NNY Business June 2013

// FISHCAP NETS TOURISTS IN STATE’S LARGEST COUNTY P. 24

JUNE 2013 Volume 3 No. 7

nnybizmag.com

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THE INTERVIEW

TIBA Director Robert G. Horr III

p. 36

$2.95

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GATEWAY to TOURISM

T.I. BRIDGE MARKS 75 YEARS

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

June 2013 | NNY Business

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NNY Business | June 2013

>> Inside JUNE 2013

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COVER STORY |

26 A CASTLE ONCE AGAIN A year after a four family members bought Bonnie Castle Resort the makeover is starting to take shape.

SMALL BIZ STARTUP |

28 POLISHING HISTORY Carlowden Country Club has made some big changes during the off season for ’13.

18 MARKETING NNY With miles of rivers, hundreds of lakes — one of them great — the region has much to sell. |

16 A TREASURE TROVE A retired Watertown woman has opened an antiques shop in memory of her late mother. |

GUEST ESSAY |

17 TOURISM TRANSFORMS 1000 Islands International Tourism Council Director Gary S. DeYoung on impact. |

TOURISM |

24 ANGLING FOR VISITORS FISHCAP a big catch for St. Lawrence County.

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MILESTONES |

30 THREE DECADES STRONG In Adams, Hallett’s Florist and Greenhouse is poised to mark a major anniversary. |

FINANCE |

30 CLIMBING TO THE TOP J.D. Power ranks RBC Wealth Management No. 1 in investor satisfaction.

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FEATURES |

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REAL ESTATE ROUNDUP |

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PROPERTY SNAPSHOT |

32 A BROKERAGE BOOM After opening a new $1.5m headquarters, customs firm Bay Brokerage is already eyeing another expansion.

34 A STABLE MARKET Fort Drum has an undeniably huge impact on real estate.

35 JEFFERSON COUNTY Real estate sales totaled more than $2.84 million over an eight-day period in May. |

CONSTRUCTION |

54 BUILDING PERMITS Q1 building permits in the City of Watertown total $1.27m.

June 2013 | NNY Business

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NNY Business | June 2013

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INTERVIEW

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ON THE COVER

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36 BRIDGING COUNTRIES Robert G. Horr III is only the third executive director for the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority in its 75-year history.

He talks about his agency’s milestone and the road ahead. |

COLUMNS

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40 ECONOMICALLY SPEAKING 41 BUSINESS LAW 42 COMMERCE CORNER |

DEPARTMENTS

10 11 12 15 16

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

34 46 48 54

REAL ESTATE ROUNDUP CALENDAR BUSINESS SCENE BUILDING PERMITS

For this month’s cover shot, photographer Amanda Morrison captured the Thousand Islands Bridge at Wellesley Island. The bridge, which opened to vehicle traffic in August 1938, turns 75 this year. For more about the bridge, turn to page 36 for our 20 Questions interview with Thousand Islands Bridge Authority Executive Director Robert G, Horr III.

June 2013 | NNY Business

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CONTRIBUTORS

BusIness www.nnybizmag.com

Chairman of the Board John B. Johnson Jr.

Michelle Capone is regional development director for the Development Authority of the North Country.

She writes about the importnce of a good business plan. (p. 40)

Larry Covell is a professor of business at SUNY Jefferson and an attorney. He offers advice on how family businesses can best structure their companies. (p. 41)

Lynn Pietroski is president and CEO of the Greater WatertownNorth Country Chamber of Commerce. She writes about a program to help businesses with health car reform. (p. 42)

Jay Matteson is the agricultural coordinator for the Jefferson County Industrial Development Corp. He writes about Jefferson County’s Farmland Protection Plan (p. 43)

Publishers

John B. Johnson Harold B. Johnson II

Executive Editor Bert Gault

Managing Editor Robert D. Gorman

Magazine Editor

Kenneth J. Eysaman

Magazine Staff Writer Leah Buletti

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

She presents a strategy to tame your overflowing email inbox without losing your mind. (p. 44)

Brooke James is an advisor for the New York State Small Business Development Center at SUNY Canton. She offers tips to welcome tourist shoppers to your business. (p. 45)

Lance M. Evans is executive officer for the Jefferson-Lewis and St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors. He outlines the importance of Fort Drum to the local real estate market. (p. 34)

Leah Buletti is a staff writer for NNY Magazines. She visits with the new owners of Bonnie Castle Resort for an update on the ‘extreme makover’ taking place in Alexandria Bay. (p. 26)

Advertising Directors

Karen K. Romeo | Tammy S. Beaudin

Magazine Advertising Manager Matthew Costantino

Circulation Director Mary Sawyer

Photography

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

Ad Graphics, Design

Rick Gaskin, Brian Mitchell, Heather O’Driscoll, Scott Smith, Todd Soules Norah Machia is a veteran Watertown Daily Times reporter. In this month’s cover story, she examines how tourism officials market the region’s natural resources. (p. 18)

Kyle Hayes is a freelance writer and former NNY Magazines associate editor. He visits Hallett’s Florist and Greenhouse in Adams as the business marks 30 years. (pg. 30)

Gabrielle Hovendon is a freelance writer and former Watertown Daily Times reporter.

She visits Carlowden Country Club for an update on recent rennovations. (p. 28)

Ted Booker is a Johnson Newspapers staff writer. In this month’s ‘Small Biz Startup,’ he visits Mama’s Lil’ Shop of Treasures in Watertown. (pg. 16)

MARKETPLACE AAMCO Transmissions ...............10 Americu Credit Union ................. 4 Antique Boat Museum ................ 7 Bach & Company...................... 35 Black River Valley Club .............. 6 Bruce M. Wright Conference Center ..................... 6 C & M Auto ................................. 10 Call Safety Group ...................... 54 Cheney Tire ................................ 49 Citec Manufacturing ................ 52 Clayton Dental Office ............... 15 Clayton Marina ......................... 48 Clipper Inn ................................. 23 Coleman’s Corner .................... 47 Cortel Improvements ................ 25 Dano’s Pizzeria .......................... 47 Development Authority of the North Country ................. 42 Fairgrounds Inn .......................... 47 Foy Agency ............................... 35 Fuccillo Automotive .................. 10 The Great New York State Food & Wine Festival ................. 23

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High Tower Advisors .................. 38 Hilton Garden Inn ................ 47, 50 Home Deli Pizza ......................... 47 Howard Orthotics ...................... 40 Immaculate Heart Central Schools ......................... 20 Innovative Physical Therapy Solutions ...................... 41 Jakes Wayback Burger ............ 47 Jefferson County IDA ................ 53 Ken Piarulli .................................. 15 Kimco Steel .................................. 2 LaClair Family Dental ................ 25 Lofink Ford .................................. 52 LTI ................................................ 44 Macar’s ...................................... 14 Madison Barracks ............... 31, 56 Made in NY Festival .................. 29 Marceau Paving ....................... 35 Moe’s Southwest Grill ................ 47 NNY Community Foundation ... 27 Northstar Auto Sales ................. 51 O’Briens Restaurant ................... 47 The Paddock Club .................... 47

NNY Business | June 2013

Painfull Acres ............................. 15 Phinney’s Automotive ............... 10 River Hospital ............................. 23 SeaComm Federal Credit Union ............................... 53 Shred Con .................................. 45 Sideline Promotions .................. 10 Slack Chemical ......................... 43 St. Lawrence County FISHCAP ... 3 SUNY Potsdam ........................... 11 Three C’s Limousine .................. 55 Thousand Island Realty ............ 35 Thousand Islands Bridge Authority ......................... 21 Tilted Kilt ..................................... 47 Uncle Sam Boat Tours ............... 15 Watertown Dental Group ........... 9 Watertown International Airport ......................................... 29 Watertown Local Development Corp. .................. 34 Watertown Savings Bank .......... 22 Wells Communications ............ 31 WWTI TV ...................................... 39

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. © 2010-2013. 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 a year.

Call 315-782-1000 to subscribe.

Submissions Send all editorial correspondence to keysaman@wdt.net Advertising For advertising rates and information in Jefferson and Lewis counties, email mcostantino@wdt.net, or call 315-661-2305 In St. Lawrence County, e-mail tbeaudin@ogd.com, or call 315-661-2512 Printed with pride in U.S.A. at Vanguard Printing LLC, Ithaca, N.Y., a Forest Stewardship Certified facility.

Please recycle this magazine.

June 2013 | NNY Business

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EDITOR’S NOTE

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sk most Northern New Yorkers and they’ll tell you that ours is a part of the country that shines more than others in part because of its diverse natural resources.

Where else can you kayak world-class rapids and unwind to a beach barbecue on the shore of a Great Lake? Follow that up the next morning with a tee-time at more than two dozen challenging courses and you’ll be on the phone to your Realtor to start the hunt for a vacation spread.

Or, if adventure still calls, cast a line in one of the hundreds of natural waterways and see Ken Eysaman what you reel in.

It’s that diverse mix of adrenaline-pumping action and relaxing calm that only nature can deliver. And, take it from a native who has rambled across the country and back for nearly 20 years, it’s as close as your back door.

In our cover story, which begins on page 18, writer Norah Machia reminds us of all our blessings of Mother Nature, which, as she points out, makes marketing the region to tourists even easier.

20 QUESTIONS — This month we sit down

with Robert G. Horr III, executive director of the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority, the cross-border agency that maintains and manages the iconic bridge system that connects mainland U.S. to Canada. But that’s not the organization runs. From bridges to the Capital Corridor, and even Boldt Castle, TIBA is never short of activity — especially this year, the 75th anniversary of one of the north country’s most recognized structures: the Thousand Islands Bridge. When it opened to traffic in 1938, years before the interstate highway system, the country was fighting its way through the Great Depression. Still, in its

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NNY Business | June 2013

first year, some 94,000 vehicles made the crossing at Alexandria Bay, an impressive figure given the economy of the day. Flash forward to 2013 and vehicle crossings at the Thousand Islands Bridge top two million annually. The bridge stands as a critical link for international commerce right here in Northern New York.

BUSINESS SCENE — In this month’s Scene

section, which begins on page 48, you will find 44 faces from nearly three dozen north country businesses and organizations. On May 16, we joined the Clayton Chamber of Commerce at River Golf Adventures and Clayton Distillery for its May Business With A Twist networking social. The following week we were back on the water in Alexandria Bay at the Riveredge Resort and Conference Center for the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours. On May 23, we joined the South-Jeff Chamber of Commerce for its 2013 Businesses of the Year Awards Dinner. Our congratulations go to Fuccillo Auto Mall, Adams, which garnered Large Business of the Year honors and to Newton Dance Company, Adams, which was named Small Business of the Year. The chamber also named the Adams Revitalization Committee its Nonprofit of the Year.

A NEW FACE IN THE CROWD — I am pleased

and excited to welcome Leah Buletti to the north country as she begins her tenure as a staff writer for NNY Magazines. A recent University of Rochester graduate, Leah has worked at the Albany Times-Union and at Newsday on Long Island, where she grew up. She joins the magazines with the all the excitement of a newcomer ready learn the “north country way of life.” In short order I will make the rounds to connect her with folks in our business community. Meanwhile, if you have a story idea or tip, email her at lbuletti@wdt.net.

Yours in business,

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE Promotions at Mountain Community Homes

Fort Drum Mountain Community Homes recently promoted Jenna Waite to leasing manager for its Welcome Home Center leasing office. As leasing manager, Mrs. Waite is responsible for the overall operations of the Welcome Home Leasing department, occupancy Waite marketing and generating new business through networking and outreach.

Mrs. Waite earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from St. Lawrence University, Canton, in 2006.

Benson She was formerly the community manager, a position in which she was responsible for overseeing approximately 1,000 homes and families in the Rhicard Hills Community on Fort Drum.

Jennifer Benson was recently promoted to community manager for the Rhicard Hills Community Center.

Mrs. Benson began her career in property management in 2002 for Military Housing, Watertown. She relocated to Fort Irwin, Calif., where she was a property manager and was then promoted to marketing director for Clark/Pinnacle. Upon moving back to Fort Drum, Mrs. Benson was hired as assistant community manager at the Rhicard Hills Community Center.

Certified as Cisco network professional

Charles S. Cameron, a network analyst in the information systems department at Canton-Potsdam Hospital, has received certification as a Cisco Network Professional.

The advanced certificate gives Mr. Cameron the ability to plan, implement, verify and troubleshoot complex enterprise networks and collaborate with specialists on advanced security, voice and wireless solutions, according to Canton-Potsdam Chief Information Officer Jorge C. Grillo.

Mr. Cameron joined CPH in August 2011. A north country native, Mr. Cam-

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.

eron has worked in a variety of power systems, communications and information technology roles worldwide.

Studio owner wins awards

Penny Heath, owner of Heath Photography, Redwood, received two awards in two categories from the Professional Photographer Association for a portrait of a boy taken at Salmon Run Mall in March 2012.

Ms. Heath photographed Christopher Harris, Watertown, for an Operation Smile fundraiser. The PPA chose her portrait for first place overall and first place for images of children at the organization’s Imaging USA conference in Atlanta, Ga., on Jan. 19.

Heath Photography has been in operation since 1985, specializing in family and senior portraits and wedding photography. For more information about Heath Photography, visit www.healthphotogra phy.net or call 482-5636.

Board officers named

Stephen W. Gebo, a partner at the law firm of Conboy, McKay, Bachman & Kendall, LLP, has been named secretary of the Sacred Heart Foundation. He has served on the board since 2009. He joins Nancy McCabe, president, Tamasina Sharlow, vice president, and Joseph Butler Jr., treasurer, as officers of the foundation.

Jayme St. Croix, a lifelong resident of Watertown and graduate of Immaculate Heart Central School, was elected to a three-year term on the board of directors at its March meeting.

Mr. St. Croix has been a lifelong member of the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish and has served as a parish trustee and school board member. He worked for the City of Watertown for more than 35 years, retiring in 2012, after serving as superintendent of Parks and Recreation for 25 years.

Joins The Morgia Group

Shane Simser has been hired as a Financial Advisor at The Morgia Group of

Please see People, page 14

June 2013 | NNY Business

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NNY

Economic indicators Average per-gallon milk price paid to N.Y. dairy farmers April 2013 $1.72 March 2013 $1.73 April 2012 $1.55

11.0%

ECON SNAPSHOT

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

Source: NYS Department of Agriculture

389,311 in April 2013 401,133 in March 2013 406,364 in April 2012

Average NNY price for gallon of regular unleaded gas

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

April 2013 $3.75 March 2013 $3.89 April 2012 $4.08

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

8.1%

Average NNY price for gallon of home heating oil

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(Percent gains and losses are over 12 months)

April 2013 $3.82 March 2013 $4.02 April 2012 $4.03

5.2%

4.2%

$1.02 on April 22, 2013 $1.02 on March 22, 2013 $0.99 on April 23, 2012

3.0%

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of N.Y.

Average NNY price for gallon of residential propane

Nonagriculture jobs in the Jefferson-Lewis-St. Lawrence counties area, not including military positions*

April 2013 $3.02 March 2013 $3.09 April 2012 $3.48

88,800 in April 2013 87,800 in March 2013 89,200 in April 2012

13.2%

0.4%

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

63, median price $147,000 in April 2013 80, median price $136,500 in March 2013 85, median price $132,000 in April 2012

27, median price $46,750 in April 2013 33, median price $70,000 in March 2013 36, median price $76,500 in April 2012

25.9% Sales

11.4% Price

Source: Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors Inc.

25.0%

38.9%

Sales

Price

Source: St. Lawrence Board of Realtors Inc.

NNY unemployment rates* Jefferson County

April ’13

11.4%

March ’13

10.3%

April ’12

10.2%

St. Lawrence County April ’13

9.8%

March ’13 April ’12

10.8%

10.2%

Lewis County April ’13

10.3%

March ’13 April ’12

11.4% 10.2%

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 | June 2013

NNY

Economic indicators New automobiles (cars and trucks) registered in Jefferson County Cars 491 in April 2013 469 in March 2013 90 in April 2012

8.15%

Trucks 92 in April 2013 113 in March 2013 90 in April 2012

2.22%

Source: Jefferson County Clerk’s Office

Passengers at Watertown International Airport

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

2,957 inbound and outbound in April 2013 2,950 inbound and outbound in March 2013 2,933 inbound and outbound in April 2012

2,055 in April 2013 2,080 in March 2013 2,023 in April 2012

1.6%

0.8% Source: Jefferson County Board of Legislators

DBA (doing business under an assumed name) certificates filed at the Jefferson County Clerk’s office May 7 to May 24, 2013. For a complete list of DBAs filed in past months, visit us at WWW.NNYBIZMAG.COM.

MAY 24: The Coffee Shop, 615 Coffeen St., Watertown, Samantha Crescenzi and Sharon Crescenzi, Watertown.

Finishing Touch Detailing, 79 Bridge St., West Carthage, Brandon J. Sweet, 30181 Middle Rd., Watertown.

McConnell’s Lawn Care, 25251 Waddingham Road, Evans Mills, Brandon L. McConnell, 25251 Waddingham Road, Evans Mills.

Fit and Fabulous, 23335 Converse Drive, Watertown, Denise P. McCown, 23335 Converse Drive, Watertown.

Simple Thyme, 26256 County Route 54, Dexter, Deanna M. Oliver, 26256 County Route 54, Dexter.

MAY 14: Custom Interiors Unlimited, 32080 Wilton Road, Carthage, Brett L. Yelvington, 32080 Wilton Road, Carthage.

MAY 22: Neurosurgical Associates of Northern New York, 629 Washington St., Watertown, Neurosurgical Associates, 750 E. Adams St., Syracuse.

MAY 13: TJ Construction, 134 S. Main St., Black River, Tad J. Tanner, 134 S. Main St., Black River.

A&A Distributors, 255 Paddock St., Watertown, Andrew Garza, Adams, and Andrew Fondak, 255 Paddock St., Watertown.

A. Ann Photographs, 28673 Steinhilber Road, Evans Mills, Ashlee Ann Scales, 28673 Steinhilber Road, Evans Mills.

MAY 21: Double Vision Racing, 13600 County Route 66, Adams Center, Wayne Vanderpool, 13600 County Route 66, Adams Center.

The Precision Edge, P.O. Box 92, Belleville, Peter B. Dayger, 8324 Route 289, Belleville.

Klean-Up Services, 435-1 Gaffney Drive, Watertown, Dominique Baker, 435-1 Gaffney Dr., Watertown.

MAY 20: Tru Cleaning, 134 Francis St., Watertown, Troy L. Thomas, 139 Francis St., Watertown.

Kleiboer Site Development, 11103 County Route 77, Adams, Kirk G. Kleiboer, 8075 Route 289, Adams.

MAY 17: North Country Drywall, 616 Cayuga Ave., Watertown, Thomas J. Tyska, 616 Cayuga Ave., Watertown.

Wil-Mar Hops Farm, 9776 Nash Road, Mannsville, Peter C. Payne, 9776 Nash Road, Mannsville.

Dorr Men Builders, 32158 Route 12, LaFargeville, Steve F. Dorr I, 715 Union St., Clayton, Steve F. Dorr II, LaFargeville.

MAY 16: Flower Power, 42125 Fishers Landing Road, Fishers Landing, David H. Raines, Fishers Landing.

Spruce Acres II Retail Meat Orders, 23938 Shoulette Road, Redwood, Kyle Hanni, 42609 County Route 2, LaFargeville.

Spruce Acres Custom Meat Cutting, 23938 Shoulette Road, Redwood, Kyle Hanni, 42609 County Route 2, LaFargeville.

Mia Bella Spa and Wellness Center, 720 Washington St., Watertown, Diana L. Burt, 25403 County Route 57, Three Mile Bay. Iron Order MC, Cold Iron Crew, 35286 County Route 36, Carthage, Johnathan C. Hawk, 35286 County Route 26, Carthage.

MAY 10: Dogs and Logs, 10499 Route 11, Adams, Erin E. Hawes, 2630 Route 3, Henderson.

Construction Unlimited NNY, 317 Ten Eyck St., Watertown, Richard W. and Audra M. Ferguson, 317 TenEyck St., Watertown.

MAY 9: Vision Express, 232 W. Main St., Watertown, Lyman H. Glymph Jr., 232 W. Main St., Watertown.

On the Mark, 31265 Route 26, Philadelphia, Mark E. Waybright, 31265 Route 26, Philadelphia.

Exclusive Werx, 212 William St., Cape Vincent, Aaron W. Youngs, 212 William St., Cape Vincent.

Country Home Rentals of Northern New York, 9502 Route 12, Apt. 1, Copenhagen, Matthew E. Wendig, 9502 Route 12, Apt. 1, Copenhagen Mike’s (fast food), 18938 County Route 165, Watertown, Michael A. Cornell, 18 Hillside Dr., Constantia.

Ouco-Forge Fitness, 22760 County Route 42, Carthage, Kain J. Martin, 22760 County Route 42, Carthage.

MAY 8: Clayton Youth Tennis, 36173 Route 12E, Clayton, Mary R. Warneck, 36173 Route 12E, Clayton.

Labor of Love Doula Service of NNY, 13990 Greene St., Adams Center, Crystal L. Sterling, 13990 Greene St., Adams Center.

BB Creations, 11341 Circle Drive, Chaumont, Beth A. Bennett, 11341 Circle Drive, Chaumont.

XL Design and Marketing, 218 Flower Ave. E., Watertown, Belinda K. Cornell, 218 Flower Ave. E., Watertown.

MAY 7: Anthony Cipullo Plumbing and General Contracting Services, 37450 Sylvester Road, Clayton, Anthony J. Cipullo, 37450 Sylvester Road, Clayton.

MAY 15: Piyak Paddle, 725 Beecher St., Clayton, Pia M. Hogue, 725 Beecher St., Clayton.

Looney’s Lakeside, 161 Haney St., Watertown, Scott C. Dupre, 161 Haney St., Watertown.

North Country Planning Company, 15496 County Route 59, Dexter, Alyssa K. Moroz, 15496 County Route 59, Dexter.

Painted Keepsakes, 842 Starbuck Ave., Watertown, Amy Elliott, Misty Thomas and Gina Johnson.

Pioneer Details, 11989 Wright St., Adams Center, Stephen A. Smith, 11989 Wright St., Adams Center.

L.W. Quality Audit Services, 23765 County Route 16, Evans Mills, Leslie P. Weeman, 23765 County Route 16, Evans Mills.

TRANSACTIONS

DBAs

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

June 2013 | NNY Business

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PEOPLE ON THE MOVE PEOPLE, from page 11 HighTower Advisors.

A Watertown native, Mr. Simser lives in Watertown with his wife, Erin, and two sons. Before joining The Morgia Group, he was a Financial Advisor for the last seven years at the Legend Equities Corporation, specializing in retirement planning for teachers.

He also worked for Simser Publicis Touchpoint Solutions, a pharmaceutical marketing company. He is active in the community and has coached various levels of lacrosse in the area. He is currently the assistant varsity lacrosse coach at Watertown High School.

He is a graduate of Jefferson Community College and attended SUNY Cortland.

The Morgia Group is an independent advisor-owned full-service financial firm.

Pass state survey exam

GYMO Architecture, Engineering & Land Surveying, Watertown, recently announced that Adam M. Storino and Stephen J. Gracey have passed the New York State Professional Land Surveying exam.

Mr. Storino joined the firm in 2005 and is a graduate of SUNY Alfred and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry at The Ranger School. Mr. Storino serves as a design engineer for the engineering department and a project manager for the land surveying department. Since joining GYMO, Mr. Storino has worked on several Natural Resource Conservation Service surveys and design projects, including Candlewood Suites, Summit Wood Apartment Complex and the future Changing Seasons Subdivision in the Town of LeRay.

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NNY Business | June 2013

Mr. Storino lives in Watertown.

Mr. Gracey joined GYMO in 2002 and is a graduate of Paul Smith’s College. He serves as a survey project manager and has worked on many notable construction and development projects. Mr. Gracey also has worked on several NRCS Wetland Reserve Program and Grassland Reserve Program surveys. Mr. Gracey lives in Calcium.

Staff changes at GWNC Chamber of Commerce

Saana Gill joined the chamber as a membership development director in December. She returned to the area after living in Boise, Idaho, for five years. She is presently working toward a bachelor’s of science degree in human resources.

Her expertise in office administration Gill and her customer service and business skills have helped her succeed in her new post.

The chamber hired Katie Panunzio as a membership development director. Ms. Panunzio is a Northern Panunzio New York native who recently returned to the area. She will help the chamber expand its membership base and work to enhance benefit programs.

Katrina Kapustay is now the chamber’s Small Business Assistance Program specialist. Serving the tri-county region,

this 16-month program is funded through the Community Service Society and the New York State Health Foundation. It focuses on educating small businesses and health care decision makers on health insurance and the federal AfKapustay fordable Care Act. Kylie Peck has moved to outreach and development director. In this new position she will help launch initiatives and events under the chamber’s strategic plan, while creating opportunities Peck to connect businesses with communities in the region.

Joins Bernier, Carr

Bernier, Carr & Associates has announced that Mr. Anthony J. Gainey has joined the firm as an architect. Mr. Gainey has more than 15 years of experience in architecture, with a focus on higher education, adaptive reuse, historic preservation and Gainey government facilities. Mr. Gainey earned a master’s of architecture from the University at Buffalo and a bachelor’s of professional studies.

BUSINESS BRIEFCASE Watertown farm and craft market nets grant

The Farm and Craft Market in downtown Watertown kicked off its 36th season May 29 with 53 vendors on Washington Street.

Organizers have raked in money this year to promote locally grown food.

The Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce will soon hire an assistant market manager and bolster its advertising campaign for the market this summer thanks to a $9,961 grant from the state’s FreshConnect program.

Lynn M. Pietroski, the chamber’s CEO and president, said the funding will be aimed at spreading awareness to low-income families and providing better customer service. Additional checkout machines will be available for customers to make purchases with EBT cards, and the chamber will bolster its advertising campaign.

In 2012, between 500 and 600 visitors stopped by the farmers market on Wednesdays. More than half of this season’s vendors have attended for five years, while about 30 percent have appeared for more than a decade.

The market features a range of fresh produce, handmade crafts and live entertainment. Ten local farmers are participating this year, along with an array of crafters and small businesses.

The market is open from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays through Oct. 2.

Timeless Frames seeks $300k JCIDA loan

After making deals with a handful of retail giants in 2012 that included WalMart, Timeless Frames, Watertown, has asked the Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency for a $300,000 loan to help it launch a production line in August.

The JCIDA’s Loan Review Committee approved the loan request Tuesday for the company, which operates four buildings at the Jefferson County Corporate Park off Coffeen Street. The agency’s Board of Directors will have a final vote on the loan June 6. As production increases, the company, which has 184 employees, could increase the size of its staff to “somewhere between 200 and 230 employees in the next nine to 24 months,” according to Timeless Frames Chief Executive Officer Lisa A. Weber.

Instead of using wood, the new line will produce molding for picture frames with polystyrene, a strong plastic that is less expensive. The polystyrene frames will complement moldings now made and designed from rough-cut lumber.

Timeless Frames, which includes sister companies Timeless Decor and Timeless Expressions, expanded its online presence in 2012 by adding its products on websites of numerous national retailers. A contract with Wal-Mart also made 12 of its products available in-store at 900 locations across the country.

Timeless is in the process of making another deal with Wal-Mart that would launch 12 additional products at all of its stores nationwide, Mrs. Weber said. Similar in-store deals are also being negotiated with Macy’s and Office Depot.

The $300,000 loan from the JCIDA is needed for the company to manufacture more frames to meet contract obligations with clients. Timeless raked in nearly $19 million in sales in 2012 and now has about $800,000 of unfilled backlog orders.

Townhouses to open in July after delay

Following a two-month delay caused by a mix-up with National Grid, the

Please see Briefcase, page 53

June 2013 | NNY Business

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S M A L L B I Z S TA R T U P

AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS

“I collect antiques because I’m in touch with the past. i enjoy talking with sellers who know what they’re talking about.” — Priscilla E. Pooler, owner, Mama’s Lil’ Shop of Treasures BUSINESS

“My mom and I used to go to auctions and garage sales all the time, so we’re well known in the north country.”

Mil THE INITIAL IDEA

Sixty-year-old Priscilla E. Pooler has bought and sold antique treasures with her mother at garage sales since she was a young girl growing up in Lorraine. When her late mother, Ellen E. Pooler, died at age 89 in January, her son inspired her to hatch a small business to honor her mother’s memory.

Mama’s Lil’ Shop of Treasures, which opened at 121 Breen Ave. in April, offers a range of inventory including jewelry, glassware, furniture, CDs, movies and video games.

“Basically my grandma has been doing this all her life, and when she passed away, I needed to do something to get my mom out of the house,” Ms. Pooler’s son, Monty Groff, said.

Ms. Pooler, who helped her mother run a small antique shop in Lorraine for decades, has always had a knack for tracking down rare items.

“I chose the name after my mother, who I called mama when I was little,” she said.

TARGET CLIENTELE

The shop is geared toward anyone with a passion for vintage collectibles like herself, said Mrs. Pooler, who spends evenings and weekends tracking down new inventory at sales.

A customer who visited the store May 30, Roni G. Enderle, purchased a $50 antique dining set. Mrs. Enderle routinely visits local shops to build her collection.

“I was looking for some bowls to match the fine China set I bought while I was living in Texas,” she said. The dining set she selected featured a dozen plates embroidered with different flowers for each month, along with matching bowls, cups and saucers.

“I collect antiques because I’m in touch with the past, and I enjoy talking with sellers who know what they’re talking about,” said the 43-year-old homemaker.

THE JOURNEY

Ms. Pooler’s Ford Taurus is painted with a company logo, which she hopes will heighten awareness of her business during her travels. Her

latest findings include a collector’s edition of four Beatles’ glasses, Italian figurines, and a portrait featuring Elvis, who her mother adored.

She enjoys the spirited negotiations involved with buying and selling antiques and meeting new people every day.

“I always smile when I see husbands and wives who argue about what they’re going to buy,” she laughed. “It’s all about meeting people who become friends.

The other day I went to a flea market in Pulaski with someone I met at a sale.”

IN FIVE YEARS

“We hope it will be around for years to come,” said Mr. Groff, who has experience as a small business owner. “It depends on its success, and there’s no telling how much it could grow.”

Similarly optimistic, Ms. Pooler said the business could eventually open a second location in the region.

“It could grow and grow and grow,” she said.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturdays.

WHERE 121 Breen Ave., Watertown | FOUNDED 2013 | CONTACT 778-0744 16 |

NNY Business | June 2013

G U E S T E S S AY

Tourism helps transform region

I

s tourism an essential part of transforming the north country economy? When the North Country Regional Economic Development Council created its development plan in 2011, it titled it “Transformational.” The plan looks to implement projects that transform the north country’s economy into one that works in the 21st century and tourism was identified as an important part of the mix.

That’s not surprising in a region that includes the Adirondacks and 1000 Islands. What is interesting is the way tourism was included. One of the visions in the North Country Economic Development Council’s plan is to “Activate tourism as a driver to diversify our economies.” The idea is that tourism is not an end to itself. It is not an industry separate from other business activity. In this vision, one of the most important things about tourism is that it can be used to build communities that are more livable and, therefore, more competitive in attracting other types of business.

Here are some things on the list of tourism developments that transform a community: waterfronts that are redeveloped with amenities made possible by tourism trade; healthy downtowns where visitors and residents enjoy a variety of shops and restaurants; an active calendar of events and performances patronized by tourists; agriculture that is bolstered with tourism businesses like wineries; and airports and highways with traffic from both residents and tourists.

In Jefferson County, the current Comprehensive Economic Development Plan identifies a number of strategies for tourism. The strategies include supporting private tourism businesses. That includes expansion of wineries and agri-tourism businesses and recruitment and promotion of retail. The plan calls for ongoing quality improvement in tourism service businesses such as hotels. It also places economic value on expanding public amenities like recreational trails. Like the regional plan, the county’s plan sees tourism as an integrated part of a healthy, transforming economy.

All this requires an adjustment to thinking about tourism marketing. Lots of textbooks identify four “Ps” of marketing; product, place, price and promotion.

Gary DeYoung The product is what you have to sell. The place is where you sell it.

The price is how much you charge. The promotion is how you communicate with customers.

Often, communities have just thought of tourism marketing in terms of the promotion P. That’s the primary task of a

experiences online. Tourism is big business and globally competitive, the north country will need to invent cooperative approaches and make far-sighted investments to realize the goals of the planners.

There’s a lot at stake to getting tourism right. Every year, tourism spending already accounts for hundreds of millions of dollars in sales here in the north country. The state pegged the 2012 amount at $456 million in the tri-county 1000 Islands region. The same study noted that tourism supports 8,606 jobs in the region.

There’s evidence that the public and private sectors are moving forward on tourism product. The first round of Regional Economic Development funding included support for the new waterfront hotel being built in Clayton. The 2012 round included a $2 million grant to establish a north country tourism loan fund to assist private investment. New York State Parks & Recreation has opened Rock Island Lighthouse as a public attraction. Municipalities are working hard to improve downtowns and waterfronts.

Private operators have built nearly 700 new hotel rooms in Jefferson County over the past six years. Dozens of new restaurants and retailers have opened. Agritourism enterprises continue to develop with openings of a craft cheese room, distillery and new winery in Jefferson County this year.

Product improvements not only mean more income from tourists, but the development of community amenities that make attracting other types of business investment easier. Continued investment in promotion of tourism to the region exposes improved and attractive communities to a broad range of visitors and investors. Moving into the global marketplace of the Internet can bring north country tourism to the world. Comprehensive marketing of tourism is indeed a key strategy in transformation of the north country economy.

Continued investment in promotion of tourism to the region exposes improved and attractive communities to a broad range of visitors and investors. Comprehensive marketing of tourism is indeed a key strategy in transformation of the north country economy. destination marketing organization, like the 1000 Islands International Tourism Council. Tourism marketing is indeed an essential investment. Destinations need to continually advertise and promote to attract customers. But, the product, place, and price factors also are essential to becoming a true destination. In fact, all those elements impact the effectiveness of any promotion. If tourism is to drive economic transformation, the region as a whole and communities individually, will need to work on all four of the marketing Ps. The region needs to offer a quality tourism product, it has to be available to easily purchase at a competitive price, and it must be promoted.

Today, as reflected in the regional and county plans, many economic development organizations are bringing their resources to bear on the challenge by creating marketable tourism products.

The region’s tourism operators also will need to adapt to today’s sales “place” — the Internet — selling rooms, tickets and

n GARY S. DeYOUNG is director of tourism for the 1000 Islands International Tourism Council. Contact him at gary@visit1000islands.com, 482-2520 or 1 (800) 847-5263.

June 2013 | NNY Business

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Anthony M. Bauwens, Fort Drum, practices resurfacing after rolling under rapids on the Black River last summer. Officials say the Black River attracts tourists from across the country for its challenging rapids.

AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS

T

he north country’s diverse and abundant natural resources offer many exciting recreational opportunities for tourists and residents, according to those in the business of promoting the region.

The environment also presents strategic advantages that help to attract cash-carrying tourists from across the country.

“Not many people have the

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NNY Business | June 2013

BY NORAH MACHIA NNY BUSINESS luxury of four seasons,” said Lynn M. Pietroski, president and CEO of the Greater Watertown North Country Chamber of Commerce.

“We have the beauty of the fall foliage, winter on the slopes and trails, the spring weather and summer on the water.”

In recent years, there has been an increase nationwide in “tourism branding,” or the concept that officials can create an awareness of their region’s most important attributes that will successfully differentiate their city, town,

county or state from others.

“New York State doesn’t end with the Thruway,” said Pat McKeown, executive director and CEO of the St. Lawrence Chamber of Commerce. “We see ourselves as the doorway from Canada to the United States. Not the end of the state.

“It’s our job to make people feel welcome,” she added.

Northern New York’s recreational offerings are wide-ranging and diverse, and most of them focus on taking advantage of the area’s

COVER STORY

A WORLD of possibilities

TO EXPLORE For those who work in the north country’s $456m tourism industry, nature blessed region with plenty to market, attract visitors natural resources, both on land and in the water.

“People call to find out about one thing in the county, and then they seem surprised when we tell them about the other things that are available here,” said Anne L. Merrill, executive director, Lewis County Chamber of Commerce.

“It’s a very versatile area.”

In early May, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced the state’s plan to launch one of the largest tourism campaigns in decades, committing $60 million to pro-

mote the industry.

His proposal includes a major advertising campaign in New York City to promote upstate tourism.

Some of that funding is expected to be directed at promotion of the area’s natural resources.

In Jefferson County, the St. Lawrence River, Lake Ontario and the Black River offer an abundance of swimming, fishing, boating, kayaking and whitewater rafting opportunities, Mrs. Pietroski said.

The Black River has been of the site of the North American Cup

Freestyle Kayak Championships and a stop on the World Cup Freestyle Kayak Championships.

In addition, there are several whitewater rafting companies that provide guided trips on the river from Watertown to Brownville and Dexter.

“There are many opportunities” for people of all skill levels to canoe and kayak in the Black River, which offers several access points, Mrs. Pietroski said. It’s also a popular river for fishing, she added.

The city of Watertown main June 2013 | NNY Business

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COVER STORY tains a series of hiking and biking trails along the Black River, which pass through the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds, Veterans Memorial Riverwalk, Factory Square and the Marble Street, Whitewater and Waterworks parks.

“There are numerous family-friendly things to do here at a low cost,” Mrs. Pietroski said. “People are more focused on health and wellness for their getaways.

We see more people biking, hiking, and even competing in triathlons.”

Combining exercise with a vacation is a trend that “people are becoming more serious about, and can turn into more tourism opportunities for us,” she noted.

Historic sites such as the Sackets Harbor Battlefield provide a history lesson and an opportunity for some exercise as well, she said.

The same “walking opportunities” are available at the New York State Zoo at Thompson Park, which features wildlife native to Northern New York; the Minna Anthony Common Nature Center on Wellesley Island and the Seaway Trail System, which is highlighted at the Seaway Trail Discovery Center in Sackets Harbor.

History lessons also can be found at the Jefferson County Historical Society Museum in Watertown.

The region also offers agriculture tours, chartered trips to various wineries, and numerous golf courses and museums.

Fishing charters along the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario also are popular during the warmer months.

The Thousands Islands offers boat tours with stops at historic Boldt and Singer castles, along with a diverse number of museums, such as the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton.

One attraction that doesn’t exactly fall under the category of natural resources, but does lure many visitors from Canada, is shopping, Mrs. Pietroski said.

While the exchange rate isn’t necessarily favorable to the Canadian visitors, it’s the large selection of merchandise available that draws people across the border, with stops at shopping centers such as the Salmon Run Mall.

The slogan displayed on the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce website states “Where the Mountains meet the St. Lawrence and culture meets the great outdoors.”

There are plenty of outdoor activities in St. Lawrence County, including hiking, biking, camping and fishing, Ms. McKeown said. The state’s largest county

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NNY Business | June 2013

COVER STORY also has trail systems for ATVs and snowmobiles.

It’s written on the chamber’s website that “Almost a third of the county falls in the Adirondack Park, while 75 miles of its border is along the St. Lawrence River.

And that is just one of the more than 200 rivers, ponds and lakes that are covering the territory.”

Some of the hiking trails include scenic waterfalls, which can be found through a guide the chamber publishes called the “St. Lawrence County Waterfalls Guide.” The county offers numerous canoeing and kayaking opportunities in Cranberry Lake, the Grasse River, Raquette River and the lower Oswegatchie River.

There are many other attractions throughout the county, including Singer Castle (often referred to as the “other castle in the north country,” Ms. McKeown said) the Frederic Remington Museum, and the Eisenhower Lock.

One activity that has received a lot of attention lately in St. Lawrence County

“

is fishing. There are so many different options for fishing that the chamber puts out another guide called “St. Lawrence County Angler’s Guide” to provide listings of species that can be found in the major rivers, ponds and lakes.

The St. Lawrence International Junior

Ms. McKeown said. The sports network ESPN, based in Bristol, Conn., is planning to travel to the area to cover the event.

“It’s going to be mammoth,” Ms. McKeown said. “We’re expecting anglers from across the country.”

The event will provide great support for local hotels, restaurant and stores in the region as well, she said. In fact, the chamber will offer seminars for businesses to learn how they can benefit from the Bassmasters Tournament.

Several weeks ago, FISHCAP, a public-private partnership promoting St. Lawrence County as “the fishing capital of the world,” was awarded top honors by the New York State Tourism and Visitors Association at the organization’s annual conference in Niagara Falls.

“One of the things we’re trying to brand the region for is fishing,” she said.

FISHCAP includes representatives from throughout St. Lawrence County who volunteer their time to promote sport fishing and its economic benefits for communities by drawing both amateur and professional anglers to the region.

New York State doesn’t end with the Thruway. We see ourselves as the doorway from Canada to the United States. Not the end of the state.

— Pat McKeown, executive director

St. Lawrence Chamber of Commerce Carp Tournament, a three-day event, is held each August in St. Lawrence County and attracts more than 100 participants, including those from outside the state.

A huge event this summer will be the Bassmasters Elite tournament scheduled for Aug. 8 to 11 in Waddington.

Comparing it to the “NASCAR” of bass fishing, the event is expected to draw thousands of participants and spectators,

June 2013 | NNY Business

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COVER STORY “This is an example of a great attempt to put the north country on the tourism map,” by taking advantage of one of the county’s natural resources, said Ms. McKeown, who also serves as director for FISHCAP. Fishing is also very popular in Lewis County, along with many other outdoor activities, said Mrs. Merrill.

“We have lots of inquiries about fishing” at sites such as the Moose River, Beaver River, Independence River, Otter Creek and Brantingham Lake, she said.

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NNY Business | June 2013

The chamber also posts a guide for various streams, rivers, and lakes in the area, with different locations identified by the species of fish.

Lewis County is described as “the land of the great outdoors” on the chamber’s website: “We have something for everyone: scenic nature settings, fishing, camping, hunting, bicycling, backpacking and hiking, ATV riding, skiing, snowmobiling, and much, much more. Lewis County offers solace from the hectic pace of the

surrounding world.”

There are numerous kaying, canoeing and whitewater rafting available on the Black River and the Beaver River, to name just a couple, said Mrs. Merrill.

Health and fitness events are also gaining in popularity, she said.

The chamber hosts a 23-mile Black River Canoe and Kayak Race called “The Black River Challenge,” with this year’s event scheduled for June 30.

The event will start at the DEC Boat Launch in Glenfield and will end at

COVER STORY On the Web n For more information, start with these websites, which contain links to many others: CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE n Jefferson County www.watertownny.com n St. Lawrence County www.northcountryguide.com n Lewis County www.lewiscountychamber.org TOURISM SITES n The Thousands Islands Region of the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation: www. nysparks.com/regions/ thousand-islands n The Thousands Islands International Tourism Council: www.visit1000islands.com n The Thousands Islands Seaway Region: www.seawayregion.com

the DEC Boat Launch in Castorland.

The course, which has no carries on land but does offer a rest stop halfway through, provides a “twisty, winding race course that is at times a fast-moving current with varying depths and various minor hazards (mid-river rocks and shoals, old locks, bridge abutments, and downed trees embedded in the river bottom).”

“It’s a points race and it’s quite a competition,” said Mrs. Merrill. “We expect between 100 and 150 paddlers from all over the state.”

Lewis County also maintains hundreds of miles of ATV trails, which often feature the well-known “Tug Hill Mud,” according to the chamber. The trails are supported by both the county and local ATV clubs.

One agency that promotes recreational activities and natural resources throughout all three counties, along with Clinton County, is the Thousand Islands Region of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

It oversees a network of state parks, boat launches and historic sites that offer a wide range of outdoor activities. Many of the parks stay open year-round for activities such as ice-fishing and crosscountry skiing. Summer camping also includes hiking trails, boating and swimming sites. 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.

June 2013 | NNY Business

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TOURISM

Angling for prosperity SLC’s FISHCAP program aims to strengthen economy

By GABRIELLE HOVENDON

I

NNY Business

n St. Lawrence County, an innovative partnership is working to make the angling world fall hook, line and sinker for north country fishing.

Called FISHCAP, the three-year-old public-private partnership was established in 2010 after the closure of Massena’s General Motors plant resulted in the loss of nearly 1,000 jobs. The program’s goal, to promote St. Lawrence County as “the fishing capital of the world,” is intended to encourage sustainable economic growth throughout the region.

“We decided that it was important to use what we have rather than what we wish we had,” said Pat L. McKeown, executive director and CEO of the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce and co-chairman of FISHCAP. “What we have in St. Lawrence County are 200 lakes, rivers and streams, and they’re all packed full of fish. Why not build an economy on that?”

Along with Massena Town Supervisor and co-chairman Joseph D. Gray and noted angler and coordinator Donald R. Meissner, Ms. McKeown created a business plan for FISHCAP and established an advisory board of professional and recreational anglers. The program, which operates on an annual budget of $170,000, has since been run by volunteers and St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce employees and relies upon public and private sponsors rather than state or federal money.

In its first three years, the partnership has trademarked a logo, established weekly fishing shows on radio and television, supported restocking efforts in Ogdensburg and Massena waterways, promoted the St. Lawrence Valley region at sportsmen’s shows in Canada and the Northeast and supported, staffed and sponsored various fishing tournaments. It has also developed a website — www.fishcap.net — that offers photo galleries, information about free fishing classes, listings of local fishing guides, resources for planning trips and guides to the county’s various species of fish and types of waterways.

Although the partnership isn’t big or flashy, Ms. McKeown said, the ultimate goal is to attract recreational anglers first from the region, then the state, then across the country. By doing so, FISHCAP hopes

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NNY Business | June 2013

MELANIE KIMBLER-LAGO | NNY BUSINESS

Let’s Go Fishin’ Charter Service owner Ed Reyes, Massena, holds a pair of walleyes. Mr. Reyes is a member of St. Lawrence County’s FISHCAP’s Advisory Board.

to generate a steady stream of revenue not only for fishing guides and marinas but also for north country hotels, restaurants, shops and attractions.

The partnership plans to collaborate with organizations that range from the Frederic Remington Art Museum in Ogdensburg to various county golf courses to ensure that fishermen and their families have a wide variety of recreational opportunities. In the near future, Ms. McKeown would like to hire someone to arrange tournaments and create fishing packages for tourists — everything from booking fishing guides and finding lodgings to recommending restaurants and other diversions.

“This will be a slow, steady climb toward success,” she said.

In order to measure this success, FISHCAP has focused on two tangible measurements: fishing licenses and sales tax rev-

enues. Between the program’s inception in 2010 and the last collection of data in 2011, the number of non-resident seven-day fishing licenses increased from 1,097 to 3,379.

Similarly, the number of non-resident oneday licenses increased from 162 to 600.

During the past three years, FISHCAP also has seen increases in tourism-related sales taxes and the opening of a new marina in Ogdensburg. Last month, it earned the 2013 Excellence in Tourism Award for Tourism Marketing from the New York State Tourism and Visitors Association.

For Massena fishing guide Edwin M. Reyes, the results of FISHCAP have been significant: The number of customers and the profits generated by his charter service, Let’s Go Fishin’, each have increased by at least 30 percent since the partnership was implemented.

“I already had a lot of out-of-state customers, but now I’m having some out-of

TOURISM state customers say to me, ‘yes, I picked up one of your brochures from one of the sportsman shows where FISHCAP had a booth,’” said Mr. Reyes, who is a nonvoting member of FISHCAP’s advisory board.

“That is a great thing for me. They’re not only promoting the area as the fishing capital of the world, but they’re also promoting the fishing guides who are located here in the area.”

According to Mr. Reyes, FISHCAP benefits him in a number of ways: by promoting his business, by referring prospective customers to him and by creating a network of north country businesses.

Through his involvement with FISHCAP, he has met and shared boats with local fishing guides and has partnered with Watertown’s Wounded Warrior Project to take injured veterans on fishing trips.

“Ideally, we’d love to have everyone come here and start fishing,” he said.

“Let’s face it: This is one of the greatest resources we have here in the north country, and it’s free.”

As it approaches its fourth year and second phase of development this August, FISHCAP officials plan to increase its marketing presence significantly. The partnership is presently in search of funding for future operations, which could include publication of a new anglers’ guide, the creation of a waterproof map of fishing hotspots, the national distribution of a WPBS series focusing on St. Lawrence River Valley waterways and even the construction of a hatchery and educational research center.

As part of its second phase, FISHCAP also will begin a professional marketing campaign that targets Albany, Syracuse, New York City, Montreal and Ottawa. Ms. McKeown and the other participants plan to promote the FISHCAP name, mission and logo with printed materials, television and radio spots, social media and more.

They hope to apply for money from New York State’s Empire State Development and eventually expand their efforts into Franklin and Jefferson counties, thereby benefiting much of the north country.

“We’re looking at making the region strong and mighty and powerful through recreational fishing,” said Ms. McKeown.

“People are very willing to take a chance on something new if people are excited about it, and we’ve been very excited about this. We’re very enthusiastic. We’ve got our hearts and souls right in the middle of this.” n GABRIELLE HOVENDON is a former Watertown Daily Times reporter and freelance writer. Contact her at ghovendon@gmail.com.

June 2013 | NNY Business

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TOURISM

A return to river glory Year later, Bonnie Castle owners continue with rebirth of resort

By LEAH BULETTI

B

NNY Business

onnie Castle Manor was the glitzy place to be in Alex Bay in the ’80s, attracting widely known entertainment acts to its enormous and popular nightclub and fine restaurant. But the resort, which overlooks the St. Lawrence River and Boldt Castle, fell into steady disrepair in the past decade, until a group of four family members from the north country purchased the property for $2.7 million last May. To date, the investors — Cathy FiaccoGarlock and her husband, Craig S. Garlock, and Ms. Fiacco-Garlock’s sister, Cindy Fiacco-Lozo, and her husband, Robert Lozo — have completed an ambitious slew of renovations, more than they initially expected in the first year of what they thought would be a three-year renovation plan before settling into regular upkeep.

They say their initial estimate of investing $3 million in the property is still accurate.

“We had to do a lot more than we anticipated in the last year,” Mr. Garlock said.

“The three-year plan was not entirely accurate. We definitely still have to keep going forward. There’s no shortage of things to do. Like anyone in business, you don’t stop looking for ways to improve.”

The rooms in the St. Lawrence building, which overlooks the upper Alexandria Bay harbor and Bonnie Castle Marina, boast new heating and air-conditioning units, flat screen TVs, and new windows, doors, alarm clocks, towels, linens, draperies and interior desk chairs. Many rooms received new carpet and most have been stripped of old wallpaper and been repainted.

The building’s lounge and office received makeovers, including new wallpaper.

The front of the building has been newly landscaped. All outdoor patio furniture at the resort also is new.

Both pools have undergone significant renovations. The outdoor pool opened last July 4 and the indoor pool opened in January. The indoor pool, which had not been open for several years when the new owners bought the resort, received new ventilation, heating, and mechanics and was re-painted and restored. The kitchen

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NNY Business | March 2013

AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Cindy M. Fiacco-Lozo, Cathy Fiacco-Garlock, Craig S. Garlock, and Robert M. Lozo sit in Bonnie Castle Resort’s dining area. A view of Boldt Castle can be seen from the room. The four family members purchased the resort last year and have been working to restore it to its former glory.

floor and most of the kitchen equipment has been repaired and upgraded.

The Channelside building, which overlooks the main shipping channel of the river, has all new beds, flat-screen TVs, pillows, linens and balcony chairs. Air conditioners were replaced where needed.

The Manor House has been outfitted with new furnaces, siding, and windows.

Inside, The Home of the Stars room, which can accommodate up to 600 people for large functions, has new windows, a new ceiling, new specialty lighting and a new ladies bathroom. Since reopening, the number of weddings held at Bonnie Castle has doubled, Ms. Fiacco-Lozo said. Given the demand, they recently hired a full-time staff member to book weddings and will host Joey and Maria’s Comedy Italian Wedding dinner theater in July.

The Pointe Bar and Grill, formerly the Rum Runner, was gutted last season and outfitted with a custom mahogany bar top. Lighting was installed this year and

the owners are finishing improvements to the exterior. They also plan many changes to the menu for the summer season. With completion of the Riverside Sports Pub in the Manor House in October, Bonnie Castle now offers three different kinds of dining.

Mr. Garlock said the Pointe has a “great atmosphere” and is a “huge improvement.”

The partners were encouraged by its popularity last season and aim to provide more entertainment this year to further drive up business, Mr. Garlock said.

“The boaters really patronize the restaurant,” Ms. Fiacco-Garlock said. Boat slips make it possible to pull up to the Pointe dockside, although as Bonnie Castle fell into disrepair, rain was pouring into the front, rendering the now popular bar “disgusting,” Ms. Fiacco-Lozo said.

Dining improvements are one part of the owners’ effort to make the resort a place people can enjoy year-round.

“We really realized that if people are going to stay in the winter, they need a way to

TOURISM enjoy themselves at night,” Mr. Garlock said.

New places to sit by the indoor pool and sports bar are particularly attractive for families in the winter, and the owners are focusing on adding entertainment to further propel the year-round business, he said.

“There will still be an off-season, but the combination of local support and increased entertainment will be key in prospering year-round and was already evident this year,” Ms. Fiacco-Garlock said.

The community is thrilled that the resort is in local people’s hands and provided tremendous support, including patronizing the restaurant, this winter, Ms. Fiacco-Garlock said.

The marina, which has 186 slips, also has undergone renovations, receiving a new heating and hydraulic system. Boaters’ bathrooms also will be redone this summer.

The docks have undergone repairs, and work will continue on the docks every year for the next five years, Mr. Lozo said. The pathway to the gazebo that overlooks Boldt Castle, a picturesque site for weddings, also has been re-landscaped to “clean up the view” and outfitted with new lighting, Ms. Fiacco-Lozo said.

The owners also have installed three high-efficiency propane furnaces and highefficiency washers and dryers throughout the resort, and plan to change out the resort’s light bulbs to high-efficiency bulbs through an incentive program within the next month.

Another new feature is a renovated seven-bedroom, five-bath, two half-bath vacation house adjacent to the resort, which will be rented weekly this season.

“It’s great for families,” Mr. Garlock said of the house. “It’s really an extra feature that you wouldn’t find at most other resorts because the guests will have the use of the whole facility.”

Although the owners say they have completed all of the “major” renovations, they have plans for future improvements, including: re-painting decks in front of the Manor House, adding kitchen equipment, redesigning the Manor House sunroof area, completing paving of the resort and entryway by next summer, repairing two tennis courts within the next two years, and remodeling additional aspects of rooms by fall.

Ms. Fiacco-Garlock acknowledged that completing renovations while the resort remained open was a challenge, but the owners are optimistic for the future.

“People are really excited about Bonnie Castle being restored,” Mr. Garlock said.

“We had great feedback last summer. We’re starting to see it blossom.”

Mr. Lozo added that seeing people come back to the resort has motivated the four to keep improving. “It’s gratifying,” he said.

“We’re bringing Bonnie Castle back to the heart of the 1000 Islands,” Ms. FiaccoGarlock said.

According to 1000 Islands International Tourism Council Director of Tourism Gary S. DeYoung, visitors have indeed taken note of the renovations.

“People who we deal with in this office have been pretty excited to see Bonnie Castle come back to life,” Mr. DeYoung said. “We’ve been getting better and better

feedback. People are seeing the improvements happen.”

He added that the restoration has made Bonnie Castle another great venue for the council to market as a meeting facility for corporate or nonprofit events and workshops.

“Businesses have really been growing up around the trend in destination weddings in the area and Bonnie Castle is a great addition to that,” he said. n LEAH BULETTI is a staff writer for NNY magazines. Contact her at 661-2381 or lbuletti @wdt.net.

June 2013 | NNY Business

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TOURISM

Sarah L. Brotherton, manager of Carlowden Country Club’s bar and restaurant, sits in the newly renovated bar at the club on Carlowden Road outside Carthage.

JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS

Polishing past for future Improvements at Carlowden sharpen member-owned club

By GABRIELLE HOVENDON

A NNY Business

t Carlowden Country Club in Carthage, some recent updates are adding a new chapter to the club’s rich and storied history.

Over the past several years, the memberowned club has seen changes in course conditioning and grounds-keeping as well as an organizational reconfiguration that allows shareholding members to become regular public members. This winter, it also saw a complete renovation of its bar and kitchen, including new ceilings, windows and walls.

“For the past six years, there’ve been substantial changes to Carlowden. There have been significant changes in the course, significant changes in the clubhouse. It’s just an ongoing evolution,” said Robert Taylor, president of Carlowden’s board of directors. “We’re happy with the renovations. I’m pleased with the direction we’re going in.”

In the clubhouse kitchen, renovations included installation of a new stove and dishwasher as well as new plumbing,

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NNY Business | June 2013

flooring and sinks. In the barroom, a bathroom and unused hallway were converted into open space, increasing seating by about 200 square feet.

The barroom also underwent changes to its décor: Outdated drop ceilings and rough-cut cherry walls were removed in favor of high cathedral ceilings and pine wainscoting, and a new, expanded bar was faced with the same cherry wood that was removed from the walls. Café-style tables made of the same leftover material also have been commissioned, giving the clubhouse a rustic atmosphere reminiscent of its early origins in the 1920s.

“We just organized it so it was a little more functional,” said Sarah L. Brotherton, manager of Carlowden’s bar and restaurant. She added that the club has received positive feedback as well as an increased number of event bookings since the renovations. “The view is spectacular, and the new windows make it look even better.”

The renovations, which began in October and were finished in April, were completed with the help of club members who donated materials and time. About 90 percent of the

work was completed on a volunteer basis by several club members or family of club members, and materials were supplied locally by Johnson Lumber in Carthage, Farney’s Home and Building Center in Carthage, T.F. Wright & Sons Granite Foundry in Carthage and Riverside Rustics in Lowville.

The renovations also allowed for operations in the bar, restaurant and pro shop to be consolidated for greater efficiency. While these areas operated separately in the past, visitors can now pay for greens fees, rent clubs, buy balls and get food and beverages all in the same place.

“It’s all now orchestrated from one physical location,” Mr. Taylor said. “That’s helped us reduce our operating costs in terms of payroll, and it’s made it more efficient because it’s all done in one place.”

The recent renovation is only one of many projects in Carlowden’s storied history; the clubhouse has also undergone several expansions and renovations, including a $35,000 refurbishment in 1961, the addition of a large porch in 1984 and other minor repairs and updates. In 1989, with the help of many volunteers, the

TOURISM golf course was increased by nine holes to become the 18-hole course it is today.

Carlowden dates back to July 1925, when about 50 people met in the Denmark Grange Hall to discuss forming a country club. After evaluating local properties, the golf enthusiasts settled on an approximately 181-acre farm known as the Austin place.

“Words fail me when it comes to describing the property which we have under consideration,” founding club member George McAllister Gilbert wrote in a historical overview that is published on Carlowden’s website. “It is ideal and affords a more magnificent view of our beloved Black River Valley and the Adirondacks than any place I have ever seen in Northern New York. I have seen some of the finest courses in New York and New England but I have never seen any more magnificent setting for a country club than is afforded on the Austin farm.”

Before settling on “Carlowden,” a combination of the first three letters of Carthage, Lowville and Denmark, the 31 initial stockholders discussed many possible names for the new country club — everything from “Stony Brook” and “Kahuahgo” (an Indian name for the Black River) to “Lowcarden” and “Denlowcar.”

The Austin property was purchased in July 1925 for $3,250 (less than $20 per acre), and nine holes were constructed the same year for a total of $8,500. A $15,000 clubhouse with “one large room for dancing,” modern “shower baths” and a “room for the caretaker” opened in June 1927.

Since, the golf course has weathered the Great Depression, World War II, a pumphouse fire, the 1995 microburst and significant problems with the club’s water supply.

Today, it faces a new challenge: maintaining its membership in a difficult economic climate. With the help of the updated bar space as well as happy hours, Friday fish fries and daily specials, the club hopes to increase its lunch and dinner crowds and see more bookings for weddings, reunions and banquets.

The club, which is open to the public, also offers a buy-one-get-one promotion on all new memberships this season, a deal that has seen membership rise from 170 to 210 in less than a year. In time, Carlowden’s efforts — to have a membership of 250, a bustling bar and restaurant and an influx of young new golfers — may even make its motto, “Northern New York’s Best Kept Secret,” a thing of the past. n GABRIELLE HOVENDON is a former Watertown Daily Times reporter and freelance writer. Contact her at ghovendon@gmail.com.

June 2013 | NNY Business

| 29

MILESTONES

Three decades in bloom Halletts’ Florist and Greenhouse grew from humble beginnings

By KYLE R. HAYES

F

NNY Business

or 30 years, the only florist and greenhouse in Adams has been building a reputation.

As Halletts’ Florist and Greenhouse owner Suanne Hallett and her son, Brian, stand along the concrete paths of their largest greenhouse, they greet customers by name, congratulate them on a child’s recent graduation and engage in conversations about the best kind of flower, herb, perennial or annual to plant in their gardens this year.

The Hallett family knows their customers, but they also know the north country.

Mr. Hallett, one of three children who help their mother at the greenhouses, said that local knowledge is one of the business’s biggest assets.

“We know the people who walk through the door, we remember what they planted last year and what they’re looking for this year,” he said. “If they live on the Tug Hill, or they live outside of town, we know what the climate is like, what will grow there and what they’re going to have the most success with.”

Curating that knowledge and reputation began in 1983 when Mrs. Hallett and her husband, David A., launched their business from the basement of their home in the village of Adams. At 11 Roberts St., Mr. and Mrs. Hallett used a kitchen refrigerator they’d moved to the cellar and took orders for floral arrangements in their living room.

As business grew, Mrs. Hallett said, they enclosed a breezeway between the house and garage and turned the garage into their first floral shop. Business grew swiftly and Mr. and Mrs. Hallett started shopping around for land to build a standalone shop.

“We looked at a few different locations after we found out we couldn’t build a greenhouse in the village at the time, and this land was really perfect,” she said.

Not only did it allow them room to grow, but the business also sits on top of a vital resource: an aquifer.

“We originally weren’t going to build a basement for the store,” she said. “We dug down just a few feet and we were hitting all

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NNY Business | June 2013

AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS

Suanne Hallett and son, Brian, inside one of the greenhouses at the family’s Adams shop, 8883 U.S. Route 11. This year marks 30 years in business for Hallett’s Florist and Greenhouse.

sorts of water. That’s been a big asset for us.”

Mr. Hallett, with the help of his son, Adam, and various other family members, built the post-and-beam-style business in August 1987. The business moved in a year later. The floral empire continued to grow: the first of three greenhouses was built in 1989, another in 1992 and the largest in 1995. The newest greenhouse was built with handicapped accessible concrete walkways and measures 30-by-150 feet, big enough to house hundreds of flowers, hanging baskets, herbs and vegetables.

The Hallett family, immediate and extended, have each had a hand in the business and help out when they can. Mrs. Hallett talks about her employees as family, too.

“Sandy Bradley and Linda Leonard were my first two designers, they worked with me when we were still at our house,” she said. “Now I have Kim [Graves] who has been with us for more than 17 years, and Ann Varno. They really are family to us.”

Her son reiterates that point. Mr. Hallett is a full-time art teacher at South Jefferson Central School who understands the importance of building character among his

students and employees.

“Our greenhouse help is oftentimes students from the high school,” he said.

“They come in and work a few hours here and there, but they’re also learning these valuable skills when they’re working with people and educating both themselves and the customers.”

That experience allows those students to leave their summer job with a real world experience that teaches them responsibility and social skills, he noted.

Mr. Hallett, who took on increased responsibilities for the business after his father’s death in 2006, said his brother, Adam Hallett, and sister, Dara Hallett Macklen, have all taken turns helping out with the business.

“We’ve all had a turn in the barrel,” he recalled. “Adam would come home on weekends while he was in college to help build the shop. We all get together to shovel our way into the greenhouse in March to start planting everything and getting all of the flowers started. Even my young nephews were here putting dirt in pots.”

Mrs. Hallett smiled widely when she

Halletts’ Florist and Greenhouse OWNERS: Suanne Hallett and family.

WHERE: 8883 U.S. Route 11, Adams PHONE: 232-4721 or 232-2000.

ONLINE: www.hallettsflorist.com FACEBOOK: Facebook at www.facebook. com/hallettsfloristandgreenhouse

talked about her family being so closely involved with the business. What makes her almost as happy is being a part of the lives of her customers.

“We see it all,” she said. “We see families when they have babies, when those babies graduate from school and then later those children are getting married and having babies of their own.”

To move the business into a new era, Mr. Hallett said that he’s working on developing more educational opportunities and workshops to draw people to the shop. He’s also created and updates a Facebook page to help establish a social media presence.

“We will post a status update on Facebook about a container planting workshop or a cooking with herbs class and we get this immediate response from people who want to come,” he said. “It’s like magic.”

Mrs. Hallett said that the nature of the business has changed drastically in the ways that customers reach out for information.

“Our brides are contacting us through Facebook and getting ideas online and emailing us,” she said. “It’s very different from when we started. The customer is much more informed.”

The greenhouse hosts various workshops, which include a cooking with herbs class featuring chef Boo Wells of the Farm House Kitchen in Sackets Harbor, throughout the season to give customers a handson experience with help from seasoned professionals. Mr. Hallett said that he’d like to continue those workshops in the future and add more options as interest grows.

As for Mrs. Hallett, who is now in her 60s, she isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

“People are always asking me when I’m going to retire,” she said. “I love what I’m doing. I’m healthy and I’m able to do it. I like doing the deliveries and getting to see my customers, visit them in the hospital or at their homes. I’m happy with what I’m doing.” n KYLE R. HAYES is a former associate editor for NNY magazines and a freelance writer who lives in Adams where he is a partner in Gram’s Diner. Contact him at kyle.r.hayes@gmail.com.

June 2013 | NNY Business

| 31

FINANCE

Survey says: Back on top J.D. Power ranks RBC Wealth Management No. 1 in satisfaction

requires more work and more attention,” Mr. Mouaikel said.

The study further found that while lobal investment house RBC investor satisfaction and actual market Wealth Management, a firm performance have a high correlation, with a Watertown branch, some firms have a lower satisfaction score ranks highest in overall investhan might be expected given market tor satisfaction, according to results. Two factors are responsible for the a 2013 study released last month by J.D. discrepancy between firms with high and Power & Associates. low satisfaction: the person who investors The study measures overall investor credit with their investment performance satisfaction in seven areas, in order of and the relationship investors have with importance: investment advisor; investtheir advisor. ment performance; account information; While communication is key, the type account offerings; commissions and fees; of communication matters as well, the website; and problem resolution. Overall study found. Firms should be aware investor satisfaction improved 14 points that some investors want regular email from 2012, to 789 on a 1,000-point scale, updates, while some prefer a phone call based on responses to the study from or an in-person conversation, and others more than 4,750 investors who make some a combination of the three. Content of the or all investment decisions with an investcommunication also matters — investors ment advisor. RBC’s score is 820, while want insights into stocks to watch and tips Fidelity Investment ranks second with a for savings, not just a check-in. score of 810, and Edward Jones, which JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS In addition to communication, the ranked the highest in 2012, ranks third Cyril Mouaikel, senior vice president and branch with a score of 808. director for RBC Wealth Management’s Watertown study found four characteristics that are key to investment performance satisfac The study also found that investors office. tion: Advisors who develop a financial prefer a “collaborative relationship” with their investment firm and that communithat it is “great to see that our services our plan that effectively incorporates risk and cation is a key driver of investor satisfacprovide this plan in an easily understood being appreciated.” RBC ranked eighth tion. Investors contacted 12 or more times form to investors; advisors who clearly with a score of 770 in the 2012 study. It a year gave their firms the highest ratings. communicate the reasons for investment ranked first in 2011.

Cyril Mouaikel, performance and the senior vice president firm’s fee structure; and branch director advisors who strive of RBC’s Watertown for an equal partneroffice, said that his ship with investors firm’s service reflects and make them feel the finding that involved in decisions; Cyril Mouaikel, senior vice president and branch director, excellent communicaand advisors who RBC Wealth Management’s Watertown office tion is essential. The define the appropribranch has the unique ate level and method characteristic that if a customer calls one “We’re always at the top of the list,” Mr. of contact that adequately addresses the person with a question or problem, that Mouaikel said. “We got back to the posineeds of investors. person is on the phone to fix it. RBC also tion we were in.”

Going forward, RBC aims to keep does not use voicemail, for example, so He added that while many other firms improving, particularly with respect to messages from clients are returned on in the industry have cut staff and instated listening to clients, Mr. Mouaikel said. the same day when possible, or within 24 requirements on account minimums, his “Our service will decline if we don’t hours when not, Mr. Mouaikel said. office has grown and created financial keep excelling so we can never sit on our “Clients get information to the top right advisor “teams” to better serve customers. laurels,” he said. “We welcome feedback away,” Mr. Mouaikel said. “You can have “We enjoy client relationships of all and aim to continue anticipating the excellent service, but if you’re not listensize,” he said. needs of customers.” ing to customers, then what’s the point?

While some advisors are limiting

Communication is key.” practices to mutual funds and “pren LEAH BULETTI is a staff writer for NNY Mr. Mouaikel added that RBC is “very packaged annuities,” RBC still sees value magazines. Contact her at 661-2381 or lbuletti proud” of J.D. Power’s recognition and in individual investments, “even if it @wdt.net.

By LEAH BULETTI

G NNY Business

“

It’s great to see that our services are appreciated. Our service will decline if we don’t keep excelling so we can never sit on our laurels.

—

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NNY Business | June 2013

F E AT U R E S

JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS

Bay Brokerage management, from left, Kathi Wozniak, vice president, Daniel Tubolino, transportation and logistics director and Kenneth Carmon, president and CEO, in the warehouse portion of their new facility on Route 12 south of Alexandria Bay.

Bay Brokerage booming Customs broker plans to expand again, possibly next year

By JAEGUN LEE

B

NNY Business

ay Brokerage Inc., which recently moved into its new $1.5 million, two-story building near the Thousand Islands Bridge, is planning another expansion that could take place as soon as next year.

Founded in May 2004, the customs broker is headquartered in the north country but has branch offices in Buffalo, Champlain and Port Huron, Mich.The company was renting a facility on Wellesley Island for its corporate headquarters before moving into its own 14,000-square-foot building at 42832 Route 12 in February.

Despite the lagging economy of the past four years, business has been good for Bay

Brokerage, and the company outgrew the Wellesley Island facility, according to its founders.

Kenneth M. Carmon, president and cofounder of the company, said that while global economic distress and heightened border security hurt many customs brokers along the northern border, Bay Brokerage managed to expand and build a customer base not only in North America, but in Europe and China, as well.

Thousands of shipments, northbound and southbound, pass through Bay Brokerage daily, and even as employees were moving into their new building, they were processing packages and helping customers, said Kathi M. Wozniak, the company’s vice president and founding partner.

“When we bring it over here, it’s a guaranteed service,” she said. “The border

never closes, so my job never stops.”

Bay Brokerage mainly helps exporters, importers, logistics providers, trucking companies, and ocean and air carriers reduce border “release times” and makes sure they are not paying excess duty rates or taxes.

Certain U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspections that are conducted at the company’s container freight station also help speed up the clearance process, Ms. Wozniak said.

But the company also helps Canadians living near the border avoid costly international shipping charges by letting them send items purchased online to Bay Brokerage’s storage facility — much like the Ford Street UPS store in Ogdensburg.

Please see BROKERAGE, page 52 June 2013 | NNY Business

| 33

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

Fort Drum sustains local market

I

was honored to speak about the impact that Fort Drum has on real estate during the Fort Drum listening session on April 25. The text of my remarks follows: “Our more than 500 members list, sell, appraise and provide loans and other services for most of the real estate transactions in the tri-county area.

“I want to begin by thanking Maj. Gen. (Stephen J.) Townsend, Col. (Gary A.) Rosenberg, and Col. (Thomas M.) O’Donoghue for attending this listening session and giving us this opportunity to provide feedback.

“In 2003, the year before the 3rd Brigade came to Fort Drum, Realtor members of the Jefferson-Lewis Board sold 930 single family homes with a median price of $68,000. In 2012, single-family home sales had jumped by more than 31 percent to 1,222 and the median price had more than doubled to $139,550. Much of this increase is due to the direct and indirect impact of Fort Drum. I should mention the direct and indirect spinoffs generated by a real estate transaction. Using the industry standard, the equivalent of one job is generated for every two homes sold, which translates to more than 150 additional jobs created in 2012 than were created in 2003.

“Less directly impacted by Fort Drum, St. Lawrence County has fared better than the state as a whole with a median price increase of 33 percent from 2003 to 2012 and a drop in sales of 8 percent. The statewide picture includes a 10 percent drop in sales and a 6 percent decline in median price.

“In addition, when the national news was full of banking problems and

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NNY Business | June 2013

robo-signing, our area did not experience a foreclosure crisis like others did.

This means that we did not see soldiers being pushed out of their homes because of bad loans and there Lance Evans weren’t blocks of abandoned homes like we saw elsewhere. Part of the reason was that our local Realtors and lenders took care not to put people into homes they could not afford.

“We are ready, willing and able to assist more soldiers if the Army wishes to station additional troops here. In 2010, the new York State Association of Realtors developed, with help from Fort Drum and our association, a designation titled HOMES – Housing Our Military with Excellent Service. To date, 37 of our members have become HOMES certified.

“Putting a human face on all of this, a number of my members are former Fort Drum soldiers or are the spouse of present or former soldiers. In fact, one former soldier, James Conlin and his company, All American Real Estate, recently won the 2012 Entrepreneur of the Year award from the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce.

“Our area is enriched by the soldiers here. Not only are we helped economically, but the soldiers who come here and live among the civilian population

enrich our lives through their contributions to our schools and communities.

We welcome troops with open arms and look forward to many more years of their service at Fort Drum. Thank you.” n

n

n

Our area hosted four real estate education classes at the Riveredge Resort from April 22 to 26. About 50 Realtors from across the state attended one or more session which included two on finance, one on legal issues and one on technology. When combined with five other classes, they lead to the Graduate Realtor Institute designation.

Several north country companies sponsored breaks during the week, including Carthage Federal Savings a nd Loan, Christensen RealtyUSA, Independent Commercial Contractors, Pillar to Post Home Inspections and Watertown Savings Bank. n

n

n

On May 1, Sandra Alteri, Jessica Dorr, Linda Fields, Gwyn Monnat, Karen Peebles, Mike Santuilli, Ernest Scribner, Pat Wolf and I met with Rep. William L. Owens, D-Plattsburgh, and members of his staff. During the session, we spoke to him about various consumer issues, including curtailing the mortgage interest deduction, changes to capital gains and proposed changes to the loans guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration. 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.

R E A L E S TAT E / J E F F E R S O N C O .

The Jefferson County clerk’s office recorded the following property sales in May 2013: MAY 17: Town of Lyme: 0.352 acre, Guffins Bay, Carol C. Brown, Watertown, Cheryl C. Vanness, Watertown, sold to Michael S. Stratton, Watertown $132,000 n Town of Brownville: Three parcels, 0.22 acre, South Shore Road (County Route 59); Pillar Point; near Sherwins Bay, Pillar Point, Steven E. Petrillose, Black River, executor, will of Edward J. Petrillose, late of Florida, sold to Jonathan Jerome, Dexter $140,000 n City of Watertown: Mechanic Street, Joseph H. Shambo and Tracie R. Shambo, Waverly, sold to Chad Pate and Tracie Compton, both of Castorland $58,000

On the Web

n Visit us at WWW.NNYBIZMAG.COM for current real estate sales from Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties, updated weekly.

Click on ‘Data Center’ to access transactions.

MAY 13: City of Watertown: Two parcels, 0.45 acre, 140 Paddock St., Eric P. Ehrmann, by Tamra Ehrmann, attorney in fact, and Tamra Ehrmann, Watertown, sold to Travis C. Overton and Leslie C. Overton, Watertown $240,000 n Town of LeRay: Highway from village of Black River to Watertown, Linda M. Hall, Sackets Harbor, sold to Lucas A. Myers, Watertown $90,000

n Town of Rodman: 1.314 acres, County Route 156, Stanley E. Hall, Watertown, sold to Timothy W. Beutel, Adams $112,500

n Hamlet of Belleville: 0.645 acre, 8239 state Route 289, Roy K. Sidmore Jr. and Marjory R. Sidmore, Belleville, and Sherry Ruoff, Belleville, sold to Wendy J. Taylor, Adams $106,000

MAY 16: Hamlet of Great Bend: Two parcels, 0.054 acre, 0.22 acre, state Route 3, Angela D. MacCue, Columbia, S.C., sold to Johsua Lee Lang, Evans Mills $200,000

MAY 10: Town of Brownville: 0.859 acre, 16352 County Route 59, Matthew J. Parker, Dexter, sold to Danielle E. Lane, Richard D. Lane and Kathleen A. Lane, all of Dexter $145,000

n City of Watertown: 0.221 acre, Ten Eyck Street, Matthew D. Magennis and Kelby E. Magennis, Watertown, sold to Nathan W. Miller and Jessica A. Miller, Chester, Va. $189,000

n Town of LeRay: 1.804 acres, state Route 342, Vincent Williams and Jennifer Williams, Norwich, sold to Billy Joe Plourde, Massena $140,000

n Town of Cape Vincent: Brandy Rock Lane, Barbara A. Tranello, Rochester, sold to Richard Vernetti and Pamela M. Vernetti, Webster $37,500 MAY 15: Town of Lyme: 1.95 acres, County Route 57, David Keene Wilson, Chesapeake, Va., sold to Douglas A. Warneck and Rene E. Warneck, Vestal $75,000

$2,843,500 County real estate sales recorded over 8-day period, May 10-17, 2013

n Village of Alexandria Bay: 0.41 acre, James Street, SJD Family Enterprises LLC, Alexandria Bay, sold to Old Homestead Properties Inc., Alexandria Bay $490,000 MAY 14: Village of Black River: 0.61 acre, South Main Street, John A. Kelly, aka Jack A. Kelly, sold to Ralph I. Haney, Cato $224,000 n Town of Lyme: 0.81 acre, State Park Road, Scott Schafer, Rochester, and Dawn M. Pollotta, Rochester, sold to Jean M. Barth and Gary R. Barth, Webster; Thomas F. Donovan, Rochester; William C. Oaks and Janet L. Oaks, Phelps; and Patricia Beyer, Copenhagen $185,000 n Hamlet of Great Bend: Huntley Lane, Mary M. Giuseppetti, Niagara Falls, sold to Adam Medina and Jennifer Medina, Carthage $279,000

June 2013 | NNY Business

| 35

20 QUESTIONS

KEEPING

W

hen the Thousand Islands Bridge opened to traffic in 1938, connecting Northern New York to Canada, the nation’s interstates were still years away and the country was mired in the Great Depression. In its first year, the bridge saw roughly 94,000 vehicle crossings. Some 75 years later, annual vehicle traffic tops 2 million and the agency that operates the bridge — Thousand Islands Bridge Authority — also manages Boldt Castle. We sat down with TIBA Director Robert G. Horr III to learn how things have changed.

1

NNYB: You have such a varied background. How did you get your start in this business?

HORR: Certainly it’s something I had an interest in.

I wanted to come back to the area — I had a wife and three small children who were still living here and we hadn’t made the move yet. This job became available and I applied and interviewed and here I am. It was interesting to me for a lot of reasons, especially the international aspect. The organization is international not only at the board level, but at the employee level. All the things you do as an employer, you do twice. Given my human resource background, I thought that was fascinating. I knew the U.S. pretty well, but I didn’t know the Canadian side at all. And it is different. Right now there are 63 full-time employees — the split is about 40 American and 23 Canadian. The reason it’s not 50-50 is that the administrative function is all on the American side. That’s not to say we don’t have Canadians working over here, because we do. In fact, our head of operations and maintenance is Canadian

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NNY Business | June 2013

NORM JOHNSTON | NNY BUSINESS

the wheels

TURNING

n As TI Bridge turns 75, Authority Director Robert Horr III looks ahead

and our total operations manager is Canadian. They go back and forth all day long. We’re constantly going back and forth. The border is a minor inconvenience.

2 3

NNYB: You father served on the Bridge Authority Board as well, right?

HORR: My dad, Robert Horr Jr., was on the Authority Board from 1972 to 1993. I’m the third executive director in the 75-year history of the bridge. There’s a longevity not only of the directors, but of staff.

NNYB: How important is the bridge to the region and to the economy?

HORR: First and foremost, for passenger traffic, the 1000 Islands represents a destination itself for a lot of people, but it’s also a way into the U.S. to other parts for a lot of people. When the Interstate and the 401 came along, we became a conduit to other places. Prior to that, the authority had been very active in creating a 1000 Islands council to promote the islands because they needed traffic. The commercial side didn’t take off until the North American Free Trade Agreement. It was mostly local until then.

Our high year for commercial traffic was 2000 or 2001 with 540,000 trucks coming through. Right now we’re just under 400,000. That’s the result of the economy and currency exchange. Commercial traffic exploded here in the ’90s as a result of NAFTA and we became a very important gateway for commercial traffic. After 9/11, I was at a meet-

ing in Detroit with various bridge operators and they were talking about the impact on the auto industry in Detroit. They said any delay at the border costs them a million dollars a minute. That gave us a better idea of the importance of making sure our border crossings, bridges and tunnels are efficiently run and of working with both governments to make them as efficient as possible.

4

NNYB: How involved are you with border issues?

HORR: What’s happening with the border is probably the hardest thing we’ve had to deal with in the last 12 years. We’re unique because the border is in the middle of our system—what happens in the middle directly affects what happens in the end. I spend a tremendous amount of my time working on border issues because what happens there will affect my business and affect it negatively quickly. When talk surfaces with the Department of Homeland Security about charging Canadians to come into the U.S., you have to beat it with a stick. Customs has a very different mission than we do — ours is to move traffic, theirs is to inspect traffic. It’s a relationship that has different and opposing ends and we all recognize that we have to work together. Creating those relationships and keeping those relationships going is extremely important.

5

NNYB: How big of a game changer was 9/11?

HORR: We were fortunate here that the border never actually closed. I knew immediately that the pendulum was going to swing and that it was going to

20 QUESTIONS swing a long way. And it did. There’ve been a number of programs introduced over the years, most of which didn’t necessarily help what was happening — it was more about enforcement than efficiently moving traffic. I think that’s come full circle now. They’ve instituted a lot of programs that really make sense. I can say today that the border is more efficient than it was prior to 9/11. That’s my gauge of improvement.

I think if you talked to customs in both countries they’d tell you they’re getting more information, they’re more prepared, they have better training and they’re funded more than they used to be.

6

NNYB: How have these preparations changed?

HORR: We were always prepared for accidents, being in the traffic business you expect that, whether it’s collisions, fires or vandalism. We still have that, but now we have the added component of securing the facilities against terrorism, domestic or otherwise. Being an economic gateway, we’re probably on someone’s list somewhere. We undertook a very robust security installation here in 2006. We’re now protecting key components of the system that we didn’t before, or that we did but for different reasons. That’s always been a challenge here because we want to be accessible. We wanted to put in sidewalks on the bridge and they’re an attraction on their own—on a summer day you can see 500-600 people going across. But one of the first things our security consultant said was that you have to close the sidewalks, so we made some changes and maintained accessibility. We feel pretty comfortable now maintaining our sidewalks and we’re pretty secure. The sidewalks are open during the day and closed at night.

7

NNYB: What was the blowback on the recently raised toll rates on the bridge?

HORR: There was not a tremendous amount of blowback. People see that the money they pay is going back into the facility. Tolls can have a very negative connotation. A lot of surveys say that people don’t mind paying tolls. They see that we’re spending money to improve and that’s why we talk about the projects that we’re doing. People also see that you don’t pay for the bridge if you don’t use it. If you do cross here, you pay for it.

8

NNYB: Do you have plans to get EZ Pass on the bridge and how far off is that?

HORR: Yes. We are working on EZ Pass. It requires an initial upfront investment that’s not small, but it’s something people want, so we are working to get it.

I’d say it’s a matter of months. It’s going to gain a lot more momentum as we get closer to fall.

9

NNYB: What is the busiest time of year for the bridge at this crossing?

HORR: The summer months. With the Canadian dollar where it is now, our passenger traffic is much busier. There definitely has been an increase in retail traffic. Canadians have relaxed their duty on what you can take back, so there’s a focus to encourage people to come to these areas to shop.

10

NNYB: How has TIBA expanded over the years?

HORR: A number of things happened between 1976 and 1977. The first one is that the Canadian properties, including the bridge and the toll plaza, all reverted to the Canadian federal government.

The original deal in the 1930s with the Canadian government was that when the construction bonds were paid off, the Canadian properties could revert.

We’re one system here and having two separate operators didn’t make a lot of sense. The authority was able to negotiate a deal with the federal govern-

NORM JOHNSTON | NNY BUSINESS

Thousand Islands Bridge Authority Executive Director Robert G. Horr III in his Collins Landing office. ment. The Canadians put us under the St. Lawrence Seaway Authority in 1977. They worked on a series of 10-year agreements until 1980 and we’ve been working under those agreements ever since. In 1998 the St. Lawrence Seaway Authority of Canada dissolved and privatized. So the bridges that were underneath — it was ourselves, the Seaway International Bridge, the St. Marie, the Montreal bridges — went under a new corporation called the Federal Bridge Corporation, a cloud corporation like a federal authority. We negotiated a new 10-year agreement with them that we’re continuing today.

In 1977, the authority assumed ownership of Boldt Castle and all the Boldt properties. Those are the most major things that have happened at the authority since the beginning in terms of responsibilities.

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NNYB: What is the history of the acquisition of Boldt Castle?

HORR: Boldt Castle was a gift. The Noble Foundation and (Edward) John Noble had bought the property from the Boldt family after George Boldt died.

He ran Boldt Castle as a tourist attraction up until his death and then his foundation took over. Noble was former president of Beechnut Fruit and co-founder of Life Savers (candy) Corp. so there was a tremendous amount of wealth there. He operated the castle as a tourist attraction and unfortunately they didn’t invest a lot in it. Over the years after he passed away, there was a lot of pressure because it was deteriorating to the point where they couldn’t have any visitation and it was going to be condemned because it was falling into such bad disrepair. They were looking for an organization to take it over.

New York state was looked at but they felt they couldn’t do it. Jefferson County was approached and then the authority was approached. So ownership was gifted to us and then a long-term rehabilitation program was put into place and we’ve been doing it ever since — 37 years.

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NNYB: The rehabilitation has been piece by piece.

Do you know when it’ll be done?

HORR: That’s the most frequent question I’m asked.

If you asked me that 15 years ago, I probably would have had a completely different answer than I do

The Robert G. Horr III file AGE: 56 JOB: Executive director, Thousand Islands Bridge Authority, Alexandria Bay. FAMILY: Wife, Susan, grown sons, David, Samuel and Zachary HOMETOWN: Sackets Harbor EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree, University of New England, Bideford, Maine.

EXPERIENCE: Started in Century Houseware, a catalog retail store in Watertown after college, then worked for my father at Greenwood Buick doing a little bit of everything, selling cars, financing cars. My dad sold the business in 1988 and I stayed on until 1990 and went to North Country Transitional Living Services. I was there five years in human resources before I moved to another human service agency in Freeville, the George Junior Republic, now called William George Agency, residential treatment facility for delinquent children, doing human resource work.

In 1997 I came to TIBA as director of administration and operations. I also was Town Justice in Sackets from late 1990 to 1995.

LAST BOOK READ: “Washington: A Life”

by Rob Chernow.

today. You have to recognize that Boldt Castle is a tourist attraction. We think of that in terms of Disney World, Universal Studios, Darien Lake. We’re selling this attraction and we want people to come. One of the things we undertook early on was surveys of customers and we found that 60 percent of our visitation is repeat visitation. And why do they come? To see where we’ve been. We need to start thinking that way rather than when are we ever going to be done with this thing because when we are done with it, no one will come back. It’s a pretty bad business plan. Now we have taken the opposite approach. Now we do most of our major projects in season so the public can see what we’re doing. We always have a major project on each year so people have a reason to come back. And that’s been pretty successful.

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20 QUESTIONS

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NNYB: What is this year’s project?

HORR: This year we opened the butler’s pantry, which is adjacent to the kitchen and dining room and we are now working behind the scenes. We have places where the public can see what we’re doing — the castle kitchens, which will open next year. When people come into homes or look to buy a home, what’s the first thing they look at? The kitchen. Visitors asked for a number of years when we would do the kitchen. The kitchen is a big space so it’s something that will take a long time.

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NNYB: Have the rehabilitation efforts been worthwhile for the community?

HORR: No question it’s been worth it. All you have to do is look at the community of Alexandria Bay

— they’ve adopted the heart as their theme for the community. That came from Heart Island and castle.

Whatever happens at castle will certainly impact Alexandria Bay, but also the entire region. We’re a port of entry on the island itself. We have U.S. customs on the island and we receive tour boats from Canada. A number of Canadians drive over as well, so the efforts are about awareness of the entire region.

15

NNYB: Has the castle paid for itself?

HORR: It’s totally self-sufficient. We’ve never accepted any outside grants. We’ve done it all from non-toll revenue, too. That’s a concern the public would have — if you’re paying the toll out here, you’re not paying it for castle, you’re paying it for the bridge and rightfully so. We have the fees people pay and the

concessions as well. The capital projects are done through non-bridge related revenues.

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NNYB: What kind of investment have you made in the castle and what kind of trends in visitation has the castle had?

HORR: We’ve put about $35 million into it. Our highest year of visitation was in 2001. Up until about two years ago, we were slowly declining because of border issues and Canadian visitation.

Until 2001, 60 percent was American and 40 percent was from Canadian tour boats. Right now it’s about 80-20. We lost that many Canadians because the tour boat operator in Canada made the decision not to stop as frequently because of increased border regulations. We started to see increases about two years ago. I think that bodes well. As the border regulations become more wellknown, people understand what’s required. It is getting better. We’re seeing pretty strong Canadian traffic into the U.S. on the castle side and on the bridge side. Unfortunately, it has not gone the other way with more Americans going into Canada — that’s gone down significantly and that’s definitely a result of the border and the Canadian currency to a certain extent as well.

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NNYB: What is the next big thing for TIBA? HORR: The electronic toll and completing the water tower, which has been under a four-year rehabilitation program. It’s a very unusual structure.

We’re working to get it water-tight. It’s been closed for six years for safety reasons because it leaked and concrete fell down. We’re doing a last phase this year and we’re going to start an inside phase next year and get it open again. The public asks about it constantly and we made a commitment five years ago to fix it up. A tremendous amount of money was spent there—on this last phase alone we’re spending $800,000.

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NNYB: What do you like about your job?

HORR: The bridge side is a challenge because it’s international with the border and the maintenance, which all goes along on a pretty even keel. Now we also have a good, strong plan at the castle. I believe I have the best job in the world because when I get tired of doing this, I can go do something a little different. Having that diversion to think about something where I can have a little more impact than I can with the border fits my personality really well. I also recognize that I have to spend a lot of time paying attention to what’s going to happen, what new programs are coming along and what changes are happening with cabinet administrations. You have to watch Congress.

19

NNYB: Do the Canadians ever take umbrage at our efforts to attract them to the U.S.?

HORR: People complain a bit that they’re not buying Canadian, the nationalism you might expect.

I think it comes down to choice. You talk to folks even in the grocery store and it’s about choice, not just price. They just don’t have as many choices in Canadian stores. It’s more expensive to do business in Canada.

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NNYB: What is the best business advice you’ve ever followed?

HORR: Take care of you customers. My father told me that when I worked in his car dealership. The passengers on the bridge are our customers.

— Interview by Ken Eysaman. Edited for length and clarity to fit this space.

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

Success begins with good biz plan

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s I read the May 2013 edition of NNY Business headlined, “Open for Business,” I am very pleased with the many successful, thriving businesses located in the north country, as well as the many new ones making our region home. Having worked with small businesses for the past 15 years, first at the Small Business Development Center at Jefferson Community College and SUNY Canton, and now for the Development Authority of the North Country, the one thing I keep coming back to as the backbone for any successful business is the business plan.

When asked to speak to an audience about starting or expanding a business, I always start with the importance of the business plan. Many people envision a business plan as a big book full of statistics and data. A true business plan, in my mind, succinctly includes all of the details that will make your business venture successful.

Over time, I have found that many people do their homework before starting or expanding their business. They can tell me in great detail how they came up with their pricing (by looking at competitors’ pricing), or by getting quotes from utilities and insurance providers; you get the picture. Yet, when I read the business plan, there’s no hint of this detail. Templates from the Internet make it easy to fill in your business name without having to put these details in it. So, write a business plan based upon your experience and your information. If you are having a hard time putting into words what you know, then have someone else write it for

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you while you tell them the details. Again, a business plan doesn’t need to be volumes, but it needs to tell a story — your story about how your business is going to succeed.

Yes, all lendMichelle Capone ers require a business plan for funding. As a lender, I prefer the business plan that explains, in your own words, why you chose the business you are in and how it will be successful. Tell me why you are locating where you are, how you will manage your business, who your competitors are and what your market is for the goods or services you are selling. Give me your forecast for your income and expenses.

Finally, remember, the business plan must be a flexible document. You start your business today, but after six months or one year, go back and re-read your business plan. Are you where you thought you would be after one year? If yes, then your plan was spot on and you executed it perfectly. Most times, however, the answer is no. This is when you need to revisit your plan and determine what changed from your plan to today. What assumption was incorrect — the pricing, the location, the market? Or did you not execute the plan correctly? Did you deviate for some reason? Now is the time to review the plan and either revise it for your incorrect assumptions so that you can correct and

move forward, or read the plan to get back on track from your deviation.

This may seem overwhelming, but don’t be afraid to ask for help. You don’t need to pay a lot of money to put together a successful business plan. Look to family and friends with expertise in accounting or with a legal background to help with forming the business. Another very valuable resource is the Small Business Development Center.

As a lender, I typically refer people to the center for assistance with putting together their business plan. Their services are free and confidential. They also have access to information that can help you with research for your business. There are SBDCs located at Jefferson Community College, SUNY Canton and SUNY Oswego, among others across the state.

I would like to acknowledge a very valuable resource to the SBDC at JCC, Ms. Ann Durant, who is retiring. I worked with Ms. Durant during my time at the SBDC and learned a lot of what I know today from her about small business. She has been a champion for small businesses and her skills will be missed.

So as you read NNY Business and marvel at our many successful businesses across the region, remember that it starts with the plan — the business plan. There are resources available to help you make your business plan a success, not only for today but for your future.

n MICHELLE L. CAPONE is regional development director for the Development Authority of the North Country. Contact her at mcapone@ danc.org. She is a member of the Greater Watertown Jaycees and Sunrise Rotary.

B U S I N E S S L AW

Family firms have much to decide

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hen family members consider starting a small business, one of the first problems they encounter is deciding what type of business entity to use. Family members not only own their business, but work long hours in the business to ensure its survival since they derive their livelihood from the profits.

One entity option is a close corporation.

When family members decide to incorporate their business, they should be aware of three important legal concepts. are three important legal concepts that they should be aware of. Under New York state law, a corporation is a separate, distinct legal entity from its owners. It is considered a “person” with many of the legal rights of a “natural person.” It can sue, be sued, pays taxes, has Constitutional legal rights and can even be charged with a crime.

A corporation is authorized pursuant to New York’s Business Corporation Law, which establishes the method to create a corporation and its operation. Although a corporation is deemed a “person” and a legal entity, it is not a natural person and must be operated and managed through “natural persons.”

Once a corporation comes into existence, by filing a certificate of incorporation with New York’s Department of State, a board of directors is selected. The board is the second important legal concept that family members should consider if they plan to incorporate their business, since it is this body that is authorized by the BCL to mange the overall operation of the corporation. The role of the board should not be confused with the day-to-day running of the business. In a family-operated small business, however, board members

may be the same individuals who run the day-today affairs of the business.

The board usually adopts corporate bylaws. This legal document establishes how the corporation Larry Covell will operate, including such practices as the number and election of directors, terms of office, meeting dates of directors, quorum requirements of the board or even dates for the annual meeting of the shareholders. In addition to adopting the bylaws, the board selects officers of the business, determines compensation for key employees, issues stock and determines its value and makes other important decisions.

The third important legal concept is ownership of the corporation, which is evidenced by stock ownership. The general rule is that the greater the number of shares that a person owns in the corporation, the greater the amount of ownership interest they have. In a small, family-owned business, there usually is one class of stock called common stock.

Common stock provides the owner with the right to vote for board members, the right to receive dividends when or if the board declares them and the right to assets of the corporation in the event of dissolution, according to the proportional number of shares owned.

As a legal entity, a corporation is subject to an income tax on the profits it generates, and when the board declares a dividend

on those profits, its owners are subject to an income tax. This is called double taxation, since the total revenues of the corporation are taxed twice. However, the Internal Revenue Service provides for special tax treatment for small businesses.

In this situation, the corporation does not pay income tax; instead the owners pay it on the salaries that they receive from the corporation. As a result, dividends are not declared by the board. This is referred to as a Subchapter S Corporation. The name is derived from the section in the IRS code that permits this procedure. The corporation must meet the following requirements: a domestic U.S. corporation, 75 or fewer shareholders, owners of the shares must be natural persons, no nonresident alien shareholders and only one class of stock.

Another important decision that a family-owned business must make is the transferability of stock. As mentioned earlier, stock evidences ownership in a corporation so without a restriction, members of the family business could find that outsiders are co-owners. One method to limit ownership is to place a restriction on stock ownership, which explains the term “close corporation.”

A “close corporation” can solve many family members’ concerns about small business ownership. It can be designed to pay salaries instead of dividends and limit ownership to only family members. New York’s BCL does not have a provision for the creation of “close corporation,” rather, a close corporation is created by placing legal language in the bylaws or other crafted legal documents. n LARRY COVELL is a professor of business at Jefferson Community College and an attorney.

Contact him at lcovell@sunyjefferson.edu. His column appears every other month in NNY Business.

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COMMERCE CORNER

Making sense of health care law

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n April, the Greater Watertown North Country Chamber of Commerce was awarded a grant through the Community Service Society of New York to help small businesses with health care and health insurance issues. Many individuals and small businesses were faced with the lingering effects of the federal health reform bill, which is now well known as the Affordable Care Act, signed into law in March 2010.

The act was established to allow states to set up health insurance exchanges or marketplaces where individuals and small businesses can shop for and enroll in health coverage. The focus of the Small Business Assistance Program is to ensure that the New York Health Benefit Exchange best meets the needs of New York’s employers and employees. The assistance program was designed to educate small businesses about the act, address current insurance coverage and help inform the design and development of the exchange. This program is now offered through the chamber to help businesses in the tri-county area.

Included in the act: n Detailed small business tax credits. n Health insurance and care options for small businesses and their employees. n Explanations and ways to comment on proposed insurance rate increases under New York’s new prior approval law and the exchange.

WHO NEEDS TO PROVIDE COVERAGE? n Businesses with fewer than 50 employees: Not required to offer coverage. n 50 employees and greater: Penalty for not offering coverage or penalty for offering coverage that is unaffordable or lacks minimum value. n 200-plus employees: Must automatically enroll employees in health plans if offered; employees can choose to opt out

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WHO QUALIFIES FOR TAX CREDITS? n The act provides tax credits to small businesses that offer coverage to their employees. n Businesses with up to 25 employees with average wages below $50,000. n Employees Lynn Pietroski working half time count as half an employee, so even businesses with more than 25 employees could be eligible if some workers are part time. n Wages of the business owner and their family members do not count in the average (or in the employee count). n More than 80 percent of New York’s small businesses or 285,000 businesses are eligible. n The credit can be up to 35 percent of a business’s insurance costs, based on the number of employees and the average employee salary.

SMALL BUSINESS HEALTH OPTIONS PROGRAM EXCHANGE (SHOP) n Under the act, every state can open the SHOP to businesses with up to 100 employees; New York has decided to limit it to small businesses with up to 50 employees. n Small businesses can begin enrolling in health coverage through the SHOP starting Oct. 1, with coverage effective Jan. 1, 2014.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE UNINSURED n Insurance for an individual in New York now costs approximately $12,000 per year. n Under the act, uninsured individuals will be able to go to an exchange for coverage. n Through the exchange, the government will provide subsidies to aid individuals with low or fixed incomes who wish to obtain coverage.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE INSURED n Plans must cover preventive care with no

cost sharing. n No more lifetime benefit caps and unreasonably low annual benefit caps. n Right to appeal when you disagree with your health plan. n No more pre-existing condition exclusions after 2014. n No exclusions for minors presently younger than age 19.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOUNG ADULTS n Adults until age 26 can continue coverage through their parents’ insurance. n Do not have to be enrolled in college n Can be married n In New York, individuals between age 26 and 29 also have the option to keep coverage through their parents’ employer, though additional costs may be incurred. n Since passage of the Affordable Care Act, 6.6 million more young adults have gained coverage, 150,000 of whom live in New York.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR SENIORS n Preventive care with no co-pays or coinsurance. n By 2014, Medicare Advantage plans must spend at least 85 cents of every dollar on health care for senior citizens.

It is imperative that all small businesses take advantage of this free opportunity to learn about the changes that is offered through a partnership of the Community Service Society and the chamber.

North Country Prenatal/Perinatal Council in Watertown also provides one-on-one counseling and community training about health insurance and access to care. As a community we are fortunate to have these resources available to help us through the transition. n LYNN PIETROSKI is president and CEO of the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce. Contact her at ceo@watertownny. com. Her column appears monthly.

AGRI-BUSINESS

A plan that protects our farmland

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s Jefferson County considers revising its Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan, taxpayers may ask what this plan is and why we need it.

Farmers may ask the same question. A plan can be a critical resource and blueprint for our agricultural industry, which is important to our overall economy.

Jefferson County’s existing plan was completed in 2002. Agriculture was a lot different then than it is now. Jefferson County’s population also was different.

In 2002, the county’s population was in decline. As of July 2001, the population was estimated at 109,535. As of July 2012, the population estimate for Jefferson County was 120,262. This represents the ninth-largest numerical gain and the largest percentage gain for all counties in the state since 2010. Natural increases, or more births than deaths, and net migration, international and domestic, contributed to the increase. Jefferson County’s population increase leads to more vehicle traffic, more houses and, because of the influx of many soldiers who are not from agricultural areas, a lot more people who do not understand or necessarily appreciate what farming brings to a community.

Farm equipment tends to be slow moving. Heavy traffic on a road means more time spent trying to get farm equipment safely onto the road from the farm, and then down the road into a field. Time spent on the road decreases time spent actually getting work done in the barn or in the fields.

How did the county’s plan help address this issue? On page 32, the plan recommends increasing local agency and organization involvement to promote and enroll landowners in agricultural districts.

Agricultural districts are an important

tool to help farmers protect their ability to farm their land.

Districts help buffer common misunderstandings that arise when a nonagricultural population begins interfacing Jay Matteson with agriculture.

Whether it’s complaints about odors or municipalities passing restrictive land-use regulations, agricultural districts provide a way to enact reasonable protections so farmers can continue farming.

The 2002 plan also recommended increasing educational awareness programs for our communities. As a result, many agencies stepped up efforts to reach the public with information about agriculture.

The county’s agriculture website, www. come farmwithus.com, was developed. The Home Grown Show, an talk radio ag show now on 790 WTNY AM was created to inform the non-farm public about agriculture.

A variety of other initiatives were taken on during the past decade by agencies and farms to improve public awareness.

Jefferson County’s dairy industry is the largest sector of our agricultural economy.

Industry estimates indicate that our dairy manufacturers have a nearly $1 billion impact on our region. The 2002 plan called for supporting the dairy industry and helping it adopt new technologies. As a result, agencies like Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County have provided an enormous amount of technical training and assistance to dairy farms. The

Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency, through its Agricultural Development Council, provided funding for a number of farm projects that introduced new technologies to improve farm efficiency, productivity and profitability.

Another recommendation provided in the 2002 plan was to improve capital financing programs. Almost immediately, the JCIDA opened its revolving loan fund to provide major financing assistance to expensive agricultural projects. At this time, we still have not heard of any other county in New York that has taken this important step for agriculture.

As we look to the next decade, there are many issues that a farmland protection plan must examine and address. These issues include: The rapid growth of our wine and grape industry and production of new crops such as hops, growth in our dairy industry, new value-added production facilities making products like cheese curd and other foods.

Agriculture is a natural resource-based industry. The beauty of agriculture is that it takes three natural resources — the sun, the soil and the water — and uses those resources to grow things we need and can sell elsewhere to bring money back into our community. There is no better economic development than that. A farmland protection plan looks at how we maintain the resources necessary for continued economic growth.

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

Manage email clutter with strategy

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s the nights get longer, the days get warmer and children finish another school year, most of us are thinking about summer vacation.

This is the perfect excuse to change your habits and how you handle the constant onslaught of email messages.

With emails coming at you on multiple platforms, from your smartphone and tablet to your desktop or laptop at work and home, here are a few suggestions to master the ever-expanding animal called the “inbox.”

With emails now coming in on so many devices you really need to have a plan. By developing good habits — not just for the summer when time seems to be even more of a precious commodity, but to use all year long — not only will you be able to enjoy the north country’s all too short summer season, but you’ll also have more free time.

Unless part of your career choice dictates that you must immediately respond to emails, put yourself on a schedule.

Instead of checking your devices every few minutes or even every few hours, set times to dedicate yourself to your inbox.

Maybe what would work best is the first and last hour of your workday. Of course, I am not recommending ignoring the email from the boss, so feel free to scan your inbox for something that might require immediate attention, but ignore the rest, and do your other work. I know this sounds hard to do, but try it for a few days and see how it goes.

While you are trying the new schedule,

it’s also a great time to decide the best way to handle the hundreds of emails you receive each day. The first place to start is the newsletters, advertisements, coupons and other such lists you Jill Van Hoesen have subscribed to over time.

Now is the time to unsubscribe, but if that seems too drastic, create rules and

exclamation point. Only you can decide if it is really “urgent” — if it is, spend time on the issue but then get back to cleaning out your inbox as soon as you can or you will break your pace and might not be able to get through your inbox in the hour you have allotted yourself under your new schedule.

What about the informational and group emails you are included in? If it does not require you to respond, file it away. Remember, file folders inside your inbox are your friend. Along similar lines are emails with duties or tasks that really just aren’t your job. Forward them off to the right person and move on. You’ll be surprised how much more time you will have to be productive at your job.

A good rule of thumb for your hourly inbox scan is: “Can I answer that email now in three minutes or less? If so, answer it now. This saves you having to think about, re-read and process it again. This works in your favor and in the recipient’s favor. A quick and short reply leaves the recipient to decide if they have enough information to move on or if further interaction is required to complete the task or project.

These small changes and organizational tips should help to make you more productive, tame your inbox and afford you some extra time in your already too busy workday.

A good rule of thumb for your hourly inbox scan is: “Can I answer that email now in three minutes or less?” If so, answer it now. This saves you from having to think about, re-read and process it again.

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folders to get these types of emails out of your main inbox and into a folder of their own. That way, you can check out the deals and print the coupons when you are ready to go shopping, not when you are trying to get that report or overdue project done. Your folder for these items will show in the tree of your inbox and will be highlighted if items have come in that have not been read; this should be enough of an alert that you won’t miss anything time sensitive or extremely important.

Now that you have organized your “unimportant” emails, let’s discuss how to handle what’s left. The business-related emails, some of which come into your inbox marked “urgent,” have the little red

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

Add value to the visitor experience

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visitor could be someone from out of the area, out of the country or maybe just someone who does not use your business unless they have leisure time or are hosting guests.

Any customer is a visitor and this column applies to everyday businesses, but we will focus on some specific characteristics of the “tourist visitor.”

Typically someone who is visiting is new to the area, is unaware of what is available, may have impulse desires, may not want to pack or carry items purchased, has additional disposable income and comes with no preconceived notions of your business, products and services.

Travel also is a high-risk activity, which means that a visitor is looking to reduce any chance of discomfort. This person is very impressionable, which means you have a lot of opportunity to add value.

The visitor experience begins with their first point of contact: the Internet, an advertisement, word of mouth, a phone call or streetscape. This is your first chance to add value. In your ads, speak to the visitor. Have you identified your location in relation to a destination or landmark?

Did you point out specific products and services that might be of interest to shortterm customers? Update your online listings and website. Are your photos clear and descriptive? Is your physical address and phone number easily accessible? Are reviews readily available? Are your brochures in places that visitors will see them? Is your social media tempting them? Is your answering machine friendly and helpful? Is your storefront inviting?

Have you listed your hours? Are your employees answering the phone with a positive tone, prepared to assist a new customer? These are all first impressions – opportunities Brooke James to encourage a visit before the customer is even at your doorstep.

Once you get a visitor in your business, you have tremendous opportunity to add value. Be receptive. Greet them at the door or if they are lingering in front of your windows. Welcome them and offer to give them a tour of your shop or space.

Point out a few items or departments that may be on sale or of interest. Ask if they have been there before and where they are coming from. You do not have to push a sale — being friendly will enhance their experience and create a lasting impression that will result in positive word of mouth and potential future sales. Be appreciative.

Thank them for stopping in and considering your product or service.

Recognize that while you may see greater “window shopping” traffic, not all window shoppers will be customers. Do not let this curb your attitude. Be informative. Ask if they are looking for something specific and do your best to find a solution, even if that means referring a fellow business. Offer any extra services, such as shipping, delivery or online purchasing.

Be personal. If you learn their name, use it: “Have a nice day, Mary.” If you know where they are from, use it: “Have a safe trip back to Michigan.” And always invite them back. Be a destination ambassador.

Give them an insider tip about where to eat, what to order or the best place to see a sunset or take their children. Connect and take an extra minute to find a way to add value to their overall visitor experience.

Finally, find a way to create a lasting relationship with the visitor. This may be their first and only visit to your destination; they may be there for a special one-time event or as a stop on the way to their final destination. However, many will be seasonal residents and annual visitors.

Invite them to follow you on Facebook or subscribe to your newsletter or mailing list.

Be sure they have a business card that lists your website or online store. Ask them to check reviews and leave one if they can.

Follow up. If you collect customer information, work it into your marketing plan.

Send postcards a month before tourist season reminding them to visit when they are in town. Treat each visitor as though they will be back. Remember to do your part to make them want to return often, stay longer and spend more. A “chance encounter” with a destination can easily become an annual retreat if an emotional connection is made. n BROOKE JAMES is a business advisor with the New York State Small Business Development Center at SUNY Canton. She is a small business owner and event planner 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

ALEXANDRIA BAY

ADAMS

FRIDAY, JUNE 14 — SATURDAY, JUNE 15

FRIDAY, JUNE 14 & SATURDAY, JUNE 15

n Thunder in the Bay Powerboat Poker Run, 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday. Watch performance enthusiasts from across North America race in the annual “Thunder on the Bay” Hall of Fame Poker Run. There will be a 55 mph and a 100 mph-plus class. On Friday there will be a Key West-style boat display and street party and on Saturday the second annual “Miss Thunder on the Bay” swimsuit contest. Complimentary food and beverages at a cocktail reception Friday at Downtown at 11 James. Lunch at O’Briens in Clayton and awards dinner on Saturday. Information and to register: 1-800-354-9145 or www.pokerrunsamerica.com.

THURSDAY, JUNE 20

n Riverfest, 1 p.m. A celebration of the Alexandria Bay area for Fort Drum soldiers and families.

Bus to Alexandria Bay, dockside festivities, Uncle Sam boat tour, Boldt Castle tour and picnic lunch at the A-Bay Town Pavilion. Last bus returns to Fort Drum at 5 p.m. Open to all soldiers, family members, civilians and guests. Boat tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for children 6 to 12, and free for children 5 and younger. Information: 772-5370.

CLAYTON SATURDAY, JUNE 29

n Grindstone Grassland Birds, 8:30 a.m., Thousand Islands Land Trust, 135 John St. Ornithologist Gerry Smith and the Thousand Islands Land Trust will give a hay-wagon tour of the grassland habitat. Water and snacks provided. Free for TILT supporters. Information: www.tilandtrust. org or 686-5345.

FRIDAY, JUNE 14 — SUNDAY, JUNE 16

n Great NY State Food & Wine Festival, 1 to 8 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 12 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Celebrate a wide variety of quality “Made in New York” food and wine products, including candies, cheese, nuts, sauces, maple syrup, apple cider, cookies and New York wines. Vendors from across the state.

Tickets: $5 adults, $4 military, $3 children. Information: www.nysfoodwinefestival.com.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12 — SUNDAY, JUNE 16

n Sailing Seaway Clayton, Grand Arrival of Lynx 12 p.m. Wednesday. The Canadian tall ship Empire Sandy, a three-mast schooner 200feet long, will kick off the festival. Ship tours, sailing excursions and live music. Information and tickets: www.sailingseawayclayton.com.

FRIDAY, JUNE 14

n Thousand Island Land Trust Community Picnic, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Zenda Farm Preserve. TILT’s annual celebration of the outdoors and kickoff of summer. Kids will have the opportunity to learn about animals and play various games.

Raffle for a picnic pottery set from St. Lawrence Pottery, a basket of goodies from Freighters of Clayton and an outdoor hammock swing from Porch and Paddle. Tickets: $12 for adults, free for children 12 and younger. Information and advance registration: 686-5345, events@ tilandtrust.org or tilandtrust.org.

SUNDAY, JUNE 16 — SATURDAY, JUNE 22

n Great International Steamboat Flotilla, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Antique Boat Museum. Stop by the museum to check out the steamboats, back at the museum for the second year in a row. Tickets and information: www.abm.org.

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NNY Business | June 2013

n Annual Strawberry Festival, 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sixtown Meetinghouse, 33 E. Church St. Enjoy a chicken barbecue, craft and hobby show, bake sale, silent auction, vintage equipment display, and strawberry desserts. Information: Alan Reed, 767-1295 or reedhave@netscape.net.

CAPE VINCENT SATURDAY, JUNE 22

n Farmers and Crafters Market, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Village Green, Broadway Street. First summer market scheduled every Saturday until Oct. 12.

Sponsored by the Cape Vincent Chamber of Commerce. Information: 654-2481.

CARTHAGE TUESDAY, JUNE 18

n Blood Drive, 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Carthage American Legion, 415 West St. Donors in June will be entered to win a Ticketmaster gift card. Information, appointments: 1-800-Red-Cross or www.redcrossblood.org.

CLAYTON SATURDAY, JUNE 29

n KeithFest, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Coyote Moon Vineyards, 17371 E. Line Road. Enjoy craft and food vendors, raffles, music by several live bands and other family-friendly activities. Tickets: $10 individual, $25 family, $5 children 11 and younger, senior citizens 66 and older, student or military with ID. Information: www.keithfest.com.

GOUVERNEUR SATURDAY, JUNE 15

n Annual Flag Day Celebration, 10 a.m., Village Park. Vendors are welcome: $15 for 8-foot space, bring your own tables and tents. Entertainment will be provided in the park prior to a parade at 2 p.m. Information: 771-3581.

LOWVILLE FRIDAY, JUNE 14 — SUNDAY, JUNE 16

n Tug Hill Bluegrass Festival, Friday 2 to 10 p.m., Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Maple Ridge Center, 7421 East Road. Bands include Atkinson Family, Lost Time, The Punches Family, The Spinney Brothers, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, Audie Blaylock and Redline and more. Free camping. Tickets: advanced weekend pass $50 until June 1, after June 1 $60. Daily rates: Friday $30, Saturday $35, freewill donation Sunday. Information: www.tughillbluegrass.com.

SATURDAY, JUNE 15

n Father’s Day Barbecue and Raffle, begins 10:30 a.m., Lowville Memorial American Legion Post 162, 5383 Dayan St., Enjoy jerked pork or chicken barbecue. Dinners are $8, $5 meat only.

Local deliveries are available: 376-3712.

POTSDAM SATURDAY, JUNE 15

n Arts Festival, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., old Snell Hall, 41 Elm St. Local artists and art teachers will put on workshops for children. Len Mackey will give a musical performance. Cost is $35 per child for an entire day of activities. Information and registration: www.slcartscouncil.org or 265-6860.

SUNDAY, JUNE 16

n Inaugural St. Lawrence County Military Appreciation Day and Career Fair, 9 a.m., Clarkson University’s Cheel Campus Center. A series of workshops will prepare veterans for post-military success. Food and beverages will be provided. Admission is free.

Pre-register: www.northcountryveterans.com.

PULASKI TUESDAY, JUNE 25

n Business After Hours at Rainbow Shores, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Rainbow Shores. Chamber mixer for chamber members, including hors d’oeuvres and light refreshments. Cash bar. Information: 298-2213.

SYRACUSE THURSDAY, JUNE 20

n Business After Hours at SUNY ESF, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1 Forestry Dr. Guests will have the opportunity to tour the ESF Gateway Center, a carbon-neutral facility. Tickets are $10 for members and $20 for non-members. Information: Lisa Metot, 470-1870 or lmetot@centerstateceo.com.

WATERTOWN FRIDAY, JUNE 14

n Father’s Day Barbecue and Cruise-in, 5 to 9 p.m., Ives Hill Retirement Community, 1200 Jewell Drive.

Starring Highway Legends Car Club. Proceeds benefit Ives Hill Retirement activities fund. All are welcome. Buffet is $8; to-go containers available.

Information: www.iveshillretirement.org.

TUESDAY, JUNE 18

n Social Media in the Workplace, 8:30 a.m. registration and continental breakfast, 9 to 10 a.m. presentation, Ramada Inn, Arsenal Street. Presented by Hancock Estabrook Counselors at Law and the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce. Registration deadline: Friday, June 14. Cost: Registered members, free; non-registered members, $5; non-members, $5. Register: 788-4400 or www.watertownny.com.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19

n “Analyzing Financial Data,” 1 to 4:30 p.m., Ramada Inn, 6300 Arsenal St. Sponsored by Bowers & Co. CPAs. Part of the QuickBooks training series. Sessions include creating reports, customizing reports, creating graphs, customizing invoice forms and preparing collection letters. Cost: $99, due by Wednesday, June 12. Information, register: www.bcpllc.com.

THURSDAY, JUNE 20

n Business After Hours, 5 to 7 p.m., A.T. Matthews and Dier, 636 Coffeen St. Sponsored by the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce.

Networking, prizes and food. Register by noon Tuesday, June 20. Admission: Registered members, $8; non-registered members, $10; non-members, $12.

Register: www.watertownny.com or 782-4400.

MONDAY, JUNE 24 & WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26

n Social Media Marketing, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Jefferson Community College. Using principles of marketing, this workshop will explore the current social media platforms and the best way to use them in your Internet marketing campaigns. Cost: $49. Register: Jefferson Community College Continuing Education Division, 786-2438.  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.

June 2013 | NNY Business

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BUSINESS SCENE Clayton Chamber Business With A Twist at River Golf Adventures & Clayton Distillery

From left, Katie Williams and Heather Valadez, Angel Rock Waterfront Cottages, Cape Vincent.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Lisa Ingerson, Sackets Harbor Central School, Kelly Cantwell, General Brown School District, and Cheyenne DiPrinzio, DiPrinzio Custom Catering. River Golf Adventures and Clayton Distillery hosted the Clayton Chamber of Commerce May Business With A Twist May 16.

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NNY Business | June 2013

From left, Selena Sanford-Coene, Seaway Hair Studio, and Cheryl Howard, Innovative Physical Therapy Solutions and Clayton Distillery.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Patti Kendall, Watertown Savings Bank, Stephanie Elliott, Watertown Savings Bank, Kim Aubertine, Clayton Distillery, and Christen LaFlamme, Watertown Savings Bank.

BUSINESS SCENE Clayton Chamber Business With A Twist

GWNC Chamber BAH at Riveredge Resort

From left, Clayton Distillery partners and owners Roger Howard, Michael Aubertine and Mike Ingerson.

From left, Jennifer Connor and Lorraine Guidry, Perrywinkles Fine Jewelry, Watertown.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Diana Grater, Grater Architects, Clayton Ray “Smitty” Smith, Premier Building, Alexandria Bay, Joy Rhinebeck, Chris’s Service Station, Clayton.

From left, Kurt Finkbeiner, The Succession Partners, Clayton, Danielle Lane, Time Warner Business Class, and Paul Luck, The Succession Partners, Clayton.

Riveredge Resort and Conference Center, Alexandria Bay, hosted the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce May Business After Hours May 22.

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

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BUSINESS SCENE GWNC Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours at Riveredge Resort

John Wayne Johnson, John Wayne Photographix, Hammond, and Jena Brancatella, Riveredge Resort and Conference Center, Alexandria Bay.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Dr. Ryan Knox, sister, Kristen, mother, Sue, and father, Dr. Ron Knox, all of Meade Optical, Watertown.

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NNY Business | June 2013

From left, Shelley Hale and Michelle Pender, Sam’s Club, Watertown.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Deborah Scholes and Nina Hopper, Clayton Island Tours.

BUSINESS SCENE South-Jeff Chamber of Commerce Businesses of the Year Awards Dinner

From left, John H. Jennings, Great Lakes Cheese, Adams, and Shawn Rolland, Fuccillo Auto Mall, Adams. The South-Jeff Chamber of Commerce named Fuccillo Auto Mall the 2013 Large Business of the Year.

From left, Jaye Worden, Adams Center Free Library, and son, Jacob, South Jefferson Central High School.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Lisa A. Reed and Lori A. Wells, owners, CafĂŠ Mira, Adams, and Allison and Gary Newton, owners, Newton Dance Company, Adams. The South-Jeff Chamber of Commerce named Newton Dance Company the 2013 Small Business of the Year. The chamber held its annual Businesses of the Year Awards Dinner at The Manor House, Pierrpont Manor, May 23.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Jim and Kathy Naklick, owners, The Manor House and Creative Imaging, Rhonda M. and Richard Calvin McNeeley III, co-owners, Hi-Lite Markings, Adams Center.

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BROKERAGE, from page 33 Consumers send anything from crayons to motorcycles, with tires being one of the more popular items because they are apparently quite a bit cheaper in the U.S., Mr. Carmon said.

“We even had hot tubs in our office in Buffalo,” Ms. Wozniak said.

Bay Brokerage receives some 2,000 packages a day and sends out email notifications so people know when to pick up their parcels.

The move to Collins Landing proved to be a good decision, as many customers find it more convenient, Mr. Carmon said.

“The move to our current location from Wellesley Island gives us better access to carriers not willing to cross the bridge,” he said.

About 8 acres remain on Bay Brokerage’s Route 12 property for future growth.

Bay Brokerage has 29 employees, including 15 employees at its headquarters. At its Collins Landing location, Bay Brokerage also has four trucks of its own covering Jefferson County and eastern Ontario.

“And advances in technology allow companies like Bay Brokerage to hire people locally to check parcels elsewhere,” Mr. Carmon said. “Automation has saved us a ton of money and helped us cut back on rental costs for offices elsewhere.”

Mr. Carmon said the company is preparing another expansion, possibly in 2014, and plans to hire five to 10 more employees.

“We may open in an airport eventually,” Mr. Carmon said. “And I’d like to work with Watertown Airport in the future.” n JAEGUN LEE is a Johnson Newspapers staff writer. Contact him at 661-2442 or jlee@wdt.net.

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BUSINESS BRIEFCASE BRIEFCASE, from page 15 first two townhouse apartment buildings at the Preserve at Autumn Ridge are now scheduled for families to move in by July 15.

Utility company workers began installing electric and gas lines the second week of May at the site north of Sam’s Club on County Route 202 in the town of Watertown, according to Jeffrey L. Powell, property manager for developer Morgan Management, Pittsford. Mr. Powell said families originally expected the housing to be ready by May. He said the developer fortunately hasn’t lost any of the 26 tenants who signed preleases reserving units at the first two apartment buildings. They were willing to wait for National Grid workers to finish their job after the utility neglected to design power lines connecting to a sewer pump station that serves the buildings.

Among the 26 units claimed so far, about 75 percent are to be occupied by military families, Mr. Powell said. That trend is expected to continue as workers finish more of the two-story buildings, which include either five or seven units.

A third building is slated to open in September, and a fourth by the beginning of October. Those buildings are part of the four-year project’s first phase, which calls for 244 two- and three-bedroom apartments to be done by fall 2014. In total, 60 buildings with 394 units are planned.

Monthly rent for the units is set at $1,110 and $1,275, including all utilities except electricity.

Kevin J. Morgan, the developer’s vice president, said although the delay he attributed to National Grid was disappointing, the utility stepped up to remedy the problem as soon as it could.

The delay also was inopportune

Got business news?

n Share your business news with NNY Business. Email news releases and photos (.jpg/300 dpi) to nnybusiness@wdt.net. The deadline for submissions is the 15th of the month for the following month’s issue. Photos that don’t appear in print may be posted on our Facebook page.

because the nearby Beaver Meadows Apartments complex is scheduled to open in June, Mr. Morgan said. Situated behind the Target store off outer Arsenal

Street in the Towne Center Plaza, that 296-unit complex is being completed by COR Development Co., Fayetteville, a Morgan competitor. The project is now on schedule to complete 22 apartment buildings at the 68.8-acre site by the end of 2013, which will include about 130 units, he said.

Both the Morgan and COR projects received 10-year tax breaks approved by municipalities to build market-rate rental housing to meet the needs of local residents and military families.

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BUILDING PERMITS n First-quarter 2013 building permits issued in the city of Watertown.

Ave., $4,000

MARCH 27: Exterior entrance, 940 Arsenal St., $80,000

ALTERATIONS

MARCH 4: Interior alteration, 508 Mill St., $30,000

FEB. 4: Interior alteration, 714 Washington St., $16,555

MARCH 15: Rebuild 12-by-24 room, 617 Lansing St., $6,000

MARCH 12: Interior project area, 159 Mullin St., $7,200

ADDITIONS

MARCH 12: Unspecified, 335 Moulton St., $19,500

FEB. 11: Exterior alteration, 259 Seymour St., $17,000 FEB. 13: Replace equipment, 1222 Arsenal St., $22,000 FEB. 13: Remove equipment and replace, 140 Mechanic St., $22,000 FEB. 25: Rebuild exterior wall, 522 Cayuga

FEB. 1: 60-by-100 addition shell, 1340 Washington St., $800,000 MARCH 4: 8-by-8 addition, bathroom, 1152 Academy St., $15,000

CONVERSIONS

REPAIR/MAINTENANCE

39 permits issued totaling $237,570

$1,277,722

MARCH 15: 10-by-12 shed, 341 Michigan Ave., $2,897

Total declared construction value

NEXT MONTH

I

n our July issue, we examine the future of agriculture in Northern New York as farmers employ innovation to contain costs and maximize crop and dairy yields.

Also coming next month: n GUEST ESSAY: New York State Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets Darrel J. Aubertine shares his insights on the state’s growing agriculture sector and what it means for Northern New York. n A STARTUP BOOM: The number of filings for new businesses continues to climb. We look at some trends to answer why more people are flying solo. 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. 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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