Category Archives: Women In Business

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has announced legislation to reauthorize and to expand the MWBE Program to more contracts entirely funded by the state.

The proposed legislative changes and expansion to include all state-funded contracts would leverage the largest pool of state funding in history to combat systemic discrimination and create new opportunities for MWBE participation at every level, according to Cuomo.

Since 2011, state-certified MWBEs have won more than $10.4 billion in state contracts and the state has certified more than 6,600 MWBEs and re-certified more than 4,700 MWBEs.

“In New York, we know that our economy is strongest when everyone is empowered to participate, which is why we continue to work to increase access and opportunities to success for minority and women owned businesses to strengthen and diversify our economy,” Cuomo said. “These actions will break down barriers to success and empower these business owners to help fuel our economy and move this great state forward.”

By Maureen Werther

Roberta Berkowitz started Prendo Forensics LLC in 2010 after a 25-year career in sales and management. Since that time, the company has received several Woman and Minority Owned Business Enterprise (WMBE) certifications on the state and national level, allowing her business to be eligible to bid on state and federal contracts.

Prendo Forensics LLC, in Bolton Landing, provides forensics and digital-related supplies and equipment to local, state and federal government agencies, as well as to colleges, universities, high schools and BOCES training programs. Berkowitz describes her company as a “sole source provider,” which means that clients can order a broad range of equipment and supplies from a variety of manufacturers through a single distributor.

She sells law enforcement supplies and forensic products for crime scene investigations and training.

By Jill Nagy

Wetlands scientist and ecologist Deborah Roberts is used to being called in at the beginning, the middle and the end of various projects.

Her company, Roberts Environmental Consulting in Queensbury, can warn a potential developer of environmental constraints on a planned project; can help guide a developer through environmental issues during the course of a project; and, if necessary, can suggest ways to remediate environmental blunders.

Roberts formed the company in 1994, after several years working for a large company in the Boston area. She moved back to the area where she grew up when her children were in grade school. She then set up shop on her own.

Today, with those children long since grown and gone, she still relishes the independence of her own company, the flexibility and the control she has over her projects.

The Capital District Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), a nonprofit organization serving women in the construction and related industries, invites New York State Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) to showcase their businesses at the third annual NYS MWBE Showcase this month.

The event is set for 5-8 p.m.  Tuesday, March 27, at the Century House in Latham.

Following Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 2014 mandate to increase statewide MWBE utilization goals to 30 percent for all state contracts, it is crucial for businesses that are at least 51 percent owned, operated and controlled by women or minorities to get certified and market themselves as certified businesses. 

The annual showcase will create an avenue for MWBEs to not only market themselves to representatives from state agencies, architects, subcontractors, owners, developers and engineers, but also give them a chance to network with other MWBEs in the state. 

Barkeater Chocolates will soon have its gourmet chocolates, handcrafted in North Creek, available in a local grocery store chain.

The company announced March 2 that its products are being rolled out to 72 Price Chopper and Market 32 stores across New York state over the course of the next several months.

The 72 stores are offering Barkeater’s famous Barkeater Bars in five flavors, Grown Up Peanut Butter Cups, a locally sourced all-natural crunchy peanut butter, and two varieties of their “bark” product.

“We’ve been working with Price Chopper for several years now, and are thrilled that they are choosing to increase our footprint to all of their New York stores,” said Deb Morris, a chocolatier and co-founder of Barkeater Chocolates.

By Jill Nagy

Terri Larson has transformed a cluster of barns dating from the 1800s and a large open field with views of Three Sisters Mountain into a romantic venue for summer weddings.

Her company, called Burlap and Beams, hosts about 20 weddings between May and October each year.

Larson lives in the farmhouse on the property and her day job is as a third grade teacher. However, when school is out, she becomes a wedding entrepreneur.

She said she got the idea from a friend who asked to use the property for her wedding. The property was not in any shape for a wedding. That ceremony landed elsewhere, but the idea took root.

By Maureen Werther

With 21 years under her belt as owner of Orthopedic and Spine Physical Therapy PC, one of the biggest differences owner Denise Buher sees is how increasingly complicated it has become to spend more time with patients and less time with paperwork.

Despite those challenges, Buher, who is a certified therapist in mechanical diagnosis and therapy of the spine from the McKenie Institute, is still happy with the decision she made more than 20 years ago to go out on her own.

Buher began her career as a senior therapist on the staff of Glens Falls Hospital, where she said people automatically mistook her for a supervisor.

“That’s probably because I always acted like one,” she said.

Buher started out as a solo practitioner, hiring a physical therapy assistant the following year.

Gradually, she added more employees and now she manages a staff of 15, including four full-time and two part-time physical therapists, one full-time and two part-time PT assistants, and six administrative and support staff.

By Jennifer Farnsworth

Having a strong work ethic, along with perseverance, are two things many small business owners say are part being successful.

Kathleen Kelly, owner and CEO of cupojoes.com and Queensbury Cigar & Pipe, may be the perfect example of this mantra. From selling her first cup of coffee 23 years ago, to now, Kelly is making her mark in the business.

Kelly moved to Lake George from Long Island 24 years ago, after having a hard time finding work. While still in Long Island, she was selling electrical supplies and had a moment where she decided to make a change.

“I decided to make things happen for me. To me it’s all about hard work and never giving up, trusting your gut. In 1994, I decided to open a coffee shop in the village called Cup O’ Joes. I remember making $11 on my first day and being so excited,” said Kelly.

Kelly said that first year was during what was she called the “cigar boom.” She said noticed many people seemed to be looking for a quality cigar. After her first year in business with the coffee shop, she purchased a small cabinet humidor and stocked cigars, eventually adding some pipes to the shop.

She said during this time the internet came about, so she began an e-commerce web site, cupojoes.com. Eventually, Kelly moved the business to Queensbury, becoming Queensbury Cigar & Pipe.

By Margaret McDonald

Premier Plus Travel & Tours, an independent travel and tour agency, recently opened a new office on Warren Street in Glens Falls.

Run by mother-and-son team of Dawn Biddiscombe and Matthew Colucci, the company aims to provide safe and reliable transportation to all. Transportation is offered for jaunts like New York City shopping tours, pub crawls, weddings, proms and runs to the airport.

Originally from Vermont, Biddiscombe maintained a travel hobby for 15 years before opening her part-time business three years ago booking travel and group deals.

She said she loves helping people find the most cost-efficient trips and is especially familiar with the Caribbean and Mexico.

After 13 years as a paralegal for AngioDynamics, Biddiscombe left her corporate job to devote herself entirely to the travel company. She described the decision as a turning point that enabled her to fully pursue her passion.

Sharon Butto ran a lunch café for 10 years in the 1990s before returning to school to become a licensed aesthetician and opening The Spa Studio in Glens Falls with her daughter, Erica. By Maureen Werther For Sharon Butto,...