NNY Business March 2015 by NNY Business

Y usIness // Annual women in business issue

MARCH 2015 Volume 5 No. 4

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***

SPECIAL Healthy Women 11-page bonus section

A n Eyewitness to History Longtime TV newswoman prepares to sign off

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2 | NNY Business | March 2015

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2015

CAREER

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March 2015 | NNY Business

4 | NNY Business | March 2015

Inside MARCH 2015

28 |

COVER |

18 women entrepreneurs For three Northern New York women, success comes with hard work, proving selves. |

SMALL BIZ STARTUP |

15 NEW BREWS ON TAP A Lewis County man is seeing demand for his brew climb at BarkEater Craft Brewery. |

WOMEN IN BUSINESS |

24 womens’ advocates The American Association of University Women are taking causes for the north country.

26 certified womEn-owned State certification is a long, arduous process, but worth it. 28 breaking a barrier North Country Savings Bank sees first woman at the helm. |

Milestones |

30 CELEBRATING 15 YEARS Architecture firm turns the page on another chapter. |

REAL ESTATE |

34 A WOMAN WHO INSPIRES Realtor Lori Gervera masters the great balancing act.

HEALTHY WOMEN |

41 10 QUESTIONS Dr. Jill Laureano-Surber on managing family and career. 42 mentoring 44 a second act 45 end distractions 46 the breadwinner 48 taking ‘me time’ |

BUSINESS HISTORY |

62 MANUFACTURING QUALITY The Clickner Mattress Co. employed three generations. |

CONSTRUCTION |

64 A NEW $1.15M OFFICE

March 2015 | NNY Business

BusIness

C o n tr i b u t o r s

www.nnybizmag.com

Chairman of the Board John B. Johnson Jr.

Lance M. Evans is executive officer for the Jefferson-Lewis and St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors. He writes about Fort Drum’s value to the region. (p. 33)

Tom Sullivan is executive director for the Business Development Corp. for a Greater Massena. He writes about embracing new ideas to grow. (p. 50)

Rande Richardson is executive director of the Northern New York Community Foundation. He writes about building better communities together. (p. 51)

Lynn Pietroski is president and CEO of the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce. She writes about a rally to support Fort Drum. (p. 52)

Publishers

John B. Johnson Harold B. Johnson II

VP News Operations Timothy J. Farkas

Magazine Editor

Kenneth J. Eysaman

Staff Writer / Editorial Assistant Lorna Oppedisano

Graphic Design / Layout Lauren Harrienger

Jay Matteson is the agricultural coordinator for the Jefferson County Industrial Development Corp. He writes about the coming Maple Weekends. (p. 53)

Jill Van Hoesen is chief information officer for Johnson Newspapers and a 28-year IT veteran. She writes about the business of women and Women’s History Month. (p. 54)

Sarah O’Connell is an advisor for the state Small Business Development Center at SUNY Jefferson. She offers tips to cut clutter and set priorities for organization. (p. 55)

Gabrielle Hovendon is a former Watertown Daily Times reporter and freelancer. She writes about local AAUW branches and a new female bank president. (p.24, 28)

Photography

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

Director of Advertising Michael Hanson

Magazine Advertising Manager Beth Hornbarger

Advertising Graphics

Brian Mitchell, Rick Gaskin, Heather O’Driscoll, Scott Smith, Todd Soules Norah Machia is a freelance writer and veteran Watertown Daily Times reporter. In this month’s cover story, she writes about three women entrepreneurs. (p. 18)

Kris Rusho is a former newspaper journalist and freelancer who lives in Watertown. She writes about a local architecture firm celebrating its 15year anniversary. (p. 30)

Lorna Oppedisano is a an editorial assistant and staff writer for NNY Magazines. She writes about women in business and a new craft brewery in Lowville (pgs. 15, 26, 34)

MARKETPLACE

A Touch of Grace ................................................... 17 Aerus (formerly Electrolux) .................................... 23 Allen’s Liquors and Wines ..................................... 54 Alpine Seeding Company ...................................... 14 Alterations by Georgie ........................................... 16 Amy Earle School of Dance ................................... 16 Arsenal Wine & Liquor .......................................... 69 Asian Market .......................................................... 66 Aubertine and Currier Architects, Engineers & Land Surveyors .................................................. 12 Augustinian Academy ............................................ 16 Avon Shoes ........................................................... 66 Bach & Company .................................................. 29 Bond, Schoeneck & King Attorneys ........................ 7 Bottle Caps Beverage Center ................................. 69 Bradley’s Trophy .................................................... 67 Carthage Market .................................................... 16 Caskinette’s Ford ................................................... 71 Center for Sight ..................................................... 44 CFS Eye Boutique of NNY ..................................... 14 CFS Hearing .......................................................... 46 CFS Medispa ................................................... 40, 52 Chiappone’s Tire .................................................... 71 Church Street Diner ............................................... 16 CITEC Business Solutions .................................... 27 Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center .......................... 49 Clayton Dental Office ............................................. 48 Coleman’s Corner .................................................. 69 Community Bank Wealth Management ................... 4 Cortel Improvement ............................................... 25 CREG Systems Corp. ............................................ 13 Croghan Meat Market ............................................ 20 D & D Power Sports .............................................. 67 DANC .................................................................... 50 D.L. Calarco Funeral Home ................................... 13 Dr. Guitar ............................................................... 66 E. L. Baird Fine Jewelry ......................................... 20

6 | NNY Business | March 2015

Edd Burns Home Improvements ............................ 66 Fairground Inn ....................................................... 69 Farrand’s Flowers and Event Planning ................... 14 Foy Agency ............................................................ 35 Fuccillo Automotive ............................................... 71 Fuller Insurance ..................................................... 35 Garvin Construction .............................................. 72 HD Goodale ........................................................... 35 Heffron Real Estate ................................................ 32 High Tower Advisors ............................................. 38 GWNC Chamber of Commerce ............................... 3 Hospice of Jefferson County ................................. 63 IMEC ...................................................................... 16 Immaculate Heart Central Schools ........................ 63 The Lodge at Ives Hill ............................................ 65 Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors ......................... 33 Johnson’s Sand and Gravel ................................... 68 Ken Piarulli / Ameriprise ....................................... 64 Krafft Cleaning Service .......................................... 60 Laughing Hyena IT Solutions ................................ 14 Law Office of Marcia LeMay .................................. 14 Lewis County General Hospital ............................. 43 Lisk’s Florals .......................................................... 20 Macar’s .................................................................... 9 Marzano Real Estate .............................................. 32 Massena Memorial Hospital .................................. 47 Montague Inn ........................................................ 20 Nancy D. Storino Real Estate ................................. 32 Nationwide Insurance ............................................ 35 Nice N Easy ........................................................... 20 NNY Community Foundation ................................ 23 Northwestern Mutual ............................................. 65 Nortz & Virkler Ford .............................................. 71 O’Brien’s Restaurant & Bar ..................................... 69 O.D. Greene Lumber & Hardware .......................... 59 Phinney’s Automotive Center ................................. 29 Phinn’s Fender & Body .......................................... 29

Joleene Moody is a freelance writer who lives in Pulaski with her husband and daughter. She writes a series of stories for our Healthy Women section this month. (p.39)

Plaza Beauty & Tanning Salons ............................. 17 Rainbow International ............................................ 68 RBC Wealth Management ...................................... 12 Ridge View Lodge .................................................... 8 River Hospital ........................................................ 45 Robert’s Automotive Sales and Service ................. 71 Rusty Johnson Masonry ........................................ 68 Sea Comm Credit Union ....................................... 51 Seniors Helping Seniors ........................................ 17 Sew What ............................................................... 16 Shorty’s Place ........................................................ 69 Shred Con ............................................................. 55 Shuler’s Restaurant ................................................ 69 Slack Chemical ...................................................... 53 S.T.A.T. Communications ...................................... 31 St. Lawrence Aviation ............................................ 65 St. Lawrence Spirits ............................................... 29 Sunnycrest Flowers ............................................... 65 SUNY Potsdam ........................................................ 8 T.F. Wright & Sons ................................................. 66 The Blue Heron ...................................................... 17 The Hayloft at Moonshine Farm ............................ 20 The Scrub Hub ...................................................... 17 Weichert, Realtors Thousand Islands Realty .......... 32 Tug Hill Hook & Ladder ......................................... 20 Tug Hill Vineyards ................................................. 20 Tuggers Family Restaurant .................................... 20 Tunes 92.5 WBLH Radio ........................................ 68 Vandusen Auto Sales ............................................. 71 Victorian Convenience Center ............................... 29 Waite Motorsports ................................................. 61 Waite Toyota .......................................................... 58 Watertown Savings Bank ......................................... 2 Watertown Daily Times .......................................... 56 Watertown Spring & Alignment ............................. 71 WWTI TV 50 .......................................................... 70 Ziebart .................................................................... 71

Circulation Director Mary Sawyer

NNY Business (ISSN 2159-6115), is published monthly by Northern New York Newspaper Corp., 260 Washington St., Watertown, NY 13601, a Johnson Newspaper Corp. company. © 2010-2015. All material submitted to NNY Business becomes property of Northern New York Newspaper Corp., publishers of the Watertown Daily Times, and will not be returned.

Subscription Rates 12 issues are $15 a year and 24 issues are $25 for two years. Call 315-782-1000 to subscribe. Submissions Send all editorial correspondence to keysaman@wdt.net Advertising For advertising rates and information in Jefferson and Lewis counties, email bhornbarger@wdt.net, or call 315-661-2325 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

36 a storied career After 36 years and nearly every job in news at WWNY-TV 7, General Manager Cathy M. Pircsuk will retire this June. She shared some highlights and challenges in a wide-ranging conversation. |

COLUMNS

50 ECONOMICALLY SPEAKING 51 NONPROFITS TODAY 52 COMMERCE CORNER |

DEPARTMENTS

8 9 10 13 15

53 AGRI-BUSINESS 54 BUSINESS TECH BYTES 55 SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS

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

33 56 58 62 64

real estate roundup CALENDAR BUSINESS SCENE BUSINESS HISTORY WHAT’S HAPPENING HERE?

For our annual Women in Business cover, photographer Justin Sorensen captured Channel 7 General Manager Cathy M. Pircsuk on the set of the Watertown station. Justin used a Nikon D700 with a 17-35mm lens, 400 ISO, f/2.8. Meanwhile, our cover story about three north country women entrepreneurs who have attained Minority WomenOwned Business Enterprise certification by writer Norah Machia begins on page 18.

March 2015 | NNY Business

EDITO R’S N O T E

Master’s Degree in ICT/ Organizational Leadership Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration

March 23 & April 13, 2015

SUNY Jefferson Extended Learning Center

5:00-7:00pm

his month we are proud to present our fifth annual Women in Business issue. Inside you will find a special supplement titled “Healthy Women,” which contains a slate of stories by freelance writer Joleene Moody that are aimed at helping working women become the best version of themselves. From tips on how to manage distractions for home-based professionals to one woman’s story Ken Eysaman of how she reinvented herself after 26 years in the TV news business and changed careers, you’ll find a wide range of content. Leading the section, is a Q&A with Dr. Jill Laureano-Surber, a family physician and mother of four young children who recently opened her own practice. “Healthy Women” begins on page 39. In this month’s cover story, veteran writer Norah Machia profiles three women who work in construction-related fields. Despite being in traditionally male-dominated professions, each said it’s their hard work and a drive to succeed that has helped them find a level playing field. We also profile Theresa Phalon, the first woman president at North Country Savings Bank who next year will add CEO to her title. These are but a handful of features in this month’s issue, which, at 72 pages, is loaded with stories about inspiring women and successes like that of Aubertine & Currier, a Watertown architect and engineering firm celebrating 15 years on operation this spring.

I hope you enjoy this edition. It is the work of many talented writers and photographers who helped tell the stories of Northern New York’s Women in Business. As always, if you have any questions, comments or general feedback, please contact me at keysaman@wdt.net or 661-2399. 20 QUESTIONS — This month we sit down with veteran broadcaster Cathy M. Pircsuk, general manager for the north country’s WWNY-TV 7 and WNYF Fox 28. In January, Ms. Pircsuk announced plans to retire this June after a television career in Northern New York that spanned nearly four decades. In a wide-ranging conversation, Ms. Pircsuk reflected on the vast changes in technology and how news is delivered and consumed as well as some memorable moments from her time on the air. Our interview with her begins on page 36. BUSINESS SCENE — This month’s Scene section, which begins on page 58, features 41 faces from nearly three dozen businesses and organizations from across the north country. On Feb. 12, we joined the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce at the Hilton Garden Inn, Watertown, for the 63rd annual Israel A. Shapiro Citizenship Award presentation and dinner. Congratulations to Irene Carman, who was honored as the 2014 award recipient. On Feb. 21, we joined the Clayton Rotary Club at the 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel for the annual Taste of Clayton. Finally, on Feb. 25, we joined the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce at Page Fitness Athletic Club, Watertown, for Business After Hours. Yours in business,

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P E O P L E O N T H E M O VE

CITEC business advisor earns certification

CITEC business advisor Debi L. Pettit was recently certified by the Society for Human Resource Management at the level of senior certified professional. Ms. Pettit joined CITEC in 2010 as a business advisor specializing in human resources consulting with a variety of north Pettit country firms. Her services range from supervisory and leadership development programs to serving as a temporary HR professional for startup businesses and larger Canadian-based manufacturers. In addition to her professional certifications, Ms. Pettit is certified in Prosci change management processes, holds a white belt and is a green belt candidate in lean process improvement. She serves on the North Country Empire State STEM Hub, is a founding member of the Association of Change Management Professionals and is the principal founder of the North Country Human Resources Consortium. Prior to joining CITEC, Ms. Pettit served as the human resources director for Schonbek Worldwide Lighting, Plattsburgh; HR director for Salerno Plastics Corporation, Plattsburgh; HR manager for BBA Nonwovens, Lewisburg, Pa.; HR manager for International Paper, Tenn. She is based in Plattsburgh.

Bowers & Company adds new staff

Bowers & Company CPAs recently an-

Got business milestones? n Share your business milestones with NNY Business. Email news releases and photos (.jpg/300 dpi) to editor Ken Eysaman at keysaman@wdt.net. The deadline for submissions is the 10th of the month for the following month’s issue. Photos that don’t appear in print may be posted on our Facebook page. nounced the hiring of Emily Cavaco and Troy M. Lybbert as staff accountants in the Watertown office. Ms. Cavaco earned a master’s of accountancy from Auburn University in August of 2014, and a bachelor’s in biology and environmental sciences from the University of Miami in May 1996. She previously served in the Army for nine years as an officer, helicopter pilot and commander. More recently, she has worked as a sole proprietor, and as a marketing professional with the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce and Fort Drum Mountain Community Homes. Mr. Lybbert attended Mount Hood Community College, Brigham Young University in Hawaii and earned a bachelor’s in accounting from Florida Metropolitan University in 2003. Mr. Lybbert’s previous experience includes four years of operations and maintenance of tactical satellite systems for the Army. He was previously stationed at Fort Drum with the 10th Mountain Division, and deployed as part of the Operation Enduring Freedom.

T.I. Bridge Authority elects board members

The Thousand Islands Bridge Authority elected Robert V.R. Barnard to his eighth one-year term as chairman in January. The board also selected Francis G. Garrett to continue as vice chairman.

Micheline Dube was elected secretarytreasurer, and Patrick J. Simpson, Bruce D. Armstrong, Jacques E. Pigeon and Natalie Kinloch were picked as assistant secretary-treasurers. Four U.S. members and three Canadian members serve on the seven-member board.

Financial rep awarded

Watertown native Jonah Coburn was awarded both the Pacesetter 60 and the New Client Leader awards, the former of which honors financial representatives who sell 60 life policies during their second six months in the business. Mr. Coburn recently joined Coburn Northwestern Mutual of Syracuse, a part of the Northwestern Mutual Dodd Agency in Syracuse.

Advisor earns credentials Brian D. Wilcox, a Northwestern Mutual wealth management advisor, has earned the Chartered Advisor for Senior Living designation from The American College. The designation allows him to continue providing guidance and solutions Wilcox on a wide range of financial topics. Mr. Wilcox earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from St. Lawrence University, Canton.

MACAR’S • Kitchens • Bathrooms • Flooring • Lighting

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Watertown • 788-3732 March 2015 | NNY Business

NNY

Economic indicators Average per-gallon milk price paid to N.Y. dairy farmers January 2015 $1.80 December 2014 $2.14 January 2014 $2.05

12.2%

ECON SNAPSHOT

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

Source: NYS Department of Agriculture

340,704 in January 2015 377,653 in December 2014 327,315 in January 2014

Average NNY price for gallon of regular unleaded gas

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

January 2015 $2.55 December 2014 $2.94 January 2014 $3.65

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

30.1%

Average NNY price for gallon of home heating oil

10 | NNY Business | March 2015

(Percent gains and losses are over 12 months)

January 2015 $3.08 December 2014 $3.33 January 2014 $4.00

23.0%

$1.27 on Jan. 30, 2015 $1.16 on Dec. 31, 2014 $1.11 on Jan. 31, 2014

4.1%

14.4%

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of N.Y.

Average NNY price for gallon of residential propane

Nonagriculture jobs in the Jefferson-Lewis-St. Lawrence counties area, not including military jobs (3-year average) **

January 2015 $2.84 December 2014 $2.84 January 2014 $3.75

89,817 Annual average 2014 89,783 Annual average 2013 89,633 Annual average 2012

24.3%

0.2%

Source: NYS Energy Research and Development Authority

Source: NYS Department of Labor

Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors single-family home sales

St. Lawrence Board of Realtors single-family home sales

67, median price $151,500 in January 2015 97, median price $125,000 in December 2014 59, median price $159,900 in January 2014

26, median price $90,350 in January 2015 37, median price $106,000 in December 2014 40, median price $87,000 in January 2014

13.6% Sales

4.7%

35.0%

Price

Source: Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors Inc.

Sales

3.9% Price

Source: St. Lawrence Board of Realtors Inc.

NNY unemployment rates / 3-year avg.** Jefferson County

8.0%

2014

9.5%

2013 2012

10.0%

St. Lawrence County 2014

8.0% 9.3%

2013 2012

10.3%

Lewis County 2014

8.1% 9.6%

2013 2012

10.1%

Source: New York State Department of Labor (Not seasonally adjusted. Latest available data reported.) ** Due to annual data updates at the Department of Labor this month we present a three-year average for unemployment and jobs data. Note: Due to updates in some â&#x20AC;&#x153;Econ. Snapshotâ&#x20AC;? categories, numbers may differ from previously published prior month and year figures.

Economic indicators New automobiles (cars and trucks) registered in Jefferson County Cars 309 in January 2015 338 in December 2014 361 in January 2014

14.4%

Trucks 118 in January 2015 127 in December 2014 96 in January 2014

NNY

22.9%

Source: Jefferson County Clerk’s Office

Passengers at Watertown International Airport

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

2,297 inbound and outbound in January 2015 3,211 inbound and outbound in December 2014 1,190 inbound and outbound in January 2014

2,361 in January 2015 2,407 in December 2014 2,124 in January 2014

15.4% Source: Jefferson County Board of Legislators

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

DBA (doing business under an assumed name) certificates filed at the Jefferson County Clerk’s office Jan. 30 to Feb. 26, 2015. For a complete list of DBAs filed in February and in past months, visit www.nnybizmag.com.

Feb. 26: Miz Bettys Delights Bakery, 26667 Perch Lake Road, Watertown, Betty M. Henderson, 26667 Perch Lake Road, Watertown. A B C E, 23313 County Route 144, Black River, Michael Gillette, 23313 County Route 144, Black River. Feb. 23: Meghan e Creations, 11676A Northern Blvd., Fort Drum, Meghan Elizabeth Palm, 11676A Northern Blvd., Fort Drum. Vocal Connections, 36627 Reese Road, Clayton, Carlton David Yelle, 36627 Reese Road, Clayton. S.E.L.F. Enterprises, 722 Arsenal St., Watertown, Donald Ray Self, 722 Arsenal St., Watertown. Valley Veterinary Clinic, 26436 state Route 283, Watertown, Andre J. Charlebois, 22250 Swan Road, Watertown. Exodus 31, 12043 County Route 79, Adams, Julie A. Mason, 12043 County Route 79, Adams. Immaculate Carpet Cleaning, 15078 County Route 85, Mannsville, Michael Ryan Siller, 15078 County Route 85, Mannsville. Feb. 20: Ashwood Drywall, 8593 Ashwood Drive, Evans Mills, Robert L. Ashwood, 1192A Commercial St., Theresa. Feb. 19: Maids by Melissa, 55 Champion St., Carthage, Mellisa J. Rebb, 55 Champion St., Carthage. Feb. 18: NNY Furs, 30700 state Route 37, Evans Mills, Thomas Michael Walsh, 30700 state Route 37, Evans Mills. Corner Grub, 566 State St., Watertown, Seth W. Dusharm, 1366 Sherman St., Watertown. Post to Post Landscaping, 40046 Berry Blvd., LaFargeville, David J. Robinson, 40046 Berry Blvd., LaFargeville. Feb. 17: KW Enterprises, 15993 County Route 76, Adams Center, Kimberly Welch, 15993 County Route 76, Adams Center. Feb. 13: Ollie E’s Soul Food Kitchen, 560 West End St., Carthage, Tabitha Jones Jackson, 26000 U.S. Route 11, Evans Mills.

North St., Adams Center, Warren L. Denny, 14809 North St., Adams Center. Feb. 12: Tri-County Appliances, 606 Douglas St., Mannsville, Lee Roy Barbur, 606 Douglas St., Mannsville. Feb. 11: Puff-A-Smoke, 200 Washington St. Suite 206, Watertown, Bart S. Bonner, 23967 County Route 67, Watertown. Feb. 9: Military Moms Truck, 4783 James St., Fort Drum, Carol L. Rosenberg, 4783 James St., Fort Drum. Feb. 6: 7 Stones Life Coaching, 34837 County Route 4, Clayton, Thomas J. Clegg jr., 34837 County Route 4, Clayton. Feb. 5: Morning Sunrise Apiary, 16060 Hagen Road, Lacona, Gerald G. Chamberlain, 16060 Hagen Road, Lacona. Ed Donato, 18973 County Route 165, Watertown, Ed Donato, 18973 County Route 165, Watertown. Feb. 4: Holle Designs, 8411D N. Lewis Ave., Fort Drum, Jessica Holle, 8411D N. Lewis Ave., Fort Drum. Ping Productions, 36627 Reese Road, Clayton, Zachariah John Yelle, 36627 Reese Road, Clayton. Auto Scene, 18841 U.S. Route 11, Watertown, Alex James McEathron, 1411 state Highway 3, Harrisville. M. D. R. K. Distribution, 25867 Mustard Road, Watertown, Matthew E. Wurtz, 25867 Mustard Road, Watertown. Feb. 3: NCE Services, 36173 state Route 12E, Clayton, Mary Rose Warneck, 36173 state Route 12E, Clayton. F. L. Barrett, 217 Monroe St., Sackets Harbor, Sandra F. and William D. Farrington, 217 Monroe St., Sackets Harbor. Anhtuyet Nguyen, 26449 Johnson Road, Evans Mills, Anhtuyet T. Nguyen, 201 Breen Ave., Watertown. Feb. 2: Bare Knuckle Tattoo, 210 Franklin St., Watertown, Kristina Lynn Cottrell, 31 Powers Ave., Lacona. Grand New Flag, 704 Nellis St., Watertown, Philip E. Kauppinen, 704 Nellis St., Watertown. JAN. 30: Star J Media, 43480 state Route 37, Redwood, Donald J. Henderson Jr., 43480 state Route 37, Redwood.

Feb. 12: WD’s Plowing, Landscaping & Mowing, 14809

transactions

DBAs

11.2%

March 2015 | NNY Business

| 11

12 | NNY Business | March 2015

BUSINESS BRIEFCASE

TI Realty joins national franchise network

Weichert, Realtors recently welcomed Thousand Islands Realty and its team to the national Weichert franchise network. Melanie Curley, who opened the firm in 2006, will lead the office now known as Weichert, Realtors — Thousand Islands Realty, an Curley independently owned and operated member of Weichert Real Estate Affiliates. Weichert, Realtors — Thousand Islands Realty is a member of the Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors. With offices in Clayton and Watertown, it offers full range of real estate services throughout Jefferson County.

Sleep center accredited

Carthage Area Hospital’s sleep center recently received program accreditation from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. The sleep center is under the medical direction of Dr. Sherif G. El Bayadi, a diplomat of the American Board of Sleep Medicine. Dr. El Bayadi specializes in pulmonary critical care and sleep medicine. To earn accreditation, a sleep center must meet or exceed all standards for professional health care as designated by the AASM, addressing core areas such as personnel, facility and equipment, policies and procedures, data acquisition, patient care, and quality assurance. The sleep center’s goals must be clearly stated and include plans for positively affecting the quality of medical care in the community it serves.

135 Keyes Avenue, Watertown, New York

315-782-4910

Potsdam welcomes new Hampton Inn hotel

The Hampton Inn-Potsdam was recently welcomed to the Potsdam business community with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by more than 70 business owners, local officials, nonprofit organizations, civic groups and residents. The event included a guided tour of the hotel, refreshments provided by Eben’s Hearth Restaurant and St. Lawrence Brewery, a performance by SUNY Potsdam’s a cappella group, A Sharp Arrangement, and remarks by Visions Hotels co-owner, Hamant Patel, vice president of operations, Rakesh Patel and the hotel’s general manager, Paul Kessler.

SBDC at 782-9262 or send your registration to: SBDC/JCC, 1220 Coffeen St., Watertown, NY 13601. The fee for the course is $195 per person. There is no refund after that date unless the course is cancelled. The deadline to register is March 26. The program is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance.

Entrepreneur course set

The New York State Small Business Development Center is offering an entrepreneurial training course Thursday evenings from April 2 through May 14 at Jefferson Community College, Watertown. The course is co-sponsored by JCC’s continuing education department, Jefferson Country Economic Development and Watertown Local Development Corp. The course covers how to check credit reports and address related problems, developing a business plan, what types of loans to apply for, what types of insurances are recommended, information on contract agreements, marketing, the micro-enterprise loan program and bookkeeping. It also includes a one-on-one discussion with an SBDC advisor to discuss each participant’s project. Upon course completion, qualified participants starting a business locally will be eligible to apply for low-interest, microenterprise loans. Pre-registration with payment is required, by cash, credit card or checks made payable to SBDC/JCC. Call the

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Small Business startup BUSINESS

BarkEater Craft Brewery THE INITIAL IDEA

When an artist loves art, it shows. The same is true for craft brewing. Owner and head brewer of BarkEater Craft Brewery, Dean T. Richards, is an artist of all sorts. Until a few years ago, he and his wife, Shay, owned and operated Wildroot Bookstore in Lowville. After a fire forced the couple to close the business, Mrs. Richards went back to school and his path was suddenly wide open. It was time to take a chance he had thought wouldn’t come until retirement. “It was up to me to reinvent myself,” he said. “So I latched on to the dream I had always had about owning the small brewery.”

TARGET CLIENTELE “Craft brewing” could bring to mind an exclusive pack of 20- and 30-somethings clad in skinny jeans and black-rimmed glasses. The scene at BarkEater is far from that. Mr. Richards considers himself a teacher, ready to enlighten anyone curious about the growing world of craft beer. He’s even ready to help people who don’t love any beer learn about the niche market. “I hear a lot that ‘I don’t like the taste of beer,’” he said. “My answer to that is that you haven’t found the right beer yet.” When those unfamiliar with craft brews walk in, Mr. Richards starts them with an introductory drink, either English Mild or Scottish Style Ale. Since opening a year ago next month, Mr. Richards has helped more than a couple palates appreciate the stronger taste of beer, he said. For the most part, BarkEater’s clientele is made up of professionals, ranging from young craft brew lovers to older customers who enjoy good quality beer. The price ranges from $5 to $7 a glass. Most are $5 or $6, Mr. Richards said. Although the typical demographic of craft brew fans is high wage-earning, educated professionals, BarkEater’s beer is reasonably priced. “It’s not so much about the price as it is wanting something a little bit more,” he said. “I always say I don’t drink beer. I enjoy beer. It’s a very subtle difference but very important.” THE JOURNEY During the time between closing the bookstore and opening the brewery, Mr. Richards worked as a carpenter in Old Forge and at Kraft Foods in Lowville. Working at the Kraft plant was preparation for the brewing; the equipment and creation process is similar, he said. “I’d like to say that it was part of my master plan to get a job over there,” he laughed, “but it was just a happy coincidence.” Mr. Richards also went through the process of

NORM JOHNSTON | NNY BUSINESS

“I look at brewing as another form of self-expression. I’m itching to get back to the drawing board.” — Dean T. Richards, owner and head brewer, BarkEater Craft Brewery filling out permits and paperwork and finding investors, which was easier than expected. Since the industry’s history has been well-documented in the past decade or two, finding backers was easy, he said. “Any smart investor has seen the potential for the craft beer industry,” he said. The tasting room is open three days a week, Thursday through Saturday from 3 to 9 p.m. The other four days are divided between brewing twice a week — which is a 10-hour day — cleaning the brew system, and other responsibilities of running a business. The process of brewing to serving for one batch takes about four weeks. Since the tasting room opened last year in April, the brewery has served 17 or 18 different styles of beer, Mr. Richards said. Right after Thanksgiving things really started to pick up. In the month between Thanksgiving and Christmas, BarkEater sold three times what it had sold in any previous month to date. “So by New Year’s Eve, I was virtually out of beer,” he said. The tasting room stayed closed the first weekend of the year to conserve stock. It also now stocks one beer from another New York state farm brewery, Hamilton’s Good Nature Brewing, Hamilton. “Friendliness and brotherhood is very prevalent [among farm breweries], as opposed to being competitive with each other,” Mr. Richards said. As the smallest brewery in the state by size of brewing system, BarkEater has a slight advantage over larger volume brewers, he said.

“[The brew is] about as fresh as you can get because I serve it just as quick as I make it. I can brew a different style of beer every time if I want,” he said. “I found that craft beer drinkers really like that variety.”

IN FIVE YEARS

When the plans for BarkEater Craft Brewery were developed, expansion was worked into them, Mr. Richards said. He is in the process of determining the next size brewing system he will use, a decision he plans to make in the next 12 months. He also plans to add a professionally trained brewer to the ranks of BarkEater next month. Long term, he’d like BarkEater to become a farmstead brewery, growing its own hops and other ingredients used in brewing. The goal is “to be as self-sustaining as I possibly can,” Mr. Richards said. His license allows for five locations in the state, so increasing the number of tasting rooms is another idea he’d like to explore in the future. BarkEater’s brew is available for take-away purchase by the growler. Mr. Richards would like to eventually bottle or can the product, and the prospect of designing the label is exciting as well. His art covers the walls of the tasting room, but with all the responsibility of the business, Mr. Richards hasn’t had the time to take pencil to paper in years. “I look at brewing as another form of selfexpression,” he said. “I’m itching to get back to the drawing board.” — Lorna Oppedisano

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March 2015 | NNY Business

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COV E R ST O RY

Women

entrepreneurs find a niche For three north country women in construction-related fields, certification as a state Minority Women-Owned Business Enterprise has opened doors, but hard work is what ultimately earns respect.

any north country women whO HAVE successfully become state certified Minority Women-Owned Business Enterprises say their success is the result of family support, hard work and being able to break down gender barriers in their construction-related fields, typically dominated by men. For more than 60 years, Marzano Paving Inc. has been operating in Watertown. Its reputation for service, commitment and quality work has been a driving force in keeping the business within the family, third-generation owner Tara Marzano said. “The name means a lot to me,” said Ms. Marzano. “It was important for me to keep it going.” As the youngest of seven children of

18 | NNY Business | March 2015

BY NORAH MACHIA | NNY BUSINESS Ralph and June Marzano, she recalled helping with the family business by typing up estimates for customers. It was first started in the 1940s by her grandfather and great-uncle, and was later taken over by her father. “Everyone knows him,” Ms. Marzano joked, noting her father has earned a reputation for “breaking the ice” by offering up jars of his pickled peppers at business meetings. Her mother was also a role model, as she gave her support to the family business while raising seven children, Ms. Marzano said. “I learned a lot from my mother as well,” Ms. Marzano said. “She really supported my father throughout the years.” Ms. Marzano and her husband, David VandeWater, have a son, Darin, 13. Mr. VandeWater operates his own residential

land development and sales business with a focus on properties in the Adirondack and Tug Hill regions. It’s been both a joy and a challenge to continue the paving business, which she became president of in 2009. Ms. Marzano obtained the state certification of a Minority Women-Owned Business Enterprise in 2012. That application process was intensive, particularly because she was a woman in a construction-related business, and she had to prove that she was indeed a key part of its operation. One of the challenges of being a woman and working in the business has been gaining respect a field dominated by men, Ms. Marzano said. It’s accomplished over time by showing an understanding of the business, she added. Marzano Paving has completed numerous residential and commer-

Tara Marzano, third-generation owner of Marzano Paving, manages the business started by her gradfather and great uncle in the 1940s. Her father, Ralph Marzano, later took over the firm. During the long north country winter season, the company turns to snow removal. Ms. Marzano is also broker/ owner of Marzano Real Estate, a Watertownbased realty firm. AMANDA MORRISON | NNY Business

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NORM JOHNSTON | NNY BUSINESS

Samantha Widrick, owner of Zehr’s Flowers & Landscaping, Lowville, runs the business with her husband, Timothy.

cial projects, including driveways and parking lot construction, throughout the north country. In 2005, the company was awarded a contract through Actus Lend Lease to pave driveways for more than 400 homes in the Crescent Woods military housing development. Marzano Paving has also constructed several parking lots on the military post. Ms. Marzano said she has drawn from her father’s many years of experience in learning about the paving business, including the process of drawing up contracts, bidding jobs and payroll. Her father still helps out with pricing the jobs, and two of her brothers, Jeff and Mike, work in the business operating equipment. “My father always believed in offering quality work at a fair price,” Ms. Marzano said. “We have a lot of repeat customers and local referrals.” It’s that philosophy that has carried over into her second business, Marzano Real Estate. Ms. Marzano started her own real estate firm in 2013 after working in the real estate field for several years. “The two businesses work really well together,” she said.

amantha Widrick has fond recollections of being a young girl helping her mother with the operation of a flower shop in the Lewis County hamlet of Naumburg. “She taught me how to water all the varieties of plants, and later I learned to wait on customers and run the cash register,” Mrs. Widrick said. “I have a lot of fun, late-night memories carrying in plants and covering them when it would frost at night.” Today, Mrs. Widrick has expanded the family business that her mother, Tina Zehr, established in 1988. Mrs. Zehr opened the store because it gave her “a fun and cheap way to get all of her flowers and shrubs for her own garden,” Mrs. Widrick said. Zehr’s Flowers and Landscaping has since expanded into a full garden center with landscaping construction services, including installation of pavers, retaining walls, lawns, and trees. The biggest change at first was increasing the length of time the shop was open, changing it from being a “hobby business” to being open all summer, Mrs. Widrick said. “The business grew each year, making it harder for just me and one employee

to handle,” she said. “My husband then started working for the business in 2007, bringing in his construction talent.” In 2011, Zehr’s Flowers and Landscaping was awarded a five-year contract to perform landscaping services at Fort Drum. That same year, Mrs. Widrick applied for the state Minority WomenOwned Business Enterprise certification, because “I saw the potential to grow the business in the commercial field,” she said. That designation was awarded to the business a year later, and the MWBE status has helped it expand and hire more employees, Mrs. Widrick said. “We perform a variety of landscaping services for prime contractors in the northern region of New York State” and the MWBE designation is beneficial because the state requires its contracts to be fulfilled with a certain percentage of work performed by MWBEs, she said. Last year, Zehr’s Flowers and Landscaping received state recognition for its work during the 2013 clean-up efforts in Herkimer and Montgomery counties following heavy flooding. The work done by the company included stabilizing the banks of waterways, by hydroseeding and other methods, to March 2015 | NNY Business

| 21

C OV E R ST ORY

GREG KIE | SPECIAL TO NNY BUSINESS

Richard M. McCants, Brooklyn, speaks with Mary Ann Kaputa of ADKOPS in Canton. The business became the first in St. Lawrence County to earn approval under the Start-Up New York program on the SUNY Canton campus. It focuses on development of computer software to survey for hazardous materials in buildings.

mitigate damage caused by erosions. The crews also worked to revitalize residential lawns that had been ruined by floodwaters. Officials at Region 2 of the state Department of Transportation sent a letter of commendation to the company for its repair work in the flooded counties. Mrs. Widrick and her husband, Timothy, have five children: Kendra, 10; Anna, 8; Alejandra, 5; Faith, 2; and David, 5 months. “With a growing business and a growing family, the days are very full,” she said. “It is the best and most intense of times, all at once. For us, balancing and prioritizing is a must.” Mrs. Widrick and her husband “love watching the children getting more and more involved in the business as they grow,” she said. “I asked the Lord every day for wisdom to show me how to do it,” Mrs. Widrick said. “We take each day at a time.” Although her mother is not presently involved with the landscaping business, and works full-time as a lab analyst at Kraft Foods, “she plays the role as grandma when she comes to visit,” Mrs. Widrick said. 22 | NNY Business | March 2015

ary Anne Kaputa grew up in a family-owned construction business in the Oneida County town of Cassville. “My parents operated a construction company, and my brother and I spent most of my summer vacations and spare time tagging along on local jobs” and watching her father work, she said. “As with all family businesses, my mom helped out, too, answering the phones and taking on painting jobs,” Mrs. Kaputa added. “I watched my parents work hard to manage a small business and raise a family, and I learned about construction from being around them.” After college, Mrs. Kaputa joined the Peace Corps and served in Madagascar, then later worked in the human services field and eventually became a grant director and grant writer. While she was in college, her father, S. Michael Steiger, became a licensed architect and started SMSA Architectural Services in Cassville. “It wasn’t until I took time off to raise a family that I started working with my

father directly,” Mrs. Kaputa said. “Since I was home during the day, I started answering his phones for him, writing proposals and reports and handling billing and project management.” After working for her father’s company for several years, Mrs. Kaputa established her own business, Adirondack Operations LLC, Croghan. The firm specializes in consulting and monitoring services for asbestos, lead, and other hazardous material abatement. “His firm was growing quickly as were my children, and before long I was managing several large asbestos projects for his company.” she said. “It was really our clients who pushed me to start my own firm and become MWBE Certified.” “They kept voicing frustration that they were repeatedly hiring a woman to manage their jobs, but unable to get credit for hiring a woman-owned business as I was still working under the umbrella of my father’s firm,” she said. Mrs. Kaputa obtained her state Minority Women-Owned Business Enterprise certification in 2011 for environmental

consulting. One of the biggest benefits to the certification is the networking opportunities, she said. “Large prime contractors that would otherwise not be interested in our firm take the time to hear about our company and evaluate if there are opportunities to partner with us,” Mrs. Kaputa said. Although the business has a MWBE certification, “the reality is, we bid jobs just like every other firm out there and the most qualified, lowest bidder gets the job,” she said. “At the end of the day, our references, work ethic and competitive bidding land us jobs, just like any other firm,” she added. Adirondack Operations LLC primarily deals with hospitals, universities, schools, factories and other large facilities. Mrs. Kaputa operates with company with her husband, Craig. They have three daughters: Emma, 10, Lillian, 8 and Julie Anne, 5. “It is interesting running a professional company with three little ones, especially in the years before we had employees and an office,” she said. “It is always a bit of a juggling act. “ “I love that our older girls are of an age that they can help out and learn about the company,” Mrs. Kaputa said. “Emma was very involved in helping me to design our logo, business cards, letterhead and banners for the new division.” She and her husband started a second division in St. Lawrence County earlier this year under the name ADKOPS, which became the first business approved under the Start-Up NY program in that county. The new division, which is located on the SUNY Canton campus, focuses on the development of computer software systems to survey for hazardous materials in buildings prior to construction or renovation work. “For our company, the opportunity to be co-located on a SUNY Campus with the Small Business Development Center is key to success,” she said. “We have access to a pool of qualified interns that are studying computer information technology, construction technology, graphic design and environmental technology.”

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n Norah Machia is a freelance writer who lives in Watertown. She is a 20-year veteran journalist and former Watertown Daily Times reporter. Contact her at norahmachia@gmail.com.

March 2015 | NNY Business

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women in business

Advocates work to empower women AAUW members in Jefferson, St. Lawrence counties continue 134-year mission By Gabrielle Hovendon

W NNY Business

hat do STEM programming, human trafficking, voter registration and professional business clothes have in common? All are part of recent initiatives led by the Jefferson and St. Lawrence County branches of the American Association of University Women. With about 75 and 50 members, respectively, the two branches are busy addressing a number of issues that local women and girls face today. “We really try to look at policy and problems that exist here in the north country and talk with some of the people who are either experts in the field or are working on solutions,” said Donna Seymour, communications chairwoman and Web editor for the St. Lawrence County AAUW and public policy vice president for the AAUW of New York State. “We do a lot of work advocating for women and their families at the governmental level, both at the state and national levels. We know that long-term solutions are going to have to be legislative solutions, because that’s how you get at fundamental discrimination and lack of opportunity.” Founded in 1881, AAUW has more than 170,000 members, 1,000 branches and 800 college and university partners nationwide. While the St. Lawrence County chapter was founded in 1927 and the Jefferson County chapter was founded in 1977, all the branches promote the same mission: “Advancing equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research.” One of the ways the AAUW is tackling this mission — both nationally and locally — is by promoting careers in STEM, science, technology, engineering and math, among girls and women. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be 9.2 million STEM jobs in 2020, and since these jobs tend to pay an average of 26 percent more than other fields, they may help women close the historical pay gap between the genders. In order to raise interest in STEM careers among young women in the north country, the local AAUW branches, known collectively as AAUW District 7, have sponsored several events. To

24 | NNY Business | March 2015

JASON HUNTER | NNY BUSINESS

Jeanna Matthews, left, Clarkson University computer science department, and Valeria Zhukova, right, a Clarkson junior, work with Daniel Dodds-Walters, 10, Parishville, during “Hour of Code” for 9- to 12-yearolds interested in learning more about computer programming last month at the Potsdam Public Library. The St. Lawrence County chapter of the American Association of University Women hosted the event.

celebrate national Engineer’s Week in February, AAUW-St. Lawrence collaborated with the Potsdam Public Library to offer an “Hour of Code,” during which students learn basic computer programming and experiment with writing code. The Jefferson County AAUW held a similar event at the Flower Memorial Library in December, and on May 2 it will partner with SUNY Jefferson to host a day of STEM workshops for fourth- to sixthgrade girls. On May 13, the St. Lawrence AAUW will hold a similar event with SUNY Canton: a Women in Engineering Day packed with hands-on workshops and exhibitions for middle and high school girls in St. Lawrence County. “Right now we’re focusing on STEM opportunities for girls because those jobs are going to be the high-paying jobs of the future,” Ms. Seymour said. “A lot of girls and young women are not really focusing on math, science, engineering and technology now, so it means they’re going to have a harder time getting into those jobs when they graduate from school. We’re really

working hard to make sure that more girls are taking some classes and exploring those opportunities.” “I don’t think it’s going away,” added Tracy J. Gyoerkoe, secretary of the Jefferson County chapter, about AAUW’s emphasis on science and math. “I think we’ll continue to focus on STEM careers for girls because it’s such a growing field, and it’s so important for young women to know that there are opportunities for them.” Mrs. Gyoerkoe, who has been a member of AAUW since moving to the north country five years ago, said she sees the importance of promoting these careers in her own job as director of career, technical, adult and continuing education at Jefferson-Lewis BOCES. “We don’t see a lot of young people in careers that are non-traditional for their gender. We don’t see many women pursuing careers in auto technology, for example,” she said. “And there are challenges when you pursue a career that’s not traditional.” To further support young women, both

women in business the St. Lawrence and Jefferson County AAUW chapters offer annual scholarships: a $500 award to a graduate of a SUNY Canton two-year program who’s going on to pursue a four-year degree, and a scholarship for a Jefferson or Lewis County native enrolled in a full- or part-time college program, respectively. But the AAUW’s efforts extend beyond education, both nationally and locally. “The focal point for AAUW at its inception back in the 1800s was education for women, but equity for women as a whole is at its core right now,” said Karen A. Carr, vice president for programs and former president of the Jefferson County branch. “Any area of discrimination or violence, any area where women are diminished, is an area where we would put some focus. We advocate for public policy, and we hope to make our communities aware of areas where inequalities still exist. You’ll find AAUW taking a stand on domestic violence; you’ll find it taking a stand on equal pay.” Today, the national AAUW advocates for federal policies to help women and families achieve economic security and to promote gender equality within public education. Closing the pay gap, social security reform, increasing paid leave and providing access to affordable health care and reproductive care are just some of the goals the organization hopes to achieve. Similarly, the local AAUW is involved in initiatives that go well beyond educational equity. The Jefferson County branch has recently started a student affiliate chapter at JCC, and in the fall it will run its annual nonpartisan voter registration campaign. From March 16 to 19, the branch will also host the 2015 Women’s Empowerment and Success Series at JCC. The events include a screening of the “MISSrepresentation” documentary, a Women’s Empowerment & Series Resource Fair, a performance by acoustic singer and songwriter Mieka Pauley, a workshop on leadership and gender titled “Who Does She Think She Is,” and a keynote address by explorer and filmmaker Céline Cousteau, granddaughter of Jacques Cousteau, that will address the challenges of being a woman in the fields of research and exploration. Meanwhile, the St. Lawrence AAUW is hosting its annual Professional Clothing Fair from March 17 to 19 at SUNY Canton. The fair, which is stocked by donations from the community, helps men and women obtain free business attire for job interviews, student teaching and other professional events. District 7 isn’t afraid to tackle grave issues, either. Both local branches recently

AAUW / More info

n To learn more or to join the AAUW, visit the Jefferson County chapter’s website at aauwjef fco.wordpress.com or the St. Lawrence County chapter’s website at www.northnet.org/stlaw renceaauw. Members can be men or women, but they must be university students or graduates.

partnered with WPBS to produce a “Public Eye Report” about human trafficking and its ties to the north county. The report, which was designed to raise awareness of human trafficking, or “modern-day slavery,” included panelists from the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security and the North Country Human Trafficking Task Force. It highlighted sex slavery and undocumented agricultural workers, two problems that Jefferson County faces because of its proximity to Canada and Interstate 81 and its large number of military and farms. “We’re busy, and we do a lot, and we

have a lot of ongoing projects,” said Ms. Seymour, who is also a member of the North Country Human Trafficking Task Force. “We really try to live our mission and make a positive difference.” Although the AAUW was established to benefit women and girls, it’s obvious that not only women benefit from its efforts. Many of District 7’s events are open to both men and women, and its members hope that empowering women and educating the public will promote economic opportunity for everyone, not just women. As the tried-andtrue wisdom goes, empowering women will empower their families, and by extension the whole community. “We have to keep reminding ourselves and our daughters that the struggle isn’t exactly over,” Ms. Carr said. “It was really easy to see it back in the day, when women weren’t allowed in certain colleges and programs and when women didn’t have the right to vote. Those issues were long and hard fought, but there’s still the subtleties of equal pay and equal opportunity that we’re fighting today.” n Gabrielle Hovendon is a former Watertown Watertown Daily Times reporter and freelance writer who is working on a Ph.D. Contact her at ghovendon@gmail.com.

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March 2015 | NNY Business

| 25

women in business

AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS

Amy McEathron, president and owner of Independent Medical Evaluation Company, Carthage, has more than 20 years experience in the industry. Her business was recently certified as a New York State Minority Woman-Owned Business Enterprise.

A seal of approval Certification as Minority Women-Owned Business Enterprise a long path By LORNA OPPEDISANO

NNY Business

eing a woman or minority in business can be a struggle. Thanks to efforts to promote equality, the playing field is beginning to level off. In 1988, Gov. Mario M. Cuomo signed into law legislation to create the Office of Minority and Women’s Business Development, now the Division of Minority and Women’s Business Development. According to its website, the office “promote[s] employment and business opportunities on state contracts for minorities and women. Under this statute, state agencies are charged with establishing employment and business participation goals for minorities and women.” That goal is 30 percent, meaning that

26 | NNY Business | March 2015

“30 percent of all New York State contracts have to go to a minority or womenowned business,” explained Roxanne Mutchler, director at Mohawk Valley Small Business Development Center. To be a Minority or Women-Owned Business Enterprise, a firm must get certified through Empire State Development, a process that’s free, but time consuming. In terms of MWBE certification, it’s all because they really want to ascertain if that woman really owns the business, Ms. Mutchler said. “No business will get certified unless they can show that that woman is making the long-term decisions and is really controlling the business,” she said. Certification is available to any yearold small business that is least 51 percent woman-owned. “The female side of the business has

to be an integral part of the business,” explained Sarah O’Connell, a certified business advisor at SUNY Jefferson’s New York State Small Business Development Center. “[The woman has to be] at the very least 51 percent owner. She’s going to have to be contributing some assets to that.” Within Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties, there are 108 MWBE-certified businesses, according to the Division of Minority and Women’s Business Development website. Joining the ranks this year is Carthage’s Independent Medical Evaluation Company, LLC. The only independent medical evaluation company in the north country, Amy McEathron founded IMEC in 2006; Ms. McEathron has been the owner and president since. “I wanted to get that certification years ago,” she said, explaining because the

women in business process is so time-consuming, it had to stay on the back burner. Submitting paperwork is the first step to apply. It requires a great deal of personal and professional information, including what kind of equipment a company uses, the past three years’ tax returns, a resume and birth certificate and more. “It’s a self-certifying process to qualify to make sure you’re a woman-owned business,” Ms. McEathron said. Ms. McEathron’s firm started the process when Saana Gill, the company’s marketing assistant and human resources manager, was hired in March 2014. The online application process was the first big project Ms. Gill completed for the company, Ms. McEathron said. She started uploading the paperwork in March, and finished in June. “When we were ready to hit that send button, it was really exciting,” Ms. McEathron said. Then they played the waiting game for more than half a year. Ms. Gill called the state office every month and a half, and heard the same answer. “She was always told that our file was pending,” Ms. McEathron said. This is the hiccup in the certification process. All MWBE applications go through one office in New York City. Three years ago, a second Albany office that had handled all of upstate closed. “Right now, they’re very backlogged because of the number of applications,” Ms. Mutchler explained. “Right now it’s taking at least six to nine months.” This is a problem for all parties involved, including the government organizations trying to reach their utilization goal. Even if an organization uses a business they know to be minority or women-owned, it doesn’t count unless that business is MWBE certified. Finally, IMEC was granted status as a MWBE in January. “It was just a little disappointing how we got it back,” Ms. McEathron said. “Just an email. Literally that’s all it was.” Usually the process of certification includes another step. Once the paperwork is in, an analyst reviews everything in detail, Ms. Mutchler said, and then reaches out for an interview. Ms. McEathron thinks she simply received an email because she is the sole woman owner, and her documentation

was clear. The final step is to reapply for certification every three years. In the little more than a month since being certified, IMEC has already seen positive results. “We’ve actually gotten a lot of calls from the Purple Heart Association on Fort Drum,” she said. One of the best advantages to being MWBE-certified is the company’s addition to a searchable directory on the state’s website. The list is available to anyone from individuals to state contractors, and

is often the first place people with contracting needs will look. Ms. O’Connell and Ms. Mutchler stress that SBDCs are ready and willing to help with this, or any, process. Ms. McEathron said she received help from Ms. O’Connell on more than one occasion. “They were the best asset that I had,” Ms. McEathron said. n LORNA OPPEDISANO is a staff writer and editorial assistant for NNY Magazines. Contact her at loppedisano@wdt.net or 661-2381.

March 2015 | NNY Business

| 27

women in business

MELANIE KIMBLER-LAGO | NNY BUSINESS

Theresa A. Phalon is the first woman elected president of North Country Savings Bank, Canton. Next year she will add to her responsibilities as CEO when longtime CEO David C. Swanson retires in late 2016. Mrs. Phalon was also elected to the bank’s board of trustees.

A crack in the ceiling North Country Savings Bank welcomes first woman president, CEO By Gabrielle Hovendon

NNY Business

f you’d asked Theresa A. Phalon 20 years ago who would be the first woman president of North Country Savings Bank in 2014, her own name probably wouldn’t have crossed her mind. Mrs. Phalon, who was elected to the bank’s board of trustees in December and elected president in January, is also slated to become CEO when former president and current CEO David C. Swanson retires in late 2016. Born and raised in Canton, she began a career in finance in 1987 when she came to the bank looking not for a job but for a loan. Mrs. Phalon, who was in the process of

28 | NNY Business | March 2015

building a new house with her husband, met Mr. Swanson, then a loan originator at Canton Federal Savings and Loan Association. When she expressed concern about taking out a larger loan than they had anticipated, he invited her to go upstairs and apply for a job, which she got. Mrs. Phalon first worked as a teller at the bank, which would eventually merge with North Country Savings Bank. After six months in that position, she moved into loan processing and worked her way up through the lending department, overseeing loan servicing and collections before becoming the senior vice president of retail banking. “My absolute favorite job was being a teller,” she said, laughing. “I loved it. I didn’t like balancing at the end of the day,

but I loved waiting on customers. You just greet people and chat with people all day and make sure their needs are met.” She also enjoyed being a loan originator, a position that she said allowed her to help people achieve their dreams of home ownership. Because North Country Savings Bank does not use automated tools to make loan decisions, employees instead assess the more subtle, nuanced aspects of a person’s financial situation to decide whether to offer them a loan — a task Mrs. Phalon always enjoyed. “That was a very enriching process. You always felt good about when it was done,” she said. “And that’s the hardest part about giving up the chief lending officer role — separating myself from the customer.” These days, Mrs. Phalon is learning the

women in business ropes of the president and CEO positions, attending many meetings and broadening her knowledge of bank administration, audits, FDIC call reports and more. In May, she will give up the position of chief lending officer, a job she has held since the late ’90s. Since the responsibilities of a president vary by bank, she hopes to tailor her duties to make herself more visible and accessible to customers. In the more than 25 years since Mrs. Phalon began working at North Country Savings Bank, she’s seen plenty of change. She’s watched financial regulations periodically ease and tighten in response to national financial issues, and she’s gone back to school to earn an MBA at Clarkson University — an experience she loved, and one that led her to hire several younger classmates for internships. The world of finance has changed as well, particularly in terms of its women leaders. Wells Fargo, HSBC Bank USA, Citigroup, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase and KeyBank all now have women in high-profile leadership positions, including presidents and CEOs. Mrs. Phalon agreed that she sees more women moving into higher management positions at banks. She noted, though, that North Country Savings Bank hasn’t lacked woman presidents because of discrimination but rather because of the long tenure, 25 years in the case of Mr. Swanson, of the bank’s past few presidents. Still, she notes that it’s important to keep encouraging girls to explore math and science so they can look forward to equal career opportunities. She can recall a time when a Syracuse company cancelled her job interview after they learned she was pregnant with her first son, something that’s fortunately less common today. Looking to the future, Mrs. Phalon hopes to shepherd North Country Savings Bank through careful expansion. Last year, the bank opened a small new lending office in Malone, and she hopes to see more of this kind of development in the future. “I’m a firm believer in slow, steady, controlled growth. When banks try to grow quickly and aggressively, that’s how you fail: when you take on something that you don’t know and you’re not comfortable with and you don’t have experience with,” she said. “It’s not rocket science, it’s just continuing to do what we do well and being able to assess and measure and appropriately choose our markets. In this

business, you can’t wing it.” Mrs. Phalon advised young people starting out in the banking world to be patient, get to know the industry and methodically work their way up through the ranks. “I would advise them to stay in front of the customer,” she said. “The best way to succeed and become good at a senior-level position is to understand the business and understand the needs of the customers.” She also noted that when she started at the bank back in 1987, her ambition wasn’t to become president; it was sim-

ply to do her job very well. In the end, her success came not through obsessing about future promotions but through systematic hard work. “Don’t look so far in advance that you’re not focusing on what’s in front of you today,” she said. “Focus on today, and what’s available to you in the future will come.” n Gabrielle Hovendon is a former Watertown Watertown Daily Times reporter and freelance writer who is working on a Ph.D. Contact her at ghovendon@gmail.com.

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M ilestones

AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Aubertine and Currier Architects, Engineers and Land Surveyors, PLLC, partners Matthew R. Morgia, Annette M. Mason, Brian A. Jones, Patrick J. Currier, and Jayson J. Jones stand in the lobby of their Bradley Street offices in Watertown. The firm celebrates 15 years in business this spring and looks forward to continued steady growth.

Designs on the future At 15, Aubertine & Currier looks ahead for steady growth By KRIS RUSHO

T NNY Business

ravel nearly anywhere in the north country, admire the design and detail of structures, the beauty of revitalized communities, the quality of work and construction of buildings old and new and more than likely you’re witness to the work of Aubertine and Currier. Celebrating its 15th year in business this year, Aubertine and Currier Architects, Engineers & Land Surveyors, PLLC, strives to create sustainable, economic ventures that surpass expectations across Northern New York. It’s a task that the firm takes quite seriously, earning it a reputation for excellence, while remaining true to its roots. The company is the recipient of several awards, including

30 | NNY Business | March 2015

consecutive Excellence in Construction & Craftsmanship Awards through the Northern New York Builders Exchange and was named the Greater Watertown North Country Chamber of Commerce 2013 Business of the Year. Presently working to complete the Clayton Yacht House project and finishing up a five-year Fort Drum contract with many other projects in the works, Aubertine and Currier posted revenues of $3 million in 2014. Past clients have included private residents, commercial businesses, municipalities, Jefferson County Hospice, the City of Watertown, SUNY Canton and the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp. to name a few. Indeed, there is no job too big, nor too small, for this young firm. Providing architectural, engineering and land surveying services, Aubertine

and Currier has spearheaded several efforts to create innovative projects that appeal to a broad range of clients, while cultivating a positive influence in the area. From blueprint to ribbon-cutting, the group has demonstrated an ability to see regional plans and projects to fruition, all while being based in Watertown. It’s a source of pride for those who work at the firm, including Matthew Morgia, partner and civil engineer, who credits excellent working relationships on civic and small-town levels for why the firm will continue to thrive. “Most of us grew up in the area, so there is a vested interest to see development on a local level,” Mr. Morgia said. “Many projects we work on we get through relationships, word of mouth from contractors we’ve worked with. Proposals

Milestones and referrals looking for assistance.” Michael Aubertine started the business in 2000, focusing solely on architecture and Patrick Currier, architect, long-time friend and associate, became his partner in October the same year. Through several successful projects and steady growth, three more partners were brought on in 2007: Brian Jones, architect, Jayson Jones, professional land surveyor and Matthew Morgia. In 2012, Annette Mason became managing partner and majority owner of the firm and, through a strict interview and exhaustive reporting process, the firm became a certified Minority Woman-Owned Business Enterprise. The distinction gives them increased access to contracts, projects and resources. Three years post-certification and the list of projects continues to grow. For Ms. Mason, it was a stressful endeavor, but a worthwhile one. “It has been interesting; [it] really has solidified our status in the community. The exposure is excellent. We’ve done more work than prior to becoming [certified].” With additional professionals, knowledge and skills, Aubertine and Currier began to branch out, seeking larger-scale projects and bidding against more traditional businesses based in large urban areas, like Rochester or Syracuse. Jayson Jones says that their location is an advantage when working with clients, who appreciate the personal attention. “You’re not dealing with someone miles away. There’s a personal touch that we provide. We’re available almost any time, he said. “When you’re a larger company, you can be focused. But I would say we are the most diversified in these fields.” Brian Jones said he believes it was through growing pains that the firm learned to team up with other firms to accomplish similar goals. “It can be challenging, but its a lesson learned and we go on a project by project basis,” he said. Mr. Currier agrees, saying that the partners put special emphasis on being locally owned and operated and more than able to meet client needs. “The size of a firm doesn’t insinuate its capabilities. We have an amazing, capable staff of 26 full-time employees.” And while the management team acknowledges that it can be hard to keep talented individuals in the area, they try to act early if they see or hear about poten-

tial. The company has a summer internship program, which has proven popular. Many stay because they see the initiative of a company that has worked hard to build and maintain a reputation and expects to see increased opportunities. The last two hires were former interns. Operating out of a once old-fashioned warehouse at 522 Bradley St. on Watertown’s north side, you will see the company’s motto proudly displayed above the lobby entrance, “Excellence in Design, Enriching Our Community.” The partners have put a lot of thought into renovations of the building, where space is a hot commodity. Its unique and modern interior design is a testament to its distinct style. There’s a determined buzz throughout the place, now a renovated 6,968-square-foot space that incorporates “green” practices, something that the firm specializes in. The back section is presently being turned into a new work location for civil engineers. Dan Gyoerkoe, Aubertine and Currier’s business development director said that space is needed to house advanced survey equipment, printing technology and machines as well as potential new staff. The need to expand is a good problem to have. “There’s 100 percent focus on the clients. Of wanting to go the extra mile, it’s there in the quality of work,” Mr. Gyoerkoe said. There are very talented people here.” Each Tuesday, the partners meet to discuss current projects, future endeavors, priorities and community events. Mr. Currier said he couldn’t be more proud of the path the business has taken and envisions competing more aggressively for K-12 school projects. “There are possibilities we can explore. It keeps us even keel, keeps everything flowing work-wise,” he said. “There’s a passion here for providing professional services. People come to us to make it happen, to build upon their ideas.” When asked where they see the company in another 15 years, the team pauses, thoughtful, but sure of the direction they are headed. Brian Jones breaks the silence to say what his partners are thinking. “Steady growth. Maintain our reputation. Keep getting bigger, yes, but we don’t want to lack anything. We want to provide our services at the highest levels.” n KRIS RUSHO is a St. Lawrence River native, former journalist and freelance writer who lives in Watertown. Contact her at kris.rusho@gmail.com.

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RE AL E STAT E RO U ND UP

Drum, NNY a winning combination

lanned. Positioned. Proven. With the approach of the March 20 Army listening session and public rally, that is a slogan we have been seeing and hearing often. The rally and session that follows will take place at Jefferson Community College at 5 p.m. and it’s your chance to tell the Army how you feel about the potential loss of 16,000 soldiers and civilians at Fort Drum. During the day, community leaders will brief military officials in the areas of housing, education, health care, and other ways the community adds to the military value. The evening will truly be your turn. What would this loss mean for our area? We know that Fort Drum is an integral part of our community and enhances the region economically, culturally, and socially. We would be much poorer in many ways, without the enhancements that the troops and their families bring. This is the message that most of the other communities near affected bases will also articulate. However, we also have an impact on Fort Drum. What does the area offer that enhances military value? Unlike most bases, Fort Drum does not have a school or hospital on base. Those services are provided in the community. This means that we are caring for and educating our troops and their families on an ongoing basis. Our business community recruits and hires spouses and family members of soldiers providing employment. Many workers have skills and attributes highly sought after by employers. Think about the impact that Fort Drum has had on your life and community. If all of those troops went away, what would our area

look like? What would be missing? The Realtor community feels so strongly about this issue that it has given $23,000 to help assist with the community’s efforts. Tell your story at the public rally. Sign the petition at Drum2025.com.

Lance Evans

The National Association of Realtors appointed Jennifer Dindl-Neff, Humes Realty and Appraisal Service, federal political coordinator for New York’s 21st Congressional District. She will be NAR’s liaison to Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, keeping her informed of issues that relate to real estate and homeownership. As part of her duties, Jennifer attended NAR’s federal policy conference in Washington, D.C., Feb. 4 and 5, which included FPC training and information about real estate issues. n

Members of the Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors and St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors attended the New York State Association of Realtors leadership conference and business meetings at the Desmond Hotel and Conference Center from Feb. 8 to 12. The conference included a day-and-halflong board leadership conference featuring speakers on the role of leadership at the local level, issues that the participants will deal with while serving as leaders, and

make attendees aware of industry trends and changes. The rest of the week was spent in multiple committee meetings and forums, educational opportunities, and networking events. Among the networking opportunities was the annual Installation dinner. During the dinner, Lisa L’Huillier, Hefferon Real Estate, was sworn in as president-elect of the New York State Chapter of Women’s Council of Realtors. Her 2015 duties include assisting the WCR state president, Terri Crozier, and conducting fall orientation of new WCR local officers. She will assume the presidency of the New York State chapter in 2016. Several other members have leadership roles in 2015. Jennifer Stevenson, Blue Heron Realty, is serving a second term as president of the New York State Housing Foundation, nonprofit charitable foundation that provides financial and other assistance to homebuyers working with a Realtor. In addition, Lin Fields, Linda Fields, Broker, chairs the fair housing and cultural diversity committee while NYSAR’s education management committee is led by Karen Peebles, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services CNY Realty. Others attending were Jennifer DindlNeff, Humes Realty and Appraisal Service, Janet Handschuh, Heart Homes Real Estate, Elizabeth Miller, Century 21 Gentry Realty, Vickie Staie, Staie on the Seaway Real Estate, Randy Raso, Raso Real Estate, Nancy Rome, Rome RSA Realty, Korleen Spilman, Century 21 Millennium Realty, and me. n LANCE M. EVANS is the executive officer of the Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors and the St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors. Contact him at levans@nnymls.com. His column appears monthly in NNY Business.

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March 2015 | NNY Business

| 33

RE AL E STATE

Realtor’s drive inspires other women By LORNA OPPEDISANO

NNY Business

ori J. Gervera, associate broker of Keller Williams Northern New York and Lori Gervera Team, does one killer balancing act. She started her own real estate business, Lori Gervera Real Estate, more than 20 years ago. She’s been an accredited staging professional since 2006, and developed her own full-service staging company, Lori Gervera Productions, LLC. She’s a member of the National Association of Realtors, the New York State Association of Realtors and the local Jeff-Lewis Board of Realtors. Two years ago, her company partnered with Keller Williams Realty International, the largest real estate franchise by agent count in the world. And while juggling all that, Ms. Gervera got married and raised three children, all of whom are now in their 20s. “Anyone who I’ve come in contact with who knows Lori is able to see that she can keep a really good balance between home and career,” said Beth A. Augustus, a mortgage loan officer at Carthage Savings and Loan. Ms. Augustus has known Ms. Gervera professionally and personally for close to 25 years. Ms. Gervera began her career in the industry as a mortgage originator in the 1980s, doing mortgage sales directly with Realtors. “To have that mortgage background is extremely advantageous,” she explained. “That was a wonderful experience and opportunity as a foundation.” After working with Kee Mortgage Funding for about four years, Ms. Gervera decided to pursue real estate full time, earned her license and worked with Coldwell Banker Ramada Realty for about six years. It was after gaining that experience that Ms. Gervera decided to start her own firm. Looking back, she doesn’t see becoming selfemployed to be a difficult transition. “It’s just my nature. Not everybody is able to be self-employed,” she said. “We all have different personalities. For me personally, being self-employed worked because I was able to be in control.” Once she built her company, the decision to partner with Keller Williams was one Ms. Gervera didn’t make lightly. After several exchanges with the real estate giant, she decided to take the plunge. “I was somewhat reserved in making that final commitment,” she admitted, “because a part of me felt it was kind of

34 | NNY Business | March 2015

Lori Gervera, associate broker of Keller Williams Northern New York and Lori Gervera Team, Watertown, has worked in the industry for more than 20 years while also managing marriage and raising three children. JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS

too good to be true.” And she doesn’t regret it at all. For Ms. Gervera, the partnership was more than just aligning herself with a powerful company; it was about matching philosophies. She explained the benefits of Keller Williams. An agent leadership council gives the agent a voice in the company. The agent is rewarded for company growth through a profit sharing program. Then there’s the access to technology and training. Finally, the agent is “in control of their expenses in that they have the opportunity to cap their commission, and then receive 100 percent after their cap is met,” she explained. “That’s the basis of Keller Williams.” Ms. Gervera cited “The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results,” by Gary Keller of Keller Williams as a source of inspiration, teaching the importance of focusing on the task at hand instead of trying to multitask and be “superhuman,” as Ms. Gervera put it. “You waste so much time jumping back and forth and back and forth,” she said. Being a mother of three and leader of her own business, you’d think that maybe Ms. Gervera was some sort of superhuman. But she insists otherwise. “My kids were all born into this business,” she said. “And my husband was there 300 percent of the way.” Her husband’s more structured job at National Grid fit nicely with Ms. Gervera’s real estate hours — which often included

nights, weekends and holidays — and their team effort worked. She said at times she felt judged for taking on as much as she did, but with her husband leading the children by example, her family never failed to support her business. “I think that working really allowed the kids to be more independent,” she explained. “I think it was advantageous.” Her oldest son now works as a lineman for National Grid, her daughter is finishing a master’s degree at Nazareth College and her youngest, a student at Jefferson Community College, has his real estate license and helps at the office. “It was a pleasant surprise,” she said. “He thought he would at least get into it and see what it was all about.” Ms. Gervera’s children all mirror their mother’s qualities, Ms. Augustus said. “Everything is really about the kids, as far as helping the kids become responsible adults and really kind of follow the way she is,” she said. “Accountability for yourself. Doing the best job you can do.” But even after 25 years of knowing Ms. Gervera, Ms. Augustus still isn’t sure how she manages her superb balancing act between professional and family life. “I have no idea. And I would really like to find out,” she laughed. “I have no idea how she manages to be as excellent at both.” n LORNA OPPEDISANO is a staff writer and editorial assistant for NNY Magazines. Contact her at loppedisano@wdt.net or 661-2381.

RE AL E STAT E / top transactions Top 10 property sales by price recorded in the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office in Janurary 2015:

Robin Meade, Carthage, sold to Elray Dumas, Honolulu, Hawaii.

$1,300,000: Jan. 20, City of Watertown: Two parcels, no acreage, Arsenal Street, Aerco LLC, Vista Valley, Calif., sold to VDI Properties LLC, Alexandria Bay.

$290,000: Jan. 16, Village of Theresa: 3.63 acres, state Route 26, Richard D. Nuijens Jr. and Joanne L. Thornton, Theresa, sold to Ronald A. Rajner and Colette R. Rajner, Theresa.

$769,000: Jan. 13, Town of Alexandria: Two islands, Sylvan Island and Moss Island, WJC Family LLC, Syracuse, sold to Larry Kingsley, Rye.

$272,500: Jan. 29, Town of Watertown: 2.52 acres, Sandy Creek Valley Road, Roderic P. Galster, Phoenix, Ariz., sold to Jack H. Young and Julie L. Young, Black River.

$615,000: Jan. 16, Town of Alexandria: Three parcels, 5.53 acres, Wellesley Island, Westminster Park, Allan G. Drew and Carol W. Drew, San Jose, Calif., sold to Robert Nassau and Jessica Murray, Rochester. $500,000: Jan. 28, Village of West Carthage: 1.446 acres, Franklin Street, Northern Developers LLC, Carthage, sold to Leegill Ventures LLC, LaFargeville. $450,000: Jan. 12, Town of Alexandria: 1.87 acres, Dingman Point Road, Lots 20 and 21, Margaret C. Cardamone and William J. Cardamone as attorneys for Richard J. Cardamone, Clinton, sold to Timothy D. Wagoner, Alexandria Bay. $420,000: Jan. 23, Town of Watertown: Two parcels, 5.22 acres, Cagwin Road, Peter M. Virga, Watertown, sold to Sarah Miller, Lowville. $350,000: Jan. 5, City of Watertown: 0.619 acres, 328 Paddock St., Bradford K. Bilicki, Watertown, sold to Philip D. Amrine, Dover, Del. $297,300: Jan. 7, Town of Champion: 1 acre, Farney Pit Road, David C. Meade and Joelle

Top 10 property sales by price recorded in the St. Lawrence County Clerk’s Office in January 2015: $325,000: Jan. 28, Town of Hammond: Parcel 1) 1.5 acres more or less, Parcel 2) Unknown acres, bounded by Chippewa Point Road, and Schnurr Road, Mildred D. Hill, Port Charlotte, Fla., sold to Alan G. and Susan H. Volkmar, Blacksburg, Va. $270,000: Jan. 12, Town of Colton: 358 83/100 acres more or less, Great Tract 2, bounded by Route 56, Maury Tigner, Ithaca, sold to The Hollywood Associates LLC, Ithaca. $175,000: Jan. 20, Town of Norfolk: 3.94 acres more or less, in Mile Square 78, bounded by Plumbrook Road, Paul K. and Denise D. Durant, Norfolk, sold to Gary A. and Joyce M. Lacourse, Webster. $174,500: Jan. 27, Town of Oswegatchie: 4.89 acres more or less, bounded by McIntyre Road, Jay R. and Suzanne M. Beldock, Ogdensburg, sold to Henry E. and Lee Ann

Morley, Ogdensburg. $171,222: Jan. 26, Town of Gouverneur: 40 acres more or less, bounded by Natural Dam and Barnes Farm, Rafael Hylton, Palm Coast, Fla., sold to Robert Murphy and Helen Chase, Cazenovia. $170,000: Jan. 30, Town of Hammond: 30.26 acres more or less, bounded by Ireland Road, Randy J. Huot, Hammond, sold to Daniel Christopher Ceresoli, Hammond . $167,500: Jan. 5, Village of Massena: Parcel 1) 0.40 of an acre more or less, Parcel 2) Unknown acres, Lot 12 and Lot 13 of Block E, bounded by Windsor Road, Thomas E. and Mona E. Miller, Massena, sold to Christopher L. and Emily F. Hutchison, Potsdam. $160,000: Jan. 15, Town of Lisbon: Unknown acres, bounded by River Road, Arthur Edward Ryan (attorney in fact), Martin J. Ryan, Ogdensburg, sold to John and Rene Tebo, Ogdensburg. $160,000: Jan. 28, Village of Colton: 1/8 of an acre more or less, known as Island bounded by High Falls, Robert and Tamela Bradish, Hannawa Falls, sold to Matthew J. and Randa L. Mitchell, Colton. $159,000: Jan. 26, Town of Hopkinton: 43 acres more or less, bounded by Days Mills Road and Blanchard Road, Roger Sessions (trustee), Robert W. Sessions Revocable Living Trust, Burr Ridge, Ill., sold to Mark J. and Marcia L. Grothe, Norco, Calif.

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March 2015 | NNY Business

| 35

20 questions

JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS

One more story to tell

n January 1979, a 23-year-old Cathy M. Pircsuk left an adventure that took her from her St. Lawrence County hometown of Norfolk to Columbia, Mo., and Atlanta, returned to her native north country, and began a 36-year climb through the ranks at the local TV station, WWNY-TV7. Since, she’s held nearly every job in news. She will retire as the station’s general manager in June after almost 20 years leading Channel 7 through technological change and a vastly different media marketplace. We sat down with her as she reflected on what she’s learned and what she’ll miss when she signs off.

NNYB: When you joined Channel 7 in 1979, you were a reporter. What do you miss most about being a reporter? PIRCSUK: I think reporting is the best job in the business for one reason. You go out and you do a story. You decide how to artfully write it and put the pictures together with it. You do all that, you go home and it’s done. There was a great sense of completion. It was different every day and there was a certain element of surprise. In management, you have a lot of ongoing issues and plans and budgets. It’s just a different type of work. And so as much as I like what I do now, it was the romance of being a reporter and having that mystery in your day-to-day work that was appealing.

NNYB: What were the gender roles like starting out and how have they changed? PIRCSUK: I never felt that I was held back because I was a woman. But there weren’t very many women in management at all. In fact, growing up watching television, there weren’t many women correspondents on the air. You just didn’t see that many women in this field.

NNYB: You’re from the north country. Growing up here, did you have a woman mentor who guided you into journalism? PIRCSUK: I should say yes, but I honestly

36 | NNY Business | March 2015

n After 36 years, veteran broadcaster,

manager Cathy Pircsuk eyes retirement can’t think of anyone in particular. You know, probably the best motivator: I had a professor at Geneseo tell me that I was an excellent student, but I might want to change majors so that I didn’t take the job that some nice man with a family needed. That was kind of the way it was then. So I think it was more about proving the fact that anyone could do that job. A man or a woman could do that job.

NNYB: When you earned the Athena Award in 1996, you spoke out for hiring the most qualified candidates, whether women or men. You said, “Things are getting closer to that, where the best person is hired for the job, not just for the demographics.” Do you think we’ve reached that point yet? PIRCSUK: Yes, I do. There was a time, when women were first getting into this business, when every TV station thought that they needed a woman anchor, and I think they went out to look for a woman anchor. And I don’t think we do that anymore. We’re really looking for an anchor. I guess that certainly signals progress.

NNYB: What was working in television media like on 9/11? PIRCSUK: I don’t know how you could even describe 9/11. We had to put extra people on the switchboards because you couldn’t keep up with the calls coming in to the newsroom. People were panicked. We heard from people that lived here that had daughters or sons or uncles that worked in that building. Everyone was so starved for any kind of information. I don’t think anybody slept for two or three days. There were special reports, so the programming on the station was constantly changing. It was an unbelievable few days to just kind of grasp what had happened.

NNYB: What aspects of media have changed the most since you started working? PIRCSUK: You have to keep evolving. I have an incredible bunch of managers who live, eat and breathe technology. We’re always looking for the next best thing, and how we can afford to keep up with the industry, because there’s so much going on. We just talked about the new way to have reporters go live. You used to need a huge truck and two or three people to operate the truck. Now they have backpacks where you are your own live unit. We’re in the process of researching that and purchasing a couple of those to get started. It seems like as we progress, each piece of equipment is just doing these incredible things that we never expected that we could do.

NNYB: Has it been hard to keep pace with evolving and changing technology? PIRCSUK: TV reporters are notoriously poor spellers, because our stuff was never printed. When that changed, we had to really clamp down on copy. Newspaper people have had to worry about spelling and punctuation always, but not so much for TV and radio people, so that’s changed. I started on a manual typewriter, and when we got electric typewriters, that was a pretty big deal. I remember fax machines — particularly if you were in contract negotiations, trying to get contract changes back and forth through the mail — and now you could use a fax machine and get it there within a few minutes. And then having a computer in your hand that you can walk around with and take pictures. No one really thought that was going to be possible. So it’s pretty incredible. NNYB: How do you cut through all the noise of so many platforms providing informa-

2 0 q uestions

tion 24/7, and still produce a 30-minute local broadcast that stays true to your values as a newsperson? PIRCSUK: Those of us who have been in the business for so long joke around, saying, “If only we knew those were the good old days, we would have enjoyed them more.” When I came here, we had one television station, and a radio station, and that’s what we were responsible for. Then we added our Fox station in 2001, which was a tremendous boost for this business and then Facebook and everything else, our website, which is an integral part of what we do. We don’t have any deadlines anymore. Your deadline is now. You want to make sure that you get it quickly to the website, but that what you get to the website is accurate and truthful and has been researched and you can stand by it. That’s the challenge. People are very concerned about being first and being fast. If it’s not correct, then none of that makes any difference.

NNYB: How do you see news media evolving in the future? PIRCSUK: My hope is that local continues to thrive. You can get national news in multiple places. You need local media for local news. I hope that the community finds that of value. I still think part of our role is to be a community watchdog. It’s the opportunity to stay engaged with your community, and we do a pretty good job of that, collectively all of us.

NNYB: I’ve heard you, on occasion, talk about the funding model for local network affiliates and how it’s changed from the networks paying the local stations to the local stations paying the networks. What drove that? How is that a successful model now? PIRCSUK: If you try to be an independent television station and purchase programming, it’s very difficult. There isn’t a lot of programming outside of the networks that’s first-run network-quality programming. I think every TV station looks at it when they go into contract negotiations with the network. Some stations have done it, but it’s pretty difficult to do. So you have to find ways to make it work. We were fortunate to have added the Fox station. Now we have two TV stations that we run out of the same building with the same staff. And that has really allowed us to keep the staff the same size and to keep the product.

NNYB: When did you get the feel that you wanted to get more into the business end of things, management-wise?

PIRCSUK: It kind of fell in my lap. I’d been a reporter. Then when someone left and the news director’s position was open, I had been here and knew the area and the market, so it was a natural progression to become a news director. And after that, there was the opportunity to be general manager. I was happy in news, and would have been happy to stay there, but when this opportunity arose, it was the next thing to do. I think if you’re going to stay in a place for 36 years, you need a bunch of different jobs. That’s what made it fun and interesting and fresh and fun.

JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS

Cathy M. Pircsuk, WWNY-TV7 and WNYF FOX 28, talks about her plans after retirement in her office.

NNYB: When did you get used to having to think about the bottom line and business side of the job? PIRCSUK: I think as a manager, if you have a really good business manager — and I do — that makes your life possible. As a news director, you’re multitasking. You’re worried about the next deadline, who called in sick, what equipment’s not working. You’re constantly multitasking. That was very good training for being a general manager when you have seven departments. My training in news really prepared me well for being a general manager.

NNYB: How do you keep people motivated during challenging times? PIRCSUK: By always having something new on the horizon. We put a new set on the air two years [ago] now. We had virtually everybody looking at swatches and wood colors and design and color and lighting, and really made it a project. Everybody contributed. We’re great project people in this building. Sometimes the day-to-day stuff can get difficult, but we’re really good when we’ve got a project. I think it helps to add excitement to the day-to-day. We’re always looking ahead to something different.

NNYB: What have you learned from the people you work with in terms of leadership? PIRCSUK: I’ve learned from my engineers here analytical thinking. Engineers are incredible people because they drill down through all of these layers to find the problem and then the solution. It’s a specific way that engineers think, and I really admire that. My bosses — Ron and Ken out in Wisconsin, the VPs — they listen to what you have to say and then if they disagree, they’ll tell you why. If you have a boss that you can come in and say, “I don’t think this is right because of this, this and this,” and they’ll listen to you and then they’ll either

The Cathy M. Pircsuk file AGE: 59 JOB: General manager and vice president, WWNY-TV 7 and WNYF-FOX 28 FAMILY: Husband, Jim Burr; step-daughter, Laurel; step-son, Jeremy HOMETOWN: Norfolk; presently lives in Watertown EDUCATION: B.A. University of Missouri, Columbia PROFESSIONAL: classical and jazz music producer and host at KBIA-FM, Columbia, Mo.; morning DJ at KWOS-AM, Jefferson City, Mo.; news writer and producer at UPI NewsTime, Atlanta.; reporter, assistant editor, news director and general manager at WWNY-TV7 and WNYF-FOX 28, Watertown BUSINESS BOOK YOU’VE READ AND WOULD RECOMMEND: “Who Moved My Cheese? An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life” by Spencer Johnson agree or disagree, that’s an ideal situation. When you are afraid to bring an issue to a supervisor or are afraid to discuss a situation, then that reflects poorly not only on you but on the organization, too. So from my bosses, I’ve learned that that open dialogue is critical.

NNYB: Do you think your employees understand that it’s ok to challenge you effectively? PIRCSUK: I have very smart managers and, believe me, they challenge me all the time. And that’s good. I’ve always managed that way, with a very free and open discussion. Maybe, if anything, I air on the side of a little too much discussion. But I always felt that that was better than having a place where people were afraid to say anything. March 2015 | NNY Business

| 37

20 questions

NNYB: Your team includes some familiar faces who’ve made a commitment to stay – Brian Ashley, Ann Richter, Mel Busler, Rob Krone, John Moore, most recently, Jeff Cole and Beth Hall. Is that kind of commitment rare in small markets? What’s the secret to retaining good people? PIRCSUK: I don’t think it’s so rare in small markets. The key to keeping people is some connection to the area. That wasn’t so unusual in my day. It’s more unusual now, because in this industry, one way to get ahead and to make more money is to market hop; the bigger the market, generally the bigger the pay and the better the exposure. So if that’s what you want

to do and that’s your objective, that’s probably the best way to get there. It depends on what’s important to you. We’ve been fortunate enough to have a cadre of local people who have chosen to stay here. Jeff Cole can work anywhere he wants to, and that’s just one example. Most of my anchors could choose where they want to be and they’ve chosen to stay here.

NNYB: Does it make you proud to see that employees have stayed with the station through the lean times? PIRCSUK: Yes. People are committed to their area, community, schools and kids. With a small staff, everyone works together. They

have to. I always say, “The best thing about Channel 7 is that we’ve all worked together for a really long time, the worst thing about Channel 7 is we’ve all worked together a really long time.” We’re fortunate to only have two owners in the entire time the station’s been here. I can’t stress enough how unusual that is in the media business.

NNYB: You recruit a lot of beginners. Talk about mentoring the next generation of journalists. PIRCSUK: Part of our economic structure is that we have a group of senior people who know where the bodies are buried, and that we pay more. In order to do that, we hire graduates out of college and we teach them the trade. It’s a lot of work because, in journalism, if you make a mistake, you could be held for libel or worse. So a lot of time is spent not only mentoring but checking every piece of copy. On top of that, now we require our reporters to be photojournalists, so they’re shooting video as well. That’s a lot of responsibility for somebody that’s just graduated from college. The cool part is that we hear from them. They’re all over the country. That’s very rewarding. After you’ve done it for many years, I think it can be frustrating to start all over again. But it reminds us of why we got into the business in the first place and those very basic rules of journalism. And it keeps us young.

NNYB: What’s the best advice you’ve ever followed and who gave it to you? PIRCSUK: My dad always told me, “You can’t afford to save that much money.” And I’d say, “It’s only $30 and I’m saving $5.” He’d say, “You can’t afford to save that much money.” I’ve often used that line on my managers. I think that means just looking at every single purchase you have. Television equipment is incredibly expensive and there are a lot of vendors. We’ve learned how to negotiate and how to really research every piece of equipment that we get.

NNYB: What’s the most important thing that north county residents should understand when it comes to doing business here?

151 Mullin Street Watertown, NY 13601

PIRCSUK: I would say to businesses coming in, just because the weather is challenging doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t move here. It doesn’t mean that you’re not going to get commitment from the community, from the chambers of commerce. Look what’s happened with Fort Drum. There’s Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization. There’s AUSA. There’s people that have gotten behind Fort Drum to make it as pleasant a place to live, not only for the soldiers, but particularly the families. We do a really good job of that. So I think we have to keep in mind that sometimes we’re our own worst enemies when we talk about Northern New York. The region has a lot to offer, not only from a business standpoint, but also from a recreational standpoint. And we should embrace it. — Interview by Ken Eysaman. Edited for length and clarity to fit this space.

38 | NNY Business | March 2015

Healthy

Women A special supplement to NNY Business

Dr. Jill Laureano-Surber, family physician and mother of four

Become your best yet

Maintain health and find lasting success SECURE a mentor page 42

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he Cosmetic and Laser Medispa owned and operated by Dr. Noaman Sanni is Northern New Yorks best kept secret. In 2012, Center For Sight raised its cosmetic services program to a whole new level by opening their Cosmetic & Laser Medispa at their 1815 State Street location in Watertown. It is the first and only Medispa in the region to offer full time services by Certified Technicians and Board Certified Physicians. The Medispa is on premise at Center For Sight in Watertown located in a newly renovated wing that creates a relaxing and calming environment for patients. The Medispa has its own separate entrance to afford our patients the privacy and exclusiveness that our premium services command. When choosing equipment for the Medispa, Dr. Sanni and his team knew that to stay ahead of the competition they would need the most state of the art technology in the industry. The first piece of equipment he chose was the award winning Sciton Erbium YAG Laser nicknamed the “Rolls Royce” of cosmetic grade lasers. The Sciton Erbium Yag has been featured in fashion and beauty magazines such as Elle and Vogue and has been seen on television shows like “The Doctor OZ” show, “The Doctors” and “Rachel Ray”. It was ranked the top laser technology in the peer reviewed “Medical Spa MD Survey: Physicians Report”, and its Sciton BBL – or Broad Band Light – skin rejuvenation treatment was the subject of a recent study by Stanford University. The study, published in August 2012, found evidence that Sciton’s forever young BBL treatments (available at the Cosmetic & Laser Medispa at Center For Sight) promote youthful skin on a molecular level, making it possible to actually reverse the effects of skin damage, due to acne, sun spots, freckles and vascular conditions, not just mask it. Dr. Sanni also made the decision to buy the best tattoo removal laser – the Cynosure Rev Lite SI Laser. With the Rev Lite laser, you’re getting the most advanced technology to safely remove tattoos with maximum success and comfort. Light energy gently vibrates and shatters the tattoo ink into easily eliminated micro-particles. The Cynosure Rev Lite SI laser removes ink of every color up to 60% faster than other cosmetic-grade tattoo removal systems, but is more comfortable for patients.

Other treatments offered by Cosmetic & Laser Medispa’s Board Certified Physicians and staff include hair, scar and skin tag removal, nail fungus treatments, skin tightening, body contouring and facial resurfacing. The Medispa also provides DiamondTome microdermabrasion, upper and lower lid lifts, chemical peels, and continue to offer Botox and dermal fillers like Juvederm Ultra Plus XC. Our latest addition to the arsenal of age defying treatments is the TruSculpt by Cutera and Sclerotherapy . Trusculpt is a break through RF (radio frequency) technology that delivers deep heating of the subcutaneous tissue causing the demise of the top layer of fat cells promoting inch reduction to the treated area. The TruSculpt system is designed to provide a safe and comfortable application. The procedure is non-evasive so typically you can return to normal activities immediately. On average a patient will receive 2-4 treatments. Each treatment will be 4-8 weeks apart. Sclerotherapy is the method of eliminating superficial telangiectases (spider veins). A tiny needle is inserted into the unwanted vein and a small amount of the sclerosing agent is gently injected. The injection flushes out the blood temporarily and produces inflammation in the wall of the blood vessel. This interaction produces “sclerosis” or the formation or fibrosis tissue within the vessel, leading to its gradual disappearance. Most patients are impressed by the minimal discomfort and “downtime” associated with this outpatient procedure. The Cosmetic & Laser Medispa’s growth has doubled in numbers showing retention as well as a steady increase of new clients. As we move forward in 2015 we continue to grow by adding new services and treatments to help men and women achieve personal beauty goals through our practice. Our motto is “Beauty That Is Naturally You”. There is no better investment than in yourself. For more information, visit www.cosmeticandlasermedispa.com, like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ cosmeticandlasermedispa or call us at 315-523-4503

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facebook.com/medispaNNY.com 40 | NNY Business | March 2015

cosmeticandlasermedispa.com

H E ALT H Y WO M E N Dr. Jill Laureano-Surber on Health, career, family & how to ask for help

r. Jill Laureano-Surber, D.O, runs a brand-new family practice in Watertown’s Washington Summit. She is a dedicated mother of four children, all younger than 5. She and her husband, Anthony, have been married for seven years, tying the knot just a few short months before she started medical school. A north country native, Dr. Laureano-Surber completed medical school in Middelford, Maine. As a busy mother and doctor, she knows firsthand what it’s like to ask for help, and how trying to go it alone can bring on a quick burnout.

NNYB: Sometimes as women, we try to “do it all.” Why is this? What is it we don’t want to let go of? LAUREANO-SURBER: I think there is a lot of pressure for women to maintain the traditional role of the one that maintains the house and cares for the children. When I became a mother, I was in my third year of medical school, so I needed to find a way to make it all work. I have a nanny that cares for my children when

JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS

We can avoid overwhelm by taking better care of ourselves. Our bodies need exercise. Our minds need exercise. When we don’t eat well or exercise, we are more at risk for feeling overwhelmed. I am at work. I also have someone that comes and helps clean our house every couple of weeks. In between those times, my husband and I work as a team preparing meals for the children, doing laundry and keeping the house in order.

NNYB: The desire to take the reins on everything can spill into our professional life. We might not want to ask our clients for more money or negotiate a salary that is fair and equitable. How do you manage these kinds of challenges? LAUREANO-SURBER: I’ve had to overcome those fears when negotiating busi-

ness contracts, meeting with developers and contractors and other interactions with businesses at the practice. I think people look at me and think because I’m young, I must also be naïve. I work hard at overcoming that perception. I have a business and sales background that has helped me in opening the practice, but it certainly hasn’t been easy. Some people are not comfortable with a woman in the business world, so maneuvering through those relationship dynamics can be a challenge. I am, however, always up for a challenge.

NNYB: A woman could “outsource” tasks to her partner or children. But to maintain ownership of the domestic sphere, she often doesn’t, enabling her to dictate who does what and when. What have you let go of for someone else in your family to pick up? LAUREANO-SURBER: I am the best mother and partner when I am able to let things go that are not important. This

Please see 10 Questions, page 43 March 2015 | NNY Business

| 41

H EA LT H Y W OMEN

Start with you through mentorship Come together to create a ‘force that is really powerful’ By JOLEENE MOODY

W NNY Business

hen it comes to dealing with challenging situations, moving through rough relationships or even getting into better physical and mental shape, there’s no question that we can make it through with love and support from friends or family. But sometimes the push we need or encouragement we desire isn’t readily available. Friends get too busy. Family gets too involved. And without our super-weapon of reassurance, we may shut down or give up completely. That’s why more than 80 percent of professional women in the United States agree that having a mentor — an experienced or trusted advisor — is crucial for their spiritual, professional and mental well-being, according to a LinkedIn study. Also known as coaches or consultants, mentors come in all different forms, from business and spiritual to life and health. But how do you know if you really need one? How do you even find one? And when you do find one, how do you know she is right for you? Lecelle Providence is founder and CEO of I.M.P.A.C Performance Fitness Club, Gouverneur, a nonprofit organization that uses exercise and empowerment to help people work through challenging times. Not only is mentorship crucial, Ms. Lecelle said, but finding the right person to challenge us is key to our greatness. “I personally think anyone dealing with struggle should have a mentor,” Ms. Lecelle said. “It can only increase the quality of their life. A powerful mentor is a guide, someone who has a divine connection with you that can help you bring to life that dream that’s in your belly. We really want to find someone that can pull out the good qualities within us and show us what we’re made of. “ Which brings us to the seeking process. Where can we find a coach that fits our needs? Ms. Providence suggested

42 | NNY Business | March 2015

MELANIE KIMBLER-LAGO | NNY BUSINESS

Lecelle Providence, a mementorship and physical well-being coach, hugs one of her clients recently at her fitness club, Total I.M.P.A.C., 55 Main St., Gouverneur. A good mentor can help in times of stress.

starting with the most influential places we frequent, like churches, fitness clubs or networking groups, and simply asking colleagues and friends for recommendations. Susan McCauley, living coach and founder of Success Ignited, Syracuse, also suggests asking friends and family. Local events and the Internet can give us answers, too. “Many coaches attend or host workshops and conferences, like the annual WISE Symposium in Syracuse,” Ms. McCauley said. “If you meet a coach at an event, ask for a complimentary coaching session. The majority of coaches with a successful coaching business also have an online presence, so search on Google or LinkedIn.” She encouraged exploring to find the right mentor. Consider different options; sometimes it’s necessary to talk to a few different coaches. “Feeling comfortable and seeing how well you click is important before committing to hiring a coach,” Ms. McCauley said. Established mentors work with people

across the world, conducting sessions regularly over telephone or Skype. If you’re lucky enough to have a mentor in your own backyard, utilizing a space like I.M.P.A.C Performance is equally as powerful. “When we come together as women, we create a force that is really powerful,” Ms. Providence said. “We can brainstorm our desires and creativity and all the things that need to really come out. And then we start building. In this, we utilize our purpose of what we are born with. We are all born with purpose. And we’re never really living until we tap into it.” Sometimes the first step is the hardest step. Deciding to make changes to tackle demons takes courage. It requires vulnerability. The good news is we never have to go it alone. “It’s OK to be vulnerable,” Ms. Providence said. “Women need to take their life back. And it all begins you. A good mentor will always have your back, every time.” n Joleene Moody is a creative transitional coach, speaker and author who lives in Pulaski with her husband and daughter.

H E ALT H Y WO M E N 10 Questions, from page 41 gives me time for work, my children and my husband. In order to achieve this, I have to rely on my husband to do things I would normally do. The past six months he has started to cook for the family so I’m able to go to the gym four to five nights a week. It has made a tremendous difference in our life. Sometimes our partners need to take the initiative when we are not capable of asking for that help ourselves.

NNYB: Many women don’t someone at home to delegate, even if they wanted to. Where can they go to find someone that can guide them, such as a mentor or assistant? LAUREANO-SURBER: It is so important to immerse yourself in your community and develop meaningful friendships and support systems. Whether it is your faith community, work community or social community, it’s vital. That being said, you can always find someone that is willing to help in those communities. Try posting an ad for something like an assistant, nanny or housekeeper. It can go a long way in making your life run more smoothly.

NNYB: We are often resistant to seek help because we fear appearing incompetent or weak. How can we remind ourselves that asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness? LAUREANO-SURBER: Many women feel they have to please everyone around them, which can lead to trouble if we don’t keep this in check. Putting ourselves last doesn’t make us a better partner, mother or friend. The more we neglect ourselves, the more we end up with anxiety or depression. I see this in my

female patients every day. We need to put ourselves first sometimes. I remind women that they would never teach their own daughters to put their needs last and not value their self worth, so why is it acceptable that we do this to ourselves?

NNYB: Our health can take a hit when we become overwhelmed. Often, we don’t even know what’s happening to our bodies. What are the signs we should be aware of when we start to overload?

LAUREANO-SURBER: For starters, we can avoid overwhelm by taking better care of ourselves. Our bodies need exercise. Our minds need exercise. When we don’t eat well or exercise, we are more at risk for feeling overwhelmed. Signs of overwhelm include: chronic pain, headaches, insomnia, anxiety, depression, short temper, panic attacks, heart palpitations, fatigue, dry skin, weight gain and even unintentional weight loss.

NNYB: What would happen if we gave ourselves permission — for say a week — to do things differently? Would this help shift our perception a bit? LAUREANO-SURBER: I think everyone would be shocked at how much more at ease they would feel. It frees up so much more time to focus on the things that are truly important in life, like enjoying our children instead of herding them like cattle from one space to the next so we can vacuum, dust or clean a bathroom. You might actually be able to sit on the couch and have an adult conversation with your husband after putting the kids to bed. These are the things I am grateful for when I have help with my household tasks. NNYB: Do you have a quote you refer to

when you feel overwhelmed? LAUREANO-SURBER: I am not a quote kind of gal but I find that I often use humor as a way to cope when I am feeling overwhelmed. If you ask my staff at the office, I am sure they will tell stories about me doing impressions or dancing around on some of our most stressful days. Whatever works.

NNYB: How do you know when enough is enough? LAUREANO-SURBER: When I get overwhelmed, I feel like I’m not doing anything well, and then everything around me suffers. I like to exercise on days like this so I can get my frustrations out at the gym. I’ve learned to be very protective of my time too, especially as a new physician in a new practice. I have people asking me to join groups, boards or take leadership roles. I consider each opportunity for at least a week before I make any decisions. I have a tendency to say yes because I want to help, but I’ve learned to step away and say no so I have more time with my family.

NNYB: Who or what inspires you the most and why? LAUREANO-SURBER: Other local business owners inspire me. I know how difficult it is to start a new business. I’m able to interact with other business owners and seek help and advice from them. I am truly grateful for that camaraderie and guidance. I have also been blessed in my life with some very kind people that have offered their generosity during some very challenging times. I hope to be able to do the same for someone else someday as my success begins to pay off. — Interview by Joleene Moody. Edited for length and clarity to fit this space.

March 2015 | NNY Business

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H E ALT H Y W OMEN

The brilliance of a second act

By JOLEENE MOODY

W NNY Business

hen Kae Young was 52 years old, she did something most women her age wouldn’t dream of: she left her comfortable television career of 26 years to embark on a brand-new journey. It was a journey that would take her across the world. She would encounter brave soldiers, fellow co-workers and well-known celebrities. Pop culture calls this kind of late-life shift “the second act.” Kae Young calls it curiosity. “When you cross over certain milestones, you wonder ‘What’s next? Is this it? Have I reached where I’m supposed to be for the rest of my career? Am I okay with that?’” she said. Ms. Young’s career in television news started in 1981 at Channel 5 in Syracuse as a general assignment reporter. After six years, she moved across town to Channel 9, where she switched gears from reporter to assignment editor. Here she spent just over a decade behind the desk, compiling story ideas and monitoring scanners and community calls for the station. Her career came full circle when she took the assignment editor position at WWNY, Channel 7 in Watertown. She settled well into the job and worked hard. After a steady eight years at Channel 7, she felt comfortable, confident in her role. The last thing she was thinking about was change. So when she was offered a position at Fort Drum as their media relations officer, it not only opened her eyes to the true valor of our American soldiers, but she also found to the ability to muster the courage she needed to step up and out of her comfort zone.

Kae Young jumped from a career in broadcast news and journalism to military public affairs after 26 years in media. Her secret to success: “I had to believe in me.” NORM JOHNSTON | NNY BUSINESS

“Making change is always a little scary,” Ms. Young said. “Not knowing how things are going to end up can be unsettling. In the 26 years I was in news, I knew what course of action I needed to take on any given day, and what kind of result I would get. Now I was about to step into something where I didn’t know what the outcome would be. What if I take this chance and end up fired and it was all for naught? But I realized if I wanted to do this, I had to believe in me.” After weighing the pros and cons of leaving her comfortable career to start a new one, Ms. Young chose to defy the odds and go for it. Any time the voice of fear would rear its ugly head and tell her to play it safe, she relied on the very thing we often take for granted: experience. “Even when we trade 26 years of doing one particular kind of job, the thing we never lose is how we did it,” Ms. Young said. “People value quality. If you bring

quality to the table, you really have a chance to succeed. And I think we have to constantly remind ourselves of that.” There is no right or wrong way to start over. There is no timeline or age requirement. Starting over can happen anytime, anywhere. If we encourage our children to take risks and go after what makes them happy, why not do the same for someone about to enter their second, or even third act? “For anyone in this space, I would remind them that life doesn’t end with our youth,” Ms. Young said. “In a way, it’s just beginning. We need to give the same encouragement we share with our younger folks to our contemporaries. Why do we have to stop trying something different just because we’re over 50? Anything new is exciting. That’s really how you have to look at it.” n Joleene Moody is a creative transitional coach, speaker and author who lives in Pulaski with her husband and daughter.

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H E ALT H Y WO M E N

Managing the distracted mother Women who work from home need to set limits to succeed By JOLEENE MOODY

D NNY Business

uring the past decade, the number of mothers working from home has significantly increased. Nearly 75 percent of the 10 million womenowned businesses in the U.S. are a onewoman production, run largely by women with children, according to data from the Center of Women’s Business Research. The primary intention of a home-based business is to allow mothers to better merge work and family, allowing for more time with children and spouses. These solo operations can be anything from multi-level marketing endeavors and consulting practices to web-based business and other virtual services. The pool of creative endeavors is endless. There is one underlying complication, however, that can keep a stay-at-home entrepreneur less productive and continually stressed: family-based distractions. Michelle Collins is a business advisor at the New York State Small Business Development Center at SUNY Canton. Many women she advises often face challenges of working with children underfoot. But that’s not their only struggle. Once you add in the pop-over neighbor or lunch buddy, you have a barrage of instances that can cripple your productivity. The fix? Set limitations. “Many don’t recognize when someone is working from home, they are actually working,” Ms. Collins said. “So you really need to work hard at telling people you’re not available. Same with family. They need to understand if they knock on the door, it has to be for a really good reason. Work to set boundaries to let people around you know it’s work time.” Once children hit school age, the pressure decreases. But for mothers working with toddlers at home, the challenge is significantly greater. Ms. Collins suggested child care, if only for a few hours a week. This is exactly how Janeigh Grady, an independent sales director for Mary Kay Cosmetics and mother of two, is able

Michelle Collins is a business advisor at the New York State Small Business Development Center at SUNY Canton. She teaches a Women’s Business Bootcamp twice a year to help working women of all types.

MELANIE KIMBLERLAGO | NNY BUSINESS

to run a successful business from home. “I have a home office, but I work outside the home, too,” Mrs. Grady said. “Sometimes my children are with me if

I’m delivering products or doing a kidfriendly event. But for three days during

Please see Distracted, page 47

March 2015 | NNY Business

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H E ALT H Y W OMEN

Women as primary breadwinners

By JOLEENE MOODY

NNY Business

aylor Grinstead isn’t like most modern women. Yes, she is a working woman. She is also a mother, soldier, caregiver and wife. But she differs from the majority of working mothers because she is the primary breadwinner. And right now, she wouldn’t have it any other way. “This fits our family,” Mrs. Grinstead said. “This is what works. And it’s made my relationship with my husband stronger.” According to a 2013 poll from the Pew Research Center, women as primary breadwinners are on the rise. Four in 10 American households with children include a mother who is the sole or primary earner. Mrs. Grinstead and her husband, Wesley, are part of this growing growing. But numbers and polls don’t take away the sting she feels when she leaves her son behind every morning. “I think it’s difficult because of the stigma that says we should be there for the child all the time,” she said. “That’s been hard because I have to leave my son during the day and don’t get to experience lots of things with him.” But Mr. Grinstead does, and that’s a bonus in the Grinstead book. Right now, Mr. Grinstead is in school, majoring in business with a finance concentration. He works hard, taking as many as 21 credit hours each term. The option to have Mr. Grinstead continue to work while in school was discussed, but after reviewing their budget, it didn’t make sense. “It didn’t add up,” Mrs. Grinstead said. “There was no reason for Wes to keep working to offset daycare costs, when it

JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS

Taylor Grinstead is an active duty Army soldier while her husband, Wes, stays home with their 1-year-old son, Wyatt.

was more cost effective for him to stay home with Wyatt. The bonus was he could raise our son instead of someone else.” The stigma of being a stay-at-home dad doesn’t disturb Mr. Grinstead. He believes it’s an antiquated state of mind that is finally shifting. “It doesn’t affect me at all,” Mr. Grinstead said. “It’s not even as taboo as it once was. Many companies have started offering paid paternal leave to help care for the baby so fathers can get involved. Typically, social movement in the country

has always had a history of being gradual, so this issue is no exception.” Mr. Grinstead contributes in several ways. He cleans the house, makes meals and contributes financially with a service disability from his time in the Marine Corps. The largest portion of their earnings comes from Mrs. Grinstead. But who contributes what isn’t a point of contention. It can’t be. It has to be about respect and teamwork. “It’s our money,” Mrs. Grinstead said. “He does the budget and makes sure all our bills are paid. That takes so much pressure off of me. Finances can be a huge issue in any marriage. It’s good to know we have this piece figured out.” This dynamic won’t last forever. Soon Mr. Grinstead will graduate and move into the world of finance, and Mrs. Grinstead will complete her obligation with the Army and step into real estate. But no matter how things turn out, who ends up being the primary breadwinner next isn’t a concern. “I’m willing to work every day to keep a roof over our head,” Mrs. Grinstead said. “Wes is willing to stay at home and make sure our house is in order and our son is taken care of. I don’t want anyone to think one job is more important than the other because it doesn’t work that way. We’re a team.” Mr. Grinstead agrees wholeheartedly. And his advice to any fathers concerned about the stigma? “Get your apron on and get in that kitchen, dad. You’ve got work to do. The giggles and laughs make it all worth it.”

n Joleene Moody is a creative transitional coach, speaker and author who lives in Pulaski with her husband and daughter.

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H E ALT H Y W O M E N distracted, from page 45 the week, they are in child care.” Mrs. Grady’s children are 2 and 4 years old. To complete her scheduled daily tasks, she gets creative. “Distractions happen. But if you prepare a craft, a snack or a movie, you can buy yourself precious time in order to get income-producing activities done,” she said. And what about that pile of dishes or that mountain of laundry staring you in

Build your success tool kit n We asked interviewees what cell phone apps or websites they use most throughout their days. From stress management to meal support, here is a top five success tool kit: Top 5 Apps n To track food intake: “My Fitness Pal” n For daily meditations: “Deepak Chopra Daily” n To track mileage: “TripLog” or “MileIQ” n To manage receipts: “SnapShot”

n To track daily steps for exercise: “Runtastic Pedometer” Top 5 Websites n For inspiration: tonyrobbins.com n For holistic healing: youngliving.com n For the busy entrepreneur: themompreneur.com n Tips for business owners: sba.gov n For healthy meals: cleaneatingmag.com — Compiled by Joleene Moody

In the end, it comes down to self-discipline. If you’re new to working from home, be patient with settling into a schedule. the face? Having a dedicated space can keep laundry and dirty floors out of sight and out of mind. “Having a work space can keep us in the realm of our business,” Ms. Collins said. “It can be hard to bring your laptop out to the dining room and still concentrate on business when all you can see is the laundry in the corner or dinner on the stove.” In the end, it comes down to self-discipline. Here at three more productivity tips from the Canton SBDC: Set a schedule While it doesn’t need to be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., setting regular work hours can make working from home more productive. It also allows you to separate your work hours from your homemaker hours. GIVE YOURSELF TIME TO ADJUST If you’re new to working from home, be patient with settling into a schedule. Shifting from an outside office to an inside office requires permission and patience. NETWORK Getting out and meeting new people enables you to make connections and find clientele. It also gives you much needed time with other women in the same situation as you. The SBDC offers Women’s’ Business Bootcamps twice a year. Visit canton.edu/ SBDC/ for upcoming events. n Joleene Moody is a creative transitional coach, speaker and author who lives in Pulaski with her husband and daughter.

March 2015 | NNY Business

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H EA LT H Y W OMEN

When ‘all about you’ is healthy

By JOLEENE MOODY

NNY Business

or years we’ve heard experts tell us the importance of self-care. They even tell us how. Exercise. Mediate. Do yoga. Eat right. Mediate again. But we don’t listen. Or if we do listen, we don’t think “me” time is as important as attempting to do 27 other things simultaneously. The truth is “me” time is more crucial than we realize. So crucial that if we don’t start looking at our own value and self-worth and slowing down to honor our own mind and body, we could hit rock bottom fast and hard. And when that happens, recovery can take more from us than thought to allow ourselves before we crashed. Laurie LaGorga, owner of Harmony Day Spa, Watertown, has relaxation and “me” time down to a science. From the colors of the walls to the meditative music that greets you in each service room, Mrs. LaGorga has every corner of the “me” mind/body experience covered. “I want everyone to see green when they first come into the spa because it’s a very calming color,” Miss LaGorga said. “It lowers the blood pressure a bit. Next, they smell the aromatherapy and hear the music. And that’s just the beginning. I want these women to forget the outside world actually exists for a little while.” Mrs. LaGorga sees first-hand just how many women are afraid to let go of the chaos that dominates their days, even when they’re getting ready to do the very thing that should relax them.

AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS

Laurie LaGorga gives a pedicure at Harmony Day Spa, Watertown. Working women need to take regular time outs for themselves to stay healthy.

“They can’t fully appreciate “me” time with a phone in their hand while getting a facial or pedicure,” she said. “They’re still trying to go in 50 thousand different directions. So I started to do small things, like offer them a cup of tea or gently suggest they put their cell phone on mute.” Not surprisingly, despite her best intentions, she’s often met with resistance. “Sometimes we don’t know how to let go. This is why we put ourselves last,” Miss LaGorga said. “But if we don’t take care of ourselves, those around us suffer

the most. We tell ourselves we will take care of ourselves later. But later never comes. We are mothers and wives and sisters and caretakers and workers. We try to do too much. We have to start selfcare now.” Lecelle Providence, owner and mentor at I.M.P.A.C Performance Fitness Club, Gouverneur, couldn’t agree more. “Taking care of yourself will make a difference in you having a longer life so you can be there for your family. You’ll have a better quality of life. And then all the things you want, guess what? They start showing up before you because you chose to put yourself first,” Ms. Providence said. Spa services don’t have to be the only way to accomplish “me” time. Take a walk in the park. Find a yoga class. And if traditional mediation isn’t your thing, realize meditation comes in many forms. It can be a run with a friend. It can be reading a book with a cup of tea in hand. “I teach people how to breathe to relax so they can take that with them, Mrs. LaGorga said. “Just close your eyes and take a deep breath through the nose and out through the mouth. Do that 10 times. It literally takes seconds to do. And it very quickly brings you back into focus so you’re not agitated or anxious anymore.” Start with you. Right now. Right here. Put the phone down. Open the space up for “me” time. Take a day for you. Breathe into life. It’s your time. n Joleene Moody is a creative transitional coach, speaker and author who lives in Pulaski with her husband and daughter.

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March 2015 | NNY Business

| 49

EC ON OMI CALLY S PEAKIN G

Commit to new ideas to prosper

n today’s world we hear and see the words economic development used in so many ways that it creates a plethora of different expectations. As communities, we are all trying to improve our financial outlook in order that we may, hopefully, pay less in taxes. We want new industry, retail businesses and eateries with the hopes that these businesses will create jobs and economic growth. The age-old question is, “How do we make this happen?” The best answer I have to this question is hard work. It requires the involvement of all parties, such as local and state government, our business community, economic developers, educational institutions and the residents of our communities to forge ahead and spot opportunities for growth and expansion. None of us has a crystal ball to predict the future, but one thing for sure is that we cannot give up. It is now time for creative thinking. We must be willing to accept new approaches to reshape our economic future. In the past, we have traditionally focused on industrial recruitment. Why not make a more concerted effort to promote tourism and recreation? We have so many natural resources at our disposal that we tend to take for granted. Just look at the number of rivers that dissect our region. We have businesses and organizations that focus on whitewater rafting and kayaking. Are there opportunities to build on these initiatives? Absolutely, there are opportunities to look deeper into these areas. We

can establish focus groups to discuss what spin-off opportunities are available. We have seen the positive benefits of professional fishing in our region. These Tom Sullivan serve as examples of positive non-industrial growth that have helped to bolster our region’s economy. We are not alone in trying to reinvent ourselves. There are many examples across New York State and the region were communities are rebuilding themselves and recasting their image anew. One such example is the city of Hudson. Located south of Albany, this was a community that struggled and is now a vibrant eclectic city. One might ask, “How did they do it?” Well, it started with entrepreneurs who were willing to take a chance. A small boutique hotel was rehabbed, an antique store opened, artist moved their studio. It began the wave of redevelopment and reinvestment in community. Now there’s a stretch of eateries and specialty stores and studios that runs at least a mile and a half. Communities like Massena and Canton have recently completed reconstruction of their downtowns using New York Main Street grant monies. What a great way to

get the ball rolling. These are all the small steps needed to make bigger strides. Let me point out, however, that we always want to be ready, willing and able to accept Industrial jobs, as that has been such a rich part of our heritage here in the north country, and especially in Massena and north St. Lawrence County. Many years ago, I attended a seminar conducted by Dr. Lawrence Helms titled “Tough Times Don’t Last, Tough People Do!” Well, this is the philosophy we need to adopt moving forward. Economic development is really centered on building relationships and networking. Business owners and their employees are constantly engaging in relationship building and every individual can participate in economic development. As we go about our daily activities, we are in all likelihood presented with opportunities that we may not recognize due to our busy schedules. Let’s all commit to being a bit more open to ideas, no matter how feasible we may perceive them to be. Do not be reluctant to speak out and communicate your ideas to the professionals who work in the economic development field. They can help facilitate those ideas and correlate potential projects with the people and places that may bring those ideas to fruition. Working together we can make progress and improve our communities. n THOMAS G. SULLIVAN is executive director for the Business Development Corporation for a Greater Massena. His column appears occasionally in NNY Business. Contact him at bdc@massenaworks.com or 769-8484.

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N O N P RO FIT S T O D AY

Build better communities together

“Everyone is special in their own way. We make each other strong. We’re not the same. We’re different in a good way. Together’s where we belong. We’re all in this together. And it shows when we stand hand in hand, make our dreams come true.” — Disney’s “High School Musical.” n 2010, I attended a nonprofit panel discussion. The reporter covering the event began her accounting of the gathering stating, “Organizations alike have various missions, but also the same problems: availability and affordability of services and programs.” In the same article, Watertown Family YMCA executive director Peter Schmitt said “the only way to solve the common problems is for agencies to put aside their differences and work together to come up with solutions, and create effective partnerships. We’ve got to quit being territorial. We can get more done if we work together. Drop the insecurities, let’s get it done” he said. Amen! In the years I’ve been fortunate enough to write this column, I have often written about the importance and value of nonprofit organizations holding hands. It is a concept that seems so simple, however, change almost never comes easily. On Feb. 9, four organizations came together to demonstrate that collaborations are not only smart, there are resources available to make sure they are successful. Many were cheering when the announcement was made that Meals on Wheels of Greater Watertown and the Watertown Urban Mission had the wisdom and courage to put those they serve first and their organizations second. They led by example, providing a model of shared services done right. Just as exciting, their two major funders, the

United Way of Northern New York and the Northern New York Community Foundation were standing together by their side to encourage, uplift and provide support. The truth is, Rande Richardson both the Community Foundation and the United Way have been looking for an opportunity to put action behind the words we’ve been using for years: think collaboration. Both organizations have also been waiting to do what they have been telling others to do: work together. Working together, the United Way and the Community Foundation are helping to provide the Urban Mission and Meals on Wheels with the added confidence and assurance that, if you put your mission in front of your identity, we’re interested. There are many organizations for whom merging or shared services many not make sense. However, there are others who have begun to open the door to considering the short- and long-term benefits. Certainly there are the obvious benefits of real cost savings, minimizing duplication, and shared back-office support, including finance, human resources, administration, marketing and fundraising. I get more excited about the synergy that comes from the proximity of programs. For instance, now the Urban Mission’s programs can work more closely in sync with the Meals on Wheels program, and vice versa. There will most certainly be opportunities for

those served by both organizations to benefit from the programs each offer. Another real winner here is our community’s charitable capital. Indeed, we are a very generous and giving community. However, that does not mean that we should not look for ways to make those dollars go further. Ultimately, we know that all charitable dollars are maximized when organizations work collaboratively. The use of public and private dollars will be more effectively leveraged. The United Way and Community Foundation have collectively invested more than $500,000 between the two merging organizations. Now, the Community Foundation’s grants are stronger and the United Way’s annual allocations extend their reach. It is an investment in an investment. Individual gifts to the Urban Mission, Meals on Wheels, United Way and the Community Foundation are enhanced. Can you see how this multiplier effect becomes exponentially stronger? Congratulations to the boards of all four organizations for recognizing an opportunity and seizing the moment to strategically improve our community. Thank you for affirming one of the most resonant truths of nonprofit service: organizations do not have needs, the people they serve have needs. If we all keep that in focus, the future looks bright for funders, donors, organizations, our community, and, for each one of us. Our community is what we make it. Let’s never miss another opportunity to prove “we’re all in this together” is more than just a jazzy Disney lyric. n Rande Richardson is executive director of the Northern New York Community Foundation. He is a lifelong Northern New York resident and former funeral director. Contact him at rande@nnycf.org. His column appears every other month in NNY Business.

March 2015 | NNY Business

| 51

commerce corner

Get involved and support Fort Drum

ave you ever stopped to think about what would happen if Fort Drum downsized and how it would affect our everyday life from where we work to where we live, and even the recreational aspects in our community. As a community we have been fortunate to have the development and expansion of Fort Drum, which has brought a range of diversity. Take a minute to think about how the post has impacted so many of us. It has given rise to new businesses, brought new people and families to our region and has given us a better understanding of the military and the issues that impact our country. It has also given us a first-hand perspective on how the men and women who serve are affected by deployments and relocations. It has brought diversity to our school districts and shown how teachers and students can have such a profound impact on one another. Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division have also put our community on the forefront of the nation’s mind while providing billions in direct economic impact. On March 20, there will be a listening session at SUNY Jefferson. The evening will begin with a public rally to show our support for a united Fort Drum and community. We are not separate and distinct, rather an extension of one another. Following the rally, which is open to the public, the community will have the chance to speak at the listening session and voice our commitment to keeping Fort Drum vibrant and relevant. The session will be led by Brig. Gen. Roger Cloutier Jr., who has promised to listen until the last person is heard. If you are not familiar with the government, you may very well not have a good

handle on what all this means. In 2013, the Army prepared a programmatic environmental assessment for its Army 2020 Force Structure Realignment. Its purpose was to analyze a Lynn Pietroski proposed action consisting of a reduction in active Army soldiers from 562,000 to 490,000. In April 2013, a “finding of no significant impact” was signed based on the assessment. However, further cuts are inevitable.

Planned, proven, positioned As the Department of Defense has transformed the Army, we have transformed the north country to be compatible with the needs and mission of our Army and our division. We can say with confidence that we have made the commitment to assume the risk and have made and will continue to make the necessary investments to continue the integration of our community with Fort Drum. Since 2005, New York State, our communities and developers have invested more than $1 billion to support and enhance Fort Drum’s growth. housing, health care, transportaton and education More than $1.06 billion in close to 4,000 new multi-rental housing units on and off post have been built. An additional $104.2 million in community water and sewer infrastructure investment has been made

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and $107.6 million in community transportation infrastructure, including $57 million to create Interstate 781, which provides direct access to Fort Drum’s main gate from I-81. Don’t forget another $20 million in public air transportation improvements, and roughly $100 million in health care upgrades. Although the numbers are remarkable, it’s the daily impact that we often take for granted. Eleven out of the 18 school districts have an estimated 6,500 military dependent students. These students also generate job creation, exceptional scholars, and superior athletes, with attributes that far exceed any individual expectations. Relationships, education, business exchange, job development have intangible value. The north country has not taken any of these things for granted, but it has an opportunity to have our voices heard with the undivided attention of Gen. Cloutier. I, along with many others who have been working to provide a forum for the rally and listening session strongly encourage your participation. For information on how to get involved, contact the Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization, 835-1531, or visit drum2025. com, and sign the petition that requests that the Army keeps the 10th Mountain Division and Fort Drum whole. Signing the petition will prove our community’s strong support for soldiers, families, and civilians and demonstrate to the Army and Department of Defense that we are a defense community that values being the home of the 10th Mountain Division and Fort Drum. Climb to glory!

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

agri - business

Maple Weekends on tap in March

arch is one of the sweetest times of the year as fragrant steam wafts out of the top of sugar houses across our state. Native Americans started a tradition long ago that continues today, capturing the sweet sap of certain trees and boiling the water off to make a delicious sap. Since many of you are already saying, “OK, time to visit a sugar house and get some syrup,” you should know that Maple Weekend is March 21 and 22 and March 28 and 29. This is the 20th year of the annual celebration. This harbinger of spring provides an excellent chance to learn about syrup production, taste all the great products made from syrup, and buy enough to bring home and last the rest of the year. The Maple Weekend website, www. nysmaple.com, makes it easy to find the closest sugar house. The website allows you to enter the distance you are willing to drive from your home and, once you hit enter, a list of sugar houses open to the public on Maple Weekend pops up. I entered 100 miles from zip code 13601 and 53 locations appeared. Three sites were in Jefferson County. For each business I then clicked on producer information and another page opened to reveal a map to the sugar house, all kinds of information about the products they produce, and any special activities they provide such as wagon rides or tree-tapping demonstrations. You have to love it when someone makes it simple to visit their business. There are more than three sugar houses in Jefferson County and more than 53 within 100 miles. Not all maple syrup producers

participate in Maple Weekend. You may know of a local producer who isn’t listed online. They may still let you visit the sugar house when they’re boiling sap, just contact them Jay Matteson ahead of time. I spoke with Michele Ledoux recently about our maple syrup industry. Michele is the executive director of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Lewis County. She is our “go-to” agency person on the maple industry in Northern New York. I asked Michele about whether the maple industry is growing locally. She indicated that it is. People are beginning to produce more than just syrup and the sugar candies most of us love. Michelle said we are seeing barbecue sauces, maple spices, flavored maple creams, and even maple dog biscuits. A new development is maple water. Just like coconut water seen in some supermarkets, there are efforts to make maple water from the sap of a maple tree. I’ve tried the sap directly from the tree and it is tasty. Michele indicated only about 2 percent of New York’s maple trees are tapped. That leaves a lot of untapped potential to grow maple syrup production. Barriers to growth seem to be education of homeowners that it’s OK to tap trees and it’s not as expensive to make syrup at home as one might expect. A homeowner may

potentially be able to talk with a sugar producer and have that person boil sap a homeowner collects. Michele told me another neat development is demand for lumber from tapped trees. Tapping the tree leaves a unique pattern in the wood, which when harvested and turned into furniture provides a unique pattern and beauty, as well as a great story to tell. And in case you think producing syrup is just a spring thing, the Zoar Tapatree Syrup Co. in Rodman is producing specialized brands of syrup. They harvested sap at Christmas time, again around New Year’s Eve and continue to collect different batches of sap from their trees right through late winter into spring. Each batch tends to have a different nuance to its taste, similar to what winemakers do with grapes, harvesting each grape at certain times to obtain a distinctive flavor on the palate. Check them out online at www.tapatree.com. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the awesome pancake breakfasts offered by various groups during Maple Weekend. Within 100 miles of Watertown there are 20 breakfasts. In the past I’ve visited the breakfast held at the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department. It is an awesome meal featuring maple syrup produced by the Burnham Family in Smithville. Hmm, how do I visit 20 pancake breakfasts in two weekends? n Jay M. Matteson is agricultural coordinator for the Jefferson County Local Development Corp. He is a lifelong Northern New York resident who lives in Lorraine. Contact him at coordinator@comefarmwithus.com. His column appears monthly in NNY Business.

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business tech bytes

Recognize the women around you

oday’s business world is very different from 50 or even 25 years ago. Advancing technology and evolving work and family roles of women have contributed to the modern business environment. The expanded role of the working woman has caused changes in many different aspects of life. According to a study by White & Rogers, “women constitute approximately 47 percent of the total labor force with most women remaining in the workforce for at least 30 years.” “Today’s typical American family is a dual-income family with women now employed in previously male-dominated fields such as information technology, law, professional sports, the military, law enforcement, firefighting and top-level corporate positions,” the study continued. “Working women today spend less time maintaining the household then they did 30 years ago, but still face some of the same struggles of equal pay, child and elder care benefits, job security, safe workplaces, affordable health care, contraceptive equity, protection from sexual harassment and violence at work.” It would be a great mistake to not recognize the strength and inspiration of the women around you each day. The impact of women’s history on your life might seem inconsequential to some, but in the long run the results have been remarkable, from greater achievement by girls in local schools to less violence against women, and more stable and cooperative communities. The remarkable women who work alongside you each day are part of our collective story and recognizing the dignity and achievements of these women instills greater self-esteem and respect among all

of us. Accomplishments of these women play a fundamental role in not only their own lives, but also in the lives of others. Though it may not be its original intent, Jill Van Hoesen the 11th Annual Business of Women Networking Conference has strong ties to the 2015 National Women’s History Month’s theme: “Weaving the Stories of Women’s Lives.” The networking conference struck to the heart of the theme with the achievements celebrated, challenges shared, and stereotypes upended. The power of hearing many stories of local women gave attendees inspiration to succeed through sacrifices and commitments that inspire today’s generations while opening doors to the future. This year’s conference theme “Working Together to Make a Difference” says it all. This annual conference is a logical extension of the New York State Small Business Development Center’s networking group. This group, co-founded in 2003 by Jennifer Huttemann-Kall and Sarah O’Connell, who are still part of the “Fabulous Lead Team” are responsible for this yearly event. Ms. Huttemann-Kall kicked off this year’s speaker series with the informational presentation titled “Why Partnering with a Nonprofit and Volunteering is Great for your Small Business.” She covered everything from marketing advantages to self-assessments of how you can help

nonprofits. Participants walked away understanding why their volunteerism will indeed help their businesses. “With today’s audience almost equally split between for-profits and nonprofits, marketing was one of the most requested topics,” Ms. Huttemann-Kall said. As I mingled among this year’s attendees I was interested in the technology that drives this mostly female self-employed business owner group. Overwhelmingly it was Facebook, with many echoing that businesses “must have a Facebook page.” Most were ready with their laptops for hands-on setup on their own business Facebook page during a session led by Greater WatertownNorth Country Chamber of Commerce marketing director Sara Carpenter. This year is the 35th anniversary of the Women’s History Movement and the National Women’s History Project. Not only during March, which is recognized as National Women’s History Month, but throughout 2015, stop and take a moment to recognize and acknowledge the many ways that women’s history has become woven into the fabric of not only our local story but our national story as well. n Jill Van Hoesen is chief information officer for Johnson Newspapers and a 25-year IT veteran. Contact her at jvanhoesen@wdt.net. Her column appears monthly in NNY Business.

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small business success

Cut clutter and prioritize for good

am definitely off the New Year’s resolution bandwagon. It’s the worst time of the year to try to take on a slew of new behaviors. We are just coming off an extensive holiday season, we’re exhausted, and the weather is doing its relentless winter thing. I’ve decided that my new resolution month is going to be March. Spring is coming, the sap is stirring, and I always have more energy as the days get longer. So let’s look at a couple of resolutions I’ve made this month for my personal and business life. First, I am de-cluttering my house. At home I’ve already dumped so much “stuff” by taking the “40 Bags in 40 Days” challenge, and my house looks bigger. I even rented a storage unit — temporarily — to move furniture out so I can repaint the walls and then decide what pieces I want to allow back in; the rest will go to a better place. In the office, I’m de-cluttering with the “5-5-5-A-Day” plan. Every day I’m going through five files and either putting them where they should be or getting rid of them; deleting or archiving five emails from my inbox and discarding five outdated Microsoft office files from Word or Excel. It’s making it much easier to find the important items, and I already feel more organized. What else can we do to make our business or work space more efficient? Next, I’m working on prioritizing. I have a wonderful, simple tool for this that Miyako Schanely, executive director of the SUNY North Country Consor-

tium, shared at the Business of Women networking conference in December. The tool consists of a simple square divided into four quadrants. Along the left side, Sarah O’Connell the bottom left quadrant is labeled “Not Important” and the one above it is “Important.” Across the top,

appropriate quadrant to act on it. For example, when we hear the “ding” of an incoming mail or text, most of us automatically put it in the “Important” and “Urgent” box and respond to it immediately. That tends to break our concentration and our day into less effective blocks of time. More often than not, that message is “Not Important” and “Not Urgent.” Unless we’re expecting a truly important message, we need to discipline ourselves to set aside a couple of times a day to check our email, and put our personal phones on vibrate. Finally, one of the most telling statements Miyako said was about the people — the relationships — in our lives. These, we would all agree, are “Very Important,” but because they are daily interactions, they may appear to be “Not Urgent” so we tend to relegate them to that quadrant, possibly to our eventual detriment. She urged us to take the time to evaluate how we are dealing with our loved ones — or our employees, or loyal customers — and make sure we are giving them the time and the attention they deserve now. A third resolution I made is about trying new things, but I’ll talk more about that next time. Hint: it deals with downhill skiing, so wish me luck.

Unless we’re expecting a truly important message, we need to discipline ourselves to set aside a couple of times a day to check our email, and put our personal phones on vibrate. the left quadrant is “Urgent” and the right quadrant is “Not Urgent.” Something in the “Important” and “Urgent” quadrant can be a crisis event, like a serious medical issue or a looming deadline for a tax payment. We need to plan ahead to keep things from landing there by taking proactive steps to get healthier or act early on important business obligations. Right now I’m enrolled in a yearlong nutrition and fitness program at the YMCA for diabetes prevention; I’m using it for high blood pressure control because that runs in my family. In terms of a business or office, when we look at a particular chore, event, email or interaction, we should put it in the

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.

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COMMUNITY / BUSINESS CALENDAR

Adams Saturday, April 11

n Arbor Day Celebration, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., South Jefferson High School, U.S. Route 11.Sponsored by the South Jefferson Chamber of Commerce. Children’s activities, crafters, Rick West’s birds of prey, Sci-Tech Center, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County, fire trucks and food for sale. Citizen of the Year ceremony at 11 a.m. Admission $1.

Saturday, April 25

n RecruitNY Open House, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Adams Center Volunteer Fire Department, 13401 North St. Includes food, station tours, crafts, demos. Free. Information: fire department, 583-5533.

Carthage Friday, April 10

n Bake sale, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Carthage Savings & Loan Association, 313 State Street #1. Benefits Woolworth United Methodist Church. Information: Carthage Savings & Loan, 1- (800) 232-0450.

Wednesday, April 15

n Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce April business after hours, 5 to 7 p.m., Carthage Area Hospital, 1001 West St. Sponsored by Carthage Area Hospital. Includes networking, food and prizes. Cost: pre-registered members $10; unregistered members, $12 at the door; non-members, $15. Information: Michelle Carpenter, 788-4400 or events@watertownny.com.

Clayton Wednesday, March 25

n Hashing over History, 10 a.m. to

56 | NNY Business | March 2015

noon, Thousand Islands Museum, 312 James St. Information: museum, 686-5794.

Monday, April 20 through Friday, April 24

n Thousand Islands Land Trust’s Common Tern Nesting Grid Installation with STR, 8:30 to 11 a.m. each day, Eagle Wings Shoals and Tidd Island. Volunteers will help install nesting boxes and gull exclusion grids on Eagle Wings Shoals and Tidd Island to protect the Common Tern, a threatened species. Bring work gloves. Lunch provided by Subway of Clayton. Register/information: TILT, 686-5345, volunteer@ tilandtrust.org or tilandtrust.org.

Saturday, April 25

n Thousand Islands Land Trust’s 3rd Annual “For the Trees” Arbor Day Celebration, 9:30 a.m. to noon, Zenda Farms Preserve, 38973 Zenda Farm Road. Volunteers will plant 30 new trees along LoisJean and John MacFarlane trail. Day includes workshops, hikes, exhibits and movie. Lunch for volunteers provided by Subway of Clayton. Register/information: TILT, 686-5345, volunteer@tilandtrust.org or tilandtrust.org.

Friday, May 1

n Antique Boat Museum opens for season, 750 Mary St. Information: museum, 686-4104.

Fort Drum Mondays in March

n Resume Start to Finish, 9 a.m. to noon, Fort Drum Army Community Services, Conway Road, building P-4330. Learn to develop a resume. Limited space. Free. Information: AmberLee Clement, 772-7987 or amberlee.n.clement.ctr@mail.mil.

Saturday, March 21

n One Night, One Diamond, 6:30 to 11:30 p.m., The Commons on Fort Drum. Includes dinner, dancing, live music by ATLAS and chance to win diamond. All proceeds to Samaritan Medical Center. Information: ONOD @shsny.com.

Tuesday, March 31

n Fort Drum Business Networking Group, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Fort Drum Army Community Services, Conway Road, building P-4330. Small businesses, government organizations and not-for-profits can network with other agencies and organizations. Includes free educational component. Information: AmberLee Clement, 772-7987 or amberlee.n.clement.ctr@mail.mil.

Lowville Saturday, March 21

n Carolyn Kelly Band concert, 7:30 p.m., Historical Society Blue Room, 7552 S. State St. Part of the 2015 Black River Valley Concert Series, to support the Lewis County Historical Society. Advance tickets available in Lowville at the Historical Society, 7552 S. State St., and Café Z, 7594 S. State St., and Dr. Guitar, 154 Court St., Watertown. Cost: $20; family, $45; in advance, $18. Information: historical society, 376-8957.

Saturday, April 11

n Todd Hobin concert, 7:30 p.m., Historical Society Blue Room, 7552 S. State St. Part of the 2015 Black River Valley Concert Series, to support the Lewis County Historical Society. Advance tickets available in Lowville at the Historical Society, 7552 S. State St., and Café Z, 7594 S. State St., and Dr. Guitar, 154 Court St., Watertown. Cost: $20; family, $45; in advance,

Ogdensburg Fridays, March 27 & April 24

n No Tap Bowling Tournament, 6:30 p.m., Ogdensburg Bowl, 1121 Patterson St. Event to benefit Frederic Remington Art Museum. A bowling team consists of five people. Must register by 6:15 p.m. Cost: $20 per bowler. Information/register: Ogdensburg Bowl, 393-9704 or museum, 393-2425.

Tuesday, March 31

n Nonprofit awards 2015, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., The Oncenter, 800 S. Salina St. Presented by M&T Bank. Recognizes individuals and organizations for excellence, leadership, fiduciary responsibilities, management practices, creativity and impact in the nonprofit world. Information: Joyl Clance, jclance@bizeventz.com or 579-3917.

Syracuse

n Rosamond Gifford Lecture Series presents Julia Alvarez, 7:30 p.m., Mulroy Civic Center Theaters, 421 Montgomery St. Poet, novelist, essayist and author presents lecture. Cost: $36.55 to $51.90. Information/tickets: foclsyracuse.com or 435-1832.

Saturday, March 21

Thursday, April 2

n MDA Muscle Walk, 10 a.m., Nicholas J. Pirro Convention Center, 800 S. State St. Money raised to aid MDA research and programs, including clinics, support groups and summer camp. Information: Amber Shaffer, 451-8269 or ashaffer@mdausa.org.

Sunday, March 22

n Syracuse half marathon, 8 a.m., The Oncenter. Starts and finishes at The Oncenter. Visit website for map and further details. Packet pick-up and late registration at 6 a.m.; race start at 8 a.m.; post-race party and food at 9:10 a.m.; awards ceremony at 10:20 a.m. Cost: $75; race weekend, $80. Donations to benefit Shamrock Animal Fund and Priscilla Mahar Animal Welfare Foundation. Information: syracusehalf@ gmail.com or syracusehalf.com.

Thursday, March 26

n Business After Hours and Member Showcase, 5 to 7 p.m., Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, 246 W. Willow St. A limited number of tabletop displays available for purchase by CenterState CEO Members. Attendees will visit each table for a chance to win two roundtrip Delta Air Lines tickets. Cost: CenterState CEO members, $15; non-members, $25. Information: Lisa Metot, 470-1870 or lmetot@centerstateceo.com.

Saturday, March 28

n CNY Baby Expo, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Shoppingtown Mall, 3649 Erie Blvd. E. Presented by Crouse Hospital, plans to feature over 100 vendors including daycares, doctors, retailers, artisans, photographers and service providers. Information: 256-0116 or info@ CNYBabyExpo.com.

n CenterState CEO Annual Meeting, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., The Oncenter, 800 S. State St. Registration at 11:30 a.m., program at noon. Cost: CenterState CEO members, $65; member table of 10, $625; non-members, $80; non-member table of 10, $775. Information: Lisa Metot, 470-1870 or lmetot@centerstateceo.com.

light dessert served Friday; food and drinks available Saturday. Cost: $5 donation, good for both days. Information: Credo Community Center Foundation, 788-1530.

Saturday, March 28

n Muse: A Multi-Arts Presentation, 5 p.m., North Country Arts Council, 52 Public Square. Live performance from 6 to 8 p.m. Includes hor d’oeuvres and cash bar. Cost: free; suggested donation, $5. Information: arts council, nnyart.org.

Thursdays, April 2 through May 14

n Small Business Development Center’s entrepreneurial training course, 6 to 9 p.m., Extended Learning Center, Jefferson Community College, 1220 Coffeen St. Offers instruction on business topics from area business professionals. Instructor: SBDC advisor. Cost: $195. Information/register: continuing education, 786-2438.

Thursday, April 9

n Registration for 1812 Challenge and Half Marathon open. Information/register: 1812challenge.com.

n Job and career expo 2015, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Bruce M. Wright Memorial Conference Center, 1291 Faichney Drive. Largest hiring event in the north country. Vendor cost: $130 per booth. Registration and payment due by Friday, March 27. Information: Michelle Carpenter, 788-4400 or events@ watertownny.com.

Saturday, March 21

Saturday, April 18

Watertown Ongoing

n Spring Craft and Vendor Show, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Bruce M. Wright Memorial Conference Center, 1291 Faichney Drive. Information: 755-2250 or jcall@guilfoyleems.com.

Tuesday, March 24

n North Country Procurement Technical Assistance Center Matchmaker 2015, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Bruce M. Wright Memorial Conference Center, 1291 Faichney Drive. Connects businesses with representatives from military, federal agencies and state and local governments. Open to all businesses. Cost: by March 17, $18; March 18 to March 23, $20. Information: northcountryptac.com or 788-4400.

Friday, March 27 & Saturday, March 28

n Fiftieth annual antique show & sale, 5 to 8 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dulles State Office Building, 317 Washington St. Complimentary

n Stepping Out with the Stars, 7 to 11 p.m., Savory Downtown, 300 Washington St. Local celebrities perform in ballroom dancing competition. Live and silent auction to follow. Proceeds to benefit Lucy’s House. Information: Lucy’s House, 755-2665 or lucys-house.com.

COMMUNITY / BUSINESS CALENDAR

$18. Information: historical society, 376-8957.

n Watertown Mom and Baby Expo, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Dulles State Office Building, 317 Washington St. Over 50 businesses, artisans and organizations featuring shopping, giveaways and activities for children. Free admission. Information: FIT4MOM, 921-3170, watertown@fit4mom.com or watertown.fit4mom.com.  GOT A BUSINESS EVENT or calendar item? Email nnybusiness@wdt.net. Deadline is the 10th of each month for the following month’s issue. Visit us on Facebook at www. facebook.com/NNYBusiness or www.nny bizmag.com for events calendar updates. March 2015 | NNY Business

| 57

business scene GWNC Chamber of Commerce 63rd Israel A. Shapiro Citizenship Award dunner

From left, Michael Nakonachny and mother, Mary Anne, Cleveland, Ohio.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Thomas H. Carman, president and CEO, Samaritan Medical Center, Watertown, and wife, Irene, 2014 Israel A. Shapiro Citizenship Award recipient. Hilton Garden Inn, Watertown, hosted the 63rd Israel A. Shapiro Citizenship Award presentation and dinner Feb. 12.

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From left, Jacqueline Derrigo, Watertown, and Lu Green, RBC Wealth Management, Watertown.

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business scene Clayton Taste of the Town at 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel

Tom Novobilski and wife, Cindy, 1000 Islands Cruet, Clayton.

From left, Barbara Leeson and Heidi Martin, River Rat Cheese, Clayton.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Amy Miles, Parish, Sue Isabbell, Parish, Kathy Rust, Gouverneur, Peggy Kerr, Williamstown, and Darlene Abrantes, Mexico. The 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel, Clayton, hosted the Clayton Taste of the Town Feb. 21, which benefitted the Clayton Rotary Club.

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From left, Tony Pisarski and Tom Neely, Clayton Rotary Club, and Jonathan Allen, Kingston Brewing Company, Kingston, Ont., and Clayton Rotary Club.

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business scene Clayton Taste of the Town

From left, Karen Rose and Kim Aubertine, Clayton Distillery.

GWNC Chamber BAH at Page Fitness

Jessica Page and husband, Chris, co-owners, Page Fitness Athletic Club, Watertown.

LORNA OPPEDISANO PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Connor Winter, Thousand Islands Inn, Clayton, Andrew Wehrle, Bella’s, Clayton, and Gabe Aubertine, Gabe’s Taco Kitchen, Clayton.

From left, David Little, wife Laura, both of J. J. Stocker Co., Watertown, and Terrence Smith, Rust Check, Watertown. Page Fitness Athletic Club hosted the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce February Business After Hours at its Watertown studio Feb. 25.

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business scene GWNC Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours at Page Fitness Athletic Club

Alexa Bennett, Northern Credit Union, Watertown, and Anthony Surber, Family Medicine of Northern New York, Watertown.

From left, Kim Peterson, Knowlton Technologies, Joel Rarick and Mike VanWormer, both of Hi-Lite Airfield Services, Adams Center.

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From left, Brian Serota, Carthage Area Hospital Foundation, Carthage, Mark Holberg, WayNorth Web, Watertown, and wife, Connie, Jefferson Community College, Watertown.

From left, Tammy Kitto and Christina Kelley, both of Community Action Planning Council of Jefferson County, Watertown.

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business history

A family tradition

Three generations led Ogdensburg’s Clickner Mattress Co. By Lorna Oppedisano

T NNY Business

he summer of 1994 saw Clickner Mattress Co. — one of Ogdenburg’s oldest family businesses — close its doors for the last time when thirdgeneration co-owners Deborah and Philip Clickner decided to shutter the 70-year-old furniture and appliance retail outlet in search of warmer climate. “We’re very tired of the cold winters here,” Mrs. Clickner told the Watertown Daily Times in March 1994. The business was started in 1924 by Mr. Clickner’s grandfather, Clifford D. Clickner, a Watertown native, and his wife, Marie, a graduate of Watertown Business School. According to a Times article publsihed in January 1966, the Clickners married on Nov. 12, 1923, and moved to Syracuse. After a year, the couple returned to the north country and established the Clickner Mattress Co. at 26 Lake St., Ogdensburg. Times archives note that Mr. Clickner was a member of the Acacia Lodge No. 705. The Clickners had one child, Clifford, who would eventually assume responsibility for the family business. Sgt. Clifford Clickner appeared in the press long before he took over the company. According to a Times article that appeared in July 1941, Sgt. Clickner became the youngest flyer in the country at age 16 when he completed a flying course at the Ogdensburg Airport. At the time, it was reported that

62 | NNY Business | March 2015

Watertown DAILY TIMES ARCHIVES

Above, a Watertown Daily Times ad published in 1954 for The Clickner Mattress Co. on Covington Street invites patrons to “come to the factory and see for yourself the fine workmanship and materials that go into your mattress.” The ad also notes the company’s “thirty years experience manufacturing mattresses for furniture stores.” Opposite page, a photo of the Ogdensburg storefront, ca. 1950s.

he planned to continue flying, but didn’t yet have any future plans. Four years later, in 1945, the Times reported that Sgt. Clickner, then a member of the U.S. Army’s 20th Air Force, had recently returned from a mission in Japan. Legend had it that the city of Omari, Japan, would be burned once during each generation. The Times reported that “Sgt. Clickner was certain today that his outfit aided in making the Nipponese legend an actuality, during the present generation at least.” Sgt. Clickner had returned to the states for special training as a squadron leader, and was headed to the west coast for further assignment, the article reported. Later that year, in September, the newspaper announced the marriage of Sgt. Clickner to Constance Paquin, a stenographer in the Cleveland Container Co. employment office. Although the two were married in California, their wedding announcement noted that they planned to make their home back east and a few years after their nuptials, they returned to the East Coast. In 1948, Sgt. Clickner bought the family business from his father and Clickner Mattress Co. was passed on to the second generation. In February 1965, a fire destroyed the Clickner’s Mattress warehouse and upholstery shop at 26-28 Lake St. According to a Times article, firemen were able to save the main building, but after five hours of fighting the blaze, the warehouse was lost. Smoke from the fire was

business history

Immaculate Heart Central Schools courtesy ogdensburg city historian

“visible for miles,” beckoning hundreds of spectators. Despite the loss, the family firm continued to thrive. While Sgt. Clickner managed the business, his parents continued to work in the store until their deaths — Mr. Clickner in 1966, and Mrs. Clickner in 1970 after a brief illness. Mr. Clickner also operated an upholstery business at 1022 Ford St. The third generation was brought into the fold in 1972, when Philip and Deborah Clickner began to work at Clickner’s Mattress. According to the 1994 Times article, the couple was also actively involved in their community. When the city and post office could not agree to terms of purchase of the former Post Office on State Street, Mr. Clickner bought and renovated the building, with the intention of marketing it for small business and office use. Mrs. Clickner served as co-director of the newly formed Homeowners Association of Landlords and Tenants, a group created to serve as a watchdog over the city’s new rental inspection law. The Clickners were also advocates for downtown and waterfront revitalization. The article states that although the harsh weather made the business “even slower than usual,” Mrs. Clickner did not view the closure of the family business to be a sign of defeat. “I don’t look at it as giving up on anything,” she told the Times. “I think we have done well.” Richard G. Lockwood, mayor of Ogdensburg at the time, was quoted as saying that Clickner Mattress had “been a tradition. It’s one of the old, familyowned businesses,” he said. n LORNA OPPEDISANO is staff writer and editorial assistant for NNY Magazines. Contact her at loppedisano@wdt.net or (315) 6612381. Business history is a monthly feature from the archives of the Watertown Daily Times. Visit www.watertowndailytimes.com to access digital archives since 1988, or stop by the Times, 260 Washington St., Watertown, to research materials in our library that date back to the 1800s.

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March 2015 | NNY Business

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W HAT â&#x20AC;&#x2122; S happening here ?

RBC Wealth Management What: Professional office building LOCATION: 19742 U.S. Route 11, Watertown OWNER: KDM Alliance

JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS

Size: 5,200-square-feet Cost: $1.15 million Builder: Purcell Construction Corp., Watertown Completion: August Local Jobs: Several dozen construction jobs. The RBC Wealth Management Watertown office employs six financial advisors, a senior investment associate and five senior support staff. Features: A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Aug. 28 with RBC CEO John Taft slated to attend.

N E X T MON T H

n our April issue, our annual salute to family businesses, writer Norah Machia talks with three businesses that are in various stages of succession from one generation to the next.

Also coming next month: n A FAMILY FUEL AFFAIR: Family owed and run since 1982, Philly Fuels operates a convenience store, a fuel company and excavating services with several family members involved.

n SMALL BIZ STARTUP: A feature story about a recently opened north country small business in Jefferson County. n 20 QUESTIONS: An in-depth interview with Rick Caskinette, owner of Caskinetteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lofink Ford in Carthage. n PLUS: NNY Snapshot, Economically Speaking, Commerce Corner, Business Law, Business Tech Bytes, Small Business Success, Real Estate, Agri-Business, Business History and Business Scene. n VISIT US ONLINE at www.nnybizmag.com. Follow us on Twitter for daily updates at @NNYBusinessMag, like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nnybusiness, and view eEditions at www.issuu.com/NNYBusiness. 64 | NNY Business | March 2015

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March 2015 | NNY Business

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March 2015 | NNY Business

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BusIness

www.nnybizmag.com

260 Washington St. Watertown, NY 13601

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED