Oswego County Business, #183: December 2022 - January 2023

December 2022 / January 2023

www.cnybusinessmag.com

$4.50

CNY’s Busines Magazin s e

A NEW GENERATION IN CHARGE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

IN OSWEGO COUNTY

P.56

Weight Loss Surgery It’s about more than just weight loss.

It’s about reducing your risk for serious conditions like heart disease and diabetes — and regaining the stamina, mobility and confidence to take on every day.

Crouse’s bariatric surgery program offers a dedicated team of physicians and providers, as well as psychological and nutritional counseling — all with the expertise to support you every step of the way.

Begin the process from home by viewing our online informational video. Then consult with our bariatric team via telemedicine visits to start your journey.

It’s time — and now easier than ever.

Start today at crouse.org/weightloss or call 315-470-8974.

Quality You Can Rely On HANDCRAFTED | FAMILY-OWNED

In 1993, North Country Storage Barns started as a family-owned and operated shed business. Today, we have three locations in New York State and service dealers across the Saint Lawrence River in Canada.

If you visit, you’ll be able to take a stroll outdoors to look through our many sheds, vehicle storage units, gazebos, playsets, outdoor furniture, birdhouses & feeders, lawn ornaments, and more! Our Philadelphia location is also home to a cabin display model you will enjoy touring through at your own pace.

I​ nside all three of our locations, you can browse through and order from any of our many catalogs if you don’t see just the perfect item in the showroom. And feel free to sit down with a friendly salesperson who’s ready to guide you through designing your next custom-made structure!

OUR THREE LOCATIONS

32660 US Rte. 11 Philedelphia, NY 315-642-0209

317 Oriskany Blvd Yorkville, NY 315-793-0726

5780 US Rte. 11 Pulaski, NY 315-387-2092

ncsbarns.com ∙ facebook.com/ifyouneedmeillbeinmyshed North Country Storage Barns is Premier source for North Country Lifestyle & Living.

OVER 70 HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS IN ONE NETWORK!

SAY HELLO TO HEALTHY! Say hello to a more convenient way to stay healthy in Oswego County. ConnextCare offers a comprehensive set of services; family and internal medicine, pediatrics, dentistry, psychiatry, and social work under one medical group. Patients within our network can visit any of our seven locations at any time.

ConnextCare also offers medical and mental health services at eight school-based health centers in five Oswego County school districts.

Building a Better Nursing Home...

With expertise and love, Pontiac commits to serving the community with the finest medical services.

We are a family of licensed professionals, including nursing personnel and therapists who provide round-the-clock specialized care, including rehabilitation and advanced health care. A pleasant, vibrant, and home-like setting, along with patient- and family-centered health care, await those who seek our services.

Now with a NEW central heating-and-cooling air system!

Call 315-343-1800 for a special tour of our facilities!

303 E. River Rd., Oswego, NY 13126

315-343-1800

www.pontiaccare.com

CONTENTS

DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

ISSUE 183

56

AUSTIN WHEELOCK NOW IN CHARGE NOperation Oswego County’s new executive director is now in charge of economic development in Oswego County.

Features

77

48

86

Chena Tucker is now at the helm of Shineman Foundation • Staffing shortages plague development teams at nonprofits.

Real estate in Central New York cools off • The Micron effect: New industry expected to spur real estate boom in Onondaga, Oswego counties.

Crouse-Upstate: pending merger viewed as a boon • Work environment: toxic workplace harms workers’ health • Is presenteeism dead?

NONPROFT

6

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

REAL ESTATE

DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

HEALTHCARE

More Contents 45

Capitalizing on the Snow

52

Economic Trends

54

Success Planning

68

Tim’s Notes

71

Labor Shortage

80

My Turn

82

Bottle It

88

Time to Quit Your Job?

The Tug Hill communities build their winter economies around outdoor activities County of Oswego IDA releases annual report

By L. Michael Treadwell

Success Story: Brandon Lagoe and his wife Deanna own and operate La Parrilla and two other restaurants.

P. 93

Finding a successor: promoting from within Local comic book author draws on passion, community

By Tim Nekritz

Check o product p ur lace page, fea ment great offe turing rs advertise from our rs. P. 11-1 3

Shortage of workers hurting police departments in CNY Ethical behavior in politics, business

By Bruce Frassinelli Area businesses can help you go from idea to a jar Eleven signs you’ve had it already

Departments 10 19

Publisher’s Note On the Job

22

How I Got Started

24

What is your New Year’s resolution?

Jennell Thurn, owner of Treasure Lilly Boutique

Profile

Sharon Lynett, new publisher of The Palladium-Times

26

Where is Sandra Scott?

28 34 40

Newsmakers Business Updates Dining Out

62

Q&A

93

Success Story

Tinian Island

The Waterfront Tavern, making a splash at the waterfront Mike Treadwell

is Tucker Chena rge of the cha in now in Foundation n a m e Shin o. P. 75 Osweg

Brandon Lagoe

DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

7

ADVERTISING INDEX Advanced Dental Arts (Dr. Fruce)...............................91 Affordable Business Solutions......49 Allanson-Glanville-Tappan Funeral Home.........................49 ALPS Professional Services.........31 Associated Dental Arts (Dr. Kearns)............................85 BarclayDamon..............................61 Bond, Schoeneck & King, Attorneys at Law.......................8 Brookfield Renewable Power.......87 Buckingham Brothers...................33 Builder’s FirstSource....................29 Burke’s Home Center...................33 C & S Companies.........................55 Canale’s Insurance & Accounting .......................31, 33 Canalview Travel..........................16 Caster’s Sawmill Inc.....................29 Cayuga Community College.........99 Century 21 - Galloway Realty.......31 CNY Community Foundation........63 Compass Credit Union.................25 ConnextCare..................................4 Crouse Hospital..............................2 DM Shafer....................................79

E J USA..........................................9 Elemental Management Group ....47 Excellus — BlueCross .....................

BlueShield.............................100 Farnham Family Services.............91 Financial Partners of Upstate (David Mirabito).......................67 Fitzgibbons Agency......................61 Foster Funeral Home....................92 Freedom Real Estate....................23 Fulton Savings Bank.....................46 Fulton Taxi....................................17 Fulton Tool Co..............................79 Gartner Equipment.......................35 Geneva On the Lake ...................15 Gosch Supply...............................23 Green Planet Grocery...................10 H. Lee White Maritime .....................

Museum..................................16 Harbor Hotel.................................16 Hearth Cabinets............................31 Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY..................85 Howard’s Hoses...........................79 J P Jewelers.................................14 Johnston Gas...............................29 JTS Remodeling...........................63

Kathy’s Cake & Specialty Treats......................14 La Parrilla.....................................43 Lamb’s Handyman Service...........33 Laser Transit.................................23 Local 43 (NECA EBEW)...............63 LW Emporium Co-Op...................16 MACNY.........................................35 Menter Ambulance.......................85 Mimi’s Drive Inn............................43 Mitchell Speedway Printing..........29 Murdoch’s Bike.............................14 North Country Storage Barns.........3 Novelis..........................................21 OD Greene Lumber......................33 Operation Oswego County...........70 Oswego County Federal Credit Union............................51 Oswego County Mutual ...................

Insurance................................25 Oswego County Opportunities (OCO).....................................18 Oswego Music Hall.......................17 Pettis Pool & Patio........................15 Picture Connection.......................14 Plumley Engineering.....................55 Pontiac Care and

Rehabilitation Center .....................5 Port of Oswego Authority..............55 RiverHouse Restaurant................43 Riverside Artisans.........................14 Salvatore Lanza Law Office..........49 SBDC – Small Business Development Center...............46 Scriba Electric...............................31 Sweet-Woods Memorial...............31 TDO..............................................87 The Rooftop Restaurant ..............15 The Tech Garden / CenterState CEO....................67 Tri County Heating Solution..........10 Trimble Services...........................31 United Wire Technology...............66 Valti Graphics...............................29 Vashaw’s Collision........................51 Watertown Industrial Center of Local Development.................66 WD Malone...................................29 Whelan & Curry Construction.......67 White’s Lumber & Building Supply.......................33 WRVO..........................................98

Bond understands the unique needs and opportunities of Oswego County businesses and we are committed to a thriving future for our clients and the communities in which we live.

Want to learn more? Visit bsk.com or contact Rick Weber at rweber@bsk.com or Sunny Tice at stice@bsk.com.

One Lincoln Center, Syracuse, NY 13202 • 315.218.8000 • BSK.COM 8

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

Our core strength is our people.

Innovative. Growing. Global.

Join our team at our new fabrication facility in Phoenix, NY. Featuring competitive wages and other great benefits.

Apply at ejco.com/careers or call 315 699 2601

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

I

was about to launch Oswego County Business Magazine in 1992 when I first met L. Michael Treadwell, Operation Oswego County’s executive director.

At the time I worked as a reporter for The Post-Standard. I had written a business plan to launch a new publication in Oswego County and I was checking with many of the movers and shakers in the area to gauge their opinion — people like Fulton Mayor Muriel Allerton, business adviser Doug Ververs, county official Sandy Resnick, Ed Vayner, the owner of ad agency Ed Vayner and Associates in Fulton, and directors of various local chambers of commerce, among other people.

Then came a meeting with Treadwell at his old, cramped office at East Schuyler Street in Oswego.

I explained what I had in mind — a business magazine focusing on the economy — and presented my 10-page plan analyzing the local media market and how a business magazine could be successful in a small market like Oswego County.

That meeting sealed the deal.

Treadwell got excited with my

plan and understood how a business magazine could be beneficial to local economic development. On the spot, he committed to advertising in the publication and to writing a column for it.

That was the single most important support I received at that crucial point. It helped make Oswego County Business Magazine a reality. Thirty years later, we’re still going strong.

Treadwell is now leaving his position as executive director — nearly 40 years after he took the job.

He has helped countless businesspeople get started or expand their businesses. Under his watch, the region was able to retain some key companies (the former Sealright Company, which was replaced by Huhtamaki, comes to mind) and attract new ones (E J USA, for example).

He, aided by his team at Operation Oswego County, has provided professional assistance to small and large businesses. His mark in the economic progress of Oswego County and Central New York is significant.

“Mike’s dedication to the business community of Oswego County has

opened countless doors for businesses that otherwise would not have had the opportunity to thrive and flourish,” says Bill Carhart, CEO of Oswego County Federal Credit Union. “He has left a lifetime of impact on the Oswego County landscape.” (See more comments on Treadwell in this issue.)

While Treadwell will certainly be missed, we’re excited with the appointment of Austin Wheelock to succeed him. Wheelock — the subject of a cover story in this issue — has been with Operation Oswego County since 2006.

He knows the organization inside and out, knows the key players in the region and will provide a great deal of stability and continuity — and bring a renewed dose of energy to the position.

WAGNER DOTTO is the editor and publisher of Oswego County Business Magazine.

GREEN PLANET GROCERY

Oswego County’s Finest Health Food Store

Free Estimates Financing Available

Specializing in Organic & All-Natural Products • Thousands of Grocery items • Vegetarian/Vegan Food Selections • Gluten-Free/Dairy-Free Foods • Shampoos, Soaps, Lotions, & Skin Care Products

• Highest Quality Supplements, Multi-Vitamins & Sports Nutrition Items • BIGGEST Selection of pay-byweight bulk foods, herbs & spices

HILLSIDE COMMONS, OSWEGO, NY 250 West Seneca Street · 315-207-0016 Mon.–Sat., 9am–7pm · Sun., 11am–7pm GreenPlanetGroceryOswego

10 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

24/7 EMERGENCY SERVICE

(315) 593-1441

23 Furlong Dr, Fulton, NY 13069

Buyer’s Choice Giftable goodies from our advertisers.

The Picture Connection

World Map from 1594. (Reproduction by Fenix Forgeries): $181.00) 315-343-2908 pictureconnectionoswego.com

Murdock’s Bycicles and Sports

“We carry Atlas and Tubbs snowshoes, with prices starting at $45.00 for children and $169.95 for adults. We have poles for your snowshoeing adventure as well. Stop in and check out our inventory.”

North Country Storage Barns

360 Hunting Blinds. With solid wood frame construction and seamless acrylic roof, the 360 Series is built to provide hunters with many seasons of comfortable, weatherproof hunting. With a special window raising mechanism — a perfectly silent, one-handed operation that is ideal for gun or archery hunting. Call North Country Storage Barns at 315-559- 8706 or visit ncsbarns.com.

Gosch Supply & Lighting Centre

Add style to your home or office. Art glass 27-inch table lamp by Dale Tiffany.

This and other models only in store. 315-598-4592.

Pettis Pool and Patio

Softub Spas Are America’s Favorite Portable Hot Tub! Simple as 1-2-3. Roll it into place, fill it up, and plug it in!

From $4495.00 Call (585) 383-0700 or visit https://pettispools.com/

Buyer’s Choice Giftable goodies from our advertisers.

Burkes Do It Best Home Center

M18 Compact Brushless 2-Tool Combo Kit, Drill Driver/ Impact Driver Model: 2892-22CT $199.99 on special 229.99 regular price + tax.

Milwaukee’s M18™ 2-Tool Combo Kit offers the best in compact brushless drilling and fastening solutions. This combo kit includes the M18™ 1/2” Compact Brushless Drill/Driver, M18™ 1/4” Compact Brushless Hex Impact Driver, (2) M18™ REDLITHIUM™ CP2.0 Batteries, a M18™/M12™ Multi-Voltage Charger, (2) Belt Clips, and a Contractor Bag.

Riverside Artisans Cooperative

The Celtic Shield Knot, hand-carved by Carl Patrick from cedar wood, according to Celtic lore will protect a household from threats from the four points of the compass. $199. The shop at 191 W First St. in Oswego features work from more than more than 20 other local artists. riversideartisans.com

Canalview Travel

Whether it’s a romantic getaway, reconnecting with your children, or experiencing new cultures, Canalview Travel is here to help. You can relax knowing they will take care of all accomodations and will handle all travel issues so you can continue to create smiles and lifelong memories. Call Canalview Travel today!

315-598-8300 | www.canalviewtravel.com ~Wailea Beach Resort. Marriot, Maui.

1000 Islands Events & Banquets

Host a Waterfront Meeting or Event on the Banks of the 1000 Isaland Looking for an exciting venue to inspire your meeting, banquet, or social gathering? Look no further than the 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel, where an array of distinctive settings await. Unique within the 1000 Islands, our thoughtfullydesigned and handsomely appointed facilities offer 4,200 sq. ft. of flexible space to accommodate groups both large and small while ensuring privacy.

12 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

Greens Planet Grocery

Give the gift of beautiful scents and aromatherapy with one of our essential oil diffusers! Simple and safe to use with any of our pure oil extracts. On sale now at Green Planet Grocery, 250 W. Seneca St.,Oswego, next to Fajita Grill 315-207-0016

Hearth Cabinets and More

Classic design goes irresistibly modern. Starting at $3,608.

Product only. Pricing exclusions apply. Contact a dealer for more information.

Put an elegant twist on tradition. The 6000 Modern indoor gas fireplace transforms the award-winning 6000 Series to fit your vision. Artistic flames rise through glass media and reflect off fluted black glass.

315-641-1197 • www.hearthcabinetsandmore.com

Geneva on the Lake

Food and wine are a pairing at Geneva On The Lake that will elevate your senses and perfect your experience.

We invite you to Lancellotti’s, Geneva On The Lake’s renowned fine dining restaurant, featuring creative dishes and locally grown wines of the Finger Lakes. Enjoy a delectable candlelit culinary experience with live music in our beautiful dining room.

Call or Visit: 315-789-7190 https://genevaonthelake.com

Rooftop Lounge

Sesame crusted Ahi Tuna served on top of a Wasabi Cremé with Soy Sauce Pearls, Pickled Ginger & a side of Teriyaki Glaze Call 315-207-2078 or visit www.therooftoplounge.com

H. Lee White Museum

Shown above is a selection of Oswego Lighthouse merchandise available only through the Treasure Chest Museum Store found at the H. Lee White Maritime Museum.

Call or Visit 315-342-0480 1 West First St. Oswego NY 13126 www.hlwmm.org

DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

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EXPLORE THE BEST OF THE CENTRAL NEW YORK REGION PLENTY OF BIKES, SHOES, SOCKS AND IF YOUR BIKE NEEDS FIXIN’, BRING IT ON IN!

“LOVE YOUR BIKE, LOVE YOUR LIFE!” 315-342-6848 | www.murdockssports.com

PICTURE CONNECTION

2672 State Route 3, Fulton, NY 13069 kathyscakes@windstream.net Kathy’s Cell: 315-592-1167

WE CAN FRAME ANYTHING Sports Jerseys • Historic Documents • Diplomas Needle Work • Photos • Paintings • Posters Prints • Objects • Memorabilia • Collages And more Free Design Service and Quotes

169 West First Street Oswego NY 13126 315-343-2908 Pictureconnection@icloud.com www.pictureconnectionoswego.com

Supreme Design.

Wholesale Prices.

Buy and Sell.

315-342-G LD (4653) 136 West Bridge Street, Oswego, NY 13126

14 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

Geneva Lake GenevaOn On The The Lake

Geneva On The Lake

Gene

Boutique Hotel BoutiqueResort Resort Hotel

Boutique Resort Hotel

Geneva On The Lake Boutique Resort Hotel

$5 OFF

BOO NOWK!

“One of the world’s most beautiful inns” www.genevaonthelake.com

l

– Brides Magazine

1001 Lochland Rd., Geneva NY

* PURCHASE OF $50 OR MORE. EXP 6/2023.

NOT APPLICABLE ON GIFT CARD PURCHASES

WWW.THEROOFTOPLOUNGE.COM 315-207-2078

l

“One of t

BOO NOWK!

www.genevaonthelake.com

315-789-7190

“One of the world’s most beautiful inns”

l 1001 Lochland Rd., Geneva NY l 315-789-7190BO NBO O N O Bookmost Now “One of the world’s beautiful inns” – Brides Magazine

www.genevaonthelake.com

– Brides Magazine “One of the world’s most beautiful inns”

ll

ll

– Brides Magazine

www.genevaonthelake.com 1001 Lochland Rd., Geneva NY 315-789 www.genevaonthelake.com

www.genevaonthelake.com 1001 Lochland Rd., Geneva NY 315-789 1001 Lochland Rd., Geneva NY | 315-789-7190

Simple really is Better Softubs are the easiest hot tub to set-up! One person can take it from the box to filled and running in less than an hour.

Softubs are portable, comfortable, and affordable!

Softub Express, the oldest and largest Softub dealer in the United States

®

1-800-996-TUBS (8827) www.SoftubExpress.com DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

15

EXPLORE THE BEST OF THE CENTRAL NEW YORK REGION Open DAILY till Dec 23rd, 1-5 PM Winter Hours MON - FRIDAY, 1-5 PM WEEKENDS BY APPOINTMENT

Museum & Gift Shop

Visit our website for opportunities to support our mission!

1–5 P.M. DAILY Jul. & Aug. 10–5 P.M. hlwmm.org

W. 1st St. Pier Oswego, NY

315.342.0480

LW EMPORIUM CO-OP Gifts, Antiques & Home Decor

The Feathered Nest Gift Shop

WhistleStop Antique Center

10a.m.–5p.m. Tues. thru Sun. • Closed Mon. 6355 Knickerbocker Road • off Rte. 104 in Ontario

315-524-8841 • www.lwemporium.com

Don’t Miss Out Oswego County Business is the only business magazine in Central New York. Every issue brings interesting, compelling stories on the top issues affecting the region.

Subscribe to it for only $21.50 per year www.OswegoCountyBusiness.com/subscribe/

It’s time to plan your vacation. Give us a call and let us do all the work!

67 S. 2nd St, Fulton, NY | www.canalviewtravel.com | 315-598-8300 | 1-800-462-2627

16 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

Tops Market Building in Fulton to Become Pediatrics Practice

FULTON TAXI SERVICE 598-4797 Your Transportation Connection!

F

ulton Mayor Deana Michaels announced that River View Pediatrics, 63 S. First St., recently purchased the former Tops Friendly Markets at 909 W. First St., which will become the new location for their practice.

“This property, which has been vacant since 2018 and was a local supermarket for nearly 60 years, is getting a wonderful, new purpose helping the health and wellness of children in Fulton and surrounding communities,” Michaels said. “We are extremely excited for the River View team and for the patients they serve, as well as the new jobs and growth they anticipate and are planning for.”

River View is an equal partnership among physicians Sarah Finocchiaro, Carla Overton and Christopher Delaney.

Construction is underway and and their goal is to open the practice in March or April, Finocchiaro said.

“The support we’ve received from the city has been amazing,” she said.

“Mayor Michaels has been super supportive every step of the way—even before we had decided on a location.

This is the only place my partners and I want to be: serving our patients here in Fulton, my hometown and a place I love.”

The practice will occupy the majority of the building, approximately 8,000 square feet, which also includes two separate 3,500 sq. ft. spaces flanking the main entrance for tenant businesses. This more than doubles the practice’s current space.

In Architects of Syracuse designed the new offices and construction is being contracted by Construction Design and Management, (CDM), Syracuse.

“River View Pediatrics is an extension of the 40-year practice and tradition of excellent and compassionate pediatric care founded by Dr. Stuart Trust,” Finocchiaro said.

Struppler’s operated the building for 25 years until it was acquired

by Tops Markets in August 2015.

Tops closed in October 2018, and the building has been vacant since then.

Oswego: To/From Syracuse Bus, Train Center and Airport Fulton: Local and Out-of-Town Runs Hours: Sun. to Thurs.: 5 AM to 2:30 AM Friday & Saturday: 24 Hours

Ontario Center for Performing Arts, Inc.

NATIONAL STAGE WINTER/SPRING 2023 Saturdays 7:30pm

January 14 PETER MULVEY January 28 BROTHERS BLUE MARK WAHL OPENS

February 11 SAWYER FREDERICKS February 25 THE MCKRELLS

March 11 GUY DAVIS

LARRY KYLE OPENS

March 25 DEEPER THAN THE SKIN GREG GREENWAY & REGGIE HARRIS WITH MEET AND GREET RECEPTION

April 1 JAZZ BY THE LAKE

(GUEST CURATOR, DAVID KASPAR)

April 29 BURNS SISTERS BAND May 6 JAZZ BY THE LAKE (GUEST CURATOR, DAVID KASPAR)

May13 SEASON FINALE ANNIE SUMI & TRAVIS KNAPP W/EMERGING ARTIST SHOWCASE

April 15 JONATHAN BYRD

OPEN MIC FRIDAYS 7PM ALL SEASON LONG

Hosted by acclaimed musicians on weekends of National Stage shows

HOOK SONGWRITER SERIES

GUEST CURATOR SERIES

Initiates new programs proposed and curated by community members, Sometimes scheduled on short notice.

See website for updates.

FEB. 3, MAR. 3, APR. 21 @7PM

Immensely entertaining - a fave for local and regional songwriters

VISIT WEBSITE FOR DETAILS

McCrobie Building 41 Lake St. Oswego, NY | www.oswegomusichall.org | OCPAoswego@gmail.com

DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

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Oswego County Opportunities Sowing seeds that support individuals and families as they move from poverty to self-sufficiency through: HEAD START • WIC • MEALS ON WHEELS • REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH • TRANSPORTATION • CRISIS HOTLINES • LITERACY • ADVOCACY • SUPPORTIVE HOUSING • AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS • JOB SKILL READINESS • SUMMER MEAL PROGRAMS • LIFE SKILL DEVELOPMENT • MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES • EMPLOYMENT • HOMELESS SERVICES • CANCER SCREENINGS • HEALTH EDUCATION • OUTREACH

Help People.

Improve Our Communities.

Change Lives.

Work. Donate. Volunteer. www.oco.org

315.598.4717

ISSUE 182 • OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2022

EDITOR AND PUBLISHER Wagner Dotto editor@cnybusinessmag.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR Stefan Yablonski syablonski@twcny.rr.com WRITERS Deborah Jeanne Sergeant Christopher Malone, Ken Sturtz Stefan Yablonski Norah Machia, Nicole Spector, Sam DiSalvo COLUMNISTS L. Michael Treadwell Bruce Frassinelli, Sandra Scott ADVERTISING Peggy Kain peggylocalnews@gmail.com SECRETARY Ahme Cruz localnewsoffice@gmail.com LAYOUT & DESIGN Angel Campos Toro COVER PHOTO Chuck Wainwright

OSWEGOCOUNTYBUSINESS.COM OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS MAGAZINE is published six times a year by Local News, Inc., publisher of the Business Guide, Upstate Summer, Fall, & Winter guides, College Life Newspaper, In Good Health—The Healthcare Newspaper (across four regions) and 55 Plus Magazine for Active Adults in Rochester and Central New York.

Subscription rate is $21.50 a year; $35 for two years. Single-copy price is $4.50. PRSRT STD US Postage PAID, Buffalo, NY, Permit No. 4725. © 2022 Oswego County Business. All rights reserved. No material from this publication may be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the express written consent of the publisher.

HOW TO REACH US: P.O. Box 276, Oswego, NY 13126.

Phone: 315-342-8020 Fax: 315-342-7776; editor@OswegoCountyBusiness.com

18 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

ON THE JOB

What is Your New Year’s Resolution for Your Business?

Interviews by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

“Our hope is to take advantage of the technology available to operate in a more efficient manner and be able to obtain and relate information to our clients more effectively so everyone can make a better decision.”

Dan Goetzmann Goetzmann & Associates in Syracuse “Travel a few places finally! COVID ruined several plans so, hopefully, I’ll go to Italy in the spring. For me, personal and business travel is the same thing. I would like to start and finish the former YMCA pool conversion and then bring residential suites to the Curtis Manor wedding venue for wedding guests to stay on site.”

Anthony Pauldine Owner, Anthony Pauldine’s Contractors, Inc., Oswego “I’m doing my first foray into TV advertising. I just dipped my toe into the pond, and I may continue next year.

I’ve equated it to going to the casino: you spend all that money, and you may get a big return. Also, like at the casino, you feel like if you spend more you may get a big return.”

Clark Gronsbell Owner/broker, Fiscal Fitness, Syracuse “Hopefully, we’ll be overcoming the supply chain issues and getting things back to normal procedures, but that’s not something I have much control of. I want to expand what we’re doing with our current customer base.

We offer more than what our company was founded on and most of our customers have just copiers and printers, but we have more, like IT services for business, software solutions, and electronic document management.”

Ryan Jones COO and owner, Advanced Business Systems, East Syracuse “We’ve always fine-tuned things around here over the years but now

“I want to work harder, deliver the best possible service and that will make business grow. You can’t worry about what’s going on with everybody being in a negative attitude. You’ve got to be positive when things are tougher and work harder and you will succeed.”

THOMAS PIRRO, Owner, Winter Harbor Marina, Brewerton

things just work and everything is just right. We are working like a well-oiled machine. It’s just the four of us, and we don’t believe that getting bigger is necessarily better. We’re in the people

business first and service cars second.

We will have a new owner Dec. 30, 2022, Justin Taber. We need to make a smooth transition for new owner. I’ll be around here awhile to help make that happen.”

Michael Atutis, Owner, Torbitt’s Service Center, Inc., Oswego “We always say to be excellent. Be kind. Help people. We’re in the business of helping people.”

Betsy Stoutenger Co-owner, Computer Outlet North, Inc., Oswego “I want to raise awareness a little higher of what we actually do within the community and how they can become a part of it. We cover all these events, promote businesses, events and we go to all of the events to take pictures and put them on social media. I want to make it more available to a micro business of 10 and smaller and nonprofits that want to get the word out. We have an audience of 24,000 on social media and I developed an advertising event to help people get the word out. It gives them a full year of social media posts

DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

19

about their businesses. I don’t make any money on that; I am donating all my time. It’s just a very economical way to help the businesses.”

Victoria Usherwood Gailinas COO, I Heart Oswego, Oswego “We are hoping to carry more engagement ring styles. We carry a lot now, but that’s our business coming into the new year.”

Greg Dufore President, Dufore’s for Diamonds, Inc., Oswego “Our business is run by a cooperative; I’m one of eight members. I’d like to just stay in business in the new year. With the recession, it has been really tough. Our business is pretty much gifts and artwork and one of the first things people cut out when times are tough is gifts and artwork. It’s not like we sell food or anything. We’re hanging on and I’m hoping we can continue to hang on and the economy will get better. Business has been good in the past couple of months so that’s encouraging. January, February and March are our slow times, so that will be a time of concern for us to be able to make ends meet.”

Diane Chepko-Sade Cooperative member, Lakeside Artisans, Oswego “Finding employees who can fill positions. That’s probably going to be a common issue. We’re a fairly specialized firm. It can be tough to find people who have the soft skills as well as the hard skills to fill the positions we have available. We want to create more solutions for our clients to have the best employee benefits at the lowest cost.”

Andy Miller, President KBM Management East Syracuse “I want the business to grow bigger and better. I am going to be offering embroidery to expand my business. I just got the machine. I’m going to do shirts, hats, coats, and just about anything.”

Luther Gray Owner, Motivated Creations, Oswego “I’d like to see more growth in the business and try some new products.

Hopefully I’ll get out there on social media and reach more people.”

Amy Lear Owner, Man in the Moon Candies, Oswego “I want to hopefully go toward

some level of normalcy, whatever that can be defined as. We want to see our local retail business grow and survive.”

Greg Mills Owner, Murdock’s Bicycles and Sports, Oswego “I am developing a new website with funds recently won via a grant from women investing in women. I am excited to expand my business into health and safety monitoring, assessment and support, along with more of an environmental focus beyond just construction inspections: SWPPP and SEQR assessments.

Catherine Dare Chief executive manager, TRM Environmental Consultants, LLC, Westernville “We are looking into expanding our presence on social media such as Facebook and Google and things of that nature.”

Tammie Malone Office manager, Scriba Electric, Inc., Oswego “We’re hoping to really accentuate our new glass house. It’s a small event center to host birthdays and engagement parties and bridal showers and smaller weddings. The decor and our fresh cut flower gardens are here. It’s an indoor-outdoor space, so we can host events of fewer than 50 during winter

20 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

and more during warmer weather. We host some DIY classes there now.”

Brenda Wilson Owner Travis Floral, Hannibal “We’re doing renovations. We’re removing carpets and putting in hardwood flooring. We’re also improving the bathrooms to take out outdated fixtures and changing the mattresses and bed frames.”

Kishan Patel Owner, Red Carpet Lodge, Pulaski

“With the way the current market is, I’m likely to have increased business so I’m looking to have more face-to-face meetings with a lot of referrals and real estate agents and whatnot.

I’d like to get increased social media presence.”

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HOW I GOT STARTED

By Stefan Yablonski

JENNELL THURN

Owner of Treasure Lilly Boutique in Central Square started in her home’s basement; it now sales merchandise to boutiques nationwide

Q: Did you have a job prior to doing this?

A: Yes, I was working in the admin field

for National Grid. I knew I wanted more than just punching a clock and finishing a list of daily admin tasks. I wanted to make people smile.

Q: What did you want to do for a living when you were growing up?

A: It’s funny to think back. I always said

as a child I wanted to be a newscaster or a talk show host. I did not pursue that type of schooling, but when I am ‘live’ daily on Facebook it does sort of seem as though I am reporting fashion news or interacting as a talk show host.

Q: How much did it cost to get started? Did you have to find a building, where do you get you merchandise?

A: I started in my basement selling

a MLM company called Lularoe in 2016. I quickly realized they were the middleman between me and the actual suppliers. I started sourcing my own products and branded my own name.

Treasure Lilly is a family name. The name Lilly is my grandmother’s maiden name. My businesses quickly took over my entire house! It was then I rented my very first small space. I remember being terrified of the commitment to pay $500 a month in rent. I did most of the work myself at that point and hired a friend to work nights after her real job.

Q: What happened next?

A: Since then, we have expanded twice,

I have six employees, including myself.

We not only have a retail online shop and store but other boutiques loved our products so much they approached us on selling to them in bulk for whole sale pricing. So we now have a wholesale division called TL Clothing in which we sell to approximately 1,300 other boutiques across the nation. My son runs this division of the company.

Q: Have you invested more? Do you plan to expand?

A: One thing I have learned in business

Q: How did you come to be interested in this type of work?

A: I have always had a passion for

clothing and makeup. I grew up in the beauty industry with my mom as a hairdresser. I love making women feel beautiful and comfortable in their own bodies.

Q: Do you have experience in this field?

A: I was not new to building businesses, but the fashion industry was a learning curve for me to get acquainted with different fabrics and vendors.

Q: How long have you been in business?

A: I opened Treasure Lilly Boutique

(3078 East Ave.., Central Square) in 2018 and incorporated in 2019.

22 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

is that it costs money to make money.

I have invested heavily to support growth.

Q: Who helped you get going?

A: My family has always been my

biggest cheerleader. I remember my husband getting up at 5 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday to load a trailer of clothing to set up at the regional market.

It was a lot of beating the pavement in the first year to get our name out there.

Can you believe rack of clothing weighs about 500 pounds? Imagine loading 10 of those in and out all weekend long. I have made many business connections along the way, but I would love to give a huge shout out to John Halleron at the Small Business Development Center in Oswego. I met him years ago when starting my very first business. It was an entire different field. The information and things he taught me has helped me in this business as well.

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PROFILE

By Ken Sturtz

SHARON LYNETT

For new publisher of The Palladium-Times and The Valley News, newspaper roots run deep

W

hen Sharon Lynett says she knows her way around newspapers, she means it.

The 38-year-old grew up in the newspaper business and is part of the fourth generation of a family that owns multiple newspapers.

“My great-grandfather purchased the Scranton Times in 1895 and we’ve been in it since,” she said.

In October, Lynett became publisher of Oswego County Media Group, which produces The Palladium-Times, The Valley News, the Finger Lakes Vacationer and the Oswego County Advertiser.

She replaces Jeff Weigand, who had served as publisher since March.

Oswego County Media Group is owned by Pennsylvania-based Sample

News Group. The family-owned media company’s holdings include more than 70 newspapers in six states.

Lynett was born and raised in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Although she grew up around the news business, she was interested in government from a young age and initially pursued a different career path, attending Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. where she majored in political economy.

She landed several internships on Capitol Hill while in college, which gave her a look at how the government worked.

Immediately after college she began working for Bob Casey’s 2006 campaign for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania. The race was one of the most competitive and highly watched in the country that year and saw Casey defeat t w o term in-

24 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

cumbent Rick Santorum.

After the election Lynett became a legislative correspondent in Casey’s Washington office, working on banking and tax issues (he served on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs). It was an incredible experience for a recent college graduate in her early 20s, she said. After two years she moved back to Pennsylvania to run Casey’s Scranton office. She enjoyed the work, but in 2013 decided to go in another direction.

“I always had in the back of my mind that I wanted to get into the family business,” Lynett said.

The family business was Times-Shamrock Communications.

The Scranton-based company’s flagship newspaper is the Scranton Times-Tribune, but its sprawling portfolio includes 15 print publications, 10 radio stations and dozens of websites as well as a variety of other businesses.

The family’s third generation had operated with an unusual leadership arrangement that saw three family members serve as co-CEOs, sharing decision-making and responsibilities.

But the fourth generation was much larger, Lynett said, consisting of 20 people and she was on the younger end.

So, the family created a management development program for relatives who wanted to move into leadership roles.

Participants were required to get a graduate degree and then work for an outside business for several years before working over a number of years in various departments at the company.

Lynett left Casey’s office and went back to school, earning a Master of Business Administration from the University of Scranton in 2015.

She spent a year working as a page designer and copy editor at one of the family-owned newspapers and a year as an account executive for several of its radio stations. She also spent time with

department heads and top managers to better understand their roles.

Then, in 2018, the family made the decision to consolidate its media companies and other businesses under the management of a single, nonfamily leader. The family would still retain ownership of the business, but the family wouldn’t be handling operations.

“I had thought my career was set and I had to go in a different direction,” Lynett said.

She became director of marketing and communications for Lackawanna College in Scranton, working through COVID-19, which she said made her job far more challenging. She later left and began doing independent marketing and advertising work for senior living facilities in the region, helping them with their websites.

One day Lynett received a call from a former Times-Shamrock colleague who was now working for the Sample News Group. They had an opening for a publisher and she wanted to know if Lynett was interested in getting back into news.

“I jumped at the opportunity,” she said.

Lifelines Name: Sharon Lynett Title: Publisher, Oswego County Media Group Birth Place: Scranton, PA Birth Date: March 13, 1984 Current Residence: Oswego Education: Bachelor’s degree in political economy from Georgetown University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Scranton.

Affiliations: Started to volunteer with the United Way; plans to become involved with other organizations in near future.

Personal: Single. Has a dog, a Labradoodle named Sadie.

Hobbies: Spending time with family and friends, visiting the beach and watching sports. She is a fan of the Philadelphia Phillies and Georgetown basketball.

Not only was she eager to return to the news business, but after working remotely through much of the pandemic she was also excited to get back to an office environment. Lynett drove up to Oswego to check out the area and was amazed at how beautiful and bustling it was. She was also surprised at how welcoming the community has been since she moved to Central New York.

“I miss the pulse of a community,” she said. “It’s exciting in this role that I have now to learn from people who have really made this community great.”

Moving forward, Lynett said, she wants to make changes to the front pages of the newspapers to make them more visually appealing for readers. She wants to move print deadlines back so editors can get more timely stories into the printed products.

She also sees opportunities for the newsroom to be more proactive about pushing out relevant stories and notifications to readers on digital platforms.

Expect the organization to have a much more robust presence on its social media channels, too. She hopes some of the changes will be appealing to younger readers.

To help in her efforts, The Palladium-Times recently hired veteran journalist and former editor at The Post-Standard Charles Ellis to be its new managing editor. Ellis started the new position on Monday, Nov. 21 — Thanksgiving week. He will manage both newsrooms — The Palladium-Times and The Valley News, which operate out of the same building. Writers will produce stories for both papers.

Lynett also wants that newsroom to be more involved in the community.

“I think being close and being part of the community is so important,” she said. “You need those relationships, you need to know what’s going on and you need to know the right people.”

Lynett said that while all newspapers struggled during the pandemic, the Oswego County Media Group was on stable footing moving forward.

One thing that won’t be changing is the company’s emphasis on local news that matters to its readers. Lynett said she is keenly aware of just how important local news is to a community, especially now that more and more communities don’t have a local newspaper.

“Growing up in that industry and working in the newspaper world, it’s just in your blood,” she said. “It’s something you can’t help but to love and care about.”

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TINIAN ISLAND

Part of Northern Mariana Islands and near Guam, tiny island has historical connections with the U.S

M

ost people know that the United States ended the war with Japan by dropping an atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

Some may know that the bomb was delivered by the Enola Gay piloted by Paul Tibbets, Jr. on Aug. 6, 1945.

Some may even know that the plane took off from North Field on Tinian Island.

However, very few are able to locate Tinian Island or the Northern Mariana Islands on a map.

The Northern Mariana Islands are a U.S. commonwealth in the Pacific Ocean and Tinian is one of the three principal islands of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

In 1945 about 75,000 men lived on Tinian building coral runways that enable thousands of B-29s to take off on bombing missions, making Tinian the busiest airport in the world at that time. Today about 3,000 people live on the small island.

North Field, even though it is on the National Register of Historic Places in the Northern Marianas, is a quiet place with weeds growing up in and around the few remnants of the days when it was a buzz with activity.

Nowadays the island is basically a tourist destination for beach bums, dive fanatics, and history buffs.

The island is accessed from the neighboring island of Saipan, the capital of the Northern Marianas. The two islands are so close it takes longer for the plane to taxi for takeoff than the duration of the flight.

There is a car rental, a hotel and a casino on the island. The island can be toured in one day. Besides the WW II sites in North Field, some may want to visit the memorial at Suicide Cliff, where hundreds of Japanese citizens and soldiers ended their lives after realizing

Sign on the tiny island indicating where shelters and bomb pits are.

that Japan was losing the war. They believed the horror stories they were told about what would happen to them if they were captured or surrendered, so they jumped to their death — including women and children.

Most of the people in the Northern Mariana are Chamorro, a civilization that dates back 5,000 years. Early Chamorro people used latte stones, also called Taga stones, 15 feet tall, as a foundation for their buildings. Latte stones are megalithic rock pillars topped with hemispherical capstone.

Today there are remnants of a Taga House on Tinian. Only one of the original 12 latte stones remains. Legend has it that the house was built around 1500 BC by a Chamorro chief, Taga, who had superhuman strength capable of picking up the stones and placing them into position himself. According to the legend, when the last latte stone falls, Chief Taga will return to Tinian.

There are other things of interest on the island. In the first half of the 1900s, Tinian was an agricultural producer for

26 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

a Japanese sugar and rum company, and evidence of Japanese habitation is visible in the Shinto shrines, cannons and ruins dotted around the island’s jungles and caves. The most spectacular natural phenomenon is the Blowhole, where columns of water shoot 10 meters in the air.

Other than sites of interest to history buffs, scuba diving is the primary reason visitors come to Tinian because of the numerous reefs, wrecks and caves lying under the waters surrounding the island. Favorite spots include Dump Cove, where planes, tanks, ammunition and Jeeps from World War II were dumped.

Because it is a commonwealth of the United States, visitors only need a passport; US dollars are the official currency; ATMs are easily located. To feel like a Chamorro, greet people by saying, “Afai Dai.” Locals like to say that the islands are a great place to live because they only work “halfa day.”

The atomic bomb pit on the island of Tinian. At one point the island had 75,000 American soldiers living there.

Tinian main road, Northern Mariana Islands.

DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

27

NEWSMAKERS NEWS BRIEFS ON LOCAL BUSINESSES & BUSINESS PEOPLE

Tara FitzGibbons Appointed to College Council Tara FitzGibbons of Oswego has beenappointed to SUNY Oswego’s College Council by Gov. Kathy Hochul for a three-year term. The College Council is mandated by N e w Yo r k FitzGibbons State Education Law, which provides for the establishment of a local council to supervise the operations and affairs of each state-operated institution of the state university.

FitzGibbons currently serves as the business manager at FitzGibbons Agency LLC, a local and independent full-service insurance agency in Oswego. Originally from Saratoga Springs, FitzGibbons attended SUNY Oswego and earned a bachelor of arts degree in communication studies. She received her master’s degree in organizational communication from SUNY Albany.

“I am honored to have been appointed to the College Council,” said FitzGibbons. “I look forward to working together with both my fellow council members and the leadership at SUNY Oswego.”

A licensed insurance professional, FitzGibbons oversees the daily operations of the FitzGibbons Agency, including systems management and human resources. A dedicated community volunteer and graduate of Leadership Oswego County, she has served on many local nonprofit boards. FitzGibbons currently serves as board member and treasurer of the Richard S. Shineman Foundation and is a board member of the Oswego Health Foundation.

FitzGibbons resides in Oswego

with her husband John. She is an avid cyclist, runner and enjoys spending time boating on Lake Ontario.

“We are thrilled to welcome Tara as a member of SUNY Oswego’s College Council and look forward to the contributions she will make in support of the university and her alma mater,” said SUNY Oswego Officer in Charge Mary C. Toale.

Barton & Loguidice Has New Director Barton & Loguidice (B&L), a multi-disciplinary consulting firm that provides technical solutions to public and private clients throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atl a n t i c , re Rumble cently welc o m e d Mary-Beth Rumble to the firm as director of risk management. In this position, Rumble joins the firm’s corporate team and will be based in B&L’s Rochester office.

“Mary-Beth brings a wealth of industry knowledge and experience to B&L in all areas of design firm risk management,” said Barton & Loguidice President and CEO John F. Brusa, Jr. “Our staff as well as our clients will benefit greatly from her leadership and oversight of B&L’s risk management program including proactive staff education and training.”

Rumble has an extensive background in insurance and risk advisory with a focus on the architectural and engineering (A&E) industry. She was formerly a principal of Poole Professional, where she worked with many A&E firms on various insurance and contractual needs and risk management

28 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

trainings. She is graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering.

Oswego Faculty Selected for Hispanic Leadership Institute Class SUNY Oswego faculty member Roberta Hurtado is among nine emerging Hispanic-Latinx leaders who have been selected for the State University of New York’s 2023 HispanHurtado ic Leadership Institute (HLI) class.

This class — the sixth since the program began in 2018 — will begin in January 2023.

As a program within the SUNY Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, HLI is a rigorous six-month experience for SUNY leaders of Hispanic descent that provides an opportunity to further develop higher education leadership skills and proficiencies. HLI fellows will participate in training sessions and webinars, engage in conversations with national and statewide Hispanic leaders and use personal assessment tools.

Hurtado is an associate professor teaching Latina/e/o/x literature and culture in the department of English and creative writing, as well as the director of SUNY Oswego’s new Latino and Latin American studies minor.

Her book “Decolonial Puerto Rican Women’s Writings: Subversion in the Flesh” was an International Latino Book Awards silver medalist in 2019. She has published with journals such as Chiricú, Diálogo, Label Me Latina/o, and Journal of Critical Latina Feminisms.

Hurtado’s awards at SUNY Oswe-

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NEWSMAKERS go include the President’s Award for Excellence in Academic Advisement and the Provost’s Award for Scholarly and Creative Activity. Additionally, she is the inaugural Fellow for SUNY Oswego’s Triandiflou Institute for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Transformative Practice.

She resides in Upstate New York where her current research projects include studies in sexuality, Puerto Rican women’s literature and trauma.

Shokouh Haddadi Earns SUNY Oswego Provost’s Award SUNY Oswego chemistry faculty member Shokouh Haddadi earned the campus Provost’s Award for Mentoring in Scholarly and Creative Activity for leading students to academic, research and career success.

At the Shokouh time of nomination, Haddadi had mentored more than 65

students in five years, including summers, said Fehmi Damkaci, professor and chair of chemistry.

In that span, Haddadi also published two research papers with student co-authors and received 10 campus scholarly and creative activities committee grants to fund student research, while encouraging presentations at national and regional conferences.

“She is one of the most engaging faculty members in terms of mentoring the greatest number of students in research activities,” Damkaci wrote. “Dr. Haddadi has a high level of engagement in scholarly and creative activities and has been a very good role model for our students.”

Fellow chemistry faculty member Julia Koeppe said Haddadi excels in coordinating the department’s senior capstone research projects and forensic chemistry minor.

“Dr. Haddadi is responsible for helping to train all capstone students in how to conduct research, prepare oral presentations and write research papers for the research projects they carry out in their senior year,” Koeppe wrote.

“All the students speak very highly of Dr. Haddadi and how she manages her research lab and the courses that she teaches. She works closely with all of her students, and she teaches them to also be good mentors.”

Haddadi earned her Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from the University of Waterloo in Canada; and a master’s in

Fulton Savings Bank Installs ATM at Byrne Dairy’s New Location in Fulton

F

ulton Savings Bank has installed a new ATM at Byrne Dairy’s new Fulton location, 798 W. Broadway.

Cutting the ribbon to officially open the machine are Ron Browning, left, the bank’s information technology manager, and Christian Brunelle, Byrne Dairy senior executive vice president.

30 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

analytical chemistry from the University of Tabriz and bachelor’s in chemistry from Azad University, both in Iran.

Christopher Community Names Regional Property Manager Christopher Community, Inc. has announced the appointment of Andrea Wheeler as regional property manager.

“We are very pleased to welcome Andrea to our Christopher ComWheeler munity team as regional property manager at Christopher Community,” said President and CEO Justin Rudgick. “Andrea’s diverse background with regard to her property management experience will be a tremendous asset to our portfolio.”

Wheeler began her 15-year career in the property management field as a leasing consultant and has strong background experience working on several different types of properties during her tenure including commercial, mixed, tax credit, HUD, senior and disabled, multi-family, and post-military housing.

Most recently, Wheeler owned and operated an in-home daycare for three years and has been a licensed real estate salesperson for two years. She is also currently a member of the Snowbelt Housing Board, which provides grants to struggling families in Lewis County to improve their home.

“I look forward to taking my career to the next level with Christopher Community. I feel that my passion for placing individuals in their ideal home matches the values found within Christopher Community Inc.,” said Wheeler.

“I feel I will share my excitement and motivation with my team in making and keeping their properties the best, they can be. Which in turn, will create a positive living environment for our residents.”

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NEWSMAKERS Wheeler has an associate degree in business management from Jefferson Community College. She is also certified as an occupancy specialist in fair housing and NYS Housing Code of Ethics.

A resident of Copenhagen, Lewis County, Wheeler enjoys cooking, boating and spending time with her husband, James, and her children Maddison (10), Chase (7), and Hudson (4).

Established in 1971, Christopher

Community currently manages over 3,200 units and more than 100 buildings, as well as administers Onondaga County’s rental assistance program which serves over 1,200 households.

The nonprofit organization serves communities across New York State including: Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo, Utica, Watertown, Oswego, Cortland, Elmira and Canandaigua.

Port Receives $754,000 For Container Reach Stacker

T

he Port of Oswego was awarded $754,000 of a $900,000 project to invest in a container reach stacker and move forward with the port’s short sea shipping project from the USDOT America’s Marine Highway Projects.

The Port of Oswego was designated in 2019 as a Marine Highway, one of only 32 in the United States, to expand its reach into the national containerized cargo movement and provide a more environmentally sustainable, lower cost alternative to trucking raw materials: from agricultural products, to project cargo, to heavy lift, to petroleum products, and international containerized cargo movement.

“We are very honored by the selection for this award as we move forward with our expansion at the Port of Oswego,” said William Scriber, Port of Oswego Authority, (POA), executive

director and CEO. “As the only port in New York state on Lake Ontario, we see the growth of our services as a vital boost to not only the local economy but the state of New York.”

Part of the port’s Vision 2030 Comprehensive Plan is to create a short sea shipping project on Lake Ontario which will have direct connections to other major ports in the Great Lakes.

One of the key components identified to begin this service was the purchase of a high reach stacker needed to move containers, Scriber said.

“The Port of Oswego is making major strides in expanding services for New York on Lake Ontario” Scriber said.

“We look to add services that will move cargo in a cost-effective way and which will also help to reduce on-road truck trips and ease the carbon footprint. “

32 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

Excellus Appoints New Chief Administrative Officer Lisa White has been appointed as chief administrative officer and executive vice president at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield.

White, in her new role, has also joined the company’s execuWhite tive leadership team.

White started her career at the health plan 31 years ago as a customer care representative. She’s since held a variety of positions throughout the company. White, for example, helped start the company’s first compliance department, focusing on government regulations, mandates and more.

She now oversees about a dozen departments whose primary responsibilities support the enterprise, including legal, audit, facilities, governance, strategy, corporate development, corporate communications, business resilience, risk management and ethics, privacy and compliance.

“Lisa brings years of experience and expertise overseeing complex administrative support functions, and we’re proud to have her join our executive leadership team,” said Jim Reed, president and CEO at Excellus BCBS. “We’ve been lucky over the years to have Lisa at the helm, especially during COVID-19,” Reed added. “Lisa played a pivotal role in our organization’s response to the pandemic, helping us focus on supporting our members through challenging times.”

A graduate of Syracuse University, White earned her master’s degree from the New England College of Business and Finance. She serves on the board of trustees for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central New York.

White and her husband reside in Syracuse. They have three children.

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BUSINESS UPDATE

The Blue Moon Grill is now operated by Mat and Stephanie Overton. From left, Bill

and Karen Hubel (precious owners) toast the success of Stephanie and Mat Overton.

Blue Moon Grill in Fulton Under New Owner

After 17 years owners Bill and Karen Hubel sell their business

T

here’s a new “moon” rising in Fulton.

The Blue Moon Grill, 122 Cayuga St., is now operated by Mat and Stephanie Overton.

This follows a 17-year run by Bill and Karen Hubel as the owners and operators of the establishment. The Overtons officially began their ownership on Dec. 1.

It was a private sale. The business “was never on the market,” Stephanie Overton explained.

Terms of the sale weren’t disclosed.

“I’ve heard it called a hidden gem.

But I know people from all across Central New York love it,” she said. “It’s not unusual for people from Onondaga County to make a drive to Fulton for a great meal at the Blue Moon on a Friday or Saturday evening. Above all, however, it’s really important to me and my family to maintain the integrity of the outstanding brand built by Bill and

Karen for nearly two decades.”

Overton has been in the hospitality industry “my whole life,” she added.

“I’ve worked in the industry for 26 years. It’s always been a passion of mine to own a restaurant,” she said. “My husband doesn’t have any experience in the business. He will continue to work for the city of Fulton as well as play a big hand in our business. He’s a quick study.”

Their son, Macean MacIntyre, and daughter, Joan Overton, will also be involved in supporting the business.

According to Stephanie Overton, the menu will remain the same, but hours may eventually expand.

“We’ve hired two new very experienced and qualified chefs we are bringing on. Bill will remain as a chef here training them for the next several months to ensure a smooth transition,” she said. “In addition, we’ll be offering a Mardi Gras menu in February, just as

34 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

Blue Moon has for many years.”

The front end staff will stay the same, she added.

“Hours will change, gradually, and hopefully we will see some exciting changes on the menu down the road as well,” said Overton.

The Hubels said they’ve enjoyed serving the Fulton community during their tenure.

“Bill and I are grateful for the privilege to have shared countless special moments in peoples’ lives for so many years here,” Karen Hubel said. “We wish the Overtons every success and we’ll be offering a helping hand as they move forward.”

Blue Moon was originally established in 2000 by Doug Caster as Blue Moon Bistro, a combination restaurant– deli–ice cream parlor. The name was changed to Blue Moon Grill in the first quarter of 2004 when the deli case and ice cream counter were removed and a new cocktail bar–lounge was built.

In January 2005, Ray and Linda Grimaldi took over operation of the restaurant. Ray is the grandson of the founders of the original Grimaldi’s Italian Restaurant in Utica. Later that year, Bill and Karen Hubel became the sole operating partners of the restaurant and it closed for a short time for renovations before reopening in December with new carpeting, a rejuvenated bar–lounge and menu.

In February 2012, following eight months of construction, the Hubels announced the opening of Under The Moon, a private dining area below the Blue Moon Grill, for up to 50 guests for special events. The space features mahogany paneling, a granite bar, wine cellar and separate kitchen. Over the years it has been the location of many celebrations, from anniversaries and birthday parties, bridal and baby showers, corporate meetings and more.

In addition, it has also served as an entertainment venue; featuring nationally famous musicians and performers.

Stephanie Overton said Under The Moon’s availability for special events will continue. They are booking holiday parties and gatherings.

“We’re also looking at possibly bringing back comedy nights here in the future, as well as other events,” she said.

For further information, visit: www.bluemoongrill.com or their Facebook page under Blue Moon Grill.

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Emma, 17, and her brother, Aiden, 19, have joined

Longley Bros Inc. in Fulton. On the left is their father, Doug Longley; on the right is their grandfather, Dennis Longley. They hold a portrait of the founders of the business, Earl and his brother Harold.

36 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

BUSINESS UPDATE

Longley Marks 75th Anniversary with 4th Generation Entering the Business

By Stefan Yablonski

S

ince 1947, the Longley family has been in the automotive business — making it one of the longest family-owned businesses in the area.

Now, as Longley Bros Inc. marks its 75th anniversary, the fourth generation has joined the business. Emma, 17, who is still in high school, and her brother, Aiden, 19, are both working part-time at the dealership.

Doug Longley, third generation, is president. His father, Dennis Longley, is still listed as president.

“Two brothers, which would have been my father, Earl Longley, and his brother, Harold Longley, founded the business in 1947 as an auto body shop,” Dennis said. “The family dealership was established in 1955 and we added the Dodge dealership in 1964.”

A photo of the two founders hangs near the front of the dealership.

The fourth generation is Doug’s son and daughter; they currently work part-time.

It will be “a while” before there possibly is a fifth generation, according to Doug.

“They [Emma and Aiden] aren’t 100% sure they are interested in taking over,” he said. “It’s in the future for them if they want. They both work here; they’re just not sure about their future.”

“We started in 1947; started on Leitch Street as strictly a body shop,” Dennis said. “We moved here [county Route 57] in 1955.”

An aerial photo showing the Route 57 location in 1962 adorns the wall at the front of the shop.

“It was actually taken out of an airplane,” Dennis said. “We used to run a salvage yard,” he added, explaining the multitude of vehicles in the photo.

“When we first moved here, this was a body shop all the way through. The salvage yard was out back.”

It was ‘56, might have been ‘55, they took on GMC trucks, Dennis recalled.

“Sold them not many years; might have had them until ’60 or ’61, somewhere in there. So, very few years with them,” he added.

“Started out with GMC, took on Studebaker in the fall of ’58 — the ’59 model year. We sold them until they went out of business in ’66. We took on Dodge in the fall of ’63, which would have been the ’64 model year and of course we are still with them.”

The secret to longevity “It takes a lot of hard work,” Dennis replied. “Trying to take care of customers they way that we should.”

“Our reputation for customer care carried us through,” Doug agreed.

There have been a lot of changes over the decades.

“Changes were taking on new car dealerships. The cars have gotten bigger and faster,” Dennis said with a laugh.

“We’ve expanded several times over the years — a lot. Most additions were service bays to take care of people. A few years ago, we put in a new paint booth in the body shop. We are full-service; sales and service body shop, the whole gamut.”

Car maintenance has also changed a great deal.

“It’s getting very close to being that you need to know computer science,” Dennis said of the technology degree needed to service today’s high-tech vehicles. “We send our techs to a lot of schooling. There’s a horrendous amount of computer monitors, sensors, everything else on today’s cars.”

More cars are being made with more plastic and aluminum parts, he pointed out.

There’s an old joke that you could

fix cars in the ‘old days’ with a hammer and a screwdriver.

“Yup and a little baling wire; you can’t do that anymore. I don’t even look under the hood of a new car anymore,” Dennis quipped. “Things were a lot simpler back in those days.”

Annual car show “We do a yearly car show here — highlight classic muscle cars,” Doug said. “We’d get 300, 400, 500 cars and about 1,500 to 2,000 people. The city did something similar down at the lake.

We’ve done it, how many years now?”

“Coming up will be our 12th,’ Dennis replied.

Each Longley has their own favorite vehicle.

“It’s probably my ’67 Charger for me,” Doug said.

“Probably the favorite car I’d love to own but don’t would be a 1968 Dart — it has to have a hemi in it though,” Dennis said.

“Both of us did [race] for quite a few years,” Dennis added. “Drag racing, not that circle racing.”

“Used to drag race up there [Fulton Speedway] in the late ‘80s to mid ‘90s,” Doug said. “My father drag raced at Fulton Speedway in the ‘60s and stopped racing for a couple decades.

He got back into racing at ESTA drag strip [in Cicero] in the late ‘80s until the mid ‘90s.”

“Won a track championship back in the day [1989],” Dennis added. “Then I sold my car and quit racing in 1996.

It was taking up too much time. I still miss it.”

“Nowadays it’s getting more expensive,” he added with a smile.

DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

37

BUSINESS UPDATE “We don’t want to give them more than they need, because obviously you are paying for money and they would be paying more than they need to. So, in essence we are helping them grow.”

Quick turnaround

Entrepreneur Bob Natoli of Oswego. File photo.

Entrepreneur Bob Natoli Enters the Lending Business

By Stefan Yablonski

R

obert Natoli, the Oswego entrepreneur who built Rentavision, a rentto-own business, and in 1999 sold it for a reportedly $92 million, is entering a new line of business — business to business lending.

Colonial Finance Group Inc. will lend up to $1 million to business people who want to expand or entrepreneurs who want to start a business.

“Colonial Finance Group has been around — it’s been incorporated for quite a while. We have done other things with that business,” he said. “But in terms of loaning money — we are just starting that now.”

Natoli, 67, said he started the new line of business because he grew dissatisfied with the banking industry.

“Primarily, I think the small business person really is not understood by the typical banker,” the Oswego native said. “Judging by what I went through back in the day and a lot of tales that

I hear from friends now, I figured this would be a very good time to launch this type of business. And, it is after COVID, of course. A lot of businesses were hurt, so maybe they need some financing to get back up on their feet again — to expand or whatever.”

He said he has a team in place ready to help those who need money.

“We have your typical secretary answering the phone, a team that works in loan origination and checks on the applications. We have a sales department where people will greet the potential customers and on and on,” he said.

The company, which is based in Oswego, will lend any amount up to a $1 million, based on the customer’s needs.

“What we feel their needs are. There are a multitude of businesses — service industry, retail, fitness and on and on,” he said. “We have a good idea about what the small business person would actually need.

38 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

“If a person comes to us, they would find that within a few days they would have a yes or a no. It would be that quick,” he said. “If you go to the typical bank you would have to go before a committee. It could be up to six months before you get a no from a bank.”

When he was building Rentavision, “I went to 33 banks, 33, before I got a yes,” he said.

In many ways banks are antiquated when it comes to working with ambitious entrepreneurs, according to Natoli. They don’t understand their needs and they don’t work in concert to their pace, he added.

“And that is what we offer,” he said.

“There is a place for banks, don’t get me wrong. If you want to get a mortgage on your home, buy an automobile, you know. I am not knocking banks. It’s just in this particular area; I feel that we would definitely be better at serving the entrepreneur than a bank would be.”

Are there any federal or state regulations he needs to comply with?

“Oh, always. We are in New York state; of course there are — but we have already jumped through those hoops.

I have somebody that does just that stuff,” he said. “New York has more laws and regulations than I think any other state — maybe aside from California.

I am not sure; I have never opened a business in California. But I hear it’s not very pleasant.”

“But, on the same token, it’s also a barrier to entry of competition — I always look on the bright side of things, you know that,” he added.

The Oswego native graduated from Oswego High School and attended SUNY Oswego, graduating with a degree in communications. In 2005 he started Time Buyer Auto Sales, a business that sells cars and finances the sale. According to the 2023 Business Guide, the company has 14 employees in Oswego Natoli is also the author of “True Vision 4 Success,” a book that focuses on what he has done to achieve professional and personal success through thinking.

BUSINESS UPDATE

D

Dentist Travis Kearns joins His Father’s Practice Dentist Travis T. Kearns (right) joined Associated Dental Arts of Oswego. The practice is owned by his father, dentist Tom Kearns.

entist Thomas P. Kearns recently announced that his son, Travis T. Kearns, has joined his practice — Associated Dental Arts of Oswego.

“I am fortunate to have Dr. Travis by my side to help provide the best dental health to the Oswego and surrounding community,” he said.

Travis received his undergraduate degree from Clemson University.

“He received the same dental education as me at the No. 1 ranked dental school in the world, the University of Michigan,” his father added.

After completing his dental education in 2021, Travis continued his training at a general practice residency program at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.

“He brings a wealth of updated knowledge and dental procedures, along with his drive and desire to provide the highest level of dental care possible,” his father said.

He will also continue to perform in-office root canals using a state of the art rotary instrumentation, a technique to more effectively clean and seal a tooth.

He will continue the office’s practice of conservative air abrasion dentistry (microdenistry). “This technique enables us to conserve as much natural tooth structure as possible,” the senior Kearns explained.

Travis will also use digital photography to educate and enhance the dental experience, always looking to provide the best esthetic dental care possible in the most conservative manner.

Along with his love of dentistry, Travis is a huge sports fan. He particularly follows the St. Louis Blues, Cubs, Detroit Lions, and the Clemson and Michigan football teams. In his spare time you will find him working out and occasionally playing a game or two of online poker.

He is a member of the American Dental Society and The Academy of General Dentistry.

“I will continue to see patients and with Dr. Travis by my side, I feel confident we will continue to provide the community with the best dental health available,” Thomas Kearns said.

The elder Kearns has been practicing dentistry in Oswego for more than 30 years. He provides a wide range of dental services.

DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

39

DINING OUT RESTAURANT GUIDE

By Christopher Malone

Coconut shrimp with the raspberry pepper sauce. The crispy shrimp, not jumbo, were cooked very well with nicely singed coconut flakes.

40 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

MAKING A SPLASH AT THE WATERFRONT

Brewerton restaurant — The Waterfront Tavern — aims for comfort

I

t’s difficult to miss The Waterfront Tavern while coming over the Route 11 bridge in Brewerton, whether you’re coming from Onondaga County or the meaty part of Oswego County.

It’s the perk of having a spot on the water — eyes seem to automatically dart to the water.

Waterside restaurants are also great year-round. Nature is, well, naturally adaptable no matter how humid or frigid the temperature gets. But the atmosphere inside is equally accommodating. The Waterfront Tavern boasts a tiki-themed deck but the eatery has a fishing shack vibe.

It’s not run down, but with all the wood walls and furnishings, the décor and the view of the river from the bar, it’s a cozy (not “cramped-cozy”) atmosphere. There’s a distinct musty smell but it’s not off-putting. It’s actually kind of charming. Plus, the occasional creak with a step just adds to it all.

I sat down and ordered a craft beer ($7.50) from the tap while opting to take the meal to go, due to time constraints.

The entire meal took just long enough for me to almost finish the beer, which I accidentally spilled. The pint glass holding my beer at the Waterfront had a magnetic chip at the bottom, which

closed a hole at the bottom. It’s great marketing tactic for the bar but bad for people like me, whose finger grazed the bottom, creating a gap on accident. Out came the butt of the beer.

The food traveled well for the 20-minute commute. The coconut shrimp with the raspberry pepper sauce ($11.99) kicked the meal off. The crispy shrimp, not jumbo, were cooked very well with nicely singed coconut flakes.

The medium-thick raspberry pepper sauce was very good. It had the right amount of heat, just noticeable enough with my heat tolerance.

Instead of opting for another ap-

The turkey and cranberry croissant sandwich: The buttery, flaky pastry didn’t disappoint as a replacement for bread.

DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

41

LEFT: Walleye dinner: The lightly breaded and not insanely fried walleye was a rewarding spontaneous decision. It comes with coleslaw and fries.

RIGHT: Fish tacos appetizer: three soft taco shells filled with chunks of haddock, pico de gallo and coleslaw. The ingredients tasted fresh and the haddock was plentiful.

petizer, the fish tacos ($15.99) sounded pretty, um, appetizing. Three soft taco shells are filled with chunks of haddock, pico de gallo and coleslaw. The ingredients tasted fresh and the haddock was plentiful. Although these aren’t the most aesthetically attractive tacos, their taste makes up for it.

The only downside was the lack of pico. One of the tacos had the fresh salsa, another had a trace amount and the third did not. Given this “Goldilocks paradox” the pico truly added to the taco. The two without it lacked the pizazz.

The turkey and cranberry croissant sandwich ($13.99) caught my attention due to the croissant. The buttery, flaky pastry didn’t disappoint as a replacement for bread. I preferred it with the turkey, cranberries, walnuts, lettuce and cranberry mayo.

For the price of the sandwich, getting a few slices of deli turkey instead of thick meaty pieces was a little deterring.

It’s easy to rationalize prices of sandwiches considering its components. A time of inflation or not, the sandwich was on the pricier side for what was presented. But aside from that, the

croissant and the cranberry mayo were redeeming qualities.

The sandwich also comes with a handful of house-made chips, which were also great. Some of the seasoned chips tasted a little too salty, but were very good.

Staying with the potatoes, the French fries are also crispy and delicious. Along with coleslaw, which was the same basic coleslaw found on the fish tacos, the fries came with the walleye dinner ($19.99). I was going to opt for another entrée, but this special caught my eye.

The lightly breaded and not insanely fried walleye was a rewarding spontaneous decision. The batter easily fell off the skin, exposing the white meaty fish. It was a flavorful (and almost buttery) comparison to the typical fried haddock or cod found at Central New York restaurants.

A note to diners using credit cards, The Waterfront Tavern does blatantly say they tack on a 3.75% upcharge to cover that cost. With everything considered and before tip, the bill came to $75.

As stated earlier, I’m sticking to designating the Waterfront Tavern as a

42 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

cozy bar. The camp-like atmosphere is comfortable to me. The staff was friendly. I shared some laughs with a couple of the guys at the bar while enjoying a beer and waiting for food.

Although the food isn’t that of a five-star restaurant (it never says it is), the food did the trick. And I’m not one to complain about hanging out at a spot for a beer and a bite with a side of human interaction.

The Waterfront Tavern 6 US-11, Central Square, NY 13036 315-676-3126 thewaterfronttavern.com facebook.com/waterfrontbrewerton

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DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

43

Tug Hill Snowshoe Outing in Amboy, Oswego County.

44 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

SPECIAL REPORT

Capitalizing on the Snow The Tug Hill earned a reputation as the “snowiest place” east of the Mississippi, and that has helped communities build their winter economies around many different outdoor activities

By Norah Machia

L

ooking for a fun and healthy way to beat those winter blues? The Tug Hill region, covering parts of Oswego, Oneida, Jefferson and Lewis counties, could be your answer.

Located between Lake Ontario and the Adirondacks, the region is known for record-breaking snowfalls, providing the perfect setting for winter recreational enthusiasts. There is usually enough snow on the ground throughout the season to create a perfect winter playground.

The Tug Hill Plateau is the area with the highest elevation and record-breaking snowfalls. It has earned a reputation as the “snowiest place” east of the Mississippi, and that has helped rural Tug Hill communities build their winter economies around many different outdoor activities.

But as the days get shorter and the temperature drops, it’s often difficult for people to keep motivated to exercise and remain active during the winter months, especially in the outdoors.

For the first time this year, the Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust will offer a Winter Fun Challenge to encourage people of all ages to participate in outdoor winter activities while discovering the region’s beautiful scenery and natural resources.

In many ways, the winter time is one of the best seasons to explore the Tug Hill region, said Linda Gibbs, community programs director for the nonprofit land trust.

“It offers such a different experience than warmer seasons,” she said. “It can be so peaceful with snow lightly falling or on a sunny day with the snow spar-

Participants in Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust Snowshoe Outing in Williamstown, Oswego County.

kling. It can be magical.”

The Winter Fun Challenge officially kicks off on Dec. 1 and will run through April 15. Those interested in participating may register for the Winter Fun Challenge on the land trust’s website.

The challenge event runs through midApril because in the Tug Hill region, it’s not unusual for snow covering to still be on the ground in early spring, according to Gibbs.

Between December and mid-April, those who participate in at least eight activities in the Tug Hill region will earn a special patch or decal to recognize their achievement. (Of course, people are encouraged to participate in as many activities as they wish, said Gibbs).

The Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust has compiled a list of places for snow-

shoeing, cross-country and downhill skiing, snow-tubing and other non-motorized winter activities that people can enjoy during the cold winter months.

These will be posted on the agency’s website, along with the Winter Fun Challenge registration form.

In addition, numerous public parks and lands throughout the Tug Hill region remain open during the winter, and activities on those trails will also count toward the Winter Fun Challenge. A listing of public trails may be found in the official Tug Hill Recreation Guide.

Those denoted with a cross-country skier icon indicate they are open during the winter months.

“All we ask is that people send us a list of the places they visited and we’ll send them a patch or decal,” Gibbs

DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

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said. “But we would also appreciate any photos or stories that people would like to send us as well.”

There are plenty of winter photography opportunities throughout the Tug Hill region. The landscape includes a mix of dense forests, valley farmlands, gorges, large flowing rivers and scenic waterfalls, along with a diverse wildlife habitat.

Photos or stories submitted by participants in any of the four counties will be posted on the agency’s website during the Winter Fun Challenge event.

For those who are not familiar with the region, the Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust is planning several guided outings during the winter season. These will be publicized on the land trust’s website.

Participation in those outings will also count toward the Winter Fun Challenge.

“We’re trying to get people out to enjoy the winter,” said Gibbs. “There are so many discoveries to make when snow is on the ground and has transformed everything.”

For example, families with young children may enjoy looking for animal tracks in the snow and trying to identify them. This could become a fun family activity if a printed chart identifying animal tracks is brought along on the outing, she suggested.

“You see things that you never notice or were not evident in other seasons,” Gibbs added. “Then, of course, there’s the joy of bundling up in blankets with a cup of hot chocolate after an outing!”

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For more information on the Winter Fun Challenge, visit www.tughilltomorrowlandtrust.org.

A comprehensive list of parks and trails, along with additional information about the Tug Hill region, is also available at www.visittughill.com.

The official Tug Hill Recreation Guide (published by the 1000 Islands Tourism Council) may be found at www. visit1000islands.com/request-a-guide.

(NOTE: The Tug Hill Recreation Guide includes maps of numerous trails located on state parks and lands throughout the region. While those marked with a cross-country skier icon indicate the trails are open for use during the winter months, it’s best to check out each individual site on the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation website before venturing out to determine which areas have plowed parking lots or groomed trails).

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SPECIAL REPORT

Faye Beckwith, real estate agent and co-owner of Freedom Real Estate in Hannibal. “I think it’s still a sellers’ market, but not as strong as it has been,” she says.

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CNY Real Estate Cools Off

Property prices are not climbing as quickly as they had been; inventory remains limited

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

F

or a variety of reasons, the hot real estate market has cooled from its previous selling frenzy.

Beginning in 2020, sellers typically received several offers on their home upon listing it. Buyers agreed to “as is” terms to hasten closing the deal and sellers could close quickly, with their homes spending few days on the market.

That urgency to buy began to slow in the past several months, and property prices are not climbing as quickly as they had been.

“The median sale price is on an up-

ward trend,” said Amber Spain-Mosher, New York state licensed real estate salesperson with RE/MAX Masters in Skaneateles.

She noted that the median sales price was just below $140,000 for homes in Central New York in 2019. That has ballooned to well over $180,000 by June of 2022, not including new construction; however, the rate of growth has slowed.

A smaller inventory of available homes is partly responsible for the price hike. Spain-Mosher said that 1,343 homes were for sale in October of 2020, but that number slipped to 928 by

48 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

Amber Spain-Mosher, real estate salesperson with RE/MAX Masters in Skaneateles. “Buyers’ mindsets are changing. They are more cautious.”

October 2021 and 858 by October 2022; a trend which she said is significant.

On an individual sale, the average property sale price has decreased,

partly because of fewer offers submitted by potential buyers, according to Spain-Mosher, and also because the greater number of days that homes are spending on the market.

Real estate agents “are slowly starting to see an increasing number of days on market, fewer multiple-offer situations where many people are submitting offers on one property — a bidding war.

“We’ve also started seeing price reductions, which have been almost nonexistent over the past few years,” she added.

She views sellers as the slowest party to respond to changes in a market.

Of course, they want to get the most that they can for their properties — as much as neighbors who cashed in on the booming housing market months ago.

But that ship may have sailed.

“Buyers’ mindsets are changing,” Spain-Mosher said. “They are more cautious, likely driven by increasing interest rates and a desire to not settle because they don’t want to have to move again soon. The buying process right now is exhausting for many buyers who are often spending months looking for a home and making several offers on properties before getting one accepted.”

In recent years, Spain-Mosher has seen buyers waiving inspections to make their offers more attractive.

Those days may be over, as agents are starting to see buyers make one offer on a home lower than the list price with that inspection contingency.

“Sellers are negotiating or accepting the offers because they don’t have others,” Spain-Mosher said.

Despite the slow-down, sellers should still do well selling property this winter.

“It still is a sellers’ market,” said Thomas K. Elleman Sr., real estate agent with Howard Hanna in Manlius. “I don’t think the prices are as crazy as they were, but many houses still sell right away if priced right. It’s a sellers’ market in the winter as buyers still need housing.”

He encourages sellers to spruce up the small issues of presentation, such as minor repairs, landscaping and fresh paint. However, investing in costly home repairs and improvements may not pay off unless they are necessary such as replacing a bad roof.

Judy Winslow, licensed real estate broker for Hunt Real Estate ERA in Manlius, feels no concern about rising interest rates slowing the market further.

“Homes are still selling; it’s the American dream to buy your own home,” she said. “I bought a home in the ‘70s with 12% interest. People are always going to buy houses.”

Whether moving for a job, upsizing for a family, or downsizing at retirement, people have many unavoidable reasons to move.

Winslow thinks that the using the right networking strategies can help people sell their homes as the market slows, along with using creativity to set up deals that are fair and accessible to buyers.

From her side of the desk, she also works hard to follow up with sellers who a year or two ago mentioned to her they may consider selling their homes.

Oftentimes, all it takes is the right timing and another house is available on the market.

“I think it’s still a sellers’ market, but not as strong as it has been,” said Faye Beckwith, real estate agent and co-owner of Freedom Real Estate in Hannibal. “It’s still low inventory. We’re experiencing the traditional seasonal slowdown. That happens this time of year. Most buyers understand they can’t get into a new home before the holidays.

Our time from contract to closing has increased significantly.”

Typically, it takes about 60 days from sale to closing. Beckwith said that legal backlogs have held up some sales, as have whether the seller needs time to move out or if the buyer requires financing.

“Prices are stabilizing,” Beckwith said. “Seller expectations are high because of the last couple of years. We’ve seen major in fluctuation in property sales. With interest rates rising, buyers can’t afford the same amount they could even three to four months ago.”

Like Winslow, she remembers much higher interest rates decades ago — even 18% to 20%. And, that did not stop buyers from purchasing homes. But she has noticed that fewer people are making large down payments on their purchases and that many require the maximum mortgage for the purchase.

Despite this, “we’re very busy,” Beckwith said. “Inventory is still low and the good ones are getting snatched up. We’ve had a number of inquiries of people who are interested in building as we have a number of land listings but it’s becoming cost and time prohibitive.

Some builders are booked for two or three years out. We also know a builder who has recently retired.”

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49

SPECIAL REPORT

Micron’s to Spur CNY Real Estate Boom Cicero, Pennellville, Phoenix and Central Square are some of the areas likely to see a spike in housing development, say experts

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

M

icron Technology’s plans to invest in $100 billion over the next 20plus years to build a memory and storage technology production facility in Clay will affect the region in innumerable ways, including real estate.

With a continuing housing shortage, an influx of new workers to the region could further increase demand for housing.

“Micron is definitely affecting the Central New York real estate market and likely will more so in the near future as workers are needed for construction and then to work for the company,” said Amber Spain-Mosher, New York state licensed real estate salesperson with RE/MAX Masters in Skaneateles.

“As for now, we’re seeing an uptick in the number of investors and businesses buying land, existing homes and commercial buildings.

“For both investors and future employees, we can think of it like an impact ripple moving out from Clay where Micron is set to build and where the impact is greatest and rippling out across our Central New York real estate market.”

Spain-Mosher thinks that Micron will affect Phoenix, Pennellville and Central Square the most. Spain-Mosher recently spoke with a local home builder who said that he, along with other home builders have discussed getting together to talk about what to do about

50 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

the housing shortage, since the number of existing homes is not sufficient to meet the coming need.

“It’s pretty exciting,” said Judy Winslow, licensed real estate broker for Hunt Real Estate ERA in Manlius.

“Every real estate conversation I have is about it. I have buyers who are buying investments in single family homes to rent out in anticipation of the value going up in these homes.”

She feels certain that CNY will see increases in new construction as well, both for rental units and single-family homes. Despite a potentially worsening housing crunch — at least for a while — Winslow anticipates that Micron joining the CNY business landscape “will bring more jobs and things will be better for everyone.”

Rentals will likely be more for shortterm workers constructing the site.

As for employees, “they’ll have to bring in people from other cities to work there so it’s bound to put pressure on the market,” said Thomas K. Elleman Sr., real estate agent with Howard Hanna in Manlius.

Micron has touted its future facility as one that will offer high-paying jobs. For this reason, Elleman believes that construction will likely outpace home sales. He anticipates more home construction in outlying areas such as Cicero, Lysander, Phoenix and Fulton.

But for some people working at Micron, paying more for an existing home will suit them better.

“New housing will be more expensive and you have to wait,” Elleman noted.

But with higher demand, more people will be vying for any particular house, driving its price up.

With more people and the trickle-down growth of more suppliers of goods and services in the area, “we’ll see more tax dollars in the area.”

Sometimes, rapid growth in a city can cause “sprawl,” where lack of planning creates less than pleasing results.

Rob Simpson, president of CenterState CEO, views Micron’s coming as “historic” and able to “create untold opportunities for the entire region.”

Yet he also said that those from the public and private sector who have worked to bring Micron here have “focused on initiatives to prepare our workforce and create needed housing and infrastructure advancements. This includes promoting smart growth strat-

“It’s pretty exciting.

Every real estate conversation I have is about it. I have buyers who are buying investments in single family homes to rent out in anticipation of the value going up in these homes.”

Judy Winslow, licensed real estate broker for Hunt Real Estate ERA in Manlius. egies that prevent unnecessary sprawl, maintain affordability of housing and ensuring disadvantaged communities aren’t negatively impacted. We are fortunate to have Micron as our newest partner in these efforts.”

While it is easy to see why Micron excites area planners and real estate agents, the company’s plans involve building at the Clay site for the next 20 years. A lot can happen in two decades.

“It is a significant waiting period,” said Faye Beckwith, real estate agent and co-owner of Freedom Real Estate in Hannibal. “The entry-level people they will hire are not even in kindergarten yet. Some things will happen immediately but it’s hard to know.

How could there be a bigger demand than there already is? There is big demand for rentals already. Condos and townhouses are relatively new around here. Some effects I’ve seen over 38 years in the real estate business is when there is a problem with energy or fuel prices, more specifically automobile fuel, people tend to purchase homes closer to the cities. If that’s not a major concern for buyers, they’ll venture into the countryside.”

Like Winslow, she anticipates more new construction in outlying areas if a builder and the goods are available.

Because people coming to Clay will want a home right away, Beckwith thinks modular homes should increase in popularity. As Micron gains steam, more people considering downsizing will go for it.

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L. Michael Treadwell ooc@oswegocounty.org

County of Oswego IDA Releases Annual Report The COIDA was formed in 1973 in accordance with New York State General Municipal Law by the Oswego County Legislature. Members of the agency are appointed by the county legislature. The board of directors as of its fiscal year ending July 21, 2022 was composed of the following: Gary T. Toth (chairman), Nicholas M. Canale (vice chairman), H. Leonard Schick (secretary/ treasurer), Marc Greco, Morris Sorbello, Tim Stahl, and Barry Trimble as directors. I served as chief executive officer and Kevin LaMontagne as chief financial officer.

During this fiscal year, significant progress in economic development has been supported by the COIDA. The agency held 12 meetings and seven public hearings during this period.

The COIDA supported 22 projects that have invested or will be investing $89.5

millions in Oswego County. The job impact of these projects will result in 155 new jobs and the retention of 164 existing jobs over the next three to five years.

During this period, the COIDA provided or approved assistance through four of its nine financial assistance programs. The two programs which supported the greatest number of projects were the Straight Lease Transaction and the Micro Enterprise Program Economic Development Fund, representing 68% and 27% of the projects respectively.

The Straight Lease Transaction provides financial assistance to companies via real property tax, sales and use tax and mortgage recording tax exemptions as authorized by NYS General Municipal Law. The program supported 15 projects projected to create 139 and retain 143 jobs

Economic Trends

‘COIDA held 12 meetings and seven public hearings during its most recent fiscal year.

It supported 22 projects that have invested or will be investing $89.5 millions in Oswego County. The job impact of these projects will result in 155 new jobs and the retention of 164 existing jobs over the next three to five years.’

L. MICHAEL TREADWELL, CEcD, is executive director of Operation Oswego County based in Oswego. To contact him call 315-343-1545 or visit www.oswegocounty.org.

COIDA acquired 185 acres adjacent to the Oswego County Industrial Park in Schroeppel at a strategic location and even more so due to the Micron Technology announcement.

52 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

Some of the programs offered by Operation Oswego County have helped businesses such as Highland Animal Hospital in Hastings and Big Diper in Fulton.

in Oswego County. Some examples of projects that were assisted through this program include: ASA Volney NY Solar in the town of Volney, SSC Oswego II in the city of Oswego, Tully’s Good Times Family, Inc. in the city of Oswego, Mexico PV in the town of Mexico, HealthWay in the town of Richland and Highland Animal Hospital in the town of Hastings.

The Micro Enterprise Program Economic Development Fund was capitalized from a HUD grant and matching funds from the COIDA. It provides loans to graduates of the micro-enterprise training program sponsored by Operation Oswego County, SUNY Oswego and the COIDA. The program supported six projects projected to create 15 and retain 16 jobs in Oswego County.

Examples of the projects that are being assisted through this program include Kathy’s Cakes & Specialty Treats in the town of Volney, Upward Graphics in the city of Fulton, Eir Healing & Wellness in the village of Sandy Creek and Fairway

Billiards in the town of Granby.

Other forms of assistance administered by the COIDA during the 20212022 fiscal year included the PILOT Economic Development Fund, which supported one project and the USDA Intermediary Relending Program Economic Development Fund, which supported one project.

Business projects assisted were distributed throughout Oswego County, located in nine towns and villages and the cities of Fulton and Oswego. Projects represented numerous industry sectors, including manufacturing, services, tourism and recreation, energy and mixed-use. Nine were service businesses, 10 projects were energy related, one was manufacturing, one was mixeduse, and one was tourism related. Ten of the 22 projects were in solar energy, representing 45% of all projects and 85% of total capital investment. Detail on each is provided in the COIDA annual report which may be found at www. oswegocountyida.org.

The COIDA PILOT payment distribution constituted $39 million of which $26 million (66.8%) went to school districts, $2.4 million (6%) to cities, towns, villages and $10.6 million (27%) to the county. Inclusive of all PILOTs, payments represented 78.1% of normal tax constituting a net exemption of 21.9% To help address the impact on small business, the COIDA supported the development of a COVID-19 emergency relief program working in cooperation with Operation Oswego County which administered a $500,000 loan program.

Forty-Six businesses participated in this program.

To help expand the county’s capacity for potential attraction of industrial/ business development, the COIDA acquired 185 acres adjacent to the Oswego County Industrial Park in the town of Schroeppel at a strategic location and even more so due to the Micron Technology announcement.

DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

53

Finding a Successor: Promoting from Within

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

I

f you have your eye on retiring from your small business, you will need to find someone to take the helm and fill other leadership roles before you go, if you want the business to continue.

Finding a successor and support staff—like filling any role within the organization—means recruiting outside people or promoting from within.

John R. Halleron, advanced certified senior business adviser with the Small Business Development Center, sees some merit in the latter.

“Rather than focus on bringing in new workers, efforts should be made to retain those who have actually stayed and are already trained,” he said.

Promoting from within to fill leadership roles may not always be possible and sometimes new blood may be the right choice. The current employees may not be ready for leading and if your retirement looms, an outside hire may make more sense.

Tom Barkley, professor of finance practice at Syracuse University, said that which way you go — promotion or new hire — depends on what your company needs.

“New employees often bring new

ideas, better ways to run a business, different perspectives on how to grow the business and reach customers because they have experience from other places,” he said. “Sometimes, bringing in new employees is better than promoting from within because that typically perpetuates the same ideas. If that leads to not performing as well, having new employees could be a better approach.”

On the other hand, promoting from within may lead to better acceptance of new leaders if they have already developed a following. The experience they have can make the transition smoother.

They know their way around. They have history with the company.

“Long-term employees have a better feel for what will work, what won’t work, what the culture of the company is like, are the bosses very demanding or micromanagers or is it more relaxed and casual in approach,” Barkley said.

“The existing employees have a good feel for costs and benefits and values the company holds. Promoting within can be an advantage over someone who’s new.”

Promoting existing employees should not be a subjective decision or a

54 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

“gut feeling.” It is easy to let emotions trump discernment, especially if yours is a small, family-operated business and you want to promote a family member.

Avoid allowing your feelings to weigh heavily in the decision. Rather, look at candidates objectively.

Barkley encourages business owners to look for employees with proven leadership skills, including the willingness of other employees to follow them.

“Good leaders often involve humility, being willing to listen, and the ability to aggregate information from across all parties,” Barkley said. “That takes time and it means people will act slowly. But good leaders are willing to make tough decisions that might involve firing people, cutting back on certain areas that some people think of as sacrosanct.”

The size or frequency of group leadership is less a measure of leadership skills than the profitability of the division. Examine metrics such as completing projects on time and finishing them within the budget. Look for those who inspire others to achieve goals.

Barkley also said that leaders think of those they lead more than they think of themselves.

“Good leadership skills include sensitivity to diversity, equity and inclusion,” Barkley said. “We want to make sure employees feel comfortable where they work and they’re not harassed.

Make sure that there aren’t gender or racist incidences or any other discriminatory things.”

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55

COVER

AUSTIN WHEELOCK NOW IN CHARGE

Operation Oswego County’s new executive director is now in charge of economic development in Oswego County.

He is optimistic about the county’s future and expects substantial growth in the region as a result of Micron Technology’s investment in Clay

By Stefan Yablonski

O

n Jan. 1, 2023, Austin Wheelock will become the new executive director of Operation Oswego County, the county’s designated economic development agency.

He vows to build upon the good work of his predecessor, L. Michael Treadwell, who retires at the end of December after nearly 40 years on the job.

“I am married; my wife’s name is Amy. We have no kids — two dogs.

We live out in the village of Cleveland, on Oneida Lake. I think it’s really one of the nicest places to live. It’s a jewel that I think is going to see more development and opportunity in the years to come —especially with Micron out in the Clay area,” he said. “You’ll see a lot happening in the Cicero area; I think it will spill over into Oswego County.”

Wheelock graduated from Homer High School. He has degrees from Morrisville, Alfred State and a master’s degree from the University at Buffalo in urban regional planning.

“Urban regional planning kind of developed in the 1960s as part of urban renewal,” he explained. “I think they kind of realized a lot of their mistakes with urban renewal; you know, it’s not all about the suburbs and moving out there — it’s about developing the urban corridors. Urban planning was more about getting people to the suburbs and now it’s more about developing your urban corridors.”

He had taken an elective course in economic development. It was taught by an adjunct professor, Jim Allen, who was running the Town of Amherst Industrial Development Agency in Western New York.

“I thought it was really exciting, really interesting. I thought it was a great productive way to use the knowledge and experience of urban regional planning to improve a community from the business side,” Wheelock said. “I got interested in that and at the time I asked that professor ‘how do you get a job in economic development?’ He told me that in New York state one of the good places to work is the New York State Economic Council.”

So he checked their website — the same day Operation Oswego County had posted a job opening.

“I applied. I was hired, before I’d even graduated. So I knew where I was going right out of grad school,” he said. “I’ve been here and I’ve loved it ever since.”

Wheelock moved his way up through the ranks: economic development specialist, property manager, then deputy director and now executive director.

“I started in 2006. Along the way, I also went through a pretty rigorous economic development training with the International Economic Council and became a certified economic developer.

56 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

I’ve been certified since 2014. I think there are about 1,200 of those worldwide now. It’s a pretty good thing to have and a good way to learn and prepare for the job,” he said.

In high school, he had another career in mind.

“My plan was to be an architect. I was creative in that way. Actually, my first four years of college was studying in that field. Doing that, I actually learned about urban regional planning. I felt that was a better use of my skills and talents. Instead of designing buildings for just one person, I could develop and facilitate [development] for an entire community. That’s kind of how I got to where I am. Also, I am a lefty. So I use the right side of my brain,” he quipped.

Creating the game plan Wheelock takes the helm of Operation Oswego County during a time of great optimism in the region, mostly as a result of the announcement from Idaho-based Micron Technology, which plans to invest heavily in the area. Micron is going to be a good thing to help the whole region, he said.

Micron Technology, Inc. is a producer of computer memory and computer data storage, including dynamic random-access memory, flash memory and USB flash drives. It plans to made a $100 billion investment in Clay over

Wheelock in front Operation Oswego County’s headquarters in Oswego on Oct. 31.

Photo by Chuck Wainwright DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

57

are going to be creating the game plan.”

Before Micron OOC purchased nearly 200 acres near the intersection of routes 264 and 481 in Schroeppel to more than double the size of the Oswego County Industrial Park, Wheelock said, adding that they were working to develop the property long before the Micron announcement.

“The decision was being made a while ago. We knew that it is a strategic site and we had been talking to our regional partners about that. It was no secret that [they] were trying to get a large manufacturer for a while. We just didn’t know the size and scope of that,” he said. “We have made investments.

The IDA had made a decision back in 2021 — this was a several year process — to negotiate for the purchase of that property.”

OOC acquired it in July of 2021 and since then has committed additional funds and are seeking funds through federal and state sources to build out the infrastructure.

“Now, the clock is really ticking!”

Wheelock added. “The new land, we have sort of a conceptual development for it. Now that we know what is coming, the size and the scope, our plan is to aggressively build out that site and market it to the best and highest use partners.”

Austin Wheelock at his office at Operation Oswego County in Oswego. He has worked at the economic development agency since 2006, serving as deputy director for the last five years.

the period of 20 years.

“I think because of our proximity, it’s just over the border in northern Onondaga County, I think there is going to be a lot of organic spillover. Our plan is to work with our key stakeholders to be prepared for it. We don’t want to just get ‘something,’ we want to make the right investments and the right decisions so that we can facilitate as much spillover as possible. That could be everything from businesses within the supply chain to workforce programs to housing and more. I mean, it is going to be a lot of stuff,” he said. “There are some bottlenecks to getting the most out of this, like infrastructure and some other things. But if we make the right investments and we include the right people, which at this point we are, we’ll see what can happen. I think we are all pulling in the right direction. We are just

going to have to, over the next several years, make the right investments and I think a lot of good things are going to happen.”

“It is one of my priorities to focus on adding [staff] to our team. Because of what is happening with Micron, we need to grow our team to have the right skill sets to match what’s coming and then our team overall in terms of the economic development stakeholders in the region to make sure that we are all on the same page and that we are all pulling in the right direction. If anything lags behind, it can be a bottleneck for the whole thing,” he added.

Wheelock calls the Micron announcement a ‘catalyst.’

“It’s really unprecedented for any of us. It’s the largest investment in this state — so we don’t have anything to compare it to in terms of a game plan. We

58 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

Even more development “You’ll see the village of Phoenix and town of Schroeppel looking at developing. They see opportunities now, too,” he said. “We are all thinking in the right way, we are all pulling in the right direction — to support or encourage some of that spillover development.”

“Our plans are to try to attract, for the size of that development, the size of the land down there, we could attract eight to 10 new businesses, which could support somewhere between 800 to 1,200 new jobs. That was sort of OK; it was ‘if this other thing happens’ ….

This ‘other thing’ has happened now so obviously we need to bring in the infrastructure and other things to do it,” he added.

“There won’t be any slowdown.

We are moving full speed ahead on all the other things we are doing,” he said.

“Communication and collaboration are going to be key for our office because we can’t do — we can do a lot of things — but we can’t do it all on our own.

There’s going to be a lot of partners all

Wheelock has been instrumental in developing The Next Great Idea, a business plan competition which awards $80,000 to the best business plans.

Photos show him with the winners of the 2018 and 2022 competitions.

working together.”

Wheelock has already taken dozens of meetings introducing himself in the new role.

“They all know me, but now I’m in a new role. We’ve talked about how we can all work together. The Micron project is sort of the carrot to ‘hey, this is why we all need to work together.’

There are some really exciting things going on,” he said. “We are going to really focus on the development and marketing of strategic sites for manufacturing and supply chain businesses.”

The time is right — for a lot of things “I think now with this [Micron project] and some of the other things all happening at the right time, there is going to be great momentum — opportunities all over Oswego County! We are looking at infrastructure improvement for sites that could be ready for development with the right investments,”

he said. “We’re also looking at ways to support agri-business and tourism in the county. There are many areas where we have significant amount of infrastructure and it makes sense that those are the locations you look at for your manufacturing; the areas that may not have the infrastructure, how do you support business growth in those areas?

“Look out in the Albion area with the Tailwater Lodge. That shows that rural areas can support tourism projects.

We are looking for the right opportunities to invest in, not just tourism but agribusiness and tourism in rural areas that create jobs and investment.”

There will be a lot of growth in Oswego County, according to Wheelock.

“We’re going to see workforce needs that are unprecedented. New programs are going to have to be created from K-12, vocational, two-year, fouryear schools and the trades,” he said.

“It’s going to be great; a positive cycle.”

Micron will start building in 2024, Wheelock noted.

“They’ll need people soon after that. At the same time, we’re going to work cooperatively with the state to prepare our sites for some of the spinoff. We’re not trying to compete with anybody — we’re trying to facilitate and make sure the state and CNY region captures as much of the spinoff as possible. It would be unfortunate to see something that could happen here go off to someplace else,” he said.

Entrepreneur initiatives on tap “We also want to build on a lot of our entrepreneur initiatives. We have some strong programs, the Next Great Idea competition for example,” he said.

“The first time we did it, we had three or four micro brewery plans combined.

This last competition, we had five plans alone. It shows that there is this sort of organic growth and what can we do to support that kind of industry. The winner of the 2022 competition was 6 Acres, and they are growing now out in Mexico.

“A lot of property in Oswego County is under-utilized. It could be better utilized for agriculture, tourism; where it makes sense for industrial and commercial it’s going to raise everything. Every community has different needs. Every community has different strengths.”

DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

59

“Austin has been a major team player in helping to attract companies and expand businesses, encouraging entrepreneurism and providing oversight over the many properties that OOC and the County of Oswego IDA have developed to promote and encourage economic development and job creation.”

L. Michael Treadwell, outgoing executive director of OOC and CEO of the County of Oswego IDA.

Mike says…

“Mike [Treadwell] told me to put a good team around us — in terms of staff as well as partners. That is why we are looking to add to our team, improve our skill set. More than ever we are looking to partner with our key stakeholders — the county, municipalities and everyone else, all of our adjacent counties,” Wheelock said. “We are trying to improve the playbook, but we’re writing it at the same time. It’s really an exciting time.

“Mike also said communication and collaboration are key. If we are all pulling in the same direction, it is a lot easier to get something done than if we are trying to do it alone.”

Being at OOC 16 years, Wheelock said he has “a pretty intimate idea of how things are done.”

“But there are still some things that Mike keeps close; those are the things in the next couple months that he’s showing me ‘this is how this is done … this is how you do that (not to say

that it has to be done that way going forward) if you chose so, this is the way we do this…’”

Supercharged “If I’m still here, as long as Mike’s been here, it means I’ve done a good enough job so that everyone wants to keep me. I hope so. I hope so. I’ve grown to love Oswego County. Since I moved here, I’ve grown a real attachment to the community — and really to the organization,” he said. “I am committed to the mission of Operation Oswego County. I thought, even before the Micron thing, it’s almost like you’re talking BC and AD — pre-Micron and after-Micron, I thought before we had such opportunities here in Oswego County to grow and to prosper. Before all this, we had plans to work on and do some great things I really think those plans are going to get supercharged now.”

“There is going to be a lot of opportunities for growth; it’s going to be strategic growth. I think things need to grow gradually or you’re going to get

60 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

push back from people. If growth happens properly, it’s best for everybody. If it happens all at once and isn’t planned properly it will create a lot of issues,” Wheelock continued. “We want to do things that are going to be good for the residents of Oswego County, creating good jobs, investment, improve the quality of life. That’s really the mission of our organization.

“We’ve been exporting talent; we’re going to be importing talent now. We now have this new playground to play in that wasn’t here before. It’s going to be built from scratch, from the ground up! Being able to help play a part in that is very exciting. It’s going to be a challenge, but we are up to the challenge.

I don’t want to call it a problem — it’s an opportunity. Some people might say, ‘it’s a good problem to have.’ It’s not a problem, it’s an opportunity! For CNY, it is the opportunity of a lifetime!”

As part of his new role at OOC, Wheelock will also serve as the CEO of the Oswego County Industrial Development Agency.

Bill Scriber Keynote Speaker at Toronto Conference

W

illiam Scriber, executive director-CEO, Port of Oswego, was a keynote speaker on economic sustainability, Nov. 15-17, at the 17th Annual Hwy H20 Conference in Toronto.

Hwy H20 is a trade organization that offers shippers direct access to the commercial, industrial and agricultural heartland of North America.

“It was an honor to be asked to make a presentation at this conference on the Port of Oswego and how, through our long-range planning and execution, we have become a major player in Great Lakes shipping and economic sustainability,” Scriber said.

The theme of the conference was “Path to a Sustainable Waterway,” and the goal was to present the latest content on economic, social, and environmental sustainability for the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System.

The event catered to a global market and gave shippers and maritime industry leaders in attendance the chance to exchange ideas and opportunities, he said.

In his presentation, Scriber detailed the Port of Oswego’s Vision 20/30 that set a road map for achieving economic stability and long-term success. Specifically, this meant the construction of a $15 million grain export center and creating opportunities in Oswego for both domestic and international grain shippers, as well as for the more than 100 local farmers who no longer have to truck their grain to ports like Baltimore.

In addition, the port has maximized its existing resources with upgrades to accommodate a new customer’s asphalt delivery, and upgrades that will now allow up to two ships and a barge to dock at the same time.

To develop an intermodal center at the port, rail access was crucial, Scriber said. “This expanded opportunities for new and existing customers, most notably Novelis and aluminum. When the St. Lawrence Seaway closes at the end of the season, rail provides a cost-effective transportation link. To ensure longterm sustainability, we invested more than $9 million in this facet.”

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Q&A

By Stefan Yablonski with back in South Carolina and Georgia. Scoot around a little bit. Probably grab a suitcase every once in a while and take a little trip. I’ve got a lot of things that I’d like to be doing but haven’t due to work commitments. My wife retired from teaching about five or six years ago. She’s been waiting for me to get free time so we can take some extended trips. We’ll be going back down south, South Carolina and Georgia, where I’m from. We have some friends in Florida, too. So probably some trips down there.

Q: So, you are going to stay warm.

A: Yes. I don’t want to travel to colder weather so we will be headed to warmer climates. I’m probably going to have to develop some new hobbies and stuff —my current hobby has been work.

Q: How would you describe your time in Oswego County?

A: I’ve had a lot of fun. I’ve had a lot of challenges, also. I kind of got separated from the family the last few years. Now I can get back into the family mode.

My wife was down in New Jersey most of the time; we have a house down there and she wanted to be closer to the grandkids. And I was up here most of the time.

Outgoing OOC Director Reflects on His Tenure Talks about losing companies — Nestle, Miller Brewing — retainting others

L

. Michael Treadwell is stepping down at the end of the year from his position as executive director of Operation Oswego County after nearly four decades of service. He joined Operation Oswego County in 1983 and has served as executive director throughout his tenure.

A: I have plenty to keep me busy. I have a couple little 4-year-old grandkids. Both of my daughters, one lives in Manhattan and one lives in New Jersey — I’ll be around them a lot and doing things. I’ll have an opportunity to, you know, run around a little bit.

Q: It’s early December and you are still very

Q: So, you are planning to do some trav-

busy tying up lose ends here at Operation Oswego County. Are you looking forward

to being able to slow down after you retire?

eling, too?

A: We’ll visit some friends I’ve worked

62 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

Q: What are you most proud of?

A: I was in economic development in South Carolina, working for the state in South Carolina for about 11 years before I moved up here. I was working at the state level. Came up here and faced a different challenge because I was at the local level. They (OOC) had a lot of good programs that had been successful. Probably what I am most proud of is, over time, coming here and turning the organization in to a — it was more of a one project by one project type of structure — we turned it into a more comprehensive and diversified economic development agency. They were just starting to build the industrial park and that has turned out to be very, very successful.

Q: Anything else?

A: The Broadwell hotel that was a major project. The Captain’s Quarters Best Western. That entire strip, right up to now with the water park — a massive project that’s close to my heart. The other thing is how we all worked together to

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63

save the FitzPatrick power plant and make it a sellable facility. That was basically a two-year project.

Q: Your improvements in southern Oswego

County have been rather fortuitous given the Micron announcement, haven’t they?

A: We have grown and expanded it [the industrial park] just in the nick of time, right before Micron got started.

I don’t know how that area could be more strategic than it is right now. There will be an extensive amount of demand placed on properties in that area. Not only for business related things, but development for housing and other types of commercial activity, too. That one project [Micron] will translate into hundreds of other projects.

Q: So, big projects are what you hope for?

A: Things don’t have to be huge to be very satisfying in terms of getting accomplished. One thing that I really am most proud of is back in 1995 was the potential of losing Sealright Packaging.

It was between staying in Fulton or moving to Kansas. Working with the city, Mayor [Don] Bullard at that time, the state, the Pataki administration, and the state economic development office and a bunch of other players we were able to save that plant, which is today thriving as Huhtamaki.

Q: How did you do that?

A: Working with the state, we got some money to basically “create land” so they could expand their campus. Tore down a huge old building that was non-functional and we worked with the city to turn over a street that went right between the Sealright properties. There was a junk yard sitting in the back of Sealright. The IDA and the city worked together to acquire that junk yard and had it cleaned up — they created a site that became their major distribution hub. None of that could have worked without everybody working together.

Q: So, there has been a lot of success?

A: For the most part, yes, the fun has outweighed the tough parts. You do lose in economic development, no question about that. It’s like baseball. Sometimes you hit a homerun with a great project like EJ USA — big expansions at Novelis and other companies like HealthWay. But you also lose projects.

Q: What losses stick out in your mind?

A: Miller for example; that was just a matter of over-production. They realized they had too many plants in the

‘That [Nestle] project died for one reason and one reason only — you had some corrupt individuals that were stealing money that was supposed to be going into developing the facility. It failed because of corruption.

If not for that, that facility would have gotten back into the production of chocolate. northeast and guess what the Volney plant happened to be the oldest one and that was the one that got shut down.

And the Nestle project is another.

It was probably one of the most frustrating failures. They had the expertise; they knew what they were doing. We should have had that plant operational again after Nestle.

That project died for one reason and one reason only — you had some corrupt individuals that were stealing money that was supposed to be going into developing the facility. It failed because of corruption. If not for that, that facility would have gotten back into the production of chocolate.

Q: You’ve been here since 1983. Have you

ever thought about moving on? What’s the secret to your longevity?

A: When I came here back in ’83 my intention was to work here maybe two or three years and then move on, kind of like a stepping stone. I interviewed for this job and met some super great people. I had a number of opportunities to leave and take other positions. But I liked the folks we were working with and enjoyed what we were doing and the progress we were making. I guess it was like starting a painting, you want to finish it; you don’t want to walk away from it. So I hung around. I enjoyed it. I still enjoy it and the people that I deal with.

Q: Looking ahead, what is your prediction for Oswego County’s future?

64 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

A: My prediction is that with the appropriate planning and development that Oswego County and all of Central New York is going to have a tremendous economic boost because of the Micron project.

Thank God we already bought that property in Schroeppel. If we hadn’t been aggressive in trying to piece something together to have a significant contiguous industrial site with four-lane highway access and rail, things would be different.

We still have to make some improvements in infrastructure down there to make everything fly, but that’s being worked on. We felt when we bought that property that we significantly overpaid for it. But, we bit the bullet and got control of the property.

If we had to do that again today, I guarantee you we’d pay five to 10 times as much. I don’t know if we could afford it. We’ve got a lot of things going for us down there.

The outlook is super, super positive.

There is a lot of potential all over.

Micron will have decade of impact on the region.

PRIOR TO JOINING OOC, L. Michael Treadwell worked for the South Carolina State Development Board from 1973-83.

From 1973-79, he served as a research and marketing analyst in the Planning and Research Division.

From 1979-81, he served as the administrator of economic development research for the planning and research division.

From 1981-83, he served as an industrial representative in the economic development division.

Treadwell graduated from the University of Georgia in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in geography; the University of South Carolina in 1973 with a master’s in geography; and the University of South Carolina in 1981 with a Master in Business Administration. He also graduated from the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute in 1977.

LOCAL LEADERS REACT TO MIKE TREADWELL’S RETIREMENT Treadwell is retiring after nearly 40 years leading economic development in Oswego County

By Stefan Yablonski

A

fter nearly 40 years of leading Operation Oswego County, L. Michael Treadwell plans to retire as of Dec. 31.

Treadwell joined Operation Oswego County in 1983 and has served as executive director throughout his tenure. The local, nonprofit economic development corporation has helped to stimulate more than $5 billion in investment and helped create and retain more than 29,000 jobs in Oswego County.

The Operation Oswego County board of trustees named Austin Wheelock the new executive director of Operation Oswego County, effective Jan. 1. Wheelock was chosen after a comprehensive national search was conducted.

Here is what are saying about his retirement “We always enjoyed working with Mike. Over the years he has been an avid supporter of community development and our businesses. He facilitated many opportunities that have helped make us successful. He will be greatly missed. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors. He is a wonderful human being!”

Terry LeRoi President of LeRoi Inc. Mike’s dedication to the business community of Oswego County has opened countless doors for businesses that otherwise would not have had the opportunity to

thrive and flourish. He has left a lifetime of impact on the Oswego County landscape.

Bill Carhart CEO of Oswego County Federal Credit Union.

“During the past 25 years, I’ve had the pleasure of working with Mike on a number of projects for Operation Oswego County. Whether it was the annual report, a series of trade ads or video, he was always a pleasure to collaborate with. Mike has been a wonderful asset to Oswego County and to our community.”

Stephen Chirello Owner of Steve Chirello Advertising.

“As executive director of Operation Oswego County since 1983, Mike has worked diligently to promote economic development in our county. It is no coincidence, that during his tenure, we have seen amazing growth and expansion. We were truly fortunate to have had such a driven and passionate person advocating for our county for almost four decades. Congratulations and enjoy a long and happy retirement.

Robert A. Corradino Oswego Common Council president.

“It was always good to know that Operation Oswego County was in our markets and helping the communities to look toward the future. Your leadership has resulted in many positive aspects of the great Oswego County we have today. It’s amazing to see the change and growth in the county over the past 25 years I have been here.”

Buddy Stemple Former plant manager at Novelis.

DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

65

“Mike Treadwell has done an outstanding job as executive director of Operation Oswego County Inc. Mike has always been courteous, conscientious and dedicated in assisting businesses in the county for several decades.

Anthony Leotta Former Oswego City Engineer.

“Mike Treadwell was a good man who loved the city of Oswego. He and I didn’t always agree on what was best for the city, but I respected him and appreciated his love of our city. The city of Oswego is evolving into a city of growth and positivity. He was part of that growth! And though we disagreed on politics, we worked together to make Oswego the city that it has grown into.

Tom Gillen Former mayor of the city of Oswego.

“We celebrate Mike Treadwell’s amazing career and accomplishments while serving Oswego County and Central New York region. Mike is an exceptional person and a visionary leader. His efforts and the great team of people that have worked with him

through the years have made Oswego County a better place. Under his leadership we’ve seen many economic development projects advanced, with lasting results. Mike has faithfully served our community and will truly be missed. We wish Mike the best in his well-earned retirement.”

Tim McKernan Facility manager, EJ USA.

“Mike Treadwell has always cared deeply about the health of the Oswego County economy.

He has worked tirelessly to establish many valuable partnerships with local economic development stakeholders to attract and support businesses in the area.”

KAREN KNAPIK-SCALZO Associate economist, New York State Department of Labor, Syracuse.

“It’s been an honor and a privilege to serve alongside Michael Treadwell on the County of Oswego IDA and Operation Oswego County boards.

Michael has admirably served Oswego County, our business community and the region’s economic development organizations for nearly four decades and his knowledge and experience will be profoundly missed.”

Gary Toth Chairman of the County of Oswego IDA and former member of the OOC board of directors.

“I have had the pleasure of working with Mike for more than 20 years. Not only is he a Yankee fan, but he has a home in New Jersey. He has done a lot for the county and he will be missed.

Austin [Wheelock] was a good choice to succeed him and will continue the positive work done by Operation Oswego County.

John Halleron Advanced certified senior business advisor, Small Business Development Center, Oswego.

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Tim Nekritz nekritz@gmail.com

While Hollywood isn’t yet clamoring for Aaron Lee’s creations, he is currently wrapping up his ninth and biggest comic book featuring Wesley The Robot, due out in 2023.

TIM NEKRITZ is director of news and media for SUNY Oswego, where he spearheads telling the stories of the campus community.

Aaron Lee, from left, Comic Shop owner Evan Coy and local author Johnathan Ashline at a signing event in October.

Local Comic Book Author Draws On Passion, Community

T

he easy genre-relevant lead would be to compare Aaron Lee to a superhero: mild-mannered art teacher by day and comic book author by night.

But that doesn’t tell the full story.

Lee’s inspiration was cultivated by small businesses, and another local business, The Comic Shop in Oswego, has constructed a community that supports the creative endeavors of him and others.

In addition, the genre that he and his connections love — the humble comic book and its pantheon of superheroes — has come a long way in the decades since it first caught his fancy. Once an interest on the fringes, comic-book superheroes are now firmly established in the mainstream with a series of hit movies, pop culture cachet and merchandise tie-ins.

While Hollywood isn’t yet clamoring for Lee’s creations, he is currently wrapping up his ninth and biggest comic book featuring Wesley The Robot, due out in 2023.

The fun of putting the comic together and that people recognize him because of this work is gratifying enough at this point — especially as he looks forward to Wesley X, the 10th and next edition that will be more experimental in nature.

68 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

Even those who have never visited The Comic Shop may have seen his work in local daily The Palladium-Times, thanks to a clever arrangement

by Evan Coy, owner of The Comic Shop.

“Evan buys ads for the shop in The PallTimes, and he puts comics in that space, including some of my Wesley strips,” Lee said.

Others might have caught Lee on the weekly streaming broadcast of “The Comic Shop Does a Podcast” on Twitch, which started as a way to stay connected with customers and fans during the pandemic.

“It started as a regular feature where I was drawing stuff from home for people to learn from or just be entertained,” Lee said. “The pandemic was tough for all businesses. If you weren’t considered an essential business — and The Comic Shop wasn’t — you couldn’t be open. But they were looking to do something for social media and stay connected.”

That evolved into a weekly series that serves a number of fandoms.

“We talk about movies, we talk about cartoons or other things we like,” Lee said.

“It’s a lot like what you’d hear if you were just hanging out at The Comic Shop talking to people.”

Tim’s Notes

Comics go mainstream Watching comics become more mainstream has been gratifying, he said.

“Considering how comics were considered a fringe culture at one and how accepted they are now I think it’s a great development,” Lee said. “Part of the reason that I enjoy going to the Comic Shop in Oswego is that I like to ‘speak the language’ with the staff and customers of the shop.”

Lee has been pleased with the Marvel movies and their success “as someone who grew up reading Marvel comics I feel like I made the right investment and now seeing their pop culture takeover is enjoyable,” Lee said.

“When I was growing up, you wouldn’t see a large amount of students wearing Marvel gear and as a middle school teacher today I see it every single day at work.”

This shift has provided Lee relatability with his students and shed light on other quality work previously overlooked.

“The success of Marvel also extends to more independent creators for properties like ‘Hellboy,’ ‘Paper Girls,’ ‘Umbrella Academy,’ ‘Locke and Key’ and others,” Lee said. “Not that all comics need to be adapted to film or screen but it helps draw people into the world of comics. Perhaps the best way that comics, graphic novels and manga have become more mainstream is in school libraries with books like ‘American Born Chinese,’ ‘Maus,’ ‘Smile,’ ‘Dog Man,’ ‘My Hero Acadamia,’ ‘Naruto’ and others populating the shelves over the past few years.”

Lee finds great reward in his day job as an Oswego Middle School art teacher for seventh and eighth graders.

“I do love it,” Lee said. “It’s the best job I ever had. I get to use all of my skills, be a leader and try to get people inspired.”

That includes teaching comics to seventh graders, which is an interdisciplinary exercise. “I ask them to create their own character, work on stories from introduction to conflict to resolution. I teach them about storytelling, which brings in literacy, communication, history and more.”

Moreover, Lee has had the pleasure of teaching about graphic novels, and is happy with seeing this genre earn recognition.

“I think that’s great that students have a great access to all different kinds of graphic novels at a young age,” he

Local comic book author and teacher Aaron Lee holds comic books he has written.

said. “I would have loved that as a kid.

I like that comics are becoming more mainstream as a teacher and a creator.

Like with the Marvel movies, it feels like an investment that has paid off.”

Local businesses fed inspiration The love of comics and heroes goes back to Lee’s childhood and “all stems from cartoons,” he said, as well as visiting a pretty-much-defunct business model — the local video store.

“I remember going to local video stores and just scanning the shelves, looking at the cover art on all the VHS tapes, which impacted what movie we’d rent,” Lee recalled as he drank a cold-brew coffee during an interview at another locally run business, Riverwalk Coffee Roasters.

Lee learned to draw at an early age, and this interest incorporated taking his favorite cartoons and drawing them as comics. He quickly fell in love with the form and was making simple comics.

“A comic is going to take some time, but you’re in control of everything – the story, the artwork, the speech bubbles,” Lee said. “I like the labor. I like the realism, even if it doesn’t look realistic. And I like the feeling of a job well done.”

Early inspirations included Vol-

tron, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the movie “The Blob.” But the introduction of “The X-Men” changed everything — seeing “good guys” have their own conflict and the rich mix of characters showed him that so many layers of storytelling were possible.

Growing up in New Haven, he was delighted to find that Crandall’s Pharmacy in Mexico stocked comics, and he started collecting, beginning with “Captain America.” He also browsed the now-departed Fred’s News in Oswego for additional comics.

But everything changed 30 years ago when The Comic Shop opened in an old firehouse building on East Bridge Street in Oswego. The building was owned by Larry and Arlene Spizman; Larry was a longtime economics professor at SUNY Oswego while Arlene started building a community among the customers who might not have found other places where they felt welcome and now found such a wide variety of offerings that appealed to their interests.

“From the very beginning, it’s always been a supportive community for me,” Lee said.

Which is why Lee and many of the regulars were nearly heartbroken when Arlene announced her well-deserved retirement in early 2020, and suddenly

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a dark cloud of an alternate universe without their beloved shop loomed overhead.

But like in the stories they all loved, heroes stepped forward to save the day.

Coy, a customer turned devoted regular, bought the shop and kept on manager Martin Kinney to continue running the day-to-day operations.

Wesley’s origin story While Lee has dabbled with other characters, Wesley The Robot has become by far his most popular and prolific. The robot with superpowers but also a childlike gullibility provides many areas for narrative explanation.

Wesley’s origin story came from a simple improvisation when Lee was doing a radio show while attending Alfred State.

“During a show, a machine started beeping — it was called the Weather Emergency System, which I just shortened to WES,” he recalled. “I just said, ‘Wes is going crazy over here.’” Lee and his on-air partner would make references to Wes from time to time and he drew the original version as a more boxy robot. The character eventually became a kind of mascot for Azltron,

Lee’s music-review blog.

A sort of homecoming, transferring to SUNY Oswego, was another life-changing development.

“Going to SUNY Oswego was the best decision in every way,” Lee said.

“I met my wife, and I earned degrees in graphic design and then in art education.” Wesley got his own comic strip in the college newspaper The Oswegonian and a feature role in Lee’s bachelor of fine arts exhibition material.

Lee again thought of setting Wesley aside when he started teaching, but the robot was as resilient as any superhero, especially when his creator started seeing the character as a kind of “heightened autobiography,” with plotlines that are kind of exaggerated analogies to things that he’s experienced or seen.

He published his first full Wesley comic book in 2019, but the onset of the pandemic gave him more time to really explore the character. “I came out with three issues in short succession in October, November and December 2020, in part to see if I could do it. And I got a lot of support for my efforts.”

On a recent unseasonably warm late October day, as neighboring longtime business A&J Music was holding the last day of its going out of business

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sale, Lee sat in the back room as The Comic Shop whirred with its usual life and customers of all ages. He handed out free copies of a 12-page preview of the ninth edition of the Wesley series.

With people he either knew or a little or not at all coming up to tell him they appreciated the comic — and as this store he loved turned 30 — Lee was able to reflect on a business that means so much to him and others.

“It’s super important,” Lee said. “It was always a friendly place. Arlene was always super nice, and willing to talk to me when I came in as a young boy.”

As an artist, a regular and somebody who contributes to what The Comic Shop does for others, Lee sees a chance to help pay that kindness forward.

“When I started doing comics, this was a place that gave me a sense of a community, and let me know I could do it,” Lee said. “Everything here makes a ripple that causes other ripples. Evan supports local creators, whether it’s a book or some kind of music. If I can inspire anybody to try something, that’s amazing. If somebody wants to make a thing, we know what it feels like and we want to support it.”

SPECIAL REPORT

Syracuse police officers graduate from training.

Shortage of Workers Hurting Police Departments Departments throughout CNY have struggled to hire enough officers and are embracing new strategies as they attempt to recruit

By Ken Sturtz

L

t. Matthew Malinowski remembers angling for a job with the Syracuse Police Department a little over a decade ago when 800 people took the entrance exam to fill just 30 openings.

That wasn’t unusual.

The department used to have as many as 2,000 people take the exam.

“Back then you had to really fight for the position,” he said. “But now it’s much different.”

Police departments throughout Central New York are confronting severe challenges in recruiting as they attempt to replenish their depleted

ranks and are frequently adopting new strategies to attract officers.

Because police officers can retire after 20 years, most departments need a steady flow of recruits to maintain staffing levels. It typically takes up to a year for new hires to complete all the required training and be working independently.

In Syracuse the flow of recruits has slowed to a trickle. The department had at least 40 openings to fill, but after physical tests, medical exams and background checks it was only able to hire four people for its academy class.

The Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office is dealing with staffing shortages across the entire agency, including the police department and its custody and correction departments, which oversee the county jail, said Sgt. Jon Seeber.

“We’re doing more with less at this point,” he said.

The sheriff’s office is lacking about 20 deputies on patrol and 30 deputies in custody and correction, Seeber said, and the agency has struggled to maintain minimum staffing levels.

In the past 400-500 people might have taken the county’s civil service exam. More recently the number has been closer to 100 for the police exam and just 30 for the last custody and correction exam. After all the tests and a background check, the most recent police academy started with only 20 recruits, Seeber said. And a few people usually quit before completing training.

The struggle to recruit police officers is not limited to Central New York.

Agencies around the country have faced similar challenges. Even the New York State Police, which has long had a seemingly endless supply of applicants thanks to its statewide reach and high starting salary — $58,443 during academy training, increasing to $82,677 after one year — has felt the strain.

“We’re no different than any other police agency in terms of the challeng-

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ABOVE: Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office recruitment table.

RIGHT: Diane Brand is a retired police officer who teaches criminal justice at SUNY Oswego. “It used to be considered a blue-collar job where just anybody could do it,” she says.

es,” said Beau Duffy, a spokesman for the troopers. “Certainly, young people have a lot of career choices and so there’s a lot of competition to begin with.”

The staffing issue has many causes.

A steady exodus of officers has increased the number of open positions.

Historically low unemployment has left many industries hurting for workers and a competitive job market is luring away talent from law enforcement. The military has similarly struggled with recruiting and retention; 19% of police officers nationwide are veterans, far greater than the population at large.

The requirements for a career in law enforcement have also changed significantly over the last 30 years, edging out some otherwise qualified applicants, said Diane Brand, a retired police officer who teaches criminal justice at SUNY Oswego. Recruits today need more education, better communication skills and an understanding of mental health issues.

“It used to be considered a blue-collar job where just anybody could do it,” she said. “But now it’s a profession and we are demanding and requiring that police candidates meet certain levels of

professionalism.”

The pandemic made it harder for departments to recruit in person. And a portion of applicants also struggle to meet the physical requirements, Brand said.

“I tell my students who are interested in careers in law enforcement to start working out now,” she said.

Several police officials pointed to a portrayal in recent years of law enforcement in a negative light as a significant factor in recruiting challenges.

“It’s not as noble a profession as it was once looked upon by the community,” said Oswego County Undersheriff John Toomey, noting that when he entered law enforcement in the 1980s it was a widely respected and desirable career. “Unfortunately, with the current atmosphere toward policing it’s not looked at the same so we don’t have as many people take the test.”

An ongoing national reckoning over the role of policing has been divisive, becoming a polarizing political issue, fueling mass protests and jumpstarting reform efforts which have drawn varying degrees of support and outrage from police critics and law enforcement.

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In 2020, protests erupted nationwide when George Floyd was killed while in Minneapolis police custody.

Other high-profile civilian deaths at the hands of police have roiled the national conversation on policing.

Malinowski said an anti-police movement has painted law enforcement in a very negative light and with a broad brush. An incident that occurs hundreds or even thousands of miles away can go viral on social media and unfairly hurt the image of police here in Central New York, he said.

“So that had a real effect to the point where people just don’t even want to be police officers and that becomes our challenge,” he said.

Law enforcement has long faced more scrutiny than other professions, Brand said, but changes in technology have helped amplify it.

“And with the advent of social media and cell phones they get a lot of scrutiny and a lot of attention when they screw up, but a lot of times they don’t get the recognition when they do something good,” she said.

As competition for officers has increased, departments have become

more aggressive in their recruiting efforts.

Police agencies have made their recruitment and hiring processes easier for applicants, said Kristina Simonsen, associate director for employer relations at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City.

Simonsen advises students applying for jobs in law enforcement and organizes career fairs. She said because of the NYPD’s meager starting salary – $42,500 – departments from around the country visit to recruit. A growing trend is for departments to offer their written and physical exams, as well as job interviews, on site on the same day.

“They are trying to be more accessible,” she said. “They’re trying to streamline the hiring process.”

That’s a strategy the sheriff’s office in Onondaga County has adopted, Seeber said. The county waived the $30 fee to take the civil service exam to encourage people to sign up. And the sheriff’s office purchased iPads for events so potential applicants could sign up for exam notifications on the spot.

“Normally we’d have to tell them to go home and sign up for the test notification,” Seeber said.

Deputies also switched to casual attire, wearing department-issued polo shirts when recruiting instead of their full uniforms and equipment in an effort to appear less intimidating and more approachable to potential applicants.

The sheriff’s office ran a recruitment campaign using social media, radio ads and billboards, and offers tours of the jail and a ride along program.

But Seeber said deputies don’t spend much time talking about the starting salary — $55,668 — or opportunities in the sheriff’s office. Instead, much of their time is spent just getting people to take the first step in the hiring process.

“Our toughest thing right now is not about us selling somebody on working for us, it’s about coming to take the test” he said. “We have to know you can pass the test and that you’re interested in the job.”

Deputy Chief Zachary Misztal, of the Oswego Police Department, said that while hiring has remained challenging, with fewer people taking the police exams, Oswego police have managed to avoid the severe staffing shortages plaguing other departments by hiring as positions open up and by offering a competitive pay scale. The department’s starting salary of $61,368 increases in five years to a base pay of $80,739.

He said the department also em-

phasizes in its recruiting that Oswego is a good place to live and that the community is supportive of law enforcement.

Syracuse police are seeking to entice potential recruits with a $5,000 signing bonus in addition to the $56,490 starting salary. The department hired a public relations firm to help it improve its image. Its social media pages regularly show professional photos and videos of officers interacting with the community.

Malinowski said the department has tried to be more creative in its efforts to recruit a diverse staff, particularly because of the difficulty of recruiting in neighborhoods that may be overpoliced as a result of crime.

Earlier this year the city started a Junior Cadet Program to help residents gain training and work experience that will assist them in pursuing a law enforcement career. The 50-week program includes 20 hours a week of classroom instruction and physical training and as well as 20 hours a week of paid work experience throughout the police department. Upon completion recruits are eligible for full-time civilian jobs until they get accepted into the police academy.

The pandemic forced the state police to cancel several academy classes.

Its staffing level, which is around 5,000 troopers, dropped by several hundred troopers as a result.

The agency’s entrance exam, which is given every four years, was made available through a computerized testing process for the first time in 2022. In the past, candidates were required to take a written exam at a specific date and location. Instead candidates were

able to visit testing centers around the state and country to take the exam at a time of their choosing.

“We were just trying to make the exam more accessible to everybody,” Duffy said.

The state police launched an outreach campaign in 2021 and 2022, with a focus on attracting more minorities and women.

Duffy said other recruiting efforts included emphasizing the numerous opportunities for advancement and growth that come with a larger agency.

And for the first time the troopers relaxed their strict policy that disqualified candidates with any tattoos visible with a uniform on.

The Oswego County Sheriff’s Office is trying to fill openings for deputies in patrol and the county jail, but its starting salary of $51,196 is lower than some other agencies. Toomey said they talk up others perks. Deputies work on 12-hour shifts instead of 8-hour shifts, which means fewer days of work and more time off throughout the year.

Deputies also take their vehicles home and don’t have to drive in for roll call before starting their shifts.

Toomey said the lengths departments are willing to go to in an effort to recruit candidates is a remarkable departure from the hiring landscape when he entered policing decades ago.

“Before when you got offered you took the job wherever you were offered it because you just wanted to get into law enforcement,” he said. “Now when the list comes out we’re all scrambling to do interviews and get people in here so we can make the offer and the pitch.”

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NONPROFIT

CHENA TUCKER: A CATALYST FOR CHANGE Head of SUNY Oswego’s Office of Business and Community Relations now at the helm of Shineman Foundation

By Stefan Yablonski

C

hena Tucker was named director of the Richard S. Shineman Foundation on Nov. 1. The vision of the foundation is to become a “Catalyst for Change.” It’s a vision she shares.

“I’m getting my head wrapped around everything right now. We are going through our first grant round, so it’s been a lot of meetings with regional philanthropists, local nonprofits and community members looking for funds to support their missions and make a difference in people’s lives,” she said.

The grant funds that are awarded are part of an endowment. Richard Shineman was a professor at the college.

After he died, his wife, Barbara, set up the foundation and invested the funds for this purpose.

Richard Shineman turned over his family’s fortune to make a positive change in this community — it is truly a debt of gratitude, Tucker said.

Karen Goetz retired after serving eight years as the foundation’s executive director.

Did she give her successor any advice?

“I got one day of training. She and her husband, Jeff, were moving. The timing didn’t work out for us to do too much,” Tucker said. “Before that, I did work alongside Karen on several different initiatives and was on the receiving end of some foundation grants.”

From Oswego, Tucker graduated from Oswego High School in 1993.

She said she didn’t have any major in high school, “but I knew that I wanted to relocate and see what was out there.”

So, she moved to Oregon, and was there for 13 years.

“I went to school for interior design and was planning to finish my credits for a bachelor of arts in architecture at Portland State,” she said. “But, after 13 years, I decided to move back to here.

Portland was getting crowded and expensive.”

While in school, she also took some business courses, “in case I decided to go out on my own,” she said. “I earned a certificate in business administration and once I started taking business courses, I really loved it. So I kind of shifted gears.”

When she moved back to Oswego, she started looking at local opportunities.

“I was hired at the college [SUNY Oswego] in the community relations and small business development center in 2011,” she said. “Before that, I dabbled a bit in freelance design work — but not much. This area does not have much of a market for interior design.”

While out west, she worked in the restaurant and hospitality industry to help put herself through college.

“That’s how I got by — paid the bills and paid for school,” she explained.

“In Oregon, restaurants are required by law to pay servers minimum wage.

And, the company I worked for offered

health insurance and 401K — not bad for the service industry.”

The skills she learned working at the Office of Business and Community Relations at SUNY Oswego have helped her in her new job.

“Absolutely, we ran several distinct programs, worked with many nonprofits and managed grants and budgets,” she said.

Initially, Tucker’s first job at the college was a part-time position as a business liaison.

“From there, I was promoted into a full-time position as assistant project manager; then promoted to project manager, associate director, and lastly, director of the Office of Business and Community Relations at SUNY Oswego,” she said. “I rose through the ranks —all while earning my MBA while at the college.”

She oversaw federal and state contracts, grant development and management, and community engagement.

“We provided grant oversight, which gave me that background and I also managed the internal budget for the office. In addition, we provided professional development, training and strategic planning and facilitation,” she said. “We also worked on program development, community relations and government relations.”

She was a member of numerous committees during her tenure and remains on some today.

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“I am still on some; but not all, some didn’t align with my new position. I’ve transitioned off those,” she said.

She still sits on Operation Oswego County’s board, Oswego County Community Foundation’s advisory council and Leadership Oswego County’s advisory council.

“I am sure I will add some more to the list in the coming months,” she said.

How does she find time for everything?

“That’s a good question,” she laughed. “You do the best that you can.

There are times in life that are busier and hectic and times when things slow down a little bit so you can get caught up. You have to prioritize. It’s always a process. You have to make sure you get to the things that are the most important, that includes yourself — taking time to enjoy life.”

“For fun, I go hiking and on road trips. I spend time at the lake. I have a dog, Whitney — she’s a rescue. I love to cook. I read a lot and I’m taking a dance class!” she said. “What I really love is traveling. Travel has been a lifelong goal and something I always look forward to.

I have traveled throughout the US and have just a dozen or so states I have yet to go to. I want to travel abroad. I was scheduled to go to China right before the pandemic hit, but that was canceled, obviously. I’ve been to Costa Rica and will be going to Thailand this February.

I’ve decided to do more international travel — there is a big, beautiful world out there.”

Shineman Foundation launched in 2012.

“I’ve seen the dramatic impact that their support has had on the community.

I want to help support that mission — help support nonprofits and address the critical issues in our community. Many of these are quality of life issues — from literacy and education to employment and training, arts, culture and recreation. There are so many,” she said.

There are a lot of different ways the foundation can effect positive change, she added.

“Since my position at the foundation was made public, I have received so much support and congratulations — I appreciate it,” she said. “This [job] is, you know, one of those dream come true jobs. What I value and the work that the foundation does are aligned, it’s meaningful, and I think this is a good match for me. I want to continue to support their mission — be a catalyst for change!”

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NONPROFIT

Staffing Shortages Plague Development Teams at CNY Nonprofits

The professionals who raise money for nonprofits are leaving and replacing them isn’t easy. That’s bad news for charities

By Ken Sturtz

W

hen Beth Hoey started a career in nonprofit development 30 years ago she knew all the key players in Central New York, many of whom had been in their positions for years.

“It used to be from a development director perspective you knew every development director, you could name them all,” she said. “Right now, I would have trouble naming who is where and I like to think I’m connected to the community.”

Charitable organizations across Central New York are struggling to fill open positions on development teams — whose fundraising is the lifeblood of nonprofits — and as a result of high turnover are confronting a shortage of experienced fundraising professionals.

“For a while there’s been really a crisis in retaining development people,” said Hoey, who currently serves as exec-

utive director of the Foundation of the Catholic Diocese of Syracuse.

In the past it was typical to see a few postings at a time on local job boards for open development positions, she said. Today, it’s not uncommon to find a dozen openings at a time, including many development director roles.

Labor shortages have been common as the country continues to experience historically low unemployment, but the dearth of development staff is a widespread problem that existed before the COVID-19 pandemic and has only grown worse since, experts say.

“I think there’s a fundamental misunderstanding on the part of boards and leadership staff of nonprofits of the process of fund development and the culture of philanthropy,” said Elizabeth Quilter, a nonprofit consultant who previously served as chief develop-

ment officer for the YMCA of Greater Syracuse.

Nonprofits tend to focus on their mission to the detriment of development, she said. Fundraising and development are frequently thought of as secondary or a necessary evil for the organization to do the work that really matters.

But viewing development only in terms of generating revenue can lead nonprofits to hold unrealistic fundraising expectations that are inconsistent with building a sustainable donor program, Quilter said. Deficit fundraising — setting fundraising goals to bridge a gap in the budget — is a common and often short-sighted strategy.

In particular, smaller nonprofits or struggling organizations sometimes hire someone to run their fundraising in the belief that they’ll act as a cureall, solving the organization’s financial problems in short order.

“People think they will hire a development director, not give them resources needed to actually establish a successful sustainable program and have an expectation that in a short amount of time all of the gaps of resources will be filled somehow,” Quilter said.

In reality building a robust, comprehensive fundraising program can take years. High turnover makes the task even more challenging. Without continuity on development teams it becomes harder to maintain consistent relationships with supporters and work on developing major gifts.

Unrealistic expectations often set development professionals up for failure in the long run.

People beginning their careers

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Julie Billings is a nonprofit consultant who has worked in fundraising in Central New York for several decades.

typically start off excited and energetic about contributing to a meaningful mission, but burnout and turnover is common once they advance beyond entry-level positions, said Julie Billings, a nonprofit consultant who has worked in fundraising in Central New York for several decades. One industry survey found that the average fundraiser stays at their job for a mere 16 months before leaving for another position.

“The mid-tier of development professionals is missing right now,” Billings said. “There’s a lot of people that have just started or the old-timers of fundraising who have been in it for years.”

The pressure on mid-tier staff from supervisors and nonprofit boards to hit fundraising goals can be intense. One of the hardest aspects of fundraising is that if an individual or team hits their goal the goal often increases the following year, Billings said. And there’s no guarantee that an organization’s supporters can increase their donations accordingly.

Development is rarely a 9-5 job.

Successful fundraisers find themselves constantly on the lookout for opportunities because every new contact is a potential donor.

Development professionals are often forced to juggle multiple roles, especially at smaller organizations.

It’s not uncommon for someone to be

Elizabeth Quilter is a nonprofit consultant who previously served as chief development officer for the YMCA of Greater Syracuse.

responsible for everything from grant writing, event planning and donor development, to database entry, marketing and direct mail fundraising. At many nonprofits public relations also falls to development staff.

Being overworked and underpaid compared to similar jobs in the for-profit sector causes many to consider a career change, Billings said. The pandemic increased pressure on fundraisers — canceling events, nixing in-person relationship-building with donors and scrambling budgets — while causing many to prioritize a better work-life balance.

“It’s just hard to see that experience being lost, because they’re completely leaving the industry in a lot of cases,” Billings said.

The pressure on development teams is partly the result of more nonprofits competing for the same dollars.

Billings said she’s witnessed the number of nonprofits soar since entering the field decades ago. In 2021, there were more than 90,000 charities registered with the state Charities Bureau.

Nonprofits are confronting an aging donor population in Central New York, she said, further increasing competition. And young people are less likely to donate to charity than their

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parents’ and grandparents’ generations.

“They’ve been extremely generous throughout the years and the amount of philanthropic dollars that is in Central New York is so impressive,” Billings said. “But donors are declining as the population declines.”

Retaining experienced staff will require wholesale changes in how nonprofits approach development work, experts said. Development teams often operate on shoestring budgets and are frequently one of the first things on the chopping block when budget cuts are necessary.

“It’s not seen as a needed department even though it’s many times one of the only revenue- generating departments in a nonprofit,” Billings said.

Nonprofits need to commit to building sustainable development programs.

She said that includes making sure their teams have the resources they need, such as technology and training, so they can focus on the task of building relationships with donors.

Relationships are crucial to retaining donors, something most nonprofits struggle with and don’t put enough energy into, Quilter said. Eight out of 10 first-time donors don’t give to a charity a second time. One of the top reasons given when people stop donating is

that they believe the organization didn’t need their support.

That means many organizations end up in a vicious cycle of constantly trying to find new donors to replace the ones they’re losing.

“They don’t believe that having a solid annual fund program and retaining and stewarding those donors is the right answer,” she said. “By looking at it short-term they’re really crippling themselves long-term.”

Instead, many nonprofits put more time and resources into special events and seeking corporate funding. Individual donors represent the largest source of funding for nonprofits – about 70 percent on average – and maintaining that funding stream means building a sustainable development program long-term.

Corporate support typically makes up less than 10 percent of an organization’s funding. Special events, such as auctions, golf tournaments and galas can be a good way to introduce people to an organization’s mission, Quilter said. But they’re some of the most expensive and labor-intensive methods of fundraising and generally don’t help with an organization’s long-term sustainability.

A nonprofit should plan on a three to five-year timeline to build a comprehensive fundraising program, Quilter said, especially since the lead time for major gifts is typically 18-24 months.

In development people too often focus on money instead of the mission, Hoey said, and there’s always a danger of making the process transactional instead of relational.

“People are not ATMs and it’s not about the transaction of the person giving you the money or giving you the check,” she said. “That’s actually one second of years of work and relationship- building.”

Rather than focusing solely on the organization’s needs, Hoey said nonprofits would do well to adopt the philosophy that fundraising isn’t just a means to an end. The process of development and the act of giving should be considered as vital as the work of the frontline employees.

“It’s people knowing they make a difference and being part of something bigger than themselves and all coming together and working together to help our community and that takes relationships,” she said.

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Bruce Frassinelli bfrassinelli@ptd.net

Ethical Behavior in Politics, Business Why leaders must have a strong commitment to ethical principles — and instill in all of their subordinates ‘It’s too bad that there is not an oath for ethical practices administered to the owners and chief executive officers of businesses and corporations.’

BRUCE FRASSINELLI is the former publisher of The Palladium-Times. He served as a governor of the Rotary Club District 7150 (Central NY) from July 2001 to June 2002.

A

My Turn

lthough many newspaper publishers are reluctant to characterize how bad it is, the print business continues to deteriorate, and there does not appear to be many immediate solutions in sight to save this once incredibly healthy medium. Newspaper revenues dropped from $46.2 billion in 2002 to $22.1 billion in 2020, a 46.7% skid.

We are hearing more frequently of “news deserts,” a term that has cropped up only recently in our vocabulary to describe an area of the United States without newspapers. In these areas, officials are held less accountable for what they do, and those who are uninformed in the public because of the lack of local information tend to be less concerned about voting and participating in the political process.

When we trot out the statistics, the enormity of this problem comes into sharp focus: About 50% of counties in our nation have just one newspaper, often a weekly, and more than 6% of counties have no newspaper at all.

More than one-quarter of all U.S. newspapers have shut down since 2004, while those that have survived have cut back on the reach of their circulation areas, reduced the number of days a week that they are home-delivering their product and trying to cut costs wherever they can to save a buck.

Syracuse’s Post-Standard, for example, delivers to customers just three days a week, although the paper is available on newsstands seven days a week.

Oswego’s Palladium-Times curtailed its six-day-a-week delivery to three days during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but restored two days in October 2020.

Along with fewer publication days, newspapers have drastically reduced staff, which, of course, means fewer local news stories and much less coverage of

80 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

important local news.

For example, The Palladium-Times had the equivalent of 21 full-time employees prior to the pandemic; now it has just 13, but, according to Publisher Jeff Weigand, it is difficult to find employees to fill some of the job openings. He and other publishers also face another challenge: finding suppliers for basics for the production of the newspaper, such as newsprint, ink and plates, and the cost of these commodities is skyrocketing, just like everything else.

New York state is fortunate so far, because there are just a few “news deserts,” but there is no question that coverage is merely a shell of its former vitality. On top of this, deadlines are becoming earlier meaning that customers are not getting nighttime sports scores, reports on local night municipal meetings and anything else that unfolds after about 7 p.m.

To add to this disturbing situation, many chain newspapers are consolidating their printing operations, which means that deadlines will need to be even earlier because of the distance that delivery vehicles must travel with the published product.

The Post-Standard, for example, announced earlier this year that it would not be printing the paper at its local Syracuse plant starting in August of this year.

Instead, it is being printed at another Advance company paper in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. This will mean a 4 hour and 15 minute trip under the best of conditions to cover the 250-mile distance on I-81. Anyone who has made this trip in winter knows how iffy the weather could make the drive. Such a distance increases the instances of late deliveries in addition to earlier deadlines.

As many newspapers have transitioned from print to digital, they have been able to make up just a tiny fraction of the lost revenue through on-site advertising. Many are now using a paywall

that requires consumers to pay to see content, whereas before many papers, including The Palladium-Times, were allowing free access to their websites.

The startling result of what has been happening in the industry has been reported by new research from Northwestern University’s prestigious Medill School of Journalism, Media and Integrated Marketing Communications, which noted that, on average, two local newspapers in our country fold every week.

The decline of local news has been tied to the significant loss of advertising and circulation and the impressive advances of the internet and social media.

The Medill study found that between late 2019 and May of this year, more than 360 newspapers closed, while since 2005, the nation has lost more than a quarter of its local publications. This trend is expected to continue, and by 2025, researchers predict that the United States will have lost one-third of all of its local papers.

Without the replacement of a local source of news, one-fifth of the nation’s population (about 70 million people) are at risk of not having any authoritative local news source, the study indicated.

The loss of these mainstream news sources will also mean that misinformation will become more prevalent, political polarization will become even more strident than it is already, and trust in the media in general will decrease even below its current unfavorable levels.

Will newspapers disappear altogether? No one whom I spoke to believes it will happen immediately. “A physical paper is desirable,” said Pall-Times Publisher Weigand. “We’ll always see a printed product,” he predicted.

He believes the local angle of coverage will ensure its continued demand by the community. Parents and grandparents want to see their families’ names in the paper. They can’t get that anywhere else.

Help for the newspaper industry might soon be on the way from an unlikely source — the federal government.

Legislation introduced in Washington would, if passed and signed into law, give newspaper operations a substantial

shot in the arm to ensure survivability.

The Local Journalism Sustainability Act would set up three federal tax credits to encourage local media, defined as a local publication where the majority of the readership resides within a 200mile radius.

The bill provides for a tax credit for subscriptions to a local newspaper, up to $250 a year; a tax credit to encourage local media to hire and pay journalists, worth up to $12,500 a quarter, or $50,000 annually; a tax credit to encourage businesses advertising with local media, up to $5,000 a year. If passed, the legislation would apply over an eight-year period unless its provisions are extended.

Supporters believe that this bill will help a flailing industry that is essential to the American way of life and an industry whose news product is protected by the First Amendment.

Opponents believe that passage of such a bill would breach the separation that is currently the tradition between government and independent media.

This would mean that journalists could become beholden to the politicians they are supposed to hold accountable.

Weigand, who supports the legislation that has 30 Democrats and 19 Republicans as co-sponsors, said that when Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, was in the Oswego County area recently that he promised to help get the legislation passed this year; however, an industry newsletter predicted just a 2% chance of passage, especially now that it has been stripped from the recently enacted Inflation Reduction Act. Newspaper companies are also looking at another possible revenue infusion through the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act, which would compel online companies such as Google, Facebook and others to pay for content they now use for free from newspapers or their online sites.

The bill, introduced in the Senate by Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, creates a four-year safe harbor from antitrust laws for print, broadcast, or digital news companies to collectively negotiate with online content distributors regarding the terms on which the news companies’

content may be distributed by online content distributors.

One of the co-sponsors of a companion bill in the U.S. House of Representatives is Jerrold Nadler, D-New York, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. Because of the declining number of newspapers in the land, Nadler said, “The consequences are bad for everyone: fewer local news providers translates to unchecked governmental corruption, corporate misconduct, and widespread misinformation, plus a raft of other consequences for citizens, taxpayers, and our democracy. The free and diverse press needs a level playing field to do its job. This bill simply provides that level playing field, allowing news publishers to fairly negotiate with dominant online platforms. We have worked on a bipartisan and bicameral basis to strengthen and improve the bill over the past year, and I look forward to marking it up when Congress returns in September.”

As you might expect, these online giants are opposed to the bill and are fighting against it vigorously.

The plummeting circulation of newspapers, both national and locally, graphically tell the tale of this precipitous fall from grace. In the period of 2000 until this year, the print circulation of the once largest newspaper in the country, USA Today, dropped from 1.77 million to 159,000, a 91% decline. The Wall Street Journal circulation dropped “only” 60%, from 1.76 million to 697,000.

The New York Times fell 70%, from 1.1 million to 330,000, and The Washington Post dropped 79%, from 762,000 to 159,000.

In an update on New York City’s “Tabloid Wars,” the liberal New York Daily News, which led the conservative New York Post in circulation in 2000 by 261,000, now trails the city’s feisty, Rupert Murdock-owned daily by 91,000.

The Daily News sells around 55,000 copies a day; the Post, 146,000.

The Post-Standard circulation of 71,000 also represents a substantial drop from 2000. The Palladium-Times circulation of about 5,500 is roughly half of what it was in 2000.

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81

IF YOU COULD BOTTLE IT Got a great recipe? Area businesses can help you go from idea to a jar — with a logo on its label

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

A man is bottling fresh tomato sauce in airtight mason jars.

82 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

SPECIAL REPORT

P

erhaps you operate a restaurant and want to offer your famous tomato sauce as a jarred product customers could take home.

Or maybe your berry farm experiences seasonal surpluses of berries you don’t want to waste, but turn into a value-added revenue stream.

Or it could be that you want to make a food item using a family recipe.

A few area businesses can help you go from idea to a jar with a logo on its label.

Pastabilities restaurant in Syracuse makes Hot Tom, a “put-on-anything” sauce. Inspired by sauces restaurant owner Karyn Korteling ate in Italy, Hot Tom did not get in a bottle readily.

Though Pastabilities brought Hot Tom to the menu in 1989, it was not available as a jarred product until 2012. Initially, Pastabilities sold Hot Tom in takeaway containers and customers had to immediately place it in the refrigerator.

“We had so many requests to ship it,” Korteling said. “Putting it in a shelf-stable container had great advantages.”

Pastabilities began looking at ways to package its sauce in jars, which required scaling up the recipe to larger batches. That made it challenging to maintain the right thickness. They also had to develop a schedule process, a formal recipe based on precise measurements and temperatures to ensure a consistent and safe product with the correct pH. The restaurant tried a couple of food manufacturers before finding BC Gourmet in Massachusetts, which would meet their needs, instead of a local manufacturer that could not.

“They had a good portfolio of sauces on their own as they bottled gourmet

pasta sauces,” Korteling said of BC Gourmet. “You have to find a manufacturer that is going to really follow your recipe and that means not making shortcuts, substitutions for ingredients that you really want to have in your product.

“When you scale up and go to a larger manufacturer, they have their own formulas and sometimes their own pantry of ingredients they want you to work with. Some are more convenient and less costly if you use their bulk ingredients. The challenging is sticking to your vision and desire for what it is you absolutely want at the end of the day and if a company is willing to take that on.”

For Pastabilities, the sauce required a certain type of garlic, olive oil, chili pepper combined together, along with the look and the flavor accurately represented in each container.

Hot Tom is available at area Wegmans, Tops and numerous independent stores and bakery shops. The restaurant also fills online orders through a local warehouse.

“I think we didn’t rush this project,” Korteling said. “It evolved over time and I think that was in our favor.

It followed that we started small, doing it ourselves and seeing what the public wanted. We saw the demand. I don’t feel like we had any missteps, just trial and error. We had a lot of false starts with manufacturers small and large.”

She advises anyone interested in bottling a food product to stick to their ideals and vision. For Pastabilities, there was no other option since dedicated customers could taste the difference between the real thing and a sauce that was only close.

Restaurant clients are pretty commonplace at Nelson Farms. An FDA-inspected food processing center in Cazenovia, Nelson Farm serves as SUNY Morrisville’s food processing incubator.

Margie Wilcox, food production supervisor at Nelson Farms, said that bottling a sauce, jelly or other product offers businesses another revenue stream.

“It helps them grow bigger,” she said.

Nelson can test product pH and requires clients to submit a sample of their product to send to Cornell’s lab to determine its required temperature and pH. With Cornell’s approval, clients typically seek their 20C license from the Department of Agriculture & Markets to make their product. Nelson Farms and Ag & Markets require clients to complete a food safety course, available online. The course covers food safety, allergens and other aspects of food safety.

At this point, Nelson Farms approves clients to use the shared use kitchen at Nelson Farms. Wilcox oversees production and operates equipment, but the clients must measure and add ingredients, cap bottles and wash the dishes.

“I suggest they do a small batch their first day because they don’t know the kitchen,” said Amanda J. Taranto, director of retail operations and marketing.

On the first day of production, a representative from Ag & Markets oversees the process and ensures clients are following the rules and that their labels meet FDA requirements.

Nelson

Sauce fromCanale’s Restaurant and Pastabilities can be found online and at several stores in Central New York. “We had so many requests to ship it. Putting it in a shelf-stable container had great advantages,” says Karyn Korteling, Pastabilities’ owner.

DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

83

Farms differs from co-packers, food processors who receive clients’ scheduled process and complete the entire process. But Nelson Farms does private label processing, which involves using clients’ ingredients with Nelson Farms’ own recipe. Either Nelson Farms or the client will label the goods.

“If someone really wanted to have something as wedding favor, that’s something we’ve done as well,” Wilcox said. “It’s a little unique in that we’re local and can do that for people. We have more shared use clients than private labeling clients.”

Technically, using a commercial kitchen in a fire hall can work in manufacturing a product. However, “our kitchen is supervised; the fire hall kitchen is not,” Wilcox said. “I had one client who didn’t read his recipe and had to have another ingredient.”

The mammoth size of the pots — up to 100 gallons — also matters, as Nelson Farms enables clients to undertake much larger batch sizes. Most people find that making a larger batch is more efficient than numerous small batches.

“Even someone who has been doing this for years, it’s still good to have someone who’s a professional,”

Wilcox said. “It gives an added sense of you’re making a product that’s safe for people.”

Nelson Farms charges by the hour.

The rate depends on what equipment is used and what the product is, whether canned, frozen, jarred or dry.

“When clients come in, we try to make it happen,” Wilcox said. “If we can’t make it happen, we work with the client to find someone where they can make their goal.”

Founded in 2020, Craft Cannery operates in Bergen, a village in Genesee County. The company can transform a client’s recipe into shelf-stable, salable goods. Craft Cannery typically creates sauces, dressings and marinades.

“I really like helping entrepreneurs get their business off the ground,” said Paul Guglielmo, owner and CEO. “We’re a small co-packer so you can come to us with a dream. People think of this kind of company like we take only large orders.”

The company also offers private labeling services by using their own recipe to create a product with the client’s label on it.

Instead of requiring clients to invest in producing tens to hundreds of

thousands of units, Craft Cannery is willing to work with clients who want just a couple thousand units.

The business won a second-place prize of $500,000 in the 2023 Grow-NY contest to aid in its further expansion.

Guglielmo hopes to break ground on a second production room in the third quarter of 2023.

Giovanni Foods in Baldwinsville provides the same service but did not want to comment because they felt that their minimum required number of units is so high that they don’t accept people just starting out.

In addition to creating a quality product, people with food manufacturing aspirations must develop an attractive and accurate label. Steve Chirello, owner of Chirello Advertising in Fulton, is a big believer in developing a quality logo for your label.

“A great brand is to product loyalty, as location is to real estate,” he said.

“When you have a great logo, you automatically have the best ‘location’ in your consumer’s mind. He or she gravitates to it.”

He recommends a top-notch logo as it reflects the company values. It could represent ideals like “warmth, strength, dependability, humor, creativity and stability,” he said. “It cuts through the clutter of other messages and engages the consumer. The best part is that it keeps working for you, whether it’s seen as part of an ad or appears on its own in promotions or sponsorship.

Logo frequency reinforces your brand.”

On a product, an eye-catching logo helps consumers quickly identify the brand and better understand the products.

ABOVE: Margie Wilcox, food production supervisor at Nelson Farms, says bottling a sauce, jelly or other product offers businesses another revenue stream.

“It helps them grow bigger,” she says.

LEFT: Mustard and other products bottled at Nelson Farms in Cazenovia. The location serves as SUNY Morrisville’s food processing incubator.

84 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

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DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

85

HEALTH

Pending Merger Viewed as a Boon for CNY Expert: if approved, merger between Crouse Health and SUNY Upstate should not have negative effect on Oswego Health or other regional hospitals

By Stefan Yablonski

S

UNY Upstate Medical University announced its plan to acquire Crouse Hospital in early 2022. If approved, Crouse, a nonprofit, will merge into Upstate’s health system and be renamed Upstate Crouse Hospital.

The proposal must be approved by the state; which may take quite a

long time.

“It is not unusual for this kind of transaction to take an inordinately long time and it has only been a few months since the announcement,” said Thomas H. Dennison, professor emeritus, The Maxwell School, Syracuse University.

“The Federal Trade Commission has

86 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

completed its study and the other parts are under review by the New York State Department of Health. After internal DOH reviews, it goes to a series of committees. I have seen these transactions take a year,” According to George Chapman, a health-related consultant based in Syracuse, the proposed merger will go through. “It will happen, despite what the FTC thinks. Crouse needs to be rescued from its financial straits because the CNY community needs the beds,” Chapman said.

“It will not necessarily have a direct impact on the surrounding community hospitals. But, smaller community and rural solo hospitals face the very same challenges: financial viability, recruiting and retaining qualified physicians and keeping up with advanced medical technology,” he pointed out.

“It is indeed a trend, nationally and statewide. Just look around at other metropolitan areas. Utica had four hospitals; now has one. Rochester, I can’t even count, had so many hospitals. Now it’s essentially down to two systems.

Buffalo had several as well. So it is very, very much a trend,” said Dennison.

Stand-alone hospitals are becoming a thing of the past, he added, citing Oswego and Watertown for example.

“There are a lot of reasons hospitals are merging,” Chapman agreed.

“Number one is ‘let’s stop competing with each other for doctors.’”

“I think that it is a good thing for the smaller hospitals in the region that rely on the specialty and sub-specialty services that can only be provided at scale at a referral center,” said Dennison.

“We don’t want to see patients sent all over the state to access specialty care because the Syracuse hospitals are unable to recruit and retain the talent needed.”

“I think physicians in particularly, are seeking positions in larger hospital systems for a sense of security and, due to greater number of colleagues, better coverage, and less time on call.

Bigger hospital systems have a far better chance at the negotiating table with the huge national commercial insurers,” Chapman pointed out. “Smaller solo hospitals lost their ‘only game in town’ argument with payers due to improved transportation and telemetry.”

To survive, he said, “solo hospitals will eventually have to merge into a larger system.”

“Oswego Health is committed to providing extraordinary care to every patient that comes through our doors at any one of our 17 locations. We work in partnership with Upstate, Crouse, St. Joe’s, Auburn, Oneida, Samaritan and all other healthcare facilities and providers in our region,” said Michael Backus, president and CEO of Oswego Health.

Like every other hospital health system in Central New York, Oswego Health is watching the news of a possible merger between Upstate and Crouse, he noted.

“The impacts of that potential consolidation are being reviewed and Oswego Health certainly stands ready to work with other regional healthcare entities to ensure Central New York has the caregivers it needs to support our community,” he said.

“I always look at it as ‘bigger is better.’ I think it will be good for consumers. If they are able to have enough beds and enough doctors they will have a complete network so when they go to market themselves, as the Upstate Network, if you will, they’ll have a complete roster of physicians to become a large health system. People will have a lot of choices,” Chapman said.

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87

HEALTH

Work Environment: Toxic Workplace Harms Workers’ Health Surgeon General issues report that shows poor working conditions correlate with physical health problems like cancer, heart disease, depression and anxiety

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

“

Toxic” work environments describe places that are not just unpleasant but are actually harmful — and not necessarily in the way that OSHA can do something about.

“A toxic workplace is one where the employees are constantly in a state of stress and anxiety,” according to The Leadership Reformation. “This can be due to any number of factors, such as unrealistic deadlines, impossible work-

loads or simply a toxic culture where backstabbing and office politics are the norm. In a toxic workplace, employees are often afraid to speak up or voice their opinions for fear of retaliation. As a result, they may start to experience physical and mental health problems.

“In contrast, a bad work environment is simply one that’s unproductive or unpleasant. This could be due to things like sub par working conditions,

88 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

nonexistent or ineffective management, or just a general feeling of dissatisfaction among employees. While a bad work environment can certainly lead to stress and anxiety, it doesn’t have the same level of toxicity as a toxic workplace.”

US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy released a statement in October that shows poor working conditions correlate with physical health problems like cancer, heart disease, depression and anxiety.

“Workplace mental health and wellbeing is a critical priority for public health,” Murthy wrote. “It has numerous and cascading impacts for the health of individual workers and their families, organizational productivity, the bottom-line for businesses and the US economy.”

Physician Leslie J. Kohman, SUNY distinguished service professor of surgery, was appointed in 2020 as chief wellness officer at University Hospital, and wellbeing and mental health resources at SUNY Upstate Medical University. She said Upstate developed her position over the course of two years to further improve the work environment.

“In healthcare, burnout and high stress among workers started long

before the pandemic,” Kohman said.

“The pandemic was the straw on the camel’s back.”

The nationwide burnout among healthcare providers has contributed to further staffing shortages that have been ongoing for numerous years.

Staffing shortages have been listed by more than two-thirds of Upstate staff as contributing to their feelings of burnout.

Understaffing also contributes to workplace violence as patients must wait longer for services. Kohman said that patient and family member attacks on staff — both verbal and physical — have become “epidemic” nationwide.

Some of the issue has to do with behavioral health patients who have no other place to go. People become impatient waiting in the emergency room for admission to beds unavailable because the health care system as a whole, including group homes and skilled nursing facilities, lacks staff to care for the patients.

“We are slowly, slowly lowering the turnover rates among nurses and we’ve re-opened most of the beds closed due to short staffing during the pandemic,” Kohman said.

In order to balance quality of care for patients and quality of life for employees, staff members have been asked to stay beyond their shifts and may not be able to take vacation when they choose. Upstate has launched support programs, including one with trained peers from other hospitals, so Upstate employees can maintain confidentiality.

Upstate has more than 100 peer supporters, who are trained in reflective listening skills to support their peers in distress.

Another example is the Community Building at Upstate. A grant from the All in Fund supports a program where

six or eight medical staff members get together monthly for a subsidized meal to talk and commiserate about workplace issues.

Upstate also plans to launch virtual reality break stations to allow employees to virtually spend quiet time at a beach, waterfall or other peaceful venue they can select from a menu.

Upstate also has “Pet a Pooch” visits from therapy dogs for employees monthly. The Pathway to Wellness program also has many events to boost resilience, such as walking trails around the campus and online sessions for 15 minutes of chair yoga.

“We are working on programs to address hotspots,” Kohman said. “If there is a unit or team that has experienced some kind of distress, we want to have a trained person go there and assist that group with managing their distress. We have hired a social worker who is only for the staff. We’ve also just brought on an evening chaplain who will work from 4 to 11 p.m. Half of her job description is to support staff.”

Kohman expressed pride in Upstate’s employees’ camaraderie in helping each other out during the recent tough times. But sometimes, going above and beyond to cover others’ shifts or duties can negatively affect employees’ own health and well-being.

“The issue is the infrastructure on a nationwide basis has not been there to support their wellbeing,” she said.

Although public patience with healthcare seems to be threadbare, “what we all have to do is just be compassionate and be very patient, acknowledging that we’re doing the best we can and hiring as fast as we can,” Kohman said. “If they don’t treat workers with respect, more will quit.”

At Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists in East Syracuse, Cheryl Holdrege, human resources director, said strengthening the workplace culture represents a big emphasis recently, including forming a diversity, equity and inclusion committee “so our patients walking through the front door look like them.

You relate more to someone who looks like you.”

The committee also focuses on compassion, accountability, respect, excellence and service to patients and with one another. SOS brings in outside speakers to discuss aspects of maintaining good health such as nutrition and emotional wellness.

In September, SOS launched its SOS Cares cards program where employees receive companywide recognition for examples of caring to normalize it.

The SOS program represents an example of the shift in human resources away from stick towards that of the carrot. Instead of only punishing unwanted behavior, companies work on rewarding good behavior.

Naturally, employees’ different personalities don’t always see eye to eye. Nontoxic companies cannot and would not want to make each worker emotionless automatons. However, fostering an environment where different personalities are respected and celebrated generates esprit de corps.

“It’s about being positive and realizing that people have their own beliefs.

It’s about being respectful,” she said.

“But even if they’re not on board, we have to respect that there will be differences though we’re still going to do it.”

Holdrege believes that one of the things SOS is doing well is striving for a working environment where all employees are working together towards the goal of helping patients get better.

This takes improving listening skills and avoiding reactionary responses.

“We’ve had to have people take a step back and listen to what people have said,” Holdrege said. “It’s active listening versus reactionary listening.”

This helps develop mutual respect among employees. SOS employs 723 among its nine physical locations and two surgery centers.

In addition to improved communication, SOS encourages fun to help with bonding, such as a dress-up party for Halloween and wellness events that encourage employees to get to know each other.

“We make sure we smile every day and have fun with each other,” Holdrege said.

DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

89

HEALTH

Is Presenteeism Dead?

The days employees used to drag themselves to work, even when they were sick, seem to be over

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

E

mployees used to drag themselves into work despite feeling ill. Glassyeyed and feverish, they’d take Dayquil or Comtrex to suppress symptoms and slog through the day.

Called “presenteeism” as opposed to “absenteeism,” the scenario means coming into work no matter what, whether illness, injury or family crisis has occurred.

It appears that presenteeism is as dead as dial-up internet.

Few employees will endanger health and sanity to haul themselves into work. Most employers don’t want them to. Employees are taking more time off for personal reasons, caring for relatives and mental health.

So, what flipped the switch?

John R. Halleron, advanced certified senior business adviser with the Small Business Development Center in Oswego, said it’s partly a generational shift, as people in the millennial and generation Z age range don’t want to work a job they hate for 45 years and then finally have a life.

“The boomers are starting to realize maybe we were wrong,” Halleron said.

“I’m a boomer. I remember those days of going to work sick. If you weren’t there, you were in trouble. It’s no longer ‘work ‘til you drop’ but more about being productive and happy.”

It appears that employers have learned that when employees clock in while sick, they’re exposing the workplace to germs that will run amok

90 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

through the place.

Having one employee miss a few days is better than the entire place slowing down for a week as an illness spreads.

Halleron also thinks that the COVID-19 pandemic has helped end the stigma associated with missing work for illness and encouraged workers to better care for themselves, including mental health.

“People understand that their health is important and to keep people productive, you need to give them the opportunity to chill and not burn out,” Halleron said.

Danielle Dexter, senior HR consultant with HR One Consulting in Auburn and Syracuse, said that changes in laws have helped decrease presenteeism.

“They’ve helped give the option for employees to have the time available to use if they need it,” she said.

In some industries, the option of working at home has also enabled employees to isolate themselves during an illness while still getting work done.

Working from home represents another area in which COVID-19 has change the working world. With increased IT awareness and security, many compa-

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nies have permitted alternative working spaces for employees.

“Work-from-home wasn’t designed for that, but it has helped with work/life balance and helping people who are sick stay productive if they’re able to,” Dexter said.

Current sick leave law requires employers to protect their employee’s position with a paid and unpaid sick leave with the amount dependent upon the size of the company.

“Before, employees were more inclined somewhat out of loyalty to show up,” said Kathy Barany, owner of Strategic Management Solutions in Syracuse. “They also wanted to get the job done. “Paid sick leave and family leave comes with a job guarantee. The employer can’t discriminate or fire you.

Paid sick leave is for employee sickness and paid family leave is to care for family members and other qualifying reasons.”

These legal shifts have helped change a long-ingrained mindset of attendance no matter what. Of course, on a small scale, a few employers hold it against employees when they take time off, but Barany said that these are rare.

The areas in which she still sees em-

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106 W. First St. S, Fulton | 315-801-9153 Cnyfamilydentist.com | As a consultant, Barany under“The boomers are starting stands this perspective.

“No one pays me when I’m sick,” to realize maybe we were she said. “I have no PTO. I’m motivated wrong. I’m a boomer. by my own success. I use Uber every now and then and every time, I talk with I remember those days the driver to tell me why he does this. single case, it’s flexibility. They of going to work sick. If Every work when they want to work and don’t work when they don’t want. It depends you weren’t there, you on the type of gig and whatever contract were in trouble. It’s no they have with their client.” encourages employers to longer ‘work ‘til you drop’ baseBarany employees’ output not on hours in the chair but on production standards but more about being appropriate for the industry. productive and happy.”

“Many employers are not as willing to step up to the plate and manage their employees,” she said. “I can write all the John R. Halleron, advanced certified policies in the world, but until they step senior business adviser with the up and manage, it won’t help.”

Small Business Development Center She also noted that employers are becoming more aware of the need to send sick employees home if they’re ployees voluntarily exhibiting presen- still on the presenteeism bandwagon. teeism include the industries in which “If it could affect other employees, workers tend to be more vested, such they have a legal right to do that under as medicine and the arts. Consultants OSHA,” Barany said. “If the employee and gig workers are also more likely to doesn’t have sick time left, they still exhibit presenteeism. need to go.”

DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

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Farnham Expands Services

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or residents in the northern part of Oswego County access to the vital counseling services offered through Farnham Family Services is easier than ever.

Farnham has added a location to better serve the county and now offers its NYS OASAS certified counseling services for people with substance use disorder or their effected loved ones in the ConnextCare building at 61 Delano St. in Pulaski.

“Our research shows that there is a need for counseling services in the greater Pulaski area and the northern reaches of the county,” said Senior Director of Services Chris Baszto . “We want to meet those needs. By bringing our services closer to home we hope to encourage people to visit our Pulaski site if they, or someone they know, could

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benefit from receiving our services.”

Farnham’s presence in Pulaski is a continuation of its efforts to ensure that those with substance use disorder, or those affected by another’s substance use disorder, can easily access the support they wish to receive.

“The opening of our clinic in Mexico last year was well received,” said Baszto.

“The success of the Mexico clinic, which offers intensive and non-intensive outpatient services such assessments and evaluations for drugs and alcohol, individual and group counseling, certified recovery peer advocate services, and access to vocational counselors, inspired us to expand services to Pulaski.”

With its convenient location inside ConnextCare, Farnham is pursuing a partnership with ConnextCare to provide OASAS certified counseling from credentialed alcoholism and substance abuse counselors (CASAC) that provide specialized counseling for patients with substance use disorder.

“Every person’s struggle with substance use disorder is different,” said Baszto. “At Farnham we provide individualized care at a level our clients feel comfortable with. The counseling

92 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

“Our research shows that there is a need for counseling services in the greater Pulaski area and the northern reaches of the county.” we provide is the perfect complement to the medical treatment those with substance use disorder are receiving.”

With the addition of the Mexico clinic and the Pulaski site Farnham is poised to ease the barriers for those wishing to access its services and continue its mission of reducing and eliminating the abuse of alcohol and other drugs in Oswego County.

Farnham Family Services is a NYS licensed, private, not-for profit organization that helps people with substance use and behavioral health disorders, providing high quality, recovery oriented outpatient treatment and prevention services that are available to all residents of Oswego and surrounding counties.

SUCCESS STORY

Brandon Lagoe and his wife Deanna Lagoe. “Deanna runs the foundation of all three of my businesses,” he says.

Building a Restaurant Business

Owner of LaParrilla in Oswego also owns Brandon’s Pub and Grill in Fair Haven and Brandon’s Bayfront in Wolcott. He works at growing his business while also holding down a full-time job at Novelis

By Stefan Yablonski

“

It’s always been kind of like a bucket list of something that I’ve always wanted to do. I wanted to own just a little pub and grill. There’s a story behind all of this,” Brandon Lagoe laughed.

“My first restaurant, I bought in 2018, out in Fair Haven, Brandon’s Pub and Grill. It used to be O’Connor’s on Main Street,” he said. “I bought it in January of 2018. Never had any experience running a restaurant. I was fortunate enough; I was able to go to

school, back to school for business and Novelis helped me pay for it. I used that knowledge to help me open up my first restaurant.”

Fast forward to a year later.

“I started talking with Ray [Jock] who was the owner of LaParrilla when it was located over on [West] Second Street. The stress of the business and him just wanting to focus on food, being an executive chef — it landed an opportunity for us to work out a deal to where I would own the business, run

the business and he would work for me doing what he loves,” Lagoe recalled.

It was kind of like a great marriage, Lagoe explained.

“Ray got to do something he loved and I got to now enjoy another restaurant that was different than a pub,” Lagoe said. “The pub is much different than LaParrilla. In the fact, that one is a pub and one is a bistro.”

That was in February of 2020 — they were open about eight weeks and then COVID-19 hit and shut down everything.

“We played the whole COVID rules for much of 2020. During 2020, I still kept everybody employed. Never laid off anybody during that time — at either place,” he said. “I felt that, not knowing what the pandemic was going to bring, when you lay off people, you don’t necessarily know if you are going to get them back. We had a great team at both places, so I didn’t want to lose that.”

Being employed at Novelis allowed him to be able to support the payroll at both places during that time, he said, adding, “That was a plus.”

“Shortly after the pandemic in 2021, I opened, in September of 2021, the Bayfront, which is Brandon’s Bayfront, out

DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

93

Brandon Lagoe at his La Parrilla On the Water in Oswego. In the new location — where Oswego River meets Lake Ontario — the restaurant has been an instant success.

in Wolcott, right on Port Bay [West Port Bay Road] and that was interesting,” he said. “I had a gentleman approach me.

He had bought the property, but did not want to run a restaurant. He had heard that I was the owner of two successful restaurants and said that he’d like me to run it. I pondered on to it and finally decided that I would go for it.”

So, that brought three restaurants on at that point.

“Shortly after that, going into the spring of 2022, Broadwell Hospitality Group approached me — specifically Shane and Buddy — and asked me if I would want to take over Alex’s on the Water,” he said.

“So at that time, I had already promised my wife now, who was then my fiancé, that I would not take on a fourth restaurant. However, she did not say that I couldn’t move one.”

While she was away at a horse show in Kentucky, Lagoe struck a deal and “we decided to move LaParrilla from West Second Street to 24 E. First St.,” he explained.

It was a blessing in disguise, he added.

“This down here has been absolutely amazing. Being on the water, Broadwells have been fantastic with the transition and helping us when we need something,” he said. “I believe, from a local standpoint, we added value by committing to our strong service and our strong menu.”

When asked how he finds the time to do the things that he does, he says it’s all a matter of good teamwork.

“It’s setting expectations — building a foundation of trust, building a good team that falls into that foundation of trust and allowing them to make decisions, monitoring numbers by trend charting and watching historical averages,” he said. “Also, maintaining industry averages and working around those percentages. I am very transparent with all three of my leadership groups in order to be able to set that foundational stuff.”

Net sales, food costs, liquor costs; those types of things, if you are not transparent with those numbers, you can’t lead, he explained.

“I’m not one who micro-manages.

I like to be able to give them a sandbox to play in. Sometimes they step outside that sandbox. But we talk about those decisions that were made, good or bad and we learn from them,” he said. “I truly believe that at all three of my places, I have the absolute best staff. They work very hard for my wife and I.”

ABOVE: Burger served at Brandon’s Pub and Grill RIGHT: Brandon’s Pub and Grill in Fair Haven. He acquired the business — his first restaurant — in January of 2018.

Lagoe has been married for six weeks, he said at the end of September, adding, “We’ve been together for more than five years. It was Deanna Ingerson prior to, it’s Deanna Lagoe now. The key to all of that, right, is Deanna. Deanna runs the foundation of all three of my businesses. That allows me to focus in my roles and responsibility at Novelis,” he said. “We’re in a really good place right now. I not only have those three businesses, but I also own two apartment buildings.”

“At the end of the day, she manages the people side of everything. Her and I manage the numbers side together.

My role in all of this is spend time at the tables asking how we can improve, talking with people, networking, learning the numbers and understanding the numbers, making adjustments when needed,” he continued. “I take that information, I pass it through her, she passes it through the staff and executes.

She is the rock in between all of the moving parts.”

There haven’t been any surprises, but they are still dealing with the fallout of the pandemic; of people not wanting to work.

“But we’re very fortunate in that it hasn’t affected us too much. We’ve had a couple bumps in the road at this restaurant [LaParrilla] and the pub —but it was just transitional stuff. It took time for some people to leave other positions and come in here,” he said.

The thing that people are experiencing, not being able to find people

who want to work is a real thing, it’s a real thing, he said.

“We pay very well. More importantly, I feel that the people when they start to work for us they don’t leave because I create an atmosphere of a family.

I’m not their employer; yes, at the end of the day I do make some decisions on whether you’re here or you’re not here, but ultimately I expect nothing more than I would do,” he said.

There have been times when he’s had to cook, dish wash, even times where he had to bar tend.

“I try to set that expectation, because I am not above doing any one of those things. As a matter of fact, I actually enjoy it. Tend bar — that’s one of my all-time best things that I like to do. Although my bartenders will tell me they don’t want me behind the bar,” he quipped. “Because we’re not making money if I’m behind the bar. I’m usually giving it out.”

Lagoe enjoys being around people.

“I’ve always wanted to be in a position where I could go up to people and ask them, ‘how are you doing? Welcome to my place and how can we do better?’

For me, those are easy conversations to have. But I also get to meet a lot of really nice people, too. People I never would have met, networks I never would have met otherwise if I didn’t expand outside of my portfolio,” he said.

“When we moved over here [LaParrilla On the Water], we inherited the river. The river is a draw for people just wanting to sit and be on the water. This

is the only restaurant in Oswego right now where you can sit on the water.

We get a lot of boaters out of Sodus, out of Rochester. We get some that come down through Alex Bay. We also get those who are pushing up the channel as you can see just right out here,” he said gesturing to a boat bobbing in the river outside the window.

“Ray is amazing. He has turned into, for us, more of an executive chef.

He is training at my other places; he is our quality control right now,” Lagoe said. “It gets him out of the kitchen, allows him to maintain his freshness and come up with good new ideas and train more. He is right where this organization needs him to be.”

The two have a really good bond together and communicate very well.

“He understands the business side of things even though he’s not in the business side. He just wants to do his thing as a chef. He knows what he is good at,” he added.

Even though it’s LaParrilla On the Water, “it’s still LaParrilla and he created that here! So for me, I get the benefits of all that went along with that plus bringing my business sense to it and my networking to allow us to expand to where we are now,” Lagoe said.

The Novelis factor “I hang my hat on the fact that if I didn’t have Novelis to take care of a problem here, I probably would have lost it during the pandemic. But having a

DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

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LEFT: Brandon’s Bayfront in Wolcott was acquired in 2021. “I had a gentleman approach me. He had bought the property, but did not want to run a restaurant. He had heard that I was the owner of two successful restaurants and said that he’d like me to run it.”

ABOVE: Fish dinner at Brandon’s Bayfront.

salary there was fortunate enough to be able to keep us afloat both from a home perspective as well as managing the downfalls of the business,” said Lagoe.

He said he enjoys what he does at Novelis right now.

“I’m in a position that helps maintain our certifications and it allows me to audit at different plants across the region. I am able to really enjoy what I’m doing,” he said. “Up until the time comes when I don’t enjoy it any more and I don’t like going to work — then that will be a time when I think about retiring.”

“I pay a lot of people to do things that I could be doing from a management perspective. But I’m not ready to

make that separation yet. I don’t think I’m there yet,” he added.

They have seen a “huge elevation in revenue,” moving from West Second Street to on the water —simply because of the number of people that they can serve at a time. “Over there, we served around 70 or 80 people. We can serve up to 300 in here. So, when you look at expanding your tables by 300, your customer base, obviously your revenue is going to increase as well,” he said.

“I look at myself as an entrepreneur.

At the same time, still maintaining my professional job at Novelis where it all started. It actually started at Alcan,” he said. “Do I spend a lot of time at my places? I spend a fair amount of time at

96 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023

all three of them. I like to spend more time at the tables. When you do spot checks at different places you get an idea of where you are at.”

It’s building that foundation, he explained. Just like the foundation of a house — “you have to have a good foundation. I’ve learned those goals from being at Novelis and I’ve transferred the knowledge and education they’ve taught me to be able to apply it to where I’m at now,” he explained.

Born and raised in Oswego, he’s been at Novelis for 20 years [as of May 2022] as operations leader responsible for cold mill.

BEST BUSINESS DIRECTORY 24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE Vail Tree Service. Complete tree and limb removal — 100-foot crane reach. Free estimates-fully insured.

Senior discounts available. Contact Derrick Bartlett 315-806-0147.

AUTO SALES & SERVICE Bellinger Auto Sales & Service. Third generation business. Used cars, towing, general auto repair & accessories, truck repair. Oil, lube & filter service. 2746 County Route 57 Fulton. Call 315-593-1332.

Jake’s Automotive of Oswego, Inc. Auto repair and service of brakes, steering, suspension, diagnostics, oil change, tires & more. We also sell performance parts.

801 E. Seneca St. Phone: 315-342-6871.

Port City Car Care, 315-207-0500 www.portcitycarcare.com Oil, lube, NYSI, alignments, tires, brakes, electrical, air conditioning, suspension, tune-ups & timing belts, complete car care. We do it all! Over 28 years’ experience, 20 Ohio St., Oswego.

CAR WRAP + VEHICLE & WINDOW GRAPHICS Upward Graphics. 21 S. 2nd St., Fulton. Visit upwardgfx.com or 315-402-2099.

DEMOLITION Fisher Companies. Commercial and residential demolition. Great prices. Fully insured. Free estimates. 50 years of experience. Call Fisher Companies at 315652-3773 or visit www.johnefisherconstruction.com.

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTING Scriba Electric. Offering residential-commercial-and industrial services. 3 Creamery Road, Oswego, NY 13126, www.scribaelectric.com, 315-342-7681

EXCAVATING Gilbert Excavating. Septic systems. Gravel & top soil. Septic tank pumping. 685 County Route 3, Fulton, 13069. Call 593-2472.

FLOORING & CARPET With over 40 years’ experience House Works Carpet offers high quality and affordable waterproof luxury flooring, hardwood, laminate, ceramic tile and carpet

for all your residential and commercial flooring needs.

Family owned and operated since 1984 our dedicated and knowledgeable staff are here to assist you. We do it all from design to installation. 315-593-2113, 318 W. Broadway, Fulton, Houseworksfulton.com, or email us at the houseworks@windstream.net.

POOL COVER REPAIR Trust the experts! Let us repair your in-ground pool cover. Free estimates. Everybody says “call this guy”. Cortini shoe zipper canvas repair. Fulton. 315-593-8914.

ROOFING, DECKS PORCH

Everything you’re looking for in a local florist. Full service with delivery. 36 years experience. Tux/suit rentals, holiday and sympathy designs available. DeVine Designs, 15 W. First St. S., Fulton. 315-592-4245 dvinedesign.com.

Enright Roofing has over 40 years’ experience providing high quality affordable new roof, deck and porch construction. We also offer roof, soffit and fascia repair in addition to gutter clean-outs and blown insulation service. We accept all types of insurance claims and are a locally owned and operated company. Contact Enright Roofing at 315-374-2805 for service and estimates.

KILN-DRIED HARDWOODS

SCREEN PRINTING & EMBROIDERY

Lakeshore Hardwoods. We stock kiln-dried cherry, walnut, maple, butternut, ash, oak, basswood, mahogany, cedar figured woods, and exotics. Also, hardwood flooring, moldings, stair parts & woodworking supplies.

266 Manwaring Road, Pulaski. 298-6407 or visit www. lakeshorehardwoods.com.

Valti Graphics — Creating garment graphics on customized apparel in screen printing, embroidery, Greek apparel & custom lettering. Phone: 315-342-4912, 152 W. Bridge St., Oswego. Valtigraphics.com

FLORIST/TUX RENTAL

LUMBER White’s Lumber. Four locations to serve you. Pulaski: 3707 State Route 13, 315-298-6575; Watertown: 231 N. Rutland Street, 315-788-6200; Clayton: 945 James Street, 315-686-1892; Gouverneur: 71 Depot St., 315287-1892.

PICTURE FRAMING Picture Connection offers custom matting & framing for photos, posters, prints, oils and more. Shadow boxes, object framing, art print source. 169 W. 1st St., Oswego. 315-343-2908.

PLUMBING & HEATING SUPPLY AHR Mechanical. Providing plumbing, HVAC, refrigeration, and electrical services for all your residential and commercial needs. Call 315-668-6569 or contact ahrmechanical@gmail.com for more information.

Pullen’s Plumbing & Heating Supply has a large variety of plumbing & heating repair parts & fixtures. Water heater, furnace, boiler & all plumbing installations available. We do our own excavating for water service & sewer replacement. 22 Ohio St., Oswego, 315-3431906.

SHIPPING SERVICES One-stop-shop for unique gifts for that hard to buy for person. We are an authorized FedEx, UPS and USPS shipping and drop-off location. Ship-It/The Village Shops. 2 W. 1st St. N, Fulton. 315-592-9357.

STUMP GRINDING, REMOVAL CB Stump Removal. Free estimates, fully licensed and insured. Contact Candy Vail 13 Denesha Place, Fulton NY 13069, 315-297-5160, candybartlett@yahoo.com

TRACTOR / LAWN EQUIPMENT RanMar Tractor Supply, sales and service of new and used tractors and farm equipment. 5219 US Route 11 Pulaski. 315-298-5109.

THE PLACE TO ADVERTISE FOR RESULTS! CONTACT RICHARD ANNAL: 315-342-8020

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