The-Laker-Issue-Spring-2022

New Board Member: Paul Griswold Paul Griswold is president and CEO of Ontario & Trumansburg Telephone Companies and its Upstate Fiber Networks division. OTTC has been owned and operated by the Griswold family for over 100 years and five generations. Paul previously served as president and CEO of Finger Lakes Technologies Group, which was acquired by FirstLight in 2017. Following the acquisition, Paul served as president of advanced technologies and executive vice president until 2020. the LAKER | 17 The widow of Trustee Emeritus Robert Griswold has donated funds to create an endowed scholarship in his memory for a student studying business or technology. Robert Griswold, who served as president, CEO and chairman of the board during his long career with Ontario & Trumansburg Telephone Companies, volunteered on the Finger Lakes Community College Board of Trustees for a dozen years and the FLCC Foundation Board of Directors for several more years. “Bob considered his association with FLCC the most rewarding and satisfying experience he could ever imagine, from the people he worked with, the students he met, and the programs and projects he was involved with,” said Joan Griswold, who was married to Robert for 36 years. A trustee from 1999 through 2010, his leadership roles included board chair, vice chair, secretary, and chair of the Human Resources Committee. He also served two terms as the trustee liaison to the FLCC Foundation Board of Directors, in addition to his two terms on the Foundation board. In October 2016, the FLCC Board of Trustees honored him with the emeritus designation, given for volunteer service with exceptional distinction. “Trustee Griswold provided invaluable leadership and vision in support of significant endeavors to enhance and expand Finger Lakes Community College and its programs,” the resolution stated, citing his advocacy “for academic programs in advanced manufacturing and for the creation of the FLCC Victor Campus Center in the heart of Ontario County’s high-tech corridor.” The Robert H. Griswold Endowed Scholarship will be awarded this fall to a student with financial need who is enrolled at least part-time (six credits) in one of the following programs: business administration, communications, new media, computer information systems, computer science, networking and cybersecurity, or smart systems technologies. Preference will be given to students demonstrating volunteerism, leadership skills and humility. “When I learned that I could establish an endowed scholarship in Bob’s name, I did not hesitate. He would be pleased and proud. It gives me, and my family, great pleasure and satisfaction in knowing that Bob’s legacy at the College will live on through the R.H. Griswold Endowed Scholarship,” Joan added. An endowed scholarship is a reference to a one-time donation that is invested with the interest funding an annual award based on criteria established by the donor. Scholarship honors memory of trustee emeritus In addition to the FLCC Foundation Board, Paul serves on the board for the New York State Telecommunications Association and Thompson Health. He is a past chairman of the Canandaigua Chamber of Commerce and previously served on the FLCC Victor Campus Center Advisory Board and boards for the Clifton Springs YMCA and the Phelps and Geneva chambers of commerce. Paul studied marketing at Rochester Institute of Technology and has completed graduate work at the University of Kansas School of Telecommunications. Paul began his career in the telecom industry working for Rochester Telephone’s subsidiary, RCI Long Dis- tance, in 1985 and joined Ontario & Trumansburg two years later. Paul and his wife, Julie, reside in Victor. He enjoys golf, boating, spending time with his family, and experimenting with the latest technologies and gadgets. Robert Griswold, 1930-2018