NNY Business March 2014 by NNY Business

Y usIness // ANNUAL WOMEN IN BUSINESS ISSUE

MARCH 2014 Volume 4 No. 4

nnybizmag.com

***

THE INTERVIEW

Children’s Home Executive Director Karen Y. Richmond p. 40

*US

, s Scene Busines Small , h c Biz Te s, NNY Busines ot. s p Sna h

MOTHERDAUGHTER DUOS

FOR SOME WOMEN, FAMILY BOND IS ALSO BUSINESS p. 18

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

NNY Business | March 2014

March 2014 | NNY Business

NNY Business | March 2014

>> Inside MARCH 2014

30 |

COVER |

28 INVESTING IN LOCAL A Chaumont restaurateur is putting all she has back into her community to help improve life for others.

SMALL BIZ STARTUP |

30 A PATH TO FREEDOM For many women, working as independent consultants offers the flexibility needed to succeed in business.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS |

18 MOTHER KNOWS BEST Four north country mothers are taking quality time with their daughters to work. |

17 BEER: IT’S ON TAP A pair of Gouverneur men have turned their love of home-brews into business. |

26 FOR LOVE OF COUNTRY An Army wife and mother is right at home as director of the Fort Drum USO.

REAL ESTATE |

38 A SHARK IN THE WATER Watertown’s ‘pink shark’ comes ashore and shares some secrets to her success.

BUSINESS SCENE |

52 NETWORKING, NNY STYLE From Jefferson to Lewis counties, businessmen and women connect for success. BUSINESS HISTORY |

58 BLAZING A NEW TRAIL A business and professional club that started in 1965 helped to advance women. |

WHAT’S HAPPENING HERE? |

60 A NEW DOLLAR IN TOWN A new, $1m building is nearly complete that gives shoppers a new local retail experience.

March 2014 | NNY Business

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INTERVIEW | 40 PUTTING CHILDREN FIRST Children’s Home of Jefferson County Executive Director Karen Y. Richmond shares some of the lessons she’s learned in 31 years with one of the region’s oldest nonprofit institutions. |

COLUMNS | 43 GUEST ESSAY

ON THE COVER

44 ECONOMICALLY SPEAKING 45 NONPROFITS TODAY 46 COMMERCE CORNER |

DEPARTMENTS

10 11 12 14 17

47 AGRI-BUSINESS 48 BUSINESS TECH BYTES 49 SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS

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

35 50 52 59 60

REAL ESTATE ROUNDUP CALENDAR BUSINESS SCENE BUSINESS HISTORY WHAT’S HAPPENING HERE?

For our annual women in business issue, Cantonbased Photographer Jason Hunter styled the cover photo at Total Image Salon, a mother-daughter business in Potsdam. Pictured from left, Brittany L. Cary and her mother, Lisa M., who own and operate the salon together. Our cover story, which features the Carys and three other motherdaughter partners in Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties, begins on page 18.

March 2014 | NNY Business

CONTRIBUTORS

BusIness www.nnybizmag.com

Chairman of the Board John B. Johnson Jr.

Bob Gorman is presidentg and CEO of United Way of Northern New York. He writes about the many ways nonprofits serve the north country’s military community. (p. 44)

Jan Oatman is regional recycling coordinator for the Development Authority of the North Country. She writes about the economic benefits of recycling programs. (p. 44)

Rande Richardson is executive director of the Northern New York Community Foundation. He writes about optimism and the next generation of north country leaders. (p. 45)

Publishers

John B. Johnson Harold B. Johnson II

VP News Operations Timothy J. Farkas

Magazine Editor

Kenneth J. Eysaman

Staff Writer / Editorial Assistant Grace E. Johnston

Photography

Lynn Pietroski is president and CEO of the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce. She explains how businesses can benefit from this month’s matchmaker event. (p. 46)

Jay Matteson is the agricultural coordinator for the Jefferson County Industrial Development Corp. He writes about opportunities to enjoy the coming Maple Weekend. (p. 47)

Jill Van Hoesen is chief information officer for Johnson Newspapers and a 25-year IT veteran. She outlines some good practices you should take to safeguard important work data. (p. 48)

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

Director of Advertising Michael Hanson

Magazine Advertising Manager Matthew Costantino

Advertising Graphics

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

Circulation Director Mary Sawyer

Sarah O’Connell is an advisor for the state Small Business Development Center at SUNY Jefferson. She goes behind the scenes of Entrepreneur Day, set for later this month at Jefferson. (p. 49)

Lance M. Evans is executive officer for the Jefferson-Lewis and St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors. He presents a comparison of the national, state and local real estate markets over the past year. (p. 35)

Norah Machia is a veteran Watertown Daily Times reporter. In our cover story, she visits four motherdaughter businesses and explores the unique dynamic that is also family. (p. 18)

MARKETPLACE

A Touch of Grace ........................ 21 AIB Inc. ......................................... 29 Americu Credit Union .................... 2 Association for the Blind ............. 34 Bach & Company ........................ 10 Bay Brokerage ............................. 39 Bayview Shores Real Estate ........ 37 Body Pros Collision Experts ........... 6 Bond Schoeneck & King ............... 7 Center for Sight ............................ 64 Cheney Tire .................................. 53 Citec Manufacturing ................... 15 Clayton Dental Office ................. 54 Coleman’s Corner ....................... 34 Creg Systems Corp. ..................... 20 Croghan Meat Market ................ 24 D. Laux Properties ........................ 37 DANC ............................................ 46 Department of Health ................... 4 DL Calarco Funeral Home .......... 14 Dr. Nancy Hyde ........................... 10 Elite Auto Repair ............................ 6 Europe Cakes .............................. 21 Exit More Real Estate ................... 37 Fairground’s Inn ........................... 34 Fuccillo Automotive ...................... 6 Fuller Insurance ........................... 29 Geico ............................................ 29

Gold Cup Farms ........................... 10 GWNC Chamber Job Expo ......... 33 Hearing Health ............................. 21 High Tower Advisors .................... 42 Hospice of Jefferson County ...... 31 Howard Orthotics ......................... 44 IHC Schools .................................. 27 Innovative PT Solutions ................ 45 Jefferson County IDA .................. 59 Ken Piarulli/Ameriprise ................ 39 Krafft Cleaning ............................. 55 Little Caesar’s Pizza ..................... 34 Lofink Ford Mercury ..................... 50 LTI Trucking ................................... 49 Macar’s ......................................... 11 Mimi’s Depot Café ....................... 34 Moe’s Southwest Grill .................. 34 Montague Inn .............................. 24 Nana Rose .................................... 21 Nice n Easy .................................. 24 NNY Builders Exchange .............. 60 NNY Business .......................... 16, 61 NNY Community Foundation ..... 22, 36 Nortz & Virkler ................................ 6 Old Garage Deli .......................... 34 Party Rentals ................................ 21 Phinney’s Automotive ................... 6 Pro Vehicle Storage ...................... 6

NNY Business | March 2014

RBC Wealth Management .......... 20 River Hospital ............................... 31 S&L Tree Service ........................... 21 Sea Comm Credit Union ............. 43 Seniors Helping Seniors ............... 21 Shorty’s Place ............................... 34 Shred Con .................................... 48 Slack Chemical Co. .................... 47 Stephen Foy Insurance ............... 29 Succession Partners ...................... 3 Sunnycrest Flowers ...................... 27 The Blue Heron ....................... 21, 34 The Little Barn Bulk Foods............ 16 The Scrub Hub .............................. 21 The Wladis Law Firm .................... 63 Thousand Islands Realty ............. 37 Three C’s Limousine ..................... 24 Tug Hill Vineyards ........................ 24 Waite Motor Sports ...................... 56 Waite Toyota ................................ 52 Watertown Daily Times ................ 57 Watertown Dental .......................... 9 Watertown LDC ............................ 35 Watertown Savings Bank ............ 32 Watertown Spring & Alignment ....... 6 Wells Communications ............... 59 WWTI TV50 ..................................... 62 Ziebart Tidycar ............................... 6

NNY Business (ISSN 2159-6115), is published monthly by Northern New York Newspaper Corp., 260 Washington St., Watertown, NY 13601, a Johnson Newspaper Corp. company. © 2010-2014. All material submitted to NNY Business becomes property of Northern New York Newspaper Corp., publishers of the Watertown Daily Times, and will not be returned.

Subscription Rates 12 issues are $15 a year and 24 issues are $25 for two years. Call 315-782-1000 to subscribe. Submissions Send all editorial correspondence to keysaman@wdt.net Advertising For advertising rates and information in Jefferson and Lewis counties, email mcostantino@wdt.net, or call 315-661-2305 In St. Lawrence County, e-mail knelson@ogd.com, or call 315-769-2451 Printed with pride in U.S.A. at Vanguard Printing LLC, Ithaca, N.Y., a Forest Stewardship Certified facility. Please recycle this magazine.

March 2014 | NNY Business

EDITOR’S NOTE

e are once again proud to deliver our annual women in business issue this month. When we were considering who we would feature in this special issue, we thought about the unique bond that exists between mothers and daughters and how, for some, it doesn’t stop when it’s time to get down to business. In our cover story, writer Norah Machia features four businesses in Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties that are finding success because of the ties that bind mothers and Ken Eysaman daughters. In Watertown, Norah met Bonnie Herman and her daughter, Emily, who last year opened the Scrub Hub on outer Washington Street. She also caught up with Kathy Lettiere who, with daughter Lauren Prior, owns and operates A Touch Of Grace on Coffeen Street. Kathy’s daughter Kristan Donoghue also helps with marketing and advertising decisions. In Potsdam, Norah caught up with cover duo Lisa Cary and her daughter, Brittany, at Total Image Salon. And in Herman, she visited mother-daughter pair Liz Carpenter and Kathy Whiteford, who own and operate Timeless Taste Catering together. Turn to page 18 to read about these inspiring women who have found just the right mix of family and business while also keeping strong the bond between mother and daughter. n n n 20 QUESTIONS — This month we sit down with Karen Richmond, a 31-year veteran employee of the Children’s Home of Jefferson County who, for the past 15 years, has led the organization through a series of tremendous changes. Under her watch, the Children’s Home has grown to a staff of 237 with an annual budget of $16 million that supports 17

10 |

NNY Business | March 2014

different programs across the north country. In a very candid conversation, Karen shares her vision for the future of one of the north country’s oldest institutions, what it’s like to work at the same place for more than three decades and how she manages to stay positive when times are tough. n n n BUSINESS SCENE — This month’s Scene section, which begins on page 52, features 55 faces from more than three-dozen businesses across the north country. On Jan. 24, we joined Watertown’s Downtown Business Association at the Paddock Arcade for its annual Social Event. Seven businesses, along with 50-year Crystal Restaurant employee Maryann Bancroft, garnered recognition during the event. The DBA and the New York State Small Business Development Center at JCC sponsored the awards, while Paddock Arcade restaurant Johnny D’s provided some great food. On Feb. 6, we joined the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce at the Savory Downtown and Best Western Carriage House Inn to honor Thomas H. Carman, Samaritan Medical Center president and CEO as the recipient of the 62nd Israel A. Shapiro Citizenship Award. Congratulations on a well-earned honor. On Feb. 13, we dropped by F.X. Caprara Harley-Davidson in Adams Center for the South Jeff Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours. The following week, we joined the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce at Raymour & Flanigan Furniture for the February Business After Hours. Finally, on Feb. 27, Lowville editor Jeremiah Papineau joined the Lewis County Chamber of Commerce at jeb’s Restaurant for the February Business After Hours. If you know of an event that we should attend in Jefferson, Lewis or St. Lawrence County, please drop me an email at keysaman @wdt.net. We are always looking for new places to go for some north country networking with new faces. Yours in business

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE New development director at WPBS-DT

Bonnie Eppolito has been named director of development at WPBS-DT, effective last fall. Ms. Eppolito joined the WPBSDT team in 2012 as corporate support account executive and has an accomplished career in marketing and broadcasting. In Eppolito her new role, she is responsible for development of major and planned giving initiatives for the public television station.

Named law partner North Carolina firm

Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP has named transactions attorney Gary T. McDermott a partner in the firm’s Charlotte, N.C., office. He is a 1998 graduate of SUNY Oswego and a 2005 graduate of the University of Georgia School of McDermott Law. Mr. McDermott specializes in counseling developers and property owners in complex commercial real estate transactions and developments. He will help financial institutions resolve lending disputes and provide guidance to companies in general corporate matters.

Reagan Companies names sales director

The Reagan Companies, a Marcellusbased insurance and risk management firm, have named Brian P. Genalo sales director. Mr. Genalo, Liverpool, will manage the firm’s sales and marketing division. Mr. Genalo earned a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Genalo Plattsburgh and a master of business administration from Syracuse University.

Earns top advisor award

Ike Mitchell will be honored as a 2013 top advisor of Cadaret, Grant & Co., a Syracuse-based broker/dealer. Of more than 900 advisors associated with Cadaret, Grant & Co., Mr. Mitchell was among the 20 percent who qualified for the award. Mr. Mitchell, a Northern New Mitchell York native, will attend the company’s annual top advisors conference in Southampton, Bermuda in May, where he will receive the award. The conference includes business sessions on topics that relate to the current economic outlook and new legislation. Top advisors will hear from industry experts on global investing, generating income for clients, and tips for navigating the markets.

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. Mr. Mitchell has served clients for 31 years. He will work with new and existing client portfolios to implement information received from the conference. “I am grateful to have had a successful year, but I am most honored to work with people and clients who make my job so rewarding,” Mr. Mitchell said. Cadaret, Grant & Co. is a privately owned broker/dealer with more than 400 branch offices nationwide. Founded in 1985, the firm provides service, technology, marketing and tools for financial advisors.

Financial rep earns top industry honor

Clifford R. Davis, a financial advisor with Northwestern Mutual, has qualified for membership in the Million Dollar Roundtable, an international, independent association of nearly 19,000 leading life insurance producers. Membership is a career milestone that indicates sales and service achievement and is considered a mark of excellence for life underwriters. Members must meet ethical and production requirements to qualify. Mr. Davis has been associated with Northwestern Mutual since 1992 and has earned the NAIFA Quality Award multiple times and holds several professional designations.

Please see People, page 16

MACAR’S • Kitchens • Bathrooms • Flooring • Lighting

161 Coleman Ave., Watertown • 788-3732

www.macarsinteriors.com

March 2014 | NNY Business

| 11

NNY

Economic indicators Average per-gallon milk price paid to N.Y. dairy farmers Jan. 2014 $2.05 Dec. 2013 $2.05 Jan. 2013 $1.83

12.0%

ECON SNAPSHOT

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

Source: NYS Department of Agriculture

322,384 in Jan. 2014 363,131 in Dec. 2013 333,476 in Jan. 2013

Average NNY price for gallon of regular unleaded gas

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

Jan. 2014 $3.65 Dec. 2013 $3.65 Jan. 2013 $3.69

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

1.0%

Average NNY price for gallon of home heating oil

12 |

(Percent gains and losses are over 12 months)

Jan. 2014 $4.00 Dec. 2013 $3.89 Jan. 2013 $3.99

0.25%

Average NNY price for gallon of residential propane Jan. 2014 $3.75 Dec. 2013 $3.50 Jan. 2013 $3.01

24.6%

Source: NYS Energy Research and Development Authority

Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors single-family home sales 54, median price $159,450 in Jan. 2014 87, median price $129,900 in Dec. 2013 70, median price $139,900 in Jan. 2013

22.9% Sales

14.0% Price

Source: Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors Inc.

3.3%

$1.11 on Jan. 31, 2014 $1.06 on Dec. 31, 2013 $1.01 on Jan. 31, 2013

9.9%

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of N.Y.

St. Lawrence Board of Realtors single-family home sales 38, median price $87,000 in Jan. 2014 49, median price $80,500 in Dec. 2013 47, median price $87,500 in Jan. 2013

72.0% Sales

13.1% Price

Source: St. Lawrence Board of Realtors Inc.

Limited data release

n Due to annual updates to year-end unemployment data, the state Department of Labor was unable to provide unemployment statistics for January before press time. Unemployment figures and nonagriculture job data for January will be reported in our April issue, along with February data.

City real estate

Turn to pages 36 for a look at January’s Top 10 real estate transactions in Jefferson and St. Lawrence and counties.

FEB. 14: 120 Duffy St., Carmencita M. Villar, Farmingdale, sold to Chris J. McDonald II, Watertown, $82,150

Nathaniel David Warner and Amanda J. Warner, Ozark, Ala., $145,000

Eastern Boulevard, Mullins Properties LLC, New Hartford, sold to Evergreen Family Limited Partnership, Rome, $250,000

FEB. 11: No acreage, Salina Street, Jeremy A. Gawf sold to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Columbus, Ohio, $84,413

FEB. 18: City of Watertown: 336 Michigan Ave. N., Robert S. Powley by referee Citimortgage Inc., sold to Sec. of Veterans Affairs, $198,101 FEB. 13: No acreage, Academy Street, April Neibacher, Carthage, sold to Andrew Wren, Watertown, $70,000 Unit 13, Fairway West Townhomes, Donald E. Johnson and Katherine Doe Johnson, Sackets Harbor, sold to Jan Oliver, Dexter, $184,000 0.248 acres, Flower Avenue West, Josh Metz and Andrea Metz, Watertown, sold to Francis Joseph Monaco and Jennifer Monaco, Fort Drum, $225,000 FEB. 12: 0.43 acres, Smith Street, Bonnie E. Hall, executor for Ellen E. Busto, Dexter, sold to Peter M. Smithers, Dexter, $80,000 150 Seymour St., Nickalous Korbut, Watertown, sold to

FEB. 10: 0.736 acres, Washington Street, Sanquist Properties, James A. Burrows, referee, Watertown, sold to Washington Manor Apartments LLC, Watertown $556,352 FEB. 7: No acreage, 248 Flower Ave. East, Wiliam E. Morgan, executor of Mary Margaret Morgan estate, Watertown, sold to Shaun P. Clark and Alexandra M. Cooke, Enterprise, Ala. $157,900 No acreage, 340 N. Rutland St., Hye Son Montgomery, Watertown, sold to Jefferson Atlantic Holding Trust, Ogdensburg $67,000 FEB. 5: No acreage given, Stone Street, Paul D. Trimper, referee, Watertown, sold to Deutsche Bank Trust Co., c/o Ocwen Loan Servicing, West Palm Beach, Fla. $127,261

$2,227,177 City real estate sales recorded over a 10-day period, Feb. 5-14.

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

NNY Business | March 2014

NNY

Economic indicators New automobiles (cars and trucks) registered in Jefferson County Cars 361 in Jan. 2014 357 in Dec. 2013 340 in Jan. 2013

6.2%

Trucks 96 in Jan. 2014 76 in Dec. 2013 112 in Jan. 2013

14.3%

Source: Jefferson County Clerk’s Office

Passengers at Watertown International Airport

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

1,990 inbound and outbound in Jan. 2014 2,983 inbound and outbound in Dec. 2013 3,017 inbound and outbound in Jan. 2013

2,124 in Jan. 2014 2,035 in Dec. 2013 2,077 in Jan. 2013

2.3%

34.0% Source: Jefferson County Board of Legislators

DBA (doing business under an assumed name) certificates filed at the Jefferson County Clerk’s office Feb. 3 to Feb. 27, 2014. For a complete list of DBAs filed in past months, visit us at WWW.NNYBIZMAG.COM.

FEB. 27: Mostly British, 12101 Route 12E, Chaumont, Paula M. Petroske, P.O. Box 438, Chaumont

Elliott Builders, 8216 Bush Road, Croghan, Clayton Elliott, 8216 Bush Road, Croghan.

Tiny Tots Daycare, 27440 Perch Lake Road, Watertown, Leona E. Sharp, 27440 Perch Lake Road, Watertown

FEB. 13: E.O.G. Accessories, Bldg. PL0730 Freedom Drive, Fort Drum, Glenn B. Isaac, 153 Saint Mary St., Watertown.

Vapor Divas, 212 Franklin St., Watertown, Debbie M. Shecton, 34 Stalker Road., Russell FEB. 26: Professional Institute for Real Estate Training, 302 Gale St., Watertown, Patrick F. Fields, 302 Gale St., Watertown FEB. 25: Denfit, 228 Bay St., Cape Vincent, Kevin R. Denecke, 228 Bay St., Cape Vincent FEB. 24: Xtreme Bounce and Slide Rentals, 15730 Odell Road, Copenhagen, Noah Hodge, 15730 Odell Road, Copenhagen. Lamby Toes, 11598A Maple View Pl., Watertown, Amanda Marie Perkins, 11598A Maple View Pl., Watertown. Lake Country Seasonal Services, 324 Gale St., Watertown, Douglas H. Thomas Jr., 324 Gale St., Watertown. FEB. 20: Crossman Towing and Recovery, 359 Arlington St., Watertown, Joseph Crossman, 359 Arlington St., Watertown. Lakeshore Copywriting, 6 Institute St., Apt. 9, Adams, Joseph Higgins, 6 Institute St., Apt. 9, Adams. FEB. 19: NNY Painting Pros, 4 Maple Ave., Antwerp, Michael D. Brownell Jr., 4 Maple Ave., PO Box 39, Antwerp. Repurpose, 16158 County Route 66, Sackets Harbor, Jessica L. Burt, 8 Loomis Road, Pulaski. FEB. 18: Sweetland Hobby, 93 Walton St., Alexandria Bay, Shane Sweetland, 93 Walton St., Alexandria Bay. Island Artisan Group, 46021 County Route 191, Wellesley Island, Melissa Mae Wainwright, 46021 County Route 191, Wellesley Island. J. Mann Marketing, 24478 Back St., Felts Mills, Justin Mann, 24478 Back St., PO Box 33, Felts Mills. FEB. 14: Arise Retail Cleaning Services, 1029 Bronson St., Watertown, Cesar Avila, 1029 Bronson St., Watertown.

FEB. 12: Birch Bark Farm, 953 Cronk Road, Watertown, Michael Birchenough, 953 Cronk Road, Adams. FEB. 11: Hair Cuts by Sunni, 26390 US Route 11, Suite B., Evans Mills, Hyeson Montgomery, 1023 Academy St., Watertown. Lena African Caribbean Market, 126 Franklin St., Watertown, Edirin Igho Akiti, 119 Joseph Lonsway Drive, Clayton. FEB. 10: Little G’s of Sackets Harbor, 74 Worth Road, Sackets Harbor, Jessica Flack, 8637 Peck St., PO Box 225, Evans Mills. Timeline Enterprize, 112 W. Remington St., Black River, Glenn Alfred Sprauve Jr., 112 W. Remington St., Black River. FEB. 6: Purple Pirate, 8911 Rt. 178, Adams, Mary Hill Howard, 22 E. Church St., Adams. Pierce Construction Services, 40406 Rt. 24, Antwerp, Brian Pierce, 40406 Rt. 24, Antwerp. FEB. 5: Modicum, 22877 Bell Ridge, Dexter, Monica Behan, 22877 Belle Ridge, Dexter. Northern Wolf Pack, 66 Indian River Estates, Theresa, Eugene E. Crook, 66 Indian River Estates, Theresa. FEB. 4: R S D C Lifestyle, 15046 Lovers Lane, Clayton, Michael G. Hooson, 15046 Lovers Lane, Clayton. FEB. 3: Cleanse the Internal U Day Spa, 2626A US Rt. 11, Evans Mills, JoAnne M. Moore, 29822 State Rt. 3 Lot 34, PO Box 623, Black River. H3llo Beautiful Photography, 9639 C. Fitzsimmons Loop, Fort Drum, Rachel M. Marable, 9693 C. Fitzsimmons Loop, Fort Drum.

TRANSACTIONS

DBAs

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

March 2014 | NNY Business

| 13

BUSINESS BRIEFCASE Community Action Council seeks seeds, gardening supplies

Efforts by the Community Action Planning Council of Jefferson County to positively influence what goes onto the tables and into the mouths of its clients will culminate with a Grow with Community Action open house in May. The real work begins now; the nonprofit is seeking to collect thousands of packets of seeds and donations of other gardening supplies — such as small potting spades, startup potting cups, bags of potting soil, gardening tools, gardening gloves and 5-gallon buckets — as part of its third annual Seeds & Needs campaign. The program seeks to encourage lowincome families to “make the most of their household budgets by growing their own fruits and vegetables,” according to a recent CAPC news release. As part of the program this spring, the extension’s network of master gardeners will educate families on how to care for their gardens. Gardening supplies and seeds, including, but not limited to, tomatoes, peppers, onions, squashes, zucchini, watermelon, cantaloupe, pumpkins, lettuce, beets, cucumbers and herbs, will be collected through the spring. The project receives some support from local businesses, and the Food Bank of Central New York and Cape Vincent Correctional Facility provide some tomato and green pepper starter plants in 5-gallon buckets for portable gardens. The correctional facility has a garden that inmates care for, and produce is sent to CAPC’s food pantry. Last year, more than 3,000 packets of seeds and gardening materials were dis-

135 Keyes Avenue, Watertown, New York

315-782-4910

14 |

NNY Business | March 2014

tributed to CAPC families, local schools and food pantries. Donations may be dropped off for the 2014 project to the nonprofit between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily. Call Mary Jane Mathewson, 782-4900, ext. 233, to learn more. — Rebecca Madden

Expansion planned at Lewis meat facility

Just over a year after opening their USDA-inspected slaughtering and meat processing facility, Jordan D. and Rachel B. Brandt, owners of Red Barn Meats Inc., are looking to expand operations and staff. Help in making it possible came from the Development Authority of the North Country on Thursday, as the board of directors approved a $25,000 loan from its valueadded agriculture loan fund to purchase equipment necessary for the expansion. The Brandts originally operated a custom meat-cutting facility in Carthage, relocating to 9095 Briot Road at the end of 2012. “We had USDA inspectors here before we even bought it,” Mr. Brandt said. Expansion and USDA approval would have been difficult in the Carthage location. “It was much smaller and too cramped. The whole shop fit into that room,” Mr. Brandt said, pointing to a workspace where employees were dividing ground beef. In addition to beef, the Brandts slaughter and process pork, poultry, lambs and goats. The anticipated expansion was aided from business with a pork supplier. “There’s a few things still up in the air,” Mr. Brandt said, “but if we do half of the number they say, we’ll be adding two more full-time employees.” Red Barn Meats operates with a staff of five full-time employees, offering wholes, halves or quarters of quality, locally raised

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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.

beef, whole or halves of roaster hogs and whole lambs and goats. The business sells pasture-raised poultry packages; sausage in bulk, links, ropes or patties; cured and smoked ham and bacon, and whole, half or sliced hams and smoked hocks. All products are professionally vacuum sealed, labeled, boxed and frozen. Contact Red Barn Meats at 346-1254 or redbarnmeatsinc@gmail.com. Visit them online at redbarnmeats.com. — Christina Scanlon

A&J Embroidery Services opens new Main Street storefront in Massena

A Massena couple who had been operating an embroidery business out of their Grove Street home are now running their business in a storefront on Main Street. April L. Holder, who co-owns A&J Embroidery Services with her husband, Jeffrey A., said they simply ran out of space at their home before making the move to 10 Main St., the former Precious Memories store location. “I was in a 10-by-20 building, and we simply outgrew that,” Mrs. Holder said, adding that the shop’s equipment was all housed in a building next to her house that customers affectionately called “the shed.” Mrs. Holder said the business now has 4,400 square feet.

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BUSINESS BRIEFCASE “We’re only using the upper floor now, but we have room to grow,” she said. Mrs. Holder said the opening of a storefront on Main Street already has allowed the business to grow. The front of A&J Embroidery Services is a storefront, featuring decals and clothing from Massena, Norwood-Norfolk, St. Lawrence Central and Salmon River schools. In addition to completed shirts, sweatshirts, hats and more, Mrs. Holder said, the business offers almost anything someone could think of. “We’re trying to keep up with the popular trends and bring them to our little hometown,” she said, noting in addition to embroidering on everything from Tshirts, sweat shirts and athletic uniforms to shorts, sweat pants and even dancing and skating apparel, they can decorate almost anything with rhinestones. A&J Embroidery Services also offers custom decals, laser engraving, sign making, custom printing, skate sharpening and even some hockey supplies, such as tape and laces. The shop is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. Contact them at 769-1284. — Benny Fairchild

to distribute its beer. “We are very excited to reach this agreement and look forward to distributing the only true beer brewed in St. Lawrence County,” David Cappione, vice president of A. Cappione said. “Craft beers are becoming very popular and these beers will be a great addition to our portfolio. The St. Lawrence Brewing Co. began canning its beer in January, placing its product on store shelves as well as on tap. The Canton brewery hired We Can Canning Solutions, a Pennsylvania

company that specializes in mobile, onlocation fulfillment. The brewery began distributing its beer in June, and its tasting room opened in August. The agreement with A. Cappione is the brewery’s third with distributors who will sell to bars across the north country and the state, owner Kenneth M. Hebb said. The biggest focus now is on creating loyalty among the brewery’s existing customers while continuing to get the product into as many bars as possible, Mr. Hebb added.

St. Lawrence County IDA provides support to Fort Drum, Ogdensburg

The St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency has given financial help to the Drum Country Business Regional Marketing Initiative and has given its backing to the proposal to transfer approximately 160 acres of surplus real property at the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center to the city of Ogdensburg. At a meeting late last month in Canton, the IDA committed $5,000 annually to the tri-county Drum initiative to market the area to businesses recognizing Fort Drum as an economic impetus. The IDA also endorsed the plan to transfer land at the psychiatric center to Ogdensburg to spur economic development.

St. Lawrence Brewing Co. signs distribution pact Beverage distributor A. Cappione Inc., Massena, has signed an agreement with St. Lawrence Brewing Company, Canton,

March 2014 | NNY Business

| 15

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE PEOPLE, from page 11

Earns CPA license

Watertown accountant Emily Pisula has earned her Certified Public Accountant license, Bowers & Company CPAs announced recently. A Pittsburgh, Pa., native, Ms. Pisula is a 2005 graduate of Mercyhurst College with a bachelor’s in public relations and marketing and a 2011 graduate of Chatham University with a master’s in accountancy. Upon graduating from Mercyhurst, she obtained an office manager position with a Pittsburgh accounting firm, where she held marketing and bookkeeping duties. When she began graduate school in 2010, she was promoted from staff auditor, a position she held until her move to Watertown in early 2013. Ms. Pisula joined Bowers & Company as a staff accountant in its Watertown office last fall. Her areas of expertise include not-for-profit and governmental auditing, as well as preparation of individual and corporate taxes. Bowers and Company CPAs has served private and closely held businesses with strategic financial advice for more than 20 years.

Chicago advocacy group hires former Save the River director

Jennifer J. Caddick, former executive director of Save the River, Clayton, has joined the Alliance for the Great Lakes as the nonprofit’s engagement director. This position was created for Ms. Caddick, who moved to Chicago and began her new role in mid-December. She will

develop communications programs and strategy for the alliance. Since 1970, the alliance has advocated to protect and restore the Great Lakes, the world’s largest surface freshwater resource. Ms. Caddick led Save the River’s effort to promote environmental restoration and protection of Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence River and the surrounding region from 2006 to 2012.

St. Lawrence University appoints new treasurer

St. Lawrence University has hired a new treasurer and vice president for finance to succeed Kathryn L. Mullaney, who will retire after 20 years with the college. Joseph P. Manory most recently worked as chief financial officer for the Savannah Manory College of Art and Design in Georgia. He will move to the north country next month and take the reins March 31. His wife, Sue, and sons, Will, 17, and Drew, 14, will join him in Canton this Mullaney summer. Ms. Mullaney has been a fixture at the college since 1994, but the time has come for her to retire, she said. Before coming to St. Lawrence University, Ms. Mullaney was a financial

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Joins surveying team at Aubertine & Currier

Greg Holmes has joined the surveying department at Aubertine and Currier Architects, Engineers & Land Surveyors, the Watertown firm announced recently. Mr. Holmes will assist the department’s field crews. He has more than 25 years of surveying experience in Northern New York and has worked on various New York State Department of Transportation and Thruway Authority projects. He holds a 10-hour OSHA certificate and Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response certification.

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director for General Electric’s aerospace division, which was sold to Martin Marietta Corp. the year before she took the job at the college. Ms. Mullaney and her husband, Brian T., plan to remain in the north country. They have a home in Hannawa Falls. She said she plans to remain active in the community, remaining on the boards of directors for Canton-Potsdam Hospital and the Canton Day Care Center. She will help her successor learn the ropes of the job and university before she leaves, she said. “The whole environment for higher education is so competitive that he’ll just need to keep our costs contained as much as possible while still delivering the education that our students want,” Ms. Mullaney said. Mr. Manory was selected after a lengthy national search. Before his time in Georgia, he was the chief financial officer at Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts from 2007 to 2011 and treasurer at Quest Diagnostics Inc. in New Jersey from 2000 to 2007.

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JASON HUNTER | NNY BUSINESS

“We’re registered as a farm brewery, which means we’re committed to New York State and local hops and barley” — Dale J. Freeman, partner, Adirondack Toboggan Company Brewery BUSINESS

Adirondack Toboggan Company Microbrewery THE INITIAL IDEA

Kevin D. Archer and Dale J. Freeman were relaxing one Thanksgiving, talking about trying their hand at some home brew. “What turned out was that everybody loved it, so we kept making it,” Mr. Archer said. “So we said, ‘Let’s have some real fun and go commercial.‘” Two years later, the partners opened Adirondack Toboggan Company Microbrewery in the bottom of 202A W. Main St., in the same building as the Ultimate Experience Salon, a business operated by Mr. Archer’s wife, Chalaine M.

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“One interesting thing is that we’re registered as a farm brewery, which means we’re committed to New York state and local hops and barley,” Mr. Freeman said. There are not enough hops and barley

growers in the north country to supply all of the microbrewery’s needs, but Mr. Freeman and Mr. Archer are encouraging more people to try their hand at the crops. Hops, which gives beer its distinctive flavor, aroma and bitterness, was once a mainstay of north country agriculture. Hops production is enjoying a resurgence in Madison County, and Mr. Freeman and Mr. Archer, who buy some hops from producers in Gouverneur, are planning to grow some of their own on Mr. Archer’s property in Edwards.

THE JOURNEY The company is licensed as all-grain brewers, meaning the beer is made from scratch without any prepackaged mixes. “We’ve chosen to naturally carbonate using sugars,” Mr. Freeman said. The beer is a result of what Mr. Freeman and Mr. Archer like. “We’re self-taught so we’ve made a lot of mistakes,” Mr. Freeman said. As the history on the company’s website, www.adktoboggan.net, states, the partners often refer to their enterprise as Two Stupid Brewers. But the result is a regular ale with a flavor

they appreciate that is light on hops and that is made from well water from Mr. Freeman’s farm. “It slides down smooth,” Mr. Archer said, noting the reference to the toboggan in the company’s name. The brewery uses a lot of stainless steel dairy bulk tanks and maple syrup equipment that Mr. Freeman and Mr. Archer converted to save costs. Mr. Archer, a contractor, and Mr. Freeman, the manager of TDS Telecom, Edwards, built the production areas and tasting room using local ash and pine.

IN FIVE YEARS

The brewery will open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday with the company’s regular ale on tap. For now, the microbrewery will be open Wednesday nights and Saturdays, with Mr. Archer and Mr. Freeman as the only employees. The microbrewery will sell 64-ounce growlers for $16, including a $4 bottle deposit. Kegs are available and smaller bottles are in the works. The longer-term goal will be to sell the beer to local bars and expand production. “We are our own distributor,” Mr. Archer said. — Martha Ellen

WHERE Gouverneur | FOUNDED 2014 | WEB www.adktoboggan.net

March 2014 | NNY Business

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COVER STORY

Like mother, like daughter For many mother-daughter teams, success in business is rooted in the ties that bind — trust, respect and unconditional love

IT’S NO SECRET THAT A mother and daughter relationship can be a little tumultuous at times. But they usually share a bond of unconditional love and respect for each other, and that is what can make a mother and daughter team a success in the business world. While the “traditional” family business team has often been identified as a pairing of father and son, the expanding number of women-owned businesses in recent decades has opened the doors for a growing trend of businesses being operated by mothers and daughters.

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NNY Business | March 2014

BY NORAH MACHIA | NNY BUSINESS The U.S. Census released business ownership by gender data in 2012. That report showed of the approximately 26.3 million businesses that responded to the government survey, 7.8 million were owned by women, 13.9 million were owned by men and 4.6 million were owned equally by men and women. The women interviewed for this story said the mother and daughter pairing has many advantages, including a strong level of trust between the two (for example, one person can take a few days off, and can trust the other one to keep the business operating).

They also noted that it was important to have an honest relationship at work, and realize while they may not always see “eye-to-eye” on business decisions, they can be open-minded about each other’s suggestions, and work toward compromise. One thing that the mothers and daughters interviewed said was a top priority in order to successfully work together — they must share the same philosophy about the business. NNY Business caught up with three north country businesses where mothers and daughters are working together to figure out how to make it a success.

Liz Carpenter, left, and daughter, Kathy Whiteford, own and operate Timeless Taste Catering together, in their kitchen in Hermon.

TIMELESS TASTE CATERING, HERMON This company in St. Lawrence County handles a variety of events, including weddings, corporate gatherings and parties. Its website promotes an “extra special touch” to each event, along with custom menu options at competitive prices and a majority of dishes made from scratch with fresh, high quality ingredients. The business was started in 2009 after Liz Carpenter retired from working for the College Association of Canton College for 13 years. She had worked as head baker for more than three years, but then moved into other areas of the college before her retirement. After her retirement, she discussed the idea of opening the catering business with her daughter, Kathy Whiteford. At that time Kathy was busy homeschooling four children, so both agreed this type of business would work best, especially if they approached it as a team. “We work well together and have a

passion for entertaining and preparing food for families and friends,” said Mrs. Carpenter. “We describe our cuisine as home-style cooking, as stated in our St. Lawrence County Newspapers advertisement —“From Grandma’s Kitchen to Yours!” After the two women decided to move forward with their plans, they set up a commercial business in the basement of Kathy’s home. The state Health Department approval process to open the catering business took approximately one year. “But now we are proud to say that we are the only independent, and certified, catering business in St. Lawrence County,” said Mrs. Carpenter. Timeless Taste Catering handles wedding receptions, graduation celebrations, business luncheons, showers or any festive occasion, she said. Since the mother and daughter live just less than two miles from each other, the arrangement is convenient for both, Mrs. Carpenter said.

JASON HUNTER | NNY BUSINESS

“We prepare all of our food on premise and have a trailer to transport to locations,” she said. “Our menu includes hot dishes such as macaroni and cheese, stuffed shells and rigatoni, several choices of meats including stuffed chicken breast and barbeque chicken, cold salads, and a long list of appetizers.” The catering business also offers any array of homemade desserts, and will work with customers on their special recipe requests as well. “We lead busy lives, we both participate in our church,” Mrs. Carpenter said. “Kathy now has six children and home schools all of them.” Like any independent family business, “we have slow times, when we scratch our heads. But before you know it, we are busy again and try to catch our breath. There will always be challenges!” the mother said. For more information on the catering service, contact 347-2649. March 2014 | NNY Business

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COVER STORY TOTAL IMAGE SALON, POTSDAM Lisa M. Cary and her daughter Brittany L. Cary work together at the Total Image Salon in Potsdam, which offers haircuts, perms, colors, manicures and pedicures, facials, body waxing, ear piercing and tanning. Mrs. Cary has 27 years of experience as a stylist, and her daughter has been practicing in the field for seven years. The mother’s main focus is on hair care services, while the daughter’s is multiple services in the cosmetology field. In a way, Mrs. Cary and her daughter have “always worked together,” said the mother. While nine months pregnant with Brittany and giving a perm to a client at the salon, Mrs. Cary was timing her contractions. At age 10, Brittany started answering the phone at the salon, and during her teenage years, she began work as a receptionist. When she graduated from Colton-Pierrepont Central School and Seaway Technical Center in 2007, Brittany started her career as a cosmetologist at her mother’s business. “Growing up around the business made up my mind to follow in my mother’s

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NNY Business | March 2014

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Lisa M. Cary, left, and daughter, Brittany L., at Total Image Salon, Potsdam. The two own and operate the salon together at 29 Main St. “Working together for so long, we know each other’s next move,” Mrs. Cary said.

footsteps,” said Brittany. Her mother helped her learn many aspects of the business, although it was a

challenge because she is right-handed and her mother is left-handed, Brittany said. “I finally decided that I had to watch

March 2014 | NNY Business

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COVER STORY her in the mirror” to learn the hair styling techniques, the daughter said. At the same time, she brought some new techniques into the business when she first started, such as the foil coloring process, Brittany said. She also uses her Facebook page to make appointments and relays text messages regarding appointments to her mother. “Everyone here helps each other out,” said Mrs. Cary, who has five other stylists working at the salon. “It’s really teamwork.” Mrs. Cary started her career as a cosmetologist in 1987 at Village Cutters in

Potsdam, and after learning the business for five years, she left and joined three other women to open Total Image Salon in 1992 at 29 Main Street in Potsdam. As the business grew, more stylists were added, bringing the total to as many as eight stylists and two nail technicians. Mrs. Cary became the sole owner of the business just over two years ago. There are several advantages to mother and daughter working together, the women said. “Working together for so long, we know each other’s next move,” said Mrs. Cary.

“Brittany is capable of running the salon by herself, and both of us can multi-task.” That includes taking care of clients, answering phones and doing laundry. They can also work together to address some of the challenges of operating the business, including taking time to place product orders so they do not run out of supplies, and handling any issues with back orders from suppliers. At the same time, both women are also busy taking care of their families. Mrs. Cary is married to husband, Michael, and has three other children, Steven, 28, Leanne, 16 and Katelyn, 14. She averages more than 50 hours a week working at the salon. Brittany, who is single, also works five to six days a week at the salon, and at the same time, is a foster parent to two boys an 18-month-old and a 6-month old. Being a foster parent is something she wanted to pursue since she was 18 years old. The other stylists on the Total Image team are Carol Irish, Trish Fefee, Lisa Ploof, Becky McHenry and Ali Fayette. For more information contact the salon at 268-6825. THE SCRUB HUB, WATERTOWN For nearly eight years, Bonnie M. Herman had been talking about opening a store that specialized in selling scrubs. But Mrs. Herman, who works full-time as a radiologic technologist at Samaritan Medical Center, knew she needed help to make her dream a reality. Enter her daughter, Emily E., 22, who was studying business economics at SUNY Cortland and was preparing to graduate last year. She and her mother discussed the idea of opening the store, with Emily working as a full-time manager, primarily when her mother was working at the hospital. Her mother would work week nights and on the weekends. They also decided the if the store was going to be open seven days a week, there needed to be at least one other manager and additional sales help. “I told her if she was really serious about coming home and making this commitment,” then we would do it, her mother said. The mother-daughter team, along with Mrs. Herman’s husband, Michael, began renovating more than 1,000 square feet of a rented building on Outer Washington Street. One of the first things the mother and daughter did together was travel to several clothing stores that were part of a chain that had closed. The two women bought display racks, signs and hangers for bargain prices. The decision to open the business last

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NNY Business | March 2014

COVER STORY

Emily E. Herman, left, and mother, Bonnie M., are surrounded by racks of contemporary medical scrubs at the Scrub Hub on outer Washington Street, Watertown. The motherdaughter duo opened the shop earlier this year to cater to north country health care workers. AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS

year turned out to be a good one, they said. The Scrub Hub has been building a solid customer base, attracting shoppers from as far away as Canada. People are buying scrubs — tops and pants — not just for medical professions, they said. School cafeteria workers, daycare providers and house cleaners are among some of their customer base. Their supplier through they were crazy to try and sell camouflage scrubs, but they have actually been one of the top sellers, the women joked. They stock a variety of pattern scrubs — even with trademark characters such as Hello Kitty and The Incredible Hulk — along with a range of solid colors as well. While Mrs. Herman has her eye on the “more mature” professionals, her daughter likes to pick out the scrubs “that the younger girls are wearing,” she said. Emily also brings her social media skills to the business, for example, by continually updating the store’s Facebook page. There are future plans for a website as well. Mrs. Herman said she is always willing to listen to her daughter’s suggestions, even if she is a little skeptical at first. A few months after the store opened, Emily suggested they start carrying shoes, along with the clothing. Emily, who has several years of retail ex-

perience at Journeys, a store which carries a variety of footwear, believed that customers would want to buy their “entire outfit,” including the shoes, at one location. Mrs. Herman was hesitant at first, saying to her daughter “how many shoes do you think we can sell here?” “I told my mother we should take the chance,” Emily said. It worked, and the store is getting more requests on a regular basis for footwear, the women said. “She is here all day ordering, so she has a good idea of what is in demand,” Mrs. Herman said. “Emily is also very creative and has an eye for fashion. She knows how to put pieces together and display things.” In addition to carrying a large line of clothing in the middle price range, they recently started a trade-in program. This allows customers to trade in their “gently used” items to get a percentage discount off their next purchase. Mrs. Herman also credits support from her father, W. Allen Brossoit, and the Jefferson Community College and its Small Business Development Center for the training she received to help start her own business. She and her husband have another daughter, Heather, 25. For more information, contact the store at 785-5500.

A TOUCH OF GRACE, WATERTOWN When it comes to making important marketing decisions about her store, which carries an array of designer bridal gowns and prom dresses, Kathy Lettiere often seeks collaboration with her two daughters, Lauren Prior, 23, and Kristan Donoghue, 28. Both daughters spent many hours inside A Touch of Grace (named in memory of Mrs. Lettiere’s mother) while growing up. As young adults, they now contribute to the business operation in several ways, by helping with advertising, organizing fund-raising events, and selecting and buying inventory. “When the girls were smaller, they would help me unpack the boxes of gowns,” Mrs. Lettiere said. “It felt like it was Christmas.” Her daughter Lauren recalls when she was a young girl, she learned how to operate the cash register, wait on customers, and as she got older, help customers select formal dresses based on their coloring and shape. Lauren is presently enrolled in the medical billing and coding study program at Jefferson Community College, and that is the field she plans to enter after graduation. But the store remains a priority in her life, and Lauren, who is also the mother of two young daughters, still finds time to work there every March 2014 | NNY Business

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COVER STORY

Kathy Lettiere, left, with daughter, Lauren Prior at their bridal store, A Touch of Grace, Watertown.

AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS

Saturday with her mother. “We read each other,” said Mrs. Lettiere. “And we play ideas off each other,” added Lauren. The mother and both her daughters have traveled together on buying trips to see different styles of wedding and formal gowns, and “we try to pick out dresses that will sell in our area,” said Lauren. Their main goal is to “make the day special” whether it be for a bride, a bridesmaid, or a customer looking for a formal gown or prom dress. Mrs. Lettiere said one benefit of having input from her younger daughters is that they are familiar with the particular style of dresses that young women are interested in wearing. “They are more in tune with what’s going on with celebrities” who often set the style trends on the red carpet, said Mrs. Lettiere. But their goal is the same. “We all want to make women look their best,” Mrs. Lettiere said. “We want them to look good and feel good about themselves.” Although her older daughter Kristan is not working at the store (she a full-time job at Applebee’s and is expecting a baby next

month), “she still keeps her hand in the business” by helping to make marketing and advertising decisions, her mother said. Kristan received a degree in Fashion and Textile Technology from SUNY Buffalo and brings that acquired knowledge and training to the family business as well, Mrs. Lettiere said. It was the mother and two daughters who finally made the decision, after debate ranged among family members for nearly a year, to move forward and paint the store building a bright pink color. “It definitely stand out now,” said Lauren. “It’s feminine, but it’s also bold and makes a statement.” Mrs. Lettiere said it was also important for her that she and her two daughters agreed upon the concept for the store’s new logo. “We wanted something that would incorporate the two types of businesses that we have,” noting the store sells both gowns and also religious items for christenings, First Communion and Confirmation celebrations. They decided on a crown representative of the one that has been depicted on the Virgin Mary because it symbolized both beauty and religion. The daughters have also helped with the

store’s recent fund-raising fashion show for the Children’s Miracle Network held in early February, which raised $3,500. The daughters helped to write the script for the show and organize the models on the runway. They also worked together to decorate an “All Pink” Christmas Tree was auctioned off in last year’s Festival of Trees fundraiser. Even Lauren’s two daughters, Francesca, 3, and Giovanna, 6, seem to be following in their mother’s and grandmother’s footsteps. Francesca asked for a cash register for Christmas, and both girls love to play “store.” Giovanna, whose birthday is in July, has already asked about donating money to help sick children instead of asking for presents. Mrs. Lettiere and her husband, Michael, also have two sons, Michael, 29, and Bradley, 25. In addition to her daughters, Mrs. Lettiere also receives help from another woman in the family. Her sister-in-law, Mary Bova, donates her time to help out with customers in the store. For more information, call the store at 788-6164. 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. March 2014 | NNY Business

| 25

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS

Karen Clark in the lounge at the USO Fort Drum, where she serves as director. For Mrs. Clark, an Army wife and mother, soldiers always come first.

Putting soldiers first

Fort Drum USO director ‘has more energy than 10 people’ By GRACE E. JOHNSTON

K NNY Business

aren M. Clark married her high school sweetheart. Mrs. Clark and her husband, retired Army Col. David J. Clark, Fort Drum garrison commander from 2005 to 2008, have been married for 31 years. Three generations of her family have served their country in uniform. An Army wife herself for 29 years, she has two sons, one who serves in the New York Army National Guard in Syracuse and one on active duty at Fort Drum. Having lived in multiple states and foreign countries, the transfer to Fort Drum in 2005 was par for the course for the Clarks. But there was something pleasantly different about the north country.

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NNY Business | March 2014

“We thought we had walked into a chamber of commerce commercial,” she said. “Surely they’d stop filming and this place would become ‘real.’ Everyone was so nice and helpful.” New to the north country, the Florida native were astounded by its natural beauty, friendly people and relative lack of dangerous creatures. Alligators, fire ants and giant cockroaches are thankfully lacking Northern New York. “And there are no poisonous snakes,” Mrs. Clark said. She found a new lease on her outdoor life — paddle boarding, kayaking and boating. “We do, we hike, we go,” she said. “Carefree.” As a trained, successful elementary school teacher, Mrs. Clark expected few problems landing a full-time teaching

job after the transfer from Virginia to New York. But local schools were facing cutbacks in 2005 and she could find only substitute teaching positions, which for her proved unfulfilling. After speaking with “Mrs. USO,” 70-plus-year veteran volunteer and past president of the Watertown USO, Mary Parry, Mrs. Clark decided to apply for the director position on post, but for months heard nothing back. “I figured they’d probably thrown my resume out,” she said. But during a symphony in the park concert in Watertown’s Thompson Park, she spotted a few USO logo T-shirt wearers, and proceeded to introduce herself and thank them for the organization’s work. “I had no idea at the time, but they were the very people interviewing for the director position,” she said.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS Mrs. Clark was initially discounted due their world,” she said. “Women tend to be drawn to this kind of thing. Our goal is to to her “teacher-heavy” experience versus lift spirits, and we’re very good at creating the business background the organization a nurturing, non-competitive environsought. But as an on-the-spot interview ment here,” she said. ensued, the spirited Mrs. Clark made her case, “in jeans and a T-shirt.” Michael McKinnon, deputy to the Fort A proud teacher by profession, Mrs. Drum garrison commander, has known Mrs. Clark for a number of years while her Clark knows what it is to turn weakhusband served as garrison commander. ness into strength — to maximize finite resources. Skills that the USO leadership “She knows what it is to live the milisought in the new Fort Drum director tary lifestyle — she’s lived it personally,” were amply met in her. She lobbied for he said. “She’s focused on supporting her capabilities — “Don’t you ‘oh’ me like soldiers and their families, and is able to I don’t have anything to offer the USO,” draw on her experiences to uplift those she said to Jeff Hill, vice president for all the USO seeks to serve.” U.S.-based USO centers. As stated in the USO’s organizational In short order, the mission, the expressed purpose of spunky Mrs. Clark the USO is to “lift the assumed directorspirits of America’s ship of the newly estroops and their tablished Fort Drum families.” A nonprofUSO in August 2006. it, congressionally She operated from chartered, private orher home on post ganization, the USO, initially, but when or United Service an offer of a building Organizations, relies at 10502 Riva Ridge on private donors Loop became availand volunteers to able, she knew they support its activineeded to jump at ties. The USO is not the opportunity. Karen M. Clark, director, part of the federal “We were lookUSO Fort Drum. government, but is ing at a location that recognized by the was within walking Department of Defense, Congress and the distance of between 5,000 and 7,000 solpresident, who serves as honorary chairdiers,” she said. So just as her elementary class students man of the organization. would “lick” their treats to remove any “There are a lot of emotional highs temptation in the minds of their peers to and lows in this job,” she said. “But the snag what was theirs, Mrs. Clark told her emotional wealth I gain far outweighs boss, “we need to lick the cookie of this the lows.” building.” Mr. McKinnon has no doubts that she is In February 2007, they got the keys to the best person to lead the local organizathe building and with 100 percent voltion today. unteer labor, opened a fully operational “She has more energy than 10 people,” interim center in April. Mr. McKinnon said. “It was important for us just to start — But for Mrs. Clark, the job is about doto move in and expand as we could,” ing for others, not for herself. she said. “I’m not the reason the Fort Drum USO And in October 2008, on the generosity is successful,” she said. “It’s truly the of the Gelfand family of Newton, Mass., volunteers — the people who make it all the Fort Drum USO received a donawork. I’m just the spokeswoman.” tion that allowed them to complete a full For more information on what’s hapexpansion of their facility. pening with the USO Fort Drum, visit its “It was a daunting task, but well worth Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ the challenges,” she said. “This is a home USOFortDrum. To volunteer, check out away from home for so many — they’re www.usovolunteer.org, and to make a family here.” donation, give at www.uso.org/Donate_ The facility offers a homey, relaxing enFort_Drum_USO. vironment with pool tables, snacks, video games, lounge chairs and perhaps most n GRACE E. JOHNSTON is staff writer and importantly, a smile and a friendly face. editorial assistant for NNY Magazines. Contact “We’re the soft and squishy side of her at gjohnston@wdt.net or 315-661-2381.

“

Women tend to be drawn to this kind of thing. Our goal is to lift spirits, and we’re very good at creating a nurturing, non-competitive environment here. —

March 2014 | NNY Business

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WOMEN IN BUSINESS

JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS

Cari Greene shares a laugh with patrons at her bar and restaurant, The Blue Heron, Chaumont. Ms. Greene is devoted to her community.

Keeping business local

Passion for community drives Chaumont restaurateur By GRACE E. JOHNSTON

NNY Business

n the past 14 years, Cari L. Greene has independently managed and owned two local restaurants — Coleman’s Corner, Watertown, and the Blue Heron, Chaumont. “I’m the president, vice president, treasurer and secretary,” she said. “I have yearly meetings with myself.” Starting at age 14, Ms. Greene worked for Leo Coleman at the Fairground Inn climbing her way up from dishwasher, salad maker, hostess, waitress, bartender, and finally to manager of Coleman’s Corner for three years. In the summer of 1999 when construction was under way on Coffeen St., Ms. Greene converted a golf cart into a makeshift sandwich buggy, which she drove

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NNY Business | March 2014

up and down Coffeen St. selling lunch sandwiches to the construction workers when the road was near impassable for regular traffic. Monday through Saturday, Ms. Greene took charge of the sandwich business — ordering supplies, managing the books and making the sandwiches, all before changing and coming back to work at Coleman’s Corner to bartend at night. “I grew up in the business, but I still needed to show I had the business savvy and drive to own a restaurant,” she said. To further develop her business acumen, Ms. Greene studied hospitality and tourism and earned an associate’s degree in hotel and restaurant management from Jefferson Community College. In May 2000, she assumed full ownership over all but the building of Coleman’s Corner.

In 2005, Ms. Greene bought what is now the Blue Heron restaurant in Chaumont and opened in January 2006, owning and operating both restaurants for three years. “I had to figure out how to be in two places at once,” she said. Cloning wasn’t an option, though. So in 2009, Greene sold Coleman’s Corner to devote her energy to the Blue Heron. “I love people and I love this business,” she said. “But the restaurant business is hard. You’re married to it.” Greene has no manager. She does all her own bookkeeping, ordering, advertising, bill paying, and even landscaping. “I’m very hands on and it’s important for me to know every aspect of the business,” she said. “There’s nothing in this restaurant that I’m not willing or able to do.” Asked how she’s managed to be a

mother and a restaurant owner, she said she’s been very fortunate to have an understanding son and good staff to whom she can delegate. “I love to give back,” she said. And Ms. Greene has a passion for her community that’s palpable. “In a small town like this, it’s very important,” she said. “Without the support of the local community, I wouldn’t be open all year long. I don’t have to do this, but I want to.” Ms. Greene plays an exceptionally active role with the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and the Chaumont Food Pantry. This year marks the Fifth Annual Food and Wine Pairing Dinner at the Blue Heron, which raises thousands of dollars for the local food pantry. “It was her idea,” Harriette B. Hardy, founder of the Chaumont Food Pantry said. “The event gets better every year and the tickets sell out faster every year, too.” All donations made to the Chaumont food pantry stay local — a main reason that

“

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

You’re married to the business. There’s nothing in this restaurant that I’m not willing to do. — Cari L. Greene, owner, The Blue Heron, Chaumont.

Ms. Greene is such a passionate supporter. She keeps her finger on the pulse of the local community. “I want to keep up on trends and give people what they want,” she said. “I feel like I’m always learning, and want to be.” Ms. Greene purchased and rented out a small building on an extended portion of her restaurant property to ensure she had a say in who her competitor would be there. But when the local laundromat in

Chaumont closed, Ms. Greene’s business ears perked up. The most logical downtown building that could house a new laundromat was the rental property right behind her restaurant. She began researching what needed to be done to convert the space, and with pertinent retrofitting, opened Chaumont Laundry Mat in 2011. “My hope is that the businesses will help each other,” she said. “I want people to feel comfortable leaving their laundry and coming over to the restaurant for a drink or a meal.” And with around-the-clock security, Laundry Mat to Blue Heron visits have become a natural occurrence. “It’s satisfying to know that people will drive a ways just to eat here,” she said. “Every single day is a challenge, but I love it.” n GRACE E. JOHNSTON is staff writer and editorial assistant for NNY Magazines. Contact her at gjohnston@wdt.net or 315-661-2381.

March 2014 | NNY Business

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WOMEN IN BUSINESS

AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS

Barb Yerdon gives instructions on the newest Mary Kay product while doing makeovers at the Hampton Inn, Watertown, recently.

Making their own way For many women, flexibility a big draw in independent sales By GRACE E. JOHNSTON

NNY Business

lexibility is one perk that sets independent consulting opportunities apart from typical corporate jobs. For women, this is particularly appealing. It is the beauty of independent initiative. “We have the freedom and flexibility to work our businesses around our families,” said Barbara J. Yerdon, local Mary Kay senior sales director. For boutique-style jewelry and accessory company Stella & Dot founder Jessica Herrin, that same flexibility is crucial. “I think women deserve a better answer for, ‘How can I lead a life at the intersection of all the other roles that women play in their lives and be an

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NNY Business | March 2014

independent accomplished professional?’ We need careers that can ebb and flow around our life,” she told the Huffington Post in an August 2013 interview. Three north country women have found professional opportunities that afford an answer to that question. As one of 10 children, few might have imagined that Ms. Yerdon, a selfdescribed “little farm girl from Evans Mills,” would blossom into a successful independent senior sales director with the multi-billion dollar, worldwide cosmetics company Mary Kay. “Before I joined Mary Kay in 1997, the farthest I’d ever been was to Syracuse,” she said. Since, Ms. Yerdon has taken multiple awards trips to San Diego, Los Angeles, Dallas and New Orleans. “I’m living the dream,” she said.

Company founder Mary Kay Ash once said, “It’s so simple, yet makes such a difference. Pretend that every single person you meet has a sign around his or her neck that says, ‘Make me feel important.’” From being recognized by the Dallas corporate office for a job well done to fellow directors taking an interest in her life, Ms. Yerdon has found support, encouragement, and tremendous motivation within the Mary Kay family. “This company truly celebrates people,” she said. When asked if particular personalities make for better consultants, “it’s all about teaching confidence and breeding belief in oneself,” she said. “We take great care in bringing up our girls.” Ms. Yerdon is often asked if the north country is over saturated with Mary Kay beauty consultants.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS “I don’t think so,” Yerdon said. “You’d be surprised the number of ladies who have never been approached about Mary Kay,” she said. “Our focus is on the middle class — the average, everyday person.” The late company founder often shared her personal priorities of “God first, family second, career third.” “When you have your priorities in order, everything else seems to work better,” Ms. Yerdon said. “I think there’s a trend for women to get back into the home — out of the stressful corporate world, but still have a career option.” More than three million people worldwide are Mary Kay independent beauty consultants. More than 39,000 women across the world are independent sales directors. And more than 600 women worldwide have become independent national sales directors, the highest status within the independent sales force. And this is Ms. Yerdon’s five-year goal. “National is so possible,” she said. “If so many Cadillac’s are being given out at the Dallas convention to women who have earned national sales director that you start to fall asleep, I can absolutely do it, too. I’m so excited about business this year.” As of last month, Ms. Yerdon’s unit of about 50 consultants was No. 18 in the top 50 most improved in New York. “We’re up 103 percent year-to-date!” she said. She drives a 2014 black “Mary Kay” Ford Mustang. “All the interior lights are pink,” she said with a noticeable sparkle in her eye. “We’re so supported and encouraged. Personal and corporate goals are so attainable.” Once when hosting only one party a week, Yerdon earned a car in four months. Her Mustang is her sixth Mary Kay career vehicle. “There are no glass ceilings here,” she said. “Women can have as much as they are willing to work for.” Yerdon is a 17-year veteran with all the intentions of being a “lifer.” “I love what I do,” she said. “I love the products and love making women feel good about themselves. I love my Mary Kay.” n

focused on personal sales, and the other on coaching women on her team. “They’re spread out all across the country,” she said. Mrs. Browning also coaches a stylist in Canada and sponsors a team of eight stylists in the United Kingdom. “I started in Kansas and was able to transfer the whole business to New York when we came to Fort Drum,” she said. “I love the flexibility aspect.” As an Army wife and mother of three, Mrs. Browning has no lack of pulls on her attention, but the independence afforded by style consulting gives her the freedom to be those things, while also pursuing a profitable business venture. She stays home with her 4-year-old and devotes between 20 and 30 hours per week to the business. “That’s full time for me right now, but I hope to increase that soon,” Mrs. Browning said. “North country weather can definitely be a challenge to business.” But when travel and access to shopping is limited, she can still offer high-end boutique accessories that would otherwise be limited. “Summer sales are highest for me,” she said. “It’s the time when girls are more likely to want to accessorize and have

more fun with their look.” Stella & Dot is based on an innovative social shopping concept that brings together the best of e-commerce, social media, personal service and passionate earning to create the ultimate home-based business for today’s modern woman — a model that women like Mrs. Browning and thousands of others have successfully plugged in to. n

Stacy R. Doldo is a full-time mother of three, an English teacher at Carthage Middle School, and the wife of a New York State Police trooper. As a teacher, Mrs. Doldo was always looking for better ways to organize her classroom. Thirty-One Gifts baskets and organizers provided ideal products and personalization options. “I went to one party and was hooked,” she said. “Teachers love Thirty-One stuff.” Thirty-One Gifts is a direct sales company specializing in personal organization and accessory items. Mrs. Doldo didn’t sign up as a consultant with Thirty-One Gifts to supplement her income, have another career, or to get out of the house. “Oh, I get out of the house,” she said.

Brandi Browning is an associate director with Stella & Dot. She started as an independent stylist in 2011 and, within six months, moved into leadership, now managing a team of about 75 stylists. Half her time is spent

March 2014 | NNY Business

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WOMEN IN BUSINESS She joined for the freedom to buy for herself — to earn discounts and products to organize her classroom. “It was financially smart,” she said. Since she entered the ranks of ThirtyOne Gifts last April, Mrs. Doldo has sold more than $30,000 worth of product, has been promoted twice within the company, and is now half way to earning a trip to Mexico. She is presently a director with a dozen women who report to her. Mrs. Doldo doesn’t have time for parties. “I’ve only ever done one,” she said. Her success has come through social

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media — Facebook primarily. Many of her connections are fellow teachers, who are always looking for fun and stylish ways to organize their classrooms. “They come to me,” she said. Mrs. Doldo loves to give back to the community. She has been involved with fundraisers for various local dance schools and NNY Cheer. “I can give back my entire commission and still benefit by earning free products,” she said. “The company’s great.” These are businesswomen with tremendous networks of support behind them

— each passionate and enthusiastic about the products they sell. But each woman has a different impetus behind their business motivation — be it for community, for flexibility, or for organization. What ultimately makes independent consulting opportunities unique are their wide births where women find the intersection of professionalism and flexibility. n GRACE E. JOHNSTON is staff writer and editorial assistant for NNY Magazines. Contact her at gjohnston@wdt.net or 315-661-2381.

March 2014 | NNY Business

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Fairground Inn

Watertown’s Oldest - and Newest - Irish Pub! • Guinness On Tap! • Harp On Tap! • Offering Daily Specials! • Take-Out Available!

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Cari Greene for over 8 years! 34 |

NNY Business | March 2014

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

A look at national, state markets

ike the “Little Engine That Could,” national real estate recovery continues to be the locomotive in the economic recovery train. Nationally, sales of existing homes last year climbed about 10 percent over 2012. In addition, some homeowners saw their home equity grow as home prices rose and single-family home sales increased. However, the market still faces its challenges and Realtors remain committed to helping build a responsible, sustainable housing market in 2014. According to Lawrence Yun, National Association of Realtors chief economist, 2013 was a recovery year with annual existing home sales increasing to just above 5.1 million and national median existing home prices up about 11 percent over 2012. Similarly, figures released by the New York State Association of Realtors showed overall sales statewide were up 12.6 percent with the median price up 5.6 percent. Locally, the picture was different. Sales in Jefferson and Lewis counties declined slightly, even as the median price rose while St. Lawrence County’s market was relatively unchanged from the year before. This begs the question of why our area did not follow state and national trends. The simple answer is that when sales and prices fell nationwide in 2008 and 2009, our area did not experience a similar drop. In fact, the markets in Jefferson and Lewis counties experienced sales and price growth through 2012. In 2013, the number of sales in each county was roughly equivalent to 2011 levels. The St. Lawrence County market is relatively steady without large fluctuations up or down. But just as local markets do not always perform the same way as state and na-

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tional markets, the same is true of the real estate markets within our three north country counties. For instance, Realtors in one part of the region may report sales growth Lance Evans while others see declines in their portion of the area. One way to illustrate this is to look at the second home market in our area. As you may know, many people live here seasonally. During the economic downturn that started in 2008, our area’s second home sales fell flat while our primary market rose overall. The best person to talk to you about your local market is a Realtor who works in your area. You can find a list of Realtor members who belong to either of the two local associations of Realtors at www. nnymls.com and www.slcmls.com. n

The Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors announced in February that its website, www.nnymls.com, has been optimized for mobile devices. What does this mean? It means that if a consumer visits the website, it will detect what kind of a device they are using and adjust the styling and content accordingly. If the consumer is using a smartphone, the site will appear differently than it would if opened on a desktop, laptop, or tablet

computer. The information will be the same, however. n

Members of the Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors and the St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors joined me in attending the New York State Association of Realtors leadership conference and midwinter business meetings at the Desmond Hotel in Albany Feb. 9 to 13. While there, we attended sessions on leadership, fair housing, real estate valuation, legislative priorities to advance homeownership in the state and nation, as well as updates on legal issues, technology and education. There were also opportunities to discuss areas of mutual concern with Realtors from across the state. Several local Realtors had leadership roles at the meetings including Jennifer Stevenson (New York State Housing Opportunities Foundation president), Jennifer Dindl-Neff (Young Professionals Network chairwoman), Karen Peebles (Education Management vice chairwoman), Linda Fields (Fair Housing and Cultural Diversity Committee vice chairwoman), and Lisa L’Huillier (New York State Women’s Council of Realtors secretary). Other north country-based attendees included Christian Fults, Thomas Humes, Michael Kassian, Elizabeth Miller, Nancy Rome, Charles Ruggiero, Vickie Staie and Lisa Watson. 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.

Shovel Ready Lots Available in the City Center Industrial Park

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CONTACT WLDC TODAY - GROW YOUR BUSINESS TOMORROW! Financing options and incentives through the WLDC: • Fixed-interest loans for real estate, machinery and equipment • Working Capitol financing • Leasehold improvement financing • Assists in securing primary financing through commercial banks Watertown Local Development Corporation (WLDC) 82 Public Square Watertown, NY 13601

For help with expanding or relocating your business to the City of Watertown Contact: Donald W. Rutherford CEO

Phone: 315.786.3494 Fax: 315.786.3495 email: don@watertownldc.com March 2014 | NNY Business

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R E A L E S TAT E / T O P T R A N S A C T I O N S Top 10 property sales by price recorded in the Jefferson County clerk’s office in January 2014: $2,942,294: Jan. 30, City of Watertown: 1.135 acres, Arsenal Street at Bellew Avenue Extension, Canal Properties II, LLC, Rochester, sold to AmeriCU Credit Union, Rome $2,350,000: Jan. 31, Town of Watertown: Two parcels, no acreage listed, Interstate 81 at Route 3, Toped Development LLC, Alexandria Bay, sold to Morgan Route 202 Shops LLC, Pittsford $1,250,000: Jan. 31, Town of Watertown: 54.58 acres, County Route 202, Route 57 Development LLC, Alexandria Bay, sold to Morgan Route 202 East LLC, Pittsford

$1,025,000: Jan. 17, Town of Orleans and town of Clayton: 62.82 acres, Route 12, Raymond L. Disch, Jr., Ossining, Robert E Disch, New York,, and Estelle Disch, Cambridge, Mass. sold to Blind Bay Associates, LLC, Clayton $453,417: Jan. 16: City of Watertown: No acreage given, Arsenal Street at Haney Street, Kessler Family LLC, Rochester, sold to Arsenal Water LLC, New York, N.Y. $340,000: Jan. 15, Town of Hounsfield: 150.8 acres, Route 180, Miriam Massaro, Worthington, Mass., sold to Tomm L. Maxon and Marsha A. Maxon, Adams $335,000: Jan. 15, Town of Philadelphia: 6.491 acres, Town Line Road, John S. Martin and Rosa Mar-

tin, Philadelphia, sold to Scott Thomas Dawe and Elizabeth Ashley Jones, Calcium $297,000: Jan. 17, Town of Clayton: 6.582 acres, County Route 5, Justin K. Wagoner and Natasha K. Wagoner, sold to Dymphna M. Roman and David F. Roman, Jr., Washington, D.C. $275,000: Jan. 16: City of Watertown: 0.44 acres, Polk St., Lyng’s Office Center,Inc., Watertown, sold to Northern Federal Credit Union, Watertown $275,000: Jan. 15, Town of Alexandria: 0.9 acres, St. Lawrence Park Road, Yvonne Bauman, administrator of the estate of Craig W. Bauman, sold to Edward M. Riley and Janet H. Riley, Syracuse Top 10 property sales by price recorded in the St. Lawrence County clerk’s office in January 2014: $46,559,656: Jan. 3, Town of Piercefield: Town of Clare, Town of Pierrepont and Town of Colton, unknown Parcels and unknown acres, in the Middle Branch and North Branch Tracts, Rayonier Forest Resources LP., Fernandina, Fla., sold to MWF Adirondacks LLC, Jackson, Miss. $7,170,083: Jan. 3, Town of Pierrepont: Town of Colton, unknown Parcels, unknown acres, in Lot 80 Rayonier Forest Resources LP., Fernandina, Fla., sold to MWF Adirondacks LLC, Jackson, Miss. $275,000: Jan. 6, Town of Canton: 188 11/100 acres more or less, in Mile Square 4 and Mile Square 5, Joan S. Kepes, Canton, sold to Steven J. Morrill and Gregory Coller, Hermon $220,000: Jan. 3, Village of Potsdam: Unknown Parcels and unknown acres, 2 Units known as II A and 3 Units known as Building and Parking Areas and Rear Loading Area, bounded by the Party Wall, Kussad LLC, Potsdam, sold to 145 Market Street LLC, Canton $240,000: Jan. 13, Town of Gouverneur: 14.81 acres more or less, bounded by Route 11, George H. and Dorothy J. Hood, Earlton and Randy J. Hood, Ormond Beach, Fla., sold to Windward Association LLC, Mechanicville $220,000: Jan. 7, Town of Oswegatchie: Unknown acres, bounded by Old Stone Church Road, Mary Lou Havens, Ogdensburg, sold to Matthew J. and Donna M. Lockwood, Oak Point, Texas $192,000: Jan. 17, Town of Clifton: Two parcels, 1) 49.31 acres more or less, and 2) 4.04 acres more or less, both bounded by Windfall and Tooley Pond roads, Julia A. Lanphear, Cranberry Lake, sold to Corenne L. Black, Cranberry Lake, and Spencer A. Morrissey, Cranberry Lake $170,000: Jan. 7, Village of Waddington: Parcel 1) 0.12 of an acre more or less, Parcel 2) Unknown acres, both bounded by Route 37 and Franklin Road, John C. Wilkins, Converse, Texas, sold to David K. and Mary A. Butters, Rush $159,000: Jan. 24, Village of Massena: 0.32 of an acre more or less, in Lot 15 and being a part of Lot 17 of Block 10, bounded by Nightengale Avenue, Cynthia A. and Thomas C. Cringle, Massena, sold to Treina M. Puente, Massena $155,000: Jan. 24, Town of Canton: 0.25 of an acre more or less, bounded by East Main Street, Kevin D. and Colleen D. Logan, Canton, sold to St. Lawrence University, Canton

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NNY Business | March 2014

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March 2014 | NNY Business

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R E A L E S TAT E

Nancy D. Storino, Watertown, has built a successful career in the real estate business for the past 36 years, averaging $8 million to $10 million in annual sales for the past 24 years. “Being available and saying no to appointments as little as possible,” has been an important key to her success. JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS

The wolf of Watertown

Real estate broker ‘not a part-time sort of person’ By GRACE E. JOHNSTON

N NNY Business

ancy D. Storino is perhaps the most eccentric real estate broker in the north country. In her more than 30 years in the real estate business, the “pink shark” as she is known, has built a brand anchored on enthusiasm, expertise and excellence. Ms. Storino started as a real estate agent in 1978 with Century 21 and moved to Coldwell Banker in 1981 upon earning her brokerage license. During the first 10 years of her career, she was a consistent top producer. “I’ve been in this business 36 years,” she said. “I started when I was 10,” she joked. Storino opened her present office, Nancy D. Storino Real Estate, in 1987 and her daughters Katherine Rowell and Christine Storino now work alongside her. “Some days we want to kill each other,” she said. But they make a good team. For

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NNY Business | March 2014

the past 24 years, her office has closed between $8 million and $10 million in annual property sales. Ms. Storino is a member of the New York State Board of Realtors, the National Board of Realtors and the Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors, and has earned the designation as one of the top 20 local licensed real estate professionals in the JeffersonLewis membership network. A transplant from the Utica-New Hartford area, Ms. Storino spent summers at her family’s home in Fisher’s Landing. “I kept coming back and fell in love with the area,” she said. “It’s a wonderful community and a great place to raise a family. It is home,” she said. Always having an interest in houses and real estate, Ms. Storino’s curiosity was further confirmed when she visited a psychic in Lowville. “He told me that all he saw in my future was ‘houses, houses, houses!’ And now I know why he saw houses, houses,

houses,” she laughed. Ms. Storino has personally sold more than 1,000 homes across Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties. “I have a lot of drive,” she said. “I like money and I like to spend it.” But selling homes isn’t a walk in the park. “The job makes the hours for you, not the other way around,” she said. “You need to be able to drop everything on a dime and go — and take phone calls 24/7.” So what’s her key to success? “Being available and saying no to appointments as little as possible,” she said. “I do my best to always be available.” Patrick H. Wolf, mortgage banker with Homestead Funding has known Ms. Storino professionally for 10 years. “Her drive is unparalleled,” he said. “She brings expertise and intensity to everything she does, and is a master of follow-through.” And she has to be. The selling process is layered. Between appraisals, home inspec-

R E A L E S TAT E tions, and the banking process, “we now have to sell three times over,” Ms. Storino said. “It’s a very stressful process typically.” According to the Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors monthly report for January, new listings were down 7.6 percent, pending sales decreased from 62.3 percent to 26 percent, and average days on the market were 126. “It’s a soft market right now, but I think things will rebound,” Ms. Storino said. “I think the developers know something we don’t, and I hope they’re right,” she said. When Ms. Storino started in the business, she intended only to work part time — just to earn a little extra spending money. But she quickly found out that there was no such thing in the real estate business. “You’re either 100 percent or zero,” she said. “And I’m not a part-time sort of person.” She dived in head first. “I cooked and lived in a smock,” she said. Ms. Storino routinely kept her good clothes on because she never knew when the phone would ring and she would be called out for a house showing. “After making dinner for my family, I had to be ready to go right back out again,” she said. Being a mother and businesswoman wasn’t easy. “I don’t know how I did it. It got easier when the girls started school, but it was hard,” Ms. Storino said. “There were always naysayers who said I’d burn out. But the game changed when I started outproducing them.” Ms. Storino “creates positive, predictive results which produce referrals,” Mr. Wolf said. “She has a passion to do what she says she will do — she is a promise keeper.” Along with advertising across nearly every medium, Ms. Storino hosts her own television program Sunday mornings on CW14 where she showcases her current listings. “It’s a big draw for the business,” she said. Her name is recognized throughout the north country. In keeping with the legacy of Nancy D. Storino Real Estate, “I would love to see my granddaughter take over my business,” she said. “She’d sell circles around me.” Her granddaughter is just 18 months old. But thankfully there’s plenty of time for her to grow into her grandmother’s shoes. “I’m not ready to retire,” she said. n Grace E. Johnston is staff writer and editorial assistant for NNY Magazines. Contact her at gjohnston@wdt.net or 661-2381.

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20 QUESTIONS

NORM JOHNSTON | NNY BUSINESS

CARING for CHILDREN W hen Karen Y. Richmond joined the staff at the Children’s Home of Jefferson County 31 years ago, it was an organization focused primarily on residential care. Now 15 years after her climb to the top post, it manages 17 programs with a staff of 237. We sat down with Mrs. Richmond to learn about the challenges her organization faces today as well as what drives her to succeed as a woman in business.

NNYB: Tell us a little bit about the Children’s Home. RICHMOND: We provide many significant services to the community. The residential campus is really just a small piece of the operation now. We have 22 children on campus. We have 175 children in foster care. So between the three communities, on top of our 237 employees, we have 160 families providing foster care. We don’t count them as employees, but they truly help us support and care for the kids we serve. Three years ago this summer we added the mental health clinic to our organization when Mercy Hospital closed. It’s on the third floor of the Marcy Building. We have 1,500 mental health clients on our rosters. We employ a psychiatrist, two nurse practitioners and 15 clinicians. And we haven’t even begun to advertise it. We’re filling the need from in-patient referrals and previous Mercy clients. So that’s been a big transition for us. We moved into St. Lawrence County a year and a half ago to help manage their foster care. They wanted to partner with us. Their county doesn’t do foster care anymore, so we do. From March 1, 2012 to July 1, 2012 we added 70 children just by moving up there. It was big growth for us. We have a great board of 15 community leaders. We don’t have term limits. But it’s such a complex organization that people seem to take themselves off when it’s appropriate. People take the time to learn the history and we’ve focused on businesspeople who sit on our board. They’ve made good, educated decisions and helped us through some really difficult times. We’re

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NNY Business | March 2014

n Director Karen Richmond has led Children’s Home through many changes

not in-debt. We do everything we can on our earned income. We run it like a business.

NNYB: How has the Children’s Home changed since you started as executive director? RICHMOND: The Children’s Home when I started 31 years ago was primarily residential. When I was appointed executive director 15 years ago, we had two cottages open and 24 children, serving juvenile placements all on campus. The first program we implemented was called non-secure detention. What non-secure detention would be is if you were an adult and were going to court or to be placed, you would go to jail, but a child can’t go to jail. So kids come to us. We still run a program like this, but it’s much less because the philosophy has changed. So I started with non-secure detention and grew our residential program. For the next 10 years we averaged at a 40-bed campus about 45 kids. We started looking at ways we could work with kids and families rather than through institutional means. We started doing a lot of preventative work in partnership with the county and mental health providers, looking at ways we could diversify. We didn’t stay in one program. If we just did residential today, we probably wouldn’t be in business. Today we have 22 children on campus. It’s not the therapeutic way to take care of kids today, but more community and family based. We’re fortunate to have the vision to be able to do that.

NNYB: How did you get involved here? RICHMOND: I met my husband at Schoeller and he lived in Henderson. The reason I knew about the Children’s Home was because of his family. They had a big history here. His aunt and uncle were Gene and Madelyn Rathbun, deputy directors, and his sister and broth-

er-in-law worked here for 25 years as house parents.

NNYB: How are you funded and who do you serve? RICHMOND: We are a fee-for-service nonprofit. We provide a service, we bill for it, and we get paid for it by the county of origin. We serve three counties, but have children from Madison, Herkimer and Oneida counties. Wherever children need placement they go through a screening process, and sometimes children are better served outside of their communities. We have a unique piece and a great partnership with the Watertown City School District. There are only two organizations in the state whose children attend public school. Everyone else’s children go to an on-campus school. We think that’s a real plus. Our kids go on the school bus and learn how to function again. Education is one of the biggest things that will bring children to residential placement. We get kids who haven’t been to school in a year. And you’re helping them get focused because without an education they’re just not going to go anywhere. We try to help kids understand that.

NNYB: What are you most passionate about at the Children’s Home? RICHMOND: The residential campus has always been my passion. That’s our mission and what I think is a good place. However, I don’t think institutional care is good for children. I like the foster care model for kids to have more diversity and normalcy in their life. But I like having the stability of the campus for kids. I’m very proud that we were able to partner with the county to open the mental health clinic. We went through a lot of financial concerns with that to stabilize funding, but it’s a standalone clinic and does well. We do it on a real minimal budget. I think one of the keys to our success is that we’re always

20 QUESTIONS aware of keeping our administrative costs under control. That’s where you can get in trouble. Admin costs are not reimbursable. When money gets good, you add people, which is great until money disappears. Then you have to reduce staffing. Our staff works hard. I’m also proud of the fact that there are a lot of people who have worked at the Children’s Home and have advanced themselves out into the community. People have come in and have gotten a great foundation in the organization and recognize the strength they gained from it.

NNYB: What do people not know about the Children’s Home and what would they be surprised to learn? RICHMOND: People are surprised to know about the teen center. It’s a program that’s not advertised. We can’t advertise it because it can only average 25 to 30 kids a night, and it’s full. It goes by word of mouth. We feed about 30 children a night there, and it’s truly a drop-in center that’s done a wonderful job. It’s in the Marcy building — small, maybe 1,200 square feet with computers, kitchen and a recreation area. We focus a lot on education, so kids have to be in school. Otherwise, it’s drop-in; we don’t ask for a lot of information. We do a lot of life skills training to help them in the community. I also think the size of the organization is a surprise and overwhelming to people. It’s made up of a multitude of things, so you try to address the one area that interests them and focus on that. I think people still think we’re an orphanage. Either that, or that we lock kids up because driving by the campus, you never see children. But everything that happens, happens behind those buildings. We do a lot in the community. We have a partnership with the Y. We have a basketball league that goes on on campus. We try to showcase it as much as we can. If you’re not involved with it, it’s hard to grasp. I think they’re most surprised about the size. We try to keep a low profile. We do what we do. I always say that the children who come into our care are really traumatized. They’re not you or me. If we got in the same trouble that that these kids get in, we would never end up in the Children’s Home. The reason these kids end up in our care is because they come from dysfunctional families to begin with. Parents and families who are struggling don’t have the resources or ability to get help. I really respect the fact that I have families’ children. These kids will remember 15 years from now how you spoke to them and treated them.

NNYB: How many programs do you run? RICHMOND: We run 17 programs in three counties with 237 employees. This year’s budget will be about $16 million with probably eight or nine million of it as payroll. We have offices in Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties. We have 35 people working out of the St. Lawrence office and the balance work out of the residential and business offices here. Our employees are all local as is most everything we do: vendors, groceries, supplies — we really believe in keeping our things local.

NNYB: How many children did the organization originally serve? RICHMOND: When it was built in 1927, there were 60 children here. It was infant to whatever. Dave Conklin on our board is proud to say he was a resident of the Children’s Home when he was a child. But it was truly an orphanage. It had no state overlook. In the late ’70s, early ’80s, it switched and became a child welfare organization and kids became court-placed there. Prior to that, families could place their kids there because they couldn’t take care of them. There’s amazing history here. I consider it a privilege that I’ve been able to work here for 31 years. I don’t think there’s been a day when I haven’t loved what I do.

NNYB: You’ve been with the organization for 31 years. Any hint as to when you might retire? RICHMOND: I know I have at least five more years. It’s a really high-energy position. I’ve also had the

NORM JOHNSTON | NNY BUSINESS

Karen Y. Richmond, Children’s Home of Jefferson County executive director, talks about her 31 years with the nonprofit in her Watertown office. Mrs. Richmond has served as executive director for 15 years. privilege to serve as an appointee on many of the governor’s boards and federal boards. Internally, we have what we call the bus plan. The board always wants to make sure that if I get hit by a bus, we know what we are going to do. We’re always working to empower the management team. It’s hard in an organization to have that next one in line. I’m trying to educate many people in many areas. Hopefully someone in the community has the passion to take over the mission and what we’ve established as the Children’s Home culture as we call it.

NNYB: How would you like to see the Children’s Home improve?

The Karen Y. Richmond file AGE: 58 JOB: Executive director, Children’s Home of Jefferson County FAMILY: Husband, Rod; sons, Tom, 36, and Matt 32; grandchildren, Chez, 10, Kierstyn, 8 HOMETOWN: Mexico EDUCATION: RN degree, St. Joseph’s Medical School, Omaha Neb., LPN, Oswego County BOCES

RICHMOND: We’d like to look at outcome measures more. We’ve not done a really good job of collecting data for the job we do. We do some amazing work and have done for years. We believe it and know it, but we haven’t collected the data so that we can prove it to people. I’d also really like to be able to find the clinic a home and give it some real identity before I leave.

EXPERIENCE: LPN dialysis unit, two years in Nebraska; 1½ years in Watertown; Felix Schoeller Technical Papers, quality assurance and accounting, three years; Children’s Home, January 1983, bookkeeper, finance, human resources, building and grounds, direct care

NNYB: How are you supported in the community?

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RICHMOND: We were approached by the Northern New York Community Foundation and the United Way because the Teen Center had been in existence for nine years and struggled every year, so they wanted some stability to that. And that’s really what we’ve done it. It runs on about a $150,000 year budget. Most of our fundraisers are done for our communitybased programs, that being one of them. We have some private philanthropists who help keep it going. But other than that, we need to earn the revenue. We do a service for the state that it can’t do itself. But the state really doesn’t want to pay us for it. So it’s figuring out how to do quality services within the revenue you have. There’s just so much structure on top of us. Everything we do is checked and double checked. We need to be responsible in our management, revenue, expenses. But if we’re doing those things right, we should be recognized for the quality of our work.

NNYB: What economic challenges does the organization face today? RICHMOND: Economy is very difficult. Recruitment and retention of quality staff is challenging. The economy is brittle, and people are looking for ways to improve themselves and may move on after training.

We spend a considerable amount of money in training every year. It’s an on-going training process. And there is no money for training in our reimbursement methodology. The cost of living is also challenging. We have a fleet of 18 cars averaging 150,000 miles each year. It’s a lot of overhead. But I believe you can do it if you’re a good steward. I want to make sure we can maintain the quality. Our business focus is that regardless of funding, we’ll still stay true to the mission and quality of the work because people deserve that.

NNYB: What has made you successful? RICHMOND: I think my family keeps me very grounded. Truly, it’s a blessing for me to love what I do. I work really hard, probably harder than I should. But it’s the right thing to do. I like the community. I think we are lucky to live in a community like this. People care about us and what happens. It’s a neighborhood you can live in and enjoy. The haves and have-nots live all together. I even toyed with politics for a while, but I feel like on a daily basis I can affect more change doing what I’m doing, more than walking off and doing something other than what I am. It’s important to be able to

March 2014 | NNY Business

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20 QUESTIONS like what you do. 31 years went really fast. We’ve had so much change and growth that I never felt bored. I’ve been really fortunate to work with some tremendous people in our community. I’m successful in this pool, but not sure how well I’d do in another.

NNYB: Having a job like yours for as long as you have means you’re not without a few critics. How does criticism affect you? RICHMOND: I know I have critics in the community. I think that’s where I separate myself. I make the best decisions I can make for the organization at the time. I try to keep myself very grounded. Now that doesn’t mean I’ve always made the right decisions. There are some I could’ve made better that may have kept the critics more at bay, but I really focus on being able to deliver services and keeping it away from me, re-

gardless of how the critics look at it. I separate myself from thinking, they don’t know me. They’re looking at the organization or the decision. They don’t know the whole reason. I learned that when other people are making decisions, I have amazing visual to say, you don’t know everything you’re hearing. Trust the fact that there’s way more behind it than what you’re seeing at the beginning. I’m a very driven individual. I want to do the best I can and as much as I can. That’s responsibility. I’m a hard-worker.

NNYB: How do you answer some of your critics who might question your compensation? RICHMOND: My salary and benefits are public knowledge. However, I’m very confident that I earn what I earn. I think a lot of my staff would say go sit in her shoes for a day. Not only 237 employees, but

I have 200 children in-care who I am responsible for. When I go to bed, there’s not a kid I’m not thinking about. If a child is missing or out in the community, I get a call. I want to know if they’re in trouble. I may not know their names, but I feel responsible for them. So that’s the vision that you can’t get when someone says you make $190,000 a year. But I work hard to be able to earn that. I don’t do it for the money. If I wanted to make the money, I would’ve taken the headhunter jobs that came to me over the years and gotten out of Watertown.

NNYB: What have you learned in your career as a woman in business? RICHMOND: I am a strong woman. But I’ve learned that sometimes it’s better to be quiet and listen than to be out in front. I’ve learned to temper that. I don’t believe women are equal yet, but it is getting better. We have to say things differently than men do in order to get the same attention. Two of us can walk into the room, and it’s viewed differently. I don’t use it as an excuse, I just figure I have to work a little harder to make sure it still comes out to what I want to accomplish. It’s really not about my accomplishments, but about how can I get done what will best serve the 237 employees and kids under my care. We have some strong women in this community. It’s a process, and I think we all recognize the same thing.

NNYB: Is there still a glass ceiling for women? RICHMOND: I don’t think there’s a ceiling for us anymore. We may have to work a little harder and a little smarter to earn the recognition. But I don’t want to be recognized just because I’m a woman. I want to be recognized as a person who does a really good job, not because I’m a woman. I want to make sure it would be even across the board.

NNYB: What would employees/co-workers be surprised to know about you? RICHMOND: That I have a soft side. I don’t think there are many people who think I have emotions. I’m very emotional; I just tend not to show it at work. They would think I handle anything. And I do it to be equal to a man if he were sitting in the same position. People need to be able to depend on me. No matter what happens, they need to know someone will be able to lead them.

NNYB: How do we retain quality people in our area? RICHMOND: I think we’re doing better with retaining staff, but if someone comes from outside the community, it’s hard to get them involved in things that will keep them invested. If you don’t have family history here, there’s not a lot to do. We need to continue to look at venues that will keep young people involved. We do really great things for children, but need to think about what we can do for young adults.

NNYB: Who gives you the best advice and who do you credit most for helping shape your beliefs and values?

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RICHMOND: I have some colleagues that keep me grounded professionally, but good friends that don’t ever let me out of being me. I think it’s important to spend time with my friends as much as my family. My youngest son has a way at looking at things in perspective, too. Even with the difference in our ages, he’s a pretty smart kid. My mother raised seven girls and taught us all to be very independent and not use excuses. It was an era that was very tough. You didn’t have excuses. Her practical way of thinking really impacted me. — Interview by Ken Eysaman. Edited for length and clarity to fit this space.

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G U E S T E S S AY

Nonprofits help military meet mission

ort Drum soldiers are often seen helping to build houses for The Thousand Island Area Habitat for Humanity. At the New York State Zoo at Thompson Park, soldiers have sponsored animal exhibits and helped clean-up the grounds of winter debris And every year during the First Frost AIDS Walk, the “Military Mommas” from Fort Drum raise money on post and participate in the event. In other words, you don’t have to look too hard to find soldiers and their families — most with no ties to the north country — rolling up their sleeves to help our nonprofits. But during the past decade and a half of war, our nonprofits have also increased their level of support to our military community. As Washington looks to downsize the U.S. Army, it will examine a number of factors before deciding the extent to which it will reduce its footprint in a particular location. When the findings are published, there likely won’t be a chapter titled “The role Northern New York nonprofits play in helping our military meet its mission.” But there should be. Our nonprofits that meet critical needs or provide counseling for mental health, behavioral health and substance abuse are often the first stop for soldiers and their families who are uncomfortable seeking the same services on post. Here are a few numbers from the last year: Watertown Urban Mission assisted Fort Drum families some 1,300 times. The requests ranged from furniture to infant

formula. The Mission secured 12 prescriptions for Fort Drum families that could not afford Tricare copay due to an unexpected financial crisis. Catholic Charities of the Bob Gorman North Country provided financial assistance to 187 military families, and aided in five domestic and international adoptions. Alcohol and Substance Abuse Council served 22 soldiers with substance abuse issues, counseled 37 family members with issues related to deployments, and served 977 military family members in public schools through one-on-one counseling and “deployment and reintegration” groups. The American Red Cross provided 750 cases of emergency messaging to and from Fort Drum soldiers and gave out $5,000 in food and motel vouchers to soldiers after fire damage to homes. Family Counseling Service met with 207 soldiers and their families on a range of issues. Despite all the services that soldiers receive on post, our nonprofits know that the constant churn of overseas deployments and reassignments to new duty stations unfortunately ensures that some soldiers are going to need off-post help to make ends meet. Just think of the Fort Drum soldiers who have been ripped off by fake real

estate postings on Craig’s List, vehicle storage debacles and sham loan companies. It’s easy to think that the benefits soldiers receive should insulate them from all crises, but that is not the case. The 2004 doubling in size in the number of troops stationed here brought many challenges to our schools, hospitals and housing stock. Lost in that discussion was the impact so many war-weary soldiers and their families would have on our nonprofits. To our community’s credit, our nonprofits have quietly but effectively met this challenge, in part through the fundraising of the United Way. When you join our United Way campaign, you help all of our nonprofits ensure that “Support Our Troops” is more than just a bumper sticker slogan. UNITED WAY PROGRAMS Partnering with many of our nonprofits and agencies, the United Way of Northern New York is pleased to help bring Joe Ehrmann to the north country to speak on the roots of domestic violence and bullying. The former NFL all pro with the Baltimore Colts will speak at SUNY Canton April 7 at 7 p.m. and Jefferson Community College at 7:30 p.m. April 8. For more information, please call the United Way, 778-5631.

n ROBERT D. GORMAN is former managing editor of the Watertown Daily Times and president and CEO of United Way of Northern New York. Contact him at bgorman@nnyonline. net or 788-5631.

March 2014 | NNY Business

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

Recycling brings economic benefits

ecycling is not a new concept and has been practiced for many years. In the 1930s and 1940s, conservation and recycling were necessities for survival during the Great Depression. In the 1940s, some materials were rationed and recycled to support the war effort. The post-war economic boom caused those efforts to fade and it wasn’t until the environmental movement in the late ’60s and early ’70s that recycling once again became a mainstream practice. Recycling has suffered through some lean years, but increases have occurred due to widespread public acceptance, improved economies of recycling, laws that require recycling collection and requirements to use recycled content in certain manufacturing processes. New York State required all municipalities to adopt a local law or ordinance, no later than Sept. 1, 1992, that mandated recycling. Recycling is a fairly simple concept. It takes materials that are no longer useful or wanted and makes them into new products, rather than throwing them away. Much of the waste we generate can be recycled: paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, metal, electronic equipment, tires, textiles and construction debris to name a few. Many of the reasons we recycle are related to our increased environmental awareness. We generate too much waste, much of which is sent to landfills. Manufacturing of new goods depletes natural resources. Recycling material into new products generally uses less energy than utilizing virgin materials, while also conserving valuable natural resources. Recycling helps to sustain the environment for future generations. However, there are also economic incentives to recycle. It typically costs more to pay for the disposal of trash than it does to recycle. Dis-

posal fees for trash are charged by the ton. Recyclables are generally accepted at recycling facilities at no cost, or at a greatly reduced cost, in comparison to trash disposal. Recycling also creates jobs. Economic analyses Jan Oatman show that recycling can generate up to three times the revenue as landfill disposal, and can create almost six times as many jobs. According to Keep America Beautiful, recyclable materials presently in the U.S. waste stream would generate more than $7 billion if they were recycled. The EPA estimates that the average waste generation in the U.S. is 4.4 pounds per person each day, 75 percent of which is recyclable. Yet only about 30 percent is actually recycled. Recycling has undergone a revolutionary process since its inception. With the introduction of curbside recycling programs, there has come the concept of compartmentalized collection vehicles, a compartment for each type of material picked up for recycling. The problem with this type of collection is that it limits the types of materials that can be collected and prevents programs from being expanded. It is labor intensive for the collector and less productive for the hauling firm. Additionally, it places a burden on participants to properly separate recyclable materials. The Development Authority of the North Country is actively working with its county partners, waste haulers, businesses and residents to increase recycling and waste diver-

sion efforts in our region through education, partnerships and enforcement of existing local laws. In 2010, the authority created NorthCountryRecycles.org, a website that provides residents with a single point to learn more about recycling in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties. Recycling in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties is managed at countyowned transfer stations, and each county has its own sorting requirements. NorthCountryRecycles.org allows users to identify common materials accepted by transfer stations in each county. It also provides contact information for the transfer stations. But more than just contact information, the website provides a wealth of information on recycling in general, including the what, why and how. It also provides information on reusing materials, and reducing waste that goes to the waste stream and ultimately to our landfill. In addition to NorthCountryRecycles.org, the authority partners with the counties to host household hazardous waste collection days throughout the year. Residential households in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties are invited to bring unwanted household hazardous wastes for proper disposal to any of the scheduled events. They will be held at five locations throughout the three counties in 2014. The schedule is available at NorthCountryRecycles.org. Recycling not only removes waste from our landfills but it can also help grow our economy. While recycling isn’t a new concept, tools in place today make it work in 2014. To learn more about recycling, or reducing or reusing waste, go to www. NorthCountryRecycles.org. n JAN OATMAN is regional recycling coordinator for the Development Authority of the North Country. Contact her at joatman@danc.org.

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

Many reasons for optimism to stir

he north country is a great place to spend a lifetime. Even those who go away for a time or a season still consider this home and often come back. One of the most cited reasons for choosing to call Northern New York home is the quality of life enjoyed here. Relationships and friendships are different here, more authentic. For many years this area has been blessed with great leaders who, because they love this place so much, have done everything possible to make it the best it can be. For decades, the region’s nonprofit organizations have relied heavily on the commitment, dedication and financial support of those for whom that type of leadership was instilled during a different era. It does seem that we are at a crossroads. Nonprofit organizations have a responsibility to prepare now for what is already changing. This should not be driven solely out of necessity, but also out of a desire to provide a more engaging participatory experience that remains relevant into the future. Studies confirm that, increasingly, charities will have to demonstrate value not only to those they strive to benefit, but also to those who help them accomplish their work and mission. Nonprofits are better led by those who derive strong emotional satisfaction and fulfillment from their relationship with the organization. If this is true, how do we cultivate a meaningful relationship beyond the “thank-you?” The next generation will almost certainly demand

more than just a casual connection between the work of the nonprofit and their passions and interests. They will also be less comfortable being told what to care about. Rande Richardson What has been the typical way organizations seek supporters? Most

future of our area. A key component of the program will be helping to identify the “passion points” of the next generation. I believe the days are dwindling that we can continue to say that we, as organizations, know better. We will increasingly have to be willing to listen and learn to find that connection and allow a direct hand in painting our constituents’ versions of a vision of change. There is every reason to be optimistic. The next generation cares about their community. They desire a strong, vibrant, healthy place to live, work, play and raise families. They want to change the world. However, they will be seeking ways to make the community leadership experience fun, engaging, satisfying and valuable. It may very well be the role of organizations to acknowledge that they really are matchmakers and, as such, be positioned to attract, retain and inspire not only participation of the next generation, but their individual engagement. If successfully and thoughtfully done we can provide an abundance of support for our nonprofit organizations for reasons other than it is “the right thing to do.” Change is happening. By ignoring this, we do so at our own risk and, ultimately, to the detriment of the community we are charged to serve.

There is every reason to be optimistic. The next generation cares about their community. They desire a strong, vibrant, healthy place to live, work, play and raise families. They want to change the world. often, they tell supporters what the needs are and then tell supporters how they can help address them. Perhaps now it is time to focus on what the organization can do for the volunteer or donor, not what the volunteer or donor can do for the organization. The reason this concept feels foreign is exactly why it needs to be addressed. This spring, the Northern New York Community Foundation will launch its LEAD program, which stands for Leadership, Engagement, Access and Direction. In addition to helping fill a gap between the foundation’s Youth Philanthropy Council and the foundation board, it is meant to provide another entry point for those who are called to help guide the

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

March 2014 | NNY Business

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COMMERCE CORNER

Don’t miss matchmaking event

he term matchmaker can be used in various capacities. It’s interesting to think of the many meanings of the term, however, the value of a matchmaking event is often immeasurable. What is a “Selling to the Government Matchmaker?” In basic terms, it’s like speed-dating for businesses. In business terms, it’s a chance for businesses to meet one-on-one with decision-makers from the military, federal and state agencies, local governments, colleges and universities and government contractors. Each year the federal government spends millions of dollars on goods and services from businesses small and large. One of the many purposes of a matchmaking event is to bring small businesses and firms into the federal government’s supply chain. An additional goal is to teach large corporations how to incorporate smaller suppliers into their chain. North country business leaders and mangers will have the opportunity to personally meet with small business specialists from government agencies and with small business liaison officers from large contractors. These representatives attend the event to identify firms that are qualified to sell products and services required to meet government procurement needs. In essence, matchmakers provide visibility and enable conversations between buyers and small businesses all in one location. The North Country Procurement Technical Assistance Center, a program of the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce, will host a matchmaker event from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday,

March 25, at the Jefferson Community College Jules Center, Watertown. North Country PTAC partners with the Greater WatertownNorth Country Chamber of Lynn Pietroski Commerce and the Small Business Development Center at JCC, along with corporate sponsors. This year’s event is geared toward businesses that offer products or services the government might be interested in using. In addition to meeting with representatives from the military, federal and state agencies, local governments and prime contractors, a portion of the day is dedicated to promoting products and services with 10-minute, on-one-one meetings with decision-makers. The event is open to businesses that already sell to the government as well as those that want to diversify their sales opportunities. Businesses can view the agencies and prime contractors who plan to attend at www. northcountryptac.com. In cooperation with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Office of Government Contracting works to create an environment that maximizes participation by small, disadvantaged and womanowned businesses in federal government contract awards and large prime subcontract awards. The government contracting office advocates on behalf of small busi-

ness in the federal procurement business. Through a cooperative agreement with the Defense Logistics Agency, the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce administers a government marketing and technical assistance program as a special economic development project offered to help businesses in Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Oswego, Oneida, Franklin, Clinton, Essex, Herkimer, Hamilton, and Onondaga counties and across the rest of Northern New York. The center provides no-cost assistance to businesses that identify available contracting opportunities within military, other federal, state and local government markets, and their readiness to pursue those opportunities. Understanding government contracting can be difficult and challenging. However, many resources are available to help businesses of all sizes navigate and secure contracts, forge new partnerships and strengthen existing ones. North Country PTAC is supported by the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce, New York Business Development Corporation, the Development Authority of the North Country, Wladis Law Firm, Drum Country Business and Bowers and Company. Businesses that want to develop and grow relationships with the government and with other contractors should take advantage of this free service that is made possible through the many partnerships with North Country PTAC.

n LYNN PIETROSKI is president and CEO of the Greater Watertown North Country Chamber of Commerce. Contact her at ceo@watertownny. com. Her column appears monthly.

Your Regional Recycling Resource A partnership of the Development Authority of the North Country and Jefferson, Lewis & St. Lawrence Counties.

www.NorthCountryRecycles.org 46 |

NNY Business | March 2014

AGRI-BUSINESS

How sweet it is this time of year

true harbinger of spring is seeing sap buckets nailed to the side of massive gray sugar maple trees in a forest still covered in old snow from the winter’s last breath. Driving down the winding country road, you see blue tubing strung from tree to tree until finally the little river of sweet sap pours into a giant white container. If you are lucky enough, you stop at a small wooden shack that has steam pouring out from its top. For the untrained, one may wonder what in the blue blazes is going on until they suddenly sniff the sweet aroma of maple sap boiling tinged with the sentimental fragrance of wood fire. Sugar season has arrived. Many of us who live in the north country have experienced this birth of spring many times. Few ever take it for granted. It is now that families start to consider placing buckets and tubing throughout the maple woods called a sugar bush. For many they have been cutting firewood all winter to heat the giant boiling pan in which the sap has the water boiled out to make maple syrup. Some use gas-fired burners to heat the pan. Advanced technologies in the sugar shack, the building where they boil the syrup, might include ultraviolet light to help filter out impurities. In the woods, vacuum pumps may be used with tubing to promote more sap collection. A lot of sap is needed to provide us the delicious maple products many look forward to each spring. In

2013, it took on average 42 gallons of sap to make one gallon of maple syrup. Sugar maple and black maple are the preferred trees to tap but sap can be collected from red and silver maple as well, though their sap is of

Jay Matteson

on tap. Of course all have maple products for sale. One of my 12-year-old son’s favorites is maple honey. He loves maple honey on ham or turkey sandwiches with Swiss cheese and good wheat bread. If you want to experience maple weekend, you can visit either of two websites. The first we recommend is mapleweekend.com. It provides great information about the maple industry and lists all the participating sugar shacks across New York. You can also visit nysmaple.com/ mapleweekend and find an interactive map where you can search for participating maple producers near you. The other part of Maple Weekend I highly recommend is one of the many pancake breakfasts put on by local organizations. There is a listing on the Maple Weekend website. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and volunteer fire departments use the pancake breakfasts as fundraisers. I particularly enjoy the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department breakfast. It is from 8 a.m. to noon on March 22. Another good one close to home is the Munnsville Methodist Church breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. on March 29. With this year’s especially rough north country winter, why not get out and taste a little of the magic that is our maple industry?

A lot of sap is needed to provide us the delicious maple products many look forward to each spring. In 2013, it took an average of 42 gallons of sap to make one gallon of maple syrup. higher water content. Native Americans enjoyed maple syrup long before Europeans arrived in North America. Hopefully you’re wondering when and where you should go to experience this tasty spring tradition. Our maple syrup producers have made it easy for you. On the weekends of March 22 and 29, we celebrate Maple Weekend across the state. Many sugar shacks across the north county open their doors to public. Thirty six sugar shacks across Northern New York provide a variety of experiences for visitors during the weekend. Hayrides, learning how to tap trees and collect sap, how to boil it into syrup and how to make all the other delicious treats people love to enjoy are among a few activities always

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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March 2014 | NNY Business

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BUSINESS TECH BYTES

Take steps to safeguard your data

oday it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure big data that drives business is protected. Large corporations and small, mom-and-pop businesses have likely lost data at one time or another and they’re not alone. Losses can be disastrous. Some of the most common causes directly relate to human failure or error, ranking at 40 percent and 29 percent, respectively. In professor David M. Smith’s study for Pepperdine University, software corruption, theft, computer viruses and hardware destruction each make the list, ranking between the 13th and third percentile. The Unitrend white paper “7 Shortcuts to Losing Your Data (and Probably Your Job)” compiles some shocking statistics from many well-known sources on the impact of data loss on businesses. According to the University of Texas, 94 percent of companies that suffer a catastrophic data loss do not survive with 43 percent never reopening and 51 percent closing within two years. The National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, D.C., reports 93 percent of companies that lost their data center for 10 days or more due to a disaster filed for bankruptcy within a year of the disaster and 50 percent of businesses that found themselves without data management for this same time period filed for bankruptcy immediately. International consulting firms DTI and PricewaterhouseCoopers found that seven out of 10 small firms that experience a major data loss go out of business within a year, while 30 percent of all businesses that have a major fire go out of business within a year and 70 percent fail within five years. At the server and desktop levels, the

statistics are no more encouraging as data on 96 percent of all office workstations is not backed up, according the Contingency Planning and Strategic Research Corp., causing 25 Jill Van Hoesen percent of all PC users to suffer some sort of data loss each year. How’s your year going? Any data losses yet? These statistics prove that you can’t ignore the fact that hardware or software failure will occur and you must ensure that you’ve backed up your systems and data. Technology advances have made it possible to move away from tape as a backup medium, eliminating such a high failure rate. A common economical option is a network-attached storage device commonly known as a NAS. This gives your business the ability to back up data from your primary storage unit into a completely separate secondary storage device. Human error is one of your business’s leading causes of data loss. This can range from an improper system shutdown to the accidental deletion of a file. Remember that coworkers and employees are notoriously bad at following policy, so your best defense is a proactive offense. The “Blue Screen of Death,” common on Windows systems a few years ago, is a perfect example of software corruption caused by defective software and successive internal system errors. This type of corruption can occur and remain undetected for days,

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NNY Business | March 2014

weeks, months or years and will increase the odds of losing data. Theft can also cause data loss. Data theft can be as apparent as a breach where data isn’t really lost but redirected to unauthorized parties – think Target. Data destruction is rarely committed by a disinterested “hacker,” but most often by a discontented employee or former employee. Have you reviewed your policies and procedures that pertain to not only involuntary but voluntary terminations? Now is also the time to take steps to secure data from unauthorized external access. Unauthorized access to your systems can easily come in the form of a virus or malware. These are becoming even more commonplace and will not only threaten your computer systems but can harm your business’s reputation as well. The easiest way to protect yourself from these threats is to install a firewall, ensure your anti-virus software is up to date and to never open email attachments from unknown sources. Natural disasters will never be the leading cause of data loss but will account for higher instances of grave aftermaths. This is where your disaster recovery plan comes in. A major part of your business’s continuity plan needs to be data protection. It is critically important to regularly test your disaster recovery plan. Don’t assume that because you’ve had a successful backup that you can recover backed up data. This is cause for paranoia; test and then test again. 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

Entrepreneurship alive in youths

eens have been getting a bad rap in the national media lately. Just watching the latest news about Miley Cyrus twerking or Justin Bieber drag racing has a lot of people shaking their heads and saying, “Kids nowadays!” But I’m here to tell you, it isn’t so, especially here in the north country. This month Jefferson Community College is hosting EDay, an event to introduce high school and college students to the opportunities that entrepreneurship offers in Northern New York. I’ve been involved since the first event in 2005, which was called the Entrepreneurial Spirit Conference. For the next couple of years it was called “What’s Your Big Idea?” Since 2008 it’s been dubbed EDay. It is one of the most inspiring activities to take place on campus, in my opinion, of course. (As a small business advisor at JCC, I’ll admit that I might be a bit biased.) The half-day event features speakers, a business expo that spotlights local vendors and agencies and a business concept competition. It is 100 percent planned and staffed by members of JCC’s eager and enthusiastic Business Club. Past speakers included Pat “Monkey” Chirico, a Watertown High School alumnus who created and markets a very successful line of bracelets, clocks and other accessories made from old vinyl records, and Doreen Garrett, founder of Otis Technology, Lyons Falls. Another year the audience heard from Erik Charles of Central New York MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) and Matthew Turcotte from North Shore Solutions. He was the first student to participate in Clarkson University’s entre-

preneurial mentoring program and was the prior year’s EDay winner. Last year’s entertaining speaker was Johnny Spezzano, a well-known local radio personality and Sarah O’Connell frozen yogurt entrepreneur. Students attend EDay from high schools across the north country, from EdwardsKnox and South Jefferson to Copenhagen and Lyme Central, Indian River, Watertown High and others. JCC students, particularly those in the business division, are also encouraged to attend. Depending on the year, participation has totaled more than 300 young people and teachers. The business concept competition is the highlight of the day. Months before, schools form teams of up to four students to develop presentations that must cover several key components of starting a business, including product or service selection, local market analysis, startup cost estimates, income potential and a marketing plan. Preliminary judging of the submissions takes place two to three weeks before EDay. Several supporting economic development partners, including the Workforce Investment Board, Jefferson County Local Development Corporation and the Small Business Development Center sponsor the event in various ways, from financial aid to providing judges to select the top three high school contestants and

the top three college teams. An underlying mission of the day is to spotlight the educational offerings at JCC as well as to encourage young people to consider ways they can remain — or return after college — in the north country, to build their careers and grow their families in Northern New York. On event day, three high school finalists compete before the whole auditorium for prizes of $125, $250 and $500 per team. The top three college winners are announced but do not have to compete again. This is an opportunity to see the diligence, teamwork and presentation skills of the participants. They have to prepare a video or slide show that highlights key points of their business concept and answer questions posed by the panel of judges. Concepts have ranged from businesses like computer repair and website development to a service that would create videos to help skateboarders earn sponsors. Another video service proposed to record sporting events for student athletes to send to their deployed parents. Some years, food-related businesses have been popular, whether it’s a downtown soup and salad bistro or a catering service designed to deliver meals to ice fishermen. Whatever the idea, it’s a fun and inspiring opportunity to see north country students combine their efforts into making our area a better place to live and work. n SARAH O’CONNELL is a certified business advisor with the New York State Small Business Development Center at Jefferson Community College. She is a former small business owner and lifelong Northern New York resident. Contact her at soconnell@sunyjefferson.edu. Her column appears bi-monthly in NNY Business.

March 2014 | NNY Business

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COMMUNITY / BUSINESS CALENDAR 50 |

ALEXANDRIA BAY FRIDAY, APRIL 4 TO SATURDAY, APRIL 5 n 13th Annual “Winter Getaway” Blue-

grass Weekend, Bonnie Castle Resort and Marina, Holland Street. Sponsored by the Thousand Islands Bluegrass Preservation Society. Information: Dick Bartlett, 658-2679.

THURSDAY, MAY 8

n River Hospital’s “Ladies’ Night Out,” Cavallario’s Steak House, 24 Church St. Information: 482-4976

ADAMS SATURDAY, APRIL 5

n Arbor Day Celebration, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., South Jefferson High School. Sponsored by South Jefferson Chamber of Commerce. Free trees, children’s activities, crafts, Rick West’s birds of prey, Sci-Tech Center, Cornell Cooperative Extension animals, fire trucks and food for sale. Citizen of the Year Ceremony at 11 a.m. Admission: $1.

CANTON SATURDAY, APRIL 5

n Pre-Season Farmer’s Market Training, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., St. Lawrence County Cornell Cooperative Extension Learning Farm, 2043B State Highway 68. Workshop to develop north country growers’ salesmanship, labor management, social media skills and compliance with food safety regulations. $20 includes lunch. Register with Betsy Hodge: 379-9192, bmf9@cornell.edu.

CARTHAGE SATURDAY, APRIL 5

n Carthage Area Hospital Foundation 6th Annual “Comedy Night” 5:30 p.m. mix and mingle, 6:30 dinner, 7:30 show, Carthage Elks Lodge, Fulton St. $40 per

NNY Business | March 2014

person, $75 couple. Headliner: Marianne Sierk, feature act: Greg Bauch, host: Matt Rohr. Proceeds benefit Carthage Area Hospital Foundation. Reservations by March 31. Information: 493-0114, www. carthagehospital.com

CLAYTON THURSDAY, MARCH 20

n Clayton Chamber of Commerce Business With a Twist, 5 to 7 p.m., St. Lawrence Pottery, 41468 NYS Route 12. Free networking event for Clayton Chamber members and guests. Sponsored by St. Lawrence Pottery and Bernie Sturr — Motivated Realty. Register: 686-3771.

FRIDAY, APRIL 4 TO SUNDAY, APRIL 5 n 1000 Islands Spring Boat Show, Cerow Recreation Park Arena, 615 E Line Road. Friday, 1 to 7 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Adults $4; children $2; children 8 and younger free Featuring runabouts, fishing boats, pontoons, docks, lifts, personal watercraft, marine insurance and more. Boater’s Safety Course Saturday April 5 Information: Clayton Chamber of Commerce 686-3771 or www.1000islands-clayton. com/boatshow

THURSDAY, APRIL 10

n Clayton Chamber of Commerce Business With a Twist, 5 to 7 p.m., 524 Coyote Moon Vineyards Wine and Craft Beer Lounge, Riverside Drive. Free networking event for Clayton Chamber members and guests. Sponsored by Coyote Moon Vineyards. Register: 686-3771.

THURSDAY, MAY 8

n Clayton Chamber of Commerce Business With a Twist, 5 to 7 p.m., Creative Edge Salon, 330 James Street. Free networking event for Clayton Chamber members and guests. Sponsored by Creative Edge Salon. Register: 686-3771.

FORT DRUM SATURDAY, MARCH 29 n Samaritan Auxiliary’s One Night, One Diamond, 6:30 to 11:30 p.m., the Commons on Fort Drum. Featuring fine dining and music from Atlas and the chance to win a half-karat diamond donated by Waterbury Fine Jewelers. Tickets: $150 per couple. Event proceeds to help buy an Arctic Sun Temperature Management System for Samaritan Medical Center’s emergency room and intensive care unit. Information: www.samaritanhealth. com/onod.

HENDERSON HARBOR SATURDAY, JULY 12 n 23rd Annual Henderson Harbor Triathlon, Boat Launch, State Route 178. Olympic race will begin at 8:30 a.m., Sprint at 9 a.m. Olympic event consists of 1.5K swim, 40K bike, 10K run; Sprint with a .750K swim, 20K bike, 5K run. Event proceeds benefit the Children’s Home of Jefferson County’s Community Based Programs and the CREDO Community Center. See website for complete details. Information: Stacey Finley at 788-7430, sfinley@nnychildrenshome. com. Register online at www.hendersonharbortriathlon.com, www.active.com or www.nnychildrenshome.com.

MALONE SATURDAY, APRIL 12 n Pre-Season Farmer’s Market Training, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 911 Emergency Services Building, 55 Bare Hill Road . Workshop to develop north country growers’ salesmanship, labor management, social media skills and compliance with food safety regulations. $20 includes lunch. Register with Rick LeVitre: 518-4837403, rlevitre@cornell.edu.

SYRACUSE Noon to 1:30 p.m., 115 W. Fayette St. Session leader will be Chris Fowler from SyracuseFirst. He will discuss the 10 percent shift and the value of procuring goods and services from local businesses. Lunch will be served. Space is limited to 30 people. Information: 470-1997.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19 n Worksite Wellness Conference, 7:30

a.m. to 4 p.m., SRC Arena, Onondaga Community College, 4585 W. Seneca Tpk. Healthy Syracuse will encourage and support local employers in adopting wellness policies and programs that promote the health of employees while managing health-care costs and increasing productivity. Information: www.bizeventz.com or email HealthySyracuse@gmail.com.

FRIDAY, MARCH 21 n Central New York Postal Customer Coun-

cil “March Madness” seminar. Featured topics include: Every door direct mail, shipping products and services, Business Customer Gateway, meet the postmaster, nonprofit and standard mail, postal trivia and more. Stop at tables with topics that interest you and move on when the buzzer sounds. Admission: $5; included with $40 annual membership. Prizes and refreshments. Bella Domani, 5988 East Taft Road. Information: Natalie Dolan, 452-3408 or natalie.c.dolan@usps.gov.

TUPPER LAKE SATURDAY, MARCH 15 n Coney Mountain snowshoe, south

of Tupper Lake. Beginner’s mountain, possible hike if weather is warm, fairly easy. Offered by Adirondack Mountain Club, Laurentian Chapter. Information: Marianne Hebert, 265-0756, hebertm@ potsdam.edu.

WATERTOWN WEDNESDAYS THRU APRIL 30 n Watertown Winter Farm & Craft Mar-

ket, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bottom floor of the Stream Building, Top of the Square Mall, 146 Arsenal St.

THURSDAY, MAR. 13 n Greater Watertown North Country

Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Awards Presentation and Annual Meeting 2013, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Black River Valley Club, 131 Washington St. Sponsored by M&T Bank, Davidson Auto Group, Thousand Islands Winery, Westelcom, Fort Drum

Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dulles State Office Building, 317 Washington St. To benefit Credo Community Center Foundation. Donation: $5, good for both days. Light desserts, sandwiches, snacks, beverages. Accepting new dealers: wilson.sherrym@gmail.com.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19 n Greater Watertown North Country Cham-

TUESDAY, APRIL 8 n WISE Symposium, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.,

ber of Commerce Business After Hours at Davidson Nissan, 5 to 7 p.m., Davidson Nissan, 18439 Route 11. $10 members (registered), $12 members (not registered), $15 non-members. Register by noon, Tuesday, Mar. 18. Information and registration: www.waternnny.com or 788-4400.

THURSDAY, MARCH 20 n 2014 Speaker Series: Financial plan-

ning fundamentals that give you an edge, 8:30 a.m. to 10:30, Ramada Inn, 6300 Arsenal St. Creating a sound, comprehensive personal financial plan is complex, but can be achieved if you know the proper fundamentals. Join Bill Kriesel, partner-in-charge of financial planning to learn how to build your financial plan on a solid foundation. Check in: 8:30 to 9 a.m., Seminar: 9 to 10:30 a.m., light breakfast served. RSVP: March 18. Free for members, $5 non-registered members, $5 non-members. Information: www.watertownny.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 22 n Pre-Season Farmer’s Market Training,

10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Cornell Cooperative Extension office, 203 North Hamilton St. Workshop to develop north country growers’ salesmanship, labor management, social media skills and compliance with food safety regulations. $20 includes lunch. Register with Steve Ledoux: 315379-5270, swl73@cornell.edu.

TUESDAY, MARCH 25 n North Country PTAC Matchmaker, 8

a.m. to 2 p.m., Jules Center, Jefferson Community College. Do you offer a product or service the government may be interested in? This is your chance to meet with representatives from the military, federal agencies, state and local governments, along with prime contractors. Promote your products or services during 10 minute, one-onone meetings directly with government purchasing decision makers. $10 per person or $15 per person after March 17, register online at www.northcountryptac.com. Prime contractors and agencies should be registered by March 20 for free matchmaking table. Refreshments will be offered. Information: PTAC at 788-4400.

FRIDAY, MARCH 28 AND SATURDAY MARCH 29 n Antique Show and Sale, 5 to 8 p.m.,

Oncenter, 800 S. State St. Sponsored by Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurism and the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University. Featuring Jessica Herrin, CEO and Founder of Stella & Dot. Registration and information: www. wisecenter.org. Contact: Lindsay Wickham, 443-3550 or lwickham@syr.edu.

MONDAY, APRIL 14 n CenterState CEO Annual Meeting,

11:30 a.m. registration; noon, program, The Oncenter, 800 S. State St. Join us for the prestigious Business of the Year awards, and the announcement of the Startup Labs Syracuse winner — the recipient of $200,000 in cash and prizes from the region’s largest business competition. $65/person for CenterState CEO members; $625/table of ten, $80/person for non-members; $775/table of 10. Registration deadline is April 4, 2014. Information: Lisa Metot at (315) 470-1870 or lmetot@centerstateceo.com.

THURSDAY, APRIL 10 n Job and Career Expo 2014, 11 a.m.

to 5 p.m., Bruce M. Wright Memorial Conference Center, 1291 Faichney Drive. Seeking new employees? Recruit from more than 1500 job seekers. Information and registration form: Michelle at 7884400 or events@watertownny.com.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16 n Greater Watertown North Country

Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours at Ryan’s Lookout, 5 to 7 p.m., Ryan’s Lookout, 9290 Route 3. $10 members (registered), $12 members (not registered), $15 non-members. Register by noon, Tuesday, April 15. Information and registration: www.waternnny.com or 788-4400.

COMMUNITY / BUSINESS CALENDAR

TUESDAY, MARCH 18 n CEO Talks: A LunchTime Roundtable,

Mountain Community Homes, Timeless Frames, Décor and Expressions, Watertown Daily Times and NNY Business magazine. $20 per person payable in advance, RSVP by noon, Wednesday, Mar. 5. Information and registration: www.waternnny.com or 788-4400.

SATURDAY, MAY 17 n Fourth annual “Run to the Sun,” half

marathon, 8 a.m., 5K and 10K races, 9 a.m., from Davidson Automotive Group, 18423 Route 11. Cost: 5K and 10K, $25; half marathon, $50. T-shirts for preregistered registrants. Information: www. heatherfreemanfoundation.com. To volunteer: Sandra Macy, 778-5482.  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.

March 2014 | NNY Business

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BUSINESS SCENE Watertown Downtown Business Association Annual Social Event

From left, David Winters, Watertown Audiology and Downtown Business Association president, and Brian H. Murray, president, Washington Street Properties. The firm was named a 2013 Downtown Business of the Year.

Sarah O’Connell, New York State Small Business Development Center at Jefferson Community College, and Merritt Reynolds, owner, The Square Lion Coins and Jewelry, which earned the 2013 Downtown Institution Award.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Carol Loch, Downtown Business Association board member, Rick Wiest and Tim Wiest, Taekwondo Training Center, which received a Community Service Award. Several businesses garnered recognition during the DBA’s Annual Social Event Jan. 24 at the Paddock Arcade, Watertown. The DBA and the New York State Small Business Development Center at JCC sponsored the awards. The DBA’s President’s Award was presented to Maryann Bancroft, a 50-year employee of the Crystal Restaurant.

Carol Loch, Downtown Business Association board member, and Paul DiFabion, president, Benefit Services Group, which received a Community Service Award.

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NNY Business | March 2014

SERVICE

BUSINESS SCENE Watertown Downtown Business Association Annual Social Event

From left, Carol Loch, Downtown Business Association board member, and Rhonda Foote, director/owner, Rhonda’s FooteWorks, which received a Community Service Award.

From left, Timothy P. Sweeney, general manager, Tunes 92.5 WBLH Radio, Melissa Aulet and Matthew Furst, Tunes 92.5 WBLH Radio. The station was named a 2013 Downtown Business of the Year.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Carol Loch, Downtown Business Association board member, and Robyn Bartlett, Johnny D’s, which earned an Honorable Mention certificate.

From left, newly elected 2014 Downtown Business Association officers David Winters, Watertown Audiology, DBA president, Steve Weed, Steve Weed Productions, DBA secretary, Carol Loch, DBA treasurer, and Robert Lawlor, American Kang Duk Won Karate, DBA vice president.

788-6840

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March 2014 | NNY Business

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BUSINESS SCENE GWNC Chamber of Commerce 62nd Israel A. Shapiro Citizenship Award dinner

Irene Carman and husband, Thomas H., president and CEO, Samaritan Medical Center, Watertown, and 2013 Israel A. Shapiro Citizenship Award recipient.

Andrew Mitchell and Maria Carman, Watertown.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

Travis Overton, Bernier, Carr & Associates, Watertown, and wife, Leslie. The Savory Downtown and Best Western Carriage House Inn hosted the 62nd Israel A. Shapiro Citizenship Award dinner Feb. 6.

Jackie Schell and husband, Michael, Hancock Estabrook, LLP, Counselors at Law, Syracuse.

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NNY Business | March 2014

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BUSINESS SCENE South Jeff Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours at F.X. Caprara Harley-Davidson

Andrew Beckstead, partner, Gram’s Diner, Adams, and Tommy John, retired New York Yankees pitcher, Watertown.

David and Mary Lowe, retired, Rodman, and daughter, Ashley Caprara, F.X. Caprara Harley-Davidson, Adams Center.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

Lori Porter, Realty USA, and nephew, Josh Weise, New York Field Services, Jefferson County representative. F.X. Caprara Harley-Davidson, Adams Center, hosted the South Jeff Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours on Feb. 13.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Kelsey Long and Brooke Caprara, F.X. Caprara Automotive, Watertown, Adams Center and Pulaski.

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March 2014 | NNY Business

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BUSINESS SCENE GWNC Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours at Raymour & Flanigan Furniture

From left, David Clark, General Dynamics, Fort Drum, and Andrew Banas, WWTITV50, Watertown.

GRACE E. JOHNSTON PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Emily Jobson, Samaritan Medical Center, Watertown, Dave Males, WWTI-TV50, Watertown, and Jill Parker, City Electric, Watertown. Raymour & Flanigan hosted the February Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours on Feb. 19.

Come See the All New Polaris Brutus at Waite Motorsports

From left, Joe Ginsburgh, Temper-Pedic, Albany, Cari Thompson, Temper-Pedic, Syracuse, and Andre Lheureux, Raymour & Flanigan Furniture, Watertown.

GRACE E. JOHNSTON PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Karen Cannata-LaRocca, Roberts Office Furniture Concepts, Adele Cole-Brown, Mark Products, Syracuse, Cynthia Terpening, Windstream.

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WWW.WAITEMOTORSPORTS.COM 56 |

NNY Business | March 2014

BUSINESS SCENE Lewis County Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours at jeb’s Restaurant

Jeremy and Becky Kelly, owners, jeb’s Restaurant, Lowville.

From left, Angela Widrick and Heidi VanZandt of SunnyCrest Flowers, Lowville.

JEREMIAH PAPINEAU PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

Doug and Pat Dietrich, The Golden Shamrock Bed and Breakfast, Glenfield. jeb’s Restaurant, Lowville, hosted the February Lewis County Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours on Feb. 27.

JEREMIAH PAPINEAU PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

Kyle Pleskach and Blaine Campany, Croghan Meat Market, Croghan.

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BUSINESS HISTORY

WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES ARCHIVES

Assisting in the organization of the Watertown chapter of the Business and Professional Women’s club at a tea in the lounge of the Marine Midland Trust Company of Northern New York were, seated, left to right: Dr. Marguerite J. Fisher, Syracuse, professor of political science, Syracuse University, and past state president; Mrs. Lucille M. Kinne, Buffalo, state president; Mrs. Ann M. Schoff, Syracuse, fifth district director; standing, Miss Florence A. Louth, Albany chapter; Miss Elizabets Eastman, president of the Albany chapter; Mrs. Fannie Smith, local president; Mrs. Heinretta Zemp, Buffalo, new club’s chairman; Mrs. Alman Daneher, Utica, past fifth district director, and Mrs. John P. Mackey, tea chairman and local second vice president.

Ahead of their time

Professional women’s club helped narrow gender gap By GRACE E. JOHNSTON

NNY Business

n April 1965, the Watertown chapter of the Business and Professional Women’s Club was organized and a charter received in affiliation with the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs. At the time, the national organization had a membership of 170,000 women in 3,550 clubs and 27 national federations comprising an international federation. The purpose of the club was to elevate standards for women and to extend opportunities through education in industrial, scientific and vocational activities. Club programs and activities focused on personal development, civic participation, and knowledge of world affairs. Its function was to promote the interests of business and professional women in the local area and to bring about a spirit of

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cooperation among business and professional women. The Young Career Women of the Year contest sponsored by the club became a coveted award by local professional women. Working women between 21 and 30 with at least a year of full-time work experience were eligible to participate in the competition. Judging was based on career achievements and ability to project an image reflecting the role of modern women in society. The National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs Inc. launched the program in 1963. The first local award was given in 1976 to a teacher in graphics expression reading improvement systems at LaFargeville Central School. Subsequent award winners came from ever-diversifying fields, reflecting the advancement and changing dynamic of women in business. In 1977, the award was presented to

Barbarajean Metevia, an art teacher at Knickerbocker and Ohio Street schools and president of the local American Association of University Women. Lieutenant June C. Hurst with the public affairs office on Fort Drum was named Young Career Woman for 1978. Now well-known reporter, anchor and producer at WWNY-TV, Anne Richter Ashley earned the title in 1979 while working as an assistant news director at WOTTWNCQ radio. Winner of the 1980 competition was Bonnie Lehman Corbin, director of public information of then WNPE-WNPI television. Kathleen Murray was manager of the Watertown Ramada Inn when selected as the local career woman in 1981. In 1982 the assistant director of human resources at Mercy Hospital, Melody Johnson won the local title. She went on to become a recruitment specialist at General

Electric, Syracuse. Cheryl Robbins, an instructor in retail management and fashions at Jefferson Community College was the 1983 winner, having been a buyer for Dey Brothers, Syracuse. Michelle Lewis, second vice president of Key Bank of Northern New York took first place in the 1984 competition. Marie N. Galvin, account representative executive cooperative specialist at WWNY-TV won the title in 1985. Laurie M. Foster, coordinator of advertising and public relations for Key Bank of Northern New York Inc., was named young career woman of 1986 at just 24 years old. Local attorney, Patricia M. Bordonaro of the law firm of Willmott, Wisner, Scanlon & Saunders, was named Young Career Woman of 1987. A steady upward progression of young women in business was well recognized by the BPW and the larger local community. The Watertown Business and Professional Women’s Club also saw a substantial court ruling that contributed to the changing dynamic of women in local business and civic affairs. In 1987, the Supreme Court ruled in a 7-0 decision that Rotary Clubs did not have the constitutional right to exclude women from membership. An article from the day hinted at the reluctance to the ruling: “In the wake of a court ruling in California, Watertown’s Rotary Club is being forced to admit women to its ranks for the first time.” Then Rotary International President Mat Caparas said, “Public opinion in the United States against sex discrimination is so strong and vocal that there is a current trend in judicial decisions to strike down discriminatory practices.” Patricia A. Fanning, president of Watertown’s Business and Professional Women’s Club at the time said, “I think it’s a great ruling.” Two of the more than 50 members of the women’s club joined the Rotary Club soon after the ruling was issued. Growing numbers of businesswoman involved with local Rotary clubs continued to validate the prudence of that ruling. What began as a small, civic-minded group of women in the mid-60s, developed into a club that fostered and celebrated advancement of local women in their education and careers. n GRACE E. JOHNSTON is staff writer and editorial assistant for NNY Magazines. Contact her at gjohnston@wdt.net or 315-661-2381. Business history is a monthly feature from the archives of the Watertown Daily Times. Visit www.watertowndailytimes.com to access digital archives since 1988, or stop by the Times, 260 Washington St., Watertown to research materials in our library that date back to the 1800s.

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W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G H E R E ? FAMILY DOLLAR RETAIL STORE WHAT: New retail store LOCATION: 21 N. Broad St., West Carthage OWNERS: Northern Developers LLC, Carthage, which will lease the building to Family Dollar SIZE: The 9,180-square-foot stand-alone building will replace the West Carthage store located across the street in the Price Chopper Plaza, High Street. COST: About $1 million BUILDER: Lunco Corp., Carthage COMPLETION: Spring 2014 LOCAL JOBS: Up to 50 construction jobs including subcontractors to complete the structure. Since this is a relocated store, the store team at the existing location will move to the new store. FEATURES: New Family Dollar format with larger assortment of food refrigerated and frozen foods; health and beauty items; household and home décor; apparel for men, women and children and seasonal merchandise. — Compiled by Elaine M. Avallone

ELAINE M. AVALLONE | NNY BUSINESS

Work is nearly complete on a roughly $1 million Family Dollar retail store in West Carthage. The 9,180-square-foot store is expected to open later this spring and will replace the High Street store.

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PRESENTS:

The 38th Annual

North Country Home Show April 11, 12, & 13, 2014 at the Watertown Fairgrounds Arena Show Hours are: Friday, April 11 - 5:00pm to 9:00pm Saturday ,April 12 - 10:00am to 7:00pm Sunday, April 13 - 10:00am to 3:00pm Tickets $5.00 for adults • $4.00 for Seniors over 60 & Military • Children 16 and under FREE

For more information please call: 788-1330 60 |

NNY Business | March 2014

NEXT MONTH

n our April issue — our annual salute to family businesses — we examine the future for several family-owned and operated businesses in Northern New York.

Also coming next month: n KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY: Philadelphiabased Philly Fuels is family owned and operated since 1982. As four second-generation children work to keep business and family focused, we visit them to share their story.

n A DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY: Watertown’s Cheney Tire in March celebrated 60 years in business. We talk with third-generation owner Tom Cheney about its history and success. n 20 QUESTIONS: An in-depth interview with a north country business leader. n PLUS: Small Business Startup, NNY Snapshot, Economically Speaking, Commerce Corner, Nonprofits Today, Business Tech Bytes, Small Business Success, Real Estate, Agri-Business, Business History, Business Scene and 20 Questions. n VISIT US ONLINE at www.nnybizmag.com. Follow us on Twitter for daily updates at @NNYBusinessMag, like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nnybusiness, and view eEditions at www.issuu.com/NNYBusiness.

Spring into savings! SUBSCRIBE TO THE REGION’S NO. 1 LOCAL BUSINESS MAGAZINE!

NNY Business Features Can’tMiss Local Content Every Month n Columns about NNY Agriculture, Nonprofits, Real Estate, Chamber of Commerce, Small Business, Business Law, Business Tech and Economic Development

n Award-Winning Reporting & Photography by NNY Staff n Learn What Makes Business Work in Northern New York n Cover Stories About People and Issues Driving NNY Business

n Business Scene — Photos of Business People Networking in NNY

n People on the Move n Economic Snapshot & Transactions

n Small Business Start-up

n NNY Business History

n Monthly Business and Community Events Calendar

n 20 Questions with NNY Business, Civic and Community Leaders

n Building & Construction Updates Each Month

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