Glens Falls Business Journal

Tiki Tours Adds 30-Foot Pontoon Boat To Its Fleet, Expanding Presence On Lake George

September 17, 2021

Tiki Tours has added a new 30-foot tikied pontoon boat to its fleet.

The second boat allows Tiki Tours to offer more trips to meet growing demand, the company said.

“Tiki Tours has seen tremendous growth in the last few years and is excited to add another vessel on Lake George,” said Tiki Tours co-owner Gregory Teresi. “This 30-foot tikied pontoon adds a whole new level of comfort to the Lake George experience. We want to thank the Lake George Beach Club, the Village of Lake George, the Lake George Park Commission and the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce for their continued support.”

General Contractors Of America Says Finding Workers To Fill Jobs Is Still Problematic

September 17, 2021

Construction firms are struggling to find enough qualified workers to hire, even as they continue to be impacted by pandemic-induced project delays and supply chain disruptions, according to the results of a workforce survey conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America and Autodesk.

The survey results underscore how the coronavirus pandemic has created constraints on the demand for work even as it limits the number of workers available to hire, association officials said.

The association and Autodesk conducted the Workforce Survey in late July and early August. Over 2,100 firms completed the survey from a broad cross-section of the construction industry, including union and open shop firms of all sizes. The 2021 Workforce Survey is the association’s ninth annual workforce-related survey.

“Market conditions are nowhere near as robust as they were prior to the onset of the pandemic,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “At the same time, the pandemic and political responses to it are limiting the size of the workforce, leading to labor shortages that are as severe as they were in 2019 when demand for construction was more robust.”

Simonson noted that nearly nine out of ten firms (88 percent) are experiencing project delays. Among these firms, 75 percent cite delays due to longer lead times or shortages of materials, while 57 percent cite delivery delays. Sixty-one percent of firms said their projects are being delayed because of workforce shortages. And delays due to the lack of approvals or inspectors, or an owner’s directive to halt or redesign a project, were each cited by 30 percent of contractors.

Those Working At Home Advised To Have Space That Is Both Productive And Pleasing

September 17, 2021

Katelyn Moskos is the owner and interior designer at Lake George Design.
Courtesy Lake George Design

By Christine Graf

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, more Americans are working from home than ever before. The remote workforce grew from 22 percent in 2019 to forty-two percent in 2020. In some white-collar professions, 80 percent of workers continue to work remotely, and because employers are realizing that employees can be just as productive from home, remote work options are expected to become common even after the pandemic ends.

For those who are spending more time in their home offices, interior designers suggest having a space that is both productive and aesthetically pleasing.

Proper lighting in a workspace can increase productivity while poor lighting can cause eyestrain and headaches. Research shows that poor lighting can also contribute to depression and other deficiencies in the body. Adequate light has been shown to improve both mood and energy levels.

According to Lake George Design owner, interior designer Katelyn Moskos, those who don’t have access to natural light have various options.

CEG Launches Region’s Largest Offshore Wind Industry Attraction Initiative

September 17, 2021

The Center for Economic Growth (CEG) is involved in an initiative to bring more offshore wind (OSW) development to the Capital Region and beyond in New York state.

The agency, dedicated to driving economic growth in an eight-county region that includes Saratoga, Washington and Warren counties, said there are two companies that are working with the technology. Through them, CEG will help bring the energy source to the region.

“With Equinor and Ørsted/Eversource planning major offshore wind component manufacturing operations in the Capital Region, we have the wind at our back. We want to further build out here the supply chain for this emerging industry on the East Coast that will drive the creation of thousands of jobs,” said CEG Chief Economic Development Officer Katie Newcombe.

CEG promoted local OSW opportunities at the Business Network for Offshore Wind’s International Partnering Forum (IPF) in Richmond, Va., in August. IPF is the largest offshore wind conference in the Western hemisphere, bringing together the global offshore wind supply chain for business growth and networking opportunities.

Adirondack EAP Provides Employees In The Area With Counseling And Training Services

September 17, 2021

Richard Demers is retiring soon as executive director of Adirondack EAP and Susan McManus, now program director, will be stepping into that position.

By Susan Elise Campbell

The Employee Assistance Program of Warren, Washington, and Saratoga Counties (Adirondack EAP) will turn the corner on 40 years with a new executive director at its helm.

Richard J. Demers is soon to retire as executive director after 36 years.

Over the decades Demers and his staff established Adirondack EAP as a valuable community resource providing free and confidential assessment, counseling, and referrals for employees of member organizations and their families, according to Tracey Riley, president of the board of directors and vice president of human resources at Finch Paper.

Adirondack EAP is a local, rather than a national EAP, with its main office at 559 Glen St. and affiliated offices in Plattsburg, Saratoga Springs, Albany, Clifton Falls, and other locations.

Today there are 60 member companies and 25,000 employees and their families have been served, Riley said.

EAP counselors work in a consultative role with managers and supervisors of member companies, providing them mindfulness training or other assistance, such as helping with transitions if there has been a tragedy in the workplace, McManus said.

Business Report: Cyber Insurance Is Important

September 17, 2021

Melissa Davidson, licensed sales executive at Northern Insuring Agency.

By Melissa Davidson

Cyber insurance, which not too long ago was thought of as a want and not a need, is now considered a primary component in many business insurance policies. Cyberattacks are on the rise with breaches becoming more frequent and losses becoming more severe.

According to AM Best, “The loss ratio for cyber insurance rose dramatically in 2020, [up] to 67.8 percent from 44.8 percent in 2019. However, the increase was not limited to just a few insurers—the loss ratio rose for 15 of the 20 largest cyber insurers.”

Cyber liability insurance generally covers a business’s liability for a data breach involving sensitive customer information: such as Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, account numbers, driver’s license numbers and health records.

Those costs can include lost income due to a cyber event, costs associated with notifying customers affected by a breach, costs for recovering compromised data, costs for repairing damaged computer systems and more. Moreover, cyber coverage is not automatically included in general liability coverage and is generally excluded. This coverage needs to be purchased separately.

State Comptroller: Employer Contributions To Retirement System Will See A Reduction

September 17, 2021

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli has announced reductions in employer contribution rates to the New York state and Local Retirement System (NYSLRS) for both of its systems—the Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) and Police and Fire Retirement System (PFRS).

He said the adjusted rates will impact payments in the State Fiscal Year 2022-23.

In addition, DiNapoli lowered the long-term assumed rate of return on the Fund’s investments from 6.8 percent to 5.9 percent.

“The fund’s strength gives us the ability to weather volatile markets. Our prudent strategy for long-term, steady returns helps ensure our state’s pension fund will continue to be one of the nation’s strongest and best-funded,” DiNapoli said. “While the reduction in employer contribution rates is welcome news for taxpayers, our investment decisions are always made based on what is best for our 1.1 million working and retired members and their beneficiaries.”

The estimated average employer contribution rate for ERS will be lowered from 16.2 percent to 11.6 percent of payroll. The estimated average employer contribution rate for PFRS will be reduced from 28.3 percent to 27 percent of payroll.

Business Briefs: September 2021

September 17, 2021

The Glens Falls Collaborative has postponed its health and wellness festival, FitFest, due to rising COVID-19 cases in the area.

FitFest was scheduled to take place on Saturday, Oct. 2. A rescheduled date for 2022 has not yet been set.

Fit Fest is an annual festival highlighting fitness, health and wellness businesses and organizations in the area.

“It is with incredible sadness that we have to postpone another event. COVID has made an unfortunate return, and with numbers spiking, vendors are more reluctant to attend or send people to events,” said Glens Falls Collaborative President Robin Barkenhagen.

The festival typically includes sample fitness classes. interactive demonstrations, vendor booths with giveaways, children’s activities, information about organizations and services and more.

The Collaborative also recently announced the postponement of its popular Wing Fest and PetFest events.

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Planted Platter Of Saratoga Springs Provides Cooking Classes And Wellness Programs

September 17, 2021

Deb Czech is the owner of Planted Platter of Saratoga Springs.
Courtesy Deb Czech

For plant-based cooking and nutrition instructor Deb Czech, the ongoing COVID pandemic and its health impacts have expanded the reasons why people are starting to put more plants on their plate.

Czech is the owner of Planted Platter of Saratoga Springs, a business providing plant-based cooking classes, coaching services, and customized workplace wellness programs. Planted Platter also collaborates with Capital Region nonprofits on plant-based cooking events for their members and clients.

To address rising consumer interest in plant-based diets, Planted Platter is offering a dozen online classes this fall that people can mix and match to their own health needs.

“The fundamental principles of a whole-food, plant-based diet remain the same across all classes,” said Czech. “What changes is the presentation of medical information and research specific to a given condition, whether that’s Type 2 diabetes or heart disease or anxiety or menopause or something else.”

More information about classes is available at plantedplatter.com.

Experienced Area Yoga Teacher Opens ‘Grounded on Glen’ Studio In Glens Falls

September 17, 2021

Kayla Craft has been practicing yoga for 20 years and in July moved her business to 282 Glen St., naming it Grounded on Glen. The studio offers mediation, pilates, retreats and more.
Lisa Balschunat

By Lisa Balschunat

Kayla Craft has been practicing yoga for 20 years and has owned and operated the Yoga Kayla studio for the past seven on the second floor of 206 Glen St in Glens Falls.

Since 2014, yoga enthusiasts have climbed an old 20-step wooden staircase to enter into the yoga studio.

In early July, Craft moved her New York State Women Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) down the block to 282 Glen St. She expanded the studio’s offering and renamed the business Grounded on Glen St.

“When I first opened Yoga Kayla, it was just me teaching. But now I have 18 instructors and offer mediation, pilates, teaching certification and retreats,” she said. “Rebranding the business was a must.”

Grounded on Glen St is located on the corner of Glen and South streets. It is now a street-level studio that features group classes, one-on-one private sessions, yoga weekends, urban retreats, wellness programs, meditation and mindfulness classes taught by the 18 certified instructors.