Officers & Staff

Amanda Larson

president/trustee

Amanda has served as president and chief executive officer since the foundation's inception in late 2002. She is responsible for all areas of grants administration and all daily office operations. Prior to working for the foundation, Amanda was a public relations executive for Oneida Ltd. in Oneida, NY and Ketchum Public Relations in New York City.

She is very active with many nonprofit organizations including her current role as Trustee & Secretary of the Board of Trustees for Oneida Healthcare Center and as a clinic volunteer at the Mary Rose Center Free Clinic for the Uninsured. She previously served on the board of trustees for: Cazenovia College, The Gifford Foundation, Oneida Community Mansion House and Skidmore College. Amanda is also a member of The Greater Oneida Rotary Club and the Oneida Chamber of Commerce.

Amanda has a B.A. in government and business from Skidmore College and recently completed a study tour with Heifer International in Estonia and Latvia to learn about sustainable, small-scale farming projects as a solution to poverty. In 2009, Amanda received Syracuse University's Whitman School of Management's '40 Under 40' award and received the Joseph C. Palamountain Award for Young Alumni Achievement from Skidmore College.

Joanne Larson

Chair, Board of Trustees & Chief Investment Officer

Joanne G. Larson, niece of Owen & Alice Gorman, is the Chair of the Board of Trustees and treasurer for the Gorman Foundation. She has held these positions since its inception in 2003. Prior to this, she was an educator at New Hartford Central School for over 32 years. Mrs. Larson received her Bachelor of Science & Masters of Science degrees from SUNY Cortland.

In addition to her work at the foundation she also serves on the board of the Oneida Healthcare Center Foundation.

Jim Sullivan, Sr.

vice president

Dr. Jim Sullivan is a trustee and the vice president for the Gorman Foundation. He has held these positions since its inception in January 2003. In addition, Jim serves on the Advisory Board for Save the Light, Inc. in Charleston, SC.

Prior to this, he was a history teacher and school counselor with the Utica Public Schools from 1964-1978 and school psychologist with the New Hartford Central School District from 1978-1998. He also taught part-time in Psychology and Human Services at SUNY Utica/Rome and Mohawk Valley Community College where he was also a part-time psychologist.

Jim is a native of Oswego, NY. He received his B.S. and M.S. from SUNY Oswego and his Ph.D. from SUNY Albany.

Peg Buzzard

Executive Assistant

Peg joined the Gorman Foundation in the summer of 2010 as Executive Assistant. She assists Amanda with the daily operation of the office. Peg came to the Foundation with 35 years of Customer Service in the hospitality field retiring from USAirways and Turning Stone Resort properties.

Peg is active with the Canastota Lion’s Club and volunteers for the International Boxing Hall of Fame on their Induction Weekend.