L-R: Candice Varetoni, AVP Marketing Officer, Orange Bank & Trust Company; Olga Luz Tirado, Board Member, Orange Bank & Trust Company; Kelly Lynch-Moloney CFP®, VP Portfolio Manager, Hudson Valley Investment Advisors, Inc.; Sharon Spina, VP Relationship Manager, Orange Bank & Trust Company; Marie Moreno, VP Relationship Manager, Orange Bank & Trust Company, Judge Janet DiFiore, Retired Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals and of the State of New York; Moira Kiernan, VP Relationship Manager, Orange Bank & Trust Company; Kim Griffith, VP Relationship Manager, Orange Bank & Trust Company; Carla Alfieri, 1st VP Private Banking Officer, Orange Bank & Trust Company; Samantha Booth-Ross CIMA®, CRPC ®, AVP Portfolio Manager, Hudson Valley Investment Advisors, Inc.
October 2024 – Westchester County’s business community came together last week at Knollwood Country Club in Elmsford for Orange Bank & Trust Company and Hudson Valley Investment Advisors’ “A Night with the Honorable Janet DiFiore”.
The Sept. 26 event was part of the “Women Guiding Women” initiative, aimed at empowering and elevating women in the business world. Judge DiFiore spoke to attendees about growing up in Westchester and her career path, and also shared advice for women navigating the business world.
“We are truly humbled to host Judge DiFiore as part of our Women Guiding Women series. Our goal is to continually provide the opportunity for women in the communities in which we operate to learn from inspiring individuals on important topics, and this is one of the most memorable discussions we have hosted to date,” said Michael Gilfeather, President and CEO of Orange Bank & Trust Company.
Judge DiFiore said, “It is an honor to share my journey with the dynamic group of women in attendance. My story, like many of theirs, is one of perseverance and the belief that, no matter the obstacles, we have the power to shape our own path. Together, we can inspire the next generation of women to rise and lead with strength, purpose, and compassion.”
Judge DiFiore was born in Mount Vernon and most recently served as Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals and of the State of New York. She was admitted to the Bar of the State of New York in 1982. She served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office from 1981-1987, and from 1994-1998 as Chief of the Office’s Narcotics Bureau. From 1987-1993, Judge DiFiore practiced law with the firm of Goodrich & Bendish. In 1998, she was elected a Judge of the Westchester County Court, presiding over criminal and civil matters and sitting by designation in the Family Court, Surrogate’s Court and Supreme Court. She served as a County Court Judge until 2002, when she was elected a Justice of the New York State Supreme Court.
As a Supreme Court Justice, she served as Supervising Judge of the Criminal Courts of the 9th Judicial District. In 2005, she resigned from the bench and was elected Westchester County District Attorney. She served in this position from 2006-2016. On Dec. 1, 2015, then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo nominated her to the position of Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals and of the State of New York. On Jan. 21, 2016, her nomination was confirmed by the New York State Senate, and she served until 2022. As Chief Judge, Judge DiFiore implemented the ‘Excellence Initiative’ established to achieve both operational and decisional excellence across the entire court and judicial system.
Orange Bank & Trust Company and Hudon Valley Investment Advisors’ Women Guiding Women series empowers women in the Hudson Valley by providing them educational and learning resources to succeed and opportunities to collaborate with other professional women to share ideas and provide financial guidance.
About Orange Bank & Trust Company & Hudson Valley Investment Advisors
Orange Bank & Trust Company is an independent bank that began with the vision of 14 founders over 130 years ago. It has grown through innovation and an unwavering commitment to its community and business clientele to approximately $2.5 billion in total assets. The Bank is regularly recognized as one of the New York’s top places to work. Hudson Valley Investment Advisors, Inc. is an Investment Advisor in Goshen, NY. It was founded in 1995 and acquired by the Company in 2012.
