Dr. Robert Gervasi, president of Mount Saint Mary Collage; Alan Seidman, a local leader in construction and his wife, Robin; James P. Smith, Jr., founder of Advance Testing Company, Inc., and his wife, Nancy; and Lou Bach ’82, Chair of the Mount’s Board of Trustees.
Mount Saint Mary College’s Annual Leadership Gala Reception on Thursday, October 16 celebrated two outstanding pillars of the community: Alan Seidman, a local leader in construction, and James P. Smith, Jr., founder of Advance Testing Company, Inc.
The event, held at the West Hills Country Club in Middletown, N.Y., marked the 16th anniversary of the Leadership Gala.
Seidman and Smith were honored with the Joseph A. Bonura Award for Leadership Excellence, which recognizes individuals or organizations whose professional accomplishments, service to the community, and leadership reflect the same commitment to quality, concern for neighbors, and shared prosperity that have exemplified the career and character of local restaurateur Joseph A. Bonura.
The event raised more than $200,000. About $34,000 of that came from the Gala’s first-ever live auction, hosted by “Mr. Newburgh,” Paul Ernenwein, a partner with Catania, Mahon & Rider, PLLC. The Hudson Valley-based auction items, ranging from dining packages to golf experiences, were donated by local businesses, friends, volunteers, alumni, and partners of the Mount.
The Gala’s proceeds will be used to support the Mount’s Donor Scholarship Fund. This fund is used as a safety net to assist students who find themselves on the brink of having to discontinue their education. The average award is approximately $2,500.
Current Mount student Nicholas Clarino ’27 discussed how receiving the Bonura Family Scholarship has changed his life.
“I've been able to learn from professors who truly care about helping their students succeed, both inside and outside of the classroom,” he explained. “My goal is to use what I learned at the Mount to make a positive impact both professionally and in the community that has given me so much. Scholarships like this make that possible. They give students like me the opportunity to dream bigger, achieve more, and believe in what’s ahead.”
Seidman is a prominent figure in the Hudson Valley’s construction industry and a dedicated community leader. Currently, he holds several executive directorships: Executive Director of the Construction Contractors’ Association of the Hudson Valley since 2009, Executive Director of Fabricators, Erectors and Reinforcing Contractors of HV since 2010, and Executive Vice President of SMACNA Southeastern NY Chapter since 2016. He is recognized as one of the region’s major players in the construction industry.
“It’s not only a great honor, it’s even more special to accept this award on the same night as somebody as wonderful as Jimmy Smith,” said Seidman. “You’re not going to meet anybody that’s going to give more in every respect.”
Smith, president and founder of Advance Testing Company, Inc., founded the business in 1984. Since that time, Advance Testing has grown to be an established, respected mid-size business with more than 150 employees. Advance Testing operates a state-of-the-art, accredited materials testing laboratory in Campbell Hall, N.Y., with additional facilities in Harpursville, N.Y., Schuylerville, N.Y., Massachusetts and Florida, which allows the firm to service projects across the Eastern seaboard, as well as in parts of Canada.
“A lot of people in the room I’ve known for over 40 years and I thank you so much for your friendship and love,” said Smith.
Nikki Khurana-Baugh, vice president for Advancement, noted that Mount scholarships provide an affordable, values-based education to thousands of deserving students, many of whom are among the first in their families to attend college.
“This place has a way of shaping hearts and opening doors, and that's what makes tonight so meaningful,” said Khurana-Baugh. “Thank you all for being a part of the Mount family. You are what makes this work so rewarding and what makes evenings like this so special.”
To donate to Mount scholarships, contact Khurana-Baugh at 845-569-3216 or Nikki.Khurana-Baugh@msmc.edu.
Khurana-Baugh thanked the local leaders who sponsored the event, including the William and Elaine Kaplan Family Private Foundation; Advance Testing; the Bonura Hospitality Group; Mount President Robert Gervasi and his wife, Jen; Bleakley Platt and Schmidt, LLP; D-Ben Security Systems; Focused Wealth Management; RBT CPAs, LLP; Catania, Mahon & Rider, PLLC; Elizabeth Rowley and Bill Fioravanti; Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation; I.B.E.W. Local Union No. 363; Walden Savings Bank; Spectrum Pension and Compensation; Ironworkers Local 417; Montefiore St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital, and many other local businesses and friends.