NNY Business December 2017

B

// SEVENTH ANNUAL // EMERGING LEADERS ISSUE

Y usIness

DECEMBER 2017 Volume 8 No. 1

$2.95

nnybizmag.com

/nnybusiness @NNYBusinessMag

// NORTHERN NEW YORK’S PREMIER BUSINESS MONTHLY //

2 | NNY Business | December 2017

December 2017 | NNY Business | 3

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4 | NNY Business | December 2017

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Inside DECEMBER 2017

14 58

13 |

COVER |

14 20 UNDER 40 NNY Business presents 20 Northern New York emerging leaders.

16 Aaron Nacklick 18 Aaron Robertshaw 20 Adam Love 22 Alexa Bennett 24 Alex Buduson 26 Ali Boolani 28 Blake Place 30 Brian Marcolini 32 Cody Morse 34 Erin Simser 36Heather Pleaskach 38 Ian Maxwell 40 Jason McCulloch 42 Jennifer Gray 44 Julia Robbins 46 Justin Hall 48 Matthew Hudson 50 Megan Kendall 52 Rob Bicknell 54 Ryan Niles

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FEATURES |

58 NNY EMPLOYMENT While the number of jobs in Northern New York are on the rise, the number of talented applicants is shrinking.

13 TACO TRUCK A new business has hit the road, serving up a new flavor on the streets of St. Lawrence County.

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TOP TRANSACTIONS |

73 JEFFERSON COUNTY The top 6 property sales in Jefferson County topped more than $6 million in October. |

BUSINESS SCENE |

78 20 Under 40 Surprise

This years recipients are surprised as they are presented with their award announcement cards! |

ONLINE |

NNYBIZMAG.COM Connect with us online for daily updates, more photos and exclusive Web content.

December 2017 | NNY Business | 5

CONTRIBUTORS

BusIness www.nnybizmag.com

Chairman of the Board John B. Johnson Jr.

Lance M. Evans is executive officer for the Jefferson-Lewis and St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors. Each month he writes Real Estate Roundup.

Jay Matteson is the agricultural coordinator for Jefferson County Economic Development.

Every other month he writes about agribusiness in northern New York.

Eli Anderson is communications coordinator for the Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization and a former healthcare reporter for the Watertown Daily Times.

Editor & Publisher John B. Johnson

Co-Publisher

Harold B. Johnson II

Magazine Editor Brian Kelly

Magazine Associate Editor Holly C. Boname

Editorial Design Holly C. Boname

Photography

Marcus Wolf is the business reporter for the Watertown Daily Times. In this issue he has a feature story about employment.

Jennifer McCluskey is an advisor for the state Small Business Development Center at SUNY Canton.

Rande Richardson is executive director for the United Way of Northern New York.

20UNDER40 CONTRIBUTORS Norah Machia Eli Anderson Holly Boname Craig Fox Jen Jackson Brian Molongoski Bob Beckstead Abe Kenmore Steve Virkler

Nicole Caldwell Elaine Avallone Larry Robinson Jake Newman Marcus Wolf Miranda Materazzo Gordon Block W. T. Eckert Sue Mende

MARKETPLACE Bay Brokerage ......................................67 Bicknell Corporation .............................80 Blue Cross ................................................3 Carthage Area Hospital ........................74 Caskinette Ford .....................................75 Cheney Tire ............................................74 Citec Business Solutions ........................75 Conboy, McKay, Bachman & Kendall 73 Cortel Improvement .............................64 DeFelsko ................................................69 Food Bank of CNY .................................70 Garnder’s ...............................................12 Hilton Garden Inn ..................................71 Hospice of Jefferson County ................12 MSP Realty .............................................62 Netto Fire Equipment .............................61 Niles Asset Management ......................62 NNY Automotive ...................................65 NNY Community Foundation .........61, 77 NNY Dining Out ......................................65 6 | NNY Business | December 2017

NNY Insurance ......................................64 NNY Marketplace .................................57 PieZano’s Pizza ......................................72 RBC Wealth Management .....................69 River Hospital .........................................66 Samaritan Medical Center ...............7, 56 SeaComm ..............................................73 Shop Clayton ...........................................4 Shred Con ..............................................78 Snapshots Photo Booth ............................9 St. Lawrence University ...........................56 T.F. Wright & Sons ...................................66 The Morgia Group ...................................9 Tunes 92.5 ..............................................79 Volunteer Transportation ......................70 Waite Motorsports .................................77 Waite Toyota ..........................................76 Watertown Insurance ............................74 Watertown Savings Bank .........................2 YMCA .....................................................67

Amanda Morrison Chris Lenney

Director of Advertising Michelle Bowers

Advertising Graphics

Brian Mitchell, Rick Gaskin, Heather O’Driscoll, Scott Smith, Todd Soules

Circulation Director Mary Sawyer

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. © 2010-2017. All material submitted to NNY Business becomes property of Northern New York Newspaper Corp., publishers of the Watertown Daily Times, and will not be returned.

Subscription Rates 12 issues are $15 a year and 24 issues are $25 for two years.

Call 315-782-1000 to subscribe.

Submissions Send all editorial correspondence to hboname@wdt.net Advertising For advertising rates and information in Jefferson and Lewis counties, email mbowers@wdt.net, or call 315-661-2345 In St. Lawrence County, e-mail blabrake@ogd.com, or call 315-661-2507 Printed with pride in U.S.A. at Vanguard Printing LLC, Ithaca, N.Y., a Forest Stewardship Certified facility.

Please recycle this magazine.

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PHOTOGRAPHY

|

|

ABOUT THE COVER

|

NNY Business would like to thank lead staff photographer Amanda Morrison for her hard work and assistance conceptualizing and executing this years photography for the 2017 20 Under 40 magazine.

Her work in studio with each of this years recipients made the double-page spreads on each individual possible, showcasing their unique personalities through exceptional portraits. Her work can be seen daily in the Watertown Daily Times and monthly in each issue of NNY Business.

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DEPARTMENTS

8 9 10 12

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

13 SMALL BIZ STARTUP 76 CALENDAR 78 BUSINESS SCENE

For this month’s cover, NNY Business is proud to present an extended version of the 20 Under 40 class of 2017. In this issue, you will find a doublepage spread featuring 20 of the brightest upcoming professionals nominated by their peers, employers and family members and selected by a panel of editors, past recipients and professionals.

December 2017 | NNY Business | 7

T

E DI T OR ’ S NOTE hose of us who grew up in the north country or have spent a significant amount of time here have at times looked around and wondered where many of our friends and family have

scattered.

The answer is often: Elsewhere. That’s a pretty vague word, not really capturing the whereabouts of people we’ve watched grow up, gain an education and move on. But in its simplest form, it means these people are no longer around.

Where they have gone is not really important; it’s the reason they have left that matters. Most - and I ‘m not giving away any state secrets here - left for what they perceived as a better opportunity. Some have left for a big city environment and all the amenities that offers, some have left for warmer climes, but most have left because they found jobs someplace else.

I’ve had more than one friend tell me, “You know, I’d really like to move back to Watertown, but…,” with the “but” usually followed by a recitation of reasons why their degree or area of expertise has not matched a prospective job in the area.

All of which is what makes the accomplishments of the young people profiled in this year’s edition of “20 Under 40” that much more impressive.

All could have Brian Kelly probably found success “elsewhere,” but have chosen the north country as the place to make their mark.

This goes beyond jobs for these people; it extends into the community.

The people profiled on the following pages haven’t simply landed jobs they can be proud of, they have also given of themselves to make the area better for others. They all volunteer, with many coaching, mentoring or tutoring the next generation.

They are examples of emerging leaders and represent just a select number of young people who are doing their best to make the north country a better place to live. I mentioned last month the difficulty I had in selecting 20 young people for inclusion in this issue from a slate of more than 75 nominees; you could have

made a persuasive argument for any of the nominees’ inclusion. Fortunately for me, I had the wisdom of our selection committee to help narrow the field.

If it had been left up to me to decide, the magazine you are holding would be more than 200 pages.

So if you bump into any of the “20 Under 40” people profiled here, or see any young person making a positive contribution to their community, please tell them two things: We appreciate you and we need you here.

And if you see a young person doing something exceptional at work or in the community, please take note. NNY Business will begin taking nominations for its 2018 20 Under 40 class in September.

Enjoy,

NE XT M ONTH

I

n January’s issue, NNY Business focuses on the economic outlook for the tri-country region in 2018.

n PLUS: NNY Snapshot, Economically Speaking, Entrepreneur Edge, Commerce Corner, Nonprofits Today, Small Business Success, Real Estate, Agribusiness, and Business Scene.

8 | NNY Business | December 2017

n VISIT US ONLINE at nnybizmag.com.

Follow us on Twitter for daily updates at @NNYBusinessMag, like us on Facebook at facebook.com/nnybusiness, and view eEditions at issuu.com/NNYBusiness.

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE CHJC Director of Systems Administration Named to National Family Focused Treatment Association Board

Children’s Home of Jefferson County director of systems administration, Michelle L. Monnat, MS, LMHC, has been elected to serve on the Family Focused Treatment Association (FFTA) Board of Directors.

A national organization, FFTA was established in 1988 and represents more than 450 member agencies throughout the United States and Canada. Each year, its member agencies serve more than 60,000 youth. The association’s mission is “to strengthen agencies that support families caring for vulnerable children,” while its vision is “to be the leader in promoting best practices in family focused treatment services.”

The organization has grown to become the only national, non-profit association representing treatment foster care programs across North America. FFTA also offers a large array of child welfare and behavioral health services. Members work within a network of national and state child welfare advocacy organizations, researchers, mental health professionals, child welfare advisers, and policymakers. Their goal is to ensure vulnerable youth receive community-based supports and services to help them achieve long-term safety, stability, and wellbeing in permanent homes with life-long connections.

Ms. Monnat began her career at the Children’s Home in May 2008. She currently oversees all CHJC residential programs including residential treatment, therapeutic crisis respite, and non-secure detention. She also oversees CHJC’s information technology and quality improvement/quality assurance departments, and serves as an agency grant writer. She received both a bachelor’s of science degree in psychology, and a master’s of science degree in mental health counseling from St. Lawrence University, and is a certified health information technology implementation manager. Ms. Monnat was honored in 2015 as a New York State Coalition for Children’s Mental Health Services “Employee of the Year,” and was named a 2014 Northern New York Business Magazine “20 Under 40.” She is also a graduate of the Greater Watertown North Country Jefferson Leadership Institute.

Got business milestones? n Share your business milestones with NNY Business. Email news releases and photos (.jpg/300 dpi) to associate magazine editor Holly Boname at hboname@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.

December 2017 | NNY Business | 9

Average New York surrogate* price for on-highway diesel

$1.87 in October 2017 $1.90 in September 2017 $1.89 in October 2016

$2.93 in October 2017 $2.91 in September 2017 $2.55 in October 2016

1.1%

Source: NYS Department of Agriculture

$2.59 in October 2017 $2.72 in September 2017 $2.28 in October 2016

Vehicles crossing the Thousand Islands bridge

13.6%

168,436 in October 2017 185,390 in September 2017 170,273 in October 2016

$3.27 in October 2017 $3.27 in September 2017 $2.75 in October 2016

1.1%

Source: T.I. Bridge Authority

10.9%

No bridge data

Average NNY price for gallon of residential propane

n Vehicle crossing numbers were not available at the time of publication.

18.9%

Source: NYS Energy Research and Development Authority

Vehicles crossing the Seaway International (Massena) bridge

Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors single-family home sales 124, median price $136,750 in October 2017 151, median price $132,500 in September 2017 144, median price $150,750 in October 2016

209,605 in October 2017 207,720 in September 2017 198,413 in October 2016

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

9.3% Price

Nonagriculture jobs in the Jefferson-Lewis-St. Lawrence counties area, not including military positions 88,900 in October 2017 88,800 in September 2017 88,700 in October 2016

10.5%

.2%

Price

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

Source: NYS Department of Labor

NNY unemployment rates

United States

4.8

5.7

New York State

October 2016

4.2 Sept. 2017

October 2017 4.1

4.6

September 2017

5.2 October 2017

October 2016

September 2017

5.3

Lewis County

5.7

5.7 October 2017

5.8

5.7

5.3 September 2017

St. Lawrence County

October 2016

5.4

Jefferson County

4.8

Sales

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of N.Y.

October 2016

3.1%

3.7%

$1.29 in October 2017 $1.25 in September 2017 $1.34 in October 2016

St. Lawrence Board of Realtors single-family home sales 63, median price $85,000 in October 2017 84, median price $90,000 in September 2017 65, median price $95,000 in October 2016

September 2017 4.7

Sales

5.6%

Seaway International Bridge Corp.

October 2017

13.9%

October 2017

ECON SNAPSHOT

Average NNY price for gallon of home heating oil $2.54 in October 2017 $2.48 in September 2017 $2.29 in October 2016

14.9%

*Prices are the composite area that includes New York, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia.

Source: U.S. DOE, Energy Information Administration

Average NNY price for gallon of regular unleaded gas

10 | NNY Business | December 2017

(Percent gains and losses are over 12 months)

Average per-gallon milk price paid to N.Y. dairy farmers

October 2016

NNY

Economic indicators

Source: U.S. Department of Labor and New York State Department of Labor (Not seasonally adjusted. Latest available data reported.)

Note: Due to updates in some “Econ. Snapshot� categories, numbers may differ from previously published prior month and year figures.

NNY

Economic indicators New automobiles (cars and trucks) registered in Jefferson County Cars 88,900 in October 2017 88,800 in September 2017 88,700 in October 2016

.7%

Source: Jefferson County Clerk’s Office

Passengers at Watertown International Airport

No passenger data

n Airport passenger numbers were not available at the time of publication.

Trucks 115 in October 2017 127 in September 2017 152 in October 2016

24.3%

Open welfare cases in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties 2,126 in October 2017 2,131 in September 2017 2,253 in October 2016

5.6%

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

DBA (doing business under an assumed name) certificates filed at the Jefferson County Clerk’s office November 1 to November 27, 2017. For a complete list of DBAs filed in past months, visit WWW.NNYBIZMAG.COM.

NOV. 22: Lucky Star Tattoo, 320 State St., Watertown, Charles Bates, 242 Paddock St., Watertown.

NOV. 22: All Out Pizza and More, 19009 Route 12E, Dexter, Mary E. Wilder, 19009 Route 12E, Dexter.

NOV. 21: Ticos Diner, 32585 Route 26, Great Bend, Elizabeth Gamez, 31878 Route 4, Cape Vincent.

NOV. 20: Michelle Frederick Photography, 94504 Woodcrest Lane, Fort Drum, Michelle A. Frederick, 94504 Woodcrest Lane, Fort Drum.

River Scraper, 522 Webb St., Clayton, Joseph S. Chrisman, 522 Webb St., Clayton.

Bone and the Basket, 522 Webb St., Clayton, Susan K. O’Neill, 522 Webb St., Clayton.

Lake Effect Service, 12249 Gobbe Hill Road, Henderson, Scott LaPell, 12249 Gobbe Hill Road, Henderson.

Evans Mills.

Total IMPAC, 26139 Great Gray Court, Evans Mills, LeCelle Providence, 26139 Great Gray Court, Evans Mills.

I.M.P.A.C Elite, 26139 Great Gray Court, Evans Mills, LeCelle Providence, 26139 Great Gray Court, Evans Mills.

Big Day Pet Services, 600 Alexandria Drive, Watertown, Ambur D. Misercola, 600 Alexandria Drive, Watertown.

Life & Leaf Photography, 17961 First St., Adams Center, Joy G. Besaw, 17961 First St., Adams Center.

NOV. 9: Handmade and Hammered, 242 Paddock St., Watertown, Lynne Bates, 242 Paddock St., Watertown.

NOV. 8: Cowgirl Café, 35065 Countryman Road, Theresa, Michelle M. Nickles, 35065 Countryman Road, Theresa.

NOV. 7: Ditadel, 63 Pubic Square, Watertown, Pierre W. LaGuerre, 63 Public Square, Watertown.

Bow Button Fabrics, 22128 Riverbend Drive West, Watertown, Kimberly N. Dolci, 22128 Riverbend Drive West, Watertown.

A & J Handiman Service, 24565 Back St., Felts Mills, Amber Seibel, 24565 Back St., Felts Mills.

All Star Used Cars, 22220 Route 11, Watertown, Robert A Fleming, 22220 Route 11, Watertown.

Jennifer Burns, 17740 Spencer Road, Watertown, Jennifer Burns, 17740 Spencer Road, Watertown.

Auto 1, 20768 Route 12F, Watertown, Thomas E. Horning, 20234 Route 63, Watertown.

NOV. 6: B M W Construction, 16567 Route 59, Dexter, Brian Watson, 12872 Route 72, Henderson.

NOV. 17: Brown Eyed Girl Photography, 1207 State St., Watertown, Melissa L. Brown, 1207 State St., Watertown.

Dianes Country Craft, 17924 Van Allen Road North, Watertown, Diane L. Armstrong, 12872 Route 72, Henderson.

North American Contracting, 22497 Colonial Manor Road, Watertown, Eric LaPradd, 22497 Colonial Manor Road, Watertown.

NOV. 3: Monty’s Lawncare, 12872 Route 72, Henderson, Henry A. Montondo, 12872 Route 72, Henderson.

NOV. 16: Microblading by Lauren H, 13865 Hess Road, Sackets Harbor, Lauren E. Heaslip, 13865 Hess Road, Sackets Harbor.

Ontario Cryo Therapy, 1041 Arsenal St., Watertown, Modinger Group LLC, 25 Grant St., Dexter.

ES and J Small Engine Repair, 8687 Route 78, Henderson, Edward D. Duger, 2481 Route 3, Mannsville.

Massage For Vets, 424 A Vanduzee St., Watertown, Anne M. Nandzik, 49 Main St., Whitesboro.

NOV. 2: North Country Generators, 10412 Lasher Road, Henderson, Danny R. Dagostino, 10412 Lasher Road, Henderson.

Never Ending Treasures, 12 East Church St., Adams, Elizabeth J. Comins, 58 Grove St., Adams.

NOV. 15: BR Enterprises, 182 Bishop St., Watertown, Brian L. Roach, 182 Bishop St., Watertown.

NOV. 1: Carthage Auto Repair Service Center, 50 Franklin St., Carthage, David K. Burto, 21700 Farney Pit Road, Carthage.

NOV. 14: I.M.P.A.C Performance, 26139 Great Gray Court, Evans Mills, LeCelle Providence, 26139 Great Gray Court,

Craigs Auto Center, 22503 Route 11, Watertown, Craig Caskinette, 40830 Route 21, Theresa.

December

TRANSACTIONS

DBAs

2017 | NNY Business

| 11

BUSINESS BRIEFCASE Canton Native Gives Generous Gift to Canton-Potsdam Hospital in Memory of Parents

COMPASSIONATE PERSONALIZED QUALITY CARE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY Hospice of Jefferson County delivers compassionate, personalized, high-quality care. Hospice is committed to comfort, privacy, dignity and control.

SERVICES AVAILABLE IN YOUR HOME OR AT THE HOSPICE RESIDENCE

Carole Stretton Beldon of Sarasota, FL and her children, Allyson Beldon and Jack Beldon II, have provided a generous gift to help advance Canton-Potsdam Hospital’s mission to provide skilled, compassionate, cost-effective care that promotes wellness and meets community needs.

Mrs. Beldon is the daughter of the late Obstetrician Ernest Stretton, who practiced medicine in Canton from the 1930’s until 1973. Her gift was made in memory of both her parents, Dr. and Mrs. Ernest and Edith Stretton and will name the ultrasound room at the St. Lawrence Health System Medical Campus building on Route 11 in Canton, NY. In 1938, Dr. Ernest Stretton and his wife, Edith, settled in Canton, NY, after he completed his medical training at Columbia University, to open his medical practice.

Dr. Stretton strongly believed that continuing his education would advance the care he gave to his patients.

Mrs. Beldon now lives in Sarasota, but she regularly returns to her childhood home in Canton to spend time with great friends and revel in the progressive changes that have occurred in the community since her early years.

“We are delighted to acknowledge this generous gift from Mrs. Beldon,” said Canton-Potsdam Hospital President and CEO David B. Acker, FACHE. “This gift represents the Stretton family’s fine tradition of promoting quality healthcare in St. Lawrence County, and helps to strengthen the foundation on which that care is delivered.”

The terms of the gift allow it to be used to help meet the greatest needs of the hospital. “My father’s passion for caring for others impressed upon me the importance of giving back to community,” said Beldon.

“This gift allows me to remember my parents and provide support for healthcare in the community that was important to us.”

Community Bank, NA Donates to Chamber Annual Dinner

The Greater Ogdensburg Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the $500 sponsorship donation from Community Bank, NA for the 2017 Annual Dinner scheduled for Friday, November 3, 2017 at the Gran-View Restaurant.

The Greater Ogdensburg Chamber will award the Citizen of the Year Award, Business Improvement Award and Outstanding Community Service Award at the Annual Dinner on Friday, November 3rd.

12 | NNY Business | December 2017

SMAL L BU SIN E SS S TA RT UP

WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES FILE PHOTO

BUSINESS

King Taco Truck Authentic Mexican food has literally hit the streets of Canton.

At lunchtime, a long line can be seen at the new King Taco truck parked alongside the Canton Village Park, across from the post office, on Park Street.

"I came here in December and drove all around the area to taste the Mexican food. It's all Tex-Mex, not authentic Mexican food," said food truck owner and cook Jorge Garcia.

And what makes the food authentic?

"The cook. I'm of Mexican descent," said a grinning Mr. Garcia. "I use quality fresh ingredients, the meat is never frozen and I make everything fresh every morning."

Mr. Garcia handled the busy crowd with the assistance of his wife, Brooke Roebuck, a pediatrician with CantonPotsdam Hospital with an office at the E.J.

Noble Building, 80 Main St., Canton. The couple reside in Hannawa Falls.

He plans to operate the taco truck throughout the winter months or until he sees his customer base dwindle to the point it's not worth opening.

"The people are the ones to say if I stay open or not. "I'll stay open as long as they show up," he said. "I want to thank all my customers for their support and I want them to know I'll be there for them."

The taco truck will be open in that spot Monday through Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. or until he runs out of food. His location will change when the Canton Farmers Market opens in May. A 12-month hawking permit from the village of Canton allows Mr. Garcia to operate his food truck.

Mr. Garcia said he is also available to cater private parties or office meetings.

"The taco truck is open for all the public," he stated.

The menu includes both meat and veg-

etarian fare - tacos ($3), quesadilla ($8), burrito ($8), taco salad ($8), nachos ($8), Visit Kingtacony on Facebook for more information. Meat choices are chicken, steak, carnitar (pork) or chorizo (sausage). The veggies are peppers and onions. Side orders include pinto beans, fried chips, guacamole, sour cream, Mexican rice, and chips.

The King Taco truck is also open in Potsdam Thursday, Friday and Saturday in the parking lot across the street from the former Stewarts Shoppe, corner of Market Street and Sandstone Drive.

The taco truck is the second food truck to open in the area. In October, a food truck featuring Cambodian cuisine opened in Potsdam. ~Story by: Paul Mitchell

WHERE Canton, NY | OPENED November 2017 | WEB www.facebook.com/kingtacony

December 2017 | NNY Business | 13

7th Annual

20UNDER40

ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES, NNY BUSINESS WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO 20 PEOPLE between the ages of 26 and 39 who have been recognized by their peers, employers and, in some case, family members, as people who have worked hard to attain success and given back to their community in return.

Some of the names or faces may already be familiar, but most will not. Most do what they do not out of an expectation of recognition, but out a true sense of duty to their positions and a selflessness for others. Their goal was not to become a leader; leadership followed them in a wake of hard work, conscience and compassion.

Among the seventh class of 20 Under 40 recipients, you will find an inventor, police chief, acute rehabilitation case coordinator, an assistant vice president of marketing and research and development, an assistant professor, a business founder and instructor, a director, a graphic design and marketing specialist, an associate marketing director, a technical sales

representative, two corporate vice presidents, a principal, a manager, a teacher, an attorney and a senior executive vice president.

As impressive as their professional credentials are, you will also find 20 volunteers. They are each involved in their community in some capacity away from work, serving on nonprofit boards, coaching youth league sports, raising money for charities or assisting at church and school functions. They do this for the benefit of others, not for personal commendation.

They are leaders because of how they conduct themselves when there is no expectation that anyone will notice. They are leaders because others see what they are accomplishing and willingly follow. They are examples the type of people who can make the north country a better place to live, both now and for future generations.

NNY Business is proud to recognize these dedicated young, rising professionals.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY: Jason Hunter / SUNY Potsdam

14 | NNY Business | December 2017

NORTHERN NEW YORK’S

EMERGING LEADERS

December 2017 | NNY Business | 15

20UNDER40 Aaron Naklick, 33

A

aron Naklick has found that in the north country, philanthropy is passed down – and he inherited his helping hand from his mother,

Karen.

“There’s something about this community, if you look around, there are so many people who just really care,” Mr. Naklick said. “It’s still small-town living.”

Mr. Naklick, 33, is the acute rehab coordinator at Samaritan Medical Center.

He is also a graduate of the 2017 Jefferson Leadership Institute, member of the Northern New York Community Foundation’s LEAD Council, and a driving force behind the “Race Against Poverty” scavenger hunt fundraiser which last year raised $24,000.

He made an especially strong impression in the community through his work with the JLI, which this year helped bring a 16-week workshop to create grassroots solutions to poverty. "Getting Ahead in a Just Getting By World" brought both the JLI cohort and the workshop participants together through the meaningful and deeply personal work. Group members continue to meet regularly on their own, keeping up with the lives of their peers and friends.

“If I latch onto something, I’m all in,” he explained while talking over coffee. “I don’t join things for the sake of it.”

Mr. Naklick has always known he wanted to help others, a calling he says his mother handed down to him. He fondly recalled holding a fundraiser with her for victims of Hurricane Sandy in 2012. They filled a trailer with needed goods and supplies and drove it straight down to Staten Island.

“She has always put others first, ahead of herself … She’s my single

16 | NNY Business | December 2017

NORTHERN NEW YORK’S EMERGING LEADERS biggest influence,” he said.

Mr. Naklick fulfills his desire to give back in part through his work, and is the only person working in his position in the tri-county area. As a rehabilitation case coordinator, he travels to meet with patients from around the north country who have been transported to larger hospitals, like in Syracuse. He discusses their care options with them, making sure they know all their options, especially those options closer to their home or families, and ultimately advocating for the patients’ wishes whatever they may be. Mr. Naklick is credited with increasing external inpatient admissions to Samaritan’s acute inpatient rehab by 50 percent.

The job also allows him to be out in the community, making connections and doing philanthropy.

“I guess, overall, what has always been instilled in me is to give back. I’ve been fortunate enough to have been around some amazing leaders,” he said, including his step-father, who also works at Samaritan.

Before coming into his position at Samaritan, he went to school for education in Cortland and then spent years working with at-risk youth in Lake Placid. However, having been raised in Adams, he missed his home and realized that teaching just wasn’t for him.

Mr. Naklick moved back to Watertown and into the nonprofit sector by taking a position at the Children’s Home of Jefferson County, and three years later, a position at the Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization.

His move home did him well in more than one way, as he married his now-wife, Shannon Naklick, just last Oct. 7.

“It’s one of the most incredible areas to raise a family in,” Mr. Naklick said, though for now it’s just Aaron, Shannon and their two dogs, Molly the Wheaten Terrier and Winston the Bichon.

When he’s not working or volunteering, he likes to be outdoors, hunting, fishing, traveling and enjoying nature.

His favorite hike to-date was Haystack Mountain in the Adirondacks. He also makes plenty of time for family, most of whom also live in the Watertown area.

In all that he does, however, Mr. Naklick says he lives by the “Golden Rule” - Do to others what you want them to do to you.

“It boils down to relationship building, whether working with kids or adults, (or even ) as a busboy, which I did; establishing a rapport and positive relationships is going to help you in every part of your life.” He said. “You treat people with the same respect, whether they’re the janitor of the school or the principal of the school. That’s the philosophy I live by.” ~Jen Jackson

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The Aaron Naklick File Hometown: Adams Professional position: Acute rehabilitation case coordinator Family: Wife, Shannon; mother, Karen Peebles; stepfather, John Peebles; brother, Andy Naklick; sister, Ashley Smith; dogs, Molly and Winston Education: Bachelors of physical education and health at SUNY Cortland; masters in special education Community involvement: JLI class of 2017; Race Against Poverty; Jefferson Community College Foundation board member; LEAD Council core member; Jeff/ Lewis County Health Advisory Board member; One Night, One Diamond committee member Last Book Read: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” for his Harry Potter fan/ wife; “Alaskan Sunrise to African Sunset” by local author and family friend Glenn Bingham

December 2017 | NNY Business | 17

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NORTHERN NEW YORK’S EMERGING LEADERS

The Aaron Robertshaw File Hometown: Charlton, NY Professional position: Physician assistant Family: Wife, Ashley; Children, Lauren, 6; Luke, 3; Kellan, 2 Education: Bachelor’s degree, Brigham Young University, Idaho; master’s degree, DeSales University, Pennsylvania Community involvement: Volunteer in numerous capacities, The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints Last Book Read: “American Assassin”

by Vince Flynn

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NORTHERN NEW YORK’S EMERGING LEADERS

Aaron Robertshaw, 36

F

or two years, Aaron Robertshaw served as a full-time missionary through The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints in the small Pacific Island nation of Vanuatu, more than 8,000 miles away from the United States.

It was that service that ultimately pointed Mr. Robertshaw, 36, the lead physician assistant in the Emergency Department at Samaritan Medical Center, in the direction of pursuing a medical career.

“My time as a missionary taught me principles that certainly influenced what I wanted to accomplish in a career,” he said. “There is nothing quite like lending a helping hand to a friend, a family member and, perhaps even more so, a stranger, and seeing the influence and difference that you can make in someone’s life.”

In 2012, Mr. Robertshaw joined North Country Emergency Medicine Consultants, PC, (the group of medical providers who staff SMC’s Emergency Department), as a full-time physician assistant.

“Every day I have the opportunity to try and make a difference for someone,” said Mr. Robertshaw. “Whether that is clearing up a cough, treating a rash or the extreme of saving a life, there is the potential to make a difference in someone’s day. I discovered that potential as a missionary seventeen years ago.”

In 2003, Mr. Robertshaw graduated from Brigham Young University - Idaho with an associate’s degree in general studies. During that time, he completed his missionary work throughout the country and the islands of Vanuatu, where he learned to speak Bislama in order to communicate with the residents.

“It began with my parents supporting me through my early schooling - encouraging me and instilling in me the notion that if I put my mind to something, I could do it,” he said.

Mr. Robertshaw said his full-time twoyear missionary work for the church was one of the “most rewarding experiences of my life.”

“Being called to a foreign country, one which I had never heard of before prior to my call, and given the opportunity to serve a nation of people, was a remarkable experience,” he said. “As I had numerous opportunities to share the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to serve the people of Vanuatu, my life began to change.”

“The experiences which I encountered became a foundation for which I was able to build upon throughout my life,” he added.

Mr. Robertshaw said what he finds most

20UNDER 40 rewarding with his position at the SMC Emergency Department is “making a difference in someone’s day, making a difference is someone’s life.”

“That comes in many different forms,” he said. “Treating an ill child, providing pain relief for an injury, or intervening to save someone’s life is the reward my colleagues and I have the opportunity to experience each day.”

However, “it is not always a day of sunshine and roses,” he added.

“There are many challenges faced in an emergency room, from trying to explain long wait times, to dealing with upset patients or breaking the news to someone that their loved one didn’t make it,” Mr. Robertshaw said. “Each day can be a roller coaster. Each day is never the same. I believe that is a very unique environment.”

Mr. Robertshaw and his wife, Ashley, have three children: Lauren 6, Luke 3 and Kellan 2. He credits his wife for supporting him while he completed PA school, noting “anyone who has gone through one of these programs knows how challenging and time consuming it is. It demands your best effort and countless hours of studying and preparing.”

“I’m sure my wife had many lonely days and weeks, but she gladly supported me to meet my end goal,” he said. “We now have a beautiful family with three children.”

Despite his busy schedule, Mr. Robertshaw continues to serve and teach in his local church. He provides gospel lessons each Sunday, helps with weekly youth activities (including the scouting program through The Boy Scouts of America), church sponsored programs for teens, and local service activities.

“I believe what I enjoy most about teaching is the opportunity it gives me to connect with someone, and to share something that another can use to help them in some way,” he said. “I think that is what teaching is all about on any level. To me, teaching is the sharing of knowledge with the intent of helping someone else grow and advance.” ~Norah Machia

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NORTHERN NEW YORK’S EMERGING LEADERS

Adam Love, 39

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assena’s police chief says he knew law enforcement would be a challenging career, but that didn’t deter him from entering the field.

“Law enforcement is a challenging, but rewarding career field,” Adam Love said.

As Massena’s police chief, he said his focus is to keep the community and his staff safe while battling a drug epidemic and other crimes. When they’re able to make arrests to keep the streets safer, that’s where the rewarding part comes in.

“I’m motivated and passionate on keeping my staff and residents safe. I believe in the work every day,” he said.

Law enforcement was a career he was familiar with thanks to his uncle.

“My uncle was Robert Thomas. He was a legislator for 20 years in Jefferson County, but was in law enforcement for 48 years. He was chief of police when he retired,” Chief Love said.

His father also had a big influence on his life, giving him the confidence and support he needed to be successful.

“My dad was the provider for our family and was a hard worker. He was very outgoing and had a passion for his job. My dad’s work ethics and perseverance told me that goals were reachable,” he said.

One piece of advice guides him day-to-day “Be true to yourself and remember where you came from. That one has stuck with me forever,” he said.

Chief Love worked his way up the ranks and was promoted to police chief in mid-2016. And, he said, his staff has made his job all that much easier, offering advice as needed along with others.

“It could be the administration from the chief to my sergeants to other patrol members. They actually helped me become who I am, not just one person. It’s a whole set of people I’ve had as supervisors and senior patrol officers that helped me become who I am today and get me where I am today,” he said.

“One of my big things is a professional staff who I work with every day to keep Massena safe and dedicated to battling the drug epidemic that we’re facing. I have a staff that’s fully dedicated to making Massena a great place to be,” Chief Love said.

He said Massena truly is a great place to be, and that’s why he has stayed in the community, which boasts three rivers, nearby mountains and other attractions, as well as the small-town atmosphere.

“I believe it’s a great place to raise my family,” Chief Love said.

He said it’s important that he and his officers stay active in their community. Among the groups he is nvolved with are TRIAD and the Massena Drug-Free

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Community Coalition. The TRIAD program was developed in 2005 to enhance the delivery of law enforcement, social services and the public awareness of crime activity and reduce the criminal victimization of older citizens, people with disabilities, and those with common issues in the Massena area.

“I believe being socially involved in the community helps me to do my job. I stay involved and engaged so community members may be more willing to share concerns with me and help me keep Massena safe,” Chief Love said.

He also wants his officers involved through community policing.

“If we can stay involved with the youth, the Boys and Girls Club, Horizons and things like that, it’s us being engaged with those kids,” he said.

The job of police chief hasn’t come without some sacrifice.

“My family has suffered from me not being home because of my job. I’ve missed sporting events, family functions and holidays, especially with this new position,” Chief Love said.

Still, he said, he wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, and he wishes other young people would follow suit and keep their roots in the north country.

“I just think we have to keep the young people engaged and keep jobs here in the community. We need to let them know what’s here in the north country, what positive things that we have – jobs and entrepreneurship,” Chief Love said.

They also need to know that small communities like Massena are places that care about others.

“If something happens, we stick together,” he said. ~ Bob Beckstead

NORTHERN NEW YORK’S EMERGING LEADERS

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The Adam Love File Hometown: Massena Professional position: Chief of Police Family: Wife, Lori, and two boys, Noah and Drake Education: Associates degree in criminal justice from SUNY Canton Community involvement: TRIAD, Massena Drug-Free Community Coalition, Horizons program Last Book Read: Under Fire: Marriage Through the Eyes of a Cops Wife,

by Kristi Neace

December 2017 | NNY Business | 21

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NORTHERN NEW YORK’S EMERGING LEADERS

The Alexa Bennett File Hometown: Pillar Point, Brownville Professional position: Assistant vice president of marketing and R&D Family: Husband, Chris, and son, Sawyer Education: SUNY Plattsburgh, where she studied business and minored in communications Community involvement: Chairs the Salisbury Memorial Golf Tournament and literacy tutoring.

Last Book Read: “In Defense of Food” by Mai Pollac.

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NORTHERN NEW YORK’S EMERGING LEADERS

Alexa Bennett, 34

A

lexa Bennett thought she would go to college in Plattsburgh for four years and then move back home to Long Island.

Well, that did happen.

But Mrs. Bennett, 35, did an about-face and returned to the north country to make her home in Watertown, a move she’s never regretted.

“I miss my family,” she said. “But our quality of life is so much better here.”

She’s found a rewarding professional career at Northern Credit Union and cannot imagine anywhere else she’d rather be with her husband, Chris, and 5-year-old son, Sawyer, than living on Pillar Point.

The young mother believes she’s making a difference in people’s lives. She’s the assistant vice president of marketing and R&D at Northern Credit Union, where she knows she’s helping people make sound financial decisions about their future.

And there’s nothing better than helping someone make financial decisions about their education, she said.

Working in the banking industry, friends, family members and people she meets often approach her about advice she can give about ways to save money, tips about banking or what to do about buying a home.

“Every day, something is new,” she said.

She’s helped Northern Credit Union through a continuing expansion through her leadership and marketing skills.

Mrs. Bennett has been recognized as the winner of six Credit Union National Association Diamond Awards, including one for Best of Show.

But it’s giving back to the community that’s just as important to her, she said.

She gets her drive from her parents, Eileen, a college professor, and father Charles Eric, an investigative attorney, who instilled in her very early to work hard.

She also credits a series of mentors, whom she described as great leaders, for allowing her to grow.

“They empowered me to make mistakes then backed me up and allowed me to stand back up again,” she said. “They allowed me to be creative, try new things, work together and learn from my experience.”

It’s leaders like that help keep young people staying in the north country, Mrs. Bennett said.

The first 10 years of her life were spent growing up in Queens and then her family moved to Forest Hills in Nassau County before she headed off to SUNY Plattsburgh.

To be with her family, she and Chris, a Watertown native, moved to Long Island after graduation, where she got her first job. But then the national economy tanked in 2009 and they had to put Plan B in place.

The north country was waiting.

“We had no kids, let’s move,” she recalled. “Let’s try it.”

She landed a job at Salmon Run Mall, where she was responsible for marketing the north country’s biggest retail outlet for two years before moving on to the credit union in 2011.

The big city girl quickly fell in love with small town life.

20UNDER 40 People are friendlier, she said.

The river and the lake, the outdoors, snowshoeing and ice fishing ended up being activities she never thought she’d ever try when she was living in New York City.

“I love the outdoors, open space and open land. Everything is just fun,” Mrs. Bennett said.

“There’s lots to do.”

It might be cliché, but she says that living life each day like it’s your last keeps her happy.

And she’s stronger than she thought.

You have to be resilient.

“Grit” is the word that she and her fellow millennials use, she said.

“If you fall down,” she said, “you have to bounce back.”

But some of the best advice came from her family. She got a master’s degree in library studies but never used that experience before deciding on her career.

Her father has told her, “An education is never wasted because it’s something that no one can ever take away from you.”

She’s fortunate to find a job she loves.

“Love what you do and you’ll never work a day in your life,” she said. ~Craig Fox

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NORTHERN NEW YORK’S EMERGING LEADERS

The Alex Buduson File Hometown: Clayton Professional position: Events coordinator Family: Grandmother, Mary Bastian; Father, John Buduson; Uncle, Bobby Bastian.

Education: Ithaca College and Jefferson Community College Community involvement: Thousand Islands Young Leadership, Clayton Improvement Association, Clayton Christmas Parade and Fireworks, Legion Womens Auxillary, Thousand Islands Charity Poker Run Last Book Read: “Breaking Dawn,” Stephanie Meyer.

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NORTHERN NEW YORK’S EMERGING LEADERS

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Alex Buduson, 30

T

he river village of Clayton has many beautiful attractions and a reputation for being a very close-knit community where residents and visitors alike can feel a sense of comfort and home. And for one local resident, her name is becoming just as familiar as the events and contributions to the surrounding areas that she supports.

Alex Buduson, a Clayton native and booming young professional who works at the Clayton Chamber of Commerce, says that she loves her community and being an active member of it because it’s about making people happy and helping those in need.

Her grandfather’s advice, she says, resonated with her and how active her family was growing up. “My grandfather Bastian was very involved with the Clayton Improvement Association, which I sit on the board for now. He always used to say: “You’re not going to get anywhere by sitting at home and not doing anything. If you want to love where you live, you have to go out and be active.”

And that’s exactly what Ms. Buduson has done.

Working at the chamber for the last five years, she says she loves her job because of the flexibility it has given her to be so active in the community. Currently she sits as a board member for the Thousand Islands Young Leadership Organization, the Clayton Improvement Association and the Thousand Islands Charity Poker Run. She is a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, and the Chair of the Clayton Christmas Parade and Fireworks.

“I love Clayton. I’ve gone other places and always find myself coming back here. It’s my home,” said Ms. Buduson. “I think that’s the main reason I love my job so much; I get to be involved with developing fun things for the community and doing events, and working to make everyone happy.”

When you talk with Ms. Buduson about her passion for the community it’s written all over her face with her infectious smile and high energy, and that is the epitome of her character as a person.

“Most rewarding aspect for me about being involved with the Clayton Community would have to be giving back. For example, with TIYLO’s Masquerade Ball being able to give all the money raised to families during the holidays,

the Poker Run which is a new event that I was really involved with this summer, we were able to give out thousands of dollars to local organizations, the main one being River Hospital. To be able to give that much money back to the community is amazing,” she said.

One event that Ms. Buduson works year-round on is the Clayton Chamber of Commerce’s annual Punkin’ Chunkin’ festival that is held in downtown Clayton. This year alone, the BBQ competition raised enough money to donate $7,850 to local charities.

And this is just one of the many events that she immerses herself in.

“I like to think that I lead by example,” she said. “I’m always harassing people to volunteer in activities and events in town, and once they do then they come back and do it again. I’ve developed a group of people that I can count on year after year now.”

If there’s one person in the river community of Clayton that people can count on to give her time and energy it’s Alex Buduson, and she says that it’s the most rewarding thing in her life- her community.

“The Clayton community is a very close knit community, “she said. “When there is something wrong or there is a family in need, I can’t think of a better community that comes together like we do. If it’s coming together for an event, or for a family, or even just filling a Christmas sled full of toys for the needy, we do that.” ~Holly Boname

December 2017 | NNY Business | 25

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NORTHERN NEW YORK’S EMERGING LEADERS

Ali Boolani, 36

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li Boolani did not start out to study physiology.

“I grew up in Karachi (Pakistan), but I always grew up watching Bond,” he said. “I really thought I wanted to be the international man of mystery, a spy.”

For most people, such an ambition might have faded after middle school, when Mr. Boolani and his parents moved from Pakistan to the United States. But Mr. Boolani persisted.

He joined the Marine reserves as a machine gunner, although an injury led to his medical discharge after a year, and began his academic studies in politics. He speaks four languages fluently and can read and understand another six. By the time he was 21, he had a bachelors and masters in international political economics.

Intelligence agencies require applicants to be 23, however, so Mr. Boolani found himself with two years to spend before beginning his career as a spy. “(I thought) medicine’s interesting, human body’s interesting,” he said. “So I applied to this masters in applied physiology program at the University of New Orleans. Because I was fairly decent academically, they let me in on probation without having any basic science coursework.”

There Mr. Boolani fell in love with the discipline.

“I was like, this, you get paid to do this?” he said.

“You actually collect a pay check. This is cool.”

After completing a masters, he moved on to a PhD in health and human performance. By the time he received offers from intelligence agencies, he was dedicated to physiology, and turned them down.

“It was constantly intellectually stimulating, and for me I think the biggest thing is being intellectually stimulated,” Mr. Boolani said. “I was at every point the dumbest person out there, which was great, because here I am trying to soak in as much information as

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possible.”

Mr. Boolani currently teaches several undergraduate physiology courses, and works with undergraduate and graduate students on a number of research projects.

“My research focuses on cognition and sports,” he said. “Sports is fun, (but) sports doesn’t get you funded.”

Mr. Boolani is passionate about sports. He plays basketball five or six days a week, tennis in good weather and goes skiing and snowboarding in the winter. After spending three years as a freelance consultant for professional athletes, he still loves the beauty of pro basketball and football, but doesn’t pick sides.

“Who am I going to cheer for? Every year it’s a different team that’s paying my bills,” he said. “It pretty much knocked any sort of fandom out of me.”

Outside of his consulting work, Mr. Boolani has two other businesses. One, Your Health ABC LLC, grew out of frustration with some of the data processing apps that were available to him as a researcher.

He began programming his own software, and is now working with the Clarkson Shipley Center for Innovation to build app versions of common tests used by clinicians and researchers, which he hopes to release soon.

Since the age of 18, Mr. Boolani has also bought up dilapidated properties, fixed them up, and rented them out.

“My goal in life is to get my parents to retire. Like, that’s it,” he said. “I’ve got multiple properties in the area … And hopefully one of these days I can get everyone to retire.”

Wherever he has lived, Mr. Boolani has been deeply involved in community service, and he continues that work. A single father, he makes a point of involving his daughter, Italia Boolani, in his volunteering.

“For me, that’s important, just making sure she is involved in the community.” Mr. Boolani said. “Social justice is really, really important to me, income inequality is really important. So my community work is centered around trying to relieve income inequality.”

Mr. Boolani has begun two community service programs in Potsdam - the PB&J program which provides lunches for kids during the summer and Clarkson Feeds, which distributes spare food from the campus to people in need.

Between his academic and community work, the would-be international man of mystery has now put down roots in Potsdam.

“Potsdam has been really accepting of not only me, but my daughter,” Mr. Boolani said. “It’s just been a place that felt like home.” ~Abraham Kenmore

NORTHERN NEW YORK’S EMERGING LEADERS

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The Ali Boolani File Hometown: Potsdam Professional position: Assistant professor of physical therapy, Clarkson University Family: Daughter, Italia, 14 Education: The Clarkson School; bachelors degree in international relations, Tulane University; masters in international relations, Tulane University; masters in health and human performance, Oklahoma State University; doctorate in health and human performance, Oklahoma State University; post-doctoral fellowship in exercise psychology, University of Georgia Community involvement: Founder and committee member of PB&J; founder and faculty advisor of Clarkson Feeds; board member of St. Lawrence County Community Development Program Last Book Read: “The Whistler,” John Grisham

December 2017 | NNY Business | 27

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NORTHERN NEW YORK’S EMERGING LEADERS

The Blake Place File Hometown: Glenfield Professional position: Veterinary practices instructor, co-owner of Hidden Pastures Goat Dairy Family: Husband, Andrew; children ages 3 and 1 Education: Bachelor’s degree in animal science and master’s degree in education from Cornell University Community involvement: SkillsUSA advisor; Spay Neuter Now volunteer; Lewis County Humane Society volunteer; 4-H Dairy Bowl advisor, Value Added Dairy Committee, Honors Recognition Committee Last Book Read: “Farmstead Creamery Advisor”

by Gianadis Caldwell

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NORTHERN NEW YORK’S EMERGING LEADERS

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Blake Place, 33

B

alancing a full-time teaching job and young family can be difficult enough without adding a large-scale goat farming operation to the mix.

However, Blake Place, a veterinary practices instructor at the Howard G. Sackett Technical Center in Glenfield by day, said establishing the 250-head Hidden Pastures Goat Dairy at her nearby farm has proven equally as rewarding – and makes it easy to get up each morning.

"I'm excited for the next day," she said. "Every day is a little different and exciting."

Having grown up on a traditional dairy farm near Heuvelton, Mrs. Place said she is well aware of the benefits of a family-oriented lifestyle that teaches children responsibility and the importance of hard work. With two young children, that was very appealing.

The goat farm, which began producing milk in the spring, has also allowed Mrs. Place to take on a marketing role using Facebook, telephone calls and other networking opportunities.

'You meet a lot of cool people through the agriculture and food networks," she said.

However, it hasn't been all fun and games.

Mrs. Place acknowledged that starting the goat operation has drastically limited the family's opportunities for leisure and traveling, as her husband, Andrew, also has a full-time job at the Marks Farms, the county's largest dairy farm. Mornings, evenings and weekends are typically spent on goat farm-related duties, she said.

Mrs. Place said a planned market for the raw goat's milk also fell through, causing much consternation, but credited her husband for giving good advice and keeping her calm during the more trying times while working to create a new business. "He just encourages me so much," she said.

The teacher/farmer said she recently learned the truth in the old adage "nothing is impossible" when Hidden Pastures earned a $10,000 grant through the Farm Bureau to build a creamery that will allow raw milk to be processed right on the farm and produce products like gelato.

Mrs. Place admitted she was skeptical of her chances since there were roughly 500 applicants for 10 grants.

However, with grant funding in place, she is excited about the possibilities and, with other small-scale goat operations already in the area, hopes to target its products to larger metropolitan areas like New York City and Boston.

"I love the north country because I love agriculture," she said.

Mrs. Place said Susan Maring, whom she worked under for a time at Tug Hill Vineyards in West Lowville, is “the hardest working businesswoman I know.” Mrs. Maring and her husband started their former landscaping business in a similar stage of life as the Places are now, and her work

in developing the county's first winery has also been inspirational, she said.

If Mrs. Place had her way, someone would start a farm-to-table service where local agricultural products could be delivered directly to consumers throughout the area. "It would help a lot of farmers," she said.

However, Mrs. Place is currently busy growing the goat dairy business and continuing to have a positive influence on young minds through her teaching career.

"As a teacher, I love high school students because I catch them just before they go into real life," she said.

The job also gives her the opportunity to give back by serving as an advisor for the Sackett Center’s SkillsUSA program and finding ways for students to improve the community, Mrs. Place said.

"It’s so awesome to work with my students and get them to do more," she said.

Mrs. Place said she takes student groups to volunteer at different agencies, including the Lewis County Humane Society, and has been particularly pleased with a SkillsUSA project from a couple years ago in which students purchased agricultural sharps disposal containers to donate to local farmers. That project, intended to give farmers a safe way to get rid of needles used on their animals, has continued, thanks to the continued interest of new groups of students, she said.

"It feels good when you give back," Mrs. Place said. ~Steve Virkler

December 2017 | NNY Business | 29

20UNDER40 Brian Marcolini, 27

A

lthough he has only been a father for eight years, Brian D. Marcolini has learned most of his important life lessons from his children.

These lessons started on day one of fatherhood, when his son, Owen, was born not breathing.

His son is healthy today, but Mr. Marcolini said Owen’s stay in the neonatal intensive care unit was one of the most terrifying times of his life.

“That was a struggle for me, to be able to cry and be held by somebody,” he said. “Before kids, I probably would have hidden all of that.

People didn’t know when I struggled with something; I was too proud to admit it.”

Since that day, Mr. Marcolini said, his two boys and wife, Marcie, have taught him to be an “open book.” And for him, that’s an important part of life – whether he is at home, volunteering in the community, or working as director of the North Country Initiative.

Mr. Marcolini, a native of Leroy near Rochester, was hired in April 2014 to become the first director of the North Country Initiative – a collaborative of hospitals, physicians, and community providers working together to reform healthcare delivery in Northern New York. He and his staff work to achieve three overarching goals: to get the region working together as a team; to create opportunities for sustainability in a changing healthcare environment; and to improve health outcomes for our region’s patients.

“What’s exciting about this job for me is really the success that’s coming out of it,” he said. “The region is benefitting from our providers being sophisticated in healthcare reform. Our patients are seeing the beginning of new services like commu

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NORTHERN NEW YORK’S EMERGING LEADERS

nity health workers and behavioral health peer supports. People are taking accountability for patient outcomes, and that’s coming from the concepts we promote here at NCI.” For Mr. Marcolini, who previously worked for a decade in sales and marketing at Merck Pharmaceuticals, getting the region to work together has been no easy task. He’s had to convince healthcare partners to step outside their comfort zones and – in some cases – change the way they’ve been doing business for years. He said the job has required “grit,” a trait instilled in him years ago by a high school baseball coach.

“There have been plenty of people who have told me no,” he said. “There were people who, when I took this job, said there is no way a pharmaceutical sales rep is going to be able to do this. If I hadn’t had the grit or the belief in myself, we wouldn’t be here today.”

Hearing success stories from local patients has also kept him motivated. Indirectly, work done by NCI has helped individuals lose weight, manage chronic diseases, seek help for mental health concerns, and more.

“We might not be able to change the world through one thing that we do, but if we can change one person’s world, that’s huge,” he said. “That keeps me going and makes me want to do more.”

When he’s not working at NCI, Mr. Marcolini is devoted to mentoring and coaching local youth. Particularly through sports, he strives to empower the next generation because he believes the future of our community depends on it.

“It’s easy for a child to grow up and leave the area, but I think it is a lot harder if that child grew up being involved with people or having a mentor here,” he said. “That’s why I spend so much of my time vested in the youth. As much as we can be examples now, if we don’t have somebody coming up behind us, it doesn’t matter what we do.”

To further support future generations of leaders, he believes local officials should explore opportunities for new industry and technology in the north country – something he has kept in mind when analyzing the local healthcare landscape.

“I have found a level of responsibility to a community that I didn’t grow up in,” Mr. Marcolini said. “I always knew I wanted to see the community succeed here, but now I feel an ownership to help do it.”

Staying in Watertown, Mr. Marcolini will soon be taking the next step of his career as business development director for Alliance Healthcare Services. ~Eli Anderson

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The Brian Marcolini File Hometown: Watertown Professional position: Director Family: Wife, Marcie; children, Owen, 8, and Andrew, 5 Education: Leroy High School, 1998; bachelor’s degree in business, University at Buffalo, 2002; bachelor’s degree in psychology, University at Buffalo, 2002 Community involvement: member, Watertown Noon Rotary; board member, Jefferson Rehabilitation Center; coach, youth basketball, lacrosse, soccer, and baseball through the Watertown Family YMCA, Watertown City School District, and city of Watertown; volunteer fundraiser, Roswell Cancer Institute; youth mentor, H.T. Wiley Intermediate School Last Book Read: “The Adventures of Captain Underpants,”

by Dav Pilkey; and “The Operator,”

by Robert O’Neill

December 2017 | NNY Business | 31

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NORTHERN NEW YORK’S EMERGING LEADERS

The Cody Morse File Hometown: Redfield Professional position: Inventor/Co-founder Family: Wife, Michaela Morse Education: South Jefferson High School, Parris Island, Mayfield College Community involvement: Farm-to-School, farmers markets Last Book Read: The Market Gardener by Jean Martin Fortier

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Cody Morse, 26

C

ody Beach Morse is the truest embodiment of what it means to be homegrown.

The 26-year-old was born and raised in the north country, only leaving in order to serve in the United States Marine Corps. After completing three combat tours and more than five years of honorable service, Morse returned to the area in order to be close to his family and give back to the community.

He does so by providing high-quality, organic local food to area schools, stores and markets. Even better, all the food he produces is done through regenerative agriculture: a method of growing that regrows topsoil and increases biodiversity in nearby ecosystems.

“This is the community my future kids will grow up in,” Morse says of his commitment to the region—a loyalty that stretches beyond family and community into the soil itself.

Agbotic, the company Morse co-founded with local entrepreneur John Gaus, builds robotic greenhouse farms that can grow up to 12,000 pounds of food a month. But these aren’t your average greenhouses, growing vegetation in a system separate from the surrounding, natural world. At Agbotic, greenhouses offer “controlled cover” for healthy soil on eco-diverse farms. Agbotic plants trees, maintains wetlands, and regenerates soil to improve ecosystems throughout the region.

The company is also digitizing the agricultural industry by selling and leasing “robotic farms,” greenhouses that water and till themselves in order to outperform traditional farming operations. Having climate and humidity control means growing more in less space; which means bringing higher volumes of local food at fair prices to consumers.

The company runs its own Wholesome Organics Farm in Sackets Harbor, where Agbotic technology is utilized to grow produce without industrial chemicals or synthetic nutrient solutions—even those that are approved for organic farming.

Instead, the farm incorporates all-natural soil amendments that support healthy people, happy plants, and cleaner air, water and dirt.

Morse gets his inspiration from his business partner, as well as from his father; who told him “If you don’t challenge yourself in life, you’ll never move forward.” Those words may be why Morse has sacrificed late nights, early mornings, and “my wife’s sanity” for this business startup, which sells food locally in order to feed students at area schools, and regionally to support markets throughout New York.

In addition to serving as co-founder, Morse is Agbotic’s robot technician—a daunting job for most, but not so for this technically minded

worker. “I enjoy accomplishing tasks,” Morse says, and at Agbotic, he’s always creating new and better ways to do so.

“Agbotic is always creating new and better products,” he says, “conserving energy by growing in a greenhouse and growing near distributors.”

While being the co-founder of a growing and successful business may be rewarding, Morse is first to admit it’s not always easy. “The biggest myth in business is that being your own boss is fun,” he says; adding he’d happily trade places with his 20-year-old self for a day.

In addition to stocking area farmers’ markets, schools and grocery stores, Agbotic hosts field trips in order to educate local youth about sustainability, and growing your own food, while also encouraging students to get involved in their community.

To retain more youth in the North Country, Morse says, leaders ought to “give the youth more responsibility and involvement.”

As farming has become a less popular career choice in the last several decades, the North Country has seen its youth population dwindle. But by offering an alternative to traditional farming methods, Morse may just find Agbotic to be a major tool in drawing more young people back into the farming fold. ~Nicole Caldwell

December 2017 | NNY Business | 33

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NORTHERN NEW YORK’S EMERGING LEADERS

Erin Simser, 34

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s a teenager growing up in Watertown, Erin Simser enjoyed creative projects such as helping with her school’s yearbook and taking photography courses. When she graduated high school in 2000, Mrs. Simser combined her creativity with community and compassion; turning her passions into professionalism which ultimately led to her current dream job.

She said, “Our community is very special and has a lot to offer our residents. I knew from an early age that I wanted to give back to my community that has been so good to me and my family.”

Mrs. Simser attended the Rochester Institute of Technology, and graduated as a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2005. Upon completion of school, she entered the workforce and later met her first professional mentor, Kirstin Rich.

“She was my boss many years ago when I was first navigating my way through the professional world. She was the first person to help push and guide me into the big wide world of marketing and encouraged me to pursue my dream of graphic design,” said Mrs. Simser.

She landed a position as the resident services coordinator at Fort Drum Mountain Community Homes through WinnCompanies.

Ms. Rich took Mrs. Simser under her wing, and helped her grow both personally and professionally.

“We started working really closely together after I expressed interest in the Community Services Manager position, and was then promoted. I wanted a bigger marketing role and some graphic design responsibilities,” Mrs. Simser said.

She continued to work hard with her role, but also showcased what other talents she had to offer the company.

“When Ms. Rich left, I ended up getting a marketing position,” she said. “From there

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I had worked with our corporate team, telling them I had a graphic design interest.”

Slowly but surely she was asked to take on graphic design projects and worked her way up the ranks. She was promoted in the spring of 2017 - allowing her to work for corporate, from her home, for 10 other community projects throughout the country.

“I’ve worked from home for about six months now, and it allows for some flexibility in the home,” she said.

Mrs. Simser and her husband Shane, have two boys, 16-year-old, Ryder and 7-year-old, Maxwell. The boys are very active in sports, and their parents are active in supporting them.

When asked what gets her out of bed in the morning, she responded, “I count my blessings every day that I have the most loving and supportive husband and two healthy, happy and amazing sons.

I always want to make them proud of me and set a good example for how to be a good person.”

When it comes to being a good person, Mrs. Simser dedicates several hours each month to community service. She is a volunteer with the Watertown High School Booster Club, Northern New York Community Foundation Executive Council member, lead council, planning committee member for Making Strides for Breast Cancer walk, Association of the United States Army Fort Drum chapter volunteer, and also provides free graphic design work to local non-for-profits.

“What I did, and what I do, it’s a great feeling because I get to be creative and do what I love. At the same time I am still helping others,” she said.

While Mrs. Simser seemingly has everything well-balanced, she said she cannot take credit for it all. Her husband helps a lot, and her mother gave her cherished advice, before she passed.

“I remember sitting down with my mom when I was pregnant and her telling me to not let anything stand in my way of following my dreams.

She was right; because I never let being a young mom hinder me from being successful. If anything it made me work harder and want more for myself and my family,” she said.

When asked what advice she would share with other young professionals looking to enter the workforce, she said, “Never give up on what makes you happy.” ~ Kathy Taber-Montgomery

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The Erin Simser File Hometown: Watertown Professional position: Graphic design and marketing specialist Family: Husband, Shane; two sons, Ryder, 16, and Maxwell, 7 Education: Watertown High School graduate (2000), BFA from Rochester Institute of Technology (2005) Community involvement: Northern New York Community Foundation Executive Council member, lead council; planning committee member for Making Strides for Breast Cancer walk; Watertown Booster Club volunteer; Association of the United States Army Fort Drum chapter volunteer; and also provide free graphic design work to local non-for-profits.

Last Book Read: ”Youtility” by Jay Baer

December 2017 | NNY Business | 35

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NORTHERN NEW YORK’S EMERGING LEADERS

The Heather Pleskach File Hometown: Glenfield Professional position: Associate director of marketing Family: Husband, Eric M.; parents Linda D. and Marcus A. Bennett; sisters: Michelle E. Rathbun, Lisa J. Wicker, Brenda S. Delaney, Sarah L. Shumway and Brook VanBrocklin Education: M.B.A., SUNY Oswego Community involvement: AUSA, NNY-Fort Drum Chapter Last Book Read: ” The Question Behind the Question” by John G. Miller

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Heather Pleskach, 30

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hen it comes to Heather M. Pleskach, family is the most important influence in her life. From getting up in the morning with the help of her “two incredibly adorable basset hounds,” to going to work at a local industry, to being involved in the community, it is all done because of family and friends.

It was her sense of family that kept her in the north country.

“I was born and raised here,” she said. “This is my home. I love the area and the people, but most importantly, I love being close to my family.”

This is where she wants to raise her family. She and her husband, Eric M. Pleskach, are expecting a son in February.

To stay close to home she took a job at a local manufacturing plant. As associate director of marketing at Otis Technology, she finds her job fast-paced and challenging.

“I’ve had the unique opportunity to be involved in a lot of different projects at Otis,” said Mrs. Pleskach. “I’m always learning and experiencing new things.”

She said in being close to the people she has worked with for the past 10 years, there is not much they do not know about her. Her job has given her “the opportunity to travel this great country over the last decade, but with that I’ve sacrificed time with my family and friends,” said the Otis employee.

Her mother, Linda D. Bennett, has been her mentor.

“While I’ve taken a completely different career path than her, there are still a lot of similarities as well as personality traits that we share,” said Mrs. Pleskach. “She's also the strongest, selfless person I know. She'll do anything for anyone in our family and always puts their needs above her own. “ It is her husband who she turns to for advice.

“My husband is a great sounding board for me. He offers a different perspective and his bold ideas encourage me to be more assertive and go after what I want or need to accomplish,” said Mrs. Pleskach.

However she said it was her father, Marcus A. Bennett, who gave her the best advice she follows.

Mrs. Pleskach said her father told all six of his daughters while they were growing up to “Be a problem solver, not a problem.”

“Not only do I follow this advice regularly by bringing solutions to the table, but I encourage others to do the same,” said the marketing director.

Mrs. Pleskach is a member of the Northern New York Fort Drum chapter of Association of the United States Army.

“There’s a sense of belonging and it’s great to interact with friends and neighbors in my

community,” she said of her community involvement. “This is my home and where my future children will grow up.”

Reflecting on her own life, she feels there “is always room for improvement and the importance of continued growth both personally and professionally.” Given the opportunity, she said she would trade places with someone less fortunate than herself for the day.

“I would use that experience as a reminder to not take all the good in my life for granted,” she said. “It’s very easy to forget about all the good.”

She believes if companies foster a culture “that values, empowers and invests in talented employees it will help to retain more young professionals in the north country.

“People really are a company/organization’s greatest asset,” she said.

To that end, she sees the biggest myth in business today as that asking for help is a sign of weakness. “Knowing when you are juggling too much, or are too close to a project and need an outsider’s perspective, is strength and shows character,” she said.

A business she would like to see started would be a specialty bakery or café.

“But I wouldn’t be able to own it because I’d want to sample all the product,” she admitted. ~Elaine Avallone

December 2017 | NNY Business | 37

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NORTHERN NEW YORK’S EMERGING LEADERS

Ian Maxwell, 29

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an R. Maxwell, a product specialist at DeFelsko Corporation, has the kind of personal drive, vision and love of life in Northern New York that the region needs.

At the age of 29, Mr. Maxwell, a Massena native, said that after graduating from Clarkson University with a degree in business entrepreneurship, he made a conscious effort to put down roots at home rather than seek opportunities elsewhere.

And he credits early mentors like former Massena Chamber of Commerce Director Kathleen Kelly-Ori and former Massena police chief and now Mayor Timmy Currier with helping him realize he should strive to keep it local. `“I’ve been lucky enough to have a few great mentors in my life,” he said. “They both got me into the whole idea of volunteering and of the importance of public service.”

While it may seem idealistic to some, Mr. Maxwell is passionate about what he wants in life. He wants to continue to grow professionally at DeFelsko, a leading U.S. manufacturer of coating thickness gages and inspection instruments.

But as driven as he is at work, he remains equally dedicated to helping improve the business climate and the overall quality of life for everyone in St. Lawrence County and elsewhere across the north country.

“My motivation is trying to make the world a better place than it was yesterday,” he said. “I have a passion for trying to make the north country a more financially secure place for people. I want to do what I can to move us forward and heading in the right direction.”

Like many other young north country professionals, making a decision to stay locally instead of moving out of the area was not matter-of-fact for Mr. Maxwell. But after considerable thought, he realized he had much to offer the area he already calls home.

“When I first left college I did think it was the answer to move to a more populated area or to just go somewhere else,” he reflected. “But then I realized that for a young professional there are a lot of opportunities in this area if you are willing to get involved and willing to get into the business community.”

At his job at DeFelsko, Mr. Maxwell is responsible for sales, and software development. And the skills he uses at work are the same talents he brings to the greater north country community when working with community organizations and projects.

“I like that I get to talk to people all over the world every day,” he said. “I have my specific territory for sales, but on top of the sales portion of my job I head the software development for our company, so I get to interact with all of our customers from all over the world. I’m given a lot of responsibility because it is such

38 | NNY Business | December 2017

a small company, and I think I like that.”

Outside of DeFelsko he puts those skills into play with work through the Moving Massena Forward Coalition, the Northern New York Power Proceeds Allocation Board, the Massena Arts and Theater Association and the Massena Visionaries group.

“I guess I was just bitten by the volunteer bug,” Mr. Maxwell said. “When you start to get involved, you start to grow your network and see the good in doing something positive in your community.”

Mr. Maxwell said all of his community involvement focuses on trying to make the region more successful, especially when it comes to encouraging business growth and development. He said DeFelsko Corporation, with roughly 85 employees in Ogdensburg, is a perfect example of a business that can grow and thrive and help bring good paying jobs to the north country.

“I think a lot of people are under the perception that manufacturing is dead in the United States, and it’s not true,” he said.

“Certainly it’s not the former glory days of the 1960s or 70s or even 80s, but I think a company like DeFelsko proves there is still a place for innovative tech-manufacturing. We are a company that is thriving because we are innovative, and we build quality products right here in Upstate New York.

While continuing his professional climb in the world of high-tech manufacturing, Mr. Maxwell said he plans to continue devoting his life outside of work to bettering the area. Jobs are important he says, but so are other quality of life amenities, like better entertainment options for young families.

“I personally wouldn’t want to start one, but I’d like to see more food trucks in the region,” he laughed. “When you go to New York City you see them everywhere offering all kinds of different cultural foods. I don’t know enough about the food business to start one, but I’d be happy to be a customer.” ~ Larry Robinson

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The Ian Maxwell File Hometown: Massena Professional position: Product Specialist, Family: Mother and father, Scott and Lynn Maxwell, and sister, Danielle.

Education: Graduate of Massena High School and Clarkson University.

Community involvement: Moving Massena Forward, Northern New York Power Proceeds Allocation Board, Massena Arts and Theater Association, Massena Visionaries.

December 2017 | NNY Business | 39

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NORTHERN NEW YORK’S EMERGING LEADERS

The Jason McCullouch File Hometown: Clayton Professional position: Co-owner and vice president Family: Wife, Erin; sons Storm and Hudson; daughter, Elle.

Education: Associates degree in construction engineering, SUNY Canton Community involvement: YMCA Board of Directors Last book read: Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

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Jason McCullouch, 39

J

ason McCullouch was destined to spend his life as a builder.

When he was eight years’ old, he watched his father single-handedly build the house where he grew up.

When he was 13, he helped a family friend build a remote cottage on Red Lake. And when he was in high school, he took on construction jobs for Hicks Ice Co. in Theresa.

“I was always hands-on,” he said. “I just like building things. It was kind of the path I carved out.”

Mr. McCullouch, who grew up in Theresa and went to Indian River High School, got his first career construction job with Watertown-based Purcell Construction Corp. the day after he graduated from SUNY Canton in 1999.

His first job title with the company was assistant project manager, before he moved on to a handful of different roles including construction superintendent and project manager. Whatever construction job was available through the company, chances are Mr. McCullouch has probably done it, per his penchant for trying new things.

“There were a lot of different roles throughout the years, which was good,” he said. “It was kind of nice to see the whole realm.”

He’s still with Purcell today, now company vice president of construction operations and coowner at just 39 years’ old. He manages about 50 people and oversees projects throughout New York state in addition to training and mentoring new employees.

He recently secured a big win for Purcell — its first contract with the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York to build a 250-bed dorm hall at SUNY Brockport.

He has also spearheaded a handful of other high-profile projects in the area, including a new residence hall and collaborative learning center at Jefferson Community College, renovations at Samaritan Medical Center and the renovations of historic buildings in downtown Watertown.

Mr. McCullouch is no longer out in the field as much anymore because of his administrative duties.

And while he’s not the kind of guy who likes to get up in front of a crowd to give a presentation, he said he still loves to meet new people, which he gets to do often as vice president.

“In this business, you get to deal with a lot of new people,” he said. “It’s almost every day you meet somebody new, and that makes it fun.”

Jason applies that same attitude to community service as well.

He is currently a member of the YMCA Board of Directors and serves on its person

nel committee. It’s the first board he has ever been a part of, and he said he plans to join more in the future.

“It’s an important thing to do,” he said. “It’s good to be a role model and be a leader in some of these different areas.”

Mr. McCullouch said he chose to the serve on the YMCA board because of the programming they offer for children. He has three kids with his wife, Erin. His oldest son, Storm, is 12, and twins Hudson and Elle are eight. He and his family currently reside in Clayton.

Mr. McCullouch has led an active lifestyle for most of his life, whether it’s skiing and snowboarding in the winter and boating throughout the summer. Nowadays, he always brings his family along.

“They’re active too,” he said.

“They all ski or snowboard and we spend a lot of time on the river in the summer.”

Between his job and his activities outside work, Mr. McCullouch isn’t interested in leading a mundane lifestyle.

“If anybody does, it’s their own fault right?” he said.

As a result, the best piece of advice he has to give is to not be afraid of trying new things or going after something that seems impossible.

“It’s a lot of dedication and hard work, but don’t be afraid to try to do something different, something that you’re uncomfortable with,” he said. “You gotta go out there and take it on. You gotta do things that scare you.” ~ Brian Molongoski

December 2017 | NNY Business | 41

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NORTHERN NEW YORK’S EMERGING LEADERS

Jennifer Gray, 35

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lifelong resident of Northern New York, Jennifer Gray is a perfect representation of how a north country native can remain in their hometown community while furthering their education and professional life.

The Lawrence Avenue Elementary School principal has found a job she loves in her native Potsdam and did not have to leave the area to educate herself for the position. Ms. Gray received a bachelor’s degree in business administration and technical communication from Clarkson University, master’s degree in teaching from SUNY Potsdam, and her school building leader certificate from St. Lawrence University.

Now, she gets to spend her time watching elementary school children grow on a daily basis.

“Every day is an adventure,” Ms. Gray said. “It is exciting to see how they grow and mature and their excitement for learning.”

The 35-year-old second-year principal considers herself lucky to have remained close to home.

“I feel fortunate to have obtained a great education at the local colleges and university and that I can now give back to my community,” Ms. Gray said. “My family all lives in the north country. We are a close- knit family, so being able to see them often is nice. I actually enjoy the winter. It is a great place for families to raise their children.”

Ms. Gray serves on the board of directors for Gina's Gift, a nonprofit aimed at encouraging and promoting early literacy in families by donating books and literature to every family with a newborn at Canton-Potsdam Hospital, and is also a volunteer hockey coach. She believes, however, that most of her community involvement is tied to her work as an educator.

“My community involvement is my job and partnerships with the community through my job,” Ms. Gray said. “I think we have a lot of untapped resources in our community, and being able to share those with the staff and my students about what we have in our own back yard that we might not know about.”

As an educator, Ms. Gray said it is easy to become comfortable in a school setting, but stepping out of that bubble and viewing life from the perspective of their students, of parents, and of other community members, is beneficial. She received such advice from a former employer and still carries the

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sentiment with her.

“The best advice was always to try and see things from other people’s shoes,” Ms. Gray said. “People can be quick to judge and I think it just goes a long way in helping you to understand where other people are coming from.

Often in education, we might not see eye-to-eye with a parent but once you step outside of your role and see where they are coming from, and think what it is like to walk in their shoes, it changes your perspective and you have more empathy and understanding of where they are coming from and how to help them.”

Not only does Ms. Gray feel it is important to view issues from the perspectives of others, but if given the opportunity she said she would step into their shoes.

“I would trade places with a child for a day, a kindergarten student. I think it is amazing to see the world through their eyes. Everything is so exciting and new to them and just innocent,” she said. “I love to read so a visit to the library, play time with my friends, time outside. Probably not your traditional day, but I think a lot of learning can happen through play and that is what I would want to see.”

While it is not likely Ms. Gray will be able to fulfill her dream of once again becoming a kindergarten student, she faces each day ready to treat her students just like she would anyone else.

“I just come to work every day and give it my all and try to make every decision I do in a way that is best for students,” she said. “My motto is to be kind to one another, so I try to keep that at the forefront with any person I am dealing with, whether it be a student, parent, coworker, staff member.” ~Jake Newman

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The Jennifer Gray File Hometown: Potsdam Professional position: Elementary school principal Family: Parents, John and Christine Gray Education: Bachelor of science in business administration and technical communication from Clarkson University; master of science in teaching from SUNY Potsdam; school building leader certificate from St. Lawrence University.

Community involvement: Serves on the board of directors for the nonprofit Gina’s Gift, which encourages and promotes early literacy in families by donating books and literature to every family with a newborn at CPH; volunteer hockey coach Last book read: Shifting the Monkey

by Todd Whitaker

December 2017 | NNY Business | 43

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NORTHERN NEW YORK’S EMERGING LEADERS

The Julia Robbins File Hometown: Sackets Harbor Professional position: Marketing manager Old McDonald’s Farm and Robbins Family Grain Family: Father, Ronald C.; mother, Nancy M.; brothers, Brian C. and Jeffery C; dogs, Tucker and Lucy.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in English from SUNY Cortland Community involvement: Member of the Garrett W. Loomis Foundation Board of Directors; member of the Jefferson County Farm Bureau Board of Directors; member of the Monsanto’s America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education Farm Advisory Council; founder of NNY Red Hot Republicans; member of the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County Board of Directors (until 2015).

Last book read: “The Lilac Girls” by Martha Hall Kelly

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NORTHERN NEW YORK’S EMERGING LEADERS

Julia Robbins, 35

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rowing up on her family’s farm instilled in Julia C. Robbins both a love for the place she calls home and the efforts she makes to promote it.

Farmers are often told they need to share their stories with the public, a lesson Ms. Robbins has taken to heart as marketing manager for Old McDonald’s Farm and Robbin’s Family Grain in Sackets Harbor. Ms. Robbins, whose parents, Ronald C. and Nancy M. Robbins, own both operations, as well as North Harbor Dairy, uses social media such as Facebook to share narratives of family fun, hard work, cute animals.

“That’s what kind of drives me in social media, to just portray modern agriculture as being family. We care for animals, we care for the land,” Ms. Robbins said. “It’s just becoming ever more important in that age of social media to provide that kind of truthful information.”

Ms. Robbins is a fifth-generation farmer’s daughter who began helping out when she was only five years’ old. She collected admissions as a child and earned Barbie clothes as payment. She then worked at the corn stand and provided riding lessons as a teenager.

Growing up as the farmer’s daughter taught the young Ms. Robbins the importance of a work ethic. When she was older and more involved in the farm, her father taught her the importance of creating new ways to attract customers.

“He’s a wonderful businessman,” she said.

In addition to having strong family, Ms. Robbins also has loving connections to the animals at Old McDonald’s Farm.

The farm has several employees helping to take care of the animals in the summer, but Ms. Robbins is a staff of one in the winter. While the work can take hours, Ms. Robbins said the thought of her hungry animals is enough to get her out of bed.

“Working with animals is the most rewarding part of the job,” she said.

Before taking up the job at the family farm, Ms. Robbins took a dive into the world of politics through several jobs including public information officer for U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, communications director for James W. Wright when he was a state senator and chief of staff for Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush. Ms. Robbins also served several aspiring public officials on their campaign trails, including Will Barclay, Dale Sweetland and Matthew A. Doheny.

“Seeing the inner workings of government is truly fascinating. Truly fascinating and awe-inspiring,” she said.

Ms. Robbins said she received the best career advice

20UNDER 40 while working in politics. The advice came from Mr. Wright, who taught her to be tough in the tumultuous political climate.

“If you work in politics, you have to develop a thick skin,” she said.

While she volunteers much of her time to several organizations, Ms. Robbin’s said her most important service is her work for the Garrett W. Loomis Foundation.

Mr. Loomis died in 2010 after a burning silo at the Robbins’s farm exploded while he was helping to combat the flames.

In honor of his memory, the Robbinses created a foundation in his name that is now administered by the Northern New York Community Foundation to provide scholarships and funds for firefighter training.

“Garret died fighting a fire here on our farm,” she said. “He was killed doing his job, but he was doing his job for our family. We will always forever be grateful for him.

When she’s not working, Ms. Robbins likes to express her creativity as a fashionista farmer through hobbies such as dressing up in different outfits, taking selfies, and operating her side jewelry marketing business, Stella and Dot. Before farming and politics, Ms. Robbins said she wanted to work for a fashion magazine.

“I love like sparkles and jewels and glamour,” she said.

No matter how far she travelled for work when she was younger, Ms. Robbins said she yearned to return to the family farm and once again enjoy the north country summer, the green fields and the St. Lawrence River.

“Living here in the summer, there’s no better place to live,” she said, “and the winter, we just make it through.” ~Marcus Wolf

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NORTHERN NEW YORK’S EMERGING LEADERS

Justin Hall, 35

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n his 11 years at the Bohlen Technical Center, Justin Hall has learned to take risks. He was hired by the vocational school in Watertown just after graduating from SUNY Potsdam and “asked to essentially start a program and build it up.”

The school wanted to develop a veterinary practices program, and Mr. Hall said “my mom was the one who really pushed me to apply.”

It proved to be quite a risk; Mr. Hall recalled “that first year was rough. There were so many days when I just wanted to hide under my desk.” While in the early stages of curriculum building, “nobody knew what we were, and so we had students with all different interests.”

And while Mr. Hall called his mom his mentor “for life in general” and “someone to help me refocus”, fellow teacher Wendy Dunn proved indispensable to him early in his career. Mrs. Dunn is the nursing assistant instructor at the Bohlen Tech Center.

Mr. Hall praised Mrs. Dunn’s “amazing classroom management” and found they had similar teaching styles. “We both like to use stories and life experiences in our lessons, and she knew how integrate the stories and keep things hands-on.”

In his 11 years of teaching, Mr. Hall has found that his students are always excited about his hands-on approach.

“They’re so excited to be there. I look forward to seeing them every day,” he said. “I think it’s kind of like college for them. They get to get out of their regular school environment, and meet new people, and work hands-on.”

Mr. Hall said Mrs. Dunn “taught me how to help my students learn in the way that was most effective to them.” Like some BOCES students, Mr. Hall said he was a poor test-taker as a child. He said he is glad to work in a place with many different ways of assessing skill.

As a supporter of career and technical education, he is also the lead advisor for the

46 | NNY Business | December 2017

Bohlen Tech Center’s SkillsUSA team. SkillsUSA is a student organization for vocational schools, and high school members compete in state and national competitions annually.

He said that the variety of students who use BOCES services is a big part of what keeps him excited about his job. “I feel like because all the teachers work with students at all different levels, it really encourages teacher collaboration and camaraderie.”

As a career and technical education instructor, Mr. Hall said he was excited to “see CTE really coming to the forefront recently.” Given the skill set CTE students graduate with, he said he hopes to see quality skilled labor keep people in his hometown.

“I think the area could be more attractive if there were well-paying jobs, and maybe better telecommunications in some of the more rural areas,” he said. “My cell phone barely works at my house, so we need a landline.”

Mr. Hall said he thinks it would be exciting “if Jefferson Community College could take what BOCES does to the next level. Maybe take what SUNY Delhi or SUNY Canton does and bring it to Watertown.”

Mr. Hall’s community is important to him “because my whole family is here. I love the area,” he said. “My family definitely keeps me rooted here.”

He keeps his business local too, as he co-owns Josh’s Riverside Restaurant with his husband. He has been married to the namesake Josh for seven years.

The restaurant, described as “diner-esque” by Mr. Hall, opened in 2016.

In his spare time, Mr. Hall participates in the Thompson Park Conservancy, the board which runs the Thompson Park Zoo. He said he considers biology “the cornerstone of science”, and that he wouldn’t mind trading places with a scientist for a day.

“I’d like to be outdoors more, so maybe a conservation officer. Something about being around plants and nature just brightens you up,” he said.

Mr. Hall, who owns three dogs with his husband, also works with Spay-Neuter-Now to provide low-cost animal health services out of his Bohlen Tech classroom.

He works often with his local humane society, and volunteers with the Feed Our Veterans’ Watertown food pantry. ~Miranda Materazzo

NORTHERN NEW YORK’S EMERGING LEADERS

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The Justin Hall File Hometown: Watertown Professional position: Veterinary practices instructor at Bohlen Tech Center Family: Husband, Josh Halko, and three dogs Education: Associates degree in veterinary technology, SUNY Delhi; Bachelors degree in biology secondary education; Masters in literacy, SUNY Potsdam.

Community involvement: Member of Thompson Park Conservancy, Skills USA advisor, brought reduced cost pet spaying/neutering clinics to Jefferson and Lewis counties Last book read: The Bucolic Plague by Josh Kilmer-Purcell

December 2017 | NNY Business | 47

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NORTHERN NEW YORK’S EMERGING LEADERS

The Matthew Hudson File Hometown: Clayton, NY Professional position: Executive Chef, Hilton Garden Inn, Family: Wife, Sarah; Children, Lorelei, 6, Daniel, 4 Education: Thousand Islands High School 2002; Paul Smith’s College, 2006 Community involvement: Jefferson-Lewis BOCES Advisory Board; past volunteer for the “Pumpkin Chunkin” event Last book read: Favorite - “Culinary “Artistry” by Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page

48 | NNY Business | December 2017

NORTHERN NEW YORK’S EMERGING LEADERS

Matthew Hudson, 33

M

atthew J. Hudson, executive chef of the Hilton Garden Inn, 1290 Arsenal Street, got his start in the restaurant business at the age of 14 as a dishwasher at a Clayton restaurant. It was by “working his way up the ladder” and studying culinary arts in college that he gained an appreciation for the entire kitchen operation, he said.

At age 33, Mr. Hudson is overseeing 19 specialty cooks, line cooks and dishwashers at the Great American Grill inside the hotel. There are an additional 25 wait staff. When Mr. Hudson was hired six years ago, the hotel was still under construction. This gave him the opportunity to be involved in the layout and design of the kitchen from “the ground up,” including placement of equipment such as the hood systems and coolers.

He had helped with a similar remodel at the Lyric Coffee House & Bistro in Clayton, where he had previously worked on a kitchen expansion project to turn the coffee shop into a “very nice restaurant,” he said. Mr. Hudson had operated the kitchen there for several years before accepting the position at the newly constructed Watertown hotel.

Today, there are not only a range of meals available for the guests at the 136-room hotel, but the Hilton Garden Inn also hosts a variety of public and private events, including luncheons, meetings and conferences. The Great American Grill is also open to the public.

“We do a lot of outside business,” and this time of year, they are booked with holiday parties, Mr. Hudson said.

He has overseen banquets of up to 325 people, along with smaller-sized gatherings with as few as 12 people.

The Hilton Garden Inn has separate areas for group meetings, including rooms that are equipped with video conferencing equipment (and are booked regularly by businesses and organizations), he said.

“We have integrated the technology” into those areas, Mr. Hudson said.

The Great American Grill has earned a reputation for offering a quality and affordable Sunday brunch menu, along with specialty meals, such as a Friday Night Fish Fry. Mr. Hudson said it’s the “success and pride of organizing a good event” that is the most rewarding part of his work. “It’s a good feeling when you know that after you’ve done your job, everyone is very satisfied and happy,” he said.

“The little details really make a difference,” Mr. Hudson said.

The Hilton Garden Inn offers discounts to nonprofit agencies, fire departments, law enforcement, and school districts that schedule events at the hotel.

Once a year, a charity is selected by the owner to benefit from a fund-raiser, which is held at no cost to that organization, Mr. Hudson said.

“We’re really very involved with the community,”

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he added.

The Hilton Garden Inn in Watertown has been ranked in the top five percent of all Hilton Garden Inns throughout the country by the corporation itself.

Mr. Hudson is a 2002 graduate of Thousand Islands Central School and a 2006 graduate of Paul Smith’s College, where he earned a culinary arts degree. He completed an internship and was later hired at the Kent Manor Inn, Maryland, where he worked for three years before relocating back to the Clayton area to be closer to family.

He and his wife, Sarah, have two children, Lorelai, 6, and Daniel, 4. Mr. Hudson also enjoys the teaching aspect of his position. He has shared his knowledge of the culinary industry by giving presentations to students at the Thousand Islands High School and Jefferson Community College.

The Hilton Garden Inn serves as a training site for interns from JCC and Jefferson-Lewis BOCES, said Mr. Hudson, who is a member of the BOCES advisory board.

“This is a great learning facility for them,” he said. “They are working with well-trained staff and great equipment.”

When he receives his honor at the annual “20 Under 40” luncheon this year, Mr. Hudson will be pulling double-duty. He is not only an award recipient, but he will also be overseeing and helping to prepare the food for the day’s event.

“I’ll be bringing an extra jacket to work that day,” he joked. “I’ll just change quickly after the meal.” ~ Norah Machia

December 2017 | NNY Business | 49

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NORTHERN NEW YORK’S EMERGING LEADERS

Megan Kendall, 29

F

or Megan Kendall, a personal connection can make all the difference.

These connections guide the Clayton native as she has helped clients develop plans for their families’ future, reassuring them of their options as they navigate potentially thorny issues connected to money and death.

“You have connections with people you know because you grew up here,” Kendall said. “It’s easier to open up with somebody you know versus somebody you’ve never met before.”

Kendall, an associate attorney at Conboy, McKay, Bachman & Kendall LLP, practices in areas like estate planning, real estate and business law, which she said makes no two days alike.

“I always have something to do, something different,” she said. “I’m able to pursue what I’m interested in, and I appreciate that flexibility. You never get bored.”

Kendall said she was initially drawn toward becoming a lawyer because of the problem-solving work the job entails.

“You feel like you’re helping people through their most difficult times,” she said.

Kendall’s versatility goes back to when she was in college, as she interned with Assemblyman William Magee. While in law school at University at Buffalo, Kendall completed clerkships with George M. Reiber, the Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Trustee for the Western District of New York, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York, where she helped pursue white collar and financial crimes.

After graduating from law school, she decided to return to the north country, joining the firm as a real estate paralegal until she passed the state bar exam.

Now an associate attorney with the firm, she is seen as a key part of its operations.

“She does bring her all to every case,” said Peter Walton, a partner with the firm. “She treats every project, every client, like it’s her only one.”

Walton, who also helps mentor Kendall, said Kendall was a hard worker that

50 | NNY Business | December 2017

instilled confidence in clients with her work.

“She has a very keen intellect, and she tackles stuff head-on,” he said.

That reputation made a difference when she first began working for the firm, he said.

“She came to this position with a lot of contacts and people that had admiration for her, and they came to her pretty quickly after she became a lawyer,” Walton said.

Kendall said she enjoyed the way estate planning work allowed her to interact with her clients.

“I like that when you’re talking about those things, you’re getting to know people on a personal level,” Kendall said. “I like to give people options and reassurance with what their personal situation is.”

Kendall said she is happy she made the north country her home.

“I love that it’s a small community,” she said. “I’ve had colleagues that have been practicing in bigger cities, and they never get out the office. I get the opportunity to interact with all kinds of judges and attorneys. I feel I’ve got a lot more experience compared to others in larger cities and larger firms.”

In addition to her legal work, Kendall has found different ways to contribute to the community, taking leadership roles with organizations including the Clayton Improvement Association, Herring College Trust and Clayton Opera House.

As a member of the Clayton Lions Club, she and her husband Ryan helped complete a float for the Clayton Christmas parade with a “Rock ‘N Roll Christmas” theme.

“She’s always got a smile on her face,” said Vickie Staie, president of the Clayton Lions group. “She’s always organized, well-prepared for the task at hand, she’s ready to go.”

She can also be found making dozens of cake pops each week for the Thousand Islands High School football team, for which her husband coaches.

For Kendall, that service in the community is something she sees as critical.

“Since I grew up in Clayton, I need to give back as an adult,” she said. “It’s my way to give back to a community that I’m grateful to be a part of.” ~Gordon Block

NORTHERN NEW YORK’S EMERGING LEADERS

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The Megan Kendall File Hometown: Clayton Professional position: Associate attorney Family: Husband Ryan Kendall; father Henry, mother Darlene Education: SUNY Brockport, University at Buffalo Law School Community involvement: Clayton Improvement Association, Clayton Opera House, Clayton Lions Club, Herring College Trust, T.I. Community Foundation, Association of the Blind Last book read: “Why Me?” by Sarah Burleton

December 2017 | NNY Business | 51

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NORTHERN NEW YORK’S EMERGING LEADERS

The Rob Bicknell File Hometown: Potsdam Professional position: Vice President Family: Wife, Jaime Bicknell; daughters, Rylie, 9, Averie and Sloane, 6 Education: Potsdam Central School, Kent School, Boston University, Newbury College, SUNY Canton Community involvement: Potsdam Chamber of Commerce board member, past president; Bayside Cemetery association trustee; vice president of the Potsdam Town & Country Club; president of the Northern New York Lumber Dealers Association; Potsdam junior hockey coach Last book read: “The 10X Rule,” by Grant Cardone

52 | NNY Business | December 2017

NORTHERN NEW YORK’S EMERGING LEADERS

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Rob Bicknell, 39

I

t was at the age of 14 that Robert T. Bicknell was brought into the family business by his father, who began to work on building the teen’s work ethic.

Now, 25 years later, at the age of 39, Mr. Bicknell has been built up to the role of vice president of the family’s Potsdam business, Bicknell Building Supply.

His family also owns SummerHaven Pool, Spa & Hearth, St. Lawrence Supply, Northern Interiors, and Northern Vinyl “I probably would have been finishing my eighth-grade year and my father said, ‘You’re 14. You are going to come to work,’” Mr. Bicknell recalled. “He drove me to work in the morning and he said ‘You are going to be here from when the store opens until the time it closes, every day, all summer long, from Monday until Saturday.”

While he said he hated it at the time, missing out on summer days with his friends, playing games and swimming, he said it was the best decision his father made for him, having created a pattern he still follows today.

He said watching his now-68-year-old father at work is an inspiration to him.

“He started working when he was in his early 20s for his father, here in town, and he still works a six-day week and for a few hours on Sundays,” Mr. Bicknell said. “He is at the age where he should be enjoying his life, but he is so devoted to his job and he just loves going into work every day. He says he has never worked a day in his life because he loves what he does.”

Now his son feels that same way, working six days a week.

“I would work seven if I didn't have a wife and kids," he said laughing.

It is that kind of hard work that creates success, not what some people refer to as ‘luck’ a term he said he hates.

“I can't stand it when people say, 'Oh, he's lucky,’” Mr. Bicknell said. “You don't just get lucky. You make your luck by how hard you work.”

It also helps that he hates sleep, which he considers a “necessary inconvenience.”

“There is just so much that there is to do in life in general,” he said, sipping from

his mug of coffee. “I set my alarm for 4 a.m. every day because I can't wait to get to of bed. I would rather get up and get stuff done.”

That includes networking, something Mr. Bicknell both enjoys and considers an integral part of his success, which is why he is involved in so many community groups.

"You never know who you are going to meet and get involved with, plus you want to give back and help out,” Mr. Bicknell said. “If you want to make your community a better place, you can't just hope for it, you have to do something. I think that is the most important part. You can't fix it if you don't try.”

He wasn’t always that outgoing though. When he was a younger man, Mr. Bicknell said he was embarrassed to speak in front of large crowds and found it difficult to speak in front of people in general.

“I never envisioned myself as being a public speaker or speaking in front of a crowd and over the past five to 10 years of being involved with the Chamber of Commerce … I've had to give speeches in front of hundreds of people on a stage,” Mr. Bicknell said. “It's amazing, the things you can accomplish, if you just do it. Just say yes and just do it. Don't ever be scared. I think that is half the reason I'm on a lot of the things I am involved with. When people ask me, I just say, 'Okay.' I have no idea what to expect. I don't know what it is going to be like, but I want to just find out. I think the more people just say, 'Yes' to more things; then it helps you grow a lot.” ~ Bill Eckert

December 2017 | NNY Business | 53

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NORTHERN NEW YORK’S EMERGING LEADERS

Ryan Niles, 38

W

hether he’s helping clients with their finances or volunteering at a community event, Ryan T. Niles exudes a zest for life that’s contagious.

The 37-year-old is the senior executive vice president of Niles Asset Management Inc., 2 E. Main St., Canton. As a financial analyst, he assists clients in managing their portfolios.

“We are the north country’s only independent investment advisors,” Mr. Niles said. “We are not tied to anyone, which helps us keep our fees down. There’s no middle man with us.”

Although his days were already busy with a full-time job, coaching Potsdam youth hockey and active membership in the Canton Rotary Club, Mr. Niles is excited about his newest challenge.

In September, he started teaching two courses to prison inmates at Bare Hill Correctional Facility, Malone. He was hired as an adjunct instructor by North Country Community College, Saranac Lake, which is administering courses for inmates through the Second Chance Pell Program. He teaches human resources management and small business accounting.

“I’ve been passionate about teaching,” Mr. Niles said. “My mother was a teacher.

I don’t know if it’s in my blood or what.

I love getting up there and lecturing, I’m very much enjoying it.”

Rather than feeling overwhelmed, Mr. Niles said he thrives on having a variety of activities on his plate.

“I like being diversified. It makes me better at all parts of my life,” Mr. Niles said. “For example, meeting face-to-face with clients here, helps me get up in front of students and talk to them about what’s going on in the real world, in the business world. The more I take on, it makes me better at everything else I do.”

In regards to his financial career, Mr. Niles credits his father, Terry Niles, for his guidance. The elder Mr. Niles started the company in 1991 and serves as its chief executive officer.

“He’s kind of taught me everything I know about the business, about investments and the financial field,” Mr. Niles said.

His academic background provided the theory behind his career as a financial advi

54 | NNY Business | December 2017

sor. Mr. Niles received a bachelor degree in finance in 20000 and a master’s in business administration in 2016. He is working toward earning his PhD

In terms of community service, Mr. Niles credits Gerald Lambert, a fellow Rotarian, with inspiring him to become actively engaged.

“He is my community mentor. He has gotten me involved in the community, including the Rotary,” Mr. Niles said.

Donating his time at events like free-will dinners and highway clean-ups have allowed Mr. Miles to establish strong friendships. That networking has had a positive impact on his career.

“Community involvement is so important to what I do,” Mr. Niles said. “As a business person in the community you’ve got to have your face out there. You’ve got to be involved so people know who you are.

If you can combine networking with giving back to the community by doing something important, that’s a win-win situation.”

Making a good life for his family is the motivation that makes Mr. Niles work hard and continue to strive.

“I want to make sure my kids have what they need to hopefully succeed one day,” Mr. Niles said. “My family is really the most important thing to me. That’s the biggest motivator for everything I do.”

He credits his wife, a registered nurse, for giving him valuable advice and encouragement during their eight-year marriage.

“She’s probably been my biggest cheerleader. She pushed me to go back and get my MBA a few years ago and that’s allowed me to go and teach,” he said.

A native of Brushton, Mr. Niles said he recognizes the positive value of staying in the north country where towns and villages are sparsely populated and close-knit.

“I’ve always liked the small-town community atmosphere. I like knowing who your neighbors are and most of the people in your community. I think you can have a larger impact as a business person, as a young professional. There’s a lot of opportunity to directly affect the local communities.” ~ Sue Mende

NORTHERN NEW YORK’S EMERGING LEADERS

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The Ryan Niles File Hometown: Potsdam Professional position: Senior executive vice president Family: Wife, Lara; two sons, Ryan, 7, and Mason, 5 Education: Bachelor’s degree in finance in 2006 and MBA in 2016, both from Clarkson University, Potsdam; working toward PhD Community involvement: Treasurer and head of finance committee for Canton-Potsdam Hospital Foundation; Canton Rotary Club, international chairman and past president; St. Lawrence County Historical Association, bequest committee; Potsdam junior hockey coach Last book read: “Catcher in the Rye,” by J.D. Salinger

December 2017 | NNY Business | 55

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56 | NNY Business | December 2017

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N N Y F E ATURE

STORY BY MARCUS WOLF

58 | NNY Business | December 2017

N N Y F E AT UR E

E

mployers throughout Northern New York need hardworking, educated and dynamic workers at a time when the labor pool has shrunk and continues to do so.

"The biggest story right now in the north country is a shortage of workers due to both the growing economy and the shrinking labor force," said Anthony M. Hayden, a market analyst for the state Department of Labor. "It's an issue that's nationwide and statewide."

The north country lost 12,087 workers from 2010 to 2015, according to a recent State of the Workforce report from the New York State Association of Training and Employment Professionals. All regions, save New York City and Long Island, have also experienced a drop in available workers.

Unemployment rates have steadily declined in the north country and statewide in the past several years as workers have secured employment or have been actively searching for jobs, Mr. Hayden said, meaning fewer candidates are available for unfilled positions.

"Our unemployment rate is at its lowest ... we're even below pre-recession levels," said Cheryl A. Mayforth, director of the Jefferson County Department of Employment & Training at the WorkPlace.

"That is mainly because of the baby boomers - we're an aging population and they're about to retire."

At the same time, the north country can expect to see an increase of 12,390 jobs from 2014 to 2024, according to projections from the state Department of Labor, meaning employers will need workers to fill those positions. Job openings are also caused by turnover.

"Most job openings are a result of movement in the labor force rather than growth ... or decline," Mr. Hayden said. "Even if the net change in total number in jobs are low and zero, there is still a significant number of openings due to turnovers."

Securing employment in Northern New York, however, isn't as easy as walking through the door and asking for a job.

While each occupation and industry has different requirements, experts and several employers claim they generally want candidates with more than a high school diploma, experience through internships and other activities and a variety of interpersonal skills.

December 2017 | NNY Business | 59

N N Y F E ATURE WHO IS HIRING

When it comes to securing employment, Mrs. Mayforth said, job seekers have to examine the labor market and tailor their education and experiences to meet employer demands.

"Be focused. You can't just take a shot in the dark and hope that art history degree pays off," she said. "We want you to stay up here, but you need to focus on what's available."

Greg A. Gardner, an associate business professor at SUNY Potsdam, said the top industries in Jefferson, Lewis and

St. Lawrence counties are retail, healthcare and hospitality. The manufacturing and education sectors also employ many people in the region.

"Between 2005 and 2015 ... these industries saw moderate to minimal growth, with a few exceptions. These include a collapse of manufacturing in St. Lawrence County and the explosion of retailing in Jefferson County - probably due to the burst of retail growth in Watertown after the arrival of the additional combat brigade at Fort Drum, in the 2005 to 2007 period," Mr. Gardner said.

According to the Labor Department, the health care and social assistance sector is expected to increase by 3,950 jobs from 2014 to 2024, the largest anticipated growth across major industries.

"We're an aging population in the U.S. ... so there is a greater demand for health services," Mr. Gardner said. "Healthcare is a growth industry - as we age - but when you look at the jobs that are really expected to grow, they are low-wage service jobs like home health care aides."

Other fields expected to experience significant job growth include professional and business services, retail trade, hospitality and food services, construction and education, according to labor department data.

Mrs. Mayforth and Mr. Gardner, however, said they expect the number of retail jobs will decline in the future as consumers gravitate more toward online shopping.

"Retail is kind of on our watch list," Mrs. Mayforth.

Industries expected to increase their number of workers by fewer than 100 employees include utilities, government employment and wholesale trade. Sectors expected to lose jobs are information and mining, by 80 jobs and 20 jobs respectively.

EMPLOYERS STRUGGLE

Several employers in Northern New York are struggling to attract prospective employees to fill multiple vacancies.

River Hospital in Alexandria Bay has found it difficult hiring nurses and physicians as demand and competition for these workers has increased nationwide, said Ben Moore III, chief executive officer.

Mr. Moore also said medical colleges in the nation don't have enough spots for capable individuals to train and acquire an education in the medical field.

"There could be more room to ensure good kids get into U.S. medical schools," he said.

River Hospital recently had eight vacancies to fill.

The demand at the hospital Mr. Moore said, is partially caused by turnover as some hospital employees have military spouses who have been transferred to other posts.

"Most vacancies tend to be registered nurses," Mr. Moore said.

Educational institutions also have dif-

| December LENNEY n NNY BUSINESS | NNY Business 2017 60CHRISTOPHER

N N Y FEATURE ficulty finding workers, as interest in pursuing careers in academia has declined.

Brian E. Finn, high school principal for Lowville Academy and Central School, said colleges have experienced a decline in enrollment for education programs, causing a decrease in available workers for school districts. Finding teachers for math and science classes has been difficult for schools because other careers in those fields are more lucrative, Mr. Finn said.

Todd G. Green, superintendent of Beaver River Central School District, said changes in education at the state level, such as common core curriculum, have also scared away potential educators by gaining negative publicity.

"It's a hard profession to be in," Mr. Finn said, "but it's also a very rewarding profession."

Many job seekers may be deterred from north country job hubs, such as Watertown and Massena, because they view them as remote with harsh weather, according to a few employers.

Concerns about the location make it difficult for Stebbins Manufacturing and Engineering Co. in Watertown to hire employees, and the New York Power Authority to retain them, said Robert E. Aliasso Jr., vice president of Stebbins, and Edward Rider, regional manager of the power authority.

"I think we're always hiring, just not for every position," Mr. Aliasso said. "We've explored hiring people out of the area. It just never works out."

While the 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel in Clayton has received hundreds of applications each year, General Manager Todd W. Buchko said only one out of five applicants follow up with the hotel, let alone show up for an interview.

"We want to hire. We have jobs available here and we want to hire local," he said.

In late spring, Mr. Buchko said, the hotel tries to fill several seasonal positions including servers, housekeepers, bartenders, laundry staff, front desk employees, catering staff and cooks, but the business still can't fill all of the positions. Mr. Buchko said the distance from the nearest population center, Watertown, may inhibit the hotel from securing the workforce it needs.

While the peak season for the hotel runs from May to October, Mr. Buchko said almost 70 percent of the staff leaves

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in August to return to college. Beyond summer, however, Mr. Buchko said most positions are filled, adding that the hotel was recently looking to hire a housekeeper and server or bartender.

Jennifer L. Wilton, assistant vice president of internal owner experience at Northern Credit Union, said the bank was hiring for several positions including a loan processing professional, an underwriter, a supervisor and branch managers.

Finding candidates to fill leadership positions can be difficult for Northern Credit because the institution has to compete with banks in Syracuse and other areas, Ms. Wilton said.

"We continue to grow and since we're constantly looking to grow and expand, I expect we're going to increase" employment, she said.

ASPIRE HIGHER

Many employers throughout Northern New York want candidates who have earned more than their high school diploma.

Despite the growing demand for an educated workforce, about 4 million people across the state have a high school equivalency or less, according to a recent report from the New York State Association of Training and Employment Professionals.

"It's becoming harder and harder to find really good job opportunities to build a career out of without some ... level of higher education," Mr. Gardner said.

Candidates looking to find clinical employment must have some form of higher education.

Securing a job as a technician, record keeper or nurse requires at least an associate degree, Mr. Moore said, and a bachelor's degree is required for most registered nurse and nurse practitioner positions.

"It takes planning, education and a game plan to start and get the required education and training they need to qualify," Mr. Moore said. "The pipeline takes a long time to produce qualified individuals."

Job seekers looking for potential teaching jobs must have at least a bachelor's degree in the field they want to teach as well as a teaching certificate, Mr. Finn said. Once hired, teachers must obtain their master's degree soon after.

While schools like Lowville Academy

N N Y FEATURE want prospective employees with experience, Mr. Finn said candidates will receive that experience through student teaching.

Mr. Finn also said the school likes candidates who have experience working with students through tutoring or coaching.

Positions at Stebbins, which include engineers, welders, general laborers, managers, accountants and managers, have different requirements, but most, if not all, positions require education beyond high school. Mr. Aliasso said the company particularly looks for candidates who have technical, project management and accounting degrees.

Experience requirements also vary depending on the position, with higher positions requiring two to three years of experience.

"Some applicants we've just hired right out of college," Mr. Aliasso said.

Northern Credit Union doesn't require a degree for many entry-level positions, Ms. Wilton said, but the bank prefers prospective candidates to have one, especially for leadership roles.

The power authority's educational and experiential requirements vary based on position; Mr. Rider said, but applicants must have at least an associate's degree or certification.

"We can bring in people at different levels based on their different experiences," Mr. Rider said.

EMPLOYABLE SKILLS

Business owners and leaders want prospective candidates to have acquired universal skills that complement their educational background.

In addition to an increased demand for workers who know how to use advanced technology, thousands of employers across the state want their employees to have interpersonal skills, with the top six being communication, collaboration, organization, planning, writing and paying close attention to detail, according to the recent New York State Association of Training and Employment Professionals report.

Many employers throughout Northern New York also look for these interpersonal skills when reviewing potential candidates, but some also want employees who are willing to learn and adapt to the demands for their roles.

"Going to school and getting the degree is telling the employer you have the

ability to learn," Mr. Aliasso said. "The employer will teach you."

Prospective employees at Stebbins must have communication, organization and problem solving skills, Mr. Aliasso said.

In addition to technical knowledge, Mr. Rider said the power authority wants employees who are focused, regimented, hardworking, enthusiastic and work well with others. The agency also wants employees who communicate and understand their coworkers' roles so they can solve problems together.

"Having that ability to communicate and cross boundaries and understand other peoples' abilities ... it's vital for us," Mr. Rider said.

Candidates looking to find a job in health care must be confident, empathetic and curious enough to continue learning new material, Mr. Moore said. Necessary skills include teamwork, problem solving, written and oral communication.

"The most successful people in the clinical area - they have to have confidence obviously, but they have to be nice people," Mr. Moore said. "I hope people are empathetic and I hope they are diligent as far as maintaining competence."

Financial institutions require their employees to be able to make decisions and

multi-task, Ms. Wilton said. The credit union also looks for leadership qualities in its candidates.

"That's what is really important to us," she said, "leading a team and developing people."

THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE

Many industries in Northern New York and across the state are embracing more advanced technology.

Mr. Gardner said several laborintensive industries like manufacturing and agriculture are becoming more capital-intensive, meaning employers in these industries are investing more in new equipment and computer programs and hardware to increase efficiency. The evolutions in technology have increased the demand for workers with higher education, particularly in business and technology.

Many employers will want candidates to have skills in science, technology, engineering and math in addition to interpersonal skills, said Greg P. Hart, regional director for the Workforce Development Institute. Entry-level positions will soon require an understanding of basic computer programs as well as basic equations and measurements.

AMANDA MORRISON n NNY BUSNIESS Ben Moore, CEO of River Hospital, said that the growth of the medical industry has led to the high demand for medical professionals in the north country.

December 2017 | NNY Business | 63

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Mr. Hart said the introduction of technology "can be dramatic or changing some components of the job. For example, instead of lifting material, the worker is programming a hand pendant to perform that duty. I was just talking today with an employer that could hire people with (geographic information systems) and computer skills but haven't been able to find them."

The workforce will also show an increase in the demand for entrepreneurs eager to develop new, marketable ideas and services, Mr. Gardner said, which could lead to job creation.

The demand will also increase for branded food and value-added products, Mr. Gardner said, which will require a different skill set than most industries.

"If I had to offer advice to those students who did want to stay in our area, I would suggest they focus on finding - or creating - jobs where they managed increasingly capital-intensive industries or developed and managed the production and marketing of branded products, including tourism destinations and valueadded agriculture products."

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EC ON OMICALLY S PEAKIN G

Health and Wellness Industry is Rich with Leaders, Young and Old

E

very year, I look forward to this issue of NNY Business – keeping an eye out for friends, colleagues and other familiar faces to see who has been honored with the annual “20 Under 40” distinction. I enjoy reading about our community’s crop of diverse young leaders, and I draw inspiration from their stories that pushes me to do more in my workplace and neighborhood.

In following the 20 Under 40 cohorts for the past few years, I have noticed an interesting trend: year after year, at least a handful of the young professionals who are recognized have health-related careers.

This year’s 20 Under 40 class contains four healthcare professionals; last year’s class had double that, with eight professionals representing the health and wellness industry; and the Class of 2015 had seven.

This could be linked to the fact that the healthcare and social assistance sector accounts for more than 22 percent of paid employees across our tri-county region.

However, I think there might be more to the story.

It’s not a stretch to say that many who work in healthcare do so because of an

innate desire to help others, and that alone is the sign of a true leader.

Those working in healthcare – particularly those with patient-facing jobs – also must be reliable, calm, knowledgeable, Eli Anderson and level-headed to assist their co-workers and for the sake of those they care for. They are often self-sacrificing, working long or odd shifts to get the job done. Combine these traits with some volunteerism, and there’s no wonder why so many 20 Under 40 alums are healthcare professionals.

I don’t mean to put healthcare workers on a pedestal. It is clear in every 20 Under 40 class that leaders exist across all industries, and they are certainly present outside of the workforce as well. It simply is interesting – and reassuring as a patient – to note how rich with leaders our health and wellness

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This notion became even more clear to me a few weeks ago, when my agency – the Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization – recognized a “Community Health Hero” in each of Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.

In St. Lawrence County, FDRHPO recognized Dr. Mark Franke, a dentist with the Community Health Center of the North Country. Dr. Franke has become known in his community as the “dentist whisperer” for his unique ability to foster trusting relationships with patients of all ages and those who have special needs.

On “Give Kids a Smile Day,” he volunteers his services to give low-income children free dental exams, and he does the same for local senior citizens on “Senior Smile Day.” He has visited local elementary schools to speak to children about the importance of oral health and is an advocate for water fluoridation throughout St. Lawrence County’s towns and villages.

“While neither myself or the other dentists that I work with have special training in treating patients with special needs, or children, we do whatever we can do to meet their needs,” Dr. Franke said. “Even with the sometimes never-ending problems our patients face, even the smallest success makes my day and makes the practice of dentistry so worthwhile.”

In Lewis County, Dan Myers was chosen as a “health hero” for his vision to create and grow the Double Play Community Center. Mr. Myers, a member of the 20 Under 40 Class of 2012, saw a need for a recreation and wellness center in Lewis County and began building one from scratch in 2006.

Today, his facilities serve more than 700 individuals and families, providing sports, fitness, art, music and other recreational activities.

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“I think Lewis County deserves a community center that fills the needs of every single individual that wants to get healthy, or have the opportunity to better themselves with music or art,” Mr. Myers said.

Finally, in Jefferson County, FDRHPO recognized Lance Ronas, CEO and director of the Indian River Ambulance Service.

Despite being discouraged by community members and volunteers, Mr. Ronas worked for years to merge emergency medical services from the towns of Antwerp, Philadelphia, and Theresa.

His foresight has resulted in faster emergency response times and has saved lives.

The Indian River Ambulance Service has 42 providers, including 11 paramedics, who provide 24/7 emergency medical services.

It also serves as a training and education hub for community members who want to become EMTs. “If we are successful, it’s for the buy-in – not only by community leadership, but by the community at large,” Mr. Ronas said. “I might be the ring leader, but our logo shows two hands coming together, and that is what we are all about.”

Through different approaches, these three gentlemen are all dedicated to improving the health and wellness of their communities. And while they are all over the age of 40, they have a lot in common with our region’s 20 Under 40 recipients. They are visionary, persistent, humble, selfless, and charismatic – and I truly enjoyed interviewing each of them as they were presented with their awards last month.

More about the Community Health Hero Award and its recipients can be found on www.northcountryvitals.com.

Congratulations to our three “Community Health Heroes” and to the 20 Under 40 Class of 2017! n ELI ANDERSON is communications coordinator for the Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization and a former healthcare reporter for the Watertown Daily Times.

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NON PR OFITS TODAY

Partnerships Benefit Nonprofits, Citizens

T

hose who only see the United Way of NNY as collecting charitable donations and distributing them to other charities are missing the larger picture.

Every year we work with approximately 50 community members who make site visits, review grant applications, and give feedback to nonprofit leaders on how effective their agencies are in serving citizens who are struggling to make ends meet.

Listening to nine committees of volunteers discuss applications is always enlightening.

Generally, the conversations revolve around making sure a nonprofit’s program is delivering the services that are intended.

Some revolve around plans for longterm sustainability based on the agency’s progress in generating financial support in recent years.

And there is always some frank, but caring advice given to nonprofits that are struggling to make such progress.

Sam Reeder, who runs the Salvation Army Empire State division office in Syracuse, will be the first to tell you that our review committees have given him great ideas to expand his work with food pantries and thrift shops In Port Leyden, Alexandria Bay and Star Lake.

(Sam still fondly remembers the day he was told: If you want money, don’t put out your red kettles in Alex Bay in December; do it during Pirates Weekend!)

And new ideas from agencies get reviewers seeing the future in new ways such as: • Sam Purington of the Volunteer Transportation Center has developed software that has streamlined the time it takes to develop drivers’ routes every day, making his nonprofit more efficient and effective.

• Larry Storie at the Association of the Blind is introducing the north country to the newest technology – such as GPS on long canes – that help users better navigate the world.

• The Mental Health Association of Jefferson County is also using technology to allow some clients to receive services at home rather than traveling routinely to the offices on Washington Street.

This year, review committees wanted the United Way board to provide more

68 | NNY Business | December 2017

financial help in several areas: 1) New support for the Victims Assistance Center, which is under a state mandate to create Child Advocacy Centers in all three counties.

Bob Gorman The money will enhance the care given to children who are victims of sexual abuse.

2) Increased support for ACR Health, as it is being asked to assist more communities and school districts navigate conversations and care for gay and transgender teens.

3) Increased support for the American Red Cross, which is spending so much money on national emergencies that is has less money to assist with local projects, such as responding with support for anyone who loses their home to fire.

4) Increased support for Credo Community Center because of the heroin/opioid crisis.

To be sure, there were a couple of indepth conversations with nonprofits that have experienced management turnover and financial woes. Some of the conversations were simply praise from reviewers after they witnessed improvements in an agency’s performance. The Salvation Army chapter in Ogdensburg is the best example of a nonprofit upping its game – and receiving more financial aid in return.

All of that work helped the United Way figure out where $432,000 will be going in 2018. Not surprisingly, crisis care continues to get major support with the Salvation Army chapters, Catholic Charities and Watertown Urban Mission receiving a combined $93,000. Child care and youth services programs are getting a combined $82,000 in the region.

Other significant regional grants include $31,500 for Volunteer Transportation Center, and $30,500 for Credo Community Center. The Resolution Center for Jefferson-Lewis Counties is receiving $19,500 and Literacy of NNY is receiving $19,200.

To see a video on the nonprofit partners

of the United Way of NNY, go to: https:// vimeo.com/229328925 The United Way is indeed a grant maker. But at the heart of our mission is to develop relationships with our nonprofit partners that ensure our citizens are well served.

Goodbye to a dear friend: Sr. Donna Franklin, director of Catholic Charities in the north country, will retire in December, leaving a huge gap to fill from Watertown to Plattsburgh.

Plattsburgh’s John Bernardi, executive director of the United Way of the Adirondacks, has been in the nonprofit world his entire career and he sums up how Sr. Donna was seen by most of us in this line of work: “I hold Sister Donna in the highest regard. She has consistently demonstrated an incredible passion for her work and an incredible compassion for the people in our region. Her work throughout the north country has touched countless lives and has had an enormous impact. I once told her that when I grow up I wanted to be just like her. She laughed, and said I could do much better. I think not. There is immense love, respect and admiration for her from all who know her. I am proud to be among them.”

We second that motion and recently presented Sr. Donna the Macsherry Family Community Spirit Award, our highest honor for service to the region. For 22 years, she saw every person in the north country as a pearl of great price. And with grace, charm and dogged determination, Sr. Donna worked to bring the kingdom of God to us all. n ROBERT D. GORMAN is president and CEO of Untied Way of Northern New York. Contact him at bgorman@unitedway-nny.org. His column appears every other month in NNY Business

AG RIBU S I NE S S

Agriculture Day for the Leadership Institute

M

ike Hunter, regional field crop specialist for Harvest NY and I look forward to one day a year we have the opportunity to work together for the entire day, the Jefferson Leadership Institute (JLI) Agricultural Day. It is a great opportunity to help 20 to 25 community leaders experience agriculture in a focused, in-depth fashion.

Initially, when JLI started, agriculture was a one-hour discussion during economic development day. Quickly, the program went from an hour to a half day. Finally, several years ago, we were able to secure a full day to expose the JLI participants to agriculture and all that it offers. We start the program when the class boards the charter bus at 8 a.m. From the moment we depart the parking lot until we pull back into the parking lot at 4:30 p.m., Mike and I are discussing agriculture or we are at a stop where the class is receiving a tour. This year, we heard from a few class members that they were told not to miss Ag day by previous participants. Mike and I appreciate hearing that because we work hard to provide as in-depth and interesting a program as we can.

Our first visit is a tour inside the Crowley Foods plant owned by HP Hood in LaFargeville. It is rare to get a public tour inside a food processing plant. HP Hood makes an exception, with strong precautions taken, to allow our group into the plant. Our class is divided into smaller groups and each group is provided a tour that takes them from the moment milk enters the plant, through the entire process, until product is loaded onto tractor trailers and shipped across the United States. We end the tour of Crowley’s by taste testing all the products coming off the production lines that morning. It is valuable for the class to receive this tour as they learn about the tremendous precautions taken to make sure dairy products are safe and nutritious.

They also see firsthand how our dairy industry brings outside dollars into our local economy and creates a tremendous amount of jobs.

Homestead Fields Organic Dairy Farm is our second stop on the tour and here the class receives its first taste of the fresh organic artisan cheese from the farm. Ed Walldroff and his family give the class a tour of the cheese-making operation and dairy farm talking about the organic dairy business. They also provide a wonderful morning hot snack of organic Swedish

meatballs and cheese. This is very well received by the class on a cold, blustery November morning.

The JLI Class is given an up-close experience with robotic milking equipment at Reedhaven Dairy Farm. The Reed family welcomes the class in and discusses why the farm invested in robotic milking equipment. Participants are usually shocked at the cost of the robotic milkers, but quickly learn that the farm made the investment because finding local labor is a huge chal-

lenge for our farms. The farm owners also take the class on a tour of the freestall barn. The cows are seen relaxing on water beds or getting their back scratched by the

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North Branch Farms, owned by the Canzonier Family, provides our JLI class an opportunity to learn about vegetable production in Jefferson County. North Branch Farms is the largest vegetable operation in Jefferson County. We stood inside the new packing house facility there surrounded by huge bins of pumpkins and squash as we heard about the challenges of starting a relatively new farm from scratch.

The last stop for the JLI Class, now worn out by being outside in the cold air all day and the starts and stops of the tour, actually covers three different topics in agriculture.

The Robbins family opens up Old McDonalds Farm and North Harbor Dairy so the class can learn about one of the largest agricultural education destinations in New York state. The class also visits three different speakers around the farm. While one speaker is discussing the use of technology such as global position systems to micromanage crop production, another speaker is taking a group into the barn and milking parlor. This group sees firsthand what the farm is doing to care for their animals and how the cows are milked in a large dairy farm. The third station is right next to the manure storage structure. Here the class talks about how farms work to be good environmental stewards, the increasing environmental regulations and how manure storage structures play an important role in keeping our waterways clean.

Tired, the class returns at the end of their afternoon to their vehicles, crammed full of new information about agriculture.

Hopefully, when they have time to reflect upon the day, they have gained a deeper appreciation for Jefferson County’s largest economic engine outside Ft. Drum. n JAY MATTESON is the agricultural coordinator for the Jefferson County Local Development Corp. Contact him at coordinator@comefarmwithus.com. His column appears monthly.

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70 | NNY Business | December 2017

December 2017 | NNY Business | 71

R EA L E STATE ROUNDUP

I

What does an Association of Realtors do?

am often asked questions about the Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors and the St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors including who “owns” the association, our funding and what we do.

The first question I get is usually some variation of “Are you a government entity?” The answer to that is no. Realtor associations are private membership organizations similar to Chambers of Commerce. We are owned by our members who pay dues and fees for services like the multiple listing service (MLS), education classes we run, and other services. Neither association issues New York real estate licenses. That is a function of the New York State Department of State.

Our members are also members of the New York State Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors.

Through a unique three-way agreement, members get the benefit of a large, national trade association coupled with the power of a state association, and the immediacy of a local entity.

In addition to helping our members with their real estate needs, overseeing the MLS, and offering education, we also assist the public with real estate questions, fight for property rights and property owners, and provide resources to the public.

You can find more information at www. jlbor.com or www.slcbor.com.

Seven members of the Jefferson-Lewis and St. Lawrence County Boards of Realtors and I joined more than 20,000 real estate professionals and industry leaders from around the world at the 2017 Realtors Conference & Expo in Chicago from Nov. 3 to 6. Attending were Britt Abbey, Sue Brashaw, Carolyn Gaebel, Debbie

Gilson, Brittany Matott, Vickie Staie and Jennifer Stevenson.

This year’s conference theme, “The Sky’s the Limit,” encouraged members of the National Association of Lance Evans Realtors to take advantage of new technology and innovations shaping the industry, educate themselves on the latest market trends and real estate issues, and make new contacts with fellow real estate professionals from across the globe. Realtors also had the opportunity to attend hundreds of information and education sessions featuring more than 300 nationally recognized speakers and industry experts who spoke on a wide range of real estate topics, including affordability from inventory constraints, brokerage management and tax reform’s potential impact on homeowners.

Among the panelists and speakers were Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, who shared the latest outlook for residential and commercial real estate markets; William Doerner, Federal Housing Finance Agency senior economist; Steve Schmidt, MSNBC political analyst; Robert Dietz, National Association of Home Builders chief economist; Luke Glass, realtor.com executive vice president of industry platforms, and 23-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps.

Throughout the week, Realtors attended 100-plus conference forums, workshops, and educational sessions on a broad range of real estate issues to help enhance their

skills and prepare their businesses for 2018. Attending this conference is one of the countless ways Realtors gain specialized knowledge, hone their expertise to better serve America’s home buyers, sellers and investors, and improve their professionalism.

The members who attended from our area attended various committee meetings and educational sessions on various association issues, the economy, gained ideas for community events from colleagues, and worked to identify solutions to problems facing the housing market in the year ahead, and strategized efforts to keep homeownership and real estate issues front and center on the national agenda.

During the conference, Elizabeth Mendenhall, a sixth-generation Realtor from Columbia, Missouri, was installed as 2018 NAR president.

“In 2018, Realtors will continue to tackle issues like flood insurance and affordability, but we will also focus on how Realtors can help shape and move the industry forward,” said Mendenhall. “The business of real estate is always changing, and our industry continues to evolve at breakneck speed. As industry leaders, it is our job to be at the forefront of that innovation.”

Attendees also had the opportunity to try out and learn about the latest stateof-the-art products and services for real estate professionals. Over 400 exhibitors showcased their offerings during the trade expo, the largest in real estate, exposing Realtors to fresh ideas and ways to better serve clients and grow their business. n LANCE M. EVANS is the executive officer of the Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors and the St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors.

Contact him at levans@nnymls.com. His column appears monthly in NNY Business.

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T OP TRANS . $1,394,988: Oct. 10, Town of Watertown: No acreage listed, Route 11, W&C LLC, Watertown, sold to 18493 Route 11 Realty LLC, Garden City, N.J. $1,345,167: Oct. 10, Town of Watertown: No acreage listed, Route 11, W&C LLC, Watertown, sold to 18675 Route 11 Realty LLC, Garden City, N.J. $735,000: Oct. 24, $500,000: Oct. 17, Town of Champion: 12.888 acres, Cole Road, Scott O. Britton and Michele M. Britton, Carthage, sold to Brandon J. Robinson and Jessica M. Robinson, Carthage.

Conboy, McKay, Bachman & Kendall, LLP Congratulations Megan S. Kendall

$545,000: Oct.12: Town of LeRay: 2.8 acres, Duffy Road, Fireside at Partridge Berry Inn LLC, Watertown, sold to Modstyle Properties LLC, Watertown. $500,000: Oct. 17, Town of Champion: 12.888 acres, Cole Road, Scott O. Britton and Michele M. Britton, Carthage, sold to Brandon J. Robinson and Jessica M. Robinson, Carthage. $448,000: Oct. 24, Town of Alexandria: 0.33 acres, Wellesley Island, Gertrude M. Allen, as trustee of Robert J. Allen Trust, Clinton, sold to Michael J. Allen and Judith A. Allen, New Hartford. $435,500: Oct. 3, Town of Champion: No acreage listed, North Lake Road, Larry J. Walseman II, Castorland, sold to David C. Williams and Catherine E. Cramer-Williams, Carthage. $345,000: Oct.3, Town of Henderson: 1.863 acres, County Route 123 (Harbor Road), Stephen Riddell and Diane Riddell, Henderson Harbor, sold to Bridget D. Robshaw and David Joseph Robshaw, Henderson Harbor. $342,000: Oct. 3, Village of Sackets Harbor: 0.319 acres, Mill Creek Lane, Sarah L. Barrows, Sackets Harbor, sold to Todd F. Polk and Kate F. Polk, Watertown. $399,000: Oct.4, Town of Cape Vincent: 1.44 acres, shore of St. Lawrence River, Anna E. Niedermeyr-Smith, Eden, sold to Peter Winkelstein and Kendra E. Winkelstein, Buffalo.

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Aldi store open in Evans Mills EVANS MILLS- Aldi Inc. has opened its long-awaited Evans Mills store on Route 11.

The 18,260-square-foot store, at 26163 Route 11, features five aisles, approximately 12,220 square feet of selling space, open ceilings and natural lighting that are all aspects of the company's modern store design, Aaron Sumida, vice president of Aldi's Tully Division, said in an email.

The Evans Mills site, like other stores, employs 15 to 20 people.

Construction began in May after the company received approval from the LeRay Town Planning Board earlier this year and included the installation of "environmentally friendly building materials" such as recycled materials and LED lighting, Mr. Sumida said.

The company purchased the property from developer Michael E. Lundy in May, according to county records.

"We look at a lot of factors when choosing a new Aldi location, like population density, proximity to competition, cost of the property and traffic patterns," Mr. Sumida said.

"We want to be conveniently located for our shoppers, and Evans Mills was a natural fit."

Customers had a chance to tour the store, during a ribbon cutting ceremony. The store offers several new Aldi product lines including U.S. Department of Agriculture Choice meats, the liveGfree gluten-free product line, the Simply Nature line, the Never Any! meat line with no antibiotics or added hormones and an organic selection, according to a release from the company. The store also will offer a sweepstakes for a year's supply of produce.

"We're very much looking forward to joining the Evans Mills community and introducing customers to the unique Aldi shopping experience," Mr. Sumida said.

Aldi operates about 100 stores in the state, including stores in Watertown, Carthage, Ogdensburg, Potsdam, Massena and Malone.

SINCE 1954

‘Cuz Winter’s Coming Back!

NNY’S Complete Automotive & Tire Service Center 839 State St., Watertown • www.CheneyTire.com 74 | NNY Business | December 2017

315-788-6840

SMAL L BU SIN E SS SU C C E S S

A

Year-end Good Time to Assess Practices

s the 2017 year winds to a close, many of us small business owners pause and take a breath, both to reflect on the past year and to prepare for the year to come. Figuring out the best way to transition to a new year is different for each business, but hopefully some of the following thoughts might give you some ideas to help you prepare to grow your business even further in 2018.

The first step to successfully closing out 2017 is often the hardest, making sure you know your profit and how your income and expense numbers have trended this past year. While, yes, you don’t really need to have your taxes done until April, it helps to know your profit level by the end of the year so you know if you could use some more deductions. December is a great time of year to assess if you have enough profit to cover that new piece of equipment you’ve been thinking about all year long, or to update older equipment with new models. If you don’t know your overall profit in December, you may miss out on this opportunity and end up paying more in taxes in the spring.

So this is a great time to break out the giant stack of receipts that has been piling up on your desk and try to get them into your Quickbooks, Excel, or ledger to at least get a general idea of where you are at with your business.

Also, while you have the numbers in front of you, the end of the year is a good time to compare your business to where it was last year and see if you’ve met any goals you set. Are there areas of your business that are growing more than others? Or certain places that have a higher profit margin than they used to? Did some marketing work better than others for bringing in new and repeat customers? Figuring these out can direct you toward areas to focus on for next year. It is good, too, for you to set goals in different areas of your business beyond the financial, whether it is improving your products or services, or trying out something unique and

different.

The holidays also provide an opportunity to thank your best customers. You know who they are, the ones that come in the store every month, or send lots of other people your way. You can Jennifer McCluskey send them a nice holiday gift to thank them for shopping with you, and will also keep you top-of-mind for last-minute holiday purchases. Make sure the gift is something that fits with your brand and has your logo on it. Gift certificates are great, because you know they will bring the customer back to your store.

Many business owners experience a bit of quiet time after Christmas. This is a great time to plan for the future and to get to some of the “not quite as urgent as everything else” items on your to-do list. Getting your business and your physical space organized will help you later in your busy season. You can also get a head start on your marketing for next year. Maybe take some time to

update your marketing materials. Also, did you know you can schedule Facebook posts for your business page? The beginning of the year is a great time to set up these seasonal posts so that when crazy busy time hits you already have some posts ready to go. If you’re really on the ball, you could have a whole year’s worth of posts set up, and then only have to fill in as new things happen.

Finally, the holidays are a great time to relax and be with family. While it’s often hard to get away when you know you’ll be missing a few customers, sometimes that space and breathing room is essential to keep your sanity for another year. It’s really difficult though; I’ve been known to break my own rules and return customer emails on Christmas day. I’ll try to be better about that this year.

If you would like help getting 2018 off to a great start, you’re welcome to set up an appointment with your local SBDC Business Advisor. Our services are always provided at no charge. You can contact the SUNY Canton SBDC at (315) 386-7312 or the Watertown SBDC at JCC (315) 782-9262. n JENNIFER MCCLUSKEY is a certified business advisor with the New York State Small Business Development Center at SUNY Canton.

Contact her at McCluskeyj@canton.edu.

36788 RTE 26 • 866-414-8596 CARTHAGE NY 13619 www.caskinetteford.com

December 2017 | NNY Business | 75

COMMUNITY / BUSINESS CALENDAR

CARTHAGE

Information: (315) 686-1100.

SATURDAY, DEC. 9 Twin Villages Christmas, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sponsored by Jeanette Turner with all proceeds to benefit the VEM Food Pantry. Cost: Free.

Information: Jeanette.turner@gmail. com.

LOWVILLE

CLAYTON SATURDAY, DEC. 9 THROUGH FRIDAY, DEC.22 Thousand Islands Museum Festival of Trees, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, Thousand Islands Museum, 312 James Street, Clayton.

Local businesses, organizations and families bring in and decorate trees or other holiday displays. Admission is free, but visitors are asked to bring in a non-perishable item for our “Fill the Boat” campaign which fills our St. Lawrence skiff with food for the local food pantry. Vote for your favorite display. Cost: Free.

Information: 686-5794.

THURSDAY, FEB. 16 THROUGH SATURDAY, FEB. 18 2018 Fire & Ice, 5 to 9 p.m., Thousand Islands Harbor Hotel, Webb St. Over 20,000 pounds of ice carved into functional bars and gorgeous sculptures. Complimentary wine tastings and light hors doeuvres served in the ballroom. Fireworks will end the evening on Friday and Saturday. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to North Country Troopers Assisting Toops. Tickets must be purchased in advance and for the specific day you wish to attend. Drink tickets sold separately.

Must be 21 years of age to attend (proof of age required). Cost: $25.

Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce, 315-7884400.

SATURDAY, JAN. 13 Snowmobile safety course, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Brantingham Snowmobile Club Groomer Barn, 7761 Brantingham Road. Lunch provided. Pre-register: Cornell Cooperative Extension of Lewis County, 315-376-5270.

Walk-ins welcome. Participants must be 10 years of age. Sponsored by Brantingham Snowmobile Club.

Information: Mike Leviker 315376-5221 or email mikeleviker@ lewiscounty.ny.gov.

OGDENSBURG FRIDAY, DEC 8 THROUGH SUNDAY, DEC 9 3rd Annual Tastes & Talents of the North Country, Friday, noon to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., St. Lawrence Centre Mall Arena, 6100 St. Lawrence Centre. The 3rd annual show offers holiday shoppers a venue to purchase unique handcrafted and homemade gift items from vendors across New York. Cost: $3; 12 and younger Free. Information: (315) 386-4000.

WATERTOWN WEDNESDAY, DEC. 20 December Business After Hours, 5 to 7 p.m., The Paddock Club, Paddock Arcade. Networking event hosted by the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce includes prizes, raffles and food. Register by Noon Dec. 19. Cost: Pre-registered, $10; members, $12; non-members, $15. Information/Registration:

SUNDAY, DEC. 17 Three Wise Guys Christmas Comedy Show, doors open at 7p.m., Ramada Inn, 6300 Arsenal St. comedians Matt Clark, Tim Joyce and Mike Bova bring you a night of much needed laughter during the holiday season. Matt Clark has produced and performed in three local USO comedy shows. He has helped to raise thousands of dollars for the Fort Drum USO and other local charities. Yes he is a local comedian with a flair of a medium sized city comic! Tim Joyce has been seen on screen with Ed Asner and on ABC and Comedy Central. Watertown native Mike Bova is a nationally touring comedian, who just finished a 17 day/14 city tour with Marc Price who played Skippy on Family Ties. Mike’s comedy is so cleverly funny and has been called mini Jerry Seinfeld on many occasions. Cost: pre-sale, $10; $15. Information: 315-404-8200.

SUNDAY, JAN. 7 26th Annual ‘NNY Bridal Showcase, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Dulles State Office Building, Washing St. The best from the area for gowns, samples from caterers and cake companies, DJ’s, photographers, beauty, hotels, reception venues and more!! Please proceed to the Pre-Registered Brides check-in area in the front entrance or when you come in from the back parking. Staff will get you through quickly so that you can enjoy the show. Receive a brides packet including information on select vendors, prize information, and other goodies. At the 2018 NNY Bridal Showcase, you can en-

OUTER WASHINGTON ST. WATERTOWN NY 315-788-6022

Let's Go Places

WaiteToyota.com 76 | NNY Business | December 2017

joy, checking off items on your wedding to-do list with family, friends and your wedding party; receive special offers from select vendors only available at the bridal show; samplings of delicious cake and food and more. Cost: Free.

Information: 315-786-0925, ask for Tim or Melissa.

FRIDAY, JAN. 26 THROUGH SATURDAY, JAN. 27 2018 Snowtown Film Festival, Downtown Watertown. Two-day film festival organized to build appreciation for filmmaking and to encourage the development of independent locally produced films. The Snowtown Film Festival offers official film selections, and a juried film competition. Cost: Free. Information: info@snowtownfilmfestival.com.

SATURDAY, FEB. 3 The Paddock Mansion Ice Festival, 7 to 10 p.m., 228 Washington St. The 2nd Annual Winter themed event includes an evening of entertainment, heavy hors d’oeuvres, ice sculptures, bonfires, and an ice bar. Music and family entertainment, ‘smores and more. Cost: $15 $30. Information: 315-782-3491.

SATURDAY, FEB. 10 SPCA Bark and Wine Auction, 5 to 9:30 p.m., Savory Downtown, Washington St. The Bark and Wine Auction will include dinner and an auction featuring Johnny Spezzano as the Celebrity Auctioneer with hundreds of items in Silent, Live, Basket and Gift Certificate Auctions. Cost: $50 per ticket. Information: 315-782-3260.  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 Facebook.com/NNYBusiness or nnybizmag.com for events calendar updates.

18014 GOODNOUGH ST., ADAMS CENTER, NY • 315-583-5680 MON.-WED. 8-5, THURS. & FRI. 8-6, SAT. 9-3

December 2017 | NNY Business | 77

B USI N E SS S CENE 20 UNDER 40 SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENTS

From left, Alexa Bennett, Northern Credit Union, and nominator Jeffrey Kimball, Northwestern Mutual.

From left, Tricia Bannister, Clayton Chamber of Commerce, stands with recipient Alex Buduson, Clayton Chamber of Commerce.

HOLLY BONAME PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Matthew Hudson, Hilton Garden Inn Watertown, and wife and nominator Sarah Hudson.

HOLLY BONAME PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Lynne Ferris, Conboy, McKay, Bachman and Kendall, stands with recipient Megan Kendall, Conboy, McKay, Bachman and Kendall.

Locally Owned and Operated ~ Mobile Shreds Onsite ~ Fast, Safe & Secure.

Call to set up free estimate or schedule service ~ Servicing Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego, St. Lawrence and parts of Franklin and Essex Counties ~ WE PROVIDE RELIABLE, TIMELY SERVICE, AND STAND BEHIND THAT.

78 | NNY Business | December 2017

BU SIN E SS S C E NE 20 UNDER 40 SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENTS

From left, Brian Marcolini, North Country Initiative, and Erika Flint, Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization.

From left, Erin Simser, WinnCompanies, and husband and nominator Shane Simser, HighTower The Morgia Group.

JEREMIAH PAPINEAU PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

Heather Pleskach stands with her announcement card at Otis Technology where she is employed.

JEREMIAH PAPINEAU PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Blake Place and two of her students stand for a photo after her surprise announcement.

December 2017 | NNY Business | 79

BusIness

www.nnybizmag.com

260 Washington St. Watertown, NY 13601

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

S L S St. Lawrence Supply • General Office Supplies • Restaurant Equipment & Small Wares • Janitorial Equipment & Supplies • Paper • Furniture

Thank You For Giving Us The Opportunity To Serve You! Mon-Fri 8:00am-5:00pm • Saturday 8:00am-Noon • Sunday Closed

114 St. Hwy 345

Potsdam, NY

(315) 265-5514 2017

St Lawrenc e County Ch amber Customer Service Excellence Award Winner

Interior Design & Consultation We offer an independent shopping experience with quality prices on Appliances, Electronics, Furniture & Mattresses.

All with top notch service!

Congratulations Rob Bicknell for being recognized as one of NNY’s emerging leaders.

2017 NNY Business “20 Under 40” Honoree Mon-Fri 9:00am-5:00pm • Saturday 9:00am-3:00pm • Sunday Closed 46 Market St. • Potsdam, NY • (315) 265-3534 • bicknellappliance.com