Glens Falls Business Journal

Business Report: Businesses Improve Visibility in AI-Powered Search

July 21, 2026

Valleri James, Director of Digital Sales and Strategy at Mannix Marketing.
Courtesy Mannix Marketing

By Valleri James

For years, local businesses have focused on improving their visibility on Google so customers can find them through search. Now, the way people discover businesses is changing.

Instead of typing “best accountant near me” or “top roofing contractor” into a search engine, more consumers are turning to AI assistants such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Claude and Microsoft Copilot for recommendations.

According to BrightLocal’s 2026 Local Consumer Review Survey, 45% of consumers had used ChatGPT or another generative AI tool to find local business recommendations, up from just 6% the previous year. The survey found AI had become the third-most-used source of local recommendations, behind Google and Facebook.

Rather than scrolling through pages of search results, users increasingly see a short list of businesses and an explanation of why they may be a good fit.

That means your online presence now needs to serve two audiences: the customers you want to reach and the digital tools connecting those customers with answers.

The good news is that most businesses do not need to rebuild their websites or master complicated new technology. The fundamentals that have always helped customers choose a business — clear information, helpful content and proof of credibility — also help search engines and AI tools understand your company.

When It’s Time To Stop Patching And Start Replacing

July 21, 2026

David Andrade, president Stored Technology Solutions Inc. (StoredTech).
Courtesy StoredTech

By David Andrade
President of StoredTech

There’s a quiet problem I see across a lot of businesses, and it’s worth naming. That’s technical debt, or sunk cost. Sometimes a business bought the wrong system years ago or outgrew a setup that used to work fine. They keep pouring time and money into propping it up. At some point, you’re not maintaining it anymore; you’re just patching the same holes each year. It’s a hard thing to admit at times, but the businesses that recognize this and make the change save themselves more years of frustration and wasted budget.

Every business maintains something: a building, a piece of equipment or a fleet of vehicles. But none of them would drive a 15-year-old car without getting the brakes inspected, getting an oil change or changing the tires. We understand instinctively that things wear down, that maintenance is cheaper than a breakdown and that waiting too long to replace something usually costs more than replacing it on your own schedule. For some reason, we don’t always apply that same logic to the technology running our businesses.

Munter Balances YMCA Renovation With Major Regional Construction Projects

July 21, 2026

A rendering shows the Glens Falls YMCA, where Munter Enterprises is carrying out an $8 million, multiphase renovation designed to keep programs and facility use operating during construction.
Courtesy Munter Enterprises

By Rod Bacon

The crews at Munter Enterprises are looking at a very busy year. The Middle Grove-based construction firm has numerous projects underway or nearing completion.

In Glens Falls, Munter is doing an $8 million renovation of the Glens Falls YMCA using a multiphase approach to help keep programming and use of the facility as seamless as possible for staff and members.

Phase one, which is underway with an anticipated completion date this fall, is the redesign of a family locker room, a women’s locker room and a men’s locker room.

Phase two will be a dedicated group fitness studio.

Phase three creates a multiuse indoor sports complex.

Phase four is a complete redesign of the wellness floor.

Phase five redesigns the front lobby, creates a youth STEAM area and includes a new cycle studio.

And somewhere in the mix of the other phases, the pool deck on the Fire Road side of the building will be expanded to include an on-deck restroom, sauna and hot tub.

Queensbury’s Hilltop Construction Celebrates 50 Years And Third-Generation Growth

July 21, 2026

From left, Cindy Albrecht, Tom Albrecht Sr., April Washburn, Daniel Washburn and Tom Albrecht Jr. gather at Hilltop Construction as the Queensbury family business marks its 50th anniversary.
Courtesy Hilltop Construction

By Paul Post

Tom Albrecht Sr. launched Hilltop Construction with a dollar and a dream.

Now marking its 50th anniversary, the firm is one of the area’s best-known residential and commercial builders, with projects from Saratoga to the southern Adirondacks and from Great Sacandaga Lake to Lake St. Catherine in Vermont.

But Albrecht says he never worked a day in his life.

“That’s because I loved the business, every aspect of it,” he said. “But more importantly, I loved building people’s dreams.”

A celebration for clients, current and former employees and business friends is planned for August at Hilltop’s new headquarters at 21 Casey Road in Queensbury’s Airport Industrial Park.

Albrecht and his wife, Cindy, recently celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary. Now retired, they enjoy spending time with grandchildren and traveling, especially to major league ballparks across the country.

KPM Targets Larger Restoration Projects Through Regional Expansion

July 21, 2026

KPM Restoration employees gather beside company vehicles as the firm expands across the Capital Region, Hudson Valley and Vermont to pursue larger residential and commercial restoration projects.
Courtesy KPM Restoration

By Susan Elise Campbell

KPM Restoration now has five fully staffed offices in the Capital Region, three in the Hudson Valley and one in Vermont, allowing it to handle 30 or more jobs each week, according to President and founder James Kennedy. The firm restores homes and buildings damaged by water, fire, mold and sewage caused by natural disasters or system failures due to age or accidents.

Kennedy said clients range from Lake Placid to Long Island and that the Bronx is the latest market he is entering. He is moving into the boroughs by “getting out there networking and keeping relationships tight,” which has been his approach since starting KPM Restoration in 2017.

“The growth we are experiencing goes back to taking a chance and getting a network of good vendors, building managers, insurance companies, construction project managers, plumbers, and others to partner with,” he said. “And it is about making a foundation of people with grit who are like family to me.”

The firm is shifting to larger jobs from its new location in southeastern New York because, as Kennedy said, “bigger buildings need bigger restorations.”

Hinman Construction Builds Aging-in-Place Business Through Remodeling Demand

July 21, 2026

A remodeled kitchen illustrates Hinman Construction’s design-build work as growing numbers of homeowners age 50 and older choose to update their existing homes rather than move elsewhere today.
Courtesy Hinman Construction

By Carol Ann Conover

Ballston Spa-based Hinman Construction, a family-run design-build firm, has built a growing share of its business around a demographic shift familiar to communities across the region: homeowners age 50 and older who want to remodel rather than move.

Nationally, 75% of adults age 50 and older say they want to remain in their current home as they age, according to AARP’s Home and Community Preferences Survey, and 73% of remodelers report increased client demand for aging-in-place features over the past five years, according to the National Association of Home Builders. Owner Kim Hinman said she sees that demand play out in a few distinct ways among her clients.

“I would say almost like three groups,” Kim Hinman said. One group built a large home within the past decade or so and later realized they wished they had a first-floor bedroom and bathroom, whether for an aging parent or for themselves as mobility needs change. A second group modifies existing space to make it work, converting a closet into a shower area or turning a dining room into a bedroom. A third group sells a larger house and hires Hinman Construction to fully renovate a smaller, existing home to suit their needs going forward.

Cerrone Builders Advances Two Residential Projects in Warren, Saratoga Counties

July 21, 2026

A newly built home at The Village at Upper Sherman in Queensbury reflects Cerrone Builders’ response to demand for smaller homes, flexible floor plans and maintenance-conscious living options.
Courtesy Cerrone Builders

By Susan Elise Campbell

Cerrone Builders Inc. is addressing continued demand for varied housing choices in Saratoga County and the North Country with smaller homes and maintenance-conscious options for buyers who may not be seeking a traditional subdivision with larger lots.

Following its success with The Village at Sweet Road off Northway Exit 19, Cerrone launched a similar maintenance-free community two years ago: The Village at Upper Sherman in Queensbury, said Steven Cerrone, one of the managing partners of the family-owned residential construction business.

“‘Upper Sherman’ has been very well received, with more than half of the 45 lots sold,” said Cerrone. “The first six builds are waiting on permits right now.”

“Two model homes have been sold, and we got a building permit last week to build another one,” he said.

While the newer development was intended to mimic the Sweet Road project, Cerrone said The Village at Upper Sherman has larger lots and appeals to a broader demographic than the anticipated market of people 55 and older and empty nesters.

AAA Northway Highlights Trust As Travel Demand Grows Among Older Adults

July 21, 2026

Amy Roode leads AAA Northway travel operations as demand grows among older travelers.
Courtesy AAA Northway

By Carol Ann Conover

As more adults 50 and older look to travel rather than downsize their plans, AAA Northway says it is seeing steady demand for hands-on trip planning, along with a renewed emphasis on the trust between traveler and travel agent.

Amy Roode has spent 20 years with AAA Northway and now serves as managing director of travel operations, based out of the organization’s Queensbury office. AAA Northway’s footprint spans five locations, from Vestal in the Binghamton area up through Schenectady, Saratoga, Halfmoon and Queensbury. Roode works with more than 50 preferred vendors, including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruise Line and Trafalgar escorted tours, managing marketing contracts, training and travel events while coaching the sales team one-on-one.

Roode said travel habits among the 50-plus set have shifted noticeably since the pandemic. “I think COVID has helped us,” she said, describing a mindset she now sees regularly among clients. “They’re like, travel while you can. They have that mentality.” River cruising, in particular, has grown. “River cruises have picked up in the past eight years in our area,” Roode said, noting it appeals to travelers who want the intimacy of a smaller ship and closer ports alongside the variety of an escorted tour.

Long-Term Care Planning in New York: Why Waiting Can Limit Your Options

July 21, 2026

Brian Johnson, director, business development at Advisors Insurance Brokers.
Courtesy Advisors Insurance Brokers

By Brian M. Johnson, MBA, CLTC

Ask most Capital Region residents about retirement planning, and they’ll likely talk about 401(k)s, IRAs, Social Security, investment portfolios, or estate planning.

Ask about long-term care planning, however, and the conversation often becomes much quieter.

That’s surprising considering that long-term care may represent one of the largest financial risks facing retirees today. Whether care is received at home, in an assisted living community, or in a nursing facility, the costs can have a significant impact on retirement savings and family finances.

In New York, those costs are among the highest in the nation. According to Genworth and CareScout’s most recent Cost of Care Survey, the median annual cost of a home health aide in New York is approximately $77,792, assisted living costs roughly $75,600 annually, and a semiprivate nursing home room costs approximately $176,660 per year.

For many families, the challenge isn’t simply paying for care; it’s understanding their options before a health event occurs.

Why Waiting Can Reduce Your Options

One of the biggest misconceptions about long-term care planning is that it can be addressed later. The reality is that many planning options depend on both age and health. Traditional long-term care insurance and many hybrid long-term care solutions require medical underwriting. As people age, premiums generally increase, and certain medical conditions may limit eligibility or reduce available choices. A strategy that may be available at age 55 could be unavailable at age 70 following a major health diagnosis. That’s why many financial professionals encourage clients to begin evaluating long-term care funding options in their 50s and early 60s, while they are still healthy and insurable.

Regional Leaders Discuss Development And The Multibillion-Dollar Lake George Economy

June 22, 2026

Panelists discuss tourism, development, housing and the region’s multibillion-dollar economy during the Spring Economic Outlook Breakfast at the Courtyard by Marriott Lake George on June 16.
Courtesy Lake George Regional Chamber

By Ann Donnelly

The Lake George region boasts a thriving, multibillion-dollar economy, but sustaining that momentum requires tackling affordable housing shortages, navigating complex development regulations and expanding the year-round experiential economy.

Gina Mintzer, executive director of the Lake George Regional Chamber and CVB, moderated the Spring Economic Outlook Breakfast at the Courtyard by Marriott Lake George on June 16. Themed “Where Tourism Meets Development,” the event featured a panel of finance, real estate and economic experts who provided key insights into the region’s fiscal health.

Jim Siplon, president of EDC Warren County, set an optimistic tone, noting that the region’s economic base is historically and quantitatively spectacular.

“Our economy is a $5 billion GDP economy,” Siplon said. “More than a billion of the $5 billion of value that gets produced here is directly attributed to what we call the experiential economy.”

Siplon, who has led the EDC for six years, added that Warren County is one of the few places in New York seeing a net influx of taxpayers, with 3,000 more people filing returns in 2023 than the previous year.

Dave DeMarco, who has served as president and CEO of Arrow Financial Corp. for the past three years, echoed this sentiment. “It’s been a very stable period for us, for our history, which speaks to the economic growth trends here,” DeMarco said. “We don’t see the high highs or the low lows that other parts of the country do.”