COMMUNITY
BUS I NES S
EDUCATION
NEW PALTZ
REGIONAL
CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE
TOURISM
REGIONAL
REPORT
SPRING 2010
A QUARTERLY BUSINESS NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE NEW PALTZ REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
NONTRADITIONAL BECOMES THE NORM Higher Education and the Adult Student
IN THIS ISSUE
10
Returning the Favor
21
The Bottom Line
24
Member Profiles: Manufacturing & Distribution
By Kelley Granger
L
ook around a college classroom these days and you may notice not everyone is fresh out of high school. Adult learners, generally categorized as those above age 22 and labeled as “nontraditional,” are fast becoming the norm, with growth expected to outpace the typical college segment. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, enrollment in degree-granting institutions is projected to increase by 19 percent between 2006 and 2017 for students above age 25, compared with an increase of just 10 percent for students younger than 25 during the same period. And these statistics don’t take into account other forms of professional development, vocational, or certificate programs. Whether expanding a knowledge base for their current career or totally switching occupations, adult learners are a growing demographic that is changing the face of higher education. Continued on p. 12
Businesses recognize the responsibility they have to the health of their communities.
US Postal Service looks at cuts, Hudson Valley counties look to pool services, NY State looks at partial park closures, and more.
Prism Solar Technologies, KIC Chemicals, Viking Industries, and Gateway Community Industries.
257 MAIN ST. NEW PALTZ, NY 12561 P 845 255 0243 F 845 255 5189 E INFO@NEWPALTZCHAMBER.ORG WWW.NEWPALTZCHAMBER.ORG
ACCENT COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS
THINK AGAIN!
Simple, affordable digital signage…. Capitalize on what’s happening today – respond to the moment! We have the solution to make it happen; your business can reap the benefits. Your company can use this powerful technology to share information with your customers and “talk” to them when they are listening. Create messages in minutes, communicate with ease, whenever and wherever you want. Upload your own content and choose from the template library to create instant messages. Really. It’s that simple! Present key business information with high impact, rich-media presentations across a network of customer-facing digital signage screens. › Centrally manage your digital signage network › Schedule and deploy customized content to any location › Create unique content playlists for any number of screens › Communicate using compelling video, text, and RSS feeds
Call to schedule a demo: 845-834-2737 | www.MuzakHudsonValley.com
Letter from JOYCE MINARD Michael Gold / The Corporate Image
The Regional Chamber of Commerce Foundation at New Paltz awards scholarships each year recognizing individuals that have had a positive impact in their community, school, or workplace.
T
his spring issue of Regional Report highlights Corporate Responsibility and the trend toward adult learning. I’d like to use this space to highlight a Chamber program which unites these two feature topics: The Regional Chamber of Commerce Foundation at New Paltz Educational Scholarships. Each year, the Foundation awards two $1,000 scholarships, recognizing individuals who have had a positive impact in their community, school, or workplace. The scholarships are awarded to graduating high school seniors, students currently pursuing a post-secondary degree or accreditation, and adult learners. Scholarship winners must demonstrate a dedication to community as well as an ability to succeed in a post-secondary degree or accreditation program. Past winners have been Eagle Scouts, firefighters, decorated athletes, Rotarians, EMTs and hospital volunteers. Their courses of study have helped develop careers in health care, law, chemical engineering, business administration and education. The financial support provided by a Foundation scholarship has helped these individuals apply their passion and drive to a course of study that not only helps them accomplish their professional and educational goals, but promotes a dynamic local workforce with the relevant skills and education necessary to secure the Hudson Valley’s reputation as a tenable business destination. The Foundation also supports the popular Professional Development Series, offering five panel discussions annually to provide the Chamber membership and the Hudson Valley community with educational opportunities to foster business and personal success. In the past year, Professional Development Series panel discussions have
NATIONAL REGISTERED PROPERTIES
COMBINING FINE DINING AND COUNTRY BISTRO focused upon the topics of financing for small business, disaster preparedness and data management, customer service, sales and communication, and social networking. In May, the Professional Development Series hones in on social networking with a workshop designed to take business owners step by step through the ins and outs of today’s online social media. Each year, the Foundation’s large community events—the Garden Tour, the Golf Outing and the Progressive Dinner—raise funds to support the Educational Scholarship program. The Foundation also envisions a broader, more comprehensive program of activities and scholarships, all geared toward educating the community and growing the skills of the Hudson Valley’s workforce. For more information about the Educational Scholarship program, Professional Development Series, or the Foundation’s fund-raising events, call the Chamber at 845-255-0243, email us at info@newpaltzchamber.org or visit us on the web at www. newpaltzchamber.org. Friend the Chamber on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for the most up-to-date information on Foundation programs and events.
Best,
LOCATED IN THE WINE CELLAR OF THE DEPUY CANAL HOUSE RESERVATIONS REQUESTED FOR A TABLE UPSTAIRS IN ONE OF OUR FOUR ROMANTIC FIREPLACE ROOMS
The Center of the Universe
High Falls 845-687-7700 www.depuycanalhouse.com
41ST ANNIVERSARY
1969 - 2010
Joyce M. Minard, President REGIONAL REPORT SPRING 2010
3
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Accent Communications Systems 3 Park Lane Highland, NY 12528 (845) 834-2737 / Fax: (845) 834-2739 Contact: Lisa Peplow Sarli E-mail: lisa@muzakhudsonvalley.com Website: www.MuzakHudsonValley.com Category: Music-Commercial
Arrow Promotions 35 Highland Ave. Ulster Park, NY 12487 (845) 338-5654 / fax (845) 338-5780 Contact: Nancy L. Rafter E-mail: nrafter@hvc.rr.com Website: www.arrowpromote.com Category: Advertising/Marketing
Debra Budnik, LCSW-R 13 Bonticouview Drive New Paltz, NY 12561 (845) 255-4218 Contact: Debra Budnik E-mail: debrabudnik@gmail.com Category: Psychotherapy
El Ameer Mediterranean Cuisine 260 North Road Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Contact: George & Debra Nicola E-mail: debranicola@hotmail.com Category: Catering, Restaurants
E-Tech International Inc. 15 River Park Drive New Paltz, NY 12561 (845) 255-1035 Contact: Erich Gundlach Category: Environmental Products and Services
EveL.’s Sweets 15 1/2 North Front Street New Paltz, NY 12561 (646) 263-6885 Contact: Eve Prince E-mail: eve@eveprince.com Website: www.eveprince.com Category: Bakeries
Green State Services 83 S. Putt Corners Road New Paltz, NY 12561 (845) 255-6300 / fax (845) 255-4909 Contact: Nancy Thomas-Finn Website: www.GreenStateServices.com Category: Construction/Demolition Containers
Horsefeathers of New Paltz 15 North Chestnut Street New Paltz, NY 12561 Contact: Gordon Rauer 4
E-mail: gordon@hudsonvalleyantiques.com Website: www.hudsonvalleyantiques.com Category: Antiques
Hudson Valley Divorce, LLC 253 Fair Street, Suite 2 Kingston, NY 12402 (845) 331-1125 Contact: Robin Vaccai Yess E-mail: robin@hvdivorce.com Website: www.hvdivorce.com Category: Financial Consulting/Divorce
Knapp’s Tax LLC 120 Main Street, Unit 5 Gardiner, NY 12525 (845) 306-2510 / fax (845) 306-2512 Contact: Paul Knapp E-mail: info@knappstax.com Website: www.knappstax.com Category: Tax Preparation
Likwid 65 Main Street New Paltz, NY 12561 (845) 256-1013 Contact: Jed Sherman E-mail: sales@likwidskateboards.com Website: www.likwidskateboards.com Category: Skateboards
Naccarato Insurance 108 Main Street, Suite 2 New Paltz, NY 12561 (845) 255-5715 / fax (845) 255-5219 Contact: John Naccarato E-mail: insure@naccaratoinsurance.com Website: www.naccaratoinsurance.com Category: Financial Planning/Investments, Health Insurance, Insurance Services, Investments/ Financial Planning, Investments, Insurance Services-Employee Benefits, Insurance ServicesCommercial, Insurance Services-Long Term Care
New Paltz Community Acupuncture 21 South Chestnut Street New Paltz, NY 12561 (845) 255-2145 Contact: Amy Benac, M.S., L.Ac E-mail: amy@newpaltzacu.com Website: www.newpaltzacu.com Category: Acupuncture
Patricia Lofgren New Paltz, NY 12561 (718) 809-3197 Contact: Patricia Lofgren E-mail: patricialof@gmail.com Category: Photographers
Philip Jensen-Carter Photographer 1385 Old Ford Road New Paltz, NY 12561 (914) 815-8239 Contact: Philip Jensen-Carter E-mail: philip@jensencarter.com Website: www.jensencarter.com Category: Photographers
Russo Bros. Builders, Inc. PO Box 331 New Paltz, NY 12561 (845) 255-7927 / fax (845) 255-7927 Contact: Carmine or Debbie Russo E-mail: rubros2000@aol.com Category: Contractors - General
Rusty Staub Commercial Office Rentals 48 N. Oakwood Terrace New Paltz, NY 12561 (845) 389-3679 Contact: Rusty Staub E-mail: rstaub007@aol.com Category: Rental Property-Commercial
Ruth’s Beauty PO Box 74 Gardiner, NY 12525 (800) 788-8795 / fax (800) 788-8705 Contact: Ramona Gittens E-mail: info@ruthsbeauty.com Website: www.ruthsbeauty.com Category: Beauty Services
Shawangunk Journal 1 Market St. PO Box 669 Ellenville, NY 12428 (845) 647-9190 / fax (845) 647-8713 Contact: Alex Shiffer E-mail: alex@gunkjournal.com Website: www.shawangunkjournal.com Category: Newspapers
Terrace Hill Associates, Ltd. 21 Market St. Ellenville, NY 12428 (845) 647-3165 / fax (845) 647-3581 Contact: Gloria Weiner E-mail: terracehil@aol.com, JJSGLO@aol.com Website: www.terracehillinsurance.com Category: Insurance Services
Tripi Consulting 255 Plutarch Road Highland, NY 12528 (845) 255-7273 Contact: Amy Tripi E-mail: amytripi@yahoo.com Website: www.tripiconsulting.com Category: Consultant - Economic & Community Development
Members who joined as of February 15.
WWW.NEWPALTZCHAMBER.ORG THE NEW PALTZ REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
CONTENTS
14 10
22
24 24
1
Nontraditional Becomes the Norm Higher Education and the Adult Student Whether expanding a knowledge base for their current career or switching occupations, adult learners are a growing demographic that is changing the face of higher education.
10
Returning the Favor How Your Business Can Reinvest in Our Community So what responsibility does a business have to the community that supports it? Small and large-scale businesses alike have been adopting policies of corporate responsibility—merging social, ethical, and environmental goals within the mission statements of their businesses.
21
Bottom Line Legislation & News Affecting Your Business The US Postal Service proposes a range of service cuts to balance its budget; local county governments look to pool services; Gov. Paterson wants to fix the budget gap with state park and historic site closures; IBM laid off 1,700 US workers in March; state’s average unemployment rate highest since 1992.
22
Coming Clean New Paltz Gears Up for its 14th Annual Clean Sweep The old saying goes, “Let everyone sweep in front of his own door and whole worlds will be clean.” On April 24, residents of New Paltz put the adage into practice when they take to the streets and byways to tidy up the village.
24
Member Profiles: Manufacturing and Distribution
Regional Report checks in with some Chamber businesses who make and send products out of our region: Prism Solar Technologies, Gateway Community Industries, KIC Chemicals, and Viking Industries.
7
Recent Chamber Events
8
Upcoming Events
15
Member Updates
25
Member Renewals
28
Membership Matters
REGIONAL REPORT SPRING 2010
5
NPRCoC BOARD AND STAFF Board Officers
2010 CORPORATE PARTNERS
CHAIR Ernie VanDeMark Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp.
LEADING PARTNER
1 ST VICE CHAIR
Chris Drouin Beyond Wealth Management
2 ND VICE CHAIR TREASURER
Craig Shankles PDQ Printing and Graphics
Mindi Haynes Vanacore, DeBenedictus, DiGovanni
& Weddell, LLP, CPAs
FINANCIAL ADVISOR LEGAL COUNSEL
Jerry Luke Fox Hill B&B
Paul O’Neill Attorney at Law
Board of Directors
Frank Curcio Bank of America Helen Gutfreund LMT Bodymind Massage Therapy Constance Harkin Ulster Savings Richard Heyl de Ortiz Historic Huguenot Street Kay Hoiby Free Fall Express/dba: Blue Sky Ranch Dr. David Ness Performance Sports and Wellness Kathleen Packard KathodeRay Media Diane Reeder The Queens Galley Shelley Turk Rocking Horse Ranch Sue Van De Bogart, PT St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital Helise Winters SUNY New Paltz (CRREO) EMERITUS MEMBERS
Robert Leduc Mohonk Mountain House Rick Lewis Riverside Bank Ofc. Scott Schaffrick New Paltz Police Department Regional Chamber of Commerce Foundation at New Paltz Board Members
Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. ASSOCIATE PARTNER
Brinckerhoff and Neuville Insurance Group SUPPORTING PARTNERS
Health Quest Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union KIC Chemicals Inc. Ulster Savings Vanacore, DeBenedictus, DiGovanni & Weddell LLP, CPAs The New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce is a distinguished member of:
American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) Chamber Alliance of New York State (CANYS) The Business Council of New York State, Inc. (BCNYS) Mid-Hudson Pattern for Progress Southern Ulster Alliance Business Marketing Association—Hudson Valley Chapter New York’s Tech Valley Chamber Coalition Hudson Valley Regional Coalition (One Valley—One Voice) Who We Are
The New Paltz Regional Chamber, organized in 1900, is an active and trusted voice in the regional business and residential community that forges strong relationships between businesses and residents and promotes growth, prosperity, a sense of local pride, and a high quality of life in the Hudson Valley region.
BOARD MEMBER Teresa Thompson Main Street Bistro
The newly formed Regional Chamber of Commerce Foundation at New Paltz aids and augments the New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce’s current slate of successful educational programs. The Foundation envisions a comprehensive program of educational activities and scholarships, all geared toward educating and supporting the community.
Chamber Staff
Regional Report is published quarterly by the New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Joyce Minard President
Information in this publication was carefully compiled to ensure maximum accuracy. However, the New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce cannot guarantee the correctness of all information provided herein. Readers noting inaccurate information should contact the Chamber with corrections and updates.
CHAIR
Kathy Ferrusi Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union
SECRETARY Joyce Minard New Paltz Regional Chamber
of Commerce
TREASURER Sue VanVoorhis M&T Bank BOARD MEMBER Sally Cross SUNY New Paltz Foundation
Christine Crawfis Director of Marketing & Communications Cathy Hyland Membership Director Janet Nurre Communications & Programs Administrator Lucy Paradies Assistant Director of Finance & Membership 6
@2010 New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without the written permission of the New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce and Luminary Publishing is strictly prohibited.
WWW.NEWPALTZCHAMBER.ORG THE NEW PALTZ REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
RECENT CHAMBER EVENTS
1
2
3
5
4
6
1 Brian Hon and Nicole D’Angelo of Wireless Zone, Anthony and Janine Prizzia of Village Pizza enjoy the amibiance of Rocking Horse Ranch at the February After-Hours Mixer and Pot-O-Gold Raffle Drawing. 2 Hungry crowd at the February After-Hours Mixer enjoys the lavish hors d’oeuvres at Rocking Horse Ranch in anticipation of the Pot-O-Gold Raffle Drawing. 3 Mark Stryker of Commercial Associates Realty, Joyce Minard, President of New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce, and Stan Ackerman of Rocking Horse Ranch enjoy the pre-raffle hospitality of Rocking Horse Ranch at the February After-Hours Mixer. 4 Joyce Minard, President of NPRCoC, and Ernie VanDeMark, Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corp., announce the names of the winners at the Pot-O-Gold Raffle Drawing. 5 Ernie VanDeMark, Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corp., and Cathy Hyland, NPRCoC Membership Director, present Barry Henck and Mary Gordon, Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corp. with a certificate of appreciation at the January Business Luncheon.; 6 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Accent Financial Group, including Joyce Minard and Cathy Hyland of NPRCoC and Ralph Ratick and Larry Smith of Accent Financial Group. REGIONAL REPORT SPRING 2010
7
UPCOMING EVENTS Thursday, April 1
Saturday, April 24
BEGINNING IN APRIL, 2010,
After-Hours Mixer @ Aroma Thyme Bistro, Ellenville
4th Annual April Gathering: Casino Night at Mohonk Mountain House
NPRCoC Business Luncheons will be $20 per person for Chamber members, $25 per person for non-members. Luncheons remain complimentary for Corporate Partners.
Enjoy late-spring networking at Aroma Thyme Bistro. Opened in 2003, Aroma Thyme Bistro raised the bar for healthy gourmet dining, earning a Wine Spectator Award, 5 Stars from NARA and a 25 food rating from Zagat. Time: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Place: Aroma Thyme Bistro, 165 Canal Street, Ellenville Cost: Complimentary to Chamber members; $15 non-members Reservations required.
Wednesday, April 21
Business Luncheon @ Postage Inn, Tillson, featuring JohnAnthony Bruno of the American Red Cross, Ulster County Chapter The epic snowstorms of February 2010 helped teach us the importance of disaster-preparedness. How can your business continue to serve its customers if streets are impassable? How would a disaster affect your family, your employees, and your customers? What would you need to serve your customers if your facility is closed? The Ulster County Chapter of the American Red Cross will answer these and many other questions you may have and assist you in developing your business’ disaster plan. Sponsor: Rose and Kiernan, Inc. Time: 12:00 noon – 1:30 p.m. Place: Postage Inn, 838 Route 32, Tillson Cost: Complimentary to Corporate Partners; $20 for members; $25 non-members Reservations required.
Saturday, April 24
14th Annual New Paltz Clean Sweep Help make your community sparkle by giving it a fresh spring cleaning. Volunteers don gloves and “Clean Sweep” T-shirts, grab trash bags, and join other area business owners, residents, local politicians, community organizations, schools and fraternities to tidy up the parks, sidewalks and streets of New Paltz. Time: 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Place: Start at St. Joseph’s Parish Hall, 34 South Chestnut Street, New Paltz Groups and organizations are strongly encouraged to pre-register volunteers so that sweep locations may be assigned prior to the event. To volunteer, call Katie Flavin at Mohonk Mountain House, 845-256-2043 or e-mail kflavin@mohonk.com. 8
Our annual all-member party! This fun and festive cocktail event features lavish hors d’oeuvres, an open bar, and hundreds of dollars in chips to play games of chance, including roulette, black jack, craps, money wheel, and poker. Cash in your chips for chances to win fabulous prizes in the Great Raffle! Time: 5:30 – 9:30 p.m. Place: Mohonk Mountain House, 1000 Mountain Rest Rd., New Paltz Cost: $95 Proud sponsors of the 4th Annual Gathering: Gold St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital; Silver Fox and Hound Wine & Spirits; Bronze Associated Abbey Carpet & Floor; Bermac Home Aides; Devine Insurance Agency; Riverside Bank; Rocking Horse Ranch; and Vanacore, DeBenedictus, DiGovanni and Weddell, LLP, CPAs; In Kind PDQ Business Printers Tickets required.
Friday, April 30
Spring Business Card Exchange @ Prism Solar Technologies, Highland Say goodbye to April and welcome May with our Spring Business Card Exchange! Attendees are encouraged to bring plenty of business cards to this always well-attended event. Prism Solar Technologies designs and manufactures products that improve the efficiency of solar energy collection. Their mission is to develop solar as a real-life replacement of fossil fuels, and in the process, help grow the solar energy industry through partnerships and cooperation, as a manufacturer of holographic film and solar modules, and as a provider of technological and manufacturing expertise. Time: 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. Place: Prism Solar Technologies, 180 South Street, Highland Cost: Complimentary to members; $15 nonmembers Reservations required.
Tuesday, May 4
New Member Breakfast @ the Terrace Restaurant, SUNY New Paltz Meet the NPRCoC board and staff and learn how to maximize the benefits of your Chamber membership at this special by-invitation-only breakfast.
NPRCoC After-Hours Mixers will remain complimentary for Chamber members, and the cost will increase to $15 for non-members.
Sponsor: Regional Chamber of Commerce Foundation at New Paltz Time: 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. Place: The Terrace Restaurant, SUNY New Paltz campus, New Paltz Cost: Complimentary Reservations required.
Tuesday, May 11
After-Hours Mixer @ MapleStone Inn, New Paltz Spend a spring evening building your business network while enjoying the luxurious hospitality of MapleStone Inn. Seven acres of lawns, gardens and sugar maples surround the renovated circa 1790 stone farmhouse, barn and stream. Time: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Place: MapleStone Inn, 541 Route 32 South, New Paltz Cost: Complimentary to members; $15 nonmembers Reservations required.
Wednesday, May 19
Business Luncheon @ Wiltwyck Golf Club, featuring Ted Clark, SUNY New Paltz School of Business Building solid marketing strategies in today’s competitive market is impossible without sound market research. Reinforce and focus your marketing research skills, gain knowledge and tools you need to develop and manage research projects to meet your specific goals, and debunk the myth that you have to spend a lot of money to gain valuable information for decision making. Most of all, you will leave with highly usable information to take back and implement immediately. Sponsor: SUNY New Paltz Foundation and the Office of Regional Education at SUNY New Paltz Time: 12:00 noon – 1:30 p.m. Place: Wiltwyck Golf Club, 404 Steward Lane, Kingston Cost: Complimentary to Corporate Partners; $20
WWW.NEWPALTZCHAMBER.ORG THE NEW PALTZ REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Chamber members; $25 non-members Reservations required.
Friday, May 28
Professional Development Series Panel Discussion II: Social Media Marketing, Step-By-Step
ESB Business Banking
Brings the Bank toYou!
Sponsor: Regional Chamber of Commerce Foundation at New Paltz Time: 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. Place: van den Berg Hall room 110, SUNY New Paltz School of Business Cost: Complimentary to Chamber members; $15 non-members Reservations required.
The Checking Account Your Business Deserves.
Thursday, June 10
After-Hours Mixer @ Campers’ Barn, Kingston Enjoy a June evening growing your business network! For over 30 years Campers’ Barn has been helping people enjoy the RV lifestyle. At Campers’ Barn you will find the largest selection of quality RVs in the Northeast, with 18 service bays, a state of the art body shop & paint booth, and the largest in-house parts store in the area, all to give you the best service, and the best people, to help keep you on the road. Time: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Place: Campers’ Barn, 124 Route 28, Kingston Cost: Complimentary to Chamber members; $15 non-members Reservations required.
Wednesday, June 16
Business Luncheon @ Deyo Hall, New Paltz, featuring Eric Roth, executive director, Historic Huguenot Street and Regional Chamber of Commerce Foundation at New Paltz Scholarship Award Presentations
Business Relationship Managers available when you are!
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED Call 845-255-0243 or e-mail info@newpaltzchamber.org
) Free Business Checking ) Remote Deposit Service ) Complete Cash Management ) Free Online Banking/Bill Pay ) Merchant Card Processing ) Online Wire and ACH transfers
Historic Huguenot Street executive director Eric Roth will present “The Journey of the Gilded Otter,� the first chapter in the inspiring American story of Ulster County’s first French-speaking Huguenot refugees. The luncheon will also feature the awards presentation for the Regional Chamber of Commerce Foundation at New Paltz 2010 Scholarship winners. Sponsor: Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corp. Time: 12:00 noon – 1:30 p.m. Place: Deyo Hall, Historic Huguenot Street, 18 Broadhead Ave., New Paltz Cost: Complimentary to Corporate Partners; $20 Chamber members; $25 non-members Reservations required. .
Here are some of the products and services that can help you manage your business a little easier.
) Overnight Sweep Accounts ) Free Business Debit Card ) Business Lines of Credit ) Equipment and Term Loans www.esbna.com 68 Nor+! $ &# ' 1 . ,) ! NY 12550 845 561 0003
"& +) + 1 . $+0 NY 12561 845 256 0003
) Commercial Real Estate Loans ) Asset Management
Member FDIC
REGIONAL REPORT SPRING 2010
9
A DIFFERENT KIND OF HEALTHY BUSINESS
UlsterCorps volunteers Julie Tepfer Misiano and Elaine Matthews glean apples at Little Dog Orchards, Clintondale. Photo: Beth McLendon; Volunteers Beth McLendon and Rik Flynn collecting a truckload of nonperishable foods for an UlsterCorps food drive. Photo: Stephen Gilman
RETURNING THE FAVOR How Your Business Can Reinvest in Our Community By Kelley Granger
B
y now we’ve all heard the “buy local” mantra. Buying local helps keep money circulating in a town’s economy and has helped shield some small businesses from the worst of the recession. So what responsibility does a business have to the community that helps keep its doors open? Small and large-scale businesses alike have been adopting policies of corporate responsibility—merging social, ethical, and environmental goals within the mission statements of their businesses.
Where Responsible Business Begins Professor Bruce Mather, who teaches business law and ethics at SUNY New Paltz School of Business, says there are two schools of thought on the subject. One idea is that a business exists to make money, and that its obligation to the community ends after any shareholders are paid out. The other school of thought is one Mather advocates. “I personally espouse the second view that indeed a business is in business to make money, but with the proceeds, look around your community,” he says. “How do we get healthier, better educated, more involved employees to come work for us? And that’s to make our community as good a place to live as it can be. As a business person, what can I do to achieve that goal?” 10
Mather says the best way to get started is with a mission statement. Take a look at your values as a business, and what you want to reflect in the community, then carefully write that down and be prepared to run your business by it. “[Mission statements] need to be followed, they’re not just verbiage,” says Mather. He also suggests looking into ethics training for managerial staff, and talking to employees to find out how and where they’d like to be involved in community efforts. As the business owner or senior staff member, be prepared to lead by example. Mather says this is the simplest and sincerest way that businesses can get their employees excited about assisting with volunteer and other charitable goals.
Volunteer There’s no shortage of hands-on volunteer opportunities in Ulster County and the surrounding area. Just ask Nancy Pompeo, vice president and co-director of UlsterCorps, an organization founded a little over a year ago with a mission to connect volunteers with a myriad of local opportunities. Part of the undertaking is designed to foster a collaboration between businesses and local non-profits and make it easier for companies to be matched up with organizations that reflect the goals of their own missions.
“No matter what amount of time you have to give or what your interests are, we have a volunteer opportunity for you,” says Pompeo. “That’s our strength and that’s why people are drawn to it. We can help if there are groups and individuals with certain time availability, interests, or missions or visions from a corporate standpoint. We’ll help them find what that connects to.” Just give UlsterCorps a call and explain what you’d like to do, and they’ll give you a range of options and connect you directly to the organization with the opportunity. If your goals are environmentally inclined, options abound—groups can work with the Esopus Creek Conservancy on trails, you can tackle litter as a team at New Paltz or Kingston’s Clean Sweep, or volunteer with the state’s Department of Conservation and monitor river herring this season. Other potential options range from work at food pantries and animal shelters to on-going literacy work. The local chapter of the Red Cross can help connect you to volunteer opportunities both locally and on national and international levels. John-Anthony Bruno, the executive director of the Ulster County Chapter, says that all volunteers with the Red Cross receive specialized training according to an area of interest and then those skills are entered into the organization’s database. When a disaster strikes, the database is the go-to resource for
WWW.NEWPALTZCHAMBER.ORG THE NEW PALTZ REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
pulling up much-needed help with appropriate skill sets, whether it’s providing shelter and food for local displaced residents or being deployed to another region of the U.S. and beyond. “Our number one resources are the human resources that we’re able to procure from the community,” says Bruno. “Creating environments where employees can volunteer their time for causes is very important to a lot of people.” Bruno will be speaking about disaster preparedness and volunteer opportunities during a chamber luncheon scheduled for April 21. (See page 8 for more information.) Businesses are also in a unique position to help disadvantaged youth at their own location. Family of New Paltz offers an internship-style youth employment program that businesses can participate in. Through it, local businesses take in young adults between 16 and 21 years old who have barriers to employment, like a disability, being a teen parent, or not graduating from high school. Through the program, they learn which areas they may like to pursue educationally and gain valuable skills that they can apply to subsequent jobs. If your business’ mission is more culture oriented, providing volunteers can supply local non-profit arts institutions with much-needed manpower to stay afloat while exposing your employees to some of the best music, dance, and theater programs in the region. Slade Plantinga, who is assistant to the director of Unison Arts and Learning Center and coordinator of volunteer efforts there, names a variety of hands-on jobs available, including ushering at shows, working in the box office or concession stand, and distributing the organization’s programs to towns within the county. “There are so many local businesses who have been supporters of Unison at this point for a couple of decades,” says Plantinga. “I think that alone says a lot about what happens here.” A business can also become an “arts partner” by sponsoring programs (typically starting at $235) and receive recognition in printed materials and during program presentations.
Collect If you and your employees don’t have the time to physically go and volunteer in person, your business can still make an impact. Susan Clark, co-owner of Lucky C Stables, says that her business does an annual toy drive and trades pony rides for new, unwrapped toys during the holidays. They also do a food drive with
help from the resident 4-H group and collect donations during their annual holiday party to send to Family of New Paltz. Something as simple as that makes a huge difference for that non-profit, which offers a food pantry, a free clothing store, case management services and homeless and domestic violence shelters, in addition to a variety of other programs. Kathy Cartagena, the program director at Family of New Paltz, says she is often overwhelmed by the region’s generosity. The organization also receives weekly food donations from the Phillies Bridge Farm Project, a community supported agriculture program that sends over crops that weren’t collected by shareholders that week, and Mohonk Mountain House, which sends over unused ham, turkey, and roast beef of top quality. You can also support the purpose of organizations like the SUNY New Paltz Foundation, which provides financial assistance for special school programs and student scholarships, by gathering items to be auctioned at their fundraising events. Sally Cross, the executive director of the foundation, says they’re always grateful for local business donations of products or gift certificates. “I think it’s a really nice way for businesses to support what is a major economic entity in the community and also to raise the visibility of the business on campus and in the community,” says Cross. Of course, funds directly donated to specific programs and events are also appreciated, and businesses receive various forms of recognition for their generosity.
Donate There is no underestimating the value of monetary donations to finance the goals of a non-profit. Ulster Savings Bank has a wonderful example of this through its Ulster Charitable Foundation. Funded through the bank but operating as a separate entity, the foundation focuses on education, housing, and human services in the community through three grant programs: a community grant program, a scholarship program, and the Learning Initiatives for Educators (LIFE) program. Through these vehicles, the foundation has helped fund building projects at the Children’s Home of Kingston, nature access programs with Mohonk Preserve, and has sent regional educators to learning institutes associated with Columbia University. “I think a business’ responsibility is to really understand
the needs of its community, and to try to help promote their individual goals too,” says Marjorie Rovereto, the president and CEO of the bank. She and Jeffrey Wood, the executive director of the foundation and vice president of the bank, say they believe that strong communities make strong customers—and non-profits can be great customers. Businesses can invest in and enhance the local workforce by supporting initiatives with a focus on education. The Regional Chamber of Commerce Foundation at New Paltz works in tandem with the New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce in providing a range of educational programs and scholarship opportunities. Local businesses can help further the foundation’s mission by supporting their fundraising events and making direct contributions to help finance their programs. Businesses can also have their employees volunteer on the foundation’s committees to assist with current programs and help develop new programs, says Kathy Ferrusi, chair of the foundation. If you’re interested in creating a fund and not sure where to start, an organization like the Ulster County Community Foundation can help. The main goal there is to create endowed funds, says Cynthia Lowe, the director. An endowed fund is one that can generate income for generations—it actually creates an annual income for a particular organization. There are a number of different types of funds that a company can invest with a community foundation, and they can have varying levels of control over the category or specific organization that the money goes to. For smaller or one-time donations, a fund may not be the optimal way to go. The best bet is to go directly to the organization of choice and write a check. The flexible nature of cash donations are often the most useful gifts because they allow the organization to buy or invest in what’s most needed. Donating and volunteering are an investment in the community, as are any environmental and ethical values your business instills. “All of the organizations, although they’re not-for-profit, they all have employees and are all businesses at heart,” says Lowe. “They’re all part of the fabric of the economy of any area. If we build strong, successful not-for-profits, they add back to the quality of our life and they add back to the economy of the region.” REGIONAL REPORT SPRING 2010
11
NONTRADITIONAL BECOMES THE NORM continued from front cover Leaps of Faith There are a number of reasons why adults are flocking back to the classroom. Marisue Traina spent more than 20 years as a schoolteacher developing programs—for gifted children, for English as a second language, another for educational technology—and every time she got going, the school would cancel the class. “I always had a job as a teacher, but every time I put my heart and soul into creating a program someone who really didn’t know what I was doing or really didn’t care what I was doing did away with it,” she says. “It finally got to the point where I needed to do something I could put my heart and soul into, build up, and that nobody could do away with.” A stroke of luck at a slot machine in Atlantic City landed Traina the pricey tuition she needed to pursue her dream. She completed a two year floral design program in the Bronx through the New York Botanical Garden and opened Under the Magenta Moon in New Paltz, a floral shop that provides unique arrangements and specializes in whimsical, sculptural pieces. Leaving the security of a teaching position didn’t come without its qualms though. “There was always questioning because I was walking away from a job where I was making at the time about $85,000 and I had all of my health benefits,” says Traina, who was 53 when she started the flower shop. “The biggest point of this is that I was a really good teacher but I never really felt that I reached my full potential. And I thought how sad would it be to go through life and never really have used what you had. Starting this business, I’m hoping to reach my potential, whether I reach it at 60 or whatever, I just want to reach it.” For others, going back to school is sometimes an end to itself. Helen Gutfreund, who owns Bodymind Massage Therapy, is frequently studying for the continuing education requirements of her profession as a massage therapist. But she originally went to school for art—she graduated with a bachelor of fine art from Tufts University and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts and had begun a masters degree that she didn’t 12
complete. Gutfreund now plans to spend the next year preparing a portfolio to apply for masters programs in painting. “A lot of people are asking me, ‘Why do you want to go back to art school? What the heck would you want to do that for? Do you want to teach? You can’t make a living as an artist,’” she says. “It’s not as much about that for me as it is about being immersed in it. The making of art can be purely about the making of art without having any other career goal in mind.”
“I’m hoping to reach my potential, whether I reach it at 60 or whatever, I just want to reach it.” —Marisue Traina Gutfreund doesn’t intend to give up her practice as a therapist but will begin work as a docent at Storm King Art Center and would like to see her work featured in galleries and museums one day. “If it has career ramifications down the road I’ll consider that later,” she says, “but for now massage therapy is my primary career.” Not everyone who goes back to school switches their career completely. Diane Reeder of the Queens Galley soup kitchen, for instance, is set to finish a degree from the Culinary Institute of America. “The degree from CIA would be an incredible asset for the Queens Galley, for marketing value alone the words ‘CIA grad’ at the helm does wonders,” she says. “For recruitment of capable volunteers with a passion for food there is no better resource than CIA staff, faculty, and students. For menu ideas, this is the mecca of
inspiration, not to mention the best training in the world for cutting edge technique.” As an end result, Reeder wants use her education to transform the non-profit organization she runs, encouraging her guests to use the soup kitchen as both culinary resource and inspiration. Adult students face a different set of challenges than their younger classroom peers, though—Reeder, for example, who has already established and will continue to run the Queens Galley (not to mention be a wife and mother to three children), faces an arduous journey. Five days a week will begin at 4 a.m. and end well after her kids have gone to bed, when she’ll juggle homework from school with paperwork from her non-profit for 15 months while she completes her culinary arts program, a feat which she dubs “a personal Cirque du Soleil.” “I’m right where I want to be doing the work I want to do,” Reeder says. “I just want to do it better, and I am willing to sacrifice sleep, money, and time to do it—none of which are excess commodities in my life!”
Picking a Path Taking family and current work obligations into account is one of the first things to be considered when thinking about returning to school, but Helise Winters, dean of Regional Education at SUNY New Paltz, says the thought process shouldn’t end there. If there are goals beyond the satisfaction of completing a degree program (like forging a new career path or an increase in pay), be sure to clearly label those goals and make sure they resonate with opportunities in the community before sacrificing valuable time and money. “One way you figure that out is by looking around in your region,” says Winters. “Who’s hiring and what are the growth areas?” She uses the region’s support of solar energy initiatives as an example of an area where expansion and job opportunities can be expected, as well as healthcare. There are a variety of class structures for adult learners today, and after a goal has been defined, research into different educational institutions can be done to match
WWW.NEWPALTZCHAMBER.ORG THE NEW PALTZ REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
up which would work best with scheduling. SUNY New Paltz, for example, does have its fair share of adult students but the curriculum continues to be geared toward the traditional 18 to 22-year-old college student. Courses may be offered during day or night and sometimes online, so an adult with a very flexible schedule and a degree in mind would be the best fit for enrollment. A good fit was important to Myriam Bouchard of Hudson Valley Traveler when she went back to school in the late ’90s and balanced a heavy course load with two small children and a full-time daycare business. She chose to pursue her business degree at Empire State College, a school in the SUNY system that’s tailored to adult student market. About 95 percent of her courses were self-study. “[Empire State College’s] target market is adult learners who have a family and work and their intent is to provide you with the support you need,” says Bouchard. “So there’s a lot of flexibility as a result, but on the other hand, because you’re setting your own momentum, if you’re not organized it can be pretty daunting.” Community colleges are also competitive options and often very affordable compared to the alternatives. According to statistics released this past December from the American Association of Community
FINDING FUNDING It can be a challenge for adult students to finance and afford to go back to school. One local opportunity is the Regional Chamber of Commerce Foundation at New Paltz’s annual scholarship, which is awarded to a person of any age who is seeking post-secondary education and has achieved solid previous academic marks and has made a contribution to their community, school, or workplace. Two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded in June to any member or direct relative of a member of the New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce. Please request more information and an application at scholarship@newpaltzchamber.org or call 845-255-0243. The deadline for applications is May 14, 2010.
Colleges, enrollment rates at community colleges went up 17 percent from 2007 to 2009. The same organization’s data reveals that 58 percent of the student population at those schools are students above age 22. SUNY Ulster’s catalog of Professional and Continuing Education shows sensitivity to those regional areas of expansion that Winters mentioned—a range of clean energy classes, from solar to geothermal, are offered along with numerous other industries.
At Marist, there’s a school that caters directly to the needs of the adult learner—the School of Global and Professional Programs. The school offers a range of bachelor degree programs and professional programs where older students hone their career skills in a variety of subjects like leadership, problem solving, and communication. Joseph Ross, a lecturer and director of degree programs at Marist’s School of Global and Professional Programs, says that the school is popular with adult students, which make up almost 14 percent of the undergraduate population, because it adapts classroom activities to adult experience levels and gives a variety of options to help students complete their degree. These choices include online and weekend courses and a liberal studies program that allows adults to construct their own degree based on a few different areas of interest. “We have over 25 years of experience servicing adults, so our instructors recognize adult learning theory. They’re not trying to teach the same way they’d teach a course to a 17-year-old,” says Ross. “We have special services to recognize the needs of adults, our programs and our formats are really designed for the specific needs of adults in today’s world, to make sure that they can have their job and family but also receive a degree that they really, really need.” REGIONAL REPORT SPRING 2010
13
FEATURED EVENT
VOYAGE OF THE GILDED OTTER An Interview with Eric Roth of Historic Huguenot Street By Kelley Granger
T
oday the Gilded Otter may be better known as New Paltz’s iconic microbrewery, but its namesake is a tribute to the 17th-century ship that brought some of the village’s founding fathers across the Atlantic. This April marks the 350th anniversary of their journey, and Eric Roth, executive director of Historic Huguenot Street, will be speaking about that voyage during a chamber luncheon in June. Regional Report: What do we know about the people on this particular voyage of the Gilded Otter? Eric Roth: A passenger list shows that there were 13 main passengers accompanied by six wives and 14 children. From this list, we know that the first voyage of the Gilded Otter in April of 1660 brought a couple of the men instrumental in the founding of New Paltz, including Anthony Crispell and Matthew Blanchan, the father-in-law of Louis Dubois. The other patentees arrived over the next 15 years. What drove these people to risk moving to such an unfamiliar place? The Netherlands had found a lucrative market for Native American pelts and had set up a company with trading posts in the New World to acquire them. But finding people to settle the colony to help support these trading posts was difficult. Back at home, not too many people were eager to leave and chance the hardship of working and starting a new life in North America, especially since it was one of the 14
Journey of the Gilded Otter Eric Roth will present “The Journey of the Gilded Otter” at a luncheon on Wednesday, June 16 at Deyo Hall, 18 Broadhead Ave. in New Paltz, 12 to 1:30 p.m. and include the 2010 awards presentation for the Regional Chamber of Commerce Foundation at New Paltz. Reservations are required, please call (845) 255-0243 or email info@ newpaltzchamber.org. The lunch is sponsored by Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corp. and is complimentary to corporate partners, $20 for chamber members, and $25 for non-members.
Netherlands’ richest moments in history (often called the Dutch “Golden Age”). The country’s solution was to approach persecuted groups, especially the Protestants from France and the area of present-day Belgium, and offer them the ability to own their own land in the New World and provide support for the company. There’s no record of the initial journey, but there’s a diary that includes two other subsequent voyages on the Gilded Otter. What can that diary tell us about what the first voyage was like? The diary describes a journey that was very close in time to the one we’re celebrating, so we can assume there were very similar conditions during the first passage. For example, the diary expresses concern when sails of other ships are spotted on the horizon and it’s unclear whether they were friend or foe.
There was also an encounter with what may have been a pirate ship, but they weren’t close enough to be certain. This was a two-month trek across the ocean, so there was always concern about their ability to complete the journey. Weather was another challenge, in two instances the author noted seeing water spouts, which created strong winds and damaged the ship, which had to be repaired at sea. Not everything was scary though. The diary does mention the passengers fishing while they were on the ship and the author wrote about catching sharks and observing flying fish. You can just imagine their awe, going on this incredible journey on the open ocean and seeing things they’ve never seen before. It would be like us going to Mars today. Do you think there’s anything today that can compare to the bravery in the face of the unknown that these settlers faced? There is nowhere on earth that mankind has not yet explored or that you don’t have some sort of access to, at least in terms of information. Until there’s a new place that we can go to as a people, I don’t think anybody today could really experience the same thing they went through. The whole experience, which parallels the experience of America, is very easy to take for granted today. Just think about what it took to leave everything they knew behind and bring their family to start a new life in a place they’ve only heard stories about. It is a very compelling story that is very much worth remembering.
WWW.NEWPALTZCHAMBER.ORG THE NEW PALTZ REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
MEMBER UPDATES 2nd Anniversary for FirstCare FirstCare Walk-In Medical Center recently celebrated its second anniversary
Stop and Shop Plaza. Gardening is one of Mark’s creative outlets. For more information, call 845-255-1241 or visit www.markgrubergallery.com.
in operation and on December 12 reached a milestone of 10,000 registered patient families. FirstCare is now averaging 63 patient visits per day, and would like to thank all of the local businesses and health organizations that have helped in the quest to provide high quality medical care to the community. For more information, visit www.FirstCareMedCenter.com or call 845-691-DOCS.
Greg Corio joins Ulster Financial Group Ulster Financial Group, Inc., a subsidiary of Ulster Savings Bank, announced the addition of Greg Corio as a Tax Consultant in the 226 Main Street, New Paltz branch location. Mr. Corio brings several years of
SLCH Honors First Home Club Graduates St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital and HOGAR, Inc. recently honored graduates of HOGAR’s inaugural First Home Club program, including SLCH employees Kathleen Bloss and Jaclyn Trainor. The program educates participants on the process of buying a home. Bloss and Trainor also took advantage of SLCH’s Homeowners Incentive Program, providing additional funding support for employees purchasing homes within the city of Newburgh. For information on employment opportunities at SLCH, visit www. stlukescornwallhospital.org or contact Human Resources at 845-568-2212.
HOW TO SUBMIT ubmit items of general public S interest; no commercial sales announcements, rates, prices, etc. Items must be received no later than the 15th of November, February, May, and August to meet the quarterly deadline for the upcoming issue. The New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce reserves the right to edit all material. E-mail or fax your information, including company name, address, phone number, contact name, and your newsbrief (100-word maximum) to the Chamber office at info@newpaltzchamber.org or 845-255-5189.
Conference in Orlando, Florida. The conference presentations included information on the latest technology improvements to QuickBooks, payroll, and document management software. For more information call 845-566-0391or visit www.PetroMcCrum.com.
personal and small business tax preparation experience. While based in the bank’s New Paltz branch, he will also provide tax preparation services from the 2201 Rt. 44/55, Gardiner branch location. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact Greg at 866-440-0391, ext. 4250.
Gruber Gallery Receives Garden Club Award The Mark Gruber Gallery is very
Rose & Kiernan Named Agency of the Month Prestigious trade publication Rough Notes magazine chose Rose and Kiernan, Inc. as Agency of the Month of December. The five-page profile paints a glowing picture of the agency, concluding, “Rose & Kiernan has established a reputation for integrity that has allowed it to grow and prosper.” You can learn more by reviewing their newly renovated website, www. rkinsurance.com.
proud to announce that it has received a 2009 New Paltz Garden Club Civic Beautification Award. This is the second year in a row that the gallery has received this prestigious honor. The Mark Gruber Gallery tends two large and lovely pots of flowering plants outside its window in the
McCrum Attends Accounting Conference Kim Petro McCrum, owner of Petro McCrum Consulting, LLC recently attended the Sleeter Group Accounting
CDPHP Receives Diabetes Incentive Program Endorsement The New York State Health Foundation has named CDPHP one of the first health plans to achieve its Diabetes Incentive Program Endorsement. As a central component of the Foundation’s New York State Diabetes Campaign, NYSHealth’s Diabetes Policy Center and national partner Bridges to Excellence created the program to promote financial incentives to providers that drive excellence in diabetes care and outcomes. Only two other health plans serving New York have received this endorsement to date. For more information, visit www.cdphp.com. REGIONAL REPORT SPRING 2010
15
MEMBER UPDATES Qigong Classes Offered at Unison Unison Arts & Learning Center offers morning Qigong classes with Jeffrey Antin Monday - Thursday, 7:30-8:30 a.m., through the end of June and Qigong for Seniors on Mondays, 11 a.m.-12 noon. Qigong is series of meditative exercises which help generate the flow of Qi energy throughout the body, combining dynamic and static meditation, breathing techniques, simple body movements and mental imagery. Call 845-255-1559 to register and for more information.
Lena Sage Exhibit at Ulster Savings Ulster Savings Bank’s 3857 Main Street, Stone Ridge branch hosted an exhibit of fashion sketches by local artist, Lena Sage in January and February, 2010. Ms. Sage’s work displayed 30 years of experience in fashion design, set design, patternmaking and custom tailoring. Ulster Savings Bank continuously features artwork from many local artists at several of its branch locations throughout the Hudson Valley. For more information about exhibits in the Stone Bridge branch, call Branch Manager Rocco Pucino, 845-687-8656, ext. 4601.
Joan Paneto January Star at SLCH St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital announces Joan Paneto of Newburgh as its January Star of the Month. A 21-year SLCH employee, Paneto is a Transportation/ Messenger Assistant at the Newburgh campus. SLCH employees are nominated for the Star of the Month by their coworkers, patients, physicians and/or visitors, based on Stellar Service Standards. 16
These standards focus on making customers feel comfortable and important, providing timely and orderly service and improving communication with patients and staff. African Drum Classes at Unison Unison Arts & Learning Center offers African Drum classes with Fode Sissoko and Toby Stover on Wednesdays from 6 - 7 p.m. through June 23, 2010. What a way to exercise! Share your high energy with traditional rhythms and dances from West Africa. Connect your body, mind and soul through the beat of the drum. All levels welcome. Call 845-255-1559 for registration or more information. Food Network’s “Chopped” Filmed Locally Paul Yeaple was canvassed this winter for “Chopped” on the Food Network, and was filmed in the kitchen and dining room of Blueberry Inn on Kiernan Farm as well as at his restaurant in Beacon. The film crew spent the morning in New Paltz at 36 Main Restaurant and Wine Bar. The rest of the episode was shot in February and will air this spring. Healing Workshops with Puja Thomson “Help Yourself to Healing—Learn to use your energy for health & well-being” was the title of two evenings in February with Puja Thomson of Roots & Wings in New Paltz, sponsored by Benedictine Oncology Support Program at the Herbert H. & Sofia P. Reuner Cancer Support House, 80 Mary’s Ave., Kingston. For more information, visit www.rootsnwings.com and www.aftershockfromcancer.com.
CDPHP Sponsors Workforce Team Challenge Race The Hudson Mohawk Road Runners Club of Albany announced that CDPHP has signed on as the new lead sponsor of the Workforce Team Challenge, the largest annual road race between Utica and NYC, for a three-year term. This year’s challenge will take place on Thursday, May 20, 2010 at Empire State Plaza, Albany. For more information, visit www.cdphpwtc.com. Life Drawing Sessions at Unison Unison Arts & Learning Center offers Life Drawing Sessions on Tuesday and Thursday nights, 7:30-9:30pm, through June 2010. These sessions give professional artists and students an opportunity to work with experienced models under controlled lighting. There is no instruction. Tuesdays are dedicated to shorter poses of 1 to 30 minutes; the first hour of Thursdays will be short poses, then one pose for the second hour. Participants are encouraged to commit to four sessions. Call 845-255-1559 for registration or information. Sigrid Cerio Appointed by CDPHP CDPHP announces the appointment of Sigrid Cerio to vice president of application management. In this position, she will work closely with division leaders to cultivate and implement company-wide IT application development solutions. Sigrid has 20 years experience in health care operations and IT. She joined CDPHP in 2005 and served most recently as director of strategic initiatives. She holds BAs in mathematics and German and an MS in statistics. For more information, visit www. cdphp.com.
WWW.NEWPALTZCHAMBER.ORG THE NEW PALTZ REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Healing Workshops with Puja Thomson Puja A. J. Thomson of Roots & Wings, cancer patient advocate and author of AFTER SHOCK From Cancer Diagnosis To Healing A Step By Step Guide To Help You Navigate Your Way, presented “Head, Heart, Hand and Hunch: Whole Person Healing” in January on a patient panel at the Annie Appleseed Project’s 3rd Annual Evidencebased Complementary and Alternative Cancer Therapies conference in West Palm Beach, Florida. Visit www.annieappleseedproject.org for resources for any cancer journey. Learn more about Puja’s work at www.rootsnwings.com and www.aftershockfromcancer.com.
CDPHP & HVFCU Honored as “Best Companies to Work for in New York” Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union and CDPHP were honored as two of the top 40 companies to work for in New York State by the “Best Companies to Work for in New York” program, a multi-year initiative to motivate New York companies to focus, measure, and move their workplace environments towards excellence. The selection process is based on an assessment of the company’s workplace policies and procedures and the results of an internal employee engagement and satisfaction survey. The actual rankings will be revealed at a gala awards dinner on April 21, 2010 at The Albany Marriott and winning companies’ practices will be profiled in a special statewide event publication.
The Smart Choice
&WFSZPOF²T *OWJUFE
**
s #/.6%.)%.4 ,/#!4)/.3 s 4(/53!.$3 /& 352#(!2'% &2%% !4-3 s /0%. 4), 0- 7%%+$!93 !.$ 0- 3!452$!93
845.463.3011 | hvfcu.org
Beacon | Fishkill | Hopewell Junction | Hyde Park | Kingston | Middletown | Newburgh | New Windsor | Pleasant Valley | Poughkeepsie | Wappingers Falls
Daniel Southard Joins Ulster Insurance Ulster Insurance Services, Inc., a subsidiary of Ulster Savings Bank, announced Daniel Southard has joined them as Employee Benefits Consultant at their 180 Schwenk Drive, Kingston headquarters. REGIONAL REPORT SPRING 2010
17
MEMBER UPDATES Southard brings over 24 years of insurance industry experience, has Registered Health Underwriter and Registered Employee Benefit Consultant designations and will specialize in servicing the insurance needs of school districts and municipalities, along with traditional corporate insurance accounts. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 866-440-0391, ext. 3953. Oakwood Friends School Celebrates Day of Service On February 2nd, Oakwood Friends School’s traditional Day of Service had a special theme: to commemorate the work and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Guided by Community Service Coordinator, Julie Okoniewski, students participated in a day of workshops, service projects and films to learn more about issues related to civic responsibility, equality, peace and environmental stewardship. For more information, call 845-462-4200 or visit www.oakwoodfriends.org. Funds Sought to Stabilize Structures on Bannerman Island Portions of the “Castle” on Bannerman Island collapsed when heavy winds wreaked havoc on the walls this winter. Funds are being sought to stabilize the remaining structures with hopes of restoring the lost sections. Hudson River Adventures and Bannerman Castle Trust, along with the NYS Office of Parks & Recreation, are preparing for the 2010 touring season. The Pollepel Bannerman Island Guided Cruise and Walking Tours resume in May, providing information about the island’s mystery and history. Visit www.prideofthehudson.com, call 845-220-2120 or email info@prideofthehudson.com. 18
Karma Road Celebrates Third Anniversary Karma Road Organic Café, 11 Main St., New Paltz, celebrated its 3-year anniversary on February 22nd. Their commitment to delicious, plant-based organic food for everyone is apparent in the varied and growing clientele that share New Paltz’s best kept secret. On the heels of their third year of growth, chefs Jenn and Seth expect to grow the catering arm of their business and add more popular healthy cooking classes and a helpful and updated web site. For more information, call 845-255-1099.
Charles Hurd Named Face of NY Agriculture Nobody celebrates the annual apple harvest like New Yorkers. Manager Charles Hurd of Hurd’s Family Farm on Route 32, an award-winning agritourism destination, was named the Face of NY Agriculture in Grassroots, the periodical of NY Farm Bureau, and was interviewed by American Agriculturalist for his agricultural work during his eight trips to Haiti and his belief that agricultural technology is the key to the country’s future. Hurd’s Family Farm donated a portion of the proceeds from its four-acre designed maze to Crop Walk for World Hunger.
portrays a unique vision of the Catskill landscape. Durand studied at Oberlin College and SUNY New Paltz and has shown throughout the Hudson Valley. To view more of his work, visit conordurand. wordpress.com/painting.
Arts Camp Offered by The Arts Community The Arts Community offers, in cooperation with the Highland School District, a one-week camp from July 6-10, 2010 designed to provide children, K-10, with an opportunity to explore the arts in a nurturing environment while building self-esteem. Classes are age/level appropriate and are taught by a staff of professional artists with experience teaching young people. The camp, in its seventh year, is a summer project of The Arts Community. Call the Peterson Studio at 845-691-9313 or visit www.hvpai.com for more information.
Hoover Architecture Certified as women’s business enterprise Hoover Architecture PLLC, Gardiner, has been certified as a NYS Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE). The state certification program is administered by Empire State Development and is designed to assist the growth and development of businesses
Conor Durand Exhibits at Unison at Water Street Market
owned and controlled by women and mi-
The Unison Gallery at Water Street Market will exhibit the artwork of Conor Durand through April 9. Gallery hours are 11am - 5pm, every day except Tuesdays. Please call 845-255-1559 for more information. Durand’s use of found materials
Women-Owned Business Enterprises,”
norities. Certified companies are listed in the “Directory of Certified Minority- and which is used by state agencies, public authorities, federal government and major corporations. For more information, visit www.HooverArchitecture.com or call 845-598-4762.
WWW.NEWPALTZCHAMBER.ORG THE NEW PALTZ REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
A Hudson Valley festival of food and fun
Save The Date September 12, 2010
Learn more: (845) 255-0243 www.newpaltzchamber.org
REGIONAL REPORT SPRING 2010
19
• • • •
Fertilizers Shavings Feed Fencing
• • • •
Pet Food & Supplies Lime Bedding Lawn & Garden Supplies
Phone | (845) 255-0050
Fax | (845) 255-7845
145 Route 32 North, New Paltz, NY 12561
CUSTOM HOME BUILDERS Quality • Care • Craftsmanship RENOVATIONS • ADDITIONS NEW CONSTRUCTION
ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDING 46 N. Chestnut Street, New Paltz, NY
845.255.5988 www.seakill.com 20
WWW.NEWPALTZCHAMBER.ORG THE NEW PALTZ REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
THE BOTTOM LINE LEGISLATION AND NEWS THAT AFFECTS YOUR BUSINESS Compiled by Kelley Granger
“business solutions.” Most of IBM’s operations in the mid-Hudson area involve manufacturing and were not part of job growth in recent years. IBM facilities in the nation’s southern and western regions were the hardest hit during the most recent layoff.
Going Postal Citing a loss of $3.8 billion last year, the United States Postal Service has reintroduced a range of proposals designed to cut costs, including closing some post office locations, raising rates to mail items, and eliminating select services, like Saturday delivery. The Postal Service stressed that without significant change, it would incur a deficit of $238 billion over the next 10 years. “I think it will be the beginning of the demise of the postal service,” William Burrus, the president of the American Postal Workers Union, said in a quote from the New York Times. “They’ve already made a lot of cost savings, a lot on the backs on my union, which we understand. But what’s the next step? Do you go to four days a week, three days? Once you establish the financial problems, it’s never-ending.” In 2009, mail volume fell by 26 billion pieces.
The Power of Pooling In early March, Ulster County Executive Michael Hein revealed plans to join Orange, Duchess, Rockland and Putnam counties in an application for a grant that would allow for the purchase and implementation of software to assist the counties in sharing services. The proposal would create a central database of contracts, specifications, and vendor information as well as combine purchases to receive the best volume discount possible. The Cooperative Purchasing Project will lower prices and transaction costs, pool negotiating power, reduce advertising costs and workload, and allow a higher quality of goods and services, according to a release on the topic. The grant of $200,000 requires a county match of 10 percent, which Hein said he’d be requesting at the next meeting of the county legislature. “Ultimately, we all work for the same taxpayers and sharing our information, resources and expertise will help us serve them much more efficiently,” the county executive said in a statement.
Labor Pains
Sightseeing Gets Shortsighted As part of an attempt to secure the looming budget gap in the state of New York, Gov. David Paterson has proposed that more than 50 parks and historic sites throughout the state be closed or managed with reduced hours of operation. The proposal strikes many of the local region’s treasured natural and historic landmarks, including Minnewaska State Park and Kingston’s Senate House, which would close under the legislation. Walkway over the Hudson, open barely six months, would also suffer service cutbacks and reduced days of operation. Would-be visitors and area businesses that depend on the tourism and recreational dollars generated by the sites are encouraged to send their thoughts on the matter to Senator John Bonacic at SenatorJohnBonacic@gmail. com. Sen. Bonacic is opposed to the closures and has promised to share all messages with the Governor’s office.
Local Layoffs IBM, the largest private-sector employer in the region, laid off 1,700 workers throughout the U.S. in early March, hundreds of them in the mid-Hudson Valley. The numbers are provided by Alliance@IBM, an employee group who tabulated the layoff based on documents provided by ex-employees. IBM has declined to confirm an official number. According to the Times Herald Record, the layoff mainly struck workers whose job functions revolved around selling and developing IBM’s
A revised, year-end job report prepared by the New York State Department of Labor shows significant damage to the state’s labor rates during 2009—the average annual unemployment rate was at its highest since 1992, and at 8.9 percent was 5.3 percent higher than it was the previous year. Kenneth Adams, the president and CEO of the Business Council of New York, says the only way to economic recovery is for the state to cut spending and lower taxes to generate recovery. “Last year Albany politicians tried to tax and spend their way out of this crisis by raising taxes and fees by $8 billion,” he says. That only made the situation worse. In 2009 we lost 209,900 private sector jobs in New York and next year’s state deficit is now projected to be $9.1 billion. New York’s economy needs relief in the form of lower taxes and lower government spending in order to recover. Any new taxes will slam economic recovery and new job creation.”
Maxing Out The U.S. Senate passed a $10 billion measure to extend unemployment benefits for 30 days until the beginning of April. Currently, the unemployed may be eligible for up to 99 weeks of benefits, the first 26 paid by the state and the last 73 paid for with federal funding. If the Senate had not passed the legislation, more than 1 million people would’ve lost benefits in March, with the number rising to 5 million by June. Many lawmakers are working to continue the extension, which has been classified as emergency spending, and therefore exempt from the “pay-go” rule that was passed to inhibit increases in the deficit. REGIONAL REPORT SPRING 2010
21
Photo by Teresa Horgan
EVENT SPOTLIGHT
BET ON A GOOD TIME 4th Annual Casino Night
V
egas-style excitement meets Monte Carlo-worthy indulgence at the New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Fourth Annual April Gathering, held at Mohonk Mountain House on Saturday, April 24. Guests will arrive at Mohonk’s gorgeous property in early evening and will find the conference house transformed into a gambling hall featuring an array of games of chance, including blackjack, craps, poker, a money wheel and roulette. Each guest will receive $300 worth of gaming chips which are traded in at the end of the night for grand raffle tickets. Play your cards right and your raffle tickets may win you anything from a gift basket to a vacation rental in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. If gambling isn’t your taste, there’s sure to be something sumptuous waiting for you to experience at Mohonk’s elaborate spread of food. Guests will feast on a lamb loin in 22
garlic and herb crust at the carving table and jumbo prawns, king crab legs and oysters on the half shell will make an appearance at the ice table. Spoonfuls of hors d’oeurves like wild mushroom and pine nut or chicken curry with red grapes will be savored at the spoon wall. An Asian and Italian station each feature cultural cuisine like Chinese-style duck with leeks and plum sauce and panfried Yukon gold gnocchi with black truffle and basil. And don’t forget dessert—whether it’s a cocktail from the open bar or something sweet from the “chocolate decadence” dessert display. Since its inception, the Chamber’s annual gathering has provided an informal, relaxed atmosphere for chamber members to dine, drink and make networking merry with others as opposed to a more formal annual gala. Business casual dress is suitable for the event, though guests are welcome to get festive with their attire.
“We conceived the annual gathering as a way to celebrate our membership, and for our members to celebrate each other,” says Christine Crawfis, the Chamber’s director of marketing and communications. The annual gathering is attended by over 100 chamber members, and the funds raised from the evening go to support the Chamber’s many programs, which include the annual New Paltz Clean Sweep, Taste of New Paltz, and various luncheon events throughout the year. 4TH ANNUAL CASINO NIGHT Saturday, April 24, 5:30-9p.m. Mohonk Mountain House, 1000 Mountain Rest Road, New Paltz. Reservations required. $95 per person. 845-255-0243 to order your tickets or email info@newpaltzchamber.org to send your RSVP.
WWW.NEWPALTZCHAMBER.ORG THE NEW PALTZ REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
EVENT SPOTLIGHT
Coming Clean
New Paltz Gears Up for its 14th Annual Clean Sweep
L
et everyone sweep in front of his own door and the whole world will be clean,” goes the old saying. Every spring, the New Paltz community takes that sentiment literally as they band together for the annual spring cleaning event known as the New Paltz Clean Sweep. Held each year on the last Saturday of April, 2010 marks the 14th anniversary of the rain-or-shine clean-up. “The value is that it’s a community event, it’s trying to bring everybody together,” says Robert Leduc, the food and beverage director of Mohonk Mountain House and chair of the event since early in the decade. “It doesn’t take more than three or four hours to clean up a street and the amount of pride that’s felt at the end of the event makes everybody feel good.” The volunteers tackle the whole village area—from Main Street to South Ohioville and Mountain Rest Road— as well as the outskirts around Routes 32 and 208. By the end of a few
hours, piles of bright orange bags of garbage wait for pick-up along designated spots, sometimes piled as high as 15 feet. Leduc says more than 300 people participate in the massive clean-up effort, from college students to business owners, church-goers, and boy and girl scouts. Though volunteers of all ages come out, the event is especially good for kids. “It’s particularly for children to instill a good community spirit,” says Leduc of the day. “And it’s an environmentally sound program to make children realize how important the environment is within this community.” The day starts with a breakfast at St. Joseph Parish Hall on South Chestnut Street at 8:30 a.m. Volunteers will then pick up gloves, garbage bags, and a free commemorative t-shirt before heading out to their assigned route. Businesses that can’t participate the day of the event are invited to clean up the area surrounding their business the day before the event. Leduc says the overall goal is to not only
clean up New Paltz, but to inspire surrounding towns to do a little spring tidying too. Towns like Rosendale and Highland have done their own version in the past, and Leduc would like to see the event go statewide someday. Attendees are encouraged to register so that proper route planning can take place (you can even reserve the specific area you’d like to clean up if it’s available), but all are welcome to show up the day of Clean Sweep to pitch in. Please contact Katie Flavin at 845-256-2043 or kflavin@mohonk.com if you’d like to schedule your group and select a route early. Individuals are also welcome and will be assigned a group. 14TH ANNUAL CLEAN SWEEP Saturday, April 24, 8:30 a.m. The village of New Paltz 845-256-2043 or kflavin@mohonk.com
REGIONAL REPORT SPRING 2010
23
MEMBER PROFILES Manufacturing & Distribution By Kelley Granger Quite a few manufacturers and distributors call New Paltz and the surrounding area home. That might be surprising considering the better known visions of the region—small, homespun storefronts and the scenic views that have made this part of the state famous. But look a bit closer, and you’ll see just how well they’re knit into the collective fabric of the community, whether it’s providing work opportunities for the disabled, packing up certified organic ingredients, or spearheading solutions to energy issues on a global scale.
MEMBER PROFILE
Prism Solar Technologies
I
t’s an exciting time for solar energy, and nobody knows that more than the people at Prism Solar—they’re on the cusp of something extraordinary. Since it’s founding in 2005, the company has been working hard to introduce a new holographic film technology to the market for use in solar modules. The company’s proprietary holographic film can replace up to 70 percent of a standard module’s cell material, which is traditionally the most expensive part of the module. “The company has really extraordinary technology that has the ability to substantially drive down the cost of photovoltaics and also increase kilowatt hour production up to 40 percent,” says Stephen Filler, Prism’s director of corporate development. “Because the technology works with any solar cell, we have the opportunity to leverage the manu24
facturing capacity of the entire photovoltaic industry. We have the opportunity of making solar competitive with other electricity generating sources worldwide.” That means that with their products, solar-generated electricity could be as inexpensive to deliver to customers as traditional sources of electricity such as coal and natural gas. Not only is the company gearing up to send out more pilot modules this year, but they’re also preparing to make significant employee additions at the Highland manufacturing facility (research and development happens in Tucson). “There’s a lot of really smart people here who have years of experience in the solar industry and working with technology startups. On top of that, everyone who works here is committed to creating a product
that’s both financially successful, and does something truly beneficial for the environment and the world,” says Filler. “You have this spirit of people who are committed to the company on a financial basis and on a social basis. And that’s very gratifying.” The company is also grateful for the support of legislators like Maurice Hinchey and Kevin Cahill and organizations like the Solar Energy Consortium and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. PRISM SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC. 180 South Street Highland, New York 12528 845-883-4200 www.prismsolar.com
WWW.NEWPALTZCHAMBER.ORG THE NEW PALTZ REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
MEMBER RENEWALS
Thank you!
MEMBER PROFILE
gateway community industries
F
or more than 50 years, Gateway Community Industries has been in the non-profit business of finding work for disabled residents, and for the last 15 years or so, they’ve blended this objective with the manufacturing of office products. With well over $1 million in revenue and growing, this arm of the organization produces file folders, binders, and envelopes and has preferred source contracts with state-run facilities like corrections and parole offices, who are among their best customers. But that’s just one facet of Gateway’s mission. The organization places people with a range of disabilities, from physical and developmental disabilities to economic disabilities, in one of four business divisions to gain work opportunities and income. Aside from the manufacturing of office products, the organization also offers jobs in food service, custom cleaning, and assembly and packaging and they make sure that all their clients receive therapeutic services to make them successful at each vocation. For Francoise Dunefsky, the president and CEO of Gateway, helping someone get back to work is extremely fulfilling.
“Regardless of where a person falls on the traditional spectrum of ability, work brings wellness and recovery to human beings,” she says. “The ability to work gives an identity to the person, an opportunity to be integrated into society and to be successful in their lives, and that could mean different things to different people.” She also credits the staff, who she says are very involved in community service and volunteerism, as being one of the most positive parts of her career at Gateway. “To me personally, the most rewarding experience is to work with a highly skilled team of professional people to give people support so that they have meaning in their life,” she says. “I don’t think that the average person has any idea what that does to a person to be able to say ‘I have a job and I go to work.’” GATEWAY COMMUNITY INDUSTRIES One Amy Kay Parkway Kingston, New York 12401 845-331-1261 www.gatewayindustries.org
1-2-Tree Abbott & Mills, Inc. Accent Financial Group Adair Vineyards Adirondack Trailways ADS Funding Corp. Always There American Red Cross, Ulster County Chapter Apple Greens Golf Course Apple Hill Farm Aroma Thyme Bistro Associated Abbey Carpet and Floor AT&T Autumn Sky Development Co. Baldwin Vineyards Barnaby’s Restaurant & Bar Bermac Home Aides, Inc. Beso Blatchly & Simonson, P.C. Campus Auxiliary Services, Inc. Celtic H.V.A.C. Chestnut Petroleum Distributor, Inc. Chez Grandmere Clear Channel Radio of the Hudson Valley Coldwell Banker Currier & Lazier Grisel Lazier College Diner Coupart Construction Co., Inc. Craig Thomas Pest Control, Inc. Dedrick’s Pharmacy & Gifts Delaney & Co. Donald L. Grumbine, CSW Dr. Peter Kaplan Dr. Scott I. Morrison, O.D., F.A.A.O. Dressel Farms DS Electric Econolodge Motel Edward Jones Elting Memorial Library Empire State Bank, NA Family of New Paltz Foster & Schmalkuche, P.C. Foxx Pools by Charles Burger Frank Guido’s Little Italy Genworth Financial GunxCrossFit Handmade & More Harriet Forman Barrett
REGIONAL REPORT SPRING 2010
25
MEMBER RENEWALS Harvest Café, Restaurant & Wine Bar Heritagenergy Historic Huguenot Street Hudson Baking Company & Café Hudson River Antiques AKA Glasner Design Assoc., LLC Hudson Valley Audio Visual, Inc. Inn at Stone Ridge Integral Chiropractic J.T.S. Design, Inc. Jenkinstown Antiques Jim Whitney Home Improvements JoAnne M. Boehm, CPCU Joseph L. Canino, Attorney at Law K & W Carwash Karma Road Organic Café KathodeRay Media, Inc. Kids Klub Childcare Center, Inc. Lifebridge Sanctuary Living Art Landscapes Inc. Lopane & Co., CPA’s, PC M & T Bank Macticulous Manny’s Art Supplies Mariner’s Harbor Mark L. Parisi, PhD. McDonald’s Merrill Office Products Mid-Hudson Acupuncture MidHudsonNews.com/CatskillsNews.com Monkey Boy Industries, Inc. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Mountain Laurel Waldorf School Mountain Tree Care Mountview Realty Inc. Natural Synergies Inc. New Horizons Asset Management Group, LLC New Paltz Central School District New Paltz Karate Academy Inc. New Paltz Travel Center New Paltz Wine & Spirits Pasquale’s Pizza PDQ Business Center Pegasus Footwear Outlet Perfect Computer Solutions, Inc. Petro McCrum Consulting Phillies Bridge Farm Project, Inc. Piano Summer at New Paltz Poughkeepsie Journal
26
MEMBER PROFILE
KIC Chemicals
W
hether it’s a bucket of glycerin going to a small local business or a tank of non-toxic antifreeze going to a regional resort, KIC Chemicals has it covered with an extensive product line of kosher and certified organic ingredients for food, cosmetics, and more. In fact, none of the products found on the company’s 9,400-square-foot, South Ohioville Road facility in New Paltz is toxic or flammable, says Eric Kort, the vice president of the company. Kort’s father and a partner started the business in 1985 in Westchester as more of a large-order and industrial chemical operation. When he joined the team in 1997, the focus shifted toward more food and toiletry ingredients and the capacity to fulfill any size order, no matter how small. In March of 2007 the company relocated to New Paltz and found a facility where they could eliminate the need for use of public warehouses and packaging overseas. “When we moved to New Paltz we figured this was something we could do ourselves, create some jobs and demand for product up here,” says Kort. Today the company supplies biodegradable, non-
toxic materials like vegetable oils, vitamins, non-toxic antifreeze. They receive products in bulk tanker trucks and put them into barrels and smaller pack sizes for their clients and will blend with water, add colorings, or add rust inhibitors for antifreeze products. They serve everyone from local small businesses to major national cosmetic, food, and pharmaceutical brands, including Hostess, Pfizer, Coca-Cola, Kiss My Face, and some local orchards. They’re also keen on giving back to the community—KIC has donated funds to local service providers like the police and fireman, chemicals to rehabilitation centers, and they’ve given surplus glycerin for therapeutic hoof packs for local horse ranches. “We don’t really generate waste at all in this company, everything has a use somewhere and we’ll usually make that charitable donation,” Kort says. KIC CHEMICALS 87 South Ohioville Road New Paltz, New York 12561 845-883-5306 www.kicgroup.com
WWW.NEWPALTZCHAMBER.ORG THE NEW PALTZ REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
MEMBER RENEWALS
MEMBER PROFILE
Viking Industries
V
iking Industries was started in 1973 by Richard Croce, along with his brother and his father, to make corrugated inserts for apple boxes. Ironically, their business shot to success while other corrugated packaging businesses in the rest of the industry saw their business plummet, says Croce. “I would always set goals for where I would want the business to be and created ways to make that happen,” he says. “In the early years being very lean with very little overhead we were able to sell and sell at a profit enough that we could use that money to grow ourselves. Knowing and having a good understanding of what our costs are and how to manage them in a way that we can stay profitable is another key that helped us stay that way.” He also chalks their success up to what he calls a “fanatic belief ” in trying to satisfy customers. “There’s not anything that we wouldn’t do to help a customer out when they have a problem,” he adds.
Today, Viking no longer makes corrugated apple inserts but has developed a successful client base selling a variety of other corrugated packaging and inserts to the trade and to various industries. One other thing that sets Viking apart is its ability to customize certain sizes of boxes for clients. “One other thing that was part of the reason for our success was the ability to find niches that we stayed within, a lot of what we make are niche products,” says Croce. “Anybody can make a certain size box, but we can make really small boxes and really large boxes. There’s very few companies in our area that do that. That’s how we coexist with a lot of other box companies that are out there.” VIKING INDUSTRIES 89 South Ohioville Road New Paltz, New York 12561 845-883-6325 www.vikingindustries.net
PPA of Hud.Valley Present-Day Products Provident Bank Queens Galley Rainbarrel Products and Gifts Rino’s Pizzeria, Inc. Riverside Bank Robert Waltke & Son, LLC Robibero Family Vineyards Sam’s Club Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art Sara Gast Floral Designs Saunderskill Farms Schreiber Orchards, Inc. Southside Terrace Apartments Sprague & Killeen Inc. St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers St. John Bosco Staff-Line, Inc. SUNY New Paltz SUNY New Paltz Foundation SUNY New Paltz School of Business SUNY New Paltz School of Fine & Performing Arts Super 8 of Highland Terry Austin, Cartoonist The Bicycle Rack The Big Cheese The Lace Outlet The Orchard Café & Caterers The Ranch Pro Shop The Susie Reizod Foundation Thomas and Corinne Nyquist Foundation Times Herald-Record Town & Country Condominiums Town of New Paltz Trapps Builders Inc. True Value of New Paltz Ulster Bed & Breakfast Alliance Ulster County Development Corporation Ulster Insurance Services Ulster-Greene ARC USIA Video Vail and Sutton, Inc. Viking Industries Inc. Wallkill Valley Land Trust Westchester Medical Center Woodland Pond at New Paltz Wyld Acres Members who renewed as of Feb. 15.
REGIONAL REPORT SPRING 2010
27
MEMBERSHIP MATTERS
LETS MAKE A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER A strong business community benefits the whole community. In this issue, the New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce Marketing Department considers corporate social responsibility.
T
he definition and application of Corporate Social Responsibility has evolved since that term came to commonly represent the idea that the business community is responsible for the impact of its actions on the community as a whole, but the spirit behind the term has always been at the heart of operations for the New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce. As a service organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in the Hudson Valley, the Chamber has a natural and keen awareness of its social responsibility. Everything we do is geared directly toward sustainably strengthening the Valley’s excellent reputation as a superior place to do business, live, work, play and worship. The Chamber is committed to the promotion and production of community events large and small—including April’s Clean Sweep, now in its 14th year—helping to advance mutual support between our region’s for-profit and not-for-profit businesses. The Chamber brings people together to effect real cooperation and engenders interconnectivity between community leaders, municipalities, educational 28
MEMBERSHIP SUCCESS COMMITTEE CHAIR Chris Drouin Beyond
Wealth Management
CO-CHAIR Patrick Turner Little Pond
Consulting Kristina Hidalgo Pine Haven B&B Cathy Hyland New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce Jeff Mehl Daybreak Virtual Staffing Lucy Paradies New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce
institutions and the population at large. We bring this commitment to the boards of directors of a broad range of regional organizations, including Ulster County Workforce Development; American Red Cross, Ulster County Chapter; Gateway Community Industries; and Chamber Alliance of New York State (CANYS). The Chamber is also represented as part of the American Heart Association, Dutchess-Ulster Region Go Red for Women Leadership Team; Southern
Ulster Alliance; Clear Channel Radio of the Hudson Valley Community Advisory Board; Ulster County Tourism Advisory Board; and Hudson Valley Regional Coalition. We feel our responsibility to the Valley on a very personal level. In 2009, Membership Director Cathy Hyland mentored a team of SUNY New Paltz School of Business students in the college’s prestigious Business Plan Competition. Under Cathy’s expert mentorship, these four young men and women wrote, presented and defended a solid business plan which handily won the competition and positioned them for a better chance of success as they graduate and enter the workforce. The Chamber also actively assisted SUNY New Paltz nursing students in researching local options to complete their education as the college phases out its nursing program. Do you have questions about how the Chamber can help you, your business, your neighbors and your peers? Ask us. Call us, email us, visit us at www.newpaltzchamber. org or stop in to see us in person at 257 Main St., New Paltz. We look forward to serving you.
WWW.NEWPALTZCHAMBER.ORG THE NEW PALTZ REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
THINK GREEN
Need More Space?
Health Quest is the premier health care system of the Mid-Hudson Valley, providing the highest quality care across a broad spectrum of services.
Cash rebates of up to 70% of the equipment cost of an energy efficiency upgrade at your business
For all storage needs
SUPER LOW RATES 24/7 ACCESS Month to Month Rentals
Call SavingsCentral at (800) 515-5353 Brought to you by:
845-883-7057
Because we care for you.
www.health-quest.org
Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation
1718 Rt. 44-55, Modena, NY 12548
DEPENDABLE WORLDWIDE SOURCING
*NON-TOXIC,
FOOD-SAFE*
ANTIFREEZE PRODUCTS PROPYLENE GLYCOL FOR MARINE, R/V, DAIRY. AGRICULTURAL, HVAC,
& OUTDOOR BOILER APPLICATIONS GLYCERIN FOR FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS, PVC PIPES,
&
OTHER HVAC APPLICATIONS
t BULK TRADING AND NATIONAL DISTRIBUTION SINCE 1985 t IMPORT/EXPORT/DOMESTIC LOGISTICS SERVICES t BLENDING AND REPACKING SERVICES t COMPETITIVE PRICING ISO9001: 2008 ISO9001:200 0 FM 65303 FM 6530 3
KIC CHEMICALS, INC t 87 SOUTH OHIOVILLE RD t NEW PALTZ, NY t 12561 (877) KIC-BULK TEL: (845) 883-5306 FAX: (845) 883-5326 BULKSALES@KICGROUP.COM WWW.KICGROUP.COM
LOCAL RECREATION
DEPENDABLE WORLDWIDE SOURCING
Sojourn: seasonal guide to the region A seasonal tourism magazine highlighting the abundant opportunities for recreation, relaxation, and education for visitors. Deadline for Fall issue is 8/9.
MEMBERS RESOURCE
distinct publications for unique markets
VEGETABLE OILS 5-GAL, 55-GAL, & 275-GAL PACK SIZES AVAILABLE
membership directory This annual comprehensive membership directory features a complete list, including cross-reference by category, of the New Paltz Regional Chamber membership and has a 12-month shelf life. Deadline for annual issue is May 3.
advertising opportunities: To place an ad contact Maryellen Case at (914) 953-3202 or mcase@chronogram.com.
REGIONAL REPORT SPRING 2010
29
OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS, at the highest level of membership, play an exclusive and vital role in the important work of the New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce. As a premier member at the corporate partner level, they enjoy the advantage of exceptionally valuable benefits, in addition to those included in the standard NPRCoC membership.
2010 CORPORATE PARTNERS
Exclusive opportunities to deliver your message to over 30,000 public event attendees, over 800 active Chamber members, and countless Hudson Valley residents, including a full 12 months of visibility in every Chamber publication, communication, and event. Customized personal service from the Chamber’s expert staff, including communications designed exclusively to keep you informed. We invite you to choose from four elite Corporate Partner membership categories: Principal, Leading, Associates, and Supporting.
LEADING PARTNER
Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. ASSOCIATE PARTNER
Brinckerhoff and Neuville Insurance Group SUPPORTING PARTNERS
Health Quest Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union KIC Chemicals, Inc. Ulster Savings Vanacore, DeBenedictus, DiGovanni & Weddell LLP, CPAs
HEALTH LIFE DISABILITY LONG-TERM CARE
Kimlin Propane
Your Chamber’s Benefits Administrator Our Friendly Service Is REAL!
39 Market Street Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 845-471-8200 30
(845) 255-7324 Gardiner, NY Serving Ulster, Dutchess, and Beyond
WWW.NEWPALTZCHAMBER.ORG THE NEW PALTZ REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
There advantage to togetting getting There is an advantage communication solutionsfrom from communication solutions people you first. first. people who put you
At Time Warner Cable Business Class®®, we do things a little differently. At Time Warner Cable Business Class , we do things a little differently. We evaluate your needs first. We evaluate your needs first. You first. You We first. believe these times call for a different approach to business. Our We believe these timeswho callknow for a the different approach to business. local representatives, ins and outs of doing businessOur in your representatives, community, work who with know you tothe understand yourofchallenges. Next, in we local ins and outs doing business conduct a complete evaluation existingyour services. your community, work with you of toyour understand challenges. Next, we conduct a complete evaluation of your existing services. The technology follows. Onlytechnology then do wefollows. tailor our award-winning Internet, Phone and Cable TV The solutions — solutions that can help yourand company Only then specifically do we tailorfor ouryou award-winning Internet, Phone Cable TV achieve greater productivity low operating costs. is solutions specifically for you with — solutions that can helpNow yourthat company reason to celebrate. achieve greater productivity with low operating costs. Now that is reason to celebrate. After all, when we put the needs of your business first, you get just what everyall, company is looking these a competitive After when we put the for needs ofdays: your business first,advantage. you get just what every company is looking for these days: a competitive advantage.
Call 1.877.227.8711 today todayfor orCall visit1.877.227.8711 www.twcbc.com/HV
for visit www.twcbc.com/HV a or FREE evaluation of your services a FREE evaluation of your services INTERNET I PHONE I CABLE TV
INTERNET I PHONE I CABLE TV
17485-20361-1209BSnewpaltzbrand_ad
17485-20361-1209BSnewpaltzbrand_ad
257 Main Street New Paltz, NY 12561
When it comes to speedy delivery, we give Joe the whole package.
“I get fast answers on loans.� Joe Fitzpatrick, President Lightning Express in Modena
Let US Help Your Business Succeed!
Schedule a personal visit and receive a free gift. 1-866-440-0391 www.ulstersavings.com Business Checking t Loans & Lines of Credit t Commercial Mortgages t Tax Preparation & Planning t Business Insurance Employee Benefits t Retirement Planning t Payroll Services t Bookkeeping Member
FDIC
*Tax Preparation & Planning, Business Insurance, Employee Benefits, Retirement Planning, Payroll Services and Bookkeeping products and services available through Ulster Insurance Services, Inc., and Ulster Financial Group, Inc., subsidiaries of Ulster Savings Bank, are NOT FDIC INSURED.