Category Archives: Business News

Warren County Invites Residents To Commemorate 211th Anniversary Through Unique Photo Project

March 17, 2024

As Warren County, New York, approaches its 211th anniversary on March 12, 2024, the community is embarking on a collaborative initiative to document this historic day through a unique and inclusive photo project. Residents of Warren County are encouraged to participate by capturing a snapshot of their lives on this special day.

The project, organized by the Warren County Historical Society, invites individuals of all ages and backgrounds to share a glimpse of their daily activities on March 12, 2024. Whether it’s a quiet moment at home, exploring local landmarks, or participating in community events, each photograph will contribute to a collective visual narrative of the day. The staff at the Warren County Historical Society will select the best photos and stories for the book. Selected photos and stories will also be placed on the Society’s Web site and Facebook Group.

These photographs will be compiled into a commemorative book, accompanied by historical information provided by the Warren County Historical Society, creating a time capsule that reflects the vibrancy and diversity of the community. The aim is to celebrate the unique stories that make up the history of Warren County and provide a lasting record for future generations.

Gotcha Covered Opens, Providing Custom Window Treatments in Upstate New York

March 17, 2024

Motorized Roman Shades from Gotcha Covered, an upstate New York premier custom window treatment franchise.

By Christine Graf

Glens Falls resident Tim Schultz has opened the first Gotcha Covered franchise in Upstate New York. With more than 170 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada, Gotcha Covered is a leader in custom window treatments, offering end-to-end consultation to meet the specific needs of each customer. The franchise is expanding rapidly, with 30 new locations opening last year.

Before opening the Upstate New York franchise in February of this year, Tim spent 20 years working in the tech industry, selling data security tools to companies.

“I recently left corporate America, and joined with a designer who has over 20 years of experience in the design and window treatment industry,” he said.

Gothca Covered, offers custom window treatments including, draperies, indoor shutters, shades and indoor and outdoor motorized awnings and screens from the leading manufacturers. All can be integrated into broader home automation technologies.

“The Northeast is the largest market for outdoor awnings, and a motorized awning can really transform your outdoor space,” said Schultz. “And, you can put a power screen on your garage door. You just hit a button and the screen comes down.”

12th Annual Barrel Fest Draws Crowd Of Nearly 700 On a Rainy Day In Lake George

March 17, 2024

Despite the rain a crowd of close to 700 people gathered in Lake George on Saturday, March 2nd for Adirondack Pub & Brewery’s 12th Annual Barrel Fest.

“With a bonfire that big, it doesn’t even matter. It’s like rain next to the sun,” quipped Adirondack Pub & Brewery Owner John Carr.

Barrel Fest was a resounding success, drawing nearly 700 attendees despite the inclement March weather. Craft beverage enthusiasts reveled in the camaraderie of the event, celebrating the artistry of craft brewers and vendors. The Lake George Volunteer Fire Department ensured safety throughout the festivities, tending to the giant bonfire and iconic “burning man.”

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who joined us,” Carr said. “The spirit of our craft beverage community is unparalleled, and we’re honored to be part of it.”

The 17th Annual Upstate New York Business Leader Survey Garners Negative Responses

March 17, 2024

Sixty-seven percent of Upstate New York CEOs say business conditions are getting worse while 29% say they are staying the same and only 4% believe conditions are getting better according to the 17th annual Upstate New York Business Leader Survey from Siena College Research Institute (SCRI) sponsored by the Business Council of New York State, Inc, UHY Advisors, Inc. and HVEDC. Only 18% of CEOs expect the economy to improve in 2024 while 55% see worsening conditions in the next year.

Twenty-nine percent, down from 38% last year and 47% two years ago, predict increasing revenues in 2024 while 21%, down from 26% a year ago and 34% two years ago, anticipate growing profits in the year ahead.

The index of CEO Sentiment, computed by considering all CEOs assessment of both current and future conditions across New York and within their industry sector is down 8 points reaching the lowest point this survey has found since the all-time low in 2008.

Twenty-nine percent of CEOs, down from 33% last year and 44% two years ago, plan to increase the size of their workforce this year, but again this year 80% say that there is not an ample supply of appropriately trained local workers. And for the second consecutive year, 75% are having difficulty recruiting for their open positions. Asked to assess the quality of recent applicants on seven job skills, large majorities of CEOs give negatives grades on each: realistic about compensation (77%), work ethic (73%), initiative (73%), writing skills (69%), professionalism (67%), verbal skills (60%) and technical skills (60%). While 26% describe New York’s workforce as an asset to doing business here, a majority, 51% say the workforce is a detriment to succeeding here in New York.

“Despite increasing consumer sentiment, lessening inflation and recent stock market gains, the CEOs of Upstate New York are decreasingly positive about business conditions and fewer than 1 in 5 expect a rebound this year,” said Siena College Research Institute Director Don Levy. “Troubled by the lack of suitably trained workers and feeling as though neither the federal or state government contribute to their success, CEOs expect a year of lower revenues and profits.”

Adirondack Experience Announces Research Fellowship Program And Inaugural Awards

March 17, 2024

Adirondack Experience, The Museum on Blue Mountain Lake (ADKX), inaugurates its research fellowship program, which will enable emerging and established scholars to make use of the unparalleled collections found in the ADKX library.

Funded by Julie and Warder Cadbury and Peter C. Welsh endowments, these fellowships aim to support scholarly exploration of Adirondack history.

Selected from a highly qualified pool of applicants, the researchers chosen as this year’s recipients represent a diverse range of academic backgrounds and interests:

· Madeline DeDe-Panken, a graduate student from the City University of New York, will delve into the fascinating world of mushroom gathering in the Adirondacks during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

· John Kuhn, Assistant Professor at Binghamton University, will explore the rich history of indigenous birchbark canoes, utilizing ADKX’s extensive boat collection.

· Jason Newton, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, will examine the evolution of professional forestry in the region, shedding light on the intersection of masculinity and trade secrets.

Alex Brame Is Appointed Executive Director To Lead The Way At STRIDE Adaptive Sports

March 17, 2024

Alex Brame, new Executive Director, at STRIDE Adaptive Sports.

STRIDE Adaptive Sports, one of America’s most respected nonprofits committed to empowering individuals through life-changing sport and recreation programs, is proud to announce the appointment of Alex Brame as its new Executive Director.

Alex joins STRIDE with an impressive background and passion for making a positive difference in sport. Alex was the executive director of New York West Youth Soccer Association for 7 years, fundraising and advocating across New York State for youth programs, competitions and tournaments across a 54,000 membership. With a focus on inclusivity and a proven track record of strengthening organizational funding, Alex is well-positioned to lead STRIDE into its next chapter of growth and impact.

Alex inherits the leadership of STRIDE from Mary Ellen Whitney, the Founder and CEO of STRIDE for almost 40 years. The Board of Directors, staff, and all of STRIDE’s communities are indebted to Mary Ellen’s immeasurable dedication to build and lead STRIDE since 1985. Under Mary Ellen’s leadership, STRIDE hosts and delivers more than 14,000 annual adaptive lessons and activities at sites across the New York Capital region, positively impacting the lives of more than 2,500 families annually.

“I am thrilled that we have hired Alex as the next executive director of STRIDE after a 16 month search,” said Mary Ellen Whitney. “I know that Alex will be a significant asset to drive the future of STRIDE. I am looking forward to focusing on my passion and first love of teaching and volunteering with STRIDE athletes. I will also be joining the STRIDE Board of Directors in an ex-officio capacity, and I will be working within the STRIDE community to support Alex’s leadership and the next chapter of STRIDE’s journey.”

SUNY Plattsburgh’s School Of Business Offers Business Classes To Medical Center Leaders

March 17, 2024

By Gerianne Downs, Associate Director of Communications

SUNY Plattsburgh’s School of Business and Economics has partnered with CVPH Medical Center to bring its business expertise to employees in leadership there.

The in-person program, launched last semester, is a six-week series of classes held on the CVPH campus and taught by SBE faculty from different disciplines as well as SBE alumni.

Brian Neureuther, dean of the School of Business and Economics, said the program was a year in the making, when CVPH President Michelle LeBeau reached out to him “about the possibility of training staff in management,” Neureuther said. “We began discussions — the university’s provost, myself, Dr. Samy Garas and CVPH management — to talk about their needs.”

The resulting classes cover managing organizations, evidence-based decisions, regulations, accounting and finance, leadership, and strategy, with the first cohort, which are all day and taught on Fridays, beginning in October last year.

The next session began after the start of the spring semester in February and will run through mid-April; the third session will begin in May and run into June. Garas, associate professor of accounting, expects to see it continue.

After last fall’s pilot program, an invitation was extended to Alice Hyde Memorial Hospital in Malone, Garas said. Now, half of the participants drive the hour to and from Malone on class days to participate.

Neureuther said that negotiations took time “because we wanted to fully understand what it was that they needed.”

The Saratoga Casino Hotel Announces Its 83rd Season Of Harness Racing Programs

February 21, 2024

Always Watching, the 2023 Saratoga Harness Horse of the Year, competes at the Saratoga Race Course. She is owned, trained, and driven by Jordan Derue.
Photo by Jessica Hallet

Live harness racing returned to Saratoga Casino Hotel for its 83rd season on Saturday, February 3. The 2024 schedule will consist of 150 racing programs running through mid-December with a total of over $17 million in purses.

2023 Leading Driver, Jim Devaux, and Leading Trainer, Brett Derue, look to defend their titles this coming season. For Devaux, that would make it four years in a row.

In addition, the track will be hosting NY Sire Stakes races starting in June featuring the best New York bred horses in the state which will race for over $1 million in purses. The premier event of the season will be the 15th Annual Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial Pace with a $250,000 purse on Saturday, July 20.

“We are looking forward to a tremendous season of racing here at Saratoga Casino Hotel,” said Race Secretary Peter Iovino. “Our purses will attract a quality product for our racing fans.”

To kick off the season, the month of February will feature several promotions including up to 15 percent bonuses on all winning wagers on Saratoga Harness races for SaratogaBets account holders while playing on property through the SaratogaBets mobile app or any self-service betting terminal. Interested horseplayers can log on to www.saratogabets.com to sign up for a free account.

The Northeast Construction Trades Coalition Provides Options For Trades-Bound Students

February 21, 2024

Doug Ford is the president and co-founder of the Northeast Construction Trades Workforce Coalition, which recently obtained non-profit status.

By Paul Post

Doug Ford couldn’t land a teaching job right after college because the market was flooded, so he took temporary work at a lumber company, just to pay off some bills

“I took the job with the intention of working three days and stayed 19 years,” he said. “I fell in love with the industry. They made me a store manager. When you manage it’s really like teaching. They would send me to different stores that were challenged. I’d get it up and running and they’d send me to the next one.”

Now he’s vice president of public relations and purchasing at Ballston Spa-based Curtis Lumber Company, where he’s worked the past 27 years. In a related role, he’s also president and co-founder of the Northeast Construction Trades Workforce Coalition, which recently obtained non-profit status.

The organization has a diverse membership ranging from builders and material suppliers to colleges, school counselors and administrators. They all work together with a single-minded goal of attracting young people to the construction trades industry, to alleviate a severe labor shortage that’s reached crisis proportions in both the Greater Capital Region and United States at large.

The coalition is an outgrowth of efforts begun several years ago by Curtis Lumber and Saratoga Builders Association. Ford co-founded the organization with Pam Stott, a former Curtis Lumber official, now the coalition’s new executive director.

Weekender Hotels Cater To Those Seeking Memorable Experiences In The Outdoors

February 21, 2024

Town House Lodge, is a 2nd location in Lake Placid that is owned by Weekender Hotels.
Courtesy Weekender Hotels

By Paul Post

Keir Weimer saw possibilities in a run-down, century old Adirondack hotel whose owner was faced with foreclosure.

Today it’s the flagship in a string of properties from Tupper Lake to Southern New Hampshire geared specifically for outdoors adventure lovers.

This year alone, plans call for expanding to Saratoga Springs where his company, Weekender Hotels, is based along with the Catskills near Hunter and Windham ski resorts, and New England’s Green and White mountains.

“We’re connecting people to experiences within these awesome settings,” Weimer said. “Our ideal guest is 25 to 55; singles, couples and families that have a penchant for nature and the outdoors. It used to be more of a niche market. Now it’s really the fastest growing segment of leisure travel. If they want to get out to hike, boat, fish, snowmobile, ski or go mountain biking, we make sure our properties are located near all of those things within a short 20-minute drive.”

The venture began nine years ago with the Great Pines resort near Old Forge. Weimer was its listing agent for a Saratoga Springs real estate firm, but couldn’t find any prospective buyers. So he recused himself as the seller’s broker, became the buyer and convinced two friends to partner with him in purchasing the site, which had 30 rooms and two restaurants.