NNY Business October 2012

B

Y usIness

Snack food distributor Reimann marks 50 years on road page 28

October 2012

n 20Q with real estate developer Michael E. Lundy p. 40

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n Biz Tech n Small Business n NNY Snapshot n Business Scene

Optimism moves market

North country enjoys insulation, rebound $2.95

/nnybusiness @NNYBusinessMag

Northern New York’s Premier Business Monthly Vol. 2 Issue 11 | www.nnybizmag.com

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NNY Business | October 2012

October 2012 | NNY Business

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CONTRIBUTORS

BusIness www.nnybizmag.com

Publishers

John B. Johnson Jr. Harold B. Johnson II Lynn Pietroski is president and CEO of the Greater WatertownNorth Country Chamber of Commerce. She shares key steps to successful succession planning. (p. 46)

Jay Matteson is the agricultural coordinator for the Jefferson County Agricultural Development Corp. He writes about a unique partnership with Fort Drum for quality land use. (p. 47)

Brooke James is an advisor for the New York State Small Business Development Center at SUNY Canton.

She offers tips for planning an annual business cycle. (p. 49)

Rande Richardson is executive director of the Northern New York Community Foundation.

He writes about how community can grow through effective ideas and listening. (p. 45)

General Manager John B. Johnson

Executive Editor Bert Gault

Managing Editor Robert D. Gorman

Magazine Editor

Kenneth J. Eysaman

Associate Magazine Editor Kyle R. Hayes

Jill Van Hoesen is chief information officer for Johnson Newspapers and a 25-year IT veteran.

She writes about ways to leverage the synergy between digital and print media. (p. 48)

Lance M. Evans is executive officer for the Jefferson-Lewis and St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors. He delivers a snapshot of the north country’s real estate market. (p. 34)

Michelle L. Capone is regional development director for DANC. In part one of a two-part column, she tells the story of Drum Country Business. (p. 44)

Joleene DesRosiers Moody is a freelance writer and motivational speaker. She profiles the people behind Lake Ontario Realty and A.G. Netto Real Estate Services. (p. 24, 26)

Advertising Directors Karen K. Romeo Tammy S. Beaudin

Circulation Director Mary Sawyer

Photography

Norm Johnston, Justin Sorensen, Jason Hunter, Melanie Kimbler-Lago, Amanda Morrison

Ad Graphics, Design

Rick Gaskin, Brian Mitchell, Heather O’Driscoll, Scott Smith, Todd Soules Kyle Hayes is associate magazine editor for NNY Business. In our cover story, he writes about the north country’s real estate market.

He also writes about how to protect home values. (p. 14, 22)

Norah Machia is a veteran Watertown Daily Times reporter.

She visits Reimann Wholesale for a look at how the snack food distributor has enjoyed 50 years in business. (p. 28)

Martha Ellen is a Johnson Newspapers reporter based in Canton.

She writes about efforts to bring a USDA poultry slaughterhouse to the region. (p. 30)

Ted Booker is a Johnson Newspapers staff writer. He examines how Jefferson County’s regional economic development strategy bets on growth in the health care sector. (p. 32)

MARKETPLACE Advanced Business Solutions ... 25 AmeriCU Credit Union .........….. 27 Ameriprise Financial ...........….. 23 A.G. Netto Realty ….................. 35 Bach & Company ...............….. 33 Battlefield Commons Home Development …............. 35 Beardsley Design ................….. 62 Bond, Schoeneck & King …....... 3 Bruyere Chadwick Realty ….... 37 Cantwell & Associates ........….. 43 Carthage Federal Savings …... 35 Center for Sight ...................….. 64 Cheney Tire .........................….. 50 Christensen Realty …................ 31 Clarence Henry Coach …........ 52 Clayton Dental Office …........... 43 Community Bank ….................... 7 Convenient Storage ...........….. 33 County Seat Realty …............... 23 D Laux Properties ….................. 35 DANC …..................................... 46 Essenlohr Motors …................... 53 Foy Agency Inc. .................….. 43 Fuccillo Automotive Group ….. 38

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G.C. Tripp Construction .....….. 37 Gerald A. Nortz ….................... 59 Gold Cup Farms …................... 43 Good Morning Realty ….......... 35 Grey Stone Realty ….................. 6 GWNC Chamber Expo ........….. 6 GWNC Chamber PTAC ........….. 7 H&R Block ...........................….. 23 High Tower Advisors ...........….. 39 Howard Orthotics ….................. 44 Hunt Real Estate ..................….. 17 Innovative PT Solutions .......….. 45 JCC Foundation ….................... 29 JCJDC ….................................... 61 KeyBank …................................. 18 Krafft Cleaning ....................….. 57 Lofink Ford Mercury ….............. 54 LTI …............................................ 48 Macars Inc. .........................….. 12 Marra’s Homecare …................ 19 Mold Tec …................................ 42 Nancy D. Storino Real Estate ... 35 Nikki Coates & Associates …... 33 NNY Business …......... 8, 50, 58, 63 NNY Community Foundation ... 13

NNY Business | October 2012

Northstar Auto Sales …............. 56 Painfull Acres Furniture .......….. 20 Panther Premium Properties ..... 20 Pat Collins Real Estate ........….. 13 PCS Homes ..........................….. 35 Plumley Real Estate ….............. 39 Powis Excavating ….................. 36 Reimann Wholesale ............….. 31 SeaComm Federal Credit Union ........................….. 21 Shred Con ….............................. 49 Slack Chemical Co. …............. 47 St. Lawrence NYSARC .........….. 31 St. Lawrence River Real Estate ... 29 SUNY Potsdam Extension ......….. 6 Thousand Island Realty …........ 35 The Three C Limousine …......... 55 Truesdell’s Furniture …................ 9 Watertown Daily Times …......... 25 Watertown LDC …..................... 34 Watertown Savings Bank …..... 15 W.D. Bach Excavation …......... 25 Westelcom …............................ 61 WWTI-ABC TV50 ....................….. 2 Yelle Realty .........................….. 43

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.

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12 issues are $15 a year and 24 issues are $25 a year.

Call 315-782-1000 to subscribe.

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., a Forest Stewardship Certified facility.

Please recycle this magazine.

>> Inside OCTOBER 2012 22

14

28

24

30

26 |

COVER |

14 OUT OF THE WOODS The real estate market continues to rebound against a soft economy.

21 TOP 10 NNY HOMES With an average price of $1.4m, we look at NNY’s most expensive homes. |

FEATURES |

22 POLISH YOUR PALACE When it comes to home improvements, just what is worth your investment?

24 A FAMILY DEAL Chaumont’s Lake Ontario Realty combines three generations in business.

26 MANAGING DUAL HATS For A.G. Netto Real Estate Services, appraisals and sales mean multiple roles.

28 SOME SERIOUS SNACKING Snack food distributor Reimann Wholesale marks its golden anniversary. |

AGRI-BUSINESS |

30 A BOON TO SALES With two slaughterhouses on the way to the region things are looking up. |

ECONOMY |

32 BETTING ON HEALTH CARE Growth in the health care sector will pave the way to a stronger north country.

|

PROPERTY SALES |

36 JEFFERSON COUNTY Real estate sales totaled more than $4.1 million in a five-day period in September.

37 ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY Real estate sales totaled more than $2.3 million over a three-day period last month.

38 LEWIS COUNTY Real estate sales totaled more than $2.3 million over a 25-day period in August. |

BUSINESS HISTORY |

60 INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION Northern New York industry flourished after water systems railroads came to pass.

October 2012 | NNY Business

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NNY Business | October 2012

| INTERVIEW |

| ON THE COVER |

40 A HOMETOWN BUILDER Carthage native Michael E. Lundy and his LUNCO Corp. are on track for a banner year in 2013 with more projects under way than ever before in the firm’s 50-year history. | 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 34

EDITOR’S NOTE PEOPLE ON THE MOVE ECONOMIC SNAPSHOT BUSINESS BRIEFCASE REAL ESTATE ROUNDUP

51 52 58 60 62

CALENDAR BUSINESS SCENE DINING GUIDE BUSINESS HISTORY WHAT’S HAPPENING HERE?

Photographer Amanda Morrison staged this month’s cover shot at Watertown’s Thompson Park with real estate signs from 26 agencies in Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Lewis counties. As the north country continues to see the number of property transactions climb, real estate professionals are optimistic that Northern New York will enjoy stability in the market.

October 2012 | NNY Business

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EDITOR’S NOTE

M

ost real estate professionals are, by nature of their business, very good at marketing. After all, if they weren’t, we’d see far fewer colorful signs like those on the cover of this month’s issue planted in yards of north country homes.

Some of the more successful sales agents tap into a wealth of resources provided by local boards of Realtors and state and national associations. The National Association of Realtors has a rather nifty campaign presently under way called “Home Ownership Matters.” It aims to articulate the economic benefits to a healthy real estate market, touting such facts like how “home ownership has a significant impact Ken Eysaman on net worth, educational achievement, civic participation, health, and overall quality of life.”

And, “home ownership helps create jobs — lots of them — right here at home.”

The facts are impressive. Take for example, the point that for every two homes sold in a community, one job is created.

Don’t forget how each home purchase can fuel economic activity into the thousands of dollars, generating as much as $60,000 over time, the NAR reports.

I point these facts out to remind you of something most readers of this magazine probably already realize, but pay little mind to: just as home ownership matters, a strong and stable real estate market also matters.

There is little evidence to dispute this in the north country. Sure, we’ve weathered some ups and downs like many other markets across the country, but, as you’ll read in this month’s cover story, several factors set us apart from places like metropolitan Las Vegas and suburban Atlanta, where the housing crisis left whole neighborhoods in shambles and communities are still reeling to recover from fallout. When we start to hear stories of panic in the north country, think for a moment about how much worse we could have it.

My sister and her family have lived in Marietta, Ga., a northwest Atlanta suburb, for 23 years. On the same dead-end street where they live, four homes were in foreclosure at one time in the past three years. Each went the way of a bank sale, one for a price not seen since 1989, the year they took flight to the Peach State from the excesses of an inflated Southern California real estate market.

The north country has benefitted from an arguably cautious home-building sector that has, on balance, kept the supply side of new homes somewhat tight. We’ve also been fortunate enough to see every few foreclosures, due in large party to a thriving community banking industry that has made

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NNY Business | October 2012

wise decisions on mortgage lending. In Northern New York, the oft-criticized lending practice of big bankers who were all too quick to put unqualified people in homes never was the norm.

While most who work in the real estate industry sure would like to see our market grow and improve, many will just as quickly remind you of how our region is head and shoulders above many others. n

n

n

BUSINESS SCENE ­— This month’s Scene section, which begins on page 52, is one of our largest ever, featuring 71 faces from more than 55 organizations and businesses across the north country. On Sept. 13, we joined the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce at Ryan’s Lookout, Henderson, for the 2012 Fall Dinner and Athena Award celebration. A well-earned congratulates to Denise K. Young, executive director of the Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization on this year’s Athena Award. Denise joins the ranks of 21 other distinguished north country women to receive the honor which began locally in 1991. On Sept. 14, we headed to Tug Hill Vineyards in Lowville for the Lewis County Humane Society Black Tie and Tails Gala where, in the spirit of the event, several attendees sprouted tails for a good cause. A few days later, we were again in Lowville for the Lewis County Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting.

On Sept. 20, we dropped by the North Country Children’s Clinic for Business After Hours with the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce. I was the lucky winner of a one-night hotel stay at the Pleasant Night Inn in beautiful West Carthage. The following week, we saw a national event pass through Watertown as the city played host to the Fireball Run Adventurally.

We joined race teams at the Black River Valley Club for a pig roast and reception. To the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber and staff, the hard work and preparation to make the Garland City shine sincerely paid off.

Finally, wrapping up a busy month of business networking, we again joined the chamber to kick off the Jefferson Leadership Institute Class of 2013 at the Riveredge Resort and Conference Center, Alexandria Bay. n

n

n

20 UNDER 40 ­— Keep the nominations for this year’s NNY Business 20 Under 40 class coming. If you know a young man or woman who’s an emerging leader in Northern New York, email me at keysaman@wdt.net. Include their age, place of employment, where they live, community and civic involvement and a brief narrative as to why they deserve recognition. Read this space for more details to come in future issues, follow us on Facebook at Facebook/NNYBusiness, or visit us online at www.nnybizmag.com.

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE Chiropractor hired

North Country Chiropractic, located in Canton and Malone, has hired chiropractor Heather K. Alden. Ms. Alden owned Cambridge Chiropractic in Washington County for the past decade.

She earned a chiropractic degree from Palmer College of ChiropracAlden tic, Davenport, Iowa, and is proficient in a variety of chiropractic techniques, including diversified, Thompson drop, activator techniques and myofasical release. She is also a certified chiropractic sports practitioner and has a background in physiotherapy and rehabilitation techniques.

North Country Chiropractic is the practice of Jamie and Lisa Francey Towle.

Appointed president

James J. Kuhn has been appointed president of Atlantic Testing Laboratories, Canton.

Mr. Kuhn has worked for Atlantic Testing since 1994, after obtaining his civil engineering degree from Clarkson University, Potsdam. He has held the positions of Kuhn engineer, assistant division manager, division manager, area manager, vice president, senior vice president and executive vice president.

Mr. Kuhn is the third president of Atlantic Testing, succeeding Marijean

Remington, current chief executive officer, and founding president Spencer F. Thew.

He lives in Clifton Park with his wife, Shannon, and sons, Larry and Nate.

Atlantic Testing has 10 offices throughout the state and provides technical services such as subsurface investigations, geotechnical engineering, construction materials engineering and testing, pavement engineering and environmental services.

Earns certification

Amy Elliott of Impression Studio in Gouverneur has been certified by the Professional Photographic Certification Commission.

Certified professional photographers must complete a written examination, finish an image evaluation and adhere to a code of conduct.

Appointed director

Jeffrey W. Kimball, a financial representative with the Greater Watertown Group of Northwestern Mutual, has been appointed college unit director in the Watertown area.

Mr. Kimball has been associated with Northwestern Mutual since 2006. As college unit director, his responsibilities include recruiting and training financial representative interns while providing clients with financial services.

A native of Watertown, Mr. Kimball received a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2006 and a master’s degree in business administration in 2007, both from SUNY Oswego.

Receives scholarship

The Professional Institute of Real Estate Training has awarded its third North Country Scholarship for Real Estate Salespersons to Samantha Reaves of Watertown.

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.

Ms. Reaves will be affiliated as a fulltime licensed real estate salesperson with Lori Gervera Real Estate upon the completion of the 76-hour salespersons qualifying course offered by PIRT. She has lived in Watertown for more than 20 years. She is a military dependent with a background in graphic design and marketing.

Appointments made to Erie sales, service staffs

Erie Materials, Watertown, a regional distributor of building materials, has made several appointments to its sales and service staffs.

Frank Kaehler has been promoted to territory manager for the Watertown branch. He has worked for Erie for the past four years as an inside sales representative. Mr. Kaehler has 24 years of sales experience in building materials and previously held positions as territory manager, district sales manager and senior account representative.

Neal Bryden has been appointed a general contracting and architectural representative. He will work with customers in Syracuse, Watertown, Utica and Auburn.

He most recently served as territory manager for Erie’s Watertown branch and has worked for Erie for 19 years. He previously served as warehouse employee,

Please see People, page 39

October 2012 | NNY Business

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NNY

Economic indicators Average per-gallon milk price paid to N.Y. dairy farmers Aug. ’12 $1.62 July ’12 $1.53 Aug. ’11 $2.04

20.6%

ECON SNAPSHOT

Vehicles crossing the Thousand Islands, OgdensburgPrescott and Seaway International (Massena) bridges

Source: NYS Department of Agriculture

577,027 in Aug. 2012 567,942 in July 2012 563,044 in Aug. 2011

Average NNY price for gallon of regular unleaded gas

Source: T.I. Bridge Authority, Ogdensburg Bridge & Port Authority, Seaway International Bridge Corp.

Aug. ’12 $3.82 July ’12 $3.60 Aug. ’11 $3.81

U.S.-Canadian dollar exchange rate (Canadian dollars per U.S. dollar)

0.3%

Average NNY price for gallon of home heating oil

10 |

(Percent gains and losses are over 12 months)

Aug. ’12 $3.75 July ’12 $3.66 Aug. ’11 $3.67

2.2%

2.5%

$0.99 on Aug. 27, 2012 $1.01 on July 30, 2012 $0.99 on Aug. 27, 2011 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

Aug. ’12 $3.01 July ’12 $3.06 Aug. ’11 $3.22

90,200 in Aug. 2012 90,300 in July 2012 90,200 in Aug. 2011

6.5%

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

140, median price $153,300 in Aug. 2012 127, median price $141,000 in July 2012 127, median price $136,000 in Aug. 2011

67, median price $95,000 in Aug. 2012 58, median price $88,000 in July 2012 78, median price $89,000 in Aug. 2011

10.2% Sales

12.7% Price

Source: Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors Inc.

14.1%

6.7%

Sales

Price

Source: St. Lawrence Board of Realtors Inc.

NNY unemployment rates

Jefferson County Aug. ’12

8.9%

July ’12

Aug ’11

9.4% 8.3%

St. Lawrence County

Aug. ’12

July ’12

10.8% 11.1%

Aug. ’11

10.1%

Lewis County 8.6%

Aug. ’12

9.0%

July ’12 Aug. ’11

8.0%

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.

NNY Business | October 2012

NNY

Economic indicators New automobiles (cars and trucks) registered in Jefferson County Cars 547 in Aug. 2012 439 in July 2012 383 in Aug. 2011

42.8%

Trucks 109 in Aug. 2012 99 in July 2012 101 in Aug. 2011

7.9%

Source: Jefferson County Clerk’s Office

Passengers at Watertown International Airport

Open welfare cases in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties

3,788 inbound and outbound in Aug. 2012 3,579 inbound and outbound in July 2012 611 inbound and outbound in Aug. 2011

1,897 in Aug. 2012 1,864 in July 2012 1,859 in Aug. 2011

2.0%

519.9% Source: Jefferson County Board of Legislators

DBA (doing business under an assumed name) certificates filed at the Jefferson County Clerk’s office in September. For a complete list of DBAs filed in past months, visit us on the Web at WWW.NNYBIZMAG.COM.

Sept. 28: Whispering Maples Farm, 16380 Vanwormer Road, Mannsville, Dean C. Wheeler, 16380 Vanwormer Road, Mannsville.

Sept. 27: Keller’s Tool Sales, 310 Church St., Watertown, Kevin Keller, 310 Church St., Watertown.

Sept. 25: Autumns Last Fall, 644 Burlington St., Watertown, Natasha and Douglas Freeman, 644 Burlington St., Watertown.

Sept. 21: S&J MGMT, 628 Boyd St., Watertown, Sam Ratnaransy, 534 Pearl St., Watertown.

Back Bay Trading Post, 47828 Wagoner Park Road, Lot 20, Alexandria Bay, Keith Honaker, 47828 Wagoner Park Road, Lot 22, Alexandria Bay. KMK Welding, 32193 County Route 30, Philadelphia, James Kiah, 32193 County Route 30, Philadelphia.

Johnny D’s, 1 Public Square, Suite 11, Watertown, Robyn L. and David P. Bartlett, 14943 Route 178, Adams.

Sept. 20: CWIC industries, 20104 Ball Road, Black River, Carmin Donnelly, 20104 Ball Road, Black River.

CEA Monograms and Gifts, 331-C Quaker Ave., Philadelphia, Christina Anninos, 331-C Quaker Ave., Philadelphia.

Windows of Opportunity, 36788 State Route 12E, Clayton, Aileen Martin, 36788 State Route 12E, Clayton.

Sept. 19: Lew’s Place, 30919 Route 3, Felts Mills, Linda Jean Loomis, 30937 Route 3, Felts Mills.

Sail Ontario, 32349 County Route 29, Philadelphia, Brett Kessler, 32349 County Route 29, Philadelphia.

Sept. 18: Aaron’s Contracting Services, 29117 Perch Lake Road, Watertown, Aaron LaFlair, 29117 Perch Lake Road, Watertown.

Sept. 17: Sew What, 22285 County Route 47, Carthage, Jeanette A. Turner, 22285 County Route 47, Carthage.

Shannon’s Lunch Box, 109 Walter St., Dexter, Shannon L. Cota, 401 William St., P.O. Box 327, Dexter.

Trouble Shooters, 26730 State Route 3, Watertown, Britn T. haviland, 26730 State Route 3, Watertown, Ward A. Sampson III, 3767 County Route 87, Mannsville.

Leonard Rubyor General Contracting, 416 Moffett St., Watertown, Leonard Rubyor, 416 Moffett St., Watertown.

Dee’s Treasures, 8664 Church St., Evans Mills, Diane Fuller,

8664 Church St., P.O. Box 243, Evans Mills.

Sept. 14: Roger That, 27656 Depot St., Natural Bridge, Roger Wilken, 27656 Depot St., Natural Bridge.

Henderson Auto Part and Body, 25530 State Route 12, Watertown, James A. Henderson, 25530 State Route 12, Watertown.

AMA Photography, 19 Anderson Ave., Deferiet, Alicia M. Anderson, 19 Anderson Ave., P.O. Box 28, Deferiet.

Samiam, 242 James St., Clayton, Sam M. Scudera, 16175 County Route 3, Clayton.

Sept. 13: Brushstrokes, 125 Bowers Ave., Watertown, Tina M. Kilpatrick, 125 Bowers Ave., Watertown.

Sept. 12: Top Speed Contracting, 665 Olive St., Watertown, Apt. 1, Watertown, Scott M. Warner, 665 Olive St., Apt. 1, Watertown.

DM Motorsports, 26994 Perch Lake Road, Watertown, Michael P. Kirk, 26994 Perch Lake Road, Watertown.

Sept. 11: Stainless Steel Tattoo, 14 Bridge St., West Carthage, Richard Davis III, 17877 State Route 11, Watertown, Joshua Rapin, 832 Mill St., Watertown.

Sept. 7: Santa’s Magical Playground, 22040 Lane Road, Watertown, Floyd W. Roberts III, 22040 Lane Road, Watertown.

Superior Grill and Fountain Service, 274 State St., Carthage, James G. Costes, 24701 County Route 54, Dexter.

Superior Restaurant, 274 State St., Carthage, James G. Costes, 24701 County Route 54, Dexter.

Peter R. Davis, 34000 State Route 180, P.O. Box 152, LaFargeville, Peter R. Davis, 34000 State Route 180, P.O. Box 152, LaFargeville.

Step into the New You, 8848 County Route 5, Chaumont, Jennifer Docteur, 8848 County Route 5, Chaumont.

DM Trucking Services, 28884 Old Town Springs Road, Chaumont, Davis L. McCaw Sr., 28884 Old Town Springs Road, Chaumont.

Sept. 6: Peters, 328 S. Rutland St., Watertown, Michael Raneri, 328 S. Rutland St., Watertown.

First Strike Comics, 25250 Bush Road, Calcium, Josh L. Hagen, 25250 Bush Road, Calcium.

Sept. 5: Time N Again Treasures, 605 Coffeen St., Watertown, Kimberly A. Allen, 111 Ward St., Watertown.

TRANSACTIONS

DBAs

Source: Social Service Depts. of Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties

October 2012 | NNY Business

| 11

BUSINESS BRIEFCASE and Hopkinton, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new tasting room on Sept. 22, hosted by the Potsdam Chamber of Commerce.

The tasting room is open from 3 to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays. In addition to High Peaks Wine, the tasting rooms sells wine racks, bottle stoppers and bottle openers surrounded by works from artist Marion Bradish of Riverflow Studio. Visit www.highpeakswinery.com to learn more.

Firm to retrofit former racquet club PHOTO COURTESY POTSDAM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Back row, from left, Chip Morris, Rob Bicknell, Lyndsay Macagg, Kevin Blanchard, Dave Crowell, Jennifer Blanchard, Sharlene Penny. Front row, from left, Ella Blanchard, Jessica Blanchard and Joanne Fisher.

Potsdam florist nominated for award

The Potsdam Chamber of Commerce nominated Willow Tree Florist and Landscaping, 7580 Route 11, for its 2012 Pride in Potsdam award.

The business was nominated in 2010, the first year the award was presented. Marylee Ballou, Chamber of Commerce executive director, cited renovations to the front of the building and opening of an artisan’s shop that features work from local artists, as a few reasons for the business’s nomination.

Stebbins Engineering and Manufacturing Co. plans to convert the former Watertown Health & Racquet Club, 431 Eastern Blvd., into a storage building for construction equipment. The company recently purchased the racquet club and three acres of land from Chester F. and Nancy P. Gray, Watertown, for $700,000.

Agency acquires New England firm

Rose & Kiernan Inc., one of the 65 largest insurance agencies in the United States, has announced its acquisition of Babcock & Helliwell Inc., one of New England’s premier insurance brokerage and risk management consulting firms.

Babcock & Helliwell Inc. was founded in Wakefield, R.I., in 1892 and maintains two offices in southern Rhode Island.

Rose & Kiernan Inc., which has a Watertown office at 148 Washington St., is a 110-year-old firm headquartered in East Greenbush and employs 190 in 11 offices throughout New York and Connecticut.

Hart Hearing slates Nov. 1 opening

Hart Hearing Centers will open its newest practice in Watertown at 20255 Arsenal St. Nov. 1. Drs. Stephen T. Hart and Peter W. Hart will staff the office.

Dr. Stephen T. Hart founded Hart Hearing more than 35 years ago in Rochester and has grown the practice to five locations in the Rochester area. The Watertown office will be the sixth for Hart hearing. It will specialize in diagnostic evaluation and rehabilitation of persons with hearing loss, tinnitus and pediatric audiology.

PHOTO COURTESY POTSDAM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Back row, from left, Craig Chevalier, Chris and Shelia Whalen, Lyle Newman, and Jeremy Johnston. Front row, from left, Tara Johnston, Dave Crowell, Matt Whalen, Jessica McPherson, Tracy Tuttle, Carrie Sequin and Cheryl Lattimer.

High Peaks Winery opens tasting room

High Peaks Winery, 2422 State Highway 72, between Parishville

12 |

NNY Business | October 2012

Manufacturer honors Gouverneur roofer Carlisle SynTec Systems, a manufacturer of single-ply roofing materials, recently named RSI Roofing Inc., Gouverneur, a recipient of its 2012 Perfection Award.

The Perfection Award, determined by historical installation

Got business news?

n Share your business news with NNY Business. Email news releases and photos (.jpg/300 dpi) to nnybusiness@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.

quality metrics, recognizes Carlisle’s most dedicated and quality-minded authorized contractors. The award is a distinction that recognizes the top 5 percent of Carlisle’s contractors annually.

Clarkson entrepreneur program top in country

Clarkson University’s entrepreneurship program has been ranked one of the top 15 programs in the nation, according to the Princeton Review and Entrepreneur Magazine.

The two named Clarkson to the 2013 list of “Top Undergraduate Schools for Entrepreneurship Programs.” The annual lists are based on surveys of business school administrators at nearly 2,000 schools and chose 25 undergraduate and 25 graduate programs.

Carthage businesses named for awards

The Carthage Area Chamber of Commerce has made its selections for its annual business awards.

The small-business award goes to José O’Connor’s, the West Carthage bar and restaurant formerly known as Keddy’s.

Christman Fuel Service, a familyowned and operated heating fuel, diesel fuel and propane distribution company, earned retail service business honors.

The professional service award goes to Country Manor Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Centre. Established in 2004, the center provides long- and short-term rehabilitation as well as end-of-life services.

Pleasant Night Inn received the hospitality award, while Carthage Lions and Leo clubs were selected for the nonprofit organization award.

The Village Ecumenical Ministries Food Pantry received a special award for community outreach.

The chamber’s business awards dinner is slated for Oct. 24 at Carthage Elks Lodge 1762, 511 Fulton St. Call the Elks, 493-1762, or the chamber, 493-3590, for reservations.

October 2012 | NNY Business

| 13

Homes such as this one in high-demand areas like Watertown’s Paddock and Ten Eyck streets are selling more quickly than in recent years as the region continues to see sustainable recovery and growth in its real estate sector.

AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS

Real estate and its

steady

climb to the top

On heels of national recession, north country home market sees stability, increased strength

R

B y KYLE R. HAYES

RENEWEDOPTIMISMISPERCOLATING in Northern New York’s real estate sector and Realtors are excited.

After more than five years of watching national home sales plummet and U.S. foreclosure rates rocket to historic highs, it has become evident that the north country’s real estate market has some top-notch insulation, especially in Jefferson County where an uptick in the single-family home market is most evident. Realtors throughout the county are noticing, and they’re singing the praises of a steady market with increasing demand for homes in the north country.

“I find the recession interesting because when you see what’s happening around the country, I keeping thinking that we are lucky to be where we are,” Lisa A. L’Huillier, broker-owner of Watertown’s Hefferon Real Estate, said. “In our county, we are not seeing as many foreclosures as other areas, which is positive. The unemployment rate is always steady, and we can attribute a lot of jobs to Fort Drum, the Air Brake, Stream, all of those big

and

KEN EYSAMAN | NNY BUSINESS

businesses that have settled here.”

Ms. L’Huillier, who has been a Realtor in Northern New York for 22 years, said that in other markets, big industries such as New York Air Brake, are what people depend on to drive business. Without those industries, stores wouldn’t be opening and homes wouldn’t be selling.

Much of the protection for the Jefferson County market stems from Fort Drum, according to Ms. L’Huiller; although, she’s not alone in that thinking.

“Fort Drum is obviously the biggest factor,” said Christopher Palmer, brokerowner of Brite Orange Realty in Evans Mills. “The numbers that I have heard, we have 350 people a month moving with Fort Drum, and about 25 percent of them buy homes. For a little area like Jefferson County, that’s a lot of transactions each month. That’s really good for us.”

Fort Drum’s impact on the market is two-fold, Ms. L’Huillier said. Not only are Army soldiers and their families purchasing and moving into homes, but they are driving the need for rental housing, and

thus rental prices, higher.

“People, both local people and the military, are finding that a mortgage payment can be less than rent,” Ms. L’Huillier said. “We are still getting a lot of first-time homebuyers. Some of them are being pushed out of where they’re renting because their landlords are finding they can get more for rental income” Even with major projects like Creekwood Apartments and Beaver Meadows, both located in the Watertown area, seeking to add rental housing, the decision to buy or rent is still there.

“Some of the new places that are being developed to fill the void in terms of rental shortage have rents in excess of $900 or $1,000 a month,” Ms. L’Huillier said. “People are asking why they’d pay that in rent if they could have the benefits of owning their own home.”

Mr. Palmer notes that homebuyers realize the long-term incentive that owning a home in the north country real estate market provides.

“People know that the military is October 2012 | NNY Business

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COVER STORY N.Y. State residential real estate sales / 5-year look

SALES

MEDIAN $ CHANGE

YEAR 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007

72,058 74,970 78,352 80,251 94,884

$212,500 $214,000 $210,000 $210,000 $235,000

—0.70 1.90 none

—10.64 —4.16

Source: N.Y. State Association of Realtors

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NNY Business | October 2012

going to be here, so even if people are moving they will opt to keep their home here,” Mr. Palmer said. “They can then lease and rent that property to people. I run into quite a few members of the military who do just that. They leave the area but keep a property here because they know there will be demand for it.”

In the communities that surround his office in Evans Mills, Mr. Palmer said there seems to be a shortage of homes to sell. He has a list of buyers he works with,

but has a tough time finding properties to fit their needs.

“If you are looking in the $130,000 range in the Indian River School District, it’s just crap,” he said. “I drive around in Evans Mills or Philadelphia and there probably aren’t five homes for sale in either town. People who work on Fort Drum, or around Fort Drum, want to live in that school district but there’s no inventory. I drive through Watertown and I’m amazed at the inventory that’s available.”

COVER STORY Ms. L’Huillier agreed. She noted that in Watertown, she sees a lot of inventory come on the market in desirable locations like Ten Eyck Street.

“We’ve been complaining that we needed more listings because our properties have been selling so quickly,” she said.

“That’s been a problem with some brokers.

Their stuff is selling and they need new inventory. Sometimes the only things that are out there aren’t marketable.”

The median price for a single-family home sold in 2011 was $146,900, which is a 126 percent increase from nearly a decade earlier in 2002. The median price of single-family homes sold by members of the Jefferson County Board of Realtors is at an all-time high.

“In my ‘portion’ of the market outside of Fort Drum, we are looking at $170,000 and up as the ideal selling price,” Mr. Palmer said. “Good quality, lower-priced homes are hard to come by.”

Ms. L’Huillier said that homes in the Watertown area priced at about $150,000 consistently garner the most interest.

“The Black River market has always been popular,” she said. “I had a double wide on Andrews Road [in Black River] that two or three years ago we couldn’t move, so the sellers rented it out. This year they put it back on the market and within three weeks we had three agents with three offers and it sold for $500 less than asking price.”

Single-family home sales in Jefferson County are on a slow climb from 2008, when sales dropped nearly 33 percent from the year before, according to the Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors. That same year, the national real estate market started its all-time worst slide as the

Home sales ’02-11

Jefferson County

126%

Median price

10.58% Home sales St. Lawrence County

4.14%

Median price

16.25% Home sales

Source: Jefferson-Lewis / St. Lawrence County boards of Realtors

country began to enter a recession that drastically impacted the real estate market. Sales reached a high point in Jefferson County in 2005, with 1,244 single-family homes sold that year. In 2011, 878 homes were sold, a five-year high.

Mr. Palmer, who started selling real estate in 2004, noted that a bountiful real estate market has a visible economic impact in other industries, such as construction.

“New home builds around post are selling almost as fast as they are finished,” he said. “That not only affects me, as a Realtor, but contractors and people who build new homes [as well]. I have a friend, Scott Brown, and all he does is hang drywall. He’s never got a day off, he just has so much work to do and these contractors are just busy all the time.”

Mr. Palmer said most homeowners like the idea of newly built homes because it

means there are typically fewer problems than older homes on the market.

“Nothing that is new construction sits on the market too long. If it’s done, if it’s finished, it’s sold,” Mr. Palmer said. n

n

n

In St. Lawrence County, statistics tell a similar story of the real estate market, though the state’s most sprawling county boasts a smaller population and overall housing inventory than its neighbor to the south.

Since 2002, the county has seen ups and downs in both the number of properties sold and in its median price, but not to the extreme of “peaks-and valleys,” explained Jennifer Stevenson, president of the St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors and broker-owner of Ogdensburg-based Blue Heron Realty.

“We’ve seen steady, stable growth with what I call a few rolling hills,” she said.

Last year, the median price of singlefamily homes sold by members of the St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors was $78,500, down slightly from a 10-year high of $80,000 the year before, and up just 4.14 percent from 2002. An analysis of the most recent five years reveals a gain in median price of 4.67 percent, a figure consistent with the 10-year gain and a sign that the local real estate market is enjoying relative stability, Ms. Stevenson said.

The number of St. Lawrence County homes has seen some fluctuation in the past 10 years, but not as widely as in Jefferson County. Last year, members of the county’s board of Realtors posted 644 single-family home sales, compared with 658 the year before and 585 in 2009. In the past 10 years, county home sales

October 2012 | NNY Business

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NNY Business | October 2012

COVER STORY have grown by 16.25 percent from 554 sales recorded in 2002. But the road to that positive growth in sales hasn’t been a steady year-over-year climb. For example, the high point in sales came in 2004, with 795 homes recorded. In the five years that followed the county’s 10-year high, home sales gradually fell to 585 in 2009, the second lowest in a decade, a pattern that, toward its end, Ms. Stevenson attributed to the effects of the national recession that hit the housing market particularly hard in many markets.

“It’s a careful market. Properties have to be priced appropriately for them to sell,” she said.

Ms. Stevenson noted an increase in the number of St. Lawrence County buyers “moving up” into larger homes as one recent trend that is helping to move homes at many different price points. When a buyer moves from an entry-level home to a midlevel home or larger and in turn, mid-level home dwellers move to still larger homes, it keeps what she called the “move-up purchasing cycle” going and ultimately opens up inventory for new first-time buyers.

“Move-up buyers are a very strong part of the market in St. Lawrence County,” she said. “And that helps move properties at ever-increasing price points.”

Smart lending practices in a region where most mortgages are held by smaller, community banks also has helped buoy the housing market from the rough seas that other regions of the country experienced at the height of the recession.

“We’re very lucky to have a larger number of community banks that are not putting homebuyers into a position to get stretched,” Ms. Stevenson said. “North country banks are not putting people in homes they can’t afford in the first place.”

Residential real estate sales / 10-year snapshot

YEAR 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002

JEFFERSON COUNTY SALES MEDIAN $ CHANGE 878 874 867 848 1,127 1,025 1,244 1,152 780 794

$146,900 $139,000 $139,000 $134,000 $125,000 $115,000 $92,700 $76,000 $68,900 $65,000

5.68% none

3.73% 7.20% 8.70% 24.06% 21.97% 10.30% 6.00% n/a

ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY SALES MEDIAN $ CHANGE 644 658 585 616 675 732 773 795 629 554

$78,500 $80,000 $73,000 $79,975 $75,000 $71,000 $64,000 $61,000 $75,500 $75,380

—1.88% 9.59% —8.72% 6.63% 5.63% 10.94% 4.92% —19.21% 0.16% n/a

Source: Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors, St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors

Foreclosure data on the north country more than supports her observation.

At the end of last year St. Lawrence County had only three foreclosures filed in the month of December, or one in every 16,887 homes and Jefferson County had two, or one in every 28,893 homes. In Lewis County, the smallest in terms of real estate activity, there were no foreclosure actions filed in the month of December.

While the majority of analysis NNY Business completed focused on Jefferson and St. Lawrence Counties, Lewis County also has managed relative stability in both home sales and median price. In the mostly rural, agrarian county where large tracts of farmland dot the landscape, home sales in 2011 went from 133 to 135 while the median price fell from $115,000 to $108,000, a 5.26 percent dip. The year before, the Lewis County’s median home price surged 15 percent climbing from $100,000, while sales fell from 152 to 145.

On what the region might see in the coming months and years, most real estate professionals agree that positive trends in sales, price and value will continue. As to what is driving those trends across the north country, Ms. Stevenson, a real estate professional with nearly 25 years of local market experience, says it’s a mix of alltime low interest rates, confidence being restored in the economy and the simple fact that people see a greater value in buying versus renting.

“There are a lot of market forces in play that aren’t necessarily geographically dependent,” she said. “Compared to when I started in 1988 when interest rates were near 11 and 12 percent, now is an incredible time to buy. And let’s not forget, homeownership still is the American Dream.” n KYLE R. HAYES is associate magazine editor for NNY Business. Contact him at khayes@wdt. net or 661-2381. Ken Eysaman is editor for NNY Business. Contact him at keysaman@wdt. net or 661-2399.

October 2012 | NNY Business

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COVER STORY

W

e searched for 10 of the most expensive homes in Northern New York as listed in the Multiple Listing Service. With an average price if $1.4 million, you could get into a top-10 home for just $875,000. Here’s a look at what we found:

ADDRESS: County Route 57, Three Mile Bay LISTING AGENT: Katherine Couch, EXIT More Real Estate YEAR BUILT: 2007 SIZE: 4,650-square-foot home with four bedrooms and four bathrooms on a 4.4 acre lot.

OUTSTANDING FEATURES: This custom-built home on Lake Ontario waterfront with 400 feet of sand beach features a two-story foyer overlooking the living and family rooms each with double-height stone fireplaces. The home also features a gourmet eat-in kitchen, four bathrooms with spa amenities and dual staircases.

ASKING PRICE: $2.7 million

ADDRESS: 19289 Rock Baie Road, Wellesley Island

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NNY Business | October 2012

LISTING AGENT: Glen Gould, Century 21 Millennium Realty YEAR BUILT: 1988 SIZE: 4,960-square-foot home with five bedrooms and six-and-a-half bathrooms on a 50 acre lot.

OUTSTANDING FEATURES: Nestled on 50 private acres of land, this contemporary waterfront home features a double staircase with a double wood-burning fireplace in the great room.

The home has 1,500-square-feet of panoramic views of Lake of the Isles and a family room with three glass walls for prime outdoor viewing.

ASKING PRICE: $1.95 million

ADDRESS: 48524 Ina Island, Alexandria Bay LISTING AGENT: Cathy Garlock, Garlock Realty YEAR BUILT: 1895 SIZE: 7,668-square-foot home with 18 bedrooms and 14 bathrooms on a two-acre private island.

OUTSTANDING FEATURES: With original woodwork throughout, this St. Lawrence River home comes with its own private island equipped with a tennis court, gazebo and stone seawalls. Complete with a wraparound enclosed porch, the home features 360 degrees of river views with deep water dockage.

ASKING PRICE: $1,899,999.

ADDRESS: 19496 Peel Dock Road, Wellesley Island LISTING AGENT: Jack Stopper, Prudential 1,000 Realty YEAR BUILT: 1958 SIZE: 2,499-square-foot home with three bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms on a

one-half acre lot.

OUTSTANDING FEATURES: This property’s wall of windows overlook the main shipping channel of the St. Lawrence Seaway and are just feet away from the Thousand Islands Bridge. With an open-concept living area that was built in 2010, this home has vaulted ceilings, a double fireplace and gourmet kitchen with granite countertops. The property also features a dock area that’s steps away from the house with two boat lifts.

ADDRESS: 7441 State Route 12E, Chaumont LISTING AGENT: Marcie Travers, Thousand Island Realty YEAR BUILT: 2007 SIZE: 3,370-square-foot home with four bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms on more than 328 acres.

OUTSTANDING FEATURES: A log home located on prime hunting, fishing and farm land is situated on a licensed shooting preserve with water views, an apple orchard and duck pond.

The home has a custom kitchen with atrium doors, an office, reading room, wine tasting

COVER STORY room, walk-in cedar closets and an open loft space overlooking the living area.

ASKING PRICE: $1.3 million

ADDRESS: Manhattan Island, Alexandria Bay LISTING AGENT: Cathy Garlock, Garlock Realty YEAR BUILT: 1870 SIZE: 4,600-square-foot home with six bedrooms and four bathrooms on an acre of land.

OUTSTANDING FEATURES: This private island features 750 feet of rock shoreline with views of the main shipping channel of the St. Lawrence River and Boldt Castle. The home itself has 12-foot high ceilings, original woodwork and hardwood floors throughout with a butler pantry with wet bar off the kitchen. Features of the island include 80 feet of dockage in a protected harbor, perfect for larger boats and swimming.

ASKING PRICE: $1.195 million

ADDRESS: 14195 County Route 123, Henderson Harbor LISTING AGENT: William Elliott, Elliott Realty

YEAR BUILT: 1915 SIZE: 2,516-square-foot home with eight bedrooms and three bathrooms on a four acre lot.

OUTSTANDING FEATURES: This home on the main road in and out of Henderson Harbor features 250 feet of Lake Ontario waterfront, with views of the harbor and its pristine sunsets.

The home also has deep water dockage and an expansive boathouse with multiple slips for boats and jet skis.

ASKING PRICE: $979,000 ceilings, a double-sided fireplace and a cherry cabinet-lined kitchen. The entryway features a lit fountain, while the home features an office, bar area, pool room with gambling table and a massive back deck with water views.

ASKING PRICE: $890,000

ADDRESS: Imperial Isle, Alexandria Bay LISTING AGENT: Matt Garlock, Garlock Realty YEAR BUILT: 1972 SIZE: 1,000-square-foot home with two bedrooms and two bathrooms on an acre private island.

OUTSTANDING FEATURES: Once the site of a castle, Imperial Isle is neighbor island to Boldt Castle and located on prime real estate along Millionaire’s Row. The entire island is surrounded by granite seawalls with custom masonry along the dockside. The home itself features a fireplace and a largely open design.

ASKING PRICE: $899,000 ADDRESS: 15981 Military Road, Sackets Harbor LISTING AGENT: Jeff Powell, RE/MAX Empire Realty YEAR BUILT: 2002 SIZE: 5,220 square feet on nearly three acres with three bedrooms and two-anda-half bathrooms.

OUTSTANDING FEATURES: This modern home has an open floor plan with 23-foot

ADDRESS: 402 General Smith Drive, Sackets Harbor LISTING AGENT: Katherine Couch, EXIT More Real Estate YEAR BUILT: 1819 SIZE: 5,594-square-foot home with nine bedrooms and six-and-a-half bathrooms on an acre of land.

OUTSTANDING FEATURES: This Georgianstyle home plays a historic role in the story of Sackets Harbor. Currently a bed and breakfast, the property features brick archways and a two story veranda. With original appointments along the multiple fireplaces and landscaped lawns and outdoor pathways, this home has been renovated and restored to its former glory dating back almost two centuries.

ASKING PRICE: $875,000

October 2012 | NNY Business

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F E AT U R E S

JASON HUNTER | NNY BUSINESS

Triple A Building Center employee Randy R. Richards shows Castlerock Paneling to a customer at Triple A Building Center in Massena.

Add value to your investment

Simple upgrades, quality materials net biggest return

By KYLE R. HAYES

T

Associate Editor

hinking about installing a garden tub in the bathroom?

Forget about it.

Contemplating turning the garage into additional living space? Don’t bother.

When renovating a home, or building a new one, local contractors and real estate agents would agree: make simple upgrades with high-quality materials.

“What most of our customers are looking for is a low-maintenance home,” Brandon J. Cavellier, of Extreme Builders Inc., said. “People want to enjoy their home, not spend all of their time taking care of it.”

Mr. Cavellier said that in his experience at Extreme Builders, interest in new home building has increased in the last two years. He said that the Watertown-based

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NNY Business | October 2012

firm takes on more than two dozen projects a year, many of which are new home builds or major renovation projects. “[Interest in new building] I think has increased because people in this area that have lived in the same home for years have built up equity in their home,” he said. “Instead of taking that equity and putting it back into their old homes, they’re putting it into new homes where they have nothing to worry about, everything is new and done the way they want.”

Having quality products in a home, especially a newly built home, is important to Mr. Cavellier’s customers. He noted that he has seen increasing interest in customers looking for upgraded windows and siding and looking at superior options for flooring.

“We are still doing a lot of stainless steel appliances and granite countertops,” he said. “A good amount of people are going

with higher-end laminate flooring too, in addition to traditional hardwood flooring.

We are probably doing about 50 percent laminate and 50 percent hardwood now.”

Appointments such as granite countertops and hardwood flooring are driving sales at north country building centers as well. At Triple A Building Centers in Canton, Potsdam and Massena, Marketing Director John D. Schneider said that trends in purchasing follow what customers see on television.

“The current trends that people are seeing, like granite countertops, even concrete countertops and tile, are in demand,” Mr. Schneider said. “There seems to be more interest in lighting, more decor. Of course, our kitchen and bath sales have been moderate to strong.”

Mr. Schneider said that, as of late, there has been a renewed demand from customers looking for products to renovate the homes they have lived in for several

F E AT U R E S years. The materials that Triple A offers for home remodels are selling swiftly.

“We are starting to see business pick up and we are pinning that on the fact that it’s pent up demand,” Mr. Schneider said, referring to the downturn in the economy and housing market when homeowners might not have had extra cash to spend on home renovations.

Mr. Schneider said that lumber sales are always strong in his stores. Kitchen and bath renovations remain popular,

“

mainstays in a home, like a garage space, that most buyers expect.

“Finishing off [the interior of] a garage I don’t think adds that much value,” he said. “I like, personally, having a little extra money spent on garage doors, something with windows and style to make it pop. Even adding sconces on the outside of the garage kicks it up a notch.”

Mr. Abbey, who has been a real estate broker since 1975, said that the market currently demands at least two bedrooms

and bathrooms in a home. Unless a home is large enough, in terms of squarefootage, adding bedrooms won’t bring a return on investment. Even in large homes, more than four bedrooms are a bit excessive for the current marketplace and demand for homes with four or more bedrooms is low, he said. n KYLE R. HAYES is associate magazine editor for NNY Business. Contact him at khayes@wdt. net or 661-2381.

We are starting to see business pick up and we are pinning that on the fact that it’s pent-up demand.

— John D. Schneider, Triple A Building Centers

because they are where people “add more value, there is more bang for your buck,” he said.

Although, is that true? Does having a well-maintained kitchen and bath help with resale value?

If you ask Realtor Roger L. Abbey, owner and principal broker of Good Morning Realty in Lowville, the answer is “yes.” However, kitchen and baths are not the only answers to getting money in a resale.

“Buyers are looking for homes that are in good condition, that don’t have a lot of repair items,” Mr. Abbey said. “More so because the investment money is a little tighter than it was before, at least that’s my take on it.”

Mr. Abbey stressed the importance of having furnishings, fixtures and floor plans that are appropriate for a certain home.

“If you have a $100,000 home and you’re thinking of putting in a Jacuzzi tub in the master bathroom, that’s not going to make you extra money in resale,” he said. “Sometimes people think they’ll get more out of the improvements, but they should consider what the home is. If you want more value for your dollar, you should sell that house and move yourself up to one where you’d expect to find the improvements you want.”

Mr. Abbey noted that there are certain

TAX & FINANCE DIRECTORY

October 2012 | NNY Business

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F E AT U R E S

Third-generation realty firm thrives

Lake Ontario Realty blends family, business through the years

By JOLEENE DesROSIERS MOODY

H NNY Business

opkins Homes Realty in Watertown may be no more.

Though, fret not, because the same quality customer service can be found down the road in Chaumont at Lake Ontario Realty. Hopkins broker Beth E. Hopkins decided after two decades to hang up her hat as a real estate broker/owner, and instead play the role of real estate agent.

“No longer acting as an owner takes a lot of different administrative pressures off of me,” Mrs. Hopkins said. “And I’m fine with that. I believe that brokers should shift gears when they recognize it’s time. Ownership of an agency doesn’t define you as an agent.

And I get so many more listings this way.”

Mrs. Hopkins is very familiar with her current broker. It’s her daughter-in-law, Amanda J. Miller. Ms. Miller is married to Mrs. Hopkins’s son, Lucas A. So family is never far away, even at the office.

Ms. Miller’s mother, Gail Miller, is also an agent at Lake Ontario Realty. It proved to be an interesting situation when Mr. Hopkins and Amanda started dating. But it didn’t hinder the family from folding Hopkins Homes into Lake Ontario Realty two years ago.

“My son Lucas worked for me at Hopkins, but was married to Amanda,” Mrs. Hopkins recalled. “Amanda and I started talking about her taking on Hopkins Realty a little over two years ago.

She decided she didn’t want

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AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS

Amanda Miller, left, and Beth Hopkins relax in a chair in front of their office space in Chaumont. The women are not only in-laws, but business partners after merging Hopkins Homes with Lake Ontario Realty.

to take over the business. So we talked about dissolving Hopkins into Lake Ontario Realty and that’s where we are right now.”

For Ms. Miller, the biggest challenge she faces working with her mother, husband and mother-in-law, is keeping how she treats family separate from how she works with professionals.

“I think the biggest chal-

NNY Business | October 2012

lenge is knowing that some people think I treat family differently because they are family. But I don’t,” she said.

“We’ve been able to create a great business together, no doubt. But family or not, every agent is treated the same.”

Ms. Miller is a young, driven professional who was eager to take on the challenge of the merge. Sales are in her blood.

She developed sales knowl-

edge and skills by selling Avon cosmetics and Herbalife. When she realized she didn’t want to work for anyone else, she dove into the world of real estate, having a baby and meeting Mr. Hopkins along the way.

“I had a child early in life and recognized quickly that the best way to manage a child and a career was to be self-employed,” Ms. Miller said. “I started 11 years ago by answering an ad for a broker opening in Chaumont. I checked it out and that’s how it began. Eventually I broke out on my own. I had worked so hard to build Lake Ontario Realty, I didn’t want to give it up. Beth understood that. So we decided to dissolve Hopkins into my office and here we are.”

Business is good. Experience is plentiful. Houses are selling and listings are up. But don’t ask Ms. Miller what the market is like when the news starts spouting rising interest rates in a shaky housing market.

She says the market is always erratic and how a house sells hinges on a lot more than what is reported in the news.

“This is the question that bothers me most,” Ms. Miller said. “The market is unpredictable. There are good months and there are bad months. There are good areas and bad areas. When clients ask how the market is, I just can’t answer that. It’s different in every township, no matter what is happening the next town over.”

Mrs. Hopkins is enjoying how her days as an agent unfold, and touts her clients as her reason for continuing in the real estate business. She

F E AT U R E S watched her father start Hopkins Realty in 1974. In 1994, she took the reins as broker/owner. Now she’s watching Ms. Miller take the helm. The key to success in real estate, Mrs. Hopkins said, is to be trustworthy and honest.

“

When clients ask how the market is, I just can’t answer that. It’s different in every township, no matter what is happening in the next town over.

— Amanda J. Miller, broker/ owner, Lake Ontario Realty

“We have testimony from clients not about sale prices and good negotiations, but about how they were grateful to work with someone they could trust,” Mrs. Hopkins said. “Almost every letter we have talks about the level of trust the client felt with us. I really believe trust is what makes us so successful.”

As of the end of September, Lake Ontario Realty had 185 listings on the market. Their primary footprint is Jefferson County, but they also handle listings outside of the county. Ms. Miller said sales would drop over the next few months as fall brings on colder weather. n JOLEENE DESROSIERS MOODY is a freelance writer, author and motivational speaker who lives in Pulaski. Contact her at joleene@ joleenespeaks.com.

October 2012 | NNY Business

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F E AT U R E S

AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS

Anthony G. Netto sits at a dining room table that he sometimes uses as a desk at A.G. Netto Real Estate Services.

The great balancing act

Netto Real Estate Services offers appraiser, Realtor services

By JOLEENE DesROSIERS MOODY

S

NNY Business

ome brokers say it’s unethical.

Others say working as both a broker and an appraiser makes them more knowledgeable.

No matter how you look at it, Anthony G. Netto of Netto’s Real Estate Services Inc. said he will always look at it through the eyes of the customer.

“I think the interaction with buyers and sellers helps me in the appraisal process,” Mr. Netto said. “It doesn’t matter what I think or feel about a particular property.

What’s important is to reflect the market.

Being a broker has enabled me to look at both sides of it more.”

Mr. Netto said he wears two separate hats, one as the chief appraiser with his

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NNY Business | October 2012

company, Upstate Appraisal Associates, and the other with A.G. Netto Realty as a real estate broker. The realty office opened in 2006. He said he is an appraiser first, and has been since 1985. He started his business at his dining room table on Massey Street in Watertown. Zoning maps replaced wallpaper and the table was an endless mound of maps. Mr. Netto was still using 34 mm pictures and rub-on graphics when he did appraisals. But at the time, being an appraiser was just what the north country needed.

“I was a mortgage officer when I left a bank job to start my own appraisal company. There was a real need in the mid‘80s for appraisers in the area,” he said.

The area was booming with the arrival of Fort Drum and with a burst in popula-

tion comes the need for housing. David Knowlton is a licensed real estate agent with Mr. Netto. He’s been selling real estate for almost seven years, and believes Fort Drum is the primary driver when it comes to real estate in the north country.

“We are fortunate to have Fort Drum,” he said. “Because of Fort Drum, our real estate market has been substantially stable for all of that time. And with the constant turnover of Fort Drum personnel, it keeps our real estate market active.”

And active, it is. Mr. Netto has roughly 12 of his own listings with A.G. Netto.

That means he juggles the possible sale of these properties as a Realtor, while maintaining his full-time position as chief appraiser. There is no one else. Some w-ould say his “two-hats” job creates conflict of

F E AT U R E S interest. Mr. Netto said the duel position is not unethical, so long as the broker doesn’t mix with the appraisal process.

“There’s only a conflict of interest if I have an interest in the outcome of the appraisal,” Mr. Netto said. “We keep that part separate from our real estate business. It is not considered unethical to do both. I’ve have done it in the past at the insistence of the client, but we don’t encourage it. We try to stay away from that as much as possible because of the implication of conflict of interest.”

To better illustrate the growth of the real estate industry in the north country, Mr. Knowlton said that in 1986, there were approximately 57 licensed Realtors with the Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors. Today, the board confirms there are 340 licensed Realtors associated with the board.

“After Fort Drum arrived, a $50,000 home could sell for $100,000 after improvements,” Mr. Knowlton said. “The market here is very good. Fort Drum drives our whole economy, whether it’s retail, commercial or wholesale businesses.”

Despite what others may think of combined real estate and appraisal service like Mr. Netto’s, he said at the end of the day, it’s all about trust.

“Those in my profession survive as appraisers because they rely on public trust.

Therefore we don’t violate our standards of our profession. We don’t cross any lines; we keep them separate.” n JOLEENE DESROSIERS MOODY is a freelance writer, author and motivational speaker who lives in Pulaski. Contact her at joleene@ joleenespeaks.com.

October 2012 | NNY Business

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F E AT U R E S

Left, Reimann Wholesale Inc. owners Paul C. and Martha T. James next to one of their company’s delivery trucks.

The firm celebrates 50 years in business this year. Opposite page, the first truck Reimann Wholesale purchased in 1962.

NORM JOHNSTON | NNY BUSINESS

A ‘wise’ business move

Reimann Wholesale marks 50 years of snack food distribution

By NORAH MACHIA

S

NNY Business

everal numbers can be used to tell the success story of Reimann Wholesale Inc., a Watertown-based snack food distributor celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

The company supplies more than 600 different snack items, including potato chips, pretzels, popcorn, breakfast bars, beef jerky, salsa and tortillas.

It distributes products from 25 manufacturers, such as Wise, Cape Cod, Kellogg’s, Herr’s, Bachman, Snyder’s, Archway and Terrell’s.

There are more than 550 accounts that are served by Reimann Wholesale throughout Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties, including major supermarkets, convenience stores, independent stores, restaurants, golf courses and even school districts.

It’s all done with 15 employees and 10 trucks, under the direction of owners Paul C. and Martha T. James. The operation is run from their main office and warehouse

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NNY Business | October 2012

at 25063 Water St., across from the Jefferson County SPCA. “We deal primarily with snacks, candies, dried meats,” said Mr. James. “We stick with what we know.”

Reimann Wholesale Inc. also has two satellite warehouses in Potsdam.

The company “has a great group of employees. Some have been with us for more than 20 years,” he added.

The snack distribution business is not simply a matter of loading food items onto a truck and dropping them off at a store or restaurant, Mr. James said.

It involves constant interaction with clients to determine which items are selling fast, and which items spend too much time on the shelves.

The business has to continually meet the seasonal demands of customers.

For example, it’s not uncommon to see an increase in demand for pork rinds during the month of January, when many people resolve to lose weight and start a low-carb diet, said Mrs. James.

Some “hot and spicy” snack items are more popular in businesses near Fort Drum, which cater to military and family

members from other parts of the country where those types of snacks are more popular.

Changes in the snack food market in recent years include a large increase in demand for healthy alternatives, such as baked chips, and also for gluten-free products, Mr. James said.

For example, most school districts request “healthy” snacks with less than seven grams of fat. And nearly all brands of Wise Potato Chips are now “gluten free.”

“Customers definitely want more variety,” Mr. James said.

Edward J. Valentine, owner of Valentine Stores, Watertown, operates 13 convenience stores throughout the north country, with two more scheduled to open before the end of the year.

Mr. Valentine has been a customer of Reimann Wholesale Inc. since 1995, when he opened his first store in Brownville.

Mr. James “has his pulse on his business and his customers,” said Mr. Valentine.

There is definitely seasonal demand for certain snack items, such as an increase in beef jerky sales during hunting season,

F E AT U R E S

said Mr. Valentine. Reimann Wholesale has been able to keep ahead of those changes, he said.

Mr. Valentine credits Mr. James for going “above and beyond” to set up displays and shelving to display the products inside his stores.

“We work very well together,” Mr. Valentine said. “We’re both small business owners and share the same goals and concerns.”

Mr. and Mrs. James purchased the business from Gary Reimann in 2001, but decided not to change its name. Mr. James had worked with Mr. Reimann for a few years prior to get to know the business, so “the customers didn’t know the difference. It was a seamless transition when we took over,” he said.

It was Mr. Reimann who had approached Mr. James to ask if he would be interested in taking over the business when he retired.

The two men had known each other for several years. Mr. James had been working as a national sales manager for Keebler products on the East Coast and was a supplier to Reimann Wholesalers.

Mrs. James came into the business with

a 15-year grocery store background and five years of auditing experience. The couple had been living in Cortland before relocating to Watertown to take over Reimann Wholesale Inc. Mr. Reimann had purchased what was known as the Wise Potato Chips distributorship in 1962, renaming it Reimann Wholesale Inc. Prior to that time, the distributorship had been operated for many years by the Mecomonaco family of Watertown, according to Watertown Daily Times files.

The late Charlie Mecomonaco started the first Wise Potato Chips distributorship in the north country during the early 1940s, after being approached by James G. Morris II, from Berwick, Pa., the home of Wise Potato Chips.

Mr. Mecomonaco is credited for being the first to introduce the Wise brand to the north county. He used a life insurance policy as collateral to secure a $250 bank loan to purchase his first panel truck for deliveries. n NORAH MACHIA is a freelance writer who lives in Watertown. She is a 20-year veteran journalist and former Watertown Daily Times reporter.

Contact her at nemachia@yahoo.com.

October 2012 | NNY Business

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AGRI-BUSINESS

JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS

Jordan and Rachael Brandt operate an on-site butcher and meat-processing business next to their home near Carthage. The couple is working with the USDA to reopen a long-closed slaughterhouse in Croghan. They hope to move in by the end of the month and be fully permited and operational by next year.

Growing opportunities USDA-certified slaughterhouses coming soon

By MARTHA ELLEN

T NNY Business

he potential for north country farmers to raise livestock and poultry for sale to restaurants and institutions will improve shortly.

A U.S. Department of Agriculturecertified mobile poultry slaughterhouse is expected to arrive in St. Lawrence County by the end of the month. A second USDA-certified poultry slaughterhouse, mostly intended to handle a private flock but which eventually could take in some birds for other farmers, is being built in Massena.

A USDA-certified slaughterhouse for other livestock is in the works to open in the spring in Lewis County.

“I think it’ll be a really good thing for the economy,” said Rachel D. Brandt, who

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is working with her husband, Jordan D. Brandt, to reopen a long-closed slaughterhouse in Croghan. “In the long run, it’ll help everybody.”

Most farmers want their livestock processed in the fall, but a lack of USDAcertified plants makes scheduling at peak times difficult. The only USDA-certified plants in the north country are Tri-Town Packing in Brasher Center and Willard’s in Heuvelton.

Although farmers can sell meat to individuals, the USDA stamp allows sales to restaurants and institutions such as nursing homes and colleges. Not being able to book time in a slaughterhouse means farmers cannot guarantee delivery of their product.

“I had a million phone calls this summer looking for any kind of slaughterhouse,” Cornell Cooperative Extension

educator Betsy Hodge said. “There were certainly a lot of people interested.”

Mr. and Mrs. Brandt run a custom slaughterhouse for every farm animal except ducks and geese in Carthage and also operate a mobile unit, but neither is USDA-certified. The couple had been trying to start a USDA-certified operation at their base in Carthage but were finding it difficult and expensive to meet regulations.

Instead, they purchased the former Devoy’s meat-cutting operation in Croghan, which went out of business a decade ago.

“This one was all set up and much more affordable,” Mrs. Brandt said.

“We’re hoping to move into it by the end of October and have USDA certification by spring or summer.”

Their client list of 300 to 400 people for custom work could triple with the USDA

AGRI-BUSINESS

JASON HUNTER | NNY BUSINESS

Cathy A. Smith holds a turkey on her farm at 542 County Route 46, Massena. Her husband Ronald G. is behind her. The Smiths plan to have a USDA-certified slaughterhouse to process all the birds they raise each year.

certification, Mrs. Brandt said.

“We’re expecting to get people from as far as Malone or within a two- to threehour radius,” she said.

She estimated the slaughterhouse would start off employing eight people, including her and her husband.

The couple will still butcher poultry in their mobile unit, but not in the slaughterhouse because chickens have higher bacteria counts, she said.

North Country Pastured — the recipient of a $130,000 state grant through the North Country Regional Economic Development Council — anticipates delivery of its USDA-certified mobile poultry unit Oct. 31, several months after it was expected.

Construction of the unit by Brothers Body & Equipment, Galion, Ohio, was delayed because equipment produced by the company for the military took precedence, said Renee C. Smith, manager of North Country Pastured, whose farm is near DeKalb Junction.

“That’s the date they guaranteed us,” she said. “We’re going forward with complete optimism.”

The contract for the mobile unit was awarded March 28, so North Country Pastured expected it much sooner. Ms. Smith said she feared some producers plunged into having more birds than they should have because they assumed the unit was

on its way.

“I do believe most people held off,” she said. “That was one of the reasons we had informational meetings to inform people we were doing our best.”

Some producers have talked about raising winter poultry, so the unit still may see its first birds this year.

“We’ll be in full speed when spring comes around,” Ms. Smith said.

North Country Pastured is estimating it will process 25,000 chickens in its first year and exceed that number in subsequent years.

Cathy A. and Ronald G. Smith, 542 County Route 46, Massena, are in the midst of building a USDA-certified chicken slaughterhouse on their property.

The slaughterhouse is intended mostly to process some of the 1,000 birds the Smiths raise annually so they can expand their market beyond sales at farmers markets and from their home.

“We butcher chickens three times a week, so the mobile unit wouldn’t do us any good,” Mrs. Smith said. “I need my own.”

Once the slaughterhouse is completed, its first year will focus on Mr. and Mrs. Smith’s own birds, but expansion in the future is possible, Mrs. Smith said. n MARTHA ELLEN is a Johnson Newspapers staff writer based in Canton. Contact her at mellen@wdt.net or 661-2514.

October 2012 | NNY Business

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ECONOMY

Health care sector key to growth Medical services, Fort Drum will lead economic expansion

By TED BOOKER

T NNY Business

hanks to the strong economic heartbeat of Fort Drum — loaded with 24,000 employees — Jefferson County’s economic status hasn’t been bruised over the past decade like most other regions across the state.

In fact, the county’s newly updated Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy shows it posted 18 percent job growth from 2001 to 2011. It’s a trend that experts from professional development firm Camoin Associates of Saratoga Springs expect to continue for the next decade with growth of health care and service industries, they forecast last month during a public presentation of the finished plan at Jefferson Community College. Camoin was hired in 2011 to retool the economic plan for the county, which acquired a $45,000 grant from the federal Economic Development Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The updated plan, which analyzes recent changes in the region’s economy, is available at www.jcida.com/reportsand publications.php.

The firm, which worked with a committee of industry leaders from the county, developed the plan’s priorities by conducting research and interviews.

When it comes to Jefferson County’s economy, experts say, most economic activity is buoyed by Fort Drum. Making up 40 percent of the economy as a whole, government services has long been the top industry here, followed by retail trade (11 percent) along with health care and social services (10 percent), according to a study by Camoin. The fastest growing job sector from 2001 to 2011 was support services offered by businesses to the military.

But over the next 10 years, the health care sector here is projected to lead the way by growing up to 1,500 jobs - 7 percent of the economy.

“The number of health aides, doctors and nurses is going to climb,” said Rachel

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JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS

Jim Damicis, senior vice president of Camoin Associates, presents last month during the Jefferson County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy update at Jefferson Community College.

A. Selsky, senior economic developretirees in the coming years. ment specialist at Camoin. “The county “Keeping your legacy manufacturers is going to need to respond to an aging stable is going to be a concern with the agbaby boomer work force and Fort Drum’s ing work force,” said Jim Damicis, senior increasing (medical) needs.” vice president of Camoin. “Youth today Other goals underscored in the plan don’t want to pursue careers in manuinclude facturing helping and service dairy industries, producers but manudevelop facturing is and maran important ket more industry in Rachel A. Selsky, senior economic valuea region like development specialist, Camoin added Jefferson products, County with cultivating a culture of entrepreneurship rewarding careers.” and beefing up marketing programs to Mr. Damicis also said the county should lure businesses here from across the coun- focus on bolstering its hospitality, service try and helping manufacturers train and and health care, as they are expected to recruit a younger work force. continue to grow. While hospitality is Manufacturers such as New York Air relatively unpopular among high school Brake and Car-Freshner Corp., for exstudents here today, it will continue to ample, soon will need to lure in younger play an instrumental role here in the comworkers to replace a large number of ing decades.

“

The number of health aides, doctors and nurses is going to climb.

The county is going to need to respond.

—

ECONOMY “Hospitality and service careers are a growing part of the economy today, and a large number of people are going to be in it,” he said. “I think you can put time in to distinguish your region for its customer service.”

Ideas to meet those needs include launching an annual health care summit and developing a training cost-sharing model among regional health care providers to increase the pool of health care workers.

Mr. Damicis, who works on projects with municipalities across the country, said Jefferson County has an abundance of assets at a time when most governments are still scrambling to regain their footing in the aftermath of the economic downturn. One of the reasons Jefferson County has thrived, he said, is the strong collaboration among government and business leaders in the community.

“You have a tight-knit community with people who know how to work together,” he said.

While the county’s economic plan was revised in 2008 and 2010, the last time it received a major overhaul was in 2006.

It was established in 1990 by the county as a vehicle to acquire federal grant funding through the Economic Development Administration, and it continues to be used by local governments in that capacity.

Committee members who developed the plan include Chairman Jeffrey A. Wood, Samaritan Medical Center; Vice Chairwoman Jill M. Pippin, Jefferson Community College; Kenneth A. Mix, city of Watertown; John VanDeloo, Empire State Development Corp.; Lorraine

M. Clement, Jefferson Physicians Organization; George C. Anderson, Current Applications Inc.; Carl A. McLaughlin, Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization; Donald C. Alexander, Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency (JCIDA); Peter J. Whitmore, entrepreneur, and F. Eric Constance, Small Business Development Center.

Also, Gary S. DeYoung, 1000 Islands International Tourism Council; Jay M. Matteson, Jefferson County Agricultural

Development Corp.; David J. Zembiec, JCIDA; Bruce D. Armstrong, former Jefferson County planning director; James W. Wright, Development Authority of the North Country; Cheryl A. Mayforth, Jefferson County Workplace; Dennis C. Affinati, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and John D. Peck, Jefferson County legislator.

n TED BOOKER is a Johnson Newspapers staff writer. Contact him at 661-2371 or tbooker@wdt.net.

October 2012 | NNY Business

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R E A L E S TAT E R O U N D U P

So, how is the real estate market?

O

f all the questions I get, this is probably the one I am asked most often: “So, how is the real estate market?”

While the questioner, or someone they know, may be selling or buying a property, the question they might actually be asking is, “how will my business be affected by the real estate market?”

Considering the spin offs from the sale of a property and the ongoing maintenance of the property, this is a very valid question. The purchase of a property does not happen in isolation. There are a number of different industries directly and indirectly affected by each transaction.

It is easy to see how the seller and buyer are affected. For the seller, the sale may allow them to pay off the mortgage on the property or put the money toward another property. For the buyer, the adventure may just be beginning.

The National Association of Realtors estimates that up to 84 different jobs are touched by a real estate transaction. This may be hard to believe until you start to look at a typical chain of events for a sale.

Let’s look at the sale of an existing home. An owner wants to sell their home and contacts their favorite Realtor who makes a presentation and lists the home.

As part of the service, the Realtor lists it on the Multiple Listing Service and advertises the property in a variety of places.

An offer is obtained by another Realtor and is accepted by the seller after review by attorneys for both buyer and seller.

The buyer gets a mortgage, has a home

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inspection done and an appraisal is ordered by the lender.

There may be other inspections required also, based on the property’s location. The sale closes and the Lance Evans buyer moves in.

After moving in, the buyer decides to re-carpet in the house, paint a room, add some plants in the front yard and buy new furniture for several rooms.

Looking at the above scenario, it can easily be seen that the real estate professionals (salespeople, brokers, appraisers, inspectors and office staff) as well as the lender (including an underwriter, loan processor, bank attorney, etc.) are directly affected.

However, if you look closer you will also see that during the transaction there are legal firms, moving companies, hardware stores, garden centers and furniture stores involved. Each of these may have staff such as warehouse workers, store clerks, assistants, truck drivers and so on. Like a pebble thrown into a pond, the ripples of a real estate transaction spread out.

According to NAR, the equivalent of one job is generated by every two existing homes sold. In 2011, a little over 800 existing homes were sold in Jefferson County, about 135 in Lewis County and more than 600 in St. Lawrence County for a total of more than 1,535 existing homes

sold. Using the NAR figure, this means approximately 765 jobs were created from these transactions. It should be noted that not all of these will be local or immediate as different aspects of the process take place in other areas and over a longer time frame. For instance, if the buyer in the above example moves in November, he or she may not visit a garden center until April or May to buy the plants for the front room.

The research department at NAR has put together an economic impact for real estate by state. In New York, they estimate that the real estate industry accounted for 17 percent of the 2010 Gross State Product or just a little under $200 billion. When a home is sold, they estimate that $26,000 is generated directly from the transaction (real estate industry and consumer items bought, such as furniture, appliances and remodeling). This results in another $12,500 in spending at restaurants, stores, etc., by the people who work in those industries.

Going back to my original question, “how is the real estate market?,” I would reply that it is a vibrant, job generating portion of the economy. It continues to impact our area and as it ebbs and flows will continue to send economic ripples through all portions of our area of the “pond” and beyond. 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.

October 2012 | NNY Business

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R E A L E S TAT E / J E F F E R S O N C O U N T Y The following property sales were recorded in the Jefferson County Clerk’s office:

to Travis S. Porter and Samantha M. Zellweger, both of Watertown $48,000

Sept. 21

n Town of Alexandria: 49.86 acres, Log Hill Road, Michael E. Shannon, Redwood, and Ronald J. Shannon, Clifton Park, sold to Nathan J. Gerber and Juanita M. Gerber, Lowville $42,000

n Town of Ellisburg: Two parcels, 0.50 acre, Old Salt Point Road; 2 acres, highway from Belleville to Lake View, Robert N. Hedger, Adams, sold to Michael W. Hill, Henderson $35,000 n Town of Adams: South Harbor Road, David Burgenstock, Dexter, sold to Scott P. Slate, Adams Center $51,000 n Town of LeRay: 0.627 acre, Victory Lane, Joshua B. Perretta and Tina M. Perretta, Watertown, sold to Keith M. Collingsworth and Mariella C. Collingsworth, Fort Drum $218,000 n Town of LeRay: Two parcels, County Route 16, Eric C. Wright and Linda A. Wright, Evans Mills, sold to Champion Enterprises of Connecticut, North Grandy, Conn. $142,000 n Town of Alexandria: Lot 23, Tennis Island, David W. Mance and Nancy A. Mance, Wellesley Island, sold to John Killius and Gina Killius, Manlius $405,000 n Town of LeRay: Two parcels, Lot 1, River Bend Estates; 0.09 acre, no address given, Ammon C. Stuart and Ashley D. Stuart, Watertown, sold to Scott J. Johnson and Nadine S. Johnson, Fort Drum $269,000

Sept. 19

n Town of Brownville: 2.49 acres, Bonney Road, Thomas J. Douglas, Watertown, sold to Albert J. Siver, Watertown $157,000 n Village of Sackets Harbor: 118 Dodge Ave., Lori Spencer, Sackets Harbor, sold to Nicholas A. Kerner, Rochester $65,000 n Town of Ellisburg: 4.12 acres, Emerson Road, Michael L. Arnold and Sally A. Arnold, Mannsville, sold to Vincent S. Guarrera Jr., Watertown $183,000 n City of Watertown: 709 Lansing St., Douglas C. Smith, Wilmington, sold to Mark F. Bush, Watertown $124,000 n City of Watertown: 117 Gale St., Michael S. Shepard, Watertown, executor, will of Paul H. Dean; and individually; David Dean, Calcium; Raymond Dean, Portsmouth, Va.; Carolyn Shepard, Watertown; and Mary Ehlers, Alexandria, Va., sold to Michael S. Shepard, Watertown $49,000

Stony Point Road, William D. Heller and Christine M. Heller, Nokomis, Fla., sold to James S. Stenclik and Sonja M. Stenclik, Webster $248,500 n Village of Alexandria Bay: Avery Avenue, Craig S. Snow and Kimberly A. Snow, Alexandria Bay, sold to Christine A. Penrose, Alexandria Bay $110,000 n Village of Black River: Two parcels, Union Street, Fredrick L. Lavancha, aka, Frederick L. Lavancha and Margaret L. Lavancha, Carthage, sold to Shannon Norman, Carthage $120,000 n Town of Ellisburg: Two parcels, 0.79 acre, 0.80 acre, U.S. Route 11, Andrew C. Worden and Sarah P. Worden, Adams, sold to Lee Berry and Sue Berry, Adams $160,000 n Village of West Carthage: 0.088 acre, 1 Lathrop St., Patrick Birchenough, Watertown, sold to Lance M. Koniz, Carthage $28,500 n Village of Carthage: Two parcels, 660 West End Ave., The Estate of Sherman L. Babcock, by Gwendolyn Skvorak, Gloversville, as executor, will of Sherman L. Babcock, late of Carthage, sold to Charlene V. Reynolds, Latham $51,000 n Village of Carthage: South James Street, Northern Federal Credit Union, Watertown, sold to Jeffrey Kimple, Deer River $26,000

n Town of Adams: 0.47 acre, Owens Road, Terry R. Horning, Adams Center, sold to Charles F. Hedger and LouAnn Stevens, both of Henderson $34,000

n City of Watertown: 0.434 acre, intersection of Washington Street and Bowers Avenue, 330 Ten Eyck Street Corp., Watertown, sold to 825 Washington Street LLC, Watertown $282,500

n Village of Carthage: 0.46 acre, 323 S. Clinton St., Raymond J. Connolly and Mary W. Connolly, Carthage, sold to Carl W. Morgan, Carthage $166,000

n City of Watertown: Gotham Street, Garibaldi T. Cortes and Nora T. Cortes, by Garibaldi T. Cortes, attorney in fact, Baltimore, Md., sold to Ronnie L. Nelson II, Jber, Alaska $145,000

n Village of Adams: 0.47 acre, Wright Street, Valerie J. Buchanan, Melbourne Beach, Fla., sold to Chad Michael Pfleegor and Anna M. Pfleegor, Adams $125,000

Sept. 17

Sept. 20

n Town of LeRay: 0.50 acre, North Main Street, Harvey Skeldon, Black River, sold to Michael J. Zecher and JoAnne Zecher, Black River $54,000

n Town of Hounsfield: 0.665 acre, Storrs Road, Jon C. Anderson and Gudrun Anderson, Sackets Harbor, sold to Joanna B. Chrzanowski, Watertown $245,000 n Town of Lyme: Two parcels, 0.19 acre, Chaumont Bay; 1/11th interest in 9.2 acres, County Route 57, Jeffrey L. Strough and Robin W. Strough, Lorraine; and Paul W. Trudeau and Bonnie S. Trudeau, Sackets Harbor, sold to William C. Hannon, Rochester $117,000 n Hamlet of Three Mile Bay: 0.50 acre, 8561 Church St., Dennis Rowe, Three Mile Bay, sold

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NNY Business | October 2012

n City of Watertown: St. Mary Street, Mark Victor Hansen, Newport Beach, Calif., sold to Abid J. Mahmud-Aguiar, Evans Mills $105,000 n City of Watertown: 0.253 acre, Franklin Street, Shearer Realty LLC, by David Shearer, sole member, Watertown, sold to Lynne M. Bates and Charles E. Bates, Watertown $75,000

Sept. 18

n Town of Cape Vincent: 0.38 acre, 28110

n Village of Antwerp: Lot 1C, subdivision, Lexington Avenue, Land First Inc., Lacona, sold to Roy L. Beane and Jacqueline A. Perillo, both of Gouverneur $27,500 n Town of Champion: 0.791 acre, Lewis Loop, Gregory M. McBride and Angela V. McBride, Carthage, sold to Daniel T. Trost and Melissa Trost, Fort Eustis, Va. $216,500 n Town of Alexandria: Stine Road, Douglas Tichenor, North Bangor, sold to Trevor Niles, Redwood $35,000

$4,159,500 County real estate sales recorded over 5-day period, Sept. 17-21, 2012

R E A L E S TAT E / S T. L AW R E N C E C O U N T Y The following property sales were recorded in the St. Lawrence County clerk’s office:

Sept. 7

n Village of North Lawrence: 3 Parcels, unknown acres, bounded by Mill Road, Rick W. Seguin, Brasher Falls, sold to Gary Sirles, North Lawrence $30,000 n Town of Morristown: 3.61 acres more or less, bounded by County Route 6, Alexander P. and Sandra F. Shine, Carlisle, Pa., sold to Douglas and Patricia Regester, Dauphin, Pa. $61,000 n Village of Canton: 0.88 of an acre more or less, bounded by Woods Drive and State Street, Robert M. and Ester W. Thompson, Canton, sold to John D. and Megan Mousaw, Canton $180,000 n Town of Norfolk: 71.4 acres more or less, bounded by Route 420 and Fayette Road, Dwaine P. and Ruth A. Darling, Massena, sold to Renee A. Mere, Norfolk $65,000 n Town of Norfolk: 71.4 acres more or less, bounded by Route 420 and Fayette Road, Renee A. Mere, Norfolk, sold to Gerald F. and Susan S. Lambert, Potsdam $205,000 n Village of Massena: 0.161 of an acre more or less, bounded by Woodlawn Avenue, Giovanni and Carolyn Jermano, massena, sold to Eric M. Ober, Potsdam $56,870 n City of Ogdensburg: Unknown acres, being known as Lot 19 in Block 8, bounded by Washington Street, Louise A. Schwed, Willimantic, Conn., sold to Dennis R. and Larie M. Harper, Ogdensburg $55,000 n Town of Stockholm: 1.07 acres more or less, bounded by County Route 47, Susan E. Harrington, Fort Edward, sold to John Everts Jr. and Brenda Everts, Clifton Park $75,000 n Town of Parishville: 30 acres more or less, situate in Great Tract Lot 23, bounded by Joe Indian Road, Richard J. and Kathryn M. Delguidice, Tampa Bay, Fla., sold to Sandra J. Patenaude, Potsdam $164,000 n Village of Potsdam: 0.955 of an acre more or less, bounded by Elm Street, Peter D. Phelan and Patricia A. Sands Phelan, Potsdam, sold to Adam DiCoby, Potsdam $250,000

Sept. 6

n Village of Waddington: 0.63 of an acre more or

less, being a part of Lot 11 and Lot 12 in Block D, bounded by Brookview Drive, Danielle C. BriningPlumadore, Waddington, sold to Michael J. Alguire and Kellie L. Giorgi, Waddington $147,500

Parcels are situate in Lot 31 and Lot 32 of Mile Square 31, Robert E. Wilson and Leslie N. Janzen, Hereford, Ariz., sold to Enos E. and Lizzie Miller, Ogdensburg $160,000

n Village of Canton: 0.38 of an acre more or less, bounded by Riverside Drive and Fairlane Drive, Megan S. Mousaw, Canton, sold to Tammy J. Bjork, Canton $93,500

n Village of Gouverneur: 0.86 of an acre more or less, bounded by Wilson Street and Johnstown Street, Judith M. Conklin, Wallace, N.C., sold to Randyl S. Chase, Gouverneur $113,000

n Town of Parishville: Unknown acres, situate in Lot 5, bounded by St. Regis River, Daniel and Jonnie Dorothy, West Stockholm, sold to Elyse L. Gardner and Brian A. Phillips, Potsdam $82,000

$2,383,646

n Town of Madrid: Unknown acres, situate in Mile Square Lot 63, bounded by Grass River, Leo E. and Jeannine A. Lynch, Norwood, sold to Merle L. Converse Jr. and Kelly J. Converse, Madrid $36,000

County real estate sales recorded over 3-day period, Sept. 5-7, 2012

n Village of Massena: 0.24 of an acre more or less, situate in Lot 27 of Block H, bounded by Churchill Avenue, Douglas and Kay Sharlow, Massena, sold to James M. and Heather M. Northrop, Zanesville, Ohio $123,600 n Village of Massena: 45/100 of an acre more or less, being a part of Lot 8, bounded by Grass River, Clopman’s Massena Corporation, Massena, sold to Jason Clark, St. Regis Falls $50,176 n Town of Potsdam: 1.97 acres more or less, bounded by Perrin Road, Linda Heilman, Potsdam, sold to Tery O. and Krista A. Francis, Potsdam $271,000 n Town of Potsdam: Parcel 1) 14 35/100 acres more or less, Parcel 2) 3 acres more or less, Parcel 3) 7 acres more or less, all Parcels are situate in Mile Square Lot 12, Bonnie J. Weiman, Elm City, N.C., sold to Donald and Helen Smithers, Gouverneur $60,000 n Town of Norfolk: 50.50 acres more or less, being a part of Mile Square 85 and Mile Square 95, Philip Simons, Norfolk, sold to Timothy D. and Kelly T. Burnett, Norfolk $35,000 n Town of Piercefield: Unknown acres, bounded

by Eagle Crag Lake, Kathleen T. Flanigan, Loveland, Colo., sold to Louis J. Flanigan, Gloversville and Patricia High, Edmond, Okla. $70,000

Sept. 5

n Town of Morristown: Parcel 1) 71 acres more or less, Parcel 2) 74.25 acres more or less, both

October 2012 | NNY Business

| 37

R E A L E S TAT E / L E W I S C O U N T Y The following property sales were recorded by the Lewis County Real Property Tax Service:

Aug. 31

On the Web n Visit us on our website WWW.NNYBIZMAG.COM for current real estate sales from Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties, updated weekly. Click on ‘Data Center’

n Village of Port Leyden: 3368 Pearl St., Robert Schneider sold to Jason W. Young $61,000 n Town of New Bremen: Snell Road, David M. Gracey sold to Patrick L. Lee $25,000 n Town of Watson: Snell Road, Henry O. Schaab sold to Paul J. Kafline $32,000

Aug. 30

n Town of Watson: 6704 Erie Canal Road, John Chamberlain sold to Albert Bodway $27,800

Aug. 29

n Town of New Bremen: 6616 Patty St., Wade J. Mattis sold to Christine R. Coggiano $252,300 n Town of New Bremen: Effley Falls Road, Dan J. Semmler sold to James F. Neddo $18,000 n Town of Watson: 7730 Schuyler Camp Road, Rose Erma Angotti sold to Michael D. Hulchanski $29,900

Aug. 28

n Town of Lowville: State Route 12, Jack Lomeo sold to Christopher Zehr $18,000

Aug. 24

n Village of Lowville: 7713-7715 State St., Red Raider LLC sold to Michael D. Roes $120,000 Town of Lowville: Markowski Road, Arthur Family Irrevocable Trust sold to Ross Farms, Inc. $16,200 n Town of Watson: 6699 Number Four Road, Robin E. Uff sold to Community Bank N.A. $40,000

Aug. 22

n Town of New Bremen: 9016 Cut Off Road, Robert

38 |

NNY Business | October 2012

H. Swift sold to Zachary P. Aucter $35,000

Aug. 21

n Village of Lowville: 5274 Clinton St., Scott D. Exford sold to Charles A. Sell IV $151,400

Aug. 20

n Town of Greig: Chase Lake Road, Robert Keller sold to David E. Ramsey $23,000 n Town of Greig: 5771 Long Point Road, The Garrigan Irrevocable Trust sold to Eric W. Engelbrecht $150,000 n Town of Lewis: 4157 Mud Lake Road, Marc Kabot sold to Ernest V. Palchanes Jr. $78,000

Aug. 17

n Town of Montague: Sears Pond Road, Robert J. Benson sold to John Chamberlain $31,500 n Town of Turin: 4602 State Route 26, Jean Marie Demko sold to Darren J. Brown $80,000

Aug. 15

n Town of New Bremen: 8312 State Route 812, Thomas W. Dutton sold to Clare R. Davoy $45,000 n Town of New Bremen: Van Amber Road, Gary P. Rosiczkowski sold to JEG Properties LLC $96,100

Aug. 14

n Village of Lowville: 5647 Maple Ave., AmeriCU Credit Union sold to Matthew D. Olmstead $120,000

Aug. 11

n Town of Lewis: 2296 Osceola Road, Hilda Coleman Estate sold to Kerry P. Kanakos $95,000

Aug. 10

n Town of Diana: Henry Road, Walter E. Dixon sold to Mark Kaiser $65,000 n Village of Lowville: 5554 Woodlawn Ave., John M. Gehrlein Estate sold to Scotty A. Sweeney $48,000 n Town of New Bremen: North and South side of Kirschnerville Road, Loren L. Virkler sold to Matthew M. Moser $200,000

Aug. 8

n Village of Copenhagen: 2954 Cataract St., Jerry L. Zehr sold to Justin J. Elias $180,000 n Village of Harrisville: 8204 Main St., Randy Patnode sold to Kristina M. Sinicropi $119,000

Aug. 7

n Town of Denmark: 4869 State Route 410, David J. Kwiatkowski sold to Paul D. Waite $80,000 n Town of Leyden: 7374 Martin Drive, Rosemary Dolan sold to John McGlynn $75,000 n Town of West Turin: Sweeney Road, Robert D. Seelman sold to James E. Seelman $22,000

$2,334,200 County real estate sales recorded over 25-day period, Aug. 7-31, 2012

PEOPLE, from page 9 delivery specialist, inside sales representative and operations manager.

Chris Engle, who previously served as a general contracting and architectural representative, territory manager and inside sales representative, will now be serving the general contracting and architectural department by creating job submittals, qualifying bid solicitations, project followup and product coordination. He has worked for Erie for eight years.

Rose Townsend has been named vice president of technology. She has been the company’s director of information technology since 1989. She is responsible for all of the company’s information systems and the evaluation and adoption of any new technology.

Frank Palumbo has been promoted to service technician. He has been with Erie Materials in Scranton, Pa., for more than seven years as a warehouse employee and non-commercial driver.

Joins board of directors

Ontario Bays Initiative, a Chaumontbased land trust, announced last month that Sackets Harbor native Kelly E. Reinhardt has joined its 12-member board of directors.

Ms. Reinhardt is the director of business development and community relations for Bernier, Carr Reinhardt & Associates, Watertown, and previously worked as community development coordinator for Jefferson County. She will remain in her position at Bernier, Carr and brings expertise in marketing, grant writing and community relations to OBI, according to a released statement.

Her term began immediately, and she will be nominated for a full two-year term at the board’s annual meeting this month.

Ontario Bays Initiative Inc. is an allvolunteer organization established in 1993.

Attorney named Lawyer of the Year

Bond Schoeneck & King, Syracuse, has announced that John D. Allen has been named the 2013 Syracuse Litigation — Trusts & Estates “Lawyer of the Year” by The Best Lawyers in America 2013.

A single lawyer per practice area in any

Please see People, page 43

October 2012 | NNY Business

| 39

20 QUESTIONS

JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS

Building a brighter NNY

M

ichael E. Lundy sees the north country differently than many large-scale developers. Some 50 years ago, his father started LUNCO Corp. as a carpenter, mainly taking on remodeling jobs. Today, the Carthage native continues in a tradition of quality he learned while working beside his father. With several projects now in various stages, LUNCO is poised to see its best year ever in 2013.

1

NNYB: How did L UNCO get started? What’s the history behind the company?

LUNDY: My dad started the business in 1962, the year I was born, primarily as a kitchen remodeler. He was a third generation cabinetmaker, because my grandfather was a union carpenter, and had always grown up making things. He started doing renovations and remodeling and graduated from kitchens to building houses in the mid-1970s then got into commercial and industrial construction. Dad sold the business in 1980 because he had the golden goose come along and try and buy him out, so he took the deal. The company that bought him out didn’t do very well and four years later he was basically forced to go back into business.

2

NNYB: You’ve invested a lot in developing the north country, what are your key drivers to make decisions in what you do locally?

LUNDY: We started with my dad’s background, as a builder, and really pioneered the concept in the 1970s of design/build. Traditionally, if a customer wanted to build a building they’d hire an architect, they’d prepare a set of plans and it would go out to bid and the cheapest bid gets the job. As dad was doing some of that work he found some inherent problems with the low bid process. In the mid-1970s, dad took on the Butler Building franchise and Butler was pushing design/build, where the contractor would partner with a design professional. He started doing design/build where the architect, instead of working

40 |

NNY Business | October 2012

n For Carthage native Michael E. Lundy, good development is a personal story

for the owner, worked for us and we put together these design/build projects. That’s the basis for how this all started. As I came on the scene in the early 1980s with an engineering background, it let us take our design capabilities to the next level. Instead of relying solely on the architect, I could take the preengineered building and customize them and be a lot more creative. It gave us potential to do larger, more complex projects and still do them on a design/build basis. What we found was that we started coming in on time, under budget with better quality buildings compared to the low bid process. With our primary market being industrial back in the ‘70s and ‘80s, our business was heavy in the paper industry. We did a lot of work with those companies on design/ build and it was comforting for companies of that magnitude to have a sole source that could deliver the entire project. The one thing that I think my dad always prided us in was that we never wanted to be the low bid guy. We never wanted to base the buyer’s decision solely on price, but on quality and value. My dad was really fussy in providing that kind of quality. It was in my blood. I grew up in the construction business as a kid, from scraping forms to pulling nails and carrying concrete blocks. Now when I go on the job with young laborers they complain because I’m the suit and tie guy, I say, ‘Listen kiddo, I’ve done it. I know what you’re going through. I’ve done it.’

3

NNYB: What’s it like learning from your father and having that apprenticeship with him?

LUNDY: There were a lot of days it wasn’t easy.

He was fussy and very much in a mentality that I got from him that it was all about the customer. That service mentality and quality mentality isn’t for our own accolades, it provides the highest level of quality you can in an owner’s budget. Having the Butler Building franchise reputation of quality has also

kept us going. At the end of the day, you probably could make a little more money cutting corners here and there but having a reputation that is strong is worth more than a few extra dollars.

4

NNYB: You’ve developed a very positive reputation for the work you’ve done locally. How do you maintain that?

LUNDY: Whether they’re local developers or out-oftown developers that are coming here to do a project, some developers can be a little shady. We really felt there are days that leaving money on the table so it’s a win-win for everybody is the better deal. You keep your reputation and quality of the buildings and we don’t rely on the lowest bid. We rely on that reputation and quality to get the next project. It’s gone beyond just my dad and me, it goes on to my project managers and my superintendents. I have a superintendent that worked for my dad in the ‘70s and ‘80s. It’s really nice that I can depend on my guys to have that same extension of my personality that it’s all about service to our clients and doing it right.

5

NNYB: How did the land donation with Samaritan near your Washington Summit property in Watertown transpire? You gave them 18 acres so they could build an assisted living facility.

LUNDY: It was the right thing to do. When I started Washington Summit with Dr. [David P.] Rechlin, Samaritan was one of our first tenants. Having a tenant like Samaritan would allow our banks to allow us to build a little bigger building to lure another tenant. Without having the strength of a tenant like Samaritan it probably would not have been possible. Since then, Samaritan has taken the rest of that building and been an awesome tenant. When I saw the assisted living facility was going to be built next door to us, we thought that would

20 QUESTIONS be important to those employees, those residents and vendors all near Washington Summit. We saw that as a benefit in the future. When they started struggling with their wetland and struggling with schedule, they had approached us with buying the lot. Having Samaritan as part of our project was worth more than what they were going to pay us.

Could I have sold it to do housing and apartments?

Sure. Being able to do something that was the right thing and having someone with as much clout and strength as Samaritan was worth more than any amount of money could have been.

6

NNYB: Is it part of your mission to keep as much business local as possible?

LUNDY: Oh, yeah. I do a lot of work with Watertown Savings Bank. Mark Bellinger [Watertown Savings Bank’s executive vice president and chief operating officer] has been key to getting us to where we are. I use local attorneys; I’ve used a few local architects with good and bad results.

It’s quite difficult to find an architect to work with you because an architect is so used to working with the owner, now he’s working with the contractor.

Sometimes they get their nose bent out of shape.

It’s not intentional, but the architects that understand design/build embrace the concept.

7

NNYB: How do you pick what projects you decide to take on?

LUNDY: We qualify every prospect we go into. we have a marketing pyramid and I’ve done a lot of continued education on marketing. Ultimately we have to make a decision if they’re a right client and we’re a right builder for what they want. A lot of contractors and developers want to be “it” to everybody but we don’t want to be. i don’t want to build malls or residential complexes or bridges. I want to do what I’m good at. I don’t need my name in lights on a building. That’s not what I’m about. You won’t see my building a school, it’s not what I do.

8

NNYB: What keeps you here, besides the business?

LUNDY: I like the outdoors, I like the north country.

I like the seasons. I love to hunt and be in the wood, that’s my stress relief. There are a lot of afternoons in November you’ll find me sitting in my tree stand and texting my guys working here. I have a camp in the Adirondacks and I like being in Saranac Lake.

It’s pretty easy to jump on a plane and see other things. People complain there’s no museums, there’s no culture; well, jump on an airplane and go to New York City for the weekend and you always have this to come back to. My family is here. My parents are alive and my mom still works for me.

My mom still oversees the books for the company, at 72 years old. She is the backbone for the business, I’m just the front man.

9

NNYB: Your mother pays the bills and your sister manages Washington Summit, what’s it like to work with family?

LUNDY: It used to be worse because my sister worked part time at the front desk, mom was doing the accounting, dad was overseeing the rest and I was running all of the design. We all get along pretty well and have our own strengths. I wouldn’t even begin to dream to do what my mom does. I don’t like accounting. Mom is one of those very frugal, detailed people.

She will spend a weekend in here trying to find a 10 cent mistake in the books. I wouldn’t want my sister’s job, either, collecting rent and calling the plumber.

NNYB: Are there any development trends you’ve seen emerge in the area in the last few years?

JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS

Michael E. Lundy, president of LUNCO Corp., discusses his firms’ latest projects in his Carthage office.

10

LUNDY: In 2009, when the economy was going south, we had a lot of projects on the boards, including with national tenants that were looking to come to the area. The area was hot, there was a lot going on and Drum was busy. When the recession came to be what it was, we had people put projects on hold. What I’ve since seen is the economy is starting to bounce back and we didn’t see [the effects of the recession] here to the degree that other folks did in other parts of the country. The interesting thing is that I’m still seeing those national and regional prospects wanting to be in the area. Being here, being poised and ready to take on projects I think is going to help us moving forward. I probably have more development projects on the board now, combined, than I’ve ever had.

11

NNYB: You are in the process of developing retail and residential housing opportunities in West Carthage. Is that a departure for your business, in terms of development?

LUNDY: With the economy the way it is, we are always looking for new opportunities. I am a partner in a restaurant in Syracuse called Jolimé. I’m always looking for opportunities and when I saw what was going on with the two main housing projects going on in Watertown and what was going on in LeRay with housing, nobody was identifying West Carthage. West Carthage has a lot to offer. I have had military people work for me, spouses especially, and people like the Carthage community, I don’t care if it’s east or west side. It’s a great bedroom community, it’s safe, the good neighbor policy and people are looking out for you. We started going up and down roads and trying to figure out where the best sites are based on utilities, water, sewer, power, access to roads, soil types, land types, environmental impact, social impact and development costs. We whittled it down to three or four properties and the first property we made a play for we got.

12

NNYB: How far along is the project?

LUNDY: The environmental is almost all done. The first phase our development partner is looking at is up to 360 homes; they’re all apartments and they’re all in buildings with 30 plus units in a building. I own the plaza that’s next to it with Subway and Pizza Hut. We own the corner lot, we are working with Napa on a project and a retail store on a project. If we can bring

The Michael E. Lundy file JOB: President, owner LUNCO Corp.

AGE: 49 FAMILY: Single HOMETOWN: Carthage EDUCATION: Jefferson Community College for business; engineering degree, SUNY Canton.

PROFESSIONAL: Worked for Carthage Ma-

chine Co. as associate engineer following college graduation and began working for LUNCO, which his father owned, in the 1980s. Became president and owner in 1993 upon his father’s retirement.

RECOMMENDED READ: “It’s Your Ship:

Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy” by Capt. Michael Abrashoff.

this residential component to the community and if we can build this thing out completely, we’re looking at doubling the population of West Carthage. That’s a huge economic shot in the arm. A PILOT is important to get projects off the ground and get them going. When you’re at the end of the PILOT in 10 years, at full tax, that’s a lot of money to the community. At some point it will be fully taxed. Then you look at the economic spin off. We are banking on a couple of retail stores and restaurants coming in and a couple commercial businesses. They all need employees, it’s all part of the whole economic engine.

13

NNYB: Being local, there has to be some sort of pride in driving around and seeing your achievements, isn’t there?

LUNDY: A perfect example is Otis Technology, with Doreen Garrett. I went up and met her dad and then Doreen and her brother, and I heard their story and how they started the product and how they went from the dining room table to the horse barn to the building they were in. Their dream was to build their own standalone building, so we put the thing together. We worked pretty close with a CPA and business folks to develop a business plan, brought in an architect team to draw up the building, and you looked out and here is an empty lot and they were next door in a dumpy old building. To turn that into a multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility that was a thrill for them and for us to

October 2012 | NNY Business

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20 QUESTIONS be a part of that. For them to be able to go into that building and take their business from where it was to levels beyond, that is just a pride thing. You feel part of their success. It’s a little bit of a rush.

14

NNYB: What’s your vision for the Washington Summit site?

LUNDY: Where we are is way beyond what I ever thought it would be. We started in 2005. Dr. Rechlin needed an expansion and we’d done a medical project and at the same time I was dealing with folks in the dialysis unit at Mercy. They were in a dire need to get out of Mercy. We started off looking at a similar project we did in Carthage, a strip building with a couple of different tenants in it. We ended up building a standalone for Dr. Rechlin and in a manner we can continue expansion. I spent quite a bit of time coming up with a master plan and thought maybe we could go all the way to Spring Valley Drive. So we made the lot shovel ready and brought in utilities and things just started falling together. We had a good marketing plan, concept and did our homework.

Watertown Savings Bank has stood behind us. Now we’re into the next level of it, with building the office for Dr. Andrew Beutenmuller.

15

NNYB: Will you be bringing retail into that complex?

LUNDY: We have a purchase agreement to purchase the Eagles Club and tear it down. My land ties in behind that. So I’m going to have a six-and-a-half acre commercial parcel on Washington Street that connects to Washington Summit. Our intention is to turn that into the commercial side of it. I would really like to bring my restaurant from Syracuse here and do a satellite. I’d like to get Jolimé here. I met with

the principal owner of Jolimé and talked about how I would do this. I think that is certainly in the cards. We are looking at other retail, support retail for Washington Summit. At this point, who knows how much further we go up and down Washington Street.

16

NNYB: Ideally, what are a few things that you think Watertown is in need of?

LUNDY: I had coffee with Dan Villa who is spearheading the multi-purpose arena project. I think any time you can bring people from the outside into our community, I don’t care if it’s a car show or a concert, I think that’s good for the economy. I know the city [government[ gets a bad reputation, but it has tried to do a lot of things to enhance the community experience. I don’t think it matters whether it’s in the town or city, If they can have a big enough sporting events and be able to do concerts and events, that’d be spectacular. Also, Arsenal Street was the main expansion, I think the next two directions are Washington Street and Route 11 over in LeRay where I am. I think those are the two hot areas, with more commercial space. We are dealing with new prospects in those two areas.

17

NNYB: You deal with several government entities to get things done. What do you think is the best role government can play in business?

LUNDY: You’ve probably got two distinct issues in New York State. From an industrial point of view is energy costs. It costs way too much for industrial companies to produce their goods in New York compared to other states. It’s difficult in New York because we are one of the highest energy cost states in the nation. Locally, the second thing

I see, that we can control, is the process of approvals is too complicated. It is way too clumsy. You go through the local planning board to county planning board back to the local planning board and it takes too long. You have volunteers sitting on boards that have no financial ties to the project that are making decisions based on emotion and not really background. That is probably the most frustrating.

Planning boards treat us well. We don’t ask for preferential treatments, we just ask that they see where our goals are and work with us.

18

NNYB: The debate over PILOTS and government incentives continues to rage on, what’s your opinion on incentives offered by government entities?

LUNDY: In almost every situation that I’ve been involved with that includes a PILOT, it was the right thing to do. Because the PILOT is usually that last cog to make the project viable. A lot of times, your first couple years in a project are the most expensive. You are paying closing costs and financing costs and gone into new expansion and you’re not ramped up in production or you’re not ramped up in patients or whatever the end use is. The first few years are the most difficult to break even so if you add the burden of heavy real estate tax to the project, it makes it all that more difficult to make that project viable.

19

NNYB: What has kept the real estate market insulated from the effects of the recession?

LUNDY: I know that Fort Drum has been a big driver, but I think merely the increase in population has helped. Quite honestly, when these deployments will end and we’re at or near full strength here in the community, we will go through another growing spurt.

I think a lot of it is population driven. The military population is used to national or regional businesses, so I think you will see more of that stuff. Pizza Hut in Carthage is the same as the Pizza Hut in Nashville. The downside, especially in the restaurant industry, is that all of the great hometown restaurants get pushed by the wayside for these national chains.

People raved when Olive Garden came to town and you look down the street and you have Pete’s and Sboro’s and Art’s Jug but everyone wants to go to Olive Garden. That’s the downside to growth. That’s the bad with the good.

20

NNYB: With larger, national businesses and developers coming into the market, has it given people like you who are local and know their market an advantage?

LUNDY: When the economy started to turn south in 2008-2009, if you are looking at purely a construction project or a design/build project, all of our clients were price conscious. You then had to look at the project’s initial costs, which hurts us because we are looking at quality and value and our prices are typically higher than competitors. I don’t make a secret of it, we just try and do a better job. When the economy was changing, I had fears what that would do to our business model. I looked at what can I do to be different so we went and secured great pieces of property. We said if we can control property and have this design/build team already in place, we understand how to do it, so when those regional tenants or local tenants want to put a deal together, I am owning key pieces of property. That gives you a heck of an advantage. ­ Interview by Ken Eysaman. Edited for length — and clarity.

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NNY Business | October 2012

given community is honored by The Best Lawyers with the award, having been identified through peer review surveys in which thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their peers for their abilities, professionalism and integrity.

Mr. Allen is a trial lawyer, a member of the firm’s management committee and the former managing member of the firm’s Oswego office.

Promotions, hiring at Samaritan Medical

Samaritan Medical Center, Watertown, has hired Ryan Speas as assistant vice president of fiscal services and William R. “Randy” Fipps as assistant vice president of operations.

Mr. Speas, former chief accounting officer at Saint Alphonsus Health System, Boise, IdaFipps ho, began his duties in mid-July. He will oversee all finance activities and will report directly to the senior vice president of finance and administrative support services.

Mr. Fipps previously served as Samaritan’s Speas interim director of behavioral health services, a job he will continue. In his new role, Mr. Fipps will provide leadership to and direction of all operations in radiology, laboratory and the sleep lab. He will oversee Samaritan’s primary care/specialty clinics and behavioral health and ensure organizational objectives are met.

October 2012 | NNY Business

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E C O N O M I C A L LY S P E A K I N G

Raising the Drum Country profile

D

rum County Business was launched March 4, 2011, at Jefferson Community College.

In the 18 months since, the public-private partnership has raised the profile of the region to site selectors and location consultants who ultimately determine where businesses invest and grow. For the first time in recent memory, Drum Country Business provides a singlepoint of access to our three-county region’s economic assets and opportunities.

The public-private partnership is comprised of the Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency, St. Lawrence County Industrial Developmeant Agency, Lewis County Office of Economic Development and Planning, Development Authority of the North Country, Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization and National Grid. It is working to collectively leverage resources like infrastructure, work force and natural resources of the region and Fort Drum to attract and retain sustainable businesses.

Today’s decisions on where to locate a business begin at the regional level where site selectors and consultants identify locations with favorable parameters like work force, energy costs and transportation. As the late Robert Ady, internationally known site selector and consultant to Drum Country Business, noted at its launch, “You don’t want your community to fall off the list.”

All regions begin on the list and once a site selector starts to compare regions against one another the true competition begins. That’s when your region must rise to the top and not fall off the list, as Mr. Ady explained. In the past year and a half, Drum Country Business has moved up on the list of competitive regions through extensive marketing and continued outreach.

It has implemented an aggressive ad-

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NNY Business | October 2012

vertising campaign through print ads, direct mailings and its award-winning website. Since last fall, advertisements have been featured in Site Selection magazine, a national publication to site selectors and loMichelle Capone cation consultants.

These ads have touted the region’s work force, infrastructure, growing population, open-access

telecom network and competitive occupational costs. The theme has been “The Best Location is More Than a Location, It’s Also an Asset.” In September, the partnership featured a full-page ad in the Military Edition of Site Selection magazine that also touted its strategic access to international markets with rail, ports, highways and air; its skilled and growing work force; and proud home to Fort Drum with $1.5 billion in annual economic impact.

In January, a postcard was mailed to more than 8,000 general manufacturers, back office operations and site selectors in the Northeast. A follow-up mailing was conducted in April. Mailings typically have limited response rates since you need to have them in the hands of the people who make the decisions at the

same time they’re considering growth.

However, they are effective in increasing awareness among decision-makers and they are a good direct marketing tool.

Online, www.drumcountrybusiness.com, serves as a clearinghouse for information about the region. It links with National Grid’s Shovel Ready site to provide access to sites and buildings in the three-county region. It provides key statistics and demographics that are important to site selectors and location consultants. And, it provides up-to-date news on economic activity in the region.

Over the next year, the partnership will continue to focus on external marketing to raise awareness of the region. It will continue to advertise in Site Selection magazine with a focus on promoting specific sites. In addition, there will be a focus on face-to-face meetings with site selectors and location consultants to educate them on Drum Country’s economic assets. This will be accomplished through attendance at prominent trade shows and invitations to the region.

Prior to Drum Country Business, there were no materials or websites that provided information on our region’s economic assets in one place. If the average person couldn’t find it, then how would a site selector or location consultant? In a short time, the public-private partnership of Drum Country Business has garnered national recognition for Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties and Fort Drum.

In next month’s column, I will share more on the economic progress occurring in Drum Country. n MICHELLE L. CAPONE is regional development director for the Development Authority of the North Country. Contact her at mcapone@ danc.org.

N O N P R O F I T S T O D AY

We must listen effectively to thrive

H

ave you ever been in a conversation or at a meeting where you were so focused what you were going to say or what your response would be that you weren’t really listening to those on the other end of the dialogue? I have. There is danger in dialogues becoming monologues.

At the recent fall conference of community foundations, much of the focus was on providing tools to better assess community needs and the nonprofit sector’s responsibility to actively listen and engage their various stakeholders. The importance of listening cannot be overstated. Those in the for-profit world know well that when you stop seeking to provide what your customers desire, you can quickly become irrelevant.

Not only do we learn and discover more by listening, we also provide the fertile soil for the growth of meaningful engagement with those we serve and those who provide the resources to help us fulfill our mission. I realize that sometimes there is a belief that to be perceived as community leaders we ought to have all the answers.

Listening sometimes seems too passive, right? I would suggest the opposite.

Good questions almost always trump easy answers. The more intent you are in listening to your stakeholders, the better likelihood they will listen back. Instead of showing how smart you are, allow others to show how smart they are. Good listening has a powerful reciprocal effect.

Sometimes leaders fall into the trap of allowing “their ears to get smaller and their mouths to get bigger.” Listening

with an open mind requires a certain degree of humbleness.

It’s not always easy and takes work. However, I believe that nonprofit organizations with humility as a core value are Rande Richardson more strategically positioned for sustainable growth An origin of the word humility comes from “humus,” on the ground or from the earth. Humble leadership

movement toward a better community?

How do we pursue effective cross-sector solutions without that information?

Further, isn’t it our charge to align what we do with the community’s needs? It all seems very obvious.

Good listening is good business. Asking “how will this further our mission and goals” is important and linking it to “why we do what we do,” provides meaningful perspective. Many of our nonprofit organizations recognize this and engage the community regularly.

They understand the importance of building relationships which require mutual respect, and includes asking the right questions with a genuine interest and then doing something with the what they’ve learned.

As with anything, we can always do better. We can listen more aggressively. Organizational effectiveness is exponentially enhanced when it aligns with needs and wants. By addressing the community’s most critical or persistent challenges, we must inclusively unite people, institutions and resources.

Ultimately, it is the enriched soil that will allow the flowers to realize their full growth potential. It also helps make sure that we’re planning the right seeds in the first place. By addressing this, we produce the most significant, widely shared and lasting results that create a better future for all. So, what do you think?

What are your best ideas for a better community? Think more broad than narrow.

As with anything, we can always do better. can provide the soil that can nurture, fertilize and grow community strength.

Although, it is the flowers and fruit that we strive for we shouldn’t forget that without the right soil, there would have been no growth, no harvest.

In that spirit, I would ask: what are your best ideas for a better community? Think more broad than narrow. In a future issue, I will report back on the best ideas for a better community. I am confident it will help all of us answer the question, “what are we doing to align our work with building a stronger community?”

How do we position ourselves for maximum impact if we don’t first ask the questions that help build consensus for a

n RANDE RICHARDSON is executive director of the Northern New York Community Foundation. He is a lifelong Northern New York resident and former funeral director. Contact him at rande@nnycf.org. His column appears every other month in NNY Business.

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COMMERCE CORNER

Succession plan a must in business

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any organizations focus on succession planning to ensure future business success. Succession planning or development is a process within an organization that recruits or develops employees to fill key roles or positions within the company.

But plans alone do not develop individuals. The exposure and experience individuals gain develops them. In the process of succession planning, organizations should focus on employee development. Once key roles and responsibilities are indentified, organizational leaders should work with employees to understand the developmental needs of employees to ensure success. When an employee feels valued and understands the task at hand, this can directly affect retention of employees.

Writing in Small Business Chronicles, Leigh Richards discusses the importance of succession development, offering some helpful steps to take. The best practice is to plan, not react. In many situations, organizations fail due to poor planning.

Succession development is and should be a positive strategic move, not one that makes employees uneasy. Change is difficult for many and the best way to face change is to not be reactionary.

Ms. Richards encourages businesses to not wait until an employee is leaving or has left to begin the process of filling that role. It’s important to have operational manuals in place, job descriptions and goals for each key role within an organization. Being prepared, not only with these items, but also establishing policies and procedures as well employing best

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practices can help maintain a strong foundation regardless of who is in the position.

Leaders do not define positions by a person or a personality; it is defined by what characteristics Lynn Pietroski are needed to be successful within the position. From experience, ideally, internal succession development can be a natural process; however, this may not always be available for businesses.

A leader’s role in succession development and planning is vital, potentially even more so than the employee. A successful leader should lead by example and share best practices of a department or business with employees. Employees who strive to be successful will benefit from this modeling. It will separate them from individuals who are merely there for a job.

Managing employees is a two-way street. Just as it is important for managers to educate and mentor employees, it’s cruicial for employees to share ideas, concerns and successes with their supervisor.

Communication is a key component for any business to succeed.

Ms. Richards also discusses the importance for management to convey the high level of expectations and quality of the position to a potential employee, regardless of whether the person was hired or promoted from within an organization or

was an external hire. Having expectations set from the beginning leaves little room for interpretation by the employee.

All types of businesses frequently use the term “best practice.” As defined in the business dictionary, best practice is a method or technique that has consistently shown results superior to those achieved with other means and that is used as a benchmark. Through benchmarking, it allows a business to compare itself to other successful businesses and it highlights potential areas for improvements.

Mentoring is another crucial step in successful succession planning and development.

Mentoring and working closely with a potential leader will aid in a seamless transition when the time comes. Mentoring someone does not necessarily require a lot of time, it is mirroring the expectation and work ethic expected of an individual.

Letting go is difficult, but to ensure your organization’s future, it is necessary.

Empower your successor to make management decisions and learn from their mistakes while you are still there to coach them through the transition.

A true mentor has the organization’s best interest in mind and mentors through working with employees to identify strengths and areas that could use improvement. Mentoring requires a willingness to listen, support, share and provide a relationship that allows for errors and successes.

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.

AGRI-BUSINESS

Military partners for a ‘good fence’

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here is an old saying that a “good fence builds strong neighbors.” In Jefferson County, protecting that fence also builds good neighbors. A series of partnerships is strengthening two industries and protecting part of what makes our community unique.

Military installations around the United States can be their own worst enemies.

As they move in troops, they encourage growth in surrounding communities.

People build close to the base to take advantage of business opportunities. In addition, soldiers want to live close to where they report to work every day. As this development encroaches on the perimeter fence of the installation, it begins to negatively impact the very reason the military base exists. Military exercises create loud noises and ground vibrations. Aircraft flying overhead, or taking off and landing on runways, need safety zones for their operations. Soon, community concerns limit training and mission operations, decreasing the effectiveness of the base.

So how does a military installation ensure its ability to deliver a location to carry out its mission successfully?

In Jefferson County, we are home to the 10th Mountain Division and Fort Drum. Surrounding much of the base are farmlands and forests. There are growing communities along the southern end of the base. Post officials uniquely identified that with growth occurring in the community, action needed to be taken to protect the perimeter of the base to maintain the Army’s ability to deliver its training mission. Officials at the base began applying to the Army Compatible Use Buffer Program for money to initiate protective

efforts for the base perimeter.

The Army enlisted the help of the Jefferson County Agricultural Coordinator, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County, local land trusts Jay Matteson and Ducks Unlimited to create a program that would protect current land use around the base. Fort Drum received funding for ACUB and in 2009 protected its first farm, the 105-acre Delles Farm near Philadelphia.

Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust, Fort Drum and Ducks Unlimited work together to help interested farms explore participation in ACUB. Farm owners must consider whether or not to accept payment through ACUB to extinguish future development rights of their property. The program is designed to limit use or development of property near the base. Preferred uses of land are agriculture, forestry and maintaining forest lands. The land trust and Ducks Unlimited work with the property owner to establish a conservation plan for the property. The plan addresses short- and long-term goals, while ensuring flexibility for future operations. Farm families are then paid through the ACUB program for the appraised value of their non-farm development rights, as determined by a state qualified appraiser familiar with this type of conservation project. The properties remain in private ownership and stay

on the tax rolls. The farmers are not told how to farm or manage their land in the agreement, but they do have to abide by development restrictions of the easement.

The program is beneficial to agriculture because farms also are negatively affected by community growth. Increased traffic flow limits a farm’s ability to safely access fields. Increasing numbers of neighbors potentially lead to complaints about common smells and sounds coming from farms, especially when many of the new neighbors are not familiar with agricultural communities. The funds paid to the farm may also lead to new investment in the operation or allow the farm to be passed on to the next generation affordably.

Fort Drum’s ACUB program has created a good fence, protected by strong partners, the landowners, Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust, Ducks Unlimited and the Army. Several farms have participated in protecting more than 1,400 acres of land along the western perimeter of the base. Important training areas now have a permanent buffer zone so that the important mission of our military may be maintained. Important agricultural lands will remain available to grow our food and our local economy. Sometimes, when a helicopter passes overhead or the thud of weaponry on the firing ranges is heard, the sheep or cows from nearby farms may look up briefly, but then go back to eating the grass as if nothing happened.

n JAY M. MATTESON is agricultural coordinator for the Jefferson County Agricultural Development Corp. He is a lifelong Northern New York resident who lives in Lorraine. Contact him at coordinator@comefarmwithus.com. His column appears monthly in NNY Business.

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BUSINESS TECH BYTES

Quality print complements digital

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t all began at the 2012 San Diego Sustainable Brands Conference early in June. TABS, Toshiba Corp.’s managed print and professional branch, announced its latest marketing campaign, declaring Oct. 23 “National No-Print Day.” “This campaign was to be part of the ongoing mission to get businesses to print smarter and practice sustainable consumption; directing end users on printing less and reduce unnecessary office paper waste,” the Irvine, Calif.-based company said in a statement.

Unfortunately for Toshiba, its “NoPrint” campaign was flawed from the beginning, easily mobilizing the printing industry on a counter-movement that emphasized how print and paper are not enemies of the environment or the economy.

This counter effort was so successful that Toshiba abandoned its marketing campaign just a few weeks later on June 20.

Now viral, “National Print Day” is gaining momentum. It highlights print for what it is — a recyclable, renewable, reusable and vital resource that emphasizes how print and electronic media can be eco-friendly, co-exist and complement each other while meeting today’s social and economic needs. Print on paper connects us to one of our five primary senses — touch.

The ability to hold and feel an object is what consumers will remember most about a piece of advertising or marketing material and the product or brand it represents.

Ramon Ray, founder of SmallBizTechnology.com, and a self-proclaimed “technology evangelist,” has learned firsthand how direct mail can prove more efficient and most familiar in comparison with electronic media. Mr. Ray’s direct

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mail experience begins with, “Lo and behold, one day there’s a direct mail piece for furniture for sale. My wife grabs me and we went and bought a table.”

And that’s when it hit Mr. Jill Van Hoesen Ray that printbased direct mail is relevant.

“All this time I’ve been a proponent of new digital technology, and there we were buying a table because of a simple piece of paper that came in the mail,” he said. “It just showed me that social media isn’t the best for everybody, I bet if we had an email offer to buy the table, National Print Day we would have deleted it.”

This is something to think about as we enter the 2012 holiday marketing and advertising season; you will increasingly find there will be no single medium by which to reach your target audience, and the print and digital worlds often work together.

A study by the National Automated Clearing House Association concludes that many don’t consider the fact that people print at home or at work so they have a record. In other words, the life cycles of

many transactions are often not as paperless as they seem. In many cases the printing is just shifting downstream to the consumer. The same study also found that up to 40 percent of people who use e-billing also receive paper copies in the mail.

Tom Day, chief sustainability officer for the U.S. Postal Service in Washington, D.C., insisted “the future success of the postal service is adoption and management of operational changes necessary to co-exist with other electronic channels.”

Mr. Day shared his outlook on National Postal Customer Council Day while speaking last month at the Taft Road Post Office, East Syracuse.

“Not only does a mix of media stimulate customers and create a positive balance between technologies, which is critical to the marketplace, direct mail still is a relevant marketing tool and a powerful media to get your message to your consumer.”

Are you beginning to see how many ways computerized technology and print support each other? You can request print advertising and marketing materials online while QR codes can turn direct mail readers into shoppers with a smartphone click.

Want more Cyber Monday traffic?

Maybe the latest postal holiday promotion that encourages online product purchases by putting mobile-optimized promotional offers, coupons and catalogs into customer hands via direct mail is for your business. For more information on this and other Every Day Direct Mail promotions, visit https://ribbs.usps.gov/index. 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.

SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS

Identify your own business ‘season’

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all is upon us in the north country; a special time when we can experience all four seasons in one single day. This dramatic expression from Mother Nature should be a reminder to entrepreneurs of the importance of seasonality in business.

Each business operates in different seasons, identified by actual seasons, months, special events or tied to school year or fiscal cycle. It is critical for each business to identify its own business cycle; the financial peaks and lows throughout the year. If you are thinking strategically, your business can ride the roller coaster and benefit from the ups and downs.

Here are a few strategies to help you get through the year on top.

Plot your business cycle

Whether you are a new business or an existing business, it is extremely helpful to have your business cycle on paper or screen. Calculate or project monthly sales by product category. Use the numbers to calculate percentages and graph the ups and downs. This will help you to visualize how high the highs really are and how low the lows really are. This should be a piece of your business that you are always aware of.

Manage cash flow

Use the sales forecast from your business cycle to help determine your financial stability throughout the year.

Bills will continue to come in even if your doors are closed, hours shortened or your customer base downsized. What are your fixed and variables costs? What does your

bottom line look like after deducting your expenses from your sales?

Although you may be inspired to use your peak season pile of cash to invest in your business Brooke James (construction, equipment, advertising, etc.), be sure your low season is covered first. Use the peak funds to pay bills ahead of time, store it in savings to cover your costs and plan for any possible emergency expenses. The rest can be used to invest in capital improvements.

You may not have the luxury of a pile of cash at the end of your season. You may have just enough to get you through part of the low period. You can manage cash flow by tightly monitoring accounts receivable. Have systems in place to receive payment from clients in a timely manner. Provide incentives to encourage pre-payment during that period. You can also negotiate payment agreements with your suppliers to pay quarterly or in varied amounts. Always consult your business cycle and cash flow statement to help determine what arrangement would be best.

Product and market development

Is there a product or service that you can sell when your core product is not in high demand? Do your current operations support production of a different product

or service? Are there current products in your portfolio that can be given more attention during other seasons? This is why it is helpful to include product categories in your business cycle.

Likewise, are there other markets for your product during your natural “offseason?” Do you have the capacity and capability to sell online or travel to sell your product where it is still in demand throughout the year? Think creatively and consider the operations associated with these options.

Maintain productivity

Record project ideas throughout the year and create an action plan to get them done. Use the slow time to organize your books, develop a marketing plan and materials, acquire training and plan for expansion or business development. Remember that you do not necessarily have time to design an ad or apply for a loan during your peak season. Finally, enjoy the low season by networking and building relationships with clients and fellow business owners; take the time to appreciate their loyalty and keep your business fresh in their minds.

Business Advisors at the Canton and Watertown Small Business Development Centers are available, free of charge, to assist with the suggestions noted. www. nysbdc.org. Canton: 386-7312 Watertown: 782-9262. n BROOKE JAMES is a business advisor with the New York State Small Business Development Center at SUNY Canton. She is a small business owner and event planner. Contact her at jamesb@canton.edu.

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CHAMBER / WEB DIRECTORY

NNY CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

n CLAYTON 517 Riverside Drive, Clayton, NY 13624; 686-3771, www.1000islands-clayton.com

n ALEXANDRIA BAY 7 Market St., Alexandria Bay, NY 13607; 482-9531, www.visitalexbay.org

n GREATER WATERTOWNNORTH COUNTRY 1241 Coffeen St., Watertown, NY 13601; 788-4400, www.watertownny.com

n BOONVILLE 122 Main St., P.O. Box 163, Boonville, NY 13309; 942-6823, www.boonvillechamber.com

n GOUVERNEUR 214 E. Main St., Gouverneur, NY 13642; 287-0331, www.gouverneurchamber.net

n CANTON 60 Main St., P.O. Box 369, Canton, NY 13617; 386-8255, www.cantonnychamber.org n CAPE VINCENT 175 N. James St., P.O. Box 482, Cape Vincent, NY 13618; 654-2481, www.capevincent.org n CARTHAGE AREA 120 S. Mechanic St., Carthage, NY 13619; 493-3590, www.carthageny.com n CENTERSTATE CEO 572 S. Salina St., Syracuse, NY 13202; 470-1800, www.centerstateceo.com n CHAUMONT-THREE MILE BAY P.O. Box 24, Three Mile Bay, NY 13693; 649-3404, www.chaumontchamber.com

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 IDA www.lcida.org

n HENDERSON HARBOR P.O. Box 468, Henderson Harbor, NY 13651; 938-5568, www.hendersonharborny.com n LEWIS COUNTY 7576 S. State St., Lowville, NY 13367; 376-2213, www.lewiscountychamber.org n MASSENA 16 Church St., Massena, NY 13662; 769-3525, www.massenachamber.com n MALONE 497 East Main St., Malone, NY 12953; 1(518) 483-3760, www.visitmalone.com n OGDENSBURG 1 Bridge Plaza, Ogdensburg, NY 13669; 393-3620, www.ogdensburgny.com n OLD FORGE 3140 Route 28, P.O. Box 68

JEFFERSON COUNTY JOB DEVELOPMENT CORP. www.jcjdc.net

PROCUREMENT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER www.northcountryptac.com

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER AT SUNY JEFFERSON www.watertown.nyssbdc.org www.facebook.com/WatertownSBDC

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER AT SUNY CANTON www.canton.edu/sbdc www.facebook.com/CantonSBDC www.twitter.com/NYS_SBDC

Old Forge, NY 13420; 369-6983 www.oldforgeny.com

n POTSDAM 1 Market St., Potsdam, NY 13676; 274-9000, www.potsdamchamber.com n PULASKI 3044 Route 13, P.O. Box 34, Pulaski, NY 13142; 298-2213, www.pulaskinychamber.com n SACKETS HARBOR 304 W. Main St., P.O. Box 17, Sackets Harbor, NY 13685; 646-1700, www. sacketsharborchamberofcommerce.com n SOUTH JEFFERSON 14 E. Church St., Adams, NY 13605; 232-4215, www.southjeffchamber.org n ST. LAWRENCE 101 Main St., First Floor, Canton, NY 13617; 386-4000, www.northcountryguide.com n TRI-TOWN 907 Route 11 C, P.O. Box 297, Brasher Falls, NY 13613; 389-4800, www.tritownchamberofcommerce.com n WADDINGTON 38 Main St., P.O. Box 291, Waddington, NY 13694; 388-4079, www.waddingtonny.com

ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY IDA www.slcida.com

ST. LAWRENCE RIVER VALLEY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY www.slrvra.com

U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

www.sba.gov www.facebook.com/SBAAtlantic www.twitter.com/SBAAtlantic

WATERTOWN LOCAL DEVELOPMENT CORP. www.watertownldc.com

WATERTOWN SCORE

www.scorewatertownny.org

315-661-2399 / 1-800-724-1012

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SUNDAY, OCT. 21

n Salute to North Country Legends, 2 p.m., Kingston Theater in the Richard W. Miller Campus Center, SUNY Canton. An event sponsored by TAUNY that honors the recipients of the annual North Country Heritage Awards and celebrating 20 years of the awards. This year’s recipients are Frank White, model wood boat builder from Canton; Schroom Lake Square Dances, Essex County; and the Red and Black semi-pro football team from Watertown. Information: www.tauny.org or 386-4289.

CARTHAGE WEDNESDAY, OCT. 24

n Business Awards Dinner, 6 p.m., Carthage Elks Club, 511 Fulton St. Sponsored by the Carthage Area Chamber of Commerce.

Businesses being honored: Jose O’Connor’s, Christman Fuel Service, Country Manor Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Centre, Pleasant Night Inn and Village Ecumenical Ministries Food Pantry. Reservations: Chamber office, 493-3590.

CLAYTON SATURDAY, OCT. 20

n Clayton Chamber of Commerce “Punkin Chunkin Festival” and barbecue contest, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Riverside Drive. Competitive firing of pumpkins with various age groups using trebuchets. Also, a non-sanctioned Kansas City-style barbecue contest featuring local barbecuers competing to have the best barbecue in town. Other activities for children, pink pumpkin sale and scarecrow contest. Free admission. Cost to enter “chunkin” competition: $5. Information: 686-3771 or beth@1000islands-clayton.com.

FORT DRUM TUESDAY, OCT. 30

n “Trunk-or-Treat,” 5 to 8 p.m., USO building parking lot, 10502 S. Riva Ridge Loop.

Sponsored by USO Fort Drum. Businesses and vendors are asked to donate a trunk to give out candy, goods and games to active duty service personnel and their families stationed at Fort Drum. Costumes, business mascots, decorating of trunks is highly encouraged with promotional prizes awarded for the best costume and themed trunk. Information: USO Fort Drum, 777-8006.

LOWVILLE SATURDAY, OCT. 20

n Taste of Home Cooking School, 3 to 6 p.m. with doors opening at noon, Lowville Academy and Central School auditorium. Vendors, crafter and cookbook sale. Tickets: 376-2321.

FRIDAY, OCT. 26 & SATURDAY, OCT. 27

n Halloween Towne, 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, downtown Lowville.

Sponsored by Lowville Business Association in conjunction with local charities and organizations. For information and a full schedule of events, visit www.halloweentowne.webs.com.

THURSDAY, NOV. 15

n Lewis County Chamber of Commerce Annual Business Person of the Year Award Dinner, social hour, 5:30 p.m., dinner, 6:30 p.m., Glenfield Fire Hall. Sponsored by Otis Technology. Reservations required due to limited seating. For information and tickets call 376-2213.

SACKETS HARBOR THURSDAY, OCT. 18

n Meet ‘n Greet, 6 to 8 p.m., O.D. Greene Lumber Co., Route 3. Sponsored by the Sackets Harbor Chamber of Commerce.

Cost: $10. Information: www.sacketsharborchamberofcommerce.com.

MALONE

SYRACUSE

SATURDAY, OCT. 20

THURSDAY, OCT. 25

n Malone Rotary Fall Blast, 6 p.m., Malone Golf and Country Club, 79 Golf Course Road. One of the Malone Rotary’s biggest fundraising events of the season that benefits the club’s scholarship fund and youth projects. Music by Slab City. Tickets: $100 a couple, includes dinner, dancing and raffle tickets. Tickets available by calling Sherry Langdon, 483-6500.

OGDENSBURG FRIDAY, NOV. 2

n Time Warner Cable Business Class CenterState Business Showcase, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the OnCenter, 800 S. State St. In its 20th year, the CenterState Business Showcase is the largest business show in the northeast.

Businesses across 12 counties participate in the event with more than 7,000 people attending last year’s show. Features guest speakers Syracuse football legend Floyd Little, CNBC journalist David Faber and Ben and Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield. Registration and admission information: www. centerstateceo.com or 470-1800.

n Annual Ogdensburg Chamber of Commerce Dinner, 5 p.m. cocktails and silent auction, 6:30 p.m. dinner, Gran-View Restaurant. Dinner selection includes prime rib, fresh salmon with hollandaise sauce or chicken marco polo. Vegetarian option available upon request. Cost: $38. Reservations: Chamber office, 393-3620.

THURSDAY, NOV. 8

OSWEGO

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 17

TUESDAY, OCT. 30

n 2012 Oswego Connections, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., the American Foundry, 246 W. Seneca St. Sponsored by SUNY Oswego’s Office of Business and Community Relations, Women’s Network for Entrepreneurial Training and Women TIES. Speakers include: Susan Bertrand, Maureen’s Hope Foundation; JoBeth Dellinger, Artist Pianos; Sherry Auble, Savvy Sales and Marketing; Joleene DesRosiers, Joleene Speaks; and Dr. Mary Starr, Total Wellness. Registration includes breakfast, lunch and dessert reception. Admission: $35.

Tickets: 312-2141 or tickets.oswego.edu.

PHILADELPHIA SATURDAY, OCT. 27

n Rediscovering Your Backyard, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Indian River Middle School, off Route 11. “North Country Department Store” sponsored by Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell and the Indian River FFA Club. Event features local farmers, businesses, antique dealers, shop owners, service providers and organizations. Vendor registration required by Friday, Oct. 19, contact russella@assembly. state.ny.us or 786-0284.

POTSDAM THURSDAY, OCT. 25

n Fright Night, 6 to 9 p.m., downtown Potsdam. Sponsored by Potsdam Chamber of Commerce. Special events and activities offered by local businesses with the chamber’s Halloween bingo at the chamber office, 24 Market St., from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Information: www. potsdamchamber.com or 274-9000.

n Business After Hours and Member Showcase, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Wise Guys Comedy Club & Bistro, 201 S. Salina St. Register: www. centerstateceo.com or Lisa Metot, 470-1870.

WATERTOWN n 2012 Business Networking Expo and Business After Hours, 2 to 7 p.m., Dulles State Office Building, Washington Street. Sponsored by the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce, Westelcom, ABC50, Watertown Daily Times, NNY Business magazine and Stephens Media Group. Registration information with forms and fees at www.watertownny.com.

SATURDAY, OCT. 27 & SUNDAY, OCT. 28

n Boo at the Zoo, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days, New York State Zoo at Thompson Park. Family-friendly Halloween celebration geared toward children ages 12 and younger. Trick-or-treat trail with themed areas with face painting, arts and craft stations and refreshment tent serving cider and doughnuts.

SATURDAY, NOV. 10

n Jefferson Gala, 8 p.m. to midnight, Jefferson Community College’s James E. McVean Student Center Gymnasium, 1220 Coffeen St. Sponsored by the Jefferson Community College Foundation, M&T Bank, Car Freshner, Bernier, Carr and Associates and Purcell Construction Corp. Cost: $95 per person or $190 per table. Company tables: Eight seats with company name, $1,000; four seats with company name, $500; sponsoring table with eight seats for military couples, $1,000. Information: www.sunyjefferson. edu/jefferson-gala. Contact: 786-2291 or foundation@SUNYJefferson.edu.  GOT A BUSINESS EVENT or calendar item? Email nnybusiness@wdt.net. Deadline is the 10th of each month for the following month’s issue. Visit us on Facebook at www.facebook. com/NNYBusiness or www.nnybizmag.com for events calendar updates.

COMMUNITY / BUSINESS EVENTS CALENDAR

CANTON

October 2012 | NNY Business

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BUSINESS SCENE GWNC Chamber of Commerce Athena Award Dinner at Ryan’s Lookout

From left, Denise K. Young, executive director, Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization and 2012 Athena Award recipient, with husband, Daniel.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Lisa Weber, CEO, Timeless Frames, Décor & Expressions and 2011 Athena Award recipient, Maria Roche, retired guidance counselor, Carthage Central School District and 2000 Athena Award recipient, Jane Gendron, executive director, American Red Cross of NNY and 2004 Athena Award recipient, and Katherine Fenlon, retired vice president of academic affairs, Jefferson Community College and 2007 Athena Award recipient.

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NNY Business | October 2012

From left, Col. Thomas Macdonald, chief of staff, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum and wife, Amy E.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Tara Young, Amber Beyer, both of Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization, and Lindsay Akin, Cottage Inn, Copenhagen. The Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce presented its 2012 Fall Dinner and Athena Award celebration on Sept. 13 at Ryan’s Lookout, Henderson. Bernier, Carr & Associates, WWNY 7News/WWNYF Fox 28 and Timeless Frames, Décor & Expressions sponsored this year’s event.

BUSINESS SCENE Lewis County Humane Society Black Ties & Tails Gala at Tug Hill Vineyards

From left, Heidi Stabb, pharmacist, Utica, Linda Bourgeois, CJ Logging Equipment, Elise Bourgeois, Oneida Electrical Contractors, Utica, and Carol Crawford, Heritage Health Care Center, Utica.

From left, Rebecca E. Dunkel-King, principal, Beaver River High School, husband, Daniel R., Lewis County Court Judge candidate, and Shawn Macaulay and husband, Matt, Lowville Academy.

CHRISTINA SCANLON PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Michelle Bertocchi, Otis Technology, Lyons Fallls, Tina Lundkvist, Melissa Clark, Otis Technology, Lyons Falls, and Kristen and Bruce Czerwinski. The Lewis County Humane Society held its Second Annual Black Tie and Tails Gala, on Sept. 14 at Tug Hill Vineyards, Lowville.

CHRISTINA SCANLON PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Krista Bartlett, Lewis County Humane Society board member, Patti Gorby, Lewis County Humane Society executive director, Dana Crouse, Cyclone Sound DJ Service, and Sandy Aden, and husband, Roy, Aden Logging, Lyons Falls.

n LIKE NNY BUSINESS ON FACEBOOK at www.facebook.com/nny business or scan this QR Code with your smartphone for links to exclusive content, daily updates and sneak peeks of coming issues.

October 2012 | NNY Business

| 53

BUSINESS SCENE Lewis County Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting

From left, Jackie Becker, guidance counselor, Lowville Academy, Jim Schieder, East Road Adult Home and Lewis County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Fred Munk, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

CHRISTINA SCANLON PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Charlotte Beagle, Town of Lowville historian, Krystal A. Rupert, Rupert Law Firm, Lowville, and John C. Hirschey, Hirschey and Associates, Lowville. The Lewis County Chamber of Commerce held its Annual Meeting and Anniversary Recognition Presentation on Sept. 20 at its Lowville offices.

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NNY Business | October 2012

From left, Mary Lou DeMinck, Adirondack Tug Hill Tourism Committee, and Kay Laribee.

CHRISTINA SCANLON PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Angela Widrick, Sunnycrest Flowers, Lowville, Margaret Haenlin, New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, Jerry Haenlin, Lewis County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Donna Smith, mayor, Village of Lowville.

BUSINESS SCENE GWNC Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours at North Country Children’s Clinic

From left, Kathy Crowell and Patti Shaughnessy, both of North Country Goes Green.

From left, Rebecca Wewer, Wratten Trailer Sales, Adams, and husband, Tim, Tax Accounting, Consulting, Business Planning & Payrolls, Theresa.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Adam Storino, Judi Plante and Tom Ross, all of GYMO Architecture, Engineering & Land Surveying P.C. The Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce held its September Business After Hours at the North Country Children’s Clinic, Arsenal Street, Watertown.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, LeAnn Andiorio and Shaynna Adams, both of Alice Andrew Salon.

October 2012 | NNY Business

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BUSINESS SCENE Fireball Run Adventurally Reception at Black River Valley Club

From left, Mike Colello, Frontenac Crystal Springs, Clayton, and David Stapleton, Butler, Pa., Fireball Run Team Frontenac Crystal Springs.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Neil Dicob, Barrett Paving Materials, Mark Hamilton, Fireball Run driver and Tioga County, Pa., commissioner, and Cherie Dicob, West Carthage Elementary School. Watertown was a host city for the Fireball Run Adventurally as it stopped for an overnight celebration on Sept. 25. Universal Studios filmed the event for a film called “Northern Exposure” that will feature Northern New York.

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NNY Business | October 2012

From left, Erica Leonard and husband, James, Fireball Run Team Focus, Carthage, and NNY Print, Let’s Play Thousand Islands and Pleasant Night Inn.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

Clockwise from left, Kylie Peck, director of membership, Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce, Carolann Ouellette, director, Maine Office of Tourism, Augusta, Tina “Timber” Scheer, Fireball Run Team Bangor River Drivers, and Lynn Pietroski, president and CEO, Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce.

BUSINESS SCENE Jefferson Leadership Institute Class of 2013 Kick-off Dinner at Riveredge Resort

From left, Roger R. Howard, owner, Howard Orthotics and Prosthetics, and wife, Cheryl L., owner, Innovative Physical Therapy Solutions and Jefferson Leadership Institute Class of 2013.

From left, Anthony Costantino, Northern Federal Credit Union and Jefferson Leadership Institute Class of 2013, wife, Sharon, AstraZeneca, and Anthony Surber, Northern Federal Credit Union and Jefferson Leadership Institute Class of 2013.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Dr. Jason White, Internal Medicine of NNY, and wife, Michele, Jefferson Rehabilitation Center and Jefferson Leadership Institute Class of 2013. The Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce kicked off its new Jefferson Leadership Institute class at the Riveredge Resort & Conference Center, Alexandria Bay on Sept. 28.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Terri Belden, Development Authority of the North Country, and and Jefferson Leadership Institute Class of 2013, Peter Chereshnoski, DANC, and Jefferson Leadership Institute Class of 2013, and wife, Mary.

October 2012 | NNY Business

| 57

DINING GUIDE 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 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 Bernardo’s Pizzeria 702 Coffeen St., Watertown (315) 782-9500 Black River Valley Club 131 Washington St., Watertown (315) 788-2300 Blue Heron 12050 Route 12E, Chaumont (315) 649-2240 Boathouse 214 W. Main St., Sackets Harbor (315) 646-2092 Brookside Diner 1873 State St., Watertown (315) 782-9824 Brownville Diner 114 W. Main St., Brownville (315) 786-8554 Café Mira 14 Main St., Adams (315) 232-4470

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Cam’s Pizzeria 25 Public Square, Watertown (315) 779-8900

Gold Star Deli 343 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 782-6155

Korean Grill 525 W. Main St., Watertown (315) 681-4226

Cavallario’s Cucina 133 N. Massey St., Watertown (315) 788-9744

Goodfellos 202 W. Main St., Sackets Harbor (315) 646-3463

La Bella Fonte 10700 U.S. Route 11, Adams (315) 232-4842

Gram’s Diner 13 Main St., Adams (315) 232-4881

Lake Ontario Playhouse 103 W. Main St., Sackets Harbor (315) 646-2305

Great American Grill 1290 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 788-1234

Manor Country Diner Route 11, Pierrepont Manor (315) 465-4400

Great Wall Chinese 300 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 788-7668

Limerick Hotel 16331 State Route 12E, Limerick (315) 639-6804

Harby’s Hots Outer Washington Street, Watertown (315) 788-2250

Lloyd’s of Lowville 7405 S. State St., Lowville (315) 376-7037

Herrings Inn 35802 State Route 3, Carthage (315) 493-9829

Lucia’s Italian Restaurant 11613 U.S. Route 11, Adams (315) 232-2223

Highland Meadows Country Club 24201 State Route 342, Watertown (315) 785-0108

Maggie’s on the River 500 Newell St., Watertown (315) 405-4239

Hops Spot 214.5 W. Main St., Sackets Harbor (315) 646-BEER (2337)

Mariano’s Pizza 981 Waterman Drive, Watertown (315) 788-8088

Home Deli Pizza & Subs 305 W. Main St., Watertown (315) 782-6340

Midway Ice Cream 891 Coffeen St., Watertown (315) 405-4996

Hot Diggity Dogs Salmon Run Mall, Watertown (315) 788-4844

Mo’s Place 345 Factory St., Watertown (315) 782-5503

Ives Hill Restaurant 435 Flower Ave. W., Watertown (315) 775-4837

Morgia’s Pasta 22560 Fisher Road, Watertown (315) 788-3509

Jean’s Beans 259 Eastern Blvd., Watertown (315) 788-7460

Mr. Sub Sandwich Shop Public Square & Mill St., Watertown (315) 782-1760

Johnny D’s 1 Public Square, Watertown (315) 782-6108

Nu Pier 13212 State Route 3, Sackets Harbor (315) 646-3312

Gary’s Restaurant 5424 Shady Ave., Lowville (315) 376-6612

Karen & Jasper’s Bar & Bistro 1322 Washington St. Plaza, Watertown (315) 788-4110

Original Italian Pizza 222 N. Massey St., Watertown (315) 786-0000

G&F Italian Pizza and Restaurant 2972 E. Main St., Parish (315) 625-7177

King Star Food Oriental 22265 U.S. Route 11, Watertown (315) 786-0246

Papa Tino’s Pizzeria 716 Mill St., Watertown (315) 782-7272

Cherry Tree Inn 8541 State Route 3, Henderson (315) 938-7281 China City 1125 Arsenal St. Suite 2, Watertown (315) 788-8289 Church Street Diner 107 Church St., Carthage (315) 493-0997 Coleman’s Corner 849 Lawrence St., Watertown (315) 782-6888 Crossroads Diner 22474 U.S. Route 11, Watertown (315) 782-9591 Crystal Restaurant 87 Public Square, Watertown (315) 782-9938 Daily Buffet (Chinese) 1283 Arsenal St. Stop 8, Watertown (315) 786-8598 Dano’s Pizzeria and Restaurant 24411 State Route 971V, Felts Mills (315) 773-3266 Erin’s Isle Restaurant 928 State Route 11C, Brasher Falls (315) 389-4100 Fairground Inn 852 Coffeen St., Watertown (315) 782-7335 Fireside at Partridge Berry Inn 26561 State Route 3, Watertown (315) 782-8401 Five Guys 1290 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 221-4258 Fung Hing Chinese 225 State St., Watertown (315) 785-9689

NNY Business | October 2012

DINING GUIDE Pete’s Trattoria 111 Breen Ave., Watertown (315) 782-6640

Read the reviews

Pickle Barrel Cafe 32523 Route 12, Depauville (315) 686-3640

 Log on to www.watertowndaily times.com to read restaurant reviews

by Watertown Daily Times restaurant critic Walter Siebel.

Pizza Shack 12699 State Route 3, Sackets Harbor (315) 646-2267

Get on the list

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 Resturante de Ricardo 1196 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 788-6800 Rhonda’s Place Family Diner 566 State St., Watertown

 Call NNY Business associate editor Kyle Hayes at (315) 661-2381 or email khayes@wdt.net to have your restaurant or bar listed in our monthly dining guide today.

Shorty’s Place 1280 Coffeen St., Watertown (315) 782-7878 Shuler’s Steak & Seafood 802 Mill St., Watertown (315) 782-1429 Soluri’s Pizza 526 Factory St., Watertown (315) 782-2888

Riccardo’s Market & Deli 710 Holcomb St., Watertown (315) 782-7810

Stonefence Resort 7191 State Route 37, Ogdensburg (315) 393-1545

Riverhouse 4818 Salina St., Pulaski (315)509-4281

Stone Jug Pizzeria 104 Bartlett Road, Sackets Harbor (315) 646-1008

Roma Restaurant 19 Bridge St., Carthage (315) 493-0616

Suk Hui Hi’s Korean 1301 State St., Watertown (315) 785-9740

Romalato’s Gourmet Deli 450 Gaffney Drive, Watertown (315) 681-6653

Super Wok Chinese Restaurant 20991 State Route 3, Watertown (315) 788-5389

Ryan’s Lookout 9290 State Route 3, Henderson (315) 938-5151

Teriyaki Experience 21852 Towne Center Drive, Watertown (315) 785-9254

Sackets Harbor Brew Pub 212 W. Main St., Sackets Harbor (315) 646-2739

Thailand Thai Restaurant 1857 State St., Watertown (315) 788-6688

Sandy’s Luncheonette 5 Public Square, Watertown (315) 782-2935

The Place 1612 Ford St., Ogdensburg 315-393-3080

Savory Downtown 300 Washington St., Watertown (315) 782-8000

Thousand Island Club 21952 Club Road, Alexandria Bay (315) 482-9999

Sboro’s Restaurant 836 Coffeen St., Watertown (315) 788-1728

Tico’s Mex Mex Grill 65 Public Square, Watertown (315) 836-4778

Tilted Kilt 1050 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 782-5458

Clueless 545 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 782-9006

Tin Pan Galley 110 W. Main St., Sackets Harbor (315) 646-3812

Crazy Legs Saloon 536 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 777-8333

United China Restaurant 144 Eastern Blvd., Watertown (315) 782-4432

Edge of the River Pub 519 W. Main St., Watertown (315) 788-0695

Violi’s Restaurant 209 Center St., Massena (315) 764-0329

Fat Boys 743 Huntington St., Watertown (315) 779-0087

Village Inn 8208 Main St., Harrisville (315) 543-9382 VV’s Mexican Kitchen Noble Street, Evans Mills (315) 629-4652 Walsh’s Pub & Grill 101 E. Main St., Brownville (315) 782-6065 Watertown Golf Club Grill and Bar 1 Thompson Park, Watertown (315) 782-5606 Willowbrook Golf Club 25075 State Route 37, Watertown (315) 782-8192 Wing Wagon 71 Public Square, Watertown (315) 836-3205

Coffee Houses Brew Ha Ha 468 Coffeen St., Watertown (315) 788-1175 Chrissy Beanz Bakery 105 W. Main St., Sackets Harbor (315) 646-2330 Coffee Shop Carbone Plaza, Watertown (315) 782-0450 Danny’s Coffee 21181 Salmon Run Mall, Watertown (315) 782-7057

Fort Pearl Inc. 557 Pearl St., Watertown (315) 786-3333 Hitchin’ Post Tavern 404 Court St., Watertown (315) 782-9656 Hometown Pizzeria 4 W. Church St., Adams (315) 232-3000 Joe’s Tavern 548 Coffeen St., Watertown (315) 782-9709 Kicker’s Lounge 498 Factory St., Watertown (315) 785-9392 Mick’s Place 204 Factory St., Watertown (315) 786-1992 Paddock Club 5 Paddock Arcade, Watertown (315) 786-6633 Pappy’s Bowlmor Lanes 227 E. Orvis St., Massena (315) 769-9877 Pewter Mug 1120 Gill St., Watertown (315) 782-0200 Seth’s Pub 558 State St., Watertown (315) 681-6645

Bars / Nightlife

Shootie’s Bar 504 Pearl St., Watertown (315) 782-9724

Artie’s Tavern 329 High St., Watertown (315) 782-9616

Time Warp Tavern 302 State St., Watertown (315) 782-9784

October 2012 | NNY Business

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BUSINESS HISTORY

WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES ARCHIVES

A view in Watertown looking east circa 1867. The ‘x’ denotes the Knowlton Brothers factory and ‘o’ is the Union Mill.

An industrial revolution

n Industry flourished after railroad, water systems

I

NNY Business

t is a far cry from the stone cotton mills and crossroad iron foundries of the early 1800s to the great industries that made up so much of the wealth of Northern New York in the early 1900s. In the early part of this century, the north country was one of the richest sources of electric power in the United States and was widely known as a great industrial region. The first industry in this section of the state, outside of farming, was making potash from ashes secured by burning piles of timber. Later, the first iron mines were opened in Franklin County, not far from Chateaugay, and at Rossie in St. Lawrence County, among

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NNY Business | October 2012

other places.

The Rossie iron works, which were owned by landowner David Parish, were visited by President Monroe when he made his horseback tour of Northern New York. The iron secured from these mines was made into stoves and sold to farmers in the region.

Indeed, all industry in Northern New York, before about 1850, was what might be called neighborhood industries. The railroads weren’t here yet and the roads were bad, making it difficult to ship manufactured products very far.

The wagons made at village wagon shops and buckets made at village cooper shops usually were sold to nearby farmers. So were the plows made at the little

plow factories and the nails and stoves made at the foundries.

Then the cotton mill era came. The first cotton mill in Watertown was at Factory Square. In fact, Factory Street was first just a lane leading from the village to the cotton factory.

Stone cotton factories went up in many places in Northern New York. The largest, the Beebee factory, was erected on Beebee Island on the Black River in Watertown.

These cotton mills soon went out of business for one of two reasons. In the first place, they had to sell their goods only to people living nearby because they had no means to ship them far away.

Therefore, the market was too small to support them.

Second, many of the mills burned.

None of the villages had water systems and few had any kind of firefighting apparatus. Once a place caught fire, it was likely to be doomed because the only water available was what could be dipped from wells.

Two things were needed before there could be much industrial development in Northern New York. One was the railroad, and the other was water systems to protect factories from fire.

The railroad came to Northern New York about 1850, and with the trains came the area’s first two big industries: the Kingsford Starch Works at Oswego and the Hoard Engine Works in Watertown.

These two were both big manufacturers before the Civil War. The Kingsford Works in Oswego made starch from corn and so famous was the factory that soon Oswego became known as the starch city.

The Hoard Engine Works made portable steam engines and soon this company, between downtown Watertown and the Black River, was employing more than 100 people. During the Civil War, the factory made muskets for the Union Army.

Soon after the Civil War, Northern New York became known as a paper mill section. It was an ideal place for paper mills.

There was plenty of pulpwood in the Adirondacks that would be cut, thrown into streams and floated down to the mills.

These same streams furnished the power to operate the mills.

The paper mill era in Northern New York’s industrial history was succeeded by what we may call the power era. Residents began to appreciate the great wealth in the area’s rivers and streams. They built power plants to develop this electric energy.

It was water power that brought to Northern New York the great aluminum works at Massena, now one of the area’s largest industries. It was water power that made Massena double in population from the early 1920s to the early 1930s.

Editor’s Note: “An Elementary History of Northern New York,” from which this article is taken, was first published in 1932 and written

by Harry F. Landon, former Times managing editor and noted local historian. This column previously appeared in the millennium edition of the Watertown Daily Times. n BUSINESS HISTORY IS A monthly feature from the archives of the Watertown Daily Times.

Visit www.watertowndailytimes.com to access digital archives since 1988, or stop by the Times, 260 Washington St., Watertown to research materials in our library that date back to the 1800s.

October 2012 | NNY Business

| 61

W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G H E R E ?

CASKINETTELOFINK FORD EXPANSION LOCATION: Service department expansion, 36788 Route 26, Carthage SIZE: 12,000 square feet COST: $500,000 DESIGN/BUILDING: LUNCO Corp., designbuilders, Carthage ESTIMATED COMPLETION: First phase to be completed end of October, showroom completion estimated beginning of 2013.

LOCAL JOBS: 12 to 14 new positions created as a result of the expansion.

— Compiled by Kyle R. Hayes PHOTO SPECIAL TO NNY BUSINESS

Construction continues last month on a 12,000-square-foot expansion of the Caskinette-Lofink Ford service department and showroom. The remodeled dealership is expected to open early in 2013.

NEXT MONTH

I

n our November cover story, we look at the past, present and future of innovation in the north country. Northern New York was once a hotbed for ideas and inventions, boasting a record number of patents being filed in the early 1900s, and today’s businesses continue to develop new ideas that have put them on the map.

Also coming next month: n SMALL BUSINESS STARTUP: We begin a monthly feature on a newly-created small business and visit with the founders to get the inside scoop on what drives them. n SURE-FIRE STAFFING: Firms that provide staffing services for north country businesses are in a tough spot, with shaky unemployment numbers and businesses reluctant to hire. As the economy continues to rebound, we look at who’s putting people to work. n PLUS: 20 Questions, NNY Snapshot, Economically Speaking, Commerce Corner, Nonprofits Today, Business Tech Bytes, Small Business Success, Real Estate, Agri-Business, Business History, Business Scene and more. n VISIT US ONLINE at www.nnybizmag.com.

Follow us on Twitter for daily updates at @ NNYBusiness Mag, like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nnybusiness, and view eEditions at www.issuu.com/NNYBusiness.

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NNY Business | October 2012

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