May 2014 FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2014 • 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

May 2014
Celebrate our Golden Anniversary
at the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce’s
50th Annual Dinner and Meeting on May 13!
This year’s 50th Annual Dinner and Meeting of the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce will be a very special
one and an event you surely will not want to miss!
Sponsored by Visions Federal Credit Union, the Chamber’s Annual Meeting is one of the most popular and long-standing
traditions of business and community leaders. Close to 500 decision-makers from both the private and public sector convene
for camaraderie and commemoration on this evening. This important, once-a-year event is designed to celebrate your Chamber
membership and to introduce your staff and associates to the exciting accomplishments of your Chamber.
The Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce is proud to invite every member to the 50th Annual Dinner and Meeting
on Tuesday, May 13 at The McKinley at Huron Campus in Endicott. This year’s event kicks off at 5:30 p.m. with a cocktail
reception, followed by dinner at 6:45 p.m. A special video presentation will be shown to commemorate this golden anniversary.
The Annual Dinner and Meeting is open to all employees of any Chamber member company or organization.
At the event, the Chamber will recognize and honor four Award Recipients for 2014 in the categories of: Civic Leader of the
Year, Small Business Advocate of the Year, Small Business Person of the Year, and Young Professional of the Year. The
evening will conclude with an entertaining performance by the Live Wire Players, a long-standing tradition.
Tickets are limited and reservations must be made by Thursday, May 1, 2014.
Event tickets are available for $65.00 per person.
Tickets can be purchased individually or in groups of nine for a full table. For more information,
contact Christine Stezzi at (607) 772-8860 or [email protected].
R ecruit E mployees at the C hamber’s
June 2014 Greater Binghamton Career Fair!
Friday, June 20, 2014 • 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
The Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Broome
County IDA, invites you to participate in the June Career Fair on Friday, June 20, 2014.
Sponsored by SUNY Broome Community College, the Career Fair will take place at
their Ice Center, located on Upper Front Street in Binghamton, from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00
p.m. The Chamber’s long-time Career Fair partners, Broome Tioga Workforce and
NYS Department of Labor, will be on hand to collect resumes from job seekers and
offer valuable advice on resume building and interviewing techniques.
Each year our bi-annual career fairs draw hundreds of qualified participants. Last year was a particularly busy time drawing
large numbers of skilled individuals seeking employment or a career change. The Ice Center provides an excellent and dedicated
venue for employers to meet with prospective employees; it is conveniently located on a bus line giving job seekers easy access to
the Career Fair.
This event is a very cost-effective way to recruit workers for your company!
With your registration you receive:
• An advertising campaign targeted at quality candidates.
• One large, centrally located venue with dedicated space for employers and
potential employees.
• Exhibiting area with an 8’ table, tablecloth, skirt and chairs.
• Access to an on-line resume database after
the event.
• Dedicated area for “break-out sessions” to
enhance job seekers attendance.
We look forward to your participation
in our June Career Fair!
To register, look for the registration form on page 23
or if you have any questions, contact Debby Evans at (607) 772-8863 x 317
or [email protected]
Chamber Staff
2
May 2014
ChamberDirectory
Directory ofof
Staff
Chamber
Staff
Local
Lending
Administration
Main Phone: (607) 772-8860 | Dial Direct: (607) 772-8863 + ext
www.GreaterBinghamtonChamber.com
Lou Santoni
Theresa Ryan
Brendan O’Bryan
President & CEO
& Director, CVB
Ext. 330
Finance Director
Ext. 339
Certified IPA/
Navigator
Ext. 302
Susan Kuhn
Teresa Myers
Christine Stezzi
Administrative
Assistant
Ext. 322
Technical Coordinator
Ext. 315
Receptionist/ Secretary
Ext. 300
Investing in Endwell
VISIONS can be the answer to your
business needs. Throughout the region,
and right here in Endwell, businesses of
every size are putting our experienced
business team to work.
For creative ideas to support your
short or long-term financial needs, call
VISIONS.
Communications & Membership
Amy Shaw
Debby Evans
Carol Armstrong
VicePresident ,
Member Services
& Executive Director,
GBEOP Ext. 313
Project and Event
Coordinator
Ext. 317
Development Manager
Ext. 321
“Dealing with someon
someone
one
local, making local
decisions, makes a
difference to us. We’ve
had no issues and quick
responses.”
Jim, John and
Leon Anastos
Broadway Diner
Endwell, NY
Gateway Information Center
Kathi Murphy
Jenny Petrocelli
Director
Travel Advisor
“I can’t say enough
ab
about th
the attention
io we
receive by the VISIONS
Business Team. It’s really
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Ellen Conti
CONTI Jewelers
Endwell, NY
“VIS
“VISIONS
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at ffeell fo
for our
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my business.”
Yvonne Benjamin
Magic Needle by Yvonne
Endwell, NY
Route 81N • PO Box 114 • Kirkwood, NY 13795
(607) 775-0156 • [email protected]
Convention & Visitor’s Bureau
Judi Hess
Gina Calisi
Maegen Eddinger
Manager,
Tourism
& Special Events
Ext. 329
Manager,
Convention Sales
Ext. 326
Sales
Representative
Ext. 328
We’re in the business of business.
visionsfcu.org
NY-0000699020
ChambeReport
News • Advocacy
3
Energy-Efficient Home Improvements
Can Lower Your Taxes
You may be able to reduce your taxes if you make certain energy-efficient
home improvements. Here are some key facts that you should know about
home energy tax credits.
Non-Business Energy Property Credit • This credit is worth 10 percent of the cost of certain qualified energysaving items you added to your main home last year. This includes
items such as insulation, windows, doors and roofs. •
• You may also be able to claim the credit for the actual cost of certain
property. This may include items such as water heaters and heating and
air conditioning systems. Each type of property has a different dollar
limit.
• This credit has a maximum lifetime limit of $500. You may only use
$200 of this limit for windows.
• Your main home must be located in the U.S. to qualify for the credit
• Be sure you have the written certification from the manufacturer that
their product qualifies for this tax credit. They usually post it on their
website or include it with the product’s packaging. You can rely on it to
claim the credit, but do not attach it to your return. Keep it with your
tax records.
• This credit expired at the end of 2013. You may still claim the credit on
your 2013 tax return if you didn’t reach the lifetime limit in prior years.
Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit
• This tax credit is 30 percent of the cost of alternative energy equipment
installed on or in your home.
• Qualified equipment includes solar hot water heaters, solar electric
equipment and wind turbines.
• There is no dollar limit on the credit for most types of property. If your
credit is more than the tax you owe, you can carry forward the unused
portion of this credit to next year’s tax return.
• The home must be in the U.S. It does not have to be your main home.
• This credit is available through 2016.
Use Form 5695, Residential Energy Credits, to claim these credits.
For more on this topic refer to the form’s instructions.
You can get it on IRS.gov or order it by mail
by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).
As of April 1; 865,487 New Yorkers have successfully enrolled in health
insurance plans and 1,217,493 New Yorkers have completed applications for
health insurance through the NY State of Health Marketplace. New York
had anticipated 1.1 million New Yorkers to enroll in the NY State of Health
by 2016. These numbers show that New York State is currently exceeding
expectations for enrollment.
Open enrollment for the NY State of Health Marketplace closed as of
March 31, 2014!
What does the end of open enrollment mean?
Outside open enrollment, you cannot enroll in the NY State of Health
Marketplace insurance unless you have certain life events (Qualifying Event)
that give you a special enrollment period. You can however apply in the
Small Business Marketplace, for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance
Program (CHIP) any time. If you’re qualified you can enroll right away.
What is a Qualifying Event?
In order to buy a Marketplace health insurance plan outside the open
enrollment period, you must have a qualifying life event. Qualifying life
events that create a special enrollment period include: Getting married;
having, adopting, or placement of a child; permanently moving to a new area
that offers different health plan options; losing health coverage (for example
due to a job loss, divorce, loss of eligibility for Medicaid or CHIP, expiration
of COBRA coverage, or a health plan being decertified); and people already
enrolled in Marketplace coverage, having a change in income or household
status that affects eligibility for tax credits or cost-sharing reductions.
Voluntarily quitting other health coverage or being terminated for not paying
your premiums is not considered loss of coverage.
What are Special Enrollment Periods?
If you have a qualifying life event, you get a special enrollment period. This
means you can enroll or change your health insurance plan outside the open
enrollment period. Most special enrollment periods last 60 days from the
date of the qualifying event.
Small Businesses:
If you own a Small Business and you are thinking about offering insurance
to your employees, or if your business has an enrollment period during the
year, open enrollment for the Small Business Marketplace is ongoing for the
entire year of 2014. In order to know what all of your options may be going
forward, contact our Navigator at the Chamber.
If you do not enroll:
If you have not enrolled in health insurance by the end of March 2014, do
not have a Qualifying Life Event, or do not get offered health insurance
through an employer; you will not be able to obtain health insurance for 2014.
Current Federal regulations state that an individual cannot go three or more
months without insurance. If an individual does not have insurance for three
or more months they might be fined by the Federal Government. The fine in
2014 is $95 per Adult in the household and $47.50 per child under the age of
18, or 1% of the family income in 2014 whichever the higher amount is. This
fine will be increasing in future years.
The next proposed open enrollment period is November 15, 2014 and lasts
until January 15, 2015. This would be in order to obtain health insurance for
2015.
Contact our Navigator at (607) 772-8860
at the Chamber of Commerce to discuss what options
you may have or if you would like to enroll your Small Business
into the SHOP Marketplace.
4
May 2014
News
Sponsored by:
With
In partnership with:
A Conversation with
Osterhoudt-Madden Funeral Home
What are your primary products and/or services?
Osterhoudt-Madden Funeral Home is a
Family Owned Funeral Home serving the
entire Tri-County area of Upstate New York
(Broome, Chenango, Delaware). We offer
traditional, non-traditional, cremation and
other support services for bereaved families.
We are proud to have served in eastern
Broome County since the early 1800’s.
When was your business established?
The funeral home was originally established as a furniture store/funeral home
combination in its early stages. Since 2000, the Madden Family has converted
the entire establishment to serve the funeral business. Some of the updates
included, expansion, remodeling, new parking lots, landscape and other modern
conveniences for those we serve.
What other information would you like people to know, such as recent news
coverage, community involvement, your mission or philosophy?
We are family owned and operated. We give thanks to those who have placed their
trust in us and look forward to serving those who call.
What would you like membership of the Greater Binghamton Chamber of
Commerce to provide for your business?
Membership in the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce has widened
our visibility among businesses and provided valuable information for us to
operate daily.
The Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce’s Career Connection is
Live! Career Connection is a database where Chamber members can post
their job openings at no cost on www.greaterbinghamtonchamber.com.
Thanks to our partnership with News Channel 34, these job postings will
also appear on-line at www.binghamtonhomepage.com. In addition, career
opportunities at your business could be selected to appear as a daily
promo spot free of charge! The promos will run on the 6:00 p.m. and 11:00
p.m. segments on both WIVT/WBGH and have additional mentions in the
morning cut-ins during the Today & Good Morning America shows.
This opportunity is only available to Chamber Members. This great
benefit for Chamber members can save you money on recruitment and
increase your visibility to potential new employees in the community.
Job openings can be submitted through an easy on-line form at www.
greaterbinghamtonchamber.com. The opening will remain on the websites
for a maximum of 30 days, unless otherwise specified.
If you are interested in posting an employment opportunity
with your business on Career Connection,
please contact Brendan O’Bryan at (607) 772-8860
or at [email protected].
ChambeReport
5
Summer fun is just around the corner!
The groundhog might have missed the mark on
an early spring, but nothing signals summer like
Memorial Day. Take a break from the everyday and
plan a getaway without leaving the County. The
Greater Binghamton Convention & Visitors Bureau
encourages you to go green and enjoy a vacation right
here in the community. What do you like to do on your
time off? Golf (regular or mini), waterslides, camping,
boating, fishing, hiking, or attend a unique festival?
You can do that all right here. In addition to our Carousel
collection (open Memorial Day through Labor Day), Binghamton Zoo at Ross
Park, Roberson Museum & Science Center, The Discovery Center, or host of
recreational options, our summer months are filled with fun things to do.
Baseball, hotdogs… start your summer fun at a B-Mets Game. Go off the
beaten path and visit a local farmer’s market, or go exploring the numerous
hiking/walking & biking trails throughout the County. Do you prefer “festival
fun”? Check out the Lumberjack Festival, July Fest & Jazz Fest, 30th Annual
Spiedie Fest & Balloon Rally, or the Broome County Fair.
Sports fans can rejoice. In addition to the B-Mets you
can also see the pro’s play at the Dick’s Sporting Goods
Open, Levene Gouldin & Thompson Tennis Challenger,
and the Chris Thater Memorial Races. Prefer amateur
sports? No problem, there is BMX racing at the
Grippen BMX Park, or scores of baseball, lacrosse,
rugby, softball, soccer and wrestling tournaments
that take place all summer long. Perhaps you prefer
the finer notes ~ then check the schedules for the
Anderson Center for the Performing Arts, the Cider
Mill Playhouse, the Summer Savoyards, a First Friday
Art Walk, or one of the many band concerts that take
place all summer long. And there’s more! Swimming in
area parks, sampling delicious food at numerous church
bazaars, antique car shows and fireworks (4th of July &
Labor Day) can also re-energize you.
For a complete listing of summer events, visit www.
VisitBinghamton.org. Check out our calendar of events or
download a copy of our Summer Calendar of Events.
So head on out and have some summer fun!
Convention & Visitors Bureau
to offer Annual Hospitality Training Seminar
The Greater Binghamton Convention & Visitors Bureau
will be offering a hospitality training seminar.
The purpose of the training is to prepare
“front line” tourism employees for the busy summer travel season.
Topics to be covered include dealing with difficult customers;
make the customer feel welcome; and education on local attractions.
The seminar is appropriate for any employee who regularly interacts
with visitors to our community – from hotels to restaurants,
attractions to service providers. Mark your calendars….
DATE
– TUESDAY, MAY 6 – 10:00 - 11:00 AM
LOCATION
– Galaxy Brewing Company
– 41 Court Street
(parking available in the Metro Center parking lot
– bring your tickets in with you)
Invitations & Reservations forms will be mailed to local “hospitality”
industry businesses that have regular interaction with tourists.
Check your email or mail for registration forms
or call: 772-8863, ext. 322.
This is a great opportunity to help create
a great first impression of your business and our community!
Convention & Events Schedule
May • June • July 2014
Date
Event Approximate # of
Overnight Visitors
May 1 – 4
New Fellowship Church Conference
100
May 2 – 4
Greater Binghamton Bridge Run Half Marathon & 5K
250
May 2 – 4
NYS Collegiate Rowing Championships
1,200
May 2 – 4
USPSA-ISPC NYS Action Rifle Championship
200
May 9 – 10
NYS Order of the Eastern Star
200
May 9 – 11
USAIGC – New York State Championship – North
1,000
May 9 – 11
NY-USA Wrestling Junior/Cadet State Tournament
1,500
May 9 – 11
American Dance Awards
175
May 10 – 11
BAGSAI Softball Tournament Play Day 12U/14U/16U
200
May 12 – 15 Midway Firefighters Golf Tournament
125
May 16 – 17 6th District Dental Society
100
May 16 – 18 Binghamton University Graduation
5,000
May 16 – 18 NDO Lady Hornets AAU Basketball 81 North Classic
500
May 17 – 18
BAGSAI Softball Tournament Play Day 12U/14U/16U
200
May 22 – 23 SUNY Broome Graduation
200
May 22 – 23 Care Management Summit
200
May 23 – 26 BAGSAI Softball Tournament Memorial Day Madness
500
May 30 – 31 US Bowling Congress
200
May 30 – June 1A AU Basketball Southern Tier Flyers
500
May 30 – June 1Unadilla Valley Sports Center MX Rewind Weekend
300
June 2 – 6
Southern Tier Police Canine Assn. Adv. Handlers & Tactical Seminar
50
June 4 – 6
Association of Institutional Researchers & Planning Officers
100
June 6 – 7
Amvets
300
June 6 – 8
BAGSAI Softball Tournament 12U/14U Challenge
450
June 13 – 15 BAGSAI Softball Tournament College Showcase
550
June 13 – 15 The Edge Warrior Shoot Out JV & Varsity Boys Division
500
June 19 – 20 NYS Sustainable Business Council
100
June 19 – 21 British Women Writers Conference
200
June 20 – 22 Square Deal Riders Motorcycle AHRMA Vintage National Race
200
June 20 – 22 12U/14U ASA Summer Kickoff
450
June 20 – 22 The Edge Warrior Shoot Out Boys 3rd/4th; 5th/6th; 7th/8th Grades Division 500
June 24 – 29 Dragonfly Society of America Regional Meeting
60
June 27 – 29 BAGSAI Softball Tournament Empire State 12U/14U
500
July 2 – 6
Broome County American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame Tournament
200
July 3 – 6
ASA 16U / 18U NYS ASA Championships
550
July 10 – 13
STOP DWI Tournament of Champions
1,700
July 11 – 13
Unadilla Valley Grand Prix ATV National
400
July 12 – 20
Levene Gouldin & Thompson Tennis Challenger
600
July 14 – 17
Physical Plant Managers Associations
150
July 18 – 20
Binghamton Summer Exposure Boys Lacrosse Tournament
1,500
July 18 – 20
BAGSAI Softball Tournament 16U Summer Sizzler
450
July 18 – 20
SusqueNango Summer Trials Obedience/Rally Trial
150
July 18 – 20
Union Aquatic Swim Meet Sertoma Summer Invitational
350
July 20 – 25
Chenango Ice Rink Youth Hockey Summer Camps
50
July 24 – 27
Carousel Modelers & Miniatures Association
100
July 25 – 27
BAGSAI Softball Tournament 12U/14U League Tournament
400
Convention Scoreboard 2014
Convention & Events Scheduled For
Convention & Events Through
Total out-of-town visitors Through
TOTAL DOLLARS THROUGH 2014
May
21
May
78
May
30,546
May $9,215,217
If you are interested in offering discounts and becoming part of our
Give Away List sent to Meeting & Event Planners, please contact
the Greater Binghamton Convention & Visitors Bureau at 772-8860.
Meeting & Event Planners are sent offerings 90 days in advance.
VisitBinghamton.org
May 2014
6
Hosts
Successful
of the Southern Tier
The Broome Leadership Institute (BLI) and the BLI Alumni Association hosted a very successful
Canstruction® of the Southern Tier at the Oakdale Mall during the week of March 23 – 30, 2014. Ten local
teams competed to design and build giant structures from full cans of food to generate awareness about
hunger issues on our community. 100% of the proceeds will support hunger-relief efforts in Broome County!
The event raised $15,000 and thousands of pounds of food for our community, which will benefit the Maine
Endwell School District food pantry (MEALS Program) to supplement their efforts to support children, the
Food Bank’s BackPack program at East Middle School in Binghamton to support children, Catholic Charities
of Broome County (our community’s largest food pantry), as well as other food pantries in our area.
Congratulations to all the teams! Canstruction® judges recognized the winners in each category below:
BCK-IBI Group
– “Sharing a Picnic” Winner, Best Meal Award
Broome-Tioga BOCES
- CTE Leadership/SkillsUSA
– “Warming Your Hearts for Hunger”
Winner, Structural Ingenuity Award
Broome-Tioga BOCES
- New Visions Engineering Academy
– “Twisting Out Hunger”
Delta Engineers
– “Checkmate on Hunger”
IBM, Endicott
– “Smarter Food for a Smarter Planet”
Keystone Associates Architects, Engineers &
Surveyors, LLC
– “Spiedie Fest Balloons”
Winner, Honorable Mention Award
Lockheed Martin
– “Aligning the Stars Against Hunger”
Winner, Best Use of Labels Award
Rockwell Collins
– “Tuna Moon and Back” Winner,
Juror’s Favorite Award & People’s Choice Award
United Health Services
– “MyPlate”
Visions Federal Credit Union
– “Packed with a Vision”
Our thanks
to Visions Federal Credit Union
for being
the Marquee Sponsor
for this inaugural event.
Speed Networking for a Cause
Thank you to the BLI Alumni Association, the United Way of Broome County, and STYP for sponsoring the first ever “Speed Networking for a Cause”
at the Holiday Inn Binghamton on March 27! Non-profits were able to “pitch” their organizations and business professionals were able to explain
what they were hoping to find in a volunteer capacity. It was a great turn-out with nearly 90 registered attendees!
The networking continued with an After-Hours Reception. Thank you to the Holiday Inn for the delicious hors d’oeuvres!
ChambeReport
7
The Binghamton
Mets Baseball Club
and Buddy the Bee
cut the ribbon on April 5
to celebrate
100 years of baseball
in Binghamton!
Congratulations!
Southern Tier
Homebuilders
and Remodelers Association
cut the ribbon
at the press conference
on March 28
for their Annual
Spring Home & Garden Show
at the BU Events Center.
Booth Camp
GBBE 2014 exhibitors learned valuable
tips and techniques for their booth displays
from Judi Hess, Manager, Tourism &
Special Events, Convention & Visitor’s
Bureau. Thank you, Judi!
Eggs & Issues
Thank you to Lisanne Bobby (Director of Strategic Planning, Lourdes
Hospital), Robin Kinslow-Evans (Director of Strategic Planning, UHS,
Inc.) and Jeffery Davis for presenting on the subject of “The Impact
of Policy on Local Health Care Providers” on Thursday, April 3 at the
Chamber’s Eggs & Issues breakfast seminar at the DoubleTree by Hilton
Binghamton Hotel & Conference Center.
May 2014
8
May Anniversaries
40+ Years
Doron Precision Systems, Inc.
Endicott Coil Co., Inc.
William H. Lane Incorporated
Sage Supply Co., Inc.
Tarco Steel, Inc., A Division
of Bushwick Metal, LLC
30+ Years
Catskills Off Track Betting Corporation
John C. Donovan, DPM
Number 5 Restaurant
Safeguard Business Systems
Savitch Agency
R. V. Swinamer Associates Advertising, Inc.
Weathermaster Roofing Company, Inc.
25+ Years
Stephen J. Appel Photography
Binghamton Local Development Corp.
D & R Technical Solutions, Inc.
G H S Federal Credit Union
Mang Insurance Agency
Nirchi’s Pizza
The Partners Ellis, Edson, Beaudry,
Barrett & Chubb, Inc.
Paychex, Inc.
Salvatore R. Peretore, CPA
Pierce Creek Realty & Development
Professional Home Inspection Service
John P. Rogers Electrical Contractor, Inc.
Southern Tier Insulations, Inc.
Southern Tier Stages, Inc. (Shafer’s Bus Lines)
Super X Launderette, Inc.
Taylor Rental Center
20+ Years
B D M Products, Inc.
Binghamton Hardware & HVAC Supply
The Bug Man/The Bug Killer
ClearChannel Media & Entertainment
Empower Federal Credit Union
Erie Materials, Inc.
First General Services of Southern NY, Inc.
Gorick Construction Co., Inc.
Oakdale Mall
Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 112
Smith-Ingalls-French
15+ Years
Adecco
Baden Powell Council, Boy Scouts of America
DoubleTree by Hilton
Binghamton Hotel & Conference Center
Direct Energy Business
(formerly NYSEG Solutions, Inc.)
Martin Interiors
NY-Penn Nutrition Services, Inc.
Proforma Shrader & Shrader
10+ Years
Hawkins Homes LLC
Jennings Environmental Management Inc.
Life Choices Center
Southern Tier Young Professionals
5+ Years
American Red Cross Blood Services
Designer Marketing Inc.
Empire Recycling/Confidata
Employment Solutions
Floyd’s Rent All
New York State Bluestone Association
O’Connor Investments Inc.
State Farm Insurance - Mark Anderson
Tioga Downs
Triple Cities Pipe Cleaning Inc./Roto Rooter
Upstate Office Liquidators, Inc.
New Members
A bove A ll Telecom
Mike Whelan
Johnson City, New York 13790
PHONE: (607) 729-7728
[email protected] • www.abovealltelecom.net
TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS & SERVICES (MAIN)
Caselle Italian I mports
Wayne Kerber
718 Azon Road
Johnson City, New York 13790
PHONE: (607) 724-3490 • FAX: (607) 722-3148
[email protected] • www.caselleimports.com
E-COMMERCE (MAIN); ARTISAN ITALIAN PRODUCT
S ocialgrads . com
Anthony Kashou
Binghamton, New York 13903
PHONE: (607) 725-9294 • FAX: (866) 901-9308
[email protected] • www.socialgrads.com
INTERNET SERVICES & CONSULTING (MAIN);
SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING
Thank You for Your Membership
ChambeReport
9
2013 Annual Report
Executive Message
As we reflect on 2013, the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce remains dedicated
James J. Lewis, CPA
and committed to its nearly 900 member businesses. We continue to be a resource for ideas
Chairman, Board of Directors
and solutions. We are the place where member businesses go to:
GROW your business
CONNECT with the right people, the right companies and the right information to expand your business network
Have us ADVOCATE on your behalf for policies that affect our local economy
Lou Santoni
President & CEO
The region has certainly faced economic obstacles in recent years, but the business community of Greater Binghamton has not been deterred.
Entrepreneurs continue to launch businesses, businesses continue to expand and renovate, leaders continue to grow organizations in our community,
and the highly-educated workforce continues to move our region forward.
The Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce once again had a very successful and busy year in 2013!
Applied for and received a grant to hire a Navigator to aid our Small Business members through the complexities
of the Affordable Care Act
Took the lead on important initiatives in our community including facilitating meetings to prepare businesses for the return of our service
men and women who will be re-entering the local workforce in 2014, and expanding our air service, and keeping our local businesses
well-informed on Unshackle Upstate initiatives on their behalf
Advocated on behalf of our members for a pro-business, pro-taxpayer policy agenda.
Partnered with educators and businesses to promote entrepreneurship in local schools.
Celebrated the leadership and dedication of our business community, including young professionals
Supported non-profit members through numerous events
Helped members stay informed on key issues directly affecting their business and our community, including economic forecasting,
employment law updates and business development
Trained tomorrow’s leaders
Helped membership connect with customers
Hosted a number of premier sold-out events to help maintain dues at the same level for the last five years
Increased tourism efforts in our area through conventions and events, golf packages and assisting travelers
at the Gateway Information Center
The pages of this annual report highlight our work over the past year, but also represent the starting line for this year, 2014.
With you, our members, we will continue to build momentum, and serve as a relevant and vital resource for businesses in our community.
Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce • PO Box 995, Binghamton, NY 13902
2013-2014 Board of Directors
Lawrence C. Anderson
Partner
Hinman, Howard & Kattell, LLP
Jeffrey D. Lake
Regional President
NBT Bank
David J. Patak
President & CEO
Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Hospital
Terry R. Wood
President
Willow Run Foods
David J. Culbertson
President
National Pipe & Plastics, Inc.
James J. Lewis, CPA
Chairman of the Board & CEO
Piaker & Lyons, P.C.
Betsy Pietriyk
United Health Services, Inc.
Kevin E. Drumm
President
SUNY Broome
Jeffrey A. Loew
Managing Partner
Levene Gouldin & Thompson, LLP
Director Emeritus:
Alan Hertel
Executive Director
United Way of Broome County
Michael Fosbury
Senior VP & Chief Investment Officer
Columbian Financial Group
Sam A. Lupo
President
Sam A. Lupo & Sons, Inc.
James J. Garceau
Vice President Communications &
Control Solutions
BAE Systems Stephen M. Gardner
Vice President National Accounts
Security Mutual Life Insurance Company
of NY
Terence M. Kane
Senior Advisor to the President
Binghamton University Catherine A. Maliwacki, CPA
Partner
Davidson, Fox & Company, LLP
Joe Mirabito
CEO
Mirabito Energy Products
Bob Pass
Regional Manager Community
Outreach & Development
NYSEG Central & Lakes Region
Kathi J. Roberts
Practice Administrator
Roberts Eyecare Associates
Matthew A. Vitanza
Partner
Hinman, Howard & Kattell, LLP
Officers for 2013-2014
Chairman.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James J. Lewis, CPA
Chairman-Elect .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry R. Wood
President .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lou Santoni
Secretary.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathi J. Roberts
Treasurer.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David J. Culbertson
Ass’t Treasurer.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David J. Patak
Immediate Past Chairman .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matthew A. Vitanza
2013 Annual Report
10
May 2014
2013 Chamber Committees And Affiliate Organizations
The Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce would like to thank all of our many dedicated volunteers
who contribute their time and efforts to Chamber programs and services and events!
In particular, we would like to recognize our Chamber Committee Chairs
from 2013 and the more than 400 volunteers associated with those committees and affiliate organizations.
Air Service Committee
John Fitzsimmons, The Sorin Group
Greater Binghamton New Car Dealers Association
Mike Corey, Jack Sherman Toyota
Broome Leadership Institute Alumni Board
Sandra Watkins, Broome Tioga BOCES
Live Wire Club Co-Chairs
Tina Fernandez, Hinman, Howard & Kattell, LLP
John Jones, Hinman, Howard & Kattell, LLP
Business Expo
Tom Savoldy, M & T Bank
Chamber Classic Committee
Jeff Loew, Levene Gouldin & Thompson, LLP
Membership Committee Co-Chairs
Doug Camin, Avant-IT Consulting
Zach Majka, Empower Federal Credit Union
Consolidation Committee Co-Chairs
Ken Kamlet, Hinman, Howard & Kattell, LLP
Robert Pass, NYSEG
Recognition & Awards Committee Co-Chairs
Wendy C. Loomis, EA, Loomis Tax Service
Jon J. Sarra, Esq., Hinman, Howard & Kattell, LLP
Economic Development Committee
Matthew Vitanza, Hinman, Howard & Katell, LLP
SBC Committee
Rob Warholic, Clark Patterson Lee
Governmental Affairs Committee
Alan Hertel, United Way of Broome County
SBC Legislative Committee
Rob Warholic, Clark Patterson Lee
Greater Binghamton Education Outreach Program (GBEOP)
John Sassani, The Raymond Corporation
SCORE Co-Chairs
(Service Corps of Retired Executives)
John (Jack) Fitzgerald
Jim Julian
Greater Binghamton Hotel & Motel Association
Candace Jones, Traditions at the Glen
Chamber Staff
Administration
Lou Santoni
Theresa Ryan
Teresa Myers
Susan Kuhn
Christine Stezzi
Brendan O’Bryan
President & CEO
& Director, CVB
Ext. 330
Finance Director
Ext. 339
Technical Coordinator
Ext. 315
Administrative
Assistant
Ext. 322
Receptionist/ Secretary
Ext. 300
Certified IPA/
Navigator
Ext. 302
Communications & Membership
Gateway Information Center
Amy Shaw
Debby Evans
Carol Armstrong
VicePresident ,
Member Services
& Executive Director,
GBEOP Ext. 313
Project and Event
Coordinator
Ext. 317
Development Manager
Ext. 321
Convention & Visitor’s Bureau
Kathi Murphy
Jenny Petrocelli
Director
Travel Advisor
Government Relations
Judi Hess
Gina Calisi
Maegen Eddinger
Stacey Duncan,
Manager,
Tourism
& Special Events
Ext. 329
Manager,
Convention Sales
Ext. 326
Sales
Representative
Ext. 328
Manager
of Government Relations
Ext. 316
ChambeReport
2013 Annual Report
11
Thank You To Our 2013 Sponsors!
The following sponsors partnered with the Chamber in 2013 to offer a broad array of business programming
and networking opportunities. On behalf of its nearly 900 Members, the Chamber gratefully acknowledges their support.
Advance Testing Company
Alzheimer’s Association of Central NY
American Civic Association
American Football Association
Antonio’s Galleria & Café
Army National Guard, NYS
BAE Systems
Bob Carr 2.0 Printing
Best Bagels In Town- Binghamton
Binghamton Rotary #64
Binghamton Senators
Binghamton University
BlueStorm Technologies
Broome County STOP DWI
Broome County
Broome-Tioga Workforce
Burger Mondays
Carr Printing
Chemung Canal Trust Company
Chobani/Agro Farma
Cider Mill Playhouse
City of Binghamton
Clark Patterson Lee
Clear Channel Media & Entertainment
Community Bank, N.A.
Conklin Players Club
Cortese Restaurant
Couglin & Gerhart, LLP
Culligan
Curcio Printing
Cushman Wakefield/Pyramid Brokerage
Company
Davidson & Fox Co., LLP
Daylight Donuts
Dick’s Sporting Goods Open
Dimon & Bacorn Co. of Binghamton
DoubleTree by Hilton Binghamton
Edible Arrangements
Ehrlich
Emerson Network Power
Empire Recycling/Confidata
Empower Federal Credit Union
En-Joie Golf Club
ETM Solar Works
Equinox Broadcasting
Fidelis Care
First Investors Corp.
Gance’s Complete Catering
Grand Royale Hotel
Greater Binghamton Business Journal
Hampton Inn & Suites-Vestal
Harding Brooks Insurance
Hearth at Castle Gardens
Holiday Inn Binghamton
Hue
Human Technologies Corp.
IBM
IHOP
Inspire Fitness
ICS Solutions Group
Johnson Outdoors
Kampai Japanese Steakhouse
Keystone Associates, Architects, Engineers
and Surveyors, LLC
Levene Gouldin & Thompson, LLP
Leroy Package Store
Links at Hiawatha Landing
Little Venice Restaurant
Loomis Tax Service, LLC
M Squared Management Consultants
McFarland Johnson
McKinley at Huron Campus
Meier Supply
Miller Auto Group
Mirabito Energy Group
National Pipe & Plastics
NBT Bank
Nestle Toll House Cafe
News Channel 34
Next Generation Vending, LLC
Nirchi’s Pizza
Number 5/Lampy’s
NYS Department of Labor
NYSEG
Oakdale Mall
Olum’s
Peoples Security Bank
Positive LifeForce
Press & Sun-Bulletin
Price Chopper
The Raymond Corp.
Remlik’s Grille & Oyster Bar
Roberson Museum & Science Center
Roberts Eyecare Associates
Robbins Signs Co. LLC
Rockwell Collins
Rogers Service Group
Sam A. Lupo & Sons, Inc.
Sam’s Club
Security Mutual Life Insurance Co. of NY
Servpro of Broome, Tompkins and Tioga Counties
Jack Sherman Toyota
Southern Tier Veterans Support Group
Southern Tier Insulations
Suburban Propane
Sunnking Electronics Recycling
SUNY Broome Community College
Taylor Rental - Vestal
Terra Cotta Catering
Town Square Media
Traditions at the Glen
Tri-Cities Opera
Uncle Tony’s
United Way of Broome County
Upstate Office Furniture
Walmart
Waste Management of NY
Wegmans
Weis
Willow Run Foods
Woodfern Florist
Worldwide Sport Supply
WICZ TV Fox 40
WLTB – Magic 101.7 FM
WSKG - TV
12
2013 Annual Report
May 2014
Update to Members
The core of what we do revolves around our nearly 900 Chamber member businesses.
In 2013, we continued to focus on three main priorities:
1) giving members the resources to GROW their business;
2) expanding our members’ business networks in the Greater Binghamton area by CONNECTing them
to people, organizations, and information; and
3) ADVOCATing on behalf of our members for policies that positively affect our local economy.
GROW:
75 businesses joined the Greater Binghamton Chamber of
Commerce as NEW members.
Our member retention rate has increased each year for the
past four years. In 2013, approximately 87.6% of the members
continued their participation in the Chamber.
We celebrated the leadership of our business community.
• At the 49th Annual Dinner & Meeting on May 14th, nearly
500 Chamber members and community leaders attended
this event to celebrate Chamber membership and honor the
Chamber’s five distinguished annual award winners, including:
Civic Leader of the Year, James W. Orband, Esq., Hinman,
Howard & Kattell, LLP; Small Business Advocate of the Year:
Tom Meade, Therapeutic Massage Center; Small Business
Person of the Year: Louis Sepe, Jr., SERVPRO of Broome,
Tompkins and Tioga Counties; Volunteer of the Year: Sam
Lupo, Sam A. Lupo & Sons; Young Professional of the Year:
Jason Fiume, Roberson Museum & Science Center.
• A sold-out Annual Thanksgiving Luncheon on November
19th with 540 attendees recognized two award recipients,
including: Community Advocate of the Year: Binghamton
Mets Baseball Club and Corporate Citizen of the Year:
Mirabito Energy Products. A very special keynote address was
given by Sergeant Richard Yarosh.
Our initiatives continue to target Young Professionals. The
Chamber realizes that young professionals are in a unique
position to positively affect both the economic and social future of
the Binghamton area. The Chamber continues to engage Young
Professionals in ways that are relevant and important to them.
We supported non-profit members through various Chamber
events. The success of two of the Chamber’s largest events, the
3rd Annual Greater Binghamton Bridge Run Half Marathon
& 5K in May and the Annual Winetasting Event in October,
allowed us to dedicate a portion of the proceeds to two
different charity partners. The Chamber was pleased to make
donations to A Room to Heal and to The Food Bank of the
Southern Tier totaling $4500!
The Broome Leadership Institute (BLI) Alumni Association
organized two free events specifically designed to meet the
needs of our non-profit organizations:
• The BLI Alumni Association partnered with the United
Way of Broome County on the Annual Half-Day Workshop
for Non-Profits which took place on March 21, 2013. Thanks
to a grant from the Hoyt Foundation, the event featured a
speaker from BoardSource, Dave Sternberg, and attracted
nearly 100 attendees.
The Chamber provided members a variety of business
exposure opportunities through:
• 40 Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies for Chamber member
businesses in the Greater Binghamton area to celebrate their
new, renovated and/or expanding businesses!
• 26th Anniversary of the Greater Binghamton Chamber
Business Expo - “Energize your Business” on April 18th,
which provided over 100+ exhibitors/members an instant
opportunity to display their products and services at the
area’s largest business-to-business networking event in the
region.
• Bi-Annual Career Fairs in June and December, which
attracted 101 employers and connected over 1,000
job seekers in the Greater Binghamton to area career
opportunities.
We offered cost-effective ways for members to market their
business to fellow members and the community through a
variety of methods, including:
• “Business of the Week” allowed the Chamber to publicly
recognize and visit 46 long-standing Chamber members.
The addition of the weekly televised segment on News
Channel 34 gives excellent exposure to each Business of the
Week Chamber member.
• Weekly” Business News & Tidbits” E-newsletters – provides
updates on advocacy, business news and important tid-bits. It
also includes reminders about upcoming events.
• Twice monthly “Member News & Events” E-blast - gives
our members the opportunity to publicize their business’s
important news announcements and events to all our
Chamber members.
• Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce Facebook and
Twitter pages.
• Advertising in the Chamber’s monthly ChambeReport
newsletter, Annual Quality of Life Resource Guide and
Membership Directory.
• Opportunity for online advertising on Chamber website.
The Chamber helped impact members’ bottom-lines with our
cost savings/discount programs:
• M2M (Member to Member) Discount Program: 125
different chamber members offered exclusive M2M discounts
to nearly 900 chamber members and their over 40,000
employees.
• Enabled 135 members to save $118,000 on their energy
bills in 2013 through participation in the Chamber’s Energy
ChambeReport
2013 Annual Report
Alliance Program. Lifetime savings for the program are
over $1.2 million!
CONNECT
The Chamber hosted a number of larger, premier events to
help maintain dues at the same level for the last five years,
including:
• 3rd Annual Greater Binghamton Bridge Run Half
Marathon and 5k on May 5, 2013, which attracted more than
2,300 runners from the United States and Internationally.
Over 2,000 spectators came out to encourage the runners
and, for the first time, a “Cool Down” event was held after
the race to promote downtown Binghamton restaurants and
businesses.
• Annual Winetasting event on October 25, featuring 12
wineries, 7 wine distributors, music by Straight Up, and food
from 11 local area restaurants. It once again was a sold-out
event.
• 16th Annual Chamber Classic Golf Tournament on June
12, where 168 players and 42 teams representing 40 different
companies enjoyed a day of hitting the greens at En-Joie
Golf Club.
The Chamber increased member outreach through our
membership committee members:
• Thanks to 9 chamber members, we signed up 9 new
members through our Membership Referral Program!
• Membership Committee volunteers made contact with 50 of
the new Chamber members in 2013 to welcome them into
our organization, assist them in fully recognizing the benefits
of Chamber membership, and encourage their attendance
at upcoming Chamber events. In addition, this committee
personally delivered Membership Directories and Quality
of Life Guide publications to nearly 250 Chamber members
during “Operation Thank You,” an annual program of the
Chamber which allows our volunteers and staff to personally
thank other businesses for their membership renewal in the
Chamber.
• Membership Committee volunteers recognized both longstanding Chamber members, non-profit members and those
members whose businesses flooded and reopened with the
delivery of bagels & cream cheese for their staff as a small
token of our thanks for their membership.
The Chamber was able to provide free mentoring to the
business community through our partnership with Greater
Binghamton SCORE® Chapter 217. Binghamton SCORE®
counseled an average of 40 individuals or businesses each
month in 2013 wishing to start or expand an existing small
business. This represented over 1,500 hours of free business
expertise, skills, ideas, and experience to enhance and assist
in growing small business in our communities. SCORE also
works with non-profits as well as small businesses in the nonurban market. All counseling efforts by SCORE are always
confidential and at no cost to the client.
We organized 45 events and educational programs, attracting
nearly 5,000 combined attendees (not including the Business
13
Expo and two Career Fairs). Event highlights include:
• 5 Breakfast Bytes Seminars on a variety of topics: Rod
Serling, Succeeding in Changing Times, Managing Stress,
Communicating with Difficult People and Tips for Staying
Healthy Every Day.
• 8 Business After Hours Networking Events which included
Speed Networking with Tioga County Chamber of
Commerce.
• 11 SBC Network Luncheons
• 1 “Connect 4 Business” Speed Networking Event with the
Tioga County Chamber of Commerce, giving Chamber
Members the opportunity to meet 30+ people in under an
hour from both Chambers.
• Quarterly Chamber 101 sessions to introduce new and
existing members to all the benefits of Chamber membership.
• Social Media Seminar which educated Chamber members on
aspects of social media advertising for their businesses.
ADVOCATE
The Chamber continued to focus on three core advocacy
pillars in 2013. These include grassroots legislative advocacy,
educational programs on issues affecting the business
community, and developing key strategic partnerships to
improve the economic climate of Greater Binghamton.
Advocacy efforts focused on lowering taxes and fees, regulatory
reform and a continued call for Shale development. Working
through our partnership with Unshackle Upstate, a number of
key legislative successes were achieved. These include:
• Workers compensation reform
• Unemployment insurance reform
• Blocking an indexed minimum wage increase
The Chamber participated in Small Business Day at
the Capitol, a day focused on one-on-one meetings with
legislators on issues affecting small business.
The Chamber helped members stay informed on key issues
directly affecting their business and our community:
• Annual Economic Forecast Breakfast with M&T Bank
Regional Vice President Gary D. Keith and Christian Harris
of the NYS Department of Labor (February 2013)
• “Unfinished Business” with Brian Sampson, Executive
Director, Unshackle Upstate and Mike Durant, State
Director NFIB (March 2013)
• “Hiring Today’s Veterans” Lunch & Learn Series with
Binghamton University & Southern Tier Veterans Support
Group ( Fall 2013)
• Annual Labor and Employment Law Update presented in
partnership with Hinman, Howard & Kattell, LLP (October
2013)
Our Eggs & Issues program series saw growth in attendance
and interest. The topics included:
• The Business of the Arts (February 2013)
• Non-Profits Against the Odds (April 2013)
• Natural Gas Pipelines (June 2013)
14
2013 Annual Report
• Are We Shovel Ready? (September 2013)
• Government Contracting for Small Business (December
2013)
We continued our important partnership with the Greater
Binghamton Airport through our Air Service Development
Committee.
DIVISIONS OF THE CHAMBER:
In addition to the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce
itself, the Chamber consists of 3 additional divisions, including
the Greater Binghamton Education Outreach Program
(GBEOP), the Greater Binghamton Convention & Visitors
Bureau (CVB) and the Gateway Information Center.
GREATER BINGHAMTON EDUCATION
OUTREACH PROGRAM (GBEOP)
The Greater Binghamton Education Outreach Program
(GBEOP) is a non-profit affiliate organization of the
Chamber, which was formed in September 2008.
The mission of GBEOP is to “build bridges between schools,
businesses and leaders within the Greater Binghamton
community to promote technical and professional career
development for current and future workforce participants.”
GBEOP’s three main programs include: Broome Leadership
Institute (BLI), Building Bridges (BB) and Junior Achievement
(JA).
GBEOP raised $44,327 in 2013 from a variety of sources,
including individuals, corporations and foundations.
Broome Leadership Institute (BLI) Program
Founded in 1988, BLI is a very successful six-month
community leadership program for adult professionals. This
county-wide program seeks to foster a network of leaders who
are committed to understanding and improving the quality of
living in our region. BLI graduates benefit from: enhanced
leadership skills, a network of community contacts, an
increased understanding and awareness of community issues
and new friendships and working relationships.
2013 BLI HIGHLIGHTS:
• The BLI Class of 2013 organized a Toy Drive on Saturday,
December 8, 2012 for families affected by Hurricane Sandy.
BLI class members collected over 450 unwrapped toys for ages
2 to 13, and shipped them to Jamaica, Queens, where they were
distributed to kids at a K.I.D.S. (Kids in Distressed Situations)
holiday party the week before Christmas.
• On March 21, 2013, BLI graduated the 26th class of 19
people that reflect the diversity of our area.
• On June 19, 2013, the BLI Program enjoyed a very
successful 7th Annual BLI Recruiting Event, where 16 people
came to hear more about how to apply to become part of the
BLI Class of 2014.
• We received 21 applicants for 20 spots for the BLI program –
Class of 2014.
May 2014
• The BLI program’s 27th class began the program with a
team-building and orientation retreat on September 20, 2013
at the Wilderness Adventure Center in Greene, NY.
• In November, the Hoyt Foundation approved GBEOP’s
$22,000 grant to develop the next generation of board leaders
for the second consecutive year. The program, in partnership
with BoardSource in Washington, DC, will be incorporated
into the 2014 BLI program.
• BLI Alumni Association Board of Directors was proud
to award a “BLI Scholarship Fund, in memory of Michelle
Curtin” to 3 incoming students of the BLI Class of 2014
totaling $1,500.
• The BLI Alumni Association grew to over 300 active
members, sponsored a variety of events, increased their
visibility to the business community and continued to serve on
many volunteer boards in the area. The BLI Alumni activity
highlights for 2013 included:
• Forming a committee to host and organize the first
Canstruction of the Southern Tier event in Broome County
from March 23 - 30, 2014 at the Oakdale Mall in Johnson
City. Canstruction® is an international hunger– relief
competition where architects, engineers and contractors
compete to design and build giant structures made entirely
from full cans of food. At the close of the competition, all
of the donated food from Canstruction of the Southern
Tier will be distributed to hunger-relief agencies in Broome
County to help feed neighbors in need.
• Creation of the Inaugural Alumni of Distinction Award,
which was presented to Alan Hertel, Executive Director
of the United Way of Broome County. The Alumni of
Distinction award recognized Hertel, a Class of 1997 BLI
Graduate, for his leadership excellence and outstanding
community service.
• Partnering with the United Way of Broome County on the
Annual Half-Day Workshop for Non-Profits which took
place on March 21, 2013. Thanks to a grant from the Hoyt
Foundation, the event featured a speaker from BoardSource,
Dave Sternberg, and attracted nearly 100 attendees.
• Continuing the BLI Alumni Spotlight in the Chamber’s
monthly newsletter, the ChambeReport: Highlighting
successful Alumni in the community
• Organizing five Leadership Events for BLI Alumni with
visits to: York Productions, Goodwill Theatre in Johnson
City, Meier Supply Co., Inc., Binghamton Zoo at Ross Park
and Servpro of Broome, Tompkins & Tioga Counties
• Generated additional personal and corporate contributions
to the BLI Scholarship Fund in memory of Michelle Curtin
totaling nearly $1,000 in 2013.
Building Bridges (BB) Program
BB connects high school educators, administrators and guidance
professionals with the world of work. This seven week program
arranges for educators to visit various businesses in the Greater
Binghamton area in order to increase their knowledge of area
employers, their workforce needs and current workplace trends.
ChambeReport
2013 Annual Report
2013 Building Bridges Highlights:
• A committee was formed to re-evaluate the format of the
Building Bridges Program and discuss new programs for
spring 2014.
Junior Achievement (JA) Program
JA programs are dedicated to inspiring and preparing young
people to succeed in a global economy. Through a dedicated
volunteer network, JA programs provide in-school and after
school programs for students in grades K-12 that focus on
entrepreneurship, work readiness and financial literacy.
Students put these lessons into action and help strengthen our
communities.
2013 Junior Achievement Highlights:
• GBEOP raised $11,900 in 2013 for Junior Achievement
Programs from corporate donations and foundation grants.
• GBEOP implemented 34 JA classes in Broome County
in the Spring and 3 in the Fall of 2013 with the assistance
of 34 business professionals at the following locations:
Seton Catholic Schools (All Saints, St. James, St. John
and Seton Catholic High School), Vestal Central Schools
(African Road Elementary, Glenwood Elementary Vestal
High School), Union-Endicott Central Schools (Charles F.
Johnson Elementary and Jennie F. Snapp Middle School),
Maine-Endwell High School and Binghamton High School.
• GBEOP recruited 15 new volunteers from local businesses
for the 2013 Spring and Fall JA programs, and worked with
19 returning JA volunteers.
GREATER BINGHAMTON
CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
The mission of the Greater Binghamton Convention & Visitors
Bureau is to attract meetings, conventions, trade shows and
events that bring overnight visitors to our community.
In 2013 we hosted 154 conventions and events. Our golf
package business increased by 13%. We were able to secure
the Eastern Star through 2017 and Odyssey of the Mind
through 2016. The CVB also partnered with other Bureaus
on several grant applications through the State’s Regional
Economic Development Program.
• Hosted 154 Conventions & Events including:
• BAGSAI Softball Tournament Series (5,300 people)
• Odyssey of the Mind (3,000 people)
• Destination Imagination (2,000 people)
• STOP DWI Tournament of Champions softball tournament
(1,700 people)
• NY-USA Wrestling State Tournament (1,500 people)
• NYS Collegiate Rowing (1,200 people)
• AAU Basketball (1,000 people)
• John Mack Memorial Lacrosse (1,000 people)
• NYS Public High School Baseball (800 people)
• Approximately 55,680 visitors attended Convention & Events
15
with an estimated impact of $21 million.
• Booked 165 future Convention & Events - including the I
Love New York Gymnastics Meet (2,500 people), the NYS
Boys Gymnastics Championship (1,000 people) and the NY
USA Wrestling State Tournament (1,500 people).
• Responded to 1,986 tourist inquiries.
• Responded to 430 tourism calls on the 800 number and
58,205 brochures were distributed.
• Attended 5 Trade Shows including:
• American Bus Association – Charlotte, NC
• Empire State Society of Association Executives Meeting
Planners – Saratoga Springs, New York
•Empire State Tourism Conference – Albany, NY
•NASC - - Sports Planners Show – Louisville, KY
•Ottawa Golf Show
• Produced and distributed over 100,000 Tourism publications.
We worked to produce a new Travel Guide and Tourism Video
- - both will debut in 2014. Visitors also have the capability to
download brochures from the website VisitBinghamton.org:
• Broome County (MapWorks) Map (not available on
website)
• Carousel Brochure
• Golf Package Brochure
• Greater Binghamton Travel Guide
• Greater Binghamton Map Brochure
• Group Tour Planner
• Meeting Planner’s Guide
• Rod Serling Brochure
• Sports Venue Guide (online only)
• Summer Calendar of Events
• Provided the following free services to groups meeting in
Greater Binghamton:
• Give-Away Lists
• Housing Registration (Eastern Star = 352 reservations, 750
people, 1,313 total room nights)
• Local Promotional Literature
• Name Badges
• Press Releases
• Registration Assistance
• Site Inspections
• Spouse Programs
• Tour Itineraries/Local Attractions
• Welcome Signs
• Co-operative programming remained a vital component of
our marketing efforts. We ran a Co-operative Arts advertising
campaign on WSKG radio for the 4th year. Our golf program
saw a 13% increase in business over 2012. We generated 1,901
hotel room nights and 5,244 rounds of golf. The total economic
impact was in excess of $450,000.
•The NYS Order of the Eastern Star first began meeting here
16
2013 Annual Report
in Greater Binghamton in 2009. The Bureau provided housing
services to all guests and assisted with shuttle service. Due to the
positive response of attendees, this group is now committed to return
through 2017!
The Convention & Visitors Bureau has also been working on several
cross county promotions. These programs focus on niche markets to
encourage an increase in travel to the County.
Brew Central brings together the stories,
traditions and tastes behind craft beer,
hard cider and spirits in Central New
York. Just over a century ago, the Brew
Central partner counties of Greater
Binghamton, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Otsego and Schoharie
represented the hop capital of the country. Central New York
produced 90 percent of the nation’s hops in the late 1800s and the
state was the No. 1 beer producer in the U.S. for decades. A
resurgence in production of that critical hop crop, the commitment
to using local ingredients whenever possible and the passion for
crafting some of the finest suds in the country make Central New
York a national destination today. Brew Central puts the region back
on the map with a growing constellation of breweries, craft-centric
pubs, cideries, distilleries and wineries. www.brewcentralny.com
Fresh fruits and veggies, unique brews and
goodies, fantastic outdoor markets and foodfocused festivals are the heart and soul of
CNY Fresh. Take your pick in Central New
York, a fresh destination with an endless
selection of produce, sweets, drinks, dairy
and agri-tourism attractions. CNY Fresh brings together all the
flavors of 10 counties steeped in a long history of high-quality
agriculture. www.cnyfresh.com
The Greater Binghamton Convention &
Visitors Bureau in collaboration with
Jefferson, Oswego, Onondaga, and
Cortland counties will unveil the 81exits.
com mobile website in early 2014. The
website uses geolocation to find “Where to stop when you’re on the
go.” This definitive exit-by-exit guide to gas, food and lodging also
includes attraction recommendations and descriptions for each
community along the way. Travelers simply enter 81exits.com into
their mobile browser to begin the experience. Each listing includes
distance from the exit, websites when available and an instant
mapping function.
May 2014
THE GATEWAY INFORMATION CENTER (GIC)
LOCATED AT THE NYS WELCOME CENTER
IN KIRKWOOD, N.Y.
• Their mission is to create a grand first impression of NYS
and to increase the economic vitality of NYS by promoting
tourism.
• The Information Center is the first welcome center for
travelers to stop and rest as they enter NYS on Route 81
North at mile marker 2 located in Kirkwood, NY.
• The center assists more than 180,000 travelers each year with
directions and information throughout the 11 tourism regions
in NYS, such as places to see, ideas of where to go and what
to do.
• The center offers over 600 brochure titles representing all
62 counties throughout NYS, distributing over 350,000
brochures annually.
• Designated tourism regions with signage.
• Experienced, trained, and knowledgeable travel advisors
are available to assist travelers with questions they may have
as well as information regarding annual events and special
events taking place in NYS 362 days a year.
• The travel advisors assist in lodging reservations during
business hours of the center and a 24 hour lodging
reservation phone is available in the main lobby 365 days a
year at no cost to the traveler.
• A touch screen kiosk is available showcasing events
throughout NYS as well as the I LOVE NY website, regional
websites and accuweather.com.
• Three DVD players are displayed on the walls of the center
to play informational videos on the various regions and to
promote different attractions in NYS.
• Free WiFi.
• Children’s activity area.
• A 47” flat screen TV is available to view the weather channel
during center business hours and set on a timer for afterhours viewing. News channels are also available in the
event of emergency or important information to advise the
travelers.
• A laminated NYS Map is displayed in the lobby area
designating the major roadways and I Love NY tourism
regions throughout the state.
• A relief map is displayed in the lobby area encased in
Plexiglas to show the topography of NYS.
• The front desk has a computer and printer available for
the travel advisors to look up and print out requested
information and/or directions for the travelers during center
business hours.
• National Tourism Week is celebrated annually (May) to
promote tourism throughout NYS.
ChambeReport
17
Greater Binghamton Chamber’s “Business of the Week”
Each week, the Greater Binghamton Chamber randomly selects a chamber member business, which is named “Business of the Week”. The
business is spotlighted for one business week (M-F). The “Business of the Week” receives: a personal visit from Chamber representatives, the
week-long display of a stylish, prominent sign that formally announces their recognition, photo opportunities and an announcement on the
home page of the Chamber’s website.
Our “Business of the Week” program, sponsored by Visions Federal Credit Union, is another opportunity to show our appreciation to
Chamber members for supporting the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce and investing in our community, as well as for Chamber staff to better familiarize ourselves with our
members. We want to learn more about their company, how it fits in to our regional community, and how we can best serve their business.
March 17 – 21, 2014
March 24 – 28, 2014
March 31 – April 4, 2014
April 7 – 11, 2014
March 17 – 21, 2014
Dee Moore Sales LLC
extensive experience handling the
needs of our customers in dentistry,
healthcare, commercial construction,
insurance, advertising, government, retail,
finance, energy services, law, veterinary,
hospitality and nonprofits. Our concept
is to provide “Big City Solutions, Small
Town Service” and our goal is to help
increase our client’s productivity with
innovative and affordable technology
-maximizing client profits. In today’s fast
paced world it is easy to get distracted
from your business. We free your mind
from technology, allowing you to focus
on your business. Our team of technicians
and IT engineers will proactively
monitor your critical computer systems
and immediately address any needs you
have, giving you peace of mind and
time to focus on what you do best. This
approach has helped us develop long term
partnerships with our clients. We are
proud that many of our clients have been
with us for the 12 years we have been
serving our community.
Our structured cabling division has
Panduit and Siemon certified installers
with state of the art equipment. We can
design and install both copper and fiber
networks. Our fiber capabilities include
fusion splicing and OTDR testing which
many local contractors do not provide. We
recently added a next generation Fluke
tester allowing us to certify and offer
extended manufacture warranties for copper
and fiber networks. Our certifications also
ensure that we install your networks that
meet the industry EIA/TIA standards. In
addition to our copper and fiber capabilities,
our technicians are also experienced in
Audio Visual systems including projection
systems and smart boards.
We have extensive experience with both
private and public works contracts. Our list
of installations include SUNY locations Binghamton, Oneonta, Cortland and Delhi;
local school districts – Whitney Point,
Greene, Binghamton and Vestal; Broome
County IT; Broome Community College
and ARMY bases located in Colorado,
Kanas and Oklahoma.
SharpTech is excited to be the Tech
Sponsor for the upcoming GBBE event
in April. This will be an exciting event as
the Chamber includes video technology to
open the show.
Due to continued business growth and
staffing requirements, we moved into a
newly renovated and larger building in the
summer of 2013. Our new office houses a
high tech space for our IT services business
while also including office and warehouse
space for our structured cabling business.
Being part of the Greater Binghamton
Chamber of Commerce for the past ten
years has provided us with numerous
opportunities. We have been able to grow
our client base through “networking”
connections at chamber events and from
the relationships we have developed
with other members. Seminars and The
ChambeReport have been beneficial in
keeping us informed on current issues,
local businesses and other important topics
affecting our community. As we become
more active in the Chamber, we look
forward to the years to come.
Pyramid has a policy of fostering
public/private cooperation and helping
to promote economic development in the
community. A number of our agents are
active on boards promoting community
development and on numerous other not
for profit boards in the community.
The Chamber has given us access to
other businesses and business leaders with
similar priorities and with property and
facilities requirements to accommodate
their changing business needs. In addition
we have had the opportunity to participate
in chamber committees and programs
focused on community issues and
economic development.
My grandfather started this business.
After his stroke he passed the business
onto my dad in 1967. I started working
with my dad in 2006 and took over the
business after his death in Feb 2009.
Our motto is anything you can put your
logo on. We do pens, mugs, crystal, candy,
clothing, bags to name a few items. We will
try to find the best pricing and work within
budgets that clients set. Our favorite clients
are ones that are starting out or are doing
events to raise money. Businesses don’t
have to go broke to put their name out there.
Our business is here to serve our
community as well as to grow our
community’s businesses. It is important
to know that our clients are not treated as
clients but as a member of our extended
family. People are very important to us
and we really enjoy learning about all the
different businesses and their needs.
The Greater Binghamton Chamber of
Commerce has helped us to be able to keep
in touch with our community and the needs
of other businesses. There are many great
educational as well as other business tools
they have to keep a business owner up to
date on changes that are being made in the
business community. They really are an
asset and we are blessed to be a part of them.
March 24 – 28, 2014
SharpTech Solutions, LLC
SharpTech Solutions, LLC. was
established in 2002 and is a locally owned
and family operated business located in
Endwell, NY. At SharpTech Solutions, LLC
technology is our passion. We are more
than an IT service-we are a total solution.
We are a full-service IT Technology
Provider offering comprehensive IT
solutions to small and medium-sized
businesses throughout New York and
Northern Pennsylvania. We specialize in
IT support, security, and network cabling.
Our team of IT professionals has
March 31 – April 4, 2014
Cushman & Wakefield
/Pyramid Brokerage Company
Pyramid Brokerage Company has
been in business for over 40 years. The
Binghamton office was established in 2000
through merger with a predecessor firm.
Cushman & Wakefield Pyramid
Brokerage Company is a full service
commercial real estate brokerage with 10
offices across upstate New York, including
Binghamton, Corning and Ithaca, which
cover the Southern Tier. We are affiliated
with the global commercial real estate firm,
Cushman & Wakefield. Our predominant
business is brokerage-sales and leasing
of industrial, office, retail and investment
property. Our office also offers property
management and receivership services.
April 7 – 11, 2014
Van Zandbergen Photography
Kirk and Lesli established Van
Zandbergen Photography in 1994. We
provide commercial and advertising
photography to businesses large and small,
and individuals. This includes people
and product photography that is typically
used for advertising in print, websites,
billboards and television. In addition to
our location and studio assignments, we
have an extensive library of local stock
photography. We also photograph artwork
for area artists. We often tell people that
we take the pictures you never thought
about someone taking, like billboards and
catalog photography. We’re also fond of
saying “It’s a small market here, so we
shoot anything.”
Photography is and always has been
our only business. We believe that the
relationship we develop with a client is as
important as the photography we provide
for them. We stay involved in the local art/
photography scene with gallery shows and
by judging competitions.
We joined the Chamber as a way
to get health insurance for our small
business, and have stayed because of the
opportunities to connect and network
with other businesses in the Greater
Binghamton area.
May 2014
18
Good News
Through a partnership with the United States
Association for Blind Athletes (USABA)
and the WellPoint Foundation, AVRE is
participating in a national fitness challenge
geared toward increasing physical activity
and improving overall health. AVRE kicked
off the challenge in March. As part of their
personal fitness challenge, CEO Ken Fernald
and Production Supervisor Luigi Di Russo are
working with Positive LifeForce of Endwell
to train for this year’s Greater Binghamton
Chamber of Commerce’s Bridge Run. Fernald’s
training is sponsored by Positive LifeForce
and the Chamber. Fernald will run in the half
marathon and DiRusso will run in the 5K with
his daughter.
Jerry Dietz, owner and operator of C.S.P.
Management, a real estate management
firm in Ithaca, was awarded the “Tompkins
County Distinguished Citizen Award” by
the Baden-Powell Boy Scouts of America.
The Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award
is presented annually to an outstanding
member of the community who, through their
volunteerism with a number of organizations,
upholds the values set forth in the Scout Oath
and Scout Law.
Twenty years after the Rwandan Genocide
left nearly 1 million dead and 2 million
homeless; Binghamton University is playing
a role in improving the nation’s healthcare.
Karen Feltham, a clinical instructor in the
Decker School of Nursing, spent the 2013 fall
semester in Rwanda working with women in
the Rwandan Midwives Association. Feltham
was hired through the Clinton Health Access
Initiative; a non-profit designed to strengthen
health systems in developing countries. Also
taking part was Laura Terriquez-Kasey, a
clinical assistant professor who spent January
2014 in the Dominican Republic.
Binghamton University was recently awarded
a HEARTSafe Campus accreditation from
the National Collegiate Emergency Medical
Services Foundation (NCEMSF), making
Binghamton one of only five colleges and
universities in the United States and Canada
to achieve the accreditation. The HEARTsafe
Campus accreditation is a joint effort with
the National Collegiate EMS Foundation and
the American Heart Association to promote
community awareness of sudden cardiac arrest,
train community members in cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR) and increase public access
to defibrillation. A HEARTsafe Campus also
ensures early access to advanced life support
and engages in preventative cardiovascular
healthcare activities.
CENTURY 21 Sbarra & Wells was honored
for its outstanding performance during the
past year at the 2014 Cartus Broker Network
International Conference held in February
in. Cartus is a worldwide leader in employee
relocation solutions. CENTURY 21 Sbarra &
Wells was presented the Cartus Five Star Award,
which recognizes brokers who have met or
exceeded their individual objectives for outgoing
broker-to-broker referral closings during the
calendar year.
CENTURY 21 Sbarra & Wells is pleased to
announce Mike Cerwinski, Aimee Szwalla,
Roxanne Roma and John Gaskin have joined
its firm as sales associates. Mr. Cerwinski
will specialize in residential, commercial and
investment property sales in the Greene area.
Ms. Szwalla, Ms. Roma and Mr. Gaskin will
specialize in residential property sales in the
Greater Binghamton area.
The Cider Mill Playhouse Board of Directors
has announced the appointment of Gail King
Belokur as the new executive director of the
Cider Mill Playhouse in Endicott. Belokur
previously served as co-founder, executive
director and co-artistic Director of Running to
Places Theatre Company in Ithaca, New York,
for six years. “Gail was the unanimous choice
of the search committee and we are pleased that
she’s joining us at the Cider Mill Playhouse,”
says Maryann Johnson, president of the Cider
Mill Playhouse Board of Directors.
Computer Emergency Room welcomes Shane
Forinash to their team of computer support
Technicians. Shane will work in the desktop
repair division and has a lot of experience in
repairing and upgrading computers. He also
has experience and technical sales and will also
work in their expanded PC sales showroom. Mr. David J. Chambers has
rejoined Delta Engineers,
Architects, & Land Surveyors,
P.C. as Chief Financial Officer.
Mr. Chambers has over twenty
seven years of experience in a
wide range of roles in the
architectural and engineering
design services field. He will oversee financial,
accounting, and human resources operations for
the company. His responsibilities include
overseeing the integrity of the Enterprise
Resource Planning (ERP) software, reviewing all
accounting functions, and working with the CEO
and COO in relation to strategic planning and
business forecasting.
Mr. Todd F. Grubham has joined
Delta Engineers, Architects, &
Land Surveyors, P.C. as a
Construction Supervisor in
Delta’s Facilities Group. Mr.
Grubham has twenty two years
of experience in the construction
business across several
industries. His primary responsibilities will
include constructability reviews, the
coordination and supervision of construction
projects, assistance with the development of cost
estimates and scheduling, and the execution of
quality and safety plans.
Mr. Steven M. Smith has joined
Delta Engineers, Architects, &
Land Surveyors, P.C. as a
Senior Technician in our
Transportation Group. Mr.
Smith will provide technical
engineering support for varied
highway and bridge design
projects. His office responsibilities will include
preparation of engineering documents, details,
design sketches, shop drawings, and reports
under the supervision of a senior engineer. His
field responsibilities will include participation on
inspection teams and project site visits as well as
inspection and documentation tasks during
construction phase.
Don’s Automotive Mall
on Colesville Road in
Binghamton is pleased to
announce the promotion
of Joe Colsten to Dispatch
Manager. Joe has worked
at various positions at
Don’s for the last 13 years and has an excellent
working knowledge of the company and
industry. Most locals to the area know Joe as one
of the up and coming area dirt modified drivers
on our local racing scene (Car 151).
hand examples of how they have managed to
navigate the route to open foreign markets for
their companies. There are already plans for
another forum in the fall of 2014 to build on
this success. ENSCO Avionics, Inc., a wholly owned
subsidiary of ENSCO, Inc., is proud to
announce that it has successfully achieved
AS9100 Rev C and ISO 9001:2008 recertification for its software engineering
operations as part of its ongoing quality
improvement initiative. This certifies ENSCO
Avionics to provide software solutions, including
requirements analysis, design and development,
system integration, verification and validation,
quality assurance, and support to its aviation,
space and defense industry customers. The
AS9100 and ISO international standards signify
a globally recognized, quality management
framework.
Good Shepherd Communities has been
selected to receive the 2014 Outstanding
Business Partner Award through the Broome
Tioga BOCES Schools to Careers Partnership
program. The award is presented to a business
that has contributed substantially to business
and education partnerships in our region. Good
Shepherd Communities has participated in
the Youth Apprenticeship Program for over
20 years and has provided job opportunities
for disadvantaged youth through the Summer
Youth Employment Program offered by
the Department of Social Services and
Broome-Tioga BOCES. Good Shepherd
Communities has also participated in the
Career Information Fair for the past five years.
ENSCO Avionics, Inc. is pleased to announce
that Larisa Parks has joined ENSCO Avionics as
General Manager of the Vision Systems business
area. In her role, she will be responsible for the
IData® and IGL™ product lines, as well as
vision system solutions. Ms. Parks joins ENSCO
Avionics from Honeywell Aerospace, where she
served as Vice President, Marketing and Product
Management.
Ever Evolving Enterprises would like to thank
everyone that participated in their 3rd Annual
Mother’s Day Plant Sale in support of Mom’s
House. All funds raised during this sale go
directly to Mom’s House to support all their
efforts for young families in our community.
Ever Evolving Enterprises would like to send
out a great big thank you to all of their clients
that had their taxes prepared in their office this
year. They were happy to welcome new clients
and want to express their gratitude for the loyalty
of returning clients.
Exit Realty Homeward Bound’s John
Farrell was recently awarded Exit Realty
Champion Award - Top 100 Producer by Exit
Realty International. Every year Exit Realty
International recognizes its Top 100 real estate
professionals. This is the 11th year in a row
John Farrell has made the list of Exit Realty
Champions. This year he was recognized as
#9 in Closed Sides and #21 in Gross Closed
Commissions in all of North America. Karen “Lorrie” Roberts, Min “Susan” Zhou,
Stephen Doty and Gary Reimondo have joined
Exit Realty Homeward Bound in Vestal.
Exit Realty Homeward Bound is excited to
welcome Lorrie, Susan, Stephen and Gary to
Exit Realty.
Robert Farrell, of Exit Realty Homeward
Bound, has been awarded the Certified
Negotiation Expert (CNE) designation from the
Real Estate Negotiation Institute (RENI). The
CNE is earned by real estate professionals after
successfully completing formal negotiation
training over two days. Agents who receive this
certification are among the top agents in the
country in negotiation skills.
The Global Business Alliance of Greater
Binghamton and Southern Tier, NY held
their inaugural forum at the Traditions in
Johnson City on March 27. The meeting
featured various speakers and presenters
provided insights into the possibilities and
pitfalls of doing business internationally. In
addition speakers from Statkmore Furniture
and Pleasant Valley Wineries; gave first
Broome County Habitat for Humanity is
excited to announce their newest Partnership
Family, the Fanns. The family was surprised in
March when a Family Selection meeting to “go
over a few details” turned into the opportunity
of a lifetime. They are currently working on a
rehab home in West Endicott. The Fanns will
be putting in their “sweat equity” on site soon
and the home will be sold to them affordably
with a zero-interest mortgage loan.
The Hearth at Castle Gardens is pleased to
announce the addition of Pamela Stento as their
new Executive Director. Pamela brings many
years of experience in the healthcare field to
her position at Castle Gardens.
Hinman, Howard & Kattell is
pleased to announce that James
W. Orband has been re-elected
by his partners to serve as the
firm’s Managing Partner for
another five-year term. Jim
Orband joined Hinman,
Howard & Kattell, LLP on
September 10, 1984. He became a partner in
the firm on January 1, 1991. Mr. Orband has
served as Managing Partner of Hinman,
Howard & Kattell, LLP since January 1,
1999. His new term will run through December
31, 2019. In addition to the responsibilities
required of him as Managing Partner, Jim
Orband maintains an active legal practice,
focusing in the areas of Banking, Construction
and Corporate Law and Mergers and
Acquisitions.
Jennings Environmental
Management, Inc. would like
to congratulate Mr. Bret
Jennings on his successful
completion of refresher courses
including Asbestos Air
Technician/Project Monitor and
Building Inspector. Mr.
Jennings is a Field Representative and has been
a valuable and loyal employee with the firm for
over seven years.
Meredith Reese has joined
Jennings Environmental
Management, Inc. as an
Assistant Administrator. She is
responsible for Administrative
support to the office and field
operations. Mrs. Reese joins
the firm as it is quickly
realizing an expansive growth.
ChambeReport
19
Good News
Employees of Keystone
Associates Architects,
Engineers and
Surveyors, LLC, an
architectural,
engineering and
surveying firm, won an
Honorable Mention
Award for their design
entry, “Spiedie Fest
Balloons” at the 1st Annual Canstruction® of
the Southern Tier event, held at the Oakdale
Mall in Johnson City. Canstruction® is a
global, not-for-profit anti-hunger project
founded by the Society for Design
Administrations, an affiliate of the American
Institute of Architects. With the help of design
professionals, groups of participants competed
to build structures made entirely of canned
food. At the conclusion of the exhibit, 100% of
the cans were donated to CHOW and the Food
Bank of the Southern Tier. The Keystone
Canstruction® featured a 5 feet tall by 4 feet
wide balloon made up of over 1,540 cans of
tuna fish, pears, and creamed corn. Team
members from Keystone included Daniel Dain,
Kyle Ellsworth, David Geist, Ashley Johnson,
Adam Krager, Tyler Lozzi, Nicole Marble,
Aaron Perelstein, Joshua VanValkenburg, and
Michelle Weeks.
NBT Bank is pleased to announce the hiring
of Kevin O’Hara as Regional Commercial
Banking Manager. Kevin is a Greater
Binghamton native and has over 20 years of
banking experience in our community.
Positive LifeForce would like to announce
that Matthew Barrett is now Jillian Michaels’
BODYSHRED certified. Positive LifeForce
staff members Kelsey Searles and Jennifer
Ferguson attended the ECA World Fitness
Convention in New York City on March 7-9.
Rosanne Sall Advertising is pleased to
announce they have named Thomas Raff
as General Manager of the Agency. “We
look forward to Tom’s leadership with our
valued customers and our talented staff,” said
Rosanne Pinker, President of the Agency. Tom
joined Rosanne Sall Advertising in 2001 as
Creative Director after enjoying a 23-year
career with WBNG-TV as a videographer/
editor and production manager overseeing the
vast majority of advertising campaigns in the
marketplace.
Seton Catholic Central’s Mock Trial Team
won the Broome County Championship by
defeating Vestal in March. The trial was held in
Federal Court in front of Judge Ferris Lebous. Seton’s team, which boasts a 5-0 record,
advanced to the Regional Finals that were held
in Broome County on April 26. Here in the Southern Tier,
STAT, Inc. provides
children who cannot speak
a very unique opportunity.
With the help of two
dynamic and motivating
tools: a horse and an iPad,
Catherine Markosky,
STAT’s Founder, has
developed a unique
recreational and
educational-based program that teaches nonverbal children to communicate - Strides©
takes speech therapy from a small room with a
table and a client, to an outdoor setting… a
farm, the fresh air, and horseback riding!
Two Girls and a Bucket Cleaning Service,
Inc. has been in business since August of
2011. They are pleased to announce that they
2014 design-build competition
have become new members of the Greater
Binghamton Chamber of Commerce and they
look forward to growing their local business.
The American Heart Association (AHA) has
recognized UHS as a “Fit-Friendly Worksite.”
Gina Chapman, Director of Southern Tier
American Heart Association/American Stroke
Association, presented the gold level award to
UHS as an employer which goes above and
beyond when it comes to their employees’
health. To achieve the gold level status, UHS
documented that it has a written policy banning
the use of tobacco at the worksite, as well
as on campus. Other qualifications include
organizing and promoting walking and physical
activity programs; maintaining walking trails,
both inside and out; encouraging employees
to take the stairs instead of elevators; and
disseminating to employees heart health
information. The AHA gold level recognition
acknowledges participation in healthy nutrition,
too. Cafeterias at UHS Wilson Medical Center
and UHS Binghamton General Hospital display
a series of health and wellness materials that
change quarterly. Upstate Office Furniture is
pleased to announce that
Daniel Emilio, Staff Designer/
Sales Specialist, is the current
President of a communitybased tip club, called the
“Inside Information
Club”. This group is comprised
of local professionals who share the “Inside”
track in their areas of expertise. The diversity
of the membership makes it possible to assist
each other, as well as each other’s clients,
friends, and associates. It’s the “Inside”
information that’s important to the whole group
as they help each other and our community. hosted by
all proceeds benefit
NY-0000708183
We are interested in sharing your good
news with other Chamber members.
Every month we include a GOOD
NEWS section with one-sentence items
about good news from our members.
The deadline to submit the good news
information is the first Friday
of the month prior to publication.
If you have questions or would like to
submit
a good news item for the ChambeReport,
please contact Judi Hess
at [email protected].
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsor
• United Health Services
Canstruction® is an international hunger-relief
competition where architects, engineers and
contractors compete to design and build giant
structures made entirely from full cans of food.
Yoga Body Shop
would like to announce
the opening of the
“YBS Juice Lounge.”
They are now offering
Fresh Cold Pressed
Organic Juices and
Fresh Smoothies, with
no added ingredients such as artificial
flavorings or sweeteners.
Thank You to our sponsors and teams!
of the southern tier
presented by
Upstate Office Furniture is
pleased to announce that
Shirley Stoddard, Marketing
Manager, is the current
President of a local BNI
chapter called BNI-ICE. BNI
(www.bni.com) is an
international networking group,
based on the philosophy that “Givers
Gain”. Shirley assumed the role of Chapter
President on April 1 and will be in office for
one year. Supporting Sponsors
• BCK-IBI Group
• BLI Alumni Association
• Broome Co-operative
Insurance Company
• Dataflow
• Peoples Security Bank
& Trust Company
• Raymond Corporation
• Taylor Rental
• Vestal Rotary Club
Canstruction® Teams
• BCK-IBI Group
• Broome-Tioga BOCES:
- CTE Leadership/SkillsUSA
- New Visions Engineering Academy
• Delta Engineers
• IBM, Endicott
• Keystone Associates Architects,
Engineers & Surveyors, LLC
• Lockheed Martin
• Rockwell Collins
• United Health Services
• Visions Federal Credit Union
20
May 2014
ChambeReport
21
22
May 2014
ChambeReport
23
The Greater Binghamton
Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 995
49 Court Street, Metrocenter, Suite 200
Binghamton, NY 13902-0995
Phone: (607) 772-8860
Fax: (607) 722-4513
E-Mail:[email protected]
OR C U R R E N T R E SI DE N T
www.GreaterBinghamtonChamber.com
Board Chairman:
James J. Lewis, CPA
Piaker & Lyons, P.C.
Publisher:
Lou Santoni
President & CEO
Editor:
Amy Shaw
Vice President, Member Services
The Greater Binghamton ChambeReport
is published monthly by The GBCC,
P.O. Box 995, Binghamton, NY 13902-0995.
Subscription: $50.00 per year
is included in Chamber Membership.
Standard postage paid at Binghamton, NY.
(USPS-Permit 1).
POSTMASTER: Send address change to:
The GBCC, P.O. Box 995, Binghamton, NY 13902-0995
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May 2014
26
• Annual Labor and Employment Law Update presented in partnership with Hinman,
Howard & Kattell, LLP (October 2013)
Our Eggs & Issues program series saw growth in attendance and interest. The topics
included:
• The Business of the Arts (February 2013)
• Non-Profits Against the Odds (April 2013)
• Natural Gas Pipelines (June 2013)
• Are We Shovel Ready? (September 2013)
• Government Contracting for Small Business (December 2013)
We continued our important partnership with the Greater Binghamton Airport
through our Air Service Development Committee.
DIVISIONS OF THE CHAMBER:
In addition to the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce itself, the Chamber
consists of 3 additional divisions, including the Greater Binghamton Education
Outreach Program (GBEOP), the Greater Binghamton Convention & Visitors Bureau
(CVB) and the Gateway Information Center.
GREATER BINGHAMTON EDUCATION
OUTREACH PROGRAM (GBEOP)
The Greater Binghamton Education Outreach Program (GBEOP) is a non-profit
affiliate organization of the Chamber, which was formed in September 2008.
The mission of GBEOP is to “build bridges between schools, businesses and leaders
within the Greater Binghamton community to promote technical and professional
career development for current and future workforce participants.” GBEOP’s three
main programs include: Broome Leadership Institute (BLI), Building Bridges (BB)
and Junior Achievement (JA).
GBEOP raised $44,327 in 2013 from a variety of sources, including individuals,
corporations and foundations.
Broome Leadership Institute (BLI) Program
Founded in 1988, BLI is a very successful six-month community leadership program for
adult professionals. This county-wide program seeks to foster a network of leaders who
are committed to understanding and improving the quality of living in our region. BLI
graduates benefit from: enhanced leadership skills, a network of community contacts,
an increased understanding and awareness of community issues and new friendships
and working relationships.
2013 BLI HIGHLIGHTS:
• The BLI Class of 2013 organized a Toy Drive on Saturday, December 8, 2012
for families affected by Hurricane Sandy. BLI class members collected over 450
unwrapped toys for ages 2 to 13, and shipped them to Jamaica, Queens, where they
were distributed to kids at a K.I.D.S. (Kids in Distressed Situations) holiday the week
before Christmas.
• On March 21, 2013, BLI graduated the 26th class of 19 people that reflect the
diversity of our area.
• On June 19, 2013, the BLI Program enjoyed a very successful 7th Annual BLI
Recruiting Event, where 16 people came to hear more about how to apply to become
part of the BLI Class of 2014.
• We received 21 applicants for 20 spots for the BLI program – Class of 2014.
• The BLI program’s 27th class began the program with a team-building and
orientation retreat on September 20, 2013 at the Wilderness Adventure Center in
Greene, NY.
• In November, the Hoyt Foundation approved GBEOP’s $22,000 grant to develop
the next generation of board leaders for the second consecutive year. The program, in
partnership with BoardSource in Washington, DC, will be incorporated into the 2014
BLI program.
• BLI Alumni Association Board of Directors was proud to award a “BLI Scholarship
Fund, in memory of Michelle Curtin” to 3 incoming students of the BLI Class of 2014
totaling $1,500.
• The BLI Alumni Association grew to over 300 active members, sponsored a variety
of events, increased their visibility to the business community and continued to serve
on many volunteer boards in the area. The BLI Alumni activity highlights for 2013
included:
o Forming a committee to host and organize the first Canstruction of the Southern
Tier event in Broome County from March 23 - 30, 2014 at the Oakdale Mall in
Johnson City. Canstruction® is an international hunger– relief competition where
architects, engineers and contractors compete to design and build giant structures
made entirely from full cans of food. At the close of the competition, all of the
donated food from Canstruction of the Southern Tier will be distributed to hungerrelief agencies in Broome County to help feed neighbors in need.
o Creation of the Inaugural Alumni of Distinction Award, which was presented
to Alan Hertel, Executive Director of the United Way of Broome County. The
Alumni of Distinction award recognized Hertel, a Class of 1997 BLI Graduate, for
his leadership excellence and outstanding community service.
o Partnering with the United Way of Broome County on the Annual Half-Day
Workshop for Non-Profits which took place on March 21, 2013. Thanks to a grant
from the Hoyt Foundation, the event featured a speaker from BoardSource, Dave
Sternberg, and attracted nearly 100 attendees.
o Continuing the BLI Alumni Spotlight in the Chamber’s monthly newsletter, the
ChambeReport: Highlighting successful Alumni in the community
o Organizing five Leadership Events for BLI Alumni with visits to: York
Productions, Goodwill Theatre in Johnson City, Meier Supply Co., Inc.,
Binghamton Zoo at Ross Park and Servpro of Broome, Tompkins & Tioga Counties
• Generated additional personal and corporate contributions to the BLI Scholarship
Fund in memory of Michelle Curtin totaling nearly $1,000 in 2013.
Building Bridges (BB) Program
BB connects high school educators, administrators and guidance professionals with
the world of work. This seven week program arranges for educators to visit various
businesses in the Greater Binghamton area in order to increase their knowledge of area
employers, their workforce needs and current workplace trends.
2013 Building Bridges Highlights:
• A committee was formed to re-evaluate the format of the Building Bridges
Program and discuss new programs for spring 2014.
Junior Achievement (JA) Program
JA programs are dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in
a global economy. Through a dedicated volunteer network, JA programs provide
in-school and after school programs for students in grades K-12 that focus on
entrepreneurship, work readiness and financial literacy. Students put these lessons into
action and help strengthen our communities.
2013 Junior Achievement Highlights:
• GBEOP raised $11,900 in 2013 for Junior Achievement Programs from corporate
donations and foundation grants.
• GBEOP implemented 34 JA classes in Broome County in the Spring and 3 in
the Fall of 2013 with the assistance of 34 business professionals at the following
locations: Seton Catholic Schools (All Saints, St. James, St. John and Seton Catholic
High School), Vestal Central Schools (African Road Elementary, Glenwood
Elementary Vestal High School), Union-Endicott Central Schools (Charles F.
Johnson Elementary and Jennie F. Snapp Middle School), Maine-Endwell High
School and Binghamton High School.
• GBEOP recruited 15 new volunteers from local businesses for the 2013 Spring
and Fall JA programs, and worked with 19 returning JA volunteers.
GREATER BINGHAMTON
CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
The mission of the Greater Binghamton Convention & Visitors Bureau is to attract
meetings, conventions, trade shows and events that bring overnight visitors to our
community.
In 2013 we hosted 154 conventions and events. Our golf package business has increased
by 13%. We were also able to secure the Eastern Star through 2017 and Odyssey of
the Mind through 2016. The CVB also partnered with other Bureaus on several grant
applications through the State’s Regional Economic Development Program. The I-81
Corridor Co-operative Program is designed to draw visitors off the highway to eat,
shop, visit attractions and sleep.
Hosted 154 Conventions & Events including:
• BAGSAI Softball Tournament Series (5,300 people)
• Odyssey of the Mind (3,000 people)
• Destination Imagination (2,000 people)
• STOP DWI Tournament of Champions softball tournament (1,700 people)
• NY-USA Wrestling State Tournament (1,500 people)
• NYS Collegiate Rowing (1,200 people)
• AAU Basketball (1,000 people)
• John Mack Memorial Lacrosse (1,000 people)
• NYS Public High School Baseball (800 people)
• Approximately 55,680 visitors attended Convention & Events with an estimated
impact of $21 million.
• Booked 165 future Convention & Events - including the I Love New York Gymnastics
Meet (2,500 people), the NYS Boys Gymnastics Championship (1,000 people) and the
NY-USA Wrestling (1,500 people).
• Responded to 1,986 tourist inquiries.
• Responded to 430 tourism calls on the 800 number and 58,205 brochures were
distributed.
• Attended 5 Trade Shows including:
• American Bus Association – Charlotte, NC
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May 2014
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May 2014