BusIness
A polished past: cleaning firm celebrates 40 years page 23
November 2011
Harvesting our fruits In time for the holidays: made in the north country
n 3Q home sales post gain over ’10 Page 31 n 20 Questions with Knowlton’s Rick Rudmann Page 34
Plus:
n Biz Tech n NNY Snapshot n Business Scene n Real Estate $2.95
/nnybusiness @NNYBusinessMag
Northern New York’s Premier Business Monthly Vol. 1 Issue 12 | www.nnybusiness.net
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NNY Business | November 2011
November 2011 | NNY Business
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C o n tr i b u t o r s
BusIness
www.nnybusiness.net
Publishers
John B. Johnson Jr. Harold B. Johnson II Donald C. Alexander is CEO of the Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency. He writes about the urgent need for more market-rate housing in the region. (p. 37)
Lynn Pietroski is president and CEO of the Greater WatertownNorth Country Chamber of Commerce. In her first column, she writes about the importance of giving customers what they want. (p. 39)
Jay Matteson is the agricultural coordinator for the Jefferson County Agricultural Development Corp. He writes about the stewardship efforts taking place at Sheland Farms. (p. 40)
Sarah O’Connell is an advisor for the New York State Small Business Development Center at Jefferson Community College. She offers some tips to foster customer loyalty. (p. 42)
General Manager John B. Johnson
Executive Editor Bert Gault
Managing Editor Robert D. Gorman
Magazine Editor
Kenneth J. Eysaman
Editorial Assistant Kyle R. Hayes
Advertising Director Larry Covell is a professor of business at SUNY Jefferson and an attorney. In his debut column, he explains how limited liability companies work. (p. 38)
Jill Van Hoesen is chief information officer for Johnson Newspapers and a 25-year IT veteran. She writes about the growing trend of mobile technology in the workplace. (p. 41)
Lance M. Evans is executive officer for the Jefferson-Lewis and St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors. He explains what all the acronyms mean after a Realtor’s name. (p. 30)
Lenka Waldroff is curator of collections for the Jefferson County Historical Museum. She writes about the oldest indoor mall in America — Watertown’s Paddock Arcade. (p. 52)
Karen Romeo
Advertising Specialists
Clarissa Collins, Katie Nelson, Connie Campany
Circulation Director Cindy Werner
Photography
Norm Johnston, Justin Sorensen, Jason Hunter, Melanie Kimbler-Lago, Amanda Morrison
Ad Graphics, Design
Kyle R. Hayes is a Johnson Newspapers editorial assistant. In this month’s cover story, he writes about products manufactured and produced in Northern New York that are worthy of any holiday gift. (p. 14)
Nancy Madsen is a Johnson Newspapers staff writer. She writes about record loan guarantees the SBA made for north country projects during fiscal year 2011 and rising third-quarter real estate sales. (p. 27, 34)
Susan Mende is a Johnson Newspapers staff writer based in Canton. She writes about a new thrift shop that offers patrons a wide range of goods in downtown Canton. (p. 29)
Joleene DesRosiers is a freelance writer who lives in Sandy Creek. She examines the challenges ski area operators face as they look to a new seasion on north country slopes. (p. 24)
MARKETPLACE A.G. Netto Realty …................. 32 Allen’s Liquor & Wine …............ 33 American Eagle Airlines …........ 2 AmeriCU Credit Union …............ 8 Ameriprise Financial …............ 21 Carthage Federal S&L …............ 6 Cavallario’s Cucina …............. 45 Center for Sight …..................... 48 Cheney Tire ….......................... 44 Clarence Henry Coach …....... 47 Community Bank …................... 7 Condino Realty ….................... 32 Cozy Country Corner …........... 26 D&D Power Sports …................. 13 The Edge Hotel …...................... 29 Essenlohr Motors …..................... 9 Foy Agency Inc. …................... 33 Gerald A. Nortz Inc. …............. 25 GWNC Chamber of Commerce …....................... 55 H&R Block ...........................….. 21 High Tower Advisors …..............19 Howard Orthotics …................. 38 Innovative PT …......................... 39
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Jackson Furniture …................. 56 JCJDC …................................... 53 Lisa A. Sawdey, CFE ...........….. 46 Lofink Ford Mercury ................. 51 Macar’s …..................................12 Marguerite’s Cranberry Emporium ….............................. 29 NNY Community Foundation …............................ 37 NNY Deals …............................. 50 North Country Storage Barns …....................... 17 North Croghan Outpost …....... 21 Northern Federal Credit Union ….......................... 18 Nortz and Virkler ….................. 22 Ogdensburg Command Performance …........................... 7 Old Mill Woodshop …............... 29 Ostrander’s Sheepskin Shop ….................... 32 The Paddock Club …............... 36 Painfull Acres Amish Furniture …................................ 33
NNY Business | November 2011
Pleasant Night Inn …................ 24 Regional Medical Management ......................…. 42 Riverside Rustics …................... 26 SeaComm Federal Credit Union ….......................... 27 Slack Chemical Co. …............. 40 SMR Fibre ….............................. 36 Snow Ridge Ski Resort ….......... 26 Spring Drive ….......................... 41 St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union …............ 31 St. Lawrence NYSARC ….......... 28 Sunshine Dental ….................... 49 T.F. Wright & Sons ….................. 33 Thousand Islands Winery …..... 54 Washington Summit …............. 20 Waterbury Fine Jewelers …..... 28 Watertown Daily Times …........ 22 Watertown Local Development Corp. ...........….. 30 Watertown Savings Bank …..... 16 Westelcom …............................ 53 WWTI-50 …................................... 3
Rick Gaskin, Julia Keegan, Brian Mitchell, Heather O’Driscoll, Scott Smith, Todd Soules NNY Business (ISSN 2159-6115), is published monthly by Johnson Newspaper Corp., 260 Washington St., Watertown, NY 13601. Copyright 2010, Johnson Newspaper Corp. All material submitted to NNY Business becomes property of Johnson Newspaper Corp., publishers of the Watertown Daily Times, and will not be returned.
Subscription Rates 12 issues are $15 a year for Watertown Daily Times and affiliate newspaper subscribers and $25 a year for non-subscribers. Call 315-782-1000 for delivery. Submissions Send all editorial correspondence to keysaman@wdt.net Advertising For advertising rates and information in Jefferson and Lewis counties, e-mail ccollins@wdt.net In St. Lawrence County, e-mail knelson@ogd.com Printed with pride in U.S.A. at Vanguard Printing LLC, Ithaca, N.Y. Please recycle this magazine.
>>Inside NOVEMBER 2011
14 26 |
COVER |
14 MADE IN NNY The north country offers an impressive array of products made locally for any holiday. |
SMALL BUSINESS |
23 40 YEARS YOUNG Since 1971, Krafft Cleaning Services has quietly grown into a lasting success. 27 RECORD LENDING The SBA guaranteed 34 north country projects during fiscal year 2011. | REGION |
24 CHALLENGES PLENTY For ski area operators, success depends on more than just good snow.
24
23
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34
29
FINANCE |
26 A MAN WITH A PLAN Northwestern Mutual’s Watertown managing director looks to add jobs. |
ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY |
29 SECOND-HAND GEMS A new Canton thrift shop offers savvy shoppers a wide range of goods from A to Z. |
REAL ESTATE
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34 HOME SALES INCREASE Third-quarter home sales across the north country are up compared with a year ago. 32 LEWIS COUNTY Real estate transactions totaled $2.33m over a 23-day sales period in September.
33 ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY Real estate transactions totaled $1.26m over a threeday period in mid-August. |
BUSINESS LAW |
38 COLUMNIST DEBUTS JCC business professor, attorney explains limited liability companies. |
BUSINESS HISTORY |
52 THE NATION’S FIRST Built in 1850, the Paddock Arcade is the oldest indoor shopping mall in America. |
CONSTRUCTION |
54 HOUSING UNDER WAY A $20m housing project is taking shape on Watertown’s north side off Mill Street. November 2011 | NNY Business
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NNY Business | November 2011
| ON THE COVER |
| INTERVIEW |
40 AN INNOVATIVE EVOLUTION Knowlton Technologies is the longest continuously operating mill in the country. We visit with its company president for an inside look at the storied firm. | COLUMNS |
37 ECONOMICALLY SPEAKING 38 NONPROFITS TODAY 39 COMMERCE CORNER
40 AGRI-BUSINESS 41 BUSINESS TECH BYTES 42 SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS
| DEPARTMENTS |
8 9 10 12 30
EDITOR’S NOTE PEOPLE ON THE MOVE ECONOMIC SNAPSHOT BUSINESS BRIEFCASE REAL ESTATE ROUNDUP
43 45 50 52 54
CALENDAR BUSINESS SCENE DINING GUIDE BUSINESS HISTORY WHAT’S HAPPENING HERE?
Photographer Justin Sorensen staged a scene right out of Santa’s north country workshop. All of the products that surround the seven-and-ahalf-foot Christmas tree are made in Northern New York. From cheese and maple syrup to picture frames and gun cleaning kits, the north country produces many worthy goods.
November 2011 | NNY Business
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E D I T O R ’ S NO T E rom award-winning wine and cheese to the liquid gold that folks in other parts of the country call maple syrup, to picture frames and gun cleaning systems, the north country is ripe with consumer goods that are produced and manufactured in towns and cities across Jefferson Lewis and St. Lawrence Ken Eysaman counties. In my hometown of Adams, some of the finest cheddar comes from Great Lakes Cheese on West Church Street. Pair that with a glass of wine produced by one of the six wineries now operating in our counties and you might have to call some friends for a dinner party. While our region may not turn out goods the likes of a major manufacturing hub, the list of products that come from Northern New York is impressive. In this month’s cover story, staffer Kyle Hayes visits with nearly two-dozen businesses that bring products to market suitable for any holiday gift. We were so excited about the north country’s “fruits” that we’re offering readers an opportunity to win one of the many products featured on this month’s cover and on pages 14 and 15. For the next month, folks who subscribe to NNY Business will be entered into a drawing to win wine, picture frames, food baskets, locally roasted coffee, pure maple syrup and, for the hunting enthusiast, a Tactical Cleaning System from Lewis County-based Otis Technologies. The top-line gun cleaning system cleans every rifle, pistol and shotgun from .17 caliber to 12 gauge. Since last December, most readers have enjoyed NNY Business for free. It has either arrived in the mail at a business or, for Watertown Daily Times subscribers in the City and
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NNY Business | November 2011
Town of Watertown, in the newspaper as a bonus insert. During that time, I have been overwhelmed with wonderful feedback and comments about the magazine. It has been a personally rewarding and humbling experience to work in my hometown market with people who value the product we work diligently to produce each month. For as little as $15 a year, you can guarantee that you won’t miss another issue of NNY Business. (And, of you haven’t heard about our soonto-launch lifestyle magazine, you are in for a real treat. In NNY Living, we will highlight the “finer points” of life in the north country. From arts and culture to homes, health and fitness and the NNY social scene, you won’t want to miss it.) As for NNY Business, we will continue to deliver many reasons each month for north country residents to be proud of the work that goes on in our communities to make this a great place to live, work and play. For the past two months, readers who received the magazine in their newspaper have also received a letter with a discounted subscription offer explaining that this is the final month of free magazine delivery. So far, the response has been steady. Now, subscribers have a chance to win one of the many great local products produced in the north country. And as a thank-you to those who have already subscribed, they will also be entered to win. In total, there are more than 50 chances to win a prize valued between $15 and $65. Subscribing to NNY Business now is an opportunity to win a local product worth at least the price of a subscription. To sign up and get your name in the hat, call our circulation team at 782-1000. They will take great care of you. As always, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to call me at 661-2399 or email keysaman@ wdt.net Yours in business,
P E O P L E ON T H E M O V E CU dean named CEO
Timothy F. Sugrue has been appointed by Clarkson University President Tony Collins to serve as chief executive officer of the Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries, a subsidiary of Clarkson University, Potsdam, with operations in Beacon, Troy and Sugrue Potsdam. Mr. Sugrue is also currently the dean of Clarkson University’s School of Business. Mr. Sugrue succeeds environmentalist John Cronin, the institute’s founding director, who has been named the first Beacon Institute Fellow at Clarkson University. During his tenure at Clarkson, Mr. Sugrue has implemented several successful new programs in Clarkson’s School of Business, including traditional and online programs in engineering and global operations management, technology and business administration. He holds a doctorate in business administration from the University of Massachusetts, traces his Hudson Valley roots back to an undergraduate degree in engineering at the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he completed a thesis in river monitoring and competed as a member of the sailing team.
Lewis business person of the year announced
The Lewis County Chamber of Commerce board of directors has named Doug Hanno, owner of Hanno’s Hometown Car Wash, as the 2011 business person of the year. The chamber will celebrate Mr. Hanno’s award with a dinner at 6:30 p.m. Thurs-
day, Nov. 17, at the Glenfield Fire Hall, beginning with a 5:30 p.m. social hour. Seating is limited so reservations are required by Wednesday, Nov. 9. Tickets are $20 Hanno and tickets can be reserved by calling the chamber at 376-2213 or emailing donna@ lewiscountychamber.org.
Police officer lauded
The Potsdam Chamber of Commerce has announced that John Kaplan of Potsdam is the recipient of the 2011 Commitment to the Community Award. The award reflects efforts of individuals or organizations that enhance the quality of life, provide service to fellow citizens, or improve the Potsdam business environment. Mr. Kaplan, a former Potsdam Village Police officer and chief, is head of the University Police at SUNY Potsdam. He has served as a board member and trustee for the Potsdam Public Library, Potsdam Humane Society, St. Lawrence County Arts Council and the St. Lawrence County Community Service Board. Mr. Kaplan is also the co-founder of the Potsdam TRIAD , a partnership of the Potsdam Police Department, the St. Lawrence County Office for the Aging, local volunteers and senior citizens. The group assists senior citizens and persons with disabilities. The award will be presented at the Potsdam Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Dinner on Tuesday, Nov. 15 at Thatcher Hall at SUNY Potsdam.
Young pros honored
The Greater Watertown Jaycees in part-
Got business milestones? n Share your business milestones with NNY Business. Email news releases and photos (.jpg/300 dpi) to editor Ken Eysaman at keysaman@wdt.net. The deadline for submissions is the 10th of the month for the following month’s issue. Photos that don’t appear in print may be posted on our Facebook page. nership with the Jefferson-Lewis Workforce Investment Board and the Jefferson County Job Development Corp. presented the 2011 Young Professionals Awards to Dr. Kelli J. Thesier, Nicole Caldwell and Dr. Jason F. White. Dr. Thesier is the owner of Carthage Thesier Family Chiropractic Care. She was selected for her outstanding leadership in business. Ms. Caldwell is the executive director of Better Farm LLC. She was selected for her Caldwell outstanding leadership in arts and culture. Dr. White, of Internal Medicine of NNY, was selected for his outstanding leadership and volunteer work in his community. White The Young Professionals Awards were created by the Greater Watertown Jaycees in 2007 to recognize local leaders under the age of 40. Recipients were honored at a luncheon on Oct. 20.
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November 2011 | NNY Business
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ECON SNAPSHOT
NNY
Economic indicators Average per-gallon milk price paid to N.Y. dairy farmers Sept. ’11 $1.83 August ’11 $1.92 Sept. ’10 $1.50
35.4%
(Percent gains and losses are over 12 months)
Vehicles crossing the Thousand Islands, OgdensburgPrescott and Seaway International (Massena) bridges
Source: NYS Department of Agriculture
465,102 in Sept. 2011 438,483 in August 2011 563,044 in Sept. 2010
Average NNY price for gallon of regular unleaded gas
Source: T.I. Bridge Authority, Ogdensburg Bridge & Port Authority, Seaway International Bridge Corp.
Sept. ’11 $3.79 August ’11 $3.81 Sept. ’10 $2.74
U.S.-Canadian dollar exchange rate (Canadian dollars per U.S. dollar)
36%
Average NNY price for gallon of home heating oil Sept. ’11 $3.71 August ’11 $3.67 Sept. ’10 $2.83
29.2%
17.4%
$1.04 on Sept. 30, 2011 $0.98 on August 31, 2011 $1.03 on Sept. 28, 2010
0.97%
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of N.Y.
Average NNY price for gallon of residential propane
Nonagriculture jobs in the Jefferson-Lewis-St. Lawrence counties area, not including military positions
Sept. ’11 $3.24 August ’11 $3.22 Sept. ’10 $2.76
91,400 in Sept. 2011 89,800 in August 2011 92,100 in Sept. 2010
21.5%
0.76%
Source: NYS Energy Research and Development Authority
Source: NYS Department of Labor
Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors single-family home sales
Passengers at Watertown International Airport
118, median price $142,000 in Sept. 2011 127, median price $136,500 in August 2011 118, median price $132,950 in Sept. 2010
546 in-bound and out-bound in Sept. 2011 611 in-bound and out-bound in August 2011 425 in-bound and out-bound in Sept. 2010
Sales
6.8%
28.5%
Price
Source: Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors Inc.
Source: Jefferson County Board of Legislators
Jefferson County unemployment Sep. 11
8.7%
Aug. 11
8.2%
July 11
8.7%
June 11
8.9%
May 11
9.1%
April 11
Mar. 11
Feb. 11
Jan. 11
Dec. 10
10.0% 10.9% 11.6 % 10.3 % 10.0%
Nov. 10 Oct. 10 Sep. 10
11.8%
9.0% 8.6%
Source: New York State Department of Labor (Not seasonally adjusted) Note: Due to updates in some “Econ. Snapshot” categories, numbers may differ from previously published prior month and year figures.
10 NNYBusiness Business| |April November 8 ||NNY 2011 2011
NNY
Economic indicators St. Lawrence county unemployment rates
Lewis county unemployment rates
9.4% in Sept. 2011 9.8% in August 2011 9.8% in Sept. 2010
8.3% in Sept. 2011 7.7% in August 2011 7.8% in Sept. 2010
0.5
0.4
Percentage points
Percentage points
Source: NYS Department of Labor (Not seasonally adjusted)
Source: NYS Department of Labor (Not seasonally adjusted)
St. Lawrence Board of Realtors single-family home sales
Open welfare cases in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties
61, median price $80,000 in Sept. 2011 75, median price $86,000 in August 2011 51, median price $75,900 in Sept. 2010
1,887 in Sept. 2011 1,859 in August 2011 1,740 in Sept. 2010
Sales
5.4%
8.45%
Price
Source: St. Lawrence Board of Realtors Inc.
Source: Social Service Depts. of Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties
Real estate sales
The following sales were recorded in the Jefferson County clerk’s office:
Watertown city sales Sept. 26
n 1304 Washington St., 1304 Washington Street LLC, Pittsford, sold to Bobwatertown NY LLC, New York, N.Y., $3,289, 375 n Two parcels, 393 Colorado Ave., Shaun Donovan, secretary, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington, D.C., sold to Michael P. Burke, Felts Mills, $55,000 n 311 Iroquois Ave. W., Carol R. Flick, Watertown, trustee, Carol R. Flick Living Trust, sold to Andrew G. Mangione and Claire S. Mangione, Watertown, $125,000
Sept. 23
n Thompson Boulevard, Deborah J. Davidson, Watertown, sold to Michael K. Waters and Mary A. Waters, Watertown, $287,000 n 0.608 acre, Mullin Street, Jason Morrison Fearon, Fuquay Varina, N.C., and Rena Fearon Kandler, Watertown, trustees, Cynthia Morrison Fearon Living Trust, sold to M & P Real Estate LLC, Watertown, $162,000 n No acreage or address given, Betty G. Corbett, Watertown, sold to Shi Gab Properties LLC, Watertown, $120,000
Sept. 21
n 0.074 acre, South Hamilton Street, Edmund H. Demattia Jr., Chaumont, sold to Charles A. Hearn Jr. and Deborah R. Hearn, Hinesville, Ga., $79,500 n 242 Pratt St., Michael A. Deitz and Jade E. Deitz, Watertown, sold to Culley T. Gosier and Jeri CG. Gosier, Watertown, $177,000
Sept. 20
n Lot 16, Smith Farm Subdivision, Culley Gosier, Watertown, sold to Nicole M. Marconi, Watertown, $150,000 n 631 Coffeen St., Rodney W. Gleisner, Beaufort, S.C., and Kathleen B. Bickelhaupt, Nottingham, Md., sold to Gouverneur Savings and Loan Association, Gouverneur, $77,000
transactions
19.6%
Turn to pages 32 and 33 for a look at recent real estate transactions in St. Lawrence and Lewis counties.
Sept. 15
n Intersection easterly street margin of College Heights and Coffeen Street, Prime LLC, Alexandria Bay, sold to Jefferson Heights LLC, Watertown, $1,332,500
Sept. 9
n 0.714 acre, Arsenal Street, Atlantic Refining & Marketing Corp., Philadelphia, Pa., sold to Sunoco Inc. (R&M), Lester, Pa., $191,000 n 0.228 acre, 611 Bradley St., Thousand Islands Area Habitat for Humanity Inc,, Watertown, sold to Carlos L. Pacheco and Norma I. Pacheco, Watertown, $170,000
Sept. 7
n Two parcels, Ball Avenue, Timothy J. Vreatt and Dorothy B. Vreatt, Watertown, sold to Jennifer N. Perry, Watertown, $196,000
Sept. 6
n Mundy Street, Lori J. Gooding, Watertown, sold to Jeremy David Long, Carthage, $127,000
Sept. 2
n 334 Michigan Ave., Charles Florence and Melanie Florence, Carthage, sold to Justin R. Astafan and Maricia L. Astafan, Carthage, $80,000
n 628 Grant St., Ernest McGregor, Watertown, sold to Darryl T. Murrock, Watertown, $118,000 n 0.145 acre, 424 Maple Ave., David A. Lines, Sackets Harbor, sold to David A. Gill and Melissa J. Gill, Watertown, $55,000 n 0.115 acre, 339 N. California Ave., Eric J. Smith, Watertown, sold to Robert W. Breckenridge, Calcium, $95,000
$6,886,375 City real estate sales recorded over a 25-day period, Sept. 2-Sept. 26, 2011
November April2011 2011| |NNY NNYBusiness Business||11 9
B u s i n e s s Br i e f ca s e have opened a Chem-Dry franchise. T&T Chem-Dry is a veteran- and family-owned and operated carpet and upholstery cleaning business. The company, which has a green certification, offers services to residential and commercial customers throughout Jefferson and Lewis counties. The primary cleaning solution is on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s list of generally regarded as safe items. T&T Chem-Dry offers before- and afterbusiness-hour services to accommodate commercial customers. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 775-6292 or visit www.ttchemdry.com or www.chem-dry.net/tt.ny.
Women’s Council of Realtors lauds WSB
Lisa L’Huillier, Women’s Council of Realtors Tri-County Chapter presidentelect, recently presented Watertown Savings Bank President Mark Lavarnway with a certificate of recognition at Tin Pan Galley, Sackets Harbor. The bank was recognized for being a strong supporter of the council’s tricounty chapter and for sponsoring the networking event in Sackets Harbor. The Women’s Council of Realtors is a nationwide community of more than 13,000 real estate professionals who include many of the best and brightest in the business. It is a network of successful Realtors empowering women to exercise their potential as entrepreneurs and industry leaders. The Women’s Council of Realtors is an affiliate of the Chicago-based National Association of Realtors. Visit www.WCR.org to learn more.
Nominations open
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2011 Israel A. Shapiro Citizenship Award, which is presented annually by the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce to an outstanding citizen of the Watertown area. The award was established by Arnold I. Shapiro to honor the memory of his father, a long time business leader in this community. A director of the chamber at the time of his father’s death in 1952, Mr. Shapiro sensed a need in Watertown for a symbolic annual recognition of exceptional leadership on behalf of the city. All nominations are to be submitted on the official entry form. Nominations must be received by the chamber office no later than 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30. The award will be formally presented at the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce Annual Membership Dinner tentatively scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 2. For more information,
Chem-Dry franchise opens Tony Shemanski and Tirzah Berlin
contact Michelle Farrell at 788-4400 or events@watertownny.com.
Atlantic Testing receives Seal of Excellence
Atlantic Testing Laboratories, 26581 State Route 283, Watertown, headquartered in Clifton Park, was recently awarded the American Council of Independent Laboratories Seal of Excellence for 2011-2012. The Seal of Excellence program provides clients who use analytical laboratories with a mechanism for evaluating laboratory performance. Laboratories earning the seal are committed to ensuring the integrity of data, meeting client’s quality needs and setting the standards of performance for the testing laboratory industry. For information on ATL, visit wwww.atlantictesting.com.
From left, Dr. Tim Unruh, program manager, Federal Energy Management Program, Hon. Katherine G. Hammack, assistant Secretary of the Army installations and environment, James Corriveau, director of public works for Fort Drum, Joseph McLaughlin, Fort Drum Mountain Community Homes project director, and Dr. Henry Kelly, acting assistant secretary of energy, office of energy efficiency and renewable energy.
MCH nets energy award Fort Drum Mountain Community Homes, a partnership created between
MACAR’S • Kitchens • Bathrooms • Flooring • Lighting
161 Coleman Avenue 12 |
NNY Business | November 2011
www.macarsinteriors.com
Watertown • 788-3732
B u s i n e s s b r i e f ca s e the Department of the Army and Lend Lease Public Partnerships through the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, has been awarded the 33rd Annual Federal Energy and Water Management Award from the Secretary of the Army and the Department of Energy. MCH was chosen based on their accomplishment in energy and water conservation throughout 2010. The awards honor both individuals and organizations that are providing significant contributions to energy and water efficiency across their projects, at a benefit to the government. MCH involves the development of 1,586 new three-, four- and five- bedroom homes, four state-of-the-art community centers and the renovation of all 2,249 existing homes at Fort Drum during the development period. MCH will finance, develop, build, renovate and operate these sites for at least 50 years.
From left, Dave Fenton, Potsdam Chamber Town and Gown Committee, Jeremy Carney and Chris Smutz of Northern Music and Video, Rob Bicknell, chamber president, and Marylee Ballou, chamber director.
Northern Music nominated for award
The Potsdam Chamber of Commerce has named Northern Music and Video, 29 Market St., as its September nominee for the Pride in Potsdam Award.
Got business news?
n Share your business news with NNY Business. Email news releases and photos (.jpg/300 dpi) to editor Ken Eysaman at keysaman@wdt.net. The deadline for submissions is the tenth of the month for the following month’s issue. Photos that don’t appear in print may be posted on our Facebook page.
Northern Music received the nomination based on its recent window display and interior updates. Northern Music is also being recognized for it continued efforts to keep their storefront exterior swept, shoveled and clean. The Pride in Potsdam Award will be presented at the chamber’s annual dinner at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, at Thatcher Hall, SUNY Potsdam. For more information or reservations to the dinner, contact the chamber at 274-9000.
St., Lowville, has been named the Lewis County Chamber of Commerce member of the month for October. Nortz and Virkler has been the local Ford and Mercury dealership in Lewis County since 1916 and has been a member of the chamber for more than 47 years. Cozy Country Corner, N. State Street, Lowville, has been named the chamber member of the month for November. The craft store, owned by Hollie Powis, Copenhagen, was located on the Number Three Road until 2008. In the summer of 2010, Ms. Powis expanded the business to make the store’s inventory available online at www.cozycountrycorner.com.
NYS Zoo at Thompson Park needs underwriters
The New York State Zoo at Thompson Park is bringing back a popular holiday tradition this winter with the return of Holiday Lights. Holiday Lights will be starting shortly after Thanksgiving and run every weekend through the holidays. The zoo is looking for support from local businesses and organization that can provide support for the event in terms of helping erect lights, sponsoring lighting exhibits, media and financial sponsors. For information on how to help, whether financially or with providing volunteers, contact John Wright, executive director of the New York State Zoo at Thompson Park, at 755-0892.
Lewis Chamber members of the month announced Nortz and Virkler Inc., 7468 S. State
From left, Pamela Maurer, Potsdam Chamber of Commerce board member, Jessika Furnace, Twisted Turtle owner, Bailey Furnace, Lyle Furnace and Marylee Ballou, Potsdam chamber director.
Twisted Turtle now open
The Twisted Turtle, 16 Market St., Potsdam’s newest downtown business, had a ribbon cutting with the Potsdam Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 26. The new retail store features a variety of products including Donna Sharp handbags and wallets, ladies scarves, Gypsy Rose clothing, wool hats and gloves, Willow Tree figurines, signs and home decor, locally handmade jewelry, hand warmer mugs, dresses and soy candles.
POWERSPORTS, LLC 4527 St. Rte. 410, Lowville • 315-376-8013
November 2011 | NNY Business
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c o ver s t o r y
1
MADE IN
3
NNY 2
n From award-winning wines and world-famous maple syrup to picture frames and gun-cleaning kits, Northern New York is building its own brand
P
By Kyle Hayes | NNY Business
Products made in Northern New York have a reputation for quality and craftsmanship. Raw materials like milk and corn travel across the United States from St. Lawrence, Lewis and Jefferson counties while major manufacturers in the north country produce commercial goods like specialty composites at Knowlton Technologies, Little Trees at CarFreshner and protein meal at Afgritech. However, few things provide a taste of life in Northern New York like the small and mediumsize businesses that produce goods available on the consumer market. From photo frames to gun cleaning kits and coffee to toy boxes, local busi-
14 |
NNY Business | November 2011
nesses in the tri-county area are churning out merchandise that are available to customers at dozens of stores and websites, accessible to anyone in Lowville or Afghanistan. This holiday season, as big-box stores gear up with promotions and discounts, locally owned businesses are also gearing up for the gift-giving season. Here, we feature more than a dozen businesses that produce goods made in Northern New York that are worthy of any holiday gift. It is by no means an all-inclusive list of merchants, but rather a cross-section of businesses offering hundreds of products in the local retail market, in stores both large and small.
c o ver s t o r y
5
6
13
4
7 14
15
12
11 10
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November 2011 | NNY Business
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c o ver s t o r y
Thousand Islands Winery
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43298 Seaway Ave., Alexandria Bay Phone: 482-9306 ONLINE: www.thousandislandswinery.com n Thousand Islands Winery is located on a farm originally built in 1836 that was purchased in 2002 by Stephen J. and Erika S. Conaway after Mr. Conaway retired from the military. Mr. and Mrs. Conaway opened their business in 2003 with 1,300 gallons of handbottled wine sold during the first year. Currently, the wine-producing operation bottles more than 30,000 gallons of wine a year made from cold-hardy grapes. Thousand Islands Winery has more than 15 varieties of award-winning wine,
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NNY Business | November 2011
including many German wines, inspired by Mr. Conaway’s time spent in Germany while he was serving in the Army. BEST SELLER: North Country Red and Riesling.
Coyote Moon Vineyards
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17371 County Route 3, Clayton PHONE: 686-5600 ONLINE: www.coyotemoonvineyards.com. n Philip J. and Mary S. Randazzo, their daughter, Kristina Ives, and son-in-law, Christian, son, Tony, and daughter-in-law, Lori, operate the vineyards that began with 2,600 vines of cold-hardy grapes on four acres of land in 2008. The Ran-
dazzo property encompasses 90 acres along E. Line Road in Clayton where Coyote Moon sells more than 17 varieties of wine from Merlot to Chardonnay. Coyote Moon has collected more than 158 medals and in 2010 began making pasta sauce with the vineyard’s award-winning Italian-style wine, Casa Papa Red. Casa Papa pasta sauce can be purchased at the winery. Coyote Moon wines are sold locally from Rome to Massena and served in Northern New York restaurants in the 1000 Islands and Watertown. For the holidays, the Randazzos put together custom-made baskets of Coyote Moon products and sell their merchandise at a holiday farmers market in the Salmon Run Mall with Covered in Chocolate and Milk Made Farms. BEST SELLER: Fire Boat Red and Twisted Sister.
Tug Hill Vineyards
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4051 Yancey Road, Lowville PHONE: 376-4336 ONLINE: www.tughillvineyards.com n Michael F. and Susan E. Maring are no strangers to horticulture. Before establishing Tug Hill Vineyards in 2007, where they grow 10 varieties of cold-hardy French-American hybrid grapes, they had owned and operated a landscaping and nursery business. This year, the grape crop produced more than 48,000 pounds of fruit. The vineyard features 10 acres of premium grapevines that were developed at the University of Minnesota and a large tree nursery. The 40-acre estate that the Tug Hill Vineyards sits on also has pick-your-own red and golden raspberries and high bush blueberries as well as some grape varieties. Mr. and Mrs. Maring even jumped into the culinary world, opening their facilities to Sunday brunch from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For reservations, call the vineyard and leave a message. BEST SELLER: White Out.
Timeless Frames and Expressions
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22476 Fisher Road, Watertown PHONE: 836-0061 or 1 (800) 945-0431 ONLINE: www.timelessexpressions.com n Lisa A. Weber bought Timeless Frames in 1999 when it had just seven employees. Timeless Frames and Décor went on to win the 2008
COVER STORY Business of the Year award from the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce and has expanded to more than 200 employees. Timeless Expressions, the custom photo art and album website division of the company, was added in July 2010 and features anything from mouse pads to coffee mugs to calendars, all customized with a customer’s own photos. Timeless Frames sells custom frames and framed artwork as well as art prints, canvas prints and keepsakes, manufactured and processed in the Watertown facility and shipped worldwide.
Department of Agriculture and Markets. She said this year’s honey harvest was decent, producing about 60,000 to 70,000 pounds of honey. Honey production varies year-to-year, Mrs. Wakefield said, and in recent memory their best year their hives produced 150,000 pounds of honey.
BEST SELLER: Ready-made frames and digital keepsakes, available on the company’s website.
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Wakefield Apiaries
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4016 Deer River Road, Deer River PHONE: 493-0347 ONLINE: www.lcida.org/honey.html n Richard J. and Amy Y. Wakefield opened Wakefield Apiaries in 1981 in a large barn used as a honey house since the 1940s on the corner of Route 26 and Deer River Road in the small town of Deer River. Their primary business is beekeeping; however they sell honey by the barrel to local producers and are open on Thursdays selling beeswax and honey products from their business. “We sell beeswax candles and ornaments that are popular for Christmas,” Mrs. Wakefield said. They also feature creamed honey and honey candy. Mrs. Wakefield, an Ithaca native with a degree in environmental studies, was the first woman hired as a bee inspector by the state
BEST HOLIDAY GIFT: Beeswax candles and ornaments. HOLIDAY SPECIAL: A three-day open house from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 8-10 at their bee farm.
North Croghan Outpost 27029 N. Croghan Road, Natural Bridge PHONE: 783-4533 ONLINE: www.northcroghanoutpost.com n The idea for an online business that allowed north country visitors and natives to be able to purchase goods made in Northern New York from anywhere in the world started many years before the Internet was a staple in American households. “I had this idea in my mind many years ago but waited until I had the confidence in the Internet,” Teri L. Ellis, owner of North Croghan Outpost, said. “I started watching the audience of the Internet build to all ages, not just the young, techie people.” Everything Ms. Ellis sells is crafted locally and represents both Northern New York’s reputation for quality goods and the North Croghan Outpost brand. “I won’t sell everyone’s honey or everyone’s jam,” Ms. Ellis said. “I enjoy working with salt of the earth people, like the Shultz family that I get my
November 2011 | NNY Business
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c o ver s t o r y cheese from. I buy their cheese curd and go right to the farm to pick it up.” In December 2007, Ms. Ellis sent out an email with a photo of a gift box to five people. Within five days she had 25 orders. “Since then, it has burst at the seams, I stopped counting after I shipped 350 pounds of bologna in a two-week period” Ms. Ellis said. “I work at Carthage Savings and Loan and have to save up my vacation time so I can be off work the middle two weeks in December, my main shipping time.” Ms. Ellis does try and prepare herself, and her customers, for the holidays a little early: On the outpost website she gives the option to order now and ship later. Giving customers the option to buy holiday gifts year-round that will be shipped fresh, just in time for holiday gift-giving.
BEST SELLER: Croghan Bologna, Shultz Family Cheese Curd and maple syrup. HOLIDAY SPECIAL: Holiday Essentials Gift Box, a ring of Croghan Bologna, pound of fresh cheese curd and a Croghan Candy Kitchen beaver tail, shipped for $18.95.
Massena Gold Coffee Roasters
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13 Trade Road, Massena PHONE: 769-2682 ONLINE: www.massenagoldcoffeeroasting.com n Massena Gold Coffee Roasting is fairly new
to the coffee scene in the north country, but has been making its presence known in less than a year of operation. Massena Gold’s general manager Mishelle K. Yaddow, who once worked for a larger coffee roaster, said that coffee has been selling well for the fledgling company. Massena Gold stocks coffee at Hannaford supermarket in Massena and serves it at hockey games at the Massena arena and Bobby I’s diner in Helena. “We have roasted as many as 200 to 300 pounds a week, depending on demand,” Ms. Yaddow said. “We can really roast whatever people want.” Special roasting is something Massena Gold has prided itself on. Ms. Yaddow notes that some customers enjoy a darker roast, or even a dark, decaffeinated roast that isn’t available in stores. As long as a customer commits to purchasing three bags of coffee, a special roast is done just for them. “We only do straight coffee, no flavors,” Ms. Yaddow said. “We will do a special holiday blend, and we just threw something together for Halloween, a bitter, scary-type coffee.” Coffee can be ordered by calling the roasters or on their website, priced at $7.50 for a 12-ounce bag. BEST SELLERS: Costa Rican, Brazilian dark roast.
Les Savons De LouLou
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301 State St., Carthage PHONE: 286-5889 ONLINE: www.lessavonsdeloulou.com n Louise Psarras-Bly began crafting soaps and lotions after moving from her home in Belgium to Tennessee with her military husband. When trying to find natural soaps such as Savon de Marseille she only found American products full of chemicals and artificial ingredients. Being of Greek descent, she decided to learn to make soaps with extra virgin olive oil that are free of parabens, artificial coloring and are not tested on animals. Les Savons De LouLou products include body lotions, foot salve, lip balm, sugar scrubs, hand creams, shea butter sticks and bath accessories. Ms. Psarras-Bly even donates $2 of each sale of her therapeutic hand cream to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund in memory of her older sister who died of ovarian cancer. Les Savons De LouLou products are available at An Eclectic Boutique, 301 State St., Carthage, where Ms. Psarras-Bly is partners with Teri Ellis of North Croghan Outpost, Ashley Sharp, a silver jewelry maker, and Sandra Johnson, an antiques dealer. She will also be selling her wares at the Jefferson County Historical Society Victorian Faire on Nov. 18 and 19, Urban Mission craft fair at the Dulles State Office Building on Nov. 27 and the Kriss Kringle Market on Dec. 3 and 4 at Thousand Islands Winery. BEST SELLERS: Cinnamon-rosewood, tea tree and goat’s milk-lavender soaps, beeswax lip balm and therapeutic hand lotions. BEST HOLIDAY GIFT: Candy cane soap.
Otis Technologies
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6987 Laura St., Lyons Falls PHONE: 348-4300 ONLINE: www.otisgun.com n Doreen A. Garrett founded Otis Technolo-
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NNY Business | November 2011
COVER STORY gies at the age of 15 in her parents’ kitchen. In the past 26 years, she has established a business with global reach, annual revenue of more than $50 million and a state-of-the-art 70,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Lyons Falls. Otis Technologies, manufacturer of advanced gun cleaning systems, is one of Inc. Magazine’s “Inc. 5,000” and was awarded a Progressive Manufacturing 100 Award earlier this year, the most prestigious awards program honoring manufacturing companies that have transformed themselves through the use of information technology. The Otis gun cleaning systems are one of the most advanced cleaning systems on the global market. Some of the most popular gun cleaning systems, replacement components and optic and lens care products are available on their website, Amazon.com, and at Dick’s Sports Goods and Gander Mountain.
ery, but can be purchased through the business’s website. From Columbus Day to New Year’s Day the winery is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Sunday and is open Thanksgiving Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and closed on Christmas and New Year’s. BEST SELLER: Deer Run.
Covered in Chocolate
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125 Commercial St., Theresa PHONE: 767-5006 or 836-6935 ONLINE: www.covered-in-chocolate.com n Jennifer L. McConnell and Susan M. Tanner, a mother-daughter duo, founded Covered in Choc-
olate in late 2007, basing their business off of many years of making chocolate covered treats for their children and friends. Friends and family urged them to make more confections, and a business was born. Mrs. McConnell, a former medical biller with a background in marketing and retail, and her mother, who is a graphic illustrator, bought the former Redwood Bank building in Theresa, turning it into their storefront and kitchen. However, the space is proving too small for their growing business and product line. “We’re really growing out of the space,” Mrs. McConnell said. “We are looking at some spots in Watertown.” Throughout the holiday season, they will be selling their wares at a farmers market in the Salmon Run Mall in front of Dick’s
FEATURED PRODUCTS: Otis Lil’ Pro, Otis TRS Rail BEST HOLIDAY GIFT: Tactical Cleaning System
Otter Creek Winery
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33109 Rudes Road, Philadelphia PHONE: 642-0622 ONLINE: www.ottercreekwinery.com n Otter Creek Winery opened in April of 2007 on a farm just outside of Philadelphia overlooking the Otter Creek, which the business was named after. Owner Kyle R. Hafemann is one of New York State’s youngest winery owners and has wasted no time making a name for himself in the local business community. The winery produces 4,000 gallons of nine different kinds of wine each year. Featuring products like Cabin Fever, a semi-sweet red wine, and Cabin Country, a sweet white wine, the vineyard grows grapes such as Frontenac, Frontenac Gris and Eidelweiss. In July, Otter Creek began producing a line of nonalcoholic sodas, including Black Sheep root beer and Grapelicious grape soda. For the 2011 harvest season, Mr. Hafemann purchased a refurbished 1970 ChisholmRyder grape harvester to aid in harvesting for both his business and other local wineries. BEST SELLER: Adirondack Red. HOLIDAY SPECIAL: Four-pack of 187mL Adirondack Red for $7.99. AVAILABLE AT: Arsenal Wine and Liquor, Allen’s Liquor and Wines and Ronson’s Gold Star Liquors, all of Watertown, and Alexandria Bay Wines and Spirits.
Yellow Barn Winery
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18876 County Route 76, Hounsfield PHONE: 782-1824 ONLINE: www.yellowbarnwinery.com n Nicholas Surdo started experimenting with growing cold hardy grapes on his farm in Watertown in 2002. In 2006, he opened Yellow Barn Winery. Today, the winery produces and buys several varieties of cold-hardy grapes that are made into more than 10 wines, including Deer Run, a semi-sweet rosé, and Passion Red, a sweet red wine made from Concord grapes. Yellow Barn is operated in a green, environmentally friendly manner, using natural products, very little fossil fuel energy and produces grapes in a sustainable way. Wines are only stocked at the win-
November 2011 | NNY Business
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c o ver s t o r y Sporting Goods with Coyote Moon Vineyard and Milk Made Farms. According to Mrs. McConnell, the North Country confectioners have made chocolate arrangements for Reba McIntyre and Steve Martin, performers for this summer’s Disabled Persons Action Organization concert series, and the New York Jets football team. Best sellers: Cake truffles in pumpkin, gingerbread and brownie, chocolate covered bacon, chocolate crèmes and holiday Oreos. Best gift for the holidays: Chocolate and caramel covered apples and holiday cake truffles.
St. Lawrence Valley Coffee Roasters
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219 Baker Road, Lisbon PHONE: 250-7650 ONLINE: www.stlawrencevalleyroasters.com n When Timothy G. Gardner was getting ready to retire as a state employee in 2008 he started roasting coffee from his home in Lisbon. Always a business he wanted to get into, Mr. Gardner’s coffee roasting operation has expanded to roasting 12 different coffees and nine different blends, including some flavored varieties made from beans sourced in Guatemala, Honduras, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Colombia. St. Lawrence Valley Roasters brand products are sold in grocery stores and cafes throughout the north country, with some of the biggest customers in Watertown, Massena, Potsdam and Canton. For the holidays, Mr. Gardner roasts some special flavors, including a different holiday blend each year, and has tried everything from Jingle Bell Java and Frostie’s Favorite Flavor to Misteltoe Mocha. However, there’s one that he said he won’t be making. “Candy cane, I’m not doing that again,” Mr. Gardner said. AVAILABLE AT: Green Thyme, Adams Center, Nature Storehouse, Canton, Gold Cup Farms, Clayton, Seasons Gifts and Common Grounds Gifts in Massena, the Potsdam Co-Op and the Mustard Seed, Watertown.
at their all-time high, a group of north country investors were brainstorming ideas to keep local agriculture in their own back yards. By December, North Country Farms, a producer of all natural, stone ground wheat products and distributor of honey and maple products, was born. “Ron Robbins of Old McDonald’s Farm is one of the largest wheat growers north of Syracuse,” North Country Farms president Kevin L. Richardson said. “Leading up to late 2008, he was hauling wheat to Pennsylvania, and it just didn’t make sense.” North Country Farms made their first sale in early 2009, jumping into the market with five products. Today, North Country Farms distributes to more than 100 retail outlets, including Hannaford, Price Chopper and Sam’s Club, and sells flour to some of the biggest bakeries in New York City. “Our customers know when they buy something that is North Country Farms,” Mr. Richardson said. “It’s the highest quality product they can get here and they know what our brand means, where it comes from and can relate to it.” Earlier this year, North Country Farms installed automated equipment that allowed the mill to clean, grind, sift and package up to 35,000 pounds of flour each week. “We were running one flour mill for two years, seven days a week, around the clock,” Mr. Richardson said. “We now have two mills and run them six days a week for 16 hours a day.” North Country Farms has also provided cracked wheat for Brooklyn Brewery’s High Line Elevated Wheat Beer and provides Alteri’s Bakery, Watertown, with about 25 percent of its flour. BEST SELLERS: Maple syrup and stone ground pancake mix.
River Myst Winery
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9830 State Route 37, Ogdensburg PHONE: 713-4702 ONLINE: www.rivermystwinery.net
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n In 2008, when wheat and fuel prices were
n River Myst Winery opened in March 2007, owned and operated by Randy L. LaMay, his wife, Denise A., and their family. Filling the void of St. Lawrence County wineries, River Myst was the first winery to open in the county since 2000, when Pleasant Valley Winery, the area’s only winery, closed its doors. River Myst produces more than a dozen varieties of wine using grapes and fruits that are fermented and bottled
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North Country Farms Route 37, Pamelia PHONE: 771-0633 ONLINE: www.ncfarms.net
NNY Business | November 2011
on-site in Ogdensburg. The winery produces traditional dry and semi-sweet wines as well as ice wines and special cooking wines. Most recently, they developed an onion wine used for cooking. River Myst wines are aptly named after local destinations, such as Oswegatchie Orange and Coles Creek Cranberry, or north country weather treachery, like Black Ice. The winery also produces custom labels for gifts and special occasions. BEST SELLER: Galop Island Grapefruit. AVAILABLE AT: Norfolk Liquor Store, Arsenal Street Wine and Liquors, Alexandria Bay Wine and Spirits and Parish Liquor and Wine.
Akwesasne Baskets
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Akwesasne Cultural Center, Museum and Gift Shop, 321 State Route 37, Hogansburg CONTACT: 1 (518) 358-2461 or sue@akwesasneculturalcenter.org ONLINE: www.akwesasneculturalcenter.org n The art of making fine ash splint and sweetgrass baskets in the Mohawk nation at Akwesasne has been passed down for many generations. Basket makers at Akwesasne, mostly women, work year-round to produce baskets of all shapes and sizes that are sold at very few locations, but are displayed in such famous locations as the Smithsonian Institution and the Vatican. Sue E. Herne, a program coordinator at the Akwesasne Cultural Center, Museum and Gift Shop, said that the baskets come from a variety of makers, but each basket has the name of the maker on it. “The cultural center gift shop is really the best place to find a basket, ornament, corn husk dolls, beadwork or artwork,” Ms. Herne said. She also noted that the cultural center gift shop prices are only marked-up 40 percent of what the store paid the person that made the piece. “It’s interesting, we don’t do much more business around the holidays,” Ms. Herne said. “Our busy time is really in July and August.” BEST SELLERS: Mini baskets and ornaments. “The smaller sweet grassbaskets and anything under $50 is what we sell the most of,” Ms. Herne said. AVAILABLE AT: A small selection of sweetgrass baskets and other Akwesasne products are available at the TAUNY Folkstore, 53 Main St., Canton, 386-4289.
COVER STORY Chop ’n Save
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454 State St., Watertown PHONE: 782-1010 ONLINE: www.chopnsave.net n Established in 1988 by James C. Sr. and Sue A. Ives, the 10,000-square-foot Chop ‘n Save showroom offers furniture that can be bought unfinished or finished with customized stains and paints as well as a large selection of novelties and crafts. According to Mrs. Ives, every holiday sales season is a little different. “It goes in spurts, people are always looking for something different from year to year,” Mrs. Ives said. “Lately we’ve had a lot of people looking for bookcases and student desks but the holidays usually bring people looking for toy boxes and rocking chairs.” Mrs. Ives notes that each piece in their showroom is made of solid wood, not particle board or composite materials. “What’s really unique is we can finish anything the way you want it,” she said. “We’ve done Barney purple and PeptoBismol pink.” Custom pieces usually take three to four weeks to customize with an array of stains, paints and finishing techniques. Special order items may take longer to accommodate shipping. If there is a special antique piece that’s been in the family for decades and needs refinishing, the Iveses do that, too. “Refinishing and repairs have gotten bigger and bigger,” Mrs. Ives said. “We don’t dip anything, we do it all by hand.” BEST SELLER: Toy boxes, rocking chairs, hall trees and bookcases.
JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS
James and Sue Ives sit at one of their tables in the Chop ’n Save warehouse last month on State Street in Watertown. FOR THE HOLIDAYS: Chop ‘n Save will be open daily from about 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., depending on
the flow of business. They will also be available for special appointments. Call for information.
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November 2011 | NNY Business
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COVER STORY
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PHONE: 788-3509 ONLINE: www.morgiaspasta.com n Morgia’s Pasta has been an owned and operated business, and Watertown staple, since April 1990 when John and Rosalind Morgia began selling their homemade pasta to local restaurants, including Pete’s Restaurant and the Fairground Inn. Originally making pasta in the basement of their home with a hand-crank machine, the business moved several times before opening shop in their current facility on Fisher Road with neighbors like Timeless Expressions and Car Freshner. Their homemade pasta is all natural with no preservatives. Their pasta sauce, also made and bottled in their facility, is fat free, all natural and has no
Morgia’s Pasta 22564 Fisher Road, Watertown
preservatives. The company has been a Pride of New York member for more than 10 years and works with two distributors, Renzi’s Foodservice, Watertown, and Cavallaro Specialty Foods, Syracuse, for statewide sale and distribution. Morgia’s Pasta products are available in local Hannaford, Big M and Price Chopper stores. BEST SELLER: Pasta sauce. BEST HOLIDAY GIFTS: Pasta and sauce baskets decorated in a cellophane bag with a coordinating bow.
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Waterbury Fine Jewelers
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Top of the Square, 105 Court St., Watertown PHONE: 788-5287 ONLINE: www.waterburyjewelers.com
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n Incorporated in 1989, Mark G. Waterbury’s jewelry store was one of the first tenants in the Top of the Square building. “Business has really been steady for us here,” Mr. Waterbury said. “I carry many of the same brands from when I started the business.” Mr. Waterbury also notes that he carries between 20 and 40 brands that are made in the United States in the store at any given time. He also works with customers to provide custom fitting and jewelry design. Mr. Waterbury, a Watertown native, and three employees man the store six days a week, not including Sundays, until after Thanksgiving, when they are open evenings and Sundays. BEST SELLER: Karat gold, diamond and gemstone jewelry.
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NNY Business | November 2011
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s mall b u s i n e s s
Polished past brings hope for future
n Krafft Cleaning Service hits milestone: 40 years in business By KEN EYSAMAN
To learn more
t was late fall in 1971, snow already blanketed the north country, and Lynn E. Krafft and his wife, Janet, had just moved from Massena to Watertown. In short order, he found a job on an electrical crew, working outside and waist deep in snow on Dry Hill. “I got thinking that cleaning inside was a much better deal,” Mr. Krafft said. “So, I started cleaning some car dealerships. Now it is 40 years later and we’re still in business.” Disciplined and determined to succeed, Mr. Krafft got to know a few people in the commercial cleaning industry and he started to learn the skilled aspects of the business, skills that many people take for granted. “I made a point of not doing things I didn’t know how to do, like stripping and refinishing floors,” he said. There are proper tools and methods and until you learn how to do it the right way — not guess — it gets to be expensive.” He looked to people in the commercial cleaning industry to learn how to do a job well, realizing along the way that folks on the supply side are good sources of information. “There is a lot to starting a business. Everyone who owns a hammer is not a carpenter,” he said. “You have to be willing to learn how to what you’ve chosen to do well.” This fall, Krafft Cleaning Service marked yet another major milestone in its course of operations. Not only did the business pass four decades, but it finally moved into professional office space that Watertown architects Aubertine and Currier designed and Mr. Krafft and his son, Justin, mapped out, connecting it to a garage that
KRAFFT CLEANING SERVICE
I
NNY Business Editor
n
Lynn E. Krafft, owner
23053 Route 11 North, Watertown n
n
782-4437
Four full-time employees and 30-plus part-time employees on cleaning staff n
n Services include commercial and residential cleaning, contract services, professional carpet care, mat cleaning and paper product supply management
AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS
Lynn E. Krafft and son, Justin, in the workshop of their business, Krafft Cleaning Service on Route 11 just north of Watertown. The elder Mr. Krafft started the cleaning business in 1971.
housed cleaning equipment. To walk into Krafft Cleaning Service, one might get the impression that its owners are heavily leveraged and buoyed by debt. But just as he was in his younger days, the elder Mr. Krafft keeps a tight hand on the purse strings. Staying in business has been the result of being personally frugal and practicing sound financial management. It’s meant not taking on debt and only paying cash for new equipment and facilities. “I’m not a big fan of being
in debt,” Mr. Krafft said. “You build your business slowly, keep an eye on your expenses, pay a little better to your help and reinvest in the business.” That discipline is the main is a reason why it took him 40 years to build a first-rate facility where employees can train on every aspect of commercial cleaning. Today, the 69-year-old patriarch of the family business is slowing down a touch, trading the chills of north country winters for Florida while his son and son-in-law, Matt Tomp-
kins, manage the business. For the younger Mr. Krafft, stepping into the family business wasn’t always a given, but it didn’t take long for him to see the benefits of working independent of another’s employ. With some humor, he recalls the time he cashed a paycheck from a minimumwage job as a laborer and he saw his father come home from a floor restoration job with several times the cash he had earned for a full week. “My father always said there’s no money in working for someone else,” he said with a chuckle. But now that he’s a leader in the family business, the pressures are different. It means hiring and managing staff and, occasionally letting people go who don’t cut it. “Many people in the cleaning industry are not terribly prideful of what they do and how they do it. The industry has a lot of stereotypes you have to overcome,” Justin Krafft said. “You have to pay attention to detail. It’s not like a business where you’re waiting for customers to pour in. There really is something skilled involved to satisfy the client.” Despite all of that, he enjoys it now. “I’m not the kid anymore.”
November 2011 | NNY Business
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R E G ION
‘Snow farmers’ ready the trails
n Dry Hill, Snow Ridge, Titus officials cross fingers for winter bliss By Joleene DesRosiers
T NNY Business
he world of sport changes hands when north country snow begins to fall. Fishing poles and lawn mowers take shelter in the garage and snowmobiles, snowboards and skis get ready for their debut. For slopes from Watertown to Malone, it’s the same story: If it snows in November, the skiers will come. “We plan to open the day after Thanksgiving,” Judith E. Sweeney, manager of the Snow Ridge Ski Resort in Turin, said. “But the past few years we’ve been opening the second week of December.” Dene Savage, the marketing director of Titus Mountain in Malone echoes that thought. “We try to open the weekend after Thanksgiving if all is well,” he said. “If we can’t make that, the next desired date is the first weekend in December.” The opening target date is the same for Timothy L. McAtee, owner and operator of Dry Hill Ski Area in Watertown. Mr. McAtee prepares for the big day months in advance, spending the end of summer and fall opening up doors and prepping the trails. “A lot of folks don’t realize the slopes get mowed two to three times in the off season to keep them where they need to be to accept snow,” Mr. McAtee said.
“And then every lift has to be greased and serviced. We try to make any necessary improvements within the lodge in the fall to get ready for opening day. It’s usually a two to three month process to get ready for that first day of operation.” For Mr. Savage, preparations for opening day are a bit more lenient, thanks to their annual Oktoberfest event that brings in dozens of people. “The task of opening for the season has become simpler for us than it was in the past because we don’t ‘mothball’ a lot of the physical plant for the summer months
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NNY Business | November 2011
JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS
Dry Hill Ski Area owner Timothy L. McAtee fires up a snowmaker in preparation for the 2009-10 season opening. With some cooperation from Mother Nature, Mr. McAtee anticipates a good season this year.
anymore,” he said. “We’ve been pretty creative about finding ways to use our lodges in the summer and fall months. With our Oktoberfest event we have one lift running, our trails are mowed and the lodges are open. So when it comes time to get things ready for the winter, there’s not quite as much to be done.” Mowing the trails is necessary in an effort to keep fresh and artificial snow firmly on the ground. It sticks better when the landscape grass is short. Resort operators hope for plenty of snow to keep the cost of making artificial snow down.
R E G ION NNY Ski areas / Fast facts Dry hill ski area
n 23682 County Route 67, Watertown (315) 782-8584 www.skidryhill.com 5-10 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights Noon-10 p.m. Friday 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m.-10 p.m. most holidays
Titus mountain
n 215 Johnson Road, Malone (518) 483-3740 www.titusmountain.com 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, holidays 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Wednesday 9:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sunday JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS
snow ridge
n 4173 West Road, Turin (315) 348-8456 www.snowridge.com 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday Holidays and weekends: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday holidays and all weekends 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday holidays
“Snowmaking can be extremely costly,” Mrs. Sweeney said. “We can run up to six guns sometimes to make snow. If we run them for four months, our electric bill can get as high as $2,000 to $2,500 a month.” Artificial snow can be the greatest challenge for the owners and operators of any ski mountain. Of course they hope for a good, solid winter to keep costs minimal, but when winters are mild they must rely on the snow guns to keep the slopes well groomed. For Mr. McAtee, artificial snow
Skiers take to the slopes at Dry Hill Ski Area last January despite bone-chilling temperatures. Officials from three Northern New York ski areas are busy preparing for what they say will be a ‘phenomenal season.’
making is almost an art. “I tell people that we’re snow farmers because that’s what we are,” he said. “We make it, we cultivate it, we stock pile it and we groom it every day.” Running a seasonal business is full of challenges. From a short season to high electrical bills, the challenges can be multi-faceted. Mr. McAtee has seen the opening date for Dry Hill fluctuate for close to 30 years now. If there’s one thing he’s learned, it’s that skiers and snowboarders are prepared to wait for opening day, regardless if it happens in November or December. So it’s not the beginning of the season that concerns him. It’s the end. “Being open isn’t about the amount of snow,” Mr. McAtee said. “It’s about the interest for people to want to come and be
on the slopes. Interest starts waning once you get into March. People start thinking about fishing and golf and other spring sports, so we try to go to the middle of March.” Ski slope owners also keep an eye on the extended forecast. “Right now we’re heading into a winter pattern that if it turns out the way it’s supposed to, we could see a phenomenal ski season,” Mr. McAtee said. “We’re expecting an early snow with winter setting in by Nov. 15. So we’re doing a lot of early preparation just because we believe it’s coming fast and hard.” n JOLEENE DES ROSIERS is a freelance writer and public speaker who lives in Pulaski. She is a former television reporter for YNN, NBC 3 WSTM and NewsWatch 50 in Watertown. Contact her at myddes@hotmail.com.
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NNY Business | November 2011
f i n a n ce
Finance manager thinks big n Plans to add up to 20 reps by 2020
By KEN EYSAMAN
B
NNY Business Editor
rian Wilcox doesn’t think small. He is an ambitious man with a plan that, if successful, will expand a network of personal financial planners from Oswego to Plattsburgh and add nearly 20 new representatives, which could mean as many as 35 new jobs in the north country by 2020. Mr. Wilcox is the managing director for Northwestern Mutual Financial Network’s Watertown office and presently leads a group of 16. A St. Lawrence University graduate with an economics degree, he is candid with his opinion of the present-day economy. “There is a loss of confidence in Social Security, and there is a loss of confidence in the ability of people to plan for themselves,” he said. “People are just not planning as they should.” That’s where his “2020 Vision” comes in. The plan is relatively simple, yet bold: recruit and train enough people who can make it in a competitive commission-based work environment and retain enough of them to double the staff and open at least two additional offices in areas yet uncharted by his parent company, Milwaukeebased Northwestern Mutual. Given the global meltdown in various segments of the world’s financial sector in recent years, Mr. Wilcox figures he’s well positioned to take on a challenge that is likely larger than anything he’s ever attempted. As financial uncertainty weighs heavily on the minds of many Americans, people crave direction, he said. “People are finally starting to hear it every day, what with news of deficits and financial chaos in the world,” he said. “The reality is, there are a lot more positive things going on in the world at a macro level than we are fed by the national press. The average American will make it if they make it with the help of a competent and trusted advisor.” To keep his plan in motion, Mr. Wilcox has taken to recruiting much like an Army sergeant at a Boy Scout retreat, only the job he can offer is far less dangerous and far more lucrative for the right candidate. “There are fewer people doing what Northwestern Mutual does today and more people are becoming aware that
NORM JOHNSTON | NNY BUSINESS
Northwestern Mutual Financial Network managing director Brian Wilcox in his Watertown office, 200 Washington St., Suite 202.
they are on their own,” he said. “This is the golden age of financial planning. It’s a rare opportunity.” For those who are motivated and independent, the job can pay well. On average, planners with Northwestern earn $45,000 starting out and can quickly climb as they build a client base. The company pays for all individual training and continuing education as well as a paid internship. “In corporate America you are typically held to the constraints to where you are on the ladder. Here, there is no upper limit to what you can earn,” he said. “Ultimately, you are paid exactly what you are worth.” Mr. Wilcox is also quick to point out the benefits of working for a company that, with 2.5 million policyholders, has paid out an annual dividend since 1873. It’s also a company that hasn’t taken a dollar in “bailout money” from the federal government while so many others have. At its core, Northwestern Mutual is a life insurance company. But today, the lines between insurance and investments and other services have all but disappeared. “We are offering a career with an amazingly stable company with a long track record of success with little or no upfront costs,” Mr. Wilcox said. “Sure, only the strong survive, but if you are self-managed and self-motivated, you can earn a good living while helping people plan for a secure future.” To learn more about opportunities with Northwestern Mutual, contact Mr. Wilcox at brian.wilcox@nmfn.com or call 782-7094.
s mall b u s i n e s s
SBA lending sets local record
n Agency guaranteed 34 north country projects in fiscal year ’11 By NANCY MADSEN
W NNY Business
hen cousins Anthony M. Mangano and Carmen Emmi Jr. bought the former Days Inn, 110 Commerce Park Drive, in September 2009 they knew they had a lot of work to do. Through Watertown Savings Bank, the company secured a loan and 504 loan from Empire State Certified Development Corporation to purchase and renovate the property. The 504 loan guarantee through the U.S. Small Business Administration is the only government assistance the project received. “Watertown Savings and the SBA definitely made the project possible,” Mr. Emmi said. “Without both of those partners, it would not have been possible.” He said the process was lengthy, mainly because of the 11 family partners involved in their company. “Our accountant kept pushing us forward,” he said. “And it was well worth it in the end, with a 20-year loan with a very favorable interest rate.”
The $2 million renovation keeps the hotel, now a Comfort Inn & Suites, competitive. “It was always a good hotel,” Mr. Mangano said. “With the new competition and everything happening in Watertown, everything in Watertown has gotten a facelift.” The two said they will
need to continue to keep pace with the new hotels in the Watertown area and updated amenities available. The hotel, reflecting the market, is very busy during the summer and slows during winter. “Whatever happens to the base happens to the whole community up there,” Mr.
Emmi said. “But the community also has a lot of great assets: the Thousand Islands, being near the Canadian border, retail, restaurant and entertainment improvements, but all of that is happening because of activity at the base.” The partners waited to build their first project in Watertown — the Hampton Inn at 155 Commerce Park Drive — until they were sure Fort Drum wouldn’t be placed on the base closure list. The continuing vitality of the post encouraged the partners to buy the former Days Inn, which was in receivership. The SBA loan for the project, which closed in December 2010, was one of many in the 2011 fiscal year that propelled the administration to a record value of loan guarantees in the north country. The SBA guaranteed 34 loans in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties through commercial lenders, for a value of $17.3 million, during the 2011 fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30. In the previous year, the SBA guaranteed the same number of loans, but for a value of $7.7 million. In the 2009 fiscal year, the SBA
November 2011 | NNY Business
| 27
s mall b USIN E SS backed 39 loans for $5 million. “If we look back a couple years, every year for the last three or four, we’ve been fairly consistent,” said Bernard J. Paprocki, district director for SBA. “This year is a huge increase in dollars over the previous year.” The SBA has two loan guarantee programs. First through the stimulus package in 2009 and then through the Small Business Jobs Act, the 504 program, for larger projects, can guarantee up to $5 million, an increase from $2 million. The 7(a) microenterprise program can guarantee up to $50,000, an increase from $35,000. Nationally, the SBA guaranteed $30.5 billion through 61,689 loan guarantees in fiscal year 2011. In 2010, SBA guaranteed $22.6 billion through 60,771 loan guarantees and $17.9 billion in 50,830 loans in 2009. The previous highest volume for the SBA was $28.5 billion in 2007. “We are back up to pre-recession levels as we helped to fill the gap in the access to capital in the marketplace,” Administrator Karen Mills said in a conference call from
“
TOP OF THE SQUARE 105 COURT STREET, WATERTOWN, NY 788-5287
Washington, D.C. “During the recession, many small businesses told us they needed loans just to keep the doors open, but now, they need loans for inventory, equipment and to hire more people.” Small loans, less than $250,000, didn’t have as much growth, Ms. Mills said. Most of the jump in loan guarantees came from loans between $350,000 and $1 million. Also through legislation, the
Banks are ready and willing to make loans to projects with equity. — Bernard J. Paprocki, Small Business Administration district director SBA raised the limit for its loan guarantee Express program, which allows faster approval notice. That held true in the 34-county district based in Syracuse. “Most lenders that use our guarantees say that the amount guaranteed isn’t a big incentive for the most part,” Mr. Paprocki said. “What lenders like is more the ease of use of the program. The fact that they can turn a loan around in less than a day in some cases, really, I think, is what the lenders like.” Loan guarantee pace was the highest ever in October through December 2010, then dropped off and slowly built up again in 2011. Upstate New York did not have the disastrous downturn in loan volume that other places did, because banks in the region already kept tight control on the deals that were given loans. “Banks are ready and willing to make loans to projects with equity,” Mr. Paprocki said. The district approved 775 loan guarantees in fiscal year 2011, with a value of $161 million. That represented a 5 percent increase over the 739 guarantees and 22 percent increase in value over the $132 million from the previous year. Mr. Paprocki is unsure whether the pace will continue. “Of our 34 counties, 26 have a disaster declaration right now,” he said. “Some of them have been heavily impacted, so it’s going to be interested to see how that impacts the economy in Upstate New York.” n NANCY MADSEN is a Johnson Newspapers staff writer. Contact her at nmadsen@wdt. net or 661-2358.
28 |
NNY Business | November 2011
St. law re n ce c o u n t y
MELANIE KIMBLER-LAGO | NNY BUSINESS
A to Z Thrift Shop co-owner Debra L. Brundage holds up Halloween costume possibilities last month at her store, 47 Riverside Drive, Canton.
Thrift shop offers items A to Z By SUSAN MENDE
C
NNY Business
lothes, furniture, toys and a wide variety of other items can be found at a new thrift shop that opened Wednesday at 47 Riverside Drive. A to Z Thrift Shop is in a restored twostory house that’s been converted into a store. The building is filled with merchandise on the first floor and extra inventory on the second.”We’ve been working on our inventory for more than a year,” said Debra L. Brundage, who co-owns the business with Becky L. Buckley. “The day we moved in, we had two trailers and three trucks filled with items.” The operating hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The shop is adjacent to A.W. Collins Corp., a vending machine business at 45 Riverside Drive. At A to Z, customers will find an assortment of gently used items plus some brand-new products still with tags, including children’s boots and other footwear. Most things were purchased at auctions and garage sales, with some donations accepted. “There’s a mix, but it’s all in new or very good condition,” Mrs. Brundage said. “We don’t put out clothing with stains.” The rear of the shop is equipped with
a new handicapped-accessible wooden ramp. Furniture pieces and other large items are stored in the adjacent garage. Some wooden items, including a coat rack, were handcrafted by Mrs. Brundage. The inventory is neatly arranged, with clothes sizes ranging from infant to adult. Attire includes slacks, jeans, sweaters, skirts, shirts, dresses, coats, pajamas and Halloween costumes. Hardcovers and paperbacks for adults and children also are for sale. Jewelry, purses, stationery, blankets, baseball caps, sporting goods and some school supplies also are offered, along with picture frames, decorations and gift items. Household items include dishes, glasses, coffee mugs and kitchen utensils. “We’re hoping to get a lot of college students as well as community members,” Mrs. Brundage said. “We’re trying to keep our prices low.” Donations are accepted, and the shop can be reached at 386-2869. Mrs. Brundage also works part time at State Farm Insurance, while Mrs. Buckley is employed at Head Start. “I have wanted to own my own business since I was about 9 years old,” Mrs. Brundage said. n SUSAN MENDE is a Johnson Newspapers staff writer who covers Canton. Contact her at smende@wdt.net or 661-2519.
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| 29
real e s tate r o u n d u p
Deciphering Realtor designations
I
n the past few months, I have explored how our Realtor members get licensed to list, sell and appraise real estate and what they need to do educationally to keep their license. Some Realtors go above and beyond the requirements and work toward getting advanced license, designations and certifications. There are many certifications available that give more in-depth training to a Realtor in various aspects of the buying, selling and appraising process. Another of the distinctions of these classes is that almost all have a final exam. While a participant can’t be denied continuing education credit as long as they attend a class, they can be denied a designation if they don’t pass the final exam. One of the most popular is the Graduate, Realtor Institute designation. To earn the GRI, a Realtor needs to successfully complete a series of nine classes totaling 90 hours of continuing education. Topics include appraisal issues, technology, financing, construction, environmental and legal. Often this is the first designation that Realtors earn and because of its broad topic area, many consider it the cornerstone on which to build their career. Another popular designation is the Accredited Buyer’s Representative. As the name suggests, this designation emphasizes representing the buyer in the transaction. Many times the buyer does not have his or her own agent in the transaction. In the basic ABR class, the Realtors gain a unique understanding of home buyers’ needs and how to best serve
them, specialized information to stay on top of home buying issues and trends and exclusive resources to share with clients. In addition to earn the designation, the Realtor has to complete an Lance Evans elective class from among several offered and have a number of transactions where he or she has acted as a buyer’s agent. There is a similar desig-
variety of educational classes and submit a log of their appraisal experience. There are also a number of certifications that Realtors can earn. The difference between a certification and a designation is that certifications tend to have a narrower focus. Two of the most popular are Resort and Second-Home Property Specialist and Housing Our Military with Excellent Service. The RSPS certification helps Realtors to better serve the growing second home and resort real estate market. RSPS practitioners learn how to facilitate the buying, selling or management of properties for investment, development, retirement or second homes in resort, recreational and vacation destinations. The HOMES designation was developed by the New York State Association of Realtors in conjunction with the Jefferson-Lewis Board. In fact, the first class was taught in Watertown last November. Realtors who take the three day class learn how to assist military personnel regarding housing opportunities and the steps needed to secure suitable housing. The designations and certifications that I have described above are only some that Realtors can earn. For more information on other ones, see the National Association of Realtors site: www.realtor.org/ education/realtor_university/designation.
To earn the professional Graduate Realtor Institute designation, a Realtor must complete 90 hours of continuing education. Many consider it the cornerstone on which to build their career. nation with some different requirements called Certified Buyer Representative also. A third designation is the Certified Residential Specialist, which combines education and experience in order to earn the designation. Some of the areas covered in classes include financing, investment real estate, technology, listing and selling techniques and working with short sales and distressed properties. Two of the more widely used appraisal designations are the Residential Accredited Appraiser and the General Accredited Appraiser. These combine educational requirements and experience. Applicants must prove that they have taken a wide
n LANCE M. EVANS is the executive officer of the Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors and the St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors. He has lived in the north country since 1985. Contact him at levans@nnymls.com. His column appears monthly in NNY Business.
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NNY Business | November 2011
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real e s tate
3Q home sales post gain over ’10 By NANCY MADSEN
J
NNY Business
efferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties all showed strong third quarters in home sales, outpacing the third quarter in 2010. The third quarter brought year- to-date totals ahead of those from 2010 and ahead or close to those from 2009. “In all three cases, this year was better than last year,” said Lance M. Evans, executive officer of the Jefferson-Lewis and St. Lawrence County boards of Realtors. “The third quarter this year shows some improvement because of the first-time homebuyers tax credit pushed sales forward last year.” Norene A. Randall, president of the St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors and broker at Nikki Coates & Associates, Potsdam, described home sales as going “surprisingly well.” “You hear so much about the economy being so bad, but people are still out there, buying homes,” she said. “We’re near the colleges, so things still seem to be happening there and the hospital is bringing people in.” She was happen with the small rebound compared to 2010. “It’s going pretty well actually for the economy and all the bad news you here and yet properties are selling in St. Lawrence County,” she said. Patrick J. Henry, president of the Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors and associate broker at Peebles Realty Inc., Adams, said national economic news has probably hurt home sales in the region.
Third-quarter 2011 residential real estate sales 2011 Q3 2010 Q3 2009 Q3 Jefferson County Sales 285 242 283 Median price $153,700 $148,950 $147,200 Lewis County Sales 46 30 56 Median price $102,000 $123,000 $102,500 ST. LAWRENCE County Sales 171 137 165 Median price $76,500 $75,000 $80,000 Source: Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors, St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors
“Our people see that and that gets them down,” he said. “But real estate is local, the environment is local. We pay a little more for gas up here, but we have reasonable housing costs, great interest rates, and lenders are willing to lend here. Our whole market is pro-owning a home.” But those who are not from the area may expect deals that they can’t realize here. “Some people seem to be expecting a ton of foreclosures here, houses that people want to dump, and that’s not the case,” he said. Through the summer, prospective buyers sought houses at reasonable prices with little work required. “They seem to want houses that were in very, very good shape,” Mr. Henry said. For those trying to sell homes, having updated kitchens and bathrooms in houses that are clean and clear of clutter is the key. “Make it look nice, have it ready for
sale,” he said. “Bathrooms and kitchens sell homes — women look at those. If you have a garage and cellar where men can keep their tools and pull their car in, men are pretty happy campers.” Typically, the fourth quarter is slower for home sales, because children have started school and winter adds difficulty with moving. “But the people who buy year-round — December, January, February — they are highly-motivated buyers,” he said. “In the winter, sellers are willing to negotiate; buyers are willing to negotiate.” And mortgage interest rates remain very low. “It’s exciting,” Mr. Henry said. “People who are interested in owning a home really want to sit down and look at the numbers now.” n NANCY MADSEN is a staff writer for Johnson Newspapers. Contact her at nmadsen@wdt. net or 661-2358.
November 2011 | NNY Business
| 31
real e s tate / le w i s c o u n t y The following property sales were recorded in the Lewis County clerk’s office:
Sept. 23
Sept. 19
n Village of Copenhagen: Mechanic St., Robert J. Harding sold to Sandra Slate, et. al., $112,000
n Town of Martinsburg: 6994 NYS Route 26, Joseph R. Lawrence sold to Richard B. Hulbert, $142,000
n Town of Diana: Cedar Trail, Jeffrey W. Gamble sold to Bradley G. Farr, $5,000
n Town of Osceola: 2833 Osceola Road, Raymond P. Baron sold to Scott D. Bell, $147,500
Sept. 17
n Town of Turin: Carpenter Road, Timothy P. Fargo sold to James Wright Trust, $29,900
Sept. 22
n Town of Croghan: Rogers Crossing Road, Kristi M. Stone sold to Matthew DeCaprio, $20,000 n Town of Diana: 11707 NYS Route 812, Frederick L. Snyder sold to Edward Chartrand, $77,000
Sept. 14
Sept. 6
Sept. 13
n Town of Greig: Mohawk Trace Road, Robert T. Foertsch sold to Kenneth E. Griffin, $12,500
n Town of Greig: Van Arnam Road, Seth M. Thomas sold to Moose River Land Company LLC, $24,900 n Town of Croghan: High Falls Road, Gary J. Campany sold to Samuel D. Farney, $10,400
n Town of Watson: 6544 River Road, Michael B. Travers sold to Allen J. Bender, $56,000
Sept. 9
n Village of Lowville: 5214 Hillcrest Circle, Brian T. Gillette sold to Brian D. Siegrist, $232,000
n Village of Copenhagen: Grove St., Howard D. Davis Jr. sold to Sandra Slate, $20,000
n Town of Martinsburg: 5817 NYS Route 12, Matthew J. Dibble sold to Gregory M. Maurer, $105,000
n Town of Harrisburg: 3123 Boshart Road, Richard Steinberg sold to Whitcher Contracting LLC, $138,547
n Town of New Bremen: Devines Road, Chad L. Pate sold to Kelly L. Zehr, $10,000
Sept. 20
n Village of Lowville: State St., Timothy M. Buckingham sold to Irene Lehman, $35,000 n Town of Osceola: 1455 Osceola Road, Julie M. Painter sold to Randy J. Hendricks, $12,000
Sept. 8
n Town of Greig: Cottage Road, Tracey J. Yarina sold to Horn’s Rental Properties Inc., $160,000 n Village of Port Leyden: Quarry St., Michael Hurilla sold to Brian E. McLaughlin, $43,700
Sept. 7
n Village of Harrisville: 14300 Maple St., Richard
OSTRANDER’S
Sept. 2
n Town of Croghan: Texas Road, Gary Beller sold to Richard Elliott, et. al., $4,250 n Town of New Bremen: 9803 NYS Route 126, Rebecca J. Kloster sold to Scott P. Mathys, $108,000
Sept. 1
n Village of Lowville: 5435 Shady Ave., Lawson J. Lehman sold to Anthony L. Meda, $135,000 n Town of Watson: 7863 Bailey Road, Karlton J. Gyurko sold to James M. Redmond, $30,000 n Town of Watson: Wetmore Road, James M. Redmond sold to Karlton J. Gyurko $30,000
$2,336,597 County real estate sales recorded over 23-day period, Sept. 1-23, 2011 ($1 transactions not included)
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n Town of Diana: Boneparte Road, Thomas Renaud sold to Norene E. Kowalik Trust, $30,000
NNY REAL ESTATE DIRECTORY
SHEEPSKIN SHOP Gifts Galore...
32 |
n Town of New Bremen: Hoffman Road, Gary L. Farney sold to Walter J. Hartshorne, $24,900 n Town of Osceola: 2419 Deerheart Road, Edmund Garbacik sold to Douglas C. Mahle, $10,000
n Town of New Bremen: 6762 Tillman Road, Rodney T. Wolff sold to Jean Merry, $99,500
n Town of Martinsburg: 6373 West Road, Ralph Shumac Jr. sold to Jeffrey D. Gleason, $137,000
n Village of Lowville: Number Four Road, North Country Agriculture LLC sold to Rossdale Farms Dairy Inc., $200,000
n Town of Montague: Gardner Road, David Butts sold to Mary Ann Jablonsky, $5,000
n Town of Osceola: Osceola Road, Charles A. Comins sold to Richard Meagher, $60,000
Sept. 21
V. Dowling sold to Mary Ann Reed, $69,500
s t. law re n ce c o u n t y The following property sales were recorded in the St. Lawrence County clerk’s office:
to Michael A. Bice, Ogdensburg, $80,000
Aug. 11
n Village of Canton: 0.34 of an acre more or less, situate in Lot 13 of Section 4, bounded by Wells Street, Thomas H. Romoda, Canton, sold to Brooke E. Santamont, Waddington, $147,500 n Town of Macomb: 0.315 of an acre more or less, bounded by Pleasant Lake and Smith’s Lot, Wayne L. Huntress, Philadelphia, sold to William H. Berry, Hammond, $40,000 n Town of Potsdam: 2 Parcels, 0.585 of an acre more or less, situate in Lot 39, bounded by May Road, Joseph W. Selleck, Potsdam, sold to Ryan C. and Nicole M. Warr, Potsdam, $145,500 n Town of Massena: Unknown acres, known as Lot 4, bounded by Beach Street and Lucky Street, Stephen Dziewisz, Braintree, Mass., sold to Mary M. Goodshaw, Ogdensburg, $62,500 n Town of Stockholm: Unknown acres, situate in Township 2, bounded by Stockholm Road, Kieran D. McDonnell, Barto, Pa., sold to Christopher A. and Velma L. House, Norwood, $75,000 n Town of Piercefield: Parcel 1) Unknown acres, Parcel 2) 0.85 of an acre more or less, both Parcels are situate in part of Lot 32, Lot 33, Lot 79 and Lot 80, Melinda Merrigan, Goshen, N.H., sold to Laura Lewis Brown, Ogdensburg, $50,000 Aug. 10 n Town of Lisbon: Unknown acres, bounded by County Road, Susan A. Cameron, Potsdam, sold
n Town of Fowler: 2.22 acres more or less, situate in Great Lot 42 and bounded by Mill Creek and Main Street, Barbara Paro(executor), Anita B. Marsh, Gouverneur, sold to Shane E. and Amber L. Carr, Gouverneur, $145,000 n Town of Gouverneur: 67.02 acres more or less, bounded by County Route 11, Kenneth L. and Elizabeth H. Siegrist, Gouverneur, sold to Davey J. Fairbanks, Gouverneur, $67,000 n Town of Fowler: 1.041 acres more or less, situate in Great Lot 46 bounded by New York State Route 58, Donald K. and Ann H. Reynolds, Gouverneur, sold to Nancy A. Scordo, Gouverneur, $106,000 n City of Ogdensburg: Unknown acres, bounded by Warren Street and Proctor Avenue, Arthur P. Schwenk, Ogdensburg, sold to Amanda Acker Rice, Philadelphia, Pa., $92,000 n Town of Colton: Unknown acres, bounded by Cottage Road and Gulf Road, Edward P. Hourihan Sr. and Martha M. Hourihan, Noank, Conn., sold to Joseph W. Selleck, Potsdam, $255,000
$1,265,500 County real estate sales recorded over two-day period, Aug. 10-11, 2011
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November 2011 | NNY Business
| 33
20 questions
Innovating I n 2008, Frederick G. “Rick” Rudmann and two other top executives — James S. “Jamie” Ganter and James M. “Jamie” Lee — purchased the nation’s oldest, continuously operating mill on Watertown’s Factory Street. Three years later and with record sales, Knowlton Technologies is a leading producer of engineered composites and media with products in 11 different countries. We sat down with Mr. Rudmann to learn about Knowlton’s success.
1
NNYB: Knowlton is a company that has survived on its ability adapt to the times. What is a key component in creating an environment that permits such innovation? RUDMANN: I really think it primarily is openness and taking ideas from everyone in the company in terms of how we can supply niche markets. We have to really run the company not from the top down per se but getting everyone involved in the betterment of the company from a culture standpoint. With regards to the physical aspect of the building, we have put in recently quite a bit of money in making the building look better and more attractive to the outside. We’ll continue to do that. It’s an old building. The business is the people, what we really try and do is educate the next generation. To have a succession plan in place in which we’re always trying to develop our bench so as the company grows and people retire we have the next group of people behind them that can take the reins and move. Doing that in this day and age isn’t easy because the workforce is much more transient. If you look at our employee base, our turnover is extremely low. The average employment level here is probably 20 years, which is unheard of in today’s day and age. NNYB: What’s the culture here at Knowlton? What makes people excited to come to work?
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NNY Business | November 2011
future NORM JOHNSTON | NNY BUSINESS
for a brighter
n Rick Rudmann, Knowlton Technologies CEO, shares vision for 203-year-old firm
2
RUDMANN: A lot of it I think is the family atmosphere. As you know, this is a small town comparatively and certainly comparatively to anything I’ve worked at before. There’s such a pride in the fact that Knowlton is such an old company. It is 203 years old. [The company] takes a lot of pride in the fact that that is happening in today’s day and age. I think they want to keep it going. The culture, however, having said that, we are trying to change. The business world today, as you know, is on a pace faster than it’s ever been. We’ve got to really react faster to the time but we also don’t want to lose that family-type atmosphere.
3
NNYB: In one form or another, your firm has been in business since Thomas Jefferson occupied the White House as president. That longevity is nearly unheard of in America today. How has that been possible? RUDMANN: It’s the fact that the company has always tried to identify and serve markets from a niche stand point rather than from a commodity type stand point. We’re always looking for new technology and the newest places we can apply what we do here internally to serve the marketplace. So really that’s our longevity. We make composites, we happen to use a papermaking process in doing so. If we were a normal paper mill we wouldn’t be talking today. As you know, many of the paper mills here on the Black River are no longer here. We are one of the few ones here, but we really don’t make paper, we make composites. NNYB: What exactly is a composite?
4
RUDMANN: It’s basically bringing two materials together through a wet-laid process in which we introduce some sort of liquid into a process to bring the two types of materials together. Together the materials produce characteristics such as strength or wear that the materials by themselves wouldn’t have otherwise. It’s really the bringing together of one or more materials to give a characteristic to the marketplace that the materials wouldn’t have otherwise.
5
NNYB: What’s your most successful product line today? RUDMANN: One of our largest product lines is friction paper. We make friction type composites that go into clutch plates, torque converters, that kind of thing. We serve the off-road automotive markets, big heavy equipment. We make composite paper for clutch plates that go into those markets.
6
NNYB: The lasting success hasn’t always been easy. When former CEO Frank Cean arrived in Watertown he was under orders to shutter the mill. Instead he bought it and saved hundreds of jobs. What about Knowlton motivates someone to make such a bold move? RUDMANN: My understanding in the late 1980s, the company that owned Filtration Sciences, which Knowlton was known as at the time, no longer viewed the location here in Watertown as core to their business. They were looking to shut it down. At the time, Frank got involved with another partner, came in and really saved Knowlton and bought it from Filtration Sciences. I can’t speak for Frank but I have to believe he had
20 questions enough faith in what he saw as the future of the business and not necessarily the business Filtration Sciences was in, but he saw it as an opportunity to grow in other areas. When we bought the business in 2008, we saw similar opportunities.
7
NNYB: Through innovation, Knowlton has turned out some impressive products, like a special filter once used by Piels beer that trapped yeast particles, allowing it to sell canned draft beer. The company even once crafted special media using lama hair as a base fiber. How do you foster such an environment? RUDMANN: We’re always looking for new materials to use in our wet-laid paper making process. Especially Jamie Lee, he looks at things differently than most people do. He will look at something and say, ‘How can I use this in a wetlaid paper making process for a product?’ So I wasn’t totally privy to the llama hair but that innovation and thought process is what occurs here.
8
NNYB: How many patents does the company hold? RUDMANN: We actually only have a couple of patents. A lot of our intellectual property is really wrapped up in trade secrets. It’s how we make what we make, more of the process than the formula basis. A lot of the formulas we make come from our customers. The intellectual property is with them. From the process standpoint we have trade secrets.
9
NNYB: The Knowlton family long figures in the history of Watertown, supporting many local institutions and providing leadership for generations. How does this continue today and why do you think that’s so important for a company such as yours? RUDMANN: We contribute to many local organizations in terms of contributions. We’ll do that in relation to how our business is doing. The most prominent I can think of is participating in the Samaritan Center rebuild. We were one of the larger donors there. We continuously look for ways to provide support to the community. Number one, we need to give back, we have to understand that we’re not on an island and we’re part of a community. From a business perspective, we want people to know who we are and we want good people to come work here.
10
NNYB: Do you find any challenges in recruiting people? RUDMANN: Absolutely we do, primarily in the technical areas. We spend quite a bit of time trying to hire people with technical backgrounds that fit what we do. Many times though we have to really go outside the area and ask people to move to Watertown. That isn’t always easy but we have been somewhat successful lately. From the shop floor standpoint we’re usually have a rich talent pool to recruit from.
11
NNYB: You and two other executives — James S. “Jamie” Ganter and James M. “Jamie” Lee — learned from Mr. Cean and helped operate the business so well that you were able to buy him out when he retired and keep the firm going. That, too, is rare. What motivated the three of you to do that?
NORM JOHNSTON | NNY BUSINESS
Frederick G. “Rick” Rudmann, president and CEO of Knowlton Technologies in his Factory Street office. RUDMANN: Yes, in 2008. My two partners and I have backgrounds that complement each other. Mine is in finance and strategic planning, Jamie Ganter is in manufacturing and Jamie Lee is in materials and research and development. He’s the cook. Between the three of us we work well together in running the company and we view the fact that the company was sound and we believed we could also take it to another level.
12
NNYB: It’s no secret that New York State isn’t the most business friendly environment. Yours is a business that could easily thrive in a more business friendly state. What has kept Knowlton in Watertown for 200-plus years?
RUDMANN: That’s all correct. What’s really kept us in Watertown is the fact that we serve niche markets. We don’t make widgets. We don’t really pull people off the street and hit the ground running in what we do and make. Our intellectual knowledge and institutional knowledge we have in the company is difficult to replicate in the short term if we weren’t here.
13
NNYB: On the occasion of the company’s 200th anniversary, you said the company would “use our intellect, use our technology and manufacturing capabilities to create markets that are highly defensible as we move forward?” Accelerating that strategy was a goal. Has that been the case? RUDMANN: Absolutely we continue on that. I’m not a flavor of the day type of person. We believe in our vision and our strategies and it’s a matter of execution. If you talk to me three years from now hopefully I’m singing the same song.
14 15
NNYB: You also said you anticipated a 10 percent increase in staff. Have you been able to grow personnel? How many employees do you have today? RUDMANN: Presently we have 121. Right now we’re having record sales. NNYB: What challenges have you endured through the recent recession? RUDMANN: I can tell you when we bought the company we were highly leveraged so one of our big challenges has been cash management
The Frederick G. “Rick” Rudmann file AGE: 52 JOB: President and CEO, of Knowlton Technologies LLC, Watertown FAMILY: Wife, Tammy, and daughters, Brynne, 25, and Jordyn, 23. HOMETOWN: Grew up in Dolgeville, currently lives in Bridgeport. EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in accounting from LeMoyne College, Syracuse; Master’s degree in business administration and finance from New York Institute of Technology, Long Island. PROFESSIONAL: Largely worked in finance and strategic planning at Goulds Pumps, Seneca Falls, Carrier Corp., Syracuse, and Pass and Seymour, Solvay. Knowlton Technologies for more than seven years. LAST BOOK READ: “A Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln” by Doris Kearns Goodwin. and cash flow. We worked through that very well with our bank. That’s been the biggest challenge. When the recession hit in 2009 our biggest challenge was to cut cost but to not lose our people. What we did there, at least on the manufacturing side, was rather than lay people off we ran the shop three weeks out of a month. Basically what we did was furloughed the employees for a week during a month. It was hard for them but they got unemployment for that week. When the markets came back we were able to maintain our workforce so we didn’t lose that knowledge base.
16
NNYB: Is there something in the Knowlton story that keeps the focus on the customer? A lot of companies lose that focus. RUDMANN: I would say for us, I can’t speak for our predecessors, but I can say for us if you were to look at our vision statement, we create our vision mission and values and strate-
November 2011 | NNY Business
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chambeR / WEB directory
NNY CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
649-3404, www.chaumontchamber.com
393-3620, www.ogdensburgny.com
Clayton
Old Forge
Greater WatertownNorth Country
Potsdam
517 Riverside Drive, Clayton, NY 13624; 686-3771, www.1000islands-clayton.com
Alexandria Bay
7 Market St., Alexandria Bay, NY 13607; 482-9531, www.visitalexbay.org
1241 Coffeen St., Watertown, NY 13601; 788-4400, www.watertownny.com
Boonville
122 Main St., P.O. Box 163, Boonville, NY 13309; 942-6823, www.boonvillechamber.com
Gouverneur
CaNTON
60 Main St., P.O. Box 369, Canton, NY 13617; 386-8255, www.cantonnychamber.org
1 Market St., Potsdam, NY 13676; 274-9000, www.potsdamchamber.com
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3044 Route 13, P.O. Box 34, Pulaski, NY 13142; 298-2213, www.pulaskinychamber.com
Henderson Harbor
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P.O. Box 468, Henderson Harbor, NY 13651; 938-5568, www.hendersonharborny.com
Cape Vincent
3140 Route 28, P.O. Box 68, Old Forge, NY 13420; 369-6983, www.oldforgeny.com
Lewis County
304 W. Main St., P.O. Box 17, Sackets Harbor, NY 13685; 646-1700, www. sacketsharborchamberofcommerce.com
175 N. James St., P.O. Box 482, Cape Vincent, NY 13618; 654-2481, www.capevincent.org
7576 S. State St., Lowville, NY 13367; 376-2213, www.lewiscountychamber.org
14 E. Church St., Adams, NY 13605; 232-4215, www.southjeffchamber.org
Carthage Area
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St. Lawrence
120 S. Mechanic St., Carthage, NY 13619; 493-3590, www.carthageny.com
50 Main St., Massena, NY 13662; 7693525, www.massenachamber.com
Centerstate CEO
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Ogdensburg
572 S. Salina St., Syracuse, NY 13202; 470-1800, www.centerstateceo.com P.O. Box 24, Three Mile Bay, NY 13693;
BIZ Web DIRECTORY CITEC Manufacturing & Technology Solutions www.citec.org
Clarkson University Center for Entrepreneurship www.helpmysmallbusinesstoday.com www.facebook.com/CUEntrepCtr www.twitter.com/CUEntrepCtr
Development Authority of the North Country www.danc.org
Lewis County Industrial Development Agency
497 East Main St., Malone, NY 12953; 1(518) 483-3760, www.visitmalone.com 1 Bridge Plaza, Ogdensburg, NY 13669;
South Jefferson
101 Main St., First Floor, Canton, NY 13617; 386-4000, www.northcountryguide.com
Tri-Town
907 Route 11 C, P.O. Box 297, Brasher Falls, NY 13613; 389-4800, www.tritownchamberofcommerce.com
Jefferson County Job Development Corp.
St. Lawrence River Valley Redevelopment Agency
Procurement Technical Assistance Center
U.S. Small Business Administration
www.jcjdc.net
www.northcountryptac.com
Small Business Development Center at SUNY jefferson
www.slrvra.com
www.sba.gov www.facebook.com/SBAAtlantic www.twitter.com/SBAAtlantic
www.watertown.nyssbdc.org www.facebook.com/WatertownSBDC www.twitter.com/nys_sbdc
Watertown Local Development Corp.
St. Lawrence County IDA / Local Development Corp.
Watertown SCORE
www.slcida.com
www.watertownldc.com
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788-6840
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“Since 1954” www.cheneytire.com FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC REPAIRS 24hr TRUCK AND FARM TIRE SERVICE WHOLESALE TIRE DISTRIBUTION THROUGHOUT NNY 90 Days SMALL ENGINE SALES & SERVICE Same as GRAVELY • SIMPLICITY • SNAPPER Cash. 44 |
NNY Business | November 2011
BUSIN E SS S C E N E Lewis County Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours at Ridge View
KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
Top, from left, Shannon A. Wicks, Ridge View Inn dining room manager, Carrie S. Nasworthy, Ridge View Inn bartender, and Kelsey A. Houppert, Ridge View Inn bartender/server. Above, from left, Susan E. Maring, coowner, Tug Hill Winery, Douglas P. Hanno, Lewis County Clerk and owner, Hometown Car Wash and Doug Hanno’s Yard Care, and wife, Mary O., Lowville Academy. The Ridge View Inn hosted the Oct. 20 Lewis County Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours where they announced Mr. Hanno’s selection as Lewis County Business Person of the Year.
Top, from left, Coleen M. Tucker and David K. Widrick, both of Coughlin Printing, Lowville. Above, from left, Blaine E. Campany, Lewis County Chamber of Commerce and Croghan Meat Market, Jared J. Thisse, civil engineer, Bernier, Carr and Associates, and Cheyenne L. Steria, sales representative, Stebbins Engineering and Manufacturing Company.
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November 2011 | NNY Business
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BUSIN E SS S C E N E GWNC Chamber of Commerce Business Expo and After Hours
KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
Top, from left, Tracy L. Hart and Sue M. Raso, both of the Children’s Home of Jefferson County. Above, from left, Chris G. Reynolds, First Class Auto Glass, and wife, Harmonie J. Samaritan Medical Center sponsored the Oct. 19 Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours at the Dulles State Office Building. The event followed the chamber’s annual Business Expo.
Top, from left, Patricia K. Mitchell, assistant vice president and branch manager, M&T Bank, Watertown, Lorraine McGee, brokerage officer and wealth advisor of M&T Securities Inc., Syracuse, and Kenneth B. Jardin, vice president and team leader, CNY business & professional banking, M&T Bank, Syracuse. Above, from left, LeAnn I. West, government realations specialist, Wladis Law Firm, Syracuse, and Lauren Luzinski, attorney, Wladis Law Firm, Syracuse.
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n VISIT NNY BUSINESS ON FACEBOOK at www. facebook.com/ nnybusiness to view more than 300 additional Business Scene photos from events across the north country since December.
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NNY Business | November 2011
Lisa A. Sawdey Licensed IRS Enrolled Agent l_sawdey@yahoo.com
PO Box 426 Carthage, NY 13619
BUSIN E SS S C E N E GWNC Chamber of Commerce Business Expo and After Hours
KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
Top, from left, Kevin W. Samolis, chief of staff, the Events Company, and Haley M. Clint, corporate planner, the Events Company, Syracuse. Above, from left, Sybil M. Jones, branch manager, KeyBank Mill Street branch, Watertown, and JoAnn Warner, Watertown Savings Bank main office staff.
KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
Top, from left, Maria Carman, teaching student, SUNY Potsdam, and Andrew Mitchell, AM Construction, Watertown. Above, from left, Robert Dalton, owner, the Paddock Club, Watertown, and Steve Smith, bartender, the Paddock Club.
November 2011 | NNY Business
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BUSIN E SS H IS T O R Y
JEFFERSON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
A banner advertises Charles Hart’s Photograph Gallery, ca. 1860. Mr. Hart was one of the first portrait photographers to have a studio in the Paddock Arcade, from as early as 1855 until he retired in 1911. He was one of the last photographers to work with daguerreotypes and was famous for his daguerreotypes of Civil War veterans in their uniforms. A collection of his daguerreotypes are housed in the Jefferson County Historical Society’s archive. This photograph details the interior of the Paddock Arcade, facing Public Square.
Rising from the ashes n Watertown’s Paddock Arcade is oldest covered shopping mall in America
he Paddock Arcade was constructed by Loveland Paddock, father of Edwin Paddock — the banker and businessman who built the mansion that now houses the Jefferson County Historical Society. Loveland Paddock was an early Watertown merchant and banker who, along with his sons Edwin and Oscar, founded Watertown’s Black River National Bank. On a trip to New York City in 1849, Paddock saw a photograph of the Beauharnois Arcade in Paris. He was struck by the beauty and utility of a glass-covered shopping plaza and determined that Wa-
tertown should have something similar. In spring 1849, the largest fire in Watertown’s history swept through Public Square and Court Street destroying, among other buildings, Loveland Paddock’s three-story business block on the west side of Public Square. While the fire leveled the business district, it also spurred the largest building boom in the city’s history: Watertown rose from the ashes like a phoenix. Left with an empty lot, Loveland Paddock saw the fire as an opportunity to construct the building that had captured his imagination in New York City. Watertown architect Otis Wheelock designed the building and craftsmen from Oswego and Syracuse worked on the Arcade’s construction, which began in the
52 |
By Lenka Walldroff
T
Jefferson County Historical Society
NNY Business | November 2011
summer of 1850. The building was finished and the first storefronts opened in the winter of 1851. It cost a tidy sum of $15,000 to complete, nearly $400,000 in today’s currency. The original design of the Arcade included three and a half levels designed to house shops, business offices, and shop keepers’ apartments. From the beginning, the Paddock Arcade was a sensation, reportedly drawing people from considerable distances to Watertown specifically to view the new building. It was touted at the time as the first glass-covered street in America. By 1860, the Arcade was equipped with gas lights for evening shopping, while the building’s vaulted glass roof allowed the sunlight to illuminate
A daguerreotype portrait of Loveland Paddock, most likely taken by Charles Hart. Paddock built the Paddock Arcade in 1850.
the building during the day. The natural light made the Arcade a favorite of local photographers, many of whom set up their studios in the building. The structure also boasted Watertown’s first telephone office, railroad ticket office, and the telegraph office that operated there until the early decades of the twentieth century. Additionally, the Paddock Arcade was home to Watertown’s post office from 1851 until 1892 when a federal building was built to house it. After another downtown fire destroyed a section of the Paddock Arcade in the 1920s, the building underwent a largescale renovation. The damaged portion was demolished to make room for new construction, and the original gothic style interior was updated. During this period a glass dropped ceiling was installed between the second and third floors. The new drop ceiling still allowed for natural sunlight to filter into the building while separating the third and partial fourth floor apartments from the shops below. In 1976, as architectural jewels of the Victorian age were being torn down in the name of urban renewal, the survival of the Paddock Arcade was ensured with its acceptance into the National Register of Historic Places. The Arcade now holds the unique honor of being the longest continuously operating covered shopping mall in America. n Lenka P. Walldroff is curator of collections for the Jefferson County Historical Museum. She is a former museum specialist and conservator at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
November 2011 | NNY Business
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W H AT ’ S H A P P E NIN G H E R E ? Creek Wood Apartments Location: Between Mill Street and Plaza Drive, Watertown. SIZE: 96 apartments, 24 of which are market-rate units, 72 are rent-capped affordable housing units. COST: $20 million DEVELOPER: Norstar Development USA, Buffalo. Site preparation: Stark’s Gravel and Excavation, Constable. ENGINEER: GYMO Architecture, Engineering and Land Surveying PC, Watertown. ESTIMATED COMPLETION: Spring 2013. LOCAL JOBS: Approximately 100 construction jobs. — Compiled by Kyle R. Hayes
AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS
Site preparation is under way for Creek Wood Apartments between Watertown’s Mill Street and Plaza Drive. The 96-unit, $20 million apartment complex is a mix of market-rate and affordable housing built by Buffalo-based Norstar Development USA. Construction at the site is expected to continue for another 14 months, with a tentative completion in 2013.
N E X T M ON T H
I
n our December issue, we present 20 of Northern New York’s emerging leaders under the age of 40 from Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.
Also coming next month: n Tech gift guide: Jill Van Hoesen our resident “Geek Gal,” takes a look at some of the hottest new gadgets and devices in technology for the holidays and the new year. n WORKING WITH THE WOUNDED Roger R. Howard, owner of Howard Orthotics, continues to expand his services across the north country. A contracted provider for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and on the medical staff at local hospitals, we visit with Mr. Howard about his work with wounded warriors. n PLUS: NNY Snapshot, 20 Questions Economically Speaking, Commerce Corner, Nonprofits Today, Business Tech Bytes, Small Business Success, Real Estate, Agri-Business, Business History, Business Scene and more. n FOLLOW US ON Twitter for daily updates at @NNYBusinessMag and visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nnybusiness for more Business Scene photos.
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NNY Business | November 2011
Chamber Recognizes Its Dedicated Members With A Surprise Visit Watertown, NY - On October 27, the Greater Watertown - North Country Chamber of Commerce surprised its longtime members with a surprise limo visit, balloons, flowers and a framed certificate. The members selected for the visit have been a dedicated part of the chamber ranging from 25-60 years. The chamber staff and ambassadors visited the selected members throughout the day honoring their dedication to the business community and their support of the GWNC Chamber of Commerce. These members include: 35 years 60 years D.L. Calarco Funeral Home Inc. Meade Optical, Inc. 135 Keyes Avenue 1000 Washington St. 30 years Curtis Furniture Route 342
55 years Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield 215 Washington St.
30 years Watertown Vending 16947 Ct. Rte., Dexter
50 years Key Bank, N.A. 200 Washington St.
25 years Knorr’s Grocery & Convenience Store Main St., Redwood
50 years Best Western of Watertown 300 Washington St.
25 years Fort Pearl 557 Pearl St.
40 years McDonalds/Lettuce Feed You 120 Washington St.
25 years Rustic Golf Club 16451 Ct. Rte. 59, Dexter
35 years Watertown Animal Hospital LLP 1445 Washington St.
25 years Black River Valley Club 131 Washington St.
35 years Taylor Concrete Old Rome State Road
25 years Watertown Concrete 24471 St. Rt. 12
35 years Harleysville Insurance of NY 215 Washington St.
25 years Inkwell Graphix 135 Eastern Blvd.
The Chamber would also like to thank, Clarence Henry Coach, Sherwood Florist, and Party Rentals for providing the limo, flowers and balloons for the day’s event. For more information about the chamber membership, visit the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce at 1241 Coffeen Street, online at www.watertownny.com, call 315-788-4400 or e-mail membership@watertownnny.com
November 2011 | NNY Business
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