Tompkins Trust Banking on the Next 100 Years
SPECIAL ISSUE JUNE 27, 2018
Visionary partnerships that transform communities
® At LeChase Construction, we feel partnerships – as well as projects – move communities forward. We are proud to have partnered with Tompkins Financial Corporation, as well as local designers, engineers and contractors, on Tompkins’ new corporate headquarters. This impressive structure will serve Tompkins employees, and the Ithaca community, for years to come.
LeChase. Building Partnerships.® To learn more about LeChase visit lechase.com
Photo credit: Revette Studios, Inc.
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A Community Decision from a Community Bank G a r y Fe r g u s o n , D o wnto wn Ith a c a All i a n ce
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et me start with a deep and profound thanks to Tompkins Financial for their decision to expand and build their new corporate headquarters building here in Downtown Ithaca. This was no small decision. This expansion project could have been built anywhere. It would have been less expensive to build a more sprawling, low rise building on a green field at the edge of our community. Instead, the leadership of Tompkins Financial opted to build in the heart of downtown, creating a signature building that will be part of our community heritage for years to come. This decision to build Downtown carries many community benefits. The 300 plus employees of Tompkins Financial become part
Congratulations to The Tompkins Trust Company
of the downtown economy, eating and shopping, strolling and participating in the daily life of the downtown community. These employees will help support the many small businesses of downtown. This decision puts a key business and employer in the heart of our community, visible and accessible to all. You can readily drive, walk, bike or take the bus to the Tompkins Financial building. By locating in the heart of the city, Tompkins Financial has demonstrated its commitment to building and sustaining a strong and vibrant downtown. The building fits so well into the landscape it is hard to remember that just a few years ago this was a parking lot and bank drive-thru site. The architecture fits the street. With the addition of the Tompkins Financial building, this portion of Seneca Street now becomes a strong urban way. Downtown buildings get built for the long term. The First National Bank building (202 The Commons) is nearly 100 years old. The former Tompkins Trust Company Commons buildings are even older. This new building
has been constructed, not just for today, but for future generations. The decision to build a new headquarters has also had some exciting unanticipated collateral benefits. We now will have a Tompkins Center for History and Culture, located in the former Commons TTC bank buildings. Sold to the County, these buildings are being restored to serve a new purpose—to educate and entertain visitors and residents for years to come. The other spaces being vacated are also being recycled, as general office space and even possibly as a home for a downtown conference center. Community banking works when there is an emphasis not only on banking- but also community. Tompkins Financial has demonstrated through their decision to reinvest in downtown that they not only understand banking, they understand community. On behalf of the downtown community, thank you to Tompkins Financial for their commitment to downtown and their beautiful and enduring new corporate headquarters. A hundred years from today, may our great grandchildren reflect on the value and beauty of this Ithaca landmark building.•
development of all kinds in our City’s urban core. Flash forward to 2002 when local developers began working to meet the demand for office space and housing. $120 million was invested in 750,000 sq. ft. of new and renovated
incentives, and the private sector making the investment. The result is more people living and working downtown and, generally, smart growth reversing the tide of suburban sprawl. And there are more projects like the Trust Company’s underway. Judging by the height of the cranes and deliveries of construction materials, City Centre, Harold’s Square, and Canopy by Hilton are making great progress. All of these projects also create temporary jobs for our region’s building trades professionals and challenging work for planners, engineers and architects. An often-overlooked aspect of the Trust Company’s commitment to the community, beyond this spectacular building, is all they do for the many community-based organizations in town. Virtually every local not-for-profit agency has a Trust Company executive on its board of directors, and the bank invests substantially in charitable services and programming. So, congratulations to the Tompkins Trust Company and all of its employees on their new home. We thank them for their commitment to our community and in helping to make Ithaca and Tompkins County the most vibrant economy in Upstate New York.•
Mic h a el Sta m m , To mp k i n s C o unt y Area D e velop m e nt
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he new Tompkins Trust Company headquarters on Seneca Street in the City of Ithaca is complete, occupied and open for business. It is a remarkable building, both inside and out, and a striking physical testament to the bank’s commitment to our community. The project continues a remarkable run of private sector investment in the City and consolidates hundreds of Trust Company employees under one very efficient roof. This 182-year old company had many other options to consider before deciding on their downtown location, and we are grateful they chose Ithaca and Tompkins County.
It wasn’t so long ago when cities across American began a steep decline. Large professional service firms fled to the suburbs and small retailers closed up shop, unable to compete with big boxes and malls. Left behind were empty or poorly utilized buildings destined to decay, if not to disappear altogether. While not immune, Ithaca held its own during this unfortunate urban development crisis. The Commons was built, many restaurants flourished, and several high-end, locally owned small retailors succeeded. But more was needed. Fortunately, the swinging pendulum brought back interest in working, shopping, and living in vibrant urban centers. This muchwelcomed trend CONSTRUCTION TIME LAPSE created demand for Throughout construction a camera mounted across Seneca street was recording the progress. Here are a few of the snaps. (Photos: Thomas Hoebbel)
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space. Virtually all of these projects result from an effective public/private partnership, with government installing critical infrastructure, economic development delivering short-term
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We’re proud of our knoW-you-by-name servIce.
We’re also proud we’re from Ithaca.
Over 180 years ago, our bank was founded right here in Ithaca. And we're committed to staying here. This is where we began. This is home. There’s no place else we’d rather be. So we’ll be here. For you. For your family. For your business. For answering questions and providing guidance. And for making relationships that build through the years. Stop by our new state of the art branch today!
Thank you, IThaca. We’re proud To serve you.
TompkinsTrust.com | 118 E Seneca Street | 607-273-3210 Member FDIC
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How A New Headquarters Impacts Tompkins Financial By Ni c k R e y n old s
Stephen Romaine (Photo: Nick Reynolds)
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TOMPKINS FINANCIAL, THE UMBRELLA C O M PA N Y O V E R S E E I N G A L L T H AT G O E S O N IN THE BANK WE KNOW AS TOMPKINS T R U S T C O M PA N Y , PRESENTS AN I N T E R E S T I N G S T U DY O N WA L L S T R E E T .
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mong regional banks nationally – not just in New York State – Tompkins Financial Wproduces peerless results for its bottom line. This spring, the bank posted a return on equity 2.4 percent higher than average among regional banks, and over the past decade, has expanded its reach and physical presence not through spending money on acquiring the competition, but by investing in its own self, and building up from the ground floor. In some cases, literally. This spring, the sleek, heavy plate glass doors of the bank’s new headquarters opened on Seneca Street, standing on the site of what, just a few short years ago, was a brutalist-styled drive-through kiosk more in line with the architecture of the old Ithaca Commons than the open and modern expanse that exists today. The seven-story facility – powerfully built in bold and chiseled lines – makes a statement on one of the busiest thoroughfares of a rapidly evolving city, one not just of progress but of a continued permanence in the 1,000 employee bank’s nearly 200-year history in Ithaca. “It’s been said by people visiting us from out of town that we’re the best-kept secret,” Stephen Romaine, the CEO of the bank’s financial arm, said in a recent interview in the luxe expanses of the building’s seventh-story conference room. “I don’t know if that’s true, but the reality is I don’t think people who come through here realize there’s the type of opportunity to work for an organization the size of Tompkins Financial. I suppose that’s an indirect benefit of the building. There’s a real commitment to the city here, and we had the opportunity and were required to analyze all opportunities – this was a big investment – but we made the conscious decision to keep our business in the city.” Tompkins Financial has been on quite the ride for the past two decades. In the late’90s, the bank – long-established in Ithaca’s downtown – merged with a bank in Western New York, based in Castile, and another bank in the Hudson Valley, based out of Mahopac, to form a multi-bank holding company. From there, the bank moved into building up its insurance business, acquiring some wealth management businesses and, in 2008 and 2012, acquired two new banks. “It’s been quite a ride,” said Romaine. In a recent article in the CNY Business Journal about the opening of their new headquarters, Romaine described the company’s growth as “organic,” where they’ve invested in their clients and services and grown naturally
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– as opposed to relying on growth through acquisition. “I think too many companies grow solely through acquisition, and I’m not sure that’s really growing. Job one for us is to grow what you have – it has to be sustainable,” he said. “Acquisitions have this certain hurdle for one to figure out if it’s the right thing to do, that they’re going to contribute to the business over the long term.” That strategy, applied over that 20 year timeframe, has been one of extraordinary growth for the company, with staff added each year – even during the most recent recession from 2008 through the early 2010s, when most financial companies were experiencing layoffs. During that time, their campus swelled to seven different buildings throughout Tompkins County. At that point, it was only natural that the company consolidate its operations into one building. “That period meant a lot of growth for us and found ourselves with a lot of catching up to do,” Romaine said. “We were stretched thin, renting all these additional spaces… it just wasn’t what our staff deserved.” With a new headquarters (and a generous 13 percent reduction in its federal tax rate thanks to policies put in place by the administration of President Donald Trump), the bank is poised to experience increased growth in other ways as well. Talent acquisition, particularly when competing with financial institutions who often look to establish themselves in major cities to lure lucrative top talent, will now be much simpler, and with a reduced tax rate, the company anticipates investment in employees who have contributed to unprecedented success recently experienced by Tompkins Financial. “We’ve always focused on doing things in the company we felt was going to be of longterm interest to our shareholders and clients,” Romaine said. “What this reduction in taxes does is allow us to get even more serious about that point. One of the first things we did was announce we would be increasing the minimum wage of our employees to between $14 and $15 an hour – that was admittedly something we were talking about doing prior to the tax change – but when that came through, it became a simple decision. As a result of that, we actually increased the wages of everyone making up to $18 an hour. We’ve always had a pretty significant profit-sharing program, where we distribute shares in the company to our employees so they’re both employees and shareholders. We had our highest profit sharing percentage this year.”•
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Tompkins-Cortland TOMPKINS-CORTLAND BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL IN AFFILIATION WITH Building & Construction Trades Council BUILDING ANDStreet, CONSTRUCTION DEPARTMENT 701 W. State Ithaca, TRADES NY 14850 AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR-CONGRESS OF INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATIONS
President-Todd Bruer Vice-President-Dan Jackson Secretary-Treasurer-David Marsh
Congratulations Tompkins Trust Company on your new Main Office Building at East Seneca Street and Thank You for using local union construction labor to build this impressive structure.
ibew Local Union 241 To The Tompkins Trust Company, The 235 plus Local 241 IBEW members and their families would like to thank you for your continued commitment to hiring local manpower for your construction. We would also like to wish you continued success for many years to come. 6 T
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Commitment to Green By Mat t B ut tle r
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s the City of Ithaca moves toward end result is less glare and a reduction of solar requiring sustainability elements in radiation.” new construction, some developers Wilder said the company views its low are jumping ahead of the game by energy consumption as a benefit not just for integrating design and construction techniques the company but for the community at large as intended to reduce the environmental impact of well. He said he believes Tompkins Financial their buildings. has struck a beneficial balance between both Arguably the best serving their employees example of this currently and customers now, while is the recently opened making sure they are Tompkins Financial minimizing their impact headquarters building, on the environment in the which just last week long-term. had its ribbon cutting “Sustainability has a ceremony. One of the wide definition, but at its primary focuses of the core is the ability to meet project, which was the needs of the present also highlighted at the without compromising official opening, was the needs of the future,” ensuring green energy Wilder said. “We have and sustainability were been around for over 182 essential ingredients as years, and we intend to be the building stretched around for 182 more and seven floors above Seneca beyond. You only get one Street. chance to do something Greg Wilder Tompkins Financial for the first time. Why not (Photo: Casey Martin) Corporation Assistant do it right that first time?” Vice President Greg Being a staple local Wilder said luckily, the company was able to institution, Tompkins Financial’s move, find construction partners who shared their especially making themselves more centralized vision and were eventually able to achieve in a downtown location, was probably never it. He credited LeChase Construction and going to have any problem picking up popularity Holt Architects as being committed to both among the citizens, unlike plenty of other large Tompkins Financial and the community, downtown development projects that are usually and said they combined to make several key met by immediate public backlash. Those projects decisions which led to the building’s energy often end up earning some good will among measures. citizens by making energy-conscious pledges to Wilder said independent studies of some appease city planning recommendations or calls of the products used, like smart glass, for from the public. Wilder, though, said regardless construction estimate that the materials of where the development was occurring, the will reduce HVAC energy consumption by energy decisions were a high priority for the 18 percent. Part of that also is a Variable company. That in the process they could also fit Refrigerant Flow (VRF) HVAC system, which even better into the culture of their hometown can change its speed depending on usage or in Ithaca is just a bonus on top of their alreadyenergy load necessary, whereas the traditional established corporate energy goals. HVAC system is either fully-on or fully-off. “Our current home, our birthplace of The dynamic smart glass usage was chosen to Ithaca, New York, absolutely played a part in compliment the more modern HVAC system. our design and construction decisions,” he said. “In other words, by admitting natural light “However, whether we built in Ithaca, Batavia, and rejecting solar radiation, the building Mahopac or Wyomissing, PA, our company occupants are more comfortable, and we reduce would have used the same approach in building our energy consumption,” Wilder said. “The our corporate headquarters.”•
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New Bank Headquarters Fits Into Ithaca’s Downtown Vision
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By Ni c k R e y n old s
hen the Erie Canal first opened, “There’s been kind of this natural evolution linking the Finger Lakes region of the company,” said Greg Hartz, the President to New York City, Buffalo and and CEO of Tompkins Trust Company. “And the lucrative Canadian trade the facilities we’ve operated in have kind of markets, the first sign of an established town, evolved to meet the needs of the organization.” oftentimes, was a bank. Those needs have mirrored that of the city In Ithaca, that first bank was the Bank of Tompkins Trust Company and its affiliate arm Newburgh, which opened in 1818. Though its – Tompkins Financial – have called home since time locally was short – it closed in 1830 – a new the 19th Century. As the economy boomed, so bank would soon fill the void, and maintain its has the city. With that tide, the bank has grown status as a cornerstone of the community well as well. into the next century and beyond. “We’re a bit of an anomaly here in Upstate In 1836, the Tompkins County Bank New York, in that Tompkins County has really was founded on State Street, taking up continued to have a pretty strong economy, even shop in a location on during the recession,” said the Commons site Hartz. “And since then, where the mixed use the area has continued to Harold’s Square project experience some pretty is currently under nice growth.” construction. After It’s something nearly a century in the the City of Ithaca has same location, 1933 experienced as well. When saw the bank combine it established its downtown with the Ithaca Trust density district in the city’s Company, whose core several years ago, the home was located in city adopted a number of a circa-1896 building guidelines around how on the Commons in development there would Bank Alley, adjacent unfold, from increased to the present-day building heights to altered Bernie Milton Pavilion, parking regulations. As Greg Hartz where the bank’s potential locations of a new (Photo: Nick Reynolds) main operations were headquarters was being conducted up until the discussed, numerous sites present day. around Tompkins County were considered for From there, the bank’s evolution has been construction, with conversations taking into consistent with that of the city’s; In the ‘50s account such elements as accessibility, parking and ‘60s (around the start of urban renewal), a requirements, and more. Hartz, however, saw a drive-in was built, located on the present site of number of disadvantages in moving out of the Seneca West, which was built to accommodate city. the growth of the company in the 1970s. And “We really feel that a vibrant downtown is a now, a new, massive structure exists, located on really important part of a vibrant community,” the site of – you guessed it – an old drive-in, he said. “For our downtown not to be vibrant, replaced as the city’s downtown moves away really changes the overall attractiveness and from cars and toward a destiny of density. desirability of the community. We really felt
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supporting the downtown was important by staying there, and making our investment here.” “When we said we were going to do this, people got very much behind it,” he added. “It’s nice to be downtown. You can walk places to get lunch, there’s shopping… at a remote site, you need to jump in your car to get somewhere.” Making that commitment has taken some effort. The city asked them to consider implementing a transportation demand management plan for its workforce, with the ultimate goal of minimizing the prevalence of single occupancy motor vehicles coming into the city as the primary means of getting
to or from work. To fulfill this, the bank has tried to encourage alternative choices in their transportation preference through measures like complimentary bus passes or a quarterly cash incentive to not drive into the City of Ithaca. Ultimately, the decision to stay downtown was natural – it’s the way of the world, Hartz said. “This is more of a national trend we’re seeing, where people want to live in the city’s core,” he said. “They’re looking for simpler lives, downsizing. I think you’re seeing that happen here in Ithaca the same way you’re seeing it in Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo… everywhere.”•
THE DEED According to “The History of Tompkins Trust Company”, the Ithaca Trust Company began in rented offices at 114 N. Tioga Street in December 1891. Franklin C Cornell, son of Ezra Cornell, was elected the first president. In 1896, the Ithaca Trust Company moved next door to newly constructed quarters at 110 N. Tioga Street, site of the present (prior to 118 E. Seneca St.) Tompkins Trust Company.
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The vault befor the move (Photo: provided)
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Deborah Mohlenhoff, Steve Romaine, and Greg Hartz (Photo: provided)
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Seneca st “Drive-In
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n” (Photo: Provided)
Move in day (Photo: Thomas Hoebbel)
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A huge congratulations to Tompkins Trust Company on the opening of their new headquarters.
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Downtown Ithaca thanks Tompkins Trust Company for their commitment & support of Downtown Ithaca and the greater Ithaca community.
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Inside TTCs New Modern Bank Lobby By Mat t B utle r
Helen Talty (Photo: Casey Martin)
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ne of the most important focuses of the Tompkins Trust Company’s headquarters creation was constructing a “one-stop shop” experience for customers, meaning the banking branch that occupies the Seneca Street building’s bottom floor is arguably the most
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crucial ingredient of the building’s success going forward. It also represents the larger effort the bank is undertaking, in adopting a sleek, technology driven new home despite attempting to stay in touch with its roots as a community-first financial institution. At first glance, though, Tompkins Trust appears to have organized a
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space that can service anything a customer could need at one central location, without taking any access away from those outside of downtown. “We think we are more customer friendly like this,” Senior Vice President for Community Banking Helen Talty said. “When you enter the branch, you’re greeted by a customer service person who can help direct you to where you need to go for any services you need for banking.” Technology was also an emphasis of the new downstairs branch and lobby. That’s highlighted by the self-serve digital directory, a large waist-level touch-screen display that visitors can manipulate to direct them throughout the building to offices they may need, including on different floors. There’s also a contact search listing, allowing customers to find and call the office of the person with whom they are meeting. The screen, perhaps the paragon of technology in the new location, sits right next to its historical equivalent: the elaborate and ornate vault door that protected customers’ money at the bank’s old facility on the Commons, deconstructed, moved and reassembled during the construction process. In addition, there’s been an effort to go green, seen most visibly with the non-paper ATM at the building’s entrance. It’s part of an overall effort to be a more environmentallyfriendly operation, which was also accompanied by building design decisions that focused on sustainability and energy-saving aspects. Along with that, there’s been some tweaks made to subtler aspects, like how tellers count money to deposit or give out to customers “We’re not looking to change having people here, tellers are very important to us, but they’ll be able to cash and take care of customers faster,” she said. Balance was important for the branch, as it is for virtually any banking institution that
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deals with people from a wide range of age demographics. For some customers, maybe especially in younger generations, they are content to bypass face-to-face interaction, or at least minimize it, while withdrawing or depositing money at the branch. This led to the introduction of iPad kiosks (which replaced proper computers) to serve customers who value convenience over anything, while others who like the personal touch of talking with a live person to be reassured of their money’s security can still interact with a teller if they want. “We know people want to do things faster, and we think that we want to be able to accommodate customers as they want,” Talty said. “So if you want to see a live person, we want to have a live person. If you want to just use the technology yourself, we want that available. We want people to be able to choose the way they want to do business, not what we have decided is best for them.” Larger than just customer interaction, Tompkins Trust wants to strike a balance between being a big bank, capable of handling a large regional customer base, without alienating people who prefer a smaller, more personal institution. It’s a difficult middle to hit, said Talty, who has experience with larger banking companies that would occasionally lose sight of the customer’s opinion in favor of its own ambition. Tompkins Trust’s goal, while not always attainable, is to offer all the amenities of a national bank while making sure none of the service is sacrificed. “Customers want everything, and we’re a community bank but we’re a big community bank,” Talty said. “What we want to do is have the technology that the customers want, but we want the human side of it as well. We think the reason we’re so successful in our areas is that customers have learned, or believe, that we really do take the customer’s perspective.”•
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We’re proud of our WealTh managemenT experTIse
and the peace of mind we’ve provided for generations. Wealth management. It’s one of the most important things any of us can do. Because you’ve worked hard. And people are depending on you. And you want to leave the biggest and best impact you can. We understand. So since 1891, Tompkins Financial Advisors has been bringing our clients the most well-informed financial advice available. And we believe we’ve done something more: we’ve worked to understand you as people, with a depth, clarity, and sincerity that is hard to find in this day and age. Our customers tell us how much they appreciate us. But the honor is all ours.
Thank you, IThaca. We’re proud To serve you.
TompkinsFinancialAdvisors.com | 118 E Seneca Street | 607-273-0037 Investments are not insured by the FDIC, not deposits of, obligations of, or guaranteed by the bank or its affiliates, and are subject to investment risk including possible loss of principal.
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Tompkins Trust Supporting over 200 Community Organizations
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By Au st i n La m b
hen Tompkins Trust Company announced in 2015 that it would relocate its seven Ithaca offices to a brand new downtown headquarters, it demonstrated a commitment to the local community. Now open to the public as of last spring, the seven-story building at 118 East Seneca Street unites nearly 300 employees that were scattered in separate facilities, therefore bringing more people downtown and increasing traffic for downtown businesses, as well as expediting banking processes for customers by making all departments available at a single location. All of this sends a message to the community, says Aundre Seals, a marketing communications business partner for TTC: “We’re here for you, we’re not going anywhere, and we’re going to remain the community bank they’ve been with for 175 years.” A large portion of TTC’s involvement in
the community is through sponsorships and donations to nearly 200 local nonprofits. This support comes in a wide range of amounts, and
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to a variety of sectors from arts, to science, to education, to sports. “To just about anything you can think of, the Tompkins name is there,” said Seals. The company’s long-standing partnerships include GIAC (annual sporting events), the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra (season sponsorships), and the Hangar Theatre
(production sponsorships). “Those are organizations that maybe have a specific event they do annually, and they email or call and say, ‘Hey Tompkins, we’re doing this event again. We’re so grateful for your help, and anything you could do to help would be great.’” says Seals. “And we say, ‘We’d love to sponsor your event again.’” But TTC also looks for new organizations that overlap with their core values and objectives, and serve the community in a beneficial way. “When new groups come to us, we try to our best to see how can Tompkins impact them, and most importantly, does Tompkins have a shared vision or mission statement with them?” said Seals, who works with marketing communications manager Abby Peterson work
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to determine how TTC will contribute. This year, Seals arranged for the company to sponsor an event by community tech organization Hack Upstate, in which people of all ages in the tech industry gathered in Syracuse for a large event to collaborate and share experiences in the profession. The event, says Seals, resonated with TTC because of the two organization’s emphasis on community collaboration. However, Tompkins Trust Company doesn’t always make a monetary donation. Other times, an organization will identify a need for volunteers instead, to which TTC readily send its staff. In 2017, Seals estimates that TTC employees volunteered about 8,000 hours in total during their free time for organizations such as Relay for Life and Habitat for Humanity. Often, employees volunteer for causes because they align with their own core values rather than on behalf of Tompkins Trust Company and a professional incentive. “I can’t remember the last time an employee did anything because
there was expectation of an award,” said Seals. And it’s not just TTC’s employees that are making their presence felt in the area. “Community engagement in general is very
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important to Tompkins from the leadership down,” said Seals, who notes the models the company’s executives set for the employees. “Our senior leadership takes a lot of pride in making sure they volunteer as well, and they all do. From a teller who’s working at the bank, all the way to our bank president, when we see our leaders doing good, then it inspires us to want to do good.” To further promote volunteering and community leadership, Tompkins Trust Company hosts annual awards events. In May, the company held its Awards for Excellence, in which it honors local volunteers who have put in long hours of work. In June, TTC hosts the Raymond Van Houtte Teacher Awards, which recognizes educators in the Central New York that both excel beyond expectations in the
classroom and lead extracurricular activities, positively influencing future leaders in the process. As a corporation, Tompkins Trust Company’s image as a community bank rather than a massive organization is a central part of its mission statement, as evidenced by the new headquarters. The bank’s entire staff strive to remain responsive to community feedback, and exhibit a level of dedication to ensuring a better experience for their clients. “I think community members and local business members are excited because to see a community bank and a business commit to their community in the way that Tompkins does is very impressive …” said Seals. “We’re committing to our community and all of the wonderful people here.”•
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A Cutting Edge Efficient, Effective Work Environment By Nic k R e y n ol d s
H
Ithaca’s only hometown electrical distributor 802 W. Seneca St. Ithaca • 607-272-1711 • f 607-272-3102 • fingerlakeselectric.com
Congratulations to Tompkins Trust Company!
appy workers Where the real magic are effective exists, however, is in workers. You the layout of the actual can just tell workspace. Plain desks when you walk into have been replaced with a company with all adjustable standing desks. cylinders firing, from the Where the old building way they interact with had offices without customers to the way they windows, now cubicle move throughout the floors are well-lit with workplace and interact large windows that, to Bonita Lindberg with one another. limit stress, will tint in (Photo: Casey Martin) Facilitating this direct sunlight. Each electric environment department is organized requires a structure to encourage that level of strategically for a seamless customer experience interaction. In the lead-up to the construction of from front counter to insurance department and, Tompkins Trust Company’s new headquarters in vogue for corporate life, interactions between on Seneca Street, this idea was something that departments now happen in-person, from one wasn’t just thought about – it was obsessed floor to another, instead of over the phone. about. “In this building, you have the benefit of Over the past three years of planning, the people who will literally meet each other over bank maintained a five-member building core coffee and say to one another, ‘I need to show committee that thought out every small detail of you something,’ and they literally will take the building, even going as far as conducting an over a table and do it, right there,” said Bonita employee survey where all contributed features Lindberg, the Director of Human Resources they were looking for that would make their at Tompkins Financial. “I’ve already seen this workplace better and more efficient. happen. That’s one of those things we knew In the finished product, many of those would evolve in this new space.” details are immediately apparent. “It also allows people more face-to-face, The new headquarters was designed for one where before we operated all on the phone,” she main purpose – to move a large and growing added. “What we know about communication workforce from a dated and inefficient facility to is the majority of that comes through body a new one. The building itself isn’t over-the-top language – you read into people’s facial by any stretch, its interior decor a modern take expressions, not the words I use.” on a classic contemporary aesthetic with wood The spaces themselves are designed for furnishings, sleek metal accents and subtle frequent interaction. Closed doors are at a shades and patterns on the walls and carpeting: premium in this facility – only for those for something to reflect strength and stability in whom confidentiality is a virtue. Here, open the architecture while still maintaining a more floor plans are king, and amenities like a large, modest design palette. cafeteria-style breakroom and breakout spaces “We didn’t want something trendy or for trainings or other purposes only lend to an make some kind of statement,” CEO Greg environment where discussion and collaboration Hartz said. “We were looking to bring our is not just encouraged; it’s expected. team together in a visible and accessible place, “We wanted to have a space where people certainly somewhere that would be easy to point would be proud to say ‘this is where I go to out and recognize.” work,’” Lindberg said.•
Best wishes as you settle into your new headquarters in downtown Ithaca. Thank you for your commitment to our community!
—Your friends at Sciarabba Walker & Co., LLP www.swcllp.com | 607-272-5550 | info@swcllp.com 410 E Upland Road | Ithaca, NY 14850 14 T
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sInce 1875,
we’ve been committed to taking care of the communities we serve. People don’t love talking about insurance. We get that. But we’ve been pleasantly surprised that many of our customers seem to enjoy talking about us. Often, it’s in the most challenging of circumstances. When they’ve lost a home, or a business, or been through some other dramatic life event. And Tompkins Insurance has been there for them. Answering claims at any hour of the night. And showing up in ways that people remember forever. It’s what we’ve been doing since 1875. And it’s what we’ll be doing tomorrow when something unexpected happens again. We appreciate your trust. And we’ll keep doing all we can to earn it.
Thank you, IThaca. We’re proud To serve you.
TompkinsIns.com | 118 E Seneca Street | 607-257-4440 Insurance Products are not insured by the FDIC, not deposits of, obligations of, or guaranteed by the bank or its affiliates, and are subject to investment risk including possible loss of principal.
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THINK BIG. AIM
HIGH. BE CREATIVE.
REALIZE YOUR DREAMS AND
BREAK NEW
GROUND
Tompkins Financial Corp., New Headquarters, Ithaca, NY Photo by: Revette Photography
It has been an honor to work with Tompkins Financial Corporation to design and create their new headquarters building that brings added life and vitality to downtown Ithaca. Thank you Tompkins, for the opportunity to be a part of this project and for working with our team to Break New Ground. HOLT Architects | 619 West State Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 | 607.273.7600 | www.HOLT.com
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