Office of the NYS Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli

The holiday season is underway! Help keep our local economies strong and visit local businesses when out shopping for loved ones. #SmallBusinessSaturday is a good reminder that spending $ in your community supports local jobs and a better quality of life. #shoplocal #shopsmall

I wish every New Yorker a #HappyThanksgiving! I am personally thankful for the family and friends who enrich my life, and for all of the colleagues in my office who give their all every day on behalf of the people of NY.

Propel your future career forward at the State Comptroller’s office! 🏹 Our Future Forward Internship Academy allows full-time college students to gain public service experience and college credits while getting paid. Applications are now open! Learn more at https://lnkd.in/ed9C-PGT

Congratulations to our team that produced and designed my office’s 2023 Year in Review. The Capital Region MARCOM Awards recognized it as the best printed publication at last week’s awards ceremony in Schenectady. As the taxpayer's watchdog, we are committed to being transparent with the public about our accomplishments and priorities. And we're proud to be recognized for it! Stay tuned, 2024’s publication is coming soon detailing more great work of our dedicated public servants. See the award winning work here: https://lnkd.in/euGmN5BR

Special Olympics New York and NY ABLE congratulate Thierno Diop on being recognized as the Athlete of the Month. Thierno is a soccer player from New York City. Learn more about how NY ABLE helps New Yorkers with disabilities achieve greater independence and financial security through tax-free saving: www.mynyable.org. #NewYorkAble #NewYorkSpecialOlympics #NYAthletes

Now’s the time for a new career! New York State has increased salaries for 280+ traineeship titles – including for many positions at the State Comptroller’s office. Trainees receive on-the-job training, hands-on experience and the skills needed to build a career with purpose. Explore traineeship opportunities with our office at osc.ny.gov/jobs.

Imagine a job where you help reunite people with lost money. Kelly Kuracina has the joy of doing that every day working for the State Comptroller as the newly promoted director of the Office of Unclaimed Funds. It’s a big undertaking. Each day, the office returns about $1.5 million to people who’ve made claims. The rewarding work has provided Kelly and her dedicated team with some emotional moments too. We spoke with Kelly about her new role. 🔵 What is your role at the State Comptroller’s office, and how has it grown during your time here? As the director of the Comptroller’s Office of Unclaimed Funds, I lead a staff of 175 auditors, analysts, examiners and office assistants in receiving and paying out lost money that is claimed. When I joined the office, much of the work was paper-driven. Over time, we increased our use of technology to improve efficiency. Today, nearly 95% of abandoned property reports are delivered electronically, and more than 10,000 claims are submitted online each week. Most are processed within 30 days. We continue to utilize technology to improve. We’re planning a new system implementation in 2025. 🔵 How great is your job? Reconnecting people, businesses and non-profit organizations with money that they may have lost or didn’t even know they had brings me so much joy. I often say I have the best job – it’s the perfect balance of challenge and reward! 🔵 Are there any stories of returned money that stand out to you as being particularly meaningful? Years ago, I was working at our outreach booth at the New York State Fair on Labor Day weekend, just before the start of the school year. I saw a woman with two young kids in tow walking about the tables, picking up the giveaways. To help, I asked her to please tell me her name and I’d search for her. She did, laughing that she could predict the result. But lo and behold – there was a match! I showed her the address and asked if she had ever lived there. She said, “Yes, years ago but I don’t live there anymore.” I explained that moving is a common way funds become unclaimed, and she had money coming to her! I saw it was a security deposit from a utility company, so I knew it wasn’t a fortune, but nonetheless it was hers. As it turns out, it was around $50. When I told her the amount, she started to cry. I felt bad, I told her I was sorry and wished it was more. But she said, “No, that’s just enough to buy my kids new sneakers for school.” You bet I cried too. I knew then, this was what I wanted to do. Everyone in my office plays a part in making moments like this happen every day – we call them “Mission Moments." 🔵 What do you like about being at the State Comptroller’s office? This is a great place to work! There is diversity, challenging work and boundless opportunities for personal and professional growth and development. If you would like to start building your career with purpose at the State Comptroller’s office, visit osc.ny.gov/jobs and apply today!

I enjoyed today’s tour of Corning to see the economic and cultural vitality of the area identified in my new snapshot report. The Gaffer District adds to the quality of life in the city. A special thanks to United Steelworkers Local 1000, the largest USW Local in the region, for hosting me on my visit. Read more about the area: https://lnkd.in/gPrJ6ej9

My new economic snapshot of Corning, NY, showcases what makes the area a great place to work and live. Corning’s median household income of $59,453 is higher than both the median household income of all upstate cities. It’s a regional hub for the arts and home to a Fortune 500 company. Plus, Corning has a highly educated workforce – almost 59% of the population aged 25 or older has a degree from an institution of higher learning, compared to 48.4% statewide. Read more about this gem in the region. https://lnkd.in/gPrJ6ej9

Build a career with purpose on the State Comptroller’s team and you may qualify for student loan reductions or forgiveness through the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. To qualify, state workers must: ✔️ Work full-time ✔️ Have direct loans ✔️ Have made 120 qualifying payments to an accepted repayment plan Learn more about the program: https://lnkd.in/eMadtRpv Explore career opportunities at the State Comptroller’s office: osc.ny.gov/jobs