Central Region
6595 Kirkville Rd.
East Syracuse NY 13057
(800) 559-7975
(315) 433-0915 (fax)
Executive Vice President Chantalise DeMarco, elected in March of 2020, had previously served three terms as Region 5 Secretary since 2008.
Chantalise has worked for the past 29 years for Tompkins County in the Mental Health Department.
Chantalise is a founding member of the Labor Chaired Joint Committee of the Tompkins County Health Insurance Consortium. She helped write the language that still ensures there are Labor Voting Seats on the Board.
Chantalise is a member of the CSEA Region 5 Political Action Committee and also the Officer Liaison to the Regional Human Rights, LGBT, Minority Issues, and Community Outreach Committees. Chantalise is the Chair of the CSEA Statewide LGBTQ Committee.
Previously, Chantalise was the President of Tompkins County Local 855 and President of the County White Collar Unit where she assisted in negotiating many outstanding contracts.
Chantalise has a strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion as well as political action. Chantalise is committed to developing new leaders and activists through mentorship and accountability in action.
Chantalise has and will continue to be a voice for all members.
First Vice President Tom Hingher was appointed to the position following the resignation of former 1st VP Catrina Leone.
Tommy is the president of SUNY Cortland Local 605 and previously served as region chair of the safety and health committee.
Full bio to come …
Second Vice President Karen Bright is a long time CSEA activist. She currently serves as Madison County Local 827 President, and as the President of the Madison County White Collar Unit. She also serves as the representative to the CSEA Statewide Board of Directors for Madison County.
Karen chairs her Local PAC and is an active member of the Region 5 PAC. She is a past recipient of the Irene Carr Leadership award and a graduate of the LEAD program. She serves as the Chair of the Statewide PEOPLE Committee and is the Officer Liaison to the Region 5 Women’s Committee and the Constitution and By-Laws Committee. Karen has received recognition as a PEOPLE recruiter of the month and awarded PEOPLE Recruiter of the Year.
Karen’s passion in CSEA is the PEOPLE program, often saying “It is the most important program in CSEA as it is the only one solely dedicated to fight legislatively for CSEA members”. Karen looks forward to continued activism as a member of President Kenny Greenleaf’s Region 5 Executive Board.
Third Vice President Andy Maroney was appointed at the 2023 Region 5 Fall Conference.
Andy is a State DOT employee and local president of the Southern Tier State Employees Local 002. Andy previously served as chair of the region community outreach committee and has been a supporter and participant of the Binghamton Polar Plunge and helped start the Region Cornhole Tournament to benefit Special Olympics. The inaugural tournament helped raise over $8,000.
Full bio to come …
Region 5 Secretary Dan Vadala was appointed to the position at the 2023 Region Fall Conference.
Dan is the president of Onondaga County Local 834, the largest local in Region 5. Dan has helped advocate for responsible local government spending to help public employees.
Full bio to come …
Region 5 Treasurer Amy Simmons was elected in March 2020 and is a Principal Account Clerk in the Child Support Unit in St. Lawrence County.
Amy is the President of St. Lawrence County Local 845 and Unit 8400, both positions she has held for the past 12 years. She had previously served as the Local’s Secretary and is a trained Steward and Grievance Representative.
Amy is the Chair of the CSEA Statewide and Regional Local Government Committees. She also sits on the CSEA Statewide Insurance Committee and is an active member of the CSEA Region 5 Program Committee.
Amy is the Statewide Board of Director Representative for St. Lawrence County.
Amy is also a member of the Central Trades Labor Council where she serves as Sergeant at Arms.
In addition, she helps to coordinate the CSEA Groups for the Massena Labor Day Parade and the North Country Polar Plunge for Special Olympics.
In 2013, Amy was the recipient of the CSEA “Mission Achievement Award” for the Local Government Division.
Amy’s credentials, training and experience will serve her well as she takes over the role of Region 5 Treasurer. Amy will be passionate in her duties leading with honesty, integrity, and attention to detail.