Glens Falls Business Journal

Personnel Briefs – February 2019

February 14, 2019February 15, 2019

Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Co. announced the promotion of Marc Yrsha to senior vice president.
Yrsha, of Queensbury, will lead the bank’s corporate development team as part of the retail banking group. In his new role, he will oversee marketing, business services and community engagement for the Arrow family of companies. He will continue to manage business development and small business lending.
Yrsha joined the bank in 2015 and was most recently vice president, director of business development and small business.
Yrsha is a graduate of Castleton University in Vermont and the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Adirondack Class of 2013. He is on the board of the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce and he is a member of the Council of Business Advisors for The FUND for Lake George. He is also an active member of the Adirondack Youth Hockey Association.

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The Chazen Companies announced that Elizabeth Bartosik and Johnathan A. Gell have received their engineer in training (EIT) designation.
EIT is a professional designation from the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) to designate a person certified by the state as having completed a minimum of three years of post-secondary school with an accredited engineering program and has passed the NCEES six-hour Fundamentals of Engineering examination. Receiving an EIT designation is one step toward professional engineer licensure.
Bartosik works in Chazen’s Land Development group and has a broad background and experience, and supports a wide range of projects. Recently, she has been able to successfully complete applications for renewal of the Part 360 solid waste management facility permits for two transfer stations.

Mexican Restaurant ‘Mi Rancho’ Opens In Main Street Building In South Glens Falls

February 14, 2019February 15, 2019

Jose Magdalena and his wife, Maria, operate Mi Rancho, a Mexican restaurant at 23 Main St. in South Glens Falls. It was formerly Cirelli’s Osteria.

By Jennifer Farnsworth
For people looking for authentic Mexican food, Jose Magdalena says to look no further than South Glens Falls.
Magdalena, owner of Mi Rancho, said his restaurant serves cuisine that is a taste of Mexico in upstate New York.
Located at 23 Main St., formerly Cirelli’s Osteria, Mi Rancho is a place that Magdalena thought the area was missing.
“We know how to make real Mexican food,” said Magdalena.

Queensbury Man Opens Sawyer Family Chiropractic Office At 123 Quaker Road

February 14, 2019February 15, 2019

Jeff Sawyer has opened Sawyer Family Chiropractic on Quacker Road in Queensbury. Sawyer He says he is excited to share his passion for wellness with the community.

By Jennifer Farnsworth
Lifelong Queensbury resident Dr. Jeff Sawyer is passionate about being a chiropractor. Now with his own practice, Sawyer Family Chiropractic, Sawyer said he is excited to share that passion with the community.
The 123 Quaker Road office opened in January. Sawyer designed it to be a state-of-the-art facility with treatment rooms that allow for the natural treatment for discomforts and symptoms, including neck pain, pregnancy pain, central nervous system diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, auto-accident pain and general wellness regardless of age, said Sawyer.
“The practice strives to promote a family atmosphere that focuses on optimizing health for each and every patient. As a chiropractor, my primary goal is to help patients avoid more costly interventions, such as prescription medications and unnecessary surgeries,” said Sawyer.
Sawyer is a graduate of New York Chiropractic College. He serves as the team chiropractor for the local Adirondack Thunder ECHL hockey team. He regularly attends seminars and training to keep up-to-date with new techniques of care.

New Way Lunch, Famous For Its Hotdogs, Will Celebrate 100 Years In Business This Summer

February 14, 2019February 15, 2019

New Way Lunch in Glens Falls will mark 100 years of serving up hotdogs this coming August. The restaurant is known for these hotdogs, known locally as “dirty dogs.”
Courtesy New Way Lunch

New Way Lunch in Glens Falls is a diner that will mark 100 years of serving up hotdogs this coming August.
Founded by Greek immigrant John Floro in August of 1919, the restaurant has remained a staple in Upstate New York, having survived through many highs and lows throughout history.
In 2019, New Way Lunch remains a family-run business. John Floro’s grandson, Peter Gazetos, and his wife Susan took over the business in 1990.

Business Report: Will They ‘Fit’?

February 14, 2019February 15, 2019

Michael Cruz, president of Lighthouse Advisors LLC in Queensbury.

By Michael Cruz
The hardest part of hiring is determining fit. By fit, we mean will they work well within this company. That means – Do they fit our culture?
Even people who have the competence for the job, sometimes do not work well within your company. If you have a hard driving culture, someone with a more laid-back personality might find the environment stressful. Perhaps you have a culture that prides itself on detailed analysis before acting. Then someone with a bias to fix things, may feel stifled.
That does not mean you want everyone to have the same personality traits. In fact, personality diversity will help your company in many situations. It does mean that you need to see how the personalities will blend.
I have been working with one of my clients – StoredTech – to help figure this out. We have been using a system from a company called CultureTalk. (www.CultureTalk.com) StoredTech requires candidates to take the assessment prior to a second interview. Now they are better able to ask questions that demonstrate how candidates have been able to react to situations that might have made them uncomfortable. Often, they can show how they have positively reacted. Sometimes, not.

Season At Saratoga Race Course Will Begin July 11, But Still Maintains 40 Days Of Racing

February 14, 2019February 15, 2019

Fans enjoy a day at the races during last year’s meet at Saratoga Race Course. This year, the meet will start July 11, but there will be no racing on Mondays and Tuesdays, except for Labor Day.
Courtesy NYRA

The New York Racing Association has extended the summer racing season at Saratoga Race Course.
NYRA adjusted racing dates for the Belmont Park spring/summer meet and the Saratoga summer meet to ensure the continuity of racing operations in New York in light of proposed timelines for the construction of a new arena at Belmont Park, officials said.
The Saratoga meet will begin on July 11, but the number of racing days remains at 40. In the past, each Tuesday was a dark day when races were not held. This season, Monday and Tuesday will be dark days, except for Labor Day, which traditionally is the final day of the meet and will remain so.
According to NYRA, the adjustment is based on initial timelines presented by Empire State Development (ESD) and the New York Arena Partners (NYAP) for the potential construction of an arena for the National Hockey League’s New York Islanders at Belmont Park.

Man Returns To The Area And Professional Roots With ‘Rebound Massage’ In Queensbury

February 14, 2019February 15, 2019

Seth Merrill operates Rebound Massage at 310 Dixon Road in Queensbury.

By Jill Nagy
It could be a modern novel. The hero, a successful professional, experiences a “big life change” and decides to wander the country, driving a truck and taking time out to ride the trails, hike, and do yoga. Then, an epiphany: He misses an essential part of his former life and returns to it, better than ever.
This happened to Seth Merrill, who returned to New York state last November to found Rebound Massage in Queensbury, part of the Adirondack Wellness Group at 310 Dixon Road.
He specializes in therapeutic massage, helping patients overcome pain and stiffness. He works with top athletes and also with “athletes just trying to get by day-to-day.”

‘Craft On 9’ Restaurant And Tap Room Plans A Move From Moreau To City Of Glens Falls

February 14, 2019February 15, 2019

By Susan E. Campbell
Robert Murphy is moving his Craft on 9 restaurant and tap room from Moreau to 7 South St. in the heart of Glens Falls.
After only two and a half years, his first restaurant will soon have double the seating and offer a fine dining and a high-end lounge experience.
Murphy took over the space at 1451 Route 9 when Luisa Italian Restaurant closed. His concept was a gastropub, with a full array of craft beers and stouts, plus wine and mixed drinks. The restaurant quickly grew to have a reputation for fast service of sandwiches, burgers and entrees and for outstanding cocktails
“Now we are running out of room,” he said. “I learned over five years as the kitchen manager at Bistro Tallulah the importance of minimizing the wait on a Friday or Saturday night.”

For Long-Term Investment, Market Correction In 2018 Fourth Quarter Means Opportunity

February 14, 2019February 15, 2019

By Kenneth J. Entenmann, CFA
What a difference three months make. At the end of the third quarter of 2018, every equity market index was posting significant positive returns, and the markets were focused on an overheating economy and the fear of rapidly rising interest rates.
Suddenly, market psychology turned sharply negative, and the new fear was an imminent global economic recession brought on by trade wars, overaggressive central bank policy and an earnings recession. By year’s end, volatility spiked to levels not seen since 2008, and all the major equity indices were decidedly negative. International markets suffered the most, with the developed markets (MSCI-EAFE Index) falling 13.32 percent and the emerging market (MSCI-EM Index) falling 14.49 percent.
The domestic equity markets fared better, but still posted negative returns for the year—Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 3.38 percent, S&P 500 fell 4.39 percent, Nasdaq composite fell 2.81 percent and Russell 2000 fell 11.03 percent—a very tumultuous end to 2018.

In Technology Age, Face-To-Face Interaction Important, But Even That Can Be High-Tech

February 14, 2019February 15, 2019

Melinda Bucknam, CPA and partner at Bucknam & Rodecker CPAs.

By Jennifer Farnsworth
As technology continues to grow and expand across the business sector, accounting firms have worked hard to keep up.
Accounting advisory and consulting services have benefited from the way technology has allowed them to work with clients without meeting face-to-face. But these services still need to be personalized. Many local firms have found ways to balance technology with personalized service.
Kristen D. Berdar, CPA, CMA, a partner at BST & Co. CPAs LLP, runs the company’s Virtual Accounting Solutions Division. She said they offer outsourced CFO and accounting solutions for clients on a cloud-based platform, working entirely outside of the client’s office.
They work to create a personalized service that is based on each individual client’s needs and goals.
“We utilize technology to automate and streamline their accounting processes. We also offer them a sense of comfort by knowing their accounting is managed effectively and efficiently by a CPA firm that can also adapt to their changing needs,” said Berdar.