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Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce and Monroe County Celebrate Completion of 2025-2026 RETAIN Cohort

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August 19, 2026
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ROCHESTER, NY (August 19, 2026) – Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce and Monroe County celebrated the completion of their second RETAIN cohort at a ceremony on Wednesday, August 19. In the second year of partnership, RETAIN is designed to empower early career professionals to build meaningful lives in Rochester and set down roots in Monroe County.

The program consists of opportunities for mentorship, networking and relationship building, and personal and professional development workshops. Through a financial incentive, the program helps to jumpstart whatever’s next for the participants.
The 2025-2026 cohort contains 34 participants across various industries and job functions, representing a broad cross-section of our regional economy. The program prioritizes graduates who have secured employment at for-profit businesses in Monroe County, particularly in underserved areas and minority and women-owned companies. Eligible applicants include those who have graduated within one year from a college, university, or trade school located in Greater Rochester. 2026 RETAIN cohort graduates include:
  • Abhinandan Ambastha, Uncommon School
  • Raykhona Aminova, Javlyn
  • Sabrina Antonini, Five Star Bank
  • Jesika Barnes, University of Rochester
  • Eliza Bennett, University of Rochester
  • Grace Boesel, Wilmac Technologies
  • Cadence Brunecz, L3Harris
  • Jack Christie, Rozzi Architects
  • Finn Cohen, RIT National Technical Institute of the Deaf
  • Jeremiah Cortes, LeChase Construction
  • Katie Deatherage, University of Rochester Medicine
  • Adrian Deslongchamps, Alpine Software Corp.
  • Tresa Elias, University of Rochester
  • Abby Garvey, University of Rochester Medicine
  • Autumn Garvey, Visit Rochester
  • Zac Grant, Mary Cariola Center
  • Breena Keefe, University of Rochester Medicine
  • Rhea Koli, Uncommon Schools
  • Henry Litsky, Reconnect Rochester
  • Zackary Lovejoy, University of Rochester Medicine
  • Peyton Lucas, Lollypop Farm
  • Maggie MacAdam, Piede Law LLP
  • Ayanna Oden, Progressive Machine and Design
  • Bianca Santonastaso, University of Rochester Medicine
  • Jordan Scheidt, Monroe One BOCES
  • Emily Schillinger, University of Rochester Medicine
  • Kyle Skovira, Monroe One BOCES
  • Janelle Snow, RochesterWorks
  • Cristopher Soto, University of Rochester Medicine
  • Jessica Spahn, QuickFi
  • Emani Sweeney, Rochester Regional Health
  • Gregory Vogel, NFP, an Aon company
  • Aaron Weiner, City of Rochester
  • Hayley Wnuk, SUNY Brockport

Congratulations to our 34 program graduates! Rochester & Monroe County are at a pivotal moment right now. Ensuring that our next generation of leaders are connected, empowered, and committed to our region is critical to our long-term success. Through our RETAIN program, we are building just that,” said Greater Rochester Chamber President & CEO Bob Duffy. “Thank you to Monroe County Adam Bello and his team at COMIDA & MCIDC for their partnership to make this possible. We look forward to future collaboration to build a better future together.”

"As we celebrate our second cohort of RETAIN graduates, I am continually inspired by these talented young professionals who have chosen to build their futures right here in Monroe County. By offering a stipend to recent college and trade school graduates who choose to live and work locally, the RETAIN program has created a vital recruitment tool that strengthens our workforce and economy,” said Monroe County Executive Adam Bello. “We are grateful to Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce for their exceptional partnership in running this program, as well as our participating businesses. Congratulations to all 34 graduates. You are the future leaders and innovators of our community, and we cannot wait to see all that you accomplish."

In addition to its RETAIN program and in response to the critical need to engage early career professionals for the continued growth of the Greater Rochester region, Greater Rochester Chamber is committed to offering other resources and opportunities to uplift young professionals and accelerate opportunity and leadership growth. Through its Greater ROC Young Professionals (GRYP) program and Career Services Collaborative (CSC) committee, Greater Rochester Chamber is working to increase retention from our region’s eighteen colleges and universities and facilitate career development and advancement opportunities for young professionals.

RETAIN is operated under the leadership of Greater Rochester Chamber Talent Strategy Manager Andrea Tuttle. The RETAIN program is made possible thanks to support from Monroe County, COMIDA, MCIDC, and the Greater Rochester Chamber Foundation.

About Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce
Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce is the region’s one-stop shop for business support, influence, and community connection. Rooted in advocacy, compliance, talent, and belonging, our organization combines an unmatched depth and breadth of business support with the agility and dedication to turn possibility into progress and accelerate opportunity and action. Here, you’re in good company. Learn more at GreaterRochesterChamber.com.

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