Lee Vero brings a lot of solid experience to the Vanderheyden team as Executive Assistant to President and CEO Karen Carpenter Palumbo.
Vero, from Long Island who has made Saratoga County her home for the past 25 years, has been in her new position since April.
As Executive Assistant, Vero does everything needed to make Vanderheyden run smoothly agency wide.
Some of Vero's duties include maintaining a very busy and active calendar for our President and CEO, setting up meetings, and making travel arrangements.
She is also the facilitator of our open door policy, and our liaison for the Board of Directors. This entails the scheduling of Board and Committee meetings, and the recording of minutes.
Vero is happy to assist the Executive Team and any Team Member with whatever task when they need.
"I go with the flow," Vero says.
During her first week here, Vero organized a retreat for Vanderheyden's Board of Directors and Staff, which was held only a couple of days later. The event was highly detailed and flawless, thanks to Vero.
Vero says she was impressed with Vanderheyden after reading about our organization.
"What attracted me was the dedication and the passion that the CEO and Executive Team had for the facility," Vero says. "And, the volunteerism of the giveback idea."
"I told my children as long as you have passion for what you want to do, you will be a success," she says. "You have to love what you do, then it won't be considered work."
After a couple of months at Vanderheyden, Vero has kind words about the organization and Team Members.
"I just love the people. I love their passion," she says. "I love that people will jump in and help no matter what. The team spirit."
Vero finds other positives to working here.
"I love the grounds and the natural setting," she says. "There is a peace and quiet driving up here in the morning that is very welcoming."
Vero says the position offers her the flexibility and structure to have a job that she says is very rewarding.
After living on the South Shore of Long Island for many years, Vero, her husband, and their three children, (a fourth came later) moved to a quiet setting on a farm in Cooperstown. While living in "The Birthplace of Baseball," she was the owner of a chocolate business.
Vero also held a position at a Schenectady hospital as a Residency Coordinator, who recruited medical students to be family practice doctors. She also planned the graduation of 800 resident doctors, after they completed the hospital's three-year residency requirement.
While at a large Capital Region-based health insurance company, Vero was the Administrative Assistant for three of their departments.
Vero's passion is cooking. The professionally-trained chef says she enjoys creating dishes with Mediterranean, Spanish, Italian and Indian themes.
She also likes to do gardening and rollerblading, and relaxes by taking a walk of three to five miles a day.
Taking care of her three-year-old granddaughter brings an enormous enjoyment to her life.
During vacation, Vero can be found traveling the country with her family in their R.V. Some of her memorable trips include driving cross-country, and going to Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, and Colorado.
Since Vero loves the ocean, she plans special getaways to Nantucket Sound in Massachusetts, and Smith Point in Long Island.