Category Archives: Business News

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.

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 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.

The board of directors of the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce (ARCC) announced that President and CEO Tori J.E. Riley has decided to leave her position, effective Tuesday, Sept. 5.
She will return to a job she held previously, taking the position of vice president with the Saratoga Economic Development Corp. (SEDC).

The ARCC board will form a committee to lead a search for a new president. In the interim, members of the board’s Executive Committee will work closely with staff on a day-to-day basis to ensure Chamber programs and services continue uninterrupted.

“The ARCC has regretfully accepted Tori’s resignation,” said board Chairwoman Dianne Shugrue, president of Glens Falls Hospital. “Tori is a tremendous ambassador for our region and a dedicated advocate for ARCC members. We wish her the very best as she continues her good work on behalf of our regional business community.”

“I love the ARCC,” said Riley. “It is a phenomenal organization and a tremendous resource for businesses of all sizes. But I have come to realize that my greatest passion lies in the economic development sector and the direct recruitment and retention of businesses that SEDC does so well.

“I am proud of the many accomplishments my staff, the board of directors and I achieved together, particularly in adding new educational programs to the Chamber’s offerings and strengthening the organization’s financial foundation. I look forward to watching and supporting the ARCC as they continue to do great things in the future.”

Glens Falls Hospital will receive $19.95 million in state funding through the Department of Health’s Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program to create an integrated, patient-centered Medical Village on the main hospital campus.

The award, announced in July by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, is believed to be the largest public or private grant in the hospital’s history, officials said. It was also the largest Transformation Program grant awarded in the Capital and North Country regions, and the fourth largest in the state.

The grant is part of $28.7 million given by the state to support five projects officials said will protect and transform the Capital Region’s health care system.

“Now, more than ever, we need to protect health care in New York and ensure the system in place is meeting the needs of current and future generations of New Yorkers,” Gov. Cuomo said. “While others seek to decimate our hospitals and reduce access to quality healthcare, we are investing to help ensure a stronger, healthier New York for all.”

The National Comedy Center (NCC) has awarded a $2.9 million contract to an Argyle company.

Adirondack Studios will fabricate and install the scenic components of the center and its exhibits.

The project involves renovation and restoration of the historic Jamestown Gateway train station. Jamestown is in the southern tier, in Chautauqua County.

Adirondack Studios creates the scenic and themed environments experienced in venues that range from theme parks to casinos, museums, live shows, retail and public art. With this contract, the project continues to make progress toward its targeted summer 2018 opening, according to state officials.

The center will celebrate the history of comedy, the craft and its artists.

“The National Comedy Center, once completed, will boost the local economy and spur job creation for Western New York, while creating a world-class cultural hub for visitors and residents alike,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “This contract with Adirondack Studios brings us one step closer to completing this project, which will add further momentum to this region’s renaissance.”

The Adirondack Thunder entered into a one-year affiliation agreement with the New Jersey Devils and Binghamton Devils to become the team’s new NHL and AHL affiliate for the 2017-18 season.

The Thunder also named Brad Tapper as the team’s head coach. The announcements were made Aug. 8 at Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls.

The Devils will be the Thunder’s second NHL affiliate, following the Calgary Flames, which owned and operated the team from 2015-2017. The Thunder had an “informal working agreement” with the New Jersey Devils and Albany Devils over the past two seasons, which saw several players play for both the Thunder and the Devils over that span, team officials said.

Tapper becomes the second head coach in franchise history, following Cail MacLean, who left after accepting a position with the Stockton Heat of the AHL.

Tapper, 39, has eight years of coaching experience at the AHL, ECHL and junior levels. He previously spent time as an assistant coach with the Rochester Americans, Chicago Wolves, Orlando Solar Bears and Florida Everblades, as well as head coach of the North York Rangers of the CCHL.

The Scarborough, Ontario, native qualified for post season play in five of his seven seasons in the professional ranks and was a part of the Kelly Cup Championship Florida Everblades in 2012 as the team’s top assistant.

The Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce (ARCC) will hold its annual Business Expo on Thursday, Sept. 21, at the Queensbury Hotel, 88 Ridge St., Glens Falls.

“This has truly become the annual business expo of the Adirondack foothills region. The introductions, re-acquainting and catching up on what is happening now, in the many pockets of our region, are second to none,” said Tori Riley, ARCC president and CEO.

“Whether a business wants to showcase, promote, offer their ‘specialty’ sampling, or just plans to send their team as guests, this is the place to be between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Sept. 21.”

Three hours include opportunities for dynamic networking, information gathering and making connections with more than 80 exhibitors, and  hundreds of fellow ARCC supporters as well as  regional community and business leaders.

There will be complimentary food samples as people network and socialize with their peers. “Door prizes and drink specials will round out your ARCC EXPOnential experience,” said Riley.

By Jennifer Farnsworth

After more than two years of perseverance and patience, developer Bhavik Jariwala of Aviation Hospitality LLC has secured 2.5 acres off Northway Exit 19, near the Aviation Mall, to build a high-end hotel.

The Queensbury location will be home to Home2 Suites, part of the by Hilton National chain. Jariwala is hopeful that the 92-room, all-suite hotel will draw in many patrons with its long list of amenities.

It has been process with unplanned delays for Jariwala. He said he just recently was able to finalize details and get to this stage of the project. 

The town Planning Board recently gave Jariwala approval to begin the project, and he hopes to begin construction as soon as possible.

The board previously granted approved for a hotel that Jariwala planned to build off Exit 18, but that plan fell through after Jariwala could not come to an agreement over a connector road with Pyramid Co. Jariwala said  negotiations first started with Pyramid  Co. to buy the property in 2014, but Pyramid insisted he pay to construct the connector road.

“In the end it worked out. We are very happy and excited about the Exit 19 location. It is slightly closer to Lake George and is at a corridor that is perfect for commercial development,” said Jariwala.