Category Archives: Business News

SUNY Empire State College’s School of Business has been approved by the State Education Department to offer a new Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree.

The program will launch in the fall term, with the option for students to be enrolled fully online.

Officials said the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) is a comprehensive business degree designed to serve adult learners working in business-related fields who want to advance their career by pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business or prepare for a MBA.  

The BBA program will require fewer liberal arts credits, making the new degree program an attractive option for students who want a strong knowledge base in all facets of business and community college graduates with an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree, officials said.

 SUNY Empire State College Officer-in-Charge Nathan Gonyea, Ph.D., said the launch of the new BBA degree program “reflects SUNY Empire’s ongoing commitment to helping students fulfill their academic dreams and professional ambitions, while also addressing the employment needs of the economy. The BBA will fit around the busy lives of adult learners and enable them to shift their careers in exciting new directions.”

 “The time is perfect for SUNY Empire’s School of Business to offer a business degree program that contains all the subject areas that equip learners for successful business careers, with a design that is transfer friendly,” SUNY Empire State College Dean of the School of Business Julie Gedro, MBA, Ed.D., said. “Whether a student has an associate of applied science, an associate of science, or a trove of college-equivalent knowledge that we can help translate and acknowledge as credit applied toward the degree, our BBA provides an excellent degree for them to succeed in business.”

New York’s State parks, historic sites, campgrounds, and trails welcomed a record-setting 78.4 million visits in 2021, continuing the robust level of visitation seen since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“From Niagara Falls to Montauk Point, our State Parks and Historic Sites are a treasure that every New Yorker should be able to enjoy,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “During the pandemic, parks and public spaces have become more important than ever, providing New Yorkers with safe and enjoyable outdoor spaces for gatherings and recreation. New York was proud to welcome a record-setting number of visitors to our State Parks last year, and we look forward to modernizing our parks system as we approach its historic 100th anniversary in 2024.”

Total visits statewide increased in 2021 by more than 427,000, driven by a dramatic rebound of more than three million visitors at Niagara Falls State Park compared to 2020, when international border tourism was curtailed due to COVID-19 protocols. More than nine million visitors went to Niagara Falls State Park last year.

Officials said state park attendance has been steadily climbing, rising 41 percent since 2008. In addition to the total attendance, parks also set a new record for 2021 overnight visitation at campgrounds, with campsite, cabins and cottages booked for more than 787,000 nights.

“I am grateful that even more people decided they wanted to go to our State Parks and Historic Sites in 2021, even as other recreation options were becoming more available to them. New York has invested significantly in recent years to make its facilities world-class and even more improvements are coming,” State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said.

Hochul’s proposed 2023 budget includes $200 million in capital funding for parks, an 80 percent increase from the current level, to enhance the NY Parks 100 capital initiative. 

Harness racing has returned to Saratoga Casino Hotel for its 81st season.

 The winter/spring schedule began Feb. 5 and features Saturday, Sunday and Monday racing. First race post time is 5 p.m. on Saturdays, and noon on Sundays and Mondays.

The summer live racing schedule will be Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights with a post time of 6:45 p.m. Racing runs through mid-December. 

“We’re very excited to start our 81st season of live harness racing here at the historic spa oval,” said John Matarazzo, director of racing. “We want to thank our loyal fans for all their support and our horsemen for all their hard work during challenging times due to the pandemic. We’re looking forward to a great 2022 with 150 exciting live racing programs.”

“This year, horsemen will be competing for over $15 million in purses, averaging $100,000  in purses per program, so we’re expecting some great racing,” said Peter Iovino, race secretary. “We’ve also increased the purse of our signature race, the Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial Pace, to $250,000. We’re confident this race will attract a field of top pacers.”

Saratoga Hospital President and CEO Angelo G. Calbone will retire later this year, ending a 16-year tenure that transformed both the hospital and healthcare in the region.

 “Every family in Saratoga County has access to better healthcare because of what Angelo and his team have built,” said Michael J. Toohey, Saratoga Hospital board of trustees chairperson in lauding the impact of the CEO and his team. “They have expanded and improved services, invested in facilities, technology and talent, and elevated the quality of care and reputation of this hospital.”

 Equally important, Toohey added, “They have laid the foundation for Saratoga County residents to continue to benefit from excellent healthcare for years to come.”

 Calbone intends to step down by the end of the summer, fulfilling a long-standing promise to his family that he would retire at age 65. He informed the board of trustees in January to provide ample time to name his successor, who will be recruited via a nationwide search that will include internal and external candidates.

For Calbone, it has been a labor of love and, above all, a team effort.

 “It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve this community with this team,” he said. “Some of my most vivid memories will be of the courage and commitment they have displayed during the worst public health crisis in recent history.

 “When our community needed them most, our team stepped up—and continues to rise to the occasion,” Calbone added. “They are the driving force behind all our accomplishments. They are Saratoga Hospital.”

 Calbone took the helm at Saratoga Hospital in September 2006. Under his leadership, the hospital has expanded significantly, reflecting his vision of improving the region’s health, in part, by bringing services closer to those in the community. Saratoga Hospital now provides care on three campuses—in Saratoga Springs, Malta and Wilton—and at over 20 locations across the county.

Tara Anne Pleat, of Wilcenski & Pleat PLLC, is the 2022 chair of the board of directors of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. 

Pleat assumed the role on Jan. 1, 2022, succeeding Skip Carlson, vice president of external affairs, Saratoga Casino Hotel, who becomes the immediate past chair.

“After two years of shifting pandemic protocols and restrictions on business operations, hope abounds that 2022 is the year when the business community can focus on recovery and growth instead of survival,” said Pleat. “As chair of the Chamber’s 2022 Board of Directors, and as part of our expansive community recovery efforts, my goal is to bring back some of the Chamber’s most influential programming, including Leadership Saratoga and reimagined county-wide job fairs to support local employers challenged by the labor shortage. 

“The Chamber will continue to support the entire community in the hope that those who are able will support the Chamber in return. We believe our community has been,  and always will be,Stronger Together.”

The chair elect for 2022 is Amy Smith, of Saratoga Arms Hotel, who will become the chair in 2023. The 2022 vice chair is Chad Kiesow of Stewart’s Shops. The treasurer and secretary is Randy Metevier of Applied Materials.

New members elected to serve a three-year terms on the board, running through Dec. 31, 2024, include Heath Ames, Cantina; Sue Commanda, Hudson River Community Credit Union; and Eric Hennessey, UHY Advisors. Other members serving three-year terms include Melissa Johnson, Target Distribution; and John Rogan, Saratoga Eagle.

Members elected to serve a one-year term beginning  running through Dec. 31 include Libby Coreno, Bonacio Construction; Chris Lyons, AIM Services; and Jo Anne Hume, Life Works.

By Jennifer Farnsworth

BARE Blends is a new eatery in Saratoga Springs offering dishes like Beach Bum Bowl and Chunky Monkey, smoothies, juices and more.

Sisters Sue Collett and Kim Mackey opened the 18 Congress St. location last month and are already developing a following.

BARE Blends is a new franchise and they are proud to be one of the first ones in the area.  Other Capital District locations include Albany, Clifton Park, and Latham. 

“We see customers of all ages, people who are health focused and just want delicious food.  It makes us so happy to see school-aged customers come in often to get their bowls,” said Mackey.

The made-to-order bowls, smoothies and juices often include “superfoods,” which are nutrient-dense ingredients meant to be a major health boost, all while being plant-based, gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan.  The menu includes protein drinks, sweet and savory waffle toasts, salads, a kids menu and a “bark bowl” for dogs. There is also an assortment of grab-and-go retail items like granola and ingredients that can be used to make a custom BARE Blends juice cleanse. All packaging is considered to be environmentally safe and sustainable.

Mackey said she and her sister knew Annie Berder, who started BARE Blends with her business partner. They fell in love with BARE philosophy. Mackey said having lived in Saratoga for 23 years, they felt confident that it would be a great addition to the downtown area.

“We chose this location because it is within walking distance to Broadway and it has a parking lot which is a hard thing to find in downtown Saratoga,” said Mackey.