LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Elizabeth Coco upon the occasion of her
designation as recipient of the Hope and Hospitality Award by Circles of
Mercy on June 8, 2016

WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energies and serve the
best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration and
cannot be sufficiently extolled; and
WHEREAS, Elizabeth Coco has given not only of her time and energies
but also of her competence, intelligence and leadership and consequently
has been designated for special honor; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Elizabeth Coco
upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of the Hope and Hospi-
tality Award by Circles of Mercy, to be celebrated at its Annual Signa-
ture Fundraising Gala, "A Taste of Mercy," on Wednesday, June 8, 2016,
at Shaker Ridge Country Club, Loudonville, New York; and
WHEREAS, The theme for this year's event is "Continuing the Mercy
Tradition"; and
WHEREAS, Circles of Mercy, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy Northeast
Community, is dedicated to improving the quality of life in the communi-
ty by working to end the cycle of poverty, especially among women and
women with children; and
WHEREAS, This vital organization honors the dignity of each person by
offering hospitality and providing services, compassion, stewardship,
leadership and collaboration, which is performed in an effort to instill
hope and empower individuals to reach their full potential; and
WHEREAS, Elizabeth "Beth" Coco earned her bachelor's degree in Busi-
ness, Economics and Entrepreneurial Management, and holds a certificate
from Cornell University in Management and Supervisory Skills; in addi-
tion, Beth is a graduate of the FBI Citizens Leadership Academy and the
Capital Leadership Program of the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of
Commerce; and
WHEREAS, A graduate of the State University of New York (SUNY), Empire
State College, Beth Coco obtained her master's degree in Adult Workforce
Education and Career Development, which is focused on identifying
research-based principles and developing a set of key turning point
principles for career advancement through an online community of prac-
tice; her graduate thesis was entitled "Women's Gateway to Economic
Well-Being, An Open Education and Communities Approach, 2013"; and
WHEREAS, Beth Coco began her illustrious career as the University at
Albany's first Entrepreneur-in-Residence; working through the Office for
Innovation Development and Commercialization, she helped the University
build a culture of entrepreneurship across the entire campus by engaging
students, faculty and staff who had an interest in turning ideas into
reality; and
WHEREAS, In this position, Beth Coco was also instrumental in launch-
ing a campus entrepreneur organization providing inspiration, experien-
tial learning opportunities and entrepreneurial skill development to
students; and
WHEREAS, In 1986, Beth Coco founded MicroKnowledge, Inc. in New York's
Capital Region; under her leadership, the company started with a mere 50
clients; today, the company works with more than 30,000 customers
nationwide; and
WHEREAS, Currently, Elizabeth Coco is the Chief Financial Well-Being
Officer for SEFCU; in this capacity, she is responsible for establishing
an institute for financial well-being which guides and enables members
to focus on achieving economic stability and financial well-being; she
does this by promoting financial health through advice, guidelines and

tools and by developing methodologies for learning and skill building;
and
WHEREAS, This astute businesswoman has more than 28 years of experi-
ence in company building, development and performance improvement; in a
variety of executive roles, she has had extensive entrepreneurial
success in customer relationship management, sales and procurement
contracting, staff development, marketing, operations and managing tech-
nical personnel in information technology education, non-profit organ-
izations and financial institutions; and
WHEREAS, Well-respected by her peers, Beth Coco consults on various
subjects such as national training rollouts, use of technology in the
workforce and changing job responsibilities due to implementing technol-
ogy; she has developed and managed 400-plus technical documentation
projects for private and public sector organizations, and actively
mentors and advises small business entrepreneurs and executives; and
WHEREAS, Beth Coco's well-established method for success is accom-
plished by combining organic leadership skills with significant computer
technology integration expertise and adult education industry experi-
ence; this method has resulted in increased revenues and geographic
footprint, as well as accelerated business growth, product expansion,
superb client satisfaction and industry reputation; and
WHEREAS, Beth Coco's great business acumen is based on her fundamental
principle: "look at people as people, not as employees; if you let some-
one think creatively, think for the company, you are going to have great
results"; and
WHEREAS, Beth Coco has been called upon to contribute her time and
talents to countless civic and charitable endeavors and has always given
of herself unstintingly; and
WHEREAS, For the last 15 years, Beth Coco has served as a member of
the Board of Directors of Capital Bank and Trust, and now is a partic-
ipant of the Advisory Council of Capital Bank, a Division of Chemung
Canal Trust Company; and
WHEREAS, Moreover, Beth Coco is an active member of the SUNY Empire
State College Graduate Advisory Council, the Forum for Executive Women,
the YWCA of Greater Capital Region Advisory Council, the Albany-Colonie
Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the Rensselaer County Regional Chamber
of Commerce, as well as the American Society of Training and Develop-
ment; and
WHEREAS, This remarkable woman served on the Sponsorship Council for
the Northeast Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, and was appointed as the
.SO DOC S R5691 RESO TEXT 2015
liaison for the BayView Academy in Providence, Rhode Island; she is also
an Associate of the Sisters of Mercy in Albany, New York, and is one of
the founding Directors, and Past President of Circles of Mercy, Sisters
of Mercy of America; and
WHEREAS, Dedicated to women's causes, Beth Coco served as Team Leader
and Chief Fundraiser for the Fit Tech Chicks, a team of 24 women dedi-
cated to improving their health and raising funds for the Susan G. Komen
Breast Cancer Foundation; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the entire period of her community service, a
period of constructive involvement, Beth Coco has stood constant in
dignity, good grace and humor; and
WHEREAS, For her steadfast and unremitting commitment to her community
and industry, Beth Coco has been the recipient of numerous awards and
accolades including the 2013 Women's Fund of the Capital Region for
Trailblazing Woman, the 2010 SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excel-
lence, the 2009 SUNY Empire State College Northeast Center Alumni Hall
of Fame Award, the 2006 Best Technology Executive Award by the Alliance

of Technology & Women, and a 100 Women of Excellence Award by the Alba-
ny-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce in 2000; and
WHEREAS, Under her guidance, MicroKnowledge has been honored with the
Van Rensselaer Small Business Award by the Rensselaer County Regional
Chamber of Commerce, the Nova Award from Equinox, Inc. in recognition of
innovative program support, the 1997 Award for Entrepreneurial Excel-
lence by the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the 1996
Capital Region Showcase Governor's Award for Science & Technology; and
WHEREAS, For the last six years, MicroKnowledge was named a Best Place
to Work by the BUSINESS REVIEW; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individ-
ual for the benefit of others which Beth Coco has displayed throughout
her life; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Elizabeth Coco upon the occasion of her designation as recipient
of the Hope and Hospitality Award by Circles of Mercy on June 8, 2016,
and to wish her continued success in all of her future endeavors; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Elizabeth Coco.