Month: April 2024

Arnoff Moving & Storage Will Cut The Ribbon On The Next 100 Years As A Family Business

April 17, 2024

A true family business, several generations of the Arnoff clan are guiding the enterprise started by Abraham and Phyllis Arnoff into its second century.
Courtesy of Arnoff Logistics

By Susan Elise Campbell

Arnoff Moving & Storage achieves another milestone this spring with its 100-year anniversary as a family corporation. What was started in 1924 by generations one and two with Abraham Arnoff and his son Louis is now under the management of generations three, four and five.

How future generations will impact the growth of the company when they come on board, time will tell, if they first follow one family rule.

“My grandmother Phyllis had the idea, I was told, that any family member has the opportunity to join the business but must have worked for at least a year at another company,” said Dan Arnoff, chief relationship manager and company spokesperson who oversees sales, marketing and human resources. “She is the one who enforced the rule.”

Phyllis Arnoff has passed away, but her husband Richard, generation three, is the firm’s CEO. The president is their son Michael and his wife Lisa is executive vice president and corporate counsel. Their sons Dan and Craig, the latter a CPA and the company’s chief operating officer, are also operating the firm alongside their cousin Nick, vice president of fleet and safety, and uncle Mark, who manages a separate moving company in southern Florida.

Entrepreneurship Programs In Area Provide Valuable Information For Small Businesses

April 17, 2024

Kate Austin, a local entrepreneur and owner of Advokate, received help from Start-Up ADK in starting her firm that specializes in web and graphic design, branding, PR, mareting and social media.
Glens Falls Business Journal

By Paul Post

Bert Weber got so much help from his small business mentor that he named a beer after him.

A retired BOCES horticulture and landscape design teacher, Weber co-owns South Glens Falls-based Common Roots Brewing Company, which has blossomed into one of the region’s largest craft breweries since its founding 10 years ago.

Weber credits much of its success to programs such as SCORE, the nation’s largest network of volunteer expert business mentors; and Start-Up ADK, an eight week non-credit SUNY Adirondack course for small business owners and entrepreneurs that includes business planning and topics such as marketing, bookkeeping, legal issues, financial projections, human resources and small business tools.

“Everyone has a great idea and wants to get started, but there’s the business part of it, things like finance, insurance, regulations and licensing that you have to consider; things you don’t want to think about, but are really necessary as a new business starting out” Weber said. “They talked a lot about pitfalls you should avoid.”

Application Period For Leadership Adirondack Is Announced By The Chamber Of Commerce

April 17, 2024

Leadership Adirondack is designed for business people who want to make a positive impact.
Courtesy ARCC

The Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce (ARCC) has announced the application period for their Leadership Adirondack program for 2024-25. The ARCC Leadership Adirondack program is designed for individuals who demonstrate a potential for community leadership and a sincere commitment, motivation and interest in serving the community in which they live or work.

“We are thrilled to welcome applications for our 2024-25 Leadership Adirondack program,” said ARCC President & CEO Tricia Rogers. “Strong communities are built and sustained by effective local leaders, and our region is a testimony to this. We have seen past Leadership Adirondack participants go on to do great things.”

Leadership Adirondack is a dynamic, interactive program that provides skill development and community immersion experiences that enables participants to grow personally and professionally as they explore issues and opportunities in Warren and Washington counties.

Through a combination of class time and industry tours, Leadership Adirondack develops the leadership potential of participants and builds a solid foundation of informed, action-orientated, productive employees and citizens.

The Blue Zones Spokesperson Is The Keynote Speaker At Glens Falls Earth Day Celebration

April 17, 2024

Tony Buettner will speak about the Blue Zones movement at Glens Falls’ Earth Day celebration.
Courtesy of Blue Zones

The Glens Falls Earth Day Planning Committee, consisting of Crandall Library, Sustainable PR, and the City of Glens Falls, has announced the centerpiece of this year’s Earth Day celebration – An exclusive presentation by Tony Buettner, the national spokesperson for the esteemed Blue Zones movement.

This year’s Earth Day celebration will take place on Saturday, April 20, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Glens Falls City Park, embracing the theme “Sustainable Futures.” At the heart of this year’s celebration lies the profound message of longevity and well-being brought forth by Buettner’s presentation. As the national spokesperson for Blue Zones, Buettner brings a wealth of knowledge and insights garnered from years of research on communities worldwide where residents live remarkably long and healthy lives.

Featured prominently in the Netflix documentary “Live to 100,” the Blue Zones movement advocates for lifestyle and environmental changes to promote healthy living. Buettner’s presentation will delve into the core principles behind the Blue Zones philosophy, offering practical strategies for the Glens Falls Community and its residents to adopt these life-enhancing practices.

Personnel Briefs: April 2024

April 17, 2024

NBT Bank has announced that Craig Seybolt has joined NBT as Senior Vice President and Regional Commercial Banking Manager. In this role, Seybolt will work closely with regional leaders and the commercial relationship team to support commercial customers throughout the North Country and Glens Falls region.

Seybolt comes to NBT Bank with considerable experience in commercial lending and leadership. Most recently, he served as Vice President and Corporate Banking Manager at Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Co. in Glens Falls, where he managed a commercial lending team responsible for overseeing a substantial loan portfolio, including ancillary banking products and services.

“We are thrilled to welcome Craig to the NBT team,” said NBT Bank Regional Executive Marc Monahan. “His commitment and extensive knowledge of the businesses and communities from the North Country to the Capital Region will be a great asset to our customers.”

Seybolt holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and business from The State University of New York, Plattsburgh. Active in his community, he serves as board trustee for The Hyde Collection and president of the Glens Falls Kiwanis Foundation. He also volunteers with South Glens Falls Youth Baseball and the Kiwanis Club of Glens Falls. Seybolt resides in South Glens Falls.

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Advokate, LLC has announced the appointment of Jessica Ryle as Marketing and Communications Director.

Ms. Ryle has been employed at Advokate since August 2023, with her start as as Marketing & Operations Associate. She brings exceptional skills in social media management, a careful eye to brand guidelines, project management savvy, and is on top of trends and tools.

“Jess is so capable and reliable,” says Kate Austin, Founder and CEO of Advokate, which she established in 2010. “She is perfect for this role. She was one of my first clients and I remembered how quickly she picks up learning new things, and I saw how that evolved through different efforts of hers. Her organization skills, attention to detail and excellent communication are so key.”

Ms. Ryle says, “I love the sense of connection to the community I feel through our work at Advokate. Helping small businesses shine is amazing. My history dabbling in social media marketing and working on websites — which I learned from Kate! — set me up with the perfect base of skills to use everyday in my new position here!”

Prior to working with Advokate, Ms. Ryle founded Vegan Outdoor Adventures, a popular website that served as a guide for vegan gear, and Adirondack Animal Rights. She operated a successful Etsy shop selling crochet hats and other items. She holds a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from the University at Albany, and is often recognized from her ten years at Raul’s, where she got to know the community and everyone in it. She also currently helps manage wholesale orders for Rock Hill Bakehouse.

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Saratoga Springs Resident Is The First Woman Elected President Of Horsemen’s Association

April 17, 2024

Tina Marie Bond, first woman elected president of national Thoroughbred Horseman’s Association.

The Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (THA) held its annual meeting and election of officers in South Florida March 19-20. Tina Marie Bond, president of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (NYTHA), was elected president of the national organization. She is the first woman to head the THA since its inception in 1994.

“It’s an honor to be elected president of such an esteemed collective,” Bond said. “THA is at the forefront of collaborative decision-making and policy implementation on issues such as racehorse aftercare, equine safety and welfare, and protecting the integrity of our sport. I look forward to leading the organization as it addresses the challenges that horsemen and women face on local, regional, and national levels.”

Chris Block, president of ITHA, and David Richardson, executive director of MTHA, were elected as vice presidents. Michael Musto, executive director of NJTHA, and Bessie Gruwell, executive director of DTHA, will serve as treasurer and secretary, respectively.

Bond, who with her husband Jim own Song Hill Thoroughbreds LLC in Saratoga Springs, follows previous THA presidents Michael Martin, Rick Violette Jr., and Joe Appelbaum.

Empire Pizza Opens New Location in Saratoga Springs, Plans Fifth in Ballston Spa

April 17, 2024

Lihan Bozkurt’s rapidly expanding chain of Empire Pizza restaurants includes those in Glens Falls, Hudson Falls, Corinth, and Saratoga Springs.
Saratoga Business Journal

By Jill Nagy

Lihan Bozkurt plans to open his fifth Empire Pizza restaurant next January in Ballston Spa. He recently purchased an I Love New York Pizza outlet and is in the process of renovating it to join his growing family of Empire Pizza outlets.

Empire Pizza restaurants are located in Corinth, Glens Falls, Hudson Falls, and the newly opened one on South Broadway in Saratoga Springs. Bozkurt’ opened his first location in Glens Falls in 2009. Further expansion is planned for Clifton Park and Amsterdam. Bozkurt plans to develop the chain into a franchise operation. The first franchises are slated for long-time employees; others will be sold to non-employees.

The Ballston Spa restaurant is planned to seat between 20 and 25 customers. It will also offer take-out service and delivery. Customers will be able order online or in person, as they can at other Empire Pizza outlets.

Consumer Sentiment In New York Improving In Spite Of High Prices In Some Segments

April 17, 2024

The New York State Index of Consumer Sentiment now stands at 76.9 up 2.8 points from the last measurement in the fourth quarter of 2023 and one point above the breakeven point at which optimism and pessimism are balanced according to the latest poll by the Siena College Research Institute (SCRI). Nationally, the overall index increased nearly 10 points this quarter. New York’s overall Index of Consumer Sentiment is 2.5 points below the national index of 79.4. New York’s current index increased 0.8 points to 72.4 and the future index increased 4.1 points to 79.8. Future confidence in New York is now 4.9 points above the breakeven point of balanced optimism and pessimism and 2.4 points higher than national future confidence.

“Consumer sentiment is gaining upward momentum. Nationally the index, up 9.7 points this quarter, stands 28 points higher than at this time last year. In New York, the index is up 2.8 points this quarter and 14.5 points higher than a year ago. The national numbers are above the breakeven point of balanced optimism and pessimism for the first time in three years and while in New York the current score remains below breakeven, New Yorkers top the nation in future optimism. Still, high prices in the grocery stores continue to impact over three-quarters of residents. While pump price shock is the lowest we’ve seen in three years, a majority also see housing and utility costs seriously affecting their finances”, according to Don Levy, SCRI’s Director.

In the first quarter of 2024, buying plans were down for cars/trucks at 19.7% (from 22.9%). Buying plans were up for consumer electronics at 47.9% (from 45.4%), for furniture at 29.8% (from 26.8%), for homes at 8.3% (from 6.4%) and up slightly for major home improvements at 22.7% (from 22.2%).

Fifty percent (down from 55% last quarter and the lowest since March 2021) of all New Yorkers say that current gasoline prices are having a very serious or somewhat serious impact on their financial condition. Seventy-seven percent (up from 75% last quarter) of state residents indicate that the amount of money they spend on groceries is having either a very serious or somewhat serious impact on their finances.

A Pair Of Local Hikers Are The Subject Of The Documentary Film “An Above Average Day”

April 17, 2024

Ray O’Conor and Joe Murphy are subjects of a documentary on their hiking adventures.
Courtesy of Veda Film Company

By Paul Post

Saratoga National Bank & Trust Company has $1.1 billion in assets and works hard to support and improve the financial futures of all its business and personal clients throughout the Capital Region.

When Chairman Raymond F. O’ Conor — he’s been with the bank since its 1988 founding — needs a break from such responsibilities he and hiking partner Joe Murphy head to the mountains for “An Above Average Day.”

That’s the title of a new documentary film scheduled to debut at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24 on WMHT-PBS in conjunction with Earth Week.

“If you told me a few years ago that a pair of superb filmmakers, Katera and Aviral Kapoor of the Veda Film Company, would feature my buddy Joe and I in a documentary film I wouldn’t have believed it,” said O’ Conor, a Wilton resident.

O’Conor, 69, and Murphy, 39, a SUNY Albany academic advisor, of Halfmoon, have hiked more than 4,000 miles and climbed more than 400 peaks since a chance meeting — or was it fate? — on an Adirondack Mountain Club group hike in 2009.

They are Adirondack 46ers and Catskill 3500 Club members, having summited every mountain in both summer and winter, and have also achieved the prestigious feat of climbing all 115 mountains in the Northeast with an elevation of 4,000 feet or more.

Tremendous Growth Of Eastern Heating And Cooling Is Due To A Well-Trained Workforce

April 17, 2024

Buddy Tricarick (seated), president, and Travis Giardinelli, vice president of service, lead a team of experienced technicians at Eastern Heating and Cooling. Saratoga Business Journal

By Christine Graf

Established in 1945, Albany-based Eastern Heating and Cooling provides HVAC services to commercial and industrial customers throughout Upstate New York, Western Massachusetts, and Southern Vermont. In 1997, the company joined with 11 other businesses to establish Comfort Systems USA, a publicly-traded company that has grown to include 170 locations across the United States.

“We are owned by Comfort Systems USA which is now a $5 billion company,” said Buddy Tricarick, president of Eastern Heating and Cooling. “We specialize in design, build, installation, maintenance service, and building automation,”

An Air Force veteran, Tricarick began his career at the company 15 years ago, rapidly climbing the company ladder.

“I started out in the construction department, working in the tool crib handing out tools,” he said. “I worked my way up to assistant construction manager and then construction manager/safety director.”

In addition to installing, replacing, and servicing existing HVAC systems, Eastern Heating and Cooling has an in-house engineering department that is able to assist with the design-build and plan-and-spec process. The company also has its own sheet metal shop where ductwork is fabricated and installed.