glens falls business journal

Transcription

GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • October 2012 • 1
GBJ
P.O. Box 766
Saratoga
Springs, NY
12866
GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL
VOL. 24 NO. 8
HH The Business Newspaper of Warren and Washington Counties HH
PRSRT
STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
GLENS FALLS, NY
12801
PERMIT #600
October 2012
Adirondack Regional Chamber Of Commerce Furniture, Jewelry, Classes And More Are All
Boosts Its Membership By 100 In One Month Available At Downtown Charm In Glens Falls
“A job well done,” says Dax, the Adirondack Phantoms mascot, to Laura Conway,
membership campaign chair, for a spectacular 2012 ARCC membership drive.
Courtesy Of Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce
The Adirondack Regional Chamber of
Commerce (ARCC) just completed its 2012
Membership Campaign with a goal of 50 new
members and is thrilled to announce that it
has shattered that mark and gained 105 new
members. Total membership in the Chamber
is now over 1100 businesses.
The ARCC is the voice of business in our
region and provides exceptional value to its
members. This is the message that the Chamber and their volunteers delivered to prospective members during this campaign. This
exceptional value of membership resonates
on all levels of business, whether a start-up
company or a business that has been successful for years. The businesses that joined the
Chamber ranged from sole proprietors to the
some of the largest companies in the region.
“When I was asked to lead a membership
team for the drive, as a member of the Board of
Directors it was easy for me to say yes,” stated
Tom Albrecht from Hilltop Construction, who
served as a team captain for the campaign. “I’ve
always wished I had joined the chamber when I
was growing my business years ago; the value is
Continued On Page 16
Kerry Ducey shows some of the many unique housewares, furnishings, jewelry,
chocolates and other merchandise available at Downtown Charm.
BY PAMELA FISHER
The owners of Downtown Charm have
had an eventful first year. The gift shoppe
opened in December 2011 in the lower level
of the Colvin Building, but later moved to
206 Glen St., a space previously occupied
by Dog Ate My Homework. According to
gift shoppe owners, sisters Kerry Ducey
and Alissa Bevivino, having a Glen St.
storefront helped draw in new customers.
The customers keep returning because of
the store’s fun events and their blend of
contemporary and vintage-inspired gifts.
“We love when a customer says her grandmother owned an item similar to what we carry
in our store,” stated Ducey, who also works in
medical coding. Bevivino works as a special
education teacher for the South Glens Falls
district. According to Ducey, the sisters were
“inspired by their father’s entrepreneurial
spirit,” and when provided with the opportunity to open the store, the family jumped on it.
“The store has allowed us to have a project we love that we can all do together,”
stated Ducey.
Continued On Page 5
Queensbury Dentist Receives 2012 Mastership Union Square’s O’Neills Providing Quality
Award From The Academy Of General Dentistry Preschool And Daycare At It’s A Kidz World
Dr. Kit E. Burkich, DDS, recently received a Mastership Award from the Academy
of General Dentistry, a level achieved by less than 2% of general dentists.
Courtesy of Dr. Kit. E. Birkich
The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD),
a Chicago-based professional association of
more than 37,000 general dentists dedicated to
providing quality dental care and oral health
education to the public, announce that Kit E.
Burkich, DDS, MAGD of Queensbury received
the association’s 2012 Mastership Award.
The award was given during the group’s annual meeting in June in Philadelphia.
The award is the highest honor available at
the AGD and one of the most respected designations within the profession. To accomplish
this goal, Burkich completed 1,100 hours of
continuing dental education.
As a recipient of the award, Burkich joins
more than 2,300 active AGD masters who understand that providing great smiles and good
oral health for their patients are the result of
going above and beyond basic requirements.
“We are proud to honor Dr. Burkich for her
commitment to continuing education in her
quest to provide quality dental care and oral
health education to her patients,” said AGD
Continued On Page 3
In renovated Union Square, Tom and Audrey O’Neill established It’s a Kid’s World
preschool, where Dawn Condon (rear right) and her staff provide excellent care.
BY EVA WEAVER
It’s a Kidz World is a childcare and preschool
center offering high quality, affordable child
care for families in the Glens Falls area. Located in downtown Glens Falls, it is convenient
for parents who work at Glens Falls Hospital,
Travelers and other downtown businesses.
During peak seasons of the summer months,
It’s a Kidz World cares for over 80 children,
and during the school year they care for approximately 50 children and employ 15 people.
At It’s a Kidz World, they are proud of how
their staff provides such excellent care for the
children. “We receive compliments from parents every day telling us how much they appreciate the teachers and the care they provide,”
says owner Tom O’Neill. Having had essentially
the same teachers since they opened, It’s a
Kidz World knows that continuity is important
to the children. Having that stability has allowed It’s a Kidz World to attract new parents,
and in turn, offer more services like field trips
and regular music and art education classes.
Continued On Page 4
2 • GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • OctOBER 2012
E5 Support Services Helps First Response college Assistance Plus Helps to Maximize
Agencies comply With Federal Requirements Financial Aid And Minimize college Loans
BY MAUREEN WERTHER
E5 Support Services of Queensbury offers
a vital training and staffing service to local
first response agencies in Essex, Warren,
Rensselaer, Albany and Saratoga counties.
Owner Douglas Wildermuth, a certified
paramedic and EMT, decided to start the
company two years ago, because many
agencies were in violation of the federal law
governing the practice of hiring people who
have also served in a voluntary capacity in
emergency response agencies.
As his website states, “E5 Support Services was created to fit the needs of today’s
First Response Agencies.” E5 offers consulting, training and staffing and currently
employs 5 people who work with 4 different
agencies. And the numbers are growing.
The laws governing the training and hiring of people for this much-needed community service are somewhat confusing, but,
in a nutshell, the Department of Labor laws
make it illegal for agencies to rehire their
own people for the same job. Still confused?
Department of Labor Letter June 19,
2006. NYS Regulation 12 NYCRR 142-3.12
states: “A person may do volunteer work
for a not-for-profit organization and also
be paid for work with the same organization provided that the services performed
in volunteer work are not the same type of
services for which he/she is paid. In this
situation, a person paid for work as a driver
may not perform volunteer work as a driver,
and a person paid for work as an EMT may
not perform work as an EMT.”
The law goes on to explain, “Congress
did not intend to discourage or impede
volunteer activities undertaken for civic,
charitable, or humanitarian purposes, but
expressed its wish to prevent any manipulation or abuse of minimum wage or overtime
requirements through coercion or undue
pressure upon individuals to ‘volunteer’
their services. (c) Individuals shall be
considered volunteers only where their
services are offered freely and without pressure or coercion, direct or implied, from
an employer.(d) An individual shall not
be considered a volunteer if the individual
is otherwise employed by the same public
agency to perform the same type of services
as those for which the individual proposes
to volunteer.”
E5 Support Services can handle Department of Labor issues that agencies encounter, and they also deal with personnel
matters to ensure quick resolution to issues
that invariably arise.
Wildermuth and his staff of certified
paramedics, and EMTs are accredited as
instructors and coordinators to provide
paramedic and EMT training. Among the
other services offered by E5 is a thorough
interview, evaluation, and background
check process to ensure that an agency has
the best and most qualified staff. In addition, E5 teaches all paid staff the necessary
OSHA requirements, and they invite volunteer staff to train at no additional charge.
If you are interested in learning more
about how E5 Support Services can help
your agency, visit their website at www.
E5SupportServices.com or call Wildermuth
at 361-0218. He can also be reached at [email protected].
BY MAUREEN WERTHER
At a time when the cost of a college education is rising at the rate of eight to ten percent
each year and the economy is still struggling,
there is help available for students and
families. College Assistance Plus began in the
suburbs outside of Rochester about seven years
ago. The company’s founders were retired senior executives who saw a need to help families
navigate the college selection and financial aid
process. To date, they have helped over 3,000
students and families find the right college at
the right cost. In the process, the families have
saved millions of dollars.
Dan Gorney, a longtime resident of
Queensbury, became involved with College
Assistance Plus in February 2012 after a 25
year career in the financial services industry.
Having learned of CAP during his time as an
executive for Met Life, he decided that he
would like to help the company expand across
New York State. Gorney put four of his own
children through college and he understands
full well how daunting it can be to find the right
fit for the student – academically, culturally,
and geographically – while also matching that
fit to the parents’ wallets. As he notes, “I’ve
already made many of the mistakes that I’m
hoping to help others avoid.”
He points out that, these days, the average
student remains in college between five and
five and a half years. Thirty three percent
extend their stay as a result of transferring or
changing their majors. Less than forty percent
of students actually graduate in four years.
“These are factual statistics,” says Gorney,
“which many families do not know.”
Gorney goes on to explain exactly how College Assistance Plus works. It operates as a
one-time fee-based program that families can
enroll in as early as the student’s sophomore
year in high school, continuing through their
senior year in college. Other programs help
the families and students all the way through
graduate school, provided the student remain
in the same undergraduate program and main-
tain a B average.
Beginning in high school, CAP will work with
the student and family to research and narrow
down college choices to fit their combined academic and financial capabilities. CAP services
include helping families find loans, scholarships, and other financial tools that will save
them money. Gorney provides a few examples.
“We just had a local family whose daughter
applied and was accepted early decision to a
Rochester college and was also given a small
merit scholarship. Because of CAPS’s extensive
knowledge of the system, we were able to get
the family an additional $3,000 for each of the
next four years!” The initial CAP expenditure
of $2,500 netted the family a return on investment of $12,500.
Gorney goes on to explain that saving money
on education is a yearly process. Families and
students must file the Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA) report each and every year the student is enrolled. “CAP’s job is to make sure the
family gets the most money that they deserve,
based on the cost of the school and the family’s
financial position.” He continues to say, “More
than fifty percent of FAFSA submissions contain
errors that cost the family money; they often
fail to read the fine print, or they don’t always
understand what assets need to be included or
could be repositioned within the FAFSA report
to obtain the best financial result.”
Very often, CAP has been able to help families who didn’t think they would even qualify
for financial help. “We help families at all
income levels,” remarks Gorney, “from $40K
up to $250K, and our focus is primarily on
private four-year colleges like Siena, RIT, and
Lemoyne, to name a few.”
Gorney intends to hold a series of 45-minute educational workshops across the region
throughout the fall, where families can attend
and learn more about the services that he and
CAP offer. For more information about the
upcoming workshops, visit their website at
www.collegeassistanceplus.com or contact Dan
Gorney at (518) 307-6136.
Glens Falls National Bank & trust Earns
5-Star Rating By Leading Ratings Agency
Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Co.
was recently recognized as a 5-star Superior
bank by the nation’s leading bank rating and
research firm, BauerFinancial, Inc.
Glens Falls National has earned this designation for the past 22 consecutive quarters.
The 5-star rating, awarded in September,
indicates Glens Falls National Bank and
Trust Co. is one of the strongest banks in
the nation. To earn 5 Stars, banks must excel
Correction
In last month’s Glens Falls Business
Journal, we incorrectly spelled the name
of Avon Scherff of the Scherff Insurance
Agency. Her name is spelled Scherff and
the proper telephone number to reach her
is (518) 688-3010. We regret the error.
www.tech-ii.com
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IT Services • Telephony • Cloud Computing • Cabling Infrastructure
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Glens Falls 798-3388
Saratoga 587-1565
in areas of capital quality, asset quality and
profitability, according to the research firm.
“The 5-Star rating tells customers that
Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Co. is
deserving of their trust and respect,” said
Karen L. Dorway, president of BauerFinancial.
Established in 1851, Glens Falls National
Bank and Trust Co. currently operates 29
offices in five counties.
More information can be found online at
gfnational.com.
Based in Coral Gables, Florida, BauerFinancial has been reporting on and analyzing
the performance of U.S. banks and credit
unions since 1983. No institution pays BauerFinancial to rate it, nor can any choose to be
excluded. Consumers may obtain free starratings by visiting bauerfinancial.com.
•
Business Report
Now You Can Get Fit At Home On Your Own
Schedule With Travel 2U Fitness Training
•
An Early Look At The Possible 2013 Tax Rate Increases
By Susan Drislane, CPA
Teal, Becker & Chiaramonte, CPAs
There are several tax cuts set to expire at the
end of this year. All of which could impact the
economy and your wallet. As most people know,
many of current temporary tax provisions were
originally passed back in 2001 and 2003 under
President Bush (via the “Economic Growth and
Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001” and the
“Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation
Act of 2003”). These favorable tax rates were
previously set to increase at the end of 2010 but
were ultimately extended for two years as part
of the “Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance
Reauthorization and Job Creation Act.” That
extension brought us to the current tax year, but
here we are in the last quarter of 2012 and many
people are wondering what is on the horizon.
As such, tax advisors have been busy answering questions such as “What tax issues
are at stake, and when do they expire?” and
“What is the effect of inaction? What is the
outlook?” and of course the biggest concern,
“How do I plan?”
While there aren’t answers for all of these
questions right now, you should know that
the following tax rates will automatically
increase unless extended by Congress:
So-called “Bush” income tax rates
Capital gains rates
Qualifying dividend rates
Estate and gift tax rates and exclusions
In addition, there are several other tax
policies set to expire or take effect in 2013.
Those include:
American Opportunity Tax Credit expires
Child Tax Credit reduced from $1,000 to
$500 per child
Reduction in marriage penalty expires
Alternative Minimum Tax patch expired
in 2011
Estate tax increase
Capital expenditure incentives reduced
New health care taxes take effect
Other items of short duration, known in
tax parlance as “extenders”
While we wait to hear the final results for
the 2013 tax rates, it’s always good to have
as much information on hand as possible
because being ready for any possible tax
changes early can save you the headache of
dealing with it later.
Marshall & Sterling Insurance, One Of
Nation’s Largest, Opens Glens Falls Office
BY SUSAN E. CAMPBELL
Marshall & Sterling Insurance has
opened its 15th and northernmost office
at 217 Dix Avenue in Glens Falls, according
to Jeanne Maloy, vice president. With roots
dating back to 1864, Marshall & Sterling is
one of the largest independent insurance
agencies in the nation.
“The North Country has experienced
tremendous growth and we are pleased
to have a presence here,” said Maloy, who
oversees the offices at Glenville, Syracuse,
Hoosick Falls and, as of October 8th, Glens
Falls.
The account executive in charge of
the new office is Marianne McCullouch,
Maloy said. McCullouch will be joined by
a personal lines customer service representative, yet to be hired, and commercial
lines account executives who split time
between the Glenville and Glens Falls
offices.
“Even though Marshall & Sterling is a
large company, we want to be involved in
the communities where our customers live
and work”, said Maloy. “This grass roots
commitment is an important ingredient in
our continued success.”
Maloy and McCullouch are already very
involved in the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce, and are keeping their
eyes on local community and non-profit
organizations in Warren and Washington
Counties for opportunities to lend assistance, Maloy said.
“The Glenville office has been very
involved with the Schenectady County
Chamber as well as several non-profits and
community associations,” Maloy said. “The
new office will strive for the same level
of support to organizations in the greater
Glens Falls area.”
An employee-owned company, Marshall
& Sterling offers affordable auto, home,
business and group benefits insurance.
The company has preferred relationships
with leading insurance carriers, providing
clients with a broad array of competitive
choices, according to Maloy.
The company specializes in retail and
wholesale businesses, as well as service
industries, public entities, schools, the
hospitality industry, manufacturers, professional, directors’ and officers’ liability,
health care, construction, specialty risks,
workers’ compensation and surety.
Marshall & Sterling Insurance has been
recognized by IIABA (Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America) as one
of the top “Best Practice Agencies” in the
United States and a “Top 10 Best Practice
Agency” in New York State.
Take a tour of Marshall & Sterling Insurance at www.marshallsterling.com/glensfalls and learn more about coverage and
options for businesses and individuals.
Want to get fit, but just can’t get to the gym? Jennifer Benson will come to you with a
personalized fitness program in your own home.
BY BARBARA BREWER LA MERE
Jennifer Benson, owner of Travel 2 U
Fitness, has been playing sports (soccer,
softball, and track) and working out all of
her life. When she found that her career
in medical device sales just wasn’t leaving
her enough time to spend with her boys, she
decided to quit and pursue personal trainer
certification through the National Academy
of Sports. She became certified in February of 2012 and took some time to spend
with her sons, practice being a personal
trainer to her friends and do some market
research on providing in-home personal
training services.
She learned that Moms like herself with
small children welcome the opportunity
to learn proper exercise techniques and
get fit and looking toned without having to
hire a sitter or load the kids into the car.
Retired women and others who may be selfconscious about working out in a gym with
other people watching are glad to be able to
learn fitness techniques in the comfortable
learning environment of their own homes.
Benson studied nutrition as part of her
certification training and she includes
information about nutrition, including
healthy recipes and articles from fitness
and women’s health magazines, as part
of her training visits. She may also bring
Courtesy Of Travel 2 U Fitness
along articles that explain the reasons
behind which exercises are included and
how they’re done so that a client can understand, “Why you’re doing what you’re doing.”
Particular exercises included in a workout depend on the needs and desires of the
individual on a case-by-case basis. Initial
sessions tend to focus on stabilization and
balance, and increasing core strength. Benson offers schedules to accommodate her
clients. Some clients opt for two- or threedays-a -week schedules with hour- long
sessions. Half-hour sessions are another
option. Benson’s availability is primarily
from 9am to 2pm weekdays. She is also
now offering times between 6pm and 8pm
on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
Benson is currently working toward certification as a group fitness instructor. She
would like to provide local businesses with
opportunities to offer their employees fitness
programs that fit into the workday. This
could include exercises that people can do
at their desks and nutrition information to
help keep them healthy employees. She’d
also like to teach working Moms about exercises that they can do with their children
when they get home. Says Benson, “It’s fun!
Travel 2 U Fitness, based out of Benson’s home in Gansevoort, can be reached
at 588-0167.
Queensbury Dentist
Continued From Page 1
President Jeffrey M Cole. “There are more than
169,000 general dentists in the United States
and Canada and less than 2 percent of those
are masters with the AGD. It’s a remarkable
accomplishment for Dr. Burkich.”
Burkich graduated from New York Univer-
sity College of Dentistry in 1984 and currently
practices dentistry in Queensbury.
Burkich is a member of the American Dental
Association, New York State Dental Association,
Upper Hudson Dental Society, and American
Association of Women Dentists.
4 • GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • OctOBER 2012
NEXT ISSUE
SPECIAL SECTION
November
Wellness
Year-End Tax /
Financial Planning
Holiday Gift Guide
Publication Date: November 12, 2012
Siena Research Poll Indicates consumer
Sentiment At 5-Year High For September
The New York State Index of Consumer
Sentiment increased 4.3 points in September,
while the nation’s Index increased 4 points,
according to the latest poll by the Siena (College) Research Institute.
At 78.2, New York’s overall Index of Consumer Sentiment is 0.1 points below the nation’s
Index of 78.3, the group reported.
In September, buying plans were up for
cars/trucks, 2.1 points to 13.1 and furniture,
3.0 points to 22.8 percent. Buying plans were
down for computers, 1.6 points to 16 percent,
homes, 0.2 points to 3.5 percent and major
home improvements, 1.2 to 14 percent .
“Our Index of Consumer Sentiment reached
a five-year high this month and rests encouragingly two points above the all-important breakeven mark,” according to Dr. Doug Lonnstrom,
professor of statistics and finance at Siena
College and SRI Founding Director. “Nationally,
future sentiment increased by over eight points
while in New York consumers’ expectations
rose by almost six and reached the highest level
we’ve seen since March 2007.
“Today a five-point plurality of New Yorkers
expect business conditions to improve over
the coming year and twice as many residents
think their personal situation will improve as
anticipate declines. This is the most optimistic
overall numbers we’ve seen in recent years.”
Each month since January 1999, the SRI survey establishes an Index for Consumer Sentiment for New York State consumers. This index
allows a direct comparison of New Yorkers to
all Americans as surveyed by the University
of Michigan’s Index of Consumer Sentiment.
The SRI survey measures current and
future consumer sentiment, which combined
provides the overall consumer sentiment. SRI
also looks at confidence in New York state by
region (metro New York City and Upstate), age,
income, gender and party.
“Buying plans are up for cars and trucks, and
furniture. Furniture plans reached a five-year
high while those for cars are just under that
mark. More importantly, the rate at which consumers say they will acquire both items has hit
the average intent to buy rate of five to six years
ago, that until now bygone pre-recession era.
Nearly half of state residents say it’s a good
time to buy things for their homes and a growing number appear ready to heed their own
advice, according to the report.
“Concern over the impact gas and food prices
are having on their budgets remains high across
the state at over 60 percent for each. Overall gasoline worries have leveled but are more likely to
effect Republicans, Upstaters and lower income
residents. Food concerns, while high amidst the
bacon scare, remain lower than they were at this
point a year ago,” according to Dr. Lonnstrom.
The report said 61 of all New Yorkers say
that current gasoline prices are having a very
serious or somewhat serious impact on their
financial condition. Sixty-five percent of state
residents indicate that the amount of money
they spend on groceries is having either a very
serious or somewhat serious impact on their
finances. Forty-nine percent of state residents
say that both gasoline and food prices are having either a somewhat or very serious impact
on their finances.
The SRI Index of Consumer Sentiment was
conducted in September 2012 by random telephone calls to 800 New York State residents
over the age of 18. As consumer sentiment is
expressed as an index number developed after
statistical calculations to a series of questions,
“margin of error” does not apply. Buying plans,
which are shown as a percentage based on answers to specific questions, do have a margin of
error of + 3.5 points, according to Lonnstrom.
Kidz World Daycare
December
Non Profits
Retirement Planning
Holiday Gift Guide
Publication Date: December 10, 2012
Call Today To Reserve Space
(518) 581-0600
Fax: (518) 430-3020
It’s a Kidz World’s goal is to offer hope and
stability to children and families, while also
providing high quality childcare and preschool
services in the Glens Falls area. It’s a Kidz World
currently offers daycare and preschool services
for children from infancy to 12 years of age.
Owners Tom and Audrey O’Neill are longtime
supporters of both the Wood Theatre and ice
hockey at the Civic Center. Several years ago
they helped build the stage of the theatre and
they continue to support the Civic Center, despite
the various changes in teams. Being avid sailors,
The O’Neills enjoy spending time at area lakes.
The O’Neills are also the owners of Union
Square Properties, LLC in Glens Falls, NY.
Union Square is a former textile mill, located
in the heart of downtown Glens Falls, which
has been redeveloped into a hub of commerce
that houses everything from a spa and a café,
to a renowned marketing firm and physical
therapist. Union Square is also the current
home of It’s a Kidz World. “Hard work, a strong
focus on due diligence and a willingness to face
challenges are traits we have always fostered,
personally and professionally, and those traits
have proven, consistently, to be a model for
success,” says Tom.
The O’Neills believe that the keys to success in any business are to take care of your
customers first and to work hard every day to
do that. “There are no easy pathways to success, and it requires hard work and ongoing
focus. However, building and growing a strong
business that supports the community is very
rewarding,” says Tom.
O’Neills say that at It’s a Kidz World, each day
presents new challenges. Working to create a quality product that serves the community, it’s important to maintain a constant focus on how they can
better serve parents’ and families’ changing needs.
It’s a Kidz World has recently joined the
Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce.
They are located at 24 Pine Street, Glens Falls.
For more information, call 798-8820, email
[email protected], or visit their
website at www.itsakidzworldgf.com.
GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • OctOBER 2012 • 5
New ARcc Leadership Adirondack class Platinum transportation Group Limo & Bus
Grows By Five Participants For 23rd Year Service Formed From Merger Of Local Firms
Commerce (ARCC) announced its Leadership Adirondack class for 2012-2013.
Leadership Adirondack is a longstanding program of the Chamber, now
in its 23rd year. Due to the past success
of the program, the Leadership Advisory
Council approved the addition of five more
participants. This year’s class spans the
gambit of businesses in the region from
large manufacturing companies to nonprofits, tourism, and educational sectors.
“We are very pleased with the number
and diversity in this year’s class,” said Peter Aust, ARCC president/CEO. This year’s
class met each other and past alumni on
Sept. 19 at a get-acquainted event hosted
by the Chamber. The program will end with
a graduation celebration on Feb. 21.
A list of participants and companies
represented in the 2012-2013 class includes:
• Adirondack Trust Company - Marc
Yrsha
• Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Southern Adirondacks, Inc. - Susan Jones
• C.R Bard - Ryan Davidson
•Fort Hudson Health System, Inc. Nasar Islam
• Fort William Henry Hotel and Conference Center - Rhonda Sullivan
•Glens Falls Hospital Foundation Karen Rappleyea
•Glens Falls National - Bank & Trust
Co. -Josh Engel
• Great Escape Theme Park LLC - Andrew Meader , Eric Rentz
• Irving Tissue - Fred Baxstrome
• Keena - Josh Coons
• NBT Bank - Misty Gauthier, Kathy
Donnelly
• Parks Heritage Federal Credit Union
- Lynette Matt
• Sagamore Resort - Lori Rehm
• Southern Adirondack Tobacco-Free
Coalition - Pam Fisher
• SUNY Adirondack – Rachael Hunsinger-Patten
• TD Bank - Kerri Healy
• Tribune Media Services - Jennifer
Casolaro, Kevin Driscoll
• Tri-County United Way - Meredith
Hastings
• Umicore Technical Materials N.A.
Inc. - Jalane Lord
Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce - Morag Rosa
In addition to a two-day leadership/
management session, class members will
attend the eight sessions on the topics
of agriculture; arts, history and tourism;
corporate citizen/board of director ; education/work force development; health care
system; economic engines ; communications and marketing; and government and
legal systems
Participants will also learn how nonprofit organizations help make a stronger
community, officials said, where participants will gain a better understanding of
the needs and challenges these organizations face. Each participant is required to
attend a board of directors meeting of a
local non-profit organization and report on
it during the session on board of directors
responsibilities.
Participants will individually perform a
“day of caring” for a non-profit group, as
well as complete a meaningful project as
a group. Graduates of the program agree
to continue to strengthen their community involvement once the program is
completed.
Chamber officials said they are excited
to start this year’s program. Each year the
class brings a wide range of talent together
to make a difference in the community.
For more information on how a company
can be part of the Leadership Adirondack
2013-2014 class, contact the Chamber at
798-1761.
The Adirondack Regional Chamber
of Commerce is a not-for-profit, member-based business organization. It is
an advocate for the economic success
of its 1,000 member businesses, representing in excess of 23,000 people predominantly in Warren, Washington and
northern Saratoga counties. Its website is
www.adirondackchamber.org.
Downtown charm
BARBARA BREWER LA MERE
Chris Cook and Bill Deuell concluded a
deal earlier this month creating a merger of
Pristine Limousines, the business that Cook
had operated for six years, with Platinum
Transportation Group.
The business will be known under the
name of Platinum Transportation Group, but
not affiliated with other national or regional
transportation groups bearing the name Platinum, they said.
Cook started out working for a friend’s limousine company, decided it was fun, and decided
to make it a full-time job. Deuell has been in the
transportation business since his retirement
after many years at Finch Paper. He has business experience from working with his wife’s
business, Adirondack Quilting, located in The
Shirt Factory on Cooper Street in Glens Falls.
Platinum Transportation’s fleet includes four
limousines, two Cadillac De Villes, two GMC
Yukon SUVs, and a party bus. The Cadillacs and
the Yukons serve the purposes of transportation to airports, medical appointments, or other
situations where a limo might be a little more
than what’s required, but an upgrade from what
many taxi companies have to offer.
Golf outings to Saratoga National or the
Highland have proven popular events for which
Cook’s and Deuell’s transportation services
have been requested, they said. The spacious
and comfortable party bus allows up to 22
people to be transported safely to and from
parties, sporting events, casinos, and bachelor/
bachelorette parties. It features stereo sound,
DVD players, laser lights, hardwood floors, and
a roomier, walk-in ride. It’s another option for
Continued On Page 6
FLOOR MAT SERVICE
NORTHCOUNTRY
JANITORIAL,INC.
Est. 1974 By The Montesi Family
A third sister is the designer of Nick’s
Knacks Jewelry, a customer favorite offered in the shoppe. The store also features
handbags, kitchen items, unique children’s
merchandise, and wooden decorative signs,
to name a few. Ducey reported the store is
always on the lookout for new merchandise
and proudly showcases products such as
lotions, soaps, and Barkeater Chocolates
from local artisans.
Recently, the store featured another
local favorite: hometown hero Jimmer
Fredette. On September 19th, Downtown
Charm hosted a book signing of “The Contract” by Pat Forde. The book chronicles
Fredette’s journey from Glens Falls to
his professional basketball career with
the Sacramento Kings. The Adirondack
Regional Chamber of Commerce recommended Downtown Charm as a retailer
for the book after being contacted by
Fredette’s representatives. Fans had the
opportunity to meet Fredette and his wife,
Whitney, at the event, which took place
at the Glens Falls Civic Center. Ducey reported the store carried 250 signed copies,
and has since sold out.
“We were thrilled,” stated Ducey. “And
the event brought a lot of new traffic to
our store.”
Downtown Charm has also partnered
with Muddy Boots Décor, designers of
re-purposed and refinished furniture
pieces. The two stores initially began as
separate neighboring retail spaces, but
soon discovered they complemented each
other. The partnership is leading to new
endeavors.
“Starting November 2012, our store will
be the exclusive retailer of Maison Blanche
La Craie Paint in Warren, Washington, and
Rutland counties.” Based out of Dallas, the
company offers specially formulated paint
for furniture, cabinetry, and trim. It can
also be used to top off any existing furniture
finish, without the need for stripping, sanding, or priming.
Ducey reported the paint is unlike anything she has ever seen before, and she
is excited to share her discovery with the
Glens Falls region. The store’s website
features a “31 Days to Maison Blanche La
Craie Paint” blog discussing project ideas
and before and after pictures of refinished
furniture. Starting early 2013, Downtown
Charm plans to host a series of classes in
which customers can bring in old pieces
of furniture they are looking to transform.
Participants will have access to all paints,
waxes, and tools during the class, and “will
have the chance to make something unique
and beautiful.”
As the store approaches its first anniversary, Downtown Charm will be open during
Stewfest on October 20th, the “Boo 2 U!
Trick or Treat” event on October 27th, and
Hometown Holidays from November 30th
until December 1st. All events take place
in downtown Glens Falls. Ducey credits The
Downtown Glens Falls Business Improvement District (BID) for creating events
that attract families to Glens Falls’ stores
and eateries.
“We love that downtown supports one
another,” stated Ducey.
For more information about Downtown
Charm, call 636-3136, or visit downtowncharmgf.com. The store is also on facebook at
www.facebook.com/downtowncharm, and on
twitter @DowntownCharm.
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6 • GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • October 2012
Kelly Homes And Electric Rebrands With
A Focus On The Aging Market and Energy
Kelly Homes & Electric is serving a growing number of seniors with an array of products
and services that permit them to stay in their homes as they age.
Stephen M. Kelly, an electrician by trade,
has been building custom homes for more
than 30 years.
It may have been the economy that first
impelled Kelly to change emphasis from
new houses to retrofits. Whatever the
motivation, the company he owns, Kelly
Homes and Electric out of Queensbury, is
now helping a growing market of seniors
who want to stay in their homes live more
comfortably and safely.
“What’s new about our business is our
focus on bathroom renovations for the aging
population and the handicapped,” said Kelly.
Most new homes are now built with 36inch doorways to accommodate wheelchairs
and at least one walk-in shower. Older
include a pedestal sink that a wheelchair
can fit under, a higher-sitting toilet, and
high-end faucet levers that are easier to
use than knobs.
Some homeowners on constant oxygen
worry about what they would do if there
were a power outage for a protracted period of time. For these, or for that matter
any family that wants peace of mind, Kelly
is offering affordable back-up generation.
“We can supply an outlet to a panel that
controls up to six circuits for the heat, refrigerator and lighting,” said Kelly. “This is
a 4,500-watt portable unit with an electric
start battery for only $1,500, fully installed.”
The generator runs for eight hours on
four gallons of gasoline. At the current
price per gallon, that’s about 16 dollars for
peace of mind.
The capacity of this unit is such that an
average family in the average-sized home
can be comfortable – and they won’t have
to forego their electronics while power is
being restored, Kelly said.
Another focus for Kelly Home and
Electric’s recent rebranding is retrofitting
commercial spaces with high-efficiency
lighting. National Grid offers different
programs from time to time that provide
incentives to office building owners who
want to go green and convert to Energy Star
products, he said.
“The higher efficiency lighting can save
75 percent on electricity costs,” he said.
“We perform an energy audit on the space,
change out the ballasts and install the new
CFL fluorescent bulbs.”
The rebate programs can be so generous
that the retrofit practically pays for itself,
especially if the client chooses to install
LED bulbs. These are the most expensive
but also save the most energy, and there is
no hazard because LED products contain
no trace of mercury.
For the past 15 years Kelly Homes and
Electric has renovated many HUD homes in
Glens Falls, Hudson Falls and Argyle as part
of their community development efforts.
Work performed includes roofing, siding
and window replacement. The company is
EPA-approved to remove or encapsulate
lead paint if found in older buildings.
S o m e o f K e l l y ’s p r o j e c t s i n c l u d e
Summit Heights housing development
in Schenectady; Solomon Heights in
Queensbury; and La Rose Gardens apartment complex in Glens Falls.
Kelly also provides commercial building
property maintenance.
Learn more at www.kellyhomesandelectric.com or contact Steve Kelly directly at
793-3022.
Courtesy Of Kelly Homes & Electric
homes provide more challenges for seniors,
which is why Kelly said he is specializing
in affordable renovations that enable homeowners to better navigate the houses they
raised their families in or retired to.
The largest expense might ordinarily be
the bathtub replacement, Kelly said. But
there is no need to remove it altogether.
For as little as $800, Kelly can install the
Safeway Safe Tub, which converts an existing
tub with a leak-proof door. The bathtub can
still function as such, or be used as a shower.
“No more stepping over the side of the
tub,” he said. “There is a moveable seat
we add to the tub area, plus handrails and
fixtures designed with an older or handicapped person’s limitations in mind.”
The bathroom build-out might also
C.T. Male Associates, Engineering, Adds 7th
Land Surveying Office In Mechanicsburg, PA
C.T. Male Associates Engineering, Surveying, Architecture & Landscape Architecture,
which has offices in Glens Falls, is continuing
to expand its operations and has opened an
office in Mechanicsburg, Pa.
“Demand for our firm’s expertise in surveying
services has led to this strategic decision” said
Ed Garrigan, vice president of the firm’s land
services division.
“We are providing a variety of services to
firms in Pennsylvania. Our new office in Mechanicsburg will provide us a central location
to conduct business, reinforce our commitment
to clients and deliver high-quality services in
a timely manner to meet project deadlines.”
C.T. Male is a full service consulting firm offering architecture and building systems engineering,
civil engineering, energy services, environmental
services, survey and land information services.
The firm’s headquarters is located in
Latham, with branch offices in Glens Falls,
Highland, Johnstown, Red Hook and Syracuse
in New York state, in addition to the new branch
in Mechanicsburg.
McPhillips Insurance Agency Opens Lake
Luzerne Office In Glens Falls Nat’l. Bank
2000 Business Of The Year
Adirondack Regional Chamber Of Commerce
P.O. Box 766 • Saratoga Springs, New York 12866
(518) 581-0600 • Fax: (518) 430-3020 • www.glensfallsbusinessjournal.com
Editorial: [email protected]
Advertising: [email protected]
Publisher
Harry Weinhagen
Editor
Peter Miller
Editor Emeritus
Rod Bacon
Sales and Customer Service
Harry Weinhagen Peg Bacon
Production Manager
Samantha Bacon-Racine
Contributing Writers
Lisa Balschunat Raymond Brown Susan Campbell Pamela Fisher Ann Hauprich
Barbara Brewer LaMere Jill Nagy Katie Navarra Eva Weaver Maureen Werther
Glens Falls Business Journal is published monthly, the second week of each month, by Weinhagen Associates, LLC
and mailed to business and professional people in Warren and Washington counties.
Glens Falls Business Journal is independently owned and is a registered tradename of Weinhagen Associates,
LLC, P.O. Box 766, Saratoga Springs, New York l2866 (518) 581-0600. Glens Falls Business Journal is a registered
tradename in New York.
Glens Falls Business Journal has been founded to promote business in Warren and Washington counties and to
provide a forum that will increase the awareness of issues and activities that are of interest to the business community. Subscription price is $25.00 per year. Third class postage paid at Glens Falls, New York.
Rights to editorial content and layouts of advertising placed with Glens Falls Business Journal which are the creative
effort of its contractors, and printing materials supplied by Glens Falls Business Journal are the property of Glens
Falls Business Journal and may not be reproduced by photographic or similar methods, or otherwise, without the
specific authorization of Glens Falls Business Journal.
McPhillips Insurance Agency has opened
a new office – its fifth in the region – inside
Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Co.’s Lake
Luzerne branch.
The expansion marks McPhillips’ return to
Lake Luzerne, where it operated for a decade
until consolidating its Lake Luzerne and
Warrensburg operations in 2009, company
officials said.
The new site is staffed by lifelong Lake
Luzerne resident Annemarie Powers, who will
provide the same customer service and property and casualty insurance products available
at McPhillips’ other locations.
Agency President Paul McPhillips indicated
that space inside the Glens Falls National
branch not only allows McPhillips Insurance to
more directly serve its existing clients, but also
provides bank customers convenient access to
insurance services.
“It’s nice to have a footprint in the community with an office where people can stop in if
they have a question,” McPhillips said. “It is
great to be back to Luzerne, great for Annmarie
to be back in her hometown, and great to join
with the bank.”
Hours of operation will be Monday through
Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The office is located at 15 Main Street. For more
information, call 696-2000.
McPhillips Insurance Agency is a division of
Glens Falls National Insurance Agencies, LLC,
which is a subsidiary of Glens Falls National
Bank. McPhillips has offices in Glens Falls,
Schroon Lake, Warrensburg, Greenwich and
now Lake Luzerne.
Platinum Transportation
wedding party transportation with lots of space
to accommodate dresses and flowers, etc., all
in one vehicle.
Cook recommends making reservations
as much as five to six months in advance for
major events like weddings or large events for
which many people will be seeking transportation. For smaller special events, reservations
a couple of weeks in advance should ensure
availability of transportation.
Platinum also offers an alternate number on
its answering machine, which can be called in the
event of an urgent need for transportation. For
example, if someone’s boss says an out-of-town
meeting has been rescheduled for two hours
sooner and an earlier flight is necessary, requiring
an earlier ride to the airport. That number will
send an e-mail to Cook’s and Deuell’s phones.
Deuell is owner of the newly configured company. Cook is its manager. Platinum Transportation Group is located at 206 Glen St., Glens Falls.
They can be reached at 743-1710. The address
of a website currently under construction will
be platinumtransportationgroup.com.
Correction
In last month’s Glens Falls Business Journal, we incorrectly reported the name
of Lt. Col. John “Jack” Swift as John “Jack” Smith in the article about Freddie
Senser-Lee’s Botanicals Blossoming on the Bikeway. We regret the error.
SPECIAL SECTION
Entrepreneurial Women
One Business Just Wasn’t Enough; So This
Entrepreneurial Woman Launched Another
Joan Durett, seated, and the staff that makes her business successful: (l to r): Melissa
Durett Clapper, Vanessa Stangle, Ashley Sawyer, Christine Paddock, and Cindy Jenks.
BY EVA WEAVER
Sometimes, adversity really pays off. After
losing her job as a bank payroll manager due
to a merger, Joan Durett had difficulty finding a
new job. So she started her own company from
the basement of her home. Durett Business
Management Corporation, now located at 182
Ridge Street in Glens Falls, is a local payroll
company serving approximately 210 local businesses in the Warren, Washington, Saratoga,
Essex, & Clinton Counties of New York.
Striving to offer one-on-one personal assistance with payroll and bookkeeping needs, Durett Business Management Corporation offers
payroll processing, including paychecks, direct
deposit, payroll deductions, tax filing, quarterly
reports, year-end reports with W-2s, and more.
They also offer Health, Dental, Supplemental,
Workers’ Compensation, and Disability & Liability Insurances through payroll deduction
or pay on your own.
Joan and her team offer QuickBooks training
to help companies manage their paperwork and
“in our office” audits. They also highly recommend using their tax filing service to ensure
that payroll taxes are processed in an accurate
and timely manner.
In addition to owning Durett Business
Management, which employees 9 people, Joan
purchased a small pub 4 years ago. Next Door
Pub is located on Hudson Avenue and offers
“great pizza and a friendly atmosphere” and
employees 4 people.
Joan is a wife of 46 years, a mother to three
children, a grandmother of 12 children and the
great grandmother of 5 children. “My family
and the great blessing of owning and operating two successful businesses are my proudest
accomplishments,” says Joan.
In her spare time, Joan enjoys family, walking, volunteering and traveling. Joan also has
been a Big Sister to a young man named Porter
for the past 7 years. She is a board member
on Family Services of Glens Falls, Glens Falls
Area Youth Center, parish council Member
at St. Mary’s Church, an ambassador for the
Adirondack Chamber of Commerce, a mentor
at Harrison Avenue School and has also served
on the board for Kiwanis and the United Way.
Joan’s keys to success are to work hard, have
dedication to your mission and to surround
yourself with a wonderful team of people,
and she offers this advice to women who are
trying to start their own business: “Go for it!
But be prepared for a great deal of dedicated
time to make it work. Never think that it will
not work.”
Contact Joan Durett and Durett Business
Management Corporation at 182 Ridge Street,
Glens Falls by phone at 793-7236, via email at
[email protected] or visit their website at
www.durett.com.
Recovery Sports Grill Opened In Malta In
September And In Glens Falls In October
BY BARBARA BREWER LA MERE
The Recovery Sports Grill chain is expanding
rapidly. Its parent company, BBL Hospitality
launched the chain six years ago at a location
across from Albany Medical Center dubbed
“The Recovery Room.” The Sports Grill tag
came with expansion toward the 12 locations that will comprise the Recovery zone by
January 2013 (including three out-of-state in
Virginia, West Virginia and New Jersey). Local
area Recovery Sports Grills include locations
in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Colonie, Troy, and
Malta. There is also a location in Verona, NY.
A Queensbury location, set to open on Upper
Glen Street on October 23 will be one of the
chain’s largest, with plans to include a game
room. A Guilderland location in the former 20
Mall will open shortly thereafter.
The most recently opened Recovery Sports
Grill, opened in September, is located in Malta
at 2537 Route 9, next to Ellsworth Commons.
General Manager and ”Head Coach” of the
Malta site, Mike Derway describes Recovery
as a full-service, sports-themed, family-friendly
restaurant with a menu he defines as “upscale,
casual American fare.” With 30 TVs in the
house, Derway assures sports fans, “If something is televised, they would be able to watch
it.” This includes events featuring local high
school, college, and professional teams.
Tammy Wilcox will be the manager at the
new Queensbury location. Mike Derway joined
the Recovery team two years ago, coming with
credentials from several years at O’Toole’s
in Queensbury and having opened Johnny
Rocket’s, across from The Great Escape in 2008.
The Recovery menu describes its restaurant
as “a sports bar and way more.” Chicken, burgers, and wings served have never been frozen.
Beyond the typical Hot, Medium, and Mild
options for wing sauces, there are Cajun, Thai
Chili, and Margarita choices. Asked for the customer favorite, Derway was quick to respond,
“The wings – definitely the wings . . . and the
chicken tenders.” Turkey breast and ribs are
roasted in-house daily. Artisan rolls are baked
fresh specifically for Recovery. House-made
soups, stew, and chili are available. Burgers,
including sliders, are available with a variety
of toppings, as are turkey and veggie burgers.
There is a great assortment of meal salads
including Ahi Tuna, Empire Steak, and Turkey
Cobb among others, as well as a variety of sandwiches. Strip steak, grilled salmon, fish & chips,
and chicken and steak alfredo entrees are
available. Beverages, including over 50 beers,
specialize in New York State brews. There is a
$2.99 children’s menu, and takeout is available.
Recovery is proud to serve the community
with a variety of sponsorships and its Dining
to Donate program. Any group can pick a night
on which individuals presenting a Dining to
Donate card can have 15% of their meal cost
donated to the group’s charitable cause.
Check out Recovery Sports Grill’s website at
www.recoverysportsgrill.com.
Susan Stone, Owner
North Country Coffee Café
Reads
SPECIAL SECTION
Office / Technology
•
Business Report
The “Cloud:” The great business equalizer!
BY MARK SHAW
We have all seen the Microsoft commercial
where the mom cannot get her kids to sit still
for a photo and she says “to the cloud” suddenly
the picture is perfect. Everyone is well behaved
and all smiles for the camera. Grandma and
Grandpa love the family photo and everyone
is happy. I don’t know about you, but even as a
technology geek, I had no idea what this was
telling me. Does the cloud make kids behave?
Does it fix my photos? What in the world is
Microsoft trying to say. This is not how I understand the cloud to work and it did not show any
real business value. I was lost at what concept
it was trying to display. It did do one thing; it
put the term cloud in the everyday vernacular
for millions of people. But what is it?
What is this “cloud” thing and how does it
help me the small business owner? Is it secure?
Can I put everything I have in the cloud? Just
bottom line it for me, do I need it or not?
These are questions we hear every day from
many of our new and some of our long term
clients who are just starting to take notice of
this technology. Clients are wondering when
they buy their next upgrade of hardware and
software, how it will come in to play and will
it impact them?
In essence, the cloud is letting businesses
of all sizes and all geographies leverage technology that was once only available to large
multi-national organizations. For example, this
means the high powered Microsoft Exchange
email system which was once limited to large
companies with a technology department, is
available directly from Microsoft for a fraction
of the price, no IT skills needed, and can be
licensed in a set as small as one user.
This is really a game changer for us small
business owners! It means finally all our calendars, our emails and our contacts can be
•
Mark Shaw, StoredTech
Courtesy Of Stored Tech
seen from any device anywhere. Ever wanted
to have the calendar on your smartphone be
in sync with the one on your desktop? “To the
Cloud!” Have you been in a hotel center and
wanted to read your emails and grab a client’s
information to call them about a meeting? “To
the Cloud!” Have you ever needed to connect
with your employees and get their input on a
project while meeting with that big client? “To
the Cloud!” Finally the technology is starting to
work like people do, not the old way of feeling
like we are working for the machines. We are
able to break free from the desk and enjoy a
drink on the beach with all the tools we need
to do business from anywhere at any time.
Thank you, cloud.
This same cloud technology is being used
by Microsoft, Amazon and thousands of other
players in the technology arena. These proContinued On Page 11
•
Business Report
•
How Can A Managed Print Solution Help Your Business?
BY RICK GALLUP
What are some of the most expensive items you
use every day in support of your business? Bottled
water or coffee for your office? What about gas
and oil?
While these items are not cheap, the cost to your
organization is relatively low compared to printer
ink. At over $30 per ounce, printer ink is one of the
most expensive liquids on the planet. Do you have
a strategy to manage such a valuable resource?
Industry analysts estimate that choosing the
right managed print Solution can reduce print
cost by up to 30 percent. At the same time, a managed print Solution will free up valuable time for
your staff. There is no need to manage multiple
vendors, purchase orders and printer supplies
inventory. By allowing your service provider to
handle printer problems, you are able to focus
running your business.
In a typical “unmanaged” environment, a printer
is selected by examining the specifications, the
price, and that is about it. The cost of operation is
usually unknown. It is very possible that saving just
a small amount of money on the purchase price of
the printer, will cost several times that amount in
supplies over the life of the device. When purchasing a car, there is a big sticker in the window that
tells you the gas mileage. If only we had the same
information when purchasing printers for the office.
“Our goal is to eliminate all desktop printers,
and send all prints to the large multifunction unit
down the hall. We are planning on going paperless
soon anyway.”
While this statement may work for some organizations, it is not always realistic. The convenience
of being able to print something on a piece of paper
without making a trip across the office is still an
important part of office productivity. A combination of multifunction copiers and desktop printers,
that are strategically placed, is usually the best
option. This will help you maximize productivity,
and minimized print costs. A good managed print
solution will accomplish this.
How does this work?
A good managed print solution uses a combination of software, services and proven best practices.
Using software to monitor the printers, the service
provider can automatically send supplies to the
customer before they run out. This eliminates
the need to stock up, or pay overnight shipping
charges, when the printer is goes down, and there
is no toner in stock.
Usually a managed print solution includes break/
fix service. If you don’t have someone in the office
experienced in printer repair, there are three options
Rick Gallup, Document Solutions of the
North Country
Courtesy Of Document Solutions Of The North Country
when you have a problem. You can change the cartridge (before the machine calls for one) and hope
the problem goes away. You can pay someone else to
come in and fix the printer. Or, you can throw it away
and buy a new one. Now what do you do with the
cartridges that have become obsolete? You can see
the benefit of a solution that includes repair service.
How much does this cost?
This is the best news yet. Often times the solution can be implemented at no cost to you. An
assessment will help determine the cost and efficiency of each printer in the office. Usually there
is no need to replace printers, simply examine
volumes and cost. Some printer relocation may be
recommended to make sure the printers with the
lowest cost of operation, are in areas that generate
the most volume. If you would like to update some
of the devices, you have data that will help you
make an informed decision.
“Our company has a sustainability objective.”
A managed print solution can help you achieve
this goal. A successful office assessment will
uncover opportunities to reduce the number of
devices and reduce the number of pages printed. By
doing this, you are using less paper, less electricity
and sending less waste to the landfill.
In summary, a managed print solution can help
your organization in a number of ways. There are
financial, environmental and productivity benefits.
Very often these are achieved with little or no upfront costs.
For more information, contact Rick Gallup,
Document Solutions of the North Country at
792-9101 x302.
SPECIAL SECTION
Commercial / Residential Real Estate
Listings, Sales, And Volume Trending Up In VanAernem Realty Sees Strong Demand For
Glens Falls Commercial Real Estate Market Residential Real Estate In North Country
Mark Levack cites several recent large transactions as evidence that the commercial
market in the Glens Falls region is picking up.
By Jill Nagy
It’s not exactly a boom but Glens Falls realtor
Mark Levack sees the commercial real estate
market “trending positive.”
He recently sold properties languishing on
the market for years and he has potential tenants competing for storefronts in downtown
Glens Falls. Banks are lending again and new
businesses are creating new jobs.
In Queensbury, a large equipment dealer
on Big Boom Road renewed its lease and this
time the lease includes an option to buy the
property. This was despite the fact that snow
plows are a big part of the tenant’s business and
there was little demand for snowplows during
last year’s almost snowless winter.
A 45-lot subdivision plot in South Glens Falls
-- ”one of the last remaining undeveloped parcels in the village,” he said -- is under contract
and Levack expects that sale to close by the
end of the year.
After some three years on the market, a 24unit apartment complex in Warrensburg just
sold. Similarly, a restaurant building on Route
9 in Queensbury that had been vacant for two
years will soon reopen as a smoke shop.
Levack said he was “fielding two proposals
on a downtown Glens Falls storefront,” when
a call came in on another line: another inquiry
about that same property.
A group of oral maxillofacial surgeons re-
cently opened a new office in Glens Falls and
hired 15 people to staff the expanded practice.
Apparently, the better times are not confined
to the North Country. Levack talks with colleagues in Saratoga and “they have informed
me that things are busy. The pulse is definitely
quickening.”
Although there are still bargains to be had,
Levack sees most sellers getting their asking
price or close to it when they sell.
“We sell real estate even in a down market,”
he said, “Sellers may not get their price but
we make sales.” However, in recent months,
there have been more activity, more sales,
more interest, and more sellers getting their
price, he said.
Helping to fuel the uptick is the greater
availability of credit.
“People want to blame the banks for a lot
of the problems in the economy right now but
I don’t think that is justified,” he said. For a
buyer who has money for a down payment and
sufficient income, he finds, “banks are very
aggressive and want to lend.”
He sees a “very aggressive and very competitive market “ and “amazingly low commercial
interest rates.” He said people re able to borrow
at less that 4 percent interest. On the whole, he
finds, the banks’ business has also picked up.
Levack, “a born and bred Glens Falls native,”
The residential real estate market is “on the move” according to Tom Van Aernem
(standing) and Howard Denison of Van Aernem Realty & Associates of Hudson Falls.
A report from The New York State Association of Realtors (NYSAR) released September
19th confirmed that the state of real estate in
New York is on an upward trajectory in nearly
every market segment.
“Especially in mid-priced single family
homes do we see the market here on the move,”
said Tom VanAernem of VanAernem Realty and
Associates in Hudson Falls.
The New York State housing market sales
reached a 26-month high during the month of
August, based on sales of single-family homes,
condominiums and townhouses, according to
NYSAR. Transactions increased eight percent
from July and nearly four percent compared
to August 2011.
The report stated that August is “a typically
busy month in the seasonal market,” quoting NYSAR chief executive office Duncan R.
MacKenzie. However, other positive signs yearto-date could be found in the steady monthly
growth in closed sales (up 6.8 percent) and
pending sales (up 15.7 percent), as well as
stability in the median sales price ($225,000).
In the communities of Washington and Warren Counties where VanAernem lists homes,
prices are slightly lower that the median selling
price quoted in the report.
“The trend here is that three-bedroom
houses priced at the $150,000 to $175,000 range
are more active,” said VanAernem. “That would
equate to a $200,000 home in Saratoga county.”
VanAernem believes strongly that buyers
are getting good value for their money in the
North Country.
“People have a tendency to say taxes are
higher in Washington County,” he said. “When
they buy here, they find taxes are higher for
an equivalent home that they would pay 10 or
15 percent more for across the river. So that is
the choice a buyer makes.”
Said MacKenzie in NYSAR’s state-wide report, “We continue to see the market moving
toward a balance between buyers and sellers
as inventory declines due to a decrease in new
listings and increasing sales.”
VanAernem agrees that a depleted inventory,
along with low mortgage rates, has contributed
to the overall health of the market for existing homes. His firm does not sell much new
construction.
“There is an axiom that when interest rates
are low, material costs for brand new homes
are high,” he said. “There is more value for the
average buyer in a home that is already built
and landscaped and costs 10 or 20 percent less.”
With low rates and plenty of mortgage money
to go around, there may be no time better to
buy real estate, VanAernem said.
“A few years ago banks were stretching the
After A Long Period Of Little Or No Growth, Residential Property Sales In Lake George
The Pace Has Picked Up In Recent Months Southern Basin Outpacing Northern Areas
By Pamela Fisher
Throughout the Capital District, a vast
amount of office space sits vacant. Still, Robert
Sears, a Realtor in Queensbury, is optimistic
the market is gaining momentum in the Glens
Falls region.
Sears is vice president of Prudential Blake
Commercial Realtors and has more than 23
years of experience in commercial real estate.
“I think we are very lucky in this area,” said
Sears. “The down times economically are not
as dramatic as they are in many areas of the
country. Our growth is on a continued basis.”
Richard Ferro, principal broker and manager at Prudential Blake Commercial Realtors,
is also optimistic. He reports a substantial
upturn in commercial sales over last year and
cites regional statistics from the Commercial
Industrial Real Estate Brokers that show the
first eight months of 2012 is up by 29 percent
over the same period in 2011. Even more striking, he said, is that the 2012 level is 6 percent
higher than the boom year of 2007.
“Length of time on the market is also showing significant improvement,” said Ferro.
Sears said the commercial properties that
are selling are principally under a stress situation, so they are purchased at a very competitive price, making it a great time to buy. Though
many properties remain on the market, Sears
is hopeful for the future.
“As far as the Glens Falls region goes, the
market has been at somewhat of a status quo
for the last couple of years. Pace has picked
up over the last two months. I’m seeing more
people looking at the possibility of expanding
in their businesses or buying another building
Dan Davies of Davies~Davies & Associates Real Estate says the Lake George southern
basin has seen the largest sales increase since the economic downturn.
BY MAUREEN WERTHER
Known as the “Queen of American Lakes,”
Lake George is a favorite destination of people
from all over, and it is a fortunate and select few
who get the opportunity to realize the dream
of home ownership on this natural wonder.
Sharon Davies is a 7th generation Lake George
native, whose family obtained property through
a land grant from King George II. As a person
with a comprehensive knowledge of the area
and its properties, Sharon decided that it would
be exciting to sell real estate. She began by
helping secure properties for her friends and
entered into a partnership with John Owens
thirty years ago. The firm has been a consistently high performer in real estate ever since,
with over a billion dollars in sales since 1978.
It would seem that real estate runs in the
family, as does a vast knowledge of and love for
the region. Dan Davies, of Davies ~ Davies &
Associates Real Estate LLC, became a partner
in the business with his mother immediately
after graduating with a degree in Finance in
1989. Dan is also an avid diver and advocate
of preserving and safeguarding the cleanliness
and integrity of the land and water.
Dan has taken over the day to day operations
of the firm and agrees that, while business
has not yet returned to the levels enjoyed in
2006, the limited supply of properties on Lake
George, coupled with its high desirability, are
key to keeping property values high. Dan notes
that, in addition to the obvious attraction of
living on Lake George, “there’s just so much
lake front out there, after all. So it’s a supply
and demand situation.”
Davies’ clientele come from a broad area
encompassing the northeast, as well as people
from different parts of the country looking for
a private spot to escape from the rat race. Dan
notes that, typically, the bulk of their clients come
from northern New Jersey, Connecticut, and Westchester, as well as Albany and the Capital Region.
Areas of the lake that have seen the biggest
increase in sales since the economic downturn
include the southern basin; that is, the area
from Northwest Bay to the end of Pilot Knob.
Dan notes that this area has been much more
active than the northern basin. Pricewise, the
fastest selling listings fall within the $700K to
$1.5 million dollar range, and there continues
to be a multi-year supply of listings in the $2
million plus range.
Davies~Davies & Associates is also a strong
player in the secondary markets, including
Queensbury, Glen Lake, and other lakes in the
region. While movement in these markets is
still slower than it had been in 2006, things are
beginning to move in a more positive direction
and there is improvement.
Dan stresses, however, that the jumbo loans
Commercial and Residential Services
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for 24 years with a 30 year
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Serving New York and Vermont
•
Business Report
The “Cloud”
•
Benefits Of E-Commerce For Small Businesses
BY JENNIFER MANZ
Today, consumers are bombarded with options to research and buy. With faster internet
speed, iPads and smart phone mobile device
usage exploding, it is now easier than ever for
consumers to research and buy online. Because
of this, there are a lot of benefits to get in front
of a consumer with an e-commerce solution on
your website. This will give you another stream
of business your way and put your brand and
products in front of your audience.
E-commerce simply involves a transaction
online. It allows the consumer to exchange
goods and services electronically across the
internet. E-commerce is beneficial for both
B2B and business to consumer.
Below are some of the reasons why a small
business could benefit from an e-commerce
solution.
Low Cost to Set-up and Maintain: Instead of
having to have a huge brick and mortar shop
and all the staff and expenses to maintain, the
cost of a website with an e-commerce solution
would be significantly less. The staff requirement would be much more minimal with an ecommerce shopping cart since the transactions
would be handled electronically.
24/7 Accessibility: With an e-commerce
solution, consumers can browse your inventory, research and purchase online at anytime,
anywhere. This keeps your store hours open
around the clock! For consumers, this is also
much more of a convenience for them as they
would not have to leave their house to purchase
exactly what they are looking for. This also
widens your consumer base as the customer
does not have to be located in your locale;
with an e-commerce solution, you can reach
consumers across the globe.
Better Customer Loyalty: With an e-commerce shopping cart solution, you can include
as much detail as you want about the products.
Jennifer Manz, Mannix Marketing
This is very helpful for a user – they can get
information about your company, about the
products, how your products are unique to
other competing brands, add reviews, video
demos, and more. This all lends itself to providing great customer experience. There are also
solutions out there that allow customers to set
up an account with your website, thus keeping
track of all their past purchases and information, making it easier for them to purchase
from you again.
Excellent Customer Data: You can collect
incredible amounts of data about your customers, the products they like, their email
addresses (to remarket to them) and more with
an e-commerce solution. You can use this information to know what products are your best
sellers, who your repeat customer is, consumer
buying habits, what customers were searching
for when they found your website and more.
Level the Playing Field: With online e-comContinued On Page 12
Residential Real Estate
limits. But if you work hard to get good credit,
mortgage money is readily available,” he said.
Eventually rates will creep back up, according to VanAernem. “But we won’t see these low
rates again for a long, long time, if ever.”
As population growth travels up the
Northway, more and more apartment complexes and multi-family homes are being built
around Glens Falls and Kingsbury and other
communities, which VanAernem said are filling
up right away.
Rents are going higher and higher, too,
thanks to the simple rule of supply and
demand. Part of that demand for rentals is
coming from prospective buyers sitting on the
sidelines, still nervous to invest in a home after
what the market experienced in recent years.
“Someone paying 750 or 800 dollars a month
for rent could turn that money into a $100,000
mortgage,” he said. “But people don’t want to
make a mistake or buy an overpriced home.”
Now more than ever, price is driving the
market and VanAernem said it’s best when
the agent is honest with the seller about expectations.
“A client may be asking, ‘Why isn’t our house
selling,’ while price is the whole story today,”
VanAernem said. “A five percent decrease in
price can get you fifteen percent more qualified
buyers looking at the property.”
VanAernem Realty sees a slow but steady
climb ahead for real estate.
“We are very positive and excited,” said
VanAernem. “We have been through the worst.
We’re on our way back.”
Visit VanAernem Realty at 77 Main Street in
Hudson Falls or meet the team and see their listings online at www.vanaernemrealestate.com.
viders are opening their datacenters to small
businesses giving them access to technology
that was out of their reach just a few years
ago. Today a company can leverage the power
of multiple datacenters spread out globally like
never before. You can store data on the Amazon
S3 cloud in the US, EU or Asia Pacific ring all
redundant and all accessible from anywhere.
This provides great data security and global
accessibility to the small and medium businesses everywhere.
Is it secure? That is one of the top concerns
for any company who wants to use cloud services, and if you think that is a concern for you,
imagine the level to which your large providers
like Microsoft and Amazon go to ensure the
data is safe. A single breach for them would
be devastating to their business model. But
as with anything else, you want to make sure
that any cloud provider you work with meets all
the standards you would hold any other vendor
to. Do your own due diligence here; everyone
is jumping on the cloud bandwagon, and you
need to do the proper research.
Be sure you always ask the following questions to anyone selling you cloud services
that pertain to storing your data in case of a
disaster: “Where is my data going? Where is it
being stored? and How quickly can I retrieve
it?” If you cannot get your hands on your data
in a time effective manner, all the disaster
recovery value fades very quickly. The best
data vaulting puts your data within reach and
in multiple locations using encryption before
the data leaves your site. Taking a few moments
upfront to understand the provider’s solution
can save you frustration, time and money later.
Having a disaster recovery plan that leverages
the cloud and puts your data in multiple locations means your company is less likely to suffer
a devastating blow if your location is hit with
any major disaster like fire or water damage.
Many insurance companies are asking clients
about their “DR” or Disaster Recovery plan and
will consider a lower premium if you can prove
you have a plan in place. That plan is often one
that uses the cloud to store your company`s
most critical data.
The one thing people most often overlook
in their leap to the cloud is bandwidth. Bandwidth is the speed at which you can connect
from your office to the cloud to do everything
cloud related. You will want to speak with your
internet provider and be sure that anything you
want to use in the cloud can be supported by
your current internet speed. Sometimes the
cloud will require so much bandwidth for a
certain application that is it NOT cost effective
to put that part of your business into the cloud.
Other times you may find out that the internet
provider in your area cannot provide you with
enough speed to make the cloud a reality for
you just yet. The key here again is to do all the
research, or better yet partner with the right
firm who can do it for you. Knowledge is the
key here; understanding all the variables and
how they work toward success can be tricky.
In conclusion, the cloud is here, it’s not going
away, and it will continue to make everyone’s
life easier. As a small business you can now
use the cloud to compete with the big guys on
a level playing field. Small startups are able
to suddenly land on a global stage like never
before. If you have an idea, there are resources
in the cloud to make it a reality in a very short
time. It is a great time to be in technology and
even better for businesses to increase productivity and reduce costs by stepping into the
cloud. There are some amazing ROI stats that
show the cloud saving businesses thousands a
year on computer and server hardware, not to
speak of the monies spent to maintain these
environments. Servers are disappearing from
small businesses all over the area, and I for one
have not heard anyone upset that the little box
in the closet is missing!
Mark Shaw is president of StoredTech,
40 Dix Avenue, Glens Falls. He can be
contacted at 793-1111 or via the website:
www.storedtech.com.
Levack Real Estate
REGIONAL STOCKWATCH
Stock Name
Closing Price
9/14/12
Closing Price Closing Price Closing Price
9/21/12
9/28/12
10/5/12
has been selling real estate since 1985. He, his
younger brother, Page, and a partner from Albany, opened Levack Real Estate in Glens Falls
in 1988. The company now has four brokers
and some part time support staff.
“Our goal is to hire two new brokers in the
near term,” he said. He recently helped one of
them re-activate his real estate license.
The trend is “absolutely up,” he said, whether one looks at the number of transactions or
the number of dollars changing hands.
Levack Real Estate is located at 33 Park
St. in Glens Falls. The telephone number
is 793-7600.
Albany Int’l
22.78
21.80
21.97
22.08
AMD
3.90
3.60
3.37
3.22
Angiodynamics
12.30
12.33
12.20
12.51
AT & T
37.26
38.08
37.70
37.86
Arrow
25.46
24.69
25.00
25.02
Bank of America
9.55
9.11
8.83
9.32
Boston Scientific
5.82
5.79
5.74
5.76
Citizens Bank
20.55
19.87
19.61
20.10
CR Bard
102.23
104.74
104.65
105.60
First Niagara
8.42
8.24
8.07
8.41
Commercial Real Estate
General Electric
22.11
22.53
22.71
23.12
Home Depot
59.46
59.42
60.37
63.20
IBM
206.81
205.98
207.45
210.59
International Paper
35.52
35.51
36.32
36.81
Kadant
24.52
24.04
23.19
24.01
KeyCorp
9.04
8.91
8.74
8.88
Lee
1.50
1.44
1.48
1.50
McDonalds
91.70
93.71
91.75
91.00
National Grid
55.55
55.83
55.36
56.30
NBT Bankcorp
22.12
22.53
22.07
22.15
Proctor & Gamble
69.16
69.42
69.36
69.63
Staples
12.21
12.36
11.52
11.63
Target
64.67
64.44
63.47
64.18
Time Warner Cable
44.71
45.90
45.33
46.18
TD
84.25
83.96
83.34
83.86
Trustco Bank
5.89
5.91
5.71
5.82
UPS
73.68
71.88
71.57
73.10
Verizon
44.53
45.64
45.57
47.05
Walmart
74.50
74.45
73.80
75.13
Friday closing quotes for local stocks of interest provided by Thompson ONE courtesy
of Pamela Green, Financial Planning Specialist and Paul Hebert, Financial Advisor with
the Global Wealth Management Division of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, member
SIPC in Glens Falls, NY, phone 518-793-4181. The information contained in this article is
not a solicitation to purchase or sell investments.
Lake George Real Estate
are still a lot harder to qualify for, with banks
continuing their close scrutiny of potential
home buyers. “For example,” he says, “selfemployed persons continue to have a hard time
obtaining a mortgage. They are a big part of
our market and it’s very difficult for them to
buy unless they are able to pay cash.”
He also notes that trends in buying and
renovating have changed markedly in the past
few years. Whereas in the mid-2000s, people
were buying up properties with small homes
and then demolishing them to build mansions,
the past few years have seen a movement away
from that trend. “That type of buying and renovation has really slowed down,” he notes, “and
to open up a new business.”
Sears has several commercial listings
throughout Glens Falls and Queensbury. They
include vacant space in Stone Plaza, located
on Dix Avenue. He also represents Fairfield
Professional Park, located on the corner of
Walker Lane and Bay Road, offering 16 onehalf to two-acre subdivided lots approved for
professional offices. Other listings include 103
Warren St. (formerly Explore!), as well as 1043
and 989 Route 9 in Queensbury.
Sears also credits Global Foundries for
impacting commercial real estate beyond
Saratoga County, though its reach to Glens
Falls is subtle so far.
“I think Global Foundries has a very strong
impact, but for this region specifically it has
not evolved to the point where you can really
show a marked improvement of the commercial
people are putting up more humble homes.”
The reasons for this are twofold: the economy and tighter lending restrictions are the most
obvious reasons; but, local regulations have
also been an integral factor in the clamping
down of giant development on the lake and in
the surrounding environs. “We want to preserve
the green space, the waters, and the overall
integrity of the place,” says Dan.
If you are interested in finding out more
about Lake George real estate, you can contact
Dan Davies at 656-9068 or visit their website
at www.davies-davies.com. You can also learn
more about the rich history of Lake George by
going to www.lakegeorgechamber.com.
activity as a result,” Sears said. “Going forward,
I think it will have an impact in the next couple
of years for this area.”
Ferro referred to one property that was
recently sold in only 32 days. “And the discrepancy between the asking price and the selling
price is coming closer. Sellers are less inclined
to unload a property at any price, as they might
otherwise be in a very slow market.”
Ferro says he is very bullish on the Capital
Region commercial market, and it’s not all because of Global Foundries. There is a great deal
of new construction – hundreds of thousands of
square feet –happening around SUNY Albany’s
nanotech campus, as well.
To reach Sears at Prudential Manor Homes
Realtors, call 793-7940. To contact Ferro at
Prudential Blake Realty, call 464-0870, ext.
2212 or visit www.prublakecommercial.com.
Benefits Of E-Commerce
merce, if you have the right search engine optimization (SEO) on you website to get your store
found for keywords related to your product, you
can compete with other competing brands –
even national / multi-national brands. Search
engine optimization is extremely important and
needs to be a big factor when searching for the
right solution. Afterall, your e-commerce will
not be successful unless consumers can actually find your website on the internet.
Jennifer Manz is director of digital
marketing at Mannix Marketing in Glens
Falls. She can be reached at 743-9424 or at
www.mannixmarketing.com.
Business Registrations
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Washington County
GG Consulting
Gloria G. Gillman
355 Dean Road
Hudson Falls 12839
Washington County Dairy Supplier
Richard Perry Lane III
451 Opallo Road
Fort Johnson 12070
Armor Roofing
Rosanna D. Lollo
496 County Route 6
Clemons 12819
SG Rockhill Productions
Stephen F. Douglas Jr.
748 Spraguetown Road
Greenwich 12834
Ruperts Treasure Chest
Rupert Tomkins
79 Main Srteet
Granville 12832
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Artfull Vagabond Productions
Cynthia Matte
Whitehall 12887
Compound Masters Drywall
Lynn J. Canale
32 Fiarview Lane
Hudson Falls 12839
Hair on Wheels
Nicolette Gabrielle Hammond
75 Cedar Ridge Way
Fort Ann 12827
J L Custom Communications
•
Personnel &
Business Briefs
Adirondack Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery recently opened an office in Glens
Falls. The practice provides oral surgery
procedures including wisdom teeth removal,
dental implants, teeth-in-an-hour, bone
grafting for dental implant placement, and
the treatment of facial trauma, facial injury,
fractured jaw, TMJ, cleft lip & cleft palate,
impacted teeth and tooth extraction.
Adirondack Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
serves upstate New York communities from
offices in Albany, Clifton Park and Glen Falls.
The Glens Falls office is located at One Broad
Street Plaza, Broad Street.
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Two Washington County Toastmasters
stepped up to the challenge of competing
in the Fall 2012 Area 71 contest, held in
September, both attaining top-three placement and one heading to the next level of
competition.
Sandy Buxton of Fort Edward achieved
third place in the humorous speech contest
and Bill Lupo of Hudson Falls took second
place in the speech evaluation contest. Lupo
moved on to the Division G speech contest.
“We’re very proud of Sandy and Bill
for representing our Washington County
Toastmasters in the contest and of their
accomplishments,” HollyAnn Carbino, vice
president of education stated.
Washington County Toastmasters meets at
the Annex II Building, next to the Washington County Cornell Cooperative Extension
Building, 415 Lower Main St., Hudson Falls,
NY, on first and third Wednesdays at 7 p.m.
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Jaeger & Flynn Associates, Inc. of Clifton
Park and Glens Falls announced the addition
of Beth Sullivan as a commercial insurance
marketing manager.
Sullivan was previously employed by Centerplate Inc. as an event manager. She is a
licensed insurance broker and previously
worked for 17 years at Weller, Marcil & Greco
Inc. in Schenectady and White Plains as a
commercial property and casualty broker.
Jaeger & Flynn Associates, Inc. is a provider of insurance, employee benefits and
human resource support services.
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C.T. Male Associates, Engineering, Surveying, Architecture & Landscape Architecture, P.C. announced the addition of
Cullen O’Brien as a project development
manager in the company’s business development group.
O’Brien will be responsible for securing
•
new business for the variety of services offered by C.T. Male.
Prior to joining C.T. Male, he was the
business development manager for Safway
Services, where he sought and secured
bridge and related engineering suspension
projects. Additionally, he was the business
development manager for Bovis Lend Lease
LMB Inc., where he directed marketing and
business development initiatives for the
private and public construction sectors.
O’Brien earned a bachelor’s degree in
communications from SUNY Oswego. He is a
member of the Queensbury High School Dollars for Scholars and Junior Achievement.
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We’d like to promote your commercial & residential property. Call us, 581-0600.
•
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Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company announced the promotion of Laurie
A. LaFountain to senior vice president and
head of the bank’s Trust and Investment
Division.
LaFountain joined the bank in 1981 as a
trust clerk and has held several positions
over the years, including trust operations
supervisor and employee benefits officer.
She was promoted to manager of the Retirement Plan Services Department in 1996, vice
president in 1998, and senior vice president
in 2007.
Active in the community, LaFountain is
vice President of the Warren County SPCA
board of directors and a member of the Wings
Falls Quilt Guild.
She is a graduate of South Glens Falls
High School and earned an associate’s degree in liberal arts from Adirondack Community College. Ms. LaFountain also attended
the International Foundation of Employee
Benefit Plans’ certified employee benefit
specialist program, the American Society of
Pension Professionals and Actuaries’ certified pension consultant program, the New
York State Bankers Association employee
benefit trust school, and the Cannon Financial Institute employee benefit certification
program.
A native of South Glens Falls, LaFountain
resides in Gansevoort.
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Available Commercial
& Residential Properties
*
Darlene Olivieri Raynsford has been
named the new Director of Communications,
Marketing and Public Relations at Glens
Falls Hospital
Raynsford comes to Glens Falls Hospital
with more than ten years experience in
organizational communications, marketing,
and social media. She has worked in both
the higher education and health care fields,
having held positions at the University at
John Hayes and Amy Sutton of Roohan Realty are listing agents of this historic brick
building in Saratoga Springs. It has been totally redone and is in great location on
Beekman Street. The main floor of this beautiful building is used as a bar on the
left and a ceramic studio on the right. It has all new wiring; plumbing, heating and
cooling and most of the kitchen appliances remain with the building. It also includes
1200 SF of space on the 3rd floor that is ready to finish and the 2nd floor flat is living
space. Priced to sell ~ please call John or Amy for
more information. Offered for $895,000.
587.4500
RoohanRealty.com
519 Broadway
Saratoga Springs
John Hayes
Amy Sutton
Business Registrations
Jonathan Lewis Lashinsky
15 George Street
Fort Ann 12827
Morgans Lane Woodcrafter
Patricia Coutant
35 Morgans Lane
Comstock 12821
Charlies Landscaping
and Communications
Charles Edward waite V
9 1/2 Lincoln Street
Granville 12832
OverHall Your Hair
Jennifer Lynn Hall
60 Oak Street
Hudson Falls 12839
A Touch Above Cleaning Service
Dawn Marie Gates
85 John Street #2
Hudson Falls 12839
Battenkill Candles
Bethany Jo-Wurster Ives
49 Morehouse Lane
Greenwich 12834
Northland Security
Brian John Gillis
34 Thomson Road
Greenwich 12834
Polis Photography
Dean J Polis
197 Rich Road
Shushan 12873
Personnel Briefs
Albany, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute,
and Ellis Medicine.
Raynsford holds a Bachelor of Arts degree
in English from St. Bonaventure University,
and a Masters of Science degree in Educational Administration from the University
at Albany.
At Glens Falls Hospital, Raynsford is responsible for the development and delivery
of internal and external communications to
key audiences, including employees, community members and the media.
Glens Falls Hospital, founded in 1897, is a
410-bed, not-for-profit, community hospital
serving a six-county region of Northeastern
New York. With 3,000 employees, it is the
largest healthcare provider between Albany
and Montreal.
Too Busy To Keep Up With
What’s Going On In
The Tri-County
Business Community?
Business People
Dine Out More Often
Need To Know What Your Competition Is Doing?
To Get A Concise Readable Overview, Subscribe To
Glens Falls Business Journal
Saratoga Business Journal
P.O. Box 766, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 or P.O. Box 766, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Go on our website
www.glensfallsbusinessjournal.com or
www.saratogabusinessjournal.com
and click on the subscription tab.
You may also mail your check in the amount of
$25.00 for 12 issues made
payable to Weinhagen Associates LLC
Name
Firm
Address
City
State
Zip Code
(518) 581-0600 • www.glensfallsbusinessjournal.com
The Peppermill Family Restaurant, owned by John and Vicki Osakowicz, offers a variety of homestyle
fresh food served by a staff that is
dedicated to pleasing their customers.
The Osakowicz’ sons, Kristopher
and John Jr., serve as Executive
Chefs.
The casual setting provides a
comfortable atmosphere in which to
enjoy a good meal.
The diversified menu includes
The Peppermill Classic Breakfast,
offering large omelettes, pancakes,
sausage and bacon, is an excellent
start to anyone’s busy day.
Lunch includes wraps, freshly
roasted turkey clubs, and the very
freshest gravies, sauces and soups.
Chicken International is just one of
the Peppermill’s signature dishes,
which is generous in portion and
flavor.
For senior citizens and children,
The Peppermill offers a light fare
menu.
Accommodations can be made
for parties and gatherings of up to
40 guests.
The restaurant has been a popular
dining spot for local families and visitors for over 18 years. Customers
keep coming back to enjoy the family’s culinary offerings and comfortable surroundings.
The Peppermill Family Restaurant
is located in the Midtown Shopping
Center in South Glens Falls. It is
open Monday through Saturday,
7:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., and Sunday
7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
MasterCard, Visa and Discover
are accepted.
For further information, call 518793-4606 or log onto www.menumart/
peppermillrestaurant.com.
The Log Jam, located at 1484
Route 9 in Lake George, combines a
panoramic view of the Adirondacks,
superb dining, and accommodating
hospitality, and brings it all to visitors
and local residents alike. The restaurant is open daily, 363 days a year, for
lunch and dinner.
Executive Chef Rod Russo has been
with the restaurant for over 18 years,
bringing consistency, quality and a
reputation for using only the freshest
ingredients in his culinary creations.
Lunch offers plenty of delicious
choices, including Adirondack French
fries served with zesty horseradish
sauce, as well as crab meat mushrooms baked with a crab meat stuffing
and served with a Dijon crab sauce.
All entrees include an incredible array
of salad items from which to choose.
Burgers such as The Adirondack
are a customer favorite. Sandwiches
include pork and turkey melts, Southwest chicken and the Log Jam’s
feature—The Rocky Mount. From the
Adirondack French dip to the chef’s
own crab cakes, the varieties of fresh
foods are all cooked to perfection.
The kid-friendly children’s menu
includes grilled cheese sandwiches,
chicken tenders, and bow tie pasta,
all offered with a salad bar and potato chips.
Dinner appetizers and entrees are
all prepared with only the freshest
ingredients. Crab cakes, shrimp ‘n bacon, escargo and New England clam
chowder are just a few of the delicious
selections.
The Log Jam’s famous dinner entrees offer succulent roasted Long
Island duck, fresh twin lobster tails,
loin lamb chops, char-broiled prime rib,
filet mignon, steak au poivre and steak
teriyaki. The seafood offerings include
maple Dijon salmon, lobster tail, and
fresh sea scallops.
The restaurant can seat 225 diners,
and will host private parties and events.
The Oak Room can seat 655 and The
Greenhouse can accommodate 50.
Both rooms can be booked for private
parties.
Special requests are always welcome for people with specific dietary
needs.
The Log Jam accepts all major credit
cards. Lunch is served between 11:30
a.m. and 2:30 p.m.; dinner is served
between 5:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
For more information, visit www.
logjamrestaurant.com or call 798-1155.
The Docksider, 298 Glen Lake Road
in Lake George, is open seven days a
week, year round, from 11:30 a.m.
Chef Jason Wells prepares an array
of homemade appetizers, entrees and
desserts to satisfy every appetite. His
skills bring patrons back on a regular
basis to enjoy his regular favorites and
special entree’s.
The Docksider is very kid-friendly,
with a generous menu for children un-
der 10 that offers hamburgers, chicken
tenders, personal cheese pizza, spaghetti and meatballs and hot dogs,
topped of with ice cream for dessert.
Appetizers and soups are generous
in portion and include focaccia bread
served with garlic oil, potato skins with
cheddar cheese and bacon, nachos,
shrimp and steamed clams. Soups
are all made from scratch and include
clam chowder, French onion and soup
of the day.
Lunch offerings include salads,
wraps, quesadillas, seafood, burgers,
hot dogs and freshly made hot and cold
sandwiches ranging from filet mignon,
Reubens and crab melts to deli sandwiches and pizzas.
Entrees for dinner include New York
strip steak, prime rib and filet mignon,
all cooked to perfection. Fresh haddock, scallops, oysters, and fried
chicken are available, and all come with
soup or salad, vegetable and choice of
potato. All menu items are available for
dine-in or take-out. Specials are run on
a regular basis.
The vista from the Docksider is
spectacular, with beautiful views of
Glen Lake from the deck in season.
Patrons are invited to dock their boats
and enjoy a deliciously prepared meal
with a relaxing lake view.
The Docksider’s capacity is 65 diners
but swells to 100 with deck seating.
The restaurant hosts banquets and
private parties with reservations.
They accept MasterCard and Visa.
For more information, visit
www.glenlakedocksider.com or call
518-792-3534.
ARCC Membership Celebration
All Photos Courtesy Of Adirondack Regional Chamber Of Commerce
John Marcantonio, of ARCC, congratulates Tom Albrecht, Hilltop Construction, for having
the winning team in the 2012 ARCC membership challenge.
far and wide and I would have benefitted from
being a member. Now was my time to share
those thoughts with others.”
Many individuals made this effort a success,
led by both John Marcantonio, membership
manager for the ARCC and Laura Conway of
Cool Insuring Agency. Team captains were Tim
Jansen of Well-Dun Air and Water Systems and
Tom Albrecht of Hilltop Construction. Their
teams were made up of over 45 volunteers of
current ARCC members in addition to Chamber
board members who not only believed in the
mission of the Chamber, but volunteered their
time to grow the membership.
“We live in such a diverse business community”, commented Laura Conway from Cool
Insuring Agency and membership campaign
chairperson. “Having the ARCC as the collective voice for all members is integral to
business success. The programs and benefits
provided to every type of business allow individuals with extensive business experience
to be a vital resource to newer businesses in
the region”.
“The strength of the ARCC is, very simply, its
membership,” noted Peter Aust, President &
CEO of the Chamber. “Through the dedication
of these member volunteers who committed
their time and talent to build the membership
of the organization, the ARCC is now a much
stronger organization that will continue to be
the voice of business in our community and
provide valuable resources that will ensure
that our members grow and prosper.”
The Chamber is very appreciative of every
volunteer who worked on this month-long effort
as well as the sponsors that provided incentives to the volunteers – especially Adirondack
Technical Solutions who contributed the grand
prize award. A campaign wrap-up event was
held to celebrate the success of the campaign
at the Next Door Pub on October 11th.
Commerce (ARCC) is a not-for-profit,
member-based business organization. The
Chamber is a vigorous advocate for the
economic success of its 1,000+ member
businesses, representing more than 23,000
people, predominantly in Warren, Washington and Northern Saratoga Counties in New
York State. ARCC is dedicated to creating
economic opportunity and enhancing the
quality of life throughout the Adirondack
Region. www.adirondackchamber.org.
Dax, Adirondack Phantoms mascot, gives a big ‘thank you’ to Jared Huminston of
Adirondack Technical Solutions, who donated the grand prize – a 47-inch flat-screen TV.
Some of the hardest workers in the entire Adirondack region: Dax, John, Tom, Jared,
and Peter.
Success takes a whole team (l to r): John Marcantonio, ARCC; John Pietrangelo, Tech
Valley Patent; Tim Jansen, Wel-Dun Air & Water Systems; Jared Huminston, Adirondack
Technical Solutions; Tom Albrecht, Hilltop Construction; Dave Caruso, Stewarts Shops;
Peter Aust, ARCC President/CEO; and Laura Conway, Cool Insuring Agency.

glens falls business journal

Transcription

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