OCBM 173 April - May 2021

OSWEGO COUNTY

BUSINESS April-May 2021

cnybusinessmag.com

$4.50

Covering Oswego, Onondaga counties

HEALTHCARE SPECIAL

MEET THE CFOs Meet the money people: Six chief financial officers of major CNY providers, including Stuart Wright, SUNY Upstate’s CFO, who handles an annual budget of $1.3 billion

CNY’s Business Magazine

INSIDE Can’t Wait to Return to the Office? You’re Not Alone Mr. Potato Head and the Impact of ‘Cancel Culture’

Real Estate: A Bright Spot During the Pandemic

Had a Stroke.

Back on Stage.

Musician Todd Hobin KNOW THE SIGNS • CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY

Central New York music legend Todd Hobin knew nothing about stroke — but he does now. That’s why he’s raising awareness about stroke risk factors and its signs and symptoms.

F.

FACE DROOPING

A. S. T.

ARM WEAKNESS

SPEECH DIFFICULTY

Fact: Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. Important to know: Stroke can happen to both men and women — at any age.

Good news: Stroke is preventable by managing medical risk factors and healthy lifestyle choices.

What to do: Time lost is brain lost. So it’s vital to know the signs of a stroke — F.A.S.T. Four words to live by: Call 911 and say, “Take me to Crouse.“ When it comes to stroke, every moment matters. As one of just 10 hospitals in New York State tohave earned Comprehensive Stroke Center status, and with the region’s newest ER and hybrid ORs, Crouse offers the most advanced technology for rapid stroke diagnosis and treatment

Read Todd’s story and learn more: crouse.org/toddhobin.

TIME TO CALL 911

Burgers With Everything

Eco-Friendly Cleaning At Competitive Prices

Including a Better Value 1/2 Pound Certified Angus Beef® Burger Heaped with Fries—

495

every day for lunch!

Carry Out Anytime & Lunch Delivery 122 Cayuga St. • Fulton (Just off Rt. 481 at Cayuga) 315-598-4770

Brophy Services, CNY’s largest locally owned and operated commercial janitorial company, wants to add you to our more than 100 satisfied customers.

And we use our own private label Eco-Logo certified green cleaning products.

The Best Deal You Ever Tasted!

Since

1977

Eis House

lodge

We deliver: • Cost Savings • Custom Cleaning Packages • Volume purchasing and discounts • One phone call access

See how our ‘Green’ approach saves you dollars and helps our environment. Call Eileen Brophy for an estimate today: 434-9676

434-9676 | www.brophyservices.com | Syracuse • Oswego • Utica

Your Chevy, Buick, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, RAM Megastore in Oswego!

We Service All Makes and Models too!

See our entire inventory at BURRITTMOTORS.COM (315) 343-8948 | Rt. 104 East & 140 W. 1st St. | Oswego

U B L I C 1 8 9

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25 Today years ago

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Mention this ad and we’ll make your first deposit for you

astern Shore Associates was founded

in 1986 when a group of three smaller

independent agencies decided to pool their

resources to better serve their customers. The

focus was to develop “big agency” capabilities,

while maintaining the “small agency” approach.

Today, Eastern Shore Associates has grown into an organization with over 70 insurance professionals

Interest Rates Year End Federal Reserve

operating from 12 branch offices throughout

7.50%

greater access to insurance markets. We now

Dow Jones Industrial Average

work with over 30 insurance companies, giving

1895

Average Cost of new house

central New York. Our size allows for significantly

us the ability to find the best solution to each of our customers’ insurance needs.

$89,430

approach to insuring our neighbors, and

Average Income per year

are dedicated to helping protect the homes,

$22,400

Average Price for new car

$9,255

Average Monthly Rent

What we’ve left intact is the “small agency”

automobiles, businesses, and lives of our neighbors.

Eastern Shore Associates offers a full line of insurance products and will be there when you need us most.

$385

Join Our Growing Family Oswego County Federal Credit Union membership is now open to all of Oswego County!

If you live, work, worship, operate a business or attend school in Oswego County you can join!

Join our growing family where your savings grow quicker and your loan rates are typically lower. We offer better rates on savings and IRAs than many local Banks**.

Among our services: • No Closing Costs on home equity loans • Extremely competitive rates on a newer used car loan • Savings and checking accounts First 100 • High yield Individual retirement accounts new members • Direct deposit receive a FREE plush bunny toy.

• Online banking • Holiday and vacation club accounts • Credit/Debit cards • ‘Scholar Dollars’ children’s savings program Stop in today and ask about becoming a member or visit us today online at www.oswegofcu.org

Win a 42” High Definition Flat Screen TV*

1 gallon of gas

Portable Color Television

$249

Wow The Difference Will Take Your Breath Away For years, people have come to Chef Bill Hubel to ensure that their special occasion was the best it can be. Under The Moon is Bill’s new restaurant— designed by him so that you and your guests will be swept away into another world of fine china, linen, supreme cuisine, and intimacy.

The ambiance of rich Mahogany, granite, brick, bronze, and wrought iron combine to make your bridal event unforgettable.

89 cents 315-598-6000 www.esainsurance.com Offices in: Mexico | Fulton | Oswego | Pulaski

Our members are like family.

300 W. 1st St. • Oswego • 326-0138 | 175 E. 7th St. • Oswego • 343-7822 www.oswegofcu.org

Whether it’s cocktails and hors d’oeuvres or a multi-course meal and wine pairing, Under The Moon is the perfect world for Bridal Showers, Rehearsal Dinners and Engagement Parties.

Entrust your special event to us and make memories that last a lifetime.

Call us today to arrange your special event.

598-4770 Located in the lower level of Blue Moon Grill Canal Landing • Fulton

*No purchase or membership necessary. Drawing Dec. 15, 2007 **Source: Credit Union National Association (CUNA)

OWERA TURNS ONE Join the Celebration!

Friday, June 13, 6-9 p.m.

Cazenovia and Madison County’s first vineyard turns “1.” It has been a fabulous first year in our warm and welcoming tasting room.

Come kick off the summer with Owera! Join us at our beautiful farm-winery on the East side of Cazenovia Lake.

Brick-Oven Pizzas, Cheese Boards, NEW Summer Specials Our apple trees are blooming, our garden is growing and our grapevines are budding!

BBQ and Bluegrass Join us June 13th for a familyfriendly evening of BBQ, music, and more!

Leo Chirello

5276 East Lake Rd. | Cazenovia 315-815-4311 | www.oweravineyards.com Wed.-Fri. 11-7 | Sat./Sun. 11-5

Fulton Block Builders

Cheers To 25 Years!

We made it!

A quarter century of serving so many wonderful clients throughout Central NY. Thanks to each and every one of you for your business!

Special thanks to my late dad, Leo P. Chirello, who inspired me to go out on my own, and whose talents as a graphic designer helped me get started and propel my business forward.

‘Looking forward to the next wave of marketing challenges and creative solutions in 2021 and beyond.

APRIL / MAY 2021

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

www.chirello.com 3

O SW EG O C O U N T

Y

BUSINESS $4.50

April-May 2021

a counties

Covering Oswego, Onondag

cnybusinessmag.com

HEALTH CARE SPECIAL

APRIL / MAY 2021

MEET THE CFOs Money people: Meet six chief financial officers of major CNY providers, , including Stuart Wright SUNY Upstate’s CFO, who handles an annual billion $1.3 budget of

CNY’s ss Busine e Magazin Real Estate: A Bright Spot

PROFILE TRICIA PETER-CLARK INSIDE Mr. Potato Head and the Impact of ‘Cancel Culture’ Can’t Wait to Return to the Office? You’re Not Alone During the Pandemic

Health Care Special

66

• Meet six chief financial officers from major health organizations: Crouse, St. Joe’s, SUNY Upstate, Oswego, OCO, ConnextCare • Aqua Spa Float Center: Writer Steve Yablonski went for float therapy and shares his impressions • Toughest year for nurses, but their actions might be inspiring the profession’s next generation

Real Estate

49

• Bright spot during the pandemic • Seller’s market to continue • Ed Fayette: Top seller • Teri Beckwith joins Hunt Real Estate ERA • Looking for a house on the water? Good luck!

• Low mortgage rates fueling market

Dining out

Issue 173

28

She has deep roots in local health care industry and in June, when she will take over as the next CEO of ConnextCare, she will be responsible for a patient-centered network of health care practices that has grown to provide services to tens of thousands of patients ...............................16

SPECIAL FEATURES On the Job ‘What business leader do you admire the most?’........11 Mr. Potato Head Making it a gender-neutral toy is the latest in a series of changes called ‘cancel culture..................................................39 Pandemic Anxious to return to the office after so many months away? You’re not alone..........................................................................................42 Education How colleges have been affected by COVID-19 ..............44 Biden Administration When it comes to labor law and employment, expect major changes under Biden......................................64

Steve Chirello is celebrating 25 years in the business of public relations, marketing and promotion. P. 30

Learn more about Quadrant Biosciences, a Syracuse company that has created the widespread saliva test. P. 92

DEPARTMENTS How I Got Started Guy King, of Great Lakes Athletics and Fitness......14 Where is Sandra Scott Santiago, Chile.......................................................20 Newsmakers / Business Updates..............................................................22, 30 My Turn Doug Barclay, the “Kingmaker”..............................................42

Portobello steak served at Buck’s Family Restaurant in Williamstown. It makes a trip to northern Oswego County worth it.

4

Tim's Corners The year that was and wasn’t...........................................46 Economic Trends Property listings helps expansion efforts........................61 Guest Columnist Steven E. Abraham on Biden’s labor laws.................64 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

APRIL / MAY 2021

1000’s of Vehicles

Minutes From Anywhere Driver’s Village features over 20 New Vehicle Franchises and a Used Vehicle Warehouse.

No single destination in Upstate NY offers more automotive choices. Driver’s Village is owned and operated by the Burdick family, proudly serving Central New York for over 80 years.

WHY choose DV?

SELECTION

LOCATION

TRADITION

THAT’S WHY! Conveniently located at the crossroads of Routes 81 and 481

5885 E Circle Drive, Cicero Find your next vehicle in person or at DVOffers.com

APRIL MAY 2021 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS Over 20/New Vehicle Franchises Including Audi, Buick, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, 5Kia, Lincoln, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Porsche, Ram, Volkswagen and More

The loan specialists at Fulton Savings Bank have built a reputation providing personal services to growing small businesses in our area. If you need a mortgage loan or financial help to fund growth of your small business, we can help.

For answers to all your questions call or email: Tom Greco 315-592-3158 tgreco@fultonsavings.com NMLS #449773

Greg Rodgers 315-515-6784 grodgers@fultonsavings.com NMLS #58588

75 So. First Street Fulton, NY 13069

• Canal Landing, Fulton - (315) 592-4201 • Village Green, Baldwinsville - (315) 638-0293 • Three Rivers Shopping Plaza, Phoenix - (315) 695-7214 • Route 49 & Green Acres Drive, Central Square - (315) 676-2065 • Brewerton Centre, Brewerton - (315) 668-7903 • Redfield St., Constania - (315) 623-9447

3 Sisters Gift...........................43 AHR Planning.......................23 Allanson-Glanville-Tappan Funeral Home...................37 ALPS Professional Services.25 Ameriprise Financial — Randy Zeigler...................35 Ansun Graphics.....................11 ARISE......................................88 BarclayDamon.......................33 Blue White Storage................23 Bond, Schoeneck & King, Attorneys at Law..............19 Buckingham Brothers...........63 Builder’s FirstSource..............7 Burke’s Home Center...........25 C & S Companies..................38 C J Demars Mechanical..........9 Canale’s Italian Cuisine........27 Canale’s Insurance & Accounting........................26 Century 21 - Galloway Realty...........................25, 53 Chirello Advertising...............3 Christy’s Motel......................37 CNY Lyme Tick.....................82 Compass Credit Union.........12 ConnextCare..........................89 Crouse Hospital.......................2 6

Over the Top Roofing...........23 Peter Realty ...........................60 Pontiac Care and Rehabilitation Center ......98 Key Bank................................11 Port of Oswego Authority....62 L C Cleaners...........................26 RiverHouse Restaurant........27 Lakeshore Hardwoods.........62 Riverside Artisans.................43 Laser Transit...........................90 Rudy’s Lakeside Drive-In....27 Litatro Building.....................19 SBDC.......................................90 Local 43 (NECA EBEW).......34 Scriba Electric.........................22 Longley Brothers...................90 Sorbello and Sons Inc...........90 Menter Ambulance...............95 Speedway Printing — Print, Mimi’s Drive Inn...................27 Mail & Sign.......................60 Mopping Mamas...................23 Spereno Construction...........23 Mr. Sub ...................................27 St. Joseph’s Health................91 NBT Bank...............................13 Storage 48...............................25 NET Die Inc............................18 SUNY Upstate........................77 Northern Ace Home Center.23 Sweet-Woods Memorial.......26 Novelis....................................10 TDO.........................................33 NYS Parks..............................15 The Medicine Place...............95 Ol’ Factory Soups & Scents..43 United Wire Technology......38 Operation Oswego County..99 Universal Metal Works.........63 Oswego County Federal Vashaw’s Collision................63 Credit Union.....................45 Watertown Industrial Center Oswego County Mutual of Local Development.....55 Insurance...........................37 WD Malone............................25 Oswego County Opportunities White’s Lumber & Building (OCO)...................................8 Supply................................25 Oswego Health .....................76 WRVO.....................................96

Advertisers

Dain Cullinan Funeral Home.................................90 Driver’s Village.......................5 Elemental Management Group ................................81 Excellus — BCBS.................100 Exelon Generation ................99 Financial Partners of Upstate (David Mirabito)..............38 Fitzgibbons Agency..............62 Foster Funeral Home............34 Freedom Real Estate.............60 Fulton Block Builders...........11 Fulton Savings Bank...............6 Fulton Taxi..............................13 Fulton Tool Co.......................62 Gartner Equipment.................9 Green Planet...........................19 Harbor Eye Associates..........88 Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY............95 Howard Hanna Real Estate.55 Hunt Realty ...........................55 Johnston Gas..........................25 JTS Remodeling.....................35

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

APRIL / MAY 2021

MANY POSSIBILITIES. ONE MARVIN. As your trusted partner, we're committed to helping you bring your vision to life. That's why we partner with Marvin. Reorganized under one Marvin brand, their windows and doors are the same high-quality products you already know in a portfolio that's easier to navigate. Now you can quickly find and select exactly what you need for any project, and create more of what you imagine.

Contact us to learn how Marvin windows and doors can inspire your next project.

Cicero, NY | Mexico, NY https://buildersfirst.discovermarvin.com/ APRIL / MAY 2021 2021 Marvin Lumber and Cedar Co., LLC. ©

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

7

Empowering People.

Improving Lives.

CNY’S BUSINESS MAGAZINE OswegoCountyBusiness.com Editor and Publisher

Wagner Dotto editor@cnybusinessmag.com

Writers

No matter what the “new normal” looks like, OCO will stay running strong to provide more than 50 services to help individuals and families move from poverty to self-sufficiency.

Deborah Jeanne Sergeant Christopher Malone Ken Sturtz, Mary Beth Roach Steve Yablonski

Columnists

L. Michael Treadwell Bruce Frassinelli, Sandra Scott Tim Nekritz, Steven E. Abraham

Advertising

Peggy Kain Richard Annal

Office Manager Nancy Nitz

Layout and Design Dylon Clew-Thomas

Cover Photo

Chuck Wainwright Oswego County Business is published by Local News, Inc., which also publishes CNY Summer Guide, Business Guide, CNY Winter Guide, College Life, In Good Health– The Healthcare Newspaper (four editions), CNY Healthcare Guide and 55PLUS, a Magazine for Active Adults (two editions)

#OCOHere4You

Transportation. Addiction recovery. Job readiness. Sexual health. Cancer screenings. Homes for the developmentally disabled. Head Start. Meals on Wheels. Housing for homeless youth, individuals, and families. Mental health services.

Reproductive health. WIC. Outreach. Crisis hotlines. Victim advocacy. After-school programs. Literacy.

Published bimonthly (6 issues a year) at 185 E. Seneca Street PO Box 276 Oswego, NY 13126.

Subscription: $21.50 a year; $35 for two years © 2020 by Oswego County Business.

All rights reserved.

PRSRT STD US Postage PAID Buffalo, NY Permit No. 4725

How to Reach Us

P.O. Box 276 Oswego, NY 13126 Phone: 315-342-8020 Fax: 315-342-7776 Email: Editor@OswegoCountyBusiness.com 8

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

APRIL / MAY 2021

Providing commercial and residential heating and air conditioning services since 2009.

Including furnaces, boilers, rooftop units, air conditioning, on demand hot water systems, new construction design build and value engineering, sheet metal ductwork and fabrication. Call us for a free estimate.

315-532-1668

www.cjdemarsmechanical.com 708 Cayuga Street Fulton, New York 22 East 2nd Street Oswego, New York

SERVING THE MUNICIPAL AND INDUSTRIAL MARKETS FOR 60 YEARS

WWW.GARTNEREQUIPMENT.COM DESIGN - SALES - SERVICES / REPAIR - PARTS

MARKET

Oil Free Centrifugal Air Compressors APRIL / MAY 2021

• Pumps & Pumping Systems • Water/Waste Equipment • Finishing Equipment • Air Compressors • Vacuum Pumps • Fans & Blowers • Accessories, Parts, and Service • Technical Assistance • Turnkey Systems • Equipment Sales OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

QP Series

Reciprocating and QPRotary Series QP Pro 5-15 | QP Max 5-15 Screw Air Compressors

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It Starts Here

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your talent deserves.

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aluminum products, delivering unique

global applications, such as beverage Our business is expanding in Oswego www.novelis.com/oswegohourly and we are seeking solutions for the most demanding cans, automobiles, architecture and talented mechanics, Phone: (315) 349-0121 electricians and operations leaders to join consumer electronics. global applications, such as beverage Email: oswegojobs@novelis.com our team. Sound like you? Apply now!

cans, automobiles, architecture and Our business is expanding in Oswego

www.novelis.com/oswegohourly Novelis.com TM Not just aluminum, Novelis Aluminum.

Phone: (315) 349-0121

and we are seeking talented mechanics, consumer electronics.

electricians and operations leaders to join

Email: oswegojobs@novelis.com

our team. Sound like you? Apply now!

Our business is expanding in Oswego

Novelis.com Not just aluminum, Novelis Aluminum.TM

and we are seeking talented mechanics, www.novelis.com/oswegohourly

Phone: (315) and 349-0121 electricians operations leaders to join Email: oswegojobs@novelis.com

our team. Sound like you? Apply now!

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www.novelis.com/oswegohourly Phone: (315) 349-0121 Email: oswegojobs@novelis.com

Novelis.com Not just aluminum, Novelis Aluminum.TM

10

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

APRIL / MAY 2021

ON THE JOB ‘What business leader, national or local, do you admire the most and why?’

Interviews by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant “I have two leaders that I admire most, especially during the COVID pandemic. I admire Billy Barlow [mayor of Oswego] and Ryan McMahon [Onondaga County executive] for their leadership and being able to change and lead, as everything changed daily. They both deserve a reward for keeping everyone calm and in the right direction.”

William Galloway Broker/owner, Century 21 Galloway Realty, Oswego.

“Randy House, the current mayor of Central Square. The man has given his whole life to the village of Central Square in so many capacities: helping people, working for people, helping the fire department for many, many years. He has done literally anything and everything for the village and village people. The man would do virtually whatever anyone asked him to. He would give someone else the shirt off his back. I can’t imagine the thousands of rescue calls he has gone out on and the multitude of people he’s helped in one way or another. He’s a true hometown hero type of person.”

Andy Traub Owner, Traub Funeral Home, Central Square.

“I have always admired actress, comedian, writer, producer Tina Fey. She is a beautiful, successful working mom with a deeply sophisticated sense of humor. She is celebrated in her industry but remains grounded and has the self-confidence to allow herself to be the punchline. Her book “Bossy Pants” is one of my favorite reads and a one that I reference often when I am in need of advice.”

Katie Toomey Executive director, Greater Oswego Fulton Chamber of Commerce.

H NEW CUSTOMERS H

Get your first order discounted or even for FREE! Contact Jared Massett at jared@ansungraphics.com

315.437.6869

DESIGN • PRINT • MAILING APPAREL • PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS

ansungraphics.com

“Gene Scorzelli, former owner and president of Syracuse Utilities, Inc., because he started with basically nothing in 1974 and built a company that services many major utility companies throughout New York state.

He is recognized as a leader of quality and safety in the communications and power contracting space and helps to sustain 100-plus employees and their families in the Central New York and Capital regions.”

Matt Scorzelli President, Syracuse Utilities, Inc., Syracuse.

continued next page

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OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

11

“I admire Lance Vella. He was an excellent boss. He always took any ideas I had and considered them and he was very thoughtful and a great business owner. He tried many different things and ran a great business for many, many years: Vella’s Market.”

Christina LaValley Supervisor, Buckingham Brothers, Constantia.

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“Over the past year’s lockdowns, I’ve made personal development a priority: control what you can has been my mantra. So, I’ve followed business leaders in the wellness field who promote personal growth and build community through models we once labeled ‘support groups.’ In Central New York, Alexis Pierce of BecomingYOUniveristy.com offers superb training programs, many of them strategic, including an “Awaken Your Purpose” course which helped me pivot from in-person to online services and attract a core of highly engaged clients. Nationally, Briana Borten of DragontreeApothecary. com has created a wellness company featuring holistic products, books and workshops which connect women across the country and around the globe. Even when in-person commerce resumes, the niche each has established will continue to grow.”

Linda Lowen, Founder, AlwaysWantedToWrite.com, Syracuse.

“My dad, who was Ed Fayette, Sr., was a long-term teacher and was the business department chair at Oswego High School, from 1970 to 1993. He passed away at age 59.

He told me, ‘Ed, focus on what you need to do, not the chatter and noise around you, even if it’s positive. Stay focused on the task at hand. You can’t control what you can’t control.’ That has really stuck with me. I’ve carried that through my professional careers.

Upon his passing and years later, people ask if he was my dad. He had a really good work ethic.”

Ed Fayette NYS licensed real estate salesperson, Century 21 Galloway Realty, Oswego.

“I really look up to Andy Frisella, I liked his story and the company he’s built, a global empire. He owns

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

1st Phorm in St. Louis, Missouri. He started in his garage with his business partner, Chris Klein, a high school buddy. They struggled and worked side jobs to keep it going. There was a lot of personal adversity in his story, like when he was attacked and almost murdered. For 22 years, his business has been in place. He is not willing to compromise on his principles. He’s solid, with core values. He is building a tremendous team. Everything they are doing is noteworthy. Now he is teaching other entrepreneurs. He has a personal development podcast.”

Scott Colbert Owner and general manager Paul Davis Restoration North Country, Central Square.

“In my line of work, because I am a bookkeeper and a profit adviser, I have a close connection to Mike Michalowicz. My business is a profit first advisory teaching his profit first cash flow methodology based on the book “Profit First” by Mike Michalowicz He is a great mentor, fantastic businessman, and has a passion for businesses to succeed. I admire him, a lot of his business and the program he has developed. His mission is to eradicate entrepreneurial poverty.”

Debbie Bilello Owner Virtual Office Solutions, Central Square and administrator at Fort Brewerton/Greater Oneida Lake Chamber of Commerce.

“The late Rush Limbaugh, for his dedication, perseverance, and independence against the odds as a conservative radio talk show host. I liked his desire to share truth to the public. I’m a firm believer in entrepreneur efforts and activities to enhance humanity.”

Eric Cron Co-owner, Wildflower Nails & Spa, Brewerton, and owner, Freedom Express, Clay.

“I admire my mother-in-law, the owner of Cakes Galore & More, Annette Tyo. She is very ambitious and she knows what she wants. I believe she is the kind of a woman who can do it all.”

Victoria Walters Cake decorator, Cakes Galore & More, Oswego.

“My friend Lisa Chelenza of Baldwinsville used to be on the radio

APRIL / MAY 2021

at Classic Rock TK99/105 and she’s brilliant. I’ve always admired her.

She woke up at 2 a.m. for 16 years to get on the air to make people happy.

Now she’s going to do something herself. It’s later in life and she’s figuring out, maybe a winery. It’s admirable to be a creative free agent after many years.”

Mary Smith Owner, Start Fresh Cars, Syracuse.

“When I think of women supporting women, Tracy Higginbotham comes to mind. I admire her tireless efforts to help women entrepreneurs expand their marketplace in New York state and beyond our borders.

As the founder of Women TIES, this SUNY Oswego graduate dedicates her every moment to encouraging women to buy from other women first. Never sidelined by adversity or changes in the economy, Tracy adapts to our ever-changing world. She’s shifted in-person events to online gatherings where the same opportunities to network and grow not only survive but thrive. Tracy shows up on social media to spread the word about others before herself. She picks up the phone, is a regular in your inbox, and speaks and writes about the benefits of connecting with, and creating ties with women, so that we all grow personally and professionally. If you don’t know Tracy personally, it’s high time you learn more about her at http://womenties.com.”

Deb Coman Content writer and speaker, Syracuse.

“Warren Buffett because of the value that he places on integrity.”

Jeff Weigand Publisher and chief revenue officer, The Palladium Times, Oswego.

“Simon Sinek, public speaker and author, for his innovation.”

Naomi Himes Public relations coordinator, CiTi BOCES, Mexico.

“Vincent Lobdell of Pulaski. He owns Healthway Products and Kallet Theater. He has worked for everything he’s got and continues to give back to the community. He’s also established a work ethic in his family.”

Margaret “Peggy” Francher Real estate salesperson at CNY Realty, Oswego.

FULTON TAXI SERVICE 598-4797 Your Transportation Connection!

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

Congratulations

NBT Bank of Fulton for being rated one of our top

2020 Branches of the Year!

We’re proud of our Fulton branch for delivering outstanding customer service during the most challenging year.

NBT Bank of Fulton • 1930 State Route 3 • 315.593.2165

nbtbank.com Member FDIC

APRIL / MAY 2021

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

13

Started How I Got

By Steve Yablonski

Guy King Owner of Great Lakes Athletics and Fitness in Fulton has passion for helping youth

Q. Why did you decide to start your own business?

A. I have a passion for helping local youth and the community. I currently own King Development Company LLC and King’s Roll Off Services.

Q. Where did the idea come from?

A. I wanted to give kids the opportunity to meet and train with pro/semi-pro athletes, have a chance to grow as individuals, compete at a higher level, earn more college scholarship possibilities and to precipitate the attract-ability of new people and businesses to the area for the benefit of themselves and Oswego County.

Q. Have you had experience before?

A. Not in this field. But owning and running a number of businesses, yes.

Q. How did you manage to secure the needed funds for start-up?

A. Perseverance! Never giving up! I used personal funds.

Q. How much effort did it take to get the business going?

A. It takes an extraordinary amount of time, relentless energy and dedication. Much more intense than other businesses I have started or owned. My other businesses were easy in comparison. It took a lot of research, seeking assistance where I could find it, attempting to find the right location and facilities and much more.

Q. What does the business offer?

A. To my knowledge, we are the largest independently owned sports performance and fitness gym in Oswego County. We offer a full range of workout equipment, sports performance training, personal training, a professional indoor turf facility for all field sports, batting cages and more; even a cheerleading facility.

Q. How is it going right now?

A. It’s been very challenging with memberships and personal training since COVID shut us down for seven months. Since December, our turf facility has been very busy with team usage, sports camps and training.

Fulton Fury and Fulton United Soccer 14

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

APRIL / MAY 2021

have been with us for quite some time. Teams from Phoenix, Central Square, Baldwinsville, Mexico, Cicero North Syracuse, Pulaski, city of Syracuse, Hannibal, Tully, Fulton and more come here.

Q. How many employees do you have?

A. One part-time at present, due to recovering from COVID. Q. Do you plan on expanding?

A. At this very moment, we are working aggressively toward adding a 75’x135’ gymnasium by September for basketball, volleyball, fitness classes, wrestling, sports training, tournaments, indoor walking and so much more. We’ll be adding one fulltime and four part-time jobs to get started. We are willing to do all the work to make this happen. We need the support of the community and local financing to get there.

Q. How have you been able to keep going during the pandemic?

A. Fortunately we have been able to keep going through the use of personal funds and our other businesses’ resources.

Q. What problems (other than COVID-19) have you had to overcome?

A. Getting the word out about our facilities and the opportunities they present for our youth and local communities. Changing peoples’ habits from the way things have been done for years without the resources we provide. We could use some support from local schools and sports community.

Q. Do you offer specials for teams or groups?

A. Yes. We offer discount packages for teams. And we have discounts for parents who wish to train with or just spend time with their kids.

Q. Where are you located?

A. Just outside the city of Fulton at 7 Silk Road, corner of state Route 3 across from Northern ACE Hardware.

Q. Do you have a presence online?

A. Absolutely. People who need more information about the business can visit www.glatf.com.

APRIL / MAY 2021

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

15

PROFILE

By Ken Sturtz

Tricia Peter-Clark ConnextCare soon-to-be CEO has deep roots in local healthcare industry

T

ricia Peter-Clark possesses a first-hand understanding of the importance of adequate rural health care. When she was a child attending school in Sandy Creek, both parents worked. So, her family often relied on the school-based health center there for easier access to care.

The health center, as well as her primary care doctor’s office in Pulaski, was operated by Northern Oswego County Health Services, the predecessor to ConnextCare.

Peter-Clark has been chosen by ConnextCare to serve as its next president and chief executive officer. The current chief executive officer, Daniel Dey, plans to retire in June.

When she takes the helm, Peter-Clark will be responsible for a patient-centered network of health care practices that has grown to provide services to tens of thousands of patients.

“For me to be in a leadership role now, to look back and say this was my medical home when I was a child and now I get an opportunity to be in charge of it, to run it, to provide leadership to it is honestly the most gratifying piece of it,” she said.

Peter-Clark has been drawn to leadership roles since her youth.

While a student at D’Youville College in Buffalo she served as president of the student government. She also served as chairwoman of the athletic committee, coordinating activities and entertainment that took place during the sporting events. In both roles she had to monitor program budgets and interact with administrative staff.

“Being able to have the opportunity to be a part of the decision-making process, versus having to work through the decisions made by others, was always motivating to me,” she said.

Peter-Clark was pursuing a degree in physical therapy at D’Youville. She’d completed two and a half years, including most of the grueling 16

science classes, when she decided she didn’t want to be a physical therapist.

She realized she was more interested in the skills that go into running a medical practice. She changed course, instead earning a degree in health services with a concentration in health education and operations.

In 2004, she began working for Oswego County Opportunities as the coordinator of the cancer service programs in its health centers. That position allowed her to develop relationships with medical providers in practices across the county.

Later she became coordinator of the Rural Health Network of Oswego County, focusing on collaboration between providers. One of the biggest projects was convincing providers to adopt electronic medical record keeping to share records more easily.

While she was at Oswego County Opportunities, Peter-Clark said an opportunity in operations opened up and her boss hired her for it.

She was soon working as coordinator of health center operations, overseeing the organization’s primary care practices in Fulton and Oswego.

For about four years, Peter-Clark was part of an initiative to merge the practices of several organizations to preserve the primary care safety net in Oswego County.

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

Although an issue nationwide, the lack of primary care providers in many rural communities is especially severe. And the practices maintained

by Oswego County Opportunities in Fulton and Oswego were struggling

APRIL / MAY 2021

financially due to reimbursement issues.

The solution was to bring the Fulton and Oswego practices — as well as three of Oswego Health’s practices in Mexico, Parish and Phoenix — under the umbrella of Northern Oswego County Health Services. The organization already operated the Pulaski Health Center as well as school-based health centers.

As part of the acquisition, Peter-Clark joined Northern Oswego County Health Services in 2013 to help run its operations. She’d already developed a good working relationship with CEO Dey. When she worked on the Rural Health Network of Oswego County he was the chairman the advisory board. And in her previous jobs, she had developed relationships with providers throughout the community.

Peter-Clark faced a daunting task when she started in 2013; she was stepping into more than simply a new position and a new work environment.

“Not only was it a new job, but it was bringing together all these dispa-

Lifelines Birthdate: March 19, 1982.

Birth Place: Watertown.

Residence: Mexico.

Education: Bachelor of Science degree in health services with a concentration in health education and operations, D’Youville College; Master of Business Administration, St. Joseph’s College; board certified in health care management, American College of Healthcare Executives Affiliations: Director, Central New York Care Collaborative; secretary, Operation Oswego County; director and secretary, Mexico Tiger Sharks; fellow, American College of Healthcare Executives; member, Oswego County Health Department Professional Advisory Committee; member, New York State Association for Rural Health.

Personal: Husband, Jason, married 15 years; two children, Ethan and Isabel.

Hobbies: Baking, running with her German shepherd, exercise, being outdoors, watching her kids and their sports adventures, spending time with family.

APRIL / MAY 2021

rate operations and cultures and trying to make them one,” Peter-Clark said. “And I can honestly tell you it took about five years to really get to the point where we had everything so succinct as a system it just runs seamlessly.”

Although on paper the organization’s hundreds of employees were part of a unified system, in many ways they were still three different organizations. For example, each one had handled billing differently, but the new organization had to be prepared to bill for services from day one. There was also the fact that three practices still kept paper records. Two other practices used an electronic records system, but it was different from the one used by the Pulaski Health Center. Peter-Clark said they had to take the three separate systems and combine them into one cohesive system that allowed medical records to be shared.

“So, there was a lot of coordination and work that went into building the foundation that we needed to really be successful as a system,” she said.

Now patients can go to any of the offices and staff can easily access their records. Processes have been standardized and streamlined. Although she admits bringing everything together was chaotic at first, Peter-Clark said things began to run more smoothly as the leadership team developed relationships with the staff in all the offices.

Building positive relationships is a key part of Peter-Clark’s leadership and management philosophy. That means effectively communicating your vision and encouraging others to be as excited about it as you are.

“My approach aims to build strong relationships with staff across all disciplines, demonstrating a high level of respect, trust and integrity, which yields a motivated, hardworking and committed workforce full of endless collaboration and growth,” she said.

In addition to the acquisition, Peter-Clark was part of the rebranding campaign in 2018 that led to the organization being named ConnextCare. That year she was promoted to executive vice president and chief operating officer.

More recently, she helped guide ConnextCare through the pandemic.

Of its 13 sites across Oswego County, all remained open to patients except OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

“Being able to have the opportunity to be a part of the decision-making process, versus having to work through the decisions made by others, was always motivating to me.”

Tricia Peter-Clark, who in June will become ConnextCare CEO. its school-based programs. Even its dental practices stayed open for emergency services. That required being flexible, Peter-Clark said.

ConnextCare began using a telemedicine system for the first time.

Now as many as 30% of patient visits each week are done virtually. For in-person visits ConnextCare developed a kiosk system to keep waiting rooms from filling up. Patients who are sick call when they arrive and are escorted directly into the building to limit contact. Despite the challenges ConnextCare served nearly 32,000 patients in 2020 and logged more than 108,000 patient visits.

As Peter-Clark transitions to her new role as CEO, she said her focus will be on ensuring ConnextCare continues treating patients and remains fiscally stable through the pandemic.

ConnextCare is a federally qualified health center, meaning it receives federal funding to provide medical care in a medically underserved community. It provides care to any patient regardless of their ability to pay.

Peter-Clark said the organization has remained strong during the pandemic, although its dental practices have taken a hit financially.

Despite the challenges, Peter-Clark said she’s well prepared to run ConnextCare because Dey has taken care to mentor her throughout their years working together. The growth of the organization under Dey’s leadership has included adding new mental health and care management programs, she said. They’ve also scaled up the organization’s medical and senior leadership teams, which positioned ConnextCare well.

“One of the things that excites me the most is working with the leadership team we’ve developed over the last eight years,” Peter-Clark said. “I’m really proud of how we’ve grown as an organization.”

17

Publisher’s note

By Wagner Dotto

W

e’re excited for the upcoming summer season — the pandemic is coming under control and all indications are that we will have a near normal season.

Not sure about you, but I can’t wait to get out and do things in the community. I believe this is a sentiment shared by most, which will make this season a good one for all businesses.

We’re now contacting a number of businesses and organizations to invite them to advertise in the 2021 Summer Guide — The Best of Upstate New York.

In general, advertising in the Summer Guide makes a great deal of sense — ad rates are very low and the publication is available all season long. But this season in particular is even more important — people just can’t wait to go places, do things, be outdoors. Add the fact that many have been vaccinated against COVID-19 and have money in their pockets (thanks, in part, to the latest

early fall. Likewise, advertisers have counted on the vast distribution and readership of the publication as a way to draw more customers.

We’re confident we will enjoy a great summer — going to restaurants, bars, attending festivals and concerts, shopping at the local farmers market, gathering with friends and all those routine things to which we’re accustomed.

Advertisers should take advantage of this annual guide — an ad in it can be a great tool in helping them drum up more business.

Cover - Summer.in

dd 1

government economic stimulus) and we have the right recipe for a zhigher volume of business across the board.

Over the years, a lot of readers have come to rely on the Summer Guide as it highlights the most fun things to do and the most interesting places to visit during the summer and 6/1/20 11:32 AM

WAGNER DOTTO is the publisher of Oswego County Business Magazine.

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Where in the World is Sandra Scott?

By Sandra Scott

Santiago, Chile

Chile’s largest city is a good starting point to visit the country

C

hile is the longest country in the world measuring north to south with the Andes on the eastern border and the Pacific Ocean on the west. The Andes are visible from just about any place in Chile, albeit from a distance.

Santiago, the capital and largest city, is the perfect place to spend a few days before heading out to some of Chile’s exotic destinations such as Patagonia in the south and the Atacama Desert in the north or the remote Easter Island (Rapa Nui) with the unique Moai statues. But before heading out, there are

several things to see and do in Chile’s largest city.

The heart of the city is Plaza de Armas, the colonial center, home to the 1808 Royal Palace, which in now the National History Museum, the perfect place to learn about the country’s history from pre-colonial to the present.

The neoclassic Metropolitan Cathedral constructed between 1753 and 1799 is a quiet place to sit and marvel at the lavish interior. The plaza is always busy but the best time to visit is on the weekend when visitors are welcomed to sit down for a game of chess or join

people dancing the cueca, the national dance. The plaza also attracts painters, musician, mimes and vendors of food and handicrafts. Not far from Plaza de Armas is the Palacio de La Moneda, the seat of government, and nearby is a statue to former and controversial Marxist President Salvador Allende.

Avoid the hustle and bustle of downtown by heading to Cerro Santa Lucia with more than 1,000 trees of different species, beautiful gardens and small squares. Most visitors take the elevator to the top but the fit can follow the long path dotted with stone steps.

Beach at Vina del Mar, a resort city about 90 minutes from Santiago, is a popular destination.

20

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

APRIL / MAY 2021

There are several photo ops along the way, including an award-wining statue of a vigilant Indigenous chief on the lookout for Spanish conquistadors. A huge terrace serves as a lookout.

The most impressive panoramic view is from Cerro San Cristobal at an elevation of nearly 3,000 feet. It is the city’s largest urban natural area. Getting to the top can be part of the fun. From the zoo at the bottom the hearty can follow the upward trail which takes nearly two hours. Others can take the funicular or cable car. At the lookout point there is a 72-foot statue of the Virgin Mary.

One of the most popular day trips, especially in the summer, is to the resort coastal city of Vina del Mar. It is only an hour and half away from Santiago and easily accessible by bus. Most people visit to enjoy the beach but not to miss is Quinta Vergara, a park that is home to Palacio Vergara, the home of the city’s founder; the amphitheater that hosts the International Song Festival; and beautiful gardens. Picturesque historic Wulff Castle is the city’s heritage center.

From Vina del Mar, Valparaíso is easily accessible by bus or subway in less than 15 minutes. From Valparaiso the drive to the sand dunes is about 20 minutes and the Humboldt penguins are about an hour away.

The best way to get an overview of Santiago is on a hop-on bus tour. Tickets are usually available at the bus stop. The metro station provides access to many parts of Santiago. “Tours by Locals” is a great way to get a personalized tour, not only of Santiago and nearby cities but some locals offer specialized experiences like horseback riding in the Andes and a food and wine tour.

Americans only need a valid passport good for at least six months.

US dollars are accepted in some hotels but it is best to exchange it to pesos at a bank. Print out an on-line “cheat sheet” before you go to take the brain work out of making the monetary conversions.

Unlike some South American countries, bargaining is generally not the norm in Chile.

Sandra Scott, a retired history teacher and the co-author of two local history books, has been traveling worldwide with her husband, John, since the 1980s. The Scotts live in the village of Mexico.

APRIL / MAY 2021

The neoclassic Metropolitan Cathedral constructed between 1753 and 1799 is a quiet place to sit and marvel at the lavish interior.

Statue to former and controversial Marxist President Salvador Allende in downtown Santiago.

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

The heart of the city is Plaza de Armas, the colonial center, home to the 1808 Royal Palace, which in now the National History Museum 21

NEWSMAKERS NEWS BRIEFS ON LOCAL BUSINESSES & BUSINESS PEOPLE Fulton Savings Bank Announces Promotions Fulton Savings Bank, a New York state chartered savings bank with over $400 million in assets and branches in Oswego and Onondaga counties, recently announced two promotion.

• Melissa Keller, CPA, has been promoted to senior vice president/ chief financial officer. Keller, who previously served as senior vice president/ chief information security officer, joined the bank in 2017 as vice president/ controller. She is a certified public accountant with extensive experience in accounting, finance, auditing and cybersecurity. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Columbia College and holds a certificate in cybersecurity from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).

Prior to joining FSB, she was a senior audit manager at Dermody, Burke & Brown. She resides in Central Square with her fiancé, Gary Hemmingway and her daughter.

“Melissa has continued to accept added responsibilities and has exhibited exemplary leadership, managerial and problem-solving skills,” said Michael Pollock, Fulton Savings Bank (FSB) president and CEO. “Her efforts have played an integral role in Fulton Savings Bank’s success.”

• Julie Merritt has been promoted to senior vice president/lending compliance officer & CRA officer.

Merritt, who previously served as vice president/loan operations, joined the bank as a teller and advanced through the management ranks of accounting and loan operations. She holds an associate’s degree in accounting from Cayuga Community College and 22

a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Empire State College.

She resides in the town of Volney with her fiancé, Mark Mazzoli.

“This April, Julie celebrates her 31st year here at Fulton Savings,” Pollock said.

“Her hard work and enthusiasm to grow with us over three decades has been a key to both her success and ours.”

Fulton Savings Bank, which celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, serves customers from full-service banking offices in Baldwinsville, Phoenix, Central Square, Brewerton and Constantia with Express Banking ATM kiosks at each location.

Tim Mahar Joins ARISE Timothy Mahar has joined ARISE as its new development officer. He has been involved with engagement and fundraising for over 20 years.

Previously, Mahar worked at Syracuse University as the assistant dean for external relations with the College of Visual and Performing Arts, and executive director of off-campus programs.

He also worked at Cornell University as senior director of regional and affinity programs, and assistant dean for alumni affairs and development with the College of Architecture, Art and Planning.

Additionally, he served as executive director for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse’s foundation. He was member of the COVID-19 impact fund team for CNY Arts. In addition to his background in fundraising, he has acted and performed for over 30 years in television, film, and stage. He has presented and conducted workshops on the topic of creativity and conflict resolution.

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

Maura J. O’Toole Joins FitzGibbons Agency in Baldwinsville The FitzGibbons Agency is expanding its product and service offerings to include Medicare Sales. The sales and service of this new product line will be led by Maura J. O’Toole, licensed agent with FitzGibbons Agency.

O ’ To o l e joined the FitzGibbons Agency in 2018 as a licensed property and casualty commercial lines service representative.

Prior to her role at FitzGibbons Agency, O’Toole held a license in life, accident and health for over 20 years. As a newly accredited Medicare adviser, O’Toole will help customers understand their Medicare product choices and navigate them through the enrollment process.

O’Toole holds the America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) certification and has access to all of the top insurance carriers.

“Maura loves building relationships with customers and will be there every step of the way with expert guidance. We are excited to offer this service and deliver solutions to our client base,” said agency owner, John FitzGibbons.

“With Maura’s background and expertise as an experienced group sales health insurance agent and individual marketplace adviser, she will be able to assist customers and guide them to the right Medicare option. It is a great alignment for our agency and we look forward to providing even more solutions to the communities we serve.”

O’Toole is based out of the agency’s Baldwinsville satellite office, Huntington Agency. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from LeMoyne College and resides in Liverpool. In her spare time, O’Toole enjoys spending time with APRIL / MAY 2021

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family, including her dog, and is in the process of restoring a historic home that was built in 1850 in Oswego.

AmeriCU CEO Elected to Mohawk Valley EDGE Board Ronald Belle, president and chief executive officer of AmeriCU Credit Union, has been elected to the Moh a w k Va l l e y EDGE board of directors.

Mohawk Valley EDGE is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to strengthening and growing the economy of the Mohawk Valley. As a board member, Belle joins 51 other business and community leaders working to assist local companies and attract new businesses to the region.

“I’m thrilled to join Mohawk Valley EDGE, an organization that’s focused on growing and expanding our Central New York economy,” said Belle. “Their

goals directly align with the mission of AmeriCU, which is to provide our members the right financial services to live life, dream big, and achieve financial success.”

Belle has been elected for a threeyear term.

Peggy Kain Celebrates 25 Years on the Job Peggy Kain, a senior advertising sales representative at Oswego County Business, has recently celebrated 25 years on the job.

Kain started working for the publication in the spring of 1996, selling advertising space for thennew “Vacation Guide.” The publication later changed its name to “Summer Guide — The Best of Upstate New York.” After that, Kain started selling for Oswego County Business on a regular basis. She helped launch

Employees at NBT Bank’s Fulton office have recently been recognized.

NBT Bank’s Fulton Office Named 2020 Top Performer

N

BT Bank recently recognized top-performing branches for service and sales excellence during 2020.

NBT Bank’s Fulton office, led by branch manager Charlene Perkins, was ranked among the top 10 branches out of the bank’s more than

24

140 locations. In addition, the Central New York territory, led by territory manager Lori Teifke, was recognized.

The rankings were determined by a demonstration of excellence in the areas of service, leadership, community involvement, sales and operational excellence.

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

several other publications, including the CNY Winter Guide and College Life.

“Peggy’s help has been critical to our success,” said Wagner Dotto, publisher of Local News Inc., the parent company of Oswego County Business and Summer Guide. “She has a very strong work ethic. She is very effective, reliable, a pleasure to work with.”

The staff organized an office party March 22 to celebrate the milestone.

“My sales position with the business magazine and our annual guides has helped me to grow in knowledge of not only businesses but community,” said Kain.

“I’ve enjoyed many conversations with community business owners, sharing ideas of how our city can become a better environment for family, businesses and tourism. I enjoy those that I can laugh with and always have a joke to tell me. My job has allowed me to have a personal friendship with many over the years with which I am very thankful for because it’s only through my job that I came to know them.

“I’ve enjoyed many friendships via phone, messages and emails but have been blessed with friendships with co-workers as well. And I can truly say that these 25 years have been a blessing to me.”

“In what has been an extraordinarily challenging year, I’m grateful for the compassion, dedication and flexibility that these teams have shown to help ensure our customers have maintained continued access to the financial services and support they’ve needed,” said Joseph Stagliano, president of retail community banking. “Their actions have truly fulfilled the NBT mission of providing our customers with superior banking services and helping to make the communities we serve a better place to live and work. I also want to express my sincere appreciation for our customers and the support they’ve shown as we’ve established new processes to maintain focus on the health and safety of our employees, customers and communities.”

NBT Bank serves clients in seven states: New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine and Connecticut. The bank and its parent company, NBT Bancorp Inc., are headquartered in Norwich, and had assets of $10.9 billion as of Dec. 31.

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The year ahead holds new opportunities and I look forward to working with our partners across the region to drive us toward our bold vision for a vibrant and growing community.”

The event also featured a keynote a discussion with Oswego Mayor Billy Barlow and Fulton Mayor Deana Michaels, moderated by CenterState CEO President Rob Simpson. Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul also shared the state’s vision to reimagine, rebuild and renew New York.

The chamber also presented three awards during the event. The Community Investor Award was presented to Oswego Health. The Nancy L. Premo – Woman of Distinction Award was presented to Chena Tucker, director of SUNY Oswego’s Office of Business and Community Relations. The President’s Award was presented to Jill Abbott, owner of Uniforms Etc. and Zamp Marketing.

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OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

27

DiningOut

By Christopher Malone

Restaurant

Guide

Southwest turkey melt sandwich at Buck’s Family Restaurant, which comes with chips and a pickle spear ($9).

Buck’s Family Restaurant

W

Williamstown restaurant is in season, every season

hen pulling into the lot of Buck’s Family Restaurant, 469 state Route 13 in Williamstown, a little eastern town in Oswego County equivalent to a flyover state, whether it was open or not was questionable. One web search told me 11 a.m. and social media told me noon; luckily, it was the former. During snowmobile season, the establishment opens a smidge earlier to accommodate sled traffic.

I walked into the spacious place almost hesitantly, like a trespassing fawn weary of a trap, but was greeted by cordial host/bartender/server Whitney. It was A-OK to eat. While getting situated and making up my mind, I enjoyed a water and a coffee ($2), which I wasn’t charged for. The mug-o-java was a tall one to my surprise and was a good brew. It’s one of those moments when

28

you look down at the cup as if you’re speaking to it and say, “Yeah, that’s a good cup of coffee.” It hits the spot.

The average-sized menu was filled with a bunch of decisions: wings and other classic starters, soups and salads, handheld fare and entrees. Since I cannot say no to jalepeño poppers ($6) and chili ($4.50), they kicked off this heavy meal.

The poppers were deceiving. The crispy-coated cheese-filled peppers were warm to the touch. However, biting into one was a fury hot experience in the temperature sense. Yes, they had a kick, too, but this lesson was learned.

As for the food item itself, it definitely met jalepeño popper expectations.

Mama Buck’s chili, which comes served in a crock, similar to the guy who strolls into casual events wearing a tie, was flavorful and hearty with OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

ground beef and sausage. There were also chunks of whole, peeled tomatoes and beans, of course. As it was well presented, it did the job. On the spicy side of things, this medium and leaning toward the mild side chili exceeded my expectations. Mama Buck’s recipe is an honest chili.

Happily warmed up, I made the decision to order three more meals instead of two. After a history lesson and food discussion during appetizer time, I opted for the southwest turkey melt sandwich, which comes with chips and a pickle spear ($9); Buck’s bourbon burger with fries and a pickle spear ($10); and the portobello steak with garlic mashed potatoes ($12). The food came out all at once. By this point a couple entered Buck’s and also sat at the bar. The gentleman exclaimed, “Oh, jeez! When was it the last time you ate?

APRIL / MAY 2021

Do you have a hollow leg?” To which I replied, “Last week. I’ve been waiting for this moment.”

It was at that moment my cover was blown.

The southwest turkey melt came with choice of bread, so I opted for marble rye. The large, grilled sandwich was stuffed with deli turkey, bacon, roasted red peppers, guacamole, pepper jack cheese and chipotle ranch dressing.

It’s a perfect balance of healthy and unhealthy. The ranch and guacamole seep out with every bite — proof of a stacked sammy. For those not wanting fries, the standard ruffle-style chips are a crispy option. It’s especially true for those folks who stick their chips in the sandwich.

Buck’s bourbon burger featured caramelized onions, bacon, bourbon barbecue sauce and provolone cheese.

You can even add more bacon to any burger for $1 more. I wasn’t feeling that adventurous. The sauce was definitely sweet but very good. The burger, which came out more medium to medium-well instead of medium rare, wasn’t bad. It had juicy life to it and wasn’t a messy struggle when eating.

Then there is my favorite: the portobello steak. On top of the grilled mushroom sat a pile of Philly-style shaved steak, onions, peppers and an umbrella of provolone cheese. Balsamic vinaigrette was poured over the top with precision and it didn’t flood the plate. Being one of the four definitive entrees Buck’s serves, this came out on top for this dining out experience. The mushroom wasn’t rubbery. The flavor was high. It paired very well with the garlic and red-skinned potato mash.

For all that food to easily fill four people in one sitting, the bill came to only $45.39 before tip.

From here on out, I’ll be referring to Buck’s Family Restaurant as simply “Uncle Buck’s.” Yes, like the movie.

Sure, John Candy isn’t physically present. Sure, they’re not serving up satellite dish-sized pancakes. However, the food tasted home-cooked and you’re treated like family when dining in. You’ll definitely leave stuffed and your wallet won’t be empty.

The jalepeño poppers ($6) definitely met expectations.

My favorite: Portobello steak. On top of the grilled mushroom sat a pile of Phillystyle shaved steak, onions, peppers and an umbrella of provolone cheese.

Buck’s Family Restaurant 469 state Route 13, Williamstown, NY 13493 315-632-4406 facebook.com/bucks. formertownhouse Mon.: Closed Tues. – Sun.: Noon – 9 p.m.

APRIL / MAY 2021

Buck’s bourbon burger: It had juicy life to it and wasn’t a messy struggle when eating.

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

29

Chirello Advertising Celebrates 25 Years in Business Founded in 1996, the business is still going strong today with additional clients and more products

A

summer internship sparked a lifelong career.

“Believe it or not, 2021 marks 25 years since I started Chirello Advertising,” Steve Chirello mused.

He recently ruminated about how it all got started.

“I interned for three summers at Ed Vayner & Associates in Fulton while I was a college student and found that I really enjoyed coming up with creative ideas for radio scripts and newspaper ads for some of his clients,” Chirello said.

He was studying journalism at the time. The experience really helped shape what he ultimately wanted to do, he added.

“I worked for Ed Vayner for about three years and interned with him while I was in college. So he kind of gave me my introduction to advertising and marketing,” Chirello said. “I loved the creative process. I thought some day I’d like to do it myself.”

So, in April 1996, he started Steve Chirello Advertising after a career in a variety of large and small business entities.

“I sent out 100 letters to people I knew and I had a pretty good response.

Things just kind of built from there,” he said. “When you first start a business, of course, it’s challenging because you don’t have any real accounts yet. I love helping solve marketing challenges. No two days are the same here. Every marketing solution is unique and exciting in its own way.”

He said he relied on his “visibility and recognition” to get started. He was still well-known in Central New York from his visibility as the public relations manager for the Miller Brewing Company in Fulton and as the director of community relations for Syracuse University.

“I was very out front in the commu-

Before striking out on his own, Steve Chirello worked at PR managar at Syracuse University, Miller Brewing Co., among other places. nity for many years. So, it was logical that I build my brand as a marketing agency on my reputation and deep community involvement from those previous positions,” he explained.

“I just relied on myself for money. I was fortunate that my wife worked for the school district and I didn’t have to provide my own health insurance; that helped a lot. She supported me, particularly the first five years or so while I was building the business and grow what was in the pipeline,” he said.

“It wasn’t simple. It wasn’t easy.

But, it’s been very rewarding and I can’t believe it’s been 25 years,” he added. “There were a couple of times where the economy took a downturn.

Suddenly, accounts that you had that

BUSINESS UPDATE

30

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

had been considering projects decided they want to hold off for a while. That makes it more challenging for you to find other avenues to use your talents, skills and your services.”

Making It Through the Tough Times “At times, I did some freelance work as a writer. I was fortunate that even through the rough times I had enough to sustain me. I’m really fortunate to have had some of my clients for more than 10 years. Eastern Shore Associates I have had, I think, for at least 20. And Burritt Motors, I’ve had a chance to work with both Chris Burritt and now Rich Burritt.

“It’s neat seeing a business grow and being a part of that,” he said.

He said he was “very, very fortunate to have some very good mentors.”

“Ed taught me about thinking outside the box and trying new ideas. I tried to absorb as much as I could from him,” he said. “I also had a really good boss, Al Jensen, my very first job out of college. He really pushed me. He was the guy who said, ‘no this copy isn’t good enough.’ I’d give him an idea and he’d say, ‘give me five more.’ He’d send me on assignments for things that I thought I’d never have a chance to do.”

One in particular stands out.

“I was 21 or 22 and he sent me up to Maine to interview people at the extreme northern part of Maine where they spoke French! It was a thrilling assignment. I could only fly so far. Then I had to rent a car to drive the last 40 miles up to where I had to interview these people. The thing that really cracked me up was the car that they gave me for the rental was a white Monte Carlo, brand new, with a red interior. I looked like some city slicker driving up there.

It wasn’t low-profile,” he recalled. “The people were wonderful. I just wish my French had been better. The article came out great. Al Jensen was one of those guys who were blustery and stormy.

He pushed you but you knew he had a heart of gold and had your best interest at heart. I learned a lot.”

Teaching the Next Generation Chirello has had a dozen or so interns.

“They all have been very talented people. One invited me to her wedding a couple years ago. I was really honored to be asked because I only knew her as APRIL / MAY 2021

Some of the highlights

Chirello directs a commercial for one of his clients. a student when she was interning. Now she and her husband own a bed and breakfast and just had their first child.

It’s amazing,” he said.

He keeps up with some other former interns via social media.

“It’s wonderful seeing them establish their lives and be successful and think back to how much fun it was to work with them when they were here.

Social media has been great for that — you get to see their milestones. It’s nice to stay in touch that way. They’ve all been wonderful,” he said.

“One of the things I told the interns and the students in the class I taught up at SUNY Oswego — I’d tell them make sure you fully appreciate the value of what you can offer. Just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean it comes cheap. A lot of times [someone] might say, ‘oh, could you design a logo for my business,’ for example. A lot of times, they tend to under-value your skills and what you’re bringing to the table. And, the other thing is keep APRIL / MAY 2021

track of your time. When you’re doing a job, keep track of all your time; it’s all valuable, your time is worth something.

Don’t think that just because you’re new that you’re not valuable. Sure you’ve got to gain experience. But, you’re bringing something to the table right now,” he explained.

“I’ve always kept my overhead down to keep my fees very competitive by utilizing one part-time employee as an administrative assistant in the office and bookkeeper,” he said. “Over the past 25 years, I’ve had three different administrative assistants: Roberta Kinville, Heather McCoy and Sarah Farley.”

Chirello said he subcontracts production work to “a wonderful array of graphic designers, video production studios and digital advertising consultants.”

“I, however, manage my accounts, pitch new business, buy media, handle photography and all proposals,” he added.

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

In addition to acquiring Fulton Savings Bank as a client this year, he has had several milestones in recent years: • Producing the 2019 video that helped the city of Fulton obtain $10 million in NYS Downtown Revitalization Initiative funding • Helping Fulton Block Builders get started by donating logo design and pro bono consultation in their formative years • Working with Burritt Motors for two generations (Chris and Rich Burritt) and overseeing promotion of their $2.2 million expansion in 2012, their acquisition of Shapiro Motors and their expansion with a new $10 million Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM dealership and body shop in 2020.

“It’s also been a joy to teach news writing and a capstone class on branding and design at SUNY Oswego for several years as an adjunct faculty member,” he said. “I’m proud to add that some of my clients have been with me for 10 years or more.”

Among these are: Eastern Shore Associates Insurance, Burritt Motors, Oswego County Federal Credit Union, Fulton and Phoenix Medicine Place and Fulton City School District.

“I wouldn’t have done anything differently. The business and the marketing environment have changed dramatically over the past 25 years,” he said. “Some of the biggest changes have occurred in what media the public consumes and how targeted it has become. For example, we’ve gone from basically three television networks to hundreds of offerings on cable TV, social media, the internet and streaming services.”

“When we started, we were one of the first agencies to offer PDF files of print ads to local publications, instead of physical ‘reflective’ art that the publication would have to take a picture of it to put into production,” he continued.

“It used to be that the agency would have to physically deliver or mail the hard copy of the ad. With PDF files, it’s as simple as an email.”

Chirello has kept pace with, and anticipated changes in the advertising and marketing landscape over the years.

“This is especially true in how much more important research and correct targeting have become across so many platforms and deciding what platforms to use to achieve marketing goals,” he cogitated.

By Steve Yablonski 31

Models wearing samples of T-shirts marketed by Syracuse-based In Our Words Apparel.

Mother-Daughter Team Starts T-Shirt Business to Inspire Women Ashley McLeod and her mother, entrepreneur Gwen Webber-McLeod, betting on a new line of T-shirts that they say will inspire women

I

f Syracuse resident Ashley McLeod needs inspiration, she need look no further than her mother, serial entrepreneur Gwen Webber-McLeod, a public speaker who has founded a few companies, including Gwen, Inc., a business coaching firm.

The duo founded In Our Words Apparel (www.inourwords.net) which draws inspiration from other successful women, including Harriet Tubman.

“The idea to start it began two years ago when my mom asked a group of women about T-shirts to inspire women and wake up their ambition and help them with their self-esteem,” McLeod recalled. “I had two other business partners who have moved on. I decided to continue.”

32

She described the apparel as “shirts created with hashtags with affirmation to inspire women of all races, ages and occupation to shoot for the stars. If I can inspire a woman to shoot for the stars, I have done my job.”

Webber-McLeod said her daughter was always a visionary. She had cancer as a 10-year-old, and at one point, 97% of her bone marrow was malignant.

“She set a goal to survive,” Webber-McLeod said. “The lesson I learned is never doubt your daughter’s vision for her life, even if it seems crazy to you.”

McLeod enjoys the creative process that somewhat pulls her out of her comfort zone to not only express her hard-

earned confidence but to encourage other women to become more confident.

After two years of organizing the business, the company launched in November of 2020.

McLeod said that her mother inspired her to take the role of director, as Webber-McLeod is both a woman of color and an entrepreneur.

In Our Words is a division of Webber-McLeod, Inc., which means McLeod can tap into the supports of her mother’s company as well as her wisdom.

Webber-McLeod likes the model of sage women helping less experienced entrepreneurs build their business.

The current “Be Like Harriet” references Harriet Tubman, whom McLeod described as “a woman who was strong, brave and had faith.”

McLeod believes that God’s protection helped Tubman endure despite great hardships and danger.

The “Black Women Matter” design was created in the wake of the “Black Lives Matter” movement.

McLeod said that although Brianna Taylor was killed before George Floyd, little mention was made of Taylor, along with other black women who died at the hands of police officers.

“Any woman who bought that shirt is standing with and for those women,” McLeod said.

McLeod acknowledges the contribution to her fortitude made by her grandmother, Barbara Webber. When her husband, Lt. Colonel Charles E. Webber, died in 2000, Barbara Webber felt that she needed to take his legislative seat in Jefferson County. She had taught several generations at Carthage City School. Despite her lack of political experience, she wanted to continue his vision for Watertown. After a special election, Barbara Webber was sworn in less than two weeks from when her husband died.

McLeod and Webber-McLeod both admire her strength in the face of tremendous adversity.

Despite starting her company mere months before the pandemic shut down the nation, McLeod said sales have been fine. She would rather grow steadily than too fast.

Each design is exclusive and will not repeat, which generates greater demand for each shirt. Graphic designer Shawn McCarthy works with McLeod to create each design.

“Our visions are to help the community to be better and do better,” McLeod said. “We have to get back to a sense of

BUSINESS UPDATE

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

APRIL / MAY 2021

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Ashley McLeod and her mom, Gwen Webber-McLeod (below), recently founded In Our Words Apparel which draws inspiration from other successful women, including Harriet Tubman. community. That’s what’s lost.”

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McLeod expressed gratitude to Judi Dixon, the office manager, who keeps We b b e r- M c Leod, Inc. and In Our Words humming.

Most of all, she feels grateful for her mother.

“It’s an honor to be my mom’s daughter,” McLeod said.

Webber-McLeod She said she has only realized how important her mother is now that she is a mom.

“It’s a journey of self-discovery when you look inside and you realize you are like your mother,” McLeod added. “You are your mom. I’m so honored to be in this place of knowing who I am and be able to be in this business model with my mom.”

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33

30 Years on the Job: Karen Knapik-Scalzo Associate economist with the NYS Department of Labor, a SUNY Oswego grad, helps the media and the public understand trends in local labor, jobs

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

K

aren Knapik-Scalzo is the person most in the media seek when they’re writing stories about local unemployment, employment trends, salaries or other key labor-related statistics. he usually has what they need: accurate, precise information about the labor market and the local economy.

Now Knapik-Scalzo, associate economist with the New York State Department of Labor Division of Re-

S

search and Statistics in Syracuse, has a new number to acknowledge: 30 years on the job.

The SUNY Oswego grad has always loved math, business, marketing and economics, which has made working with labor statistics her dream job.

Knapik-Scalzo grew up in Scotia, in the Albany area. While in high school, she visited a variety of colleges across the state, including SUNY Oswego.

“I fell in love with the SUNY Oswego campus,” she said. “I wanted a mid-sized school. SUNY Albany was huge. Oswego was a nice fit.”

She double majored in business administration and economics. After graduation, she gained employment at a different state agency, the Division of Military and Naval Affairs in Latham. She had worked there some summers during college, so it was an easy transition.

Since they lacked an economist position, she started looking at other state agencies that employed economists, including the State Department of Education. They were not hiring. But the Department of Labor was hiring economists.

Knapik-Scalzo got the job and began working as an economist trainee. That progressed to a full economist, senior economist and now an associate economist.

As she works in civil service, she had to take a civil service exam for each advancing job title.

“You have to do well on it,” she added.

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APRIL / MAY 2021

on the labor market is a customer of her department. Besides members of the media who need statistics for articles, she also provides information for job seekers, those looking to change careers, schools, students, businesses, other government agencies and grant writers.

“Our customer base is so broad,” she added. “Each day varies, which is one of the things I like about my job. I could be answering a data request for certain types of data, a Power Point presentation about our region or a write-up about the local economy for Central New York.

“I might need to attend a meeting to provide statistics about the local economy and do conference calls with other customers.”

She must also keep up with reading about the local economy and other business news in the region.

Knapik-Scalzo said that the title of “economist” can apply to many types of jobs and there are so many specialties. As a labor economist, she could specialize in banking, public utility or agriculture.

Her office provides business services that work directly with other businesses. Knapik-Scalzo represents one of the 10 statewide economists that

Karen Knapik-Scalzo is the person most in the media seek when they’re writing stories about local unemployment, employment trends, salaries or other key labor-related statistics. She has been on the job for 30 years.

focus on one of each of the 10 regions.

She hopes that additional vaccine distribution will help more businesses loosen up and begin operating normally again.

“Once they can hire staff and expand, we should see a turning point,” she said. “Prior to the whole pandemic, we were hitting very high job numbers and record low unemployment rates.

We had a very robust economy. Many industries were doing well and employers were complaining of labor shortages.

Healthcare was doing very well.”

Knapik-Scalzo and her husband, John, have two children, Ashley, a graduate student at Nazareth College graduating this spring and Kyle, a student at SUNY Oswego studying math and coaching.

Knapik-Scalzo enjoys walking her dog, reading, gardening, swimming, playing tennis and badminton and spending time at the family camp in the Albany area.

She feels lucky to have work she enjoys.

“It used to be very common to stay with one place and now you don’t see it as much,” she said. “There’s definitely more transitioning than there used to be.

I enjoy my job. I have a great employer.”

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35

Bruce Frassinelli bfrassinelli@ptd.net

W ‘Doug Barclay was one of the few politicians whom I have encountered during my 60 years in the business that understands how journalists and the news media operate.’

Doug Barclay, the ‘Kingmaker’

hen the vice president of Thomson Newspapers Inc. offered me the job of publisher of The Palladium-Times in Oswego, I wasn’t even sure where Oswego was located.

I looked at a map of New York state. I spotted “Owego,” and at first thought that the mapmakers had misspelled the name of the community. But this place was west of Binghamton, and I was told that “Oswego” was right on Lake Ontario.

I had never been the publisher of a newspaper. I was leaving the job of general manager of my newspaper in Easton, Pennsylvania, a position to which I had been promoted just three months earlier after having risen to editor.

My Turn

BRUCE FRASSINELLI is the former publisher of The PalladiumTimes. He served as a governor of the Rotary Club District 7150 (Central New York) from July 2001 to June 2002.

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I knew that this would be a steep learning curve to understand how the community worked and who the movers and shakers were. In addition to a twoweek walking tour of the streets of Oswego and Fulton to introduce myself, I was compiling a dossier of key people to seek out so I could get their perspectives on the community, the county and how it all interacted with the newspaper.

After my first contact — Clark Morrison, one of The Pall-Times’ former owners and the longtime publisher before Thomson Newspapers Inc. bought the paper in the 1980s — I next contacted H. Douglas Barclay.

The “H,” by the way, stands for “Hugh,” but he went by his middle name “Douglas” or just plain “Doug.” Barclay died on March 14 at the age of 88.

I was told that Barclay, who served for 20 years as a state senator, was “Mr. Republican” in a heavily Republican county. He was described as a “kingmaker,” and any Republican who aspired to county or state office needed Barclay on his or her side.

I was also told that Barclay was tightly aligned with the Backus family, which at the time ran the Republican-leaning Oswego County Weeklies newspapers, including the

Cover story of Oswego County Business, December 2003 / January 2004 issue, focusing on the appointment of Doug Barclay as ambassador to El Savador.

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

APRIL / MAY 2021

Oswego Shopper.

The Palladium-Times was considered to be a “Democratic” paper.

This alignment was thought to be a continuation of the prominence in Democratic politics of the Morrison family.

If there was any Democratic bent to the paper, it stopped the moment I walked through the newspaper’s door. My journalistic training has always been to strive for impartiality in our news coverage.

I contacted Barclay and set up an interview with him at his Syracuse law office to introduce myself and to try to understand his outsized influence on Oswego County politics.

Admittedly, I was nervous because of Barclay’s reputation. I was pleasantly surprised at how gracious and easy-going he was at that first meeting. He didn’t try to bully or intimidate the new kid on the block. It was to be a precursor to our relationship throughout my stay in Oswego.

Barclay’s impact on the North Country, Oswego County and the state of New York is legendary, and many deserving words of praise have already been written in tribute to his long and distinguished career.

Even after he retired from the Senate, he played an influential role in Republican politics. He was an ardent supporter of Presidents George H.W. Bush and his son, George W. Bush, or, as he referred to them “Bush 41” and “Bush 43.” He supported former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, 41’s son, in the lead-up to the 2016 Republican primary. When Bush dropped out, and Donald Trump rose to the top of the pack, Barclay at first reluctantly but later more enthusiastically embraced his candidacy.

The capstone of Barclay’s illustrious political career was when he was appointed ambassador to El Salvador

by Bush 43 and served from 2003 until 2006.

He gave me two exclusive interviews during his time as ambassador. When he was first appointed, I asked him how he managed to get such an appointment since he did not have any specific expertise in Central American politics nor any diplomatic experience. He never answered, just flashed that famous Doug Barclay smile.

In doing some digging, I found that the Barclay family had contributed more than $200,000 between 2000 and 2004 to the Republican APRIL / MAY 2021

‘I was told that Barclay, who served for 20 years as a state senator, was “Mr. Republican” in a heavily Republican county.

He was described as a ‘kingmaker,’ and any Republican who aspired to county or state office needed Barclay on his or her side.’

Party. That’s the way many of these appointments work. Big contributors get rewarded for their generosity.

Barclay threw himself into the role and proved that he was a quick study. He learned Spanish and won the admiration of the diplomatic community by his performance in the troubled country that has seen its share of hardships and poverty. Barclay also had been a strong supporter of Trump’s secure-the-southern-border immigration policies.

Barclay and I had periodic meetings during my 16 years in Oswego.

At one point, he expressed exceptional interest in possibly putting together a local group to buy The Palladium-Times when Thomson announced that it was up for sale in the mid-1990s. Nothing ever came of it though.

He told me that I inspired him to begin a physical fitness program after I had lost 85 pounds following my retirement.

Barclay and I had mutual respect for each other. He was one of the few politicians whom I have encountered during my 60 years in the business that understands how journalists and the news media operate. He never asked for nor expected special consideration in a news story.

I have met and dealt with hundreds of politicians, including presidents, cabinet appointees, governors, legislators and other high-ranking officeholders. He is among my top three all-time favorites.

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

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APRIL / MAY 2021

Mr. Potato Head and the Impact of ‘Cancel Culture’ Making Mr. Potato Head a gender-neutral toy is the latest in a series of changes caused by the way society perceives culture, politics

By Bruce Frassinelli

A

new term has crept into our vocabulary in recent years — “cancel culture.”

This refers to the practice of reassessing support for public figures and companies after they have said or done something considered offensive.

It also involves reviewing practices and policies and even rebranding products which by today’s standards have become offensive or unacceptable.

Those of us of, shall we say, the mature generation know only too well that there were things we did, said or believed years ago that would not fly today.

Essentially a form of boycott, cancel culture can take on many different facts, including group-shaming on social media. The impact could be devastating.

APRIL / MAY 2021

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

The scary part is that because of the speed and pervasiveness of social media, it can happen seemingly overnight.

The target can be a person, business, media star or politician, and it can result in the withdrawal of financial, social, economic or political support.

For example, famed actor Kevin Hart dropped out of hosting the 2019 Oscars show after public rebuke over old homophobic tweets on Twitter.

A political example involved Goya Foods CEO Robert Unanue, who praised former President Donald Trump during a White House event. Sales of Goya products dropped significantly for a time after thousands of critical social media posts.

On another front, we’re engaged in a raging battle in our country, debating 39

whether it is fair to judge historical figures and events from decades, even centuries ago, by modern standards of morality, ethics and social norms rather than by the standards of their own culture and time period.

We analyzed this question at length when I taught communication ethics at SUNY Oswego. Most students thought it was unfair to make these modern-day judgments that in some cases diminished or destroyed careers and businesses.

A simple comparison involves a 1953 movie “The Moon Is Blue,” which was condemned by the Catholic Church because of the gratuitous use of the word “virgin.” Such a reference today would barely register notice to a moviegoer, might even provoke a laugh as to “what’s the big deal?’’

But cancel culture is a much more serious phenomenon. It has sullied the reputations of any number of wellknown personalities. Take the once beloved singer from the 1920s through the 1950s, Kate Smith. Known as the “first lady of radio” and the “songbird of the South,” she was the star of the popular “Kate Smith Hour” and spokeswoman for Jell-O, Studebaker and Pullman trains.

She became forever immortalized when she sang Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America” in the 1943 wartime film “This Is the Army,” and a new generation came to know her when this patriotic song became the unofficial anthem for the Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Yankees.

But two years ago, both teams announced that they would no longer play her recording of “God Bless America,” because Smith had joined the seemingly endless list of once revered performers who had done things that are no longer acceptable by today’s standard.

Along with that, the Flyers, who honored Smith in 1987, a year after she died at the age of 79, by erecting a statue that had been standing outside of their Wells Fargo Center arena, also announced that they had removed the statue.

What had Smith done that turned adoration into revulsion? She had recorded two songs that contained what are now universally accepted as racist lyrics.

Both songs were recorded 90 years ago at the start of Smith’s career. One was “That’s Why Darkies Were Born,” which peaked at number 12 on the Top 20 list of popular songs in 1931.

The lyrics were: “Someone had to pick the cotton/Someone had to plant 40

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the corn/Someone had to slave and be able to sing/That’s why darkies were born.”

The other was “Pickaninny Heaven,” which instructed “colored children” confined to an orphanage to dream about a magical place filled with “great, big watermelons.”

“Darky” is defined as an “offensive term for black people,” while “pickaninny” is defined as a small, black child too young to be a productive picker in the cotton fields and unflatteringly characterized in stereotypical drawings and photos.

Smith, who was revered by virtually all of her fellow performers, obviously would have never recorded songs with these lyrics today.

The flap over Kate Smith’s racial indiscretions made me reflect on my junior high school years (1951-53) when we would gather once a week in our school gym and sing classic Americana songs for about 30 minutes.

“My Old Kentucky Home” and other famous Stephen Collins Foster songs with the “darkie” lyrics were sung without a second thought.

I also remember attending fundraising minstrel shows put on by residents in my hometown, a small, coal-mining community in northeastern Pennsylvania, and attended by hundreds of area residents. Prominent white shopkeepers, teachers, administrators and CEOs would blacken their faces with burned cork or greasepaint, dress in outlandish costumes and perOSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

form songs and skits that portrayed stereotypes of performing Black people.

Slavery and the treatment of Indigenous people are perhaps the most contentious topics in today’s discussion.

Few rational-thinking people would defend slavery today, but in the 16th through the mid-19th centuries, slavery was tolerated if not accepted as a way of life.

The original U.S. Constitution referred to slaves as “three-fifths of a person.” Of course, this was later superseded by the 14th Amendment and its equality provisions.

Thomas Jefferson, one of the most prominent of the Founding Fathers, is credited with the high-minded notion that “all men are created equal,” yet he was a slaveholder, and he and others of his era, including our first president, George Washington, have come in for harsh criticism now because of their embrace of slavery.

Should we indict historical figures as monstrous for not supporting social causes that either did not exist or were not prominent at the times when they lived?

Aside from the obvious difference that slavery was legal in that era and is not now, the way people regarded slavery spanned the spectrum. Even then, there were vocal opponents to the concept of one human being committed to forced servitude for the benefit and pleasure of another, but these voices were definitely in the minority.

Even if Jefferson was incapable of seeing his own hypocrisy, there were others who were not shy about pointing it out to him while he was still alive.

APRIL / MAY 2021

Explorer Christopher Columbus’ treatment of the Indigenous people he encountered when he and his men landed in the West Indies has come under such constant recent attack that some communities have removed statues honoring him or, in some cases, changed the second Monday in October from Columbus Day to Indigenous People’s Day. Honoring Columbus, an Italian sailor who sailed under the Spanish flag, had morphed into an important way to honor the accomplishments of Italian-Americans, and they complained bitterly at these efforts to “revise history” in an attempt to sanitize it.

Admittedly, this is a complicated issue, and it requires rational thinking.

For example, it would be ludicrous to blame historical individuals for not supporting progressive causes that no one at the time even knew of.

Well, along with other icons of my youth, Aunt Jemima is being condemned to the scrapheap of history, because this smiling, once rotund face on the distinctive Quaker Oats Co. syrup bottle has become one of the politically incorrect victims of recent protests.

Quaker Oats, the company that makes the syrup, announced earlier this year that the Aunt Jemima brand will be now known as “Pearl Milling Company,” and smiling Aunt Jemima

is gone. As a perpetually hungry teenager, when I wolfed down my mother’s pancakes, slathered with Aunt Jemima pancake syrup, neither she nor I had a debate over stereotypes or offending Black people.

One of the most recent announcements concerns the ubiquitous Mr. Potato Head of my children’s youth.

Hasbro said its makeover means Mr. Potato Head will be “reimagined for the modern consumer. Henceforth, the gender-neutral toy will be known as “Potato Head.”

Another iconic product that has come under scrutiny is Uncle Ben’s Rice. Uncle Ben’s maker changed the name to “Ben’s Original” and removed the photo of the grandfatherly-looking African-American who graced the package for decades. The company said that it was not only changing the name and packaging but “also taking action to enhance inclusion and equity.”

The name of one of my favorite treats as a kid, Eskimo Pie, was rebranded as Edy’s Pie last October, because the original name is now viewed as being derogatory toward the natives of the Arctic.

The “butter maiden,” Mia, on the front of the Land O’ Lakes butter package was removed because of complaints of stereotyping by Native Americans.

After years of complaints, the ownership of the Washington pro football

team dropped the name “Redskins” as it searches for a new name. Baseball’s Cleveland Indians is in the process of doing the same.

Mark Twain’s mid-19th century classic “Huckleberry Finn” was republished in 2016 to eliminate the “n” word, which appears 219 times in the original, and replaced it with “slave.”

I want to make it clear that I am not defending my actions nor those of my family, classmates, teachers and townspeople, but I wanted to point out that we, along with millions of others — perhaps even many of you reading this column — were unwitting and unthinking parties to these events which were considered “normal” in that era. We are left to examine what we did, why we did it and, hopefully, understand why what we did then is no longer acceptable now.

Dr. Seuss Targeted by the Cancel Culture Movement

O

ne of the latest immortal icons to come under scrutiny as part of the cancel culture movement is Theodor Geisel, much better known as Dr. Seuss.

The beloved author whose children’s books have sold hundreds of millions of copies has come under fire for his racist and ethnic depictions.

Dr. Seuss Enterprises, the company which publishes his books, announced on March 2 — also known as Dr. Seuss Day and National Read Across America Day — that it was ending publication of six of his books that are no longer socially acceptable.

Three of them are among some of the most popular of Seuss’s bountiful portfolio, — “If I Ran the Zoo,” “And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry

APRIL / MAY 2021

Street” and “McElligot’s Pool.”

In its announcement, the company, a division of Random House, said, “These books portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong.”

The decision is among dozens as the sports and business worlds reexamine how they use various images and their implications. Much of it was inspired by the killing last May of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the protests that it provoked.

As critics scoured his past works, they found that prior to writing children’s books, Geisel had drawn racist ads and political cartoons that depicted Blacks as savages in grass skirts, Asians with slits for eyes and turban-wearing Middle-Easterners.

Even with a slimmed down cat-

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

alogue of offerings, Geisel’s estate nearly doubled in 2020 as he earned about $33 million, which made him the highest paid deceased celebrity next to pop singer Michael Jackson, according to Forbes magazine.

Almost immediately after the announcement, eBay noted an incredible run-up in prices for the discontinued titles, with some of the books that were previously being sold for less than $10 now fetching close to $900

By Bruce Frassinelli

41

Anxious to Return to the Office?

While some enjoy working from home, some say they can’t wait to return to the office

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

T

he pandemic is more than a year old. For Kathleen Hoffman, customer service representative and licensed agent with Oswego Valley Insurance Agency, it marks a year of working entirely at home instead of her office in Brewerton.

It was a big adjustment, but it has helped to have her work phone and computer moved to her home where it has remained since the pandemic began.

“I can answer anyone’s calls and transfer them just as if I were at the office,” she said.

So far, she has experienced no technical issues with the alternative set-up, which has made the transition easier.

While she admits it is nice to not have to drive to work, sometimes her dogs bark when she’s on the phone, “which isn’t as professional,” she said.

42

Hoffman also misses the camaraderie at the office and seeing customers who would drop in occasionally.

“I do like working with the public, with the people,” she said. “I don’t get that anymore.”

Despite the challenges of working at home, “I’m appreciative of the owners, my bosses, allowing me to work at home,” Hoffman said.

Working at home is not practical for Canale Insurance and Accounting, according to owner Bill Symons. He is pleased to have his Oswego-based business stay put and not have employees working at home.

“It would be impossible to move home,” he said. “We need to be here because of all the pieces of paper that exist. The only way I could work at home is people would have to get information OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

to us at home so I could do their tax returns. I’d need a printer and all kinds of things I don’t have at home. I don’t want to work at home.”

His small workforce has followed the usual precautions of masks and spacing. The strategy has so far worked for keeping employees healthy. The company website recommends calling with questions and anyone who comes to the office is required to wear masks and stay distanced.

Symons said that he enjoys speaking with his staff face-to-face.

“I guess I could talk them on the phone, but I don’t want to,” he said.

“We try to be careful. Thank God I didn’t have work from home.”

For licensed real estate agent Kelly Loya, working from the office of MyTown Realty in Syracuse part of the time and from her home part of the time gives her the best of both options. As a mom of two young children, she enjoys being home to spend more time around her Loya children instead of spending time on a commute.

“But I miss being in the office,” she said. “I get a more of a sense of professionalism in the office than when I’m at home. It’s quiet when I need it and the resources are there.”

Her home office lacks a few pieces of equipment such as a photocopy machine.

“I have a beautiful gym at my office that I really miss,” Loya said. “There are pros and cons. People need to understand that everyone’s different.”

The lack of socializing hits some people harder and can have more serious consequences than for others. While for some it is a slight drawback, it can be more important to those in recovery, according to Tracy Carmody, nationally certified licensed mental health counselor, who is also credentialed as an alcohol and substance abuse counselor. She is clinical director at Paths to Recovery in Baldwinsville and Syracuse.

“I have seen a lot of people who’ve struggled with anxiety, depression and addiction and more isolative tendencies,” she said. “Being in the office is survival. Being at home, no one will know if they’re using a substance. Those with depression who receive their socializaAPRIL / MAY 2021

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tion in that office space are struggling more. I know a few individuals who want to get back to the office as soon as possible because of that.”

Carmody has been working from her home in Baldwinsville since the pandemic began.

While she enjoys extra time with her young children and saving on gas and lunches out, she also realizes that working at home has a few Carmody disadvantages, like the opportunity for self-care.

“It is harder shifting into different role, from therapist to mom,” she said.

“There’s less time to shift gears and that has a lot to do with self-care.”

Ordinarily, she would drive 30 minutes from Syracuse to Baldwinsville at the end of the day. Lacking that time to process her day and shift gears can be challenging. Lack of self-care includes missing all the little things that brighten one’s day — those little hits of dopamine now missed while working at home, such as going out to lunch, hearing a favorite song on the radio, or seeing a pretty bird while commuting.

“The change of scenery activates the pleasure center of the brain,” Carmody said. “Why am I feeling so blah? It’s not one thing that is significant or heavy but many add up to feeling down.”

At home, it can become easy to settle into a rut of sameness, such as eating at the desk, looking through email while on a coffee break or remaining seated far too long. It can also be tough to separate work from family life, making parents feel they are not doing a good job at either.

“It doesn’t allow us to do each role uninterrupted,” Carmody said. “It can make it feel like you’re working all day.

For self-care, it is important to have boundaries.”

She has observed that working at home is helping people develop a greater appreciation for the demands that others have outside of work—and extend some grace when the toddler cries, the dog barks or the spouse is working on the other side of the room.

“A lot of people have adapted to knowing there are roles colliding,” Carmody said. “People are more forgiving.”

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Pandemic: The Toll on Higher Education For the most part, CNY colleges have weathered the financial woes brought by the pandemic

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

L

ike many other organizations, the pandemic has caused colleges and universities to look more closely at their budgets as costs have increased and revenues have dipped or remained stagnant.

Local colleges have instituted hiring freezes, canceled educational trips and winter intercollegiate athletic programs and postponed purchase of expensive equipment, to mention a few of the actions administrators have taken to stay financially viable during the pandemic.

When the pandemic began, Le Moyne College was enjoying solid enrollment and financial security, according to Joe Della Posta, a college representative. Those factors have helped the school weather the pandemic and “deal with the many implications and expenses that have resulted from COVID-19,” Della Posta said. “While 44

we have instituted a hiring freeze and reduced discretionary spending, we didn’t have to cut any programs or student-focused services.”

That is significant, considering schools nationwide — such as Stanford, George Washington University, Brown University, Darthmouth College and many more — have cut between two to 11 sports programs each, according to a story posted on NBC News’ website.

To help address their budget issues, some schools have included dropping academic programs in their budget cuts. One example is the University of Alaska, which eliminated 39 academic departments, saving $4 million, according to the school’s website. For years, the University of Alaska had been experiencing declining grants and enrollment, which the pandemic only exacerbated.

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

Schools with robust finances and strong enrollment have fared better.

Della Posta said the number of Le Moyne’s incoming freshmen in fall 2020 “exceeded our goal for the third consecutive year and we are on track for a similarly strong effort for fall 2021, with applications and deposits ahead of where we stood last year at this time.”

Syracuse University enrollment for fall 2020 was 93.3% of the previous year, which was a record high enrollment.

By spring 2021, enrollment increased by 25% or 7,837 students for first year applications for fall 2021, representing a record high for applications received.

“These are really good, confident numbers for this year,” said Chancellor Kent Syverud in a statement. “This is a result of an aggressive and targeted recruitment strategy, particularly early in the process. It also reflects our fall policy to make test scores optional in light of the pandemic’s impact. We are considering extending the test-optional policy for another cycle because testing continues to be highly problematic for high school students in the U.S. and abroad.”

Syverud believes that the slight dip in enrollment in fall 2020 will result in a corresponding decrease in the budget for fiscal 2021; however, considering the significant challenge of the past year, the school is doing well.

“Unlike many of our peers, we were in solid financial footing going into this, and will emerge stronger when it is over,” he said.

In the spring of 2020, SU reduced its budget by 5% through a freeze on new hires and by lowering salaries of those in leadership roles. That allowed the school to cover expenses related to the pandemic. Despite those changes, by the end of the school’s 2020 fiscal year in July, SU had a $5 million deficit, amounting to about three-tenths of 1% of the overall budget. Fewer than three dozen staff members were laid off because of COVID-19 and some others have left because of performance issues, but Syverud said the total is lower than a typical year.

The budget continues to feel the effects of the pandemic in both receivables and payables and will likely experience what Syverud calls a “manageable deficit” in fiscal year 2021.

At SUNY Oswego, no areas of the current budget have been frozen, according to Nicholas Lyons, vice president of administration and finance.

“SUNY Oswego has held open positions vacant to the extent possible to APRIL / MAY 2021

create budgetary savings over the course of the year,” Lyons said.

“We have also deferred many equipment purchases originally planned for the current year and have eliminated virtually all travel as many of these activities are being held virtually.”

These savings have certainly helped Oswego avoid cutting any programs. Lyons said that the biggest hit to the current budget has been a decline in residence Lyons hall occupancy since some students have chosen to take classes online from home.

Enrollment is a large indicator of a school’s budget health. Lyons said that many students have chosen to put their college career on hold on hopes of later enjoying a more conventional college experience.

“It is too early to forecast fiscal year 2021-22 enrollment, but applications are down across SUNY, especially for the community colleges, which act as feeders to the four-year institutions.”

At Cayuga Community College, for example, enrollment has decreased, according to Brian Durant, president of the college.

Some students adjusted to the challenges of virtual learning and others decided to wait. The school’s enrollment projections for the 2021-2022 academic year are not final yet.

“Cayuga is committed to maintaining a responsible budget and fiscal situation while at Durant the same time offering students a strong avenue to continue their education and career training,” Durant said.

The school has reduced spending in response to the uncertainty of the pandemic, reduced enrollment and spending caused by COVID-19. Among those spending cuts were all the winter sports for 2020-2021.

Twenty-six other SUNY community colleges also canceled their winter intercollegiate athletic programs that were identified as high risk for COVID-19 transmission.

Since the 2021-2022 academic year budget is not finalized, Durant did not offer suggestions as to future cuts.

“The uncertainty of the pandemic has complicated the budget process,” he said. “The state, SUNY and its member institutions have all had to accept additional financial responsibilities associated with responding to the pandemic and protecting our employees and students. As much of our revenue comes from New York state, we understand and appreciate the financial challenges facing the state due to the pandemic.

“We are confident the state will continue communicating with us about its budget process, and how this may or may not impact our financial planning. These financial concerns, of course, are all secondary to our concern for the health and safety of our students, employees, and community members.”

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Tim Nekritz nekritz@gmail.com

The Year that Was and Wasn’t on The Pandemic Rollercoaster COVID-19 ‘a kind of wet concrete that soon encased our lives and lifestyles’ ‘While so many things about the pandemic and the turbulent political times made people feel separated and isolated, it also pulled people together.’

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

46

M

arch 11, 2020, sticks in my mind as the day the world turned upside down. That was when events near and far suddenly took COVID-19 out of the abstract and into the concrete — a kind of wet concrete that soon encased our lives and lifestyles.

For me, March 11, over the years, was a date of parting with the familiar. A much earlier March 11 is when our first cat, Sylvester, passed away. It was also a March 11 that we bid goodbye (and good riddance) to my mother’s ragged old Pinto (the only working door was the hatchback). The 2020 version felt much more like saying farewell to a world we loved; but in hindsight it also allowed an opportunity to cast off some junk in our lives.

On March 11, the governor announced that SUNY and CUNY schools would switch to remote learning at the end of that week.

That day, I went to teach what would be my last in-person class of the semester to find only half my class attending, and those present weren’t really “there” because they weren’t really sure how to react. I didn’t teach so much as try to provide any comfort I could.

March 11 featured high drama on the national stage as well, as a doctor raced onto the court of an NBA game to stop it because one of the players had tested positive.

Suddenly, the league suspended the rest of its season, and many others would follow.

Friday, March 13, we heard that my kid’s school was suspending face-to-face classes. For at least a month, or so the original expectation went.

I was in denial, like many. Maybe students can come back to campus after an extended spring break and my son will be back in a classroom in April, I thought.

But reality set in, feeling like the world closing in on us. More and more colleges and schools suspended in-person learning.

Sports leagues and other institutions came

to a halt. Bars, restaurants and so-called “non-essential” businesses could no longer host customers. Most private businesses were told to work remotely or not at all.

Things I looked forward to were canceled or postponed.

By Friday, March 20, our whole team was working remotely. I left the office at noon that day not sure when I would be working there on a regular basis again.

And, I still don’t know, to be honest.

I’ve been back on campus and in my office, but even a few hours behind my desk feel lonely and transitional.

My heart lifted somewhat as I watched the curve flatten — faster than original projections because New Yorkers were doing the right things.

I discovered Instacart, and gladly paid for its convenience. I would shout a loud “thank you” at a distance to the delivery person, who was sometimes the only human being I’d see for days. I tried to shop locally to support any businesses still functioning; my kid and I got a lot more food from Bridge Street Pizza and more than we would otherwise. But it felt and tasted great.

Other businesses adjusted any way they could. River’s End Bookstore was an example, as they delivered books or worked on the kinds of to-go orders that restaurants relied on to subsist.

In time, every round of openings felt like a small but not insignificant weight coming off our overburdened souls. A bevy of businesses — banks and bakers and barbershops and bookstores, and eventually even bars and BBQ joints — reopened, and while things didn’t seem “normal,” we could at least regain some routine. Going to Bosco’s, even while wearing a mask and speaking with the cashier through Plexiglas, felt like a different life but at least felt more like living.

With the exception of masks, distances and the cancellation of so many events, summer felt like the high point on the happiness

Tim’s Notes

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

APRIL / MAY 2021

Open mics returned on a monthly basis to the wide-open space that is a converted barn in Curtis Manor in Oswego. curve for many people because it was lower on the positivity curve for the pandemic.

For many businesses, having a deck or outdoor area where people could dine or be entertained was a huge value-added.

Summer got people out and about.

In good weather, I would see people hiking at Rice Creek Field Station or the Sterling Nature Center. But parks and playgrounds felt like they had new rules of engagement. The playgrounds I went to with my kid were sparsely attended. He really wanted to play with other kids, so I felt for him. We’d go to the Children’s Museum of Oswego and he could play somewhere near other children, so that helped somewhat.

Summer festivals did not return, but at least music did. Friends started doing weekly online shows with virtual tip jars, especially needed for those who perform for a living. Steamers offered first a weekly streaming concert to go with pick-up food, and later with in-person dining.

I was able to play at open mic at Turtle Cove, with a spacious and open-air back deck in a village with low density offering more favorable conditions.

Curtis Manor in Oswego also offered open mic once a month — taking advantage of the barn-turned-musicAPRIL / MAY 2021

venue’s vast spacing aiding distancing (and having nice acoustics), and later added regular music.

In fall, students on various levels returned to in-person or hybrid classes. Some working parents continued juggling their jobs and having children attend school online under the same roof. The pandemic has shown how technology, especially in terms of working computers and good internet connection, is a much more valuable commodity than many of us realized.

But the COVID-19 rollercoaster brought people back down in the fall with climbing numbers, then a drop, then another spike around the holidays.

Along the way, many folks tried to shop locally over the holidays as best they could. They still supported charitable causes, knowing their neighbors were hurting, too.

Maybe that’s one of the most impressive takeaways. While so many things about the pandemic and the turbulent political times made people feel separated and isolated, it also pulled people together.

I’m on the steering committee for the college’s State Employees Federated Appeal (SEFA) campaign, a partnership with the United Way and other local causes. The question arose whether we thought we could make the usual OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

$30,000 goal. The committee didn’t flinch — in a time of greater need, the show would go on. It had to.

SEFA and the campus ended up exceeding that goal handily. It turns out that doing virtual events actually encouraged more buy-in. Out of convenience, partly, but many people saw this as a way to give back … they could feel better about themselves knowing they were helping others.

In a time, when it feels like so much is out of our control, doing a little to make one’s corner of the world better in any ways we can feels like a very valuable thing.

What will the long-term impact be of this past year and all the adjustments?

Will many organizations see offices as more optional and telecommuting more acceptable? Will some form of remote learning education remain an option now that it has been done to some degree? Will offering convenient and friendly delivery and takeout methods stay vital once most of the population is vaccinated?

Moreover, will we learn our lessons about what the past year has shown us is truly important in our lives and communities?

With vaccinations and spirits on the rise, hope is a greater commodity than it’s been in more than a year.

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View of several homes in the village of Liverpool. Photo by Ken Sturtz.

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APRIL / MAY 2021

Real Estate in CNY: A Bright Spot During the Pandemic Homes are selling faster and their prices have gone up substantially

By Aaron Gifford

R

eal estate sales in Central New York region have been one of the few bright spots during the pandemic, with prospective buyers coming here from other parts of New York and other states.

A recent report from Redfin, a national real estate brokering company, indicated that in the third quarter of 2020, Syracuse was among the top metro areas searched by prospective homebuyers looking to relocate.

Forty-six percent of those who used Redfin to browse Central New York houses were from outside this area, with the most interest coming from the New York City area, followed by Rochester, Washington, D.C., Boston, Buffalo and Seattle.

Recent data from the Greater Syracuse Association of Realtors shows that home prices are going up across the region. And, homes are selling faster.

For the eight-county region (Cayuga, Cortland, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga and Oswego), the average sale price as of Jan. 31 increased to $185,456 from $150,853 in January 2020, or nearly 23%.

“This is probably the largest median increase Central New York has ever seen,” said Tom Haggerty, a Century 21 licensed real estate broker based in Fulton.

The number of listings for the region, meanwhile, decreased to 609 in the first month of 2021 from 756 in January of last year. The inventory of homes in the eight-county region was down by 30% for that time period, from 2,185 in 2020 to 1,529 this year, according to the Greater Syracuse Association of Realtors.

Moreover, the average number of days homes remained on the market prior to sale also decreased, from 42 days in January 2020, to 29 days this year.

Data collected by the Greater Syracuse Association of Realtors shows that, across the region, home sales recorded on a weekly and monthly basis were consistently stronger compared to the same time period last year. In Oswego County, for example, 184 homes were sold for the first month of this year, compared to 136 for January 2020. And the

APRIL / MAY 2021

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average price increased from $125,900 to $138,500 in the same time period.

Neighboring Onondaga County home sales in the month of January increased to 678 in 2021 compared to 627 last year, with the average sale price going up from $184,700 to $207,500. In the northern towns, Cicero’s average sale price for homes increased from $181,700 to $211,800 in the past year, and Clay’s went up from $178,000 to $192,400.

The average home price in the city of Syracuse increased by $8,000 to $115,900. And in Skaneateles, the most affluent municipality in the region by far, the average home sale price went up from $503,000 to $625,800 in the 12-month period of comparison, with the total number of sales record in January 2021 being 17, compared to 7 in 2020.

It’s a misnomer that property values are always increasing, even slightly.

According to data from the Greater Syracuse Association of Realtors, the average sale price of home in Oswego County decreased from $115,500 in 2016 to $110,000 in 2017. For the same time period in Onondaga County, the average price decreased from $166,200 to $161,700. Now, the market is experiencing a huge rebound.

Tom Haggerty

For the eight-county CNY region, the average sale price as of Jan. 31 increased to $185,456 from $150,853 in January 2020, or nearly 23%.

And lately, homes in every corner of Oswego County have been priced to sell at well more than their assessed values. The current listings range from a four-bedroom modular home on Pendergast Road in Phoenix priced at $167,000, or nearly double its current assessed value. In Altmar, there is a two-bedroom house on Salmon Road listed for $349,000, or $197,000 above its assessment. On Route 49 in Bernhard’s Bay, a two-bedroom home that is currently assessed for $74,700 is priced at $149,000. And in Sandy Creek, a three- bedroom home on the Lake Ontario waterfront is listed for $438,000, or $56,000 beyond its assessed value.

Haggerty estimates that for some of the most expensive properties in Oswego County, he received four inquiries in the past year from New York City residents looking to move here. One of them, a physician, viewed a home on Lake Ontario and seemed interested in making an offer. However, she had a change of heart and felt a responsibility to remain in New York City to continue fighting the COVID-19 epidemic there.

“I think the driving force here is still folks who move up from smaller homes to larger homes, so they still have elbow room to live work and play,” Haggerty said. “Someone may be looking for that extra area for an office or a recreation room.”

“Long-term, as far as how long this will last, it’s hard to tell,” Haggerty added. “It’s a very volatile situation.”

With mortgage interest rates at historic lows, realtors agree, now is a great time to buy. Around Oswego County and throughout the Central New York area there has been plenty of talk about

new residents from downstate fleeing the post-pandemic chaos from the Big Apple and getting way more home for their money in these parts. But, the evidence of that is fairly anecdotal as records of home sales don’t show where the buyers came from. Home sellers are not allowed to disclose names due to client confidentiality expectations.

Chris Teelin, a licensed real estate broker and branch manager for the Cicero-North Syracuse office of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, said it’s no secret that realtors throughout the region are getting inquiries not only from New York City, but also Boston, Washington, D.C., Connecticut, Jew Jersey and Philadelphia. This is not only because they can get more house for their money, but they also like the more distinct change of seasons here, our proximity to the Adirondacks and the Finger Lakes Wine Country, and the much shorter commute times.

“Your money goes further here for almost everything,” Teelin said. “And instead of commuting for an hour or two, you can go from one end of the county to the other in 20 minutes.”

Teelin said he worked with a couple that fled New York City during the pandemic and moved temporarily to rental property in the Adirondacks.

They have family in Syracuse and are looking to move here.

“They know they don’t want to go back to Manhattan, and they don’t want to be in the Adirondacks year-round,” he said.

“People are now realizing they can work remotely,” Teelin added. “We are seeing a shift toward a much larger remote work force.”

Realtors are also getting calls from Central New York natives who left the area decades ago to pursue career opportunities elsewhere and now want to come home. And as always, there has always been lateral movement, whether retirees looking to downsize or growing families that have been saving for a bigger place.

“It’s a wonderful time for first-time home buyers,” Teelin said. “For sellers, they have the luxury of multiple offers.

It’s a hectic, but very fruitful market.

I’d say it’s a win-win situation for everyone.”

“This is probably the largest median increase Central New York has ever seen,” says Tom Haggerty, a Century 21 licensed real estate broker based in Fulton, referring to the spike in prices of real estate.

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Real Estate

Seller’s Market Continues in 2021 Buyers seeking homes with space for home offices is contributing to the increased sales

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

A

lthough times of uncertainty would seem to foster a stagnant housing market — everyone staying put until things settle down — the pandemic has continued to boost a seller’s market as numerous people want something different and for a variety of reasons.

“We’ve had an incredible year, even with COVID,” said Bill Galloway, broker and owner at Century 21 Galloway Realty in Oswego. “This year is definitely going to be a sellers’ market.”

He added that a lack of inventory is what will continue to propel the trend.

In addition to low interest rates, stimulus checks have nudged some buyers toward a purchase as they can offer a bigger down payment.

Galloway said buyers range from those wanting a fixer-upper to higher-end homes.

“There’re buyers throughout the market,” he said.

Some people working at home APRIL / MAY 2021

want larger digs to have a home office, as they are realizing that working from home will likely continue indefinitely and maybe will become the norm for many companies.

“Home offices are a huge thing,” Galloway said. “They want that larger square footage. There’s a lot of stepping up in the market.”

In addition to locals, people from Downstate have been moving up to less expensive Upstate markets since their proximity to their workplace no longer matters.

They can afford much larger homes Upstate.

Galloway also said that moving to a rural area seems safer because it’s less densely populated.

Tom Haggerty, licensed real estate broker with Century 21 Leah’s Signature in Fulton, has seen so much growth that he is looking for additional real estate agents to handle the workload, he said. He predicts that the 2020 trend OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

toward buying single-family, three- to four-bedroom homes with two to twoand-a-half baths will continue this year.

“Generally, they want something that is a little bit larger than the one they currently occupy as a result of the home schooling and many parents are working from home,” he said. “They find they need a little more elbow room.”

The aging population also affects housing trends, as many families consider cohabitation with their elderly parents instead of assisted living where the pandemic could mean they do not see each other for great lengths of time, if ever. In addition, more people have reconsidered nursing home care because of the lives lost there during the worst of the pandemic.

“People have to consider what their next five, 10 or 20 years will bring them,” Haggerty said. “There are always life circumstances that can change a person’s wants, needs and desires. That will have the highest impact on the 51

housing market in the short-term and long-term future.”

More young, first-time buyers are entering the market instead of renting for many years. With low interest rates, it is an affordable time to enter the housing market. For this and other reasons, Kelly Loya, licensed salesperson for My Town Realty in Syracuse, said that she has 20 buyers for every home for sale.

“What people are looking for are primarily ranch houses and open concepts so they can use the space for their own needs,” Loya said. “A lot of people are working from home and are home schooling. People like a versatile space.

Another thing is multi-generational living. A lot of builders are building with that concept.”

Despite the growth in the market, Loya does not see the makings of another housing bubble burst such as in 2008 because of improvements in the lending standards to prevent sub-prime lending. It is much tougher for people with low income-to-mortgage ratio and poor credit to obtain a mortgage.

Condition seems to matter more to buyers in today’s market. Noelle Beckwith Salmonsen, licensed salesperson with My Freedom Real Estate in Hannibal, said that people focus on that more than location since so many people are working and schooling at home.

“Homes with any type of acreage are huge demand,” she said. “It’s a seller’s market, so you can’t take a listing and have it not sell. There’s someone who wants to buy it if priced right.”

She also reported low inventory — the lowest it has ever been — and hopes that inventory will pick up once the weather warms up more.

“The demand right now far exceeds the supply,” Salmonsen added. “Buyers are having to waive home inspections and buying things as-is to win the bidding.”

Aligning with the aging in place trend, those buying to cohabit with a senior or those who are older seek first-floor bedroom and laundry room.

As another pandemic effect, good outdoor living space makes a home stand out to potential buyers.

“A patio or BBQ area is what people want as they are spending more time at home,” Salmonsen said. “They want their home life to be comfortable. They want more storage space. People want that extra outbuilding if a home doesn’t have a garage or a full basement.”

With more space, they can more easily enjoy hobbies while staying home.

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Real Estate

Top Seller in Oswego County: Ed Fayette, Strives to Improve Last year, he ranked No. 2 in NYS with almost 100 transactions

By Steve Yablonski

F

or most people, COVID-19 has put their lives on hold, their activity slowed to almost nothing.

Ed Fayette, on the other hand, has been busy, very busy, all throughout the pandemic.

Fayette is a real estate agent with Century 21 Galloway Realty in Oswego. He is the top seller in the Oswego County area.

“I don’t think of it as pressure. I think of it as responsibility,” he said of his accomplishments. “I demand a lot of myself because I don’t want to let everyone else down.”

Fayette retired from the Oswego City School District in 2016, following a 33-year career.

“I’m not one to ‘retire,’” he said.

“In anticipation of life after teaching, I dabbled in real estate.”

In 2004, in an effort to help his children get through college, he decided to venture into real estate, he explained.

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

“I started with Galloway in 2004 a little bit. Things really got going in 2005.

It took a little while to get established. I’d be working afternoons and weekends showing homes,” he said. “Then after 2016, the sky’s the limit.”

A lot of people have asked him that since he’s doing so well in real estate, why didn’t he start earlier?

“I wouldn’t change anything in my life. I’m one of the fortunate people who enjoy their job. I enjoy what I’m doing; I enjoyed teaching,” he said.

“I had wonderful staff and wonderful students. I have an excellent support system here now.”

His oldest former student is now 47, he segued, adding that they have been in contact on social media.

“Things have been going extremely well. My background has been a great asset for me in the real estate market.

It’s been a huge benefit to have made all those contacts throughout the years APRIL / MAY 2021

Accomplishments in 2020 • Ranked No. 2 in NYS, with almost 100 transactions • Ranked 70th overall in the nation •Overall property sales of more than 12 million Awards: • Centurion Award • Quality Service (Pinnacle) Award Those two awards together qualified him for The President’s Award with Century 21. It’s one of the highest honors in the system. teaching; all of the students and parents,” he said.

At the start of the pandemic, things were “just about at a standstill” from March through May. “Then, in June, everything picked up. Nine days a week, 36 hours in a day wouldn’t have been enough,” he said.

“From June through September, it was lights out!”

He had a buyer from the New York City area inquire about finding a home in Saratoga. Fayette worked out a referral, reaching an agreement with another agent, and found the person a

home — “near the racetrack.”

“That worked out well, for everybody. I get a lot of folks from out of town, out of state, coming this way,” he said.

One buyer from Northern California was looking and checked out Central New York.

“He heard about Oswego and said it looked like a nice place and wanted to live here,” Fayette said. “There are a number of people looking to find a larger place to live. And some, the kids are all grown and moved out, that are looking to downsize.”

The Centurion Award is corporate-wide, he pointed out. It’s a fantastic acknowledgement, he added.

He credits his father’s advice for his success. His father told him, “Don’t worry about awards. Focus on what you’re doing and do it well.”

“That is why I am devoted to my buyers and sellers. It can be a confusing process,” he said. “I’ve won the Pinnacle Award four or five years now. It’s based on quality of service. Winning those two awards means you have a client satisfaction rate of 93% or 94% or more.”

He added that he is proud to have earned The President’s Award with Century 21.

“That’s really great,” he said. “Only a handful of people earn that.”

The top agent in Oswego County said he wants to continue to grow and not rest on his laurels.

“I’m a lucky guy. I have great family support. I have great colleagues and a great support system at Galloway. They let me do what I do — serve the buyers and sellers to the best of my ability.”

They send out a COVID-19 questionnaire and if the person answers ‘yes’ to any of the questions, they find an alternative way to show the home.

“I’m a real big believer in social media as a promotional tool. I’m in the office at least once a week or so to check on things. We’ve also done staff meetings on Zoom,” he said. “I have had a home office for 15 to 20 years now. So, I’ve done a lot of work there.”

His philosophy is not to treat people the way he’d want to be treated.

“I treat people the way I’d want someone to treat my mother,” he explained. “I treat everyone the way I’d like the people special to me to be treated. I always keep that in the back of my mind.”

“We are extremely proud of Ed and our entire office on what everyone accomplished in such a trying year and being part of this community,” said Elaine Galloway.

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Real Estate

Teri Beckwith Now Representing Hunt Real Estate ERA Award-winning real estate agent switches companies, expects busier year

By Steve Yablonski

T

eri Beckwith has been a full-time real estate professional for more than two decades serving Oswego, Onondaga and Cayuga counties.

She received the Century 21 Centurian Producer award for 12 years running as well as several awards through the local board of Realtors. She had been the No. 1 real estate agent at Century 21 Leah’s Signature for more than 20 years.

She now works at Hunt Real Estate ERA. Her goal, she said, is to be there for her clients throughout the entire real estate process, ensuring it is as easy and stress-free as possible.

Hunt Real Estate ERA was founded in 1911 and has a branch on Oswego Road (Route 57) in Liverpool.

“I work much of the time from my home office, but yes, Liverpool is my branch,” she said. “My direct contact number is 315-592-1471.”

The company has a better marketing department and communicates with their agents through weekly meetings training, Beckwith said.

While she just recently joined them, she pointed out, “I didn’t change my region at all, just where my main office is. I’ve been doing this for 25 years.”

“My commitment is to deliver superior customer service backed by the industry’s most sophisticated real estate technology tools and marketing systems,” she said. “I am dedicated to providing and interpreting accurate, in-depth information on home values and the real estate market.”

The Sterling resident said she works very hard to stay on top of the challenges of the ever-changing market. She admits that the pandemic has altered the way homes are being shown and sold currently.

“It’s just simply being a real estate professional. You have to be able to 54

adapt to ever-changing circumstances in the business. You have to be ready, know the market. Every day is a new day,” she explained.

“A good agent knows what homes are selling for. They’re in tune with what the buyers are looking for.

“A lot of it is the following — keeping up with past and present clients, of course,” she added. “You have to know what financing programs are out there for the buyers and help them navigate the process. It’s a good time to finance when the market is strong.”

A mortgage boom is under way.

American families are taking advantage of historically low interest rates, she said.

“It’s been going up ever since 2019 and increasing every year. It’s a seller’s market,” she said. ”What’s good news for the buyers is the low interest rate.

When you have interest rates of 2.5% as opposed to previous years being 5.5, 6.5 or 7.5% or years ago as high as 13%, it’s great for a buyer. They’ll pay far less in the long run because of the interest.”

Beckwith anticipate 2021 being even busier than 2020.

“It’s showing it already in the market. There’s just an over abundance of people waiting for houses. And, our listings will increase in April,” she said.

“People are following the rules,” she continued. “There are only two people in the house when we’re showing it. Buyers aren’t supposed to touch any surfaces if they can help it. And, of course, masks are worn.”

They were doing some virtual tours early on in 2020 to kind of lessen up on the in-person showing.

“I personally don’t feel that took off too well. It’s awfully hard to buy a house through a video,” she said.

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

“We’re trying to make the amount of showings per listing less. So we give them a whole bunch of great photos, a great video. We’re showing less, just during the virus. And, it’s working. It’s working.”

A good agent has to be aware of what type of market you’re in, she said, adding, “Right now, it’s been a great couple of months so far in 2021. It’s been very, very busy.”

Does she have any plans of slowing down?

“Not at all,” she replied quickly.

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APRIL / MAY 2021

Looking for a House on the Water? Good Luck!

Get ready for a long search. Like the larger market, the pandemic has created strong demand waterfront real estate and a limited supply

By Ken Sturtz

A

Homes along Seneca River in Onondaga County. Photo by Ken Sturtz.

APRIL / MAY 2021

s a veteran realtor, Andrea Wisgo was well aware that houses located on the water are often in high demand.

But in February she received a reminder of just how intense that demand is when an offer fell through on a piece of waterfront property she had listed. Despite the setback Wisgo, who owns Salmon River Realty, in Pulaski, wasn’t worried.

“It was literally back under contract in less than 24 hours,” she said.

Over the past year the Central New York housing market, like most of the country, has been one of the hottest in recent memory. Although the pandemic brought most real estate activity to a halt for a brief period last spring, buyers began flooding realtors with inquiries in early summer and things never really let up the rest of the year.

Strong buyer demand has been buoyed by low interest rates, a diminished supply of homes on the market and reluctance among homeowners to sell during a pandemic. Buyer demand has also driven housing prices up considerably.

Although demand has been strong across the housing market, waterfront real estate — which has long been something of a niche for realtors — has been especially sought after by buyers throughout the pandemic.

“It’s very hard to find and when you do find it it’s gone really quick,” said Andy Azzarello, president of the Greater Syracuse Association of Realtors. “I think they sell faster than the regular residential market right now.”

Azzarell, who is a broker with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Select in North Syracuse, said the pandemic has pushed many people to seek out waterfront homes as a refuge from everything going on in the world around them. Even if they couldn’t travel, eat out at a restaurant or go to the movies, they could still head to their own waterfront retreat.

“Last year that was a place they could go to get

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Homes along Lake Ontario in the Mexico area. Real estate agents say finding a lakefront property has been hard. Buyers from downstate and out of state — Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Connecticut in particular — have increasingly invested their money in second homes on the water in Central New York. Photo by Ken Sturtz. away,” said Bill Galloway, owner of Century 21 Galloway Realty in Oswego.

“With so many people working from home a waterfront property was even more appealing to buyers.”

Whether it be lakes, rivers, ponds or streams, however, the demand for waterfront properties in Central New York isn’t fueled solely by Central New Yorkers.

Buyers from downstate and out of state — Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Connecticut in particular — have increasingly invested their money in second homes on the water in Central New York. The area is attractive to many buyers for its tourism and recreational activities such as boating, fishing and snowmobiling.

But there’s another reason buyers are drawn to the area, Galloway said.

Even after years of steady price increases, waterfront property here is still very affordable by comparison.

A middle-class family from out of state might not be able to afford waterfront property where they live, but can often purchase a property on the water in Central New York. The relative affordability of waterfront real estate has led many owners to invest in upgrading their properties. As a result, many owners have chosen to convert seasonal camps into year-round homes, Galloway explained.

The intense interest in waterfront properties during the pandemic included Onondaga County, extending from river and lakefront properties in the northern suburbs to Skaneateles Lake.

Romy Callahan, an associate broker 58

with Howard Hanna Real Estate in Skaneateles, said the pandemic encouraged buyers in the market for waterfront property to expedite their search and make a move quickly. It also caused some people who hadn’t thought about buying to consider the idea. People living in cities, for example, suddenly found themselves wanting more space and a second home that could function as their primary residence during the pandemic, she said.

The market for properties on Skaneateles Lake largely mirrored the larger real estate market, Callahan said.

If a house on the lake went up for sale, back-to-back showings and multiple offers were common.

While real estate on Skaneateles Lake is often associated with multimillion-dollar homes, they represent a relatively small percentage of the housing supply. During the pandemic demand has been highest for more inexpensive properties, Callahan said.

“If something comes on and it’s less than a million dollars it’s going to sell,” she said.

Such properties have proved exceedingly difficult to find. Real estate agents in the area have been hunting for properties to sell. In mid-March, there were just 10 listings on Skaneateles Lake and none of them was less than $1 million.

Lack of waterfront inventory has been a problem for realtors and buyers across Central New York. For one thing, waterfront properties represent a tiny slice of the overall housing market. And owners often hang onto the properties OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

for a long time or pass them on to family.

Wisgo, of Salmon River Realty, said lack of waterfront properties coming onto the market has been a significant challenge, particularly for buyers looking for property on the Salmon River due to its popularity as a sportfishing destination.

Complicating matters further is the fact that buyers in the market for a waterfront property often have other criteria, such as the ability to launch a boat. Buyers can be forced to search a wider geographic area to find a suitable property. And all the competition has put even more pressure on the market, Wisgo said.

“Because of the demand for waterfront houses the prices people are putting on them are crazy,” she said.

“Owners are listing way over assessed value.”

The only possible sour note has been along Lake Ontario where in recent years record flooding has caused severe erosion and damage to some waterfront properties. The flooding caused some buyers to think twice about sinking their money into a property there. Even that concern, however, has been assuaged in large part by the expectations that water levels will be lower and severe flooding less likely going forward, Galloway said.

And what will the market look like in 2021? All signs seem to point to a continuation of an intense sellers’ market, Wisgo said. “I’m optimistic for a good spring season because there are a lot of buyers.”

APRIL / MAY 2021

— absolutely,” he said.

Galloway said he doesn’t see things slowing down for the rest of the year.

“Interest rates throughout 2020 were at an all-time low,” Beckwith said.

“This truly makes buyers want to buy; it makes current owners want to trade up.

By reducing one’s interest rate, buyers can literally buy more of a house and not see any reflection in their mortgage payment.”

It is also good for sellers, she added.

They are on the receiving end of buyers wanting to hurry and make a decision.

“We all know that low rates don’t stay low long. Analysts do predict the rates to rise. And, they are currently. I feel it will be a couple of years before we have anything to worry about, hopefully,” she said.

Competitive Market

Low Mortgage Rates Fueling Market Many are taking advantage of historically low interest rates. Volume of new mortgages hit record levels in the fourth quarter of 2020

By Steve Yablonski

C

entral New York residents, like others across the nation, are taking advantage of historically low interest rates. They are refinancing or buying new homes.

The volume of new mortgages hit record levels in the fourth quarter of 2020, surpassing a 2003 high before adjusting for inflation, the New York Fed said in its latest household debt report.

Mortgage originations for home purchases spiked in the fourth quarter of 2020, with first-time and repeat buyers borrowing to buy homes at a similar pace. The researchers pointed out that, even first-time, borrowers look more financially stable now than during the mid-2000s housing boom. ”What’s good news for the buyers is the low interest rate. When you have interest rates of 2.5% as opposed to APRIL / MAY 2021

previous years being 5.5, 6.5 or 7.5 or years ago as high as 13, it’s great for a buyer. They’ll pay far less in the longrun because of the interest,” said Teri L. Beckwith of Hunt Real Estate, ERA. “And, the sellers are finding a lot of interest, too.”

Sellers’ Market “This year is definitely going to be a sellers’ market,” said Bill Galloway, broker and owner at Century 21 Galloway. “It’s been extremely busy here; just like all across the country.”

With the lower interest rates and the stimulus checks on top of that, some buyers are able to make a larger down payment.

“We’ve had multiple offers on some places. It’s crazy. It’s a sellers’ market OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

It has been one of the busiest years in more than a decade, according to Tom Greco, mortgage loan originator with Fulton Savings Bank.

“The rates haven’t been this low in a long time. But, they won’t stay this low,” he said. “It’ll cause a buyer to jump off the fence and buy now.”

Last year was one of the better years and it is continuing into the first part of 2021, he said, adding that it’s a sellers’ market with some realtors getting several offers on just one property.

There was one potential buyer who put in an offer of $450,000 for a $400,000 property — and lost out, he said.

“It has been quite the competitive market for buyers. Mortgage rates are still at record lows, but so is the current number of homes for sale on the market. Meaning that there are more buyers than there are houses for sale, creating a highly competitive situation,” according to Jennifer Hall, licensed real estate salesperson at Howard Hanna Real Estate Services in Liverpool.

It is imperative that every buyer have their own buyer’s agent to represent their needs. It seems that by the time a buyer has the chance to reach out about a property, it has already gone under contract, Hall noted.

“At Howard Hanna, we are fortunate enough to have state-of-the-art tools at our finger tips to help our buyers see homes as soon as they hit the market, giving them the best chance at viewing the home before it sells,” Hall said. “I use a program called Real Scout, which is a home search engine that is linked directly to the MLS, meaning that it is fast and up to date, unlike other home 59

search websites that can take a day or two to update.”

Currently, it is a sellers’ market, with rising home values and high interest in homes for sale, Hall said.

“Sellers are finding themselves overjoyed with multiple offers on their homes, many times at or above asking price,” she added. “Their agents are helping them navigate the sometimes overwhelming process of reading and understanding these contracts with all of their contingencies, additional documents, clauses, etc. In the last month or so we have seen a slight increase in the number of listings which will help even out the high demand from buyers and level the playing field.”

“The current low mortgage rates are spurring on the buying craze found in Central New York. These inviting rates for the buyers are also a welcome phenomenon for area sellers,” said Ed Fayette, real estate salesperson with Century 21 Galloway. “More buyers wanting the same property ultimately push up the price for most listings that are prepared to sell properly.”

“From all we’re hearing, the entire state is experiencing low inventory, with

a growing number of buyers. This real estate environment is a perfect example for the importance of buyers and sellers to hire a real estate professional with experience working through the intricacies of listing homes and negotiating purchase offers,” Fayette added. “Mortgage interest rates may rise slightly in the near future, but the next year or two will still see rates that are exceptional for those looking to buy.”

That boom in the mid-2000s was blamed for leaving households heavily indebted and contributing to the pain of the 2007 housing bust. But the Fed’s researchers noted that today’s run-up looks different.

This time, both lenders and borrowers appear to be treading more carefully, and mainly households with pristine financial histories are borrowing or refinancing. The researchers note that even first-time borrowers look more financially stable now than during the mid-2000s housing boom.

Refinancing has also accelerated.

That extends to “cash out” refinances, in which borrowers re-up their home loans and pocket some money against their home equity.

Your Beckwith Team

Mortgage Rates Going Up? Mortgage rates have been on an upward trend in 2021.

January started off with a record-low 30-year mortgage rate of 2.65%. But by March 4, rates spiked above 3% for the first time in seven months.

The question now is, will interest rates keep going up? And by how much?

Experts still predict rates will hover around the low-3% for the rest of the year.

But for those hoping to score a record-low rate, the window could be closing soon. If you’re ready to buy or refinance, now might be the time to lock.

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APRIL / MAY 2021

L. Michael Treadwell ooc@oswegocounty.org

Property Listings Aid in Business Attraction and Expansion Efforts

T ‘In addition to marketing properties, OOC owns and manages several properties in an effort to promote business growth and development in the County of Oswego.’

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.

APRIL / MAY 2021

raditionally, spring has been the peak OOC website. season for the residential real estate OOC operates three industrial parks market, as more home sales occur this in Oswego County, including the Oswego time. It’s also a great season for commercial County Industrial Park off NYS Route 481 and industrial enterprises looking to relocate in the town of Schroeppel, the Lake Ontario or grow into a larger space.

Industrial Park in the city of Oswego, and the In order to draw new businesses to the Airport Industrial Park in the town of Volney. area and help existing businesses to expand OOC is also involved with the continuwithin the county, Operation Oswego County ing development of the 100-acre, mixed-use (OOC) maintains a comprehensive portfolio Columbia Mills Site in the town of Minetto of currently available commercial properties and the Centerville Road/Peck Road Site in in order to be able to mobilize quickly when the town of Richland. contacted by a prospective company.

The five locations, above, have had comOOC maintains a list prehensive site profiles Economic Trends of buildings and sites that completed for strategic are available for purchase lots at those sites. Each or lease. Many of these listings come from site profile contains detailed information area real estate companies and are provided including site characteristics, prior and curon OOC’s website with their permission. This rent uses, site topography, environmental relationship is mutually beneficial in that it features, soil characteristics, site utilities and provides additional exposure for area realtors zoning. Additionally, a market analysis is and a comprehensive property list for OOC. provided which includes potential scenarios The OOC website provides two lists, one for development of the site. Many of the site containing available commercial and indus- profiles also contain conceptual site plans trial buildings and one containing available showing building footprints to scale on the development sites. Each listing provides site as well as parking, storage and buffer pertinent data about the building or site, as areas. These comprehensive site profiles help well as contact information for the listing developers and business owners visualize the agent or owner. site’s potential, giving them a head start in In addition to marketing properties, OOC the development process. owns and manages several properties in an OOC uses these site profiles to straeffort to promote business growth and devel- tegically market these sites to prospective opment in the County of Oswego. Listings for these properties can also be found on the Continued on next page

OOC operates three industrial parks in Oswego County, including the Oswego County Industrial Park off NYS Route 481 in the town of Schroeppel (photo), the Lake Ontario Industrial Park in the city of Oswego, and the Airport Industrial Park in the town of Volney.

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

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OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

From previous page page businesses that would be well suited for the identified best use of the property.

When contacted by a business seeking information about potential sites or buildings, the site profiles are made available to them. Comprehensive site profiles are also available on the OOC website within the property listings.

As the need for more suitable development sites increases, OOC is constantly evaluating the current portfolio of industrial parks and properties looking for opportunities to meet the needs of business. Strategically located sites with good access to transportation networks and abundant utilities are routinely researched. If a property is determined to be ideal for industrial and commercial development, it could be pursued directly for industrial park development or we could assist the owners in marketing it for development.

OOC also works to promote development of privately owned industrial and business parks such as the Riverview Business Park in the town of Volney, the Independence Industrial Park in the town of Scriba, as well as the Rich Corporate Park in the town of Hastings.

Because of the many economic development assets of the industrial and business parks in Oswego County including strategic locations, existing infrastructure, economic benefits and incentives, and varying parcels and buildings for office, research and development, light industrial, distribution and manufacturing space, Oswego County is able to be competitive when attracting prospective businesses.

OCO currently manages two buildings with long-term tenants. The CiTi BOCES Phoenix Center and Discovery Daycare are located within the Oswego County Industrial Park in town of Schroeppel. These tenants meet a strategic goal of providing services to the industrial park that make them more attractive to new companies looking to relocate.

Occasionally, OOC finds it advantageous to sell property it owns. In the case of OOC’s spec building located in the Lake Ontario Industrial Park in the city of Oswego, it was sold to long-time tenant Northland Filter. This allowed OOC to purchase a parcel on the former Nestle site in Fulton for a future spec building. Similarly, OOC had purchased the former Price Chopper building with the intent to develop it into a new incubator and OOC offices. However, OOC sold the building when it was APRIL / MAY 2021

The advantage to listing properties on the OOC website is to have everything in one place. determined to be the right location for Oswego Health’s Behavioral Health Services. OOC also assisted in marketing the former Southern Graphics facility in the Oswego County Industrial Park in the town of Schroeppel which was recently sold to Phoenix Welding & Fabrication. The building is planned to be used for manufacturing.

For short-term tenants, OOC maintains an incubator building with affordable rental space for non-retail, industrial and service businesses. The Business Expansion Center (BEC), located on East Seneca Street in Oswego, is ideal for hi-tech and IT businesses as it boasts up-to-date computer and telephone network capabilities. The building includes 13 offices and two manufacturing spaces. The building also has a common use loading dock for the tenants which is a great asset for manufacturing and shipping companies.

OOC gets the word out about these properties by marketing through various channels. For instance, several issues of the OOC E-News features one of the available properties from the website. OOC highlights our industrial parks in editorials in national site selection magazines, driving traffic back to the website. OOC also uses targeted marketing to reach businesses in a specific sector. An example of this is the marketing campaign that was created to promote the BirdsEye facility. This resulted in K&N’s Foods USA’s purchase and development of the facility.

The advantage to listing properties on the OOC website is to have everything in one place. Businesses who are looking to expand in Oswego County can find information about financial assistance and potential properties at the same time. It eliminates the need for them to weed through several websites looking for suitable buildings or sites, incentives, demographics, and helpful links to partner organizations.

If you’d like more information about OOC or economic development services in Oswego County, call the office at 343-1545 or visit the website at www.oswegocounty.org.

APRIL / MAY 2021

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63

Guest Columnist

Labor: Changes You Should See Under President Biden Employment and labor law changes likely to be implemented during the Biden presidency

By Steven E. Abraham

R

egardless of what business leaders thought about Donald Trump’s presidency, the former president was very pro-business when it came to employment and labor relations issues. President Biden, however, supports many pieces of legislation that would benefit employees and make it more difficult for businesses to operate.

Steven E Abraham is a professor in the School of Business at SUNY Oswego.

He received his BS from Cornell University, his JD from NYU school of Law and his PhD from University of Wisconsin, Madison. He teaches courses related to employment law, union–management relations and human resource management. He can be reached at steven.abraham@oswego.edu 64

In fact, much of Biden’s presidential campaign was based on arguing that a Biden presidency would benefit employees and unions. Further, with both Houses now being controlled by Democrats, it is quite likely that Biden will be successful in enacting many of the things that he would like to see passed.

1.Employment Equity

n Equal Pay. In the area of equal pay, President Biden has stated his desire to reduce the pay inequality between men and women. In fact, he has promised to sign the Paycheck Fairness Act during his presidency. By way of background, the Equal Pay Act (1963) already requires employers to pay employees of opposite sex equally if they are doing the same or equal work. The Equal Pay Act has an exception, however, that allows an employer to pay male and female employees differently if the employer can show that the difference in pay is based on a “factor other than sex.” The OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

Paycheck Fairness Act, introduced in the House on Jan 21, would eliminate this flexibility, limiting pay disparities between men and women doing equal work to “bona fide objective factors” (e.g., education or experience). The Paycheck Fairness Act would also prohibit employers from preventing their employees from discussing wage information and would require companies to report compensation data correlated to employees’ race, sex, and national origin to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). If signed, the Paycheck Fairness Act would make it easier for employees to pursue individual and collective/class actions against their employers, alleging wage discrimination on the basis of race, sex and national origin. n Anti-discrimination laws. In its June 2020 decision in “Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia,” the Supreme Court held that Title VII’s prohibition against sex discrimination includes discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. This decision makes it illegal for organizations to discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity. President Biden has repeatedly stated that he hopes to sign the Equality Act as soon as possible. The Equality Act, which passed the House on Feb. 25, would prohibit discrimination with respect to employment, housing, education and public accommodation on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity (It should be noted that the New York State Human Rights Law already prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and many other things — the New York State Human Rights Law is much broader than federal law). Additionally, President Biden has expressed support for expanding protections for pregnant, senior and disabled employees. n Federal paid family leave. President Biden has expressed support for providing employees with up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave. He has indicated that his proposal for paid leave would include provisions similar to those in the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act (FAMILY Act) which has been introduced in Congress several years in a row. n Easier proof under the ADEA. President Biden has indicated that he intends to protect older people against age discrimination by making it easier for them to prove that they were victims of age discrimination. Since the Supreme Court’s 2009 decision in APRIL / MAY 2021

Gross v. FML Financial. Services, Inc., plaintiffs alleging discrimination under the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act have been required to prove that age was the “but-for” cause of the harm they suffered. By contrast, other anti-discrimination laws, such as Title VII, allow a “mixed motive” theory of liability, under which a plaintiff can prevail even if the characteristics protected by the statute are not the only reasons for the employer’s action. Biden would like to eliminate the “but for” requirement under the ADEA as well.

2.

Wage and Hour

n Minimum wage increases. The federal minimum wage is currently less than half the highest state minimum wage (for example, the minimum wage is $15 for large employers in New York City and at least $12.50 everywhere in the state). President Biden has called for the federal minimum wage to be raised to $15 per hour. Clearly, a $15 per hour minimum wage would have a difficult time passing the Senate. In fact, such a proposal was defeated on March 5.

Nevertheless, it seems fairly clear that the federal minimum wage will increase under the Biden administration. Biden also supports eliminating the inclusion of tips as part of the minimum wage as well as the subminimum wage for individuals with disabilities. With the Senate now controlled by Democrats, the White House is likely to secure the Congressional support necessary to increase the minimum wage. Most likely, this increase will occur incrementally over the next several years. n Overtime rule changes. There is also a possibility that President Biden will ask the Department of Labor to put into effect increases to the minimum salary for overtime exemption. Under a rule passed during the Obama administration, the minimum salary for workers to be exempt from overtime would have doubled from $23,660 to $47,476 and would have increased every three years thereafter (that rule was declared unconstitutional). With support from Congress, it is likely the President will seek to implement similar changes to the overtime laws. n Addition of “wage theft” provisions to the FLSA. President Biden also is expected to push for measures that would add “wage theft” provisions to the Fair Labor Standards Act (the “Wage Theft Protection Act was enacted in New York state in 2011). The aims of a “wage theft protection” law are to provide APRIL / MAY 2021

transparency to employees concerning their pay. Essentially, each employee must be given written notice of wage rates including rates of pay, how pay is determined, the regular payday, the employer’s principal place of doing business, etc. The amendments also would require employers to publicize notices of wage violations, would require employers to provide detailed pay statements, and would expand the penalties for willful instances of wage theft, record falsification, or retaliation.

epartment of Labor 3.DChange n Independent Contractor Test. An important issue for employers is whether a worker is classified as an employee or an independent contractor. Usually, it is to an employer’s advantage to have workers classified as independent contractors rather than employees.

And on Jan. 7, at the very end of the Trump administration, the Department of Labor issued a rule that would have taken effect on March 8 that generally would have made it easier for employers to classify workers as independent contractors rather than employees. Just before this new rule would have gone into effect, however, the DOL formally delayed implementation of its rule until May and it is unlikely that it ever will be put into effect.

mployment-Related 4.EAgreements

n Elimination of mandatory pre-dispute arbitration. President Biden also would like to see the Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal Act passed. This law, which has already passed the House, would invalidate pre-dispute arbitration agreements in the employment, civil rights, consumer and antitrust contexts, and would require employers to allow employees, consumers, etc. to litigate their disputes in court. n Elimination of class-action waivers.

In a 2018 decision in “Epic Systems v.

Lewis,” the Supreme Court expressly upheld class and collective action waivers in the employment context.

Employers utilizing such waivers can currently require employees of resolve mandate their claims on an individual basis in an arbitration proceeding, thereby minimizing their exposure to potential class-wide liability. Notwithstanding the decision in “Epic Systems,” President Biden has stated that he would sign legislation prohibiting employers from utilizing such waivers.

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

Rela5.Union-Management tions n Secretary of Labor. As part of his presidential campaign, President Biden appealed to labor unions and unionized employees for their support. He pledged to be an extremely pro-union president. The first step that he took to make good on his promise was by nominating Boston Mayor Marty Walsh to be the next secretary of labor. Before becoming mayor of Boston in 2013, Walsh held a number of union positions in building trades unions in Boston.

He clearly has a pro-union agenda and the support of unions throughout the country. Walsh’s nomination was approved by the Senate committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on Feb. 11 and he was later confirmed by the Senate. n Pro-worker/union legislation. President Biden also has promised to sign the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which passed the House in February 2020 but stalled in the Senate.

If enacted, the PRO Act would provide for sweeping changes to the National Labor Relations Act, with the goal of enhancing the ability of unions to organize employees. It would impose financial penalties against employers for interfering with union’ organizing efforts, require mediation in first contract negotiations if a contract is not reached within 90 days, prohibit employers from holding mandatory meetings with their employees, including “captive audience” meetings, and more. While the PRO Act is not likely to pass both houses as currently written, there is a good chance that there will be pro-union amendments enacted to the NLRA during a Biden presidency. n Unionization through card-check authorization. Biden has been an avid proponent of card-check authorization — which would bypass the NLRB’s election process and allow unions the right to secure recognition by collecting authorization cards from employees stating that they wish to be represented by the union. The PRO Act also includes a provision that would require employers to recognize a union based on a card-check authorization, but only if the NLRB determines that the employer improperly interfered with the election. n Increased legal and financial security for unions. President Biden has stated that he would ban state “right to work” laws and allow unions to collect dues

continued on p. 85 65

Healthcare Special

Meet the Chief Executive Officers

T

hey are the money people — they handle vast sums of money every year and make sure their organizations are on solid financial footing. They deal with budgeting, accounting, audits, cost analysis, data analytics, monthly reporting, revenue cycles, third-party payer contracting with the health insurance companies and much more. And constant changes in state and federal regulations and reimbursement structure only make their jobs a bit more challenging.

66

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

APRIL / MAY 2021

Healthcare Special

Lifelines

Birthdate: Dec. 12, 1973 Birth Place: Syracuse Residence: Blossvale Education: Bachelor of Science in accounting, Empire State College; master’s in health care leadership, Empire State College.

Affiliations: Community Healthcare Association of New York State, Central New York Care Collaborative, Health Financial Management Association, Leadership Oswego County.

Personal: Husband, two adult children, 1-year-old grandchild.

Hobbies: Reading, cooking, baking, spending time with family.

Tracy Wimmer

ConnextCare CFO Played role in unifying operational procedures of various health care centers serving tens of thousands of patients

W

By Ken Sturtz

hen Tracy Wimmer reflects on her career in accounting, she doesn’t have to look far to find the reason for her career choice.

Her mother started as a bank teller in 1969 and retired 50 years later from JPMorgan Chase as a branch manager.

Wimmer says she fondly remembers going to work with her mother as a child.

“She always used to bring me into the branch and I would go right to the computers and right to the adding machines and just loved playing with all the buttons and numbers,” she says.

“So, I pretty much knew what I wanted to do pretty early in life.”

Many parts of her job as chief financial officer of ConnextCare are reasons

APRIL / MAY 2021

finance appealed to her in the first place.

Wimmer likes pulling numbers apart and digging down into them.

Financial statements are often rolled up and require peeling back multiple layers to get to the bottom of things and ensure they’re accurate. It’s something that has always come easy to Wimmer and that she enjoys working on.

“I like knowing what makes up each line and does it make sense and should it balance at the end,” she says.

“And if it doesn’t balance, why doesn’t it balance?”

Wimmer, of Blossvale, grew up in Oswego County. She had jobs with Community Bank and PAR Government Systems before moving to the United OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

Way of the Valley & Greater Utica Area.

During roughly eight years with the United Way, Wimmer was promoted to director of finance and administration.

She later worked in accounting for several food wholesalers before transitioning to a position as director of internal review and finance at Upstate Cerebral Palsy. She was hired as controller at ConnextCare in 2016 and promoted to chief financial officer in 2018.

Wimmer arrived at ConnextCare as the organization was continuing to regroup following a reorganization. In 2013, Northern Oswego County Health Services, the predecessor to ConnextCare, merged with two practices in Fulton and Oswego operated by Oswego County Opportunities as well as three of Oswego Health’s practices in Mexico, Parish and Phoenix. The organization already operated the Pulaski Health Center as well as school-based health centers in Oswego County.

Although the organization had grown to include six health care centers and was serving tens of thousands of patients, operations remained somewhat disjointed, Wimmer says. Each location tended to handle any number of processes their own way. Even patients often didn’t understand that all the offices were part of one unified health care system.

“They were kind of like their own little health centers operating by themselves more or less,” she says.

The situation improved in 2018 when the organization launched a rebranding campaign and changed its name to ConnextCare. The effort took 67

hold and went a long way toward educating patients about the structure of the new organization, Wimmer says.

“From that point on we have done an exceptional job of molding processes and procedures and communication out to the patients,” she says. “When people see ConnextCare now they know we have six health care centers and they’re all one.”

Changes occurred behind the scenes as well to ensure ConnextCare was operating efficiently. Since the organization’s billing department is located in Pulaski it was important to make sure each location was following the same policies and procedures. It was also a matter of revising some of the processes.

For example, at one point some offices were still faxing documents, Wimmer says. Now everyone follows a uniform process of scanning and emailing them.

Reforming ConnextCare’s processes wasn’t Wimmer’s only concern.

She also became a part-time student, balancing work with going back to school to work on her master’s. Beginning in 2016 she completed two courses a semester. She received her master’s degree in health care leadership in December 2019.

“I’m a firm believer that you have to have education to advance in your career,” she says.

A few months after she completed her master’s, ConnextCare was rocked by the pandemic. The organization lost a third of its business at the onset because dental services shut down except for emergencies. Although they were able to get dental practices back up and running, the school-based centers also took a hit, Wimmer says. They still haven’t returned to their original volume.

All of that was concerning news for the person in charge of charting the organization’s finances.

The solution turned out to be telehealth. Before the pandemic ConnextCare had received a federal grant to purchase telehealth equipment. But the system hadn’t been rolled out for about a year due to reimbursement issues with insurance companies, Wimmer says.

When the pandemic suddenly made it very difficult to see patients in person, insurance companies reacted by loosening their previous restrictions on reimbursing for telehealth visits. With that, ConnextCare managed to roll out its telehealth system in just two weeks.

All of the organization’s providers did well with the system, Wimmer says.

“I think that was kind of our saving grace,” she says. “We took a hit on 68

volume, but we were still able to make up. We never had to let any staff go.”

Although the challenges brought by the pandemic have forced ConnextCare to adapt and made financial planning more uncertain, Wimmer says she still loves her job, the work being done

to help people and the family-oriented atmosphere of the organization.

“I love knowing that the providers give back to the community every day,” she says. “It’s just a good feeling to come into work every day.”

Healthcare Special

Meredith Price

St. Joseph’s Health, CFO She’s been involved in several major projects that have advanced St. Joseph’s operations

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ByMary Beth Roach

eredith Price is vice president and chief fiscal officer at St. Joseph’s Health — the same hospital where she was born in 1973.

Her three children, ages 7 to 12, were all born there, as well.

She started her job at the hospital in 2013, shortly before giving birth to her youngest child. She said that between OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

her delivery and by continuing to “experience the culture of St. Joseph’s,” she realized that her job there is a perfect fit.

She describes her job as “all things finance” for the St. Joseph’s system, which includes the hospital on the Syracuse’s north side, as well as its affiliates and primary care centers.

APRIL / MAY 2021

St. Joseph’s budget is approximately $750 million and employs about 4,000 people.

Price’s responsibilities involve overseeing all of the revenue cycle functions, purchasing and supply chain management, documentation and coding of medical records, front-end patient access, general finance, accounting, payroll and financial reporting.

Since taking over the position, Price has been involved in several major projects she believes have advanced St. Joseph’s operations. She explained that they did a bond offering that enabled them to take on some large projects, including the implementation of an electronic medical record system and the development a cogeneration plant, which allows it to produce its own energy for their facilities.

Then, in 2015, the hospital came under the Trinity Health umbrella, which has more than 100 hospitals in its system. This allowed St. Joseph’s to take advantage of many benefits.

For example, being part of its group purchasing organization gave them the advantage of better pricing. Also, St. Joseph’s was able to restructure its debt through Trinity under their interest rate, she explained.

Price’s job is not without its challenges.

There is a constant focus on payments, revenue, being able to have the financial means to reinvest in the organization, and keeping an expense structure that’s flexible.

It’s difficult, she said, to not always be able to say yes to everything that has an expense associated with it.

“We always look to what’s going to be best for our quality, for our patients, but also make sure we’re being financially good financial stewards of our resources,” she said.

One of the biggest challenges healthcare faces is the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, Price called it “a game changer,” saying that “it has helped push us forward quicker, in a way that we may not otherwise have done.”

While the hospital experienced significant losses in the spring, she said, they were able to quickly look to “right-sizing” the organization in the summer months, so that the organization was better poised when the January resurgence of the disease hit.

The financial impacts they saw in January were nothing compared to what they experienced in the spring months, she said.

APRIL / MAY 2021

“I feel like we’ve really got ourselves in a position where we’re able to be agile and look for efficiencies continually,” she said.

The pandemic has ramifications for the ongoing work of her team and the hospital overall, she added.

“The environment in which we work has changed,” she said.

With most of her staff working from home, she continues to see great efficiency. A remote workforce also offers the ability to recruit employees from across the country, she said.

And even though the hospital had been discussing telemedicine prior to COVID-19, when the disease hit, they had to move to that very quickly.

“I think the new world with virtual medicine is really going to continue to open up doors in terms of what things look like and how things will be done,” she pointed out. “I think we’ll continue to explore how we use technology to better serve patients.”

When asked about her managerial style, she said that it involves honesty, transparency and the ability to have open conversations with staff.

“I would say the value of honesty and integrity definitely is top of the list.

I have an open-door policy with my staff and other managers and directors to ensure that they’re comfortable coming to me and have those honest and integral conversations. Transparency is definitely a key. I pride myself with being very transparent with my team.

In return, I get the same from them,” she said.

Also key for Price is learning all the aspects of the health-care facility’s operation.

“I’m really a support service for the organization. Finance provides a supportive role, so we can understand where do we need to grow, where do we need to focus. The more I understand the operations of the areas I’m working with, the better I can service them in my role and my staff can service them in their roles,” she said.

And, she sees the role of a CFO has continually grown.

“Finance and operations are so dependent on one another. Your traditional finance role is really becoming so much more integrated with operations, focusing on strategic initiatives, service lines and how we can drive things forward. The role of CFO continues to evolve,” she said.

She credits her “very qualified and high-performing team” for helping her to stay on top of the ever-changing field.

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

Lifelines

Birth Place: Liverpool Residence: Jamesville Education: Siena College Affiliations: Member and fellow of Healthcare Financial Management Association; assistant treasurer, Catholic Charities of Onondaga County Personal: Husband, Justin; children: Chase, Tatum, and Easton Hobbies: Spending time with her family, running, watching youth hockey and lacrosse, reading and crafts.

She is also a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association, which offers courses and tracks, and she does her continuing education with them annually.

The Liverpool native and Siena College graduate had worked in public accounting with Price Waterhouse and Coopers for about six years, with her main clients being in the healthcare and banking fields. From there, she went to Crouse Hospital in 2001, which had just entered bankruptcy. She helped to turn that organization around. This would lead to the next chapter of her career — consulting with financially-distressed hospitals.

“It allowed me to gain expertise, not only in the finance realm but really getting familiar with operations of the hospital systems. I feel like it rounded me out beyond just the pure finance side, which was great,” she said.

But the traveling required in that job became difficult. When she had her first son, she realized that she wanted to be home again. So, she took a position with Upstate and was there three years before being offered the position at St. Joseph’s.

When she’s not running the financial business of the hospital, she and her husband, Justin, are running a very busy household, with their children, Chase, 12; Tatum, 10; and Easton, 7.

“I absolutely love spending time with my family,” she said.

With the kids taking part in hockey and lacrosse, there’s a lot of time spent at the field and rink.

And, she’s a runner.

“That’s probably my biggest stress reliever — just getting out the door and going for a run,” she said.

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Healthcare Special

Lifelines

Birthdate: May 25, 1977 Birth Place: Oswego Residence: Parish Education: Bachelor of Arts in general studies, Columbia College; Master of Business Administration with a concentration in organizational behavior, Syracuse University.

Affiliations: Participates in local bowling league.

Personal: Single. Has a sister, two nieces, one nephew and two cats.

Hobbies: Enjoys making stained glass, painting and glass bead work.

Maria Chatterton OCO, Senior Director of Finance New on the job, she is working on reforming processes that can make an organization more efficient

By Ken Sturtz

L

ast fall Maria Chatterton joined Oswego County Opportunities as its senior director of finance, responsible for overseeing a $30 million budget. Despite years of finance experience, she was new to nonprofits.

Throughout her career Chatterton has had a variety of jobs including preparing tax returns, working for a tourism company and analyzing government defense projects. She even worked a stint as a supervisor for the Census Bureau.

“So, I really started completely different than where I landed,” she says. “I 70

have a very different background than people expect.”

Chatterton grew up in Parish and has lived in the area her whole life. She wasn’t sure what career she wanted to pursue in college. She enjoyed talking to people, so after college she took a job with a tourism agency, selling and arranging tours for groups. Occasionally she’d lead tours. She’d worked there nearly four years when 9/11 brought tourism to a halt.

With the tourism industry’s future uncertain, Chatterton took a job as a financial assistant at an environmental OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

engineering and construction firm. Her boss was impressed with her work, her responsibilities grew and the company paid for her to get her master’s. She received an MBA with a focus in organizational behavior studies.

Chatterton says her MBA proved useful because it helped her see things from a different perspective when analyzing an organization and its finances and processes. She found that her skills tended to lend themselves to finance rather than accounting.

“I would say finance, not accounting in that accounting is very scientific and finance is more of an art,” she says.

“And I definitely live in the art end of the equation of performance management.”

After working for companies in the medical manufacturing and automotive industries, Chatterton spent nine years as an analyst with Lockheed Martin.

Her focus was underwater systems, including sonar and unmanned submersible vehicles; some of the work was classified. She also worked on the U.S. submarine program. Her job meant she was constantly asking questions about the numbers in front of her. She also dealt often with government proposals.

Chatterton says the work was very interesting and she was constantly learning, but that the travel along with the high stress, high performance work environment wore her down over time.

She also felt the challenges of trying to make changes within a large organization.

After Lockheed, she worked as a financial analyst for defense contractor Saab.

Chatterton says she eventually grew tired of working in the defense industry. She’d been able to work on huge projects worth hundreds of millions of dollars, but she started feeling APRIL / MAY 2021

like she wasn’t really helping or being challenged enough.

“I was going to the office and I was a workhorse, but I wasn’t inspired by what I was doing,” she says. “And I didn’t feel connected to the end user and I said I want to try something different.”

At first, she wasn’t exactly sure what that was, but her mother had operated Chatterton Bookkeeping and Tax Service in Parish for nearly 40 years and invited her to join her. When she left her job in January 2020, her intent was to take over a large portion of her mother’s firm beginning with the busy tax season.

“And then of course COVID hit and plans changed,” she says.

A large number of people didn’t file tax returns that spring. Tax work disappeared and Chatterton couldn’t fall back on her tourism background because no one was traveling. So, she took a temporary job supervising a team for the Census.

“And in the middle of it I saw an ad for OCO,” Chatterton says. “I looked at it and said everything on there either I know how to do it or it’s very interesting to me.”

Chatterton was seeking more than just a job. After working in the defense industry, she was drawn to the opening because it was directly focused on Oswego County and offered an opportunity to do something positive for her community.

When she started at OCO Chatterton was anxious to learn about nonprofits and how her experience would play into her new role. She discovered the nonprofit and defense industries were similar in that both work extensively with the government. Whether it’s for a human services agency or a defense contractor, government-funded programs involve similar skill sets to handle proposals, reports and oversight.

Chatterton began learning more about OCO’s programs and how the organization functioned. She discovered OCO is still very paper-oriented with records and needed a more robust, centralized process for purchasing.

“I identified almost immediately that we needed a procurement role added to the ledger,” she says.

Procurement for the agency is spread across multiple people who aren’t connected, which can lead to confusion and inefficiency when purchasing, Chatterton says. That’s partially a product of OCO’s growth and its history of multiple grassroots programs and entities that have since APRIL / MAY 2021

been absorbed by the agency.

Reforming processes, such as with purchasing or record keeping, can make an organization more efficient, Chatterton says, which is especially helpful in the future if the agency has to operate with less funding.

One thing that Chatterton says has surprised her since coming to OCO is

seeing just how big of an impact the agency has on the community in Oswego County through all of its health, community and housing programs.

“That’s what drew me into wanting to be here,” she says. “It’s my community that I’m helping. That mattered to me.”

Healthcare Special

Kevin Randall Crouse Health CFO

He oversees and provides strategic direction for all the financial aspects of Crouse Health

By Mary Beth Roach

M

aking a difference in the Central New York area and creating solutions to the challenges that he faces as the chief financial officer at Crouse Health are two of the factors that motivate Kevin Randall in his career.

Upon graduating from SUNY OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

Oswego, Randall worked with The Bonadio Group, a large CPA firm with an office Syracuse. He then went to Price Waterhouse Coopers, where he said he became interested in the health care field. He had had a number of clients all over the country, but Crouse was his only local one, and when the hospital 71

offered him a position, he jumped at the opportunity.

“I couldn’t wait to start my career at Crouse, knowing I could make an impact in the local community,” he said.

He began at Crouse in 2013 as a senior accountant; took a job as CFO at Oishei Children’s Hospital in Buffalo in April 2018, but returned to Crouse later that same year as the director of finance, with the additional responsibilities of overseeing the supply chain. In August 2019, he was named as CFO. In that role, Randall oversees and provides strategic direction for all the financial aspects of Crouse Health, which includes accounting, cash management, payroll, purchasing, materials management and inventory. Crouse Health’s budget is approximately $490 million for 2020-21, with about 3,400 employees in the system, he said.

“As CFO, you’re balancing many factors, and a lot of them are out of your control. Nothing’s been more out of our control and nothing we could plan for like COVID-19,” he said.

Hospital management makes decisions daily that improve the health and well-being of the community, he added.

“When you look at it, there are challenges, but that’s why we’re in health care. We pride ourselves on being advocates and leaders and creating solutions to those complex challenges,” he said.

As it relates to the pandemic, there were multiple challenges. The leadership team had to determine how to handle things from a supply chain perspective. Like others health care facilities, elective surgeries were canceled, and Randall said, they had to focus on obtaining personal protective equipment in order to keep patients and employees safe.

That leadership team he referred to includes the president and CEO Kimberly Boynton; chief operating officer and chief medical officer, physician Seth Kronenberg; chief information officer Kim Rose; chief nursing officer, Lynne Shopiro; vice president of marketing and communications, Bob Allen; and Randall.

He explained that he has had to make sure the finance team was doing what it could do to provide support, search for any grants or other financial aid resources that might be available.

“We had to make sure we were staying on top of it. But, over the past year, our focus has been, from a leadership perspective, what can we do to make sure that we’re keeping our patients and employees safe,” he explained.

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Lifelines

Birth Place: North Syracuse Residence: Brewerton Education: Bachelor’s degree from SUNY Oswego; currently enrolled in a graduate program to obtain my Master of Business Administration in healthcare leadership.

Affiliations: Finance committee chairman of Iroquois Healthcare Association; board of directors of Laboratory Health Alliance; assistant treasurer of Crouse Health Foundation; girls junior varsity basketball coach at Bishop Ludden High School.

Personal: Wife, Erin; three children, Ava, Juliette and Oliver Hobbies: Family, coaching daughter’s basketball team, avid Detroit Lions & Syracuse Orange sports fan.

He added that he couldn’t be prouder or more appreciative of Crouse employees during the pandemic.

“Our medical staff rose to the occasion during this time period to meet the community need; whatever the patients needed. I think the word ‘hero’ has been thrown out there a lot in terms of health care in the past year. In my opinion, there are no bigger heroes than here at Crouse. Not just Crouse, but the entire community at large. We’ve really banded together. It’s really something to see,” he said.

Helping to navigate Crouse through the pandemic financially has certainly been a challenge, yet Randall sees it as a career achievement. Another highlight, he said, was being offered the CFO position at Crouse at the age of 32. To be a CFO is a goal “you’d like to get to at some point in your career and you definitely work toward, but definitely not getting offered that at the age of 32,” he said.

“That is definitely humbling to me.”

Randall is 34 years old.

His philosophy as a CFO stems from his early days at Crouse.

“We always used to use the words, ‘service leadership.’ It was something that came out of our executive level.

It took me a while to fully understand what that meant. But really to me it embodies the idea of being a coach and a mentor,” he said. “I’ve always looked at my role in leadership as one of supporting my employees versus one that’s more of a rule enforcer. It’s OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

really helped me develop and advance a tremendous finance and supply chain team here at Crouse I could not be more thankful for.”

It’s this team and the members of the leadership team that help him stay up-to-date with all the many changes in the field.

“Health care is an ever-changing industry, which I think is that attraction that most of us have. People who spend their careers in it like the fact that it’s ever-changing. It keeps them on their toes,” he explained.

His office meets with the leadership team on a consistent basis to make sure they stay up to date on the various topics related to health care.

Looking ahead, Randall said that Crouse will continue to strive to be a leader in quality health care in a place the community feels pride in, whether it’s for health care services or as an employer.

“We owe that to this community.

We’ll do everything we can to keep Central New York healthy as we’ve done through the pandemic,” he said.

Having grown up in the North Syracuse area, Randall’s pride in Central New York is obvious. A big factor in the Randalls’ decision to move back to the area from Buffalo a few years ago was because he and his wife, Erin, wanted to raise their family here. The couple has three children, Ava, Juliette and Oliver, ranging in age from 12 to 3.

“There’s no better place to raise your family than Central New York,” he said.

And the family is his focus outside of work, he said. His oldest is currently quite involved in basketball and he finds himself coaching her from time to time, he said.

HIGH-INCOME EARNERS

Oswego County Business reaches more than 2,000 people earning more than $100K in Oswego County APRIL / MAY 2021

Healthcare Special

Lifelines

Birth Place: Oswego Residence: Town of Oswego Education: Bachelor of Science in accounting, George Mason University.

Affiliations: Board of directors for CenterState CEO; member of the finance committee for ConnextCare; member of the New York State Society for CPAs, the American Institute of CPAs and the Healthcare Financial Management Association.

Personal: Wife, Angela. Two children aged 11 and 8.

Hobbies: Spending time with family, golf, kayaking and fishing with his kids, coaching youth basketball.

Eric Campbell

Oswego Health CFO In charge of finances during a decade of rapid growth for Oswego Health

By Ken Sturtz

T

o say Eric Campbell’s life had come full circle in 2016 when he was named chief financial officer for Oswego Health would be an understatement.

Campbell was born at Oswego Hospital. He grew up in the area and his parents taught in the Oswego school district. Later in life when he became a certified public accountant, most of his portfolio was in health care. One of his main clients: Oswego Health.

“So, it’s really good to be back working and living in the community where I grew up,” he says.

Campbell never imagined himself becoming the CFO of Oswego County’s APRIL / MAY 2021

largest health care provider or overseeing a $138 million budget. Originally from Sterling, Campbell had no business background growing up, though he did enjoy numbers. At George Mason University he took some introductory accounting classes, finding them challenging and enjoying the challenge.

He completed several internships in college that helped solidify his interest in accounting. His internships allowed him to become familiar with many unique businesses.

“You’re not in one place all the time,” he says. “You’re going to those businesses. You’re meeting different people and I really enjoyed that.”

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

After college Campbell became a certified public accountant and spent seven years with Fust Charles Chambers LLP, a Syracuse CPA firm, where he rose to be an audit manager. The firm had a significant health care practice and roughly 75% of Campbell’s work was with health care clients such as hospitals, home care agencies and skilled nursing homes. He had taken on Oswego Health as a client and in 2010 the hospital was in the process of transitioning leadership. At the end of that process the CFO at the time asked Campbell to join the team.

It took Campbell some time to come around to the idea. He liked his job and was reluctant to leave his firm; he thought he might become a partner someday.

“It certainly wasn’t part of my career path, but I was really open to change,” he says. “I saw it as an interesting challenge and thought it would be really rewarding to be back in the community.”

In 2010, he left his CPA firm and became CFO of Oswego Hospital, under the umbrella of the Oswego Health system. He was responsible for overseeing the hospital’s business-related departments, including fiscal services, patient financial services and patient access. Campbell says the position was a great opportunity to step out of his comfort zone and broaden his skill set.

The day-to-day challenges in health care are significant, which means there’s always something new to learn or address, Campbell says. Some of his skills as an auditor translated well to his new role. For example, he was good with people. And as an auditor, 73

he was constantly asking questions, which often helps preemptively solve problems.

One difference that took some getting used to was the fact that his audit work at the CPA firm tended to be very project-based with deadlines. At Oswego Health, the quantity of work was far greater and it was pretty unrelenting, Campbell says.

There was another reason for the heavier workload. When Campbell arrived in 2010 the organization was expanding at a dramatic pace.

At the time A.L. Lee Memorial Hospital in Fulton had closed and Oswego Health stepped in to fill the void, opening the Fulton Medical Center in 2011. A year later it opened the Central Square Medical Center, offering urgent care, lab and medical imaging services.

The organization has continued to grow to meet the needs of the community.

Specialty doctors and primary care have been a priority.

The result, Campbell says, has been an exciting incremental transition from a hospital to a larger health care system.

“We’ve grown leaps and bounds over 10 years,” he says.

That growth hasn’t come without challenges. The organization wasn’t always prepared for so much growth so quickly. They had to look at efficiencies with their revenue cycle, reporting structures and billing operations. And they had to work hard to sell the community and recruit the right kind of people to the organization, particularly doctors.

Another challenge that’s somewhat unique to health care is the frequent changes in state and federal regulations and reimbursement structure, Campbell says. For example, in the fall Oswego Health was notified that its Medicaid rates were being reduced going back six months.

“There’s not too many businesses where you provide a service and then six months later the government says actually we’re going to pay you less for that because we’re changing our rate structure,” Campbell says.

That kind of uncertainty makes budgeting and long-term planning more difficult. It’s also one of the reasons Oswego Health needs to continue growing its service offers for the entire community, he says, to help offset some of those reimbursement issues. It’s certainly challenging, but for Campbell that’s also part of the fun of his job.

And the challenges certainly haven’t slowed Oswego Health’s growth.

In January it opened the Lakeview 74

Center for Mental Health and Wellness at the site of the former Price Chopper in Oswego. And a major renovation of the hospital’s third and fourth floors into private patient rooms is ongoing.

For his part, Campbell says he’s grateful he’s been able to be a part of Os-

wego Health’s leadership team during a period of such dramatic change.

“The growth of Oswego Health has been one of the exciting things for me,” he says. “You can kind of see the pieces coming together.”

Healthcare Special

Stuart Wright, SUNY Upstate University Hospital CFO Handling an annual budget of $1.3 billion, his tenure has been marked by challenges and accomplishments — and the pandemic

By Mary Beth Roach

S

tuart Wright’s career as chief financial officer of SUNY Upstate University Hospital for the past

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

13 years has been marked by great change and growth, significant financial challenges and accomplishments. And, APRIL / MAY 2021

Lifelines

Birth Place: Elmira Residence: Cazenovia Education: Bachelor’s degree from Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania; master’s degree from the University of Rochester.

Affiliations: Member, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; Member, New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants; Member, Vizient Academic Medical Center CFO Task Force; Member, Healthcare Financial Management Association; Graduate of CIGNA Financial Development Program (FDP); Completed AICPA Business Valuation Program; Masters Certificate in Government Contracting from George Washington University; Past Board Member, Syracuse Samaritan Center; Past Board Member and Treasurer of the Syracuse Rescue Mission; Past Board Member – Central New York Arthritis Foundation Hobbies: Spending time with his family, and anything outdoors, including hiking, fishing and relaxing on his boat most recently, by the pandemic.

Wright oversees all the financial functions of the hospital, including the budgeting, accounting, audits, cost analysis, data analytics, monthly reporting, revenue cycle, third-party payer contracting with the health insurance companies, scheduling and registration functions and the outpatient pharmacy operations.

He also interacts with the leadership of the other two components of the Upstate system — the medical university and the physicians group — in areas regarding operations and financial matters.

Wright believes that crises can bring about positive change and transformation. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has put that theory to the test.

The pandemic has created operational and financial challenges for Upstate, he said. The safety of its patients and employees had to be ensured and purchasing enough personal protective equipment had been difficult. In addition, he said that in March and April of 2020, the hospital was basically APRIL / MAY 2021

ordered to shut down in order to allow for space should Downstate hospitals need to transport patients here. While that never materialized, Upstate was running at only a 60% capacity in order to keep those beds open, Wright said.

What did materialize, however, were big revenue losses. For a threemonth period — from March to May of 2020 —Upstate was losing up to $1 million a day, Wright said. They needed to continue to track and report how much money the hospital was losing and from where. At the same time, they were working with various organizations and lawmakers to try to lobby the federal government to keep the adequate funding needed. It would require a change in the reimbursement formula that Wright had been pushing for six months.

Eventually, with the assistance of Sen. Schumer’s and Congressman John Katko’s offices, Wright said, they prevailed, and Upstate received a robust payment from the CARES Act, based on the methodology that Wright had been advocating to help offset those million-dollar-a day losses.

Yet, despite the challenges, Wright sees a silver lining.

“We have changed our paradigm in some regards to be more technologically advanced and nimble in the delivery of care. And we’re doing a significant more amount of telemedicine visits than we have in the past,” he said.

Prior to COVID-19, Upstate did not do any telemedicine visits. Now they’re up to 3,000 telemedicine consults per week, he said.

Because Upstate has such a large service area with 17 counties, this technology can prove beneficial for those patients who would have to travel several hours across the state to come to the hospital.

But the pandemic is not the only financial crisis Wright has faced in his 13 years with Upstate.

When Wright began as the CFO in 2008, the hospital had $500 million in revenue and New York state was providing almost $50 million a year in annual support. But over the course of the next eight years, the state, facing its own financial troubles, cut its support to zero, he said. The state continues to support the academic component of Upstate.

“I was part of a core group of individuals that helped bring about a true shift in our paradigm to an accountable organization that was going to grow, be nimble, and think strategically,” he said.

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

“That, to me, was probably one of the most exciting parts of my job — bringing about that paradigm shift and finding ways to live without state support at all and actually thrive.”

And thrive it has. Today, that revenue line has nearly tripled to $1.3 billion.

Upstate has done more than $500 million in building projects during his tenure, which included the Golisano Children’s Hospital; the Cancer Center facility, which cost more than $100 million; and the East Tower. Wright was also one of the lead advisers in Upstate’s acquisition of Community-General Hospital in 2011, and he added, they are in the process of constructing a $140-million ambulatory pavilion on Upstate’s main campus that is slated to open in 2023.

“We’ve just continued to move the organization to improve, I think, our reputation in the community. Our quality’s improved. Demand for our services has grown,” he said. “It’s a very different organization than we were in 2008, and it’s been exciting to be part of building what we have today.”

Wright sees Upstate as experiencing two types of progress — what he referred to as organic growth and acquisitive growth. The organic growth is the recruitment of physicians and marketing them, and the hospital’s equipment, and technology. Securing Community-General is an example of the acquisitive growth. At that time, Wright said, Upstate was running at 90-plus percent and needed more beds; while Community was going bankrupt with unused beds and about 1,000 jobs there at risk.

The acquisition, he said, allowed Upstate to continue to grow and has helped to make up for the cuts received from the state.

The hospital has also tried to grow strategically, he said, so it can offer services that, while perhaps not considered profitable, are part of Upstate’s mission.

“We’re what we consider a safety net hospital,” he said. “We’re the Level 1 Trauma Center in the area. We provide the Poison Control Center. We provide a number of specialty clinics that are not profitable, but we do them because it’s part of what we believe is our service to the community.”

To progress requires the organization to be efficient. He and his team have developed systems to enhance accountability and productivity, bench marking themselves against other organizations in the industry to make sure staffing and spending are optimum 75

WHEN IT’S URGENT we’re right at home.

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SAVE TIME. Check-in online. Wait at home.

URGENT CARE oswegohealth.org/urgent-care Both centers are open daily, including weekends, from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

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OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

throughout the system.

Wright also sees Upstate as a critical economic engine for the Central New York area. With approximately 11,000 employees, it is the largest employer in the county.

“We provide jobs, good-paying jobs, and vital services to the communities we serve,” he said. That service area reaches as far north as the Canadian border, south to the Pennsylvania border, west to Rochester, and east to the Utica area.

In describing his managerial style, Wright said, “I believe and ascribe to a servant-based leadership style. Hire the right people, give them the right tools, give them the right direction and let them go. It’s been a very successful model and it’s worked for me.”

With health care being an ever-changing market, Wright believes in the importance of staying ahead of the trends and being able to see the industry from a more global perspective.

He said that there is increased pressure on the federal government to contain healthcare costs, and that articles he reads about reimbursement now and in the future involves cuts.

“We have to be able to adapt to those cuts, just like we did adapt to the state cuts,” he said. “You’re seeing a lot of consolidation, a lot of growth. We have to achieve a scale economy, we have to be dynamic, figure out what markets we’re going to be in, how we’re going to be efficient, deliver high quality, how we’re going to invest those dollars we do have.”

Born and raised in Elmira, he received a bachelor’s degree from Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, and a master’s degree from the University of Rochester. He resides in Cazenovia. Spending time with his family and enjoying the outdoors help Wright relax away from the hospital.

Before coming to Upstate, Wright was a certified public accountant; did healthcare consulting; worked as the CFO of regional insurance companies for CIGNA; and then as a fiscal intermediary for the federal government. But he had never worked in and for a hospital.

It was the desire for more direct involvement in patient care that led him to take the position at Upstate.

“Everyone working in the health system — we’re all part a vital part of the organization saving people’s lives and giving people hope. That’s why I do what I do. I love it,” he said.

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APRIL / MAY 2021

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77

Photos provided by Aqua-Spa Float Center

Rest, Relax and Rejuvenate!

A first-person account to a visit to Oswego’s Aqua-Spa Float Center

By Steve Yablonski

Pressure pushing down on me Pressing down on you Splits a family in two Puts people on streets …

(Queen)

U

nder pressure? Forget about it.

The Port City is home to just what you need to rid yourself of pressure — and to improve your overall health at the same time — the Aqua-Spa Float Center and Wellness Boutique.

I know, from first-hand experience.

Recently, I had an opportunity to test the waters, so to speak.

I hung on to the handles on each side of the doorway and tentatively stepped into the water. I slowly got down to a sitting position, leaned back 78

and immediately started to float. There were no ripples.

The water was warm at first, but seemed to cool slightly after a moment.

Hello to 11 inches of skin-temperature water saturated with 1,500 pounds of Epsom salt. Goodbye to the distractions of the outside world.

“Your mind is now free to process things without distractions. Your brain releases dopamine and endorphins, stress-related hormones are lowered and your body and mind get to rest,” Tammy Wilkinson, float ambassador of the new Aqua Spa Float Center, had told me in preparation of my inaugural float. She and her fiancé, Terry LeRoi, are the co-owners of the business.

The Float Center and Wellness Boutique is located in the former Oswego City School District Education Center, OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

120 E. First St., along the Oswego River.

It features a float pod (Revolution Float Orb by Superior Float Tanks) and four float cabins (Deluxe Quest Float Suites) for the ultimate float experience. They offer float therapy, salt therapy, massage and more.

Each of the four suites is nearly eight feet long, six and a half feet wide and seven feet tall (“allowing for a decadent singles float or a cozy couples float.”)

The suites aren’t only spacious; they’re the most luxurious in the industry. All of them feature fiber-optic starlight ceilings, quad in-tank heaters and anti-slip diamond flooring.

And, they are COVID-19 safe.

“We use a state-of-the-art filtration system that cycles the water three times between each guest,” according to my APRIL / MAY 2021

float ambassador, Katie Mahaffey. “It utilizes hydrogen peroxide, a one-micron filter (a human hair is 10 microns, she pointed out), ozone and UV lamps to remove all impurities. Also, each room is thoroughly sanitized and inspected after every float.”

You are always in control of your experience.

The spa also features a line of organic chocolates as well as a variety of healthy sodas that were created by a couple who got their start on the TV show “Shark Tank.” They also offer three infrared saunas, salt therapy, oxygen bar (only 10% of our energy comes from food. The rest comes from oxygen!), teas and vitamin energy drinks, cryotherapy and massage — including a massage therapist with a variety of techniques and a massage chair that is called “the Ferrari of massage chairs” that works you really hard and some smaller chairs for a more gentle massage.

The center also has a primp room where you can touch up after your session. And, a whisper room where you can sit quietly and reflect or journal about your experience.

Float therapy has been around since the 1950s.

“We have been open since Nov. 15,” Wilkinson said.

Salt therapy room.

What is float therapy?

“When you float in a flotation tank, your body absorbs minerals and your body’s magnesium and sulfate levels increase. You’re floating in about 11 inches of body-temperature water filled with salt. This helps calm your nervous system and enhances your body’s natural ability to heal, rest, relax, relieve pain, relieve stress and fatigue and lower blood pressure,” LeRoi told me.

We’ll see about that.

My lower back was sore; the result of a traumatic injury a few years ago.

I tried to turn a bit on my side to compensate. Nope. I was quickly flipped over on my back again. I drew my right leg back and was able to float in that position; looking like a runner sprinting to the finish line. The pain in my back ebbed and faded.

A myriad thoughts flooded my brain; but, just as quickly, washed away.

I was floating alone in the calm.

I turned to the controls along the side wall and flicked on the music and then the “stars” in the ceiling. After a moment, I closed my eyes and drifted around. A few minutes later, I opened my eyes and didn’t know where I was.

APRIL / MAY 2021

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Whisper room.

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

79

It took a few seconds for me to realize I had floated to the other side, opposite the control buttons. Pushing off the wall, I wafted back to the other side.

I had scheduled a one-hour float.

After a while, I started counting to myself in an attempt to keep track of how long I’d been floating. I quickly abandoned that tactic. Floating back to the controls, I pushed the light button again and everything went black, except for the stars. This must be what it’s like to float in outer space, I thought as the weightlessness relaxed me.

The more I floated, the more I relaxed. Every once in a while, I’d glide over to a wall, bump my head and push off, gently slipping back to the center.

The next thing I remember is the lights coming back on, bright. And a voice saying that it was time to get up.

I dragged myself to my knees, grabbed the door handles and stood up. Stepping out of the water, I started to shiver. The room that had felt muggy when I first entered now felt chilly to me; despite remaining at the same temperature all along. I got under the shower and turned it on hot; it washed away the salt residue. A quick examination of my body showed no wrinkles.

That’s odd. I spend a few minutes in a hot bath tub at home and come out looking like a prune.

“There’s no pruning as it’s a different kind of salt; medical-grade Epsom (magnesium sulfate),” Wilkinson explained later. “So many of our guests comment on how soft their skin feels after they float.”

The detoxifying effects of Epsom salts help soothe the skin by exfoliating dead skin cells. But don’t let this fool you into thinking that it’s pure luxury.

In fact, our bodies need magnesium to help activate our lymphatic system, further detoxify and boost immunity.

Floating is simply the best way to absorb it nowadays.

My hand unconsciously flowed to my cheek; not ‘baby soft’ but still …

Following the float, I did feel more relaxed and refreshed.

“You’ll probably sleep much better tonight,” LeRoi told me.

I actually did sleep pretty well that night, albeit being jolted awake shortly after midnight by a playful kitten (their internal clocks are wired differently).

And, the following day the float experience washed over me throughout the day; I was tempted to curl up in bed —but I had to finish this article.

Massage chairs with a view.

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Sign greeting clients.

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OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

APRIL / MAY 2021

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Nurses at the PrimeCare in Fulton, part of Oswego Health.

Nursing’s Toughest Year

The pandemic has been challenging for nurses, but their actions might be inspiring the profession’s next generation

By Ken Sturtz

APRIL / MAY 2021

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

83

L

ast spring, as the pandemic that would kill more than 500,000 Americans enveloped the country’s health care system, Destiny Fitzsimmons prepared to enter the unfolding maelstrom.

Fitzsimmons, of Oswego, was among 36 students who graduated in May from Cayuga Community College’s nursing program. The students were forced to finish their courses for the spring semester through a distance learning format and the traditional nurses’ pinning ceremony was replaced by a socially distanced drive-thru event.

Within days of graduating, Fitzsimmons began working as a graduate nurse in the intensive care unit at Oswego Hospital.

The pandemic has exacerbated a nationwide shortage of nurses and battered the profession like nothing else in recent memory. Over the last year nurses have been forced to adapt constantly to the changing situation. They’ve cared for the sick and comforted the dying.

They’ve clocked long hours on the job and exposed themselves and their families to possible infection.

For their efforts, they’ve been widely hailed as heroes. It remains to be seen, however, if the good will toward nurses and the attention brought to the profession by the pandemic encourage more people to enter the field.

For her part, Fitzsimmons never expected to start off in nursing in the midst of a global pandemic. When she started her challenges were twofold: She had to learn the basics of nursing as well as the policies and procedures for dealing with the coronavirus. That wasn’t an easy task since the coronavirus had plunged health care professionals into largely uncharted territory, meaning policies and procedures were constantly changing.

“It was all trial and error,” she said.

“Everything was still new.”

She was helped by the fact that Oswego Hospital initially didn’t have a large influx of COVID-19 patients. That allowed her more time to learn. She said she also benefited from working with a supportive team in the intensive care unit that wouldn’t hesitate to help each other when they needed it.

Fitzsimmons wasn’t alone in needing to learn quickly, however. Even veteran health care workers had no experience dealing with such a widespread, prolonged crisis.

“Well I think overall, like with everybody else who lived through the pandemic, initially at least it was pretty 84

Destiny Fitzsimmons was among 36 students who graduated in May from Cayuga Community College’s nursing program. She never expected to start off in nursing in the midst of a global pandemic. “It was all trial and error,” she says. “Everything was still new.” scary,” said Scott Jessie, executive director of nursing for Upstate Medical University. “This was a brand-new thing for everybody.”

Medical professionals deal with infectious diseases all the time, he said, but a global pandemic was a completely different proposition. There was a great deal of stress initially as hospital officials made changes quickly and staff had to be flexible.

As COVID-19 patients began arriving last year, hospital staff began grappling with many challenges. Jessie said one in particular was largely unexpected, but became one of the most agonizing aspects for nurses.

“Nursing is always at the bedside for the good and the bad of what people go through in health care, but the pandemic was different,” Jessie said.

“Honestly, one of the most difficult challenges was people who ended up coming to the hospital and passed away and many times their family could not be here.”

Health care workers inevitably deal with death, but this was different.

In hospitals and nursing homes, families weren’t allowed to visit for fear of spreading the coronavirus. Jessie said nurses rose to the occasion, communicating with families frequently about their loved ones and trying to offer comfort to their patients.

“They did everything they possibly could for those families,” he said.

There were other, less agonizing, challenges that had to be dealt with.

Valerie Favata, vice president and chief nursing officer at Oswego Health, said hundreds of staff were furloughed or ordered to work from home, but the nursing staff had to face the crisis headOSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

on from the start.

Initially many people were concerned about becoming infected, especially as health care facilities across the country were facing a severe shortage of personal protective equipment. Concerns about running out of PPE only stoked fears among nurses of becoming infected and taking the virus home to family, Favata said.

She said she was proud to see the hospital’s nursing staff pull together and work through their fears about dealing with the coronavirus.

“I think that every day during the pandemic even though people were physically and emotionally exhausted, because everybody was, that you went home at the end of the day knowing you were doing your part to make it better,” she said.

Another unexpected issue popped up when the hospital shut down elective surgery, Favata added. Nurses were redeployed from their normal specialties to areas where they were needed, such as the emergency room or the intensive care unit.

Many of those nurses hadn’t worked in those types of units in years, if ever, said Ryan French, director of ICU and respiratory therapy at Oswego Health.

In the intensive care unit especially, nurses unfamiliar with that environment needed help getting up to speed.

For a nurse focused on a specialty in the operating room, for example, treating critical patients in the intensive care unit can be a significant adjustment.

French said the nurses familiar with the intensive care unit did an excellent job supporting their colleagues and helping them learn the ropes.

APRIL / MAY 2021

from time to time. They often fill the gap by having staff work overtime or by bringing in temporary travel nurses from other parts of the country.

The pandemic made those traditional solutions unworkable.

“For the first time in everyone’s career the entire U.S. had the same problem at the same time, Jessie said. “And that’s never really happened before.”

Travel nurses became extremely difficult to hire and overworked staff were already putting in long hours.

The shortage of nurses in the U.S. is only expected to intensify in coming years as baby boomers age and the need for health care grows, according to the American Association of College of Nursing.

People are entering the nursing Ryan French, director of ICU and field, but nursing school enrollment respiratory therapy at Oswego Health. isn’t growing fast enough to meet the “We’ve all depended on each other to get demand. Whether the pandemic ulthrough it.” timately pushes a significant number “In the spring we really got a chance of nurses to leave the field is an open to help those nurses develop their con- question. Regardless, the average age fidence with those types of patients,” of a registered nurse is 50 years old, French said. “We’ve all depended on meaning there is likely to be a wave of each other to get through it. I don’t think retirements in the next 15 years.

According to employment predicI would have been able to get through tions by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, some of this stuff without the people registered nursing is listed among the that I do work with.”

It can be easy to overlook the im- top occupations in terms of job growth portance of camaraderie between health through 2029. The workforce is expected care workers. But Jessie likened nursing to grow from 3 million in 2019 to 3.3 to law enforcement and firefighting in million in 2029. When retirements and that they often see and deal with things people leaving the field are included, that many professions don’t and devel- there are likely to be more than 175,000 openings for nurses each year through op close ties.

“I do think a big piece of how people 2029.

Recruiting nurses was enough got through it is that bonding with their of a challenge before the pandemic teams,” he said. “I think the pandemic that many health care organizations probably really solidified for a lot of people why they do the work they do.” developed programs to target people Upstate officials were especially considering a career in health care. sensitive to the physical, mental and Oswego Health does outreach with emotional strain on staff since the high school students, encouraging them hospital ended up caring for a larger to enter a program to expose them to number of coronavirus patients than the health care field. Hiring incentives such as signing bonuses and tuition other hospitals, Jessie said.

Early on, Upstate canceled or reimbursement are also used.

There may be some signs already slowed down elective surgeries to that the work of nurses in the pandemic create capacity in its system. They also is inspiring others to enter the profesrelocated surgical staff and ambulatory sion.

A survey by the American Assostaff to help on the hospital floors. And ciation of Colleges of Nursing found they were careful to ensure no one had enrollment in baccalaureate nursing the toughest jobs indefinitely.

“We have had the ability to switch programs increased nearly 6% in 2020, which ICUs are designated as COVID to to 250,856.

“I do think it is very similar to the give the staff a break,” Jessie explained.

9/11 effect because people did really “We were very purposeful about that see what health care workers do and because we knew we needed to give what they go through,” Jessie said. “It’s the staff break.” a noble calling and people really saw All hospitals and health care facilities experience staffing shortages that with this pandemic.”

APRIL / MAY 2021

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

Pro-worker labor laws under Biden presidency From p. 65 from all workers who benefit from union representation, regardless of union membership. While the PRO Act would aim to supersede “right to work” laws by allowing employers and unions to bargain for contract provisions that require all workers to pay a “fair share” of the costs of union representation, Biden has said that he would go even further and repeal the provisions of the Taft Hartley Act that allow states to enact “right to work” laws. Additionally, if the NLRB contains a majority of members appointed by the President, it could reverse recent precedent holding that employers are not obligated to adhere to dues-check-off provisions following the expiration of a collective bargaining agreement. n A pro-labor board. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is comprised of five members, all of whom are appointed by the President for five-year terms (subject to Senate approval). One NLRB seat is vacant already and another will be vacated by a Republican in August 2021. Therefore, the President will be able to secure a Democratic majority on the board quite soon. In addition, upon taking office, President Biden soon discharged Peter Robb from his position ad NLRB general counsel and replaced Robb with Peter Sung Oh. The NLRB general counsel exerts significant influence over the NLRB regions’ prosecutorial priorities and agenda. This change makes it much more likely that the NLRB will pursue vigorously complaints by unions that employers have violated labor law.

As I discussed in the August-September 2020 issue of this magazine, the NLRB appointed mostly by President Trump issued a number of significant, pro-employer decisions in the area of union-management relations. All of these decisions could be reversed once President Biden appoints a majority of the board’s members.

As the preceding discussion shows, the Biden administration has a very pro employee and pro-union agenda. While Biden alone cannot carry out much of his agenda, he already has done as much as he can through his appointments, etc.

In addition, with both houses being controlled by the Democratic Party, there is a good chance that more of his agenda will be realized within the next two years.

85

A worker unloads a food truck from the Food Bank of Central New York at a pantry in Mexico during the pandemic.

Unsung Heroes of the Pandemic Despite the risk, volunteers helped keep local food pantries open

I

t was the spring of 2020 and the coronavirus was just beginning to shutter offices, schools and businesses when Kathy Melia decided she should be prepared for whatever happened next.

Melia, who is the coordinator of the Redfield Community Food Pantry, immediately placed an order with the Food Bank of Central New York for a truckload of food to ensure the pantry was fully stocked. Then she surveyed her small group of volunteers to learn their intentions.

“They were worried about making sure everyone had enough to eat. So, we never considered closing,” she said.

Not a single person stopped volunteering even though many were well 86

By Ken Sturtz into their 70s. The pantry has remained open throughout the pandemic and continued providing food to those in need. The lone exception was a week they closed due to inclement weather, Melia said.

The network of 15 food pantries in Oswego County that are affiliated with the Food Bank of Central New York form a crucial safety net for people struggling to feed themselves and their families.

With a handful of exceptions, the food pantries rely entirely on volunteers to operate. The volunteers tend to be older than the general population, with many in their 70s and 80s.

Older adults run a greater risk of OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

requiring hospitalization or dying if they’re diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, eight out of 10 virus deaths reported in the U.S. have been in adults 65 years and older.

To be sure, many older volunteers stayed home. But a cadre of older volunteers returned week after week, quietly going about their work and in the process keeping helping some pantries to remain open.

JoAnn Locy, who runs Human Concerns Center Food Pantry in Oswego, said the pantry is made up entirely of volunteers, mostly older women, though a handful of men help and some other volunteers just pitch in with APRIL / MAY 2021

The network of 15 food pantries in Oswego County that are affiliated with the Food Bank of Central New York form a crucial safety net for people struggling to feed themselves and their families. unloading food truck deliveries. She began noticing many of her volunteers stopped coming early last spring.

“We have unfortunately lost a number of our volunteers because they were from anywhere from 70 on up,” Locy said. “Their families are just really concerned that they might have contact with somebody that’s going to do them in.”

The reasons older volunteers — many of whom had helped for 15 or 20 years — stopped appearing were multifaceted. Some did so on the advice of their doctors or after prodding from adult children. Others were concerned about getting their spouses sick or had serious illnesses or conditions, such as cancer, that made them even more vulnerable.

Locy said she completely understood why many stopped volunteering.

The volunteer crunch was especially challenging for Human Concerns because the pantry is open five days a week, while many smaller pantries open just one or two times a week.

“We did worry about that, having to close,” Locy said.

They also considered cutting back their hours, but were ultimately able to muster enough people to continue operating. Some older volunteers continued coming in. Others agreed to be on call if they needed an extra person to help in a pinch. And the pantry was able to fill in its ranks with a handful of younger volunteers.

Coaxing older volunteers back after nearly a year proved somewhat difficult, Locy said. Some had gotten out of the habit and decided they preferred spending more time with family. Others APRIL / MAY 2021

Volunteers unload pallets of emergency food last spring during the pandemic at a food pantry in Mexico (top photos). Facade of the Pulaski Community Cupboard, a food pantry in Pulaski OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

87

were still concerned about their health.

Most eventually did return to help out.

“Our volunteers are fantastic,” Locy said. “I can’t say enough about our volunteers. They are very devoted to the Oswego Community.”

Smaller food pantries that had fewer volunteers to begin with tended to struggle more when the pandemic hit.

Cathy Coville, coordinator of the Phoenix Area Food Pantry Inc., felt the loss of older volunteers almost immediately.

“Everybody kind of quit,” she said.

“They were scared. Everybody took a leave.”

The pantry closed for two weeks in March to figure out a way forward.

When they reopened they operated for a brief period with just four volunteers and scaled back hours. Despite the challenges, Coville said they never considered closing down long-term.

Some of the older volunteers returned, but Coville said she recruited some new people and has been relying on younger volunteers for help. Even

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the town supervisor pitched in. She also recruited teachers to help out for a time last year. The pantry only recently expanded its schedule back to five days a week.

“We’ve tried everything basically to keep serving folks,” Coville said.

Recruiting enough volunteers hasn’t been the only challenge faced by food pantries during the pandemic.

They’ve also had to implement new procedures to keep themselves and the clients they serve safe.

Bruce Nothstein runs the Pulaski Community Food Cupboard. At 62 years old, he’s the youngest volunteer.

His other volunteers are in their 70s and 80s and some have health conditions.

So, when the pandemic hit he closed the pantry for a week to figure out what to do.

He was able to reopen two days a week instead of three with the help of two remaining volunteers who continuing helping throughout the year.

At first, they kept clients outside, filled boxes with food items and handed them out through the door. Now they’ve developed a system meant to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Everyone wears face masks and stands six feet apart. One person at a time is allowed in the doorway.

Each client that comes in is asked several health screening questions. Volunteers fill their food order and wipe surfaces down with disinfectant after they leave, Nothstein explained.

Most of the food pantries in Oswego County have adopted similar procedures with guidance from the Food Bank. Some have returned to letting clients in their buildings to pick out items like meats and fresh produce.

Others have had clients fill out paper menus, bagged the food up and brought it out to their vehicles.

As challenging as adopting new procedures might have been, pantries benefited from an expected break during the pandemic. For a period of time last year, most pantries actually saw the number of people they served dip.

“I thought we would get slammed, but we didn’t,” said Jackie McKelvey, who runs the Hannibal Resource Center Food Pantry. “I think it was because at the time they were having the giveaways and school meals.”

Massive food giveaways, free food boxes from the USDA and heavy stimulus spending by the federal government all likely contributed to the lower numbers, pantry coordinators said. People in need were still getting help, but they were getting much of it elsewhere.

McKelvey said they continued serving many people who were struggling to make ends meet before the pandemic.

Over the course of the year many pantries began to see the number of people they were serving rise again.

According to the Food Bank, pantries in Oswego County distributed a combined 2.2 million pounds of food in 2020.

Several food pantry coordinators said they are looking forward to getting back to normal and seeing more of their older volunteers return. And none of them expressed regret over their decisions to remain open through the pandemic.

“It’s just doing what I was taught,” McKelvey said. “You give until you can’t give anymore. I enjoy doing it.”

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APRIL / MAY 2021

Say hello to healthy.

63 dedicated physicians and healthcare providers.

Say hello to a more convenient way to stay healthy in Oswego County. Formerly known as NOCHSI, ConnextCare offers a comprehensive set of services family and internal medicine, pediatrics, dentistry, psychiatry, social work under one medical group. Patients within our network can now visit any of six locations at any time. And because we’re seamlessly connected, our staff can access your medical records at the touch of a button. It’s a faster, more convenient and easier way to keep yourself and your family healthy.

APRIL / MAY 2021

Learn more at connextcare.org — or better yet, stop in to one of our six sites Located in Fulton, Mexico, Oswego, Parish, Phoenix, Pulaski and say hello.

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

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SUNY Oswego faculty member colaunches criminology journal

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OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

hen SUNY Oswego faculty member Jaclyn Schildkraut and colleague Sarah Daly of Saint Vincent College saw existing publications not providing enough articles on an important topic, they decided to start their own journal.

The Journal of Mass Violence Research — which went from concept to being ready to accept submissions in just 23 days — expects to produce high-quality and accessible work on such areas as school shootings, mass or active shootings, international and domestic terrorism, serial murder and genocide. Beyond the usual goals for a journal, this one seeks to prevent the kinds of issues it would cover.

Schildkraut, associate professor of criminal justice at SUNY Oswego, knew Daly — assistant professor of criminology, law and society at Saint Vincent College — from the field and from contributing two chapters in Daly’s book “Assessing and Averting the Prevalence of Mass Violence.” But the collaboration really took off when the Oswego professor was a guest on Daly’s podcast.

Daly had tweeted about looking for guests on her “Culture and Crime Talks” series on YouTube, which involves experts from the field watching a TV show or movie and analyzing how it depicts aspects of criminology. Schildkraut was happy to oblige.

“When we were working on that episode, Sarah and I started talking about issues getting our research published,” Schildkraut recalled. “We work in niche areas, which tend not to be as well received by mainstream journals.

So we finally said we should just start our own journal.”

“One of the common frustrations among criminologists is when policymakers don’t listen to us, but we have to share some of that responsibility as a profession,” Daly explained. “We tend to write and publish in ways that policymakers can’t find or understand our work. It doesn’t help anybody if it’s just sitting in a library or a virtual repository behind a paywall.”

For more information, visit the Journal of Mass Violence Research website, jmvr.org.

APRIL / MAY 2021

We’re Ready to See You for Surgery.

If you’ve been putting off a procedure, surgery or screening — we’ve got what it takes to care for you right now at St. Joseph’s Health.

Here are some of the measures we’ve got in place to bring you a higher level of safety and care during your procedure.

Care Concierge

Enhanced Cleaning

We’ve got a Care Concierge to greet patients at the door to coordinate their entire journey.

We’ve got increased frequency and intensity of cleaning — using robust disinfecting processes.

Mandatory Pretesting

COVID-Free Zones

We’ve got required testing for all patients before elective procedures.

We’ve got COVID-Free Zones in many of our facilities where we provide care only for people known to not have COVID-19 or COVID-19 symptoms.

Separate Staff We’ve got separate staff to treat patients in each zone — so you won’t be treated by doctors and nurses who are treating patients with COVID-19.

A HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE

WeveGotThisSJH.org © 2021 St. Joseph’s Health. © 2021 Trinity Health. All rights reserved.

APRIL / MAY 2021

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

SJH20019_Reopening_Elective_Oswego-County-Business-7.25x10.indd 1

91 3/23/21 5:07 PM

Success Story

By Ken Sturtz

Quadrant Biosciences The Extraordinary CNY Company You Probably Haven’t Heard Of

R

ichard Uhlig’s idea for what would become a game-changing diagnostic testing company began by chance at a hockey rink in Upstate New York.

After a successful career as a Wall Street executive, Uhlig and his wife moved to Ithaca to raise their three boys. In 2014, their youngest son sustained a fairly serious concussion playing ice hockey. When Uhlig learned about the diagnosis and management for concussions like his son’s, he thought it was archaic.

Doctors diagnose concussions using tools such as neurological exams, cognitive testing and imaging tests. But there’s no quick and simple way to test for a concussion.

Uhlig — who grew up in Jefferson 92

County and studied biology at Cornell University before entering finance — thought there must be a better way of diagnosing concussions. He ended up spending six months reading 20 years of clinical research on the subject and concluded there was a pathway forward. He met with the concussion management team at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse to discuss his ideas.

“We essentially formed a partnership with SUNY Upstate and started building the business from there,” he says.

Uhlig became the founder and

chief executive officer of Quadrant Biosciences. The company employs roughly 60 people and is located on Upstate Medical University’s campus. It also participates in StartUpNY, a state economic development program that provides tax incentives for start-up companies to commercialize SUNY research.

Quadrant entered collaborative research relationships with Upstate and Penn State University. Their goal: explore and develop novel biomarker technologies with an emphasis on concussions, autism spectrum disorder and Parkinson’s disease.

If you aren’t familiar with Quadrant,

Quadrant Biosciences has developed cutting-edge saliva tests for the COVID-19 virus, autism and concussions OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

APRIL / MAY 2021

Quadrant Biosciences is expanding and will have nearly 100 employees this spring.

It has had more than $40 million in orders for its coronavirus products since the fall. that’s not an accident. The company is trying to develop and build intellectual property, turn that into a product and get that product in the marketplace before its competitors can react.

“We intentionally kept a fairly low profile,” Uhlig says. “The work we’re doing is very novel technology. The notion of finding brain-derived signaling molecules in saliva is revolutionary.”

The makeup of living things is stored in dual-stranded DNA. While similar, RNA is single-stranded and acts somewhat like a DNA photocopy.

When a cell needs to produce a certain protein, the RNA is dispatched with a copy of the necessary genetic code.

One way to think of RNA is as master signaling molecules created by nearly every cell in the body, Uhlig says.

In response to stress or injury, the body produces different RNA molecules, which are present and can be detected in saliva. The technology to detect those unique molecules can offer a window into brain activity and help doctors diagnose neurological disorders.

“The impact we can have on the lives of children and families is profound and that’s what drives a lot of what we’re doing,” Uhlig says.

A saliva test, for example, could confirm for doctors that a patient has suffered a concussion, even if there’s no visible injury. And a similar test could aid in the early diagnosis of autism in children, which is crucial because intensive behavioral therapy has been found to improve the symptoms of autism, and children benefit more from therapy the earlier it’s started.

Quadrant has received roughly $5 million in research grants from the National Institutes of Health for its work on saliva testing for autism spectrum disorder and concussions. The company has expanded its portfolio to include mild traumatic brain injury, schizophrenia and mild cognitive impairment.

APRIL / MAY 2021

Richard Uhlig is the founder and chief executive officer of Quadrant Biosciences.

The company has been in the news because of the saliva test it created to detect the coronavirus. “We intentionally kept a fairly low profile,” Uhlig says. “The work we’re doing is very novel technology.”

In January 2020, Quadrant announced the release of Clarifi ASD, the first product to be launched from the company’s Clarifi Epigenetic Diagnostic Platform. The result of seven years of research, the saliva test is designed to help diagnose autism in in children 18 months through 6 years old.

Unfortunately, the pandemic interrupted and Quadrant made the decision to suspend shipment of its autism tests. Uhlig says they’re planning on relaunching the product in the future.

Saliva test While the pandemic delayed Quadrant’s product rollout, it also set something else into motion for the company. Uhlig and his wife were having dinner with Upstate researcher Frank Middleton and his wife as well as another couple. It was early March 2020.

Middleton mentioned the failed rollout the previous month of a test for the COVID-19 virus developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The test proved to be unreliable and came just as the coronavirus OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

was spreading more rapidly across the United States. He predicted there would be many false negative test results.

“We all put our forks down and said can you tell us about that Frank?”

Uhlig says.

Middleton reasoned that they could create a better, more accurate test using saliva, which would be easier than troublesome nasal swabs. Middleton had reason to be confident. He was Upstate and Quadrant’s right-hand man on developing saliva tests and RNA carries the genetic information of many viruses.

Uhlig agreed with him and the company soon pivoted to developing a coronavirus saliva test.

“We had to move very, very quickly as a company into COVID-19 diagnostics, one because we saw there were some major shortcomings in what was available to people and organizations, but also just because we knew that the products that we’re passionate about were not going to be on the forefront of people’s mind for some time to come.”

Uhlig says.

But there was a problem. Not long after that dinner, Upstate began closing 93

non-essential operations and sending employees home. Quadrant also sent most of its employees home.

Middleton got an OK to stay behind in his lab and hustled to get the needed materials and support. Upstate chipped in more than $4 million on equipment and supplies to ramp up the testing program to come. A core group of people from Upstate and Quadrant never left.

Among them was Uhlig’s youngest son, whose concussion planted the seeds of Quadrant. Now a biology major at Temple University, he spent the summer working in the lab.

The team spent long days laboring on the development of a coronavirus test. The workload wore everyone down, but the team had created a prototype within weeks.

They submitted the test to the FDA for emergency use authorization in May. The authorization hit a snag when the FDA changed the rules regarding the type of samples that could be used to validate the test results. It was a setback that took months to resolve. In September, the FDA granted emergency use authorization for the saliva test.

“We were dealt lemons and we figured out how to turn it into lemonade,” Uhlig says.

The collection kits for the test are especially helpful due to the fact that they inactivate antiviruses that might be present in the saliva, while stabilizing it for diagnostic testing at a remote facility. The test became available to clinical laboratories serving patients through doctors’ offices, urgent care clinics and hospitals.

New York state had also approved the tests, which were implemented across all SUNY campuses. Quadrant developed a pooled version of the test that involves combining saliva samples from as many as two dozen samples. If it tests negative, each person is presumed to be virus-free. If there is a positive, then each individual sample is tested.

The system has been credited with helping SUNY schools identify and prevent major outbreaks. It’s also more efficient and inexpensive. Upstate has processed more than a million tests since September and a new laboratory is under construction at the University at Buffalo to increase capacity and speed up analysis of Upstate’s coronavirus test. The test is now used by more than 120 universities, K-12 schools, nursing homes and other facilities.

“We’re thrilled with what we’ve been able to do to serve our community,” Uhlig says.

94

Once the samples are RNA extracted, they are ready for qPCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction) testing. This step tests for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the sample.

Once samples are pooled, they are RNA-extracted to purify the sample for COVID-19 testing.

In December, the test received a No. 1 ranking for COVID-19 saliva tests by the FDA for detecting the virus in its earliest stages. The test was cited by the FDA as being among the most sensitive tests.

The test kits have been a boon for Quadrant, which has sold 3.6 million since September. The company has had more than $40 million in orders for its coronavirus products since the fall, Uhlig says, and is working on fulfilling all of them as quickly as possible.

Uhlig says Quadrant has reached the point where it has cash flow and earnings are positive. A lot of those earnings are being put back into the development of the company’s neuroOSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

science products, he says. The company is also in the process of expanding and will have close to 100 employees this spring.

And what does Uhlig attribute Quadrant’s success thus far to? He points to the company’s intelligent, dedicated workforce and a mission that’s about more than just dollars and cents.

“The type of people that we are able to attract at Quadrant are equally as brilliant as anybody that I worked with at Goldman Sachs,” he says. “The difference is that every single person on the Quadrant team understands that the work that we’re doing is in the service of others. That makes a really big difference in the quality of the outcome.”

APRIL / MAY 2021

Your Neighborhood Rxperts!

FultonMedicinePlace.com Dave and Tracy Dingman, Owners Here to answer your questions We’re your about insurance, prescriptions, or home medical equipment. We’re friendly, your local, independent pharmacy neighborhood and we care about you and your family.

Rxperts We’ll call your doctor’s office if a in Fulton and prescription hasn’t come through, or we’ll speak directly with your Phoenix! insurance company if there are questions.

We’ve served folks in Fulton and Phoenix for more than 30 years, and become trusted, family friends along the way.

Fulton | 360 W. 1st St. S (315) 593-8378

APRIL / MAY 2021

"Supporting communities throughout Oswego County"

Phoenix | 464 Main St. (315) 695-4200

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

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Hosted by David Brancaccio, “Marketplace Morning Report” keeps you informed with the latest news on the markets, money, jobs and innovation.

Marketplace programs raise the economic intelligence of the country through unorthodox stories, casual conversations and unexpected angles on the news.

Hear updates during “Morning Edition” each weekday at 6:51 and 8:51 a.m. Listen with the WRVO app, available for iPhone and Android devices.

WRVO PUBLIC MEDIA

89.9

WRVO 89.9 Oswego/Syracuse | WRVD 90.3 Syracuse | WRVN 91.9 Utica WRVJ 91.7 Watertown | WRVH 89.3 Clayton | WMVQ 90.5 Fenner WSUC 90.5 Cortland | WRCU 90.1 Hamilton 92.5 & 104.5 in Ithaca | 92.3 in Rome | 90.7 in Geneva | 89.9 in Norwich 96

wrvo.org: everywhere OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

APRIL / MAY 2021

BEST BUSINESS DIRECTORY AUTO SALES & SERVICE

EXCAVATING

PICTURE FRAMING

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.

Gilbert Excavating. Septic systems. Gravel & top soil.

Septic tank pumping. 685 County Route 3, Fulton, 13069. Call 593-2472.

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.

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.

Munski Automotive-brakes, exhaust, NYS inspections, shocks & struts, steering and suspension, check engine & ABS light, tires. 14 West Seneca St., Oswego.

315-343-6229 or visit www.munskiauto.com 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.

BAKERY GLUTEN FREE Sweet Cindy’s Gluten Free Bakery. Bread and buns to cookies and crackers. Cakes and pies to take-n-bake entrees. Amazing cinnamon rolls. Full menu at sweetcindysglutenfreebakery.com. Stop in or pre-order. 55 W. 1st St. S., Fulton. 315-598-3669.

BIKES, SERVICE & SALES Murdock’s-Oswego County’s only authorized Trek dealer. We service all brands of bikes. Check out our website: www.murdockssports.com call us 315-3426848 or stop by 177 W. 1st St., Oswego.

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.

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, Housewoeksfulton.com, or email us at the houseworks2windstream.net.

FLORIST/TUX RENTAL Everything you’re looking for in a local florist. Full service w/del. 36 years experience. Tux/suit rentals-holiday and sympathy designs available. DeVine Designs, 200 E. Broadway, Fulton. 315-592-4245 dvinedesign.com

GRAPHICS Car wrap + vehicle and window graphics. Upward Graphics. 21 S. 2nd St., Fulton. Visit upwardgfx.com or 315-402-2099.

KILN-DRIED HARDWOODS 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 Rd. Pulaski. 298-6407 or visit www.lakeshorehardwoods.com.

LUMBER White’s Lumber. Four locations to serve you. Pulaski: State Route 13, 315-298-6575; Watertown: N. Rutland Street, 315-788-6200; Clayton: James Street, 315686-1892; Gouverneur: Depot Street, 315-287-1892.

PLUMBING & HEATING SUPPLY 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, 315-343-1906.

PLUMBING & HVAC AHR Plumbing & HVAC service, sewer cleaning, hydrojetting, video inspections, water heater installs, new construction & remodel service & repairs. 315668-6569 AHRPlumbing.com.

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 315-5938914.

SCREEN PRINTING & EMBROIDERY Valti Graphics-Creating garment graphics on customized apparel in screen printing, embroidery, Greek apparel & custom lettering.

TRACTOR/LAWN EQUIPMENT RanMar Tractor Supply, sales and service of new and used tractors and farm equipment. 5219 US Rte 11 Pulaski. 315-298-5109.

UNIQUE GIFTS 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.

HEADING: LISTING:

$159 for 1 Year Just fill out this form, and send it with a check to:

APRIL / MAY 2021

Oswego County Business P.O. Box 276 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

Oswego, NY 13126

97

medical care techniques and strategies to duals achieve a happier, healthier lifestyle.

CARE AND REHABILITATION CENTER Pontiac Care and Rehabilitation East Center River Rd. Oswego, NY 13126 is an 80-bed skilled nursing home. We• are a family of licensed 343-1800 www.pontiaccare.com professional nursing personnel and therapist that provide round-the-clock specialized care, including a full spectrum of rehabilitation services and advanced health care

WE ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY A COVID-19 FREE FACILITY — AND CONTINUE TO WELCOME NEW RESIDENTS

Stancy Smith, our 103-year-old resident. Like other residents, she is part of our family at Pontiac Care and Rehabilitation Center.

CARING FOR ALL GENERATION WITH QUALITY AND INNOVATION

We provide professional medical intervention for your healthcare needs. We are committed to creating a healthy and safe home-like environment that allows our residents and family participation regarding personal health choices and decisions. Our programs, services, and facilities are designed to operate with quality to satisfy our client’s need, delivering compassionate, and resident and family-centered health care.

We Offer:

Our mission is to provide skill 24-hour nursing care to all our residents. Their health and emotional well-being are our first concern. We pride ourselves on our daily residents and family-centered care.

n Short-term rehabilitative stay following (but not limited to) surgery, illness, or injury that may require physical or occupational therapy. n Long-term stay while maximizing the quality of life by privacy, dignity, and opportunities for social interaction and participation in the community. n We also offer a personalized leisure time activities program, which includes music therapy and intergenerational activities. n Specialization in wound care. n Dietitians certified by American Diabetes Association plan therapeutic and modified diets. n Social service counseling, eye and dental services, and psychiatry and psychological services by professional staff

are also available.

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Pontiac Care and Rehabilitation Center 303 East River Rd. Oswego, NY 13126

315-343-1800 • www.pontiaccare.com

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

APRIL / MAY 2021

Exelon Generation Generating safe, clean and reliable power, fueling the upstate economy and protecting the environment.

866.237.POWER | exeloncorp.com

RECONNECT WITH YOUR HEALTH. WE’RE HERE TO HELP. At Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, we’re here to care for communities across Upstate New York. And a big

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part of that is helping people take care of themselves. If you’ve been holding off on scheduling appointments or addressing ongoing health concerns,

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now’s a good time to reconnect with your doctor. So focus on your health and move forward with confidence, knowing that we’re with you every step of the way.

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