The Ernst&Young accounting firm located in downtown Buffalo announced that Lois Arcara of Amherst was promoted to executive director. Arcara has more than 21 years experience working at Ernst&Young with a focus on corporate domestic and international tax reporting and compliance. A Canisius College graduate, Arcara is a CPA and a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants.

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ATSI Inc., an Amherst-based consulting engineering firm, hired John Hill as president to guide the company’s strategic growth and diversification into new market segments. Hill is formerly co-owner and president of UTD Inc., a Fast 50, Best Places to Work, Northern Virginia engineering firm, and has served on research panels for the National Science Foundation, DOE, NASA and other federal government agencies. Hill, a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, holds a master’s degree in engineering from Penn State.

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Five Star Bank announced the appointment of Brenda Schell, internal auditor, to senior vice president. Schell joined Five Star Bank in 1991 in the internal audit department and has been managing the department since 2001. Schell is an Ithaca College graduate and a certified bank auditor and certified information systems auditor.

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Hilbert College announced that Ann Swan, a community leader in various civic activities in Western New York and a longtime teacher in the Buffalo Public Schools, has been elected chairwoman of the 2010-11 Hilbert College board of trustees. A trustee since 2004, Swan serves as executive director of the William E. and Ann L. Swan Foundation, and on the boards of the American Heart Association, Christ the King Seminary, Catholic Diocese of Buffalo Foundation, and the First Niagara Bank Foundation, among many others. Other board officers named are: Phillip T. Catanese as vice-chairman, and Michael Gacioch as secretary. Catanese, a board member since 2002, is vice president of retail stores at The Buffalo News. Gacioch is president and CFO of National Property Management Associates Inc., a family-owned and operated real estate investment company based in Orchard Park.

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Synacor announced that Greg Riker has been named senior vice president of worldwide sales. Previously the VP of global on-demand sales for Arris Inc., Riker studied at Colorado State University. The company also announced the following hires: Willem Vos as director of professional services. He earned a master’s in electrical engineering at Delft University. Harrie Hazewinkel was hired as an architect. Hazewinkel graduated from the University of Twente. Eileen Casey has been hired as a flash engineer. Casey has a degree from Vancouver Film School. Jamie Hullings, a Fredonia State College graduate, has been hired as an administrative assistant.

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Stieglitz Snyder Architecture, P. C. announceed that Jeffrey A. Kloetzer has been promoted to partner, joining partners David Stieglitz, Philip Snyder and Robert Shepard. Kloetzer joined the firm in 1999 and has helped execute many successful projects including the award winning Avant building in downtown Buffalo. Kloetzer holds a master’s degree in architecture from the University at Buffalo and is a member of the American Institute of Architects. He also serves on the board of directors for the Boys and Girls Club of the Northtowns.

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IRSHelp.com, a national tax service at 2952 Seneca St. in West Seneca, named Patrick O’Neil president and chief executive officer. O’Neil, a former IRS employee with 7 years experience, has 17 years experience in the tax resolution field as a licensed enrolled agent. Also, the company named Jennifer O’Neill chief financial officer and vice president and Keith Carlson regional manager. O’Neill, a Boston University graduate, received her MBA from Canisius College. Carlson is a University at Buffalo graduate. The company’s Web site is irshelp. com.

••• Alliance Advisory Group, an Amherst-based financial services advisory firm, announced that Mark Majewski, disability specialist, and Barbara A. O’Neill, senior vice president, have earned the chartered life underwriter designation from the American College, Bryn Mawr, Pa.

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The Education and Research Foundation of the Society of Nuclear Medicine elected Val Cronin, manager of imaging services at Women and Children’s Hospital, president at the group’s 57th annual meeting in Salt Lake City. ERF’s sole mission is raising funds and managing foundation assets to maximize funding for grants, awards, scholarships and educational programs in nuclear medicine and molecular imaging. Cronin is a St. Bonaventure University graduate.