Saratoga Business Journal - August 2022

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SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL

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Former Price Chopper On Railroad Place To GlobalFoundries Gets Expansion Approval Become Market With Takeout And A Bar U.S. Bill To Help Chip Industry Moves Ahead There’s good news for residents of downtown Saratoga Springs who were upset when Price Chopper closed its doors 55 Railroad Place.

Adam Foti, founder and owner of PDT catering, plans to open PDT Market in the 19,000-square-foot space which is located on the ground floor of a luxury apartment building.

“A lot of the residents above the market and in the neighborhood were sad to see Price Chopper go because you could just walk in and grab a few groceries,” said Jennifer Hull, marketing director for PDT Market. “We won’t be the size of a Price Chopper with aisles and aisles of groceries, but we will have groceries.”

Product offerings will be in line with what Hull refers to as the store’s “Good, better, best, model.”

“If you want to spend $30 on olive oil, we will have that for you. If you want to spend $10, we will have that as well. We will have affordable options, and there will be glutenfree and vegan. There will be something for everyone.”

In addition to groceries, PDT Market will offer grab-and-go food items, meats, and seafood. There will also be a small deli as well as a home décor and wellness section.

The store’s full-service bar will offer customers a place to sit down and enjoy a cocktail along with food from a limited menu. The space behind the bar will be used to host small private events as well as cooking classes.

Full-service catering for events as well as “pick-up catering” will also be available.

“You can order food for your party or barbecue and go pick it up yourself,” said Hull.

Foti currently operates PDT Catering out of a space in Ballston Lake but will be consolidating operations in Saratoga.

He has developed a loyal following in the Capital Region, and his long-time custom-

Adam Foti, owner of PDT catering, will open PDT Market in Saratoga Springs.

Courtesy PDT

ers can expect to receive the same level of quality and service they have grown accustomed to.

“His whole mission and vision is to be a part of people’s lives throughout all of their life events,” said Hull. “Once you get to know his products and service, you get hooked.

He is flexible and makes things easy. He ends up being your go-to for all the events in your life. Adam is a true professional.”

The Railroad Place space will undergo major renovations before PDT Market opens its doors. Foti is working with ABN Design, Paone Architecture, and Bonacio Construction and plans to invest $3 million in the project.

“We’re still working on renderings,” said Hull, noting that the renovations will be fairly extensive. “The white drop ceiling is coming down, and the ceiling will be taller and fully exposed. There will be a new floor, and all the equipment is being replaced.”

Scheduled to open in the fall, PDT Market plans to have a staff of approximately 30 employees.

The Malta Planning Board unanimously approved a 633,000-square-foot expansion at GlobalFoundries. The building will be built on this campus near its existing structure.

GlobalFoundries received the final last local approval needed to go ahead with the construction of a second major building on its Malta property.

Officials said the billion computer chip factory will cost $6 billion to $8 billion. It comes as the computer chip industry worldwide has expressed the need to increase capacity to overcome a semiconductor shortage.

In another boost to the project, on July 28, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to increase U.S. semiconductor manufacturing known as “CHIPS and Science Act” and the day before the U.S. Senate has passed his historic federal semiconductor incentive, scientific research, and technological competitiveness bill to bring manufacturing back from overseas to places like Upstate New York.

Courtesy GlobalFoundries

The CHIPS legislation now moves to the White House and awaits President Biden’s signature. The Biden Administration has been a strong supporter of increasing semiconductor manufacturing and the many jobs it creates in the U.S..

“With the votes taken in the House of Representatives and yesterday in the U.S. Senate, Congress has expressed broad, bipartisan and national support for leveling the playing field for competitive semiconductor manufacturing in the U.S.,” said Dr. Thomas Caulfield, GlobalFoundries president and CEO. “Congress took action to protect U.S. economic, supply chain and national security by accelerating semiconductor manufacturing on American soil.”

On July 26, the Malta Planning Board unanimously approved the 633,000-squareContinued On Page 6

SEDC ‘Very Pleased’ With Judge Ruling That Jill Johnson VanKuren Will Become New Agency Is A Privately Run Organization Hospital President, CEO In September

BY R.J. DELUKE A state Supreme Court judge ruled in late July that the Saratoga Economic Development Corp.

(SEDC), the main agency in the county responsible for bring in new business and retaining jobs, is a privately run organization therefore not subject to financial oversight by the New York State Authorities Budget Office.

The decision was handed down by Acting state Supreme Court judge Richard Koweek on July 27.

For SEDC, it hopefully puts an end to a struggle that began in 2005 when state legislation was passed hoping to bring such agencies—those that receive public funding—under the state’s purview for more disclosure of financial information and more scrutiny.

The Authorities Budget Office overstepped its power in making that determination, the judge ruled.

“We’re very pleased” said Dennis Brobston, SEDC president. “We knew from the beginning we had rights and we didn’t want to be bullied. We were doing what we said we would, the right way.”

“It’s been a long 17 years” struggling with this issue,” he said. “It’s one less thing to worry about.

Now lets go out and do the things we need to do” to promote the county and grow the economy.

The state entity had argued that services SEDC

provided to the county and industrial development agencies extend beyond what is permitted under county law. SEDC works with the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors and industrial development agencies on a yearly renewable pact for marketing services that help in its mission to grow jobs while promoting the county. But most of its budget comes from investors.

SEDC “it is not dependent upon the sums received from these contracts with governmental entities for its existence,” the judge’s ruling said.

Brobston said, “we have nothing to hide” regarding the confidentiality of the information it garners from companies looking to come to the area.

Brobston and the economic group’s directors have always pushed to remain private and free from state oversight and freedom of information laws to ensure companies are able to complete their due diligence and search for potential properties without tipping off their competitors.

He said if a company wants to expand, for example, they don’t want information in public that a competitor could take advantage of and cause problems or even nix the deal.

“If too much information gets out there, it can affect a company’s operations and the deal,” Continued On Page 7

Jill Johnson VanKuren of MedStar Health System in Maryland will be the new president and CEO of Saratoga Hospital.

She starts Sept. 19.

Michael J. Toohey, Saratoga Hospital board of trustees chairperson, announced VanKuren’s appointment in July, citing her 17 years of experience with the largest integrated healthcare system in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area.

VanKuren succeeds Angelo Calbone, who will retire in August after 16 years of significant investment in programs, facilities and talent. He is credited with leading the transformation of the hospital and healthcare in the Saratoga region.

Most recently, VanKuren served as senior vice president of operations and chief operating officer at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center, one of 10 MedStar hospitals.

“From her first interview, Jill impressed us with her understanding of the vital role of a community hospital in a larger health system,” Toohey said. “She shares our commitment to maintaining Saratoga Hospital’s reputation for exceptional quality and personal attention while bringing the benefits of the Albany Med Health System to our patients and community.”

“I have a deep respect for the community and the culture that the people of Saratoga Hospital have

Jill Johnson VanKuren will be the new president and CEO of Saratoga Hospital.

Photo is Courtesy Saratoga Hospital

built over the years,” VanKuren said. “I look forward to building on that strong foundation as we evolve to support the future needs of the community. I am honored to have been selected to lead this team.”

At MedStar, VanKuren held leadership positions at both the corporate and hospital levels for a system Continued On Page 20

2 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • AUGUST 2022

Personnel Briefs

Dr. Lisa Vollendorf Starts Her Tenure As President Of SUNY Empire State College Dr. Lisa Vollendorf, incoming SUNY Empire State College president,began her tenure on July 1 at the college’s Saratoga Springs location.

Vollendorf will take over for Officer in Charge Nathan Gonyea, who will continue his work at the college as acting provost.

Vollendorf, who was selected by the SUNY Board of Trustees after an extensive national search, will be SUNY Empire’s sixth president since its founding in 1971.

“I am thrilled to be part of the SUNY Empire State College community,” she said. “As a leader in online and blended learning, SUNY Empire fills a very special niche in the higher-education landscape—one that is in more demand now than ever before. I look forward to building upon the college’s history of access and innovation and moving the institution forward in ways that benefit and empower our students and the communities in which they live across New York state and around the world.”

Prior to SUNY Empire, she served as interim provost and chief academic officer at the University of Northern Colorado. She also worked for 16 years in the California State University system at three campuses as a faculty member, department chair, academic senate chair, dean, and provost.

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Lisa Vollendorf as the sixth President of SUNY Empire State College. With a strong foundation of experience in education, we look forward to seeing Dr. Vollendorf take the helm and steer this uniquely innovative and f lexible, hybrid campus to even greater heights,” said SUNY Interim Chancellor Deborah F. Stanley.

“A special thank you to Dr. Nathan Gonyea who has led the campus as Officer in

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Dr. Lisa Vollendorf is the new president of SUNY Empire State College.

Courtesy SUNY Empire State

Charge and will now serve as acting provost. SUNY Empire has established itself as a dedicated pathway for adult learners seeking higher education in an accessible way, and Dr. Vollendorf is well positioned to build upon this mission.”

Vice Provost of Academic Administration Tai Arnold, Ph.D. said, “I am so looking forward to Dr. Vollendorf ’s presidency at SUNY Empire. She will be able draw on her academic leadership knowledge and experience at multiple colleges and universities around the nation to the college’s advantage. Her impressive scholarship will benefit our college community as we continue to innovate as an institution.”

SUNY Empire State College hired Julieta (Julie) Majak as vice president for administration and fi nance position based in Saratoga Springs.

Majak will serve as SUNY Empire’s senior business and fi nancial officer, responsible for overseeing development of policies, procedures, and controls to ensure sound management of the college’s fi nancial, human, technology, and physical resources.

She will also serve as treasurer of the Empire State College Foundation board.

She served as assistant vice president for administration and campus controller at SUNY New Paltz, where she oversaw the college’s fiscal operations, including procurement and contracting, accounting services, accounts payable, internal controls, facilities fi nance and administration, and risk management.

In her 29 years at SUNY New Paltz, Majak served in progressively senior roles within the division of fi nance and administration, from associate director of telecommunications and administrative services to director of administrative services and assistant vice president for research administration.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing and management from Siena College and a master’s degree in educational administration from SUNY New Paltz. She also completed the SUNY and Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations Leadership Development Program, and she served as the 2021 Fellow for the SUNY Hispanic Leadership Institute. *

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The board of directors for the Dake Foundation for Children announced a new executive director, Sarah Burns.

She brings more than 15 years of non-profit experience to the foundation, and her leadership has resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars raised for organizations across the upstate region, the company said..

For more than a decade, The Dake Foundation for Children has been helping local children with physical disabilities have more fun and independence. Founder Gary Dake, president of Stewart’s Shops, realized that health insurance would fund “medical necessities” but would not approve recreational equipment or activities, and he vowed to work to close that gap. Since then, the foundation has helped connect more than 330 children with adaptive bikes, tricycles, swings, strollers, and communication tools that allow them to have the fun, carefree experiences that every child deserves. *

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Peregrine Market Access in Saratoga Springs, a consulting, communications, and commercialization partner for the life sciences industry, hired Christian Willis, PharmD, as a new addition to the medical strategy team.

In his role as a medical writer, Willis will develop disease- and treatment-related content to help Peregrine’s pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients communicate the value of their treatments, diagnostics, and medical devices.

Willis received his doctor of pharmacy degree from Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from SUNY Binghamton. He has gained pharmacy practice experience in community and institutional settings with internships at CVS Pharmacy, Springfield Hospital in Springfield, Vt. and Nuvance Health’s Dyson Center for Cancer Care in Poughkeepsie. *

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SD Atelier Architecture LLC welcomed two new employees to the firm, Marcela Gaudin and Marcia Ewing.

Gaudin is a licensed architect in Mexico and received her architecture degree from ITESO in Guadalajara, Mexico.

She has over 14 years of experience working for a variety of fi rms in Houston and New York.

She has experience developing high-rise structures, multi-family and public structures and custom residential projects. Her responsibilities include schematic design, presentation renderings and developing construction documents.

Ewing has 18 years of experience in the architecture field. She previously worked at Foresight Architects in Schenectady. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in interior design with an architectural concentration from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

She has experience with small commercial, apartment buildings and churches, both new construction and renovations. She has been involved with projects from early sketches to construction. *

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Saratoga Hospital promoted Rachel Prill to director of nursing practice for Saratoga Hospital Medical Group, responsible for the group’s nursing practices and nursing and clinical support staff.

Continued On Page 17

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • AUGUST 2022 • 3

Facility In Greenwich Sells John Deere Saratoga County EMS Council Announces Equipment And Related Support Products 2022 Awards For Exemplary Service

United Ag & Turf opened this new state-of-the-art facility on Route 29 in Greenwich that sells John Deere, Stihl, Honda and other products.

Award recipients, from left, are Jean Tranka, Thomas Lundquist, Alan Bell, Nash Alexander, and Walt Fitzgerald, representing the Edinburg Emergency Squad that won Agency of the Year.

Courtesy United Ag & Turf

United Ag & Turf has opened a new state-of-the-art facility in Greenwich for selling its John Deere, Stihl, Honda and other products that support residential and commercial landscaping, compact construction equipment needs, and area farms.

The facility replaces the Schaghticoke building that served as a John Deere dealership for over 40 years.

The 25,200-square-foot building, located at 217 Route 29 in Greenwich, sits directly next to the Washington County Fairgrounds. It is a full-service store featuring an 11,500-square-foot service department, with 6,000 square feet of warehouse space and a showroom.

“We are extremely excited to have the opportunity to not only expand and better serve customers in the greater Schaghticoke/Easton/Greenwich area, but also provide our excellent team here with the best in facilities and improvements to help them continue to perform at the highest level,” United Ag & Turf president Scott Miller said.

“We’ve seen tremendous growth in recent years and the demand for the quality products and services that United Ag & Turf offers makes this investment in the area a great fit. We look forward to being a part of the community for many more years to come.”

Eric Driscoll, CEO of United Ag & Turf, NE, and United Construction & Forestry, said the company is following this opening with several other new facilities.

“We’re investing heavily in the Northeast to position ourselves to better meet the needs of our customers in this key market.

Later this summer we will be unveiling our f lagship construction, forestry, agriculture, and turf combination location in Clifton Park,” he said.

Ashtin Givens

“Shortly thereafter, a brand-new East Windsor, Conn., location will be opening, plus we’re busy with several other facility updates and expansions. We believe it’s important to provide our employees with the tools, facilities, and training to perform at their best.

“Our excellent teams coupled with the new state-of-the-art facilities and the new products Deere is bringing to market provides us the foundation to continue to grow our business,” said Driscoll.

United Ag & Turf Regional Director, Neal Opatkiewicz invites customers and the community to stop in and meet his team, tour the new store, and see the new John Deere equipment on display. Opatkiewicz stated, “Our new home is a great new space to work in and we will continue to provide the outstanding service our customers expect. Our entire team has been waiting with anticipation to show-off our beautiful new facility to our customers and to the community.”

United Ag & Turf is a John Deere dealer of agriculture, turf, utility vehicles, and compact construction equipment that was formed in 2018 by consolidating several John Deere dealerships into one new organization. United Ag & Turf has a total of 68 locations throughout New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.

They serve customers in all market segments with new and used equipment, parts, service, and support. They also represent other brands such as Stihl, Honda, Ariens, and more. The company is owned by Fernandez Holdings, an investment company that focuses on acquiring profitable middle market businesses with proven management teams, defensible market positions, and sustainable opportunities for growth.

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Courtesy Saratoga County EMS Council

The Saratoga County EMS Council announced the recipients of the 2022 Saratoga County EMS Awards.

Awards are provided to emergency services personnel, affiliated with a NYS EMS agency, who show individual or team heroism above and beyond the ordinary call of duty.

The EMS Agency of the Year awarded went to Edinburg Emergency Squad. It is an all-volunteer, nimble, dynamic service organization that has consistently embraced change, delivered the highest quality EMS coupled with enhanced services to their citizens and community. Formed in 1962, they remain the only all-volunteer ambulance service in Saratoga County, staffed by 22 volunteers, answering 100 calls annually and supported entirely by community donations.

EMS Educator of Excellence was awarded to Jean Tranka. Tranka has served as a certified

instructor coordinator for the Saratoga County EMS Council for over 20 years. Her care and concern for each and every student has not only earned her the nickname, “Mama Jean,” but is reflected in her consistently near 100 percent pass rates in her courses.

The EMS Communications Specialist of the Year is Thomas Lundquist. Lundquist joined the Saratoga County Sheriff ’s Department Communications Division in 2016.

The Harriet C. Weber Leadership Award went to Alan Bell. Bell is the executive director of the Clifton Park & Halfmoon Ambulance Corps. He began his service in 1995 as a volunteer EMT. Under his leadership the agency has been named by the Times Union as a top place to work for five consecutive years based on employee input.

Alan solicits input from the entire workforce, to continually move the organization forward.

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4 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • AUGUST 2022

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Children’s Museum At Saratoga Officially Opens Its New 16,000-Square-Foot Location The Children’s Museum at Saratoga celebrated the grand opening of its new home in July.

The museum underwent a $3.1 million renovation project to relocate the museum to the historic Lincoln Bathhouse on Broadway in Saratoga Spa State Park.

The fully accessible 16,000-square-foot facility is the first major public facing operation in the Lincoln Bathhouse since the 1990s, state officials said.

The project, supported by a $600,000 Empire State Development grant, as well as other public grants and private donations, joins a growing list of public-private partnerships in the park that make up the Park of the Arts initiative.

“The opening of the Children’s Museum adds another major attraction to our growing list of partners in the beautiful, natural setting of Saratoga Spa State Park,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “The Park of the Arts initiative will continue to define Saratoga Springs as a year-round destination for world class arts programming, and this project marks a major milestone in our efforts to restore and reactivate the National Historic Landmark structures throughout the park.”

Occupying three of the original bathing wings, the Children’s Museum features rebuilt and refurbished exhibits, plus a new slate of STEM exhibits where visitors can experiment and learn with hands-on activities.

A mock grocery store includes a register with a fully functional scanner, while the fire station’s interactive screen lets guests extinguish a virtual fire. Children can pick vegetables at the farm exhibit, record a news segment at the museum’s news station, or scoop ice cream and learn how it’s made at the ice cream parlor.

Built with universal accessibility in mind, the museum also features a calming room that provides quiet space to decompress with soothing tactile elements.

“We are so thankful to the Governor, Empire State Development, as well as our other private and public supporters for all the hard work that has gone into this project,” Children’s Museum Executive Director Sarah Smith said.

“At the heart of our mission is creating a space that inspires curiosity, sparks imagination, and nurtures discovery. And we think this new space, with its ability to reach more children of all developmental levels, and their families, helps foster that goal.”

State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said, “I’m thrilled to welcome the Children’s Museum to the historic Lincoln Bathhouse in Saratoga Spa State Park. The Children’s Museum will bring new activity into the park and building on the array of partners at our ‘Park of the Arts’ that offers so many ways to relax, enjoy the outdoors, or dive into unique

The Children’s Museum at Saratoga celebrated the grand opening of its new home.

Courtesy NYS Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation

arts and cultural offering.”

Founded in 1990 by community parents and educators, the Children’s Museum at Saratoga is dedicated to creating an interactive community that inspires curiosity, sparks imagination and nurtures discovery. It is committed to fostering active parent involvement in children’s learning, to serving as a resource for school districts in the area, and to ensuring that its programs and services are accessible to all children.

The Children’s Museum of Science and Technology formally partnered with the Children’s Museum of Science and Technology (formerly Rensselaer Tech Park) to help ensure the future of their mission and programming, and collectively represent 100 years of experience in providing innovative, hands-on learning to children throughout the Capital Region.

To learn more about the museum, visit www.cmssny.org.

The beaux arts-neoclassical style Lincoln Bathhouse, completed in 1930, is a key component of the distinctive architecture in the park, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Public bathing ceased to be offered at this state-run facility in the 1990s.

While some of the structure’s 60,000 square feet were converted for State Courts and a headquarters for the regional Park Police, much of the building has awaited new use.

The opening of the Children’s Museum marks the restoration of year-round public programming.

The Lincoln Bathhouse also currently houses the Spa City Farmers’ Market on Sundays.

The next phases of development will include full restoration of the building’s façade and the development of new office space for park administration and visitor services.

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SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • AUGUST 2022 • 5

Queensbury Hotel Expansion, Designed By Sapphire Boutique On Broadway In Saratoga Phinney Design Group, Opens For Business Springs Is Culmination Of Woman’s Dream

The Queensbury Hotel’s new Adirondack Ballroom and renovated event space was officially opened in late July. It more than doubles the capacity for hosting conferences and special events.

BY PAUL POST Downtown Glens Falls’ slow, steady resurgence just got a boost with the July 21 grand opening of Queensbury Hotel’s $3.8 million new Adirondack Ballroom.

The 5,200-square-foot facility more than doubles the historic hotel’s capacity for hosting conferences and special events, which can further fuel the local economy.

“We’re already sold out now on Friday and Saturday nights, almost year round, hosting 300 people that need things to do. They want to go shopping, go to restaurants, events at Wood Theater or Cool Insuring Arena,” said Tyler Herrick, hotel general manager. “Before the expansion we were hosting 750 events a year. This is just going to help accelerate that by bringing midweek conventions to Glens Falls, which means more business for our property and all of downtown.”

The ballroom is the latest project in an ongoing makeover of the landmark, 96-year-old hotel, which has helped make it a business incubator by encouraging other small businesses to locate downtown.

“I’m more excited about that than I am for The Queensbury itself because I love this community,” said Ed Moore, who purchased the hotel in March 2016. “I’m so proud of this place. We brought it (the ballroom) home and brought it in on time.”

“This is going to be enormous,” said Jim Siplon, EDC Warren County president and CEO. “Every time the surface area of a place like this expands it has a three to four times multiplier effect in town, at a minimum, whether that’s culinary business, retail, attractions like the Hyde Museum, or so many other things that make this community unique. Every one of them will get a shot in the arm from this.”

The new ballroom can host up to 400 people for plated dinners and dancing for special events.

Adjoining hallway space affords capacity for nearly 600 guests for cocktail parties and businessrelated networking functions.”

Saratoga Springs-based Phinney Design Group handled architectural work while V&H

Construction Inc. of Fort Edward was the general contractor.

“Any time we do an historic building there’s always going to be things that pop up,” said Ed Anker, Phinney’s project manager. “We ran into a lot of that here. We found a lot of crumbling things and some of the past additions weren’t really done that well. We were very sensitive to match the building’s historic character, which was extremely critical, while also creating a little bit of flair for the new building. I think we nailed it spot-on with detailing, brick, cornices and baseboards.”

“Phinney Design Group was honored to provide Architectural and Interior Design services for the new Adirondack Ballroom project,” said Mike Phinney, owner and principal architect of Phinney Design Group. “We were careful to modernize the historic hotel, while still honoring its past and marrying the old and the new. After six years of renovations, this project has been one of the largest pieces of a master plan that our design team and owners visualized with the goal of breathing new life into a historic gem.”

V&H owner and president Rob Holbrook said his firm’s biggest challenge was staying on schedule while dealing with a shortage of materials and supplies caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, temporary aluminum doors have been installed, leading to the hotel’s rear parking lot, as handsome glass French doors didn’t arrive in time for the grand opening reception, with about 250 well-wishers on hand.

Precise Painting & Wallcovering (Hudson Falls) did all the finishes, Glens Falls Metal Fabricators (Fort Edward) handled heating, ventilation and air conditioning work, while Adirondack P&M (Queensbury) took care of plumbing.

Herrick said the ballroom addition has created 15 new jobs, adding to the hotel’s staff that has grown from 35 to 100 employees since Moore purchased the property.

A multi-year master plan, developed by Phinney Design Group, calls for a roof-top bar that will give hotel guests a view of the surrounding southern Adirondack region.

Sapphire Boutique at 219 Broadway in Saratoga Springs offers skin care, oxygen facials, hydrofacials, and other services including body waxing.

BY JILL NAGY “My dream was always to have a business of my own and to do skin care,” said Jhoanna Cantera, who saw that dream come true with the opening of Cantera’s Sapphire Boutique at 219 Broadway in Saratoga Springs.

The new business is the result of several years of hard work and some good luck at the end. Cantera began to study at an aesthetics school seven years ago but had to drop out to help with some family issues at home in Peru, South America. When she returned a month later, she had to get back online for a spot in the school’s aesthetics program.

In the meantime, she was able to obtain a license for body waxing and get a job at a Saratoga salon doing waxing.

She saved money and eventually was able to return to school and work toward obtaining her skin care license.

During that time, as she drove to work each day, she passed a coin shop that also sold jewelry. One day, she stopped in, largely to see the jewelry. The store was small but she really liked it.

“Almost by chance,” she recalled, the store became available for rent. Cantera was still four months short of completing school. She was slowly accumulating tools and equipment for a future shop. Then she had another

©2022 Saratoga Photographer.com

look at the then-vacant store.

“I saw it was perfect,” she said, and she and the owner agreed to a lease.

There followed four months of working all day, attending school after work, and returning to Saratoga after school to clean, fix and paint her future shop, all the time trying to be a good mom to her teenage son and look after their three dogs.

She continues to live in Niskayuna, where her son, now 15, is in high school. She said that she loves Saratoga, especially for its friendly and helpful people, but doesn’t want to uproot him by moving.

The Sapphire Boutique offers skin care, including oxygen facials and hydrofacials.

She said that she tries to offer her clients a variety of options. She also continues to do body waxing and several of her former waxing clients have followed her to the new location.

She also sells lingerie, purses and a small amount of jewelry.

I’m very happy,” she said, “I know it will take time to build the business.”

The boutique is open Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tuesday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is closed on Sunday, The telephone number is 518 430-2031.

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6 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • AUGUST 2022

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GlobalFoundries To Expand Continued From Page 1

foot expansion. The vote came one day after the Stillwater Planning Board approved a smaller portion of the expansion that will be located just across the town line from Malta.

GlobalFoundries has selected JE Dunn of Kansas City, Mo., as the general contractor for the project. JE Dunn worked with GlobalFoundries about four years ago.

GlobalFoundries is under contract to purchase 800 acres in the Luther Forest Technology Campus. That is the technology park that surrounds the chipmaker’s existing $15 billion manufacturing complex.

The second factory will wrap around the southern and southeastern portions of the current factory constructed in 2009.

In addition to the second factory in Saratoga County, GlobalFoundries is in the midst of a $4 billion expansion in Singapore, plus additional investments to increase output at its factory in Dresden, Germany.

GlobalFoundries said it employs approximately 2,600 at the Malta complex and the second factory is expected to create an additional 1,000 jobs.

Regarding action in Congress, Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York said the bill means Upstate New York, “with its rare combination of a world-class workforce, advanced manufacturers, and renowned higher education institutions” is poised to reap great benefits.

“When you combine the chip manufacturing potential at sites like White Pine Commerce Park in Central New York, Marcy Nanocenter in the Mohawk Valley, and STAMP in Genesee County, with GlobalFoundries and Wolfspeed’s existing plants and onsemi soon acquiring a facility in East Fishkill, NY, all coupled with world-renowned research capabilities at the Albany Nanocenter and across the SUNY system and the state’s universities and labs, Upstate New York could be the nation’s leader in microchips and other tech industries that will dominate this century.

U.S. Rep. Paul D. Tonko, whose 20th District includes portions of Saratoga County, said “At a moment when supply chain delays and rampant inflation are straining the pocketbooks of hardworking families (the passage of CHIPS) will be a game changer for our economy, semiconductor industry, and Capital Region.

“The CHIPS Act will ensure the U.S. can out-compete any nation in semiconductor

manufacturing while supporting a critical industry, driving research and development, and creating good paying jobs.

“The investment being made will pay dividends through creation of high-paying jobs, community vitality, research and development, and innovation in the U.S.,” Caulfield added. “For GlobalFoundries, joint GF-customer-government partnership is a great example of how our nation’s greatest challenges can be solved by embracing new strategies and partnering together.”

Once CHIPS Act funding legislation is signed into law, investments GlobalFoundries receives from the $52 billion in the legislation will be combined with similar investments being made by GF and its customers to expand the company’s manufacturing, research and development at its manufacturing sites in New York and Vermont.

Schumer said Currently, only 12 percent of chips are manufactured domestically, compared to 37 percent in the 1990s, and many foreign competitors, including China, are investing heavily to dominate the industry.

Nearly 75 percent of global semiconductor production is now occurring in East Asia and foreign government subsidies drive the majority of the cost difference for producing semiconductors overseas.

Schumer said the legislation would help turn the tide on this trend by bringing manufacturing back to America, along with investing in other key technology and R&D so New York and the country can lead the world in innovation.

Gov. Kathy Hocul said the bills moved forward by Congress “ bring record investment and countless jobs to industrial areas, which is why we’re working just as hard at the state-level to cement our status as a leader in chip production. New York’s Green CHIPS bill, which passed overwhelmingly in the legislature with bipartisan support, will grow the state’s semiconductor industry responsibly and sustainably with major investments in workforce and community development. The combination of the state and federal CHIPS bills—in addition to our diverse talent pool, rich local resources, and ongoing investments—will help New York create 21st century jobs and technologies and become a global capital for chip manufacturing.”

CSEA Ratifies, By A Large Margin, Contract Extension That Runs Through Apil 2026 New York state has a five-year labor agreement with the Civil Service Employees Association, CSEA, which includes over 52,000 New York state employees in a wide variety of roles, officials announced Aug. 3.

The agreement, which runs until April 1, 2026, won the approval of more than 80 percent of CSEA members who cast ballots.

“This contract fairly compensates the hardworking men and women of the Civil Service Employees Association who help to deliver critical services to New Yorkers every day,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “I thank President Sullivan for her partnership in getting this agreement over the finish line and ensuring that it acknowledges the valuable contributions of CSEA members to our great state.”

The ratified contract includes raises in each year of the agreement of 2 percent for the first

two years and 3 percent for the remaining three years. In addition, the contract includes other increases in compensation such as a onetime lump sum bonus of $3,000 and changes in longevity as a result of changes in the health insurance program that will encourage innetwork employee utilization and help control health insurance costs.

The contract also includes funding of labormanagement committees.

“I would again like to thank our negotiating team for their hard work and dedication to delivering this new state contract. The agreement was overwhelmingly ratified by our membership and across all four of our executive branch bargaining units,” said Civil Service Employees Association President Mary E. Sullivan.

CSEA represents over 52,000 New York State employees in four bargaining units.

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SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • AUGUST 2022 • 7

NBT Bank Partners With Company To SUNY Empire State Program Combines B.S. Start A Real Estate Equity Investment Fund In Accounting With MBA In Management NBT Bank and CEI-Boulos Capital Management have launched the NBT CEI-Boulos Impact Fund, a $10 million real estate equity investment fund with NBT Bank as the sole investor.

The fund is designed to support individuals and communities with low and moderate income through investments in high-impact, community supported, commercial real estate projects located within the bank’s Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) assessment areas in New York.

The project investment area includes Warren and Washington counties.

“As a community bank, NBT is committed to the communities we serve,” said, NBT Bank President and CEO John H. Watt, Jr. “This includes doing our part to create stronger, healthier neighborhoods. We believe that investments in projects that deliver critical affordable housing can also have a ripple effect in supporting job creation and strengthening our communities.”

The NBT CEI-Boulos Impact Fund is managed by CEI-Boulos Capital Management, a fund management company focused on delivering competitive financial returns and social impact. CEI-Boulos helps banks achieve their CRA objectives by organizing and managing funds that invest in financially attractive, high-impact commercial real estate projects that benefit the communities in which they are located.

CEI-Boulos prioritizes projects that represent collaborations between various entities—including non-profits, local and state government, philanthropic institutions, banks, community development finance institutions, communitybased organizations, private investors, and local developers—that share a vision for their

community.

“We’re thrilled to be working with NBT Bank on this innovative fund to invest in high-impact, community supported real estate projects in New York state,” said Sam Spencer, chief executive officer and managing director, CEI-Boulos Capital Management.

Officials said NBT will create a social impact advisory board to evaluate redevelopment and new construction projects, such as multi-family, mixed-use, industrial, office, retail and hospitality projects that closely align with community needs. The advisory board will provide input related to the social and environmental impacts of the fund’s proposed investments. Areas of targeted impact will include: projects that support job creation; affordable and workforce housing; Main Street revitalization/historic preservation developments that do not contribute to gentrification/displacement; developments that serve non-profit organizations; and environmentally sustainable real estate developments.

CEI-Boulos Capital Management is a real estate investment fund management company focused on delivering both competitive financial returns and social impact. The company serves banks, family offices, and other institutional investors, and has a national scope. Learn more at www.ceiboulos.com.

NBT Bank offers personal banking, business banking and wealth management services from locations in seven states, including New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine and Connecticut. The bank and its parent company, NBT Bancorp., are headquartered in Norwich, N.Y. and had assets of $12.1 billion as of March 31.

More information about NBT is available online at www.nbtbank.com. Member FDIC.

Are you taking a socially conscious approach to investing?

Rob Snell

SUNY Empire State College will debut a new program this fall that combines the B.S. in accounting with the MBA in business management.

The combined B.S. in accounting and MBA in business management is a CPA-150 Licensure Qualifying Program that is registered with the state Department of Education. It satisfies the educational requirements for the certified public accountant license.

Students who are accepted to the combined program will take three graduate courses (nine credits) during their bachelor’s degree studies at the undergraduate tuition rate. These credits will count toward both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees, for a combined program total of 152 credits to help students save on program costs and reduce the time needed to finish both degrees.

The B.S. in accounting can be offered in person or online. The MBA in business management is a fully online program.

SUNY Empire also introduced a Bachelor in Business Administration (BBA) that will be accepting applications for the fall.

To learn more about SUNY Empire’s business programs, visit www.esc.edu.

“SUNY Empire’s combined B.S./MBA program provides the advanced business and management skills New York state’s employers seek. At the same time, it reflects the innovative, high-quality degree programs for which SUNY Empire is known,” said SUNY Empire State President Lisa Vollendorf.

Dean of the School for Graduate Studies Brian Carolan, Ph.D. said the college’s combined programs, such as the B.S. in accounting/MBA, “provide opportunities for exceptional undergraduate students to begin their graduate coursework while completing their bachelor’s degree. Not only do these options provide a predictable pathway from the bachelor’s to the master’s degree but they also enable students to save time and money by allowing graduate credits to be used toward both degrees.”

“We are thrilled to be able to educationally equip those who intend to pursue CPA licensure with the entire 150 credits of coursework through our combined B.S. in accounting/MBA,” said Dean of the School of Business Julie Gedro.

SEDC

about their plans and their investment strategies and finances,” he said. “The judge was very specific” that confidentiality can be retained.

SEDC tries to find complimentary companies that fit with the industry in the area and are a good fit for the overall economy. ”We want people (coming into Saratoga County) complimentary to the businesses here.”

He said SEDC is working with 65 different companies on prospective projects that would benefit the county and bring or expand jobs. Information on those cases cannot be released.

Since Brobston has been at SEDC (14 years), he said the organization has had as many as 100 prospective projects in the works, and as few as 25.

Continued From Page 1 Brobston said. “Companies need to have confidentiality.”

Brobston said that dealing with companies has a heightened sensitivity because clients have concerns about inflation. Fuel prices are up, energy costs are up, equipment costs are up and the cost of doing business has risen.

“You have to get a company that can still compete” amid those factors and they don’t want the information on how they would do that released.

“These clients don’t want their information out

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Senior Living / Retirement Planning •

Business Report Looking At Asset Allocation

BY MATTHEW BURNELL A key term often heard in investing is “asset allocation”. In simple terms this refers to the percentage of holdings in an investment portfolio to stocks, bonds, and cash.

Using these broad categories, asset allocation reflects the amount of market risk an investor is comfortable with and is not static over time. Stocks have historically had the greatest risk and highest returns among the three major asset categories.

Bonds are generally less volatile than stocks but typically offer more modest returns. Cash and cash equivalents such as savings deposits, certificates of deposit, treasury bills, money market deposit accounts, and money market funds are the safest investments, but offer the lowest return of the three major asset categories.

A major factor in the market risk one can tolerate is the investors time horizon. If an investor is young and plans to work for many more years, then typically they are willing to take on more market risk in hopes of better returns. In this case, stocks would be a larger percentage of their portfolio.

Alternatively, if an investor is closer to retirement, then typically they will have less tolerance for market risk (i.e. more risk averse) since they will be using their retirement assets to fund living expenses in the near future. The more risk-averse an investor is, the more they will want to be invested in “safer” assets, like high-quality bonds and cash. Recommendations vary, but often it is strategic to have a year or two of expenses in cash to begin retirement.

Tying this to today’s economy, if someone retired at the end of 2021 and needed to take funds from their investment portfolio to live off, they would likely be selling assets at a loss due to the down market. If they had cash to cover this year’s expenses, this would allow them to stay invested in hopes for a market rebound before raising cash from these assets. In this scenario it would not be prudent to be 100 percent in stocks at the end of 2021 if you were planning to retire at years end and use these funds to supplement retirement income.

The downside of course is that nobody ever fully knows exactly where the market will go in the future, so holding bonds and cash in your portfolio may cost upside if the market has great returns for a period, but what if it didn’t like so far in 2022?

•

Wesley Community Director Says ‘People Are Looking To Age’ In A Set Space

Matthew Burnell, financial paraplanner, HK Wealth Management Group.

Courtesy HK Wealth Management Group

Historically the market has always increased from previous levels, but increases are not linear. There are dips along the way, and these dips have always recovered and moved beyond previous highs. The real question is how long do these larger dips (often due to a recession) last? Recessions broadly speaking are defined by a contraction in the economy marked by consecutive quarters of falling real GDP. Historically the U.S. has a recession approximately every 5.5 years. It seems investors have forgotten this as the U.S. is not far off of its longest run-in history without a recession, or economic expansion which lasted from the end of 2009 until 2020.

The 2020 recession was the fastest market recovery in U.S. history. So, the people of the U.S. have gone an unprecedented amount of time without dealing with an economic downturn of any major significance.

During this timeframe of unprecedented growth, many investors have become more brazen or aggressive in their investment strategies and overall asset allocations.

Hindsight is always 20/20 when looking back at returns seeing that an investor would have profited more being 100 percent in the market versus holding a portion of their portfolio in less volatile lower returning assets. That is why time horizon is so important in deciding the correct allocation If the market were to have a pullback does the investor have time to recover before needing Continued On Page 19

Brian Nealon, CEO of the Wesley Community in Saratoga Springs, says staffing shortages because of COVID forced closing of two of its nursing home units for the forseeable future.

BY CHRISTINE GRAF Of the more than one million Americans who have died from COVID-19, a staggering 23 percent were residents of long-term care facilities.

According to Brian Nealon, CEO of the Wesley Community, these sobering statistics have impacted the way Americans view nursing homes.

“People are looking to age in place even more so than they did prior to the beginning of the pandemic. It’s about ‘How do I stay at home longer?’

It could be the family home that they have been in for 50 years or it could be at one of our apartments at Woodlawn Commons or Embury.”

Located on Lawrence Street in Saratoga Springs, Woodlawn Commons offers 60 marketrate independent senior living apartments as well as 40 assisted living units. The neighboring Embury Apartments provides the local community with 192 subsidized senior apartments. Both complexes are currently at full capacity.

The Wesley Community also has a skilled nursing facility that provides both long-term care as well as short-term rehabilitation. They also offer home care through Wesley Senior Solutions and outpatient physical/occupational/speech therapy through Wesley Outpatient Therapy.

In total, more than 600 seniors live on the sprawling Wesley Community Campus in the north end of Saratoga Springs.

Nealon has worked for Wesley for 37 years, but nothing could have prepared him to be on the front lines at the height of the pandemic. COVID claimed the lives of hundreds of long-term care facility residents throughout the Capital Region.

“We care for the frailest of the frail, so it’s not unexpected that people passed away at nursing homes because of COVID,” he said. “The press that surrounded that certainly motivated individuals to want to stay out of assisted living or nursing homes.”

When the state mandated that no outside visitors were allowed at nursing homes for an entire year, an already difficult situation became even worse. Many elderly residents died without being able to see their families while others went more

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than a year without visits from loved ones.

“It was horrific. It was agonizing for families and demoralizing for the residents as well as demoralizing for our staff. It was a very difficult time, and some folks live in fear of that happening again,” said Nealon.

“Generally, as the boomer generation becomes more present in the aging service world, they are looking for services at home and trying to avoid an institutional setting. Boomers are trying hard to set aging services up in a way that provides for the highest level of independence.”

As more boomers seek home care that will allow them to stay in their homes longer, the home care employee shortage will prove problematic.

“Most home care operators have to turn down cases because there isn’t the staff,” said Nealon.

“Right now, it’s a struggle, and it’s going to remain a struggle for the next decade plus.”

According to Nealon, “virtual villages” are being established throughout the country to assist seniors who are want to remain in their homes for as long as possible. The concept began in Boston in 2001 when a network of seniors who wanted to stay in their own homes began sharing resources that would help people age in place.

Also referred to as elder villages or senior villages, virtual villages are nonprofits that rely primarily on volunteers to provide services to the elderly.

There are now more than 400 of these throughout the United States.

Even as aging in place becomes more common, there will always be a need for long-term care facilities. Due to industry-wide staffing shortages, the Wesley Community has already been forced to close two nursing home units with a total of 90 beds.

“It’s not because of a lack of demand,” said Nealon. “We closed one in late 2020, and we closed the second one in the middle of 2021. They aren’t permanently closed, but they are closed for the foreseeable future.”

With fewer nursing home residents, Wesley is able to provide roughly the same hours per Continued On Page 9

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Public Pension Benefit Dollars Have Strong Report: Increasing Minimum Staffing At Impact On Small Towns And Communities Long Term Care Facilities Will Cost Billions As many small towns and rural communities across America face shrinking populations and growing economic challenges, a new report released by the National Institute on Retirement Security finds that a positive economic contributor to these communities is the flow of benefit dollars from public pension plans.

In 2018, public pension benefit dollars represented between one and three percent of GDP on average in the 2,922 counties in the 43 states studied.

These findings are detailed in a new study released July 11 by the National Institute titled Retirement Security, Fortifying Main Street: The Economic Benefit of Public Pension Dollars in Small Towns and Rural America.

NIRS said the research illustrates the impact of benefit dollars from public pension plans according to several different measures: as a percentage of GDP by county; as a percentage of total personal income by county; and by categorizing counties as metropolitan, small town (micropolitan), or rural.

“National economic trends coupled with population declines have had a devasting impact on many small towns and rural areas across America. Often, the largest employer in these smaller towns is a public entity like a school system or municipality that employs teachers, nurses, firefighters, and public safety officials. These public employees spend their career serving their communities at a time when a growing number of young workers are leaving their hometowns for job opportunities in urban areas,” said Dan Doonan, NIRS executive director.

The study builds on previous research, adding significantly more states and examining data in 43 states from a majority of public pension plans in the states, officials said.

The newly-expanded report finds that public pension benefit dollars account for significant amounts of total personal income in counties across the 43 states studied. For all 2,922 counties in this study, pension benefit dollars represent an average of 1.25 percent of total personal income, while some counties experience more than six percent of total personal income derived from pension dollars.

The analysis indicates that less populated counties with smaller economies experience a greater relative economic benefit from the flow of public pension benefit dollars into the county as compared to more populated, urban counties. This larger rela-

tive impact helps to sustain the economies of small towns during this period of economic transition in rural America.

“Eventually, public employees in rural and smaller communities retire and typically stay in their hometown. Retired public employees spend their pension income in their towns on goods and services like housing, food, medicine and clothing, which serves as a stable source of economic activity in smaller communities. Our analysis clearly indicates that pension spending provides a substantial economic impact on struggling small towns and rural communities across the nation,” Doonan said.

The report’s key findings are as follows: • Public pension benefit dollars represent between one and three percent of GDP on average in the 2,922 counties studied.

• Rural counties have the highest percentages of their populations receiving public pension benefits.

• Small town counties experience a greater relative impact in terms of both GDP and total personal income from pension benefit dollars than rural or metropolitan counties.

• Rural counties see more of an impact in terms of personal income than metropolitan counties, while metropolitan counties and rural counties see an equivalent impact in terms of GDP. • Counties that contain state capitals are outliers from other metropolitan counties, likely because there is a greater density of public employees in these counties, most of whom remain in these counties in retirement.

• On average, rural counties have lost population while small town counties and metropolitan counties have gained population in the period between 2000 and 2018, but the connection between population change and the relative impact of public pension benefit dollars is weak.

The National Institute on Retirement Security is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization established to contribute to informed policymaking by fostering a deep understanding of the value of retirement security to employees, employers and the economy as a whole. Located in Washington, D.C., NIRS membership includes financial services firms, employee benefit plans, trade associations, and other retirement service providers.

More information is available at www.nirsonline. org.

Wesley Community

ceive the initial vaccine as well as the first booster.

“We lost some with the initial vaccine,” said Nealon. “But when the initial booster was mandated, we lost a larger number with that than we did with the actual original vaccine.”

On a positive note, Nealon noted that the masking requirements that remain in place and have resulted in a significant decline in flu cases.

“We had only a few cases of the flu last year which was remarkable. It was also impressive how few people caught a cold. We are all masked all day long, and it clearly made a difference.”

As Nealon reflects on the challenges of the last two years, he said he is grateful to his staff as well as to members of the local community.

Continued From Page 8

resident per day as before the pandemic. Wages were increased last summer and another increase will be occurring in the near future.

“The backbone of any nursing home is the certified nursing assistant (CNA), and right now, that starts at $17 an hour,” said Nealon. “Prepandemic it was about $14 an hour.”

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The American Health Care Association (AHCA), representing more than 14,000 nursing homes and other long term care facilities across the country, released a new report from accounting and consulting firm CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP), which found that increasing staffing minimums at the federal level will require billions of dollars each year to hire tens of thousands of more caregivers.

CLA estimated the impact of implementing a staffing minimum of 4.1 hours per resident day (HPRD) and concluded: • 94 percent of nursing homes that care for more than 900,000 residents would need to increase staffing levels in order to be in compliance with such a requirement.

• It would cost $10 billion a year and require hiring more than 187,000 nurses and nurse aides to meet the standard.

• 18 percent of residents, or more than 205,000 residents, may be at risk of displacement as facilities are forced to potentially reduce their census in order to meet the higher staffing standard.

“This report makes it crystal clear that increasing staffing standards in nursing homes requires substantial and consistent government resources. Even then, nursing homes would have the impossible task of finding another 187,000 nurses at a time when vacant positions sit open without applicants for months on end. The unintended consequences of this sort of unfunded mandate would be devastating to hundreds of thousands of vulnerable residents who could be forced out of their nursing home,” said Mark Parkinson, president and CEO of AHCA. The CLA report models three different minimum staffing requirement scenarios to estimate the additional staff necessary as well as the costs associated. The 4.1

HPRD model is frequently referenced by industry stakeholders due to a 2001 study evaluating staffing levels in nursing homes.

“Every staffing minimum scenario we analyzed found that tens of thousands of additional full-time employees as well as billions of dollars each year would be necessary in order for nursing homes to be in compliance,” said Deb Emerson, principal at CLA. “Many facilities will have to make difficult decisions, such as reducing census, to meet the proposed staffing minimums.”

The Biden Administration has proposed establishing a minimum nursing home staffing requirement without corresponding resources despite the industry already facing a historic staffing crisis due to the pandemic and a nationwide nursing shortage. Over the course of the pandemic, nursing homes have disproportionally lost more workers than any other health care sector—over 200,000. As a result, more than 6 in 10 nursing homes say they must limit new patient admissions, and nearly three-quarters are concerned their facility may have to close entirely due to staffing shortages.

AHCA has been calling on state and federal policymakers to help address the labor shortage by directing resources to long term care, so nursing homes can offer more competitive wages and benefits to frontline caregivers, as well as establishing policies that will help nursing homes recruit and retain caregivers.

The comprehensive approach can be found in AHCA’s Care For Our Seniors Act and includes proposals such as loan forgiveness, tax credits, affordable housing, childcare assistance, and immigration reform.

10 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • AUGUST 2022

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Environment / Development RASP Inc., Designer And Servicer Of Control State Funds Will Help Construct A 60Panels, Has Plans To Expand In Moreau Unit Affordable Housing Project In Corinth

This is part of RASP Inc.’s 30-acre campus in Moreau. The company designs and builds control panels and is planning to add more warehouse and office space.

BY JILL NAGY RASP Inc., a company that designs and builds control panels, plans to add more warehouse and office space adjacent to its current buildings on a 30-acre campus in Moreau.

CEO Ron Richards said he sees the new construction as a plan for the future that will allow the company to hire additional people and seek more business.

RASP currently has 34 employees, including engineers and panel builders. Most of them are panel builders, who are often hard to find. Richards said they prefer to hire people with some experience in electronics but, when necessary, they will train new people. Engineers, on the other hand, seem readily available.

“We have been hiring throughout this year,” Richards said, but they are running out of space to put the new employees.

The company builds control systems for other companies. Richards said the names of their customers are confidential, but include chemical companies, packaging companies, and a stone quarry.

Products are custom made to meet client

Courtesy RASP Inc.

needs. They may measure temperature or pressure, moderate automation, or regulate other factors. The company also services, repairs, and upgrades existing systems. They serve an area from Albany to the Canadian border.

The name RASP is the initials of the original founders of the company. The “R” is for Richards, the only remaining founder still with the company. It has been in existence and in Moreau for 27 years. They started out at the former Chase Bag factory in northeast Moreau and, 10 years ago, moved to their current site at the southern edge of town.

Michael Close is COO and co-owner of the company.

Richards said that he does not expect any opposition to the company’s million-dollar expansion plan.

“We have quite a bit of land,” he noted, and they are not asking for a zoning change or any other special treatment. Once their plans are approved, construction can start, probably in early August, and be completed by the end of the year.

JAG Group of Wilton will do the construction work.

BY PAUL POST The state is providing $7.3 million to help fund a proposed $21 million, 60-unit affordable housing complex, called Riverview Apartments, in the village of Corinth.

A spring 2023 groundbreaking by Saratoga Springs-based Bonacio Construction Co. is planned.

The project is a joint venture between Corinthbased Hudson River Community Credit Union and RISE Housing and Support Services, a Saratoga Springs nonprofit organization founded in 1978, whose mission is helping people with mental health, substance use and other life challenges stay safe and healthy in the community.

Officials said 30 apartments will be reserved for homeless individuals with mental health illnesses who will have access to rental subsidies and on-site supportive services. The project will create eight jobs, including two case workers and a registered nurse to support residents.

Another 15 apartments will be strictly for seniors and there will be 15 more for community residents.

Three years ago, the credit union’s board of directors identified quality, affordable housing as the biggest challenge faced by many of its members living in Corinth.

“Corinth residents will be given priority when it comes to housing to ensure that members of the community most in need are the ones receiving the assistance the project was designed to help,” credit union CEO Sue Commanda said. “However, individuals from other communities will also be able to apply and live in the building.”

The 66,816-square-foot structure will be on a three-acre parcel, which the credit union donated.

It is located near the intersection of Pine Street and Fifth Avenue.

In 2011, the credit union purchased a 10-acre parcel on Pine Street from International Paper Co. and two years later built a new 16,000-square-foot operations center on three acres of the property.

The complex will have both one- and twobedroom apartments with rental fees ranging from $546 to $1,309, depending on size of the unit and household income.

“We certainly need affordable housing. It’s a much needed service,” said Corinth Mayor Chuck Pasquarell, who is also the credit union’s president.

“People who live there have to shop and do business.

The building adds to the tax base and will generate water and sewer service revenue, so it’s going to help all the way around as far as helping the village

economy.”

The $7.3 million in state funds is part of a $104 million Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative grant program that Gov. Kathy Hochul recently announced to create and preserve 864 affordable housing units across New York.

The remaining cost, about $14 million, will be financed with state and federal low-income housing tax credit equity.

Lack of affordable housing has become a critical issue not just in Corinth, but throughout much of upstate New York the past couple of years as real estate market prices have skyrocketed, due largely to large numbers of Metropolitan New Yorkers moving north during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people discovered they could work from home almost full-time, and are attracted to upstate New York’s less expensive cost of living and more relaxed lifestyle.

Also, a recent rise in interest rates is expected to prompt more people to rent, rather than make expensive mortgage payments. And seniors on fixed incomes are finding it difficult to stay in and maintain their homes, as inflation has sparked a rapid rise in the cost of many goods and services, from fuel and food to telephone and cable television fees.

“Each community has its own unique needs and while it’s difficult to speak for the needs of other local communities, some have already completed affordable housing projects,” Commanda said. “Corinth is not one of the communities that has addressed this need yet, so we felt it was important to find away to provide affordable housing to its residents.”

“We also know there is a high concentration of low-to-moderate income households and seniors in Corinth who will benefit from reduced housing costs,” she said. “When surveyed, Corinth seniors in need of affordable housing made it clear they did not want to move out of the community.”

The 2021 census says more than 20 percent of Corinth’s population is 65 or older.

“Expanding the housing supply is the cornerstone of my $25 billion, five-year housing plan, and these awards will move us one step closer toward achieving our goal of making New York a more affordable place for all,” Hochul said in a statement.

“With sustainable designs, on-site supportive services, and expanded access to free or low-cost broadband internet, we’re not just building homes with these awards; we’re creating vibrant, more enduring communities.”

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • AUGUST 2022 • 11

In 25 Years As Owner Of CLA SITE, Loyola Enhancements To State’s ‘Parks Explorer’ Has Seen Industry Changes And Challenges Mobile App Helps Visitors Plan Hikes Easier

Peter Loyola, center, poses with the staff of his CLA SITE business at SPAC in front of new buildings his firm helped design. He has owned the business for 25 years.

BY JILL NAGY Landscape architects do far more than decide where to lay sod and plant f lowers.

Companies like the Saratoga Spring landscape architecture firm CLA SITE—which is celebrating 25 years in business—are far more complex.

Among its projects was the redesigned of the concession area at Saratoga Performing Arts Center, including siting the new buildings and redoing the stormwater management plan. The company is also working with Envision Architects to develop a new indoor/outdoor market complex in Glens Falls.

It is also redoing part of Albany’s Empire State Plaza to alleviate drainage and stormwater problems.

“Lawns are for entry level folks,” said Peter Loyola, the company’s founder and principal.

Today’s landscape architect combines aspects of civil engineering, architecture, and urban planning, as well as environmental permitting. The full name of the company ref lects that pedigree: CLA Site Landscape Architecture, Engineering, and Planning PC. Loyola started the company in order to work on technical problems like stormwater management, drainage issues, subdivision site plans, and master plans for residential subdivisions. CLA can site the houses, plan the roads, look at driveway features, and, when they have it all planned out, make a presentation to a planning board and get the site plan approved, Loyola said.

In Corinth, for example, the company is incorporating “green infrastructure” into a road construction and streetscape improvement project. In Fort Ann, they are engaged in a remediation project to allow a stream filled with silt to run free again.

The growing challenges and variety of his field inspired Loyola to start his own company. After more than a decade working for another company, he said, “I wanted to take a shot on my own and make it a company bigger than myself.”

The biggest change Loyola has seen is not anything technical. It is the growing need to maintain f lexible schedules and maintain a good work/life balance amid a different culture of work.

“That has never been more important,” he said. For CLA, a company where many people already worked from home, “it was a fairly easy transition” when the COVID pandemic disrupted traditional office routines.

Not that he hasn’t seen—and benefited from—technical improvements. He noted that computer software and technology have greatly improved, making both design and research easier. Photo simulation techniques have also improved.

The company has grown to a nine-member team of licensed landscape architects, site civil engineers, a market coordinator and an office manager.

“We have great professional capabilities

©2022 Saratoga Photographer.com

for such a small office,” Loyola said.

In recognition of that, CLA SITE received the Upstate Chapter of ASLA Merit Award and People’s Choice Award in 2022 for its design of the Pedestrian Art Plaza in Rome, N.Y. CLA SITE celebrated the silver anniversary with a party on July 12 at the Cantina in Saratoga Springs.

Loyola grew up near Stowe, Vt., and graduated from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse. He is a registered landscape architect and a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

The company is located at 58 Church St., Suite 200, in Saratoga Sprigs. The telephone number is 518 584-8661. The website is www.clasite.com.

The state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has enhanced its Parks Explorer mobile app to orient visitors and provide helpful wayfinding information when in the parks and on the trails.

The multiple new enhancements are in addition to the app’s information about the destinations and activities available throughout the Empire State’s parks and historic sites.

“Since its introduction, the Parks Explorer app has been a useful and easy way to plan your next outdoor adventure, and now with this latest release it delivers an elevated visitor experience with interactive mapping tools and improved wayfinding,” said Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid. “Whether you’re new to a park or a seasoned hiker on the trails, the new map features will help you explore the parks and discover new favorites more easily.”

The new features include upgrades to trail mapping functionality such as planning hike distance using the new trail mileage tool, offline maps for use when connectivity is a challenge, and live maps for use on Wi-Fi or with good connectivity.

Interactive map elements now provide visitors: • Easier wayfinding: When the user’s mobile device’s location services are turned “on”, visitors can easily follow along with where they are on the map.

• The ability to zoom in on and around each map to learn more about the facility.

• Information about trails, park features and amenities by simply tapping on a trail or icon; • Trail segment distance.

• The ability to change base layers in live maps from satellite view, simple street view or

topography.

The app also includes a link to a brief video to demonstrate the new mapping features.

Additional improvements as part of the Park Explorer app’s new release are the expansion of the search function so that visitors can search for parks and historic sites from multiple regions at a time, and users will now have easier access to NY State Parks Gift Cards and Shop.

Empire State Development Vice President and Executive Director of Tourism Ross D. Levi said the state Parks offer unparalleled activities and experiences that complement any trip, from a weekend getaway to an extended vacation. Tools that make our world-class State Parks system easier to explore and enjoy help visitors take advantage of all the amazing outdoor recreation opportunities awaiting them in the Empire State.”

The Parks Explorer app is a free, userfriendly resource for visitors to plan outdoor adventures and stay connected to favorite parks and historic sites. Fans of the outdoors can learn more about their preferred destinations and discover new must-see locations with curated content and easy-to-access to park information such as directions, hours, amenities, fees and rates, trail maps, helpful know-before-you-go details, and the ability to receive important updates and alerts.

The mobile app is available at no cost for download for iOS and Android devices.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which are visited by 78 million people annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit parks.ny.gov.

12 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • AUGUST 2022

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL

SPECIAL SECTION

Workplace / Legal

Hangr Coworks In Clifton Park Offers Mannix: Small Businesses Can Benefit From International Networking Support Program Email Marketing, Social Media Promotions

BY CHRISTINE GRAF During the past decade, coworking spaces have become increasingly common throughout the country. These shared workspaces allow individuals to rent office space on an as-needed basis.

As more people transition to working remotely, coworking spaces are becoming even more popular. They afford remote workers with an alternative option to working from home.

Hangr Coworks, a new addition to the Capital Region’s growing coworking market, is located at 800 Route 146 in Clifton Park. For co-founders Christine Smith, Juergen Klingenberg, and Matt Cummings, this is not their first collaboration.

Klingenberg and Cummings have worked together the past 17 years and co-own Flight Creative Group.

“We opened riplEFX in 2020, and we run networking groups, workshops, and teach people how to network intentionally. riplEFX will play a role at the coworking space,” said Smith, a former financial advisor who has worked in marketing for 17 years. “Every one of our memberships includes access to a (virtual) networking group that people can go to once a month.”

Network group members live both locally as well as throughout the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. By participating in these groups, professionals are able to share knowledge and advice within many different arenas. There are networking groups in everything from finance to theft protection.

“It gives people a place where they can be supported and take more risks and where they can have a team of people behind them that have skills, experience, and connections that they are willing to share,” said Smith.

Hangr Coworks offers a wide array of tiered membership options for open seating, exclusive desks and private offices. All membership levels include access to the riplEFX networking platform.

“Our membership levels start with a day pass.

We also have an option for people to pay for five days a month, 10 days a month, and full coworking” said Smith. “We also have office suites which can hold up to four people, and we also have a mobile option for people who are just looking to have an address. That gives them a business address as well as access to the member base and access to riplEFX networking.”

The 6,700-square-foot Hangr Coworks space features newly-remodeled offices, coworking spaces, lounges, meeting rooms and kitchen furnished with brand-new furniture. It contains 85 seats as well as conference rooms and podcast rooms.

“I don’t know of too many other places

From left, Juergen Klingenberg, Matt Cummings and Christine Smith at Hangr Coworks. where you can rent a podcast room that has the equipment readily available to you,” said Smith.

“Anyone that has an interest in running a podcast can come in and use our studio space which will have all of the necessary equipment. On top of that, if they want access to someone to edit it or help with the marketing component, we can also do that as well.”

The editing and marketing services are made available through Flight Creative, a full-service digital marketing company which was founded

by Smith’s partners Klingenberg and Cummings.

Flight Creative is one of the tenants at Hangr Coworks and Smith serves as the company’s director of communications.

Smith will lead the Hangr podcast on which she plans to interview Hangr CoWorks members on a regular basis. This is just one of the many the perks that will be made available to members. They will also have access to what Smith described as a “concierge” desk manned by a dedicated employee. The concierge will function as a receptionist and have a desk stocked with everything from band aids to cough drops.

Tours of the facility can be booked through the company’s web site.

“I expect the space to fill up pretty quick because there’s no a lot of coworking between (Northway) Exit 8 and Exit 15,” she said. “Interest in coworking has grown in the past few years especially with COVID. Many people hate working from home and don’t do well working from home.

They need to go into a space where they are able to be around other professionals.”

Daily passes start at $35. For more information, visit www. hangrcoworks.com.

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

Sara Mannix, president and CEO of Mannix Marketing digital marketing agency in Glens Falls, offers a variety of advice for businesses to have effective online marketing.

BY ANDREA HARWOOD Trends in small business online marketing are leaning toward social media and Google Ad services. But an often forgotten tool is email marketing.

“One of the most overlooked but simplest thing any business can do is email marketing on a regular basis,” said Sara Mannix, president and CEO of Mannix Marketing digital marketing agency in Glens Falls. She has been in business since 1996.

“I think people are afraid to email too frequently. But if you’re doing a good job collecting emails and getting to know who your customers and target market are and reaching them with relevant information, it’s incredibly cost effective.”

People are aware of what social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram can do for a business, she said. Often overlooked is the social media platform TikTok, a short-form video hosting service and social media platform. For the right person going after the right customer, particularly the younger demographic, the platform is a good avenue for exposure.

“If you’re good at video, TikTok is really great for visibility and branding,” she said. “It’s not efficient at conversions yet, but it’s very good for getting your name out there. Mannix Marketing is all about lead generation and conversion, but I greatly believe in branding.”

For local clients, Mannix recommends analyzing the effectiveness of their current SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and their local Google My Business profile.

“Have they done the Q&A? Have they added videos? Photos? Have they optimized it for their keywords? Posted their content and specials to their Google My Business profile? Those things can be very effective for a small budget,” said Mannix.

Mannix Marketing is an SEO-focused company, which helps people rank in Google.

“I believe SEO ranking is the most effective longterm marketing tool you can use, whether you’re a large or a small business,” said Mannix. “Getting found when people are searching for your product

or service, is the number-one thing you can do to grow your business. For me, it’s all about SEO and ranking well. For small business, that’s the thing you really want to hire out to someone who knows what they’re doing.”

Doing a great job on social media and email marketing is a cost-effective way to build business leads, and is often manageable in-house. If a business owner doesn’t feel comfortable managing these themselves, such tasks can be hired out. The important thing is to stay consistently visible yearround, said Mannix.

“If you’re consistently working with an agency or your in-house marketer, to make sure you’re being aggressive all the time, it will give you a good buffer for the slower times of the year,” she said.

Influencer marketing is a current and common trend right now.

“A good influencer is someone who connects with your particular audience, and has a large, active following. We’ve seen cases where a small business who has an influencer say they love their product—all of a sudden, the product is flying out the door. Never underestimate the power of the individual. It’s not just the big media like Google or newspapers or TV stations. An individual can have a lot of power over the future of your products,” Mannix said.

New Google Ad formats are hyper-focused on particular audiences and goals. For example, Google’s new services ads show up at the top of a search for a service. These are typically for houseto-house services such as plumbing, landscaping, housecleaning, etc. Google guarantees the quality of a service or a product. These ad services are virtually self-run after setup, said Mannix.

Mannix credits her 26-person team at Mannix Marketing with keeping up-to-date on the latest and most effective ways for businesses to maximize their digital presence.

Mannix Marketing is located at 11 Broad St., third floor, in Glens Falls. They can be reached at 518-743-9424 and www.mannixmarketing.com.

Initial consultations are free.

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • AUGUST 2022 • 13

•

Business Report Signs You Need Different Office Space

BY ANNE K. CABRAL Do you need different office space? Do you have too much? Too little? Has the COVID-age of remote working affected how much space you need? Will the increase in tech production affect your workforce?

You work in your office every day and have grown accustomed to it. If you’re not sure about your office needs, this may be the perfect time for an office utilization assessment.

Here are signs to look for: You’ve outgrown the space. Do desks seem to be stacked up on top of each other?

Are conference rooms crowded? Are meetings scheduled outside the office to get into a less cramped environment? These are the most obvious signs that it’s time to get a bigger space.

An overcrowded office can affect your employees’ morale and effectiveness and contribute to building a negative work environment.

Feeling like a bunch of sardines crammed into too small a space will only frustrate them.

A minimum of 140 square feet per employee is a good guideline. So, if you don’t meet that, then it’s time to move. Here are a couple of ways to realize whether you are running low on space: • Sick days are up. Germs spread like crazy in close quarters.

• Productivity is down. They’re easily distracted.

• More employee confl icts and complaints.

Like siblings sharing a room, employees sharing close space leads to bickering.

• Meeting rooms are constantly booked up or people are standing during meetings.

• Your turnover rate is higher than years past.

Your company is paying a landlord for space it doesn’t use.

Have your employees shifted to working remotely? Are you paying for office space that you aren’t using? Downsizing can help a business when it’s right.

Companies cut back or shift to remote positions all the time, especially recently. It’s normal and part of everyday business. Unless you plan on adding more people, it is a waste of money to have space that you’re not using.

Note that moving into a space that is too big, but you own it, is completely different than paying a landlord for space. You have options on what you can do with extra space when you own it, most notably renting it out.

This may be an option worth looking into.

Your interior design needs to be reworked. Your office layout isn’t working.

But moving may not be necessary. Perhaps a redesign will do the trick. A bunch of isolated cubicles may not be the best for your staff.

They may respond better to working in an open space.

It could also be the other way around. If employees lack privacy, they may be better suited or prefer cubicles or solo offices. A redesign will create the best layout for your company and your employees’ work style.

If you lease, this is a good time to consider buying your own property. Spending your

• •

Anne K. Cabral, broker/owner, Glorious Day Real Estate.

Courtesy Glorious Day Real Estate

money on tenant improvements (redesign/ renovations) only increases the landlord’s property value. When you own it, that money goes to you and your company’s pockets.

Parking is sparse and traffic is heavy.

How much parking is there every day? Do you avoid prospective clients coming to your office because it takes a while to fi nd parking? What is the commute like for your employees? Is the location inconvenient or is there always heavy traffic causing frustration before they’ve even arrived at work?

These factors influence well-being, morale, and productivity.

You need to impress more clients. Meeting in a crowded, run-down, or unimpressive conference room doesn’t do much for prospective clients. Clients should come into your office and have an amazing first impression.

If your office looks out of date, it could hinder you.

A clearly outdated office may lead clients to think you are behind the times. They may fi nd out later that it’s not true (if they stick around long enough), but that could be their first impression. Offices with modern features and updates leave a great impression.

You aren’t attracting new talent (or retaining it). Not pulling in the highlevel employees you used to? Your office space, amenities, and location may have a lot to do with this.

People want to work in a fun and energizing environment. They may want a new job where the amenities are up to date, the space is ample, and where they can depend on the location for a long period of time.

If they don’t see those things from your office, they may look for a place that does have that. Now more than ever, people are choosing workplaces with in-house amenities and areas to hang out in, in a convenient location.

Your company culture is trending south.

Company culture can be affected by many things. Heavy traffic, little parking, small personal space, no common space, outdated structures, and few amenities are things that Continued On Page 19

Business Report Electronic Monitoring Law Impacts Workplace

BY SABASTIAN PIEDMONT, ESQ. New legislation in the form of an amendment to the New York Civil Rights Law became effective on May 7, requiring private employers to inform current and newly hired employees that the employer electronically monitors their work telephone, email, and internet access and usage.

With the increased reliance on technology in the workplace—and for that matter, the increased amount of remote work being done throughout New York state—many employees and employers are curious as to how this will impact their normal operating procedures, if at all.

While the law does not radically modify the terms of an employee’s use of technology in the workplace (and remotely), there are several changes that both employees and employers should be aware of with regard to the consent/ notice given of this surveillance, as well as how it will impact those currently employed versus those who will be newly hired.

Now that the amendment is in effect, all private employers of all sizes must disclose that they are electronically monitoring employee internet usage, emails, and/or telephone communication in the form of: • Written and electronic notice to current employees.

• Upon hiring a new employee, employers must obtain written acknowledgment of the notice.

• Posting a notice of their electronic monitoring in a conspicuous place which is readily available for viewing by subject employees.

While the statute does not define what is considered a “conspicuous area,” it is expected that many employers will choose to include this information in their employee handbooks or post stand-alone notices in break room areas so that employees can readily review these new policies at their convenience.

It is also important to note that the law does not provide that those who were employed prior to the amendment be given the same written and electronic notice that those brought on after would have.

Notably, this new legislation does not apply to processes that are designed to manage the type or volume of incoming or outgoing electronic mail or telephone voice mail or internet usage; are not targeted to monitor or intercept the electronic mail or telephone voice mail or internet usage of a particular individual; and

•

Sabastian S. Piedmont, managing partner at Tully Rinckey PLLC. Courtesy Tully Rinckey PPLC

are performed solely for the purpose of computer system maintenance and/or protection.

Since the law is already in place, employers should have already made many of the necessary preparations to comply with this new legislation to avoid civil penalties. New York employers found in violation will be subject to a penalty of $500 for their first offense, increasing to$1,000 for the second, and $3,000 for the third and any additional future offenses. These provisions are enforced by the state Attorney General as the amendment provides no private cause of action for these violations.

Although the electronic monitoring statute does not define what notification is required for out-of-state employees working remotely for a New York-based corporation, it is expected that the law would still apply.

Considering that if the business is located in New York state and under the jurisdiction of the Attorney General, the provisions would seemingly still apply even if the employee was working out of state.

While this law does not change much with regard to an employee’s use of technology in the workplace, it does help to clarify the relationship between employers and their employees and makes the monitoring of their communications a bit more transparent.

While employers should have already taken the proper steps to comply with this new law, those who still have questions about the proper implementation of these notices should contact experienced legal counsel.

14 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • AUGUST 2022

Professional Women’s Bowling Association Saratoga Signature Interiors Has Been Selling Tournament In South Glens Falls A Success Furniture And Amenities For 30 Years

Erin McCarthy won the championship at the PWBA 2022 US Open event held in June at Kingpin’s Alley Family Fun Center in South Glens Falls. She earned a check for $60,000.

BY ANDREA HARWOOD While the economic impact of the Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tournament in June is difficult to measure with exactness, the owner of Kingpin’s Alley Family Fun Center where it was held in South Glens Falls calls it a success.

There was a surge in bed nights at hotels and motels as well as restaurant meals eaten out.

There were 91 female athletes competing in the event, many of them travelling with a significant other and/or family members. These visitors were in the area for the majority of the event week.

The sold-out event was broadcast live on the CBS Sports Network.

“The event went very well. There were no issues, and the TV show was fabulous,” said Kingpin’s owner and operator Doug Bohannon.

Bohannon is also the president of the New York Bowling Proprietors Association, serving since August 2018.

“Every match was pretty close. The entire show was very exciting,” said Bohannon.

Bohannon hosted a national tour stop last year as well.

In addition to competing athletes, PWBA staff travelled to stay in the area. Television crews and staff were also around for a full day.

The PWBA does not closely monitor exhaustive data associated with tournaments, said Bohannon.

“The economic impact the event has isn’t as

Courtesy Kingpin’s Alley Family Fun Center

humongous as, say, Americade or even the car show. But it still has an impact. And it brought a lot of notoriety to the area with the television show. The fact that it was a U.S. Women’s Open is huge,” said Bohannon.

Ratings for the televised event were not immediately available.

“When my wife and I first bought the bowling center nine years ago, it gave us an opportunity to give back to the community. We don’t bring events like the U.S. Open or the upcoming PBA Regional to make a ton of money. We do it for the area, and for the bowlers,” said Bohannon.

He said he fronts the hosting fee out of pocket for the events. “We do this for the bowling community, and for our community in general,” he said.

Kingpin’s Alley is hosting the PBA Regional Tournament in September. That is a Regional Pro Invitational (RPI) event, and is competitive men’s regional event. Past regional events have had an average of 60-80 participants.

Bowlers must qualify for the event, and finals are held in Las Vegas.

The PBA Regional Tournament is a Friday, Saturday and Sunday event with prizes in the $3,000-$4,000 range. Larger-scale national events can have purses of around $60,000.

Kingpin’s Alley Family Fun Center is located at 166 Saratoga Ave. in South Glens Falls. The bowling facility can be reached at 518-793-9606.

The website is www.kingpinsalley.com.

BY CHRISTINE GRAF Local home furnishing and interior design business Saratoga Signature Interiors is celebrating 30 years in business.

Owner Nancy Moultrie Smith, a native of Georgia with a degree in design from San Jose State, owned a design showroom in Atlanta before moving to New York.

“When I moved to New York, I went to work for another company,” said Moultrie Smith. “I had quite a few designers working under me, but I really wanted to be on my own. So in 1992, I ventured out and started a company. I chose Saratoga Springs because I happen to love the town and thought it was just beautiful.

“It has proven to be a wonderful place for a home furnishing store. When I opened here, there was no one else in town but of course now we have a lot of fabulous designers.”

After opening her store at 260 Broadway, she came to realize that the spot wasn’t conducive to operating a retail business.

Five years later, she relocated to a space at Franklin Square that had been home to a funeral home.

“It was a gorgeous building, but the only trouble with that was that there was a big staircase. My delivery people with the furniture would not come in and deliver to the second f loor,” she said. “That was problematic, and getting things in and out of the building was just impossible.”

In 2003, Moultrie Smith relocated yet again, this time to 82 Church St. She has been there ever since.

“It has a small warehouse in the back, and it was just perfect,” she said. “It also has parking and some street presence. It’s not on Broadway, but I really didn’t want it to be.”

Saratoga Signature Interiors sells a variety of furniture that is on display in its showroom. They also sell area rugs, wall-towall carpeting, wallpaper, custom window treatments, shades, blinds, and shutters.

“We also do design work, and we can do kitchens and baths but that is not our specialty. We might lay it out and select the colors,” said Moultrie Smith.

Although they offer design services for both existing homes and new construction, redesigning existing homes is where her passion lies.

“I love doing existing homes,” she said.

“That’s my favorite. Dan (Czech) who works for me loves doing new construction.”

Czech has a degree from Parsons School

Nancy Moultrie Smith is the owner of Saratoga Signature Interiors. ©2022 Saratoga Photographer.com

of Design and is one of Moultrie Smith’s three employees. A designer, he has worked for her since 1998. While living in New York City, Czech designed the iconic Christmas window displays at Saks Fifth Avenue. He now applies those talents to decorating the store each year for Christmas.

“Our windows are so fabulous yearround, but he does really fabulous things at Christmas,” said Moultrie Smith.

One of her three sons, Colby Smith, works for her as well in addition to owning Saratoga Outdoor, an outdoor shop that is located on the premises. He sells a wide variety of garden décor and patio furniture.

Popular items include large cast aluminum horses and custom-painted jockeys.

“We have someone on staff who paints the jockeys, and this is the time of year when we get phone call after phone call regarding those. That’s been a big thing that I never realized would be quite so big,” said Moultrie Smith. “They take about 10 to 12 weeks right now.

Saratoga Signature Interiors saw an increase in sales during COVID when people were spending more money on their homes. According to Moultrie Smith, after being forced to close for three months at the height of the pandemic, they opened their doors to a f lood of customers.

“When we reopened, it was just gangContinued On Page 20

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • AUGUST 2022 • 15

Ground Broken At Saratoga Race Course For Hotel Foundation Seeks Casino Event Will Be New Backstretch Healthcare Clinic Building Applications For Grants Trauma Group Benefit

This is a rendering of the new healthcare building that will serve backstretch workers at Saratoga Race Course. Services are currently provided in a double-wide trailer.

A new backstretch healthcare clinic will be constructed at historic Saratoga Race Course, thanks to funding from philanthropic sources.

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) joined philanthropist John Hendrickson and representatives from the Backstretch Employee Service Team (BEST), Saratoga Hospital and the New York Thoroughbred Horseman’s Association (NYTHA) at the site of the future construction in July to publicize the project.

As a tribute to his late wife, Marylou Whitney, Hendrickson is funding construction of the clinic, which is expected to open in the spring of 2023 and will replace a doublewide trailer that has housed on-site healthcare services at the track.

The new clinic, which will be operated by Saratoga Hospital in partnership with BEST, will provide a dramatically improved experience for those receiving primary and emergency healthcare services at Saratoga Race Course, which will be provided by doctors and medical professionals from Saratoga Hospital.

“Marylou always thought that Saratoga should be ‘the summer place to be’ for everyone, especially the backstretch workers,” said Hendrickson. “To that end, the new dorms built by NYRA along with the critical services provided

by BEST and the Racetrack Chaplaincy have all helped Saratoga Race Course achieve the reputation of taking care of the backstretch community better than any other track in America.

Today is the beginning of healthcare services on the Saratoga backstretch being elevated to the best in the country.”

Hendrickson has pledged $1.2 million for construction of the clinic, which will include a large waiting area, four examination rooms, a lab for blood work and office space. Roughly $400,000 of the total donation was raised in a 2020 auction of possessions belonging to Mrs. Whitney to support the effort.

“New York sets the standard when it comes to providing comprehensive social services and access to healthcare for the men and women working every day to make racing possible,” said NYRA President and CEO Dave O’Rourke.

The construction of the new clinic continues Mrs. Whitney and Hendrickson’s long-running commitment to the backstretch community.

Since Mrs. Whitney’s death in 2019, Hendrickson has continued to lend his support to a variety of initiatives including backstretch appreciation dinners, E.S.L. classes and bingo nights.

“This facility is truly an example of how dreams can become a reality,” said BEST Executive Director Paul Ruchames. “The dream for this facility began in the mind of the late, great Marylou Whitney and was nurtured by many and brought to fruition caringly by John Hendrickson. It will be an amazing example of the power of private and public partnerships and will ensure backstretch-worker care for years and decades to come, as well as further the reputation of Saratoga Race Course as a model for backstretch-worker care in the United States.”

Dr. Alexander Cardiel, the medical director of the Backstretch Clinic for 14 years and a

Courtesy NYRA

family practice physician at Saratoga Hospital, said the new facility will provide space to incorporate more services for the backstretch community, such as specialty clinics in dermatology, endocrinology and perhaps cardiology and orthopedics.

He said the new clinic could also include services in behavioral health services and addiction medicine, as well as novel technologies that would allow retinal scans for diabetic patients.

“For many of our patients who seek care in the clinic, this is their only opportunity to receive primary care, and for some, it’s the first time they’ve seen a physician in this country,” said Cardiel. “Running a clinic is not an easy venture. It has many moving parts, and we’re fortunate to have access to a collective of organizations that have helped make this a reality.”

The Saratoga Casino Hotel Foundation is now accepting grant applications for the 2022 grant cycle.

The foundation exists to support charitable and public benefit organizations whose mission is the betterment of quality of life, health and welfare of Saratoga County residents.

To qualify for a grant, organizations must be classified as a nonprofit organization by the Internal Revenue Service and applicants must carry out services and activities that benefit the residents of Saratoga County. Activities that address problem gambling, support youth activities, senior citizens, recreation, arts and community are given priority.

“Since 2003 when VLT’s were approved by the Board of Supervisors, the County has been proud to partner with Saratoga Casino Hotel and the Harness Horseperson’s Association in running this program,” said Matt Veitch, one of two Supervisors for Saratoga Springs and the current chairman of the foundation board. “It is great that we are able to help in a small way with organizations that provide educational programs; service to our seniors; family assistance; food pantries; assistance for those with disabilities; and help with domestic violence and alcohol abuse. We are proud to give back to our community in this way.”

This year, the foundation will be accepting grant applications by electronic means only. The deadline for submitting applications is Aug. 31.

The application is available on the foundation website, www.saratogacasinohotelfoundation.org and must be submitted via e-mail to TConnolly@SaratogaCountyNY. gov.

The foundation board will meet on Sept. 9 to decide on the grants and grant recipients will be notified by Sept. 15 as to the status of their application. Grant awards will be made on Sept. 18 at a reception at Saratoga Casino Hotel.

“The Foundation grants allow many local organizations to help those most in need in the Saratoga community. We are very proud of the partnership with both the County Board of Supervisors and the Saratoga Harness Horseperson’s Association and look forward to this year’s grant process,” said foundation treasurer Skip Carlson.

The foundation is funded by Saratoga Casino Hotel and the Saratoga Harness Horseperson’s Association. It has supported over 200 organizations with over $425,000 in grants since 2004.

The historic Canfield Casino, a Saratoga Springs landmark, will be the location for a charity event to benefit Trauma and Resiliency Resources (TRR).

The fundraiser will be part of the activities scheduled for attendees of the Racing and Gaming Conference at Saratoga (RGCS), Aug. 15-17 at the Saratoga Hilton.

The charity event is 5:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15.

Canfield Casino’s history dates to the 1870s.

Originally built by John Morrissey, the founder of the Saratoga Race Course, and substantially improved two decades later by Richard Canfield, the “Monte Carlo of America” is a preserved jewel of Italian architecture. Although the Canfield stopped functioning as a gambling parlor in 1907, it established Saratoga Springs as a gambling town and opened the door for the likes of Arnold Rothstein, Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky, all of whom built and owned gambling establishments in Saratoga Springs beginning a mere decade later.

For the charity event, the RGCS will transform the venue to a mock casino with food, drinks, and themed cocktails.

Proceeds will go to support TRR, a charity that uses Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP).

EAP is a psychotherapeutic approach that uses retired racehorses as part of a psychotherapy for combat veterans. Working with horses has helped veterans discover and overcome unhealthy patterns and behaviors, especially as they affect their relationships with other people.

Hattie’s Restaurant, an iconic Saratoga Springs eatery since 1938, known for its fried chicken, will cater the event.

The RGCS will also host two additional networking events: a cocktail reception on Monday night, Aug. 15, at the 408 Saratoga, event and Occasion, located downtown at 408 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, on the second floor; and an afternoon of racing at Saratoga Race Course on Wednesday, Aug. 17.

RGCS will also offer a broad agenda addressing critical horse racing and gaming-industry.

For more information please contact Sherry Amos at samos@spectrumgaming.com.

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16 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • AUGUST 2022

REGIONAL STOCKWATCH Stock Name

Closing Price 7/22/2022

Personnel Briefs

Closing Price 7/1/2022

Closing Price 7/8/2022

Closing Price 7/15/2022

Albany Int’l

78.79

79.34

79.39

81.34

91.27

Arrow

32.31

31.63

32.39

32.07

33.55

AT & T

21.31

20.80

20.57

18.40

18.78

Ball

70.93

71.91

66.48

70.71

73.42

Ballston Spa National Bank

56.00

56.00

56.00

56.00

56.00

Bank of America

31.56

31.79

32.25

33.43

33.81

Best Buy

66.77

71.17

72.47

76.80

76.99

Citizens Bank

36.12

36.31

36.80

37.17

37.97

Espey

14.24

14.00

14.09

13.59

13.46

General Electric

63.54

63.25

62.86

68.19

73.91

Hilton

112.99

111.59

116.34

120.83

128.07

Continued From Page 2

Closing Price 7/29/2022

Home Depot

279.08

286.47

292.41

306.59

300.94

Int’l Paper

41.98

42.71

41.92

43.19

42.77

Key Corp

17.50

17.49

17.52

18.04

18.30

Lowe’s

177.36

181.63

185.00

195.58

191.53

Martin Marietta

296.05

307.44

314.96

326.21

352.08

M&T Bank

159.71

158.92

156.21

168.96

177.45

McDonald’s

252.96

253.24

255.01

253.99

263.37

National Grid

65.97

64.64

66.29

66.56

69.61

NBT Bancorp Inc.

38.16

37.96

38.35

39.39

40.54

Plug Power

17.18

19.77

15.46

17.64

21.34

Quad Graphics

2.79

2.74

2.78

2.94

3.18

Starbucks

79.26

79.28

79.62

83.59

84.78

Sysco

86.32

86.15

87.62

86.86

84.90

Latham Group Inc

6.80

6.44

5.88

6.00

5.49

Target

142.38

147.99

146.67

157.74

163.38

The TorontoDominion Bank

66.22

64.20

60.53

63.53

64.97

Kaspien Holdings

2.21

2.52

4.25

3.21

2.47

Trustco Bank

31.40

31.15

31.10

157.74

33.56

Verizon

51.64

50.49

51.02

44.45

46.19

Walmart

122.63

125.40

129.07

132.21

132.05

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

The group includes more than 300 providers in over 30 specialties and 20 locations.

The group is the multispecialty practice of Saratoga Hospital, an affi liate of the Albany Med Health System.

Prill, of Corinth, has extensive nursing experience in positions of increasing responsibility. Most recently, she was clinical coordinator for Saratoga Hospital Medical Group – Urology. She also serves on the hospital’s Ambulatory Council and Evidence-Based Practice Council.

A registered nurse, Prill holds a Master of Science in nursing with a specialization in nursing leadership and administration from Capella University. She also is credentialed as a certified perioperative nurse (CNOR) and a certified medical-surgical registered nurse (CMSRN).

She is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success and the Omega Gamma Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. *

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Franklin Community Center announced the three new members to its board of directors.

The Saratoga Springs-based organization provides basic necessities and services to individuals and families through various programs that support and provide services to improve the quality of life and foster a sense of neighborhood, community and family for all people.

Joining the board for their first three-year terms are Gina Peca and Kristen Corcoran.

Peca is a retired attorney who worked as a prosecutor in the New York City Family Courts. Additionally, she oversees the Catie Hoch Foundation, established in memory of her daughter, and assists families of children with cancer while in treatment. She has vast fundraising experience.

Corcoran is a Saratoga native and is a wellness coach for Skidmore Health Promotion and a registered nurse at Skidmore Health Services.

She has served on multiple boards, including the Saratoga Regional YMCA, Wellspring, the Wildwood School. In addition, she volunteers for her local high school PTSO. Returning to the board after a yearlong hiatus is Jason Lynch. He is newly elected to complete a three-year term.

Lynch is a sales representative working for DA Collins Companies and serves as president of Leadership Saratoga Alumni Board. He assisted with serving and delivering Thanksgiving meals to area home-bound residents. *

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SUNY Adirondack announced the appointment of John Delate, Ph.D., as vice president of enrollment and student affairs.

Delate has more than 22 years of experience in higher education at public institutions in New York and New Jersey. He most recently served as associate vice president for student services at Monroe Community College.

He previously served as associate dean of student affairs at Purchase College and executive director of Residence Life at Montclair State University. Early in his career, he served in the Peace Corps in Liberia, West Africa, and coached college football. He is an adjunct professor of communications at Purchase.

In his role at SUNY Adirondack, Delate oversees Student Affairs, which includes the college’s Educational Opportunity and TRIO SSS programs, and Student Engagement and Diversity Initiatives; and Enrollment, which includes Athletics, College Access, Enrollment Systems, Financial Aid, Student Success and Marketing and Communications.

Delate earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social sciences from Manfield University (Pennsylvania), and master’s and doctorate degrees in American History from Clark University (Massachusetts). *

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Saratoga Hospital has named Lisa West administrative director of emergency and urgent care services, responsible for operations at the hospital’s Alfred Z. Solomon Emergency Center and urgent care centers in Wilton and Queensbury.

She also oversees operations at Malta Med Emergent Care, where she previously served as site administrator.

West, of Clifton Park, has more than 30 years of nursing experience and has held leadership positions in emergency services, case management, inpatient nursing and long-term care.

A registered nurse, West holds a master’s degree in nursing, with a specialization in leadership and management, from Walden University in Minnesota. She is pursuing a doctorate in nursing practice from Chamberlain University in Illinois.

West is a member of the Emergency Nurses Association, American Nurses Association and American Organization for Nursing Leadership.

In addition, she is on the advisory board of the Center for Donation and Transplant, serving upstate New York and western Vermont.

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • AUGUST 2022 • 17

Business Registrations •

• Luzgirl Friday Tania Luzzi 19 Glenwood Drive Saratoga Springs 12866

Dayco Logistics Ted Day 34 Gabriel Road Corinth 12822

J and E Signing and Windows Jean Sachar 587 Middleline Road Ballston Spa 12020

Adriane’s Cleaning Adriane Castro 47A Friar’s Gate Clifton Park 12065

Rocque Communications Randell Larock 1386 Saratoga Road Gansevoort 12831

Speech Stars Preschool Corey Ott 15 W. High St. Ballston Spa 12020

Hair by Sarah Michele Michele Buhler-Castanza 28 Clinton St. Saratoga Springs 12866

Sunny Hill Homestead Marsha Kimmer 6293 Barkerville Road Middle Grove 12850

AAA Flooring Zachary Nichols 194 Wells Road Porter Corners 12859

Beauty and Ink Lauren Casey 198 Potter Road Gansevoort 12831

Tres Belle Isabella Mann 209 Walnut St. Corinth 12822

Adirondack Small Projects Duane Stangle 6067 Route 9N Corinth 12822

A Marks Communications Annamarie Marks 694 Stony Creek Road Hadley 12835

Saratoga Tattoo Co. Nicole Darling 3065 Route 50 Saratoga Springs 12866

Sarah’s Sweet Beginning Daycare Sarah Redcross 7 Newbridge Road Stillwater 12170

Top Tier Home Inspections Travis Santelli 3 baker Road Saratoga Springs 12866

Waxology Brows and Waxing Leanne Miller 28 Clinton St. Saratoga Springs 12866

Loretta’s Tomes and Tealeaves Lori Schultz 100 Robbins Road Gansevoort 12831

EDS Cleaning Services Erik Cruz 610 Schooner Court Halfmoon 12065

BK’s Lawn Care Donald Benoit 69 Upper Newton Road Mechanicville 12118

Old Saratoga Mounts and Wood Products Andrew Ferrone 19 Eagle Way Schuylerville 12871

Dark Knight Flower Farm Emily Kane PO Box 525 Ballston Spa 12020

Still All Around Maintenance Joe Still 609 Clement St. Mechanicville 12118

Lakeside Property Management and Design Richard Garguilo 660 Acland Boulevard Ballston Spa 12020

Iris Creek Farms Lisa Brisson 6 Primrose Circle Ballston Spa 12020 Harte to Heart Healing Kimberlee Bracoli 3 Acre Drive Greenfield Center 12833 Smooth Rolling David Ray 211 N. Second Ave. Mechanicville 12118 Airborne Angel Art Mary Elizabeth Jenks 42 Challedon Drive Gansevoort 12871 Marie’s Unique Decor Mud Marie Sanford 104 Teller Ave. Broadalbin 12025 Havana Cigar Lounge Moutasem Akari 201 North Line Road Ballston Spa 12020 Adirondack Barn and Barrel Douglas Baker 9 Adirondack Court Porter Corners 12859

Adventure Travel by Ariel Ariel Tarnawskij 5 Winkle Way Ballston Spa 12020 Making Memories Cruises Thomas Hamel 63 Upper Newton Road Mechanicville12118 Raven Stone Works Kelby Hahn 100 Gordon Lane Gansevoort 12831 Spencer Crazy Eights Deborah Spencer 74B Wood Hollow Halfmoon 12065 Mighty Worms Andrew Cretty 747 Centerline Road Galway 12074 J and A Adventures Anthony Moreno 240 South Main St. Mechanicville 12118 Medical Chart Review Services Douglas Gulbransen PO Box 3472 Saratoga Springs 12866

The Flats, A New Restaurant In Rexford, Is Open Five days A Week For Lunch, Dinner

BY JILL NAGY Mel Hathaway, co-owner of the Flats Restaurant and Tavern in Rexford, describes the menu at his new eatery as “elevated tavern,” offering a lot of local tavern food favorites but with a twist.

Everything is made from scratch, he said, including sauces and French fries. “We try not to use our freezer very much.”

As an example, the “elevated cheeseburger,” which is a Kobe beef patty, lobster tail, bacon marmalade, crisp pancetta, roasted red onion, tomato confit, and gruyere cheese.

“It is one of our signature items,” he said.

The so-called Rexford Burger, and the rest of the menu, was developed by executive chef Stefan Watts, formerly the chef at Smith’s restaurant in Cohoes. Other popular items include a hummus plate appetizer, a shrimp po’boy, and the chef ’s own carrot cake.

The Flats Restaurant and Tavern is located in a new shopping plaza at 675 Grooms Road, at the intersection with Fischer Ferry Road, a neighborhood formerly known as Rexford Flats. Since he began in a brand new building in a brand new plaza—with dirt f loors—Hathaway had his restaurant built “exactly as I designed it.”

His contractor, Riverview Construction, broke ground in January and the tavern opened in mid-June. His neighbors include an art gallery, a deli, and office space.

This is the first venture as restaurant owners for Hathaway and his wife and coowner attorney Deborah Milham. However, Hathaway has been in the restaurant business for 35 years, working as “everything from dishwasher to district manager” for several restaurant chains.

He noted that he has opened six restaurants for other owners.

Hathaway has lived in Clifton Park for 20 years. He said he was pleased to find the

Mel Hathaway is the co-owner of the Flats Restaurant and Tavern in Rexford. location in Rexford where there is relatively little commercial development. He said the area was badly in need of a neighborhood restaurant and hangout.

So far, Hathaway is “ecstatic about how it is going,” and is grateful for the strong community support. “It’s been wonderful.

It’s going great.”

The restaurant, at about 1,000 square feet, can seat up to 200 people. There are 43 tables, a bar, and an outdoor covered patio.

“Everybody loves the patio,” he said.

There are 45 employees.

They are open for lunch and dinner everyday but Sunday and Tuesday. Beginning on Sept. 4, they will add a brunch service from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays.

The Flats is online at www.thef lats675. com. The telephone is 518 357-3827.

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18 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • AUGUST 2022

In a newly released rating of fried chicken from coast to coast, The Food Network dubbed Hattie’s Restaurant one of the best spots in the country and the best in New York state for fried chicken.

“Hattie’s, in Saratoga Springs, has received many accolades for their standout fried chicken over the years, and even beat Bobby Flay in fried chicken on Throwdown! with Bobby Flay,” said The Food Network in its review.

As part of the Business for Good family of businesses, Hattie’s Restaurant aims to grow and amplify a community positive business, while maintaining the quality and character of its product, the vision of its present ownership, and the legacy of its founder, Miss Hattie Moseley Austin, the company said.

•

All profits of the Hattie’s Restaurants are donated to local charity, aligning with the Business for Good mission. Miss Hattie’s locations include Hattie’s Restaurant on Phila Street, Hattie’s Chicken Shack in Wilton, Hattie’s Track Shack at the Saratoga Race Course and soon-toopen Hattie’s Albany. *

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The Village of Ballston Spa’s Comprehensive Planning Steering Committee is conducting a community survey and is seeking feedback from residents.

The village’s consultant, Behan Planning and Design, has prepared an anonymous, online survey to help the public identify priority con-

Card Catalog

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The American Heart Association has recognized Saratoga Hospital with “Gold Plus” achievement awards for its commitment to best practices in treating patients with strokes and heart attacks. Research shows these practices help save lives, reduce recovery times and prevent readmission to the hospital.

Saratoga Hospital, a member of the Albany Med Health System, earned two of the most prestigious quality achievement awards: The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association Get With The Guidelines; the Stroke Gold Plus Target: Stroke Honor Roll; and the Mission: Lifeline, STEMI Receiving Center Gold Plus award.

Saratoga Hospital has received the Mission: Lifeline award for heart attack care four years in a row. The Get with the Guidelines stroke award comes less than two years after the hospital launched a telestroke program that gives patients around-the-clock emergency access to neurologists who have extensive experience treating strokes.

For both heart attacks and strokes, patients receive immediate emergency care at Saratoga Hospital. Patients who require higher-level services are then transferred to Albany Medical

Center. The medical center is nationally recognized for cardiac care and is the Capital Region’s only comprehensive stroke center. *

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The Wesley Foundation will host its third annual golf fundraiser “Saratoga 9 and Wine” on Tuesday, Aug. 9 at the Saratoga Lake Golf Club in Saratoga Springs. Registration opens at 12:30 p.m. with a shotgun start at 2 p.m.

A grab-and-go lunch will be available for all golfers. Saratoga Lake Golf Course is located at 35 Grace Moore Road in Saratoga Springs.

The event is a nine-hole scramble format golf outing with two tournaments being played on the front and back nine holes simultaneously. In addition, the event will feature wines from Specialty Wines and More, as well as other contests and activities.

Funds raised through the Saratoga 9 & Wine event will benefit The Campaign for Springs renovation of the Springs Building at Wesley Health Care Center. The project will create a contemporary home-like environment on the building’s second, third and fourth floors. Phase one of the project has already been completed.

This year’s event is being co-chaired by Tara Anne Pleat and Jim Carminucci, both members of The Wesley Foundation board of directors.

Premier sponsors for this year’s event include: Lemery Greisler; Unidine; Marshall & Sterling Insurance; Ray Martin & Crescent Hill Partners; CDPHP; Angerame Architects and The Fort Miller Group. Gold sponsors to date for the event are N. Fox Jewelers, Adirondack Case Management & Advocacy and Wilcenski & Pleat PLLC. Bronze Sponsors include AIM Services; Kodiak Construction, Luther Forest Wealth Advisors and Scotty’s Restaurant – Wilton Travel Plaza.

Golf registrations are $125 per person; $250 for two or $500 for a group of four. Included with each registration is admission to a party on the patio following the tournament, which will feature live music and light fare. Guests who are unable to participate in the golf tournament may attend party for a $40 donation. Advance registration is recommended and can be made by phone at 518-691-1420 or by visiting the website at www.saratoga9wine.com.

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Richard Kessinger Owner

(518) 944-0359

67 Ash Street, Saratoga Springs $789,000

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Situated on the corner of Ash and Elm in Saratoga’s West Side is this incredible mixed-use building.

The property consists of a two family home and attached office building with three suites. The two family home has a spacious 2 bedroom, 1 Bath with bonus room apartment on the upper level and a large 1 bedroom 1 bath apartment on the lower level. The offices are well appointed and share a common kitchenette and bathrooms. Very well maintained and a prime location walking distance to Beekman Street, Cardona’s Deli, West Side recreation field and downtown.

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Gerard Wise | 518.265.2420 | Tom Roohan | 518.587.4500 x165

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P.O. Box 187 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

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Business Briefs

siderations for a comprehensive plan for the next decade. It asks questions about village utility infrastructure, housing needs, internet access, economic development and how the village should move forward for the future.

Residents and visitors to the village are encouraged to participate.

The survey can be accessed online at survey. zohopublic.com/zs/CrCz1s. Paper copies of the survey are available in the village office, the Ballston Spa Library, the Farmer’s Market, and at village events throughout August.

Paper survey responses should be returned to the village office at 66 Front St., Ballston Spa, by Aug. 23.

Behan Planning and Design will present the results at the Comprehensive Plan Public Visioning Workshop on Aug. 30, at 7 p.m. at the Saratoga County Office Building, 50 West High St., Ballston Spa, and through a Zoom link posted to the village website.

209 Edie Road, Saratoga Springs $385,000

This 3 bedroom ranch has a 2,200 square ft. commercial building attached to it. The upper floor of the commercial space is handicap accessible. On site parking with room to expand it. The property is zoned C-2 with plenty of permitted uses. The house can easily be converted into commercial space providing a total square footage of apx. 4,400 sq. ft. All new uses will have to be approved by the Town, see docs for permitted use chart. This property is a great value for a growing company . The location is just minutes from Exit 15 and the surrounding area. Call listing agent for more details.

Christopher “Chris“ Benton | 518.429.8555| cbenton@roohanrealty.com

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • AUGUST 2022 • 19

Continued From Page 9

to access these funds? If so, remember, these losses are on paper until the assets are sold.

If one were invested 100 percent in the in the S&P 500 in 2020 and sold out at the lowest point their portfolio would have been down nearly 34 percent, and many people did just that.

Meanwhile, if they held tight through the end of the year, these same holding would have been up over 18 percent. The same may hold true today. With a down market, if time allows, now may be an opportunity to move further into the market as stocks are “cheaper”. Many investors will keep waiting to invest until the market has fully recovered and buy into the market at a high point.

This is all a general guideline and why it is important to understand yourself or have a financial advisor that understands your specific situation to determine the best way to invest for your own retirement.

make people not want to come to work.

The opposite are things that make people want to go to work. A move, which remedies these problems, can change your culture.

You may need a culture change for other reasons. Maybe you had a massive turnover, and the new staff were introduced to bad working habits. For whatever reason, fi xing it sooner than later is extremely important.

What better way to do that than to restart your culture in a new office that you have full control over? Sometimes a new start like that is all it takes. The physical environment you work in influences your company’s culture, and a positive, updated, fresh new office can translate that feeling into your culture and employee engagement.

These signs, indicating you need different office space, should be a springboard to your office utilization assessment, which is an investment for your company.

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Continued From Page 8

IN

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We’d like to promote your commercial or residential property. Call us, 581-0600.

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County and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties.

For more details on the 2022 Saratoga Showcase of Homes event, visit www. saratogashowcaseof homes.com.

The Saratoga Builders Association, Inc. (SBA) is a specialized professional trade association.

Its membership includes residential and commercial builders, developers, remodelers, building material suppliers, sub-contractors, financial institutions, architects, engineers, realtors, attorneys and other industry professionals.

SBA is committed to the continued growth, prosperity and quality of life in Saratoga County. For more information, please visit www.saratogabuilders.org

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The 2022 Saratoga Showcase of Homes Committee announced this year’s dates and the list of participating builders for the popular annual event.

Celebrating 26 years, this annual tradition will be presented over four fall days, Oct. 8-9 and Oct. 15-16. There will be eight locations for the new home tour event.

Participating will be Bella Home Builders, Belmonte Builders, DSG Construction & Remodeling, Kodiak Construction, Peerless Builders, Trojanski Builders and Witt Construction.

Over the past 25 years, the community event has contributed over $1.4 million to two local charities.

Proceeds from the Showcase of Homes benefit Rebuilding Together Saratoga

Available Commercial & Residential Properties

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Seven Area Contractors To Participate In ‘Showcase Of Homes’ Event In October

479 Locust Grove Road, Greenfield Center, NY $749,000

Chuck Ciaccia 28 years

Jude Gosh 33 years

Dave Weiss 22 years

Spencer Agan 24 years

Dennis Choiniere 47 years

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Located in the beautiful hamlet of Greenfield Center, this sunlit beauty sits on 5+ acres just 5 miles/10 minutes to downtown Saratoga Springs. With 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths spread out over the 3,000+above ground sf. Perfectly laid out for entertaining. Host parties overlooking your backyard vista of meadows, stone walls, pine groves and mountains. The lower level boasts a gym and additional flex space. Detached 30X40 three stall garage is trussed to allow 2nd floor 700 square foot studio or 2 floor 1 bedroom apt, plumbed for bath. Upgraded and maintained to perfection, this luxe property affords you privacy and serenity; your oasis away from all the hustle and bustle.

Listing Agent: Kathleen “Kati” Hauser 518.788.8606 | hauser.kt@gmail.com

20 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • AUGUST 2022

Saratoga Signatures

New Hospital President, CEO

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busters and has been ever since. However, it’s taking a lot longer to get things, prices have gone up, and freight bills have gotten really high. That’s the negative part.”

As she ref lects on her 30 years as a local business owner, she said that making people happy has been her greatest joy. Dealing with logistical challenges of receiving and delivering furniture has proven to be her biggest frustration.

Although she has no plans of retiring in the near future, she said the thought has crossed her mind “I love what I do, and as long as I’m okay,

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I will probably continue. I also have a great staff, and I can go to them with most anything and they are just fabulous.”

When the day comes for her to retire, she said she considers it likely that Colby will take over the business. His wife, Tiffany, also works for the store and handles social media.

If that happens, Moultrie Smith will be able to retire knowing that the business she has worked so hard to build will been left in very capable hands.

For more information, visit www.saratogasignature.com

with more than 300 care locations and 31,000 employees. As an assistant vice president with MedStar corporate strategic planning, she developed system service lines and business models.

As senior vice president and chief operating officer at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center, she oversaw and aligned operations at one of the largest teaching hospitals in the Baltimore area.

“Jill has invaluable experience capitalizing on the strengths of a health system to serve local communities,” said Dr. Dennis P. McKenna, president and CEO of the Albany Med Health System. “Patients of Saratoga Hospital will benefit from her expertise as we reinforce northeastern New York’s largest and

only regionally governed health system and ensure access to its broad range of services.”

A graduate of East Carolina University in North Carolina, VanKuren earned a Master of Business Administration, with a specialization in healthcare administration, from Loyola University Maryland.

She is board certified in healthcare management by the American College of Healthcare Executives.

VanKuren is a member of the advisory board of Women in Healthcare. She also has served on the behavioral health advisory group of the Maryland Hospital Association and on the board of the National Alliance for Mental Illness Metropolitan Baltimore.

C A N YO U R B A N K M OV E A S FA S T A S YO U R B U S I N E S S? When you’re in business, sometimes you have to move quickly to make things happen. Your business banker should be just as quick. That means being smart enough to create solutions, and local enough to act on them right away. At Adirondack Trust Company, we take your success personally. We’re prepared for whatever comes your way. And we’re right here when you need us.

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