Glens Falls Business Journal

Warren County Board Of Supervisors Receives Dorothea Dix Community Service Award

May 21, 2024

Warren County supervisors display the Dorothea Dix Community Services Award they received recently from Ascend Mental Wellness.

Members of the Warren County Board of Supervisors were honored May 9 with the Dorothea Dix Community Service Award from Ascend Mental Wellness for dedicating nearly $1.1 million to local mental health care improvements.

The award honored the board for the allocation of money from Warren County’s share of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to nine different initiatives, including expansion of Glens Falls Hospital’s Crisis Unit, funding of new staff for WAIT House and Ascend Mental Wellness, expansion of employee assistance programs and more.

“The Warren County Board of Supervisors is honored to receive the Dorothea Dix Award for Community Service from Ascend Mental Wellness. The need for improved mental health care in Warren County was a constant theme throughout the discussions of how to allocate Warren County’s share of American Rescue Plan Act funding, and we are already seeing that this funding is making a difference in the community through a variety of programs being offered by our partners around Warren County. We know this money will not solve every problem within our mental health care system, but we are gratified to see that it is helping,” said Kevin Geraghty, chairman of the Warren County Board of Supervisors.

Lake George Queen Boat Company Is Named Newest Dealer For Highfield Boats

May 21, 2024

Highfield sport boats coming this June to Queen Boat Co.

Highfield Boats, the world’s leading manufacturer of aluminum rigid inflatable boats (RIBS) and tenders, has announced that it has added a new boat dealer to its U.S. sales network: Queen Boat Co. on Lake George.

Bolton Landing native Tyler Moseman, recently hired to oversee Highfield North America’s marketing, said, “We see Queen Boat Co. as a great fit to introduce Highfield to the Upstate New York region. They have beautiful facilities, a reputation for providing great customer experience, and a robust service department. All that, coupled with the opportunity to grow the Highfield brand within their Freedom Boat Club, made them a logical partner. I am very excited to work closely with them being a Lake George boater myself.”

Located in Dunhams Bay on Lake George, Queen Boat Co. is a full-service public marina specializing in sales of ePropulsion and Torqeedo electric outboards. In 2023, Queen Boat Co. partnered with Aqua superPower to install the first marine fast charging station in the Northeast. It is also home to the Freedom Boat Club Lake George membership club. A family-owned business, Queen Boat Co. continues to look for innovative products and service offerings to improve the boating experience for existing boaters and the new generation of boaters entering the boating lifestyle.

The Granville Community Foundation Has Awarded Grants To Three Area Organizations

May 21, 2024

The Granville Community Foundation (GCF) has announced that its latest recommendation to award $24,875 of grants for the first half of 2024 has been approved by the Glens Falls Foundation.

“We received grant proposals for $39,875 worth of projects with specific funding requests of $24,875 from the GCF. We’re able to support all $24,875 of these requests and, coupled with our grants made in previous years, we have now made a total of 19 grants totaling $198,144 since starting in 2022”, said Michael Freed, chair of the GCF Advisory Board.

Freed went on to say “These three latest grants are consistent with our goals of funding projects that address community development, education, art and culture, environment, and health and social needs of the greater Granville community. We continue to be inspired by the many initiatives of these nonprofit organizations, and their many dedicated volunteers, and we’re honored to try and assist however we can.”

“The Distribution Committee of the Glens Falls Foundation has received, reviewed and fully supports the recommendation of the GCF Advisory Board to approve these grants and we look forward to the positive impact these, and future grants, will have on the Granville community,” said Laura Vamvalis, business administrator of the Glens Falls Foundation.

The grants awarded are as follows:

Families Can Experience A Part Of The Founding Of America At Fort Ticonderoga

May 21, 2024

Experience the blend of history and natural beauty like nowhere else when you visit Fort Ticonderoga. Explore 2,000-acres of America’s most historic landscape, located on the shores of Lake Champlain, nestled between New York’s Adirondack & Vermont’s Green Mountains. Create lasting memories as you embark on an unforgettable adventure that spans centuries, defined a continent, and helped forge a nation.

Hailed as one of the premier living history sites in North America, Fort Ticonderoga’s staff brings history to life every day. Ticonderoga’s epic history and signature stories are highlighted through innovative story telling on a grand scale, historic trades, daily soldiers’ life programs, thrilling weapons demonstrations, endless outdoor activities, and captivating special events.

This year, Fort Ticonderoga debuts a new chapter in its history. Experience 1774 and the peacetime garrison life for the British soldiers and their families that lived at Fort Ticonderoga 250 years ago.

Arnoff Moving & Storage Will Cut The Ribbon On The Next 100 Years As A Family Business

April 17, 2024

A true family business, several generations of the Arnoff clan are guiding the enterprise started by Abraham and Phyllis Arnoff into its second century.
Courtesy of Arnoff Logistics

By Susan Elise Campbell

Arnoff Moving & Storage achieves another milestone this spring with its 100-year anniversary as a family corporation. What was started in 1924 by generations one and two with Abraham Arnoff and his son Louis is now under the management of generations three, four and five.

How future generations will impact the growth of the company when they come on board, time will tell, if they first follow one family rule.

“My grandmother Phyllis had the idea, I was told, that any family member has the opportunity to join the business but must have worked for at least a year at another company,” said Dan Arnoff, chief relationship manager and company spokesperson who oversees sales, marketing and human resources. “She is the one who enforced the rule.”

Phyllis Arnoff has passed away, but her husband Richard, generation three, is the firm’s CEO. The president is their son Michael and his wife Lisa is executive vice president and corporate counsel. Their sons Dan and Craig, the latter a CPA and the company’s chief operating officer, are also operating the firm alongside their cousin Nick, vice president of fleet and safety, and uncle Mark, who manages a separate moving company in southern Florida.

Entrepreneurship Programs In Area Provide Valuable Information For Small Businesses

April 17, 2024

Kate Austin, a local entrepreneur and owner of Advokate, received help from Start-Up ADK in starting her firm that specializes in web and graphic design, branding, PR, mareting and social media.
Glens Falls Business Journal

By Paul Post

Bert Weber got so much help from his small business mentor that he named a beer after him.

A retired BOCES horticulture and landscape design teacher, Weber co-owns South Glens Falls-based Common Roots Brewing Company, which has blossomed into one of the region’s largest craft breweries since its founding 10 years ago.

Weber credits much of its success to programs such as SCORE, the nation’s largest network of volunteer expert business mentors; and Start-Up ADK, an eight week non-credit SUNY Adirondack course for small business owners and entrepreneurs that includes business planning and topics such as marketing, bookkeeping, legal issues, financial projections, human resources and small business tools.

“Everyone has a great idea and wants to get started, but there’s the business part of it, things like finance, insurance, regulations and licensing that you have to consider; things you don’t want to think about, but are really necessary as a new business starting out” Weber said. “They talked a lot about pitfalls you should avoid.”

Application Period For Leadership Adirondack Is Announced By The Chamber Of Commerce

April 17, 2024

Leadership Adirondack is designed for business people who want to make a positive impact.
Courtesy ARCC

The Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce (ARCC) has announced the application period for their Leadership Adirondack program for 2024-25. The ARCC Leadership Adirondack program is designed for individuals who demonstrate a potential for community leadership and a sincere commitment, motivation and interest in serving the community in which they live or work.

“We are thrilled to welcome applications for our 2024-25 Leadership Adirondack program,” said ARCC President & CEO Tricia Rogers. “Strong communities are built and sustained by effective local leaders, and our region is a testimony to this. We have seen past Leadership Adirondack participants go on to do great things.”

Leadership Adirondack is a dynamic, interactive program that provides skill development and community immersion experiences that enables participants to grow personally and professionally as they explore issues and opportunities in Warren and Washington counties.

Through a combination of class time and industry tours, Leadership Adirondack develops the leadership potential of participants and builds a solid foundation of informed, action-orientated, productive employees and citizens.

The Blue Zones Spokesperson Is The Keynote Speaker At Glens Falls Earth Day Celebration

April 17, 2024

Tony Buettner will speak about the Blue Zones movement at Glens Falls’ Earth Day celebration.
Courtesy of Blue Zones

The Glens Falls Earth Day Planning Committee, consisting of Crandall Library, Sustainable PR, and the City of Glens Falls, has announced the centerpiece of this year’s Earth Day celebration – An exclusive presentation by Tony Buettner, the national spokesperson for the esteemed Blue Zones movement.

This year’s Earth Day celebration will take place on Saturday, April 20, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Glens Falls City Park, embracing the theme “Sustainable Futures.” At the heart of this year’s celebration lies the profound message of longevity and well-being brought forth by Buettner’s presentation. As the national spokesperson for Blue Zones, Buettner brings a wealth of knowledge and insights garnered from years of research on communities worldwide where residents live remarkably long and healthy lives.

Featured prominently in the Netflix documentary “Live to 100,” the Blue Zones movement advocates for lifestyle and environmental changes to promote healthy living. Buettner’s presentation will delve into the core principles behind the Blue Zones philosophy, offering practical strategies for the Glens Falls Community and its residents to adopt these life-enhancing practices.

Personnel Briefs: April 2024

April 17, 2024

NBT Bank has announced that Craig Seybolt has joined NBT as Senior Vice President and Regional Commercial Banking Manager. In this role, Seybolt will work closely with regional leaders and the commercial relationship team to support commercial customers throughout the North Country and Glens Falls region.

Seybolt comes to NBT Bank with considerable experience in commercial lending and leadership. Most recently, he served as Vice President and Corporate Banking Manager at Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Co. in Glens Falls, where he managed a commercial lending team responsible for overseeing a substantial loan portfolio, including ancillary banking products and services.

“We are thrilled to welcome Craig to the NBT team,” said NBT Bank Regional Executive Marc Monahan. “His commitment and extensive knowledge of the businesses and communities from the North Country to the Capital Region will be a great asset to our customers.”

Seybolt holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and business from The State University of New York, Plattsburgh. Active in his community, he serves as board trustee for The Hyde Collection and president of the Glens Falls Kiwanis Foundation. He also volunteers with South Glens Falls Youth Baseball and the Kiwanis Club of Glens Falls. Seybolt resides in South Glens Falls.

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Advokate, LLC has announced the appointment of Jessica Ryle as Marketing and Communications Director.

Ms. Ryle has been employed at Advokate since August 2023, with her start as as Marketing & Operations Associate. She brings exceptional skills in social media management, a careful eye to brand guidelines, project management savvy, and is on top of trends and tools.

“Jess is so capable and reliable,” says Kate Austin, Founder and CEO of Advokate, which she established in 2010. “She is perfect for this role. She was one of my first clients and I remembered how quickly she picks up learning new things, and I saw how that evolved through different efforts of hers. Her organization skills, attention to detail and excellent communication are so key.”

Ms. Ryle says, “I love the sense of connection to the community I feel through our work at Advokate. Helping small businesses shine is amazing. My history dabbling in social media marketing and working on websites — which I learned from Kate! — set me up with the perfect base of skills to use everyday in my new position here!”

Prior to working with Advokate, Ms. Ryle founded Vegan Outdoor Adventures, a popular website that served as a guide for vegan gear, and Adirondack Animal Rights. She operated a successful Etsy shop selling crochet hats and other items. She holds a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from the University at Albany, and is often recognized from her ten years at Raul’s, where she got to know the community and everyone in it. She also currently helps manage wholesale orders for Rock Hill Bakehouse.

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Saratoga Springs Resident Is The First Woman Elected President Of Horsemen’s Association

April 17, 2024

Tina Marie Bond, first woman elected president of national Thoroughbred Horseman’s Association.

The Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (THA) held its annual meeting and election of officers in South Florida March 19-20. Tina Marie Bond, president of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (NYTHA), was elected president of the national organization. She is the first woman to head the THA since its inception in 1994.

“It’s an honor to be elected president of such an esteemed collective,” Bond said. “THA is at the forefront of collaborative decision-making and policy implementation on issues such as racehorse aftercare, equine safety and welfare, and protecting the integrity of our sport. I look forward to leading the organization as it addresses the challenges that horsemen and women face on local, regional, and national levels.”

Chris Block, president of ITHA, and David Richardson, executive director of MTHA, were elected as vice presidents. Michael Musto, executive director of NJTHA, and Bessie Gruwell, executive director of DTHA, will serve as treasurer and secretary, respectively.

Bond, who with her husband Jim own Song Hill Thoroughbreds LLC in Saratoga Springs, follows previous THA presidents Michael Martin, Rick Violette Jr., and Joe Appelbaum.