Jake Van Ness, Author at Glens Falls Business Journal

Jake Van Ness

2231 Articles

Local Company Provides Service To Help IT Companies Fill Jobs Quickly And Efficiently

August 15, 2022

Tim and Kathleen Montgomery are the owners of TIMIT Solutions.

By Paul Post

A Queensbury firm and its Singapore-based partner are helping companies worldwide with a new high-tech hiring service that purports to find key employees quickly and efficiently while saving valuable time and money.

“Our first customer in New York City went from an average of two to three months per hire to just three days using our tool,” said Tim Montgomery, owner and president of TIMIT Solutions LLC. “Our primary target is businesses that hire a lot of people. We’ve initially engaged with some very large IT (information technology) companies in India.”

ConvInt.ai (Conversational Intelligence), founded and owned by Virender Aggarwal, of Singapore, uses artificial intelligence to locate top candidates not only for IT companies, but those in other industries such as insurance, healthcare and the rapidly expanding field of cannabis production.

“Many human resources people aren’t technically savvy and don’t know much about who you need to hire for the cannabis industry, the types of people and skills they need,” Montgomery said. “This tool makes them an expert in all of those areas because we’re asking expert questions on their behalf.”

Business Report: Electronic Monitoring Law Impacts Workplace

August 15, 2022

Sabastian S. Piedmont, managing partner at Tully Rinckey PLLC.

By Sabastian Piedmont, Esq.

New legislation in the form of an amendment to the New York Civil Rights Law became effective on May 7, requiring private employers to inform current and newly hired employees that the employer electronically monitors their work telephone, email, and internet access and usage.

With the increased reliance on technology in the workplace—and for that matter, the increased amount of remote work being done throughout New York state—many employees and employers are curious as to how this will impact their normal operating procedures, if at all.

While the law does not radically modify the terms of an employee’s use of technology in the workplace (and remotely), there are several changes that both employees and employers should be aware of with regard to the consent/notice given of this surveillance, as well as how it will impact those currently employed versus those who will be newly hired.

Now that the amendment is in effect, all private employers of all sizes must disclose that they are electronically monitoring employee internet usage, emails, and/or telephone communication in the form of:

• Written and electronic notice to current employees.

• Upon hiring a new employee, employers must obtain written acknowledgment of the notice.

• Posting a notice of their electronic monitoring in a conspicuous place which is readily available for viewing by subject employees.

Business Report: Signs You Need Different Office Space

August 15, 2022

Anne K. Cabral, broker/owner, Glorious Day Real Estate.

By Anne K. Cabral

Do you need different office space? Do you have too much? Too little? Has the COVID-age of remote working affected how much space you need? Will the increase in tech production affect your workforce?

You work in your office every day and have grown accustomed to it. If you’re not sure about your office needs, this may be the perfect time for an office utilization assessment.

Here are signs to look for:

You’ve outgrown the space. Do desks seem to be stacked up on top of each other? Are conference rooms crowded? Are meetings scheduled outside the office to get into a less cramped environment? These are the most obvious signs that it’s time to get a bigger space.

An overcrowded office can affect your employees’ morale and effectiveness and contribute to building a negative work environment. Feeling like a bunch of sardines crammed into too small a space will only frustrate them.

A minimum of 140 square feet per employee is a good guideline. So, if you don’t meet that, then it’s time to move. Here are a couple of ways to realize whether you are running low on space:

Even With Vacation Prices Rising, Area Travel Agents Say People Will Pay The Price

August 15, 2022

Stacie Baxter at Heber Travel says there has been a high demand for travel.

By Andrea Harwood

The cost of vacation travel has gone up significantly. But Dawn Biddiscombe, owner and operator of Premier Plus Travel & Tours in Glens Falls, has seen an increase in business and says people are willing to pay the price.

“People are paying more now without questioning price”, said Biddiscombe.

Travelers know that prices are expected to be higher than ever, especially considering the cost of gasoline and diesel fuel, she said. In previous years, clients may have taken time to think over the cost of trips. Now, they book trips as they come available because of an inventory shortage.

“Everyone wants to travel,” said Biddiscombe. “Popular places are in Europe right now. It used to be Mexico and the Caribbean, which is still somewhat popular. Now, people want to do something more unique.”

Stacie Baxter, sales manager at Heber Travel Services in Queensbury, sees a high demand for travel as well.

“People are going everywhere,” she said. “I’m doing a lot of planning for Africa and South America for the end of the winter months.”

Biddiscombe said Europe is struggling to keep up with travel demand. Ireland, Greece and Italy, including the Maltese Coast, are all in demand as travel destinations. Spain is also one of the top requests. She has people asking to go for longer stays, and they are willing to pay more money.

Business Report: Retirement Considerations In Inflationary Times

August 15, 2022

Jim Amell, CPA, director of Marvin and Company PC CPAs.

By Jim Amell

After a decade of extremely low inflation, the rapid increase in costs of living we are experiencing has been difficult for most households, particularly retirees on a fixed income.

Many retirees are facing declining income along with increased expenses. Our current economic environment also provides lessons for everyone on how to position their personal finances for their retirement.

How should retirees respond so as not to be overwhelmed by increased cost of living? First, determine your monthly income. Social Security benefits have and will continue to increase at a rate roughly equal to the core inflation rate. Unfortunately, Medicare premiums withheld may also increase, leaving beneficiaries with only a slight increase in net social security benefits.

Revisit your sources of income other than social security. The stock market has declined significantly this year, and whether your retirement savings are in a 401k/IRA/Roth IRA, taxable investments, cash savings, or a combination of the amount you can comfortably withdraw depends on the nature of your investments and income generated by those investments. If you withdraw from investments based on a fixed percentage of invested assets you will most likely be withdrawing less than in recent years.

Business Report: When Can You Choose Retirement?

August 15, 2022

Meghan Murray is a financial advisor with Edward Jones Financial in Glens Falls.

By Meghan Murray

If you’re like most people, your work has been a central part of your life. So, wouldn’t it be nice to have the flexibility to decide when you no longer want to work?

Many people of retirement age have achieved this type of control. In fact, two-thirds of workers ages 65 and older say they work primarily because they want to, not because they have to, according to a 2021 study by Edward Jones and Age Wave.

But that means that one-third of workers in this age group feel financially compelled to work. This doesn’t necessarily mean they dislike the work they do — but it’s probably fair to say they would have liked the option of not working. How can you give yourself this choice?

You can start by asking yourself these questions:

• When do I want to retire? You’ll want to identify the age at which you wish to retire. You may change your mind later and move this date up or back, but it’s a good idea to have a target in mind.

• What sort of retirement lifestyle do I want? When you retire, do you anticipate staying close to home and pursuing your hobbies, or do you hope to travel the world? Would you like to spend your time volunteering?

Report: Increasing Minimum Staffing At Long Term Care Facilities Will Cost Billions

August 15, 2022

The American Health Care Association (AHCA), representing more than 14,000 nursing homes and other long term care facilities across the country, released a new report from accounting and consulting firm CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP), which found that increasing staffing minimums at the federal level will require billions of dollars each year to hire tens of thousands of more caregivers.

CLA estimated the impact of implementing a staffing minimum of 4.1 hours per resident day (HPRD) and concluded:

• 94 percent of nursing homes that care for more than 900,000 residents would need to increase staffing levels in order to be in compliance with such a requirement.

• It would cost $10 billion a year and require hiring more than 187,000 nurses and nurse aides to meet the standard.

• 18 percent of residents, or more than 205,000 residents, may be at risk of displacement as facilities are forced to potentially reduce their census in order to meet the higher staffing standard.

“This report makes it crystal clear that increasing staffing standards in nursing homes requires substantial and consistent government resources. Even then, nursing homes would have the impossible task of finding another 187,000 nurses at a time when vacant positions sit open without applicants for months on end. The unintended consequences of this sort of unfunded mandate would be devastating to hundreds of thousands of vulnerable residents who could be forced out of their nursing home,” said Mark Parkinson, president and CEO of AHCA.

Warren County Ranked Second To Albany County In Annual Business Formation Growth

August 15, 2022

Warren County ranked second to Albany County in annual business formation growth, according to the Center for Economic Growth (CEG).

The CEG recently published an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data that shows 13,743 businesses in the eight-county Capital Region filed for an employer identification number (EIN) with the IRS in 2021—a 45 percent year-to-year increase.

CEG said Warren County’s growth can be partially attributed to the increasing desire for residents to maintain a healthy work/life balance, which is coveted since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, a balanced lifestyle is not possible if businesses and employees do not have access to reliable broadband connection.

The ongoing efforts of EDC Warren County provided widespread expansions of broadband throughout the county, removing a major obstacle for sustainable business growth in the region, officials said.

“Broadband availability is a critical component of business formation growth in Warren County and the Adirondacks. Since the beginning of the pandemic there have been close to 3,000 addresses connected to fiber-based service particularly in the more rural areas of the county,” said John Wheatley, EDC Warren County vice president.

“Having access to high-speed broadband enables many people to easily transition to remote work opportunities and we see that trend continuing in the post pandemic era.”

He said access to world-class recreational activities and tourism destinations enrich both the personal and professional lives of county residents. Warren County offers a network of municipal parks, among stunning sites like Lake George (“Queen of American Lakes,”) West Mountain, Gore Mountain and the 1980 Olympic Center in Lake Placid.

ARCC Board Names Tricia Rogers As President And Chief Executive Officer

August 2, 2022August 2, 2022

Tricia Rogers is the new ARCC president and CEO.
Courtesy ARCC

Tricia Rogers is the new president and CEO of the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce (ARCC), the board of directors announced on Aug. 1.

The appointment is effective immediately.

The announcement was made after a months-long search following the retirement of previous ARCC president Michael Bittel.

“On behalf of the ARCC board of directors, I am extremely excited to share the news that we have promoted Tricia Rogers to the position of president and CEO,” said Marc Monahan, said ARCC board chair and regional executive vice president of NBT Bank.

“After an extensive search process by the executive team and board of directors, we came to a unanimous decision to select Tricia to lead our organization. The passion and dedication Tricia has for both ARCC members and our community clearly set her apart from the other candidates during the process. We are looking forward to her stepping in to the role of CEO immediately and are excited to support her in this transition,” he said.

Rogers began her relationship with the ARCC as an ambassador in her early career, and took on the role of membership manager in 2016. She has since worked closely with ARCC members, and the greater business community, on building relationships, promoting growth, and supporting the community in volunteer positions.

Queensbury Hotel Celebrates Grand Opening Of Adirondack Ballroom Expansion Project

July 25, 2022July 25, 2022

Officials cut the ribbon to mark the unveiling of the Queensbury Hotel’s new Adirondack Ballroom and newly renovated event spaces. Hundreds attended the event. ©2022 StockStudiosPhotography.com

Hundreds attended the ribbon cutting ceremony on July 21 unveiling the Queensbury Hotel’s new Adirondack Ballroom and newly renovated event spaces.

The $3.8-million renovation features 4,000 square feet of event space, combined with the transformation of over 4,000 square feet of existing event space.

The project included the expansion of the Adirondack Room, the renovation of the Warren Room and the addition of both an outdoor patio space and a brand-new banquet kitchen.

The Adirondack Ballroom was the biggest undertaking of the project.

“The Adirondack Ballroom addition not only continues our mission of returning our city’s Queen back to the top of our region’s hospitality offerings, but also gives us the ability to attract larger conferences, increase the size of social gatherings and continue to hold more and more community events,” said Tyler Herrick, general manager of The Queensbury Hotel and president of Spruce Hospitality Group.