Syracuse Woman Magazine June 2016 by Lorna Oppedisano

June 2016

SYRACUSEWOMANMAG.COM

The Man Edition

June 2016

SYRACUSEWOMANMAG.COM

June C O N T E N T S

Letter from the Editor.............................................................. 6

In His Own Words: The Wizard of Walton Street................. 7 Past SWM Events...................................................................... 8 Fashion Forward: Sporting a Sophisticated Man................. 9

Platter Chatter: Wolff’s Biergarten....................................... 12 For a Good Cause: Men’s Outreach at Vera House ........ 16 Healthy Man: Dr. Robert Kiltz............................................... 18 Latino Feature: Dr. Luis Javier Castro ................................ 20

King of Arts: Matthew De Bellas.......................................... 22 Cover Story: Restoring Syracuse......................................... 25 New in the ‘Cuse: Finger Lakes On Tap............................. 33

Inspire: Ron Peckham............................................................ 34 Inspire: Stephen Glatt........................................................... 38 Inspire: Mitchell Patterson.................................................... 42 Special Feature: Miss CNY Scholarship Pageant.............. 45

WBOC Leading Woman: Donna Curtin............................. 47 Upcoming Events.................................................................. 48

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The Man Edition

June 2016

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LETTER from the Editor

appy summer, happy June and welcome to The Man Issue! I’ve had a number of people ask me, “Why are you doing a man issue? Isn’t this Syracuse Woman Magazine? Haven’t men gotten enough credit already?” To the latter two questions, I’d answer yes and yes. We are proud to be Syracuse Woman Magazine and represent, connect and support the women in our city and surrounding areas. And men certainly have had their heyday. Let’s face it. They’ve had their hey-centuries. So besides the obvious “It’s the month of Father’s Day” answer — which is valid to a small point — I’ve given my personal reasoning some thought, and here it is: no group, big or small, will ever make any real progress without working together. Maybe it’s simple and idealistic, but I truly believe it’s possible to put our differences aside and make good change happen. I have so much love for this city and what it can become. Take our cover story for example. The three men we feature this month are just a few of the many people working to restore and improve Syracuse. Whether it’s Ed Riley’s dedication to bring the old Hotel Syracuse — now the Marriott Syracuse Downtown — back to its glory, Norm Swanson’s love for the “old bones” of the city, or Troy Evans’ dream of community-driven downtown living that’s soon to become a reality, these men are striving to make Syracuse a better place for everyone. On a personal note, I wouldn’t be the woman I am today without help and guidance from the most important men in my life. In particular, I’d like to thank my father. Along with helping shape my musical tastes — I’ll be forever thankful that we listened to Phish and Springsteen, and stayed away from Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys — he helped shape my confidence. While I inherited his “skill” of procrastinating, it’s thanks to my dad that I never questioned or doubted I could achieve any goal toward which I worked hard. Love you, Dad. Another man in my life to whom I’d like to pay homage is the late Dalton Vanterpool. Michael John Heagerty wrote a lovely remembrance of our friend D on the following page. I met D during one of my first days of work at the Armory Square Freedom of Espresso during college. “My name’s D. Dalton, rhymes with Walton,” he said with a smile, motioning to the street sign out on the corner. From that day on, it was always the highlight of my shift to see him stroll in for a cup of coffee and chitchat. A couple months later, my birthday rolled around. To this day, I still can’t remember mentioning to him that the day was coming up, but somehow, he knew. That afternoon, he came in with a gift-wrapped box of chocolates in hand. It’s probably one of the best birthday presents I’ve ever received. I’d like to dedicate this Man Issue to D. He personified that spirit of good change I mentioned above. He was friends with everyone. In his own way, whether it was a box of chocolates or a special handshake or just a shout and a wave from across the street, he worked every day to make Syracuse the best city it can be.

Lorna

On our cover: The men on our cover were photographed by Chris Szulwach of The Story Photography at Syracuse City Hall.

OUR TEAM Publisher

Daniel Ware

David Tyler

Editor

Lorna Oppedisano

Design

Andrea Reeves

Photography

Amelia Beamish Gerard H. Gaskin Ana Gil-Taylor KaMyal Steven J. Pallone Alice G. Patterson Photoessence Photography Chris Szulwach

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Ashley M.Casey Tara DeSalvo Michael John Heagerty Paige Kelly Catalina Pia Lara San Martin Lorna Oppedisano Gabrielle Reagan Katie Tastrom-Fenton

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The Man Edition

The Wizard of Walton Street By Michael John Heagerty

Photos courtesy Shannon Fleming and Tommy Lincoln

IN HIS OWN WORDS Remembering Dalton

alking down Walton Street on any given day, you’re bound to Then the day came that he learned about my nickname and see a few things. You’ll see neon beer signs, shop owners and unique side talent. My nickname is ToTs, and I rap exclusively about strollers, dogs and bicyclists, buskers and bricks. potatoes. He was completely and utterly flabbergasted that I hadn’t But if you smile and look people in the eyes to greet them before they told him I was a musician of sorts. I told him that it was one of my pass by and become strangers, you have a small glimpse into the life creative outlets, described what it felt like to perform in front of an of a man who simply lived life to the fullest. It may seem like a cliché audience, and then showed him a simple handshake; it consisted of or a bumper sticker you once read, but with this man, it couldn’t closing your fist for a bump and saying “potatoes,” then extending ring more true. The sidewalks were his lobby, and every person who your fingers in a curved way and saying “curly fries.” It was a silly walked on them was his guest. If you weren’t greeted with a smile or thing, and it became our thing. Every time we crossed paths, we given a compliment while you passed him, he wasn’t doing his job. would use our handshake. There were even times that he saw my I don’t mean the small tasks for local shops and bars, like cleaning reflection in the window he was cleaning and simply held up his hand windows or setting up pizza boxes. I mean his job of welcoming you in that patented curved style. He laughed like crazy when I showed and making you smile each and every day. And he was good at it. him different versions of the shake. None of them seemed to feel as If you’ve walked into Armory Square on any particular day, good as the original, though. you’ve seen him embracing person I believe that he shared moments after person with high fives, hugs and like this with lots of different people. compliments. He remembers your name, That’s how you’re supposed to live life: If you think about it, that’s how you’re smiles and laughs like there’s no care in the supposed to live life: with a lust for it, with a lust for it, with appreciation that with appreciation that you woke up world, and asks you how you’re doing. He listens to your answers and genuinely you woke up and can start a new day and can start a new day and meet new cares about your well-being. If you enjoy people. I think about that often. music or sports, you can be sure he’ll have and meet new people.” They say the best way to express plenty to chat with you about; but don’t your feelings is through sincere, distract him too much, because he has work to do! And he’s looking honest words that show compassion and support when a person forward to having a “cold one” on the patio later and hanging out passes away. Your feelings will be shown on your face and heard in with his close friends – everyone he meets. your voice. Remembering the good times and sharing the stories that The first time I met D, he was wearing a backwards hat with a make you smile is the best way to keep smiling, a lesson that countless brim, a throwback Denver Nuggets Jersey and black jean shorts, people learned from the always smiling Dalton Vanterpool, aka “D,” with socks pulled up high. He was washing the windows at The Blue the Wizard of Walton Street. Tusk, and as I passed, I felt compelled to mention to him that he was So if you’re ever walking down Walton – or any street downtown rocking the Lawrence Moten Look. That was all it took – a small, for that matter – smile, look people in the eyes, and greet them silly comment about a former SU men’s basketball star – and a fast kindly. That is the best way to pay homage to my man, D. SWM friendship began. I think D always remembered that I beat him to the punch and greeted him first, which was the rarest of occasions. We would catch up on concerts we’d seen, talk about local events and happenings, and – no matter what side of the street we were on – it Dalton’s ashes are in the possession of Shannon Fleming of Marisa’s Fortress of Beauty. Friends of D, please contact Shannon if you would like part of was inevitable that we would find a way to acknowledge each other, D’s memory. even if we were in a hurry. June 2016

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PAST SWM Events

he SWM ladies had quite a busy month! Syracuse Fashion Week ran from April 20 through April 24 at various locations. WISE Unplugged inspired Syracuse entrepreneurs on April 19 at Sky Armory. Melanie Littlejohn was keynote speaker for the YWCA Day of Commitment to Eliminate Racism and Promote Diversity at Sky Armory on April 21. On April 12, local community members strutted their stuff at Ronald McDonald House Charityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bella Casa Fashion Show.

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The Man Edition

Sporting a Sophisticated Man

FASHION FORWARD Sporting a Sophisticated Man

By Tara DeSalvo

h, how I wish we could make men understand what a difference a suit can make. The past decade has bred the decline of men’s fashion, as they have unfortunately been so comforted by the “dress-down era.” If only they understood the struggle that we ladies go through to keep up on things considered “routine maintenance.” The delightful lip wax. The unjustifiable spend on manicuring our nails. Or better yet: contouring. (What in the world?! Who made this a thing? Honestly, I can barely make time in the morning to curl my hair, let alone paint my face in triangles and lines in an effort to “enhance my features.”) Allow me to express something. Men, everything that looks comfortable to women is more than likely painful; shoes that look stellar have a high probability of making me collapse at some point during the day. Working in men’s fashion is truly a joy. I’ll never tire of watching guys put on stretch jeans, and hearing their reaction echo throughout the room. “Does it look like I have a muffin top?” Another personal favorite is observing the quest for the perfect pair of shoes. Men point to a set of shiny brown wingtips, and say, “These look comfortable… I’ll try these on!” Although we all have our own struggles, my mission working at the Mr. Shop is to help men throw on a sports coat with a pair of jeans. I aim to embrace the client’s own personal style, while guiding them to the correct fit for their body type. And what a difference that coat can make. Even without a tie, it elevates both the look and confidence of the man. Let’s be real: the effect of a suit still exists. The level of sophistication behind a suit has the potential to make all the difference and truly make that first impression. As Assistant Basketball Coach Mike Hopkins continuously says to my staff and me: “When you look good, you feel good.” There are even perks for the ladies. As women, we all know the struggle of wearing pants with either nonexistent or far-too-smallfor-practical-purposes pockets. If you can manage to fit some change in there, there’s no knowing if it’ll come out. But the benefit of a sports coat is its comparable myriad of pockets. Utilize the freedom of your man’s pockets, and you’ll never have to worry about a purse again. And the best part? He can offer you his jacket to stay warm. This is truly a win-win. SWM Tara DeSalvo is the Director of Custom Clothing Showroom at Mr. Shop in Armory Square. Follow her on Instagram at @taradesalvo. For more information on the shop, visit mrshopsyracuse.com or facebook.com/ Mrshopsyracuse, call 478-3938 or follow them on Twitter or Instagram at @mrshopsyracuse. Photos courtesy Mr. Shop

June 2016

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Giovanniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1/4 Page

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The Man Edition

June 2016

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PLATTER CHATTER Wolff’s Biergarten

We’ll happily give you a taste of anything. A lot of bars discourage this, but that’s exactly what we are there for.” — Wolff’s Biergarten co-owner Mark Graydon

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Photography by Chris Szulwach

Wolff’s Biergarten

The Man Edition

Wolff’s Biergarten:

The Best in Bier and Futbal By Gabrielle Reagan

“G

reat Beer. Free Peanuts.” reads the chalkboard on the sidewalk in front of 106 Montgomery St. Former firehouse turned German beer garden, Wolff’s Biergarten offers patrons an authentic alternative to the typical sports bar with just three simple staples: soccer, bier — or maybe more familiarly, beer — and peanuts. When the firehouse doors go up, Wolff’s rustic décor is on full display. Antler chandeliers hang from the ceiling and cracked peanut shells litter the ground below. There’s a large tree near the bar, with leafy branches sprawling above wooden beer barrels and picnic tables, the perfect meeting spots for guests to eat endless peanuts and throw back a liter or two. Think hip “Keebler Elf House,” with a happy hour. “It’s a casual bar with the best beer in the world,” coowner Matt Baumgartner of Utica said. Owner of Albany’s Bombers Burrito Bar locations, Matt had the itch to open a soccer bar a few years ago. In 2009, he opened the first Wolff’s Biergarten in Albany’s north end. That first location was named second best soccer bar in America by Sirius XM in 2014. Matt opened a second location in Schenectady, followed by the Syracuse Wolff’s last November, and most recently, a final addition in Troy. “It’s our own take on a German biergarten,” former Wolff’s bartender turned coowner Mark Graydon said. “But in general, it’s just soccer, beer and peanuts.”

In addition to the three other Wolff’s, Matt and Mark also operate the Olde English Pub in downtown Albany. Pouring from 20 taps into authentic German-dimpled liter and half-liter steins, Wolff’s Biergarten offers Fanziskaner, Hofbrau, Spaten Lager, Bitburger Pilsner and Rodenbach, among other authentic German, Czech and Polish beers, as well as rotating domestic taps and gluten-free ales and ciders. Wine and liquor are available; the bar is known for its Pickle Back shot — a shot of Jameson and pickle juice — in particular. “We’ll happily give you a taste of anything,” Mark said. “A lot of bars discourage this, but that’s exactly what we are there for.” If it’s your birthday, enjoy a complimentary two-liter glass “boot” brimming with beer. But don’t get too sloshed; the boot requires a $40 deposit and valid ID as collateral. Wolff’s concentrates on a handful of events other bars leave out, but they don’t discriminate. Patrons can enjoy a clear view of any game, thanks to the seven TV screens airing MLB, NFL, NBA, rugby, Olympics and more. But the main attraction is always soccer. “I once told my wife, ‘I know two things: beer and soccer,’” Mark, an Essex, England native, said. According to his business partner, Mark holds more soccer knowledge than anyone. He’s the planner for all things “futbol” at each Wolff’s location. For fans of the Premier League and World Cup teams, the bar opens at 8 a.m. Saturdays

and Sundays to show live matches from across the pond. Every September in Albany, Matt and Mark help throw the North Albany Oktoberfest Block Party, a German street festival that includes beer, music and authentic German food. The duo are in the midst of planning for Syracuse’s own smaller version of the festival, tentatively set for Sept. 24. They’re hoping to line Montgomery Street with local food trucks. For now, enjoy a Hoffmann hotdog, a handmade pretzel or a handful of free peanuts, and if you want to try anything, just ask. SWM Wolff’s Biergarten is open 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday with happy hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.; 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday ; and 9 a.m. to midnight Sunday. Opening time on weekends is dependent on match times. For more information and weekly match schedule, visit wolffsbiergarten.com or call 299-7789.

June 2016

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The Man Edition

June 2016

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INSPIRE FOR A GOOD NancyCAUSE LintonMen’s Outreach at Vera House

How to be a Real Man By Katie Tastrom-Fenton

era House, as an organization, is well-respected in the Syracuse area for providing services to people affected by domestic violence and sexual assault. What may be less well-known are the programs that Vera House gears toward men to promote violence prevention. When I met with George Kilpatrick, the Men’s Outreach Program coordinator, to talk to him about Vera House’s efforts, we had both just found out that Prince died. In a way, it was quite fitting; Prince eschewed much of conventional masculinity, defining his gender on his own terms. One common thread woven throughout the Men’s Outreach Program is that all projects and discussion groups aim to encourage men to think critically about the messages they have been taught about masculinity and what it means to be a man. George acknowledged that as men grow up, some of the messages they are exposed to at home and in society may lead to unhealthy power dynamics in their relationships with women, and create fertile ground for domestic violence and sexual assault to flourish. George explained that society “tells men they are supposed to be one way, and those beliefs lead to men treating women a certain way.” He used the example of the phrase “throws like a girl,” adding that boys are taught to view being compared to girls in a negative light. This reinforces the idea that men are superior to women, conditioning them to treat women as inferior. By challenging these beliefs, George helps men use their own experiences to realize this conditioning and, as he says, “begin to challenge the notions that create inequality in relationships.” The Men’s Outreach Program aims to help men think critically about these messages. In the program “Men. Lead by Example,” men and boys are taught to work as allies with women and girls to achieve healthy, violence-free relationships. “Men. Lead by Example” uses a structure called the “12 Men Model.” The model starts with a group of about six or more men – it doesn’t have to be exactly 12 –

who work together with a trained facilitator to unlearn and challenge each other about unhealthy messages they have grown up hearing about men, women and the relationships between them. The 12 Men Model trains the men to be leaders in their community and interrupt harmful thoughts and concepts in everyday life. Depending on the focus and participants of a particular group, each 12 Men Model program is different; members in one program can then get together a bunch of friends and colleagues to create another group, and the cycle will continue. The Men’s Outreach Program also offers mentoring in violence prevention through education. “Real Men, Real Talk,” a program that meets for one hour per month, encourages men to actively talk about how to have healthy relationships with women. The common theme throughout the Men’s Outreach Program is a goal of teaching men to be better partners and advocates for women in their lives, be it wives, girlfriends, daughters, mothers, sisters or friends. George himself came to this work by being a longtime Vera House volunteer and supporter. When the Men’s Outreach Program coordinator position opened up three years ago, it was offered to George and he accepted, but not until his wife and daughters agreed that he was worthy to take the position. He shared a success story with me: “One man who participated in a 12 Men Model program ended up apologizing to his partner because through the group, he learned that some of the things he had been saying to her were a form of abuse. He learned that through the program.” SWM

Vera House’s Men’s Outreach Program offers a variety of workshops about violence prevention and masculinity for free to any group willing to host them. To bring any of these programs to your workplace, school or just a group of friends, please contact George Kilpatrick at gkilpatrick@ verahouse.org or 425-0818 ext. 254.

The common theme throughout the Men’s Outreach Program is a goal of teaching men to be better partners and advocates for women in their lives.”

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June 2016

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INSPIRE Nancy HEALTHY MAN Linton Dr. Robert Kiltz

Fertilizing Hope By Paige Kelly

My mission has always been to provide accessibility and affrodability.” — Dr. Robert Kiltz, CNY Fertility founder and director

Photo courtesy Mooney Marketing Group

r. Robert Kiltz embodies the healthy man. The founder and director of CNY Fertility is not just a physician and businessman, but also an artist, a student of Eastern and Western medical philosophies and a community leader. In mind, body and spirit, he seems comfortable and caring, and that flows into the services he provides his patients. A leader in the field of in vitro fertilization, his practice provides both Western and Eastern fertility methods and affordable care to thousands of families, and strives for constant improvement through progressive learning. Robert moved from the San Francisco Bay area to Syracuse and began his own obstetrician-gynecologist fertility practice at Community General Hospital in 1996. As fertility and IVF began to take up the majority of his time, he decided to concentrate on those two subjects in particular. Human emotion is the most challenging aspect of Robert’s work, since not being able to conceive naturally can be quite devastating and there isn’t always a clear solution. Many may believe a simple pill, shot or surgery will solve infertility issues, but that isn’t always the case. The doctor decided to integrate Eastern medical practices like yoga, meditation, massage, acupuncture and even prayer into his practice. CNY Fertility now offers those services in a welcoming environment and inviting exam rooms and labs. “I just continue on the journey of learning. I always say, ‘I don’t know why it works or it doesn’t work; faith in doing something is the way to get something,’” Robert said. Robert explained that though he’s a Western-trained doctor, he’s also made jewelry and pottery for years. Being able to access both the creative and “math-science” parts of his brain enabled him to shift from just practicing Western medicine to including Eastern philosophy as well. Not surprisingly, the success of helping build families is the most rewarding part of Robert’s work. He’s grateful that patients allow him to be a part of their lives and help them through difficult times. CNY Fertility aims to be affordable. The self-pay rate for patients lacking insurance is $3,900, while most IVF procedures cost anywhere from $7,000 to $15,000, Robert said. “Really we’re leaving a large part of the population out of affordable fertility care because IVF [cost] is out of control,” he said, explaining that he started the business 20 years ago, with IVF costs at $2,000. “So my mission has always been to provide accessibility and affordability.” While a successful business is of course important, Robert says his source of reward is the joy that comes from helping others in their journey to parenthood, not the money. CNY Fertility has nearly 250 staff members across Upstate New York, with many patients traveling hours to receive the affordability and quality. There’s also a large international audience with patients traveling to Syracuse or corresponding via Skype from Australia,

England, Canada, Spain, Lebanon and Nigeria, just to name a few places. “I always like to visualize the future as the present,” Robert said. “And it really is to provide the best affordable fertility care in the world. And we all have that opportunity to provide the best… I consider us a center of excellence because we think about the whole patient.” SWM For more information about CNY Fertility, visit cnyfertility.com.

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June 2016

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LATINO FEATURE Dr. Luis Javier Castro

Vocation with Latin soul By Catalina Pia Lara San Martin

r. Luis Javier Castro wanted to be an astronaut. His mother wanted him to be a priest. But he ended up being medical director at St. Joseph’s Primary Care Center – West. Luis came to Syracuse 17 years ago, and today is one of the most influential professionals in the Latino community. Luis has assisted in more than 600 births since he decided to become a family physician, after graduating from the SUNY Health Science Center. Almost like a ritual, he keeps photos of these children in and out of his office, which reflects the dedication and love he has for his profession. “Every birth is unique, a miracle, and it is always a privilege to be there and be part of that process,” he explained. Many of the families he’s met through his practice treat him as more than just a doctor; they view him as a friend. “That’s what makes Latinos special: their closeness and sense of community,” he said. When he was 4 years old, Luis’ family moved to Queens. He grew up in an environment in which family was central. His ongoing relationships with uncles and cousins further strengthened his love of community. “I always thought to do something with my life to help people,” he said. He’s passionate about serving the most needy. His conviction grew when he completed an internship at the Westside Family Health Center, which later became St. Joseph’s Primary Care Center – West. Luis was eventually offered the position of medical director of the institution; this was in part due to a connection established with hundreds of Latino patients, including refugees and immigrants, thanks to his mother tongue, Spanish. As soon as he heard about the promotion, he thought: “This is what I always wanted to do.” It was a perfect fit for him: he could serve the most vulnerable of the community, continue performing deliveries and help educate students and practitioners. “There is no [other] work where you can have all these components,” he said. Luis enjoys what he does and is extremely passionate about the institution at which he works. “We do a good job,” he said. “It’s a place that treats people with dignity.” He’s aware that finances may be affected because of the missionary profile of the center. However, helping refugees and immigrants – many of them Latinos – makes him proud. “I don’t let anyone [go] unattended because they have no health insurance,” he explained. There are countless stories of Latino patients who traveled miles because they wanted to be attended only by Luis, including a man who traveled 26 hours from Miami to see the doctor. Minutes after boarding a cruise, the staff asked him to get off because he had a strong chest pain. It was the beginning of a heart attack.

Photo courtesy CNY Latino

This work found me. It was thanks to faith. It was meant to be.” — Dr. Luis Javier Castro, medical director at St. Joseph’s Primary Care Center - West There is another story of a woman here in Syracuse, who walked through the snow with her extremely sick baby, just to get to Luis’ office at the hospital. “I appreciate my patients because of my culture and how I was raised,” Luis said. Thanks to his perseverance and solidarity, today he is one of the most prominent and important professionals of the Latino community in Syracuse. “This work found me,” Luis said. “It was thanks to faith. It was meant to be.” SWM This article was provided by the CNY Latino newspaper, the only Hispanicoriented publication in Central New York. The Spanish version of this article can be read in the May edition of CNY Latino, in both the traditional paper version and the digital format at cnylatinonewspaper.com. May correction note: It was brought to our attention that a few facts in the May column were reported incorrectly. Please see our website for a corrected version.

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June 2016

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Photography by Amelia Beamish

KING OF ARTS Matthew De Bellas

Art for Everyone

Gift, a holiday performance aimed at children; and On My Own Time, a program showcasing work by local business members – but Matthew spends the majority of his time reaching out to other arts organizations that don’t have their own dedicated marketing staff, By Lorna Oppedisano as well as formulating strategies to promote art in the region. Getting young professionals in Central New York engaged in rt didn’t mean much to Matthew De Bellas. It’s not that he the arts can be a struggle, Matthew said. Maybe people don’t know found it objectionable; it just didn’t play a role in his life. what’s available, or are intimated to enter a new social circle, He joined the army after high school, and then enrolled in but there is a disconnect. Those who are involved are passionate, SUNY Oswego. A classmate introduced him to ARTSwego so he he added, citing 40 Below’s Public Arts Task Force and the rise in could gain experience in public relations. Through his position local public art. with community and student engagement, he was brought Having been in his position for nearly four years, one thing that to a conference in New York City, where he stumbled upon a Matthew has seen change – “and maybe it hasn’t changed, and I just contemporary dance performance. never noticed it,” he admitted – is the number of creative people in “These people can express this story to me without saying a single the area. thing to me, and have this connection with me through this per “There’s a lot of artists doing great work,” he said. “The challenge formance,” Matthew said, describing the formative moment that is how to bring that best to the rest of the community.” eventually led him to his current position of CNY Arts marketing Matthew uses social media to spread the word, and also attends manager. “There was a fluidity about it that almost makes me think all sorts of networking events, in hopes about the fluidity of life.” of reaching as many people as possible. Matthew saw the effect art could have on other people, too. In his There’s a lot of artists doing great work. In the future, he hopes to organize a social group for anyone curious about position at ARTSwego, he was tasked The challenge is how to bring that best art in Central New York. The idea is with creating programs to engage the still in early planning stages, but CNY community. His first project involved to the rest of the community.” Arts hopes to get the ball rolling in the “Victoria,” a single-person show about a —Matthew De Bellas, next few months. woman living with Alzheimer’s disease. Working in conjunction with the CNY Arts marketing manager For now, Matthew suggests people simply give arts a try, whether it be Alzheimer’s Assocation, he connected seeing your favorite band at a local bar, strolling through the Everson the artist with families of those afflicted by Alzheimer’s. The result or the MOST, or just taking a minute to admire that mural you was profound. “They came up and said they never really had that walk past every day. Overcoming the challenge of a busy schedule perspective,” Matthew remembered, “and it kind of changed their with seemingly no time for art can be difficult, but it’s achievable. own behavior and how they went on taking care of their family.” “I would challenge people to not watch that one show that week, Now that he’s fully immersed in Syracuse’s art scene, Matthew and take that time to go out and do something,” Matthew said. is the perfect fit for his position. Coming from public relations, “Wherever you go, you’re going to be welcomed.” SWM as opposed to growing up as an art enthusiast, Matthew knows what it’s like to discover the arts at a later age. He harnesses that For more information about CNY Arts, visit cnyarts.org. CNY arts staff, left to experience to help grow audiences for local arts organizations. CNY Arts organizes three public programs of its own throughout right: Matthew De Bellas, marketing manager; Lizz Allers, program associate; Elizabeth Lane, grants manager; Stephen Butler, executive director; Susan the year – the Michael Harms Theater Festival, featuring performTromans, program coordinator; Paula Kinev, arts education coordinator. ances and workshops for students and adults; Dasher’s Magical

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June 2016

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The Man Edition

COVER STORY Restoring Syracuse

Photography by Chris Szulwach

NORM SWANSON TROY EVANS ED RILEY

June 2016 May 2016

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COVER STORY Restoring Syracuse

Restoring Syracuse By Lorna Oppedisano

hen I hear people complain that there’s “nothing going on” or “nothing to do” in Syracuse, I get irked. Whether it’s new businesses popping up, new music and art to explore, or new events to take part in, there is always something happening. You just have to look. When I wanted to take on the story of restoration projects in Syracuse and first started that “looking” process, I was pleasantly overwhelmed by the sheer number of people actively working to make Syracuse a more connected, liveable and walkable city. For our purposes here, I picked three of the many movers and shakers that we are lucky enough to have in our midst. Long story short: Syracuse is a happening place, and it’s just beginning.

Reviving Hotel Syracuse When Ed Riley grew up in Syracuse, downtown was “the place to go.” The building names we vaguely recall today – like Wells & Coverly – were bustling businesses and department stores. Hotel Syracuse was up and running, and had been since 1924, when it was opened by prominent Syracuse business leaders and owned in stock shares by the community itself. But we all know how the story goes. Downtown’s heyday came to an end, and the hotel deteriorated and eventually closed.

It takes a lot of dedicated people. We’re really fortunate and lucky that we had a lot of people that believed in the project.” —Ed Riley, developer 26

Ed, like many other Syracuse natives, had memories tied to the structure; his CBA senior ball was there, and he attended his great uncle’s wedding at the Hotel Syracuse. He was sad when it closed. “It would have been sadder to lose it – not just as a hotel, but as a structure and a building done by a very famous architect and architectural firm,” he said. “For a lot of reasons, it was a very important project to me.” After attending college locally, Ed helped develop Armory Square to its current glory. His job eventually brought him to places like Hawaii and Boston, but he always kept a home in Syracuse. The idea of taking on the Hotel Syracuse project had sparked his interest years ago, but “it just wasn’t the right time with the right parts and pieces in place to make it happen,” he explained. He continued on his career path, gaining experience in restoration and hospitality, a marriage that eventually positioned him perfectly to take on the project. “Maybe [it’s] as a friend of mine said, who is in the hotel business. I’ve known him for a long time,” Ed said. “He walked through here and he said, ‘Yeah. You and this building were just waiting for each other.’” It’s not just an affection of architecturally important buildings that’s driven Ed to restoration and adaptive reuse. During the ’60s and ’70s, building after building of structural and historical significance was torn down. “We’ve lost those,” Ed said. “You get the photographs, but you can’t reproduce these buildings. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.”

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Convincing people that Hotel Syracuse’s memories actually could be restored was a challenge. Thanks to the hotel’s deteriorated state, coupled with false starts for restoration, the project had gained a poor reputation. Getting a loan or convincing an international hotel chain like Marriott to attach its flag to the project wasn’t an easy task. But it was a task Ed and his team achieved, and after that, the rest of the project fell into place, he said. Ed credits his team – right down to the construction crew – for the project’s success. “It takes a lot of dedicated people,” he said. “We’re really fortunate and lucky that we had a lot of people that believed in the project, that wanted to see it happen, that rolled up their sleeves and got it done and worked together. And they’re local.” After Marriott backed the project, Ed and his team decided to name the “new” hotel Marriott Syracuse Downtown. Their aim is to disassociate the brand from the decrepit Hotel Syracuse travelers might recall from its last years in business. Once the hotel opens – the first night slated for overnight stay is July 4 – the 261-room structure will attract both travelers and locals. Three restaurants are planned: Eleven Waters, a bistro showcasing New York State wines; Shaughnessy’s, an Irish pub; and a more upscale steakhouse. With the Persian Terrace – which is Ed’s personal favorite room so far – the Finger Lakes Ballroom, the Grand Ballroom and a community room geared toward local nonprofits, the hotel will engage people near and far. More than 50 weddings, both local and destination, are already booked, Ed said. Similar to other projects set to unveil in the Syracuse area, he’s confident the hotel will bring business to the greater downtown area. Being the headquarters hotel for the Nicholas J. Pirro Convention Center, many guests will book more than a singlenight stay, he explained. “Nobody wants to go to the same restaurant [every night] when you’re out of town,” he said. “So that alone – if people are here two or three nights and they’ve got to find something to eat – they’ll go to Armory Square.” Plans for Syracuse-based businesses to move into the ground floor of the hotel are in the works as well, including Hall of Fame Barber Shop, the soon-to-be official barber shop of the hotel, and a grab-and-go Café Kubal location. Ed hopes to see more restaurants pop up around the area, spurred by the influx of hotel guests. Looking to the future, his team isn’t done with Syracuse just yet. The city is home to him, Ed said, and this project has been among his favorites of his work. Now that he’s built a team and credibility, he’d like to continue contributing to the city’s growth. “Our downtown is experiencing a great comeback,” Ed said. “The opportunities are here, and there’s other things to do. Why not take advantage of that?”

Preserving Good Bones When Norm Swanson selects an old building to restore, he does it with the utmost finesse and precision. In his nearly 40 years as president and owner of the Woodbine Group in Syracuse, he’s taken a number of buildings that others wouldn’t fathom touching and successfully redeveloped them. “We are in partnership with the community, with the city, and saving our history is very important,” Norm said. “Blending it in to the fabric of modern life requires a lot of detail, a lot of investment, but it’s rewarding to see walkability, to see life back in old buildings.” Norm has been part of the Syracuse community his entire life, save one year after college when he ventured to Wall Street. His original plan was to leave his hometown for good, but he soon realized that the pace of life and cost of living in Syracuse were far more attractive than he’d once thought, and returned. He then entered the real estate field, and about a year later, became an independent broker and started buying property. continued on page 28

For more information on Ed’s project, visit hotelsyracuserestoration.com. To book a room at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown, visit marriottsyracusedowntown.com.

We are in partnership with the community, with the city, and saving our history is very important.”—Norm Swanson, president and owner of the Woodbine Group June 2016

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Restoring Syracuse continued from page 26 Seeking out old structures with “good bones” has been a passion of Norm’s from day one. “Everything we buy is pretty much in the orphan status,” he explained. “No one else can figure out what to do with it.” Norm looks for well-located buildings that need a little love – “orphans” – due to some combination of the passage of time, rents, market changes or failure of upkeep on the part of previous owners. That’s where a good price comes into play. Since starting in real estate, Norm has bought everything from office buildings, warehouses and armories to temples and schools. “Each one of them has a unique location and part of history,” he said, citing Temple Adath, built in 1921, which is now Hotel Skyler, and the Medical Arts Building, built in 1926, now the Parkview Hotel. The company buys the right building at the right price, Norm explained, and then waits for the right market. At times, it might be only four or five years. At others, it could be more than a decade. Norm referenced Hotel Skyler – his favorite project so far – as an example of his process. First, they buy the building; in this case, they purchased Temple Adath in 2007. “Then comes the mystery of when we take a box – whether it be a temple or the armory – what can you put in that box?” Norm asked. “And that’s where the dream starts.” Then, depending on the market, they eventually determine what will best fill the space. When that’s decided, the next step is determining “the look, the texture, the feel, the flow” of the visuals, inside and out. For Hotel Skyler, a project completed in 2011 after seven months of building, that was the traditional temple aesthetic on the outside, and “cutting edge design and a modern feel on the inside,” he said. Hotel Skyler is one of the only Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified hotels in the world. Not only

is building green a cause that Norm is passionate about, but it makes sense from an owner’s perspective as well, he explained; while the initial expense might be hefty, in the long run, the return well makes up for it. Norm strives to be as green as possible in all his projects. “It’s a new generation of hotels for a new generation of travelers, who foresee green and history as merging, and very important,” he said. Norm’s next project takes him to Franklin Square. Back in 2003, his company bought the former Syracuse Lighting Co. headquarters at 311 Genant Drive. Now that the square and DestinyUSA are developed, and work on the Inner Harbor has begun, the time is right to evolve their vision for the building. As with his other projects, he’s basing decisions on the building’s “good bones”: “It was mostly an industrial building that did not suit for apartments, offices or retail,” he said. “So then we said, ‘What are some semi-manufacturing areas?’” In the end, they settled on a brewery, beer garden, large tasting room, Onondaga Historical Association beer museum and a few apartments. While they haven’t released the name of the brewer yet, they do plan to work with someone regionally local, Norm said. He plans to begin the project in September, with a projected completion date of April 2017. Speaking more broadly about the community of Syracuse, Norm said he sees it “slowly growing.” He described downtown’s renewal as a “blend of uses” by people investing in housing and retail, and predicts the city center will flourish in a different way than it has in the past. He sees an uptick in the number of people – especially the younger generation – living in a walkable downtown. “Our community needs the young people,” Norm said. “The insight. The dynamic approach.” For more information on the Woodbine Group, visit woodbinegroup.com.

Creating a New Kind of Community About six years ago, Troy Evans was in his early 30’s, and burned out. After two successful careers – he started with engineering and then discovered a knack for real estate – the dream of being rich didn’t seem as glamorous as it once did. “It was more about ‘How do I want to contribute?’” he said. “What kind of purpose-driven life am I going to pursue next?” He reevaluated, left research and development corporation SRC after seven years as change management manager, sold off any properties that he wasn’t passionate about, and went “all in,” as he put it, on downtown Syracuse. The city’s energy compelled his interest, he explained; the movement, coupled with the smart, talented and motivated people, inspired him. When he first left SRC, Troy worked from home as president of 16th Avenue, Inc., the real estate development company he’d founded in 2005. But it wasn’t long before the pull of downtown got to him, and he began working from 40 Below’s Syracuse CoWorks at the Tech Garden. It was a serendipitous choice that eventually led him to meet his current business partner, John Talarico. He spent his days surrounded by about 10 other people who shared the need for interaction, but lacked a physical office. 28

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The floor above it would house 21 small “Manhattan-sized” apartments around the perimeter, with common space in the center to include a chef’s kitchen, dining area, rooftop deck, bike-sharing program and more. An on-site community manager – a “concierge slash program director,” Troy explained – would work to create a welcoming environment, introducing new folks, creating events and social activities and mediating any potential conflicts. The tenants would hold monthly meetings and communicate virtually using the program Slack when necessary. The idea is to have a community-run coliving space, Troy explained. Being a self-described introvert helped Troy conceptualize Commonspace. Balancing a closed-door apartment living style with an open-door college dorm living style was all about finding a perfect ratio of public to private space. Troy’s vision is set to become a reality on the opening date of May 20, he explained shortly before time of press. So far, 17 of the 21 spaces are leased with a roughly 50/50 split of female to male occupants, most of them young professionals. Two of the apartments are reserved for Airbnb guests. Looking forward, the team would like to try the Commonspace concept in other Upstate New York cities. Using the Syracuse “We all had different backgrounds. It was project as a pilot, they’re considering replicating it in cities like this surreal experience, where I was watching Rochester or Buffalo, where it can have positive economic myself meet these people, and figuring out impact, Troy said. what I wanted to do Along with other new apartments and with my life,” hotels slated to pop up downtown soon, Troy explained. It was more about ‘How do I Commonspace is just one piece to the Troy’s next step was city’s expansive future. Troy explained that to attempt to replicate “the magic that happens want to contribute? What kind Syracuse is never going to be Boston, but through that diverse collision between people,” of purpose-driven life am I going “it’s going to be an even grander little city he said. So, on a quest to quench his ongoing to pursue next?”—Troy Evans, where you can escape the city easily within thirst for knowledge, Troy started actively five minutes and be in the country,” he said, studying coworking. He read up on the founder of CommonSpace adding that that’s why he moved here. subject. He traveled to cities where the Now that the project is up and running, concept was already popular, like New York City, Chicago and Troy explained that it’s the unknown of it that’s inspired him Boston. About half a year after he first ventured to the Tech this far. The question of “What’s my purpose in life?” has always Garden’s incarnation of CoWorks, Troy bought the Century driven him. He first searched for financial freedom, which Plaza building, and CoWorks moved to its second floor. But the brought him to real estate and the freedom to create his own rest of the building was still fairly empty. company. But the underlying search for enlightenment through In hopes of finding inspiration for developing the remainder knowledge was always there. Similar to the chain reaction of of the building, Troy continued to research the coworking human interaction that Troy found when he first joined Syracuse movement, and kept arriving at the same conclusion: people were CoWorks, Commonspace has virtually endless potential to craving more real-life social interactions. Delving further into it, provide that knowledge through connections. Troy realized that people want to know their neighbors. “There’s so many things to study and so many fascinating “I wanted to try to think, ‘Well, how can I make a social way angles that I can learn from, that it keeps inspiring me,” Troy said. to live?’” he reminisced. “And that’s when it dawned on me. “So it’s the unknown of all the impacts that it could have on What if we made this building, and called it Commonspace, people’s lives, and it comes back to the socialization thing.” SWM and we made it all of that?” He described his idea as a “connectivity hive for Syracuse.” Syracuse CoWorks would continue to thrive on the second floor. For more information on Commonspace, visit commonspace.io. June 2016

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New IN THE ‘CUSE Finger Lakes On Tap

A New Kind of Tasting Room By Lorna Oppedisano

hen Tom Ierardi happened upon the world of craft beer, it forever changed his life. It was the early ’90s, and when a few of Tom’s work friends jumped on the home brewing trend, Tom followed. “I started accumulating an awful lot of brewing equipment and brewing massive amounts of beer, just for the joy of brewing and trying the different styles,” he reminisced. “It’s a lot of fun.” Fast forward a couple decades. While he was at a brew fest, Tom had a thought: most bars and restaurants are limited to one tap per brewer, as opposed to the brew fest, where many brewers had an opportunity to showcase a variety of their products. What if he could replicate that idea in a more permanent setting? He decided to pitch his idea to brewers: “I said, ‘Here’s what I think: if I had a place, and you had three taps, would you be able to show enough variety of what you do?’” Minus the small hiccups every new business owner faces, things just fell into place, Tom said. He looked at the space – the former Creekside Coffee Bar & Books – in January 2015, signed the lease in May and opened the doors to Finger Lakes On Tap in November. It sounds like a speedy process, but for Tom, it was “showing up every single day,” he explained. “Some days, a lot of things got done. Other days, it just didn’t seem like a lot was getting done.” Having come from the pharmaceutical industry, this was Tom’s first experience with his own physical business location. He’d owned a kayak business before, in which he’d imported and distributed goods, but with Finger Lakes On Tap, there was a lot more project management, Tom explained. “[This has] a lot of moving parts,” he said. “Really, the beer was the easy part.”

Photography by Gerard H. Gaskin

Come in for conversation, enjoy and drink responsibly.” —Tom Ierardi, Finger Lakes On Tap owner

The fact that they opened in November – and not during the busy summer months as they’d first intended – was a blessing, Tom’s wife Gloria said, adding that the holiday season and Dickens Festival still drew a fair number of people, and served as a good learning experience. Now the business is open five days a week. They offer a small menu of food created by Tom, which includes sandwiches, skewers, salads, desserts and more. Setting Finger Lakes On Tap apart from similar bars, beer gardens and tasting rooms, they offer table service to their customers. It was the environment Tom envisioned to best cater to their clientele, he explained. The atmosphere he hopes to achieve is a place people can “come in for conversation, enjoy and drink responsibly,” he said. It’s thanks to New York-based breweries that businesses like Tom’s have seen success. He credits the farm brewery bill for allowing more breweries to open. However, breweries are still limited to where they can sell their products, he said. “Restaurants and bars can’t possibly keep up with having lines. If your restaurant has eight taps, that’s a lot for a restaurant,” he said. “And if four breweries pop up within four miles of you, there’s no way to keep adding to accommodate all the new breweries and great ones.” Luckily, that’s where Finger Lakes On Tap comes in, offering more than 60 taps at one given time. Looking forward to the future, Tom and Gloria are optimistic about tackling the busiest season of the year. “I’m curious to see what it’s like in the summer,” Tom said. SWM Finger Lakes On Tap is located at 35 Fennell St., Skaneateles. For more information, including live music and “Meet the Brewer” events, visit fingerlakesontap.com or call 685-9600.

June 2016

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RON PECKHAM

Photography by Gerard H. Gaskin

Chairman of C&S Companiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; board of directors

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Engineering a Better Community By Ashley M. Casey

“I

In high school, he offered to head up three different organizations am finally at a place in life where I have the opportunity to to beef up his chances for getting into college. help others,” Ron Peckham said. It’s an odd statement for “I did a mediocre job on the three,” he said. “I did it because Ron to make, as he’s been helping others for much of his life. In addition to his day job as chairman of the board of C&S I thought it would help me get into college — it was a selfish Companies, Ron is president of the board of directors for On Point decision.” After this less-than-stellar effort, Ron asked himself, “In a for College, a nonprofit that gives students a leg up on their quest world of scarce resources, the most precious of which is people’s for higher education. Headquartered in Syracuse, On Point has time, could you have helped one of those organizations be opened offices in Utica and New York City. In the past 16 years, more sustainable?” On Point has helped more than 6,000 youth in the greater The lesson Ron learned as a young man has followed him Syracuse area make it to college. Ron lives by the maxim, “We make a living by what we get, through his volunteering career. He’s careful to avoid burnout but we make a life by what we give.” Over the years, he has and knows when to move on. Ron has gracefully bowed out donated his time to Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection, of his stints with Young Life, the Rescue Mission and Hillside. Young Life and the Rescue Mission. He resigned from the Hillside board upon joining the On “It really touched my heart because you’re helping people who Point board, realizing he couldn’t fairly devote his energy to were looking for a hand up to make a difference in their lives,” both endeavors. “I believe leadership is a temporary assignment,” Ron said. Ron said of his two terms on the Rescue Mission board. “I really “We accept the baton with willingness and energy and felt like I was connected with a much bigger purpose.” Through his various volunteer commitment. We run the race as best we opportunities, Ron has learned that can, and we finish our leg and pass the one person really can make a difference baton to the next leader.” We make a living by what we in the community. As Ron has done in his own volunteer “You have to have your heart connected get, but we make a life by what endeavors, Central New Yorkers must to the mission. You have to regularly be adapt and prioritize to keep local we give.” —Ron Peckham, face-to-face with the positive results of nonprofit organizations alive. The “brutal Chairman of C&S Companies’ fact” is, Ron said, Syracuse’s economy community service,” he said. “That feeds your soul. Without feeding your soul, has shifted over the years, lessening the board of directors you’ll never press on.” pool of resources on which nonprofits While the inner reward that comes with volunteering is once depended. important, as an engineer, Ron knows the importance of “We have to focus on what is the highest and best use of all the resources we have in the community to make the best impact,” maximizing one’s resources. That means carefully selecting which Ron said. “If we consolidated our approach, could we help one causes he can devote his time to instead of spreading himself more child? Ten more children? One hundred more?” too thin. “I’ve seen the movie of being over-committed before,” he said. At the office, Ron is heavily involved in C&S Companies’ “I’m focusing on doing my best job with On Point.” leadership development course and mentoring program. He thrives Ron’s volunteer résumé reaches back to his roots growing up in on helping his colleagues reach their personal best at the fastest Walton, a small village nestled in the Catskills. His father was part rate they can. He traces his drive to help others succeed to the of the local Kiwanis club and served as the village’s mayor and fire inscription his eighth-grade science teacher, Mr. Howard, left in chief. His mother immersed herself in her church, and today she’s young Ron’s yearbook: “When helping others up the hill of life, still volunteering: now age 101, she crochets caps for newborns you will always find yourself closer to the top.” “That’s where the joy comes in — how can I help people live at Crouse Hospital, which her son dutifully delivers. “My engagement in community service was really because of their best lives?” Ron mused. the examples I saw my parents set,” Ron remembered. “Both were What’s next for Ron? He wants to spread his passion for leadership development throughout the community, but he’s fully engaged in their community and their church, and both not yet sure what that will look like. Ever the engineer, though, were fully involved in giving back.” Learning how to juggle community service with the demands Ron said his next step is “figuring out what is the highest and the of work and school was a difficult lesson for young Ron to learn. best use of the next season of life.” SWM

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STEPHEN GLATT

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Director of SUNY Upstateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s PsychGENe Lab

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The Humanity of Mental Illness By Lorna Oppedisano

tephen Glatt is a man of science. Although he’d devoted Approaching the idea from a biological standpoint, he hopes his life to studying mental illness, it wasn’t until he met that looking at what makes people resilient on a gene-based Betty Pringle that the effect of his work really hit home. level might one day lead to pinpointing strategies to increase Betty – the founder and former president of mental health any person’s resilience, like monitoring nutrition or exercise. advocacy organization Promise, which evolved into the local “It’s all about moderating your known risks,” he explained. Looking forward to the future, Steve’s interested in studying branch of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – postpartum disorders. While there’s not as much support in has a son who was diagnosed with schizophrenia in his late postpartum-related research as something more visible in society teens, a little more than three decades ago. “She made it personal for me. She put a face on it. like schizophrenia, Steve explained that the chief precipitating Before that, I was just a scientist, and I was locked away in environmental factor is know: pregnancy, birth and the the university studying these problems in a very sterile way,” perinatal period. “So if we take baseline measures, and then Steve said. “And then she showed me the gritty underbelly after-pregnancy measures, we can see the changes in biology of mental illness through her eyes for her son, and at that that really occur within a very narrow window,” he said. moment, it just clicked for me.” “So I think that’s a really powerful design.” What attracted Steve to the field of mental health was the Along with the relative rarity of the disorders, the issue complexity of the human brain and its of stigma is likely preventing further mental capabilities, he said, adding that funding and study. Steve’s fighting to he likes the challenge of exploring end that stigma, along with the stigma Maybe we’ll make the “the essence of what makes us human.” associated with mental illness in general. After college, Steve worked with a The best way to go about that is next generation a bit more man at Harvard studying schizophrenia. reaching out to children, he explained. empathetic.” —Stephen Glatt, As a board member of NAMI Syracuse, Most of Steve’s early work – along with a lot of his current work – concerned Steve brings the program “Breaking the director of SUNY Upstate’s the disease. Silence” into area schools, addressing PsychGENe Lab But when he had his own children – children in grades four through 12. his son is now 9 years old, and his He aims to show children that mental daughter 6 years old – he began to illness shouldn’t be treated any see the effect mental illness could have on children and their differently than a cardiovascular disease or cancer when it families. While his family wasn’t affected, it still moved Steve comes to an open dialogue. “Maybe we’ll make the next to shift his field of study slightly to include developmental generation a bit more empathetic,” he said, “and that will also disorders like autism, ADHD and depression, among others. impact the morbidity of mental illness, like how much of In his decade or so at Upstate, Steve’s lab – the Psychiatric a toll mental illness takes.” Genetic Epidemiology & Neurobiology Laboratory – has seen Throughout his life and career, Steve has been positively influenced by women, from his single mother to his PhD adviser. great support from the college’s department of psychology, While science is a field that’s historically male-dominated, he said, which has allowed him and his colleagues to conduct Steve predicts this will change in the future. In his opinion, a lot research aimed at discovering the cause of mental illness. of the problem stems from unconscious biases, and the solution The consensus that’s building is that genes related to the is to actively confront them. Much of his staff is comprised of immune and inflammatory systems might actually be at the female scientists. Last year, a local female high school student root of mental illness, and those related to the neurotransmitter expressed interest in studying in the lab, and now volunteers systems might be the aftereffects, Steve explained. “So that’s been an exciting realization,” he said, “that these there often. Now, Steve is actively looking for a female grad disorders have a lot more in common than we used to think.” student to join the team. Another unique focus of the lab is study into resilience: “Hopefully we’ll get to a point – just like [with] mental illness – where you don’t need to do that,” he said, comparing “If we could figure out or identify people who have a huge mental illness’ stigma to the unconscious biases against women amount of genetic risk – or maybe even a huge amount of in his field. “We’ll see men and women in equal proportions genetic risk and environmental risk – but don’t have the in science.” SWM disorder,” Steve proposed. “What else are they packing that buffers them from that risk?” For more information on NAMI Syracuse, visit namisyracuse.org.

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INSPIRE Mitchell Patterson

MITCHELL PATTERSON

Photography by Steven J. Pallone

Entrepreneur

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Starting Up Syracuse By Lorna Oppedisano

“I

wouldn’t say that it’s Syracuse that inspired me, but it’s some Mitchell also cofounded Hack Upstate, a biannual weekend-long hackathon event. Frustration led to inspiration when he heard of the people in Syracuse that inspired me. It’s my goal – people say, “There are no programmers in Upstate New York.” I don’t know if it’s a philanthropic side, an idealistic side – The first event drew 238 people, clearly proving the naysayers but it’s my goal to help the rest of the world see what’s happening wrong. Not only is it a fun event, but local tech companies like here,” Cicero-native and entrepreneur Mitchell Patterson said. Terakeet scout talent at Hack Upstate. “And also to help some more people in Syracuse get exposed to When Mitchell isn’t organizing these events or traveling for different things and start thinking outside the box.” Mitchell studied political science and history in college, and business, he’s working either from home or at Syracuse CoWorks, entered politics after graduation, ready to “change the world,” where he’s also on the board of directors. CoWorks originally began as he put it. It wasn’t long before he became disinterested with the as a CenterState CEO project. It was an idea that Mitchell backed, inner workings of the system though. “I felt like you could do a lot and – true to character – did everything he could to support the more working outside of government than you could inside of it,” program, including finding initial sponsors. It’s ideas that stem from collaboration at places like Syracuse he explained. Mitchell then took a job at CenterState CEO, and entered the CoWorks, Startup Weekends or Hack Upstate that can help put world of venture and tech. After making an impact there for a few Syracuse and the Upstate area on the map. While the city will never years, he realized that though he was only 30 years old and had be New York City or San Francisco, it’s on its way to becoming done a lot, he wanted to take a shot at something on his own. one of the “secondary cities, where people can find an opportunity So he took the leap and started his own company, Upstate VC that’s affordable, but also gives them opportunity to actually Advisors, and began consulting statewide for venture funds. accomplish something,” Mitchell explained. He also cofounded a tech company, Odd Networks, that’s based Regardless of what city he’s in, Mitchell sees one discouraging out of Saratoga. Odd Networks is an “open-source platform element in the tech world: the lack of women. Across the board, designed to give you access to a powerful the ratio of men to women is about 95 to five, set of tools that enables you to launch your he said. While he doesn’t have “that silver own content-streaming service across an bullet” of an answer, Mitchell pondered if It’s my goal to help the array of mobile, tablet and connected TV the ubiquitous nature of technology might rest of the world see devices,” according to the company’s help level the playing field once the youngest website. Although it started as part-time generation grows up and enters the workforce. what’s happening here.” work, Mitchell now spends the majority For now, old-fashioned sexist notions like —Mitchell Patterson, of his time on Odd Networks, learning “the man is supposed to be the CEO” or from and working with the rest of the “girls don’t code” need to be eradicated, he entrepreneur startup team. said. One of the most talented tech designers Through his journey from politics to he knows lives locally and is a woman, he said, venture funds to entrepreneurship, Mitchell’s tendency to help adding that he suggests people connect with her anytime anyone is anyone whenever and wherever he can never wavered. looking for a recommendation. “The one thing I truly like to do is help make ideas become a “Highlighting people like that, and getting them more involved, reality,” he said, explaining that when he meets smart and driven and them showing how fantastic their work is. I think success entrepreneurs with good ideas and work ethics, he strives to help begets success, but we need to help make those opportunities more them grow their plans into actual companies. common, more frequent,” Mitchell said. “We need more of these A few years ago, Mitchell began founding Startup Weekends collisions between all of these people.” SWM across the state, the first of which he organized in Syracuse. The idea is that on Friday evening, people pitch ideas, everyone votes and the top 10 ideas get developed during the course of the weekend. A good friend of his cofounded the group internationally, and Mitchell thought Syracuse would be a good place to start. He was initially met with some serious doubt. For more information about Odd Networks, visit oddnetworks.com. For more on Hack Upstate, visit hackupstate.com. To learn more about “Everyone was like, ‘You’re crazy. No one’s going to give up their Startup Weekends, visit startupweekend.org. weekend. No one wants to do this,’” he said. “And the first one we did, we had 167 people show up.”

June 2016

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Entrepreneurs/WISE The Man Edition

SPECIAL FEATURE Miss CNY Scholarship Pageant

A Different Sort of Pageant By Lorna Oppedisano

hen you hear the word “pageant,” visions of reality TV crazies or, if you’re old school, “Miss Congeniality” might dance through your head. The Miss Central New York Scholarship Pageant is quite the opposite. “The pageant is more than just a fancy dress and a crown,” event founder and director Mia Adams McSherry explained. “It’s not about who has the longest hair and who has the prettiest eyes.” This annual event — now in its eighth year — was created when Mia moved to the area and realized how substantial the high school dropout rate was. She wanted to do something to change that and help inspire young women in Syracuse. Having been a pageant mom herself in Florida, she had experience in that world, and brought its positive aspects and benefits to Syracuse. Each year, she reaches out to advisors and guidance counselors from several local high schools — both public and private — to find girls in their last year of school who might be a good fit for the program. She realizes that the pageant isn’t for everyone, Mia said; not every 17-year-old is comfortable speaking on stage in front of a crowd of people. Her goals are to help these girls find themselves, build their fortitude, character and life skills, and be ready to take on the challenge of college with shoulders back and chins held high. She tries to keep the number of girls she works with each year to less than 15, as she coaches them closely on everything from public speaking to volunteering. This year, 11 girls are planning to take part in the pageant. For three months leading up to the actual event, the girls meet Mia for rehearsals at DeWitt Community Library, have dinners together, listen to successful women speak about their lives and do community service work. “The journey itself, I think, is the most important part,” Mia said. Once the day of the pageant hits, the experience culminates in

producing a set of more grown up, polished and confident girls, Mia explained. The event includes introductions, interviews, talent and formal. The girls are judged by a panel of local women involved in their community. At the end of the evening, the first-place winner is awarded the title, as well as $1,000 cash and about $500 in gifts and prizes; the first-runner up, $500 cash and about $300 in gifts and prizes; and the people’s choice winner, $300 cash and about $200 in gifts and prizes. All participants leave with gift bags. For the most part, Mia and her family financially fund the program, along with donations from various businesses. Mia stresses that the Miss CNY Scholarship Pageant is a community event. As someone who didn’t have an opportunity like this growing up, Mia aims to show the girls she works with that you don’t need tons of money to take part in a pageant. “There’s so much potential in these young women,” Mia said. “I just want to empower them and inspire them.” SWM This year’s Miss CNY Scholarship Pageant is slated for 5 p.m. Sunday, June 12 at the Everson Museum of Art, 401 Harrison St., Syracuse. Admission is $20 for adults and $10 for students. The money collected helps fund next year’s pageant. For more information, visit facebook.com/misscny or call 446-1166.

The journey itself, I think, is the most important part.” —Mia Adams McSherry, founder and director of the Miss CNY Scholarship Pageant

June 2016

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The Man Edition

Driving Ahead of the Green Curve

WBOC LEADING WOMAN Donna Curtin

Photography by Alice G. Patterson

By Lorna Oppedisano

One of the things I love about running my own shop is we’re very commited to the ‘green’ and the environment.” —Donna Curtin, Grace Auto Body and Paint founder and owner

t’s not easy being green, especially in the auto body business. Nor is it particularly easy being a woman in such a maledominated industry. Just ask Donna Curtin, founder and owner of Grace Auto Body and Paint. “One of the things I love about running my own shop is we’re very committed to the ‘green’ and the environment,” Donna said. Growing up, she was a “crusader for the environment,” she reminisced. Her father taught her about organic gardening and composting at a young age. Before she took the plunge into the car world, Donna was an illustrator and graphic designer, and worked for a time at Cornell University for departments dealing with wildlife, farming, water resources and veterinary science. Even after settling in the Syracuse area, she still belongs to the Greenstar Natural Foods Market Co-op in Ithaca, along with the Syracuse Real Food Co-op, and strives to support local farms and natural food stores. After a life-changing experience in her late 30s and early 40s, Donna realized that life really was short. Even though it was an uphill battle all the way, she decided to follow her passion and open Grace Auto Body and Paint. After an initial plan to open a franchise fell through, the process ended up being a several-year ordeal, a period during which she never gave up. Finally, in 2003, she saw her dream blossom into a reality. From the moment of opening, Donna’s been as committed to the environment in her business as she has been her whole life. “In 2003, ‘green’ wasn’t even a concept,” she explained. “But my mission was to seek out environmentally friendly stuff.” Grace Auto Body and Paint was the first in the country to install an EPA-rated zero hazardous waste paint gun washer. The parts washer they operate uses no volatile organic compounds technology.

When constructing the building, Donna had the heat built into the floors, not only for energy efficiency, but for a better working environment for her employees. The shop was recently awarded a NYSERDA grant to support a study into the feasibility of UV paint technology. And that’s only the beginning of the list. It’s not only the environment Donna’s aiming to care for; it’s her staff as well. Right now, she has two men working at Grace Auto Body and Paint, and she strives to create the best and safest conditions possible. When people walk into her shop, a large handful of them still seem surprised it’s owned and run by a woman, Donna said. But she receives a lot of good feedback. “One time I had a guy come in, who said, ‘You know what I love about your shop? It’s like a family,’” she said with a smile, explaining that often times with the larger shops, you might not get the same attention and hospitality you’d encounter at her shop. Compliments like that mean a lot to her, she said, especially because most of the time, customers interact with her employees. It proves that her efforts to create the best working conditions — both for the environment and her staff — have paid off. “I feel like I’ve made a comfortable enough environment for them to know that they can speak freely and say what they need to say,” Donna said. For more information on Grace Auto Body and Paint, located at 6300 E. Taft Road, N. Syracuse, visit graceautobody.com or call 458-0600. Women Business Opportunities Connections (WBOC) is a non-profit organization that has been supporting the Syracuse and CNY area for more than 20 years. To become a member, visit wboconnection.org or follow the organization on Twitter at @WBOConnection. Syracuse Woman Magazine is a signature sponsor of the WBOC.

June 2016

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UPCOMING SWM Events Wednesday, June 1 WBOC Annual Meeting When: 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. What: Annual meeting to celebrate the year. Where: Genesee Grande Hotel, 1060 E. Genesee St., Syracuse. Info: wboconnection.org. Thursday, June 2 Penning Our Stories, A Transformation Journey When: 6:30 p.m. What: Debut screening of film featuring local authors. Proceeds support Auburn Public Theater. Cost: $8. Where: Auburn Public Theater, 8 Exchange St., Auburn. Info: Auburn Public Theater, auburnpublictheater.org or 253-6669. Friday, June 3 & Saturday, June 4 Taste of Syracuse When: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day. What: Food and music festival. Cheap Trick to headline Saturday evening. Cost: Free admission. Where: Clinton Square, W. Genesee St. and S. Clinton St., Syracuse. Info: tasteofsyracuse.com. Saturday, June 4 Grand Reopening of Valley Thrifty Shopper When: Ribbon cutting ceremony, 9 a.m. What: Reopening of Valley Thrifty Shopper. All Thrifty Shopper proceeds benefit Rescue Mission. Where: 436 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. Info: Thrifty Shopper, iShopThrifty.org. Sunday, June 5 2016 Clam Jam When: 1 to 5 p.m. What: Clamcake features live music, helicopter rides, photo booth, horseshoes, raffles, adoptable dogs and more. Benefits CNYSPCA. Cost: Presale, $45; door, $50. Where: Spinning Wheel, 7384 Thompson Road North, Syracuse. Info: Krista, 460-0429. Tuesday, June 7 Annual SBDC Lender MatchMaker Event When: 8:30 a.m. to noon. What: Sponsored by Women TIES. Small business owners can talk with participating lenders. Cost: Free; registration required at eventbrite.com/e/lender-matchmaker tickets-15895468775. Where: Academic II Building, Onondaga Community College, 4585 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. Info: womenties.com. 48

Thursday, June 9 Taste of Success Celebrity Chef Challenge When: 5:30 to 8 p.m. What: Hosted by Wegmans. Presented by AXA. Benefits Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection in Syracuse. Cost: $35. Where: SRC Arena & Events Center, Onondaga Community College, 4585 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. Info: Laurie Walker at Hillside Family of Agencies, 317-9481 or lwalker@hillside.com; hillside.com. Thursday, June 9 through Sunday, June 12 43rd Annual Greek Cultural Festival When: 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday; 5 to 10 p.m. Friday; noon to 10 p.m. Saturday; noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. What: Includes live music, folk dancing, Greek food, marketplace, church tours and more. Where: St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church, 325 Waring Road, Syracuse. Info: syracusegreekfest.com. Friday, June 10 & Saturday, June 11 Empire Brewfest & Winefest When: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday; 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday. What: Includes craft beers, wine, music, food, vendors. Cost: Daily Brewfest in advance, $35; daily Brewfest at door, $45; Brewfest weekend in advance, $65; Brewfest weekend at door, $70. Winefest weekend in advance, $25; Winefest weekend at door, $35. Where: Empire Expo Center, NYS Fairgrounds, 581 State Fair Blvd., Syracuse. Info: empirebrewfest.com. Friday, June 10 through Sunday, June 12 Syracuse Polish Festival When: 4 to 10:30 p.m. Friday; noon to 10:30 p.m. Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. What: Features Polish food, music, dance, crafters, imported goods, customs and more. Proceeds benefit Polish-American Scholarship fund. Where: Clinton Square, W. Genesee St. and S. Clinton St., Syracuse. Info: Polish-American Scholarship fund, polishscholarship.org. Friday, June 10 Syracuse Stage Gala When: 9 p.m. What: Fundraiser for Syracuse Stage includes performance by Madeleine Peyroux. Cost: $200; VIP tickets, $300; general admission balcony concert tickets, $25. Where: Goldstein Auditorium, Schine Student Center, Syracuse University, 303 University Place, Syracuse. Info: syracusestage.org.

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The Man Edition

Friday, June 10 Country Barn Party When: 6 to 11 p.m. What: Includes live music, food, dancing and more. Hosted by Wanderers’ Rest Humane Association. Cost: In advance, $50; at door, $60. Where: Jesse’s Place, 7250 Shanley Road, Deansboro. Info: Wanderers’ Rest, wanderersrest.org or 697-2796. Friday, June 10 through Sunday, June 12 Spring Festivus When: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day. What: Includes local artists, crafters, farmers, nutritionists, businesses and musicians. Where: Green Planet Grocery, 6195 State Route 31, Cicero. Info: Green Planet Grocery Cicero, greenplanetgrocerycicero.com or 699-4741. Saturday, June 11 and Sunday, June 12 CNY Fiber Artists Fiber Festival When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. What: Includes vendors, animals, children’s activities and more. Where: Butternut Hill Campground, 6893 Route 20, Bouckville. Info: CNY Fiber Artists, cnyfiber.org. Sunday, June 12 City Market When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. What: Features antiques, crafts, art, repurposed items and more. Cost: Free admission. Where: Armory Square, downtown Syracuse. Info: facebook.com/City-Market-721536637911428. Sunday, June 12 Socci Stiletto Stampede When: Registration, 9 a.m.; 50-yard dash, 11 a.m.; 5K, 11:15 a.m.; lunch and awards, noon. What: Includes live music, local vendors, basket raffles, cash bar and more. Benefits Vera House and Cayuga/ Seneca Community Action Coalition. Cost: $40; children, $20. Where: Lodge at Welch Allyn, 4355 State Street Road, Skaneateles Falls. Info: soccistiletto.org. Tuesday, June 14 Art Journaling for the Art and Soul When: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. What: Learn how to art journal. This month’s theme is inspire. Cost: $10 donation to Ophelia’s Place. Where: Cafe at 407, 407 Tulip St., Liverpool. Info: Canino’s Artistic Cafe, facebook.com/CaninosArtisticCafe.

Thursday, June 16 Red Hot. Red Heart. When: 5:30 to 7 p.m. What: Hosted by the American Heart Association. Includes cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, silent auction, music and more. Benefits Go Red Syracuse. Cost: $50; two tickets for $80; 10 tickets for $350. Where: Marriott Syracuse Downtown, 500 S. Warren St., Syracuse. Info: syracusegored.heart.org. Saturday, June 18 Art on the Porches When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. What: Includes art, music, food and community. Presented by Greater Strathmore Neighborhood Association. Where: Ruskin Ave., Syracuse. Info: artontheporches.org. Friday, June 17 to Sunday, June 19 Ironman 70.3 Syracuse When: Various events, 2 to 7 p.m. Friday and 8 to 5 p.m. Saturday; race start, 7 a.m. Sunday. What: Weekend includes various events leading up to race on Sunday. Cost: $285. Where: Athlete check-in, Jamesville Beach Park, 3992 Apulia Road, Jamesville. Info: ironman.com. Friday, June 24 through Sunday, June 26 Jamesville Balloonfest When: 4 to 11 p.m. Friday; 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday; 1 to 11 p.m. Sunday. What: Includes hot air balloons, music, art, crafts, food, drinks and more. Cost: Free admission. Where: Jamesville Beach Park, 4110 W. Shore Manor, Jamesville. Info: syracuseballoonfest.com. Saturday, June 25 Ride & Run for the Rescue When: Bike registration, 6 a.m.; run registration, 7:30 a.m.; various start times range from 7 to 10:30 a.m. What: Choose from two-mile fun run, 5K run or various-mile bike rides to benefit Rescue Mission. Where: Long Branch Park, 3813 Long Branch Road, Liverpool. Info: Visit rideandrun.org to learn more about how to register and times.

June 2016

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