Category Archives: Education / Training

AJA Architecture and Planning has announced the launch of its innovative Professional Development Program, aimed at nurturing emerging talents in the architecture and design industry while actively engaging with the local community. Rooted in a passion for mentorship and guided by a commitment to excellence, this program represents a significant milestone in the firm’s ongoing dedication to fostering the growth and success of future designers.

AJA has recognized the emerging professional’s desire to understand their career path. In 2018, the American Institute of Architects honored the firm with the Fostering Emerging Professionals Award. So much has changed since then. AJA has ramped up its entire approach to professional development to extend beyond its staff to the entire community.

“This recognition from the industry’s premier organization validates our mission and inspires us to continue nurturing the next generation of design leaders,” said Andrew Allison, a principal in the firm.

“Our program was built on the paradigm of ‘learn it, improve it, teach it,’ a philosophy instilled in me by my mentors,” he added. “We have always been committed to developing the skills of our team members, and started to think, why stop there? We decided to extend our program to local high school and college level students interested in the field of architecture, engineering, design, and construction management.”

The program encompasses various initiatives tailored to different stages of professional development:

High School Engagement: Through shadowing AJA helps expose high school students to the world of architecture and engineering, providing valuable insights into potential career paths and college options. This year, AJA has partnered with Hudson Valley Community College as a part of the Smart Scholars Early College High School Program. 

“In this area, we’re fortunate to have high schools that have invested in robust programs such as the Smart Scholars ECHS program. To further engage our youth, we’re dedicated to providing them exposure to career opportunities,” Allison noted. 

Dozens of high school students from around Warren County brought their science knowledge to Warren County Fish Hatchery on Wednesday, May 1, as Warren County Soil & Water Conservation District held its annual “Envirothon” science competition.

Seventy students from six school districts – Warrensburg, North Warren, Johnsburg, Lake George, Prospect School and Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES – competed to see who has learned the most about environment-related topics in the hands-on, single-day event. The studying occurs outside, in the woods, at the Fish Hatchery visitor center, and along hatchery trout ponds.

The teams compete against one another on five core Environmental Science topics – wildlife, forestry, aquatic ecology, soil and a “current issue” that changes annually, with this year’s issue chosen to be “Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Future.”

Teams prepare for the competition by reviewing core study topics ahead of the event, and having review sessions with Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) staff. The SWCD staff partners with state and local professionals to write and administer exams taken by students during Envirothon.

Members of the Warren County Board of Supervisors were honored May 9 with the Dorothea Dix Community Service Award from Ascend Mental Wellness for dedicating nearly $1.1 million to local mental health care improvements.

The award honored the board for the allocation of money from Warren County’s share of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to nine different initiatives, including expansion of Glens Falls Hospital’s Crisis Unit, funding of new staff for WAIT House and Ascend Mental Wellness, expansion of employee assistance programs and more.

“The Warren County Board of Supervisors is honored to receive the Dorothea Dix Award for Community Service from Ascend Mental Wellness. The need for improved mental health care in Warren County was a constant theme throughout the discussions of how to allocate Warren County’s share of American Rescue Plan Act funding, and we are already seeing that this funding is making a difference in the community through a variety of programs being offered by our partners around Warren County. We know this money will not solve every problem within our mental health care system, but we are gratified to see that it is helping,” said Kevin Geraghty, chairman of the Warren County Board of Supervisors.

Empire State University has launched its new Master of Public Administration (MPA) program, a degree designed for civil servants and others who aspire to career advancement in public service or the not-for-profit service sector. 

Applications are open for the fall 2023 term.

The MPA is a 30-credit master’s degree program that involves 10, three-credit courses and a final project. The program prepares students for careers such as social and community service managers in the public and nonprofit sectors. 

The degree will provide students with advanced skill sets that are necessary for supervisory and managerial positions. It will also introduce students to the history of the field, as well as recent trends in public administration. By understanding the interplay of governmental interventions, political factors, and ethical implications, students will be able to analyze, evaluate, and formulate policies.

SUNY Adirondack and Six Flags Great Escape partner to offer opportunities to SUNY Adirondack students in its collaborative “Work, Learn and Play” program this summer. 

Students can earn up to $16.25 an hour, live on campus (if they choose), take a shuttle between the park and campus, receive free park tickets and meals, and keep a flexible schedule so they can enroll in summer classes. 

“We are so excited to offer this wonderful opportunity to our students in collaboration with Six Flags Great Escape,” said Kathryn O’Sick, dean for Student Affairs at SUNY Adirondack. “This is a great opportunity to earn money while continuing to earn credit this summer, all while having fun.” 

The program allows students to stay on campus for the summer, work in various positions at the 150-acre theme park and continue to earn credits toward a degree. 

“We will work with students to apply for summer financial aid and offer discounted on-campus housing,” O’Sick said. 

Succession and continuity planning are business activities that  can take a backseat to  other things like growing revenues, trimming costs, or running day-to-day business operations.  

That idea was the emphasis behind the ARCC Succession Summit, presented by the Women’s Business Council on May 11 at the Queensbury Hotel in Glens Falls.

During the afternoon session, a panel of experts discussed why succession is a critical business activity. The intent was to create a culture of regular succession planning and development to ensure upward economic trajectory continues in the region.

The panel explored these three scenarios:

• After a starup business survives,what is needed  to ensure continuity, employee/client retention, and resilience?

• How do family owned businesses successfully move from generation to generation and beyond?

by Rose Miller

In my roles as an HR professional, a critical requirement is to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of employment laws, HR best practices and workforce stressors. 

It’s a lot. But us HR folks are a resilient bunch. The successful ones are always ready for change. Reinvention should be embraced to prepare for change.

I was speaking with a peer group of women leaders the other day. I love this group of “power-women”, who come from all walks of life and various careers. They are smart, fun, and empowered. We support each other in many ways, both personally and professionally. We understand how these things are deeply tied together.

The group’s facilitator often presents topics that are thought provoking and it challenges us learn about ourselves so we can lead with more self-awareness. If you have ever worked with someone who was not at all self-aware, you would fully understand the importance of this exercise.

This month, we were asked the question, “if you could reinvent yourself or change something at this point, how or what would it be?”

It’s a rare leader, who hasn’t reinvented himself or herself several times in their career. Look at what the last two years have done. Good or bad, we all needed to reinvent various pieces of our lives. Businesses needed to shift and pivot. We all had to flex and change to survive. Reinvention became survival.

Skidmore College has created a $10 million initiative in support of its longstanding commitment to a liberal arts experience rooted in creativity that prepares students for thriving professional and personal success. 

Officials said a $5 million one-to-one matching pledge along with additional matching gifts created the Sands Family Foundation Initiative for Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship at Skidmore College.

A century ago, Lucy Skidmore Scribner founded Skidmore College with the vision that it would help students connect the power of their minds and their hands in a new model of liberal education, college officials said. That ambition takes a dramatic step forward with the new initiative, said college President Marc C. Conner.

“This extraordinary gift celebrates what Skidmore has always done—nurture creativity and prepare students for life after graduation—and moves us forward in our ability to offer the very model for a 21st liberal arts education,” Conner said. 

“The essence of innovation and entrepreneurship is an eagerness to be bold, take risks, look at tough problems with fresh eyes, and be unafraid to fail—the hallmarks of a great liberal arts education. This gift from the Sands Family Foundation emphasizes the incredible impact that our commitment to developing exceptional creative and critical skills can have on students,” said Conner.

 Rob Sands, a Skidmore business major graduate who is executive chairman of the board of directors of Constellation Brands, explained his personal commitment to this gift.

The SUNY Adirondack Board of Trustees voted to freeze tuition for the 2021-22 academic year and eliminate three fees to recognize the economic difficulties brought by the COVID-19 pandemic for many students.

“This pandemic has hit our region’s lower-income residents the hardest, making the idea of starting college or returning to the classroom daunting for many,” said Dr. Kristine Duffy, president of SUNY Adirondack.

Officials said the 2021-22 semester rates for full-time state residents will be $2,472 and $206 per credit for students taking fewer than 12 credit hours. SUNY Adirondack’s tuition is one of the lowest in the state.

Duffy also said that after a year with more than 6,000 weekly COVID tests and fewer than a handful positive results, SUNY Adirondack announced plan to offer significantly more classes and activities in person for its fall semester.

“Our plans are, of course, dependent upon state and county guidelines,” she said. “We will continue to put safety and health first, but our hope is to welcome students back to campus this fall with more in-person and flexible learning options to accommodate different learners. Throughout the pandemic and the need for remote learning, we learned that some people need the flexibility of remote learning, while others thrive in person.”

Combined with substantial financial aid and scholarships, SUNY Adirondack remains an affordable option to start, continue or restart education in preparation for the workforce of today and tomorrow.

By Michael Cruz

Most businesspeople believe that success is bred by doing more. And more and more. And many times, that makes things worse.

Success comes from being the best at what we do. Doing tasks we are good at brings energy to all of the people in your company. Success breeds success. Repeating success is easier than struggling to do things we may not be as good at. So, what am I talking about here? I am suggesting that you may become even more successful by figuring out what not to do.

Look at your products and services. List them out on a sheet of paper. Which ones are profitable? What percentage of the revenue for that sale do you keep? Which ones are always a struggle to break even with? And, it’s a sure thing that some have no profit at all—or are performed at a loss. We begin to add services or products for lots of reasons. Many of them are to add to the top line. It will increase our revenue.

However, remember that you did not get into business to sell things. You got into your business to make money. So, using critical thinking, you want to figure out where you make the most money.

This focus on profitability will help you get rid of activities that do not make you money. That frees up time to focus on the things that make you money.

There are good reasons to add to your product or service offerings. Helping to offer a more complete solution to your customers is a good one. That aids in client retention. And it should make you more money because you have expertise and a relationship that make your offering less price sensitive.