B
Y usIness // ANNUAL FAMILY BUSINESS ISSUE
APRIL 2014 Volume 4 No. 5
nnybizmag.com
*
PLUS
e, Business Scen l Biz Tech, Smal Business, NNY Snapshot.
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THE INTERVIEW
Waite Toyota’s Barry L. Waite p. 36
Thomas J. Cheney
Maureen A. Cheney
A LASTING LEGACY $2.95
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FAMILY BUSINESSES STAND THE TEST OF TIME // NORTHERN NEW YORK’S PREMIER BUSINESS MONTHLY //
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NNY Business | April 2014
April 2014 | NNY Business
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NNY Business | April 2014
>> Inside APRIL 2014
18
26 24
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26 A CENTURY STRONG After 100 years, Belloff’s Department Store remains in the family where it all began in downtown Adams.
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SMALL BIZ STARTUP |
28 AN AGRI-VACATION At Country Cousins Farm in Evans Mills, a vacation is a chance to pitch in with chores and get away from the hustle.
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FAMILY BUSINESS |
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17 DELECTABLY ITALIAN For one a Clayton couple, an Italian market and catering business was never in doubt. |
28
COVER |
18 ALL IN THE FAMILY Four north country businesses have weathered the tests of time and multiple generations. |
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24 A HIGHER CALLING At Sharp’s Bulk Foods, family stocks shelves and ‘God brings the people.’
REAL ESTATE |
35 A MERGER MARRIAGE Amherst-based RealtyUSA joins forces with longtime NNY firm Elliott Realty.
BUSINESS SCENE |
48 NETWORKING, NNY STYLE From Jefferson to Lewis counties, businessmen and women connect for success. BUSINESS HISTORY |
52 A STURDY SEAT FOR ALL A little-known chair factory on the bank of the Indian River led industry in Theresa. |
WHAT’S HAPPENING HERE? |
54 A NEW BEGINNING A new building means a new, second location in Lowville for one Beaver Falls business.
April 2014 | NNY Business
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NNY Business | April 2014
INTERVIEW | 36 DRIVING INTO THE FUTURE Since 1929, the Waites have put north country residents on the road. Now with his three sons beside him, Waite Toyota owner Barry L. Waite talks about life in the family business. |
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COLUMNS
DEPARTMENTS
10 11 12 14 17
ON THE COVER
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40 ECONOMICALLY SPEAKING 41 BUSINESS LAW 42 COMMERCE CORNER |
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43 AGRI-BUSINESS 44 BUSINESS TECH BYTES 45 SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS
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EDITOR’S NOTE PEOPLE ON THE MOVE ECONOMIC SNAPSHOT BUSINESS BRIEFCASE SMALL BIZ STARTUP
33 46 48 52 54
REAL ESTATE ROUNDUP CALENDAR BUSINESS SCENE BUSINESS HISTORY WHAT’S HAPPENING HERE?
For our annual family business issue, staff Photographer Justin Sorensen styled the cover photo at Watertown’s Cheney Tire, a family business that celebrated 60 years last month. Justin used a Nikon D700 with a 17-35 mm lens, 800 ISO, f/2.8. Our cover story, which features the Cheneys and three other family businesses in in Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Lewis counties begins on page 18.
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April 2014 | NNY Business
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CONTRIBUTORS
BusIness www.nnybizmag.com
Chairman of the Board John B. Johnson Jr.
Bill Owens was elected to Congress in 2009 and represents New York’s 21st District. He writes about the federal Export-Import Bank as a tool for economic development. (p. 40)
Larry Covell is an attorney and professor of business at Jefferson Community College. He writes about how to generate working capital through secured transactions. (p. 41)
Lynn Pietroski is president and CEO of the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce. She shares several ways to cultivate a positive and productive work environment. (p. 42)
Publishers
John B. Johnson Harold B. Johnson II
VP News Operations Timothy J. Farkas
Magazine Editor
Kenneth J. Eysaman
Staff Writer / Editorial Assistant Grace E. Johnston
Photography
Jay Matteson is the agricultural coordinator for the Jefferson County Industrial Development Corp. He writes about several mom-and-pop farms where business is booming. (p. 43)
Jill Van Hoesen is chief information officer for Johnson Newspapers and a 25-plus-year IT veteran. She critiques a handful of apps for those who are on the hunt for a new job. (p. 44)
Brooke Rouse is an advisor for the New York State Small Business Development Center at SUNY Canton. She writes about how to develop loyalty in nonfamily employees. (p. 45)
Norm Johnston, Justin Sorensen, Jason Hunter, Melanie Kimbler-Lago, Amanda Morrison
Director of Advertising Michael Hanson
Magazine Advertising Manager Matthew Costantino
Advertising Graphics
Brian Mitchell, Rick Gaskin, Heather O’Driscoll, Scott Smith, Todd Soules
Circulation Director Mary Sawyer
Norah Machia is a freelance writer and veteran Watertown Daily Times reporter. In our cover story, she visits four family businesses that have seen multiple generations at the helm. (p. 18)
Lance M. Evans is executive officer for the Jefferson-Lewis and St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors. He talks with some top real estate agents about the region’s second-home market. (p. 33)
Grace E. Johnston is a staff writer and editorial assistant for NNY Magazines. This month she visits Sharp’s Bulk Foods, Country Cousin’s Farm and Di Prinzio’s Italian Market & Catering. (pgs. 17, 24, 28)
MARKETPLACE
AmeriCU Credit Union ................... 2 Association for the Blind Dining Out Card ........................... 39 Bach & Company ........................ 35 Bay Brokerage ............................. 30 Bay View Shores Real Estate ...... 32 Black River Valley Club ................ 6 Center for Sight ............................ 56 Cheney Tire .................................. 25 CITEC Manufacturing ................. 34 Clayton Dental Office ................. 50 Coleman’s Corner ....................... 39 CREG Systems Corp. ..................... 7 D Laux Properties ......................... 32 DeLine’s Auto Body ..................... 47 DANC ............................................ 42 D.L. Calarco Funeral Home ........ 14 Dr. Richard J. Meagher, DDS ...... 16 Fairground Inn .............................. 39 First Class Auto Glass .................. 10 Foy Agency .................................... 4 Fred’s Quick Lube .......................... 6 Fuccillo’s Automotive .................... 6 Fuller Insurance ............................. 4
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GEICO ............................................. 4 H.D. Goodale Co. ......................... 4 Hearing Health ............................. 16 High Tower Advisors .................... 38 Hospice of Jefferson County ...... 16 Howard Orthotics ......................... 40 Immaculate Heart Central ......... 10 Innovative Physical Therapy Johnson Newspaper Corp. ......... 31 Jefferson County Local Development Corp. .................... 53 Ken Piarulli / Ameriprise .............. 27 Krafft Cleaning ............................. 48 Lofink Ford Mercury ..................... 46 LTI .................................................. 45 Macar’s ......................................... 15 Massey’s Furniture Barn .............. 51 Meade Optical............................ 49 Moe’s Southwest Grill .................. 39 Morgia’s Pasta ............................. 21 Natali’s Restaurant ......................... 7 Nationwide Insurance................... 4 Netto Fire Equipment ................... 10 NNY Community Foundation ...... 29
NNY Business | April 2014
Nortz & Virkler Ford ........................ 6 O’Brien’s Restaurant .................... 39 Old Garage Deli .......................... 39 Painfull Acres Furniture ................ 32 Succession Partners ...................... 3 AIB Insurance Inc. ......................... 4 Phinney’s Automotive ................... 6 RBC Wealth Management .......... 35 Renzi Food Service ...................... 27 Sea Comm Credit Union ............. 22 Shred Con .................................... 44 Slack Chemical Co. .................... 43 SUNY Potsdam Extension ............ 11 Thousand Islands Real Estate ..... 32 Waite Motorsports ........................ 30 Waite Toyota ................................ 23 Watertown Auto Repair ................. 6 Watertown Dental .......................... 9 Watertown Local Development Corp .................... 33 Watertown Savings Bank ............ 20 Wells Communications ............... 53 Worden Insurance ......................... 4 WWTI-TV50 .................................... 55 Yester Years Vintage Doors ........ 54
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. © 2010-2014. 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 keysaman@wdt.net Advertising For advertising rates and information in Jefferson and Lewis counties, email mcostantino@wdt.net, or call 315-661-2305 In St. Lawrence County, e-mail knelson@ogd.com, or call 315-769-2451 Printed with pride in U.S.A. at Vanguard Printing LLC, Ithaca, N.Y., a Forest Stewardship Certified facility. Please recycle this magazine.
Dr. Robert Agnetta Watertown Orthodontics WATERTOWN, N.Y. — From his earliest memory as Dr. Agnetta followed his father’s career in hospital administration from Denver, Colorado, to Portland, Oregon, and then to Glendale, California, he always knew that he wanted to be a health care professional. He received a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Pacific Union College in Napa Valley in Northern California. After receiving a Doctor of Dental Science degree from Loma Linda University, School of Dentistry, he practiced as a general dentist in Micronesia on the Island of Guam for three years. Returning stateside when his family started to grow, he moved with his wife, Karen, to Boise, Idaho, where he established a successful private practice while they raised their two children, Alison and Evan. In 1996, Bob had the opportunity to specialize and again attended Loma Linda University, where he earned a master’s degree in Orthodontics. Upon completion of his residency he returned to Boise, Idaho, and established a busy private practice as an Orthodontist. During his professional tenure, Dr. Agnetta has consistently kept up to date by attending continuing education courses. Since graduation he has been a member of several dental organizations, including the American Dental Association, Board Certified member of the American Association of Orthodontics and has recently been appointed as a director in the Pacific Coast Society of
Orthodontists (PCSO). Why orthodontics? The most rewarding aspect of dentistry for Dr. Agnetta is when he can help a person succeed in life by improving their self-confidence. Orthodontics is a field that can visibly do this, and it is extremely gratifying to witness his patients develop into more confident and self-assured individuals. During the times Bob is not at the office, he is most likely devoting his time to family endeavors. He enjoys being very busy and is always looking for ways to help his family and friends. He has enjoyed mountain and cross country biking, water and snow skiing, and is an avid Bronco (Denver and Boise State University) football fan fueled by the good memories and good times he has enjoyed in those cities. The New York Jets were added to that favorites list when they drafted one of his favorite BSU players in the first round two years ago. He loves to travel and his favorite place so far is New Zealand, where they visited Karen’s extended family and watched his children jump off tall buildings, bridges and out of a perfectly good airplane. Still top on his wish list of travel destinations is India, China, the Himalayas and spending more time on more warm, tropical islands. Dr. Agnetta would love to help you or your family with any orthodontic needs or questions you may have. Please call 315-7881070 for a time to meet Dr. Agnetta.
The most rewarding aspect of dentistry for Dr. Agnetta is when he can help a person succeed in life by improving their self-confidence.
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April 2014 | NNY Business
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Y H W ? C IH Faith Service Character Excellence
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IHC Elementary April 22, May 21, 6:30pm
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WELDING SUPPLY, LLC 315-782-0242
RONALD NETTO RONNY NETTO, JR.
Locally Owned & Operated Family Business • Fire Extinguisher Recharge & Inspection • Welding Supplies • Safety Equipment • Industrial Gases • Dry Ice
EDITOR’S NOTE
F
or more than a few north country families, the family bond is also a matter of business. This month, we are proud to deliver our annual family in business issue. When we were considering who to feature in this issue, we thought about some of our region’s longoperating family firms that have seen succeeding generations take the helm. In St. Lawrence County, few know hardware like the Coakley family. Coakley Hardware, with stores in Canton and Saranac Lake, was started in 1902 by John P. Coakley, who was 18 at the time he put together a crews to build homes and barns in St. Lawrence CounKen Eysaman ty. Today, Coakley Carpet One Ace Hardware in Canton employs several family members who have stayed true to their roots. If you’re looking for a new set of tires in Jefferson County, chances are you’ve at least heard of Tom Cheney who, along with his sister-in-law, Maureen, operates Cheney Tire, a storied family business that last month marked 60 years running. And what’s a car with new sneakers but no insurance to protect your ride? At Fuller Insurance Agency in Carthage, the Fuller family has covered north country residents since father Wilfred “Bill” T. Fuller decided to start in his own agency in 1980, primarily to serve the farming community in the Carthage area. Finally, in Lewis County, we get to the root of a sweet treat that the Freeman family has been cranking out as far back as 1895 with their signature Freeman’s Taffy. Our cover story, by writer Norah Machia, begins on page 18. n n n
Darrick, Justin and Matthew, are at his side, learning the ropes in preparation to one day run the family dealership and its successful motorsports store in Adams Center. n n n BUSINESS SCENE — This month’s Scene section, which begins on page 48, features nearly three-dozen faces from roughly 30 businesses across the north country. On March 13, we joined the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce at the Black River Valley Club for its 2013 Business of the Year luncheon. Six businesses, large and small, for-profit and not, garnered recognition during the annual event. On March 19, we joined the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce at Davidson Nissan in Watertown Center for the chamber’s March Business After Hours. On March 20, staffer Elaine Avallone joined the Carthage Area Chamber of Commerce for its March Business After Hours at the downtown Eclectic Boutique and Les Savons De Loulou. That same evening, Lowville editor Jeremiah Papineau joined the Lewis County Chamber of Commerce at the Oswegatchie Educational Center for its March Business After Hours, which Farm Credit East co-hosted. n n n SAVE THE DATE — On Thursday, June 5, the Watertown Daily Times, NNY Business Magazine and the Central New York Postal Customer Council will host Robert G. Taub, commissioner of the U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission. Mr. Taub will talk about how the U.S. Postal Service has worked to overcome operating challenges and how businesses can benefit from lessons the service has learned. Don’t miss this event, which begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Black River Valley Club. Look for more information in the Watertown Daily Times, NNY Business, online and on our Facebook page.
20 QUESTIONS — This month we sit down with Barry L. Waite, owner of Watertown’s Waite Toyota-Scion, whose family has been putting north country residents behind the wheel since 1929 when his grandfather, Easton Waite, opened a Studebaker dealership. Fast forward 85 years and Barry’s three sons,
Yours in business
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NNY Business | April 2014
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PEOPLE ON THE MOVE Joins Adirondack Health Medical staff
Dr. Anthony F. Tramontano, a boardcertified cardiologist, has joined the medical staff at Adirondack Medical Center, Saranac Lake. Dr. Tramontano most recently provided cardiovascular care at Canton-Potsdam Hospital. He is Tramontano board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, nuclear cardiology and echocardiography, and fellowship trained in cardiology and advanced cardiovascular imaging. Dr. Tramontano received medical training at St. George’s University School of Medicine, SUNY Downstate, Winthrop University Hospital and New York University.
Named partner at Bowers and Company
Elizabeth A. Bush, CPA, has been named a partner in the accounting firm Bowers and Company CPAs, PLLC. Mrs. Bush has practiced public accounting for 24 years. She specializes in governmental and not-for-profit auditing, including single audit reporting. She is also a member of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants. With 16 Partners and a staff of more than 60, Bowers & Company has offices in Syracuse and Watertown.
Joins Conboy, McKay, Bachman, and Kendall
Megan S. Van Wie, Clayton, recently joined the real estate and estate practice groups of the law firm Conboy, McKay, Bachman and Kendall. She earned a juris doctor degree from the State University of New York Law School at Buffalo in 2010 Van Wie and was admitted to the New York Bar in January. While in
Got business milestones? n Share your business milestones with NNY
Business. Email news releases and photos (.jpg/300 dpi) to editor Ken Eysaman at keysaman@wdt.net. The deadline for submissions is the 10th of the month for the following month’s issue. Photos that don’t appear in print may be posted on our Facebook page.
law school, she was a member of the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, Alternative Dispute Resolution Society, and the Buffalo Public Interest Law Program. In February 2013, Miss. Van Wie participated in the Northeastern Regional Mediation Competition. She was a law clerk for George M. Reiber, the Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Trustee for the Western District of New York and for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York.
Elected to National Center for Employee Ownership board
Adele Connors has been elected to serve on the National Center for Employee Ownership’s Board of Directors, a group of employee-ownership leaders from across the country. Founded in 1981, the California-based organization is a nonprofit, membership and research organization that provides informaConnors tion on employee ownership for companies and businesses that wish to transition to employee ownership or an ESOP. As an authority and research source in the employee ownership field, it provides webinars, training and education for more than 3,000 members. Adworkshop is an award-winning employee-owned, digital marketing agency that offers strategic and creative solutions to the destination marketing and economic development industry and businesses in New York state.
JCC Board of Trustees announces promotions
The Jefferson Community College Board of Trustees approved several staff
Please see People, page 16
Advance your career
Information Sessions B.S. In Business Administration Master’s Degree in ICT/ Organizational Leadership Graduate Education Programs
April 21, 2014
Extended Learning Center At SUNY Jefferson
5:00 & 6:30pm Visit
potsdam.edu/watertown or phone
(315) 786-2257 (315) 786-2373 Office of Extended Education SUNY Potsdam
Potsdam THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
April 2014 | NNY Business
| 11
NNY
Economic indicators Average per-gallon milk price paid to N.Y. dairy farmers Feb. 2014 $2.09 Jan. 2014 $2.05 Feb. 2013 $1.77
18.1%
ECON SNAPSHOT
Vehicles crossing the Thousand Islands, OgdensburgPrescott and Seaway International (Massena) bridges
Source: NYS Department of Agriculture
305,366 in Feb. 2014 322,384 in Jan. 2014 316,409 in Feb. 2013
Average NNY price for gallon of regular unleaded gas
Source: T.I. Bridge Authority, Ogdensburg Bridge & Port Authority, Seaway International Bridge Corp.
Feb. 2014 $3.63 Jan. 2014 $3.65 Feb. 2013 $3.92
U.S.-Canadian dollar exchange rate (Canadian dollars per U.S. dollar)
7.4%
Average NNY price for gallon of home heating oil
12 |
(Percent gains and losses are over 12 months)
Feb. 2014 $4.21 Jan. 2014 $4.00 Feb. 2013 $4.08
3.2%
3.5%
$1.10 on Feb. 28, 2014 $1.11 on Jan. 31, 2014 $1.02 on Feb. 22, 2013
7.8%
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of N.Y.
Average NNY price for gallon of residential propane
Nonagriculture jobs in the Jefferson-Lewis-St. Lawrence counties area, not including military positions
Feb. 2014 $4.19 Jan. 2014 $3.75 Feb. 2013 $3.05
88,100 in Feb. 2013 86,900 in Jan. 2014 88,200 in Feb. 2013
37.4%
0.11%
Source: NYS Energy Research and Development Authority
Source: NYS Department of Labor
Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors single-family home sales
St. Lawrence Board of Realtors single-family home sales
56, median price $118,750 in Feb. 2014 57, median price $159,000 in Jan. 2014 59, median price $135,000 in Feb. 2013
20, median price $68,000 in Feb. 2014 39, median price $88,500 in Jan. 2014 29, median price $68,900 in Feb. 2013
5.1% Sales
12.0% Price
Source: Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors Inc.
31.0%
1.3%
Sales
Price
Source: St. Lawrence Board of Realtors Inc.
NNY unemployment rates Jefferson County
Feb. ’14
10.5%
Jan. ’14
10.0%
Feb. ’13
11.7%
St. Lawrence County
Feb. ’14
9.7%
Jan. ’14
9.5%
Feb. ’13
10.8%
10.9%
Lewis County Feb. ’14
Jan. ’14 Feb. ’13
10.2%
12.4%
Source: New York State Department of Labor (Not seasonally adjusted. Latest available data reported.) ** Latest available data reported due to annual data updates at the New York State Department of Labor. Note: Due to updates in some “Econ. Snapshot” categories, numbers may differ from previously published prior month and year figures.
NNY Business | April 2014
NNY
Economic indicators New automobiles (cars and trucks) registered in Jefferson County Cars 350 in Feb. 2014 361 in Dec. 2014 302 in Feb. 2013
15.9%
Trucks 83 in Feb. 2014 96 in Jan. 2014 86 in Feb. 2013
3.5%
Source: Jefferson County Clerk’s Office
Passengers at Watertown International Airport
Open welfare cases in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties
2,605 inbound and outbound in Feb. 2014 1,990 inbound and outbound in Jan. 2014 2,507 inbound and outbound in Feb. 2013
2,201 in Feb. 2014 2,124 in Jan. 2014 2,058 in Feb. 2013
6.9%
3.9% Source: Jefferson County Board of Legislators
DBA (doing business under an assumed name) certificates filed at the Jefferson County Clerk’s office March 3 to March 25, 2014. For a complete list of DBAs filed in past months, visit us at WWW.NNYBIZMAG.COM.
MARCH 25: Queen Thumb Creations, 21544 Miser Road., Black River, Valerie G. Whitcomb, 21544 Miser Road., Black River.
Odd Job Services, 163 Highland Ave., Watertown, Brian D. Dasno, 163 Highland Ave., Watertown.
MARCH 24: Invasion Ink, 514 Factory St., Watertown, Stephanie Johnson, Watertown, and Mark Luffman, Glenfield.
MARCH 12: Mountain Self-Storage, 22271 County Route 52, Watertown, Troy M. Lybbert, 943 Remington St., Watertown.
Sincerely Couture, 9544B Mifflin Loop, Fort Drum, Te’Yanna L. Harvey, 9544B Mifflin Loop, Fort Drum.
Eddy’s African International Market, 126 Franklin St., Watertown, Elizabeth Jackson and Edirin Igho-Akiti, Clayton.
The Ice Cream Shoppe, 417 Main St., Mannsville, Phyllis M. Schenk, 12167 Torrey Hill Road., Ellisburg.
MARCH 11: Taylor Educational Consultant Services, 210 Mullin St., Watertown, Lana J. Taylor, 210 Mullin St., Watertown.
MARCH 21: JJ’s Flowers, 4499 Route 11, Pierrepont Manor, Jeffrey A. Jones, 4499 Route 11, Pierrepont Manor.
Christina Marie Photography, 7725 Martin Road., Adams, Christina M. Rogers, 7725 Martin Road., Adams.
MARCH 20: North Country Lawn Care, 231 N. Hamilton St., Watertown, Thomas W. Graban and Kelly S. Graban, 231 N. Hamilton St., Watertown.
Photoessence Photography, 1 Public Square, Suite 14, Sara A. Hendrix, Osprey Loop, Fort Drum.
Jacqui’s Bottom Line, 152 E. Lynde St., Watertown, Jacaquelyn S. LaClair, 152 E. Lynde St., Watertown.
Indian River Antiques and Consignment, 33407 County Route 46, Theresa, Rachel B. Ogle, 33407 County Route 46, Theresa.
Shallin Blue, 206 Colorado Ave., Watertown, Shallin A. Shelby, 206 Colorado Ave., Watertown.
MARCH 10: Jakahrvis Farms, 6869 Lake Road, Henderson, Nichole M. Hirt, 6869 Lake Road, Henderson.
MARCH 19: River Renovations, 16175 County Route 3, Clayton, Sam Scudera and Casey Calhoun, Clayton.
Nothing But Quality, 198701 Collins Landing East, Alexandria Bay, Todd A. Bradley, Matthews, N.C.
Fun with the Buns, 18341 Black Creek Road., LaFargeville, Ernest E. Taylor, 18341 Black Creek Road., LaFargeville.
All North General Contracting and Property Management and Flooring Sales, Military Road, Sackets Harbor, Jason L. Drake, LaFargeville, and Robert L’Huillier, Sackets Harbor.
County Line Painting, 5838 County Route 97, Adams, Eric Ramsey, 5838 County Route 97, Adams. Fun Xcape, 223 J.B. Wise Place, Suite 25, Watertown, Vina Aileen C. Bonner, 23558 Spring Valley Dr., Watertown. State Street Wine and Liquor, 804 State St., Watertown, Mark J. Bonner, 23558 Spring Valley Dr., Watertown. MARCH 18: Sosa’s Building Services, 12163 County Route 125, Chaumont, Jose T. Sosa Jr., 12163 CR 125, Chaumont. Bob’s Kabobs, 29118 Route 37, Evans Mills, Jeremy E. Lueck, 2918 Route 37, Evans Mills. Oasis Juice Bar, Atkins Functional Fitness Facility P-4325 Conway Road, Harry Galdon, Gisselle M. Torres, and Franklin Zambrana. Cappy’s Auto Body Repair Services, 25540 Route 411, Theresa, Toni-Jo Cappuccetti, 35033 Eddy Road., Lot 10, Theresa. MARCH 17: A New Image, 7991 Hayes Road., Lorraine, Matthew Thomas and Megan Murphy, Lorraine.
High Speed Sportswear, 8230 A South Lewis Ave., Fort Drum, Luis A. Serra Trinidad and Miguel A. Carles Mendoza, Fort Drum. Lovely Props by S.E.P., 11558 Northern Blvd. A, Fort Drum, Shawnda K. Erb, 11558 Northern Blvd. A, Fort Drum. Cold Blooded (CrossFit) Fitness, 146 Arsenal St., Watertown, Joshua N. Smith, 375 Pawling St., Watertown. MARCH 7: Wheeler Creek Vineyard, 36415 Pelo Road, Clayton, Randy A. David, 36415 Pelo Road., Clayton. Truly Gifted, 339 Winslow St., Watertown, Pamela L. Eves, 339 Winslow St., Watertown. MARCH 6: Orvis Organics, 42898 Seaway Ave., Alexandria Bay, Phyllis O. Sherwood, 42898 Seaway Ave., Alexandria Bay. MARCH 5: Cams Property Services, 20812 County Route 6, Cape Vincent, Stephanie J. Mason, 28012 County Route 6, Cape Vincent. Priority One Landscaping and Lawn Care, 645 Burlington St., Watertown, Timothy J. Thomas, 645 Burlington St., Watertown.
Brimaur Professional Voice Acting, 557 Pearl St., Watertown, Brian R. Hunziker, 557 Pearl St., Watertown.
March 4: In the Sticks Auto Repair, 2955 Hayes Road., Lorraine, Anthony J. Petrie, 2955 Hayes Road., Lorraine.
Doctore’s Greenhouses, 311 E. Grove St., Dexter, Katherine Cowan and Matthew Pursell, Dexter.
MARCH 3: Thousand Islands Inn, 335 Riverside Dr., Clayton, Jamie H. Weinberg and Bradford J. Minnick, Wellesley Island.
MARCH 13: Empire Wings, 124 Franklin St., Watertown, James Lewis, 232 W. Main St., Suite 32A, Watertown.
Vapor Divas, 212 Franklin St., Watertown, Kristina Ashley, Canton, and Debbie Shecton, Russell.
Harborside Pizza & Seafood, 104 Barracks Dr., Sackets Harbor, Jessica L. Flack, 8637 Peck St., Evans Mills.
Cherished Kreationz, 516 Morrison St., Watertown, Liza J. Davenport, 516 Morrison St., Watertown.
Purpose Productions, 26724 Anable Ave., Evans Mills, Taleisha LaCroix, 26724 Anable Ave., Evans Mills.
H.B. Apparel and More, 35297 County Route 4, Clayton, Lesley Hunter, 35297 County Route 4, Clayton.
TAZ Design Services, 4 Gordon Court, Apt. 71, Alexandria Bay, Johanna M. Ward, 4 Gordon Court, Apt. 71, Alexandria Bay.
Meadowview Farm, 30821 Route 12, LaFargeville, Michael D. Radley, 30821 Route 12, LaFargeville.
TRANSACTIONS
DBAs
Source: Social Service Depts. of Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties
April 2014 | NNY Business
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BUSINESS BRIEFCASE Center for Community Studies releases Lewis County survey results
The Center for Community Studies at Jefferson Community College released complete findings of the seventh annual Lewis County survey of the community last month. The study collected data about quality of life issues that are important to county residents. The entire 67-question survey, including a summary of results and complete survey instrument, is online at www. sunyjefferson.edu. Click ‘annual survey’ under the Center for Community Studies.
Adirondack Brewery announces expansion
Adirondack Brewery, Lake George, has planned a five-year, $5 million expansion that includes construction of a distillery and tasting room, an events space and additional brewing and bottling facilities that will triple capacities. Once complete, the brewery will produce 35,000 barrels of beer a year.The new distillery, which will be called High Peaks and produce whiskeys and rye under the brand name Cloud Splitter, will be the first distillery in Lake George. Adirondack Brewery’s beer is distributed locally within 35 New York counties.
My Favorite Things announces new store
My Favorite Things, Port Leyden, recently announced expansion to a second location in Boonville at 135 Main St., the former Rauscher Photography studio. Mary Ann Vienneau will manage the new location, the store owner announced. My Favorite Things offers consignments,
135 Keyes Avenue, Watertown, New York
315-782-4910
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NNY Business | April 2014
crafts, baked goods and more. The Boonville location will offer teen and women’s clothes and accessories, and a variety of crafts. The Port Leyden location will continue to accept a variety of items including clothing and household items. Both stores will also sell fresh baked goods.
North Country Human Resources Association receives top award
The Society for Human Resource Management has awarded the North Country Human Resources Association the EXCEL Platinum Award for 2013. The award recognizes a chapter’s accomplishments and strategic initiatives and activities that promote the human resources profession locally. The chapter promotes the human resource function and educates local businesses on significant compliance issues like hiring, terminations, discrimination, compensation and health care reform. Platinum Excel status is the highest designation the Society for Human Resource Management awards.
Unemployment rates in Lewis, Jefferson counties are upstate’s highest Lewis and Jefferson counties posted two of the three highest unemployment rates in the state in February, according to statistics the state Department of Labor released last month. Lewis County had the second highest rate at 10.9 percent, up from 10.2 percent in January; Jefferson County was the third highest at 10.5 percent, up from 10 percent the previous month. Bronx County had the highest rate at 12 percent. St. Lawrence County’s jobless rate was 9.7 percent in
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February, up from 9.5 percent in January. Still, jobless rates in the north country are down from February 2013, when unemployment was 12.4 percent in Lewis County, 11.7 percent in Jefferson County and 10.8 percent in St. Lawrence County. The February jobless rate for all of upstate was 7.6 percent, down from 8.8 percent a year ago. The statewide rate fell from 8.6 percent to 7.7 percent during the same period, while the national rate fell from 8.1 percent to 7 percent.
Pizza, seafood eatery opens in Sackets Harbor
Showcasing a menu with seafood, pasta and pizza, Seafood at Harborside has opened in Madison Barracks at the location previously occupied by JVO Café & Bakery on Barracks Drive. Jessica L. Flack, a restaurateur who owns Last Call Bar and Grill in Evans Mills, said she decided to open the eatery in the village because she feels there will be a niche for delivery food during the evenings. Ms. Flack also is the co-owner of Little G’s Pizza, which has locations in Evans Mills and Watertown. The restaurtant, which has a small dining area with four tables, will include shrimp, scallops, haddock and crab legs. It will also feature chicken Parmesan and pasta choices, along with homemade pizza with hand-tossed dough. Ms. Flack said the eatery will generate much of its business from local deliver-
(315) 782-4910 • 1-800-772-4201 • Fax: (315) 785-8248 www.dlcalarco.com • francee@dlcalarco.com
BUSINESS BRIEFCASE ies. She and one delivery driver will operate the restaurant until Memorial Day weekend, when two more employees will be hired. She said she believes it will earn a reputation among village residents for its quality food and reasonable prices. JVO Café & Bakery closed in October after owner Jill A. VanOcker failed to make it profitable. The café was open for breakfast and lunch four days a week and for dinner Saturdays and Sundays. Two development agencies are seeking to recover $25,000 in unpaid loans from Ms. VanOcker, who received that sinkor-swim funding in the fall of 2012 after opening the café that summer. Ms. Flack said she believes the business plan for the café failed because it didn’t capture the after-work crowd. — Ted Booker
Sonic Drive-in should open in Watertown City Center Plaza by summer
A Sonic Drive-in, if approved, will be built on an outer retail pad in City Center Plaza, near Interstate 81. Watertown’s Planning Board unanimously recommended site-plan approval for the 2,580-square-foot restaurant, contingent on minor changes to the landscaping, parking and lighting plans. Saying the project is on “accelerated construction,” Rochester franchisee Fran DeSimone said building should start in about three weeks, with the restaurant opening before summer. Mr. DeSimone said he expects the Watertown franchise will operate before any of the other five Sonic Drive-Ins he plans to open in the Rochester area over the next four years. Five others are planned for the Syracuse area. The Watertown location would be one of
a handful of Sonics in upstate New York. The 48-seat Watertown store initially would employ about 100 full- and part-time workers, and then be whittled down to about 50, Mr. DeSimone said. The Oklahoma-based fast-food restaurant chain bills itself as America’s drive-in, and is known for its carhops and large outdoor patios.
Newton Falls Fine Paper names real estate group to market closed mill
Binswanger, a global real estate organization, has been named exclusive agent by Newton Falls Fine Paper to market its former plant on County Route 60. The property includes a 350,000-square-foot production and warehouse facility on about 148 acres. According to a news release, Binswanger is marketing the property to manufacturers of wood and paper products, as well as prospects in agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, mining, transportation and warehousing, and rental and leasing industries. The asking price is $350,000.
Taco del Mar opens in Arsenal plaza
Fish tacos, enchiladas and giant burritos coupled with slow-simmered rice, beans and tortillas will be the specialty of Taco del Mar, which opened last month at the Arsenal Street strip plaza in front of the Walmart Supercenter. With seating for 36, the eatery will offer Mexican food at affordable prices, said Gary L. Turck, Lowville, franchise owner. Fifteen employees will staff the restaurant. Seattle-based Taco del Mar has about 179 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada; but it is a rare breed in New
York, where it has stores only in Rome and Schenectady. Mr. Turck said he plans to change that trend by opening more locations in the north country. “One of the hottest restaurant food chains to get into right now is Mexican,” said Mr. Turck, who has been a Subway restaurant franchise operator since 2005 and owns stores in Lowville, Carthage, Boonville and Old Forge. “I’d like to open four more locations; probably one more in Jefferson County, one in Lewis County and others maybe in St. Lawrence or Oneida counties.” Mr. Turck has leased the space for the eatery from Morgan Route 202 Shops LLC, a subsidiary of developer Morgan Management, Pittsford. The move came after developer P.J. Simao sold the 13,500-square-foot plaza building Jan. 31 to Morgan for $2.35 million, according to Jefferson County property records. Along with Taco del Mar, Pro Spa Nail Salon is expected to open at the strip mall this spring. Morgan’s purchase of the strip mall complements its 394-unit Preserve at Autumn Ridge townhouse complex under construction, less than a mile away off County Route 202 in the town of Watertown. The swelling population generated by that development, along with the 296-unit Beaver Meadows apartment complex off Towne Center Drive begind Target, factored into opening Taco del Mar, Mr. Turck said. He said menu prices, along with distinctive offerings, should enable it to compete with other Watertown eateries, such as nearby Mexican establishments Chipotle Mexican Grill, Moe’s Southwest Grill and Taco Bell. The eatery will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Taco del Mar’s menu can be viewed at http://wdt.me/ AWpE3Z. — Ted Booker
MACAR’S • Kitchens • Bathrooms • Flooring • Lighting
161 Coleman Ave., Watertown • 788-3732
www.macarsinteriors.com
April 2014 | NNY Business
| 15
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE PEOPLE, from page 11 promotions last month. Stephanie G. Pierce, Watertown, was promoted from instructor to assistant professor of office technologies. Brian S. Topping, Sackets Harbor, was promoted from instructor to assistant professor of English. Heather N. O’Brien, Chaumont, was promoted from assistant professor to associate professor of mathematics. Lisa M. Scrivani-Tidd, Alexandria Bay, was promoted from associate professor to professor of music, and Carleen S. Huxley, Watertown, received promotion from grade 5 to grade 7. All promotions become effective Sept. 1.
Named CIO, senior vice president at Pathfinder
Daniel Phillips has been named senior vice president and chief information officer at Pathfinder Bank, Thomas W. Schneider, president and CEO announced in March. “Dan has provided Pathfinder Bank with years of experience in financial information technology, and his leadership, ability to execute and strategic thinking
have been driving forces to help advance our bank,”Schneider said. As a member of the bank’s senior management team, Mr. Phillips will oversee all areas of technology and information systems, as it relates to the bank’s strategic technology plan and overall strategic Phillips plan. He will also continue to oversee the bank’s eCommerce and information technology departments. Phillips has been with Pathfinder Bank for 15 years and in the financial information technology industry for 25 years. A 1987 graduate of Le Moyne College in Syracuse with a bachelor’sdegree in business administration, Mr. Phillips lives in Oswego and has two children, Eric and Taite. He is active with the Alumni Association Board and Advancement Committee at LeMoyne College, and is a Pathfinder Bank Money Smart Educator for the “Keeping Safe in an Electronic World” curriculum. Pathfinder Bank is a New York State chartered savings bank headquartered in
Oswego. It has eight full-service offices in Oswego, Fulton, Mexico, Lacona, Central Square, and Cicero. The company reported total assets of $503.8 million and total shareholders’ equity of $42.7 million for the period ending Dec. 31, 2013.
AT&T names manager at Salmon Run Mall store Benjamin Thomas has been named store manager for AT&T’s retail location in the Salmon Run Mall, Watertown. An experienced wireless professional, Thomas previously held various sales positions with AT&T in Watertown, Potsdam and Oswego. “I have every Thomas confidence Ben will ensure customers have a great service experience,” said Joe Pinkans, AT&T director of sales. “Ben understands what consumers and small business owners need.” Mr. Thomas lives in Watertown.
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NNY Business | April 2014
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S M A L L B I Z S TA R T U P BUSINESS
Di Prinzio’s Italian Market and Catering THE INITIAL IDEA
For the past five years, Shawn and Christopher Di Prinzio have juggled their passion for Italian cooking with full-time work schedules. Operating a successful catering business on the side since 2009, they became increasingly encouraged by friends, family and customers to do more of it. “My husband is an amazing chef and I always loved the idea of opening our own Italian market like the ones in Syracuse,” Mrs. Di Prinzio said. So in 2013, they began to consider opening a shop full-time at their home, 240 Cartier Ave. “We decided to convert our attached twocar garage into a catering kitchen,” she said.
TARGET CLIENTELE
For the winter months, Di Prinzio’s will market fresh, homemade foods to Clayton and the surrounding communities. Specialty imports will be a shop feature, with assorted cheeses, olives and Italian meats as choice offerings. Homemade “to-go” meals like meatballs, lasagna and soups will also be staples. “We’re not a grocery store, but we still want people to be able to run out with an amazing meal,” Mrs. Di Prinzio said. Once the summer months hit, the Di Prinzio’s anticipate high tourist traffic. “We want to create an authentic environment in our shop and emphasize freshly made food with fresh-grown products,” she said. “We want people to walk away saying, ‘the smells in there were amazing.’” They also plan to target customers who want organic and gluten-free products. “We want to be as local as possible, using vegetables that are in season,” Mrs. Di Prinzio said.
THE JOURNEY
As Clayton’s only authentic Italian market that features homemade foods to go, fine Italian imports and river baskets, Di Prinzio’s has uniquely positioned itself within the thriving community. “It’s really an exciting time to be in Clayton,” she said. “And for us, it’s really become a family endeavor. We’re very much a family business.”
NORM JOHNSTON | NNY BUSINESS
“We want to create an authentic environment in our shop and emphasize freshly made food with fresh-grown products” — Shawn Di Prinzio, Di Prinzio’s Italian Market and Catering From the adjoining kitchen of their Clayton home, the Di Prinzio’s make fresh, homemade pasta each week, as well as homemade take-away meals. “We want to give people what they can’t find in grocery stores,” she said. And what they may not find there are homemade, lo-
cally sourced, fresh meals.
IN FIVE YEARS
“We love the idea of Italian markets with a mom-and-pop type feel,” she said. “We would love to see the same shop that’s in Clayton, also in Watertown and Syracuse.” — Grace Johnston
WHERE Clayton | FOUNDED 2013 | WEB www.diprinzioitalianmarket.com (also on Facebook)
April 2014 | NNY Business
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COVER STORY
Keeping family in the business Succeeding generations often face challenges greater than ones before for family firms to flourish
A
BY NORAH MACHIA | NNY BUSINESS
APPROXIMATELY 30 PERCENT OF ALL FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESSES IN THE UNITED STATES ARE PASSED ALONG TO A SECOND GENERATION, AND ONLY ABOUT 12 PERCENT TO A THIRD GENERATION, THE FAMILY FIRM INSTITUTE, BOSTON, ESTIMATES. IN NORTHERN NEW YORK, THE ONES THAT HAVE SURVIVED INTO MULTIPLE GENERATIONS WERE OFTEN STARTED BY ENTREPRENEURS WHO BELIEVED IN A BUSINESS OWNERSHIP IDEA THAT COULD PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES. THEIR CHILDREN TYPICALLY SPENT TIME AT THE BUSINESS WHILE GROWING UP, AND HELPED WITH A VARIETY OF TASKS, LEARNING THE BUSINESS FROM THE “GROUND UP” WHILE RECEIVING SOME VALUABLE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING. IT WASN’T UNCOMMON FOR CHILDREN OF THESE CHENEY TIRE, WATERTOWN This Watertown business recently celebrated its 60th anniversary. Inside the store is a large banner with a message congratulating the business on reaching this milestone. “That was actually made for us by one of our customers,” Thomas J. Cheney said. “My father was never about making
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NNY Business | April 2014
FAMILY BUSINESS OWNERS TO LEAVE HOME AND ATTEND COLLEGE AND/OR START WORKING IN OTHER PROFESSIONS. BUT SOME CHOSE TO RETURN AND HELP THE FAMILY BUSINESS CONTINUE TO GROW AND EVOLVE. AS THE PART OF THE PROCESS OF “HANDING OVER THE REINS” OF A FAMILY BUSINESS, THE OLDER GENERATION OFTEN STAYED INVOLVED IN AN ADVISORY ROLE TO ENSURE THINGS RAN SMOOTHLY, WHILE THE YOUNGER GENERATION STARTED TAKING OVER MORE RESPONSIBILITY IN RUNNING THE BUSINESS. NNY BUSINESS CAUGHT UP WITH FOUR NORTH COUNTRY FAMILY BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED ALONG TO MULTIPLE GENERATIONS TO LEARN WHAT HAS FUELED THEIR SUCCESS.
money. He was always about taking care of people.” Mr. Cheney recalls working with his father at age 12, and being the youngest, he was the first one who had to stop eating lunch and run out to pump gas when a customer pulled up to the former gas station. The late Dennis J. Cheney opened the
Cheney Gulf Service Station in 1954 on State Street. He had earlier moved to Watertown from Newton Falls to attend the Atlantic Oil Company training school for service station managers. Prior to that, he had worked at the Newton Falls Paper Mill and then served in the Army during World War II, where he was a mechanic on a Long Tom artil-
AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS
Thomas J. Cheney in the garage at his family’s Watertown business on State Street. Cheney Tire celebrated 60 years in business in March.
lery gun in the Central Europe, Naples and Rhineland Theatres of Operations The late Mr. Cheney passed away in 2009 at the age of 91, but had kept working at the business until a few years before his death. His widow, Alice, is 95 years old. “My father never wanted to retire,” Mr. Cheney said. “He was still doing deliveries and working in the hardware store until he was 88 years old.” The Cheney family had operated a True Value Hardware Store for several years at their State Street building, which now houses an Advantage Auto Store. Thomas Cheney and his brother, the late David G. Cheney, had joined the family business in 1978, and the name was later changed to Cheney Tire. The gas station part of the business was closed in 1982, but the company expanded its fullservice department, adding more service bays and storage areas. Both brothers, however, had left Watertown to try other careers before returning
to the family business, Thomas Cheney said. Their father’s strong work ethic and loyalty to customer services had served as an inspiration for both men to continue the family business, he said. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business science from St. John Fisher College in Rochester in 1972, Mr. Cheney worked for a short time as branch manager at the Marine Midland Bank in Evans Mills. “They would give us an hour for lunch, and I didn’t know what to do with myself,” Mr. Cheney said. “I never took an hour lunch break at the family business.” He returned first, and was followed a short time later by his brother. The late David Cheney had graduated from LeMoyne College in 1977 and was working for Ernst and Ernst Accounting, Syracuse, when he called his brother and told him he wanted to return to Watertown. “He was sick and tired of driving through all that traffic every day to work,” Thomas Cheney said.
The timing was right for both men to return home, “Because my father had to expand or get out of the business,” Thomas Cheney said. Sadly, his brother was diagnosed with melanoma and died of complications from the cancer in 2004 at the age of 49. His widow, Maureen, had been working in the family business and continues to work there today in the office operations. Cheney Tire stocks thousands of tires in its warehouse, including standard vehicles tires, along with special tires for commercial vehicles such as dump trucks, tractor trailers, and other equipment. Offsite services are also available. The business also offers numerous vehicle repair services, including brake work, alignments, air-conditioning and heating repairs, and state inspections. Cheney Tire also has a showroom with an assortment of truck accessories, lift kits, covers, snow-blowers, riding mowers, hand held trimmers and chain saws, and provides both sales and service on many April 2014 | NNY Business
| 19
COVER STORY of their products. Thomas Cheney also has a passion for corvettes, and is president of the Northern New York Corvette Club. The group was started in 1996 by eight people, who wanted to share their interest in the classic sports car. Now there are members from several states and Canada, and the group participates in parades, road rallies, car shows, displays, along with raising money for charitable organizations. “You don’t need to own a corvette to
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NNY Business | April 2014
join,” but just need to have a deep appreciation for the “muscle car,” Thomas Cheney said. FULLER INSURANCE AGENCY, CARTHAGE After selling insurance for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company for 10 years, the late Wilfred “Bill” T. Fuller decided to start in his own agency in 1980, primarily serving the farming community in the Carthage area. “He really started from scratch working with farmers,” said his son, Adam J. Fuller.
It wasn’t long before he expanded to a full service personal lines agency, and in 1987, the late Mr. Fuller then moved the agency from State Street to 110 S. School St. in Carthage. In 1991, the business was incorporated and became Fuller Agency Inc. His wife, Jeanne, had also worked for Metropolitan Life Insurance, but still kept that position after the family insurance business was started. Like many family businesses, the children helped out in the office. Adam Fuller has fond memories of filing papers
COVER STORY so he could earn money to buy an orange soda at the nearby grocery store. All of the late Mr. Fuller’s children worked in the business, and three decided to return. Fuller Insurance Agency Inc. is owned by Adam Fuller and his brother, Aaron F. Fuller, who serve as co-principals and officers. Their sister, Diana Clement, is a licensed broker and their mother’s cousin, Michael Gillette, is a licensed agent with the family business as well. The oldest son, Jake, worked in the family insurance business for approximately 10 years before leaving to obtain a registered nursing degree. He moved to New Mexico, where he works on emergency medical flights. “At first, neither Aaron nor I had planned to return to the business,” Adam Fuller said. Adam had left home to study physical therapy at Sacred Heart College in Connecticut, while his brother Aaron studied biology at SUNY Potsdam. Both found their way back to the family business, partly because of the respect and admiration they had for their father, and the successful company that he had built, Adam Fuller said. “When you grow up, you always think about getting away from your home and family,” Adam Fuller said. “Then you come home and realize you really want to be close to family.” Adam Fuller, who earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Empire State College in 2003, said he was glad to have the opportunity to work with his father before he died in 2006. “Sure, it was challenging at times,” he said. “When you’re young, you come in with a fresh perspective and you want to start making changes. My father would tell me to slow down, and eventually, we’d find that middle ground.”
AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS
From left, Diana Clement with her brothers Adam and Aaron Fuller at Fuller Insurance Agency, 110 S. School St., Carthage. The late Wilfred “Bill” T. Fuller founded the family business was founded in 1980.
His father, who passed away from pulmonary arterial hypertension at the age of 64, wanted to keep working until the very end, Adam Fuller said. He remembers his father coming home from treatment at a New York City Hospital, and asking his sons to bring the mail from the office back to the house. “So I brought him the bank statements,” Adam Fuller said. “He said is this it? Is this all you got for me?” “I told him, Dad, it is OK, we can pay the bills, we can take care of everything else,” he said. Both Aaron and Adam Fuller, along with Mr. Gillette, are NYS Licensed property/casualty and life/health agents who deal with both personal and commercial
lines. Their sister, Diana Clement, is a NYS Licensed property/casualty broker who handles personal lines. The Fuller Insurance Agency also has several employees who have been with the firm for a number of years, and are also licensed insurance agents or brokers. Adam Fuller jokes that when he and his brother returned to the business, it was like “a second generation of family working with a first generation of employees.” The agency serves Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties. The late Mr. Fuller had opened a Canton office in 1991 after he purchased the former Colton Insurance Agency. The Canton office is located at 10 Court Street has one employee. It offers both personal and commercial lines of insurance.
MORGIA’S PASTA Mangia... Taste the tradition!!!
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Homemade Pasta, “Fat Free” Sauce, Marinara & Pizza Sauce
Gift Baskets - Year Round
22564 Fisher Rd.
315-788-3509
April 2014 | NNY Business
| 21
COVER STORY
MELANIE KIMBLER-LAGO | NNY BUSINESS
The Coakley family with several long-time employees in their Canton hardware store. Front row, Carol Coakley and William Coakley. Middle row, from left, Brian Coakley, Colleen Coakley, Carol Spadaccini, Angus White and Diane Foote. Back row, Arlene Tyler and Robert Ames.
COAKLEY CARPET ONE ACE HARDWARE, CANTON None of the three children in the Coakley family had initially planned on running the family hardware business. All three had left the area after high school graduation to attend college and pursue other careers. But eventually, brothers William J. and Thomas J. Coakley, along with their spouses Carol and Nellie, and their sister, Carol J. Spadaccini, along with her husband Ronald J. Spadaccini, found their way back to Canton. Both Bill and Tom Coakley attended Brown University in Providence, R.I., and played on the university’s hockey team. Bill Coakley went on to play professional hockey with the Chicago Cougars. In 1974, he returned to Canton to help care for his mother, Madelyn M, who had passed away the following year from cancer. Bill Coakley
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NNY Business | April 2014
received a master’s in education in 1976 and held teaching and coaching jobs at Canton Central School. Tom Coakley received his master’s degree in business from the University of Pennsylvania and worked as a financial analyst at the Franklin Mint in Philadelphia, Pa., before returning to the north country. He later accepted a position as assistant vice president of business and finance at St. Lawrence University. Their sister Carol graduated from the University of Vermont with a degree in education, but after living in Burlington for a few years, she and her husband decided to move to Canton as well and help with the hardware business. “The north country is a pretty special place,” said Bill Coakley, who co-owns the store with his siblings. Coakley Hardware, with stores in Canton
and Saranac Lake, was started in 1902 by John P. Coakley, who was 18 at the time he put together a crew to construct homes and barns in St. Lawrence County. “People liked and trusted the young entrepreneur, which opened the door to more business opportunities,” according to the written family history. Since the business started, the Coakley family has operated several types of ventures over the years, including logging, window and sash manufacturing, as well as the operation of a feed store, paint store, lumber business and home construction business. The founder, John P. Coakley, had two sons, Robert and John, who joined the family business when they returned from service in World War II. In 1976, the decision was made to shift from the lumber business, which was operating on an island from the Grasse River, to a hardware and home center at its Outer West Main Street location. The family opened a second store in Saranac Lake in 2005. Robert J. Coakley, who had three children, passed away in 1984 at age 67, and his brother, John R. Coakley, who had no children, died in 1990 at age 68. “Most of the fourth generation of Coakleys, while active in their career endeavors, have put in their share of hours in behind the cash register, cooking hotdogs or stocking shelves,” according to family history. “The members of the fifth generation are currently very involved in consuming the free popcorn, entertaining customers and playing hide-and-seek.” “Everyone who works in the business has to truly contribute to it,” said Bill Coakley, whose daughter, Colleen, is also employed full-time at the Canton store. “We all need to communicate well with each other.” It’s more than just family, however, that has made the business so successful, he said. It’s also been the dedicated and hard-working employees, many who have worked in
COVER STORY the business for years. “A lot of our employees are like family,” Bill Coakley said. “Some have worked here 25 to 30 years. We’ve watched them get married, we watched them have their own kids.” Bill Coakley said it was truly meaningful for him to have the chance to work and learn the business from his father before he died. “We went from a father-son relationship to a best friend relationship, and that was very rewarding,” he said. His father never wanted to be far from the hardware business, even as he grew older. So the family renovated an apartment above the store which allowed him to have his own place and still be involved in the family business. “He really enjoyed it,” Bill Coakley said. FREEMAN’S TAFFY, LOWVILLE There are multiple generations of the Freeman family who gather together each summer to produce their famous taffy sticks and candies, which have been a fixture at the Lewis County Fair for decades. “We make some ahead of time, before the fair opens,” said James M. Freeman, owner. “Otherwise, we could not keep up with the demand. It takes about two to three hours to make.” Everyone in the family “helps in some way,” said his wife, Chris Freeman. “It’s a busy time come June and July,” she said. “But it’s also been a fun family tradition. We’re sure the next generations will keep it going.” It all started in 1895, when a taffy stand was first built at the Lewis County Fairgrounds by Charles and Minnie Ryan, owners of a candy store in Lowville. They called it “Ryan’s Warm Taffy.” The Freeman family first became involved with the seasonal business after the sister of James Freeman’s grandfather, Lester, married into the Ryan family. Lester Freeman soon recruited his son Beryl Free-
WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES FILE PHOTO
Lori A. Freeman wraps taffy at the family stand, Freeman’s Taffy, during the Lewis County Fair in Lowville in 2007. The Freeman family gathers each summer to continue a tradition that started in 1895.
man (Jim’s father), to start selling taffy at age 16 at the fair. In 1952, Jim’s father and grandfather, along with their wives, took over the operation of the Taffy Stand at the Lewis County Fair. Jim Freeman started helping at the young age of five, carrying buckets of water to the stand to help with the taffy-making process. Now four generations work the stand, with the youngest helping to wrap taffy, shape it and fill bags with taffy pieces. During an average week at the Fair, the Freeman family will use about 110 gallons of corn syrup and about 1,000 pounds of sugar. They make 20 flavors, including watermelon, root beer, peanut butter and cinnamon. Maple Syrup, however, continues to be one of the most popular flavors. The family also makes maple syrup taffy kisses that are
sold at the Lowville Producers Dairy Cooperative. Jim Freeman said while his health hasn’t been good lately, he knows the rest of the family has gained enough knowledge about the taffy-making operation to continue running it for generations to come. Jim and Chris Freeman have three children, Scott Freeman, Shawn Freeman and Heather Reed, who all help with the taffymaking operation, along with their spouses and their children. “They have spent a lot of time doing it,” he said. “They know what needs to be done.” n NORAH MACHIA is a freelance writer who lives in Watertown. She is a 20-year veteran journalist and former Watertown Daily Times reporter. Contact her at norahmachia@gmail.com.
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NORM JOHNSTON | NNY BUSINESS
The Sharp’s of Belleville: Jeremiah, Katrina, Joseph, Matthias, Joseph Sharp, wife, Martha, and Darius in the store. Daughters Annie and Esther are absent from photo.
A ‘wholesome goodness’ For Sharp family, success at bulk foods store in God’s hands By GRACE E. JOHNSTON
I
NNY Business
t is an atmosphere of warmth and simplicity — simplicity in dress, decor and product. A wide array of succulent meats and cheeses sit alluringly beyond a rounded glass deli. Candies of all varieties line an entire isle, candies perhaps not seen since childhood. Jams and jellies, dry goods, canned goods, honey and breads of all kinds are arranged ever so neatly. Wholesomeness and goodness are defining characteristic of Sharp’s Bulk Foods, 8220 State Route 289, Belleville. “The cornerstone of this business is honesty,” owner Joseph Sharp said. He
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and his wife, Martha, started the store May 1993, having moved with 17 other families from Belleville, Pa., to Belleville, N.Y., to start a new church. They are Beachy Amish-Mennonites. Land in New York was relatively cheap compared with Pennsylvania, and there were farm and business opportunities to be had. Although Mr. Sharp and his wife had no prior experience running a bulk foods store, each came from farming backgrounds that provided them an immense work ethic. Mr. Sharp’s mother and father farmed a herd of 16 cows, which they milked by hand. And Mrs. Sharp’s mother became a widow at age 29, left to run a farm with seven children, all under
the age of 7. “We had to work, and we learned to,” Mr. Sharp said. They opened the store as an extension of their home, and even with an expansion into a 3,200-square-foot storefront addition in 2008, the Sharp family still lives in their original house. And the loveliness of their home extends warmly and openly into the store experience as well. Since the expansion, Sharp’s Bulk Foods has seen consistent year-over-year growth of 10 percent to 15 percent. When asked if poor economic times have affected the business, Mr. Sharp responded in the affirmative. But surprisingly, those effects have been positive. “We draw a lot of people off the lake
FA M I LY B U S I N E S S in the summertime,” he said. “We’re a destination.” The draw comes from their quality deli, a unique array of dry goods and competitive pricing. About half their sales come from deli items alone. “Last year we sold easily nine tons of bacon,” Mr. Sharp said. About 170 pounds of bacon are sliced each day. “And ours isn’t infused with water, either” he added. “It’s the good, thick stuff.” Sharp’s is primarily sourced by three Mennonite wholesale companies: John F. Martin & Sons for meats, Dutch Valley Food Distributers for dry goods, and Troyer Cheese. They also contract with local producers such as North Country Farms, Great Lakes Cheese, and Alteri’s and Mr. Rick’s bakeries. Sharp’s is a staple within the south Jefferson County communities that surround Belleville and the store employs six to seven people outside of family members. On exceptionally busy days, the deli can require three to four people to keep up with the high demand of orders. Bulk products are self-packaged at the store and necessitate two to three people to repackage and label. And regularly, two registers are going at a time. The pace and demand can be high, but the efficiency and poise of the family and staff is exceptional. Ranging from 8 to 22 years old, each of the seven Sharp children help with the store — stocking, slicing, packaging — whatever is needed. Even their youngest son, Jeremiah stocks the deli cheeses at 5:30 every morning. “It’s important that our children know how to work, even when they may not want to,” Mr. Sharp said. “We each have roles that we fill. We can’t all be vice presidents.” Breakfast is at 6:30 a.m. and dinner is served at 3 p.m. “These are very important times of the day for us,” Mrs. Sharp said. Family time is of utmost importance, as are taught skills. The Sharp daughters can cook or bake anything, as well as sew their own dresses. The children attend a private school run by their church called Northern Lights
Amish versus Mennonite / differences explained The difference between the Amish and the Mennonites is not widely understood. “We don’t drive a horse and buggy,” Mr. Sharp said. But what indeed is the difference? Both the Amish and Mennonites trace their origins to the Anabaptist movement in Europe in the 1500s. Menno Simons, an avid writer, helped unify the movement. Thus, the people were called “Menno-nites” because of his influence. The Anabaptist movement in Switzerland divided in the late 1600s when a group of converts wanted to follow the teachings of the Netherlands Mennonite movement instead, hence known as Amish, after their leader, Jacob Amman. Through the 1900s, several groups broke from the Old Order Amish, either wanting cars and other technologies, or adhering to more evangelical ideas and programs. These became “Amish-Mennonites,” such as the Beachy AmishMennonites. “Beachy” comes from the name of a bishop of
an Old Order Amish congregation in Somerset County, Pa., in the 1920s — Moses Beachy. He led part of the congregation to start a new AmishMennonite group, which went by his name. Beachy Amish-Mennonite churches today do not look to him as the affiliation’s leader but rather, carry the name from what was once a way to distinguish Beachy’s Amish from the other Amish in the community. The Beachy Amish-Mennonites are a Christian group with an Anabaptist heritage, evangelical emphasis, and community-based traditionalist practices. They are neither a mainstream church nor a cult, but are considered a sect, orthodox in Christian belief but somewhat separate from society. One distinctive belief in particular, is an extent of practical everyday separation from mainstream society — especially in areas of social and recreational activities, personal adornment, amusement, speech, gender roles, and schooling. — Grace E. Johnston
School on Allard Road in Belleville. The church and school are made up of 17 to 18 families, with 32 children in grades one to eight. The names of their children from oldest to youngest are Annie, Esther, Katrina, Matthias, Joseph, Darius and Jeremiah.
“God has been good to us, and we give him all the honor and glory,” Mr. Sharp said. “I put things on the shelf, and God brings the people.” n GRACE E. JOHNSTON is a staff writer and editorial assistant for NNY Magazines. Contact her at gjohnston@wdt.net or 661-2381.
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FA M I LY B U S I N E S S
David F. Belloff, owner of Belloff’s Department Store, Adams. which is celebrating its 100th anniversary, says it has adapted to changes in the retail market.
STAYING POWER
NORM JOHNSTON | NNY BUSINESS
After century in business, Belloff’s still in the family By TED BOOKER
T NNY Business
o survive as a small business for a century, a loyal following of customers is a must. Hard work and exceptional customer service over the past 100 years created a loyal customer base at Belloff’s Department Store, launched in 1914 by Russian native Aaron Belloff at 21 Main St. Celebrating the store’s century mark has brought back a flood of memories for David F. Belloff, who has operated the business by himself since the early 1990s. He took over as manager in 1990, after his late father, Isadore B., had run the store since the early 1950s.Mr. Belloff and two of his sisters, Kathy B. Sheley and Nina O. Hirschey, on Tuesday discussed the family-owned business hitting the century mark. A third sister, Nancy A. Smith, lives in Tucson, Ariz. The siblings described how the store was staffed by 18 employees during its heyday, when it was widely known as
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the main department store in southern Jefferson County for shoppers looking for men’s and women’s apparel, sporting goods, toys, furniture and flooring. Though its success began to decline in 1985 with the opening of Salmon Run Mall in Watertown, the business found creative ways to diversify its offerings and remain competitive. As the presence of the mall ultimately diverted much of its customer base, the store hosted an auction in the fall of 1992, becoming about a quarter of the size it once was. But the store’s decline is not what the Belloff family remembers as it celebrates its 100th anniversary. Their memories center on their grandfather, Aaron Belloff, the pioneer who established a work ethic that became the hallmark of the store’s success. Mr. Belloff, who immigrated from Kiev, Russia, to Ellis Island in the early 1900s, arrived in Adams with his first wife, Nina, in 1909. “He actually started with a pack on his back to sell merchandise,” Mr. Belloff said. “He traveled around Adams, Rod-
man and Ellisburg selling lotions, buttons, needles and thread. Eventually, he graduated from that in 1912 by saving enough money to buy a wagon and horse.” By the time the entrepreneur launched the store in 1914, his name had become a staple in communities across the southern half of the county. Mr. Belloff said his grandfather “was a super guy who got along with everyone. If someone had to buy something late on Christmas Eve, he would keep the store open. Every Christmas he would give donations to the churches, and he would open up the store to the community during emergencies. He didn’t like to get gifts, but he liked to give them. If there were profits left over at the end of the year, it would be divided up as a holiday bonus for employees.” During its heyday, when the store had a staff in the double digits, employees provided one-on-one customer service to everyone who visited, Mr. Belloff said. Employees were trained to greet customers immediately when they entered the
FA M I LY B U S I N E S S store. And if a customer wasn’t helped right away, a loud bell sounded to get the staff’s attention. “There used to be a stairway in the back with a loft, and the manager could look all over the store to see employees,” Mr. Belloff said. “If a customer walked in and they weren’t seen, we’d ring the bell to get their attention. If that happened, it was a mortal sin to my grandfather.” Mrs. Hirschey, the oldest of the children, recalls when she started working at the store as a 14-year-old in 1947, when labor laws allowed teenagers to work earlier than they can today. “I remember there were about a dozen employees, and it was so busy back then. My first job was tending to the Green Stamps, which gave customers a 10-cent stamp for every dollar they spent,” she said. “And when a customer came into the store, we would stay with that person in every single department they went into.” For her part, Mrs. Sheley recalls dusting shoe boxes during her first assignment at the store as a teenager. Diversification of merchandise over the decades at the store played an instrumental role by keeping it nimble and competitive, Mr. Belloff said. When his father, Isadore, took over as manager in the 1950s, furniture and flooring were added to its repertoire. Then when Mr. Belloff became employed at the store in 1970, he persuaded his father to introduce sporting goods. The store developed connections at a handful of school districts in Jefferson County to sell uniforms and sporting equipment, and it continues to do so today. “People used to come down from Watertown knowing they could get what they were looking for here,” he said. “My father started the floor and furniture business by opening a furniture annex at a barn on West Church Street (in 1956). And when we started selling uniforms and sports equipment to schools, it got to a point where it was better than half of our business.” Though not a popular family subject, the falloff of customer traffic at the business in the early 1990s marked the end of its run as a large department store, Mr. Belloff said. “We sold off almost everything we had, and only had about a quarter of it left,” he said. “It was a sad day, and I remember I was frustrated. The auctioneer sold a whole rack of about a dozen jackets for
$50, and they were priced at $50 apiece.” A new generation of shoppers who flocked to Salmon Run Mall, rather than shopping locally, ultimately led to the store’s decline, Mrs. Sheley said. “People in the ‘50s and ‘60s used to always stop here first to find things,” she said. “But in the 1990s, they would come here after going somewhere else. When the mall came along, we couldn’t compete with discount fashion stores that carried more merchandise. It hurt us to find out people were going to other places than here first.”
Crossing the century mark this year, the family is the most proud of its loyal following of customers that made the Adams store such a resilient small business, Mrs. Hirschey said. “I just think of the upbringing and work ethic here that came from my grandfather,” she said. “It’s a good feeling to know we’ve had so many people in the community supporting us.” n TED BOOKER is a Johnson Newspapers staff writer. Contact him at tbooker@wdt.net or 661-2371.
April 2014 | NNY Business
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NORM JOHNSTON | NNY BUSINESS
Sharon, Stanley and Derek Horning in front of Country Cousins Farm on Fults Road, Evans Mills. The family maintains the property as a farm-stay vacation destination.
A place to get away Country Cousins Farm a ‘farm-stay vacation’ destination By GRACE E. JOHNSTON
C
NNY Business
ountry Cousins Farm is a “farm-stay vacation” destination in Evans Mills, offering an authentic dairy farm experience — if you want it. Or, simply enjoy the sunrise and sunset on a front porch swing. “We want to be like extended family to anyone who stays at the farm,” co-owner Sharon E. Horning said.
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Mrs. Horning and her husband, farm co-owner Stanley S., were married in 1984 and moved to New York in March 1993, purchasing their present farm in 1996. “We’ve been farming here for 21 years now,” Mr. Horning said. He and his wife hail from Lebanon, Pa., and while neither grew up on farms themselves, each benefited from experience working on nearby relative’s farms. Mr. Horning worked on his grandfather and uncle’s farm for six years, eventually “buying in” to their farm.
“After a while I thought, wouldn’t this be nice to do for myself,” he said. So with the purchase of his first five cows as an initial investment, Mr. Horning built his herd to 12 milking head in a year and a half. “Farmland was so expensive,” Mr. Horning said. And with an ever-growing herd, the capital needed to buy a farm, coupled with land costs in Pennsylvania and equipment expenses, only brought the prospect of looming debt. So with 35
FA M I LY B U S I N E S S head, the Horning’s rented a farm in Lebanon until an opportunity to rent a farm in Evans Mills piqued their interest to move north. They rented their present property for three years before buying it. Then, Mr, Horning said, “I started dreaming.” His love of farming and gift for hospitality led him to think, why not have a place for people to come stay, enjoy and experience the farm? “I said, uh-uh,” Mrs. Horning joked. But their oldest daughter, Angela, was
“
in during morning chores before breakfast. Seven days a week, Mr. Horning and his 18-year-old son, Derek L., wake up early to milk and feed the herd together. But most guests, understandably, elect to help during the afternoon shift instead. Last August, “we had the father of a family from Syracuse who got up with us early once for chores,” Mr. Horning said. “We don’t ask them to do anything they don’t want to do. But if they want to get in there to scrape the manure and milk cows at 4 a.m., they’re welcome to help.”
For one family of five, Country Cousins Farm was the first vacation where all three sons fully enjoyed the experience, and in completely different ways. One son completely embraced the farming adventure, crawling around amid the cows at milking time, while another said he needed a biohazard suit when entering the barn being exposed to the definitive “cowy” odor for the first time. “Everyone is so different,” Mrs. Horning said. “But there’s a reason people are here.”
We love to show people our way of living. We want to invite visitors to come and make this their country home. — Sharon E, Horning, co-owner, Country Cousins Farm, Evans Mills
all in favor of the idea and began making practical moves to make the dream a reality, setting up a website, creating brochures and seeking out advertising opportunities. They bought a shed and attached porch from North Country Storage Barns and retrofitted it with a full bath, kitchenette and space to sleep eight. In May 2012, they opened for business, marketing themselves as a “farm-stay vacation” destination. Guests receive a full continental breakfast and dinner prepared by Mrs. Horning, Pennsylvania Dutch cook extraordinaire. “Cooking for upwards of 20, that doesn’t make me sweat at all,” she laughed. Guests can also experience all or none of the farm. “It’s really whatever they want it to be,” Mrs. Horning said. “We offer a quiet, relaxing place to get away.” Peculiarities are commonly exhibited by guests who hail from bigger cities. Some volunteer to get their hands dirty by helping with farm chores — milking cows, scraping manure and piling hay. Still, others are more reclusive, choosing to stay in the cabin for most of their time. Families are always welcomed to pitch
April 2014 | NNY Business
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This year marks the Horning’s third summer in operation, and while they view “farm-stay vacations” more as ministry opportunities than pure moneymakers, they still hope to have enough guests to cover their day-to-day expenses — insurance and advertising the largest among them. Mr. Horning expects it will take three to five years to build a strong client base. And as a first-generation small farm, their herd of 60 provides a comfortable living, especially when the current price of milk per hundred weight is $24 to $25. “It’s the highest we’ve ever seen it,” Mr. Horning said. But there are always ups and downs to be expected in the market. “When times are good, don’t be tempted to live beyond your means,” Mrs. Horning said. Case and point: 2009 milk prices per hundred weight bottomed out at approximately $11. “That was scary,” she said. Their hope is for the farm-stay business to be self-sustaining and to keep the farm itself profitable for their youngest son, Derek, to take over someday. “We love to show people our way of living,” Mrs. Horning said. “We want to invite visitors to come and make this their country home.” The Hornings are part of the 1000 Islands Ag Tour. Visit www.agvisit. com to learn about all local agri-tourism offerings, or call 221-5104, stop No. 20, for an audio tour message on Country Cousins Farm. Contact the Hornings directly for reservations, 629-2401 or visit www.country cousinsfarm.com. n GRACE E. JOHNSTON is a staff writer and editorial assistant for NNY Magazines. Contact her at gjohnston@wdt.net or 661-2381.
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From left, John B. Johnson, CEO and co-publisher, Johnson Newspaper Corp.; Harold B. Johnson II, vice chairman and co-publisher, Johnson Newspaper Corp.; John B. Johnson Jr., chairman of the board, Johnson Newspaper Corp.; Ann Johnson Kaiser, secretary, Johnson Newspaper Corp. board of directors. The Watertown Daily Times celebrated 150 years of publishing on April 22, 2011.
April 2014 | NNY Business | 31 April 2013 | NNY Business | 63
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R E A L E S TAT E R O U N D U P
A look at the second home market
W
ith spring’s arrival after a long winter, we are beginning to see the return of “snow birds.” This is also a good time to check in on the seasonal or second home market. A common misconception is that this only includes cottages along the rivers and lakes in our area. However, as you will see, our region’s seasonal market goes all year. I asked a group of Realtors from the Jefferson-Lewis and St. Lawrence County boards of Realtors for their input on five questions when working with a buyer in the second home market. In this issue, I will cover the first two questions and in the next issue, I will cover the other three. My first question was “What are the top things the buyer is looking for and how is this different from someone who wants a primary residence?” Kate Couch, Exit More Real Estate, summed it up, telling me that “Buyers of second homes are much more interested in the view, location — especially accessibility from highways and airports and local communities — availability of docks or water sports, and whether the property is or could become a year-round property. These buyers are not as worried about school districts and neighborhoods. Many have spent time in a specific area and are looking for a place ‘of their own,’ instead of sharing with family.” Karen Peebles, Peebles Realty, added that sunsets are also very important to many buyers. Several noted that resale value is less important. Elizabeth Miller, Century 21 Gen-
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try Realty, a Boonville Realtor, works with buyers who are interested in land for snowmobiling and four-wheeling. Their needs include acreage and a rustic feel. Adding to this, Lance Evans James LaValley, LaValley Real Estate, mentioned that buyers looking at properties in the Adirondacks usually focus on a “campy” feel, while in the St. Lawrence Valley they are more focused on “finished” properties. My second question was “Do second home buyers face different challenges from a buyer looking at a primary residence? If so, what are they?” Maxine Quigg, Exit More Real Estate, said financing can be a challenge as some lenders won’t issue loans for seasonal residences, down payments are higher, and sometimes interest rates are higher than owner-occupied homes. In fact, several Realtors noted that the loans usually require 20 percent down. However, Mr. LaValley added that a loan for a primary home is usually government backed and has more stringent requirements, while the market for second home loans is more liquid. A second challenge noted is the appraisal process if the buyer is getting a loan. In some areas, it is hard to find comparable properties that fit the criteria an appraiser
needs. This makes it harder to prove the value of the property. New flood insurance regulations are a more recent challenge, according to Amanda Miller, Lake Ontario Realty. In July 2012, the Congress passed the BiggertWaters Law which changed the way premiums are charged. In addition, the Federal Emergency Management Administration recently completed an update of flood maps that increased the flood plains in many areas, including ours. Since many sellers of second homes are mortgage free, they may not be aware that their properties will require flood insurance when transferred. In Mid-March, Congress passed, and the president signed, a bill to limit the increases in the law to 18 percent to 25 percent annually on second homes plus an assessment on policies that will sunset when everyone pays full cost for flood insurance. Finally, Cathy Garlock, Garlock Realty, notes that when looking for seasonal properties, especially waterfront, that there are usually fewer properties available based on the needs of the buyer needs. Buyers are usually very specific to a location and sometimes you have to wait and watch for that specific property that they desire to come on the market. In the next issue, I will explore the advice Realtors give buyers of second homes, the best time of year to look for a second home, and reasons our area is popular with seasonal home buyers. n LANCE M. EVANS is the executive officer of the Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors and the St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors. He has lived in the north country since 1985. Contact him at levans@nnymls.com. His column appears monthly in NNY Business.
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Phone: 315.786.3494 Fax: 315.786.3495 email: don@watertownldc.com April 2014 | NNY Business
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R E A L E S TAT E / T O P T R A N S A C T I O N S Top 10 property sales by price recorded in the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office in February 2014: $5,056,931: Feb. 14, Town of LeRay: No acreage, Johnson Drive, Plainview Shopping Center II, Memphis, Tenn., sold to FM Evan Mills S/C, LLC, Dallas, Texas $1,053,309: Feb. 12, Town of Lyme: No acreage, 12644 state Route 12E, Retail Property Investments, Goodlettsville, Tenn., sold to Realty Income Properties 13 LLC, Escondido, Calif. $800,000: Feb. 4, Village of Sackets Harbor: Two parcels, Ogden Street, Barbara B. Maddocks, Sackets Harbor, sold to Stephanie S. Peters, Clearwater Beach, Fla.
$740,000: Feb. 3, Town of Henderson: 4.1 acres, County Route 123, C. Millar Brace and Roderick C. Brace, Canandaigua, executors for Margaretta M. Brace, sold to Kathryn L. Kellogg Mangan and Richard G. Mangan, Henderson $556,352: Feb. 10, City of Watertown: 0.736 acres, Washington Street, Sanquist Properties, James A. Burrows, referee, Watertown, sold to Washington Manor Apartments LLC, Watertown $529,000: Feb. 3, Town of Watertown: 70.48 acres, Swan Road, Denise E. Natali-Paine, Duxbury, Mass., sold to Samantha Jo L. Perkins, Watertown $453,000: Feb. 12, Town of LeRay: 1.359 acres, Johnson Road, Wal-Mart Realty Co., Bentonville,
Ark., sold to US Real Estate Limited Partnership, San Antonio, Texas $450,000: Feb. 4, City of Watertown: 1218 Arsenal St., Community Bank National Association, DeWitt, sold to 1218 Arsenal Street LP, Liverpool $400,000: Feb. 5, Village of Sackets Harbor: 0.18 acres, West Main Street, Andrew F. Hanzlian, Sackets Harbor, sold to Barbara B. Maddocks, Sackets Harbor $290,000: Feb. 11, Town of Alexandria: 5 acres, 25780 state Route 26, Craig B. Danzig, Stuart, Fla., sold to Northern Territory Outfitters LLC, LaFargeville Top 10 property sales by price recorded in the St. Lawrence County County Clerk’s Office in February 2014: $400,000: Feb. 3, Town of Oswegatchie: Unknown acres, in Lots 9 and 10, John J. Doyle, Ogdensburg, sold to Lianhong Zhang, Ogdensburg $335,000: Feb. 19, Town of Canton: 12.33 acres more or less, in the 4th Range, bounded by State Highway 68, Lisa R. Bancroft, Morristown sold to Amy A. Thompson and Joseph P. Eisele Jr., Canton $324,500: Feb. 20, Town of Stockholm: 28.98 acres more or less, bounded by Benton Road, Roger M. Bailey, Potsdam, sold to Rodney L. Parmley and Marie-Paule S. Heylen-Parmley, Potsdam $280,000: Feb. 28, Town of Pierrepont: 28.26 acres more or less, in Lots 35 and 44, bounded by Route 68, William and Mayme Trumble, Canton, sold to Daniel B. Seaman and Debra A. MarquesSeaman, Hermon $255,000: Feb. 4, Town of Hammond: Two parcels, 1.10 acres more or less and unknown acres, both bounded by Schnurr Road and Chippewa Bay, Horace and Linda O’Bert, Sun City, Ariz., sold to Donald G. and Carol A. Carpenter, Syracuse $236,000: Feb. 13, Village of canton: 0.521 of an acre more or less, bounded by Farmer Street, Priti V. Mandalaywala (individually and as trustee), Massena, Vijay K. Trust, no address given, sold to Kevin D. and Colleen D. Logan, Canton $230,000: Feb. 25, Town of Parishville: 0.29 of an acre more or less, in Great Lot 35, bounded by Joe Indian Pond and Mac Carter Drive, Robert E. and Kim Schaefer, Oswego, sold to Harold M. and Donna J. Delhagen, Pultneyville $200,000: Feb. 28, Town of Lisbon: Two parcels, 1) 2.45 acres more or less, 2) 1.37 acres more or less, both bounded by Route 37, Janet E. Moore, Ogdensburg, Carol J. McNally, Mexico and Charles P. Recker, Ogdensburg, sold to John E. and Alice M. LeBeau, Baldwinsville $190,200: Feb. 3, Village of Canton: Unknown acres, in Lots 7 and 8, bounded by Jay Street, Mark T. and Sally J. Passamonte, Shoreham, sold to Graeme Hoffman and Eloise Brezault, Canton $191,000: Feb. 6, Town of Clifton: 0.404 of an acre more or less, bounded by state Route 3, Philip A. and Lorene W. Royce, Canton, sold to Timothy W. Russell, Barrow, Alaska
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NNY Business | April 2014
R E A L E S TAT E
RealtyUSA, Elliott Realty merge Amherst firm buys Watertown, Henderson Harbor offices By TED BOOKER
R NNY Business
ealtyUSA recently bought offices from Elliott Realty Inc. in Watertown and Henderson to expand its outreach in Northern New York. The Amherst-based real estate broker bought Elliott’s two offices in February at an undisclosed price. Fourteen former Elliott Realty brokers and agents now will work under the RealtyUSA corporate name due to the merger, but they will continue to serve the same markets. Offices are at 642 Coffeen St. and 12505 County Route 123, Henderson Harbor. The company didn’t disclose any financial details of the agreement in a news release. William J. Elliott, former owner/broker of Elliott Realty, said the company will continue to grow under the RealtyUSA name. Mr. Elliott, owner of Elliott Realty
“
This represents a terrific opportunity to expand Realty USA’s presence in the Watertown (and) Henderson Harbor area. — Merle Whitehead, president and CEO, RealtyUSA
for 18 years, will continue to lead the Watertown and Henderson locations as a RealtyUSA broker. “We have been in discussions for several years and I am impressed with RealtyUSA’s growth and direction in the marketplace,” Mr. Elliott said in the release. “From our initial meeting, I was
pleased to find that we shared the same business ethics and core values. I am looking forward to taking our business to the next level while continuing to expand my business relationship being a part of the RealtyUSA family.” RealtyUSA has more than 60 offices and 2,500 agents and employees in its New York state offices. In 2013, the company ranked as the sixth largest independent real estate firm in the U.S. It handled more than 21,000 transactions, totaling $3.5 billion in sales in 2013, according to the release. “This represents a terrific opportunity to expand RealtyUSA’s presence in the Watertown (and) Henderson Harbor areas, and we are excited to have Bill Elliott and his agents to be a part of our family,” said Merle Whitehead, president and CEO of RealtyUSA. n TED BOOKER is a Johnson Newspapers staff writer. Contact him at tbooker@wdt.net or 661-2371.
April 2014 | NNY Business
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20 QUESTIONS
NORM JOHNSTON | NNY BUSINESS
A DRIVING SUCCESS F or Barry L. Waite, it was never a question of if he would work in the family business, but when. At 15, he began washing cars at his family’s Toyota dealdership in Adams. In 1972, while attending Jefferson Community College, he went to work full-time at the delaership. His turn to lead the business came when he was just 32, after his father, Paul C., died in 1986. Today, he mentors his own three sons in the family business. We sat down with him to learn about his experience.
1
NNYB: What’s it been like to work in the family business? WAITE: I’m the third generation. My father started working in the business when he was 18. We grew up in the business; we lived next door. When the dealership moved to Adams Center in 1954, my grandfather lived on one side and my dad on the other. So after school, that’s where I went. I went to the dealership. In 1976, my grandfather sold the remaining shares of the business to my dad and me. My dad passed away in 1986, so I bought the remaining shares from my mom. And quite frankly, it was a pretty rude awakening in 1986 to have to take over. I was pretty young, but I did it. The first year was pretty tough, but I came to the realization that my father would want me to keep this business going so I snapped out of it.
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NNYB: Have you always wanted your boys to be a part the business? WAITE: I’ve left it up to them but I also hoped that the boys would be interested in being in this business. Darrick was accepted into the Air Force Academy for aeronautical engineering. He graduated with unbelievable grades and got accepted into the program and went to Colorado Springs to visit the campus and loved it. But when he came
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NNY Business | April 2014
n Since 1929, the Waite family has put north country residents behind the wheel
home, maybe through peer pressure, decided it wasn’t for him. So he ended up going to LeMoyne in Syracuse and got a business degree and came back. He decided he wanted to stay and lives in Adams Center now.
3
NNYB: What are roles do your sons play in the business today? WAITE: Justin takes care of all the appraisals, manages the inventory and works the auctions with me. I was the used car manager for years, but I’m getting him up to speed. The used car side is probably one of the more important parts of the business because you have to get vehicles reconditioned, decide if they’re a wholesale or retail car, and you have to control the wholesales. You need someone you can rely on to sell those cars. Darrick I’m bringing in more to do my job; more of a general manager-type person. So I’m working him into that position. Matthew is at the motorsports store in Adams Center. In 1996 we started the motorsports business and built that building in 2000. We had it here originally.
4
NNYB: Your family didn’t begin with Toyota. How did you settle on one brand? WAITE: My Grandfather started out selling Studebakers and, after the Great Depression, expanded the dealership there and sold Alice Chalmers tractors and implements along with Studebakers. And we were that right up until December 1965. That was a sad day because it was then that we found
out that Studebaker was going to cease production. No phone call or nothing from anybody; just watching the nightly news and found out they were no longer in business. That was tough because that was my grandfather and father’s livelihood. But it was very fortunate that Toyota came along in 1966 and asked us if we’d be interested in becoming a dealer. All the other dealers in the area said we were crazy. “Why would you take on this Japanese car?” In 1966, they were the 19th-largest automobile manufacturer in the world, but today they’re No. 1. So it’s been a pretty good ride.
5
NNYB: How many locations has your business had over the years? WAITE: My grandfather, Easton Waite, started the business in 1929 selling Studebakers. We were originally located on East Church Street in Adams then we moved to Liberty Street, basically where Town Hall is now. In 1954 we moved to Adams Center on Route 11, where the Harley Davidson once was. We bought the building in Adams in 1981 and, at that time, were a Chrysler dealer as well as a Toyota dealer. Then we expanded that building, bought property across the street and built our truck center. In 1988 we built this facility in Watertown and sold the Chrysler store to some employees who ran it as South Jeff Motors. Unfortunately, the timing couldn’t have been worse because 1988 was when interest rates went up to near 20 percent, which made it a real struggle for them to get going. So I ended up with the
20 QUESTIONS property and sold it to Billy Fuccillo.
6
NNYB: How many upgrades have you made to your facilities over the years? WAITE: This is my third upgrade on this building. Toyota is very proactive on facilities, customer satisfaction and touch points on uniformity. The building next door we’ve expanded into our service center. Three years after I built the original building we had to put a new façade on it and new signage. And now we just re-did it. Between buying the property next door and renovating, we spent about $3.5 million on everything. It’s not cheap. Toyota gives you the guidelines of specs for how a building is supposed to look. And these plans all come out of California. I looked at the plans and said, look, this doesn’t fit Northern New York. So I went through and designed the building interiors myself. I used a lot of stonework, designed a fireplace and used a lot of wood treatment and wooden beams that fit an Adirondack theme. Once I got the building done, Toyota came and did a photo shoot and have been sending pictures out to other dealers in rural areas telling them this is what they can do. So they’re more flexible on interiors. Exteriors still have to have the Toyota look. We completed the service center renovation in the fall of 2012 and the sales center last spring.
7
NNYB: What sales trends are you seeing now? WAITE: Toyota’s been a leader in hybrids. Prius does real well. Camry of course is the No. 1 seller for us. But we also sell a lot of trucks. Even with higher gas prices Americans like their trucks. Between trucks and SUVs, that’s about 50 percent of our business. One thing I’ve seen in all my years of business is that people respond right at a particular moment. So when gas prices go up a dollar, it’s like the world’s come to an end and we need more economical vehicles. But as soon as the gas price drops 30 cents, well, that’s over.
8
NNYB: How have on-board computers changed the game in automotive manufacturing? WAITE: Computer systems in cars control braking, engine start, warm-up times; everything’s controlled by computer. And hybrid technology is what sets Toyota apart. When it first started talking about gas-electric vehicles I thought they were crazy. But the technology in a Prius – it fuels Toyota and all the other vehicles, like fuel cell technology for instance. The first ones will arrive next year in the U.S. Everything Toyota’s learned from the hybrid systems carry on in fuel cells. Toyota has so many patents in the field because it was the first one out there. We’re in the third generation of hybrid systems now.
9
NNYB: What percentage of Toyota’s production is done in the U.S.? WAITE: Right now about 80 percent of all Toyotas are manufactured domestically. Hybrids come out of Japan because that’s a pretty technical vehicle, the Prius. Toyota looks at that as a test vehicle for future vehicles, so they like to keep it in-house. The Camry and Highlander hybrids are made here. The Tundra has the most domestic content on it — more than any other full-size pickup. On the Camry and the Avalon, 75 percent to 80 percent is domestic content — meaning parts built here, not just assembled. It’s a worldwide market now. Everyone’s sourcing parts all over the world.
NORM JOHNSTON | NNY BUSINESS
From left, Matthew, Darrick, Justin and Barry L. Waite in the Waite Toyota-Scion showroom.
10
NNYB: What’s the next big innovation consumers can expect to see from Toyota? WAITE: I think it’ll be the fuel cell vehicles — zero emissions. Out of the tailpipe will be water vapor. And it’s coming sooner than you think. They say the first fuel cells will be sold next year in this country. They’ll run on hydrogen. The fuel cells will generate the electricity from hydrogen running the electric motors to power the car. They say on one fill-up you’ll be able to travel 350 miles. The nice thing about hydrogen is that you can pump it in. It’s not like a pure electric car that can take overnight to charge. Hydrogen vehicles you can fill up like normal — 10 minutes and away you go — pretty exciting to see.
11
NNYB: How well are domestic manufacturers competing today? WAITE: Quality of our domestic vehicles rivals the Japanese if not better now — and mainly because it’s all new equipment. You can’t manufacture the same vehicles in the same plants you have for the last 50 years. There had to have been investments made in new plants and new facilities. The domestics are doing that now. Basically we have two domestics now: Ford and GM, because Chrysler’s owned by Fiat. Now, it’s basically the big two.
12
NNYB: Were the auto bailouts justified? WAITE: At the time it was probably the right thing to do. Ford managed to pull it through without any government intervention. But it was probably the right thing to do. I know there’s been a lot of controversy and I know people who drove GM said they weren’t driving a GM anymore because it’s owned by the government and a bailout wouldn’t be right. But that’s behind us now. It’s back on its feet and making good products. Everyone’s building good products today. They learned a lot with a joint venture with Toyota, making the Corolla, Matrix and the Pontiac Vibe. They got a lot of ideas from Toyota’s manufacturing. And Toyota’s been a pretty open company. NNYB: How is business so far this year?
The Barry L. Waite file AGE: 60 JOB: President and general manager, Waite Toyota, Watertown FAMILY: Wife, Ellen; sons, Darrick, 35, Justin, 30 and Matthew, 28 HOMETOWN: Adams; lives in Henderson EDUCATION: South Jefferson High School, 1971, Jefferson Community College, associate’s in business administration, 1973 EXPERIENCE: Started washing cars at 15; started full-time at the dealership in 1972. LAST BOOK READ: “Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World” by Gary Vaynerchuk
13 14
WAITE: The past two years have been pretty wide open in the winter. We’re actually about 17.7 percent ahead of last year in the first quarter, which has a lot to do with extra product. And I think people enjoy coming into the upgraded facility. NNYB: Are you concerned about Honda coming back into the marketplace? WAITE: Yes and no. Toyota considers them a big competitor. But what we’ve found over the years is that most of our customers know what they want. They know if they want to buy a Toyota or a Honda. But are we preparing? Yes. My biggest competitor is Romano or Burdick in Syracuse. It’s closer than it ever has been. People migrate to bigger cities. They may shop me, and then go to Syracuse. And the same for TJ’s in Potsdam. They may shop him, and then migrate here. We have to be very competitive.
15
NNYB: How has the Internet affected business? WAITE: We wanted to get online quickly for the simple reason that the Toyota buyer is a little savvier. They spend a little more time researching. The Toyota buyer may come in two or three times April 2014 | NNY Business
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20 QUESTIONS before they make a purchase. At dealer meetings years ago, I was the youngest one there. I was the kid. Now I’m looked up to as one of the older guys. How many of us thought the Internet was a fad? Well, it didn’t go away. People want to do things on their time. And that’s what the Internet lets them do. It’s convenience. And that’s what the Internet has done to the car business. People can sit at home at night and do a virtual test drive and do all their research. So when they come to the dealership, they pretty much know what they want. The sales force has to be much better trained. People come up with technical questions and you need to know the answers or know where to get them. And there’s even an app now for Toyota specs. So if a customer has a question on the lot, our sales
guys can pull up the answers on their phones.
16
NNYB: What has the Internet done for your used car business and how have tools like Carfax made the buying experience more transparent? WAITE: We’ve increased our presence over the past two years. Justin, my middle son, is our used car manager. Roughly 95 percent of our used cars get sold on the Internet. I never thought that would be true. All our used cars go online. The site traffic is amazing. The one problem with Carfax and Autocheck is that if there’s an accident with a vehicle, it’s good to know, but customers need to dig a little deeper and find out what the accident was. Probably 35 percent of the cars we look at say they’ve been in an accident and when you ask the
customer about it, it was just cosmetic. When it’s reported, insurance lists it on the Carfax with no detail as to the severity or detail of the damage. Cosmetic damage is a little different than hitting a tree and affecting the frame. We try to be honest forever. It’s the way we’ve always done business. It’s how I was brought up. It’s what I instill in the boys. If we know that a vehicle’s had an accident, we’ve always tried to disclose that. Everyone has to be a little more honest today with the Internet.
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NNYB: Who do you rely on for advice? WAITE: I have a lot of dealers who are friends and we talk. Where I’ve learned the most came just from watching my father and grandfather do business — trying to keep those same traditions. Service has always been our strong point — taking care of customers. We’ve had growing pains with this new expansion — new faces. I’ve had to hire more people. Some of the old customers might say it’s not the same. Used to be, years ago, my dad was sales manager, service manager and parts manager; same with me. We did it all. But we can’t do that today. We’re too big to do that now. I still try to keep that personal touch. I meet with my people every day.
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NNYB: When do you think you will retire? WAITE: I probably won’t until I can’t come in anymore. My wife says when I retire I’ll cut back to 40 hours a week. But I am going to start taking more time. The boys are doing a good job. If I want to take a week off, I’m going to start doing it. I’ve never taken a vacation. Up until this point, using my vacation would be going to a Toyota meeting and extending it a couple days. But that’s it.
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NNYB: What is the most important advice you have for your sons? WAITE: Keep with the same philosophy we’ve had: treat the customer right, always be honest, treat your employees right and give back to the community. I teach by example. They see me do it repeatedly, they catch on. It’s a different world out there, a different generation. I’m learning that as hard as it is for me to acknowledge at times, some of their ideas are right. They have to learn, they have to make mistakes. The biggest thing for me is to control my temper and not get upset with them.
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151 Mullin Street Watertown, NY 13601
NNYB: How do you give back to the community? WAITE: I joined the volunteer fire department right out of high school and that’s really been my number one give back to the community. It’s why I still do it. The fire department was a big commitment for me, and one I still do even at my age. But I’m healthy as an ox, so I’m going to continue doing it. I’m a little more selective about things now, though. But if it’s an actual fire I try to make it. As far as the business goes, Toyota matches up to $2500 in charitable giving. This year we did Hospice, the ambulance service and the Community Foundation. We try not to tie it all to one. But I do an awful lot of things I don’t tell people about because I’m not that type of person. That’s the way I was brought up. If you’re going to live in a community, you can’t just expect everything to be given to you. You have to give some back. — Interview by Ken Eysaman. Edited for lenth, clarity to fit this space.
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NNY Business | April 2014
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E C O N O M I C A L LY S P E A K I N G
Grow business with viable resource
A
s I travel across Northern New York and speak with many business leaders, I hear repeatedly about the need for economic development policies that support sustainable, market-driven small business expansion. One such federal agency, the wellknown, yet often under-utilized Export-Import Bank is particularly well equipped to implement such policies so that U.S. companies may grow by accessing new export markets. The Ex-Im Bank is the official export credit agency of the federal government. In 2012, the Export-Import Bank supported more than $50 billion in U.S. exports and more than 225,000 American jobs. Companies across the region, including those in Plattsburgh, Watertown, Potsdam and Gloversville, have benefited from the bank’s trade financing, which has supported more than $30 million in exports from New York Congressional District 21 over the past seven years. Already an important economic resource for our region, the Export-Import Bank has the potential to assist New York businesses in achieving even greater results in the future. The Export-Import Bank facilitates American exports when a U.S. seller is unable to secure an adequate assurance of payment from a foreign buyer, which would support standard credit requirements. In the absence of available private sector mechanisms, the Export-Import Bank offers products like supply chain financing, working capital loan guarantees, and foreign buyer loans in order to facilitate U.S. exports and business expansion. These products also include loan guarantees to commercial lenders such as the community banks of Northern New York, which play a critical role in driving economic development in our towns. In its 79-year history, the Export-Import Bank’s effectiveness in brokering these transactions is evidenced by the fact that its loss ratio has always remained below 2 percent, and the agency has never needed taxpayer dollars to operate. In fact, the bank has demonstrated sound management practices by returning billions of dollars to the U.S. Treasury, including more than $1 billion in surplus last
fiscal year alone. In our region, we should consider ways to expand the beneficial role that Export-Import Bank financing programs can have for north country businesses that are seeking assistance to export products to nearby Canadian markets as well as many Bill Owens other global destinations. Notably, Canadian companies that establish U.S. subsidiaries in Northern New York are also eligible to apply for financing. This eligibility creates an opportunity for economic developers to reach out to Canadian companies that may find ExportImport Bank financing among many attractive resources in opening a subsidiary in New York. Exporters in Northern New York benefit from a strategic location, just south of large Canadian metropolitan marketplaces, with a number of road, rail and air transportation options to New England, New York City, Western New York and points farther west. Similarly, the St. Lawrence Seaway connects ports in New York’s 21st District to those in Montreal and across the Great Lakes region. Domestic manufacturing exporters, in particular, are poised to benefit from America’s emerging energy independence and affordable energy supplies. Many organizations in New York across the public and private sectors are working to ensure our K-12 educational system and post-secondary vocational training programs equip our workforce with skills needed to ensure businesses are competitive in the global economy. In 2010, Brazil and China provided 10 times more export assistance as a share of GDP than the U.S. The Export-Import Bank provides a number of support mechanisms needed to level the playing field for American exporters and, most importantly, to create jobs.
As we consider these opportunities, it is important to realize that many small companies have a preexisting, yet often unrealized capacity to export and conduct international trade. Competitive barriers to trade that have prevented small businesses from exporting in the past are coming down due to such factors as the rise of e-commerce, online marketing and communications technology and the increase in affordable shipping and transportation options. In 2012, of the 3,400 companies the Export-Import Bank supported, more than 85 percent were small businesses, the engines that drive our economy and employ half of the U.S. workforce. What’s more, recognizing these trends, we must ensure that promoting small business exports is also a top priority in all of our international trade negotiations. Much work remains to support the array of programs that similarly use market-based mechanisms to support small business exports. For example, in February, I co-sponsored a bill to permanently reauthorize the State Trade and Export Promotion program, which supports small businesses as they seek access to foreign markets through such activities as trade show participation and international marketing events. Since its creation in 2010, the program has yielded $75 in economic output for every $1 invested, a wise public investment indeed. I recently invited the Export-Import Bank to the north country to organize a global access summit so local businesses can learn more about export support programs and their potential to spur economic development in Northern New York. I look forward to hosting this event and to continuing to advance practical support mechanisms for businesses so they can create well-paying jobs in our communities.
n REP. WILLIAM L. OWENS D-Plattsburgh, represents New York’s 21st Congressional District. Before election to Congress in 2009, he was managing partner at the Stafford and Owens law firm, specializing in business and tax law. Contact his Watertown office at 120 Washington St., Suite 200, 782-3150. Email him through his website. https://owens.house.gov.
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NNY Business | April 2014
B U S I N E S S L AW
Secure working capital with new tool
W
orking capital for a small business is always in short supply. One option that a small business owner has to raise capital is to enter into a secured transaction. A secured transaction is the use of personal property such as inventory to secure a loan. The personal property is used as collateral for the loan. One popular example of a secured transaction is the use of a loan to buy a motor vehicle. If the owner fails to make the necessary loan payments, the creditor can repossess the motor vehicle and sell it at an auction. Many creditors look favorably on a secured transaction on personal property since the loan can be satisfied through repossession of the collateral and sale, and the creditor has priority over other creditors of the small business. The business owner or debtor on the other hand enjoys an advantage of greater borrowing power that the small business may not otherwise be entitled. The process of the secured transaction begins with creation of security interest. A security interest is a contract that permits the use of personal property to secure the obligation. The written agreement describes the collateral, authorizes a loan or a line of credit for the debtor, and explains the extent of the legal rights that the debtor has in the collateral. The next step in the process is called perfection. Perfection is legal authorization that gives the creditor priority over other creditors in the same collateral.
The problem of priority arises when two or more creditors are seeking the same collateral to satisfy a debt. The first creditor to perfect usually has priority over subsequent Larry Covell creditors who perfect or judgment creditors. Judgment creditors are creditors who won a lawsuit against a debtor and file an attachment
used in business but is not inventory or farm products. A secured transaction can even take place in consumer goods. Consumer goods are goods primarily for household, personal or family purposes. Consumer goods can be house furniture, refrigerators, TVs, or stereos. In these situations, the debtor has usually entered into a purchase-money security interest agreement. A purchase-money interest agreement means that a bank or seller has extended credit which was used to purchase the consumer goods. In this financial arrangement, the security interest and perfection take place on the signing of the agreement by the parties. In consumer transaction, the creditor has “automatic perfection” which means that there is no need to file a financing statement with the appropriate public office. An exception to the automatic perfection rule is motor vehicles and trailers. In these circumstances where ownership is noted by a “title,” a notation of lien is placed on the title by the creditor. By placing a lien notation on the title pursuant to a certificate-of-title statue, the creditor has perfection. These types of title goods are automobiles, boats, mobile homes, and in certain states, farm tractors.
A secured transaction can even take place in consumer goods. Consumer goods are goods primarily for household, personal or family purposes. against the personal property of the small business owner to satisfy the debt. In most situations, perfection takes place by filing a financing statement in the appropriate government office; in most circumstances this is the office of the Secretary of State. A financing statement puts third parties on notice that a secured interest is in effect on specific personal property owned by the debtor. Popular types of secured transactions in the north country include farm products like crops, livestock, and even products produced by farming such as milk, eggs or maple syrup — inventory which is goods held for sale and even work in progress and equipment that is
n LARRY COVELL is a professor of business at SUNY Jefferson and an attorney. Contact him at lcovell@sunyjefferson.edu. His column appears every other month in NNY Business.
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COMMERCE CORNER
Cultivate a productive environment
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etaining and attracting quality staff can be a challenge for small businesses and even nonprofit organizations, but it’s not impossible and does not always cost a lot of money. The concept of a happy workplace equaling a productive workplace tells a truthful tale. It can be broken down simply: if an employee fits well into an organization’s culture, they’ll likely work well with their peers and co-workers and develop a positive working relationship with their boss or superiors. Communication is the key to all relationships, along with respect. The Pareto Principle, most commonly referred to as the 80/20 rule, can be applied to many facets of business — from focus on a projec, to relationships among staff members. So when applying a “respect required” policy, it is important to remember not everyone will adhere to such policies. Many times, 80 percent of employee problems stem from 20 percent of one employee. So remember, respect is a two-way street, and to be respected, a person must earn respect. When open communication and respect is promoted, working relationships are developed and creativity and idea-generation is fostered, providing added value to the business as a whole. By encouraging mutual respect and open-lines of communication, this environment empowers individuals to make decisions and adequately plan their work schedules, resulting in more productivity. Empowering employees sends a message to them that they are trusted and valued. These open-lines of communication are
an integral part of management, as not all employees are made from the same mold. As a supervisor, it is important to listen to your employees and understand their style and Lynn Pietroski where they are coming from in order to properly address their concerns and empower them to make decisions that benefit the organization’s mission. When working one-on-one with an individual, the person may not always understand the message or directive that is being discussed. The individual may have an entirely different perspective. And although it may not be the wrong one, it may not coincide with the mission and vision of the organization. Having different opinions and ideas is not always a negative thing; however, the message that is being communicated needs to be done in a professional and effective manner. Managing people can be one of the most difficult tasks a person faces in their career, but it can also be one of the most rewarding. With economic challenges that many businesses face today, salary compensation is not always a financially viable option. Therefore, when hard-work and success cannot be rewarded through an annual salary increase, there is the option of a one-time enhancement or bonus. The value of positive reinforcement cannot
always have a tangible value associated with it; however, it is one of the most valuable management tools a successful leader uses. Again this creates another opportunity for a positive and healthy work environment. Studies have shown that employees are equally grateful for flexibility in work hours and locations. Showing appreciation with small gestures yields marginal returns. When individuals work together as a team, statistics show efficiency is at an all time high, often referred to as synergy. When ownership is not individualized it becomes companywide. Teams are more apt to ensure sustainability of something if they have a vested interest in it. Also, working in teams on projects utilizes everyone’s strengths versus focusing on areas of individual weakness. Creativity can be contagious and builds stronger working relationships. There is the long standing belief that successful organizations are such because of the person who leads it. However, what really makes an organization successful is the team that shows up every day and works toward the same goals and shares a similar vision. So a positive environment is created when all parties show up for work with positive attitudes, with an eagerness to make change and be successful, have respect for each other, established goals that are attainable and have some healthy competition.
n LYNN PIETROSKI is president and CEO of the Greater Watertown North Country Chamber of Commerce. Contact her at ceo@watertownny. com. Her column appears monthly.
Your Regional Recycling Resource A partnership of the Development Authority of the North Country and Jefferson, Lewis & St. Lawrence Counties.
www.NorthCountryRecycles.org 42 |
NNY Business | April 2014
AGRI-BUSINESS
Mom-and-pop operations booming
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ravel to 23938 Shoulette Road in Redwood and you’ll find a nice story about business success. The mom-and-pop business located here has been operating for 20 years, and now a son is coming on board, hoping to call it his own someday. They are expanding their product line and are excited about the future. Roberta and Kurt Hanni own and operate Spruce Acres Custom Cutting and Spruce Acres II Retail Shop. On their website, www.spruceacresmeatshop.com they explain how their meat processing business grew from butchering animals for a few local neighbors to cutting beef, pork, deer and exotics. They provide vacuum packaging and their facilities include two walk-in coolers, scales, an upright hot smoker and rotisserie hot smoker for finishing hams and bacon. There are about 10 to 15 custom meat processors in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties. Only four are USDA licensed to sell cuts of meat to the public. At Spruce Acres, they operate a separate meat store where they purchase USDA certified meats that were cut and packaged elsewhere. Over the years, the Hanni’s have invested more than $300,000 into their business. Son Kyle, 36, is in his third year in the family business and they are in the process of establishing his ownership. I asked Mr. Hanni about whether he feels there is an opportunity for his son to succeed. “There is a great opportunity as more people are buying local meat,” Mr. Hanni said. “People like knowing where their food comes from and they like the better taste of local meat, bacon, hamburger and sausage.” He went as far to say that he believes
there is opportunity for another custom meat cutter in Jefferson County. I contacted Ron Kuck, dairy and livestock educator for Cornell Cooperative ExtenJay Matteson sion of Jefferson County to talk about the demand for custom meat processors. Mr. Kuck indicated that there aren’t many in the area and it can be difficult for a farmer to access one. He said during the fall, custom cutters are booked solid processing deer for hunters. This limits the opportunity for farmers to get their livestock scheduled for processing. Mr. Hanni echoed Mr. Kuck, indicating they process approximately 400 whitetail deer in the fall, mingled with the occasional moose, elk or other various game. Mr. Kuck said that some dairy farmers are considering dairy beef production from their dairy herd. As technology has improved, allowing dairy farmers to look at the genomics of their herd, dairy farmers can now rank their herd by milk production, cow health, and genetics. From that ranking, the dairy herd can be split into quarters. The top 25 percent of the herd could be bred, using artificial insemination, from premium well proven sires further enhancing the genetics and milk production and type conformation. The middle 50 percent of the herd would still be considered valued members of the herd but would be bred to less costly proven bulls or young sires with top-
flight genetics. The bottom 25 percent of the dairy herd might be bred for beef production to Angus or other beef species using sexed semen. Sexed semen allows for a greater percentage of the calves to be either bulls or heifers, depending upon choice. For dairies in expansion mode, using sexed semen is an option to increase the percentage of females born. For beef production, and those farms with a sufficient number of female replacements, the farm might choose to have a higher percentage of calves as bulls. This type of breeding program enables the dairy to increase cash flow and improve herd genetics. Top performing cow offspring are used as herd replacements. Lower performing cows are bred to beef cattle, and the resulting calves are then sold at a premium to take advantage of the growing demand for locally produced, high quality beef. Looking again at Spruce Acres Custom Meats, local demand is where their business model is flourishing. Besides processing 400 deer per year, they are cutting 180 beef animals, and 260 hogs. Farms will raise their livestock and sell either whole, halves or quarters of the animal to the consumer. Once the animal is sold, the farmer will take it to Spruce Acres for processing on behalf of the customer who indicates how they want their portion of the animal processed. To learn more about Spruce Acres visit their website or call 482-5878. n JAY M. MATTESON is agricultural coordinator for the Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency. He is a lifelong Northern New York resident who lives in Lorraine. Contact him at coordinator@comefarmwithus.com. His column appears monthly in NNY Business.
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BUSINESS TECH BYTES
Job hunting? There’s an app for that
A
ccording to a February Learnvest article, “politicians and pundits had a field day with the Congressional Budget Office’s recent report on the Affordable Care Act and whether it would lead to Americans walking away from jobs now that they no longer had to worry about health care.” This is really only one component of what is a larger growing worry: the number of Americans who are dissatisfied with their jobs and what that can mean to your business and the economy. Chicago-based CareerBuilder says “59 percent of Americans are satisfied with their jobs, down from 66 percent last year. Salary issues and “not feeling valued” are the biggest reasons for Americans being downbeat about their jobs. The study also concluded that one in five American workers (21 percent) say they plan to look for a new job this year, and far and away the most common reason cited is “job dissatisfaction.” Surprisingly, this could actually strengthen the economy in the long run. “In general, when more workers change jobs it’s usually a sign the labor market is warming up,” said Rosemary Haefner, CareerBuilder vice president of human resources. “During the recession and in its aftermath fewer people voluntarily left jobs because the chances of finding a new or better one were low compared to a healthier economic cycle.” Are you the “one” in the one in five who will look for a job this year? There’s an app for that. Start with Hidden Jobs for 99 cents. This app will scour online media daily for news articles and press releases on company expansions and new locations, giving you a leg up on potential new and upcoming positions. You can search by state to see
towns, companies and the expected number of jobs, complete with a link to the original news source. Glassdoor is a free app and another great choice. It is an uncluttered and Jill Van Hoesen well-organized insider’s look at job openings through user-generated content, complete with photos. Set up a feed via location and job interest to read reviews on work environments and get a glimpse of the culture before you even apply. If you are serious about the job search try Visualize.me. This free app will assist you with a resume makeover or a firsttime build. Choose background color, font type and graph your work history, skills, education and interests to develop a colorful attention-grabbing resume. Have a LinkedIn account? You’re half way there. It is never too soon to prepare for the interview and Interview Prep Questions app does just that. In its no-frills way you’ll prepare for probing interview questions like “what makes an ideal boss?” Or “Explain how your knowledge has grown in the last 12 months.” The “flash-card” based app provides suggested answers providing options for a “favorite deck” of questions and discarding ones you’ve mastered. So you aced the interview and you really want this job, it is time for Felt. For $3.99 a thank-you card, this iPad app will design and mail one for you. You’ll have a choice of background, pen and ink color, than using
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.
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NNY Business | April 2014
your stylus write your personalized thank you card and even address the envelope. Allow two to five business days for arrival. Another free app, CamCard, will free us all from our collection of business cards. This app extracts the contact information from business cards and creates a contact for you. You can sort by different categories, add notes to individual contacts and even share contact info with others. Having a week of rainy Mondays, forcing you to fantasize about quitting your job? Another free app, Quit Your Job, will bring the tongue-in-cheek laugh you need. It’ll inquire why you’re leaving and where you’re going, returning an ingenious text message. Use with care as summer is coming. n n n Through the month of April members of the Jefferson Leadership Institute Class of 2014 will conduct “Luggage with Love — Help Children to Move with Dignity.” Children in foster care move around frequently and often do so with their belongings in plastic trash bags. Help local children in foster care to gain a sense of self-worth by donating new or gently used duffle bags, backpacks, small luggage and tote bags. Drop off locations include Aubertine and Currier, Watertown, Community Action Planning Council, the Fairgrounds YMCA, Humes Realty and Appraisal Service, Black River, Jefferson Community College human resource office and the Watertown Daily Times, 260 Washington St. Like Us on Facebook. Call 773-5947 to learn more. n JILL VAN HOESEN is chief information officer for Johnson Newspapers and a 25-year IT veteran. Contact her at jvanhoesen@wdt.net. Her column appears monthly in NNY Business.
SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS
Foster loyalty in non-family employees
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ou may have observed quality of service and success in many family-owned and operated businesses; a sense of commitment and desire to provide a great product or service by the staff. The question however, is how do you develop employees to be as loyal as your family? Looking closely at the dynamic of a family-run business, it may be hard to see what the difference is. This intangible asset of attitude I would argue, is the result of a lifetime of relationship building. Therefore, let us look at the elements of building meaningful relationships with employees. Communication is the key component of any relationship. It is critical to create a culture of communication in the workplace. Share information that is meaningful to the employee’s success; illustrate goals, provide statistics, celebrate successes and critique failures as part of your report to employees. This does not mean that it needs to be talked about all the time, but it should be daily or weekly. Being transparent and honest will help everyone understand the operation and feel like they are a part of making a positive impact. Be mindful of over-sharing, too. There are some stresses and obstacles that you will want to keep private so as to not scare or threaten your employees. Find the appropriate balance of what information is productive, and find time to share it. A side effect of open communication is respect - another key element of developing a positive workforce. Respect comes
in many forms, and can sometimes be difficult to show. Don’t hesitate to award exemplary work and give credit to those who have worked on a project or provided the Brooke Rouse service necessary to achieve a goal. Communicate privately with an
someone to stay in their first job for a lifetime, or even 10 or 20 years. As the boss, you want to encourage long-term commitment, but more realistically, you want to ensure that the employees you have are representing your company in the best way possible every day they are with you. In addition to the previous tips, you can enhance employee loyalty by providing them purpose and room for growth. Give them a chance to do an exciting project, represent the company, take responsibility and enjoy the work and satisfaction of completing something meaningful. You may enjoy doing the exciting things, but share that experience with your employees — give them the chance to grow and be promoted and gain value during their time at the company. Research shows that salary and benefits are not the ultimate decision makers for employees. Fair and desirable wage is expected, but the elements discussed can make up for limited resources in small business. Take the time and energy to consider your employees as family. Think about how you would support and interact with them if they were your family and create a culture where the team works together to enhance everyone’s experience and the ultimate mission of your business.
Take the time and energy to consider employees as family. Think about how you would support and interact with them if they were your family. individual when a problem exists and have the integrity to give them the chance to understand and improve. Another way to gain respect and confidence is to be consistent. Consistency develops trust and reliability which produces mutual respect. Be where you say you will be - when you say. Follow through with commitments to employees and customers. Deliver on promises. If an employee understands how you operate consistently, they have the confidence to trust your actions and relay that to the customer. Likewise, you are setting a good example for the behavior you expect. In talking about employee loyalty, it doesn’t have the same meaning as it did 40 years ago. It is no longer standard for
n BROOKE ROUSE is a small business advisor with the New York State Small Business Development Center at SUNY Canton. She is a small business owner and event planner and holds a master’s degree in tourism and hospitality management from the University of the West Indies, Barbados. Contact her at jamesb@ canton.edu.
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COMMUNITY / BUSINESS CALENDAR 46 |
ALEXANDRIA BAY WEDNESDAY, MAY 21 n Business After Hours at Singer Castle with Uncle Sam’s Boat Tours, 5:30 to 9 p.m., leaving from Uncle Sam Boat Tours, 45 James St. Great networking, prizes and food. Limited space. $10 members (registered) $12 members (not registered) $15 non-members. Register by noon, Monday, May 19. Information and registration: www.watertownny.com or 788-4400.
CANTON FRIDAY, MAY 2, SATURDAY, MAY 3 AND SUNDAY, MAY 4 n Canoe and Kayak events for all ages and all skill levels. Held at Taylor Park, Miner St. Road. Times vary. Information: contact Chuck Bolesh at 379-9241.
CLAYTON THURSDAY, MAY 8 n Business with a Twist, 5 to 7 p.m., Creative Edge Salon, James St. Information: Clayton Chamber of Commerce, 686-3771 or info@1000islands-clayton.com.
SATURDAY, MAY 17 n Run Wild, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Minna Anthony Common Nature, Cross Island Road, Fineview. Join us for the 2nd Annual Run Wild 5K Run/ Walk. Registration begins at 8 a.m., 5K race starts at 10 a.m. Registration fee includes a long-sleeved t-shirt for the first 100 registrants. Information: Clayton Chamber of Commerce, 686-3771 or info@1000islands-clayton.com.
THURSDAYS, JUNE 19 THROUGH SEPT. 11
n Clayton Farmer’s Market, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Village Park Circle. Vendor applications available. Information: Beth Rusho, 686-3771, ext. 4, beth@1000islands-clayton.com, info@1000islands-clayton.com.
FRIDAY, JUNE 13 THROUGH MONDAY, JUNE 16 n The Great NYS Food and Wine Festival,
NNY Business | April 2014
Cerow Recreation Park Arena. Show hours: Friday, 1 to 8 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Show consists of exhibitors representing an array of products made in New York State. NYS produces world class food products and wine to satisfy the favored tastes of everyone, everywhere. Information: Clayton Chamber of Commerce, 686-3771 or info@1000islands-clayton.com.
THURSDAY, JULY 17 n Business After Hours at Coyote Moon Vineyards, 5 to 7 p.m., 17371 Eastline Road. Great networking, prizes and food. Register by noon, Wednesday, July 16. $10 members (registered) $12 members (not registered) $15 non-members. Information and registration: www.watertownny.com or 788-4400.
DEXTER SATURDAY, MAY 3 n Sixth Annual Miracle Fundraiser in memory of John G. Greene, Check-in, 9 a.m., start time, 10 a.m., Rustic Golf Course, 16451 County Route 59. Captain and crew golf tournament: $40 per person; chicken barbecue: $8. Craft show, raffles. Information: Kathy, 639-3206.
GRASSE RIVER SATURDAY, MAY 3 AND SUNDAY, MAY 4
n Rushton Canoe Races, Grasse River. The modern rushton, 9:30 a.m., traditional downriver rushton, 3:30 p.m., Saturday; rushton relay, 1:30 p.m., Sunday. Marathon paddlers, 14-mile pro and 12-mile amateur, solo canoes, kayaks, 12:30 p.m., Saturday; tandem canoes, 9:30 a.m., Sunday. Information: Chuck Bolesh, 379-9241, bolesh1@gmail.com.
HAMMOND SUNDAY, JUNE 1 n Bridal idol events showcase, Presented by Happily Ever After Florist & Bridal, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m, Bella-Brooke Vineyard, Black Lake
Road. Engaged couples compete in singing, dancing, or both, for choice of two prizes valued at $1,000 or more. Responsible for music. Fee: $10. Register: Send payment with registration form to Happily Ever After, 131 Pleasant Valley Road, Hammond. Information: 324-6291, happilyever@hotmail. com, Facebook: happilyeverafterbridal.5u. com. Preregister by Thursday, May 1.
HENDERSON THURSDAY, MAY 15 n South Jeff Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Dinner, Ryan’s Lookout, 9290 NYS Route 3. 6 p.m. cocktails; 7 p.m. dinner. Awards for large and small business of the year and not-for-profit of the year will be presented. $25 per person, payable in advance. RSVP to South Jeff Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 167, Adams, NY 13605. Call 232-4215 to learn more.
HENDERSON HARBOR SATURDAY, JULY 12
n 23rd Annual Henderson Harbor Triathlon, Boat Launch, State Route 178. Olympic race will begin at 8:30 a.m., Sprint at 9 a.m. Olympic event consists of 1.5K swim, 40K bike, 10K run; Sprint with a .750K swim, 20K bike, 5K run. Event proceeds benefit the Children’s Home of Jefferson County’s Community Based Programs and the CREDO Community Center. See website for complete details. Information: Stacey Finley at 788-7430, sfinley@nnychildrenshome.com. Register online at www.hendersonharbortriathlon.com, www.active.com, or www.nnychildrenshome.com.
OLD FORGE FRIDAY, MAY 16 THROUGH SUNDAY, MAY 18 n Paddlefest, Fri. noon to 6 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 2855 Route 28. The largest on-water canoe, kayak and SUP sale in the country, featuring over 75 of the leading manufacturers of canoes, kay-
SOUTH COLTON SATURDAY, MAY 10 n Colton Mud Fling, 11 a.m., Colton Volunteer Fire Department, Racquette River Road. Three-mile run, obstacle course. Benefits fire department. Cost: $25. Information: 262-2447.
SYRACUSE TUESDAY, APRIL 29 n Apple–AT&T User Forum for iPads, 8:30 to 10 a.m., The Tech Garden, 235 Harrison St. Apple will join AT&T and CenterState CEO in providing the latest technology from Apple in a user forum for Ipads. In this session you’ll see the latest that Apple has to offer from the newest IOS, Devices and Applications that leverage the most reliable network and mobile platform available. $10 for members and $20 for non-members. Contact Karen DeJoseph for additional information and to register at 470-1997 or kdejoseph@centerstateceo.com.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 n Business After Hours at Destiny USA, 5 to 6:30 p.m., 9090 Destiny USA Dr. Join us for a Business After Hours at OptiGolf while enjoying food and beverage from Revolutions, and World of Beer. Members will also have a chance to experience OptiGolf, 5 wits, and Revolutions. $10 for members, $20 for non-members. Contact Lisa Metot to register at 470-1870 or lmetot@centerstateceo.com.
WATERTOWN WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23 n Administrative Professional’s Seminar: Work-Life Harmony, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Walker Instructional Dining Room, McVean Center, Jefferson Community College. Interactive workshop to develop strategies for enhancing work-life harmony. $50 per person, includes luncheon and seminar. Registration deadline, noon, April 16. Information and registration: Continuing Education Division, 786-2438.
DAILY THROUGH WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 n Luggage With Love, Help Children Move With Dignity! Help local children in foster care gain a sense of self-worth by donating gently used or new luggage. Accepting items including: duffle bags, backpacks, tote bags, small suitcases. Drop-off locations: JCC HR Office, Humes Realty & Appraisal Service, Fairgrounds YMCA, Aubertine & Currier, Watertown Daily Times, CAPC. Hosted by members of the Jefferson Leadership Institute. Information: Jennifer, 773-5947.
FRIDAY, MAY 9 n USO Big Band Bash, 7 to 11 p.m., Watertown Elks Lodge, 728 Bradley St. Presented by Carthage Area Hospital, to benefit USO Fort Drum. Music by Ruby Shooz; live auction. Tickets: $30, Information: usoftdrum@ uso.org, 777-8006.
SATURDAY, MAY 10 n 5k Run for Veterans, 10 a.m., walk/run, Thompson Park. Benefits Veterans Outreach Center. Cost: $25 registration fee; $20 military discount. Registration forms, information: www.cnyvoc.org, 939-4535, 9394523, kdrake@ucdevelopment.org or aclifford@ucdevelopment.org.
SATURDAY, MAY 17 n Fourth annual “Run to the Sun,” half marathon, 8 a.m. 5K and 10K races, 9 a.m., from Davidson Automotive Group, 18423
Route 11. Sponsored by the Heather A. Freeman Foundation. Cost: 5K and 10K, $25; half marathon, $50. T-shirts for preregistered registrants. Information: www. heatherfreemanfoundation.com. To volunteer: Sandra Macy, 778-5482.
SATURDAY, MAY 17 n Armed Forces Day Parade, 10 a.m. to noon, beginning on Washington St., ending on Clinton St. Information or to register a float: Stan at 416-1087.
WEDNESDAYS, MAY 28 THROUGH OCT. 1 n Greater Watertown North Country Chamber of Commerce Farm & Craft Market, 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesdays, 317 Washington St. Information: Toni M. Miller, Market Manager at tmiller@watertownny.com or www.watertownfarmers market.weebly.com.
SATURDAY, JUNE 7 n North Country Community Cup, Olympic-style competition, Jefferson Community College, 1220 Coffeen St. Events include volleyball, hot shots (basketball shots), tugof-war, 2.2 mile walk/run, golf putting/ chipping, homerun derby, bocce, tennis, dodge ball, relay race, fitness participation. Teams can join by contacting Matt Lambert, 786-2358 or mlambert@sunnyjefferson. edu, by Thursday, May 1.
THURSDAY, JUNE 19 n Business After Hours, Body Pros, 17490 U.S. 11 (outer Washington Street), 5 to 7 p.m., . Great networking, prizes and food. Register by noon, Wednesday, June 18. $10 members (registered) $12 members (not registered) $15 non-members. Information and registration: www.watertownny. com or 788-4400. GOT A BUSINESS EVENT or calendar item? Email nnybusiness@wdt.net. Deadline is the 10th of each month for the following month’s issue. Visit us on Facebook at www.facebook. com/NNYBusiness or www.nnybizmag.com for events calendar updates.
COMMUNITY / BUSINESS CALENDAR
aks, and accessories. Over 1,000 canoes and kayaks will be on sale all weekend at special show prices. Also find big savings on paddling accessories and outdoor gear. Sponsored by Mountainman Outdoor Supply Company. Admission: $5 per day for adults, kids 12 and under free. Test paddle fee is $20 for the entire weekend and includes admission. Test paddle fee redeemable for a boat purchased during Paddlefest. Information: Mountainman Outdoor Supply Co., www.mountainmanoutdoors.com/adirondack-paddlefest.
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April 2014 | NNY Business
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BUSINESS SCENE GWNC Chamber Business of the Year lunch at Black River Valley Club
From left, James Corbin, programming director, WWNY-TV7 / WNYF Fox 28; Lynn Pietroski, president and CEO, GWNC Chamber of Commerce; and Jill Parker, City Electric and chairwoman of the board of directors, GWNC Chamber. The television station was named a 2013 business of the year in the for-profit, more than 50 employees category.
From left, Annette M. Mason, managing partner, Aubertine and Currier Architects, Engineers & Land Surveyors; Jill Parker, City Electric and chairwoman of the board of directors, GWNC Chamber of Commerce; Matthew Morgia, partner, Aubertine and Currier; Lynn Pietroski, president and CEO, GWNC Chamber; and Jayson Jones, partner, Aubertine and Currier. The firm was named 2013 business of the year in the for-profit, 50 or fewer employees category.
KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
From left, Dwight E. Davidson, co-owner, Davidson Auto Group and member, board of directors, GWNC Chamber of Commerce; Lynn Pietroski, president and CEO, GWNC Chamber; Jill Parker, City Electric and chairwoman of the board of directors, GWNC Chamber; Erika F. Flint, executive director, Watertown Urban Mission; the Rev. Steven Murray, pastor, Holy Family Church; and Drew Mangione, Urban Mission. The mission was named a 2013 business of the year in the nonprofit, 50 or fewer employees category.
KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
From left, Jill Parker, City Electric and chairwoman of the board of directors, GWNC Chamber of Commerce; Tina Wildhaber, assistant vice president, AmeriCU Credit Union; Lynn Pietroski, president and CEO, GWNC Chamber; and Dwight E. Davidson, co-owner, Davidson Auto Group and member, board of directors, GWNC Chamber. The credit union was named a 2013 business of the year in the not-for-profit, more than 50 employees category during a luncheon March 13 at the Black River Valley Club, Watertown.
KRAFFT
CLEANING SERVICE, INC.
315-782-4437 or 315-783-4437 www.krafftcleaning.com
The North Country’s Cleaning Professionals Since 1971 48 |
NNY Business | April 2014
LEED Compliant/ Environmentally Friendly Services Janitorial Service Carpet Cleaning Hard Floor Care Construction Clean-Ups Window Washing Pressure Washing Mat Cleaning
BUSINESS SCENE GWNC Chamber Business of the Year lunch
From left, Christine E. Hoffman, owner, The Spicy Wench; Jill Parker, City Electric and chairwoman of the board of directors, GWNC Chamber of Commerce; and Lynn Pietroski, president and CEO, GWNC Chamber. The Spicy Wench received the 2013 Business of the Year Entrepreneurial Award.
GWNC Chamber BAH at Davidson Nissan
From left, Nic Darling, Time Warner Cable, Tom Piche, Carthage Savings & Loan, Matt Dawley, STAT Communications and Watertown Police Department.
KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
GRACE E. JOHNSTON PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
From left, Lynn Pietroski, president and CEO, GWNC Chamber of Commerce; Shari Simmons, co-owner, Simmons Farm; and Jill Parker, City Electric and chairwoman of the board of directors, GWNC Chamber. Simmons Farm was named 2013 Greater Watertown North-Country Farm & Craft Market vendor of the year during a luncheon Thursday, March 13, at the Black River Valley Club, Watertown.
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Dr. Ronald J. Knox
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Lisa Morgia-Graham, Morgia Designs and Mike Morgia, High Tower Morgia Group, Watertown. Davidson Nissan hosted the March Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours on March 19.
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BUSINESS SCENE Carthage Area Chamber BAH at An Eclectic Boutique and Les Savons De Loulou
From left, Joleen Tufa and Heidi Marshall of Baldwin Management, Carthage.
From left, Saana Gill and Amy McEathron of Independent Medical Evaluation
Company (IMEC), Carthage.
ELAINE AVALLONE PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
ELAINE AVALLONE PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
From left, Louise Psarras-Bly and Sandra A. Johnson of An Eclectic Boutique
and Les Savons De Loulou, Carthage. An Eclectic Boutique and Les Savons De Loulou hosted the March Carthage Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours on March 20.
From left, Hali Highers and Julie Ablan of Ablan’s Business Center.
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NNY Business | April 2014
BUSINESS SCENE Lewis County Chamber Business After Hours at Oswegatchie Educational Center
From left, Bob Hostetter, Farm Credit East, and Todd Lighthall, Oswegatchie Educational Center.
Deirdre Hylen, EXIT More Real Estate, and Dane Hylen, Hylen Home Consultants.
JEREMIAH PAPINEAU PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
JEREMIAH PAPINEAU PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS
Bill Waite and wife, Robin, Oswegatchie Educational Center. The Oswegatchie Educational Center hosted the March Lewis County Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours on March 20. Farm Credit East co-hosted the evening event.
Natalie Wendig, Natalie’s Studio and husband, Matt, Farm Credit East.
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April 2014 | NNY Business
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BUSINESS HISTORY
A seat at the table
Little-known chair factory lead industry in its day By GRACE E. JOHNSTON
A NNY Business
. N. Brittan’s chair factory stood near the lower dam in Theresa, on the left bank and south side of Indian River High Falls. Hydro power fueled the intense industrial growth of the village, and this vicinity in particular was noted for its many factories. Prominent among them were Wakefield’s foundry, Coilis’ cloth works, Stockweil’s tub factory, Gregory’s foundry, Sneil & Makepeaces grist mills, and Sheley’s sash, door and blind factory and planning mill. Between 1860 and 1870 the business of the village was at its best, and Theresa, then unincorporated, was one of the most popular manufacturing and trading centers of the county, even given that no railroad yet connected the village with the state’s larger markets. The railroad did make its way through the village in 1872. Anson N. Brittan of Massachusetts began making furniture early in the 19th century. Known as a “turner of wood,” he was an exemplary craftsman. And with a growing family of three boys, he had a double incentive to make heavy wear, quality furniture. In 1843, Anson Brittan opened “The Brittan Co.” in Theresa. His chairs sold well and the business prospered. Local woods were used as there was a plentiful supply of oak, maple and ash available. Many styles were produced, but most familiar was the solid seat with a spindle back, either with a curved top or with more of a square appearance — both popular for use in town halls and meeting houses. An 1894 article states, “The Brittan Co. are the owners of patents on a desirable line of rockers and easy chairs, and their goods are well and favorably known to the furniture trade throughout the United States.” Brittan chairs continued to garner great success and the existing factory was enlarged. Toward the middle of the century, Mr. Brittan purchased the butter tub factory owned by George W. Flower. A finishing
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NNY Business | April 2014
Left, the A.N. Brittan & Son factory near the lower dam in Theresa, ca. 1860s. Below, “A.N. Brittan & Son Theresa, N.Y.,” is stamped on the bottom of an original Brittan chair that is on display at Theresa Public Library. COURTESY THERESA PUBLIC LIBRARY
plant and showroom were built on Main Street, with a large six-story finishing building with showrooms and sales space added around 1879. Still later, when the firm became A. N. Brittan & Son, there was more expansion. The company purchased the Union Church building on the upper side of town, and physically hauled the structure to the factory location, used as a storehouse and tenant building for their employees — about 60 men. Records from the 1880 census show that Brit-
tan, 69, had three sons: Samuel, 35, Atwell, 31 and Charles, 28, all presumably working for their father in the family business. There came an end, however. After the death of A.N. Brittan, local banker Elon G. Gardner bought the factory and reorganized it as a stock company, thereafter known as “A. N. Brittan & Son Manufacturing Company (Limited).” A fire destroyed the plant in 1889 and the firm ceased to operate. A voluntary dissolution of the company ensued, and a notice to creditors against the A.N. Brittan
An A.N. Brittan & Son rocking chair, one of several styles of chairs the Theresa factory produced from 1860 to 1889.
estate came soon after. An article to the editor of the Utica Moraine Herald records the incident: “Last night, about 10 o’clock, a fire was discovered in Mr. A. N. Brittan’s building, situated in the lower falls in this (Theresa) village, and occupied as joiner shops, for rake making and wood work generally. The building, together with all its machinery, tools, etc. was entirely destroyed. The origin of the fire is unknown. The principal losers were A. N. Brittan, D. Ballard, P. A. Thayer, R. H. Green and J. Welch. A light snow on the roofs of adjacent buildings and the prompt action of the citizens, including the ladies, prevented a general conflagration. Loss, about $5,000; no insurance.” Arguably a very sad end, but the Brittan name remains before the public. A. N. Brittan chairs, so comfortable and strong, still serve in homes and lodges throughout the country. A 1958 article references local fondness for the bygone chair maker. “Here in Theresa, P. D. Purdy has a favorite chair. It came to him from his grandfather, P. D. Bullard, a Theresa merchant.” A label on the underside of the chair states that it was purchased Sept. 16, 1845. Of course, it is a Brittan chair. n GRACE E. JOHNSTON is staff writer and editorial assistant for NNY Magazines. Contact her at gjohnston@wdt.net or 315-661-2381. Business history is a monthly feature from the archives of the Watertown Daily Times. Visit www.watertowndailytimes.com to access digital archives since 1988, or stop by the Times, 260 Washington St., Watertown to research materials in our library that date back to the 1800s.
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April 2014 | NNY Business
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W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G H E R E ? ALL SEASON’S POWER EQUIPMENT WHAT: New small engine repair and retail store LOCATION: Utica Boulevard, Lowville OWNERS: Lyndaker Sales & Service, Beaver Falls SIZE: The roughly 2,000-square-foot building would essentially replace the Lyndakers’ lawn and farm equipment and chainsaw business on Cut Off Road near Beaver Falls. COST: About $60,000 COMPLETION: Late spring or summer 2014 LOCAL JOBS: A handful of construction jobs and retail positions when commplete HOURS: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays. After the move, the Beaver Falls location is to remain open on a limited basis. — Compiled by Steve Virkler
STEVE VIRKLER | NNY BUSINESS
Construction is nearly complete on a roughly 2,000-square-foot building on Utica Boulevard, Lowville, for All Season’s Power Equipment, which will essentially replace the Lyndaker Sales & Service’s lawn and farm equipment and chainsaw business on Cut Off Road near Beaver Falls. The new store, a onestory wood frame building, is slated to open by summer, represents a roughly $60,000 investment. Once the new location opens, the Lyndakers’ Beaver Falls location will remain open on a limited basis.
NEXT MONTH
I
n our May issue, writer Victoria Wiseman examines the changing landscape of Northern New York’s banking and financial industry, with an emphasis on the region’s growing community banks and credit unions. Also coming next month: n SHOP LOCAL: Business owners across the north country are getting a boost from “buy local” campaigns but some merchants say more could be done by community leaders to attract shoppers who bypass them for big-box retailers. n REAL ESTATE: A look at home sales and median prices in the first quarter of 2014. n 20 QUESTIONS: An in-depth interview with a north country business leader. n PLUS: Small Business Startup, NNY Snapshot, Economically Speaking, Commerce Corner, Nonprofits Today, Business Tech Bytes, Small Business Success, Real Estate, Agri-Business, Business History, Business Scene and 20 Questions. n VISIT US ONLINE at www.nnybizmag.com. Follow us on Twitter for daily updates at @NNYBusinessMag, like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nnybusiness, and view eEditions at www.issuu.com/NNYBusiness.
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