Category Archives: Business News

Bill Passed In NYS Assembly That Could Help Local Casino Compete With Other Casinos

July 7, 2017July 7, 2017

Legislation passed in the State Assembly is aimed at helping Saratoga Casino Hotel compete with others, particularly the new Rivers Casino about 20 miles away in Schenectady.

Legislation was passed in the State Assembly that is aimed at helping Saratoga Casino Hotel compete with other casinos, particularly the new Rivers Casino about 20 miles away in Schenectady.

Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner of Round Lake announced the passage of legislation she co-authored with state Sen. Kathy Marchione of Halfmoon to help the casino make capital improvements.

“By increasing the opportunity for local gaming facilities to reinvest earnings, upgrade facilities and expand, we’re helping them to remain at the forefront of a competitive gaming marketplace statewide,” Woerner said. “This bill will allow Saratoga’s casino to create new construction jobs in our area, enhance the experience of patrons and ultimately attract more visitors.”

She said under current law, smaller gaming facilities with fewer than 1,100 gaming machines are able to use 4 percent of their net wins to make capital improvements, while medium-sized facilities cannot.

The new legislation would increase the threshold for small and medium gaming facilities to 1,900 terminals to help level the playing field, Woerner said.

Group Proposes Turning Former Prison Into A Modern, High-Tech Energy Research Park

July 7, 2017

Mark Adams is president of Global Energy Research Associates in Saratoga Springs.
Courtesy Global Energy Research Associates

By Maureen Werther

A Saratoga Springs company has submitted a proposal to Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) outlining an ambitious two-phase plan to convert the vacant Mt. McGregor Correctional Facility into an energy research park.

It would include several small power plants and surrounding infrastructure representing a $2 billion investment, said Mark L. Adams, Ph.D. and CEO of Global Energy Research Associates (GERA) based at 340 Broadway.

In 2014, in response to the declining prison population, the state closed the medium-security prison, resulting in a loss of 320 full-time jobs with an estimated loss of $14 million in annual wages. The state is working through ESDC to find buyers for the site. They are offering an $8 million incentive package as part of its effort to attract bidders.

GERA’s plans include the creation of a two-phase energy and research development facility, using a nuclear-powered internal engine, which Adams said is the only prototype of its kind. The internal engine is powered using radioactive waste material and creates no exhaust. The engine serves a dual purpose of disposing of radioactive waste in a clean and efficient manner, while producing its own energy.

“There is no ancillary waste with this system,” said Adams, adding that GERA’s engine operates at efficiencies greater than 70 percent.

Saratoga Regional YMCA Board Of Directors Names Andrew Bobbitt As The New CEO

July 7, 2017

New CEO Andrew Bobbitt has nearly 25 years experience with YMCA organizations.
Courtesy Saratoga Regional YMCA

The Saratoga Regional YMCA board of directors has named Andrew Bobbitt, formerly CEO of the Fox Valley Family YMCA outside of Chicago, as the organization’s next chief executive officer.

“Andrew has dedicated nearly 25 years of his career to the YMCA organization, and as a result has a broad array of skills and tremendous capabilities,” said Alysa Arnold, president of the Saratoga Regional YMCA Board of Directors. “With dozens of community leaders applying for the CEO position from around the country, the competition certainly was fierce.

“However, Andrew’s long-term experience providing cause-driven strategic leadership, his proven track record managing multi-million dollar budgets and projects, his ability to create a positive experience for association members and staff, and his passion for the YMCA’s mission and charitable endeavors made him stand out from the rest.”

At his former position in Plano, Ill., Bobbitt was responsible for a $4.2 million YMCA with multiple branches serving more than 20,000 members and employing more than 200 staff.

“It’s rare to find a leadership opportunity providing such a high quality of life paired with an outstanding, fiscally-sound Y that vibrantly and successfully serves many unique communities,” Bobbitt said. “I pride myself on my ability to bring people together to create a culture of camaraderie effectuating a highly successful and efficient operation. I’ll bring plenty of energy to the tasks before me and will strive each day to develop a culture that builds capacity, grows the Y, partners with other stakeholders and not-for-profits in Saratoga County, and builds strong relationships with facility members, staff, members of the organization’s two boards, volunteers and community leaders.”

Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership Has Created Advisory Group For Tech Companies

July 7, 2017

The Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, the county’s designated economic development agency, announced in June a step forward in advancing its innovative Next Wave Center project.

That step is the formation of an advisory council made up of national and regional technology and business executives to guide the center’s development, launch and operation.

Officials said the Next Wave Center is a physical location that would house companies in the semiconductor supply chain, advanced manufacturing, nanotechnology and clean energy industries. In addition, it would provide education and technical training, a range of business support services, and include a co-working space to serve companies in a wide variety of complementary and collaborative businesses.

The Next Wave Advisory Council will be chaired by Dr. Gary Patton, chief technology officer and senior vice president, worldwide research and development for GlobalFoundries.

The council will provide invaluable guidance and counsel to the Saratoga Partnership and community leaders on the feasibility of the Next Wave Center and other economic development opportunities, officials said. The council will offer input on issues ranging from the scope and level of tenant and program development to leveraging the investment made by GlobalFoundries and New York state in the semiconductor industry to attract additional jobs and companies to Saratoga County.

“GlobalFoundries will provide industry leadership in advanced semiconductor manufacturing to help direct this project and continue to build the ecosystem of supply chain companies that are vital to high-tech growth in the region and state,” said Patton.

“We are thrilled to advance the Next Wave Center through the expertise and guidance of world-class business and technology executives who are committed to expanding economic and workforce development opportunities in Saratoga County and beyond,” said Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership President Marty Vanags. “Under the leadership of Dr. Gary Patton, we look forward to developing a premier space to serve emerging technology companies, and to provide critical training and services that prepare individuals and businesses to grow and prosper.”

The Next Wave Center was identified as a key initiative in the Saratoga Partnership’s Saratoga Strategy. It would provide short-term flex space as a landing pad for companies working with GlobalFoundries, while also serving as a launch pad for those firms to grow their business relationships in the region.

SPARK Saratoga Group Sponsors A Speaker Series For Those Seeking To Grow A Business

July 7, 2017

SPARK Saratoga, an entrepreneur incubator and early stage company accelerator developed by Saratoga Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), announced its first Summer Speaker Series for entrepreneurs ready to grow their businesses.

The series features established professionals who have sold their company to Time Inc., led Microsoft new product rollouts, called shots on brand and marketing for Fortune 500 companies, wrote checks as investors and much more.

Invitations to the series are reserved for SPARK Saratoga’s admitted business project teams, representing 17 Capital Region businesses to date and SEDC member investors. New project teams having undergone SPARK Saratoga market opportunity analysis and having accepted mutually agreed action plans supporting their development will also receive invitations.

Interested entrepreneurs can visit www.SparkSaratoga.com to initiate review of their idea or existing early stage business status.

“When we announced our aggressive five-year growth plan to Advance Saratoga jobs and investment, a key element was boosting local entrepreneurs capacity to grow here,” said Dennis Brobston, president of SEDC. “With the help of area talent on our Advisory Team, we framed its objectives and rolled out SPARK Saratoga in April.

“With this series of workshops, we are now implementing a critical element to help our project teams develop by aligning them with talented professionals motivated to support our community and its next generation of innovators. That’s a value to families looking to keep young people here, second and third career skilled workers and retirees ready to get into business for themselves, and to our current investors competing to build on their legacy for more future success.”

NYRA Names Architect For New Track Building

July 7, 2017

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced that SOSH Architects has been selected as architect of record for the proposed At the Rail building at Saratoga Race Course.

Pursuant to the Request for Proposal (RFP) issued by NYRA in February, SOSH Architects will oversee design, bid and construction administration services for the possible development of a building to be located immediately adjacent to the end of the clubhouse.

Founded in 1979, SOSH Architects has built a global reputation through decades of work in designing, planning and building large scale hospitality spaces, according to NYRA officials.

Separately, NYRA will be consulting with Matt Hurff, partner at Frost Hurff Architects based in Saratoga Springs, during critical design stages of the project to ensure all historic preservation standards are met, officials said.

Hurff has extensive experience working on significant projects at Saratoga Race Course, including renovations to the historic Pony Barn and paddock mutuel building, construction of new dormitories, the Saratoga Walk of Fame and the Clubhouse escalator.

Mannix Marketing Wins Award For Designing Website For Eddy Senior Living Community

July 7, 2017July 7, 2017

Eddy Senior Living Senior Communities Website

Mannix Marketing, a woman-owned, full-service digital marketing agency, has been recognized with a 2017 Summit Creative Award in the category of website redesign for its design of the Eddy Senior Living Communities website.

This year’s competition included over 5,000 entries from 24 countries around the world.

The Summit Creative Award, celebrating its 23rd year, recognizes and celebrates the creative achievements of small and medium advertising and marketing agencies around the world. Judged by an international panel of industry experts, more than 5,000 entries from 24 countries were submitted in this year’s competition.

The award-winning website, Eddy Senior Living Communities (A Division of St. Peter’s Health Partners), features independent living, enriched housing and assisted living, and memory care communities for seniors in upstate New York.

StoredTech Develops New Service Model Provides Clients New Equipment Options

July 7, 2017July 11, 2017

From left, Bret Cofer, vice president of operations, Mark Shaw, president and CEO, and Timothy Cruz, operations manager, pose at the StoredTech office.
©2017 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Susan E. Campbell

Technology is central to every company and organization in this 21st century. Even if the only hardware on site is a telephone, not much business will be conducted without it. And if it breaks, somebody needs to fix it or replace it.

But what if a team of IT professionals were already on the pulse on all the business systems in a company, monitoring networks and anticipating what might go wrong next? What if instead of calling an IT consultant, your IT consultant were calling the company?

This is the premise that drives Queensbury-based StoredTech and its new service, CloudCare. StoredTech was founded in 2010 by Mark Shaw to “provide a significantly different approach to IT consulting.”

“In the 1980s and 1990s, if you had a computer problem you would call the IT guy to come fix it,” Shaw said. “It should be the polar opposite.”

StoredTech’s approach is to get ahead of a problem and propose early solutions before the emergency call needs to be made. In some cases problems are fixed remotely before the customer even notices it, he said.

“We see some things that look bad, maybe with the network or servers, so let’s fix them before they get very bad,” said Shaw. “Don’t wait for failure.”

By actively managing customer relationships in such a way, StoredTech becomes a proactive partner invested in the success of that client company. It has tools that monitor all kinds of hardware: firewalls, computers, servers, data storage, telephones, security cameras and access control systems. Its product line is being expanded all the time, so rather than sending clients to a different third party firm for resolution, the firm continually becomes an expert in additional areas of need.

“In the past if everything went down, a company could be contacting five or 10 different vendors to fix the phones, the security and other systems,” he said. “Now there’s a holistic approach, the ‘one-throat-to-choke’ model. If it’s broken, StoredTech is there to take care of it all and at a higher skill level.”

Saratoga Tech Accelerator Changes Its Name, Now Branding Its Services At STEADfast IT

July 7, 2017

Saratoga Technology Accelerator in Saratoga Springs, a managed IT services company, has changed its corporate name to STEADfast IT.

The name change reflects the company’s broader footprint and dedication to expertise in the area of managed IT support, company officials said.

Along with the re-branding, STEADfast IT is launching their new “white glove” end-user support IT managed services. It includes their proprietary Swift Ticket Resolution Station (STRS) and unlimited remote support service.

“The new name of STEADfast IT emphasizes the core brand promise; to revolutionize how IT experiences are created. Our focus on the human connection and proprietary process combine to create a new standard for IT service delivery,” said Craig Skevington, president and CEO. “As a company with its roots in customer service and technology, we are dedicated to delivering breakthrough levels of service and data to save our customers time and money.”

Stewart’s Shops To Add Charging Stations For Electric Automobiles At 100 Of Its Stores

July 7, 2017

By Margaret MacDonald

Stewart’s Shops is looking to install 100 charging stations for electric automobiles throughout the greater Capital Region, pending approvals.

The move coincides with state efforts to expand services in that direction.

State Sen. Jim Tedisco recently called for the state to approve the new Electric Vehicle Fast Charger Network (EVFCN).

Tedisco, a member of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, wrote a letter to the state Public Service commissioner in support of the EVFCN and the Stewart’s plan to install charging stations at shops in his 49th Senate District.

“The plan would be to install an electric car fast-charging network, providing an 80 percent charge in roughly 20 minutes,” Stewart’s spokesperson Maria D’Amelia said.

It would be done in a gradual rollout.