Category Archives: Business News

Thirty performers ages 11-18 comprise the Circus Smirkus that returns to the outdoor polo field at Saratoga Casino Hotel for four performances this summer.

Circus Smirkus returns to the outdoor polo field at Saratoga Casino Hotel for four performances this summer.

The performances on July 8 and 9 will benefit the Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs.

The Circus Smirkus 2016 Big Top Tour will perform at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. on both days.

The Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs first brought Circus Smirkus to Saratoga in 2007 as a fundraising and outreach event.

A new sign, ‘Saratoga Casino Hotel,’ was erected at the casino on Jefferson Street in Saratoga Springs. The casino is rebranding itself in anticipation of opening its new hotel in June.

Saratoga Casino and Raceway has changed its brand for the property. It announced on April 27 it will now be called the Saratoga Casino Hotel.

The change took place immediately, in advance of the anticipated opening of its new 117-room hotel expansion.

Officials said the brand change reflects the casino’s transformation into a comprehensive, modern destination that offers something for everyone.

“The addition of the hotel and its amenities, including Morton’s The Steakhouse, creates an entertainment experience unmatched in the region,” said Rita Cox, senior vice president of marketing at Saratoga Casino Hotel. “Our new brand is a product of this transformation, highlighting that we are a complete entertainment destination within the already world famous tourist destination that is Saratoga Springs. First-time and repeat guests alike will find new reasons to visit, and to keep coming back, for all that we have to offer.”

The $40 million, 123,000-square-foot hotel is set to open in July, officials said.

Featuring 117 luxury rooms and suites, the hotel will be located just steps away from the casino floor and harness track. The hotel’s premium rooms and suites are named after the raceway’s founders and longtime President, Roland Harriman, Dunbar Bostwick, and Ernest Morris. Suites feature large bay windows, and many overlook the harness track. Additionally, guests will be able to watch and wager on live harness racing from every room in the hotel.

Jim Letts was appointed the new CEO of the Saratoga Automobile Museum.

Courtesy Saratoga Automobile Museum

The board of trustees of the Saratoga Automobile Museum appointed Jim Letts, CEO of the Saratoga Regional YMCA for the past 12 years, as the museum’s new executive director,.

“While serving as the CEO, Jim has had amazing success, growing the Y’s membership from 6,900 to 26,900, while raising many millions of dollars through capital campaigns to support and expand the Y’s facilities and activities,” said Anthony Ianniello, board chairman. “We think he is a perfect fit for our extremely active, rapidly growing museum and are thrilled to have him on board”

One of the factors in Letts coming to the museum was his interest in its nationally recognized distracted driving program, museum officials said.

Tiffany Robyck, owner and founder of Ballston Spa Fitness on Ralph Street in Ballston Spa, offers a new array of fitness programs in a new indoor cycling studio called Ballston Spa Cycle.

©2016 Saratoga Photographer.com

Ballston Spa Fitness has expanded its facility with the addition of a new indoor cycling studio called Ballston Spa Cycle.

“I’ve wanted to do this for several years,” said Tiffany Robyck, owner and founder of Ballston Spa Fitness. “I am an outdoor cyclist and I love to ride. I wanted to share my love for riding and indoor cycling workouts, and I saw a need for this in the Ballston Spa area.”

Ballston Spa Cycle is in the same location as Ballston Spa Fitness, 18 Ralph St.

There are six certified indoor cycling instructors who offer classes at various times every day of the week. Classes are 45-60 minutes long.

Bike riders enjoy themselves at last year’s Henry Street Bike Party, organized by the Henry Street Business Group. It will take place again on June 16 between Lake Avenue and Caroline Street.

Nicole DeHaven, Two Danes Photography

Business owners on Henry Street Saratoga Springs will hold the second annual Henry Street Bike Party from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 12.

It will feature an adult big wheel race, a kids bicycle parade and story ride in Congress Park, a bike decoration contest and exhibit, a bike rodeo, free bike helmets and safety gear, bicycle stunts and tricks contest, live surf rock music, food, drinks, vending and more.

All activities are suitable for the entire family, organizers said.

Officials said this year’s event seeks to attract bike enthusiasts of all ages, and aims to promote bike culture, safety and expanded citywide programs to support bicycle-friendly initiatives.

A block of Henry Street, between Lake Avenue and Caroline Street, will be closed to traffic beginning at 7 a.m. that day.

Tom Stock, a Gloversville native, started his local photography business in 1991 and never looked back. He celebrates 25 years in business in 2016.

©2016 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Maureen Werther

Tom Stock recalled an exact moment just like it was yesterday. He was driving home after a long day of work–a 16-hour day, to be precise–when he found himself driving behind a new, bumble bee-yellow Jeep with a bumper sticker that read, “If you’re not the lead dog, the view never changes.”

That bumper sticker was the impetus Stock needed to become his own boss.

Born and raised in Gloversville, he moved to Delaware after graduating from Syracuse University and began working for a commercial and industrial photography company. While he was doing the kind of photography that he loved, he realized that he needed to be working for himself.

Two months later, after doing extensive market surveys, he packed his equipment in his car and drove to Saratoga Springs, where he set up shop. He hasn’t looked back.

Stock recalled that in January of his first year in Saratoga, his business earned a whopping $6. But he was undaunted. His mother phoned him to tell him about jobs she saw in the classified ads. He would tell her, “Mom, I already have a job.” Her reply would be something like, “How many hours did you spend today doing photography?”

His answer, he said, was: “I’m working on my business.”

Marty Vanags, president of the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, speaks from a podium at Shmaltz Brewery in Clifton Park where the Business First Saratoga initiative was announced.

Courtesy Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership

The Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, along with the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce and Chamber of Southern Saratoga County, announced on March 29 the details of their new Saratoga County business retention and expansion initiative they have dubbed Business First Saratoga.

Through problem-solving and advocacy, Business First Saratoga serves local business owners by developing relationships to better understand the opportunities and challenges of doing businesses in our region, the three organizations said in a news release. Some areas that this program can assist businesses with are workforce development, financing, international markets access, government regulations, resources for small businesses, and utilities.

“When people think of economic development, they often think about the big attraction projects. While that’s incredibly important, we also need to pay attention to the businesses that are already here in Saratoga County, whether they’ve been here for a year or are a multi-generational business,” said Marty Vanags, president of the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership. “A program like Business First Saratoga is an organized and deliberate way to build the foundation for our region’s future growth.”

The Partnership first outlined its intention to launch a business retention and expansion initiative in its two-year economic development plan, the Saratoga Strategy, released in December. In that plan, the Partnership also identified potential partners for the initiative and has since undergone training with both the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce and Chamber of Southern Saratoga County.

“Our Chamber’s board of directors voted unanimously to approve our participation in the Business First Saratoga initiative because we believe in pulling out all of the stops to help local employers to succeed, grow and thrive,” said Todd L. Shimkus, president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.

“We believe working together with our partners in this venture and other organizations that might join us in the future will help us to open more doors and to close more deals creating more jobs and investment in Saratoga County.” he said. “To win in economic development these days, you must first win by helping existing local employers to take advantage of new opportunities or to overcome challenges individually and collectively and that’s what this initiative promises to do.”

The Chamber of Southern Saratoga County (CSSC) highlighted achievements and presented awards at its annual dinner on March 31 at the Hall of Springs at Gideon Putnam Resort, attended by 326 people.

“I’m honored to be the chairman this year,” said Josh Spain of Momentive Performance Materials. “With our great staff, dedicated volunteers and a diverse membership, it’s easy to see why this chamber is accomplishing so much.”

Pete Bardunias, celebrating five years as president and CEO, said, “We’ve made many things happen together as a community and what’s fueled our growth has been the generous financial support of our major partners and sponsors as well as the dedicated and active involvement of every member of this chamber.”

Bardunias said the past five years have seen membership jump 15 percent, from 927 members to 1066, making it the third largest chamber of commerce in the Capital Region and among the largest in New York state. During that time span, the chamber’s revenue has grown 25 percent, reversing negative trends and reeling off a four-year streak of finishing “in the black.”

He said the money has been reinvested, allowing for projects such as maintaining historic Lock 19 in Vischer Ferry, work at the Brookside Museum, the creation of the three Community Business Alliances and more.”

Eight awards were given out to members.