Diefenbach exits
Search is on for new biz super



BERNE — Gregory Diefenbach, the business administrator for Berne-Knox-Westerlo, who helped the district regain financial stability, has moved on.

Diefenbach was hired by BKW in April of 2000 and resigned this August. The district is currently interviewing candidates for the job.

Diefenbach is now working for AXA Advisors, a division of AXA Financial. The company, Diefenbach said, is based in Manhatten, and is a world-wide asset and financial company. AXA, he said, specializes in individual portfolios and small and medium companies.

According to the Fortune 500 list, AXA is the 13th largest company in the world, Diefenbach said.

He will be working out of the Clifton Park office.
Asked what he believes are his greatest accomplishments while employed at BKW, Diefenbach said, "I’m a team player." He added that he was proud of the safety and health programs put in place at the schools.

Diefenbach said that while employed at BKW, a camera security system was put in place, where staff members swipe an identification card, and an account is taken of who is within the building, when they entered, and when they left.
"For years, we got the Utica National School Safety of the Year Award," he said.

The program measures a school’s safety in 11 different areas, such as school playground safety and indoor air quality.

Diefenbach also said that he is quite proud of providing financial stability to the school.
"I did the work I was trained to do," he said.

Upon entering the district, Diefenbach was faced with a $200,000 budget shortfall left by his predecessors.

Over-estimates were made for 1999-2000 in the amount of income anticipated from state aid, BOCES (Board of Cooperative Educational Services) aid, and interest from temporary investments.
"They had problems with the budget and state aid," Diefenbach told The Enterprise.

In the wake of the shortfall, voters defeated the school budget at the polls.
Diefenbach said the situation was resolved by "putting pieces of the puzzle together," and added that he put together a plan, and that he knew his plan would work.

Prior to hiring Diefenbach, BKW had three business administrators in as many years.
"During his time here, he put practices and procedures in place"" Superintendent Steven Schrade told The Enterprise. "When he came on board, we had a shortfall in the budget, which resulted in a huge tax hike."

Schrade said that Diefenbach was proficient in calculating state aid, and made conservative predictions to bring the district out of the situation.
"This is a great comfort," he added, "to have solid figures."

Last May, the BKW budget passed on the first try.
"A great group of people work there," Diefenbach said of the BKW staff. "They’re highly dedicated and trained"and this goes across the board."

Diefenbach, before working at BKW, worked on Wall Street, acted as business administrator at Middleburgh, and worked for BOCES.

Schrade said that BKW has interviewed candidates for the position, and is still accepting applications. A committee, he said, will be interviewing more candidates next week.

Schrade, said that he, Denise Martin, the school’s payroll clerk, and treasurer Alan Grasek, are performing the duties of business administrator in the interim.
"We’re in pretty good shape," Schrade said, "but the present situation would not be ideal for the long term."

BKW is hoping to fill the position by Dec. 1, Schrade said.