Category Archives: Business News

Special Olympics New York Returns To Glens Falls On October 21 and 22

October 17, 2022

Special Olympics New York will bring 1,300 athletes and coaches to the Capital Region.

Special Olympics New York will hold the 2022 State Fall Games in and around Glens Falls on Oct. 21 and 22.

Organizers said the games will bring 1,300 athletes and coaches to the Capital Region—nearly three times as many participants as last year’s event.

The games will kick off with a signature Special Olympics New York Opening Ceremony on Friday night, Oct. 21, in City Park. Competition will take place all day Saturday, Oct. 22, in seven sports: bocce, cross-country running, cycling, golf, equestrian, soccer and softball.

Special Olympics New York President and CEO Stacey Hengsterman and Glens Fall Mayor Bill Collins last month put out a call for volunteers to support the games. The jobs include event setup and breakdown, registration, scorekeepers, timers, photographers, golf caddies, and more. No experience is necessary.

Volunteer registration can be completed online at www.specialolympics-ny.org/competition/volunteeratfallgames.

Peter Menzies Is New Chairman Of Board For The Lake George Association

October 17, 2022

Pete Menzies is the chairman of the Lake George Association.
Courtesy Lake George Association

The Board of Directors of the Lake George Association (LGA) has elected Pete Menzies as chairman.

Menzies, who chaired the LGA prior to its 2021 merger with The FUND for Lake George, succeeds Jeff Killeen as chairman. Killeen, who previously chaired The FUND and served as transitional chairman during the first 20 months following the merger, was elected vice chairman.

Menzies will work with LGA President Eric Siy and staff to execute the organization’s multi-faceted Lake-protection strategy, which includes providing technical and financial assistance to property owners for lake-protection projects; world-class water quality research and direct protection programs through The Jefferson Project, the Lake George Waterkeeper, and an array of public-private partnerships; public education programs; and public policy advocacy, all with the goal of protecting the lake’s water quality today and for the future.

Of particular importance to the strategy at this time are the LGA’s Lake Protector Program, which educates, inspires and empowers property owners across the Lake George watershed to take direct actions on their properties to protect water quality; and the Education for Boating classroom and other programs to educate area school children, property owners, and other members of the public about water quality protection.

Killeen will focus on working with LGA donors and partners to build and sustain the philanthropic support necessary to ensure maximum programmatic success.

Hilton Family Farmstand Moves Its Store From A Tent To A Building And Website

October 17, 2022

The Hilton Family Farmstand in Brant Lake, sells jars of pickles, coffee, gifts and other locally sourced items from a roadside store and online.

By Andrea Harwood

Jen Bliss, co-owner of Hilton Family Farmstand in Brant Lake, has expanded her operations, adding a building and an ecommerce website to the enterprise.

Bliss’ father started the farmstand over 25 years ago as a small family project intended to provide summer work for an old friend. He set up a six-foot table and a tent, and put some melons and corn from Schuylerville Farms alongside some of the Hilton family pickles. It grew from there.

“It’s evolved from one little tent to a bigger tent, to a refrigerator, to now two full stores,” said Bliss. “There are people who still come by here who remember buying our pickles out of the little cooler on the side of the road. Now we have a full-sized store.”

In the past, the farmstand sold mostly produce. Bliss’ father sold only local Upstate New York produce, meeting with the farmers in Menands and partnering with Hand Melon Farm in Schuylervillle.

New Laboratory Services Facility Opens At West Mountain Family Health, Queensbury

October 17, 2022

Hudson Headwaters Health Network and Glens Falls Hospital opened a new laboratory services facility at West Mountain Family Health, pictured here.
Courtesy West Mountain Family Health

Hudson Headwaters Health Network and Glens Falls Hospital have opened a new laboratory services facility at West Mountain Family Health.

The renovated lab officially opened in September at 161 Carey Road in Queensbury.

Glens Falls Hospital operates three phlebotomy draw stations at the site, designed to provide efficient service for patients. The new, expanded lab’s hours are Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.

According to Hudson Headwaters’ CEO Dr. Tucker Slingerland, the leadership team at Hudson Headwaters has developed partnerships with many health care organizations throughout the region to collaborate and develop creative ways to provide health care.

“We consistently explore strategies to increase access and improve patient experiences. Our partnership with Glens Falls Hospital allows for increased hours of lab services, which results in greater convenience for our community members,” said Slingerland. “We are grateful for the opportunity to plan and complete this service with Glens Falls Hospital.”

SUNY ADK ‘Electrical Maintenance Technician Bootcamp’ Offers Hands-On Learning

October 17, 2022

SUNY Adirondack has added an Electrical Maintenance Technician Bootcamp to its Workforce Development course offerings.

The course includes a tool kit for each student, as well as OSHA’s Lockout Tagout (LOTO) certification training and examination.

“This is a great opportunity for interested individuals to receive hands-on training in a field that is in immediate need of skilled applicants,” said Caelynn Prylo, dean of continuing education and workforce innovation at SUNY Adirondack.

Career services are embedded in the course and include presentations by area job centers and recruitment opportunities with local employers.

With its new bootcamp, SUNY Adirondack “has taken a strong step in helping to fill a need for this skill set in the Capital Region, and in preparing students for careers in advanced manufacturing,” said Jordan Steller, senior director of human resources at GlobalFoundries.

The Electrical Maintenance Technician Bootcamp is one of three 12-week courses offered by SUNY Adirondack’s WRAP Reimagine grant, under the SUNY Reimagine Workforce Preparation Training Program, fully funded by the U.S. Department of Education.

For no cost, qualified applicants can participate in workforce training programs in electrical maintenance, sterile processing or python for data analytics. Interested individuals must be at least 18 years old and have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. These courses are geared toward people seeking occupational skills for a career in the high-demand industries of manufacturing, information technology and health care, officials said.

Advokate Communications And Marketing Group Moves Its Offices To Glen Street

October 17, 2022

Kate Austin, seated, owner and CEO of Advokate, in the company’s new office with Cam Cardinale the company’s marketing and communications director.

Advokate LLC, a design, communications and marketing firm, has relocated to 333 Glen St. in Monument Square from 16C Exchange St. in Glens Falls.

A ribbon-cutting and open house at Advokate’s was held Sept. 28 for the occasion, co-hosted by the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce.

“We had been remote for two years and it felt like time to scale the office down, but then we found the perfect suite in the Traveler’s Building,” said Kate E. Austin, founder and CEO of Advokate.

“The new office space is accessible by elevator, includes conference room availability, two private offices, and feels like a level-up to us,” she said. “With the size of our team now, it was time to structure the company for growth. And we realized that once we felt safer meeting in-person that we really preferred it over Zoom.”

New Owners Of ‘Pure ‘N Simple’ Store Continue To Sell Locally Produced Products

October 17, 2022

Andrew and Kristen Holt, new owners of the Glens Falls health food store Pure ‘n Simple, pose in the East Washington Street business with their children.

By Christine Graf

Husband and wife Andrew and Kristen Holt are the new owners of the Glens Falls health food store Pure ‘n Simple.

The couple purchased the business from longtime owners Paul and Bonnie Savard. It is located at 4 East Washington Street.

Pure ‘n Simple sells a broad range of vitamin and mineral supplements as well as bulk foods including nuts, fruits, grains, and flours. They also offer an assortment of other grocery items, many of which are vegan, dairy free, and gluten free. Although the store does not currently sell produce or meat, the new owners hope to carry these products in the future.

Kristen is a native of Upstate New York, and the couple moved to the Glens Falls area seven years ago after spending the first four years of their married life living Kenya, Africa.

While in Kenya, Andrew worked as the country director for an NGO (non-governmental organization) that operated schools, orphanages, and medical clinics.

After moving to New York, he was the pastor of a church in Saratoga Springs for several years. He now works full-time for the U.S. Postal Service. Kristen was a stay-at-home mom to their four children before they bought Pure ‘n Simple. She is now the store’s only employee.

Albany Med To Rebrand Hospitals In Its System, Including Saratoga And Glens Falls

October 17, 2022

The Albany Med Health System is embarking on an evolution of its brand to reflect the unity of its member organizations and its commitment to provide the widest range of medical and surgical services to patients across northeastern New York.

Albany Medical Center, Columbia Memorial Health, Glens Falls Hospital, Saratoga Hospital, and the Visiting Nurses will now share a common visual identity anchored by the Albany Med Health System name and logo.

This representation draws upon the identity of Albany Medical Center as the region’s academic medical and tertiary care center. It also conveys the collaborative extension of adult and pediatric specialties from the hospital to community-based locations and to the home.

“Our people are the backbone of our brand,” said Albany Med Health System President and CEO Dr. Dennis P. McKenna. “We are one team, 16,000 professionals strong, standing ready to care for the three million people of our region. When patients see the Albany Med Health System brand, they can rest assured they have a direct connection to the most advanced quality services and the largest team of health care experts from the Mid-Hudson Valley to the North Country. We are partners along every step of the journey—because good health makes anything possible.”

“Being part of the Albany Med Health System means much more than just five institutions sharing a common look,” said Paul Scimeca, president and CEO of Glens Falls Hospital. “It is more important now than ever to show the region we are working together toward a common goal of providing everyone with high quality healthcare—and to showcase the great careers our friends and neighbors can have at all of these excellent institutions.”

Officials said consumers are increasingly seeking easy access to highly specialized care. The Albany Med Health System expands access through collaboration. One brand identity explains the strength and scope of the system from primary to urgent, hospital, surgical, postsurgical, and home care. It demonstrates the links between community hospitals and Albany Medical Center’s advanced services, which extend additional resources through the region and for patients who require a higher level of care.

Warrensburg Dealership Is Part Of AgPack Program That Give Farmers Special Benefits

October 17, 2022

The idea of farmers helping farmers find a return on their truck investment resulted in the creation of AgPack. Seven years later, AgPack benefits to farmers and growers could quickly add up to nearly $30,000 in real operational savings, say those in the program.

Krystal Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram (CDJR) at 3940 Main St., Warrensburg, recently completed the stringent requirements to become a local Certified Agriculture Dealership making them eligible to offer AgPack to their farm and grower customers.

AgPack is a collaboration of agricultural companies who, collectively, organized a specialized package of discounts and rebates on things producers have to buy anyway.

The process calls for a farmer to purchase or lease a qualifying farm truck or SUV from a Certified Agriculture Dealerships. In doing so, they have to verify their agricultural enterprise with the dealer. Once the dealer has notified AgPack, the farmer or rancher will be contacted by an AgPack representative within a week to begin redemptions

“Believe it, or not, AgPack is free with the purchase or lease of a qualifying new, or pre-owned, farm truck, or SUV, from a Certified Agriculture Dealership,” said Pat Driscoll, CEO of Certified Agriculture Dealers/AgPack. “Plus, AgPack can be stacked on top of any incentive, rebate, fleet or VIP program the local dealer can offer.”

“More than anything, farmers and ranchers want—need—the most durable vehicle money can buy,” added Driscoll. “We know because we’re ranchers and farmers, too. And that’s what we want. Our focus is to make sure our agriculture family gets an honest to goodness return on their truck investment.”

Businesses Can Participate In Free Online Cybersecurity Summit Run By U.S. SBA

October 17, 2022

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that it will host a free, virtual National Cyber Summit on Oct. 26 to help introduce American small businesses to tools, tips, and resources to bolster their cybersecurity infrastructure in addition to exploring new trends and challenges entrepreneurs are increasingly facing.

“America’s small businesses are pivoting to digital technologies and online strategies at historic rates to reach new customers and improve operational efficiencies, but that pivot has also exposed them to significant new threats from cyberattacks,” said SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman.

“Our SBA team has mobilized to support them against these potentially disruptive threats with cybersecurity resources and trainings across our resource partner networks, as well as through our recently launched Small Business Digital Alliance. Launching the SBA’s first cybersecurity summit will help us build on that work and ensure America’s 33 million small businesses and innovative startups can pivot safely online and grow resilient businesses.”

“As our small businesses pivot more and more into cyber space to expand their market, we want to insure that they connect effectively and safely,” said SBA Regional Administrator Marlene Cintron. “This is a timely and responsive effort for businesses trying to regain and improve market share.”

“We are energized to bring actual solutions to the table for America’s small businesses, which continue to inspire us all with hope and resilience,” said SBA Associate Administrator of the Office of Entrepreneurial Development Mark Madrid.

The summit comes on the heels of the recently announced awardees for the SBA’s new pilot program created to help emerging small businesses steel themselves against cyberattacks.