Category Archives: Business News

INTAC Actuarial Services, a national third-party pension administrator and actuarial firm with over 40 years in business, announces the opening of its first upstate New York office in Saratoga Springs.

“Choosing Saratoga Springs as the latest addition to our family of offices came naturally to us as we recognized the need to continue building a presence in this vibrant business area,” said Charles Rosenberg, INTAC managing partner. “This exciting Capital Region setting now complements our New Jersey and California offices, strengthening INTAC’s ability to serve our clients and industry partners.”

INTAC, a second generation, family-owned and operated company, provides its clients with unparalleled pension administration expertise and personalized service.

By Jennifer Farnsworth

ABC Equipment and Restaurant Supplies has moved to South Glens Falls. Owner Fred Alexy said while they loved their time in downtown Glens Falls, on Elm Street, the growth of the business warranted the relocation.

The business supplies kitchens with specialized items such as commercial ovens and coolers and deep fryers. Over the past several years the wholesale side of the business experienced growth. While they still have a retail side, Alexy said it came to a point where they were running out of space to accommodate  inventory. The new location in Midtown Plaza spot gives the business two additional loading docks, and other additional space.

The address is 25 Fairview St., South Glens Falls.

The Adirondack Thunder, ECHL affiliate of the New Jersey Devils, announced the full season ticket plan and new jerseys for the 2018-19 season.

Officials said all seats at Cool Insuring Arena will continue to be priced the same, at $13 per game for season ticket holders. Season tickets in all sections will cost $540 per seat ($468, plus sales tax and a Cool Insuring Arena facility fee).

Twelve-month payment plans are now available, costing less than $50 per seat, per month if signed up by March 31, the team said. Youth season tickets will also remain untouched at $385 for the season package.

Stewart’s Shops and the Dake family have donated $500,000 to Albany Medical Center’s new pediatric emergency department, recently named the Massry Family Children’s Emergency Center.

The Saratoga-based company and family were early supporters of Albany Med’s latest project, helping it reach the $14.5 million mark toward the fundraising goal of $20 million, Albany Med officials said. The total cost of the project is $50 million.

When it opens in the summer, it will be the only pediatric emergency department in northeastern New York and western New England, according to the hospital.

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.”

STEADfast IT, based in Saratoga Springs, has opened a new office in downtown Hartford, Ct.

The new office is located at 100 Pearl St. on the 14th floor.

Craig Skevington, CEO and president of STEADfast said Hartford “is the perfect fit for the IT support services we offer. We are incredibly proud of our expansion and our clients feedback that attest to our unique ‘white glove end user support’ that allows businesses to focus on running their business while we focus on providing responsive, remote service with full capability.”

STEADfast focuses on providing end user support, virtual CIO, systems assessment, server support, network management, remote IT support, mobile device support, device monitoring, anti-virus protection, off-site backup and strategic consultant services.

Saratoga Casino Hotel honored the exceptional performance of four top team members during an annual awards banquet on Feb. 26 in the hotel ballroom.

Over 100 were in attendance for this year’s event.

Awards were presented to: Bob Ketcham, executive sous chef, Leader of Distinction; Anthony DiDonato, restaurant manager, Supervisor of the Year; Cassandra Dano, senior accountant, and Sara Bender, booth cashier, Team Members of the Year.

“The success of our company depends on the hard work and dedication of our hundreds of team members,” said Skip Carlson, vice president of external affairs and the evening’s emcee. “The honorees we celebrated represent the best of our company, and I’m proud to work with them each day.”

Saratoga Raceway’s 77th season of harness racing is underway.

“We’re very excited to welcome fans back for the 77th year of harness racing,” said John Matarazzo, director of racing operations at Saratoga Casino Hotel. “A strong lineup of stakes and marquee races will allow us to continue our tradition of exciting and quality racing here at the historic Spa Oval.”

As always, parking and admission are free.

Track officials said a top highlight of the racing season will be the 10th annual Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial Pace, which will feature one dash for $260,000 on July 21.

Also set to attract top talent to Saratoga Raceway are the eight divisions of the New York Sire Stakes program that will be contested throughout the summer, culminating in the Excelsior Finals on Sept. 23. Collectively, horsemen will be competing for over $15 million in purses.

The Indigo Girls rock band will perform at Skidmore College this spring as part of the second annual Stewart’s Signature Series.

The May 12 performance at the Arthur Zankel Music Center’s Ladd Hall will begin at 8 p.m.

Shelley Joyce, managing director of the Arthur Zankel Music Center, said, “We are thrilled to host the Indigo Girls at Zankel, and to receive support from the Stewart’s Shops and the Dake Family to make Stewart’s Signature Series performances possible at Skidmore. Additionally, we are very pleased to collaborate with promotional sponsor WEXT, 97.7 FM, to share this exciting news with music fans in our community.”

With a legacy of releases and countless U.S. and international tours behind them, the Indigo Girls have forged their own way in the music business. They’ve released 14 albums, received six Grammy nominations. The their latest release is “Beauty Queen Sister,” on IG Recordings, distributed by Vanguard Records.

By Liz Witbeck

Shmaltz Brewing Co. in Clifton Park is expanding this year, with plans in the works to establish an official tasting room in Troy, as well as create new beer brands.

Jeremy Cowan started the company in San Francisco. In 1996, he was driving around in his grandmother’s car in Northern California, delivering cases of beer. The company has come a long way since then. Cowan moved to New York City and established the Clifton Park brewery in 2013.

“Our goal is to make high-end beers that are fun, based on a concept, and that don’t fit into traditional beer styles,” said Cowan.

Shmaltz Brewing is best known for its He’brew beer, the line first created by Cowan. Today, He’brew is sold in 35 states across the country, in 5,000 retail locations, according to the company.

The company is known for its beer names, inspired by Jewish themes, as well as unique flavors. Customers can choose from the Hop Manna IPA; the Messiah nut brown ale; the Jewbelation anniversary ale; a Pastrami Pilsner, brewed with kosher salt, cracked pepper, natural horseradish and mustard seed; and Chanukah golden ale, brewed with cocoa nibs.