NNY Business March 2017 by NNY Business

Y usIness // ANNUAL WOMEN IN BUSINESS ISSUE

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SPECIAL

Healthy Women 5-page bonus section

MARCH 2017

Volume 7 No. 4 $2.95

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2 | NNY Business | March 2017

WOMEN’S SERVICES

guardians Women’s health needs can be complex. Let our team of experts be your guides throughout life. They’re the first hands we trust to cradle our babies. They’re there to make our golden years better. When we’re scared… they lift us up. When you are choosing an OB/GYN, you’re not just choosing a doctor. You’re choosing a guardian who will remain by your side. That’s why we’ve brought in more expert OB/GYNs with the latest women’s health solutions for our community—for every stage of life. From maternity care to incontinence treatment and minimally invasive surgeries, it means more than just access to an expert today. It means you always have a guardian with you every step of the way—looking out for your tomorrow.

Find your guardian at claxtonhepburn.org/OBGYN or call 315-713-6700 for a consultation.

March 2017 | NNY Business

4 | NNY Business | March 2017

Inside MARCH 2017

18 14 16 |

COVER |

18 WOMEN IN ARCHITECTURE Three Northern New York women lead in architectural design in a male-dominated industry. |

SMALL BIZ STARTUP |

14 HEARING HEALTH One Watertown native provides service to ensure hearing health. |

WOMEN IN BUSINESS |

15 HISTORICAL INSPIRATION New Cape Vincent restaurant inspired by village history.

37 |

REAL ESTATE |

31 TOP TRANSACTIONS Top 10 sales in Jefferson, St. Lawrence nearly $11m. |

HEALTHY WOMEN |

38 VITAMIN D BENEFITS Vitamin D helps to combat seasonal blues. 39 OVERCOMING ADDICTION Signs of addiction and available counciling options. 40 OUTSIDE SERVICES How to manage daily tasks.

41 THE POWER OF NO Learning the right time to say “no” to manage stress levels. 42 LIKE-MINDED SUPPORT Finding friends in the right places to ensure health and wellness. |

BUSINESS SCENE |

54 NETWORKING, NNY STYLE Businessmen and women connect for success across Northern New York.

March 2017 | NNY Business

BusIness

CONTRIBUTORS

Chairman of the Board John B. Johnson Jr.

Lance M. Evans is executive officer for the Jefferson-Lewis and St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors. He writes about the Women’s Council of Realitors. (pg.30)

Jay Matteson is the agricultural coordinator for the Jefferson County Industrial Development Corp. He writes about the upcoming maple season and Maple Weekend. (pg.49)

Sarah O’Connell is an advisor for the state Small Business Development Center at SUNY Jefferson. She writes about building the north country economy through small businesses. (pg. 43)

Joleene Moody is a freelance writer. Each month her column Entrepreneur’s Edge is featured. She writes about the value of honesty in business and a special fivepage section on womens health. (pg. 33, 37)

Editor & Publisher John B. Johnson

Co-Publisher

Harold B. Johnson II

Magazine Editor Brian Kelly

Magazine Associate Editor Holly C. Boname

Editorial Design Holly C. Boname

Photography

Angela Underwood is a freelance writer who lives in Watertown. She’s a former South Jeff Journal reporter. Contact her at reporterangelaunderwood@gmail.com. She writes this months cover story. (pg. 18)

Vega Nutting is a is the Patient-Centered Medical Home Implementation Project Manager at the Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization. She writes about he power of teamwork. (pg. 29)

Rande Richardson is executive director of the Northern New York Community Foundation. He outlines the importance of contributing to nonprofits. (pg. 47)

Amanda Morrison, Justin Sorensen Chris Lenney

Director of Advertising Michelle Bowers

Advertising Graphics

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

Circulation Director Mary Sawyer

Brooke Rouse is executive director for the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce. She writes about the importance of mentorship. (pg.46)

Holly C. Boname is associate magazine editor for NNY Magazines. This month she writes Small Business Startup with Amy DeMar, owner of Hearing Solutions of NNY. (pg.14)

MARKETPLACE 2 Mama Birds .................................................25 A to Z Liquors .................................................51 Alpine Seeding LLC .......................................25 April’s Cake Shop ...........................................45 Aubertine & Currier ........................................30 Augustinian Academy ....................................45 Bechaz Riverdale Cheese ...............................27 Blue Spruce Motel ..........................................25 Body Shop .....................................................25 Burdick BMW .................................................56 Burrville Power Equipment .............................48 Carthage Market .............................................45 Caskinette Ford ..............................................47 Church Street Diner ........................................45 Clayton Chamber of Commerce .....................27 Clayton Dental Office ......................................27 Clayton Marina ..............................................27 Claxton Hepburn Medical Center .....................3 Coleman’s Corner ..........................................48 Conboy, McKay, Bachman & Kendall LLP .......9 Crouse Neuroscience Institute ..........................7 D.L. Calarco Funeral Home ............................33 Depot Café .....................................................45 Dr. Guitar Music 4.............................................8 Fairgrounds Inn ..............................................48 Finley’s Closet ................................................27 Foy Agency Insurance ......................................8

6 | NNY Business | March 2017

Fucillo Auto Malls ..........................................31 Fuller Insurance Agency ...................................8 H.D. Goodale Co. .............................................8 Hallett’s Florist and Greenhouse ......................44 Hayloft at Moonshine Farm .............................51 Herzig’s Convenience Store .............................51 Hospice of Jefferson County ............................42 IMEC ..............................................................45 Jefferson County Historical Society ................44 Karla’s Christmas Tree Shoppe .......................27 Koffee Kove Restaurant ..................................27 Laughing Hyena .............................................25 Lisk’s Florals ..................................................51 Lori Gervera Team ..........................................50 McKenzie L. Cantwell Lac ..............................27 Morgia Group .................................................36 Nancy D. Storino Real Estate ............................50 NNY Community Foundation ..........................24 North Country Store .......................................48 North Country Women’s Health ......................46 Nortz & Virkler ................................................31 Overhead Door Co. of Watertown ....................48 Painful Acres Amish Furniture .........................49 Party Rentals ..................................................45 RBC Wealth Management ..............................13 Realty USA .....................................................50 Ridgeview Inn .................................................51

River Hospital .................................................41 S & L Complete Tree Service ............................45 Sashes & lace ................................................48 Samaritan Medical Center ................................4 Senior Care of Northern New York ..................28 Schonfield Dental ...........................................48 Shred Con ......................................................43 Slack Chemical Co. .......................................25 Snapshots Photo Booth .................................31 State Farm ........................................................8 Strongest Warrior ...........................................55 T.F. Wright & Sons Granite Foundry ................54 TLC Real Estate ..............................................50 Truax & Son Insurance ...................................29 Tug Hill Vineyards ..........................................51 Tuggers ..........................................................51 Tunes ..........................................................92.5 Waite Motorsports .........................................52 Waite Toyota ...................................................53 Watertown Center for Business & Industry .....13 Watertown Savings Bank ..................................2 Watertown Spring & Alignment .......................31 Weichert Realtors ...........................................50 WWTI ABC50 .................................................26 Ziebart ............................................................31

NNY Business (ISSN 2159-6115), is published monthly by Northern New York Newspaper Corp., 260 Washington St., Watertown, NY 13601, a Johnson Newspaper Corp. company. © 2010-2017. All material submitted to NNY Business becomes property of Northern New York Newspaper Corp., publishers of the Watertown Daily Times, and will not be returned.

Subscription Rates 12 issues are $15 a year and 24 issues are $25 for two years. Call 315-782-1000 to subscribe. Submissions Send all editorial correspondence to hboname@wdt.net Advertising For advertising rates and information in Jefferson and Lewis counties, email mbowers@wdt.net, or call 315-661-2345 In St. Lawrence County, e-mail blabrake@ogd.com, or call 315-661-2507 Printed with pride in U.S.A. at Vanguard Printing LLC, Ithaca, N.Y., a Forest Stewardship Certified facility. Please recycle this magazine.

INTERVIEW

ABOUT THE COVER

34 A MOTHER TO MANY Relocating to Fort Drum provided Karen Clark, USO director, with the career path she was intended to follow.

COLUMNS

46 COMMERCE CORNER 47 NONPROFITS TODAY 29 ECONOMICALLY SPEAKING |

DEPARTMENTS

8 9 10 12 14

49 AGRI-BUSINESS 50 SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS 51 ENTREPRENEUR’S EDGE

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

30 31 52 54 32

REAL ESTATE ROUNDUP TOP TRANSACTIONS CALENDAR BUSINESS SCENE BUSINESS HISTORY

For our annual Women in Business cover, NNY Business sat down with Karen Clark, Fort Drum USO director, to discuss the many changes her career path took her on and how it has led her to support the men and women of the 10th Mountain Division and their families. She talks about career diversity and the power of volunteerism in Northern New York.

March 2017 | NNY Business

E DI T OR ’ S NOTE

t gets tougher with each passing year to identify women succeeding in careers traditionally dominated by men.

And that’s a good thing. It isn’t that women are not making gains in jobs usually thought of as fields for men. They are. It’s just that the novelty of women doing so is starting to wear off. In the north country, there are an increasing number of female college presidents and school superintendents, district attorneys and judges, physicians and police officers. The ranks of potential female “firsts” grows thinner as jobs like Jefferson County sheriff, Watertown City Court judge and deputy commanding general of Fort Drum’s 10th Mountain Division are filled by women. That’s not to say women have achieved parity across the board with men. There are still far more company presidents and chief executive officers in the north country who are male than female. That reflects a nationwide trend, according to the Fortune 500 list of top U.S. corporations, which found that about 5 percent of these companies are led by female CEOs. In this issue of NNY Business, writer

Angela Underwood talked to three north country women who have achieved success in architecture, an occupation long thought to be the domain of men. The women Brian Kelly talk about some early challenges of breaking into the male-dominated field, although each agree that gender was less of an issue as they proved their abilities and can also be an asset. While the United States has made strides in gender equality, the disparity can be far more pronounced in developing countries, where women still have to fight for even a basic education. Writer Norah Machia recently spent time in Haiti and had the opportunity to talk with young local women aspiring for an education with hopes of using it to succeed in the business world. In the impoverished country, it can take an entire family’s struggle to achieve an education and many girls fall by the wayside. It is only the sup-

port of relief efforts and religious organizations that enable some of these girls to remain in school, gain an education and, hopefully, help break the cycle of poverty in their communities. Also in this issue, you’ll find a special section on women’s health prepared by motivational speaker, author and entrepreneur Joleene Moody, who offers timely suggestions on how to feel better, reduce stress and generally make life a little more manageable. You’ll further find out why Karen Clark, a military spouse and director of Fort Drum-USO, remains so passionate about the organization that supports military members both at home and overseas. n

To not miss an issue of NNY Business, subscriptions are available. The rate is $15 a year for 12 issues and $25 for two years of 24 issues. To subscribe, please call 315-782-1000. Enjoy,

Protect Your Investment H.D. Goodale Co. INSURANCE

145 Clinton St., Suite 107 Watertown, New York 13601

(315) 788-4581

goodale@northnet.org

“Celebrating 67 Years” Deer River 493-2391

Croghan 346-6378

Lowville 376-2731

“We are not like a good neighbor, we are your good neighbor.” 8 | NNY Business | March 2017

P E O P L E O N T H E M O VE Conboy, McKay, Bachmann & Kendall, LLP Hire New Partner, Bring on New Associate

Conboy, McKay, Bachmann, & Kendall, LLP welcomed James A. Burrows as a new partner in January. Mr. Burrows is a LaFargeville native and attended Jefferson Community Burrows College and has strong roots in the Northern New York community. He has over 25 years of litigation experience, and has led the Conboy Law Firm’s municipal law practice since he joined the firm in October of 2015. Jim has represented many towns, fire districts, villages and the city of Watertown on a variety of matters. Jim regularly represents individuals and businesses in contract disputes, real estate issues, boundary issues, landlord/ tenant matters, and administrative hearings. The firm has also hired a new associate, Ian W. Gilbert to the firm. Mr. Gilbert grew up in Adams Center and then attended Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, graduating in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Gilbert political science and history. He finished his studies in 2015 at Penn State University Dickinson School of Law. From 2015 to 2016, Mr. Gilbert was an associate at the law office of Merrell and Merrell in Lowville, New York. His practice included representing and advising small businesses and family farms in entity structuring, employment issues, and succession planning.

worked in the local recreation and human services field for over 20 years, has been hired as a senior director at the Sackets Harbor YMCA. Mr. Passino, currently a youth program coordinator at the Children's Home of Jefferson County, is a former senior program director at the Watertown Family YMCA. He began his new job on Feb. 21. The Sackets Harbor YMCA opened on March 7. Mr. Passino will work 90 percent in the health and wellness field and 10 percent in youth development. The Watertown Family YMCA is us-

ing the former Madison Barracks Health Club, 119 Pike Road, for its expansion into Sackets Harbor. It will include a full fitness center with family wellness programming and multiple youth and senior activity programs. One of the YMCA's recent goals has been to expand the nonprofit's services to other communities. In addition to the downtown YMCA and the 'Fairgrounds Y,' it also manages a facility in Carthage.

Carthage Hospital Bids Farewell to Please see People On The Move, page 13

Sackets Y Adds Director

Paul E. Passino, Adams, who has

Got business milestones? n Share your business milestones with NNY

Business. Email news releases and photos (.jpg/300 dpi) to editor Holly Boname at hboname@wdt.net. The deadline for submissions is the 10th of the month for the following month’s issue. Photos that don’t appear in print may be posted on our Facebook page.

March 2017 | NNY Business

NNY

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

Average New York surrogate* price for on-highway diesel

$1.98 in January 2017 $1.91 in December 2016 $1.58 in January 2016

$2.79 in January 2017 $2.65 in December 2016 $2.33 in January 2016

25.3%

Average NNY price for gallon of regular unleaded gas $2.43 in January 2017 $2.34 in December 2016 $2.11 in January 2016

Vehicles crossing the Thousand Islands bridge

15.2%

113,635 in January 2017 51,525 in December 2016 108,565 in January 2016

ECON SNAPSHOT

Average NNY price for gallon of home heating oil $2.60 in January 2017 $2.49 in December 2016 $2.23 in January 2016

16.6%

$3.20 in January 2017 $2.93 in December 2016 $2.56 in January 2016

Vehicles crossing the Ogdensburg-Prescott bridge 45,569 in January 2017 51,525 in December 2016 44,015 in January 2016

25%

Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors single-family home sales 88, median price $111,500 in January 2017 124, median price $128,750 in December 2016 76, median price $131,900 in January 2016

15.5% Price

St. Lawrence Board of Realtors single-family home sales 51, median price $100,000 in January 2017 96, median price $100,525 in December 2016 46, median price $88,500 in January 2016

10.9% Sales

3.5%

Ogdensburg Bridge & Port Authority

Source: NYS Energy Research and Development Authority

Sales

4.7%

Source: T.I. Bridge Authority

Average NNY price for gallon of residential propane

15.8%

19.7%

*Prices are the composite area that includes New York, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia. Source: U.S. DOE, Energy Information Administration

Source: NYS Department of Agriculture

10 | NNY Business | March 2017

(Percent gains and losses are over 12 months)

13%

Vehicles crossing the Seaway International (Massena) bridge 180,156 in January 2017 185,863 in December 2016 172,848 in January 2016

4.2%

Seaway International Bridge Corp.

U.S.-Canadian dollar exchange rate (Canadian dollars per U.S. dollar) $1.30 in January 2017 $1.34 in December 2016 $1.41 in January 2016

7.8%

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of N.Y.

Limited data release

Price

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

Source: NYS Department of Labor

NNY unemployment rates n Due to annual data updates at the New York State Department of Labor, unemployment and jobs data were unavailable at press time this month. Unemployment figures will return in the April issue. Visit nnybizmag.com for up-to-date jobs and unemployment data. Note: Due to updates in some “Econ. Snapshot” categories, numbers may differ from previously published prior month and year figures.

New automobiles (cars and trucks) registered in Jefferson County Cars 444 in January 2017 367 in December 2016 302 in January 2016

47%

Trucks 127 in January 2017 112 in December 2016 109 in January 2017

17%

Source: Jefferson County Clerk’s Office

Passengers at the Watertown International Airport 2,462 in January 2017 2,809 in December 2016 2,248 in January 2016

9.5%

Open welfare cases in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties 2,242 in January 2017 2,288 in December 2016 2,340 in January 2016

4.2%

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

Economic indicators DBAs

NNY

DBA (doing business under an assumed name) certificates filed at the Jefferson County Clerk’s office Feb. 1 to Feb. 28, 2017. For a complete list of DBAs filed in past months, visit WWW.NNYBIZMAG.COM.

FEB. 28: CHECKPOINT GRAPHICS AND MORE, 20281 COUNTY ROUTE 181, LAFARGEVILLE, DANIEL WOODBURN, 20281 COUNTY ROUTE 181, LAFARGEVILLE. ARTISANS ELECTRIC ODDS & ENDS, 476 VANDUZEE ST., WATERTOWN, BRIAN J. ARIAS, 476 VANDUZEE ST., WATERTOWN. BARDSCOM ENTERPRISES, 146 LOWER ARSENAL ST., SUITE #14, WATERTOWN, SANDRA A. BARDSLEY, 619 SHERMAN ST., WATERTOWN.

AUTHOR GRAVITY, 35827 STATE ROUTE 3, HERRINGS, JEREMY L. BARLOW, 35827 STATE ROUTE 3, HERRINGS. FEB. 24: FAMILY TRENDZ, 36127 STATE ROUTE 180, APT. 4, LAFARGEVILLE, HARRELL IVY R. SANFORD, 30591 STATE ROUTE 180, WATERTOWN, ABIGAIL D. SPAULDING, 36127 STATE ROUTE 180, APT. 4, LAFARGEVILLE. MILLER TRUCKING, 39996 SELOS ROAD, CARTHAGE, MATTHEW B. MILLER, 39996 SELOS ROAD, CARTHAGE. RAINBOW INTERNATIONAL SPECIALTY SERVICES, 123 COLEMAN AVE., WATERTOWN, ARIKA M. COLELLO, 19940 COUNTY ROUTE 65, WATERTOWN. OTIS CONTRACTING AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, 432 MAPLE AVE., WATERTOWN, JONATHAN LAJUETT, 432 MAPLE AVE., WATERTOWN. 1,000 ISLANDS SPRING WATER, 10595 COUNTY ROUTE 9, CLAYTON, JESSICA A. MCINTOSH, 10595 COUNTY ROUTE 9, CLAYTON. FEB. 23: PHILADELPHIA ROBOT FACTORY, 34934 COUNTY ROUTE 28, PHILADELPHIA, MICHAEL L. HARRIS, 34934 COUNTY ROUTE 28, PHILADELPHIA. MIKE & MIKES RUSTIC CARPENTRY, 24243 GOTHAM ST. ROAD, WATERTOWN, MICAHEL J. SCHEPIS II, 24243 GOTHAM ST. ROAD, WATERTOWN, MICHAEL F. JESCHAWITZ, 717 NELLIS ST., WATERTOWN. FEB. 22: ION COMPANIES, 1137 STATE ST., WATERTOWN, WILLIAM A. TAYLOR, 1137 STATE ST., WATERTOWN. LOGAN BROWN RACING, 18240 COUNTY ROUTE 181, LAFARGEVILLE, JENNIFER BROWN, 18240 COUNTY ROUTE 181, LAFARGEVILLE. WHEELER CREEK PUMPKIN PATCH, 36415 PELO ROAD, CLAYTON, RANDY A. DAVID, 36415 PELO ROAD, CLAYTON, BOBBIE J. DAVID, 36415 PELO ROAD, CLAYTON. FEB. 21: LOBEL DESIGN, 207 WEALTHA AVE., 631B, WATERTOWN, NEBIE TIAO E. AMINATA, 207 WEALTHA AVE., 631B, WATERTOWN. FEB. 17: FIT4MOM OF WATERTOWN, 11552 NORTHERN BLVD., FORT DRUM, TRISHA LEIGH A. BLACK, 11552

FEB. 16: SHOEN ELECTRICAL, 263 FLOWER AVE W., WATERTOWN, VAUGHN R. SHOEN, 263 FLOWER AVE W., WATERTOWN. FEB. 15: RAFFERTY’S PHOTOGRAPHY, 10849B UTAH ST., FORT DRUM, SHAWN M. RAFFERTY, 10849B UTAH ST., FORT DRUM. ESCAPE WORKS, 142 ARCADE ST., WATERTOWN, DAVID E. MAXON, 17394 COUNTY ROUTE 63, ADAMS CENTER. FEB. 14: LAVENDER LADY, 463 PADDOCK ST., WATERTOWN, LORI B. GAINES, 463 PADDOCK ST., WATERTOWN. FEB. 13: FRONTIER WOOD PRODUCTS, 535 THERESA ST., CLAYTON, MATTHEW P. GONDEK, 535 THERESA ST., CLAYTON. FEB. 10: YOUNGS INVESTIGATIONS & PROTECTION, 18270 SHORE ROAD, DEXTER, JODY A. YOUNGS, 18270 SHORE ROAD, DEXTER. CRU AND COMPANY, 9429D DICKINSON LOOP, FORT DRUM, CHRISTOPHER J. RUIZ, 9429D DICKINSON LOOP, FORT DRUM. FEB. 8: EAGLE SHOPPE, 527 RIVERSIDE DRIVE, CLAYTON, EAGLE RIVER I LLC, 240 BARTLETT POINT ROAD, CLAYTON. FEB. 6: SPOKES CRAFT BEER & TAPAS, 81 PUBLIC SQ., WATERTOWN, BETH BODAH, 14693 B CEDAR WAY, WATERTOWN, EVA PIERCE, 118 BOYD ST., WATERTOWN, LIBBY WHEELER, 285 BARBEN AVE., WATERTOWN. WCP CONSULTANTS, 21 FRANKLIN ST., WEST CARTHAGE, SCOTT M. BURTO, 21 FRANKLIN ST., WEST CARTHAGE. MR. JOHN TAXI, 178 HANEY ST., WATERTOWN, JOHN L. MORRIS SR., 178 HANEY ST., WATERTOWN. SHELBY’S CLEANING SERVICES, 16567 COUNTY ROUTE 59, DEXTER, SHELBY A. POWLESS, 16567 COUNTY ROUTE 59, DEXTER. FEB. 3: HOPE FLOATS NATURAL SOAPS, 20309 COUNTY ROUTE 63, WATERTOWN, DARLENE A. HARRINGTON, 20309 COUNTY ROUTE 63, WATERTOWN. IMPOV CLOTHING, 208 PIKE ST., BROWNVILLE, KYLE D. CURRIER, 208 PIKE ST., BROWNVILLE. BODY SLENDER LASER CENTER, 1116 ARSENAL ST., WATERTOWN, REBECCA KESHMIRI, 16228 DEER RUN ROAD, WATERTOWN. FEB. 2: BURRVILLE POWER EQUIPMENT, 25371 COUNTY ROUTE 12 SOUTH, WATERTOWN, COPENHAGEN CARVERS, LLC, 10200 COUNTY ROUTE 12, COPENHAGEN. FEB. 1: NORTH COUNTRY PROPERTY MAINTENANCE, 31182 PINEWOOD DRIVE, BLACK RIVER, TRAVIS L. HODKINSON, 31182 PINEWOOD DRIVE, BLACK RIVER.

TRANSACTIONS

FEB. 27: TNT SEALERS, 616 FRONTENAC ST., WATERTOWN, ANOTHONY BELDEN, 616 FRONTENAC ST., WATERTOWN.

NORTHERN BLVD., FORT DRUM.

March 2017 | NNY Business

| 11

BUSINESS BRIEFCASE Holiday Inn Express & Suites Celebrates Milestone Year

In September 2016 the Holiday Inn Express & Suites received the IHG Torchbearer Award, the highest award IHG gives to hotels in its family of brands. The Torchbearer Award places the Holiday Inn Express & Suites-Watertown/Thousand Islands in the company of 337 properties within the Americas chosen from the IHG system of more than 5000 hotels for achieving the highest levels of excellence in all aspects of operation - from quality of the facilities to customer satisfaction. "We are very proud to have won this award since it places us in the top 1% of all Express hotels in the Americas. Quite an honor for us since the award takes into consideration all of the reviews and ratings that our hotel generated between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016. During this time period we were able to consistently maintain an Elite score of 91% and above,” said Charlotte Waterson, General Manager.

1000 Donors Support High Quality Healthcare in St Lawrence County

dated facilities to accommodate continued expansion and growth. The result is that Canton-Potsdam Hospital is emerging as a statewide leader in the delivery of rural healthcare.

Atlantic Testing Laboratories Announces 50 Year Anniversary

Atlantic Testing Laboratories, Limited (ATL), a leading provider of testing and engineering services in the Northeast, celebrates their 50th anniversary this year. ATL was founded in 1967 by Spencer F. Thew in Canton, New York, and this location continues to serve as the corporate headquarters today. Spencer said, “I am proud of the ATL staff, and the direction ATL’s growth has taken. I am honored to witness the 50th anniversary of ATL and wish its current leadership continued success.” Through the years, the company has grown to operate ten locations throughout New York State. Offices are located in Albany, Binghamton, Canton, Elmira, Plattsburgh, Poughkeepsie, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, and Watertown, NY.

St. Lawrence Featured in Princeton Review’s ‘Colleges That Pay You Back’

The Canton-Potsdam Hospital Foundation celebrated a 1000 donor milestone. Yearly gifts from individuals, corporations, foundations and friends, the Foundation was able to achieve its mission to support the strategic priorities of Canton-Potsdam Hospital (CPH) and ensure high quality, patient-centered medical care in the region. In 2016, a record number of donors chose to support the Foundation and CPH’s mission to provide skilled, compassionate, cost-effective care that promotes wellness and meets community needs. “This milestone represents so much more than simply the number of people who have given,” said Rich VanLeuven, chair of the CPH Foundation Board. “It exemplifies the commitment of our community to ensure excellent healthcare is provided for our families, friends and neighbors.” Donations to the Foundation help CPH to invest in new technologies and life-saving medical equipment; to launch innovative programs that improve the health and well-being of patients and the community; and to move forward with new and up-

12 | NNY Business | March 2017

The Princeton Review has named St. Lawrence University one of the nation’s best colleges for students seeking a superb education with great career preparation and at an affordable price. The education services company features St. Lawrence in the 2017 edition of its book, Colleges That Pay You Back: The 200 Schools That Give You the Best Bang for Your Tuition Buck (Penguin Random House/Princeton Review Books), which went on sale Jan. 31. In the book’s profile of St. Lawrence, The Princeton Review’s editors praise the University for doing “everything possible to help students plan their SLU education in an affordable way, and to that end, gives out more than $43 million in financial aid each year.” Students who were surveyed described St. Lawrence as having an “absolutely excellent Career Services office, which offers a host of resources for students looking for jobs, internships, or research opportunities.”

Heather A. Freeman Foundation Sponsors Two Local Organizations The Heather A. Freeman Foundation has sponsored the 2017 Taste of the Towns "Appetizer” with a $500 sponsorship. The event is Saturday, April 29, at the Dulles State Office Building, and benefits the Victims Assistance Center of Jefferson County and Watertown Sunrise Rotary. The Foundation has also provided the North Country Goes Green Irish Festival with a check for $500 for the "Leprechaun" sponsorship. The festival will be held the weekend of March 17-19, also at the Dulles State Office Building.

Kinney Drug Foundation supports River Hospital’s Hope + Healing Capital Campaign

The Kinney Drugs Foundation has made a contribution of $15,000 in support of River Hospital’s Hope and Healing Capital Campaign, which will deliver significant upgrades to the Hospital’s programs and services. This gift will support the new River Family Health Center, located on the first floor of the new medical office building.

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE CONTINUED, from page 36 LPN with 41 Years of Service

Cheryl VanCour, LPN, was greeted by a room full of her peers on Feb. 9, to celebrate her retirement after 41 years of service at Carthage Area Hospital. Director of Patient and Community Engagement Natalie Burnham said, “We have the pleasure of honoring Cheryl VanCour as she begins a new phase of her life. Cheryl has been a dedicated and hardworking employee at Carthage Area Hospital for 41 years. Always willing to do what is VanCour needed to take care of her patients and her co-workers.” Mrs. VanCour has worked in the following Departments/Clinics at Carthage Area Hospital: Medical/Surgical/Pediatrics (MSP), Critical Care Unit (CCU), Emergency Room (ER), the Veteran’s Affairs (VA) Clinic and Beaver River School Based Health Center (SBHC).

March 2017 | NNY Business

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S MA LL B US INES S S TARTU P THE INITIAL IDEA For many years Watertown native Amy DeMar worked in the health industry, something she was passionate about and that ultimately led to her opening her own business, Hearing Solutions of NNY LLC. “I had taken a short break from the working world, but it wasn’t long until I wanted to get back into it. So I put my resume out there and was soon contacted for an interview,” said DeMar. She began employment with Hearing Health in Walmart in the town of LeRay and began taking her New York State certification training. After two years of employment with Hearing Health she spent time working at Center For Sight, but when the company decided to close its hearing department, she knew she didn’t want people to lose that service. “I felt the need to be here to help all the patients. So that’s “The community has provided me with such a great quality of life, and AMANDA MORRISON / NNY BUSINESS when my husband and I began my children with a great quality of life. So that is why I want to always give back.” ~Amy DeMar, owner, Hearing Solutions of NNY to do some research and found the location we are currently in,” said DeMar. She says since they “Millie and Jeff have been wonderful. eryone deserves and that’s why she offers opened their doors in mid-January her pa- Anything that we needed, they were right screenings for free. She emphasizes, though, tients are happy to continue services with her there to help with,” she said. that she is not a doctor and that because she and business is doing great. is not, Hearing Solutions NNY LLC does not TARGET CLIENTELE treat medical conditions. She refers anyone THE JOURNEY According to DeMar, there are many with a health-related hearing problem to a After Center for Sight’s hearing depart- reasons why someone needs to be fit with a doctor. ment closure, and after turning down two hearing aid, and it’s not just those over the prominent job offers in Syracuse with other age of 55. IN FIVE YEARS audiology groups, DeMar spoke with her “We work with a lot of different people It’s simple for DeMar where she wants to husband and decided that she couldn’t work and there are different reasons why people be in the next five years, “I see myself doing in another area, that Watertown was exactly have hearing loss,” she said. “There are four the same thing I am doing now.” where she needed to be. major reasons, but the main one is exposure As any business owner, she wants to “Because my roots are in Watertown to loud noises. We have a lot of mills and fac- continue to grow as a reputable health repreand I am very community-oriented, I decided tories in the area, and back then they didn’t sentative in her community and to continue to it wouldn’t be a good fit for me because I care for their hearing as they do now. They give back to those who have supported her didn’t want to let anyone down,” she said of didn’t know they needed to.” and her family throughout the years. her choice not to relocate. She continued that age is an inevitable “The community has provided me with The decision was made; Watertown was reality and that with age we lose hearing. such a great quality of life, and my children where she would open her office. But finding That’s why she recommends anyone over the with a great quality of life. So that is why I the perfect location was what DeMar called, age of 55 visit her office for a free screening, want to always give back,” DeMar said. “A big task.” She had to scramble quickly to as well as education about hearing loss itself. And give back is what she is doing maintain the care to her patients she felt they “When someone comes in for a screening through her business. A portion of her sales deserved, and with whom she also wanted to they are walked through the process before are donated to sponsor Hospice of Jefferson continue working. any sound tests are conducted. I try to edu- County. As acting vice president for the orWhen the office located in Millie and cate them as much as possible because I think ganization, there was no question as to how Jeff Smiths QuickMed building opened it was being educated about their own hearing is she could continue to work and give back to clear to DeMar that this was the place she extremely important,” DeMar explained. her beloved community. could begin her next journey as an entrepreFor her, it’s about making sure that she ~Holly C. Boname neur and hearing aid specialist. is giving the quality of care that she feels ev-

WHERE Washington Street, Watertown 14 | NNY Business | March 2017

| OPENED January 2017 | WEB hearingsolutionsofnny.com

WO ME N IN BU SIN E SS F E AT UR E

LOCAL HISTORY INSPIRES RESTAURANT

JUSTIN SORENSEN / NNY BUSINESS Carrie Disotell and Marcie Travers-Barth, partners at The Coal Docks Restaurant and Bar, stand next to a photo of Carrie’s grandfather before he left for Pearl Harbor in 1944, one of the historical items on display.

former Aubrey’s Inn manager and assistant manager have transformed the former Carleton in Cape Vincent into an old-fashioned restaurant inspired by local history. Marcie S. Travers-Barth, a village native, said she and Carrie M. Disotell have opened their Coal Docks Restaurant and Bar, which shares the name of the old coaling station at the eastern end of the village. The two owners wanted to commemorate the village’s history by naming their restaurant after the coal docks and decorating it with black and white photos from the early 1900s, antiques and a mural of the lighthouse that was stationed along the breakwall from 1900 to 1951, Mrs. Travers-Barth said. “We wanted to have something to bring the town back together,” she said. “Anybody who was raised here or vacations here knows what we’re talking about when we say ‘the coal docks.’ Mrs. Travers-Barth and Mrs. Disotell left their positions at Aubrey’s Inn to open their restaurant after the inn closed for the season in November. They acquired the about 1,700-square-foot facility, located at 592 East Broadway St., that same month, but Mrs. TraversBarth said she and Mrs. Disotell have planned on opening their own restaurant since last summer. The property was once owned by Richard E. Moll, who opened the Carleton in 2003 and operated it for five years before he closed it. “We’re just excited to get open and start having the public

and our friends come in and enjoy what we want to enjoy,” Mrs. Disotell said. The menu will feature several 20th century-inspired homemade dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Mrs. Travers-Barth said they will serve pork chops, shepherd’s pie, manicotti, prime rib and other homemade dishes in cast-iron skillets. Customers can also order eggs, pancakes, hash and corned beef for breakfast and homemade pies and cakes for dessert, Mrs. Disotell said. “(Our dishes) are prepared very healthy,” Mrs. TraversBarth said. “Everything is homemade.” In addition to the traditional seating, customers will also be able to sit in chairs or loveseats around a wood stove, Mrs. Disotell said. Customers can also sit at one of four high tables made with reclaimed wood as well as order a number of local wines from the full bar. The owners also opened their own gift shop and their Flower Pot Bakery inside the restaurant. The bakery will have homemade bread, pastries, muffins, and cookies and their gift shop will have locally made T-shirts, blankets and jellies. The gift shop also has cozies that say ‘The Coal Docks’ and ‘Cape Vincent’ on them, Mrs. Travers-Barth said. The restaurant is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday and Monday.

~Marcus Wolf March 2017 | NNY Business

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PHOTO COURTESY OF ANTHONY MACHIA

Many of the north country residents interviewed for past issues of this magazine’s annual “Women in Business” edition have shared their secrets of success and offered sound advice to other women aspiring to establish their careers. They have spoken about the importance of possessing strong communication and leadership skills, along with character traits such as perseverance, fairness, confidence, humility and compassion.

HOPE FOR THE FUTURE BY NORAH MACHIA | NNY BUSINESS

16 | NNY Business | March 2017

They have also credited their success to the many educational and training opportunities that were made available to them, noting a solid educational foundation was important at a young age to help them believe anything was possible. While education typically equates to greater success in life for both women and men, the free education that is provided to Americans at the primary and secondary levels is something that can easily be taken for granted. For those living in impoverished countries, education is recognized by many as the first step in breaking the cycle of poverty. But it’s often not readily available, particularly to females, because of harsh economic conditions and social barriers. One example is the country of Haiti, where it’s estimated nearly 80 percent of people live in poverty, with many struggling to provide basic needs for their children - such as food, shelter and clothing. For many families, there is no money left to pay for schooling. Haiti’s literacy rate is estimated at approximately 60 percent. Although primary education is “free” in Haiti, many

F E AT UR E families are unable to send their children to school because they cannot afford the cost of the textbooks, fees and supplies. If there is any money available, a family would usually send a male child to school. As a result, the majority of schools are private, with many being supported by outside relief efforts and religious organizations, along with non-governmental organizations within the country. One example is the Ecole Agape (translated as School of Love), a primary school for nearly 200 girls in Lilavois, just outside the capital city of Port-au-Prince. The school provides free education and a daily nutritious meal to children in first through sixth grades, and also operates a preschool. More than 90 percent of Ecole Agape students have passed the country’s National Primary School Exam, said a school official. Some have been fortunate to find sponsorships to continue past the sixth grade, and complete their secondary studies. Others have even been able to complete college, “and turned out to be nurses or nurses’ aides, preschool and middle school teachers, qualified technicians – very well-educated and responsible women,” said Marie Michele Darbouze, whose family oversees the school. Many of the students who attend Ecole Agape are referred to as “restaveks,” or girls whose parents live in extreme poverty and are unable to care for them. They are sent to live with other families, where they complete daily chores in exchange for food, shelter and clothing. But the families who take in these girls can barely afford to send their own children to school, so their opportunity for an education is only made possible through schools such as Ecole Agape. This school was founded by the late Myrtha Manigat, who had earned a teaching degree in Haiti, and also worked as a nurse in Canada. She established the school to provide an education to the young girls living in her neighborhood of Lilavois. When Mrs. Manigat’s original school building was destroyed in the country’s disastrous earthquake of 2010, a friend offered her space in a nearby facility to relocate six classes. She then transformed her living room and the front part of her house into classrooms for the preschool students.

After Mrs. Manigat passed away in October 2015, the school was kept in operation by her two nieces, Mrs. Darbouze and Chantal Coutard. They made a commitment, along with other family members, to continue providing a free education to the poor girls in the Lilavois neighborhood. While all children need education, “girls are the most likely to be left behind” in countries such as Haiti, where resources are so limited, said Lawrence P. (Larry) Grasso, a member of the Friends of Ecole Agape, a group based in Ashford, Conn., which supports the school. The only requirement of a family who sends their child to Ecole Agape is to provide her with a uniform. All other expenses, such as teacher salaries and school supplies, are covered. “There are no other fees,” Mr. Grasso said. “And the girls receive a nourishing meal, so they are able to pay attention and learn instead of thinking about their hunger.” Mr. Grasso noted “when a boy gets a basic education, it greatly expands his potential opportunities and the ability to provide for his family.” “When a girl gets a basic education, it also expands her potential to provide for her family, and she will be able to assist in educating her children as well,” he said. The Friends of Ecole Agape work with another organization, Outreach to Haiti, based in Norwich, Conn., to support the school. Outreach to Haiti partners with churches, schools and community groups to operate numerous relief efforts throughout the country. Mr. Grasso and his wife, Cindy Moeckel, also connected with the Outreach to Haiti organization to support Gloria Theodate, 19, a college student studying for a business degree. She has aspirations of starting her own translating business in Haiti. The couple met Miss Theodate on one of their first trips to Haiti, when she was volunteering to help keep children busy coloring pictures while they waited in line to be served a free meal. Mr. Grasso said they were immediately impressed with Miss Theodate’s fluent English skills, and when they found out she wanted to attend college, but her family could

not afford to send her, they decided to help cover her tuition. “I love the English language,” said Miss Theodate. The young woman hopes to see the development of tourism someday in the Port-au-Prince area, which would increase the need for translators to accompany visitors throughout the region, she said. While she learned English later in school, she also polished her language skills by listening to some American music and television shows, Miss Theodate said. For now, Miss Theodate is helping support her family with the periodic translating services requested for American visitors connected with the Outreach to Haiti program. Her mother is unable to work due to health issues, and her father had worked construction, but was injured when he fell from a ladder. Miss Theodate shares a bedroom with her two other sisters. Electricity is available at the home for about three hours a day, but not always at the same time each day. There is no refrigeration, so the family must buy, prepare and cook any perishable foods the same day. “I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to attend college,” Miss Theodate said. For more information: www.FriendsOfEcoleAgape.org or www.outreachtohaiti.org

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANTHONY MACHIA March 2017 | NNY Business

| 17

PROVING

creative talent through DESIGN BY ANGELA UNDERWOOD

NNY BUSINESS

ARCHITECTURE, BY WEBSTER’S DEFINITION, IS A FORMATION OR CONSTRUCTION RESULTING FROM A CONSCIOUS ACT. AND THE WORDSMITH IS SPOT ON; HOWEVER, LET’S REMEMBER HE IS MAN DEFINING AN ACT NOT FREQUENTLY CONJURED UP BY FEMALES. ACCORDING TO AN AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS SURVEY, 49 PERCENT OF ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS AND 39 PERCENT OF INTERNS ARE WOMEN, YET ONLY 17 PERCENT GO ON TO BECOME FIRM PRINCIPALS AND PARTNERS. THIS IS NOT THE CASE IN THE NORTH COUNTRY. 18 | NNY Business | March 2017

Ruth A. Doyle, 40, was appointed St. Lawrence County administrator last year, after working for the county for more than a decade, and serving as assistant administrator since 2008.

C O V E R S T O RY Three female architects and engineers who don't need to go back to the drawing board because they get it right the first time in the male-dominated field sat down with NNY Business to discuss their sketching successes, favorite architects - and just for fun's sake - their dream design project.

MARI L. CECIL

Mari L. Cecil herself accounts for the 17 percent as the sole female principal among 15 other male architects at BCA Architects and Engineers out of Watertown, Ithaca, Syracuse and Saratoga. Ms. Cecil will be the first to tell you, however, it was a man in her life who inspired her. "I remember finding my father’s mechanical drafting books in fourth or fifth grade," Ms. Cecil said of the age she fell in love with structures. "I was interested in building things and I was often out in the garage building things with my dad." Building bookshelves rather than playing with Barbies "drove my mom absolutely nuts," said Ms. Cecil, who now sits on the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. Growing up in construction-heavy Miami, Fla., in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when the Art Deco district began to dilapidate, Ms. Cecil's dad would detail sketch theory in real-life structures by taking his daughter on-site. The two even befriended a superintendent who, at the day's end, would "give my dad and I a tour and explain things." Between that experience in the field and a friend's father speaking at career day on architecture, "I was hooked," Ms. Cecil said. Her friend's father warned it would not be easy for her, and he was right. But it didn't stop her. She went from being one of two females in her first drafting class to receiving both her bachelor of professional studies degree in architecture and master of architecture degree at SUNY Buffalo by 1986. She has been with BCA Architects and Engineers since 1988. A member of the National and New York State American Institute of Architecture, Ms. Cecil said there are female qualities that offer an edge in the industry. "I think women have a tendency to listen more and evaluate the different 20 | NNY Business | March 2017

options, which allow more elements of the design to be considered before decisions are made," she said, noting it is "not good or bad," rather just a matter of gender-specific thought. She said in her 30-year career, persistence, patience and communication are what have cultivated her success in the male-dominated field. "There are some occasions where I have to prove myself and that I really know what I am talking about," she said. Similar to one of her favorite architects, Marion Mahony Griffin, who was the first woman architect in the nation, playing a strong role in the Chicago School of Design and development of the skyscraper, Ms. Cecil is the sole sister in the flagship firm office in Watertown. Griffin gives truth to the adage “behind every good man there is a woman,” according to Ms. Cecil, who detailed how Griffin’s influence on renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright was undeniable. “Women weren’t really allowed to be out front at that time with design like we are today and many of the women were often relegated to the studio in the background,” she said of Griffin, who spent 15 years behind the scenes, but inevitably signed her name to sketches. “Marion influenced his design and helped influence his reputation,” Ms. Cecil said of Wright, who was a notorious womanizer. Wright’s love of woman opened the door for female architects, whom he employed more than a 100 of in his studio

throughout his “design prevalence,” Ms. Cecil explained. “I admire them both because they were more on the hand crafting of architecture. They were involved with the Prairie School of design, the arts and crafts movement of architectural design,” Ms. Cecil said, adding the duo developed “organic design where everything was believed to be built with nature and look like it was coming out of the ground.” Given the opportunity to design her dream project, Ms. Cecil would do the same. “I really love the challenge of repurposing existing buildings or spaces within an existing building, especially if the building has good bones,” she said. “I would want to repurpose a building from the arts and craft movement or the Prairie School design movement, or even an Art Deco style, but be able to keep the historic fabric.” While that dream remains unseen, one dream that did come through Ms. Cecil’s success was a dream she fulfilled for her father, the very man that she built bookshelves with in the garage. “He walked up to me after graduation and said I am going to be living the career I wanted through you, because I always wanted to be an architect,” she explained. “He couldn’t be an architect because he was blind in one eye and was discouraged from doing it because it would put too much strain on the one good eye he had. I burst into tears because I had never known that until the day I graduated in 1986 from Architecture School.”

C OV E R S TORY

think women have a tendency â&#x20AC;&#x153;toI listen more and evaluate the

Sharon A. Addison, 52, was appointed Watertown city manager in 2012 following a 27-year career with the National Security Agency, Fort George G. Meade, Md.

different options, which allow more elements of the design to be considered before decisions are made.

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AMANDA MORRISON / NNY BUSINESS Mari Cecil is an architect for Bernier Carr Group.March 2017 | NNY Business | 21

architecture also came from moving to and living in many houses and landscapes as a child. Throw in her stepfather, who was a builder and timber framer, and the formula for Mrs. Weld’s future was calculated and achieved at the Tulane University School of Architecture in New Orleans. Entering a male-monopolized field made no difference to Mrs. Weld, who said she was naive to any real gender-discrimination when entering the industry. “I was lucky in that I was riding that wave of feminism,” she said. What she will tell you is “women drop off as it goes along,” since booming success at the drawing board is not your normal nine-to-five, entailing late nights and long days. Male or female, you need “a certain level of confidence to know you can do what you want to do because you are smart enough and hard working enough to achieve it,” she said. Yet, “I have encountered building inspectors and builders who give me a little bit harder of a time because I am not a man, but it helps that I have worked as CHRIS LENNEY / NNY BUSINESS a builder.” Rebecca N. Weld is the principal and founder of With the support of her husband Renew Architechture & Design in Potsdam. and father of her two children, having a stay-at-home dad assists Mrs. REBECCA N. WELD Weld when juggling up to 20 clients at a time; be it planning, designing or Rebecca N. Weld, principal and founder of Renew Architecture & Design constructing with a group of builders she trusts wholeheartedly. out of Potsdam, decided by age 11 that After spending 10 years in Nantucket, she would make her mark with a pencil Elizabeth Swearingen was appointed Lewis designing high-end residential homes, in herCounty hand.manager Happening upon a drafting in February 2014. She table previously and templates at the a friend’s house, served as director of business Mrs. Weld decided there really is no “I gotstrategy some graph paper at and started and operations CYCLE Kids, a non- place like home and moved her firm making plans and I really liked it,”dedicated Mrs. to back to Potsdam. After buying the home profit agency in Cambridge, Mass., and mental issues offor children. of her parents, who were downsizing, Weldphysical said, adding herhealth admiration

she and her family started from scratch. “I have been here seven years and its great,” she said. It’s all about space and vibe, according to Mrs. Weld, who also appreciates Wright’s architecture as one of her favorites. “He would do a lot with wood and other materials,” she said, adding the Finnish architect gave off a north country feel in his work that she, too, relates in her designs. “It is kind of the vibe I can relate to here. In the north country, you get that Adirondack and craftsman vibe that people want, and I enjoy that.” Before sitting at the drafting table, Mrs. Weld visits the site she is designing for first. “Setting will dictate,” she said of the existing furniture and space in the area. “I am an architect, so I can translate fairly well between words and visual.” As for her ultimate project, that’s a no-brainer. “My dream project would be a Great Camp in the Adirondacks. They are not really being built anymore,” she said of the properties that most often have a main house, cottage and wine cellar. “I love the way the style elements transfer from one building to another.”

DIANA P. GRATER

Diana P. Grater is the great woman standing alongside a great man, working with her husband, William, at Grater Architects, P.C., out of Clayton and Rochester. Before creating private boathouses and large-scale commercial projects, Mrs. Grater really had no idea she would end up one of the most prominent architectural principals in the north country. On the contrary, finding out what she didn’t want led her to find what she did want after taking a career survey. “I didn’t want to be an art teacher so I applied to architecture school,” she said of the profession that combines her love of math, art and social science. By the time she started college, with one-third women in her undergraduate and master’s degree program at the University of Virginia, Mrs. Grater said many of her female peers did not follow through to the end. “The success of

JUSTIN SORENSEN / NNY BUSINESS Diana Grater of Grater Architects at the offices on Riverside Drive in Clayton.

March 2017 | NNY Business

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anything takes perseverance, emotional commitment and clear eyes to see what you are getting into,” she said of flourishing as a female in a field full of men. “You are going to find discrimination if you look for it.” However that is not to say that women are “easily typecast in a large firm,” according to Mrs. Grater, who does not have to face said discrimination running her own firm. On the contrary, her femaleness perfectly balances her husband’s manliness in the design scheme of things. “I tend to be stronger develop-

ing a scheme, where my husband often comes up with the big idea,” she said. Noting engineer Erik Gunnar Asplund, as well as textile designer, sculptor and architect Alvar Aalto as one of her preferred principals, Mrs. Grater’s favorite work by the latter Scandinavian sketcher is the renowned Baker House at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “It is the response to the river in the curve a linear form and the rooms are configured so they take advantage of the view, but buffer the noise from the street,” she said, adding, “I tend to fol-

low his work. I like the fact that he was not just an architect, but a real designer.” Mrs. Grater said the north country landscape lends itself to the same sort of reaction. “The area we live in makes it very translatable because of Scandinavia’s cold climate, as well as the environmental landscape, so they are similar responses,” she said. “There is a simplicity about it that is very appealing.” On the subject of appeal and feel, Mrs. Grater says she shoots for certain sensations when sketching. “If you can wash your dishes, look out a window and be inspired, I feel like that’s one of the greatest things I can provide. I hope to enhance your life, to inspire or even elevate the human condition.” Simple earthly elements seen through a window, like the shape of a cloud or the way the sunlight is shining through the pane, can excite the most mundane tasks, even dishwashing, according to the architect. “While you are doing those ordinary, daily things you notice those things. And if that happens, I met my goal,” she said. Another end Mrs. Grater meets when designing is doing it responsibly. “The building and construction industry account for most of the energy used in the world, i.e., far more than transportation, manufacturing or industry. So we need to design more responsibly and think more about high-performance materials and design and how they are working together,” she said. Her dream project? Another no-brainer: Bridges. “I was always inspired by the Roman aqueduct in Mien,” she said, citing the bridges designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, also among her favorites. “He has designed a lot of bridges, some really beautiful ones.” Be it the Golden Gate or Brooklyn Bridge, “I am always looking at bridges. What intrigues me so much is that you have two sides you need to connect and the expression of the bridge is ultimately the aesthetic of the construction,” she explained. “It has to be structured, it has to work. A lot of buildings have to work, but not to the same degree as a bridge. You can have poorly functioning buildings, but you can’t have a poorly functioning bridge. You will die. There are so many demands of a bridge, but when you see a beautiful one it is amazing. It’s greater than the sum of its parts.”

Deanna R. Nelson, 46, has been the assistant attorney general in charge of the Watertown regional office, which covers Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Lewis counties, since 2008.

24 | NNY Business | March 2017

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Leanne K. Moser, 49, is serving her third term as Lewis County District Attorney. She was first elected in 2007. She has a dual responsibility as the Lewis County Coroner. Ms. Moser sits in a courtroom at the Lewis County Courthouse with portraits of past presiding judges behind her.

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lus P 0 0 0 50, s Reader

E C O N O MIC AL LY SP EA K I NG

Creating an Effective Team “I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I ended up where I needed to be.” – Douglas Adams

hough I never imagined I would one day be working in Health Information Technology, today I am doing just that at the Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization. And when I look around at the team of women that support me at FDRHPO, I am always reminded how remarkable it is that we landed here together. At FDRHPO, we are right in the middle of a key transformation of our region’s healthcare system, working on a daily basis to improve the quality of care for our community, support our region’s healthcare providers and fill any gaps that may exist across the healthcare spectrum. Our agency is currently – and always has been – led by a woman, and it has several women in management roles. My direct team, which focuses on implementing the Patient-Centered Medical Home model in primary care offices throughout the north country, is made up of five women. We work closely together to support our agency’s mission, support the entire tri-county healthcare system, support our families and anyone else whose path we might cross throughout the day. As women, it’s just what we do. However, what we do in a day is just part of our story. The really interesting piece involves who we are, how we ended up in this field, and why we function as a great team in the male-dominated Information Technology sector. So, what makes an effective team? Forbes Magazine suggests that team chemistry might be more simple than we often think – “The most engaged and excited teams in the world can be found at your local park watching a Little League baseball game.” Working together towards a common goal, learning from past mistakes, encouraging one another, understanding individual roles, having a confident team leader, and even a little celebratory cheering when the team scores are all attributes of highly effective team. Forbes goes on to list five specific attributes of a highly successful team. They are:

1. Having a Clear Vision – Being motivated not only by your company’s mission, but also by your own personal mission helps each individual team member realize how her personal contributions lend to the big picture.

Vega Nutting

2. Having an Inspiring Leader – The best teams are led by people who communicate the vision, lead humbly and are open to feedback and criticism. They encourage employee development, leave the door open and delegate effectively. 3. Team Cooperation – Teams that know how to work together and properly divvy up tasks gain the most from their group’s unique mix of knowledge and abilities.

I believe the women and men I work with demonstrate these qualities every day. Including myself, the women I work with directly do not have backgrounds in technology. We have worked as clinical nurses, nonprofit representatives, behavioral health specialists and even foreman supervisors. As a team, we use these skills with technology to achieve our own goals and the shared goals of our healthcare partners in this region. To conclude with a thought from Henry Ford, “Coming together is a beginning; Keeping together is progress; Working together is success.” Regardless of the industry or project we are involved in, we must remember to work together and encourage all members of the team. n VEGA NUTTING is a is the Patient-Centered Medical Home Implementation Project Manager at the Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization.Her background in is practical nursing and health administration. She is a PCMH Certified Content Expert and is working toward her national certification in project management.

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4. Constructive Communication – Teams are always a work in progress. That’s why the best teams are open to feedback and actively encourage constructive communication. 5. Appreciation All Around – Just as the whole team cheers for a home run, effective teams cheer each other on for individual victories, big or small. Regularly recognizing each other’s work lets everyone know their effort is valued.

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R EA L E STATE ROUNDUP

What is the Women’s Council of Realtors?

n Oct. 13, 2008, the Tri-County (NY) Network of the Women’s Council of Realtors (WCR) was chartered. It introduced our area to this organization and opened up a new way for Realtors to hone leadership skills, connect with other Realtors and give back to the local area. So what is WCR and how does it connect to the larger Realtor community? In the 1930s, the National Association of Realtors witnessed the growth of women working in real estate and increased participation of women by national conventions, as women were becoming aware of their potential in, and importance to, the industry. A Women’s Division had already been created in 1924 by the California Real Estate Association. In 1938, National President Joseph Catherine encouraged the formation of a national Women’s Council after being impressed by the California group. At the Annual Convention in Milwaukee in November 1938, the Board of Directors voted to form a Women’s Division. Thirty-seven women, representing nine states, were at that meeting for the Women’s Council’s inception. Through the decades, Women’s Council’s membership growth has reflected the vast number of women choosing to work in real estate as they recognized the immense career benefits combined with a Women’s Council membership, including: • Earnings equitable to men’s because “commission is commission.” • Flexible work schedules allowing Realtors the ability to raise a family and have a career instead of choosing one or the other. • A support system of women in the same field garnering many friendships, network-

30 | NNY Business | March 2017

ing capabilities and referrals. • Confidence through connection with other professional women Realtors. • Recognition for their own achievements and success, as well as inspiration and courLance Evans age to strive for greater successes. Despite the name, WCR is open to Realtors of both sexes. About 10 percent of the more than 12,000 real estate members are male. The local network is one of 250 local and state networks nationwide that provide the backbone of WCR. Most of the work is done by volunteer managers trained to position their groups as a business resource in their Realtor communities. Since 1998, incoming network presidents have been trained at the annual Leadership Academy. With its in-depth network management training, the Academy was recognized with the prestigious Leadership Development Trophy in Network Relations from the American Society of Association Executives in its first year. Local networks regularly have networking and educational programs, which are designed to keep members on top of an evolving market. Nationwide, Women’s Council members collectively generate more than $100 million in commissions annually. Our local network is made up of 35 Realtors from the Jefferson-Lewis and St. Lawrence County Boards of Realtors and

14 sponsors. In its short existence, it has established several annual events and made its mark on the area. Every March, it holds a “Got Leadership?” luncheon and panel discussion featuring four or five local female leaders. This year’s edition will be held at noon on Tuesday March 21 at the Italian-American Civic Association on Bellew Avenue in Watertown. It is open to the public. In the fall, the network sponsors a “Meet the Candidates” event and Top Producer award galas held for Realtor members of the St. Lawrence County and JeffersonLewis Boards of Realtors. These honor the top 20 percent of members in terms of units sold and units rented. In the summer, the network holds a golf tournament. A portion of the proceeds assist a local nonprofit. Past recipients have included the Victim’s Assistance Center, Family Counseling Service, the Sci-Tech Center, the Watertown Urban Mission, the USO at Fort Drum, and the River Community Wellness Program at River Hospital. In 2017, the seventh annual tournament will be at Highland Meadows Golf Club on Friday, July 28. The Tri-County Network has had a number of successes in addition to its events, including having one of its members, Lisa L’Huillier, serve as state network president. In addition, it has raised over $7,500 for local charities and raised awareness of the role women play in positions of leadership in the north country.

n LANCE M. EVANS is the executive officer of the Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors and the St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors. Contact him at levans@nnymls.com. His column appears monthly in NNY Business.

R E A L ES TATE / TOP T RAN SAC T IO N S The following property sales were recorded in the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office in the month of January: $3,110,000: Jan. 5, Town of LeRay: 12.53 acres, state Route 3, CM Apartments LLC, Albany, sold to Colonial Realty Holding LLC, Nanuet. $625,000: Jan. 5, Town of Henderson: 1.01 acres, Windward Lane, Carol A. McGowan, Henderson Harbor, individually and as executor of Norman P. McGowan estate, sold to Michael Jude Renzi and Leslie D. Renzi, Watertown. $545,000: Jan. 20, Town of Alexandria: 0.62 acres, Sunset Drive, Wellesley Island, J. Patrick Michaels and Loretta M. Harms Cooper as co-trustees of the 1220 Irrevocable Trust Agreement, Tampa, Fla., sold to Joseph M. Quigg and Maxine M. Quigg, Watertown. -$473,627: Jan. 27, Village of West Carthage: No acreage or address listed, Northern Developers LLC, Carthage, sold to 6 S. Broad Street LLC, West Carthage. $402,000: Jan.6, Town of Lyme: 28.998 acres, Del’s Marina, South Shore Road, Point Peninsula, Richard H. Nagel, Fairport, sold to Route 12 Inc., Alexandria Bay. $400,000: Jan. 24, Town of Champion: 9.294 acres, County Route 47, Fred J. Ingo Jr., Wellesley Island, sold to Jose Gamez and Elizabeth Gamez, Cape Vincent. $375,000: Jan. 10, Town of Alexandria: 0.47 acres, Number Nine Island on the St. Lawrence River, Leon D. Heath and Shelley E. Heath, Alexandria Bay, sold to Jeffrey W. Stacy and Robin L. Stacy, Webster. $320,000: Jan. 23, Town of LeRay: 8.48 acres, no address listed, Siraco Properties LLC, Galloway, N.J., sold to Davidson Motel LLC, Watertown. $275,000: Jan. 24, Town of Theresa: 25.4 acres, Baker Road, William A. Crosby, Mount Pleasant, S.C., sold to Robert A. Williams and Lesley A. Williams, Trenton, N.J. $256,723: Jan. 19, Town of LeRay: 1.56 acres, 28474 County Route 32, Evans Mills, Daniel Dickinson III, Watertown, as referee for Johnny M. Adams Jr., sold to Federal National Mortgage Association, Philadelphia, Pa. The following property sales were recorded in the St. Lawrence County Clerk’s Office in the month of December:

$812,572: Dec. 12, Village of Massena: Parcel 1) 0.67 of an acre more or less, parcel 2) unknown acres, bounded by Route 37 and Malby Avenue, Dora A. Barichello (executor), Hermon A. Barichello, no address given, sold to BobMassena NY LLC, NY. $500,000: Dec. 8, Town of Brasher: Parcel 1) 38.47 acres more or less, Parcel 2) 51.47 acres more or less, Parcel 3) 48.78 acres more or less, Parcel 4) 7.12 acres more or less, Parcel 5) 53.95 acres more or less, Parcel 6) 20.77 acres more or less, Township 17, bounded by County Route 92 and St. Regis River, Michael Weller (administrator), Estate of Kevin J. Weller, Brasher, sold to John R. Boyce, Norfolk. $440,000: Dec. 12, Town of Colton: Parcel 1) 0.04 of an acre more or less, parcel 2) unknown acres, Parcel 3) unknown acres, Lots 22, 23 and 24, Section 14, Linda B. Goolden, Colton, sold to Eugene A. and Faye W. White, Ogdensburg. $335,000: Dec. 7, Town of Massena: Unknown acres, Lot 3, bounded by Shoreline Drive, Cornelius H. DeConing, Massena, sold to Weichert Workforce Mobility Inc., Morris Plains, N.J.

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$335,000: Dec. 7, Town of Massena: Unknown acres, Lot 3, bounded by Shoreline Drive, Weichert Workforce Mobility Inc., Morris Plains, N.J., sold to Brian and Renee Beck, Massena. $300,000: Dec. 9, Town of Colton: Parcel 1) 1.62 acres more or less, Parcel 2) 25.75 acres more or less, Section 14, bounded by Three Falls Road, Nancy L. Avery, Colton, sold to Paul G. and Rebekah E. Brittin, Lockport. $260,000: Dec. 2, Town of Colton: 0.69 of an acre more or less, Mile Square 14, bounded by Arbuckle Pond Andrea A. Cooper, Wolfeboro, N.H., sold to Michael J. and Margot R. Ashcroft, Barneveld. $237,500: Dec. 2, Town of Leyden: 5888 Golden Road, Michele E. Kirch, sold to Silvio A. Tagliamonte. $220,000: Dec. 6, Village of Waddington: 1.20 acres more or less, bounded by Waddington Road, William E. Dashnaw, Ogdensburg, sold to Jeff F. and Victoria L. Burns, Waddington $205,000: Dec. 5, Town of Morristown: 0.39 of an acre more or less, bounded by River Road, Mark Tayler, Clarence, sold to Robert Calvin and Nannette R. Dean, Montrose, Pa.

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B USI N E SS HIS TORY

MORRISON STREET WAREHOUSE ONCE DEEMED MODERN

ucked away down Watertown’s Morrison Street are four concretesteel silos that were hailed at the time of their 1916 construction as “up-to-date” structures that showed the owners were “keeping up with the progress of Watertown.” Situated where Morrison and Binsse streets meet, the silos were erected to take advantage of the proximity to the New York Central freight house, as the structures were used to store coal unloaded from freight trains. A 25,000-square-foot warehouse was also built next door, with the storage area being “absolutely fireproof,” according to a March 23, 1916, article in the Watertown Daily Times that heralded the “modern” plant. “Not only are they fireproof, but the individual storage rooms are nearly air-tight, so that should a fire start in the contents of any room, the lack of air would cause the fire to smother itself in just eight minutes,” the Times reported. The buildings were “steam heated throughout,” with rooms “kept at an even temperature of 70 degrees the year around.” “Immense motor trucks, capable of carrying the entire household belongings of an average family, supply the transportation facilities, besides a dozen horse teams,” according to the Times article. Coal off-loaded into the neighboring silos from trains was “elevated by machinery from the cars and as it is loaded into the delivery wagons, it is rescreened.” “None but experienced men are

32 | NNY Business | March 2017

WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES ARCHIVE

employed, which provides the very best service, whether it is in moving, storing, packing or delivering a load of coal or wood,” the Times said. Today, there is little evidence of what the buildings were used for. About the only clue is a faded sign atop the side of the warehouse visible from LeRay Street – that reads “Winslow Co.” Charles A. Winslow was born July 13, 1871, in Utica and spent his childhood in that city, beginning his business career with the Utica Brewery. In 1895 he came to Watertown with his brother, Frank, to supervise the equipping of the Watertown Brewing company plant, of which his brother was a principal organizer. According to a life sketch of Mr. Winslow written at the time of his 1968 death by Times staff writer John Pepp, he later left the brewing business and, after short stints as a night clerk at two hotels and a job with New York Central, he joined Horace E. Tyler at Mr. Tyler’s coal dealing business on Court Street. In 1912, he formed his own trucking, storage and coal business known as Winslow Trucking on Court Street. Fire destroyed his plant in June 1914 and Mr. Winslow, associated with Edward L. (Ned) Day, formed the Winslow-Day Co., which erected the fireproof Morrison Street warehouse. In 1920, Mr. Day retired and Mr. Winslow purchased his interest in the business and it was again renamed Winslow Trucking. The business later merged with the Marcy-Buck Co. and become known as Marcy-Buck & Winslow Co., becoming one the largest dealers in

solid fuels north of the New York Central main line. Mr. Winslow would go on to become public relations director for New York Air Brake, a bank director and chairman of the Watertown War Council during World War II. He was a charter member of the Watertown Elks Lodge and a charter member of the Thousand Islands State Parks Commission, serving as chairman for 15 years. But he is best remembered for serving as mayor of Watertown from 1940 to 1948. A true renaissance man, Mr. Winslow was recognized as “the dean of Watertown vocalists,” being chosen to lead the Watertown Male chorus when the group formed in 1929 and then leading it for several years. As a youth, Mr. Winslow had studied voice training in New York City under Paola Giorza and he would later perform several operas in Watertown. He also organized and sang in many concerts presented by churches and charitable organizations. By July 1967, Mr. Winslow had moved from his Flower Avenue East home and was living at the Hotel Woodruff on Public Square. On his 96th birthday that month, he penned a note to the Times using Hotel Woodruff stationery with the brief heading “Obituary Notes.” In the note, he asks an unknown recipient to “Drop in some day” and “Please add these to my obituary notice.” Among the accomplishments he cites are: “The first moving, horse drawn moving van ever used in Watertown;” “The first motor truck for hire;” “The first power moving van;” and “The only fire proof warehouse between Syracuse and Montreal.” “I am almost blind and I am almost deaf, but still in the ring at 96,” he wrote. He also notes, in addition to having served as mayor and being “the last living charter member of Elks,” he was a past president of the Rotary and the Chamber of Commerce and, upon listing these achievements, closes with “And just an ordinary Horses Tail.” The Times took a different view after his death a year later at 97, recognizing Mr. Winslow as “one of Watertown’s leading citizens whose multiple talents led him to the heights in music and politics.” “Probably Mr. Winslow will be best remembered by the northern New York public for his service as mayor of Watertown and his leadership in the musical world,” the Times wrote. “But to his family and close friends, he will also be remembered as a gentleman who lived enthusiastically and well.” Today, Mr. Winslow’s former warehouse on Morrison Street houses offices for the Community Action Planning Council of Jefferson County Inc., which owns the building. ~Brian Kelly

E N T RE P RE N E U R’ S E D G E

Why It Pays To Be Honest in Business

’m going to share a personal story here, one that actually destroyed me emotionally. But only for a moment. When it was over, it gave me exactly what I needed to be a better leader. If you’re interested in being the best version of yourself, listen up. This has to do with being brutally honest, even at the cost of making a fool of yourself. I write books for professional men and women. Self-Help and How-To, mostly. When someone who needed a book written contacted me, his professional stature intimidated me a bit. So much so, that when he asked me what it would cost to write his masterpiece, I fumbled and jumbled my quote horribly. So much so, that I severely undercut myself. Severely. He agreed to my teensy price and we ended our call. I was devastated. What had I done? Why didn’t I say anything? How could I possibly move forward, knowing I would be making mere pennies, thanks to my fumbly foolishness?

to be honest, even if it meant I might look like a fool. Here’s what I said: “Mr. Author, I owe you an apology. For reasons I can’t quite explain, other than I became Joleene Moody flustered while talking to you, I severely misquoted you. I said I would write your book for X dollars when the truth is, I should have quoted you four times that amount. I am so sorry. I don’t know how it happened or what I was thinking, but I would be

ed emotional release and I cried. I cried because telling this man I made a mistake was very difficult. I cried because the perfectionist in me was still beating me up. I cried because I was honest and it felt good. I cried because I realized, even if he decided not to work with me, being honest and standing in integrity felt better than any check in my hand would. Choosing to be honest is actually a gateway to freedom. Had I lied to him or myself and moved forward anyway, I would have actually done more damage than good. One lie leads to another lie, which leads to another lie, which in turn leads to another lie. My emotional release was my body understanding that, and thanking me for being true to myself and to Mr. Author. If you want to feel free, take the route of honesty every time. Looking back, I can safely say that even if Mr. Author told me to go fly a kite, I still would have felt free and safe because I told the truth. There were no stories to protect and no lies to continue to weave. Decide to be honest, no matter what. None of us is perfect. All of us make mistakes. Besides, look what happened when I told the truth. I ended up getting paid what I should have from the beginning. See? It really does pay to be honest.

If you want to feel free, take the route of honesty every time.

I had a choice to make: 1) I could either move forward and write his book for peanuts, or 2) I could call him back and tell him I made a mistake. If I went with option one, I knew I would regret it and hate every step of the process. If I went with option two, I risked making a fool of myself and looking unprofessional. After wrestling with both options, I decided to go with option two. I decided

doing myself and my clients a huge disservice if I moved forward writing your book for what I quoted you. I am so very sorry. I am embarrassed and humiliated. I understand completely if you want to move on and find someone else to write this for you.” And do you know what happened? He said he would like to move forward with me anyway. Yes, I was as stunned as you are. Mr. Author told me he valued my work and appreciated my honesty. He could hear in my voice how terrible I felt and understood I simply made a mistake. After we hung up, I had an unexpect-

n JOLEENE MOODY Joleene Moody is a freelance writer, blogger, and speaker who lives in Oswego County with her husband and daughter. Learn more at: www.joleenemoody.com

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20 QU E STIONS

AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS

Fort Drum Mother to Many

er journey began on a path of educting the young minds in the classroom, but it wasn’t long until she found herself relocating from Florida to Fort Drum and reinventing her career from the ground up. Karen Clarks passion exudes enthusiasm and compassion for those who serve our country abroad and at home.

NNYB: Life as an Army wife can bring you many places. How and when did you find yourself in Jefferson County on Fort Drum? CLARK: My husband and I did get to tour around the country and a little bit in some foreign countries. We lived in Europe, but it wasn’t until late in our career that we ended up here. We arrived at Fort Drum in 2005, actually, and we were not looking forward to it, if I want to be really honest. We were, like, “What the heck? Why are they sending these two Floridians up to the north country? The Army must have a sense of humor.” And then we got up here and actually fell in love with it and decided to stay. NNYB: Your career began in education. How did you find your way into nonprofit work with the USO? CLARK: This is an interesting story, in my opinion. I was looking for work as a teacher in Jefferson County and there were no jobs to be had. I had literally left my classroom in Virginia, my husband met me in the parking lot, and we drove up here. I drove directly to the school district and said – “I want to teach” – there was nothing. So, I dabbled in being a substitute teacher and I dabbled in being a parent educator with Cornell

34 | NNY Business | March 2017

n For Karen Clark, the 10th Mountain Division men and women that visit USO are beloved family

Cooperative and then I saw an ad in the paper for USO director. I have two children in the military, a daughter-in-law who served as well, my husband served with the 10th Mountain and my dad served in Korea. I said to myself that the USO has been great to every family member I’ve had, I would love to work with this organization. I applied for the job and heard nothing. Then I went to the symphony in Thompson Park and I saw all these people wearing USO logos on their shirt and I went over and I told them how excited I was that the USO would be coming to Fort Drum because the USO is a great organization; I think the 10th Mountain Division deserves to have a location here and contributing to this most-deployed division in the Army.The people I met did not wander away from me because it turned out, they didn’t know anybody there. I was like, hmmm, are you here doing the interview for the job of director? They said, yes, and I explained that I had applied for that job. The person asked what my resume looked like and I explained, “Teacher, teacher, teacher.” Then he said, “Oh.” I explained that just because I didn’t have a business background that didn’t mean I didn’t have the skills. I work with volunteers, I work with a small budget, and I made division fun. He then went on to ask me what I would do if I was the director of the USO. I told him, “I have a lot of ideas. My sons’ being in the military, my husband’s being in the military. These are the things I think would be beneficial to the Fort Drum community.” And, he actually listened to me. I explained that my experience in the classroom included leadership, public speaking, reporting, and marketing. The gentleman then brought me over to speak to a young woman and asked her to interview me right then on the spot. But, anyway, that is how I came to work for the USO. NNYB: Has the USO always been an organiza-

tion on Fort Drum? When was it created? CLARK: The USO was created in 1941. The USO on Fort Drum happened in 2007. I was actually hired in 2006 and I worked from my home just kind of learning all the USO could offer Fort Drum, the programs and services that we could provide. Then, in February of 2007 we were told that we could use this building here on Fort Drum and by April of 2007 we had renovated it with 100 percent volunteer labor.Well, when I say renovated it, I mean part of it. We couldn’t do the entire building since it was massive. But we were able to do a room big enough to open in April 2007 and we operated there until we had enough funding and enough support to open fully in October 2008. NNYB:How did your work as an educator lend to your career path with USO? What would be one thing that stands out to you that really lent well to your change in career? CLARK: I think what really lent well for me was being a military spouse and moving around the world and seeing and hearing so many stories from people who serve and their families who serve and how resilient they are. I became resilient myself, for one, but I also was just really drawn to this organization that was trying to help people have the best experience they could. But I also taught on military bases and I have met the families, and I would hear their stories and, I don’t know, I just think that all that education, from me learning from other people, adults and children, from life experiences, living in foreign countries and having both of my sons deployed, my husband has deployed, my daughter-in-law has been deployed and my father served in Korea. Hearing about our military serving overseas and experiencing it myself, I listened and wanted to be

2 0 Q U E S T I O NS The Karen Clark File AGE: Old enough to know better, but still too young to care

JOB: Executive Director, USO FAMILY: Husband (David Clark): son and daughterin-law and grandson (John, Marcia, and John Clark): son and daughter-in-law and granddaughter (Jason, Kelsie, and Evelyn). Fur babies include a pug named Konstantine and a St. Bernard named Beemo.

HOMETOWN: St. Petersburg, Florida, is where I was born, but Watertown is my hometown now. EDUCATION: Earned my high school and college diplomas, but have been to the school of hard knocks and educated through trial by fire, too.

PROFESSIONAL: My greatest professional ac-

complishment is making a positive difference for a service member or their family member. The favorite acknowledgment/award I have ever received, besides a personal sincere thank you, was being named a Fort Drum Woman of the Mountain.

BUSINESS BOOK YOU’VE READ AND WOULD RECOMMEND:

“Oh, The Places You’ll Go!” by Dr. Seuss; “Fish!” By Stephen C. Lundin, Ph. D., Harry Paul, and John Christensen; “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” by Robert Fulghum.

part of the solution. NNYB: I know you’re very passionate about the work that you do. Who is it that you serve every day? CLARK: Well, the textbook answer would be that I serve all of our military men and women and their families who support our nation, but I’m going to cry here… I think about serving my son and daughter. I know that the people that come to USO-Fort Drum are not biologically related to me, but I care about them as passionately as I do my own family. NNYB:How supportive of the USO is Fort Drum? CLARK: Our volunteers mainly come from Fort Drum, so the community has really embraced us, as far as giving us people who will man our center every day. We could not open and be open all these hours that we are without the family members and the service members who actually volunteer at the USO, so I am definitely in debt to these people who already volunteer to wear the uniform and then they volunteer again to help their neighbors and their community. So Fort Drum has been very supportive - the command has been good to us. NNYB: What are some common misconceptions about the USO? Are there any? CLARK: The number one misconception about the USO is that we are government-funded, or Army-funded, or Department of Defense-funded, solely, because we’re on this military installation, we’re in a building that looks just like the barracks, or the headquarters, or we’re in the same brick that everyone else is housed in on Fort Drum. They think that surely Fort Drum is paying for everything inside this building and they are not. Now, Fort Drum did give us the building to use, but it was in disrepair, so all the repairs that we’ve done inside were all done with donor dollars and every ping-pong paddle, video game, and paper

that’s going through the printer is through donor dollars. My staff that is paid is through donations, as you know, on the global level, not just here locally. Local donations stay for local programming. They don’t pay for my salary. But everything that is inside the USO Fort Drum or programs or services are through donations and we are able to do these programs and services because of volunteers. NNYB: What are some of the events, or how do you raise money? What are some of the things you do to continue that donation base? CLARK: Our annual dance and auction is always in May, so that’s one of our big fundraisers.We ask for people to buy tickets and attend the dance, but we also ask for sponsors. We have fantastic sponsors, like Carthage Area Hospital, and AmeriCU, and Martin’s Point (Health Care), and others that really help us to operate all year long. So that’s one fundraiser that we host, but we are very blessed that there are some patriotic groups out there that do fundraisers on our behalf. The Elks Lodges, and the American Legions, and there’s motorcycle groups that come together and they do troop rallies to support us. We also have corporate sponsors that will adopt a specific program. I mentioned AmericCU earlier, but they have adopted Thursdays as AmeriCU “Ample Sample” Thursday. Because of their funding, we’re

able to offer a hearty snack ever Thursday of the year. So that was a company that supported us year-round. So, bottom line, it’s very diverse. I honestly have this thing about fundraising, I mean, if someone wanted to give me a million dollars today for the USO, I would absolutely take it, I would, straight up, but I really, in my heart of heart and I’ll probably get emotional again, would like a million people to give one dollar, because I think everyone should serve in our national defense and if you don’t wear the uniform, you should do something, whether it’s volunteer your time or give that dollar. NNYB:What took Fort Drum so long to want a USO? CLARK: USOs were primarily in airports or overseas at the FOBs (Forward Operating Bases). When I came onboard, the USO was only on three installations and they’ve just started growing here recently. Part of it is for the military saying, “We would like you to be on a military installation, we would give room and allow you to operate on the installation.” So, I think it was just communicating on the need and it was also, we’re finding, a lot of people thought USO was only useful during wartime and they realize people actually need the USO even when we’re at peace. Even the service members who are here who never deploy, he or she is still far from March 2017 | NNY Business

| 35

20 QU E STIONS their family and they still want to stay connected to things that they love and feel the support of the community.That’s what the USO offers, so the realization that our troops need the USO in wartime and in peace spawned the growth of USOs on the Army, mainly Army installations. There are very few other installations, we’re primarily Army. NNYB:When people think of the USO, they think of the likes of Bob Hope and his traveling, morale-building shows, entertaining generations of soldiers. How is today’s USO different than that? CLARK: We actually still have the shows and that’s still a highlight of the USO and possibly what we’re most famous for, but I am partial to what we do in our centers. Obviously, we have a

center, but it’s the everyday, not just this burst of “We support you” and this flashy show. Not that that isn’t important and it has its place for sure, but I am really proudest of what the USO does every day. The USO and the goodness we provide and the comfort and the security and peace of mind that we provide at these centers, where the service member can come in and sit on the couch and watch TV, feel like they are at home. I think that is the actual best thing that the USO does. But the entertainment is still there; it’s fun to meet a celebrity. Who doesn’t want to meet a celebrity? NNYB: What are some of the accomplishments the USO had in 2016? CLARK: The biggest accomplishment, I think, for

USO-Fort Drum is that we expanded and added three team members who only work in providing transitional services. So it is not just the homeaway-from-home, come and get a hot dog and a cup of coffee and a donut services, it’s helping the men and women who are getting ready to process into civilian life, and that is a daunting task. Some people are leaving the military by choice, by retirement. Some people are leaving it because the military has reduced forces and it’s kind of “Surprise,” they were thinking, “Maybe I had ten more years to have this career” and now they don’t. And so they are facing new territory and our three employees that work in transition services work one-on-one with them to help them transition, whether it be to stay in the area, move out of state, whether they’re looking for housing or employment or maybe just talk about their finances and say “What do I need to put in order now that I’m going to be a civilian?” Really think about healthcare costs or housing, things that they didn’t necessarily have to think about when they were wearing a uniform. NNYB: What are some of your goals for 2017? CLARK: In 2017, our transition services will grow and we are real excited about that. We are officially intensifying our programs, our ability to get this to clients who are transitioning. The other thing is that we are going to be in Syracuse. We are going to be in the MEPS in Syracuse and we are really excited about that because we like to say we support our military throughout their service-tour nation. So at MEPS (the Military Entrance Processing Station) that’s where new recruits come in and swear in and the USO-Fort Drum will literally be with service members from the moment they take the pledge and swear in to serve the military until they transition out. I think it’s really exciting to be part of the whole spectrum of what the military member experiences. NNYB: Who’s involved with the organization and how important are those people to what is accomplished on a daily basis? CLARK: Volunteers are our lifeblood. We seriously could not open our doors without them. Behind these walls there’s a buzz of activity, people preparing to meet our guests for the day. Our volunteers consist of military family members and service members themselves, and they will actually wear their uniforms during the day and come and volunteer with us at night. But we do have a small group that come from the community, some maybe prior military, Vietnam-era or even older. Some volunteers have no connection to the military whatsoever- they just want to be a part of the national defense. NNYB: How do you recruit your volunteers? How do you find these people that just want to be part of this family? CLARK: How we get volunteers is by continuously telling the USO story.We ask people to talk about their experiences volunteering and oftentimes that will get us new recruits. Any opportunity to speak publically, I will ask people if they are interested in volunteering; we have a Facebook page and I love when the media gives me a chance to tell people that there is a need. You asked earlier about any misconceptions about the USO. People think that they can’t get on base because there’s the gates and I can’t volunteer for them because there’s these gates, but you can. Now, if you do not have a military ID, we just have to get you a pass to get on base.

Please see 20 Questions, page 44 36 | NNY Business | March 2017

Healthy Women A special supplement to NNY Business

Building the best you VITAMIN D let it shine 38

ADDICTION

ASSISTANCE

page 39

page 40

reaching out

daily routine

STRENGTH

power of NO page 48

H EA LT H Y W OMEN

The Sunshine Vitamin: Are Your Levels Low? to feeling better. Ms. Hewitt recommends talking to your doctor or nurse practitioner to help determine a dosage that is best for you. In the meantime, here are a few things you can do to shift your mood and start feeling better overall:

1) GO FOR WALKS

We often avoid walks in the winter months because it’s cold. But dressing appropriately and letting the sun hit our face can make a brisk, 30-minute walk quite enjoyable. Try to make walking three times a week in the winter a common practice.

2) EAT YOUR FRUITS

JUSTIN SORENSEN / NNY BUSINESS Brenda Hewitt, a nurse practitioner at River Hospital, works in her office.

By JOLEENE MOODY

NNY Business

f you live anywhere north of 42 degrees north latitude (and you do if you live in Oswego, Jefferson, Lewis or Saint Lawrence counties), the harsh winters of the north country could be robbing you of much needed vitamin D. Dubbed the Sunshine Vitamin, vitamin D is commonly known to support strong bones and healthy teeth. But recent studies show it can protect against other diseases, including colon, breast, prostate and ovarian cancer, and multiple sclerosis. It’s also the perfect solution for individuals struggling with the winter blues. Brenda A. Hewitt, a family nurse practitioner at River Hospital in Alexandria Bay, said hundreds of her patients struggle every winter with some level of the wintertime blues or depression. Most of the time, after a blood lab, she is able to determine exactly what’s happening and why. “They are usually vitamin D deficient,” she said. “All winter long we’re covered up in our coats and boots and everything else to keep warm. We deprive ourselves of what little sunlight there is. Living this far north of the equator, this kind of deficiency isn’t unusual. The good news is we

38 | NNY Business | March 2017

can up our vitamin D intake to feel better.” A vitamin D deficiency is diagnosed by measuring the concentration of vitamin D in the blood. Once the labs come back, your doctor or nurse practitioner can tell you how much vitamin D your body needs. Interestingly, vitamin D is not an actual vitamin, but a fat-soluble hormone that helps the body maintain sufficient levels of calcium and phosphorus. Getting the right amount of it, however, is the tricky part. While it’s found in some of the foods we eat, the real source of vitamin D should come from the sun, something that’s not always present on weary winter days in Northern New York.

HOW DO I KNOW I AM DEFICIENT? Sometimes we may be vitamin D deficient and not even know it. Per the Vitamin Council at vitamindcouncil.org, symptoms to look for are: • Pain in your bones • General weakness • Frequent infections • Bouts of sadness

While we already know that eating foods packed with vitamin D solves part of the problem, knowing what kinds of foods to eat is important to the whole equation. Ms. Hewitt suggested eating plain Greek yogurt with fresh fruit and nuts mixed in. Even an apple a day can do the trick.

3) EAT LEAN MEATS

Strive to eat a lean protein at every meal. If you practice eating five small meals a day, continue to work in a lean protein like a boiled egg or a handful of nuts. No matter how you slice it, making sure you maintain the proper levels of vitamin D is not only crucial for your bones and teeth, but for an overall healthy disposition, too. “Vitamin D helps decrease inflammation in our gut, which has a direct influence on our brain, helping to increase our mood,” Ms. Hewitt said. “It also decreases inflammation in our bones and joints, reducing any symptoms of pain and weakness in those areas.” If you think you might be vitamin D deficient, ask your doctor or nurse practitioner to check your levels with a blood test. Laboratory Alliance of Central New York LLC, is also one of the few laboratories regionally that offers a total vitamin D test. Make an appointment with your health care provider, or visit www. labratoryalliance.com or call the Pulaski location at (315) 461-3008.

WHAT CAN I DO TO FEEL BETTER? Taking a vitamin D supplement to bring your levels back up to par is a great start

H E ALT H Y W O M E N

Working Women and Addiction

By JOLEENE MOODY NNY Business

he number of women struggling with alcohol and drug addiction in the workplace is staggering. Now, more than ever, women are using at a rate that is compromising not only their health and their relationships, but their careers, too. According to the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence, 70 percent of an estimated 14.8 million Americans who abuse alcohol and drugs are employed. And, if a global study conducted by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre of the University of New South Wales is accurate, that means half of these Americans are women.

WHY IS THIS STAGGERING?

Per the latter study, alcohol and drug use in men has always outweighed those of women – until now. Patricia Desjarlais is a psychiatric nurse practitioner at the River Community Wellness Program at River Hospital in Alexandria Bay. Ms. Desjarlais said that a large majority of patients she counsels are women struggling with addiction. “I see them more and more,” she said. “These women resist getting help because they claim rehab or counseling gets in the way of their work/home life. But the truth of the matter is it’s the addiction that is in the way, and nothing will change in their life until they get help.” Women are drinking or using before work, during work, and after work. Ms. Desjarlais said the top three drugs of choice are alcohol, marijuana, and opiates. With all of these options being legal (to a fault), access to them is fairly easy. Hiding them is even easier. Alcohol can be concealed in water bottles. Opiates and other pill-form drugs look like over-the-counter medications, and can be hidden in Tylenol bottles. Marijuana can be concealed in the form of baked goods. But why are more women using? And how can they come back from it? Ms. Desjarlais said abuse starts with a personal situation that can no longer be controlled. “People usually present when there is a crisis, like a work crisis,” she said. “Many people are afraid that work is coming

down on them or they’re overwhelmed by duties. When this crisis occurs, this is when they realize they have a problem. Until then, they deny it. Sometimes it takes someone confronting them at work and threatening their job for them to realize they’ve got to do something.”

SIGNS YOU MIGHT NEED HELP:

• Calling in sick frequently • Not showing up to work • Coming in late, disheveled and unkempt • Leaving work early • Extended visits to the bathroom • Not finishing tasks at work • Decreased quality of work If you or someone you know is displaying these behaviors, it might be time to seek help. Ms. Desjarlais recommends various options:

1) PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER

“Your primary care provider can start the ball rolling, beginning with a mental health evaluation or pointing you in the direction of a community clinic.”

2) REHAB OR DETOX UNIT

“Some women are so far in, they may need a detox unit. The next step is rehabilitation. Some rehabilitation centers offer day programs. After an evaluation at a place like the Credo Community Center in Jefferson County, professionals can help you determine the level of rehabilitation you need.”

blocking medications can be very helpful. These medications block and decrease cravings, helping to deter people from drinking because it gives them a reaction, often a vomiting reaction.”

4) SUPPORT GROUPS

“The majority of people who succeed in sobriety have a support group of some sort. There are AA meetings every day, every hour, in every county. Visit a few different groups and find a group that fits you. Don’t give up until you find one that works.”

5) THERAPY

“For those not ready for support groups, they can start with one-on-one counseling. Credo has specialized counselors trained to work with people who have addictions.” Addiction is a disease. It is nothing to be ashamed of. If you’re struggling, the one thing to remember is that you are not alone. You are never alone. The first step is asking for help, and it can sometimes be the scariest. Ms. Desjarlais recommended reaching out to a trusted source that can help you take the first step. After that, healing begins. And after that, a whole new world awaits you.

3) BLOCKING MEDICATIONS

“Depending on the level of rehabilitation recommended,

March 2017 | NNY Business

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H EA LT H Y W OMEN

Outside Services Make Life Easier By JOLEENE MOODY

NNY Business

f you are a working mother attempting to balance your home life, work life and personal relationships, congratulations. You’ve joined the ranks of millions of women everywhere who walk the same balancing beam. But if you’re like most of these women, you want to take some things off your tightrope. That is, if you’re willing to let go. “Many women struggle with letting go of certain tasks because they want to see that everything is done the way they think it should be,” said Carrie Edick, Carthage Area Hospital’s family mental health nurse practitioner. “But once they let go, they experience a huge sense of freedom and release.” Patty Signor, co-owner of The Laundry Room on Mill Street in Watertown, sees this sense of freedom every day. From soldiers and seniors to busy moms and career women, Ms. Signor said her various laundry services were put in place intentionally to make life easier for others. “They love it,” she said. “I have people that use my Wash, Dry, and Fold service, and claim they’ll never do their wash again because they save so much time. At a dollar a pound, they say it’s worth the time and effort they save. Everybody is busy with kids and their games and events. Who wants to spend the weekend doing laundry?” Meanwhile, across town on Arsenal Street, Ryan Skinner, cafe manager and head chef at the Mustard Seed, is busy putting together hundreds of ready-to-cook meals every week. It’s a service he calls Fit Food Catering, and it’s making busy professionals everywhere very happy. "One of the reasons I started Fit Food Catering was to provide as much convenience as I can,” he said. “I want my options to be as fast as a fast-food restaurant, but much, much healthier. The number of people busy with work and family tell me how great it is to be able to throw a healthy meal in the oven or microwave so they can spend more time with their family.” Businesses everywhere are picking up on creating services that can help alleviate stress. Born from the “To Go” phenomenon brought to life by restaurants, various industries, both online and off, they offer options that can save you time and reduce any stress. In the spirit of making your life easier, NNY Business Maga-

40 | NNY Business | March 2017

zine shares with you these local and online services to help make your life easier:

THE LAUNDRY ROOM

WATERTOWN, (315) 771-1133 The Laundry Room offers a Wash, Dry, and Fold Service for a dollar a pound. Clothes are cleaned to your liking, and ready for pick-up when it’s convenient for you. They also offer a Switchover Service, popular with errand runners. Start your wash, and pay the clerk a dollar to put it in the dryer for you. The clerk will call or text you 5 or 10 minutes before they’re done, and you come and take the laundry out.

THE MUSTARD SEED

HELLOFRESH.COM

This online food delivery service can deliver fresh ingredients to your doorstep weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. The meals typically take 30 minutes to prepare. Firsttime buyers get a coupon code offering $40 off their first purchase. Gluten-free options aren’t available.

FRESHNLEAN.COM

This online food delivery service is the same as Hello Fresh, but offers gluten-free, low-carb and vegetarian options. Order a la carte, or choose a meal plan. While this plan doesn’t specifically offer a percentage off, different coupon codes can be found with a quick Google search.

WATERTOWN (800) 241-2575

Fit Food Catering offers fully prepared, organic meals for $8 - $10. Meals need to be called in no later than 8 p.m. Friday. Someone from the café will call you Monday or Tuesday morning to tell you the meals are ready. Order four, six, nine or 12 meals at a time.

FROM RAGS TO RACHEL’S CLEANING SERVICE WATERTOWN (315) 767-0893

AMANDA MORRISON / NNY BUSINESS Brittany Signor co-owns The Laundry Room, Hilltop Plaza on Mill Street, with her mother, Patti.

This local cleaning service serves all of Jefferson County, Southern St. Lawrence County and parts of Lewis County. Bi-weekly, weekly and monthly residential cleaning options are available.

The Mustard Seed’s dishes include Greek salads, a sushi stack and Indian curries such as the cinnamon curry chicken.

H E ALT H Y W O M E N

Learning How to Say No based on their choices and make that your priority.”

PROTECT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH Once your priorities are written down and in plain sight, now it’s time to bravely tell those that say they need you – NO. Carrie Edick, a family mental health nurse practitioner at Carthage Area Hospital, recommends considering the source that is asking for your time. Is it a source that truly values you? An organization or event you feel passionate about? “If you’re always saying yes to people, ask yourself if the tables were turned, would they say yes to you?” she suggested. “Or is it a relationship that is one-sided? Ask yourself if agreeing to do something is within your best interest. Your first priority should be to protect your mental health. Saying yes to every little thing all the time AMANDA MORRISON / NNY BUSINESS Carrie Edick is a nurse for Behavioral Health Services at Carthage Area Hospital. won’t protect it.” It is a sentiment that Melanie Saber, a liBy JOLEENE MOODY censed master social worker and behaviorNNY Business al health clinic manager at Carthage Area Hospital, agreed with. “You have to take care of yourself first,” she said. “If you cono there you are, an active, overextended, busy career stantly put yourself out there, you will become overwhelmed and woman with three different organizations asking you for burned out. And then you won’t be of any help to anyone.” your time. You politely say no, but they keep on asking. Ms. Saber suggested saying something simple like: ‘It sounds As your phone begins to ring at the same time your child great, but I’m afraid my plate is full at the moment. But thank you texts you to pick her up from soccer practice, the face in so much for thinking of me.’ front of you keeps talking, firing off the benefits you can expect It all comes down to deciding what you want, while letting go of when you become a member. Your phone goes to voicemail. Your what others might think of you. In the end your mental health is child texts you again. You smile weakly at the person in front of all you have, and if you let others take it from you over and over you who won’t give up. You nod in agreement. Before you know again, you will have no choice but to say no because your body it, you have unwillingly agreed to act as board president of some will no longer have the capacity to support everyone else’s needs. organization over the next two years. “We think that our egos will be bruised if we tell someone no,” What happened? Why didn’t you say no? Why couldn’t you Ms. Edick said. “Our egos won’t be nearly as bruised as our mensay no? tal health. Once that’s gone, we’re left with just a thread of who we Brenda A. Hewitt, a family nurse practitioner at River Hospireally are.” tal in Alexandria Bay, said women often struggle with saying no because they don’t want to be misunderstood or disliked. They want to be a friend to all, proving to those around them that they are strong and perfectly capable of multitasking. The problem is that attempting to juggle so many obligations can actually bury you emotionally. Therefore, if you want to avoid falling prey to burnout or stress, you have to determine what is most important to you and your family. Quality Healthcare. Close to Home. “If you want to volunteer, try to keep it Primary Family Healthcare • Emergency Services to no more than two activities at the same time,” Ms. Hewitt suggested. “Then sit down Inpatient Medical Care • Outpatient Diagnostic Testing Speciality Services including Imaging, Physical Therapy, and make a list of what your priorities are. ENT, Gynecology, Cardiology, Veins, Behavioral Health, When you do, you will find that most often, General Surgery, Colorectal and more... family comes first. Sit down with your family at least once a week to discuss what’s 4 Fuller Street Alexandria Bay, NY 13607 important to each of them. When you look at P 315.482.2511 www.riverhospital.org those things, choose an activity they’ll enjoy

March 2017 | NNY Business

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H E A LT HY WOMEN

Finding Like-Minded Support Systems By JOLEENE MOODY

NNY Business

here is a story of a woman who struggled to find like-minded friends. She worked hard, came home to her family and suffered quietly at night because there was no one to talk to. She had no tribe. Yet she had belief systems and aspirations she wanted to share. When she would tell her friends or family about them, they either weren’t interested or they didn’t support her visions. Eventually, she became very lonely and isolated.

gives you the space to support one another and normalize those goals. When you’re around other people who knock you down, it’s crucial to have that support system to pick you back up and encourage you to keep moving forward.”

WHERE CAN WE FIND SUPPORT SYSTEMS?

If just a few supportive people can make a difference, the question then begs, where do we find them? If compatibility can’t be found at work or at home, where do we find our tribe? Ms. Saber said our like-minded allies are closer than we think. “We can find open minds at church or at the DO YOU KNOW WHO THIS WOMAN IS? gym,” she said. “If you have children in school, This woman might be you. If she is you, read it could be other mothers. Maybe a friend has on. It’s time to discover just how important it another friend that shares your same interests.” is to find like-minded support systems at this More often than not, prideful women will time in your life. find a reason to avoid seeking out like-minded As we mature into our roles as mothers friends, thinking that their needs equate to and career women, the desire to spend time weakness or desperation. This is not the case. If with like-minded people grows. While we are AMANDA MORRISON / NNY Business you feel strongly about seeking out new friendvariety-driven creatures by nature, being able Melanie Saber, left, and Carrie Edick are both nurses for ships or support systems, understand that it’s Behavioral Health Services at Carthage Area Hospital. to have a conversation with someone just like not a sign of desperation, but a message from us can help fuel our dreams and desires. your gut, mind and body telling you what it Melanie Saber, a licensed master social worker and manager at the needs so it can thrive healthfully. Heed the message. Behavioral Health Clinic at Carthage Area Hospital, said, “Finding Human psychology says we, as humans, have six human needs people that are on the same path as you or have similar goals as you that must be met in order for us to grow. One of those needs is love and connection. Brenda A. Hewitt, a family nurse practitioner at River Hospital in Alexandria Bay, warns that without meaningful connection, isolation is inevitable. “When we isolate, we get depressed,” she said. “We think we’re the only ones going through something. And while it can be difficult to reach out and ask for help, we have to learn to let go of our pride and recognize it’s okay to reach out to a friend.” Carrie Edick, a family mental health nurse practitioner at Carthage Area Hospital, couldn’t agree more. She said that very strong women are afraid to speak up and ask for help because they don’t want to be viewed as weak or incompetent, especially women who are very driven. The problem is that these very driven women end up turning their back on friends and family to keep from appearing incompetent. “Sometimes isolation is gradual and your friends and family might not notice you are withdrawing,” Ms. Edick said. “You may not even notice it. It starts out small, missing a FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY weekly dinner with friends and family. But before you know it, you’re no longer showing Hospice of Jefferson County delivers up anywhere, and the isolation has set in.” compassionate, personalized, high-quality To avoid isolation, decide to make finding a support system your mission. Remember care. Hospice is committed to comfort, that you are not alone, and that even the most privacy, dignity and control. successful people in the world are surrounded by like-minded allies. It’s healthy to have a supportive network. Are you ready to find your tribe?

COMPASSIONATE PERSONALIZED QUALITY CARE

SERVICES AVAILABLE IN YOUR HOME OR AT THE HOSPICE RESIDENCE

42 | NNY Business | March 2017

SMA LL B US INES S S UCCESS

Building the North Country Economy

he American economy has changed greatly over the last half century, and we’ve seen a lot of those changes right here in the north country. Most of our paper manufacturers have closed down, national chains have changed the faces of our downtowns and our many small dairy farms have merged into just a handful of large agricultural enterprises. Our largest employers now are the military, the hospitals, the various levels of government and educational facilities. So what happens when someone doesn’t fit into one of those types of businesses? Maybe they decide to start their own business. Every year we at the Watertown SBDC talk to around 700 would-be entrepreneurs. Of those, many just want to kick around an idea or need some basic assistance with getting the business set up. Others decide to go forward and obtain a startup or expansion loan. Many of the small businesses we work with are what the U.S. Small Business Administration calls “nonemployer” firms, meaning they are a one-person operation with no employees. We could call them “starter businesses” – usually they are quicker and less costly to start, and also to close. The median age of a nonemployer business is six years, about four years less than an employer business. Furthermore, startups are less likely than established businesses to create jobs, again because during those crucial first five years, the new business may be just struggling to find its place in the market, much less adding employees. Less than half the jobs created by

startups still exist after five years, while expanding, older businesses account for 60 percent of small business job creation. The share of employment that microbusiSarah O’Connell nesses (those with fewer than 10 employees upon start up) contribute has declined over the past 30 years – from 15% in 1978 to 11.6 per cent in 2011. (SBA.gov). With all that being said, small businesses are very important to the local economy. Besides providing employment for a local resident, new businesses may bring new ideas to the area. They can provide support services or products that free up larger employers to do what they do best. Small businesses also generate tax income through self-employment, payroll taxes and sales tax collection. They can also be more reactive and flexible to market trends. Just look at the rise of the craft beverage industry in our area, or ethnic restaurants and small niche shops; I think they make our community a more interesting and enjoyable place to live than large metropolitan areas that are just lines of chain store after chain store. How about lawn care providers, plumbers, small contractors, or snow plow operators (shout out here to my guy Mike!)? Small hardware stores, bakeries, crafters, web designers, our

local news sources, and professionals like lawyers, insurance agents and accountants are here to provide us with their goods and services; they know their community and may even be our neighbors. So sure, you may find the Internet is quick and easy to search for something, order and pay for it electronically; it might even offer a cheaper deal than what you’d pay locally, and hey! - free shipping! But at the end of the day, what is that doing to help your local economy? If you want to support the north country economy, it starts with spending your money right here and creating growth and job creation, one local purchase at a time. For fiscal year 2015-16, the advisors at the Watertown SBDC serving Jefferson, Lewis and Oswego counties saw 735 clients, spent 5,174 hours counseling, helped them create 167 new jobs and retain 53 jobs and assisted 51 clients in obtaining financing for business startup or expansion in the amount of $15,166,933. The New York Small Business Development Center at JCC offers free, individual, confidential counseling to new or existing business owners in Jefferson and Lewis counties. For more information, contact 315-782-9262, sbdc@sunyjefferson.edu. St. Lawrence County residents can contact their SBDC at SUNY Canton, 315-386-7312, sbdc@canton.edu. 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.

Locally Owned and Operated ~ Mobile Shreds Onsite ~ Fast, Safe & Secure. Call to set up free estimate or schedule service ~ Servicing Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego, St. Lawrence and parts of Franklin and Essex Counties ~ WE PROVIDE RELIABLE, TIMELY SERVICE, AND STAND BEHIND THAT.

March 2017 | NNY Business

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20 QUESTIONS, from page 36 NNYB:What is the largest donation received and why was it provided to the USO? CLARK: Actually, it was kind of fun. We had a gentleman who’s out of New York City. He was in real estate and he wanted to do something for our 10th Mountain Division, who he was passionate about. At the time they were deployed to Iraq. He wanted to help them stay connected to family, home and country so he asked what he could do to help. He wrote a check for $100,000 to help us get a satellite for the USO so people who are deployed could contact their families. So that was my single biggest donation. He was so fun because he kept asking, “Do they need shaving cream? How can I help out? What can

NNYB: What has nonprofit work taught you? CLARK: Nonprofit work has taught me that there are incredible human beings in our community who will give and not expect anything in return.You go about your day, and I’ve always volunteered, but I did not realize the level of commitment a volunteer will make. And it has humbled me and I feel so blessed that I get to come to work every day and work with these people who do this, who give of themselves.That is the biggest lesson nonprofit has taught me, is that there is so much good in our community. NNYB: What challenges do you face as a military spouse working in the same location for multiple years?

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I do?” We talked about the lines people had to get in to the phones to call home or to get Internet or email home and how if we could improve their communication, that would just ease their mind while they’re deployed. And he said, “Done.” I don’t think even the people who receive the benefits had any idea it came from the USO. They just know that they got to call home.

We’re looking ahead to

The annual Golf edition of NNY Living

will publish the week of May 21 Highlighting Northern New York Golf Courses throughout Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Franklin and Oswego Counties.

If you have a charity golf event scheduled for 2017, please forward the information to: hboname@wdt.net with the subject line of “Golf Event.” We need to know: the date, name of the tournament, name of golf course, contact name and phone number.

CLARK: This is an interesting one. One challenge I faced was, as the new military spouse no one knew me and I came into a community where Mary Parry, (former USO director) who I adore too, was beloved. I was new and different and telling a different USO story. Mary is one of my mentors, heroes, I just love her and respect her in every way for all the work she’s done, but I was this new person in town, I was a military spouse who didn’t come from this area and hadn’t proven myself as being worthy of maybe getting the donations or maybe getting the volunteers. So it was, to be in the shadow of someone like Mary Parry and try to be like, “Hey, look over here at me, I need your help, too. Can you give me a hand? I’d really appreciate it,” was challenging. When I was a teacher, it was students and now with the USO it’s the soldiers and their families.That was daunting as a military spouse and staying here I worry some people will look at me negatively because I am so passionate, they may see me in the grocery store line and go, “Oh, no. She’s going come and talk about the USO again.” Because I do tend to have one song that I always sing. I have not lost my passion. NNYB: How can other military spouses make a career while their significant other is still enlisted? CLARK: It is very difficult to make a career as a military spouse because, as I just mentioned, you’re always the new kid on the block. And you don’t come with your reputation obvious for the

world to see. People don’t know that you were a fabulous teacher or you worked for a law office. They just meet you at face value during that three- to five-minute interview. It is very challenging and that is part of the reason we have this transition services program going, to help spouses with their resumes and to teach them to advocate for themselves. You have to learn to think about all the skills you have learned by moving, relocating and interacting in different communities, solving problems for your children as they enter different schools. I know it comes naturally for spouses to advocate for their children. They have to take that same energy and have it for themselves, because that is the only way that you can prove yourself and bring your reputation to the interview and let the people who are hiring know that they want you. NNYB: What is one aspect of your life that is changed thanks to the USO? CLARK: I have more red, white and blue in my wardrobe. I feel a daily connection with my children because even though the people who come here are not my blood relatives. I look at them as my family and it makes me think of my children every day, who are serving. My youngest son is currently in Tokyo, Japan, and he has been gone for over a year, so I don’t get to see him at Thanksgiving dinners or Christmas dinners, so we’re not together during the year, but when I go out on the floor and see the men and women who come into the USO I hope someone is treating him as well as the USO-Fort Drum treat someone who is here. I also think of my oldest son, who I do get to see more often because he’s in the National Guard and lives in Syracuse. NNYB: If you had the opportunity to start your career again, would you have stayed with education, began work such as you do now with the USO or entered into another career path in something completely different? CLARK: I loved my time teaching, I did. I loved all of my students and it was rewarding to have an impact one-on-one with these students, but this work I do now with the USO I would choose as my first love. I know the path of my being a teacher led me to where I am now and I think it helped me to be a better USO director because of my past, but knowing what I know now about both careers I would absolutely choose this. The people that I get to meet through these walls and hear their stories, it makes me proud every day, it makes me happy. I come to work and I’m blessed to be here and do what I do. ~ Interview by Holly C. Boname. Edited for clarity and length to fit this space.

JEFFERSON COUNTY Marietta Holley: The North Country’s Answer to The Woman Question Free and Open to the Public

March 21, 2017 5:00-7:00pm

Jefferson County Historical Society 228 Washington Street, Watertown

2017 marks the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote in New York State Through her books and newspaper serials, humorist and Jefferson County resident, Marietta Holley, contributed greatly to the conversation around equal rights and women’s suffrage. Please join us for a delightful evening of enlightenment as we look at Marietta’s life and are entertained with a live performance portrayal of the author, excepts from her books and a summation of the status of women by St. Lawrence University Professor Dr. Judith DeGroat.