Category Archives: Business News

The Patient Experience Project recently announced new partnerships with strategic investors through an agreement aimed at supporting the agency’s growth and evolution.

PEP, based in Saratoga Springs, will combine its business with the global life sciences platform of Water Street Healthcare Partners, a strategic investor focused exclusively on the healthcare industry, and JLL Partners, a leading middle-market private equity firm.

“I am excited to announce this agreement, which is a natural next chapter for an expanding and innovative business like PEP,” said PEP founder and president Dan Bobear. “It will give us the resources we need to bring additional services to our clients, advance our mission to improve the patient experience, and take the agency to the next level.”

Following a rigorous approval process with months of preparation, Saratoga Hospital has been designated a Diagnostic Imaging Center of Excellence (DICOE) by the American College of Radiology (ACR), said to be the highest form of recognition an imaging department can receive nationally. 

The designation applies to the imaging facilities at both the hospital and Wilton Medical Arts locations, the first to earn this recognition in Upstate New York north of Orange County and east of Buffalo, according to the hospital.

“Meeting the requirements to earn this accreditation in all the imaging modalities that we provide was a daunting process, but we knew we not only could do it, but should do it. Our patients deserve no less,” said radiologist Dr. Philip Fear, president of Millennium Medical Imaging and chairman of Saratoga Hospital’s Medical Imaging Department. “A lot of hard work by our exceptional radiology staff went into this achievement, a dedication they give to their work every day.”

By Rachel Phillips

Since 1999, The Joint Chiropractic has been offering patients affordable, convenient chiropractic care all over the country. Three years ago, Stephen, David and Kristen Leonard brought the franchise to the Capital District.

It was first founded by a doctor of chiropractic medicine who wanted to provide less expensive services. His venture was successful and the brand has grown to a system of over 400 clinics all over the U.S.

The Clifton Park clinic is located at 5 Southside Drive, and has been open since May of 2014.

The facility is 1,200 square feet and has three adjustment tables in an open-bay setting, along with a seating area.

New York is now home to 1,005 craft beverage manufacturers operating in 60 counties across the state. 

Since the first Beer, Wine Spirits and Cider Summit in 2012, the number of businesses producing craft beverages has more than doubled, while the number of farm-based manufacturers has increased by over 150 percent, state officials said. 

New York now ranks in the top five states in the U.S. for its number of craft beverage producers in every category. The state ranks first in U.S. for the number of hard cider producers, second in craft distillers, third in breweries, and fourth in the country for the total number of wineries officials said.

“The growth of New York’s craft beverage industry continues to boost local economies throughout the entire state,” Gov Andrew Cuomo said. “By working to remove barriers to expansion, we have helped foster new opportunities for small businesses and will continue to support breweries, wineries, cideries and distilleries as they develop their brands, create new jobs and drive tourism all over New York.”

Capital Area Physical Therapy and Wellness of Malta has acquired Cocozzo Physical Therapy PC of Malta.

Capital Area Physical Therapy and Wellness was established in August 2013 and opened a second branch in Queensbury in 2015. They currently staff six physical therapists.

The former owner of Cocozzo Physical Therapy, Amanda Cocozzo, PT, was hired as a full-time practicing clinician at the Malta branch of Capital Area Physical Therapy and Wellness. 

Fall class registration at the Academy for Lifelong Learning (A.L.L.) begins July 16. 

Classes start the week of Sept. 10 with the term ending Nov. 8. Fall term class registration and membership application brochures can be found in area libraries, the Academy office at 113 West Ave, Saratoga Springs, or at www.esc.edu/all. Registration forms are being accepted for open classes through the beginning of the term. Some classes will sell out. 

Call the Academy office for class availability at 587-2100, ext. 2415.

Thirty-one different non-credit classes are offered Monday through Friday during the day and cover a wide range of genre including: history, art, literature, current world issues, health, religion, writing, science, and economics. Volunteer-led classes typically meet for two hours once a week for eight weeks. 

By R.J. DeLuke

Shmaltz Brewing Co. has sold its Clifton Park brewery assets to Rich Buceta, owner of Queens-based SingleCut Beersmiths

Shmaltz owner Jeremy Cowan said the company will be in Clifton Park until the end of the year. He noted that the tasting room the company opened recently in Troy will also stay under his ownership and continue to offer beers that he  brews and brands.

He said he Capital District “has been a fantastic place to call home and will continue to be.”

Shmaltz has sold only the equipment and the facility but retains full ownership and control of all its brands under the Shmaltz Brewing and He’brew Beer lineup as well as its new upstate New York 518/838 Craft line, its recently acquired and redesigned Alphabet City brands, and its exclusive licensing agreement with CBS for the line of custom Star Trek-themed beers.

By Susan E. Campbell

The Capital District’s fastest-growing premium coffee roaster, Death Wish Coffee, has reached another milestone. This month, Death Wish Keurig Cups hit the shelves at 1,600 Walmart stores, bringing to more than 2,300 the number of retail locations where consumers can buy what is billed as “the world’s strongest coffee.”

“At the beginning of 2017, our coffee was in roughly 350 stores and our focus in 2018 is on increasing our retail partners,” said Mike Brown, owner and founder of the company.

Brown started Death Wish about four years into his coffee shop venture, Saratoga Coffee Traders, when he found himself “up to the neck in debt.”