About Keena Staffing

Connie Gerarde Niles, Co-Founder and President of Keena Staffing

Connie is a native of the Glens Falls area. She graduated from Syracuse University with degrees in Nutrition and Business Management. After living in Syracuse, N.Y., Pittsburgh, PA, Philadelphia, PA and New York City, Connie and her late husband Paul (1953-2002) returned home to the Glens Falls area to raise their family and begin the operation of KEENA Staffing.

In 1999, Connie and Paul decided to enhance their employment agency by adding the newest division, KEENA HR Management. KEENA HR Management also known as a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) provides outsourced human resources, payroll, benefits administration and improved risk management. KEENA HR Management takes pride in delivering comprehensive solutions to the complex challenges that face business owners today.

As president of KEENA Staffing, Connie continues her leadership role in the day-to-day operations and management. Today, KEENA is regarded as one of the top employment agencies in the region.

E-mail Connie Gerarde: connie@keena.com

Michael Niles, Vice President

D. Michael Niles joins KEENA as Vice President of Operations. Michael retired last year as Chief Financial Officer and Sr. Vice President of Finance at Glens Falls Hospital after nearly 27 years of service. Before joining Glens Falls Hospital, he was a Senior Auditor at Ernst and Whinney in Albany. Michael's business experience coupled with his extensive community involvement contribute greatly to the internal operations at KEENA. He is able to provide guidance on many matters both internally and to KEENA's clients.

Mr. Niles holds a B. S. in Accounting and Business Law from Clarkson University. He is President-Elect of the Adirondack Community College Foundation, Vice Chair for Greater Adirondack Home Aides, and Chairman of the Supervisory Committee of Hudson River Community Credit Union. He formerly served as Director of the Empire Zone of Warren County and Director of Tri-County United Way.

Email Michael Niles: michaeln@keena.com

Christina Gerarde, PHR, SHRM-CP, Client Services

Christina joined KEENA in September 2013 after living in Georgia for 7 years. She brings to KEENA the knowledge she gained while working at SunTrust Bank as an HR Specialist for the Campus & Community Relations and Executive Staffing teams. She is the oldest child of Connie Gerarde-Niles and the late Paul S. Gerarde. Christina graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in Psychology. Christina is happy to be back in upstate New York and looks forward to serving KEENA clients and our community. KEENA is excited about the new ideas and energy she brings to the organization.

E-mail Christina Gerarde: ChristinaG@keena.com

Brian Lamos, CPP, IT/Finance

Brian has been with KEENA since 1996 and has worked in several roles during his tenure.  In his role as Manager of IT and Payroll, his institutional knowledge has proven invaluable in improving upon our systems and processes.  Brian’s commitment to continued education assures our clients that we are always up-to-date on all payroll and technology related regulations and practices.

Brian has his Associates Degree in Business Administration from Adirondack Community College and is a Certified Payroll Professional. He is Webmaster of the NYS Capital Region Chapter of the American Payroll Association, 2012 graduate of the Leadership Adirondack program, s a member of the Adirondack Mountain Club, and serves on the local National Kidney Foundation Walk Committee.

E-mail Brian Lamos: brian@keena.com

Keeley Zack, Payroll

Keeley Zack joined KEENA in 2001 as an Administrative Assistant.  She has over 15 years experience in customer relations and accounting including both receivables and payables.  Since 2002, Keeley has been processing weekly payrolls for many of KEENA’s clients while addressing client and employee concerns. 

Keeley is an active member of The American Payroll Association.

E-mail Keeley Zack: keeleyz@keena.com

Michael Gerarde, Operations

Michael has been a member of the KEENA team full-time since August 2014 after he graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in Public Health. Michael is the youngest son of Connie Gerarde Niles and late Paul S. Gerarde so he has been growing alongside the business since 1991! From spending summer vacations at KEENA during his grade school years to working and learning the operations of the business during college breaks, Michael has developed a deep understanding of the PEO business. Michael is an avid fan of all Syracuse sports, especially football and basketball. Whether it be hiking in the Adirondacks or hanging out at his house, Michael enjoys any time he can spend with his family while he isn’t at the office!

E-mail Michael Gerarde: mpg@keena.com

Denise Barnes, Office Assistant

Denise Barnes joined KEENA in August 2015 as the Office Assistant; her cheerful voice will be the first you hear when calling or stopping by the KEENA office. She brings with her over 10 years of front office and Human Resources experience.

E-mail Denise Barnes: deniseb@keena.com

Beth Hair, Payroll Specialist

Beth Hair joined KEENA's payroll department in the spring of 2016. Her previous experience and passion for payroll make her a strong asset to the KEENA team. Beth graduated from Bryant & Stratton College in December 2013 with an Associates Degree in Medical Assisting. After graduation she held the position of Payroll and Scheduling Coordinator at a local nursing home. She quickly developed an interest in payroll and after two years in that role decided to make a change and pursue a career in the payroll field. Beth’s constant smile and cheerful nature make her a pleasure to work with and wonderful addition to our team.

E-mail Beth Hair: bethh@keena.com

Josh Lyons, Accounting Technician

Josh Lyons joined KEENA in October of 2016. He graduated from SUNY Brockport with a B.S. in Sport Management but quickly became interested in payroll and accounting while working in the finance department of a local professional hockey team. He is native to the area and brings a hard working, positive presence to our team.

Email Josh Lyons: joshl@keena.com

Sam Rathbun, Staffing Coordinator, HR Team

Sam Rathbun joined KEENA in the role of Staffing Coordinator, Human Resources Team. Sam graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh with a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration. He is also a licensed NYS Life and Health insurance agent. He brings with him experience in customer service, sales, small business development, as well as restaurant and hospitality management. In his free time he enjoys baseball, basketball, hiking and spending time with his family. 

Email Sam: samr@keena.com