Glens Falls Business Journal

Sustainable PR Reports That Business Tripled During Its First Year Of Operation

February 22, 2022

Sustainable PR, a public relations agency supporting the growth of green businesses, has tripled in its first year of operations.

Fueling the PR firm’s growth is the demand for media relations services among innovative green companies, its founder said..

“Whether it’s COP26 or the Biden PlSustainable PRan on combatting climate change, we are benefiting from significant tailwinds in the sustainability market,” said Tony DeFazio, a 30-year PR veteran and founder and principal of Sustainable PR. “Our services, strong team, and strategic location will continue to serve us well as sustainable innovations shape the green economy.”

The public relations agency provides media relations services including key message development, press relations, media training, and influencer engagement to clients. Since launching a year ago, the company has signed multiple clients in green technology, renewable energy, impact investing, sustainable water, and green agriculture. The firm has been leading communications for Glens Falls Urban Agriculture Pilot, a hydroponic project to convert unused or under utilized industrial buildings into productive year round urban farms.

The company recently opened an office at 46 Elm St. in downtown Glens Falls, a block off South Street, where a $10 million economic development initiative to revitalize the corridor is expected to get underway in 2022.

Carl T. Baker Is The Recipient Of This Year’s Walter Juckett Community Service Award

February 22, 2022

Carl T. Baker, Esq., founding shareholder of FitzGerald Morris Baker Firth PC.
Courtesy ARCC

The Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce announced that the 33rd Annual J. Walter Juckett Community Service Award will be presented to Carl T. Baker, Esq., founding shareholder of FitzGerald Morris Baker Firth PC.

Baker will be presented with the award at the ARCC annual dinner on April 1 at The Sagamore Resort in Bolton Landing.

“Carl exemplifies all that defines the J. Walter Juckett Community Service Award. He has given much of himself to our region as a volunteer in so many ways. Carl has done so much for others, yet he is so humble never expecting anything in return except the satisfaction of helping those around him. Congratulations Carl on a well-deserved award given to you by your peers in the business community,” said ARCC President and CEO Michael Bittel.

Baker’s contributions to our community include service on multiple boards, councils, and committees including: Kiwanis Club of Glens Falls; Glens Falls Kiwanis Foundation; board of governors of Glens Falls Hospital; Planned Giving Council of Glens Falls Hospital; Glens Falls Hospital Foundation; Widowed Persons Service of Greater Glens Falls Area; Compre-Care Inc; Glens Falls YMCA Legacy Club Committee; WAMC Gift Planning Advisory Committee.

Born in Gloversville, Baker went on to pursue a career practicing law, achieving a B.A. from Cornell University in 1973, then his J.D. from Albany Law School in 1978. He was admitted to the bar in 1979. Baker is married to Sandra Stoffolano and has two children, Christopher and Jessica. He is a founding shareholder of FitzGerald Morris Baker Firth PC, and former managing partner and current head of the firm’s Trusts and Estates practice group.

‘Sleep And Spa’ Store In Lake George Offers Mattresses, Hot Tub Spas And Accessories

February 22, 2022

The new Sleep and Spas location at 1851 Route 9 in Lake George is one of five locations for the business. Others are in Saratoga Springs, Latham, North Greenbush, and Kingston.

By Jill Nagy

At the new Sleep and Spas location at 1851 Route 9 in Lake George, they are selling almost as many hot tubs as mattresses, according to sales manager Kevin King.

Maybe a few more mattresses, he admitted, but dollar-wise, “it’s really even.” This is a good time of year for hot tubs, he said, noting that the company had just delivered two tubs to customers in Queensbury that day.

Business, so far, has been “very good,” King said.

The Lake George location, at the Log Jam Outlet Center just off Route 9, opened two months ago and it is the fifth location for the business. They also have stores in Saratoga Springs, Latham, North Greenbush, and Kingston.

King pointed out that the store is easy to find. It shares a parking lot with the Log Jam restaurant, a Lake George landmark.

In addition to mattresses and hot tubs, Sleep and Spas sells massage chairs, patio furniture, and swimming pool supplies.

Personnel Briefs: February 2022

February 22, 2022

Capital Bank, a division of Chemung Canal Trust Company, announced that Tracey L. Wardwell, assistant vice president and Saratoga County retail manager, was named 2021 Banker of the Year by Pursuit Community Finance, formerly known as NYBDC.

The award, presented to Wardwell by Pursuit Vice President Nicole Scribner, recognizes outstanding dedication to the small business community.

Wardwell joined the company in 2018 and currently oversees Capital Bank’s branch offices in Clifton Park and Wilton.

Wardwell graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business, with a concentration in finance and a minor in economics, from St. John Fisher College in Rochester.

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Arrow Financial Corp. has promoted named executive officers David S. DeMarco, David D. Kaiser, Edward J. Campanella and Andrew J. Wise to senior executive vice presidents of Arrow and its subsidiary banks as a reflection of the company’s strong operational and financial performance.

Each will continue in their primary roles overseeing the management of critical functions for Arrow, Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Co. and Saratoga National Bank and Trust Co.

In addition to serving as chief banking officer of Arrow and Glens Falls National Bank, DeMarco is president and CEO of Saratoga National Bank and Trust Co.

Campanella continues as treasurer and chief financial officer, Kaiser continues as chief credit officer, and Wise continues as chief operating officer, each for Arrow and its two banks.

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Couple’s Companies, Northern Living And Lake George Design, Have New Location

February 22, 2022

Katelyn Moskos poses in the new office of Northern Living on Route 9 in Lake George, one of the businesses she and her husband John own.
Courtesy Northern Living

By Christine Graf

Northern Living and Lake George Design have relocated offices to 1849 Route 9 in Lake George. The vacation rental, property management and interior design businesses are owned by Katelyn Moskos and her husband, John.

In 2016, the couple depleted their savings in order to purchase and renovate their first short-term rental property on Lake George. At the time, Moskos was working in hospitality management, and her husband was a medical sales rep.

“Because I had been working in hospitality management for quite some time, I saw the potential and demand for vacation rentals,” said CEO Moskos. “It was risky. Very risky. This was before Airbnb’s and VRBO’s became what they are today. I jumped in head first and it was sink or swim. I had no choice but to swim.”

Today, they own seven lakefront rental properties and manages 36 additional properties. Northern Living offers high-end rentals and markets its property management services to people who own second homes in the Lake George region.

Moskos started out with one employee and worked out of her Queensbury home. Today, she has a staff of more than 25 year-round employees. That number exceeds 50 during the busy summer months. Her husband joined the company full time in 2018 and serves as head of maintenance.

In addition to Northern Living, the rental and property management arm of the business, Moskos also owns Lake George Design, an interior design company. She works with customers who want to purchase second homes in the area to use as short-term rental properties.

‘Luxury Box’ Sports And Entertainment Center In Queensbury Grows In Popularity

February 22, 2022

Dave Brindle is the owner of the Luxury Box, a Queensbury-based indoor sports and entertainment facility that opened in the fall.

by jennifer farnsworth

It has been just over a year since David Brindle first broke ground on his business venture, The Luxury Box. The Queensbury-based indoor sports and entertainment facility opened in the fall, and since then, Brindle said they have been growing at a steady pace.

“Business started slow in October when we first opened. The week of Thanksgiving things increased. December was slow with people playing but we sold a lot of gift certificates. January really picked up with players coming in to use the facility,” said Brindle.

The facility is for any age and skill level, and can be utilized any time of year. Brindle said they have seen the units used for family nights, girls nights and game nights. He expects there will be more weekly golf tournaments starting this month.

He said all of the sports simulators are popular, with golf in particular.

Wing Fest Returns To Glens Falls In April After A One-Year Hiatus Due To Pandemic

February 22, 2022

The Glens Falls Collaborative returns to hosting its annual Wing Fest in downtown Glens Falls on Saturday, April 30. Tasting tickets are $1 each.
Courtesy Glens Falls Collaborative

After canceling last year’s event due to the ongoing pandemic, the Glens Falls Collaborative returns to hosting its annual Wing Fest in downtown Glens Fallls on April 30.

Courtesy Glens Falls CollaborativeThe event is a competition between restaurants for the best wings. There will be an awards ceremony at the bandstand in City Park at 3:30 p.m. to close out the event, with multiple categories of winners.

There will also be live music in Downtown Glens Falls.

This year’s event is dedicated to Michael DuBray, also known as DeeJay DuBray, who helped found the event and served as its chair and champion for many years. He passed away in January and will be honored during Wing Fest.

Restaurants are invited to participate by applying online at www.glensfallscollaborative.com.

Tasting tickets are $1 each, and the number of tickets to taste varies by restaurant.

Participating Downtown restaurants will serve from their storefronts, and restaurants from outside the city will serve from locations along Glen, Ridge, Bay and Maple Streets and in City Park.

Voting will take place online at www.glensfallscollaborative.com. QR codes for voting will be displayed around town and votes must be cast by 3 p.m.

Hudson Headwaters Mobile Health Center Brings Services To SUNY Adirondack

February 22, 2022

The Hudson Headwaters Mobile Health Center began seeing patients at SUNY Adirondack on Feb. 10. Access to health care became a priority when the campus added a residence hall in 2013.
Courtesy SUNY Adirondack

Hudson Headwaters Mobile Health is now delivering primary care services at SUNY Adirondack. The mobile health center will be on campus twice a month to serve students, faculty and staff.

This is the first time medical services will be offered on the SUNY Adirondack campus, which does not have a student health center. Access to health care became a priority when the campus added a residence hall in 2013.

The mobile center is staffed by a family nurse practitioner, Christine Calistri, a registered nurse and a medical assistant. Hudson Headwaters Mobile Health Program Lead Kristin Waller, who also serves as the onsite medical assistant, recently attended SUNY Adirondack’s winter student orientation day.

“We brought the unit onsite so students and other campus community members could tour through and get to know us,” said Waller. “The mobile team is thrilled to offer services to SUNY Adirondack and hope our flexible options, such as online appointment scheduling and same-day sick appointments, appeal to busy students and campus staff.”

“SUNY Adirondack is excited by the opportunity to advance our relationship with Hudson Headwaters Health Network and bring affordable, top-notch health care to campus for our students and their dependents,” said Kristine D. Duffy, Ed.D., president of SUNY Adirondack. “Hudson Headwaters’ Mobile Health Center offers SUNY Adirondack students convenient, safe care to help our students make their health a priority.”

SUNY Adirondack is the fourth site served by the mobile health center. Other locations include Salem, Lake Luzerne and Whitehall.

Hotel & Lodging Association Predicts Move To Recovery Will Be Uneven, Volatile

February 22, 2022

The hotel industry will continue moving toward recovery in 2022, but the path will be uneven and potentially volatile, and full recovery is still several years away, according to the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA)’s 2022 State of the Hotel Industry report.

The report, which reveals shifts in consumer and business sentiment, was created in collaboration with AHLA Silver Partner Accenture and is based on data and forecasts from Oxford Economics and AHLA Platinum Partner STR.

The top findings of the report include:

• Hotel occupancy rates and room revenue are projected to approach 2019 levels in 2022.

• The outlook for ancillary revenue, which includes food & beverage and meeting space, is less optimistic.

• Hotels lost a collective $111.8 billion in room revenue alone during 2020 and 2021.

• Leisure travelers will continue to drive recovery: in 2019, business travelers made up 52.5 percent of industry room revenue; in 2022, it is projected to represent just 43.6 percent.

• Business travel is expected to remain down more than 20 percent for much of the year, while just 58 percent of meetings and events are expected to return. The full effects of Omicron are not yet known.

Work Ongoing For Car Dealership’s New, Larger Facility As Business In Region Grows

February 22, 2022February 22, 2022

Work is progressing on a new 21,000 square foot home for Krystal Chrysler Jeep Dodge in Warrensburg. The dealership plans to move in early this summer.
Paul Post

By Paul Post

A Warrensburg car dealership is planning an early summer move into a spacious new facility, nearly triple the size of its current home.

Krystal Chrysler Jeep Dodge is relocating from a less than 8,000-square-foot site at 4488 Route 9, to a 21,000-square-foot building 2.5 miles closer to the village, adjacent to Oscar’s Smokehouse, one of the North Country’s most popular retail stores.

Owner Steve Lofrgren said the move is necessitated by business growth spurred by the popularity of the Ram and Jeep brands, and the need for larger service capacity.

There are several other Chrysler Jeep Dodge dealerships in the region including Nemer, in Queensbury, but Lofgren said the new Warrensburg site will have unique features such as a Jeep-only showroom.

“We would be the only one north of Albany with this type of facility,” he said.

When facing the building, the Jeep showroom will take center stage in the middle. A separate showroom for Chrysler and Dodge vehicles will be on the left, with service to the right on the south end of the structure.

Krystal, which now employs 42 workers, plans to add about five jobs including technicians, sales staff and office help.