Month: December 2023

The Sienna Statewide Poll of Holiday Spending Plans Shows Mixed Results Among New Yorkers

December 18, 2023

Forty-eight percent of New Yorkers plan to spend less than $500 on gifts during this holiday season, according to a new statewide survey of consumers released December 7 by the Siena College Research Institute (SCRI). Sixteen percent of all state residents, including a third of those making $100,000 or more, will spend more than $1,000 this season. Over half, 51 percent, will conduct either between 50 percent-75 percent (29 percent) or between 75 percent-100 percent (22 percent) of their holiday shopping online this year. Over half, 54 percent, will buy gift cards for some on their holiday list.

While 23 percent of state residents say that their finances are improved from this time a year ago, 44 percent say that their finances are unchanged, and nearly a third, 31 percent, say that they are worse off. Half of all New Yorkers say that all of their holiday spending combined, food, gifts and any other holiday spending will have a somewhat (34 percent) or very (15 percent) serious impact on their financial condition. One in five New Yorkers say that they will pay the bills for holiday spending over a period of time that could extend well into 2024.

“Nearly two-thirds of New Yorkers, regardless of how hard the spending will hit their wallet, are excited about the coming season. But, with one-third already feeling economic headwinds, half say ‘I’ll spend on food, gifts, decorations and parties but it’s gonna hurt’,” said SCRI Director, Don Levy. “Among New Yorkers making 50K or less, over 40 percent are worse off today financially than a year ago, nearly half hope to spend less than last year, and 62 percent say even with watching their spending, the holiday bills will hurt.”

A quarter of New Yorkers say that they believe in Santa Claus, down from 39 percent a year ago and tied for the all time low in this Siena survey with 2020, the pandemic year. Seventy-three percent plan to put up a Christmas tree in their home but by over two-to-one, 69 percent-31 percent, they prefer artificial to real. Half, 50 percent, say that they are hoping for snow for the winter holidays while 29 percent prefer not to shovel and 21 percent will take whatever comes.

Saratoga Smiles Offers Wide Range of Cosmetic Services in Its New Location in Saratoga Springs

December 18, 2023

Dr. Richard Dennis, whose practice offers state-of-the-art dental services, has moved his practice to a new location in Saratoga Springs.
Courtesy of Saratoga Smiles

Cosmetic dentist Dr. Richard Dennis has relocated his practice, Saratoga Smiles, to 6 Carpenter Lane in Saratoga Springs. Prior to moving to the former Women’s Care building, his office was located at 176 Lake Avenue.

Dr. Dennis, a United States Marine Corps veteran, has been practicing dentistry for 26 years. As part of his extensive post-graduate studies, he completed an Advanced Implant Fellowship at Rutgers School of Dentistry. He earned his Conscious Sedation Certification from the University of Pittsburgh and is a Master in the Academy of General Dentistry (MAGD). Less than 2 percent of general dentists in North America are AGD Masters.

Saratoga Smiles is one of the few dental practices in the area to offer a wide array of services under one roof. Services include single implants, implant dentures, IV Sedation, cosmetic procedures, Invisalign, all restorative services and oral surgery, as well as preventative care.

“We offer IV Sedation which very few offices in this area offer,” said Office Manager Patty Humphrey. “There is extensive training involved as well as continuing education to renew certification to be able to offer IV Sedation. Our team is highly trained in working with patients with dental anxiety.”

Carpetland Offers a Wide Range of Flooring Products As Well As Personal Customer Service

December 18, 2023

Kate Morrell, the current owner of Carpetland, stands among the many flooring options available at the 77-year-old business started by her great grandfather.

By Christine Graf

Carpetland recently celebrated the grand opening of its 5,800-square-foot showroom at 11 Aletta Street in Saratoga Springs. Prior to moving to Aletta Street, the business was located at 78 Church Street.

Carpetland was founded 77 years ago by owner Kate Morrell’s great-grandfather. The company’s flagship store was located in Amsterdam, and a Saratoga Springs branch was opened 50 years ago.

“He started it in Amsterdam in a 1,000-square-foot building, and they just kept building and building until it ended up being about 20,000 square feet,” she said. “It ended up in the Mohawk River when Hurricane Irene hit.”

Over the course of seven decades, many members of the Morrell family have been involved in day-to-day operations of the business. Morrell’s father, the late James Morrell, bought out his partners after the Church Street property was sold for $1.4 million in October 2022.

Morrell worked alongside her father for eight years before taking over the business after he passed away in April 2023. Six months after his passing, she opened the Aletta Street showroom with a staff of three employees.

The Former Mountainman Outdoor Supply Company Is Rebranded As Saratoga Outdoors

December 18, 2023

While Mountainman has changed its name to Saratoga Outdoors, it still offers the same extensive selection of quality outdoor gear it has since it’s founding in 1993.

By Jill Nagy

The former Mountainman Outdoor Supply Company on Broadway in Saratoga Springs is now Saratoga Outdoors, but its owner, John Nemjo, said it is still the same business, same owner, same quality outdoor gear, and same knowledgable staff. The store needed a new name because Nemjo sold the old one, along with several outlets in Old Forge, NY.

Mountainman began in 1993 as a store in Old Forge. Nemjo came to Old Forge from New Jersey by way of Florida “I came back with $6,000 in my pocket” to start a business. “It was rough,” he recalled.

The business expanded to three outlets in Old Forge and in 2008 he added the Saratoga Springs store. Recently, Nemjo sold the Old Forge stores, along with the name, to a former employee. The Old Forge stores will continue to specialize in canoes—more than 20 brands of them—and kayaks, along with other outdoor gear. He expects that he and the new owner will work together.

Stillwater Completes A Five-Year Building Program on New Library in Former Fiber Mill

December 18, 2023

Stillwater residents now have a new library at which they can access a variety of services.
Courtesy of Stillwater Libray

Stillwater is culminating a 5-year library building project at their new library location at 712 Hudson Avenue, Stillwater. A grand opening celebration is planned for Saturday, December 2, from 3pm to 5pm, beginning with a formal ceremony, including opening remarks by community leaders, followed by a ribbon-cutting, facilitated by the Capital Region Chamber, starting at 3:30pm. The afternoon event will include an Open House and tours of the new library. Light refreshments will be served.

The opening of the new library was years in the making beginning with multiple focus group meetings and public forums in 2019 to assess the ability of the 147-year-old former St John’s Episcopal Church location (that held the former library since 1959) to meet the continuing needs of the community. It was determined that the space was not sufficient to accommodate what the community requested, including meeting and class spaces, as well as accessibility for individuals with limited mobility. It was deemed that an alternative space was necessary to be able to offer what residents were looking for. Site reviews began in July, and an identification of the Fiber Mill at 712 Hudson Avenue as the most fiscally responsible space to move the library into, came in December. Next came COVID, which slowed the library project’s progress significantly.

In October of 2021, a referendum was voted on by the residents of the Stillwater Central School District as to whether to purchase and renovate a new library facility. The vote in favor of the project won by a landslide of 350 to 191.

“Our new library has been a labor of love for quite some time,” said Library Board President, Heather Frank. “This project has evolved over the years from building an addition to our existing building to the realization that we need a new building to truly meet the needs of our community. We couldn’t be more proud of the end result. We still have some finishing touches that will help to make this house our home, but we can’t wait for the community to take full advantage of what our new library has to offer. Sara Kipp, Director of the Library, has really been the engine that has kept this project moving forward and we are so proud of the end result!”

Forget the Gym Membership—It’s time to Commit to Cybersecurity For The New Year

December 18, 2023

Reg Harnish is CEO of OrbitalFire Cybersecurity.

By Reg Harnish

It’s that time of year when many of us start evaluating the past year and what goals we want to aspire to in the next. And although cybersecurity might not have as much allure as a six-pack (depending on who you ask), it’s crucial for your business’s well-being.

With an estimated $3.1B in losses and rising from cybercrime–whether from financial fraud, ransomware, or breach– it’s important to understand the sheer scope of the challenge. Although small businesses are increasingly adopting and investing in cybersecurity, 62% of small businesses are affected by cybercrime because the reality is that the bad guys are getting better faster than we are.

Embarking on a cybersecurity strategy can seem daunting, but at the core, we believe that cybersecurity success comes from doing the absolute minimum necessary to achieve your business mission. At a high level that means understanding how cybersecurity is affecting and contributing to your mission, and proactively and methodically thinking about how to apply controls (whether HIPAA, PCI, or other industry regulations) to:

Protect your intellectual property

Combat cybercrime

Minimize disruption and loss

Protect against reputational issues

Newlogiq Provides Cutting-Edge AI Solutions to Small and Mid-Sized Businesses in Region

December 18, 2023

Jeff Oskin has launched Newlogiq to offer AI solutions to area businesses.

By Christine Graf

After spending more than a decade at the helm of Jolt Consulting Group, Jeff Oskin sold the IT consultancy firm in February 2022. By that time, his company had grown exponentially and had a staff of 50 employees.

“I grew that company both organically and through acquisitions,” he said. “We did IT consulting, specifically sales force implementation consulting work for service-oriented organizations.”

While operating Jolt, Oskin also began working as an executive coach, establishing a peer advisory group for executives in the Capital Region.

“Many of the most well-known executives in the Capital District are in that group,” said Oskin.

After selling Jolt Consultancy, he established Newlogiq, a business that provides cutting-edge AI consulting solutions to small and mid-sized businesses.

“I wanted to continue this entrepreneurial bent,” he said. “When I was contemplating my next move, I ultimately landed on going to market with a consulting company that sat at the intersection of three things: people, process, and technology.”

“From the people side, it’s helping organizations through executive coaching and leadership development—helping that next generation leader to develop skills to help them elevate their capabilities so as to improve the overall health of the company they work for.”

When referring to process, Oskin said he has long been a believer that technology should support business process.

“I believe AI—artificial intelligence—is a huge opportunity moving forward for organizations to leverage technology to simplify, automate, and streamline business processes.”

Oskin received his certification as an AI expert from Blockchain, a large non-profit that sets the standards for the blockchain industry.

“Blockchain itself is a type of technology, and Blockchain.org is a kind of a regulatory body from which AI has evolved,” he said.

Mahoney Alarms Provides the Full Range of Residential, Commercial, Industrial Services

December 18, 2023

Many of the 49 employees of Mahoney Alarms Inc have been with the company for more than 20 years, making it a true family enterprise.
Courtesy Mohoney Alarms Inc.

By Christine Graf

World War II veteran Raymond Mahoney, Sr., was working as a Glens Falls City fireman when he founded Mahoney Alarms in the 1950s. On his days off, he operated the alarm business out of his basement. Nearly 70 years later, his son, Kevin Mahoney, serves as president of the company which is headquartered at 15 Cooper Street in Glens Falls.

Mahoney can’t say for sure exactly when he started working for his father at the family business. He remembers riding his bicycle to repair telephone pole alarm boxes when he was a teenager.

Mahoney Alarms is a true family business, and its staff of 49 employees includes Mahoney’s sister, Colleen McGuirk, his cousin, Benjamin Chapman, and his son, Kyle Mahoney.

Southern Adirondack Independent Living Has Programs to Fill the Needs of Disabled Clients

December 18, 2023

Among its many equipment offerings, Southern Adirondack Independent Living has a beach wheelchair that allows challenged individuals to enjoy time in the sun and sand.
Courtesy SAIL

By Susan Elise Campbell

From its main campus in Queensbury, Southern Adirondack Independent Living is making programs and services accessible to residents of 17 counties across New York. SAIL’s main goal is to help the elderly and those with disabilities remain safely in their homes and avoid skilled nursing care or institutional placement. While this non-profit has built on that objective for 35 years, executive director Tyler Whitney said the needs of the community are ever-changing, and especially so with a growing senior population in the post-COVID world.

“We have come a very long way in letting people know about what we can do for people with disabilities or those looking for services for their families,” Whitney said. “Before COVID people would say to me, ‘You’re the best kept secret.’ But that was like a sword in my heart because we want people to come to us. We are here to help.”

Over recent years the team at SAIL has done much to broaden awareness and build their brand, hiring Cam Cardinale as director of community relations. Whitney said Cardinale’s role is to engage with stakeholders, both community members and partner agencies, to show how SAIL ties into different facets of the community, such as recreation, tourism, independent living, health insurance and more.

“People coming to our center don’t know the extent of what we do until they meet us,” said Cardinale.

Business Report: Action Plan Key To Nonprofit Strategic Plan

December 18, 2023

Sabrina Houser is the owner of Capital CFO+ in Saratoga Springs.

BY Sabrina Houser

Where is your organization’s strategic plan and how are you using it in your day-to-day operations? You know the strategic plan we’re referring to: the 3-5 year plan that took many, many person hours to develop, refine and write. The one that brought together staff, board, and stakeholders to articulate a common vision and a path forward toward that vision.

Is it sitting on a shelf in your office in a nicely tabbed binder never to be seen again until you need space on the shelf for something else? This, unfortunately, is the fate of many strategic plans. It is something of an in-joke in the nonprofit sector that the fate of most strategic plans, despite the effort that went into their creation, is to gather dust on a shelf in the office until it is time to develop a new strategic plan to replace it.

When done with purpose, strategic planning is an invigorating, energizing and community building process. It is an inherently motivating and hopeful activity to connect goals and objectives to a shared vision for your organization. Everyone involved feels a sense of accomplishment and shared purpose when the plan is complete.

The truth is that your strategic plan is not an end product: it is a starting point. It is the beginning of your organization’s journey toward the shared vision that has been created. Unfortunately, because staff, Board and the Strategic Planning committee feel their work is finished after the strategic plan is written, the implementation of the completed plan is often left as solely the Executive Director’s responsibility. With no clear plan for implementation, this feels overwhelming. Lack of clarity about authority and coordination of communication and accountability are a death knell for even the most well-developed strategic plan.

Is it any wonder that many strategic plans go on the shelf?

The solution is to develop an action plan as the final step in the strategic planning process. Once your strategic plan is written, and goals have been agreed upon and adopted, that next step is to build an action plan.