SUNY Empire State Among Colleges That Use AI, Utilizing It For Financial Aid, Admissions

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Higher education institutions are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence as a helping hand in major decisions like admissions and counseling, but AI is still serving as an assistant, not a full-time employee.

The promise of AI in higher education is that it can help administrators make smarter decisions through its ability to quickly scan large amounts of data for relevant markers. While seeking to retain more students in light of the coronavirus pandemic and to find new students in a diminishing pool of prospects, higher education institutions are using AI to save time, freeing humans up to do work that requires critical thinking or face-to-face interaction.

SUNY Empire State College, which was founded on an online, distance-learning model, historically received more than 110,000 calls a year from students seeking answers on topics like financial aid or admissions. The university, where the majority of learners are between 25 and 49, first adopted an online chat feature in 2019.

That online chat system was updated to an AI-powered chatbot this year, named “Blue” after the college’s bird mascot. Since last year, officials said call center volume is down about 30 percent, said Mary Austin, director of the university’s student information center, while the number of inquires through online chat has skyrocketed.

Since students seem to be engaging more with the updated chatbot, that frees up staff to make big-picture decisions about what information the university is offering on other platforms. If there are multiple questions about an aspect of financial aid recorded through the chatbot, for example, that can be addressed through updating the website with some more information or a video, Austin said.

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Business Report: Technology Trends For 2021

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Mark Shaw, president and CEO of Stored Technology Solutions Inc. (StoredTech)
Courtesy StoredTech

By Mark Shaw

Well with all the signs pointing to COVID-19 being behind us, companies of all shapes and sizes are deciding what the future will hold for them when it comes to where and how to operate.

Technology is at the forefront of that on so many levels. From working from home needs to the new levels in which cyber security is playing a part to protect all of us, these shifts will become the way we work going forward. 

We are seeing companies have three main strategies. The first being bringing people back to the office. We are, after all, social creatures, and this makes sense. The next is everyone will stay working from home. The last being a blend of the two: some work from home and some in office days.

All three of these trends provide different needs for organizations. Going back to the office in many ways is the most secure, everyone is behind the security devices managed by IT professionals, and each have a single-entry point to protect all the employees and their devices. This is what the playbook for firms have been for years.

In the completely remote work from home situation IT Support and Cyber firms alike are changing the way they support these companies. Let’s also be clear these firms should not be the same, mind you. Your internal or external IT support should NEVER be your cyber security firm. If you don’t believe this, watch the news, and study the new laws being introduced globally. A separation of church and state is coming and if your IT firm says it can do cyber security, RUN. They are lining their pockets and exposing you.

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‘Saratoga Pure Water Systems’ Offers Clean Water Systems To Businesses In The Area

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Cameron LaBarge is a sales representative with Saratoga Pure Water Systems which opened during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company sells water filtration systems to businesses.
©2021 SaratogaPhotographer.com

By Jennifer Farnsworth

Saratoga Pure Water Systems is a new company working to bring clean, safe, and economical drinking options to businesses, small and large.

Owner Richard O’Brien said the need for such a service became especially critical during the height of the pandemic.

“We started the idea last March when COVID hit. I had a friend who started a similar business and he was a mentor. I learned about the product and really believed in it. COVID brought on an additional layer with the interest in getting clearer purer drinking water to people,” he said.

O’Brien has a background that includes years in sales so he felt confident when he dove into opening his own business. He said the product basically sells itself, and he can back that up with the 100 percent retention he has built and maintained with customers.

“We give a free seven-day, risk-free trial, and every one of those trials has turned into a customer. We can bring a solution to every prospective customer,” said O’Brien.

As owner of Saratoga Pure, he is a bottleless water and ice cooler dealer. He said the system is not only cost effective but also environmentally friendly.

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Erbessd Instruments, Vibro-Laser Move Into Building In Downtown Glens Falls

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By Lisa Balschunat

For six years, CEO Michael Howard ran his industrial equipment monitoring sensor businesses out of his home. First it was in South Glens Falls, then Queensbury. Now he is able to move his business to space at 19 Exchange St. in Glens Falls where he plans to cultivate business roots for years to come.

His two companies, Erbessd Instruments Technologies Inc. and Vibro-Laser, make equipment that assists over 2,000 clients worldwide in monitoring vital equipment, machines and engines, for companies and educational institutions including Aircoil, Amazon, Google, Harvard University, Halifax Fan, McGill University, Pfizer and the U.S. Navy. 

Erbessd Instruments also supplies several local manufacturers in Warren, Washington and Saratoga counties. 

“It’s hard for me not to geek out when I talk about the business and our capabilities,” he said.  “Also, to be grounded in downtown Glens Falls is great. There’s a lot happening here and we want to be a part of it.” 

There is presently ample space in Erbessd’s new location for its technical labs, think tank space, creative offices, teleconference center, shipping and additional square footage to accommodate future growth. Erbessd leases the 2,500-square-foot building from Patten Property Development with a future option to buy.

Erbessd Instruments, with its patented, compact high-tech sensors, diagnoses equipment and machines remotely before they become a problem, malfunction or create catastrophic damage or loss.

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‘Resilience Garden’ Celebrates College’s Efforts Community To Battle Through Pandemic

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Local officials pose at the Resilience Garden in Saratoga Springs, celebrating the compassion and courage of the Empire State College community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Courtesy Empire State College

SUNY Empire State College has completed what it calls a Resilience Garden, celebrating the compassion and courage of the college community during the COVID-19 pandemic and honoring all New Yorkers impacted by COVID-19.

Last fall, college staff and administration planted dozens of Asiatic lilies at the entrance of 113 West Ave. in Saratoga Springs. The lilies were donated to the college by Lisa Johnson, a project coordinator at SUNY Empire.

The unveiling was attended by local dignitaries state Sen. Daphne Jordan, Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner and Todd Shimkus, president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. SUNY Empire student Elaine Caruso-Roberts and Interim Assistant Vice President for Advancement and Interim Executive Director of the Empire State College Foundation Sue Epstein, Ph.D., also spoke at the ceremony.

The dedication coincided with the reopening of SUNY Empire’s physical locations and the return of its faculty and staff throughout New York state. During the pandemic, SUNY Empire moved to a fully online model to serve its students and keep their goal of earning a college degree within reach. The college is now poised to resume its online, in-person, and hybrid learning model for the fall term.

SUNY Empire Officer in Charge Nathan Gonyea said, “In March 2020, we sent our students, faculty, and staff home due to the increasing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, we didn’t know how long we’d be apart or how we’d be impacted. This garden is a beautiful and lasting symbol that represents the resilience of our college community and communities across New York state. We look forward to welcoming back our students, faculty, and staff, which will add vibrancy to cities and towns across the state and help revitalize communities emerging from the pandemic.”

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Adirondack Thunder Will Play Games At Full Capacity; Hires SeatGeek As Ticket Vendor

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With the state relaxing pandemic safety guidelines, the Adirondack Thunder says all 2021-22 home games at Cool Insuring Arena will be played at full capacity with no restrictions.
Courtesy Adirondack Thunder

The Adirondack Thunder announced that all 2021-22 home games at Cool Insuring Arena will be played at full capacity with no restrictions.

The move followed the state’s lifting of COVID restrictions, as numbers of those with coronavirus steadily dropped.

“We are thrilled that we can welcome our great fans back into our building this season,” Adirondack Thunder President and Cool Insuring Arena General Manager Jeff Mead said. “This is a long time coming for not only our organization but for our fantastic community who came together to help everyone get through this devastating time. We look forward to seeing a sold-out Cool Insuring Arena on October 23.”

The Adirondack Thunder’s home opener on Saturday, Oct. 23, will mark 593 days since the last game (March 10, 2020, vs. Worcester). The Thunder host the Newfoundland Growlers at Cool Insuring Arena to kick off the 2021-22 season.

The organization also announced a multi-year partnership with SeatGeek, the ticketing platform, to become its primary ticketing partner.

“We are excited to work with SeatGeek to help revolutionize the way that our fans access and buy tickets,” Mead said. “SeatGeek’s technology is state-of-the-art and I think our fans will enjoy using it tremendously.”

Starting this fall, fans attending Thunder games or any other Cool Insuring Arena event will use SeatGeek’s  technology for a streamlined user experience to  buy, transfer and scan their tickets and use mobile tickets to stay contactless upon entering the building. Fans are also encouraged to download the SeatGeek app on their personal devices for an easier way to access, transfer and pay for tickets.

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Kilcoyne Farms Eyes Building A New Meat Processing Plant; Workforce Could Triple

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By Lisa Balschunat

Fifteen years ago, Cody Kilcoyne’s father Patrick established a small cattle farm in Lake Placid to provide quality beef to families and restaurants in the area with “delivered to your door” service.

What began as a small cattle farm with modest acreage and a handful of customers has grown into a farm that works with USDA processors to serve hundreds of restaurants, hospitals, private establishments and schools throughout New York state. 

Kilcoyne Farms moved from St. Lawrence County to Hudson Falls four years ago. The family now has plans to construct its own processing facility on Ferguson Lane at the Airport Industrial Park, where Warren-Washington counties share land ownership.

“We are in the application phase with the Warren Washington County Industrial Development Association (IDA) to purchase 20 acres of land and build a 25,000- to 35,000-square-foot processing plant,” Kilcoyne said.  “We looked at other locations with existing buildings, but this option will work best. It includes public water, sewer lines … And, we can build from scratch without having to retrofit an existing structure.”

He said his farm is presently working with a USDA planner and designer and is hoping to soon receive final approval for a bank loan.

Paone Architecture of Saratoga Springs, has been secured for the project design and Munter Enterprises, of Middle Grove will construct the plant.

Once funding is secured and the IDA application process moves forward with anticipated approval, Kilcoyne hopes to break ground in the summer of 2022.

“When we get the new facility up and running to maximum capacity,” Cody said, “we’ll be able to process 200 cattle and 100 hogs per week.”  All of the cattle are New York state sourced and processed, and contain no hormones or antibiotics, Kilcoyne said.   

He said constructing an $8.1 million facility in the industrial park makes good business sense.

“There are only about 800 USDA processors in the country,” Cody said.  “We put about 1,000 miles a week on our trucks to get our cattle to our processor in Croghan, in Lewis County.  A plant in the industrial park would cut down our delivery time from three-and-a-half hours to 15 minutes. This location will give us the opportunity to expand into the grocery market based on sheer geography.”

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Business Briefs: July 2021

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The Saratoga Builders Association Inc. announced the awarding of two student scholarships.

One is the annual SBA scholarship for $1,000 and the other is the annual “Bob Best” memorial scholarship for $500.

Luke Baringer of Wilton, a senior at Saratoga Springs High School, won the SBA scholarship. He  will be attending Clarkson University in the fall to study civil engineering and architecture design.

Brendan Lee, a senior at Salem Central School, won the $500 scholarship. She attends WSWHE BOCES at the F. Donald Myers Education Center.

The Saratoga Builders Association makes student scholarship awards available annually to high school seniors or college students who are planning to pursue a career in the construction industry.

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Saratoga Mortgage, a service of Saratoga’s Credit Union, is offering a unique outdoor expo to help consumers better prepare and understand the home buying process. 

The expo will be held 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 10, at Saratoga’s Credit Union’s Ballston Spa branch, 444 Geyser Road, Ballston Spa.

The event is open to the public and all are welcome to stop by and meet with representatives to gain knowledge on how each organization plays a role in the home buying process. 

Representatives include a mortgage originator, a real estate agent, financial advisor, and home insurance agent who will collectively educate attendees on how they can help new and existing home owners. Each representative will be ready to meet with individuals to discuss their needs.  Meet with one or with all representatives and learn how they can help you on your journey.

Reservations are not required.

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Lake George Chamber Offers Digital Passes To Tour Craft Breweries In The Adirondacks

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Data gathered through a digital pass for craft breweries can help the Chamber spot trends.
Courtesy Lake George Chamber of Commerce

Craft beverage drinkers can gain access to special offers and the chance to win Adirondack Craft Beverage Trail swag through a new digital passport offered by the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce & CVB.

“The craft beverage industry is a year-round attraction that ranked high in consumer traveler surveys distributed by our destination partners to gain insight into what people are looking for when they visit our area,” said Chamber Executive Director Gina Mintzer. “We feel this is an offering that will help visitors find what they’re looking for and gain more visibility for our local craft beverage scene.”

The passport is being marketed to a targeted demographic that mirrors the organic traffic to adkcraftbev.com, which draws many website visitors from out of the area. The top location from out of the area is New York City.

The digital passport was developed through Bandwango, a company that develops digital passports for destinations around the U.S. and Canada. It provides a simple way for the Chamber to analyze redemption and usage data, spot trends and track leads that can help measure economic impact of programs like this.

“We chose a digital passport because we liked the ease of updating the passport throughout the year, the fact that we could continue to interact with users of the passport digitally, analyze data and react to trends,” Mintzer said. “We also like that it can be accessed on a smartphone and isn’t something additional that consumers have to remember to carry with them. We also wanted something that would be simple for the craft beverage makers and their staff to participate in.”

This passport currently features 15 craft beverage producers (with more to be added) in Essex, Warren, Washington and Saratoga Counties. These producers craft local wine, beer, hard seltzer, hard cider, spirits and soft drinks, she said.

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Artisanal Brew Works Continues To Expand; Destination Restaurant/Brewery Is The Goal

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Kurt Borchardt is the co-owner of Artisanal Brew Works which has a taproom at 615 Maple Ave. He has plans to create a 10,000-square-foot, sit-down restaurant and brewery.
©2021 SaratogaPhotographer.com

By Jennifer Farnsworth

Kurt Borchardt is hoping to make his craft brewery, which he is moving to a new location, more than just a place to have a beer.

His vision includes beer, food and maybe even a hike. Borchardt said he wants the new Artisanal Brew Works to be more of a destination spot.

He plans to convert the former Cole’s Collision Center at 617 Maple Ave. in Saratoga Springs into a 10,000-square-foot, sit-down restaurant and brewery.

“Our goal is to bring in both beer enthusiasts, as well as families. The new site ties into the Palmertown Range, which will have some great trails for hiking. We really want it to become a destination,” said Borchardt.

Right now, they are operating out of a temporary location at 615 Maple Ave. on the Cole’s Collision site and are in the process of having the water and sewer pipes upgraded so that they can proceed to the full expansion and use the entire property.

The first location for the brewery was on Geyser Road. Food trucks were at the microbrewery, but that changed after a neighbor complained to the city. That prompted Borchardt to look for something that would allow him and his partner to build the brewery they envisioned.

“I was just done after that. I knew it was time to find a spot where we make the business into what we wanted,” said Borchardt.

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