Program Sponsor

Cynthia Hernandez, Chief People Strategist, VIP Structures 

Cynthia Hernandez is VIP’s Chief People Strategist who leads efforts to create a thriving work environment for all VIP employees, including a strong vision for the future and an inclusive culture where everyone can grow, thrive, and feel vital to the success of VIP. In addition, Cynthia uses her expertise to foster a positive culture that identifies and nurtures talent to advance the enterprise to its fullest potential.

Cynthia is a certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR), a Society for Human Resources Management member, a Sociology graduate of Queens College, and a recent inductee to the YWCA Syracuse Academy of Diversity Achievers (2017).

Mike Metzgar, Business Development Manager, TDO

Mike comes to TDO with over 25 years of experience in education and training serving first as a board member, and Chair of the board before joining the TDO team. Mike uses his expertise in engineering, operations, training and education to develop frameworks for efficient and high-quality training with local industry-leading companies, overseeing dozens of highly successful workforce programs in a wide array of industries. 

Mike’s background include computer engineering at Lehigh University, education at Harvard Graduate School of Education, and then mathematics at ASU. Mike is a certified facilitator in DACUM through Eastern Kentucky University, Conflict Resolution, and Relationship Management through the Arbinger Institute, as well as Compression Planning from the Compression Planning Institute, and most recently he completed his Lean Six Sigma Black Belt through TDO.

Ellen Ketchum, LCSW-R, Clinical Director, Catholic Charities of Onondaga County 

Ellen Ketchum has over 38 years of experience in therapeutic and clinical services for families and adults. As the Director of Clinical Services at Catholic Charities of Onondaga County, Ellen provides therapeutic oversight for all clinical programs and services, including clinical supervision, program management and clinical coaching and supervision of over scores of social workers and marriage and family therapists in her career. A few of Ellen’s accomplishments include the expansion of counseling services at Catholic Charities into not just one outpatient clinic, but a network of multiple outreach sites at neighborhood centers, parishes and other agency sites. Many of the leaders at Catholic Charities have benefited from Ms. Ketchum’s experience both professionally, and personally. Ellen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, certified to operate mental health clinics in New York State.