Glens Falls Business Journal

‘Sweets By Marisa’ Opens Storefront In Glens Falls To Sell Cupcakes, Cookies And More

October 11, 2017October 11, 2017

Marisa Allen-Fountain and her husband, Josh, own and operate Sweets by Marisa.

By Liz Witbeck

For Marisa Allen-Fountain, owning a business has turned out to be every bit as sweet as she hoped for. In just a few months, her company Sweets by Marisa has turned into a local favorite.

Allen-Fountain grew up in the Glens Falls area and attended Queensbury High School. She received degrees in business from SUNY Adirondack and SUNY Plattsburgh.

Although she was not formally trained in culinary arts, the field had been a hobby of hers for many years.

“My dad and I always talked about opening a sweets shop,” she said.

She started creating cakes, cupcakes and other treats for friends and family. In 2016, her husband Josh surprised her when he signed her services up with a local wedding association. She did her first wedding show last year through the association, which gave her publicity.

Personnel Briefs: October 2017

October 11, 2017October 11, 2017

Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Co. promoted Andrew J. Wise to executive vice president and chief operating officer.

In the newly created role, Wise will report to the CEO and be responsible for the overall management of the company’s internal administration, including operations and strategic planning.

He joined the bank in 2016 and was most recently the chief administrative officer. He has more than 25 years of operational and information technology management experience.

Wise has a bachelor’s degree from Boston University’s School of Management and is a state-licensed insurance broker. Active in the community, he serves on the board of the Wesley Community and is a member of the Saratoga Springs Lions Club.

***

C.T. Male Associates Engineering, Surveying, Architecture & Landscape Architecture DPC recently hired a project environmental engineer and three geologists.

Beef Jerky Outlet In Lake George Offers More Than 100 Varieties Of The Popular Meat Snack

October 11, 2017October 11, 2017

The Beef Jerky Outlet in Lake George opened in the summer off Route 9 at the Outlets of Lake George East, next to Bass, in the Ralph Lauren and Coach section.
Courtesy Beef Jerky Outlet

The Beef Jerky Outlet in Lake George held its official grand opening in September. It is home to more than 100 varieties of premium jerky including favorites like prime rib, teriyaki and cherry maple.

“We are very excited to see the community’s reaction. Our store is a unique experience that provides an entirely new perspective when it comes to beef jerky,” said co-owner Ralph Rimualdo.

The 1,500-square-foot location also offers a wide variety of hot sauces, barbecue sauces, flavored peanut butters and popcorns, rubs, candy and more.

“We rarely see anyone leaving without adding something new to their palate,” said Ralph’s wife, co-owner Alissa Rimualdo. “Many of the products we offer are difficult to find in traditional stores.”

Bolton Landing Brewing Co. On Lakeshore Drive Will Have Eight Beers Upon Opening

October 11, 2017October 11, 2017

Brendan Murnane will open Bolton Landing Brewing Co. in late October in a structure built in the 1890s, renovated by Paone Architecture of Saratoga Springs and Munter Enterprises of Middle Grove.
Courtesy Bolton Landing Brew Co.

By Maureen Werther

Brendan Murnane started dreaming of ways to live and work in Bolton Landing ever since he was a kid. With the pending opening of Bolton Landing Brewing Co., his childhood dream is about to come true.

The company expects to open at the end of October at 4933 Lakeshore Drive, across from Rogers Park and Lakeside Lodge Grille. The property is centrally located in the middle of the village of Bolton. Murnane has made significant renovations since purchasing the building in December.

“We looked at a lot of places in town and fell in love with this place,” said Murnane.

Renovation began in May.

Business Briefs: October 2017

October 11, 2017October 12, 2017

The ARCC Leadership Adirondack program, now in its 27th year, accepts prospective leaders from regional businesses, and provides them opportunities for personal and professional growth. Through a series of sessions and tours, the class learns about different industries and the economic drivers in the region.

Each year, the Leadership Adirondack class chooses a fundraising project submitted by area nonprofit organizations. Last year’s class raised over $8,000 for the Family Service Association of Glens Falls. This year, the class has chosen the Open Door Mission.

Open Door is a faith based organization committed to filling the gaps in services not provided elsewhere in the community.

For more information on the Leadership Adirondack program, visit www.adirondackchamber.org.

***

The 2017 New York State Fair awarded the Argyle Cheese Farmer a gold medal for its plain Greek yogurt, the highest award in this category.

The company also won gold medals for its Sweet Greek chocolate mousse yogurt in 2016 and its maple Greek yogurt in 2015. In addition, its Amazing Grace aged cheese also won a silver medal in 2016.

SUNY Empire State, Cobleskill Form Pact To Help Business Students Get Graduate Degrees

October 11, 2017October 11, 2017

Officials from SUNY Cobleskill and SUNY Empire State College gather to announce an agreement between the schools to open a seamless path for business students to earn graduate degrees.
Courtesy SUNY Empire State

SUNY Cobleskill and SUNY Empire State have forged an agreement to open a seamless new pathway for business students to earn a graduate degree.

The articulation agreement allows qualified Bachelor of Business Administration students at SUNY Cobleskill to transfer smoothly into the Master of Business Administration in business management program at SUNY Empire.

The agreement enables SUNY Cobleskill BBA students to cross-register for up to nine credits of SUNY Empire MBA coursework, and establishes a framework for developing a combined BBA-MBA program registered jointly by both institutions.

“SUNY Cobleskill is dedicated to creating learning pathways tailored to continuous and suitable student progress from secondary school through to their desired goals,” said Marion Terenzio, its president. “This new partnership with SUNY Empire State College gives our business students a valuable opportunity to continue seamlessly to a graduate degree program.”

NYRA: 2017 Saratoga Race Course Meet Saw Record $676.7M Set For All-Source Handle

October 11, 2017October 11, 2017

Saratoga Race Course attendance reached 1,117,838 for the 2017 racing season.
Courtesy NYRA

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) reported that the recently completed summer meet at Saratoga Race Course set a record for all-sources handle with $676.7 million being wagered during the 40-day meet.

That surpassed the record of $648.3 million wagered in 2015. This year’s handle was up 4.5 percent over last year’s figure of $647.3 million, NYRA officials said.

On-track handle was $157 million, just missing the record $157.6 million wagered in 2015, but up 3.4 percent from last year’s figure of $151.8 million, NYRA said.

Total attendance, or paid admissions, for the summer was 1,117,838, just off the record of 1,123,647 set in 2016, officials said.

Restoration And Re-Use Of Old Buildings Provides Character To Their Neighborhoods

October 11, 2017October 11, 2017

This once-abandoned church on the corner of Grove and Garfield avenues in Glens Falls was restored as a residence and a space for the arts by Esmond and Danielle Lyons.
Courtesy Esmond Lyons

By Maureen Werther

In a region where new office buildings, apartments, condos and mixed-use structures are rapidly taking over the landscape, there are still residents and business people committed to restoring and stewarding the buildings that are part of the rich culture of the region.

Esmond and Danielle Lyons are one couple who have made a significant impact on their neighborhood with a dedication to restoring a Glens Falls church and rectory and transforming it into a space for yoga and the arts, as well as a private residence.

Esmond is a painter of murals and Danielle, who is also a painter, designs and creates jewelry and teaches yoga.

When they discovered the abandoned church on the corner of Grove and Garfield avenues in Glens Falls in 1995, it had been neglected for at least 30 years and there was a “condemned” sign on the front. The church had originally been sold to a private individual. It changed ownership two more times after that. Each previous owner had bought it with the intention of restoring it. But that never happened.

Business Report: Buying Commercial Real Estate

October 11, 2017October 11, 2017

Kim Salerno is the Principal in Salerno Law PC in Ballston Spa.
Courtesy Salerno Law PC

Kimberly A. Salerno, Esq.

Clients we represent who are buying their first home typically have little experience with real estate. Attorneys can hold their hand through the entire purchase from contract review right through to the closing and explain each step to them along the way.

Commercial clients, on the other hand, are usually more sophisticated with the real estate world and often know exactly what they want. The attorney-client relationship, therefore, can vary greatly between the two types of clients.

Residential transactions do not vary dramatically, as they are generally single-family homes and the legal issues are generally the same. As compared with commercial transactions, depending upon the type of property being purchased, the transaction can be much more complicated because there are so many different factors to consider for the client.

Are you purchasing an office building, apartment building or multi-use with leases? Time should be taken to review the leases in detail and if necessary, negotiate changes to the leases with the seller and tenant. Depending upon your plans for the units, the sales contract should include language limiting the seller’s ability to engage in any new leases without the buyer’s approval.

Tammy Aust Has Co-Owned Parker Machine Company In Fort Edward For Some 16 Years

October 11, 2017October 11, 2017

Tammy Aust, president and co-owner of Parker Machine Co. Inc. in Fort Edward, along with co-owner Patrick Whaley, bought the company in 2001.

By Maureen Werther

Like many successful people, Tammy Aust, president and co-owner of Parker Machine Co. Inc. in Fort Edward, recognized an opportunity when it presented itself and didn’t shy away from the challenge.

In 1993, Aust was the office manager for Parker Machine and her partner, Patrick Whaley, who is now co-owner and vice president of the company, was the shop foreman. Aust had started her own bookkeeping business on the side and when the owner of Parker Machine decided it was time to transition into retirement. He offered to sell the business to Aust and Whaley.

“It was never something I expected to do,” said Aust. She said the employee stock option plans were “really big” at that time and, between the package being offered by her boss and the bank, “it all came together.”

Aust and Whaley bought the company in 2001. They are now celebrating 16 years in business. They were named a Small Business of the Year in 2015 by the Washington County Local Development Corp.