Category Archives: Business News

The Board of Directors of the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce (ARCC) announced today that longtime area human resources, human services and workforce development professional Marti Burnley has been named interim president.

In August,  the Chamber announced that Tori J.E. Riley decided to leave her position. As of Sept. 11, Riley returned to a job she held previously, taking the position of vice president with the Saratoga Economic Development Corp.

Burnley, who retired from Hudson Headwaters Health Network in January after six years as vice president of human resources, has more than three decades of experience in leadership roles in both the private and public sectors.

“Marti brings an outstanding array of professional experience, leadership skills, and a tremendous knowledge and love of our region to her new role,” said Dianne Shugrue, ARCC board chairwoman and president of Glens Falls Hospital.

“Her great familiarity with the Chamber and the regional business community allow her to hit the ground running and keep the organization moving forward as we prepare for the next phase in the ARCC’s history. We are fortunate that she was willing to take a hiatus from her well-deserved and short-lived retirement to help us out,” Shugrue said.

Burnley said she was surprised and humbled when she received the call asking her to consider the interim assignment, but knew right away that she wanted to accept.

The Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce announced the appointment of Gina Mintzer, CMP, as its new executive director, replacing Michael Consuelo, who is retiring.

Mintzer began her new role under the tutelage of Consuelo on Sept. 11. Consuelo announced in April that he was retiring at the end of September.

Mintzer has served as the director of sales for the Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACCVB) for 19 years. In this role, she assisted in the stabilization, expansion, and evolution of Albany as a visitor destination despite economic and national conditions throughout the last two decades.

She managed a team of six convention sales and services professionals dedicated to quality client, colleague, and community customer service, officials said. She was the information resource for meeting and sports event planners working closely with the Times Union Center, Empire State Plaza Convention Center and all the Albany County hotels on client events ranging from the NCAA tournament to the Maccabi Games.

Mintzer also assisted efforts to ensure strong business for the new Albany Capital Center.

She managed programs, activities, and connections to build and sustain a healthy meetings and convention visitor industry.

“When it comes to tourism, meetings, and events, she knows the marketplace, organization and brings years of education and experience,” said Fred Vogel Jr., Chamber board of directors president “She loves Lake George and wants to help show it off to our target markets. She has my complete confidence,.”

The first phase of the Open Door Mission’s construction and renovation project is underway.

The board and staff of the mission recently welcomed community leaders, donors, and guests at an official groundbreaking.

This mission has received grants, gifts, and pledges that enabled it to begin the first phase of renovation at the property they acquired last December at 226 Warren St.

Phase I will provide the foundational infrastructure and the accompanying build-out to accommodate men and women so that Code Blue can operate for the first time under its own roof this winter.  It will also provide for the day room, a classroom and the Open Door offices.

“We are privileged and honored to be part of this project, and we’re pleased that other individuals and organizations are too,” said Paul McPhillips of the Glens Falls Foundation.  “When our board considered the campaign grant, many said ‘If not the Open Door, then who?”’ We found it compelling, compassionate and deserving of capital.”

Once Phase I is completed in 2018, Phase II fundraising. That will include building a  chapel, a dining room for 100 people, a food pantry and a welcoming and secure new entrance for guests.

Officials said completion of Phase I and II will position the Open Door to receive national grants of up to $1.5 million, for which they have pre-qualified.  Phase III will make possible the men’s emergency shelter and comprehensive support facilities.  Similar funding in Phase IV will provide for the men’s recovery program floor, a one-year program to focus on core issues like job skills, drug addiction and mental health.  A

Barkeater Chocolates in North Creek commissioned new machinery last spring to be manufactured specifically for them to help facilitate the packaging of many of their chocolate products, including bars and peanut butter cups.

In August, cofounders Jim and Deb Morris went to Great Britain to train on the new equipment so they could familiarize themselves with the intricacies and bring back the knowledge to their staff.

“It took a year of research to find the right machinery to fit our needs,” said Deb Morris. “When we couldn’t find anything that met our exact specifications, we sought out a company to manufacture something specifically for us.”

Jim Morris said the machine “will semi-automate our packaging for our most popular confections, which have been in high demand due to an increase in wholesale business.”

He said that because the process of packaging the chocolates will be faster, the staff will be able to make more chocolate on a daily basis.

The production facility will be reconfigured to allow for a more efficient workflow and to welcome their new addition to the factory.

The brewery and taproom located at 1043 Route 9, between Northway exits 19 and 20, recently changed its name to Lake George Brew House.

Since the brewery was purchased in late 2016, it had been dubbed the Lake George Beer Hub. After some possible market confusion, brewery management decided to use the moniker “Brew House.”

The 22,000 square-foot brewery features a spacious taproom to sample the beers (and soda and cold-brewed coffee) crafted on premises. All the beers served in the taproom are brewed in-house, hence the new name, according to ownership.

Currently, Lake George Brew House brews beers for Cooperstown Brewing Co., Harlem Brewing Co., Davidson Brothers Brewing Co., and more. 

The Lake George Brew House team is also installing a three-barrel pilot system to develop new craft beers for its own house brand. The house beers are scheduled to be on tap at the brewery in October. 

By Liz Witbeck

The Holiday Inn Resort Lake George, at 2229 Canada St. in Lake George, recently changed ownership.

Vincent Crocitto, the new owner, has a long history of owning hotel and motel properties in the area.

“Why wouldn’t I buy it? It’s beautiful,” he said. “It’s one of the most prominent properties in Lake George. It’s a dream to own it.”

There are only a few Holiday Inn hotels that have received the designation as a resort. In order to receive this status, a hotel must provide full-service amenities and offer a high level of customer service.

At the Holiday Inn Resort Lake George, which has 129 rooms, there are both indoor and outdoor swimming pools. There is also a whirlpool and a sauna area.

It has a fitness center, with a full lineup of gym equipment, for guests looking to exercise while on vacation. Outdoors, there are basketball courts, a miniature golf course and a shuffleboard setup.

By Liz Witbeck

Propane is said to be one of the most efficient sources of energy. Millions of Americans use propane instead of other heating alternatives.

“Many people like propane because of the versatility,” said Ken Buhrmaster, owner of Buhrmaster Energy Group, which merged with Shaw Propane, 1470 Route 9, Fort Edward, and serves the Lake George Glens Falls region.

Shaw Propane has seen many recent trends in the propane and fuel industry, he said.

“A lot of people are purchasing propane in rural areas,” noted Buhrmaster. “These are people who previously used oil and are making the switch.”

“It is a competitive industry. There are many companies to choose from. There are different types of delivery, types of services,” Buhrmaster said. “There is the ability to choose your own supplies.”

Buhrmaster is the fourth generation in his family to be involved in the energy industry. His family started the business in 1913. They currently serve 12 counties throughout New York state.

Propane is liquefied petroleum gas. It is used to heat the appliances in the home or any other number of uses. It is a valuable alternative to natural gas or heating oil.

By Maureen Werther

Hacker-Craft, a long-time maker of wooden motor boats is in the midst of negotiating a sales agreement that could propel sales of the  sleek mahogany crafts into Europe, doubling its annual production at home.

The iconic vessels have reportedly been a favorite of the wealthy and  celebrities such as Tommy Hilfiger, Donald Sutherland and Rachel Ray.

Erin Badcock, vice president of operations, said the company produced 16 boats in 2016. This year, they have turned out 15 to date and are continuing to work on orders through the end of the year.

The company is still running its operations out of Ticonderoga. However, Badcock said they are still focused on moving the operations south, possibly into Queensbury, to accommodate their potential expansion.

If the European sales deal goes through, it will mean a doubling in annual production for the company. Currently, Hacker employs 27 people full time. Winning new sales abroad would mean the company will hire more people to manage the increase in orders.

By Jill Nagy

Little Caesar’s is in the process of closing its pizza takeout store at South Western Avenue in Queensbury and moving to a new location at 133 Saratoga Ave. , South Glens Falls, in Glengate Plaza.

Manager Rob Seoane said he planned to open at the South Glens Falls location on Wednesday, Sept. 13. The store on Dix Avenue in Queensbury will remain open.

The lease was up on the old location,  Seoane said, and the location had too many drawbacks—mainly a shortage of parking and neighbors, including a bar and hair salon, whose customers tend to stay a while rather than coming and going quickly, thereby freeing up parking spaces.

The new location, in a strip mall, comes with plenty of parking, he said, and neighbors that include other fast food outlets.

Seoane’s two outlets are the only Little Caesar’s locations north of Albany. He opened them in 2011. 

The daughters of Samuel and Eliza Jane Pruyn grew up surrounded by the effects of their father’s generosity and admiring his philanthropic spirit. Mr. Pruyn, the founder of Finch Paper, made significant contributions to the community in education, creation of a water system, and improved housing.

The Pruyn daughters, Charlotte Pruyn Hyde (1867-1963), Nell Pruyn Cunningham (1876-1962), and Mary Pruyn Hoopes (1870-1952), stayed close throughout their lives, pursuing their love of the arts and carrying on their family’s legacy of giving.

The Hyde Collection, 161 Warren St., Glens Falls, founded on Mrs. Hyde’s dedication to enriching lives with her art collection, has for years benefited from the Pruyn family descendants’ generosity and support. That continued when the museum announced that the Hoopes family has donated $50,000 to kick-start contributions to the annual gala, The Hyde’s biggest fundraising event of the year.