News & Views

GRB is pleased to announce that it has been named one of the 50 Best Companies to Work for in New York State for 2013. The bank earned the #7 spot on the list of 30 small/medium companies.

Phil Pecora, President & CEO, says, "Inclusion on this list is a testament to the strong culture we've built, with our employees focused on delivering an unparalleled level of service to our clients, and to each other. This has truly been the main driver of our success."

Created in 2007, these annual awards are a program that evaluates and ranks the best places of employment based on employee satisfacton and engagement, as well as workplace practices and policies.

To be considered for participation, companies had to enter into a two-part survey process and fulfill the following eligibility requirements:  

• Be a for-profit or not-for-profit business or government entity.
• Be a publicly or privately held business.
• Have at least one facility in the state of New York.
• Have a minimum of 15 employees working in the state of New York.
• Be in business a minimum of 1 year.

GRB was honored at a public awards dinner at the Albany Marriott on Tuesday, April 30, 2013.  Four employees represented GRB at the dinner, and shared a table with another Rochester winner, Pharos Systems. 

GRB and Pharos Systems employees head to Albany.

Jean Gardner, HR Manager, receives our award.

Gaining yet more recognition on a national list, Rochester has earned a spot on Techie.com's list of the Ten Most Unexpected Cities for High-Tech Innovation. The listing highlights our student populations at the University of Rochester and RIT, university research dollars, and a tech-savvy workforce with lots of patents. 

Other cities on the list were Chattanooga, Cincinnati, Des Moines, Detroit, Las Vegas, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Portland (ME), and South Bend. 

GRB's Pittsford branch this week unveiled extensive renovations, updating the interior finishes and creating better usable space. Many thanks to NH Architecture for the design work, and West Construction for the renovation work.

We are pleased with our updated branch, which will offer clients more privacy during transactions, a more comfortable waiting area, and increased conference room space.What hasn't changed is the free coffee and our welcoming, helpful branch staff!  Stop by for a visit soon.

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Rochester's small business community is highlighted in a recent Democrat & Chronicle article. Three technology startups are spotlighted, exemplifying the shift in our local economy from a few large-scale manufacturers to smaller, high tech-firms. These firms, and others, have been supported by business development centers, incubators, and professional development groups that make up a regional infrastructure conducive to small business.

Read the full article here.

GRB has been the headline sponsor for the Greece Chamber's annual Small Business of the Year Award since its inception four years ago. The award has been a great way to highlight the real success stories of Greece's business community.

The winners of both the Small Business and Microenterprise categories are entered into a national small business competiton sponsored by the U. S. Chamber of Commerce. Two Greece businesses have been recognized in this competition.

PetSaver Healthy Pet Superstore and The Victors Gymnastics, Inc. have been named 2013 Blue Ribbon Small Business Award winners. Additionally, PetSaver has been named the Eastern Region Finalist for the 2013 Dream Big Small Business of the Year Award.

From the Democrat & Chronicle article (read full article here):

Jodie Perry, president of the Greece Chamber of Commerce, said it is thrilling to have two businesses from the town recognized by the national Chamber.

“I think it shows that our businesses are really doing some innovative things, and really delivering high levels of customer service,” she said. “It’s exciting to hear that even though our economy is still flat, some businesses are doing really well and doing really great things. It’s a great thing for our community.”

Congratulations to both PetSaver and The Victors Gymnastics!

Last Saturday, twelve GRB employees, some family members, and a past intern volunteered their time at the Mary Cariola Children's Center. Their parents' organization sponsors an annual beach party for the kids and their families.  GRB staffed a fishing hole (magnetic fish and poles in buckets of water) and a craft table where kids made picture frames.  Families also enjoyed live music, volleyball, swimming, temporary tattoos, more crafts, and mini golf.

GRB is a proud to support Mary Cariola because of the great services they provide to so many families in our region, but especially because one of our colleagues' son is a student there.

It was great to see so many Mary Cariola kids enjoying their school-turned-beach party!

GRB is a table sponsor at a benefit for the families of the West Webster firemen and the Lake Road families this Sunday. Organized by Flaherty's Three Flags Inn, a portion of each tab will be donated to the WWFD and the Lake Road families. Prizes, a raffle, and live music round out the event. Check out their Facebook page for more information.

Details:

Sunday, February 11

Starting at noon

Flaherty's Three Flags Inn

1200 Bay Rd., Webster

GRB Community Relationship Manager Dave Rossi has generously volunteered his time to be a business mentor to the Greece Chamber of Commerce's YEA! class. YEA!, or the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, offers students a year long class that transforms them into entrepreneurs. Founded locally, YEA! now offers programs in 17 states.

Rossi and the other volunteers provide feedback for the kids' business plans and help them along the process of establishing their business. Stay tuned for updates as this class establishes their businesses and competes agains other local YEA! programs.

Image from the Greece Chamber of Commerce February Newsletter.

Joe Cassara and his new business, YouNeedMyGuy.com, is highlighted in this Democrat & Chronicle article. The Webster native combines business and social media so that a search on You Need My Guy will turn up providers recommended by friends.

Joe Cassara, 30, of Webster is the founder and CEO of You Need My Guy,

a company provides reviews about a community's best service providers.

/ MARIE DE JESUS/Democrat & Chronicle staff photographer

Read the full article here.

Mark Gentile, a senior technical director at Symantec Corp., is highlighted in a Democrat & Chronicle article about entrepreneurship. Gentile sold his company, Odyssey Software, to Symantec last year.

From the article:

Back in the mid-1990s, when Mark Gentile was starting his software business, potential investors reminded him that many startups fail. They asked about his backup plan.

“Naively, I said, ‘Failure is not an option.’ And everyone kind of chuckled,” said Gentile [...].

His attitude epitomized the confidence and spirit that permeates the world of entrepreneurship, where men and women risk everything to pursue their dream. They have a drive and a decisive ability that separates them from the rest of us nine to fivers, according to experts.

Gentile goes on to talk about the persistence and passion that drove his success.

Read the full article here.

In early January, GRB fielded a team at the Second Annual Rochester-area CPA Firms Sand Volleyball tournament. We got the added benefit of supporting our client, Hot Shots Volleyball Club. Proceeds benefitted Flower City Habitat for Humanity.

Our team lost a close match in the first round of playoffs, but nonetheless had a fun day. Thanks to Ami Panipinto for organizing GRB's team!

GRB was deeply saddened by the shooting of four West Webster firefighters and the displacement of a number of Webster residents whose homes were destroyed by fire on Christmas Eve. A number of our employees and clients live and work in Webster, so we wanted to do something to show our support for that community.

The weekend of the funerals for Firefighters Chiapperini and Kaczowka, GRB donated eight hotel rooms at the Webster Holiday Inn Express for firefighters attending the funerals. Clients of GRB, including Zeller Corporation and Progressive Machine also donated rooms.

Our thoughts continue to go out to the families of the firefighters and everyone affected by this tragedy.

#WWFD is the hashtag that has permeated social media sites to mark information about the West Webster Fire Department. Our donation was mentioned on a Facebook page that serves as a clearinghouse for those wanting to help.

Pam Sherman, author of the popular "Suburban Outlaw" column and blog for the Democrat & Chronicle, recently profiled local restauranteur Charlie Fitzsimmons. Fitzsimmons owns several restaurants, including Black & Blue Steak & Crab, Jo Jo Bistro & Wine Bar (both with outposts in Buffalo as well), the Village Bakery in Pittsford village. His most recent venture is TRATA, the Restaurant at the Armory, in the newly developed Culver Road Armory.

Read Sherman's article here.

With the help of employees, clients, and friends, GRB donated 44 baskets of food for Thanksgiving meals to the Small Business Council's annual SBC Cares food drive.

The SBC exceeded their 2012 goal of collecting 1000 baskets, delivering 1061 baskets, worth over $50,000, to local organizations.

Carolyn Thaney, daughter of GRB Executive Assistant Julie Thaney, raised $675 at Calkins Road Middle School to help GRB collect an additional 13 baskets.

GRB employees and their families were among the volunteers on Saturday, Novmebr 17, who delivered the baskets to Sojourner House, Mercy Residential Services, Wilson Commencement Park, Veterans Outreach Center, The Community Place, Catholic Charities, YWCA, Alternatives for Battered Women, Baden Street Settlement, and the Open Door Mission.

Thanks to all who helped us and the SBC surpass donation goals, providing over one thousand local families with the supplies for a holiday dinner.

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving!

Marissa Kaiser, daughter of GRB SVP Paul Kaiser, delivering baskets.

L to R: Carolyn Thaney, Marissa Kaiser, Julie Thaney, Trevor Kaiser, Paul Kaiser delivering baskets for SBC Cares.

Congratulations to the 2012 winners of the Greece Chamber's Small Business of the Year Awards!

Small Business of the Year: Caring for Cats Veterinary Hospital

Microenterprise of the Year: The Victors Gymnastics, Inc.

Winners were announced at the annual award luncheon, held today at the Greece Marriott. GRB is proud to be the presenting sponsor of this event since its inception four years ago.

GRB Manager of Human Resources, Jean Gardner, was quoted in an August 2012 Rochester Business Journal Article on the state of hiring in the local financial services sector.

Despite some challenging economic times over the past few years, local financial institutions continue to grow and add employees, including GRB.

Gardner notes, "Community banking is a people business, so our growth requires us to continuously recruit talented individuals to service our clients and ensure quality in our operations." She also discusses the bank's hiring strategy and what we look for in candidates.

Read the full article here, and connect with Jean here.

In his regular column, On Performance, for the Rochester Business Journal, Brand Integrity's Gregg Lederman writes about the importance of branding and company culture to drive performance and profits.

The October 26, 2012 column suggested using a 60-second reminder to keep company values top of mind, with employees "living" them on a daily basis. As Lederman mentions in the article, in 2011, GRB worked with Brand Integrity to refresh our values, add actionable behaviors, and created the GRB Experience:

• Lead by Example (how we do our best work)
• Unified Team (how we depend on each other)
• Remarkable Client Experience (how we delight our clients)

These values are what GRB employees strive to deliver to both each other and our clients every day. The 60-second reminder that we use here is regularly scheduled meeting agenda items. At weekly meetings, managers from all departments discuss with their teams the tenets of our values, or examples of the values in action.

In no small part because of this weekly attention to our values, GRB's scores on an employee survey of how consistently the behaviors were delivered increased almost 10%. Sixty seconds a week, worked into already existing meetings, is strengthening our brand because our employees are actively engaged with it.

Read Gregg's full column here.

The Empire State Lyric Theatre announced expansion plans last week, becoming Rochester Lyric Opera.

GRB is a proud supporter of Rochester Lyric Opera, and we look forward to this newly formed organization putting on an even more exciting Chamber Opera Festival in April, 2013.

Tickets for all Rochester Lyric Opera events can be purchased at the three GRB locations.

The Greece Chamber of Commerce has announced the finalists for the 4th Annual Small Business of the Year and 2nd Annual Microenterprise awards.

Finalists for Small Business of the Year:

• American Custom Exteriors & Interiors
• Caring for Cats Veterinary Hospital
• Deborah L. Fox, DDS

Finalists for Microenterprise of the Year:

• Bansbach, Zoghlin, P.C.
• Benefit Representatives of America
• The Victors Gymnastics & Cheerleading

GRB is proud to be the presenting sponsor of these awards, as we have been since their inception four years ago. This event highlights outstanding business owners in Greece, and celebrates the strong business community there.

The luncheon and awards ceremony is Friday, November 16 from 11:45am - 1:30pm at the Greece Marriott. Register online here.

GRB is pleased to announce that we have received a Silver Award from the Small Business Administration (SBA), for the fiscal year ending Septemebr 30, 2012. This places us third among local banks who participate in SBA programs. 

The Silver Award recognizes instutitions who have produced over $5 million in SBA-guaranteed loans.

Partnering with lenders and providing loan guarantees, SBA programs provide much needed capital to small businesses. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  for more information on how GRB can utilize the SBA to grow your business.