Jake Van Ness, Author at Glens Falls Business Journal

Jake Van Ness

2231 Articles

Community Solar Projects Are A Way For Businesses, Residents To Save On Bills

September 19, 2022

By Paul Post

Community solar is a large array of solar panels at an offsite location that allows customers to access such power without installing panels on their homes. Developers build and operate community solar projects, and energy delivery companies like National Grid purchase and distribute credits generated by the projects to participating customers.

It’s an easy way for residential and small business owners alike to offset the current 8.5 rate of inflation by shaving up to 10 percent off their electric bills.

“There’s very little downside with this,” said Nathan Giebel, EnergyNext LLC vice president of energy services. “It’s a win-win, which is why they’re so popular. We partner with a lot of chambers of commerce. That’s how a lot of businesses come to interact with us.”

EnergyNext is a division of Chicago-based Satori Energy and has an office in Saratoga Springs.

There are three main issues the firm helps clients navigate when deciding which community solar project to enroll in.

“The biggest thing people care about is, How much am I going to save? What’s the guaranteed savings percentage? Most are 10 percent. Some are 5 percent. If you see something less than 10 percent, there’s probably something better available,” Giebel said.

Second, contracts are typically long term, perhaps up to 20 years. So clients might want to know if it’s possible to get out of an agreement without incurring any fees. Giebel said this is usually possible, with a 60- to 90-day advance notice window.

And third, customers want to know how they’re going to be billed. In some cases, they’re sent a second invoice in addition to their regular utility bill, a situation most people want to avoid. So Giebel suggested finding a project that involves just one invoice.

Home Work Stations Can Lead To Back Woes; Experts Have Advice To Help Prevent That

September 19, 2022

Denise Didio Buher, PT, owner of Orthopedic and Spine Physical Therapy.
Courtesy Orthopedic and Spine Physical Therapy.

by Christine Graf

A large-scale study conducted in Japan showed that increased work from home has led to an increase in lower back pain, and Google searches for the words “back pain” reached an all-time high in January 2022. Poor ergonomics in the home office are thought to be partially to blame for the worldwide surge in back pain.

Since the start of the pandemic, Denise Didio Buher, PT, owner of Orthopedic and Spine Physical Therapy in Queensbury, said her practice has seen an increase in the number of patients seeking treatment for back and neck pain.

“I have certainly seen an increase in all of this because people have been more sedentary since COVID, and they are all working from home. During COVID, I did tele-rehab, and I had a ton of people from New York City who were really trapped in their apartments. I worked with them to correct their seating, correct their posture, and give them exercises to counteract everything that they were doing.”

Dr. Brad Elliott, owner of Elliott Chiropractic in Clifton Park, said he has also seen an uptick in the number of patients seeking care for back, neck, and shoulder pain.

“Home workstations have kept providers like me busy,” he said. “There’s been a lot of overuse injury from working from home without a doubt. I’ve seen a lot of neck, shoulder, and upper back issues and a lot of nerve and muscle-based issues from forward head carriage.”

Buher is trained in the McKenzie Method, a biopsychosocial system of musculoskeletal care that emphasizes patient empowerment and self-treatment. She also does ergonomic assessments for individuals and companies.

State Seeks Companies To Develop Insurance Policies To Promote Clean Technologies

September 19, 2022

A new program focused on the research and development of new insurance policies and products to promote the adoption of clean technologies across New York state is on the way.

The program will provide funding for products that manage the financial risk associated with climate change, supporting the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goal of reducing carbon emissions 85 percent by 2050.

“New York state is leaving no stone unturned in our fight against climate change, and that includes investing in industries that will develop and advance clean, green technologies,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “By promoting innovative policies that will create more sustainable climate technology, we are taking bold action to meet the challenges of climate change. My administration remains laser focused on supporting key initiatives that will benefit both businesses and consumers while contributing to our state’s nation-leading climate efforts.”

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) will select a program administrator to develop the new initiative, manage operations, leverage industry expertise, and boost research and development to establish new risk models.

The program administrator will also select innovative insurance ideas, products, and services, such as insurance for residential and commercial renewable energy projects, that will develop new business models to enable future climate technology solutions.

The program administrator will be awarded up to $1.5 million to work with managing general underwriters (MGUs) and managing general agents (MGAs) that can research, develop, and test new insurance products, and it will award up to $5 million in competitive grants which are anticipated to be announced in 2023.

Business Report: Culture For Retention And Recruiting

September 19, 2022

Michael Cruz is president of Lighthouse Advisors LLC in Queensbury.

By Michael Cruz

We spend a lot of time thinking about how to attract and retain employees. Pay rates, time off, health care, 401Ks and more.

Yet, the number one reason people leave is that they do not like their boss. Number two is that they feel unappreciated. And third is that they do not like the company’s culture.

You have a culture at your company. If your company is large, you probably have some culture statement. They often start with “We have respect for our customers and employees.” Then, that new employee gets publicly berated by a coworker—or worse their manager. Do you think that they now believe the culture document?

If your business is smaller, you may think you are too busy to spend time worrying about that ‘soft’ stuff. The key message here is that you already have a culture. In this case, one that is unwritten and passed down by employees.

All organizations have culture. Merriam Webster defines culture as “the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization.” Wiki says it is “the values and beliefs; language and communication; and practices shared by a group of people.” Thus, you have a culture at work, at church, with friends and even in your family.

Normal people do their very best to adapt to different cultures. We try to “fit in.” Think about the first week for someone new to your company. They are quieter at the beginning. Normal people observe for a while. They want to assess what is expected.

Business Report: Home Insurance To Fit Your Needs

September 19, 2022

Bill Strauss, owner, Farmers Insurance Agency, Glens Falls.

By Bill Strauss

Your home is where memories are made and it’s also a major investment. It’s the haven you’ve created to live your life in safety and comfort and do what you love most. Cozy dinner parties for two. Tinkering on a classic car. Raising a family.

Home insurance is not required by law, but if you have a mortgage, your lender can require you to have insurance until the loan is paid off. It is there to help you protect what matters most, wherever you call home. It’s there to help you ease the financial burden of repairing or rebuilding your home and replacing your belongings after commonplace disasters.

Not every home insurance policy is the same. Policies can be tailored to fit your needs. A standard homeowners insurance policy covers damage to your home and your property caused by various perils covered by the policy.

Typical home insurance policies cover damage caused by an aircraft, car or other vehicle, explosions, falling objects, fire and smoke, lightning strikes, theft, vandalism and malicious mischief.

They provide four main types of coverage. Dwelling coverage helps you pay for repairs or rebuilding your home if it’s damaged or destroyed. Personal property coverage helps you pay the costs of fixing or replacing your belongings if they’re damaged. Liability coverage helps you protect your financial assets if you’re at fault for an injury or property damage or say a dog bites your neighbor.

SUNY Empire State Partners With Amazon To Help Its Employees Learn New Work Skills

September 19, 2022

SUNY Empire State College has been accepted as a premier member into the Amazon Career Choice program, an education benefit that empowers Amazon employees to learn new skills for career success at Amazon or elsewhere.

SUNY Empire is the first institution within the SUNY system to partner with the Amazon Career Choice program.

Officials said partnership with SUNY Empire will make it more convenient for Amazon’s hourly employees to earn their undergraduate degree online, in person at SUNY Empire locations, at Amazon Career Choice classrooms located across New York state, or a combination of all three.

Through its Career Choice program, Amazon provides funding for employees’ tuition, books, and fees with no lifetime limit on participating.

SUNY Empire and Amazon are collaborating to hold fall information sessions for Amazon employees across New York state, beginning with the company’s two Staten Island distribution centers, as well as distribution centers in Albany and Buffalo. The goal is to eventually expand the partnership to eligible employees in Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

The college will also begin offering college courses on site at Amazon’s Career Choice Classrooms in Staten Island and Albany in the spring of 2023. In the U.S. alone, the company is investing $1.2 billion to upskill more than 300,000 Amazon employees by 2025 to help move them into higher-paying, in-demand jobs.

SUNY Empire was selected to Amazon’s Career Choice program, in part, because of its unique position within the SUNY system as a pioneer and leading provider of online and hybrid education and supports for working adults. The college is also a national leader in prior learning assessment (PLA), evaluating and granting college credit for relevant prior work and life experience.

Business Briefs: September 2022

September 19, 2022

Glens Falls Hospital is among some 118 hospitals in New York state recognized by the American Heart Association for consistently following up-to-date, research-based guidelines to ensure all patients have access to lifesaving care.

Some 118 hospitals in New York are among the 2,600 nationwide that participate in the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines initiative to improve outcomes for Americans who experience heart disease or stroke.

In New York, 82 hospitals or hospital systems were recognized this year, as well as hospitals in the Guthrie Hospital System, based in Pennsylvania, but with New York affiliates.

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The Southern Adirondack real estate market saw a continuation of recent trends in July, with low inventory, higher prices and quick sales, according to the Southern Adirondack Realtors. On average, homes spent less than three weeks on the market and sellers received more than asking price.

Officials said new listings in the region decreased 10.4 percent in July compared to last year, from 637 to 571. The inventory of homes for sale dropped 33.2 percent, from 1,459 to 974, and pending sales decreased 9.6 percent, from 499 to 451. Closed sales were down 11.4 percent, from 507 to 449. Sellers received 103.7 percent of their list price in July.

The median sales price increased 19.4 percent in July compared to last year, jumping from $301,477 to $360,000. Homes spent an average of 20 days on the market last month, compared to 35 days last year. The months supply of inventory decreased 20 percent compared to 2021, from 3 to 2.4.

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Tri-County United Way Names Kristin Chlopecki As Its New Executive Director

September 19, 2022

Kristin Chlopecki, executive director of the Tri-County United Way.
Courtesy Tri-County United Way

Kristin Chlopecki was named the new executive director of the Tri-County United Way, succeeding Brian Bearor, who resigned in April.

She has served the organization for eight years as a business manager and director of resource development before accepting her new position with the board of directors.

Zack Moore, chairman of the Tri-County United Way board of directors, said he is happy to have someone who is already a part of the organization take the job.

“We are so fortunate to have a local person who is already on our United Way team and is as experienced a leader as Kristin and is prepared to accept these broader responsibilities,” Moore said in a news release. “Kristin was the unanimous and enthusiastic choice of our search committee.”

Chlopecki is a Glens Falls High School graduate. Before joining United Way, she worked in fashion publishing in New York City after earning degrees from Ohio University and New York FIT. She said she is looking forward to bringing leadership of the United Way team the “financial and creative skills that made her successful in business.”

“I’ve had the privilege of working with the Tri-County United Way for eight years and have truly learned the meaning of community. The people of this area are sincerely generous and I have learned so much from watching the work of the local agencies that help so many people and the donors who make it possible for the agencies do their good work,” Chlopecki said. “I am honored to be chosen to be the team leader for the Tri-County United Way to help positively impact our area nonprofits.”

Arts District Of Glens Falls Seeks Artists For Three More Electrical Boxes Downtown

September 19, 2022

The Arts District of Glens Falls is seeking artists to create public on three electrical boxes.

The Arts District of Glens Falls is calling for a second round of artists to create public art on three more electrical boxes in downtown Glens Falls.

The Arts District, launched in 2015, is a group of 14 organizations working with the City of Glens Falls on a public arts trail as part of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative. It was created by the nonprofit arts and cultural organizations of Glens Falls to build a connection between member organizations, attract tourists and residents to arts and culture offerings throughout the city, and engage in public art.

Officials said the program will enhance the cultural experience of the art-centered district.

The group is seeking artists to paint on electrical boxes. Art proposals must include all sides of the electrical box. Final box assignments will be determined by the group’s public art committee.

Proposals must include the artist’s signature on the proposal as it would appear on the actual electrical box.

Gerarde Sees Golf As A Way To Network, Teaches Sport To Business People At PSG Golf

September 19, 2022

Mike Gerarde at PSG Golf offers golf lessons to golfers of all ages and abilities.

By Andrea Harwood

Mike Gerarde, formerly of Keena Staffing, has started a professional golf instruction business.

PSG Golf offers golf lessons to golfers of all ages and abilities, with an additional focus on golf as a means of professional business development, Gerarde said.

He teaches out of Bay Meadows Golf Course and The Luxury Box, both in Queensbury. He will meet clients at their own golf course within 25 miles of downtown Glens Falls.

When Gerarde was in a business development role at Keena Staffing, he went to many golf tournaments to network. He noticed most of his associates didn’t go. When he asked them why, they responded they didn’t think they were good enough golfers to go.

“Golf is such a great opportunity to get with other business owners and people, not just for tournaments, but in general,” he said. “There’s no better way to network … Thinking that you’re not good enough to golf shouldn’t be a reason to deter you from doing it.”

He said his client target is “the person who wants to enjoy golf and use it in the business world. I did the coffee dates and seeing people at mixers. But nothing comes close to the type of relationship that I would get out on a golf course.”