Unsung Heroes

Unsung Heroes

The Richmondville Volunteer Emergency Squad (RVES) provides emergency medical services to more than 2,600 residents in a rural Upstate New York county as well as to surrounding communities. While this rescue team is accustomed to saving others in danger, they recently had their own urgent situation.

RVES’s 2005 ambulance was in constant disrepair — a nerve-racking circumstance for first responders whose equipment can make the difference between life and death. As an all-volunteer squad that does not receive regular municipal funding, it was their turn to ask the community for help.

Fenimore’s associates were honored to support RVES’s capital campaign and thrilled when they stopped by to celebrate their new, state-of-the-art ambulance and give us a tour!

Thank you RVES for your selfless acts of service for those in need!

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27 Years & Running

27 Years & Running

An Interview with FAM 5k Team Captain, Keith Cataldo

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    Since 1994, Fenimore Asset Management has held its annual FAM 5K “Fund” Run/Walk each September (except during COVID-19). Preparations for this year’s race on September 24th are already in full swing and we caught up with Keith Cataldo, Director of Trading and Operations at Fenimore and the FAM 5k Team Captain to learn more about why he became the organizer of this race what that means to him.

    1. HOW DID YOU BECOME THE FAM 5K TEAM CAPTAIN?

      I was just lucky, I guess! 

      I am the 3rd member of the Fenimore Family to take over the reigns as Race Director.   I had some big sneakers to fill following our previous two directors (George Chelius & Peter Sweetser).

      Six years ago, I started to assist Peter with some of the race coordination.  Once you understand the impact the race has had and will continue to have on the charities and our community, who wouldn’t want to be part of that? 

      It’s a lot of work but an honor to be associated with the race.

  • Keith Cataldo

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  1. AFTER A 2-YEAR HIATUS, THE FAM 5K IS BACK WITH YOU LEADING THE WAY. WHAT IS ONE WORD YOU WOULD USE TO DESCRIBE BEING ABLE TO CONDUCT THIS RACE AGAIN IN OUR COMMUNITY?

    Opportunity!

    During the pandemic when we were unable to host the FAM5k, Fenimore continued to support these organizations behind the scenes.   However, the race is what provides the “Opportunity” to bring attention to five outstanding organizations.  Organizations that make the lives of people better; that make our community better.  


  1. BY DAY, YOU ARE FENIMORE’S DIRECTOR OF TRADING.  EVERY YEAR AROUND THIS TIME YOU TRANSFORM INTO OUR FAM 5K TEAM CAPTAIN – 2 VERY DIFFERENT ROLES. ARE THERE ANY SIMILARITIES?

    I think that both roles require someone that can be comfortable with making decisions.

    As the Director of Trading my job is to try get all our clients the best possible entry or exit price on an investment.  I must decide when to buy or sell a security to ensure that I put our client’s best interest first.   I may not always be right, but I will have a reason for making that decision at that time.

    It’s the same with my role as race director.  I look at all the information and make a decision that I believe is in the best interest of the race that year.  It’s impossible to always be right, but you need to be comfortable with your decision and able to learn from any mistakes.


  1. WHAT IS ONE BEHIND THE SCENES DETAIL OF ORGANIZING A COMMUNITY 5K THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW?

    People are usually surprised when I tell them that I begin my preparation for the September FAM5K at the end of January.   I have built a spreadsheet to help keep me and the race timeline on track.  The first order of business is always to sign a contract securing the Cobleskill Fairgrounds (where the race is hosted), followed by contacting the board for that year’s charity race recipient. 

    I have over 80 separate checkbox items on my sheet that range from ordering T-Shirts to testing walkie-talkies.

    There are two certainties as race director:

    • You can never be too prepared.
    • You will always forget something.

  1. WHAT’S EASIER TO YOU – RUNNING A 5K OR ORGANIZING A 5K?

    I don’t by any measure consider myself to be a runner.   But running a 5K would be much easier than organizing one.  The FAM5K is also considered a “Run/Walk”.  I wouldn’t be setting any new course records (Male: 14:26 & Female: 16:06), but I know I would have a lot of fun competing with family and friends.    


  1. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF RACE DAY?

    Is it bad to say when it’s over?  In the immortal words of John “Hannibal” Smith from my favorite 80’s Television show The A-Team:

    “I love it when a plan comes together”


    Join Keith and Fenimore on September 24th to walk/run and support our mission of endorsing and promoting the qualities of family, health, and service to our community.

    Learn more and register here: http://www.fam5k.com/

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    Veterans & Community Housing Coalition, INC.

    VETERANS & COMMUNITY HOUSING COALITION, INC.

    The Veterans & Community Housing Coalition, Inc assists and supports veterans in our 7 surrounding counties by providing temporary and permanent housing as well as a food pantry. These housing options include The Guardian House, which is the only supportive housing program for homeless female veterans in New York State.

    In honor of Military Appreciation Month, we asked Michelle Viola-Straight, Director of Community Relations, one question: “How can we help our veterans?”

     The answer: Help make their new house a home.

    The Fenimore team worked to provide 10 ‘Welcome Home to a Hero’ baskets for veterans that are transitioning into permanent housing. Each basket was filled with pots and pans, baking sheets, oven mitts, comforter sets, sheets, pillows, cleaning supplies, shower curtains, towels and more.  Our hope was to make ‘Home Sweet Home’ a little sweeter by allowing these veterans to spend more time enjoying this milestone and less time worrying about purchasing items they need.

    The Fenimore team dropped off the baskets and was able to visit and tour the Guardian House and see the incredible impact that the Veterans & Community Housing Coalition has made across our community. As this month draws to a close, we want to extend a thank you to the Veterans & Community Housing Coalition for their continued work and a sincere thank you to all veterans for their service.

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    Food For Thought

    FOOD FOR THOUGHT

    The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York distributed more than 51 million pounds of food and grocery products in 2021 — the equivalent of 42 million meals — across 23 counties! The need is great … and growing.

    The Regional Food Bank is responding to the surge in demand for their services due to rising grocery and fuel costs, while also handling supply chain issues and rising operational costs. Their mission “is to alleviate hunger and prevent food waste.”

    In mid-March, our associates helped Regional Food Bank partner agencies load their food orders. It was a very enjoyable and meaningful morning!

    • Regional Food Bank

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    • Fenimore Team Voluneers

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    A Safe Place to Learn & Grow

    BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF SCHENECTADY

    Fenimore’s associates are grateful for our longtime partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Schenectady. It’s an honor to support their life-changing work and help provide state-of-the-art spaces equipped with technologies designed to protect their children and teens.

    “The Mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Schenectady is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.”

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    BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF SCHENECTADY


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    Thomas O. Putnam founded Fenimore in 1974 with two passions: conduct in-depth, firsthand, independent investment research and serve investors with excellence and integrity. Today Fenimore Asset Management, manager of the FAM Funds, is nationally recognized, yet locally rooted and independently owned. Decades have passed, but our approach endures.

    Securities offered through Fenimore Securities, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC,
    and advisory services offered through Fenimore Asset Management, Inc.

    © Fenimore Asset Management. All Rights Reserved.