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tions. Additionally, she served the U.S. Department of
State, where she led historically significant international
marketing and advertising campaigns for multiple
Foreign Service exams featuring former Secretary
Colin Powell.
Previously, Shorey led the day-to-day operations of
the Technology Practice as a vice president at Ogilvy
Public Relations Worldwide. She was personally
responsible for $4.5 million in revenue via public relations
and advertising efforts. Shorey also has extensive
public sector experience with Congressional campaigns
and the U.S. Senate, where she served as a
communications advisor to the Senate Republican
Conference. In this role she helped craft daily messaging
and provided technical instruction to 55 Senate
Republican press offices.
“This is one of the greatest honors a person can
achieve in the Capital Region, and I feel absolutely
privileged to have been chosen. It speaks highly of not
just one person, but our entire team. The fact that we
are located in Saratoga Springs shows that the Capital
Region spreads far and wide.”
Excellence in Management
(1–99 employees)
Stacy Fitch
General Manager
The Paradies Shops
Albany International
Airport
Stacy Fitch is general manager of The Paradies Shops
at Albany International Airport, where she manages
30 employees in four separate and distinct shops
throughout the airport that provide convenience
items, books, newspapers and exciting trend-setting
merchandise.
Fitch views training and development of staff
members as a priority for a successful business. Under
her direction, Paradies’ staff members act as “Albany
Ambassadors” by interacting directly with passengers
and offering brief but useful information regarding
the Capital Region’s history, opportunities and events.
Fitch has won several awards, including Manager
of the Year for the Paradies Shop, Inc., Best Customer
Service, Best Profitability, Best Overall Human
Resources and Best Presentation. In Albany, Paradies
has extended its range of employee benefits to
include a mentoring program that provides assistance
to staff members in the form of guidance and counseling
at critical times in their careers.
Thanks to Fitch, Paradies is also involved in the
local community and regularly provides gifts and volunteer
services to Ronald McDonald House, the
American Heart Association, Latimer Education
Program, Carver Community Center, The Evangeline
Booth Miracle Home, Salvation Army Citadel Corps
and Girls Inc. She is also involved in the Women’s
Business Council membership committee and was a
mentor for GenNEXT.
“I was so excited and thrilled to be selected for this
Women of Excellence Award. So many women have
been recognized by the Chamber over the years, and
to join them in receiving this honor is something I didn’t
expect.”
Excellence in Management
(100–200 employees)
Paula Stopera
President/Chief
Executive Officer
Capital Communications
Federal Credit Union
Paula Stopera joined Capital Communications Federal
Credit Union in 1980 and was promoted through the
organization to her current position of president/CEO
in 2004. She also holds the position of treasurer on the
Capital Communications board of directors and serves
on the board of managers of CAP COM Financial
Services, LLC (a subsidiary of Capital Communications
FCU).
With a passion for assisting those in need, by partnering
with community organizations, Stopera was
instrumental in creating The Capital Communications
Cares Foundation, whose purpose is to nurture the
community by supporting community health and
wellness, financial literacy and education, children
and underprivileged families. This is accomplished all
through the heartfelt generosity of the staff, volunteers
and members of the credit union.
Stopera was the 2001 recipient of the Credit Union
Executive Society (CUES) Operations Professional of
the Year award and served on its advisory council. She
has served on the board of the Capital District YMCA
since 2005 and is a member of its executive committee.
In addition, she is a member of the New York
State CEO Council, event chair for the Whitney Young
Foundation’s Annual Dinner Committee, and is a
trustee for the New York State Credit Union League’s
Legislative and Political Action Committee.
“I’m so excited that there is an award recognizing
women for their accomplishments. Over the years I’ve
learned that numbers don’t grow your business, people
grow your business, and this award is such an
honor for me, personally, and for our organization.”
Excellence in Management
(200+ employees)
Anne C. LaRoche
Manager of Technology
& Information Systems
KAPL Inc.
Anne LaRoche is manager of the Technology &
Information Systems section of KAPL, Inc., a wholly
owned Lockheed Martin company headquartered in
Niskayuna. KAPL, Inc. operates the Knolls Atomic
Power Laboratory (KAPL) under contract to the U.S.
Department of Energy and U.S. Navy.
In her current position, LaRoche is the site information
officer, responsible for all information technology
at KAPL. Her organization supports desktop and
super computing, enterprise and advanced engineering
applications development, computer center operations,
information management and distribution
and thermal hydraulic and structural engineering
methods design. Network support reaches naval bases
and shipyards across the coasts and around the world.
LaRoche was appointed to her current position in
2004.
Prior to her current position, LaRoche was manager
of the Test Operations Section at KAPL, with
responsibility for large scale industrial testing taking
place in the Laboratory facilities on site. This included
materials testing, thermal hydraulic testing, and the
chemistry laboratories.
“I am very honored to be selected for the Women
of Excellence Award in Management. During more
than 20 years as a manager, I have come to realize
that you can help people shape their careers and ultimately
increase their overall job satisfaction. As a
manager, it is really up to you to support, energize,
mentor and encourage people to reach their full
potential. Receiving this award is a humbling experience
for me. Most of the skills that I have as a manager,
I acquired by observing some terrific role models
throughout my life. My recognition is their recognition.”
Distinguished Career
Eileen C. Bagnoli
Executive Vice
President/Secretary
Pioneer Bank
Eileen Bagnoli is executive vice president/secretary of
Pioneer Bank in Troy, where she has worked since
February 1972.
She was promoted to her current position in 2003
and has risen through the ranks over the years, holding
such positions as teller, head teller, assistant
branch manager, branch manager, assistant treasurer,
assistant vice president/savings, branch coordinator,
marketing, human resources, pension services,
vice president/administration and senior vice president/secretary.
Bagnoli has several professional and community
affiliations. She is board chair for the Commission on
Economic Opportunity of the Capital District and has
been a board member since 2006. She was president
of the board of Helping Hands School in Clifton Park,
a non-profit school for special needs children, from
2002-06 and has been a board member since 1988.
Bagnoli is also past board treasurer of the
Salvation Army of Troy, past president of the group III
officers’ forum for the Community Bankers
Association of New York State, and past president of
the Albany chapter of the National Association of
Bank Women.
“I was a little overwhelmed to be chosen. Looking
back on my career, I don’t think about all the things
I’ve done, because time goes by really quickly. I’ve
enjoyed the banking and management aspects of my
career, but one of the things I’ve enjoyed most about
Pioneer Bank is being involved in the community. I’m
so pleased, and a bit overwhelmed, to have been
selected as one of the 2008 Women of Excellence. I am
very anxious to have the opportunity to interact with
the other women who are being recognized this year
and to learn from their life and career experiences. It
is an honor, to say the least.”
acchamber.org :: techvalley.org VISIONS 11