B
Y usIness
Lacona bio tech firm provides life-saving equipment page 29
February 2012
n 20Q: Florelle’s Harry Minas Page 40
+
n Biz Tech n NNY Snapshot n Business Scene n Real Estate
Jonathan L. White
Sarah T. (White) Cleaver
Bradford A. White Roger W. ‘Ted’ White Jr.
Roger W. White Sr.
All in the family
Multi-generational businesses beat the odds $2.95
/nnybusiness @NNYBusinessMag
Northern New York’s Premier Business Monthly Vol. 2 Issue 3 | www.nnybizmag.com
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NNY Business | February 2012
February 2012 | NNY Business
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C o n tr i b u t o r s
BusIness
www.nnybizmag.com
Publishers
John B. Johnson Jr. Harold B. Johnson II Donald C. Alexander is CEO of the Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency. He clarifies payments in lieu of taxes and their affect on local communities. (p. 44)
Lynn Pietroski is president and CEO of the Greater WatertownNorth Country Chamber of Commerce. She writes about the benefit of being a leader in the community. (p. 46)
Jay Matteson is the agricultural coordinator for the Jefferson County Agricultural Development Corp. He writes about the proposed increase in minimum wage and what it will really cost. (p. 47)
Michelle Collins is an advisor for the state Small Business Development Center at SUNY Canton. She gives tips for being successful in e-commerce. (p. 49)
General Manager John B. Johnson
Executive Editor Bert Gault
Managing Editor Robert D. Gorman
Magazine Editor
Kenneth J. Eysaman
Editorial Assistant Kyle R. Hayes
Advertising Directors Rande Richardson is executive director of the Northern New York Community Foundation. He writes about the benefits of nonprofit partnerships. (p. 45)
Jill Van Hoesen is chief information officer for Johnson Newspapers and a 25-year IT veteran. She writes the Microsoft Lync system and the benefits it could have for businesses. (p. 48)
Lance M. Evans is executive officer for the Jefferson-Lewis and St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors. He writes about a health bill’s affect on real estate. (p. 36)
Lenka Walldroff is curator of collections for the Jefferson County Historical Museum. She writes about the formation and history of Redwood Glass. (p. 60)
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, Julia Keegan, Brian Mitchell, Heather O’Driscoll, Scott Smith, Todd Soules Kyle R. Hayes is editorial assistant for NNY Business and NNY Living. In our cover story, he writes about multi-generational family businesses in NNY. (p. 14)
Nancy Madsen is a former Watertown Daily Times reporter. She tours Lacona bio-tech firm BioSpherix and writes about year-end numbers at local SBDCs. (p. 28, 29)
Norah Machia is a former Watertown Daily Times reporter who lives in Watertown. She writes about the Stoodley family funeral homes in Watertown and Belleville. (p. 22)
Joleene DesRosiers is a freelance writer who lives in Pulaski. She visits Elliott Realty for a look inside a familyowned and operated real estate firm. (p. 24)
MARKETPLACE Advanced Business Systems …........................... 49 A.G. Netto Realty …........... 39 AmeriCU Credit Union ….... 21 Ameriprise Financial …...... 25 Beardsley Design …........... 62 C3 Designs ....................….. 17 Carthage Federal Savings and Loan …............ 6 Cavallario’s Cucina …....... 59 Center for Sight ….............. 64 Clarence Henry Coach …. 52 Community Bank …........... 13 Convenient Storage …...... 12 Cozy Country Corner ...….. 17 CREG Systems Corp. …..… 53 Essenlohr Motors …............ 50 Feel Safe Door Co. .........….. 8 For Pete’s Sake Entertainment ...............….. 28 Foy Agency Inc. …............... 8 Frenchie’s Chevrolet …...... 54
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Frenchie’s Ford …............... 54 GEICO …............................. 20 Gerald A. Nortz Inc. …....... 56 GWNC Chamber of Commerce …................... 2 H&R Block ….................. 19, 25 High Tower Advisors …......... 3 Howard Orthotics …........... 45 Innovative PT …................... 46 JCJDC ….............................. 61 Lofink Ford Mercury .....….. 59 LTI …..................................... 55 Netto Fire Equipment …..... 49 NNY Business .................….. 50 NNY Community Foundation ....................….. 42 NNY Deals …....................... 58 North Country Tax and Records …................... 25 Painfull Acres ................….. 18 Pleasant Night Inn ........….. 47 Powis Excavating .........….. 17
NNY Business | February 2012
RBC Wealth Management ...............….. 23 Samaritan Medical Center .............................….. 7 SeaComm Federal Credit Union ….................... 44 Shred Con. …...................... 48 Slack Chemical Co. …...... 47 SMR Fibre …......................... 43 St. Lawrence NYSARC ….... 38 State Farm Insurance …..... 39 T.F. Wright and Sons …......... 8 The Three C Limousine Service ….......... 17 Truesdell’s Furniture ….......... 9 Watertown Daily Times ….. 37 Watertown LDC .............….. 36 Watertown Savings Bank ….................. 16 Westelcom ....................….. 61 WWTI-50 ….......................... 63
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 FEBRUARY 2012
22
14
|
COVER |
33
29
14 A family affair Multi-generational family businesses share the secret to withstanding the test of time. |
SMALL BUSINESS |
22 THE NEXT GENERATION In business for more than five generations, the Stoodley family looks to what’s next. 24 all in the family For Elliott Realty, spending time as a family is more than an occasional birthday party. 25 steps to success The Coupal family has built the Frenchie’s brand from the ground up.
|
REGION |
|
FEATURES |
38 PROPERTY SALES Real estate sales in Lewis and St. Lawrence counties totaled $3.8 million in recent weeks.
27 keep on trucking The local trucking industry experiences an uptick in business despite economic conditions and increased fuel prices. |
60
29 TECH GROWTH A Lacona bio-tech firm is expanding beyond its small beginnings, using new technologies to benefit laboratories and research. 33 MUSKRAT LOVE As prices for muskrat pelts rise, trappers in Northern New York are seeing a renewed interest in this unusual business.
REAL ESTATE |
37 Home sales up Jefferson and Lewis counties saw more single-family home sales in 2011 than 2010.
|
BUSINESS HISTORY |
60 PASSING THE TORCH The Redwood Glass Co. passed through the hands of several entrepreneurs. |
CONSTRUCTION |
62 davidson auto group Construction continues on brand new Ford and General Motors dealerships. February 2012 | NNY Business
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NNY Business | February 2012
| ON THE COVER |
| INTERVIEW |
40 room to grow Harry Minas set down roots for Florelle Tissue in the former Brownville Speciality Paper Mill, with plans to grow the business exponentially in the future. | COLUMNS |
44 ECONOMICALLY SPEAKING 45 NONPROFITS TODAY 46 COMMERCE CORNER
47 AGRI-BUSINESS 48 BUSINESS TECH BYTES 49 SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS
| DEPARTMENTS |
8 9 10 12 36
EDITOR’S NOTE PEOPLE ON THE MOVE ECONOMIC SNAPSHOT BUSINESS BRIEFCASE REAL ESTATE ROUNDUP
50 52 58 60 62
CALENDAR BUSINESS SCENE DINING GUIDE BUSINESS HISTORY WHAT’S HAPPENING HERE?
Photographer Amanda Morrison captured the White family of White’s Lumber and Building Supply in the lumber yard at their Watertown location. Roger W. White Sr., seated, and four of his children own and operate the stores, including locations in Clayton, Gouverneur and Pulaski.
February 2012 | NNY Business
|7
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NNY Business | January 2012
E D I T O R ’ S NO T E
F
or several north country families, the ties that bind transcend traditional family gatherings into the business world. Dozens of businesses in Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Lewis counties trace their roots to humble beginnings by entrepreneurial family members hoping to provide a better life for their offspring and, in many cases, for those who lived in their communities, bringing jobs to small towns. Taken together, family-owned and operated Ken Eysaman businesses across Northern New York employ hundreds, if not several thousand people. In this month’s cover story, which begins on page 14, staffer Kyle R. Hayes takes us inside operations at five multi-generational family businesses, the oldest of which — White’s Lumber and Building Supplies — dates back 120 years to 1892 when founder G.W. White left his family homestead in Pamelia for Watertown to begin his first business venture. With four stores today, the company that bears his last name is a north country institution that has managed to survive in an era of ever-increasing big-box stores that squeeze the life out of smaller, family-operated businesses. For Ron Thomson, the Backus and Essenlohr families and the Martinis, whose Avon Shoes is now in its 87th year, the story also is one of survival and perseverance. n
n
n
Also this month — Harry Minas, president of Florelle Tissue Corp., sits down to a conversation about his paper manufacturing firm that will soon begin production in the former Brownville Specialty Paper on Bridge Street. Mr. Minas, a Canadian who spent most of his life in Toronto, is busy hiring staff and installing equipment to make kitchen towels and tissue. His story also is one of perseverance as the project that is presently taking shape has been in the works since fall 2009. Our talk with Mr. Minas begins on
page 40 in “20 Questions.” Flip to page 29 and you’ll learn about how Randy A. Yerden’s BioSpherix will add 10 to 15 employees this year as it provides equipment for cellular research that could save lives. Mr. Yerden’s story is impressive, especially considering the fact that last year he nearly doubled the size of his business in a Lacona warehouse. In a story that harkens back to the days of the great fur trade, staffer Chris Brock, “Muskrat Love,” page 33, tells just how lucrative muskrat trapping has grown in the north country as prices for pelts rise.
BUSINESS SCENE — In this month’s Scene section, which begins on page 52, you’ll find 68 faces from more than three-dozen north country businesses. Early last month, we dropped by the 20th Annual Bridal Show at the Dulles State Office Building. Later in the month, we joined Greater WatertownNorth Country Chamber of Commerce members at Watertown’s historic Black River Valley Club for some after-hours fun. Congratulations to club manager David F. Boucher and his staff for pulling off a first-rate evening with excellent food and fellowship as more than 300 people packed the club. Congratulations also go to Augusta Withington and Robert J. Campany, coowners of Fourth Coast Inc., Clayton, who won this year’s new Business Venture Award from the Jefferson County Job Development Corp. during the agency’s annual membership meeting at Hilton Garden Inn. Also taking honors were Lake Ontario Realty, Aubertine & Currier Architects, Engineers & Land Surveyors, and Transitional Living Services, which each earned the Business of Excellence Award. We also joined the Alexandria Bay Chamber of Commerce at the Riveredge Resort for a Mid-Winter’s Evening. Finally, this month’s issue tops off with the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce 60th Israel A. Shapiro Citizenship Award dinner at the Ramada Inn, where recipient Benjamin P. Coe was recognized for his great service to the community. Yours in business,
P E O P L E ON T H E M O V E Honored by Northwestern Northwestern Mutual has honored Brian Wilcox, Theresa, of Northwestern Mutual’s Watertown office, with its 2012 Eastern Region Managing Director Leader award. The honor recognizes Mr. Wilcox for an outstanding year of performance Wilcox with Northwestern Mutual, serving the financial security needs of clients and policy-owners throughout the region.
Adworkshop names new president
Adworkshop, Lake Placid, a Northern New York employee-owned digital marketing and public relations agency, recently announced the promotion of Watertown native Darcy Norfolk to president. Founded in 1977 by Tom and Adele Connors, the agency Norfolk delivers a full suite
of marketing services from its Lake Placid location and employs 26 full-time professionals. Mrs. Norfolk has a background in marketing, mergers and acquisitions and business development in the health care, retail, education and hospitality industries. She has worked in several capacities as the agency’s general manager and executive team leader. From 2005 to 2007, she was the director of public relations. Mrs. Norfolk previously worked in technology development and marketing
for Symbol Technologies Inc., a subsidiary of Motorola. She gained experience in software, mobile computing and wireless technology development, and served as the Asia-Pacific business development manager in Tokyo for one year. Mrs. Norfolk is a 1991 graduate of Immaculate Heart Central School, Watertown. She holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Canisius College, Buffalo, and a master’s degree in business administration from Hofstra University, Hempstead, where she graduated magna cum laude. She resides in Lake Placid with her husband, Matt, and three children.
Named partner at Aubertine and Currier
Annette M. Mason, P.E., has been named partner at Aubertine and Currier Architects, Engineers & Land Surveyors, PLLC, Watertown. Mrs. Mason joined the firm in 2000 and has more than 18 years’ experience in the structural engineering field. Since Mason she joined the firm in 2000, Mrs. Mason has handled structural engineering needs for every Aubertine and Currier project. Most recently, Mrs. Mason’s projects include the new administrative and residential building for Hospice of Jefferson County, a new Land Port of Entry facility for the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, and several projects on Fort Drum.
Joins Northern New York Community Foundation North country native April L. Fallon
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. was recently named coordinator of partnerships for the Northern New York Community Foundation, Watertown. The new position is part of a transition as long-time foundation staff member Louise E. Scarlett retires this year. Ms. Fallon will Fallon manage the foundation’s scholarship program and also will work to strengthen relationships with foundation stakeholders and explore new collaborative opportunities with schools, nonprofits, individuals and businesses. Ms. Fallon is a graduate of SUNY Fredonia and brings 19 years’ of experience in communications, marketing and public relations. She has held positions at Samaritan Medical Center and most recently as communications and human resource manager at North Country Orthopaedic Group. Although she lives in Watertown, her family maintains ties to the St. Lawrence River area. Ms. Fallon is a member of the Public Relations Society of America, the Society of Human Resource Management as well as the North Country Human Resource Association. She is a board member of both the North Country Human Resource
Please see People, page 43
2nd Generation family-owned and operated business. In business for over 36 years where customer service is our priority.
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January 2012 | NNY Business
|9
ECON SNAPSHOT
NNY
Economic indicators Average per-gallon milk price paid to N.Y. dairy farmers Dec. 2011 $1.79 Nov. 2011 $1.79 Dec. 2010 $1.66
7.8%
(Percent gains and losses are over 12 months)
Vehicles crossing the Thousand Islands, OgdensburgPrescott and Seaway International (Massena) bridges
Source: NYS Department of Agriculture
375,883 in Dec. 2011 432,537 in Nov. 2011 366,847 in Dec. 2010
Average NNY price for gallon of regular unleaded gas
Source: T.I. Bridge Authority, Ogdensburg Bridge & Port Authority, Seaway International Bridge Corp.
Dec. 2011 $3.50 Nov. 2011 $3.59 Dec. 2010 $3.21
U.S.-Canadian dollar exchange rate (Canadian dollars per U.S. dollar)
9.0%
Average NNY price for gallon of home heating oil Dec. 2011 $3.85 Nov. 2011 $3.85 Dec. 2010 $3.34
15.3%
2.5%
$1.02 on Dec. 30, 2011 $1.05 on Nov. 31, 2011 $1.01 on Dec. 28, 2010
1.0%
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
Dec. 2011 $3.41 Nov. 2011 $3.34 Dec. 2010 $3.37
91,500 in Dec. 2011 91,700 in Nov. 2011 91,100 in Dec. 2010
1.2%
0.43%
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
114, median price $129,000 in Dec. 2011 79, median price $126,000 in Nov. 2011 98, median price $127,350 in Dec. 2010
49, median price $77,000 in Dec. 2011 42, median price $85,750 in Nov. 2011 55, median price $90,100 in Dec. 2010
16.3% Sales
1.3% Price
Source: Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors Inc.
10.9% Sales
14.5% Price
Source: St. Lawrence Board of Realtors Inc.
NNY unemployment rates Jefferson County Dec. 11
10.1%
Nov. 11
9.4%
Dec. 10
10.3 %
St. Lawrence County Dec. 11
10.0%
Nov. 11
9.3%
Dec. 10
10.3 %
Lewis County Dec. 11
9.9%
Nov. 11
8.6%
Dec. 10
10.0 %
Source: New York State Department of Labor (Not seasonally adjusted) Note: Due to updates in some “Econ. Snapshot� categories, numbers may differ from previously published prior month and year figures.
10 NNYBusiness Business||April January 8 ||NNY 20112012
NNY
Economic indicators New automobiles (cars and trucks) registered in Jefferson County Cars 319 in Dec. 2011 292 in Nov. 2011 168 in Dec. 2010
89.8%
Trucks 87 in Dec. 2011 111 in Nov. 2011 37 in Dec. 2011
135.1%
Source: Jefferson County Clerk’s Office
Passengers at Watertown International Airport
Open welfare cases in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties
3,640 in-bound and out-bound in Dec. 2011 1,113 in-bound and out-bound in Nov. 2011 540 in-bound and out-bound in Dec. 2010
1,954 in Dec. 2011 1,918 in Nov. 2011 1,825 in Dec. 2010
7.1%
574.1%
DBAs
Source: Social Service Depts. of Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties
DBA (doing business under an assumed name) certificates filed at the Jefferson County Clerk’s office in January 2012
transactions
Source: Jefferson County Board of Legislators
Jan. 24: All Clear Radon Mitigation, 12781 Route 3, Sackets Harbor, Radon mitigation provider. James C. Woolcott and Kanokphan Woolcott, Watertown
Jan. 11: 1st Choice Contracting, 7706 W. State St., Lowville, contracting. Robert Pelo, 7706 W. State St., Lowville
Jan. 23: Roof Forestry, 26279 County Route 160, Watertown, forestry consulting. Matthew D. Forestry, 26279 County Route 160, Watertown
Jan. 10: Clover Valley Pizza, 19009 Route 12E, Brownville, pizza shop. Tammy L. Marshall, 20607 Carr Road., Watertown
n Ren Rumble Contracting, 24251 Route 12, Watertown, window cleaning, general home improvement. Ren L. Rumble, 24251 Route 12, Watertown
n More Management Services, 18874 Route 11, Watertown, property management. Mary Adair, 1311 Sand Road, Adams
Jan. 20: Jim’s Drywall, 504 West St., Apt. 2, Carthage, construction. James P. Hare Jr., 503 West St., Apt. 2, Carthage
n Eternal Eden, 28238 Cardinal Lane, Evans Mills, jewelry and hair accessories. Elizabeth A. Kay, 28238 Cardinal Lane, Evans Mills
Jan. 19: Goal Specific Fitness, 210 Court St., Watertown, fitness. James E. Pierce, 611 Burchard St., Watertown
Jan. 9: Nails Lovida, 20997 Route 3, Suite No. 5, Watertown, nail salon. Huong Huu Da Duong, 154 Breen Ave., Watertown
n Privateers Cove Restaurant and Concessions, Route 12, Alexandria Bay, restaurant and concession stand. Nicole E. Hall, Jamesville
n Dr. Nicole C. Schermerhorn, PsyD, LMHC, 410 State St., Carthage, psychotherapy. Nicole C. Schermerhorn, 9639 Lewis St., Beaver Falls
n Lindsay Williams Design, 23013 Route 11, Watertown, graphic design services. Lindsay R. Pfeiffer Williams, 23013 Route 11, Watertown
n Professional2Pretty, 22153 Patricia Drive, Watertown, online retail. Rachel A. Knox, 22153 Patricia Drive, Watertown
n Allie-Kat Photo Booth, 23276 Fernwood Drive, Black River, vendor. Allison Carlos, Watertown, and Kathryn Sparacino, Black River
n Caring Cuts, 16487 Martin Road West, Watertown, hair cuts / salon. Amber J. Rembowski, 16487 Martin Road West, Watertown
Jan. 18: Top Notch Cleaning, 685 Hazelhurst Ave., Watertown, cleaning. Amy Jo Gerstenschlager, 4575 Route 37, Redwood
n NNY Lawn Care, 17449 County Route 155, Watertown, lawn care service. David F. Pirog, 17449 County Route 155, Watertown
n Jefferson Tea Party, P.O. Box 111, Watertown, Jefferson Tea Party. Charles B. Kingsley, Three Mile Bay, and Charles F. Ruggiero, Watertown
Jan. 6: Kinetic Investment Strategies, 26823 Clear Lake Camp Road, Theresa, investment services. Clark E. Mason, 26823 Clear Lake Camp Road, Theresa
n Valentine Entertainment Group, Empsall Plaza, Suite 6, Watertown, media and music production. Eugne Muhammad Jr., 11 Liberty St., Carthage
n The Barber Shop, 23227 Route 342, No. 4, Watertown, barber shop. Megan Marshall, 2426 Alexandra Meadows, Watertown
n What Matthew Thinks, 1620 Huntington St., Apt. L6, Watertown, advice / Web service, Matthew Munoz, 1620 Huntington St., Apt. L6, Watertown
n Matthew Luck, 31250 County Route 143, Black River, author, programming, web design, IT. Matthew J. Luck, 31250 County Route 143, Black River
Jan. 17: Alteri’s Thousand Island Park Grocery, 42243 County Route 100, Thousand Island Park, grocery. Paul Alteri, 120 Boon St., Watertown
Jan. 5: LML Salon, 17 Bridge St., West Carthage, hair salon. Leanne M. LaGasse, 142 N. Mechanic St., Carthage
n The Pilates Room, 135 Franklin St., Watertown, pilates studio. Diana L. Rodriguez, 1413 State St., Watertown
Jan. 4: H2O Company, 1209 Madison Ave., Watertown, marketing, Glenn T. Curry, 1209 Madison Ave., Watertown
n Victoria Perry, 39358 Middle Road, LaFargeville, marketing. Victoria L. Perry, 39358 Middle Road, LaFargeville
n Square Ideas, 1142 Academy St., Watertown, marketing consultant. Kris D. Marsala, 1142 Academy St., Watertown
Jan. 12: Alliance Mayhem, 409 Academy St., Apt. 4, Watertown, paintball. Thomas A. Bennett, 409 Academy St., Apt. 4, Watertown
n 4 Paws Barkerie, 23035 Route 411, LaFargeville, dog treats. Donna M. Russell, 23035 Route 411, LaFargeville
n Mayhem Alliance, 409 Academy St., Apt. 4, Watertown, paintball. Michael P. Reid, 409 Academy St., Apt. 4, Watertown
n Fargo’s Sewer & Drain, 23325 Fernwood Drive, Black River, plumbing service. Jessica Fargo, 23325 Fernwood Drive, Black River
Real estate sales
Turn to page 38 for a look at recent real estate transactions in the City of Watertown, St. Lawrence and Lewis counties.
January April 2012 2011 || NNY NNY Business Business || 11 9
B u s i n e s s Br i e f ca s e
From left, Beth Mac, district manager, Lisa Bowhall, senior staffing supervisor, Kelly Services, Watertown, Cortney Siddon, business development representative and Scott Geidel, staffing supervisor, Kelly Services, Potsdam.
Celebrates 25 years
Kelly Services recently celebrated 25 years in business in Watertown. The agency works to meet evolving staffing needs of local businesses through custom workforce solutions. With a second location in Potsdam, the firm serves Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties to provide candidates skilled in health care, engineering, information technology, office administrative and light industrial. The agency helps determine hard and soft skills required for a position to ensure the right employee is placed with the customer. Once on assignment, Beth Mac, district manager, and her team ensure employees meet customer needs.
Aubertine and Currier named to hot firm list
Aubertine and Currier Architects, Engineers & Land Surveyors, 522 Bradley St., Watertown, has earned recognition on the 2011 Zweig Letter Hot Firm List. The list recognizes the fastest-growing
architecture, engineering, planning and environmental consulting firms in the United States and Canada. The firms chosen have shown that they have the ability to outperform the economy in these challenging times. This year, 176 firms were recognized. The award was accepted by partners Brian A. Jones, Matthew R. Morgia, Jayson J. Jones, Patrick J. Currier and Michael L. Aubertine.
Marra’s receives seal of approval
Marra’s Homecare, a medical supply business at 21087 Route 12F, Watertown, has earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for accreditation by demonstrating compliance with the commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety in home care. The Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Marra’s Homecare underwent a rigorous unannounced on-site evaluation in July by Joint Commission surveyors, who evaluated Marra’s for compliance with standards of care in infection prevention and control, leadership and medication management. Marra’s Homecare is managed by Ed Mentry.
North Country Urgent Care earns designation
North Country Urgent Care, located just outside of Watertown, has received the Certified Urgent Care designation. The clinic provides patients with walk-in, extended-hour medical attention with licensed providers for a large scope of
medical conditions and has met all of the Urgent Care Association of America’s established criteria. When a medical condition cannot be handled by a patient’s regular doctor — such as unexpected cuts, burns, sprains or fractures that do not require a visit to the emergency department — North Country Urgent Care is equipped with X-ray, laboratory services and a licensed provider available to perform minor procedures like casting and suturing. With its certification, North Country Urgent Care and the Urgent Care Association of America demonstrate their commitment toward providing patients with access to appropriate levels of care. North Country Urgent Care, located at 21017 State Route 12F is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Nominations requested
The South Jefferson Chamber of Commerce is accepting applications for its 2012 Citizen of the Year. The award recognizes a local resident who invests time and talent in improving the area. The winner will be announced at the Arbor Day Festival in April. For more information or a submission form, email info@southjeffchamber.org.
Candle chain to open
Yankee Candle, a national retail store, plans to move into a vacant spot at Salmon Run Mall, Watertown, Marketing Director Carla R. Woods said. The store, to be next to Regis Salon, is slated to open in April.
RENT-A-COW 782-6836
GREAT FOR LOCAL MOVING! MOBILE & SELF STORAGE CLIMATE CONTROLLED STORAGE AVAILABLE MILITARY DISCOUNTS 12 |
NNY Business | February 2012
B u s i n e s s b r i e f ca s e Got business news?
n Share your business news with NNY Business. Email news releases and photos (.jpg/300 dpi) to editor Ken Eysaman at keysaman@wdt.net. The deadline for submissions is the 15th of the month for the following month’s issue. Photos that don’t appear in print may be posted on our Facebook page.
From left, Mark Brackett, Kinney Drugs Foundation president, Debbie Ormasen, senior accounting and finance manager, Frederic Remington Art Museum, Ed LaVarnway, executive director, Frederic Remington Art Museum and Penny PerrineGray, Kinney Drugs Foundation administrator.
Kinney Drugs Foundation supports museum
The Kinney Drugs Foundation recently gave $5,000 as part of a $30,000 pledge to the Frederic Remington Art Museum’s Centennial Campaign. The money will support the museum’s distance learning project. Since its inception in June 2002, the Kinney Drugs Foundation has donated more than $6 million to charities. The Frederic Remington Art Museum, 303 Washington St., Ogdensburg, is dedicated to collecting, exhibiting, preserving and interpreting the art and archives of Frederic Remington. Visit www.fredericremington.org for museum hours and more information.
quality of improvement over a one year period and financial performance in comparison to other agencies in the same state and in the country. The list was determined through the use of publicly available data.
Shipley Center partners with CPH and SLU
Clarkson University’s Shipley Center for Innovation has signed formal partnerships with both Canton-Potsdam Hospital, Potsdam, and St. Lawrence University, Canton, to develop the commercialization of innovation. The two partnerships expand the center’s services and resources to both institutions. The Shipley Center, Potsdam, provides help to innovators during the process of commercialization through
mechanisms like patent preparation, business plan preparation and links to private, state and federal funding sources. Start-ups that may result from the partnerships will be fed into Clarkson’s downtown Potsdam Peyton Hall business incubator.
Business of the month
The Lewis County Chamber of Commerce Business of the Month for February is Hanno’s Hometown Car Wash, Utica Boulevard, Lowville. Hanno’s has been in business since 2003 and is family owned and operated. The facility features four self-serve bays and a touch-less automatic car wash.
Vendor registration open The St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce is accepting vendor registrations for its annual home, garden and business show that will take place April 27 and 28 at Clarkson University’s Cheel Arena in Potsdam. For more information, contact Jo Ann Roberts, 386-4000, jroberts@stlawrencecountychamber.org.
Saranac firm accredited
The Medical Imaging Department at Adirondack Medical Center, Saranac Lake, a member of Adirondack Health, has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in computed tomography as the result of a recent review by the American College of Radiology.
Agency part of ‘Elite’
Health Services of Northern New York Inc., Potsdam, was one of just 47 New York State home health care agencies included on the 2011 HomeCare Elite, a listing of the top tier home health care agencies in the United States. HSNNY was also one of two home health care agencies north of the Syracuse/Albany region named to the list. The HomeCare Elite names the nation’s top 25 percent of home care agencies based on the agencies’ quality of care,
February 2012 | NNY Business
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A family affair
Ron Thomson, owner of Uncle Sam Boat Tours, Alexandria Bay, stands in the pilot house of the Alexandria Belle with a photo of his grandfather, C.S. Thomson, who started the business in 1926. JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS
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NNY Business | February 2012
TEXT BY KYLE R. HAYES PHOTOS BY JUSTIN SORENSEN AND NORM JOHNSTON
Multi-generational businesses are storied successes in NNY
February 2012 | NNY Business
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F
c o ver s t o r y For many well-established north country businesses, family means more than the occasional Sunday dinner and birthday party. For family businesses that have been passed down from generation to generation, the relationships built between mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers result in success, overcoming hurdles and optimism for the future. In examining the innumerable amount of businesses run by families in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties, it’s evident that a successful operation run by a single family can overcome just
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about anything: Recessions, depressions, fires and even the occasional bad idea. However, there’s one thing that all of these businesses have in common, and that’s their not-so-secret way of competing with big box retailers that they call their competition. What’s the key to a successful business, according to these clans? Living and working among their clientele, knowing their customers by name and measuring up to the values and traditions instilled by the many generations that preceded them.
T
he Thomson family of Alexandria Bay has witnessed the transformation of the resort town from the playground for millionaires at the turn of the century to the tourist destination that it is today. Ronald G. Thomson’s family has been in the boat tour industry since before 1900, when his grandfather, C.S. “Capt.” Thomson, started operating tours on skiffs, eventually moving to gas powered boats, most of which were built on the river. “The corporation that I own was incorporated in 1926, it was a consolidation of
c o ver s t o r y several other companies into one,” Mr. Thomson said. Opening for its 86th season this summer, Uncle Sam Boat Tours is now running approximately 1,600 to 1,700 tours a year, with shuttles back and forth to Heart Island and Boldt Castle, dinner cruises, the “two nation tour,” twilight cruises and a Millionaire’s Row tour. Mr. Thomson came into the company at a managerial level in 1978 and has solely owned the company since 1996. He said that the tour company has a 99 percent departure rate. “We will take six people out on tour, if that’s all we have for the day,” Mr. Thomson said. “We don’t like to turn people away, ever; that’s how you get a bad reputation and that will stay with you and your business.” Establishing a positive reputation around the Uncle Sam Boat Tour name has been a mission for the Thomson family, and brings a sense of pride to Mr. Thomson when he talks about it. “A reputation is something you build, it takes time to establish and built one, but if you lose it, it’s going to take you a very long time to build it up again,” Mr. Thomson said. “That’s why, unless it’s unsafe and foggy, I will send out a tour that’s not full. If you look at the numbers, it might cost you $70 or $80 to run the tour, but chalk that up to the good advertising you’ll get from those few people aboard who get to enjoy their day.” The tour boat business has always been family oriented with a focus on personal growth for employees, whether family or not, Mr. Thomson said. Mr. Thomson himself said that he started in the parking lot, parking cars, and graduated to giving tours and ticket sales before working as a manager. One of the best things he sees in his employees and his children who work for him is their increase in self-confidence. “You can have the shyest kid and put them in the parking lot, but by the end of the summer when that kid is interacting with customers and having to give tours, they’re a whole new person,” Mr. Thomson said. The next generation of Thomsons poised to take over won’t be forced into the business, Mr. Thomson said. His daughter, Meghan, is a special education teacher in Fulton, and son Joshua is a graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology, where he studied biochemistry. A son, Ethan, is a sophomore at Bentley University, Boston, and has his captain’s license and works during the summers. The youngest son in the family, Riley,
JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS
An old seal reads Capt. C.S. Thomson’s Motor Boat Tours Inc., which started in 1924.
a senior at Alexandria Central School, shows an interest in the business, his father said. Riley started in the parking lot and now works during the summer as a tour guide. The Thomson family descended from Mr. Thomson’s Scottish great-grandfather, Andrew, who came across the Atlantic, settled in Montreal and eventually the family made their way across the river, settling on both sides of the St. Lawrence. In addition to the business, there’s something else that has been handed down through the years. “The narration that the tour guides give
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has been handed down from generation to generation,” Mr. Thomson said. “Each person adds their own little bits of history; we try to transport people back to the time when the rich and famous used this as their playground.” One of Mr. Thomson’s selling points, and one that will never change as long as Uncle Sam Boat Tours is in operation, is being able to help people discover the St. Lawrence River. Whether a customer is from Clayton or New York City, Mr. Thomson wants each visitor to realize the “world-class attraction” that is the river. “We have a river you could put up against any other attraction,” Mr. Thomson said. “When people think of a river, they think of something they grew up next to or close to. We try to get them out on this river and show them how expansive and historical it really is. We get them out there and they realize they had no idea.”
O
ne of the oldest operating family businesses in the north country dates back to 1925 and has always been located in the historic Public Square retail arena. Avon Shoes was founded in 1925 by Labindo Martini, who was born in Morolo, Italy, and came to the United States at the
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February 2012 | NNY Business
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c o ver s t o r y
JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS
Ren Martini, center, with his sons, Bob, left, and Mike, stand in the storefront of Avon Shoes on Watertown’s Public Square. The business has been in the family for 87 years.
age of 17 with his mother and moved to Watertown to be near relatives. Having moved the storefront from next to the Avon Theater, to the Hotel Woodruff and finally to 67 Public Square, the
Martini family wouldn’t think of being anywhere but downtown Watertown. “When the mall did come in, when I was a teenager, they gave my dad a good sales pitch and showed him some spaces,”
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Michael V. Martini said. “I don’t even think it was a close decision. I’m glad we’ve never moved. We’re proud to be downtown, we’re where we want to be. The square has been on the edge a couple times, but it’s never going to totally die.” Mr. Martini is the third generation to work at the store, having started his tenure in the mid-1990s working with his mother, Joanne, and father Renald “Ren”, and his brother, Renald R. “Bob.” The Martini family as a whole is involved in making the business thrive. Ren comes in almost every day and greets customers and helps fit customers with custom orthotic shoes and inserts. Mrs. Martini handles the paperwork, “she makes sure we get paid,” Michael said. “I used to come in when I was a kid and hang around the store,” Michael said. “Back then we sold Red Goose kids shoes and there was a big red goose here that was a machine when you bought a pair of shoes, you would tap on the goose’s head and it would lay an egg and you’d get candy in the egg. I was always messing around with stuff.” Even with the proliferation of Internet sales and big box stores like Walmart and Target carrying shoes, business at Avon Shoes has been steady year-to-year and Michael said business has been doing well. “What our customers really get from shopping here is the personal experience of having someone there to really fit a shoe to you personally,” he said. “There is no standardization in shoe size and fit, we can make even the smallest adjustment. And the small adjustments are what could make someone with a bad back or bad knees feel better.” Running a business that has been in operation for 87 years during one of modern day America’s toughest economic environments isn’t always easy, but the Martini family believes they have the formula figured out. “There is that sense of responsibility, that sense of pride that you’ve been able to weather the storms and the stores that have come and gone,” Michael said. “The fact that we’re still here, very viable and very busy, I guess that’s a testament to being able to take care of people.” As for the next generation of Martinis poised to take over, Michael said there really hasn’t been much discussion on that, as his daughters are just 10 and 14. “My brother doesn’t have any kids, but I have two girls and they’re still pretty young,” Michael said. “I mean, they love shoes, obviously, but there are no concrete plans. My dad is 76 and still going strong
c o ver s t o r y
Small Business has Big Tax Implications By JoAnn St.Croix, EA Small-business owners wear many hats. They are experts in their fields and handle human resources, information technology and even tax issues, and taxes often end up being neglected until the last minute. But, the smaller the business, the less attention the IRS pays to it, right? Wrong. Small businesses with assets under $10 million are a focus for IRS tax audits. For this very big reason alone, it is important for small-business owners to keep good records. This also will ensure business owners get the tax breaks they’re entitled. Here’s how small-business owners can stay on top of their tax situations:
NORM JOHNSTON | NNY BUSINESS
Essenlohr Motors owners Marc R. and Randall G. Essenlohr in the showroom of their General Motors franchise in Lowville.
and not slowing down, and I’m only 40, so there’s time to figure that out.” andall “Randy” Essenlohr became a part of the family business unexpectedly when his father, George E., moved from New York City to Lowville to take over Essenlohr Motors Inc. “When I graduated from college, I thought I’d be doing something like going into the F.B.I., but then my father bought the place and I thought I could help out for six months or so,” Mr. Essenlohr said. Today, 41 years later, Mr. Essenlohr runs the Chevrolet dealership on Utica Boulevard in Lowville with his son, Marc, who his father describes as a gifted mechanic with a knack for customer service and automobiles. Marc is in line to take over the business in the not-so-distant future. Mr. Essenlohr said that sales of the Chevrolet brand at his dealership have improved significantly in the past year and that 2011 was great, until sales slumped in the last quarter. “Our four-wheel-drive sales are still the strong market,” Mr. Essenlohr said. “Gas prices do have an effect on sales, but I see where people get rid of their trucks for fuel efficient cars, but those cars don’t really meet their needs so they come back to the trucks and four-wheel-drive vehicles.” The advantages to being a small dealership when competing with major sales centers in metropolitan areas is the lack of major marketing budgets and being able to know customers by name when they show up on the lot, Mr. Essenlohr said.
R
“We have people come in and say, ‘Wow, I can’t believe they just gave me what I’m paying and not a payment,’” Mr. Essenlohr said. “It’s rare that car dealerships tell you what you’re going to end up paying for your vehicle. They usually attack you with the payment and you never know what you’ll be paying in the end.” Mr. Essenlohr’s father came to Lowville from New York City to take back the dealership, which Mr. Essenlohr’s grandfather had sold to someone outside the family. In his return, Mr. Essenlohr’s father brought some knowledge for how to bring customers to smaller towns. “It can be difficult to draw people to Lowville, there’s not a variety of services to offer that metro areas have,” Mr. Essenlohr said. “But what we do offer is certainty. We can compete price-wise and we know our customers by name, we really do.”
W
hen George W. White left his homestead in Pamelia in 1892 at the age of 30 to come to Watertown, he wasn’t so sure how successful his new adventure would be. Mr. White was moving to Watertown to form a hay press business with two business partners. See, in 1892, the United States was in the beginning of what was to be a deep economic depression that lasted into the 1900s. A forward-thinker, Mr. White was never sure how profitable the manufacture of hay presses would be for himself, hay buyer Henry C. Anthony and Egbert W. Knapp, of the E.W. Knapp Lumber Co. However, in September 1892, the three
Four taxes to know Small-business owners have an obligation to withhold federal income tax, and may also be required to withhold state and local income taxes from their employees’ wages, just like larger entities. The federal taxes that must be withheld from employee’s wages are federal income tax, Social Security tax and Medicare tax. Employers withhold half of the total Social Security tax and Medicare tax liabilities from their employees’ wages and pay the other half. Right now however, the employeeís portion of Social Security is only 4.2%. The federal unemployment tax, which funds the compensation workers who lose their jobs receive, is paid completely by employers. Depositing taxes Accurate, timely bookkeeping can save headaches down the road, and this includes depositing taxes when they are due. Small businesses must deposit the federal income tax withholding along with the employer and employee portions of Social Security and Medicare taxes. This can be done electronically or by mailing or delivering a payment with Form 8109 to an authorized financial institution. Electronic deposits can be made using the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System, which is a free, 24/7 system provided by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Payments using this method can be made online or via phone. Filing W-2s Form W-2 reports the wages, tips and other compensation paid to an employee, as well as the withheld income tax, Social Security tax, Medicare tax and any advanced earned income tax credit payments. W-2 forms must be filed with the Social Security Administration by these dates: • Paper forms ñ the last day of February 2012 for 2011 forms) • Electronic forms - March 31. These forms can be filed free of charge at the Social Security Administration’s Web site. An advantage of this is that copies can be printed for employees, state taxing agencies, etc. No matter what filing method is used, W-2s are due to employees by Jan. 31, 2012, for 2011 forms). This deadline is met if the forms are properly addressed and mailed to employees on or before the deadline. For more information about small-business taxes, visit a tax and financial professional.
JoAnn St.Croix is an H&R Block tax professional and Enrolled Agent in Watertown, NY. You can reach her by calling 315-782-0821.
February 2012 | NNY Business
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c o ver s t o r y
JOHNSON NEWSPAPERS FILE PHOTO
White family members, from left, Sarah T. (White) Cleaver, Bradford A., Roger W. “Ted” Jr. and Roger W. White Sr., in an Oct. 30, 1981, Watertown Daily Times photo, four days after fire destroyed a lumber yard at the family’s White’s Lumber store in Watertown.
Watertown businessmen created a partnership, originally named Knapp Lumber Company. From that day forward, Mr. White became an esteemed businessman, renowned for his lumber expertise and awareness for customer needs in a competitive market. Today, White’s Lumber and Building
Supplies is a north country institution, with locations in Watertown, Pulaski, Clayton and Gouverneur. “I have worked at the company for more than 60 years,” Roger W. White, G.W. White’s grandson, said. “I didn’t even realize we were going into our 120th year in business.”
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Roger’s three sons, Bradford, Roger Jr. and Jonathan, and daughter, Sarah Cleaver, now operate the business in their father’s retirement. “My father taught us to walk around with our eyes open, if there is something that needs to be done, do it,” Mrs. Cleaver said. “We’ve always said that we can shovel the walk or sweep the floors. If an employee sees the owners doing it, they’ll be more inclined to think we can work together and get it done.” The White family takes that sense of community with their employees and extends it to all facets of the business. Bradford White said that each sibling has their own responsibilities they take care of in the business, but many decisions are made collectively as a family. Mrs. Cleaver, Bradford and their father each relay a message of thankfulness to the community, whether to longtime customers or those who just moved into town and are looking for a gallon of paint. “It feels wonderful to have people that have stuck with us for all of these years,” Roger said. “My children and I, we all want to succeed in business and want to help our customers.” Having been in business 120 years, the White family secret to longevity in business is that is there is no secret. “Our advantage is we have the owners and staff that are experienced, have worked with us for a long time, and we offer personalized service no matter what you need,” Bradford said. “Many people on our staff have been here for several years. Customers will always see a familiar face.” As for the next generation of White family waiting in the wings? Well, they’re not quite ready yet. “My grandchildren will be allowed to make their own decisions,” Roger said. “There is plenty of time for them to make a decision to run the business, but you don’t want to force it on anyone.”
T
he Mort Backus & Sons name has been synonymous with car sales in the Ogdensburg business community for nearly 60 years. However, the Backus name stands for much more in the community at large. The late Mort Backus began selling cars in 1950 and by 1986 the business became a new car dealership, selling Buicks, Pontiacs, Chevrolets and Oldsmobiles. Today, the dealership sells new Chevrolets and Buicks and is operated by Mr. Backus’s four sons, John, Patrick, Michael and Paul, and four of his 13 grandchildren.
c o ver s t o r y “We have all learned a lot from my father about running the business, he and my mother both gave us kids and the grandchildren a lot of knowledge,” Michael Backus said. Having the third generation of Backus family already working in the dealership has given the family the opportunity to make decisions together and see how they will not only affect the current generation, but those in the future. When Michael talks about how his family works together, he notes that a team approach is the
best way to get things done and make the right decisions. “We were grateful for all of the business we had in 2011,” Michael said. “Our mission for the future is to maintain a steady course, keep training our employees and focusing on trying to do everything better.” Mort Backus and his wife, the late Marie Backus, were recognized by the Greater Ogdensburg Chamber of Commerce as the Citizens of the Year in 2003 and in 2008 Mort Backus & Sons received
the Business of the Year Award from the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce. Being recognized with such honors is reflective of how the Backus family views their community. “As a family, we have always had great employees and a customer base we are very thankful for,” Michael said. “That’s really the best way to succeed is to have those two things.” n kyle r. hayes is editorial assistant for NNY Business and NNY Living magazines. Contact him at 661-2496 or khayes@wdt.net.
February 2012 | NNY Business
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Funeral home in fifth generation n Stoodley family has served region for more than 150 years By Norah Machia
T
NNY Business
he slogan for C. William Stoodley’s funeral home business is “Five Generations of Service to Jefferson County since 1861.” While Mr. Stoodley, 54, would like to make it six generations for the CarpenterStoodley Funeral Home in Belleville, that just may not happen. Mr. Stoodley and his wife, Teresa, have two daughters. Although they helped in the family business when they were growing up (such as carrying flowers into the viewing room), neither has shown a particular interest in working in the funeral home business. His oldest, Melissa Stoodley, is a respiratory therapist at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Syracuse. His younger daughter, Stacey Stoodley, works in property management in Los Angeles. “Situations can change,” said Mr. Stoodley. “I’m still holding out for the younger one. But I have to figure out how to get her out of L.A.” If he doesn’t convince either daughter to return home and operate the family business when he is ready to retire, his “back-up” plan is to wait and see if a staff person may eventually become invested enough to take over the operation, he said. In the funeral home business, if it’s not passed on to the next generation, it often changes hands. But that’s not a quick process, Mr. Stoodley said. Typically, someone must work in the funeral home business for about 10 years before being made a partner, he said. That is how he acquired his second funeral home, the Reed & Benoit Funeral Home in Watertown. Mr. Stoodley started an internship there in 1979 with the late F. Herbert Benoit, who had owned the business at that time. In 1989, the late Mr. Benoit expressed his desire to retire from the business, and Mr. Stoodley and his wife purchased the Watertown funeral home. They decided
“
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AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS
C. William Stoodley sits next to portraits of his family who were once owners of Carpenter-Stoodley Funeral Home. Mr. Stoodley is the fifth generation of the family to operate the business.
son, Clark W. Stoodley, became associated with the business and the name was changed to the Carpenter-Stoodley Funeral Home Inc. Mr. Stoodley and his wife purchased the Carpenter-Stoodley Funeral Home in 2000, although his father still helps to manage it. The two funeral homes in Belleville and Watertown handle more than 200 funerals a year. “Nobody wants people to die, but it’s human nature and it’s going to happen,” he said. “We’re like an emergency room for the dearly departed.” “We take care of things” between the time a person — C. William Stoodley, funeral home director dies and the time the family starts grieving, he said. Mr. Carpenter, who also worked as a cabi Funeral home directors are on call “24 net maker, operated in a building that held hours a day, seven days a week” which several other businesses on Route 289. poses a challenge to those who are hoping It was later taken over by his son, Wiltheir family members will take over the liam A. Carpenter, who is credited for business, or who are trying to others to buying the first motor hearse in the north country in 1916. William’s daughter, Flora, help in the operations, Mr. Stoodley said. “You can get a call at 3 a.m.” to pick up married Ross C. Stoodley in 1937, and a body at the hospital, and then meet with after their marriage, Ross Stoodley started the family the next morning to take care working in the family business. The of the details, he said. business was relocated to Ross Stoodley’s When the family’s funeral home busihome a short distance away on Route 289, ness in Belleville was opened back in 1861, where it remains today. most families held calling hours in their In 1960, Ross Stoodley became sole own homes, typically in their parowner of the funeral home. In 1970, his not to change its name. “Every business has its own personality,” Mr. Stoodley said. “We run the business like the only guy in a small town. We keep it low-key.” Both funeral homes in Belleville and Watertown underwent renovations to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Carpenter-Stoodley Funeral Home was started by John B. Carpenter in 1861.
Nobody wants people to die, but it’s human nature and it’s going to happen. We’re like an emergency room for the dearly departed.
s mall b u s i n e s s lors. Family and friends would drop by throughout the day to pay their respects. The “undertakers,” as they were called in those days, would actually bring their embalming equipment and chemicals to the family’s home, and take care of the body there. They brought with them special “low tables” that the bodies could be placed on while the embalming was done in a separate room, often the bedroom, Mr. Stoodley said. The undertaker would “dress up” the body and bring it into the parlor, where it would be set up for the family’s viewing. “By the time my dad took over, the majority of people had started having calling hours at the funeral home,” he said. The family lived above the funeral home, and as a child, “I was trained to take naps between 2 and 4 or 7 and 9,” the most common hours chosen for viewings, Mr. Stoodley joked. During the 1960s, the family’s hearse was “also the ambulance service” in Belleville, he said. His father served as town clerk at one time, and both his father and grandfather were also part-time school bus drivers. Mr. Stoodley graduated from the former Belleville Academy in 1976, and from the Simmons Institute of Funeral Service, Syracuse, in 1978, after complet-
PHOTO SPECIAL TO NNY BUSINESS
The original Belleville location of CarpenterStoodley Funeral Home on Route 289, ca. 1900.
ing a two-year program. It was the same school that his father graduated from in 1959 (a one year program at the time) and his grandfather in 1936 (a six-month program at the time). When his father and grandfather attended, it was known as the Simmons School of Embalming and Mortuary Science. Many changes have taken place in the business, including an increase in the number of families opting for cremation, although some still have a viewing first and a burial service afterwards, Mr. Stoodley said. Another trend that started several
years ago was the “pre-planning” of a funeral, he said. “This was a good thing,” Mr. Stoodley said. “People started talking about death before it happened. This gave them the chance to make decisions with a clear head and without time constraints.” Technology has played a role in the business with the development of websites that allow people to read about their options in advance, and contact the funeral home via the Internet to make arrangements, he said. It has also allowed for obituaries to be viewed online and for family and friends to write tributes to the deceased. One new trend that recently started nationwide is “webcasting” funeral services to allow family members who are unable to attend to view the service online, Mr. Stoodley said. He is still researching that option for his funeral homes, he said. “But in many ways, we still do things the same,” Mr. Stoodley said. “When someone dies, you have to physically get them and transport them. You still comfort the families and make all the arrangements for them.” n Norah Machia is a freelance writer who lives in Watertown. She is a 20-year veteran journalist. Contact her at nemachia@yahoo.com.
February 2012 | NNY Business
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JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS
William, wife, Deborah and children, Matthew and Elizabeth, outside Elliott Realty’s Watertown office, 642 Coffeen St.
Real estate firm redefines family Elliott Realty finds niche with growing number of family members By Joleene DesRosiers
E
NNY Business
lliott Realty’s story begins in Henderson Harbor, a colorful, rural community where anglers master the big catch, hunters can walk away with a handsome 10-pointer, and every season brings to life a new page for the history books. In this case, that page details the life and times of the Elliott family, and the real estate business that began in the Golden Crescent near Lake Ontario. William Elliott didn’t start out as a real estate agent. For years, he spent his time as a BCI investigator for the New York State Police. But his interest in real estate grew after he bought a few homes that needed some attention. “I started buying distressed properties, rehabbing them and selling them. It just seemed to make sense that the hunt for
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properties would be easier if I was more involved in the real estate business, so I got my real estate license,” Mr. Elliot said. So began a venture that started as Elliott Cool Realty. Mr. Elliott teamed up with Penny Cool, a family friend who was a broker in Henderson Harbor in the early 1990s. After she decided to retire, he bought the rest of her business, ultimately launching what is now known as Elliott Realty Inc. With one office in Henderson Harbor and another in Watertown, the business quickly grew, as did his need for help. And who better to bring on board than his very own family? “Let’s see,” he said, pondering the brood that makes up the family-owned business, “Somewhere around 2000, my wife Debbie started helping me with administrative things, like paperwork and answering the phone. My daughter Beth was working insurance at that time, but
came on board to do the bookkeeping in 2004. Her husband, Steve Newton, is an engineer at the Air Brake, but he started taking on the technical end of things with our computers and Web presence.” Sometime in 2006, Mr. Elliott’s younger sister, Lori, earned a real estate license and began working with the family firm, and while son Matt is a director at the Children’s Home of Jefferson County, he still earned a real estate license and works at the business part-time. Add to that older sister Connie, who does some administrative work in the office. If putting the entire Elliott family under one roof to run a business isn’t enough, consider this: they all live within a mile of each other in Adams, and none of this stops them from spending down time together. “We still love each other enough that at the end of the day we even take
s mall b u s i n e s s Elliott Realty On the Web www.elliottrealtyinc.com n Watertown office 642 Coffeen St. 788-5764 n Henderson Harbor office 12505 County Route 123 938-5764
family vacations together,” Mr. Elliott’s daughter, Beth Newton, said. “Every year in the summer we go somewhere, my family, my brother Matt’s family, and my parents. We stay in the same house and sit down to meals together and it’s fantastic. We leave the business behind for a little while and enjoy what is truly important: Each other.” Mr. Elliott was raised in a family-run business himself, his parents owned and operated a liquor store in Adams. It was there that he learned what a sense of working with family was like. Mr. Elliott believes the dynamics of working with family are different; a sense of loyalty and trust run deeper and mean more, even among agents who aren’t part of the Elliott bloodline. “Our agents are extended family to us, and that means a lot,” he said. “There really is a loyalty with all of us. From my perspective, I know that if a client is unhappy with our business for one reason or another, one of us is quick to jump on that and find out why and what we can do to remedy it. That can be a tough dynamic to nail down in a big conglomerate.” As Mrs. Newton folds her family’s laundry at the dining room table and her children play off in another room, she brings yet another dynamic of working in a well-oiled family business to the forefront: family, minus the business aspect, comes first. “I’m able to keep the books for both Elliott Realty and our property management company, W.J. Elliott Properties, LLC, right from home,” she said. “That allows me to spend time volunteering at my children’s school and within our community. Giving is part of growing, and my parents instilled that within us. There’s nothing like giving to the very community that gives to us. It brings our family even closer and gives us a purpose. I’m so blessed to be able to work
from home and still put my family first. “We also don’t have the pressures that other family businesses may have. There are down times in the market and when that happens, we just support one another. We move things around so we can get everything done. It’s this kind of appreciation for one another that keeps us solid.” The story doesn’t end here. It’s quite possible that Mr. Elliott’s grandchildren will carry on the legacy and add yet
another page to the family history book. If that isn’t the case and they move on to explore their own ventures, it’s all good with the retired investigator. “If they want to keep the business going, great; if not, that’s fine, too,” Mr. Elliott said. “Things are good just the way they are and right now, and I couldn’t ask for anything more.” n JOLEENE DES ROSIERS is a freelance writer and public speaker who lives in Pulaski. Contact her at myddes@hotmail.com.
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s mall b u s i n e s s
Coupal family reflects on success By KYLE R. HAYES
F
NNY Business
or the Frenchie’s automotive dealerships, and the Coupal family who owns and operates them, success involves two things: Hard work and cheese. Real C. “Frenchie” Coupal, founder of the Frenchie’s brand, is a self-made man who bought the former John’s Chevrolet in Massena in 1982. He and his wife, Thelma, son, Scott, daughter, Beth, and their dog, Bear, moved to Massena from St. Albans, Vt., to buy the dealership almost sight unseen. “I worked for Handy Cadillac GMC for 19 years and GM knew I was looking to buy a dealership. They called and said they had one for me to look at,” Mr. Coupal said. “The old owner wanted out, we wanted in, so we bought it. Ninety days later we were a dealer.” However, beginnings for Frenchie’s Chevrolet, 255 E. Orvis St., were not so simple. “There was nothing here, no used cars, no new cars, my bookkeeper decided not to show up on the first day and we were living at the old Flanders Inn, eating at Ponderosa every Friday night,” Mr. Coupal said. “But we paid our bills, we went to work every day and we made it happen.” Making things happen is the unofficial secret to success for Mr. Coupal and his family. “Nothing came easy,” Mr. Coupal said. “I have an eighthgrade education, grew up delivering newspapers when I was 7 years old, cleaning movie theaters top to bottom. You will never have money in your pocket if you don’t work for it. I’ve never been broke in my life.” Despite the economic downturn that hit the U.S. and Northern New York in 2008, Mr. Coupal notes that Frenchie’s never had to lay off an employee and they kept the doors open for business. And they’re growing. “We finished the Ford store modernization last year and this year we’re working on the modernization of the Chevy store,” Mr. Coupal said. In an effort to boost consistency and consumer experience between Chevrolet stores, General Motors is requiring existing stores to modernize facades, furnishings and store layouts.
MELANIE KIMBLER-LAGO | NNY BUSINESS
Scott R. Coupal and his father, Real C. “Frenchie” Coupal, stand next to a bright red Ford Mustang at their dealership in Massena. The Coupal family purchased the Ford dealership in December 2010.
“We are changing everything,” Mr. Coupal said. “We can’t even use the same desks or the same floor tiles as we had before. It all has to go.” During construction, which should be complete by mid-September, the Chevrolet store will relocate to another parcel of land Mr. Coupal owns in Massena to keep
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Coupal name on a Ford registration.” Scott’s sales goal for the first year at the Ford store was lofty, according to Ford; however, in keeping with his father’s advice, he knew any goal was attainable. “We moved 214 retail units in our first year,” Scott said. “When we took control we had 10 vehicles, six were 2010 leftovers and two were demos. For 75 days we didn’t have much to sell. After we got things moving we were preselling so much that we were getting shipments of vehicles that were already sold. Stocking the lot took some time.” Scott’s goal for 2012 is to sell 400 vehicles. The store has 102 new vehicles on the ground and another 45 coming in the spring. “Massena has never seen an inventory like this,” he said. “We have the selection and the service for the entire Ford brand.” As for the cheese, Mr. Coupal takes many situations and applies them to the 1998 motivational book by Spencer Johnson, “Who Moved My Cheese?” The “cheese” is what you look for to make your business successful. “I love my job, I love being here. When you run out of cheese, go find more,” Mr. Coupal said. “I have to keep people pumped, going after the cheese. It’s fun.”
You will never have money in your pocket if you don’t work for it. — Real C. ‘Frenchie’ Coupal, founder Frenchie’s automotive dealerships
customers out of the dirt and dust. In December 2010, the Frenchie’s family grew with the addition of a Ford dealership at 216 E. Orvis St. The Coupals bought the former C&M Ford and immediately began remodeling it. Frenchie’s Ford is the third dealership the family owns, having opened Frenchie’s Select, a used car dealership, five years ago. The three stores combine to employ 74 people, Mr. Coupal said. Mr. Coupal’s son, Scott R., is the general manager of the Ford store. “We renovated the facilities top to bottom and we have had a fantastic welcoming from the community from day one,” Scott said. “Being new to the Ford family, we were really trying to get into the nuts and bolts of it, especially since I bled blue growing up selling GM vehicles. I love the Ford brand now. I never thought I’d see a
n kyle r. hayes is editorial assistant for NNY Business and NNY Living magazines. Contact him at 661-2496 or khayes@wdt.net.
re g i o n
Trucking industry sees rebound By TED BOOKER
C
NNY Business
arriers in the trucking industry are climbing out of the recession that began in 2009, owners in the north country say, although high fuel prices and state regulations have made the rebound a challenge. For Teal’s Express Inc., 22411 Teal Drive, which has a fleet of 120 trucks and 11 distribution centers across the Midwest, sales rose about 10 percent in 2011 compared with 2010, Vice President Joseph T. Teal said. As a “less than load” common carrier, the company transports cargo weighing anywhere from 100 to 5,000 pounds, he said, and serves an array of manufacturers in different industries. Sales nearly climbed to where they were in 2008 — about $23 million — with an increase of about $1 million from 2010, Mr. Teal said. He said industrial suppliers with which the carrier does business were hesitant to build their product inventories during the recession but are doing so now, a sign that the national economy is gaining steam. “That hasn’t been the case since the collapse of the economy,” Mr. Teal said. “Most companies were only ordering what they needed, not keeping an inventory of it, but that seems to be somewhat reversing.” The number of 18-wheelers driving through New York from Ottawa, Ontario, to major cities south of the border — New York City, Baltimore, Md., and Port Elizabeth, N.J. — also has picked up noticeably, Mr. Teal said. The increased number of trucks on interstates 87 and 90 has been evidence of the trend. “If you looked back and compared the numbers with 2009, you would see a dramatic increase,” he said. “When you drive down the state freeways and stop at the rest areas, you can gauge it.” He said that while most carriers stopped operating about 25 percent of their fleet during the recession, “those trucks have begun to roll again.” Beaver River Distribution, 9612 Route 26, Denmark, a carrier with a fleet of 10 trucks, has increased business every year since the recession, said Louanne Zehr,
AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS
Kristin A. and William P. Wilcox sit in one of their trucks at Northern Logistics Inc., 23791 Route 342, Watertown. The company is among several north country carriers combatting the recession.
who co-owns the company with her husband, Lowell V. She said the carrier does about 90 percent of its business in the Northeast, from Ohio to Maine. Last year “was considerably better than 2010, and amazingly better than 2009,” Mrs. Zehr said. A carrier with a fleet of five trucks, Northern Logistics Inc., 23791 Route 342, has battled the challenging economic climate, said Kristin A. Wilcox, who co-owns the business with her husband, William P. The majority of the carrier’s freight is shipped to Midwestern states. “Since 2008, the volume of our freight dropped, and then in 2010 there were signs of freight picking up slightly,” Mrs. Wilcox said. “This last year has been steady — we’ve lost some accounts, gained some accounts.” Although she’s optimistic that business will pick up in 2012, she said she doesn’t expect a noticeable rebound until the national economy starts showing signs of life again. “I wouldn’t say we’re rising out of the recession yet, but we’re maintaining what we have,” Mrs. Wilcox said. “We’re going to watch how things progress in 2012.” Kendra L. Adams, executive director of the New York State Motor Truck Association, Albany, said the majority of carriers in the state are experiencing lingering symptoms of the recession. Fuel prices
already were high in 2008, she said, so the recession took a toll on carriers when it hit in 2009. “We saw a nationwide record of companies close their doors,” she said, adding that those that didn’t close were forced to downsize on staff and equipment. “We’re finally starting to see some growth coming back, but it’s been slow.” Ms. Adams said New York is the second-most-expensive state, behind Oregon, in which to operate a trucking business. The state is among only four in the country that have a highway-use tax, she said, which makes the environment even more challenging. Federal and state regulations have added an extra layer of concern for businesses, Ms. Adams said, as businesses that fail to comply with safety policies face costly fines. According to a study by Transportation Topics, New York does not have a trucking company that ranks in the top 300 nationwide in terms of size. “One of the biggest things about New York state is we aren’t truck friendly,” Ms. Adams said. “There isn’t a lot of focus on the importance of the trucking industry for the state’s economic growth. We want to raise the level of awareness.” n TED BOOKER is a Johnson Newspapers staff writer. Contact him at 661-2371 or tbooker@wdt.net. February 2012 | NNY Business
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s mall b u s i n e s s
SBDC figures hold strong Agency sees 798 clients in FY ’11; attendance at workshops growing By NANCY MADSEN
W NNY Business
hen Chuck and Lynette Fowler have ideas for their business, they weigh them with their adviser at the Small Business Development Center at Jefferson Community College, Watertown. Mr. Fowler said Robin E. Stephenson, a business adviser at the center, helped the couple as they prepared more than a year ago to buy Chuck’s Market, 8212 Main St., Harrisville. “I keep in touch with Robin quite a bit — it’s definitely a good program,” Mr. Fowler said. “They’ve helped me out a lot.” In 2001, Ms. Stephenson helped them consider an energy efficiency program through National Grid. The program allowed the Fowlers to buy more efficient lights and make changes to cut down on refrigeration costs. National Grid audits energy use at businesses, covers 70 percent of the cost-saving measure and then puts the remaining cost on the business’s electricity bill for a year or two. “It really brightened up the place,” Mr. Fowler said. “It made a huge difference.” The center has helped more businesses evaluate the cost effectiveness of programs like National Grid’s as starting small businesses gets more difficult, director F. Eric Constance said. “We had more and more counseling to help business owners get their costs in line and market their businesses better,” he said. “We’re doing little things, like partner with National Grid, and bring clients that need those changes into those programs that can help them finance the improvements.” In the last fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, staff at the center saw 798 clients, with 590 at JCC and 208 at the Oswego branch. The 798 figure is down just slightly from 808 clients in the 2009-10 fiscal year. The 2008-09 year had the highest number of clients, with 819. While commercial lending is a tough environment, the center’s clients continue to receive bank backing. In 2010-11, center
clients were awarded $15.4 million in commercial loans, up from $13.4 in 200910 and $12.4 million in 2008-09. “Many people are disenchanted that they can’t find funding for their projects,” Mr. Constance said. “The people who would get loans before the recession, with the same credit and resources, are not getting funding now.” He said the local commercial lending market has shrunk as HSBC Bank USA is selling its north country branches. Other banks, including KeyBank N.A., Watertown Savings Bank and Community Bank N.A. are using more government-guaranteed loans and being more selective in their clients. “The sad part is that in this type of economy, startups are even more difficult to get money and most of the people we see are startups,” Mr. Constance said. The center is part of a statewide and national network that helps small businesses find resources and research the local market to check the feasibility of the business venture. The local center has expanded its educational portion in the last year to include 38 workshops, which had 1,787 participants, up from 1,454 participants at 36 workshops in 2010. The increase is partially attributable to the business certificate JCC is offering, as well as the Jefferson Express program, which sends computers and a lecturer to different locations in the county to give a wide range of training. Finally, the number and percentage of military-related clients at the center has grown, so that Fort Drum soldiers and spouses make up 26 percent of the clients, up from 23 percent in 2011. “That proportion is climbing because we’re doing more and more on post,” Mr. Constance said. “We want to do more spousal groups because it will help keep them in the area when the soldiers get deployed, even if their businesses need to be mobile things, such as e-commerce.” Nancy Madsen is a former staff writer for the Watertown Daily Times and NNY Business. She now writes for PolitiFact Virginia at the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
A bio-tech boom Lacona firm on cutting edge of cellular research
R
By NANCY MADSEN | NNY Business
andy A. Yerden “really didn’t have a sense” of where his start-up manufacturing company was headed 10 years ago. A move and 50 employees later, the company, BioSpherix, is positioning itself to see dramatic sales growth and hire another 10 to 15 people this year. The business, little known in the north country, makes and sells equipment to some of the best biomedical facilities in the world. “We sell 70 percent globally — Europe, Asia, South and North America,” Mr. Yerden said. “Our clients are universities, medical research hospitals and government labs, but now we’re moving more into industry and health care, where new medicines are developed.” BioSpherix creates tools for those who conduct cellular research. The simplest tools are still much like those Mr. Yerden made for himself when he worked in a laboratory to control individual environmen-
tal attributes, such as the oxygen content. “My first job out of college was in a lab. I developed a couple tools for myself to help me in my work,” he said. “Several years later I decided I didn’t want to continue working in a lab, so beginning in 1982 I started building what I thought were custom one-of-a-kind tools for people in the industry. In 2001 I started to realize these were not just oddball things, but rather everyone would need them.” Mr. Yerden was born in Redfield, graduated from Sandy Creek schools and moved away for 12 years during and after college. “I returned to live near my family,” he said. “And it was because of a lack of job opportunity that made me start thinking about starting the company.” The company’s start coincided with a time when cellular research was becoming a matter of course for all sorts of medical and biological research.
AMANDA MORRISON PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
Top, BioSpherix CEO Randy A. Yerden discusses the uses of his company’s products behind a machine set up for sales and training. Above, an employee works to install intricate electrical and tubing systems within a BioSpherix machine. Background, Susan Herrling, a BioSpherix lab technologist, analyzes cells with a microscope, using one of the company’s machines. Previous page background, looking through one of the products BioSpherix manufactures.
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“Cells were becoming more valuable,” Mr. Yerden said. “Most exciting are the new cell therapies, including gene therapy, immunotherapy, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine — there is a lot of positive data that these new cell therapies are going to be very effective.” Pharmaceutical companies use cells to find new drugs and avoid those with toxicity. Chemical companies also use cells now to make
sure chemicals are safe for public use. But Mr. Yerden and others are most excited about the possibilities cellular research holds for curing diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s, heart disease and sickle cell anemia. “That’s the thing we are all really excited about,” he said. “If we can help in some small way to play a small role in the cure of Alzheimer’s disease or diabetes, we will all be very proud.”
A
bout six years ago, the company’s six employees moved from an old farmhouse in Redfield to the former window and door manufacturer Blount Lumber Co. off Demott Street in Lacona. “It’s very satisfying to a lot of the local people that this place is resurrected as a manufacturing facility,” Mr. Yerden said. The company has added employees every year as it has added new products. In 2011, the business nearly doubled the space it took in the vast warehouse from 16,000 square feet to 29,000 square feet. The additional space has given room for a new marketing and sales group, busy creating brochures and service information for the company’s broad range of products. Staff are finishing a showroom and training area so customers can see the products before ordering them and sales representatives can learn how to service the equipment. “Our equipment is reliable, but it is designed to be easy to service, if necessary, so easy most customers can do it themselves,” he said. Clients also will be able to test the units made specifically for them before they are shipped. In one of those rooms, staff has set up a series of modular chambers, isolated spaces for cellular growth, processing and testing. The chambers are the youngest line BioSpherix employees are creating, called the Xvivo System. Each chamber is isolated so that research can match standards by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and reach the quality that cellular research requires. And each potential client can design a set of chambers uniquely suited to its research. “The existing way of doing things has been to have a clean room for the researchers to use before and after entering the lab,” Mr. Yerden said. “The Xvivo System is not only a powerful research tool, but also is a practical and economical alternative to clean rooms for producing clinical grade cells. It saves a great February 2012 | NNY Business
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“
We all hear so much negative news, so much about the lack of economic opportunity and jobs. Maybe we can give people a little hope. Not everything is doom and gloom. We’ve been hiring constantly and growing constantly. If we can do it, others can do it. — Randy A. Yerden, founder, owner, BioSpherix, Lacona
deal of money, is much more flexible, and produces a better quality cell product.” The research can be close to a patient in clinics, for example. Or the same cells can be tested with different environments in chambers next to each other. BioSpherix products have a global reach. The closest customers are in Syracuse and Rochester, but bigger markets are Ottawa, New York City, Cleveland and other research centers. But locally, few know much about the business, despite winning the Operation Oswego County 2009 Dee Heckethorn Entrepreneur Award and a Business of Excellence award from the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Syracuse District in 2011. “We all hear so much negative news, so much about the lack of economic opportunity and jobs. Maybe we can give people a little hope.” he said. “Not everything is doom and gloom. We’ve been hiring constantly and growing constantly. If we can do it, others can do it.” The manufacturing floor was packed with equipment, ready for shipment in December, Mr. Yerden said. Staff members cut the plastic shells of the chambers with a CNC router and piece them together in a fabrication
AMANDA MORRISON PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
Top right, William Thomson, a quality assurance technician, runs tests on the electrical wiring for one of BioSpherix’s machines before a panel is installed into the system. Above, an employee steers a saw blade to cut fiberglass pieces for frames of products created at BioSpherix.
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room. Then engineers wire and test the equipment. Others work to test and develop new products. Laboratory technologist Susan Herrling watched over several different lines of propagated cells, including breast cancer cells. “We use breast cancer cells because they keep proliferating for a long time, which is good in a lab, although not good when they were in a patient,” she said. The jobs require skill and education. Finding people who match those requirements is one of the biggest challenges for the business in the rural region. Mr. Yerden said he’s looking for skilled craftsmen, engineers, biologists, marketing and sales professionals, accountants and managers. But, he said, it’s a perfect place to find employment for those who went away for college but want to return to the north country. And the company’s success should encourage other high-tech or niche market manufacturers to start up in rural environments. “We are in a new field based upon biological and chemical and engineering principals,” Mr. Yerden said. “There is opportunity to bring manufacturing and manufacturing jobs back, maybe not so much in commodity industries, but definitely in new higher value-added industries. That’s where Americans can compete today in the world.” Nancy Madsen is a former staff writer for the Watertown Daily Times and NNY Business. She currently writes for PolitiFact Virginia at the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
f eat u re s
Muskrat love
North country trappers step up game as pelt prices rise By CHRIS BROCK
T NNY Business
he shipping agent for Fur Harvesters Auction Inc., based at North Bay, Ontario, parked his box truck in the parking lot of Watertown’s Northland Plaza on the first Sunday of January. A passel of trappers soon swooped in with their pickup trucks, surrounding him as they brought out their offerings: a variety of furs ranging from deer to fox. But these days, when it comes to bang for the buck, muskrat fur may be the best bet. “They’re easy to catch, they’re not hard to fool, and there are lots of them,” said Andrew J. MacDuff, a senior wildlife biologist for the Department of Environmental Conservation. “They are kind of the bread-and-butter critter for trappers.” Lately, some gravy has been added to that bread and butter. “We are advising all trappers to start trapping muskrat the moment the season opens and target as many as possible,” Fur Harvesters Auction Inc. notes in its fur market forecast found on its website. “... demand is high now for rats and no stock is available.” The traveling shipping agent, Toby Edwards, was picking up pelts for Fur Harvesters’ March auction in Seattle, to be held in partnership with the American Legend fur auction house. The Saratoga County resident works part-time for Fur Harvesters. His Watertown stop was part of a three-day, approximately 1,000-mile trek around the state collecting furs. In the summer, Mr. Edwards runs a tent rental business. “The fur market always cycles up and down,” he said as he packaged the furs the trappers had brought. “When the prices go up, you tend to get more people trapping stuff. I’ve seen the ‘rats come up a couple, three times — up to the price range they are now.”
NEW YORK STATE DEC PHOTO
Above, a muskrat is seen near the water. Bottom, Charles R. “Buzz” Devan of Watertown holds (a skin out) muskrat pelt. He dropped off 375 ratpelts for auction.
He said one thing pushing up the price of muskrat fur is the price of “ranch mink” — mink bred in captivity. “That is up, so muskrat is a cheaper alternative,” he said. “As long as the ranch mink prices stay up, that should keep the muskrat prices up.” Mr. Edwards said that at the beginning of last year, muskrat pelts were averaging $4 to $5 when sold by auction houses. “Then they got up to $10 averages last year,” Mr. Edwards said. “I’ve sold them for less than two bucks,” said trapper Glen Parkhurst of Oswego, who brought some furs to Mr. Edwards. Purchases of muskrat pelts by the Chinese are another reason the prices are increasing. “The Chinese are definitely buying most of the fur, although it’s not getting consumed there,” Mr. Edwards said. “They are the ones
manufacturing more of the coats now.” Lots of the manufactured muskrat coats and hats end up in Russia. “They are big fur consumers,” Mr. Edwards said. “And when the oil prices are up, they’ve got the money to buy fur. They buy fur not only for looks but to use, because it’s so cold.” The trappers who dropped off furs to
justin sorensen | nny business
February 2012 | NNY Business
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Mr. Edwards were given a receipt. “They get a check three weeks after the sale,” Mr. Edwards said. “The receipt is just to confirm what they shipped, and it insures the fur if anything happens to it from here on up. They will get a printout back on the grades of each pelt and what it sold for.” Charles R. “Buzz” Devan of Watertown has been trapping muskrats for about 30 years. He said Fur Harvesters takes an 11 percent commission, but last year issued a rebate of about 4 percent to fur producers. “It was such a good year,” he said. This year, Fur Harvesters will issue rebates of 4.5 percent. Mr. Devan primarily canoes to trap muskrats at Perch River Wildlife Management Area, which spans the towns of Orleans and Pamelia, and the Upper and Lower Lakes State Wildlife Management Areas in Rensselaer Falls. Last Sunday, Mr. Devan, a retired state DEC wildlife biologist, had 375 muskrat pelts bagged for Mr. Edwards. They were turned inside out, with the skins facing out, the way fur buyers prefer to purchase muskrat pelts, according to Mr. Edwards. “He squeezes the ‘rat like that in the back to judge its thickness,” Mr. Edwards said, handling one of the hides and demonstrating what a buyer will do. The buyer then pries open the inside-out hides for a peek at the fur. “The muskrat is uniform from one end to the other,” Mr. Edwards said. “For example,
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on a marten, its color can vary. It can be one color up on its neck and the color changes on down.” Mr. Devan said he traps mainly to enjoy nature. “I do it every year no matter what the price is,” he said. “I like going out.” He said cattail marshes are the best trapping spots for muskrats. “The cattail root is one of their major foods,” Mr. Devan said. “They go down and dig them up.” The muskrat trapping season in Northern New York runs from Oct. 25 to April 15. There is no bag limit. “Trapping tends to self-regulate for a lot of species,” Mr. MacDuff, the DEC biologist, said. After reviewing some survey results done by trappers, Mr. MacDuff said statewide harvest of muskrats swing between 84,000 and 214,000. No breakdown is done by region. “It’s often weather-dictated or, often,
things like fuel prices will fall into it,” Mr. MacDuff said. In the past few years, about 12,000 trapping licenses have been sold statewide, he said. “That’s been a slight increase in the past few years,” Mr. MacDuff said. “It may be a sign of a little bit stronger fur market, or for some unknown reason, but I suspect it’s the fur market.”
g
An environmental and economic concern looms
justin sorensen | nny business
Left, Toby Edwards, a shipping agent for Fur Harvesters Auction Inc., North Bay, Ontario, loads furs for auction into his truck at Northland Plaza, Watertown. Below, Mr. Edwards takes furs for auction from trappers at Northland Plaza in Watertown. Above, inside one of Charles R. “Buzz” Devan’s bags are 187 of his 375 muskrat pelts.
Some trappers noticed fewer muskrats last season. “There hasn’t been a lot of muskrats caught,” said Jack W. Gray, owner of Gray’s Gunshop, Lisbon, a drop-off point for Fur Harvesters. “I think the population around this area has been down. It was a dry summer.”
“Populations are so-so,” said Mr. Devan. “Most of the trappers, from what I’ve heard, are saying ‘rats are down. There’s not a lot of ‘rats in some of the marshes.” Mr. Gray said he anticipates the price of muskrat hides will stay high in the near future. But he warned about a muskrat pelt bubble. It’s been a mild winter in Europe, which could decrease demand. “The market could drop,” Mr. Gray said. “I’ve seen that happen from one sale to the next where the bottom drops right out, like the stock market has done in recent years.”
Biologists for the U.S. Wildlife service and other agencies consider muskrats one of the most critical pieces of the wetland ecosystem, where they clear the water for fish and other animals. Muskrats live in marshy areas, building lodges from mud and sticks. The rodents weigh from 2 to 4 pounds and are about 2 feet long. Muskrats tunnel through stands of cattails, opening waterways and providing a habitat for other animals.But too much focus on the health of muskrat populations is “environmentalism run amok,” according to one group. The Lake Ontario Riparian Alliance, based in the Rochester area, sent out an email this month noting its opposition to the International Joint Commission’s plan for maintaining Lake Ontario water levels. More details of the plan, called BV7, are expected to be released shortly. But the IJC has released a fact sheet on its new plan, noting the regulation of flows through the Robert H. Moses-Saunders Power Dam in Massena has made high and low water levels on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River less extreme than would occur under natural conditions. “This has benefitted the people who live, work and recreate on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, but has harmed the health of the lake and river by degrading wetlands and other habitat,” the IJC said in its fact sheet. In the Riparian Alliance email, member Richard L. Henry of Oswego wrote, “Muskrat health as a species will allegedly be greatly enhanced by annual, regular flooding of marshes, such as our own Snake Swamp (located halfway between Pulaski and Mexico on the lakeshore). Problem is, ‘flooding’ will have to go through all of the properties on the lakeshore to help these rodents, and create textbook wetlands over a generation or two.” Mr. Henry is president of the Ramona Beach Association, which has about 75 property owners in the Pulaski area. He said the property owns face a fortune to save their properties from the “floods and flushes” under BV7 that will eventually turn areas into wetlands and muskrat habitat. Clayton-based Save the River is in favor of BV7. It believes the plan will restore enough natural variation in levels and flows to begin to heal the damage done by stabilized water levels on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. — Chris Brock
February 2012 | NNY Business
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real e s tate r o u n d u p
Health bill to impact real estate
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his column typically does not touch on health care however, based on some recent telephone calls and emails I have received I thought I would dispel some rumors and misinformation. As a provision of the health care legislation passed last year, there will be a 3.8 percent Medicare tax applied to the unearned income of high-income taxpayers beginning Jan. 1, 2013. This is not a tax on real estate, but a tax on a portion of gain on the sale of any capital asset, including real estate. That tax will apply only to individuals with more than $200,000 adjusted gross income or $250,000 AGI on a joint return and $125,000 for married filing separate. The tax does not apply to any amount excluded from taxation under the $250,000/$500,000 principal residence rules. The tax is never imposed directly on the full amount of any capital gain. It is not a transfer tax. That begs the question: What is the definition of unearned income? It is the income an individual derives from investing capital. It includes rents, dividends and interest income. It also comes from some investments in an active business where the investor is not an active participant in the business. The amount that is subject to income tax and this new Medicare tax is the net unearned income. In other words, the amount left over after expenses associated with earning the income. In the case of rentals, it is the gross amount of rent collected minus all expenses – depreciation, repairs, property taxes and all other expenses related to the property.
This new tax was never introduced, discussed or reviewed until just hours before the final debate on the massive health care legislation. That legislation was signed into law March 23, 2010, Lance Evans more than a year after the health care debate began. This new tax was put forward after Congress failed to agree to changes in the current law that were sufficient to pay for proposed changes to the Medicare program and increased subsidies to individuals and businesses. The new tax raises more than $210 billion over 10 years, representing more than half of the total new expenditures in the health care reform package. The new tax is sometimes called a Medicare tax because proceeds from it are dedicated to the Medicare Trust Fund. That fund is expected to run dry in only a few more years, so this tax is a means to extend its life. A second new tax, also dedicated to Medicare funding, is imposed on the socalled “earned” income of higher income individuals. This earned income tax has a much lower rate of 0.9 percent. Like the tax described above, this additional or alternative tax is based on adjusted gross income thresholds of $200,000 for an individual and $250,000 on a joint return. Like the 3.8 percent tax, this 0.9 percent tax is imposed only on the excess of earned
income above threshold amounts. Another way to think about these new taxes is to think of the 3.8 percent tax as being imposed on a portion of the money that you make on your money — your capital, sometimes referred to as unearned income. The 0.9 percent tax is imposed on a portion of the money you make on your labor — your salary, wages, commission and similar income related to earning a living. As you can see, this new tax will not affect most people. Most of the rumors and emails have tried to portray the tax as more widespread and far reaching. If you believe you may be impacted by this law, you should seek the help of your financial advisor. n
n
n
On Jan. 18, the St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors held its annual installation dinner. During the evening a number of awards were presented and the 2012 board of directors was elected. The 2012 officers and directors were elected and sworn in. The new officers are Jennifer Stevenson, president, Michael Kassian, vice president, Gail Abplanalp, treasurer, Doug Hawkins, secretary, Norene Randall, immediate past president, Korleen Spilman, state director, and Sharon Cook, Debbie Gilson and Shirley Robinson, directors. 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.
CONTACT WLDC TODAY - GROW YOUR BUSINESS TOMORROW! THE WLDC EXISTS TO HELP move your strategic business plans forward. Financing options and incentives through the WLDC:
■ Fixed - interest loans for real estate, machinery and equipment ■ Working Capitol financing ■ Leasehold improvement financing ■ Assists in securing primary financing through commercial banks
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 | February 2012
Phone: 315.786.3494 Fax: 315.786.3495 email: don@watertownldc.com
real e s tate
Home sales up in Jefferson, Lewis By SUSAN MENDE
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NNY Business
he number of single-family home sales in both Jefferson and Lewis counties stayed nearly the same in 2011 compared with 2010 while sales decreased a bit in St. Lawrence County, end-of-year statistics show. Among the three counties, Jefferson was the only to see a median price higher than the prior year, according to data released by the state Board of Realtors. The median price of a home in Jefferson County jumped from $139,000 in 2010 to $146,900 last year, a 5.68 percent increase. The number of single-family home sales went from 874 to 878. Home sales in Lewis County went from 133 to 135 while the median price fell from $115,000 to $108,000. In St. Lawrence County, home sales decreased from 658 in 2010 to 644 in 2011. The 14 fewer sales represent a 2.1 percent decrease. The median price fell from $80,000 to $78,500, a 1.9 percent decline. However, the 2011 median price was higher than two years ago when a $74,000 median price was recorded for 2009. Jennifer Stevenson, president of St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors, said sales were strong in late December, but some of those properties didn’t close until January so they weren’t included in the 2011 data. So far this year, the market is getting off to a promising start, she said. “January has been brisk. It’s been very active,” said Mrs. Stevenson, owner of Blue Heron Realty, Ogdensburg. “We’re not seeing huge yearly changes. We’re back to our stable markets with little hills.” She described the existing real estate situation as a “neutral market,” rather
2011 tri-county residential real estate sales 2011 2010 2009 Jefferson County Sales 878 874 845 Median price $146,900 $139,000 $136,900 Lewis County Sales 135 133 158 Median price $108,000 $115,000 $100,000 ST. LAWRENCE County Sales 644 658 165 Median price $78,500 $80,000 $74,000 Source: Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors, St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors
than pegging it either a buyer’s or seller’s market. “It’s a careful market. Properties have to be priced appropriately for them to sell,” Mrs. Stevenson said. A demand for housing for military families stationed at Fort Drum Army base continues to fuel sales in Watertown and other Jefferson County communities, said Lance M. Evans, executive officer for Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors and St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors. “It’s not all military, but obviously the military and its spin-offs are helping the area,” Mr. Evans said. The base employs civilian workers who also seek housing and consumer goods that help boost the area’s economy, he said. About 32 percent of last year’s 878 home sales in Jefferson County involved buyers receiving Veterans Administration mortgage loans, which are available to active and retired military personnel. “About one third of the homes involved VA loans,” Mr. Evans said. “A lot were for people retiring from the military.”
That demand is expected to grow this year when thousands of soldiers from Fort Drum brigades return home from deployments to the Middle East. “I’m hearing from realtors that their phones are ringing off the hook. They can’t believe how busy they are,” Mr. Evans said. Although the real estate projections for St. Lawrence and Lewis counties are less promising, Mr. Evans said the two counties did better than New York state as a whole in 2011. Statewide, home sales dropped from 74,970 in 2010 to 72,058 last year, a 3.9 percent decrease. The median sale price decreased from $214,000 to $212,500. “We aren’t insulated, but we aren’t subject as much to the ups and downs,” Mr. Evans said. “At the same time the state as a whole may start to see a jump and our increase may be slower.” n SUSAN MENDE is a Johnson Newspaper staff writer based in Canton. Contact her at smende@ogd.com or 661-2519.
February 2012 | NNY Business
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real e s tate / j e f f er s o n c o u n t y The following property sales were recorded in the Jefferson County clerk’s office. All sales are for the City of Watertown:
Dec. 19
n 1.871 acres, Breen Avenue, DGI LLC, by Joyce C. Farley, sole member, Gouverneur, sold to Victims Assistance Center of Jefferson County Inc., Watertown, $65,000
Dec. 16
n 1381 Marra Drive, Noel J. Coughlin, Watertown, sold to John R. Combs and Eboni V. Combs, Watertown, $115,000 n Five parcels, 1) no acreage given, 2) 1.36 acres, 3), 4), 5) no acreage given, 633-635 and 637 Bradley St., Penny L. Cardaropoli, Enfield, Conn., sold to Edward Bell, Watertown, $80,000 Bellew Avenue South, Watertown Local Development Corp., Watertown, sold to Current Applications, Watertown, $1,045,000
Dec. 15
n Nellis Street, Mandy L. Hollis-Karod, n/k/a Mandy L. Bray, Lacona, sold to Roscoe D. Brunson, Kearneysville, W.Va., $195,000 n 0.165 acre, part of 1204 State St., all of 117119 S. Indiana Ave., Jessica B. Wonderly Brown, Watertown, sold to Joshua I. Belcher, FPO AE, NY, $153,000
Dec. 9
n 0.205 acre, Elm Street, Nathan M. Gregg,
Watertown, sold to Kyle D. Peatfield, Petersburg, Va., $173,000 n 0.143 acre, 333 Michigan Ave., Thousand Islands Area Habitat for Humanity Inc., Watertown, sold to Natalie Chasin, Jacksonville, Fla., $116,500 n 0.23 acre, 1106 Harrison St., Anthony D. Parisi, Watertown, sold to Daniel R. Braner, Watertown, $142,000 n No acreage or address given, Fliptz LLC, Watertown, sold to Lance E. Carmon, Clayton, $116,000
Dec. 7
n 0.488 acres, Harris Drive, Lawrence M. Cousins, Watertown, sold to Timothy D. Maloney and Debra A. Maloney, Cape Vincent, $262,000 n Pleasant Street, Lucy A. Baier, Gastonia, N.C.; Pasqualina Spicer, Watertown; Ann Marie McCann, Black River; and Mary T. Soares, no address given, sold to Brett Dougherty and Elizabeth Dougherty, Watertown, $130,000
Dec. 6
n No acreage or address given, Patricia K. Powell, Watertown, sold to Earl E. Worcester and Jessica L. Worcester, Watertown, $105,000 n 0.14 acre, 210 E. Lynde St., Erik M. Martin, Watertown, sold to Vanessa M. Wilking, Watertown, $94,000
Dec. 5
306 Flower Ave. E., Bernardo A. Picca, Clark, N.J., sold to Jason Sartor and Stacey Sartor, Watertown, $101,500 n 135 Michigan Ave., Jacob Johnson, Watertown, sold to Stephanie Askins and Jeremy S. Askins, Watertown, $197,000
Dec. 1
n 159 Mullin St., Eugene M. Renzi, trustee, Eugene M. Renzi Revocable Trust, Sackets Harbor, sold to 159 Mullin St. LLC, Watertown, $85,000 n 0.136 acre, 507 Hamlin St., Barbara R. Eaton, Columbia, S.C., sold to Rik A. Carriera, Black River, $45,000 n 0.129 acre, 340-342 Keyes Ave., Barbara R. Eaton, Columbia, S.C., sold to Rik A. Carriera, Black River, $65,000 n 0.129 acre, 344 Keyes Ave., Barbara R. Eaton, Columbia, S.C., sold to Rik Carriera, Black River, $35,000 n 0.246 acre, 232 Winslow St., Barbara R. Eaton, Columbia, S.C., sold to Rik A. Carriera, Black River, $45,000
$3,285,000 City of Waterrtown real estate sales recorded over 19-day period, Dec. 1-19, 2011
real e s tate / le w i s c o u n t y The following property sales were recorded in the Lewis County clerk’s office:
Jan. 20
n Town of Watson: 8747 Buck Point Road, Joan Trepa sold to Margaret King, $49,900. n Town of Greig: 5583 Partridgeville Road, Robert J. Mazza sold to Frank B. Burrows, $185,000.
n Town of New Bremen: Mira Lane, Robert Chamberlain sold to Kassie J. Bennett, $30,000.
Jan. 17
n Village of Lowville: 7724 State St., Cara E. Peebles sold to Stephen D. Malone, $163,000.
Jan. 13
n Town of Lewis: Apple Road, Michael A. Gagliardi sold to William J. Bartini, $177,500.
n Town of Greig: 6010 Greig Road, Pauline Lincourt Estate sold to Jeremy Hill, $20,000.
Jan. 18
n Town of Lewis: 1044 Ammon Road, Douglas Rauscher Estate sold to Peter R. Rauscher, $20,000.
n Town of Croghan: Soft Maple Road, Kenneth P. Merrill sold to Mark F. Pascale, $65,000.
Jan. 12
n Town of Lowville: 4862 Sharp Road, Frances K. Dicob sold to Steven M. Turck, $81,000.
Jan. 9
n Town of Lowville: State Route 26, Allen W. Matuszczak sold to Jeffrey R. Steele, $51,270.
Jan. 5
n Town of Lowville: Griffith Road, Alice A. Farney sold to Norbert D. Farney, $90,000. Town of Watson: River Road, Philip J. Miller sold to Beryl K. Zehr, $20,000.
Jan. 4
n Town of Leyden: 1718 Thayer Hill Road, Jeremy Shanly sold to GRSW Stewart Real Estate Trust, $201,000. n Town of Leyden: 1718 Thayer Hill Road, GRSW Stewart Real Estate Trust sold to Timothy L. Fey, $201,000.
Jan. 3
n Town of New Bremen: Adams Hill Road, Richard O. Rice sold to Gary A. Brooks, $2,000.
$1,356,670 County real estate sales recorded over 31-day period, Jan. 1-31, 2012
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NNY Business | February 2012
R E A L E S TAT E / s t. law re n ce c o u n t y The following property sales were recorded in the St. Lawrence County clerk’s office:
Dec. 30
n Town of Massena: Unknown acres, being a part of Lots 7 and 8 in Block B, Patrick M. and Lori A. Wood, Massena, sold to Harry J. and Constance G. Rexford, Ogdensburg $129,000 n Town of Stockholm: of an acre more or less, in Section 20, bounded by state Route 56, Kristin L. Frego, Norwood, sold to Laura J. Stevenson, Potsdam $75,500
Dec. 29
n Town of Canton: Unknown acres, bounded by Main and Court streets, Brian W. Staples, Canton, Ted Lawrence, Canton, and Jay F. Schechter, Potsdam, sold to NYSARC Inc., Canton $400,000 n Village of Canton: 2 parcels, unknown acres, bounded by Main and Court streets, Brian W. Staples, Canton, and Ted Lawrence, Canton, sold to NYSARC Inc., Canton $150,000
Dec. 28
n Village of Canton: Unknown acres, being Lot 10 in Section 6, Joseph A. and Kathleen H. Furnia, Canton, sold to Travis M. Crawford, Morristown $162,000 n Town of Colton: Parcel 1) 44 14/100 acres more or less, and 2) 55 86/100 acres more or less, both bounded by Colton-Parishville Road, Ronald P. and Anne S. Sulivan, Malone, sold to
Wildwood Homestead LLC, Marcellus $27,000
Geneseo $390,000
n Village of Gouverneur: 35/100 of an acre more or less, bounded by Rowley Street, Brandon T. and Cindy J. Garrett, Newport News, Va., Sean J. Lamanteer, Fort Drum $110,000
n Town of Brasher: 28.13 acres more or less, being a part of Lot 40, bounded by Route 37C, Robert Blau, New York, sold to Lindsay Dawn White, Hogansburg $52,500
n Town of Massena: 10 acres more or less, bounded by Massena-Rooseveltown Highway, Helene L. Herbert, Massena, sold to Colleen S. Farwell, Massena $50,000
n Town of Potsdam: 2.87 acres more or less, in Section 56, bounded by Back Hannawa Road, Amy L. Kramer Garrow, Potsdam, sold to Ana Martinez, Massena $72,000
n Village of North Lawrence: Parcel 1) 3.90 acres more or less, 2) 10.74 acres more or less, 3) an acre more or less, 4) unknown acres, 5) unknown acres, all bounded by Desmond and Main streets, Larry J. Foley (power of attorney), Rita E. Yaddow, North Lawrence, sold to Chris A. and Angelina M. Converse, St. Regis Falls $85,000 n Village of Canton: 0.24 of an acre more or less, bounded by Pearl Street, Anthony P. and Jacquelyn A. Balkus, Canton, sold to Tamar A. Butler, Canton $137,000 n Town of Oswegatchie: 103.63 acres more or less, in Lot 13, bounded by state Route 37, Matthew J. and Kristine M. Weber, Ogdensburg, sold to Azure River Group Inc., Ogdensburg $250,000
Dec. 27
n Town of Clifton: 2 parcels, unknown acres, being a part of Lot 32, bounded by Howland Road, Kate Crowell Walker, Kimberly Crowell DeJoseph and Merrilee S. Crowell, Fayetteville, sold to Robert S. Sutor and Judith A. Hunter,
NORTHERN NEW YORK
REAL ESTATE DIRECTORY
A.G. NETTO REALTY
Dec. 23
n Town of Pierrepont: 55/100 of an acre more or less, being a part of Lots 22 and 30 in Great Tract 3, bounded by St. Lawrence Turnpike Road, Julie C. Berger, Colton, sold to Massena Savings and Loan, Massena $116,429 n City of Ogdensburg: 2 parcels, unknown acres, being a part of Blocks 5 and 6, bounded by Knox and Grant streets, Joanne McCabe, Ogdensburg, sold to Eugene J. and Roberta A. Caratelli, Ogdensburg $55,000 n Village of Gouverneur: 2 parcels, unknown acres, bounded by East Main Street, Timothy S. and Bonnie L. Weaver, Gouverneur, sold to Kenneth Rawls, Gouverneur $111,000
$2,372,429 City of Waterrtown real estate sales recorded over 8-day period, Dec. 23-30, 2011
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20 questions
JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS
A foundation for growth
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n November 2009, Toronto resident Harry Minas started scouting locations for his paper mill. That same year, he discovered the former Brownville Specialty Paper Mill on Bridge Street and began working a deal to manufacture kitchen towels and tissue. He shares the long road that has been the birth of Florelle Tissue Corp. in Northern New York.
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NNYB: This project coming to Brownville was the result of more than two years’ worth of work. What were the main components to making this happen? MINAS: Other than persistence, one the key ingredients was the location of Watertown for our current sales, which are in Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto, and future sales. Watertown is strategically located for distribution of paper products. The mill and the infrastructure are here. The employees in the area have substantial paper background. I am finding a lot of talented employees to pick from.
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NNYB: You mentioned persistence; you strike me as someone who believes in perseverance. Is there ever a time you didn’t think this project would happen? MINAS: You always think that. Especially going two years and three months into the project, you ask, when will it ever end? I believe that this is a good project, a solid project. I wouldn’t have put this amount of
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NNY Business | February 2012
n Florelle President Harry Minas readies plant, team for production time into the project if I didn’t believe in it.
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NNYB: Was there any time when you hit a wall of frustration when you thought about giving up? MINAS: I did. There were a few points. We had a lot of support from the Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency. Dave Zembiec was there fighting every step of the way with me. It was two years with banks and everything else we had to go through to accomplish where we are right now. Did it go through my head? Yes, it did. We pushed it off to the side and kept going.
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NNYB: Were you looking at other locations for the business? MINAS: I was looking in Michigan at the Detroit area, but if I move bathroom tissue and towels from Detroit to Montreal it’s a seven hour drive. If I move it from here to Montreal, it’s a three hour drive. The key component to my industry is that our product cubes out before it weighs out. The truck fills up to its maximum capacity before we get to the weight. Companies that manufacture standard paper or
board stock weigh out before they cube out. Logistically you have to be within a 500-mile radius of your markets. If you are in Watertown you have Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, you have the northeastern United States, which holds one-third of the population of the U.S.
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NNYB: The timing for starting this project couldn’t have been the easiest, what was most challenging about the banking climate?
MINAS: They weren’t willing to lend. We finally negotiated a deal with Chase. Chase doesn’t have any representation in this area, so they don’t have branches. The local banking and banks with local representation weren’t coming to the table for us so we had to go to Chase. It took 11 months to work with Chase.
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NNYB: You’re from Canada, were you considering any sites in Canada? MINAS: We were. We looked at a few sites in northern Quebec and Ontario. Logistically it didn’t make sense. New York is a very taxed state. Compared to Canada, we’re at par. We’re used to it. If you
20 questions ask someone from Florida, they look at the taxes and they go running.
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NNYB: You’ve said there is a market requirement for kitchen towels. Where is the market and what unique qualities do your products have that enable you to succeed? MINAS: There is demand for towels, napkins, facial tissue and bath tissue because of the consolidation that has happened in the marketplace. Retailers only have a handful of options right now. We are in the growth sector in the paper industry. They are bringing in paper from around the world to sustain the consumption we have in North America.
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NNYB: What do you find special about this area? MINAS: I’m always surprised when I interview people how knowledgeable they are here. I get unbelievable responses through the WorkPlace for job candidates. The WorkPlace is fabulous over there. They are great for people like myself who are opening a new venture and don’t have an inhouse human resources person yet. I’m just building a team. We have a very skilled labor force here.
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NNYB: How is hiring progressing? Are you finding quality skilled labor? MINAS: We have 10 people now. I have an ad going out for another four positions. I’m not stopping and I’m pushing forward, just as I have in the past two years. On the labor pool, I’m finding the complete opposite. I’m finding a lot of skilled laborers who are unemployed. That’s a shame. I put an ad out for maintenance and I have people that are qualified that are applying, and I have to think of who is more qualified to work with. That’s just one part of it. As I go, I will see what else is out there.
JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS
Florelle Tissue Corp. President Harry Minas talks about his company’s plans in his Brownville office.
will manufacture some products. By May we will have more converting equipment on the floor. The paper machine will be up and running by August or September. We hope to be at full capacity by the end of the year, December or January. It takes about 10-12 months. Time doesn’t stop. November 2009 is when we started.
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NNYB: How are your facilities progressing?
MINAS: Brownville Specialty Paper has been here since 1901. They’ve been out now for just under three years. You have to start from the bottom and work your way up. Someone said something today, ‘How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.’ I’ve had to start at one point and slowly work my way through the building. The other problem is you touch one thing and you have to repair four others on older buildings that have been shut down like this.
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NNYB: What’s the range in compensation you’re offering? MINAS: It depends on what the position is. Maintenance is going from $15-$18 an hour for maintenance and electrical. We’ll be putting out an advertisement for $8.50$10 an hour to package the product. As we go and add machine operation and paper machine operators it’s going to be a fair number, equal to what is out there in other mills in the area. NNYB: What’s your target for starting production and How long before you’re running at full capacity? MINAS: We will be commencing some conversions at the end of February. We
NNYB: How did you find working with the variety of agencies that are supporting your project? MINAS: North Country Alliance, Development Authority of the North Country, JCIDA, really all of them, they’ve been very helpful and supportive. I have to tell you if it weren’t for JCIDA continually helping along the way, this project would not have come to fruition. People have to understand they work very hard to help new businesses in the area. From what I’ve seen, your agencies are wonderful. I’m very pleased with them. NNYB: How much of a factor was the power deal from New York Power Authority? MINAS: In paper you need three things: Water, natural gas and electricity. The
The Harry Minas file AGE: 41 JOB: President, Florelle Tissue Corp. FAMILY: Single, no children. HOMETOWN: Toronto, Ontario, Canada. EDUCATION: Construction education technology, George Brown College, Toronto PROFESSIONAL: Thirteen years in the paper industry, prior to that owned a food service company for 10 years. LAST BOOK READ: Last book I read was on quitting smoking, but it didn’t really work. I read a lot of business autobiographies.
NYPA power preservation program was another key ingredient for us coming to Upstate New York.
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NNYB: Would you say we’re in a renaissance of manufacturing in our area? MINAS: I think companies are realizing we have to start manufacturing on both sides of the border in North America. Transportation costs around the world have gone up substantially. Companies were bringing in freight from overseas and now their freight has doubled or tripled, they can’t bring that product in anymore. They won’t be competitive in the marketplace anymore. You need that manufacturing base to maintain your taxes and sustain the workforce. We have a lot of people unemployed in all of North America. We should have more manufacturing, but I’m a manufacturer. I’m not in the service industry or I’d say we need more service jobs. NNYB: Do you think the emerging middle class in China, for example, where wages are climbing make it not as lucrative February 2012 | NNY Business
| 41
20 questions to send business overseas?
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MINAS: That’s a very big factor now because China and India have their internal consumption growing in all products because of that middle class. You’ll slowly see a decline in their exports because they’re making more money. They’re buying washers, dryers and cars. When you’re talking about 2 to 3 billion people in Asia, that’s a lot of people. I have associates that move freight around the world and they have a tougher time because of the transport costs. NNYB: What future opportunities do you
see in the north country?
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MINAS: I see a lot of opportunities for manufacturers. Canadian manufacturers are servicing Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto, where a lot of the population is. In Canada you have the majority of the population between Montreal and Niagara Falls, which includes Ottawa. If you are a manufacturer in Ontario you should be looking at Jefferson County and Watertown as a strategic location. I’ve told friends to come down and look at it. I know how much it’s costing me to move the product. I think there’s a lot of opportunity for Canadian
manufacturers in the north country.
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NNYB: What drives you to succeed? What keeps you going?
MINAS: At the end of the day, I just want to build something. We all want to leave a legacy. We want to leave something behind. In the paper industry, you love it or hate it. You are going to be in it forever or you’re going to get out as soon as you get in. I love the paper industry, that’s one of the reasons why I’ve stuck to this project. Money is good but doing what you like and working at something that makes you happy is more important. Money comes and goes. Today you make money, tomorrow you lose it. As long as you enjoy what you do in life. If I hear one businessman say they never lost money, then they’re not in business. When you’re an entrepreneur, there’s a little bit of gambler in there, you might win or you might lose. At the end of the day you have to take the risk.
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NNYB: What is important to you in building your team? MINAS: I’m looking for people I can work with, that are knowledgeable, and that are educated. That does not mean school-wise. There are a lot of educated and smart people that haven’t gone to school. I’m looking for someone that has conviction, someone that can say, ‘This is my opinion and I stick to it; I stand behind my thoughts.’ I’m pretty stubborn myself. But I want someone that can give me their opinion but justify why we should do it that way. I have taken chances with peoples’ ideas and thoughts and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. If you give me a valid reason we should do something your way, nine times out of 10 I will try it.
20
NNYB: What’s the best business advice you have ever followed? MINAS: Do your job, whatever it is. It doesn’t matter if you’re a janitor cleaning toilets and that’s what makes you happy, do your job. I want to build something, that’s my job. It just happens to be the paper industry and the paper mill, but I’m doing my job. It’s simple but sometimes the simple things make more sense. It’s not elaborate but it makes sense. If you don’t like your job, find something you like and do your job.
Interview by Ken Eysaman. Edited for — length. n Do you know someone in business who is a good candidate for our 20 Questions feature? E-mail NNY Business editor Ken Eysaman at keysaman@wdt.net.
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NNY Business | February 2012
P E O P L E ON T H E M O V E PEOPLE, from page 9 Association as well as the North Country Children’s Clinic. She and her husband, Jeffrey, have a son, Jack.
Spenard joins BDA
Beardsley Design Associates Architecture, Engineering & Landscape Architecture, PC, Syracuse, has announced that Jeffrey C. Spenard, AIA, has joined the firm as senior architect and project manager. Mr. Spenard has worked profesSpenard sionally in multiple national firms for the past 25 years and is a registered architect in New York State. He brings extensive experience in health care, higher education and research facility projects to BDA. Mr. Spenard has also been active in local professional organizations, including the American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Healthcare Engineers. Visit www.beardsley.com to learn more.
as officers: Vickie Staie, president-elect, Janet Handschuh, vice president of membership, Dave Barron, treasurer and Charles Ruggiero, secretary.
Earns credential
Debra J. Reynolds, facility manager for Northern Radiology Associates, Watertown, has earned the credential of certified radiology administrator through the radiology Administration Certification Commission. Mrs. Reynolds joined Northern
Radiology in 1989. During her tenure, she has managed several of the firm’s operations. She presently oversees daily operations of Northern Radiology Imaging, Public Square Imaging and Magnetic Imaging Center. She is registered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and is a registered diagnostic medical sonographer in abdomen, OB/GYN and neurosonography as well as a registered vascular technologist. Mrs. Reynolds lives in Watertown with her husband, Gordon.
Named Women’s Council of Realtors president
Lisa L’Huillier, New York State licensed broker, of Hefferon Real Estate was installed as the 2012 president of the Women’s Council of Realtors Tri-County New York Chapter in a ceremony held at the Italian-American Civic Association. The Tri-County L’Huillier New York Chapter is a 35-member professional real estate group affiliated with the Women’s Council of Realtors, a national professional development organization with 19,000 members. Ms. L’Huillier will serve a one-year term as president and will oversee officer and committee responsibilities, chapter activities as well as attending state and national council business meetings. Ms. L’Huillier has been active in the chapter since its inception in October 2008 and has held positions of secretary and president-elect. She has been a Realtor since 1990, was named Realtor of The Year in 1997 and was president of the JeffersonLewis Board of Realtors from 1998 to 2000. The following Realtors were installed
Accepting full truckloads of materials - sorted or the same!
February 2012 | NNY Business
| 43
E c o n o m i cally s peak i n g
PILOTs: Dirty word or good policy?
W
hether or not you agree that tax incentives, in whatever form they appear, are good public policy, let’s put that principled argument aside for the moment and talk about the practical implications of what have become known as PILOTs, payments in lieu of taxes or a local policy document called a UTEP, uniform tax exemptions policies. First, the suggestion that something is being given away or that existing tax revenue is being reduced is arguably incorrect. No incentives are ever given out unless stringent requirements by those seeking tax incentives are met. The project seeking incentives must create new or expanded activity in the community so no existing source of tax revenue is reduced. The reduction is only applied to projected tax revenue based on what a new project could be anticipated to pay at full taxation. If you have no project, you have no tax proceeds, so nothing is given up. An extensive application process that requires a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis is completed on every project. Incentives must result in significant benefit for the community before they are considered. The community benefit must be clearly demonstrated in a number of important ways, including such staples as job creation or substantial capital investment, increase in the tax base or addition of a valuable service. A PILOT does not eliminate taxes paid, but rather defines a lesser amount of tax paid and for a period of time. This enables the project to stabilize, mature and grow before assuming the burden of full taxation. At the end of the PILOT term, full taxes are paid. By law, organizations like the Jefferson
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NNY Business | February 2012
County Industrial Development Agency can administer PILOT programs but specific project agreements are not conceived in a vacuum. Many hours of review and deliberation are held before a Don Alexander project is presented for action. Throughout the process, several lawyers, from the IDA and the client review the process to ensure its accuracy and legality. All agency action is a completely open and fully public process. In addition, local taxing jurisdictions have completely vetted standard PILOT agreements before they’re accepted as policy. If some variation is required, affected taxing jurisdictions must be notified in advance and the agency must obtain their support. As another check on the system, incentives offering benefits in excess of $100,000 are subject to a public hearing when anyone can raise questions about the process. You might legitimately ask why we provide tax incentive programs in the first place. Beyond the notion that it is matter of public policy as outlined in New York State General Municipal Law, we provide these benefits because your community competes with other communities in every other state and every other country. Most, if not all, of those communities provide their own incentives. If New York did not offer incentives, it would be at a huge disadvantage when competing for jobs and investment capital.
The JCIDA is not responsible to approve or deny placement of projects in local communities. That decision remains, as it should, with local governments in those communities. Further, we were not charged with apportioning proceeds of a PILOT agreement among the taxing jurisdictions unless it is done under the current pro-rata distribution in effect. This also remains within the purview of impacted taxing jurisdictions. So what’s the value of tax incentive programs? Many studies have shown that tax incentive programs are good public policy. Still other studies have shown that incentives might not achieve desired outcomes. In truth, opinions differ on how good or bad incentive practices really are, but that is a question for debate by policymakers. At the grassroots level, there is ample evidence to suggest that many important local community projects would not have been possible without some type of tax incentive. Those of us in economic development do not set public policy. Policymakers have created a vehicle by which we are empowered to offer incentives. That policy clearly articulates the purpose of tax incentive programs – to improve our communities. You can rest assured that policymakers and economic developers alike will take their respective roles in that process very seriously because it is our community, too. n Donald C. Alexander is chief executive officer of the Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency, the Jefferson County Local Development Corp. and the Jefferson County Job Development Corp. He is a lifelong NNY resident and former broadcaster. Contact him at dcalexander@jcjdc.net. He is a frequent contributor to NNY Business.
NON P R OFI T S T O D AY
Partnerships will drive future success
T
he Chronicle of Philanthropy, the “newspaper of the nonprofit world” recently published its Outlook 2012 edition. Collaboration remains a consistent theme. Strategic partnerships of all types will be critical moving forward. I have always spoken about preserving missions over organizations and the nonprofit sector will have little choice other than to establish formal relationships between complementary organizations and seek more alignment and less duplication. Not only will this be what donors expect, but it has the potential to increase efficiency and impact of each agency. We should all ask: “What impact are we having beyond perpetuating ourselves?” At the risk of beating a dead horse, anything that stands in the way of a nonprofit’s ability to maximize impact should be seen as a threat to its mission that donors and other funders contribute to sustain. At the end of the day, I believe what is most vital is making sure those services provided by the nonprofit sector find a way to continue to be available to all of us. Remember, the nonprofit sector covers an incredibly broad range, from libraries and historical societies to museums, educational, health care, arts and cultural organizations, as well as a variety of “neighbor helping neighbor” organizations. Absent the nonprofit sector, I am quite sure that we as a society would find alternate ways to keep alive the work we value the most, which greatly contributes to community quality of life for everyone. While outright mergers and affiliations are always to be considered, there are interim steps that have worked in other communities. I recently spoke with
some foundation colleagues and they cited examples where multitenant nonprofit centers have worked in their communities. The number of nonprofit centers has grown Rande Richardson tremendously across the country since the 1990s. The Nonprofit Centers Network has a list of about 125 multi-tenant centers across the United States and Canada with another 150 more that have yet to be listed. The trend has been largely driven not only by economics but by the realization that there is great value to cross-organizational collaboration and community building within the sector itself. So, what exactly is a nonprofit center? They are generally composed of multiple nonprofit tenant organizations that exist together within one physical site and are located in a central, convenient location. They share meeting space, Internet, parking, along with other staffing and infrastructure that was duplicated at each nonprofit. They have taken shape in newly built buildings or found ways to adaptively reuse existing buildings. For some organizations, facility-related expenses are often the second largest expense after staffing. Successful ventures have spoken passionately about the mission enhancement aspect of shared space. The cross-sector collaboration has often resulted in a new synergy. Bringing non-
profits together under one roof can often nurture the building and development of relationships, shared office support services and the easier facilitation of collaborative initiatives. Others have mentioned that a common location also can increase the overall visibility and credibility of the nonprofit sector and of the individual organizations. While I hesitate to name specific organizations, my guess is that you can quickly think of a few that could benefit from being without the burden of maintaining, insuring and operating a large or aging, inefficient structure. Would one of these be practical in our community? We don’t have the answer to that yet. What we do know is they have worked elsewhere and the great majority of nonprofits express tremendous satisfaction with the arrangement. Who wouldn’t want an efficient place where, in an environment of camaraderie, nonprofits can grow, work and dream together to better everyone in our community? Taking innovative ideas to reality is another matter altogether. It will take government, businesses individuals, organizations and the nonprofit sector, working together so that all of our investments create more impact in making our community a better place. Again, the focus should be on the mission, not each separate entity. If our collective mission is a better community it only happens if we work together. This is one case where actions really can speak louder than words. 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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February 2012 | NNY Business
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C o mmerce c o r n er
Value your participation in community
I
had an opportunity to attend an event at the Black River Valley Club recently and, since I moved into the job at the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce, I find myself there more and more. Born and raised in Watertown, I recall what downtown was while I was growing up. I have always had a dream for what the city’s downtown could be and I know there are many groups and people in our community who share that vision. That vision includes a robust future for downtown’s premier social club. The Black River Valley Club was founded Jan. 13, 1905, and is located downtown in a unique historic building on Public Square. With an atmosphere that dates back more than a century, one can imagine the character and quaintness of the club. This social club offers private dining, member-friendly banquet facilities and private meeting space. The club organized in December 1904, but its name — Black River Valley Club — was adopted by formal resolution of the Board of Governors on Jan. 13, 1905. The building itself was acquired in 1891 and truly has a personality of its own. If you have the pleasure of entering the club, there is a Westminster clock in the lobby that was a gift of Mary S. Goodale in 1907. Significantly, she also was the first woman member accepted by the club. A portrait of Roswell P. Flower, former New York governor and congressman, hangs in the reading room. His daughter, Emma Flower Taylor, presented it to the club.
Not only is there history behind the building and the many items it contains, there are generations of members, community leaders, and many others who have supLynn Pietroski ported the club to keep it alive. A person cannot help but get a warm, nostalgic feeling when entering the club
vital to its health. Local businesses and leaders help build a strong sense of community and help contribute to local causes. A local business owner lives in the community and cares about what happens. He wants to help build local relationships and have a say in what happens there. When the local community supports his business he wants to give back to those who helped him succeed. I urge you to decide what you are passionate about in your community. You might have a special interest in the plight of the homeless, families or children in crisis, reducing crime within the community, helping animals or immigrants or economic development. While you might want to help everyone, that just isn’t practical. You will be better off deciding which one or two areas to focus on to help. The Black River Valley Club has always been a vital, relevant factor in the business, social, cultural and civic life of Watertown and Jefferson County. Through continued support by community leaders the club will stand as an asset for years to come. Those interested in joining the club should contact David F. Boucher, manager, at 788-2300, or visit www.brvclub. com. There is a wide range of membership options.
Most leaders would agree that active participation, management and ongoing strategy in the community are vital to its health. regardless of their age. Its uniqueness makes for a pleasurable visit. The meticulous features throughout the building add character far beyond one’s imagination. Individual rooms provide a warm sanctuary for business meetings, gatherings with family and friends or hosting a get-together as an added bonus. Supporting local businesses such as the Black River Valley Club is a way to give back to your community. Giving back to the community leads to multiple benefits. You’re not only giving to the community, you’re increasing your professionalism, especially if it’s something very valuable. I think most leaders would agree that active participation, management and ongoing strategy in the community are
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.
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316 Sherman St. - Watertown
NNY Business | February 2012
786-0655
Agri-business
Why would wage hike make sense?
M
y cell phone rang shortly after state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver announced his proposal to increase New York’s minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.50 an hour. “Jay, we’d like to interview you about the impact an increase to the minimum wage would have on agriculture,” the news reporter asked. Three interviews later, I had run the gamut of local news media interviews about the proposed increase. In each interview I tried to emphasize that this story is not necessarily just about impact to farms, or to businesses. There is a much more important consideration to take into account that gets lost in the shuffle; does it really do any good? First, what is the real cost to a business if the minimum wage is raised as proposed? One of our local wineries reported this: when minimum wage is $7.25 per hour you have to add 50 percent more to cover benefits and taxes the business pays for the employee. The actual cost for that business for an employee who earns minimum wage is $10.88 an hour. The labor cost percentage for the winery’s employees is 28 percent. That means a minimum wage worker at $7.25 an hour must produce $38.85 an hour worth of product. Raising the minimum wage to $8.50 would force the winery to make its employees more productive or to consider further automating the operation to reduce labor needs. Employees would have to produce $45.50 an hour in product to cover the cost of employing them. The winery would lean even more heavily toward hiring employ-
ees who have more training and experience versus someone fresh out of school or who has never worked in the industry. Two other farms reported the same thing: as Jay Matteson minimum wage goes up, they have to look for an employee who has better skills to meet the cost of employing them. Are we eliminating job opportunities for young or unskilled workers by raising minimum wage? An individual who called my office after one interview said that raising the state’s minimum wage would siphon more money into our economy because people who earn minimum wage would have more to spend. How so? You bring money into an economy by making or growing a product and selling it elsewhere. If a business has to pay their employees more money, they do one of two things; increase the cost of their product or they reduce their labor costs by automating or eliminating jobs. The easiest way to control labor costs is to increase the cost of your product – except if you are a dairy farm or other businesses that don’t control the price paid for products. The next easiest method is to cut labor costs by automating or eliminating jobs. In either case, no more revenue coming into the economy has been generated. You purely redistribute what
we already have and inhibit people from advancing into better jobs. If businesses have to increase the cost of the products they produce, doesn’t that go against the whole reason for increasing minimum wage? The very people who will benefit from their wage increase will now pay more for the products they consume. There goes that extra $50 a week in the paycheck, if you work 40 hours. If a business eliminates jobs, then haven’t we really just stabbed ourselves in the back? Jobs eliminated mean people unemployed. People unemployed mean more taxes paid by people who work to pay to support the unemployed. Where’d that extra $50 a week go? Instead of claiming we are helping the poor by passing another unfunded mandate from Albany that will maintain the number of people who are poor, why don’t we help businesses be more successful in New York so they can hire more people? Why don’t we help businesses create better-paying jobs by allowing them to afford to hire young people fresh out of school and get on-the-job training so they can advance through the ranks? I scratch my head and wonder, if raising minimum wage doesn’t make sense to me, how can people who are smarter than me think it makes sense? I guess I don’t understand the benefit of another unfunded mandate.
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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February 2012 | NNY Business
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BUSIN E SS T E C H BY T E S
Microsoft Lync cuts through clutter
S
ince traditional telephony met the Internet and Voice Over Internal Protocol was born, the way your business communicates internally and externally has changed. With the popularity and advantages of the converged network came a need to unify communications. Unified communications spawned other technology platforms by which businesses could stay competitive in the mobile workspace by allowing employees to communicate and collaborate anytime, anywhere and increasingly on any device. Last year brought significant upgrades and improvements to Microsoft’s cloud services, and the introduction of Microsoft Lync 2010. Microsoft Lync gives a business’s communication services the ability to connect colleagues, customers and partners virtually anywhere on virtually any existing network infrastructure. When a business communicates today there are numerous options from phone, fax and email to instant messaging, electronic whiteboards and Web conferences. As employees become increasingly mobile, with varying collaboration wants and needs, providing the most appropriate communications in a robust, enterpriseclass fashion is increasingly essential to maintain a competitive edge. Microsoft Lync Server 2010, the onpremises solution, or the cloud-based Lync Online combines voice, data and video to eliminate roadblocks in communications and improve productivity. Businesses in Northern New York have a communications partner that has embraced emerging technologies. Through a deep understanding and long history of success with voice communications, data
networks and voice applications, it saw unified communications as the next logical progression. Ronco Communications, Tonawanda, with strong roots throughout Central and Jill Van Hoesen Northern New York, has recently earned the Microsoft Gold Unified Communications Partner distinction. Jamie Schwinn, Ronco’s unified communications engineer, who is a Microsoft Certified Master on Lync Server 2010 — one of only 40 in the United States and Canada — has provided Ronco the depth and breadth of skill to help an organization implement communications options, such as software-powered voice, PBX integration, instant messaging, on-premise audio and video conferencing, application sharing and mobile access. “Microsoft sees Ronco as a high-value partner with a unique ability to implement and support Lync in heterogeneous environments. Their skill lies not only with system integration but software development,” said Bill Sherry, Clifton Park, the Northeast voice business development manager for Microsoft. “Ronco also is a participant in some of Microsoft’s early adopter technology programs.” Participation in these programs is not easily obtained; partners must demonstrate significant capability in respective areas. This is an example of true partner-
ship that has many organizational connections ranging from practice development to product development. Last month, Microsoft and Ronco hosted a Microsoft Lync launch event near Rochester, which gave key business managers and decision-makers a chance to see how a single interface – Microsoft Lync 2010 – united voice, IM, audio, video and Web-conferencing into a rich, contextual offering. The demonstration showed how end users, with a single identity, make it easier and more efficient to find contacts, check their availability, and connect through IM, desktop sharing and video conferencing all on a single connection. It is evident that Microsoft Lync worked consistently across the Microsoft Office Suite, with tremendous potential to enrich an employee’s already-familiar experiences with Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and more. From an IT standpoint, Microsoft Lync seemed equally beneficial, providing a highly secure and reliable system that works with Active Directory, Microsoft Exchange and SharePoint. Later this year, I plan to take John Magee up on his offer to see Microsoft Lync in a real-time environment. Mr. Magee is a partner and COO for the Bonadio Group, Syracuse. So look for a future column with valuable feedback on the advantages, challenges and subsequent return on investment results as the Bonadio Group implements Microsoft Lync across its enterprise in partnership with Ronco. 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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NNY Business | February 2012
S M A L L BUSIN E SS SU C C E SS
Make a plan for quality e-commerce
T
here was a time when an online presence for your business was just an option. It was an add-on to your marketing strategy; something that was nice to do, but wasn’t really necessary. But now, online presence is an absolute necessity for all businesses. Most customers use the Internet to search for products and services to fulfill their needs, even to find basic contact information to further pursue their investigation by phone or in person; if you do not show up in a search, it is as if you don’t exist. The Web has provided small businesses a unique and powerful opportunity to build a community and make connections with existing customers as well as reach countless numbers of new customers they may never have been able to reach otherwise. Larger companies have always been able to reach a broad audience with big marketing budgets, consultants and ad agencies. But e-commerce has gone far beyond just having a website for information and sales, and now also includes social networking opportunities. This has presented a valuable opportunity for small businesses to develop marketing reach like the big guys, without the huge investment. So why are so many small businesses still reluctant to utilize the Web to its full advantage? Fear is probably the most common factor. It may be fear of the technology; or fear of managing the many fronts of online marketing and sales; or simply the fear of the unknown. All of these fears are well-founded, but they also are surmountable. And one of the greatest tools in over-
coming fear for small business owners is planning. Planning is something we talk about a lot at the Small Business Development Center. We most often tell entrepreMichelle Collins neurs about the importance of business planning but there are a variety of planning strategies beyond the basic business plan that also are useful. An ecommerce plan, whether standalone or as part of a larger marketing plan, is a great way to set goals, identify challenges and execute an e-commerce strategy. The first step to develop an e-commerce strategy is to identify your target customers and find out what e-commerce tools will best reach them. In this respect, online marketing is no different than any other marketing – you have to take your message to where the customers are. An important point to remember is that with online marketing, just going through the motions is not enough. Don’t just do it – do it right. This means research and education about the wide variety of e-marketing options out there. Consider everything from a website, Google tools, and blogs to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Once you’ve identified which online tools are going to best suit your business, it will be easier to set goals and place them on a timeline. Don’t try to accom-
plish everything at once as you could easily become overwhelmed and may be tempted to give up. Finally, try to set a budget for your ecommerce plan. It’s true that many online marketing tools are free, but keep in mind that not all are. Also, there will be the need to dedicate someone’s time – either yours or an employee’s – to managing the company’s e-commerce efforts. This may result in some additional costs. You may have a great e-commerce plan, but if you don’t have a budget to support that plan it will be just as if you had no plan at all. As always, business advisors from the SBDCs in Watertown, Canton and Oswego are available for one-on-one counseling for small businesses as they develop and pursue their e-commerce plans. The SUNY Canton SBDC is currently hosting an e-commerce training series where participants will not only learn about a variety of e-commerce tools but also get some hands-on guidance in using them. The series begins on Wednesday, Feb. 29, with an introduction to Internet marketing and is followed by sessions over the next five Fridays (March 2-30) to help attendees learn how to create their own website, manage security issues and use various social networking tools. Many Friday sessions will include hands-on instruction in a computer lab. Sign up for one or for all. Call 386-7312 for more information on the e-commerce series or SBDC counseling services. n Michelle Collins is a certified business advisor at the SUNY Canton Small Business Development Center. Her column appears every other month in NNY Business.
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February 2012 | NNY Business
| 49
chambeR / WEB directory
NNY CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE Alexandria Bay
7 Market St., Alexandria Bay, NY 13607; 482-9531, www.visitalexbay.org
Boonville
122 Main St., P.O. Box 163, Boonville, NY 13309; 942-6823, www.boonvillechamber.com
CaNTON
60 Main St., P.O. Box 369, Canton, NY 13617; 386-8255, www.cantonnychamber.org
Cape Vincent
649-3404, www.chaumontchamber.com
393-3620, www.ogdensburgny.com
Clayton
Old Forge
Greater WatertownNorth Country
Potsdam
517 Riverside Drive, Clayton, NY 13624; 686-3771, www.1000islands-clayton.com
1241 Coffeen St., Watertown, NY 13601; 788-4400, www.watertownny.com
Gouverneur
3140 Route 28, P.O. Box 68, Old Forge, NY 13420; 369-6983, www.oldforgeny.com 1 Market St., Potsdam, NY 13676; 274-9000, www.potsdamchamber.com
Pulaski
214 E. Main St., Gouverneur, NY 13642; 287-0331, www.gouverneurchamber.net
3044 Route 13, P.O. Box 34, Pulaski, NY 13142; 298-2213, www.pulaskinychamber.com
Henderson Harbor
Sackets Harbor
P.O. Box 468, Henderson Harbor, NY 13651; 938-5568, www.hendersonharborny.com
Lewis County
304 W. Main St., P.O. Box 17, Sackets Harbor, NY 13685; 646-1700, www. sacketsharborchamberofcommerce.com
175 N. James St., P.O. Box 482, Cape Vincent, NY 13618; 654-2481, www.capevincent.org
7576 S. State St., Lowville, NY 13367; 376-2213, www.lewiscountychamber.org
14 E. Church St., Adams, NY 13605; 232-4215, www.southjeffchamber.org
Carthage Area
Massena
St. Lawrence
120 S. Mechanic St., Carthage, NY 13619; 493-3590, www.carthageny.com
Centerstate CEO
572 S. Salina St., Syracuse, NY 13202; 470-1800, www.centerstateceo.com
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
50 Main St., Massena, NY 13662; 7693525, www.massenachamber.com
Malone
497 East Main St., Malone, NY 12953; 1(518) 483-3760, www.visitmalone.com
Ogdensburg
1 Bridge Plaza, Ogdensburg, NY 13669;
South Jefferson
101 Main St., First Floor, Canton, NY 13617; 386-4000, www.northcountryguide.com
Tri-Town
907 Route 11 C, P.O. Box 297, Brasher Falls, NY 13613; 389-4800, www.tritownchamberofcommerce.com
Jefferson County Job Development Corp.
St. Lawrence River Valley Redevelopment Agency
Procurement Technical Assistance Center
U.S. Small Business Administration
www.jcjdc.net
www.northcountryptac.com
Small Business Development Center at SUNY jefferson
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www.sba.gov www.facebook.com/SBAAtlantic www.twitter.com/SBAAtlantic
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NNY Business | February 2012
Saturday, Feb. 25
n 22nd Annual Polar Bear Dip, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Bonnie Castle Resort, Rum Runners Wharf. Sponsored by Friends of River Hospital in support of the River Hospital Foundation. Funds raised will be used to upgrade ultrasound and digital mammography equipment. Registration from 10 a.m. to noon, dipping starts at 1 p.m. Dippers must be 18 years old or older. Register: 482-4976.
Canton Sunday, Feb. 19
n “Rediscovering Your Backyard Bridal Expo,” 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., 120 Commerce Park Drive, building one in Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority Industrial Park. Sponsored by Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, Ogdensburg Zonta Club, Ogdensburg Area Boys and Girls Club, 96.7 YES-FM, Q Country 102.9, PAC 98.7 and Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority. Local businesses exhibit products and services for weddings or special events. Information: 386-2037.
who purchased tickets through the chamber will have the chance to win a Jeep Wrangler by shooting a puck on the ice. Potsdam Chamber will also hand out Potsdam gift certificates to random ticketholders. Cost: $10; reserved seats, $13; Clarkson students with identification, free. Game information: www.clarksonathletics.com. Promotion information: Potsdam Chamber, 274-9000.
Syracuse Tuesday, Feb. 21
Tuesday, March 6
n Social Media Community Discussion, 9 to 10 a.m., SUNY Center for Professional Development, 6333 Route 298, Suite 102, East Syracuse. Informal discussion on social media in a research, sharing and learning environment. Meeting topic: Online surveys. Information: 546-2783 or info@cnyastd.org.
Tuesday, Feb. 28
Evans Mills Wednesday, March 21
Thursday, March 1
Old Forge Saturday, March 10, and Sunday, March 11
n SnoFest 2012, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, North Street Recreation Center. Ski Doo, Yamaha, Polaris and Arctic Cat will premier their newest snowmobile models. Extreme freestyle shows all three days; back-flip finale under fireworks at 7 p.m. Saturday. Free admission. Information: Old Forge Visitor Information Center, 369-6983 or www.snofestny.com.
Parish Tuesday, March 13
n “Business in Bloom” speaker series, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Grist Mill Restaurant. Presented by Chena Tucker, SBDC business adviser. Sponsored by SUNY Oswego Small Business Development Center, Parish Chamber of Commerce and Jefferson Express Mobile Computer Lab. “E-Commerce: The Online Advantage.” Pre-registration required, contact 312-3492 or obcr@oswego.edu. Cost: $5.
Potsdam Saturday, Feb. 18
n Clarkson University vs. Colgate University men’s hockey game, 7 p.m., Cheel Arena, Clarkson University. Special promotion by the Potsdam Chamber of Commerce and Blevins Motors where three ticketholders
Monday, March 5
n Web Writing and Blogging Workshop, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Jefferson Community College Extended Learning Center E-130. Instructor: Craig Thornton. Learn how to focus your blog or post to one central idea and learn how to accommodate the web reader. Register: Continuing Education Division, 786-2438. Cost: $35.
n “Leadership Challenge Workshop, Learn How Ordinary People Get Extraordinary Things Done,” 7 to 9 p.m., Baldwinsville Public Library, 33 E. Genesee St. Two-part workshop based on the book “The Leadership Challenge.” Learn to increase effectiveness as leaders in business. Free. Register in person or at 635-5631 prior to the event.
n Business After Hours, 5 to 7 p.m., Hunt Realty, 26121 Route 11. Sponsored by Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce. Cost: Registered members, $8; non-registered members, $10; non-members, $12. Registration required by noon Tuesday, March 20. Register: www.watertownny.com or 788-4400.
tion and performance. Register: Continuing Education Division, 786-2438. Cost: $99.
n Business After Hours, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, 246 W. Willow St. Sponsored by CenterState CEO. Member showcase , visit each display table for a chance to win two round-trip tickets on Delta air lines. Attendees will received a Dinosaur Bar-BQue coupon good for future purchase. Free parking in the National Grid lot across the street. To purchase a tabletop display, contact Beth Savicki, bsavicki@centerstateceo. com or 470-1833. Register for event: 4701870 or www.centerstateceo.com.
Wednesday, March 21
n “March Madness,” 8 a.m., location to be announced. Sponsored by the Central New York Postal Customer Council. A seminar with a little something for everybody, with tables for Every Door Direct Mail, shipping products and services, Business Customer Gateway, meet the postmaster, non-profit and standard mail and postal trivia. Admission: $5; free with paid annual membership of $40. Information, register: Natalie Dolan, 452-3408 or natalie.c.dolan@usps.gov.
Watertown Thursday, Feb. 23
n “Resources and Tax Incentives for Small Businesses,” 8:30 a.m., Savory Downtown. Sponsored by Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce, H&R Block, NNY Business and the Watertown Daily Times. Speaker: Steve Ingraham. Information: 788-4400.
Monday, March 5
n “Sharpen Your Marketing Strategy,” 1 to 5 p.m., Jefferson Community College Extended Learning Center E-130. Instructor: Frederick “Fritz” Hager, Strategic Planning Advisors LLC. Participants will learn the six Ps of marketing: People, product, placement, pricing, promo-
n “More Bang for Your Buck: Low-Cost Marketing Ideas,” 6 to 9 p.m., Jefferson Community College. Sponsored by the Small Business Development Center at Jefferson Community College. Learn inexpensive but highly effective marketing techniques to bring in new customers and keep old customers coming back. Register: 782-9262 or sbdc@sunyjefferson.edu.
Thursday, March 15
n Business of the Year Luncheon, noon to 2 p.m., Black River Valley Club. Sponsored by Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce. Cost: $15; non-members, $20. Payment in advance required for non-members. Reservations: www.watertownny.com.
Friday, March 23 to Sunday, March 25
n The Great Outdoor Family Expo 2012, 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, YMCA Fairgrounds Fitness Center. Sponsored by Watertown Noon Rotary Club. Wildlife show from the NYS Zoo at Thompson Park, big buck exhibit, game call seminars, outdoor equipment, raffles, refreshments, chainsaw art, rustic furniture, try SCUBA in an 11,000 gallon pool from the National Aquatic Service with certified instructors. Admission: $3; military discount provided.
Tuesday, March 27
n Selling to the Government Matchmaking Event 2012, 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Jefferson Community College. Sponsored by the New York State Small Business Development Center at Jefferson Community College and the North Country Procurement Technical Assistance Center. Businesses will be able to have matchmaking appointments with agencies, prime contractors and corporate sponsors for national, regional and local firms. Corporate sponsors: $275, includes promotional listings and display area; deadline to register is Friday, Feb. 24. Admission: $35 before Friday, March 4; $45 before Wednesday, March 21. Information, register: 782-9262.
Friday, March 30, and Saturday, March 31
n 47th Annual Antique Show and Sale, 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dulles State Office Building. Benefits Credo Community Center Foundation. Coffee, tea and light desserts available Friday evening, food available all-day Saturday. Free parking in parking garage. Admission: $4, good for both days. Information: Sherry Wilson, 782-8356.
GOT A BUSINESS EVENT or calendar item? Email editor Ken Eysaman at keysaman@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 for events calendar updates.
COMMUNITY / BUSINESS EVENTS CALENDAR
Alexandria Bay
February 2012 | NNY Business
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BUSIN E SS S C E N E 20th Annual Bridal Show at Dulles State Office Building
KYLE R. HAYES PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
KYLE R. HAYES PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
Top, from left, Amber M. Netto and Peggy M. Kelley, owner, Peggy’s Sweet Creations, Carthage. Above, from left, Stephanie L. Askins, Ashley A. Kaler and April L. Johnson, owner, April’s Cakes, Watertown. The Dulles State Office Building hosted the 20th Annual Bridal Show Sunday, Jan. 9.
Top, from left, Nate T. and Patty M. Sourwine, owners, Sourwine Photography, LaFargeville. Above, from left, Dori L. Klaproth, manager, Lindsey J. Verdi, assistant manager, and Lorrie A. McFarland, owner, Party Rentals, Watertown.
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January 2012 | NNY Business
| 52
BUSIN E SS S C E N E GWNC Chamber of Commerce Speaker Series at Best Western Carriage House
GWNC Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours at Black River Valley Club
KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
KYLE R. HAYES PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
Top, from left, Michael E. Hunter, field crops extension educator, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County, and Andrew Rice, Community Bank, Watertown. Above, Jamie Keiser and Don Taylor, the Bonadio Group, Syracuse. North Country Capital LLC, the Watertown Daily Times and NNY Business magazine sponsored the 2012 Economic Outlook breakfast Jan. 24 at the Best Western Carriage House Inn.
Top, from left, Stephen A. Dettmer, Joseph S. Foy, Sarah K. Sharlow and Shannon M. Elliott, Oceans Below band. Above, from left, Kari L. Bartlett, Paula C. Cadwell, Washington Street branch manager, and Susanne M. Brodeur, HSBC Bank. The Black River Valley Club hosted January’s Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours Jan. 18.
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February 2012 | NNY Business
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BUSIN E SS S C E N E GWNC Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours at Black River Valley Club
KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
Top, from left, Rachel J. O’Brien and Laurel A. Blackmore, Marcy Spa and Salon, Watertown. Above, from left, Richard T. O’Connor, Taylor Concrete Products Inc., Watertown, and Kathy M. Converse, Excellus Blue Cross. The Black River Valley Club hosted January’s Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours Jan. 18.
Top, from left, Gillian S. Maitland, Victoria L. Moore and Michelle L. Brown, Watertown Center for Sight. Above, from left, Heather M. Elliott, Sheila A. Wilson and Keith W. Johnson, AFLAC.
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Chevy Runs Deep 315-764-1760 FRENCHIESCHEVY.COM 255 E. ORVIS St., MASSENA
54 |
NNY Business | February 2012
Selects
315-705-2111 FRENCHIESSELECTS.COM
CORNER RT. 37 & PARKER AVE., MASSENA
315-764-1771 FRENCHIESFORD.COM 216 E. ORVIS ST., MASSENA
BUSIN E SS S C E N E JCJDC Annual Membership Meeting at Hilton Garden Inn
KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
Top, from left, Michelle D. Pfaff, Jefferson County Job Development Corp. board president, presents Augusta Withington and Robert J. Campany, coowners, Fourth Coast Inc., Clayton, with the New Business Venture Award and a ceremonial check for $1,000 during the JCJDC annnual membership meeting. Above, from left, Patrick J. Currier, principal, Michael Aubertine, principal, Brian A. Jones, architect, Matt R. Morgia, engineer, and Jay T. Jones, surveyor, with the Business of Excellence Award presented to Aubertine & Currier Architects, Engineers & Land Surveyors, Watertown.
Top, from left, Michelle D. Pfaff, Jefferson County Job Development Corp. board president, presents Stevie Smith, executive director, Transitional Living Services, Watertown, with a Business of Excellence Award. Above, from left, Neli P. Tsitiridid, agent, Luke A. Hopkins, associate broker, Amanda J. Miller, broker-owner, Gail W. Miller, sales associate, and Beth E. Hopkins, associate broker, Lake Ontario Realty, with a Business of Excellence Award. Hilton Garden Inn hosted the 2012 Jefferson County Job Development Corp. annual meeting Jan. 20.
February 2012 | NNY Business
| 55
BUSIN E SS S C E N E Alexandria Bay Chamber of Commerce Mid-Winter Evening at Riveredge Resort
KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
Top, from left, Mary W. Cummings, Clipper Inn, Alexandria Bay, and husband, James I., NY State Department of Corrections, and Cathy F. Garlock, Garlock Realty and River Living, Alexandria Bay. Above, from left, Smitty Smith, Premier Building Associates, Alexandria Bay, wife, Kelly J., River Hospital, Elizabeth E. Reddick, and husband, Robert J., president, Contact Building Systems, and Christine A. Penrose, general manager, Riveredge Resort, Alexandria Bay.
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Top, from left, Mark R. Ingalls, Pemco Construction, Fort Drum-Great Bend, Alison H. Cerow, the Cerow Agency, Clayton. Above, from left, Suzanne Cavallario and Gerald T. House, Bay Area Bakery, Alexandria Bay. The Riveredge Resort, Alexandria Bay, hosted the Alexandria Bay Chamber of Commerce Mid-Winter Evening Jan. 28.
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56 |
NNY Business | February 2012
BUSIN E SS S C E N E GWNC Chamber of Commerce 60th Israel A. Shapiro Citizenship Award dinner
KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
Top, from left, Margaret B. “Peggy” Coe, and husband, Benjamin P., recipient of the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce 2011 Israel A. Shapiro Citizenship Award. Above, from left, Amy Demar, account executive, WWTI ABC50 & The North Country CW, Charles V. Berkman, business banking specialist, HSBC Bank, Watertown. The Ramada Inn, Watertown, hosted the 60th Israel A. Shapiro Citizenship Award dinner Feb. 2.
Top, from left, Holly Boname, reporter and Web manager, Patty Strife and Peter Downey, sales manager, WWTI ABC50 & The North Country CW. Above, from left, Tracy J. Gyoerkoe, Jefferson-Lewis-HamiltonHerkimer-Oneida BOCES and AAUW, Katrina Cox, Elaina Marra and Katie FitzGerald, American Association of University Women, Jefferson County branch.
February 2012 | NNY Business
| 57
D INING GUI D E Jean’s Beans 259 Eastern Blvd., Watertown (315) 788-7460 Joey’s at the Thousand Island Club 21952 Club Road, Alexandria Bay (315) 482-9999
Brownville Diner 114 W. Main St., Brownville (315) 786-8554
Fung Hing Chinese 225 State St., Watertown (315) 785-9689
Café Mira 14 Main St., Adams (315) 232-4470
Gary’s Restaurant 5424 Shady Ave., Lowville (315) 376-6612
Cam’s Pizzeria 25 Public Square, Watertown (315) 779-8900
G&F Italian Pizza and Restaurant 2972 E. Main St., Parish (315) 625-7177
Cavallario’s Cucina 133 N. Massey St., Watertown (315) 788-9744
Gold Star Deli 343 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 782-6155
Johnny D’s Bistro 108 108 Court St., Watertown (315) 755-2333
Cherry Tree Inn 8541 State Route 3, Henderson (315) 938-7281
Goodfellos 202 W. Main St., Sackets Harbor (315) 646-3463
Karen & Jasper’s Bar & Bistro 1322 Washington St. Plaza, Watertown (315) 788-4110
China City 1125 Arsenal St. Suite 2, Watertown (315) 788-8289
Gram’s Diner 13 Main St., Adams (315) 232-4881
King Star Food Oriental 22265 U.S. Route 11, Watertown (315) 786-0246
Church Street Diner 107 Church St., Carthage (315) 493-0997
Great Wall Chinese 300 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 788-7668
Korean Grill 525 W. Main St., Watertown (315) 681-4226
Coleman’s Corner 849 Lawrence St., Watertown (315) 782-6888
Harby’s Hots Outer Washington Street, Watertown (315) 788-2250
Crossroads Diner 22474 U.S. Route 11, Watertown (315) 782-9591
Herrings Inn 35802 State Route 3, Carthage (315) 493-9829
Crystal Restaurant 87 Public Square, Watertown (315) 782-9938
Highland Meadows Country Club 24201 State Route 342, Watertown (315) 785-0108
Bernardo’s Pizzeria 702 Coffeen St., Watertown (315) 782-9500
Daily Buffet (Chinese) 1283 Arsenal St. Stop 8, Watertown (315) 786-8598
Holly Jean’s Cuisine 560 West End Ave., Carthage (315) 523-9109
B J’s Grill 610 Mill St., Watertown (315) 782-8126
Dano’s Pizzeria and Restaurant 24411 State Route 971V, Felts Mills (315) 773-3266
Hops Spot 214.5 W. Main St., Sackets Harbor (315) 646-BEER (2337)
Black River Valley Club 131 Washington St., Watertown (315) 788-2300
Erin’s Isle Restaurant 928 State Route 11C, Brasher Falls (315) 389-4100
Home Deli Pizza & Subs 305 W. Main St., Watertown (315) 782-6340
Blue Heron 12050 Route 12E, Chaumont (315) 649-2240
Fairground Inn 852 Coffeen St., Watertown (315) 782-7335
Hot Diggity Dogs Salmon Run Mall, Watertown (315) 788-4844
Boathouse 214 W. Main St., Sackets Harbor (315) 646-2092
Fiesta Mexicana 566 State St., Watertown (315) 779-7577
India Palace 1196 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 788-8457
Brookside Diner 1873 State St., Watertown (315) 782-9824
Fireside at Partridge Berry Inn 26561 State Route 3, Watertown (315) 782-8401
Ives Hill Restaurant 435 Flower Ave. W., Watertown (315) 775-4837
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 Apollo Restaurant 1283 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 788-3569 Art’s Jug 820 Huntington St., Watertown (315) 782-9764 Bella’s Bistro 602 Riverside Drive, Clayton (315) 686-2341
Johnny D’s 1 Public Square, Watertown (315) 782-6108
Lake Ontario Playhouse 103 W. Main St., Sackets Harbor (315) 646-2305 Manor Country Diner Route 11, Pierrepont Manor (315) 465-4400 Limerick Hotel 16331 State Route 12E, Limerick (315) 639-6804 Lloyd’s of Lowville 7405 S. State St., Lowville (315) 376-7037 Lucia’s Italian Restaurant 11613 U.S. Route 11, Adams (315) 232-2223 Maggie’s on the River 500 Newell St., Watertown (315) 405-4239 Mariano’s Pizza 981 Waterman Drive, Watertown (315) 788-8088 McCarthy’s Restaurant 5821 U.S. Route 11, Canton (315) 386-2564 Midway Ice Cream 891 Coffeen St., Watertown (315) 405-4996 Mo’s Place 345 Factory St., Watertown (315) 782-5503 Morgia’s Pasta 22560 Fisher Road, Watertown (315) 788-3509
Save 50% or More at Local Restaurants and Stores! Available DAILY! Get DISCOUNTED, LOCAL, RELIABLE deals! Sign up to receive weekly emails about NNY Deals!
58 |
NNY Business | February 2012
Mr. Sub Sandwich Shop Public Square & Mill St., Watertown (315) 782-1760 NuPier 13212 State Route 3, Sackets Harbor (315) 646-3312 Original Italian Pizza 222 N. Massey St., Watertown (315) 786-0000 Paddock Club 5 Paddock Arcade, Watertown (315) 786-6633
D INING GUI D E Papa Tino’s Pizzeria 716 Mill St., Watertown (315) 782-7272 Pete’s Restaurant 111 Breen Ave., Watertown (315) 782-6640 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
Read the reviews
Tico’s Mex Mex Grill 65 Public Square, Watertown (315) 836-4778
Get on the list
Tilted Kilt 1050 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 782-5458 Tin Pan Galley 110 W. Main St., Sackets Harbor (315) 646-3812 United China Restaurant 144 Eastern Blvd., Watertown (315) 782-4432
Log on to www.watertowndaily times.com to read restaurant reviews by Watertown Daily Times restaurant critic Walter Siebel.
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. Savory Downtown 300 Washington St., Watertown (315) 782-8000
— PAID ADVERTISEMENT —
Violi’s Restaurant 209 Center St., Massena (315) 764-0329
Muffoletta: Southern or Italian dish?
Village Inn 8208 Main St., Harrisville (315) 543-9382
By Brenda Cavallario, executive chef & owner Cavallario’s Cucina, 133 N. Massey St., Watertown, (315) 788-9744
VV’s Mexican Kitchen Noble Street, Evans Mills (315) 629-4652
The Muffoletta is actually Southern Italian, originating in the regions of Sicily. A bright and bold combination of marinated veggies and olives that create a salad like relish that tops cured Italian deli meats & cheeses, all nestled between rustic Italian bread that is crispy on the outer while being dense & soft on the inner. The Muffoletta made its way from Italy to the U.S. in the early 1900’s by Sicilian Immigrants who made their way into New Orleans, Louisiana, to begin a new life of freedom & prosperity. A combined effort by a baker of the Muffoletta bread, and a grocer who sold the other goods, put together the traditional Muffoletta and introduced our America to a wonderful Italian Sandwich. Wow your family with this Italian Style Sandwich and share a little bit of Italian Tradition around your table. Mangia ~ Mangia!
Riccardo’s Market & Deli 710 Holcomb St., Watertown (315) 782-7810
Sboro’s Restaurant 836 Coffeen St., Watertown (315) 788-1728 Shorty’s Place 1280 Coffeen St., Watertown (315) 782-7878
Riverhouse 4818 Salina St., Pulaski (315)509-4281
Shuler’s Steak & Seafood 802 Mill St., Watertown (315) 782-1429
Roberts Family Pizzeria 839 State St., Watertown (315) 786-2006
Soluri’s Pizza 526 Factory St., Watertown (315) 782-2888
Roma Restaurant 19 Bridge St., Carthage (315) 493-0616
Stonefence Resort 7191 State Route 37, Ogdensburg (315) 393-1545
Romalato’s Gourmet Deli 450 Gaffney Drive, Watertown (315) 681-6653
Stone Jug Pizzeria 104 Bartlett Road, Sackets Harbor (315) 646-1008
Ruyi Asian Fusion 111 Court St., Watertown (315) 779-8888
Suk Hui Hi’s Korean 1301 State St., Watertown (315) 785-9740
Ryan’s Lookout 9290 State Route 3, Henderson (315) 938-5151
Super Wok Chinese Restaurant 20991 State Route 3, Watertown (315) 788-5389
Brew Ha Ha 468 Coffeen St., Watertown (315) 788-1175
Sackets Harbor Brew Pub 212 W. Main St., Sackets Harbor (315) 646-2739
Teriyaki Experience 21852 Towne Center Drive, Watertown (315) 785-9254
Chrissy Beanz Bakery 105 W. Main St., Sackets Harbor (315) 646-2330
Sandy’s Luncheonette 5 Public Square, Watertown (315) 782-2935
Thailand Thai Restaurant 1857 State St., Watertown (315) 788-6688
Coffee Shop Carbone Plaza, Watertown (315) 782-0450
Savory Café 1511 Washington St., Watertown (315) 785-6464
The Place 1612 Ford St., Ogdensburg (315) 393-3080
Danny’s Coffee 21181 Salmon Run Mall, Watertown (315) 782-7057
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
Instructions 1. Purchase a loaf of hearty Artesian baked bread from your local bakery. 2. Choose a great salami, cured ham and pepperoni sausage. 3. A mild cheese like provolone combines well. 4. Create your own unique “salad” by combining sliced kalamata and green olives, chopped celery and red onion, chopped sweet roasted peppers, pepperonchinis and fresh garlic. 5. Toss “salad” with two (2) parts balsamic vinegar and one (1) part virgin olive oil. Marinate to develop flavors. 6. Now assemble your Muffoletta sandwich being generous with all ingredients!
February 2012 | NNY Business
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BUSIN E SS H IS T O R Y
Redwood Glass Works workers in an 1880 company photo.
JEFFERSON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
A storied operation
n Redwood glass blowing business changed hands throughout 1800s By Lenka Walldroff
T
Jefferson County Historical Society
he history of Redwood glass actually began more than 190 years ago in Redford, a small village on the west bank of the Saranac River in Clinton County. In October 1831, a factory operating under the trade name of Redford Glass Company was manufacturing high quality window glass. John S. Foster a native of Vermont, the superintendent of the Redford Glass Company, was a glass making genius, but he had rather expensive ideas for his time, and his employers at the glass company discharged him. Mr. Foster moved to Jefferson County, bringing the secret formula with him, and he soon established a glass factory at Jamesville. Benjamin Cory, editor and publisher of the Watertown Register, in 1933, disclosed
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NNY Business | February 2012
to his readers the formula for making Redwood glass as being: “120 parts of sand, 40 parts of purified pearl ash, 35 parts of lead monoxide and 13 parts nitre or potassium or sodium nitrate.” At that time Jamesville was a community of a few log cabins and sawmill constructed on the small stream connecting Mud and Butterfield Lakes. The muddy road that James D. LeRay’s men had cut through the forest between Theresa and Alexandria Bay was Jamesville’s only connection with the outside world. The population at this time was less than 100. Mr. Foster boarded for a brief time in Theresa, where he learned that Jamesville, a small settlement about seven miles distant, had just what he was seeking — Potsdam sandstone of the best quality for making glass, a bed of limestone within two miles, water power for running machinery and plenty of wood. He immediately contracted with Francis Depau, a local land agent for whom Depauville
is named, for about 10,000 acres of land. He promptly changed the name from Jamesville to Redwood in hopes that its similarity to the name Redford would enable him to cut into the glass trade of his former employers who he felt had treated him unfairly. Mr. Foster soon built log cabins and general store on what was known as French Hill to accommodate the many French Canadians whom he coerced to come over as woodchoppers. The first glass was made on Sept. 30, 1833. Unfortunately, production did not continue for long. Mr. Foster died on Jan. 2, 1834, while on a business trip to Watertown. Today, no trace of Mr. Foster can be found in Redwood. The future of his glass factory had seemed assured, but Mr. Foster’s premature death had dealt a hard blow to the newly formed community of Redwood. As a result of his death, the glassworks reverted to Mr. Depau, and operations
ceased for a time as Mr. Depau, by then an old man with no interest in operating a glass factory, had returned to Paris. Anxious to protect his investment, Mr. Depau began a search among the best glassmakers in the country to find one who would be willing to come and operate the plant in Redwood. He finally decided upon John C. Schmauss, a New Jersey glassblower, who traveled up to Redwood bringing 19 glassworkers with him. He also brought his wife and family, as well as one of the finest pianos to arrive in the north country. Mr. Schmauss found the natural resources of the new plant all he could ask for. He took charge at once and the company turned out glass, which was regarded as unusually fine. Mr. Schmauss ran the glassworks for the rest of his life and was succeeded by his son, John F. Schmauss, for a number of years. His ability did much to carry the company into an era of prosperity. The Schmauss era at the Redwood Glass Works ended in 1844 and the factory went through a series of owners until 1859 when William W. Butterfield assumed control of the entire operation. By 1922, very few of those who had worked at the Redwood glass factory were still living. Robert Hoffman, who had worked as a glass blower from 1864 to 1868 was still around and he spoke reminiscently of his experiences. Mr. Hoffman delighted his family and friends with items made from end of day glass. He was known for his Jacob’s Ladder tree ornament. The Jefferson County Historical Society has one of these on exhibit in the Jefferson County Room. A list of Redwood glass blowers from 1865 to 1870 can be found at the Jefferson County Historical Society. They are Charles LaDue, Julius Young Jr. and Sr., Robert Hoffman, Joseph Senecal, William Donovan, George Donovan, George Pierce and Geo Frederick. William Spies was one of the last mixers in the factory before the factory was abandoned in 1881. 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.
Correction
n January’s Business History column was written by Boni Shafer, collections volunteer at the Jefferson County Historical Society. The photo was provided by Ted Gegoux III, www.gegoux. com. If you spot an error of fact, email Editor Ken Eysaman at keysaman@wdt.net.
February 2012 | NNY Business
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W H AT ’ S H A P P E NING H E R E ? daVIDSON automotive group Location: Route 11, town of Watertown (Watertown Center) SIZE: General Motors building: 27,050 square feet; Ford building: 18,400 square feet; on a combined 13 acre lot. ENGINEER: Hogan Engineering, Rome. CONTRACTOR: DC Building Systems Inc., Watertown. ESTIMATED COMPLETION: Ford building to be completed in the spring. The GM building will be complete shortly after, in late spring or early summer. LOCAL JOBS: Several dozen construction jobs. Additional sales and service jobs upon completion. — Compiled by Kyle R. Hayes
JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS
Construction continues in Watertown Center on the future home of Davidson Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, GMC. The 27,050-square-foot building is expected to be complete by early summer. Meanwhile, a new Ford building is taking shape just north of the Chevy store. That building is expected to open this spring.
N E X T M ON T H
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n our March issue — our annual salute to women in business — we share the stories of several women entrepreneurs in the north country and the challenges they’ve faced on their roads to success. Also coming next month: n Inside better farm: Nicole Caldwell left New York City behind three years ago to open Better Farm Inc., a sustainability education center and retreat for artists in Redwood. We visit with her on her succcess. n HEALTHY WOMEN: A special section for the working woman offers advice from NNY experts on how to do it all without losing sight of what’s really important. 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 FOLLOW US ON Twitter for daily updates at @NNYBusinessMag and visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nnybusiness for more Business Scene photos.
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NNY Business | February 2012
February 2012 | NNY Business
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