Glens Falls Business Journal - June 2021

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VOL. 33 NO. 04

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JUNE 2021

The Glen At Hiland Meadow To Add Aerial Treetop Adventure Park Is One Of The Wellness Center, Pool and Memory Care Unit Attractions At West Mountain This Summer

There are approximately 110 residents living in The Glen at Hiland Meadow, which has 74 independent living apartments and 18 independent living two-bedroom cottages.

BY CHRISTINE GRAF The Glen at Hiland Meadow has received approval for a $11.9 million expansion of its Queensbury senior living facility.

The project also includes the construction of a 4,700 square-foot wellness center with a pool and a $8.8 million 30-unit memory care facility. It is a joint venture between The Conkling Center and The Eddy.

There are approximately 110 residents living in The Glen, which has 74 independent living apartments and 18 independent living twobedroom cottages. It is full-service retirement community with a dining room, grill room, lounge, library, and multi-purpose room. Transportation, maintenance, and housekeeping are provided to residents and an on-site social worker is available to connect them with outside services.

Courtesy The Glen at Hiland Meadow

“We typically do have a waiting list to get in, and we’ve been planning this expansion for some time.

This was part of the original plan of development to bring us to 120 apartments and cottages,” said Andrea Hebert, executive director at the Glen and vice president of Eddy Senior Living. “We will be adding 28 apartments on the north side of the building with a view of West Mountain. We are also adding 30 units of memory care which will be a separate building.”

Construction of the independent living apartments is expected to begin in the coming weeks. The building permit for the memory care facility will most likely be issued within the next several weeks. Sano-Rubin Construction Services of Albany is the developer for the project. Richard E. Jones Associates of Queensbury is the architect Continued On Page 11

West Mountain opened an array of outdoor activities on June 5, including the new Aerial Treetop Adventure Park.

Adventure Center highlights at the ski center include biking, hiking, aerial treetop tours, mountaintop picnics, scenic chairlift rides, and more.

West Mountain has more than 20 crosscountry and downhill mountain biking and hiking trails, as well as multiple mountaintop locations to enjoy our popular picnic packages.

The Aerial Treetop Adventure Park, located at the top of West Mountain, offers a high ropes adventure experience that includes a scenic chairlift ride.

“We are looking forward to welcoming guests back to West Mountain and celebrating the beginning of summer,” said Sara Montgomery, general manager of West Mountain. “After an incredible winter season, we look forward to keeping the momentum going with our outdoor Adventure Center activities, exercise, camps and family fun. West Mountain will continue to follow its ‘best clean environment’ practices this summer to ensure everyone stays healthy.”

Tickets are available to buy online at www.

WestMountain.com. Certain activities such as Aerial Treetop Adventure and the Mountaintop Picnic Package require purchasing online up to 24 hours in advance of a visit.

West Mountain is located at 59 West Mountain Road, just three miles off Exit 18 of the Northway in Queensbury For the summer season, West Mountain is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends in June and seven days a week beginning July 4 through Labor Day weekend through Oct. 17.

The all-new five-acre Aerial Treetop Adventure Park offers six high ropes courses for all different ability levels, beginners to advanced. After taking the chairlift to the park, adventurers are met by the West Mountain climbing crew who outfit guests with helmets and harnesses before participating in a safety

A customer enjoys the zipline experience at West Mountain.

Courtesy West Mountain

clinic. Adventurers will then climb up to a treetop platform to begin their journey through rope spider webs, zip lines, log waves and more. After climbing, adventurers return to the base area by chairlift.

Guests begin their tour when they load the chairlift (launch time) every half hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Customers should arrive 15 minutes before launch time. Aerial treetop tickets include two hours in the park and the chairlift ride to the park and back to the lodge (approximately three hours). Picnic lunches, packaged in an eco-friendly box and placed in a picnic basket, are prepared daily by staff.

The facility this year has added a wine (or beer) and charcuterie picnic package for adults 21 and older. Picnics can be picked up at the ticket window between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

West Mountain can be reached at 518-6363699.

Visit www.westmountain.com for a full list of upcoming events.

Arrow Financial Will Renovate, In Stages, Lake George Tourism Officials Anticipate A Its Headquarters In Downtown Glens Falls Strong Year As Pandemic Rules Are Relaxed Arrow Financial Corp., parent company of Glens Falls National Bank and Saratoga National Bank, has plans for a major renovation of its longtime headquarters at 250 Glen St. in downtown Glens Falls.

The project will begin in stages in the coming months and involves exterior and interior improvements, replacement of aging building equipment with new, energyefficient systems, creation of a new lobby for customer transactions and development of additional space for lending and corporate offices, company officials said.

“As we prepare for anticipated growth in customer transactions, the proposed renovations to our headquarters will provide more efficient and flexible working space that can be adapted to the needs of our Arrow team, our customers and our business and will help us streamline processes and consolidate technology,’’ said Thomas J. Murphy, president and CEO of Arrow Financial Corp.

The project is expected to be completed in early 2023.

MLB Construction Services of Malta is the general contractor for the project and the architect is JMZ Architects & Planners PC in

The Arrow Financial Corp. offices in this building will be renovated starting this year.

Courtesy Arrow Financial Corp.

Glens Falls.

“We also propose to update obsolete heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment with new energy-saving systems, while creating an attractive new lobby for the main branch of our subsidiary Glens Falls Continued On Page 10

BY JILL NAGY Officials at the Lake George and Adirondack Area Chambers of Commerce are gearing up for a blockbuster summer for tourism.

In Lake George, reservations for lodging are meeting or exceeding 2019, which was already “a banner year,” according to Amanda Metzger, marketing director for the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Memorial Day weekend, despite rain, “was not slow here at all,” she said. Forced indoors, visitors flooded museums and other indoor venues, she said. Some 760 of them registered at the visitors’ center that weekend.

More than 1,800 people used a last minute lodging website the week before Memorial Day. Michael Bittel, president and CEO of the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce, was also enthusiastic.

All signs point to a “very robust active summer,” he said. “They are coming to swim, kayak, and bicycle as well as hike.”

Rental bicycles are available through Warren County at bicycle stops provided by CDPHP. Hikers are coming to the area.

Both officials said there are many first-time visitors, most of them from New York state, including New York City and the Capital District, as well as neighboring states. Because the border is closed, the usual influx of Canadian visitors is missing but, according to Bittel, New Yorkers who cannot go to Canada are making up

for the deficit.

But, “We need that border open,” he said, so they can entertain both local and Canadian visitors.

“We hope to welcome (Canadians) back soon. We can’t wait,” Metzger said.

She said representatives of the Lake George chamber usually attend a travel show in Montreal but were unable to do so this year.

“Many entities, public and private, have come together as one voice,” in an effort to encourage the opening the New York-Canada border, Bittel said.

An issue the tourism is struggling with, however, is the shortage of workers. In a typical summer, some 1,000 international students on J-1 visas work in hotels, restaurants, and tourist attractions in Lake George, Metzger noted. This year, only a few are trickling in.

Employers are trying to fill the gap with local high school students. They staged a job fair and reached out to local high schools.

Elsewhere in the area, employers sought help from Warren County Employment and Training, Bittel said.

ARCC is looking forward to the fall with live events from September on, beginning with a business awards dinner. Then, “more surprises to come,” he promised.

While pleased with the activity in the area, Bittel is not surprised.

“We live in the most beautiful area in the world,” he said.

2 • GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • JUNE 2021

Hunt Real Estate Adds 20 Agents With The Acquisition Of All American Properties •

From left, Dave Evans, Ted Wilson, Charlotte Potvin and Dave Chambers, pose in the Hunt Real Estate office in Glens Falls. The company recently expanded by acquiring All American Properties.

BY CHRISTINE GRAF Hunt Real Estate, a company with more than 1,300 sales professionals and 40-plus offices throughout western and upstate New York, recently expanded its Glens Falls office by acquiring All American Properties.

Hunt Real Estate also has offices in Massachusetts and Arizona.

All American Properties was the largest locally-owned real estate company in Glens Falls. Owner Ted Wilson operated the company for 20 years. He and his 20 affiliated agents have transferred to the Hunt Real Estate office at 333 Glen St. Hunt will also take over All American’s Chestertown office and those agents will remain in the current location on Main Street.

The acquisition of All American Properties occurred just one year after Hunt’s acquisition

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of Century 21 Potvin Realty, a Glens Falls real estate company owned by Charlotte Potvin.

In May, she and her 19 agents joined Hunt Real Estate in the Glens Falls office.

According to Dave Chambers, the branch director of Hunt Real Estate’s Glens Falls and Bolton Landing offices, “We’ve done two acquisitions in the past year, and we went from 22 agents to 70 agents. We brought them all into our Glens Falls office in the Travelers building. We’re now remodeling and expanding the office and taking over some more space.”

The larger office is needed as agents transition back to working in the office after being forced to work from home at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Some people are still working from home, but the traffic in the office has definitely picked

Personnel Briefs

Adirondack Health Institute announced the appointment of three new members to its board of directors. Jeannie Cross, Geoffrey Peck, and Robert Ross will each serve a three-year term.

A retired health care executive, Cross most recently headed state and federal government relations efforts at Metropolitan Jewish Health System (MJHS), one of New York’s largest and most comprehensive systems of short- and long-term sub-acute and post-acute care services. In that role, she spearheaded legislation and regulation that expanded hospice and palliative care options and worked on initiatives to improve the coordination of long-term care across multiple settings and enhance chronic care. In recognition of her achievements, LeadingAge New York awarded her their 2015 Advocacy Award.

Peck serves as the vice president of population health at Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home and Executive Director of the Nathan Littauer Foundation. Working collaboratively with AHI and numerous partner organizations, Peck held a number of roles for the recentlyconcluded Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) Program, including serving as the executive lead of the Fulton County Population Health Network (PHN), one of five such networks that were part of the AHI PPS (Performing

Provider System).

In addition, he served as the executive lead for two KPMG-guided Medicaid Accelerated eXchange (MAX) projects which focused on reducing readmissions and visits to the hospital’s inpatient setting and emergency department.

Ross has served as the chief executive officer at St. Joseph’s Addiction Treatment and Recovery Centers since 2007. In that role, he is responsible for the organization’s overall operation, including strategic planning, policy development, fundraising, public relations, and staff evaluation.

Ross oversees a 67-bed inpatient unit, a 25-bed intensive residential veteran addiction and posttraumatic stress syndrome program, a 28-bed adolescent inpatient rehabilitation center, eight outpatient clinical substance use disorder treatment programs, two county jail treatment programs, a 20-unit supporting housing project, three residential/recovery programs, three aftercare facilities, and a 24/7 open access center.

In addition, AHI announces current board officers Dan Burke, Chair, Dianne Shugrue, Vice Chair, David Kaiser, Treasurer, and Wouter Rietsema, MD, Secretary, will each serve another year in their present position, while retired health care executive Susan Delehanty will step down at the end of her term.

up in the last month or so,” said Chambers.

“We think it’s a huge positive to have a big, nice office for everyone to come into.”

Hunt Real Estate had more than $3 billion in sales in 2020, but Chambers said they are still relatively new to the area. In order to grow their local presence, the company is interested in making additional acquisitions in the region. They recently opened an office in Saratoga.

“We’ve tried to aggressively grow over the last year—or couple of years—and are still looking to do so. It’s about finding the right deal at the right time. Both Charlotte’s and Ted’s deals worked out to be that way, and it’s

worked out well for everybody. They wanted to make sure their people were taken care of,” he said. “We’re definitely looking for more deals—more acquisitions.

According to Chambers, the real estate boom of the past year has showed no signs of slowing.

“There’s still such an inventory shortage, and it’s just as crazy as it’s been over the last few months. We’ve seen a number of our office’s listings going well over asking even in the past week or so. It hasn’t slowed down at all due to the dramatic inventory shortage.”

For more information, visit www. huntrealestate.com

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GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • JUNE 2021 • 3

F.R. Smith Marina Purchased; New Owner Will Upstate Agency Insurance, Arrow Company Keep The Facility As Is and Expand Storage Subsidiary, Marks 40 Years In Schroon Lake

BY CHRISTINE GRAF Capital Region plastic surgeon, Dr. Edwin Williams III, is the new owner of F.R. Smith and Sons Marina at 36 Sagamore Road in Bolton Landing.

He bought the marina from Robin Smith for $3.5 million on May 27. The Smith family had owned the marina since 1921.

Williams has been vacationing in Lake George since he was in high school. Five years ago, he and his wife purchased a second home—the former Smith family home--in Bolton Landing. It is located adjacent to the marina.

“We knew the marina, and it’s been for sale for about four or five years. I started talking to them about three years ago because I wanted to make sure the marina was preserved,” said Williams. “There’s a lot of development on the lake, and I hear rumors that people think I’m going to knock it down and put condos in.

That’s not going to happen.”

After purchasing the marina, Williams met with its employees and assured them their jobs were safe. F.R. Smith employs approximately 20 workers during the summer, and there are a few staff members who are full time and work year round. Two of those employees are certified Mercury master mechanics. Scott Olson, former manager at Dockside Landing Marina, will be taking over general manager responsibilities from Scott Anderson “I couldn’t have done this transaction without his (Anderson’s) help. It was very complicated.

I have a great relationship with him and tried to get him to stay, but he put 39 years into that marina,” said Williams. “So we brought on Scott Olson who did a spectacular job running Dockside Marina for 10 years. He’s a real people person and has a ton of experience.”

F.R. Smith is a full service marina and sells both new and used boats as well as Old Town canoes. They are an authorized dealer for popular brands including Avalon, Bryant, and Rinker. Last fall, the marina became an authorized Sea Ray dealer.

“That’s huge. Sea Ray is the number one searched boat on the internet. I think Scott Anderson was working on that for about five years before they finally landed it,” said Williams.

The marina is also licensed to operate 35 rental boats. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 was an especially strong year for rentals.

Bookings for 2021 are on track to be even better, but boat sales are being hindered by a nationwide inventory shortage of boats.

Boat sales surged in 2020 as people searched

Dr. Edwin Williams III purchased F.R. Smith and Sons Marina in Bolton Landing. ©2021 SaratogaPhotographer.com

for socially-distanced activities to engage in.

Industry experts predict that sales will remain strong in 2021 but that inventory shortages will persist.

F.R. Smith also carries an extensive parts inventory and has a qualified staff of mechanics who are able to service many popular brands of boats. Over the years, F.R. Smith has earned a reputation for outstanding service.

“Sales and service go hand in hand, and service has always been the heart of the business. I see a real need for service on the lake. Try to get a boat fixed on Lake George. It’s not easy,” said Williams.

Because the marina does not have a boat storage facility, they are not able to service boats year round. Building a storage facility for boats is on Williams’ priority list and could happen in the next year or so.

“We want to reinvest back in the business, and there’s an opportunity to take it to the next level by providing service year round,” he said. “We have permits for a storage facility to put on Edgecomb Pond Road on top of the hill in Bolton. That will allow us to be able to store boats indoor and pull them out to service them and then put them back.”

Williams is the founder of Williams Center, a plastic surgery facility with more than 85 employees. He also has numerous real estate holdings and does not consider the purchase of the marina to be a risky investment.

For more information, visit www. frsmithandsonsmarina.com.

A desk that was used at the Upstate Agency, a subsidiary of Arrow Companies, gets delivered to Schroon Lake Community Church where it serves as its altar.

Upstate Agency, a subsidiary of Arrow Family of Companies, is celebrating 40 years of service to residents and businesses in Schroon Lake.

Upstate Agency specializes in personal, commercial and group health benefits insurance with offices in Warren, Washington, Clinton, Essex and Saratoga counties.

The Schroon Lake agency, established in 1981, originally in the Freidman Real Estate office, moved to its present location at 1072 Route 9 in 1983. Upstate staff recently celebrated with a Coffee Takeover at Stewart’s that included free coffee and giveaways. Another Coffee Takeover will be scheduled for the fall, compamy oficials said.

“Our commitment to Schroon Lake and the surrounding area is strong, and we look forward to many more years helping friends, neighbors and business owners with insurance products and services that help them protect what matters the most to them,” said Kevin O’Brien, senior vice president.

Courtesy Upstate Agency

A large furniture donation to the Schroon Lake Community Church, which suffered a devastating fire in January 2019, is another way Upstate Agency supports the Schroon Lake community. A desk used by many company CEOs over the decades will serve as the church’s new altar and the conference table will be the center of the new meeting room, according to the company.

Additional furniture donations were selected by members of the church to help furnish the rest of the building.

Upstate Agency Insurance is also supporting the Schroon Lake School District to launch a free summer camp in partnership with the Glens Falls YMCA. The camp will offer increased academics for students to overcome both the COVID and summer gap, as well as provide healthy activities to improve the mental and physical health of students.

To learn more, visit upstateagency.com.

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4 • GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • JUNE 2021

Apex 9 Media Specializes In Photography And Open Door Mission’s Kitchen Completed; Video For Real Estate, Nonprofits, Businesses Can Seat 100 Guests, Serve 200 Meals A Day

BY ANDREA HARWOOD PALMER And re Wo o ds h as l au nche d Ap ex 9 Me d i a , a G l e n s Fa l l s - b a s e d c omp a ny specializing in real estate, corporate and nonprofit photography and videography.

“It’s been a hobby of mine for a long time. This is the vehicle I’ve been building to move into retirement with. I’ve been doing video and photography for nearly my whole life,” said Woods.

Woods owned and operated a production company in the 1990s, producing public access television shows and commercials. He was also an IT systems engineer for 35 years.

He grew up in Glens Falls and graduated from Glens Falls High School before moving south in 1982. He lived and worked in Virginia, then returned to Glens Falls in late 2019.

“I moved back to Glens Falls just in time for a worldwide pandemic,” he said. “2020 was a horrible year but it worked out. My dad is a cancer survivor and pushing 90 ... With the pandemic and lockdown, the timing was perfect for me to be back home looking after my parents.”

“Apex is the top,” he said. “It’s the best, the pinnacle of everything. The number 9 in numerology speaks to faith and karma.

I’m a pretty religious person and my spirituality plays a big role in my life. So the name Apex 9 Media really flowed from those beliefs.”

Apex 9 Media opened in May. He operates the business with his son Kyle Woods.

The company focuses on real estate video and photography as a foundation, with services for commercials and advertising as well. Woods is currently working on a

Andre Woods operates Apex 9 Media based in Glens Falls. large project with nurses’ union at Albany Medical Center.

Per the company website, “Apex 9 Media Productions provides a full range of real estate photography and videography.

We work with Corporate and Non-profit organizations to create promotion and informational content. Last but not least, we are looking for collaboration opportunities with other artists to produce unique and creative content for YouTube, Amazon TV, and more.”

Apex 9 Media can be reached at www.

Ap ex 9 Me d i a . c om and Awo o ds @ Ap ex 9Media.com. The phone number is 518222-8807. Apex 9 Media can be found on Facebook and Instagram.

GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL 2000 Business Of The Year

Adirondack Regional Chamber Of Commerce P.O. Box 766 • Saratoga Springs, New York 12866 (518) 581-0600 • Fax: (518) 430-3020 • www.glensfallsbusinessjournal.com

Editorial: RJDeLuke@glensfallsbusinessjournal.com Advertising: HarryW@glensfallsbusinessjournal.com Publisher & Editor Harry Weinhagen Associate Editor R.J. DeLuke Editor Emeritus Rod Bacon Sales and Customer Service Harry Weinhagen Production Manager Graphic Precision Contributing Writers Susan Campbell Jill Nagy Jennifer Farnsworth Christine Gaf Andrea Palmer Lisa Balschunat Glens Falls Business Journal is published monthly, the second week of each month, by Weinhagen Associates, LLC and mailed to business and professional people in Warren and Washington counties.

Glens Falls Business Journal is independently owned and is a registered tradename of Weinhagen Associates, LLC, P.O. Box 766, Saratoga Springs, New York l2866 (518) 581-0600. Glens Falls Business Journal is a registered tradename in New York.

Glens Falls Business Journal has been founded to promote business in Warren and Washington counties and to provide a forum that will increase the awareness of issues and activities that are of interest to the business community. Subscription price is $25.00 per year. Third class postage paid at Glens Falls, New York.

Rights to editorial content and layouts of advertising placed with Glens Falls Business Journal which are the creative effort of its contractors, and printing materials supplied by Glens Falls Business Journal are the property of Glens Falls Business Journal and may not be reproduced by photographic or similar methods, or otherwise, without the specific authorization of Glens Falls Business Journal.

From left, Dean Brown, CIO; Majorie Peppin, hospitality manager; and Jerry Squires, sous chef, pose in the new Open Door Mission kitchen which is able to seat 100 guests.

Open Door Mission, located at 226 Warren St. in Downtown Glens Falls , has completed a new 5,300-square-foot kitchen.

Formerly, the kitchen was located in a small building at the corner of Lawrence and Walnut streets.

Open Door Mission had a ribbon cutting and celebrated its 30th anniversary of operation, developing solutions that address the challenges of homelessness and food insecurity that has become a daily reality for many families.

Officials said with the expansion the new kitchen is able to seat 100 guests with a capacity of 200 meals per day. The space allows guests to participate in daily support groups, classes and training. There is a teaching section in the kitchen to train people for workforce opportunities.

“We are honored to serve in this role and meet the growing needs of those in our region,” said Kim Cook, president and CEO. “Having this space opens up endless possibilities and opportunities that we did not have in our old space. That space served us a well for a time, but having the kitchen relocated to Warren Street will allow our staff to focus more on our guests.”

The project was led by Hilltop Construction and AJA Architecture and Planning, with the help of Open Door Mission volunteers.

Funding for the project came from community donors as well as corporate and foundation grants, including Prince of Peace Lutheran Church,

Charles R. Wood Foundation, Cloudsplitter Foundation, Putnam Family Foundation and Sandy Hill Foundation.

The project included excavation and construction, new freezer/cooler, kitchen equipment, upgraded electrical and natural gas lines.

Open Door Mission, on average, serves more than 1,600 meals a month and with their current 12-bed men’s shelter and sixbed women’s shelter, Open Door is housing homeless people each night of the year. A Code Blue Shelter is also provided during cold winter nights.

In an average year, the Mission’s Food Pantry provides 20,000 meals, as well as distributing thousands of pounds of gleaned and other food items to other local social service organizations, officials said.

In addition to serving hot meals, Open Door Mission provides case management, counseling, connections to community resources, medical screenings, substance abuse recovery support, training classes, budgeting, life and job skills, transportation, and advocacy.

Work at Open Door Mission is not finished. There is a plan to convert the first-f loor office space into a chapel. The offices will be moved upstairs, once work there is finished.

Open Door Mission services and care are offered to all people, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, creed, or religion. All services and programs are provided free of charge.

GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • JUNE 2021 • 5

GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL

SPECIAL SECTION

Hudson Headwaters Health Network’s New CDPHP Building ‘Reinvents The Patient Mobile Health Center Ready To Hit The Road Experience’ With Fireplaces, Natural Light

This is Hudson Headwater’s mobile health center that will bring primary care services to Warren and Washington counties, beginning in Salem.

Hudson Headwaters Health Network has established a mobile health program that started in June.

Hudson Headwaters Mobile Health’s newly purchased mobile health center will bring primary care services to Warren and Washington counties, beginning in Salem.

A second mobile health center, anticipated to arrive in 2022, will serve the central and northern Adirondacks, agency officials said.

According to Hudson Headwaters CEO Dr. Tucker Slingerland, mobile health is the network’s latest mission-driven initiative to expand its access to care.

“It is very fitting that, at the beginning of Hudson Headwaters’ 40th year, we move forward with this innovative care delivery model,” he said. “The same high-quality care that communities have come to expect at our health centers is now on wheels.”

The mobile health center is a highly customized, 40-foot RV-like vehicle equipped as a primary care medical office and certified as such by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration.

It offers two fully equipped examination rooms, a registration area, point-ofcare testing area, a lab draw station and bathroom.

The mobile unit includes the same medical equipment found in a traditional primary care health center, such as examination tables, a scale, equipment to obtain patients’ vital signs and provide vision screening.

It will be staffed by a family nurse practitioner, nurse and a medical assistant.

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It is located at the courthouse in Salem on Mondays and Tuesdays. Additional sites are being finalized in partnership with regional health care partners, community leaders and town officials.

These locations will be added to hhhn. org/mobilehealth once confirmed.

Hudson Headwaters Mobile Health visits are by appointment only. Appointment types include primary care visits for adults and children, women’s health services, chronic disease management and preventive health screenings. Same-day appointments for injury or illness may also be scheduled.

Patients can make appointments by calling 518-623-0871 or by visiting www. hhhn.org/appointments.

Community members must become a patient of Hudson Headwaters Health Network to make an appointment at Hudson Headwaters Mobile Health.

Hudson Headwaters purchased the mobile health center from Farber Specialty Vehicles, a medical unit manufacturer based in Columbus, Ohio. The interior configuration, finishes and external design took more than nine months to build at a cost of $400,000.

The Hudson Headwaters Health Foundation is currently raising funds to support the mobile program’s initial threeyear pilot phase. Major project supporters include The Charles R. Wood Foundation, Stewart’s/Dake Family, The Himoff Family and CDPHP. To learn more or to take a virtual tour of the new mobile health center visit www.hhhn.org/mobilehealth.

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This new CDPHP facility in Clifton Park has patient comfort in mind with an open floor plan with natural sunlight, fireplaces with modern furniture and even a cafe.

BY JENNIFER FARNSWORTH CDPHP has opened a new health care facility. Health care agencies have been adding offices in communities through the region in recent years. This one, at 1785 Route 9 in Clifton Park, is a bit different, CDPHP says.

“We truly are reinventing the patient experience within this building,” said Senior Vice President of Business Development Lisa Sasko.

The 40,000-square-foots facility is “vastly different from other locations in our market area,” according to Sasko. She said the building was designed with wellness in mind for patients, physicians and staff.

“We pulled elements from the hospitality industry and put a deep focus on customer service and healing. We intend to delight customers and provide easy access to personalized care, and we want employees and physicians to love coming to work here,” she said.

The building has an open floor plan with natural sunlight, fireplaces with modern furniture as well as a cafe. There is a privacy room for nursing parents, electric vehicle charging stations in the parking lot and a children’s area.

There are currently five specialty practices operating out of the 1785 building

©2021 SaratogaPhotographer.com

including Albany ENT & Allergy Associates, Capital Cardiology Associates, Albany Gastroenterology Consultants, New York Nephrology and Fresenius Kidney Care.

Additionally, it has ConnectRx, a fullservice pharmacy, and a behavioral health practice available through their partner aptihealth, inc. There is also a CDPHP Customer Connect location within the building where patients can enroll in coverage, get answers to benefit questions, or make appointments on-site.

She said much thought went into choosing the location.

“The location choice was very deliberate. We selected it based on a few factors, convenience being top of the list. The office is centrally located and easy to get to. It also happens to be home to some of our most valued physician partners, including Community Care Physicians and OrthoNY,” said Sasko.

CDPHP expects the facility to be a mix of both existing and new patients.

“We know there’s a high number of people and potential patients for the practices to serve. A couple of our practice partners had satellite offices in Clifton Park and they were interested in growing their footprint,” said Sasko.

For more information or to schedule an appointment visit www.1785health.com.

6 • GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • JUNE 2021

GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL

SPECIAL SECTION

Skilled Trade Labor Shortages Continue As Electricians In Region Say Work Is Plentiful, Boomers Retire, Replacements Aren’t There But Finding People For Jobs Is A Problem

BY CHRISTINE GRAF The nationwide skilled trade labor shortage has reached critical levels as baby boomers continue to retire. Baby boomers make up the majority of the skilled trade workforce, and there aren’t enough qualified younger workers to take their places, say people in the industry.

An estimated 31 million skilled trade workers retired in 2020, and many of those jobs remain unfilled. Sixty-two percent of companies report that they struggle to fill skilled trade labor positions.

“Ten thousand baby boomers are retiring every day. We have to bring in the next generation to fill those jobs,” said Dr. Jonathan Ashdown, dean of science, technology, engineering, and math at Hudson Valley Community College. “We’re doing everything we can at Hudson Valley to meet the demands for today in terms of helping to solve the skills gap issue.”

Local union representatives for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 236 in Albany and UA Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 773 in Glens Falls report that their apprentice programs are in high demand. Both unions have long waiting lists for their multiple-year programs.

According to Mike Martell, assistant business manager at IBEW Local 236, they typically have hundreds of applicants for the approximately 50 spots that are available in their apprenticeship program each year. Union apprenticeships are typically in high demand because union jobs offer above average pay and benefit packages. Local 236 apprentices earn a starting wage of more than $17 an hour and receive an excellent benefit package.

HVCC plans to build a new $65 million facility for skilled trades education. The proposed 130,000-square-foot Applied Technology Education Center (ATEC) will allow the college to expand its training of the skilled technical workforce. Although the college continues to expand capacity, long waiting lists remain for many of their most popular programs.

“There is a tremendous skills gap in the skilled trade field—whether you are talking about plumbers and pipefitters, welder, electricians, advanced manufacture technicians, and even mechatronics technicians,” said Ashdown. “We literally cannot graduate enough students every year. We are maxed to capacity with the number of people we can graduate, and our job placement rates are 97 percent.”

It is only because some students choose to pursue other career paths or continue their education at a four-year college that the skilled trade job placement rate at HVCC is not 100 percent. In fact, many students are offered jobs after finishing the first year of their two-year skilled trade program.

“Everyone who wants a job gets one,” said

Union leaders in the building trades are looking for ways to attract new workers. ©2021 SaratogaPhotographer.com

Ashdown. “Students have multiple companies giving them offers. We’ve had companies getting into bidding wars over starting salaries. We had several companies bidding over a student in advanced manufacturing, and the wage got bid from the low twenties per hour to above thirty with full benefits and a company vehicle. It’s a real life example of supply and demand playing out, and you see wages creeping up and kind of going through the roof.”

According to Ashdown, HVCC officials have also met with local trade union leaders to discuss collaboration opportunities for their students.

Unions have expressed interest in taking on HVCC students as apprentices after graduation.

“They have said that our students come out so much better prepared than someone off the street,” he said. “We are all working very synergistically to try to mitigate this shortage and this skills gap issue.”

“We negotiate our wages and recognize that if you want skilled manpower, you need to come to the table and pay those guys what that skilled labor is worth. You get what you pay for, and a lot of business owners have forgotten that. If they aren’t willing to pay what the men and women who are offering the skilled labor are worth, they are unable to get the manpower they need to get the job done,” said Martell at Local 236.

The apprenticeship program at UA Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 773 in Queensbury also has a waiting list, but according to business manager Mike Jarvis, the union is experiencing a critical shortage of experienced tradespeople.

“We typically don’t see a shortage of people who Continued On Page 11

NELSON CHARRON

DANIEL LEVO

OWNER

Master Plumbers

Back-Flow Experts

OWNER

BY JILL NAGY Area businesses are taking different approaches to deal with a shortage of skilled workers in the building trades.

Mr. Electric of Queensbury runs ads year round on several online help wanted sites.

Eastern Heating and Cooling has a wellestablished apprenticeship program in order to “grow our own.”

Jim Curran Electric in Saratoga Springs is a situation where the owner was rescued by a son who, seeing his father “overwhelmed,” relocated from Virginia to join the company.

Electricians are busy. “There is an avalanche of work,” according to Fred Giardinelli of Eastern Heating and Cooling. “Nine out of ten companies will give you the same answer: it’s “almost impossible” to find qualified people.

Curran reported that he is “too busy to train somebody in the proper way.” Mr. Electric also is “extremely busy.”

Curran, for his part, has soured on the idea of trying to hire and train new people.

“I used to try to hire people,” he said, “but they were not skilled enough.”

People hired as apprentices often did not show up. At the other end of the spectrum, “if they get too trained, they go out on their own.”

He has been on his own for most of his 33 years in business. Since March, his son Jeff, a licensed electrician in Virginia, has been working with him and will soon become a partner in the business. Jeff and two other sons all worked with him as kids, he recalled, but the other two are following other career paths.

“The trades are paying very well now,” Giardinalli pointed out. He starts novices at $20 an hour, plus a 401(k) retirement plan, paid vacation, insurance, and 80 percent of their health care costs. More experienced employees may earn as much as $50 an hour. “A lot of people are making a six-figure income,” he said.

He filled some vacancies in the last few weeks but still has openings, especially for sheetmetal workers.

Once they are trained, Mr. Electric’s employees start at $14.50 an hour plus profit sharing. He pointed to one recent hire, someone who was close to completing a master’s degree in psychology, and said “I am looking at him being our next rock star ... Education is good. It doesn’t matter what it’s in.”

The former graduate student, however, is an anomaly. The more common new employee is a recent graduate of a high school BOCES vocational program or a community college, according to Giardinelli. At his company, their initial training is in safety. “Safety is such a big deal; it’s the first training we do.”

Then the new employees ride with an experienced technician for a year, learning on the job. After a year, they get their own truck “and we start them out with baby steps. Our people are out in the field. They’re on their own.”

Training is “definitely a serious investment,” he said. “We train them so they can leave and treat them so they will stay.” He said his company has a very low turnover rate.

Giardinelli bought his company in 1986. In 1997, he and 12 other contractors combined to create Comfort Systems USA, a national company listed on the New York Stock

C&L MECHANICAL

www.CLpiping.com

©2021 SaratogaPhotographer.com

Exchange. Comfort Systems has $2.6 billion in annual revenues, he said.

Mr. Electric of Queensbury is quite a bit smaller. They have nine employees, each in his own truck, which they bring home at night.

“I could probably hire three more if I could find them,” said Sean Dion, who owns Mr. Electric of Queensbury, a franchise of a national company. A call center handles telephone calls.

There is a warehouse but no office, except Dion’s home office. While the technicians are pretty much on their own, everyone meets on Monday and Thursday.

Dion came to the area in 2011 to work for GlobalFoundries in Malta. He became Mr. Electric in 2017.

He prefers to hire people currently employed in the field who are looking for a change and sees a gap in an applicants resume as a warning sign.

When screening people, he says, he looks for integrity and motivation, “somebody currently working and looking to grow.”

He thinks the current shortage of qualified people may be the result of many factors, including generous unemployment benefits.

“It doesn’t make much sense to work if you can earn more not working,” he said.

Giardinelli said “all the good people are working.” Meanwhile, the easing of the COVID pandemic has released a lot of pent-up demand.

“Projects are coming out of the woodwork,” he said.

His formula for meeting the demand for skilled workers is, “pick them carefully, train them well, and treat them with respect.” When someone makes a mistake, his aim is to fix it, learn how to avoid it in the future, and then move on.

“We are constantly investing in our employees,” he noted, providing training and proper tools and the opportunity to “advance as you progress.”

The business owners agree that the shortage of skilled craftspeople is not a new phenomenon but one that has been made worse by the current combination of unusually high demand and people, for various reasons, hesitating to apply for available jobs.

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GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • JUNE 2021 • 7

Ashley Cirelli Thrives After Changing Her Founder Of ‘Chimney Heroes’ Takes Business Career Path And Joining Plumbers Union From Small Operation To Thriving Company

BY CHRISTINE GRAF Queensbury native Ashley Cirelli was working in the restaurant industry before joining the apprentice program at UA Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 773 in 2015. She is one of more than 450 members of the Queensbury-based union.

“I was working in the restaurant business, but there was no stability. You can make great money, but there’s no retirement or health insurance unless you get it on your own,” said Cirelli whose family has owned several local restaurants including Cirelli’s Jam ‘n Eggs in South Glens Falls.

After learning about the excellent pay and benefit packages available to union apprentices, she decided to apply to the electrician apprentice program at UA Local 236 in Albany. Her plans changed after a chance meeting with Larry Bulman, director of legislative and political affairs for the United Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters, that took place at her parents’ restaurant.

After he told her about the career opportunities available to her as an apprentice at Local 773, she applied and was accepted into the program. In August 2015, she started working at GlobalFoundries as a union apprentice. For her, the job was a perfect fit.

“I’ve been very hands-on my entire life.

I helped my dad fix cars when I was young, and I used to build computers” she said.

“I always wanted to do something in the trades and almost got into the military. But in high school, I was always told you need to go to college no matter what.”

Cirelli did attend college for 18 months after graduating from high school in 2007. She took business management and marketing classed at SUNY Adirondack but never completed her degree.

Although there is an aptitude test that all apprentice program applicants must take, no special skills are required in order to get accepted into the program.

“You don’t have to have any mechanical inclination at all. Your schooling is handson training. They teach you from the very basics of how to turn a wrench all the way up to the advanced skills,” she said. “And as soon as you sign the paperwork, they get you working. You work five days a week for at least 40 hours a week, and you go to school three nights a week for five years.

“You are earning a living while going to school, and they are paying for the school.

The only thing you have to pay for is union dues and books. Other than that, they pay for everything. ” She completed the union’s five-year apprenticeship and became the program’s first and only female graduate. There are currently three other women working and

Ashley Cirelli works at the training module at UA Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 773. currently enrolled in various stages of the program.

According to Cirelli, working in a male dominated profession is not without its challenges.

“The hardest thing was definitely being told that you’re a female and this is a man’s world. But once I got comfortable and gave it right back to them, they were okay with it. You have to prove yourself more as a woman. But times are changing.”

Cirelli is heavily involved in the union’s efforts to attract more women apprentices and promote skilled trade careers to high school students. She is a member of Local 773’s political action committee and travels to local school districts to meet with students.

She also participates in the UA’s Tradeswomen Build Nations Conference.

The annual conference draws thousands of union tradeswomen from all different professions and typically involves a charity build project for Habitat for Humanity or another non-profit. Cirelli plans to travel to this year’s conference in New Orleans.

After completing a long-term assignment at Global Foundries where she was the foreman overseeing a crew of eleven men, Cirelli recently accepted a three-year position as the regional organizer with New York State Pipes Trades Association. She was one of 46 people interviewed for the job.

“This is a stepping stone,” she said. “My goal is to work for the United Association at the headquarters in Annapolis, Maryland.”

As regional organizer, Cirelli’s territory is extensive and extends north to the Canadian border. It reaches west to Binghamton and south towards the Hudson Valley. As part of Continued On Page 9

BY CHRISTINE GRAF After graduating from University of Albany in 2005 with a degree in business administration, Waterford-native Jamie Wallace applied for a summer youth intern position at Grace Chapel in Jonesville.

“I thought it would be a fun way to spend my summer before I looked for a full-time career after college,” said Wallace.

He enjoyed the job so much that he applied for a permanent position as the church’s youth pastor. Despite his lack of experience in ministry, he was hired with the condition that he agree to be mentored. At the time, he was working on Saturday’s for Clifton Park Chimney Maintenance, a company owned by Andy and Jill Looker. Wallace took the job to earn extra money to supplement his youth pastor’s salary.

“I did not even know chimney sweeps existed, so it was very new to me. But I really enjoyed it,” he said.

A year later, with encouragement from the Looker’s, Wallace left his job and started his own chimney sweep business.

“I decided to take a big leap of faith,” said Wallace. “A lot of people said I was crazy, but I went out on my own. My goal was to use the biblical principles I had learned and apply them to the business. And I was right.”

When Wallace started Chimney Heroes (originally named Saratoga Chimney Sweeps) in 2010, he relied on word of mouth, networking groups, and what he refers to as guerilla marketing to find “customers for life.”

“I was waking up at 5 a.m. and doing neighborhood flyers. It was slow going and it was hard, but it worked,” he said.

During that time, Wallace and his wife, Gina, relied heavily on the income she earned working as a nurse for the Shenendehowa School District. After the birth of the first of their three children, she was able to leave her job and become a full-time mom.

Today, Wallace has 20 employees and a fleet of nine service vehicles. Pandemicrelated supply chain issues have hampered his efforts to add two additional vehicles to the fleet.

The growth of Chimney Heroes was brought on in part because of two separate injuries Wallace suffered while on the job. He was out of work for several weeks, and during that time he earned no income.

“There’s no worker’s comp when you’re a business owner. There’s nothing that protects you if you get hurt and can’t run your business,” he said. “That when there was a shift in my focus. I realized I had created a really nice job for myself, but I didn’t have a business.”

After hearing from customers that they were displeased with the work that chimney repair companies had performed for them,

Chimney Heroes, founded by Jamie Wallace, does business from Warrensburg to Albany. ©2021 SaratogaPhotographer.com

he recognized an opportunity to build his job into a business.

“I realized there was no reason I couldn’t do the repair work myself,” said Wallace.

Today, in addition to chimney cleaning, inspection and repairs, Chimney Heroes offers a variety of other services. They perform masonry work, dryer vent cleaning and gas fireplace and stove cleaning and installation.

The company also sells wood burning and gas fireplaces as well as wood, gas, and pellet stoves. His service area extends south to Albany and north to Warrensburg.

Wallace and his employees regularly attend industry conferences, trainings and certification programs. He and six staff members recently returned from a threeday workshop and training classes in Pennsylvania.

“I believe in developing people. You can’t serve the customer well if you don’t take care of your own people,” said Wallace. “I love pouring into my employees and giving them opportunities and helping them grow.

Leadership development is one of our core values. When a leader gets better, everybody gets better.”

Despite the ongoing labor shortage, Wallace has not had trouble hiring employees.

He does all of his own hiring and has hired seven people so far this year.

“You really have to put purpose before profit, and you have to give people an opportunity to see what their future could look like,” he said. “We have people who love to work at Chimney Heroes. Yeah, we have hard days when it’s 90 degrees and you’re rebuilding a chimney, but we have a great culture.”

For more information, visit chimneyheroes. com.

8 • GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • JUNE 2021

SPECIAL SECTION

GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL

Adirondack Office Of The Atrium Financial Group Moves To Downtown Glens Falls

BY ANDREA HARWOOD PALMER Sherry Finkel Murphy, CFP, ChFC, RICP, private wealth advisor of The Atrium Financial Group, has relocated its downtown office to 11 South St. in Glens Falls.

“This endeavor has been several years in the making. It will be a huge benefit to clients and business owners,” said Finkel Murphy.

Finkel Murphy was looking for just the right space. Plans were delayed because of the COVID pandemic, but she found what she was looking for at the Empire Theatre Building. The space needed renovations for what Finkel Murphy had in mind.

“There is a dearth of office space in Glens Falls. I am very fond of the building.

It is in the heart of Glens Falls, and in the heart of the new Glens Falls in the making,” said Finkel Murphy. “It’s a beautiful office space. Clients are stopping by frequently.

It’s nice to give them a space locally so they don’t have to drive down to Albany,” she said.

“Establishing the Adirondack office of the Atrium Financial Group in downtown Glens Falls is a ref lection on our commitment to the multiple generations of business in this community. And what an awesome community it is. It’s a great place to live, work and play simultaneously,” said Finkel Murphy.

She is the lead advisor for the company in the Adirondacks. She also leads the Women’s Practice of the Atrium Financial Group. Of the firm’s six CFP practitioners, three are women.

The Atrium Financial Group is headquartered in Albany and has 21 associates altogether.

The firm has many clients in the area.

The establishment of a Glens Falls office is an opportunity to provide a superior level of service to those clients, she said.

Finkel Murphy has high hopes that the physical presence in Glens Falls will help introduce the firm to people who may not know the benefits of comprehensive financial planning, business continuity and succession planning, and multigenerational estate planning.

•

Sherry Finkel Murphy works in the new Atrium Financial Group offices.

In addition to comprehensive financial and investment planning, The Atrium Financial Group specializes in advanced portfolio management, business and succession planning, estate planning, charitable planning and education funding. Strategic tax planning is an overarching theme throughout all services provided.

Finkel Murphy earned her B.A. from the University of Rochester and her M.S. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

She is a founding member and former chair of the Women’s Business Council of the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce.

She is a member of the Professional Development Committee of the University of Rochester Women’s Initiative, as well as a member of the 100 Women Who Care Alliance of Northeastern New York. She is a board member emeritus of Wellspring and a member of the Estate Planning Council of Eastern New York.

The group’s phone number is 518.977.4377. Finkel Murphy’s email is sherry.finkelmurphy@nm.com. The Atrium Financial Group can be found at www.TheAtriumFinancialGroup.nm.com.

Formerly PrimeLink Managed Services

Business Report Increase Value With Commercial Due Diligence

BY PATRICK FARRELLY You are evaluating a target company that had higher than normal revenue growth in 2020. The target company presents you with a five-year forecast that maintains the above average growth experienced in 2020.

Is the target company’s spike in growth a onetime outlier event or is the growth sustainable?

This is a common question many private equity firms currently face following a volatile 2020 business environment.

The answer to this question is critically important since it impacts the target company’s valuation and your firm’s return on investment.

The prior example highlights the importance of the buy-side due diligence process given the uncertainties in today’s market. In the past, your firm may have engaged a third party for only financial due diligence (or quality of earnings – Q of E). However, complementing your financial due diligence with commercial due diligence can help mitigate deal risk, increase return on investment, and improve deal structure and price.

What is commercial due diligence?

The goal of commercial due diligence is to assess the growth and profitability potential of your target company. Target companies’ future financial forecasts often project high growth and profitability over the buyer’s planned holding period. Commercial due diligence helps to validate the assumptions driving your target’s financial forecast.

Commercial due diligence requires a thorough analysis of your target’s internal and external environment. The typical approach includes examination of five key areas: 1. Target company assessment.

2. Market and/or product analysis.

3. Customer analysis.

4. Competitor analysis.

5. Future growth and profitability assessment.

Data for the analysis is gathered through primary research, such as interviews with the target’s management team and external industry experts, and secondary research, such as market research reports and databases. The final deliverable is a detailed report that includes an executive summary of the analysis.

What are the benefits of complementing commercial due diligence with financial due diligence?

It mitigates transaction risk. Commercial due diligence highlights potential commercial risks that could impact the sustainability of your target’s business and/or limit future growth potential. The analysis and data provided in

•

Patrick Farrelly is a managing director with UHY Advisors.

Courtesy UHY Advisors

the final report enables you to make informed decisions.

It improves deal structure and transaction price. Commercial due diligence provides you with a deeper understanding of your target’s business before negotiations begin. Targets typically know more about their business than you, and short exclusivity periods limit the amount of time you have to analyze your target’s business. Commercial due diligence helps to close that knowledge gap and provides you with data to use in the negotiation of the transaction structure and price.

It increases deal team capacity. Short exclusivity periods leave limited time for you to conduct thorough, detailed analysis. Hiring a third party to complete commercial due diligence increases the capacity for your deal team to focus on other value add tasks related to the deal.

It identifies growth opportunities that increase ROI. Commercial due diligence can reveal insights about untapped potential in your target company’s strategy, operations, sales channels, end markets, customers, and/or competitors.

Exploiting this potential can drive growth in your target and increase the deal’s ROI. Identifying these opportunities before the deal closes allows for quicker implementation post-close.

It provides reassurance to lenders. Banks may request or require a commercial due diligence report from an independent third party as part of the loan evaluation process.

Commercial and financial due diligence are equally important components to the overall evaluation of a target company.

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GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • JUNE 2021 • 9

•

Business Report Why You Should Pay Attention To Inflation

BY RICK SCHWERD There’s a lot of talk about inflation, but truly understanding its impact can help you plan for the long term. Let’s take a closer look.

What is inflation?

Going back to basics, inflation is the increase in the average cost of goods and services over time. We see this at play in our daily lives. The cost of a loaf of bread in 1990 was 75 cents, $1.99 in 2000 and $2.99 in 2010. Inflation can be a positive or a negative. We all like to see inflation in our wages. It’s a different story at the gas pump or with our grocery bill.

Fast-rising inflation, or hyperinflation, can devastate an economy as money becomes less valuable, goods are hoarded or become scarce, and demand escalates prices. On the other hand, deflation is also a negative, as consumers are rewarded with lower prices for delaying purchases. Consumer demand drops and economic activity falls, creating a harmful downward spiral.

How is inflation measured?

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is the most common measurement of inflation. Compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI tracks the change in the cost of consumer goods and services, such as vehicles, food and housing.

One of the Federal Reserve’s mandates is to maintain stable prices. This has been defined as an average inflation rate of 2 percent annually.

How does inflation affect your savings and investments?

Inflation erodes the purchasing power of money. The idea that putting money “under the mattress” is the safest place almost guarantees that your purchasing power will be diminished.

With an inflation rate of 3 percent, $1,000 will have the purchasing power of about $915 in three years.

In order to maintain purchasing power, your savings and investments need to maintain a total return at or above the inflation rate.

Here’s how that might look. An investment that returns 2 percent in a 3 percent inflation environment will actually produce a negative return (1 percent) when adjusted for inflation.

Not the ideal outcome.

How do you find more stability?

Fixed-income investments such as bonds, CDs and treasuries are generally purchased by investors to provide a stable income stream and return principal. However, since the interest payments typically remain fixed until maturity, the purchasing power of the interest payments and principal decline as inflation rises.

Stocks have generally been a good investment vehicle relative to inflation over the long term, although with greater volatility than fixedincome investments.

Keep in mind, companies have the ability to raise prices of their products and services when their costs increase in an inflationary environment. Assuming consumer demand remains stable, higher prices will result in higher earnings. Sudden or unexpected increases in inflation can, however, result in negative returns for stocks over short-term periods due to increased uncertainty regarding the economy.

Commodity-related investments and real

Ashley Cirelli

Continued From Page 7 her job, she travels to job sites that employ both union and non-union workers.

“My job is to talk to the workers and make sure they are getting prevailing wages. I’m also making sure companies are following the proper procedures and labor laws. When a contractor is not doing that, you open up a formal investigation,” she said.

At non-union sites, she encourages workers and companies to consider joining the union.

“Right now, contractors are having a really hard time finding reliable workers.

When you join a union as a company, the union hall itself gets you the workers you need. You never have to worry about having

• •

Rick Schwerd, vice president, senior investment officer, Arrow Financial Corp.

Courtesy Arrow Financial Corp.

estate investments tend to have a positive relationship with inflation. However, commodities have historically underperformed stocks and bonds over longer periods of time.

Are we entering an inflationary period?

We are in the midst of a global economic rebound as we come out of the COVID-19 pandemic, boosted by unprecedented amounts of fiscal and monetary stimulus both domestically and abroad. The Federal Reserve has indicated that they are willing to allow inflation to run higher than their targeted 2 percent average inflation goal in order to achieve their additional mandate of maximum employment.

These factors lead us to believe we will likely see higher inflationary rates than recent years, though we do not expect the U.S. to get anywhere near the inflation rates of the 1970s and early 1980s. Globalization and increasing technology are deflationary by nature and will help ease inflationary pressures.

The Federal Reserve also has powerful tools for combating inflation if it starts to escalate too quickly. However, even a small increase in inflation can erode your savings and investments over time. Proper planning is the best way to mitigate the negative impact of inflation and help preserve your hard-earned money.

What should I do with my portfolio?

A diverse portfolio including both equity and fixed-income investments can provide returns above inflation over the long term. Periodic spikes in equity volatility can be unnerving.

However, long-term average equity returns have consistently outpaced inflation, helping to provide inflation adjusted portfolio growth.

Finding the right mix for your timeline and risk level is essential for reaching your goals.

A portfolio that is too aggressive is subject to significant volatility, while a portfolio that is too conservative won’t keep up with inflation and will be eroded over time. Both situations may keep an investor from achieving their financial goals.

Having a properly diversified portfolio can help keep the negative effects of inflation in check. to find people. We employ them for you,” Cirellii said.

Application for Local 773’s apprentice program are accepted on the second Monday of every month from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Between 15-30 apprentices are accepted into the program each year.

First year apprentices at Local 773 earn a salary and benefit package that totals almost $100,000 a year. The starting salary is approximately $19 per hour, and wages increase steadily with experience.

“What you see in your paycheck can be anywhere from $45 to $55,000 as an entrylevel person who has never done this in your life,” said Cirelli. “But you’re not just joining 773 to get the pay and benefits. It’s a giant family, and you feel so welcome when you are in it. It really is a brotherhood and sisterhood.”

For more information, visit www.lu773.org.

Business Report Everyday ABCs Of Leadership

BY WENDY WALDRON As we build the new normal and reconstruct our economy, let’s take a moment to get back to the basics. Whether you are an owner, foreman, manager or director, there are three things that every leader needs to be doing to make the most of every day. Bring the ABCs to the jobsite.

A – Avoid Busy-ness.

“Quick, look busy, here comes the boss.” It’s so classic it’s almost a cartoon, and yet most of us fall into this trap of “busy-ness” on a regular basis. Is it enough to “keep the guys working?” Well, are they doing profitable work? What do you really know about an office worker’s “production” by walking by their desk? When so many switched to work from home, did you lose a sense of knowing what they were doing?

Do you know what drives the profit in your business? What key activities should be done each week and who is responsible for accomplishing those actions?

You need information now, not at the end of the quarter. Maintain a weekly scorecard listing the priority activities, the goal, and who is responsible for making them happen.

B – Boss Mode.

You are not leading a social group or choosing a restaurant for dinner. It’s important to make your expectations known. Imagine that you are coaching a basketball team. It’s your job to clarify the rules of the game. Do you really want all of the players running together in a pack playing offense and defense simultaneously? How can your team deliver if they don’t know exactly what’s expected?

Put the needs of the business first when you are working in the business. You will all need to practice, practice, practice. Repeat yourself and your expectations. And remember, coaching and cheerleading are not the same thing. You are the coach. Be specific with your praise, recognition of opportunity, and acknowledgement of effort.

C – Call to listen.

It’s common for an article like this one to talk about the need for “communication.” While true enough, such advice is hardly actionable. The best leaders establish a listening routine.

•

Wendy Waldron, the owner of WaldronWorks, is a Professional EOS Implementer®.

Courtesy WaldronWorks

Your people are much more likely to open up when the opportunity predictably presents itself.

Imagine the difference between these two scenes.

One leader swoops in like a sea gull. They drop some messy “knowledge” in the way sea gulls tend to do and then ask, “so what’s up? What’s new? And did you see the game last night?” as they check their phone and continue walking.

The other one calls their staff member every Thursday at 8:30 a.m., or maybe they have a standing coffee date. They exchange quick stats or updates, then the leader listens to whatever their employee thinks is important. Smart managers take time to find ways they can improve the work environment, the core processes, and the end results.

As simple as these suggestions may sound, they are commonly not followed. Many of us try not to “be the bad guy” and instead let the players decide on the rules of the game. Somewhere along the line we associated “busy” with “profitable.” And even the most conscious of us can be guilty of being that person who only calls when they need something.

The best leaders recognize that these simple actions yield powerful results in every work environment.

10 • GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • JUNE 2021

‘Winklepickers’ In Lake George Is A Shop That Has Gifts, Home Decor Items And More

From left, Dave Dutra, Rachel Dutra, and Jeremy Iaquinto own and operate Winklepickers, a shop that has gifts, home decor, spices and more on Canada Street in Lake George. and spices from Rachel’s Spice Co. The company is working on adding gourmet popcorn and gourmet popcorn spices.

Rachel Dutra said the name for the business was inspired by a particular type of shoe, called a winklepickers, worn in the 1950s by British rock and roll fans. The shoe was made popular by the Beatles.

“We’re an eclectic mix of fun, funky and functional,” she said.

Dutra said the shop will soon carry apparel “not typical to Lake George.”

Long-term plans include opening up multiple stores along the Lake George coastline.

The shop website is www.PickWinks.com and the phone is 518-685-3018. Winklepickers can be found on Facebook and Instagram. Shop hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week throughout the summer.

Arrow Headquarters

banking and insurance subsidiaries have grown over the last 20 years, the company has built out its workforce using the main campus and additional offices elsewhere.

More than 280 employees are based out of Arrow’s downtown campus, and more than 500 are employed company-wide in Northeastern New York. These renovations are the last and largest phase of a multi-year renovation to ensure better space utilization and address deferred maintenance.

“These renovations represent an investment in the future growth of Arrow Financial, in our ability to attract and retain top talent and in our capacity to deliver responsive and efficient service to better serve our customers for years to come,” said Murphy.

Arrow Financial Corp. is a multibank holding company headquartered in Glens Falls serving the financial needs of northeastern New York.

Continued From Page 1

National Bank and Trust Co. that blends modern lighting and comfort with popular historic features.’’

The main campus of the Arrow Family of Companies occupies a prominent downtown corner in Glens Falls and includes the main office of Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Co. as well as back office and operational support for not only Glens Falls National, but also Saratoga National Bank and Trust Co. and Upstate Agency LLC. Glens Falls National Bank was founded in 1851 in Glens Falls. While it has had a few homes since then, its current location on the corner of Glen and South streets is a wellknown community landmark. As Arrow’s

Glens Falls NY Restaurants With Casual Dining Glens Falls and surrounding towns have a variety of casual dining opportunities for every taste, budget and occasion.

The Grateful Den Glens Falls, NY The Grateful Den offers a different take on traditional pub grub, as well as classic favorites like chicken wings, burgers, and salads. Their menu also includes specialty appetizers, sandwiches, and plenty of craft beer options on tap.

O’Toole’s Restaurant Pub Queensbury, 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.

Bogey’s Pub & Grill Queensbury, NY Bogey’s Pub & Grill at Bay Meadows Golf Course, in Queensbury NY, is not just for hungry golfers! The Grille offers fine Queensbury dining at casual prices!

Peppermill Family Restaurant South Glens Falls, NY Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. the Peppermill is a true family-run restaurant.

Allow John, Vicky and sons to show you why the Peppermill Family Restaurant in South Glens Falls has been serving the community for over 27 years.

The Silo Queensbury, NY We hate to brag, but The Silo has a reputation for being one of the best places in the region for breakfast, lunch and delicious cider donuts.

Looking for jewelry and gifts? The Silo is also the area’s largest retailer of Ed Levin Jewelry.

Andrea Harwood Palmer

BY ANDREA HARWOOD PALMER A new variety store, Winklepickers, has opened at 204 Canada Street, Suite 8, in Lake George.

The shop is owned and operated by Rachel and Dave Dutra, and Jeremy Iaquinto.

The Dutras also own and operate Rachel’s Spice Co. & Café in Glens Falls.

Iaquinto also owns Barn & Brick Co. in Queensbury, which features repurposed and newly built items for décor and collection.

The Winklepickers space, located at the end of the Village Mall in Lake George, was completely renovated. Iaquinto and Dave Dutra built everything in the shop. Most of the storage and display pieces are built from vintage cabinetry, ladders and other repurposed items.

The shop features a wall of jerky, local art, new and vintage home décor, Lake George souvenirs and gifts, and an exhaustive collection of teas

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

Jack’s American Bistro Queensbury, NY Jack’s American Bistro was the culmination of a lifetime spent in the restaurant business.

After several months of planning in June 2004 the doors were open to a new dining experience in the Glens Falls/Queensbury area.

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

Downtown Social Glens Falls, NY Located in the heart of downtown Glens Falls, NY, Downtown Social is a local eatery and beer hall that features multiple dining

experiences, bars, and a chef-prepared menu for lunch and dinner.

The Bullpen Tavern Glens Falls, NY The Bullpen Tavern in downtown Glens Falls offers a sports bar atmosphere with a state-ofthe-art entertainment system and some of the best wings you can find in the North Country.

Doc’s Restaurant Glens Falls, NY Doc’s Restaurant is an upscale restaurant and cocktail bar in the historic Park Theater in Glens Falls, NY. Doc’s offers a delicious modern take on classic dishes, along with a hand-picked selection of wines, craft beers and creative cocktails!

Craft on 9 Glens Falls, NY Craft on 9 in Glens Falls, NY offers creative fine dining in a comfortable atmosphere with a rotating selection of regional craft brews, wines, and cocktails.

Courtesy of GlensFalls.com

GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • JUNE 2021 • 11

Trade Unions

Continued From Page 6 want to join, but what we are seeing right now is that we have a lot of work in the North Country— Lake Placid and the Plattsburgh area. Apprentices do help, but that’s not what we need right now. We need help from people who are well-versed and experienced. In all reality, we are just barely able to man our work.”

Jarvis is working to promote trades to a new generation of students, and he and his training director recently met with students at Hudson Falls BOCES. Beginning in the fall, Local 773 will be partnering with BOCES to offer an internship program to a select group of students. The students will travel to the union’s state of the art training facility where they will complete an on-site internship program.

“For many years, there wasn’t enough emphasis put on the trades in high school. Guidance counselors didn’t view it as a path for their students.

College was pushed more than the trades,” said Jarvis. “I want to get these kids out of high school.

I want the kid that didn’t wait for their father to get home to put the chain back on their bike. I want the kid that can pick up a wrench and say, ‘I can fix that.’”

Ashdown believes that trades need to be promoted to students while they are still in elementary school. It is his opinion that this could help to reduce the undeserved negative stigma that is often associated with various skilled trade professions.

“We have found that in order to really solve this issue, you need to get the students interested in the skilled trades as early as third grade or even as early as kindergarten. It’s of utmost importance because it’s not only a cultural issue, it’s about restoring the respect for trades,” he said. “These

The Glen

Continued From Page 1 for the independent living and wellness center expansions, and Architecture+ of Troy is the architect for the new memory care building.

“I expect to see construction equipment on site any time now,” said Hebert. “The independent living and wellness center have about a 12-month construction time. The memory care is about 14 months construction time. In and around next spring/summer we will start opening.”

According to Hebert, The Glen appeals to seniors who want to stay independent but no longer want to have the responsibilities of caring for their own homes.

“There is a market for all of the different segments that are existing right now. There are the 55-plus communities with no amenities and just the apartment itself. We were never that.

We are full service for the person who would not like to bother with making all of their meals and taking care of all of the maintenance and upkeep of home life. That’s really what we are there for, and we provide support as people age so they can stay independent and have more time for other activities.”

There is an entrance fee to live in an independent living apartment or cottage, and

are very respected and in-demand fields where you can make $80 to $100 plus thousand a year.”

HVCC is partnering with Queststar III BOCES to give local high school students in grades 9-12 the opportunity to earn up to 26 college credits.

Participating schools include Troy High School, and East Greenbush High School.

“They will be doing their main high school curriculum on the Hudson Valley campus, but it will be a more seamless integration into some of the skilled trades programs such as welding and others. It’s going to be a full four years of high school here,” he said. “This isn’t the first time we’ve done this. In TechSmart in Malta, we’ve partnered with Ballston Spa. It’s very exciting.”

Jarvis finds it encouraging that local school districts have started to reach out to Local 773 to inquire about opportunities for their students.

“For the last 20 years, we have been swimming against the current. We are no longer swimming against the current--we’re going with the current,” he said. “Queensbury has reached out to me.

Hudson Falls has reached out to me. They are asking ‘What can we do? How can we partner up?’ And Adirondack Community College (SUNY Adirondack) has recognized our program which I think speaks volumes for our program.

Graduates of the apprenticeship programs at both Local 773 and Local 236 receive 30 credits that can be can be applied towards a SUNY Adirondack Journeyworker: Technical Trades Management associate’s degree. The degree program also includes a wide variety of courses including public speaking, business law, accounting, and computer science.

When Jarvis meets with applicants who are taking the aptitude test for Local 773’s apprenticeship program, he said he always tells them the same thing.

“I tell them I have enough pipefitters. I’m looking for leaders,” he said. “When you join our union, the sky’s the limit.” various refundability options are available.

Residents pay monthly fees to cover meals, activities, transportation, and other services that are provided.

The Terrace at the Glen offers enhanced assisted living to individuals who are no longer able to live independently. There are 42 assisted apartments that can accommodate up to 52 residents. Memory care is currently not available, and it is for that reason that the new memory care center will be a welcome addition to the campus.

“There are always people who will progress to that level. Right now, those folks have to go outside of our community,” said Hebert. “Many times, they have to leave the area. We’ve had people have to go down to the Saratoga and Albany area because there aren’t that many memory care beds in the Queensbury area. Sometimes it separates husbands and wives, and it can move people farther away from their families.”

A capital campaign is currently underway to raise money for the construction of the memory care facility.

“We’re trying to raise $2 million to help with the infrastructure,” said Hebert. “We want to be able to keep the rates down and provide a really good program. We’re spending a lot of time making sure that the building is the best it can be for offering quality of life for our residents.”

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12 • GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • JUNE 2021

WorkSmart Moves Offices And Services Hub Erbessd Instruments, Vibro-Laser Move To Glen Street In Downtown Glens Falls Into Building In Downtown Glens Falls

Christy Alexander, owner of WorkSmart, reviews office renovation plans with Fred McAvey of V&H Construction, which did the renovations for the new location.

BY ANDREA HARWOOD PALMER Christy Alexander has moved WorkSmart to 237 Glen St. in Downtown Glens Falls.

Alexander is the sole owner of WorkSmart, and the anchor tenant for the historic 1914 building.

The structure most recently housed the downtown branch of TD Bank.

WorkSmart was previously housed in the Homestead Funding building on Warren Street near the traffic circle. When Alexander was initially searching for a new space for WorkSmart, 237 Glen St was for sale.

She said she immediately saw the possibilities. With the vast amount of space, she felt the need to further validate the business idea before risking the investment.

“After testing the market and gaining traction, I began to dream bigger,” said Alexander. “We began to explore the opportunity to bring new life to the old lobby.”

V&H Construction was the general contractor on the renovations.

Alexander said planning the new space was a collaborative effort, with WorkSmart members giving feedback and insight throughout the process.

Alexander said the new space will impact existing and prospective clients tremendously.

Chuck Ciaccia 27 years

Jude Gosh 32 years

“Offering fully furnished private offices with a premier business address will elevate our clients’ businesses,” she said. “Frictionless access to client meeting spaces makes it easy to project a professional image to clients. Creative spaces make these kinds of resources accessible with minimal investment.

“The iconic home of the First National Bank of Glens Falls provides greater visibility and enhanced level of professionalism for WorkSmart members.

Bringing together individuals with diverse skill sets and interests increases the accessibility of professional services and advice, while creating a community of success-minded professionals” she said.

COVID impacted renovations but it was an eyeopening experience, said Alexander.

“COVID shook up the traditional workplace model.

And we all learned that working from home isn’t everything it’s cracked up to be. It’s hard to be productive and to balance work with family life. We’ve realized how much we benefit from other professionals to inspire us, brainstorm with us and celebrate professional milestones with us,” she said.

Alexander considers WorkSmart to be a cornerstone of Glens Falls revitalization, playing a key role in attracting professionals to the area.

Dave Weiss 21 years

BY LISA BALSCHUNAT For six years, CEO Michael Howard ran his industrial equipment monitoring sensor businesses out of his home. First it was in South Glens Falls, then Queensbury. Now he is able to move his business to space at 19 Exchange St. in Glens Falls where he plans to cultivate business roots for years to come.

His two companies, Erbessd Instruments Technologies Inc. and Vibro-Laser, make equipment that assists over 2,000 clients worldwide in monitoring vital equipment, machines and engines, for companies and educational institutions including Aircoil, Amazon, Google, Harvard University, Halifax Fan, McGill University, Pfizer and the U.S. Navy.

Erbessd Instruments also supplies several local manufacturers in Warren, Washington and Saratoga counties.

“It’s hard for me not to geek out when I talk about the business and our capabilities,” he said. “Also, to be grounded in downtown Glens Falls is great. There’s a lot happening here and we want to be a part of it.”

There is presently ample space in Erbessd’s new location for its technical labs, think tank space, creative offices, teleconference center, shipping and additional square footage to accommodate future growth. Erbessd leases the 2,500-square-foot building from Patten Property Development with a future option to buy.

Erbessd Instruments, with its patented, compact high-tech sensors, diagnoses equipment and machines remotely before they become a problem, malfunction or create catastrophic damage or loss.

The company offers vibration analysis and monitoring, equipment balancing, on line monitoring systems, wireless triaxial accelerometers that are cloud based and universally adaptable, as well as sortbearing suspensions for balancers, dynamic balancing

machines and laser alignment systems.

“Erbessd develops state-of-the-art innovative technologies,” Howard said. “We provide our clients with complete diagnostic services, or the high-tech equipment for companies to self-diagnose with our data support and analysis. Vibro-Laser provides laser precision measurements and alignments.”

The two companies operate together, but also provide services independently depending on a client’s preferences or requirements.

Additionally, the company supplies the custombuilt turbocharger balancing machine and dynamic balancing machine and the soft bearing suspensions for a “build your own” balancer machine, numerous wireless accelerometers, thermographic cameras and the El Share Ace laser alignment system.

“We are all about machine health,” said Howard.

“We are behind the scenes making sure a client’s equipment—on a military aircraft, for example—is running efficiently and effectively.”

Under the leadership of Howard, a retired U.S. Air Force operations specialist and former GE Turbine employee, the Erbessd team is encouraged to capitalize on their careers by thinking well outside of the box.

“I think making the most of each day is a way for our team to strive to expand on our technical knowledge and become innovators of new technology,” he said.

Erbessd and Vibro-Laser also has offices in Mexico City, Europe and Canada. It employs five people in Glens Falls, including three engineers. This summer the company also is mentoring a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) student intern from South Glens Falls High School.

For more details, demo software, updates and tools go to www.erbessd-instruments.com or call 518-8742700.

“In The Adirondack Relocation Assessment Survey, Camoin 310 determined that remote working professionals specifically desire coworking as part of their ideal community, and prospective customers tell us the same thing. We see an opportunity here for Glens Falls to retain our local talent and to attract additional talented professionals to the region,” she said.

“By providing a center for business activity in the heart of Glens Falls for collaboration, innovation and the development of strong personal relationships, WorkSmart helps kickstart long-term, sustainable success for businesses and create employment opportunities in the region. In this way, the company hopes to contribute to the revitalization of Glens Falls.”

“I love to hear stories from members about discov-

ering new opportunities when they go out for lunch, coffee or shopping. Personally, I appreciate being able to get out for a quick walk or have lunch in City Park.

Bumping into friends or making a new connection is the highlight of my day,” she said.

Alexander continues to build her vision for the business and the Glens Falls region.

“There is a shift taking place and as the world’s relationship with work continues to evolve, WorkSmart plans a second phase of expansion to meet the needs of our members and the greater Glens Falls region. I’m excited about all the opportunities,” she said.

WorkSmart can be reached at 518-480-7849. The website is www.WorkSmartGF.com and email is info@ worksmartgf.com.

Spencer Agan 23 years

Dennis Choiniere 46 years

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