B April 2012
+
Y usIness
n Biz Tech n NNY Snapshot n Business Scene n Real Estate
North country mortgage lenders see solid start to ’12 page 37
n 20 Questions with Tim & Nick Nortz of Nortz & Virkler Ford p. 40
A look under the hood
Region’s car dealers invest in future for long haul $2.95
/nnybusiness @NNYBusinessMag
Northern New York’s Premier Business Monthly Vol. 2 Issue 5 | www.nnybizmag.com
2 | NNY Business | April 2012
Read more about this fantastic event in this issue’s
Business Tech Bytes column by Jill VanHoesen on page 48. April 2012 | NNY Business
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ConTRibuToRs
BusIness
www.nnybizmag.com
Publishers
John B. Johnson Jr. Harold B. Johnson II Lynn Pietroski is president and CEO of the Greater WatertownNorth Country Chamber of Commerce. She shares characteristics of a good leader. (p. 46)
Jay Matteson is the agricultural coordinator for the Jefferson County Agricultural Development Corp. He hands his column over to the state FFA president. (p. 47)
Brooke James is an advisor for the state Small Business Development Center at SUNY Canton. She writes about steps to follow when buying a business. (p. 49)
Rande Richardson is executive director of the Northern New York Community Foundation. He writes about the future path of nonprofits. (p. 45)
General ManaGer John B. Johnson
executive editor Bert Gault
ManaGinG editor Robert D. Gorman
MaGazine editor
Kenneth J. Eysaman
associate MaGazine editor Kyle R. Hayes
advertisinG directors Jill Van Hoesen is chief information officer for Johnson Newspapers and a 25-year IT veteran. She writes about the upcoming North Country Technology Symposium in Potsdam. (p. 48)
Lance M. Evans is executive officer for the Jefferson-Lewis and St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors. He offers a primer and resources for first-time home buyers. (p. 36)
Lenka Walldroff is curator of collections for the Jefferson County Historical Museum. She writes about the history and innovation within the Hitchcock Lamp Co. (p. 60)
James Wright is executive director of the Development Authority of the North Country. He writes about partnerships in development. (p. 44)
Karen K. Romeo Tammy S. Beaudin
circulation director Cindy Werner
PhotoGraPhy
Norm Johnston, Justin Sorensen, Jason Hunter, Melanie Kimbler-Lago, Amanda Morrison
ad GraPhics, desiGn
Rick Gaskin, Brian Mitchell, Heather O’Driscoll, Scott Smith, Todd Soules
Joleene DesRosiers is a freelance writer living in Pulaski. In this month’s cover story, she examines growth in Jefferson County’s auto industry. (p. 16)
Kyle Hayes is the associate magazine editor for NNY Business. He writes about Ames Bros. Service Center and the mortgage market. (p. 24, 37)
Andrea Pedrick is a freelance writer who lives in Dexter. She visits Cavallario’s Cucina on the eve of its 15th anniversary. (p. 28)
Gabrielle Hovendon is a freelance writer who lives in Watertown. She profiles a Hispanic food market making a mark on Watertown. (p. 26)
MARKETPLACE Advanced Business Sys. ........ 25 A.G. Netto Realty ..............….. 38 AmeriCU Credit Union …........ 22 Ameriprise Financial …........... 39 Beardsley Design …................ 19 Beller’s Auto ............................ 21 Boyce Auto Sales …................ 21 Burrville Power Equip. ............. 35 Capital Construction ….......... 35 Carthage Savings …................. 6 Cavallario’s Cucina …............ 52 Center for Sight …................... 64 Cheney Tire …......................... 50 Clarence Henry Coach …...... 54 Convenient Storage …........... 13 CREG Systems Corp. …........... 53 Deline’s Auto Body …............. 21 Essenlohr Motors …................. 20 Foy Agency Inc. ….................. 21 Frenchie’s Chevrolet and Ford …............................... 14 Gerald A. Nortz …................... 48 GWNC Chamber …................... 8 H&R Block …............................ 39
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High Tower Advisors …............ 25 Howard Orthotics …................ 44 Innovative PT …....................... 45 JCC Continuing Ed ….............. 46 JCJDC ….................................. 61 J. Richard Meagher …............ 35 Lee Pontiac Buick …............... 21 Little Barn Bulk Foods ….......... 35 Lofink Ford …........................... 59 LTI ….......................................... 15 Macars …................................. 12 Midsummers Eve Masked Ball …......................... 31 Mindshare …............................ 27 NNY Business …........... 37, 50, 63 NNYBizMag.com ……............... 7 NNY Community Foundation …........................... 29 North Country Technology Symposium …............................ 3 Nortz and Virkler Ford …......... 21 Painfull Acres Amish Furniture ….................... 35 Paddock Club ......................... 35
NNY Business | April 2012
SeaComm FCU ….................... 49 Service Plus Automotive …..... 21 Shred Con …............................ 57 Slack Chemical …................... 47 SMR Fibre Empire …................. 42 State Farm Insurance …............ 8 Step One Creative ….............. 35 St. Lawrence NYSARC …......... 29 T.F. Wright and Sons …............ 35 Thousand Island Realty …...... 38 Town of Clayton ….................. 33 TPACC ……............................... 43 Truesdell’s Furniture …............... 9 Vandusen Auto Sales …......... 21 Waite Toyota and Scion …..... 55 Watertown Daily Times …....... 58 Watertown International Airport ….................................. 35 Watertown LDC ….................... 36 Watertown Savings Bank ….... 18 Westelcom ……....................... 61 Widrick Auto Sales ….............. 56 Wolff’s Body Shop …................ 21 WWTI-ABC 50 …......................... 2
NNY Business (ISSN 2159-6115), is published monthly by Northern New York Newspaper Corp., 260 Washington St., Watertown, NY 13601, a Johnson Newspaper Corp. company. © 2010-2012. All material submitted to NNY Business becomes property of Northern New York 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, email kromeo@wdt.net, or call 315-661-2422 In St. Lawrence County, e-mail tbeaudin@ogd.com, or call 315-661-2512 Printed with pride in U.S.A. at Vanguard Printing LLC, Ithaca, N.Y. Please recycle this magazine.
>>>Inside APRIL 2012
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16
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28
32
COVER |
28 CULINARY AWAKENING Cavallario’s Cucina owners pause for focus on fine dining before 15th anniversary.
38 JEFFERSON COUNTY Real estate sales totaled $3.4m over a 42-day period in February and March.
32 MOST INNOVATIVE MOVE A Morristown man wins a national award for his unique business moving structures.
39 ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY Real estate sales totaled $1.3m over a seven-day sales period in mid-March.
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16 UNDER THE HOOD Jefferson County’s automotive industry has rebounded from the recession and expanding. |
GUEST ESSAY |
12 KICKING THE HABIT TPACC’s Terra House shares the benefits of a smoke-free work environment. | SMALL BUSINESS |
24 CRASH COURSE Ames Bros. Service Center has made auto body repair a family tradition for 62 years. 26 GROCERIES WITH FLAIR Hispanic food market brings a new flavor to Watertown.
34 ANGEL ROCK RESORT Couple builds new business by creating cottages along the St. Lawrence waterfront. |
REAL ESTATE |
37 A BUYER’S MARKET North country banks see uptick in mortgage lending activity in first quarter.
|
BUSINESS HISTORY |
60 LIGHTING THE WAY Hitchcock Lamp Co. displayed innovation by inventing a new kerosene lamp in the 1860s. |
CONSTRUCTION |
62 BUILDING PERMITS Declared value of construction activity in Watertown reaches more than $14m in 4Q and 1Q. April 2012 | NNY Business
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We’ve been Committed to the North Country since 1888.... .....and We’re not going anywhere.
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| INTERVIEW |
| ON THE COVER |
40 SELLING SINCE 1916 The Nortz Family has been dealing Fords for more than 96 years in Lewis County, not long after the Model T started rolling off Henry Ford’s assembly line. | COLUMNS |
44 ECONOMICALLY SPEAKING
47 AGRI-BUSINESS
45 NONPROFITS TODAY
48 BUSINESS TECH BYTES
46 COMMERCE CORNER
49 SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS
| DEPARTMENTS |
8 EDITOR’S NOTE 9 PEOPLE ON THE MOVE 10 ECONOMIC SNAPSHOT 14 BUSINESS BRIEFCASE 36 REAL ESTATE ROUNDUP
51 CALENDAR 52 BUSINESS SCENE 58 DINING GUIDE 60 BUSINESS HISTORY 62 WHAT’S HAPPENING HERE?
Photographer Justin Sorensen and Associate Editor Kyle Hayes staged this month’s cover illustration in a deserted parking lot at Watertown High School with vehicles from Watertown auto dealerships F.X. Caprara Chrysler, Waite Toyota and Scion and Davidson Ford. From left, a 2012 Chrysler 300, a 2012 Toyota Camry and a 2012 Ford Mustang.
April 2012 | NNY Business
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EDiToR’s noTE
A
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NNY Business | March 2012
sk most people to name their first car and they’re likely to answer before you even finish the question. For me, it was a 1984 Plymouth Horizon, a little hatchback number that my father bought from Lewis Goodman Chrysler in Syracuse for less than $9,000 off the lot. Believe it or not, it was our family’s car for three years before we moved up to a Mercury Sable. I remember riding to Florida and back in the Horizon during February break in 1985. Five years later, I learned to drive in that car on desolate back roads in south Jefferson County, an experience that Ken Eysaman likely elevated my father’s already high blood pressure with me behind the wheel. For as compact as it was, the Horizon was virtually indestructible, a fact that I would later test as a young, inexperienced driver who had his share of fender-benders. Fortunately for me, our Horizon was silver, which meant that it was the perfect match for duct tape, the preferred material for body repairs. Good and bad, many of us hold dear the memories we have of our first cars and probably have shared a story or two about our early rides. Indeed, the automobile is one of man’s greatest inventions. It also possesses an ability to frustrate drivers when it is not well, making noises that only a mechanic with a computer and a Ph.D. can diagnose. Or, if you drive a vehicle like my present one — a Ford Escape that sometimes acts like it has a mind of its own — its worrisome clicks and clacks miraculously cease when in senses an auto mechanic is near. Love them or loathe them, automobiles are a necessity that most of us would find difficult to live without. In the north country, the auto industry is big business with new car dealers in Jefferson County selling 4,719 new cars and trucks last year alone. At an average sale price of $25,000, that’s nearly $118 million in retail auto sales that generated an estimated $9 million in state and local sales taxes in a single year. Add to those figures auto service, parts and accessories and it is arguably one of the largest segments of our region’s retail sector. In this month’s cover story, which begins on page 16, writer Joleene DesRosiers visits with three of the biggest names in Northern New York’s car business — Dwight E. Davidson, Barry L.
Waite and William F. “Billy” Caprara. Together, the competing families have transformed a once rural stretch of Watertown’s outer Washington Street into the car-shopping destination it is today. With investments in infrastructure, showrooms and service centers that have easily soared into the millions of dollars, Jefferson County’s auto industry is booming. n
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20 QUESTIONS — In Lewis County, the Nortz name has been synonymous with Ford for nearly a century. We sat down with present owners and cousins Timothy O. and Nicholas W. Nortz, the respective president and vice-president of Nortz & Virkler Ford for this month’s interview, which begins on page 40. Nortz & Virkler began selling Model Ts in 1916, just two years after Henry Ford began mass production of the fourwheeled horse on his new assembly line. Today, the vehicles are much different, but passing through the door of their State Street dealership is a step back in time worthy of treasure. n
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BUSINESS SCENE — This month’s Scene section, which begins on page 52 features 61 faces from 43 north country businesses and organizations. From the Greater Watertown North Country Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year luncheon to the Massena Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner, AUSA’s 2012 Corporate Member Reception, Business After Hours at Davidson Ford and the Northern New York Builders Exchange 36th Annual North Country Home Show, we saw a great deal of business happen in the past few weeks. Our warmest congratulations go to those businesses and individuals who were honored during several of these events. n
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ONLINE — Early this month we flipped the switch on our companion website for the magazine — www.nnybizmag. com — and opened the door to more features and information about business in Northern New York. Our hope is that visitors will see the site as a destination for volumes of current and historical data that ranges from real property sales, economic indicators, DBAs, company profiles, NNY Jobs and more. Please visit the site and send me your feedback on what you like and what you’d like to see. Yours in business,
PEoPLE on THE MoVE Canton-Potsdam Hospital employee of the month Canton-Potsdam Hospital employees selected Matthew Averill, maintenance technician, as employee of the month for March. Mr. Averill joined Canton-Potsdam Hospital just one year ago and already has proven himself a valuable member of the health Averill facilities team. Mr. Averill’s colleagues noted that he is always courteous, welcomes challenges and shares a positive and encouraging attitude with hospital staff and visitors. Mr. Averill was presented with an employee of the month award and pin, chamber gift certificates, a reserved parking space and a floral arrangement.
Named general manager Erie Materials, Syracuse, has named Chris Kittelson as the general manager of the company’s Watertown branch on Teal Drive. He succeeds Dave Richards, who retired after serving as general manager since 2004. Mr. Kittelson has nearly 30 Kittelson years of experience in the building materials industry, all in positions serving professional contractors. He joined Erie Materials in 1999 as a salesperson working inside
the store. In 2002, he was promoted to operations manager. Erie Materials was established in 1973 and opened its Watertown branch in 1997. It distributes building materials for residential and commercial exteriors. Erie serves professional contractors and architects through its locations in Albany, Auburn, Binghamton, Elmira, Syracuse, Utica and Watertown, as well as Scranton and Williamsport in Pennsylvania.
Beardsley Design firm announces stockholders
Beardsley Design Associates Architecture, Engineering & Landscape Architecture, PC, Syracuse, has announced that Peter C. Sorber and Todd H. Kelsey have been named stockholders of the firm. Mr. Sorber leads the firm’s architectural disSorber cipline, is a registered architect in New York State and has worked professionally in Central New York for more than 30 years. He earned a master’s degree in business administration from SUNY Kelsey Oswego and an associate degree in architecture from the SUNY Delhi. As stockholders, Mr. Sorber and Mr. Kelsey will assist the board of directors
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. in establishing corporate goals, the firm’s strategic plan and in firm operations. Mr. Kelsey is a graduate of the SUNY IT and is a licensed professional engineer with 18 years of experience. Visit www. beardsley.com to learn more.
Northwestern Mutual names staff, interns
Jeffrey Abbott, a native of Chicago, has joined Northwestern Mutual’s Greater New York Group in Watertown as a financial representative. Before joining Northwestern Mutual, Mr. Abbott served for 21 years in the Army, retiring as a lieutenant colonel for the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science with an emphasis in public law from Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, in 2001. He is pursuing a master’s degree in business administration from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. Mr. Abbott is a 20-year client of Northwestern Mutual and resides in Carthage with his wife, Sheryl Lynn, and their three children. Seth Combs also has joined Northwestern Mutual as a financial representative. Before joining Northwestern, Mr. Combs was a general manger and sales manager in his family business, Combs Heating and Air Conditioning, Watertown. He earned a business management
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NNY
Economic indicators Average per-gallon milk price paid to N.Y. dairy farmers Feb. ’12 $1.66 Jan. ’12 $1.82 Feb. ’11 $1.57
5.7%
Vehicles crossing the Thousand Islands, OgdensburgPrescott and Seaway International (Massena) bridges
Source: NYS Department of Agriculture
331,524 in Feb. 2012 324,178 in Jan. 2012 311,564 in Feb. 2011
Average NNY price for gallon of regular unleaded gas
Source: T.I. Bridge Authority, Ogdensburg Bridge & Port Authority, Seaway International Bridge Corp.
Feb. ’12 $3.81 Jan. ’12 $3.61 Feb. ’11 $3.38
U.S.-Canadian dollar exchange rate (Canadian dollars per U.S. dollar)
12.7%
Average NNY price for gallon of home heating oil
ECON SNAPSHOT
(Percent gains and losses are over 12 months)
Feb. ’12 $4.01 Jan. ’12 $3.90 Feb. ’11 $3.71
8.1%
6.4%
$0.99 on Feb. 24, 2012 $1 on Jan. 30, 2012 $0.97 on Feb. 28, 2011
2.0%
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
Feb. ’12 $3.49 Jan. ’12 $3.45 Feb. ’11 $3.71
89,700 in Feb. 2012 88,100 in Jan. 2012 89,900 in Feb. 2011
5.9%
0.2%
Source: NYS Energy Research and Development Authority
Source: NYS Department of Labor
Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors single-family home sales
St. Lawrence Board of Realtors single-family home sales
93, median price $130,000 in Feb. 2012 59, median price $110,000 in Jan. 2012 50, median price $107,750 in Feb. 2011
37, median price $74,900 in Feb. 2012 25, median price $100,700 in Jan. 2012 38, median price $71,927 in Feb. 2011
86.0% Sales
20.7% Price
Source: Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors Inc.
2.6% Sales
4.1% Price
Source: St. Lawrence Board of Realtors Inc.
NNY unemployment rates
Jefferson County Feb. 12
11.7%
Jan. 12
11.5%
Feb. 11
11.5%
St. Lawrence County Feb. 12 Jan. 12 Feb. 11
11.2% 11.8% 11.2%
Lewis County Feb. 12 Jan. 12 Feb. 11
11.8% 12.0% 11.4%
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 | NNY Business | April 2012
NNY
Economic indicators New automobiles (cars and trucks) registered in Jefferson County Cars 285 in Feb. 2012 270 in Jan. 2012 152 in Feb. 2011
87.5%
Trucks 47 in Feb. 2012 82 in Jan. 2012 49 in Feb. 2011
4.0%
Source: Jefferson County Clerk’s Office
Passengers at Watertown International Airport
Open welfare cases in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties
2,451 in-bound and out-bound in Feb. 2012 1,977 in-bound and out-bound in Jan. 2012 397 in-bound and out-bound in Feb. 2011
1,971 in Feb. 2012 1,985 in Jan. 2012 1,899 in Feb. 2011
3.79%
517% Source: Jefferson County Board of Legislators
DBA (doing business under an assumed name) certificates filed at the Jefferson County Clerk’s office March 7-23. For a complete list of all DBAs filed in March and in past months, visit us on the Web at WWW.NNYBIzMAg.COM.
March 23: Bin 427, 427 Market St., Cape Vincent, restaurant/bar. Suzanne L. Petroske, 105 Packetts glen, Fairport. TKO Floor Cleaning, 2537 Alexandra Meadows, Watertown, floor cleaning, janitorial. Timothy Beaudoin, 2537 Alexandra Meadows, Watertown. Bob’s Trucking, 17987 County Route 76, Adams Center. Robert D. Smith, 17987 County Route 76, Adams Center. Ron Lynn Farm Stand, 24863 Route 26, Redwood. Ronald A. and Roslyn B. Stephenson, Redwood. Key Services, 630 gotham St., Watertown, home maintenance and property management. Austin S. Key, 630 gotham St., Watertown.
27521 Church St., Chaumont. Farm Pride, 8014 Route 289, Belleville, convenience store. Jennifer Storey, 7685 Lake Drive, Belleville. Murrock Excavation, 26321 County Route 160, Watertown. Terry J. Murrock, 26321 County Route 160, Watertown. March 15: Cabanabay Tanning, 22088 Route 11, Watertown. Jamie L. Ruckdeshel and Eric M. More, 935 Sherman St., Watertown. Neat Feat, 614 State St., Carthage, mobile pedicure and manicure. Nikita Y. Taylor, 614 State St., Carthage.
March 22: greg Hess Contracting, 8715 Noble St., Evans Mills. gregory A. Hess, 8715 Noble St., Evans Mills.
Farrington Lawns, 17120 County Route 62, Watertown, lawn mowing, snow plowing, landscaping. Jared M. Farrington, 17120 County Route 62, Watertown.
Hardy Industries, County Route 59, Dexter, wholesale maintenance, equipment and office supplies. John G. Hardy, County Route 59, Dexter.
March 14: Adirondack River Photography, 324 S. Rutland St., Watertown. Kristy L. Hoover, 324 S. Rutland St., Watertown.
March 21: North Country Stress Reduction and Revitalizing, 29232 County Route 69, Copenhagen, stress reduction program. Kim M. Berghorn, 29232 County Route 69, Copenhagen.
Suretech Detailing, 21796 Club Road, Wellesley Island, cleaning and detailing. Brian McCarty, 21796 Club Road, Wellesley Island.
On the go Enterprises, 106 Patrician Lane, Brownville, vending machines. Peter J. Will III, 106 Patrician Lane, Brownville. Delles Contracting and Property Maintenance, 31030 Sandy Hollow Road, Philadelphia. Michael J. Delles, 31030 Sandy Hollow Road, Philadelphia. A & J Property Rentals, 37774 Route 12E, Clayton. Joseph and Amy getman, 37774 Route 12E, Clayton. E. J. Robbins Construction, 36072 County Route 15, LaFargeville, carpentry. Elizabeth J. Robbins, 36072 County Route 15, LaFargeville. Boats Four Rent, 1100 State St., Route 12E, Clayton, boat rental. Robert L. Pinchin, 1100 State St., Clayton. March 20: D and N Woodworking and Jewelry, 625 Academy St., Watertown. Dennis Spooner, Watertown, and Nicole McConnell, gouverneur. Brian Matice Technology Consultant, 17676 County Route 59, Dexter. Brian W. Matice, 17676 County Route 59, Dexter. 1000 Islands Decorating, 33445 Route 12E, Cape Vincent, decorating and linen rentals. Crandah L. McKenzie, 33445 Route 12E, Cape Vincent. March 19: Mcgiver Consulting and Development, 110 Dodge Ave., Sackets Harbor. Justin B. Mcgiver, 110 Dodge Ave., Sackets Harbor. NNY gals, 918-B Emjay Way, Carthage, crafts and retail. Maria M. Runyon, 918-B Emjay Way, Carthage. March 16: Star School Farm, 19034 Star School House Road, Dexter, cattle and livestock. Walter and Patricia M. Minaert, 19340 Star School House Road, Dexter. JNL Toys, P.O. Box 343, Chaumont, hobby and craft. James F. Lacombe,
Fourth Coast Bake Shop, 12037 County Route 125, Chaumont. Susan P. Lyth, 12037 County Route 125, Chaumont. gypsy Thorn Photography, 221378 County Route 47, Carthage, photography. ginger E. Lashley, 21378 County Route 47, Carthage. March 13: Sammy and Cary’s Place, 22088 Route 11, unit #111, Watertown, clothing. Caridad Rivera, 702 LeRay St., Watertown. KLC Mowing, 43340 Route 37, Redwood, lawn care. Kimberly Duellman, 43340 Route 37, Redwood. Cama Painting & Contracting, 714 Nellis St., Watertown, painting and light construction. Christopher Petrie, 714 Nellis St., Watertown. March 12: Time 4 U R Healing Massage, 8014 Route 289, Belleville, massage therapy. Barbara J. Hale, 6007 Log London Road, Mannsville. Anthony Lasagna, 29652 Spencer Drive, N. Chaumont, retail. Maria R. White, 29652 Spencer Drive, N. Chaumont. Elizabeth Ann Davis, LCSW-R, CASAC, 410 State St., Carthage, counseling. Elizabeth A. Davis, 7144 E. Main St., Port Leyden. Bedford Creek Press, 12618 Chestnut Ridge Road, Sackets Harbor, letterpress printing. Lauren Eggleston, 12618 Chestnut Ridge Road, Sackets Harbor. D&D Painting, 154 Thompson Blvd., Watertown. Daniel Mcguire, 154 Thompson Blvd., Watertown. March 9: The Armory, 242 Paddock St., Watertown, firearm sales. Charles E. Bates, 242 Paddock St., Watertown. March 7: ICT Agricultural, 26808 County Route 57, Three Mile Bay, beef cattle breeding and selling. Clayton R. Tuck, 26808 County Route 57, Three Mile Bay.
TRANSACTIONS
DBAs
Source: Social Service Depts. of Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties
April April2012 2012||NNY NNYBusiness Business||11 11
G u E s T E s s Ay
Smoke-free workplace benefits many
I
t was mid-spring 2003 and I can vividly remember attending a Jefferson County Legislature meeting as a heated debate ensued among local bar owners and patrons over an impending state law to prevent smoking in the workplace, which included bars and restaurants. Hoping to cause a public outcry that might overturn this life-saving legislation, the tobacco industry was quick to fuel public panic, informing bar and restaurant owners that they would lose their livelihood as a result of no patrons due to a ban on smoking inside these establishments. The law, known as an extension of the “Clean Indoor Air Act,” went into effect in July 2003. Nearly a decade later, I think one could argue that the bar and restaurant business is thriving locally and that the vast majority of New Yorkers prefer a smoke-free bar, restaurant, bowling alley, airplane, hospital, bank and workplace. New York’s lawmakers should be applauded for getting tobacco out of the workplace considering that there is no safe level of secondhand smoke exposure. As 438,000 Americans die each year from tobacco use and an additional 50,000 who die from exposure to secondhand smoke, this seems like a more than sensible law to have on the books. The problem is that the law didn’t go quite far enough; the law did not have a footage clause that removed smoking from doorways, common entryways and common outdoor areas. As a result, many companies throughout the United States and beyond have decided to adopt tobacco-free campus policies that prohibit tobacco use of any kind on company property in and out of doors.
Employee health is the largest consideration when adopting a tobacco-free campus, but worker productivity also is an important factor for business owners and emTerra House ployers. Tobacco use is the leading cause of lost production time — more than alcohol abuse or family emergencies. Employees who smoke have approximately two times more lost production time per week than workers who never smoked. This is a cost equivalent of roughly $27 billion in annual productivity losses for employers. On average, smokers miss 6.16 days of work each year due to sickness, including smoking-related acute and chronic conditions, compared with nonsmokers, who miss an average of 3.86 days of work per year. Permitting smoke breaks can cause morale issues, as non-smokers often do not have the same break opportunities. Policies establishing comprehensive tobacco-free workplace environments are the most effective way to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke. Evidence has shown that tobacco-free workplace policies are associated with reduced daily cigarette consumption among employees who smoke and with increased cessation among employees. A tobacco-free campus does not mean that smokers aren’t allowed; it simply means they aren’t allowed to smoke on that property. A well-written policy is very important to alleviate areas of con-
cerns such as enforcement. Unlike smoke-free indoor policies, tobacco-free campus policies are not solely designed to protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke, but rather are intended to encourage employees to improve their health by quitting the use of tobacco products. Tobacco-free campuses create work environments in which tobacco users find it easier to reduce their consumption or quit altogether. A tobacco-free campus also is a campus that is free of used cigarette butts and does much to improve the image of your business. It’s important to remember that 85 percent of New Yorkers do not smoke and do not want to be exposed to smoking in any environment. Establishing a tobacco-free campus provides employers with a chance to communicate a consistent pro-health message, project a positive image and reduce tobacco-related health care costs. Tobacco-free campus policies are good for business, that is why major national businesses like B.F. Goodrich Tire, Nike, Scott Paper, Lowes, Target and hundreds more have adopted such polices. Just last month, the Salmon Run Mall announced that its entire property in Watertown would become a smoke-free campus. The Tobacco Prevention Awareness Cessation Coalition of Jefferson and Lewis counties provides free technical assistance and policy development for employers in Jefferson and Lewis counties that are interested in adopting such policies. Feel free to call me at 956-1675 to learn more. n Terra House is director of the Tobacco Prevention Awareness Cessation Coalition of Jefferson and Lewis County. Visit www.t-pacc.org to learn more.
MACAR’S • Kitchens • Bathrooms • Flooring • Lighting
161 Coleman Avenue 12 | NNY Business | April 2012
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PEoPLE on THE MoVE PEOPLE, from page 9 degree from Goshen College, Indiana, in 2004. Mr. Combs is an active member in the Watertown Mennonite Church and the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce. He is involved with HVAC trade groups and enjoys playing soccer and building computers. He lives in Brownville with his wife, Hannah, and their two children, Milo, 6, and Oliver, 4. Several college students have joined North Western Mutual’s Greater Watertown New York Group as financial representative interns: Anthony P. Romeo, a junior at Syracuse University, is a native of Sackets Harbor and a 2009 graduate of Sackets Harbor Central School. He plans to graduate in May 2013 with a degree in finance from the Whitman School of Business and a degree in television, radio Romeo and film from the S.I. Newhouse School of Communications. Adam Froisland, a junior at Columbia College, Fort Drum, is a finance and investments major and plans to continue his education by obtaining a master’s degree in business administration. He has been a member of the Financial Planning Association since 2010 and has been a member of the Army Reserve since 2004. Cody Kiechle is a freshman at Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., and 2011 graduate of Indian River Central School, Philadelphia. He plans to receive a bachelor of arts degree in applied mathematics with a secondary degree in the history of science and a citation in Chinese language. He is a
member of the Veritas Financial Group and the Harvard Football Rugby Club. Daniel Mitchell is a senior at SUNY Potsdam majoring in business administration with a concentration in finance. A native of Elizabethtown, Mr. Mitchell plans to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in May. He is a member of the Future Business Leaders of America, Sigma Beta Delta Honor Society and the SUNY Potsdam Ski Club. Steven Davis is a senior at Clarkson University, Potsdam, planning to graduate in December with a degree in innovation and entrepreneurship with minors in project management and economics. Mr. Davis is a member of the Clarkson men’s soccer team.
Promoted to global account executive
Ryan Derouin, son of Jean and Jeanne Derouin, Sackets Harbor, has been promoted to global account executive for Alcoa, Rio Tinto Alcan, ArcelorMittal and Nucor Steel within GE Energy. Mr. Derouin previously held two positions within the global industries’ metals solutions team at GE Energy as both market development leader and marketing program manager. Prior to his roles within global industries, Mr. Derouin worked in commercial operations, industrial marketing, project management and industrial sales. Mr. Derouin joined GE Energy in 2005 as a member of the Junior Officer Leadership Program. Before that, he was an artillery officer with the U.S. Army, with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne Division. A 1992 graduate of Sackets Harbor Central School, he holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Norwich University, Northfield, Vt., and a master of business administration degree from Emory University, Atlanta. Mr. Derouin resides in Atlanta with his wife, Dr. Ingie El-Khashab Derouin, and children, Ava and Hutson.
Earns designation
Joseph P. Fitzsimons, first vice president and financial adviser for Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, Potsdam, recently received the chartered retirement planning counselor designation from the company’s college for financial planning. Mr. Fitzsimons has been employed by Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 1983.
Hired at law firm
The Conboy, McKay, Bachman and Kendall Law Firm, 407 Sherman St., has hired Jill Fadia Spielmann as an associate attorney. Mrs. Spielmann is from Rochester and in 1999 completed her undergraduate degree at Ithaca College, where she majored in Spielmann psychology and minored in legal studies. In 2003, she received her juris doctorate from the University of Dayton, Ohio, and was admitted to the Ohio bar in May 2004. Mrs. Spielmann was admitted to the southern district of the Ohio bar in December 2004. She was admitted to the New York bar in February. Immediately following law school, Mrs. Spielmann practiced in the areas of domestic relations, personal injury, criminal law and discrimination. She focused her practice in criminal defense. In October 2005, she joined the law office of the Montgomery County public defender in Ohio, and she has had extensive criminal defense litigation experience in that capacity. At Conboy, she is a member of both the litigation and domestic relations groups. She also will practice in criminal defense.
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Keynote speaker slated
Global futurist and co-author of the book “Foresight 20/20,” Simon Anderson will be the keynote speaker at the North Country Technology Symposium on May 23 in Potsdam. The symposium is the region’s largest business-to-business event presenting the latest information technology topics for businesses and organizations. In a talk titled “Understanding the Technology of Tomorrow Can Transform Your Business Today,” Mr. Anderson will address how emerging technologies and trends are transforming business and the opportunities this creates for organizations and businesses.
Full-service salon opens
Deb Moschell, Potsdam chamber board member, Marylee Ballou, chamber executive director, Kristy Hayes, owner of Taglio Salon, Brianna Jones, Taglio Salon stylist, Amanda Crump, chamber membership committee member, and Fred Hanss, Potsdam Planning Office.
Salon opens in Potsdam
The Potsdam Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting March 14 for Taglio Salon, 2 Elm St., Suite 2, Potsdam, a new member of the chamber. Owned by Kristy Hayes, Taglio Salon offers AVEDA products.
Donation received for scholarships
The Small Business Development Center at Jefferson Community College has received a $1,000 donation from Mosher Business Advisors Corp. to underwrite scholarships to the SBDC’s entrepreneurial training course. Mosher Financial Group Ltd., Watertown, the parent company of Mosher Business Advisors, was founded in 1987 as a business advisory firm specializing in mergers, acquisitions and business consulting.
Holistic healing business opens
Paula M. Youmell, certified holistic health and nutrition coach, has opened Hands on Health Holistic Healing in Potsdam. Ms. Youmell is certified through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, Manhattan, and draws on experience as a registered nurse, state-licensed health and physical education teacher, herbalist, adult fitness teacher, yoga instructor and Reiki practitioner. Hands on Holistic Healing provides lifestyle coaching to assist clients in discovering the underlying causes of health problems and making healthy changes to heal or prevent diseases. Visit www.hand sonhealthhh.com to learn more.
The Potsdam Chamber of Commerce welcomed MH Studios, 63 Market St., to the Potsdam business community with a ribbon cutting March 26. MH Studios is a full-service salon that offers nail care, waxing and spray tanning services. The salon is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Visit www. mhstudiosalon.com to learn more.
Seeking business of year nominations
The Potsdam Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for the Business of the Year Award. The award is presented to a Potsdam business that has excelled in improving the community, increasing economic activity, growth in employment level and customer service. Nominations may be sent to the chamber at P.O. Box 717, emailed to potsdam@slic.com, or dropped off at the chamber office at 24 Market St. The winner will be announced at the spring luncheon May 9 at the Potsdam Town and Country Club.
IRS releases key tax points for farmers According to the IRS, a person is in the business of farming if you cultivate, operate or manage a farm for profit, either as an owner or a tenant. A farm includes livestock, dairy, poultry, fish, fruit and truck farms. It also includes plantations, ranches, ranges and orchards. The IRS has some key points for farmers regarding federal income taxes: 1. Crop insurance proceeds: You must include in income any crop insurance proceeds you receive as the result of crop damage. You generally include them in the year you receive them. 2. Sales caused by weather-related condition: If you sell more livestock, including poultry, than you normally would in a year because of weather-related conditions, you may be able to postpone until the next year the reporting of the gain from
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selling the additional animals. 3. Farm income averaging: You may be able to average all or some of your current year’s farm income by allocating it to the three prior years. This may lower your current year tax if your current year income from farming is high, and your taxable income from one or more of the three prior years was low. This method does not change your prior year tax, it only uses the prior year information to determine your current year tax. 4. Deductible farm expenses: The ordinary and necessary costs of operating a farm for profit are deductible business expenses. An ordinary expense is an expense that is common and accepted in the farming business. A necessary expense is one that is appropriate for the business. 5. Employees and hired help: You can deduct reasonable wages paid for labor hired to perform your farming operations. This includes full-time and part-time workers. You must withhold Social Security, Medicare and income taxes for employees. 6. Items purchased for resale: You may be able to deduct, in the year of the sale, the cost of items purchased for resale, including livestock and the freight charges for transporting livestock to the farm. 7. Net operating losses: If your deductible expenses from operating your farm are more than your other income for the year, you may have a net operating loss. You can carry that loss over to other years and deduct it. You may get a refund of part or all of the income tax you paid for past years, or you may be able to reduce your tax in future years. 8. Repayment of loans: You cannot deduct the repayment of a loan if the loan proceeds are used for personal expenses. However, if you use the proceeds of the loan for your farming business, you can deduct the interest that you pay on the loan. 9. Fuel and road use: You may be eligible to claim a credit or refund of federal excise taxes on fuel used on a farm for farming purposes. More information about farm income and deductions is found in IRS Publication 225, Farmer’s Tax Guide, which is available at www.irs.gov or by calling the IRS at 1 (800) 829-3676.
Notes year in business
Maple Run Emporium, 49 Market St., Potsdam, marked its first anniversary April 1. Maple Run Emporium is a maple specialty shop offering gourmet groceries, kitchenware and gifts, many of which are locally produced. To celebrate, the shop is offering sales and promotions throughout the month of April. The business is open daily and hours throughout the spring and summer are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Contact owner Mary Hilton, 274-0102 or visit www.maplerunempo riums.com to learn more.
Named to OSHA program
Taylor Concrete Products Inc., Watertown, has been accepted into the Occupational Health and Safety Administration’s Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program. Taylor Concrete is one of 75 businesses in the state and two in Jefferson County to join the program. The program recognizes small private-sector employers that operate an exemplary safety and health management system. As a SHARP-certified facility, Taylor Concrete will be exempt from programmed OSHA inspections for one year. Since 2005, Taylor Concrete has worked with the state Department of Labor On-Site Consultation Program to improve the company’s safety program. Taylor Concrete Products manufactures concrete masonry and landscape products for commercial, institutional and residential customers throughout the state.
Marks first anniversary
Cantwell and Associates, an affiliate of Oswego Valley Insurance Agencies, recently celebrated its first year of business in Clayton. Cantwell and Associates relocated to new offices at 230 James St. and hired Joseph Navarra as a sales and marketing representative for the agency. Visit www.cantwellandassociates.com or call 686-3350 to learn more.
Mustard Tin now in St. Lawrence mall
Linda Dalton, owner of the Mustard Tin, has returned to Massena and St. Lawrence Centre mall. Ms. Dalton’s gift shop sells primitive-style decor items such as candles, tarts and tart warmers, signs, garlands, lamps, night lights, wreaths, pottery, stars and potpourri. Ms. Dalton said the larger space has allowed her to increase her inventory.
April 2012 | NNY Business
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CoVER sToRy
An
ever-evolving iNDuSTRy Despite economy, north country car dealers invest in growth for future.
I
BY JOLEENE DESROSIERS
T WASN’T THAT LONG AGO when outer Washington Street in the town of Watertown was lined with the likes of a drive-in theater, a bowling alley, a handful of restaurants and a large department store. But things have changed on that end of town, and it’s got people driving away. The auto industry in the north country is evolving and expanding. Dealers like Waite Toyota, F.X. Caprara and the Davidson Auto Group are gearing up to meet customer demands by adding new showrooms or buildings
16||NNY NNYBusiness Business| |April April2012 2012 16
and, in some cases, splitting up dealerships. The effort is one more piece in a larger puzzle that has helped fuel Jefferson County’s growth as the fastest-growing county in the Empire State. The developing car dealerships agree on one thing: Their dedication to the north country is not speeding away anytime soon.
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Barry L. Waite of Waite Toyota and Scion has been involved in the car business since he was a boy. His grandfather, Easton Waite, started sell-
Clarence Cousins replaces the headliner of a truck in the service bay at Davidson Ford on outer Washington Street, Watertown. AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS
ing cars in Adams in 1929. “He sold Studebakers and Hupmobiles,” Mr. Waite said. “We lived so close to the dealership I could walk over there. My dad began working for my grandfather and soon I was, too. I started cleaning cars for him when I was 12 or so.” In 1954, the dealership moved to Adams Center. Things seemed to be going well until Studebaker stopped making cars in March 1966. Hupmobiles were becoming a thing of the past, too, so something needed
to be done to keep the wheels at Waite Motors turning. That same year, the Waites turned their eyes to Toyota and, according to Mr. Waite, became one of the first Toyota dealerships in the United States. “We could see the future in Toyota,” Mr. Waite said. “It was a very up-and-coming company at that time. We started selling them in the early ’70s.” It was around that time that Mr. Waite joined his father, Paul, in taking over the business from the elder
Waite. As the business grew, they recognized they needed to move the dealership to where the buzz was: Along outer Washington Street in Watertown. So, in 1988, contractors got to work, building what is now the present Waite Toyota and Scion dealership. “Knowing there was a possibly of Fort Drum expanding, we decided it would be better if we were closer to the rest of the competition at the time,” Mr. Waite said. “If you notice, in most areas, car dealerships April 2012 | NNY Business
| 17
CoVER sToRy are all together. It creates more of a draw for people to come and shop. It’s a destination, more than anything else.” And it’s a destination that’s booming. For Waite Toyota, customer satisfaction is what keeps them growing. Many of their customers are repeat car buyers from the days when Paul Waite was in charge and Toyota was the shiny new name on the block. Today, despite headlines of sticky accelerator pedals that desecrated Toyota’s reputation for a short time in 2010, the Japanese-based automaker still produces
18 | NNY Business | April 2012
one of the most popular drives for American consumers. And, in an effort to keep their customers warm and satisfied, Mr. Waite is in the process of remodeling the building next to his dealership that once housed the Davidson Ford store. By July, he hopes to have an entirely new service building up and running. “The more cars you sell, the more you have to service,” he said. “That’s basically why we’ve run out of room. It’s a big thing here in the north country to be able to drive into the building and do all of the
paperwork right inside. The new building will be strictly for service. There will be a large waiting area and lounge, and more amenities for customers while they wait for their vehicles. We have to expand because we’ve outgrown the original building.” The latest overhaul comes after at least two other remodels since 1988, Mr. Waite added. When finished, the present building also will have a new look. The new façade and renovations on the present building should be complete
CoVER sToRy sometime in the fall. Between the showroom, a new service building and an auto detailing shop in the back, Waite Toyota will cover 26,000 square feet. Every single bit of contract work will be done by local businesses. “If we don’t support the local economy here, who’s going to?” he said. “These are the people who come back as customers, so it only makes sense. I’m very dedicated to the area. My sons are here and help me run the business now, too. I’ve been here all my life. I’m not going anywhere.” Toyota itself also is growing. The automaker is introducing 19 totally redesigned products. Mr. Waite intends to carry those products at his newly renovated buildings while servicing a loyal base of north country customers at the same time.
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f you’ve ever met or talked to one of the Caprara brothers, it’s almost immediately evident from their intonation that they not originally from the area. They hail from the Bronx. For F.X. Caprara Car Companies co-owner, William F. “Billy” Caprara, that hardly matters. He’s a north country man now — and it’s where he intends to stay. Billy and his brother, Charlie Caprara, were transplanted from New York City to the north country when Billy was just 16 years old. “I remember how different it was to get on a yellow school bus as opposed to an hour on a subway and another half hour on a city bus just to get to school,” Billy said. “It was a bit of a culture shock, but it was refreshing, too.” He and Charlie learned about the auto industry early on. Their father, Francis Xavier, the “F.X.” in the name, started a business out of the family’s Pamelia home in 1973. He had been a general manager at a Ford dealer in Scarsdale. As the business grew, so did the need for space. The elder Caprara bought his first used car lot on outer Washington Street, which remains an F.X. Caprara lot today. Add to that a handful of growing stores that stretch north to Alexandria Bay, back through Watertown and a bit south into Pulaski. Today, the F.X. Caprara car company is 14 franchises strong. Once grouped into a few buildings, Mr. Caprara is busy working to separate each franchise so they have their own building.
NORM JOHNSTON | NNY BUSINESS
William F. “Billy” Caprara, co-owner of F.X. Caprara Car Companies, in the showroom of his Chrysler-JeepDodge store on outer Washington Street, Watertown.
“I don’t think we can have too many franchises, as long as they stand alone,” he said. “I can honestly say I was probably the most hesitant person in the world when it first came to splitting them up. I thought having four franchises
in one building was the greatest thing since sliced bread. But I recognized the customer wasn’t getting the full customer service he should have been getting. Now they will.” After Mr. Caprara bought the
April 2012 | NNY Business
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CoVER sToRy New vehicle registrations / Jefferson County MoNTH
Cars
TruCKs
ToTaL
ToP seLLING Cars / TruCKs
February
285
47
332
Dodge / Dodge
January
270
82
352
Kia / Dodge
ToTaLs
555
129
684
uP 51% YTD oVer 2011
December
319
87
406
Jeep / Dodge
November
292
111
403
Kia / Dodge
October
341
107
448
Kia / Dodge
September
399
102
501
Kia / Dodge
August
383
101
484
Kia / Dodge
July
268
65
333
Toyota / Dodge
June
355
66
421
Kia / Dodge
May
344
51
395
Kia / Dodge
April
363
77
440
Kia / Dodge
March
367
68
435
Kia / Dodge
February
152
49
201
Toyota / Chevrolet
January
205
47
252
Toyota / Chevrolet
ToTaLs
3,788
931
4,719
uP 43.6% oVer 2010 Kia / Dodge
December
168
37
205
Kia / Chevrolet
November
158
37
195
Kia / Chevrolet
October
258
66
324
Kia / Toyota
September
264
46
310
Kia / Toyota
August
272
66
338
Kia / Toyota / Chevrolet
July
235
56
291
Kia / Chevrolet
June
277
59
336
Toyota / Toyota
May
279
47
326
Hyundai / GMC
April
230
60
290
Kia / Toyota
March
267
51
318
Toyota / Toyota
February
145
22
167
Kia / Toyota
January
148
37
185
Toyota / Toyota
ToTaL
2,701
584
3,285
Kia / Toyota
2012
2011
2010
Source: Department of Motor Vehicles / Jefferson County
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former Saturn dealership, he put both Kia and Volkswagen dealerships inside. Today, construction on a new Volkswagen building is complete and Kia stands alone in the former Saturn location. For F.X. Caprara, the latest extreme makeover along auto row is the company’s ChryslerJeep-Dodge store, which Mr. Caprara said became the top retail sales volume store in Upstate New York last year. Each franchise is now its own entity. “When you come in to look at a Volkswagen, that’s what you’ll get,” Mr. Caprara said. “If you need Volkswagen service, that’s what you’ll get. It’s the same thing if you go to Kia or to Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep. There is no longer a mosh pit with four other franchises all tucked into one. I think the wave of the future is to be a standalone store. It just works well that way.” The Caprara brothers have a strong dedication to servicing the people of the north country, and that’s an easy thing to do, Mr. Caprara said, when you truly enjoy the business. “We have passion for what we do,” he said. “If my brother and I didn’t have passion for our business, we wouldn’t be here. We’d be doing something else. We believe in what we do and we like what we do. And after 35 years, we still enjoy the hell out of it.” With a growing portfolio of brands, Mr. Caprara said it’s not the quantity of dealerships that makes for good business, but the quantity of customers. No matter how many cars they pull on and off the lot, it’s the satisfaction of the customer that makes him glow. “We know the car business. That’s what we know and that’s what we do best. We don’t diversify. If we were to diversify too much, we would lose sight of what and who we are. So we just stick to the basics of our business,” he said. “I think we live in a great area that is economically driven by Fort Drum. And it’s a great engine that keeps burning. We’ve been here 35 years and we have roots. Add to that the many loyal customers who we’ve sold to over the years and you’ve got a business that’s happy to be here.”
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CoVER sToRy outer Washington Street. For Dwight E. Davidson, president of the auto group, humble beginnings are what got him to where he is now, and what will keep him where he is as he continues to cater to north country customers. Mr. Davidson and his family presently own two Chevrolet-Cadillac-Buick-GMC stores, one of which is in Rome, a Nissan dealership, a Ford Store and a pre-owned auto center in Evans Mills. Add to the holdings Davidson Collision Center and seven Precision Car Washes — four of
22 |
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which are in the Mohawk Valley — and you’ve got a company that can meet a diverse slate of customer needs. Mr. Davidson moved to Watertown in 1984 after graduating from Syracuse University. At the time, unemployment was pushing 15 percent. About a year after the dealership opened in 1985, the military announced plans to reactivate the 10th Mountain Division and dramatically expand Fort Drum, which was the largest military base expenditure since World War II. Unemployment quickly fell from
15 percent to single digits in the north country. As was the case with Waite Toyota, the expansion of Fort Drum helped the Davidson business grow. Coupled with the lack of Chevrolet dealers in the area and Mr. Davidson was piloting his dealership toward success. “There was no Chevrolet dealer in Watertown at that time,” he said. “When a dealership is lacking, the industry calls that an open point. So we contacted Chevrolet and they awarded us the point. Then we bought the old Chrysler build-
CoVER sToRy
AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS
Andy Thorigal works on the underside of a car in the service bay at Davidson Ford on outer Washington Street, Watertown.
ing on Washington Street and moved in. Roughly seven years later we bought out Buick-Pontiac-GMC. Not long after that, we acquired Nissan.” As Davidson began to add dealerships, it watched as DealMaker, another large local auto group, met its demise. Yet, Mr. Davidson said, there wasn’t any fear when it came to his laying down more bricks and mortar along outer Washington Street to expand. Slow and steady is they key, he said. “We operate on measured, controlled growth so we’re sure we are operating our business properly. When you grow too fast, sometimes you lose sight of your business,” Mr. Davidson said. “You can’t service your customers and take care of them the way they should be taken care of. We approach things a little differently. We’re growing, yes, but we’re growing in a way that we are personally involved with our employees and our customers. There are a lot of absentee dealers who aren’t at their business everyday and involved with their customers. That’s not how we run our business.” Driving along outer Washington Street, expansion is most evident in the Davidson neighborhood. Buildings are being built “green” in an effort to reduce power usage. Solar panels also are being installed on all of the buildings. Oil waste
systems use waste oil from the cars that are serviced to heat the building. The benefit of growing and evolving in this way are the employment prospects that come with it. A job opportunities page on the Davidson Auto Group website actively seeks workers. For Mr. David-
“
We’re growing in a way that we are personally involved with our employees and our customers. — Dwight E. Davidson president, Davidson Auto group
son, his expansion is one more indication that the north country is a piece of the country worth calling home. “We think Watertown is a great place to live and raise children and a great place to do business,” he said. “If the right opportunity came along elsewhere and we felt we could operate our business in a professional manner without losing control of it, we’d consider it. But Watertown is our base, our core.” The story of growing and acquiring
franchises doesn’t end here. The possibility of owning a Honda store could be in the cards. The Watertown marketplace is presently void of a Honda dealership as it was a franchise that folded when DealMaker Auto Group shuttered operations on outer Washington Street in May 2010. “We applied for it, but Honda has not awarded it,” Mr. Davidson said. “We applied last fall. In the grand scheme of things, when you’re looking at a company that does business worldwide, Watertown is just a little tiny dot on the map to them. So they’re taking their time. Other dealers have applied for it, too.” So the question of who will own and operate a Honda dealership will have to wait. For Mr. Davidson, it’s neither here nor there. He says the customers comes first, bottom line. “Customer service is a big deal for us. Our philosophy is that customer service starts at the top and if we’re not around setting standards for employees to follow, then customer service suffers. I won’t let that happen.” n JoLeeNe Des rosIers is a freelance writer, transformational speaker and author who lives in Pulaski with her husband and daughter. She is a former television reporter for YNN, NBC 3 WSTM in Syracuse and ABC NewsWatch 50 in Watertown. Her first book, “Memoirs of Normalcy” was published this year. Contact her at myddes@ hotmail.com.
April 2012 | NNY Business
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sMALL businEss
Body shop puts polish on past For three generations, Ames Bros. has ironed out the dents By KYLE R. HAYES
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NNY Business
harles E. “Chuck” Ames knows the answer to the question, “What was your first vehicle?” before the sentence is even completed. “Oh of course, a ’41 Ford,” he replies quickly. For Mr. Ames, owner of Ames Bros. Service Center, Watertown, automobiles have been his livelihood since he was a teen. In particular, crunched, cracked, dented, wrecked and broken automobiles. Each month, Ames Bros. sees more than 70 vehicles at their 21780 Gillette Road location where they specialize in collision repair, body work and automotive painting. Mr. Ames’ father, Frank, and two brothers, Walter and Robert, founded Ames Bros. Service Center in 1950 at its original location at 19059 Route 11 Watertown atop Washington Street hill. The business moved to its present building in March 2011. “When I was in high school I used to come to the shop after school,” Mr. Ames said. “Then I went into the Army in 1954 for two years and returned in 1956 and have been here ever since.” One of his earliest memories is working with an air hammer, a tool used for cutting and shaping metal, at age 14. Mr. Ames’ son, Brad A., nephew, Frank R. Ames, and Frank’s son, Justin R., also are heavily involved in the business. Brad said that he remembers learning how to pump
AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS
Above, from left, Chuck E. Ames, son, Brad A., nephew, Frank R., and great-nephew, Justin R., in the garage of Ames Bros. body shop on Gillette Road, Watertown. All three generations presently work at the shop. Below, the original location of Ames Bros. body shop, outer Washington Street, Watertown.
gas, sweep floors and drive a go-cart on the Ames Bros. lot at the tender age of 8. Walking into the service center, the smell of fresh car paint drifts into the reception area and a pile of crumpled plastic bumpers sits behind a newly painted truck, remnants of an accident that the Ames Bros.
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team all but erased. “Business has been better than ever,” Brad said. “We have a steady stream of vehicles all the time here. With the new facilities we have more room for vehicles and some new equipment, like an electronic measuring device that will measure down to the
millimeter. I believe we are one of only two garages with that equipment in the area.” Without saying a word, Chuck confirms that business has stayed steady, sifting through a clipboard of estimates when a customer calls, which they do often. A stream of tow trucks and clients work their way through the building. A Volkswagen is being dropped off after an accident and its owner walks through the front door looking to collect her belongings from inside. Outside, another tow truck pulls in at the same time the phone rings — another customer checking on the status of their vehicle repairs. Both Brad and Chuck mention that winter is normally their busiest season, with increased vehicle accidents due
to slippery road conditions. This year’s mild winter weather led the way for a different revenue source. “The foxes, raccoons, deer, turkeys and porcupines are doing a lot of damage lately. Especially the turkeys, they can be the worst,” Chuck said. “We’re getting a lot of vehicles that have hit animals coming in now that spring is here.” Even though the automotive industry has changed in terms of manufacturing materials, with metal body panels being replaced by lighter and cheaper plastic, and technology, the Ames family has stayed on
“
The foxes, raccoons, deer, turkeys and porcupines are doing a lot of damage lately. Especially the turkeys, they can be the worst. — Charles E. “Chuck” Ames
owner, Ames Bros. Service Center
top of new and emerging trends. “There is training we have in terms of being able to fix things like hybrids because there is a high power line that runs down the middle of the car, but we keep up on all of that,” Brad said. Chuck said staying with the evolution of the auto industry is all about rolling with the punches and putting money back into the business as time and cash flow allows. “When we bought this new facility, we had to come in and refurbish equipment and purchase a few new things, but it was all here for us to start with,” he said. “Having to refurbish the equipment was much cheaper than having to buy new. Things like those paint booths are tens of thousands of dollars.” Despite leaving the business’s home of more than 60 years on Route 11, the Ames family seems comfortable with their new establishment just down the road. “We’ll continue to make it our own,” Chuck said. “It all takes time.” n KYLe r. HaYes is associate magazine editor for NNY Business. Contact him at khayes@wdt.net or 661-2381.
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JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS
From left, El Chinchorro Hispanic Grocery owner Luz M. Velez, Xanara N. Ruiz Gouty, 13, employee Mari A. West, friend Marcos Claudio, and Enrique A. Ruiz, 11, have a laugh while taking a break at the Coffeen Street store.
Serving a growing community ‘Authenticity of products’ hits high note for Hispanic grocery
By GABRIELLE HOVENDON
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ou won’t find bags of Doritos or cans of Coca-Cola on the shelves of the market at 605 Coffeen St. When you walk through the door, the cheerful yellow walls won’t be lined with rows of freezers or coolers of dairy and produce. You might spot a few items that are available in local stores — Goya brand legumes and pineapple juice, for instance — but the majority of this market’s items can’t be found anywhere else in the north country. And that’s exactly what owner Regina M. Velez wants. Ms. Velez, a native of Puerto Rico, opened her Hispanic grocery store in the Carbone Bros. Plaza last September. Called El Chinchorro, the 500-squarefoot market offers products from nearly every country in Latin America and South America: packaged corn husks, canned cactus, Dominican sausage, banana leaves and pineapple soda, to name a few. The foods can be so hard to find in Northern New York that Ms. Velez has
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traveled as far as Syracuse, Rochester, New Jersey and Virginia for inventory. “It’s a good frustration because it’s moving me to find alternative ways to do what I need to do,” she said. “Whatever I get, it goes fast.” Among the items she stocks are hot sauces and salsas, discos (pastry rounds) for empanadas, flour mixes for tamales, ají dulce peppers and various other roots and vegetables for traditional soups and salads. Not to mention what Ms. Velez deems “the best plantains in town.” There is gofio, a starchy Caribbean snack sold in yellow paper cones, and there are frozen containers of homemade sofrito, a cooking base for beans, soups and rice dishes. If the long list of foreign ingredients sounds intimidating, think again. El Chinchorro does not cater exclusively to Hispanics, and English as well as Spanish is spoken inside the market. “Americans love it. They come here and say ‘Oh, thank you, Lord!’” Ms. Velez said. She hopes to begin making and selling food baskets that would include all the ingredients for a particular dish as
well as recipe instructions in English. For Hispanic customers, there is an added benefit in the authenticity of the products. “I come from South America, from Colombia, so there are things that we use down in our native country that are not found in our regular markets. I used to go to Syracuse, but now this is closer,” said Betty M. Henderson, a broker at Hefferon Real Estate in Watertown. “The taste of the home cooking down there, we can find here.” Among foods that Ms. Henderson buys at El Chinchorro are flour mixes for making arepas (Colombian tortillas), green plantains for making patacones (a side dish), and several types of homemade candies. She also purchases items from countries other than Colombia and learns how to cook new dishes by looking up recipes online or asking Ms. Velez for tips. “I’m not only going there for the products that I can find but also the variety of other countries’ products,” Ms. Henderson said. “You can introduce other cultures into your house — I don’t limit myself.”
sMALL businEss According to Ms. Velez, products on the shelves of El Chinchorro often invoke nostalgia in her customers. Take, for instance, the popular Puerto Rican cookies called “florecitas,” or “little flowers.” “You see a can of florecitas and you see your childhood right there,” Ms. Velez said. “The same with the candies – I bring a lot of authentic candies, and you see that and that’s home.” n
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But hard-to-find ingredients aren’t the only reason to visit El Chinchorro. “Food is the last thing you lose as a culture,” said Ms. Velez, who has been a pastor at Nueva Vida Iglesia Cristiana in Watertown for the past eight years. She explained that she wants the store to be a haven, “a place where people don’t feel as alone as they sometimes do.” As such, El Chinchorro has become an extension of Ms. Velez’s ministry. It’s a place where customers are greeted by name, where informal Bible classes are offered in the evenings and where people can come just to hang out, sip sodas or get help with translations and paperwork. Religious books in Spanish and phone cards for calling South America are sold alongside avocados and coconut milk; free copies of the New Testament in Spanish are regularly given out. Hispanic laborers who work on outlying farms can even call in their orders and have groceries delivered to them. Indeed, the very name of the market has a twofold meaning: In Puerto Rico, said Ms. Velez, a chinchorro is a small shop and a type of material used for making fishing nets, such as the ones in the Gospel of Matthew. “I’ve gone there a couple of times not only for spiritual advice, but also for Bible studies for an hour or so,” said Ms. Henderson, who also is a member of Ms. Velez’s church. “People go there to visit and talk to her and pray for somebody. If you need a prayer, she is available.” Above all, El Chinchorro is intended to create a sense of community among its shoppers. “They will be received with a lot of love. As soon as they come in, they’re welcome,” Ms. Velez said. “They can ask as many questions as they want; they can give suggestions and comments and we’ll listen. We really care about our people.” Ms. Velez has many plans for El Chinchorro, including a store website and a grand opening in June. She is looking into creating a bilingual publication in Watertown, and she eventually hopes to sell
El Chinchorro WHaT: Hispanic grocery store WHere: 605 Coffeen St., Watertown Hours: Noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday CoNTaCT: Find El Chinchorro on Facebook or call the store, 681-6266.
fresh, home-cooked Hispanic foods in addition to groceries. And, although she admits that El Chinchorro is sometimes more
emotionally than financially rewarding, she said her ambitions and her knowledge of other Hispanic cultures have grown significantly since opening the store. “The purpose of the store — I see it happening already and that’s what keeps me going,” she said. “I see new people every day. Everybody’s so happy we’re here.” n GaBrIeLLe HoVeNDoN is a former Watertown Daily Times reporter and freelance writer who lives in Watertown. Contact her at ghovendon@gmail.com.
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JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS
Peter G. and Brenda T. Cavallario celebrated 15 years in business on April 7. They own Cavallario’s Cucina on South Massey Street, Watertown.
Pleasing palates for 15 years Cavallario’s marks anniversary with renewed focus on fine dining By ANDREA PEDRICK
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here comes a time in the life of a business to take a step back in order to step toward its future. Peter G. and Brenda T. Cavallario, husband-and-wife owners of Cavallario’s Cucina, 133 N. Massey St., Watertown, did just that when they closed their restaurant for two and a half weeks in March to realign the business with a fresh vision. “You lose perspective when you are working continually day and night. We felt we had to stop looking at the short term and look at the long term again,” Mr. Cavallario said, explaining that they were too caught up in running the business and had lost focus on the artistry of fine dining. After a brief hiatus, the team has renewed its approach to the latter. Mrs. Cavallario has created more than a dozen new recipes aimed at enhancing established favorites on the menu. Customers who crave the comfort of eggplant parmesan during colder months can return in the summer for a lighter version that
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is grilled, and pair it with a glass of wine poured from a vintner exclusively found in a small region of Italy. The restaurant boasts a new wine selection that the owners hope will exceed expectations. “We did not make such changes by slashing prices, but by taking every step necessary to ensure that all menu items are approachable by the customer,” Mrs. Cavallario said. A meal at the Cucina is meant to be savored. Staff pours over a seasonally fresh menu of Italian signature dishes like wild mushroom fettuccine, prime cuts of beef or fresh fish. Time with friends and family is meant to be appreciated as much as the food itself. But over nearly 15 years, the Cavallarios have noticed that customers see them as a place to celebrate a birthday, anniversary or other milestone, and not necessarily as a place to enjoy fine dining. They looked at their competition and, while there aren’t many fine-dining restaurants to compete with, they took note of how families are busier than ever before. “Watertown is not what it was 15 years ago. It’s a new town,” Mr. Cavallario said.
Restaurants are located downtown and on nearby Coffeen Street. Families tend to choose places where they can catch a quick meal before a child’s soccer game and groups gather to watch a sporting event on a television screen. “What they’ve forgotten is the art of fine dining,” Mrs. Cavallario said. This moment of introspection comes as the restaurant marks 15 years of doing business in Jefferson County on April 17. The Cucina has been at its present Massey Street location since 2003, but for six years prior the Cavallarios operated Cavallario’s Bayside Pizza in Alexandria Bay. The transition from pizza to fine dining came at the request of customers. Besides pizza, Bayside served pasta dishes. Customers liked it and asked for more. Never afraid of hard work or risk, the Cavallarios developed the Cucina and took their passion for food to the next level. During the hiatus, Mr. and Mrs. Cavallario looked at their beginnings to build a new vision; beginnings that included a reputation for quality food, high standards and great customer service. Then they compared it to reality — a difficult
Cavallario’s Cucina WHere: 133 N. Massey St., Watertown PHoNe: 788-9744 (Call for reservations) Hours: Serving lunch and dinner 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; Dinner only on Saturday beginning at 4:30 p.m.; closed Sunday oNLINe: http://www.cavallarios.com/ CavallarioCucina.htm
economy and fast-paced living for many. They came up with an idea that doesn’t compromise their standards. “We are aware of the competitors, but they are not our compass,” Mr. Cavallario said. Instead, Mrs. Cavallario has used her culinary talents and developed creative recipes that are more competitively priced for today’s economy. Mrs. Cavallario is a self-taught chef whose love of food started at a very young age. Her parents were “foodies” and loved to entertain. Being allowed in the kitchen gave her an opportunity to experience the dining experience as an art form. In 2007, her appreciation for “food as art” paid off when her creation, veal roulade al verde, won awards at the Beef Council’s Veal Platinum Plate contest, an “iron chef”-type event at Ontario County’s New York Wine & Culinary Center. Meeting Peter seemed serendipitous. His family was in the restaurant business. In fact, Mr. and Mrs. Cavallario have worked together in the restaurant industry for 32 years and will celebrate 27 years of marriage in November. “We will always have a passion for food. And that passion drives us to attract customers who enjoy the art of fine dining,” Mrs. Cavallario said. The Cavallarios want people to know they can still celebrate a special moment at the restaurant but they are now giving them reasons to return every month, not just once or twice a year. The Cucina reopened March 22 and the added details of new window treatments and new menu items already have caught the attention of returning customers. “The steak was cooked to perfection, the staff was cordial and the atmosphere was as pleasant as always,” said Jennifer Cross-Hodge, Dexter, who was there with her husband, David, for an evening of good food and a good time. n aNDrea C. PeDrICK is a freelance writer who lives in Dexter with her family. She is an award-winning broadcast journalist with a journalism degree from Ohio State University. Contact her at abrped@twcny.rr.com. April 2012 | NNY Business
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EnTREPREnEuRs
Get your game on — again
Retro gaming systems get Infinite Lives thanks to innovative store By CHRIS BROCK
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he game plan for Mitchell J. LaBarge began by accident. His independent video game store started as a repair business. “The whole repair thing started because I had some friends who had Xboxes that were broken,” he said. “They knew I was kind of handy with that sort of stuff.” He also addressed some “Play Station 3 issues” and knew how to remedy the infamous “red ring of death” of early Xbox 360s. “We fixed a lot of that stuff,” Mr. LaBarge said. “They couldn’t afford what it cost to fix, so they asked, ‘Could I just trade in some games?’ So it just spiraled to what it is now.” What Mr. LaBarge has, through ownership, is Infinite Lives. In one corner of the 1305 State St. business, near the Park Circle, “Popeye”, a cartridge built for an Atari 2600 system from the 1970s, awaits a buyer, ready to duke it out with customers also considering newer and brand new games, such as the latest “Modern Warfare” and “Battlefield 3” releases. Infinite Lives moved into its present location in November 2009 after spending six months in the Empsall Plaza as Northern New York Console Repair and Sales. “It gets busier and busier every day,” Mr. LaBarge said. He’s tapped into a customer base that is hungry for what Infinite Lives offers: retro video games and the chance to trade in games and hardware at the highest possible price. He said there’s nothing of similar nature in the Jefferson
AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS
Mitchell J. LaBarge is reflected in the screen of a Simpson’s video arcade game in his State Street store.
County area. This spring Mr. LaBarge opened another Infinite Lives store in Oswego. “We have customers from all over,” he said. “I have guys who travel from Rome, Oswego and Rochester. We have a lot of customers who come down from Canada.” What attracts them, he said, is what the highly competitive price he pays for used games
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and gaming systems and the nature of the independent video game store. “Retro gaming is getting to be big again, and a lot of people are kind of going to an anti-corporation mentality,” said Mr. LaBarge. “We found a lot of people would rather give a local business money rather than a big corporation.” One of Infinite Lives’s loyal fans is Eric S. Binion of
Syracuse. The 2000 graduate of Sackets Harbor Central School and 2002 graduate of Jefferson Community College resides in Syracuse where he works is a concert promoter and a talent buyer for Westcott Theater. He recently purchased a stand-up “The Simpsons” arcade game from Infinite Lives for his office. He’s a fan of video games from the mid-1990s, his wife is a fan of games from the 1980s, and they can purchase them cheaper at Infinite Lives than on eBay, he said. “It’s definitely a lot of fun to search through all of the old games and see all the long-lost treasures,” Mr. Binion said. Mr. LaBarge said another element that sets his business apart from others is that customers can trade their retro hardware in. He noted the decades-old Nintendo consoles and the Atari systems scattered around the store. “Everybody has a box of this stuff sitting in their garage and they have no idea of what to do with it.” Mr. LaBarge, who stressed Infinite Lives also offers new releases, said he was surprised at the market for retro video games and their consoles. “There are kids 7 and 8-years old coming in to buy stuff from the 80s,” he said. “A lot of it is because it is simple. A new controller can have, like, 12 buttons on it. The old Nintendos had a jump button and a shoot button.” He has also found that people like “moms,” “grandmothers” and “girlfriends” enjoy the simpler, retro games. He said many people discover his business through word of mouth and it has become popular with Fort Drum
EnTREPREnEuRs soldiers. “We have guys in Afghanistan and Iraq who will call in orders and order stuff and we’ll ship it over to them,” Mr. LaBarge said. “That’s unique because a lot of the big retailers stopped doing that.” Mr. LaBarge, a city native and a 1994 graduate of Watertown High School, said Infinite Lives is something the community needed. “A lot of people don’t want to embrace where we live,” he said. “But you got to remember we have a military base with a lot of young guys and a lot of families that come and go. And a lot of places they come from, they have places like this. When they find us, they get pretty excited.” The store has hosted video game tournaments and recently hosted its first “Saturday night social” where some display racks were moved to make room for two or three televisions. In the socials, gamers, who up to that point may know each other through online names only, get together for some face-to-face time. The first social featured “Street Fighter 3: Third Strike.” The store recently took down a wall in back to make more room. Looking forward to more growth — his second
AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS
The store front of Infinite Lives game store on State Street, Watertown.
location in Oswego — Mr. LaBarge said it was a smoother opening than his State Street store. “When we opened here, we had to piece it together a little bit at a time,” he said. “We just packed it all up in garbage
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bags and moved it all over here. We didn’t have very much. We built all this pretty much from the ground up.” n CHrIs BroCK is a Johnson Newspaoper staff writer. Contact him at cbrock@wdt.net or 661-2409.
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April 2012 | NNY Business
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Contractor ‘brings home gold’ n Trade group honors Morristown man for innovation in moving By MATT McALLISTER
O NNY Business
ver the course of his 40 years in the jacking and moving business, general contractor Maxwell R. “Max” Beggs has come across many obstacles. “Each one is different. You never know what you’re getting into until you get up under there and see,” Mr. Beggs said. A member of the International Association of Structural Movers, Mr. Beggs’s work involves lifting and moving buildings and other massive structures. “It’s a trade the general public is not really aware of. Most people have no concept it can even be done. There’s no place in the world you can get structural moving experience besides on the job or from the association,” he said. On Feb. 25 as part of the association’s five-day 30th Annual Conference at the Hilton New Orleans Airport in Kenner, La., he was recognized with the association’s Most Innovative Move Award. He was selected by a panel of three judges from various parts of the country. “There were several categories at the awards ceremony. Longest, widest, and heaviest structures moved. Longest distance moved. Heaviest singlestory move. And then there was the honors category, which included a few awards, one of which is the most innovative move of the year,” he said. Mr. Beggs was recognized for his move last summer of First Congregational Church of Morristown, 541 Sand Street Road, Brier Hill, a job that began with a leaky roof and ended with Mr. Beggs jacking the entire structure about five feet off the ground. He was contacted after Todd L. Hunter of Maple Valley Construction found a bad structural beam when he removed the existing roof. Mr. Beggs discovered rotten rafters, support beams and floor stringers throughout the structure, which was built around 1820. A couple of additions had
“
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JASON HUNTER | NNY BUSINESS
Maxwell R. “Max” Beggs, a general contractor, jacker/mover from Morristown, outside United Methodist Church, Morristown. Old rotten pillars were removed from the front of the building and will be replaced by fiberglass pillars. Mr. Beggs was recently recognized for the “Most Innovative Move of the Year” during the annual International Association of Structural Movers convention in New Orleans for his work with another church in St. Lawrence County.
in the exterior walls and secure a 16-inch microlam beam to all the studs with six to eight timber lags at each stud. In this project, it required about 2,000 timber lags that were six to eight inches in length.” Other problems unique to the job, Mr. Beggs said, included the church cemetery nearby with gravestones three feet from one side of the church, uneven settling of the original structure and the two additions, and the fact that the church was built on sand, with flat rock seven feet below. Maxwell R. “Max” Beggs, Morristown “Raising the church went very general contractor, jacker / mover well using my homemade unified hydraulic system. I have eight ports on my control panel, and for this from $20,000 to $75,000 depending on the project I used six ports with six, 50-ton building, conditions and necessary mateenerpac rams. The weight of the lift was 70 rials, Mr. Beggs said. tons — 50 of structure and 20 tons of steel,” Before he could raise the original he said. church and the 1884 addition, Mr. Beggs A hill behind the church channeled had to repair beams at the roof level. He water toward the building, making the did so by installing microlam beams and sand around the structure soft. Mr. Beggs shackle-rodding them to the originals. “Since the entire floor system and supwas forced to dig three-foot-deep caissons port beams were rotten, I used a method to the flat rock below and fill those holes that I have often used on buildings with this with concrete and rebar. type of problem,” he said. “I find every stud “All the way around the perimeter of the been made to the building since then, in 1884 and 1960. It needed major structural work to support the roof repair. The cost to move a structure ranges anywhere
This is the award that everyone in the room wants. It would be like someone from Morristown going to the Olympics and coming home with gold. —
s T. L Aw R E n C E C o u n T y church, I poured a highly reinforced grade beam on top of the caissons and existing stone foundation. I then installed crushed stone in the crawl space and rebar, mesh and PEX in-floor radiant heat tubing. Once the floor was poured, I lowered the church onto the new support slab and removed the steel beams and microlam clips,” he said. All together, the job took about six weeks and left a unique piece of local history preserved. N. Eugene Brymer, IASM staff executive, said Mr. Beggs will be one of 14 awardwining members featured in an upcoming edition of Structural Mover magazine, the organization’s monthly trade publication. Mr. Brymer said the Most Innovative Move Award is considered the most prestigious of the association’s awards. “Members consider it so because the mover has to come up with his own idea. These guys do some pretty incredible things. They move things never designed to be moved,” Mr. Brymer said. “He’s [Mr. Beggs] not what you would call a real big mover, but he’s been at it for a long time.” A lifetime of experience, he said, went into the project. “It looks the same as it did before he started, but with a brand new foundation,” Mr. Brymer said.
Moving mountains n Over the years, Maxwell R. “Max” Beggs has built, renovated, or moved many churches in the north country. His work includes: the Presbyterian Stone Church, Ogdensburg, St. John The Evangelist, Morristown, Trinity Episcopal, Potsdam, Galilee United Methodist, Ogdensburg, United Methodist, Canton, and Rutland Center Church, Congregation Anshe Zophen Synagogue, Ogdensburg, First Congregational Church, Ogdensburg, First Congregational Church, Morristown, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Rossie, First Baptist Church, Canton, United Methodist Church, Morristown, Potsdam Synagogue, Presbyterian Church, Hammond, and First Presbyterian Church, Heuvelton.
Mr. Beggs is no stranger to IASM awards, having received Best TimeSaving Device in 2003 for his homemade hydraulic mover, “George,” named after his father, and for Tallest Structure Moved, in 2007, when he replaced the foundation of Pierrepont’s Free Assembly Church. But Most Innovative, he said, means the most to him. “This is the award that everyone in the room wants. There were 350 people in
that room who wanted it,” he said. “It would be like somebody from Morristown going to the Olympics and coming home with gold. This is an award at the discretion of the judges and it’s not necessarily awarded every year. They are pretty much saying that this guy has done something that nobody else was able to figure out.” While the judges found him deserving, Mr. Beggs was humble of the distinction. “What I do is pretty small compared to what a lot of these guys do,” he said. “It’s a very prestigious award. I figured out a way to resolve problems nobody else could, they felt it was deserving of the award.” While cribbing timbers, needle beams and hydraulic jacks may not sound like everyone’s idea of a good time, Mr. Beggs said he gets a lot of satisfaction out of his work. “I get quite a bit of spiritual gratification out of it,” the 65-year-old said, standing with a shovel in his hand in a hole he dug in preparation for his current job, replacing four large columns in front of the United Methodist on Gouverneur Street, next to Morristown Central School. n MaTT McaLLIsTer is a Johnson Newspapers reporter based in Ogdensburg. Contact him at mmcallister@ogd.com or 393-0610.
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Saturday, April 21st Cerow Recreation Park
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Homeowners Energy Workshop ~ 12 to1pm
Learn About • NYSERDA’S Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program, and schedule your whole house assessment. • Low interest financing to make your energy efficiency improvements. • Incentive programs to help you save on your utility bills.
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riverhospital.org April 2012 | NNY Business
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JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS
Angel Rock Cottages owners Carol A. and Daniel M. Thomas stand on the foundation for their new pool, made using stone taken from the property off Route 12E near Cape Vincent.
‘If you build it, they will come’ $500k investment pays off for owners of Angel Rock Cottages on Cape By TED BOOKER
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t began with a vision. In 1997, Carol A. Thomas and her husband, Daniel M., bought nine old rental cottages in Cape Vincent that needed fixing up. Once the cottages were renovated, the couple began adding more to meet demand. After building two large, multi-family cottages and a heated outdoor pool last fall at the resort, which borders the St. Lawrence River, the couple will have a total of 16 available this spring, with plans to build three more cottages in 2013. Equipped with solar panels installed by Fourth Coast Inc., Clayton, along with five bedrooms and three bathrooms, cottages were built to accommodate families planning their vacations together, Mrs. Thomas said. The $500,000 project began in September and is slated for completion next month. “We’ve filled a niche here,” she said. “I’ve found multiple families who’ve said they wanted to stay together last summer, so we built them, and they’re renting like mad.” The resort has evolved into a premier destination for visitors during summer months, Mrs. Thomas said, attracting
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people from Rochester, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Canada. With cottages still booked during the summer, she said, last year the couple decided to break ground on projects that will draw even more guests. She credited the resort’s success to a “wait-and-see” approach, explaining that she regularly talks with visitors there to get a feel for what they like about the experience. Talking with customers has been “absolutely the most important thing,” she said. “We’re always on site talking with them and listening to their suggestions, and they’re telling us that it would be nice to have another bathroom,” for example. Another reason for the resort’s success, she said, is the number of families it draws from Fort Drum during the winter, as six winterized cottages are rented monthly from October to April. The cottages, which rent for $700 to $1,200 a month, also attract workers who have short-term contracts at Fort Drum, she said. “Fort Drum has been a boon, and families there have enabled us to keep the cottages open during the winter,” she said, adding that about 10 families rented this season. “It’s not the bulk of our income, but it’s nice to have the cottages open when we’d otherwise not be using them.”
But the resort’s success wouldn’t have come to fruition, she said, if the couple hadn’t made a substantial up-front investment to ensure a quality job was done. Looking back, she said the money invested in the cottages has ultimately been the main draw for visitors. She and her husband were both working full-time jobs at the time, which enabled them to make a long-term investment. The cliché “if you build it, they will come” has been at the heart of the resort’s success. “When we bought the property, we never thought we’d take it to this level,” she said. “But we immediately realized that people wanted nicer cottages for vacations, and when we gutted and renovated them we did the job right. If you offer something nice, people are going to come back.” Local companies that worked to complete the project include Kevin Garnsey Construction, Clayton; Bach & Company, Clayton, Aubertine & Currier Architects, Watertown, and Sundance Pools, Watertown. Visit www.angelrock. com to learn more. n TeD BooKer is a Johnson Newspapers staff writer. Contact him at 661-2371 or tbooker@wdt.net.
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www.AA.com Watertown (ART) to Chicago O’Hare (ORD) Flight
Departs
Arrives
4071 (Except Sun.)
7:00 a.m.
8:25 a.m.
4074 (Except Sat.)
5:15 p.m.
6:45 p.m.
Chicago O’Hare (ORD) to Watertown (ART) Flight
Departs
Arrives
4072 (Except Sun.)
1:55 p.m.
4:45 p.m.
4081 (Except Sat.)
6:35 p.m.
9:25 p.m.
Current schedule as of April 2012, subject to change. 2-Hour arrival before departure is required.
April 2012 | NNY Business
| 35
R E A L E s TAT E R o u n D u P
A first-time home buyer primer
F
irst-time home buyers are critical to strong recovery in the housing market, according to the 2011 “State of the Nation’s Housing” report, published by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. “The potential for first-timers to drive growth is clear from the lift in both home sales and prices that came with the expiration of the tax credit programs in 2009 and 2011,” the report states. There are many questions when deciding to buy a home for the first time, or the first time in a long time. Where can the buyer turn for answers? While there are many resources like real estate agents, the Internet and agencies like the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, many turn to a home-buyer class. Two north country agencies offer home-buyer education. I spoke with Andy Calmer-Beasley, grant administrator for Neighbors of Watertown and Annette Bowman, home ownership manager/educator for North Country Housing Council, also known as St. Lawrence County Housing Council, about their programs. The main idea behind home-buyer education is to assist attendees in all areas of the home-buying process, from financing to searching to closing and beyond. These classes are not only for first-time buyers but are designed for all buyers and can be taken by anyone no matter where they live. The class begins with financial literacy. It is important to understand what a purchase like this entails, including terms used, how to figure the amount of house a buyer can buy and parts of a loan, includ-
ing an explanation of credit scores and how they affect the buyer’s ability to borrow. It also includes setting up and keeping to a budget. The final part of the financial section covers Lance Evans how to secure a pre-qualification letter from a bank or mortgage lender, types of loans, figuring out how much the buyer needs for a loan, and how to apply for a loan. Participants discuss what to look for in a house and try to separate what they need — a certain school district, number of bedrooms — from what they would like. This includes types of housing available, resources to find the right neighborhood or school district for the buyer and their family, and other aspects of the house-hunting process. Once the financial portion is done, the class discusses members of their homebuying team. Chief among these is finding and working with a real estate agent. It is important for consumers to realize that it’s better to find one agent and work with them to find a home than to use multiple agents. Other members of the team might include the lender, attorney, home inspector, appraiser, surveyor, the abstractor and an insurance agent. Each team member’s role and importance to the overall transaction is outlined and discussed.
The course deals with the aspects of the transaction such as entering into a purchase offer, how to shop for insurance, what an appraisal and home inspection entail and preparing for the closing, including the documents that are needed. A final aspect is to examine items to take care of after the sale closes and the buyer has moved in. These include maintaining the home — preventive maintenance, remodeling and repairs — ways to protect and build the equity, and how to cope with crises that may arise. Part of this recalls the budgeting discussion from the beginning of the class. There also is a discussion of various local programs that can help with financial aspects like loan and grant programs for first-time home buyers. Class times and costs vary depending on the agency. Neighbors of Watertown holds its class one Saturday a month for eight hours and costs $45, which covers breakfast, lunch and materials for one person. An extra person is $10 and covers breakfast and lunch. Neighbors of Watertown is located at 112 Franklin St., Watertown, and may be reached at 782-8497. North Country Housing Council has an optional two-hour financial orientation class for $10 a person and its home-buyer class is broken into two four-hour sessions for $40 a person and $60 for two people. The council is located at 49 Main St., Canton, and may be reached at 386-8576. 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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For help with expanding or relocating your business to the City of Watertown Contact: Donald W. Rutherford CEO
Watertown Local Development Corporation (WLDC) 82 Public Square Watertown, NY 13601 36 | NNY Business | April 2012
Phone: 315.786.3494 Fax: 315.786.3495 email: don@watertownldc.com
R E A L E s TAT E
Lenders see strong start to year
Jefferson Q1 mortgage lending on track to top previous year totals By KYLE R. HAYES
W NNY Business
hether it’s the early onset of spring, favorable market conditions or the return of troops to Fort Drum, several north country banks report strong first quarter mortgage lending on track to eclipse previous year totals. “All along, new mortgage loans account for between 30 and 35 percent of our home lending,” Thomas H. Piche, president and CEO of Carthage Savings and Loan, said. “Year to date we are at about 35 percent of purchase activity, which is on the high end of that scale. So we are definitely off to a strong start for the year.” The remainder of home lending at Carthage Savings is made up of mortgage refinancing, home equity lines of credit and home improvement loans. Mr. Piche credits the return of military personnel to Fort Drum and their purchasing power in terms of real estate for much of the increase. However, other lending institutions say the increase in home sales and thus mortgage lending might not be totally Fort Drum-related. Mark R. Lavarnway, president of Watertown Savings Bank, said that a number of factors could contribute to the interest in property investment. “Our volume of new mortgage loans at Watertown Savings is up,” he said. “Interest rates are attractive, our market is stable and those things combined make investing in real estate worthwhile.” According to Mr. Lavarnway, interest rates for the beginning of 2012 were up slightly from the end of 2011, with a Watertown Savings Bank 30-year fixed-rate mortgage loan at 3.875 percent interest at the end of March. “Our first quarter is just wrapping up and we are certainly up quarter-overquarter and year to date,” Mr. Lavarnway said. “We are anticipating that 2012 will remain strong. With rates expected to stay relatively low and a major election in the near future, we are certainly expecting a good year.”
Mr. Lavarnway said that the unusual north county winter, with warm weather beginning as early as February and temperatures in March soaring into the 70s also could have been a contributing factor to an early drive in property sales. According to the Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors, home sales in Jefferson and
Q1 home sales
Jefferson
152
Homes sold
47.5%
$120,000 Median price
0.25% Source: Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors
Lewis counties jumped 86 percent in February with 93 single-family homes sold compared to February 2011 when 50 homes were sold. The median price for property sold in February was $130,000 in the aforementioned counties. January’s numbers show a smaller percentage increase, at 16 percent over 2011, but the number of homes sold was 114, compared to January 2011 at 98 homes sold. “We might be onto something there,” Mr. Lavarnway said. “It’s usually so cold that people wait until at least spring to get
out there looking for property, this year they were able to do that much earlier.” Since the economic downturn in 2008, the mortgage lending market has gotten progressively better, with interest rates continuing to decrease, making obtaining a new home loan or refinancing a current loan at a lower rate much more attractive. “The past few years in terms of mortgage rates have been beneficial for both the banks and the real estate market,” Mr. Lavarnway said. “In 2010 people thought the rates were low so they were purchasing property, they didn’t know that 2011 would be even better.” Watertown-based Northern Federal Credit Union reported in the March Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce newsletter a nearly 10 percent increase in the number of home loans closed thus far in 2012 as compared to 2011. Overall, closed home loans from 2009 to 2011 increased 97 percent for the bank. In the same report, Northern Federal cited among lower interest rates and increased population from Fort Drum, that the increase in home sales and mortgage lending also could be contributed to a dwindling amount of vacancies in the rental market. Late last year the Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization reported a scant 0.4 percent availability for rental units in Watertown and communities surrounding Fort Drum. n KYLe r. HaYes is associate magazine editor for NNY Business. Contact him at khayes@wdt.net or 661-2381.
April 2012 | NNY Business
| 37
R E A L E s TAT E / J E f f E R s o n C o u n T y The following property sales were recorded in the Jefferson County clerk’s office:
On the Web
March 28
n NNY Business magazine is now on the Web at WWW.NNYBIZMAG.COM. For a listing of all real estate transactions in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties, visit us online and click on ‘Data Center.’
n 0.207 acre, Butterfield Avenue, Margaret L. Ellen, Watertown, sold to Glensy L. Frederick Jr., Fort Drum $224,000.
March 26
n Two parcels, Meadow Street, Keith R. Garrett and Stacey A. Garrett, Watertown, sold to Mary M. Worley, Colorado Springs, Colo., $115,000.
March 21
n 120 S. Orchard St., Joseph F. Wahl Jr., Gouverneur, and Loretta A. Wahl, nka Loretta Klock, Watertown, sold to Cheryl A. Whitmore, Ellisburg, $25,000.
March 19
n 0.11 acre, 118 Seymour St., Deborah L. Bell, Watertown, sold to Johsua Carlsson, Watertown, $110,000.
March 8
n Two parcels, 266 E. Main St., Kenneth F. Beach Jr., Watertown, sold to Curtis L. Mosely, Black River, $161,500. n 620 Mill St., Ann C. Loftus, Watertown, sold to Brian A. Burnash, Watertown, $110,000. n Addison Street, Tyler W. Roggie, Lowville, sold to Ronald W. Wagle, Evans Mills, $100,000.
March 7
n South Pleasant Street, Donna M. Colwell, Adams, as surviving heir of Jack M. Colwell, and Eleanor Colwell Phillips, both deceased, sold to Fliptz LLC, Watertown, $40,000.
March 1
n 825 Holcomb St., Cavellier Properties Inc., Watertown, sold to Kristian M. Erickson and Monica A. Erickson, Columbus, Ga., $186,000. n 510 Coffeen St., Jeanne Monteau, Rensselaer, and Concetta Battista, as life estate tenant, Watertown, sold to Zahid Jamil, Watertown, $115,000.
Feb. 29
n Flower Avenue West, Martha S. Grant, Rochester, executor, estate of Lucy W. Sprague, late of Watertown, sold to Nichole L. Bricker, Watertown, $100,000. n 0.418 acre, Holcomb Street, Daniel F. Morrison and Cammy J. Morrison, Watertown, sold to Steven A. Ferguson, Black River, $233,500.
n 0.141 acre, intersection Franklin Street and Broadway Avenue East, Jessica R. Lynch, by Carol M. LaQuay, attorney in fact, Watertown, sold to Adam E. DeSantis, Fort Drum $136,500.
n 0.595 acre, 315 E. Main St., Alan L. Cole, by Christopher Alan Cole, attorney in fact, and Janet M. Cole, by Christopher A. Cole, attorney in fact, Watertown, sold to Neighbors of Watertown Inc., Watertown, $52,000.
March 16
March 6
Feb. 27
March 15
n Corner of South Indiana Avenue and Boyd Street, Gary L. Benoit, Ojai, Calif., sold to Ramiro Sandoval Jr., Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., $160,000.
Feb. 24
n 0.22 acre 266 Pratt St., Frederick S. Haggerty, Watertown, sold to Ryan J. Thompson and Shalaina M. Rotella-Thompson, Watertown, $155,000. n Bowers Avenue, Virginia N. Harford, Watertown, sold to Andrew L. Faber, Watertown, $130,000.
n Mill Street, Plum Tree Partners LLC, LaFargeville, sold to Ramiro Sandoval Jr., Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., $150,000.
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NNY Business | April 2012
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Tony Netto - 783-1028 Patty Johnson - 771-4016 Dave Knowlton - 783-0571 Jill Netto - 783-7921
716 Washington St., Watertown, NY 13601 (315) 782-0199
Feb. 28
n 0.159 acre, Sherman Street, Diane E. Davidian, Watertown, sold to Mark A. Harris, Sackets Harbor, $110,000. n 0.161 acre, Elm Street, Betty P. Slack, Watertown, sold to Nancy E. Yuhasz and Emory J. Yuhasz, Black River, $128,000. n 644 Water St., Kevin W. Heald, Fort Lee, Va., sold to Ferdinand Villar and Shirley Villar, Marfa, Texas, $115,000.
Feb. 22
n Two parcels, no acreage or addresses given, Nancy D. Brown, Watertown, administrator, estate of Theresa I. Derouin, late of Watertown, sold to Brian Roy, Watertown, $25,000.
Feb. 21
n 0.142 acre, 843 Water St., Ronald E. John Sr., Land O Lakes, Fla,, and JoAnne M. John, Watertown, sold to Eric W. McIntosh, Watertown, $133,000. n 118 Gale St., St. Michael Properties, Watertown, sold to Dustin J. Christopher and Judith A. Christopher, Watertown, $81,500. n 0.134 acre, North Colorado Avenue, David E. O’Riley and Patience C. O’Riley, Watertown, sold to Matthew Capone and Becky Capone, Watertown, $91,000.
Feb. 17
n 0.248 acre, 163 Flower Ave. W., Carl L. Berg and Amy M. Berg, Watertown, sold to Josh Metz and Andrea Metz, Watertown, $215,000.
Feb. 16
n 4.52 acres, Summit Drive, Washington Summit Associates LLC, Watertown, sold to Lundy Development & Property Management LLC, Carthage, $160,000.
$3,362,000 City real estate sales recorded over 42-day period, Feb. 16-March 28, 2012
R E A L E s TAT E / s T. L Aw R E n C E C o u n T y The following property sales were recorded in the St. Lawrence County clerk’s office:
March 15
n Town of Lawrence: Parcel 1) 24 90/100 acres more or less, Parcel 2) 48 96/100 acres more or less, both parcels are situated in Great Lot 11, bounded by Richardson Road, Scot L. McClure, Massena, sold to Artle and Anjanette Saucier, Palmyra, $37,000. n Town of Hammond: 75 acres more or less, bounded by Split Rock Road, Michael W. Johnston, Hammond, sold to Daniel G. Lort, Wellesley Island, $33,750. n Town of Lisbon: Parcel 1) 1.84 acres more or less, Parcel 2) 1 are more or less, both parcels are situated in the Tibbets Tract and bounded by State Route 37, Bernard and Corlyn McDonald, Waddington, and Theodore B. McDonnald, Ogdensburg, sold to, Donald G. Strader, Ogdensburg, $118,328. n Town of Morristown: Unknown acres, known as a Condominium Unit, bounded by Riverview Drive, George W. and Carol A. Denke, Hazelton, Pa., sold to Gary and Debra C. Roberts, Whitesboro, $156,000. n Town of Norfolk: Unknown acres, being Lot 10 in Block C, Amy L. Mintz, Massena, sold to Brandi L. and Matthew N. Akins, Canton, $109,000. n Town of Potsdam: Parcel 1) 0.86 of an acre more or less, Parcel 2) 0.92 of an acre more or less, both parcels are bounded by County Route 14, Brandi L. and Matthew N. Akins, Canton, sold to Lewis C. and Terri A. Naccari, Madrid, $72,000. n Town of Massena: Two parcels, unknown acres, being Lot 4 in the Bayley Tract, Edward F. Lyon, Potsdam, James J. Lyon, Massena and Margaret R. Lyon, Massena, sold to Amy L. Mintz, Massena, $83,000.
of Lot 7 and Lot 14, bounded by Deer River, Kevin Felt (administrator), Ruth M. Dishaw, Lawrence, sold to Paul and Jessica Prosper, North Lawrence, $70,000. n Town of Lisbon: 1.99 acres more or less, bounded by Ballantine Road, Bruce G. Sears, Corinth, sold to Cory M. Warren, Heuvelton, $65,000. n City of Ogdensburg: Unknown acres, being Lot 11 in Block 1, bounded by Gilbert Street and South Street, Lawrence D. and Margaret Langley, Ogdensburg, sold to Christopher L. Burdick, Ogdensburg, $44,900. n Town of Macomb: 0.97 of an acre more or less, being a part of Lot 10, bounded by Sayerson Road, Eva M. LaRock, Gouverneur, sold to Curtis R. Con-
stance, Fowler, $32,500. n Town of Hopkinton: 60.05 acres more or less, bounded by Elliot Road and Route 11B, Edward J. Macie, Mayfield, sold to Christopher W. Preston, Ogdensburg, $45,000. n Town of Potsdam: Unknown acres, bounded by Potsdam-Morley Road, David J. and Pamela F. Weaver, Canton, sold to Jacob Stone, Canton, $27,000.
$1,300,978 County real estate sales recorded over 7-day period, March 9-15, 2012
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n City of Ogdensburg: 3 Parcels, unknown acres, bounded by Jay Street and Barre Street, Paul N. Strader, Cicero and Jean Strader, Ogdensburg, sold to Shirley L. Kendall, Brier Hill, $27,000.
March 13
n Village of Massena: Parcel 1) 0.19 of an acre more or less, Parcel 2) Unknown acres, both parcels are bounded by Pratt Place and Water Street, Edria Jones (executor), Eddie K. Jones, Norwood, sold to Chad Blair, Massena, $48,000.
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n Village of Potsdam: Two parcels, unknown acres, bounded by May Road and Leroy Street, Gregory M. and Mary E. Circe, Potsdam, sold to Michael and Kathy Lahendro, Moira, $129,000.
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n Town of Massena: Unknown acres, being known as Lot 6, bounded by Center Street, Beneficial Homeowner Service Corp., Pomona, Calif., sold to Douglas and Tammy Gormley, Massena, $32,000.
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March 12
n Village of Canton: Unknown acres, being a part of Lot 10, bounded by Woods Drive, Clark H. and Betty R. Carvel, Canton, sold to Gregory and Mary Jo Furnia, Canton, $132,500. n Town of Madrid: 0.57 of an acre more or less, being a part of Lot 63, bounded by Robert O’Brien’s Lot, Karl Benware, Palmer, Mass., sold to Larry T. and Donna M. Compo, Chase Mills, $39,000.
March 9
n Town of Lawrence: Parcel 1) 95 14/100 acres more or less, Parcel 2) 83 12/100 acres more or less, Parcel 3) 8 acres more or less, all parcels being a part
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April 2012 | NNY Business
| 39
20 quEsTions
Keeping F or nearly 100 years, the Nortz family has been putting people behind the wheel of Ford cars and trucks at Nortz & Virkler Ford in Lowville. With a tried-and-true business philosophy — ‘You are only as good as your word’ — cousins Timothy O. Nortz and Nicholas W. Nortz sat down with NNY Business to share their perspectives on the evolving automotive industry.
1
NNYB: What is one of your earliest memories of being at the dealership? NICK: I think I sold my first car when I was 18; it was a 1978 Ford Fairmont Futura. The gentleman’s name was Irvin Deacon from Deer River, probably one of the toughest customers ever put on Earth. He traded every year and told you exactly what he was going to pay and no more. The car had to have the exact equipment as the car he previously had. If he couldn’t get that option you had to subtract that from the price or get him an option that was comparable. It was true salesmanship with that guy. He bought Fords from this dealership for probably 50 years, a car a year.
2
NNYB: You’ve been in business for 96 years. What is some history behind the dealership? TIM: The original paperwork for sales date back to 1916 right up through today. We have known the name of the person who bought it, the vehicle and address; we have the records right up through. It’s always been in our family. It started down the street where the Chrysler building is. My grandfather and Arthur “Art” Virkler, who lived across the street, started the Ford franchise in Lowville. Over the years my grandfather bought him out and gained full ownership.
3
NNYB: The Model T was built in 1908. You started about the time Henry Ford invented the assembly line. Did you learn anything about that time of the business from your grandfather? TIM: The Model Ts would come in by crate and you’d have to get them to the store. It was your
40 |
NNY Business | April 2012
turning NORM JOHNSTON | NNY BUSINESS
the wheels
n From Model T to hybrid Fusion, for nearly a century Nortz is synonomous with Ford
responsibility to put it kind of together. You had to put wheels on and a steering wheel. The solid pieces were all there but part of the actual crate was used for floorboards of the cars.
4
NNYB: Through the years you’ve seen a lot of changes in the evolution of cars, anything that you find particularly interesting? TIM: The durability of cars. People complain about paying so much for vehicles but they are by far a lot better than when I started working on them in 1975. NICK: When we used to have a cold snap in the winter we would come to work with Carhartt jackets on and start vehicles all day long. Now people have remote car starters. You used to have to set the choke, push down on accelerator then be there to hit the key.
5
NNYB: What’s the most impressive innovation you’ve seen in your products? TIM: Just about the time you think they do something great something bigger and better comes out. Now a motor will go 300,000 miles. We used to have to do valve jobs at 30,000 miles. We don’t do that anymore. Vehicles are built so much better. Just a year ago I drove around a pickup with 250,000 miles on it. I couldn’t sell it with that many miles but it worked fine. There was no reason someone couldn’t have bought it. NICK: The biggest killer of the automobile today is the corrosion. That will kill them before anything else.
6
NNYB: What family members are you presently in business with? TIM: The better question would be how many family members are not involved in the dealership. My grandfather, the founder, had three
sons and originally the three sons all worked in the dealership. There is Robert [“Bob”], Nick’s dad, then W. Peter and then there was John [“Jack”], who was my dad. All three were in the dealership then Nick’s dad got into politics. I have three brothers and I’m in it, my brother, Bill, is parts manager and an owner, and then I have one brother who’s not involved. NICK: I have one brother who is involved in the parts department, and then I have a brother who is a lawyer. TIM: Peter has a son who’s here in the office and he had two daughters who don’t live around here. So, we have four family members not involved and five here with us.
7
NNYB: Is there another generation waiting in the wings? NICK: That’s going to be an issue on my side. I have a son who wants to be a veterinarian and a daughter who’s going to graduate from Cazenovia College in interior design and is not really interested in the dealership. TIM: My daughter will graduate in the spring and wants to be a teacher and my son will be going off to college. I have no idea what he is going to do; he is looking to do something with computers. He is a little young to know yet.
8
NNYB: It takes someone with a lot of knowledge of computers to work on and understand cars today. Have you seen any challenges with respect to the labor pool? TIM: That’s no question; that’s true in any industry today. NICK: Computers run a vehicle’s safety systems, antilock brake systems, transmission controls, all-wheel drive systems and everything. If you have a laptop, you plug it in and it talks to you.
20 quEsTions TIM: We had a car that we changed the dashboard in and we had to reprogram it to make it go. Ford Motor Co. computers were down so we couldn’t communicate. If we can’t communicate, we couldn’t make it go. My grandfather would have rolled over in his grave if we said that a car couldn’t leave the dealership until we could communicate with the big guy in the sky to make the car run. It’s sad.
9
NNYB: Do you know the history of how your family got into the business? TIM: My grandfather grew up on a farm just outside of Martinsburg. NICK: I don’t think he finished high school; he went to work for Art Virkler at a young age. Art originally had a Ford tractor dealership that started down here. He went to work for Art and he was good at what he did and supposedly was a better salesman than Art was. Art said he should get in this business and gave him an opportunity and he ran with it. TIM: We once sold Ford tractors, farm machinery and had a Ford heavy truck franchise. We did a ton of stuff with municipalities; snow plows that were customized and you’d send them off to have it put a four-wheel drive unit under it and sell it to the townships. We sold everything that Ford had for sale. They are no longer in the tractor business or the commercial heavy truck business. We had Lincoln at one time, we just don’t have the franchise anymore and we had Mercury until they closed that down recently.
10
NNYB: In terms of the “Big Three” automakers, Ford was the only one not to take a government bailout. Why do you think that was? NICK: Good pre-planning. [Ford CEO] Alan R. Mulally mortgaged everything they owned and pulled through it. TIM: Ford was in a tougher position a few years before Chrysler and GM and they brought this gentleman in and they mortgaged everything. They were either going to make it or be gone. Ford had some awesome product coming down the line. I think [the product] turned a lot of people to start looking at Ford. They were awesome products that we hadn’t seen in a long time. NICK: It started back in the 1970s, the “Big Three” got lazy. The quality just fell off the table and the Japanese saw an opportunity and they do well with what they do. We have them up against the wall now.
11
NNYB: How much business is being driven by concerns over fuel economy? NICK: We are still selling pickup trucks. I don’t know at what dollar amount per gallon will be breaker; we haven’t heard a lot of squealing. Cars have been steady but trucks have been, too. The last time this happened people were going crazy saying they couldn’t afford to drive a truck. It’s not the end of the world. Maybe $5 or $8 a gallon will be the breaking point. I don’t know what the number will be. TIM: The pickups today get 20 miles per gallon and we’ve never seen that. That’s not making up
JASON HUNTER | NNY BUSINESS
Timothy O. Nortz, left, and cousin Nicholas W. Nortz, in their Lowville Ford dealership office. Nortz & Virkler Ford has been in their family — and in business — since 1916. a story, that’s what they get. There are people saying they want to get rid of their old truck for a new one with better gas mileage. They can drive the same vehicle and still get better gas mileage.
12
NNYB: Why is it that European Fords get notoriously higher gas mileage? NICK: I think it’s the difference in emissions standards. We have a lot more emissions requirements and pollution equipment on our vehicles than the Europeans. There’s a Ford diesel over there that they can’t bring over here because the EPA won’t let them because of the emission standards. There will probably come a point where they’ll go away from gasoline. The internal combustion engine will still be with us but with a different propellant, whether natural gas or liquid petroleum or maybe algae.
13
The cousins Nortz file TIMoTHY o. NorTZ aGe: 48 JoB: Co-owner, president Nortz & Virkler Ford, Lowville. FaMILY: Wife, Marion, and two children, Heather, 23, and Matt, 19. HoMeToWN: Lowville. eDuCaTIoN: Associate degree in automotive and business. VeHICLe DrIVING: I’m walking. I sold my wife’s car a few months ago. I had someone interested in the car so I went and cleaned it out, so for two months I’ve been walking.
NNYB: What are automakers doing to make cars more efficient?
NICHoLas W. NorTZ
TIM: Gas engines are still the cheapest to build. You hear eco this and eco that but all it is is a turbo, and the turbo has been around for years. The thing is that it costs $2,000 to put a turbo on a vehicle. We can put a turbo on a vehicle because we need that fuel economy. It’s like a diesel, you spend $3,000 more but how long will it take to recoup that money if you’re still spending $800 a year in gas. When things work out, it’s a wash. We try to explain to people from soup to nuts. We’ll sell you whatever you want but let us explain how it works. We want to make sure they understand what they’re paying for.
JoB: Co-owner, vice-president, Nortz & Virkler Ford, Lowville.
14
NNYB: What sales trends have emerged in your marketplace? TIM: Not that we are a huge car business but I have to believe our car business has doubled in the last four or five years. I have to believe it is
aGe: 53
FaMILY: Wife, Susan, and two children, Nicholas R., 25, Lyndsey, 23. HoMeToWN: Lowville. eDuCaTIoN: Bachelor’s degree in business management and associate degree in automotive marketing. VeHICLe DrIVING: My wife’s car is a Ford Edge, mine is a 1921 Ford Model T.
because of the quality and design; there are a lot of nice looking vehicles out there. They are turning things over every few years now and with better fuel economy. NNYB: How did government programs like “Cash for Clunkers” affect your business? April 2012 | NNY Business
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20 quEsTions
15
TIM: It was nightmare; I was in here at 4 a.m. one night putting paperwork into the computer so we could get our rebates. You had to do it in a certain amount of time and you’d get three-quarters of the way through the claim process and it would kick you off and you’d have to start over again. NICK: It took time for people to realize what was going on but toward the end it was just crazy. The government has never had any program that makes any sense when they got all done. TIM: People who had these clunkers couldn’t afford new vehicles anyway. The only person who benefited was the person who had a clunker in their backyard they drove once in
a while and they would get $3,000, $4,000 or $5,000 for it and he was going to drive it anyway so he made out like a bandit. It didn’t benefit the right people.
16
NNYB: How has Internet pricing and people being able to do their own research online played into your business? TIM: People used to come in with an expectation that we made $10,000 on every vehicle we sell and you shake your head and try and overcome the question. Today, you pull it up and everything on that computer is gospel, it’s all the truth. People know their 2001 Escape with 180,000 miles on it is only worth $1,500, because that’s
what it pulls up. You’re not scaring them to death when people think they’re getting $4,500 out of that rig. They know what we’re paying for them. I tell customers that they can walk out that door and find a dealership that will sell you that car for $50 less, but at some point in time you have to find a place where you want to do business. That’s where you want to buy the car.
17
NNYB: Where in the industry do dealerships like you see the best profit center? TIM: There’s no one best place. A dealership has to function on all cylinders. You have to make a few bucks on finance and insurance, a few bucks in parts and service and you have to make them all work. If one isn’t working you have to make it work. You aren’t going to make a living selling cars alone. There’s no way dealers will sell them and take a loss. The Fuccillos of the world aren’t advertising for free. Someone is paying for that advertising.
18
NNYB: How do you compete with the people with big advertising money? TIM: You have to sell yourself; you have to sell your business. You have to take care of the people you sold to. The last thing I tell people when they leave, I say if you have a problem I want to be the first to know. If it was me, I want to know it. If everything works well, I just ask one thing: Tell all your friends. NICK: We always say we’re here eight days a week. TIM: We have everything they have, other than some balloons. It’s a matter of getting people into the store.
19
NNYB: Have you felt any pressure to upgrade facilities as other Ford stores are modernizing? TIM: I think they would like you to do that. Ford Motor Co. isn’t coming in and saying you have to change or you’re done. Are they going to? I don’t know that. I know GM has some of that where there are other franchises that say as part of bailout they were going to promise to put a new store in. Ford hasn’t gone to that position yet. Will they? They may change tomorrow morning.
20
NNYB: What’s your dream car?
Accepting full truckloads of materials - sorted or the same!
TIM: I have a 1965 Mustang I run a little bit and a 2005 Mustang I run a little bit. You can only have so many of the things and you have to take care of them. At some point you just have a bunch of junk. You have to run them; they’re no good if they just sit there. The 2005 is more fun to run but in the ‘65 people look at you. NICK: People gawk at the Model T if I’m going full out at 25 mph. I can’t stop it from here to the wall; it only has brakes on one end. You have to understand what you’re doing to drive that car. I’ve got a 1930 Model A with a convertible top that is a lot more user-friendly. Which do I like driving the best? That Model T. I have a 1917 T, with a brass radiator. It’s a man killer. You have to hand-crank it and know what you’re doing. The 1921 has an electric start. — Interview by Ken Eysaman. Edited for length.
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April 2012 | NNY Business
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E C o n o M i C A L Ly s P E A K i n G
Regional partnerships really work
T
here is a growing recognition that economies do not recognize local political boundaries; therefore, economic development strategies must be developed and implemented on a broader, regional basis. Today, communities need to recognize their important roles in regional economies and the importance of building on regional strengths, rather than competing over local resources, which will result in stronger communities and a more competitive region. This is the philosophy behind a new economic development strategy being initiated by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo through the state’s new regional economic development councils. New York’s previous approach of incorporating statewide criteria and priorities often has not served our region well. The governor’s region-specific approach enables the north country to exhibit its unique and diverse, smaller scale of business. Gov. Cuomo has provided the north country an unprecedented opportunity. As a member of the North Country Regional Economic Development Council, I had the chance to participate with leaders throughout the seven counties to create the first regional plan for economic development. A complex and, at times, frustrating process that produced a first-of-its-kind, comprehensive blueprint identifying common-ground strengths and objectives for our regional economy. To review this extensive document that took eight months to compile, visit www.nyworks.ny.gov/content/north-country. The council’s strategy was a chance for the north country to develop its own regional strengths and identity. This cooperative effort has helped foster a better understanding of our region’s assets and has increased communications through new partnerships
with the goal for a more vibrant north country. As evidence of this new-found regional strength, the north country finished among the top finalists in a statewide competition for grant money, Jim Wright securing roughly $103 million in state economic development commitments, incentives and funding. Among those grants were significant commitments to projects in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties. Examples of these regional priorities are Fort Drum Community Rental Housing; Clayton destination hotel and infrastructure; Lyons Falls Mill site redevelopment; and broadband connectivity for Corning, a major employer in St. Lawrence County. The council continues to implement priority projects while it also identifies new projects for inclusion this year. Why was the north country so successful? I believe it’s because regional economic efforts are not new to us. In fact, one of New York’s largest employers, Fort Drum, is a direct result of such a regional effort. The original Fort Drum Steering Council (ca. 1985) combined the political leadership of the three counties to attract, recruit and build Fort Drum. Those efforts continue today with the successor organization, the Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization and its ongoing efforts to retain and expand Fort Drum. The Development Authority of the North Country, founded in 1985, was another tricounty regional initiative to address econom-
ic and infrastructure needs for the growth of Fort Drum and the region — a mission that continues after more than 25 years. The North Country Alliance, created in 1988, is a regional partnership comprised of economic development organizations, and more recently, private businesses and institutions from across the seven-county region that mirrors the NCREDC. The alliance’s focus is on the creation and expansion of small businesses through low interest loans. One of the most recent endeavors of the development authority and its three partner counties has been the development of Drum Country Business, a regional marketing effort. Together, our three-county region is advanced and promoted as a single unified market that is strategically located at the axis of the historical east-west corridor and north-south commercial corridor. The region not only is home to Fort Drum but also to a Canadian connection going south — be it to Syracuse, New York City or Washington, D.C., the “Capitol Corridor.” This unique axis provides the region opportunities to draw upon its historical strengths like linking Clarkson University’s research with the manufacturing capabilities of central New York to locate firms near Fort Drum that will meet our nation’s defense priorities. This is but one regional focus that can enhance the north country’s economy. It requires new thinking, acknowledging new partners and developing new regional relationships that benefit us all. It is Gov. Cuomo’s vision for New York. The north country should embrace the concept to ensure it is not left behind. n JaMes W. WrIGHT is executive director of the Development Authority of the North Country. He is a member of the North Country Regional Economic Development Council and a former member of the New York State Senate.
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Charting course for a bright future
N
ew York State leads the nation in nonprofit activity. In 2011, New York nonprofits generated more than $200 billion in revenue and in the previous year employed roughly 18 percent, or 1.2 million paid workers, of New York’s non-governmental work force. This also is in the context of the important work the sector does to improve the quality of life for all of us in an extremely challenging environment. It made sense, then, when New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman, the chief regulator of the nonprofit community, took a largely unprecedented step to form the Leadership Committee for Nonprofit Revitalization. The committee was comprised of 32 members broadly representing the nonprofit sector with a stated goal to work in partnership with Mr. Schneiderman’s office to reduce burdens, save taxpayer charitable money and enhance the public’s trust in the nonprofits. Much of this comes while several proposed bills to amend the state’s Not-for-Profit Law await consideration by the Legislature. In a world where one bad apple can spoil the bunch, this is something that the many well-managed, properly stewarded and profoundly impactful nonprofits in the north country should embrace. It’s a chance to make all organizations uphold the standards to which most already adhere. Recently, Mr. Schneiderman released the committee’s report, formally entitled “Revitalizing Nonprofits, Renewing
New York.” It detailed 38 recommendations in response to its initial objective and divided them into three categories: Reducing burdens on nonprofits, enhancing Rande Richardson governance and maintaining the public trust and the path forward. Broadly stated, they covered issues related to: n Building a better business partnership to address the long-standing challenges in the state contracting processes. n Creating a more hospitable environment for nonprofits by examining outdated and burdensome regulatory requirements. n Creating a new roadmap for oversight and accountability to provide clearer and stronger statutory guidance to boards of directors. n Building boards of the future by focusing on board governance and best practices as well as educational opportunities, including “New York on BOARD and “Directors U,” and recruitment strategies to foster a broader and more diverse pool of directors. n Maintaining a strong, continued collaboration between the attorney general and the nonprofit sector, which could include the launch of “Nonprofits 2020: A Blueprint for the Future.”
This is a positive step at a critical juncture as, like so many others, the sector finds itself under the ever-present stress of doing more with less. At the same time, we must not lose sight of the importance of instilling continued confidence among donors that their precious gifts are consistently and properly stewarded. Perhaps more important is the positive tone with which cross-sector collaboration seems to have worked. As we know too well, the future of so many of the things we value in our communities will require a willingness to work together and an acceptance and embracing of new ways of “doing business.” Are we really prepared to put mission ahead of the organization? The economic climate has forced us to ask the question we already should have been asking: “To what end?” Sometimes being willing to talk is the most important first step. We do not know what the proposed Nonprofit Revitalization Act ultimately might look like. However, the attorney general has shown his willingness to take the lead, and the nonprofit community has begun to rise to the occasion and step away from self-perpetuation by looking more broadly at ensuring the critical work of the nonprofit sector continues. The health of our communities and the quality of life for all of us hangs in the balance. n raNDe s. rICHarDsoN is executive director of the Northern New York Community Foundation. He is a lifelong Northern New York resident and former funeral director. Contact him at rande@nnycf.org. His column appears every other month in NNY Business.
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CoMMERCE CoRnER
No shortcuts to growing leaders
I
t would be great if I could write a column and tell readers how to build a team, but it all depends on a company’s needs, status or trade. The key is to find the right blend. Hiring younger employees who often come straight out of school brings the company employees with fresh ideas and new ways of thinking. Conversely, older employees bring experience, leadership and the ability to produce immediate results. Having said this, you may be tempted to build a team made up of primarily young employees with a few older, more experienced employees sprinkled in. However, this may not be the best idea to build a team. At the end of the day, no two teams are the same. Team chemistry based on what needs to be done are important things to consider when determining how to build your team. If you’re running a restaurant, a law firm, or any other business, you always want to build for the future, but you also have to make sure you can handle the present. For this reason, your employee base should consist of a mix of young and seasoned employees to ensure optimal results. In business, especially small business, owners often act as the company leader. However, all structured systems delegate responsibilities, including leadership, to subdivisions. Your business may hire someone specifically to fill a leadership position or choose to promote someone from within the company. It is not uncommon for an employee to be asked to take the next step and become a leader. The ability to lead and the ability to manage are different talents.
Leading is social and interactive, while managing is calculated and by the numbers. Although a person can possess both, these skills are not mutually inclusive. Still, rather than hire Lynn Pietroski an employee for each task, people in management positions often are relied upon to lead their staff. The trouble with pushing these people
they learned from the experience, not a “spin-your-weakness-into-strengths answer.” The purpose of this type of question is to determine their character and to see if this person learns from their mistakes. The only way to avoid failure is to do nothing. You don’t win all the time. If the job seeker can’t answer this question correctly, one can assume they did not learn from their mistakes, did not have any responsibilities in their previous professions, do not remember their failures or they do not think quickly on their feet. It’s important that your employees, especially your leaders, are not detrimental to your work environment. At times you may shy away from firing these employees because you like them or they are great individual performers. If you can isolate the problem employee and have them continue to perform individually, that’s fine. If not, you have to let them go in order to prevent this individual from negatively influencing the company. Whether assembling a team to carry out a specific task or picking your best employees to oversee a company function, teams are important in the workplace. Teamwork in business is important. A major contributor to successful teamwork is having people who can work together. Only one person can be a leader, but this doesn’t mean only one person should have input. On the contrary, the best teams are those who have input from the most people.
Charisma and reliability are the skills you want your leaders to possess. I am not convinced that these are trainable attributes but something individuals are born with.
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NNY Business | April 2012
into leadership positions stems from the fact that employees often are promoted to managerial or leadership positions for having strong job skills and a track record of getting results. While impressive, these distinctions do not necessitate that the employee have strong people or teambuilding skills. Good leadership does not require job skill or brilliant intellect. Charisma and reliability are the skills you want your leaders to possess. I am not convinced these are trainable attributes but something individuals are born with. Many employers ask job seekers to name a time when they failed. Look to see if the job seeker is humble and talks about what
n LYNN PIeTrosKI is president and CEO of the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce. Contact her at ceo@watertownny.com. Her column appears monthly in NNY Business.
AGRi-businEss
A week wearing the blue and gold
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is name is John W. “J.W.” Allen and he serves as the New York State FFA president, representing more than 4,000 members. J.W. also is a student at Belleville Henderson High School in Jefferson County. Through FFA, he travels across the state and nation advocating for agricultural education and our industry. FFA is a youth organization consisting of students who have a passion for education, leadership and agriculture. The national FFA is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. I asked J.W. if he would share with me a recent week of experiences that demonstrate the opportunities FFA brings to participating students. These are J.W.’s words: “On Monday, March 5, I had the experience of a lifetime visiting state officials in Albany as a representative of the FFA across New York State. With the impact Albany can and does have on our industry, we must remind our elected officials that it’s essential to invest in agriculture and in our future agriculturalists. In Albany, I met with Chike Nnabugwu who is the agricultural education representative in the State Education Department, state Sen. George Maziarz, R-Newfane, the staff of Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan, as well as the staff of Sen. John J. Flanagan, R-Smithtown, all of whom serve on education committees. Together we discussed the importance of continuing career and technical education, more specifically agricultural education, in school systems across the state. The day concluded Monday evening with ‘A Taste of New York,’ hosted by the New York Farm Bureau, where county farm
bureaus provided samples of locally produced and grown agriculture products. Government officials were invited to attend and experience the size and diversity of the agricultural Jay Matteson industry. I met with officials from across the state, from New York City to Northern New York. Lt. Gov. Robert J. Duffy was in attendance to experience the great tastes of New York agriculture. State Sen. Pattie A. Ritchie, R-Heuvelton, Assemblyman Kenneth D. Blankenbush, R-Black River, and Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, all were there to represent Northern New York agriculture. Tuesday morning I left the Albany airport and headed to Washington, D.C., where I participated in a National Ag Day conference. More than 100 participants from across the country attended, learning how to effectively and properly share the message of agriculture to our elected officials. We discussed current issues that affect the agriculture industry, ranging from the federal Farm Bill to immigration laws to renewable resources. Thursday morning we visited the United States Department of Agriculture, before visiting with Northern New York’s representatives. While visiting the staffs of Congressman William L. Owens, D-Plattsburgh, who serves on the House Agriculture Committee, and Congressman Richard L. Hanna, R-Barnevald, who serves on the House Education Committee, I expressed the need to continue educating our
youth on the importance of agriculture, its career opportunities, and the need to fund and maintain rural schools. On Friday, I arrived in Madison, N.J., to visit Pfizer Animal Health Care headquarters. State FFA officers from New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania were able to experience opportunities Pfizer offers as an agriculture industry employer. Pfizer is a national platinum sponsor of FFA, providing more than a $1 million dollars annually. Pfizer supports local agriculture programs across the U.S. It believes in investing in FFA because of the many career and leadership skills FFA provides its members. Together, state officers discussed ideas on how FFA members can more actively work with local Pfizer representatives. I wrapped up yet another great week of wearing the blue and gold corduroy jacket Friday evening. I had the experience of a lifetime. I was honored to serve the other members who sport blue and gold, and advocate for an organization that has provided me with so much.” J.W. is an example of the great learning experiences FFA members and participants in agricultural programs have in our high schools. Five schools, Alexandria, Belleville Henderson, Carthage, Indian River and South Jefferson offer FFA and agriculture programs. While not all participants pursue careers directly in agriculture, the knowledge and experience they gain lasts a lifetime. Visit www.nysffa.org to learn more about FFA in New York.
n JaY M. MaTTesoN is agricultural coordinator for the Jefferson County Agricultural Development Corp. He is a lifelong Northern New York resident who lives in Lorraine. Contact him at coordinator@comefarmwithus.com. His column appears monthly in NNY Business.
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businEss TECH byTEs
Tech Symposium a can’t-miss day
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o you sometimes feel that the north country is still behind the technology curve? Are you under the impression that you must travel and incur travel-related expenses to get the latest information on the technology trends affecting businesses today? That’s simply not so. It is time you attend the North Country Technology Symposium and IT Expo. The symposium, now in its third year, is scheduled for be Wednesday, May 23, at Clarkson University’s new student center facility in Potsdam. This year’s event boasts more than 30 subject matter experts presenting in six themed tracks demonstrating how current technology can improve your business’s sustainability, mobility, productivity, accountability and marketability. Not to minimize the impact that agriculture and the arts has on the north country’s viability, a special track will be conducted boasting workshops on “Using Social Media to Promote Your Farm” to “High Tech Artisans” and “Web Video and Photography.” This year’s keynote presentation, titled “Understanding the Technology of Tomorrow Can Transform Your Business Today,” features Simon J. Anderson, a global futurist, author and change management and emerging technology consultant. He is also the co-author, along with Jack Uldrich, of the upcoming book “Foresight 2020: Emerging Trends that are Transforming the Coming Decade.” Not only is he a regular contributor to Mr. Uldrich’s award-winning website, www. jumpthecurve.net, he is the founder of
www.Futur1st. com. This site is dedicated to helping business leaders adapt and embrace emerging technology. Mr. Anderson’s change management and technology strategy Jill Van Hoesen consulting has assisted companies from a variety of industries; in addition, he is co-founder of two technology startups, www.NoleTrader.com and www.afirekindled.com. Laura Perry, North Country Technology Symposium’s co-chair said: “We view Mr. Anderson’s message as an important opportunity for NNY leaders to consider how their organizations are going to align with emerging technologies, both as stand-alone and as members of our communities when making technology decisions today.” With attendance expected to exceed 200 and a large selection of service providers and technology vendors ready to share valuable insight, the North Country Technology Symposium will offer businessto-business opportunities for the technology novice to the expert on subjects like cloud computing, Google applications, geographic information systems, free online tools and how the consumerization of information technology will affect your organization, just to name a few. Ed Frontuto of Presentation Concepts has this to say about last year’s event, “I feel
this show was one of the best we have exhibited at in the past several years. Decision makers and influencers were there and willing to discuss the applications of our products.” David Charleson of Commercial Press had this to add, “Overall it was a great event, a chance to meet some new people, learn something new, and embrace the technology that is out there and can connect the north country with the rest of the world and hopefully conduct business with the world.” Janet Campbell, of St. Lawrence County, agreed, “I applaud all the St Lawrence County Information Technology Advisory Board Members who help get this symposium under way. Great job to all. For my first time attending something like this it was very exciting. I was able to attend a couple of the presentations and it was great information for me.” The Third Annual North Country Technology Symposium and IT Expo is May 23 and space is limited. Early bird registration is $45 until Monday, April 23, and $55 for registrations from April 23 to Wednesday, May 16, and will increase to $65 until the day of the event. Pre-registration assures you full access to all sessions, the IT Expo, one-on-one consultation meetings with vendors of your choice and a networking reception. Further details and registration can be found at www.stlawco.org/nctechsymposium and be sure to follow the symposium on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ NorthCountryTechnologySymposium. n JILL VaN HoeseN is chief information officer for Johnson Newspapers and a 25-year IT veteran. Contact her at jvanhoesen@wdt.net. Her column appears monthly in NNY Business.
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Do your homework before biz buy
T
here are many benefits to buying a business. If the business has been operating for several years, you are aware of the risks associated with it, and so is your lending agency. Accounts are available outlining the sales and expenses of the business throughout its history. As the seller, you will be required to provide the last three years of tax information to the buyer and lender. For this reason, it’s a good idea to sell your business when it is still profitable; if you are not making a profit when you sell, your perceived “value” of the business’s goodwill is zero, and your selling price will be based on tangible assets. In addition to knowing the financial risk, the buyer has the benefit of immediate cash flow and an established operation and market. Employees, equipment, inventory, pricing, sourcing and day-to-day activity already have been determined through research, trial and error. It’s up to the buyer to make necessary changes. Additionally, a market has been developed. Ideally, the business has loyal customers and has established a name in the community. It’s important to recognize the strengths of the business and be sure that you will be able to continue these “unique selling points.” If the business depends on the personality and skill of the owner, will you be able to replicate it? There are a few key questions to ask when you consider buying a business: How do I find the right business for sale? As with any business venture, it’s
important to assess your strengths, weaknesses and motivations for going in to business. You can find businesses for sale through real estate Brooke James and business brokers, newspaper and magazine advertisements, as well as word of mouth and networking. A seller should start planning two years in advance, which means that a future buyer can know and plan to take on the business if they are aware. If the buyer works for the company, knowledge of the business operation and training over two years can better prepare the business for a smooth transition. The buyer also can plan for the financial investment. Why is the owner selling? It’s important to know and understand the motivation for selling the business. Is it for personal reasons: Retirement, burnout or a health condition? Or is the business struggling due to a change in the market, increased competition or regulations, or needed updates to equipment and the facility? Depending on the answers, you then decide whether or not you will be able to make necessary changes. How has the business been financed in the past? You may find a business that is extremely popular and profitable, owned
by a successful businessman or woman. Tax statements will help determine if the seller had debt or if the business was paid off and existing independently. You also can see if the owner was taking a draw or working to keep the business afloat. If the buyer plans to take out loans to finance the business the cash flow will be much different from the current debt-free business. Using past financial statements to create financial projections based on your personal situation will help to determine your ability to operate with a profit. Who can help through this process? A certified public accountant can assist with financial documents, assessing financial risk and in some cases help evaluate the “value” of the business. An attorney will assist with legal documents and due diligence. Several lending agencies can be approached to determine interest in the project, terms of loan programs and equity needed by the borrower. Buying and selling a business is different from starting a new business, but the resources are still available locally. Business advisors at the Small Business Development centers in Canton and Watertown are available, free of charge, to assist buyers and sellers with the questions noted and the process of getting in or out of business successfully. www. nysbdc.org Canton: 315-386-7312 Watertown: 315-782-9262. n BrooKe JaMes is a business advisor with the New York State Small Business Development Center at SUNY Canton. She is a small business owner and event planner. Contact her at jamesb@canton.edu.
April 2012 | NNY Business
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CHAMbER / WEb DIRECTORy
NNy CHAMbERS OF COMMERCE n alExaNDRIa BaY
7 Market St., Alexandria Bay, NY 13607; 482-9531, www.visitalexbay.org
n BOONvIllE
122 Main St., P.O. Box 163, Boonville, NY 13309; 942-6823, www.boonvillechamber.com
n CaNTON
60 Main St., P.O. Box 369, Canton, NY 13617; 386-8255, www.cantonnychamber.org
n CapE vINCENT
649-3404, www.chaumontchamber.com
393-3620, www.ogdensburgny.com
n ClaYTON
n OlD FORgE
n gREaTER WaTERTOWNNORTh COuNTRY
n pOTsDam
517 Riverside Drive, Clayton, NY 13624; 686-3771, www.1000islands-clayton.com
1241 Coffeen St., Watertown, NY 13601; 788-4400, www.watertownny.com
n gOuvERNEuR
n hENDERsON haRBOR
n saCkETs haRBOR
P.O. Box 468, Henderson Harbor, NY 13651; 938-5568, www.hendersonharborny.com
n CaRThagE aREa
n massENa
572 S. Salina St., Syracuse, NY 13202; 470-1800, www.centerstateceo.com
n ChaumONT-ThREE mIlE BaY
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
n pulaskI
3044 Route 13, P.O. Box 34, Pulaski, NY 13142; 298-2213, www.pulaskinychamber.com
n lEWIs COuNTY
n CENTERsTaTE CEO
1 Market St., Potsdam, NY 13676; 274-9000, www.potsdamchamber.com
214 E. Main St., Gouverneur, NY 13642; 287-0331, www.gouverneurchamber.net
175 N. James St., P.O. Box 482, Cape Vincent, NY 13618; 654-2481, www.capevincent.org 120 S. Mechanic St., Carthage, NY 13619; 493-3590, www.carthageny.com
3140 Route 28, P.O. Box 68, Old Forge, NY 13420; 369-6983, www.oldforgeny.com
7576 S. State St., Lowville, NY 13367; 376-2213, www.lewiscountychamber.org 50 Main St., Massena, NY 13662; 7693525, www.massenachamber.com
n malONE
497 East Main St., Malone, NY 12953; 1(518) 483-3760, www.visitmalone.com
n OgDENsBuRg
1 Bridge Plaza, Ogdensburg, NY 13669;
304 W. Main St., P.O. Box 17, Sackets Harbor, NY 13685; 646-1700, www. sacketsharborchamberofcommerce.com
n sOuTh JEFFERsON
14 E. Church St., Adams, NY 13605; 232-4215, www.southjeffchamber.org
n sT. laWRENCE
101 Main St., First Floor, Canton, NY 13617; 386-4000, www.northcountryguide.com
n 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
www.scorewatertownny.org
www.lcida.org
788-6840
839 State Street, Watertown
“Since 1954”
www.cheneytire.com 315-661-2399 / 1-800-724-1012
~ Foreign And Domestic Repairs ~ 24hr Truck And Farm Tire Service ~ Small Engine Sales & Service 90 Days Same as Cash.
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NNY Business | April 2012
OGDENSbURG
saTuRDaY, apRIl 28
saTuRDaY, apRIl 21
n 26th Annual Arbor Day Celebration, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., South Jefferson Central High School, Route 11. Sponsored by South Jefferson Chamber of Commerce. Interactive activities for children and adult workshops. Citizen of the Year Award ceremony at 11 a.m. Admission: $1; children ages 5 and younger, free. Information: www.southjeffchamber.org.
CANTON TuEsDaY, maY 22
n Women TIES Northern New York Luncheon, SUNY Canton. Sponsored by Women TIES and the state Small Business Development Center at SUNY Canton. Featuring Lynn Hidy of UpYourTeleSales.com presenting “The Customer’s Sales Cycle,” showing participants how to look at sales from how your customers buy, then figuring out ways to integrate yourself into their decision-making process. Information: Michelle Collins, SBDC, 386-7312, or Tracy Higginbotham, Women TIES, 708-4288 or 5starevent@ baldcom.net.
CARTHAGE WEDNEsDaY, apRIl 25
Citizen of the Year Banquet, Carthage Elks Lodge. Sponsored by the Carthage Chamber of Commerce. More information as it’s available: www.carthageny.com.
CLAyTON FRIDaY, apRIl 13, TO suNDaY, apRIl 15
n Sportsman’s Show, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., E. A. Newell Golden Dome. Sponsored by Ogdensburg Chamber of Commerce. Vendors include RVs, hunting and fishing supplies, ATV dealers, lures, guides, decoys, raffles and concessions. Contact: 393-3620 or chamber@gisco.net.
FRIDaY, apRIl 27, aND saTuRDaY, apRIl 28
n War of 1812 Symposium, Freight House Restaurant. Meet-and-greet on Friday evening with seminars and related activities on Saturday. Cost: $10-$110 depending on days and seminars attended. Information, registration: www.fort1749.org.
POTSDAM FRIDaY, apRIl 27, aND saTuRDaY, apRIl 28
n Fourth Annual Home, Garden and Business Show, noon to 8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Clarkson University’s Cheel Arena. Sponsored by St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce. To reserve vendor space, contact Jo Ann Roberts at 386-4000.
WEDNEsDaY, maY 23
n Third Annual North Country Technology Symposium and Information Technology Expo, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Clarkson University. The region’s largest business-to-business event presenting the latest information technology topics for businesses and organizations. Keynote speech by Simon Anderson, global futurist and author. For information and registration, visit www.stlawco.org/nctechsymposium.
n Annual 1000 Islands Spring Boat Show, 1 to 8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Cerow Recreation Park Arena. Featuring runabouts, fishing boats, pontoons, docks, lifts, motors, insurance, canvas, personal watercraft and loans. Boater’s safety course from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, $35 per person. Admission: $4; military personnel, $3; children, $2; children ages 8 and younger, free. Information: www.1000islands-clayton.com/ boatshow or 686-3771.
WATERTOWN
saTuRDaY, apRIl 21
n Symphony Syracuse Mozart Concert, 8 p.m., Trinity Episcopal Church, 227 Sherman St. Sponsored by Northern New York Community Foundation. Rimma BergeronLanglois, concertmaster of the Orlando Symphony and former Syracuse Symphony Orchestra violinist, will perform Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major. The concert opens with Mozart’s Eline Kleine Nachtmusik and concludes with Symphony No. 40. Daniel Hege will conduct. Tickets are $20; senior citizens and military, $17; students, $10. Tickets are available at the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce, 1241 Coffeen St., or at the door the night of the performance.
n 2012 Clayton Green Fest, noon to 2 p.m., Cerow Recreation Park. Sponsored by Thousand Islands Youth Leadership Organization. Energy workshops, health and wellness fair, community cleanup, kids bike rodeo, volunteer fair, local products, recycled art show, food less traveled contest, up cycled fashion show and hazardous waste recycling. Information: www.tiylo.org.
TURIN ThuRsDaY, apRIl 19
n April Spring Fling Dinner, social hour, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m., Steak ‘n Brew Restaurant. Deputy Secretary of State Dede Scozzafava will be the keynote speaker. Cost: $22. Register: 376-2213.
WEDNEsDaY, apRIl 18
n Business After Hours, 5 to 7 p.m., Tilted Kilt, 1050 Arsenal Street. Sponsored by the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce. Admission: Registered members, $8; non-registered members, $10; nonmembers, $12. Register: www.watertownny. com or 788-4400.
Sponsored by FX Caprara. Rare and unique items, antiques and a raffle to win a Dodge Ram truck. Information: www.watertownurbanmission.com. n 10th Annual Taste of the Town, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Dulles State Office Building. Proceeds benefit the Victims Assistance Center of Jefferson County. Admission: $3 plus the cost of sample tickets. Information: www. vacjc.com or 782-1823.
TuEsDaY, maY 1
n Introduction to Adobe InDesign CS5, 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, May 1, Thursday, May 3, and Tuesday, May 8, Jefferson Community College Extended Learning Center, room E-129. Taught by Sara Carpenter. Introductory course to help with increased productivity for those using InDesign, a professional layout and design tool. Participants must bring USB memory drive with them. Cost: $70. Register: 786-2438.
mONDaY, maY 7
n Critical Thinking Skills for Customer Service, 9 a.m. to noon, Jefferson Community College Extended Learning Center, room E-130. Taught by Mary Curcio. Workshop helps participants learn how to manage their thinking, develop good questions for solving problems and develop strong customer service skills. Cost: $50. Register: 786-2438.
mONDaY, maY 14
n Financial Statements for the Non-Financial Manager, 1 to 5 p.m., Jefferson Community College Extended Learning Center, room E-130. Instructor: Frederick Hager, Strategic Planning Advisors LLC. Participants acquire a base understanding of financial analysis concepts including Net Present Value, Return on Investment, cost and benefit analysis and lease vs. buy decision-making. Cost: $99. Register: 786-2438.
WEDNEsDaY, maY 16
n Armed Forces Day Luncheon, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn. Sponsored by the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce and Stebbins. Tickets: $15, buy 10 tickets for $150 to sponsor a 10 solider lunches and get a free head table. Information: www.watertownny.com or 788-4400.
saTuRDaY, apRIl 28
saTuRDaY, maY 19
n 2012 Watertown Urban Mission and Impossible Dream Auction, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., St. Anthony’s Church, 850 Arsenal St.
n GoT a BusINess eVeNT or calendar item? Email nnybusiness@wdt.net. Deadline is the 10th of each month for the following month’s issue. Visit us on Facebook at www. facebook.com/NNY Business or www.nny bizmag.com for events calendar updates.
n “Run to the Sun” 8 a.m. start time for halfmarathon, 9 a.m. start time for 5K and 10K, New Davidson Ford store, outer Washington Street. Benefits the Heather A. Freeman Foundation. Professionally time race. Entry fee: $20 for 5K and 10K if received by Wednesday, May 9, $50 for half-marathon, which must be received by May 9. No half-marathon registrations will be accepted day of the race. Race day registration for 5K and 10K is $25. For most recent information: www. haffrun.blogspot.com or search “Heather A. Freeman Foundation” on Facebook.
COMMUNITy / bUSINESS EVENTS CALENDAR
ADAMS
April 2012 | NNY Business
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businEss sCEnE gWNC Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year lunch at Black River valley Club
KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
Top, from left, Joseph E. McLaughlin, project director for Fort Drum Mountain Community Homes, accepts the award for Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce For-Profit (50-plus employees) Business of the Year from Lynne G. Ferris, chamber board chairman, and Lynn M. Pietroski, chamber president and CEO. Above, from left, Erika Conaway and husband, Stephen J., owners of Thousand Islands Winery, Alexandria Bay, accepts the award for Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce For-Profit Small Business of the Year from Lynne G. Ferris, chamber board chairman, and Lynn M. Pietroski, chamber president and CEO.
Top, from left, Howard W. Ganter, left, executive director of Jefferson Rehabilitation Center, accepts the award for Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce Nonprofit Business of the Year from Lynne G. Ferris, chamber board chairman, and Lynn M. Pietroski, chamber president and CEO. Above, from left, Lynn M. Pietroski, Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce chamber president and CEO, presents the Chamber Ambassador of the Year award to Rebecca M. Mabry. David J. Males, WWTI-TV50 general manager and vice president, received the Chamber Board Member of the Year award during the March 15 luncheon at the Black River Valley Club.
Cavallario’s Cucina 133 N. Massey St., Watertown • 788-9744
Celebrating Our 15th Anniversary April 17th-May 13th Ending With A Special Mother’s Day Celebration ~ A Unique Family Style Menu ~ Macaroni Madness on Tuesday Nights ~ Craft Beer & Food Pairing ~ Wine Tasting from our Unique $20 Bottle Menu
All set in our our fresh new look ~ Call for details 52 |
NNY Business | April 2012
businEss sCEnE massena Chamber annual Dinner
gWNC Chamber Bah at Davidson Ford
BOB BECKSTEAD PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
Top, from left, Jackie Siddon, a teacher at Madison Elementary School, Massena, receives the Volunteer of the Year award from Susan E. Stiles during the Greater Massena Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner March 8 at the Massena Knights of Columbus Hall. Above, center, David A. Frary, owner and manager of Phillips Memorial Home, receives the 2012 Business Leadership Award during the chamber’s annual dinner. Mr. Frary purchased the Massena and Waddington locations of the funeral home in 1978. At left is Chamber Executive Director Michael J. Gleason. Award presenter William Orlando is on Mr. Frary’s right.
Top, from left, Laurie G. Koelmel, A. Cozzi and Co., Janet L. Goutremout, A. Cozzi and Co. and Dry Hill Detailing and Repair, and Julie F. Will, Davidson Auto Group. Above, from left, D. Erick Davidson, Dwight E. Davidson, president, Davidson Auto Group, Donald R. Davidson and Douglas E. Davidson. Davidson Auto Group hosted the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce March Business After Hours at its new Ford store on outer Washington Street, Watertown, on March 21.
CREG SYSTEMS n VIsIT NNY BusINess oN FaCeBooK at www. facebook.com/ nnybusiness to view more than 400 additional Business Scene photos from events across the north country since 2010.
Alarms / Access Control / Cameras / 24 hr. Monitoring Cabling / CAT 5 CAT 6 / Fiber Optic Phones / VOIP/ Traditional TOSHIBA AVAYA NORTEL Computer / Networking / Routers / Firewalls
24X7 SERVICE, MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS, MONITORING 1039 Water St., Watertown • 788-0000 April 2012 | NNY Business
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businEss sCEnE gWNC Chamber of Commerce Business after hours at Davidson Ford
KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
Top, from left, Tina M. Woodruff and Carol A. Lamon, both of Watertown Urgent Care. Above, from left, Nancy L. McCabe, Allstate Insurance, Maryann C. Rondon, Regional Medical Management, and Sharon L. Curry, AAAWatertown.
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NNY Business | April 2012
KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
Top, from left, Jill A. Knudsen, Watertown High School tutor, husband, Thom E., Danser and Knudsen Psychological Services, and Leslie D. Renzi, YMCA. Above, from left, Sarah M. Crump and Lindsay M. Gendron, both Davidson Auto Group title clerks.
businEss sCEnE ausa 2012 Corporate member Reception at Black River valley Club
KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
Top, from left, Gerald Morgan, Fuccillo Automotive Group, Joseph E. McLaughlin, Fort Drum Mountain Community Homes project director and NNY-Fort Drum AUSA Chapter president, and Jon Macy, Fuccillo Automotive Group. Above, from left, Col. Pedro Almeida, commander, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, Fort Drum, and Maureen P. Cean, Transitional Living Services director of adult services. The Association of the United States Army Northern New York-Fort Drum Chapter held its 2012 Corporate Member Appreciation Reception on March 20 at the Black River Valley Club.
KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
Top, from left, Brig. Gen. Kenneth R. Dahl, deputy commanding general-support, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, and Lt. Col. Richard R. Rouleau, commander, U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion-Syracuse. Above, from left, Eric F. Wagenaar, Fort Drum G3, Judith L. Gentner, board member, Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization, and husband, Fred W.
WAITE TOYOTA OUTER WASHINGTON ST. WATERTOWN, NY 315-788-6022
www.waitetoyota.com April 2012 | NNY Business
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businEss sCEnE ausa annual Corporate member Reception at Black River valley Club
KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
Top, from left, Elizabeth C. Fipps, executive director, Samaritan Foundation of Northern New York, Carolyn D. Fitzpatrick, chairwoman, Jefferson County Board of Legislators, and Mary M. Corriveau, city manager, City of Watertown. Above, back row from left, Susan L. Champlin and Regina L. Beaton, both of Martin’s Point Health Care, and Donald Johnson, director of military programs, Jefferson Community College. Front row, from left, Jannette E. Lyons and Melissa A. Strader, both of Martin’s Point Health Care, and Jill M. Pippin, dean for continuing education, Jefferson Community College.
Top, from left, Judith Repass Cowden, vice president for member relations and marketing, AmeriCU Credit Union, and Tina M. Wildhaber, assistant vice president, AmeriCU Credit Union. Above, from left, Jacqueline Keating, and husband, Tony, both of H.D. Goodale Insurance.
ATTENTION! 19079 Route 11S (Washington St.) Watertown
(315) 788-8412 1-800-464-8412 www.rentawreck.com
56 |
NNY Business | April 2012
Rent-A-Wreck is now servicing the Watertown Airport on all incoming flights
Outer Washington St. Watertown, NY
(315) 788-1913
315-788-8412 www.widrickautosales.com
businEss sCEnE Northern New York Builders Exchange 36th annual North Country home show
KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
Top, from left, Ryan J. and Tyler R. Bartlett, D.P. Bartlett & Sons Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, Adams. Above, from left, Brandi Lucas, GYMO Architecture, Engineering & Land Surveying, Watertown, and Budget Blinds of Watertown, and husband, Jeff, owner, Budget Blinds of Watertown. The Northern New York Builders Exchange presented its 36th Annual North Country Home Show March 30 to April 1 at the Watertown Fairgrounds Arena.
Top, from left, James Wurst, marketing manager / Web director, North Country Storage Barns, and John Martin, CEO, North Country Storage Barns. Above, from left, Tara Elmer, her husband, Ronald, and Megan Cole, P&T Supply and Services, Watertown.
Locally Owned and Operated ~ Mobile Shreds Onsite ~ Fast, Safe & Secure. Call to set up free estimate or schedule service ~ Servicing Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego, St. Lawrence and parts of Franklin and Essex Counties ~ WE PROVIDE RELIABLE, TIMELY SERVICE, AND STAND BEHIND THAT. April 2012 | NNY Business
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DininG GuiDE Café Mira 14 Main St., Adams (315) 232-4470
Gary’s Restaurant 5424 Shady Ave., Lowville (315) 376-6612
Karen & Jasper’s Bar & Bistro 1322 Washington St. Plaza, Watertown (315) 788-4110
Cam’s Pizzeria 25 Public Square, Watertown (315) 779-8900
G&F Italian Pizza and Restaurant 2972 E. Main St., Parish (315) 625-7177
King Star Food Oriental 22265 U.S. Route 11, Watertown (315) 786-0246
Cavallario’s Cucina 133 N. Massey St., Watertown (315) 788-9744
Gold Star Deli 343 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 782-6155
Korean Grill 525 W. Main St., Watertown (315) 681-4226
Cherry Tree Inn 8541 State Route 3, Henderson (315) 938-7281
Goodfellos 202 W. Main St., Sackets Harbor (315) 646-3463
Lake Ontario Playhouse 103 W. Main St., Sackets Harbor (315) 646-2305
China City 1125 Arsenal St. Suite 2, Watertown (315) 788-8289
Gram’s Diner 13 Main St., Adams (315) 232-4881
Manor Country Diner Route 11, Pierrepont Manor (315) 465-4400
Church Street Diner 107 Church St., Carthage (315) 493-0997
Great Wall Chinese 300 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 788-7668
Limerick Hotel 16331 State Route 12E, Limerick (315) 639-6804
Coleman’s Corner 849 Lawrence St., Watertown (315) 782-6888
Harby’s Hots Outer Washington Street, Watertown (315) 788-2250
Lloyd’s of Lowville 7405 S. State St., Lowville (315) 376-7037
Apollo Restaurant 1283 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 788-3569
Crossroads Diner 22474 U.S. Route 11, Watertown (315) 782-9591
Herrings Inn 35802 State Route 3, Carthage (315) 493-9829
Lucia’s Italian Restaurant 11613 U.S. Route 11, Adams (315) 232-2223
Art’s Jug 820 Huntington St., Watertown (315) 782-9764
Crystal Restaurant 87 Public Square, Watertown (315) 782-9938
Highland Meadows Country Club 24201 State Route 342, Watertown (315) 785-0108
Maggie’s on the River 500 Newell St., Watertown (315) 405-4239
Bella’s Bistro 602 Riverside Drive, Clayton (315) 686-2341
Daily Buffet (Chinese) 1283 Arsenal St. Stop 8, Watertown (315) 786-8598
Hops Spot 214.5 W. Main St., Sackets Harbor (315) 646-BEER (2337)
Mariano’s Pizza 981 Waterman Drive, Watertown (315) 788-8088
Bernardo’s Pizzeria 702 Coffeen St., Watertown (315) 782-9500
Dano’s Pizzeria and Restaurant 24411 State Route 971V, Felts Mills (315) 773-3266
Home Deli Pizza & Subs 305 W. Main St., Watertown (315) 782-6340
Midway Ice Cream 891 Coffeen St., Watertown (315) 405-4996
Black River Valley Club 131 Washington St., Watertown (315) 788-2300
Erin’s Isle Restaurant 928 State Route 11C, Brasher Falls (315) 389-4100
Hot Diggity Dogs Salmon Run Mall, Watertown (315) 788-4844
Mo’s Place 345 Factory St., Watertown (315) 782-5503
Blue Heron 12050 Route 12E, Chaumont (315) 649-2240
Fairground Inn 852 Coffeen St., Watertown (315) 782-7335
Ives Hill Restaurant 435 Flower Ave. W., Watertown (315) 775-4837
Morgia’s Pasta 22560 Fisher Road, Watertown (315) 788-3509
Boathouse 214 W. Main St., Sackets Harbor (315) 646-2092
Fireside at Partridge Berry Inn 26561 State Route 3, Watertown (315) 782-8401
Jean’s Beans 259 Eastern Blvd., Watertown (315) 788-7460
Mr. Sub Sandwich Shop Public Square & Mill St., Watertown (315) 782-1760
Brookside Diner 1873 State St., Watertown (315) 782-9824
Five Guys 1290 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 221-4258
Joey’s at the Thousand Island Club 21952 Club Road, Alexandria Bay (315) 482-9999
NuPier 13212 State Route 3, Sackets Harbor (315) 646-3312
Brownville Diner 114 W. Main St., Brownville (315) 786-8554
Fung Hing Chinese 225 State St., Watertown (315) 785-9689
Johnny D’s 1 Public Square, Watertown (315) 782-6108
Original Italian Pizza 222 N. Massey St., Watertown (315) 786-0000
n A directory of independent coffee houses, bars and restaurants.
Full-service restaurants 1025 Ruyi Japanese Steak House 1025 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 405-4501 1844 House “An American Bistro” 6885 U.S. Route 11, Potsdam (315) 268-1844 2000 Chinese Restaurant 22070 U.S. Route 11, Watertown (315) 788-2000 Arbor Restaurant 10700 U.S. Route 11, Adams (315) 232-4842 A & J’s Diner 455 Court St., Watertown (315) 777-4811 Andy’s Caribbean Cuisine 302 Court St., Watertown (315) 777-8658
You Mean Business... Start your work day off right with a subscription to the • Market Updates • World & Nationwide Economic News • 3-County-Strength Local News section • Sports, Politics, Currents & More!
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Call 315-782-1012 or (800)724-1012 for details on how you can get delivery started today! 58 |
NNY Business | April 2012
DininG GuiDE Papa Tino’s Pizzeria 716 Mill St., Watertown (315) 782-7272
Read the reviews
Pete’s Restaurant 111 Breen Ave., Watertown (315) 782-6640
n Log on to www.watertowndaily times.com to read restaurant reviews by Watertown Daily Times restaurant critic Walter Siebel.
Pickle Barrel Cafe 32523 Route 12, Depauville (315) 686-3640
Get on the list
Pizza Shack 12699 State Route 3, Sackets Harbor (315) 646-2267 Rainbow Shores Restaurant 186 Rainbow Shores Road, Pulaski (315) 298-5110 Rajit 262 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 782-5513 Ramada Inn 21000 State Route 3, Watertown (315) 788-0700 Rhonda’s Place Family Diner 566 State St., Watertown
n Call NNY Business advertising specialist Clarissa Collins at (315) 661-2305 or email ccollins@wdt.net to have your restaurant or bar listed in our monthly dining guide today. Sboro’s Restaurant 836 Coffeen St., Watertown (315) 788-1728 Shorty’s Place 1280 Coffeen St., Watertown (315) 782-7878 Shuler’s Steak & Seafood 802 Mill St., Watertown (315) 782-1429
Riccardo’s Market & Deli 710 Holcomb St., Watertown (315) 782-7810
Soluri’s Pizza 526 Factory St., Watertown (315) 782-2888
Riverhouse 4818 Salina St., Pulaski (315)509-4281
Stonefence Resort 7191 State Route 37, Ogdensburg (315) 393-1545
Roberts Family Pizzeria 839 State St., Watertown (315) 786-2006
Stone Jug Pizzeria 104 Bartlett Road, Sackets Harbor (315) 646-1008
Roma Restaurant 19 Bridge St., Carthage (315) 493-0616
Suk Hui Hi’s Korean 1301 State St., Watertown (315) 785-9740
Romalato’s Gourmet Deli 450 Gaffney Drive, Watertown (315) 681-6653
Super Wok Chinese Restaurant 20991 State Route 3, Watertown (315) 788-5389
Ryan’s Lookout 9290 State Route 3, Henderson (315) 938-5151
Teriyaki Experience 21852 Towne Center Drive, Watertown (315) 785-9254
Sackets Harbor Brew Pub 212 W. Main St., Sackets Harbor (315) 646-2739
Thailand Thai Restaurant 1857 State St., Watertown (315) 788-6688
Sandy’s Luncheonette 5 Public Square, Watertown (315) 782-2935
The Place 1612 Ford St., Ogdensburg 315-393-3080
Savory Downtown 300 Washington St., Watertown (315) 782-8000
Tico’s Mex Mex Grill 65 Public Square, Watertown (315) 836-4778
Tilted Kilt 1050 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 782-5458
Clueless 545 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 782-9006
Tin Pan Galley 110 W. Main St., Sackets Harbor (315) 646-3812
Crazy Legs Saloon 536 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 777-8333
United China Restaurant 144 Eastern Blvd., Watertown (315) 782-4432
Edge of the River Pub 519 W. Main St., Watertown (315) 788-0695
Violi’s Restaurant 209 Center St., Massena (315) 764-0329
Fat Boys 743 Huntington St., Watertown (315) 779-0087
Village Inn 8208 Main St., Harrisville (315) 543-9382 VV’s Mexican Kitchen Noble Street, Evans Mills (315) 629-4652 Walsh’s Pub & Grill 101 E. Main St., Brownville (315) 782-6065 Watertown Golf Club Grill and Bar 1 Thompson Park, Watertown (315) 782-5606 Willowbrook Golf Club 25075 State Route 37, Watertown (315) 782-8192 Wing Wagon 71 Public Square, Watertown (315) 836-3205
Coffee Houses Brew Ha Ha 468 Coffeen St., Watertown (315) 788-1175 Chrissy Beanz Bakery 105 W. Main St., Sackets Harbor (315) 646-2330 Coffee Shop Carbone Plaza, Watertown (315) 782-0450 Danny’s Coffee 21181 Salmon Run Mall, Watertown (315) 782-7057
Fort Pearl Inc. 557 Pearl St., Watertown (315) 786-3333 Hitchin’ Post Tavern 404 Court St., Watertown (315) 782-9656 Hometown Pizzeria 4 W. Church St., Adams (315) 232-3000 Joe’s Tavern 548 Coffeen St., Watertown (315) 782-9709 Kicker’s Lounge 498 Factory St., Watertown (315) 785-9392 Mick’s Place 204 Factory St., Watertown (315) 786-1992 Paddock Club 5 Paddock Arcade, Watertown (315) 786-6633 Pappy’s Bowlmor Lanes 227 E. Orvis St., Massena (315) 769-9877 Pewter Mug 1120 Gill St., Watertown (315) 782-0200 Seth’s Pub 558 State St., Watertown (315) 681-6645
Bars / Nightlife
Shootie’s Bar 504 Pearl St., Watertown (315) 782-9724
Artie’s Tavern 329 High St., Watertown (315) 782-9616
Time Warp Tavern 302 State St., Watertown (315) 782-9784
April 2012 | NNY Business
| 59
businEss HisToRy
A pioneer of the past
n Hitchcock Lamp Co. shined light on innovation By LENKA WALLDROFF
T
Jefferson County Historical Society
he Hitchcock lamp was a technological marvel before the advent of electricity— and it was created right here in Watertown. Robert Hitchcock was born on Wolfe Island, Ont., in October 1832 and was naturalized in Watertown in 1859. He spent his early years here, apprenticing with a jeweler and watch maker before leaving in 1863 to work with a clock manufacturer in Boston. While seemingly incongruous with his future as a well-known lamp maker, Mr. Hitchcock’s background in clock making was fundamental to the development of his famous lamps. In the early 19th century tallow candles and whale oil lamps were commonly used to light homes and businesses. By the early 1860s kerosene was introduced, and much to the relief of whales everywhere, quickly replaced whale oil and tallow as the lighting fuel of choice. It also was during the 1860s that the kerosene lamp was invented. The design of the today’s kerosene lamp has remained fairly consistent with its 19thcentury predecessor. It consisted of a kerosene reservoir, a brass burner through which a fiber wick was passed and that sported supports for a glass globe or chimney. The burner was equipped with adjustable teeth that were used to move the wick up or down to adjust the height of the flame. The problem with traditional kerosene lamps was that the flame was unsteady and the wick tended to smoke, which covered the lamp’s chimney, and adjacent walls, in unsightly soot. Using his clock-making background and a little mechanical ingenuity, Mr. Hitchcock addressed those issues. His invention made the use of chimneys unnecessary, while providing a cleaner and more even flame. He did this by installing a small fan, operated by a clock spring, in the base of the lamp. The
60 |
NNY Business | April 2012
The Hitchcock Lamp Co. enjoyed a steady demand for its product until the early 1890s when central gas and electric power began to encroach on the kerosene market. Robert Hitchcock secured his last patent in 1887, retired from the business in 1899 and died the following year.
JEFFERSON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
mechanism, essentially identical to that of a clock, only had to be wound with a key once a day. The concealed fan forced a draft of air up through the burner that supplied a steady mixture of oxygen to the flame, thus allowing it to burn steadily, without smoke, and without a chimney. Needless to say, this had special appeal to housewives everywhere. Mr. Hitchcock developed the idea while running a clock and lamp manufacturing business in Bristol, Conn. With financial backing from his friend and former business associate Roswell P. Flower, Mr. Hitchcock moved back to Watertown in 1872 to organize the Hitchcock Lamp Co. An 1876 Watertown business directory shows that the Hitchcock Co. was lo-
cated at 21-23-25 Factory St., the present location of the Knowlton Technologies offices. By 1876, the lamps were being manufactured and marketed to private residences, businesses, as well as for use in street cars. While the $6 price tag of the least expensive model, roughly $120 today, was a bit steep for most families to afford for in-home use, the Hitchcock lamp was a popular fixture aboard ships, in railroad cars, waiting rooms and other public places. A catalogue issued by the company advertised a number of designs, including high-end brass table lamps, hanging lamps, elaborate single- and three-lamp chandeliers, and even a bicycle lamp
that promised to burn for up to 10 hours, not jar out, and throw light for 50 feet. Mr. Hitchcock won national acclaim for his lamps. In 1876, he was awarded the City of Philadelphia Medal at the Centennial Fair and again in 1883 received the Franklin Scott Medal in recognition of his contribution to kerosene lamp improvements. The Hitchcock Lamp Co. enjoyed a steady demand for its product until the early 1890s when central gas and electric power began to encroach on the kerosene market. Mr. Hitchcock secured his last patent in 1887, retired from the business in 1899 and died the following year. Before his death, he licensed two other manufacturers to make and sell the Hitchcock lamp on a royalty basis — one in New Haven, Conn., and the other in New York City. The last known manufacture date of a Hitchcock lamp was 1905. 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.
nEXT MonTH
I
n our May cover story, we examine the future of farming on the family farm in Northern New York as rapidly developing technology revolutionizes many north country operations. Also coming next month: n A NEW CROP: Paul T. Haldeman has hedged his bets on asparagus. We visit Zoar Asparagus Farm in Rodman and talk with Mr. Haldeman about his new venture. n BEST BURGER IN NY?: Will Depauville’s Pickle Barrel Cafe on Route 12 take statewide honors? We’ll have the story. n 20 QUESTIONS: An in-depth interview with a north country business leader. n PLUS: NNY Snapshot, Economically Speaking, Commerce Corner, Nonprofits Today, Business Tech Bytes, Small Business Success, Real Estate, Agri-Business, Business History, Business Scene and more. n VISIT US ONLINE at our new website, WWW.NNYBIZMAG.COM, Follow us on Twitter for daily updates at @NNYBusiness Mag, like us on Facebook at www.facebook. com/nnybusiness, and view eEditions at www.issuu.com/NNYBusiness. April 2012 | NNY Business
| 61
w H AT ’ s H A P P E n i n G H E R E ? SAMARITAN KEEP HOME CONNECTOR LoCaTIoN: 830 Washington St.,
Watertown.
sIZe: Two levels, 300 feet long. DeCLareD VaLue: $4,172,684.
DesIGN eNGINeers: Bernier, Carr & Associates, Watertown. CoNTraCTors: Samaritan
Medical Center staff and Haynor Hoyt Corp., Syracuse.
esTIMaTeD CoMPLeTIoN: June.
LoCaL JoBs: At least three dozen construction jobs. — Compiled by Kyle R. Hayes
AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS
As part of Samaritan Medical Center’s $61 million expansion and renovation projects, a connector is being built between Samaritan Medical Center and Samaritan Keep Home to make patient travel to the buildings easier.
buiLDinG PERMiTs n fourth-quarter 2011 and first-quarter 2012 building permits issued in the city of watertown.
aDDITIONs OCTOBER 6, unspecified, 244 bellew Ave., $80,000. 7, Relocate house,181 Cedar st., $10,000. 24, building connector, 830 washington st., $4,172,684. 24, Awning,1025 Arsenal st., $450. 21, Canopy,144 Eastern blvd., $15,000. 27, Construct 3-story deck, 287 Main st. $1,200. 31, build deck,181 Cedar st., $5,200.
NOvEmBER
17, Addition for rear porch, 250 Rexford Place, $432. 17, Exterior stairway, 414 Arsenal st., $3,500. 21, Ramp,159 Mullin st., $3,000.
NOvEmBER
FEBRuaRY
1, Alteration,120 factory st., $24,000. 8, Alteration, 420 Moffett st., $14,000. 8, building end cap, 800 starbuck Ave., $24,000. 15, Roof over porch, 173 flower Ave., $1,900. 18, Alteration, 1308 washington st., $18,950.
2, Garage, 256 Michigan Ave., $55,000.
DECEmBER
NEW CONsTRuCTION OCTOBER
7, shed, 245 Hunt st., $3,800. 25, 151 Mullin st., $300,000. 27, Garage, 930 Main st., $12,000.
1, interior alteration, 238 Arsenal st., $70,000. 8, interior alteration, 925 Main st., $5,000.
NOvEmBER
JaNuaRY
JaNuaRY
17, Alterations, expansion, 103-105 Public square, $43,000. 30, Replace stairs, 317 winslow st., $200.
FEBRuaRY
14, storage shed, 647 Academy st., $3,598.85. 17, Garage, 680 Hillcrest Ave., $24,000.
FEBRuaRY
16, 1,533-square-foot house, 666 Hazelhurst Ave., $127,000.
27, Rear deck, 259 flower Ave., $1,750.
7, interior alteration, 617 Davidson st., $4,600. 17, X-ray room, 830 washington st., $20,000. 29, wind turbine, 727 washington st., $10,000.
9, storage shed, 1815 state st., $4,800. 21, install 104-foot Vwc tower, 491 Eastern blvd., $224,103.
alTERaTIONs
DEmOlITIONs
CONvERsIONs
OCTOBER
OCTOBER
OCTOBER
6, front porch, 1611 Columbia st., $500. 11, Conduit bank, 830 washington st., $25,000. 13, interior, 1290 Arsenal st., $103,000. 19, Extend roof line, 1641 Columbia st., $500. 19, Move wall, 1196 Arsenal st., $6,000. 20, Alteration, 350 Gaffney Drive, $24,864. 24, Kitchen expansion, 1 Public square, $2,000. 24, Alteration, 830 washington st., $8,694,656.
5, back portion of building, 800 starbuck Ave., $90,000. 20, Rear structure, 377 Arlington st., $5,000. 20, Portion of building, 601 burlington st., $500. 26, Roof of porch, 129 orchard st., $100. 27, Garage, 443 broadway Ave., $500.
FEBRuaRY
62 |
NNY Business | April 2012
NOvEmBER 1, Garage, 926 Main st., $325.
maRCh
3, Conversion, 1222 Arsenal st., $19,000.
JaNuaRY
10, Conversion, 414 Arsenal st., $1,000.
maRCh 26, Conversion, 1283 Arsenal st., $1,000.
$14,257,112.85 Total declared construction value
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