Saratoga Business Journal - June 2021 by Saratoga & Glens Falls Business Journal

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL

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

VOL. 26 NO. 04

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE

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GLENS FALLS, NY 12801 PERMIT #600

JUNE 2021

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Artisanal Brew Works Continues To Expand; NYRA: Seating Areas For Fully Vaccinated Destination Restaurant/Brewery Is The Goal To Be At 100 Percent When Race Track Opens NEW UPDATED STORY AVAILABLE

CLICK PHOTO TO SEE THE LATEST NEWS ONLINE SARATOGA RACE COURSE TO RE-OPEN AT 100 PERCENT CAPACITY THIS SUMMER

Kurt Borchardt is the co-owner of Artisanal Brew Works which has a taproom at 615 Maple Ave. He has plans to create a 10,000-square-foot, sit-down restaurant and brewery. BY JENNIFER FARNSWORTH Kurt Borchardt is hoping to make his craft brewery, which he is moving to a new location, more than just a place to have a beer. His vision includes beer, food and maybe even a hike. Borchardt said he wants the new Artisanal Brew Works to be more of a destination spot. He plans to convert the former Cole’s Collision Center at 617 Maple Ave. in Saratoga Springs into a 10,000-square-foot, sit-down restaurant and brewery. “Our goal is to bring in both beer enthusiasts, as well as families. The new site ties into the Palmertown Range, which will have some great trails for hiking. We really want it to become a destination,” said Borchardt.

Right now, they are operating out of a temporary location at 615 Maple Ave. on the Cole’s Collision site and are in the process of having the water and sewer pipes upgraded so that they can proceed to the full expansion and use the entire property. The first location for the brewery was on Geyser Road. Food trucks were at the microbrewery, but that changed after a neighbor complained to the city. That prompted Borchardt to look for something that would allow him and his partner to build the brewery they envisioned. “I was just done after that. I knew it was time to find a spot where we make the business into what we wanted,” said Borchardt. Continued On Page 18

Saratoga Race Course will re-open to fans at near full capacity when the 2021 summer meet commences on July 15. Designated seating for unvaccinated patrons will also be available. Saratoga Race Course will re-open to fans at near full capacity when the 2021 summer meet commences on July 15. In order to re-open Saratoga Race Course to fans at near full percent capacity, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) will designate most sections for vaccinated fans only, including the popular Saratoga backyard. Officials said the policy aligns with current state guidance for large outdoor sports and entertainment venues, which allows for fully vaccinated sections to operate at full capacity without social distancing measures in place. Alternatively, NYRA will designate a small number of hospitality and seating

Courtesy NYRA

areas for non-vaccinated fans. Fans in these sections will be required to observe social distancing guidelines and to wear a face covering at all times during their day at Saratoga Race Course. NYRA said all fans who show proof of vaccination through Excelsior Pass–the state’s free, fast, and verifiable way to present digital proof of COVID-19 vaccination—on Opening Day, Thursday, July 15, will receive free grandstand general admission. Fans can also present alternate forms of proof of vaccination, including paper form such as their CDC COVID-19 vaccination record card, to redeem the free admission. Continued On Page 16

Saratoga County Chamber Of Commerce ‘NightWork Bread,’ In Saratoga Springs Sells Sets B2B Expo For October 5 At City Center Its Sourdough At Area Farmers’ Markets The 2021 B2B Expo of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce will be held this year on Tuesday, Oct. 5, at the Saratoga Springs City Center. This event attracts attendees representing a wide range of private, nonprofit and public sector organizations. Chamber officials said it is traditionally the region’s largest B2B networking event of the year. “We are happy to report with the recent trend of vaccinations in our region, we are able to bring this event back to our members,” the organization said. The event will run from 3:30 -7 p.m. The Chamber has new incentives for those that become sponsors. Revitalized levels of sponsorships will include: • New parking spaces reserved at the City Center’s new attached parking garage. • Food and beverage drink tickets available for sponsor visitors. • A personal helper to assist in carrying items from vehicles to booth spaces. • Logo presented on all B2B-mentioned emailsstarting this summer through October 5 (10,000+ email addresses). • A chance to hold a seminar at the Expo with a topic of the presenter’s choice, including private meeting space and announcements made throughout the day for attendance.

People go through the exhibits at the Chamber B2B Expo in 2019. Courtesy Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce

Standard booth registration and pricing will be available in August, officials said. Space will be limited. Contact Andrea Cole by email or call the Chamber at 518-584-3255 to discuss options and find out how you can get a business’s name out to thousands of local businesses in the region.

BY ANDREA HARWOOD-PALMER NightWork Bread Co. is a new sourdough bread company in Saratoga Springs. Co-founders Leigh Rathner and Cindy Rosenberg distribute the bread at the Saratoga Farmer’s Market, Spa City Farmer’s Market and Bolton Landing Farmer’s Market. The husbandand-wife team began selling their bread on the first weekend of May. Rathner said they have sold out every weekend. Rathner grew up on Long Island and had grandparents in the Catskills. He went to college in Oneonta. He moved to the Adirondacks then moved to Los Angeles for professional and personal reasons. “I never wanted to leave. My heart has always been here,” said Rathner. “When Cindy and I were discussing how to get out of the city, and how to make this bread business into an actual living that could support a family, we decided we wanted to do it here.” Rathner and Rosenberg moved back to the area in February. They rented a kitchen from 9 Miles East Farm, which had state Board of Health certified working space available. The common thread among all of NightWork Bread Co’s products is that they are all naturally leavened. The partners use a sourdough starter as the leavening agent for everything they make.

Sourdough and naturally leavened wheat products utilize a fermentation process that breaks down certain proteins in the wheat. The process makes the bread more digestible for most people. Both Rathner and Rosenburg have had Continued On Page 18

2 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • JUNE 2021

Kyle Geniti Says ‘Dream Came True’ When He Opened Trattoria Fortunata On Phila Street

Personnel Briefs •

Carey Anne Zucca, a demonstrated highimpact fundraiser in the field of higher education, has been named the new Collyer vice president for advancement at Skidmore College. Zucca will provide strategic leadership and direction for all aspects of the college’s fundraising and alumni engagement efforts and will serve as a key member of the president’s cabinet. She will lead more than 50 employees within the Office of Advancement, including development, alumni relations and college events, and advancement services. Zucca has served as senior executive director of development and alumni affairs at University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering since 2015 and has been a leader in stewardship and fundraising efforts at the university since 2007. Zucca’s accomplishments at the University of Pittsburgh include achieving a three-year fundraising average of $14 million for the Swanson School of Engineering; securing an eight-figure gift to fully endow the Pitt EXCEL program for underrepresented minorities; supervising and working closely with development and alumni affairs, marketing and communications and corporate foundations teams; and managing alumni events. She holds a Master of Public Policy and Management degree from the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public & International Affairs, and a bachelor’s degree in English from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She was chosen from a strong field of candidates in a highly competitive, national search led by Isaacson, Miller. She will assume her new position at Skidmore on July 1. * * *

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Interactive Media Consulting LLC (IMC), a digital marketing firm in Saratoga Springs, announced two recent hires to its team of digital marketing professionals Curtis Joseph “Cujo” Metcalf joins IMC as a web developer and technical support specialist. He is responsible for implementing content updates, developing website themes, and assisting with client inquires. Metcalf attended Clarkson University before transferring to SUNY Potsdam where he graduated with a B.A. in communications. He comes to IMC from DePaula Auto Group, where he was employed on the merchandising team. Nancy Holzman joins IMC as creative marketing associate. Holzman’s primary focus is the promotion and expansion of the Arts Spark division and the cultivation of new business for IMC’s express sites. A graduate of Hamilton College, she majored in English and minored in Fine Arts. Holzman’s marketing background includes employment in both the private and nonprofit sectors. She has held previous positions as the director of advertising for a small manufacturing company, communications director for Duchess County Arts Council, community relations coordinator for Literacy NENY, and most recently as a freelance marketing consultant and small business strategist. * * * Continued On Page 15

BY JENNIFER FARNSWORTH After years of working in the restaurant industry, Kyle Geniti is now living his dream as owner and chef of Trattoria Fortunata, and Italian-American restaurant at 21 Phila St. in Saratoga Springs. Geniti described his restaurant as small, cozy, rustic and simple. The maximum capacity is 36 people, including staff, so reservations are highly recommended. “We like to think our space is a quiet and intimate setting just steps away from the hustle and bustle of Broadway,” he said. Specialities include fresh seafood, pasta and steak, however Geniti said they have had to limit what they can offer on the current menu due to product shortages and price increases. “I look forward to being able to incorporate some more of the foods that I enjoy the most. I’ve recently become more interested in cooking vegan and vegetarian dishes, and have developed a passion for sourcing ingredients from responsible, sustainable sources, and local whenever possible,” said Geniti. “I also plan to expand the menu and add more vegetarian/vegan, gluten-free, and seafood options, as well as to add desserts made in-house as soon as we can find the right staff to allow us to do so,” he said. The inside decor features artwork of three local artists; watercolor paintings by Amanda Engels, landscape photography from the Adirondack mountains by Adam Desorbo, and chalkboard art by Anna Hunter. He is also working to include menu options that can meet the dietary needs of certain patrons. The Fonda native said he spent a lot of time in Saratoga as a child and grew to love the city. Geniti’s started working in restaurants at age 16, continuing through college and into adulthood. He also attended SUNY Binghamton where he studied to become an orthopedic surgeon. He worked as a bartender at Galaxy Brewing Co. in Binghamton for close to two years, learning along the way how to brew craft beer. He said it was there that he started to think about the business on a different

level. “Brewing gave me a newfound appreciation for the human palette and helped me realize my passion for the culinary arts,” said Geniti. It was in 2016 when he started working in the kitchen at 15 Church St. in Saratoga Springs while also bartending at Aperitivo Bistro in Schenectady, part of Mazzone Hospitality. His professional path included sous chef at Harvey’s Restaurant, kitchen manager at Druthers and executive chef at Taverna Novo, all in Saratoga Springs. Then he decided to open his own restaurant in the space formerly occupied by the restaurant Ravenous. Learn more about Trattoria Fortunata at www. facebook.com/trattoriafortunata and on Instagram at @trattoriafortunata. The restaurant’s website, trattoriafortunata.com, is coming soon. Online ordering is currently available at app.upserve. com/s/trattoria-fortunata-saratoga-springs, and delivery is available through DoorDash. The can also be reached at 518-886-8672.

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SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • JUNE 2021 • 3

Preservation Group Buys Rundown Building; Towns In Northern Saratoga County Fund Will Re-Purpose To Become Someone’s Home Study To Explore Ways To Attract Residents

This dilapidated building was saved from being razed by The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation. It will be renovated so it can eventually become a home. The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation has purchased a dilapidated property at 65 Phila St. in Saratoga Springs and has plans to renovate it. The group stepped forward after objecting to plans to demolish it. Since the Foundation was established in 1977 it has been a voice for preserving the architectural, cultural, and landscaped heritage of Saratoga Springs. The Foundation has advocated for the preservation of 65 and 69 Phila St. since the inception of its endangered buildings list in 1998. The group hopes to get the building in shape for a capable buyer who would put it to best use. The 1851 Italianate-style house at 65 Phila Street was constructed by Alexander A. Patterson, an architect and builder, according to the Foundation. That same year the brick Italianate-style house located at 69 Phila St. was constructed by mason Robert Hunter. Both houses are listed as contributing buildings to the East Side Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places. At a news conference in late May, Samantha Bosshart, executive director of the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, said “Now after more than 30 years, both of these buildings will receive the much needed attention they deserve.” The Foundation has been an advocate for endangered buildings including 25 Washington St., which is now Universal Preservation Hall; 5 Clinton St., a row house; 117 Grand Ave., the former station of the Adirondack Railway Co.; and 15 Church St., now a popular restaurant.

Courtesy Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation

The Foundation not only advocated for these buildings, but at times undertook the rehabilitations themselves. According to the Foundation, Tte prior owners purchased 69 Phila St. in 1994 for $41,000 and 65 Phila St. for $125,000 in 2002, but failed to maintain the structures and removed architectural features and portions of the buildings as they deteriorated. The Foundation opposed proposals to demolish both buildings to construct new buildings. At a city Design Review Commission meeting on March 24, the owners withdrew an application to demolish 69 Phila St. because it had been sold to owners who plan to restore it. The Foundation said it was contacted by the new owners about plans to preserve the house. At that same meeting, the Design Review Commission, which is charged with preserving the historic, architectural, and cultural resources of Saratoga Springs, unanimously denied the proposal to demolish 65 Phila St. While the proposed demolitions were being reviewed by the Design Review Commission, the Foundation said it received widespread support from the community to preserve the two buildings. Mark Haworth, an investor and a member of the Foundation, had an interest in preserving the buildings. “Since moving to Saratoga Springs, I have wanted to see the buildings preserved. In fact, many years ago I attempted to purchase both for the purpose of preserving them, but was unsuccessful in negotiating a reasonable Continued On Page 19

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The northern Saratoga County towns of towns of Corinth, Day, Edinburg and Hadley have commissioned a study to explore the benefits and challenges of attracting new, year-round residents, add to the work force and contribute to the local economy. Officials said it will develop marketing to attract “those who value unspoiled natural beauty, unsurpassed recreational opportunities, lower living costs and job and educational opportunities.” According to town officials, an October 2020 study by Upwork, a webbased platform that helps companies and individuals find skilled remote workers for required tasks, found that up to 23 million Americans plan to relocate, in many cases out of major cities and into smaller communities that have lower costs of living and are perceived to be safer and healthier. This emerging trend led to a cooperative, regional initiative by supervisors Arthur Wright (Hadley), Preston Allen (Day), Jean Raymond (Edinburg) and Richard Lucia (Corinth), working in concert with the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, to address the situation. Behan Communications Inc. in Glens Falls is conducting both an assessment of the communities’ strengths and challenges to recommend an approach to identifying adults and families who might be willing to relocate to the four towns now that working remotely has been widely accepted. Local elected leaders are concerned about maintaining a healthy balance of younger and more senior residents as well as retaining the overall populations necessary to support essential services, keep local businesses and community assets strong, and to keep schools, volunteer fire departments and emergency squads viable. While the communities seem remote,

they are actually in close proximity to two small cities and to a larger regional community with strong commercial, industrial, retail and professional opportunities, major colleges and cultural institutions, leading health care facilities and an international airport, officials said. Saratoga Springs, a dynamic and fastgrowing small city that features worldclass cultural and entertainment venues, shopping, dining and other amenities, is within a 30-minute drive as is Glens Falls, which offers manufacturing and health care employment, professional opportunities, popular entertainment, dining and shopping options. “A home in any of the four towns typically is larger and has more land than comparably priced properties in the region’s anchor cities. People who live in the four communities have an average commute to work that is on par with that of the region’s more densely populated cities and suburban communities,” said a report prepared by Behan. “But when they leave home, the residents of the four towns enjoy the benefit of driving on well-maintained roads through bucolic scenery. And when they return, it is to a peaceful community where a place to fish, walk in the woods, relax around a campfire or take a quick spin on a snowmobile is often right out the back door. “Indeed, residents of the four Northern Saratoga communities enjoy the best of both worlds – rural living with easily accessible urban amenities like brew pubs, ethnic restaurants, libraries, theaters, book shops and coffee houses. The four communities have become home to an increasing number of small businesses and recreational entrepreneurs and artisans, providing a base upon which to build a new, sustainable micro-economy.

4 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • JUNE 2021

Business Briefs

Freedom Boat Club Partner’s With Children’s Museum With Interactive Boating Exhibit •

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The Saratoga Economic Development The Adirondack Trust Co. Community Corp. is hosting a virtual six-part Summit Fund is accepting grant applications from eliSession Series as an extension of SEDC’s regible nonprofit charities headquartered in the cent 2021 Economic Summit. Each Session Saratoga, Warren and Washington county areas. will delve deeper into an essential topic affectThe grant window is open until Aug. ing economic development and possible solu31, according to Brian Straughter, chair tions to challenges within Saratoga County. of the Community Fund’s IndepenThe first Session addressing workforce will be dent Advisory Committee. Grants are to held virtually 9-10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 23. be used during the 2022 calendar year. The workforce session panelists are JoGrant award recipients will be announced by the seph Dragone, PhD, senior executive officer independent advisory committee in December. of Capital Region BOCES; Dr. Turina Parker, Grant information and application assistant superintendent educational and forms may be obtained from the comsupport programs, WSWHE BOCES; Nancy munity fund website at ATCCF.org DeStefano, assistant superintendent instrucATCCF was established in 2009 to build tional programs; John Jablonski, vice presian endowment that acts as a perpetual dent academic affairs of SUNY Adirondack; source of funding for the broad array of nonand Jenniffer McCloskey, director of profit organizations that improve the qualSaratoga County Employment and Training. ity of life in the community and to assist them Additional topics to be covered in upcoming in addressing issues of common concern. session include transportation, 5G technology, Since the inception of the Autumn of Givzoning/planning, water/sewer, and gas/electric. ing Match Campaign in 2013, the Lend-ATo register for the workforce SEDC SumHand Grants program has provided more mit Session and/or to find information on than 235 grants, totaling nearly $462,000 to upcoming Sessions, please visit saratogaedc. local nonprofits. Grant awards have supported com/general-news/summit-session-series. programs in such diverse areas as veterans outreach, STEM education, summer lunch * * * programs, wildlife education, homelessness prevention, youth services, the arts, and more.

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The ‘Saratoga Lake—Let’s Go Boating’ exhibit offers children an opportunity to take a boat ride fueled by their imagination as they discover different animals and plants in their natural habitat. Freedom Boat Club Lake George has partnered with the Children’s Museum at Saratoga on a boating and fishing exhibit. The “Saratoga Lake—Let’s Go Boating” exhibit is an interactive, kid-friendly, and colorfully immersive exhibit. The exhibit helps young children utilize play to enhance their social and emotional development, as well as learn how to communicate, observe and problem solve with one another as they navigate their way through it, museum officials said. Freedom Boat Club owners Matt and Rebecca O’Hara have been members of the museum for several years and brought the idea to staff last year. “We are frequent visitors of the museum with our 5- and 3 year-old daughters. We’ve seen the joy they get interacting with the steering wheels and controls on our club boats, we thought it would be great to enhance the interactivity of the boat exhibit at the museum,” said Rebecca. “We were thrilled when Sarah and her museum team were open to the idea of working with us to add not just the controls to the boat, but significantly upgrading the space with the fishing and knot tying panels.” The exhibit space is on the first floor of the museum. It offers children an opportunity to take a boat ride fueled by their imagination as they discover different animals and plants in their natural habitat. To further enhance the exhibit’s educational value, there are additional interactives for visitors to engage with as they discover life on the lake. Included is a revamped rowboat utilizing a

Courtesy Freedom Boat Club of Lake George

reclaimed steering wheel and throttle control, an interactive knot-tying panel featuring four common boating knots, an interactive fishing game, and a life jacket station. The O’Haras feel that the exhibit, and future programming designed around it, will allow visitors to have more hands-on experience with the joys of boating, the value of boat safety, and the importance of learning about and respecting the eco systems around the region’s lakes. “We strongly believe that time spent boating as a family is among the best quality time we have with our kids and want to continue making boating more accessible in the area” said Matt O’Hara. In April, the museum reopened to in-person visitors. Since that time, hundreds of children have visited and interacted with the new boating exhibit, officials. While “driving” the boat itself is a favorite among visitors, the new interactive fishing exhibit is extremely popular with visitors of all ages. “The changes to this exhibition offer visitors a sneak peek at what lies ahead for the museum’s future. Many of the museum’s best loved exhibitions will be transformed when the museum reopens in its new location in Saratoga State Park” according to Sarah Smith, executive director. Freedom Boat Club is the nation’s oldest and largest boat club, with over 2,000 boats at 215 club locations operating in 31 states, Canada, and Europe. For more information about Freedom Boat Club in Lake George, call (845) 642-0201 or visit www.freedomboatclub.com.

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • JUNE 2021 • 5

Stewart’s Shops Expands With The Purchase NYS Has Funds For Small Businesses That Of Blueox Neighborhood Market Stores Rent Space And Have Hardship From COVID

This is one of the newest Stewart’s Shops convenience stores opened recently in Malone. The company is expanding more with the purchase of Blueox convenience stores. Stewart’s Shops, the locally based convenience store giant, is expanding again with the purchase of the of its Blueox Neighborhood Market convenience store chain. Stewart’s will acquire seven stores and rebrand six of them to Stewart’s, under the deal. The Blueox stores have gasoline pumps. “We look forward to the opportunity to further serve the Blueox market that they have served so well for the past three plus decades and we look forward to welcoming Blueox employees to the Stewart’s family,” said Stewart’s Shops President Gary Dake. Blueox Corp. President Jared Bartle said the decision to sell “did not come easily. Our stores, and especially the people in our stores, are deeply embedded into our corporate culture and it’s for that reason we sought a buyer whose priorities most closely aligned with ours. “This was very important to Blueox. As we realign our long-term goals and continue to reinvest in the delivery and service divisions of our company, I’m excited at the opportunities to come.” Blueox will continue under the name Blueox Energy Products & Services. At one time, it had 11 convenience stores known as Nice-n-Easy. The company is based in Oxford in Chenango County. Renamed in 1986, Blueox Corp. grew to 11 stores made up of both Nice N Easy franchise

Courtesy Stewart’s Shops

sites and Big Blue Convenience Stores, serving rural markets in upstate New York. Their residential and commercial delivery and service operations will continue to grow and operate under the name Blueox Energy Products & Services. Julia Miller, senior vice president of Blueox Corp., said it is increasingly difficult for a midsized chains to compete and invest in locations at the same time. She said the company wanted to give stores and employees a home before they were forced out of the market. Miller said Blueox chose Stewart’s for its shared values. “Stewarts is known for taking care of their employees with their ESOP program and their career opportunities. We have employees that have been with us over 25 years, which is almost unheard of in convenience retail. We wanted them to land someplace that cared for them as much as we have over the years.” Miller said. The sale is expected to close in September 2021. Blueox will continue to operate its energy business, delivering fuel oil, kerosene and propane, and it will continue to service and replace energy equipment including furnaces, boilers and hot water heaters. There are seven Blueox Neighborhood Markets. They are located in Fort Plain, Bridgewater, Norwich, Hamilton, Oxford, Mt. Upton and Ithaca.

New York state has $3.5 billion in assistance for renters and small businesses experiencing financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The rental assistance program makes up to $2.7 billion in emergency rental assistance available for struggling New Yorkers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Administered by the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, the state Emergency Rental Assistance Program will provide assistance with up to 12 months of past-due rent, 3 months of prospective rental assistance and 12 months of utility arrears payments to eligible New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status. The program is expected to serve between 170,000 and 200,000 households. The small business recovery grant program makes up to $800 million in funding available for small businesses to help them recover from the economic impact of the pandemic. Applications for the program will be accepted starting June 10 for small and micro businesses and small for-profit independent arts and cultural organizations to help them recover from the economic impact of the pandemic. Flexible grants up to $50,000 will be made available to eligible small businesses and can be used for operating expenses, including payroll, rent or mortgage payments, taxes, utilities, personal protective equipment, or other business expenses incurred during the pandemic. Over 330,000 small and micro businesses are potentially eligible for this program, including 57 percent of the State’s certified MWBEs. Cuomo also announced phase two of the Reimagine, Rebuild, Renew campaign will launch to make small businesses and residents who have been financially impacted by the pandemic aware of the many relief and recovery programs that are available in New York state. “New Yorkers and small businesses in every corner of the State were devastated by the pandemic, and as we continue to recover and rebuild we need to make sure they have

the resources they need get back on their feet and succeed in a new, reimagined economy,” Governor Cuomo said. “This critical funding will help ensure New Yorkers who are experiencing financial hardship through no fault of their own will not be thrown onto the streets, while also providing stability for small businesses so they can help play a role in New York’s economic resurgence.” The small business recovery grant program will provide funding to small and micro businesses and small for-profit independent arts and cultural organizations to help them recover from the economic impact of the pandemic, with priority being given to socially and economically disadvantaged business owners, including minority- and womenowned business enterprises, service-disabled veteran-owned businesses and veteranowned businesses, and businesses located in economically distressed communities. Grants will be for a minimum award of $5,000 and a maximum award of $50,000 and will be calculated based on a New York State business’ annual gross receipts for 2019. Reimbursable COVID-19 related expenses must have been incurred between March 1, 2020 and April 1, 2021 and can include: Payroll costs; commercial rent or mortgage payments for NYS-based property; payment of local property or school taxes; insurance costs; utility costs; costs of personal protection equipment (PPE) necessary to protect worker and consumer health and safety; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) costs; other machinery or equipment costs, and supplies and materials necessary for compliance with COVID-19 health and safety protocols ESD has created a website, NYSBusinessRecovery.ny.gov, to highlight the various resources available to support small businesses seeking pandemic relief. The website will be continuously updated as more details and funding information as it becomes available.

6 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • JUNE 2021

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‘Share A Step’ Virtual Fundraiser Brings In More than $100K For Wesley Community

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The money raised through the Share A Step initiative supports second phase of renovations at the Springs Building of Wesley Health Care Center, shown behind these volunteers.

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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.

The Wesley Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Wesley Community, raised $104,300 to support local seniors during its “Share A Step” virtual fundraiser, Officials said approximately 100 community members, double the number from last year, participated in the fundraiser which took place May 21-27 and invited community members to work toward a fitness-oriented goal while raising funds. Participants this year logged more than 1,470 miles and helped bring the total amount raised for The Wesley Foundation via the annual fundraiser to more than $140,000 since it began in 2018, officials said. “It has been tremendously rewarding to see how popular our ‘Share A Step’ fundraiser has become over the past several years,” said J. Brian Nealon, CEO of The Wesley Community. “The funds raised will go a long way in helping to support the many seniors on our campus. We are extremely grateful to all of the participants, sponsors and supporters of this event.” Donations received via the virtual fundraiser will support the second phase of renovations at the Springs Building of Wesley Health Care Center. The project will create a contemporary, efficient and home-like environment on

Courtesy The Wesley Foundation

the Springs Building’s second, third and fourth floors. Phase one of the project was completed in 2016. The Wesley Community is a nonprofit senior living campus in Saratoga Springs with more than 700 residents. The 2021fundraiser was presented by The Adirondack Trust Co. Summit sponsors include Marshall & Sterling Insurance, Ray Martin/Crescent Hill Partners, CDPHP, Angerame Architects, The Fort Miller Group. Peak Sponsors include Allerdice Building Supply, Saratoga Casino Hotel, Bonacio Construction, Longfellows Hotel and Conference Center, D.A. Collins Companies. Mountain Sponsors include Saratoga National Bank & Trust, Bond, Schoeneck and King, The LA Group, Saratoga.com, Freed Maxick, Munter Enterprises and Lemery Greisler. The Wesley Community is a 37-acre, nonprofit agency in Saratoga Springs sponsored by United Methodist Health and Housing Inc. The continuum of care community provides independent and assisted living for seniors, affordable independent senior housing, short-term rehabilitation and long-term care, as well as home care services and outpatient therapies available for people of all ages.

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • JUNE 2021 • 7

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Business Report NYS Health And Essential Rights Act

BY ROSE MILLER Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the New York Health and Essential Rights Act (NY HERO Act) into law on May 5. This new act will impose substantial responsibilities on all private employers to provide and maintain safe workplaces for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and for all airborne infectious disease outbreaks in the future. Don’t shoot the messenger. Seems like New York has rolled out a new regulation to implement every month. A whole host of changes will need to be put in place by Sept. 2. As a small business owner, I feel your pain. The first thing employers will need to do is to develop an industry specific prevention work plan. Work plans include how the employer handles workplace safety protocols such as health screenings, face coverings, personal protective equipment, hygiene stations, regular cleaning/ disinfecting, social distancing, and other controls related to infectious disease safety concerns. There are some options for employers under a collective bargaining agreement. Some employers have had some type of prevention work plan already in place. My firm was one of the only vendors, who included such a work plan as a supplement to the employee handbook. Existing plans will need to be updated to comply with the act and it must be included in all employee handbooks and posted at all work sites. Many employers are waiting for the Department of Labor model which is expected around July 4. However, there is great deal of work to be done in mapping out the who, what, where and how the plan works specific to your organizations. A customized plan must meet or exceed the minimum standards in the act and plans must include participation of employees in its development. There are many other aspects of implementing the prevention work plan. Supervisors are tasked with the responsibility for compliance, and they will need to be trained on the plan. The plan needs to be “verbally communicated” to employees. The work plan must include antidiscrimination/anti-retaliation protection for employees who refuse to work based on “reasonable” and “good faith” belief working conditions are unsafe. Many employers say some employees have unreasonable fears of coming back to work. The state will require employees to submit written notice of the alleged safety violation. Employees cannot sue the employer until 30 days after submitting a safe notice unless the employer immediate dismisses or ignores the notice. A local attorney, who represents workers due to unsafe work conditions, told us many employers did not do the right things during the coronavirus pandemic. They ignored CDC guidelines such as testing, cleaning and face coverings. The attorney anticipates more litigation

Upstate Agency Insurance, Arrow Company Subsidiary, Marks 40 Years In Schroon Lake •

Rose Miller is president of Pinnacle Human Resources LLC. Courtesy Pinnacle Human Resources LLC

regarding employers dropping testing requirements, and we now have the additional risks from complaints from vaccinated employees exposed to employees refusing to get vaccinated and refusing to wear a mask. This is a big issue because of current workplace conflicts related to polarized opinions on virus prevention and how workplace safety issues have been politicized. Which brings me to the second part of compliance. Employers will have until Nov. 1 to form a safety committee. The committee component covers private sector employers with 10 or more employees. The committee must contain a combination of two-thirds non-supervisory employees and onethird management. The biggest question is which rank-file will service on a minimum four-person committee. The act states the employer cannot make the decision, and if unionized, the union decides. If your company already has a workplace safety committee, there is no need to create a new one unless it doesn’t meet all requirements. The committee will be responsible for raising health and safety concerns, reviewing safety policies, reviewing/responding to employee written complaints, and participating in agency site visits. The committee must be allowed to meet at least quarterly for no more than two hours during work hours. They must be allowed to attend up to four hours of paid training. Additionally, employers must protect employees against retaliation for their participation in the safety committee. The act outlines severe penalties for noncompliance. Since there is an increased ability for employees to sue under the act, we are recommending employers contact their insurance broker to review the limits on their employer practices liability insurance or to get this insurance in place as soon as possible.

A desk that was used at the Upstate Agency, a subsidiary of Arrow Companies, gets delivered to Schroon Lake Community Church where it serves as its altar. Upstate Agency, a subsidiary of Arrow Family of Companies, is celebrating 40 years of service to residents and businesses in Schroon Lake. Upstate Agency specializes in personal, commercial and group health benefits insurance with offices in Saratoga, Warren, Washington, Clinton and Essex counties. The Schroon Lake agency, established in 1981, originally in the Freidman Real Estate office, moved to its present location at 1072 Route 9 in 1983. Upstate staff recently celebrated with a Coffee Takeover at Stewart’s that included free coffee and giveaways. Another Coffee Takeover will be scheduled for the fall, compamy oficials said. “Our commitment to Schroon Lake and the surrounding area is strong, and we look forward to many more years helping friends, neighbors and business owners with insurance products and services that help them protect what matters the most to them,” said Kevin O’Brien, senior vice president.

Courtesy Upstate Agency

A large furniture donation to the Schroon Lake Community Church, which suffered a devastating fire in January 2019, is another way Upstate Agency supports the Schroon Lake community. A desk used by many company CEOs over the decades will serve as the church’s new altar and the conference table will be the center of the new meeting room, according to the company. Additional furniture donations were selected by members of the church to help furnish the rest of the building. Upstate Agency Insurance is also supporting the Schroon Lake School District to launch a free summer camp in partnership with the Glens Falls YMCA. The camp will offer increased academics for students to overcome both the COVID and summer gap, as well as provide healthy activities to improve the mental and physical health of students. To learn more, visit upstateagency.com.

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8 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • JUNE 2021

Adirondack Office Of The Atrium Financial Group Moves To Downtown Glens Falls BY ANDREA HARWOOD PALMER Sherry Finkel Murphy, CFP, ChFC, RICP, private wealth advisor of The Atrium Financial Group, has relocated its downtown office to 11 South St. in Glens Falls. “This endeavor has been several years in the making. It will be a huge benefit to clients and business owners,” said Finkel Murphy. Finkel Murphy was looking for just the right space. Plans were delayed because of the COVID pandemic, but she found what she was looking for at the Empire Theatre Building. The space needed renovations for what Finkel Murphy had in mind. “There is a dearth of office space in Glens Falls. I am very fond of the building. It is in the heart of Glens Falls, and in the heart of the new Glens Falls in the making,” said Finkel Murphy. “It’s a beautiful office space. Clients are stopping by frequently. It’s nice to give them a space locally so they don’t have to drive down to Albany,” she said. “Establishing the Adirondack office of the Atrium Financial Group in downtown Glens Falls is a ref lection on our commitment to the multiple generations of business in this community. And what an awesome community it is. It’s a great place to live, work and play simultaneously,” said Finkel Murphy. She is the lead advisor for the company in the Adirondacks. She also leads the Women’s Practice of the Atrium Financial Group. Of the firm’s six CFP practitioners, three are women. The Atrium Financial Group is headquartered in Albany and has 21 associates altogether. The firm has many clients in the area. The establishment of a Glens Falls office is an opportunity to provide a superior level of service to those clients, she said. Finkel Murphy has high hopes that the physical presence in Glens Falls will help introduce the firm to people who may not know the benefits of comprehensive financial planning, business continuity and succession planning, and multigenerational estate planning.

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Sherry Finkel Murphy works in the new Atrium Financial Group offices. In addition to comprehensive financial and investment planning, The Atrium Financial Group specializes in advanced portfolio management, business and succession planning, estate planning, charitable planning and education funding. Strategic tax planning is an overarching theme throughout all services provided. Finkel Murphy earned her B.A. from the University of Rochester and her M.S. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She is a founding member and former chair of the Women’s Business Council of the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce. She is a member of the Professional Development Committee of the University of Rochester Women’s Initiative, as well as a member of the 100 Women Who Care Alliance of Northeastern New York. She is a board member emeritus of Wellspring and a member of the Estate Planning Council of Eastern New York. The group’s phone number is 518.977.4377. Finkel Murphy’s email is sherry.finkelmurphy@nm.com. The Atrium Financial Group can be found at www.TheAtriumFinancialGroup.nm.com.

Business Report Increase Value With Commercial Due Diligence

BY PATRICK FARRELLY You are evaluating a target company that had higher than normal revenue growth in 2020. The target company presents you with a five-year forecast that maintains the above average growth experienced in 2020. Is the target company’s spike in growth a one-time outlier event or is the growth sustainable? This is a common question many private equity firms currently face following a volatile 2020 business environment. The answer to this question is critically important since it impacts the target company’s valuation and your firm’s return on investment. The prior example highlights the importance of the buy-side due diligence process given the uncertainties in today’s market. In the past, your firm may have engaged a third party for only financial due diligence (or quality of earnings – Q of E). However, complementing your financial due diligence with commercial due diligence can help mitigate deal risk, increase return on investment, and improve deal structure and price. What is commercial due diligence? The goal of commercial due diligence is to assess the growth and profitability potential of your target company. Target companies’ future financial forecasts often project high growth and profitability over the buyer’s planned holding period. Commercial due diligence helps to validate the assumptions driving your target’s financial forecast. Commercial due diligence requires a thorough analysis of your target’s internal and external environment. The typical approach includes examination of five key areas: 1. Target company assessment. 2. Market and/or product analysis. 3. Customer analysis. 4. Competitor analysis. 5. Future growth and profitability assessment. Data for the analysis is gathered through primary research, such as interviews with

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Patrick Farrelly is a managing director with UHY Advisors. Courtesy UHY Advisors

the target’s management team and external industry experts, and secondary research, such as market research reports and databases. The final deliverable is a detailed report that includes an executive summary of the analysis. What are the benefits of complementing commercial due diligence with financial due diligence? It mitigates transaction risk. Commercial due diligence highlights potential commercial risks that could impact the sustainability of your target’s business and/ or limit future growth potential. The analysis and data provided in the final report enables you to make informed decisions. It improves deal structure and transaction price. Commercial due diligence provides you with a deeper understanding of your target’s business before negotiations begin. Targets typically know more about their business than you, and short exclusivity periods limit the amount of time you have to analyze your target’s business. Commercial due diligence helps to close that knowledge gap and provides you with data to use in the Continued On Page 17

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • JUNE 2021 • 9

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Business Report Overlooked Asset: Life Insurance

BY BRIAN M. JOHNSON There are three primary uses of life insurance. The first is to provide a replacement source of income should a primary provider of income die. The second is to provide liquidity for the payment of estate taxes or provide a legacy for heirs or a philanthropic cause. Third is for the financing of long-term health care via a rider added to the policy. Less common uses of life insurance include such functions as funding buy/sell agreements, or other finite period requirements. Income replacement The key characteristic of the use of life insurance for the replacement of income is that it generally covers a finite period and does not require permanent insurance. During the primary earning years of a person, two things should be occurring. One is that assets are being accumulated which could provide income in the future. The other is that the life expectancy of those who are dependent on that income is getting shorter and shorter. In most cases, there is a cross-over point where enough assets have been accumulated to satisfy the income needs for the remaining years of those dependent on the income. At that point, the person or couple or family is self-insured and no longer has a need for income replacement life insurance. This type of requirement for a finite period is best served using term life insurance. Term insurance is the least expensive form of life insurance and provides coverage for some limited period. Term insurance can now be obtained with a level premium for a period of years: 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 or even 40-years. The advantage of such a policy is that it is purchased based on the current health of the insured. The level premium is locked in for the extended period with no insurability requirement during the period. If health deteriorates during the period, there is no effect on the policy or the premiums. The primary risk with such a policy is the insurability of the person at the end of the term. If the policy is maintained, the premiums will jump significantly at the end of the term of level premiums, generally enough to be prohibitive. When insurance is still required, the insured hopes to be insurable and starts another policy with a term of years that will hopefully cover the remaining number of years until self-insuring is possible. Because of this insurability issue, it is often wise to have multiple policies with staggered terms, each one taken out at a time when health is still good for the physical exam. Permanent insurance

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Br ian John s on , direc tor, bu siness development at Advisors Insurance Brokers. Courtesy Advisors Insurance Brokers

The use of life insurance to provide liquidity to pay estate taxes is an entirely different function. It requires a policy which will exist for an unknown, extended period, until the death of the insured. The most efficient way to provide protection is with a permanent policy which never requires insurability in the future. The younger the person is and the better his/her health for the physical exam, the lower will be the premiums, which will be paid until death. This period might extend well beyond the normal life expectancy of the person, in which case a considerable sum will have been paid out in premiums. Premiums for permanent insurance (often referred to as “whole life,” “ordinary life,” “variable,” “universal,” or “cash value” policies) are considerably higher than for term insurance. A “whole life” policy is the most conservative form of permanent insurance, with the highest premiums. It will tend to build cash value faster and has the highest probability of not having a funding problem in later years. A “variable” policy is one which has more upside to it but also more risk. Its funding depends on the investment performance of the stock market. It therefore has the potential of a higher payout at death, particularly if the policy remains in effect for a long period of time (more than 20 years). Conversely, if death is premature during a down period of the stock market, it could have a lower payout. A “universal life” policy is somewhat of a hybrid. It typically has lower premiums than a whole life policy and uses some of the cash build-up in the policy to pay future premiums. If too optimistic assumptions are used in initially setting the premiums, the policy might end up under-funded in the future and require an increase in premiums to prevent the policy

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from lapsing. This same danger exists for “single premium” life insurance, which is designed to be perpetuated with a single initial premium which, given the earnings record of the life insurance company, should be able to pay all future premiums out of the cash build-up within the policy. Not infrequently, such a policy ends up under-funded a long time in the future, and the policy owner must either resume premium payments or forfeit the policy. An excellent form of life insurance for funding the estate taxes of a married couple is called “second to die” insurance. It insures the two lives jointly, which carries a lower premium than insuring two separate lives. It works well because the unlimited marital deduction allows avoidance of estate taxes at the first death, and the insurance policy assists in paying their taxes at the second death. Care should be taken in purchasing the policy and determining the owner of the policy to assure that the proceeds will be received outside the insured’s estate and not be subject to estate taxes. The most common method is to set up an irrevocable life insurance trust which becomes the owner and beneficiary of the policy, but there are important pitfalls to avoid in doing that properly. An alternative method, in the right family situation, is to have the next generation be the owners and beneficiaries of the policy.

Again, there are important guidelines to follow to do that properly. How premiums are paid—and by whom—is extremely important to assure that the death proceeds will not be subject to either income or estate taxes. For company owners or high-level executives, a popular form of permanent insurance is called split-dollar life insurance. It involves a single cash-value policy with joint ownership between the company and the insured. Basically, the company pays all or most of the premiums and maintains a right to be repaid the cumulative amount of those premiums out of the cash value or death proceeds at time of retirement or termination, death of the insured, or after some specified period of years. The employee pays income taxes on a portion of the premium amount. The arrangement is popular because it is generally easier for the company to provide the funds for the premiums. In analyzing and choosing life insurance policies, it is extremely important to get objective advice, both on the appropriate type of insurance and particular policies, from someone who has no vested interest in selling a policy. The financial strength of the issuing company is also extremely important because the insured is entering into a very long-term contract which will be useless if the insurance company does not continue to be financially strong.

10 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • JUNE 2021

Skilled Trade Labor Shortages Continue As Development Company Plans To Construct Boomers Retire, Replacements Aren’t There Two Industrial/Warehouse Units In Halfmoon BY CHRISTINE GRAF The nationwide skilled trade labor shortage has reached critical levels as baby boomers continue to retire. Baby boomers make up the majority of the skilled trade workforce, and there aren’t enough qualified younger workers to take their places, say people in the industry. An estimated 31 million skilled trade workers retired in 2020, and many of those jobs remain unfilled. Sixty-two percent of companies report that they struggle to fill skilled trade labor positions. “Ten thousand baby boomers are retiring every day. We have to bring in the next generation to fill those jobs,” said Dr. Jonathan Ashdown, dean of science, technology, engineering, and math at Hudson Valley Community College. “We’re doing everything we can at Hudson Valley to meet the demands for today in terms of helping to solve the skills gap issue.” Local union representatives for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 236 in Albany and UA Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 773 in Glens Falls report that their apprentice programs are in high demand. Both unions have long waiting lists for their multiple-year programs. According to Mike Martell, assistant business manager at IBEW Local 236, they typically have hundreds of applicants for the approximately 50 spots that are available in their apprenticeship program each year. Union apprenticeships are typically in high demand because union jobs offer above average pay and benefit packages. Local 236 apprentices earn a starting wage of more than $17 an hour and receive an excellent benefit package. HVCC plans to build a new $65 million facility for skilled trades education. The proposed 130,000-square-foot Applied Technology Education Center (ATEC) will allow the college to expand its training of the skilled technical workforce. Although the college continues to expand capacity, long waiting lists remain for many of their most popular programs. “There is a tremendous skills gap in the skilled trade field—whether you are talking about plumbers and pipefitters, welder, electricians, advanced manufacture technicians, and even mechatronics technicians,” said Ashdown. “We literally cannot graduate enough students every year. We are maxed to capacity with the number of people we can graduate, and our job placement rates are 97 percent.”

Union leaders in the building trades are looking for ways to attract new workers. It is only because some students choose to pursue other career paths or continue their education at a four-year college that the skilled trade job placement rate at HVCC is not 100 percent. In fact, many students are offered jobs after finishing the first year of their two-year skilled trade program. “Everyone who wants a job gets one,” said Ashdown. “Students have multiple companies giving them offers. We’ve had companies getting into bidding wars over starting salaries. We had several companies bidding over a student in advanced manufacturing, and the wage got bid from the low twenties per hour to above thirty with full benefits and a company vehicle. It’s a real life example of supply and demand playing out, and you see wages creeping up and kind of going through the roof.” According to Ashdown, HVCC officials have also met with local trade union leaders to discuss collaboration opportunities for their students. Unions have expressed interest in taking on HVCC students as apprentices after graduation. “They have said that our students come out so much better prepared than someone off the street,” he said. “We are all working very synergistically to try to mitigate this shortage and this skills gap issue.” “We negotiate our wages and recognize that if you want skilled manpower, you need to come Continued On Page 16

BY CHRISTINE GRAF McRoberts Development LLC President Mark McRoberts is moving forward with plans to construct two buildings on a 6.4-acre parcel of land located at 11 Liebich Lane in Halfmoon. The estimated cost of the project is more than $5 million. “It will be my first major development project,” said McRoberts who is also president of Gridworks by McRoberts. Gridworks is an interior commercial contractor business that specializes in metal framing, drywall, taping, insulation, and acoustical ceilings. McRoberts started the company in 1992 shortly after graduating from University of Arizona. He learned the trade by working alongside his father, a master carpenter who specialized in acoustical ceilings. His father, Richard, had a long career at Davis Acoustical in Troy. Plans for a 50,000-square-foot industrial/ warehouse facility and a 10,000-square-foot

industrial/warehouse facility were submitted to the town engineer at the beginning of June. “We’re waiting for comments and then it will go in front of the Planning Board for approval,” said McRoberts, noting that he hopes to break ground in mid-July. Environmental Design Partnership LLP of Clifton Park is the consulting engineer for the project. McRoberts will assume general contractor responsibilities. The smaller of the two buildings will serve as the new headquarters for Gridworks. The company’s office is currently located in Malta, and its warehouse is located in Mechanicville. After the new building is completed, Gridworks will be able to consolidate operations under one roof, he said. Gridworks will occupy 5,000 square feet of the building. The remaining space will be leased to a tenant. An industrial tenant is also being sought for the 50,000-square-foot building. For more information on Gridworks by McRoberts, visit gridworkinc.com

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Electricians In Region Say Work Is Plentiful, Ashley Cirelli Thrives After Changing Her But Finding People For Jobs Is A Problem Career Path And Joining Plumbers Union BY JILL NAGY Area businesses are taking different approaches to deal with a shortage of skilled workers in the building trades. Jim Curran Electric in Saratoga Springs is a situation where the owner was rescued by a son who, seeing his father “overwhelmed,” relocated from Virginia to join the company. Mr. Electric of Queensbury runs ads year round on several online help wanted sites. Eastern Heating and Cooling has a well-established apprenticeship program in order to “grow our own.” Electricians are busy. “There is an avalanche of work,” according to Fred Giardinelli of Eastern Heating and Cooling. “Nine out of ten companies will give you the same answer: it’s “almost impossible” to find qualified people. Curran reported that he is “too busy to train somebody in the proper way.” Mr. Electric also is “extremely busy.” Curran, for his part, has soured on the idea of trying to hire and train new people. “I used to try to hire people,” he said, “but they were not skilled enough.” People hired as apprentices often did not show up. At the other end of the spectrum, “if they get too trained, they go out on their own.” He has been on his own for most of his 33 years in business. Since March, his son Jeff, a licensed electrician in Virginia, has been working with him and will soon become a partner in the business. Jeff and two other sons all worked with him as kids, he recalled, but the other two are following other career paths. “The trades are paying very well now,” Giardinalli pointed out. He starts novices at $20 an hour, plus a 401(k) retirement plan, paid vacation, insurance, and 80 percent of their health care costs. More experienced employees may earn as much as $50 an hour. “A lot of people are making a six-figure income,” he said. He filled some vacancies in the last few weeks but still has openings, especially for sheetmetal workers. Once they are trained, Mr. Electric’s employees start at $14.50 an hour plus profit sharing. He pointed to one recent hire, someone who was close to completing a master’s degree in psychology, and said “I am looking at him being our next rock star ... Education is good. It doesn’t matter what it’s in.” The former graduate student, however, is an anomaly. The more common new employee is a recent graduate of a high school BOCES vocational program or a community college, according to Giardinelli. At his company, their initial training is in safety. “Safety is such a big deal; it’s the first training we do.” Then the new employees ride with an experienced technician for a year, learning on the job. After a year, they get their own truck “and we start them out with baby steps. Our people are out in the field. They’re on their own.” Training is “definitely a serious investment,” he said. “We train them so they can leave and treat them so they will stay.” He said his company has a very low turnover rate.

Electricians in the area have plenty of work, says, one in the industry. Giardinelli bought his company in 1986. In 1997, he and 12 other contractors combined to create Comfort Systems USA, a national company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Comfort Systems has $2.6 billion in annual revenues, he said. Mr. Electric of Queensbury is quite a bit smaller. They have nine employees, each in his own truck, which they bring home at night. “I could probably hire three more if I could find them,” said Sean Dion, who owns Mr. Electric of Queensbury, a franchise of a national company. A call center handles telephone calls. There is a warehouse but no office, except Dion’s home office. While the technicians are pretty much on their own, everyone meets on Monday and Thursday. Dion came to the area in 2011 to work for GlobalFoundries in Malta. He became Mr. Electric in 2017. He prefers to hire people currently employed in the field who are looking for a change and sees a gap in an applicants resume as a warning sign. When screening people, he says, he looks for integrity and motivation, “somebody currently working and looking to grow.” He thinks the current shortage of qualified people may be the result of many factors, including generous unemployment benefits. “It doesn’t make much sense to work if you can earn more not working,” he said. Giardinelli said “all the good people are working.” Meanwhile, the easing of the COVID pandemic has released a lot of pent-up demand. “Projects are coming out of the woodwork,” he said. His formula for meeting the demand for skilled workers is, “pick them carefully, train them well, and treat them with respect.” When someone makes a mistake, his aim is to fix it, learn how to avoid it in the future, and then move on. “We are constantly investing in our employees,” he noted, providing training and proper tools and the opportunity to “advance as you progress.”

BY CHRISTINE GRAF Queensbury native Ashley Cirelli was working in the restaurant industry before joining the apprentice program at UA Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 773 in 2015. She is one of more than 450 members of the Queensbury-based union. “I was working in the restaurant business, but there was no stability. You can make great money, but there’s no retirement or health insurance unless you get it on your own,” said Cirelli whose family has owned several local restaurants including Cirelli’s Jam ‘n Eggs in South Glens Falls. After learning about the excellent pay and benefit packages available to union apprentices, she decided to apply to the electrician apprentice program at UA Local 236 in Albany. Her plans changed after a chance meeting with Larry Bulman, director of legislative and political affairs for the United Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters, that took place at her parents’ restaurant. After he told her about the career opportunities available to her as an apprentice at Local 773, she applied and was accepted into the program. In August 2015, she started working at GlobalFoundries as a union apprentice. For her, the job was a perfect fit. “I’ve been very hands-on my entire life. I helped my dad fix cars when I was young, and I used to build computers” she said. “I always wanted to do something in the trades and almost got into the military. But in high school, I was always told you need to go to college no matter what.” Cirelli did attend college for 18 months after graduating from high school in 2007. She took business management and marketing classes at SUNY Adirondack but never completed her degree. Although there is an aptitude test that all apprentice program applicants must take, no special skills are required in order to get accepted into the program. “You don’t have to have any mechanical inclination at all. Your schooling is hands-on training. They teach you from the very basics of how to turn a wrench all the way up to the advanced skills,” she said. “And as soon as you sign the paperwork, they get you working. You work five days a week for at least 40 hours a week, and you go to school three nights a week for five years. “You are earning a living while going to school,

Ashley Cirelli works at the training module at UA Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 773. and they are paying for the school. The only thing you have to pay for is union dues and books. Other than that, they pay for everything. ” She completed the union’s five-year apprenticeship and became the program’s first and only female graduate. There are currently three other women working and currently enrolled in various stages of the program. According to Cirelli, working in a male dominated profession is not without its challenges. “The hardest thing was definitely being told that you’re a female and this is a man’s world. But once I got comfortable and gave it right back to them, they were okay with it. You have to prove yourself more as a woman. But times are changing.” Cirelli is heavily involved in the union’s efforts to attract more women apprentices and promote skilled trade careers to high school students. She is a member of Local 773’s political action committee and travels to local school districts to meet with students. She also participates in the UA’s Tradeswomen Build Nations Conference. The annual conference draws thousands of union tradeswomen from all different professions and typically involves a charity build project for Habitat for Humanity or another non-profit. Cirelli plans to travel to this Continued On Page 12

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12 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • JUNE 2021

Cirelli

Continued From Page 11 year’s conference in New Orleans. After completing a long-term assignment at Global Foundries where she was the foreman overseeing a crew of eleven men, Cirelli recently accepted a three-year position as the regional organizer with New York State Pipes Trades Association. She was one of 46 people interviewed for the job. “This is a stepping stone,” she said. “My goal is to work for the United Association at the headquarters in Annapolis, Maryland.” As regional organizer, Cirelli’s territory is extensive and extends north to the Canadian border. It reaches west to Binghamton and south towards the Hudson Valley. As part of her job, she travels to job sites that employ both union and nonunion workers. “My job is to talk to the workers and make sure they are getting prevailing wages. I’m also making sure companies are following the proper procedures and labor laws. When a contractor is not doing that, you open up a formal investigation,” she said. At non-union sites, she encourages workers and companies to consider joining the union. “Right now, contractors are having a really hard time finding reliable workers. When you join a union as a company, the union hall itself gets you the workers you need. You never have to worry about having to find people. We employ them for you,” Cirellii said. Application for Local 773’s apprentice program are accepted on the second Monday of every month from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Between 15-30 apprentices are accepted into the program each year. First year apprentices at Local 773 earn a salary and benefit package that totals almost $100,000 a year. The starting salary is approximately $19 per hour, and wages increase steadily with experience. “What you see in your paycheck can be anywhere from $45 to $55,000 as an entry-level person who has never done this in your life,” said Cirelli. “But you’re not just joining 773 to get the pay and benefits. It’s a giant family, and you feel so welcome when you are in it. It really is a brotherhood and sisterhood.” For more information, visit www.lu773.org.

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Founder Of ‘Chimney Heroes’ Takes Business From Small Operation To Thriving Company

BY CHRISTINE GRAF After graduating from University of Albany in 2005 with a degree in business administration, Waterford-native Jamie Wallace applied for a summer youth intern position at Grace Chapel in Jonesville. “I thought it would be a fun way to spend my summer before I looked for a full-time career after college,” said Wallace. He enjoyed the job so much that he applied for a permanent position as the church’s youth pastor. Despite his lack of experience in ministry, he was hired with the condition that he agree to be mentored. At the time, he was working on Saturday’s for Clifton Park Chimney Maintenance, a company owned by Andy and Jill Looker. Wallace took the job to earn extra money to supplement his youth pastor’s salary. “I did not even know chimney sweeps existed, so it was very new to me. But I really enjoyed it,” he said. A year later, with encouragement from the Looker’s, Wallace left his job and started his own chimney sweep business. “I decided to take a big leap of faith,” said Wallace. “A lot of people said I was crazy, but I went out on my own. My goal was to use the biblical principles I had learned and apply them to the business. And I was right.” When Wallace started Chimney Heroes (originally named Saratoga Chimney Sweeps) in 2010, he relied on word of mouth, networking groups, and what he refers to as guerilla marketing to find “customers for life.” “I was waking up at 5 a.m. and doing neighborhood flyers. It was slow going and it

was hard, but it worked,” he said. During that time, Wallace and his wife, Gina, relied heavily on the income she earned working as a nurse for the Shenendehowa School District. After the birth of the first of their three children, she was able to leave her job and become a full-time mom. Today, Wallace has 20 employees and a fleet of nine service vehicles. Pandemicrelated supply chain issues have hampered his efforts to add two additional vehicles to the fleet. The growth of Chimney Heroes was brought on in part because of two separate injuries Wallace suffered while on the job. He was out of work for several weeks, and during that time he earned no income. “There’s no worker’s comp when you’re a business owner. There’s nothing that protects you if you get hurt and can’t run your business,” he said. “That when there was a shift in my focus. I realized I had created a really nice job for myself, but I didn’t have a business.” After hearing from customers that they were displeased with the work that chimney repair companies had performed for them, he recognized an opportunity to build his job into a business. “I realized there was no reason I couldn’t do the repair work myself,” said Wallace. Today, in addition to chimney cleaning, inspection and repairs, Chimney Heroes offers a variety of other services. They perform masonry work, dryer vent cleaning and gas fireplace and stove cleaning and installation. The company also sells wood burning and Continued On Page 17

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • JUNE 2021 • 13

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

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

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

Courtesy Hudson Headwaters

Hudson Headwaters Health Network has established a mobile health program that started in June. Hudson Headwaters Mobile Health’s newly purchased mobile health center will bring primary care services to Warren and Washington counties, beginning in Salem. A second mobile health center, anticipated to arrive in 2022, will serve the central and northern Adirondacks, agency officials said. According to Hudson Headwaters CEO Dr. Tucker Slingerland, mobile health is the network’s latest mission-driven initiative to expand its access to care. “It is very fitting that, at the beginning of Hudson Headwaters’ 40th year, we move forward with this innovative care delivery model,” he said. “The same high-quality care that communities have come to expect at our health centers is now on wheels.” The mobile health center is a highly customized, 40-foot RV-like vehicle equipped as a primary care medical office and certified as such by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration. It offers two fully equipped examination rooms, a registration area, point-of-care testing area, a lab draw station and bathroom. The mobile unit includes the same medical equipment found in a traditional primary care health center, such as examination tables, a scale, equipment to obtain patients’ vital signs and provide vision screening. It will be staffed by a family nurse practitioner, nurse and a medical assistant. It is located at the courthouse in Salem on Mondays and Tuesdays. Additional sites are being finalized in partnership with regional health care partners, community leaders and town officials.

These locations will be added to hhhn.org/ mobilehealth once confirmed. Hudson Headwaters Mobile Health visits are by appointment only. Appointment types include primary care visits for adults and children, women’s health services, chronic disease management and preventive health screenings. Same-day appointments for injury or illness may also be scheduled. Patients can make appointments by calling 518-623-0871 or by visiting www.hhhn.org/ appointments. Community members must become a patient of Hudson Headwaters Health Network to make an appointment at Hudson Headwaters Mobile Health. Hudson Headwaters purchased the mobile health center from Farber Specialty Vehicles, a medical unit manufacturer based in Columbus, Ohio. The interior configuration, finishes and external design took more than nine months to build at a cost of $400,000. The Hudson Headwaters Health Foundation is currently raising funds to support the mobile program’s initial three-year pilot phase. Major project supporters include The Charles R. Wood Foundation, Stewart’s/Dake Family, The Himoff Family and CDPHP. To learn more or to take a virtual tour of the new mobile health center visit hhhn.org/mobilehealth. The mission of Hudson Headwaters Mobile Health is to drive access to affordable, high-quality primary care and select specialty services for medically underserved populations within the area. Its goals are to increase access to primary care services; alleviate health disparities in vulnerable and rural populations; reduce socioeconomic barriers to accessing health care.

BY JENNIFER FARNSWORTH CDPHP has opened a new health care facility. Health care agencies have been adding offices in communities through the region in recent years. This one, at 1785 Route 9 facility in Clifton Park, is a bit different, CDPHP says. “We truly are reinventing the patient experience within this building,” said Senior Vice President of Business Development Lisa Sasko. The 40,000-square-foots facility is “vastly different from other locations in our market area,” according to Sasko. She said the building was designed with wellness in mind for patients, physicians and staff. “We pulled elements from the hospitality industry and put a deep focus on customer service and healing. We intend to delight customers and provide easy access to

personalized care, and we want employees and physicians to love coming to work here,” she said. The building has an open floor plan with natural sunlight, fireplaces with modern furniture as well as a cafe. There is a privacy room for nursing parents, electric vehicle charging stations in the parking lot and a children’s area. There are currently five specialty practices operating out of the 1785 building including Albany ENT & Allergy Associates, Capital Cardiology Associates, Albany Gastroenterology Consultants, New York Nephrology and Fresenius Kidney Care. Additionally, it has ConnectRx, a full-service pharmacy, and a behavioral health practice available through their partner aptihealth, Continued On Page 18

14 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • JUNE 2021

REGIONAL STOCKWATCH Stock Name

Closing Price 05/14/2021

Closing Price 05/21/2021

Closing Price 05/28/2021

Closing Price 06/04/2021

Closing Price 06/11/2021

Albany Int’l

86.30 83.39 89.35 87.79 88.75

Arrow

37.27 36.68 36.84 36.67 36.89

AT & T

32.24

Ball

89.10 86.78 82.16 82.54 81.53

30.01

29.43

29.27

29.32

Ballston Spa National Bank 53.00 53.55 53.55 53.17 53.50 Bank of America

42.36

42.40

42.39

43.27

41.86

Best Buy

120.39 114.93 116.24 115.99 114.45

Citizens Bank

50.47 49.39 49.90 49.92 47.85

Espey

14.90 15.26 14.71 14.95 15.41

General Electric

13.26

Hilton

123.61 120.98 125.27 124.75 128.61

Home Depot

323.63 315.77 318.91 311.01 310.77

Int’l Paper

62.65 63.53 63.10 64.65 63.55

Key Corp

23.39 23.12 23.04 22.73 21.94

Lowe’s

198.91 192.47 194.83 189.91 190.81

13.23

14.06

13.96

13.69

Martin Marietta 377.97 362.54 363.65 351.77 352.68 M&T Bank

166.82 162.45 160.69 161.27

McDonald’s

231.72 231.24 233.89 233.38 226.93

National Grid

65.78 67.21 66.87 64.92 65.47

NBT Bancorp Inc.

40.37

Plug Power

24.58 27.89 30.70 30.58 31.85

40.72

38.99

38.66

155.14

37.90

•

Business Report Even ‘Singles’ Need Estate Plans

BY ROBERT SNELL If you don’t have a spouse or children, you might think you don’t need to do much estate planning. But if you have any assets, any familial connections, any interest in supporting charitable groups—not to mention a desire to control your own future—you do need to establish an estate plan. In evaluating your needs for this type of planning, let’s start with what might happen if you die intestate—that is, without a last will and testament. In this scenario, your assets will likely have to go through the probate process, which means they’ll be distributed by the court according to your state’s intestate succession laws, essentially without regard to your wishes. Even if you don’t have children yourself, you may have nephews or nieces, or even children of cousins or friends, to whom you would like to leave some of your assets, which can include not just money but also cars, collectibles, family memorabilia and so on. But if everything you own goes through probate, there’s no guarantee that these individuals will end up with what you wanted them to have. If you want to leave something to family members or close friends, you will need to indicate this in your last will and testament or other estate planning documents. But you also may want to provide support to one or more charitable organizations. Of course, you can simply name these charities in your will, but there may be options that could provide you with more benefits. One such possibility is a charitable remainder trust. Under this arrangement, you’d transfer appreciated assets – such as stocks, mutual funds or other securities – into an irrevocable trust. The trustee, whom you’ve named—in fact, you could serve as trustee yourself—can then sell the assets at full market value, avoiding the capital gains taxes you’d have to pay if you sold them yourself, outside a trust. Plus, if you itemize, you may be able to claim a charitable deduction on your taxes. With the proceeds, the trust can purchase incomeproducing assets and provide you with an income stream for the rest of your life. Upon

Robert Snell, financial adviser with Edward Jones Financial in Saratoga Springs. Courtesy Edward Jones Financial

your death, the remaining trust assets will go the charities you’ve named. Aside from family members and charitable groups, there’s a third entity that’s central to your estate plans: yourself. Everyone should make arrangements to protect their interests, but, in the absence of an immediate family, you need to be especially vigilant about your financial and health care decisions. And that’s why, as part of your estate planning, you may want to include these two documents: durable power of attorney and a health care proxy. A durable power of attorney lets you name someone to manage your finances should you become incapacitated. This arrangement is especially important for anyone who doesn’t have a spouse to step in. And if you become incapacitated, your health care proxy—also known as a health care surrogate or medical power of attorney—lets you name another person to legally make health care decisions for you if you can’t do so yourself. Estate planning moves can be complex, so you’ll need help from a legal professional and possibly your tax and financial advisors. You may not have an immediate family, but you still need to take steps to protect your legacy.

Card Catalog

Quad Graphics 3.65 3.42 3.31 3.62 3.82 Starbucks

111.20 110.92 113.88 111.99 112.56

Sysco

84.00 80.51 81.00 79.61 79.87

Latham Group Inc 31.81 Target

29.68

31.06

28.97

27.81

211.16 225.09 226.92 231.34 232.94

The TorontoDominion Bank 72.41 73.03 72.10 72.83 71.78

Richard Kessinger Owner

Kaspien Holdings 19.89 20.19 23.20 23.70 25.00 Trustco Bank

7.77

7.76

39.13

36.75

36.15

Verizon

58.69 56.91 56.49 57.30 57.33

Walmart

139.52 141.75 142.03 141.85 140.75 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

P.O. Box 187 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

•

(518) 944-0359

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SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • JUNE 2021 • 15

Personnel Briefs Continued From Page 2

Certified Nurse Midwife Jessica Haag recently joined Saratoga Hospital Medical Group and Saratoga OB/ GYN and Midwifery at Myrtle Street. The growing practice uses a collaborative physician-midwife model of care that has proved to be the best approach for mothers and newborns. Studies show this collaborative model is linked to lower cesareansection rates—an experience borne out at Saratoga Hospital, which has the lowest C-section rate in the Capital Region. Haag spent most of her career in the Chicago area, as a midwife at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Chicago and at AMITA Health Adventist Medical Center in nearby Hinsdale, Ill. She grew up in Saratoga County, graduated from Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School and received an undergraduate degree from Union College in Schenectady. Haag went on to earn a master’s degree from Yale School of Nursing, with a specialty in nurse-midwifery. She is board certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board and is a member of the American College of Nurse-Midwives. * * * Adirondack Health Institute announced the appointment of three new members to its board of directors. Jeannie Cross, Geoffrey Peck and Robert Ross will each serve a three-year term. A retired health care executive, Cross most recently headed state and federal government relations efforts at Metropolitan Jewish Health System (MJHS), one of New York’s largest and most comprehensive systems of short- and long-term sub-acute and post-acute care services. In that role, she spearheaded legislation and regulation that expanded hospice and palliative care options and worked on initiatives to improve the coordination of long-term care across multiple settings and enhance chronic care. In recognition of her achievements, LeadingAge New York awarded her their 2015 Advocacy Award. Peck serves as the vice president of population health at Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home and Executive Director of the Nathan Littauer Foundation. Working collaboratively with AHI and numerous partner organizations, Peck held a number of roles for the recently-concluded Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) Program, including serving as the executive lead of the Fulton County Population Health Network (PHN), one of five such networks that were part of the AHI PPS (Performing Provider System). In addition, he served as the executive lead for two KPMG-guided Medicaid Accelerated eXchange (MAX) projects which focused on reducing read-

missions and visits to the hospital’s inpatient setting and emergency department. Ross has served as the chief executive officer at St. Joseph’s Addiction Treatment and Recovery Centers since 2007. He is responsible for the organization’s overall operation, including strategic planning, policy development, fundraising, public relations, and staff evaluation. Ross oversees a 67-bed inpatient unit, a 25-bed intensive residential veteran addiction and post-traumatic stress syndrome program, a 28-bed adolescent inpatient rehabilitation center, eight outpatient clinical substance use disorder treatment programs, two county jail treatment programs, a 20-unit supporting housing project, three residential/recovery programs, three aftercare facilities, and a 24/7 open access center. In addition, AHI announced current board officers Dan Burke, Chair, Dianne Shugrue, Vice Chair, David Kaiser, Treasurer, and Wouter Rietsema, MD, Secretary, will each serve another year in their present position, while retired health care executive Susan Delehanty will step down at the end of her term. * * * Saratoga Hospital has recruited Dr. Dorothy Reynolds, a fellowship-trained pediatric ophthalmologist, to bring highly specialized children’s eye care to the Saratoga region. She heads the hospital’s newest practice, Saratoga Hospital Medical Group – Pediatric Eye Care. Reynolds comes to Saratoga Hospital from Stony Brook University Medical Center on Long Island, where she held key faculty appointments in the Department of Ophthalmology for more than 17 years. She was chief of the Division of Pediatric Ophthalmology at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. In addition, she was a consultant for adult strabismus at the Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center, also on Long Island. Reynolds earned her medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, now Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. She completed a residency in ophthalmology at North Shore Health System, now Northwell Health, on Long Island and fellowship training in pediatric ophthalmology at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Reynolds is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a subspecialty fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, Costenbader Society, Greater New York Society of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, and World Society of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.

•

Business Report Everyday ABCs Of Leadership

BY WENDY WALDRON As we build the new normal and reconstruct our economy, let’s take a moment to get back to the basics. Whether you are an owner, foreman, manager or director, there are three things that every leader needs to be doing to make the most of every day. Bring the ABCs to the jobsite. A – Avoid Busy-ness. “Quick, look busy, here comes the boss.” It’s so classic it’s almost a cartoon, and yet most of us fall into this trap of “busy-ness” on a regular basis. Is it enough to “keep the guys working?” Well, are they doing profitable work? What do you really know about an office worker’s “production” by walking by their desk? When so many switched to work from home, did you lose a sense of knowing what they were doing? Do you know what drives the profit in your business? What key activities should be done each week and who is responsible for accomplishing those actions? What are the leading indicators of your future outcomes? What if you paid as much attention to those as you did to the resulting bottom line? Identify the most powerful actions and keep it simple. You need information now, not at the end of the quarter. Maintain a weekly scorecard listing the priority activities, the goal, and who is responsible for making them happen. B – Boss Mode. You are not leading a social group or choosing a restaurant for dinner. It’s important to make your expectations known. Imagine that you are coaching a basketball team. It’s your job to clarify the rules of the game. Do you really want all of the players running together in a pack playing offense and defense simultaneously? How can your team deliver if they don’t know exactly what’s expected? Don’t be afraid to use your whistle (or voice) when someone is out of line. This is especially challenging (and rewarding) in family businesses and close-knit teams. Be open and honest and revisit those expectations you may be taking for granted. Put the needs of the business first when you are working in the business. You will all need to practice, practice, practice. Repeat yourself and your expectations. And remember, coaching and cheerleading are not the same thing. You are the coach – be specific with your praise, recognition of opportunity, and acknowledgement of effort. C – Call to listen.

•

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

It’s common for an article like this one to talk about the need for “communication.” While true enough, such advice is hardly actionable. The best leaders establish a listening routine. Your people are much more likely to open up when the opportunity predictably presents itself. Imagine the difference between these two scenes. One leader swoops in like a sea gull. They drop some messy “knowledge” in the way sea gulls tend to do and then ask, “so what’s up? What’s new? And did you see the game last night?” as they check their phone and continue walking. The other one calls their staff member every Thursday at 8:30 a.m., or maybe they have a standing coffee date. They exchange quick stats or updates, then the leader listens to whatever their employee thinks is important. Smart managers take time to find ways they can improve the work environment, the core processes, and the end results. As simple as these suggestions may sound, they are commonly not followed. Many of us try not to “be the bad guy” and instead let the players decide on the rules of the game. Somewhere along the line we associated “busy” with “profitable.” And even the most conscious of us can be guilty of being that person who only calls when they need something. The best leaders recognize that these simple actions yield powerful results in every work environment.

16 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • JUNE 2021

Skilled Labor

Track Seating

Continued From Page 10

Continued From Page 1 Visitors to the Saratoga Race Course who are under the age of 16 years old will be allowed to accompany fully vaccinated adults anywhere throughout the track. If not accompanying a fully vaccinated adult, they will be required to stay within the nonvaccinated areas, NYRA said. “The historic Saratoga Race Course is one of the Capital Region’s most storied attractions, drawing over a million New Yorkers and visitors to Saratoga Springs each summer,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “The racing season is quickly approaching, and this year we are excited to welcome fans back to the course with free admission on Opening Day for any individual who shows proof of vaccination. This is all part of New York’s rebirth and resurgence as we continue to build back better and stronger from this pandemic.” Unvaccinated NYRA personnel who interact with patrons will be subject to a diagnostic test prior to opening day and will be regularly tested thereafter. Unvaccinated NYRA personnel who do not interact with

patrons will not be subject to a diagnostic test prior to opening day or after, however they will be required to wear masks and follow standard DOH and CDC social distancing rules. The 2021 summer meet at the Saratoga Race Course will run from July 15 through Sept. 6 and will feature 76 stakes worth $21.5 million in total purses. Tickets went on sale June 9. Excelsior Pass, which is now being utilized by venues, universities, stadiums and businesses statewide, is a fast, free, and secure way to present digital proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative test results that’s supporting New Yorkers building back better and safer. Interested businesses and organizations can opt in and learn more here and download digital marketing assets here to help demonstrate to patrons and customers that their business accepts Excelsior Pass. New Yorkers can always present alternate forms of COVID-19 vaccination and negative test results, such as paper forms.

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to the table and pay those guys what that skilled labor is worth. You get what you pay for, and a lot of business owners have forgotten that. If they aren’t willing to pay what the men and women who are offering the skilled labor are worth, they are unable to get the manpower they need to get the job done,” said Martell at Local 236. The apprenticeship program at UA Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 773 in Queensbury also has a waiting list, but according to business manager Mike Jarvis, the union is experiencing a critical shortage of experienced tradespeople. “We typically don’t see a shortage of people who want to join, but what we are seeing right now is that we have a lot of work in the North Country— Lake Placid and the Plattsburgh area. Apprentices do help, but that’s not what we need right now. We need help from people who are well-versed and experienced. In all reality, we are just barely able to man our work.” Jarvis is working to promote trades to a new generation of students, and he and his training director recently met with students at Hudson Falls BOCES. Beginning in the fall, Local 773 will be partnering with BOCES to offer an internship program to a select group of students. The students will travel to the union’s state of the art training facility where they will complete an on-site internship program. “For many years, there wasn’t enough emphasis put on the trades in high school. Guidance counselors didn’t view it as a path for their students. College was pushed more than the trades,” said Jarvis. “I want to get these kids out of high school. I want the kid that didn’t wait for their father to get home to put the chain back on their bike. I want the kid that can pick up a wrench and say, ‘I can fix that.’” Ashdown believes that trades need to be promoted to students while they are still in elementary school. It is his opinion that this could help to reduce the undeserved negative stigma that is often associated with various skilled trade professions. “We have found that in order to really solve this issue, you need to get the students interested

in the skilled trades as early as third grade or even as early as kindergarten. It’s of utmost importance because it’s not only a cultural issue, it’s about restoring the respect for trades,” he said. “These are very respected and in-demand fields where you can make $80 to $100 plus thousand a year.” HVCC is partnering with Queststar III BOCES to give local high school students in grades 9-12 the opportunity to earn up to 26 college credits. Participating schools include Troy High School, and East Greenbush High School. “They will be doing their main high school curriculum on the Hudson Valley campus, but it will be a more seamless integration into some of the skilled trades programs such as welding and others. It’s going to be a full four years of high school here,” he said. “This isn’t the first time we’ve done this. In TechSmart in Malta, we’ve partnered with Ballston Spa. It’s very exciting.” Jarvis finds it encouraging that local school districts have started to reach out to Local 773 to inquire about opportunities for their students. “For the last 20 years, we have been swimming against the current. We are no longer swimming against the current--we’re going with the current,” he said. “Queensbury has reached out to me. Hudson Falls has reached out to me. They are asking ‘What can we do? How can we partner up?’ And Adirondack Community College (SUNY Adirondack) has recognized our program which I think speaks volumes for our program. Graduates of the apprenticeship programs at both Local 773 and Local 236 receive 30 credits that can be can be applied towards a SUNY Adirondack Journeyworker: Technical Trades Management associate’s degree. The degree program also includes a wide variety of courses including public speaking, business law, accounting, and computer science. When Jarvis meets with applicants who are taking the aptitude test for Local 773’s apprenticeship program, he said he always tells them the same thing. “I tell them I have enough pipefitters. I’m looking for leaders,” he said. “When you join our union, the sky’s the limit.”

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • JUNE 2021 • 17

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

Due Diligence

Continued From Page 8 negotiation of the transaction structure and price. It increases deal team capacity. Short exclusivity periods leave limited time for you to conduct thorough, detailed analysis. Hiring a third party to complete commercial due diligence increases the capacity for your deal team to focus on other value add tasks related to the deal. It identifies growth opportunities that increase ROI. Commercial due diligence can reveal insights about untapped potential in your target company’s strategy, operations,

sales channels, end markets, customers, and/ or competitors. Exploiting this potential can drive growth in your target and increase the deal’s ROI. Identifying these opportunities before the deal closes allows for quicker implementation post-close. It provides reassurance to lenders. Banks may request or require a commercial due diligence report from an independent third party as part of the loan evaluation process. Commercial and financial due diligence are equally important components to the overall evaluation of a target company.

Chimney Heroes Continued From Page 12

From left, Dave Evans, Ted Wilson, Charlotte Potvin and Dave Chambers, pose in the Hunt Real Estate office in Glens Falls. The company recently expanded by acquiring All American Properties. BY CHRISTINE GRAF Hunt Real Estate, a company with more than 1,300 sales professionals and 40-plus offices throughout western and upstate New York, recently expanded its Glens Falls office by acquiring All American Properties. Hunt Real Estate also has offices in Massachusetts and Arizona. All American Properties was the largest locally-owned real estate company in Glens Falls. Owner Ted Wilson operated the company for 20 years. He and his 20 affiliated agents have transferred to the Hunt Real Estate office at 333 Glen St. Hunt will also take over All American’s Chestertown office and those agents will remain in the current location on Main Street. The acquisition of All American Properties occurred just one year after Hunt’s acquisition of Century 21 Potvin Realty, a Glens Falls real estate company owned by Charlotte Potvin. In May, she and her 19 agents joined Hunt Real Estate in the Glens Falls office. According to Dave Chambers, the branch director of Hunt Real Estate’s Glens Falls and Bolton Landing offices, “We’ve done two acquisitions in the past year, and we went from 22 agents to 70 agents. We brought them all into our Glens Falls office in the Travelers building. We’re now remodeling and expanding the office and taking over some more space.” The larger office is needed as agents transition back to working in the office

after being forced to work from home at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Some people are still working from home, but the traffic in the office has definitely picked up in the last month or so,” said Chambers. “We think it’s a huge positive to have a big, nice office for everyone to come into.” Hunt Real Estate had more than $3 billion in sales in 2020, but Chambers said they are still relatively new to the area. In order to grow their local presence, the company is interested in making additional acquisitions in the region. They recently opened an office in Saratoga. “We’ve tried to aggressively grow over the last year—or couple of years—and are still looking to do so. It’s about finding the right deal at the right time. Both Charlotte’s and Ted’s deals worked out to be that way, and it’s worked out well for everybody. They wanted to make sure their people were taken care of,” he said. “We’re definitely looking for more deals—more acquisitions. According to Chambers, the real estate boom of the past year has showed no signs of slowing. “There’s still such an inventory shortage, and it’s just as crazy as it’s been over the last few months. We’ve seen a number of our office’s listings going well over asking even in the past week or so. It hasn’t slowed down at all due to the dramatic inventory shortage.” For more information, visit www. huntrealestate.com

gas fireplaces as well as wood, gas, and pellet stoves. His service area extends south to Albany and north to Warrensburg. Wallace and his employees regularly attend industry conferences, trainings and certification programs. He and six staff members recently returned from a threeday workshop and training classes in Pennsylvania. “I believe in developing people. You can’t serve the customer well if you don’t take care of your own people,” said Wallace. “I love pouring into my employees and giving them opportunities and helping them grow. Leadership development is one of our core values. When a leader gets better, everybody gets better.” Despite the ongoing labor shortage, Wallace has not had trouble hiring employees. He does all of his own hiring and has hired seven people so far this year. “You really have to put purpose before profit, and you have to give people an opportunity to see what their future could look like,” he said. “We have people who love to work at Chimney Heroes. Yeah, we have

hard days when it’s 90 degrees and you’re rebuilding a chimney, but we have a great culture.” As president of a thriving company, Wallace is no longer able to spend time out in the field. Although he misses interacting with customers, he Is focused on growing the company and possibly expanding into other areas of the state. “My guys at this point are probably better than me, but I’m still the chief problem solver,” he said. Despite a several month downturn at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 was Chimney Heroes’ best year. This year is on track to be even better, and Wallace couldn’t be happier. “I do feel I was called to this. It was scary, but sometimes you have to be obedient with things that just don’t seem to make sense,” he said. “I love what I do, and it has really blessed my families and I believe the families of those who work at Chimney Heroes. We’re kind of just one big family.” For more information, visit chimneyheroes. com.

18 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • JUNE 2021

NightWork Bread Continued From Page 1

Artisanal Brew Works Continued From Page 1

Borchardt, now in his 50s, works alongside his business partner Colin Quinn, with whom he started the business. Borchardt said after working for years as an engineer at both International Paper and GE, he decided to become a chemistry teacher, but missed the hands-on work of being a chemist. “I missed that part of chemistry. My wife bought me this home brewing kit, and then things just really took off from there,” he said. Brewing beer seemed to combine all of his interests. Borchardt said the business really began to take off during the start of the pandemic through online sales, particularly because of their trademark Warheads brew beer whose flavors includes blue raspberry, watermelon, green apple, lemon and black cherry. The business has a large distribution range, its largest customer base for online sales being in Los Angeles. They also distribute to Florida, Pennsylvania and

The Saratoga Great Food

Connecticut. The beer selection includes New England-style IPAs, sours, fruited ales, stouts and Belgians. Initially they were shipping the product to customers themselves, but decided to send to distributors instead of individual customers. Borchardt said they are hoping to have the restaurant portion operating some time in the fall. His greatest concern right now is being able to fill jobs. “It is hard to get restaurant workers right now, so my hope is that it changes by the time we are up and running,” said Borchardt. The Artisanal Brew Works taproom is open at the current site. Hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 3-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, noon to 9 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. They are closed Mondays. Learn more about the brewery at www. artisanalbrewworks.com. They are also on Instagram and Facebook.

Area Abounds With & Drink Options

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. 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. Palette Cafe Saratoga Springs, NY Located right on Broadway in downtown Saratoga, Palette Cafe combines a friendly

cafe with an art gallery and coworking space. Whether you need a coffee boost or a little inspiration, this community-centered cafe has you covered. 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! 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. Caffe Lena Saratoga Springs, NY Caffe Lena has been a Saratoga treasure since 1960. Diverse programming sets the stage for musical discovery and now includes online lessons for guitar, fiddle, banjo, ukulele and voice. Children and adults. Renew your faith in the power of music.

digestive issues throughout their lives. Testing for gluten intolerance came back negative, yet they were unable to eat any kind of wheat products for over 10 years. A friend recommended they try naturally fermented wheat, specifically long-fermented sourdough bread. The long-fermentation process involves at least 16 to 24 hours of fermenting. This breaks down most of the proteins that so many people have a problem digesting with wheat-based products. Using a sourdough starter and a longfermentation process was how most bread was produced before commercial grade yeast was available at the turn of the century, they said. While living in Los Angeles, Rathner and Rosenburg found some bakers who utilized long-fermentation. They found they could tolerate eating bread made in this particular way. “We were both absolutely thrilled that we could have bread products in our lives again,” said Rathner. “And they were really good bread products. Generally, when people are taking the time to use this sort of historical method of fermenting and baking bread, they tend take a lot of time and care in their process. They tend to use higher quality ingredients, because it’s a time-consuming process. So the bread was not only digestible, it was delicious.” Rathner and Rosenberg started taking classes on how to bake the sourdough bread they liked it so much they started making it at home. Rathner is a camera man by trade, doing work for television, movies and commercials for nearly 30 years. When the pandemic hit, many filming sets in Los Angeles were shut down. Rosenberg, an acupuncturist, closed her practice temporarily. The couple was home all day, every day, with their adult children living with them. “I started baking bread. I started buying better and better quality flours. I was experimenting with different fermentation times and processes. I was watching endless hours of YouTube videos, reading articles and

buying books. After awhile, I was baking more than we could eat,” said Rathner. Rathner gave the excess bread away to neighbors, who soon began asking for more bread and offering to pay for it. Soon he was baking several dozen loaves of bread a week and selling it to friends and neighbors. “People were going crazy for the bread,” he said. As the pandemic wore on, the couple began to consider what they wanted their future to look like. “Part of my wife’s and my life-plan was to get out of the city altogether when the kids were on their own,” said Rathner. “The pandemic really highlighted some of the aspects of living in a big city, particularly Los Angeles, that we really just didn’t like.” Rathner and Rosenberg moved back to Upstate New York in February. Mutual friends connected them to Gordon Sacks, founder and CEO of 9 Miles East. The kitchen space available to rent included a large 3-deck pizza oven. The kind of bread Rathner bakes requires a deck oven, not a rack oven. “It was a big challenge. It took me a good 6 or 8 weeks to really master how to bake the bread in a pizza oven. Various aspects of it make it difficult,” said Rathner. NightWork Bread Co. uses only organic wheat. Rathner states the flour they use is very fresh, used within 30 days or less of being milled. This process allows the flour to retain most of the nutrients and active enzyme that help break down proteins in the flour. Rathner said the FDA allows commercial bread companies to keep flour shelved for several years after it is milled, which degrades the nutrient content of the flour tremendously. He said talks are in the works for the bread to be carried at The Seneca restaurant. The bread is also found on an ad hoc basis at Old Saratoga Mercantile and at the Thursday night summer farmers market at 9 Miles East. The website is www.nightworkbread.com and the phone number is 310-430-0951. They are also on Instagram.

CDPHP Building Continued From Page 13 inc. There is also a CDPHP Customer Connect location within the building where patients can enroll in coverage, get answers to benefit questions, or make appointments on-site. She said much thought went into choosing the location. “The location choice was very deliberate. We selected it based on a few factors, convenience being top of the list. The office is centrally located and easy to get to. It also happens to be home to some of our most valued physician partners, including

Community Care Physicians and OrthoNY,” said Sasko. CDPHP expects the facility to be a mix of both existing and new patients. “We know there’s a high number of people and potential patients for the practices to serve. A couple of our practice partners had satellite offices in Clifton Park and they were interested in growing their footprint,” said Sasko. For more information or to schedule an appointment visit www.1785health.com.

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.

and is the perfect place for good food, drinks, and conversation. They offer an all day menu and three unique dining areas.

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. Nostalgia Ale House & Wine Bar Malta, NY With a wistful affection of the past, Nostalgia brings you back in time with their atmosphere, music, bar, and menu. Views overlooking the lake, fire rings in summer and winter, daily specials, OPEN ALL YEAR and NOW SERVING LIQUOR! Morrissey's Lounge & Bistro Saratoga Springs, NY Morrissey's Lounge & Bistro in Saratoga Springs is located within The Adelphi Hotel

Wheatfields Restaurant Saratoga Springs, NY You can't go wrong with freshly made pasta prepared right on-site using local ingredients! But Wheatfields is much more than pasta: Patrons rave about the hand-stretched pizza, the salmon entrée, and the fried calamari appetizer, to name a few. 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. Chez Pierre Gansevoort, NY Experience the very best in French cuisine and fine dining at Chez Pierre Restaurant, conveniently located on Route 9 in Wilton NY, just minutes north from downtown Saratoga Springs. Courtesy of Saratoga.com

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • JUNE 2021 • 19

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kind support in addition to utilizing funds they have raised over the past few years to undertake a special project such as this. “Our friends and members rallied when the houses were proposed to be demolished. We hope that our community will rally to revive 65,” said Favro. The Foundation wants to complete the exterior rehabilitation, including repairing and painting the clapboard and restoring windows and the front porch before listing the property for sale. “It is our goal to remove the challenges associated with this property and sell it to someone who will complete the interior and be a good steward for years to come,” said Bosshart. The Foundation’s initial goal is to raise $250,000, the preliminary estimated cost to complete the identified scope of work. However, that number could change once the Foundation has the opportunity to thoroughly inspect the building and get cost estimates. To support the Foundation’s efforts to Revive 65 by making a donation or becoming a member, please visit www. saratogapreservation.org or call (518) 5875030.

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price with the owners,” said Haworth. “I believe in the mission of the Foundation and with the reduced price I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity for the Foundation to take the lead in preserving the property.” He provided the necessary low-interest financing to allow the Foundation to acquire the property for $235,000. “This is an exciting opportunity to take on this challenging rehabilitation. We will develop plans working with local architects, hire contractors, present to the Design Review Commission, and more,” said Favro. “The first task is to do a complete evaluation of the condition of the building since the last time I was inside was in 2017 when the Foundation attempted to assist a potential buyer by underwriting a structural report,” said Bosshart. “Our goal is to make it safe for future owners and the neighborhood, something that is long overdue.” The Foundation plans to start with environmental remediation, necessary structural repairs, and a new roof. Construction costs have risen significantly in the last 18 months so the Foundation will lean on the community for financial and in-

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41 Central Avenue, Saratoga Springs $649,000 This beautiful home is located in a tree-lined neighborhood within walking distance to downtown Saratoga. This 4 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath home features an open floor plan, hardwood floors, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, central air, full basement with egress window and 9 ft. ceiling, two-car attached garage and patio. The second floor features a master bedroom suite with a large walk-in closet, 3 additional bedrooms and a full bath. Listing Agent: John Hayes | 518.461.0368 Lic. Associate Real Estate Broker

20 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • JUNE 2021

Adrian Bautista Named Dean Of Students, Vice President For Student Affairs At Skidmore Adrian Bautista has been selected as Skidmore College’s dean of students and vice president for student affairs. Bautista will begin in his new role at Skidmore on Aug. 16. Bautista will serve as a member of the college president’s cabinet, oversee seven direct reports and about 100 divisional staff, and work in close collaboration with the entire college leadership team and in partnership with faculty, staff, and students to cultivate student achievement, responsibility, and leadership. He will also help lead Skidmore’s efforts to support a diverse and engaged student population as the college transitions to a postCOVID-19 world, and help foster discussions on social justice, mental health, inclusivity, and respect for the views of others. Bautista has served as assistant vice

president of student life at Oberlin College in Ohio since March 2017, coordinating a review and reimagining of its new student orientation program, expediting the division’s development of a mission, goals, and key performance indicators, and expanding emergency fund support for students, among other achievements. Previously, as Oberlin’s associate dean of campus life from 2004 to 2016, Bautista provided oversight for student conduct, served as a class dean, and functioned as an inaugural coordinator of the division’s Student Help And Resource Exchange (SHARE) early alert system. As director of residential education, he facilitated the implementation of a residential curriculum and the college’s first Latinx residence hall. Other roles he held at Oberlin College include interim director of its Bonner

scholars program and community coordinator in its Multicultural Resource Center. Bautista has more than two decades of teaching experience and an extensive record of service to college and community organizations alike. Holding a teaching appointment in the Comparative American Studies Department and first year seminar program, he has taught a Latinx oral history course, collaborating with the local historical society and faithbased organizations, as well as a class on artist/ entertainer Prince. “Adrian is a caring professional who brings many years of student affairs experience to Skidmore College,” said Joseph DiChristina, vice president for student success and enrollment management at Trinity College, who worked alongside Bautista as former associate dean at Oberlin College. “The community will benefit from his thoughtful and respectful approach when working with students and when implementing strategic ideas to affect the living and learning environment at Skidmore. His presence and leadership will be felt immediately.”

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Bautista holds a Ph.D. in American culture studies, with a concentration in ethnicity, gender, and social identities, from Bowling Green State University (BGSU) in Ohio. He also holds a Master of Arts (higher education administration) and a Bachelor of Arts (history/ ethnic studies) from BGSU. “Adrian’s exceptional commitment to supporting all aspects of student development and success and a multifaceted liberal arts educational mission made him a standout choice for Skidmore,” said Skidmore President Marc C. Conner. “We very much look forward to welcoming him to our campus community.” “I am incredibly honored and excited to join the Skidmore community,” said Bautista. “Skidmore’s commitment to creativity, diversity and inclusion, interdisciplinary learning, and community engagement line up with my experiences, values, and vision. I am eager to arrive on campus in August to start working with our remarkably dedicated and talented faculty, staff, and students to build on the dynamic learning experience at Skidmore.”

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