Meet the Staff

Evan Geibel

President and Publisher

Job duties: Evan serves as editor and manages the operations of the newspaper.

Education: Born and raised in the city of Cortland, Evan began his career at the Cortland Standard in 2006 as a staff reporter after graduating from Bucknell University. As part of his management training, he later worked in each department at the newspaper in order to learn their various positions and responsibilities. He assumed the role of publisher in July 2013. He is the fifth generation of his family to be involved in the newspaper.

About: Evan enjoys the outdoors, whether camping, boating, fishing, hiking, or skiing, as well as spending time on the St. Lawrence River with his family. Evan and his wife, Jennifer, and daughter live in Cortlandville, where he listens to and makes music, reads, cooks and plays fetch with the couple’s Golden Retriever.

Evan can be contacted at: egeibel@cortlandstandard.com or 607-756-5665, ext. 168

Jessica Baker

Job duties: Jessy is the first person to greet you at the front door of the newspaper and answers incoming phone calls. She can help answer any question regarding your subscription, including moving your delivery to a new address or to your seasonal home. Jessy can also help you if you would like to pay for your subscription over the phone. 

Education:Jessy has a bachelor’s degree in human development from SUNY Oswego. 

About: In her free time, Jessy designs jewelry, enjoys painting and is a practicing Reiki master.

Jessica can be contacted at: jbaker@cortlandstandard.com or 607-756-5665 or ext. 156

Patti Walts

Business Manager

Job duties: Patti oversees all finance and business functions.

 Education: Associate’s degree in business administration

 About: Patti joined the Cortland Standard in May 2017. She has a strong background in non-profit, grant funded accounting and finance. She enjoys cooking, reading books and decorating.

Patti can be contacted at: pwalts@cortlandstandard.com

NEWSROOM

Todd R. McAdam

Managing Editor

Job duties: Todd oversees the newspaper’s news coverage.

Education: BS in journalism, with a minor in sociology from Syracuse University.

About: McAdam, a 35-year communications professional, joined the Cortland Standard in November 2015. He has been an award-winning reporter and editor in Binghamton, a political aide and a freelance writer focusing on science and research. In his spare time, he is a “locavore” who creates recipes and meals from local foods, trains in and teaches karate, and continues writing about science and research.

Todd R. can be contacted at: tmcadam@cortlandstandard.com

Kevin Conlon

City Editor

Job duties: Kevin helps coordinate and edit local news coverage.

Education: BA in mass communication from St. Bonaventure University, 1985.

About: Kevin took his first job out of college as a reporter at the Cortland Standard. After four years, he left to work for a year as a reporter and bureau chief at The Record in Troy, then eight years as a reporter at the Daily Gazette in Schenectady. He returned to the Cortland Standard in 1998. Kevin is the father of seven children.

Kevin can be contacted at: kconlon@cortlandstandard.com

Lily Byrne

Staff Reporter

Job Duties: Lily oversees coverage of education, the town of Dryden and arts and entertainment.

Education: Lily has a bachelor's degree in communications with a concentration in public relations and advertising and a minor in musical theater from SUNY Cortland.

About: Lily Joined the Cortland Standard in January 2023, soon after graduating from SUNY Cortland. They hope for a career in gaming and entertainment, and enjoy creating art, podcasting, music, travel, museums and restaurants.

Lily can be contacted at: lbyrne@cortlandstandard.com or 607-756-5665 ext. 133

Jack Lakowsky

Job Duties: Jack covers police, courts, the City of Cortland and the Town of Cortlandville.

Education: Jack has an associate’s degree in journalism from Manchester Community College in Connecticut, graduating cum laude. Soon he will earn his creative writing bachelor’s from Southern New Hampshire University.

About: Jack joined the Cortland Standard in October 2023, moving to New York from the Hartford-area of Connecticut. He has worked in several outlets, including the Journal Inquirer of Manchester, Conn., and The Chronicle of Willimantic, Conn. Most recently, he worked at the Rivereast News Bulletin, a weekly paper also based in his home state. An avid reader and writer, he lives in Syracuse with his husband and dog.

Jack can be contacted at: jlakowsky@cortlandstandard.com or 607-756-5665 x-136

Margaret Mellott

Job duties: Margaret covers Cortland County government, the town and village of Homer, and health.

Education: BS in communication, with a minor in journalism from Emporia State University.

About: Mellott joined the Cortland Standard in January 2023 following an internship with the Kansas Reflector, a non-profit journalism outlet focusing on statehouse news. She is a Kansas native with an interest in public policy, health, education and considering a future in academia. She enjoys hiking, reading and exploring. She is also a vegetarian.

Margaret can be contacted at: mmellott@cortlandstandard.com

Margaret can be contacted at: MMellott@cortlandstandard.com or 607-756-5665 ext. 132

Paul Cifonelli

Sports Editor

Job duties: Planning and reporting on sports in the greater Cortland area, including high schools, colleges and recreation leagues.

Education: Paul graduated from SUNY Brockport Honor College in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism with a concentration in multimedia journalism, and a minor in mathematics with a concentration in statistics. 

About: Paul has been working in the field since 2018. He joined the Cortland Standard in June 2021. He is a sports reporter by nature who has been involved in all types of athletics his whole life. In his free time, Cifonelli practices mixed martial arts and golfs and enjoys cooking, traveling and exploring new areas.

Paul can be contacted at: pcifonelli@cortlandstandard.com

Matt Czeitner

Sports Reporter

Job duties: Matt covers athletics, particularly Cortland, Marathon, Dryden, Groton and SUNY Cortland. 

Education: Matt received a bachelor’s degree in journalism with a minor in sports studies from SUNY Oswego in 2020.

 About: Matt joined the Cortland Standard in September 2021. He hopes to continue to build his experience in sports media with hopes at one day covering sports at the professional level. He is a Broome County native who grew up in Binghamton. In his spare time, he enjoys listening to music, traveling, watching sports (mostly the Yankees), exercising and spending time with his dog, Zeke.

Matt can be contacted at: mczeitner@cortlandstandard.com or 607-756-5665 or ext. 125

DISPLAY ADVERTISING

Mindy Lawrence

Advertising & Marketing Manager

Job Duties: Mindy oversees the Cortland Standard’s advertising and marketing efforts and manages community events.

Education: Mindy studied Nursing at Elmira College.

About: Mindy joined the Cortland Standard in September 2023, with an extensive history in the field of radio and television. Mindy is a Southern Tier native who now lives in Locke with her family. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her children, traveling and is an avid golfer.

Mindy can be contacted at: mlawrence@cortlandstandard.com

Andrea Wilkinson

Advertising Coordinator

Job duties: Andrea serves as a marketing consultant to a variety of businesses and organizations and creates ad plans for the daily paper and special editions.

Education: Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the School of Art & Design at Alfred University in 1996. Additional classes in typography and graphic design at Tompkins Cortland Community College.

About: Andrea has worked in the display advertising department of the Cortland Standard since July 1998, coming from an art background. Originally hailing from the Bronx, Andrea moved to the area with her mother and stepfather in 1988 and attended Dryden High School.  Andrea lives in Groton with her husband, Alan, their two sons, Bryce and Colin, as well as their two Labrador Retrievers, Charlie and Maggie. In her spare time, Andrea still loves to create art, both for their home as well as commissioned house and pet portraits.

Andrea can be contacted at: awilkinson@cortlandstandard.com

Kymm Devlen

Advertising Sales Representative

Job duties: Kymm serves as a marketing consultant to a variety of businesses. 

Education:Kymm attended the New England School of Art and Design. 

About: Kymm joined the Cortland Standard  in August 2021. She returned to her home town of Cortland from Boston, where she started her own business and raised a family. Kymm’s favorite part of the job is meeting new clients and learning what the community has to offer. In her free time, Kymm enjoys listening to music, baking, gardening and creating art.

Kymm can be contacted at: kdevlen@cortlandstandard.com