News Flash

Name: Kristine Gulesano    

Department: DSS

Tell us about what you do with the County in your own words: Among many other responsibilities, the Commissioner’s Secretary is responsible for the agency’s HR work for new and existing employees. This includes: tracking vacant positions, starting the request to create/fill a position, downloading and distributing applications from NeoGov, completing and submitting HR paperwork (Reports of Personnel Change, Affordable Care Act Department Head Certification) using NeoGov for new employees and attaching necessary paperwork, facilitating processing appointments,  completing backgrounds checks using the New York State Unified Court Systems Criminal History Record Search (CHRS), NYS Justice Center, OCFS State Central Registry, NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services – Fingerprint Database, and various local police agencies, requesting badges and access to the buildings, maintaining all employee personnel records, entering and deleting employees from the Demographic database, tracking probationary periods, notifying supervisors when employee performance evaluations are due, maintaining Workplace Violence Spreadsheet, completing documentation for Workers’ Compensation claims and end of the year OSHA reports.  The Secretary is also responsible for drafting letters, drafting and submitting Human Services Agendas, conduit for calls to the Commissioner’s office, completes minutes and drafts agendas for various meetings, liaison for Verizon which includes assigning equipment to employees and making all online updates, maintains equipment spreadsheet for items assigned to employee, updates department’s website, advertising contact, liaison for the GuardianMPS software used for field staff safety tracking including keeping the list of users up to date, drafts, tracks and facilitates the completion of 100+ contracts and enters them into the ERP system ensuring that they meet the County requirements.  

Any notable professional accomplishments you'd like to share?: In the twenty-five years of working for the County, I have worked for five Commissioners.  Each brought their own perspective to the position. 

Favorite hobby?: Reading

Best place in the County to relax?: The Greenway trail.

Name: Louise Wadsworth Department: Economic Development Tell us about what you do with the County: As Downtown Coordinator, I work with all nine villages to enhance and promote their downtown districts.  I work closely with new or expanding small businesses throughout the county. What part of your job motivates you the most/makes you happiest? I love working with people; I work with Mayors and Supervisors, local residents and small business owners.  I enjoy the challenge of coming up with new ideas to promote our small businesses and our downtown districts.  Our office is a very creative and exciting place to work. Any notable professional accomplishments you'd like to share? Our Downtown Partnership Program is unique in New York State, and many counties look to us for inspiration and guidance. The LivCo Walls Mural Festival in 2022 (nine murals in nine villages in one month) was a highlight of my career. (Check out VisitLivCo.com) Favorite sports team, if any? Not a sports fan, although I am sure I will be a big fan of my grandchild’s sports when he is old enough! Favorite hobby? Photography - I am always taking pictures either for work or fun or art. I went to school for Photography at RIT and Ryerson in Toronto If you had to bring one movie, one book and one album to a desert island, which ones would you pick? Movie: Darjeeling Limited; Book: The Once and Future King by T. H. White; Album: Anything Enya Best place in the County to relax? My daughter’s coffee shop Cosmic Charlie in Geneseo is a fun place to hang out. You never know who you will see there, it is a great gathering place for college and community. 

What’s something unique about you people would never guess just by looking at you?  When Jaws was being filmed on Martha’s Vineyard I was living there and got to know members of the crew and even played pinball one time with Steven Spielberg. 

Name: Margaret (Peggy) Thomas        

Department: County Clerk Office

Tell us about what you do with the county: Record deeds and mortgages and all other land records pertaining to property; Maintain official court files both civil and criminal; Issue and maintain pistol permits; Issue DBA certificates; Accept passport applications; Notarize as needed.

What part of your job motivates you the most/makes you happiest? Helping people who come into our office.

Any notable professional accomplishments you'd like to share? Learning to navigate the NYSCEF system after many years of paper shuffling.

Favorite sports team, if any? My grandson's soccer and basketball teams, but I also root for the Buffalo Bills.

Favorite hobby? Swimming, reading and anything animal.

If you had to bring one movie, one book and one album to a desert island, which ones would you pick? Dirty Dancing, Outlander book(s),  Heart of Stone by Cher.

Best place in the county to relax? Al  Lorenz Park

What’s something unique about you people would never guess just by looking at you?  I am the youngest of ten kids in my family.

Name: Darren Hamilton

Department: Veteran Services Agency

Tell us about what you do with the County: I am a certified Veteran Service Officer (VSO) and I help Livingston County veterans and their families gain access to federal, state, local, and other military resources.   

What part of your job motivates you the most/makes you happiest? I enjoy sharing my knowledge to help veterans and their family members get connected to VA and other benefits.  Veterans and their families are relieved that our office has the knowledge to navigate different systems and we handle the filing of most paperwork, including applications, claims, and appeals. I routinely hear “thank you” and what they have gained access to is “life changing”.

Any notable professional accomplishments you'd like to share? Serving my country for four years in the US Air Force, earning a Master’s Degree and multiple certifications, and currently being a part of one of the most reputable Veterans Services Agencies in NY State.  

Favorite sports team, if any? NY Yankees, Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Sabres, Syracuse Basketball, and Geneseo High School sports teams. 

Favorite hobby? Coin collecting

If you had to bring one movie, one book and one album to a desert island, which ones would you pick? Any Godfather movie, Where the Red Fern Grows, and most rock albums from the '70s.

Best place in the county to relax? My backyard - it has a pool, grill, and it opens up to a forever wild zone with a forest, ponds, running creek, walking trails, and wildlife.

What’s something unique about you people would never guess just by looking at you? I was an Assistant High School Football Coach for four years and I have been married for 37 years. 

Name: Monica Jarzyna

Department: Office for the Aging

Tell us about what you do with the County: Health Promotion and Activity Coordination, in this title I get to plan and facilitate fun stuff that helps keep our county residents age 60+ happy, healthy and engaged. A few events from this year include: paper flower making classes, exercise series, Tai Chi, scam prevention, hands-only CPR, heimlich training, solar eclipse presentations, Seneca Zoo visits, picnics, ice cream socials and, of course, BINGO. 

What part of your job motivates you the most/makes you happiest? It's motivating when someone comes to a program for the first time and then signs up for more and I love when I get cards or messages from people telling me how much they've enjoyed an event.  

Any notable professional accomplishments you'd like to share? In the last 2 years we have expanded one of our most popular programs, Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention.  We now offer multiple classes and levels in several different towns throughout the year.

Favorite sports team, if any? Livonia Bulldogs, whichever sport my kids are playing at the time.

Favorite hobby? Working in my garden or anything outside in the warm weather. Paddleboarding and yoga are top of the list too.

If you had to bring one movie, one book and one album to a desert island, which ones would you pick? I don't like to read a book or watch a movie more than once but anything with Chris Farley or Adam Sander is worth another watch. The album I would take is Billy Bragg and Wilco- Mermaid Avenue.

Best place in the County to relax? I like floating in my pool if the weather is just right and there are no kids doing cannon balls.

Name: Liz Laney

Department: Probation

Tell us about what you do with the County: As part of probation's administrative team, my primary role is to directly supervise probation officers in their performance of intake work, court ordered investigations, program planning and the supervision of probationers. As a supervisor, I assist in the interpretation of rules and procedures for the benefit of the department. I routinely confer with judges, court personnel, attorneys, police, and various other groups and community agencies. I am the department's transfer designee and I supervise a caseload of offenders who are involved in either the interstate or intrastate transfer process.  

What part of your job motivates you the most/makes you happiest? Throughout my career at Livingston County Probation, I have had different responsibilities and duties. First and foremost, my favorite part of coming to work every day is my co-workers. They are some of the most intelligent, creative, caring, loyal, and hardworking people I have ever met. I am grateful for them each and every day. For two of the six years I was a line officer, I was assigned to supervise probationers in Livingston County Treatment Court. I enjoyed this work, and to this day, it was one of the most rewarding parts of my tenure here. To see firsthand those struggling with addiction overcome barriers and hurdles and become successful people, loving parents, law abiding citizens, and have structure and stability in their lives is an amazing process. 

Any notable professional accomplishments you'd like to share? Throughout my entire career, I have been a proponent of safety; making sure we get home to our families each and every night is top priority. I have advocated for the implementation of safety equipment, worked hard to improve the way we conduct business and have helped create policies and procedures. Director Mignemi has always been supportive and forward thinking and allows me to take an idea, mold it, and with her oversight, implement it. The world of probation is ever changing and I am glad I get to take part in ensuring the department is always implementing best practices

Favorite sports team, if any? I am my kids' biggest fan, so it depends on the season; if we're talking professional sports, go Bills!

Favorite hobby? I enjoy reading 

Best place in the County to relax? We are a very busy family, so there is not much time to relax; at this stage in my life, you can often find me taking a few minutes to relax in the car with a good book while my kids are at practice. 

Name: William (Billy) Cavalier

Department: Central Services

Tell us about what you do with the County:  I'm am one of the Working Foreman for Buildings, Grounds and Maintenance. I am responsible for the Government Center, Court House , Sheriff's Office/Jail, the Millennium Drive Complex, and the Avon EMS Building. What that means is if it's broke, my team or I will fix it. 

What part of your job motivates you the most/makes you happiest? I like helping people and making them happy. In Central Services we do that a lot. Even though it may be just changing a light bulb, turning up the air conditioning in their space or doing a renovation.  I hope when we complete the task the Department or person that needed us is happy when we are finished.

Any notable professional accomplishments you'd like to share? I received a department commendation for exemplary service. I had worked on a project for air purification for the County buildings. Because of the planning and scheduling that I worked on with the contractor for the project, we were able to finish the project a lot faster than planned and we saved about $45,000. 

Favorite sports team, if any? LETS GO, BUFFALO.

Favorite hobby? The martial arts.

If you had to bring one movie, one book and one album to a desert island, which ones would you pick? Rocky 1 or 2, I hate to say it, but I don't have a favorite book,  Boston their first album. I love the 70's rock bands.

Best place in the County to relax? My back deck . It has a pool, two outside pizza ovens, a Blackstone grill and a pellet smoker. 

What’s something unique about you people would never guess just by looking at you?  I have studied and trained in the Martial Arts since I was four years old to the present age of 54 years old. I can also do a jump spinning crescent kick to the head, but only to the bad guys.

Name: Charlie Quinones 

Department: Informational & Technology 

Tell us about what you do with the County: I’m dedicated to ensuring that all users in Livingston County have the support they need with their computers. 

What part of your job motivates you the most/makes you happiest? I thrive on networking and meeting new colleagues across various departments. 

Any notable professional accomplishments you'd like to share? Former educator for over 17 years.

Favorite sports team, if any? I'm a big fan of Michael Jordan but in heart a NY Knicks fan. 

Favorite hobby? I enjoy collecting sports memorabilia, playing basketball and most importantly build memories with my family. 

If you had to bring one movie, one book, and one album to a desert island, which ones would you pick? I’d bring along The Avengers Collection for some superhero action, my book "Remote" for a good read, and Frank Sinatra’s album for timeless tunes. 

What’s something unique about you people would never guess just by looking at you? I wear many hats: I'm a Minister, a Children’s Book Author, Social Media Content Creator and an Educator. It’s a reminder to never judge a book by its cover. 

Name: Molly Downey

Department: Economic Development & Tourism

Tell us about what you do with the County: I work on the websites, branding, marketing, and social media for Livingston County Economic Development (Grow LivCo) and Livingston County Tourism (Visit LivCo). I also love jumping in on new projects whenever they come up!

What part of your job motivates you the most/makes you happiest? It’s rewarding to help local businesses reach new customers, introduce new people to Livingston County and all the region has to offer, and assist in new projects that enhance our communities (like LivCo Walls!).

Any notable professional accomplishments you'd like to share? In recent years, Livingston County Tourism has launched seasonal travel guides to help visitors and locals connect with the region. Be sure to check them out at visitlivco.com.

Favorite sports team, if any? Go Bills!

Favorite hobby? Reading, especially thrillers and biographies.

If you had to bring one movie, one book, and one album to a desert island, which ones would you pick? My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Bossypants by Tina Fey, 1989 by Taylor Swift. 

Best place in the County to relax? Walking through the SUNY Geneseo campus at sunset. 

What’s something unique about you people would never guess just by looking at you? I once did a triathlon.

Name: Colin Wilcox

Department: Department of Health

Tell us about what you do with the County: I work in the Livingston County Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. Some of the things I do is review all recent Blood Lead Level Tests that are done on all Livingston County residents for children and people under 18 years old. Any Blood Lead Levels (BLLs) that are above 5 micrograms per deciliter is considered elevated and therefore is an active case until we get the BLL under 5 on two separate tests that are at least 3 months apart. A few ways we reduce lead exposure is by providing education to the parents and/or guardians about how to properly clean so we do not make the lead exposure worse and to increase Vitamin C, Calcium, and Iron in the child's diet as those are known to bind with any lead in your system and get it out of the body. We also work with Genesee Department of Health to conduct an environmental assessment of the home. This involves using an XRF gun which can analyze and see if any of the paint in the home has lead in it, as well as taking dust and soil samples to see if there is any lead in them.

What part of your job motivates you the most/makes you happiest? I love how versatile this job is. Some days I am at my desk for most of the day conducting data analysis or working on projects and other days I am doing outreach events or collaborating with other programs to improve both programs. I love that everyday I am learning something new and interesting.

Any notable professional accomplishments you'd like to share? I am happy that I was able to collaborate with a few counties and Cornell University to offer a free Lead Renovator course for the county. I am also proud that we have created a Lead GIS Mapping App to analyze any lead concerns we have in the county.

Favorite sports team, if any? Boston Red Sox.

Favorite hobby? I am a new father so I love playing pretend and doing crafts with my son.

If you had to bring one movie, one book and one album to a desert island, which ones would you pick? Pan's Labyrinth, Fahrenheit 451, and "Picaresque" by The Decemberists

Best place in the County to relax? Al Lorenz Park

What’s something unique about you people would never guess just by looking at you?  Before I got my bachelor's degree in Public Health, I originally went to school as a double major in Political Science and Philosophy because I wanted to become a Public Defender

Name:  Kelly Greenway    

Department: Training and Professional Development

Tell us about what you do with the County:  My position is to coordinate and provide learning opportunities to help staff excel in their positions. 

What part of your job motivates you the most/makes you happiest?  I love meeting new people and getting to work with all departments within the County.

Favorite sports team?  I am a HUGE Bills fan and just love watching football in general. 

Favorite hobby? My favorite hobby is reading. As I've gotten older, I've learned to appreciate quiet time with a good book. 

If you had to bring one movie, one book and one album to a desert island, which ones would you pick? Movie: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Book: Verity by Colleen Hoover, Album: Garth Brooks: The Hits 

What’s something unique about you people would never guess just by looking at you? My first three years after graduating college, I was a cheerleader for the Buffalo Bills.   It was an incredible time in my life and I will cherish those memories forever.

Name: Lynne Mignemi

Department: Probation

Job Title: Probation Director

How long have you been with Livingston County? 37 years in September. 

What’s your favorite part of your job? As a probation officer in the field for eighteen years, watching the people we work with make positive changes that change the trajectory of their lives. As an administrator, I receive great joy from being a mentor to others.

If you had to bring one movie, one book and one album to a desert island, which ones would you pick? Movie: Purple Rain. Total guilty pleasure and one of my favorite movie soundtracks. Book: Man's Search for Meaning. I read it late in life, during the pandemic. It makes many top ten book lists. Incredibly profound memoir of a Holocaust Nazi prison camp survivor who went on to pioneer a psychotherapeutic method. Album: Van Halen's first album. I'm a child of the 80's. My first concert. General admission concert. I was on the floor on Eddie's side of the stage. They opened for Black Sabbath. I was there to see Eddie, not Ozzy. My husband remains horrified at my lack of reverence for Ozzy at the time.

Hot dog preference: red hot or white hot? Red

Best place in the County to relax? The grounds of the Abbey of the Genesee. A lunch hour favorite. If you have never been, you should visit. It's a gem and you can buy Monk's bread in the store.

What’s something unique about you people would never guess just by looking at you? I have run the Utica Boilermaker 15k ten times. I grew up in New Hartford, outside of Utica. If you are from that area, it's on many bucket lists.