by Andrea Palmer
Technological progress continues to enhance business operations. With advances come new pitfalls and opportunities for growth, particularly for the small business owner.
“With the popularity of ‘the cloud’ over the past five years, it’s been an unprecedented time for cloud- or web-based software solutions designed specifically for small businesses to function and remain competitive,” said Carl LeGere, owner of EmpireTech in Queensbury. The company serves many small businesses, with some emphasis on construction and medical.
Security is another large issue. LeGere said damage related to cybercrime is projected to hit $6 trillion annually by the year 2021.
“With this trend, it is critical to have a layered approach to cybersecurity,” said LeGere. “This should include training employees in security principles and phishing prevention, using multiple layers to protect your network and cloud data from attack, having a handle on what private or critical information is on mobile devices, and having a way to wipe those devices if they’re lost or compromised.”
“Larger companies have entire tech teams to keep them functioning and safe,” said LeGere. “Smaller businesses need a technology partner that supports them in the same way the larger companies’ tech departments do.”
Business Report: Design Trends To Boost Productivity, Satisfaction
By Dorothy Rogers-Bullis
At some point along the way, the term “trendy” became pejorative—a design concept to be avoided—evoking images of orange shag carpet and Harvest Gold appliances.
When it comes to office design, however, the latest trends aren’t just about flash-in-the-pan materials or color palettes. More often than not, today’s innovations in workplace technology and space planning allow for increased productivity, better ergonomics, and higher employee satisfaction.
Is your workspace keeping up with the times? Here are just a few of the many trends we are seeing in workplace design in 2019.
“Resimercial” style
Increasingly, office workers are seeking the comfortable furniture and settings they enjoy at home, but companies still desire the durability of traditional office products and materials.
Blending residential warmth and familiarity with pragmatic commercial design elements, the so-called “resimercial” trend sits at the intersection of the home and the office. This less formal, highly adaptable style appeals to younger workers, as well as to forward-thinking industries like technology and marketing. It can boost productivity, creativity, and even employee wellness.
SUNY Empire State Launches New Online Master’s Degree In Information Technology
SUNY Empire State College’s School for Graduate Studies is offering a new online Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT).
Online MSIT students choose one of two tracks: cyber security or web technology.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics there will be a 12 percent growth from 2016-2026 in employment opportunities for computer and information systems managers. This is the fastest growth than the average for all occupations, college officials said.
Not only is it among the fastest growing section, it is well-paying with the median annual wage for computer and information systems managers of $142,530 in May 2018. Moreover, the state Department of Labor reports that long-term occupational employment projections for computer systems analysts and information security analysts are “very favorable,” the department’s highest ranking, and that experienced information security analysts earn nearly $150,000 per year.
Business Report: What New Data Breach Law Means
by Richard Ruzzo
On July 26, the Shield Act was signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to direct that better security measures and policies are put in place by all business that store, maintain or electronically handle non-public personal information (NPPI) to help protect against hackers obtaining an individual’s personal and private information.
The law is set to take effect March 21.
What determines a breach in a security system?
A breach occurs when one’s NPPI is exposed, made vulnerable or stolen from the host organization by unscrupulous data thieves. The information at risk and covered by the new statue is as follows:
Any data that is compromised and consisting of any combination of; name, Social Security number, driver’s license number or non-driver identification card, account number, credit card number, security access code, password or PIN to a financial account, username/email address with a security question/password and any biometric data information based on unique features that can be viewed digitally.
Businesses that are already regulated and that need to comply with data breach notifications for state or federal laws are also covered by the statue and must contact the state Attorney General, the Consumer Protection Board and the State Police if a breach occurs.
Real Estate Professionals Say Local Market Is Strong For Both Residential And Commercial
By Jill Nagy
Area real estate brokers expressed glee recently as they described the current local market, using expressions like “great,” “excellent,” “very, very strong,” “unusually hot,” and “booming,.”
Inventory, especially of houses at the lower end of the price range, is low and a new listing rarely stays on the market for more than a week, they said.
Susan Kassal of All American Properties in Glens Falls, said she showed a townhouse on a Sunday and received three offers for it by the following Monday.
“Literally within minutes of being listed, they are sold,” said Daniel Davies of Davies-Davies & Associates in Queensbury—but admitted that he was exaggerating a bit.
People are attracted by relatively low prices, favorable financing, a stock of historic buildings, and the beauty of the area. Peter Hoffman of Glen Street Associates in Glens Falls, for example, recalled when he was practically laughed out of a local banker’s office when he asked for a $1 million loan. Today, loans of $7 million or more are not unusual. Bankers are more willing to lend because they have seen successful projects, he said.
On the commercial side, many buyers are looking for investment property. With a volatile stock market and low interest rates on savings and bonds, investors see real estate as a stable investment, said Davies.
Exchange Street Property In Glens Falls Sells For Nearly $350,000; No Changes Planned
By Christine Graf
Buddha Ventures, an LLC owned by Nancy Scumaci of Bolton Landing, purchased property at 16 Exchange St. in Glens Falls for $348,250.
The 4,000-square-foot building is home to Milk & Honey, Juicin’ Jar and Advokate LLC. It also includes a private two-story apartment that is occupied by a tenant.
Ann Parrish, the owner of Milk and Honey, purchased the building in 2005. It was not on the market at the time Scumaci expressed interest in buying it.
Business Report: Before Signing Commercial Lease, See This
By Jennifer Tsyn
Whether your business is just starting up, expanding, or relocating, you are likely to find yourself negotiating a lease. Of major concern to most commercial tenants are the maintenance, upkeep and repair of their space and the entire building. These issues should be carefully negotiated and then written into the lease.
1. Who is responsible for repairs and maintenance of the tenant’s space?
Commercial leases often require that tenants maintain, repair and replace those portions of the HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and water and sewer systems that are located inside or outside of the leased space, but which exclusively serve the leased space.
Tenants should always take steps to learn whether the heating, cooling and ventilation for their space will be provided by a shared HVAC unit or a designated HVAC unit, and whether that unit will be considered to be inside their space or outside of it (for example, if there is a rooftop unit).
In addition, tenants should be aware that maintenance, repair, and replacement are not the same thing, and each should be addressed. If the tenant is going to be required to “maintain” any of the HVAC or other systems, the tenant should make sure to know if they will need to enter into a contract for regular maintenance with an outside provider, and, if so, how much that is expected to cost.
Business Briefs: October 2019
The Glens Falls Collaborative will hold its annual Boo2You Halloween festival on Saturday, Oct. 26, from 2-4 p.m.
People are encouraged to attend in costume to trick-or-treat and enjoy the festivities. The rain date is Sunday, Oct. 27, 2-4 p.m.
Activities along Glen Street, and in City Park include trick-or-treating at downtown storefronts, meet and greet with costumed characters, performances by local dance schools, and a Fun Zone, including pony rides, petting zoo and games.
This year, there will also be a Candy Row on Ridge Street for senior citizen residents of Cronin high-rise to hand out candy, and a Harry Potter-themed Hogwarts School tour at St. Mary’s-St. Alphonsus School at 10 Church St., courtesy of the SMSA Parent-Teacher Association.
New for 2019 is a carved pumpkin contest.Participants must pre-register at www.glensfallscollaborative.com/boo-2-you/ by Oct. 24. Attendees can vote on their favorite pumpkin and prizes will be handed out at 4 p.m. in front of the Wood Theater.
Melissa Brennan Goes From Running Daycare To Owning Health-Conscious Restaurant
by Andrea Palmer
Prior to opening Fresh ADK, a restaurant at 11 South St. in Glens Falls, Melissa Brennan owned and operated daycare centers for 21 years. In 2015, she became sick and gained weight.
It led to starting a business that pays attention to healthy eating.
“My body started to shut down, and I didn’t know why. So I left the daycare business. I literally thought I was dying,” said Brennan.
“I found out it was all food-related. I took time to figure out myself what was wrong, because there wasn’t a doctor who could tell me. I’d always wanted to try something new, and I knew there were other people like me who had food-related sickness. So I opened the restaurant,” she said.
Brennan chose to operate the business almost entirely by herself.
Briana Lyons Creates Wide Ranging Business Doing Photography, Social Media Consulting
Courtesy The Yellow Note
By Rachel Phillips
In a digital world of iPhones and social media, one local woman started a business to help people connect “the old-fashioned way.”
Briana Lyons started The Yellow Note in 2013 as a small Etsy shop that sold stationery and custom address stamps. Though rewarding, her career in social work had left her lacking a creative outlet, inspiring her to open her store.
As a means of promoting her products, she created an Instagram account where she shared photos of her family and lifestyle along with her products. To her surprise, her photography became popular, and The Yellow Note, located out of Lyons’ home in Glens Falls, has since evolved into a multi-faceted business and studio.