Mohawk Valley Connects

02/10/2026

MVC Valentine's Day Party at Lennon's Jewelers

Don't forget to join us tomorrow, Feb 11th, for a Valentine’s Day celebration with food and drinks served from 5:00–6:30 PM hosted a Lennon's W.B. Wilcox Jewelers.

4571 Commercial Dr, New Hartford, NY 13413, United States

Take advantage of this Valentine’s Day Promo:
Spend $299 or more and receive a dozen roses, a box of chocolates, and a card — the full Valentine’s package, handled.

02/09/2026

Meet MaryCarol 👋

She has an unwavering passion in efficiently managing health plans to benefit both her clients and their employees. Becoming a Health Rosetta Advisor has opened her eyes to a unique yet proven way of providing health benefits to employees – a better way that focuses on management of the healthcare supply chain.

She enjoys educating clients on alternative strategies to manage their complex health plan risk such as direct primary care, reference-based pricing, direct contracting and Pharmacy benefit alternatives. There are ways to provide a better benefit to your most valuable asset AND lower your expenses – and MaryCarol wants to tackle it together!

"Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." - Maya Angelou

MaryCarol can be reached at [email protected] or 315-737-6320

02/06/2026

Meet Stephen Turnbull 👋

He is the owner and founder of T5 Insurance Services, an independent insurance agency built on one simple principle: help people truly understand what they’re buying so they can protect what matters most.
Growing up around the insurance industry, Stephen learned early that relationships, education, and doing the right thing always come first. Today, he works with families, business owners, and real estate investors across New York, providing home, auto, and business insurance with an advisor-first approach.

Beyond insurance, Stephen is deeply involved in the local community through Rotary, the Chamber of Commerce, and connecting people who want to grow together. He’s also the host of The Make An Impact Podcast, where he highlights local leaders, entrepreneurs, and stories that deserve to be told. Stephen resides in Sauquoit, NY with his wife McKayla and their daughter Margo.

Stephen believes business is about more than transactions it’s about trust, consistency, and making a real impact in the lives of others.

Visit his website to learn more - www.t5insurance.com

02/04/2026

Meet Matt Roberts 👋

He is the owner of Peace & Quiet Pest Control in Utica, New York. After moving to Utica with his wife, Chris, in 2020, Matt quickly found a strong sense of community and opportunity in the area. Inspired by the support and trust he received locally, he founded Peace & Quiet Pest Control in 2022 with a mission to provide reliable, honest, and effective pest control services.

Matt takes pride in helping protect homes and businesses while giving back to the community that gave him his start. His commitment to quality service and neighbor-first values has made Peace & Quiet Pest Control a trusted local name throughout Utica and the surrounding area.

Visit his website to learn more - www.pqpest.com

02/02/2026

Meet Travis Rabbers 👋

Commercial Banking Representative at Bank of Utica, based in Utica, NY (living the New York Mills life). He joined the bank in October 2024, bringing with him a résumé that includes bank branch manager, hotel manager, broadcaster, journalist, and—briefly—grave digger. Yes, really.

Outside of work, Travis is into running, golfing, and traveling, with a long-term goal of backpacking across Europe. He has no kids, no pets (yet), has never eaten a salad, and is still waiting for Sydney Sweeney to call him back.

He attacks each day with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind and is focused on growing in his role at Bank of Utica, building strong customer relationships, and continuing to expand his banking knowledge—while keeping things interesting along the way.

Visit their website to learn more - www.bankofutica.com

01/30/2026

Meet Christina Sprague, Founder of Olea Esthetics ✨

Christina brings a unique blend of education, entrepreneurship, and hands-on business leadership to the world of esthetics. She holds a Master’s degree in Education and spent the last 11 years co-owning and operating Sprague’s Collision Center, successfully growing the business until its sale to a national corporation in January 2025.

After a brief pause, Christina followed a long-held passion and enrolled in esthetician school on March 3, passing two state boards and officially launching her next chapter. Since September, she has been thoughtfully designing and building her private studio, Olea Esthetics, a space rooted in intentional self-care, results-driven skincare, and the belief that caring for yourself is essential to filling your own cup.

Olea Esthetics is scheduled to officially open March 3, with online booking available February 3. Christina is passionate about health, fitness, and the greater wellness industry, and she values creating space for balance, restoration, and longevity—both personally and professionally.

In addition to her work, Christina proudly volunteers her time with the Mohawk Valley Chapter of the Ride for Missing Children, supporting community connection and service.

✨ To learn more about Olea Esthetics or explore services, visit her new website: www.olea-esthetics.com

01/27/2026

What a great virtual meeting we had this morning! We need two pages on Zoom since our group is so big 👀 If you are interested in joining, feel free to reach out to us!!

12/03/2025

We have such amazing individuals in our group with big hearts! Everyone in the group has each other's backs, but we also have our community's back. Great job, Matt 👏 Giving back is what it's all about!

Thank you to everyone for contributing to the clothing drive. Button-Down shirts, polos, pants, shoes, boots, socks, hats, scarves, gloves, hoodies, sweatpants, and even brand new emergency blankets! Especially needed with winter starting

Many thanks to all and appreciate Mohawk Valley Connects members The Rustproofing Shop in Remsen and Mohawk Valley Wellness for making a major difference 🙏

11/19/2025

Last week’s Members-Only Mixer was one for the books!

Big thanks to theNetwork@600French for hosting us in their stunning workspace — the atmosphere, the conversation, and the company were all top-notch.

Our members had the chance to connect and explore one of the most impressive professional spaces in Utica. Between the great food, even better drinks, and plenty of laughter, it was exactly what makes Mohawk Valley Connects such a strong community.

Already looking forward to the next one.

11/04/2025

What a morning!

Mohawk Valley Connects hosted a packed Visitor’s Day today — more than 20 guests joined us bright and early to see what makes this group so powerful for local professionals.

We heard from four of our members who shared real stories about how MVC has helped grow their businesses, expand their networks, and create lasting partnerships right here in the Mohawk Valley.

The energy in the room was incredible — collaboration, connection, and a lot of laughs over strong coffee.

If you missed this one, don’t worry. There’s plenty more to come.
👉 Message us if you’d like to be part of the next event!