Jake Van Ness, Author at Glens Falls Business Journal

Jake Van Ness

2231 Articles

Business Report: Insights For Commercial Properties

October 11, 2018October 11, 2018

Alfred Testa, vice president and senior commercial banking relationship manager, NBT Bank.

By Alfred Testa

Regardless of whether commercial property owners have one or multiple properties, are looking to acquire new property, or renovate or develop new space, financing is always an integral part of the process.

In Glens Falls, old spaces are becoming new again as a resurgence in millennials is driving new demand. In Saratoga Springs, continued growth downtown is bringing more residential development and mixed-use spaces.

Whether your focus is on multi-family housing, self-storage, mixed-used properties, office space or retail, the opportunities for commercial property acquisition remain strong. But without a good relationship with a commercial banker, getting through the process can be very challenging.

Taking time to ask questions up front could help you avoid three of the most common frustrations when it comes to commercial financing.

Local offices and local lenders

It’s important to have a banking partner that understands the market and can move through the process quickly, whether funding at closing or construction over time. Locally, NBT Bank believes a reasonable expectation is to be able to meet within a few days of the commercial property owner’s outreach to a loan officer. After that initial meeting, the application process begins, followed by bank underwriting, and ultimately a commitment letter once the bank approves the loan.

Susan Porlier Turns A Love For Animals Into Successful Dog Daycare, Boarding Business

October 11, 2018October 11, 2018

Susan Porlier operates Bellyrubs Doggie Daycare sites in Hudson Falls and Gansevoort.

BY JENNIFER FARNSWORTH

For Susan Porlier, finding success has come with doing what she loves to do. She always knew she loved animals, so she found a way to make a living n that field.

Now, it’s been over a decade since she first opened Bellyrubs Doggie Daycare and her passion for dogs is still fueling her success. She has two sites, at 44 Feeder St. in Hudson Falls and 1089 Saratoga Road, Gansevoort.

“I have been in business for 13 1/2 years. I now have two locations and 14 employees. I never in my wildest dreams thought my idea of a doggie daycare and boarding facility would take off like it did. We also do dog grooming and training,” Porlier said.

Porlier said she always looked after family pets. She came to a point in her life where she decided to give up her career in the medical field and pursue her dream of opening her own daycare and boarding facility.

“I never knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. I never went to college. I have always loved animals, so when I came up with this idea, I finally knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I am truly blessed,” said Porlier.

Rachel Dutra’s Entrepreneurial Spirit Moved Her Into The Spice And Food Business

October 11, 2018October 11, 2018

Rachel Dutra and her husband, Dave Dutra, opened Rachel’s Café and Spice Co.

By Maureen Werther

Growing up, Rachel Dutra, co-owner of Rachel’s Café and Spice Co., resisted the entrepreneurial urge that seems to run in her family’s DNA. Her grandfather opened Castaway Marina after serving in the U.S. Navy. Her father also started his own business, with the family eventually opening and operating the East End Eatery in Glens Falls until they retired about a year ago.

“I always said I wasn’t going to go the entrepreneur route. I intended to do the ‘safe’ thing. But I was just really born to run my own business,” said Dutra.

Rachel and her husband, Dave Dutra, opened Rachel’s Café and Spice Co. in September at the site of the now closed East End Eatery 240 Warren St. Her background includes a master’s degree in education and teaching. Her husband was involved in the amusement park industry, working for Charles Wood and eventually working in the food operations at the Great Escape for about 12 years.

When her family asked her to come back seven years ago to help out at East End Eatery, Dutra cautioned them that it would only be temporary. “But here I am, seven years later,” she said. Within six months, she had helped double the business and made some big changes.

Deana Endieveri At NEPROMO Promotes Brands With Environmentally Safe Items

October 11, 2018October 11, 2018

Deana Endieveri is the managing partner of NEPROMO in South Glens Falls.

By Susan E. Campbell

NEPROMO is a locally owned promotional products company that has the distinction of being operated by four people who have been friends and business partners since their college days in the 1990s.

Deana Endieveri, managing partner, and her friend Kindra Chamberlain, had one table-top printer back then and sold silk-screened T-shirts dorm-to-dorm. Now the two women, along with their co-owning husbands, Mike and Jim, have seven embroidery machines and five screen printers Production takes up the entire former Coca Cola bottling plant at 95 Main St. in South Glens Falls.

NEPROMO is a company that will put a name or logo on just about anything to help build that client’s brand, as long as the product has been tested to be safe, lead-free and ethically made.

“Never did I think I was going to own a business and be a managing partner,“ said Endieveri. “Things just happened in this collective of ours.”

Endieveri was a communications major in college and heading to be a journalist, she said. But when she was exposed to a friend’s business she realized “we had something in front of us that had potential.”

State: Number Of MWBEs Involved In NYS Contracts Is The Highest In The United States

October 11, 2018October 11, 2018

The utilization rate for Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises participating in state contracts increased to 28.62 percent for the 2017-18 fiscal year, the highest in the nation, according to state officials.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced in early October that MWBEs won more than $2.5 billion in state contracts during that time.

The announcement was made Oct. 4 in conjunction with New York state’s eighth annual MWBE Forum at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany.

“New York is building a stronger tomorrow by ensuring that our minority-and women-owned businesses have the opportunity to grow and thrive,” Cuomo said. “Our nation-leading utilization rate is a testament to our unparalleled network of MWBEs that continues to grow in size and scope, reflecting the state’s rich diversity.”

“As a woman who helped start a family women-owned small business, I know firsthand the barriers faced by aspiring entrepreneurs,” said Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul. “We are leading the nation in our MWBE utilization, increasing the rate to nearly 29 percent. We must do everything in our power to provide opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses, and we’re continuing to expand the state’s program to help break down barriers and help entrepreneurs take their business to the next level.”

Look Of Today’s Office Spaces Features Both Open And Private Spaces, Designers Say

October 11, 2018October 11, 2018

This is an open office space collaboration area featuring Rockwell library tables and seating by Knoll, from Dorothy Rogers-Bullis of drb Office Interiors.
Courtesy drb Office Interiors

By Jill Nagy

Today’s offices often combine open areas with private conference space, may be furnished more like a living room or cafe than a traditional office, and allow for people to work either sitting or standing up, according to two Saratoga office designers, Lisa Boyle of the Boyle Group and Dorothy Rogers-Bullis of drb Office Interiors.

Boyle sees a trend toward “well-certified buildings,” similar to LEED-certified but focused on the health needs of the people inside the building.

“It’s a huge trend,” she said.

It may include ergonomically designed chairs, stand-up desks, task lighting that focuses on the work surface, locally controlled heating and cooling, and a lot of greenery. She noted that millenials, who now constitute a third of the workforce, are very concerned about their health and well-being.

Artificial Intelligence Apps Are Among Those That Can Aid Companies In Today’s IT World

October 11, 2018October 11, 2018

Dawn LeGere is the president and co-owner of Empiretech, with an office in Queenssbury.
Courtesy Empiretech

By Jennifer Farnsworth

For small business owners, navigating through all of the IT options available can seem overwhelming.

Among them is the use of AI, or artificial intelligence, which can provide countless benefits to a business The trick is learning how pick and choose what best meets company’s needs.

According to Dawn LeGere, president and co-owner with her husband, Carl LeGere, of Empiretech, which has an office in Queensbury, more and more apps and platforms that harness the abilities of AI will, and have, become available for all types of small businesses to use.

LeGere said people are becoming accustomed to using apps like Siri and Alexa in their personal lives, becoming more comfortable in adopting and utilizing AI. She said businesses should continue to look for apps that track consumer behavior, “bots” that provide automatic online customer communication and feedback and AI systems that streamline and enhance HR procedures.

Many more types of AI enterprise level technologies will continue to become available and affordable for small businesses.

Business Advisor Michael Cruz Pens Book That Guides People Through Hiring Process

October 11, 2018October 11, 2018

Michael Cruz of Lighthouse Advisors LLC has written a new book available at Amazon.

By Susan E. Campbell

A new book by local business advisor Michael Cruz is aimed at helping managers at all levels acquire the skills to employ the best people and retain them longer.

“Hire The People You Want (And The Questions You Must Ask To Get Them)” aggregates the insights and tips Cruz has acquired helping clients of his consulting firm, Lighthouse Advisors LLC out of Queensbury, to manage their rapid growth, for which building infrastructure, support and an executive team are key components.

“Most people don’t have the skills to hire the best candidates and no one wants to take the time to learn,” said Cruz.

Before founding his firm in 1999, Cruz ran marketing departments in the corporate sector and honed his skills as a communicator.

StoredTech Named Again By Inc. Magazine As One Of The 5,000 Fastest Growing Companies

October 11, 2018October 11, 2018

Mark Shaw started StoredTech in 2010. The company has an office in Queensbury.
©2018 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Jennifer Farnsworth

IT provider StoredTech has again been recognized by Inc. magazine’s as one of the fast-growing companies in America.

The company was added to Inc.’s top 5000 list for 2018, something StoredTech owner Mark Shaw said is due to their unwavering focus on customer service.

Inc. is a monthly publication focused on growing companies. It named StoredTech 2,555 out of 5,000 in 2017.

In 2016, the company was ranked 1,113 in the magazine’s ranking of 5,000. According to the magazine, StoredTech showed a 167 percent growth over the last three years.

“A fanatical focus on customer delight. If our clients are delighted, they share that with others and the ability to grow is so much easier,” said Shaw.

Shaw started his company in Queensbury in 2010. The company provides a comprehensive portfolio of voice, data, video services and equipment. Their headquarters is in Queensbury, with branch offices in Plattsburgh and South Plainfield, N.J. They provide IT support and project management, cloud services, outsourced IT leadership, and business services to businesses, healthcare groups, municipalities and nonprofit organizations.

Business Report: Corporate VPNs

October 11, 2018October 11, 2018

By Michael Hatalla

We often hear from our business customers that their employees are working remote or outside of the office on a more regular basis. Whether home or a local coffee shop, these employees need a safe way to access corporate data securely.

There are a few ways to accomplish this. If your company has a proper firewall in place, most will support either an SSL VPN or IPSec VPN solution.

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. A VPN is an encrypted connection, or tunnel, between your computer and the firewall at the office over the internet. This type of connection makes it appear that the user is on their local network, regardless of their location.