Glens Falls Business Journal

Personnel Briefs: September 2024

September 25, 2024

Adirondack Winery has announced the appointment of Courtney Rankin as the organization’s inaugural female winemaker. With over six years of experience in winemaking, she will assume the responsibility of overseeing the production of over 35 wines and six hard ciders, as well as leading the development of new wine and hard cider releases for the company.

Ms. Rankin’s career started by getting involved in the craft beer industry. After completing her bachelor’s degree in film and screen studies, she changed direction to study craft beer brewing at Schenectady County Community College, where she got firsthand experience with local brewers. Through this introduction to the beverage industry, she found Galway Rock Winery in Ballston Lake. She started out apprenticing as the assistant winemaker for the owner and winemaker, Kate Soldani, learning the world of winemaking by, again, getting hands-on experience.

At Adirondack Winery, Ms. Rankin’s responsibility for wine and cider production will more than triple. Adirondack Winery’s wine production reaches 20,000 cases annually, while its Extreme Heights Cidery brand is fledgling. The Queensbury wine making facility has capacity to grow to a 50,000 case annual production volume.

Shortly after starting her new position at Adirondack Winery, Ms. Rankin demonstrated her expertise in the field by passing the Level 1 Sommelier exam. To earn this status, she had to pass a wine theory exam in which she was tested on different wine types and the various regions they represent.

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The Adirondack Pub & Brewery Expands Its Facility Along With Craft Beer Offerings

September 25, 2024

Adirondack Pub & Brewery celebrated completion of its expanded brewing operation with a ribbon-cutting ceremony recently.

In its 25th year of business, Adirondack Pub & Brewery has expanded its footprint with a new 3,000-square-foot addition adjacent to the pub, bringing the total size to approximately 15,000 square feet. This expansion, which includes new equipment to increase brewing capacity and meet the rising demand for diverse craft beverages, was made possible by funding from the State Development Craft Beverage Micro Grant Program.

Among the new offerings introduced since the expansion is a canned hard strawberry lemonade called “Cliff Jumper.” Beyond its variety of beers, the brewery has also launched a selection of beverages that include canned hard lemonades and teas, hard ciders made from New York State apples, hard seltzer, and the popular Bear Wizz Root Beer.

John Carr, owner of Adirondack Pub & Brewery said, “We are incredibly grateful to the state of New York and Empire State Development for this generous grant, which helps support economic growth and jobs in the Lake George Area. This has been instrumental in helping us expand our operations and continue to craft high-quality beverages right here in Lake George. This grant not only allows us to meet the growing demand from our customers but also reinforces our commitment to contributing to the local economy and community.”

Adirondack Pub & Brewery, established in 1999, is open year-round and supports a variety of jobs in the Lake George Area. State and local officials joined at the ceremony to speak to the economic impact of this brewery expansion on the local economy. The brewery was also presented a joint citation by State Sen. Dan Stec and Assemblyman Matt Simpson’s offices.

A Wide Variety Of Luxury Watercraft Is Available Through Comitti North America

September 25, 2024

Discerning boating enthusiasts on Lake George have purchased a variety of watercraft from Comitti North America.
Courtesy of Comitti North America

Since 1956, family-owned shipyard Comitti has been building bespoke, heirloom-quality boats in Lake Como, Italy, that are prized by discerning yachtsman, families and superyacht owners alike for their timeless lines, Italian craftsmanship and high level of customization. Now, these elegant runabouts and tenders, which range from 22 feet to 42 feet, are being offered exclusively in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean through newly formed distributor Comitti North America, headquartered in Saratoga Springs.

Among the models Comitti North America is introducing to the North American market year are the new 25’8” One 780 and 32’6” Isola 33, as well as a “super custom,” bespoke version of the popular Venezia 28 model paying homage to Comitti and many of the most coveted European runabouts from the ’60s and ’70s. Each of these models is now making its U.S. debut. Comitti North America also has several other Comitti models located in the U.S. available for viewing by prospective dealers and retail clients.

The Tri-County United Way’s VITA Program Honored With An IRS Hall Of Fame Award

September 25, 2024

The Tri-County United Way VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program has been honored with the National IRS “Hall of Fame” Award, a testament to its exceptional contributions and unwavering support for individuals and families with low to moderate incomes.

Chosen from 14 national nominees, Tri-County United Way’s VITA program distinguished itself through its remarkable service, community impact, and dedication to financial stability.

For over 20 years, the Tri-County United Way VITA program has operated 13 sites across Warren, Washington, and Northern Saratoga counties. During the 2024 tax season, 27 tax preparers and 15 appointment takers volunteered over 3,100 hours, preparing more than 2,000 tax returns. Their efforts generated $3.1 million in federal and state income tax refunds for the local economy and saved taxpayers over $700,000 in preparation fees.

The VITA program’s excellence was recognized by its in-house training, offering 24 hours of classroom or self-study instruction, available at flexible times. This year’s innovative outreach included local media interviews, print media outreach, and ads in several prestigious media outlets including the 50th Adirondack Balloon Festival program, which boosted volunteer recruitment and community engagement.

Building Strong Relationships Is As Important At The Gym As Improving Physical Fitness

September 25, 2024

Owner Ryan Holderman, (kneeling left) and Training Manager Kasey Gorton lead a team of dedicated personal trainers at The Gym in Queensbury.
Glens Falls Business Journal photo

By Susan Elise Campbell

At The Gym in Queensbury, a workout is not only about physical fitness. It’s about building relationships and the team effort behind the wellness of each client. According to owner Ryan Holderman, this philosophy has served him well.

“Here we care about people more than money,” he said, a mantra shared by The Gym’s personal training manager, Kasey Gorton.

The business that Holderman started 10 years ago in a 2,500-square-foot space in South Glens Falls now occupies 26,000 square feet at Aviation Mall. The Gym is ever growing its customer base and adding new fitness programs and equipment to its offerings, and Holderman said he is always looking to expand further.

The “fun career path” he took out of college was not one he thought would culminate in his own business, Holderman said.

“I played baseball at Adirondack Community College, and I think athletes want to stay fit,” he said. “After you retire from sports, what do you do next?”

Trained Dietitians At Hudson Headwaters Guide Clients Toward Healthy Eating Habits

September 25, 2024

Alexandra Barbieri is a registered dietitian at Hudson Headwaters Health Network.
Courtesy of Hudson Headwaters

By Christine Graf

As part of its mission to provide comprehensive primary care throughout the North Country, Hudson Headwaters Health Network has a team of three registered dietitians who provide nutrition counseling to patients. Hudson Headwaters has 25 centers located throughout the North Country.

Registered Dietitian Alexandra Barbieri is responsible for covering the southern tier which includes centers in Moreau and Glens Falls. A native of Hudson Falls, she has a master’s degree in applied nutrition and has been working as a registered dietitian for 10 years.

At Hudson Headwaters, registered dietitians are considered an integral part of the treatment team. In addition to seeing patients in person, they also offer telehealth and telephone consultations. They accept patients only through the Hudson Headwater network, providing their services at no cost to the patient. The practice also has a certified diabetes educator who works closely with patients with diabetes.

“There’s a real demand for our services, and we are scheduling about three months out,” said Barbieri. “I might meet with a patient as little as once or twice, or I could work with them for years. A big part of being a dietitian is providing accountability and continued education.”

On average, Barbieri estimates that she meets with most patients three to six times over the course of one year or more.

“From a health and habit standpoint, in the beginning, you work on education. In order to make changes, habits need to be created. We call that the action stage, and that can take about six months to one year. After that, there is the maintenance stage.”

Glens Falls YMCA Offers A Large Variety Of Programs To Help People Focus On Fitness

September 25, 2024

Health & Wellness Director Heather Hamell (right) and Personal Trainer Zara Richards at YMCA.
Glens Falls Business Journal photo

By Jill Nagy

The Glens Falls YMCA is gradually growing out of its COVID-induced funk. Attendance and participation in programs are both close to pre-pandemic levels, according to Health and Wellness Director Heather Hamell.

Pedalling for Parkinsons and a six-week “walk with ease” program for arthritis sufferers are popular and there are plans for a 16-week blood pressure program to begin in October.

In the wellness center, the machines and free weights are busy and the 1/16-mile indoor track attracts participants from people with walkers to runners, she said.

Healthy Start orients new users to the exercise machines. In the pool, people are swimming laps and taking part in Acquafit and other group programs.

The gym hosts Pickelball and adult basketball—at different hours.

The Rise Of Cyber Crime Makes Focused Insurance Critical For All Businesses

September 25, 2024

Kevin O’Brien’s firm, TechFirst Insurance Agency in Queesnbury, offers cyber insurance.
Courtesy of TechFirst Insurance Agency

By Susan Elise Campbell

Cyber crime is on the rise so rapidly that more U.S. businesses have been victims of attack than not. Here in the North Country, companies with 10 to 50 employees are frequent targets said Kevin O’Brien, president of TechFirst Insurance Agency in Queensbury.

“Most mid-sized companies do not have a computer techie on staff guarding the entryways,” said O’Brien, who is co-partner with Mark Shaw, founder of StoredTech, a local IT services firm. “The discussion right now is not if you’re going to get attacked, but when.”

O’Brien said that “when a bad actor enters into their computer network, the business must report to the state.” One benefit of cyber insurance is the needed legal counsel to navigate those requirements.

But as cyber criminals “get smarter” at what they do, O’Brien said companies need a policy to cover notifying everyone whose personal data has been stolen, lost revenue, data reparation, and much more.

“Cyber crime is so regular that all businesses need to put money up for insurance, because it impacts not only your business, but your clients, vendors, advertisers, and anyone whose payment information and personal data you may be storing,” he said.

With so many levels of risk, O’Brien said it is not enough to have cyber coverage as an add-on to a general liability policy. There needs to be a stand-alone policy specific to that business.

“Proper protection is like a smoke alarm, he said. “When there’s a fire in the business, everyone hears it and gets out safe.”

Business Report: Life Insurance for Wealth Transfer

September 25, 2024

David M. Kopyc, CRPC®, is president of Retirement Planning Group LLC.

By David Kopyc

The Baby Boomer generation will pass on an estimated 80-plus trillion dollars of wealth to their family, and this will be the largest wealth transfer in the history of mankind. There are certain types of financial assets that are very complicated to be passed on to the next generation and this article will focus on one in particular – qualified assets (IRA, 401(k).

Qualified assets are estimated to be around $20 trillion of wealth. As I write this article, a vast sum of the money will be 100 percent taxable as ordinary income and never receive a step up in basis at death. These monies have a huge tax obligation sent down to your heirs to pay the tax bill that you left behind.

Previously, financial advisors had the ability to do a stretch IRA, to spread these payments out for decades, but the government discontinued the stretch IRA and now non-spouse beneficiaries have 10 years to have 100 percent of the inherited IRA paid out. That leads me to ask you a question…Do you want to leave a tax liability or do you wish to leave a tax-free benefit for your legacy?

Deciding on that answer can lead you to consider purchasing a life insurance policy to pass some of your qualified assets tax-free to your loved ones. This option does not have to be all or none. At the Retirement Planning Group, we usually do a carve out, with a portion of the qualified assets to be spent down to purchase a life insurance policy. Some of these policies can be paid for over a 10-year, 20-year, or lifetime payout. Depending on your other assets and the size of your estate, you might even have the ability to do a one-time payment.

Life insurance isn’t something only the wealthy use for wealth transfer and estate preservation. There are several unique features of life insurance, but the two that are most beneficial are tax-free and guaranteed values. Many of our clients have used life insurance for a guaranteed wealth transfer, especially if you are in a blended family and you have a substantial age difference between spouses.

Business Report: Safeguard Profits: Key Holiday Insurance Strategies

September 25, 2024

Melissa Davidson, CIC, Senior Sales Executive, Northern Insuring, Glens Falls.

By Melissa Davidson, CIC

The holiday season is a critical time for businesses, especially those in retail. With the surge in sales, there is also an increase in inventory to meet the demand. While this can lead to substantial profits, it also introduces significant risks. Business insurance for inventory during the holidays is essential to protect your investment and ensure your operations run smoothly. Here’s what you need to know.

Understanding the Risks: The holiday season presents unique challenges for businesses. Some of the most common risks include; theft & burglary, fire hazards, damages in transit, and natural disasters.

With the increased flow of customers and high-value inventory, the risk of theft and burglary rises. Seasonal hiring may also mean less experienced staff who may be less vigilant about security protocols. These temporary employees, while essential for handling the holiday rush, might not have the same level of training or loyalty as permanent staff, which can inadvertently increase the risk of internal theft.

Holiday decorations, increased electrical usage, and heating can elevate the risk of fire. Dry Christmas trees, decorative lights, and heating systems running at full capacity can contribute to potential fire hazards. The festive atmosphere often leads businesses to add extra lighting and decorations, which, if not properly managed, can become fire hazards. It’s crucial to regularly inspect all electrical decorations for frayed wires and to ensure that real Christmas trees are kept hydrated to prevent them from becoming fire risks.