Saratoga Business Journal - February 2022

FEB 17-24

SBJ P.O. Box 766 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL

VOL. 26 NO. 12

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Harness Racing Season Is Off And Running; Angelo Calbone To Retire This Year After Winter/Spring Meet Runs Three Days A Week 16 Years As CEO Of Saratoga Hospital

Jim Devaux was the top driver at Saratoga Harness in 2021 with 237 wins. The 2022 meet started in early February and runs into December.

Saratoga Hospital President and CEO Angelo G. Calbone will retire this year. Under his leadership, the hospital now provides care on three campuses—in Saratoga Springs, Malta and Wilton.

Melissa Simser-Iovino

Harness racing has returned to Saratoga Casino Hotel for its 81st season.

The winter/spring schedule began Feb. 5 and features Saturday, Sunday and Monday racing.

First race post time is 5 p.m. on Saturdays, and noon on Sundays and Mondays.

The summer live racing schedule will be Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights with a post time of 6:45 p.m. Racing runs through midDecember.

“We’re very excited to start our 81st season of live harness racing here at the historic spa oval,” said John Matarazzo, director of racing. “We want to thank our loyal fans for all their support and our horsemen for all their hard work during challenging times due to the pandemic. We’re looking forward to a great 2022 with 150 exciting live racing programs.”

“This year, horsemen will be competing for

over $15 million in purses, averaging $100,000 in purses per program, so we’re expecting some great racing,” said Peter Iovino, race secretary.

“We’ve also increased the purse of our signature race, the Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial Pace, to $250,000. We’re confident this race will attract a field of top pacers.”

New York State Sire Stakes action also returns in 2022, with two- and three-year-old trotters and pacers competing for over $1.5 million in purses.

Saratoga Casino Hotel, located on Crescent Avenue in Saratoga Springs, features slot machines, electronic table games, a luxury hotel, Vapor, Morton’s The Steakhouse, two full-service restaurants, a casual dining restaurant, three fullservice bars, deli and a variety of guest services.

For a complete live racing schedule go to www. saratogacasino.com.

Courtesy Saratoga Hospital

Saratoga Hospital President and CEO Angelo G. Calbone will retire later this year, ending a 16year tenure that transformed both the hospital and healthcare in the region.

“Every family in Saratoga County has access to better healthcare because of what Angelo and his team have built,” said Michael J. Toohey, Saratoga Hospital board of trustees chairperson in lauding the impact of the CEO and his team. “They have expanded and improved services, invested in facilities, technology and talent, and elevated the quality of care and reputation of this hospital.”

Equally important, Toohey added, “They have laid the foundation for Saratoga County residents to continue to benefit from excellent healthcare for years to come.”

Calbone intends to step down by the end of the summer, fulfilling a long-standing promise to his family that he would retire at age 65. He informed

the board of trustees in January to provide ample time to name his successor, who will be recruited via a nationwide search that will include internal and external candidates.

For Calbone, it has been a labor of love and, above all, a team effort.

“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve this community with this team,” he said. “Some of my most vivid memories will be of the courage and commitment they have displayed during the worst public health crisis in recent history.

“When our community needed them most, our team stepped up—and continues to rise to the occasion,” Calbone added. “They are the driving force behind all our accomplishments. They are Saratoga Hospital.”

Calbone took the helm at Saratoga Hospital in September 2006. Under his leadership, the hospital Continued On Page 9

Taft Furniture Sells Its Stores, Including Pleat Leads Saratoga County Chamber Of Route 50 Location, To Raymour & Flanigan Commerce Board Of Directors In 2022 Raymour & Flanigan, the largest furniture and mattress retailer in the Northeast and seventh largest nationwide, has acquired family-owned and operated Taft Furniture, including the Saratoga Springs store.

The company will acquire two locations and a warehouse, including Taft’s Albany location at 1960 Central Ave., which will become a Raymour & Flanigan Outlet and delivery facility, and the Saratoga location at 121 Ballston Ave., which will become a Raymour & Flanigan showroom.

Taft Furniture’s two locations will further expand Raymour & Flanigan’s presence in the area, joining three existing Raymour & Flanigan showrooms in the Capital Region.

“After nearly five decades in business, it has been our honor and privilege to serve the Capital Region, and it was an easy choice to choose to sell the business to Raymour & Flanigan,” said a Taft Furniture spokesperson. “Our goal has always been to loyally serve our customers through superior service, and Raymour & Flanigan has demonstrated a passion and dedication to that same goal.

“As we transition our business to Raymour & Flanigan, we thank our loyal customers for shopping with us, and know that they are in great hands going forward.”

As a family-owned and led company, Raymour & Flanigan is committed to upholding the same values

and exceptional standards set by Taft Furniture in the region, providing unmatched customer service and top-quality furniture to its customers.

“Our commitment to Taft Furniture’s customers is to continue the tradition of providing an exceptional shopping experience to each and every guest,” said Seth Goldberg, president, Raymour & Flanigan. “There’s something really special about shopping with a family-owned business, and we intend to bring that same care that Taft Furniture customers expect to our new locations.

As a champion of every community we’re in, we’re looking forward to serving the Capital Region for many years to come.”

The new locations will join three existing Raymour & Flanigan showrooms in the region, located in Latham, Niskayuna, and Clifton Park.

With the addition of two Taft Furniture locations, Raymour & Flanigan now has more than 140 locations in its footprint. Customers at these locations have access to Raymour & Flanigan’s wide merchandise selection, highly trained and knowledgeable associates (both online and instore) as well as delivery seven days per week, with delivery in three days or less on all in-stock items.

Raymour & Flanigan is the largest furniture and mattress retailer in the Northeast and seventh largest nationwide. The retailer has 104 showrooms, 36 outlet stores and five clearance centers.

Tara Anne Pleat, of Wilcenski & Pleat PLLC, is the 2022 chair of the board of directors of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.

Pleat assumed the role on Jan. 1, 2022, succeeding Skip Carlson, vice president of external affairs, Saratoga Casino Hotel, who becomes the immediate past chair.

“After two years of shifting pandemic protocols and restrictions on business operations, hope abounds that 2022 is the year when the business community can focus on recovery and growth instead of survival,” said Pleat. “As chair of the Chamber’s 2022 Board of Directors, and as part of our expansive community recovery efforts, my goal is to bring back some of the Chamber’s most influential programming, including Leadership Saratoga and reimagined county-wide job fairs to support local employers challenged by the labor shortage.

“The Chamber will continue to support the entire community in the hope that those who are able will support the Chamber in return. We believe our community has been, and always will be,Stronger Together.”

The chair elect for 2022 is Amy Smith, of Saratoga Arms Hotel, who will become the chair in 2023. The 2022 vice chair is Chad Kiesow of Stewart’s Shops.

The treasurer and secretary is Randy Metevier of

Tara Anne Pleat is 2022 chair of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce board.

Courtesy Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce

Applied Materials.

New members elected to serve a three-year terms on the board, running through Dec. 31, 2024, include Heath Ames, Cantina; Sue Commanda, Hudson River Community Credit Union; and Eric Continued On Page 15

2 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 2022

BARE Blends Offers Healthy Foods, Juices On Congress Street In Down Saratoga Springs

Personnel Briefs •

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Debra A. Verni recently joined Rowlands, LeBrou, & Griesmer, PLLC bringing more than 20 years’ experience in the practice of elder law, long-term care and estate tax planning, asset protection, and estate

administration.

Verni graduated from Syracuse University College of Law with a juris doctorate degree concentrating in tax and estate law in 2001. She graduated from Cazenovia College with a Bachelor of Professional Studies in business management in 1998.

She is a member of the Trusts & Estates and Elder Law & Special Needs planning sections of the New York State Bar Association, and member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. She is also a board member for the Estate Planning Council of Eastern NY. Verni practices law in the Saratoga and Latham offices, and frequently lectures on estate and medicaid planning issues. *

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Capital Bank, a division of Chemung Canal Trust Company, announced that Tracey L. Wardwell, assistant vice president and Saratoga County retail manager, was named 2021 Banker of the Year by Pursuit Community Finance, formerly known as NYBDC. The award, presented to Wardwell by Pursuit Vice President Nicole Scribner, recognizes outstanding dedication to the small business community.

Wardwell joined the company in 2018 and currently oversees Capital Bank’s branch offices in Clifton Park and Wilton.

Wardwell graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business, with a concentration in finance and a minor in economics, from St. John Fisher College in Rochester. *

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Arrow Financial Corp. has promoted named executive officers David S. DeMarco, David D. Kaiser, Edward J. Campanella and Andrew J. Wise to senior executive vice presidents of Arrow and its subsid-

iary banks as a reflection of the company’s strong operational and financial performance.

Each will continue in their primary roles overseeing the management of critical functions for Arrow, Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Co. and Saratoga National Bank and Trust Co. In addition to serving as chief banking officer of Arrow and Glens Falls National Bank, DeMarco is president and CEO of Saratoga National Bank and Trust Co. Campanella continues as treasurer and chief financial officer, Kaiser continues as chief credit officer, and Wise continues as chief operating officer, each for Arrow and its two banks. *

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Maureen Mahoney, who has worked in a variety of capacities at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame since joining the institution in 2015, has been named the museum’s development director.

A native of Glens Falls and a graduate of Skidmore College, Mahoney will lead the museum’s development and sponsorship initiatives and assume a prominent role in special events, marketing, and outreach.

Prior to being named to her new role, Mahoney served the museum as development and membership officer and played key roles in social media and special events, including the museum ball.

After graduating from Skidmore in 2013 with a B.A. in art history and a minor in studio art, Mahoney worked as an educator at the World Awareness Children’s Museum in Glens Falls prior to joining the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. *

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Brian V. Carolan, Ph.D. has joined SUNY Empire State College as dean of the School for Graduate Studies.

He will take on a wide range of responsibilities including planning, academic development, program delivery, academic quality, enrollment management, and increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion across the Continued On Page 6

Kim Mackey, left, owner of BARE Blends poses in the establishment with Britany Mackey, manager.

The Saratoga Springs shop opened on Congress Street in January. ©2022 Saratoga Photographer.com

BY JENNIFER FARNSWORTH BARE Blends is a new eatery in Saratoga Springs offering dishes like Beach Bum Bowl and Chunky Monkey, smoothies, juices and more.

Sisters Sue Collett and Kim Mackey opened the 18 Congress St. location last month and are already developing a following.

BARE Blends is a new franchise and they are proud to be one of the first ones in the area. Other Capital District locations include Albany, Clifton Park, and Latham.

“We see customers of all ages, people who are health focused and just want delicious food. It makes us so happy to see school-aged customers come in often to get their bowls,” said Mackey.

The made-to-order bowls, smoothies and juices often include “superfoods,” which are nutrientdense ingredients meant to be a major health boost, all while being plant-based, gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan. The menu includes protein drinks, sweet and savory waffle toasts, salads, a kids menu and a “bark bowl” for dogs. There is also an assortment of grab-and-go retail items like granola and ingredients that can be used to make a custom BARE Blends juice cleanse. All

packaging is considered to be environmentally safe and sustainable.

Mackey said she and her sister knew Annie Berder, who started BARE Blends with her business partner. They fell in love with BARE philosophy. Mackey said having lived in Saratoga for 23 years, they felt confident that it would be a great addition to the downtown area.

“We chose this location because it is within walking distance to Broadway and it has a parking lot which is a hard thing to find in downtown Saratoga,” said Mackey.

She said Saratoga hasn’t had anything like this brand until now. The Saratoga location is different because of its localized fare that includes a few Saratoga-themed dishes like the Jockey Juice, Broadway Beauty, and the Runner Up. Currently they have eleven employees.

BARE Blends is open seven days a week, Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. Indoor seating is available, and outdoor seating will be offered during warmer months.

Its website is at bareblends.com. and the phone number is 518-886-1426.

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SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 2022 • 3

Group To Unveil A New Craft Brewery, Hotel & Lodging Association Predicts Speckled Pig Brewing Co., In Ballston Spa Move To Recovery Will Be Uneven, Volatile

The owners of a new craft brewery being built in Ballston Spa,Speckled Pig Brewing Co., from left are Larry Heid, Mary-Jo Heid, Kelly Delaney-Elliott, R.J. Elliott and Randy Elliott. ©2022 Saratoga Photographer.com

BY SUSAN ELISE CAMPBELL A brand new company is tapping into the market for locally crafted beer at 11-13 Washington St. in Ballston Spa, a building owned by the Elliott Family, who are business owners and long-time residents of the community.

Speckled Pig Brewing Co. will be the first in the village to not only serve their own beer on tap, but also to craft their products on site, according to R.J. Elliott, who is managing the project for the brewery’s five owners.

“Nearly two years ago my parents and I purchased a rundown building that we had eyed for many years,” said Elliott, a business analyst and recent graduate of the New York University master’s program in industrial engineering.

The Elliott Family paid $180,000 for a building that the owner George Hannahs used at one time for a storefront beauty salon and for storage over the decades..

Randy Elliott, R.J.’s father, is a local contractor and his construction company is responsible for the build-out. His mother is Kelly Delaney Elliott, a long-time real estate agent associated with Coldwell Banker Prime Properties.

While the three Elliotts own the building, the brewery has two other co-owners, Larry and Mary Jo Heid.

“I met Kelly while looking for property in Ballston Spa,” Larry Heid said. “I had started a home brewery with my son five years ago and was at a stage in my life when I was looking for something different.”

Speckled Pig Brewing Co. is registered as a New York Farm Brewery. This means 80 percent of the hops and grain used to make product must be sourced from within the state.

There will be wood-fired ovens in the sightline of customers and they will make fresh baked pizza, Elliott said.

Elliott said the site plan submitted to the

town places the tap room and pizza ovens in the front of the building and the beer barrels in back. When details are finalized, there will likely be seating for 40 people, according to Heid.

“Seven barrels will produce about 750 pours at a time,” said Heid, who has oversight for brewing. “We will be turning over three times a week, so product will always be fresh.”

He said that the beers the company decides to brew are dictated by the market.

“I like making New England IPAs and stouts,” he said. “We will also offer a pilsner and a sour beer, as these are popular now.”

Having made “a batch a week for more than five years,” Heid said he gained some of his skills in brewing from taking classes. But the bulk of his knowledge “comes from trial and error.”

The Speckled Pig will also make seltzers inhouse and serve wines and ciders from New York growers.

The work on the building exterior is completed.

“The building has been freshened up with new windows, a new sidewalk, and some added landscaping,” Elliott said.

He said the partners are “excited to bring something different into the community” and that they plan to partner with Schenectady County Community College and its comprehensive brewer internship program.

“At any time there are probably a dozen students in the program and we hope to bring in three or four interns to learn hands-on at the Speckled Pig Brewing Co.,” said Heid. “The goal is to be able to hire one of them full time as a brewer or assistant brewer after graduation.”

The partners are hoping for a June opening.

Initially the taproom will be open Wednesdays through Sundays with live music on weekends, according to Heid.

Heid said the partners want to make the taproom “a neighborhood place where people can gather and get good value.”

The hotel industry will continue moving toward recovery in 2022, but the path will be uneven and potentially volatile, and full recovery is still several years away, according to the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA)’s 2022 State of the Hotel Industry report.

The report, which reveals shifts in consumer and business sentiment, was created in collaboration with AHLA Silver Partner Accenture and is based on data and forecasts from Oxford Economics and AHLA Platinum Partner STR. The top findings of the report include: • Hotel occupancy rates and room revenue are projected to approach 2019 levels in 2022.

• The outlook for ancillary revenue, which includes food & beverage and meeting space, is less optimistic.

• Hotels lost a collective $111.8 billion in room revenue alone during 2020 and 2021.

• Leisure travelers will continue to drive recovery: in 2019, business travelers made up 52.5 percent of industry room revenue; in 2022, it is projected to represent just 43.6 percent.

• Business travel is expected to remain down more than 20 percent for much of the year, while just 58 percent of meetings and events are expected to return. The full effects of Omicron are not yet known.

• Changing traveler segments, including the rapid rise of leisure travelers—those who blend business and leisure travel—are impacting how hotels operate. In fact, one study of global business travelers found 89 percent wanted to add a private holiday to their business trips in the next twelve months.

• In this new environment, technology will be even more critical to a property’s success, according to AHLA Platinum Partner Oracle Hospitality—with hotels investing in technology to meet the needs of both guests and employees today and in the future.

“Hotels have faced enormous challenges over the past two years, and we are still a long way from full recovery. The uncertainty about the Omicron variant suggests just how difficult it will be to predict travel readiness in 2022,

adding to the challenges hotels are already facing,” said Chip Rogers, president and CEO of AHLA. “The slow return of business travel and fewer meetings and events continue to have a significant negative impact on our industry. The growth of leisure and bleisure travel represents a shift for our industry, and hotels will continue evolving to meet the needs of these ‘new’ travelers.”

“Travel and hospitality brands still face an uncertain marketplace, but all these changes also herald a new era of opportunity to drive longterm customer loyalty. They should flex with demand and respond to the added complexities and volatility in travel by delivering a ‘travel partner’ mentality to their leisure and business customers,” said Liselotte De Maar, managing director in Accenture’s travel industry.

“Travelers are now not only focused on price and quality of a location, but also on cleanliness and sustainability values and impact, and expect a clearer, more digital service. Companies will need to continue to digitally transform, reinvent their loyalty model, as well as rethink the employee proposition, if they wish to thrive.”

AHLA officials said unlike other industries, hotels have been dealing with a major workforce shortage which could impact recovery. The AHLA Foundation is launching a new, national, multichannel ad campaign to help fill the hundreds of thousands of open jobs in the hotel industry. The pandemic wiped out 10 years of job growth.

This multi-year effort, “The Hotel Industry: A Place to Stay,” aims to help job seekers discover the 200-plus career pathways and many perks that the industry offers, including competitive wages, benefits, flexible schedules, and travel opportunities.

The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) is the sole national association representing all segments of the U.S. lodging industry. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AHLA focuses on strategic advocacy, communications support and workforce development programs to move the industry forward.

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4 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 2022

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Saratoga County Restaurant Week To Run February 17-24 At Various Area Restaurants

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Publication Date: March 10, 2022

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SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL

Participating restaurants during Saratoga County Restaurant Week will offer special menus which patrons will have a chance to enjoy with both takeout and dine-in options.

The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce announced that Saratoga County Restaurant Week: Save Our Locals Edition will run from Thursday, Feb. 17, to Thursday, Feb. 24 at various restaurants in the area.

“We saw an outpouring of community support with Save Our Locals $20.21, and we wanted to take the opportunity to continue the momentum by reminding our residents that saving our locals doesn’t end now that it’s 2022,” said Todd Shimkus, Chamber president.

Similar to years past, participating restaurants will offer special menus for the week, which patrons will have a chance to enjoy with both takeout and dine-in options.

In Save Our Locals fashion, patrons can submit their receipts from participating restaurants throughout the week for a chance to win one of a variety of gift cards.

“Driscoll Foods is thrilled to sponsor Saratoga County’s Restaurant Week: Save Our Locals Edition,” said Steven Donnelly, division vice president, Driscoll Foods. “Our locally owned restaurants are an integral part of Saratoga’s thriving community, and we wish to do all we can to support them in what are still difficult times for the industry. I look forward to seeing the menus these talented chefs come up with and enjoying a great meal with family and friends.”

“Saratoga Eagle is a family-run business whose headquarters started right here in Saratoga Springs,” said John Rogan, general manager, Saratoga Eagle. “Saratoga County was

Courtesy Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce

built on small, family-owned, local businesses, and we want to make sure that tradition continues! It’s exciting to have the opportunity to be part of this event, and, as a sponsor, Saratoga Eagle is proud to contribute with Kona Brewing so we can spread liquid aloha and warm thoughts to everyone!”

The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce has been spearheading the annual event for the last five years. Most recently, during the height of COVID-19, the Chamber reimagined Restaurant Week as Takeout Month, transforming the traditional event into a month-long opportunity for residents to support local restaurants across the county while also remaining socially distant and staying safe with take-out options.

“When we dine and take out locally, we’re directly supporting our neighbors and fellow community members who own restaurants here in Saratoga County,” said Shimkus. “We have a great line-up of restaurants this year with options for all different types of culinary cravings. We hope to see you out enjoying a meal during Restaurant Week!”

Menus can be found on the Chamber’s website with additional details about the participating restaurants and how to enter for a chance to win.

For more information on Restaurant Week, visit: www.saratoga.org/restuarant-week-saveour-locals.

To see a list of participating restaurants and their menus, visit: www.saratoga.org/ restaurant-week-save-our-locals/#menus.

Washington County New Business Registrations JANUARY Vector Properties PO Box 282 Hudson Falls, NY 12839

Featherstone Farm 41 Black Creek Rd. Salem, NY 12865

Retro Hoarders Gaming 147 Broadway Whitehall, NY 12887

TJ and Sons Welding 51 Haviland Rd. Fort Ann, NY 12827

Floor Prep Solutions 842 Middle Rd. Granville, NY 12832

The Restore Barn 2118 Coach Rd. Argyle, NY 12809

Byler Wood Working 204 County Route 18 Whitehall, NY 12887

R and R Creations 40 Washington St. Greenwich, NY 12834

Edgewood Farm 56 General Fellows Rd. Greenwich, NY 12834

Economy Self Storage 2 4340 State Route 4 Hudson Falls, NY 12839

Dry Brook Sugar House 432 Chambers Rd. Salem, NY 12865

PBJKreations 66 Country Acres Dr. Hudson Falls, NY 12839

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 2022 • 5

Gore Mountain, With Facility Improvements Greenfield Ambulance Serving Some 8,200 And Key Races, Is Poised For More Growth Residents With Help From Corinth EMS

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Through Jan. 31, the state-owned center had welcomed 101,000 visitors this year, with more than two full months to go.

Officials said most of Gore’s guests are daytrip visitors from the greater Capital Region and surrounding Adirondacks, although it also attracts large numbers of Metro New York skiers who stay for multiple days.

Gore, which opened in 1964, is operated by the Olympic Regional Development Authority.

About $3.5 million worth of capital improvements such as trail improvements, additional snowmaking and two new grooming machines were made last summer and fall, in preparation for the current ski season.

But much bigger plans are on the horizon.

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Executive Budget proposal includes $30 million for a sparkling new 18,300-square-foot lodge complete with a restaurant and tavern, ski and mountain biking shops and ski patrol headquarters, at the North Creek Ski Bowl site.

The new facility, expected to become a year-round destination, will include a unique recreational offering called a Rail Zipline, which combines features of a zipline with a rail system, similar to an alpine coaster.

Riders will take a treetop trolley ride up the mountain on a route that includes several switchbacks and spirals. Once at the top, they’ll begin a high-speed descent up to 30 mph through several thrilling features before arriving back at the base.

Plans also call for a new chairlift and expanding the terrain with new trails near the Ski Bowl, where skiers first visited North Creek by train from Schenectady in March 1934.

ORDA hopes to have the project completed by autumn 2023.

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Paul Post

BY PAUL POST Athletes from across the country are converging on Gore Mountain this month, setting the stage for one of the world’s largest sports spectacles a year from now.

The Holeshot Cross Tour (held Feb. 5-11) and USASA Futures Tour ( held Feb. 11-18) give the nation’s top junior freestyle skiers and snowboarders a chance to earn points in their quest to race professionally.

“These are two types of events, ski cross and slope style, we’ll be hosting for next year’s World University Games as well as big air,” said Stephanie Backes, Gore Mountain marketing director. “It’s putting Gore on the map for this caliber of competition and exposing us to people from around the country who have never been here before. It definitely helps lodging and restaurant business.”

World University Games are surpassed in size only by the Olympics, with about 1,600 athletes from 50 nations expected for next year’s competition based in Lake Placid.

But Gore will host all freestyle skiing and boarding events, further enhancing its already prominent role as an economic engine in Warren County’s winter tourism industry.

Gore hosted 217,000 guests last winter, up significantly from the 189,000 who visited in 2019/20. Backes attributed this to the COVID-19 pandemic that sparked a major rise in all types of outdoor activity as many other forms of entertainment weren’t available.

In addition, the pandemic gave people working from home more opportunities to take time off. Last year, Gore saw a huge rise in midweek, non-holiday period visits, which have leveled off a bit this winter, but are still higher than pre-COVID attendance.

area, which also includes Prestwick Chase retirement community and Maple Avenue Middle School. Fogarty will also serve as director of Greenfield Ambulance and will staff the new service with his 36 current employees.

“Th is arrangement will be a win for both the Town of Greenfield and the Town of Corinth, Fogarty said. “Both communities will receive enhanced emergency services in the most efficient way possible.”

Corinth Town Supervisor Eric Butler said Corinth Ambulance “has always been an object of pride for our community.

Th is new service agreement gives us the ability to provide more focused care for our communities at a lower cost.”

The town has been carefully examining how to efficiently improve EMS services for the past three years and a committee was formed in early 2021 led by Greenfield Town Board Member Rick Capasso and newlyelected Greenfield Town Supervisor Kevin Veitch, among others.

“We are thrilled about the opportunities this new facility and service will provide our residents,” said Veitch. “It is an operational strategy that benefits our growing town and positions us for the future.”

Veitch said the service will be funded in this year’s budget. The initial program is scheduled for three years and will be evaluated on an ongoing basis for cost and effectiveness.

He said Greenfield Ambulance will help the town better protect, prevent and mitigate health crises; maintain and disseminate more accurate medical information; and improve emergency medical response times.

In addition, the unit will be available to provide community health service support to local events.

The Town of Greenfield is home to 8,200 residents in Greenfield, Porter Corners and Middle Grove. It spans more than 41,000 acres of land bordering the Adirondacks.

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Through Jan. 31, the state-owned Gore Mountain ski center had welcomed 101,000 visitors this year, with more than two full months to go.

The Town of Greenfield has opened the doors of Greenfield Ambulance, which will offer 24-hour, seven-days-a-week emergency services at 14 South Greenfield Road.

Th rough a shared services partnership with the Town of Corinth EMS, the facility will house a full-time emergency medical technician and paramedic, as well as an ambulance and fi rst response vehicle. The full-time emergency medical services will benefit more than 8,200 Town of Greenfield residents, including those in Greenfield Center, Porter Corners, Middle Grove, Lake Desolation and Maple Avenue, officials said.

Former Town Supervisor Daniel Pemrick, who led this effort, said the municipal partnership with the Town of Corinth is the key for providing the infrastructure necessary for Greenfield to launch its town service.

“Corinth EMS is the ideal partner to bring better emergency services to our town,” said Pemrick. “They are a well-established, fi rstrate operation that will help us bring our residents the kind of fast, quality care we need.”

The new service will allow Greenfield, who has contracted with at times up to three different local EMS units, a permanent solution for efficient town-wide emergency services. The new facility is located across the street from the Greenfield Fire Department, in a newly renovated garage, that once housed the town’s Fire Department. Greenfield Ambulance will occupy approximately 1,500 square feet of the building, including a garage bay, a secured storage room for medical supplies, as well as living and sleeping quarters with a full bathroom and kitchenette.

Town of Corinth Director of EMS Matt Fogarty said Greenfield had approximately 600 emergency calls last year. The new centralized service will reduce response times for the town’s entire 68-square-mile

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6 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 2022

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SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL 2002 Business Of The Year

The Chamber of Southern Saratoga County P.O. Box 766 • Saratoga Springs, New York 12866 (518) 581-0600 • Fax: (518) 430-3020 • www.saratogabusinessjournal.com Editorial: RJDeLuke@saratogabusinessjournal.com Advertising: HarryW@saratogabusinessjournal.com Publisher & Editor Harry Weinhagen Associate Editor R.J. DeLuke Editor Emeritus Rod Bacon Sales and Customer Service Harry Weinhagen Production Manager Graphic Precision Photographer Stock Studios Photography Contributing Writers Susan Campbell Jill Nagy Jennifer Farnsworth Christine Graf Andrea Palmer Lisa Balschunat Saratoga Business Journal is published monthly, the second week of each month, by Weinhagen Associates, LLC and mailed to business and professional people in Saratoga county.

Saratoga Business Journal is independently owned and is a registered tradename of Weinhagen Associates, LLC, P.O. Box 766, Saratoga Springs, New York 12866 (518) 581-0600. Saratoga Business Journal is a registered tradename in New York.

Saratoga Business Journal has been founded to promote business in Saratoga county 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 Saratoga Business Journal which are the creative effort of its contractors, and printing materials supplied by Saratoga Business Journal are the property of Saratoga Business Journal and may not be reproduced by photographic or similar methods, or otherwise, without the specific authorization of Saratoga Business Journal.

school.

Dr. Carolan comes to the college from Sacred Heart University where he served as dean of graduate studies. He was associate dean and then acting dean of the graduate school at Montclair State University, where he also served as associate and then professor of quantitative research methods in the College of Education and Human Services, Department of Educational Foundations.

Prior to joining Montclair, he was assistant and then associate professor of educational foundations at the City University of New York, College of Staten Island in the Department of Education. He has research interests in social effects on educational achievement and outcomes.

Carolan earned a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Rutgers University, a Master of Philosophy in sociology from Columbia University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in sociology and education from Teachers College at Columbia University. He holds an advanced certificate in educational administration and supervision from Hunter College, The City University of New York. *

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Capital Region business law firm Lemery Greisler LLC announced the promotion of Meghan M. Breen to member.

Breen, who has been with Lemery Greisler for eight years, focuses her practice in the areas of bankruptcy, creditors’ rights, and commercial litigation. In the area of bankruptcy, she represents creditors, trustees and business debtors in Chapter 11, 13 and 7 cases with respect to a full range of issues, including stay relief and other related disputes or adversary proceedings.

In non-bankruptcy matters, she represents lending institutions and private lenders in creating commercial loan workout solutions, including restructuring and forbearance, and in state court litigation including foreclosure, replevin, and actions on notes and guarantees Prior to joining Lemery Greisler, Breen previously practiced with a law firm in New York City where she represented creditors, equity holders and creditors’ committees in Chapter 11 restructurings.

Breen is admitted to practice in all of New York’s State and Federal Courts and is a member of the New York State Bar Association. She currently serves as the vice president of the Capital Region Bankruptcy Bar Association and previously co-chaired its nationally recognized annual bankruptcy conference. *

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Advokate LLC, a Glens Falls design and marketing firm, announced the hiring of Cam Cardinale of South Glens Falls as marketing and communications associate.

Cardinale is a datadriven content creator, photographer and digital marketer with a passion for social media, small business and Glens Falls.

He is also employed by the Charles R. Wood Theater planning and executing marketing campaigns, engaging with patrons at the boxoffice, and assisting with fundraising. He also oversees marketing campaigns for Cardinale’s Car Care and has marketing and administrative experience.

Advokate LLC, offers logo design, branding, graphic design, social media, marketing, web design, videography, copywriting and PR services, and now, specializes in custom illustration and design. *

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The Saratoga County History Center has added four new trustees to its board.

William Allerdice works in his family’s business, Allerdice Building Supply Inc. A graduate of Saratoga Springs High School, he has sat on the boards of both Friends of Lake George Opera and Universal Preservation Hall.

Andrew Collier of Ballston Spa is a graduate of Saint Francis University with a degree in U.S. history. He has worked for a variety of organizations and campaigns in the advertising and consulting industry. He is currently employed by the National Public Pension Coalition.

James Richmond worked in Power Systems at General Electric for 40 years. He has published two books, “War on The Middleline” and “Milton,New York, A New Town in a New Nation” (with Kim McCartney). In 2018, he was a founding member of the Saratoga County History Roundtable, whose mission is to expand interest in local history through presentations, research, articles, and tours. In 2021, he led the effort to publish “Saratoga County Stories,” a compilation of weekly articles on Saratoga County history.

Frederick E. Sober Jr. is lifelong resident of Saratoga County and holds a bachelor’s degree from Siena College, and a juris doctor from University at Buffalo. He is an avid history enthusiast, and has practiced law for 25 years. *

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NBT Bancorp Inc. announced that Heidi M. Hoeller has joined the boards of directors for NBT Bancorp Inc. and NBT Bank, N.A. Hoeller is a retired Partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP with over 25 years of experience as a leader in audit and financial services.

Hoeller held numerous positions at PwC from November 1993 until her retirement in June 2019. She spent most of her career in the Northeast, including assignments in Syracuse, Hartford and Boston, where she served as audit partner on a diverse portfolio of clients within the insurance sector.

Prior to her retirement, she was a Financial Services Partner in PwC’s National Quality Organization for three years. During that time, she also led diversity and inclusion for a group of approximately 120 professionals.

Hoeller currently sits on the board of directors of Preferred Mutual Insurance Company, which she joined in May 2020.

Since 2011, she has been a member of the board of trustees for Utica College. Hoeller received her B.S. in accounting from Utica College. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and is a CPA licensed in New York. *

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EXIT Realty Empire Associates announced that Lisa Grassi Bartlett has been named associate broker.

Bartlett is currently a board of director and Committee Outreach Chair at the Southern Adirondack Realtors in Queensbury. She is also volunteers at The Open Door Mission and has the e-Pro, GRI, MRP, PSA, SRS Realtor designations. *

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Colden Company Inc., an IT Services provider with offices in Ballston Spa and Saint Augustine, Fla., announced that Todd Amato has been promoted to helpdesk manager.

Amato will be responsible for managing the Colden Company IT helpdesk, which the company said is a major factor in Colden receiving the MSP 501 award, which recognizes the top Managed Services Providers globally in an annual competition.

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 2022 • 7

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Comes To Halfmoon Garden Apartments And Canfield Halfmoon; Owner Says More Stores Possible Apartments Purchased By Latham Company

This Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen opened in Halfmoon, the latest franchise to be launched by Liberty Restaurants Holdings of Albany LLC. It operates 26 Popeyes, six Burger Kings, and five Arby’s.

BY SUSAN ELISE CAMPBELL A new Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, a southern style chicken restaurant, opened in Halfmoon, the latest franchise to be launched by Liberty Restaurants Holdings of Albany LLC. According to company president and CEO Laddi Singh, the Clifton Park area “has been one of our top markets since we opened our first franchised restaurant, a Burger King, in 2013.”

Singh and his brother Rana Kaknia have opened three franchises thus far in 2022, the most recent of which is the one located at 483 Route 146, Halfmoon.

“At least 10 more Popeyes restaurants will follow in the upstate New York and Connecticut markets this year,” said Singh. “We are always open to exploring new opportunities if they make sense.”

The Saratoga area will be part of that.

“We want everyone to be able to try us out without having to drive too far, so this is just the beginning for us in and around Saratoga County,” Singh said.

LRH currently owns and operates 26 Popeyes, six Burger Kings, and five Arby’s, Singh said. “Through investment in top-notch operations, we have been able to expand at a rapid pace.”

Many more franchises are in various stages of planning. Singh said the company has signed a large-scale development agreement in upstate New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania to build more than 30 restaurants over the next few years.

“LRH was the 2020 Popeyes Franchisee of the Year, selected for the firm’s commitment to excellence with operations, passion for their

©2022 Saratoga Photographer.com

customers, and investment in their teams,” said Heidi Cousineau, vice president of real estate and construction for LRH. Cousineau has partnered exclusively with real estate brokers Kevin Parisi and Cameron Quinlan of Trinity Realty Group in Albany to identify locations for all of LRH’s restaurants, she said.

“The expertise of TRG helps us evaluate each market very critically and to go after the best sites with the best visibility and access for our customers,” she said. “Since the 30plus store commitment is such a large effort, we are identifying markets with the strongest competitors and expanding in phases.

“All the while we bear in mind the existing geographical footprint of restaurants so we never compromise operations.”

Popeyes is committed to brand quality and consistency, and therefore the corporation has a prototypical image type and building type that franchisees must adhere to, according to Counsineau.

“LRH does not deviate from that type because it works and it’s beautiful,” she said.

“We make a huge investment in perfecting our signage and our site improvements so that we match the brand and customers can recognize the restaurant’s new image.”

Singh said he was “so thankful to the communities of Halfmoon and Clifton Park as well as the Shenendehowa School District for believing in our brand and supporting us on our opening day.” At the January openng, “lines of people wrapped around the building and onto the street for most of the day, which was a far better turnout than we could have hoped for.”

The Canfield Garden Apartments in Gansevoort have been purchased by Sunrise Garden Apartments, which also bought Halfmoon Garden Apartments.

Sunrise Management & Consulting in Latham has grown its multifamily apartment portfolio with the purchase of Halfmoon Garden Apartments in Clifton Park and Canfield Apartments in Gansevoort.

The sale was brokered by Dean and Ryan Taylor of Continuum Commercial Realty, and SEFCU fi nanced the transaction.

Sunrise will manage the communities.

“Halfmoon Garden Apartments and Canfield Apartments are valuable assets that fit nicely into our portfolio,” said Jesse Holland, president of Sunrise Management & Consulting. “We were impressed with the way the longtime owners cared for the properties and wish them well in their retirement. We look forward to getting to know the residents.”

Canfield Apartments in Gansevoort includes 49 one- and two-bedroom apartments, a laundromat and an office. The

Courtesy Sunrise Garden Apartments

community is located in a suburban setting where residents can stroll on the property’s lawns. It is an easy commute to Saratoga Springs or Glens Falls.

Halfmoon Garden Apartments in Clifton Park consists of 44 one- and two-bedroom apartments. It is centrally located near shopping and restaurants and is just a few minutes drive to Clifton Park Center Mall.

Sunrise Management & Consulting provides development consulting, marketing, leasing, and property management services for multifamily investors across the northeastern United States. Its professionals utilize innovative management and consulting programs to deliver consistent, dependable results that exceed industry performance standards.

For more information, visit www. sunrisemc.com.

©2022 Saratoga Photographer.com

Shelly DeCicco Client Liason HK Wealth Management Group Reads

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL

8 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 2022

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL

SPECIAL SECTION

Legal / Accounting

CPA Firm Bucknam & Conley Moves Into Steve Perkins’ New Law Practice Specializes Larger Space, Has Clients Across The U.S. In Real Estate, Trusts And Estate Planning

BY CHRISTINE GRAF Tax advisory CPA firm Bucknam & Conley has relocated its offices to a larger space at 18 Division St. in Saratoga Springs.

Founded 30 years ago by CPA Melinda Bucknam, the business has six employees. Comanaging partner Carissa Conley, CPA, joined the firm two years ago and formed a partnership with Bucknam in 2021.

“We focus on tax work,” said Conley. “We don’t do audit work, and we don’t work with nonprofits or government. We don’t take on small returns because clients won’t get the benefit of our services. Our main focus is on business advisory and tax advisory for businesses across the country of varying sizes and different markets.”

Approximately 50 percent of the firm’s clients are local, and the rest are spread out throughout the United States. Many operate in multiple states and require multi-state returns.

Bucknam & Conley utilizes the latest technology and is 100 percent cloud based. For them, it remained business as usual when the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered offices.

“We already had a half and half work schedule and people were working from home half the time and coming into the office half of the time,” said Conley. “When COVID hit, our work flow did not stop at all. It was tax season, and we were able to get everything done. Our clients didn’t even notice that anything had changed.”

Since the start of the pandemic, staff at Buckman & Conley have helped clients optimize their employee retention credits and apply for New York State grants as well as PPP and EIDL loans. Many of their clients are restaurants— including many in downtown Saratoga--and all were able to survive the pandemic.

“We have done a lot of work with all of the COVID relief programs, and it’s still going on,” said Conley. “We are still doing a lot with the employee retention tax credit because the IRS kept changing how it should be reported. A lot of restaurants and other employers were carrying over these credits, so we’re still trying to get these processed and get the clients the tax credits or the refund that they deserve. But the IRS is extremely behind this year and are not even processing most of what they are receiving.”

Some of the firm’s clients have been waiting more than eighteen months for their tax refunds while others have not yet had their 2020 returns processed. Conley said it is nearly impossible to get through to a live agent at the IRS. “There’s no one answering the phone at the IRS, and if you do get through, you get put on hold for 60 or 90 minutes. You either get

Co-managing partner Carissa Conley of the tax advisory CPA firm Bucknam & Conley.

Dania Bagyi Photography

©

disconnected or someone answers and tells you that there is nothing anyone can do.”

“Right now, I’m advising clients not to overpay their taxes—try to get closer to the exact amount.

And if they are overpaid for 2021, maybe apply it to 2022 and change your withholding or estimated payment so that you aren’t expecting the cash to come back. You will increase the tax that is in your pocket now. I know a lot of people like to have a refund, but it’s just not worth it right now if you are not going to get it.”

As of the end of the year, the IRS still had 6 million unprocessed individual returns. As a result, some people are receiving panic-inducing letters from the IRS stating that their assets will be seized due to unpaid taxes.

“It’s terrifying for people. The notices just keep coming, and they are impossible to stop,” said Conley. “I have a client who the IRS thinks owes a significant amount of money. We filed an amended return at the beginning of last year, and the IRS actually owes her money. But they haven’t processed the return yet, so she is still getting tax notices that she owes money as well as penalties and interest and now we are going to come after you because you didn’t pay it.

“We were able to get them to put a hold on the account for 120 days, but we are approaching that mark now and they still haven’t processed it.”

In addition to helping clients navigated the unique challenges brought on by the pandemic and the IRS backlog, staff at Buckman & Conley are closely monitoring changing tax laws and the floundering Build Back Better bill.

For more information, visit www.saratogacpa. com.

Attorney Steve Perkins left McPhillips, Fitzgerald & Cullum in Glens Falls to start his own law firm.

He specializes in real estate, trusts and estates, and estate planning.

BY CHRISTINE GRAF Saratoga Springs attorney Steve Perkins has announced the opening of his new fi rm, Perkins Law PLLC. The Siena College and Albany Law School graduate handles cases in Saratoga, Albany, Warren, and Washington counties. Perkins, a native of Saratoga Springs, works from home in order to keep overhead costs low. He meets with clients at 524 Maple Ave., Suite 2, a space he leases from attorney Rita Young.

During law school, Perkins interned at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, litigation fi rm Wilson Elser, and Ayco, a Goldman Sachs Company.

After graduating in 2016, he worked for McPhillips, Fitzgerald & Cullum in Glens Falls. He started in the real estate department before moving into trusts and estates.

Five years later, in the fall of 2021, Perkins made the decision to open his own fi rm.

“I’m defi nitely still in the building phase,” he said. “My model is that I work from home but when I need to meet with clients, I use the conference space on Maple Avenue. I really like that model right now, and I think a lot of people are doing that. It’s really been working for me to help keep my costs down.”

Perkins specializes in real estate, trusts and estates, and estate planning. He also provides services related to business law and business formation and dissolution.

©2022 Saratoga Photographer.com

“I’m advertised right now as general practice, but those are the areas that I emphasize and those are really where my skills are,” he said. “I have a friend who did this a couple of years ago who I have been able to bounce ideas off of, and he really focused his practice on one area of the law to set himself apart in that area. That is really my goal too.”

Since forming his LLC in October, business has increased steadily, he said. As his fi rm grows, Perkins plans to expand staff and lease a dedicated office space. He is currently focused on building his client base and investing in soft ware and technology. He is also working with a marketing consultant.

“I’ve had some wrinkles, but it has just kind of built organically. Th is last month is going to be my best month so far fi nancially speaking.

A lot of my business is through referrals from friends and family and past clients I’ve served at the fi rm I was at,” he said.

Although Perkin admits that going out on his own has been scary, he fi nds it equally rewarding.

“I like talking to people, meeting with people, and meeting with clients and getting to know them and gaining their trust. I’m looking forward to building and growing and helping the local community.”

For more information, visit www. perklawpllc.com or call 518-727-3241.

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 2022 • 9

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Business Report Dealing With Cryptocurrency In A Divorce

BY RYAN MCCALL, ESQ. Cryptocurrency has become one of the newest and most prevalent investments of the last two years. As a result, the courts are now faced with the prospect of having to evaluate and distribute cryptocurrency as a marital asset during a divorce proceeding.

What makes this new and innovative technology so complex is figuring out how much each cryptocurrency is worth.

Assuming a spouse is using a U.S.-based exchange, determining the value of an individual cryptocurrency is relatively simple. All that is needed is a subpoena duces tecum to that institution to obtain the necessary documents.

Under these pretenses, the subpoenaing attorney would receive statements detailing how many funds were listed with that exchange and the assets could be easily valued as of any given date just as if dealing with stocks and investment assets.

However, what has become increasingly difficult is the rise of popular international cryptocurrency exchanges. Many of these exchanges are unregulated and will not comply with United States federal regulations. Courts should not be deterred by this in establishing a value for cryptocurrency as a marital asset.

In theory, certain cryptocurrencies—with the most popular one being Bitcoin—utilize blockchain technology, with each individual Bitcoin having a different identification number than the next. Blockchain technology has a continuous ledger of ongoing transactions that are performed and tracked.

With that being said, there are numerous ways savvy investors can attempt to hide their funds. The most popular way for someone to do this is through a “tumbler” which can issue a separate Bitcoin or fraction of a Bitcoin from the one currently in your possession. This creates a very difficult scenario for lawyers who would be faced with the task of attempting to track down these funds.

What is beginning to take place in the court system is identifying the value of a cryptocurrency based on funds that were withdrawn from an account.

Calbone To Retire Continued From Page 1

has expanded significantly, reflecting his vision of improving the region’s health, in part, by bringing services closer to those in the community. Saratoga Hospital now provides care on three campuses—in Saratoga Springs, Malta and Wilton—and at over 20 locations across the county.

Its Saratoga Hospital Medical Group has more than 300 providers in over 30 specialties.

In addition, the hospital’s Saratoga Community Health Center makes high-quality, affordable care available to those who are underserved or underinsured. As an affiliate of the Albany Med

Ryan J. McCall, associate at Tully Rinckey PLLC with offices in Albany and Saratoga Springs.

Courtesy Tully Rinckey

For example, if someone were to electronically transfer 5,000 from a marital bank account to a crypto currency exchange that is not regulated, a judge would be able to peg the value of $5,000 to a specific cryptocurrency and appreciate the value from there based on the date of the withdrawal.

In the event someone was to claim that they do not currently have the asset or exchanged it for a different cryptocurrency that performed poorly, the court should issue a value that would create a rebuttable presumption for the party that is alleged to have withdrawn the funds from the marital account.

While many have still yet to learn about cryptocurrency, with the massive increase in popularity it has sustained, cryptocurrency issues related to divorce proceedings are guaranteed to increase in the coming years. It is important that with this new form of investment, you understand how the courts will view them in the event of a separation.

If you are going through a divorce, it may be beneficial to you and your future to consult with a legal professional with experience in this area so you can best manage your assets.

Health System, Saratoga Hospital connects patients to the higher-level care available locally only at the Capital Region’s sole academic medical center.

Saratoga Hospital also has gained national recognition and is typically among the first in the region to attain voluntary certifications and “centers of excellence” designations for various service lines.

Before joining Saratoga Hospital, Calbone was president and CEO of Mount St. Mary’s Hospital and Health Center in Lewiston/Niagara Falls, New York, and CEO of the Health System of Niagara.

He has a bachelor’s degree from West Liberty State College in West Virginia and a master’s in Health Services Administration from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

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Business Report A Successful Succession Plan

BY DAVID A. KUBIKIAN, ESQ. The word “succession” has become a larger part of our lexicon because HBO a few years back created an immensely watchable show about the cut-throat world of a family owned media company where hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake depending on who gets to take over when Dad leaves (or dies).

Entertaining? Yes. Realistic? Maybe. A learning moment? Definitely.

Succession is defined as being “the action or process of inheriting a title, position, property, etc.”

Every business, regardless of size, will deal with a succession event if it is in business long enough.

While family in-fighting on private jets may be reserved for the Roy family on TV Sunday evenings, the planning as to the who, when, and how your business transitions from one generation to the next (or not at all) is something that should take shape long before an actual transition happens.

To illustrate this point, consider a few common issues that come up: 1. The Estate Planning Angle. An all too typical scenario, the business, started by one generation has a younger generation heavily involved. One child seems to have the chops to continue to run the business once “Dad” hands over the reins (that is IF he ever hands over the reins). Another child is involved but not as much.

A third child has no interest in the business and in fact lives out of town. Dad’s estate plan is to treat all of his kids the same. That is, his Last will and testament or his living trust state that all assets held by the trust or governed by the will pass evenly to his “issue”.

Does this include the business? The technical answer is that it depends on how the business is structured and how it is owned. Whether the business has operating documents concerning the transfers of shares at death or whether there is a buy-sell agreement in place. In the event that the organizational documents reflect a certain chain of ownership, what impact does that have on the distribution of non-business assets via Will/Trust?

To further complicate things, the children who remain owners don’t see eye to eye on well, anything.

You have seen it on screen but it happens quietly offscreen all the time.

Oh by the way, what about Mom? Did Dad leave the shares to her? Now what? The fact pattern quickly turns to chaos and dysfunction. No real leadership, no real vision. Create a plan.

2. The Non-Familial Heir. A similar scenario to the above fact pattern except the real “go-getter” at the business is not family at all. Dad’s right hand woman is a company lifer who not only knows everything about the business but has had to deal with Dad’s kids the last few years. The question as to the best interests of the company are likely different than the best interests of the kids. Dad’s business is his largest asset. Now what?

Again, not an uncommon scenario however

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David Kubikian is a principal with Herzog Law Firm in Albany and Saratoga Springs.

Courtesy Herzog Law

one that needs even more planning and thought.

Wanting the business to go to an integral executive/ manager and wanting to leave your family the value of your business can be mutually exclusive ideas. Through agreements where the actual value or conceptual value of a business is set forth, Dad’s death or retirement can provide a pathway for the employee to buy the business from the family without drama. Create a plan.

3. The Question of Value. For a lot of businesses, particularly small ones, the value of the business is closely tied to the owner of the business. Business owners need to ask themselves this simple question: If you could not operate your business, how would that impact the value of the business? For many, they ARE the business. The inability to operate will mean there is no value. Machines and offices may be rented.

Other assets may be leveraged. Your book of business may not be as valuable as you thought, particularly when the service can no longer be provided by you.

Have a business partner? When all is well, money is coming in and growth is apparent. Even if you have a wonderful operating agreement which makes sure to state the destination of shares upon an owner’s death, perhaps even with a set price tag associated with it, too often businesses do not have the liquidity to be able to follow through with the buy-out of the surviving spouse/family. The solution here is an old friend, life insurance.

When properly insured, a small business can proved an injection of cash that will allow an owner’s estate/spouse/family to receive money from the remaining owners without destroying the business.

Create a plan.

The right path for your business will likely change multiple times as your business does as well. It is common for business owners to plan for success (the opposite of failure), growth, expansion, etc.

Unfortunately, it is entirely common for business owners to fail to plan for succession.

Create a plan.

10 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 2022

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL

SPECIAL SECTION

Construction Planning ‘Park Place On The Peninsula’ Will Be A New Hospitality Area Being Built Near 244-Unit Apartment Complex In Halfmoon Paddock At Saratoga Race Course

BY CHRISTINE GRAF Gail Krause and Jeffrey Gordon, partners on Park Place on the Peninsula on the Mohawk River in Halfmoon, were awarded $2.8 million in tax incentives for their proposed $44 million, 244-unit apartment complex.

Krause is local realtor and former owner of Krause’s Restaurant & Grove, and Gordon is the co-owner of Albany-based Gordan Companies which manages several million square feet of commercial, retail, and residential space. They specialize in creating “affordable luxury.”

Krause’s plans for the 36-acre parcel of land have changed over the years to meet the demands of the market. She has been working to develop the property for more than fifteen years.

“Back in 2004 or 2005, it was going to be condos,” she said. “I got my approvals for condos, and when the market for condos went bad, I decided not to do condos anymore and started working on apartments around 2008. It was all market driven.”

Four years ago, Krause partnered with Gordon whose brother, Dave Gordon, was involved in the project before his retirement. Although it is Krause’s first major development project, Gordon Companies has numerous luxury apartments in their portfolio including Park Place at Saratoga and Park Place at Wilton.

One of the project’s major hurdles involved the installation of an approximate three-mile sewer extension along Beach, Clamsteam, and Dunsbach roads. The extension will benefit the town because other commercial properties will have the ability to tie into it in the future. Total infrastructure improvements costs for the property are projected at $7.7 million.

Micheli Contracting of Rensselaer started clearing the land and prepping it for construction in 2019. All work was halted due to the pandemic, but crews are back on the job site. Installation of the off-site sewer is currently underway and could be completed by May or June.

“It all depends on the weather, but they are moving along and haven’t slowed down at all,” said Krause. “It’s full steam ahead, and so far, so good.

The pipe was delayed, but it’s all there now.”

Supply chain shortages have improved, but material prices remain high. As a result, the total cost of the project could increase as much as 35 percent.

“The shortages haven’t been that bad, and we

This is a rendering of one of the units that will comprise Park Place on the Peninsula. finally got everything delivered to the site. The vertical is where we are going to run into problems because there are a lot of shortages with things like windows and appliances,” she said. “But the price of everything has gone up a great deal. Prices are up anywhere from 25 to 35 percent.”

The majority of the on-site work has been completed, and construction will begin after the sewer is completed. Although Park Place on the Peninsula has been approved for 244 units, the first phase of construction will include 150 apartments.

There is already a waiting list for the luxury apartments, but it is unlikely that they will be completed until late 2023. The one and twobedroom apartments will have private entrances and garages. The complex will have a gym, yoga rooms, a clubhouse, 24-hour on-site maintenance, and many other amenities.

“The land is very private, and there will be walking trails and biking trails that will connect right into the Halfmoon Trails. There will be fishing piers, and the Town of Halfmoon will have a park there,” she said. “It’s on the water, and the view is breathtaking.”

Although this is the first project partnership between Krause and Gordon, she said it won’t be the last.

“We are working on other projects, and I can’t discuss it, but there will be more to come. We have a good partnership.”

This is a rendering of the Post Bar and Paddock Suite, a new spot for racing fans. The second story will have a climate-controlled bar, lounge and balcony with views of the paddock.

Courtesy NYRA

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced that it will unveil a new hospitality area for the 2022 summer meet as part of a continuing series of capital improvements at Saratoga Race Course.

The Post Bar and Paddock Suite will be a new, permanent two-story structure that will replace and enhance the original Post Bar, a single-story, open air gathering spot for racing fans that had been located beneath a temporary canopy.

The second story Paddock Suite will feature a climate-controlled bar, lounge and outdoor balcony with sweeping views of the historic Saratoga paddock where fans can watch the sport’s finest thoroughbreds parade beneath them. The Paddock Suite will be available to groups and individuals by reservation.

The Paddock Suite will sit above the newly renovated Post Bar which will remain an open-air structure featuring a central bar and large-scale televisions. The Post Bar, one of the most popular destinations for fans at Saratoga, will continue to be accessible to all guests, ages 21 and over.

“We are thrilled to announce this newest capital improvement project which we anticipate will be

very well received by fans attending Saratoga this summer,” said NYRA vice president of sales and hospitality Kevin Quinn. “The renovated Post Bar and newly constructed Paddock Suite follows on the heels of last year’s additions, the Spa Verandas and Tailgate at the Turn. These improvements are designed to offer our fans the best in modern amenities while preserving the charm and history that set Saratoga apart as a sports and entertainment venue.”

The second floor Paddock Suite can accommodate as many as 80 guests. Rental packages will be sold to groups on a full or partial basis. Rental includes admission, choice of food platters, non-alcoholic beverages, coffee and tea, tax, gratuity and race program. Open bar packages are also available for purchase.

Reservations may be made this spring by contacting the NYRA Box Office at 844-NYRATIX or emailing eventsales@nyrainc.com.

The Post Bar and Paddock Suite are located adjacent to Shake Shack, which is operated by Union Square Hospitality Group.

For more information about Saratoga Race Course, visit NYRA.com/Saratoga.

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 2022 • 11

Stewart’s Shops Plans Construction Of Many Brookside Museum Renovations To Proceed New Stores, Plus Renovated Shops, in 2022 With Help Of ‘Preserve The Porch!’ Funding

Stewart’s Shops is pursuing capital projects at 20 retail shop sites in 2022 including this new store, being built directly behind an older facility on Broad Street in Glens Falls.

The Saratoga County History Center raised some $30,000 in 2021 through its Preserve the Porch! campaign for the grand piazza which is in need of reconstruction.

Paul Post

BY PAUL POST Stewart’s Shops is pursuing another year of aggressive capital improvements with projects at 20 sites including several in Saratoga County.

Plans call for stores in seven new markets and replacing older buildings with large new facilities at 13 locations, the company said.

This comes on the heels of $50 million the Saratoga Springs-based company spent last year for construction on 18 shops, of which 12 were replacements. The other six previously belonged to the Central New York-based Blueox Neighborhood Market convenience store chain, which Stewart’s purchased and rebranded as its own.

But retail shop upgrades are only one part of the company’s capital program. “We are continuing to invest in our manufacturing facility in Greenfield,” spokesperson Erica Komoroske said. “We recently completed a 54,000-square-foot dry warehouse expansion project and we are currently expanding our deli cooler to address our ever growing customer demand for expanded food-to-go options.”

Founded in 1945, Stewart’s is among the Top 25 convenience store chains in America with 354 shops across 32 counties in New York and Vermont. Its territory stretches from Canton near the Canadian border, west to Oswego County, south to Orange County in the lower Hudson Valley, and east to Rutland, Vt. The firm employs about 5,000 people, 4,400 in shops and 600 between its manufacturing and administrative departments.

Dun & Bradstreet Business Directory says Stewart’s has gross sales of about $1.67 billion per year.

Projects in various stages of approval are slated throughout the company’s territory in 2022. Those in Saratoga County are: • In Malta, relocation of existing shop to the south of the site with the addition of gas. Approvals under way.

• On Marion Avenue, Saratoga Springs, submitting project plans shortly.

• On Weibel Avenue, Saratoga Springs, partially through approval process; doing DOT improvement with change to traffic signal.

• On South Broadway, Saratoga Springs, project submitted for approvals.

Shop replacements are also slated for Broad Street in Glens Falls, Burdeck Street in Rotterdam and Mohawk Avenue in Scotia along with Sharon Springs, South Potsdam and Ilion.

In Glens Falls, a new store is going directly behind an old one that will be razed to make room for gas pumps, which the site currently doesn’t have.

In addition, an existing store near the intersection of Quaker Road and Dix Avenue in Queensbury is being enlarged and remodeled.

“We are still working to secure approvals on newto-market shops for 2022,” Komoroske said. “There are many factors that come into play when determining locations for new shops including proximity to our manufacturing plant, traffic patterns, needs of community and competitive landscape.”

“Due to our vertical integration, our expansion will radiate out from our current footprint,” she said. “We do not anticipate making any leaps far outside of our distribution network.”

Each new-to-market shop creates 10 to 12 jobs, according to the company.

Without citing specific numbers, Komoroske said the COVID-19 pandemic has definitely impacted expansion plans.

“Supply chain issues have certainly delayed both the start and completion of projects,” she said. “We’ve had to remain flexible and use alternative materials versus preferred ones to keep projects on track.”

But most municipalities have returned to regular in-person meetings, so the planning and approval process is getting back to a new normal, she said.

For new construction, Stewart’s hires outside local contractors, which provides a significant economic impact. Most remodeling jobs are done by in-house crews, Komoroske said.

Stewart’s recently announced the closure of one store on Central Avenue in Albany. Closures most often occur at sites where space isn’t available to expand services such as fuel and hot foods, Komoroske said.

“We have no immediate plans to close any other shops,” she said.

Courtesy Saratoga History Center

The trustees of the Saratoga County History Center raised some $30,000 in 2021 through its Preserve the Porch! campaign.

In November and December of 2021, the officials said the campaign yielded $20,720. Moreover, an anonymous donor agreed to match funds up to $10,000.00, making the total amount raised $30,720.

The museum is located at 6 Charlton St., Ballston Spa. The funds will go directly to replacing storm windows and repairing Brookside Museum’s iconic front porch.

Built in 1792, just four years after the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, and remodeled in the 1830s in the popular Greek Revival style. But the grand piazza is in need of reconstruction. Specifically, all the front steps and floor boards, ruined by rot and mold, need to be replaced, as well as the deck frame supporting the floor, officials said. In addition, the entire portico needs to be rebuilt for proper drainage, and the earth beneath should be covered with plastic and pea stone to reduce future moisture.

The crisis concerns both safety and appearance.

“The response from the county and beyond has

Chuck Ciaccia 27 years

Jude Gosh 32 years

been astounding,” said history center president Field Horne. “We went hat-in-hand to our friends and neighbors, asking them to help us save this awe-inspiring façade and important piece of local history, and they rallied and responded well-beyond our expectations.”

“Support for our ‘Preserve the Porch!’ campaign is a major win for the Saratoga County History Center,” said Sean Kelleher, vice president of membership and community engagement. “The ability to fund the restoration of the iconic porch and storm windows will provide stabilization for the Brookside Museum in the future, and will allow visitors to safely access the museum, grounds and library for generations to come.

“It would not have been possible without support from the community. We thank our community for its continued efforts to help preserve this treasure, which is an important part of Saratoga County’s history.”

“We are humbled by the generosity,” said Jon Hallgren, who will oversee the restoration. “We will make sure that Brookside stands bold and beautiful for another 200 years.”

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12 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 2022

Work Ongoing For Car Dealership’s New, NYRA Will Renovate Grandstand Section Larger Facility As Business In Region Grows And Reconstruct The Historic ‘Wilson Chute’

Working is progressing on a new 21,000 square foot home for Krystal Chrysler Jeep Dodge. The dealership plans to move in early this summer.

BY PAUL POST A Warrensburg car dealership is planning an early summer move into a spacious new facility, nearly triple the size of its current home.

Krystal Chrysler Jeep Dodge is relocating from a less than 8,000-square-foot site at 4488 Route 9, to a 21,000-square-foot building 2.5 miles closer to the village, adjacent to Oscar’s Smokehouse, one of the North Country’s most popular retail stores.

Owner Steve Lofrgren said the move is necessitated by business growth spurred by the popularity of the Ram and Jeep brands, and the need for larger service capacity.

Lofgren said Krystal clients come from throughout the surrounding area including Warren, Saratoga, Washington and Essex counties.

“We get people from all over with help from the internet,” he said. “SUV and truck sales are 95 percent of our business. Ram is currently our best seller. Jeep production is moving forward as the availability of microchips is on the rise.

By summer we should have fully stocked Jeep lineup.”

There are several other Chrysler Jeep Dodge dealerships in the region including Nemer, in Queensbury, but Lofgren said the new Warrensburg site will have unique features such as a Jeep-only showroom.

“We would be the only one north of Albany with this type of facility,” he said.

When facing the building, the Jeep showroom will take center stage in the middle.

A separate showroom for Chrysler and Dodge vehicles will be on the left, with service to the right on the south end of the structure.

Paul Post

Krystal, which now employs 42 workers, plans to add about five jobs including technicians, sales staff and office help.

“They have to go through a lot of extensive training before they can sell or service vehicles,” Lofgren said. “Chrysler has strict requirements on that. They all have to take classes and succeed to the next level.”

Lofgren, who lives outside Saratoga Springs, bought the dealership in 2008 from Sam and Tina Maltbie, who founded it in 1999. He also owns a wholesale used car business named Krystal. The Warrensburg business is the only full-service dealership for new vehicles he owns.

Lofgren purchased land for the project in 2016 and started drawing up architectural plans in 2019.

“Then COVID hit and everything stopped,” he said. Work finally got under way last summer.

Lofgren declined to cite an exact price tag, but said the project “is in the millions.”

COVID-related increases for materials and supplies have added another to 10-15 percent to the final cost, he said.

Work is being done by Fort Edward-based V&H Construction, and financed by NBT Bank.

When scouting for a new site, choosing land next to Oscar’s was a no-brainer because of the large volume of traffic the highly-popular meat store generates at all times of year, Lofgren said. The dealership will have a great deal more visibility for its expanded lineup of vehicles on a much larger display lot.

Plans call for keeping the current dealership site, which will be used for used car reconditioning and vehicle display.

The New York Racing Association Inc. (NYRA) has plans to reconstruct the historic Wilson Chute at Saratoga Race Course, which will be in use during the 2022 summer meet and allow for one-mile races to be contested on the main track.

Construction plans for Saratoga Race Course include a major renovation of its first-floor grandstand and the inclusion of a permanent saddling stall structure. The projects are set to get underway this year at the Union Avenue venue, NYRA officials said.

Long a distinctive part of Saratoga Race Course, the Wilson Chute was dismantled after the 1972 season to accommodate additional parking, officials said. It was brought back briefly in 1992 when 25 races started in the chute, including an off-theturf edition of the Grade 3 Daryl’s Joy, later renamed the Fourstardave Handicap and now one of the most popular Grade 1 races of the annual summer meet.

“The Wilson Chute will only add to the quality and consistency of dirt racing at Saratoga,” said Glen Kozak, NYRA’s senior vice president of operations and capital projects. “It’s a thrill to be able to reconstruct a historic element of Saratoga in a way that will undoubtedly prove beneficial to the summer meet.”

The Wilson Chute was named to honor the contributions of the late Richard T. Wilson, a banker and president of the Saratoga Racing Association for most of the first quarter of the 20th century. The reconstructed Wilson Chute will carefully follow the route of the original chute along the Clubhouse Turn, just to the west of the 1863 Club.

The project to reconstruct the Wilson Chute has the support of the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation and will be accompanied by upgrades to the Tailgate at the Turn picnic area located at the clubhouse turn.

Wilson was among a group of investors led by William C. Whitney who purchased Saratoga Race Course in 1900. Mr. Wilson oversaw major capital improvements to the track’s facilities, which resulted in the overall beautification of the historic property.

“The Foundation is pleased that the chute that was part of the 1902 Master Plan. designed by landscape architect Charles Leavitt, Jr., is being restored,” said Samantha Bosshart, executive director of the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation. “The 1902 Master Plan included enlarging the track, moving it westward, and rotating it 25 degrees as well as inserting a steeplechase course into the infield. The Foundation looks forward to reviewing the plans as they develop. This restoration will certainly add to the excitement of racing.”

Mr. Wilson also served as president of the Westchester Racing Association, which once owned Belmont Park, and as a steward of The Jockey Club. As head of Wilson Stable, he owned three winners of the Travers Stakes: Gallavant (1906), Hannibal (1919) and Wilderness (1923). Wilson also won the Preakness with The Parader in 1901; the Preakness and Belmont Stakes with Pillory in 1922; and bred and owned Campfire, the Champion 2-year-old of 1916 and the winner that year of the Sanford, Saratoga Special and Hopeful, all at Saratoga.

For more information, visit NYRA.com.

Saratoga Builders Association Will Award Two Scholarships; Application Deadline Is April 1 The Saratoga Builders Association Inc. has announce its continued monetary commitment to education. The organization will be awarding two student scholarships in 2022.

One is the SBA $1000 Scholarship award and the other is the $1000 Bob Best Memorial Scholarship award. The organization makes these cash scholarships available annually to students who are planning to pursue a construction industry education.

These scholarships are open to any high school senior or college undergraduate in Saratoga County who is planning to pursue a construction education at a two- or four-year accredited college or university or to students who would like to purchase tools and/or equipment for employment/career or to start a business in the construction industry.

Students must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

They must demonstrate current or past involvement in the construction field, including classes taken in high school or college, to be eligible for these awards. Each applicant must also submit a high school or college transcript or list of construction classes taken plus a short essay describing why they are interested in a

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construction industry career and what events led to this decision.

Applications for the Saratoga Builders Association Scholarship program must be postmarked on or before April 1. Only the first 25 completed applications will be accepted so people should apply early, officials said.

The winner and their school will be notified

by June 1. To receive a scholarship application, please contact Barry Potoker, executive director at 518-366-0946 or bpotoker@saratogabuilders. org.

The Saratoga Builders Association, Inc. is a specialized professional trade association representing residential and commercial builders, developers, remodelers, building material suppliers, sub-contractors, financial institutions, architects, engineers, realtors, attorneys and other industry professionals.

SBA is committed to the continued growth, prosperity and quality of life in Saratoga County. The SBA has contributed over $1.3 million to our local charities through their annual event each fall, the Saratoga Showcase of Homes which is celebrating its 26th anniversary in 2022.

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 2022 • 13

SPECIAL SECTION

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL

Office / HR / Employment •

Business Report A Time For Kindness

BY ROSE MILLER Every New Year is a time for reflection and planning. There is no better plan than reflecting includes ways to be grateful. It is also beyond time to exercise being nice to one another.

My mom passed away last August and her shining attribute was her kindness. Condolences from friends contained a repetitive story. They all remembered how my mom would always greet them with a warm smile, reach out to hold their hands and look them straight in the eye.

Such a simple gesture that impacted so many. It got me thinking about how important little gestures of kindness can be in the workplace.

Amidst the ongoing pandemic, being kinder has become a necessity. Everyone is fighting some kind of battle. These battles have challenged our ability to be kind. There is so much negativity and confusion out there and practicing kindness daily can counterbalance the dark messages.

The workplace is an ideal place to do this. We are physically and virtually together five or more days per week. We are interacting with a variety of people, some of whom are adding to our kindness challenge.

Kindness, especially when unexpected, boosts morale and makes work feel a little less of a burden.

Statistics show how many of us need some kindness: • Roughly one in four people will experience mental health issues like depression or anxiety, which affects their families, partners, and their ability to perform at work.

• Of the U.S. employees whose stress interferes with their work, less than 40 percent bring it to the employer’s attention.

• Roughly 1 in 8 adults in the U.S. are experiencing a substance abuse disorder.

• About 38 percent of people will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in the lives.

• Some 10 to 25 percent of known pregnancies end in miscarriage.

• The divorce rate is somewhere around 50 percent.

• Some 97 percent of bankruptcies are filed by individuals or households.

These are the people you work with on a daily basis. They are the employees, the managers, and the employers, who all need your kindness and understanding. When you are the owner, it can be lonely at the top.

Being kind also feels good and research shows it triggers neurological responses that equip our brains to better cope with the struggles of others and be more resilient when facing our own.

In workplaces where acts of kindness become the norm, the spillover effects multiply fast. I remember every kindness I was fortunate enough to receive.

Here are a couple of ways to practice kindness at work:

•

Rose Miller, senior director of strategic relationships, GTM Payroll Services Inc. Courtesy Rose Miller

• Remember (or learn) social manners. Say hello, thank you, excuse me, your welcome, etc., every time, all the time.

• Take the time to learn your coworkers’ work preferences and respect them.

• Volunteer for a task before being asked.

• Always acknowledge a communication when received.

• Give a coworker a random compliment on their work.

• Acknowledge a deadline not met and give a new expected date.

• Wear a mask or get vaccinated because you care about coworkers’ safety.

• Invite a new hire to lunch or find a way to get acquainted.

• Listen to a colleague who is struggling without attempting to solve their problem.

• When frustrated, take a break before responding or criticizing.

• Share a personal story of a challenging event or situation. Showing vulnerability is very relatable.

• Demonstrate gratitude because it is both a kindness and a response to kindness.

• Look people in the eye (video on) and smile.

How would your workplace improve if everyone led with kindness to each other- employers and employees, alike? Who would it attract? Practicing kindness helps life feel more meaningful. In the remote workplace, where cultivating meaningful moments is difficult, exhibiting kindness may be particularly important in helping employees with long-term job satisfaction.

The power of kindness can mitigate the ill effects of our increasingly challenging world. A reputation in kindness can attract the best talent. It is an essential workplace skill that can pull people up, improving the culture of the workplace along the way.

Regional Provider Of Bookkeeping Services Launches Professional Development Division Capital CFO, LLC, a regional provider of bookkeeping, consulting and CFO services to businesses and nonprofit companies, has launched its Professional Development division.

With an eye toward providing increasingly comprehensive business management solutions, Capital CFO Professional Development Division launched in January with online courses, workshops and webinars for business and nonprofit professionals.

The complete curriculum will roll out over the course of 2022.

Sabrina Houser, Capital CFO president, saw the need for a cost-effective way for small businesses and nonprofits to invest in their employees.

“Providing employees with professional development opportunities is a smart investment that increases retention, builds confidence and credibility, and improves succession planning. Ongoing professional development can also re-energize staff and improve efficiency. It’s a win-win,” she said.

The addition of Professional Development extends the breadth of Capital CFO business management solutions to include webinars, workshops and online courses addressing topics that include strategic planning, finance, and nonprofit management.

“The most successful people (and companies) are always learning and growing by keeping up to date on their industry and area of expertise with an eye toward continuous improvement,” says Liz Chipman, M.Ed., director of education and employment. “We want to be able to help forward thinking companies and

Sabrina Houser is the owner of Capital CFO in Saratoga Springs. professionals do that in a way that is both cost effective and efficient.”

For more information about available Professional Development courses, webinars and workshops available through Capital CFO, visit https://capitalcfollc.com/ contact/ or call 518-350-4020.

Capital CFO is a privately owned business based in Saratoga Springs, serving the for-profit and nonprofit communities with experienced bookkeeping, CFO, payroll, and consulting services. Please email us for more information on our services and career opportunities. Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

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14 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 2022

•

Business Report The Are No Shortcuts

BY MICHAEL CRUZ We’re all aware of the current labor shortage.

It makes it hard to fill your backlog or get your work done in a timely basis. It might make you feel justified in taking risks on marginal candidates for your jobs.

Don’t. Quick hires are all too often bad hires.

And bad hires cost you lots of money both in hard dollars and your reputation. There is the cost of advertising and recruiter fees. These are direct hiring costs. When you must replace someone, you need to do this all over again, and the original costs are never recovered.

Then there is the issue of what you paid that person while they were in your employ. The actual salary or hourly rate, plus the 20-30 percent benefit load, plus any expenses they incurred that were reimbursed. Add in what you paid to have their computer and cell phone set up, and costs for other tools.

Add in what you spent for outside training courses. Add in any severance expenses.

Severance can be minimal if they were not there long. However, when you linger in your decision, you are “running up the meter.”

Indirect costs are harder to quantify. Yet, they are far greater. You will need to take time to coach these people. And to listen to complaints about them. That negative energy drags us all down. Not only is the actual time spent wasted, but it also makes us less productive at the work we like to do.

It affects not just managers, but other employees as well. They will spend time complaining about your mis-hire. Often, they will have figured it out before you finally admit it to yourself. If they are in a customer facing position, they may have made life worse for a customer or client. You need to spend time repairing that damage. Lastly, they probably missed signals and lost some opportunities to pursue better initiatives that a productive hire would have seen.

Figure out how much your last mis-hire cost you. Use a specific example and this will come more alive to you. As you see, the numbers can be quite large. This is the most compelling reason for getting hiring right in the first place.

“If you do not have time to do it right now, where will you find the time to do it again?”

You need to follow critical steps. Now more than ever. It starts with a good interview. One that is completely based on understanding the candidate. Why did they change jobs in the past? What experiences demonstrate their ability to learn? To adapt in your company?

Remember it is not enough to figure out if they can the job. The key in determining fit is something more. Can they do the job here?

An overlooked part of the hiring process is the reference checks. In large companies, we sometimes leave this to HR. In smaller

Capital Region Chamber Of Commerce Works On Issues Like Supply Chain Shortages •

Michael Cruz is president of Lighthouse Advisors LLC in Queensbury.

Courtesy Lighthouse Advisors LLC

companies (and the large ones too) we leave this to the end of the hiring process. You know, when you say, “I want to make an offer to this person. Let’s check references.”

This shortchanges the reference process in several ways. First, we have fallen in love with this candidate. That makes us have “happy ears.” We don’t hear warning signals. We ask questions. Would you hire this person again? What were his/ her challenges in their position? And others like that.

And we are asking these questions of the people that the candidate gave us. Face it, the candidate can find three people to say nice things about them.

The better way is to ask reference questions from people you know. Use your network. Use LinkedIn. Find people you know in common.

Or people who may know the candidate. Ask for off-the-record references.

If you know me personally, I will probably respond differently. Ask these references with behavioral questions.

“Can you think of a time that they had to work on a team?” “How did Candidate X react to that particular situation?” Another is, “Can you think of a time you had a coaching moment with this person? What was it about and how did they react?” Find colleagues, not just former managers.

Last, think about doing background checks. Especially for customer facing roles.

Many of my clients have avoided big mistakes because of what the background check told them.

The workforce situation will improve. Your bad hires will hurt you in the long and short run. Most importantly, follow your process.

Resist the urge for a quick fill. Your customers deserve it. Your employees do too. But most of all, you do.

BY PETE BARDUNIAS Business in Saratoga County and beyond has faced unprecedented challenges and, fortunately, some opportunities in the past couple of years. The combination of the COVID-19 crisis, fluctuations in the economy, supply chain disruptions, soaring energy prices, capricious consumer demand, the outflux of state population versus a steady local one, workforce and education questions, agriculture needs, environmental concerns, and the desire to create a more inclusive community and culture have really impacted the way Saratoga County, and the Capital Region at large, does business.

At a recent meeting of the Burnt HillsBallston Lake Business and Professional Association, nearly every business owner stated that their most pressing issue was the supply chain shortages, something we had heard much about in manufacturing but not at the local business level. From the car dealership lot to convenience store coffee cups, the disruptions were visible all over the country and our region was not immune.

They have been caused by numerous factors, from COVID quarantines, lack of workers to the backup of ships at coastal ports. While solutions to these issues may materialize slowly, it is vital that the business community recognize the magnitude of this problem and advocate for ways to address it.

One company that has been working to ease the supply chain shortage is GlobalFoundries.

A partnership with Ford Motor Co. should produce much needed chips for automotive computers, and perhaps more importantly, an America-based supplier for improved, up to date systems in future cars. The auto industry has lagged behind others in development and utilization of cutting-edge technology, apparently a big reason for the recent shortages. It’s time for a systems upgrade, and Saratoga County industry is once again leading the way.

The Capital Region Chamber has found new and meaningful ways to support local businesses. The value of our regional approach with local affiliates in Albany, Schenectady and southern Saratoga counties was on display in 2021, and the biggest impact was a financial one.

The Capital Region Advancement Fund, administered by the Capital Region Chamber across six area counties, directly aided Saratoga County businesses to the tune of $1.575 million in low interest loans this past year. This Chamber also helped 47 organizations in Saratoga County access more than $1.25 in grants through Empire State Development’s Small Business Recovery Grant program.

The Chamber board recently approved a five-year strategic plan which commits to business leadership to position the region as the location of choice for people and private sector investment.

As our region prospers, we must ensure that all residents have access to opportunity.

We will develop a robust and equitable talent/workforce ecosystem across all segments of the region’s labor pool, initiate

Pete Bardunias, membership/community advancement VP, Capital Region Chamber.

Courtesy Capital Region Chamber

increased collaboration between the business community with various learning institutions, and market the region to attract talent and support corporate workforce recruitment strategies.

Our economic development initiatives will help develop, grow, and attract businesses that invest in the region and create jobs; provide resources, technical assistance, and connections to advance entrepreneurship and drive the growth of existing businesses, and market the region to attract businesses with a focus on key industry clusters. Attention will be paid to businesses that have encountered barriers of inequities.

Finally, the plan commits to providing leadership and a united voice to assertively advocate for issues, policies and projects that support successful businesses, prosperous communities, and shared opportunities for all in our region. This approach will convene private, public, and nonprofit interests, when appropriate, to address key issues, despite any division due to political and social fragmentation. Localized issues will be recognized while championing regional approaches to enhance the economic vitality of Capital Region communities.

Our Chamber of Southern Saratoga County affiliate continues to spearhead the Saratoga County Community Development Program thanks to the generous support of the Board of Supervisors. As we close in on major historic anniversaries, concerns exist over the viability of family farms (some owners date back to Revolutionary War times), the canals/marine industry, taxation of property and business assets, and truck strikes on area bridges. These topics and more will be reviewed in 2022.

My responsibilities are growing too. I am now leading our membership team, as well as our community advancement work. It’s a big assignment for the organization, and really exciting since both roles involve close contact with our membership and the community at large. I’m looking forward to seeing many new business faces in our county and beyond in the coming year.

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 2022 • 15

Employees Working At Home Creates Issues Empire State MBA Sees For Businesses, Including Cybersecurity Enrollments Increasing

BY JENNIFER FARNSWORTH Part of owning a small business is having a good understanding of the laws that effect it over time. In recent years, understanding codes and protocols is more important than ever.

Law firms and human resource consulting agencies can be important resources to help small business owners. They can even ultimately protect their livelihood.

Martin A. Miranda, senior counsel at Tully Rinckey PLLC, said his firm has seen an increase in cybersecurity concerns, as well as pandemic-related issues faced by small businesses.

“Due to the pandemic small businesses have relied more on their online business platforms. As more employees work from home, there has also been a significant increase in cyber attacks aimed at small businesses,” he said.

“Hackers may find small businesses particularly vulnerable for lacking adequate technology infrastructure and data security expertise.”

Miranda said to compound problems, networks outside of the workplace may not possess sufficient security measures to prevent cyber attacks, which have become increasingly more sophisticated and targeted.

Common methods of cyber attacks include phishing schemes, social engineering, malware, ransomware and password hacking, said Miranda.

He has also seen an increase in small businesses reaching out on how to best follow COVID protocols, a completely new area for small business owners to have to navigate.

“I receive many questions regarding how small businesses can maintain a safe work environment for their employees as COVID protocols evolve in response to the multiple variants. Implementing these protocols can be burdensome for a small business and enforcing the protocols can often lead to differences of opinion among employees,” said Miranda.

Debra J. M. Best, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, of Deb Best Practices, has seen similar concerns at her human resources consulting practice. She has also seen an increase in COVID concerns for small businesses owners.

“For small businesses who have not ordinarily been required to implement and document safety protocols, COVID-19 compliance and safety protocols are like OSHA on steroids. Almost all of the COVID-19 protocols are how employees should conduct themselves safely and what employers are required to do to keep employees safe, consequently the overlap with HR work,” said Best.

Miranda said other concerns have centered around employees working remotely. He said with evolving COVID protocols, it can be challenging for small businesses to ensure their employees remain safe and productive, all while feeling connected with their colleagues.

“School and daycare closures due to a COVID exposure have created an increased strain on employees trying to balance their employment obligations with family life and personal time,” said Miranda.

Overall, Miranda said privacy issues remain a top concern for small business owners.

“Small businesses may not fully appreciate their vulnerability to data privacy breaches until it’s too late. Employees working while quarantined or in isolation can lead to inconsistent quality of service and general slowdown of services due to a decrease

Martin A. Miranda, senior counsel at Tully Rinckey PLLC. Courtesy Tully Rinckey PPLC

Debra J. M. Best, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, of Deb Best Practices.

Courtesy Deb Best Practices

in available workforce. In light of these challenges, a small business can best prepare for commercial disruptions by staying up to date about the shifting landscape of cyberattacks and improving their communication concerning policies designed to protect employees from COVID outbreak,” said Miranda.

Best said the best advice she can give to small business owners is to keep the lines of communication open.

“Communication, communication, communication, especially effective face-to-face communication and clear follow up written communication to summarize the face-to-face communication. Employers can never communicate enough, it takes the average adult 5 times to integrate new information and new concepts,” said Best.

She also recommends establishing a relationship with an employer-side labor lawyer who specializes in NYS and federal employment law and regulation.

“This is such a large and complex area of the law, a general practice lawyer generally does not have the resources and the required knowledge base. Establishing that relationship when an employment compliance issue arises can be needlessly stressful,” said Best.

PROUDLY REPRESENTING THE WASHINGTON COUNTY BUSINESS COMMUNITY Washington County Local Development Corporation County Municipal Center 383 Broadway, Fort Edward, NY 518-746-2292 • info@wcldc.org • Loan programs for possible financing • Business training programs • Start up, expansion and relocation assistance • Commercial shovel-ready site information

Visit us at WCLDC.org Like us on Facebook

The Washington County LDC is an equal opportunity leader, provider and employer.

We take care of you so you can take care of business!

SUNY Empire State College’s Master of Business Administration program was ranked number one for enrollment during the fall 2021 term, according to a comparison of Capital Region programs by the Albany Business Review.

The ranking was published in January and showed SUNY Empire had 397 students enrolled in its fully online MBA programs, approximately a 3 percent increase over the previous year.

“This ranking speaks to the real-world relevance of SUNY Empire’s MBA in Business Management program to the Capital Region workforce,” said SUNY Empire State College Officer in Charge Nathan Gonyea, Ph.D. “Not only is the program affordable and flexible, but it is applicable to indemand jobs in our local economy, making the MBA in business management program an ideal option for ambitious Capital Region professionals.”

SUNY Empire’s MBA in business management program offers concentrations in: management, international business, human resource, marketing, innovation management and entrepreneurship, healthcare management, nonprofit management, project management, information and global finance and investment.

SUNY Empire’s MBA also offers a program in health care leadership, which is fully online and includes executive retreats, and a fully online master’s degree in finance. Its online master’s in finance degree was recently recognized as among the best in the country by ZDnet.com.

SUNY Empire State College Dean of the School for Graduate Studies Brian Carolan said, “With 10 specializations, our MBA in business management is tailored to meet the demands of today’s employers and provide students with the skills they need to excel in a rapidly evolving environment.

“And our MBA in health care leadership delivers the broad knowledge students need to oversee an increasingly complex health care system that is evidence based and patient centered.

SUNY Empire’s graduate programs offer a flexible, affordable, and high-quality experience with top notch faculty.”

Chamber Directors Continued From Page 1

Hennessey, UHY Advisors. Other members serving three-year terms include Melissa Johnson, Target Distribution; and John Rogan, Saratoga Eagle.

Members elected to serve a one-year term beginning running through Dec. 31 include Libby Coreno, Bonacio Construction; Chris Lyons, AIM Services; and Jo Anne Hume, Life Works.

Additional members who will continue to serve on the board include Laurie Kelley, GlobalFoundries; Teresa Skaine, Skaine &

Associates; Carlson, Saratoga Casino Hotel; John Bove, Bove Fuels; Paul Loomis, Gilbane Building Co.; Marc Connor, Skidmore College; Alexandra Gutelius, Clifton Park Halfmoon Library; Tom Belhouse, West Point Thoroughbreds; Andy Wise, Saratoga National Bank; Dennis Kiingati, Hamlet & Ghost; Charles Wait Jr., Adirondack Trust Co.; Melissa Ward, NewWard Development; Vince Laurenzo, Quick Response; Dave Rosenberg, Brix Wine & Liquor; and Kim Ireland, National Grid.

The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce will celebrate it’s 104th year with its Stronger Together annual dinner from 6-9:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 17 at the Saratoga Springs City Center.

16 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 2022

REGIONAL STOCKWATCH Stock Name Albany Int’l

Closing Price 1/7/2022

89.38

Closing Price Closing Price 1/14/2022 1/21/2022

88.90

83.38

Closing Price 1/28/2022

81.67

84.86

Arrow

36.48

36.28

34.62

35.39

35.62

AT & T

26.29

27.18

26.61

25.21

24.08

Ball

90.51

90.59

88.33

93.50

Business Registrations

Closing Price 2/4/2022

93.68

Ballston Spa National Bank

48.00

48.00

48.00

48.00

48.00

Bank of America

49.18

47.91

44.92

45.87

48.28

Best Buy

102.50

100.04

96.45

97.64

96.83

Citizens Bank

54.22

55.93

50.24

51.70

54.05

Espey

13.15

13.15

13.01

13.08

13.26

General Electric

101.40

103.16

96.30

92.10

99.01

Hilton

152.00

147.98

142.26

143.39

145.50

Home Depot

393.61

372.00

349.10

366.54

359.67

Int’l Paper

48.87

49.50

47.29

47.18

46.79

Key Corp

26.35

27.07

24.79

25.13

26.17

Lowe’s

251.09

242.60

225.02

234.99

229.07

Martin Marietta

429.20

402.63

382.30

382.83

372.05

M&T Bank

176.93

185.34

160.11

172.07

179.56

McDonald’s

267.06

257.71

254.59

256.09

260.06

National Grid

71.61

73.65

73.58

73.79

73.12

NBT Bancorp Inc.

41.36

42.14

39.23

38.54

39.09

Plug Power

24.96

23.44

21.06

18.76

21.43

Quad Graphics

4.24

4.65

4.48

4.37

4.38

Starbucks

107.57

100.12

96.31

97.21

95.00

Sysco

80.46

79.79

77.41

77.63

78.76

Latham Group Inc

20.37

19.92

16.24

15.17

16.64

Target

230.78

221.40

217.25

217.67

214.04

The TorontoDominion Bank

79.21

81.64

79.69

78.45

82.79

Kaspien Holdings

9.77

8.56

7.99

7.56

8.29

Trustco Bank

35.29

35.52

33.56

34.08

34.05

Verizon

54.24

53.28

53.16

52.90

53.31

Walmart

144.89

145.06

140.19

137.52

139.33

•

•

MP Construction Michael Prall 101 Sweet Road Gansevoort 12831

Red Rose Videos Rosmaria Wetmore 1057 Ballston Lake Road Ballston Lake 12019

Boughton ATMs Luke Boughton 1 Alger St. Saratoga Springs 12866

Kag Management Services Krista Grandinetti 50A Raylinski Lane Mechanicville 12118

Scorpion Motor Works Edward Harris 928 Rock City Road Ballston Spa 12020

Fiona Fox Johann Galanek 16 Glenwood Drive Saratoga Springs 12866

Cecelias China Cabinet Vintage Dish Rental Lynn Kovach 3 Rumble Lane Burnt Hill 12027

iDrunkbeer Stephen Kerber 97 West Side Dr. Ballston Lake 12019

Chip’s Mobile Auto Detailing Charles Ferraioli 29 West Sky Lane Clifton Park 12065

Daydream Farmer Aliza Pickering 302 Wilton Road Greenfield Center 12833

Saratoga Ave. Properties Ann Cerone Stephen Cerone 277 Saratoga Ave. Mechanicville 12118

Lash Lab Kasey Wagoner 2100 Doubleday Ave. Ballston Spa 12020 Simply Blended Nutrition Christine Boilard 772 Saratoga Road Burnt Hills 12017

Doodles Grooming Herold Schmalz 30 Lakewood Drive Saratoga Springs 12866

Web Design By Ally Alexandra Penrose 18 Stratford Drive Clifton Park 12065

Coaching with Christy Christy Kannegiser 100 Gordon Lane Gansevoort 12831

Rich Contracting Robert Rich 18 Michael Drive Saratoga Springs 12866

Cap’n Ron’s Locksmith Ronald Shultes 5B Quiet Harbor Road Saratoga Springs 12866

Cookie Designs by Lady Lily Tracy Passaro 5 Apple St. Ballston Spa 12020

Trash Rehash Rachel Coppola 533 Sodeman Road Middle Grove 12850

H and J Builders and Handyman Service Jeremy Ostrander 885 Middle Line Road Ballston Spa 12020

Glamour Nails and Spa Nga Pham 2100 Doubleday Ave. Ballston Spa 12020

Clifton Park Lawn Maintenance Dylan Dwyer 189 Johnson Road Mechanicville 12118

Purrfectly Clean Kitty Risdell 7360 Bills Road Middle Grove 12850 Chapman Fields Lance Chapman & Lauren Chapman 441 Fortsville Road Gansevoort 12831 ASAP Handyman Jeremiah Bennett 16 Jacob St. Ballston Lake 12019

Peace Of Green Catherine Robinson 104 Cooks Court Waterford 12188 Bellalucoco Designs Crystal Norton 19 Lamplighter Lane Saratoga Springs 12866

Are you taking a socially conscious approach to investing?

Rob Snell Financial Advisor 34 Congress St Suite 102 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 518-583-7875

This list of quotations is provided through the courtesy of Robert M. Schermerhorn, CFP®, Saratoga Financial Services, Securities offered through LPL Financial /Member FINRA & SIPC, located in Saratoga Springs, NY. www.SaratogaRetire.com

e d ward jon e s .com MKT-5894K-A

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 2022 • 17

Business Registrations •

Made By the Millers Johnathon Miller 56 Garnsey Road Rexford 12148

Beldame Books Kyle Welch 2 Schuyler Heights Schuylerville 12871

Jill’s Candle Vauly Jill Petteys 130 Wells Road Porter Corners 12859

Back 8 Tailgate Adrianne Rickson Jason Rickson 3968 Lewis Road Ballston Spa 12020

Junipers Naturals Lesly Branch 22 Center St. Ballston Spa 12020 518 Mrs Management Kristen Helm 52 Lake Tour Road Lake Luzerne 12846 Shop Fyvie Elizabeth Devlin 265 Maple Ave. Ballston Spa 12020 Crown Coffee Cartel David Shelmerdine 66 East St. Mechanicville 12118 Cement Smith Nicholas Flannery 1A Pyramid Pines Estates Saratoga Springs 12866 Melissa Simser Photography Melissa Simser Iovino 342 Jefferson St. Saratoga Springs 12866 Lydia’s Little Candle Shop Lydia Dominelli 70 Huntwood Drive Clifton Park 12065 New Swing Simulators Jason Walton 46 Bradt Road Rexford 12148 Maximum Property Management Robert Max 186 Colebrook Road Gansevoort 12831 Go Calnder Ayman Ahmed 3065 Route 50 Saratoga Springs 12866 Jennings Construction Michael Jennings 148 County Road 10 Corinth 12822 EMBR Automation Brian Goodge 19 Appletree lane Gansevoort 12831

•

Tang Museum At Skidmore College Offers Tours Through Semester Ending On May 1

Getsch Broker Services Susann Getsch 501 Leahy Lane Ballston Spa 12020 AM Cleaning Angelo Malone 13101 Rockaway St. Malta 12020 Northway Powerwashing David Fiorillo 2 Usher Court Gansevoort 12831 Royal D Soap Kristopher Lapan Carrie Smith 3 St. Charles Place Saratoga Springs 12866 Nick’s Transportation Nick Berardi 1152 Route 9P Saratoga Springs 12866 Taber’s Cleaning Taber Walkowiak 3698 Lewis Road Ballston Spa 12020 Mo Better Lawn Care Michael O’Reilly 23 Bensonhurst Ave. Saratoga Springs 12866 Bartoga Valerie Andreoli 15 Cindy Lane Clifton Park 12065 Sinala Studio Ashley Quinn 418 Geyser Road Ballston Spa 12020 Vember Web Solutions Timothy Burt 3 Sixth St. Corinth 12822

Rebecca McNamara, associate curator at the Tang Museum, will give a tour of an exhibit called Radical Fiber: Threads Connecting Art and Science at Skidmore College.

Courtesy Tang Museum

The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College has reopened and will host a series of upcoming tours that are free and open to the public.

Tang guide tours, Sundays at 2 p.m. during the spring semester through May 1, provide visitors with an overview of the museum and what’s on view. The tours are given by Tang Guides, Skidmore College students and visitor services associates who are part of a program that introduces them to the Tang and the museum world, trains them how to be gallery ambassadors and tour guides, provides guidance in how to talk about art, and gives them valuable experiences interacting with visitors.

Curator’s tours feature the organizing curator or curators providing in-depth information of an exhibition. They are set for: Thursday, Feb. 17, noon: assistant director of curatorial affairs and Malloy curator Rachel Seligman; assistant professor of art history Nancy Thebault, and students from the Scribner Seminar; “Outsiders? Folk and Self-Taught Artists in the United States” give

a tour of On Their Own Terms.

Thursday, March 24, noon: associate curator Rebecca McNamara give a tour of Radical Fiber: Th reads Connecting Art and Science, which includes the communitycreated crochet coral reef Saratoga Springs Satellite Reef.

Thursday, April 14, noon: Dayton director Ian Berry gives a tour of Opener 34: Ruby Sky Stiler—New Patterns.

Thursday, May 12, noon: Seligman on Thursday, May 12, at noon, leads the tour of Lauren Kelley: Location Scouting.

The museum is open Thursdays noon to 9 p.m., and Fridays through Sundays noon to 5 p.m. All visitors are asked to follow Skidmore College protocols for COVID-19, which include wearing high-quality KN95 masks (or the equivalent, such as N95 or KN94) and showing proof of vaccination plus booster shot via a vaccination card, a copy of a vaccination card, or the Excelsior Pass.

For more information, contact the Visitors Services Desk at 518-580-8080, or visit tang. skidmore.edu or email tang@skidmore.edu.

Card Catalog

Smile Lounge Interactive Greg Cushman 2 Mohican Way Waterford 12188 Arm Farm Friday Brennan Flemming 10 Jennifer Drive Mechanicville 12118

Richard Kessinger Owner

P.O. Box 187 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

(518) 944-0359

saratogalawnmaintenance@gmail.com

18 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 2022

The Saratoga Area Abounds With Great Food & Drink Options

Instead I n of Roses, get her Rose!

Rosé All Day

750ml

Purdy s Sale Price

$9.99

Fleurs de Prairie

750ml

$28.99

Whispering Angel

750ml

$22.99

Fleur de Mer

750ml

$17.99

Mionetto Prosecco Rosé

750ml

$13.99

Veuve Cliquot Rosé

750ml

$61.99

(518) 584-5400 • Curbside Pick-up Available • 70-72 Congress Plaza, Saratoga Springs

Saratoga Springs and Saratoga County are home to many amazing restaurants featuring a variety of cuisines. The diversity of menus and settings ensures that even the pickiest diner will find something to please their palate. In addition, downtown Saratoga Springs' nightlife scene is always hopping, whether you are looking for a friendly pub and a pint, some wine and some jazz, or a place to dance the night away. In addition, there are an abundance of craft breweries, wineries, and distilleries to help quench your thirst. Below are some of our favorite restaurants, nightlife hotspots, and craft beverage producers. Always contact your destination restaurant for current hours of operation.

The Brook Tavern

Saratoga Springs, NY Just a short walk from the Saratoga Race Course and walking distance from Congress Park, The Brook Tavern is a favorite neighborhood gathering spot nestled at the intersection of Union and Nelson Ave., right in the heart of historic Saratoga Springs.

Carson's Woodside Tavern

Malta, NY With spectacular views of Saratoga Lake and the Vermont mountains, our amazing outside patio, deck, fire pits, and bar are the place to be all summer long. Great food, drinks, entertainment, and fun await! Only 7 miles from Saratoga Springs.

Longfellows Restaurant

Saratoga Springs, NY This beautiful Saratoga Springs hotel and wonderful gourmet restaurant is located near the famed Saratoga racetrack. Just a short driving distance from town, discover amazing rooms & suites, excellent food, great wine list and a wonderful ambiance.

Harvey's Restaurant and Bar

Saratoga Springs, NY At Harvey's Restaurant and Bar, we are proud to be at the forefront of hospitality in the downtown Saratoga region!

Winslow's Restaurant

Gansevoort, NY Open since 1948, Winslow's Restaurant is steeped in heritage and tradition. Located just a few minutes north of Saratoga Springs, Winslow's serves up classic American cuisine like steak, grilled pork chops, and oven roasted turkey.

The Hideaway

Saratoga Springs, NY The Hideaway at Saratoga Lake Golf Club is open to the public seven days a week and features

a menu with something for everyone. Indoor and outdoor seating is available, and they offer a banquet space for weddings and events.

Salt & Char

Saratoga Springs, NY Salt & Char is a Modern American Steakhouse with an inviting and stylish atmosphere that creates the perfect dining experience. Step inside or join us on the veranda for second to none views of Broadway while dining for lunch or dinner.

Morrissey's Lounge & Bistro

Saratoga Springs, NY Morrissey's Lounge & Bistro in Saratoga Springs is located within The Adelphi Hotel and is the perfect place for good food, drinks, and conversation. They offer an all day menu and three unique dining areas.

The Wishing Well Restaurant

Gansevoort, NY Award winning restaurant Serving the Saratoga region's finest selection of premium steaks, live lobsters, fresh seafood & wines. Stone fireplaces, a piano bar & attentive service are hallmarks of The Wishing Well.

Lake Ridge Restaurant

Round Lake, NY Only minutes away from Saratoga Lake, we're the food critics' choice (4.5 out of 5 stars), offering first-rate Continental cuisine in an elegant setting.

Exceptional food, great prices and friendly service will keep you coming again and again.

The Adelphi Wine & Beer Garden

Saratoga Springs, NY Located at The Adelphi Hotel in downtown Saratoga Springs, the Adelphi Wine & Beer Garden offers sommelier-selected wines, delicious craft beer, and the region’s most inventive and flavorful sushi.

Listings Courtesy of Saratoga.com

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 2022 • 19

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Available Commercial & Residential Properties We’d like to promote your commercial or residential property. Call us, 581-0600.

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New Industry Grant Supports SkillsUSA Chapter At Myers Education Center, Saratoga

1986 Crawford Road, Rotterdam, NY 12306 $995,000 The F. Donald Myers Education Center in Saratoga Springs recently received a SkillsUSA educational grant through its longtime partnership with Lowe’s Home Improvement.

SkillsUSA has awarded a grant to the SkillsUSA chapter at the F. Donald Myers Education Center in Saratoga Springs, thanks to its longtime partnership with Lowe’s Home Improvement.

SkillsUSA and Lowe’s have teamed up for 16 years to support career and technical education (CTE) classrooms across the nation.

The new Lowe’s grants provide eligible SkillsUSA chapters with additional programming resources including tools and equipment and construction materials for students’ hands-on learning projects, officials said. The support can also be used for materials and supplies for local community service projects SkillsUSA chapters would like to conduct but need additional support to launch.

Each eligible school applied for a grant up to $15,000. Schools are asked to focus on outcomes and the quantifiable impact data of their projects. The grants are intended for construction trades programs to prepare our future skilled workforce, as well as for lab improvements or community service.

The grant obtained by the SkillsUSA chapter at the F. Donald Myers Education Center will be used to provide the HVAC lab with upgrades and state of the art industry equipment.

“This amazing opportunity through Lowe’s provides our SkillsUSA chapters with more resources to support CTE and hands-on learning. All SkillsUSA projects are studentled and center around the development of personal skills, workplace skills and technical skills grounded in academics through the SkillsUSA Framework, so every member has an opportunity for career success,” said SkillsUSA executive director Chelle Travis. “These grants remove financial barriers to excellence and ensure that SkillsUSA chapters have quality

Courtesy SkillsUSA

resources for the betterment of our CTE programs and projects.”

“The Saratoga Housing market, not unlike other places in our country, has encountered a severe shortage of skilled trade workers,” said said Michele Morris, SKillsUSA chapter advisor at the F. Donald Myers Education Center. “Our CTE programs work closely with our community businesses through internships/work placements to ensure that classroom instruction combined with work placements make for the right employee within the right company.

“Equipment that is used in the industry must match that which is being used in the classroom. HVAC equipment is often expensive to obtain and upgrade, thereby grants of this nature allow us to upgrade our classroom tools and equipment using the newest technology. This allows us to serve both students and the community to the best of our ability.”

A total of 43 SkillsUSA chapters in 22 states were awarded grants.

SkillsUSA is a nonprofit partnership of education and industry founded in 1965 to strengthen our nation’s skilled workforce.

Driven by employer demand, SkillsUSA helps students develop necessary personal and workplace skills along with technical skills grounded in academics. Through SkillsUSA’s championships program and curricula, employers ensure schools are teaching relevant technical skills, and with SkillsUSA’s new credentialing process, they can now assess how ready potential employees are for the job.

SkillsUSA has members nationwide in high schools, colleges and middle schools, covering over 130 trade, technical and skilled service occupations, and is recognized by the U.S. departments of Education and Labor as integral to career and technical education For more information: www.skillsusa.org.

This gorgeous barn was moved from Fonda and reimagined in 2011. The exterior has been fully insulated with SIP panels and fiber siding. The interior was meticulously designed and maintained, with no detail overlooked in nearly 8,000 square feet. The soaring ceilings boast a multitude of skylights that fill the space with natural light. 4 bedrooms, 3 and a half baths and room for more.

Sitting on a 38 acre parcel along the Moccasin Kill, this is a beautiful piece of land to overlook from the two tiered rear deck. Bring your friends and family, the 6 car garage and circular driveway has room for everyone. You could not recreate this home for this price.

Listing Agent: Dan Roohan | 518.527.7895 dan@roohanrealty.com

20 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 2022

‘Ice Castles’ Attraction In Lake George Proves To Be A Tremendous Draw In First Year

Ice Castles—a 1.5-acre sculpture with frozen 25-foot-high archways, tunnels and slides—is expected bring more than $4 million for lodging, meals, fuel and more to the local economy.

Courtesy Warren County Tourism

BY PAUL POST Only a week after opening, more than 75,000 tickets had already been sold to a major new winter attraction that officials hope can contrubute to transforming Lake George into true year-round tourist destination.

Visitors to Ice Castles—a 1.5-acre man-made sculpture with frozen 25-foot-high archways, tunnels and slides—are expected to spend more than $4 million for lodging, meals, fuel and similar services.

Located at Charles R. Wood Park’s Festival Commons, 17 West Brook Road, it coincides with this year’s 60th annual Lake George Winter Carnival, featuring a slate of fun activities each weekend in February.

“This is big, really big,” said long-time Mayor Robert Blais, who has worked to promote winter tourism for many years. “All the businesses that have been open all these years, that have struggled through the winter and supported the Winter Carnival, I say thanks to them. Now you’re going to be rewarded. To the ones that don’t stay open and take advantage of it, I say, ‘You don’t know what you’re missing’.”

In addition to Utah, where Ice Castles is based, the company has similar attractions in Minnesota, Wisconsin and New Hampshire. This is its first time in upstate New York.

“We researched it very carefully,” Blais said. “I called communities wherever Ice Castles has been

or still is, and talked to the mayors and supervisors.

It fills every (hotel) room that’s available.”

Room reservations at Fort William Henry Hotel & Conference Center are up nearly 20 percent, said Tom Wysocki, sales and marketing director.

“Our weekends are sold out in February,” he said. “We also got a lift in midweek, which we normally may not have had. There was an impact on occupancy as soon as it was announced that Ice Castles was coming and the dates it would be open.”

“This is our best February ever,” said Jen Vidnansky, Lake George Holiday Inn sales director. In addition to hotel bookings, Ice Castles is also generating business for TR’s Restaurant at Holiday Inn. “It’s certainly pushing people this way, which is awesome,” she said.

The attraction opened on Sunday, Jan. 23 and will welcome guests as long as weather permits.

Site work began last fall with layout and design.

Plans called for an early January opening, but mild holiday week weather delayed things a bit.

Then, as temperatures plummeted, crews quickly kicked into high gear.

The structure was built by a team of about 60 workers, some local and others from across the country, under the watchful eye of project manager Joe Weiler.

The construction process starts by growing 5,000 to 12,000 icicles per day, formed by spraying

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water onto horizontal sections of chain link fence. Icicles are then harvested by hand and individually added onto existing formations, which keep growing as a fine spray of water, from nozzles located throughout the grounds, turns small icicles into tall upright pillars.

“To see it go from nothing to where it is now, it’s quite amazing,” Wysocki said.

When first announced, officials estimated that 90,000 tickets would be sold. But that number will likely be far surpassed as 76,000 had already been sold before Winter Carnival got under way on Saturday, Feb. 5.

Blais cited “enormous” collaboration between the Village of Lake George and Warren County for making Ice Castles possible.

Warren County approved $50,000 in occupancy tax funds to support such efforts. In addition to Ice Castles and the Winter Carnival, the county has invested $215,000 in occupancy tax for winter events including the Festival of Lights, Adirondack Christkindlmarkt, Lake George Winterfest and New York State Ski & Education Foundation.

“This has an impact not only on Warren County, but the entire region, which we can showcase,” said Mike Bittel, Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce president and CEO. “We are thrilled with the response to Ice Castles,” said Gina Mintzer, Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce executive director.

“Visitors are coming from around the Northeast.

Hotels are realizing robust business and a few restaurants that we know of have stayed open additional evenings including 10 McGillis Public House and Barnsider Smokehouse BBQ.” The Village of Lake George is also realizing a direct financial benefit, as Ice Castles is expected to pay $25,000 for the huge volumes of water needed to create the display, making it the water district’s biggest customer. It’s an environmentallyfriendly attraction, as clean melting ice water will eventually run into the nearby lake.

Ice Castles is also open at night when thousands of colorful LED lights transform features into a

fascinating sight spectacle.

“You see a beautiful, kind of glacial natural look during the day,” said Kyle Standifird, Ice Castles chief executive officer. “Then in the evening, that’s a whole different experience.

It’s fantastic. It really is a place where the imagination can go wild. We strive to bring magic to all of our guests. That’s our stated goal.”

Company founder Brent Christensen crafted his first icy creation in his home’s front yard, for his children, after moving from sunny California to snowy Utah. His ice cave was a hit with kids from all over the neighborhood and eventually across town as they bundled up and headed outside to play at the wintry wonderland, which they nicknamed “ice castle.”

More than 4 million people have visited Ice Castles at sites across the U.S. and in Canada since its inception in 2011.

Ice Castles has generated media coverage from numerous local, state and nationwide outlets including The Weather Channel, seen by millions of viewers across the country, which helps promote and bring visitors to Lake George.

“Throughout the pandemic many events have been canceled, but this community has stayed strong, working together to ensure the growth of winter tourism in our area,” said Kristen Hanifin, county tourism development and events coordinator. “Over the past few years you’ve tirelessly worked together to bring a transformative winter vision to this area and region. We are finally making Warren County a true ‘winter-cation’ destination.”

From all indications, Ice Castles could become a Lake George mainstay.

“I’ve done this at a couple other cities,” said Weiler, the lead ice builder. “Working with Warren County and the Village of Lake George has been unlike anything we’ve ever dealt with before. You’ve been so supportive of us.”

For tickets and information see: www. icecastles.com.