Category Archives: Business News

Jessica Ricker, with over 20 years of experience in admissions and enrollment management at liberal arts colleges, will join Skidmore College as its next vice president for enrollment and dean of admissions and financial aid on June 5. 

She will lead an integrated and collaborative enrollment management approach for the College, continuing Skidmore’s consistently strong performance in admissions and financial aid support, college officials said.

“Throughout her career, Jess Ricker has repeatedly demonstrated the ability and genuine drive to apply a creative vision to all she does—an ethos that will benefit the entire Skidmore community,” said college President Marc Conner, who chaired the search committee. “Her commitment to amplifying student voices and supporting historically marginalized groups will help ensure Skidmore continues to create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive liberal arts experience for all.”  

Ricker has served as dean and director of admissions at Wellesley College since 2018 and recently served as the interim dean of admissions and financial aid. Before joining Wellesley, she worked in admissions at Connecticut College for 18 years in various capacities. She holds a Master of Arts degree in psychology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Connecticut College.  

At Wellesley, Ricker led a staff of 20 and oversaw admissions operations, including student recruitment, application review, marketing and communications, customer service, data analysis and reporting, event management, and staff development. 

In 2022, she was the recipient of an Agent of Innovation achievement award, given each year to an outstanding member of Wellesley’s staff who has demonstrated the use of innovative ideas, approaches, or techniques in their work. She also initiated and led a yearlong assessment of implicit bias among staff, policy, and processes across the Admission and Student Financial Services Division and devised an equitable, mission-driven application review and selection process.  

The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College received a grant award totaling $80,000 from the New York State Council on the Arts to support the recovery of the nonprofit arts and culture sector. 

Since the Tang Teaching Museum’s opening exhibition S.O.S.: Scenes of Sound in fall 2000, state support has bolstered the museum’s ability to support contemporary artists directly and to offer visitors from the Capital Region access to extraordinary exhibitions and programs, all of which are presented free of charge, museum officials said.

The new funding will ensure that the Tang can emerge with its full range of exhibitions and events. 

Skidmore College President Marc Conner said the grant “will provide crucial support for the Tang Teaching Museum’s contemporary art exhibitions and public programs. We are extremely grateful to state for this support, which will make artists and their work more accessible and a catalyst for transformative experiences for our students, faculty, staff, and visitors.”

In the 2021-22 season, the Tang presented 18 exhibitions, featuring the work of more than 130 artists, including presentations on new and recent work by New York-based artists Lauren Kelley, Laura Ortman, Laura Splan, and Ruby Sky Stiler. 

Saratoga Race Course will feature one admission price this season for all fans, thereby eliminating the traditional two-tiered structure of clubhouse and grandstand admission. 

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) said a single admission rate will provide fans with access to both the Clubhouse and Grandstand. Admission will be $7 daily when purchased at least 24-hours in advance, a savings from last season’s clubhouse price of $10. Admission to Saratoga Race Course on the day of the event will be $10. 

Admission does not include reserved seating. Since 2019, daily clubhouse admission has stood at $10 and grandstand admission at $7.

The elimination of the clubhouse and grandstand exchanges means that fans will now have universal access to amenities and attractions such as the Jim Dandy bar and the portion of the apron by the finish line that had previously been limited to those with clubhouse admission. The track restaurants, including the Turf Terrace and Porch, are also located within the clubhouse (admission plus seating charges apply).

“Our new single admission policy is designed to improve the overall experience for our fans by providing access to all areas of Saratoga Race Course,” said Kevin Quinn, NYRA vice president, sales and hospitality. “Not only does this change create a seamless, simplified experience, but it will provide all fans with access to previously unavailable amenities, like upper concourse bars and concession stands located in the clubhouse.”

By Paul Post

One of the Capital Region’s largest tire retailers is growing again with the $400,000 expansion of existing facilities in Greenwich, Washington County.

Warren Tire Service Centers, which has stores in Saratoga Springs and Clifton Park, has purchased a vacant former Cumberland Farms store, with plans to create three new service bays, add 14 parking spots and hire two additional service technicians.

“We’re expecting a 30 percent increase in business,” company President Robert Kellogg said. “It’s a growing area. Greenwich is a hub for a lot of surrounding towns such as Schuylerville, Salem and Argyle, plus the town of Greenwich itself is growing. It’s a little overwhelming with the amount of space we have currently. We need more space to accommodate all our customers.”

The Queensbury-based company, which has 16 stores in seven counties, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this month. It was founded by Kellogg’s 80-year-old father, Wayne, 80, the chief executive officer who is still involved with daily operations, although he is no longer an owner.

By Christine Graf

After several years spent flipping houses and acquiring rental properties, Kyle and Chrystal Chadwick have ventured into the sales side of the real estate business. 

Their real estate company, Premier Homes Elite Realty, opened its doors at 66 East St. in Stillwater at the end of March.

“We started in real estate about three years ago with flipping houses and buying rental properties,” said Kyle Chadwick. “We’ve bought foreclosure properties—properties that were in distress, properties that no one else wanted, and ones that were eyesores for the community. We renovate them and make them absolutely beautiful again.”

The Chadwicks also own eight rental units and have another five under contract. Their rental properties are located in Mechanicville, Cohoes, Gloversville and Troy.

“We live in one of the properties we flipped in Mechanicville,” he said. “We bought it from HUD, and it was an eyesore to the community. We renovated the entire building pretty much all the way down to studs and then brought it back up again.”

Dr. Nicoleta Daraban, who has served as director of Saratoga Hospital’s diagnostic center for nine years, has been named medical director and chief of cardiology at Saratoga Hospital.

 Daraban will oversee all inpatient and outpatient cardiology services, in collaboration with other members of hospital leadership. She will continue to lead the diagnostic center.

 “Throughout her tenure here, Dr. Daraban has earned the respect of her patients and her colleagues across the organization,” said Dr. Richard Falivena, vice president and chief medical and physician integration officer at Saratoga Hospital. “She has the administrative and medical experience to lead our cardiology team in addressing heart disease and other cardiac challenges for patients in our community.”

Amtrak, in conjunction with VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail),  the state Department of Transportation and other federal agencies, resumed train service between New York City and Montreal via the Adirondack train on Monday, April 3. 

It includes a stop in Saratoga Springs.

This milestone marks the return of all Amtrak and VIA Rail cross border service between the United States and Canada for the first time since 2020 and aligns with the growing demand of train travel in both countries.

Northbound Adirondack trains will depart Moynihan Train Hall at New York Penn Station at 8:41 a.m. and arrive in Canada’s Gare Centrale/Central Station in Montreal at 8:16 p.m., with southbound Adirondack trains departing Montreal at 11:10 a.m. and arriving at NYP at 10:15 p.m. Additional popular destinations on the Adirondack besides Saratoga Springs and Schenectady.

“The return of the Adirondack promotes one of many rail initiatives benefiting and connecting American and Canadian travelers and residents,” said Amtrak President Roger Harris. “We are proud to partner with NYSDOT and VIA Rail and thank Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, and Congresswoman Stefanik for championing the Adirondack’s return, as well as their shared commitment with Amtrak to bring more trains to more places and more people as we enter a new era of rail.”