Mindy Barstein grew up in New York City, worked in radio on Long Island and in 1988 was transferred by her employer to the Mohawk Valley.

Barstein, 45, and her husband, Tom Davenport, now are the owners of the radio stations they once were employed by: WXUR (92.7 FM) and WNRS (1420 AM).

“We came up here for what we thought would be two years, and we’re still here,” Barstein said. “We’ve stayed not because the crime rate is lower here — that didn’t even bother me in New York City — but because of the people we’ve met and the friends we’ve made here.”

The couple are the parents of three children, 18, 7 and 5. Barstein works from their Ilion home in order to care for them.

While Barstein was “impressed with all the people who were nominated,” she gave extra points to those who volunteered altruistically.

“I looked for people who were involved in organizations that were not related to their jobs ... no career advancement for that, and involved in organizations that you know are struggling,” she said.

 

Louis B. Tehan, executive director of United Cerebral Palsy, is quite impressed with this year’s winners.

“This was a great group. I would front them anywhere and match them against any community,” Tehan said.

Tehan was particularly taken with the diversity of the nominees’ volunteer work and their community experience.

“A lot of people get on one track and like to work only with nonprofits. ... I was impressed by the breadth of their community involvement,” Tehan said, ticking off words such as Rotary Club and school board.

Tehan grew up in Utica, graduated from Utica College and attended Florida State University in Tallahassee for a graduate degree. (He received another graduate degree from SUNY Binghamton.)

The time in Florida convinced Tehan that he wanted to move back to Upstate New York.

“I like the people, the pace of living here, and the location. It’s in the middle of everything. It’s a little bit urban, little bit suburban and a little rural,” he said.

Tehan, 51, is married and has two grown children.

 

New Hartford native Fred Matt worked in international shipping for three years in New York City, attended the Simon Graduate School of Business Administration at the University of Rochester, then moved back to New York for four years with Grey Advertising.

Matt, 42, finally was drawn back to the Mohawk Valley by the needs of his family’s business, F.X. Matt Brewing Co.

Fred and his brother Nicholas Matt returned to Utica in 1989 to help resuscitate a struggling company.

“I had always wanted to work in a more entrepreneurial business than the corporate world I worked in. I told my wife it was a five-year project. But once we got the company on solid footing, I stayed because I had a good job and a terrific area for our children to grow up in,” said Matt, who is vice president of marketing and sales for the brewery.

As a judge, Matt said he was impressed by the quality of the candidates and the commitment of the young people to the region.

Matt and his wife, Carrie, live in Clinton with their three children.

 

Accent on Excellence Judge Larry Gilroy was not surprised by the thick stack of nominations handed to him.

“We have an awful lot of talented individuals here, many of whom I was familiar with and many of whom I was not,” he said.

Highlighting the accomplishments of young adults is beneficial in creating good will.

“This area has more going for it than it gets credit for. And one thing we are rich in is young leaders — it’s great to recognize them,” he said.

Gilroy, president of Gilroy, Kernan & Gilroy Inc. in New Hartford, grew up in Utica and was educated at Hamilton College.

In his early 20s Gilroy lived and worked for several years in New York City. He returned to the Mohawk Valley for the opportunity to purchase the family business.

People who have lived outside of Central New York appreciate the quality of life here compared to other localities, Gilroy said.

Gilroy, 43, lives in New Hartford with his wife and three sons

 

As a judge, Valerie Sitler, (formerly Valerie Jones) was struck by the large number of people nominated and how qualified they are.

“It made for some tough decisions,” said Sitler. “I was impressed by the amount of activities people are doing, on top of running their business or working.”

Sitler, 32 and an honoree last year, grew up in New Hartford. She is the daughter of Fiber Instrument Sales Inc. founder Frank Giotto.

She graduated from Niagara University, then worked in Buffalo for three years as a U.S. Customs Agent. In 1993 Sitler returned to the Mohawk Valley and started a career in the fiber optic industry.

Today she is senior vice president of FIS. Besides her job, Sitler has chaired the Young Leaders United committee. She also is vice president of the Expressions board, a group that makes the arts accessible to young adults through parties, gallery openings, concerts and after-hour gatherings.