Category Archives: Business News

In late 2019, members of the Chamber of Southern Saratoga County (CSSC) voted overwhelmingly in favor of affiliation with the Capital Region Chamber, setting in motion the most far-reaching changes in the organization’s 53-year history.
Ballston Spa National Bank President/CEO Chris Dowd was tapped to lead the CSSC board for 2020, helping direct the transition along with former CSSC President/CEO Pete Bardunias, who now serves as senior vice president, community advancement to Capital Region Chamber President/CEO Mark Eagan.
Dowd has been with BSNB since July of 2001. Starting as senior vice president of lending, he moved to the president/CEO role in August of 2004. He currently serves on the boards of BSNB, CEG, Independent Bankers Association of NYS, the CSSC/Capital Region Chamber, and the Saratoga Economic Development Corp. board of governors.
“It is an honor to be asked to lead the board of this organization into a new and very important relationship with the Regional Chamber,” said Dowd.

By Jennifer Farnsworth
The new Beef Jerky Outlet location is more than what is in its name, according to Cory Leggiero, a partner in the locally owned franchise .
The shop at 514 Broadway in Saratoga Springs specializes in everything from beef, to salmon, to venison, and elk. The location has a country store feel, offering jams, jellies and old fashioned candies.
“We want to be a place that has that small town feel, where when you walk in we know who you are and you know our employees,” said Leggiero.
He owns the franchise with brothers Michael and Tim Kinally.

Saratoga Hospital has added space and services at the former Adirondack Urgent Care center, which is now known as Saratoga Hospital Urgent Care – Adirondack, located on Route 9, just north of Walmart, in the Mount Royal Plaza.
Officials said patients have easy access to urgent care—no appointment necessary—from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day. Walk-in X-ray and laboratory services are also available seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. for X-rays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for lab draws.
A prescription is required for lab and X-ray services.

By Andrea Harwood Palmer
Kathy Scherer, owner of Go-For Fitness in South Glens Falls, is expanding classes and services for the new year.
The fitness center has eight instructors and teaches around 50 group exercise classes a week.
“One misconception out there is that we are a ladies gym. We are not just a ladies gym. We have many male members and would like to attract more. We’d really like to attract more male instructors too,” said Scherer. “It’s not just for women. Everyone is welcome.”
The staff recently went through Barre certification through Barre Above.

By Christine Graf
Express Employment Professionals, a locally owned small business, opened its second Capital Region location in December.
It is located in the T.J. Maxx plaza on Route 50 in Saratoga Springs. Owner Jordan Modiano opened his first Express Employment franchise in Albany in September 2015.
“To put it simply, we help people find jobs, and we help companies find employees,” he said.
A Long Island native, Modiano moved to the area in 1999. He had a 20-year career in advertising and marketing before purchasing the franchise. Express Employment Professionals was founded in 1983 and has more than 780 franchise locations in the United States, Canada, and South Africa.
“I wanted to do something that made a difference in people’s lives and the community that I live in,” Modiano “That’s been something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.”

By Craig MacDonald
There was a time automatic standby generators for your home or small business were considered an extravagant purchase.
Homeowners and small business owners found it tough to justify such a purchase.
They may also have been using a Rolodex, “selectric” typewriter and even dabbled in a desk-top computer with the most modern DOS operating system available at the time. Some phones may have still worked when the power went out. The wait for the overdue FAX was inconvenient, but there were many manual tasks to be taken care of while waiting.
Enough light seemed to come in from the windows to keep all the manual tasks moving along in the office. At home, there may have been flashlights, candles and canned food to open an heat.
We’ve come a long way.

During International Networking Week in February, BNI’s Winners Circle Chapter in Saratoga Springs was recognized for passing $1,053,000 in business in 2019.
The ceremony took place at the Inn at Saratoga on Broadway.
BNI is the world’s largest networking organization. There are two Chapters in Saratoga Springs.
The chapter meets to exchange referrals to other members. BNI members form a trusted team of referral partners who help each other grow their businesses.
President Kimberly Salerno of Salerno Law said, “It is an honor for us to be recognized in again this year. I am proud to be part of this group and the way we help each other. We have done this for 6 consecutive years.”

By Andrea Palmer
Gordon Sacks, owner of 9 Miles East, a diversified farm and food business, is passionate about what he does. And now he’s expanding services and adding a restaurant, located at 64 Excelsior Ave. in Saratoga Springs.
“Our mission is to make it easy for busy people to eat healthy, local food,” said Sacks.
The company has been around for more than a decade, and has a 29-acre vegetable farm in Schuylerville.
“We make healthy meals that we deliver to the employees of big companies in Upstate New York and in Boston. We have a subscription meal delivery service, where we bring those healthy meals to people’s homes,” said Sacks.
Five years ago, Sacks added a pizza delivery operation.