Glens Falls Business Journal - April 2024

Arno Moving & Storage Will Cut e Ribbon On e Next 100 Years As A Family Business

BY SUSAN ELISE CAMPBELL

Arno Moving & Storage achieves another milestone this spring with its 100-year anniversary as a family corporation. What was started in 1924 by generations one and two with Abraham Arno and his son Louis is now under the management of generations three, four and ve.

How future generations will impact the growth of the company when they come on board, time will tell, if they rst follow one family rule.

“My grandmother Phyllis had the idea, I was told, that any family member has the opportunity to join the business but must have worked for at least a year at another company,” said Dan Arno , chief relationship manager and company spokesperson who oversees

sales, marketing and human resources. “She is the one who enforced the rule.”

Phyllis Arno has passed away, but her husband Richard, generation three, is the rm’s CEO. e president is their son Michael and his wife Lisa is executive vice president and corporate counsel. eir sons Dan and Craig, the latter a CPA and the company’s chief operating o cer, are also operating the rm alongside their cousin Nick, vice president of eet and safety, and uncle Mark, who manages a separate moving company in southern Florida.

e family is preparing a ribbon cutting May 1st to celebrate their golden milestone.

“ e event will be open to the whole community,” said Dan Arno . “We want as many

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Application Period For Leadership Adirondack Is Announced By e Chamber Of Commerce

The Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce (ARCC) has announced the application period for their Leadership Adirondack program for 2024-25. The ARCC Leadership Adirondack program is designed for individuals who demonstrate a potential for community leadership and a sincere commitment, motivation and interest in serving the community in which they live or work.

“We are thrilled to welcome applications for our 2024-25 Leadership Adirondack program,” said ARCC President & CEO Tricia Rogers. “Strong communities are built and sustained by effective local leaders, and our region is a testimony to this. We have seen past Leadership Adirondack participants go on to do great things.”

Leadership Adirondack is a dynamic, interactive program that provides skill development and community immersion experiences that enables participants to grow personally and professionally as they explore issues and opportunities in Warren and Washington counties.

Through a combination of class time and industry tours, Leadership Adirondack develops the leadership potential of participants and builds a solid foundation of

Leadership Adirondack is designed for business people who want to make a positive impact.

informed, action-orientated, productive employees and citizens.

The program previously ran in 2022-23

Entrepreneurship Programs In Area Provide Valuable Information For Small Businesses

mareting and social media.

BY PAUL POST

Bert Weber got so much help from his small business mentor that he named a beer a er him.

A retired BOCES horticulture and landscape design teacher, Weber co-owns South Glens Fallsbased Common Roots Brewing Company, which has blossomed into one of the region’s largest cra breweries since its founding 10 years ago.

Weber credits much of its success to programs such as SCORE, the nation’s largest network of volunteer expert business mentors; and Start-Up ADK, an eight week non-credit SUNY Adirondack course for small business owners and entrepreneurs that includes business planning and topics such as marketing, bookkeeping, legal issues,nancial projections, human resources and small business tools.

“Everyone has a great idea and wants to get

started, but there’s the business part of it, things like nance, insurance, regulations and licensing that you have to consider; things you don’t want to think about, but are really necessary as a new business starting out” Weber said. “ ey talked a lot about pitfalls you should avoid.”

Without good insurance, Common Roots probably wouldn’t have survived a devastating 2019 re.

Kate Austin got so much help from Start-Up ADK that she literally can’t stop talking about it as one of the program’s most enthusiastic ambassadors, telling clients and fellow entrepreneurs about its many bene ts. Austin owns Advokate, a Glens Falls-based rm she launched 13 years ago specializing in web and graphic design, branding, public relations, marketing and social media outreach.

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e Blue Zones Spokesperson Is e Keynote Speaker At Glens Falls Earth Day Celebration

e Glens Falls Earth Day Planning Committee, consisting of Crandall Library, Sustainable PR, and the City of Glens Falls, has announced the centerpiece of this year’s Earth Day celebration – An exclusive presentation by Tony Buettner, the national spokesperson for the esteemed Blue Zones movement.

is year’s Earth Day celebration will take place on Saturday, April 20, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Glens Falls City Park, embracing the theme “Sustainable Futures.”

At the heart of this year’s celebration lies the profound message of longevity and well-being brought forth by Buettner’s presentation. As the national spokesperson for Blue Zones, Buettner brings a wealth of knowledge and insights garnered from years of research on communities worldwide where residents live remarkably long and healthy lives.

Featured prominently in the Net ix documentary “Live to 100,” the Blue Zones movement advocates for lifestyle and environmental changes to promote healthy living. Buettner’s presentation will delve into the core principles behind the Blue Zones philosophy, o ering practical strategies for the Glens Falls Community and its residents to adopt these

life-enhancing practices. “Crandall Public Library is honored to host Mr. Buettner in recognition of Earth Day,”

Tony Buettner will speak about the Blue Zones movement at Glens Falls’ Earth Day celebration. Courtesy of Blue Zones

Courtesy ARCC

Kate Austin, a local entrepreneur and owner of Advokate, received help from Start-Up ADK in starting her rm that specializes in web and graphic design, branding, PR,

Glens Falls Business Journal

A true family business, several generations of the Arno clan are guiding the enterprise started by Abraham and Phyllis Arno into its second century. Courtesy of Arno Logistics

Personnel Briefs

NBT Bank has announced that Craig Seybolt has joined NBT as Senior Vice President and Regional Commercial Banking Manager. In this role, Seybolt will work closely with regional leaders and the commercial relationship team to support commercial customers throughout the North Country and Glens Falls region.

Seybolt comes to NBT Bank with considerable experience in commercial lending and leadership. Most recently, he served as Vice President and Corporate Banking Manager at Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Co. in Glens Falls, where he managed a commercial lending team responsible for overseeing a substantial loan portfolio, including ancillary banking products and services.

“We are thrilled to welcome Craig to the NBT team,” said NBT Bank Regional Executive Marc Monahan. “His commitment and extensive knowledge of the businesses and communities from the North Country to the Capital Region will be a great asset to our customers.”

Seybolt holds a bachelor’s degree in nance and business from e State University of New York, Plattsburgh. Active in his community, he serves as board trustee for e Hyde Collection and president of the Glens Falls Kiwanis Foundation. He also volunteers with South Glens Falls Youth Baseball and the Kiwanis Club of Glens Falls. Seybolt resides in South Glens Falls.

Advokate, LLC has announced the appointment of Jessica Ryle as Marketing and Communications Director.

Ms. Ryle has been employed at Advokate since August 2023, with her start as as Marketing & Operations Associate.

She brings exceptional skills in social media management, a careful eye to brand guidelines, project management savvy, and is on top of trends and tools.

“Jess is so capable and reliable,” says Kate Austin, Founder and CEO of Advokate, which she established in 2010. “She is perfect for this role. She was one of my rst clients and I remembered how quickly she picks up learning new things, and I saw how that evolved through di erent e orts of hers. Her organization skills, attention to detail and excellent communication are so key.”

Ms. Ryle says, “I love the sense of connection to the community I feel through our work at Advokate. Helping small businesses shine is amazing. My history dabbling in social media marketing and working on websites — which I learned from Kate! — set me up with the perfect base of skills to use everyday in my new position here!”

Prior to working with Advokate, Ms. Ryle founded Vegan Outdoor Adventures, a popular website that served as a guide for vegan gear, and Adirondack Animal Rights. She operated a successful Etsy shop selling crochet hats and other items. She holds a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from the University at Albany, and is o en recognized from her ten years at Raul’s, where she got to know the community and everyone in it. She also currently helps manage wholesale orders for Rock Hill Bakehouse.

e Hyde Collection has announced the addition of new sta members. e Hyde welcomes Allison Schmitt as Digital Communications Specialist, Melanie Painter and Toni Nastasi as Museum Educators, and Janek Palat as Preparator and Museum Technician. With a photojournalism and digital market•

ing background, Schmitt brings her expertise to manage and curate content across social media platforms, email marketing, and website maintenance. Her goal is to build awareness and engagement through creative marketing campaigns while fostering a deeper connection with ne art.

With 25 years of experience in the public school setting and a master’s degree in educational administration, Painter will explore museum education and utilize artwork as a primary resource for art appreciation and exploration. She will

develop programs that provide inclusive access to e Hyde Collection, fostering meaningful engagement with art for all audiences.

Bringing her background as a local artist and experience in agriculture education, Nastasi will plan and facilitate a diverse range of educational programming for youth, families, adults, and students. She will foster new creative ways of connecting with the community while providing resources specically tailored to local artists.

With a diverse background in documentary lm, woodworking, and artisanal baking, Palat is responsible for installing and de-installing exhibitions, handling art, and maintaining galleries and historical buildings, utilizing his passion for problem-solving and improvisation.

Saratoga Springs Resident Is e First Woman Elected President Of Horsemen’s Association

e oroughbred Horsemen’s Association (THA) held its annual meeting and election of o cers in South Florida March 19-20. Tina Marie Bond, president of the New York oroughbred Horsemen’s Association (NYTHA), was elected president of the national organization. She is the rst woman to head the THA since its inception in 1994.

“It’s an honor to be elected president of such an esteemed collective,” Bond said. “THA is at the forefront of collaborative decision-making and policy implementation on issues such as racehorse a ercare, equine safety and welfare, and protecting the integrity of our sport. I look forward to leading the organization as it addresses the challenges that horsemen and women face on local, regional, and national levels.”

Chris Block, president of ITHA, and David Richardson, executive director of MTHA, were elected as vice presidents. Michael Musto, executive director of NJTHA, and Bessie Gruwell, executive director of DTHA, will serve as treasurer and secretary, respectively.

Bond, who with her husband Jim own Song Hill oroughbreds LLC in Saratoga Springs, follows previous THA presidents Michael Martin, Rick Violette Jr., and Joe Appelbaum.

“We are proud of the leadership role that women play in the THA and our member organizations. Tina has worked with the THA for years and she will be a great resource for the industry,” said THA Chairman Alan Foreman.

Leadership

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and consisted of 16 individuals, from varying industries, with an interest in growing their leadership skills and making a difference in their communities. Through leadership training and classroom sessions, to business and industry tours, these individuals dedicated over 16 weeks to their professional growth. Through a very successful community project, this class raised over $23,000 for Family Service Association of Glens Falls, a nonprofit dedicated to providing services and support to families in crisis or in an emergency situation.

For the 2024-25 program, the ARCC has

Established in 1994, the THA is a highly regarded and in uential voice for its member organizations in Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, representing more than 20,000 owners and trainers.

partnered with Brian Rollo, founder of Brian Rollo Consulting, to offer a comprehensive program on leadership development. Rollo, a distinguished graduate of the Leadership Adirondack program, brings two decades of local business and leadership expertise from his tenure at Arrow Financial. Over the past five years, he has successfully helmed his own training, speaking, and coaching company, mentoring and shaping hundreds of leaders. He is also the accomplished author of the book “The 10 Habits of Influential Leaders”.

Applications will be accepted through May 24, 2024. Information on eligibility, application, and program details can be found on the ARCC website: www.adirondackchamber.org/leadership-adirondack

Tina Marie Bond, rst woman elected president of national oroughbred Horseman's Association.

Empire Pizza Opens New Location in Saratoga Springs, Plans Fi h in Ballston Spa

BY JILL NAGY

Lihan Bozkurt plans to open his h Empire Pizza restaurant next January in Ballston Spa. He recently purchased an I Love New York Pizza outlet and is in the process of renovating it to join his growing family of Empire Pizza outlets.

Empire Pizza restaurants are located in Corinth, Glens Falls, Hudson Falls, and the newly opened one on South Broadway in Saratoga Springs. Bozkurt’ opened his rst location in Glens Falls in 2009. Further expansion is planned for Cli on Park and Amsterdam. Bozkurt plans to develop the chain into a franchise operation. e rst franchises are slated for long-time employees; others will be sold to non-employees.

e Ballston Spa restaurant is planned to seat

between 20 and 25 customers. It will also o er take-out service and delivery. Customers will be able order online or in person, as they can at other Empire Pizza outlets.

In addition to pizza, Bozkurt said, the new facility will have a “big menu,” including calzones, strombolis, salads, club sandwiches, and other selections. No alcohol will be served. He anticipates adding about 15 new employees; he currently employs a sta 80 at the four existing restaurants.

Like the owners of many area pizza restaurants, Bozkurt is originally from Turkey. Although originally an Italian delicacy, pizza is readily available in Turkey, he said. e company’s website is saratogaempirepizza.com.

Consumer Sentiment In New York Improving In Spite Of High Prices In Some Segments

e New York State Index of Consumer Sentiment now stands at 76.9 up 2.8 points from the last measurement in the fourth quarter of 2023 and one point above the breakeven point at which optimism and pessimism are balanced according to the latest poll by the Siena College Research Institute (SCRI). Nationally, the overall index increased nearly 10 points this quarter. New York’s overall Index of Consumer Sentiment is 2.5 points below the national index of 79.4. New York’s current index increased 0.8 points to 72.4 and the future index increased 4.1 points to 79.8. Future con dence in New York is now 4.9 points above the breakeven point of balanced optimism and pessimism and 2.4 points higher than national future con dence.

“Consumer sentiment is gaining upward momentum. Nationally the index, up 9.7 points this quarter, stands 28 points higher than at this time last year. In New York, the index is up 2.8 points this quarter and 14.5 points higher than a year ago. e national numbers are above the breakeven point of balanced optimism and pessimism for the rst time in three years and while in New York the current score remains below breakeven, New Yorkers top the nation in future optimism. Still, high prices in the grocery stores continue to impact over three-quarters of residents. While pump price shock is the lowest we’ve seen in three years, a majority also see housing and utility costs seriously a ecting their nances”, according to Don Levy, SCRI’s Director.

In the rst quarter of 2024, buying plans were

Earth Day

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down for cars/trucks at 19.7% (from 22.9%).

Buying plans were up for consumer electronics at 47.9% (from 45.4%), for furniture at 29.8% (from 26.8%), for homes at 8.3% (from 6.4%) and up slightly for major home improvements at 22.7% (from 22.2%).

Fi y percent (down from 55% last quarter and the lowest since March 2021) of all New Yorkers say that current gasoline prices are having a very serious or somewhat serious impact on their nancial condition. Seventy-seven percent (up from 75% last quarter) of state residents indicate that the amount of money they spend on groceries is having either a very serious or somewhat serious impact on their nances.

Seven in 10 (67%) New Yorkers say that housing costs are having a very serious or somewhat serious impact on their nancial condition. Additionally, a majority (60%) of residents say that their utility costs are having at least a somewhat serious impact on their nances. Other monthly expenses including the cost of cell phones (29%) and entertainment services including internet, cable and streaming services (45%) are having a very or somewhat serious impact on New Yorkers’ nancial condition.

Fi een percent of all New Yorkers are somewhat or very seriously impacted by all six monthly expenses – food, gasoline, housing, utilities, home entertainment and cell phones. e consumer sentiment index among that group of New Yorkers is 65.8, 11.1 points below the statewide reading.

said Kathleen Na aly, director of the city’s library. “We wanted this year’s event to focus on sustainability in a holistic sense, and the Blue Zones Project is dedicated to empowering communities to embrace sustainable practices for healthier lifestyles – nothing can embody sustainability better than that.” Buettner’s presentation will be held at the Charles R. Wood eater at 207 Glen St. in Glens Falls from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. ere is no cost to attend, but registration is required for this event. ose interested may register through the Crandall Library’s events and program’s calendar.

Lihan Bozkurt’s rapidly expanding chain of Empire Pizza restaurants includes those in Glens Falls, Hudson Falls, Corinth, and Saratoga Springs.

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When Chairman Raymond F. O’ Conor -he’s been with the bank since its 1988 founding -- needs a break from such responsibilities he and hiking partner Joe Murphy head to the mountains for “An Above Average Day.”

at’s the title of a new documentary lm scheduled to debut at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24 on WMHT-PBS in conjunction with Earth Week.

“If you told me a few years ago that a pair of superb lmmakers, Katera and Aviral Kapoor of the Veda Film Company, would feature my buddy Joe and I in a documentary lm I wouldn’t have believed it,” said O’ Conor, a Wilton resident.

O’Conor, 69, and Murphy, 39, a SUNY Albany academic advisor, of Halfmoon, have hiked more than 4,000 miles and climbed more than 400 peaks since a chance meeting -- or was it fate? -- on an Adirondack Mountain Club group hike in 2009.

ey are Adirondack 46ers and Catskill 3500 Club members, having summited every mountain in both summer and winter, and have also achieved the prestigious feat of climbing all 115 mountains in the Northeast with an elevation of 4,000 feet or more.

Following a career as a U.S. Border Patrol agent and Department of Defense special agent, O’Conor made a dramatic change into the nancial services and banking industry. A er 25 years, he retired from Saratoga National Bank as its chief executive o cer, but still serves as chairman and is on the board of directors of Arrow Financial Corporation and its subsidiary banks, Glens Falls National and Saratoga National.

He’s also a Wilton town councilman and is chief executive o cer of the Saratoga County Capital Resource Corporation, a not-for-pro t community development organization.

O’Conor continues to deal with many types of challenges and di cult business decisions, some of which greatly in uence the lives of customers and the hundreds of employees he’s responsible for as well.

He’s discovered that arduous outdoor adventures are a great training ground for overcoming life’s obstacles, establishing priorities and maintaining a healthy balance in his personal and professional life.

“I’m fond of saying that there is nothing better for the body, mind and soul than being in the wilderness, sauntering along a stream, sitting at the base of a waterfall or enjoying the view from atop a mountain. It is all the more special to share the experience with a good friend,” O’Conor said.

“Joe and I have had many challenges along the way with unexpected foul weather, extreme cold and heat, rugged bushwhacking, severe blowdown and other obstacles,” he said. “During an Adirondack traverse of the Lower Great Range on a Friday the 13th in January, it crossed our minds that we might have to hunker down for the night as a blizzard with blinding snow and bitter cold struck. We always carry emergency equipment and supplies for such an occurrence.”

“With poor visibility and no service, we relied on an old-school map and compass to nd our bail-out trail and avoid an overnight

stay,” he said. “It was a lesson in always being prepared for whatever life or nature may throw at you.”

O’Conor and Murphy got acquainted during an Adirondack Mountain Club group hike of the Seward Range on May 23, 2009. At the time, Murphy was residence life manager at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs. In his current position, he does superb work with the SUNY Albany students assigned to him and does everything possible to help prepare them for success in life and future careers.

“We enjoyed the heck out of the 12 hours, 18 miles and thousands of feet of elevation gain we shared that day,” O’Conor said.

During the past 15 years they’ve also completed the New England Hundred Highest, the New Hampshire 52 With A View, Adirondack Fire Tower Challenge in summer and winter, the Lake George 12sters, Saranac 6, Lake Placid 9, Adirondack Blue Challenge (10 mountains), the ADK-9 Challenge, the Vermont 5 (4,000foot peaks), Vermont Fire Tower Challenge, Fulton Trifecta and several individual mountains.

Many of these were on dog-friendly trails with Murphy’s beautiful golden retriever, Moose.

“About four years ago I received a Facebook message from Katera, who had followed social media posts that Joe and I did about our adventures, asking if we would be the subject of a documentary lm,” O’Conor said. “Coincidentally, Katera is originally from Saratoga Springs and more than 30 years ago Katera and my daughter, Meghan, were members of the YMCA gymnastics team.

Once again, fate seems to have been at play with regard to O’Conor and Murphy’s hiking interests.

Filming for “An Above Average Day” was done in the Adirondacks and Vermont.

“Among the most remarkable things about the process are Avi and Katera’s technical and directorial skills,” O’Conor said. “Joe and I were also impressed with their ability to haul equipment on hikes and operate the drone camera. ey were absolutely delightful to work with.”

“No matter how challenging or exhausting one of our outings is, the adventure always ends with us declaring that it has been ‘an above average day’,” he said.

Ray O’Conor and Joe Murphy are subjects of a documentary on their hiking adventures. Courtesy of Veda Film Company

Tremendous Growth Of Eastern Heating And Cooling Is Due To A Well-Trained Workforce

BY CHRISTINE GRAF

Established in 1945, Albany-based Eastern Heating and Cooling provides HVAC services to commercial and industrial customers throughout Upstate New York, Western Massachusetts, and Southern Vermont. In 1997, the company joined with 11 other businesses to establish Comfort Systems USA, a publiclytraded company that has grown to include 170 locations across the United States.

“We are owned by Comfort Systems USA which is now a $5 billion company,” said Buddy Tricarick, president of Eastern Heating and Cooling. “We specialize in design, build, installation, maintenance service, and building automation,”

An Air Force veteran, Tricarick began his career at the company 15 years ago, rapidly climbing the company ladder.

“I started out in the construction department, working in the tool crib handing out tools,” he said. “I worked my way up to assistant construction manager and then construction manager/safety director.”

In addition to installing, replacing, and servicing existing HVAC systems, Eastern Heating and Cooling has an in-house engineering department that is able to assist with the design-build and plan-and-spec process. e company also has its own sheet metal shop where ductwork is fabricated and installed.

“We also have our controls division where we build automation that can do everything from operating the heating and cooling equipment to turning on the lights in a building. You name it, we can do it,” said Tricarick. Tricarick said that Eastern Heating and

Cooling has been able to maintain a consistent workforce despite the labor shortages that have plagued many HVAC companies.

“We’re very blessed, and I think the reason for our success is because we recruit from local colleges and BOCE programs. We have a very intensive training program, and when we hire people, they ride with senior technicians for a full year before they go out on their own.”

e company has a total of 130 employees spread across four divisions, many of whom have been employed there for a decade or more.

“Turnover is so expensive, and when we train people and onboard them, we want them to be here for the long haul,” said Tricarick. “When we hire these young kids, we want this to be their rst and last job. We’re blessed because we have guys who have been here for 10, 20, 30 years. We have someone who has been here for 40 years, and he’s still out in the eld working.”

According to Tricarick, Eastern Heating and Cooling has experienced tremendous growth over the past two years, with revenues increasing from $28 million in 2021 to just shy of $40 million in 2023.

“We pride ourselves on being one of the region’s most versatile, responsive, and technologically savvy companies. at’s always been our claim to fame, and the reason for our success is due to our talented and dedicated eld technicians who are out there working with their hands, o en in harsh weather conditions.”

For more information, visit www.easternheatingcooling.com

Arrow Shares Donations And Volunteer Hours

The Arrow Family of Companies has announced its 2023 giving, which resulted in total donations of $781,000, including $103,076 from employee contributions. Additionally, the Arrow team logged 11,193 volunteer hours, marking a signi cant 19 percent increase in both dollars donated and volunteer hours logged.

Over the past ve years, the Arrow Family of Companies has donated nearly $3 million to various causes. “Our mission is to strengthen nancial lives and make a positive impact in the communities we serve,” said Dave DeMarco, President and CEO of Arrow Financial Corporation. “We are committed to giving back, and we are incredibly proud of the dollars we donate, the impressive number of hours our team volunteers, and the impact we make on our communities by doing so.”

e Arrow Family of Companies’ total number of employee volunteers saw an increase of 21 percent, with 252 individuals actively participating in various community initiatives. rough their collective e orts, 561 nonpro ts were supported across the company’s eight-county footprint, spanning from Albany to Plattsburgh.

“Giving back is not only important to our business, but it is also important to our people,” said Kate Otis, Vice President, Community Engagement Manager. “We consider it both a responsibility and a privilege to enhance the quality of life in our communities through charitable giving and volunteerism.”

e 2023 charitable contributions bene ted a range of causes, including mental health, nancial empowerment, education, workforce support, basic needs, health and human services, safe and a ordable housing, business and farm support and environmental sustainability.

Unlock Opportunities

You might be asking yourself, why would I need to use a recruiter when looking for a new job? ere is no simple answer but using a dedicated recruiter can be advantageous for multiple reasons. First and foremost, recruiters o en have insider knowledge and access to opportunities you may not even be aware exist. is opens new opportunities and can increase your chances of nding the perfect t. Additionally, you have another representative in your corner. Recruiters will advocate for you, representing your quali cations and helping you stand out amongst a sea of applicants. Recruiters o er guidance in your job search journey. ey take the time to get to know you, your experiences, and your career goals. Recruiters can o er support throughout the experience from resume tips to interview coaching and even negotiating. ese can all lead to a competitive salary package, stronger bene ts, or other perks you may not have known about. In addition to all of this, opting to use a recruiter can save you time, they can help you maintain condentiality, and can help you build a long-term relationship. Ultimately, it is an investment in your future and career journey.

Buddy Tricarick (seated), president, and Travis Giardinelli, vice president of service, lead a team of experienced technicians at Eastern Heating and Cooling.

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Home / Real Estate

A Large Variety Of Designs To Make Food Preparation Easier Available At Zobel & Co.

BY CHRISTINE GRAF

For Arthur Zobel, owner of Zobel & Co. Kitchens in Glens Falls, designing kitchens is in his blood. His father was a kitchen designer, and Zobel starting working for him when he was a teenager. A er his father retired, Zobel spent 32 years working as a kitchen designer in the New York City area. In 2018, he opened his boutique design shop and showroom at 11 Broad Street in Glens Falls. “ e majority of our business is kitchen remodels, and another portion of that is new builds,” said Ginny Brandreth, marketing director and o ce manager at Zobel & Co. Kitchens. “For us, it tends to be the second home market. We work with a more upscale market because our kitchen designs and cabinetry are custom.”

In recent years, the company has seen an uptick in demand for outdoor kitchens. e demand has been so strong that the Zobel & Co. has dedicated part of its showroom to outdoor kitchens. Outdoor cabinetry di ers in that it is made from materials that withstand extreme temperatures, and doors and drawers are gasketed to keep out snow and rain.

“Before the pandemic, it was hard to sell an out-

door kitchen because people were only spending a couple weeks at their homes on the lake. But now that people are working remotely, they are up there for months,” said Brandreth. “ ey are wanting to make their outdoor living space an extension of their indoor space.”

Although the company’s focus is on kitchens, they will do bathroom remodels when they are part of a much larger project. ey also provide cabinetry for bedrooms, o ces, and other rooms in the home. Many of their larger cabinetry projects are for homes that are under construction.

When designing custom cabinetry, Brandreth said the focus is on accessibility.

“It’s about making your cabinets a lot easier to work with. We do a lot with in-cabinet lighting, roll out drawers, and swing out shelving. We love for people to come in and see the showroom to help them understand what the possibilities are as well as for us to understand what their vision is.”

During a visit to the showroom, clients meet with Zobel who educates them on how cabinets are made and how they function.

“He walks people through what he calls Ar-

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Vast Improvements In Heat Pump Technology Make em A Viable Option For Homeowners

BY CHRISTINE GRAF

For homeowners looking to save money on heating and cooling costs, heat pumps may be the answer. Heat pumps operate using electricity, extracting heat from outside, bringing it indoors to heat a home during winter. Conversely, the pumps move heat from indoors to outdoors during the summer.

Although heat pumps have been commercially available since the late 1940s, it wasn’t until the energy crisis of the 1970s that their popularity increased. As fuel prices skyrocketed, people looked for more cost-e ective ways to heat and cool their homes.

According to Craig MacDonald, owner of Suburban Services Group in Burnt Hills, heat pumps declined in popularity as fossil fuel heating equipment was mandated and engineered for much higher e ciency.

“We’ve been installing heat pumps for 30 years, and most people remember that the old heat pumps blew cool air and were o en ine cient compared to oil or propane heat. Over time, they fell out of favor as furnace technology improved. But because of improvements in heat pump technology, today’s heat pumps are capable of heating many homes in cold climates.”

In recent years, heat pumps have been reengineered, enabling them to recover signi cantly more heat from the outdoors. Unlike conventional heat pumps, these cold climate heat pumps are ideal for those living in Northern New York and New England.

“ e original heat pumps were designed to heat until it reached around freezing outdoors,” said MacDonald. “In the last ve years, they have made signi cant improvement in the technology. Cold climate heat pumps are now able to run when it is double digits below zero outside.”

Determining whether or not a cold climate heat pump could replace a traditional furnace in a person’s home requires an assessment by a heating and cooling industry professional.

“You need to have somebody who has been trained and schooled in the application and installation of heat pumps,” said MacDonald. “It depends on construction of the home, but a well-engineered heat pump system can replace the furnace or central heat in most homes.”

While installation costs for cold climate heat pumps are typically higher than for conventional furnaces, cold climate heat pumps provide high e ciency air conditioning in addition to heat. In many applications, they also reduce a homeowner’s

Mary Longley

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energy costs.

“When you consider your energy cost to heat your house, if you have oil or LP gas (propane), the heat pump very o en makes a lot of sense and costs less to run,” said MacDonald. “Today’s heat pumps will also cool your spaces – usually at a much lower electric cost than the typical central air conditioning units.”

e demand for cold climate heat pumps has risen in recent years, in part because of the United States’ e orts to reduce the use of fossil fuels. Tax incentives and rebates have also been signi cant drivers for increasing demand.

“ is makes them more a ordable than they were in the past. It also reduces the cost of energy to heat your house, which makes them very attractive,” said MacDonald. “Proper application of various models – whether they are whole house or ductless systems--will produce consistent and comfortable heat.”

Cold climate heat pumps are also ideal for spaces that are di cult to heat or cool.

“ at might include a three-season room you would love to use year round,” he said.

For more information, visit suburbanservicesgroup.com. A Mitsubishi Diamond Cold Climate Heat Pump contractor, Suburban Services also installs and services other types of heating and cooling systems.

Zobel & Co. Kitchens designed and built this outdoor kitchen, which are becoming very popular with homeowners seeking a relaxing dining experience.

Courtesy of Zobel & Co.

Improved heat pump technology has many homeowners using them to heat and cool homes. Courtesy of Suburban Services Group

Business Report

New York Legislators Standup To Squatters

BY: RYAN MCCALL, ESQ.

Property ownership in New York can be complicated, especially when you choose to rent or leave your property empty for extended periods of time throughout the year.

Specifically, issues of squatter’s rights have recently come into the limelight, as many horror stories have surfaced across the country of homeowners returning from a long vacation only to find a complete stranger comfortably sprawled out about their house.

While property title claims are rare, many squatters have been abusing legal loopholes in recent years in New York, costing property owners lots of money in legal fees and living rent-free during the lengthy court eviction process, often with no repercussions for the alleged squatter.

In an effort to protect property owners from the recent rise in squatter cases, the New York legislature has been pushing to introduce new laws to help crack down on squatting and give New York property owners another avenue to protect their assets and investments by making squatting illegal and offering more ways for property owners to evict squatters.

In the meantime, what should renters be aware of when it comes to squatting and squatter’s rights in New York State and City? What avenues would a homeowner have to defend their property? While there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to dealing with delinquent tenants, understanding the basics of squatting in New York and what timeframes and information are needed to evict unwanted tenants is the best way to protect your property.

What is a Squatter? What are Squatter’s Rights in New York?

A squatter can be simply defined as someone who moves into a property and lives there without the expressed consent of the owner. In New York State, once someone has been able to successfully illegally occupy a property for 30 days or more, they are now entitled to what is called “Squatter’s Rights.” Once an individual has been able to meet that threshold, you, as the property owner, need to commence a removal action against them and can no longer simply use the police to remove the problem squatter.

While at first blush, this might seem like trespassing—which is often incorrectly correlated with a squatter—the main difference is that a squatter settles into the property with the intention of taking ownership or claim of the property. What makes things more complicated is that while courts will rule trespassing illegal, matters regarding squatters are often considered civil issues that will rely on the courts to evict the squat-

ter, which often takes more time since they may have moved their belongings into the property to settle down.

A practical example of a squatter is when someone who has not rented a unit in their apartment building for a few months has a prospective tenant to show the property, only to find out that someone has been illegally occupying the property for an unknown period of time. That illegal occupant would be classified as a squatter under Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law. Under this law, the property owner would then need to serve the occupant with a 10-Day notice to vacate. After the 10 days have expired, the property owner will be able to commence a removal proceeding in their local town, village, or city court.

However, in New York, if a squatter lives on the property for at least 30 days, they are legally considered tenants and cannot be unilaterally evicted or evicted by the police, creating the need for a judicial eviction. If a landlord or property manager has a person removed wrongfully, they could file a civil suit against the landlord, leaving them on the hook to pay the victim back for multiple times the rent of the apartment, attorney fees, and court costs.

This all being said, dealing with a squatter is not as simple as one might think, and doing so requires careful thought and consideration to avoid these costly and unwanted legal battles.

New Legislation Takes Aim to Weaken Squatters Rights Claims

Two pieces of legislation are currently in committee that, if passed, could shift power back to the landlords in squatter rights cases: Assembly Bill A6894 and Senate Bill S8867.

Continued On Page 15

Empire State University O ers Flexible Programs

Empire State University has more militarya liated students than any other State University of New York institution. e university currently supports over 1,000 military-a liated students throughout their academic journeys, according to data from the most recently completed academic year.

Empire State University o ers exible programs to accommodate diverse needs, including students who may be active duty, guard, reserve, or veterans, along with their spouses and child dependents. e university recently launched the Veteran and Military Resource Center (VMRC), a central component in supporting militarya liated students, which dedicates sta , programming, and resources to students throughout their degree completion.

“Our mission ideally fits the needs of our military-affiliated students and we have been able to enhance our resources through the VMRC and throughout the university to implement programming that maximizes their military transfer credits, reduces cost barriers, and creates a culture of understanding of their unique needs,” Desiree Drindak, director of the VMRC, said.

“While institutions across the country are seeing declines in enrollment, Empire State University is seeing an increase as we are increasing access, which is of particular importance for our military-a liated students,” said Andrea Hennessy, Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing.

“We have expanded programming by opening the VMRC, increasing community engagement, launching a new Veteran and Military Student Club, collaborating with departments around the university to develop a Military and Veteran Opportunity Program (MVOP) and by hiring a Veteran Career Coordinator,” Drindak said. “We continually look for ways to enhance the student experience, remove barriers and build community among our students.”

You can learn more about opportunities for military-a liated students by visiting the Veteran and Military Resource Center website at sunyempire.edu.

Zobel & Co

Continued From Page 6

thur’s Kitchen School,” said Brandreth. “Whether they are buying from us or someone else, they need to understand how the whole project goes together.”

e design process begins a er Zobel goes to a client’s home to take measurements. For those who don’t have a preferred contractor for construction, Zobel & Co. has a list of trusted contractors that they have worked with over the years.

According to Brandreth, current kitchen design trends include the use of more natural wood.

“ ere’s always an evolving trend line of di erent things that are important to people. White kitchens will always be popular. We do a lot of white kitchens, but we are seeing a lot more blending of multiple colors. ere was awhile there where everything was painted, but we’re seeing a lot more wood tones in kitchens.”

For counter tops, sintered materials have become more popular. Fabricated under extreme heat and pressure, they are extremely durable, making them ideal for outdoor kitchens. Available in both thin and thick pro les, sintered counter tops are also an option for indoor kitchens.

“It’s a very contemporary look, and that plays well with a minimalist style, but quartz is by far the most popular for indoor kitchens,” said Brandreth. “ ere is an enormous selection of quartz with many, many vendors and so many colors. ere’s an option for everyone.”

When it comes to a kitchen remodeling project, Zobel & Co. advises prospective clients to expect the entire process to take almost one year. e design process and product selection typically takes one to two months, and the lead time on cabinetry is currently 13-16 weeks. Contractors are also very busy, o en needing to be booked many months ahead of time.

Although the project is lengthy, Brandreth said they try to make it as painless as possible.

“It’s a process that’s worth going through because in the end, you are going to transform your house. You are going to transform the way you live.”

For more information, visit www.Zobelandco. com

Ryan McCall, Esq., Senior Associate, Tully Rinckey PLLC, Albany. Courtesy of Tully Rinckey PLLC

Entrepreneurs

Business Report

Entrepreneurs Bene t From Formal Education

BY RICKY P. THIBODEAU DEPARTMENT CHAIRPERSON

Whether you are interested in launching your rst business venture or are an existing small business owner looking to grow your current business, the HVCC Entrepreneurship AAS program will give you the necessary skills to pursue that dream. Students will learn the fundamentals for increasing the likelihood of building sustainable success in their ventures.

Entrepreneurship is on the rise in the United States and now accounts for more than 20 percent of all jobs. e internet has greatly expanded the possibilities for small entrepreneurs, allowing businesses to establish niche audiences and clientele around the world. Since the Entrepreneurship program can help you establish any number of small business opportunities, your career path is completely in your hands.

Coursework will help students develop an entrepreneurial mindset and understand entrepreneurial nance, small business management, and marketing and legal issues for small business owners. Entrepreneurship coursework is o en sought by those who want to establish their own businesses.

However, another path students may take is intrapreneurship, which refers to becoming a driver of innovation within an existing company, applying the new and unique ideas and strategies learned through entrepreneurial education.  Intrapreneurship opportunities exist within a wide variety of companies and organizations, and the demand for innovative strategies and creative thought within existing companies is always in demand.

e program can be completed over four semesters. is option o ers more in-depth training for students who may not have substantial pre-existing entrepreneurial skills or experience. Students in the A.A.S. program

will conclude their study with the development of an actionable business plan, ready for nancing and implementation, as well as an internship to experience entrepreneurship in our own community. Some graduates may wish to transfer to four-year colleges and universities to further their education.

e college also o ers stackable microcredentials in entrepreneurship for those interested in shorter term study – Introduction, Intermediate and Advanced Entrepreneurship microcredentials. Microcredentials are stackable sets of credit-bearing courses that can help you gain speci c career skills. ey may be used as an entryway to a degree or certicate at the college or as a standalone veri ed credential that you can use to start or grow your career in a particular eld.

For further information log onto https:// www.hvcc.edu/programs/all/businessliberalarts/entrepreneurship-aas.html

Pop-Up Rally Encourages Young People To Work With eir Hands Building Hobby Race Cars

A boy navigates a radio-controlled car through a simulated racetrack provided by Pop-Up

BY CHRISTINE GRAF

Remodeling contractor Craig Volkommer, owner of Details and Improvements, is on a mission to teach basic construction skills to young people. About three years ago, he established Pop-Up Rally, a business dedicated to radio controlled cars.

“I started this business to teach kids how to use hand tools—how to bend things, tighten things, cut things—how to work with their hands. Working with models has really helped me improve my own skills that I use in my remodeling business,” said Volkommer.

A life-long radio controlled car enthusiast, he teaches kids to assemble, modify, and build hobby-grade radio controlled cars.

“It can be assembly projects or custom-built bodies, and it’s also repairs and maintenance,” he said. “ ey are hobby grade cars, so all the parts are interchangeable.”

is summer, Pop-Up Rally will be conducting a summer enrichment program at SUNY Adirondack. Designed for children ages 8 and up, participants will learn to build, repair, and race radio controlled cars.

A er the cars are built, they will be raced on an elaborate rally-style race track, one based o the renowned Dakar Rally. e track includes many obstacles including jumps, turns, and bridges. It can be con gured in a multitude of ways.

People can also book Pop-Up Rally for birthday parties or other events. In order to have room to set up the track, the venue must have an indoor or outdoor space that is approximately the size of a tennis court.

“Participants drive the car around the track competing for a better time,” he said. “Navigating around the track is fun. It’s physically demanding, and you chase your car all over the place. It’s interactive, and it’s working with your hands.”

As a remodeling contractor, Volkommer recognizes the importance of teaching children to work with their hands. e skilled labor shortage has made it virtually impossible for him to nd employees for his kitchen and bathroom remodeling business.

“I’m at the 20-year mark, and I have been working on my own for the past couple years because nding help has been really tough. I do complete nish work--working in museum-like houses-- and it takes a special kind of person. Not all carpenters are the same.”

Because he works alone, he is able to complete an average of 10 bathroom and two to three kitchens per year. A referral-based business, he works with several local designers and custom cabinetry companies.

For more information, visit Pop-Up Rally on Facebook and Details and Improvements on Facebook

"Locally Run Since 1981"

Rally, a business designed to get kids interested in working with their hands. Courtesy of Pop-Up Rally

Ricky P. ibodeau, Department Chairperson, HVCC Entrepreneurship AAS Program. Courtesy of HVCC

Entrepreneurship Programs

Continued From Page 1

“I thought it was very helpful to be in a class with other people who were in the same boat I was, trying to gure out what their business even was,” Austin said. “Having that peer group was super valuable on top of the fact that we had experts in insurance, legal matters, marketing and writing a business plan. ey also talk about the nitty-gritty, ups and downs of what it’s like to be in business.”

“ e whole thing start to nish was absolutely essential and I’ve been recommending it ever since,” she said.

Start-UP ADK is o ered twice per year, beginning in September and March, through the school’s Continuing Education Department.

“We start out in Week 1 by talking to people about their business ideas,” program Director Robert Bullock said. “Our job is not to say whether they have a good or bad idea. Our job is not to pass judgment, it’s to assist them in developing a business plan and giving them exposure to experts within the Warren and Washington counties area, so as they hopefully go ahead and bring their program to scale they know who they need on their team -- a good insurance person, a good accountant, a good marketing person and certainly a good attorney. at really is the basis of Start-Up. At the end, if they are successful in completing their business plan, that gives them the inside track for nancing from one of two local development corporations (Warren and Washington counties).”

Some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs such as Steve Jobs (Apple Inc.) and Bill Gates (Microso Corp.) started out as young, college-age inventors. Others launch a small business in retirement, growing out of a lifelong hobby as a way to provide supplemental income.

Warren and Saratoga counties have lost several large industrial employers in the past year such as Glens Falls Cement, Essity paper company and Quad Graphics, which printed some of the country’s most well-known magazines.

“A lot of people think the job of an economic developer is to go out and get another major industrial employer,” Bullock said. “But if you take a look at how the workforce has changed, it’s very possible that the next generation of workers aren’t going to come from major corporations, they’re going to be at smaller leaner, more nimble companies. is is a time and place where entrepreneurs can prosper.”

Warren County Economic Development Corporation President Jim Siplon said the surrounding area is ripe for small business opportunities.

“We saw a huge increase in the number of businesses forming in Warren County during COVID,” he said. “Before it was about 200 to 250 per year. During COVID it spiked up over 600 and has remained at or above that level ever since. It used to be that we would think of small business as a restaurant or service entity such as a beauty salon or dog care rm. Now we start to see much more imaginative and forward thinking things developing here.”

For example, Siplon said a high-end landscaping operation with sustainable, lake-friendly practices got started in response to the many large, seasonal homes owned by wealthy, part-time local residents.

“And there’s great pressure on housing stock so builders and subcontractors, trades people and surveying businesses, are starting their own shops,” he said.

In some cases, rather than just supporting someone’s business idea, the EDC tries to connect ambitious, hardworking entrepreneurs with potential opportunities they might not have considered. In other words: here’s a need, why not try to meet it?

Siplon cited three traits that de ne successful entrepreneurs.

“Number one is the willingness to go through the rigor of developing a real business plan,” he said. “Start-Up ADK helps people go through that. Second is a willingness to be nimble and adapt because nothing is ever quite what you thought it would be when starting out. And third, setbacks and delays aren’t failure. It’s part of the process. Your business may take longer to emerge than you planned on.”

e non-pro t Adirondack Economic Development Corporation is another valuable resource for small business owners just starting out or hoping to expand. Based in Saranac Lake, it serves 14 northern New York counties including Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties.

AEDC’s eight-week, 60-hour Entrepreneurial Program is held virtually once per year, starting in September.

First, participants are sent templates that tell how to write a business plan and they’re assigned a business counselor to review and/or assist with writing it. People are also given a nancial counselor to help with budgeting, establishingnancial projections and setting goals for important purchases.

“ e most important thing is a willingness to put in the e ort,” said Stephanie Donaldson, program manager. “You have to have a sense of commitment to the project, meet with counselors regularly to work on a business plan and have them review it and make changes. You also have to ll out loan applications and upload associated documents.”

Towns and hamlets throughout northern New York are home to all kinds of small business that have a major economic impact.

“It pretty much goes across the gambit of all industries from breweries, beauty salons and restaurants to day care and dance studios,” Donaldson said.

In Cli on Park, AEDC helped Antzy Pantz Preschool obtain funding for a recent expansion project. It also helped St. D’s Pizzeria in Elizabethtown to expand and assisted with the opening of Esther’s Co ee House in Massena.

Primarily funded by competitive state and federal grants, AEDC has three major legs of services. In addition to its Entrepreneurship Program, these are small business lending, and technical assistance including group training and one-on-one counseling and support.

“Our mission is to support small businesses in a comprehensive manor,” Executive Director Victoria Duley said. “ eir work makes up the majority of our economy in a lot of cases in the Adirondacks and beyond.”

For information about SCORE go to: www. score.org.

For information about Start-Up ADK go to: https://catalog.sunyacc.edu/content/smallbusiness-entrepreneurship-support.

For information about AEDC go to: www. aedconline.com.

Aneesa Waheed Honored With Small Business Person Of e Year Award For New York State

BY SUSAN ELISE CAMPBELL

Aneesa Waheed has come a long way since she and her husband began selling Moroccan-Indian fusion dishes at a farmer’s market in 2008. Now the owner of six Tara Kitchen restaurants, Waheed is the recipient of the New York Small Business Person of the Year Award for 2024. is year’s award winner runs a womanowned, minority-owned string of eateries that extend from Schenectady to India. ere are more than two million small businesses and potential candidates in New York, but the honor goes to the Capital Region entrepreneur.

“It’s great to be nominated and shocking to have won,” she said. “I feel honored and humbled.”

Waheed was nominated by Keri Pratico, who is currently senior business development o cer for Pursuit and who was approached by Waheed 15 years ago seeking a small business loan for her New York City restaurant.

“Back then, the Tara Kitchen empire of today felt like a distant dream,” said Pratico. “Anyone who knows Aneesa isn’t surprised that her tenacity and dedication have led her to this award.”

“I’m thrilled to see her recognized on the national stage,” Pratico said.

According to Waheed, her family, including her mother, sisters, and children, have been extremely supportive. So have the community of small businesses, resources that the state offers, and peers like Pratico who have followed Waheed’s entrepreneurial career in their roles at di erent government agencies.

“You survive in a family of locals,” she said. “We are all very dependent on people within a few miles of our business.”

“It was a re ective moment for me to think about the amount of people and energies and doors and walkways you have to pass though to get to this point,” Waheed said. “It’s a massive, massive e ort of thousands of people.”

She has had a SCORE mentor and over the years mentored others. Waheed launched an incubator during the COVID that she still maintains. She works closely with the New York

City and Upstate chapters of the Small Business Development Center, now part of Pursuit, and with Empire State Development, which has helped her extensively with her launch in India, she said.

She is part of the leadership board for the James Beard Foundation for 2023-2024 and has a mentee getting his restaurant up and running in Philadelphia and another is starting up her sideline cheesecake bakery. She is helping an individual negotiate a real estate deal, and there are others, she said.

“I don’t see this as mentoring someone,” said Waheed. “It’s part of business. People are constantly reaching out to me and I make myself knowingly and willingly very accessible to people.”

“It is a duty to educate and to give back this way,” she said. “My advice to anyone starting up is, if you are o ered, take the help.”

Waheed graduated high school in Schenectady, earned a college degree from Rus-

Continued On Page 14

Jason George Owner

Honoree Aneesa Waheed is the owner of six Tara Kitchen restaurants. Courtesy of Tara Kitchen

Insurance / Medical Services

Dr. Bridget Nettleton Is Honored rough e Establishment Of A Memorial Scholarship

Empire State University has announced a memorial scholarship in honor of Dr. Bridget Nettleton, the founding Dean of the School of Nursing. The scholarship honors Dr. Nettleton’s work in nursing, bridging the gap between health care and academia by supporting nursing education, building a pipeline for new nurses, and promoting nurse retention and advancement in the field.

Her career started in nursing as a Staff Nurse at St. Clare’s Hospital. She began her journey as a nurse educator and became the Assistant Director at Albany Medical Center and then a Director for the School of Nursing at Samaritan Hospital. From there, she held several positions at Excelsior University in the School of Nursing: Nurse Educator, Associate Dean, Interim Dean, and her greatest accomplishment, Dean. She then took a position at Empire State University as Dean for the School of Nursing and Allied Health.

In addition to this new opportunity for students, members of the university community will also be able to help make a

difference through SUNY Empire’s Day of Giving: Go Higher for Empire.

The scholarship is available to students in the School of Nursing and Allied Health who meet the Empire State University Foundation’s criteria. It may be automatically renewed for eligible recipients until completion of their degrees. Preference will be given to students who have completed an associate degree through the Joint Nursing Degree Program at Nassau Community College, or other programs that build the pipeline for new nurses, and students who enhance diversity within the nursing field. Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible and the submission of a FAFSA and nine-credit pre-requisite may be waived for nursing students. Those who would like to contribute to this scholarship should visit www.sunyempire. edu/gohigher and make a gift directed to the Dr. Bridget Nettleton Memorial Health Care Scholarship.. One hundred percent of gifts will be directed to support SUNY Empire students through the Dr. Bridget Nettleton Memorial Health Care Scholarship.

e Practitioners Of Occupational Medicine Ensure Employees’ Safety In e Workplace

BY JILL NAGY

Dr.

Michael Holland

heads a medical team headquartered at Saratoga Hospital that looks after the medical needs of companies and their employees. From modest beginnings as company doctors, occupational medicine, Dr. Holland’s specialty, has developed into a board-certified field of medicine.

Dr. Holland began his medical career as an emergency room physician but, during off hours, the emergency room also served as the hospital’s occupational health office. After 18 years in the emergency room, and with a young family, he no longer wanted to work nights and weekends. Therefore, he undertook another residency and, since 1994, has been an occupational medicine specialist.

His field aims to meet the health and safety needs of business customers. Services include pre-employment examinations to make sure a candidate can do the job safely. He checks for illicit drug use, but also for such things as the ability to use a respirator mask for a job that requires one. For bus drivers, Dr. Holland assures that they can meet federal and New York State requirements. Basically, Dr. Holland explained, he tries to assure that a prospective employee will not be a danger to himself or others.

When a work site is experiencing large numbers of injuries, an occupational health specialist can come to the workplace, look at the job and the people who perform it, try to determine the causes of the excess of injuries, and prescribe possible remedies.

Another aspect of occupational medicine is the required surveillance of workplaces for the presence of lead, asbestos, cadmium, or other dangerous elements. These inspections are required by the Occupational Health and Safety Act

(OSHA). OSHA and other employer safety laws passed during the Nixon administration gave the field of occupational health a large boost, Holland noted.

Occupational medicine differs from occupational therapy, a field with a similar name. The latter focuses on the needs of someone disabled by injury or illness and helps that individual adapt activities of daily living to overcome those disabilities. While occupational therapists may be part of an occupational medicine team, they are generally not physicians and have their own training and certification apparatus.

Until recently, Dr. Holland also headed the occupational medicine department of Glens Falls Hospital. That office is now closed. Glens Falls Hospital still maintains an employee health service of which Dr. Holland is medical director, but no longer serves clients outside the hospital, he explained.

Dr. Michael Holland heads an occupational medicine team at Saratoga Hospital.

Courtesy of Saratoga Hospital

Carrying Cyber Liability Insurance Becoming

Increasingly Important In e Internet Age

BY CHRISTINE GRAF

With cyberattacks against small businesses on the rise in recent years, it is more important than ever for companies to have cyber liability insurance policies.

According to Verizon’s 2021 Data Breach Investigations Report, 46 percent of all cyber breaches impact businesses with fewer than 1,000 employees. In 2020, there were over 700,000 attacks against small businesses, resulting in $2.8 billion in damages.

“We’ve been dealing with cyber liability insurance for about 10 years, but it hasn’t been until the last five years that it has become more mainstream. Every business should have a general liability policy as well as a cyber liability policy,” said Jeremy Deason, a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and account executive at Associates of Glens Falls Insurance, an independently-owned insurance agency that writes policies throughout the United States.

When cyber liability was in its infancy, policies were purchased primarily by companies that accepted credit cards or other digital forms of payment. These policies cover credit card breaches as well as the costs associated with providing data monitoring to customers.

Several years ago, hackers also began targeting employee data, breaching hospital, school, and government agency databases.

“These hackers were threatening the release of social security numbers and other personal identifiable information (PII),” said Deason. “And most recently, they are more focused on ransomware.”

A type of malicious software, ransomware is designed to block access to a computer system until a sum of money—a ransom-- is paid, often in Bitcoin. Companies without ransomware coverage are at risk of losing their data if they are unable to pay the ransom.

As an example, Deason said a small local contractor, one with no ransomware coverage, fell victim to an attack. Unable to pay the ransom and with no Cloud backups, he lost all of his accounting, invoicing, and other data.

“He basically had to start over from scratch,” Deason said.

Although all cyber insurance policies are different, the policies recommended by Associates of Glens Falls Insurance cover credit card breaches, employee and customer PII breaches, and ransomware. These policies also include business interruption insurance for cyberattacks.

“Most people have business interruption insurance on their property coverage for a property loss--a fire, a windstorm, or something like that. We do not sell policies that don’t have it,” said Deason. “But on a cyber policy, you want to make sure you have that coverage as well.”

Deason estimates that only about 50 percent of companies have cyber liability insurance, saying that those who do are often under insured.

“Some people may have $100,000 in cyber liability coverage, and that’s nothing. The policies we sell have at least $1 million,” he said.

Clients that experience a cyberattack are instructed to immediately report the attack to their cyber insurance carrier.

“They take it and run with it because they

know what to do,” said Deason. “They do all of the notifications, and they make sure you are following all of the state, local, and national guidelines, which is huge. That would be such an onerous task for someone to do on their own. All of that is covered by the policy.”

Cyber liability policies vary in cost but are significantly less expensive for companies that utilize multi-factor authentication (MFA). MFA prevents unauthorized access to data and applications by requiring a second method of identity verification. With MFA, even if one credential becomes compromised, unauthorized users will be unable to meet the second authentication requirement and will not be able to access the network or database.

In addition to cyber liability insurance, Deason recommends companies carry employment practices liability (EPL) insurance. EPL provides coverage to employers against claims made by employees alleging discrimination, wrongful termination, or harassment.

“What a lot of people don’t realize is that if your employee sues you, there is no coverage in a regular general liability policy. It’s not just first-party harassment with a boss harassing an employee, it could be employee to employee, employee to customer, customer to employee, vendor to employee.”

Deason also said that any organization or non-profit that has a board of directors or board of trustees should have insurance coverage for directors and officers.

“You want to make sure that people who are volunteering their time to serve on these boards are not exposing themselves to liability. If I’m serving on a board, the first question I ask is, ‘Do you have directors and officers coverage?’”

With the cost of insurance rising, Deason understands that business owners are reluctant to add or increase their coverage.

“It’s our job to think about worst case scenarios,” he said. “It’s hard to get people to understand, and unfortunately, sometimes it takes a loss. The question I ask is, ‘Can you put your head down at night and feel comfortable knowing that you have the right coverage in place?’ At the end of the day, that extra cost is totally worth it.”

For more information, visit www.aogf.

e Recently Launched Impact Club Seeking Volunteers For Special Olympics New York

Special Olympics New York is launching a new volunteer club as charity organizations across the country celebrate National Volunteer Month this April. Members of the all-new Impact Club will help drive the inclusion of people with disabilities in communities across the state by performing administrative tasks via phone and email on behalf of Special Olympics New York. Volunteers will not be asked to solicit cash donations.

Volunteers interested in joining the Impact Club are asked to contact impact@nyso.org for more information.

“Special Olympics New York is an incredible organization that allows people with disabilities to discover the champion within – it’s a critical service that would not be possible without the thousands of New Yorkers who volunteer to support our athletes,” said Special Olympics New York President & CEO Stacey Hengsterman. “We are humbled and extremely grateful for the invaluable contributions of our coaches and event volunteers. We look forward to celebrating these individuals throughout Volunteer Month and to welcoming new ambassadors of inclusion who join the Impact Club.”

“I can’t wait to work with our Impact Club volunteers to support my fellow athletes and bring the magic of Special Olympics to even more families across New York,” said Capital Region Athlete & Special Olympics NY Awareness Coordinator Jude Killar. “On behalf of all the athletes, thank you to the current volunteers who help us

out all year. You are our champions!”

Impact Club volunteers will be eligible for Community Service credit hours. Tasks will be assigned monthly, with an anticipated time commitment of at least two hours per week.

e ideal Impact Club volunteer is organized, friendly, patient and professional.

Volunteers will be trained virtually by Special Olympics New York sta and provided with the resources needed to complete tasks such as: contacting coaches for updated information, requesting auction items from area businesses, recruiting volunteers for sports competitions and events, and surveying stakeholders.

Special Olympics New York is the largest state chapter in the country, serving more than 42,000 athletes across New York with year-round sports training, athletic competition, and health screenings. e organization also partners with more than 300 schools statewide to o er Unied Sports, where students with and without disabilities compete as teammates. All Special Olympics New York programs are o ered at no cost to athletes, their families or caregivers. e organization has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.com and a fourstar rating from Charity Navigator, making it one of the most trusted charities in the business nationally. For additional information about Special Olympics New York, to learn more about getting involved, or to make a donation, visit www.specialolympicsNY.org.

Jeremy Deason, Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter at Associates of Glens Falls Insurance. Courtesy of Associates of Glens Falls

Business Planning Is Not Just For January

BY MICHAEL CRUZ

Every January we work on resolutions. Business planning o en tops the list of things we want to do better. ere are numerous articles about the coming year and predictions from experts. If you did a solid planning e ort – great! If not, do not wait for the next new year. is takes some work and should be done outside of your o ce in a planned event. e best planning events also bring in facilitators. A facilitator is someone outside your company who can discussions focused and move you through a solid process. Many of these discussions can become contentious. And, a good facilitator will make sure that everyone contributes and get you more buy-in from your leadership team.

A solid key to good planning is working on a SWOT with your leadership team. SWOT analysis is a framework for identifying and analyzing an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and reats. e primary goal of SWOT analysis is to increase awareness of the factors that go establishing a business strategy.

Strengths are those things that your company is good at. O en, they are things that make you stand out from your competitors. Weaknesses are those things that we should get better at. Opportunities are those things answered by the question ‘What if?’ For example what if we were able to add a new product o ering? Finally, reats are those things that are outside our control. For reats we want (later) to have mitigation strategies. Examples include macro economic questions of the economy slowing down, government regulations and the like.

Working with your team, these key points are an important base for good planning. Your strengths are things you want your company to stay focused on and build upon. Your weaknesses become the solid factors that build out good action plans. Opportunities help provide a window to seeing things we can do to enhance the company. And, again, threats need to are things we need to be aware of and react to if they come to pass.

Another key to good planning is to identify your company’s culture. Every organization has a culture. For this, we are not talking about mission statements. Nor is it the aspirational statements like “We treat all employees with dignity.” It is best understood by the things employees expect to see when they get to work each morning. If part of your culture is to punish mistakes made by employees, then you will have a hard time encouraging risk taking. is plays into your strengths,

but o en also your weaknesses. ere are tools for measuring this. However that is a topic unto itself.

With a solid SWOT you next examine your present status. en set some goals for the coming year. Are these goals speci c enough and measurable enough? ere must be buy-in from the entire leadership team. Managers will make or break your success. Each plank of your plan also needs to have a champion. e champion is the person who is held to task for the success of watch out your plan’s planks.

Each plank must also address whether you have the resources internally to achieve your goals. If not, can you a ord to hire to help you ensure success. Or should you look outside the company for some help. All plans need to focus on growth. Without growth, our businesses will shrink and eventually die.

Completed plans need to be shared with the entire company. Gather feedback from your workforce and adjust your plan if they see big obstacles to achieving your plan. Quarterly reviews are also critical. Plans fail because we don’t measure our progress. If there are things blocking progress, address them promptly. Waiting another year to measure success is not enough.

Finally, make plans to celebrate successes. Do so with the entire company. People want to be part of winning teams. Help them see growth and they will do more to sustain that growth. With that you will be celebrating a banner year in your business.

Michael Cruz, president of Lighthouse Advisors LLC in Queensbury.

Artisan Trails In Washington County To Host Weekend Of Celebration Of Local Talent

Artists and artisans are invited to participate in a weekend of celebration of the talent in Washington County from July 13-14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. e sixth annual Artisan Trails in Washington County is a weekend of open studios and mini vendor fairs.

Artists and artisans are invited to apply by May 15 online at www.artisan-trails.org.

New this year, “hubs,” such as breweries, galleries, shops, etc. will host multiple artisans and artists at their location on the open studios tour, along with live demonstrations, plein aire painting and workshops. For more information on becoming a Hub location the application is available on the website.

is year, the event is organized by Karen and Steve Mattison with Kris Gregson Moss, who co-founded the Artisan Trails in Washington County in 2018 with Susan Whiting.

Artisan Trails in Washington County is a nonpro t organization dedicated to support-

ing the rich talent pool of Washington County in showcasing the beauty, history, and diverse artisanal skill sets which exist within our borders.

“I’ve lived in Washington County for most of my life and I still nd new and interesting things to do here. Our family’s involvement in this group has enhanced this through people we have met and places we have visited on the trail,” said Mattison, spokesperson for the event.

Visitors will be guided to each site via maps both online and paper, plus roadside signs. e tour typically includes studios of painters, textile artists, metal sculpturists, stained glass artists, photographers, potters, furniture makers, beekeepers, blacksmiths, farms, cider houses, breweries and more. e event itself is free and open to the public.

More information is available at www. artisan-trails.org.

Latham-Based Law Firm Opens An

Lake George To Serve North Country Clients

LaMarche Safranko Law PLLC has announced that Gregory J. Teresi, Esq., has joined their legal team as an of-counsel attorney, e ective last month. An experienced trial attorney, Teresi will be handling personal injury and criminal defense matters at LaMarche Safranko Law in their new Lake George o ce.

A er law school, Teresi served as a municipal attorney handling legal matters including Contractual Disputes, Personal Injury cases, Real Estate closings and Zoning/Planning applications for the City of Albany, City of Cohoes, Village of Ravena and Town of Coeymans. Prior to going into private practice in 2016, he worked for the Albany County Alternate Public Defender’s O ce as a trial attorney defending misdemeanors and felony cases for impoverished individuals.

Having earned his bachelor’s degree from Le Moyne College in Syracuse and his Juris Doctorate from Albany Law School, he was admitted to the practice of law before all state and local courts of New York and before the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York in 2005. He was admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in 2023.

He is a member of the New York State Bar Association, the Warren County Bar Association and serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Addiction Care Center of Albany, the Board of Directors for the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the Board of Directors of the Warren County Bar Foundation.

LaMarche Safranko Law PLLC opened its newest location at 72 County Route 59 in Lake George on March 18. Headquartered in Latham, with o ces in Albany, Plattsburgh, and now in Lake George, LaMarche Safranko Law can better serve the families and businesses in the north country providing big rm results with small rm attention.

LaMarche Safranko Law PLLC are Lawyers 4 the Injured and Lawyers 4 the Accused. ey can be reached 24/7 at (518) 982-0770 or toll free at 844-RECOVER or 844-ACCUSED or by email at info@LSLawNY.com.

Some of the cra items made by Kris Gregson Moss, co-founder of Artisan Trails in Washington County, will be on display during the celebration of talent.

Courtesy of Kris Gregson Moss

Gregory J. Teresi, Esq., has joined LaMarche Safranko

Waheed Honored

Continued From Page 9

sell Sage, and had a high tech career in New York City until 2009.

“My husband had recently moved from Morocco and I was wanting to get out of corporate America,” she said. “We felt it was a good time to try our hand at business.”

With the American couple’s Indian and Moroccan backgrounds, their food blended the ingredients of all three cultures, Waheed said. e food was unique and set Tara Kitchen apart, and they were getting excellent feedback from their customers.

Not only are the warm spices and avors of their dishes distinctive, but also very good for people with allergies, she said.

“Our customers like that we serve dairy free and soy free dishes,” she said. “We use light, fresh ingredients like lentils and spices cooked together.”

It didn’t take long to open a restaurant in

Waheed’s home town of Schenectady. Today there is one Tara Kitchen in New York City, three upstate, one in Wildwood, NJ, and Waheed is currently traveling back and forth to India launching the sixth.

“India has one of the fastest growing and most robust economies, and 30 percent is in the food and beverage sector,” she said. “We are trying to see if we have a shot at building a brand there.”

e U.S. Small Business Administration is the “only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government [and which] empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, or expand their businesses,” according to www. sba.gov.

e Waheeds will be present at the National Small Business Week award ceremonies held April 28th and 29th at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Washington, D.C., where SBA administrator Isabel Guzman will announce the top honor of National Small Business Person of the Year. Learn more at www.tarakitchen.com.

Squatters

Continued From Page 7

Senate Bill S8867, introduced by Sen. Mario Mattera, would seek to add an “expedient method whereby a property owner, by the mere submission of a sworn complaint to a police officer attesting to certain facts, can immediately cause a squatter or other unauthorized person to be evicted from residential real property by a police officer without court intervention.”

Assembly Bill A6894, sponsored by New York State Rep. Jake Blumencranz, seeks to amend the definition of a tenant to exclude squatters, thereby making squatting a criminal offense—reclassifying it as criminal trespassing in the third degree. Additionally, it seeks to extend the time period for tenancy rights to take effect from 30 days

to 45 days of possession.

While both bills are still in committee, these actions indicate that New York might be looking to crack down on squatters looking to exploit these legal loopholes and live rent-free during the lengthy eviction court processes.

Key Takeaways

Ultimately, protecting your property against squatters and trespassers comes down to attentiveness and diligence. While situations will rarely escalate to someone claiming the title of the property, nobody wants someone living on their property without paying rent or attaining proper approval.

To start the eviction process or to learn more about how to remove squatters from properties in New York, consider speaking with proper legal counsel familiar with the nuances of New York’s eviction laws today.

Glens Falls Area Restaurants

Glens Falls and surrounding towns have a variety of casual dining opportunities for every taste, budget and occasion. Find a Glens Falls NY restaurant from the list below.

Park & Elm

Glens Falls, NY

Park & Elm is a multi-concept eatery with a gourmet market, delicatessen, and ne dining restaurant located in walkable downtown Glens Falls. Enjoy an elevated dining experience, grab a breakfast or lunch to go, or shop the market for local goods.

Fenimore’s Pub

Glens Falls, NY

Reservations recommended

Kiss: French Drink: Russian Eat: American Wednesday thru Saturday 4:30 - 9pm

Fenimore’s Pub in the heart of downtown Glens Falls is open daily for lunch and dinner.

Park 26

Glens Falls, NY

Park 26 is an innovative restaurant that o ers locally-inspired, modern American cuisine that’s perfect for a date night, business dinner or family celebration. Located inside e Queensbury Hotel in Glens Falls.

O’Toole’s Restaurant Pub

Queensbury, NY

Morgan & Co. Restaurant

Glens Falls, NY

Experience ne American dining in downtown Glens Falls at Morgan & Co. Every dish o ers a unique and innovative twist on original recipes. Morgan & Co. also caters events from weddings to reunions and more!

e Grateful Den

Glens Falls, NY

e Grateful Den o ers a di erent take on traditional pub grub, as well as classic favorites like chicken wings, burgers, and salads. eir menu also includes specialty appetizers, sandwiches, and plenty of cra beer options on tap.

e Log Jam

Lake George, NY

Whether you’re looking for a relaxed meal or a night of fun and excitement, you’ll want to come to O’Toole’s. We’ve got the best food, drinks and entertainment in the area! Come on in and experience dining at it’s best. We look forward to seeing you.

Courtesy of GlensFalls.com 730

An authentic log cabin serving lunch and dinner daily. Featuring signature sandwiches at lunch and succulent prime rib, juicy hand cut steaks, live lobsters, fresh seafood, chicken,and more at dinner. All entrees include our bountiful salad bar.

Mint

Glens Falls, NY

Jack’s American Bistro

Queensbury, NY

Jack’s American Bistro was the culmination of a lifetime spent in the restaurant business. A er several months of planning in June 2004 the doors were open to a new dining experience in the Glens Falls/Queensbury area.

Enjoy seasonally fresh fare and exquisite cocktails in a relaxed atmosphere at Mint in Glens Falls. e upscale yet casual restaurant works with around 50 local farms and businesses to be able to use fresh, thoughtfully raised, in-season ingredients.

Stewart’s Shops Continues Its Expansion With New Stores And Popular Options

BY CHRISTINE GRAF

Almost 80 years ago, the Dake brothers opened their first Stewart’s ice cream shop in Ballston Spa. Today, Stewart’s Shops has 357 stores and more than 5,000 employees on the payroll.

Each year, the company spends approximately $50 million to purchase property, build new stores, and renovate existing stores.

“For the last five to ten years, that has been our model,” said Robin Cooper, public relations manager for Stewart’s Shops. “We identify which stores don’t have the food-to-go option—the pizza, the sandwiches, the soups. That’s been our growth area, and that’s what customers seem to be wanting more of. Some of our older stores may have been renovated but may not have been expanded to the level where we can add some of those things.”

When expansion isn’t possible, the company sometimes purchases nearby property, building a new store and shuttering the old one. That was recently the case for the small shop located at the corner of Watervliet-Shaker and Old Loudon Roads in Latham. Expansion of the store, one built in 1981, was not possible, and there was no adjoining property available for sale.

“There wasn’t property to be had to expand at that site,” said Cooper, noting that a new shop, one that is expected to open before the end of the year, is being built 1.5 miles away at 956 Loudon Road.

The company plans to sell the property on the corner of Watervliet-Shaker and Old Loudon Road, and several buyers have expressed interest in purchasing it.

In recent years, Stewart’s has sold several of their old locations after building new stores in the vicinity. The one at 16 Round Lake Road in Malta was purchased by Kimberly Salerno, who opened a law office in a former Stewart’s location. The building sat empty for several years after a new store was built on property directly across the street. Before opening her office in late 2022, Salerno completely renovated the building, both inside and out. Just a few miles north at 2505 Route 9 in Ballston Spa, another former Stewart’s Shop was transformed into La Lume Hair Salon. Owner Shannon Ramirez spent more than $1 million to purchase and renovate the building.

Stewart’s also sold property several years ago on Northline Road in Ballston Spa after opening a new store nearby. A property located at 542 Central Avenue in Albany was recently sold after that shop was closed at the end of last year.

“We don’t sell a lot of our real estate, and it’s a case by case situation,” said Cooper. “When we do sell, there might be a deed restriction that the property can’t be used as a convenience store. That depends on the property’s location relative to a new store.”

According to Cooper, Stewart’s Shops does

plan to sell a large amount of commerciallyzoned land that is located behind its Route 9 headquarters in Ballston Spa.

“We have 70 acres, and we are looking for opportunities to develop that commercially. The first deal we made was with Ed Mitzen’s Business for Good. We sold a small piece to them, and they plan to use it for some sort of pet care business.

With 14 projects on the calendar, 2024 will be another busy year for Stewart’s Shops. Five store renovations and nine store replacements are in the works. Locally, an expansion is planned for the shop located on South Broadway in Saratoga Springs, and a replacement is planned for the Sherman Avenue shop in Glens Falls.

“The Sherman Avenue shop is a smaller shop, and we’re working on acquiring property next door. That will be a knock down and rebuild,” said Cooper.

The knock down and rebuild at 402 Lake Avenue in Saratoga Springs is nearly complete. The old store was replaced with a 4,000-square-foot store with two self-serve gasoline canopies.

“It’s a great location, but the shop wasn’t the right size and the right fit ,” said Cooper. “The new shop is a lot bigger. We thought we were going to finish it last year, but we were held up waiting on a traffic pole signal. We just got it a few weeks ago, so we will be wrapping up that project.”

As Stewart’s Shops continues to grow, Cooper said the company is interested in expanding in the Hudson Valley region, the Adirondacks, and Onondaga County.

Stewart’s established a strong presence into Central New York in 2021 after purchasing the Blueox Neighborhood Market convenience store chain, rebranding five of the stores as Stewart’s Shops and one as Stewart’s Express. That same year, Stewart’s Shops acquired the assets of Red-Kap, a wholesale petroleum distributor with eight convenience stores and four car washes. Two of those stores were converted to traditional Stewart’s Shops, the remainder branded as Stewart’s Express, small shops with limited product offerings. But it was Red-Kap’s fuel distribution to more than 75 dealers that was at the heart of the deal.

“A lot of people don’t realize that we’re also a gas wholesaler,” said Cooper. “We have a network of about 100 dealers.”

Because the company continues to expand, demand for the popular food-to-go options has increased dramatically. As a result, Stewart’s Shops plans to double the size of its commercial kitchen, located at its manufacturing plant in Greenfield. Construction on that project is slated to begin later this year.

“That’s going to be a $3 million-plus investment,” said Cooper. “That’s where we make all of our chili, meatballs, soups, and sandwiches. Last year, we made over 250 tons of chili.”

Arno Moving & Storage

Continued From Page 1

cially sound and stable for not only his family, but also the families of those who worked for him,” Arno said.

trucking eet to handle high-value freight, Arno said.

people there a possible.” e Arno s plan to open their doors for “tours, snacks, and fun things,” said Arno . “We will also host another event speci c to real estate agents in the fall.” ere will be a similar spring celebratory event in Poughkeepsie, which became home to Arno Moving in 1960 and where the company continues to maintain a strong presence, Arno said.

“My great-great grandfather and my great grandfather started as dairy farmers in Lakeville, Connecticut,” Arno said. “ ey didn’t like farming much, but they had a truck and started moving the furniture or items purchased on the travels of wealthy families living there.” “ eir clients trusted them to move items of great value, whether monetarily or sentimen-

tally,” he said. “ ey got a knack for taking good care of the things they moved or stored.” is reputation followed the family business into Poughkeepsie when Richard moved his growing family there. Arno said IBM was taking o then, and there was an in ux of people needing residential moving services.

At that time, all of the Arno ’s neighbors were IBM families who were telling Richard and Phyllis that there would be demand for setting up o ces and bringing in equipment for manufacturing IBM’s mainframe computers. And employees were coming from all around the world to populate the factories, Arno said.

“From that moment my grandfather realized what a bene t it would be to diversify the company to provide other services in addition to residential moving, making it more nan-

One truck became two, and two employees became 20 as the family business owners learned how to move equipment and o ce furniture safely while expanding their client base.

“IBM was our largest customer for many years and while that business has shrunk down, that experience was a jumping o point for the company to determine what we could do with the resources we had,” he said.

It was also their entreé into serving the technology industry. Continuing to look for ways to grow the business more into the commercial market, Arno Moving made the move to expand into another branch in Albany in the early 1980s.

e Arno s opened a small warehouse o Broadway and later purchased the RCA building in Albany, when the iconic “Nipper became the company’s mascot for a time,” Arno said.

“He is still on top of that building,” Arno said. “But the building has four oors and one freight elevator and it was not e cient” for the storing and warehousing services that had been ourishing.

But Malta was fast becoming another of the state’s technology manufacturing centers by the early 2000s and a long search for expansion space lead the Arno s to 10 Stonebreak Road and the former Racemark building in 2016.

“We sold all our Albany properties and signi cantly renovated the original building on Stonebreak Road, turning 100,000 square feet into 200,000,” Arno said. “We added to our state-of-the-art logistics campus when we built another 120,000 square feet on the premises a year ago”

Logistics is the process of getting goods from one location to another, and Arno sta helps their customers determine “how to make their supply chain resilient and robust,” he said.

Customers may require transportation, long-term storage, or just-in-time warehousing, where Arno holds inventory until the customer’s need is determined and a delivery is arranged. ere is both sta and a specialty

“ is area of the company focuses on customers with sensitive or very expensive equipment,” he said. “An example is one shipment worth $12 million shipped to support a client’s manufacturing process at their facility.”

Looking back on a 100-year history, Arno said the company has come from two employees with one truck to more than 200 employees and 200 trucks. e family attributes their growth to “a strong group of customers across diversi ed business lines,” he said.

Arno said the family feels “fortunate” to get to this milestone through the employment pool in Malta and the “really great group of employees” that the Arno s call family.

“We try to embody the multi-generational family business aspect of the company, and that means all of our employees are part of our family, all of our customers are part of our family, and the community at large is part of our family,” Arno said.

“Not every day is the greatest day, but in our company culture we try to make every day better than yesterday,” he said. “If there’s an issue and we can make something better for an employee or a customer, that becomes our focus and mission for that day.”

Arno said that family also feels fortunate to have developed good relationships with the Town of Malta.

“It’s not always easy to do large commercial development projects but Malta has been very welcoming to us,” he said. “ is makes the Arno family more con dent about continuing to invest in this property.”

at support is focused not only on Arno Moving & Storage but also across Saratoga County, Arno said.

“We know the growth in the entire county isn’t going to stop,” he said. “We want to be a part of it and be a supporting player here.”

“We feel very proud and extremely optimistic for the short- and long-term where our business is going,” Arno said. “We think this 100th year is going to be a milestone on the way to a 200- or 500-year-old company.”

Visit www.arno .com for more information.

Chuck Ciaccia 30 years Jude Gosh 35 years Dave Weiss 24 years Spencer Agan

Dennis

In business since 1924, Arno Moving & Storage continues to deliver the same quality service that has been the hallmark of the company.

Courtesy of Arno Moving & Storage