies ahead.”

Susan has begun training Cherish to be Office Manager, and will continue to do so until January 1, 2018. Some of this training has involved Cherish sitting in on office-supply vendor meetings and post office meetings. Susan said, “When anything pops up that is related to my office Manager tasks, I involve Cherish. I involve her in all communications whether it is emails, phone calls, or in-person meetings.”

Cherish has also begun co-supervising Conference Welcoming and Support Specialist, Christopher Lupini.

Susan said, “Both the training that Vicki is doing with me and that I am doing with Cherish involves more than tasks. It involves relationship building. For example, Chris’s job duties are the same; it’s just that he will be reporting to Cherish, not me. I am helping Cherish to understand the goals of the employees she will be managing.”

There will also be an eventual hiring of a Human Resource and Benefits Administrative Assistant as part of the restructuring of the office staff.  Julie Valeski continues to serve as Benefits Administrator.

Vicki will remain in the office until July 1, 2018 to continue training Susan as well as the new Administrative Assistant while also completing projects she has been desiring to dedicate more time to—these projects aim at better streamlining data tracking programs.

Vicki’s role has involved providing benefits for over 1,000 people (400+ retires and their spouses, 100 employees, and 300+ clergy member families). She explained how the training she is supplying needs to take place slowly and daily because it is a balancing act. She said, “You have to constantly balance the needs of the people, the health of the investment funds and the cost of benefits for our churches. You have to take it to heart and really care about the results.”

Vicki has been invaluable to the Upper New York Conference. Her dedication resulted in her earning the Suzanna Wesley Award of Excellence presented by the Upper New York United Methodist Men at the 2017 Annual Conference. This award goes to someone who has distinctive intellect, unwavering devotion, loyalty, competence, and friendliness.

Vicki said, “It is hard to let go of my work, but I am very confident in Susan’s abilities as well as Cherish’s – and the cooperation of all our staff -- to make this transition smooth.”