Glens Falls Business Journal

Banking Briefs: March 2024

March 17, 2024

Glens Falls National Bank is pleased to announce the promotion of Arleen Girard, Candice Healy and David Riihimaki to Senior Vice President.

“We are excited to recognize Arleen, Candice and Dave for their accomplishments within the Arrow Family of Companies,” said President and CEO Dave DeMarco. “Their knowledge and experience will help lead our continued growth and excellent customer experience.”

Each will continue in their management roles for Saratoga National Bank and Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company, part of the Arrow Family of Companies.

Girard, Senior Vice President, Director of Business Services, joined the company in 2014 and oversees municipal banking and cash management services. She is responsible for developing and managing opportunities for revenue growth including deposits, merchant and payroll services and credit cards. Girard earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Le Moyne College.

Healy, Senior Vice President, Director of Retail Banking, joined the company in 2012 and oversees the Arrow Family of Companies branch network of 37 branches in a footprint of more than 160 miles along the eastern border of New York state. She is also responsible for leading and developing the branch teams to further expand customer relationships. Healy is a 2016 Leadership Adirondack graduate with more than 20 years of experience in retail banking. She is currently pursuing a degree in business administration from Southern New Hampshire University.

Saratoga Economic Development Corp. Works To Find Jobs For Quad Graphics Employees

March 17, 2024March 17, 2024

J. Gregory Connors, president and CEO of the Saratoga Economic Development Corp.

By Jill Nagy

The Saratoga County Economic Development Corporation will soon cut the ribbon at their new quarters at 517 Broadway, in the heart of Saratoga Springs.

Already, “we’re a very busy office here. . . .Very excited to be in the center of Saratoga Springs,” J. Gregory Connors, president and CEO, said.

Prominent on his agenda is dealing with the coming closure of Quad Graphics and helping to find new jobs for the company’s 400 employees. The EDC sponsored a job fair for Quad Graphics employees in February, along with Workforce Development for Saratoga County. He said that Jen McCloskey, the director of Workforce Development, contacted some 105 businesses to invite them to attend. He didn’t know how many responded, but observed that “It certainly was crowded and there was a lot of interest.”

Further job fairs are planned, including one at the City Center in Saratoga Springs and at least one in the southern part of the county, perhaps in Clifton Park.

Fortuitously, the Quad Graphics announcement came almost at the same time as Global Foundries’ announcement of its plans to expand its Malta facility and add another building. That company reached out to Quad employees, he said, and have already interviewed several of them. He noted that many of the skills needed at Quad Graphics can transfer to the Global Foundries operation.

Aging Workforce And High-Speed Broadband Among Issues Warren County EDC Addressing

March 17, 2024March 17, 2024

Jim Siplon, president, CEO, EDC Warren County.

By Christine Graf

When Jim Siplon was hired as president and CEO of Economic Development Corporation (EDC) of Warren County in early 2021, the country was in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“When I stepped into the job, I thought it was about attracting and supporting business,” said Siplon. “That’s kind of the traditional view of economic development. But, COVID helped clarify that there are a lot of dynamics going on in the greater economy and the greater population.”

During the pandemic, the EDC began working to bring high-speed broadband internet service to rural communities throughout the region.

“It’s not something I would have predicted we would get involved in, but we discovered it to be a huge, glaring need during COVID,” he said. “We had school kids that needed to stay connected. We had people with health care issues that were attempting to access health care but couldn’t hold a tele-health session. We had businesses that were trying to operate remotely. The ability for everyone to be able to connect became almost a universal need.”

Although a considerable amount of money had already been spent to bring broadband internet to rural areas, pockets within Warren Country remained unserved.

In order to address what was considered an urgent need, the EDC established an informal group to tackle the issue. The makeup of the group–one that continues to meet weekly–varies from week to week. It typically includes elected officials, members of community organizations, and representatives from broadband companies.

Washington County Economic Development Professionals Support A Variety Of Businesses

March 17, 2024March 28, 2024

Washington County is working to make the Canalside Energy Park in Fort Edward shovel ready to attract potential users.

By Rod Bacon

The economic development professionals in Washington County are committed to providing myriad areas of support for the variety of enterprises that call the region home.

“We now offer a wide range of services designed to make the county competitive in the marketplace,” said Laura Oswald, director of economic development.

To help her achieve this goal she has brought Pam Landi on board as a planner and Amy Hoffer as tourism director.

“We have no hotels in the county,” said Oswald, “but the small bed-and-breakfast inns and short-term rentals were negatively affected during COVID. In the years since we’ve had a very high success rate in reawakening interest in tourism here.”

Social media was extremely important in achieving this result. According to Oswald, there are now 9,300 subscribers to the county’s social media platforms, a 35 percent increase year-over-year.

One of the most important issues, according to Oswald, is resolving Broadband and cell issues in the largely rural county.

“My goal is to increase Broadband speeds and cell access for every resident in the county,” said Oswald.

Hellos And Goodbyes Are Announced By Local Watershed Protector Battenkill Conservancy

March 17, 2024

Former Director Lorraine Merghart Ballard and newly appointed Director Beth O’Grady stand outside the Battenkill Conservancy office in Varak Park in Cambridge.

With the warmer skies and spring temperatures on the way, the Battenkill Conservancy (“BkC”), a not-for-profit land trust that works within New York and Vermont’s Battenkill watershed, has announced some exciting hellos and some bittersweet goodbyes.

In January, the organization lost its long time BkC Board Chair, Stuart Bartow, who passed away after a relatively brief battle with cancer. His dedication to BkC’s mission coupled with his talents as a writer, poet and avid fly fisherman helped guide the organization’s work for over 18 years. A memorial tree planting and a scholarship announcement will take place later this spring.

Simultaneously the BkC Board in conjunction with Lorraine Merghart Ballard, its first Executive Director, was working to secure her replacement. In 2016 with assistance from the NYS Conservation Partnership Program, Ballard was appointed BkC’s first Executive Director. During her tenure, she helped revitalize the organization with popular river related events, increased the public’s river access through the Battenkill Corridor Connections Project and used a simple “Picky Bugs Exhibit” containing macroinvertebrates to demonstrate the importance of cold, clean water and a healthy watershed. She promoted the Battenkill as one of the area’s most important recreational, cultural, historical and environmental assets. Advocating for “Clean Water & Open Space for All” became the organization’s motto during her tenure. She will continue to stay involved and act as Board Chair to help with the transition.

Alex Brame Is Appointed Executive Director To Lead The Way At STRIDE Adaptive Sports

March 17, 2024

Alex Brame, new Executive Director, at STRIDE Adaptive Sports.

STRIDE Adaptive Sports, one of America’s most respected nonprofits committed to empowering individuals through life-changing sport and recreation programs, is proud to announce the appointment of Alex Brame as its new Executive Director.

Alex joins STRIDE with an impressive background and passion for making a positive difference in sport. Alex was the executive director of New York West Youth Soccer Association for 7 years, fundraising and advocating across New York State for youth programs, competitions and tournaments across a 54,000 membership. With a focus on inclusivity and a proven track record of strengthening organizational funding, Alex is well-positioned to lead STRIDE into its next chapter of growth and impact.

Alex inherits the leadership of STRIDE from Mary Ellen Whitney, the Founder and CEO of STRIDE for almost 40 years. The Board of Directors, staff, and all of STRIDE’s communities are indebted to Mary Ellen’s immeasurable dedication to build and lead STRIDE since 1985. Under Mary Ellen’s leadership, STRIDE hosts and delivers more than 14,000 annual adaptive lessons and activities at sites across the New York Capital region, positively impacting the lives of more than 2,500 families annually.

“I am thrilled that we have hired Alex as the next executive director of STRIDE after a 16 month search,” said Mary Ellen Whitney. “I know that Alex will be a significant asset to drive the future of STRIDE. I am looking forward to focusing on my passion and first love of teaching and volunteering with STRIDE athletes. I will also be joining the STRIDE Board of Directors in an ex-officio capacity, and I will be working within the STRIDE community to support Alex’s leadership and the next chapter of STRIDE’s journey.”

SUNY Plattsburgh’s School Of Business Offers Business Classes To Medical Center Leaders

March 17, 2024

By Gerianne Downs, Associate Director of Communications

SUNY Plattsburgh’s School of Business and Economics has partnered with CVPH Medical Center to bring its business expertise to employees in leadership there.

The in-person program, launched last semester, is a six-week series of classes held on the CVPH campus and taught by SBE faculty from different disciplines as well as SBE alumni.

Brian Neureuther, dean of the School of Business and Economics, said the program was a year in the making, when CVPH President Michelle LeBeau reached out to him “about the possibility of training staff in management,” Neureuther said. “We began discussions — the university’s provost, myself, Dr. Samy Garas and CVPH management — to talk about their needs.”

The resulting classes cover managing organizations, evidence-based decisions, regulations, accounting and finance, leadership, and strategy, with the first cohort, which are all day and taught on Fridays, beginning in October last year.

The next session began after the start of the spring semester in February and will run through mid-April; the third session will begin in May and run into June. Garas, associate professor of accounting, expects to see it continue.

After last fall’s pilot program, an invitation was extended to Alice Hyde Memorial Hospital in Malone, Garas said. Now, half of the participants drive the hour to and from Malone on class days to participate.

Neureuther said that negotiations took time “because we wanted to fully understand what it was that they needed.”

The Saratoga Casino Hotel Announces Its 83rd Season Of Harness Racing Programs

February 21, 2024

Always Watching, the 2023 Saratoga Harness Horse of the Year, competes at the Saratoga Race Course. She is owned, trained, and driven by Jordan Derue.
Photo by Jessica Hallet

Live harness racing returned to Saratoga Casino Hotel for its 83rd season on Saturday, February 3. The 2024 schedule will consist of 150 racing programs running through mid-December with a total of over $17 million in purses.

2023 Leading Driver, Jim Devaux, and Leading Trainer, Brett Derue, look to defend their titles this coming season. For Devaux, that would make it four years in a row.

In addition, the track will be hosting NY Sire Stakes races starting in June featuring the best New York bred horses in the state which will race for over $1 million in purses. The premier event of the season will be the 15th Annual Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial Pace with a $250,000 purse on Saturday, July 20.

“We are looking forward to a tremendous season of racing here at Saratoga Casino Hotel,” said Race Secretary Peter Iovino. “Our purses will attract a quality product for our racing fans.”

To kick off the season, the month of February will feature several promotions including up to 15 percent bonuses on all winning wagers on Saratoga Harness races for SaratogaBets account holders while playing on property through the SaratogaBets mobile app or any self-service betting terminal. Interested horseplayers can log on to www.saratogabets.com to sign up for a free account.

The Northeast Construction Trades Coalition Provides Options For Trades-Bound Students

February 21, 2024

Doug Ford is the president and co-founder of the Northeast Construction Trades Workforce Coalition, which recently obtained non-profit status.

By Paul Post

Doug Ford couldn’t land a teaching job right after college because the market was flooded, so he took temporary work at a lumber company, just to pay off some bills

“I took the job with the intention of working three days and stayed 19 years,” he said. “I fell in love with the industry. They made me a store manager. When you manage it’s really like teaching. They would send me to different stores that were challenged. I’d get it up and running and they’d send me to the next one.”

Now he’s vice president of public relations and purchasing at Ballston Spa-based Curtis Lumber Company, where he’s worked the past 27 years. In a related role, he’s also president and co-founder of the Northeast Construction Trades Workforce Coalition, which recently obtained non-profit status.

The organization has a diverse membership ranging from builders and material suppliers to colleges, school counselors and administrators. They all work together with a single-minded goal of attracting young people to the construction trades industry, to alleviate a severe labor shortage that’s reached crisis proportions in both the Greater Capital Region and United States at large.

The coalition is an outgrowth of efforts begun several years ago by Curtis Lumber and Saratoga Builders Association. Ford co-founded the organization with Pam Stott, a former Curtis Lumber official, now the coalition’s new executive director.

Weekender Hotels Cater To Those Seeking Memorable Experiences In The Outdoors

February 21, 2024

Town House Lodge, is a 2nd location in Lake Placid that is owned by Weekender Hotels.
Courtesy Weekender Hotels

By Paul Post

Keir Weimer saw possibilities in a run-down, century old Adirondack hotel whose owner was faced with foreclosure.

Today it’s the flagship in a string of properties from Tupper Lake to Southern New Hampshire geared specifically for outdoors adventure lovers.

This year alone, plans call for expanding to Saratoga Springs where his company, Weekender Hotels, is based along with the Catskills near Hunter and Windham ski resorts, and New England’s Green and White mountains.

“We’re connecting people to experiences within these awesome settings,” Weimer said. “Our ideal guest is 25 to 55; singles, couples and families that have a penchant for nature and the outdoors. It used to be more of a niche market. Now it’s really the fastest growing segment of leisure travel. If they want to get out to hike, boat, fish, snowmobile, ski or go mountain biking, we make sure our properties are located near all of those things within a short 20-minute drive.”

The venture began nine years ago with the Great Pines resort near Old Forge. Weimer was its listing agent for a Saratoga Springs real estate firm, but couldn’t find any prospective buyers. So he recused himself as the seller’s broker, became the buyer and convinced two friends to partner with him in purchasing the site, which had 30 rooms and two restaurants.