Chamber Connection - Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce
Transcription
Chamber Connection - Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce
October 2015 Chamber Connection G y t i n ro u m w, S m o upport, C Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce Office 2 State Street Auburn, NY 13021 Office Hours Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm Index 1. Annual Dinner, Table of Contents 2. New Members Thank You, Board of Directors 3. Upcoming Event 4. Navigator News 6. Member News 8. Employment Opportunities 9. Leadership Cayuga 10-11. Kelly Springer; Sponsor Thank You 12-13. Membership Advantage Program 15. IGNITE 16. Ambassadors Council/Save the Date 18. HR One 19. The State Report 20. Springside BAF 21. October Calendar At A Glance Our Mission: To advocate as the voice of the business community, provide value-added services to our members, and facilitate collaboration that supports economic development for the greater good of Cayuga County. 1 Connect with Us!! www.cayugacountychamber.com Thank you to our new members! 1840 Dulles Inn 67 South Street Auburn, NY 13021 315-941-8666 [email protected] Auburn Regional Media Access (ARMA) 108 Genesee St. Auburn, NY 13021 315-282-7049 www.armatv.org/ [email protected] Brew Funeral Home 48 South Street Auburn, NY 13021 (315) 253-6293 www.brewfuneralhome.com [email protected] Farmers Insurance 144 Genesee St. Suite 100 Auburn, NY 13021 www.farmersagent.com/rlockwood [email protected] Kelly’s Choice, LLC 6 Hannum Street, Skaneateles, NY 13152 P: 315-730-4459 www.kellyschoice.org/ 2015 Chamber Board of Directors David Tehan Chair Karpinski, Stapleton, & Tehan Sue Edinger Vice-Chair Inns of Aurora Allison DiMatteo Secretary Crème Della Crème Christopher Alger Treasurer Grossman St. Amour, CPAs Patrick Carbonaro Legal Counsel Carbonaro Law Offices Michelle Barber Five Star Bank Adam Santana Unity House Ryan Pine Genesee Capital Advisors Richard Elliott Beardsley architect + engineers Tom Minicucci Central Building, LLC Kevin Ellis Cayuga Marketing, LLC Tom Filiak Auburn Community Hospital Rob Forcey The Citizen Mike Trapani Jacobs Press Dan Lovell Code Munkeys Lisa Myers Merry-Go-Round Playhouse Jeffrey Pirozzolo Auburn Enlarged City School District Steve Woodard Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES Chamber Staff Andrew Fish Executive Director Amy Fuller Chamber Manager Michelle Prego-Milewski Office Manager Ginny Kent Education and Resource Coordinator Stephanie DeVito Communications Coordinator Christine Bonvino Health Insurance Navigator If you know a business who would benefit by being a Chamber Member please call (315) 252-7291 to learn more about the Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce Today! 2 Upcoming Events Healthy Cayuga: 106th Chamber Annual Dinner Wednesday, October 21 5:30 - 8:30 pm Please join us for the 106th Annual Chamber of Commerce dinner at the Emerson Pavilion. The event includes dinner, silent and live auction items and a keynote address by Kelly Springer. Cost is $60 per person or $550 for a table of 10. Call 315-252-7291 or email [email protected] to register. IGNITE the Vote: Auburn candidate debate Monday, October 21, 5-8 pm Join members of IGNITE for a forum with City of Auburn Mayoral and City Council candidates. Cash bar cocktail hour from 5-6, Mayoral Debate from 6-7 and City Council debate from 7-8. To register for this event, email [email protected] or join our event at www.facebook.com/ignitecny. VOLUNTEERS WANTED Cayuga/Seneca Community Action Agency has an immediate need for volunteers to support Agency initiatives. Many opportunities are available to accommodate all skill levels and interests. Volunteers are needed to: Work in our local food pantry packing food baskets, processing intake forms, stocking shelves, etc. Deliver meals and food baskets to homebound residents Process Christmas Elf applications Assist with Warm the Children referrals and coat distribution Organize food, clothing and toy drives to help families in need over the holidays Perform light office work (data entry, filing, answering phones, tracking donations, etc.) For more information. Please contact Kathy DaVia, Human Resources Director at (315) 255-1703 ext.129 or through email at [email protected]. 3 Navigator News Countdown to Open Enrollment! It’s that time again – the annual Open Enrollment season for health insurance is upon us. If you purchased a Qualified Health Plan (QHP) from the New York State of Health Benefits Exchange Marketplace (Marketplace) in 2015, your current plan will be ending on December 31, 2015. If you have coverage through your employer, your Open Enrollment period is based on your employer’s effective date. If you currently don’t have health insurance, Open Enrollment provides an opportunity for you and your family to get coverage. Open Enrollment begins on Sunday, November 1, 2015 and concludes on Sunday, January 31, 2016. See the chart below for coverage effective dates: Complete Enrollment Within These Dates: Coverage Will Begin On: November 1, 2015 - December 15, 2015 January 1, 2016 December 16, 2015 - January 15, 2016 February 1, 2016 January 16, 2016 - January 31, 2016 March 1, 2016 After January 16, 2016 you must meet certain conditions in order to enroll. Some Important Changes for 2016: • Health Republic will no longer be offering plans in New York. If you are a Health Republic customer with a plan from the Individual Marketplace, your insurance will be honored through the end of this year. You will need to choose a new health insurance company during Open Enrollment for your 2016 coverage. If you have a Small Group plan through your employer it will be honored until the end of the employer’s annual enrollment (as of the time of this writing). Health Republic is no longer accepting new business. • The new “Essential Plan” will be available starting in January 2016. This plan will provide the same essential benefits as the other QHPs on the Marketplace, but will cost less and has no deductible. This plan is for lower-income New Yorkers who do not qualify for Medicaid. Eligibility will be based on annual household income. The Essential Plan is not available on the SHOP Marketplace. • The Individual Shared Responsibility penalty will increase. If you choose not to have minimal essential health insurance coverage in 2016, you may have to pay a penalty. The penalty will increase to $695 for each adult and $347.50 for each child, up to $2,085 per family, or 2.5% of family income above the federal tax filing threshold, whichever is greater. There are several exemptions to the penalty. See your tax advisor or visit irs.gov for more information on the penalty. The Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce Health Insurance Navigator Program can assist you with your enrollment or renewal. To make an appointment call (315) 252- 7291 and ask to speak with a Navigator. Membership in the Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce is not required to receive assistance from the Heatlh Insurance Navigator Program. 4 Join IGNITE for a forum with City of Auburn Mayoral and City Council candidates Monday, October 26 The Hilton Garden Inn 5-8 PM 5 PM - Networking 6 PM Mayoral Debate 7 PM City Council Debate Build Your Relationship Today. A valuable benefits package helps to attract the best and brightest. Offering access to Empower FCU products, services, and educational sessions is a valuable enhancement to your overall benefits package. For more information 800.462.5000 x 5020 www.empowerfcu.com Federally insured by NCUA 5 Members in the News HomeInstead, Auburn Community Hospital to offer family caregiver workshop Tuesday, October 27, 2015 from 6-9 pm at Auburn Community Hospital, 3rd floor Medical Staff Conference Room. Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias is very challenging! This workshop will give you an overview of dementia, help you to understand more about the behaviors that can be caused by the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, identify techniques that will assist you with handling challenging behaviors and encourage your loved one to engage in activity. Finally, we will talk about ways for you, the caregiver to care for yourself - physically, mentally and socially! Sponsored by Home Instead Senior Care. RSVP 315-252-2354 by Monday, October 26, 2015. For More Information Contact (315) 252-2354 Solarize Cayuga is a part of the Solarize CNY Program, helping to make Solar Power more accessible and affordable for our community. We invite you to learn more about how Solar Power can work for you, your family or your business, by attending one of our Workshops, or by viewing the additional information found on this site. By combining the purchasing power of our community, Solarize Cayuga has negotiated a reduced price for your Solar Installation. This reduced price, when combined with state and federal tax credits and state incentives, makes Solar Power more affordable than ever! In Cayuga County, we have partnered with two Solar Panel Installers; Halco Energy and Renovus Energy. They were chosen for their excellent reputations and quality equipment. By partnering with these Installers, we are offering you an excellent opportunity to “Make the Switch” to Solar Power. You can find out more about Solarize Cayuga and our Partner Installers by attending an upcoming workshop. They are free, and open to the public. If you are eager to move forward, enroll today for your free no-obligation site assessment. This will determine whether your site is suitable for Solar Power, and how much you can save if you “Make the Switch”. For More Information Contact (315) 252-1283 Inns of Aurora to host cooking classes The Inns of Aurora continue to offer its signature cooking classes with its 2015-2016 calendar, focused on perfecting culinary classics and entertaining for the holidays. Running from October through April, the series takes place at Rowland House — the newest of the Inns of Aurora — and pairs each culinary experience with an overnight stay. From Soups & Salads to Perfect Pasta, the classes are designed to be intimate and hands-on, suited for both kitchen masters and beginners alike. Each class costs $450 per couple, including overnight accommodations, class instruction, dinner, a take-home gift, and tax and gratuity. For a more detailed description of each class, please visit innsofaurora.com or call the Aurora Inn at 315.364.8888 for reservations. Rowland House is located at 453 Main Street, Aurora, NY 13026. For More Information Contact (315) 364-8888 If you have an upcoming event, or would like to see your business news listed in the Member News contact [email protected] or call (315) 252-7291 today! 6 7 The Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce is here to help you with announcing your business job openings! If you have a job opening and would like the Chamber to post it in the Chamber Connection Newsletter please e-mail the following information to [email protected]: • Organization, Job Title, Whether the position is full time, part time, or seasonal, Link to your website for full position details, Date your accepting applications until, Contact information on where to send applications All job opening information is due no later than Monday, November 2, for the November Chamber Connection Newsletter. Thank you! Job Opportunities: Organization: Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce/CEDA Job Title: Communications Coordinator Hours: Full Time Website: www.cayugacountychamber.com Application Deadline: Until position is filled Contact Information: Andrew Fish, Executive director, 315 252 7291, [email protected] Organization: Cayuga Centers Job Title: Fundraising and Major Gifts Specialist Hours: Full-time Application Deadline: Applications accepted until position is filled Organization: Auburn Community Federal Credit Union Job Title: Member Service Representative Hours: Part-time (no Saturday hours) Contact Information: [email protected] Application Deadline: Applications accepted until position is filled Organization: Volpi Job Title: Senior Manufacturing/Process Engineer Hours: Full-time Contact Information: [email protected] Application Deadline: Applications accepted until position is filled Organization: Inn of Aurora Job Title: Assistant Controller Hours: Full-time Contact Information: [email protected] or (315) 364-8014 Application Deadline: Applications accepted until position is filled 8 Leadership Cayuga alumni, friends, and members of the Chamber bid welcome to the Class of 2016 at the Springside Inn’s Business After Five event on September 9. Anthony Alberici Auburn High School/Student Kate Budlong ARISE Kara Carbonaro Champions for Life Chrissy Cornell US Congressman John Katko Kathi Craig Cayuga Seneca Community Action Agency Debra Dennis Onondaga Lake Park Josh Edwards Auburn Community FCU Christina Ehlers Cayuga Seneca Community Action Agency Melissa Flask Empower Federal Credit Union Ryan Kustyn Five Star Bank Mary Lovell Seymour Library Amy Mahunik Auburn Enlarged City School District Kevin Manning Tyburn Academy/Student Michelle Prego-Milewski Cayuga Strategic Solutions Andrew Sagarin Auburn Doubledays Amy Sargent Unity House Deedee Schenck Cayuga Centers Bruce Sherman Cayuga Economic Development Agency Ken Tanner Beardsley A&E Erica Turner Homsite Inc. Jennifer Watkins Cayuga Seneca Community Action Agency Dale Whittaker Inns of Aurora Kelley Zabriskie Inns of Aurora Two days later, as tradition, the class headed to Casowasco Conference Center in Moravia for an overnight Orientation Retreat. Denise Pellegrino, of Auburn Education Foundation and ALDC executive boards, formerly of Bank of America, shared her expertise on interpretation of personality types how this affects our leadership and personal relationships. Heather Paris of Live Inspired Now! presented on public speaking and offered tips on organizing your content, reading your audience and engaging people. Guy Cosentino ‘89, reviewed the results of the 20 Clues to Community Survival, an analysis completed by the class prior to the program. Ginny Kent ‘03, Education and Resource Coordinator for the Chamber, runs the program and took the class through team activities and an overview of the program. Between presentations, the class enjoyed the beautiful surroundings and Casowasco game room. Corporate Sponsor is Nucor. Special thanks to Stephanie DeVito for all of her help with the retreat. 9 The cayuga county chamber of commerce’s 2015 Annual Dinner Keynote Speaker: Kelly Springer K training with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to receive her certificate in Adult Weight Management. During her time at Fingerlakes Bariatrics, Kelly realized there was great need for nutritional counseling at the individual level. She started her own private practice in 2010 in Skaneateles, collaborating with local physicians. In 2012, Kelly was named Syracuse Division Nutritionist for Wegmans, where she develops programs and educates Wegmans employees and customers on how to make great meals easy. Today, she educates the public on live TV, through blogs, and written articles. Kelly has since expanded her reach to include workplace wellness, dietitian placement for physicians and clinicians, restaurant menu development, school nutrition education, plus individual counseling, all under the umbrella of Kelly’s Choice. Launched in 2012, Kelly’s Choice is dedicated to educating individuals and clinicians on “real food nutrition for real people.” elly Springer has been practicing in the field of dietetics for almost two decades. Her passion for food and nutrition began at age 17 when she worked at Auburn Community Hospital. Kelly graduated from West Virginia University in 2001 with a bachelors of science in nutrition, and was hired full time at the hospital. During the next two years she continued to learn and started counseling bariatric patients while she completed her masters in health education at SUNY Cortland. Kelly continued her career as Head Nutrition Educator at Cornell Cooperative Extension, took some time off to have two daughters, then joined Hillside Children’s Center upon her return to the workforce. There, she developed a comprehensive wellness group that identified guidelines to promote health and good nutrition for the residents and staff at the Auburn and Varick campuses. Auburn Community Hospital (Fingerlakes Bariatrics) then recruited Kelly as their Bariatric Dietitian. She received her Registered Dietitian credentials and went on to complete additional Call 315-252-7291 or email [email protected] to register. 10 The Chamber would like to thank the sponsors of the 2015 Annual Dinner: Diamond Gold Silver Bronze 11 The Member Advantage is an exclusive members only program designed to save you money and time. Using collective buying power, the Member Advantage Program has negotiated members-only pricing and special offers on products and services that businesses like yours use every day - office supplies, merchant services, energy, payroll and human resource services, 401K plan management, background checks, conferencing services, multiple wireless device management and employee assistance plans. This unique program directly supports your operational, communications and health and human services needs. Contact us and learn how you can get these savings and deals typically reserved for large companies. Karen DeJoseph Phone: 315-470-1997 Email: [email protected] Employee and Benefit Services Payroll and HR Services Health Insurance Employee Assistance Program Employee Background Checks and Employee Screening Multiple Employer (MEP) 401K Plan ADP provides a convenient, easy to use web-based payroll and human resource technology to help businesses better manage cash flow and compliance in order to reduce risk and increase accuracy and efficiency. Includes an HR help desk, employee handbook wizard, job description wizard, HR tracking, compliance updates and training and HR forms and documents. BSNY specializes in meeting the needs to employers and employees of all sizes. They are a licensed, independent agency that works with chamber members, and non-members providing services, products and programs that help you navigate through the employee benefit system. A support services which assists your employees who have personal challenges that could adversely affect their job performance. An investment that will yield your company savings through minimizing absenteeism and increased on the job performance, while establishing your organization as a compassionate employer. Rochester Business Alliance has the expertise to help companies make better hiring decisions while minimizing risk. They provide reference and background screening, with an experienced staff, the most current and comprehensive database system in the country and quick one to three day turnaround time. In partnership with Sagemark Consulting, a division of Lincoln Financial Services, member businesses, with as few as two employees, can establish a 401K Plan, by outsourcing to MEP benefit program (Multiple Employer Plan 401k). Through this program, member businesses can discharge fiduciary responsibilities, eliminate from 5500 plan audits, day to day operational concerns and increase buying power. Plans are designed to best suit the business needs. WWW.MEMBERADVANTAGENY.COM 12 Operational Services Office Supplies A family owned, local business, Hummel’s has served the Upstate NY business community for over 80 years providing streamlined office supply solutions. Hummel’s saves your business time and money with its easy ordering process, and average savings of up to 40% on office supplies and 5-90% on all items sold. Constellation Energy Services is a competitive retail energy supplier providing expertise and solutions so customers can be smart with their price, secure with their supplier and save on their energy costs. Electric Energy TSYS Merchant Solutions is thrilled to offer you merchant services at its highest level. With secure processing equipment, local support, competitive pricing, loyality programs and more. We look to customize a solution for each individual business. We welcome the opportunity to offer you a free analysis of your current processing and discuss more in more detail, what we can do to help your business grow. Communications Web, Video and Telephone Conferencing Services Wireless Device Management Syntela Conferencing is your single source provider for audio, web and video conferencing. This locally woman-owned, NYS based conferencing company is committed to providing members with the best possible product and service at a guaranteed discount. WBG is a cellular consulting firm that helps companies efficiently manage their wireless services. Through their consultative approach WBG helps companies get their wireless expenses under control and develops a plan to address their mobile device objectives. WWW.MEMBERADVANTAGENY.COM 13 Some reasons to Tap into the Equity of your Home are listed below: Invest in Home Improvements Help Cover the Cost for College Consolidate High Interest Loans Take a Vacation Away from all this Cold Weather Some of the reasons to consider a Home Equity Loan are: It’s a Closed-End Loan - you know when it will be paid off. Lower Interest Rates Lower Monthly Payments - compared to Personal Loans/Credit Cards Possible Tax Savings - interest may be tax deductible.* Current Rates Available at www.auburnfcu.com *Tax deductibility depends on many different factors. Please consult a14 professional tax advisor for your specific situation. The Ignite Outlook Q & A with Jessica Cantu, Hilton Garden Inn W hat do you do in your profession/ job title for Cayuga County? At the Hilton I get to make help make Wedding Days perfect by working with brides and grooms on planning their reception at our beautiful hotel. I also work with corporate clients, local agencies, and social groups in the community to plan their meetings, conferences, fundraisers, and social events. I love working with people and I get to do that every day. What do you like about living the CNY community? I love how beautiful it is here and that there is always something to do. Live music, theater, outdoor activities - we have it all! One thing about you that would surprise people? I don’t know if this would surprise many people, but I’m a pretty terrible dancer! As a young professional in Cayuga County, what are some tips you’d like to give other young aspiring professionals? Be as active in the community as possible. Having a strong network of friends and fellow professionals is invaluable. T IGNITE to Host Debate his October 26th, IGNITE will kick off this year’s IGNITE the Vote!, a political forum the Hilton Garden Inn from 5-8pm. This year’s IGNITE the Vote! campaign continues our mission of connecting, engaging and involving Cayuga County’s younger population by informing them about local election candidates, their platforms and the issues our community is facing. Our nonpartisan approach provides various opportunities for young voters to gather the necessary information they need to make an informed decision about who would best represent them. The ultimate goal is to convey the message that local elections matter and each vote counts. You have a say. You October 21st! Auburn Candidate Debate! can IGNITE the Vote! We believe an open discussion about issues in the community will help to inform and engage voters ahead of the election. As such, the forum will be open to the public and the event will be recorded to be shown on local access television. Each candidate will be given 2 minutes for an opening statement and 2 minutes for a closing statement. Questions asked during the forum will be submitted by members of IGNITE. Candidates will be given 2 minutes to answer and 1 minute for a rebuttal. Mayoral candidates will be from 6-6:45pm; we will then take a five minute break, and then proceed with City Council candidates. All of the candidates have agreed to attend and it will be a packed house! November: IGNITE at Auburn Community Hospital IGNITE at the Apple Station: Recap I t ‘s that time of the year again when the leaves begin to fall and the days get shorter. I couldn’t think of a better place to be than in central New York. In turn with the season, IGNITE held its monthly event at The Apple Station located at 5279 Cross Rd in Cayuga, NY. Our monthly events are generally held on the second Tuesday of each month but we wanted to take advantage of the wonderful weather 15 with fall around the corner by switching it to the weekend. The Apple Station offered a variety of apples, cheeses, crackers, donuts and even tastings of their wine for the event. It was a beautiful day and a number of us were able to bring our families to pick apples and feed the farm animals (a highlight for the kids for sure). IGNITE has made a point of having family events after receiving feedback from our membership and The Apple Station was a perfect fit. 2015 Ambassadors Council This dedicated group of volunteers works hard to promote the Chamber and to welcome and nurture new members. You will see Ambassadors welcoming new members by attending ribbon cuttings and stopping by businesses to say hello and to answer any questions about the services and benefits of the Chamber. Ambassadors also volunteer to help at Chamber sponsored events like Business After Five, the Annual Chamber Cup Golf Tournament or at our Annual Dinner. Gillian DiMora, AXA Advisors Kim Baley, Buffington & Hoatland CPAs Michelle Barber, Five Star Bank Gina Lamannis, Fingerlakes Radio Group Jon Wilcox, Savannah Bank NY Katrina Wilson, Wells College Eric Roper, New York Life Insurance John Taylor, Staples If you are interested in joining the ambassadors council contact the chamber today! Call 315-252-7291 for more information on becoming an Ambassador! Save the Date! • Wednesday, October 21 - Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner • Thursday, December 3 - Chamber of Commerce Holiday Party • Keep checking back for updates on the Phyllis Goldman Award! • Schedule your 2016 Business at Noon today! Just four slots left for 2016! 16 Our members experience the best. ...now you can too. Owasco Country Club is home to a beautiful nine hole golf course with eighteen challenging tee boxes, a full service pro shop, beautiful Har-Tru clay tennis courts, kid’s summer camps, a gourmet dining facility and two outdoor patios. The rich history of OCC includes prestigious members such as W.H. Seward Jr., a former course record holder, and PGA member Walter Hagen, a former club professional. Bob Fagan recently wrote a review calling Owasco Country Club not only charming, but challenging. “gem you will want to play!” Bob Fagan is an accomplished player and instructor, PGA Section Executive Director, and highly acclaimed golf writer. The 100 year old stately clubhouse provides exquisite dining overlooking the pristine waters of Owasco Lake. The restaurant offers both a casual tavern setting as well as fine dining. It’s a prime location for weddings and other banquet events and available to members at no charge. For More InForMatIon Visit our website at www.OwascoCountryClub.com • Click on the Become a Member Drop Down Call Carolyn Moore at 315-252-3580 or Pro Mark Flurschutz at 315-253-3971 17 Did You Know... Annual Medicare Part D Notices Are Due By Oct. 15 Employers that offer prescription drug coverage are required to notify Medicare Part D eligible individuals who are covered by, or who apply for, prescription drug coverage under the group health plan of whether or not their coverage is creditable, meaning that the coverage is expected to pay on average as much as the Medicare prescription drug coverage. Medicare Part D eligible individuals may include active employees, disabled employees, COBRA participants and retirees, as well as their covered spouses and dependents. To simplify administration, group health plan sponsors provide the Disclosure Notice to all plan participants. Notification is required at least once a year and at the following times: Prior to an individual’s initial enrollment period for Medicare Part D; Prior to the effective date of coverage for any Medicare-eligible individual that joins your plan; Whenever prescription drug coverage ends or changes so that it is no longer creditable or becomes creditable; Prior to the Medicare Part D Annual Coordinated Election Period beginning on Oct. 15 – Dec. 7 of each year; or Upon the request of a beneficiary. Creditable Coverage Model Notice Letters can be downloaded by clicking the following links: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Prescription-Drug-Coverage/CreditableCoverage/Downloads/ ModelCreditableCoverageDisclosureNotice051711.pdf https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Prescription-Drug-Coverage/CreditableCoverage/Downloads/ ModelNonCreditableCoverageDisclosureNotice051711.pdf Additionally, plan sponsors are required to complete an online disclosure form to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The disclosure should be completed at the following times: No later than 60 days from the beginning of a plan year (contract year, renewal year); Within 30 days after termination of a prescription drug plan; or Within 30 days after any change in creditable coverage status. The online disclosure form can be completed at: Creditable Coverage Disclosure Form. This is the sole method for complying with the CMS disclosure requirement. The MMA imposes a late enrollment penalty on individuals who do not maintain creditable coverage for a period of 63 days or longer following their initial enrollment period for the Medicare prescription drug benefit. If you have questions or for more information, call HR One’s Human Resource Helpline at 1.800.457.8829. 18 NYS P-TECH Partnerships gear up for Manufacturing Day NYS P-TECH partnerships gear up for Manufacturing Day ALBANY, N.Y.—The Business Council of New York State, Inc. today announced that a number of manufacturers involved in NYS P-TECH partnerships across the state will host open houses in October to commemorate Manufacturing Day. The official Manufacturing Day is on October 2, and the events — geared toward local parents, teachers and other community members — are part of a nationwide effort to educate the public on modern manufacturing and draw attention to outstanding job opportunities in the industry. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo declared October 2015 as Manufacturing Month in New York State. The NYS P-TECH program establishes grade 9-14 career schools throughout the state. The schools, which are the result of partnerships between businesses, community colleges and school districts, focus on student achievement of a two-year college degree, high school diploma and mastery of professional skills by end of the sixth year. Students also gain the workplace experience necessary to be first in line for STEM jobs. Partnerships that will host events include Hudson Valley Pathways Academy, P-TECH Auburn, P-TECH OHM, WNY P-TECH STEM Academy, Valley P-TECH, Southern Adirondack P-TECH, ADK P-TECH, HFM P-TECH, Clean Energy/ Sustainable Technologies ECHS, LI P-TECH, Syracuse P-TECH and Wayne Finger Lakes P-TECH. “Growing manufacturing is a key to our economic success and closing the skills gap,” said Heather Briccetti, president and CEO of The Business Council. “Jobs in this sector are good-paying and have an impressive multiplier effect, but unfortunately, many positions remain open in the state and nationwide due to a lack of skilled workers. We are thrilled to be involved in the NYS P-TECH program and support these innovative partnerships, 16 of which include at least one career pathway in advanced manufacturing.” According to recent report by ReadyNation, New York could face a deficit of 350,000 workers for mid-level skill jobs by 2020. The Business Council represents nearly 2,400 private sector employers across New York State, with members in all economic sectors and of all sizes, who together employ more than 1.2 million New Yorkers. It was formed in 1980 with the merger of Associated Industries of New York and the Empire State Chamber of Commerce, and manufacturers remain the largest component of its membership. Please contact Robin Willner at [email protected] or Sonia Lindell at sonia. [email protected] for more information on local Manufacturing Day events. 19 Springside Inn BAF Members gather for Springside Business After Five and Leadership Cayuga Class of 2016 kickoff On September 9th, Chamber and community members joined with the Leadership Cayuga Class of 2016 for Ribbon Cutting/Business after Five and Welcome Reception for the new Class. The Springside feature it’s new outdoor space, The Grove. Guests had a wide variety of hors d’oeuvres to choose from. 20 October Calendar at a Glance 21 Annual Dinner Owasco Pavilion 26 IGNITE the Vote at Hilton Garden Inn 21