Celso retires after 50+ years

Comalert Systems Company has announced the retirement of Account Manager Florence Celso, who has given 15 years of exemplary service to their company, and more than 50 years to the telephone industry.

Celso began her career in the telephone industry in 1946 as an evening telephone operator with New York Telephone (now Bell Atlantic) in their Newark and Geneva offices. In 1960, she was transferred to the business office where she worked as the business office supervisor until 1970 when she was promoted to sales.

With her promotion, Celso entered what had historically been a "man's world." When the Newark sales office was consolidated with Syracuse, she began her daily commute to Syracuse. She brought her sales experience to Comalert Systems Company in August 1984, when she was hired to do what she loved to do - sales.

This year marks another milestone in her impressive career, 15 years with Comalert Systems Company.

In 1994, Celso was given the "We Care" Award of the Year, which is bestowed by the employees upon one of their peers. The following excerpt characterizes the way her coworkers feel about her:

Florence Celso has always been the type of employee characteristic of a "We Care" Award of the Year recipient. She is the consummate professional, her performance is dependable and consistent; and she always considers the success of the team over her own concerns.

Florence's successful career as a top-notch salesperson is an accomplishment by itself; however it is even more impressive considering that Florence built her career at a time when the role of women in the workplace was chiefly limited to secretarial positions. In effect, Florence is a pioneer who has helped to forge the path that other professional women have followed... Her cheery disposition makes her a joy to work with. Through trial and tribulation, she always maintains the highest standard of professionalism. Her ready acceptance of a difficult task and ability to meet its challenge makes her an example for us all to follow in both our personal and our professional lives.

Her coworkers, family, clients and friends will honor her with a private reception at the Clifton Springs Country Club May 14.

The Company

Comalert Systems Company is a subsidiary of Ontario & Trumansburg Telephone Companies with offices in Phelps and Trumansburg. Ontario Telephone, Inc. was founded June 1, 1920 by Hovey H. Griswold to serve customers in the villages of Phelps and Clifton Springs. The company has been owned and operated by the Griswold family ever since. Hovey's son Malcolm Griswold joined the company in 1926. Soon thereafter, in January 1927, the family purchased and assumed management control of Trumansburg Home Telephone Company, which serves Trumansburg, Interlaken and Ovid. Malcolm's sons, Robert and John, joined the companies in 1952 and 1956 respectively. In 1995, the torch was passed to John's sons, Bill and Paul, the fourth generation of Griswolds. Bill Griswold, formerly vice president of operations, was appointed president of Ontario and Trumansburg Telephone Companies. Paul Griswold was promoted to vice president - business development for the telephone companies and president of a new subsidiary, Finger Lakes Technologies Group.

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