Innovative Management Workshops

Commitment to Serving our Local Community

As part of our ongoing mission to support and enrich our local community, the School of Business and Economics (SBE) is proud to introduce a new non-credit program tailored specifically for local managers.

This program offers in-depth knowledge across essential business areas, including management, leadership, strategy, data analytics, accounting, and finance. Delivered by esteemed SBE faculty and alumni directly at the participants' workplaces, the program consists of nine immersive workshops designed to foster expertise and shared learning in specific career fields.

Upon successful completion of all workshops, participants will earn a digital badge from SUNY Plattsburgh, which not only certifies their achievement but also qualifies them for a course waiver in the master’s program in data analytics. These workshops are offered at highly affordable rates to ensure greater access for local managers across industries, reinforcing our commitment to elevating the skills and knowledge within our community.

At CVPH our people are our greatest asset and we believe in the importance of investing in them and the organization as a whole. This program, through partnership with SUNY Plattsburgh, has done just that. The professors are a wealth of knowledge, are super kind, and it is evident that they truly love what they do. Our folks have been able to obtain skills and resources that they can apply to their work on a regular basis. It really is a win-win for both organizations and we are so grateful!
Kaitlyn Tentis, Business Operations Manager, CVPH

Workshops & Facilitators

Our non-credit workshop series is designed to provide managers with comprehensive learning opportunities across key areas of business, including leadership, strategy, data analytics, finance, and more.

Workshops Key Learning Objectives

Strategic Planning for Community Impact — Learn to develop and implement strategies that align with regulatory standards, organizational goals and the diverse needs of the individuals and communities served.
Financial Stewardship & Sustainability — Strengthen budgeting and financial analysis skills to support efficient operations, resource allocation and the long-term viability of integrated health services.
Data-Driven Decision-Making — Use Excel and other tools to analyze data, visualize outcomes, and guide decisions that improve service quality, accountability and client outcomes.
Strengthen Leadership & Team Dynamics — Develop inclusive leadership practices and team management skills to foster a mission-driven culture that supports staff collaboration, engagement and retention.
Promote Operational Excellence Through Lean Thinking — Apply Lean and Six Sigma tools to streamline workflows, reduce inefficiencies and enhance service delivery across behavioral and integrated healthcare environments.

Participants are required to attend all sessions and successfully pass the assessment at the end of each workshop. Upon completing the entire series, they will earn Credly digital badges, recognizing their achievement and dedication to professional growth.

Workshops

Meet the Facilitators

Dr. Thomas Burl is an assistant professor of computer science. He transforms data chaos into insightful reports with sheer wizardry in Excel. A fanatic for formulas, he has turned Excel into his playground, unveiling secrets hidden in rows and columns. When he is not breaking down complex datasets, he is fueling business decisions with clarity and precision. His knack for creating dynamic dashboards not only impresses but revolutionizes the decision-making process. Beyond Excel, Dr. Burl is committed to continuous learning and believes in the power of data to reshape our world. Additionally, his expertise extends to innovative problem-solving and streamlining workflows, making complex tasks effortless and efficient.

Dr. Sabah Bushaj is an assistant professor of business analytics at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh. He earned his Ph.D. in industrial engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) in August 2021, with a specialization in multistage stochastic optimization and reinforcement learning applied to forestry and epidemic control planning. His research focuses on leveraging advanced learning algorithms to address uncertainty in decision-making processes, particularly in areas such as epidemic disease modeling in forestry, agriculture, and human populations, as well as the economic impact of invasive species. Alongside his academic career, Dr. Bushaj has extensive experience in enterprise resource planning (ERP), having worked as a consultant on numerous projects that implemented company-wide solutions. He teaches a wide range of courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels.

Wanda Carroll is a lecturer of supply chain management and international business at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh with a specialty in global business ethics. She received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching (2018) and the SUNY Online Teaching Ambassador Award (2021) as an exemplary online educator. As a certified corporate trainer, she has direct experience with over 60 facilitations in organizations for leadership workshops from the City of Atlanta to major corporations in the U.S. and Canada. Since 2017, Wanda has served as a contracted professor in logistics management for Nanjing University in China. She earned her master’s in management from Wayland Baptist University and her Ph.D. studies in organizational leadership from the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas.

Dr. Samy Garas earned his Ph.D. from the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, in 2010 and holds nine professional certifications across various disciplines, including auditing, managerial and forensic accounting, fraud examination, IT auditing, governmental accounting, and education. He has published over twenty peer-reviewed articles and book chapters in reputable academic journals, addressing topics such as corporate governance, corporate social responsibility, financial reporting, and accounting education. Dr. Garas has taught accounting and finance courses to undergraduate, graduate, and executive learners in multiple countries. He has also worked with leading firms such as PwC and Ernst & Young. In his teaching, Dr. Garas integrates advanced technologies such as Power BI, Tableau, Alteryx, and UiPath to ensure practical application of theoretical knowledge in real-world contexts.

Dr. Jeffrey Gauthier is an associate professor of strategic management at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, where he has been a faculty member since 2014. He holds a Ph.D. in management, and his research interests lie in the areas of strategy, social entrepreneurship, and sustainable enterprise. Dr. Gauthier’s primary focus is on the growth challenges faced by social ventures, as well as how organizations effectively communicate their sustainability practices to various stakeholders. Prior to his academic career, Dr. Gauthier held strategic roles at The Hartford and Cigna, where he developed expertise in corporate strategy.

Dr. Richard Gottschall has been a faculty member at SUNY Plattsburgh since 2001, where he teaches marketing, management, entrepreneurship, and small business management. Before joining academia, Dr. Gottschall spent six years operating his own restaurants and served as a business advisor with the United States Peace Corps. He also worked in Southeastern Europe with a venture capital firm and the U.S. Agency for International Development, where he supported microfinance initiatives. As a business advisor with the North Country Small Business Development Center, he has consulted with hundreds of business owners. Dr. Gottschall integrates his extensive international experience and real-world business knowledge into his teaching.

Dr. Fadi Helwanji is an adjunct professor at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, bringing over two decades of multicultural leadership experience across education, business, and non-profit sectors. Fluent in Arabic, French, and English, Dr. Helwanji has served as a school principal, university lecturer, and doctoral committee member in the U.S., Canada, China, and Lebanon. As a practitioner, he has played transformative roles by founding several profit and non-profit organizations in North America. He holds a Ph.D. in organizational leadership from the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas.

Dr. Jason Lee has been a faculty member at SUNY Plattsburgh since 2006 and is a SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor, recognized for his excellence in teaching with awards such as the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and a Certificate of Distinguished Performance from the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA). He holds a Ph.D. in accounting from Kent State University and is a licensed CPA in New York. Dr. Lee is also a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified Financial Manager (CFM), and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). His research interests encompass corporate governance, executive compensation, corporate payout policy, forensic accounting, earnings management, and cost management.

Dr. Chunnan Zhang is an assistant professor of accounting at SUNY Plattsburgh. Before joining the institution, she was an instructor at the Fox School of Business, Temple University. She specializes in managerial accounting, cost accounting, financial accounting, and accounting information systems. Her research examines financial reporting, international accounting standards, executive compensation, corporate communications, and disclosure practices.

David Coryer is the vice president and co-founder of Coryer Staffing, a leading staffing firm he launched with his wife, Elizabeth, who serves as president. Together, they provide contract-to-hire and direct-hire services across the United States. David has over two decades of experience in staffing, beginning in 1999. He holds a B.S. in economics from SUNY Plattsburgh (1991), which sparked his interest in labor economics and workforce development. Known for its friendly and efficient approach, Coryer Staffing has built strong relationships with clients and candidates alike. David also supports workforce initiatives in the North Country to promote regional economic growth.

Laura McNamara, M.B.A., M.S., CHC, CHPC, is a dynamic healthcare compliance and privacy executive with over 25 years of industry experience. As vice president and chief compliance and privacy officer at the University of Vermont Health Network, she leads with vision and integrity, spearheading enterprise-wide programs that promote accountability and foster trust. Laura brings strategic oversight to compliance initiatives spanning accountable care organizations and complex hospital and faculty practice environments. She partners closely with executive leadership, boards, and regulatory stakeholders to ensure program effectiveness and regularly provides insightful reporting on key compliance matters. Her academic credentials include an M.B.A., a Master of Science in Management and Leadership, and a healthcare law certificate from Cornell University. She holds professional certifications in healthcare compliance (CHC) and healthcare privacy compliance (CHPC). A proven leader, Laura has built and advanced robust compliance frameworks at top-tier healthcare institutions. She also served as a board member of the New England Healthcare Internal Auditors (NEHIA), reflecting her commitment to excellence and professional collaboration across the region.

Kelly Sauders, a partner at Deloitte & Touche LLP, has more than 25 years of experience in the health care industry. Over her career, Kelly has worked extensively with health care providers across many different areas, starting with audit, then spending several years working on compliance, regulatory and enterprise risk projects. She also spent several years helping providers with clinical documentation, coding and billing projects both for revenue and compliance purposes. She has served as an interim chief compliance and privacy officer for several large academic health systems in the northeast and has also served as an interim director of internal audit. She has extensive experience working with providers on matters with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Office of Inspector General (OIG) and Department of Justice (DOJ), including leading complex investigations and several Independent Review Organization (IRO) engagements for organizations under Corporate Integrity Agreements (CIAs). Kelly’s clients include academic medical centers, cancer centers, several large multi-state health systems, CMS and several large, national retail health clients. She works frequently with executive teams and boards of directors. Kelly is a frequent national speaker on compliance programs, enterprise risk management (ERM), internal controls and other regulatory topics.

About This Program

This initiative began in September 2023, following a formal agreement between SUNY Plattsburgh and three key healthcare institutions in the region: Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH), Alice Hyde Medical Center (AHMC), and Elizabethtown Community Hospital (ECT). The goal was to deliver targeted workshops at the CVPH premises, equipping their managers with advanced business skills to enhance their leadership and better serve the community. During the 2023–2024 period, three cohorts — comprising 60 managers from various departments — successfully completed the program. The hospitals expressed their gratitude for this partnership and have committed to extending the collaboration in the coming years, ensuring that a majority of their managerial teams can benefit from this valuable training.