Mount gala honors exemplary businessmen Alan Seidman and Jimmy Smith Jr.
Photos by Lee Ferris
Mount Saint Mary College’s Annual Gala Reception in October 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 college’s 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.
Current Mount student Nicholas Clarino ’27 discussed how receiving the Bonura Family Scholarship has changed his life.
“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.
To donate to Mount scholarships, contact Nikki Khurana-Baugh at 845-569-3216 or Nikki.Khurana-Baugh@msmc.edu
