Saratoga Business Journal - March 2020

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

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL

VOL. 25 NO. 01

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79th Harness Racing Season Is Underway At Universal Preservation Hall Opens To Sold Out Saratoga Casino Hotel With $15M In Purses Performance By Country Star Rosanne Cash

Casino officials will look to build on the success of last year’s performance, where all-source handle exceeded $48 million and racing was simulcast to over 400 outlets worldwide.

Saratoga Raceway’s 79th season of live harness racing is underway at Saratoga Casino Hotel.

Coupled with the 2020 racing season is the unveiling of the SaratogaBets Simulcast Center, a new trackside venue offering carrel seating, self-service and live teller wagering options, in addition to bar and food service at Diamond Jim’s.

This season the casino will look to build on the success of last year’s performance, officials said, where all-source handle exceeded $48 million and the Saratoga Harness simulcast signal was broadcast to over 400 outlets worldwide.

“We’re very excited to welcome fans back for the 79th year of harness racing,” said John Matarazzo, director of racing operations at

Saratoga Casino Hotel. “We look forward to continuing our tradition of exciting and quality racing here at the historic Spa Oval.”

A highlight of the upcoming racing season will once again be the 12th annual Joe Gerrity, Jr. Memorial Pace, which will feature one dash for $260,000 on July 18.

Collectively, horsemen will be competing for over $15 million in purses at Saratoga Casino Hotel in 2020.

Additionally, continued benefits and rewards will be available throughout the 2020 racing season for users of SaratogaBets, the casino’s online interactive wagering platform. On Wednesdays and Thursdays for the entire 2020 season, a 10 percent bonus will be added on all winning Saratoga Continued On Page 2

Rosanne Cash performs with her band at the opening of Universal Preservation Hall, the new performance center in Saratoga Springs, on Feb. 29 before a sellout crowd.

Universal Preservation Hall (UPH) the new performance center in Saratoga Springs, opened on Feb. 29 before a sellout crowd that was entertained by singer-songwriter Roseanne Cash.

While the renovation and construction is not quite complete, it is finished enough to begin a season that already includes well known acts from across musical genres, and also standup comedians.

The transformation from 19th century High Victorian Gothic church to a 700-seat, stateof-the-art performance facility was long and expensive, but worthwhile, officials said.

The opening of UPH, at 25 Washington St., capped a $13.5 million effort by community members to turn the church building into a performance space. Saratoga Springs Mayor Meg Kelly helped cut the ceremonial ribbon before the

Courtesy Universal Preservation Hall

concert.

“When we saw it was possible to open on a Leap Day, we leapt,” said Philip Morris, CEO of the Proctors Collaborative in Schenectady, of which UPH is a subsidiary, during a new conference before the concert.

The theater, with a 45-foot-high ceiling, occupies the second floor of the building. The building was constructed in 1871 as a Methodist church, the site for annual regional church meetings, and a speakers’ venue that hosted presidents and abolitionists, politicians and others. Its bell tower, equipped with a Troy-made Meneely bell, was the tallest structure in Saratoga Springs.

After 100 years or so, the Methodists sold the building to the Universal Baptist Church Continued On Page 16

Group To Open Fourth Asian Cuisine SUNY Empire State And SUNY Adirondack Eatery, Azuma Sushi Bistro, In Malta Agree To Joint-Admission Pact In Business

BY ANDREA HARWOOD PALMER A new sushi restaurant has opened in Malta at 2452 Route 9.

Briana Lin opened Azuma Sushi Bistro in February. Lin, her family and business partners also own and operate Kobe Hibachi, Yang’s Asian Bistro and T-Swirl Japanese Crepe, all in Latham.

“My family has been in the restaurant business for over 30 years,” said Lin. “My other businesses have done very well and my friends kept telling me I should open a sushi restaurant in the Malta area because there was nothing like it around.”

The menu features Asian Fusion sushi as well as Chinese, Thai and Japanese fare.

Lin referenced Malta’s growing economy as a focal point of location choice, and the opportunity for a different type of restaurant in the area.

“There is no other restaurant like us around here,” she said.

Along with a dine-in menu, the restaurant offers take-out, catering services, and online ordering and meal delivery through www. mealeocom.

“We will have a patio opening up in the spring, where people can sit outside and eat their meal in the nice weather,” said Lin. Operating hours for Azuma Sushi Bistro are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday;

Jason Cao, sushi chef, and Briana Lin, owner, pose inside Azuma Sushi Bistro. ©2020 Saratoga Photographer.com

11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and noon to 9:30 p.m. on Sunday. Ample parking is available.

Azuma Sushi Bistro can be reached at 518663-6888. Its website is www.azumasushimalta. com.

SUNY Empire State College and SUNY Adirondack Community College have approved a phase-one agreement for five joint-admissions degrees in business and management at SUNY Empire’s Saratoga Springs campus.

Under the agreement, SUNY Adirondack students will benefit from increased access to SUNY Empire’s campus in Saratoga Springs, where they can matriculate in bachelor’s and eventually graduate programs in a convenient location upon completing their degree at SUNY Adirondack.

While SUNY Empire has shared space on other college campuses around New York state— including Alfred State College, Cayuga Community College, Fulton-Montgomery Community College, SUNY Adirondack, and SUNY Plattsburgh—this is the first time in its nearly 50-year history that SUNY Empire will host a fellow SUNY institution, creating greater opportunity for Saratoga residents to earn associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees close to home.

The agreement creates five new pathways guaranteeing admission to graduates of SUNY Adirondack’s associate degrees in business to SUNY Empire’s bachelor’s degree programs in business and management.

The focus on business pathways helps meet SUNY Adirondack’s students’ growing demand to

SUNY Empire State President Jim Malatras and SUNY Adirondack President Kristine Duffy.

Courtesy SUNY Empire State

up-skill or refocus their careers, as well as demand in the field of entrepreneurship and small business development, officials said.

The five pathway agreements include: A.S. in accounting to B.S. in accounting; A.S. in business Continued On Page 3

2 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • MARCH 2020

Personnel Briefs •

Lisa M. Licata with Sterling Homes Inc. has been awarded the Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager (CRB) designation, a premier brokerage m a n a g e m e n t credential in the

industry.

There are 48 individuals in New York state with the designation and Licata is the third in the Capital District area. She is also a part of the Broker/Owner/Manager Council of the Greater Capital Association of Realtors.

The CRB title is conferred by the Real Estate Business Institute (REBI) and is an official designation of the National Association of Realtors. All recipients were required to complete a comprehensive program combining experience with management education and subscribe to the Realtor Code of Ethics.

Licata was hired as the director of sales and marketing for Sterling Homes in February of 2019. She adds the CRB designation to her title, in addition to her certified buyer representative and seller representative specialist designations.

* * * Saratoga Hospital has appointed three new board members: David J. Collins of D.A. Collins Construction Co., Kari Cushing of Franklin Community Center and Elizabeth Wood of Shenendehowa Central School District.

Collins, of Greenfield, is president and CEO of D.A. Collins Construction Co. He chairs the board of trustees of Rebuild New York Now and serves on the boards of Associated

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General Contractors, Empire State Highway Contractors Association and the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation board and the advisory board of Leadership Saratoga.

Cushing, of Ballston Spa, is executive director of Franklin Community Center.

During her tenure, the center has added and expanded programs and tripled the number of people served. A graduate of Leadership Saratoga, Cushing has been recognized for her community service by the Saratoga Springs Rotary Education Foundation. She serves on the supervisory committee of Saratoga’s Community Federal Credit Union.

Wood, of Ballston Spa, is deputy superintendent of Shenendehowa Central School District. She has more than two decades of experience as an educator and administrator. Wood holds leadership roles in the state Association of Women in Administration and served on the board of the Chamber of Southern County.

She is the 2019 recipient of the Excellence in District Administrative Leadership Award from Capital Area School Development Association. She has a doctorate in education leadership from Sage Graduate College.

* * * Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP announced that Barbara C. Brenner has been named partner.

Brenner practices with the firm’s

Immigration Group.

She represents clients in a broad range of immigration matters, focusing on complex familyand employmentbased petitions and applications, employer compliance and I-9 employment eligibility verification, waivers of inadmissibility and removability, and naturalization and citizenship cases.

She was previously a partner in the law firm of Copland and Brenner and has limited her practice to U.S. immigration and nationality laws since 1990.

Brenner is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild, the Albany County Bar Association and the Albany County Women’s Bar Association, and was appointed to serve as a member of the Committee on Character and Fitness of the Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department, for a five-year term commencing in November 2018. She is admitted to practice in New York state and Massachusetts.

She earned her Juris Doctor degree as a cum laude graduate of SUNY Buffalo School of Law in 1989. She graduated summa cum laude from SUNY Geneseo with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.

* * *

Saratoga Bridges has hired Tracy Stadel as its human relations director.

Stadel will guide and manage the overall provision of human resources services, policies, and programs for the organization. This includes, but is not limited to, recruiting and staffing, performance management consultation, compliance with employment laws and regulatory requirements, employee orientation, development and training, policy development, employee relations, compensation and benefits administration and succession planning.

She is replacing John Herrick who retired on Jan. 10 after 31 years of service to the agency.

Stadel has many years of experience. Most recently, she was senior manager human capital at Maximus in Albany. She was an HR business partner at the State Farm Insurance operation center in Malta.

She is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) by the Human Resources Certification Institute and Senior Certified Professional by Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM-SCP).

Stadel received her bachelor’s degree from Wells College and master’s degree from The College of St. Rose.

* * *

Roohan Realty announced that Carol Raike of Malta has joined the company as a licensed associate broker.

Raike has been in the real estate industry for the past 17 years. Her honors include being recognized by The Women’s Council of Realtors as a top producer. In addition, she is trained in relocation practices and ethical standards.

She is a member of the Greater Capital District Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors.

Raike is a board member for Catholic Charities of Saratoga, Warren & Washington Counties. She is also a dedicated volunteer for The Lucky Puppy Dog and Rescue Kennel in Argyle, New York.

* * *

Dr. Lee Ruotsi recently joined Saratoga Hospital as medical director of the hospital’s new wound healing program.

Ruotsi has more than 30 years of experience, most recently as medical director of Catholic Health Centers for Advanced Wound Healing in Western New York. He also served as a wound care and hyperbaric medicine consultant for Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, taught in several residency programs and was program director of the Wound Care Fellowship at Catholic Health System of Buffalo.

Ruotsi is board certified in wound care by the American Board of Wound Medicine and Surgery and in undersea and hyperbaric medicine by the American Board of Preventive Medicine. He also is certified as a wound specialist by the American Board of Wound Continued On Page 12

79th Harness Racing Season Continued From Page 1

Harness wagers placed on any self-service kiosk with a valid SaratogaBets account.

Signing up for a SaratogaBets account is free and can be completed on SaratogaBets. com or in the mezzanine at Saratoga Casino Hotel.

The full 2020 season schedule is available at SaratogaCasino.com. People must be 18 years of age or older to play video gaming machines or wager on horses.

Saratoga Casino Hotel, located on Crescent Avenue in Saratoga Springs, features over 1,700 slots, a 117-room luxury hotel,

electronic table games, Vapor, Morton’s The Steakhouse, two full-service restaurants with buffets, a casual dining restaurant, three full-service bars including a sports bar, deli and a variety of guest services including valet parking and coat check.

Operating hours for the gaming facility are 9 a.m. to 5 a.m. every day. Simulcast races can be viewed seven days a week and live harness racing runs through midDecember. For additional information, visit www.saratogacasino.com or call 800-7272990.

Two 2020 Prevost Motorcoaches Delivered to Brown Coach and Upstate Transit of Saratoga Brown Coach recently took delivery of two new 2020 Prevost H3-45 coaches. These 52 passenger coaches feature extra legroom, Wireless Internet, 110 volt outlets, and DirecTV Satellite TV. One went to Brown Coach in Amsterdam, NY with the other going to sister company Upstate Transit of Saratoga based in Saratoga Springs, NY. Brown has been buying Prevost coaches since 1997 and the two companies operate a fleet of over 50 coaches.

Both fleets share similar colors and graphics, tying them together under a common owner.

50 Venner Rd Amsterdam, NY 12010 518-843-4700

207 Geyser Rd Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 518-582-5252

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • MARCH 2020 • 3

SUNY Joint-Admission Pact

NEXT ISSUE

SPECIAL SECTION

Continued From Page 1

administration to B.S. in business administration; A.S. in business administration to B.S. in human resource management; A.S. in business administration to B.S. in management, A.A.S. in management, marketing and entrepreneurship to B.S. in management.

Under the partnership, SUNY Empire will waive the registration fee for applicants and provide a $100 Presidential Scholarship to all transfer students. The agreement also extends to SUNY Adirondack employees, and helps lower the cost and time needed to complete a degree by awarding college credit for professional experience. Students also can complete their degrees entirely online, or at one of SUNY Empire’s 30-plus campuses and learning hubs around the state, including in Albany, Latham, Schenectady, Queensbury, and Johnstown.

The degrees can be completed from start to finish onsite at SUNY Empire’s campus at 111 and 113 West Ave. in Saratoga Springs, expanding access to a bachelor’s degree for SUNY Adirondack students in Saratoga County. Upon completing their studies at SUNY Adirondack, students will be able to take advantage of the services of SUNY Empire’s recently renovated Student Center, which opened in 2019 following an extensive $4.2 million overhaul.

The 52,000-square-foot student center is home to SUNY Empire’s financial aid offices, information center, student accounts, registrar, and bookstore. Students will be able to connect with staff, and easily begin the transfer process.

“This is an incredible opportunity for countless hardworking students in Saratoga to earn a business degree on their terms, while saving time and money, all in their community,” said SUNY Empire State College President Jim Malatras.

“This is the model of the future and SUNY Empire is proud to collaborate with SUNY Adirondack to provide community-based opportunities for working students looking to earn their business degrees in Saratoga Springs. This is an exciting first step toward a larger partnership with SUNY Adirondack.”

“This joint admission 2+2 partnership with SUNY Empire is about more than ease of transfer, it is about a shared vision to remove barriers for students to achieve their associate and bachelor’s degrees. Through this agreement, we will remove the needless paperwork and bureaucracy and focus on guiding students to achieve their goals,” said SUNY Adirondack President Kristine Duffy.

“Earning a degree while working is no easy task, and this partnership will make the path to a needed credential much easier through intentional advising, convenient course scheduling and offerings, and attention to the needs of the busy student of today. We are excited to work more closely with the faculty and staff at SUNY Empire.”

Officials said the joint-admission agreements allow students to seamlessly transfer all lowerdivision credits at SUNY Adirondack to SUNY Empire, more than half the 124 total credits required to complete a bachelor’s degree, meaning students can earn a bachelor’s degree in as little as one year after their associate degree.

SUNY Empire also offers the opportunity for students to transfer credits for work and life experience through its individualized Prior Learning Assessment (iPLA) evaluation. Examples of college-level learning could include military training, professional licenses and certifications, independent study, and internships or volunteer work.

“The easy academic transition this partnership between SUNY Empire and SUNY Adirondack creates will be a real benefit for business students in our region,” said state Sen.Betty Little. “This will be an attractive option for students coming right out of high school and for those who are older and looking for a new pathway.”

“The partnership will allow many students a pathway to achieving their goal of attaining a four-year degree without having to travel a great distance,” said Assemblyman Dan Stec.

“Providing our business community with welleducated and qualified employees will also ensure an environment of professionals ready to strive for success.”

Home / Real Estate Insurance / Medical Services Entrepreneurship Publication Date: April 1, 2020

Cosntruction Education / Training / Personal Development Health / Community Services Publication Date: May 6, 2020

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4 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • MARCH 2020

Find all the stories from this issue as well as stories from previous issues on our website.

Owner Of Pack-It-In Dumpsters Opens ‘New Finish’ Sealcoating Based Out Of Glens Falls

New Finish Sealcoating in Glens Falls uses a brush-on application process for applying the product to asphalt driveways, as opposed to the spray-on process other companies use.

Chaz Wilson has opened New Finish Sealcoating in Glens Falls. A native of the Glens Falls area, Wilson is the owner of Pack-it-in Dumpsters.

New Finish Sealcoating will serve the area including Glens Falls, Queensbury, Lake George, Schroon Lake, Saratoga Springs, and Clifton Park.

He said the sealcoating company will follow in the same footsteps as his dumpster company.

“Folks in Glens Falls can trust that New Finish Sealcoating will deliver the same ethical, reliable service that they’re already familiar with from Pack-It-In Dumpsters,” Wilson said.

“As a business owner, my number-one

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 Rachel Phillips 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.

Courtesy New Finish Sealcoating

priority has always been customer experience and satisfaction. That’s why local customers voted for me in the Readers’ Choice Awards in 2018 [Post-Star newspaper]. And it’s why they can confidently trust me to carry on that tradition and deliver exceptional blacktop sealcoating at competitive rates.”

Wilson says his company is different from other sealcoating contractors because his team always uses a brush application instead of spray-on.

“It’s yet another way we commit to doing what’s best for our customers and giving them the best outcome possible,” he said.

The company website is www. newfinishsealcoating.com. It can be reached by telephone at 518-284-4609.

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • MARCH 2020 • 5

Business Briefs

Saratoga Nightclub ‘Soundbar’ Hopes To Appeal To A Crowd Of 35 to 55 Years Old •

The Soundbar at 8 Caroline St. in Saratoga Springs is a new venue for people to catch live music and enjoy cocktails.

BY JENNIFER FARNSWORTH The Soundbar at 8 Caroline St. in Saratoga Springs is a new venue for people to unwind on the weekends.

Marketing director for the new dance club Brian Miller said he and owner Joshua Loucks are striving to create a place that mirrors the atmosphere of a good party.

“When we thought about how we wanted Soundbar to be different from The Reserve (the space’s previous incarnation), this is the type of scene we pictured. A place with great music that reaches across a target crowd of about 35 to 55, providing something for everybody. Everyone has fun at weddings, so why not create that same feeling, that same type of fun,” said Miller.

The 4,000 square is below street level.

After a lot of thought of how to transform the club, the pair closed The Reserve on New Year’s Eve and went to work on the Soundbar.

Miller said they installed some sound system updates during the January shutdown. He said aesthetically they didn’t need to make any major changes.

Friday and Saturday nights feature live bands like Skeeter Creek and Funk Evolution. Miller said the music will be a good representation of area favorites, that

will incorporate themed nights such as an 80s night, country night and parents night out.

“We are really looking to tap into that 35-plus crowd with drink specials and live music, a fun night out that happens all before midnight,” said Miller.

Later in the evenings, the nightclub will host what Miller calls “Soundbar after dark,” featuring a “dancing through the decades” production with the club’s resident disk jockey. They will have a tikiinf luenced bar menu, with drinks like mai tais and Moscow mules, as well as a small food menu from nearby Esperanto at 4 Caroline St. Miller said they will continue to have a bottle service, something he said makes people feel like they are getting the VIP treatment. Private lounges and event space will be available at Soundbar by request.

Miller has been in the bar business for eight years, dating back to when the space was known as The Paddock. He said when the owner wanted to sell, he called Loucks and the rest is history.

Miller and Loucks, who also owns The Bourbon Room next door at 8 Caroline St., grew up together in nearby Johnstown.

For more information on Soundbar, visit sipsaratoga.com or @soundbarsaratoga.

The Saratoga Builders Association will be awarding two $1000 student scholarship in 2020.

One is the SBA scholarship award and the second is the Bob Best Memorial Scholarship award.

The 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 fouryear accredited college or university or to students who would like to purchase tools and/or equipment for a 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 construction industry career and what events led to this decision.

Applications must be postmarked on or before April 1. Only the first 25 completed applications will be accepted. The winner and their school will be notified by June 1.

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

* * * Saratoga Hospital Volunteer Guild is accepting scholarship applications from Saratoga County high school seniors interested in pursuing careers in healthcare.

Applications and more information are available at local high school guidance

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offices, the hospital front desk and www. saratogahospital.org/aboutus/volunteering.

The deadline to apply is March 20.

The guild has provided scholarships since 1990 to help educate future healthcare providers. This year, it will offer up to five $1,500 scholarships. To be eligible, students must be entering college in September, have a GPA of 2.5 or higher, and have a documented record of community service, especially in a healthcare environment.

Scholarship recipients will be honored at the Saratoga Hospital Volunteer Guild’s annual recognition dinner on May 7.

* * *

Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park will hold its bi-monthly Wellness Walk at 11 a.m.

Monday, March 9.

Wellness Walks are geared towards gentle exercise and the enjoyment of nature and will be accessible for participants at basic fitness levels. The walk will depart from the Camp Saratoga North Trailhead kiosk.

Registration is appreciated as the program could be cancelled if there is bad weather.

If needed, snowshoes will be available for rental 30 minutes before the program; free for members, $3 for non-members. If there is no snow, the program will take place without snowshoes. The Wellness Walks are a bi-monthly activity with the next walk scheduled on March 23 at the same location.

For more information or to register for the program, call the Wilton Preserve office at 518-450-0321 or email at info@ wiltonpreserve.org.

The Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park is a non-profit organization that conserves ecological systems and natural settings while providing opportunities for environmental education and outdoor recreation.

Maddy Zanetti Co-owner Dark Horse Mercantile Reads

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6 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • MARCH 2020

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL

SPECIAL SECTION

Banking / Asset Management NBT Bank Implements Several Digital Charles V. Wait Jr. Named President, CEO At Initiatives Across Multiple Business Line Adirondack Trust Co. Succeeding von Schenk NBT Bancorp Inc. has executed on digital initiatives based on a technology road map with the objective of delivering features and functionality customers want and need, company officials said.

This road map includes the 2020 implementation of several digital initiatives across multiple business lines that will continue to transform the experience NBT delivers to its customers and employees.

“All of our customers expect ever-increasing flexibility, accessibility and speed to manage their finances,” said NBT President and CEO John H. Watt Jr. “Strong adoption of our mobile and online banking services and recognitions like our high ranking on the Forbes 2019 World’s Best Banks list and the 2019 Greenwich Awards in Small Business Banking and Middle Market Banking indicate our customer-first approach to NBT’s digital evolution is being well received.

“In 2020 and beyond, we will further elevate the customer experience as we implement a series of important digital initiatives that will create efficiencies, increase the scalability of our operations, and support our focus on enhanced resiliency and cybersecurity.”

He said in the first quarter of 2020, NBT will introduce Zelle within its mobile and online experiences to enable customers to make fast, safe and easy person-to-person (P2P) payments.

In 2020, the Company will also launch a single platform for digital banking called Architect from Fiserv to deliver a consistent experience across all online and mobile channels and provide customers with access to greater functionality.

Architect can allow NBT to respond to customer needs and deliver new capabilities faster through in-house development and the use of application programming interfaces (APIs).

For small business clients, NBT will launch a new online loan application. Additionally, NBT will expand use of e-signatures and has started to offer small business loans where approval and funding occur swiftly in order to compete with other technology-enhanced lending platforms.

Officials said a loan origination system will be

implemented for all types of home lending in 2020.

Encompass by EllieMae will support all customerfacing and bank processes to provide a streamlined experience for borrowers. The use of integrated services and e-signatures for home lending will make the process simpler and easier for customers.

Work is also underway to transform NBT’s commercial lending capabilities by streamlining and integrating commercial banking processes from end to end with the implementation of the industry-leading platform from the company’s partner nCino, officials said.

“As the pace of change accelerates, we will continue to transform our company by focusing on the customer experience,” said NBT Executive Vice President and President of Retail Community Banking Joseph R. Stagliano, who leads NBT’s Operations and Retail Banking divisions and serves as chief information officer. “Our digital mindset is propelling our team to leverage data-driven insights and better understand our customers. This allows NBT to develop better solutions and connect with current and future customers via a more seamless delivery model.”

Digital initiatives are continuing to enhance the employee experience at NBT as technology investments have enabled team members from across divisions and geographies to engage more easily, the company said. Moreover, process automation continues to drive productivity and eliminate inefficiencies while providing the opportunity to focus on higher-impact activities.

“Our accomplishments to date and the digital initiatives we have planned for 2020 and beyond are evidence that a bank of our size, which is locally-focused and committed to fostering strong customer relationships, can also be the bank of choice for current and future customers as we deliver the experiences and convenience they are seeking in an agile manner,” said Watt.

In addition to these significant digital initiatives, the Company’s NBT Capital Management business unit recently introduced a new digital investment solution from Schwab Performance Technologies.

Charles V. Wait, Adirondack Trust Company’s Chairman of the Board of Directors announced a senior leadership appointment and an officer promotion within the bank’s management team.

Charles V. Wait, Jr., has become the organization’s new President and CEO, an appointment that was approved by the Board of Directors, effective February 12, 2020. Mr. Wait, Jr. succeeds Stephan R. von Schenk, who acted as the Adirondack Trust Company President since 2014 and CEO since 2017.

“Steve has gone above and beyond during his tenure as president and CEO,” said Mr. Wait. “He has done much to transform the organization— both inside and out—with his steady leadership, and I thank him for his many years of service at the Adirondack Trust Company.”

Another management promotion for the bank includes Brian Charbonneau, who has been promoted to Vice President—Deposit Operations Officer, for the bank’s Deposit Operation Department.

As Chairman of the Board, Mr. Wait will continue to focus on the long-term growth strategy for the bank. Mr. Wait, Jr., who has served as Executive Vice President since 2014, will assume responsibilities for day-to-day management and will lead the overall operations of the Adirondack Trust Company.

Mr. Wait, Jr. is a graduate of Cornell University and the Stonier Graduate School of Banking. He also graduated magna cum laude from the New York University School of Law. He practiced law with Jones Day in New York City before joining Adirondack Trust in 2009 as Vice President of Legal and Regulatory Affairs. Active in his local community, Mr. Wait, Jr. serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Saratoga County

Chamber of Commerce. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC).

Adirondack Trust Co. is an independent, locally owned and operated, community bank offering a wide variety of business and personal financial services. Officials said the bank has more than $1 billion in assets and 13 branch offices.

The bank offers banking, trust, insurance, and investment management services, and originates real estate mortgages, both residential and commercial, and commercial business loans throughout its primary market area. It is a Bauer 5-Star Rated Superior bank.

The bank’s website is AdirondackTrust.com.

Branded NBT Guided Investor, the solution offers fully-online investment management capabilities.

Accounts can be opened in as little as 10 minutes and are supported by a dedicated advisor, officials said.

NBT Bancorp Inc. is a financial holding

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Charles V. Wait Jr. became the new president and CEO at Adirondack Trust Co. ©2020 Saratoga Photographer.com

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • MARCH 2020 • 7

Financial Advisors Urge People Not To Panic Adirondack Trust To Build New Branch In As Coronavirus Causes A Stock Market Stir Queensbury, Then Close Glens Falls Office

BY JILL NAGY Some investors may be panicking, but at least two local brokers are keeping their cool, advising a wait-and-see approach to managing assets.

“Focus on the big picture and don’t react to every headline that comes up,” said Ryan Bouchey, CFP and a vice president at Bouchey Financial Group, on the first day of the market decline in response to news of the coronavirus, which has caused the stock market to plunge.

“It’s still a strong economy and most clients are fairly optimistic,” said Steve Kyne CFP and partner at Sterling Manor Financial. His independent financial planning company has been around since 2006. There have been ups and downs, he said, “We’ve weathered our share.”

Bouchey urged people “not to be too greedy” and to try to protect against unexpected risks.

He advised having cash or cash equivalents on hand to meet the needs of the next year or two.

This “cash management strategy” should be separate from an investment fund.

Recently, investors were worried about trade relations with China. “Right as we solved that, the coronavirus happened,” Bouchey said. Global supply chains will be affected, especially those to and from China. He said some companies will spend less and some may reduce hiring because of the disruption caused by the virus pandemic.

On the other hand, Bouchey doesn’t think the presidential election, however it comes out, will affect the overall market, although some sectors will be affected. A change of administration may bring about a ban on fracking. There may be some changes in the health care sector as well.

“This is the longest and slowest recovery we’ve ever had,” Bouchey said. “We are almost 11 years into a bull market.”

Kyne said cash is “a way to lose money safely.”

It loses purchasing power from inflation.

However, he does see a need for retirees, in particular, to have cash on hand to help them

Ryan Bouchey, CFP and vice president at Bouchey Financial Group.

Courtesy Bouchey Financial Group

This is a rendering of a new Adirondack Trust Co. branch office that will be built at 79 Main St. in Queensbury. It will have bank services on the first floor and conference rooms on the second.

Stephen Kyne, CFP, partner at Sterling Manor Financial LLC in Saratoga Springs.

Courtesy Sterling Manor Financial

get through troughs in the market.

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BY JILL NAGY Adirondack Trust Co. is planning to construct a new branch office at 79 Main St. in Queensbury. It will replace the present branch on Maple Street in Glens Falls.

Construction will begin as soon as the weather allows, according to Charles Wait Jr., president and CEO. “We are stymied by the weather. It’s not exactly the best weather to be digging,” he said. Once construction can begin, they are “targeting an eightmonth schedule.”

The new branch will be a two-story building with a lot of glass and open space. It will include a drivethrough teller window and a drive-up ATM, neither of which are available at the Glens Falls branch.

Most of the banking activities will be on the lower floor. The second floor will have offices and conference rooms for use by Amsure, the insurance segment of

Courtesy Adirondack Trust Co.

the company, and by mortgage and trust department employees. In appearance, the Queensbury branch will be similar to the recently revamped Wilton branch of Adirondack Trust, Wait said.

“It is a great location with plenty of parking,” he said.

“We won’t close Maple Street until we are ready to open the new branch,” Wait said. Employees will be moved from Glens Falls to Queensbury.

The site of the new branch, near Exit 18 of the Northway and next to the Subway sandwich shop on Main Street, was purchased by Adirondack Trust last November for $575,000.

According to Wait, there are businesses at the back of the lot that will remain, and the new bank will be built on the now vacant front portion.

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8 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • MARCH 2020

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL

SPECIAL SECTION

Women in Business

U.S. Marine Veteran Went From Serving Caroline Hommel, Loan Originator, Reflects In Iraq To Running A Local Beauty Salon On 30 Years In Local Home Mortgage Industry

Autumn Wright is the owner of Seraphina Divine Beauty, 437 Geyser Road, Ballston Spa, whichspecializes in bridal hair and makeup.

BY SUSAN E. CAMPBELL At ease with hair cutting shears in hand or applying makeup for a professional photo shoot, it is not easy to imagine Autumn Wright in a combat uniform.

The owner of Seraphina Divine Beauty, 437 Geyser Road, Ballston Spa, and specializing in bridal hair and makeup, Wright had a four-year tour as a U.S. Marine driving trucks in Iraq.

When her deployment ended in 2009 she went “wherever the wind” took her. “All around the country,” she said, from New York to Arizona to Tennessee.

Two events changed her career course in 2012: the birth of her son and a decision to study cosmetology. That path led her to becoming a third-generation business owner in her native Ballston Spa. “I love this community,” said Wright. “I am deeply embedded in it.”

Wright started doing hair and makeup for weddings while still in cosmetology school in Tennessee. Having built a clientele while at school, it was natural to go into booth rental and build her credentials. By 2015, she was setting up her own shop in Ballston Spa. Wright’s following continues to flourish. She outgrew her first shop and will likely relocate again at the end of this year, she said. An expert in a hand-painted coloring technique called balayage, Wright said bridal parties and other

©2020 Saratoga Photographer.com

clients will come from some distance to have her highlight and style their hair.

The shop features a range of other beauty services, like hair extensions and makeup for photo shoots, proms and other special events A typical week is cutting and coloring Monday through Friday, and bridal and airbrush makeup on the weekend, according to Wright. She said many brides come to her shop months in advance of their big day.

Wright said the challenge of being a business owner is “staying well rounded. You don’t clock in and out, so you need to find structure within yourself. Being a single Mom, a worker, an employer, a community member and a competitor takes juggling. But I love being a business owner and Ballston Spa is a great place for a business.”

“Do it with passion or not at all,” said Wright of her personal and professional motto.

This year, Wright started her own line of makeup featuring a high-definition foundation, a primer, and 12 shades of lip stain with matching lip liners. She plans to add eyeliner and mascara by the end of 2020.

“I am formulating a team now to market these products at booths and at the salon,” she said.

“That will mean a bigger space and moving to a bigger shop in Ballston Spa.” Visit www.seraphinadivinebeautyny.com to view images and testimonials and to learn more about Wright’s beauty services and products.

Caroline Hommel of Homestead Funding has been a mortgage originator for three decades. She says the economy and housing market in the Saratoga area are healthy and strong.

BY SUSAN E. CAMPBELL The mortgage market is driven by a variety of complex factors that make the times look more or less attractive to those seeking to buy, renovate or refinance a home.

A mortgage originator for three decades, Caroline Hommel of Homestead Funding has experienced just about every permutation and combination of circumstances imaginable, from severe market corrections to recordsetting interest rates.

“There have been so many highs and lows over the years. Mostly highs,” said Hommel.

“The relationships with customers are certainly high points.”

Hommel joined Homestead Funding in 1995 after a few years as assistant to the PR and communications director for the New York State Association of Realtors and then as a mortgage broker for a small firm.

“I was mentored by a smart and savvy loan officer, who I mirrored for a solid year,” she said. “Then I became aware of this growing new company that happened to be in the building where my office was.”

That company was “a very young Homestead.”

“I could tell it was a great group of fun people my age and there was just this sense that they were building something special,” she said. “I wanted to be a part of it.”

Back then, there was no licensing, training, or education for mortgage originators. New ones simply learned on the job.

“Now it is very time-consuming and trainingintensive to get and maintain the required licensing and education,” said Hommel.

The guidelines for that national registration system for residential mortgage loan originators

©2020 Saratoga Photographer.com

comes from legislation enacted in 2008 as part of the SAFE Act. “The 2008 ‘crash’ was much more impactful to the lenders that were doing alternative types of financing, such as loans to individuals with no income, no assets, or poor credit,” she said.

“It was also, of course, devastating to many homeowners.”

While the faint of heart may have transitioned out of the industry, Hommel weathered the changes alongside her peers at Homestead.

“That core group who were there very early on are almost all still there,” she said. “There are decades of friendships having shared all of life’s milestones together.”

“My relationships with my co-workers and the Realtors, attorneys, and appraisers in the industry are a key to success,” she said.

“Getting a transaction to the closing table takes a team. And the teams I find myself a part of are some of the best in the business.”

When Hommel first entered the lending field, fixed mortgage rates were 9.5 percent and have fallen steadily ever since, she said.

“Rates are incredibly low right now and it’s an amazing time to buy or refinance,” she said. “The timing is very good for buyers and homeowners who want to take advantage of the equity in their homes for debt consolidation, home improvements, college costs, and other financial needs.”

Hommel said she delights in the customer relationships she has built over the years.

“My customers call me again and again throughout the years, whether they’re buying, refinancing, or just wanting to brainstorm ideas,” she said. “I hear from them often. And it’s Continued On Page 14

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • MARCH 2020 • 9

Sandra Foster, A Womens Rights Activist, Has Natalie Sillery, Owner Of Saratoga Trunk, Operated The Village Pizzeria Over 30 Years Enjoys Helping Nonprofits In The Community

Sandra Foster has owned and operated thew Village Pizzeria on Route 29 in Galway for more than 30 years and also produces gift baskets and bottled pasta sauces.

BY RACHEL PHILLIPS For more than 30 years, diners have been enjoying the age-old family recipes and handcrafted breads and sauces offered by Village Pizzeria on Route 29 in Galway.

The restaurant, which opened in 1988, is owned and operated by Sandra Foster, along with her partner Joseph Guerrera, and is managed by her daughter, Jessica Mancinone.

Foster’s professional career began in 1969, when she became the first female licensed barber and men’s hair stylist in Waterbury, Conn. At the time, cosmetology and barbering were segregated by gender, and Foster pioneered the transition that brought into being the unisex salons that are now standard today.

A longtime proponent for the women’s movement, Foster was a critical actor in helping women find employment opportunities in the salon industry, as well as in workplaces as a whole.

“Supporting women in the workplace and as valuable members of modern society is something that I continue to dedicate my passion and experience to today,” said Foster.

For 20 years, she served her community in Waterbury after opening her own salon. However, Saratoga Race Course often brought her to the area, and she eventually decided to settle down in Galway. It was there that she began to impress people with her homemade pizza dough.

Eventually she opened her own pizzeria.

After many renovations and modifications, Foster purchased some second-hand kitchen equipment and converted the former Glendale Inn into what would become a popular restaurant.

As for the restaurant’s name, according to Foster, “when rummaging through an old barn I saw a beautiful sign, also for sale, that said ‘Village Pizzeria.’ It seemed very fitting.”

©2020 Saratoga Photographer.com

“We are blessed to have had a long-standing relationship with our employees who have supported the business with their loyalty to our company for 10, 15, 20 and 30 years of service,” said Foster.

Additionally, the restaurant boasts imported Italian and fresh local products. They offer a specialized menu with gluten-free alternatives to suit those with special dietary needs. On- and offpremise catering is another service.

The restaurant has also won awards for their wine.

Since the founding of Village Pizzeria, Foster has expanded her business to offer gift baskets and bottled pasta sauces through her company “Sausations." She started the offshoot company 15 years ago. Her pasta sauces are now being mass produced and sold commercially at local Price Chopper stores and some gourmet grocers.

Her gift baskets are sold year-round, and include bottled sauces, imported Italian pastas, meats and cheeses.

Foster remains committed to serving the community through her contributions to charitable causes. A survivor of breast cancer, Foster hosts an annual Toast to the TaTa’s Breast Cancer Fundraiser, which will take place July 28 at Village Pizzeria. She is also involved with the Avon Breast Cancer Walk in New York City, and has raised over $300,000 for cancer research.

She will also host a golf tournament in September in support of breast cancer fundraising.

Foster has been nominated as a Woman of Influence by Saratoga Today and is a member of Soroptimist International of Saratoga County, which works to improve the lives of women and girls locally and abroad.

For more information about Foster, her restaurant or brand, visit villagepizzeria.com.

BY ANDREA HARWOOD PALMER Natalie Sillery is in her 25th year as owner of Saratoga Trunk at 493 Broadway in Saratoga Springs and shows no signs of slowing down.

“My husband and I were in print publishing back in the 80s in New York City,” said Sillery.

“I grew up in Rensselaer. My parents were getting older and infirmed. Our business ended after 12 years or so, and we moved from New York City to the town of Brunswick.”

“I was caring for my mom, who had slow progressive dementia moving into an Alzheimer’s situation. I also had a great aunt I was caring for. I took my mom in with me, and my dad had 24 hour care. I knew I had to work for myself,” said Sillery.

She put together a couple business plans.

“It could have been a bookstore, it could have been a clothing store. I went with the clothing store,” said Sillery. “I opened Saratoga Trunk with clothes, hats, jewelry and accessories downstairs. Upstairs, I carried more upscale and by appointment items. I learned who the ladies of distinction were and started dressing them exclusively. I had a home service.”

She continued to get busier and busier with her clothing store, in addition to being an FM radio talk show host, doing voice-over work and appearing regularly on television.

“I was blessed to have met all my best friends through owning my store,” said Sillery. “A group of women, all ages, we would do fashion shows. I started doing 20 fashion shows a year, all over the Capital Region. I don’t think there’s a venue in Saratoga or the Capital Region that I haven’t done a fashion show for. We were the first in town in the 90s to do the hat fashion shows for breakfast at the track.”

As time went on, Sillery would rush home an hour and ten minutes away and take care of her mom.

Prior to her mother passing, Sillery’s dad passed away in 1999. In 2004, her husband began to get ill. They sold their home in Brunswick and moved to East Greenbush.

Sillery moved Saratoga Trunk from 487 Broadway to 493 Broadway, where she is currently located.

Sillery’s husband passed away in 2009. They had been together 33 years.

Since the late 1990s, Sillery has been producing a yearly bridal fashion show for charity to benefit the Ronald McDonald House. Last year was the final year of the show, with over $1.9 million raised since its inception.

“I had the good fortune of having the Trunkettes, my friends and family, as part of these fashion shows,” said Sillery. “We were a good team and we raised a lot of money for a good cause.”

“The most exciting thing happening right now is that I’ve resurrected my producing of a fashion show. It’s my way of giving back to the nonprofits that I love,” said Sillery.

Natalie Sillery is in her 25th year as owner of Saratoga Trunk in Saratoga Springs. ©2020 Saratoga Photographer.com

On Aug. 23, Sillery will produce the first annual AIM Services Fashion Show at the 1863 Club at the Saratoga Race Course.

“It’s all about inclusion and diversity, and giving people a chance to have a great time modeling beautiful clothes,” said Sillery.

“With the good fortune of good friends, family and the Trunkettes, my shop was never just about selling dresses. It was about making a difference. It was about connecting people to other people, which in turn gave them new opportunities, new jobs, new ventures. Just seeing the potential for so many things,” said Sillery.

“My motto for the past 25 years has been, ‘where your style is our pleasure’,” said Sillery.

“I’ll be doing this until rigor mortis sets in.”

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10 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • MARCH 2020

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL

SPECIAL SECTION

Economic Development New CEO Of Saratoga Prosperity Partnership Has Passion To Help Business Communities

BY CHRISTINE GRAF A shortage of new, young talent in the workforce is one of the issues the Saratoga Prosperity Partnership deals with, said Shelby Schneider, its new president and CEO. The economic development organization was established in 2014 to enhance economic growth in Saratoga County.

Schneider, a mother of four who lives in Wilton, earned a degree in management and business administration from Skidmore College. She entered the economic development field in 2000 and spent thirteen years working at Saratoga Economic Development Corporation (SEDC). During her early years at SEDC, she served as the Empire Zone Coordinator. The Empire Zone tax incentive program allowed qualified businesses to take advantage of a variety of tax credits.

“I oversaw the New York state tax incentive program and administered it on behalf of county,” she said. “We worked with businesses as well as towns, cities, and villages to help grow the economy, attract business, and create jobs.

The program was one of the key instrumental tools for attracting GlobalFoundries to New York state.”

GlobalFoundries received Empire Zone tax benefits of approximately $586 million, she said. Before it was closed to new applicants in 2010, the program provided tax credits to 4,000

Shelby Schneider is the president/CEO of the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership.

Courtesy Saratoga Prosperity Partnership

businesses throughout the state.

“It wasn’t just useful for large-attraction projects like GlobalFoundries,” said Schneider.

“Many Saratoga County-based existing businesses took advantage of the program so that we could attract additional capital investment to keep those businesses viable.”

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Schneider left SEDC in 2013 to become the national marketing director for Shmaltz Brewing Co. in Clifton Park. While at Shmaltz, she helped create a workforce development program to train entry level brewers and support the craft brewing industry.

In 2016, she returned to the economic development arena after accepting a position at the Prosperity Partnership. She began her career there as the director of business retention and expansion. She took the helm of the organization after former president Marty Vanags resigned at the beginning of 2020. The Prosperity Partnership has two employees in addition to Schneider.

“We are a local development corporation that was created by Saratoga County to grow our economy and support our communities in key sectors throughout Saratoga County,” she said. “Sectors including manufacturing, agriculture, and office support. Our intent is to attract investment and jobs and essentially plan for a prosperous future in Saratoga County. We also want to capitalize on the next wave of opportunity that should come as a result of the Luther Forest Technology Campus being developed and GlobalFoundries coming to Saratoga County.”

As part of a Next Wave Communities Initiative, the Prosperity Partnership works with communities to formulate economic development plans and plan for future economic growth. Schneider said having economic development plans makes it easier for communities to apply for grants.

“We help them to understand what their assets are, get a comprehensive idea of what their tax base looks like, and position themselves for opportunities in the future,” she said. “That positioning helps them plan for infrastructure, site development, and provides a process of predictability so that businesses looking at the community know how to do business there essentially. It’s helping a community know what it wants and how to position itself for economic growth.”

The Prosperity Partnership also works with small, medium and large businesses. For example, they offer assistance with business retention, business expansion, workforce development, and business plan preparation.

“We have a broad list of contacts and partners that we bring to the table depending on what the need is,” she said. “Our relationships are very important, as is our understanding of the business community and resources that are needed to be successful. There are so many

tools and resources to assist small businesses.”

According to Schneider, a nationwide skills gap is one of the biggest challenges faced by local businesses.

“It’s a real demographic challenge across the U.S.,” she said. “It’s called “the silver wave.” Baby Boomers are retiring faster than we can backfill the positions with people who have skills they are leaving behind. We are finding that with GenX and Millennials that the skills they have been taught or careers they have been educated for don’t always align with what’s needed out in the workforce. When we do outreach and surveys, one of the key critical issues that everyone is facing is a talent shortage. We need to work hard to address this to ensure that our employers have the workforce they need.”

In order to do that, the Prosperity Partnership is working closely with workforce development systems at the state, regional and local levels.

They are also working with institutes of higher education.

“We are aligning our resources to help solve these challenges for our employers,” she said. “We are working with our K- through-12 system, community colleges, and employers.

We are sharing critical needs so that we are training properly.”

As an example, she mentioned the P-TECH (Pathway to Technology Early College High School) program. The Capital Region P-TECH, a program that begins in grade 9, is led by Capital Region BOCES. It is focused on engaging students in hands-on, project-based learning to help them prepare for careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Schneider’s own son recently enrolled in the program at Saratoga Springs School District.

“Had I not been in the field of economic development, I would probably not know how beneficial these programs are,” she said. “They help develop career pathways for students.”

The Prosperity Partnership also works closely with SEDC and the county Board of Supervisors. It was the Board of Supervisors that formed the Prosperity Partnership in 2014.

It is funded primarily through the county’s room occupancy tax. Additional funding is provided by grants.

In 2019, the supervisors approved a collaboration between the Prosperity Partnership and SEDC. It allocated $150,000 to SEDC, a private sector, nonprofit, consulting firm that works to retain existing businesses while creating new jobs in Saratoga County. SEDC is the first point of contact for Continued On Page 14

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • MARCH 2020 • 11

•

Business Report

Housing Authorities To Get State Grant Funds •

Consistent Leadership Key To Economic Success

BY KEVIN HEDLEY I first became involved in the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce at the invitation or more accurately the insistence of Jessica Petraccione of First National Bank of Scotia. The Chamber had just formed its Twin Bridges Council and Jessica was the first person to lead it.

Forming the Twin Bridges Council was part of a larger effort to get more business owners with operations in Clifton Park, Halfmoon, and Mechanicville more involved in the Saratoga County Chamber.

Soon after getting involved in the Twin Bridges Council, I was approached about serving on the Saratoga County Chamber’s board of directors and a year or so later became the organization’s treasurer.

And here we are in 2020 and I’m the volunteer chair of the board of directors of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.

One of the reasons the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce is still thriving as it enters its 102nd year of operation is the fact that it has had tremendous volunteer and professional staff leadership.

The last five chairs of the board include Theresa Agresta of Allegory Studios, Brian Straughter of Turf Hotels, David Collins of D.A. Collins, Matt Jones of the Jones Firm and Valeri Muratori.

After my term as chair is over, I will be followed by Skip Carlson of the Saratoga Casino Hotel in 2021, Tara Pleat of Wilcenski & Pleat in 2022 and Amy Smith of Saratoga Arms Hotel, in 2023. That’s an extraordinary list of leaders.

I am honored to call all of them my friend and humbled to be on this list with them.

Now here’s an interesting fact about the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce: In the last 50 years from 1970 to 2020, we’ve had just two presidents hired to lead our organization.

The current professional staff which guides and leads the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce on a daily basis collectively has over 140 years of experience in the Chamber industry. This consistency of volunteer and professional staff leadership combined with a sustained and focused mission is what makes the Saratoga County Chamber so effective.

Every day, our board of directors and professional staff is working to help our members to succeed, grow and thrive and to ensure Saratoga County is a great place to live, work and play.

Saratoga County today has a growing population, a growing economy, and a worldwide brand that attracts millions of visitors and new residents all four seasons of the year.

Leading and working alongside our partners in the public, private and impact sectors, we’ve

Kevin Hedley, chairman of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce board.

Courtesy Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce

helped create one of the most vibrant and enviable economies in the U.S. This position of strength makes our chamber an extremely effective advocate for important issues with local, regional and statewide impact.

In 2020, I want to see our Chamber do more than ever before to serve our members and to promote all of the communities across Saratoga County.

We now have professionally staffed offices in Saratoga Springs and Clifton Park. We’re working with local and regional partners to improve public transportation. In southern Saratoga County, we’re helping to build support among employers for a CDTA micro-transit program. To the north, we’re trying to support efforts to connect CDTA and Glens Falls transit bus lines to improve connections across Saratoga and Warren counties.

I also want to see the Chamber expand its partnerships with area educational institutions. We took a big step forward in this realm in 2019 when we launched the Saratoga County Institute for Management. This collaboration with SUNY Empire State College and the Saratoga County Capital Resources Corp. is teaching participating employees to be better leaders on the job.

Now we want to expand this partnership with area community colleges and explore options to do the same with our area’s high schools.

Improving public transportation. Creating training opportunities for area workers.

Pulling out all of the stops to bring tourists in to Saratoga County. Providing leadership that is consistent, sustainable and effective.

Those are just a few of the actions we’re taking at the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce in 2020 in keeping with our mission of sustaining Saratoga County’s economic success.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded more than $2.7 billion to public housing authorities in all 50 states, including those in Saratoga Springs, Mechanicville and Glens Falls.

The funding will allow agencies to make needed capital improvements to their properties. In New York, HUD awarded $653 million to housing authorities in the state.

Locally, the Saratoga Housing Authority received $764,749, the Mechanicville Housing Authority received $301,925 and the Glens Falls Housing Authority received $463,186.

The grants are provided through HUD’s Capital Fund Program, which offers annual funding to approximately 2,900 public housing authorities to build, repair, renovate, and/or modernize the public housing in their communities. Housing authorities use the funding to complete large-scale improvements such as replacing roofs or making energy-efficient upgrades to replace old plumbing and electrical systems.

“Few issues at HUD are more important to me than the repair and preservation of public housing,” said Lynne Patton, HUD regional administrator for New York and New Jersey. “HUD’s Capital Fund Program is essential to the restoration of affordable housing because it provides resources to ensure low-income residents live in healthy, safe and sanitary homes.”

To help provide residents with decent, safe and sanitary housing and respond to the growing demand for affordable rental housing, HUD uses the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD), a comprehensive strategy that complements the Capital Fund Program. RAD offers a long-term solution to preserve and enhance the country’s affordable housing stock, including leveraging public and private funding to make critically needed improvements.

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Personnel Briefs Continued From Page 2

Management.

He serves on the board of directors of the American Board of Wound Medicine and Surgery and the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel. He is a member of the Wound Healing Society and the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society. He also lectures nationally and internationally on topics related to wound care and hyperbaric medicine.

* * * Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP announced that Robert T. Schofield has been appointed as co-managing partner of the firm and William S. Nolan has been added as a member of the Executive Committee.

Schofield replaces Norma Meacham, who stepped down as co-managing partner after 17 years of leadership with the firm. Meacham will continue practicing law as a partner in the firm concentrating on labor, employment and education law.

Schofield joined Whiteman Osterman & Hanna as an associate in 2000 and was named partner in 2008. He is a member of the Labor and Employment, Education, and Litigation and Appeals Practice Groups. His areas of focus include public and private sector labor and employment issues, education law, and general litigation.

A member of the Litigation and Appeals Practice Group, Nolan has been with the firm since 2001 being named partner in 2012.

He has extensive courtroom experience, having tried numerous cases in State and federal courts. He routinely handles toxic tort, property damage, and construction-related lawsuits, as well as business disputes, including dissolution proceedings, shareholder derivative actions, and breach of contract litigation arising from sales, licensing, distribution, franchise, joint venture, and noncompete agreements.

* * * Saratoga Shakespeare Company announced two new executive hires As its 20th Anniversary season approaches, the company hired managing director Emma Halpern and director of education Tracy Liz Miller. They will be working with executive and artistic director Marcus Dean Fuller to support the company’s plans for growth.

Halpern is the former co-artistic director of New York City Children’s Theater, where for the last 10 years she served as a producer and dramaturg on over 20 off-Broadway productions, including 17 world premieres. As an arts journalist, Halpern has contributed regularly to American Theatre magazine, where she has published over 30 articles. She holds a B.A. in English from Rutgers University and a M.F.A. in dramaturgy from Brooklyn College, where she has taught as an adjunct lecturer in the M.F.A. Performing Arts Management Program.

Miller comes to SSC with extensive experience as an actor, producer, director and educator. She is the co-founder of Pawling Theatre Exchange and co-founding producing artistic director of The Bridge Initiative: Women in Theatre.

She serves on the theatre faculty of Western Connecticut State University, and is the former Director of Theatre Arts at ChandlerGilbert Community College in Chandler, Arizona. She has received the KCACTF/ ATHE Innovative Teaching Award, a professional development grant from the Arizona Commission on the Arts, and an emerging director scholarship from the Celebration Barn in Maine. She holds a B.F.A. in music theatre performance from Western Michigan University and a M.F.A. in acting from Alabama Shakespeare Festival/University of Alabama.

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • MARCH 2020 • 13

Mohr Family Adds DeLucia’s Deli & Grocery Dr. Joel Reed Stepping Down As Head Of To Its Capital District Real Estate Portfolio Saratoga Arts After 17 Years With The Group

DeLucia’s Deli & Grocery is under new ownership, purchased by brothers David, Eric and Gregory Mohr in December. Just Meats will move their butcher shop into the location.

BY ANDREA HARWOOD PALMER DeLucia’s Deli & Grocery is under new ownership as long-time owners Ronald, Gilbert and Vince DeLucia exit the business.

Brothers David, Eric and Gregory Mohr purchased the business and some surrounding properties in December. The Mohr family, comprised of seven siblings, holds an expansive commercial portfolio in the Capital Region.

“We started in 2012, taking over Mohr’s Service Center in Saratoga Springs after our father passed away,” said David Mohr. “We also own the Mobil gas station on that corner, as well as a car wash nearby.”

The Mohr’s expanded into Latham with another Mobil station, a convenience store, a Dunkin Donuts and several apartments at a strip mall there. They also own a Mobil station and car wash in Colonie on Wolf Road.

Opportunity knocked when the brothers learned that the owners of DeLucia’s were retiring.

“We were looking for any place we could expand the family business. We’re constantly looking to grow,” said Mohr.

“DeLucia’s was something we’d looked at for a long time. We grew up living right near the deli as kids. It’s a great location and a nice piece of property, so we decided to take advantage of the owners selling it,” said Mohr.

“We saw that Stewart’s was going in across the street, and that made us more comfortable with the purchase, especially with there not being sewer or water there yet. We figured it was just a matter of time before it went in,” said Mohr.

Courtesy DeLucia’s Deli & Grocery

Stewart’s owns roughly 100 acres near the location.

The Mohr’s approached Matt and Mark Little from Just Meats about operating the deli portion of the business. Just Meats will move their butcher shop into the location, while the Mohr’s will operate the convenience store side of things.

“They were thrilled to get involved,” said Mohr.

“I knew Matt from riding the school bus together as kids. Then we were customers of theirs when they were at the Malta location years ago. I knew they had since been operating in Schuylerville and Greenwich, and I figured they’d be interested in getting back into the Malta area. When I approached them, they were very excited about it,” said Mohr.

The brothers have done some light cosmetic improvements such as flooring and the removal of a small portion of wall to open up space.

A grand re-opening will happen sometime in mid-March or early April, according to Mohr.

“DeLucia’s is going from one family business to another. The deli has been there since the 1930s. Just Meats has been around since the 1970s. We’ve been in business for many years. There’s a lot of experience on that corner,” said Mohr.

DeLucia’s Deli & Grocery is located at 2858 Rotue 9 in Malta. Current weekday hours are 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., with Saturday hours of 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Saratoga Arts has announced that its executive director, Dr. Joel Reed, will be retiring at the end of March.

Reed was appointed to his current position at Saratoga Arts, then known as the Saratoga County Arts Council, when its founder Dee Sarno retired in January 2007.

Reed began working for the organization in June 2003 as its associate director after moving to the Saratoga Springs area from Syracuse.

The Saratoga Arts board of directors is engaged in a search for its next director.

More information about the position and how to apply can be found at www. saratoga-arts.org/join-our-team.

Board member Meaghan Golden, principal of MGolden Design + Photo and the co-founder of the Women’s Art Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, will serve as interim director from April until the search is completed and a new executive director has settled in.

During Reed’s tenure, Saratoga Arts took on new projects including: its adoption in 2009 of First Night Saratoga from the YMCA of Saratoga Springs; the commissioning and installation in Saratoga Springs’ High Rock Park of Tempered By Memory, the large-scale sculpture created from World Trade Center Towers steel; the expansion of the regrant program it offers in partnership with the state Council on the Arts, from $51,230 for projects in Saratoga County to $123,010, which will be awarded this year for arts programs in Saratoga, Fulton, and Montgomery counties; the continued growth of its education program, which offers classes, workshops, and school break

program for over 1,200 artists of all ages annually; and the development of programs with regional health centers to facilitate the acquisition of significant art collections by local and regional artists.

During this growth, Reed worked with Saratoga Arts staff, volunteers, members, and board of directors to ensure that the organization remained focused on its mission of supporting local and regional artists and providing community members and visitors year-round opportunities to appreciate and participate in the arts.

The financial support Saratoga Arts offers regional artists and arts presenters, and the performance and teaching space at the Arts Center at 320 Broadway in Saratoga Springs that it makes available to other community arts organizations, illustrate the importance he’s given to partnerships and collaboration in furthering those goals.

Reed’s years at Saratoga Arts have coincided with a shift in New York state’s community arts environment, as organizational mergers and closures have transformed what had been a local Arts Council movement to a broader regional model. Reed helped expand the reach of Saratoga Arts to serve multiple communities and counties, while putting an emphasis on developing revenuegenerating programs, rather than relying on contributions.

Reed has also helped grow Saratoga Arts’ long-term reserves by nearly 250 percent since 2007, granting it the resources to securely weather downturns and transitional periods, according to the organization.

More To Read . . . More Leads For You. (518) 581-0600

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL

saratogaeconomicalliance.com

14 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • MARCH 2020

Gail Brophy, Longtime Purdy’s Liquor Store Owner, Renowned Athlete, Dies At Age 77 Gail Purdy Brophy, 77, an outstanding area athlete and successful business woman, passed away at Saratoga Hospital on Sunday, Feb. 23.

Born on July 31, 1942, in Glens Falls, she was the daughter of the late George and Elizabeth Purdy, and sister to the late Anne Bliss. She was married to James “Bud” Brophy for 28 years, until he passed away at age 79 in 1998.

She is survived by her two daughters, Mary Brophy Magnus and Kristen (Brandan) Greczkowski. Five grandchildren, Sydney and Zayda Greczkowski, Evan, Kayla and Emily Magnus. Three nieces, Linda (Adrian) Stone, Laura (Dave) Borst, and Debra Apple.

Brophy was the owner of Purdy’s Discount Wine and Liquor. She left college and put her sports on hold, as she took the reins of the business. She ran the family business until she was hospitalized tin February.

She was known as an area golf legend.

She played in the U.S. Women’s Open in 1960 and 1961, making the cut both times.

Back then, only 40 players made the cut for the final 36 holes. She was the New York State Women’s Amateur champion in 1961, the youngest at the time to ever win that championship.

She won the state women’s amateur again in 1963. She left the competitive scene of golf at this time to run the family business and raise her two children. In 2006, she roared back on the golf scene. She won the New York State Super Senior State Championship in 2007 and 2008 and was runner up in 2009, 2012 and 2013.

Brophy was a member of the Glens Falls Country Club when she was young. She has been a longtime member of Saratoga National Golf Club and Ballston Spa Country Club since 2015. She loved speedskating. She won more than 100 titles in the northeast

when she was young, including winning several Eastern States championships, New England championships, Eastern Seaboard championships, New York State championships and the Lake George International Silver Skates.

She won seven National or North American divisional championships. At age 16, she competed in the first U.S. Olympic Trials for speed skating women in 1959, missing the Olympic team by one spot. Less than 25 women from 10 nations competed in speedskating at these Olympic Games in Squaw Valley.

She competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials for the 1964 Olympic Games, just missing the team once again. One of her greatest moments was winning the 1965 North American Indoor Short Track Championships. She was running the family business, taking care of her father, with limited time devoted to skating, and she beat Olympian Janice Smith, and another future Olympian. During the same season, she was crowned champion at the Diamond Trophy Indoor in Lake Placid over Olympic medalist Jeanne Ashworth.

She was a great supporter to women’s and junior golf and had been a member of Saratoga Winter Club speedskating since she was a teenager. She is honored at the Weibel Ave Ice Rink as a contributor to the sport of speed skating and has been a fixture at the ice rink for a long time, known to many as Momma Broph or Gramma Gail.

Memorial donations may be made to help support the Saratoga Winter Club. Checks payable to Saratoga Winter Club or SWC, with “Gail Memorial” in memo line. Mail to: SWC, 69 King Rd. Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Or go to saratogawinterclub.com Online remembrances may be made at burkefuneralhome.com.www. burkefuneralhome.com http://www. lastingmemories.com/gail-purdy-brophy.

Loan Originator Caroline Hommel Continued From Page 8

always fun when they refer their adult children to me for advice.”

“Despite all the numbers and spreadsheets and market indicators, this is a business of helping families make some very big and sometimes hard decisions,” she said.

Customers experience a range of emotions throughout the process of home buying, she said.

“There are the nervous, excited first-time buyers, the confident, forward-thinking moveup buyers and the melancholy, nostalgic emptynesters moving on,” said Hommel. “Everyone has a story. And knowing their stories helps me to help them.”

Hommel said she believes a mortgage

originator’s job is “ideally suited to the way many women think.”

“We are so used to multi-tasking and juggling,” she said. “This job requires your attention to be sharp in many different directions all at the same time.”

Reflecting further on her career, Hommel said, “All in all I would say it’s been a pretty steady ride with a predominate number of highs, but enough lows to provide invaluable lessons and insight.”

“The economy and housing market in the Saratoga area are healthy and strong and this part of the country is typically more stable than many others, whether the economy is accelerating or receding,” she said.

New CEO of SCPP Continued From Page 10

business development.

According to Schneider, the alliance with SEDC is beneficial to both organizations. It allows them to develop a unified economic development approach in Saratoga County.

“I am committed to working closely with them to ensure we aren’t duplicating efforts and that we are working together to ensure that businesses have the services that they need to succeed here,” said Schneider. “My goals are to fulfill the obligations of our unity agreement.”

Don't Panic

Continued From Page 7 market has gone down, it has come back,” he said, but people have to be prepared to wait.

“You need to sit down with somebody and

Schneider is passionate about her work.

“The reason I chose this field is that I grew up outside of Amsterdam. My dad worked for GE, and from the time I was a kid, I saw economic decline and industry downsizing,” she said. “I became really aware of the impact that had on a community. I decided that if I was going to stay here (in the Capital Region), I wanted to be part of something bigger that made this a better place to live.”

For more information, visit www. saratogapartnership.org.

find out what your options are,” he said.

People’s needs are different and he would have to know a businessperson’s goals before giving any advice, Kyne said. Someone concerned about a retirement fund for 20 years in the future has different needs than someone concerned about more short-term obligations.

Richard Kessinger Owner

P.O. Box 187 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

(518) 944-0359

saratogalawnmaintenance@gmail.com

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • MARCH 2020 • 15

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16 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • MARCH 2020

‘Craft On Wheels’ Mobile Bar Company Serves Events In Region Including Saratoga

Erin Murphy, left, Jim Murphy and Connor Neal are partners in Craft on Wheels, a mobile bartending service utilizing custom vintage vehicles to serve craft beverages.

BY ANDREA HARWOOD PALMER Business partners Jim Murphy, Erin Murphy and Connor Neal have started a mobile craft beverage service based in Glens Falls, serving the Capital Region and North Country including Saratoga County.

Craft on Wheels is a mobile bar company utilizing vintage vehicles to bring craft beers, ciders and wines to serve at special events like weddings, corporate functions, private parties, festivals, and the like.

Jim Murphy has lived in Glens Falls for 14 years. In addition to partnering on the Craft on Wheels venture, Murphy is currently the director of marketing and corporate relations at Proctors Theater, and the publisher of regional arts magazine The Collaborative.

“The idea was from my daughter’s boyfriend, Connor Neal, who had been exposed to other companies doing this in the Boston area,” said Murphy. “We’d done a little research, and there are actually quite a few markets in the country where people are doing something like this—but not around here.”

The partners spent some time looking for just the right vehicle to start their f leet and found a 1957 Ford F-100 in the Catskills. The vehicle is fitted with a six-tap cold beverage serving system. The venture quickly gained a local following, with over

1,000 Instagram followers organically derived by the end of 2019.

Craft on Wheels has a few niche areas.

“For weddings, it’s become more popular and common to do them in a place other than the stereotypical banquet hall at a hotel. More and more people are looking for barn weddings, outdoor weddings and backyard weddings—looking for something a little different,” said Murphy.

“Most of the time, those venues need to be catered for food and beverage. It opens up the opportunity for a company like ours to go in and serve drinks.”

“This kind of setting really adds something to the event. Everyone wants to have their photo taken with the truck when we show up. It adds an element of nostalgia and fun,” he said.

“We can work with local distributors or local breweries to procure what people want. There’s not really any limits on what someone wants, as long as it’s available locally,” said Murphy.

New York state allows ventures such as Craft on Wheels to get their beer, wine and hard cider license for events. The company can be hired as a bartending service for hard liquors in partnership with venues that could provide the hard beverages and corresponding liquor licensing.

“We have three options. People can hire

Universal Preservation Hall Opens Continued From Page 1

who used it for years and then abandoned it. By 2000, the building was condemned, in danger of collapse.

Rescue work been in 2003 with the creation of the nonprofit Universal Preservation Hall.

Repairs began that year. Fundraising began with a $1 million anonymous gift. Donations from the general public have been augmented by grants form foundations, government agencies, the Universal Baptist Church, and the Landmarks Conservancy, among others.

Architects Lacey, Thaler, Reilly and Wilson, an Albany firm specializing in preservation architecture, designed the new facility. Bonaccio

Construction was the general contractor on the project.

The building also has a community event space and will offer year-round music and entertainment in downtown Saratoga Springs.

Administrative offices, a glass atrium and an elevator for increased accessibility are included.

Movable platforms allow the space to open up, depending on the requirements of any given performance. A specifically designed sound system was also installed.

Tickets are on sale for all upcoming events.

The venue website is universalpreservationhall. org.

us to serve beer, wine and hard cider. Or they can hire us as a bartending service and provide the hard liquor themselves. We can also rent out our truck and the venue can use their own labor and beverages to serve

their clientele,” said Murphy.

“It’s work for us, it’s a business, but it’s also a lot of fun,” he said.

To learn more, visit www.craftonwheels. com.

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